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WIU faculty Josh Averbeck and Ashley Frederick have been named to the inaugural Illinois Innovation Network Faculty Fellows cohort.
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WIU Faculty Members Selected for Prestigious IIN Faculty Fellowship

May 12, 2026

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University is proud to announce that Josh Averbeck, professor of Communication and director of the WIU Social Media Lab, and Ashley Frederick, Nursing instructor, have been selected as members of the inaugural cohort of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) Faculty Fellows.

The IIN Faculty Fellows program is a competitive career development initiative designed to recognize and support exceptional research and programming efforts that drive economic and social impact across the state. As fellows, Averbeck and Frederick will each receive a $15,000 grant to advance their respective projects, which focus on leveraging innovation to solve critical challenges in communication and healthcare.

Averbeck says his project as an IIN Fellow will focus on AI literacy and small business support for understanding and implementing artificial intelligence into their operations.

"There is a lot to worry about when it comes to AI, but when used appropriately, local businesses can improve their efficiency, profitability and make businesses more resilient to market fluctuations. The Social Media Lab will provide training and be a resource for the community to promote entrepreneurship and creativity," Averbeck said.

Frederick, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Registered Nurse (RN), Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC), Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), brings extensive clinical and leadership expertise to the fellowship. Recently recognized as one of Illinois Nurses Foundation's "40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders," Frederick's project focuses on developing a practical, evidence-based Root Cause Analysis (RCA) toolkit to support frontline healthcare leaders, particularly in rural and resource-limited settings, in conducting consistent, system-focused patient safety investigations.

"This project translates complex Root Cause Analysis methodologies into practical, plain-language tools that frontline leaders can use immediately, helping bridge the gap between patient safety theory and real-world application," Frederick said.

Over the next 16 months, the IIN Fellows will participate in a rigorous curriculum of skill-building workshops, mentorship with industry experts, and project refinement sessions. The program culminates in a final presentation to the IIN Council, where fellows will share their implementation plans for long-term statewide impact.

For more information on WIU's Communication program, visit wiu.edu/Communication.

For more information on WIU's Social Media Lab, visit wiu.edu/cofac/communication/socialmedialab/index.php.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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