Two University of Southern Indiana honorary degree recipients will be celebrated at Spring 2023 Commencement during the 5 p.m. Friday, May 5 School of Graduate Studies Ceremony in the Screaming Eagles Arena.

Honorary degree recipients are celebrated in the USI community for their continued dedication to higher education. The recipients are credited for actively shaping their respective communities and have made significant contributions to the arts and sciences at USI and beyond.

Dr. Marlene Shaw will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree, and Richard Hunt will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

Dr. Marlene Shaw to receive honorary Doctor of Science degree

Dr. Marlene Shaw, Professor Emerita of Biology, is receiving an honorary Doctor of Science degree for her commitment to teaching and continuous service to the University of Southern Indiana. Shaw served as a USI biology faculty member from 1973 to 2009, enriching the lives of countless students through her enthusiasm for science and continuous mentorship of students.

In addition to Shaw’s commitment to teaching, she created the Annual Shaw Biology Lecture in 2011, with support from the USI Foundation. The annual event exists to enhance the academic environment for students, faculty, and the community by hosting scholars whose work interfaces biology with areas such as medicine, ethics, law, agriculture, chemistry, public health and politics.

Throughout her teaching career, Shaw made it top priority to remain current in the field of biology, studying cutting-edge advances in genetics, cell and molecular biology. Former students credit her teaching as motivational, encouraging and influential, and many say she is the reason they have seen success in their respective professional paths.

Shaw served as Project Director for DNA: The Blueprint of Life, a 1983-84 exhibit developed for the Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences. The exhibit was invited for tour by the American Association of Science and Technology Centers. Next, she worked as a visiting scholar at Vanderbilt University in 1983-84 and again for three summer terms in the 1990s. In 1991, she attended a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Enhancement Program in biotechnology at Boston University, and the next year, received an NSF grant that funded the purchase of molecular biology equipment that provided new, hands-on opportunities for students in teaching labs and research at USI. Also in 1991, Shaw was selected as the USI Distinguished Professor, USI’s highest award given in recognition of significant achievement in teaching, scholarship and service.

During her career at USI, Shaw was selected to participate in several national research conferences, including Medical Genetics: 1987 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland; Short Course in Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics, presented by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Jackson Laboratory at Bar Harbor, Maine; and Molecular Neurobiology of Human Disease, presented at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York.

During retirement, Shaw has expanded her knowledge of advances in genetics and microbiology and has been particularly interested in European and American history as it provides context for understanding the development of biology in the 1800s and 1900s. She has stayed active with the USI Biology Department and the Annual Shaw Biology Lecture. Shaw has researched family genealogy, visited family and friends and enjoyed world travels.

She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wittenberg University in 1964 and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1969. From 1969-71, she held a post-doctoral research position in biochemistry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Richard Hunt to receive honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree

Richard Hunt, world-renowned sculptor, is receiving an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree for his significant contributions to the world of art with over 150 public sculpture commissions gracing prominent locations in 24 states and Washington D.C., over 150 solo exhibitions displayed throughout the duration of his continual career and representation in more than 100 public museums across the globe.

In August 2014, USI commissioned Hunt for an outdoor sculpture to fittingly commemorate the 50th anniversary of the University’s founding. Richard Hunt’s “From Our Past Toward Our Future” is a stainless steel, abstract piece that is the generous gift of the late Dr. James A. Sanders, Director Emeritus of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Situated near the southeast side of the main lawn of The Quad, the eye-catching piece faces the Liberal Arts Center, allowing students, employees and visitors passing by to admire Hunt’s work.

Born in Chicago in 1935, Hunt developed an interest in art at an early age. From seventh grade on, he attended the Junior School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). He went on to study there at the college level, receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1957.

While still a student at SAIC, Hunt began exhibiting his sculpture nationwide, and during his junior year, one of his pieces, “Arachne,” was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. In 1962, he was the youngest artist to exhibit at Seattle’s World Fair.

Hunt has received honors and recognition throughout his career and, in 1971, was the first African American sculptor to have a major solo exhibition at the MoMA in New York. His work can be found in numerous museums, as well as public and private collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery and National Museum of American Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the MoMA.

In 1968, he was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson as one of the first artists to serve on the National Council on the Arts, the governing board of the National Endowment for the Arts. He has received many fellowships and holds memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Academy of Design.

In 2009, Hunt was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Sculpture Center. In 2015, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Partners for Livable Communities in Washington, D.C. In 2022, President Barack Obama commissioned Hunt as the first artist to create a work for the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago.

