Millikin Magazine Spring 2020 by Millikin University

M I L L I K I N M A G A Z I N E // V O L . X X X V I // S P R I N G 2 0 2 0

SPRING 2020 // VOL. XXXVI, NO. 3

MILLIKIN MAGAZINE 2

PRESIDENT PATRICK E. WHITE

FARE THEE WELL CHRIS WHITE

THINGS WE LOVE

COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

THE P. WHITE ERA 2013-2020

ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE

TRANSITIONS CENTER FOR THEATRE & DANCE

ALUMNI PROFILE FROM COCKTAILS TO CHEMO

ALUMNI PROFILE FROM BMX TO ANTI-BULLYING

BIG BLUE VIEW ATHLETICS UPDATE

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT JANA FUNDERBURK

UNIVERSITY UPDATE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

CLASS NOTES

MILLIKIN MEMORIALS

THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR STUDENTS “What makes a great leader are things like confidence, humility, passion, trustworthiness and their ability to be ever-learning. President White is all these things and so much more. Millikin has become a better place because of him, and his absence will be felt heavily.” — Korbin Farmer ’20

“When I think of President White, I think of someone who makes it his duty to be actively engaged and involved in Millikin’s campus life, as well as being genuinely open to hearing the students' concerns.” — Trey DeLuna ’20

“A tireless worker who not only devoted time to developing meaningful relationships with his student body, but was a true embodiment of what it looked like to bleed the Big Blue.” — Matt Brown ’20

“THE POPCORN! I work most athletic events, and I think I first noticed it my freshman year at the volleyball games, but President White always has his popcorn while he cheers on the Big Blue, and he is ALWAYS in the stands for all sporting events on campus!” — Annelise Salazar ’20 “President White is a supporter of everyone here at Millikin. He is the first person you notice who is always wearing a smile!” — Skielyr Trenkle ’21

“I have always admired President White for his downto-earth demeanor. Despite the high position he holds and the incredible transformations he has prompted at Millikin, he still talks to everyone as if they are his equal, striking up meaningful conversations with his genuine smile and laugh. Although he deals with hundreds of people every day, he never fails to make sure that you know your input and concerns matter to him.” — Jarius Ingram ’23

“Whenever I saw President White around on campus, he was always smiling and trying to make everyone he ran into feel important. He had a way of making students feel like he genuinely cared about them and valued them.” — Morgan Bettner ’20

“President White is always eager to talk with me about my classes, what books I'm reading and, more importantly, what books I SHOULD be reading! He has been a friendly, kind presence at Millikin since my first visit day, and I'll definitely miss seeing him around campus!” — Sydney Sinks ’22

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“When I think of Dr. Pat White, I think about his warm personality. He is always talking to the students of Millikin and getting to know them, which is really special! He makes everyone feel valued and respected.” — Nikki Sawilchik ’20

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“The best way I could describe Pat White would be to sum up the first time I saw him: The first time I met President White, he was a new face with an instantly familiar presence.” — Mackenzie Martin ’20

The mission of Millikin Magazine is to engage alumni, friends, parents and other constituents in the life of the University, to communicate the high quality of Millikin Performance Learning, and to reflect the University’s mission and values.

“When I think of P. White, I think downto-earth and genuine, with a dash of goofiness.” — Alissa Kanturek ’20 “President White is a beloved and active president. That is how I would describe him in short. Seeing him being active and present around campus with a cheery smile would make my day. He is a man that you knew, unlike at a bigger university where they might not know their president's name, let alone what they look like. As a student, I felt like he had the care and interest in the University. He wasn’t just a guy who gave speeches at big events; he was there at almost every event it felt like. President White is the essence of “‘Ah … there you are Millikin.’” — TJ Weglarz ’21 “When I think of President White, I think of a caring president who engages with his students to know what they are doing inside and outside the classroom that is preparing them for their future. He also believes and supports others' dreams; he believed in a girl from Georgia who wouldn't have been able to attend Millikin without his investment and belief in her and supporting her in pursuing her dream job. Thank you, P. White!” — Ashlyn Hartman ’20

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: PATRICK E. WHITE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT: GINA BIANCHI ’93 VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT & MARKETING: SARAH SHUPENUS VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE & BUSINESS AFFAIRS: RUBY JAMES VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: RAPHAELLA PRANGE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: CRAIG WHITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: KYLEE RONEY DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS & PUBLICATIONS: DANE LISSER DESIGN & ART DIRECTOR: MICHAEL RAUCH ASSOCIATE EDITOR: MARGARET ALLEN FRIEND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: DANIELLE FIELDS ’09/MBA/’12 UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER: RICHARD NDEMBE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: JEREMY COULTER ’00 CONTRIBUTORS: CHRIS WHITE, KALLI FARMER ’20, LILLIAN HESTER ’21, SOPHIA SCHWALBACH ’19/MBA ’20

It is the policy of Millikin University to afford equal opportunity for all persons without distinction or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or age. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the University. Millikin Magazine (ISSN 8750-7706) (USPS 0735-570) is produced by the Millikin University Marketing & Media Relations Office.

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SPRI NG 2020

“YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GOOD YOU ARE.” It is 8:59 a.m. on Friday.

It’s a holiday for many high

school students, but Millikin is in session. The banquet room in the University

Commons is filled with the low rumble of parents and

students, many of whom got

up early, driving hours in the dim morning light to attend Campus Visit Day.

WRITTEN BY: SARAH SHUPENUS

After a brief introduction, Millikin’s 15th president walks into the room, sporting his signature Millikin blue ball cap and tie. He steps to the microphone, looks out upon all of the students in the room and declares with sincere conviction, “I know one thing about each and every one of you.” “Wait. What?” Students glance nervously at their parents. “What did you tell them?” they wonder. “What does he know?” President Patrick White pauses, leans forward and says, “You have no idea how good you are.” And again, quietly, “You have no idea how good you are.” Parents look at President White as he says this. Finally, someone else is telling their student what they have been trying to get their child to recognize for years. Elbows nudge ribs. Heads nod in agreement. “See, I told you!” says one parent.

President Patrick E. White

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Students exhale, relieved that the conversation starts from a place of, “Yes, you can. Yes, why not? Yes, we will teach you. You can grow here at Millikin and do amazing things, because you have no idea how good you are.” President White reassures them. “Don’t worry. Don’t be nervous. We can help,” he says. “At Millikin, you will learn how to try, to imagine, to reach for your dreams and, most importantly, to have courage. It’s what we do here, and we’re really good at it.” Watching this exchange, it is easy to miss the subtlety and importance of what has occurred. Repeatedly, President White manages to accomplish what so many great teachers aim to do, but miss. He grabs students’ attention and gets their brains buzzing. He holds up a mirror for students to see themselves and all of their potential. The idea of college, which often can seem scary or daunting, is now curious, titillating and full of possibilities.

“I’m an English teacher by trade,” he often says before drawing from a literary reference to help explain a thought in conversation. At times, he uses this same phrase to qualify an observation well outside the literary realm. Comparisons to poignant passages in literature and film began the moment President White stepped on campus. Not long after he arrived, he began having many conversations with students, faculty, staff and alumni, trying to get a sense of how each saw Millikin. He became a student of the University, of sorts, learning its rhythm and personality. Often referring to Millikin as a “spiky institution,” he learned that Millikin is neither singular nor particularly linear. It is collaborative, cross-disciplinary and entrepreneurial. It is strong in theatre and science, business and mathematics, music and nursing. Its students come from around the globe and across the street. Its faculty are tenured professors and emerging young educators.

WRITTEN BY: SARAH SHUPENUS

In his study of the University, its programs and people, President White came to understand what connected all things Millikin. In true English teacher fashion, he identified it by referencing a scene from one of his favorite movies: “Hook.” In the scene, Peter Pan is searching for his children in Neverland and has forgotten who he is. He returns to the Lost Boys, who question his identity as well. Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys, exclaims, “He ain’t no Pan! He can’t fly! He can’t fight! He ain’t no Pan!” A deflated Peter lowers his head in defeat, until one of the Lost Boys approaches, looks at him closely and stretches back his cheeks to reveal the likeness of a once younger and braver Peter Pan. “Ah, there you are, Peter!” he says. Just like the Lost Boy who stretches Peter’s face to reveal the brave leader he once knew, President White takes time to note the magical moments at Millikin when courage shines through by giving what has become his highest compliment: “Ah, there you are, Millikin!” The entire Millikin

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community has come to know this phrase and identify it with our best selves, our brave efforts, our courageous accomplishments. Typically, President White merely begins with the “Ah,” before all join in to complete the phrase. It has become our community anthem, and students gleam with delight in the moments they are recognized with its honor. This, more than anything else, is President White’s legacy. With a single phrase, he has called us to stretch our wrinkles and embody our brave and courageous roles as students, faculty, staff and alumni. He has pushed us — all of us — to “own” what it is to be Millikin. President White often remembers with pride the day he asked a group of students who were on the balcony of the new University Commons building what they were doing up there. “You look like you own the place,” he quipped. Without missing a beat, they replied, “We do!” The students’ quick response was, to President White, a reflection of their investment and ownership

in Millikin. More than just observers passing through for a degree, students have outwardly become more and more invested in Millikin, its academic programs, athletic programs, cocurricular and cross-disciplinary programs and yes, even its buildings. During President White’s tenure, evidence of the ownership of Millikin has taken physical shape in the form of new or renovated facilities, including the University Commons, the Exercise Science and Sport Pavilion, the Workman Family Softball Field, the Workman Family Baseball Field and the Center for Theatre & Dance, opening this fall. Students have further personified that ownership by winning numerous academic and para-professional awards, becoming CCIW champions and starting new clubs and performance groups. Faculty have created new academic programs in finance, cybersecurity, data science, computer science, environmental studies, ethics, exercise science, arts technology, arts administration, dual-degree engineering programs and more. President White personally established the President’s Commission on Inclusive Excellence to advance the University’s conversations surrounding race, equality and social justice issues. He was also the first Millikin president in nearly 20 years to speak at the Decatur Community Leaders Breakfast, a city-wide event drawing hundreds of area leaders. There, President White defined what it means to be “Decatur’s University” and reminded us all to take ownership of our community, noting that Millikin’s success is Decatur’s success. He encouraged the Decatur community to be nimble and flexible, courageous and collaborative in order to draw from the strengths of the Central Illinois communities around it.

PRESIDENT PATRICK E. WHITE

SCHOLARSHIP Millikin University invites you to tangibly offer your thanks to President White for his seven years of unmatched leadership by supporting the President Patrick E. White Scholarship Fund. This endowed scholarship was established by Ramona Borders with the support of family, friends and alumni, and will be awarded to deserving students with demonstrated financial need. S UPPO R T

Yes, the spirit of Millikin certainly has been impacted by our 15th president. We are reminded by his blue ball cap to “be Millikin” for the University today and for the Big Blue students yet to come. We are encouraged by his presence at nearly every Millikin event, including every Vespers performance in seven years, sans one. We are inspired by his dedication to his work and the way he spends countless hours carefully constructing every one of his speeches, tailored to each audience, always self-effacing and full of respect for the accomplishments of others. And we are grateful for his endless energy and passion for Millikin.

To give to the President Patrick E. White Scholarship, please visit millikin.edu/give and denote the name of the fund in the comments section. We thank you for joining with us in honoring President White’s legacy.

millikin.edu/give

Thank you, President White. As your presidency comes to an end, now we are called to continue your good work. Millikin has always been a great institution, but it has become an even greater institution because you were here.

Ah, there you are, Millikin.

SPRI NG 2020

WRITTEN BY: CHRIS WHITE

FARE THEE WELL A Message from Chris White

Seven years ago, when he was considering the plea of a headhunter to “throw his hat into the ring” as a candidate to serve as interim president of Millikin University, Pat suggested to me, “Let’s go take a look — make a stealth visit to see what the campus and students are like.” I agreed. That late February visit to Decatur, across the prairie of brown field stubble with gray skies marking the end of a dreary midwestern winter, opened our hearts and minds to great possibilities for the next chapter in our lives dedicated to higher education. The campus was just digging out after a nine-inch snowfall, and classes were raggedy as students, faculty and staff were gearing up for spring break. Pat and I put on the personas of parents — well, maybe grandparents — checking out the University in advance for our prospective student. As we strolled about campus, we heard lovely passages of music — vocal and instrumental, Broadway show tunes and Italian arias — escaping from windows in a hall called Perkinson. We saw clumps of runners in shorts and running tights racing down the sidewalks along MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

Fairview to Main Street. We shopped at a lovely little storefront gallery downtown called Blue Connection and chatted with the student managing it. We heard basketballs hitting the backboards at Griswold. Continuing on, we saw students queued for lunch as lovely aromas filled the hallway at a bunker-like place called RTUC. We admired students hunched in chairs typing on laptop keyboards in Staley Library. And literally everywhere, we noticed posters and event flyers filling corkboards, announcing lectures and concerts and theatre openings and cabarets and track meets and art gallery openings and baseball schedules and fraternity chicken and waffle feasts and dance tryouts and sorority fundraisers and softball games and student government elections and, and, and … “Well,” Pat and I said to one another, echoing the end of “Casablanca,” always attuned to the movies of our lives, “This may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” And Millikin, you have delivered. As Pat has become P. White, I have become what some folks call “first lady.” Out of great respect for our nation’s first ladies, I prefer to think of myself as ambassador for Millikin. That position implies discretion, loyalty, admiration, support, encouragement and cheerleading for the University, something I have

embraced naturally at this marvelous place. Over these years, I’ve marveled as I see it with my very eyes, am transported by its magnificent melodies enveloping us, am touched by its passion and vigor and am embraced by its vitality. During our seven years here, my heart, mind and spirit have been lifted by students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of Millikin’s broader community in Decatur and Central Illinois. You have enriched us with your joy, insights, honesty, talent, generosity, kindness, devotion to what is right and good, and yes, even your disagreement with what folks swirling around Millikin’s campus — with its state-wide, national and international reach — may do and say as democratic citizens in a global environment. It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to call Millikin and Decatur our home. I am particularly proud to honor the legacy given so generously by Clarence “Red” ’50 and Shirley Johnson, who gifted their home to the University in 1993. Under P. White’s leadership, and with the support of Millikin’s Board of Trustees, #4 Millikin Place was re-purchased to serve once again as the home of Millikin’s president. The home was designed and built in 1910 by Marion Mahony, a young architect who grew up in Chicago. In 1898, Mahony became the first woman to be licensed as an architect in our nation. When Frank Lloyd

Wright fled Chicago for an extended European sojourn with the first of several mistresses, Mahony assumed the design and building of three homes on Millikin Place, for which Wright was contracted. “Number four remains Mahony's masterpiece,” said James Weirick, professor of urban development and design at the University of New South Wales in Australia, who visited the home and Millikin last June. It is a continuing delight for P. White and I to welcome so many here at #4 — students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, retirees, community members and visitors from our nation and world. We particularly love to celebrate here with folks we consider heroes for Millikin. The enthusiasm and energy of student paraprofessionals including RAs and First Year Experience Mentors preparing for their roles at the start of each academic year is inspiring, and we’ve loved hosting Presidential Scholars for dinner each semester. The harmony of voices sharing SPRI NG 2020

stories, expressing admiration and amazement, punctuated with peals of laughter and outright hilarity have filled the rooms of #4. We’ve looked forward to welcoming members of Millikin’s Board of Trustees and their spouses and partners three times a year to share dinner, joining with administrators, faculty, students and staff, often accompanied by music. We were honored to share a postseason reception for our wrestling team after their amazing success last year, and we looked forward to hosting a dinner for them again this year, especially after the team’s first ever Conference Championship in wrestling for MU. Sadly, their season ended precipitously, just as the DIII National Championships were to start. We are always thrilled to welcome our 50-year reunion alumni who have led lives of meaning and value. In recognition of Millikin’s instrumental role in setting them on their paths to success, they and many other alumni loyally donate to the

University in thanks. It is a pleasure to open #4 each winter for our holiday celebration for Millikin faculty, staff and retirees; it is just one small way we can tangibly recognize and thank them for their talents and dedication to the University through many years of service. I often say it is a pleasure and privilege to call #4 our home — a pleasure because Mahony’s design is so very comfortable and easy to live in, and a privilege because it honors her architectural talent and historical ground-breaking independence while allowing P. White and I to share that pleasure and privilege with those who hold Millikin dear to their hearts. It is also my pleasure and privilege to have served Millikin as your ambassador, and yes, proudly, as your first lady. You all have made it right and good, and I look forward to honoring you for years to come. We will return for visits, but in the meantime, fare thee well, my friends. 7

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THINGS W E LOVE

MU OFFERS NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMS In the University’s continued efforts to meet the needs of students, Millikin has announced three new academic programs. All three programs are currently accepting applications for study.

The School of Theatre & Dance has announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Arts (BA) in theatre and performance studies, which replaces the current BA in theatre. This new academic program will enable students to continue to take traditional courses in acting, directing, design and theatre history, but will also include courses in advanced play analysis, devised theatre and performance studies. The program will appeal to students who envision themselves as directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, producers or performers. Beginning this fall, the Tabor School of Business will offer a major in cybersecurity. Students in the program will build a deep set of technical skills related to information infrastructure, networking and information security. The multidisciplinary major will provide students with a foundation of business skills, along with the ethical and legal

elements necessary to analyze the effect of cyber threats. The program prepares students for positions in one of the fastest-growing fields worldwide.

On the Road with Martin Atkins

Eleven music business students embarked on an extraordinary journey in November 2019 — a 16-day, 16-city tour with industrial rock supergroup Pigface, led by Martin Atkins, Millikin’s coordinator of music business.

The School of Education announced plans to launch a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. This new graduate degree program is open to all career-seeking professionals who have completed an undergraduate degree in an academic area other than education and are seeking a path to teacher licensure in the state of Illinois. Students may choose from early childhood education or elementary education options and follow a plan of study that allows them to complete their coursework through year-round evening courses, through traditional daytime classes, or through a combination of the two for ultimate flexibility.

Inspired by Atkins’ best-selling book, “Tour:Smart,” students in the Tour:Smart Bus Edition immersion course joined the band for shows throughout the country and learned about tour management in real time. Students lived and worked on the tour bus, behind the stage, in the green room, on the road and at the merchandise booth.

Students had the opportunity to spend one day in each hub (tour management, production, merchandise, tickets and VIP experience), experiencing curated workshops that allowed them to build foundational skills and work alongside seasoned touring professionals. The first leg of the tour began in Chicago with pre-production and dress rehearsal. The tour included stops in New York, Dallas, Austin and Atlanta. “While you’re on the road, it’s 24 hours a day, and it’s that mindset that’s going to change students’ attitudes in terms of their learning experience in the classroom,” said Atkins.

MILLIKIN ALUM

ANDREW CRAIG BROWN WINS GRAMMY AWARD WJMU NOMINATED FOR RECORD EIGHT IBS NATIONAL AWARDS

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Millikin University’s student-run radio station, 89.5 WJMU The Quad, was nominated for eight national awards by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS), a station record. Award winners were announced at the 80th Annual IBS International Media Conference, held in New York City in March, with the station winning the award for Best Station Promotional Poster. The station received nominations in a variety of content areas, including specialty show, sound effects and best use of video. WJMU’s six-member

executive team has taken intentional steps to branch out into new areas, including video campaigns, Facebook Live promotions and on-air drives, and their efforts have been rewarded with recognition from IBS. WJMU’s programming features shows that focus on sports, music and news, as well as international programs highlighting Spanish, Hindi cinema and anime culture. IBS award finalists represent the top three to five percent of work submitted over the course of the previous year.

On Sunday, Jan. 26, Andrew Craig Brown ’09 was recognized at the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles for his contribution as a bass-baritone in Tobias Picker’s opera “Fantastic Mr. Fox” in the Best Opera Recording category. SPRI NG 2020

A native of Decatur, Brown has a master’s degree in opera from Yale University. Brown recorded the Grammy-winning “Fantastic Mr. Fox” album in 2014 with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. The album was released in 2019. The conductor and four performers, including Brown, accepted the award at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Brown plans to begin training in New Mexico this summer for a performance in Amarillo, Texas. He has performed with numerous symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. 9

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MILLIKIN NAMES DR. JAMES M. REYNOLDS AS 16th PRESIDENT Center for Sports Sciences (completed in August 2015). The College also increased its Annual Fund support and overall giving over the past three years. During his time at Wilmington, the College concluded its largest fundraising campaign in institutional history in December 2017, exceeding the $21 million goal. On Feb. 10, 2020, the Millikin University Board of Trustees unanimously confirmed the election of Dr. James M. Reynolds to become the 16th president of Millikin University, effective July 1, 2020. Reynolds succeeds Dr. Patrick E. White, who retires June 30 after seven years as Millikin University’s president. Reynolds, who grew up just six blocks from Millikin's campus, returns to Decatur after serving as president of Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, a position he started in 2012 after serving as interim president from August 2011 – February 2012. As president, Reynolds was responsible for the continued growth and development of the College. He oversaw the function and success of all the integrated units on campus, including Development and Advancement, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Business and Finance, Athletics, External Programs and Enrollment Management. During his time at Wilmington, Reynolds oversaw creation of a new campus-wide strategic planning process and oversaw the successful reaccreditation of Wilmington College by the Higher Learning Commission in 2017. Under his leadership, Wilmington launched partnerships with three health care providers that resulted in the construction of the MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

As Millikin’s 16th president, Reynolds hopes to build on the strong foundation that Pat and Chris White have left as they transition into the next chapter of their life story. “I will focus much of my attention early on in developing meaningful relationships with campus constituents and reaching out to alumni and friends of Millikin to engage them in the work that we are doing for so many deserving students,” said Reynolds. When asked what drew his interest in taking the position at Millikin University, Reynolds said, “As I said during the interview process, I love what you do and who you serve. For me, I find great joy in helping students, particularly firstgeneration college students, who deserve an opportunity for successful lives after graduation.” Reynolds noted, “As a first-generation college student, I know that any success I’ve had in my professional career is rooted in the people who helped me to make the transition to college when I was 18. I also find the intensive Performance Learning model that Millikin uses to be innovative and exactly what students need to translate the theoretical to the practical.” In preparation for his new role, Reynolds will be making a few trips to Millikin’s campus prior to July 1 to get acclimated to the work going on at Millikin.

“The Presidential Transition Committee has put together two blocks of time, for me to come to campus and spend some extended time with the Cabinet and others to begin to take a much deeper dive into how I can be an active part of the good work that is going on at Millikin,” said Reynolds. Prior to Wilmington College, Reynolds served as academic vice president and dean of the faculty at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb., from 200306. Previously, he held various teaching and administrative positions at Drake University, including associate dean and interim dean of the College of Pharmacy. Reynolds’ scholarly work has been published extensively, and his classroom excellence has resulted in six Teacher of the Year awards. He was awarded an American Council on Education fellowship at Illinois Wesleyan University and a postdoctoral research fellowship from the National Institutes of Health. Reynolds earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Drake University and a Master of Arts in zoology from DePauw University. He earned a Ph.D. in biology from Illinois State University. Reynolds and his wife, Sue, have two daughters. “I am deeply humbled and excited to become the 16th president of Millikin University,” said Reynolds. “I am committed to the mission of Performance Learning at Millikin, and as I begin this new chapter, I look forward to working with the directors, faculty and staff as we fulfill our mission to prepare students for personal lives of meaning and value. I am grateful for the strong leadership of Dr. Patrick White, who has left a lasting legacy on which we will have the opportunity to build.”

MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY BECOMES NEVE COLLEGE RUPERT NEVE DESIGNS 5088 SHELFORD 3 2 - C H A N N E L ST U D I O R E CO R D I N G CO N S O L E

Millikin Provost Dr. Jeffery P. Aper says that the transformative opportunities in learning and development are among the many reasons that Millikin stands out to students. “Millikin’s leadership in Performance Learning offers students a real and meaningful difference in the quality of their experience here. Millikin students are actively involved in all aspects of the life of the University and have the chance to get substantive experience in the professional work of the discipline they study.”

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Following the installation of two new Rupert Neve Designs 5088 Shelford 32-channel studio recording consoles, Millikin has become one of the few academic institutions in the United States that can call itself a Neve College — a name attached to many high-end music studio products. The Neve Console Company was able to provide the necessary equipment, making Millikin one of only 51 colleges and universities nationwide — and the second in Illinois — currently using the

Rupert Neve Designs 5088. The idea of upgrading Millitrax came from Kevin Guarnieri, technical director. The new consoles will help students continue to craft quality recordings. Many of Millikin’s commercial music majors within the School of Music gain hands-on experience in recording and audio production by using Millitrax, as do First Step Records and Blue Box Records, two of the University’s student-operated recording companies. The space has two studios: Studio A includes a large tracking room, isolation room, control room and machine room. Studio B, also known as the audio lab, features a mixing room with a digital console.

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Krieger Named 2019 Lincoln Laureate Mikayla Krieger ’20 of Mount Zion, Ill., was recognized as Millikin University’s recipient of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois’ Student Laureate Award for 2019. The senior business management and digital media marketing double major was honored during the 45th Student Laureate Convocation on Nov. 16, 2019, at the Old State Capital in Springfield, Ill. Each fall, an outstanding senior from each of Illinois’ fouryear degree-granting institutions is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, naming them a student laureate. In the spirit of Lincoln, these individuals are honored for their leadership and service in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. Krieger is a member of Delta Mu Delta and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies, serves as vice president of member development for Pi Beta Phi sorority and is president of the Tabor School of Business Advisory Council. She is also a senior consultant for Millikin University Performance Consulting (MUPC) and an intern in the Labs Department at State Farm.

Lindsey Named Dean of College of Professional Studies Dr. Pamela Lindsey has been appointed dean of the College of Professional Studies (CPS), effective July 1, 2020. Dr. Lindsey has served as interim dean of CPS since Aug. 1, 2019, following the retirement of Dr. Deborah Slayton. Dr. Lindsey joined Millikin University in Aug. 2010 as assistant professor in the School of Nursing. In 2014, she was promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure. She was named director of the School of Nursing in June 2014. She is a registered nurse, scholar, practitioner and teacher with expertise in psychiatric and mental health nursing. She is the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards, has published manuscripts in a variety of professional journals and has presented extensively at professional conferences.

Backing the Big Blue Backpacks On Dec. 3, 2019, the culmination of Millikin’s Event Planning course was delivered through a fundraising event, “Back the Big Blue Backpacks.” The class, taught by Millikin’s Chief of Staff/Board Secretary and Adjunct Faculty of Marketing Marilyn Davis ’00/MBA ’11, spent the entire semester gaining perspective on how to execute a successful event — from the initial planning stage, to budgeting, to marketing.

With the support of private donors, local agencies and this fundraiser, Big Blue Backpacks provides nourishment and wellness for students in need at Dennis Lab School in Decatur by purchasing food items and packing them into bags to give to students for over-the-weekend nourishment. The program helps Dennis students with attendance rates, health, academic success and confidence in self.

Provost Jeffery Aper noted, “We look forward to the very positive work ahead with Dr. Lindsey assuming the permanent role as dean of the College of Professional Studies and bringing her leadership experience and strengths more fully to bear in advancing the work of Millikin University and the greater community.”

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Students from the Event Planning course and Big Blue Backpacks worked together to sell 225 tickets for the event. The dinner included soups, biscuits and desserts provided by Chef Brian Pehr, Millikin’s executive chef for dining services, and Aramark.

SPRI NG 2020

T H ING S WE LOVE

THINGS W E LOVE

CATRON RELEASES NEW ALBUM, “PARTICLES AND PRAYER”

Amy Catron

Amy Catron, principal cellist for the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and adjunct faculty member in Millikin’s School of Music, has released "Particles and Prayer," a compilation of work produced by First Step Records, the University’s student-run record label. As a musician, Catron tackles repertoire ranging from Renaissance Era to contemporaneity. She is an avid promoter of new music; and has toured, performed and recorded extensively as both a soloist and in chamber and orchestral settings, both domestically and internationally. Catron, who studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and the University of Akron in Ohio, worked with First Step Records students for the recording, mixing and mastering of the pieces on the album, as well as finalizing distribution of the product.

Jeffrey Sterling ’89 Presents the James W. Moore Lecture On Jan. 28, Millikin welcomed former CIA analyst Jeffrey Sterling ’89 for the 2020 James W. Moore Lecture. Sterling discussed his book, “Unwanted Spy: The Persecution of an American Whistleblower,” which chronicles his fight for justice in the face of racial discrimination, federal espionage charges and more than two years of imprisonment. Earlier in the day, Sterling spoke to a class of Millikin undergraduate communication students, detailing his eye-opening experiences with the CIA. Sterling worked for the agency for nearly a decade, serving as one of its few clandestine African-American officers. While working for the agency’s Iran MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

task force, Sterling became alarmed by what he saw as fatal security flaws in a CIA plan to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program. He believed the operation, codenamed Operation Merlin, could actually help Iran develop a nuclear weapon. When Sterling’s concerns were ignored by his superiors, he testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee. This whistleblowing, combined with a lawsuit filed by Sterling against the CIA for on-thejob discrimination, eventually pushed him out of the agency. In 2010, the federal government accused him of violating the Espionage Act, claiming that he leaked classified information about Operation Merlin. Sterling, while convicted and sentenced to prison, maintains his innocence.

WE INVITE YOU TO TURN BACK TIME AS WE COME TOGETHER OCTOBER 16-18 FOR HOMECOMING 2020. Be a part of the Big Blue Rewind as we play back decades of Millikin University’s best memories. We’re excited to have you return to campus as we celebrate some of our greatest hits: » Reunite with your classmates and reminisce on your time at the University;

» Celebrate the accomplishments of your fellow alumni at the Alumni Awards Dinner and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony;

» Line the sidewalks around campus for

This year, we invite you to join us as we celebrate the completion of the Center for Theatre & Dance. We have a host of events planned for Saturday, Oct. 17, and we would love for you to join us for any or all of them! » Watch the curtain officially rise on the Center for Theatre & Dance at the Grand Opening;

» See everything the new building has to offer at our interactive open house;

» Join us for cocktails in the evening, then stay to

witness the many talents of the Big Blue family at our open mic night … or be a part of the action by participating!

the Homecoming Parade;

» Catch up with your friends and make new connections at the All-Millikin Lunch;

» Cheer for the Big Blue at the annual Homecoming football game; and

» Much, much more!

L EAR N MO R E

MORE INFORMATION IS FORTHCOMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SO STAY TUNED!

millikin.edu/homecoming SPRI NG 2020

CO MM U NIT Y PE RS PE CT IVE

COMMUNITY P ER SP ECTIVE

THOUGHTS ABOUT PAT WHITE FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS “President Pat White is not just the head of Millikin University; he is the heart of the institution. I have worked with Pat in many capacities, from several community boards to Millikin Associates. You can never miss his charisma and bleeding blue passion when he enters the room. In my mind, he has been one of the most effective and influential presidents we have seen. I hold great admiration for him, both for the work he has done with connecting business partnerships, as well as the strong ties he has made with the student body. His leadership style and community-centric approach have had a major impact on fundraising and the University's top rankings. His leadership under the Transform MU campaign has been one of the most successful initiatives in the University's history and is paving the way for facility and programmatic growth. Pat will be missed dearly, but his Big Blue legacy is sure to shine through for decades to come.”

Kara Demirjian Huss President, DCC Marketing and VP & Global Marketing Director, T/CCI MFG

“I remember so well meeting Dr. White for the first time ...

I had the privilege of being the Millikin Associates chair with Dr.

and presence! I loved how he was always glad to see us and

to be involved in an event with him. I also have the privilege of

our connection with Millikin. He was interim president, and

him. To see him work continuously on the fundraising and keep

president — and, of course, that happened.

going for that project, as it does for all of the

I liked him a lot, immediately! What a great engaging smile

White as University president. It was always so pleasant and easy

wanted to chat and immediately remembered our names and

being on the committee for the Center for Theatre & Dance with

I so hoped that he would be able to stay on as the University

us informed about the building's progress keeps the momentum

Dr. White clearly embraced the fact that Millikin was part of

the Decatur community, and the Decatur community was part

most joyful times in my life was crossing paths with Dr. White. His outstanding

presidential skills have benefited Millikin

University and the community. He enhanced Millikin’s “sense of community.” His success in diversifying the student body while at the same time including more minority

professors is commendable. The NAACP had the opportunity of having a Millikin student serve as an intern for the first time

in our 105 years of existence in the Decatur community.

Dr. White will be sorely missed, but his

numerous accomplishments will continue to have a tremendous impact on Decatur. As

Dr. and Mrs. Patrick E. White transition to a new chapter in life, my prayers and best wishes embrace them.”

“Millikin University President, Dr. Patrick ‘Pat’ White has served on

the Decatur Regional Chamber of

Commerce board for over seven years. During that time, President White

has provided valuable input and served as a resource for our community. He exemplified leadership above and

beyond and repeatedly said Millikin is Decatur’s University.

I will personally miss President

White’s quick wit and cheerful smile. I could always pick him out in a crowd. You could see him coming a mile

away as he always sported his blue

He wears the Millikin cap in so many ways!!”

so appreciative and supportive of those efforts. He would be

Shirley Stanley

interest in the University and its mission and its connection

Long-time Millikin and community supporter, with husband, Dr. Paul Stanley

member, not being an alum, nor student nor staff. He was always everywhere and everyone knew him. It was so obvious that his with the community was based on what was truly, truly best for

the University and the community — what a joy to work with a

leader who was so devoid of self interest and ego and who really

Millikin baseball cap. I tip my cap to

President White for his dedication and

commitment to Millikin University and our community.”

“What can I say about Dr. White

Spend any time with Dr. White and you

no props, they performed as if scouts were

and I served together on the board

and his ability to make anything sound

those who attended the ground-swelling

Dr. Jeanelle Norman

Mirinda Rothrock ’04

President, NAACP Decatur Branch

President, Decatur Chamber of Commerce Millikin Alumni Association Board Member

“Dr. White has a passion for building

Chamber of Commerce since he first

the entire Decatur community.

a thriving small private school myself,

Development Corporation Board of

his college obligations, he was one of

provide support to the local business

weighing in on items important to

Millikin to be a strong contributor

was also good about attending ribbon

service to the community will be

possible and was one whom I relied

continue through the relationships

shared my desire to have students

His strong but compassionate

as a way for them to experience the

watched and admired.”

He, too, saw the value in students

Ryan McCrady

future career opportunities within their

connections between Millikin and

moved to Decatur. Having attended

As a member of the Economic

we hit it off immediately. Despite all

Directors, he was always willing to

the more involved board members,

community and sought ways for

Millikin and the City of Decatur. He

to the local economy. His selfless

cuttings and after-hours events when

missed. However, his legacy will

upon for conversation. Dr. White also

that have been built under his watch.

attend the monthly Chamber Breakfast

President, Economic Development Corp. of Decatur & Macon County

will quickly experience his quick wit

interesting. You could always count on him showing Millikin pride through

his comments, knowledge of upcoming events or the blue ball cap that was a

permanent part of his attire. Throughout Pat’s tenure, I found myself attending

more Millikin events and came to look forward to his literary introductions at speaker series and fundraising events as well as his orations on Jimmy M’s

contributions. Through Dr. White and his staff, I came to understand the

school students in developing their

college plans. His support was greatly appreciated by myself as well as the

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could not have looked prouder. Not only

did it represent the completion of one of his first major building projects, but you could

observe the love students had for Dr. White and the pride he had in his students. To

this day, I still believe an annual talent show at Millikin would be a huge success. What

better way to show Central Illinois the talent Millikin is encouraging and enhancing?

maintaining the relationship as they migrate

networking for summer jobs and

mentor the attending Decatur high

talent that Millikin attracts. And Dr. White

education.

how successful Millikin is in this type of

for Millikin most was the University

opportunity for Millikin students to

gathering were able to experience the true

We now consider Pat and his wife, Chris, two

career types available in a community.

field of interest. This also provided an

in the audience. For more than an hour,

benefits of Performance Learning and

The event that stands out most in

high school students he met. MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

He always greets me “Hi, Shourls” — I love it!!

acted for the greater good — that seldom happens.

that has not been said already? Pat

leadership style is one that I closely

He will be so very missed, as will Chris.

of Millikin. Things I did for the University, I did as a community

of directors for the Decatur Regional “There are many surprises in life. One of the

projects with which he is involved.

my mind that summarized Pat’s love

Commons grand opening celebration

in 2017. The students from the various performing arts put on what I describe

as a talent show to celebrate the opening. They all performed in the lobby of the

of our Decatur friends and look forward to

from work to retirement and from Illinois to Indiana. My wife, Kelly, and I look forward to attending the Kentucky Derby with Pat

and Chris sometime soon and look forward to keeping up with all their adventures as

they take this next step in their lives. Their

presence at Millikin will be missed, but surely never forgotten.”

new Commons to demonstrate the

Ty Hildum

Within this space, and with little to

National Account Manager, Norfolk Southern Corp.

collaborative nature of the new space.

WRITTEN BY: PRESIDENT PATRICK E. WHITE

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

OUR MILLIKIN, OUR MIRROR: N OW, T O M O R ROW, A N D A LL T H E T O M O R ROW S T O CO M E

Patrick E. White President, Millikin University

I am writing this in the middle of the night in the second week of April, the week before Easter, which Christian tradition names Holy Week. This assignment is overdue. I was supposed to have this done by the end of February. However, other things got in the way and as many of you — whether alumni or friends or current students at Millikin — have done before me, I asked for an extension, and then another, and finally had to get it done. I am glad I procrastinated, because had I written this when it was first due, it would have been a different piece. I would have written it before we realized the full extent of the pandemic of COVID-19 and its threat to our nation, our University and so many good and noble people. Now the hour seems dark indeed. Now we are at war. The enemy is not just the virus; the enemy comes dressed as a challenge to our faith in ourselves, in Millikin and in our vitality as a great University.

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

In this time, I realize again the promise that I offer to prospective students at every Visit Day: “Millikin won’t be easy. If you wanted easy, you would go to any of hundreds of schools who would not challenge you to be your best imagination of yourself, who would not immerse you in a community of learners and thinkers who are striving to discover the best in you and bring it to light.” At these times, I also say, “If all you wanted to do is earn a bachelor’s degree, you could do that in your parents’ basement.” Millikin students, I realize you are finishing your semester with courses online. You may be doing so from your parents’ basement or from a dining room table surrounded by siblings and parents who may be working from home or out of work because of the health crisis which threatens our world, our University and, even more, our sense of who we are and what we can become. In times of war and challenge, we discover not only what frightens us but also what we value, what we believe and what most matters, what binds us together as a community. In this time when we can feel isolated and separated, we remind ourselves that at Millikin we never walk alone. We may be keeping six feet away and practicing social distancing, but someone is there to support and encourage us. Millikin is a universe of different people, a great constellation with many stars, brought together by our commitment to one another and to our best imagination of the University we love. SPRI NG 2020

Seven years ago, I came to Millikin and, ever since, I have tried to be a good president by being a good student, an attentive learner. Millikin has been my textbook, my laboratory, my classroom; and I have been learning and studying what it is about this place, this community, this heritage that makes us Millikin. We see the Millikin spirit all around us. It resides in a can-do attitude: let’s put on a show, have a game, start a business, get the job done, or, recently, find a way to deliver on the promise of education even when we are scattered and have to move to remote learning while making the experience distinctively Millikin. The Millikin spirit resides in the very fiber of so many of you. In the strength of the late Peggy Madden, donor and beloved Trustee who, nearing ninety years old, traveled to Chicago to interview finalists for the next Millikin president, just weeks before she passed away. It is in trustees Tom Harrington, Gary Workman, Mark and Bob Staley, Doug Oberhelman, Sue Pilling, their families and so many more who have transformed this campus with their generosity. It is in Professors Barbara Mangrum, Marianne Robertson, Jim Rauff, Michael Hartsock and scores of other faculty and staff who, confronted with the challenge of bringing a Millikin education online, found a way not just to “teach online” but to take the Millikin experience of discovery and learning to all our students. It is in staff who advise and support student learning, coaches and admissions counselors recruiting the class of 2024 and development and alumni people who keep us all connected and giving back to MU. It is in young alumni like Justin DeBo and Krista Scott who have already endowed scholarships to

the University, and young alumni like Tyler and Elizabeth Ross, Valina Hoang, Malcolm Branch, Tim Gorski and hundreds of others who have pledged support to MU. It is in Randy Blackburn, chair of the Board of Trustees, guiding us through the fog of war with a steady resolve. This edition of the Millikin Magazine surveys some of the good work that we did together over the last seven years. Each of you reading these words has contributed to the rising hopes, the Millikin momentum, the sense of promise and possibility that I hope you see in Millikin even in these cloudy, embattled days. If anyone should ask, “What did P. White do while he was president?” I hope some might answer, “He held a mirror up to Millikin to help us see that we as Millikin University were better than we thought, bigger than we could have imagined, braver than we feared, because he saw something in us that was always there from the moment James Millikin founded this University.” This is our time of challenge. It is up to each of us to own this moment and see the future that shines bright beyond this darkness. I know we can do this hard work; I know it will not be easy. Let us take the extra steps, reach out to one another and work together so future generations of Millikin will hold the mirror up to our time and say those words of highest praise,

“Ah, there you are Millikin.”

THE

P. WHITE ERA

MAY 2014 FRANK M. LINDSAY FIELD

2013-2020

SEPT. 2018: Millikin University received the Business Expansion of the Year Award at the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce 2018 Chamber Awards

SPRING 2017 WORKMAN FAMILY SOFTBALL FIELD

Patrick E. White Millikin University President

JULY 2013 APPOINTED INTERIM PRESIDENT OF MILLIKIN

OCTOBER 2013 PATRICK E. WHITE IS NAMED 15TH PRESIDENT OF MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY

AUGUST 2017 UNIVERSITY COMMONS

MAY 2014 FRANK M. LINDSAY FIELD

DECEMBER 2015 COMPLETED TRANSFORM MU CAMPAIGN

AUGUST 2017 THE UNIVERSITY COMMONS

MAY 2018 CENTER FOR THEATRE & DANCE

SEPTEMBER 2019 WORKMAN FAMILY BASEBALL FIELD

Millikin broke ground on a new $1.75 million artificial turf playing surface for Frank M. Lindsay Field. The project included installation of field lighting, resurfacing the track, a high-definition video scoreboard and sound system. The field currently serves as the home field for the University’s soccer and football teams.

The University completed its Transform MU capital campaign 14 months early after exceeding its $85 million goal by over $10 million. This successful initiative led to the design and construction of innovative, transformative facilities on the University’s campus.

University Commons serves as the “front door and main street” to campus. This $31 million building houses the Staley Library, the Doug and Diane Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance, the University dining hall, Office of Campus Life and additional spaces designed for collaborative use by the MU community.

Millikin officially broke ground on its Center for Theatre & Dance. For the first time, Millikin’s School of Theatre and Dance will have a facility equal in quality and potential to its national reputation. This $29 million state-of-the-art facility will feature a 260-seat flexible theatre with orchestra pit and balcony; lighting and sound labs; studios for costume, acting and dance; collaboration spaces; costume and design classrooms; modern equipment and offices. The University’s Center for Theatre & Dance will be completed in fall 2020.

On September 27, 2019, under President White’s guidance, Millikin University officially opened the new on-campus home of the Big Blue baseball program with the dedication of the new Workman Family Baseball Field. This new facility seats 459 spectators and features an all-weather artificial turf field, stadium seating, clubhouse, lights, press box, concessions and batting cages. Millikin is the only school in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with an on-campus, baseball-only facility with a full turf field and clubhouse.

APRIL 2016 BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR PRESIDENT WHITE

OCTOBER 2019: Millikin University President Dr. Patrick E.

White was the featured keynote speaker at the bi-annual Community Leaders Breakfast at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel.

NOVEMBER 2019 ATHLETIC FACILITY Millikin announced fundraising efforts for the first phase of a multimillion-dollar Athletic Facility Expansion and Renovation plan titled “M-Powered.” M-Powered will strengthen the future of Millikin Athletics and enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain the finest student-athletes and coaches; provide outstanding strength and conditioning facilities to maximize performance; and will include spaces for coaching, teaching and learning.

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“It’s hard to believe that Pat has been our president for seven years — a time that has seen so much progress for Millikin, students, faculty and alumni! While so much of academia is facing severe challenges, Pat has led the University to a position of strength in terms of enrollment, endowment, the sheer beauty of the campus and especially the Millikin brand. Diane and I are extremely proud of his accomplishments and oversight of our University and wish him and Chris a well-deserved retirement!! We will miss you.”

Doug Oberhelman ’75

“President White and his Millikin cap have done a wonderful job for Millikin and its students. I wish him and Chris a happy, relaxing retirement.”

“Clearly, Millikin has been blessed by the strong leadership of Pat White for the past seven years. Pat, along with Chris, has been an inspiration to those on campus, those in the community and most definitely to the Board of Trustees. They’ve made us proud to have been an active member of the Millikin community! The University and the City of Decatur are stronger because of the time that Pat and Chris spent with us. We look forward to continued progress of the initiatives begun under Pat’s leadership, and we wish them everything good in their retirement! Thanks for the memories!”

Debi Breeding Johnston ’89

TR ANSITIONS

“As a team, Pat and Chris brought great credit to the University through their seven years of service to the Board, faculty, students, alumni and the community. We wish them a happy retirement with family and friends as they head home to South Bend.”

CENTER FOR THEATRE & DANCE Coming Fall 2020

Don McIntyre ’52 and Nancy Todd McIntyre ’53 “President White, thank you for your leadership. I appreciated your courage and compassion when you had to make tough choices, your joie de vivre in good times and your willingness to show the way. Thanks for all you contributed to the Big Blue! Enjoy the best that retirement has to offer.”

Jennifer Friday ’77 “President White has been a passionate Millikin advocate. He has worked tirelessly to draw attention to the outstanding work that is being done by Millikin’s students, faculty and staff. It has been a pleasure to get to know Pat and Chris, and I wish them well in their next chapter. Thank you for your service, Dr. White!”

Jeff Monken ’89

S U PPO R T

Elta Turner Cooke ’52

Stay up-to-date on the latest Center for Theatre & Dance construction news and learn how you can support this ongoing effort at

millikin.edu/CfTaD NAMING OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

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WRITTEN BY: DANIELLE FIELDS ’09/MBA/’12

ALU MNI PRO FILE

ALUMNI P R OFILE

FROM COCKTAILS TO CHEMO

Amanda Evans Clark Class of 2006

“What am I going to do now?” It sounds like a simple question, composed of seven short words, but it carries within itself an entire lifetime.

When Amanda Evans Clark ’06 lost her husband, Earl “Joe” Clark ’06, she found herself pondering just that. Having been caught up in what she described as the “whirlwind” of her husband’s three-year battle with cancer, Amanda was left to navigate life without her partner and the father of their daughter, Mira Joey. Inspired by the countless selfless individuals who provide care to patients battling cancer, she channeled her grief and focused her energy into creating a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting caregivers. Though the Clarks met during their time as communication students at Millikin University, their love story really began after they reconnected in 2009, when Amanda was living in Champaign, Ill., and working as a television reporter for WCIA-3. Joe was opening a Jimmy John’s in town and reached out to Amanda to see if he could stay with her, since work obligations would keep him in the area for a while. Their renewed friendship soon developed into something more. “We fell in love pretty quickly,” Amanda said. An engagement soon followed.

In September 2011, two months before their November wedding, Joe was diagnosed with colon cancer. The couple was thrust into a battery of tests, treatments and surgeries and canceled their honeymoon so Joe could go to chemotherapy. Amanda and Joe started a blog to chronicle their fight against cancer. “We called it Cocktails & Chemo, because we went from having cocktail dates to chemotherapy dates,” said Amanda. The blog provided the couple with a safe space to talk openly and honestly about their experiences and started gaining followers. Readership grew in an unfathomable way. Joe wrote entries from the perspective of patient and Amanda from that of caregiver. They blogged about treatments. They blogged about pain. They blogged about Joe’s remission. They blogged about learning they were expecting Mira. And they blogged when, just one week later, they learned Joe’s cancer had returned. In 2014, shortly before Mira’s first birthday, Joe passed away. He was just 31 years old. Following the loss of her husband, Amanda struggled with deciding what direction to take the blog that she and Joe had worked together to build. Drawing upon her own experience as a caregiver, Amanda decided to turn Cocktails & Chemo into a nonprofit foundation that supports her fellow caregivers. The Cocktails & Chemo Foundation, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, helps upwards of 1,000 caregivers each year in a variety of ways. A dedicated team of volunteers — under the leadership of Amanda, the foundation’s board of directors and its vice president — supports these selfless individuals by writing letters,

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

sending gift cards and care packages, making phone calls and fundraising. The foundation also offers grants to families struggling to pay for childcare while providing medical care for loved ones undergoing treatment, hosts pampering events to allow caregivers to recharge and provides access to online support groups. “Our goal is to send something to every

single person who reaches out. We never want to send someone away,” Amanda said, “It’s not so much about what we send. It’s that we are saying, ‘We see you.’ Caregivers are often completely forgotten in the diagnosis, and very rarely does someone say, ‘I see you. How can I support you?’ We are trying to change that narrative.” Inspired by Amanda’s selfless contributions, and “because she shows courage and endurance each day,” Carrie Seymour Mail ’07 nominated her for a Nation of

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Neighbors Grant, a Royal Neighbors of Philanthropy program that honors women leaders who are impacting the lives of women and girls. Amanda was selected as the recipient of a $10,000 grant, which enabled the Cocktails & Chemo Foundation — which awards around $2,000 in grants each month — to get much-needed funding out to caregivers around the holidays.

“If you know someone who is struggling, you need to show up for them. Asking, ‘What can I do for you?’ is an empty promise. People need food. Money. Time. And just someone to listen and acknowledge that this is really hard.”

As a caregiver herself, Amanda knows how important it is for caregivers to take care of themselves. “Remember that you can’t give from an empty cup,” she said. “There will be nothing to give the people you’re caring for. Find time to recharge. Prioritize yourself. Take a break.” Amanda encourages others to find ways to reach out to caregivers, who are often far too consumed with taking care of others to ask for help of their own.

WRITTEN BY: JEREMY COULTER

’00

ALU MNI PRO FILE

FROM BMX TO ANTI-BULLYING

How X Games medalist Matt Wilhelm ’01 inspires students to “Be Someone’s Batman”

Wilhelm works to keep his bookings close to home, so he doesn’t have to be away from his family for extended periods. And the stories he shares with students include his own experiences with bullying. “Back in junior high I was going to quit riding BMX altogether after a pretty intense bullying situation. However another student, who also happened to ride BMX, included me in his group of friends, and then bullies stopped picking on me. I went on to become a national champion thanks in part to this one small act of kindness. He was my Batman.” This “positive approach to bullying prevention” is one of Wilhelm’s main messages to kids. Another is encouraging them to embrace what makes them different. “I was made fun of for riding BMX and being different, but when I was on ‘AGT’ [‘America’s Got Talent’] all the judges loved my glow-in-the-dark bike routine because it was different. They all specifically used the word ‘different.’ So I like to tell kids that you never know, the thing you get made fun of for today could be the very thing that makes you famous tomorrow.”

Matt Wilhelm ’01 “Bullying is a complex issue. Most kids think that in order to stop a bullying situation, you have to directly confront the bullies. However, that can backfire or make things worse. Sometimes, a smaller act can make a bigger impact. MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

“You can be a hero by sitting next to someone at lunch or including someone in your group of friends. The world, especially right now, needs more heroes.”

And, in student assemblies across the country, he has used these spectacular tricks “to get the kids’ attention,” in order to share his anti-bullying message.

Millikin alum and BMX sensation Matt Wilhelm ’01 has spent his professional life filling this need. On the bike, his electrifying riding style has wowed audiences for more than two decades — as a three-time X Games medalist, a two-time national BMX champion, a Guinness World Record holder and a semi-finalist on “America’s Got Talent.”

Wilhelm says that he didn’t set out to be a motivational speaker, but found his BMX shows “morphing” in this direction. “I knew that my story would resonate with kids and that I could reach them in a meaningful way. My goal was to speak at about 10 or 20 schools per year, but I completely underestimated the need for a program like this.”

Embracing your difference can also mean overcoming life’s obstacles. Wilhelm’s signature riding style resulted from just such an obstacle.

“I am a product of my environment. I grew up in Oak Lawn, a suburb of Chicago. The summers were great for riding, but during the winter I had to retreat to riding in small basements and garages. The style at the time was to do long rolling tricks that took up a lot of space. This was not a problem for the guys in California, as they could ride outside all year. But I had to adapt to riding in a small space, so I started focusing more on spinning tricks and my signature spinning style was born. It was a blessing in disguise, and I always try to remember that sometimes our biggest achievements can be the result of our biggest challenges.” When asked about his greatest accomplishments, Wilhelm talks about how proud he is to be a father to his two children, Violet and Zack, as well as the longevity of his career — he won his first pro contest while still at Millikin and, 16 years later, won the bronze medal at the World Championships at age 37. And his work at school assemblies shows no sign of letting up either — he currently visits an average of 300 schools per year. “There are so many broken families and social pressures that I didn’t have to deal with when I was growing up. [Kids] are looking for validation and approval but don’t always get it. We have to build up our kids to make them resilient so they can handle anything that comes their way.”

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The Millikin Difference Matt Wilhelm and his wife, Kathleen Tyrrell Wilhelm ’03, are perfect examples of how Millikin’s hallmark approach to education, Performance Learning, prepares students for their future. Performance Learning moves students from classroom theory to real-world application — no matter what field they enter. “Kathy studied graphic design and ended up running her own graphic design business. I think going to a small school like Millikin fosters a sense of independence and entrepreneurship. We both ended up working for ourselves and creating our own path.” For Matt Wilhelm, working closely with one of Millikin’s music faculty taught him how learning can translate across disciplines: “Even though I graduated with a marketing degree, I attended Millikin on a music scholarship for saxophone. My saxophone teacher, Perry Rask, really showed me the importance of deliberate practice. “Before studying with him, both my saxophone and bike practice consisted of pretty much mindless repetition. I didn’t understand the importance of focused practice with a goal in mind. Perry showed me how to really dissect a piece of music and how to get every single detail and nuance. “You might not think that BMX and music have a lot in common, but he really taught me how to learn. When you know how to learn, then you can take that approach and apply it to anything, which applied to BMX, and then later motivational speaking.”

BIG B LU E VIE W

Men’s Volleyball

MILLIKIN WINS FIRST-EVER CCIW WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

In November of 2018, Millikin University’s Athletics Department formally announced the addition of men’s volleyball to its lineup of NCAA Division III sports. A month later, the program introduced Dylan Lasher as head coach for the new program. Beginning competition in January of 2020, the program played its first match in school history on Jan. 24, against Thomas More University.

Millikin Head Coach Ryan Birt named the CCIW Coach of the Year

On Feb. 4, the program earned its first win at home, defeating Rockford University in three sets. Making history by being Millikin’s very first head men’s volleyball coach, Lasher is excited to lead a team that has the same love for the sport that has been such a big part of his life. "We have the right attitude and the guys with the right character," Lasher said. “As we grow, I am excited to call these guys the founding fathers of the program.”

Millikin Wrestling Conference Champions

Millikin Women’s Basketball Reaches CCIW Tournament

The Millikin University wrestling team won the 2020 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Wrestling Championships team title on Feb. 13 at the Griswold Center on Millikin’s campus. It was the first-ever team title in Big Blue wrestling history.

The Millikin women’s basketball program recorded one of its most successful seasons in recent memory in 2019-20, finishing the season 16-10. The Big Blue finished with a 9-7 record in CCIW play, earning fourth place in the conference and a berth in the CCIW Tournament.

Millikin edged North Central College 135-134, with the championship not being decided until the third-place match at 285 pounds, won by Millikin’s Frank Tomaskovic, a senior from Oak Lawn, Ill. Millikin Head Coach Ryan Birt was named the CCIW Coach of the Year.

Junior Jordan Hildebrand of Mendon, Ill., and first-year Abby Ratsch of Springfield, Ill., were named to the 2020 CCIW AllConference Women’s Basketball Team, announced on Feb. 25. Hildebrand was a unanimous All-Conference First Team selection, while Ratsch was chosen for the All-Conference Second Team and named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year.

Millikin won four individual titles, starting with senior Tristan Birt of Gibson City, Ill., at 157 pounds and junior Bradan Birt of Epworth, Iowa, at 165 pounds. It was the second title for Tristan Birt, who won at 149 pounds in 2019, and it was the third straight title for Bradan Birt, who was also named the CCIW’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. Millikin junior Taylor McGiffen of Alton, Ill., at 174 pounds and Logan Hagerbaumer of Quincy, Ill., at 197 also claimed CCIW individual titles.

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

Hildebrand averaged 13.5 points per game with 6.3 rebounds. Hildebrand led the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 55.4 percent on the season. Hildebrand was seventh in scoring overall and averaged 12.4 points in CCIW games. Millikin junior Taylor McGiffen of Alton, Ill., at 174 pounds

Among the players on the team are Jay Geanopoulos, a senior accounting major from Frankfort, Ill. So far, Geanopoulos has been making the most of his only year as part of the first men’s volleyball team, and he’s confident that the program is building a winning culture for the future. “I can’t wait to look back and see the progress the team has made and know that I was able to contribute to getting the program started,” Geanopoulos said. First-year player Robbie Maida from Lockport, Ill., knew he wanted to continue his playing career in college. The high energy, aggressive and fast-paced nature of the game is what Maida thinks is drawing the interest of others. “It’s never happened to me where people have gone out of their way to ask about something that I am a part of. It’s really cool that everyone is talking about it and getting the excitement up for the team,” Maida said.

Ratsch averaged 10 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She was third in the conference in rebounds and recorded four double-doubles on the season.

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WRITTEN BY: DANE LISSER

FACU LT Y S POT LIG H T

FACULTY SP OTLIGHT

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE COSTUME DESIGNERS OF MILLIKIN School of Theatre & Dance: Jana Funderburk

The role of a costume designer is significant when it comes to adding to the contexts of characters on stage. It is the designer’s responsibility to make sure the costume works for the actor as well as making it work for the theatre production.

Students in Millikin University’s School of Theatre and Dance who are studying design and production engage in all the critical aspects of the professional theatre industry the minute they step onto campus. Professor Jana Henry Funderburk is among the many faculty members at the forefront of this Performance Learning curriculum where the work Millikin is doing is on the front edge of the wave of technology in costume design. This past February, the work of Funderburk’s students played an extra special role in the Millikin production of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s classic operetta “The Pirates of Penzance.” The popular production was given a twist as the “pirates” were members of a 50s biker gang and rebels without a cause.

“Costume design has really been the last area in design and production to embrace technology, and that’s starting to change,” said Funderburk. “We are at the front end of these things. People are teaching it in classes, but we are implementing it into the design, and that’s the Performance Learning aspect that is so Millikin.” Student Katelynn Watkins of Pekin, Ill., served as a costume designer for the show, and it was her job to create the overall vision of what the characters would look like. Watkins designed the logo patch for the pirates which she digitally rendered on her iPad. The idea for the patch was part of her vision. “It took me about an hour to sketch the logo, and then I made a final version that

was printed – it turned out to be a big part of the show,” said Watkins. “I’ve grown so much as a designer since I started at Millikin – it’s been such a great process. I’ve always been interested in digital drawing, and I’ve been able to take my work to the next level.” Funderburk added, “You need to empower the students to use these things and learn them now, and whatever the next project is after they graduate, they won’t be afraid to try it.” Funderburk spent her sabbatical in 2019 learning more about costume design technologies such as digital cutting and 3-D printing, which helped lead to the creation of the logo patch and other original artwork for the characters in “The Pirates of Penzance.”

Student Zac Cary of Saint Charles, Mo., who also served as a designer for the production, is interested in working in theme park design after he graduates from Millikin. Funderburk describes Cary as someone who matches the “engineering with the art.” “There is such a need for people of his caliber,” said Funderburk. “We have alums who are working in design production on Broadway, and they have really strong ties to Millikin and the work.”

Tasked with creating the costumes for the show, Funderburk and her students utilized different technologies — including 3-D printing — to create the wardrobe, including a logo patch for the pirates.

Cary says his mind has always been wired as an engineer, and with theatre being one of his passions, he was driven to the technical side of things. “At Millikin, I’ve been given plenty of opportunities to flex that engineering muscle - I’ve done pyrotechnics and automation. After Millikin, ideally the dream job would be

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

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to work as an engineer for Disney doing ride systems. Working with the faculty at Millikin has given me a new lens with how I can approach a project through engineering and creativity.” Funderburk believes the amount of technology used in costume design is going to continue to grow as productions build in creativity. “We are using a database to manage our information, and as the pressure continues to grow in the amount of money spent and what the labor and material costs are, it will become important to figure out how you are managing those resources.” Each year when the Millikin School of Theatre and Dance decides on a mainstage season, the School finds it important to select shows that are engaging for patrons and offer challenges for performers. The School also selects shows that offer unique

experiences for the design students in not just costuming but lighting, scenery, sound design and technical direction. On the horizon for the School is the opening of the Center for Theatre & Dance in fall 2020. The new building will feature lighting and sound labs, a costume studio, a costume classroom, collaboration spaces, and offices and support facilities for current staff with room for growth. “Moving into a new space will offer a whole new world of opportunities for the design students, and that’s very exciting,” said Funderburk. “I love when students are thinking so much about their work that they’re pushing the faculty to find ways to make it happen. Our students keep it fresh, and you have to meet them where their interests are.”

U NIVE RS IT Y U PDAT E

UNIVER SITY UP DATE

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated many difficult changes worldwide, including at Millikin University and in the lives of its community. The MU family has banded closely together to see one another through these unique and uncertain times, not allowing the pandemic to quench our Big Blue spirit or our commitment to the mission, vision and values of this great institution, even as it separates us physically.

Our great need for your support of the Millikin Fund is heightened during these hard times. Millikin needs the support of every one of our alumni and friends to help make possible a Millikin education for our students and to fuel the great Performance Learning that brings our campus alive. Every gift made from now through June 30 will sustain unexpected and urgent expenses related to the impacts of COVID-19 and help the University in assisting students during this critical time. Visit millikin.edu/trueblue to make a gift and to gain an understanding of the specific areas your unrestricted gift will benefit.

MAKE AN IMPACT AT millikin.edu/trueblue

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

The Millikin University community is one of great resilience and potential, and our faculty, staff, students and alumni have embraced the call to action like never before, as they rise to meet the challenges set before them with grace, dedication and passion. It is our honor and privilege to share their stories with you. May they inspire you the way they have inspired us.

Our Faculty

Millikin University faculty have an illustrious history of exceeding expectations as they deliver on the promise of education and seek to facilitate creative opportunities for Performance Learning for our students. Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty have soared to new heights as they seek to reach students where they are and continue to provide an education to our students that is secondto-none, even from a distance.

In the last few weeks alone, our indomitable spirit has been evident as we have shifted to online learning, found creative solutions to care for students remaining on campus, rallied together in support of neighbors and friends and reached out to one another in support and encouragement.

Among those who have played a vital role during the transition were Rachel Bicicchi, director of online learning, and Eric McKinney ’13, Staley Library education technology specialist. A significant number of faculty also served as volunteer coaches for their peers and offered their own experience and other resources to help colleagues deliver their courses in new ways using new media. While some classes were able to transfer to an online method relatively seamlessly, Dr. Jennifer Schroeder, associate professor of biology and director of academic effectiveness at Millikin, had to get a little more creative with her biology courses. Recently, Dr. Schroeder had planned a dissection that would take place over several class sessions, but she did the experiment herself and made a video for YouTube to share with her students. Our academic departments have also served as willing participants in the community’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chemistry and Biology Departments, as well as the School of Nursing, donated personal protective equipment and medical supplies to Decatur hospitals, including much-needed gowns, gloves and masks for the safety of health care professionals.

Our Students

Committed to being active participants in their educations, Millikin students are also finding new ways to connect and interact to create virtual classrooms and discussions in order to make the most of their distance-learning experience. Bekah Ford, a senior commercial music major from O’Fallon, Mo., described it as a “daunting” task to complete her final semester at Millikin through online learning methods, but applauded the lengths that faculty have gone to for their students. “My professors have worked tirelessly to ensure the students' success. I have Zoom calls for production, songwriter's workshop and voice lessons, which ensures I still receive an intimate and individualized education,” said Ford. Connor Mendenhall, a junior acting major from Platte City, Mo., agreed that distance-learning creates a unique set of challenges but believes that Millikin students are well-equipped to tackle those opportunities. “Acting over Zoom is something that I don’t think has ever been attempted before. I imagine most majors at Millikin, being a Performance Learning campus, are having an interesting time adapting to online learning. It’s a big adjustment, but if you take the challenge presented and do the best you can with it, you are going to be just fine,” Mendenhall said. Kei’von Evans, a senior health, fitness and recreation major from Rockford, Ill., said he misses the familiarity of the classroom setting, along with the interactions with faculty and other students, but encourages his fellow students to look for the opportunities that lie within. “Use this extra time to dive deeper into your education,” he said.

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Our Alumni

Millikin alumni are proud, passionate individuals who actively seek ways to continue to embody the University’s mission, vision and values throughout their lifetimes. It is no surprise, therefore, that these highly valued members of the Big Blue family are stepping up to make a difference during this difficult season. Athletic training graduates Alyssa Voegele ’18, Michael Guddendorf ’18 and Paige Willenborg ’16 are just three of the many athletic trainers going beyond the call of duty and helping on the frontline of the COVID-19 outbreak in Central Illinois. They are carrying out such essential tasks as conducting patient screening, performing fit tests for N95 masks for medical staff and transporting COVID-19 patients.

Millikin University wants to extend a special thank you to the staff members who have worked diligently to keep essential campus services running during this difficult time. Their spirit of engagement, compassion and service is a gift for which we are enormously grateful.

#muwithu

As distressing as the pandemic has been around the world, Voegele said her experience on the frontline has been unique. “I’m proud to be part of something, knowing that I’m helping any way I can. It’s nice to know that I’m making a difference,” she said.

• President’s Office

Countless other Big Blue alumni are serving their communities as they save lives, work with school children to complete their educations remotely, lead organizations through this unprecedented time, support mental health, make the arts accessible from a distance, facilitate effective and innovative business methods and so much more.

• Aramark Dining Services

We are so proud of our MU family, now more than ever. They are passionate, creative, courageous individuals who embody the Millikin spirit every day, as they continue to work tirelessly at creating lives of meaning and value, not only for themselves, but also for others.

• Finance and Business Affairs Division: Information Technology, Public Safety, Human Resources, Business Office and Mail Room • Campus Life On-Call Staff

• Aramark Facilities Services

FOR FURTHER UPDATES CHECK millikin.edu/COVID19

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOT E S

1945

Paul Sobel ’45

of Bend, Ore., and his wife, Edee, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on June 21, 2019.

1950

Betty Price Brown ’51 and Orville Brown ’52

of Elk Grove Village, Ill., have been married 68 years. They are in their nineties and remain active in their community.

Carol Koch McCarty ’52

of Newark, Calif., continues to use her music degree as she performs for memorials and church services.

1960

Charles “Chuck” Davelis ’60

of Sun City West, Ariz., was inducted into the Sun Cities Softball Hall of Fame on March 1, 2020. He was inducted into Millikin University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

Thomas Richardson ’60

was recently honored for more than 50 years of service to Barnes Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, where he is a professor of psychiatry. Dr. Richardson lives in Clayton, Mo., with his wife, Melissa.

Allen Kaisor ’64

of Smithton, Ill., retired in 2015 as president of Buena Vista National Bank in Chester, Ill. He continues to serve on the board of directors and will celebrate 60 years in banking in June 2020. Upon becoming bank president at the age of 29, Allen was the youngest bank president in Illinois. He credits much of his success to the education he received at Millikin.

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

Pauline Shaw Bayne ’68

of Tellico Plains, Texas, writes that the second edition of her book, “A Guide to Library Research in Music,” was published by Rowman & Littlefield in February 2020.

1970

Thomas Edwards Breed ’70

of Iowa City, Iowa, retired in 2014 and now serves part-time as interim pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Olin, Iowa, and Zion Lutheran Church in Wyoming, Iowa. He also writes, “We are proud grandparents of two grandsons.”

Georgianne Parrish Oman ’73

of Bennington, Neb., has retired following 45 years in the insurance business.

Daniel O’Connell ’76

of Chicago recently earned a master’s degree in biomedical informatics from the University of Chicago. He now holds advanced degrees in law, epidemiology and informatics, along with board certification in public health.

Gary Cook ’77

of Decatur was inducted into the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, receiving the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award. Over the course of 35 years, he coached the Argenta-Oreana High School wrestling team to over 550 wins and mentored more than 75 individual state qualifiers. He has been a volunteer wrestling coach at Monticello High School for four years.

David Dragoo Jr. ’78

was voted Medical Provider of the Year by the medical staff at Harry S. Truman Memorial VA in Columbia, Mo., where Dragoo is chief of the podiatry section. The award recognizes his outstanding efforts in providing medical care to veterans. Dr. Dragoo lives in Mexico, Mo., with his wife of 32 years, Carolyn.

Steve Rainbolt ’78

of Glen Burnie, Md., earned a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Maryland. He has enjoyed a long career as a professional singer and has been on the voice faculty at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore for 20 years.

1980

Melissa “Missy” Grohne ’80

of Woodside, N.Y., has helped launch a CBD company and is one of twenty co-authors featured in “Cracking the Rich Code,” a book for entrepreneurs created by motivational speaker Jim Britt and Kevin Harrington of TV’s “Shark Tank.”

Judith Woodall Youngblood ’82

of Louisville, Ky., is founder and chief executive officer of WIST Data Solutions, a company that provides database consulting for nonprofit organizations. She also continues to perform with the Kentucky Opera.

Laurie Reese Uribe ’86

of Milton, Ga., is executive vice president of customer services for Cornerstone Information Systems. She is responsible for all client-facing teams and is excited to be the first female executive in the history of the company.

Karen DeWerff Crapse ’88

has relocated to Mount Pleasant, S.C., where she continues to serve Cummins as quality director. Now an emeritus trustee, she served on Millikin University’s Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2014.

Ann-Marie Cook Hillyer ’88

of Decatur is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s School of Education.

1990

Christopher Beeson ’91

of Denver is a communications professional with the University of Colorado-Denver College of Arts and Media. Christopher is the program manager of the film and television department, works with the web analytics and marketing team for the dean’s office and teaches digital effects. His documentary feature film, “Just Us Three,” debuted at the Reel Recovery Film Festival in the university’s community theater.

Shane Pickerill ’92

of Woodstock, Ill., has created a new product, the Shar-Key self-defense keychain. It is being manufactured by Cutting Edge Products under the Streetwise Security Products brand. For more information, visit thehomesecuritysuperstore.com.

Jennifer “Jen” Ciaccio ’93

of Levittown, Pa., formerly of Momence, Ill., completed her doctorate in kinesiology, with an emphasis in psychology of movement, through Temple University in Philadelphia. Dr. Ciaccio is senior associate director of residence life at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa.

Heather Corwin ’93

of Oak Park, Ill., is a licensed professional counselor with Blackbird Behavioral Health. With training in emotional expression and challenges of living, her diverse background and education integrate a number of therapeutic approaches that are client-centered. For more information, visit bodybyheather.com and corwincounseling.com.

Lisa Sadler ’93

of Mount Zion, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin’s School of Music.

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Julie Lynch ’95

of Hillsboro, Ill., is a project administrator with Hanson Professional Services in Springfield, Ill.

Melissa Pursley ’95

of Zionsville, Ind., is chief operating officer and general manager of IGT Indiana, the operator for the Hoosier Lottery.

Stacy Welsh Cavanaugh ’96

of Monroe, Wis., is a pastor at Union Presbyterian Church. She is an avid volunteer and was selected for the 20192020 class of Green County Leaders. She also plays with the Union Presbyterian Church African Drumming Ensemble.

Timothy Kovalcik ’96

of Decatur was promoted to the rank of professor at Millikin University. Dr. Kovalcik teaches in the History and Political Science Department.

Andrea Pelloquin ’96

of Kent, Wash., is regional sales manager with J.W. Pepper, the world’s largest retailer of sheet music. Andrea manages the Washington branch and is responsible for a sales territory that includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

Julia “Juli” Bird Smith ’96

of Sioux City, Iowa, retired from the Air Force with the rank of master sergeant following 22 years of service. She will be starting a new job with an escrow/title company and also plans to pursue her passion of photography and start her own part-time business in the field.

Kimberly Twa DiCamilla ’97 of Carmel, Ind., is senior assistant to the president at Butler University in Indianapolis. She also sings in the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.

Andrea Frakes Pope ’97

of Champaign, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin’s School of Music.

2000

Renée Estes Welch ’01

of Fort Collins, Colo., received the Fulbright International Education Administrators Seminar Award in June 2019, which allowed her to travel to Germany last fall to familiarize herself with the country’s higher education system, society and culture. She is one of 15 higher education administrators who participated in the experience.

John Burlace ’02

of Naperville, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin’s School of Music.

Kristofer Rasmussen ’03

is a Medicaid compliance analyst with Rice Child and Family Center in Evanston, Ill. He is married to Dorina Aguilar Rasmussen, also ’03, the assistant dean of student affairs at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in Evanston. They live in Evanston with their children: Nora, 9, and Cruz, 5.

Eric Burton ’05

of Champaign, Ill., was promoted to maintenance manager at Akorn Pharmaceuticals in Decatur, leading a team of approximately 20 employees.

Chad Howard ’05 and Brynn Traughber Howard ’10

of Champaign, Ill., welcomed a daughter, Tessa Emeline, on May 11, 2018.

Kellie Petersen Lane ’06

of Phoenix is a financial analyst with Grand Canyon Education.

Joseph Hotwick ’07

of Monticello, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin’s School of Music.

CLASS NOT E S

Lisa Koehler Mohager ’07

of Alpharetta, Ga., was crowned Mrs. Universe North America Ltd., produced by Transcontinental Pageants, on Aug. 3, 2019. Lisa serves as a spokeswoman for “The Pledge Campaign,” an international charitable cause that raises awareness and support for pre-existing organizations that serve women, children and animals that have survived abuse and facilitates leadership programs that equip and empower. “The Pledge for Men” invites and encourages men to stand up and speak out for victims and survivors of abuse. Lisa has also started an online marketing company and currently leads a team of over 9,000 individuals across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Victoria Stanislovaitis Mellen ’08

of Verona, Wis., is a drug information pharmacist with Navitus Health Solutions in Madison, Wis. She is also a clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. Victoria and her husband, Jason, welcomed a son, Nicholas, on Sept. 9, 2019.

Andrew Craig Brown ’09

a native of Decatur, was recognized in the Best Opera Recording category at the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles for his contribution as a bass-baritone in Tobias Picker’s opera, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”

Samantha “Sam” Sinkhorn ’09 of Denver married Ben Hudgens on Oct. 4, 2019. Sam is director of marketing and communications for WorkLife Partnership, a nonprofit supporting low-income workers in Denver. Ben is an attorney in the Denver office of Lewis Brisbois.

Amber Sturgeon ’09

of Peoria, Ill., is an inpatient case manager with OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

2010

Hannah Richardson Ganschow ’10

CLASS NOTES

Samantha Wassenhove Auby ’13

of Riverton, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s Biology Department.

of Peoria, Ill., graduated from St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and is now a registered nurse.

Kathy Vaca ’13

Lisa Lundstrom ’10

of Decatur has joined Main Place Real Estate as office manager and real estate broker. The business recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

of Minneapolis participated in Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in Belize, studying coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars and other wildlife while learning the methods communities are using to sustain them. A policy administrator at Greater Illinois Title Company, Lisa is also a graduate student in Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program.

Justin Bledsaw ’11

of Warrensburg, Ill., is studying for his master’s degree in education at Eastern Illinois University, focusing on curriculum and instruction.

Mary Brandenstein ’11

of Portland, Ore., is choir director at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Ore. She writes that she is “working to build a choral program with the guiding philosophy that we can transcend social barriers through the discipline of music making.”

Lauren Rehmel Russel ’12

of Indianapolis was elected to the city council of Lawrence, Ind., District 6.

John Snyder ’12

of Clinton, Ill., is an IT risk analyst with ADM in Decatur. He and his wife, Sarah, welcomed a daughter, Lillian Audrey.

Phyllis “Grace” Walworth Wilken ’12

of Decatur is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s School of Nursing.

Taylor Van Natta ’13

Jamiahus Walton ’13 and Dana Bjorge Walton ’14

welcomed a daughter, Ida Bell, on Feb. 28, 2019. Jamiahus is an assistant professor of industrial engineering in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson University. The Waltons live in Clemson, S.C.

Chelsea Finn ’15

of Assumption, Ill., married Colton Callan ’15 on Aug. 31, 2019. Colton is a production planner with Green Valley Manufacturing. Chelsea and Colton met as first-year students at Millikin.

Christopher Raymond ’15

of Decatur is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s School of Music.

Alexandria Capeles ’16

of Chicago is a wheeled vehicle mechanic for the United States Army, where she also serves as a trainer helping fellow soldiers pass their physical fitness tests. Specialist Capeles is also working toward her master’s degree in sports medicine.

Savannah Riestenberg ’17

of Plainfield, Ill., is a music teacher at Troy Shorewood Elementary School in Shorewood, Ill. In this position, Savannah teaches general music for kindergarten through fourth grade and leads the fourth grade choir.

William “Bill” Fields ’19

of Decatur is an MBA candidate at Millikin University.

Azhalaun Haley ’19

of Ballwin, Mo., is an executive assistant with Ferguson Consulting Inc., in Chesterfield, Mo.

of Rockford, Ill., is a unit specialist with Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus, a substance abuse treatment center for teens and young adults. In this position, Azhalaun works in direct care with adolescents who have substance abuse disorders or mental illnesses.

David Freeman ’18

Alex Krahulec ’19

Emily Sanders ’17

of Springfield, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s Tabor School of Business.

Lauren Rhodes ’18

of Chicago is a live-in family teacher for Mooseheart Child City and School in Mooseheart, Ill. Lauren ensures that children are living in a safe and caring home environment and is responsible for teaching social and independent living skills, as well as providing educational assistance, selfesteem building and spiritual and moral guidance.

Kaream Williams ’18

of Decatur is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s School of Music.

Evan Betz ’19

of Edinburg, Ill., is an MBA candidate/ graduate assistant in the Tabor School of Business at Millikin University.

of Manhattan, Ill., is an MBA candidate/ graduate assistant in the School of Music at Millikin University.

Sara Schilling Lawson ’19

of Decatur is marketing director for Garrett Discovery, a computer forensic science firm.

Mehrangez Rahmatova ’19

of Konibodon, Tajikistan, is an MBA candidate/graduate assistant in Millikin University’s Tabor School of Business.

Haley Rotert ’19

of Old Monroe, Mo., is a residential communities coordinator with Millikin University’s Office of Campus Life.

Sophia Schwalbach ’19

of Sullivan, Ill., is an MBA candidate/ graduate assistant in the Marketing and Media Relations Department at Millikin University.

Christopher Williams ’19

of Mount Zion, Ill., is an assistant wrestling coach at Millikin University.

Anna Masengarb ’19

of Muscatine, Iowa, is the community relations coordinator for UnityPoint Health – Trinity Muscatine and an ambassador with the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She was also cast as Elle Woods in Muscatine Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde.”

Taylor Patterson ’19

of Decatur was a teacher at an autism social skills summer camp at Macon Resources Inc. She has been accepted into a graduate program at Purdue University.

Jordan Comish ’19

of Highland, Ill., is an MBA candidate/ graduate assistant in Kirkland Fine Arts Center at Millikin University.

Sara Theis MBA ’16

CLASS NOTES SUBMITTED AUG. 1, 2019 - JAN. 31, 2020

of Decatur was awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of associate professor at Millikin University.

of Urbana, Ill., is an adjunct instructor in Millikin University’s Biology Department.

Share your news online at millikin.edu/alumni. SPRI NG 2020

ME MO RIALS

MEMOR IALS

T RUST EE MEMORIALS

ALUMNI MEMORIALS

Margaret “Peggy” Goodheart Madden

of Decatur, Dec. 21, 2019. She was a current member of Millikin’s Board of Trustees at the time of her passing. She and her family were among the University’s most passionate supporters. Her establishment of the Goodheart Event allowed countless Millikin students to have access to outstanding entertainment at no charge. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to support Millikin’s Center for Theatre & Dance. Memorials may be directed to Millikin University, Alumni & Development Office, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522.

Frank “Bud” Pilling, Emeritus

of Bonita Springs, Fla., Dec. 14, 2019. He served on Millikin’s Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1997. The Pilling name will forever be remembered at Millikin for the family’s many gifts and certainly for the Pilling Chapel, which has served as the center of religious life on campus and a home for the Newman Community since 1997. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to support Millikin’s Center for Theatre & Dance. Memorials may be directed to Millikin University, Alumni & Development Office, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522.

E M E R I T U S FAC U LT Y & FRI ENDS MEMORIALS Mildred “Millie” Boaz

of San Diego, Aug. 5, 2019. She was director of Millikin University’s Honors Program and professor and chair of the English Department. She taught at Millikin from 1981 until her retirement in 1999.

Joan Hollis

of Madison, Ind., Nov. 24, 2019. The Joan and Clinton Hollis Rehearsal Classroom in Millikin’s School of Music was named in the Hollis’ honor, and the Joan Hollis Cranberry Glass Collection is permanently housed at the University.

Mary Bean Wilson Mills ’41 of Baton Rouge, La., Oct. 16, 2019.

MIL LIKIN MAGA ZIN E

Mildred “Millie” Durchholz Smith ’41 of Lovington, Ill., Oct. 4, 2019. Harold Lee ’43 of Lake Oswego, Ore., Dec. 2, 2019. Gloria Glover Pierse ’45 of Wilmington, Del., Dec. 14, 2019. Doris Parish Daws ’46 of Decatur, Oct. 30, 2019.

Gloria Tolladay Hall ’49 of O’Fallon, Ill., formerly of St. Louis, Dec. 5, 2019.

Richard “Dick” Phillips

of Decatur, husband of trustee Margaret “Peggy” Madden, Oct. 1, 2019.

Martha Reid Reinhardt ’49 of McKinney, Texas, formerly of Alton, Ill., Jan. 28, 2020. Eleanor “Janet” Westenhaver ’49 of Columbia, Mo., Nov. 23, 2019.

Elinor Goodrich Eifert ’50 of Houston, Dec. 24, 2019. Cary Knoop ’50 of Charleston, Ill., May 12, 2019. Max Pensinger ’50 of Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 18, 2019. Leland Iman ’51 of Zelienople, Pa., Nov. 4, 2019.

Robert “Bob” Birchfield ’55 of Chicago, Dec. 29, 2019.

James “Jim” Reinhold ’62 of Wildwood, Mo., Sept. 19, 2019.

Barbara “Barb” Porter ’69 of Portland, Ore., Aug. 4, 2019.

Frederick Reed ’51 of Shelbyville, Ill., Dec. 4, 2019.

Betty Southern Buese ’55 of Frankenmuth, Mich., July 29, 2019.

Michael Mains ’63 of Danville, Ill., Dec. 13, 2019.

Linda Strasma ’69 of Peoria, Ill., Nov. 13, 2019.

Thomas Comstock ’52 of Lincoln, Ill., Sept. 29, 2019.

Patricia “Gail” Dorsey Driggs ’55 of Phoenix, Aug. 24, 2019.

Julia Vernon ’63 of Springfield, Ill., Aug 1, 2019.

Charlotte EshelmanMoore ’52 of Bellevue, Wash., Nov. 14, 2019.

Bernard Evans ’55 of Winchester, Ill., Nov. 15, 2019.

Frances “Carole” Fuller Nicholson ’64 of Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 7, 2019.

Norma Hall Hartman ’52 of Monticello, Ill., Oct. 31, 2019.

Maria “Celina” Sanchez De Lilla ’56 of Rio Rancho, N.M., Jan. 1, 2020.

Martha Jordan Easter ’65 of Venice, Fla., June 17, 2019.

James “Jim” Lally ’53 of Clarence, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2020. Eileen Tertocha Langley ’53 of Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 16, 2019. Walter Rowland ’53 of Roseville, Calif., Oct. 5, 2019. George Prust ’54 of Hilton Head Island, S.C., Oct. 22, 2019. He was the recipient of Millikin’s Alumni Loyalty Award in 2001. The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Alumni and Development Office, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522.

ALUMNI MEMORIALS Naomi Edwards Buck Davis ’41 of Forsyth, Ill., Jan. 24, 2020. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Alumni & Development Office, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522.

Sarah Tucker Patterson ’51 of Aiken, S.C., Oct. 30, 2019.

James “Jim” Lester ’51 of Metropolis, Ill., Oct. 9, 2019. He was inducted into Millikin’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Donald “Don” Michel ’51 of Dallas, Jan. 25, 2020. Mariel Colean Minton ’51 of Fort Pierce, Fla., Oct. 2, 2019. Frederick Moore ’51 of Peoria, Ill., Aug. 9, 2019.

Albert Uzzell ’54 of East Moline, Ill., Sept. 26, 2019. Vernon “Wayne” Adams ’55 of Raleigh, N.C., Aug. 17, 2019. Rosann Swem Albrecht ’55 of Monee, Ill., Jan. 14, 2020. Charles Armstrong ’55 of Valencia, Calif., Nov. 11, 2019.

SPRI NG 2020

M. Sue Coslet York ’56 of Murphysboro, Ill., Dec. 3, 2019. Lawrence “Larry” Hamilton ’57 of Decatur, Nov. 20, 2019. Doris Steinberg Helm Culumber ’58 of Biloxi, Miss., Oct. 24, 2019. Donna Bashore Foval ’58 of Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 3, 2020. Edwin “Ed” McKay ’58 of Oreana, Ill., Aug. 7, 2019. Robert Nuding ’58 of Wenona, Ill., Sept. 21, 2019. David Seligman ’58 of Fort Wayne, Ind., Oct. 8, 2019. Dallas Seitz ’60 of Moweaqua, Ill., Dec. 3, 2019. Leo Quintenz ’61 of Decatur, Sept. 29, 2019. Ulrich Klabunde ’62 of West Chester, Pa., Oct. 8, 2018.

Lois Pynn Worley ’69 of Decatur, Oct. 10, 2019. Frank Edwards ’70 of Decatur, Nov. 30, 2019. Pamela Jordan Hemingway ’70 of Mount Auburn, Ill., Feb. 5, 2018. Ted Thimens ’70 of Decatur, Aug. 18, 2019.

Sharon Snider Stupp ’65 of Williamsburg, Va., Dec. 16, 2019.

Linda Fisher Shearin ’71 of Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 10, 2019.

Marianne Reincke Chapman ’66 of Taylorville, Ill., Sept. 7, 2019.

John “JT” Hanks ’72 of Decatur, Nov. 9, 2019.

James “Jim” Pownall ’66 of Decatur, Aug. 26, 2019. The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Pownall Family Cancer Education and Awareness Fund, Alumni and Development Office, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522.

Linda Atchison Orr ’72 of Decatur, Jan. 5, 2020. Terry Shadwell ’72 of Shelbyville, Ill., Nov. 30, 2019. Harry Lewis Jr. ’73 of Clinton, Ill., formerly of Glendale Heights, Ill., Dec. 10, 2019. Emmy Adrian Moore ’75 of Decatur, Jan. 11, 2020.

William Tyler Jr. ’77 of Venice, Ill., July 1, 2019. Mark Klein ’79 of Streator, Ill., July 7, 2019. Gautam Dutta ’80 of Cornelius, N.C., Feb. 2, 2019. Donald Vaughn ’82 of Cowden, Ill., Nov. 13, 2019. Kevin Kapper ’83 of Decatur, Aug. 28, 2019. Norma Cohenour Young ’83 of Columbia, Mo., Dec. 14, 2019. Beverly Edwards ’88 of Decatur, Jan. 1, 2020. Thomas “Tom” Lewis ’88 of Springfield, Ill., Aug. 11, 2019. Mark Kerhlikar ’90 of Modesto, Ill., Nov. 16, 2019. Katherine “Kate” Gietl Holt ’06 of Henderson, Nev., Aug. 6, 2019. Danielle Eddings Braiding ’09 of Mattoon, Ill., Oct. 24, 2019.

Nancy Maxwell Wing ’66 of Peoria, Ill., Oct. 11, 2019. John Buzan ’67 of Decatur, Oct. 22, 2019. Janice Marsh Odle ’68 of Mahomet, Ill., Dec. 10, 2019. Judy Lederbrand Day ’69 of Mill Creek, Wash., formerly of Rochester, Ill., Sept. 27, 2019.

MEMORIALS SUBMITTED AUG. 1, 2019 - JAN. 31, 2020. Share your news online at millikin.edu/alumni. 39

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