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. 

Morris ’75 and Linda (Brown) ’76 Tammen are using their retirement years to launch a new business with two of their children, Katrina Tammen Reber ’05 and Evan Tammen ’09. Artesia Brewing, located on their farm outside of Thawville, Illinois, opened its doors last fall and features varieties of hard cider, mead, and beer made with the fruits and honey from their farm.

“Two of our bestselling beers are named after a special IWU memory that my husband and I share,” Linda recently said. “I am sure I have told customers the story at least 50 times since we opened last fall. It always gets such a great reaction.”

Learn more here.

Congratulations to Jonathan Charak for making the Hot 100 from Insurance Business America!

Curator Angie Glasker ’05 discussed the Bullock Museum’s exhibit, “Not Alone: Working Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.” She was also interviewed on KXAN-TV to talk about the exhibit as it travels around Texas.

Congratulations on the exhibit launch, Angie. This is excellent and truly important work!

Our very own Doug Pietrzak recently returned to Hansen Student Center on November 11, 2021 to address his fellow Titans in a talk entitled: “Resilience and the Value of a Liberal Arts Education.”

Doug is an English Creative Writing alum from ’05 with a Master’s in Technology, Innovation and Education from Harvard. He is currently a Product Manager for Internal Education at Google and is the founder of Freshcognate, an educational media and design company with a passion for storytelling. In his free time, Doug is an avid touring cyclist, beer brewer, and trombone player with the Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band in Somerville, Massachusetts.