The Parkland Hour Podcast

The Parkland Hour, Episode 5 - Kristin Smigielski

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

The podcast team is back in the swing and their first guest after a hiatus is Kristin Smigielski, Dean of Enrollment Management. Smigielski comes from a long line of ESL teachers and she talks about her journey to Parkland including a stint as an ESL teacher herself in Poland.  She's also had the chance to get to know community college students working in undergraduate admissions at the University of Illinois and in her current role helping community college students get started. Take a listen and learn what is on the horizon for enrollment efforts at Parkland! 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 4 - Jon Ross and Adam Karch

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

The podcast team has two guests for this video episode, Jon Ross (Program Director) and Adam Karch (Associate Professor) who are the backbone of Parkland's Automotive and Motorsports programs. As you can imagine, the team talks cars, but also about the variety of careers and opportunities that open up for students in this hands-on career. Jon and Adam preview a new certification with Mercedes-Benz that's on the horizon and share what students learn in the lab and at the race track. Their passion for their program shines through in this discussion, and we hope you'll take a listen! 

June 17, 2020 - Board of Trustees Meeting Audio Recording

Audio recording of the June 17, 2020, Parkland College Board of Trustees Meeting 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 6 - Carolyn Ragsdale

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

In this video episode, the podcast team is joined by Carolyn Ragsdale, Dean of Health Professions. Carolyn talks with the team about lessons learned in the operating room as a surgical technologist, the impact of Parkland's health professions programs in the community, and her journey to become a Dean at Parkland College. Tune in for a great conversation! 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 5 - Charles Larenas

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

In this video episode, the podcast team is joined by Charles Larenas, Associate Professor of Education at Parkland College. Charles shares his journey from elementary school educator to preparing the next generation of teachers at Parkland. He shares the successes of his students, who find themselves well-prepared to transfer to virtually any four year institution after completing his program. The team also discusses the key role that technology is playing in teaching and learning, particularly in the age of remote learning that we find ourselves in. Tune in for a great conversation! 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 4 - Amanda Briggs

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

In this video episode, the podcast team is joined by Amanda Briggs, Certified Flight Instructor at Parkland College. Mandy walks the podcast team through her career trajectory--from photographer to private jet pilot to economic development leader and, finally, to Parkland College. She walks the team through some of the most interesting experiences she's had as a pilot and how she started the drone program at Parkland, which continues to grow. Tune in for an interesting conversation! 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 3 - Dr. Chelsea Lloyd

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

In this first video episode, the podcast team is joined by Dr. Chelsea Lloyd, Instructor of Microbiology at Parkland College. The topic of the conversation centers on viruses, including the current COVID-19 pandemic and what makes this particular virus unique. She also shares her background in researching HSV-1, a soil bacterium called Myxococcus xanthus, and E. coli physiology. The conversation ultimately flows to gut bacteria and the expanding number of conditions linked to the gut. Dr. Lloyd's passion for teaching shines through as she breaks down some complex scientific concepts for to the podcast team in an interesting and engaging way--you'll walk away having learned something new! 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 2 - John Moore

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

*Special note: This podcast contains discussion of criminal investigations and anatomy that may be too mature for some listeners. 

In the second episode, the podcast team is joined by John Moore, Biology Professor and expert in forensic osteology. If you like true crimes, skulls, and forensics, this is the podcast for you. The team talks with Moore about everything that could go wrong while flying, his visit to the FBI body farm, and his work as a certified death investigator. He helps this world of scientific investigations come alive, and how his experience influences his teaching at Parkland College. 

 

Special Episode - Parkland's Response to COVID-19 - Interview with Dr. Thomas Ramage and Dr. Pamela Lau

Tune into this special interview hosted by WPCD's Deane Geiken with President Ramage and Executive Vice President Lau about how the college has responded to the COVID-19 crisis and what it means for students in the spring semester. 

More information on the college's response to COVID-19 can be found www.parkland.edu/covid19. 

 

The Parkland Hour, Episode 1 - Dr. Amy Penne

Welcome to the Parkland Hour Podcast! Listen to unscripted conversations with the people at the heart of Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois. 

Hosted by Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, and co-hosted by Derrick Baker, Michael Coulter, and Stephanie Stuart. 

In this inaugural show, the podcast team is joined by Dr. Amy Penne, English Professor and Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology at Parkland College. The team talks with Dr. Penne about all things Waffle House, the local music scene, and her upcoming book about the history of Parkland College from 2002-2022. 

You can read Dr. Penne's works on her website, the Pensive Penne: www.thepensivepenne.com.