Campus News

Q: What drew you to Rockford University?  

A: The opportunity to work on a gorgeous campus at an esteemed educational institution that is so committed to its students and community was irresistible!  Rockford University has a terrific reputation, and is leading the way in demonstrating a nimble response to the challenges facing higher education; altogether, these factors made me thrilled to join the RU team. In addition, the fact that both RU and my alma mater, Swarthmore College, have a connection to Jane Addams, makes it feel especially like it was meant to be!

Q: What drew you to this specific role?  

A: The opportunity to serve as provost with such a dedicated faculty, president, deans, and colleagues, and to support an institution so committed to student success, particularly for first-generation college students, was deeply appealing.

Q: What makes Rockford University so special? 

A: Rockford is a unique higher education institution in that it both embodies what is best about the liberal arts tradition- a strong arts and humanities focus, a vibrant intellectual life (as reflected in part by its Phi Beta Kappa chapter), and a wonderful tradition of theater, music, creative writing, and visual arts- coupled with an incredibly strong and successful career focus, as reflected by our education, nursing, business and science programs (among many others!).  It really makes a powerful argument for the value of getting a bachelor’s degree. And of course, there are the wild turkeys!

Q: What impact do you hope you make in this role? 

A: If I can create more space for meaningful dialogue and communication between all the stakeholders of the university- faculty, students, staff, alumni, administrators, community members, and others- so that we can all collaborate for the betterment of each other and RU, I will feel like I have had a positive impact.

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This article is part of the 2023-2024 issue of Catalyst. 

Rockford University junior forward Tony Diemer has been named NACC Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for his outstanding performance on the court a week ago. This marks the second time Diemer has earned conference player of the week honors in his career, with the other coming during his sophomore year. Diemer is also the first RU men’s basketball player to be voted conference player of the week this season. 

Playing alongside Tony and making a big impact on the court is younger brother, Kevin, also a forward for the Regents.  It’s been a strong season for the Diemers, which included Tony passing the 1000 point mark. It was appropriate that the assist came from Kevin. 

The Rockford natives and Boylan High School alumni recently talked with WTVO Sports Anchor Scott Leber in a feature, Diemers A Strong One-Two Punch for Regents, that aired on February 12.  Saturday’s win over MSOE was the last home game of the season. Two games remain in the regular season.

For more about Regent athletics, visit Go.Regents.com.

Rockford University senior Malcolm Engelbrecht (Loves Park, Ill.) has been named as a 2017 Lincoln Laureate by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Each year, the annual Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Ceremony recognizes excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by seniors from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. This year’s ceremony took place Saturday, November 11, in Springfield. President Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D., accompanied Engelbrecht for the ceremony.

The Lincoln Academy has been granting the award for 43 years. Governor Bruce Rauner, the President of the Lincoln Academy, and First Lady Diana Rauner presented each student with a certificate of merit, a Lincoln medallion and a $1,000 check from the Lincoln Academy.

Malcolm attended Belvidere High School and will graduate from Rockford University in 2018 with a major in Organismal Biology and a minor in Chemistry. After completing his degree, he plans to attend medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences where he will be trained to be a leader in the U.S Navy’s health services.

Malcolm currently serves as the president of the pre-health and science club, helping to connect his fellow students with community service opportunities through-out the Rockford region. He has also served his community as an Emergency Medical Technician for the past three years. He is a recipient of the American Chemical Society Organic Chemistry Award for showing exceptional understanding of fundamental Organic mechanisms; a Dean’s and Distinguished scholar, and has been named a Rock-Solid Regent in October of 2016 as recognition for his positive accomplishments at Rockford University.