Longtime University Spokesman Retires

Fellow WIU graduate to serve as interim

WIU Assistant Vice President for University Relations John Maguire '73 MS '80 retired in November after more than 30 years at Western.

Maguire left to become director of public relations and fund development at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb.

John MaguireHe joined Western as assistant director of news services in 1977, and was named director of news services in 1982. Five years later Maguire was appointed director of University Relations. Named assistant vice president for University Relations in 1994, Maguire directed Western's news, web development, visual production and publication efforts. He served as chief spokesperson for the University and participated as policy adviser for the University's public relations, community relations and marketing programs, which included implementing an integrated marketing plan and graphic design theme for the University. He also worked with the University's Board of Trustees.

Maguire was an associate member of the graduate faculty in the educational and interdisciplinary studies department, teaching in the college student personnel program.

“John has provided exceptional leadership for the University,” said Dan Hendricks, vice president for advancement and public services, upon the announcement of Maguire's retirment. “We are extremely grateful for his years of service; he will be missed.”

During his tenure at Western, Maguire earned the national Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Research Writing Award in 2003 for his dissertation research, “Public Institutions in Higher Education Policies on the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 and the Buckley Amendment.” Under his leadership, University Relations received a CASE silver medal in 1991 for school and college partnerships; a national bronze medal in 1985 for radio programming; and a CASE Grand Award in 1982 for improvement in overall advancement.

A Macomb native, Maguire earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Western. He received his Ph.D. from Illinois State University.

Darcie Dyer Shinberger '89 MS '98, assistant director of University Relations, has been named interim director, while the University conducts a national search for Maguire's replacement. Shinberger has been a member of the University Relations staff since 1994, serving the past years as a public information specialist. Shinberger earned her bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in college student personnel from Western. She also has a master's degree in human resources management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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