Listen to ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ faculty, staff and students interviewed on NOWDecatur's Byers & Co.

Members of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ community join host Brian Byers to discuss upcoming events on campus every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m.-8:15 a.m.

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Drone

Each week, members of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ community join host Brian Byers to discuss upcoming events at the University. 

Take a listen to some of the most recent appearances:

Byers & Co.

August 7

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ students and members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Morwin Coney and Keishon Tinon and Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing and Communication Jodi Silotto talked about the upcoming backpack giveaway hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha. 

August 6  

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Director of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Communities Nicole DeLiberis of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, founder of The Nick Project and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ alumni Sophia Schwalbach '19, MBA '20, and Rachel Moran of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation talked about the Do Something Great Awards and the history of the Nick Project.

July 31

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's new Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Dr. Erika Cornelius Smith '05,  talked about returning to ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ and the importance of having a strong relationship with Big Blue alumni. Public Relations Coordinator Matthew Flaten highlighted some upcoming fall semester events. 

July 10 

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's new Women's Basketball Head Coach Kirsten Hammer talked about her history of coaching at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and joining the Big Blue staff. 

July 3

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ President Jim Reynolds talked about his recent announcement that he would be retiring at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. 

June 12

Visiting Instructor of Choral Music Education at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ and Founding Director of The Five Cities Baroque Foundation & Festival Nate Widelitz talked about the upcoming Five Cities Baroque Festival. 

May 15

Spring student Commencement speakers Jake Shumaker and Alela Kinyua talked about their ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Experience and plans after graduation. 

May 9

Marketing and Patron Relations Manager at Kirkland Fine Arts Center LJ Pemberton talked about the upcoming events on campus a concert by alternative veterans Marcy Playground. 

May 8

Director of the Jenelle Orcherton talked about the upcoming summer camps offered by the MCAA. 

May 1

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Director of the School of Social Sciences and Professor of History Brian Mullgardt discussed his new book "Wear Some Armor in Your Hair: Urban Renewal and the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Lincoln Park. " 

April 17

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Assistant Professor in the School of Art & Creative Media Eric Hector talked about the Images in Motion Film Festival.

April 10

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Director of Admission Molly Berry talked about the upcoming Explore Transfer Day events. 

April 3 

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ senior Theatre and Performance Studies major Isabella Hernandez and sophomore Acting major Kadric Bretz spoke about the upcoming production of "Circus Olympus." 

March 27

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Laura Dean talked about her recent human trafficking research trip to Ukraine. 

March 13

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ student-athlete Kyle Hensley and Assistant Track and Field Coach Carrol Whitehouse talk about Kyle's journey to become the NCAA Division III National Champion in the pole vault. 

March 6

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Alumni & Development Senior Director of Development Dan Baker, WJMU General Manager Sam Meister, and Student Manager at WJMU Cole Anderson talked about the capital campaign to replace the tower and antenna for WJMU's on-campus radio station, WJMU 89.5 FM "The Quad." 

February 29

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ students and members of the Women in Business student organization Paige Coleman and Emma Mallory, discussed the upcoming ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Makers Market. 

February 28

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Assistant Professor in ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s School of Theatre and Dance and Director of "The Learned Ladies" production Jefferson Farber '06,  and students Ethan Cerros and Mia Orr talked about the production of "The Learned Ladies."

February 21

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Interim Director of Nursing Dr. Teresa Gulley and Assistant Professor of Nursing Dr. Audra Trump talked about the opening of the Health Sciences Center. 

February 14

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Wallace Southerland talked about ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Black History Month events. 

February 7

Director of Admission Molly Berry and  Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Nancy Curtin talked about their Explore the College of Arts & Sciences and campus visit days. 

January 31

Professor of Biology and President of the Illinois Raptor Center Dr. Travis Wilcoxen and junior Biology Major Allie McPherson talked about the partnership learning experiences at the Illinois Raptor Center. 

January 24

Kirkland Fine Arts Marketing and Patron Relations Manager LJ Pemberton talk about upcoming events at Kirkland Fine Arts Center, including All-4-One, Opera Valentine, We are the World, The Learned Ladies, and Marcy Playground

January 17

Director of Student Financial Services Chilwana Thompson, Assistant Vice President of Administrative Services Stacey Hubbard, Director of Community Engagement & Recruitment Lori Kerans talked about misconceptions around the affordability of of going to MU, information sessions to help fill out FAFSAs, and ways they are making school accessible and affordable.

