Nancy Kincheloe ’78 with her 2017 Legacy Graduate, Christopher Kincheloe.
Marcia Sattleberg ’75, Christopher ’17, Nancy ’78
David and Lois Wilkins with their 2017 Legacy Graduate, Nathaniel Wilkins.
Lois ’75, Nathaniel ’17, David ’74
Hey there, fellow Titan alumni, your newsletter editor, Debbie Burt-Frazier here. First, let me apologize for my lengthy absence, I moved to Dayton, Ohio in late December. I teach at two Historically Black Universities, Central State and Wilberforce. The Spring semester began in January and it has been a pleasant whirlwind of activity, ever since. Please, forgive me, for seeming to forget about you, but, I’mmmm back.
I hope you all participated in ‘The All In for Wesleyan,” giving event, last month. Congrats, on making it another super successful endeavor! If you weren’t able, you will get another chance next month to give before the IWU fiscal year ends. Check the TitanPride(website) for more information.
The Class of 2017 has exited Wesleyan, and gone forth to “do well and do good,” as beloved past President Minor Myers used to say. Old man Winter, finally, loosened his grip on us. Spring has sprung and summer is right around the corner. The first big holiday is upon us, Memorial Day. Please, remember our brave servicemen and women. Also, remember those loved ones who have gone on.
Lastly, it is not too early to think about Homecoming 2017, October 13 -15 weekend. It is my birthday weekend, I plan to be there! (God willing, and the creek don’t rise. As my Granny used to say.) This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Minority Alumni Network, (M.A.N.) that’s silver, baby! Planning is underway for a celebration, on Saturday, October 14th. You do not want to miss it!
Well, gotta go, Titans. I promise not to stay away so long. Thanks, take care! DRBF
Robin Roberts ’79 just retired as a teacher and coach from Tri-Valley Middle School (Downs, IL) on September 22nd of 2016 after 33 years of service.
He taught 7th grade World Geography, coached track & cross country, and was a bus driver. He also coordinated a large Civil War Day event each May, since 2005, with over 50 re-enactors from across the state participating. Many area schools attended this annual event.
Robin was honored by the McLean County Museum of History with a plaque in May of 2016 in honor of his students displaying 40 Illinois History Fair Projects for over 20 years at the museum for the general public to view. Many of the projects researched a historically significant person, place, or event from McLean County or Central Illinois. These projects went on to compete at the regional and state levels.
Robin received numerous teaching honors which included the following: 2002 Illinois History Expo Governor’s Award, 2008 Golden Apple Award Finalist, 2009 Bloomington Walmart Teacher of the year, and the 2009 Illinois State Historical Society Olive Foster Teacher of the Year Award.
Robin also officiated high school basketball for 41 years and football for 25 years. He was selected to work the IHSA State Finals in Peoria for boys basketball in 2001, 2002, and 2004. Robin was selected and inducted into the Hall of Fame for basketball officiating by three different organizations: the BNOA (Bloomington-Normal Officials Association), the IBOA (Illini Basketball Officials Association), and the IBCA (Illinois Basketball Coaches Association).
Robin has participated as a chaperone for the McLean County Diversity Project since its inception in 2001. Each year he helps supervise a group of 25 local junior high and high school students on an annual week-long summer trip with the theme varying but always concentrating on the issues of diversity. The group has traveled in the past to such places as New York, Boston, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Wyoming, Colorado, and Costa Rica. In late June, they will be visiting the Nazi Death Camp at Auschwitz, Poland.
Enjoy your retirement! Look me up at a reenactment. I’m in the 33rd Illinois Regimental Band.
The 45th anniversary (how can it be?) of our Class of 1972 graduation is coming up this fall. Now is the time to add IWU Homecoming Weekend to your fall calendar, and tell your friends you’ll meet them in Bloomington.
Spring blossoms on the Eckley Quadrangle. Photos by William Frank.
Chip Scholz ’78 has turned a few new bowls. Take a look.
Many promotion recipients would be quick to unpack into a new office, but new associate vice president for Academic Affairs Bonnie Campbell has yet to completely settle in. She was previously the dean of Health Professions and director of Nursing before she was hired into this new position last fall.
The Utica native explained that when she was in high school, women typically became either a teacher or a nurse. Campbell enjoys both those fields, and she had the chance to combine the two here at IVCC.
Originally, Bonnie went to school to be a nurse. She obtained her bachelor’s from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Then studied for her master’s degree at Loyola Medical Center as she worked there. At that time, she and her husband decided to move back to Utica.
“I was lucky enough [to find] a position open for teaching faculty here at the college and I immediately moved and started teaching nursing,” she said. She quickly progressed to the director of Nursing, then the dean of Health Professions, before she left to run a garden center.
Campbell said that her previous positions have helped prepare her for her new position.
“Being a nurse has always been my first and most wonderful passion. I love the idea of helping people,” she said. She was excited to take her compassion, problem-solving skills and ability to seek compromise and transfer it into her teaching and now administrative position.
“I like the opportunity that I’m hoping to have in this position as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs that I’ll be able to affect change at a larger level.”
Deborah Anderson, Campbell’s coworker as the vice-president for Academic Affairs, added, “[Campbell’s] previous experiences as a clinical nurse and small business owner give her a rounded perspective about the type of leadership that is necessary to build strong organizations.” Anderson praises Campbell’s ability to serve others and her loyalty to IVCC through her twenty years at the college.
One of the issues that Campbell has had to deal with is the lack of state budget. She said that it has made thing “much more challenging. Without a state budget… it’s just very difficult to do what you want to do when you don’t have the money that’s been committed to do what you want to do.”
Bonnie acknowledged the challenges faced by everyone in the institution, but also commended IVCC’s ability to make changes financially while still having the students and community in mind.
In addition to being the associate vice president of Academic Affairs, Bonnie is also the dean of Workforce Development. She hopes that one day she can drop that title and focus solely on Academic Affairs.
“I would love to have one hat as opposed to two,” she said, but that depends on the state budget. “Then I could focus in on the things that I really want to focus in on and make positive change.”
Congratulations, Bonnie.