Gladys Gossett Hankins Appointed to Board of Trustees

Gladys Gossett Hankins, Ph.D.

CINCINNATI, OH - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that offers a different approach to adult education featuring flexible, individualized, and socially relevant undergraduate and graduate degree programs, today announced the appointment of Gladys Gossett Hankins to its Board of Trustees. A UI&U doctoral alumna, Hankins is an internationally-recognized diversity and organizational effectiveness consultant and currently serves as the president of Telora Victor, Inc. a consulting and publishing company she founded in 2000.

Prior to forming her own business, Hankins had a long career with the Procter & Gamble Company from 1975 until 2001, serving in various management capacities at P&G offices in Kansas City, Kansas, Baltimore, Maryland, and Cincinnati. She began her career at P&G as an employee services manager before becoming a human resource manager, a senior organizational effectiveness manager, and then served as a senior manager of supplier diversity.

In addition to her work with P&G, Hankins, since 1980, has engaged in training and consulting work in organizational effectiveness and managing diversity for several public and private organizations including New England Bell Telephone Company; New Jersey Bell Telephone Company; the University of Chicago; the University of Cincinnati; and the Greater Cincinnati Urban League, as well as for various companies located in Canada, Japan, Europe and Latin America.

From 1981 until 1985, Hankins served as an adjunct professor of personnel management at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, where she also conducted an American Management Associates Seminar titled "How Successful Women Manage"

Hankins is the recipient of several awards and recognitions including the Wall Street Journal Award, and was honored as a "Black Achiever" by YMCA of Cincinnati. In addition, she was awarded the key to the City of Kansas City, Missouri, for her civic contributions. Throughout her career, Hankins has served on several boards and committees. Currently, she serves – along with UI&U president Roger Sublett - on the board of trustees for Hospice of Cincinnati, where she chairs the diversity committee. She has also served as a board member for the NAACP of Kansas City, the Urban League of Kansas City, the Urban League of Cincinnati, the Urban League of Baltimore, and the Franciscan Health Systems in Cincinnati.

The author of the books Diversity Blues and How to Shake 'em, which was released in November 2000, Hankins earned her Ph.D. from Union in 2000. She also holds an M.B.A. and a B.S./B.A. degree from Rockhurst College.



Psy.D. Program Hosts Open House in Brattleboro Dec. 9

BRATTLEBORO, VT –Union Institute & University (UI&U) in Brattleboro will host an open house to introduce prospective students to its doctoral degree program in psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology (Psy.D.), from 5:30-7 p.m., Friday, December 9, in the program’s offices located at the Marlboro Graduate Center, 28 Vernon Street, Brattleboro.  Faculty, admissions staff and current students will be available to answer questions and to explain key aspects of the program.

Consistent with UI&U’s mission, the Psy.D. program integrates social justice into all of its courses and emphasizes multiculturalism in clinical practice. “We train people to become more aware of injustices, such as trauma, abuse, oppression and racism, and prepare them to be active agents of change, both with their clients and the larger social system,” said Dr. William Lax, dean of the program. Students are trained to be culturally competent clinicians, able to provide mental health services to individuals, families, groups and organizations.

The UI&U Psy.D. program integrates face-to-face and online courses to offer flexibility for working adults who need to balance career, family, and other social and civic responsibilities. In addition to the online courses, students attend two week-long fall and spring academic meetings, as well as weekend professional development seminars and courses in Brattleboro about once a month for the first three years of the program.

Applications are currently being accepted for the fall 2012 Brattleboro cohort.
The program welcomes applications from those with either earned master’s or bachelor’s degrees in psychology or related areas.

To learn more or to register, call: 802-257-9411 or email: Admissions.PsyD@myunion.edu. UI&U’s Brattleboro offices are located minutes from Interstate 91 at the juncture of the Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts borders. It is easily accessible throughout the greater New England region.

Former Atlanta Mayor to Deliver MLK Legacy Lecture



Mayor Shirley Franklin

CINCINNATI, OH – As part of its ongoing mission to engage the community in dialogue that creates positive social change and inspires servant leadership, Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Ph.D. program will host the fifth biannual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Lecture, Friday, January 6, 2012 from 1-1:45 p.m. at the Kingsgate Marriot in Clifton. Former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, the first African-American woman elected mayor of a major southern city, will serve as lecturer and will discuss how to apply Martin Luther King’s vision towards today’s public policy initiatives.

“We are very honored that Shirley Franklin will serve as the speaker for the MLK legacy lecture,” said Dr. Nancy Boxill, coordinator of UI&U’s Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies Martin Luther King Jr. Specialization. “This is a great opportunity for Union Ph.D. students – as well as the entire community – to hear one of the most important voices in urban American leadership talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and how his legacy lives on.”

Franklin served as Atlanta’s mayor for two terms, from 2002 until 2009. During her eight- year tenure, the city experienced unprecedented growth and afforded Franklin the opportunity to partner and collaborate with many local and regional leaders in addressing urban policy challenges which included urban planning, economic development and infrastructure.

Named by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the top five best big city mayors, Franklin is best known for her work in advocating for and tackling major government operations and ethics reform, launching the Atlanta Beltline, planning and executing airport and water infrastructure improvements, and leading the acquisition of the Morehouse College Collection of Martin Luther King Jr. Papers. In addition, she launched the Regional Commission on Homelessness as part of the United Way of Atlanta and developed successful business and public sector partnerships and alliances.

In 2009, after leaving office, Franklin was appointed to the William and Camille Cosby Endowed Chair at Spelman College and served in this capacity until June 2011. Her community service spans almost 40 years in Atlanta and includes her active participation in the arts, homelessness, and higher education. Currently, Franklin serves on several boards and is president of Clarke-Franklin and Associates, Inc.

UI&U’s biannual MLK Legacy Lecture is an integral part of the university’s MLK Studies specialization within the Ph.D. program and is held twice yearly in conjunction with Ph.D. residencies in Cincinnati. The January 6 lecture, from 1-1:45 p.m., will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the Kingsgate Marriott, 151 Goodman Drive, Clifton. The event is open to the public, however, seating is limited. To reserve tickets, contact Nicole Mayes-Boyd, senior program specialist, at 513-487-1142 or at nicole.mayes-boyd@myunion.edu.

"Experience Day" at the Brattleboro Center, Saturday, November 12

BRATTLEBORO – Union Institute & University's Brattleboro Center will host "Experience Day" on Saturday, November 12, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at VABEC on Old Guilford Road. The event will feature an overview of the B.A. weekend program by enrollment counselor, Lindsay Guido. Guests will also have the opportunity to sit-in on various faculty seminars to observe and experience what it’s like to be a student at Union.

The B.A. weekend program caters to working adults, offering a flexible schedule in which students engage in studies at the Brattleboro Center one weekend a month. The progressive learning format allows students to build relationships with faculty and other students, while also allowing them to complete their studies on a schedule that works for them.

Union’s unique program is structured in a way that allows students to customize studies around their own interests and passions. Coursework can be designed around one or more of the following concentrations: arts, writing, and literature; education (teacher-licensure track available); environmental studies and sustainability; global studies, history, and culture; psychology and human development.

Experience Day will give prospective students the opportunity to see how these studies take place, a chance to mingle with current students and faculty, and time to speak with enrollment staff. Guests are welcome to begin their day with Union as early as 8 a.m. for a free hot breakfast before the overview begins at 9 a.m. Students are encouraged to participate until noon. Those who are interested may stay for lunch and the rest of the day’s activities.

Union's B.A. weekend program is currently accepted students for our winter term beginning in January. $1000 scholarships are available to all new applicants. For more information about applying or the Experience Day, please contact the Brattleboro Center at brattleborocenter@myunion.edu, or at 802-257-9411. RSVP’s are encouraged but not required.

