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.
Marla (Talbott) Maloney ’92 was recently promoted to President of Americas Services at Cushman & Wakefield. Congratulations, Marla!
Robert Donalson died Dec. 22, 2021. He was 87. Bob was a professor in Illinois Wesleyan’s School of Music for 30 years; he retired in 1994 with emeritus status. Bob felt the call to become an educator while serving in the U.S. Army in a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. He obtained a master’s degree at San Jose State University and a doctorate at the University of Colorado Boulder. He began his teaching career at Pepperdine University before landing at IWU. Bob loved beauty in all its forms — nature, art and poetry among them — but music was his emotional home. He was active in religious life and often shared his gift of music in the church. Bob was always learning and educated himself on subjects ranging from theology and philosophy, to computer science and financial investing, to home repair and carpentry. He enjoyed traveling, sports, his cats and, most of all, his family. He is survived by his wife, five children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Bob’s Celebration of Life will be held on February 12 at 1 p.m. CST and will be live-streamed at christlutheranchurchffg.org.
Mark Yakich ’92 published his new book Football (Object Lessons), on January 13, 2022.
Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. When is the “beautiful game” at its most beautiful? How does football function as a lens through which so many view their daily lives? What’s right in front of fans that they never see? Football celebrates and scrutinizes the world’s most popular sport—from top-tier professionals to children just learning the game. As an American who began playing football in the 1970s as it gained a foothold in the States, Mark Yakich reflects on his own experiences alongside the sport’s social and political implications. You can read more about the book here.
Congratulations Mark!
Commencement 2021
back row: Ann Monken ’92, AJ Monken ’21, Tom Monken ’92
Reid Monken ’29, Emilee (Monken) Lieser ’18
Not pictured: Erich Lieser ’18 (due to Army basic training and officers training)
Michael Brown ’92 of Bloomington, Illinois, died April 21, 2021. He was 51.
Mike was a member of Sigma Chi and the baseball team at Illinois Wesleyan. He was a standout athlete in several sports, but his first love was baseball. During his exceptional baseball career, he was formed and molded by countless teammates and coaches from Lexington (Ill.) High School, Illinois Wesleyan, the Bloomington Bobcats, Twin City Stars and American Legion, ultimately leading to him playing in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Mike was a financial advisor, community volunteer, mentor and baseball coach. He is survived by two children, his parents, two brothers and many nieces and nephews.
You can read the full obituary here.
David Zimmerman ’92 has become publisher of NavPress. He first joined NavPress in 2014 and has worked in multiple roles since then. Read more here.
Monday, February 8 is Thank-A-Giver Day at Illinois Wesleyan and we’re eager to celebrate generous Titans!
Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day is the symbolic point during the academic year — about 70% of the way through — when tuition dollars are exhausted and Illinois Wesleyan relies on donor generosity to continue providing a world-class education and rewarding collegiate experiences.
Each and every year, every gift matters. Contributions benefit students and faculty, enhance academic excellence, and strengthen the IWU community.
Thank you to all who give back to move IWU forward. 
Mark Yakich ‘92 published a fifth collection of poetry, Spiritual Exercises, in July of 2019. Mark’s work was published by Penguin Books. Spiritual Exercises is a discerning and dynamic journey of devotion and temptation in pursuit of the divine. To read more about Mark’s work, head over to the IWU Magazine spring 2020 issue. Spiritual Exercises is widely available.
Congratulations, Mark!