MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – To commemorate World Environmental Day Saturday, June 5, three Western Illinois University professors will speak during a virtual event, from 10 a.m.-noon, themed “Ecosystem Restoration.” The lecture series, organized by WIU biology graduate student Oladele Dickson Owasoyo, of Nigeria, will take place over Zoom and can be joined at wiu.zoom.us/j/98840645382. The event is divided into three sections, including: • WIU English Professor William Knox will deliver “How Combating Climate Change Can Help Restore the Ecosystem.” • WIU Associate Professor... Read More

Augustana College in Rock Island plans a fall 2021 return to entirely in-person instruction for students and faculty. Augustana leaders have announced a return to the college’s normal, time-honored teaching and learning experience this fall. The announcement was made last week during one of the live virtual campus briefings hosted regularly throughout the pandemic. “Augustana College is very pleased to announce its intention to safely return to the in-person, deeply engaged learning environment that is core to its identity, and which our students and graduates value most,” college president... Read More

Western Illinois University will celebrate Black History Month throughout February, with a variety of activities, speakers and events planned. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the events vary from virtual to in person. The Black History Month schedule for the remainder of the month includes: • Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 5-6:30 p.m. – “We Got Us,” a leadership workshop: This event is presented by The Underrep’d, an organization for Black college students who attend Predominantly White Institutions. Success tips will be offered and the event is open free to the public. The event can be joined... Read More

Paul Rumler, president/CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber, is among concerned local leaders who want the state of Illinois to consider another public institution to replace Western Illinois University on the Moline riverfront. “The best intentions started with great promise, and then in the last few years, it’s fizzled,” he said Friday, noting negatives in WIU enrollment, marketing and change in leadership. There have been well-publicized discussions among Western’s Board of Trustees, dating back two years, and faculty senate, questioning the value of the Moline campus, he said. “You’ve... Read More

Just over six weeks into his new job as Western Illinois University president, Guiyou Huang wrote to Gov. JB Pritzker this past Tuesday, Feb. 16, about ongoing discussions regarding a potential transfer of the WIU Quad-Cities campus in Moline to another state institution. To date, Western has not been included in the discussion, he noted, copying Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri and Quad Cities Chamber president/CEO Paul Rumler. Acri responded that she’s had concerns about the impact of WIU in Moline and she’s scheduled to meet again with Huang on March 2. “In our conversation in my office this... Read More

After a fairly hellish 2020, Shelley Cooper is back in musical heaven as the first half of 2021 is shaping up to be very busy and fulfilling. The enthusiastic Augustana College assistant professor of theater arts recently filmed two special performances for Circa ’21; she’s directing a new college production of “Into the Woods” this month; choreographing the next Circa mainstage show in March, and directing the Circa musical after that; performing a one-woman original show at the Black Box Theatre in late March, and then going to Orlando, Fla., to do the same show by June. Plus, you know,... Read More

An opportunity for Western Illinois University Broadcasting and Journalism alumni to gather during COVID-19 has transformed into a podcast highlighting their careers after college, hosted by College of Fine Arts and Communication Associate Dean William “Buzz” Hoon. The first episode of “Alumni Chats” kicked off Jan. 19, and Hoon hopes the podcast will become a weekly production, with a new episode released each Thursday. “I think this podcast really connects to University engagement,” said Hoon. “In December, we had nine broadcasting and journalism alumni... Read More

Two recent Western Illinois University alumni have been featured as winners on a national, online concert series, which showcases exceptional singers. Logan Edris, a 2019 musical theatre graduate, of Milford, IL, and Sam Bonzi, a 2018 musical theatre graduate, of Rockford, IL, were chosen for highlight by Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky, who hosts a weekly online concert series for BroadwayWorld.com. The series features performances by a variety of Broadway stars, with many of the concerts featuring an online “sing-off” where Rudetsky asks listeners to submit videos of themselves... Read More

Western Illinois University Visual Production Center (VPC) Graphic Design Manager Natalie Divan has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for January. Divan started at WIU in January 2004 as an extra help employee, graphic designer I, in the Curriculum Publications Clearinghouse. She was hired full time in October 2004 as a graphic designer I. In January 2005, Divan was reclassified by audit to graphic designer II, which was changed to graphic designer associate in February 2009. She was reassigned from DPS, formerly CPC, to Facilities Management in July 2014 and... Read More

MACOMB, MOLINE, IL – Virtual commencement ceremonies, recognizing the academic and personal accomplishments of Western Illinois University students, can be viewed on WIU’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The number of students eligible for Fall 2020 Commencement is 797, which included 609 undergraduate students, of which 59 are in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program; 188 master’s degrees were conferred, which includes 10 doctoral degrees; eight earning their doctoral degrees in educational leadership (Ed.D.): Lacey Anderson, of Seatonville, IL; Brandi Anderson-Maier,... Read More