Brattleboro Center Hosts Dialogue With Kate Jellema Nov. 12

Kate Jellema

BRATTLEBORO, VT – As part of its ongoing mission to provide socially relevant education opportunities for its students, Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Brattleboro Academic Center will host a dialogue on social and ethical responsibility Saturday, November 12, with Kate Jellema, director of the program in nonprofit management at the Marlboro College Graduate School. The discussion is one in a series as part of Union’s Bachelor of Arts residency program.

For many years Jellema has worked in a variety of international and local settings to engage in questions that link history, community, and culture. In addition to her current role at Marlboro, Jellema is a scholar of Southeast Asia and has lived and worked in Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Uganda. She holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan.

“Dr. Jellema will lead the BA students in a vigorous and timely dialogue on this topic,” said Dr. Dan Lerner, dean of the Vermont academic centers. “Today, our society is grappling with a stagnant economy and multiple wars. In Brattleboro and elsewhere around the state, the lives of thousands of Vermonters have been forever changed by Tropical Storm Irene. Perhaps there is no better time than now to ask, what does it mean for us to be socially and ethically responsible?”

The Brattleboro community is invited to take part in the discussion held Saturday, November 12, from 3-4:15 p.m., in Community Room at the barn located at the Brattleboro Academic Center, 3 University Way, Brattleboro. For more information contact the Brattleboro Center at brattleborocenter@myunion.edu, or at 802-257-9411.

Ph.D. Alumna Named 2011 Whiting Writers' Award Recipient

Don Mee Choi, Ph.D.

CINCINNATI, OH – The Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation has named Union Institute & University Ph.D. alumna Don Mee Choi as one of ten recipients of the 2011 Whiting Writers’ Award. The awards, now $50,000 each totaling $500,000, have been given annually since 1985 to writers of "exceptional talent and promise in early career."

Since 1985, the program has awarded more than $6 million to 270 poets, fiction and nonfiction writers, and playwrights. Among the past recipients who have gone on to achieve acclaim and prominence in their field are Jeffrey Eugenides, Yiyun Li, Tony Kushner, Jonathan Franzen, Lisa Shea, Michael Cunningham, Mary Karr, Allegra Goodman, Wayne Koestenbaum, Rajiv Joseph and Terrance Hayes.

“The selection committee has given us a marvelously eclectic group of writers,” said Barbara Bristol, director of the Writers’ Program. “It is wonderful to see from the books these writers have published that the small, independent presses and university presses continue to be a strong, vital presence in the literary world, and it is also heartening that the larger presses are still investing in emerging literary talent.”

The 2011 recipients were announced at a ceremony at the Times Center in New York City on Tuesday, October 25. Poet Mark Doty, author of eight books of poems, including Fire to Fire: New and Selected Poems, which won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2008, gave the keynote address. Whiting Foundation President Robert Belknap presented the awards to the recipients.

Choi was awarded for her first book of poetry, The Morning News is Exciting (Action Books, 2010), which the selectors found “a wildly surprising work describing the collapse of empire—bracing and invigorating. Its anger glows.” She also translates contemporary Korean women poets; her most recent is All the Garbage of the World, Unite! by Kim Hyesoon (Action Books, 2011). She is a recipient of a Daesan Translation Grant, Korea Literature Translation Institute Translation Grant, an American Literary Translators Association Travel Fellowship, and has served as poet-in-residence at the Henry Art Gallery. In addition to her Ph.D. from Union, which she earned in 2003, she holds a BFA and an MFA from the California Institute for the Arts. An instructor in adult basic education at Renton Technical College, she lives in Seattle.

Whiting Writers’ Awards candidates are proposed by about a hundred anonymous nominators from across the country whose experience and vocations give them knowledge about writers in early career. Winners are chosen by a small anonymous selection committee of recognized writers and editors, appointed annually by the Foundation. At four meetings over the course of the year, the selectors discuss the candidates’ work and recommend up to ten writers for awards to the Foundation’s Trustees. The Foundation accepts nominations only from the designated nominators.

About the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation

The Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation was established in 1963 by Flora E. Whiting. In 1972, her unrestricted bequest of over $10 million enabled the Foundation to establish the Whiting Fellowships in the Humanities for doctoral candidates in their dissertation year. In the years since, the Foundation has annually awarded grants to Bryn Mawr, University of Chicago, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale to fund these Fellowships, the recipients of which are selected by each institution. The Foundation created the Whiting Writers’ Awards in 1985 under the direction of Gerald Freund, who organized and led the program until his death in 1997.

For more information about the Whiting Writers’ Award contact Liza Lucas,
(212) 705-4226 or llucas@goldbergmcduffie.com. For information about Union’s Ph.D. program and Don Mee Choi, Ph.D., contact Nicole Hamilton, (513) 487-1194 or Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

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NYU Professor Named Scholar-in-Residence for Upcoming Ph.D. Residency

George Shulman, Ph.D.

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Cincinnati today announced that George Shulman, Ph.D., professor at The Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University, will serve as the scholar-in-residence for the upcoming Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies residency held in Cincinnati January 2-10, 2012.

Shulman teaches and writes on political thought in Europe and the United States, as well as on Greek and Hebrew - tragic and biblical - traditions. His teaching and writing emphasize the role of narrative in culture and politics. He is the author of Radicalism and Reverence: Gerrard Winstanley and the English Revolution and American Prophecy: Race and Redemption in American Political Culture (2008). His most recent book, American Prophecy, was awarded the David Easton Prize in political theory. Focusing on the language that great American critics have used to engage the racial domination at the center of American history, American Prophecy explores the relationship of prophecy and race to American nationalism and democratic politics. Shulman is a recipient of the 2003 NYU Distinguished Teaching Award.

Shulman’s keynote, “Vernacular Theology: Race, Prophecy and Ideas of Redemption in American Politics" analyzes the underlying grammar and vernacular idioms of political speech in the United States, by focusing especially on the ways that critics have formulated their opposition to white supremacy and racial inequality. The central claim is that "prophetic" language is a vernacular theology in the wider culture and the crucial language of opposition to racial domination.

For more information about the upcoming Ph.D. residency please contact Nicole Hamilton, UI&U public relations manager, at nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu or at 513-487-1194.

Cincinnati Academic Center Hires Admissions Director

Ken Fritz

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that since 1964 has provided higher education opportunities for adults, today announced that Ken Fritz has been hired as admissions director for the Cincinnati Academic Center.

Fritz brings a wealth of successful enrollment management experience to UI&U. Most recently, he worked for the Apollo Group’s Institute for Professional Development (IDP), which contracts with colleges and universities to provide enrollment management and educational consulting services.

Fritz also served in various admissions, recruiting, and enrollment management capacities with Thomas More College’s TAP program and Ohio Dominican University’s business programs. He is also a past president of the Regional Association for Adult Higher Education (RAAHE), a consortium of regionally accredited local colleges and universities, of which UI&U is a member.

Fritz has a master of business administration and a master of management with a concentration in human resources management, both from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Union College in Kentucky.

National Commencement Weekend Begins October 14

Dr. Sylvia Manning, president of the Higher Learning Commission, to deliver commencement address; Union will confer degrees to the first graduates of the university’s Doctor of Education program

WALNUT HILLS – Students from Cincinnati and across the country will converge at Union Institute & University (UI&U) in Walnut Hills October 14 and 15 to take part in the university’s National Commencement Weekend. The university’s newest graduates have earned doctoral, masters, and bachelor’s degrees from the private, non-profit university that, since 1964, has provided higher education opportunities for adults. This year, Union will also confer degrees to the first graduates of the university’s new Doctorate of Education program.

“The National Commencement weekend is a momentous occasion for Union Institute & University,” said UI&U President Dr. Roger H. Sublett. “It is time when the entire Union community gathers to celebrate our students’ accomplishments and the culmination of our collective efforts as a national university working to make positive change in our communities, through progressive higher education.” Also as part of the commencement weekend, the university’s international alumni board will host the second Union ReUnion, welcoming some of the university’s first graduates back to their alma mater.

The events begin Friday, October 14, with the President’s Reception, held at the UI&U Cincinnati Academic Center in Walnut Hills. The reception is an opportunity for new graduates and their families to celebrate their accomplishment with President Sublett, trustees, faculty, alumni and fellow graduates. The UI&U National Commencement takes place at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 15, in the Hall of Mirrors at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in downtown Cincinnati.

National commencement speaker Dr. Sylvia Manning is president of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, one of six regional institutional accreditors and the oldest accrediting organization in the United States. Her vision for the HLC has been to strengthen participation of the Commission's institutional leaders in helping to create the voice of the Commission on issues of state, regional, and national importance. She is committed to keeping accreditation timely, relevant, and accountable for members of the public and, most importantly, for the students served by HLC accredited institutions.

UI&U National Commencement Details: UI&U’s President’s Reception, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Friday, October 14, at the Cincinnati Academic Center, 440 East McMillan Street, Walnut Hills. UI&U National Commencement, 11 a.m. Saturday, October 15, Hall of Mirrors, at the Hilton Netherland Plaza, 35 West Fifth Street, downtown.

For more information on the national commencement events, please contact Nicole Hamilton, public relations manager, at 513-487-1194 or at Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

Montpelier Center Hosts Dialogue on Social and Ethical Responsibility



Mark Snelling


MONTPELIER, VT – As part of its ongoing mission to provide socially relevant education opportunities for its students, Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Montpelier Academic Center will host a dialogue on social and ethical responsibility Saturday, October 8, with Mark Snelling, volunteer president of the Snelling Center for Government. The discussion is part of a series of talks as part of Union’s Bachelor of Arts residency program.

Snelling currently also serves as the president of The Shelburne Corporation, a manufacturer of brass wire products. He has owned and operated a number of businesses in the ski, bike, and hardware industries. In addition, Snelling serves on the board of The Snelling Center for Government and is chair of the Vermont Governor’s Council of Environmental Advisors. He also recently chaired the Governor’s Commission on Downtowns and GrowthCenters. Snelling previously served on the Boards of Key Bank Vermont, the Vermont Land Trust, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, and as Chair of Housing Vermont and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.

The Montpelier community is invited to take part in the discussion held Saturday, October 8, from 1:15-2:30 p.m., in room 202 in Stone Science Hall at UI&U’s Montpelier Center located at 62 Ridge Street. For more information about the discussion please contact Melissa Neilson, program advisor, at 802-828-8570 or Melissa.neilson@myunion.edu.

Jeff Sellers Joins Union as Director of Development

CINCINNATI - Union Institute & University today announced it has hired Jeff Sellers as director of development. In his role, Sellers will oversee fundraising efforts for the national, private, non-profit university headquartered in Cincinnati.

Sellers comes to Union with more than 11 years of experience orchestrating successful development initiatives and fundraising efforts including: capital campaigns; major gifts; grants, and corporate solicitations; annual fund drives; direct mail; online fundraising; planned giving; and special events.

“Jeff’s wealth of experience will be put to good use in assisting Union in its future fundraising efforts,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “We are delighted to have attracted an individual with the talent and experience that Jeff brings to the university.”

Most recently, Sellers served as the director of fund development for the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Red Cross. In this role he managed a comprehensive fundraising program that included direct mail, online giving, major gifts and planned giving. His efforts doubled the number of major donors and significantly increased the organization’s overall number of donors. Prior to his role as director of fund development, Sellers served as a major gifts officer for the Red Cross, managing the largest Biker’s Ball in chapter history and raising more than $165,000 at the annual event for the organization.

Prior to joining the Red Cross, Sellers served as a fundraising manager for the Kids in Need Foundation in Dayton, where he guided and managed the volunteer fundraising and marketing committee of more than 10 members and conducting the Kids in Need’s first $1 million annual campaign. He also provided leadership at Wilberforce University, where he served as a major gift officer for four years before accepting his position at Kids in Need.

Sellers holds an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and a Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Heidelberg College in Tiffin.

Cincinnati Undergraduate Center Launches Dual Degree Program

CINCINNATI - As part of its ongoing mission to provide socially-relevant and academically rigorous degree programs for adults, Union Institute & University today announced the launch of the Bachelor of Science dual major in leadership and business management. The new dual degree program is an accelerated, 60 credit-hour, on-ground program, designed to prepare students for today’s technology savvy world. As with all programs at the private, non-profit university, the program also emphasizes social responsibility and servant leadership. Graduates of the program will earn a BS degree in both leadership and business management.

The BS in leadership and business management curriculum was designed by experienced business management professionals to enhance the knowledge and skills of people in or aspiring to positions of increasing responsibility. “In today’s dynamic professional environment, people in positions of leadership have to envision, inspire, and motivate to reach increasing levels of success. This new program teaches students how to temper abilities with strong organizational and administrative skills to provide more effective leadership,” said Jeffrey Shepard, director of the BS in leadership and business management and interim chair of the Leadership program at the Cincinnati Undergraduate Center.

The new program follows a cohort model, where students progress through the program as a group, meeting once a week at Union’s Cincinnati Academic and in weekly group meetings outside class hours, for each five-week course. As an accelerated program, students who enroll with an associate’s degree or two years of college credits can earn their BS in leadership and business management in 18 months. Credits will also be considered for CLEP and DANTES testing and other prior learning assessments. In addition, each student enrolled in the program will engage in business-quality web conferencing, receive an ultra-portable laptop, and gain access to the university’s comprehensive online library.

Union is currently accepting applications for the first BS in leadership and business management cohort, to begin in January 2012 and are hosting information sessions about the new program from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Tuesday November 8 and Wednesday November 30. To attend an information session, contact Brooke Fletcher at 513-487-1219 or brooke.fletcher@myunion.edu. Participants will be registered to win an Amazon Kindle.

Ph.D. Alumna Maravene Loeschke Appointed President of Towson University



Maravene Loeschke, Ph.D.


Dr. Maravene Loeschke, a graduate of Union Institute & University’s Ph.D. program, has been appointed president of Towson University, the second largest university in Maryland. Dr. Loeschke, currently president of Mansfield University, replaces Robert Caret, Ph.D., who resigned from Towson several months ago to become president of the University of Massachusetts system.

“We are very proud of Dr. Loeschke and her achievements, particularly that she is embarking on her second presidency. Her efforts as a creative and courageous leader in higher education are well known,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “She truly emulates Union’s mission to engage every student in a lifetime of servant leadership.”

Loeschke earned both her master's degree in education and her bachelor's degree in theatre and English from Towson University, and spent more than 30 years at her alma mater moving up through the faculty ranks before serving as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication from 1997 until 2002, when she left Towson to accept the appointment as provost of Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.

During her tenure at Wilkes, Loeschke is credited with the success of several initiatives, including shaping an undergraduate experience centered on mentorship, creating the University Diversity Action Plan, reorganizing the academic division into schools, initiating the development of learned outcomes assessments for academic programs, and increasing funding for faculty development.

Loeschke was appointed president of Mansfield University in 2006. In this role, she oversaw the development of the university's first inclusive strategic plan and the establishment of a budget dedicated to the plan's goals. In addition, she reorganized the university's administrative structure to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness, strengthened the relationship between the university and the community, and brought greater focus to diversity and inclusion on campus.

A 1975 graduate of Union’s Ph.D. program, Loeschke is active in leadership and mentoring programs for women in higher education and has also worked as a professional actress. Her awards include the Towson University Alumni Service Award and the U.S. Postal Service Martin Luther King Service Award for commitment to diversity at Wilkes University.

Gladys Styles Johnston, Ph.D., Joins Union's Board of Trustees

CINCINNATI, OH - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that offers a different approach to adult education featuring flexible, individualized, and socially relevant undergraduate and graduate degree programs, today announced the appointment of Gladys Styles Johnston, Ph.D. to its Board of Trustees.

