CAL Newsletter

June 2023

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to intern with SICOG and grow a further understanding of what my overarching career goals are going to be after the MPA program and my internship.”

Katherine Selvage, ISU MPA student working on an internship with SICOG

Intern student Katherine Selvage sits at her work desk with two monitors, and reaches toward a scanning machine

Southeast Idaho Council of Governments and ISU's MPA Program:

Real-World Experience and Career Opportunities for Students

Since the 1990s, Southeast Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG) has worked with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Idaho State University (ISU), helping MPA students get experience in economic and community development.

“Many of our interns get direct experience writing and administering grants and working directly with local governments in Southeast Idaho,” says Mark McBeth, Chair of the Department of Political Science and Director of the MPA program. “These experiences allow them to apply what they are learning in the classroom and most often give them career guidance.”

McBeth says that ISU’s relationship with SICOG has been a long and productive...

Continue Reading SICOG and ISU...

Philosophy Essay Prizes

Shelby Robinson

Bayden Sayer

Dean Clinton

The Department of English and Philosophy Program has announced that three undergraduate students are winners of the Outstanding Essay in Philosophy prize for 2023. The winners are Shelby Robinson, Bayden Sayer, and Dean Clinton. Read more about the Philosophy Essay Awards...

ISU Anthropology Featured in TV Series

Dr. Samantha Blatt, Associate Professor of Anthropology, stars in an episode of the new show, Unearthed: Ancient Murder Mysteries, on CuriosityStream (available through Amazon Prime) starting June 19. The episode entitled, "The Idaho Torso," tells the tale of identifying the victim of a murder (Joseph Henry Loveless) over 100 years ago from bones and genes, when a headless torso was discovered in an East Idaho cave.

The episode was partially filmed on the ISU campus and at other East Idaho locations. The series is hosted by Turi King (renowned Canadian-British geneticist who analyzed King Richard III) and Rod Demery (Louisiana Detective starring in "Murder Chose Me" on Investigation Discovery).

Esto Perpetua Awards

This year, four individuals with ties to ISU have been selected to receive the prestigious Esto Perpetua Award from the Idaho State Historical Society.

Mary Thompson, Drusilla Gould, Hope Benedict, and Ronald James are among the awardees.

Perpetua Awards

Dr. Thomas Kloss Receives Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award

On June 1, the Advising Community at Idaho State hosted its 2nd annual awards ceremony. The Annual Advising Awards recognize individuals who work with, for, and in favor of students in an academic advising capacity, and those who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the profession of academic advising.

Kloss Award

"If someone is looking to earn a degree when they thought it wouldn't be possible, this program is a great opportunity. It allows you to advance your career while making a difference

in students' lives.”

Jaxon Jensen, first graduate of STRIPES program

Picture of Jaxon Jensen holding a gift bag from ISU and smiling

First Graduate of Idaho State’s STRIPES

Instructor Scholarship Program

Jaxon Jensen, a teacher at American Falls High School, is the first graduate of an innovative program aimed at providing high school teachers with the necessary credentials to teach dual credit courses to their students while earning their master’s degree.

The program, offered through ISU, is known as the STRIPES Instructor Scholarship Program and it allows high school educators to teach dual credit courses while simultaneously pursuing their master's degree. Read more about the STRIPES opportunity...

Congratulations to Emma Tussey

Emma Tussey, graduate student in the ISU clinical psychology doctoral program, was selected by the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP) to receive this year’s Distinguished Contributions Award for the poster “Longitudinal Associations between Sleep Hygiene, Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors.” She presented the poster at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) in May 2023.

Congratulations to the 436

Dean's List Recipients for Spring 2023!

To qualify for the dean’s list, students must complete at least 12 credits and receive a grade point average of 3.66 or higher.

"This is an outstanding achievement and we are excited to see what each student will accomplish in the future." -Dean Kandi Turley Ames

"My work with this team has been the most valuable time in my college education, and the things we have accomplished have prepared me to move into the professional world

with confidence.”

Shayla Rowe: Traveled to Spokane, WA to compete in the National Student Advertising Competition

Tanner Pratt standing in front of a conference banner at Weber State

13 students from the National Student Advertising Competition and their faculty advisor pose for a photo

Empowering Students with Travel Funds for

Research and Presentations

The primary goal of providing funds to students was to support those who wished to present their research or creative activities at conferences, exhibits, recitals, or other relevant events. A total of 30 individual students were funded through this program, representing a diverse range of work.

Department Chairs Leadership Changes

As we transition into a new academic year, we we extend our gratitude to several exceptional leaders who have served our departments with unwavering dedication. We also welcome a group of talented individuals who will guide our departments towards continued success.

Our gratitude to outgoing chairs Jessica Winston, English and Philosophy; Zackery Heern, History; Naomi Velasquez, Art; Jeremy Thomas, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology; Mark McBeth, Political Science.

We look forward to the leadership of incoming chairs Naomi Velasquez, Political Science; Justin Dolan Stover, History, Brent Wolter, English and Philosophy, Jonathan Fardy, Art; Jasun Carr, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology.

Welcome Dr. Randy Clemons to our Dean's Advisory Board

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Randy Clemons to the Dean's Advisory Board, where his background in academia and wealth of experience will provide invaluable insights to the college. Read More about Randy Clemons...