January 10

Associate Political Science Professor Dr. Laura Dean and senior Human Services/Psychology student Diana Terneus talked about Human Trafficking Research Lab, misconceptions, and raising awareness during Human Trafficking Prevention Month. 

January 3 

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Women's Basketball players Elyce Knudsen and Baily Coffman and Head Coach Olivia Lett talked about the strong start to the season by the Big Blue. Knudsen recently became the all-time leading scorer in the program's history. 

December 13

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ MBA student Adriyanna Patterson and retired Decatur Police Decatur Lieutenant Shannon Gutierrez Seal talked about a Performance Learning project that was a collaboration between ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ MBA Data Analytics students and Dove, Inc. to track domestic violence data in Macon County. 

 

December 6 

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's 2023 Winter Commencement Student Speaker Kayla Green and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Public Relations Coordinator Matthew Flaten were on to talk about Kayla's outstanding accomplishments during her years at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ. Kayla is a triple major in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Philosophy. 

 

November 22 

Nicole DeLiberis, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Director of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Residential Communities, talked about ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's celebration of Native American Heritage Month which featured speaker Dr. Nichole S. Prescott and her presentation β€œMore than an *Asterisk.”

 

November 20 

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ students Aly Branes and Kendall Rossignol, who are both the co-chairs of the student organization Big Blue Backpacks (BBB), and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Public Relations Coordinator Matthew Flaten talked about the service and meals BBB provides to Decatur Public School students. 

 

November 15

Dr. Ben Hawkinson, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Director of Choral Music and Artistic Director of Vespers, and LJ Pemberton, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Marketing and Patron Relations Manager for the Kirkland Fine Arts Center, talked about the upcoming holiday performances of Vespers and NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet.

 

November 8

Shelby Baum, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Director of Operations and Events talked about the upcoming Fall Campus Visit Day on Nov. 18. 

 

November 2

Beth Creighton, Instructor of English and Show Director, Reagan Minnette, Senior Musical Theatre Major, and Tanner Essex, Junior Musical Theatre Major, talked about the upcoming musical presented by the School of Theatre & Dance. 

October 25

Jeremy Brunk, Associate Professor of the School of Music, LJ Pemberton, Marketing and Patron Relations Manager Marketing for the Kirkland Fine Arts Center, and Victor Lawton, Senior Clarinet Performance Major, talked about the 17th annual Halloween Percussion Concert. 

 

October 18

Nicole DeLiberis, Director of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Residential Communities, talked about the Boo at MU Halloween event

   

October 11

Dr. Dan Monroe, Associate Professor of History, talked about leading the . 

 

October 4

LJ Pemberton, Marketing and Patron Relations Manager Marketing for the Kirkland Fine Arts Center, and Edwin Walker, Associate Professor School of Art and Creative Media, talked about the . 

 October 3

Dr. Sarah Kottich, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Lori Kearns, Director Of Community Engagement and Recruitment and Aliyah Houston, First-Year ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Student and Macon Promise student, talked about the new  

September 27

Dr. Jim Reynolds, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ University President, Dr. Sarah Kottich, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, and Meg Richtman, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing & Communications, talked about Meg's recent hiring and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's recent college rankings

September 20

Jaclyn Cantwell, Director of MBA Program, and Austin Friend, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Evening MBA student, talked about the  

September 13

Dr. Chris Cunnings, Director of the University School of Education, and Dr. Denice Love, Associate Professor of Elementary and Special Education, talked about the which brings Central Illinois high school students to campus to learn more about becoming a teacher. 

September 6

Gina Bianchi ’93, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Vice President of Alumni and Development, and Dr. Craig White, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Director of Athletics, talked about the groundbreaking event held for the .

August 23

LJ Pemberton, Marketing and Patron Relations Manager, talked about the highlights, including performances by comedian Janelle James, All-4-One, and Marcy Playground. 

August 16 

Dr. Laura Dean, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of the , and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ senior Political Science major Jadon Cox, talked about the lab, which is the only undergraduate research lab focused on human trafficking in Illinois and one of a handful in the entire country.

August 2

Dr. Nancy Curtin, Dean of Arts & Sciences, Molly Berry, Director of Admission and Brandon Rick, Transportation Workstream lead at ADM and 2004 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Graduate, talked about the upcoming ADM/ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Day of Service that is taking place on August 17 at locations across Decatur. 

