Inauguration of Eric R. Jensen

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  Welcome

  Jonathan D. Green

  The text of Provost Green's remarks are available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A photograph of Dr. Green is also linked here.

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  Poem for the Inauguration: The Spirit Line

  Joanne Diaz and Michael Theune

  The text of this poem is available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A photo of Drs. Diaz and Theune is also available here.

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  Invocation for President Jensen’s Inauguration

  Elyse Nelson Winger

  These remarks are available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A photograph of University Chaplain Elyse Nelson Winger is also linked here.

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  Introduction of the President

  George A. Vinyard

  These remarks are available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A photograph of Dr. Vinyard is also linked here.

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  Inauguration Program

  Illinois Wesleyan University

  The program is available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A diagram of the platform seating arrangements and photograph of the Platform Party are also linked here. The platform party was comprised of:

  George A. Vinyard ’71 Chair, Board of Trustees
  Jean M. Baird ’80 Secretary, Board of Trustees and Chair of Presidential Search Committee
  Eric R. Jensen President of the University
  Lane Bennett ’18 President of Student Senate
  R. Kent Cook Professor of Music and Co-Chair of the Inaugural Steering Committee
  Joanne Diaz Associate Professor of English
  Linda French Professor of Physics
  Jonathan D. Green Provost and Dean of the Faculty
  Eric Gordon 2015 Max Starkey Service Award recipient
  Vaughn Hoffman Board of Trustees and Senior Minister Wesley United Methodist Church
  Deon Hornsby ’97 Board of Trustees
  Elly L. Jones ’91 Board of Trustees and President of the Alumni Association
  Jamie-Rose Guarrine ’00 Vocalist and Assistant Professor of Voice, UMass Amherst
  Michael Theune Professor of English
  Richard F. Wilson President Emeritus
  Elyse Nelson Winger University Chaplain
  Michael B. Young Robert W. Harrington Endowed Professor of History

  A video of the ceremony is available at https://youtu.be/p4tqbmQALeQ?t=20m59s

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  Inaugural Address: The Liberal Arts in the 21st Century: Spotlight on Collaborative Engagement

  Eric R. Jensen

  The text of this talk is available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A photograph of President Jensen is also linked here.

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  Calls to Leadership

  Deon Hornsby, Class of 1997; Richard F. Wilson; Elly Jones, Class of 1991; Michael B. Young; Eric Gordon; and Lane Bennett, Class of 2018

  Below is a document containing the combined remarks delivered by the following representatives from across the Illinois Wesleyan community:
  From the Board – Deon Hornsby ’97, Board of Trustees
  From a Presidential Perspective – Richard F. Wilson, President Emeritus
  From Alumni – Elly Jones ’91, President of the Alumni Association
  From Faculty – Michael B. Young, Robert W. Harrington Endowed Professor of History
  From Staff – Eric Gordon, 2015 Max Starkey Service Award recipient
  From Students – Lane Bennett ’18, President of Student Senate

  The speakers' photographs and their remarks are also available for download here. A video of the ceremony is available at https://youtu.be/p4tqbmQALeQ?t=20m59s

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  Benediction

  Vaughn Hoffman

  These remarks are available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. A photograph of Rev. Hoffman is also linked here.

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions Program

  Illinois Wesleyan University

  The theme for these artistic and scholarly sessions was "The Liberal Arts in the 21st Century: A Spotlight on Collaborative Engagement."

  These sessions focused on how the collaborative process adds value to an Illinois Wesleyan liberal arts experience.

  The program for this two-day series of events is available for viewing below and may be downloaded above.

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: LGBTQ+ Identity at IWU: Measuring and Enhancing a Climate of Inclusion

  Tim Reardanz, Class of 2015; Matthew Damschroder; Avery Amerson, Class of 2017; and Paige Buschman, Class of 2017

  April 1, 2016; 3:45–4:15 pm

  Illinois Wesleyan aspires to be a campus that fully embraces diversity to further its educational mission and purpose. Strides have been made in recent years to more fully embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBQ+) and others marginalized around sexual orientation, and transgender and gender nonconforming people (TGNC) and those marginalized around gender identity. This process gained traction with a climate survey of LGBT identity and experience that was administered in Spring 2013 and developed through a student–staff collaboration. This session will explore that collaboration and the ways it opened the doors to a period of significant change on campus.

  
  Presenters: Tim Reardanz ’15, Graduate Hall Director at Bowling Green State University
  Matthew Damschroder, Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life Student
  

  Respondents: Avery Amerson ’17, Psychology major
  Paige Buschman ’17, Sociology major

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: IWU on the Westside: A Partnership with the West Bloomington Revitalization Project

  Deborah Halperin; Karen Schmidt; Kirsten Slaughter, Class of 2016; and Julie Lewis, Class of 2016

  April 1, 2016; 2:45–3:15 pm

  Illinois Wesleyan plays an active role in neighborhood revitalization through a longtime partnership with the West Bloomington Revitalization Project. Successful results of this collaborative effort include the Book Bike, the Veggie Oasis, the Tool Library, the Allin Street mural, and the Porch Project. This partnership puts the IWU mission into action.

  Presenters: Deborah Halperin, Director, Action Research Center
  Karen Schmidt, University Librarian

  Student Respondents: Kirsten Slaughter ’16, Environmental Studies major
  Julie Lewis ’16, sociology and Hispanic studies double major

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: High Voltage Poetry: On the Poetic Turn

  Michael Theune; Dan Smart, Class of 2006; Kristina Dehlin, Class of 2016; and Jake Morris, Class of 2018

  April 1, 2016; 3:15–3:45 pm

  Like plot twists in novels and movies, the poetic turn—sometimes called the “volta”— contributes significantly to the power of great poetry. Strangely, attention to the turn has been sporadic rather than systematic. In this session, we will attend closely to the turn and its surprises. And, surprise: you’ll never read a poem the same way again.
  
