AI Conference Chair Lauds Student Researchers
Minzhao (Henryken) Liu '21 and Nico Lopez '21 recently presented their research on optical aberrations at the international society for optics and photonics (SPIE) virtual conference on Emerging Topics in Artificial Intelligence, leaving a strong impression on experts in the field of optics.

Eckley Scholars Pursue Research Across Disciplines
Not even a global pandemic could deter IWU's innovative and self-motivated Eckley Scholars from completing their independent, undergraduate research projects during the summer of 2020:

• Megan Baker '21 — "Queering Jo March: Investigating Gender Identity and Sexuality in Alcott's and Gerwig's Little Women"
• Bobby Koirala '22 — "Constructing Carmichael Numbers of Order 2"
• Yovana Milosevic '21 — "Exotic Tonguing: Immigration Narratives Told through Gurlesque Poems"
• Hannah Ogunnubi '22 — "My Road to Creating a Complete Visual World for a Play"
• Erin Yuan '21 — "Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Antioxidants in Tea"

• The NCAA announced on Oct. 14 that Illinois Wesleyan was awarded hosting responsibilities for two future NCAA Championships: the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Championships and the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships.

Want your event listed on the University Events Calendar and Campus App?

Submit the information using our online form; you can provide virtual event details in the description.

Tuesday, Oct. 20

4 p.m., Virtual – Grad School Crash Course Series - Making the Right Choice: Researching and Choosing Grad Schools – This workshop will be presented by the Hart Career Center's new career advisor, Lisa DeWeert. Please register for the event in Handshake. This presentation will be held virtually on Zoom.

7 p.m., Virtual – Titan Talk (Virtual): "Tackling Climate Change" – Climate change has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural disasters, and as temperatures rise the impacts are expected to negatively impact livelihoods, especially for the most vulnerable communities. To achieve deep decarbonization and avoid the most dramatic impacts of climate change, countries, corporations, and communities are in pursuit of actionable climate solutions. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Karen Petersen '07 – an IWU alumna who is the Climate Change Project Manager for the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy – will discuss her career trajectory, her role at TNC, and how her work is addressing global climate change. Register here for login link. This Titan Talk through the Alumni Engagement Office is presented in partnership with the Biology Department and Environmental Studies Program.

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Through Friday, Oct. 30 – Academic Advising for Spring, May Term and Summer

12 p.m., Zoom – Writing 101: Crafting Strong Papers (Academic Skills Series) – Register here. Students are invited to join the Action Research Center for the Academic Skills Series every Wednesday. Our Student Success Tutors will cover a different topic each week. You can see the full schedule, topics, and recordings of past sessions here: www.iwu.edu/academics/skills

Friday, Oct. 23

7 p.m., Virtual – Murder Mystery – Everybody is guilty until proven innocent. Grab your friends and help solve this mystery murder! Virtual link will be sent out to the student body the day of the event. Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board.

7:30 p.m., Virtual – School of Theatre Arts Streaming Presentation: Mary Jane – Mary Jane is a loving mother who finds herself with a sick child. As she navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son, she finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life. Mary Jane is Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog's remarkably powerful and compassionate portrait of a contemporary American woman striving for grace. Presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. Tickets pending for streaming presentation: www.iwu.edu/theatre/season/

7:30 p.m., Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall – Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra Concert

Saturday, Oct. 24

7:30 p.m., Virtual – School of Theatre Arts Streaming Presentation: Mary Jane

Sunday, Oct. 25

2 p.m., Virtual – School of Theatre Arts Streaming Presentation: Mary Jane

6 p.m., Virtual (Zoom) – Student Senate General Assembly Meeting – Meeting Link

COMING SOON:

Please join us in a variety of ways to appreciate the many contributions of Dr. Brandon Common to campus life at Illinois Wesleyan. In our COVID-19 environment, we have new opportunities to offer our heartfelt congratulations, and we want to provide a couple of options:

1. Virtual recognition reception:  We will gather by Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 3-4 p.m. to honor Brandon's accomplishments during his time at IWU. After remarks, Brandon will be available in a break-out room where you can have some 1-1 time.
1. Meeting ID: 876 6807 5137; Passcode: 443322
2. Virtual Drop-in hours:  While Brandon is always available for walk-in/drop-in connections, we know that our crazy times make this a bit challenging. So, we've scheduled a few "walk-in hours" via Google Calendar. Please complete this Google form to select a time. You will then receive an invitation to choose a 5-minute time.  
1. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 10-11 a.m.
2. Thursday, Oct. 29, 3-4 p.m.
3. Send a note/card:  We are also happy to collect note cards of "thanks" to be presented to Brandon.

• Moulin Rouge!, the Broadway hit executive produced by Bill Damaschke '85, earned 14 Tony nominations.
  
  
• Information Literacy Librarian / Associate Professor Chris Sweet completed the Open Education Network's Certificate in Open Educational Resources (OER) Librarianship. This highly competitive program aims to develop leaders within academic librarianship to aid in the creation and implementation of OERs at participants' institutions. Sweet has also been appointed to the OER Committee of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries of Illinois, which will create a plan for supporting OERs across the consortium.