July 26

Paul Lidy '04, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, talked about upcoming alumni events and how alums can get involved on campus. 

July 19

Shelby Baum, Director of Operations and Events, talked about the upcoming Summer Campus Visit Day (July 24) and New Student Welcome Week (August 15-20). 

July 12

, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's new Vice President of Student Affairs, and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ President Jim Reynolds talked about Dr. Southerland joining ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's team and his vision for the student experience at the University. 

June 21

Jake Shumaker, Computer Science Major going into his senior year and NCAA DIII All-American in the 800 meters, and Andrew Craycraft, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, talked about the Men's Track and Field season.

 

June 14

Dan Miller, Mathematical  and Computational Sciences Professor Emeritus, talked about the upcoming High School Robotics Camp that will take place July 10-14. 

 

June 7

Molly Berry, Director of Admission, and Matt Flaten, Public Relations Coordinator, talked about the upcoming Big Blue Orientation Days and the summer events happening on campus. 

May 31

Whitney Sowers and Katie Tenboer, the co-head coaches of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Softball Team, talked about the team's season and returning to the NCAA DIII Tournament for the third consecutive season. 

May 24

Dr. Anne Rodriguez, Associate Chemistry Professor and Sydney Griggs, a Chemistry graduate, talked about the upcoming Chemistry Camp that will be held at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ July 10-13. 

May 18

Gavin King and Jarius Ingram, the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ 2023 Spring Commencement Student Speakers, talked about their ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ experiences. 

May 10

Pam Laskowski and Jamie Nickell, Assistant Professors from the School of Nursing, talked about the upcoming ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ University Nursing Bootcamp that will take place June 11-13, 2023. 

May 2

Dr. Laura Dean, Associate Political Science Professor and Director of the Human Trafficking Research Lab at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ University, and Communications Major Mia Eshoo talked about their upcoming immersion class trip to the Baltic States and collecting donations for Ukrainian refugees. 

April 27

Edwin Walker, Associate Professor in the School of Art & Creative Media, and Eric Hector, Creative Director Heroic Age Studios and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Arts Tech Lecturer, talked about the upcoming School of Art & Creative Media events. 

April 26

Sam Osborne, Director of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Golf, discussed the Big Blue Club Golf Outing for Athletics. 

April 19

Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Dr. Nancy Curtin, Dean of the College of Fine Arts Laura Ledford, Senior English Literature and Professional Writing double major Gwen Klinkey discussed the upcoming Celebrations of Scholarship. 

April 12

Jaclyn Cantwell, Director of the MBA Program in the Tabor School of Business, discussed the School of Business’ professional development opportunities.

April 5

Lori Kerans, Director of Community Engagement/Recruitment, and Andrew Craycraft, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, discussed about the upcoming Athletic Visit Day. 

March 29

Shelby Baum, Director of Operations and Events, discussed the upcoming campus visit days for prospective students.

March 22

Carrie Pierson, Dean of Academic Support Services, discussed the upcoming events of Civic Discourse Week. 

March 15

Raphaella Prange, Vice President of Student Affairs, and HSHS Medical Group Practice Manager Nicole Wood discussed the HSHS Medical Center on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's campus, which recently opened to the public. 

March 8

President of the Women In Business student organization Paige Coleman discussed the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Makers Market. 

March 1

Mackenzie Dixon, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Coordinator, discussed James W. Moore Lecture speaker Amanda Lucidon, who served as White House Photographer for President Obama, and the upcoming Women's History Month events. 

February 22

Dr. Dan Miller, Professor of Math & Computational Sciences, and Lori Kerans, Director of Community Engagement and Recruitment, discussed the VEX Illinois State Robotics Championships that ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ hosted. 

February 15

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ President Dr. Jim Reynolds and Dr. Sarah Kottich, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's new Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, discussed changes to high education coming out of the pandemic. 

February 8

Nikki Garry, Director of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, and Nursing student Naomi Hall discussed the events celebrating Black History Month. 

February 1

Starla Street, Success Coach in the Center of Academic and Professional Performance (CAPP), and Anna Fishbein, Academic Intervention Specialist in the CAPP,                          
discussed the upcoming Spring 2023 Career Fair.

January 25

Raphaella Prange, Vice President of Student Affairs, discussed the Thomas W. Ewing Lecture Series speaker and Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann.