Media Conntact – Rockford University Box Office, 815.226.4100

Rockford, Ill. – The Rockford University Performing Arts Department will open their spring 2016 theatre season with a modern adaptation of Sophocle’s 3rd Theban play, “Antigone”. The show opens Thursday, February 25 and runs through Sunday, February 28, in Rockford University’s Cheek Theatre, located in the Clark Arts Center, 5050 East State Street, Rockford.

In Antigone, contempt of death enables a weak maiden to conquer a powerful ruler, who, proud of his wisdom, ventures in his unbounded insolence to pit his royal word against divine law and human sentiment, and learns all too late, by the destruction of his house, that Fate in due course brings fit punishment on outrage.

The play will show Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 adult, $9.00 senior, $9.00 student. Group rates are available. The Clark Arts Center is accessible. For tickets and more information, call the Box Office at 815.226.4100 or email boxoffice@rockford.edu.

For immediate release – February 22, 2016 Director of Communications Rita Elliott, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill., – The Rockford University Board of Trustees announced today that Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D., has been appointed as the 18th President of Rockford University, and to succeed Robert L. Head, Ph.D., who is retiring June 30, 2016. Dr. Fulcomer is the current Vice President for Enrollment Management at Rockford University and has more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education. The appointment was finalized with a unanimous vote at the University’s Board of Trustees meeting on Saturday, February 20, 2016. Dr. Fulcomer will take office as President on July 1, 2016.

‌Rockford University Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas A. Muldowney ’74 said, “After a nationwide search to select a successor to President Head, we are extremely pleased to have unanimously chosen a President who is well-positioned to expand on the stability and improvements that Dr. Head has overseen for the past eight years. Dr. Fulcomer understands our strengths and challenges; his insight and proven leadership will be extremely beneficial for our University. We are very proud and excited about the prospects for Rockford University with Dr. Fulcomer at its helm.”

“I am honored and humbled to have been selected by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 18th President of Rockford University” stated Dr. Fulcomer. “Since joining the institution three years ago, I have been so impressed by our highly distinguished faculty who excel in their fields and who prepare our students well for graduate school, vocation and active participation in a global society. I have been equally impressed by our many dedicated staff members who support our students in so many ways. I believe that the education we provide at Rockford University is indeed the very best of what American higher education has to offer: grounded in the liberal arts, extended by professional and practical experience. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, board, alumni and friends as we continue to build a strong future for our great University.”

Board of Trustees Vice Chair and the Presidential Search Committee Chair James W. Keeling added, “Dr. Fulcomer brings a highly successful enrollment expertise to the position. Under his leadership, enrollment has steadily improved, with a record student enrollment this year. We know how essential this remains for the success of any university, especially Rockford. In addition, Eric has the unique experience of having served as an elected official for 11 years in his former community, as alderman, council president and mayor. During his three years in Rockford, Dr. Fulcomer has been an excellent representative of Rockford University as a community leader with Transform Rockford, Alignment Rockford, and as a board member and volunteer for other local and regional organizations.”

President Robert L. Head added, “Dr. Fulcomer has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and dedicated proponent for Rockford University. Beyond his success in leading us in growing enrollments to record levels, he is uniquely qualified to continue without disruption the momentum already underway. It’s been my pleasure to work alongside Dr. Fulcomer for the past three years and I’m thrilled that he has been chosen to lead Rockford University in its efforts to become an increasingly capable institution for our students and community.”

More about Dr. Head’s presidency
Dr. Head joined Rockford University in June of 2008. Under his direction, the University has achieved several successful milestones that include:

• Total net assets have increased 300 percent to $24.2 million up from $6 million in FY09.
• Endowment has grown by $3.5 million.
• Enrollments are at record highs, including largest recorded number of full-time undergraduate students for fall 2015 – up nearly 9 percent from 2014 and reflective of a 23 percent increase since 2006.
• Named Best in the Midwest – Princeton Review; Tier One Midwest University – US News & World Report.
• Significant annual economic impact to the region of $118 million.
• Geographic footprint currently represents 24 states and 23 countries.
• Since FY07, $14 million has been invested in capital improvements throughout campus, including the Burpee Student Center and Seaver Physical Education Center renovations.
• Concluded 9th consecutive year with a positive operating budget for FY15.
• Successful launch of a $17.3 million dollar capital campaign in October 2015.

Dr. Head announced his intention to retire in February 2015.

About Dr. Fulcomer‌‌
In addition to his enrollment management responsibilities at Rockford University, Dr. Fulcomer also supervises the areas of student administrative services, student life, athletics and global affairs. Prior to coming to Rockford, Dr. Fulcomer was Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Life at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. He served there from 1993 to 2012. He has teaching experience at both Bluffton University and Bowling Green State University.

