Dr. Stephanie A. Whyte ’91 will present the combined Founders’ Day Convocation and MLK Teach-In virtual keynote address titled “COVID-19: The great disruptor,” on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Read more on Dr. Stephanie Whyte ’91 to Deliver Founders’ Day Convocation and Martin Luther King Jr. Teach-In Keynote from Illinois Wesleyan
Nominations for the 2021 Alumni Awards are now open!
Every year, Illinois Wesleyan University recognizes the outstanding achievement of our alumni with the announcement of the Alumni Awards. The winners are celebrated during Homecoming Weekend (October 1-3, 2021) at the Best of Illinois Wesleyan Awards Ceremony.
Please fill out the nomination form here before March 1, 2021.
Cathy Coons Agasar’s ’85 memoir inspires us to take stock to live the best version of ourselves. It chronicles her journey from unfathomable heartbreak and suppression of emotions to the incredible gifts of the healing process after the sudden death of her first husband.
Learn more about her book at www.TheGiftofLoss.com
Katie Whalley Banville ’09 along with her husband Bryan and daughter Juniper have gone from having chock-full 2020 calendars of creative work to spending virtually 24 hours a day of the past nine months quarantining at home.
With many planned shows and performance cancellations, Katie, a choreographer and stage director, said, “It was heartbreaking. We definitely went through a phase of loss and grief. It was like a domino effect. One show would get postponed, and then another and another.”
Read more on the Banville’s in Faces of the arts shutdown: Theater’s Bryan & Katie Banville: ‘We definitely went through a phase of loss’ from the San Diego Union Tribune.
Dennis Kleidon ’66, Professor of Art Emeritus of the University of Akron and CEO of Kleidon & Associates will show recent abstract paintings in a virtual solo exhibit at the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York City. The show can be viewed online at the gallery website, www.walterwickisergallery.com. It will include twenty paintings and runs January 2 – February 8. As a virtual show, it can be seen by everyone without travel required and will have international circulation.
Rick King ’67 was recognized by the Florida State University College of Social Work among its 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients at a virtual event.
Read more on FSU Social Work celebrates distinguished alumni and scholarship recipients with virtual ceremony from Florida State University News by Anna Prentiss
Former CIA analyst David Priess ’93 spoke to the importance of a president elect receiving up-to-date intelligence prior to inauguration.
Read more on Ex-CIA analyst, Illinois Wesleyan University grad says Biden needs to see up-to-date intelligence data from The Pantagraph by Lenore Sobota
Ianne Fields Stewart ’15 stars as Roberta in the Netflix hit, Dash & Lily.
Read more on ASFA grad lands role in hit Netflix Series from Bham Now by Irene Richardson
Zach Silver ’18, a Ph.D. student at Yale University working in Laurie Santos’ Comparative Cognition Laboratory and the Canine Cognition Center, was recognized for his work.
Read more on The Science of our Ancient Bond with Dogs from Smithsonian Magazine by Jeff Macgregor.
Kate Tombaugh ’07 won the 10th annual Mildred C. Miller International Vocal Competition and $3,000 prize in an all-mezzo-soprano edition hosted by the Pittsburgh Festival Opera.
Read more on Tombaugh ’07 Wins Mildred C. Miller International Vocal Competition by Illinois Wesleyan.
As the results of late-stage clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine are announced, Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group director Dr. Gregory Poland ’77 is providing his expert analysis.
Read more on Poland ’77 Provides Expertise on Coronavirus Vaccine Development by Illinois Wesleyan.
Titan Athletics announced the Legends Endowment for Athletic Excellence, enhancing the student-athlete experience at Illinois Wesleyan through the generosity of Jeff ’74 and Janet ’74 Solberg, Dr. Cal ’73 and Kris Atwell, Pat Busch ’78 and Michelle Zeller, Doug ’73 and Vicky Stewart, and Steve ’73 and Deb ’74 Wannemacher.
Read more on IWU Announces Legends Endowment for Athletic Excellence from Illinois Wesleyan.
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
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
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
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
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
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