Southern Illinois University Carbondale has announced the addition of 21 new tenured and tenure-track faculty this fall.
“Faculty are at the heart of everything we do — educating and mentoring our students, advancing knowledge through research and creative activity and using their expertise to serve our communities and beyond,” said Marc Morris, interim co-provost, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and dean of the College of Business and Analytics. “These new colleagues bring impressive scholarly credentials, professional experience and fresh perspectives to disciplines across the university.”
Nine of these new faculty members are women.
Jami Becnel is an assistant professor at the university’s law school. Professor Becnel was a Westerfield Fellow at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Her scholarly interests include agricultural law, estate planning, property, and trusts and estates. Becnel is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she majored in accountancy. She earned a juris doctorate at Louisiana State University.
Zhirui Chen is an assistant professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Her research has focused on aging, climate change, disasters, and environmental justice. Dr. Chen is a graduate of East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai. She earned a master of social work degree from the University of Hong Kong and a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Shelley Hostetler is an assistant professor of information resource management in the department of library affairs. She has 25 years of experience in vendor relationships, e-resource management, and library systems. Hostetler is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she majored in mass communication studies. She holds a master of library and information sciences degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Wafaa Kanakri is an assistant professor of information technology and cybersecurity technology in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics. Dr. Kanakri was a research assistant at Purdue University in Indiana. She specializes in enhancing the integrity and trust of neural network models. Dr. Kanakri holds a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University.
Yijun Lin is an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics. Her work bridges computer science with applications in environmental science, remote sensing, public health, digital humanities, and beyond. Dr. Lin is a graduate of Tongji University in Shanghai, China, where she majored in information security. She holds a master’s degree in data informatics from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Minnesota.
Yue Liu is an assistant professor in the School of Accountancy of the College of Business and Analytics at the university. Dr. Liu is a graduate of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, China. She holds a Ph.D. in accounting information systems from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Tamara Milton is an assistant professor in the School of Forestry and Horticulture in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences. Dr. Milton graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with a dual degree in biology and environmental studies and a minor in Spanish. Following her 2012 graduation, she spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Dr. Milton earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Michigan.
Zhi Pei is an assistant professor in the School of Management & Marketing. Her current research focuses on digital marketing and artificial intelligence applications. Her work involves the development of innovative academic programs to prepare students for today’s evolving business environment. Dr. Pei received her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 2015.
Alice Setrini is an assistant professor in the university’s law school. She was a clinical teaching fellow in the Health Justice Project at Loyola University School of Law. Earlier, she was the executive director of the Jaharis Health Law Institute at the DePaul University College of Law. Setrini is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she majored in environmental science. She also earned a juris doctorate at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law.