Hunt, one of our country’s greatest living artists, currently resides in Chicago where he works from his studio in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

VINCENNES, Ind., April 20, 2023 – Vincennes University announces the appointment of Jaci Lederman as its new Executive Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, effective May 1. She was selected from a pool of more than 50 applicants and is taking over the position from Bob Wisler.

VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “I am excited to welcome Jaci to her new role at VU. Jaci’s vast experience and knowledge in IT as both a leader and a faculty member make her an outstanding choice for this role. I am confident she will continue to build on our existing strengths and, through her leadership of our IT unit, enhance student learning and success and help VU continue to improve as an institution.”

Lederman has a deep connection to VU. Her impressive career at the University spans more than a decade. Lederman is a VU alumna who started in 2011 as a faculty member in the Information Technology Department, eventually achieving the rank of professor, and serving as department chair for more than five years.

For the past 14 months, Lederman has served as the Director of Enterprise Applications. She has helped lead the University’s IT modernization and digital transformation and also has been instrumental in launching multiple software tools, the new VU website, and other projects.

“Building strong relationships with stakeholders is crucial for driving successful digital transformation within any organization,” Lederman said. “As CIO, I will prioritize continued relationship building between the Information Technology Department and university stakeholders to create a culture of collaboration and trust that will enable the successful implementation of digital transformation initiatives.”

Her previous IT leadership roles in Southwest Indiana, coupled with her extensive project management experience, make her the ideal appointee for this position.

As she prepares to assume her new responsibilities, Lederman shared her thoughts, saying, “I am honored to be appointed as VU’s CIO and Executive Director of Information Technology. I look forward to working with President Johnson, the Executive Team, and my colleagues on the ITEX to build on VU’s technology strengths and support our mission of providing an excellent educational experience for our students.”

Her qualifications include a range of credentials, including IT, cybersecurity, and project management certifications, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in IT Management from Western Governors University, a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Phoenix, and an Associate of Science in Computer Programming from VU.

VU invites everyone to join in congratulating Lederman on her appointment and welcoming her to her new post at VU.

VINCENNES, Ind., April 20, 2023 – Vincennes University is excited about the return of its summer camps and community enrichment activities after they were canceled or limited last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The University’s summer events cater to students of all ages and backgrounds, providing opportunities for personal growth and learning.

VU offers a variety of summer programs, including sports camps, STEM academies, surveying technology camps, science lab days, and more. These extraordinary events provide possibilities for all and often reach underserved populations.

“We believe that education and personal growth should be available to everyone, and that’s why we offer a diverse range of summer camps and community events,” VU Director of University Events and Special Projects Laura Carie said. “Our goal is to provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, grow, and connect with others in our community.”

Scarlett Hopkins of Fort Branch was among the students who spent a week living on the Vincennes Campus and experiencing the flavor of college life during the 2022 STEM Summer Academy. Hopkins and other campers participated in unique activities and hands-on projects like crafting a mechanical hand using everyday materials and conducting field studies of insect population diversity. 

“It’s a really good opportunity and once-in-a-lifetime experience that every teenager should take,” Hopkins said. “You won’t regret it. I was shy and scared at first. After experiencing how the camp was and how accepting everyone was it made me feel a lot better. Even better it helped me get some college credits. You get to learn so much about careers, create projects, and interact with people from either the area or hours away. You’ll cry when you leave with the best memories ever. So don’t hesitate. Sign up, experience it, and have fun!”

VU camps and programs offer exciting activities like creating and editing original music during a music production course, programming a collaborative robot or ‘cobot’ to stack candies, or practicing medical procedures on a simulation manikin.

VU summer events are a staple in Knox County and beyond, bringing people together and stimulating the local economy. 

City of Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum emphasized the positive impact of the events on the community, stating that they “provide first-class learning opportunities and bring people together of all ages and stages.”

VU has a long-standing reputation for its dedication to providing affordable and high-quality education to students from all backgrounds. The events provide avenues for the University to showcase its commitment to serving others and communities throughout Indiana. They are perfect avenues to engage with VU students, faculty, staff, and future Trailblazers.

According to VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson, “Vincennes University is committed to serving the community, and our summer camps and community events are just one way we can give back. We believe that education is a powerful tool, and we’re proud to offer these programs to members of the community.”

VU’s summer programs are open at no cost or low cost. Information about various camps and academies is on the University’s website at WWW.VINU.EDU/SUMMER-CAMPS.

Summer camps and enrichment programs are more important than ever as people distance themselves further from the pandemic. The University hopes these events will provide chances of a lifetime for self-development and community connection.

Explore VU’s camps and enrichment programs by clicking HERE