Bright days ahead at NSU-Broken Arrow

This spring semester is underway and the spring weather might be following closely behind, according to a certain groundhog. No matter what the forecast holds, it’s shaping up to be another great month at Northeastern State University.

NSU-Broken Arrow started out the month on a high note by hosting local high school juniors and seniors to celebrate their aspirations of becoming teachers in Oklahoma.

“A Day of Celebration at Northeastern State University: Becoming a Future Oklahoma Educator” took place on Feb. 2. The one-day workshop was designed to inspire future educators through engaging activities and speakers throughout the day. Additionally, NSU provided information about funding opportunities, grants and scholarships to students in attendance.

The event was made possible by a grant from the Oklahoma State regents through its Oklahoma Teacher Connection Collegiate Grant program to implement an outreach initiative to inspire the future generation of Oklahoma teachers.

Training educators is something we’re known for here at NSU where we are continuously looking for ways to better equip not only future teachers, but those currently teaching as well.

NSU opened the RiverHawk Center for Teacher Excellence on both the Broken Arrow and Tahlequah campuses this past fall.

The centers provide comprehensive support to teacher candidates and teachers through scholarships, professional development, advising, mentoring, tutoring, coaching and other connections. It’s a great resource to have here in Broken Arrow, a robust community of educators.

The initiative is supported by a grant from the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program. This funding aims to establish centers geared towards boosting the presence of well-prepared educators from varied backgrounds.

To learn more about the RiverHawk Center for Teacher Excellence, call 918.449.6582 or visit https://coe.nsuok.edu/teacher_excellence/default.aspx.

The Biology & Chemistry Series returns to campus this month. Presented by the Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions, the series hosts biology and chemistry experts from across Oklahoma to discuss relevant topics each semester on the NSU-Broken Arrow campus.

The series kicks off with a presentation of graduate student research and discussion on Feb. 9, hosted by Dr. Sapna Das-Bradoo, NSU professor of biology.

Dr. Alex Hess from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Tulsa will present “Biogeography and trait evolution in aquatic isopods” on Feb. 23.

Each seminar in the series will be held on the NSU-Broken Arrow campus in the auditorium, room 141 (BAAS 141). The seminars will begin at 10 a.m. and are expected to last one hour each.

NSU’s 2024 Sequoyah Fellow, Dr. Clint Carroll, will join us on the NSU Tahlequah campus this month for a presentation you won’t want to miss.

Carroll is an educator, author, ethnobotanist and anthropologist and currently serves as associate professor and associate chair of graduate studies for Native American and Indigenous Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The Sequoyah Fellow program provides an opportunity for NSU and the College of Liberal Arts to recognize an outstanding scholar in the field of Native American studies. During their fellowship year, Sequoyah Fellows are given the opportunity to share their expertise with the NSU community.

Past Sequoyah Fellows include former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Wilma Mankiller, Cherokee Nation Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Neil Morton, the first-ever Cherokee Nation Delegate to the U.S. Congress, Kim Teehee and most recently, award-winning artist Roy Boney Jr.

Carroll will present “Knowing the Land: Access, Conservation and Land-Based Education in the Cherokee Nation” on Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Redbud Room of the NSU University Center on the Tahlequah campus. Campus and community members are encouraged to attend this free event.

NSU is proud to host scholars and experts on our campuses each year to provide educational opportunities to our students and the surrounding community.

Now that the year is underway, have you been thinking about the next step in your education? There’s still time to enroll in classes this spring – no need to wait until the summer or fall semesters to get started. The second block of 8-week classes kicks off on March 11 and a variety of course subjects are available. Visit www.nsuok.edu/8weeks to learn more and apply.

I hope you’ll stop in this month to take advantage of some of the great resources NSU has to offer.

Dan Mabery, Vice President for University Relations