Illinois College

Spring 2026

emily.titsworth — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:40:04 +0000

Spring 2026 emily.titsworth Thu, 04/02/2026 - 13:40

Rylie Joelner ’28

emily.titsworth — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 21:22:20 +0000

Rylie Joelner ’28

Rylie

emily.titsworth Fri, 02/06/2026 - 15:22

Joelner

First-generation student and IC Scholar

Rylie Joelner ’28 chose Illinois College for its supportive environment and quickly found a place where she could thrive. A nursing major and first-generation college student, Joelner credits IC’s small classes, strong financial support and hands-on learning with shaping her college experience.

“I loved that professors like Joni Smith and Nichol DelGiorno could tell when I didn’t understand something and were willing to help,” Joelner said. “Here, I’m not just a number, I’m a person.”

Through clinical labs, honors projects and coursework in anatomy and physiology, Joelner is building a strong foundation for her future in nursing. Outside the classroom, she serves as a student ambassador and involvement leader, mentoring other first-generation students. “I want students to know they’re not alone,” she said. “I was in their shoes once.”

Her study abroad experience in Cuba expanded her global perspective on healthcare. With faculty and TRiO mentors supporting her academically and personally, Joelner is graduating READY to provide compassionate, informed care.

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Nursing

Major

Nursing

McKenzie Murray ’28

emily.titsworth — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 21:15:54 +0000

McKenzie Murray ’28

McKenzie

emily.titsworth Fri, 02/06/2026 - 15:15

Murray

Student-athlete

For McKenzie Murray ’28, engineering is about impact. A mechanical engineering major with a minor in Spanish, Murray has embraced hands-on research and interdisciplinary learning that connect technical skills to global challenges.

During a summer research project, Murray worked on developing a cost-effective phototherapy device to treat neonatal jaundice in low-resource settings. “Conducting research with Dr. Lisa Murray has created a growth mindset that I will use for life. This experience helped me see that engineering isn’t just about numbers,” she said. “It’s about solving problems that can actually help people.”

Murray balances her academic work with athletics as a member of the women’s soccer and track and field teams, earning conference honors while building discipline and teamwork. She is also involved in emerging student organizations like the True Blue Robotics Club.

“Illinois College has shown me how I can use engineering to serve others,” Murray said. With strong mentorship and research experience, she is graduating READY to pursue internships, advanced study and a career rooted in purpose.

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Spanish

Major

Mechanical Engineering

Aubrey Kietzman ’27

emily.titsworth — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:48:09 +0000

Aubrey Kietzman ’27

Aubrey

emily.titsworth Fri, 02/06/2026 - 14:48

Kietzman

Kietzman scores on and off the court

For Aubrey Kietzman ’27, Illinois College is where academic rigor meets real-world preparation. A kinesiology and exercise science major and member of the women’s basketball team, Kietzman balances athletics, research and hands-on clinical experience as she prepares for graduate school in physical therapy.

Through an internship with the physical therapy department at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Kietzman shadowed clinicians, observed patient care and learned the behind-the-scenes realities of the profession. “I was able to see how they worked with patients and how everything operated day to day,” she said. “It really confirmed that this is what I want to do.”

On campus, Kietzman works closely with assistant professor of biology Prasanna Acharya on a research project examining how smartphone posture impacts neck pain and mobility. “Being able to work one-on-one with a professor has helped me understand how research actually works before grad school,” she said.

With supportive coaches, faculty mentors, and experiential learning opportunities, Kietzman will Graduate READY for the next step in her healthcare career.

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Kinesiology

Major

Kinesiology and Exercise Science

Kaydence Haag ’26

emily.titsworth — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:59:16 +0000

Kaydence Haag ’26

Kaydence

emily.titsworth Tue, 12/23/2025 - 12:59

Haag

First-generation student

For Kaydence Haag ’26, transferring to Illinois College was a quick decision that changed everything. She arrived as a business administration major and soon added organizational and strategic communication, finding a blend that “aligned perfectly with my interests in leadership and marketing.”

