The Western Illinois University School of Global Education and Outreach has transitioned to become the Center for Global Studies. The Bachelor of General Studies degree program has moved from within the department under the umbrella of University Libraries. “We plan to bring some exotic and exciting culture, some charisma, and some energy to the campus by broadening our outreach to become truly global,” said Center Executive Director Randy Glean. The office provides services to international students, as well as hosts unique cultural activities and educational learning experiences.... Read More

Western Illinois University IT Technical Associate Jacob Buhs has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for December. Buhs started at WIU in October 2010 as a microcomputer support specialist II in Web Services. In November 2017, he accepted a position in Academic Personnel as a research and instruction consultant for uTech and in February 2019, he transitioned to his current Civil Service position. According to his nominator, Buhs “always goes above and beyond his assigned duties and is constantly busy.” “While he may be designated to work... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Justin Schuch, interim executive director of retention initiatives at Western Illinois University, has been named to the permanent position following an internal search. Schuch was named interim executive director of retention initiatives in January 2020. He began his career at Western in 2015 as the assistant director of residence life for leadership and development in University Housing and Dining Services. He was named the director of the Office of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Retention Initiatives in February 2019, and served as the director of Student Judicial... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Two Western Illinois University graduate students in College Student Personnel (CSP) are advancing through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), one of the professional organizations designed to help them excel in their future careers and in leadership. Ian Clark, of Macomb, and Austin Quarles, of Glen Allen, VA, are both students in the CSP student affairs track at WIU. Clark received his bachelor’s degree in communication from WIU and is one of the participants in NASPA’s Graduate Assistant Program (GAP), which is made up of graduate... Read More

A visual archive is essential to preserving a university’s history, and the photographers at the Western Illinois University Visual Production Center (VPC) make it a priority each day to capture the essence of life at WIU. From athletics to academics to student activities and more, Sarah Ritter, George Hartmann and Rachael Keating look through their lenses for the best way to represent WIU through photographs. Ritter, VPC manager, was recently recognized by University Photographers’ Association of America (UPAA) in the organization’s monthly image competition. In the October competition,... Read More

A chance for local school children to learn more about music of the Big Band-era will premiere in the coming weeks as part of Western Illinois University’s Youth Performing Arts Series (YPAS), despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A 25-minute video, featuring WIU’s Jazz Studio Orchestra (JSO) and singers from WIU’s jazz studies program, performing live songs from the 1930s and 40s, will be played in the music programs of local schools. The video is narrated by radio disc jockey Eddie Dupree, also known as WIU Professor of Music John Cooper, and was created... Read More

For the third time in three years, a team of Western Illinois University students have finished high in the CME Group Trading Challenge, a four-week, international electronic trading competition. This year’s team was made up of Cooper Bounds, a master of business administration (MBA) graduate student from Taneytown, MD; Amy Johnson, a senior agriculture major from Cambridge, IL; Matthew Swanson, a senior agriculture major from LaHarpe, IL; and Arthur Wasilowksi, a master of business administration (MBA) graduate student from Des Plaines, IL. The team finished in the top 8 percent of the competition,... Read More

Western Illinois University Theatre Professor Emeritus Jeannie Woods was recently presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. Woods retired from WIU in May 2018, after serving as an actor, stage director and theatre historian and chair of WIU’s Department of Theatre and Dance for more than a decade. “Of course, it is wonderful to be so honored, but I must say that the support and encouragement from my husband, Dan Woods, and my colleagues in theatre and education were essential ingredients in my success,” said Woods. “I... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – When Western Illinois University graduate student Tom Reagan began taking classes for his second semester in the University’s College Student Personnel (CSP) program, he wanted to develop a program to help student veterans make informed decisions about where to attend college. Reagan, a retired captain from the East Moline Police Department and a Marine veteran, is now the coordinator of veterans’ services at Black Hawk College in East Moline, IL. He began taking classes in WIU’s CSP program in Summer 2020. This semester, as a student in Assistant Professor... Read More

During a period of time when the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting virtually every activity nationwide, faculty and students in Western Illinois University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) are finding a variety of ways to reach the populations they are learning to serve. RPTA Instructor Julie Eggleston is working with students in her classes to create programming for the McDonough County Special Recreation Association (MCSRA) and residents at Macomb’s Bickford Cottage. The MCSRA, housed in the Macomb Park District, provides recreational experiences, including... Read More