John Munch was named superintendent of La Grange Highlands (Ill.) School District 106 in April 2021. John previously served as the assistant superintendent for human resources in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills (Ill.) Elementary School District 181 for the past seven years. His prior experience includes serving as principal of Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School in Joliet, Illinois, and working as a middle school assistant principal, teacher and social worker.
Kyle Garifo ’98 has been developing in real estate for over 13 years including several condo ground-up construction projects in Chicago, over 200 flipped homes, cannabis dispensaries in 3 states and recently the development of The Heathers Senior Homes, a new model of doing assisted living in a home like setting. Kyle has since started 41 Development Group, LLC, responsible for raising capital from outside investors to further build the dispensaries and The Heathers Senior Homes expansion into other communities to meet the increasing demand for senior living.
Gary Hohbein ’98 penned Barney, a story about the philosophy of technology and the arrival of robots in our homes. Uncle John , who lives a hermit-like lifestyle in his log cabin with only his dog Barney, becomes the subjects of a technology experiment one day when a first-generation social robot mysteriously appears in his backyard. His indifference turns philosophical as he realizes its capabilities as not only a replacement for performing daily activities but as a threat to reflective thought and what makes him human. As the experimenters become impatient, John’s reflections turn to rage and a plot for revenge. Barney is available on Amazon.
Laura Warren ’98 was part of a Sports career panel on March 10, 2021, which gave insight for students interested in working in the sports industry. Our versatile alumni panelists have worked with the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Fire, and more.
Andrea (Armour) Trudeau ’98 was the recipient of the American Library Association’s 2020 Frances Henne Award, recognizing a school librarian with less than five years experience who demonstrates leadership.
Congratulations to Nate Knuffman ’98 who was named Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in August 2020.
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. 
Shannon McManimon has two new books. She is co-author (with Zachary A. Casey) of Building Pedagogues: White Practicing Teachers and the Struggle for Antiracist Work in Schools (SUNY Press, 2020) and co-editor of Whiteness at the Table: Antiracism, Racism, and Identity in Education (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018), for which she also co-authored two chapters.
Hi Class of ’98 friends. Hoping this post finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. It’s hard to believe we’ve been sheltering-in-place since mid-March. If you’d like to share any updates or news, we’d love to hear from you!
If you’re mainly at home, check out one of the recent Titan Talks that have been taking place weekly. You can find recorded webinars here.
Here is an article of a few alumni who are providing leadership in the COVID-19 global response. Thank you to all!
Take care, everyone, and hope to hear from you soon!
Sarah
