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Angie Louden has been a long-term resident of Macomb, outside of a short term in Vermont. She lives near the campus with her four children and husband, also a WIU graduate both completing her High School and WIU Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration here. Since coming to the Veteran Resources Center, she has been instrumental in assisting hundreds of Active Duty, Reservists, and Veteran students, along with their families; having served the longest of any of the current staff in the center, she is our institutional memory. In addition to working at VRC, she has previously worked in multiple other offices on campus such as the Centennial Honors College, Student Activities, Athletics, and Educational Studies. She enjoys skiing, biking and being outdoors with her family, and has been able to travel to China, Jamaica, and Canada.

Chyneah Holt is a freshman here at WIU majoring in Social Work. Her hometown is located in Clinton, IL where she graduated high school from. Chyneah enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2023 and has been in for 3 years now. She enjoys working in the military, but foresees pursuing her career in the medical field after graduating college. Spending her time at the Veterans Resource Center, Chyneah hopes to use her background skills to help attract on-campus students to the center through passion and advocating. Aside from working at the Veterans Resource Center, Chyneah has completed over 80 hours of community service, participated in Big Brother Big Sister, mentored highschool freshman, joined on campus clubs and Greek life. Her pastimes, she enjoys playing volleyball, going on walks with her friends, road trips, and going on little adventures!

David Arkebauer is a Junior here at WIU majoring in Construction Management and Facilities, with a minor in Business. He graduated from Greenview High School, in his hometown of Greenview, Illinois. During High School he was in a Lincoln Technical Education Center (LTEC) Program where he with other high schoolers built houses to be sold after completion. During his time in the program for two years as a Junior and a Senior, David was able to assist in building two houses. Following High School, David also went on to graduate from Lincoln Land Community College, with his Associate's degree in Science. During this period, he also helped teach kids at basketball camps and was an Assistant Coach for the Greenview Jr. High and Sr. High School Golf teams. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, basketball, working out, and hanging with his friends. After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he intends to continue working or managing construction sites. While working at the Veterans Resource Center he plans on helping students use their military benefits and other resources for their success.

Doug Davis is a Senior at WIU majoring in Social Work and current president of the WIU Social Work Student Association (SWSA).

Following graduation from Chaparral High School in Phelan, CA, Doug enlisted in the United States Army in 2010 as a Unit Supply Specialist, where he served in Texas, Kuwait, and a few other locations until he was honorably discharged from the Army in 2014.

After completing his undergraduate education at WIU, he plans to go on to earn his Master’s degree in Social Work to help treat and provide guidance to veterans, service members, and neurodiverse adults as a licensed therapist. Similarly, while attending WIU and within the community, to set veterans, service members and others up for success, Doug aims to provide optimum service to veterans and service members by working at the Veterans Resource Center.

In addition to working at the VRC, Doug also provides guidance, leadership, and academic support to K-12 students with a local non-profit organization in an afterschool program, serves on an appeal committee, as a mentor in a mentorship pilot program, and as a standing member of the Kappa Sigma Chapter of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society. In his free time, Doug enjoys traveling domestically and internationally, attending live shows, playing guitar, watching films, and spending time with friends, family, and loved ones.

As Director, working within the Student Services Department, in collaboration with other University departments and community organizations, Ronald Pettigrew leads the Center in coordinating Western Illinois University services and resources in one centralized location to ensure all Veterans and service members are afforded the greatest opportunities for success.

Ronald also continues to serve in the Reserves as a military chaplain, with over thirty years of military experience. As a Chaplain and military officer, he has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Far East, Near East and Pacific with multiple deployments and tours in combat or direct support of those serving in combat. From his military training and experiences, he is a certified trainer in Combat Operation Stress Control, Family Wellness and Critical Incident Stress Debriefings.

Ron previously served for close to ten years as an Academic Advisor at Western Illinois University within the General Studies Degree Program within the School of Global Education and Outreach, previously known as the School of Distance Learning and Outreach. Ron also worked as a Resident Hall Advisor and Director at previous universities he attended and served as a Graduate Advisor in the Multicultural Center and Provost's Office for the First Year Experience and also as a Peer Mentor Coordinator at Western.

Ron received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Southern California (1987), Master of Divinity in Urban Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois (1996), and Master of Science from Western Illinois University in College Student Personnel (2009).

In higher education and military arenas, he has taught or co-taught courses in Effective Communication, Career Development, Theology, African American Studies, Research, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Urban Ministry, Intercultural and College Student Personnel courses.

Ronald has immense passion for military affiliated students and all things related to the military for that matter. You will find him going the extra mile assisting students, and nothing frustrates him more than military students not fully taking advantage of the resources that are due them. He is a dedicated Reservist, Center Director, father, chaplain, mentor, son, and friend to the people around him. His signature question when he picks up the phone is "How can I be a blessing to you?".

Skyler Funk is now a Graduate Student here at WIU studying Public Safety Administration with a PBC in Emergency Management. She graduated from GCMS High School, in her hometown of Gibson City, IL. Skyler enlisted in the Army National Guard back in 2019 and has been in for almost 4 years. She plans to continue her military career after graduating college. While working at the Veterans Resource Center, she hopes to help contribute to the success of incoming and current students. In addition to working at the VRC Skyler has been a substitute teacher in her hometown, took part in honors society in high school, and has been a part of many clubs. In her free time she enjoys working out and enjoying time with her friends such as watching a movie, playing card games, or even just doing homework.

WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Sherman Hall / 1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455 USA

Phone: (309) 298-1414
info@wiu.edu