IWU Magazine - Spring 2024

The Titan Judges

RYAN JUMPER ’00

All In for Wesleyan, our annual day of giving, is April 9, 2024. Join thousands of Titans to give back and Give Green!

For 24 hours, the IWU community will come together to raise funds for students’ most urgent needs, scholarships, and the programs and initiatives that continue to transform future generations of Titans.

On April 9, make a gift, spread the word, and Give Green!

Scan the QR code or visit iwu.mobi/GiveGreen to learn more.

FEATURES

16 The Titan Judges

IWU's legal minds are shaping the judiciary in the state of Illinois and beyond. Three of these judges share the stories of their careers within criminal and civil justice.

22 The Lawyer and the Punk

Dave Rossi ’07 started his career as a famous punk rocker. Now he's a lawyer creating the newest recording hub of Central Illinois.

22 150 All-Americans

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

VOLUME 33 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2024

ON OUR COVER:

Ryan Jumper ’00 has been an associate judge in Madison County, Illinois, since 2018 and was retained in 2023. Four other IWU alumni became judges in 2023, including two federal judges.

DEPARTMENTS

In 2023, IWU scored its 150th Academic All-America team member. IWU is now the 24th across all NCAA divisions and 9th among all Division III schools. From

Illinois Wesleyan is beginning the year strong and looking forward to an even better future, and prospective students are noticing. At this point we have received 50 percent more applications than we had by the same date last year, when we welcomed to IWU the largest first-year class since 2018.

This is all thanks to our outstanding reputation furnished by our community of students, alumni, faculty and staff. We have many accomplishments to celebrate as a university: We are the number one small school in Illinois for job placement (a fact that owes a great debt to Warren Kistner and our career center, which I believe is one of the best in the country); Washington Monthly ranked IWU as number five among four-year colleges “contributing to the public good,” measuring factors like social mobility; and The New York Times agreed, placing us in the top quarter of their national rankings for social mobility, above Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth and MIT. Our value, thanks in large part to alumni generosity, proves out in the numbers: Only 1.4% of IWU graduates default on their student loans.

This issue of the Illinois Wesleyan Magazine features even more stories of success within the University and accomplishments by our alumni. Last year we achieved the milestone of producing 150 Academic AllAmericans—outstanding student athletes that include names like NBA star Jack Sikma ’77. This places IWU at 24th across all NCAA divisions and 9th among all Division III schools for total All-America team placements. In addition, our alumni community boasts five judges, including two who were appointed to the federal bench.

“We have received 50 percent more applications than we had by the same date last year, when we welcomed to IWU the largest first-year class since 2018.”

PRESIDENT S. GEORGIA NUGENT

As a University, we have many strengths to build on. In the face of demographic challenges that will see the pool of high school graduates decrease in Illinois and across the nation, we will continue to be a crucial hub of liberal arts education in the Midwest. Our endowment is healthy and our reputation is strong, granting us the flexibility to evolve as necessary for a changing higher education landscape, while allowing us to retain and strengthen what makes our institution special.

We cultivate creative, collaborative students to turn their many and varied interests into fulfilling lives and careers. We will continue to do so for generations.

S. Georgia Nugent

Illinois Wesleyan University President

EDITOR

Chris Francis ’13

GRAPHICS EDITOR

Nicholas Munafo

CONTRIBUTORS

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Ann Aubry

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Julia Perez

MANAGER OF DIGITAL STRATEGY

Kristen Buhrmann

VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER

Adam Day

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Katie Gonzales

STUDENT WRITER

Emily Schubert ’27

Office of Communications (309) 556-3181

IWU Admissions Office (800) 332-2498

www.iwu.edu

Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine iwumag@iwu.edu

FEATURED NEWS, EVENTS AND VIEWS FROM THE IWU CAMPUS

IWU One of 14 Institutions Selected for Prestigious Beckman Scholars Program

An opportunity to experience oneon-one research with Illinois Wesleyan professors and network with scientists around the country has been made possible for students through funding from the Beckman Scholars Program.

IWU was among 14 U.S. colleges and universities chosen for the program through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, a non-profit organization established to support leading-edge research, primarily in the fields of chemistry and the life sciences, while fostering the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science.

The program will provide $156,000 in funding to support six scholar-mentor pairs at Illinois Wesleyan, with two scholars named per year for the threeyear award term. Faculty will serve as mentors in the research experience for undergraduate students studying chemistry, biological sciences and neuroscience.

In addition to the research time spent on campus, funding will cover travel for scholars to visit California to present their findings at the Beckman Symposium and connect with other scholars and scientists.

Associate Professor of Biology Tyler Schwend and Assistant Professor of Biology Richard Alvey served as principal investigators of the grant.

“It is ingrained in IWU culture that every one of our students should pursue their passion by engaging in experiential learning as part of their education,” said Alvey. “The Beckman Scholars Program will provide a crucial foundation for achieving a sustainable research culture and ultimately enhance the quality of our student experience.”

Each Beckman Scholar will participate in the 15-month program for one summer, the following school year and the subsequent summer, resulting in

(Above) A student examines a petri dish in an IWU chemistry laboratory.

over 1,000 hours of research. The scholarship grant will provide each student with a $21,000 stipend, as well as a budget for research supplies and additional travel opportunities.

“This is a pretty incredible opportunity for students,” said Schwend. “It will be similar to an apprenticeship. Students will learn under faculty how to complete certain techniques, and that will get them to a level where they can learn and complete research independently. By the second summer, the students will have their own ideas. It will be exciting to see them break free from the apprenticeship and complete work on their own.”

Past institutional recipients of the Beckman Scholars Program include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Yale and University of California, Berkeley. Alvey noted that participation in the program will be sure to stand out on graduate resumes.

The first pair of IWU Beckman Scholars are expected to be selected during the Spring 2024 semester and will begin research this summer. An information session for students to learn more about this opportunity will be scheduled soon. Interested students may contact Dr. Alvey at ralvey@iwu.edu or Dr. Schwend tschwend@ iwu.edu for more details.

“As Arnold Beckman was born and raised in the nearby town of Cullom and moved with his family to Bloomington in 1914, we are particularly eager to bring this program ‘home’ to our institution. We revel in our numerous connections to the Beckman family,” said Alvey.

Arnold Beckman, a world-renowned scientist, philanthropist and business leader, grew up in Bloomington with three siblings. He studied chemical engineering and physical chemistry at the University of Illinois where he was mentored by chemistry professor Carl “Speed" Marvel, a 1915 alumni of Illinois Wesleyan. Beckman spoke at IWU in 1991 and was awarded an honorary degree.

Two of Beckman’s siblings attended IWU. Wilma Beckman graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1926 with a bachelor of science degree and was a forerunner and role model for many women majoring in the sciences. The Wilma B. Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library is a gift from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in her honor. Frederick Beckman studied law at IWU and graduated in 1922. The foundation supported the construction of IWU’s Center for Natural Science, which includes the Frederick P. Beckman Lecture Hall in his memory.

Titans Gain Support for New Ventures through Fall Entrepreneurship Events

Several student entrepreneurs and innovators ended the 2023 calendar year on a high note after receiving grant funding and professional guidance during two events hosted on campus this semester.

Made possible by generous support from Marc Talluto ’94, students with creative ideas were awarded seed grants during the competitive Get Funded event on Oct. 18 and the Titan New Venture Challenge on Nov. 15, both organized by The Petrick Idea Center.

The bi-annual events are not just for students studying business or entrepreneurship. Director of The Petrick Idea Center John Quarton noted that students from all four class years and 10 different majors competed in the Titan New Venture Challenge this semester.

“I'm pleased to see students viewing themselves as being part of a growing and vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at IWU, no matter who they are, where they're from, or what skills they bring,” said Quarton.

Participants at the Titan New Venture Challenge presented their innovative ideas to a panel of judges — Randy Green ’03, Justin Ahrens ’94 and Heather Reginelli of State Farm Ventures — for the chance to receive grant support. Funds are spent on product development, prototyping, marketing and other means for furthering their initiative.

Biology major Elliott Notrica ’26 and chemistry major Avery Powell ’25 received funding through the Titan New Venture Challenge for the company Symbio Bioculinary , founded by Notrica. Symbio offers consulting services to food companies on how to reduce food waste through fermentation by creating vinegars, misos, preserves, hot sauces and beverages. Notrica also earned a grant for the business in 2022 through the Titan New Venture Challenge, leading to a major boost in clients and

(Above) Titan New Venture Challenge judge Randy Green ’03 hears a pitch from Elliott Notrica ’26 with Symbio Bioculinary.

revenue . He said the latest round of funding will be primarily used to invest in research.

“With help from alumni, we've secured legal counsel and IP protection to establish a firm foundation for the company,” he said. “The funds were instrumental in making these things happen, and in accelerating Symbio's growth. We've secured our largest clients to date, and are continuing to scale the company.”

New to the Titan New Venture Challenge this year was the addition of consulting prizes. Symbio Bioculinary received consultation services from Meyer Capel regarding standard company formation and non-disclosure agreements, made possible by Randy Green ’03. Marketing mentorship from Rule29 thanks to Justin Ahrens ’94 was awarded to Clay Goff ’24 with Sweet Hat Company. A spring project staffed by interns with the McLean County Small Business Development Center at IWU was awarded to the ThreadWorks team.

ThreadWorks, a custom clothing business led by Brian Senn ’25, Evan Turnbull ’24, Madison Negele ’25 and Natalie Herrick ’24, received grants through both entrepreneurship events. The team’s idea started as a project in a business class taught by Assistant Professor of Business and Marketing and Director of Entrepreneurship Tara Gerstner ’01.

“We currently plan to use the funding we received to invest in either a second vinyl cutter or to venture into screen printing. Both of these options will allow us to speed up production and expand our capacity,” said Senn, an entrepreneurship major.

First-year biology major Keegan Frashier ’27 earned a seed grant through the Get Funded event, which is designed to provide start-up money to get new ideas off the ground. Frashier is using the funding to improve her product Diabetes Day to Day, an idea inspired by a homemade planner her family created to track the carb intake for her younger sister Maysen, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“I have seen firsthand how much of a positive impact a diabetes planner has had on my younger sister,” she said. “It improved her lifestyle tremendously. I want to provide that to other people with diabetes.”

With the seed grant, Frashier plans to build a website while continuing to improve her prototypes.

“I wouldn’t have been able to start this venture without these wonderful opportunities and people who have been made accessible to me,” she said.

Although Diabetes Day to Day and Threadworks did not advance to the Pitch Presentation round, judges also awarded them seed funding through the Titan New Venture Challenge this semester.

INSIDE IWU

Physics Alumni Contribute to Optical Systems of Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro is arguably the hottest new device in the tech world, and two Illinois Wesleyan University physics alumni played a role in the creation of optical systems for the spatial computing headset.

Released on Feb. 2, 2024, the Apple Vision Pro is worn over the eyes and provides a range of features by overlaying digital information onto the real world through the headset lens. Using voice commands and gestures, users can pull up directions while walking, communicate through messages and video calls, watch videos or experience full virtual reality content, all without using their phone. Early reviews of the product call it “a bridge to the future.”

Qing Ding ’13 started working at Apple in 2019 as a camera system engineer after completing his PhD in nano-photonics. Joseph Richards ’16 was working for the research and development company Boeing Phantom Works when Apple contacted him in 2022 about an open position involving optical and sensing systems for the upcoming Vision Pro. “My role has been to transition the cameras and illuminators from individual cameras and LEDs to integrated products,” said Richards. “These subsystems need to be well-qualified to function reliably and be manufacturable at mass production scale.”

Ding works on a team that delivered customized cameras for the highly integrated hardware system, examining the image quality of cameras along the production line.

(Above) Qing Ding ’13.

(Above) Joseph Richards ’16

INSIDE IWU

“Many talented people within the company have dedicated their best efforts, regardless of the unknown in making a first-of-its-kind product,” said Ding.

