Alumni

General Information • Application • Current Members

Alumni Council

Made up of 24 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.

WIU Alumni Association Survey - Alumni Council President Eldon Brown '96

eldon

Dear WIU Alumni-

Thank to our WIU Alumni that filled out our survey regarding the University's leadership. The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Dec. 6 to appoint Kristi Mindrup as the University's 13th president, effective immediately, making her the first female president in Western's history. The Board will approve Mindrup's salary and contract at its March meeting. Read more HERE.

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.

2025 Alumni Council Meetings

  • Saturday, July 19
  • Friday, October 17

2024 - 2025 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