Anthony Robert Grasso Workshops
2025-09-13 09:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Maddox Theatre – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Saturday, September 13, 2025, 9:30am-12:30pm & 1:30pm-4:30pm.
Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center
Anthony Robert Grasso is an award-winning actor, director, and educator, and the founder of ARG Studios, where his students work consistently in film, television, and theater. He served as Artistic Director of Breakthrough Studios for 16 years and teaches in-person, virtual, and international masterclasses for colleges, universities, and performing arts studios. Grasso trained at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford, The Actor’s Studio, and The Neighborhood Playhouse, studying under renowned teachers such as John Barton, Fiona Shaw, Arthur Penn, and Larry Moss. His television credits include recurring and guest roles on Jessica Jones, Gotham, The Sinner, FBI, Blue Bloods, Person of Interest, Sex & The City, and eight appearances in the Law & Order franchise. Deeply rooted in the indie film scene, he has acted in over three dozen films, with his work as an actor, producer, and director screening at festivals from Sundance to Cannes. Grasso is known for his versatility and passion for bold, character-driven stories.
Participation is free to the public. For further information please call 815-226-4108.

“815 Elevate: The Leadership Series” The Evolving Role of a Leader
2025-09-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Tools and frameworks to help leaders balance performance oversight with team development, in a fast-paced and technology-enhanced world.
Hosted from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, in the Puri School of Business.
Learn more about the series and register by contacting: CPEL@Rockford.edu!

Comprehensive Career Development Info session
2025-09-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Map Room – Howard Colman Library
This opportunity includes PAID3-CREDIT TUITION FOR COURSE CDEV 276 & PAID SHORT-TERM WORK EXPERIENCE@$16.00/HOUR

Comprehensive Career Development Info session
2025-09-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Faculty Dining Room – Burpee Student Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States

Forum Marquee Event: Constitution Day Celebration: “Who Controls Foreign Policy in the United States?”
2025-09-18 14:00 - 15:30 | Fisher Memorial Chapel – Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania state legislature—the same site that witnessed the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. This year is the 238th anniversary of that historic occasion.
Rockford University will celebrate Constitution Day with a shared classroom visit from Marquette University Law School Professor Ryan Scoville who will be meeting electronically with Dr. Ron Lee’s Current Issues in American Foreign Policy class (POLS 387). Please sit in with us to listen to an informative aspect of the US Constitution that is often less-explored, but increasingly critical in the 21st century.
Most Americans are aware of the central role that the president and the executive branch play in foreign policymaking. But has this always been the case? Find out what the Constitution tell us about the distribution of foreign policy powers and the foreign policy responsibilities of the other branches, especially Congress. Explore how we get to the point where presidents and the executive branch seem to have almost exclusive authority over foreign policy. Learn the part the courts can and should play in interpreting the law and resolving disputes as they relate to foreign policy. Understand how the fact that the US. has a federal system of government that divides power between the national government and state governments effects American foreign policy. With respect to current foreign policy matters, know the constitutional debates surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration and international trade policies and its use of military force. Come and learn more about our most basic governing document while celebrating its creation.

Regent Cabaret Broadway Through the Decades
2025-09-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Cheek Theatre – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 7:30 pm.
Cheek Theatre, Clark Arts Center
Director, Aiden Foreman
Assistant Director, Aubry Musfelt
Choreographer, Nora Eliff
Come and experience a night of dazzling music, storytelling, and theatre magic with Regent Players’ “Broadway Through the Decades”, a cabaret of traditional Broadway show songs. From the sweeping romance of Oklahoma!, the eerie complexity of Hadestown and the fairy tale fantasies of Into the Woods. The students of Rockford University and the wider community come together in this cabaret celebrating the songs that have captured the hearts of generations. Come see our performers and enjoy the drama, joy, and magic of Broadway right on campus!

Forum Marquee Event: “Prototyping Plural Pathways Towards Peace: Situating, Storying, & Slipping”
2025-09-22 09:00 - 09:30 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
A workshop for International Day of Peace with Dr. Danielle Lake, Associate Professor at Elon University and Director of Design Thinking.
Held in conjunction with ”In the Spirit of Jane Addams: Global Dialogue, Social Change, and Community Engagement in the 21st Century” an International Conference at the University of Warsaw in Warsaw Poland, September 25-26, 2025, this interactive workshop is an invitation to reimagine plural pathways towards peace. Dr. Lake will share research on effective social systems changemaking, highlighting powerful stories and promising strategies from visionary changemakers like Jane Addams, Grace Lee Boggs, and Arturo Escobar.
Join student participants across the RU campus and the globe as they together frame, explore, generate, prototype, and cultivate situated strategies that transform practices and policies, shift resource flows, reshape unjust structures, build relationships, and generate tipping points.
Location information coming soon.