While certain components of the Apple Vision Pro have been in the market for some time, Richards said combining so many technologies into a single product is distinctive.

“The level of detail and effort spent on each aspect of this system is remarkable,” said Richards. “The product is very likely the most advanced piece of consumer-available hardware to date.”

Ding said his time studying physics at IWU laid the foundation of knowledge that led him to work in his current position.

“I will never forget the nights and days as an undergraduate spent in the basement level of CNS working on course work and experiments. It was pure, undistracted intention of learning and growing and I learned from some of the best professors that I could get,” he said.

In his experience, Richards said the physics curriculum at IWU encourages broad investigation of interests and exposes students to hands-on laboratory exercises. As a student, Richards gravitated toward the research interests of Charles and Joyce Eichhorn Ames Professor of Physics Gabe Spalding, especially his focus in wave-phenomena, where Richards was able to observe and participate in Spalding’s experiments of super-luminal scattering events.

“Dr. Spalding simulated the requirements for detection, designed experiments for capturing the event, and — possibly most importantly — identified peers in the scientific community that could assist in the effort. The experience left me with a better understanding of the preparation, cooperation and effort required to accomplish innovative research,” said Richards.

Spalding applauds the skills and professional development of Ding and Richards that led to their contributions to such an advanced piece of technology. He noted that the tagline for the Apple Vision Pro is, “Welcome to the era of spatial computing.”

“At Illinois Wesleyan University, we are serious about moving forward with such work,” said Spalding, who also serves as program chair and President Elect for the American Association of Physics Teachers. “This summer, IWU will host faculty and staff from other institutions at a special workshop on programmable optical systems. There is much more work planned, which will impact curricula at many colleges and universities. Apple Computer, of course, is in a position to have an enormous impact on what happens next. Welcome to the era of spatial computing.”

Student Film “Suspicions” Earns Five Awards at Prestigious Film Festival

Student films created through courses at Illinois Wesleyan’s School of Theatre Arts were honored with a variety of awards through the world’s premier online film festival in September.

Projects by film studies and theatre students received great praise from the Top Shorts International Film Festival. Among them, “Suspicions,” directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Tom Quinn and written by Stephen Nickisch ’25, earned the most recognition, earning awards for Best Narrative Film, Best LGBTQ Film, Best Actress in an Indie Film (Valerie Martire ’24), Best Supporting Actress (Molly Clemente ’24) and Best Drama Screenplay. The film explores a discrete relationship between two female high school students that becomes threatened by an overheard conversation, showcasing the complexities of young love.

Additionally, “Queen of Wands,” a fantasy film about a teenage witch in conflict with her high school’s starting quarterback and written by Christina Giorgi ’23, received recognition for Best Fantasy Screenplay and Best Actor (Jacob Nuti ’23). “Hand Me Down,” a film directed by Quinn and Justin Piotrowski ’21 and written by Ethan Smith ’23, features a boy, a dresser and the secrets it holds, earned awards for Best Horror and Best Cinematography, alongside a selection for Chicago horror film festival Days of the Dead. “Driving Away,” written and directed by Meg D. Iannone ’23, is about the “what-if’s” of love in a split reality.

“As you can imagine, with all these moving parts, there’s a bit of alchemy involved. That is; there is great work done on all the films, so the particular reasons for one film getting lots of recognition, like 'Suspicions,' is a bit of a mystery. But sometimes, story, acting, and production come together in wonderfully unpredictable ways,” said Quinn.

While awaiting results from over 20 other student festival submissions, Quinn feels the significance of the Top Shorts International Film Festival is particularly great.

“Over the course of the coming school year, at varying intervals, we will learn of the various judges’ determinations in these diverse festivals. It is an extraordinary moment in the rapid advancement of film at IWU,” said Quinn. “Festival recognition and awards provide affirmation and proof of achievement for our students, and powerful, positive publicity for our program, letting

INSIDE IWU

the world know that we’re here, and we’re serious about what we do.”

Since their initial screening at the campus's annual Phenom Film Festival at the Hansen Student Center last May, the films will be available for public viewing in March of 2024 as the festival competition concludes. The combination of dipping temperatures, reduced daylight and approaching final exams can impact the mental health of students in the winter months. Jojo Mitchell, director of Illinois Wesleyan’s Counseling & Consultation Services, is eager to guide students to resources on campus that can help.

Counseling Services Provides Student Support During Seasonal Stress

Located on the lower level of Magill Hall, Counseling & Consultation Services provides a plethora of support to the student body, including confidential mental health screenings, group counseling and individual therapy. Sometimes students are unsure about counseling or simply don’t know where to start if they need help, said Mitchell.

“We offer various resources on our website and there are tons of self-help resources online that are free. Those ready to initiate therapy or counseling often come to see us by calling our main line or scheduling an appointment online. A counselor will help them come up with the best plan to address their needs,” said Mitchell, who uses they/them pronouns.

These resources can be found at www.iwu.edu/ counseling or by calling 309-556-3052 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mitchell explained how people can develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), activated by less sunlight, cooler temperatures and depressed thoughts from spending more time indoors during the winter. Symptoms are often changes to sleep and feelings of helplessness.

“SAD is different from major depression because this only happens with the change of seasons. There is a sense of alleviation as the weather changes again,” they said.

While it may not be adequate treatment for those experiencing severe depression, Mitchell said pairing appropriate counseling with light therapy and self care can make a difference.

Sunbox lamps are available in The Ames Library as a form of light therapy for students who need a boost

(Above) Valerie Martire ’24 stars in the short film "Suspicions," directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Tom Quinn and written by Stephen Nickisch ’25, which earned several awards in the September Top Shorts International Film Festival.

(Above) Hand Me Down,” a film directed by Professor Tom Quinn and Justin Piotrowski ’21 and written by Ethan Smith ’23, earned awards for Best Horror and Best Cinematography.

(Above) Director of Counseling and Consultation Services Jojo Mitchell speaks with a staff memberin their IWU office.

INSIDE IWU

of energy. One lamp is located on the third floor of the library in a study carrel on the southeast side of the building, and another is installed on the fourth floor in the east side living room.

“For some students, self care might look like implementing more breaks if they are studying and feeling overwhelmed. Our ability to take in information declines if we are fatigued. Don’t overwork yourself,” they said, adding that students can also explore other campus resources such as tutoring and academic coaching.

Besides academic stress and seasonal depression, Mitchell said some students may also be facing unseen hardships in their personal life this time of year.

“Some folks may have conflicts in familial relationships, so returning home for the holidays at the end of the semester can cause stress, worry and concern. Campus becomes a place of safety,” they said.

Faculty and staff have a responsibility to contribute to that sense of safety and support, said Mitchell. Signs of distress may manifest as a student isolating themselves from others, showing a sudden decline in grades or displaying outward signs of concern like crying or quick breathing.

“It will take a community to address the mental health needs of students. We all have a role to play in that,” they said. “It’s important to just ask how someone is feeling. Acknowledging their stress can be validating. Remind folks that you know it can be a stressful time of year, and that you will be there for them if they need to talk or need help finding resources.”

Mitchell started their role at Illinois Wesleyan in July. They were always drawn to smaller institutions, especially after attending Lewis University and earning a Ph.D. from University of Detroit Mercy. After working in private practice, Mitchell then discovered a passion for college mental health while working at a college counseling center and interacting with students during an internship at the University of Iowa.

The small, tight-knit community at Illinois Wesleyan stood out to Mitchell. During a visit to campus, Mitchell noted how Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Karla Carney-Hall greeted students by name as they walked across the quad.

“That experience always stuck with me,” said Mitchell. “People know each other here. Developing positive and supportive relationships is so important.”

Another draw, said Mitchell, was the opportunity to bolster the consultation side of the office, especially after resources were strained during the height of the COVID pandemic.

Jenkins ’12 and Sweeney ’14 Unite in Business Venture Anchored in Shared Values

Whatbegan as two Illinois Wesleyan alumni celebrating each other's career success has evolved into a dynamic business partnership at a freshly launched company, anchored in a similar work ethic and shared life values.

Will Jenkins '12 and Erin Sweeney '14 both studied business administration at IWU and were involved in Titan athletics. They kept track of one another's career trajectory after graduation and eventually met to catch up and discuss their professional goals moving forward.

“We were so amped to run into each other. That's Wesleyan for you,” said Sweeney. “The micro-communities like athletics really keep you connected.”

Sweeney's career journey after graduation began in the Chicago sales and events industry. From there, she delved into the world of advertising and discovered a knack for social media strategy, brand storytelling and elevating creative leaders, earning them recognition through global awards. That led her to a position on the Global Marketing & Communications team at VML Commerce, an advertising company under WPP, eventually rising to Global Director of Creative Excellence for VML. In June, Sweeney left WPP and decided to start her own LLC, Deybruyar — a creative consultancy rev-

(Above) Titan business alumni Erin Sweeney ’14 and Will Jenkins ’12 are now colleagues at Journey, a new company founded by Jenkins.

olutionizing the way creatives are represented and how brand problems are resolved.

Jenkins gained experience after graduation by rising through the ranks in the transportation field. He co-founded MoLo Solutions, a freight brokerage firm in 2017. MoLo was recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in North America, generating $1.25 billion in annual revenue in 2022. The business was acquired in November of 2021 by ArcBest. Jenkins stayed with the company for 18 months after the acquisition before taking time off in May of 2023 to contemplate his next business venture.

In late 2023, he founded Journey.

“We are a recruiting, consulting and training company focused on freight brokerages. We want to help companies find the best talent and equip them to do their jobs well. Journey also serves as a network and community to allow people to meet others in the field and further their careers,” said Jenkins.

Beyond a strong work ethic and passion for entrepreneurship, the two Titans also bonded over their shared experiences with grief. In 2017, Jenkins lost his older brother Desmond to cancer.

“Watching Desmond persevere through the challenges put in front of him taught me more than any other lesson ever has. He taught me how to make the most of every moment and appreciate what I have,” said Jenkins. “He set an example for me that guides the way I approach life and I am forever grateful for him.”

Both Sweeney and Jenkins were friends and fellow Titan athletes with Andrew Weishar '13, who passed away in 2012 after a battle with colorectal cancer.

Before his death, Weishar had requested that his family and friends pay forward the

INSIDE IWU

acts of kindness and generosity he received during his own battle with cancer. Sweeney serves on the Executive Board of Weish4Ever, created to honor the memory of Andrew by providing resources to families with children diagnosed with cancer. Sweeney said Andrew's legacy serves as a reminder to value every day as a gift.

“We've donated over $3 million to families battling cancer and we're not stopping any time soon,” said Sweeney. “I would do anything to have him back. We miss him dearly, but we're making a difference in his honor. The bond within the Wesleyan community still persists to pay it forward.”

As the pair chatted about their professional goals and personal convictions for living life to the fullest, an alignment of goals and values became clear.

“We both care about followthrough, execution and trust. The businesses that have been the most successful have been built on trust. Erin has these qualities along with a level of intensity and focus, and she has the ability to create content that impacts people. Erin started working on Journey's marketing a few hours here and there. Then we realized we just need to dive in completely, so here we are,” said Jenkins.

Sweeney now works as the Head of Marketing and Public Relations for Journey. She said studying at IWU taught her the value of a strong network, creative writing techniques, the power of simple language and how to maintain authenticity.

“When it comes to a brand, it's all about the people behind it. What Will is creating here with Journey is just the beginning, and I'm helping tell that story through visual content, social strategy and brand collaborations,” she said.

Jenkins said he still utilizes his “hands-on IWU education” as a CEO. He makes a conscious effort to recruit IWU alumni and create internship opportunities for Titan students. He sees it as a way to return the favor after receiving support as a student and a budding entrepreneur.

“It all just comes back to the tight-knit community (at Illinois Wesleyan). Seeing that as a student made me want to replicate it in my career and in businesses that I build,” said Jenkins. “I've also had so much support from Wesleyan in my entrepreneurial journey — having the opportunity to come back and speak to students and talk about sales and entrepreneurship, and the opportunity to win the IWU entrepreneur of the year award. A lot of those things motivated me because the school gave so much to me as a student and made me want to be able to give back.”