A first-generation student from Decatur, Illinois, Haag quickly became a campus leader, serving as hall director of Turner and Crampton, president of the First Generation Organization, and marketing intern for TRIO. “I’ve learned so much about how to lead a team and support others who are finding their place in college,” she says.

Her global perspective grew last summer when she was one of just ten students nationwide selected for a TRIO study abroad opportunity in the Netherlands, where she studied sustainable entrepreneurship alongside peers from 32 countries. “It was incredible to hear so many different voices and experiences,” she says. “It made me realize how connected the world really is.”

Faculty mentor Brooke Rhoades has been pivotal in Haag’s journey, helping her explore graduate school options and strengthen her voice as a leader. “Illinois College has shaped me into someone who’s ready to walk into any room with confidence,” Haag says. “That’s what being Graduate READY means to me.”

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Business Administration

Organizational and Strategic Communication

Major

Business Administration and Organizational and Strategic Communication

Kayla Brackett ’28

emily.titsworth — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:52:01 +0000

Kayla Brackett ’28

Kayla

emily.titsworth Tue, 12/23/2025 - 12:52

Brackett

Sigma Phi Epsilon and Student Senate member

“I’ve lived in Jacksonville my whole life, but when I toured IC, it just felt like home,” says Kayla Brackett ’28, a criminal justice and psychology double major.

On campus, Kayla is deeply involved as a resident assistant in Mundinger Hall, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Student Senate, and several honor and leadership societies. “I never imagined I’d be this involved,” she says, “but IC makes it so easy to find your community.”

Kayla’s coursework in abnormal psychology and administration & leadership has shaped her dream career: counseling individuals in correctional settings. “I want to help people rebuild their lives,” she says. “Through my professors, I’ve found internship opportunities that fit exactly what I want to do.”

She credits instructor Angela Gonzalez Balfe and career mentor Susie Drake '90 for inspiring her. “They’ve shown me how to take my interests seriously and to see the good I can do in the world,” Kayla says. “IC gives you the support to dream big and the tools to make it happen.”

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Criminal Justice

Psychology

Major

Criminal Justice and Psychology

Bobby Driver ’26

emily.titsworth — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:43:09 +0000

Bobby Driver ’26

Bobby

emily.titsworth Mon, 11/24/2025 - 10:43

Driver

Newman Civic Fellow

As a first-generation college student from Southern Illinois, Bobby Driver ’26 arrived at Illinois College determined to find a community where he could thrive academically and personally. He found exactly that. “When I visited campus, I just fell in love with how close-knit and welcoming everything felt,” Driver says. “Everyone made me feel like I belonged.”

That sense of belonging helped Driver chart an ambitious path centered on mental health advocacy, social justice and hands-on learning. Majoring in psychology with a minor in neuroscience, he discovered his passion for the behavioral side of brain science through classes like abnormal psychology and cognitive psychology. Support from faculty mentors, including Elizabeth Rellinger Zettler, Brittney Yancy, and IC staff members in TRIO and the Center for Student Engagement, gave him the confidence to pursue opportunities he once didn’t imagine possible.

Those opportunities quickly multiplied. As Illinois College’s Newman Civic Fellow, Driver leads a social-impact project supporting local youth, providing essential resources and workshops designed to show young people that college is an option no matter where you come from. On campus, he serves as vice president of the Black Student Union, advocates for student wellness, works as a residential assistant and contributes to campuswide communication efforts through Student Senate’s PR Committee.

His experiential learning has been just as transformative. Driver completed a neuroscience-based internship at Turner Scientific, where he learned advanced imaging techniques and worked directly with immunolabeled mouse brain tissue. He also conducted summer research with Rellinger Zettler, exploring resilience, burnout and psychosocial factors among current and future healthcare providers, research he will present at Celebration of Excellence this spring.

Now preparing to graduate, Driver is applying to graduate programs in clinical psychology. His long-term goal is to become a clinician who expands mental health access in marginalized communities while reducing stigma and promoting generational healing.

