Welcome to the fourth “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the faculty advisors of SEA & KDP at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight advisor is:   
Dr. Marlon Cummings
Assistant Professor

1) What would students be surprised to find out about you? (hidden talent or hobby)

• Most people are surprised that I was a percussionist and went to college on a partial music scholarship.

2) What does a typical Saturday night or weekend look like for you?

• Every Saturday night is different. They range from low-key evenings with my wife and son, playing and sharing family time, all the way to being out with friends, dancing, laughing and being out way too late.

3) What/who inspires or motivates you?

• The work of everyday classroom teachers continues to inspire me and motivate me. It is such difficult work and seeing their passion and dedication to the work drives me to make education better in Illinois and in our country.

4) What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

• To this point, I guess getting my Ph.D.

5) What is your favorite thing about your career?

• I love this work. Building leaders, improving education, getting better at developing educators that are prepared to do this work is just great. I used to be an adjunct professor while working another job and now to have the opportunity to do this full time is simply awesome honor.

6) What is one thing you’ve done that you think people should do/try at least once in their life?

• Visit Africa

7) What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it yet?

• Skydiving, although I’ve done it indoors.

8) What is your favorite GSU memory?

• One of my favorite memories is the pie in the face fundraisers or any of the convocations.

9) If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Why did you choose these individuals?

• Mary McCleod Bethune (education).
• Barack Obama (achievement in the face of adversity).
• Muhammad Ali (activism).
• Quincy Jones (music).
  • They all represent something that’s important to me.

10) What are you most looking forward to in the next few months?

• Celebrating my 10th year of marriage.
• The summertime in Chicago…it’s just the best!

11) What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?

• Getting tenure.
• Growing in my profession.
• Watching my son grow into a young man.

12) What would be your best piece of advice to a future teacher?

• Kids crave structure, focus on classroom management and organization, and worry about being nice later.

If you have any questions to ask Dr. Cummings or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Answers Provided by Dr. Marlon Cummings
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah

Welcome to the third “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the faculty advisors of SEA & KDP at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight advisor is:   
Dr. Lisa Pennington
Assistant Professor

1) What would students be surprised to find out about you? (hidden talent or hobby)

• I’m pretty sure I don’t have one of these. Unless you count the amazing amount of dessert I can eat in one sitting.

2) What does a typical Saturday night or weekend look like for you?

• It could be one of two completely opposite things:
  • At home, reading/watching movies.
  • Out, at a concert.

3) What/who inspires or motivates you?

• My colleagues who do interesting things and my students who change their mind about social studies and decide it is in fact an exciting subject to teach.

4) What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

• Taking my 10 year old niece on her first international trip and bringing her home in one piece.

5) What is your favorite thing about your career?

• Sharing ideas for making social studies interesting and relevant to students.

6) What is one thing you’ve done that you think people should do/try at least once in their life?

• Either skydiving or traveling solo.

7) What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it yet?

• A big hike-Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc, or the Salkantay Trek.

8) What is your favorite GSU memory?

• My hilarious first cohort waiting for me to finish eating cookies so we can take a class photo.

9) If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Why did you choose these individuals?

• Jack the Ripper (so that mystery would be solved)
• Tom Petty (because he is my all-time favorite musician)
• Michelle Obama (because she is awesome)
• Katherine Switzer (the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, registering using her initials)

10) What are you most looking forward to in the next few months?

• I’m looking forward to taking my now 12 year old niece on her second international trip and running the Chicago Marathon in the fall.
• In general, I’m looking forward to warm weather.

11) What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?

• Continuing to get to know Chicago.
• Hopefully, lots more international travel.

12) What would be your best piece of advice to a future teacher?

• Figure out an organizational system that works for you and stick with it.

If you have any questions to ask Dr. Pennington or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Answers Provided by Dr. Lisa Pennington
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah

Welcome to the second “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the faculty advisors of SEA & KDP at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight advisor is:   
Dr. Timothy Harrington
Committee Chair of SEA/KDP, Division of Education

1) What would students be surprised to find out about you? (hidden talent or hobby)

• I love to golf. I golf 2-3 times a week during spring and summer.

2) What does a typical Saturday night or weekend look like for you?

• Netflix.
• Spending time with family.