“From serving as chancellor at a major university to overseeing a leadership initiative for those who aspire to follow in her footsteps, Gladys Styles Johnston provides an important voice in higher education,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “We are deeply honored that she has joined our board and look forward to her expertise and leadership. Her career path is exemplary and shows a deep commitment to adults who seek education that makes a difference in their own lives and the communities around them.

Johnston currently serves as the assistant to the president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and as the director of the AASCU’s Millennium Leadership Initiative, a program designed to assist high-achieving academic administrators at the level of dean or higher who are planning to seek presidency or chancellorship of a university.

Johnston served as the chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 1993 until 2002, when she became a chancellor emerita. Before joining the University of Nebraska, she served as provost, and then as executive vice president, for DePaul University in Chicago. Prior to her appointment at DePaul, Johnston served as dean of the College of Education at Arizona State University (ASU). Before joining ASU she was chair of the Department of Management in the School of Business at Rutgers University.

Johnston has served on several civic, educational, and commercial boards including the Omaha Branch of Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, in which she chaired for three consecutive years. She served as board chair for the AASCU and was a member of the board of directors for the American Council of Educators. Johnston also served on the board of the Higher Learning Commission and as a national advisor on the Kellogg Foundation’s National Fellowship Program. In 1992, she was selected by the YMCA of Chicago as an “Outstanding Educator” in the city.

Johnston holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Cheyney University, a master’s in educational administration from Temple and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. She served as a distinguished commonwealth visiting professor at the School of Education at the College of William & Mary and has published two books and co-authored several research articles.

For more information please contact Nicole Hamilton, UI&U public relations manager, at 513-487-1194 or Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

Union Hosts Second Brattleboro Higher Education Fair September 29

The Brattleboro Academic Center at VABEC

Fair will feature experts from eight regional colleges and universities

BRATTLEBORO – Union Institute & University, a private, non-profit university in Brattleboro, will host the second annual Brattleboro Area Higher Education Fair, Thursday, September 29th, from 5:30 -7 p.m. at VABEC on Old Guilford Road in Brattleboro. The free event is co-sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce and will feature representatives from eight Brattleboro-area colleges and universities including: Community College of Vermont, Marlboro College, SIT Graduate Institute, Greenfield Community College, Union Institute & University, Keene State College, Vermont Technical College, and River Valley Community College.

Attendees can learn about graduate degree programs in areas including: business, psychology, international education, sustainability, health care administration, education, and interdisciplinary studies. In addition, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees are offered at several of the participating higher education institutions in a number of disciplines and delivery models. Michele Delhaye from VSAC will also be present to answer questions about financing education.

Key representatives will be on hand to answer questions about a number of important topics including graduate education, low-residency and online degree programs, study abroad, and choosing between a two-year specialized or community college.

The Higher Education Fair is ideal for students and parents, working adults looking to return to college, employees of local organizations, as well as faculty and staff from local schools who want to learn more about the colleges and universities located in the greater Brattleboro area, or who may be interested in an advanced degree. The event will feature light refreshments. Donations will be accepted on behalf of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce “Skills for Success” scholarship.

For more information contact the Brattleboro Academic Center at brattleborocenter@myunion.edu, or at 802-257-9411.

Roger Allbee, Former VT Secretary of Agriculture, Appointed to Board of Trustees

Roger Allbee

MONTPELIER, VT - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that offers a different approach to adult education featuring flexible, individualized, and socially relevant undergraduate and graduate degree programs, today announced the appointment of Roger Allbee to its Board of Trustees. Allbee is a leader in the advancement of agriculture in the United States and former secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets.

“Roger Allbee’s knowledge, experience, expertise, and lifelong commitment to Vermont will help Union make a lasting, positive impact on higher education initiatives in Vermont and beyond,” said Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “We are honored that he has chosen to serve on Union’s Board of Trustees.”

Allbee was appointed secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets in January 2007 by former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. As secretary, Allbee administered one of the most diverse and publically watched agencies in Vermont, overseeing all facets of the state’s agriculture including animal health and welfare, agricultural development, water quality and nutrient management, international trade and trade policy, and food safety.

Before serving as secretary, Allbee was the executive director for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Services Agency for the State of Vermont. In this role, he was responsible for the execution of farm loan and farm program delivery to Vermont farmers and managed several offices throughout the state of Vermont. During his tenure as executive director, the Vermont FSA loan team received an USDA FSA Administrator’s Award.

In addition to Allbee’s roles with the state of Vermont and the USDA, he also served as a senior international business consultant on agricultural trade policy and as a professional staff member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. He has also served as vice president of the former Farm Credit Banks of Springfield, Mass., and as an extension specialist at Cornell University.

Allbee's earned his B.S. in agricultural economics from the University of Vermont, and a master's in agricultural economics from the University of Massachusetts. He has completed the Cornell University Agricultural Executives Program, and the Harvard Business School Agribusiness seminars. He served in Special Weapons of the U.S. Army with a rank of captain, and has received numerous awards including the Honor Award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America.

California Commencement Honors Fallen Officer; Mayor Quan to Speak

Union will present a new graduate with the Sergeant Mark Dunakin Award for Extraordinary Achievement

SACRAMENTO, CA – Students from Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Sacramento and Los Angeles Academic Centers will converge July 24th at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Sacramento to participate in the Union Institute & University California Commencement. The new graduates have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees from the private, non-profit university that, since 1964, has provided higher education opportunities for adult learners. The Honorable Mayor Jean Quan, the first woman and first Asian-American to be elected mayor of Oakland, will deliver the keynote address.

The commencement also marks the inauguration of the Mark Dunakin Award for Extraordinary Achievement, to be presented at the California Commencement each year to a law enforcement officer and graduate of the university’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management program. The award, given to an officer who represents the best in his or her field, was established in honor of Mark Dunakin, a sergeant with the Oakland Police Department and graduate of the Sacramento Academic Center’s CJM program, who was killed in the line of duty in Oakland in March of 2009.

Mayor Quan was elected to her current position after serving for eight years and two terms on Oakland's City Council. Throughout her public service career, she has championed several public safety initiatives. As a city council member she expanded neighborhood crime prevention programs, CORE (Citizens Organized to Respond to Emergencies) training, and added new services for sexually exploited minors and victims of domestic violence.

“As an advocate for public safety and higher education in Oakland and beyond, Mayor Quan’s participation at our California commencement is a testament to Sergeant Dunakin and the valuable work our students and alumni in California do every day to uplift and improve their neighborhoods and to keep residents safe,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “Mayor Quan shares Union’s commitment to empowering lives and communities. We are deeply honored that she will serve as our commencement speaker.”

Union Institute & University’s California Commencement will begin at 11 a.m., July 24, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 6151 H Street, in Sacramento. For more information contact Nicole Hamilton, PR Manager, at Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu, or at 513-487-1194.

University Library Now Entirely Online

CINCINNATI, OH – As part of its ongoing effort to provide the best educational opportunities for its students, Union Institute & University (UI&U) today announced that is has transitioned to a state-of-the-art, entirely online library and an enhanced library website for Union students, alumni, and faculty. The new library will focus on enhancing its comprehensive library research collections and increasing its access to a wide range of online databases, electronic books, journal articles, dissertations, and other web-based media.

“Having access, at all times, to a library with a vast collection, is imperative to our students’ success. The transition of our library services to a source that can be accessed 24/7 from anywhere significantly strengthens the academic support Union provides its students,” says Union’s provost, Dr. Rich Hansen. “Our library has always been an essential part of the university academic offerings, and with the transition complete, the services the library provides will only grow stronger.”

For the transition, Director of the Union Institute & University Library, Matthew Pappathan, and his team that includes Union librarians Susan Whitehead and Lynda Howell, examined syllabi and interviewed faculty, and then purchased e-books and databases in line with the needs of each of Union’s programs –tripling the library’s e-book collection. Today, the library houses more than 70,000 e-books, as well as millions of full text articles, dissertations, and other media including video.

