July 29, 2024

News for and about the Illinois Wesleyan community

Published biweekly during the summer

Choir Tour of Europe Unites Students, Alumni for Ferguson’s Final Performance

A shared devotion to music and the legacy of a retiring choral professor united Illinois Wesleyan University alumni and students for an award-winning Collegiate Choir tour in Europe this summer.

Eric Bieber '81 Joins IWU Board of Trustees

Eric J. Bieber '81 was elected as the newest member of the Illinois Wesleyan University Board of Trustees during the spring board meeting May 17.

Titan Esports Teams See Winning Streak, Build Community 

The trophy cabinet for the Illinois Wesleyan University Esports Program is getting full. With teams devoted to video games like Super Smash Bros, League of Legends, Overwatch and Valorant, players have been dominating in the virtual arena — earning several regional and national titles. 

WGLT Radio

Young participants in Illinois Wesleyan's Chamber Music Festival experienced movement workshops to learn the art of miming music.

WMBD TV

Professor of Political Science Tari Renner spoke on recent developments in the presidential race as the Democratic National Convention in Chicago approaches.

WEEK TV

Bryce Hess '25 and Tre’von Moore '25  collaborated with Bloomington Normal Barber College and the West Bloomington Revitalization Project to restructure and reintroduce the Barbers with Books program.

Wiscasett Newspaper - Maine

Ruth Monsell '68 will give a talk about her biography, “Frances Perkins: Champion of American Workers.” Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Perkins was the first female cabinet member and Secretary of Labor for 12 years.

Boston 10 TV

Daniel George '12, a software engineer formerly with Microsoft, was interviewed while traveling during the global Crowdstrike IT outage on July 19.

• Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Communications Katie Gonzales was named the 2024-25 College Division Representative for the College Sports Communicators Executive Board of Directors.
• Dr. Charlene Aaron '94, president of OSF HealthCare Colleges of Nursing in Peoria and Rockford, was named one of Fierce Healthcare's 2024 Most Influential Minority Executives.
• Tony Merlie '99 was named chief financial officer of Bone Dry Roofing.
• Gabe Spalding, the B. Charles & Joyce Eichhorn Ames Endowed Professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, served as program chair for both of the 2024 national meetings of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Spalding is currently president elect of AAPT.

Yoga will return on Monday, Sept. 9, with Kim Hayes from Blooming Life Yoga Studio. We will continue with Mondays and Thursdays from 12:15-12:50 p.m. in the Niepagen South Classroom in the Shirk Center.

In the meantime, Kim has offered our employees an unlimited monthly pass to anyone who would like to attend for 1/2 off the regular price. That would make it only $60 to attend unlimited classes in August. This is for August only. To view the class schedule at Blooming Life, visit www.bloominglife.studio. If interested in the deal, please email Kim directly at kimhayeshomes@gmail.com so she can sign you up. 

"The goal of yoga is to create space where you were once stuck. To unveil layers of protection you've built around your heart. To appreciate your body and become aware of the mind and the noise it creates. To make peace with who you are. The goal is to love yourself! Shift your focus and your heart will grow." - Rachel Bratten

New Employees - July 2024

Sheahon Zenger started July 1 as University President

Lindsey Haan started July 8 as Admissions Counselor

Meghan Phelps started July 8 as Administrative Specialist IV - Educational Studies / International Office / WLLC / Global Studies

Olivia Ruff started July 15 as Director of Alumni Engagement

Zach Gocker started July 17 as Grounds Crew

Sam Prange started July 25 as Area Director with Residential Life

Kirsten Bridgemen started July 29 as Administrative Specialist III with the Thorpe Center

Bernabe Favila started July 29 as Grounds Crew

Daniel Kirk started July 29 as Director of Advancement Systems

We wish Cindy Lotz well after her departure from the University as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator. Members of the IWU Human Resources team will continue to provide support during the search for a replacement. Read her farewell note to all employees.

Campus Weekly is an electronic newsletter from Illinois Wesleyan's Office of Communications, edited by Julia Perez, assistant director of communications. To submit items of interest, email webedit@iwu.edu.