Community Outreach

A part of my job is to work directly with many of our community and business partners through our membership with the Downers Grove Chamber. A chamber, which was once chaired by our Vice President of Finance, Dean Malone. In addition, Karen D. Johnson, Ph.D., Vice President of University Relations, also held a seat of the Downers Grove Chamber Board for several years.

Well a couple of nights ago, I attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration for one of the local business, the DoubleTree Hotel. The DoubleTree Hotel has been a wonderful business to work with these past couple of years and so I attended as a way of saying thank you. (I am posing with Dan Tachman and Lisa Cosgrove of The DoublTreel Hotel.) And while I attended this soiree, I ran into Mayor Martin Tully, who just was on campus this past August to help dedicate our newest academic building. It was a pleasure chatting with him and reintroducing myself to Michael Cassa, President of the Downers Grove Econonic Development Corporation. Mr. Cassa in his new role at the EDC has become a fast friend of Midwestern University also attending our groundbreaking for the upcoming Midwestern University Clinic which is slated for completion in less than two years.

But best part of the night was sharing with those that would listen about Midwestern University Health Sciences Career Day for High Schools, which is in its eight year, held annually during the university's spring break week. I briefly spoke with Laura Crawford, CEO, of the Downers Grove Chamber and Beth Peterson, Manager of Marketing & Programs. We discussed our initiative to involve the two local Downers Grove high schools in this program. We've successfully drawn interest in our fully developed and wise program, that schools from the northern suburbs of Chicago are kicking our doors down to be a part of the day, and yet we not managed to have the Downers Grove schools participate. It's my newest goal, and a big reason that I stay involved in the community of our Downers Grove Campus.

It is very clear to those close to Midwestern University, that our mission and vision of encompasses aspects of cultural and community involvement. And what better way to reach those but to be and get involved.