The Union Institute & University Library is accessed through a newly redesigned website, developed by Director of Web Communications Mark Stevens and his team (www.myunion.edu/library/) . The library and web communications teams spent 10 months collaborating on the project. In addition to improving research assistance for students, the teams focused on streamlining the site’s navigation structure and enhancing search capabilities within the library’s vast directory of research databases, as well as augmenting its ‘Ask a Librarian’ features to assist students, faculty, and alumni.

The new online library replaces what was the Gary Library, housed on the Montpelier campus that now belongs to the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Union’s library staff has moved their offices to the Stone Science building joining Union’s Montpelier-based staff and faculty.

For more information visit: www.myunion.edu/library/ or contact Nicole Hamilton, public relations manager, at 513-487-1194 or Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

"Lincoln on Leadership" Author to Deliver Keynote at July 8 MLK Legacy Luncheon

Donald T. Phillips

Donald T. Phillips helped pave the way toward the creation of a new genre of books on historical leadership

CINCINNATI, OH - As part of its ongoing mission to engage the community in dialogue that creates positive social change and inspire servant leadership, Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Ph.D. program will host the biannual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Luncheon, Friday, July 8, from noon – 1:30 p.m. at the Kingsgate Marriot in Clifton. Bestselling author and expert on historical leadership, Donald T. Phillips, will deliver the keynote address titled “Social Change and the Role of the Scholar.”

“We are honored that Donald Phillips will serve as the guest speaker for the upcoming MLK luncheon,” said Dr. Nancy Boxill, coordinator of UI&U’s Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies Martin Luther King Jr. Specialization. “His exploration into the leadership styles of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln - among other great leaders –serves as an important tool for our scholars who are applying MLK’s leadership practices to their own work in making lasting change in their communities.”

Phillips first became interested in leadership as an executive working for a large corporation in the late 1980s. Seeking ways to become a better manager, he found that seminars and books on leadership emphasized worker productivity but had little consideration for people. This led him to learn about leadership by studying the life and work of President Abraham Lincoln.

His first book, Lincoln on Leadership, paved the way toward the creation of a new genre of books on historical leadership and served as his inspiration for a trilogy on America leadership that also includes The Founding Fathers on Leadership and Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership. Today, Phillips is also an internationally-acclaimed speaker on historical leadership and has worked with companies including Lockheed Martin and Oracle, addressing executives on effective leadership.

Union’s biannual MLK Luncheon is an integral part of the university’s MLK Studies specialization within the Ph.D. program and is held twice yearly in conjunction with Ph.D. residencies in Cincinnati. The July 8 luncheon, from noon-1:30 p.m., will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the Kingsgate Marriott, 151 Goodman Drive, Clifton. The event is open to the public, however, seating is limited. Cost is $25 and includes lunch. To reserve tickets contact Nicole Mayes-Boyd, senior program specialist, at 513-487-1142 or at nicole.mayes-boyd@myunion.edu.

Non-Profit Leader Appointed Director of UI&U's Center for Lifelong Learning

Dayle Deardurff

Dayle Deardurff has led several Cincinnati non-profit organizations; will create programs for Union designed for career and personal development

CINCINNATI, OH - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills today announced it has appointed Dayle Deardurff director of the university’s Center for Lifelong Learning. In her role as director, Deardurff will design and implement programs that provide educational opportunities for students and professionals looking to further their career, maintain professional certification or licensure, earn pre-requisite credits, or follow a passion.

Union Institute & University currently offers a variety courses as part of its Center for Lifelong Learning. In addition to the student-designed course option, the center also works with outside organizations to design and implement external courses for UI&U graduate or undergraduate credit. As the new director, Deardurff plans to partner with Cincinnati employers, local community leaders and non-profit organizations to provide workshops and certificate programs for professionals, in addition to courses and programs designed to meet an individual’s specific career and personal development needs.

“We are very excited to bring Dayle on board and to support her in her efforts to expand our offerings for individuals serving business, non-profit, and governmental sectors,” said UI&U President Roger H. Sublett. “Her experience and expertise are a good fit for Union’s mission to serve adults, engage the mind and the spirit, and enhance community service.”

“Union’s Lifelong Learning program has the potential to become one of the region’s best resources for professional career development. Our flexible and highly supportive structure enables us to provide personalized support to both organizations and individuals, and our national and online presence provides a unique foundation to tap our expert faculty who are located across the country.” said Deardurff. “I am very excited to work with Union’s staff and faculty to create opportunities for our community.”

Deardurff brings to Union significant management experience in non-profit organizational development, operations, program design and development, and nonprofit consulting. Her most recent position was as director for Northern Kentucky University’s Institute for Nonprofit Capacity where she oversaw the development of the nonprofit resource center, forging partnerships within the university and with outside organizations to serve the region’s non-profits. She recently authored a report on the status of nonprofits in our region, “Holding Our Community Together: The Nonprofits of Greater Cincinnati.”

Prior to joining NKU, Deardurff served as president and chief executive officer for Cincinnati Works, where she led a staff of 20 in its mission to reduce poverty through sustainable employment. Under her direction, Cincinnati Works successfully met a 20 percent increased demand for services through restructured operations, improved fundraising and enhanced program delivery.

Before serving at Cincinnati Works, Deardurff was executive officer of Public Allies Cincinnati, the local site of the national AmeriCorps program that provided experiential leadership development for hundreds of local young adults by placing them in paid, ten-month leadership development internships at more than 40 non-profit organizations.

In this role, from 2000-2007, Deardurff directed all aspects of agency operations including program development, client data collection, grant writing and reporting, media and community outreach efforts, and the recruitment and training of AmeriCorps volunteers in Cincinnati.

In 1996, Deardurff was hired as the executive director of ProKids, in charge of designing, implementing, and developing the new child advocacy agency (CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates). Under her direction, ProKids grew from a staff of three and 30 volunteers to a staff of 23 with more than 100 volunteers serving 2,000 children.

Deardurff earned a B.A. from Bowling Green State University and a J.D. from Creighton School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information about Union Institute & University’s Center for Lifelong Learning, contact Nicole Hamilton, public relations manager, at nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu, or 513-487-1194.

Partnership With Columbus State Community College Grows

Union is the only outside university that offers a “3+1” opportunity on-site at the community college

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U) today announced that it will bring four additional bachelor of science programs to Columbus State Community College (CCSC), providing more opportunities for Columbus State students with an associate degree to earn a bachelor of science degree from UI&U, the private, non-profit university headquartered in Cincinnati.

In September 2010, UI&U faculty began teaching courses on-site at Columbus State’s downtown campus to CSCC students who are enrolled in UI&U’s sport management concentration with a goal to earn a UI&U BS in leadership. The first class exceeded the enrollment goals, and prompted the two higher learning institutions to add additional BS degree programs in criminal justice, early childhood studies, emergency services management, and business management.

“We are pleased to be able to create structured learning experiences that meet the specific needs and career objectives of Columbus State graduates,” said Dr. Carolyn Turner, UI&U undergraduate dean. “By working closely with Columbus State faculty, we were able to design degree programs that are not only in line with the goals of the Columbus State student, but also reinforce UI&U’s dedication to providing relevant and academically-challenging undergraduate programs that fit the lifestyle of today’s busy students.”

While Columbus State has many agreements with nearby colleges and universities, UI&U is the only outside college that offers a “3+1” opportunity onsite at CSCC. Students can take all four years of their bachelor’s degree at Columbus State with the first three years offered by CSCC and the last through classes offered by Union. This offers students a substantial savings on their tuition, and provides a convenient and accelerated path to attain a bachelor’s degree.

"Columbus State has a history of working with other institutions to offer a variety of options for our graduates to continue their education," says Will Kopp, vice president for Institutional Advancement. "Union Institute & University offers a fresh option by providing instructors and classes for CCSC students directly on the Columbus State downtown campus. That arrangement is a very convenient option for our students."

