Professor of Agriculture Aslihan Spaulding has been named the recipient of the Outstanding University Service Award. Assistant Professor Rebecca Beucher of the School of Teaching and Learning and Assistant Professor Anthony Marinello III, of the School of Music have both been named the Service Initiative Award winners.
The winners will be honored at the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon during The Founding Celebration at the Bone Student Center on February 19.
Aslihan Spaulding
Spaulding joined the department of Agriculture in 2003 as an assistant professor. Her professional service philosophy stems from her desire to give back to Illinois State University and her profession. She has served on and led many departmental, college, and university committees as a faculty member. She completed the University’s first Leadership Initiative program in 2011, served on the Educate Connect Elevate Strategic Planning Committee, and the Diversity Course Requirement Task Force. Spaulding received the CAST Outstanding Service Award in 2018 and has received the Department of Agriculture Outstanding Service Award six times. She has been very involved with the National Agri-Marketing Association and has helped the student chapter win “Outstanding Student Chapter Award” multiple times. She received the John B. Riley Outstanding National Student NAMA Advisor Award and the ISU Registered Student Organization Advisor of the year award.
With a passion for study abroad, Spaulding coordinates the French Exchange Program. She participated in the Export Project where students gained hands-on experience working with agribusiness companies in 11 countries. She has served as the college representative for the International Studies Advisory Council and collaborate with Family and Consumer Sciences on Farm to Table Food Systems project in Argentina in 2019.
Rebecca Beucher
Rebecca Beucher joined the School of Teaching and Learning in 2016. Within the school, Beucher has served on the Faculty Interests Committee, the Student Interests Committee, and advises the Queer Ed Birds student organization, which won the 2019 small RSO of the year award. At the college level, Beucher has served on the Global Conversations Committee and was co-chair of the Diversity Education Committee, which secured funds and organizing a pilot professional development program on Restorative Practices for 45 College of Education faculty, staff, and graduate students. Through the National Center for Urban Education, Beucher has redesigned undergraduate literacy education courses to include an urban education component. Through an ongoing collaboration with Peoria High School teachers, students, and community members, undergraduate and high school students use digital technology to discuss racial and intersecting injustices over a semester.
At the university level, Beucher volunteers with the Culturally Responsive Campus Community Committee. Nationally, she reviews proposals for professional organizations and journals focused on education, literacy, and cultural diversity. She serves as a faculty mentor for the Literacy Research Association Faculty Mentoring Project.
Anthony Marinello III
Anthony Marinello joined the School of Music in 2017. As a frequent guest conductor and clinician for high school band programs, he interacts with many prospective students and collaborates closely with high school music educators. Marinello coordinates and conducts the Wind Symphony at Commencement and many other venues; he led a national consortium commission of Omar Thomas’s Come Sunday. He is also heavily involved with the annual All-State Day and the Illinois State Marching Band Championships, which brings a crowd of 10,000 spectators to Hancock Stadium. He and his colleagues host workshops for band directors on campus and also conduct the annual Wind Conducting Workshop for practicing band directors. Recently, he has been working with colleagues Roy Magnuson and Tim Fredstrom to study the effectiveness of using virtual reality to help music educators.
Marinello’s service at the university level includes serving on the University Service Awards Committee and conducting/organizing numerous performances for commencement and The Founding events. At the college level, he has organized multiple concerts and tours. He has served and chaired many departmental committees and organized many events, festivals, and workshops. He is known for collaboration with guest composers and bringing them to campus to perform with the Wind Symphony.
