Joan Alverzo ’72 Wins School of Nursing Distinguished Alumna Award

The School of Nursing honored their award recipient during an event from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 in the Wilson Atrium in the Center for Natural Sciences as a part of IWU’s Homecoming celebrations.

Joan Alverzo ’72 graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BSN in nursing. She then went on to receive her MSN from Seton Hall University in 1978 and her PhD in Nursing from New York University in 2004. Alverzo is an accomplished academic, researcher and practitioner in her field. In 2004, she received a research grant from the Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation to fund her doctoral research. Her articles have been published in numerous peer reviewed nursing and medical research journals, and she has been presenting her research at different conferences for over 20 years. In addition to her own research pursuits, Alverzo has been a member of the editorial board for the journal Rehabilitation Nursing since 2010. From 2008-2014, she was an Associate Professor in Nursing at Rutgers University, where she taught a course in Economic and Financial Management in Nursing. Her expertise in this area is shown through her career as a nursing executive at healthcare company, Select Medical. She has been with Select Medical since 2009 and has served as their Senior Vice President for Clinical Operations since 2013. In this role, she has established a total of 23 Rehabilitation Hospitals with 8800 employees in 10 states and an annual revenue of 750 million dollars. In 2019, she established a Patient Safety Organization with Select Medical Corporation, one of 77 federally sanctioned organizations recognizing 120 hospitals owned by Select Medical with federal designated status for excellence in Patient Safety. In January 2022, she retired to Ocean City, Md., with her husband Richard and their lab Molly.

Marsha A. Guenzler-Stevens, PhD. ’78 Wins Alumni Loyalty Award


Marsha A. Guenzler-Stevens, PhD. ’78 was recognized during a ceremony from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, September 23 in Young Main Lounge at the Memorial Center. The event was part of IWU’s Homecoming celebration.

Marsha A. Guenzler-Stevens, PhD. ’78 has spent her career in higher education. Her undergraduate career at Illinois Wesleyan University studying biology and political science was complemented by out-of-classroom learning as a student leader – from Student Senate, Model United Nations, orientation, AOII and the Panhellenic Association – and a federal work-study job in the Dean of Students Office. With an undergraduate degree from IWU, a master’s in counseling and student personnel from Miami University, and a Ph.D. in higher education policy and planning from the University of Maryland, Guenzler-Stevens has crafted a career in higher education that spans over 40 years. She currently serves as the director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union – Center for Campus Life. Guenzler-Stevens is also responsible for managing the University’s interface with 14 recognized chaplaincies and overseeing the University’s Memorial Chapel. Guenzler-Stevens has been particularly active in serving the school’s veteran community. She has been recognized as the Outstanding Staff Member at the University of Maryland at College Park, won the institution’s “Woman of the Year,” and has been recognized for her work in advancing diversity on campus. She was named by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents as the winner of the staff award for Extraordinary Public Service to the University and Greater Community, and named a “Woman of Influence” by AAUW, NASPA, and the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders. She teaches a freshman course, “The Student and the University,” an upper-level “Women and Leadership” course, and a graduate seminar. Guenzler-Stevens speaks nationally on topics such as women’s leadership and organizational development, and has served and volunteered her time to a number of organizations. At IWU, Guenzler-Stevens has served as president of the Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees. Guenzler-Stevens is married to Randy Stevens and is the daughter of two IWU graduates, the late Robert Guenzler ’53 and Mary Ann Hagmeyer Guenzler ’53, past IWU Loyalty Award winners. She shares Illinois Wesleyan memories with her sisters Susan (Guenzler) Getz ’77 and Pam (Guenzler) DeBoer ’82, brother-in-law Herb Getz ’77 and niece Amy DeBoer ’15.

Homecoming & Family Weekend 2022

In the past two years we’ve witnessed the Titan community come together in new ways to share stories, expertise, and friendship. However, we have long awaited the chance to welcome you back to campus for a true Illinois Wesleyan Homecoming! We look forward to sharing a meal, a drink, and a story with all of you in person, September 23-25, 2022.

Click here for a full schedule of events and to register.

Ed Rust, Jr. ’72 – 2019 IWU Distinguished Alumni Award Winner


Ed Rust Jr. ’72, the retired chairman and CEO of State Farm Insurance Company was presented with the IWU Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming 2019. His Homecoming Back to College Class at Beckman Auditorium in Ames Library entitled “Seeking Perspective and Balance in an Uncertain World” can be seen in the video above. Ed Rust was featured in the IWU Magazine article, “Like a Good Neighbor” that can be viewed here.

Class of 1978 – 40th Reunion Invitation from Marsha Guenzler-Stevens ’78

 

Can you believe it’s been 40 years since we graduated from IWU? I invite you back to campus this October 5-7th for Reunion Weekend where we will celebrate the class of 1978. Join us for special 40th reunion activities on Friday afternoon, a special reunion tailgate on Saturday and our reunion celebration on Saturday evening. A full schedule of reunion activities can be found at here and on our Facebook page here.

We’re still looking for volunteers to help us reach out to others in the class of 1978. If you’d like to contact those from your greek chapter, athletic team and/or other student groups, please email reunions@iwu.edu. We can supply you with a list of classmates and their contact information.

As part of our 40th reunion, I’m also encouraging everyone to give back to the University that gave so much to each of us. I hope you will join me in giving a gift to IWU in honor of our reunion. To make a gift, simply visit here.

Reunion Details:
Saturday October 6th, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
McLean County Museum of History (Old Courthouse)
200 N. Main Street, Bloomington

Homecoming 2017 Report

Alumni came from near and far, converging on the IWU campus on a beautiful fall weekend. They attended a reception at the president’s house; visited with friends; walked around campus; went to the [winning] football game; toured classrooms, labs, the theatre, nursing school, and library; hung out in the Dugout; and drove around Bloomington. A group of AOPi alums had lunch at their former sorority house, now a refurbished duplex. Many alumni participated in official reunion year dinners and events; others just enjoyed getting together informally and catching up. Here are a few photos.

Feel free to comment and share your own photos from Homecoming 2017.

Homecoming 2017 Update

As IWU celebrates “Titans Around the World” this Homecoming weekend, we will also honor our alumni who served worldwide as veterans and first-responders, including Captain Ryan A. Beaupre ’95. We will remember Ryan and all veterans and first-responders who have given their lives in the service of others and our country. Presenting the colors will be American Legion Color Guard Post 635 Normal and Post 56 from Bloomington. This will take place at Tucci Stadium prior to the football game (10/14). The ceremony will also include the National Anthem sung by Wayne Messmer ’72. Classmates  and friends can view the ceremony on streaming video live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu/

Homecoming 2017!

Does this plate stir memories of IWU?

Hi Everyone. Perhaps you have memories that like this one that you can share with your friends and fellow alumni October 13-15. I promise, I do not know how this ended up in my home. I look forward to hearing your updates and memories.

Steve Preis ’74