An articulation agreement recently established between UI&U and Columbus State allows Columbus State students from selected programs to transfer appropriate course work toward their bachelor’s degree at UI&U. In addition, graduates of Columbus State’s associate degree programs who transfer into UI&U’s undergraduate program receive a 10 percent discount on the tuition rate. They also receive a tuition scholarship for the last four credits if they maintain continuous enrollment in good standing with UI&U.

Courses in criminal justice management begin in late June and business management, emergency services management, and early childhood studies courses, all leading to bachelor’s degree with these specific majors, will start in September 2011.

For more information about the new programs please contact Nicole Hamilton, UI&U public relations manager at 513-487-1194 or nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

Cincinnati Center Hosts Degree Completion Open House June 8

CINCINNATI, OH - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills, will host an Undergraduate Open House for those interested in learning more about the university’s undergraduate degree completion programs, from 2-7 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, at the Cincinnati Academic Center located at 440 East McMillan Street. Faculty will be on hand at the open house to talk to potential students, and enrollment counselors will be available to evaluate transcripts on-the-spot.

Since 1964, Union has offered degree completion programs designed for adults who seek a customized, faculty-directed degree program that fits their busy schedule. The university offers B.A. and B.S. degree programs in a variety of majors including liberal studies (with five areas of concentration including writing, psychology, and sustainability), as well as business management, business administration, criminal justice management, leadership, early childhood studies, emergency service management, and social work. In addition, Union is one of the only higher education institutions in the country to offer a BS in maternal child health: lactation consulting.

Union’s accelerated undergraduate degree programs incorporate the students’ prior transfer credits earned at other universities or colleges, consider the students’ relevant professional experience and knowledge, and identify a set of remaining courses that reflect the students’ personal goals and satisfies UI&U degree requirements. Unlike most universities, Union does not put a time limit on transferring in credits earned at other higher learning institutions.

Reservations for the June 8 open house are not required, but recommended. For more information contact Union Institute & University’s Cincinnati Academic Center admissions personnel at admissions@myunion.edu or at 513-487-1219.

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Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to Deliver Keynote at CA Commencement

The first woman and first Asian-American to be elected Mayor of Oakland shares the university’s commitment to servant leadership

Mayor Jean Quan

SACRAMENTO, CA – Union Institute & University (UI&U), today announced that the Honorable Mayor Jean Quan, the first woman and first Asian-American to be elected mayor of Oakland, will deliver the keynote address for the UI&U’s California Commencement on July 24 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Sacramento. The commencement honors new graduates from the university’s Sacramento and Los Angeles Centers who have earned undergraduate degrees from the non-profit, private university that, since 1964, has provided innovative higher education opportunities for adults.

The commencement also marks the inauguration of the Mark Dunakin Award, to be presented at the California Commencement each year to a law enforcement officer and graduate of the university’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management program. The award, given to an officer who represents the best in his or her field, was established in honor of Mark Dunakin, a sergeant with the Oakland Police Department and graduate of the Sacramento Academic Center’s CJM program, who was killed in the line of duty in Oakland on March 21, 2009.

“As an advocate for public safety and higher education in Oakland and beyond, Mayor Quan’s participation at our California commencement is a testament to Sergeant Dunakin and the valuable work our students and alumni in California do every day to uplift and improve their neighborhoods and to keep residents safe,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “Mayor Quan shares Union’s commitment to empowering lives and communities. We are deeply honored that she will serve as our commencement speaker.”

Mayor Quan was elected to her current position after serving for eight years and two terms on Oakland's City Council. Initially motivated into public service in 1989 as a parent activist, fighting for the music and art programs in her children's schools, she became a diligent member of the Oakland School Board and was nationally recognized as an advocate for urban education for her work in creating policies to raise graduation standards, increasing computer literacy, and expanding career preparation and internship opportunities for high school students.

Throughout her public service career, Mayor Quan has championed several public safety initiatives. As a city council member she expanded neighborhood crime prevention programs, CORE (Citizens Organized to Respond to Emergencies) training, and added new services for sexually exploited minors and victims of domestic violence. “I believe that crime is integrally linked to the future of our children and the hope in our city,” said Mayor Quan in her inauguration speech. “If our children have no hope, we’re going to continue to have crime.”

As an Oakland School Board member, Mayor Quan was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Title 1 Committee, representing large urban schools. She also served on the Executive Committee of the Council of Great City Schools Executive Committee. As a National Kellogg Foundation Fellow, she traveled to cities throughout the United States and learned how cities partnered with their school districts to improve education.

She is the past chair of the Asian American Municipal Officials and currently a member of the US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, Central City Caucus, Big 10 California Cities, Emerald Cities (green jobs/technology) and chair of the Local Government Commission focused on smart growth planning policy.

Union Institute & University’s California Commencement will begin at 11 a.m., July 24, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 6151 H Street, in Sacramento. For more information contact Nicole Hamilton, PR Manager, at Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu, or at 513-487-1194.

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Dr. Sylvia Manning, HLC President, to Deliver National Commencement Keynote

Dr. Sylvia Manning

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private non-profit university headquartered in
Cincinnati today announced that Dr. Sylvia Manning, president of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, will serve as the commencement speaker at UI&U’s National Commencement, Saturday, October 15, at the Cincinnati Hilton Netherland Plaza in downtown Cincinnati.

The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional institutional accreditors and the oldest accrediting organization in the United States. Under the authority of the North Central Association (NCA), the HLC currently accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in 19 states and is officially recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation for its commitment to promoting the highest standards in higher education.

Appointed by the HLC Board as president in 2008, Manning’s vision has been to strengthen participation of the Commission's institutional leaders in helping to create the voice of the Commission on issues of state, regional, and national importance. She is committed to keeping accreditation timely, relevant, and accountable for members of the public and, most importantly, for the students served by HLC accredited institutions.

“We are deeply honored that Dr. Manning will serve as Union’s national commencement speaker,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “Her leadership of the Commission is paramount in the advancement of academic excellence in our country. Dr. Manning has been instrumental in providing stellar leadership during a time of change and challenges in higher education. Dr. Manning is ultimately committed to the student, ensuring that the institutions of higher learning provide high quality, innovative, and relevant education.”

Manning previously served the University of Illinois for 13 years, the last eight as Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to joining the University of Illinois in 1994 as Vice President of Academic Affairs, she served in a number of faculty and senior leadership roles at the University of Southern California and California State University, Hayward. She has served on regional accreditation teams for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as well as for The Higher Learning Commission and as a public member for a specialized accrediting agency for degree programs in nursing.

Manning holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Yale University in English language and literature and a B.A. in English from McGill University.

For more information about UI&U’s National Commencement contact Nicole Hamilton, public relations manager at 513-487-1194 or at nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

Wanted by Cops: UI&U's Criminal Justice Program

SACRAMENTO, CA – Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Sacramento Academic Center is now making degree completion even more accessible for law enforcement professionals in Northern California - by bringing higher education to them. The university recently launched sites at the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Regional Training Center and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department in support of its growing Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management (CJM) program – the university’s largest and most popular BS program.

The private, non-profit university has plans to grow the CJM program into large metropolitan areas including Fresno and the Bay area. Dr. James Rocheleau, associate provost of special projects and former dean of the California Centers, says his goal is to open two new CJM sites in California each year.

“The sites in Stanislaus and San Mateo are a testament to how popular – and successful – our criminal justice management program has become,” said Rocheleau. “We listened to what law enforcement professionals wanted and created a program that is convenient, accelerated, academically rigorous, and affordable.”

More than 350 learners are currently enrolled in the CJM program and four current California sheriffs, including Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson, are graduates of UI&U’s CJM program. Law enforcement professionals seek UI&U’s CJM program because they can earn advanced credit for police academy training, complete courses in eight weeks, and learn from former police officers who have extensive experience in criminal justice management.

As an alumnus, Sheriff Christianson has been looking forward to bringing the program to Stanislaus County. “This is an excellent partnership and a unique educational opportunity for members of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department,” said Sheriff Christianson. “Union's program is tailored to the needs of those working in criminal justice today and it sets the stage for them to advance and become leaders in public safety.”

In addition to these new sites in northern California, UI&U now has a total of 10 sites throughout California, including locations in San Bernardino County, Arcadia, Brea, Orange County, and Palmdale, all in response to growing demand for CJM degree completion programs. The LA center already has successful agreements with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

For more information about the Sacramento Academic Center’s new sites contact Dr. James Rocheleau, associate provost for special projects at 888.862.9950, x1518 or x1710, or james.rocheleau@myunion.edu.

May 15 Commencement Honors Florida Graduates

NORTH MIAMI BEACH – On May 15, Union Institute & University’s Florida Academic Center will honor new graduates who have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees from the private, non-profit university located in North Miami Beach. Louis Albert Jolivert, senior director at BNY Mellon Wealth Management and current chairman of the Miami Foundation’s Board of Governors, will serve as the commencement speaker. The university will also present UI&U board member and former president, Dr. George Pruitt, President of Thomas Edison State College, with an honorary doctorate degree.

Many of the Miami graduates are adults who have balanced work and family commitments with their efforts to fulfill their lifelong dream of earning a college degree. New graduate LaToya Williams, who immigrated to Miami from Jamaica in 2008, earned her BS in elementary education and is the first in her immediate family to graduate. “It has not been an easy road,” said Williams, whose parents are traveling from Jamaica to see her commence. “The classes were very challenging – but with the help and encouragement of Union’s faculty, I was able to succeed and to emerge feeling very empowered.”

Also taking part in this year’s commencement ceremony are two married couples who not only attended UI&U together, but who also work together: Jorge and Marie Guerra are both police officers in the Miami-Dade Police Department, and Yolanda and Willie Jones are officers for the City of Miami. “We supported one another and kept each other going when it got tough,” said Yolanda Jones, who, along with her husband and the Guerras’, earned her BS in criminal justice management.

Union chose Jolivert as commencement speaker for his commitment to service within the Miami community and within his profession. As a servant leader, Jolivert’s commitment to his community is reflected in his day-to-day involvement in its growth. “Miami is an up-and-coming city,” said Jolivert. “It’s experiencing a great deal of growth now, and I’d like to contribute to that, to make it an even better place for people to live. Whether through my work with the Miami Foundation or in other aspects of my life, I work to make this the city of choice, a community of choice.”

Union’s May 15 Florida Center Commencement will take place at 1 p.m., at the Miami Airport Hilton, 5101 Blue Lagoon Dr., Miami. For more information contact Angela Byles at angela.byles@myunion.edu or at 305-653-7141.

UI&U Brattleboro Graduates First Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient

BRATTLEBORO – On Sunday, May 1, students from Brattleboro and across New England will converge at UI&U’s Brattleboro Academic Center to take part in the university’s Bachelor of Arts Weekend Option commencement. Former UI&U BA core faculty member Rickey Gard Diamond, editor at Vermont Woman magazine, will serve as the guest speaker for the event.

As students in the weekend residency option, the new graduates met one weekend each month at the Brattleboro Center and completed the remainder of their coursework online. The option allowed the students – mostly working adults – to earn their degree while fulfilling job and family responsibilities. “Most of our commencers are adult learners who did not find satisfaction at traditional schools, but who flourished at Union, where they were able to do independent and self-designed study tailored to their needs,” said Sharon Sprague, BA program advisor.

Brattleboro resident Elizabeth Johnson, the first recipient of Brattleboro’s Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, will graduate. A single mother with a young son, Elizabeth pursued the program’s Historical, Social, and Cultural Studies concentration. The primary focus of her studies was the sociological study of the single-parent family. The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship that funds eligible single, female, heads-of-households, allowed her to finish ahead of schedule.

“I returned to school to complete my education so that I would be able to better provide for my son and myself,” said Johnson. “I realized that a degree would enable me to pursue a career and provide me with the time it takes to raise my son, without having to work extra hours just to get by.”

A hallmark of the Brattleboro commencement ceremony, the new graduates will be presented their diplomas by loved ones who helped and inspired them to complete their education. Johnson chose her young son to present her with her diploma.

An informational ‘visiting day’ will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 1-3 p.m. at the Brattleboro Center for those interested in learning more about the BA program. The Sunday commencement will begin at 11:45 a.m. Both events will be held at the UI&U Brattleboro Academic Center located at the Vermont Agricultural and Education Center on Old Guilford Road at 3 University Way. For more information about the Brattleboro degree programs and the B.A. commencement please contact the Brattleboro Academic Center at 802-257-9411 or email Brattleborocenter@myunion.edu.

UI&U Alumnus Dr. Sidney Harman Dies

Union Institute & University mourns the loss of alumnus Dr. Sidney Harman, who died Tuesday, April 12, at the age of 92 after a brief illness.


Dr. Sidney Harman

Dr. Harman was a pioneer in high-fidelity sound equipment who dedicated his life to furthering education, the arts, and later, journalism. Dr. Roger H. Sublett, President of UI&U shared these reflections on Dr. Harman:

"I first met Sidney Harman when I became president of Union Institute & University in 2003. I met Sidney at his office during a trip to Washington to visit with graduates of Union. I found him to be one of the most remarkable people I have ever met in my life. He was not only knowledgeable about leadership—a field that we both shared a passion for—but we had both had written on the topic of “Leading from the Heart” which we found almost ironic. Subsequent meetings led to Union inviting Sidney to serve as our National Commencement speaker in 2004.

Sidney’s obvious commitment to education and Interdisciplinarity, his caring concern for others, and his generous philanthropy enriched his life as much as his professional commitment to business. He had a brilliant, innovative mind and an uncommon interest in people. I found all of my meetings with Dr. Harman to be inspirational, fulfilling my strong belief that only people make a difference in our lives. Through a life well lived, Dr. Harman touched all with whom he came in contact through his positive vision and belief that anything was possible.
We have lost a dear colleague and friend."

Read more about Sidney Harman's lifelong impact...

“The maverick's way of conducting business forswears the leader as commanding general; it rejects the practice of top-down, authoritative command. Rather, it proposes the leader as catalyst, conscience, and inspirer… what I call a ‘prismatic’ leader. He or she must be the prism through which is refracted the other rays of light into one coherent fashion.” - Dr. Sidney Harman


Sidney Harman, Ph.D. 1973 and University Trustee, 1981 to 1994
Recipient, of the 2004 President’s Medal and 2004 National Commencement Speaker
Founder and Executive Chairman, Harman International Industries
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, 1977 to 1978
Chairman of Newsweek magazine

For more than 50 years, the name Harman has symbolized high-fidelity sound. For Union Institute & University alumnus and Newsweek chairman, Dr. Sidney Harman, the concept of “fidelity” — faithful adherence to what is true or real — is synonymous with his approach to living and leading in business, education, and government. For decades, Dr. Harman served as the executive chairman of Harman International Industries, which he founded as Harman/Kardon, Inc. with engineer Bernard Kardon in 1952. Together they launched a revolution in the audio industry by creating the first integrated, high-fidelity audio receiver and the very first series of stereo amplifiers.

Dr. Harman became sole owner in 1956 and headed this Fortune 500 company with 10,000 employees worldwide, nearly $2 billion in annual revenue, and products for concert halls, home living rooms, and workplace computer stations everywhere. The company’s repertoire includes high-end digital sound and navigational systems, voice-activated telephony, and climate controls for luxury automobiles.

A pioneer of progressive management theory, Dr. Harman initiated "Quality of Working Life" programs at his plants around the world, beginning with the 1969 Bolivar (Tennessee) Project, which became a model for American industry and a case study at business schools worldwide, because of remarkable improvement in worker commitment, compensation, and productivity. The success at Bolivar led to Dr. Harman's appointment as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce from 1977 to 1978 during the Carter administration. After selling his business to avoid conflict of interest, Dr. Harman organized and administered the government's program to revitalize the ailing U.S. shoe industry.

