MACOMB, IL – The Western Illinois University Black Alumni Committee will host its 28th annual reunion week, in a virtual format (Zoom), beginning Friday, July 31. The virtual event, featuring comedians, DJs, a reunion day party and a prayer service, will be held Friday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 2. Proceeds from tickets, which are $10 each for the entire weekend of events, sponsorships, and donations, will provide support for Black students at WIU. Tickets and sponsorships maybe purchased and donations may be made via Eventbrite at bit.ly/WIUBlackAlumniVirtualReunion. “We are asking all former... Read More

MACOMB, IL — The Western Illinois Bachelor of Social Work program is one of 12 programs nationwide selected to participate in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Policy Practice in Field Education Initiative. This initiative enables schools of social work to create integrative models that heighten the policy skill set of undergraduate- and graduate-level social work students, regardless of specialization. “These grants make it possible for future social workers to learn the importance of policies, legislation and regulation that advance social justice goals. We thank The New... Read More

MACOMB, IL – A Western Illinois University graduate student recently used her internship in the Department of Sociology’s graduate program to increase awareness of the Salvation Army office in Galesburg, IL. Jackie Smith, of Galesburg, recently completed her graduate degree in sociology. She had previously completed the necessary coursework, but had not finished her exit option, which could be an internship and professional paper, in place of a thesis. Smith had completed two bachelor’s degrees at WIU, in theatre and anthropology, which were completed in 2010 and 2011 respectively.... Read More

MACOMB, IL – For more than two decades, Western Illinois University’s annual spring performance of “The Vagina Monologues” has existed to serve two purposes: to stop violence against women and girls and to raise fund for the Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) Victim Services. Recently, WIU presented the WIRC-CAA Victim Services with a check for $1,270.50 from the Spring 2020 performance. “The Vagina Monologues” is part of V-Day, a global activist movement, stemming from playwright Eve Ensler’s award winning play and other artistic... Read More

MACOMB, IL – As first generation students, Western Illinois University Sociology Professor Emeritus and WIU Board of Trustees Chair Polly Radosh and Jeff Radosh struggled financially as they completed their college education. To help other first generation students and those with financial need, the Radoshes have established the Radosh Sociology Endowed Scholarship at WIU. Polly, who is the retired chair of Western’s former Department of Women’s Studies, began her teaching career at WIU in 1984 in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. During her 24-year tenure, she taught... Read More

MACOMB, IL – The Western Illinois University Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic has openings for speech diagnostic evaluations from Tuesday Aug. 4-Friday, Aug. 21. There will be additional openings throughout the fall semester. The services are free to the WIU and Macomb communities and are used to determine whether or not a child or adult may be eligible for speech and/or language therapy services. The evaluations also play a significant role in educating WIU’s graduate students as they prepare to begin their careers as speech-language pathologists. For more information about the testing,... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Two Western Illinois University professor emeriti who have worked extensively on cultural diversity issues and programming have compiled a comprehensive reading list to deepen understanding of the pervasive racism that has repeatedly led to violence against the Black community. “Given all that has been going on in the USA related to the treatment of African Americans the past few weeks, not to mention the previous 400 years, we would like to provide resources to the WIU community that further awareness and understanding of the systematic oppression and racism that is... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – To keep the Western Illinois University community apprised of the search process for WIU’s 12th president, a presidential search website has been created. The site will provide updates to the search, including the search timeline, position announcement and more. The site can be accessed from a tab on Western’s homepage, in the News/Events section. The direct link for the presidential search website is wiu.edu/presidentialsearch. The search committee is co-chaired by WIU Board of Trustees Chair Polly Radosh and Faculty Senate Chair Christopher Pynes. The full committee... Read More

MACOMB, IL – For the fourth year in a row, a member of Western Illinois University’s chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has been awarded a national fellowship to pursue graduate study. Mariah Dicksen, of Lockport, IL, who graduated from WIU in May with a degree in biology, has been awarded an $8,500 fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall. She was a member and a student vice president with the WIU Phi Kappa Phi chapter and a student in the Centennial Honors College. In 2019, Dicksen became the first female WIU student to win... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Despite classes at Western Illinois University being moved from campus to computer, a group of students studying in the health sciences area are helping on the front lines to complete their required practicums. Working at both local and statewide care centers students have been helping in health services management, public health (both graduate and undergraduate students) and social work. Before Alexis Clark received her degree in health services management in May, she completed an internship with WIU’s Beu Health Center. She said the pandemic greatly impacted her duties at... Read More