Millikin University hosts Fall Job and Internship Fair

Millikin University's Center for Academic and Professional Performance (CAPP) recently held its annual Fall Job and Internship Fair on Sept. 18. During the fair, students collected information from several companies and talked to a few of the employers to get the inside scoop on what they are looking for in an intern. No surprise, many of the responses were quite similar with one another. Here are a few of the top qualities that employers are looking for in an intern:

1. Competitive drive to work hard and perform on the job

2. Positive attitude and enthusiasm about the chance to grow

3. Willingness to keep an open mind to learn new things

4. Outgoing and able to connect with others to add to the culture of the business

Gaining experience through internships is essential before entering the job market. But that's not the only reason why you should land an internship before graduating.

Starla Street, a success coach for CAPP, explained that students not only earn experience through internships but that "students gain clarity on whether or not they like a certain field. They also get exposure to different kinds of jobs they might not even know were out there."

Internships can be the perfect steppingstone to see where you want to take your future career. Put yourself out there, start networking to make new connections and land that internship!

Ranking measures student feedback on success and learning

Millikin University is among the elite colleges and universities recognized in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education (WSJ/THE) 2020 College Ranking released in Sept. 2019. Millikin is ranked No. 381 of 801 institutions nationally, and No. 91 of 212 institutions in the Midwest.     

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking is a pioneering ranking of U.S. colleges and universities that puts student success and learning – based on over 170,000 current student voices – at its heart.

Developed in partnership with U.S. experts and universities, the ranking adopts a balanced scorecard approach. WSJ/THE uses 15 individual performance metrics, grouped into four pillars representing Resources (30 percent), Engagement (20 percent), Outcomes (40 percent) and Environment (10 percent). Millikin University's strongest pillar was Resources where Millikin was ranked in the third decile.  

The ranking includes clear performance indicators designed to answer the questions that matter most to students and their families when making one of the most important decisions of their lives – who to trust with their education.

"This year's college ranking by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education again show Millikin as an institution that gives students extraordinary opportunities to work closely with highly qualified faculty who are dedicated to their success," said Millikin Provost Dr. Jeff Aper.

"The WSJ/THE data show that Millikin students have greater opportunities than most of their peers at other institutions when it comes to active engagement in learning and interaction with faculty and staff."

Data for the ranking is gathered from a variety of sources: the U.S. government (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA), the College Scorecard, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the THE U.S. Student Survey, the THE Academic Survey and the Elsevier bibliometric dataset.

Almost 20 percent of the WSJ/THE College Ranking relies on a powerful student survey dataset – the annual THE U.S. Student Survey, which captures the voice of over 170,000 current U.S. students across all ranked colleges.

The THE Student Survey captures milestones in the student's educational journey with their institution, covering motivation, engagement with learning, career impact, satisfaction and value.

The 2020 instrument contained 12 core questions, framed by demographic questions to capture the student's background and degree status.

Provost Aper noted, "All of this just goes to affirm the value of the work that Millikin faculty and staff do in helping students develop their talents and potential to the highest degree possible."

For more information about the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 2020 College Ranking and the ranking methodology, visit timeshighereducation.com/USmethodology2020. 

Joel Kim Booster '10 featured in new NBC sitcom

Millikin University graduate Joel Kim Booster '10 has become one of the hottest entertainers and stand-up comedians in Hollywood today. A Chicago-bred, Los Angeles-based comedian and writer, Booster has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central's "The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail," This Is Not Happening and @midnight, Logo's "Comedy Cabaret" and truTV's "Comedy Knockout."

Booster is currently starring as Jun Ho in NBC's "Sunnyside" which premiered on Sept. 26. "Sunnyside" is produced by comedy veteran Kal Penn and actor Matt Murray as the cast brings to life the show's story of pursuing the American dream.

A 2010 graduate of Millikin University, Booster has come a long way from the Chicago clubs to the national spotlight, and faculty members at Millikin University's School of Theatre & Dance are excited to see him blossom.

In an interview with WAND-TV, Sean Morrissey, artist-in-residence at Millikin said, "It's really fun to be able to see our students on camera. We've had quite a few students who have shown up on television shows, episodic TV shows and films. It's always great to see their success on the small and large screen."

"He's been back to campus a few times since then, and he's been well-connected to us ever since he graduated and it's really great to see his success," said Laura Ledford, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Millikin.

Booster returned to Millikin's campus in October 2018 for a performance at Kirkland Fine Arts Center during Millikin's Homecoming festivities.

In 2017, Booster recorded a stand-up special for Comedy Central's "The Half-Hour," a full-length stand-up album called "Model Minority" and was listed as one of Esquire's "10 Comedians to Watch."

He recently had the honor of making Forbes' 2018 "30 Under 30" list in their Hollywood and Entertainment category spotlighting the next generation of talent, Variety's 2018 "10 Comics to Watch," Vulture's "20 Comedians You Should and Will Know," and TimeOut's "L.A. Comedians to Watch in 2018."

Booster's film credits include "The Week Of" on Netflix and "Vulture Club" from YouTube Red. His writing credits include "Billy on the Street" (truTV), "Big Mouth" (Netflix) and the Comedy Central series "The Other Two."

"If you've ever had a chance to watch his standup, he really, no matter what walk of life you're from, he makes you feel like you're in the story with him no matter how bizarre as it gets," said Kal Penn. "That's also what he's brought to our show, where he's brought his character to life in a way, many ways we didn't even script the type of stuff he does on our show."

"The new baseball field marks a great new step for Millikin University"

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 on Sept. 27.

The new baseball facility located south of the Decatur Indoor Sports Center (DISC) includes an all-artificial turf field, lights, press box, concessions and batting cages. The grandstand has seating capacity for 459 spectators. Seating includes bleachers, seat back chairs and a patio area, all elevated above the playing field. Millikin University will be 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 a clubhouse.

The Workman Family Baseball field has in-ground dugouts with Millikin's dugout on the third base side with batting cages and bullpen access nearby. The visitor's dugout is on the first base side and also includes access to a bullpen. The new clubhouse is located below the grandstand.

The press box has the capacity for six media professionals, and houses controls for the lights and inning-by-inning scoreboard overlooking the right-center field fence.

Millikin celebrated the new field during the Homecoming and Family Weekend Festivities. Activities on Sept. 27 included a reception for the field's donors, Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, and a scrimmage by the Big Blue baseball team. Millikin baseball alumni had a chance to play on the new field during an Alumni Baseball game on Sept. 28.

"One of my priorities when I came to Millikin was to get baseball and softball on campus," said Millikin Director of Athletics Dr. Craig White. "With the completion of the Workman Family Baseball Field, baseball will join softball in playing on campus in one of the top facilities in the country for NCAA Division III programs."

Millikin Head Baseball Coach Brandon Townsend noted, "In the present....This stadium will set the standard for baseball facilities around the country that schools will strive to achieve. For the future....This amazing facility will help raise our program, recruiting and enhance our student-athlete experience for many years."

The $5.4 million baseball field project was made possible by a generous $4 million contribution from Millikin Emeritus Trustee Gary Workman, a 1965 graduate, his wife, Judy, and their family, as well as generous gifts from Millikin Emeriti Trustees Mark and Bob Staley, Millikin Trustee Tom Harrington '70 and his wife, Cordia, and the estate of Millikin Emeritus Trustee Frank Tyrolt.