Dr. Fulcomer received his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Toledo, his master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and his bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature, cum laude, from Eastern Michigan University.

He and his wife Andrea, a physician assistant, live in Rockford and are proud parents of two teenage children, Noah and Anna.

About the Presidential Search
A nation-wide search resulted in more than 80 candidates who applied for the position. After a thorough review and interview process, a search committee made up of faculty, staff and trustee representatives invited four finalists to make campus visits in late January and early February and to meet with faculty, staff, students, alumni, community leaders and members of the Board of Trustees.

About Rockford University
Rockford University is a four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers approximately 80 majors, minors and concentrations, including the adult accelerated degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College and as a US News & World Report Tier One Midwest Regional University,” Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,300 students throughout its diverse program offerings.

About Dr. Fulcomer – Curriculum Vitae
Press conference announcing the appointment of Dr. Fulcomer as RU’s 18th President:

Contact Rita Elliott, Director of Communications, 815-226-3374

Updated, 10:29 a.m.

Rockford University received information late Tuesday evening, February 16, 2016, regarding a fatal traffic accident involving three current RU students and one former RU student. Details are as follows and were shared with the campus community from Dean of Students Lisa Hetzel:

“We are deeply saddened to report that student Desiree Wease and former RU student Demonte Wigfall died as a result of an automobile accident on I-90. Additionally, students Daijon Davis and Stephen Taylor were injured. Daijon was treated and released. Stephen remains hospitalized. A team of Rockford University personnel was at the hospital with our students and their families to offer support and assistance.

The loss of these young and vibrant lives shakes our community to its core. There is no way to ever be prepared for such loss and it is difficult to find words to express our grief and sympathies to the families and friends of all involved. The University’s Lang Center for Health and Counseling Services is available to offer support to all members of the campus community.”

A campus meeting, led by President Robert L. Head was held on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 9 a.m in the Seaver Gym to share the most recent information and to have grief counselors available. RU Counselors and clergy members from the community have made themselves available to assist anyone who is in need.

All involved in the accident are first year students. Demonte was a member of the Rockford University football team, along with Daijon and Stephen. Desiree was a member of the spirit squad.

Deceased Demonte Wigfall is from Godfrey, Ill.; Desiree Wease, from Markham, Ill.; Injured students Stephen Taylor, Chicago, Ill., and Daijon Davis, Zion, Ill.

Samantha is a senior theater major with a concentration in design/tech from Flower Mound, Texas. She has a special interest in stage management and scenic design for theater. She was nominated by Mariah Harris, Residence Hall Director. Mariah shared that, “Sam is the perfect example of a senior who has accomplished it all and more here at RU and does whatever she can to give back to the RU community”.

Samantha is a member of RU Regent Players as well as Intervarsity. She has also served on the board of Regent Players. Additionally, over her four years at RU she has stage managed 7 main stage productions. She was also selected to participate in the Rockford University Leadership Institute. In her reflections on her student experience at RU Samantha shared, “I came from a big high school, in a big city, in an even bigger state, so it’s great to really feel like an individual”.

Samantha loves the atmosphere at RU. She appreciates all the one-on-one attention she receives from professors in her department and the overwhelming amount of opportunities she has received. She will soon be embarking on the adventure of a lifetime in August 2016 when she travels to Edinburgh, Scotland for the International Festival Fringe as the Performing Arts Department will be performing in an international arena. Additionally, she is working on career plans for after graduation. She recently attended a series of job interviews, related to her major, in Memphis, Tennessee. Samantha is excited about the adventures that await her after graduation. Congratulations, Samantha!

Robert Lupton, author of Toxic Charity – How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, first came to Rockford in September 2014 to challenge the communities collective preconceived notions about charity and its outcomes. Lupton’s visit was in part spurred by his book being put on Transform Rockford’s reading list by Transform Rockford leader and Woodward, Inc. Chairman and CEO Tom Gendron, via United Way of Rock River Valley President and CEO Paul Logli.

Robert Lupton is returning to Rockford on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, to share next steps toward best practices in asset-based community development as expressed in his new book, Charity Detox – What Charity Would Look Like If We Cared About The Results. Lupton will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon hosted by Rockford University’s Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence to be held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Rockford, from 11 a.m – 1 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person or $300 for a table of eight.

Lupton says, “Despite our most charitable efforts, the world’s poor are not emerging from poverty. The poverty gap in the United States is increasing; and across the globe, in those lands where our aid is most concentrated, the poor are getting poorer.” Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence Director Pam Clark Reidenbach adds, “It may be difficult to admit, but if we want the poor to emerge from poverty, we must face the truth. We are not moving the needle and as a society, we cannot program our way out of poverty. The only solution to poverty is a decent job, but a job only provides one with the means to leave their current neighborhood and diminish hope for others left behind. We must address as Lupton says, ‘both the needs of individuals and those of the community,’ to impact the elimination of poverty. The solution to poverty is community development and only by redirecting our strategies and becoming committed to measurable results, Lupton argues, can charity truly become as transformative as our ideals.”

