School Recognizes New Titles

The beginning of the fall semester brought promotions to the school. Congratulations go out to the following outstanding faculty: Susan Alvarez, Nancy Barton, Susie Benko, Amanda Cecil, and Lisa Farley.

The Department of Physical Education promoted two of its part-time lecturers, Nancy Barton and Lisa Farley to full-time lecturers this fall.

Nancy Barton has seen IUPUI change since its early years as a young commuter campus. Nancy began her education at IUPUI, taking great interest in French. She completed her Bachelor's degree at IU in French. Upon graduation Nancy was able to use her love of French and numbers to begin working at Merchants Bank in International Banking. Through an aerobic dance class offered at the bank to employees, Nancy experienced the benefits of aerobics and became so enthusiastic about it she began teaching aerobic dance.

Over time, Nancy realized that her heart was not in her present career. Her interest in health promotion and corporate fitness led her to quit the bank and begin her Masters of Science in Physical Education at IUPUI while working as a graduate assistant. She completed her degree in 1987 and became a part-time lecturer until the birth of her first son, Theo.

Nancy went to work pursuing her passion of corporate health promotion at St. Vincent Hospital. She remained at St. Vincent until 2003, when the Wellness Department was eliminated due to budget cutbacks.

Nancy began teaching at IUPUI on a part-time basis again in January 2004. In August 2005, Nancy was promoted to a full-time lecturer. Nancy currently teaches Stress Prevention and Management, Principles and Concepts of Lifestyle Wellness, and Personal Health. Her classes center on her passion of prevention and balance.

Nancy is a native of Indianapolis, where she and her husband Bob Sander have founded both Storytelling Arts of Indianapolis and Slow Food Indy. She enjoys running, gardening, knitting, yoga, and meditation. Nancy also has three children.

Lisa Farley was also recently promoted to full-time lecturer in August 2005. Lisa proudly hails from Minnesota. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education with a Coaching minor from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls in 1988. While there Lisa taught one course in Volleyball Officiating. Lisa continued her education the following year at the University of Wyoming. While pursuing her Master of Science degree in Sports Administration she was a Graduate Assistant Intramural Director and taught both Team Sports and Volleyball classes.

Upon the completion of her M.S. degree in 1989, Lisa began working and building an extensive resume. She worked at North Carolina State University for one year as an Assistant Intramural Director. Lisa then worked at Davis and Elkins College for a year as a teacher of Health and Physical Education, the Head Softball Coach, and the Intramural Director. Lisa left West Virginia to come to Indiana, where she worked at Butler University for nine years teaching Health and Physical Education and one year as the Physical Education Accreditation Advisor.

Lisa began teaching at IUPUI in 2004 on a part-time basis. She has taught Nutrition, Marriage and Family Interaction, Consumer Health, Exercise and Weight Control, and Fitness Walking. She looks forward to continuing her education about health related topics and writing and presenting information about current class projects. Lisa enjoys her job at IUPUI most because of the people. She also finds the diversity of the student body to be an incredible asset to the school.

Lisa also has a very active life outside of IUPUI. She has coached a variety of sports for many ages including U8 soccer, 7th and 8th grade soccer, basketball and softball, Jr. Varsity and Varsity High School girls basketball, Varsity Track and Field, and Division 2 College Softball. Additionally, Lisa is a registered official for all levels of High School volleyball and softball.

Lisa is married to Steve Farley, Butler University's Baseball coach. Together they have two daughters. Her favorite activity is watching her children participate in anything. She also gardens and does extensive home improvements around her house.

Special congratulations go out to Lisa on just completing her Doctor of Education degree from Ball State University in Adult, Higher, and Community Education. Well done, Dr. Farley!

The Department of Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management also saw promotions with the beginning of the Fall 2005 semester for Susan Alvarez, Susie Benko, and Amanda Cecil.

Susan Alvarez has traveled extensively since she was born in Miami, Florida. She moved to Spain for one year and then to Puerto Rico where she grew up. Susan spoke and learned in Spanish until she attended an American high school, where she had difficulty speaking English well. Despite her initial difficulties, Susan finished high school and went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree at DePauw University in Liberal Arts. Coincidentally, Susan attended the same high school and college as fellow Physical Education professor Rafael Bahamonde.

Susan began her career in travel working for AAA Travel Agency in 1983 as a Travel Agent. She worked for them about 20 years moving up to Travel Agency Manager and then Operations Manager of for all 23 branches of AAA Hoosier Motor Club/AAA Travel Agency. Susan then left AAA to work for Uniglobe Travel where she was both a manager and partner.

Susan first came to IUPUI after leaving Uniglobe to pursue her certificate in Event Management, while also teaching for Travel Careers. Upon the completion of her certificate, she began teaching on a part-time basis and also began studying for a Master's degree in Adult Education, both here at IUPUI. Susan completed her Master's degree in the summer of 2005 and was hired as a full-time Lecturer in August.

Susan teaches various courses for the TCEM department, and is excited to be teaching the first TCEM 100 course entirely in Spanish for the Spring 2006 semester. She feels that offering such a course will allow IUPUI to reach out to new audiences, particularly 1st generation college students who primarily speak Spanish. Susan loves teaching at IUPUI and feels strongly that the campus' diversity and direct link to the industry gives TCEM students a unique opportunity. Given that Tourism and Hospitality is the 2nd largest employer in the US, and the availability of opportunities to TCEM students of IUPUI, she notes that students can "try before they buy" to ensure that their career will be satisfying and fun.

Susan enjoys her two trips each year to Guanica, Puerto Rico, where she helps to run her mother's resort. Throughout the year she maintains and designs the resort's web site. She also enjoys hobbies such as cooking, reading, kayaking, and traveling in her spare time.

Susie Benko brings a strong business background and industry experience to the TCEM department as a newly promoted full-time Lecturer. Susie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Hanover College. She then moved to the Washington DC area and pursued her MBA at Marymount University in Virginia. Upon completion of her degree, Susie began to build her resume in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.

Susie began working as a Catering Sales Manager for the Marriott Twin Bridges Hotel in Washington DC. One year later she returned to Indiana as a Sales Manager for the Indiana Roof Ballroom, where she worked for eight years. Susie then worked at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indy as the Catering Sales Manager for three years.

In 1998 Susie moved to a new aspect of the industry as she became a Director of Meetings for Meeting Services Unlimited and began teaching part-time at IUPUI. One year later she became an Independent Contractor for Stars & Stripes Travel where she worked for the 2001 World Police & Fire Games as the Housing Project Manager. Upon the completion of the games, Susie went to National Travel Systems as an Independent Contractor and worked for a year as the Director of Hotel Operations for the USA Gymnastics account. Susie earned the designation of Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) in 2004 from the Convention Industry Council.

In August 2005, Susie was promoted to a full-time Lecturer for the TCEM department. Susie has taught a variety of classes for the department, including Conventions, Meetings and Expositions, Special Events Management, Convention Sales and Service, Hotel Management, and Mechanics of Meeting Planning. She also serves on several IUPUI committees and is the faculty advisor for the Tourism and Hospitality Society.

Susie appreciates the opportunity teaching has given her. She developed a passion for teaching while she was working in the industry, and feels a strong connection to fellow staff and students through interaction. Susie enjoys walking, decorating, and shopping in her spare time.

Amanda Cecil is a true Hoosier. She grew up in Anderson, Indiana. She attended Anderson High School and led a very active life, playing volleyball and doing social activities. Amanda, interested in pursuing her passion for sports, attended IU and completed her Bachelor's degree in Sports Marketing.

After completing her degree, she became involved in several opportunities. She interned with the RCA Championship, where she was introduced to the field of special events. Amanda then accepted an internship at Dartmouth College as a Marketing Assistant to the Director of Marketing. Still looking for ways to grow professionally, she enrolled in graduate school at Ohio State University. While completing a Master's degree in Sports Management, she interned with the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. This internship soon led to a permanent position.

Amanda's career path soon led her to Fort Lauderdale, where she worked as a corporate event manager for a company based in Atlanta. She continues to work with that company as an independent consultant.

Amanda returned to Indiana in 2002, where she began to pursue her Doctoral degree at Indiana University and work as a Visiting Lecturer at IUPUI. In August 2005, Amanda was promoted to Assistant Professor in the TCEM department. She currently teaches Mechanics of Meeting Planning, Management of Sports Events, and Exhibit Marketing. Amanda is also the faculty advisor to IUPUI's PCMA student chapter.

Student Responsibility
By Ed Schilling, Associate Professor

This semester marks the 49th of my career here at IUPUI. During this time the demographics of our student population have vacillated a great deal. For many of my early years here we had the older student, 25 and up, returning to college or transferring to our school from a less than successful experience the first time.

As time has moved on the population has gotten much younger. In some cases the students prove to be outstanding scholars. Those students can be counted on to do the work when it is due and to the best of their ability. In other cases excuses are the rule.

The past few semesters I have begun to see too many students in the excuse or, "did not complete" category. I wonder why. The more I ponder this situation the more I am beginning to feel that the difference between the students who perform and those who do not boils down to priorities. There are many things that too many of our students place ahead of their academic responsibilities. If the class assignment does not neatly fit into their variety of life activities do not get done.

College is a time to begin preparation for a career. In a career that moves forward one must commit to responsibilities. The job and its tasks must be one of the top priorities.

I urge students to evaluate their list of priorities. Maybe it will help to juggle the order and place academic responsibilities at or near the top of your "things to do" list. Your futures may be riding on your new list of priorities. I sure hope so, for your sake.