Success Workshop: Prep Smarter, Not Harder - Mid Term Prep
2025-09-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Start NOW – mid-terms are fast approaching!!!
Success Workshops are built and designed to provide success tools for students academically and in life.
Each runs 50 minutes and are hosted in The HUB (library), main level, Map Room.

Success Workshop: Resume Building & Career Brainstorming
2025-09-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Need to start on that resume or begin refining it? Still trying to figure out what you want to do beyond college? This is the workshop for you!
50 minute workshop providing success tools.
Hosted in The HUB, Main Level, Map Room.

Saudi National Day
2025-09-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Regents Hall – Burpee Student Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Join our 35 Saudi Arabian students to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s National Day. Participants will enjoy activities such as face-painting and Arabic coffee or tea in the Arabic tea tent. There will be a presentation and a full Arabic dinner.

Northwest Mutual Info session
2025-09-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Faculty Dining Room – Burpee Student Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Northwest Mutual will be hosting an info session for internship and work experience opportunities.

Golden Grads Luncheon
2025-09-26 12:00 - 14:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Join us to celebrate current and past Golden Grads with President Patricia Lynott. Current and previous Golden Grades (those of classes 1975 and older) join us for free. All other alumni and guests are $20. Registration required.

State of the University with President Lynott & Alumni Association Board Meeting
2025-09-26 15:30 - 17:00 | Fisher Memorial Chapel – Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
University President Dr. Lynott gives a State of the University address, along with the brief Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association.

All-Alumni Awards Dinner
2025-09-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Join Alumni and Friends at our annual Awards dinner. Celebrate the accomplishments of RU Alumni while visiting with friends old and new. $40.

Memorial Service
2025-09-27 09:30 - 11:00 | Fisher Memorial Chapel – Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Come and remember those alumni who are no longer with us at Fisher Chapel. A complimentary coffee and tea service will be available beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Homecoming Tailgate
2025-09-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Join the party! Multiple departments and clubs from across campus will hosts tents full of food, fun, and games at this massive tailgate party to celebrate the Homecoming Football Game.

Homecoming Football Game
2025-09-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Cheer on the Regents as they play against Lakeland University.

Study Abroad Fair
2025-10-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Burpee Regents, 5050 East State Street, Burpee, ROCKFORD, 61108-2311
Participants will learn about long-term and short-term study abroad opportunities by visiting different study abroad stations. Stations will feature games and prizes. There will also be raffle prizes, a churros bar, DIY travel journal craft station and a presentation from students about the Spain study abroad trip from May 2025.

Governor's Office Internship Info session
2025-10-01 11:30 - 13:30 | Howard Colman Library, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Governor’s Office Internships & Jobs
📅 October 1 | ⏰ 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. & 12:30–1:30 p.m. | 📍 Map Room, Colman Library
Focus: Internship and job opportunities with the Governor’s Office. All majors are welcome. Students can also learn about the application and interview process for ANY state job.

Comprehensive Career Development Intake Days
2025-10-01 12:00 - 14:00 | Puri School of Business, 5100 East State St, Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Intake Paperwork Sessions
📅 Wednesday, October 1 | ⏰ 12:00–2:00 p.m. | 📍 Puri Building Room 128
📅 Friday, October 3 | ⏰ 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 📍 Puri Building Room 114
Focus: Completion of program paperwork and RU/HR paperwork.
Walk-ins Welcome
or Register
https://tinyurl.com/RYCE-Intake

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2025-10-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Maddox Theatre – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the colorful and comical re-telling of the Old Testament’s Joseph and his eleven jealous brothers who sell him into slavery. Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams sparks a meteoric rise from captivity to a seat at the Pharoah’s right hand. It’s a story of hope, resilience, and forgiveness told entirely through song: a toe-tapping array of 70s rock, country-western, French ballad, Calypso and more. This family-friendly musical will have you on your feet dancing along with the cast by the show’s mega-mix ending! JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group. www.concordtheatricals.com

Forum Marquee Event: ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
2025-10-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Cheek Theatre – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
ENOUGH! invites YOU to attend staged readings of this year’s plays in your community.
On October 6, 2025, six of the plays submitted through our nationwide call in Spring 2025 will be presented in an evening of readings staged simultaneously by theaters, schools, and community groups across the country. Nearly 3,000 artists in more than 150 communities have participated across three previous Nationwide Readings. Many have used ENOUGH! to forge meaningful community partnerships and create space for the youth of their area to be seen and heard.
Our teens are looking for answers on how to avoid becoming another statistic and saying, “Enough is enough.”
Will you join them? For more information Nationwide Reading | ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence

Forum Marquee Event: Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar: “Democracy and the Arts”
2025-10-07 16:00 - 18:00 | Fisher Memorial Chapel, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
What is the role of the arts in activating and sustaining democratic life? How have artists sustained the rights of free expression? Why are some forms of artistic expression censored? How have the arts contributed to social movements? Should the arts have a politically useful role? Or stay strategically “un-useful”? In different eras and regions of the world, artists have responded to these questions quite differently. This lecture explores a range of socially engaged art practices, considering how some seek to make community, how some seek to expose inequity, and how some open new ideas of what democracy might mean.
Shannon Jackson is the Cyrus and Michelle Hadidi Professor of the Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley and the Chair of the History of Art department. Her research, teaching, and convening focus on the role of visual, literary, performance, and media art forms in social movements and in public life, with a recent focus on ecological aesthetics. For more information use this link to the PBK website; https://www.pbk.org/visitingscholars/2025-2026/shannon-jackson

Fotos y Recuerdos
2025-10-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Rockford University Art Gallery – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Salvador Dominguez
On Display: September 2nd – October 17th
Reception: Friday, October 10th, 6:00-8:00PM
Artist Talk: Friday, October 10th, 7:00PM
Salvador Dominguez was born in 1985 in Zacatecas, Mexico, and grew up in Pomona, California. He now lives and works in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. Like many first-generation immigrants, language is an important part of Dominguez’s narrative. Not just in terms of communication but also in its relevance within a broader contemporary American culture. Employing pattern, vibrant shifting colors and abstracted pictographic imagery, Dominguez’s works occupy a unique space between painting, textile-making and functional design.
Dominguez’s 2024 solo presentation with De Boer Gallery at the New Art Dealers Association
(NADA) Contemporary Art Fair in Miami was recognized by ARTnews in their top 6 selections
from the fair, writing “In his works that take on art history from the Renaissance to Pop art,
Dominguez imbues his own sense of cultural history to provide a sharp commentary on growing
up in the United States as the child of immigrants.”
Recent solo and group exhibitions include De Boer Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), Andrew Rafacz (Chicago, IL), Western Exhibitions (Chicago, IL), DePaul Art Museum (Chicago, IL), Lubeznik Center for the Arts (Michigan City, IN), Ralph Arnold Gallery at Loyola University (Chicago, IL), Walker Art Gallery (Garnett, KS), National Museum of Mexican Art (Chicago, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), One After 909 (Chicago, IL), Thomas Masters Gallery (Chicago, IL), and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (Chicago, IL).

“815 Elevate: The Leadership Series” Power in the Cells: Excel for Modern Leadership
2025-10-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
A workshop on Excel as a tool for leadership decision-making, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP.
Hosted from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, in the Puri School of Business.
Learn more about the series and register by contacting: CPEL@Rockford.edu!

Diwali
2025-10-20 11:30 - 13:00 | The Den – Burpee Student Center, IL
Participants will learn about the Indian holiday Diwali. This event includes activities such as getting a henna tattoo, making rangoli art and eating Diwali sweets!

Forum Marquee Event: “Voices: Men and Women of Africa and America”
2025-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Maddox Theatre – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
African and American playwrights in the 20th and 21st century have shared stories of the black experience on two continents and found the binding connection to all of humanity seeking strength, dignity, and purpose. Under the direction of Dorothy Paige-Turner, the Rockford Reader’s Theatre will present selections from the works of August Wilson, Athol Fugard, Lynn Nottage, Efua Sutherland, and many others. Giving voice to these writers will be George Davis Richard Meeks Jacquelyn Rogers Wendell Thompson Carl L. Towns Coleen Martin Williams Janet Wright, in addition to Dorothy Paige-Turner.

Book Release and Reading: The Rockford Anthology
2025-10-27 16:30 - 18:00 | Howard Colman Library, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Come celebrate the publication of a new book by and for the Rockford community, The Rockford Anthology. This collection is filled with short pieces about our city, including many written by current and former students and faculty at Rockford University!

Join us to share light snacks and hear authors read their work, with an opportunity to purchase the book for yourself. Mingle with students, alumni, and faculty at 4:30, with the reading beginning at 5.
This event is free to the public, with no RSVP required.

Please direct any questions to English Department Chair Dr. Kyle Stedman at kstedman@rockford.edu.

DCFS Info Session
2025-10-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Faculty Dining Room – Burpee Student Center, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
DCFS will be hosting an info session for Internships and employment opportunities they have available

Harvesting Connections: Community Partner and Resource Fair
2025-10-29 12:00 - 14:00 | Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. , Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Join the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement for our Harvesting Connections Fair! This event brings together local organizations, community partners, and campus resources to help students discover opportunities for service, internships, volunteering, and support. Explore ways to get involved, connect with community leaders, and learn about resources available to you both on and off campus. Whether you’re looking to grow your network, find meaningful experiences, or simply learn more about what Rockford has to offer, this fair is the perfect place to start.
