Fall 2024

Alumni Authors

Welcome Week Homecoming

Through the Lens How a story about a lighthouse brought two alumni together By Jenevieve Rowley-Davis As a brief pitstop between photographing rockstar Frank Turner shows in Buffalo, N.Y. and Indianapolis, Rich Russo ’84 made the trek to Fairport Harbor, Ohio, to shoot a completely different subject—the 99-year-old lighthouse owned by Sheila Consaul ’80.  The Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light is situated about a 20-minute walk from the nearest road, nestled along the shore of… Read Full Post

Building a Stronger Bradley How Interim President Jon Michael Plans to Lead the University While Searching for the Next President By Emily Potts In this exclusive interview, Bradley University’s interim president and former chair of the Board of Trustees, Jon Michael, outlines his vision for the university’s future. With more than 40 years of leadership experience ​​at property and casualty insurance company RLI Corp. and a deep commitment to the Peoria community, he is uniquely… Read Full Post

Bridging Generations: Engineering a Future While Honoring the Past While working on the biggest project of his career, this alumnus proves all roads lead back to Bradley. By Emily Potts Peering across the Illinois River from East Peoria to Peoria on Highway 150, you can’t help but notice—and be captivated by—a massive arch beside the historic McClugage bridge. This modern bridge structure is set to replace the current two-lane eastbound bridge that has been in… Read Full Post

Par for the Course: A Legacy ofSupport & Success A recent grad creates an endowment in honor of his coach to ensure opportunities for the men’s golf team. By Emily Potts Often, it’s the simple gestures that make a lasting impact—a smile from a stranger when you’re having a bad day; someone holding the door when you’re running late; or a friend checking in when you need it most. For John Stillman ’23, MBA ’24,… Read Full Post

Class Notes 1960s and 1970s James Yerbic ’67 was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Ill. Yerbic served on the Board of Trustees for 26 years, and is currently a Trustee Emeritus. Bill ’73 and Sharon Goodwin ’74 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 12, 2024. Major League Baseball named Steve Weller ’77, the official scorer for the 2024 All-Star game. Weller has been an official… Read Full Post

Upcoming Events Planning your own reunion on campus or want to find out how you can start one? Contact us at BUAlum@bradley.edu and we can help promote your upcoming reunion, or share information about campus event spaces that are perfect for hosting your group of returning Braves!

Edible Insects The Science and Sensory Delight Behind the BugNug By Emily Potts When nutrition and dietetics major Adrianna Gonnella ’24 pursued an Arnold/Wheeler Scholarship (A/W) through the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, she had no idea she would end up developing a food product using insects. “I have always had an entrepreneurial side, and my friend and I talked about starting a protein bar company,” she said. “I was also interested in renewable agriculture… Read Full Post

Prairies to Peaks: The Surprising Connection Between Illinois Moths and Grizzly Bears By Emily Potts Did you know that the agricultural practices of the Great Plains, especially in Illinois, play a crucial role in the conservation of grizzly bears hundreds of miles away? It’s a fascinating connection uncovered by assistant biology professor Dr. Anant Deshwal and his students. As a conservation biologist, Deshwal’s research quantifies the combined effect of urbanization and climate change on the… Read Full Post