I have had difficulties getting into the software to create Newsletter documents so I have many stories to report. So following this letter will be several newsletters, some of them rather old.
Sorry for the delay.
Bob
Dr. John (Jack) Herrmann ’74, a professor of veterinary medicine, has been reappointed to the Illinois State Board of Health.
Steve Skelton ’71 “has seen it all” in four decades as an attorney, including more than 20 jury trials where his clients faced potential execution if he failed.
Claudia Reinhardt ’72 recently published a book of poetry entitled “Skating on the Sky.” The book is divided into sections, each highlighted by inspirational quotations and color photos taken by the author. The poems focus on the seasons, family, community, nature, and the senses.
An Illinois native, Claudia has lived in Colorado, Boston, and Iowa before taking root on the Great Plains. After working in corporate communications for many years and earning a master’s degree, Claudia is now a freelance editor, writer, and tutor. She and her husband, John Reinhardt ’71, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Today is All In for Wesleyan at IWU. Dr. Randy Reed ’73 has offered to give $500 for each class year with 30 donors today, and an additional $500 for each class with 60 donors. Seriously – every dollar counts! Help your class meet this Challenge. Click this link to donate https://www.iwu.edu/all-in You can also see how your class is doing in the challenge.
You can see All In on campus by clicking here.
Debby DeBernardi ’76 left a nursing career to become an ordained minister and professor of religion.
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.
Frankie R. Faison ’71 (left) poses with IWU’s Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter President, Scott Huch ’86, following the matinee performance of Between Riverside and Crazy at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2016. In Studio’s production of this 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Faison stars in the lead role of Walter “Pops” Washington. Faison is a Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominated Broadway actor also known for his work on film and TV, notably as Commissioner Ervin Burrell on the acclaimed HBO series The Wire. Faison can currently be seen in the hit Cinemax series Banshee as Sugar Bates.
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.