Illinois Wesleyan Among Nation’s Best Values

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Illinois Wesleyan University was named the 57th best value among private liberal arts colleges in the latest Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Best Values in Private Colleges listing released Tuesday. Kiplinger’s names the top-100 private liberal arts colleges based on a combination of factors intended to measure academic quality and affordability.

“We have typically done well in Kiplinger’s value rankings because of our strong academic program and commitment to student financial aid,” said President Richard F. Wilson. “We are pleased to be included among the best liberal arts colleges nationally and to be the second highest ranked liberal arts college in Illinois.”

In addition to being ranked No. 57 nationally, Illinois Wesleyan is considered the No. 2 best value among the five Illinois liberal arts colleges that were part of the top-100 national list.

Memorial Concert to Honor the Late Dr. Campbell

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – On Sunday, Oct. 23, the Illinois Wesleyan School of Music will hold a memorial concert for the late Dr. C. Lawrence Campbell, who served as a member of the Illinois Wesleyan faculty for 33 years.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 11:30 a.m. in Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall (1210 Park St., Bloomington).

A professor of music, piano, piano pedagogy and literature, Dr. Campbell, a member of the Illinois Wesleyan faculty since 1978, held degrees from Northwestern University and Indiana University. A celebrated artist who held many distinctions, Dr. Campbell was named a winner or finalist in several national competitions, including the Chicago Young Artists’ Competition, the Allied Arts Piano Competition, the Talman Musical Arts Competition and the international auditions of the Artists’ Advisory Council. He was named to the Fern Rosetta Sherff Professorship in 1998, honoring his distinguished teaching, research and service to the University.

Student’s Play to Premiere in Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – “Soda,” a play written by Illinois Wesleyan senior theatre major Kamaya Thompson, will premiere as part of New Route Theatre’s One Shot Deal series on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Herb Eaton Studio and Gallery (411 North Center St., Bloomington).

The show addresses the injustices that still exist in educational institutions and judicial systems, according to Thompson, and is written in poetry rather than traditional dialogue. She chose to write in this style as the rhythm of poetry helps her better collect her thoughts on the paper. “I wish I could hold conversations in poetry every day, because I might make more sense,” said Thompson, who is also an English minor.

Psychology Department Celebrating 50 Years

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The study of psychology has always had a place at Illinois Wesleyan.

On a shelf in the office of Interim Dean of Students Roger Schnaitter sat a small, black book bound by a spine cracked with age. Yellowing pages revealed the 1871 textbook, titled Psychology, or The Science of Mind, was written by the Rev. Oliver Munsell, second president of Illinois Wesleyan. “The teaching of psychology goes a long way into our history,” said Schnaitter. Like the science itself, psychology at IWU evolved over the last 162 years, only finding a permanent home on campus 50 years ago.

This year at Homecoming, the Psychology Department will honor those 50 years, and also pay tribute to a lost member of the faculty. On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Psychology Department will hold a 50th anniversary reception at 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Center for Natural Science Learning and Research (201 E. Beecher St., Bloomington). The event will also include a tribute to Professor of Psychology Jim Dougan, who died unexpectedly last year.

Brandt ’78 Makes Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” List

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Carol Brandt, Illinois Wesleyan University Class of 1978, was recently recognized as a member of Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors.” In the June 6 issue of the newspaper, Brandt was ranked number 64 in the United States.

Brandt, who is also a member of Barron’s “Top 1000 Financial Advisors” in the nation, has made the top women financial advisor’s list for three years in a row.

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized as one of the top women financial advisors in the country,” said Brandt. “I’m very excited to be in the company of such a dynamic group of women. Being included on the list provides instant credibility to clients and prospective clients. This also provides increased visibility and credibility within my peer group.”

Barron’s, published by Dow Jones & Company since 1921, reports weekly on current American financial information, market developments and relevant statistics. Each year they publish several lists consisting of rankings of the top financial. The list is based on certain criteria: the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms and the quality of the advisors’ practices.

Carney-Hall to Lead Student Affairs

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Karla Carney-Hall, vice president for student affairs at Hendrix College, has been named vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Illinois Wesleyan University. She succeeds Kathryn Cavins-Tull who left Wesleyan in July to become vice chancellor for student affairs at Texas Christian University.

President Richard F. Wilson announced that the new student affairs leader would join the University on January 3, 2012. The appointment of Carney-Hall comes following a national search that began over the summer.

“Dr. Carney- Hall is uniquely qualified to become our next vice president for student affairs and dean of students,” said Wilson. “She impressed the campus community with her broad range of experience at two excellent residential liberal arts colleges and with her passion for creating environments that foster student success.”

At Hendrix College, Carney-Hall provided leadership for all areas of student life, residential life, advising, health and wellness, career services and intercollegiate athletics. She was a member of the president’s cabinet and was actively engaged in the College’s strategic planning. Among her many accomplishments were overseeing the planning and building of two new student apartment style residences and a $26.5 million student life and technology center.

Seeborg, Becker Awarded Margaret Wakeley Scholarship

On Sept. 8, Melissa Seeborg ’13 and Jazmyn Becker ’12 received the Margaret Wakeley scholarship from the Professional Women of McLean County. The scholarship is open to students of junior or senior standing at Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University or Lincoln College. The $1500 award is named after the first president of the Women’s Division of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Margaret Wakeley, and is intended to honor students of academic excellence who are seeking college degrees. Applicants are evaluated on academic standing and participation in leadership activities, among other criteria.

Seeborg, a native of Bloomington is an economics major with a minor in political science. “I am very honored to be recognized by such admirable women. The members of the organization are all skilled, confident and caring. It is a blessing to have this organization along with its members in our community,” said Seeborg.

Working this summer as an intern at the Action Research Center (ARC), Seeborg was given the opportunity to explore areas of community involvement and leadership. After graduation, she would like to attend law school and work in a field where she can directly connect with people and impact their lives in a positive way.

Becker, a native of Bloomington, Minn. is a double major in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and interdisciplinary educational studies in public policy. “I was so grateful to receive this scholarship, especially because it is from such a wonderful organization,” she said. “The Professional Women of McLean County are a group of highly aspiring women who balance career, children, not-for-profit work and much more. I was so happy that women of this caliber felt I deserved this scholarship.”

Scholars Traveling to Russia

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Illinois Wesleyan’s Isaac Funk Professor and Professor of Russian Studies Marina Balina, will lead a multi-disciplinary delegation of faculty members from Wesleyan, Illinois State and the University of Illinois on a weeklong conference to Russia, where they will discuss global children’s issues. The group leaves on Sept. 23 for Moscow and St. Petersburg for their second international colloquium with prominent Russian scholars.

The conference, titled “Transforming Childhood,” is the second organized by Balina, who has written extensively on Soviet-ear children’s literature and modern Russian life. The colloquium is supported, in part, through funds provided by the Funk Foundation endowed professorship she holds. This second gathering will build on the dialog that began in September 2010 when eight Russian scholars from several of that country’s most prominent institutions visited Illinois Wesleyan.

25 New Scholarships Announced

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Illinois Wesleyan announced the establishment of 25 new named scholarships at its 15th annual Benefactor Dinner on Sept. 21. This event allows students to meet for the first time with donors who provided them with scholarship support.

“We are indeed fortunate to have alumni and friends of the University who have a deep and abiding interest in Illinois Wesleyan and the extraordinary young people whose lives are forever transformed on this campus,” said President Richard F. Wilson. “Today these young people need our support more than at almost any time in our history, which is why a key priority of the Transforming Lives fundraising campaign is student scholarship support.”

Among the new named scholarships announced, 10 were funded by members of Illinois Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees. All of the new scholarships and the 162 active ones named in recent years provide financial support to about 200 Wesleyan students. Named scholarships are typically designated for students with high financial need and who may have a background or circumstances that connects them with a particular benefactor.

Students Plan Homecoming Activities to Show School Spirit

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University students have created student-oriented activities to celebrate 2011 Homecoming: Lights, Camera, Action. This year, students will search for the school mascot, Tommy the Titan, vote for Homecoming court, and dress-up as celebrities – to show their IWU school spirit.

Many events will be ongoing, such as “Where on Campus is Tommy the Titan.” Throughout the duration of Homecoming week, students will search for clues on where to find Tommy and are encouraged to take photos of the mascot and post them to Facebook or Twitter. Featured events will also include the “Celebrity Jeopardy” and the 60th Annual Titan Games, during which students compete against each other in various relay races.

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