Jon Robinson ’05 recently wrote a book called You Are Not an Artist: A Candid Guide to the Business of Being a Designer, that will be published on November 15, 2022. In Jon’s own words: “This book is dedicated to the designer who not only wants to be good at design but also wants to understand what that really means. Whether you’re a student, you’re five years into an agency job and still floundering to find confidence, ten years in and considering career reinvention, or feeling stale and burnt out from decades of poor collaboration and deadline fatigue, this can act as a companion throughout your journey. Especially if you’re navigating your design education alone.” You can read more about the book here.

Amanda Willette ’05 was recently featured in the Pantagraph’s ’20 under 40′ list, which recognizes young professionals who excel in their career, are passionate about their community and are making a mark in Central Illinois. You can see the full list here.

Colleen Lawless ’05 has been nominated as district court judge for the central district of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth released this statement about the nomination:

“We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois. She brings strong qualifications and experience that will strengthen our federal bench. We look forward to supporting her nomination in the Senate.”

Colleen Lawless has served as an associate judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Sangamon County, Illinois, since 2019. Judge Lawless was previously a shareholder at Londrigan, Potter & Randle P.C. in Springfield, Illinois, from 2009 to 2019. Judge Lawless received her J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2009 and her B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2005.

Congratulations, Colleen!

Jon Robinson ’05 has recently finished writing a book. He was quoted on his LinkedIn as saying: “Finally wrapped up my last pandemic project. My book You Are Not an Artist: A Candid Guide to the Business of Being a Designer will be available for pre-order next month. I look forward to sharing all the things I think, or know, or think I know, with my fellow designers, students, and the design curious.”

Rachel (Price) Cooper ’05 has recently been named the Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Southern Maine. Congratulations, Rachel!

Steven Lucas ’05 was named athletic director at Plano (Ill.) High School in March 2022. Steven previously served as the dean of students at Plano and Batavia (Ill.) high schools. Prior to those roles, he served as a business education teacher at West Aurora (Ill.) High School for six years. Steven has a combined 11 years of coaching football and previously helped guide Plano to back-to-back state titles in 2006-07. 

David Varel ’05 is the author of The Scholar and the Struggle: Lawrence Reddick’s Crusade for Black History and Black Power, published by the University of North Carolina Press, which won a 2021 Colorado Book Award, presented by Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book. The work was also recognized by the African American Intellectual History Society as one of its “Best Black History Books of 2020.” In addition, David’s earlier book, The Lost Black Scholar: Resurrecting Allison Davis in American Social Thought, published by the University of Chicago Press, prompted the University of Chicago to organize an annual symposium in honor of Davis, with future plans to endow a professorship and postdoctoral fellowship in his name. The book’s TV and film rights have additionally been purchased by AMC Studios. David, an affiliate faculty member at Metropolitan State University of Denver, has additionally published articles in The American Historian and Perspectives on History reflecting his work in the areas of Black scholarship and history.