Lupton’s visit is the first of a three-part series that aims to work directly with neighborhood groups, faith-based leaders and the general community to implement a process to transform our community and rebuild our urban neighborhoods into places where families can flourish and children can reach their full potential. Lupton will be followed by Jody Kretzmann, Asset-based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, and Noel Castellanos, chief executive officer of Christian Community Development located in Chicago. Details will be forthcoming regarding upcoming dates and locations.

For more information about Robert Lupton’s March 15 keynote address, or to make your reservation, contact the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit at (815) 226-2833 or jsmith@rockford.edu or register at www.charitydetox.eventbrite.com.

John Finley, from Rockford, Illinois is a junior political science major and was nominated by Rebecca Wallgren, Box Office Manager for Maddox Theatre. Rebecca shared, “John has impressed me with his leadership, character, sense of humor, and overall knowledge of the RU experience.” Rebecca is very pleased that she hired John to work in the Box Office. She is thankful for how well he handles a public role on campus. In addition to working a campus job, he serves as the co-coordinator of Campus Activities Board (CAB) as well as the treasurer and vice president of InterVarsity. He is also a member of the cross country and track and field teams.

John appreciates the small class sizes and the small community at RU. He enjoys being able to talk with his teachers if he has questions and wants to know more about a subject. John also likes that RU is small enough that he can know a lot of people, but big enough that he can still meet new people on campus. Attending law school after graduation from Rockford University is a current goal for John. Congratulations, John!

Sintheyah is a freshman criminal justice major from Rockford, Illinois. She was nominated by Dr. Mehmet Dik, ‌Professor and Chair Department of Mathematics, Computer Science & Physics.

Sintheyah has a strong motivation to succeed in her academic work. Her focus on success is evidenced in her achieving a 4.0 GPA in the fall semester. Dr. Dik shared that Sintheya did a fantastic job in his course. She never missed a class and would always participate in classroom discussions. Both in and outside of class, Sintheyah would help classmates and try to cheer them up when they were not doing well. Dr. Dik states that Sintheyah’s presence made the classroom environment more enjoyable.

During her first semester at Rockford University Sintheyah has been able to successfully balance her academic endeavors with extracurricular activities. She is a participant in the Anthropology and Sociology Club and the Literati Club. Additionally, she is interested in participating in the study abroad program in the next year.

One of the reasons that Sintheyah enjoys studying at Rockford University is because she appreciates the small classroom sizes. She feels that there are multiple opportunities for her to improve herself as she studies for her major. After graduation from RU she would like to continue her education by attending graduate school.

Congratulations, Sintheyah!

Vanessa is a biology major from Dubuque, Iowa. She was nominated by Jennifer Nordstrom, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Admission. Jennifer shared that Vanessa is a fantastic representative of RU. Since joining the RU community, she has embraced the opportunities that being a Regent provides. She provides service in the admission office where she is an excellent resource for prospective and incoming students.

Vanessa also serves as a Jane Addams fellow. As part of her fellow duties, last fall she organized and executed a program to connect RU alumni with current students. Additionally, Vanessa served as on orientation leader this fall, welcoming and engaging our incoming students. Vanessa enjoys RU because it is a small campus that gives her the opportunity to meet and develop quality relationships with many people. She also shares that the small class sizes allow her to use her voice and interact with faculty and colleagues. She feels that RU has so many resources that it’s impossible not to succeed here. After graduation Vanessa has plans to go to medical school to become a cardiologist. Congratulations, Vanessa!

Barrelhouse Chuck: Lecture on the History of Chicago Blues Musicians

Friday, February 5
3 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel – Lecture
7:30 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel – Free Concert

Barrelhouse Chuck (real name Harvey Goering) has been a blues artist since hearing his first Muddy Waters record as a teenager. Shortly after forming his own band he began opening for Willie Dixon, B.B. King, and later Muddy Waters. In 1979, after relocating to Chicago, Chuck met musician Sunnyland Slim and eventually became close friends with piano legend Little Brother Montgomery. In February 2008 he was asked to participate in recording the soundtrack for the upcoming movie ‘Cadillac Records’. For the last 11 years, he has been a member of The Kim Wilson Blues Allstars. Barrelhouse Chuck is a Grammy Award and Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year nominee and a three-time Blues Music Award Winner. In 2014, his album ‘Drifting from Town to Town’ was nominated for a Blues Music Award.

Barrelhouse Chuck and The Blue Lights Band will be performing a free concert at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Memorial Chapel following the afternoon Forum event.

*This concert will not count as Forum credit for Rockford University students.