North Central News

Commencement ceremonies and faculty experts highlight North Central College media appearances in May 2021

Kelly Murphy

May 28, 2021

North Central College returned to in-person Commencement ceremonies in 2021, and Chicago area media were there to document the special moments as family and friends celebrated members of not one but two graduating classes. In addition, the College’s faculty once again covered a range of important current events happening both in the U.S. and abroad. Read on for more about North Central in the media in May.

Commencement ceremonies capture media attention across Naperville and Chicago

After hosting a virtual graduation last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this spring, North Central College graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 got the opportunity they've been waiting for: To walk across the stage in front of their family and friends.

North Central College was one of a handful of institutions that celebrated its graduates in four separate outdoor commencement ceremonies over the course of two days. The ceremonies were modified from the College’s traditional commencement events to comply with current COVID-19 safety protocols, including event capacity limits, physical distancing, and required face coverings.

Media outlets throughout Naperville and Chicago featured North Central’s in-person ceremonies:

Caliendo analyzes the Israel-Palestine conflict and U.S. Representative Liz Cheney’s ousting from her leadership role on FOX 32 Chicago

Some of the worst violence in years broke out between Israelis and Palestinians, an eruption of unrest that began a month ago in Jerusalem. For weeks, Palestinian protesters and Israeli police have clashed on a daily basis in and around Jerusalem's Old City, home to major religious sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims and the emotional epicenter of the Middle East conflict.

Jerusalem has been the scene of violent confrontations between Jews and Arabs for 100 years and remains one of the most bitterly contested cities on earth. The latest clashes began with an Israeli move to block some Palestinian gatherings at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, already a time of heightened religious sensitivities. After those restrictions eased, tensions over a plan to evict dozens of Palestinians from an east Jerusalem neighborhood continued to fuel confrontations.

Stephen Maynard Caliendo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was interviewed on FOX 32 Chicago, where he analyzed the latest in the Israel-Palestine conflict. He also addressed breaking news of U.S. Representative Liz Cheney being ousted from her leadership role and the future of the GOP.

“It was a really important and symbolic move to send a signal to the former president that the republicans on Capitol Hill are overwhelmingly supportive of him still; he’s still the leader of the Republican party in terms of national politics,” said Caliendo. “But, these folks are also reading the tea leaves and the polling data that shows that lots of republicans still support the former president. I don’t think any of this will be settled until we get closer to knowing who the nominee for president will be in 2024.”

Click here to watch the full interview on FOX 32 Chicago.

Wynard discusses how using humor can help you cope with traumatic events in the Elgin-Courier News

Steve Treviño, a comedian from rural Texas, says his Mexican heritage informs who he is as a person, but his experiences are universal. One of Treviño’s comedy missions is to discuss matters — and pain — that are often kept hidden. The 43-year-old talks openly about his depression and his family struggles which started when his wife had a miscarriage in 2019. They feel strongly that talking frankly about their challenges can help others feel like they can be upfront as well. Treviño is also open about how the pandemic affected him personally. “I hadn’t ever dealt with depression — through quarantine, I was unemployed, depressed, scared, worried.”

Tammy Wynard, chair and assistant professor of health sciences, interviewed with the Elgin-Courier News, where she discussed how many turn to using humor to help cope with a traumatic events or tragedy in their own lives.

“By sharing the challenges through his wife’s miscarriage, and his depression brought on by the pandemic, Steve strengthens his connection to others by being vulnerable to the difficulty of experiencing such strong emotions and having a hard time being motivated, focused, and productive,” said Wynard. “Connection with others is essential when taking steps to heal through trauma. This can look different to each person, but finding emotional safety with others can be a bridge to getting support. As a public health educator for over 20 years and as a licensed foster parent, I have had many instances of teaching about and interacting with deeply sensitive topics. Laughing is well known to release the endorphins in our body that can allow for physical and mental relaxation.”

Click here to read the full article in the Elgin-Courier News.

Chod addresses President Biden having the most diverse administration in history in The 19th

President Joe Biden promised to have a Cabinet that reflected the diversity of the country.

Alongside Kamala Harris, the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to be vice president, Biden said last December before announcing some of his Cabinet nominees: “I promise you; you’ll see the most diverse Cabinet representative of all folks — Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinos, LGBTQ — across the board.”

In addition to the Cabinet, which includes the vice president and the heads of 15 executive departments, presidents fill roughly 4,000 politically appointed positions, including more than 1,200 that must be confirmed by the Senate.

Suzanne Chod, professor of political science, was interviewed by The 19th where she discussed how true President Biden is staying to his promise to the American people.

“Prior to this administration, President Bill Clinton had the most diverse Cabinet when it comes to race and gender,” said Chod. Biden has been delegating quite a bit of responsibility to Harris and the Cabinet secretaries — giving them “real authority.” It’s not just enough to have someone in the literal room where decisions are made. It’s about that person’s voice being equal to everyone else in the room.”

Click here to read the full interview on The 19th.

North Central College summer sport camps featured in Daily Herald, Naperville Patch & NCTV

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young athletes from around the region will once again take to the fields and courts at North Central College this summer. The College has opened camp registration for kids and teens ages 7-18 for a range of sports, including baseball, basketball, cheer, football and soccer.

The summer sports camps featured prominently in several Naperville-area media outlets:

Glibkowski’s new book attracts global media attention

You probably have a rough idea of your IQ and know what EQ is, but have you ever thought about your AQ or Answer Intelligence? AQ is a new science of answers that fully incorporates questions. The result is a simple framework (the AQ wheel) and five High AQ practices that you can use in your next conversation to increase your impact with others.

Many leaders spend their days in meetings, making presentations and in one-on-one conversations. In all these interactions, questions and answers are always present. As a society we are well versed in the importance of questions. To be an effective leader, AQ can help you navigate any conversation. You can use AQ to provide the right answer to any why, what, or how question.

Brian Glibkowski, associate professor of management, recently published a book entitled, “Answer Intelligence: Raise Your AQ”, which helps everyday leaders highlight the value of answers in their daily conversations. His book—backed by science and countless research—has been capturing the attention of media outlets worldwide.

Click on the links below to see where his expertise and knowledge has been shared in mass media: