Arjun Nair ’19 is running for alderman in Aurora, Illinois. Currently, Nair is a student at DePaul University College of Law, but his goals for the future involve bettering Aurora.
Read more on Mustang graduate Arjun Nair runs for Aurora Alderman from Metea Media
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology Sheryl (Swartz) Soukup ’89 has adapted lab practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of the changes are here to stay. Soukup hopes to combine the best of both digital and traditional learning post pandemic.
Read more on Illinois Wesleyan University professor adapts biology lab amid pandemic from The Pantagraph
The Titan football team defeated Augustana College at the Knowlton Athletic Complex on March 27, in the team’s first shutout against Augie since 2009.
Read more on Football Shuts Out Augie for CCIW Victory from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics
The Spring 2021 IWU Magazine features a cover story on Dr. Judith Eckerle ’98, who serves as director of the University of Minnesota’s Adoption Medicine Clinic. Also: A quest by Andrew Baldock ’99 to climb the world’s highest peaks. And Katherine Slevin ’10 combines her love of baking with a business venture that helps support the local immigrant community in Portland, Maine.
Read more on Spring 2021 Issue Highlights from Illinois Wesleyan
Members of the IWU community were invited to gather in Evelyn Chapel and via Zoom on March 24 to lament together the many tragic events of the recent week and the past year. A video recording is available here.
Hall of Fame sports writer and Illinois Wesleyan alumnus Dave Kindred ’63 is the subject of a 60 Minutes story focused on his self-appointed beat, in retirement, chronicling the Morton High School girls basketball team.
Read more and watch the full interview on Dave Kindred goes back on the beat to cover high school girls basketball from CBS News
Students in this year’s Action Research Center seminar built beds for local kids as part of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project’s Bed Blitz, featured nationally on March 25 during The Drew Barrymore Show on CBS.
Read more on Bed Building Volunteers Garner National Attention for Community Impact from Illinois Wesleyan
Matthew Harder ’96 was appointed to the City of Wheeling, West Virginia’s Arts & Cultural Commission. Harder is professor of music, director of Music Technology and dean of the College of Arts and Communication at West Liberty University.
Read more on Dr. Matt Harder Appointed To City Commission from West Liberty University
John Camardella ’03 has accepted an opportunity to pursue his Master of Religion and Public Life at Harvard’s Divinity School, the first new masters program created at Harvard in more than 50 years. Camardella will be taking a sabbatical from teaching and stepping down as head basketball coach at Prospect High School.
Read more on Higher calling leads Camardella to step down at Prospect from Daily Herald
David Zimmerman ’92 has been appointed publisher of Colorado Springs’ Christian publisher NavPress. Zimmerman has been working in the Christian publishing industry for 28 years.
Read more on Colorado Springs Movers & Shakers from The Gazette
Marques Rice ’03 was unanimously elected to North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic’s board of directors. Rice is an academic support professional and adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s law school.
Read more on North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic elects new board member from the Daily Herald
David Young ’07 was named the new music director at First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Illinois. Young will direct the church choir, organize the church’s musical programs and expand its musical outreach into the community.
Read more on Young joins Lincoln Presbyterian Church as Music Director from The Courier
Isaac Simmons ’20, an openly gay drag queen recently certified as a candidate for Methodist ministry, hopes to “bridge the huge gap that is between queerness and spirituality.” The United Methodist Church in America is in the middle of splitting over LGBTQ+ issues and Simmons is at the heart of this split.
Read more on Gay Drag Queen Becomes Ministry Candidate At Heart Of United Methodist Church Split from WGLT Radio
The women’s track and field team concluded the 2021 indoor season ranked 10th in the USTFCCCA rating index, marking the eighth top-10 indoor finish in school history. The Titans finished the season as the top-ranked institution in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Read more on Women’s Track Finishes Indoor Season Ranked 10th Nationally from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics
A new giving circle scholarship has been launched to honor the late Robert M. Leekley, emeritus associate professor of economics, a tribute spearheaded by his former colleague Michael Seeborg. The circle seeks to raise at least $2,500 to be awarded to an outstanding junior or senior economics major starting in fall 2021.
Learn more and make a gift here: Professor Robert M. Leekley Memorial Giving Circle Scholarship
Illinois Wesleyan’s elementary education program has been designated “exemplary” by the Illinois State Board of Education. This is the board’s highest ranking, placing IWU’s program in the top 35% across the state.
Read more on Elementary Education Program Rated Exemplary from Illinois Wesleyan.
The Illinois State Board of Education has designated Illinois Wesleyan’s music education program as “exemplary,” their highest ranking, placing IWU’s program in the top 10% across the state.
Read more on Music Education Programs Earns Exemplary Rating from Illinois Wesleyan
Heartland Community College and Illinois Wesleyan have adopted a Guaranteed Admissions Agreement that will provide an easy transition for students transferring from one institution to the other.
Read more on Heartland Community College and Illinois Wesleyan Announce Guaranteed Admissions Agreement from Illinois Wesleyan
Nate Knuffman ’98 has been named vice chancellor for Finance and Operations and chief financial officer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill following a competitive, national search. He has served as interim vice chancellor for Finance and Operations since August and has been instrumental in helping the University during these unprecedented times.
Read more on Nate Knuffman named vice chancellor for Finance and Operations and chief financial officer from The University of North Carolina
The IWU men’s basketball team won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship for the first time in program history on March 12, with a victory over top-seeded Wheaton College on the Thunder’s home court.
Read more on Men’s Basketball Wins CCIW Championship Over No. 3 Wheaton from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics
Senior marketing major Nick Watson ’21 is this year’s recipient of the American Marketing Association’s Outstanding Marketing Student Award at Illinois Wesleyan. Watson is currently the president of IWU’s chapter of AMA.
Read more on Watson ’21 Receives Outstanding Marketing Student Award from Illinois Wesleyan
Sharla Brown-Ajayi brings more than eight years of experience at Illinois Wesleyan into her new role as director of the University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Brown-Ajayi has served as ODI’s interim director for the past two months and has contributed largely to the campus community.
Read more on Brown-Ajayi to Direct Office of Diversity and Inclusion from Illinois Wesleyan
Issac Funk Endowed Professor of Philosophy Robert Erlewine’s new book Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known By God brings together writings by rabbi and activist Abraham Joshua Heschel, whose words he says are “beyond merely relevant, they are urgent” for today.
Read more on Faculty Book Explores Philosophy of Jewish Faith and Civic Leader from Illinois Wesleyan
The student-produced podcast Slightly Underwhelming featured an interview with Indea Powe, counselor in Counseling and Consultation Services. Editor Caleb Hansen ’21 talked with Powe about why she decided to work at IWU, why she became a counselor, and her experiences at the school so far.
Listen to the full podcast on The New Counselor: Indea Powe from Spotify
Sports writer and author Dave Kindred ’63 will be featured in a segment on CBS Television’s 60 Minutes, likely airing later this month.
Read more on Kindred: ’60 Minutes’ to tell the story of Atlanta’s own Dave Kindred, the consummate storyteller from The Pantagraph