Category Archives: News

Michelle Brand ’13

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Michelle Brand ’13 started a new job at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital in March 2019, working as a clinical nurse on the Neuro Spine Specialty Surgery Unit.

Congratulations, Michelle, and best of luck on your new endeavors.

Raven Stubbs ’13

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Raven Stubbs ’13 will present A day late and a dollar short a workshop series and ethnodramaturgical project exploring the role of class within contemporary Black life and community, from January 10 – March 16.
You can read more about it here. 

Thank-A-Giver Day 2019

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Thank-A-Giver Day (TAG Day) is on Monday, February 11, 2019. This day provides the IWU campus community with the opportunity to thank the donors who support Illinois Wesleyan.

IWU celebrates each year in mid-February because it marks the symbolic point during the academic year – about 70% of the way through – when tuition dollars run out and support from alumni and friends, our endowment, and external grants kicks in for the remainder of the year.

Thank you to all donors who help make the IWU experience possible!

Michelle Brand ’13

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Michelle Brand ’13 graduated in November 2018 from the Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program at Depaul University, earning a Master of Science in nursing.

Michelle successfully passed boards in January 2019, allowing her to qualify to become a registered nurse.

Congratulations, Michelle!


Michelle Brand ’13, pictured next to her thesis project for Master of Science in nursing, titled ‘The Effects of Music Therapy on Executive Functioning and Emotions of Stroke Patients.’

Joe Musso ’13

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Joe Musso ’13 was featured on the STAA 30 under 30 sports broadcasterezs. 2018 30 Under 30 was compiled by STAA owner Jon Chelesnik with input from sportscasters, agents, sports radio and TV industry executives and social media. You can read more about it here. 

Dare Olatian ’13

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Dare Olaitan ’13 is the Nollywood director of the year and has recently come out with his second movie project, “Knock Out Blessing” His first film, “Ojukokoro”, was a success, being nominated for several awards and was screened at some film festivals. You can read more about Dare‘s work here.

Congratulations, Dare!

Allyce Carryn Torres ’13

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Allyce Carryn Torres ’13 and Alexa Fajardo Eldridge ’16 preformed in Firefly Love at Something Marvelous, a magical realism theater festival based in Chicago.
Something Marvelous cultivates new works of magical realism and curates a reflective dialogue with the community to examine, broaden, and embolden the genre. Our work uses theatricality to awaken imagination and inspire empathy for new perspectives.

Firefly Love by Alejandro Ricaño and translated by Héctor Garza ran from June 30 through July 15, 2018 at Athenaeum Theatre, Studio One in Chicago.
Allyce preformed as Lola in Firefly Love and is an Actor, Teaching Artist, and Activist originally from San Diego. Recent credits include WHAT OF THE NIGHT at Stage Left & Cor, THE BOTTLE TREE at Stage Left, FEFU & HER FRIENDS at Halcyon Theatre, and INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH at 16th Street Theatre. Her credits at Something Marvelous include DON’T LOOK and REFERENCES TO SALVADOR DALÍ MAKE ME HOT. She is the Managing Director of Windy City Performs, the Company Manager of Something Marvelous, and an ensemble member at Stage Left.
Alexa preformed as Lola in Firefly Love on July 6th and 8th. She  is a Cuban American actor and Improvisor new to the Windy City and loving every minute! Alexa just finished a year long Acting Apprenticeship at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, FL where she performed in Stephen Spotswood’s Rolling World Premiere of DOUBLEWIDE as Lorelai, and you can find her now at The Second City as a student in their prestigious conservatory program!
Click here for more information.
Congratulations, Allyce!

Sara Vore ’13

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Sara Vore ’13 has started her own business: Flowers and Leather Events and was recently featured in the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Newsletter. During her time as a student at IWU, Sara had the privilege of working with brides to find their dream wedding gowns and coordinate their entire wedding day style. After graduation, she moved on to her full-time career in event planning and management with several local organizations. While she continues to enjoy her full-time position as event coordinator at Illinois Wesleyan, Sara declared, “it was finally time to start my own business!”
The Illinois SBDC of McLean County at Illinois Wesleyan University has had the opportunity to work with Sara as she gets her business off the ground. She admits, “Although I thought about starting the business for a long time, I felt overwhelmed when thinking about the steps necessary to actually establish the business in the community. I felt I needed some accountability and someone to provide guidance.” Sara has worked with the SBDC over the past few months to refine her business plan, develop her marketing strategy, and connect with resources for legal and financial assistance. “The SBDC has been an invaluable support and resource while starting my business.”
Flowers and Leather Events focuses on wedding planning, and specifically day-of (also known as month-of) coordination. Sara works with her clients to create an absolutely flawless wedding day, providing services from timeline planning to vendor coordination, as well as calligraphy and centerpiece crafting! “I’m their cheerleader, their listening ear, their mediator, their cheesy joke provider, their mimosa maker – I’m their go-to gal for everything.”
While she is still in the early stages, Sara has big growth plans for her business, including expansion to other types of event planning, a wedding dress product line, and online courses to help other women entrepreneurs grow their own businesses. “Regardless of the path my company takes, I want to be able to help others and encourage them along their own journeys.”
Follow Flowers and Leather Events on Facebook and Instagram at @flowersandleatherevents, or find Sara on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/saravore ! You can also contact Sara at sara@flowersandleatherevents.com.
Congratulations, Sara!