  Presenters: Michael Theune, Professor of English and Writing Program Director
  Dan Smart ’06, author of the blog “Rhythm Is the Instrument”

  Student Respondents: Kristina Dehlin ’16, English-Writing and Philosophy double major
  Jake Morris ’18, Environmental Studies major

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: Good, Better, Best: How ARC, State Farm, and Local Non-Profits Empower Students to “Get Stuff Done” in the Community Partnership Program

  Bevin Cowie, Class of 2010; Adam Garcia, Class of 2016; Brianna Piro, Class of 2017; and Tia Patsavas, Class of 2016

  April 2, 2016; 9:30–10 am

  The Action Research Center and State Farm have partnered with non-profts for the past 10 years to provide a unique and innovative dual internship experience for Illinois Wesleyan students. The Community Partnership Program (CPP) puts students at the intersection of corporations, non-profts, and the community, leading to innovative community development.

  Presenters: Bevin Cowie ’10, Action Research Center Coordinator
  Adam Garcia ’16, CPP 2015 Intern and State Farm Employee

  Student Respondents: Brianna Piro ’17, psychology & sociology double major
  Tia Patsavas ’16, English-writing major

  The presentation slides are available for viewing below and may be downloaded above. The students' responses will be linked here when possible. A video of the presentation is available at https://youtu.be/ZRuSUUKImUE?list=PLiP9aNdnuG5V6X5QHlYT_Tzp1VdFioLfq

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: Can a Multicellular Bacterium Prepare Students for Multiple Career Paths?

  Loralyn Cozy; Rachel Ende, Class of 2016; Megan Smeets, Class of 2017; and Christina Khouri, Class of 2016

  April 2, 2016; 10–10:30 am

  How do I support students pursuing their own unique professional goals using my discipline as a backdrop? This, for me, is the defining question for mentorship at a liberal arts institution. Three students and I will consider how collaboration in one discipline, microbiology, can shape a variety of professional trajectories.

  Presenters: Loralyn Cozy, Assistant Professor of Biology
  Rachel Ende ’16, Biology major

  Student Respondents: Megan Smeets ’17, Biology & Psychology double major
  Christina Khouri ’16, Biology & Hispanic Studies double major

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: Blending the Liberal Arts and Nursing: Creating a Portrait for the 21st Century

  Wendy Kooken; Noël Kerr; Morgan Hussey, Class of 2018; and Anissa Ortiz, Class of 2016

  April 2, 2016; 9–9:30 am

  This presentation highlights interdisciplinary collaboration between liberal arts and School of Nursing faculty. An exhibit of William Utermohlen’s paintings, depicting changes as his Alzheimer’s disease progressed, was showcased. Nine discrete on-campus events facilitated exploration of the disease from interdisciplinary perspectives, using the exhibit as a backdrop for rich discussion.
  
  Presenters: Wendy Kooken, Assistant Professor of Nursing
  Noël Kerr, Assistant Professor of Nursing Student
  
  Respondents: Morgan Hussey ’18, Nursing major
  Anissa Ortiz ’16, Art major

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  Artistic and Scholarly Sessions: At the Crossroads: Anthropology, Interfaith, and Experiential Learning

  Rebecca Gearhart; Elyse Nelson Winger; Sana Shafiuddin, Class of 2017; and Lisa Mishra, Class of 2015

  April 2, 2016; 10:30–11 am

  Chaplain Elyse Nelson Winger and Professor Rebecca Gearhart will offer a shared program on how anthropology intersects with Evelyn Chapel’s commitment to multifaith engagement. They will focus on an Alternative Spring Break to Rosebud Reservation and Sinte Gleska University in March 2014, and the 2015-2016 on-campus series Intersections: A Walking Exploration of Contemporary Religious Practices.

  Presenters: Rebecca Gearhart, Professor of Anthropology & Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
  Elyse Nelson Winger, University Chaplain

  Student Respondents: Sana Shafiuddin ’17, Nursing major
  Lisa Mishra ’15, Economics & Religion double major

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  Artistic and Scholarly Session: A Thirty-seven Year Collaboration: Mark Genrich and Kevin Strandberg

  Mark Genrich, Class of 1983; Kevin Strandberg; Michael Kelly, Class of 2016; and Michelle Wong, Class of 2016

  April 1, 2016; 2:15–2:45 pm
  These two talks will detail a long-term artistic collaboration between an art professor and an art student, touching base through the years and informing each other’s work. Now things have come full circle as the alumnus begins a teaching career in the University’s new Design, Technology & Entrepreneurship program.
  
  Presenters: Kevin Strandberg, Director, Ames School of Art
  Mark Genrich ’83
  
  Student Respondents: Michael Kelly ’16,Computer Science major
  Michelle Wong ’16,English–Writing major

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  Alumni Showcase

  Kevin Dunn, Class of 1977; Carlina Tapia-Ruano, Class of 1977; Dave Kindred, Class of 1963; Demetria Kalodimos, Class of 1981; Marcus Dunlop, Class of 2008; and Stephen Ondra, Class of 1980

  Below is a document containing the combined remarks delivered by six Illinois Wesleyan alumni about their experiences with collaborative engagement and the liberal arts.

  Martha Aguirre, Class of 2017, created this transcript, based on outlines provided by some of the speakers and the recording available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FptKx2P9oVg

  The speakers' photographs and this transcript are also available for download here.