New Illinois Wesleyan Trustees Named, Officers Elected
July 14, 2023
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Three new members –– Dirk Behrends ’87, Mark Denzler ’93, and Deon Hornsby ’97 –– have been named to the Illinois Wesleyan University Board of Trustees.
In addition to the three new trustees, 10 current board members were re-elected for three-year terms, board officers and committee chairs were elected for the 2023-24 school year and the president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors was named.
Dirk Behrends ’87
is the senior vice president for Association Solutions at Fonteva and
Protech. He worked at software companies serving the not-for-profit sector from 2000
to 2019, rising from senior director of sales to the vice president of association
enterprise solutions. During this time through organic growth and acquisition, Behrends
helped the company grow from $2 million annually to over $150 million annually. He
has been active on campus through the Alumni Association Board of Directors since
2015, serving as president of the board in 2022 and 2023. Behrends uses his passion
for philanthropy to inspire others by engaging with young alumni and generously supporting
Illinois Wesleyan through numerous endowed scholarships and giving circles.
Mark Denzler ’93
is president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) as well as secretary
and treasurer of the IMA Education Foundation. Founded in 1893, the IMA is the oldest,
and one of the largest, state manufacturing trade associations in the United States.
He is the leading advocate for the state’s manufacturing companies and the 650,000
women and men who make things in Illinois. Denzler also serves on a number of boards
including chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, Illinois
Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board, Employment Security Advisory Board and formerly
on the midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Through his work
and philanthropic support, Denzler has helped build connections between Illinois Wesleyan
and leaders within the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
Deon Hornsby ’97
is an underwriting director for the Southeast Region for AIG’s Private Client Group.
He is responsible for the underwriting, sales and distribution for the 6-state region,
which has nearly $250 million in written premium and nearly 200 broker relationships.
In addition to his current role, Deon serves on Private Client Group’s Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion Council. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Private
Risk Management Association, co-chairing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team.
Hornsby was a driving force in building support and rebranding of IWU's Alumni of
Color collective, which is now an umbrella group for Alumni of Color to engage with
the IWU community through social, educational and service activities. Hornsby received
the Illinois Wesleyan Loyalty Award and remains a strong supporter of the campus community.
Board members re-elected include: Richard S. Ames, Phyllis Barker ’73, John W. (Jack) Dickens '86, Ron Greene, Mark A. Israel ’91, Colleen Kannaday, Thomas C. McKinney, Jr. ’76, Martina L. Scanlan ’87, Kimberly Sterling '92 and Timothy J. Szerlong ’74.
Board of Trustees officers that were re-elected or elected for the 2023-24 academic year include: Timothy J. Szerlong ’74, Chair; John W. (Jack) Dickens '86, Vice Chair; W. Thomas Lawrence ’80, Vice Chair; Edward B. Rust, Jr. '72, Vice Chair; Robert K. Zimmermann ’71, Treasurer; and Herbert A. Getz ’77, Secretary.
Additionally, Derrick Tillman-Kelly ’09 will serve as the new president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors beginning Aug. 1, 2023. Tillman-Kelly is the chief of staff for the college of engineering at The Ohio State University. He previously served as director of the Fellows Program and Network Engagement for the University Innovation Alliance.
By Julia Perez