Dave Varel ’05 authored “The Professoriate Needs Pedigree Diversity,” which was published by the American Association of University Professors in its Academe Blog on November 9. Varel’s second book, The Scholar and the Struggle: Lawrence Reddick’s Crusade for Black History and Black Power, will be published by UNC Press in December.
Read more on The Professoriate Needs Pedigree Diversity from the Academe Blog
La Ruta: Walter Benjamin’s Last Passage, a collaborative text and image installation by Professor and Chair of English Joanne Diaz and former IWU Photographer/Videographer Jason Reblando is on exhibit at the Arts + Literature Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.
Read more on Sylvie Rosenthal, Lelia Byron, Jason Reblando & Joanne Diaz from Isthmus
Inspired by a Rotary Youth Exchange trip to Peru, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science Zoe Bouras ’18 is now the communications and development director for The Immigration Project.
Read more on Rotary exchange leads to helping immigrants from JG-TC
Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. announced that Kristy Chipman ’93 has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Chipman previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Orangetheory Fitness.
Read more on Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. Announces CFO Transition from StreetInsider
As a recipient of the McLean County Scholarship Guarantee, first-year Illinois Wesleyan psychology major Haven Ryburn ’24 began her college career having already gained eight years of experience in the workforce. She graduated Bloomington High School in 2012, and hopes to use her degree in psychology to pursue a career in art therapy.
Read more on Ryburn ’24 Continues Education at Illinois Wesleyan from Illinois Wesleyan
In a Veteran’s Day spotlight from Titan Athletics, 2006 National Champion and active-duty service member Melissa Harden-Peterson ’06 reflects on her time at IWU.
Read more on Former Titan Flourishing in Role as Air Force Major from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics
Bloomington, home to Illinois Wesleyan, has been named the “happiest city” in the U.S., according to Zippia’s 2020 list of the 10 “Happiest Cities” in the country. Bloomington was also recently recognized as one of “America’s Best Small Cities,” by Best Cities.
Read more on Bloomington Tops National Survey from Illinois Wesleyan
This Thanksgiving, holiday meals will be provided to roughly 2,500 McLean County families in need thanks in part to the hard work and generous spirit of Illinois Wesleyan University’s Profession of Social Work class during the “Big Give” food drive.
Read more on Students Put Principles into Practice at Midwest Food Bank from Illinois Wesleyan
DWS, one of the world’s leading asset managers, announced that Matt Hilding ’00 has joined the firm as U.S. Head of Wealth. In this role Hilding is responsible for setting and executing the wholesale distribution strategy across the U.S. for the firm.
Read more on DWS Appoints Matt Hilding as U.S. Head of Wealth from Citybizlist
Burke Nihill ’00 exceeds his wildest dreams by working his way up to become CEO and president of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Read more on ‘Beyond his wildest dreams’ — Nihill takes over as Titans president from the Daily Herald
Medical historian, bestselling author, and television host Lindsey Fitzharris ’04 re-examines some of history’s most mysterious deaths in The Curious Life and Death Of…, a new Smithsonian Channel series.
Read more on Fitzharris ’04 Hosts New Series Investigating Famous, Mysterious Deaths from Illinois Wesleyan
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, student-faculty research collaboration has continued in a variety of disciplines at Illinois Wesleyan, as recognized and celebrated by the Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee.
Read more on Student-Faculty Research Continues Through Pandemic from Illinois Wesleyan
Gale Strenger Wayne ’78 carries on her family’s long tradition of civic duty through her role as vice chair of the Lake County Community Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable residents of Lake County.
Read more on Gale Force from JWC Media
IWU Trustee Jill (Misener) York ’85 was named to the board of directors of Old Second Bancorp, the holding company for the Old Second National Bank. York previously served as president and head of equipment finance and leasing solutions for Fifth Third Bank.
Read more on Former Head of Equipment Finance for Fifth Third Joins Old Second Bancorp’s Board from Monitordaily
The West Bloomington Revitalization Project dedicated a new local mural featuring an image of George Floyd painted by Bruce Clark ’97 and a poem written by Yovana Milosevic ’21 and the kids at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.
Read more on George Floyd mural unveiled in Bloomington from The Pantagraph
Susann Marcum ’89 has been named by the Illinois Association of School Nurses as the 2020 School Nurse of the Year for her two decades of service in school across McLean County Unit District 5.
Read more on Marcum ’89 Named School Nurse of the Year in Illinois from Illinois Wesleyan
“Moulin Rouge!”, executive-produced by Bill Damaschke ’85 has been nominated for 14 Tony Awards including Best Musical. This marks Damaschke’s second time producing a Tony-nominated musical.
Read more on Damaschke ’85 Produces Tony-Nominated Musical “Moulin Rouge!” from Illinois Wesleyan
Senior nursing major Meghan Lehmann ’21 has been recognized as Illinois Wesleyan University’s 2020 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate. Lehmann has been a certified nursing assistant since 2016, and currently works as a Patient Care Technician at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.
Read more on Lehmann ’21 Honored As Lincoln Academy Student Laureate from Illinois Wesleyan
An interdisciplinary research team made up of IWU faculty, an IWU alumna, and a local veterinarian published a study in the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology about shotgun-harvested deer that contained metal fragments, including lead. Members of the research team included Professor of Biology Given Harper, Professor of Chemisty Manori Perera, Professor of Environmental Studies Aaron Wilson, and alumna Genevieve Alexander ’14.
Read more on Researchers Find Lead Contamination in Shotgun-Harvested Deer from Illinois Wesleyan
Illinois Wesleyan won the friendly Bloomington/Normal campus voter registration competition, surpassing Illinois State University and Heartland Community College. IWU had 695 students – 42% of the student body – registered to vote by Oct. 18.
Read more on Illinois Wesleyan Wins “BloNo Campus Voter Registration Challenge” from Illinois Wesleyan
Gianina Baker ’04 was named the Central Illinois Business Magazine’s “Forty Under 40” woman of the year. Baker is the associate director at the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) and vice president of the Unit 4 school board.
Read more on Baker ’04 Named Central Illinois Woman of the Year from Illinois Wesleyan