"The new baseball field marks a great new step for Millikin University, powered once again by the commitment and generosity of donors who want Millikin students to experience the best possible facilities to make the most of their talents and aspirations," said Millikin President Dr. Patrick E. White. "We are grateful to the positive leadership of the Workman, Harrington, Staley, Tyrolt families and all our donors to this project because, through their gifts, they empower the development of all our students and help Millikin and Decatur grow and achieve excellence."

Junior pitcher Seamus Sjostrom, of Chicago, said, "We got two nice batting cages so the cages will be perfect for the hitters to get in there and get loose before games. We got three mounds up in the bullpen so that's going to be amazing. Pitchers are going to be able to get loose a lot easier. I'm just extremely excited to use all of the equipment and get to work on this field and do everything we need to do to win a CCIW championship."

Decatur native Gary Workman is a retired senior internal auditor for United Parcel Service (UPS). He began working with UPS as a part-time package handler while he was still a Millikin student. After graduating from Millikin in 1965, he began working for the company on a full-time basis, eventually becoming a senior internal auditor. Workman retired from UPS in 1995 after spending 33 years in a variety of jobs in industrial engineering, human resources, accounting and auditing.

In addition to the family's generous commitment, the Workman family made a $2 million contribution to Millikin's new softball field, the Workman Family Softball Field, which opened in March 2017. Workman also made a lead gift in support of the 2014 addition of artificial turf and other significant enhancements to Frank M. Lindsay Field through the "Transform MU" capital campaign.

"Judy and I are pleased to be able to help fund the new baseball field on the campus of Millikin University," said Workman. "We believe that the addition of on-campus athletic facilities aids in the recruitment of student-athletes and also increases the enjoyment of campus life for all students. We were pleased with how well the new softball field turned out and are excited for the new baseball field."

Tom Harrington was born, raised, and educated in Decatur. After graduating from Millikin in 1970, Harrington started his working career with a local public accounting firm in Decatur. Later, Harrington moved to south central Illinois at first as an employee of a regional CPA firm and, in 1976, he was promoted to partner. In 1982, Harrington established Thomas Harrington & Company, a regional accounting firm serving clients from St. Louis to Chicago, until its eventual sale in December 1997.

After his firm's sale in 1998, Tom, in partnership with his wife Cordia, established a wholesale bakery manufacturing company originally located in Dickson, Tenn. Tennessee Bun Company is one of the most automated bakeries in the world, serving over 35 million dozen buns annually. Harrington serves as chief operating officer and chief financial officer and is involved in the strategic leadership of the company.

"Cordia and I are extremely excited to be a part of adding this beautiful baseball facility to Millikin's campus," said Harrington. "Assuredly everyone at MU and the Decatur community will enjoy our new turf field for many years. Go Big Blue!"

The Staley family's long-standing tradition of generosity to Millikin University stretches back more than 40 years. Staley family members have been among the university's most faithful and generous supporters, providing significant individual and foundation gifts to both the university's "Design for Leadership" and "Advancing the Vision: Millikin's Second Century" capital campaigns as well as annual operating funds. Millikin's Staley Library, completed in 1978, stands as a living tribute to the generosity of three generations of Staley family members beginning with A.E. Staley, Sr.

"It was indeed great news when I heard that the baseball field was going to become a reality," said Mark Staley. "On behalf of the Staley Family, we are thrilled that we could be an integral part of bringing baseball to the Millikin campus. It was long overdue, and now that Millikin baseball will be playing on campus, we feel it will enhance campus life and help bring more quality student-athletes to Millikin. I would like to thank the Harringtons and especially the Workmans; whose extremely generous donations made this facility become a reality for Millikin."

After graduating in 1954 from Millikin University with a degree in business administration, Frank Tyrolt served in the Navy on the battleship Wisconsin. After finishing his time in the Navy, Tyrolt worked for the Edward Hines Lumber Company and the Dietene Company. He returned to Decatur in 1966 to become partner with the Beggs family at Dunn Company. In 1967, Tyrolt acquired the remaining interest in the company. Bernie Naber joined Tyrolt at Dunn Company that same year, and they operated the business as partners until Tyrolt's retirement in 1999. Frank and his beloved wife Shirley married in 1982. Tyrolt passed away peacefully at the age of 85 surrounded by his family on Aug. 16, 2018.

Workman Family Baseball Field Additional Facts

• The outfield is designed for multi-use and can accommodate a 300' long practice soccer field and a 270'-0" long practice football field.
• The infield has been designed and the field has been calibrated to provide the speed of play best fitting the desired play of Millikin University baseball.
• The home dugout has been custom designed to provide an elevated coaches area allowing field and player view.
• The brick used on the Workman Family Baseball Field was selected to match and compliment existing historic brick used on Millikin University's campus.
• Electrical service for the new facility has been designed to support future ceiling mounted radiant heaters for each of the dugouts.
• Each dugout is designed with wireless internet access points to support modern internet-based technology used in baseball.
• The new field's sound system has been custom designed for sound clarity and coverage over the spectator areas.
• The grass seating area on an elevated berm has been provided along the east third base fence.
• The baseball facility is connected via fiber optic to the main central campus security and fire detection/alarm systems.
• The field's sports field lighting system has been designed for energy efficiency and to minimize light spill over beyond the field and to meet the City of Decatur's regulations.
• Areas of the AstroTurf field have been designed to be removed and replaced annually at areas of high use including the pitcher's mound and the catcher's/batter's box.
• Synthetic all-weather turf and subbase is designed to drain no less than an average of 30" of rain per hour.
• The design of the new baseball facility involved close coordination with the City of Decatur, Norfolk & Southern Railroad, State of Illinois, IDOT, Ameren and the DISC.

Can you live on $4.47 a day?

Imagine yourself only having $4.47 per day to use for food. It makes it difficult to afford nutritious food items and to stay healthy. A group of Millikin University students came to realize this as part of Professor Mary Garrison's Poverty course.

This September, Professor Garrison assigned her students to take part in the SNAP Hunger Challenge. The students were challenged to eat on no more than $4.47 for one day (the average allowance for food assistance programs), log their experiences and to reflect on the challenges and difficulties.

Professor Garrison offers the challenge as an extra credit opportunity for the class. Students could not exceed the daily amount and only eat food purchased with that amount.

"Throughout, I wasn't worried because my schedule is so busy that I tend to forget to eat anyway," said Danielle Morgan, a senior human services major with a psychology minor from Elwood, Ill. "If I did it again I would need to do it for a longer period of time."

This is the second year that Garrison presented the challenge to her students, however, this year, Garrison asked her students not to accept food offered by friends or other sources. Garrison herself took part in a 72-hour challenge and shared her experience of having lunch at the Good Samaritan Inn in Decatur, Ill., a place that improves the lives of the economically disadvantaged through daily nourishment, life skills education and job training programs.

"This challenge is based on your lifestyle…how you eat and what you do," said Garrison. "The goal is to see how close you can get to some understanding. I found myself only thinking about food, which normally I don't."