3) What/who inspires or motivates you?

• My parents were a great inspiration to me. My mom was very compassionate and my father was directed. Both gave great advice and showed great love for their fellow man.

4) What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

• I got married and adopted 2 children while completing my Ph.D. all before I was 27 years old.

5) What is your favorite thing about your career?

• The incredible students, DUH! But also the opportunities it affords me. Since coming to GSU I have attended many conferences and, this May, will have gone out of the country twice.

6) What is one thing you’ve done that you think people should do/try at least once in their life?

• Train for and run a 5k. Running is not fun, but the sense of accomplishment is pretty remarkable.

7) What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it yet?

• Parachuting.

8) What is your favorite GSU memory?

• Visiting castles with GSU students in Slovenia.

9) If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Why did you choose these individuals?

• My mom and dad – I miss them greatly and would love to hear their advice and guidance for the next phase of my life.
• My brother, Michael Edward – he died before I was born. It would be cool to know him.
• Stephen Hawking – The Theory of Everything

10) What are you most looking forward to in the next few months?

• China trip in May 2019.

11) What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?

• Retirement.
• Traveling.

12) What would be your best piece of advice to a future teacher?

• When you can’t write another report or lesson plan, when you can’t face another parent who seems disengaged, when you can’t look at your bank account for fear there isn’t enough, when you can’t take one more criticism, remember the child that learned to read or write or add, remember the child who didn’t eat breakfast or dinner the night before but is eager to better themselves, remember the child who only finds love and acceptance in your eyes, and put aside all of your fear and doubt. You are a TEACHER – could there be anything better?!?!

If you have any questions to ask Dr. Harrington or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Answers Provided by Dr. Timothy Harrington
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah

Welcome to the first “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the faculty advisors of SEA & KDP at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight advisor is:   
Dr. Katy Hisrich
Committee Chair of SEA/KDP

1) What would students be surprised to find out about you? (hidden talent or hobby)

• I would say I am an avid sports player and fan, but I think everyone knows that about me.
• I love spending time with my dog (not a shock to anyone though) and completing jigsaw puzzles.
• I love to cook and am pretty good (at least I think I am)?
• I love gardening and yard work.
• I love anything that has to do with technology.
• I can play piano and I don’t really sit still very well.

2) What does a typical Saturday night or weekend look like for you?

• Playing on a coed softball team on Friday nights (I coach and play).
• Saturday – doing something fun with my boyfriend and dog (or errands/cleaning).
• Sunday –work. On Sunday night, I play on a coed volleyball team.

3) What/who inspires or motivates you?

• My parents.
• The Olympics.

4) What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

• Obtaining my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Arizona State University.
• Traveling to over 50 countries on 5 different continents.

5) What is your favorite thing about your career?

• Providing support to students so they can develop and grow in both their professional and personal lives.
• Helping students realize their full potential.

6) What is one thing you’ve done that you think people should do/try at least once in their life?

• Travel and see other places in the world. #YOLO

7) What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it yet?

• Developing my podcasting projects.
• Crossing more stuff off my bucket list.
• Spending less time at work and more time on my growth and health.

8) What is your favorite GSU memory?

• Lots of fun memories with my SEA student leaders over the last few years. I’m not sure these should leave the circle!

9) If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Why did you choose these individuals?

• I would have to do 5 people: My dog Izzy, my dog Kaiya (deceased), my parents, and my boyfriend Aaron. They are my favorite people in the world and my support system.

10) What are you most looking forward to in the next few months?

• Traveling to China for the Study Abroad Trip in May 2019 (I get to cross off a country and wonder of the world off my bucket list!!)
• Going to the wedding of one of my former SEA leaders.
• SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER – warm weather, sun, fun with my boyfriend, and spending time with my dog outside.

11) What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?

• New experiences and adventures. You never know where the wind will take you. Change is inevitable. #YOLO

12) What would be your best piece of advice to a future teacher?

• I have several:
  • Just do it.
  • Put forth effort.
  • Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow.
  • You are not in it for the money – find the joy in the little things.
  • Take a break from work each week on either Saturday or Sunday.
  • Remember the story – The Starfish Flinger.

If you have any questions to ask Dr. Hisrich or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Answers Provided by Dr. Katy Hisrich
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah