ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Rockford University Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew Weber ’10/’12, as its next head men’s basketball coach. Weber has spent the last five years on the Rockford bench in various coaching roles including serving as the team’s interim head coach for the final six weeks of this past season. He becomes the eleventh head coach in the program’s 60-year history.

“We are excited that Andrew is joining our athletics staff as our next head men’s basketball coach. Andrew is an alum and a native of the Rockford

area, thus he has a true passion for the University as well as the Rockford community, which is a true bonus for our program and institution” RU Director of Athletics Kristyn King stated. “We believe he is ready for this transition and look forward to the positive impact he will bring to our basketball student-athletes as well as to the future of this program.”

“I would like to thank President Head, Vice President for Enrollment Management Eric Fulcomer, Director of Athletics Kristyn King and the entire search committee for entrusting me with leading the Rockford University men’s basketball program and its student-athletes into the future” Coach Weber stated. “Rockford University is a special place and I look forward to playing a role in developing the entire student-athlete on and off the court.”

With Weber at the helm in the closing weeks of the season, the Regents strung together their first three-game NACC winning streak in over two years. Rockford’s improved performance on the court late in the season got the Regents back into position to make one final push for a conference tournament berth.

“We have a great foundation here and I am excited to continue to build a program the entire Rockford community can be proud of” Weber commented. “It means a lot to me to be able to lead a program that I have been a part of for the past seven years as both a student-athlete and a coach.”

Weber, a Rockford University and Boylan Catholic alumnus spent two seasons as a player for Rockford University and helped turnaround a program that went 1-24 in the year prior to his arrival to a 17-10 team in his first season as a Regent. He started all 53 of his games in the Regents uniform, while averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Weber also holds the school’s single season steals record with 81.

Media Contact: Art Gallery Director, Molly Carter 815-226-4105

Rockford, Ill. – ‘Body Image Form’ will open March 3 at the Rockford University Art Gallery. The exhibit features work by artists John Fraser, Rebecca Reeves, Diane Simpson, and Anne Wilson that are on loan from the Rockford Art Museum and private vendors. ‘Body Image Form’ explores concepts of the human condition and of the body in potent works of art that delve into form and image, and resonate with material meaning.

The exhibit will open Tuesday, March 3 with an opening reception Thursday, March 5 from 5 – 7 p.m. The exhibit will close March 27. The Rockford University Art Gallery is located in the Clark Arts Center at 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Gallery Hours are Tuesday – Thursday, 3 – 6 p.m., Friday, 12-3 p.m. and by appointment.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Clark Arts Center is wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100.

To see list of spring 2015 Art Gallery exhibits visit: https://www.rockford.edu/artslectures/artgallery/.

Rockford, Ill., – Rockford University will celebrate the 168th year of the signing of its charter Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at 4 p.m., during the Charter Day Convocation. Professor Emeritus Lou Ferroli, Ph.D., will give the keynote address with a speech entitled, “Tales of Honor.” Dr. Ferroli was a professor of education at Rockford University for 23 years before his retirement in 2013. During his time at the university he was nominated for the Excellence in Teaching and Campus Leadership Award four times, winning the award in 1997. He currently serves as President of the Illinois Reading Council (IRC) and as Chair of the IRC’s Obama Literacy Fund Committee. In 2011 he was presented the prestigious Hall of Fame award by the IRC.

Along with Dr. Ferroli’s speech, the day includes an academic procession of faculty in traditional robes depicting their rank, with stoles representing their respective alma maters and degrees.

Charter Day Convocation takes place in Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required. Clark Arts Center is accessible. For more information, contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

The Charter Day Convocation is part of the University’s Forum Series. To see the Spring 2015 Forum Series line-up visit: www.rockford.edu/artslectures/forum.

Rockford, Ill. – The Rockford University Performing Arts Department will debut “Dogfight”, its first show of the spring semester, on Thursday, February 26. The musical is based on Bob Comfort’s screenplay for the 1991 movie by Nancy Savoca, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and book by Peter Duchan. The show focuses on three Marines the night before their deployment to Vietnam. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between 18-year-old Corporal Eddie Birdlace and a young woman he meets named Rose Fenny.

The show will run Thursday, February 26 – Sunday, March 1. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $12.00 Adult, $9.00 Senior, $9.00 Student. Group rates are available. The Clark Arts Center is accessible. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.rockford.edu/artslectures/boxoffice or in person at the box office Monday-Friday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information call the Box Office at 815.226.4100 or email boxoffice@rockford.edu‌

President of Rockford University, Robert L. Head, Ph.D., has announced he will retire June 30, 2016, the date his current contract concludes. Dr. Head joined the University in June 2008 and serves as the institution’s 17th president. The announcement comes at this time to provide ample notice to the Board of Trustees and to allow for a well-planned succession process to begin.

“It is a great privilege to serve as the President of Rockford University. As I have often said, I cannot imagine a more meaningful life’s work,” Dr. Head said in a statement shared with the campus community on Monday, February 23. He also shares, “There is still much to be accomplished over the next 16 months. The opportunities before us are abundant and we will leverage the positive momentum we have earned.”

Board of Trustees Chair Thomas A. Muldowney ’74 notes, “Rockford University has experienced tremendous and transformative success under Dr. Head’s leadership. Along with the monumental transition from Rockford College to Rockford University in 2013, the numbers alone speak volumes; total net assets are at their highest levels since 1990, our endowment has enjoyed steady growth, we have concluded eight consecutive years with positive operating income, enrollments are at 20-year highs and in a few short weeks, we are preparing to unveil the results of $5 million in renovations to the Burpee and Seaver centers, part of $13 million in total capital improvements. Moreover, these are just a few remarkable examples of what has been achieved during Dr. Head’s tenure. His commitment to improving every facet of our students’ experience has resulted in an irrefutable legacy of progress for this proud institution and its mission.”

The process of initiating a national search for the 18th president of Rockford University will be forthcoming. To further assist in the transition, Dr. Head has agreed to serve on a part-time basis as special counsel to support the University’s significant on-going fundraising efforts.

In June 2016, Dr. Head will have served 15 years as president of a liberal arts university, the last eight with Rockford University. He was previously president at Urbana University in Ohio. Dr. Head is on the boards of SwedishAmerican Health System, Keith Country Day School, the Golden Apple Foundation, the Rockford Rotary Club, Alignment Rockford, Blackhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America, The Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Kobe College Corporation, the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, and the Associated Colleges of Illinois. He also serves as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 9 and is a member of the Steering Committee for Transform Rockford. Dr. Head and his wife, Sheryl, have three adult children.

Rockford, Ill., — Rockford University’s Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) is offering a Fund Development Certificate Program beginning this spring. The program will provide individuals with an understanding of fundraising basics and how to make fund development into a career. There are five courses included in the program.

Beginners wishing to pursue a career in fund development, as well as professionals already working in the field are encouraged to sign up. Courses in the program are led by skilled nonprofit professionals that have fundraising experience. Each session includes a lecture, group discussion, and hands-on exercises. Participants in the program are eligible for 10 CFRE continuing education credits per course.

The first course, Fundamentals of the Nonprofit Sector, begins Tuesday, March 3 and continues each Tuesday through March 24 from 4:30-7 p.m. All courses will be located in 5100/PURI Building, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford. Cost for the program is $250 per course or $1,250 for the entire program. Cost includes completion certificate and all instruction material. Registration is accepted by fax, 815-397-8729, or by mail to NICNE, 5050 E. State St. Rockford, 61108 and is open until February 24.

For more information and to obtain a registration form please contact Jennifer Smith, (815)394-4384 or JSmith@rockford.edu, or visit https://www.rockford.edu/?NICNE.

Rockford, Ill. — Award winning photographer and filmmaker, Nathan Dappen, Ph.D. will speak February 12 as part of the university’s spring forum series. Dr. Dappen’s images, films, books and other projects have been featured internationally, including in National Geographic, Vogue, The Washington Post, Scientific American, The World Wildlife Fund and more.
The lecture will be held Thursday, February 12, 7 p.m., Fisher Chapel, 5050 E. State St., Rockford. This event is open and free to the public, however, tickets are required. Please contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu to reserve your tickets or for more information. Fisher Chapel is accessible.A co-founder of the award-winning production company, Day’s Edge Productions, he focuses on telling science, nature, conservation and adventure stories. His 2013 documentary, “Snows of the Nile”, won Best Short Feature and the Emerging Filmmakers award at the 2014 Princeton Environmental Film Festival. The film was also a finalist at the International Wildlife Film Festival, an Official Selection to the 49th International Festival of Science Documentary Films Academia Film Olomouc, and was a selection for the touring Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

Rockford, Ill., — A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration will be hosted by Rockford University’s Multicultural Club and the Office of Global Affairs at Rockford University, Wednesday, February 11, 5-7 p.m., Regents Hall, Burpee Center on the Rockford University Campus located at 5050 East State Street, Rockford.

Traditional Chinese dishes will be prepared by the University’s 14 Chinese exchange students, along  with the selections from Happy Wok and Golden Chopstick. A presentation on Lunar New Year celebrations in China will be given. Other entertainment will include the playing of traditional Chinese instruments, a Tai Chi demonstration with swords, and karaoke.

Tickets are $3 for the public and are available now. For more information and to purchase tickets contact Maria Diemer at 815-394-5112 or MDiemer@rockford.edu.

Rockford, Ill. – Rockford University and the Rockford Chamber have continued their partnership to present the People You Should Know (PYSK) Talks. This series, highlighting a collection of weekly talks, features recipients of the Chamber’s People You Should Know Awards.

Starting on Wednesday, February 4 and continuing on various Wednesdays through July 29, a speaker will present on a topic of their choosing. All talks will be held from 12 – 1 p.m., room 122, in the PURI Business School building, Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. All talks are free and open to the public. Audience members are welcome to bring their own lunch, or purchase a lunch at the event. Attendees are also invited to ask questions in a short Q&A session at the conclusion of each talk.

Seating is limited to 50 attendees on a first-come first-serve basis. Registration is encouraged, but not required.  To register, go to the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s website at http://web.rockfordchamber.com/events.

Questions can be directed to Michele Mehren at MMehren@rockford.edu or 815-226-4041.

The schedule of the talks is as follows:

Rockford, Ill., — Students, faculty and staff at Rockford University will participate in a “Read Aloud of Black American Voices” in celebration of Black American History Month on February 17 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The event will take place at the Howard Colman Library located on the Rockford University Campus at 5050 East State Street, Rockford. The public is invited to attend.

Sponsored by the English department at the university, the event will feature the works of renowned poet Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the jazz poetry style. Ten copies of “The Selected Poems of Langston Hughes” will be given away throughout the celebration.

Coffee and snacks will be served. For more information, contact Professor Michael Perry at mperry@rockford.edu.

The event is one of several at the university throughout the month. For a full listing of events, see www.rockford.edu/calendar.