After retiring from government service, Dr. Harman reacquired his company and resumed his role of successful but “maverick” CEO. He promoted long-term, emotional bonds between company and employees, established in-house classrooms, and built his newest plant in the United States, bucking the trend of outsourcing jobs overseas. During a visit to the Harman plant in Northridge, CA in 1996, President Clinton commended Dr. Harman’s commitment to innovative ideas and products as well as to the success of Harman employees, their families, and the community. “Harman International shows how a cutting-edge company can do well while doing right by its people,” President Clinton said.

An accomplished educator, Dr. Harman was inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to teach disenfranchised African-American students when Prince Edward County, Virginia schools defied desegregation orders in the 1960s. He also served from 1970-1973 as president of Friends World College, an experimental Quaker college. An early Union alumnus in 1973, Dr. Harman’s Project Demonstrating Excellence doctoral dissertation, “Business and Education – New Experiments, New Hope,” reflected his desire to be “an active agent for constructive social change” and his pledge to “reject dogma and rhetoric, and embrace invention, daring, and human development.”

Frequently the subject of profiles and interviews by the media, Dr. Harman has written extensively for publications including Newsweek, The Washington Post, and the Christian Science Monitor, and coauthored Starting with the People (Houghton Mifflin, 1988) with public opinion pollster Daniel Yankelovich. In 2003, he published Mind Your Own Business: A Maverick's Guide to Business, Leadership and Life (Currency Books/Doubleday), acclaimed as required reading in this era of corporate misdeeds and bad behavior.

He tells how he created a culture of personal responsibility throughout his company, and compares his top management team to a jazz quartet that listens to and improvises with one another to create harmony. He also emphasizes his belief that employees at every level are a company’s most valuable asset. “What is essential is an ingrained, developed, and practical system of ethical conduct. We cannot legislate conscience. It must be the raw material of every transaction, every judgment, every decision.” And, he adds, it must begin with the CEO’s consistent exercise of “simple, straightforward decency and respect for others.”

Known to recite Shakespeare on a moment’s notice, his generous support of Washington D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company enabled it to expand in a new home, the Harman Center for the Arts, in 2007. “Sidney’s contributions to both the Shakespeare Theatre Company and the entire arts community are tremendously commendable and invaluable,” Shakespeare Theatre Company director Michael Kahn told The Washington Post. His commitment to the arts, said Kahn, has inspired many in Washington and beyond. Dr. Harman was also passionate about classical music and served as a trustee emeritus for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra.

In 2010, Dr. Harman purchased the iconic Newsweek magazine from the Washington Post Company and hired editor Tina Brown, who merged it with her Web site, the Daily Beast, creating a new source for daily and weekly news. He added the column “Connecting the Dots” to reflect his view of the role of a weekly news publication. Although actively involved in the development of Newsweek, Dr. Harman found time to establish the Academy of Polymathic Study at USC, a program designed to offer a series of conversational encounters intended to intensify integrated interdisciplinary awareness.

A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he served on the advisory board of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and sat on the Advisory Committee of the university’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program. He served as a trustee of The Aspen Institute and the Carter Center at Emory University, and served on the boards of Business Executives for National Security, the Public Agenda Foundation, and the National Alliance of Business.

His wife, Jane Harman, recently stepped down from her role as a U.S. Representative (D-California), to lead the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an organization aimed at uniting the world of ideas to the world of policy by supporting pre-eminent scholarship and linking that scholarship to issues of concern to officials in Washington.

UI&U Creates Challenge Grant to Help Save Community Pool

CINCINNATI, OH – In an effort to provide funding that will enable the Cincinnati Recreation Center to operate the Bush Recreation Center pool for the 2011 summer season, Union Institute & University (UI&U) has established a $10,000 matching challenge grant to encourage Walnut Hills residents and businesses to contribute to the cause.
UI&U President Dr. Roger H. Sublett, working with Kathy Atkinson, president of the Walnut Hills Area Council, made the first calls to action to Walnut Hills businesses and residents last week. Striving to procure the $38,000 needed, Sublett and Atkinson report that the response has been overwhelming, with generous donations from private residents and local area organizations including the United Way.

“Union Institute & University is committed to socially responsible leadership, is serious about being a good citizen, and is proud to be a part of this important collaborative effort to save such a vital part of our Walnut Hills neighborhood,” said Sublett. “The residents, particularly the children, need a place to gather this summer. The pools provide a safe place, a learning environment, and good fun.”

The Bush Recreation Center pool is integral to the Walnut Hills community. It serves as a refuge for many area children who come to the pool to interact with their friends, stay cool, and be supervised by caring adults while their parents are working. Atkinson has been spearheading the effort to get the pool funded for the 2011 summer and said that they need less than $7,000 to move forward.

“We would not have been able to do it without the leadership from Union Institute & University and other organizations,” said Atkinson. “This is an example of how a community can come together in support its neighbors and to ensure it has the resources necessary to support the lives of its residents.”

For more information or to donate to the Bush Recreation Center Pool contact Kathy Atkinson at 513.487.6197 or at katkinson@mnministries.org.

UI&U's Psy.D. Program Offers Spring Continuing Education Workshops

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Doctorate in Psychology program (Psy.D.) will offer three workshops for mental health professionals seeking continuing education credits beginning April 21. The workshops will be conducted by UI&U Psy.D. faculty and held at UI&U’s Cincinnati Academic Center in Walnut Hills. Union is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The workshops have also been approved for continuing education credits by the Ohio Counseling, Social Work & Marriage and Family Board. The cost for the workshops is $15 per CE credit.

Workshop Details:

Jennifer Ossege, Psy.D.



Evidence-Based Practices in Child Therapy

Presented by Joy McGhee, Psy.D. and Jennifer Ossege, Psy.D., Thursday April 21, 9a.m.-4:30p.m., 6 CE credits, cost: $90

Consumers, insurance companies and practitioners increasingly desire the use of proven, effective treatment interventions for their patients. This informative one-day workshop will define and examine a variety of Evidenced-Based Practices (EBP) as they apply to the treatment of children. The presenters will focus on the most commonly diagnosed Internalizing and Externalizing disorders, primarily Anxiety, Depression, ODD and ADHD, as well as treatment of trauma. Participants will gain increased knowledge of the current EBP literature as well as practical clinical skills and resources to utilize with clients.

Richard Sears, Psy.D.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Presented by Richard Sears, Psy.D., Thursday May 12, 9 a.m.-4:30p.m., 6 CE credits, cost: $90

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week, evidence-based program which combines mindfulness and cognitive therapy techniques for the prevention of stress, depression, and anxiety. Through lecture, discussion, and experiential exercises, this full-day workshop will cover the characteristics and components of mindfulness, the structure and the delivery of the MBCT program, discuss the constituents of a mindfulness-based approach to working with clients individually, and explore the role of mindfulness for the clinician.

The Role of Assessment in the Evidence-Based Practice of Psychology



Jennifer Scott, Psy.D.

Presented by Jennifer L. Scott, Psy.D., Friday June 10, 1:30-4:45p.m., 3 CE Credits, cost: $45

Evidence-Based practice (EBP) requires that psychologists integrate knowledge of the best available scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences in the provision of psychological services. Though efforts in the past decade have emphasized evidence-based approaches to treatment, assessment strategies are an implicit part of any intervention plan. Psychologists need to employ empirically based measures to not only conduct a functional assessment of presenting problems prior to treatment, but to track treatment progress and evaluate treatment outcomes. This workshop will explore models for defining and implementing evidence-based assessment in the treatment of adult psychopathology and address emergent issues.

Those who attend this workshop and complete the Union Institute & University evaluation form will receive the specific CE credits as designated for each workshop. For further information or to register for the workshops please contact the Union Institute & University Continuing Education Program at (802) 254-0152 or email CE@myunion.edu.