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Alumni Council

Made up of 25 alumni appointed to three-year terms and the president of the Student Alumni Association, this board meets on a quarterly basis at WIU. Members represent the interests of alumni and serve as liaisons to 25 University areas. The council assists in the recruitment of students, selects Alumni Award recipients, and was instrumental in establishing the Student Alumni Association.

NEXT MEETING: Friday, September 21, 2012
Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois

For more information, join the Alumni Council group on RockeNetwork .

2012 Alumni Council Meetings
Saturday, January 28
Saturday, April 28
Friday, September 21

A letter from the Alumni Council President
(from the Fall 2011 Western News)

Kris Kelly, Alumni Council PresidentIt is a privilege and an honor to serve Western Illinois University and the Alumni Association as the president of the Alumni Council. This is a time of change for our alma mater, but we are on a path that will lead to achieving the goals laid out in the University Strategic Plan of Higher Values in Higher Education. Change comes in the form of a new administration with our 11th President, Jack Thomas, and new vice presidents and deans. Change is visible in the progress at WIU-Quad Cities with the construction on the Riverfront Campus. And change comes in all the things, sometimes not so evident, that are done by faculty, staff and students to make Western a great place to learn and grow.

Just over 20 years ago, as a graduate student at WIU, I conducted research and wrote a major paper on alumni involvement.

From that experience, I broadened my understanding of what it means to be involved. It means being an active participant and having a sense of belonging. It is also about connections and being able to contribute. With that in mind, I invite you to become involved alumni of Western Illinois University, and I challenge you to actively participate. Over the next two years, take advantage of at least two of these opportunities: 1) Return to WIU for Homecoming. This is our pinnacle event annually as alumni. 2) Attend an alumni and friends event. The Alumni Association hosts events throughout the country (and even internationally), so please come and actively participate. 3) Share the WIU story. Talk to family, friends and colleagues about your experiences at Western and how they have influenced who you are. 4) Reconnect. With the variety of social media available today, it has become easier to make contact with former roommates, classmates, professors and administrators. Utilize the social media links on the alumni web site. Tell an old friend "hi" or a former professor "thank you." 5) Recruit. The strength of most organizations lies in its future members. For the Alumni Association, that starts with students. Identify friends and family exploring college, and individuals who may be seeking advancement through graduate studies, and encourage them to consider Western.

I look forward to my tenure as president of the association and assessing your progress towards meeting the above challenge. I hope to see many of you at the events I attend and hear about your Western experiences.

With Western Illinois University Pride,
Kristopher L. Kelly '90 MS '92

Alumni Council Members Sought

The WIU Alumni Association is looking for dedicated leaders of all ages, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, career fields, etc. to serve on the WIU Alumni Council. If you or someone you know is an active alumnus that would be a good candidate, please send the nomination form and resume to the Alumni Association at 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455 or fax 309/298-2914. The deadline is March 1. (You may save and email your form to A-Association@wiu.edu only if your computer has Adobe Acrobat Professional, not Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Or, click here to print off and then fill out the nomination form.

2011 - 2012 Council Members

Alumni Council Featured Member

Jim Carter 1975

Jim CarterDegree: Bachelor's degree in Biology from WIU, Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from NIU in 1980 and Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from NIU 1992

Business Information: Retired after a 34-year career in education as Science Department Chairperson at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois

Advice for Freshman: The lessons learned and experiences gained both academically and socially at WIU will serve you well in the future. Make sure you not only immerse yourself in your course work, but also make the most of the opportunities to join the numerous groups and activities found at WIU!

Favorite WIU Memory: Going back to Thompson Hall in the dark after a late afternoon chemistry lab with the feeling that I was actually walking home! Eating dinner on the 18th floor of that dormitory provided me with some of the most picturesque views of the campus I have ever witnessed. Also, I will also never forget sitting with my future wife and Theta Chi Fraternity brothers at Hanson Field as a part of a record crowd of 19,850 vs. Central Michigan. The surrounding campus buildings were colorfully framed by the beautiful red, yellow, and orange leaves of autumn on that crisp day in the in the fall of 1973.

Family Information: My wife Debbie is a 1975 graduate of WIU and currently teaches elementary education in Indian Prairie District 204. We have two daughters, Christie, who is a graduate of UW-Whitewater and currently teaching ELL in Milwaukee and Kelly, who is a 2009 graduate of WIU and will be attending NIU for her masters degree. I am an avid follower of Leatherneck athletics and college sports in general. I spent my early years coaching track and basketball and dabbled some in softball as well.

Other thoughts: WIU is an outstanding institution! It is our duty as graduates to let everyone know!