(Above) Fellow Titan and friend of Sweeney and Jenkins, Andrew Weishar ’13, passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer.

(Above) Will Jenkins, right, with his late brother Desmond.

Art Celebrating the Power of Place and the Human Figure on Displayed at IWU Galleries

Artwork featuring astronomical human figures from a local painter and decades of printmaking from a Chicago workshop was on display in Illinois Wesleyan University’s Merwin and Wakeley Galleries in the Joyce Eichhorn Ames School of Art and Design from the end of January to the beginning of March 2024.

Director of Merwin and Wakeley Galleries Carmen Lozar said each exhibit was selected for display by faculty from the School of Art and Design. She said faculty generally choose artists who work within the same mediums that are taught in classes at IWU, allowing the galleries to become a teaching tool.

“Our exhibits are often ceramic, glass, painting, design or print oriented. This semester we have both a painting class that will benefit from Dustin Springer's exhibit and a printmaking class that will be inspired by the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative's work,” said Lozar.

Deborah Maris Lader, director of the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative (CPC), was the curator of

an exhibit in Merwin Gallery titled “Power of Place: 35 Years of Chicago Printmakers Collaborative.” Lader has been director of the workshop since its founding in 1989, where it serves as Chicago’s longest running independent printmaking workshop. Lader plans to step back from her role as director at the workshop later this year.

“She essentially created a place for printmakers to come together and form a community,” said Lozar. “Studios and classes at CPC welcomed the public and enriched lives. Although Lader is stepping down, I have no doubt the Collaborative will continue because of the created community ‘power’ of her vision.”

The printmaking work displayed at the Merwin exhibit highlighted the range of art designed in the shop’s 35-year history, and its service as a space for education, creation and collaboration. Lazer said several large-scale prints created outdoors with the use of an industrial steamroller are an especially eye-catching piece of the exhibit.

In Wakeley Gallery, artist Dustin Springer ’13 displayed his paintings of the male form against a bold, art deco backdrop. The monochromatic paintings include pops of gold and silver leaf, with themes that connect the human experience to astronomy.

“Springer is working, in my opinion, in an art deco style that boldly and elegantly elevates the beauty of the human body while telling the viewer how infinite and microscopic the human experience is all at once,” said Lozar.

Springer earned a degree in studio art from IWU in 2013 and has since remained in the Bloomington-Normal area where he continues to paint and explore the art of glassblowing.

(Above) Artwork by Michelle McCoy from the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative.

(Above) Painting by Dustin Springer ’13

Men’s Basketball Claims Outright CCIW Regular Season Title

Illinois Wesleyan won the CCIW Regular Season Championship for the third time in four years as the Titans posted a 14-2 record in league play. IWU saw four student-athletes earn All-CCIW honors as Nick Roper ’25 and Luke Yoder ’24 were first team selections. Hakim Williams ’25 and Harrison Wilmsen ’25 garnered Second Team All-CCIW status. Ron Rose ’88 was named the CCIW Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career. Roper was also a two-time CCIW Player of the Week pick, while Yoder was a D3hoops.com Preseason All-American and CCIW Player of the Week honoree. The Titans advanced to the CCIW Tournament Championship game and finished the season with a 19-8 overall record.

Women’s Basketball CCIW Co-Regular Season Champions, Returns to NCAA Tournament

The Titans claimed a share of the CCIW Regular Season Championship and earned the No. 1 seed in the league tournament with a 14-2 CCIW record. Illinois Wesleyan posted 20-or-more wins for the 14th time in program history, as IWU carried a 22-5 record into the NCAA Tournament. Four Titans received All-CCIW honors, as Lauren Huber ’25 and Mallory Powers ’25 were first team picks and Kate Palmer ’25 and Ava Bardic ’26 landed on the second team. Huber was also recognized as a D3hoops.com Preseason All-American, while she and Caite Knutson ’25 were recognized on the D3hoops Team of the Week throughout the season. Powers reeled in CCIW Player of the Week honors.

Track and Field Wins Seven Events at Conference Championships

IWU claimed seven event wins at this year’s 2024 Indoor CCIW Championships where the men’s team

Men's Basketball 2024

Nick Roper ’25

Hakim Williams ’25

Harrison Wilmsens ’25

Luke Yoder '24

Lauren Huber ’25

Mallory Powers ’25

Ava Bardic ’26

Kate Palmer ’25

scored 115 points to share the runner-up finish while the women scored 87 points for fourth overall. Adriana Crabtree ’26 came away with the triple crown having won the mile, the 3000-meter run, and the distance-medley relay alongside Brooke Nazos ’26, Jordynn Griffin ’26, and Peyton Stinger ’27 Evan Lowder ’26 swept the 200-meter and 400-meter titles on his way to setting a new school record in the 400-meter dash and ranks in the top-10 in Division III this season. Imani Ogunribido ’27 won the women’s triple jump with a leap that ties the school record and ranks sixth in the country while Adam Beasley ’27 took home the men’s high jump crown and ranks 10th nationally. In all, IWU produced 36 All-CCIW performances at this year’s championships.

Wrestling Returns to CCIW Championships After 39 Years

In its historic return to the CCIW Championships for the first time since the 1985 season, the Illinois Wesleyan wrestling team scored 30 points to finish 10th out of 11 teams in the loaded conference tournament. Bobby Conroy ’25 became the Titans’ fourth All-CCIW honoree – the first under first-year head coach Brett Robbins – after a third-place finish in the 184-pound weight class with a 4-1 tournament record. Austin Johnston ’27 was just shy of the podium, placing fourth in the 133-pound bracket with a 3-2 record. Johnston’s three wins were all by way of pin, bringing his team-lead pin total to 16 on the season.

Feddersen Repeats as CCIW Swimmer of the Year

Titans concluded their season at the CCIW Championships where Lauren Feddersen '24 won Female Swimmer of the Year competing and winning in the 200-yard breaststroke, the 100-yard breaststroke, 200yard IM, and the 200-yard medley relay. Also winning individual events for the Titans were Natalie Porter ‘26 and Kayleigh Kuschewski ‘26, while Feddersen, Kuschewski, Jackie Rae Kelch ‘24, and Emily Marks ‘25 teamed up to win a relay. In all, IWU recorded 11 AllCCIW performances.

Women’s Bowling

Competing in its fourth season, the bowling team saw Kiera Hendersen ‘26 break the program’s single-game scoring record. Hendersen rolled a 213 at the Columbia Western Shootout.

Lauren Feddersen '24

Natalie Porter '26

Kayleigh Kuschewski '26

Evan Lowder ’26

Adriana Crabtree ’26

Adam Beasley ’27

Imani Ogunribido ’27

Bobby Conroy ’25

Dennis Martel Set to Retire After 2024 Season

Dennis Martel, the winningest coach in Illinois Wesleyan University baseball history, announced that he will retire after the conclusion of the 2024 season Thursday afternoon, Jan. 18.

Martel heads into his final season with an 891-600-3 overall record and 437-240 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark. He guided IWU to the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2010, a seventh-place national finish in 2001, and nine CCIW Championships. His win total is sixthmost among current Division III coaches and 31st-most across all NCAA divisions.

His team's have made 11 NCAA appearances, including a stretch of five straight from 2010 to 2014, have won eight CCIW Regular Season Championships, and six CCIW Tournament titles.

Entering 2024, Martel has coached two First Team ABCA All-Americans, six second team honorees, and three third third team picks. Martel has had over 60 players named to all-region teams and more than 130 have earned all-conference honors. Additionally, seven of his players have signed pro baseball contracts with major league affiliation.

"Every win I have had in my career is a credit to the student-athletes I have coached," Martel shared. "Being a coach is nothing without the players that have turned into great alumni and more importantly great men. I want to give a special thanks to my two longtime assis-

INSIDE IWU

tant coaches Matt Willey and Tim Siegworth, who have been with me for more than two decades. I also want to thank my wife, Michelle, and my daughters for their love and support all these years."

Martel was named the American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond Sports Division III National Coach of the Year in 2010, while he earned Regional Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career that season.

In January of 2020 Martel received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ABCA. In 2013 Martel was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame at its 43rd annual ceremony and banquet on July 28 in Portland, Maine.

"We would like to thank Dennis for his 38 years of service to IWU, his unwavering support for other Titan athletic teams and our department, as well as the championships he led our baseball program to," Illinois Wesleyan Athletic Director Mike Wagner reflected. "His success on the diamond was only outdone by his presence at the contests of our other athletic teams. Anytime I have needed assistance with anything for our athletic department, Dennis has always been ready and willing to help. We wish Dennis, his wife Michelle, and his three daughters – Sara, Jenna, and Anna all the best with his retirement. They will all continue to be valued members of our Titan Family."

An assistant professor of physical education, Martel also spent 21 seasons as IWU's full-time assistant basketball coach before becoming director of basketball operations in 2007.

Michael Kellar, current IWU assistant baseball coach, will succeed Martel as head coach. He will officially take the reins following the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Dennis Martel

(Above) IWU Men's Baseball 2010

NCAA Division III National Champions

Authors and the Arts INSIDE IWU

Books

John Hale ’70 is the author of Will’s Boy, a coming-of-age novel about a young, well-meaning scoundrel growing up in 1950s America. The book takes on themes of sexuality and faith with a nostalgic feel.

John Stewart ’04 is the author of Welcome Home, Margot Flamingo, a children’s book about Cosette and her new dog. John worked with two partners to create a story that teaches children the importance of understanding and connecting with their canine companions. Their goal is to inspire young readers to become responsible and compassionate dog lovers through engaging illustrations and captivating storytelling.

Kristina Dehlin ’16 is the lead editor of Rihanna: In Her Own Words published by Mahogany Books. An entry in the In Their Own Words series, the book is a collection of quotes curated from Rihanna’s public statements to create a full picture of the pop icon of music, fashion and philanthropy.

Diego Báez ’07 is the author of Yaguareté White, a debut collection of poems written in English, Spanish and Guaraní, published by University of Arizona Press. The poems explore Diego’s experience with language, identity and empire as the son of an indigenous Paraguayan father living in Central Illinois. It was a 2023 Featured Fall Book by Poets.org and a Most Anticipated Chicago Book of 2024 by Chicago Review of Books.

Articles, Essays & Papers

Tim Black ’84 presented a paper, “Two Airmen, a Military Academy, and a Very Large Bomb,” at the 25th Annual Conference on Illinois History. The paper detailed the history of the Western Military Academy (1879-1971) in Alton, Illinois, and two of its most famous graduates: aviators Edward "Butch " O'Hare and Paul Tibbets Jr. O’Hare was the first naval aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II and is the namesake of the Chicago airport. Tibbets piloted the Enola Gay, the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in warfare.

Art

Jane Camp ’85 is an artist and professor of art at Heartland Community College whose exhibit, “Water Is Involved: A Study of the Great Lakes with Analog and Digital Cameras” was featured in the McLean County Arts Center. The photography exhibit is a product of her fall 2021 sabbatical in which she used 10 different cameras to photograph the Great Lakes, showcasing the cameras' various qualities and recording the natural beauty of the Lakes.

All submitted content received by February 12, 2024. The submitted content deadline for the Summer/Fall 2024 issue of IWU Magazine is May 22, 2024. Submissions may be edited, directed to other communications and/or preserved in IWU archives.

IWU GIFT CLUBS

Gift Clubs at Illinois Wesleyan University are a longstanding tradition. Through our Gift Clubs, we’re able to pay homage to important IWU landmarks, people, and traditions of the past, while honoring the donors of today.

We’ve established nine Gift Clubs to recognize donors and express our gratitude for their commitment:

Visit iwu.mobi/clubs or scan the QR code to make your gift and join a Gift Club today! You’ll be recognized in our Annual Report and receive additional donor benefits throughout the year.

Club levels are determined by the total dollars given to the University during our fiscal year (Aug. 1 through July 31).

PINEAPPLE CLUB $100-$249

JOHN WESLEY POWELL CLUB $250-$499

ASPIRATION CLUB $500-$999

OLD NORTH SOCIETY

HANNAH SHUR SOCIETY

PHOENIX GATES SOCIETY

THE TITAN JUDGES

Story by CHRIS FRANCIS

IWU's legal minds are shaping the judiciary in the state of Illinois and beyond. Three of these judges share the stories of their careers within criminal and civil justice.

Last year, IWU saw a remarkable convergence of legal careers among its community of alumni. Five alumni were appointed or retained as judges — four in Illinois and one in Idaho, including two appointed to the Illinois federal bench by President Joe Biden. In a state where judges hold their positions for four to six years, and a nation where federal judges serve for life, this coinciding of careers is an especially rare phenomenon.

Also remarkable is these judges’ contribution to the diversity of the Illinois bench. Three of IWU’s alumni judges — Cook County (Ill.) Circuit Court Judge Deidre Dyer ’96, Madison County (Ill.) Associate Judge Ryan Jumper ’00 and Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois Jeremy Daniel ’00 — are African American citizens of Illinois who see their

careers as opportunities to ensure and advance equal protection under the law and basic dignity afforded by the state.

Judges Deidre, Ryan and Jeremy spoke to Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine about their time at IWU, their success in the fields of law and justice, and their experience making sure those disciplines better serve all citizens.

One would expect three judges’ educational interests at IWU to resemble each other, and they did: They were all chemistry and biology majors.

“When I showed up at law school, and people found out I had a chemistry degree, they asked me if I was there to learn patent law,” Jeremy said. He figured that he was and spent six years litigating patents, un-

til an internship with a federal judge turned his interest toward criminal prosecution.

For Deidre, her study of chemistry was only a brief stop on the way to discovering her passion for the French language and culture.

Following the advice of Associate Professor of French James Matthews, who Deidre describes as having an enormous influence on her education, “I studied at the Sorbonne for seven months, which was life changing for me coming from the South Side of Chicago,” she said. “Lively debate is encouraged there, and I appreciated how they march in the streets in protest at the first sign of injustice.”

As for Ryan, he began his time at IWU just down the hallway in the Center for Natural Science as a biology major with the goal of becoming a doctor. But, like Deidre, he quickly found other interests. “When you get into the biology lab, and you look around at all the charts and labels and think, ‘It all looks like guts to me,’ that’s how you create a political science major,” he said. As part of his undergraduate scholarship in his new major, Ryan conducted polling for national elections with professor Tari Renner.

Despite their eventual divergence in academic interests, Jeremy and Ryan both specifically chose IWU to play football with Norm Eash in 1996. “We were really good back then,” Ryan remembers. “We were a playoff-level team. But, honestly, I was a better student than I was an athlete.”

Jeremy soon wasn’t a varsity athlete at all. He left the team after his first year when a friend inspired him to join the Marine Corps Reserve. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and deployed to Okinawa, Japan.

Despite their different undergraduate paths, the francophile, politico and chemist each graduated from law school with the same goal: become a part of a better legal system.

“I really got the Josephine Baker experience in France,” Deidre said, referencing the 20th century African American performer and civil rights activist whose career flourished in Paris. “All of a sudden it was cool to be a Black woman. People celebrated me and were happy to see me. I feel like every Black person should have that experience at least once, because it was very eye-opening for me.”

While abroad, Deidre resolved to return to France to pursue a career in international law. She even credited her degree in French with her success as a law student and prosecutor. “I was kind of a wallflower before I went to Paris,” but, through learning another language, she grew more confident in articulating herself. “French culture is very much about speaking your mind and being able to support your position with facts.”

But her return to the United States and scholarship at the DePaul University College of Law gave her a new sense of conviction.

“I was the only Black person in my first law school section, and I went from being celebrated and very welcomed in France to coming back to the U.S.,” Deidre said. “That's when I thought, ‘Well, I could use my skills to leave, but that’s not right.’ I decided to take a French attitude and learn the law so that I could hopefully make our spaces more welcoming to people.”

All three judges see themselves as much needed examples of African

American achievement in civil and criminal justice, but also as professionals who are able to provide, and understand, perspectives that are

Victorial Olds ’ 88 —

Nez Perce (Idaho) County Magistrate Judge

Deidre Dyer ’ 96

Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court Judge

Ryan Jumper ’ 00

Madison County (Illinois) Associate Judge

Jeremy Daniel ’ 00

Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

Colleen Lawless ’ 05

Federal District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois

(Above) Ryan Jumper ’00 has been at the forefront of interpreting family and pretrial law in Illinois. (Opposite page) Ryan is an associate judge in Madison County, Illinois.

PHOTO/JON GITCHOFF

THE TITAN JUDGES

otherwise disregarded.

“I grew up on the West Side of Chicago where there were challenges,” Jeremy said. “In my time as [assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Illinois], I would explain to people that I remember, as a kid, not being able to play in the park because drug dealers had set up shop there, or grandparents would go

inside from the porch because there was trouble down the street… There are a variety of social ills and ways to address them. I understood that I perhaps wouldn’t be able to be a teacher or social worker, but I would be an effective trial lawyer with an understanding of people’s experiences and motivations.”

He continued, “I can appreciate

the individual who faced a discrimination claim or was denied or is appealing a denial of Social Security benefits, because I understand what it means for people who have fallen on hard times or who have been discriminated against.”

“I was a kid from a small neighborhood in Southern Illinois,” Ryan said, “who was African American in a mostly white community, went to a liberal arts college for undergrad and then a state school for law school, was an athlete but also a band kid…I want to be someone in the room with different perspectives that add value.”

Deidre has found that the value can be as simple as giving people a sense of dignity.

“I’ve had defendants come up to me and say, ‘You’re the first person here who treated me with respect. I know what I did was wrong, and I appreciate that you treated me like a human being anyway.’ It shouldn’t be hard for people to feel that,” she said.

Although Ryan and Jeremy are from the same class, coming to IWU a semester after Deidre graduated,

(Above) Deidre Dyer ’96 (left) has remained close with her alumni friends, many of whom, including Carla Vigue ’96 (right), are part of her campaign to maintain the circuit court seat to which she was appointed.

(Above) Jeremy Daniel ’00 was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate to his position as a federal judge directly from his previous position as a state prosecutor.

Ryan is actually the old hat on the bench among the three. His time there has given him unique opportunities to interpret the law using his scholarship and diverse perspective.

Ryan first became a judge back in 2018, when he was appointed as associate judge in Madison County, Illinois. In 2023, “Judge (Bill) Mudge” of the Madison County Circuit Court retired, prompting an election. Ryan lost the election, but the county retained him in his associate judge position that year.

During his time on the bench, “there was a change that basically rewrote the statute on family law in Illinois that took away old assumptions about child custody. There was no longer 100 years of legal precedent to rely on, so I was one of the judges tasked with interpreting these laws for the first time,” he explained.

In addition, “Illinois just passed… the Safety Act, which determines who has to stay in jail while awaiting trial in Illinois. I was one of the first people to have to interpret that law.”

Although Deidre took her first

seat as a judge in 2023, “They already put me on a special committee that sets the protocols for how we work with litigants who have mental health issues,” she said.

It’s a position of sobering responsibility that many judges will find themselves in, and a good jurist will understand the value of all kinds of perspectives in ensuring the law is rooted in sound and effective interpretation.

“You can consider it a form of empathy, but it's just a practical, objective way of looking at it,” Jeremy said. “People often think of it as racial diversity, but you want people with any life experience. For example, if they have family who have dealt with immigration issues or professional diversity between being a prosecutor or defender… It’s ultimately about stepping back, understanding what remedy people are seeking, and determining if they have a legal right to it.”

The IWU judges have carried their undergraduate education with them through their careers, as well

as their friendships.

As Deidre said, “Most of the people at my swearing in,” for her appointment to a Cook County Circuit Court vacancy, “were Wesleyan alums. They’re all people I met at Wesleyan, and we’ve been friends ever since.” Deidre is now campaigning in 2024 to keep that position, and “half of my campaign committee is Illinois Wesleyan alums.”

“A bunch of us from Fiji House still text weekly,” Ryan said. He was the first Black president of Fiji while at IWU.

All three of the judges credit the values of IWU’s liberal arts education as the basis of a successful legal career, where an effective lawyer fills a wide variety of roles and an effective judge considers a wide variety of perspectives.

“It prepared me to take my career into all of these different directions,” Deidre said of her pre-judicial career in which she prosecuted a variety of white collar crimes and public corruption. “My liberal arts education really lets me pivot into different areas and not feel like I can only do one thing.”

(Above) Jeremy celebrates the confirmation of his appointment as a federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois with friends and family, including his wife, Silver (Rayside) Daniel ’00 (second from left).

Dave Rossi ’07 started his career as a famous punk rocker. Now he’s a lawyer creating the newest recording hub of Central Illinois.

WhenDave Rossi ’07 was growing up in Bloomington, his physician and surgeon dad told him, “It doesn’t matter if you become a garbage man, as long as you try to be the best garbage man you can be.”

That sentiment was put to the test in 2000 when, following a late-night audition in the depths of winter, Dave came into his parents’ bedroom to tell them he was dropping out of college to become a punk rock drummer.

“I think my dad just sighed and said ‘Okay,’” Dave remembered.

Today, Dave works as a lawyer, but drumming is in his soul. As he sits in his newly constructed high-

end recording studio in the old industrial district of west Bloomington, he compulsively plays beats on his knees and explains how a 140-year-old limestone block warehouse makes for perfect acoustics.

It’s probably one of the highest quality recording environments in the state, hand-built by a rocker from the pop-punk heyday of the early 2000s. If Dave can fully realize his dream for Bombsight studios, it will soon become a recording hub of the Midwest and perhaps the ultimate evolution of Dave’s dreams of punk rock stardom.

THE LAWYER AND THE PUNK

Story by CHRIS FRANCIS

Dave really did not want to go to college, in his own words.

Coming to Illinois Wesleyan in 1998, he never picked a major before dropping out to play drums with the Chicago pop-punk band Allister. He had been recruited as a swimmer, but the only thing he cared about was music.

“I was no dummy, but I’d say that I wasn’t exactly a stellar student,” Dave said.

That wasn’t a problem for his career as a punk drummer, which was an experience he still marvels at.

“When you’re on the road and your band is doing well,” well enough to tour across the United States and internationally, “you have very little responsibility,” Dave said. “I just had to get myself behind a drum set for an hour and 20 minutes every night. The rest of it was a free-for-all.”

As for Dave’s parents, while they were never against his choice, Dave had the sense that he needed to prove he was serious about being a musician. It was in his determination that he discovered a well of focus and drive that would fuel his achievements through the rest of his life. That, plus plenty of luck, proved to his parents that their son being a punk rock drummer was just as good as any other profession.

Dave found himself riding the height of Chicago’s pop-punk scene alongside bands like Fall Out Boy and Rise Against. From 2000 to 2003, Dave recorded and toured with Allister, being featured on their album Last Stop Suburbia with songs like “Somewhere on Fullerton.”

Commercial success of any kind is almost unheard of for a band, and sustained success for any musician

is one-in-a-million at best. So, when life circumstances pulled Dave away from Allister, he made a go of several other bands in Southern California before coming to a realization.

“I can understand why people do it,” Dave said of successful musicians who devote their lives to recording and performing. “Even if you’re not in a huge band anymore, it’s an addictive lifestyle. Absolute freedom.”

“I always knew that I would be in bands,” Dave said, “but I didn’t know if lightning could strike twice.” So he pivoted from punk rocker to law student.

Law school wasn’t a part of Dave’s plan until he came back to Illinois Wesleyan to complete his bachelor’s degree. He picked a major

(Above) Dave Rossi ’07 toured with pop-punk group Allister from 2000 to 2003. He returned to finish his degree at IWU and enter law school at Drake University. (Opposite page) Dave hand-built his studio's control room to eliminate external sound.

THE LAWYER AND THE PUNK

this time around: philosophy. He was especially inspired by Associate Professor Mark Criley and engrossed by his philosophy of law class, which set him on his new career path starting at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.

Those who would describe themselves as “not exactly a stellar student” aren’t usually the best material for law school, but the only thing that had been missing for Dave during his first attempt at college was interest and focus. Despite finishing his degree in 2010, during what Dave described as the worst job market for lawyers in recent American history, he began his career practicing complex immigration litigation.

But what could be punk about getting a law degree? Was Dave selling out?

“I don’t know if I agree with that,” Dave said. “One of my favorite bands of all time is NOFX, and they sing a lot about important political and societal stuff. It’s about how, if you’re in a position — I don’t want

to say a position of power, because that’s not the right way to put it — but if you’re in a position to understand and assist, you can do a lot of good for society. I feel like I can do that as an attorney, and that’s not anti-punk.”

“I was a prosecuting attorney in McLean County for a few years,” Dave went on, “and I think my background helped me have a more common-sense approach. I wasn’t like, ‘I just wanna put this guy in jail.’ I think my background in music has shaped how I see people and how I handle conflict and disagreement.”

So, what does it mean to be punk?

“To me, it’s about not accepting society’s norms,” Dave said, which sometimes means enforcing laws with compassionate understanding.

But, even if Dave could manifest some amount of punk in his new career, he couldn’t make music as a lawyer. He would need to moonlight as the punk rocker he always was.

Dave wasn’t a law student in Des Moines for long before he made

his first attempt at constructing a recording studio in the basement of an old office building. Thanks to a chance meeting with a tattoo artist whose brother-in-law was “an amazing battle DJ,” he developed a side-hustle recording, producing and playing in the Des Moines music scene, starting with local hip-hop artists.

“I think I’m always going to do both [law and music],” Dave said. “When I spend a long time on recording and producing, I start to want to read some legal articles, and vice versa.”

But in 2021, Dave decided he was going to fully invest in music and change the industry landscape in Central Illinois.

Dave was sold on the building that would become Bombsight Recording Studio as soon as he walked into the more-than-a-century-old rail depot. The ceiling was yards above his head, allowing plenty of room for soundwaves to be scat-

(Above) The recording room at Bombsight is ideal for recording drums, being a large space with high ceilings, and the main backdrop is decorated with Dave’s grandfather’s own paintings and bomber jacket.

(Above) The recording room is also decorated with paintings by local artists Melody Mance and Jeff Bass that add to the creative counter-cultural atmosphere.

tered and absorbed by walls made of weathered, porous limestone blocks. The fact that the building was right next to a train yard was immaterial to the foot and a half of stone that blocked nearly all outside sound.

Building on that frame, the old warehouse is now precisely designed for audio engineering and artistic expression. Dave’s control booth is something like a space capsule, built with his own hands as a separate compartment insulated by air, rubber and foam that eliminates outside sound waves to an oppressive degree. Stepping into it gives the sensation that the atmosphere has been sucked out of the room as all the background sounds one takes for granted are obliterated. The only thing Dave wants to hear is exactly what his mics are recording.

The actual recording room’s limestone walls are plastered with wood and foam panels, and, where there aren’t wall fixtures that further control sound, there is local art and memorabilia that cultivates a vibe

of experimental creativity with a distinct punk edge — emphasized by a giant painting of a B-24 bomber dropping a payload of microphones.

While it drips with counter-cultural attitude, the space is organized and professional, and the technical quality is near top-notch, with Dave outwardly dreaming about using the studio’s success to upgrade the electronics to the top tier. But he recognizes that a legendary studio is defined by who is using it.

“Some of the greatest hip-hop records you’ve heard were recorded in hotel rooms,” Dave said. “The equipment and environment is secondary to the person running it.”

As far as who is using it now, Dave has welcomed artists and bands from around Central Illinois, and he’s looking forward to recording the Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Combo and Big Band in April.

“I don’t like the thought of local bands going other places to record, because they should be able to make remarkable records in Central

Illinois,” Dave said. “I don’t see this place becoming a destination studio, but I do think it can become an institution, especially given what this place’s ceiling and walls can do with drums.”

The name Bombsight itself is inspired by Dave’s 99-year-old grandfather, who was a bombardier in the Second World War’s Pacific theater. Dave has a Norden bombsight — a special scope used to aim bombs on-target — from a B-24, along with a Second World War bomber jacket framed next to his grandfather’s own war-inspired paintings.

Watching Dave play his drum set in front of his grandfather’s memorabilia, the name comes together. The sound of punk drums, even while expertly controlled, overwhelms like a bomb blast. And what could be more punk than an artist fighting empires?

(Above) While in law school, Dave divided his time between studying and playing and recording music in his basement studio.

(Above) The name Bombsight was inspired by his 99-year-old grandfather, who was a bombardier in the Second World War and brought back an antique Norden bombsight that Dave still owns.

150 ALL-AMERICANS

Story by STEW SALOWITZ

In 2023, IWU scored its 150th Academic AllAmerica team member. IWU is now the 24th across all NCAA divisions and 9th among all Division III schools.

When Rachel Anderson

Lyons ’08 graduated from Clinton (Illinois) High School, she decided to attend Illinois Wesleyan because she liked the close-knit community with the track team on the athletic side and the classroom size and accessibility of the professors on the academic side.

Korey Coon ’00 was a highly recruited basketball player at East Peoria (Illinois) High School when he opted to attend IWU to further his educational and athletic careers. He cites the school’s academic reputation as a key factor, along with the elite success of the basketball program that included being able to play in front of a packed Shirk Center crowd for legendary coach Dennie Bridges.

Little did they know their eventual elections as Academic All-Americans would be building

blocks that would lead, over the years, to an incredible milestone for the University.

When women’s golfer Lexi Onsrud ’24 and lacrosse player Sarah Gleason ’23 were elected to the first and third teams, respectively, as women’s at-large Academic All-Americans during spring 2023, it gave IWU 150 all-time selections with at least one selection in each of the past nine years.

With 65 members on the first national team, 42 on the second and 43 third team honorees, IWU’s total is 24th most across all NCAA divisions and ninth best among Division III schools.

When broken down across individual sports, Illinois Wesleyan can display 26 Academic All-American plaques in men’s basketball, the most among any school regardless of division. Such basketball luminaries

as Duke, Kansas, Indiana and UCLA are tied for second with 20.

In addition, IWU is tied for fifth with 25 baseball Academic All-Americans and tied for ninth with 21 softball honorees.

Nominating and voting for Academic All-America is an exclusive right of College Sports Communicators (CSC) members. The organization, until 2022, was known as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The first-ever team (football) was released in 1952, and since then, CSC has honored more than 40,000 deserving student-athletes across all divisions.

The first women’s Academic All-America team, for women’s basketball, appeared in 1980 and beginning in 1987, CSC has selected an Academic All-America team member of the year in each sport.

Currently, CSC sponsors Academic All-America programs for men’s soccer, women’s soccer, football, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s swimming and diving, women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, baseball, softball and men’s and women’s track and field/cross country. All other championship sports are eligible through the at-large program.

Gaining an Academic All-American first requires a sports information professional to identify a student-athlete worthy of nomination – a solid academic and athletic reputation is invaluable in the nominating and voting process. The student-athlete must be at least a sophomore, have a cumulative grade-point average of

3.50 (on a 4.0 scale) and have participated in a designated percentage of their team’s games.

“We do our best to build strong nominations through the help of coaches and the student-athletes themselves to ensure that we are covering everything our student-athletes are involved in and have accomplished during their college career to that point,” said Katie Gonzales, who has been IWU’s assistant athletic director for athletic communications since 2019.

Less than 1 percent of all collegiate student-athletes are designated as Academic All-American, and even earning Academic All-District is no small accomplishment as less than 5 percent of athletes claim that honor.

The election steps winnow large numbers of entrants — in 2022-23 there were 204,000 student-athletes competing at NCAA Division III schools that yielded 10,693 Academic All-District honorees and an eventual 541 Academic All-Americans.

A pioneer in stamping the Illinois Wesleyan imprint on the Academic All-America scene was Ed Alsene, the University’s director of publicity and sports information from 1965 to 1988. Alsene, who passed away in 2016, served as men’s district coordinator for the Academic All-America Committee from 1979 to 1989, supervising the nominating and voting process.

Elected to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1986, Alsene was only the second person from a small, private school to be so honored and, in 1998, he was honored with the organization’s Lester Jordan Award for his contributions to the Academic All-America program.

“It is fitting that Ed Alsene was the first Division III communicator in the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame, because he was a pioneer in the business,” said Tom Lamonica, who was sports information director for 26 years at Illinois State University. “Edgar got me curious about the Academic All-America program because he used to come to our office to use the telecopier to send his AAA information. That inspired me to get interested in the process. As I learned from Ed and my mentor at ISU, Roger Cushman, the extra work to promote academics among student-athletes pays dividends in many ways.”

Like Alsene decades ahead of her, Gonzales is one of the volunteer CSC members who supervise the nominating and voting process, currently serving as the chair of the Academic All-America Committee.

A 2008 graduate, Lyons became a two-time first team Academic All-American (2007, 2008) and was named the women’s track Academic All-American of the Year in 2008. She is currently a hospital pharmacist at

(Above) Titan women’s golf star Lexi Onsrud ’24 was one of the Academic All-Americans that pushed Illinois Wesleyan’s total to 150 in 2023. (Opposite page) Rachel Anderson Lyons ’08 was selected twice in 2007 and 2008.

(Above) Janaye Godfrey ’21 guards her spot as both one of the greatest women’s lacrosse players in Titan history and as an Academic All-America third team pick in her senior year.

Warner Hospital and Health Services, a critical access hospital in her hometown of Clinton and, while she didn’t set out to be an Academic All-American, she values the honor bestowed on her.

“Typically, you aren’t intentionally competing for Academic All-American honors as it is really out of your control,” she said. “But, ultimately, you are a student first and there really is no higher honor intertwining athletics and academics. I have always truly cherished that award as I feel like it most accurately reflects the time devoted to achieve success in both areas simultaneously.”

In her IWU athletic career, Lyons won seven total NCAA championships, six as an individual and became only the third woman in Division III history to win three consecutive indoor 400-meter titles. In 2019, she was the first IWU athlete to be inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame.

“When I won the Academic All-America award, I was already set on my path after school to obtain my doctorate of pharmacy,” said Lyons. “I wouldn’t necessarily say it propelled me forward but more so, was an acknowledgment of my work to that point and confirmation to keep striving.”

Coon became a two-time first team Academic All-American and was selected as men’s basketball Academic All-American of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

Working for Caterpillar and based in Raleigh, N.C., Coon is vice president and general manager in Cat’s mini excavators and small bulldozers division. He works closely with the Caterpillar Foundation to support local organizations and his

charitable and civic work with the Boys and Girls Club dates back to his Illinois Wesleyan student days.

Coon says that being a freshman starter on the 1997 NCAA championship team is his most treasured team accomplishment, and he describes being honored multiple times as an All- American personally satisfying. “But being a three-time Academic All-American is the honor I’m most proud of as a student-athlete. To be honored with this elite group of student-athletes for both athletic and academic achieve-

ment is a tremendous honor.” Being named as an Academic All-American is no guarantee of a bright career future, but it’s worth noting that among IWU’s first six Academic All-Americans, four were biology or chemistry majors and became physicians – Bill Farrar ’71 (second team football, 1970), Dean Gravlin ’73 (first team men’s basketball, 1972 and 1973), Mike Sprague ’74 (first team baseball, 1974), and Bob Spear ’77 (first team men’s basketball, 1975, 1976 and 1977).

Gravlin was also the recipient of the 1972 A.O. Duer Scholarship Award of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, present-

ed to the most outstanding junior scholar-athlete from all sports, a predecessor to Academic All-American of the Year.

IWU’s earliest first team selection, football player Keith Ihlanfeldt ’72, is the DeVoe Moore Eminent Scholar Professor of Economics at Florida State University.

Jack Sikma ’77, a 2019 selection to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, was a first team Academic All-American in 1976 and 1977 and became the first Division III student-athlete to be inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1998. Sikma is one of only 170 people inducted into the Hall of Fame since its 1988 inception. In addition to Lyons and Coon, IWU boasts six other student-athletes who earned the top distinction of Academic All-American of the Year for their respective sports: Lon Erickson ’97, James Rinne ’00, Keelan Amelianovich ’06, Meg Stanley ’71, and Matthew Leritz ’22

Given the athletic successes at Illinois Wesleyan, the school’s overall total is not likely to stay at 150 for long. “Our student-athletes are meeting challenges in the classroom as well as on their respective playing fields,” said longtime baseball coach Dennis Martel. “Our Academic All-America total is something impressive not only to recruits but to current players, alumni and people from other schools.”

“The hard work and discipline needed to become an Academic All-American, without a doubt, provides a great foundation for what lies ahead for student-athletes as they enter the workforce,” said Coon. “The recognition provides motivation and confidence to the student-athletes preparing to move on after graduation.”

(Above) Jack Sikma ’77 was selected for the Academic All-America men’s basketball first team in 1976 and 1977.

IWU ACADEMIC ALL AMERICAN ATHLETES

Bill Farrar ’71, Football, 1970

Keith Ihlanfeldt ’72, Football, 1971

Dean Gravlin ’73, Men’s Basketball, 1972

Dean Gravlin ’73, Men’s Basketball, 1973

Wes Schneider ’75, Football, 1973

Mike Sprague ’74, Baseball, 1974

Bob Spear ’77, Men’s Basketball, 1975

Jack Sikma ’77, Men’s Basketball,1976

Jim Snikeris ’77, Football, 1976,

Bob Spear ’77, Men’s Basketball, 1976

Jack Sikma ’77, Men’s Basketball, 1977

Bob Spear ’77, Men’s Basketball, 1977

Marty Anderson ’79, Football, 1978

Kurt Swearingen ’79, Baseball, 1978

Al Black ’79, Men’s Basketball, 1979

Dave Pavlik ’79, Men’s Basketball, 1979

Kurt Swearingen ’79, Baseball, 1979

Jim Eaton ’81, Football, 1980

Rick Hanna ’81, Football, 1980

Mike Watson ’82, Football, 1980

Greg Yess ’82, Men’s Basketball, 1980

Mike Billington ’82, Baseball, 1981

Terri Friedman ’82, Women’s Basketball,198

Mike Watson ’82, Football, 1981

Greg Yess ’82, Men’s Basketball, 1981

J.C. Anderson ’85, Football, 1982

Mike Billington ’82, Baseball, 1982

Jeff Clements ’82, Men’s Basketball, 1982

Terri Friedman ’82, Women’s Basketball, 1982

Greg Yess ’82, Men’s Basketball, 1982

J.C. Anderson ’85, Football, 1983

J.C. Anderson ’85, Track & Field, 1983

Rich Calcagno ’83, Baseball, 1983

Jill Misener ’85, Softball, 1983

Mike Mulberry ’84, Baseball, 1983

J.C. Anderson ’85, Football, 1984

J.C. Anderson ’85, Track & Field, 1984

Barry Brave ’85, Baseball, 1984

Jill Misener ’85, Softball, 1984

Genda Potter ’86, Softball, 1984

J.C. Anderson ’85, Track & Field, 1985

Barry Brave ’85, Baseball, 1985

Steve Bridges ’86, Football, 1985

Steve Bridges ’86, Baseball, 1985

Joe Lira ’86, Baseball, 1985

Mike Simeur ’87, Baseball, 1985

Steve Bridges ’86, Baseball, 1986

Jon Jones ’84, Baseball, 1986

Larry Lessen ’88, Men’s Basketball, 1986

Brian Metz ’87, Baseball, 1986

Brian Coderre ’88, Men’s Basketball, 1987

Brian Metz ’87, Baseball, 1987

Steve Struck ’87, Men’s Tennis, 1987

Carolyn Albert ’90, Softball, 1988

Brian Coderre ’88, Men’s Basketball, 1988

Kirstin Rajala ’90, Women’s Volleyball, 1988

John Ralph ’88, Baseball, 1988

Carolyn Albert ’90, Softball, 1989

Kirstin Rajala ’90, Women’s Volleyball, 1989

Carolyn Albert ’90, Softball, 1990

Chris Bisaillon ’93, Football, 1990

Jeff Leman ’91, Football, 1990

Rich Wilkening ’91, Baseball, 1990

Chris Bisaillon ’93, Football, 1991

Jennifer Jancik ’93, Softball, 1991

Missy McEndree ’91, Softball, 1991

Nata Prasertphon ’91, Women’s Swimming,

1991

Rich Wilkening ’91, Baseball, 1991

Chris Bisaillon ’93, Football, 1992

Jennifer Jancik ’93, Softball, 1992

Mary Larson ’93, Softball, 1992

Andy Mulberry ’93, Baseball, 1992

Chris Udovich ’93, Football, 1992

Jennifer Jancik ’93, Softball, 1993

Chris Morton ’93, Men’s Swimming, 1993

Alisa Swanson ’94, Softball, 1993

Alisa Swanson ’94, Softball, 1994

John Feely ’95, Baseball, 1995

Jason Richards ’96, Football, 1995

Lon Erickson ’97, Football, 1996

Elise LoBue ’96, Women’s Volleyball, 1996

Chad Moser ’98, Men’s Tennis, 1996

Bryan Crabtree ’97, Men’s Basketball, 1997

LeAnn Genzel ’99, Women’s Volleyball, 1997

Chad Moser ’98, Men’s Tennis, 1997

James Rinne ’99, Baseball, 1997

Cody Smith ’99, Baseball, 1997

Korey Coon ’00, Men’s Basketball, 1998

LeAnn Genzel ’99, Women’s Volleyball, 1998

Craig Jacobs ’99, Men’s Tennis, 1998

Nathan Knuffman ’98, Baseball, 1998

Chad Moser ’98, Men’s Tennis, 1998

Brent Niebrugge ’98, Men’s Basketball, 1998

James Rinne ’00, Baseball, 1998

Korey Coon ’00, Men’s Basketball, 1999

Sara Kummer ’99, Softball, 1999

Korey Coon ’00, Men’s Basketball, 2000

Sara Powers ’01, Softball, 2001

Ann Bernard ’04, Women’s, Soccer, 2003

Erin Bicek ’04, Women’s Swimming, 2004

Brynn Hasse ’05, Softball, 2004

Keelan Amelianovich ’06, Men’s Basketball, 2005

Keelan Amelianovich ’06, Men’s Basketball, 2006

Rachel Anderson ’08, Women’s Track & Field, 2007

Molly Coers ’07, Softball, 2007

Marcus Dunlop ’08, Football, 2007

Zach Freeman ’07, Men’s Basketball, 2007

Ikenna Odinaka ’08, Men’s Soccer, 2007

Rachel Anderson ’08, Women’s Track & Field, 2008

Monica Urban ’09, Softball, 2008

Monica Urban ’09, Softball, 2009

Dennis Zic ’11, Football, 2010

Lauren Alpert ’12, Women’s Track & Field, 2012

Danny Kenny ’13, Men’s Soccer, 2012

Tara Clemens ’13, Women’s Track & Field, 2013

Lexi Baltes ’14, Women’s Basketball, 2014

Allie Boudreau ’15, Women’s Track & Field, 2015

Skyler Tomko ’17, Women’s Soccer, 2015

Nia Joiner ’16, Women’s Track & Field, 2016

Max Leonard ’16, Men’s Track & Field, 2016

Eric Rydell ’17, Men’s Track & Field, 2016

Skyler Tomko ’17, Women’s Soccer, 2016

Amelia Glueck ’18, Women’s Track & Field, 2017

Eric Rydell ’17, Men’s Track & Field, 2017

Meg Stanley ’17, Women’s Swimming, 2017

Rebekah Ehresman ’18, Women’s Basketball, 2018

Amelia Glueck ’18, Women’s Track & Field, 2018

J.C. Grabarek ’19, Men’s Lacrosse, 2018

J.C. Grabarek ’19, Men’s Lacrosse, 2019

Sam Berghoff ’20, Softball, 2020

Ellen Gilbert ’22, Women’s Swimming, 2020

Ally Wiegand ’20, Softball, 2020

Rob Wuethrich ’21, Men’s Golf, 2020

Emmett Zima ’21, Football, 2020

Andrew Abel ’21, Men’s Golf, 2021

Ayana Blair ’21, Women’s Track & Field, 2021

Ellen Gilbert ’22, Women’s Swimming, 2021

Janaye Godfrey ’21, Women’s Lacrosse, 2021

Matthew Leritz ’22, Men’s Basketball, 2021

Kendall Sosa ’21, Women’s Basketball, 2021

Rob Wuethrich ’21, Men’s Golf, 2021

Kelsey Wyman ’21, Women’s Track & Field, 2021

Ellen Gilbert ’22, Women’s Swimming & Diving, 2022

Matthew Leritz ’22, Men’s Basketball, 2022

Jimmy Morton ’22, Men’s Golf, 2022

Lexi Onsrud ’24, Women’s Golf, 2022

Quinn Clifford ’25, Men’s Golf, 2023

Sarah Gleason ’23, Women’s Lacrosse, 2023

Ethan Lowder ’24, Men’s Swimming & Diving, 2023

Lexi Onsrud ’24, Women’s Golf, 2023

Alumni Update

NEWS, WORKS AND CELEBRATIONS OF IWU ALUMNI & FRIENDS

1961

Emil Ludy had a successful hockey season as coach of the Illinois 75+ team, winning the USA Hockey Adult Nationals in Wesley Chapel, Florida, beating Michigan 7 to 1. He was also assistant coach for team USA 80+, which beat Canada 3 to 2 in October, earning the Canada 150 Cup. The Cup commemorates Canada's 150 years of independence from the British Empire.

1972

Wayne Messmer was featured as the cover story in the fall edition of the Better Business Bureau Magazine. He was profiled in a story entitled “Beyond the Spotlight: The Remarkable Journey of Wayne Messmer,” highlighting his career as a singer, speaker and businessman. The feature also shares his inspirational and triumphant comeback from a gunshot to the neck — a random act of violence that nearly took his voice and his life. His story is chronicled in his book, The Voice of Victory.

1974

Pat Schou announced her retirement as executive director of Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) in Princeton, Illinois. Pat has been director of ICAHN since it was created in 2003, expanding and ensuring rural communities’ access to quality healthcare. She began her career as a nurse working in large hospital systems before moving to Princeton in 1977 and devoting herself to the world of small rural hospitals.

1978

Carolyn Plemitscher began her 40th season in the costume shop of the Denver Center Theater Company. She has spent the last 30 years as a draper — one who

makes patterns based on design sketches and supervises all garments to completion.

1979

Kathleen Murray was selected as the new president of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Kathleen previously served as the first female president of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and served for seven years at Macalester College, including three months as the college’s acting president in 2013.

1988

Lisa (Powell) Williams retired after 31 years of librarianship, most recently in Moline, Illinois, to become her grandson’s “Nanna Nanny.” She continues to sit on the Action Council for the State of Illinois' Region 49 Birth to Five initiative, serve Quad City Arts by reviewing grants and chairing the Performing Arts Committee, and serve as a docent for the Deere family historic homes. She is also a facility host for the Adler Theatre and is a tour guide for the Quad Cities’ Mississippi river boat cruises. Lisa is also a pulpit fill-in for local churches.

1993

Mark Denzler was recognized by Crain's Chicago Business via inclusion in their "Who's Who in Chicago Business 2024" list. He is the president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association, where he has been since 2006. At IWU, Mark was a member of the Student Senate, Theta Chi, and was senior class president. He is currently on the IWU Board of Trustees.

1994

Rachel (Palencia) Harper is the winner of the William T. Kemper Award and a Purple Chalk Award for her exemplary teaching at

the University of Missouri. Rachel is the associate dean of the honors college and a professor of English at Mizzou, where she received her doctorate.

1996

Vasan Ramanuja was one of the celebrity guests in "Dancing With the Mankato (Minn.) Stars." The annual event raises money for the American Red Cross, at a total of over $1 million over the last 10 years. Vasan has been an allergy and immunology specialist at the Mankato Clinic since 2007.

1999

Andrew Baldock recently climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa at 19,340 feet above sea level. Andrew plans to climb Mount Vinson in Antarctica next. He has previously climbed Mounts Elbrus, Denali and Aconcagua.

Beth (Smith) Shidner is the co-founder of Lose the Vuse, an anti-vaping organization campaigning to help turn teens and tweens away from vaping. Beth and her co-founders lobby against tobacco companies and provide educational materials for parents and schools. Beth was recently interviewed by Good

Andrew Baldock ’99

Morning America in a segment about her advocacy.

2001

Erik Hjerpe successfully ran for a seat on the Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200 Board of Education in April. Erik studied business administration at IWU, and some of his favorite classes were with Professors Tari Renner and Fred Hoyt.

Stephanie (Miller) Montgomery was named the CEO of the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of dogs and their owners. Stephanie is a veterinarian and researcher who studies infectious disease, cancer, therapeutics, vaccines, biodevices and cell-based technologies that improve the health and lives of pets.

2002

Megan (DeSerf) Davidson was featured in Marine Log magazine’s Top Women in Maritime 2023 — a list of the top 20 most impressive women in various maritime industries across the nation, nominated by their employers. Megan is the chief people officer at Crowley Maritime Corporation. Previously, she was

Megan Davidson ’02

in various HR leadership roles with British Petroleum.

Michael Melick became the board president and co-chair of The Project XV Museum, a museum of the history of voting rights in El Paso, Illinois. The museum is currently under construction with a planned centerpiece exhibit about David Strother, the first African American to vote in Illinois after the passage of the 15th Amendment. Michael is a history teacher at El Paso Gridley High School.

2003

Kevin McNicholas presented at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference in San Diego this February. He has served as a social worker for the last 19 years and regularly delivers

addresses on the topics of social emotional learning and staff selfcare and wellness. Kevin is also the founder of the professional organization Mental Health First Responders Network — a statewide network of professionals offering resources and monthly continuing education opportunities.

2004

Bethany (Kesselring) Wasik was promoted to assistant editorial director at Cornell University Press. She now leads the acquisitions department in managing the seasonal publication lists, facilitating subject area and book list reviews and compiling and reviewing data about the press’s list. Bethany acquires book titles in military history, the classics and archaeology and modern European history.

When Liz (Dierbeck) Shickles ’01 (left) joined the Collegium Ladyes singing ensemble, she was delighted to find two other Titans are also members of the group: Suzanne (Higgins) Graber ’78 (right) and Emily Benson ’97 (middle). The Ladyes perform sacred and secular choral music throughout the Milwaukee area.

2007

Shannon O’Rourke Kasali helped create the Tubsan National Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Library, which was inaugurated in November 2023 in Mogadishu, Somalia. The library is a Somali government organization, funded by the European Union, open to practitioners and researchers working on promoting peace in the country.

2009

Elizabeth (Sowatzke) Schlicht was recently made the chairelect of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives (WSAE), an organization that promotes innovation, leadership and collaboration among Wisconsin’s non-profit organizations. Elizabeth studied music at IWU and has spent her career working in leadership roles with organizations that represent various industries.

2010

Alex Tosi completed his first season as an umpire in Major League Baseball. He was pre -

your news to IWU Magazine, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702, iwumag@iwu.edu, or via our website, at iwu.edu/magazine.

viously a minor league umpire who had regularly filled in for more than 100 major league games. Alex pitched for the Titans while at IWU.

Allison Ward received the Jim Mills Excellence Award during Medline Industries’ Employee Appreciation Week. The award, named after one of Medline’s founders, is given to outstanding employees, out of the more than 36,000, who outperform their roles. Allison is vice president of product management at Medline, having recently taken on the surgical kitting division. She has been in the medical supply industry since graduating from IWU, where she was a CCIW Championship softball player.

2012

Will Jenkins was named the 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year at the annual Entrepreneur of the Year Recognition Dinner in Bloomington. Will is the CEO and founder of Journey — a transportation and logistics recruiting company — and he is the co-founder of the shipping company MoLo Solutions, which employs almost 1,000 workers.

Kevin McNicholas ’03

Elizabeth Schlicht ’09

Will Jenkins ’12

My Fellow Titans,

Happy spring! If you’re anything like me, the spring is for... change! As a university administrator, the spring semester isn’t really spring when it starts, but it's definitely spring (we hope!) by the end. When the season of spring arrives, we see changes in the length of the day, temperature, kind of precipitation and even our energy levels.

Unlike the fall semester, when we are all excited for students to arrive, the spring semester brings excitement about what’s next! It may be what’s next for our students, who will travel, secure summer internships, and celebrate as they prepare to graduate. It could also be what’s next for faculty, as they often learn if they’ve won research grants or if they gained promotion and tenure.

I recently heard from an alumnus who helped welcome me to Illinois Wesleyan. After reading the Winter 2023-24 issue of the IWU Magazine, he shared that he was ready to be more involved with the university. His first step was signing up for a Titan Talk and now we are talking about other ways to engage.

So, it can be a season of what’s next for you, my fellow alumni, as well. Whether it is growing your family (be sure to let us help you welcome your Tiny Titan), starting a new job (please tell us that too), or reconnecting with IWU, spring can be the perfect time to do something new or to return to something familiar!

Here’s to spring! Here’s to change!

In Titan Pride,

Derrick L. Tillman-Kelly, PhD ’09 President, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Meet Your 2023- 2025 Alumni Association Board of Directors

Officers

Derrick Tillman-Kelly ’09, President

Meg Howe ’05, President Elect

Desiree Quizon-Colquitt ’89, Vice President of Committees

Paige Buschman ’17, Vice President of Affinity Groups

Dave Darling ’79, Secretary

Leadership

Al Black ’79, Regional Chapters Chair

Jazmyne Kellogg ’16, Alumni of Color Collective Chair

Taylor Williams ’07, Council for IWU Women Chair

Ed Pacchetti ’91, Alumni Academic Resource Council Chair

Jim Richter ’93, Wesleyan Fund Chair

Rachel Shaffer ’17, Young Alumni Council Chair

Amy Tenhouse ’97, Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee Chair

Stella Wang ’17, International Alumni Network Chair

Aaron Woodstein ’15, Pride Alumni Community Chair

At-Large

Debbie Burt-Frazier ’75

Alan Leahigh ’67

Mandy Leifheit ’96

Beth Messina ’81

Brittany Powell ’10

Taylor Robinson ’21

Kate Roessler ’13

Kira (Larson) West ’86

Save the Date for #HCFW24

Make your plans to attend Illinois Wesleyan Homecoming and Family Weekend Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6, 2024!

Our second annual 1850 Market will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the University Quad. Our vendor application is now open! Local businesses, small shops, and makers of handmade pieces, art, food, and more are encouraged to apply!

Visit iwu.edu/hcfw to sign up for a vendor booth, see a schedule of events, or find a hotel room.

Titan Talks Webinar Series Continues

Have you checked out Titan Talks? IWU alumni, friends, supporters, faculty and staff who are leaders in their fields present research, share insights on bold topics or updates on their areas of expertise. Join us monthly!

To register for an upcoming talk or to view a past presentation, visit iwu.edu/titan-talks.

Young Alumni Council

The Young Alumni Council (YAC) is composed of graduates from the last ten years, working together to enrich the lives of current students and recent graduates through programming, social and professional networking, volunteering, and philanthropy. These opportunities assist young alumni in their transition from a collegian at Illinois Wesleyan and lay the foundation for a relationship with their alma mater that lasts a lifetime. A group led by young alumni for young alumni. Join us!

For more information visit iwu.edu/alumni/yac

Whether you've been gone for 10 years or 50, Illinois Wesleyan University will always be your home. Join us as we celebrate the classes ending in 4 and 9 at this year's Homecoming & Family Weekend, October 4-6, 2024.

Find out more at iwu.edu/reunion. Is

2013

Joe Daniels became director of chemical management at the American Chemistry Council. He was previously a specialist among government agencies including FEMA and the EPA, after graduating with a degree in environmental studies and serving as an environmental education volunteer with the Peace Corps.

Jillian (Crosser) Nelson was recently promoted to center medical director at Oak Street Health’s Gary, Indiana clinic — one of

Erik Hjerpe ’01

the few health care systems that features advanced practice registered nurses serving as medical directors running their own primary care clinics. Jillian was previously a nurse practitioner at the Franciscan Physician Network in Crown Point, Indiana.

2016

Jazmyne Kellogg is now the chair of the IWU Alumni of Color Collective, which provides opportunities for minority alumni to engage with the Illinois Wesleyan community through social, educational and service

Jillina Nelson ’13

Tiny Titans

Meredith (Ford) Oliver ’01 and Patrick;

Louisa Oliver, born Oct. 19, 2023

Bill Brumett ’05 and Amy;

William Thomas Odale Brumett, born April 1, 2023

Nicholas Iovino ’07 and Tanya;

Santino "Sonny" Iovino, born Nov. 27, 2022

Claire (Byrne) ’11 and Patrick Topf ’10;

Declan James, born Oct. 8, 2023

Paul Kabbes ’10 and Emily;

Clara Rose Kabbes, born Thanksgiving day, 2023

Hannah (Smith) Phelps ’14 and Neal;

Violet Elizabeth Phelps, born recently

Jenny (Boll) ’14 and Mike Sloboda ’12;

Elizabeth Kate Sloboda, born Nov. 27, 2022

Natalie (Enda) Haas ’14;

Owen, born October 2023

Jennie (Black) ’14 and Chris Tatara ’14;

William Michael Tatara, born Sept. 19, 2023

activities. Jazmyne is the director of the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Megan Win started a new position as an occupational therapist at Southwest Cook County Association for Special Education. She is also part of the Illinois Occupational Therapist Association’s Medicaid Task Force, which was recently selected as the recipient of the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association’s inaugural Political Action Award.

Jazmyne Kellogg ’16

2020

Samuel Villano started a music school, Doorstep Music Lessons, with his fiance Arianna Perroots ’22 in June 2023. Their company offers in-home music lessons featuring some of the top educators, musicians and performers in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area. Their teachers instruct more than 100 students of all ages in all musical instruments and styles. Both Sam and Arianna are IWU music alumni.

Megan Win ’16

Maddie (Mueller) Fink ’15 and Trevor;

Amelia J. Fink, born April 25, 2023

Carissa (Ball) Fristad ’15 and Mitch;

Owen Arthur Fristad, born June 22, 2023

Hayden (Gregurich) ’19 and Corey Dullard ’18;

Avery Ann Dullard, born Oct. 22, 2023

Sarah (VanSickle) Tipperreiter ’98 and Matt;

Grace Ann Tipperreiter, born Dec. 30, 2022

Matt Roberts ’01;

Cora, born Oct. 7, 2023

Jes Lothman ’06 and Chris;

Anderson Anders Lothman, born recently

Vanessa Dremonas ’08 and Chris;

Paul and Magdalene, born Oct. 22nd. 2023

Timothy ’11 and Alison Sunzeri ’10;

Caleb James Sunzeri, born June 24, 2023

Angela (Mulae) ’13 and Nick Kenaga ’13;

Madeleine Sloan, born Dec 11, 2023

ALUMNI UPDATE

HART CAREER CENTER HAPPENINGS

Illinois Wesleyan’s Hart Career Center is constantly engaging with alumni and connecting them with current students in fun and enriching ways. Do you want to assist students to ensure their career success? Does your organization have internships or employment opportunities for Titans? Contact the Career Center staff at ccenter@iwu.edu or (309) 556-3095 Here’s how others are getting involved.

Trip to Visit Financial Firms - Chicago, IL - November 10, 2023

Ric Brunskill ’83, Dan Wasiolek ’98, Jacki Hitchings ’00, Tim Mills ’00, Nicole Roth ’01, Landon Hoffman ’16, Nick Huskisson ’17, Ray Bolton ’18, Paige Larson ’19, Cole Paraday ’22 ,Kayleigh Hall ’23

STEM Career Night - November 29, 2023

Doug Dewey - friend of IWU, Mary Bennett-Henrichs ’89, Paul Halvorsen ’91, Shawn Perrone ’00, Steve Zimmerman ’00, John Van Fleet ’04, Brad Janes ’09, Joe Alberts ’20

Navigating the Game: Insights from IWU Alumni in Sports Careers - February 7, 2024

Laura Warren ’98, Ryan Balogh ’04, Katie Stankiewicz ’09, Chris Simms ’14, Dylan Ruskin ’21

Additional Programming

Tom Dulee - friend of IWU, Jenny Coble ’96, Sean Conroy ’96, James Nettleton ’05, Zach Freeman ’07, Marcus Dunlop ’08, Bianca Cotton ’11

Pre-Health Programming

Rachel (Anderson) Lyons ’08, Mackenzie (Clemens) Crouch ’10, Dr. Dan Durkin ’14, Amelia (Glueck) Marino ’18

(Left) Nick Huskisson ’17 from Guggenheim Partners in Chicago, met with students to discuss careers in securities.

(Right) Steve Zimmerman ’00 attended IWU’s STEM Night to show students career paths in engineering and materials science.

(Left) Warren Kistner took an enterprising group of IWU business students to visit Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in fall 2023.

Titan Celebrations

IWU Magazine considers for publication photos of IWU people at celebrations and reunions of alumni. Please send your Titan Celebration photos to IWU Magazine, at iwu.edu/magazine, via email at iwumag@iwu.edu, or by mail at P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702. All featured content received by February 12, 2024.

(Above) Erica (Hoey) Huggins ’14 married Brandon Huggins on Aug. 18, 2023, with many alumni in attendance, including bridesmaids Samantha (Olson) Clemens ’14, Alex (Bechtel) Johnson ’14 and Stephanie Schwingle ’14

(Above) Kylee (Billings) Fischer ’03 married Brian Fischer on Dec. 16, 2022, in Burlington, Wisconsin.

(Above) Morgan (Hartman) deAmezola ’93 married Phil deAmezola on Oct. 19, 2023, in Key Biscayne, Florida.

In Memory

Faculty, Staff and Friends

Judy Stone died Jan. 10, 2024. She was 91. Judy was a scholar of American history, earning her master’s degree from Illinois State University and meeting her husband, IWU professor of religion from 1964 to 1992 Jerry Stone, at Garrett Theological Senary. Judy would take IWU students to study abroad in Europe every other January for 20 years. Professionally, she was an administrator and teacher with the local Presbyterian Church where she helped resettle Vietnamese refugees and created the Bloomington-Normal chapter of Amnesty international. Judy is survived by three children including Jeffrey Stone ’82, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Alumni

Helen Hoffelt ’42 died Nov. 27, 2023. She was 103. Helen studied music at IWU, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. She also met her husband Robert Hoffelt ’42 at IWU, who she married the year after graduation. She became a piano instructor at Drake University. She was also a member of the Delta Omicron music sorority for more than 80 years. Helen is survived by two children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Barbara (Zook) Starcevic ’51 died Jan. 24, 2024. She was 94. Barbara was a Bloomington townie, spending her entire life in-town. She spent her career working for the City of Bloomington and worked for 18 years as an administrator of financial aid with Illinois State University. Her passion was her deep faith and volunteer work, especially through St. John’s Lutheran Church. Barbara is survived by one child, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Don Holland ’53 died Jan 7, 2024. He was 86. Don studied education at IWU and earned a master’s degree in math from the University of Chicago, though he eventually became a music teacher. He served in the United States Navy after the Korean War, but he left his burgeoning career as a pilot and officer to marry his wife, Nancy, He continued to sing in the Navy Chorus, with whom he performed on the Ed Sullivan show. Don is survived by his wife and two children.

John Pregenzer ’55 died Feb. 2, 2024. He was 92. John finished his degree at IWU after being drafted for a two-year tour in occupied West Germany. He played baseball for the Titans and went on to play professionally for the San Francisco Giants for two seasons, followed by eight seasons as a relief pitcher in the minor leagues. Even though he only played 19 games for the Giants, a fan club dedicated to him grew to have 3,000 members. John is survived by his wife, three children and six grandchildren.

Donald Batz ’56 died Nov 28, 2023. Donald was a seminary student at Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. He served as a pastor under the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and the Iowa and Indiana Conferences for 71 years, retiring twice during his career and for the last time in 2021. He was also a professor of ethics, philosophy and world religions at multiple community colleges. Donald is survived by his wife, four children and four grandchildren.

Donald Albery ’56 died Jan. 7, 2024. He was 90. Don graduated from Bloomington High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army shortly before the Korean War. He was stationed in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. After serving, he returned to IWU where he was a member of Sigma Chi. Following graduation he had a long career in sales and marketing working for American Tag Company, Remington Rand

and Brink’s Incorporated, where he was an executive business sales manager. Don is survived by two children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Wanda (Hulcher) Stewart ’57 died Jan. 31, 2024. She was 88. Wanda met her husband, Floyd Stewart ’58 at IWU, whom she married while they were in college. She was known for her alto voice, which she used to sing in her church choir, the Monroe Symphony Choir and as a soloist. She returned to school in her 40s to earn a degree in nursing from Northeast Louisiana University. She was also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Wanda is survived by her husband, three children and many grandchildren.

George Burr ’61 died Dec. 10, 2023. He was 84. Originally from Wisconsin, George came to IWU to study music, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He returned to school in the 70s to get a degree in computer science and became a defense contractor for the U.S. government. He continued to use his musical skill as a church organist and became an artisan of stained glass, furniture and clocks. George is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Douglas Amman ’61 died Jan 13, 2024. He was 85. Doug grew up being known as a performer, singing in choir, playing trombone, acting in school plays and playing on the high school basketball team where he was known for his hook shot. At IWU he was a trombone major, he toured with the Collegiate Choir, conducted the jazz band and was a waiter for a sorority house. He met his wife Jean White ’63 at IWU, marrying the year after he graduated. He became a professor of music at Ball State University. Doug is survived by his wife, six children and 18 grandchildren.

Robert Benortham ’62 died Nov. 21, 2023. He was 83. Robert was a life-long scholar, earning a master’s degree in chemistry from IWU and his Ph.D. from Kansas State University. He taught biology and chemistry in high schools and community colleges for a combined 52 years, while moonlighting as a science teacher at Calvary Bible College in Grandview, Missouri, which he facilitated by getting his pilot’s license and flying himself to Missouri each week. Robert is survived by a child and three grandchildren.

Charla Johansen-Pierce ’62 died Jan 1, 2024. She was 83. Charla studied piano performance at IWU where she was the president of the music fraternity Delta Omicron. She joined the faculty of Interlochen Arts Academy where she met her husband. After starting a family, she opened a private music studio where she taught music for more than 40 years. Charla is survived by her husband, four children, eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Sandra Kay Robertson Tucker ’63 died Oct 27, 2023. After marrying her high school sweetheart, Dale, Sandra moved around the nation following Dale’s Navy career. She turned down Harvard Law to start a family and travel the world with Dale. She was also known as being undefeatable at Scrabble. Sandra is survived by her husband, two children and six grandchildren.

Jeanne (Hays) Crippin ’65 died Jan. 11, 2024. She was 80. Jeanne studied nursing at IWU where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, and was a nursing supervisor at the Illinois State Psychiatric Institute until she returned to school to receive a degree in counseling psychology. She spent her career as a therapist until she retired to become an antique dealer and take volunteer leadership roles, including with

ALUMNI UPDATE

her local IWU alumni group. Jeanne is survived by her husband, two children and three grandchildren.

Richard Allen ’67 died Jan. 2, 2024. He was 85. Dick was a Decatur townie, starting his higher education at Millikin University before transfering to IWU. He returned to Decatur to teach high school science and math before beginning his career in industrial relations with United Airlines. His main hobby was singing, which he expressed by joining the Northbrook, Illinois, New Tradition Barbershop Chorus, which competed nationally and internationally. Dick is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren.

Karla (Dickinson) Barry ’69 died Nov. 22, 2023. She was 76. Karla was a dedicated performer and scholar, studying at IWU and the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts before earning her master’s degree from the University of Denver. She received her doctorate from Colorado State University in 2020. She loved culture of many kinds, exploring many kinds of music, dancing, film, fashion, cars and baking, and she led a successful career in finance. Karla is survived by her husband and two children.

Bruce Bryan ’70 died Nov. 22, 2023. He was 80. Bruce was a U.S. service member who studied at IWU for his undergraduate degree before attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His career spanned several companies, including TransUnion Credit Bureau and Joliet Junior College.

George McGee ‘72 died Feb. 3, 2024. George studied theater at Illinois Wesleyan and earned a master’s degree in fine arts from Florida Atlantic University. After deploying to the Vietnam War, he spent nearly his entire career at Georgetown College where he was a beloved professor of theater. He was a playwright with his greatest success being A Fence for Martin Maher, which was performed nationally and internationally. He also directed a short film, Doc, Doc. When he retired, the state senate of Kentucky passed a resolution honoring his career.

Deborah (Bragg) Hightower ’73 died Nov. 27, 2023. She was 70. Deborah studied Spanish at IWU before heading to California to study information technology and begin her career as a systems technician, spending most of her career with the Santa Clara County Information Services Department. Her life and career were defined by her passion for education and literacy. Deborah is survived by a child and four grandchildren.

In Memory

Charles “Bud” Concklin ’74 died Dec 4, 2023. He was 80. Bud was a Bloomington townie and an avid athlete in his youth playing football, basketball, golf and track & field at Trinity High School. He was a Titan golfer under coach Don Larsen. His love for golf extended to his career as he was the superintendent at Lakeside Country Club before going into insurance. In his retirement, he was a substitute teacher and helped maintain cemeteries in Bloomington-Normal as well as organizing fundraising events around town. Bud is survived by three children and nine grandchildren.

Asrat Sellassie ’75 died Feb. 23, 2023. He was 68. Asrat first came to the United States from Ethiopia to study pre-med, but he returned to his home country to become a musician. There he created his first reggae band, Dallol, before returning to Chicago on account of the Ethiopian Civil War waged from 1974 to 1991. In Illinois, he became the living legend of Midwest reggae, creating multiple grammy-winning albums with Ziggy Marley and founding The Wild Hare club, which became a center of the American reggae scene. Asrat is survived by his wife and child.

Kimberly Schenk ’77 died July 3, 2023. She was 68. She worked as an insurance claims adjuster right after graduating from IWU and then went on to start her own independent adjusting firm. After her company became successful, she sold her company and went on to flip various other businesses. She was originally from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, but made her home in Loveland, Colorado, for more than 30 years. She is survived by a child and grandchild.

Margaret (Hirschberg) Hankenson ’87 died Nov. 26, 2023. She was 58. Margaret studied theater at IWU, where she met her husband Michael Hankenson ’87. While raising kids and bartending in Indiana, Margaret earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in political science from Purdue University. She took her family to Colorado to join the faculty of Adam State University and then to Wisconsin to work at UWM at Waukesha until her passing. She especially loved the city of Milwaukee. Margaret is survived by her husband and child.

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Sun-Soaked Spring

Warm springtime weather brings campus back to life with an August-like hue.