left to right- June Merritt Mitchell, Suzanne Unger Thompson, Linda Warner Darr, Tom Cunnington, Wendy Tripp Shelquist, and Jewel Ann Wiltfang
A group of IWU alums were together at Asbury United Methodist Church in Kankakee for the “Joy of Christmas” on December 5, 2015. Attending were June Merritt Mitchell, class of 1951; Suzanne Unger Thompson, class of 1968; Linda Warner Darr, class of 1972; Tom Cunnington, class of 1977; Wendy Tripp Shelquist, class of 1977; and Jewel Ann Wiltfang, class of 1978. All of the alums are members of Asbury UMC except for Linda Warner Darr. She was a guest of Suzanne Unger Thompson.
On December 10, 2015, Marianne (Miller) Marlow ’79 was honored as a literacy volunteer for the Rockford Public Schools.
The honorees were acknowledged for their service and received an IMRF staff donation for their preferred service organizations. Their outreach activities focused on children, the elderly, the environment, veterans, families of fallen law enforcement officers, and the needy. Individually, they serve others within their respective communities. Collectively, they serve the great state of Illinois, and we are proud to have them as IMRF members.
Dr. Kim Schafer-Astroth
Kim Schafer Astroth ’77 accepted an appointment to serve as interim assistant dean for the undergraduate programs at Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing.
Kim accepted an appointment to serve as interim assistant dean for the undergraduate programs at Illinois State’s Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN), beginning January 2016. Kim worked with Dianne Clemens last fall as part of her transition to the new role. Clemens retired in December after 17 years of service at MCN.
Kim began working at Mennonite College of Nursing in 1992. Her research interests include chronic kidney disease, symptom management and chronic disease, physical activity, decision-making associated with activation of a rapid response team, civility, and QSEN.
She earned her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Missouri at St. Louis, M.S. from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and B.S.N. from Illinois Wesleyan University. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Indiana University in Indianapolis.
“I am pleased Dr. Schafer Astroth will be serving in this position,” said H. Catherine Miller, interim dean at MCN. “She has a great deal of experience with teaching in the undergraduate programs, and is dedicated to MCN’s mission to develop exceptionally well prepared nurses.”
Kim has taught at all levels of nursing education at MCN and has served on many committees within the college. She is a longstanding member of the McLean County Heart Board, primarily assisting with the Heart Walk activities. She also serves on the OSF SJMC Nursing Research Council.
Save the Date!
The Illinois Wesleyan University Collegiate Choir
will perform in Bloomington for the final concert in their spring break tour.
The Collegiate Choir, conducted by Dr. J. Scott Ferguson,
will perform in cities throughout the Midwest plus Denver.
See the full tour schedule here.
On Tuesday, March 22 at 8:00 p.m. Wesley United Methodist Church, 502 E. Front St. Bloomington, IL, the Collegiate Choir will perform for locals.
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded a $350,000 grant to Illinois Wesleyan University to develop a comprehensive, three-year program of new curricular approaches and pedagogical reform. The primary aim of the initiative, entitled Engaging Tomorrow’s Students, is to increase student engagement and enhance learning outcomes.
Provost and Dean of the Faculty Jonathan Green noted Illinois Wesleyan’s student population has significantly diversified in recent years with regard to racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation college students and students who are eligible for Pell Grants. “In addition to a greater breadth of ethnic, geographic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds, our students display a much more varied range of preparation and learning experiences from those enrolled when our current curriculum was created,” said Green. He also noted that faculty and administrators have indicated they could be better prepared to meet the intercultural needs of today’s students.
To strengthen pedagogy and increase interdisciplinary offerings, the grant will allow Illinois Wesleyan to establish four major initiatives. These include: team-taught interdisciplinary courses that experiment with varied ways of teaching; curricular and pedagogical symposia; campus teaching mentors; and workshops on the humanities and intercultural communication.
Funds from the grant will be used for guest speakers; grants for faculty members to develop specific projects within their courses; stipends for workshops, training and mentors; and the salary for a visiting assistant professor of humanities.
Associate Dean for Curricular and Faculty Development Lynda Duke will serve as project director and coordinate implementation of the grant. Green said the university’s Andrew W. Mellon Center for Curricular and Faculty Development will be the home for the work of the Engaging Tomorrow’s Students project. The Mellon Center has also been home to the work of several previous grants from the Mellon Foundation: a $300,000 grant for Re-Centering the Humanities in 2013; a $250,000 grant to support writing and information literacy in 2012; and a $175,000 grant in 2008 to develop a writing curriculum in the sophomore year.
“This is a propitious time in the University’s history as we fulfill our mission’s commitment to being a diverse community, but we do not have the resources required to retool most effectively,” said Green. “This grant makes it possible for us to adapt to a new generation of students, strengthen our teaching, and reform our curriculum to the best advantage of our students and the institution. The project will help us provide the educational support all students deserve.”
Recently John Dozier ’78 and his wife Cheri spent their anniversary clearing out his mother’s house in preparation of an estate sale. In his former bedroom, they located the Just Married poster made by his groomsmen; Tim Potts ’79, Karl Cremieux ’79, William Petty ’78, and Chris Kosifas ’78 34 years earlier. John has attended each Homecoming since graduation and stays in contact with many of his IWU friends.
PS: John did take Cheri out to dinner that evening.
Jim And Deb ’78 Bowers were named Philanthropists of the Year at the Tocqueville Society Reception.
The Tocqueville Society was founded in 1984. The United Way Tocqueville Society is an opportunity for passionate individuals to become more deeply involved in United Way’s mission. The Tocqueville Society recognizes local philanthropic leaders and volunteer champions in the United States, France, and Romania who have devoted time, talent, and funds to create long-lasting changes by tackling our communities’ most serious issues.