Driver says Illinois College has prepared him to Graduate READY by surrounding him with the people and resources he needed to grow. “As a first-gen student, I came in not knowing anything about college. IC taught me that it’s okay to ask for help and gave me the support to succeed. The community here really prepared me for what comes next.”

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Psychology

Neuroscience

Major

Psychology

Josh Hallanger ’27

emily.titsworth — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:50:54 +0000

Josh Hallanger ’27

Josh

emily.titsworth Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:50

Hallanger

President of Phi Alpha and resident assistant

“Every time I visited campus, I loved it more,” says Josh Hallanger ’27, who joined Illinois College after taking part in Bright BLUE. A double major in accounting and finance, he’s built his own leadership path serving as president of Phi Alpha Literary Society, resident assistant for Crampton Hall, and secretary of Alpha Lambda Delta.

“Being an RA has taught me to be confident and to connect with people,” Josh says. “It’s amazing to help first-year students find their footing here.”

Hallanger’s academic interests came alive through hands-on learning and global study. After traveling to Scotland on a BreakAway, he describes the trip as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see another culture firsthand.” From touring historic Edinburgh to hearing local ghost stories in the Highlands, the experience broadened his worldview and his sense of belonging.

“There are so many opportunities here to grow as a person,” he says. “IC has prepared me to Graduate READY, not just with a degree, but with leadership, empathy, and a story worth sharing.”

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Accounting

Finance

Major

Accounting and Finance

Riley Drake ’26

emily.titsworth — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:38:21 +0000

Riley Drake ’26

Riley

emily.titsworth Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:38

Drake

Student-athlete and Gamma Delta member

Growing up in Jacksonville, Riley Drake ’26 knew Illinois College well, but she says becoming a student gave her a new perspective. A double major in business administration and accounting, Riley balances academics with athletics and leadership. She’s a member of the women’s volleyball team, a resident assistant in Ellis Hall, and an active participant in Gamma Delta, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. “IC helped me combine my passions for teamwork and leadership,” she says.

Riley has also built an impressive resume through internships with Zumbahlen, Eyth, Surratt, Foote & Flynn, Ltd., where she gained hands-on experience in tax preparation and auditing, and through a summer in the IC Alumni Office. “They trusted me to handle real clients’ taxes,” she says. “It was the best way to learn.”

After traveling to Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam on IC’s Euro Quest BreakAway, Riley says global study expanded her sense of what’s possible. “It was my first time abroad, and it made the world feel both huge and connected,” she reflects. “IC has given me every opportunity to grow—professionally, personally, and globally."

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Business Administration

Accounting

Major

Business Administration and Accounting

Nick Doroskin ’26

emily.titsworth — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:32:49 +0000

Nick Doroskin ’26

Nick

emily.titsworth Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:32

Doroskin

Hall director and physical therapy intern

For Nick Doroskin ’26, athletics opened the door to Illinois College and to his calling. “I came here to play basketball,” he says, “but I found my purpose in physical therapy.”

As a kinesiology major with an exercise science focus, Doroskin credits Professor Paul Hamilton for his mentorship. "He has taught me that it isn't just the grade that matters but the importance of the overall learning experience, this is what will bring me success for my future and through graduate school. He has also helped me through the application process and set up key experiences like gaining observation hours at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital."

At the hospital, Doroskin shadowed therapists working with stroke and Parkinson’s patients. “It was emotional but inspiring,” he says. "Through observing PTs work with a wide variety of patients, I have learned even the smallest of actions can have big impacts on others and their journey through the rehabilitation process and that is why I want to pursue this profession."

Now a hall director in Ellis Hall, Doroskin applies those same communication and leadership skills in campus life. Upon graduation, Doroskin plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. “Illinois College prepared me to walk into grad school ready to lead, ready to learn, and ready to care.”

Primary Department

Graduate Ready

Department

Kinesiology

Major

Kinesiology