Morgan says there were moments during the day where she started to get hungry and she would drink more water to keep her stomach filled. "I know that's a very real thing people do to reduce their hunger," she said.

Shania Dvorak, a junior human services major from Elgin, Ill., thought the challenge would be easy, and food items such as bananas or pasta would help her get through the day. "After I had a whole day of classes and went to the gym, I became very fatigued and the nutrients I were taking in were not enough for my body," she said. "To think that I would have done that for multiple days, it would've gone very poorly."

Dvorak added, "It gave me insight into what poverty is and how it affects your eating habits, and how those eating habits affect your emotions, your physical wellness and your mental state. It plays into so many parts of your life that it can be debilitating."

The students had to track their experiences, including how much food they purchased, the cost and reactions throughout the challenge. Students also made note of what they learned from the experience.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that provides nutrition benefits to low-income individuals and families that are used at stores to purchase food. The program is administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) through its nationwide network of FNS field offices.

Professor Garrison's Poverty course is designed to expand students' awareness and understanding of poverty. The course examines the nature and extent of poverty that exists within the United States. Much of the focus throughout the course is on understanding the impact of poverty related to children and families, women, older adults and the working poor.

Many of the students in the course are human service majors, and Professor Garrison says the SNAP Hunger Challenge and the course are all part of preparing students for the real world. "My goal when helping people is we have no idea what someone's story is, but that we have some experience, even at a very small level, to be able to try to empathize with our client," she said. "We can make no assumption that what you look doesn't mean you've never been on SNAP or what you look like means you are on SNAP, all those kinds of things we talk to our students about."

Danielle Morgan is currently an intern at Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Decatur. She aspires to enter the social services field after graduating and her experience with the SNAP Hunger Challenge was certainly an eye-opener.

"This is the kind of work I'm going to go into," said Morgan. "I see it, but I've never experienced it personally. I think it makes me more empathetic and more determined to help link people to the resources they need in order for people to get that help."

Millikin professor brings branding and consulting opportunities to the classroom

Millikin University's Tabor School of Business is committed to providing student with opportunities that deliver real world experiences. These type of experiences start right away when students begin their first year at Millikin – something that Dr. Alan Duesterhaus believes makes the Tabor School of Business unique.

"Certainly in the Tabor School of Business, some of the things we have that I've never seen anywhere else include our Business Creation class and Team Dynamics class," said Duesterhaus, assistant professor of management & marketing. "These classes give you the opportunity to create a business, and doing it as a freshmen gives you the opportunity to figure out what part of business gets you excited and that way we can get you on the right track."

Freshman students in Tabor's Business Creation course gain a basic understanding of business by having the opportunity to create a business plan that outlines a proposal to operate an enterprise of their choice. Students in the Team Dynamics course not only learn how to work in teams, but learn team leadership, management and the role of conflict.

"In terms of the Team Dynamics class, every employer wants you to work well with a team but we rarely talk about how to do it," said Duesterhaus. "We spend a class during freshmen year figuring out how to work best on a team and you will use that over and over again throughout your four years at Millikin."

Duesterhaus has extensive experience serving nonprofit organizations in various capacities including as a vice president for advancement and as a board chair. His research focuses on branding and brand management. In addition to his role as a faculty member at Millikin, he is a managing partner for Duesterhaus LLC, a marketing and management consulting firm.

Duesterhaus has crafted strategic plans for new and existing nonprofits, created case statements for organizations to garner outside support and formulated brand strategies to best position organizations. Additionally, he has experience working in the education finance industry as well as starting his own retail business.

All of these experiences are aspects he is bringing to the table in terms of Performance Learning opportunities for students at Millikin.

"One of the largest trends in terms of brand management that I'm seeing today is not moving away from digital, but understanding that digital might move you back into the physical realm," said Duesterhaus. "There is certainly a lot of space digitally to be making money, but more and more are finding that once you get the data online and you've been doing sales there – there's also opportunities in a brick-and-mortar type of environment to make some money as long as it's a little more targeted."

One of the courses Duesterhaus teaches is Not-for-Profit Leadership & Governance where students learn what it means to be a leader in the current nonprofit environment locally as well as globally.

"The students are working with actual nonprofit organizations to do best practices for their boards, to make them better and more effective," said Duesterhaus. "We develop marketing plans for real organizations and develop digital marketing campaigns to determine whether or not they're achieving the return on investment the company desires."

Duesterhaus says the Tabor School of Business uses opportunities to work with real companies as much as possible because it's more interesting and it's what students will be doing in the "real world."

In addition to class sizes and Performance Learning opportunities, Duesterhaus says Millikin's Tabor School of Business is one of the best business schools in the U.S. because of its faculty.

"We want to be here to teach, we want to see students succeed, and that makes a big difference," he said.

A Look at Millikin Baseball's New Home

The new on-campus home of the Millikin University Baseball program, the Workman Family Baseball Field, was officially opened during a dedication ceremony on Sept. 27, 2019.

Millikin University became the only school in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) to have an on-campus baseball-only facility with a full turf field and a clubhouse. The new baseball facility includes an all-artificial turf field, lights, press box, concessions and batting cages. The grandstand has seating capacity for 459 spectators. Seating includes bleachers, seat back chairs and a patio area, all elevated above the playing field.

Millikin celebrated the new field during Homecoming and Family Weekend Festivities as Millikin baseball alumni had a chance to play on the new field during an Alumni Baseball game on Sept. 28.

The $5.4 million baseball field project was made possible by a generous $4 million contribution from Millikin Emeritus Trustee Gary Workman, a 1965 graduate, his wife, Judy, and their family, as well as generous gifts from Millikin Emeriti Trustees Mark and Bob Staley, Millikin Trustee Tom Harrington '70 and his wife, Cordia, and the estate of Millikin Emeritus Trustee Frank Tyrolt.

"One of my priorities when I came to Millikin was to get baseball and softball on campus," said Millikin Director of Athletics Dr. Craig White. "With the completion of the Workman Family Baseball Field, baseball will join softball in playing on campus in one of the top facilities in the country for NCAA Division III programs."

"Building Millikin is an investment in ourselves"

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 on Thursday, Oct. 3. Debbie Bogle, president of the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois, was also among the speakers.

While addressing the crowded banquet room, President White began by saying he was nervous, but the audience could hardly tell as he spoke about the community's vision for and of itself in a speech titled "Who is our City?"

"For the last six-and-a-half years, I've necessarily become a student of Decatur (Ill.) serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board and the Economic Development Commission, and learning from all of my colleagues on many different connections in the city," said White. "I'm trying to guide Millikin into a future with even closer ties to Decatur than before I arrived."

As University President, White sees his role as always having to help a complex institution to see itself and to understand who it is and what it can become.

"It's what I call our best imagination of Millikin," he said.

Dr. White was elected the 15th president of Millikin University and plans to retire effective June 30, 2020. Through his leadership, Millikin University has been revitalized and reimagined, and he has built a solid foundation for further growth and success. Since he joined, Millikin has added the University Commons, the Workman Family Softball Field, Workman Family Baseball Field and the upcoming Center for Theatre and Dance – scheduled to open in the fall of 2020.

During his speech, White focused on the connection between Millikin and the growth of Decatur. "My hope today is to look at you and to see Decatur in new ways, enlarging our shared vision of who we are and what we can be," he said. "I'm asking us to explore our view of 'Who is our City?' in three different directions; expand our vision to include Millikin University, broaden our view to explore a regional perspective, and sharpen our focus to make sure that every single person in Decatur is a part of our city."

White made note that Millikin welcomed its largest first-year class since 2012 and that the "Millikin momentum" is an engine for growth and vitality in the city of Decatur and beyond. "We are an integral part of this great community. Millikin's growth in prosperity is Decatur's growth in prosperity. A great university must be anchored by its city and Millikin is getting better at doing that."

It was also during the early portion of his presentation that Dr. White emphasized how Millikin utilizes Performance Learning in its curriculum. "Students must perform their knowledge to witnesses and stakeholders, beyond their classrooms, beyond their teachers and classmates. Building Millikin is an investment in ourselves," he said.

Among the projects ongoing at Millikin, President White is working with the Alumni and Development Office to complete the remaining fundraising for the Center for Theatre and Dance, and gathering contributions for Phase I of the Griswold Center renovation and expansion project – a $12 million project. Phase I will include building a facility to house six new locker rooms for varsity and junior varsity football, Men's and Women's soccer, and Men's and Women's track & field and cross country. Phase I also includes a fitness center for the entire campus community as well as classrooms and team meeting spaces.

President White closed his presentation by suggesting to the community to look toward the future and not the past.

"Decatur is a great place to live because many people in the community are not turning their back on the challenges we face," said White. "I'm asking us not to think about our issues as problems, but our issues as opportunities. Many cities and universities would want the kind of diversity we have in Decatur and around – now we have to work to make that diversity work for all of us. We have to be constantly awake to the need to be more inclusive and respond by study, thought and action – in other words, Performance Learning."

MU theatre production puts focus on mental health

Millikin University's School of Theatre and Dance will open its 2019-20 performance season with the production of "Medea" on Thursday, Oct. 10 and Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at Albert Taylor Theatre in Shilling Hall on Millikin's campus.

Medea is a wife, a mother and a powerful sorceress. When her husband, Jason, abandons his family for a new life, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children. With only 24 hours to act, she exacts an appalling revenge that will destroy everything she holds dear.

Written by Euripides, the play has been explored and interpreted by playwrights across the centuries and the world in a variety of ways, offering political, psychoanalytical, feminist, among many other original readings of Medea, Jason and the core themes of the play.

"He (Jason) leaves his wife and mother of his two children and marries the king's daughter," said director Shad Willingham, adjunct faculty member at Millikin.

The director and cast wanted to bring the story to the stage because of its dramatic plot but also as a focus on mental health.

Taylor Porter, a senior theatre major from Galesburg, Ill., who plays Medea, spent her summer researching the character. "This is the only way I can get back at him, to feel better and continue with life," Porter said about the character in an interview with the Herald & Review. "I hope to convey empathy. We are playing with undiagnosed mental illness. I want the audience to see the thought process."

Willingham noted that to help explain Medea's mental capacity, a chorus of women will surround her on stage during the performance. "No one but Medea can hear them," he said. "We are no longer calling it chorus anymore, because it is not a musical. That is why we are calling it the psyche."

The cast wants the audience to walk away from the play with the knowledge they would never take the actions Medea took, but with an understanding.

"In this post-Victorian time, they didn't know any more about mental illness than they did 2,000 years ago," said Willingham.

Single ticket prices for the performance are $12-14 and student tickets are $10. Tickets may be purchased at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center Ticket Office, by phone at 217.424.6318 or online at kirklandfinearts.com. A $2.50 fee will be charged for credit card purchases. This is a per transaction fee, not per ticket, and applies to online and Ticket Office orders. Kirkland Ticket Office hours are Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Millikin School of Theatre and Dance

The Millikin School of Theatre and Dance produces numerous performances in venues on and off-campus, including musicals, plays, operas, children's theatre and dance concerts, as well as productions through its student-run theatre company, Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre.

Millikin's School of Theatre and Dance is a nationally recognized program, offering conservatory-style training rooted in a liberal arts education. The School of Theatre and Dance's approach to education offers students valuable insight and hands-on experiences that will prepare them for professional success. Nationwide, Millikin's respected theatre alumni are routinely hired for projects in television, film and live theatre, including top Broadway shows.

Award-winning professor to help put artificial intelligence at the forefront of academia and industry

MoreTalent™, a corporate strategy firm that specializes in developing measurable business and technology strategies, has named Dr. J. Mark Munoz, professor of management and international business at Millikin University, to its distinguished Board of Advisors.

Dr. Munoz, an award-winning professor, author and international business executive, will help implement artificial intelligence (AI) as a competitive advantage for companies, bridging the gap between academia and industry.

"We are beyond fortunate to have an exceptionally accomplished academic such as Dr. Munoz join our team," said Oliver Degnan, president and CEO of MoreTalent™ Corporation. "Dr. Munoz will serve as our conduit to academia and put MoreTalent at the forefront of the artificial intelligence space. In the next five years, AI will be the key differentiator for corporate survival."

A former Visiting Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Dr. Munoz currently serves as an advisor to the AI Initiative at Harvard University. His experience in artificial intelligence creates synergy between academia and industry, and will determine how success is measured from the artificial intelligence perspective.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the MoreTalent Board of Advisors, an elite group of innovative professionals," said Dr. Munoz. "Being part of the MoreTalent team will provide an extraordinary opportunity to apply artificial intelligence theories to industry. I'm looking forward to publishing cases featuring impactful AI strategies that add to the bottom line."

Dr. Munoz has received several prestigious awards including a Literary Award, two International Book Awards, four Best Paper Awards, the 2012 Distinguished Scholar by the Academy of Global Business Advancement, the 2013 ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award (one of 10 in the world) and the 2014 Teaching Excellence and Leadership Award at Millikin University.

A prolific writer, Dr. Munoz's work has been published in numerous business and academic journals. He authored, co-authored and has edited over 20 books including: "Winning Across Borders," "A Salesman in Asia," "International Social Entrepreneurship," "Contemporary Microenterprise," "Handbook on the Geopolitics of Business," "Managerial Forensics," "Advances in Geoeconomics," "Global Business Intelligence" and "Business Strategy in the Artificial Intelligence Economy."

As a faculty member in Millikin University's Tabor School of Business, Dr. Munoz teaches Business Creation, International Business, Business Strategy and International Business Consulting.

The MoreTalent Board of Advisors serves as a think tank, led by the most highly regarded experts in their respective fields. The Board of Advisors reports directly to the President and CEO and is integral in developing strategy and defining business objectives. Each individual on the MoreTalent Board of Advisors has a proven track record of leading complex organizations.

MoreTalent partners with organizations and its executive leaders to develop measurable business and technology strategies that will impact key metrics and increase the corporate competitive edge in the marketplace. MoreTalent was founded in spring of 2018 and is jointly headquartered in Pewaukee, Wis., and El Paso, Texas. 

Millikin community comes together to support local food drive

The 18th annual WSOY Community Food Drive was held in Decatur, Ill., on Oct. 4, and Millikin University was once again among the many contributors who helped the Decatur community surpass its goal by raising 1.69 million pounds of food.

Agencies that benefit from the WSOY Community Food Drive will be able to purchase food from the Central Illinois Food Bank for 19 cents a pound. Some of those agencies include the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Northeast Community Fund and the Good Samaritan Inn.

This year, the Millikin University community came together to donate more than 5,650 pounds of food. Millikin President Dr. Patrick E. White and several student leaders delivered the food donations on the morning of the food drive on Oct. 4.

Each year, Millikin University's Athletics Department adopts the community food drive as a special focus for service. Millikin student-athletes came together to do their part in supporting the food drive by gathering on the evening of Oct. 3 outside Frank M. Lindsay Field with their non-perishable items in hand.

The Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) works to encourage the athletes to engage and serve Millikin and the surrounding community. The organization challenged all Millikin student-athletes to donate at least one food item to the drive. Their efforts resulted in almost 1,000 pounds of food. 

Korbin Farmer, a senior philosophy major from Columbia, Ill., men's basketball captain and president of SAAC, loved the opportunity for all Millikin teams to come together.

"We love the chance to have all the teams gather to help support this cause," said Farmer. "It's a great feeling to be able to give support to the community that does such a great job supporting us."

Katie Tenboer and Whitney Sowers, Millikin co-head softball coaches and SAAC faculty representatives, were excited to see the athletes join forces and step up to support the food drive.

"It was great to see so many student-athletes come together and understand themselves, the importance of supporting the community around you," Sowers said.

Tenboer agreed and acknowledged that "giving back is an important part of life and anyone can do it – you just have to commit to it, one opportunity at a time."

Millikin Greek Life organizations brought in over 1,600 pounds of food through their joint chapter efforts.

During the food drive, President White presented 2019 Food Drive Traveling Trophy Awards to representatives of Greek Life and the Student Athlete Advisory Council for their contributions to Millikin's campus collection.

From pumpkin patches to zip lining, check out these family-friendly options

When it comes to enjoying Illinois during the fall season, you have a multitude of family-friendly options. From famous pumpkin patches, wine trails, zip lining and more, discover which fall activity is best for you with our article below. Enjoy!

1. Arthur's the Great Pumpkin Patch

More than likely you have heard the buzz about the Great Pumpkin Patch, located just 40 minutes from campus. The famous patch gathers October lovers from all over the country to stop by, enjoy pumpkin treats, corn mazes, live music and hundreds of pumpkins. Don't believe me? Just ask Martha Stewart and the White House - they both love the Great Pumpkin Patch and choose to use their pumpkins over all other pumpkin patches.

2. Curtis Apple Orchard

Apple picking, apple cider donuts and fall fun- what more could you ask for? Curtis Apple Orchard in Champaign, Ill., is famously known for their delicious apples and gorgeous atmosphere. Located less than an hour away from campus, this fall favorite is perfect for a Sunday afternoon!

3. Allerton Park

Calling all estate lovers! Allerton Park located in Monticello, Ill, is the perfect place to picnic, stroll through gardens or enjoy a good book. A location for many weddings, the estate of Robert Allerton is sure to take your breath away.

4. Black Bart's Pumpkin Patch

Just a hop, skip and a jump away from campus is this adorable, small, family-owned pumpkin patch. Perfect for quick trips, this patch will be sure to steal your heart. Enjoy a variety of pumpkins, a corn maze and a small little shop full of fall goodies. When you're in a time crunch and need a pumpkin, Black Bart's is the way to go!

5. Starved Rock State Park

Stunning views and an even better calorie burner! Hike the gorgeous trails at Starved Rock State Park and you will be sure to fall in love even more with the scenic views of Illinois. This is a bit further away from campus, so we recommend setting aside an entire day to enjoy Starved Rock. Bonus! Their lodge has fantastic food to fuel you up after a long day's hike. 

6. Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

Calling all wine lovers (must be 21!!). Enjoy the scenic views of the Shawnee National Forest with the perfect companion, wine! Enjoy a variety of wineries and breathtaking views along the trail.

7. Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge

Located in Havana, Ill., is one of the most surreal experiences you can have in central Illinois. The Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge provides visitors with an up close interaction with wildlife. This experience is unlike any other! Enjoy hunting, fishing and a multitude of trails all within two hours of campus.

8. Great River Road

Enjoy a road trip in Illinois that will leave you wondering how you have never experienced it before. The Great River Road is famously known for providing exquisite scenery for the perfect drive. Enjoy the gorgeous colors of fall and stop at any point to get out of your car and enjoy the moment. We promise, you won't regret it.

9. Grafton Zip line Adventures in Shawnee National Forest

Adventure, anyone? For those who do not enjoy wine (or are not of age) but still want to enjoy the beauty of Shawnee National Forest, can enjoy a thrilling good time by trying out their zip line adventure. Grab a group of your friends and you will even get a group discount!

10. Rock Springs

Located closest to campus, Rock Springs is the perfect place to de-stress after a tough day and explore the beautiful park. Enjoy a relaxing walk, bike ride or run in the quiet and stunning conversation area. Out of all the scenic places in Decatur (Ill.), Rock Springs takes the cake.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Corey Seapy

Dr. Corey Seapy has always been drawn to sound and he's loved music for as long as he could remember. Seapy has brought his musical passion and talents to Millikin University's School of Music as the new director of bands – a position he began in August 2019.

A dynamic conductor and educator who has spent the last decade maximizing the artistic potential of a wide variety of ensembles, Seapy is leading the Millikin University Symphonic Wind Ensemble succeeding the legendary Dr. Gary Shaw who retired in July 2019 after 37 years at Millikin.

Growing up overseas, Seapy started playing music on piano, clarinet and saxophone all before high school, and stuck with clarinet and saxophone up until becoming a conductor.

"Music is organized sound in any genre – it's been appealing to my ears. It moves your heart, it moves your brain and it moves your feet," Seapy said.

Seapy says the best part about being a conductor is the interpersonal aspect. "We are silent in performance, so our instrument is made up of a variety of people who are each unique parts of it and bring their own strengths, passions and sounds to the wind ensemble," he said. "It's that interpersonal aspect and exchange of human kind that made me fall in love with conducting as oppose to playing."

Figuratively, whichever musical "hat" Seapy is wearing, whether as a teacher, conductor or a musician, his goal is always to compel the people he's with to love music more.

"That's where it starts and ends for me. I want to share that passion for the art form, whether that's with my students or with the audience," he said. "For the wind ensemble, it's a vehicle for music – not just a band. Hopefully through rehearsals and performances, students are loving music more, growing as musicians and improving their skillset."

Seapy will lead the Symphonic Wind Ensemble for its first concert of the year on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. The event will celebrate the passing of the conductor's baton as well as a literal change of the season.

One of the things that makes the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble unique is the opportunity for the group to do some "off the wall things" as Seapy notes.

"I'm a big fan of collaboration with other art forms, and anytime we can work with another department, that's enriching for us as students and it's really enriching for the audience," he said.

The first concert of the year will be more traditional, but for the ensemble's second concert on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the group will perform alongside Millikin dancers under the choreography of students and faculty.

"We're always balancing the past and the great repertoire as well as the present and the great music that is being written now," Seapy said. "This spring, we will perform the world premiere of a piece that is currently being written. That will be an exciting collaboration with a composer."

Seapy has been amazed with the musical and academic environment at Millikin – an environment that's been very welcoming to him, beginning with Gary Shaw.

"I could not imagine feeling more welcomed and that starts with Gary (Shaw). The faculty and the administrators have been willing to trust me to do the best that I can and to get into a routine of expecting excellence," he said. "The spirit and support for the arts that extends campus-wide, Decatur-wide and regionally, is palpable to a newcomer. I'm honored to be playing a role within that artistic community."

Seapy completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance. Seapy holds a Master of Music in Conducting from Ithaca College – New York and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Gordon College.

Prior to living in Kansas City, Seapy conducted and taught in Massachusetts, where he served as music director of the Charles River Wind Ensemble, an auditioned adult group in Metro-Boston, and as director of bands at Ipswich High School. His positions include orchestra director at Ipswich High School, conducting fellow with the Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble at New England Conservatory, assistant conductor of the Gordon College Wind Ensemble, conductor of the Northeast Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble and director of bands at Georgetown High School.

Seapy's recent awards include an Honorable Mention from the American Prize in Conducting (College/University Division) and a Finalist designation from the American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance (Community Division).

Millikin student's "vision" is set on optometry

All Mackenzie Martin wanted to do as a young girl was pick up a book and read. When she was told that she needed to limit her time reading due to issues with her vision, she was traumatized.

A native of Paris, Ill., Martin went through a few years of constant visits to the optometrist office for vision therapy sessions.

"Being in vision therapy for two years, I was able to make connections with the optometrists and see how things worked," Martin said.

Because of her experience, Martin found her calling and set a goal of becoming an optometrist herself.

"The eyes are one of the most important organs of the body to me," said Martin. "It has definitely been my goal for a long time to help other people see the best they can."

With her career aspiration in mind, Martin was determined to find a school that was going to prepare her for future graduate studies. Millikin University's Pre-Professional program, along with its faculty, was the kind of education that Martin was seeking out.

"Millikin has a very strong pre-professional program," said Martin, a senior biology/pre-optometry major. "The faculty at Millikin are just brilliant. For example, Dr. Handler (Cynthia) and Dr. Zimmerman (Laura) have been really great…influencing me and making me a stronger scientist first before I go on to achieve my goal in becoming an optometrist."

Millikin's Pre-Professional program has prepared Martin in more ways than one. She was given instant connections to other pre-professional students on campus; was given the preparation she needed for graduate study entry exams; was taught how to perform in rigorous courses; and learned how to build a resume for graduate studies.

"I knew what I wanted to do, I was really confident in the beginning, but I wasn't necessarily sure if I had all the tools to do so," said Martin. "I was able to become really sure of myself and I've grown as an individual."

Following graduation in May 2020, Martin will attend Indiana University's School of Optometry. But before she leaves Millikin, she has a bit of advice for her fellow Millikin students.

"Do not be afraid of what you can do at Millikin," Martin advised. "Put your hands in everything you do because you can do it well. You can really make a difference."

James Millikin Awards celebrate non-alumni support

On Oct. 8, 2019, Millikin University honored Ritchie and Sandra Barnett and the Brechnitz Group of Raymond James and Associates Inc. with its most prestigious non-alumni awards.

The James Millikin Awards, given out each year during the University's Fall Associates Dinner, recognize non-alumni friends of the University who have shown outstanding financial and volunteer support for Millikin. The University's Board of Trustees confers these honors annually, recognizing one exceptional individual or couple, and one exceptional business, organization or foundation. 

This year's honorees were joined at Millikin's University Commons by an enthusiastic crowd, including President Dr. Patrick E. White and his wife, Chris; Millikin Associates Chair Kara Demirjian Huss; and Millikin Student Ambassador Chelsi Jones, a junior political science major from Decatur, Ill.

"We really appreciate what Millikin does for the community," said Ritchie Barnett. "We have been fortunate enough to have our generation receive the blessings and the contributions of our prior generations to build buildings and create this fine university, and strongly feel that it is our responsibility amongst our generation to continue to contribute…so the next generations can continue to benefit from improvements to Millikin University and our community."

In his remarks, Erik Brechnitz also emphasized this partnership between Decatur and Millikin: "The Brechnitz Group could use our time, talent and treasures for a lot of different organizations and institutions, and we focus on Millikin University as the place where we think we can make the biggest difference in the lives of people. It is the cultural and intellectual soul of the community," he said.

More about the recipients

Ritchie and Sandra Barnett have been generous friends of Millikin University for more than 35 years. Their faithful support of scholarships and the Millikin Fund has helped countless students attain their dream of a Millikin education. They also established and support the Robert F. Tomlinson and Juanita Tomlinson Gates Scholarship, which is awarded annually to one or more deserving students majoring in music with a minimum 3.0 GPA. In addition, the couple's generous support of the Center for Theatre & Dance, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, the School of Music and past capital campaign projects, including Transform MU, has been an important part of the momentum to move Millikin forward.

The Barnetts are members of the Millikin Associates and the Millikin College of Fine Arts Patrons Society, and faithfully attend Associates meetings as well as many other University events and functions. A longtime vice president and trust officer at First National Bank of Decatur, Ritchie retired from the banking industry at Busey Bank.

The Barnetts have been active in the community over the years, with involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra Guild, the Macon County Historical Society, Oglesby Mansion and Partners in Education. Ritchie has used his banking expertise to help several community organizations set up endowments to ensure long-term support. Sandra, a master gardener, helped design the floral gardens at the Decatur Public Library and sang with both the Greater Decatur Chorale and her church choir.

The Brechnitz Group of Raymond James and Associates Inc. is a team of financial professionals providing a wide range of comprehensive wealth management services to individuals and institutional clients. Current partners of the firm are Erik C. Brechnitz, Walter L. Sparks, James R. Neff '78, J. Bret Mason, Gregory R. Huck '85, Beth Nolan MBA '04 and Rich Kaczynski '12.

Loyal friends of Millikin, the Brechnitz Group is a sponsor of the Big Blue Club Golf Outing and has supported the Millikin Fund and various University athletic teams over the years. They recently established and endowed the Erik C. Brechnitz Business Experience Fund to provide financial assistance for travel and lodging expenses incurred by Tabor School of Business students who have secured an internship. The first recipient was announced last spring and used the funds to pursue a summer internship at Ameren corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.

Erik Brechnitz served on the Millikin Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2008 and now serves as a trustee emeritus. Brechnitz is currently chairman of the Marco Island city Council. In 2018, he received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Millikin. He has also earned recognition on the University's Wall of Philanthropy for his lifetime giving. Jim Neff '78 served on Millikin's Board of Trustees from 2005–2016, and returned to Board service in July 2019. In recognition of his loyalty and generosity to his alma mater, Neff was named the recipient of the 2019 Alumni Loyalty Award.

Millikin Associates

In April 1959, the Millikin Associates held its first meeting. The group was formed at the request of the Millikin Board of Trustees, to provide a medium for the exchange of ideas regarding the role of education in society. More than 55 years later, the group continues to be an important link between the University and the community it serves, helping to interpret local higher education needs and making available the resources and cultural advantages of a thriving University.

A "Day in the Life" of a Millikin education major

Students in Millikin University's School of Education are put in a unique position to gain hands-on field experiences starting their very first semester as well as benefit from co-teaching opportunities. All of these experiences lead to students who are prepared to be teachers and are qualified to enter the workforce right after graduation.

The Millikin School of Education is also doing its part when it comes to addressing the need for future educators through its annual Tomorrow's Teachers Conference. This year's conference, the 6th annual, was held on Oct. 7. The conference provides a venue of support for Illinois high school students who are interested in education-related careers as they are shown a "day in the life" of a Millikin education major.

"We brought in junior and senior high school students from area schools. The students were designated to go to specific classes and were involved with a variety of group activities," said Dr. Pamela Barnes, director of the School of Education at Millikin. "We closed our session with an awarding of a $2,000 scholarship for each attendee."

This year's conference had the largest attendance in its six years with 100 students from across the state being registered to participate.

In the morning, students were divided up into three groups with one group taking part in a "Becoming Blue Selfie Tour" of campus; one group taking part in musical games and activities in Pilling Chapel; and the third group working on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) experiments with Dr. Anne Rammelsberg, associate professor of biology.

The conference continued with more specific sessions on project-based learning and innovative education. Students experienced virtual reality in Millikin's New Technologies Studio in the University Commons as Rachel Bicicchi, director of online learning, led a session on the "future of education."

Dr. Lyle Salmi, professor and chair of the Art Department, introduced easy printmaking as part of his art education session, and Dr. Joyce Bezdicek, associate professor of education, led a discussion on early childhood education from a global perspective with a look at preschool from three different cultures.

In Kaeuper Hall at the Perkinson Music Center, Dr. Neal Smith, associate professor of music, led a drumline of future music educators and offered insight into Millikin's music education program.

"It's a big program that currently has 80 students and it's something we're well known for because we have a lot of former students who are out teaching around the country," Smith said. "Our students are getting jobs well before they even graduate."

Smith added, "Our emphasis at Millikin for a long time has been offering practical experiences to undergraduates. You do a lot of work in schools directly with kids in situations where you're the teacher, and we do that very early in the program even as freshmen. Because of Millikin's size and scope, and because music is a big deal on campus, it's a great place for those who like to dabble. We have many students who can sing and play – Millikin is a good place to do a little bit of everything."

Students also had a chance to tour Dennis Lab School in Decatur, Ill., a preschool through 8th grade partnership school that has transformed learning using the concept of project-based Learning.

A student panel discussion was held during lunch with Millikin education majors Maggie Baltz from Millstadt, Ill.; Destiny Musick from Assumption, Ill.; Evan Miller from Springfield, Ill.; and Megan Garrison from Buffalo, Ill. While taking questions from the audience, the students shared their thoughts on what inspired them to become teachers.

"I came to Millikin because of hands-on experiences and you get to do an internship during a semester where you get to work in the classroom," said Baltz. "I really like that because I am a hands-on learner, I want to be in the classroom."

Evan Miller added, "I knew I liked working with kids and I have a passion for knowledge and wanting to learn more. It wasn't until someone started talking about education and why it would be important for me as a black man to be in education. It's important to me because less than one percent of elementary education teachers are black men and almost 40 percent of school age children are minorities – it's important to be that mirror. I have a passion for making a difference and that's where I am."

Dr. Pamela Barnes says the conference is a great recruitment tool for Millikin and addresses the teacher shortage that is impacting Illinois.

"It's also a great recruitment tool for many education programs, and we want to bring students to campus and show them what we do in terms of Performance Learning," Barnes said. "We get students out into the field their freshmen year and that's unlike many other education programs."

Dr. Barnes says the School of Education collected information on each of the registered participants and their interest areas. "We went through each of the students and paired them up with either sitting in on classes or assigning them to activities they were interested in," she said. "Sometimes this is their first experience with Millikin and to have them come to campus for the day, it allows them an opportunity to interact with faculty, students and staff."

Dr. Barnes noted, "I think one of the best assets from doing an event like this is when they see us interact with our students on campus. I think that sets the tone and that we have faculty on campus who are looking out for the students' best interest. I do believe we have a very good impact on students who attend the conference."  

Millikin event offers free professional attire for students

First impressions last longer, get talked about more and can be a deciding factor in how you are perceived as a professional. It's no secret that appearance and attire play a major role in how you are viewed by a future employer.

With this inevitable truth in mind, a future of interviews, internships, careers and a tight college budget, "Dress to Impress" at Millikin University was born.

The event took place on Oct. 13, 2019, on the 3rd floor of the University Commons, and the Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Room was quickly filled with eager students needing professional attire.

Alex Pratt, a senior information systems major from Springfield, Ill., and president of Delta Mu Delta (DMD) led the way with the event.

"The idea for the event was suggested to Delta Mu Delta from the Dean of the Tabor School of Business, Dr. Najiba Benabess," said Pratt. "We saw the need for students to have the opportunity to receive free professional attire so that they can confidently approach any interview and internship in style."

Delta Mu Delta is a business honor society that recognizes and encourages academic excellence of students at qualifying colleges and universities to create a DMD community that fosters the well-being of its individual members and the business community through life-time membership. Millikin's chapter, Xi Sigma, was installed on Feb. 23, 2017. The chapter's mission is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business. Membership is open to junior and senior Tabor School of Business students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.  

The planning for the event took place over the course of several months. From planning to executing, Dress for Success had several key partners that helped make the event a success. Waite's Dry Cleaners and Pride Dry Cleaners and Launderers provided dry cleaning for donated clothing as well as clothes racks to hang the clothing during the event.

Along with the dry cleaners, Dress to Impress also partnered with Millikin's Center for Academic and Professional Performance (CAPP). CAPP representatives Chelsea Gilles, academic intervention specialist, and Alicia Gullidge, student employment specialist, were on hand to provide brief resume checks and advice for any students on how to get started with their resume.

Millikin's School of Theatre and Dance also assisted with the event as Jana Henry Funderburk, professor of theatre and dance who specializes in costume design, offered alterations for the clothing that students picked out. Zack Stroud, a representative of The Brass Horn, a local business professional clothing store in Decatur, Ill., was on hand to offer his services to help students find clothing that fit and matched.

Over 50 students attended the event and more than 160 clothing items were donated. Pratt says Delta Mu Delta and the Tabor School of Business plan to make Dress to Impress an annual event with future plans to coincide with Millikin's internship fair as well as accepting donations from the Decatur community in addition to the Millikin community.

"This event is important to the Millikin community because it gives students the chance to have accessibility to something that not everyone has access to," said Pratt. "Most students, especially those in the Tabor School of Business, need business professional clothing at some point during their time here at Millikin and after. This event was a way to give students the opportunity to find clothing they can use and also understand the importance of wearing clothing that properly fits."

Textbook to help students learn more about green chemistry and its future

Green chemistry is defined as the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. It involves the design of materials and methods to help reduce negative impacts, whether they are environmental, economic, or effect personal health and safety.

There are many benefits to green chemistry. For instance, it provides cleaner air; cleaner water; increases safety for workers in the chemical industry; helps provide safer consumer products of all types; helps products become more energy efficient and reduces the amount of waste or harmful matter that can found in the environment. The hope is that eventually all chemistry will become green chemistry.

To help students learn more about green chemistry and its future, Dr. George Bennett, professor of chemistry at Millikin University, published his first online, interactive textbook titled "Green Chemistry and Laboratory Safety."

The textbook serves as an introduction to green chemistry and the relationship between green chemistry and laboratory safety. Chapter topics include an introduction to green chemistry, hazard and risk assessment, green chemistry and lab safety, toxicity, green chemistry metrics, green chemistry in industry, green chemistry ethics, and case studies and future work in green chemistry.

"I wanted a book that related green chemistry and laboratory safety together," said Bennett. "Specifically, I wanted it to be more widely available and to make it an introduction to green chemistry. Most of the books on green chemistry are more extensive and would be necessary for a lab course. This book can be used as a way to introduce students to what green chemistry is, the core principles, and then relating it to the students' lab work."

According to Bennett's textbook, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed 12 principles of green chemistry: Prevention, Atom Economy, Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses, Designing Safer Chemicals, Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries, Design for Energy Efficiency, Use of Renewable Feedstocks, Reduce Derivatives, Catalysis, Design for Degradation, Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention and Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention.

Dr. Bennett began working on the textbook during his sabbatical in spring 2018. Initially, the textbook was going to be a study module, but after discussions with his publisher, it evolved into something more. The textbook was available to Millikin students during the spring 2019 semester as a "trial run." After a few edits were made, the textbook was released publicly in July 2019.

"It took little more than a year to publish the book," said Bennett. "Sophomore organic chemistry students at Millikin have already been using the book this fall as well as last spring. I hope people find it useful."

Green chemistry involves an intentional design to reduce or minimize hazards, and that has become a growing concern with academic labs, industrial labs and government labs says Bennett.

"As we get scarcer resources – the need to find more efficient ways to use those resources that are less depleting is becoming more and more important," said Bennett. "For instance, a lot of the materials that go into our electronic devices use exotic metals that are scarce in supply, and whether we can reuse what's in the current devices for future ones or finding alternatives that are easier to acquire, those are problems that are looming."

Even though green chemistry has been around for over 25 years, Dr. Bennett says the process isn't quite mainstream yet, but it's getting close. "There's always new generations of students who are coming along to learn about it, and there are organizations that are trying to get to the point where green chemistry is just chemistry."   

Dr. Bennett's primary teaching responsibilities at Millikin University include organic chemistry lecture and laboratory. His research focuses on green chemistry and synthetic organic methodology. He began working at Millikin University in 1997 after completing his Ph.D. at The Ohio State University.

A look back at Big Blue Homecoming moments

In case you missed it, Millikin University's 2019 Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities had nothing but great Big Blue moments. With this year's theme being "Go Big & Come Home," Millikin alumni, friends and family members came back to campus Sept. 27-29 to reconnect and share stories from the past.

From the annual kick-off event on the Miller Quad to the Workman Family Baseball Field Dedication ceremony; from the Homecoming Parade to the Alumni Award and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees; Homecoming and Family Weekend was everything and more.  

HCFW19 Highlights

On Friday, Sept. 27, the Millikin community joined President Dr. Patrick White and Athletic Director Dr. Craig White for the dedication of Millikin's newest athletic facility and the new home of the Big Blue Baseball program, the Workman Family Baseball Field. Attendees took a tour of the facility and watched the Big Blue Baseball team take the field for a team scrimmage.

That same evening, Millikin Alumni Award recipients were honored at a celebratory dinner and program held in the Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Rooms on the 3rd floor of the University Commons. This year's honorees were:

• Co-Alumnus of the Year: Don McIntyre '52 and Nancy Todd McIntyre '53
• Merit Award: Sarah Smith-Raschen '98
• Merit-Loyalty Award: Terry Peel '68
• Loyalty Award: James "Jim" Neff '78
• Young Alumnus Award: Dian Romonosky '11

On Saturday, Sept. 28, Millikin's Homecoming and Family Weekend Parade was held, followed by the inductions of Millikin's newest Athletic Hall of Fame members on Sunday, Sept. 29. This year's inductees were:

• Mark Coglianese '85, Football, Men's Track and Field
• Jennifer Falbe Douglass '00, Women's Basketball, Cross Country
• Terri Jones Kawczynski '85, Women's Basketball
• Debbie Kiick, Volleyball Coach, Softball Coach
• Kevin Wolff '85, Wrestling

We are already looking forward to next year's Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities which are set for Oct. 2-4, 2020. Additionally, please let us know what we got right and what you would like to see next year by taking our feedback survey. With your help, we can make HCFW20 even better.

Dr. Dan Monroe to serve as Illinois Historian on ALPLM Board of Directors

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has appointed Dr. Dan Monroe, associate professor of history and chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Millikin University, to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) Board of Directors. Dr. Monroe will serve as the Illinois Historian on the board as mandated by the enabling legislation.

"I'm grateful to Governor J.B. Pritzker for nominating me to the ALPLM Board of Trustees," said Monroe. "The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a priceless state and national resource with a dedicated staff. I look forward to advancing the mission of the ALPLM as the Illinois Historian."

Throughout his career, Dr. Monroe has been actively involved in celebrating Illinois' rich history. In May 2019, he was elected to serve a two-year term as president of the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS). In January 2017, he was appointed chair of the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council for the 2017-2019 term. Before his appointment as chair, he previously served on the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Board for a three-year term, including one year as chair. In February 2018, Dr. Monroe was elected to the Board of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln Association (ALA), and is currently serving a three-year term.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees was established to set policy and advise the ALPLM Agency and the Executive Director on programs related to the ALPLM Agency. The duties of the ALPLM Agency Board include: setting policies and establishing programs for implementation in support of the mission and goals of the ALPLM Agency; engaging in marketing activities designed to promote the ALPLM Agency; creating and executing seminars or other conferences as may be necessary or advisable to the ALPLM Agency and more.

Dr. Monroe received a Ph.D. in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998 where he worked with Robert W. Johannsen. Dr. Monroe was the John C. Griswold Distinguished Professor of History at Millikin from 2008-2010. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Illinois History and is the author of three books: "The Republican Vision of John Tyler" (2003), "At Home with Illinois' Governors: A Social History of the Illinois Executive Mansion" (2002) and "Shapers of the Great Debate on the Civil War: A Biographical Dictionary" (2005), with co-author Dr. Bruce Tap.

Dr. Monroe received the Heiligenstein Award for Teaching Excellence and was a fellow at the Virginia Historical Society and Lincoln Legal Papers. He has been a faculty member of Millikin's History Department since 2006.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to telling the story of America's 16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern technology. The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, as well as approximately 12 million items pertaining to all aspects of Illinois history. The museum uses traditional exhibits, eye-catching special effects and innovative storytelling techniques to educate visitors.

Appointments to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board are pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.