Due to technical difficulties, email addresses contained within today’s version of the SUN-e are unable to display properly in the email version. To view the full version of today’s SUN-e with the proper email contacts included for each announcement and event, see the online version located at su.edu.

Join the second Life Skills Symposium on Thursday, March 31, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Brandt Student Center, Ferrari Room, and on Zoom. Discussion will prepare you for life after graduation with six 20-minute presentations that will be split into three sessions (morning, lunch and afternoon). During each session, there will be free food and drinks, and everyone in attendance will receive a free Life Skills swag bag! To see the full schedule of events and register, visit su.edu/lifeskills. Questions? Contact the Office of Donor & Alumni Relations at alums@su.edu.

Celebrate Shenandoah University’s Black Excellence Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating Black excellence on campus and in our community. This elegant affair will include dinner, dancing and awards recognizing the contributions of Black campus and community members. A guest speaker will give a keynote address and will provide entertainment. Attend the Black Excellence Gala to empower current and future Black students, faculty and staff of Shenandoah University. Register for the event using this Google Form. Registration will close at midnight on April 11.

Questions? Contact the Mosaic Center at (540) 665-4595 or mosaiccenter@su.edu.

The English Department and 1455 Literary Arts invite you to an author reading with Tara Campbell. Come to the Smith Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, to eat some snacks, mingle and listen to Campbell read from her most recent book, “Cabinet of Wrath: A Doll Collection.” Signed copies of Campbell’s book will be available after the reading. This event is open to all! For more information, contact Jon Udelson, Ph.D., at judelson@su.edu.

Join the Campus Activities Network (CAN) for a record-painting event on today, March 23, from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Brandt Student Center, Ferrari Room. Questions? Contact can@su.edu.

Ryan Andrew Michael, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Education in Administrative Leadership, will defend his dissertation, “A Qualitative Case Study of Novice Mathematics Teacher Attrition and Retention: An Examination of Individual and Organizational Factors,” on Wednesday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m. Michael’s dissertation defense will take place in front of a committee that includes Catherine Dunn Shiffman, Ph.D (chair); Lydia Maynard, Ph.D.; and Deran Whitney, Ed.D. Members of the Shenandoah University community are invited to attend this defense via Zoom.

Krista Ematrudo, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Education in Administrative Leadership, will defend her dissertation, “Factors Impacting the Recruitment and Retention of Elementary Teachers in Eastern West Virginia,” on Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. Committee members include Dr. Shiffman (chair); Karrin S. Lukacs, Ph.D.; and Jason Allen, Ed.D. Members of the SU community are invited to attend this defense via Zoom.

Robin Lisa Shrum, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Education in Administrative Leadership, will defend her dissertation, “New Teacher Retention: What Principals Are Doing That Works,” on Wednesday, April 6, at 5 p.m. Committee members include Shiffman (chair); Stephanie J. Malone, Ed.D.; and Nan K. Bryant, Ed.D. Members of the SU community are invited to attend this defense via Zoom.

If you have any questions on any of these three defenses, contact Shiffman at cshiffma@su.edu.

Don’t miss your chance to see the defending National Women’s Soccer League champion Washington Spirit in action this year! Thanks to a partnership between Shenandoah University and the Spirit, free tickets are available to SU students, faculty, staff and alumni for select Spirit home games at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Use this Google Form to request your tickets; requests will be confirmed the Friday prior to each game.

Tickets are available for the following games:

• Wednesday, March 30, 7:30 p.m.; Challenge Cup: vs. N.C. Courage
• Sunday, April 3, 4 p.m.; Challenge Cup: vs. Orlando Pride
• Sunday, May 1, 5 p.m.; vs. OL Reign
• Sunday, May 15, 5 p.m.; vs. Angel City FC
• Sunday, July 17, 5 p.m.; vs. Orlando Pride
• Saturday, Sept. 10, 5 p.m.; vs. San Diego Wave FC
• Saturday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m.; vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Saturday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.; vs. Houston Dash

Questions? Contact Tiffanie Waller at twaller@su.edu.

The online COVID-19 banner that was a fixture at the top of the Shenandoah University’s homepage has been removed, but all of Shenandoah’s important COVID-19 information and resources are still available at su.edu. Links to SU’s COVID information and resources are now located at the bottom of the university website.

Shenandoah University’s One Big Question series continues with “There is More Than Meets the Eye: How Knowledge Shapes Perception and Memory, and Why This Matters for Older Adults” with Shenandoah Assistant Professor of Psychology Kimberly Newberry, Ph.D., on Thursday, March 24, at 5 p.m. The free event will take place in Henkel Hall, Hester Auditorium.

Some cognitive functions, like perception and memory, naturally worsen with age. During this session, Dr. Newberry will discuss the influence of prior knowledge and experience on perception and memory, and how these effects may be used to attenuate cognitive deficits in older adults. Questions? Contact Jonathan Noyalas at jnoyalas01@su.edu.