Dr. William "Bill" Knox

Director
Email: WL-Knox@wiu.edu

Dr. Knox received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Illinois State University. For two years he taught English Composition and English as a Second Language at WIU. In fact, he was one of the first two WESL instructors hired at Western. He subsequently returned to school to earn a Ph.D. in English and Education from the University of Michigan. While at Michigan, he served as a teaching fellow and resident director in the Pilot Program, a residence education project (for which he received an Outstanding Teaching Assistant award), tutor for the School of Social Work, and lecturer for the English Composition Board. From 1988 until 2006 he was Professor of English at Northern Michigan University where he was appointed Director of Freshman English for six years and Director of the first Honors Program also for six years. He has been the Director of the Centennial Honors College at WIU since July 2006.

Dr. Knox and his family live in Macomb. When he isn’t attending his children’s sports activities and music performances, he gardens, hikes, and canoes. When he is feeling brave, he takes his 1969 Land Rover for a drive!

Dr. Kristine M. Kelly

Associate Director
Email: KM-Kelly2@wiu.edu

Dr. Kelly is a social psychologist who has been a professor in the Psychology Department at WIU since 1997. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento, and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She regularly teaches courses in research methods and social psychology and conducts research on various aspects of interpersonal relationships. Dr. Kelly joined the Centennial Honors College in August 2008 and especially enjoys working with our high caliber students. In her view, “It is always a pleasure to teach great students in the classroom. But it is especially exciting and rewarding when I can provide students with opportunities for leadership, research, grant funding, and so forth, and the students actively pursue these opportunities to fruition. It is wonderful to see them accomplish something that was challenging for them.” Dr. Kelly serves as faculty advisor for the Student Honors Association and ex officio on the Honors Council.

Outside of school, Dr. Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband, John, and two pets: Lily, a golden retriever, and Zach, a black cat. She is obsessed with knitting and competes in sprint triathlons.

Dr. Marcia Carter

Quad Cities Honors Coordinator
Email: MJ-Carter2@wiu.edu

Dr. Carter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration where she regularly teaches courses on topics related to therapeutic recreation, including Clinical Aspects of Therapeutic Recreation, Management in Therapeutic Recreation, Fund Raising and Volunteerism and Programming Leisure Services. Dr. Carter received her doctorate in recreation from Indiana University after earning a bachelor’s degree at Indiana University and master’s degree from Indiana State University. Subsequently, she held positions as undergraduate and graduate program coordinator in recreation and therapeutic recreation at a number of higher education institutions. As Honors Program Coordinator for the Quad Cities campus, Dr. Carter’s duties include teaching GH299 for students beginning their honors portfolios, recruiting new students, advising honors students, and convening the QC Honors Committee.

When she’s not at school you can find Dr. Carter outdoors enjoying tennis, cycling, swimming, hiking, and running.

Dr. Molly Homer

Academic Honors Advisor
Email: MK-Homer@wiu.edu

Dr. Homer grew up in Ames, Iowa. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematical and Computational Sciences from Stanford University and then worked for three years as a database designer for a computer graphics company in Salt Lake City that built flight and submarine simulators for the military. She then moved to Champaign to pursue graduate work in Linguistics at the University of Illinois, where she received a master’s degree and Ph.D. Before coming to WIU she taught linguistics, phonetics, and phonology at several universities including the University of Alberta, UC San Diego, Brown University, and the University of Pittsburgh. In 2003 she became the Honors Advisor at WIU, and she advises honors students on how to meet their honors requirements.

In her free time, Dr. Homer enjoys gardening and bowling.

Ms. Michele J. Aurand

Interdisciplinary Studies Coordinator
Email: MJ-Aurand@wiu.edu

On June 1, Michele Aurand assumed the duties of Coordinator and Academic Advisor for the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. She is responsible for advising students on putting together a major program and selecting classes each semester as well as coordinating the various concentrations with in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. After receiving her B.A. in Speech Communication for Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, Michele completed a M.S.Ed. degree in Counseling from the WIU—Quad Cities Campus. She worked as an Admission Representative at Marycrest International University and then Admissions Counselor at the University of Illinois—Springfield before coming to WIU. Since July 2001 Michele has worked as an Admissions Counselor in the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Michele finds working with college students to be especially rewarding. She reflects, “I get to help students figure out how to make their dreams become a reality. When a student and I work really hard and are able to fit all the pieces together, that is such a great sense of accomplishment!” Michele also looks forward to promoting the new ISP programs to prospective students across the state.

Originally from Dixon, Illinois, Michele enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, skiing, canoeing and kayaking. She loves to attend live music and comedy shows and is an avid Chicago Bears fan. Additionally, Michele serves as the advisor for the Westernettes Danceline and cheerleading coach for the Rushville-Industry basketball cheerleading squad. Her free time is spent with her two “adorable kitties,” Maddie and Olivia unwinding with a good book, iPod, or “really bad reality TV.

Ms. Patty Battles

Office Manager
Email: PK-Battles@wiu.edu

Ms. Battles ensures the efficient operation of the Centennial Honors College, as she has worked in the office for 22 years. One of her primary duties is to coordinate the Academic Honors Convocation ceremonies. She also administers and monitors the many scholarships offered by the Honors College. Further, she sets up and maintains databases of current and prospective students as well as Honors College alumni. Ms. Battles grew up in Tremont, Illinois and has an associate’s degree from Illinois Central College. She states that the best part of her job is “Working with students and being able to work with a vast number of people on campus from administrators to faculty and staff in all kinds of areas.”

In her free time, Ms. Battles spends time with her husband, Rick, three daughters, Kimberly, Nikki, and Lindsay, two sons-in-law, Dustin and Tim, and a significant other, Adam. She has two grandsons, Dreyton and Jaxon, who she says “live way too far away.” She also has a black lab named Josie and a cat named Jasmine. Her favorite hobbies include boating, reading, baking, outdoor activities, and traveling to visit family.

Ms. Linda L. Tribbey

Secretary
Email: LL-Tribbey@wiu.edu

Ms. Tribbey is originally from Denver, Colorado, but was raised all over the United States. She has been in every state in the continental United States except Washington state and Oregon. Prior to working at WIU she was a legal secretary for several different attorneys in New Mexico and Illinois. She has worked at WIU for 20 years in several offices including Financial Aid, Management, Career Services, and Kinesiology. She has been in the Honors College since 2001. Her main duties involve serving as our receptionist, recruiting high school students to join the Honors College, and managing the paperwork for in-course honors projects. She also assists with the Honors Convocation ceremony, Pre-Law Symposium, and Undergraduate Research Day.

Ms. Tribbey is married and has two daughters. She also has two dogs; one weighs 9 lbs. and the other weighs 90 lbs. She is a founding member and treasurer of the Schuyler County Humane Society. Her hobbies include exploring psychic abilities and delving into the paranormal.

Caitlin Salmon

Student Worker
Email: CA-Salmon@wiu.edu

Caitlin is a junior Graphic Communication Major with a Photography/Communication minor from Champaign, Illinois. She has been at WIU and a member of the Centennial Honors College since her freshman year. In her new position, Caitlin will be responsible for updating and maintaining the Honors College website as well as compiling and publishing our monthly newsletter. She is excited about all the opportunities she has had as an honors student. After graduation Caitlin looks forward to a career in graphic design. She also plans to continue photography on the side.

Caitlin’s summer activities included taking a road trip with several friends to Seattle. At home she has a sister, Sara, who is a freshman at the University of Illinois and an “insane” Yorkshire Terrier named Ruby. She also enjoys belly dancing with a troupe in Macomb, cooking, and playing with Photoshop.