Alumni

General Information • Application • Current Members

Alumni Council

Made up of 25 alumni appointed to three-year terms and the president of the Student Alumni Association, this board meets four times a year. 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.

Welcome Letter - Alumni Council President Eldon Brown '96

eldonWIU Alumni Association,

It is with great honor and excitement that I assume the role of President of the WIU Alumni Council. Having been a member since 2013, I am deeply committed to supporting the University, the Alumni Association, and all our Western alumni. 

WIU has faced many tough challenges in recent times. The landscape of higher education has experienced significant change, and Western has had to adapt accordingly. We continue to fiercely vie for a share of an ever-shrinking number of high school graduates and compete for limited outside funding. We remain determined to confront challenges head-on, working closely with the University, the Board of Trustees, and the WIU Foundation.

There is much to celebrate at our alma mater. The construction of the Center for Performing Arts is well underway, bringing a state-of-the-art facility to the Macomb campus and the broader region. Our distinctive academic programs continue to earn recognition and accolades, and the change of athletic conferences will enhance our ability to compete for and attract talented student-athletes. Additionally, we are nearly halfway to our goal of the $100 million giving campaign, For the W, which directly supports scholarships, student support, technology, and various other areas on campus.

I have had the privilege of hearing from countless alumni about how WIU shaped their lives and careers beyond graduation. These testimonials resonate deeply with me, and I encourage all of you to take a moment and commit to supporting WIU in at least one way this year. 

Whether it's contributing to your former academic department, club, sport, or student organization through a donation here , returning for a campus visit, volunteering to speak to a class, or recommending WIU to high school students in your life, your involvement and support are invaluable. Serving on the Alumni Council is yet another meaningful way to give back and make a difference.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming WIU Mega Reunion on Sept. 8-10 and Homecoming on Oct. 13-14, where we will welcome thousands of alumni back to campus. We also continue to host Alumni Association events across the country for those, like me, who live far from Macomb. I look forward to the opportunity to meet many of you during these events!

I want to thank our outgoing President Matthew Toland '05 '10 for his dedication and leadership. As I step into this new role, I am grateful for the trust placed in me. Together we will build upon the proud legacy we have inherited and support WIU for the future. I look forward to connecting with you, hearing your ideas, and working together to shape a future worthy of the Leathernecks name. Please do no hesitate to reach out to me at eldonbrown@gmail.com. 

Go 'Necks!

Sincerely,

eldon

Eldon Brown '96

President, WIU Alumni Council

 

Interested in joining the Alumni Council?

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. The Alumni Council strives to include a broad range of members that accurately reflects our student body and alumni community. Applicants are evaluated based on a number of factors, including engagement since graduating (e.g. attendance, giving back to WIU financially, referring students, returning to campus to speak to classes, offering career mentorship, etc.) and general Leatherneck Pride. If you or someone you know is an active alumnus that would be a good candidate, please fill out our online application form. The deadline is April 1.

2023 Alumni Council Meetings

  • Friday, October 13
  • Saturday, January 13 (Quad Cities Campus)
  • Saturday, April 13

2023 - 2024 Council Members

Alumni Council Featured Member

Victoria Kappel 2016, 2018


Degree: BS in Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2016, BA in Spanish in 2016 and MS in Communications Sciences & Disorders in 2018 from WIUVictoria

Business Information: Medical Speech Language Pathologist for Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago, Illinois

Advice for Freshmen: WIU is a catalyst for success. If you: have a passion, see a need for a call to action, need advice from a professor, do it. Some of the most influential people I have in my life (mentors, best friends, colleagues,etc.) are from WIU and the Macomb Community. Use your resources!

Favorite WIU Memory: Most favorite: The day I found out I advanced to the interview rounds for the Rhodes Scholarship...but golly I can’t pick just one! Overall LOVED being able to represent WIU on the soccer pitch for 4 years, giving the Honors Convocation Graduation Speaker in 2016, being a teaching assistant in the Department of Communication for Public Speaking, the WIU football tailgates, WIU football conference victories, CONNECKS (organization for individuals with special needs) events.

Family Information/Special Interests and Hobbies: I currently live in the Chicagoland suburbs with my mini Goldendoodle, Oliver. When not working at The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Hospital or in the private practice setting, I stay very involved with my passions: sports, outdoor activities (running, hiking, kayaking, skiing,etc) music (piano & cello), traveling (everywhere!), reading, healthy cooking, and watching ‘The Housewives’ on Bravo, to name a few. I am a coach for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for soccer players who have dreams to play at the national level. In addition, I volunteer and look for every opportunity to help individuals with special needs by volunteering for Special Olympics. I thrive on living life to the fullest and embrace life’s most simple but amazing moments with the people I love and cherish. GO NECKS