Success stories abound, just as do failures, disappointments, and major concerns.
The journalistic world touches many bases and there never is an opportunity to fully complete the report. Our job is to reflect some of the issues, report some of the main topics, and to offer assistance, if possible. We have the benefit, duty, obligation, joy, to start over each week and offer value to the conversation and dialogue.
It should be duly noted as part of the information disseminated that Aurora University recently selected its14th president of Aurora University. Susana Rivera-Mills, PhD, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. now 52 years old, will take over June 1 as president of Aurora University. There are many fine academic institutions in the State and in the Midwest. No one geographic area has the corner on fine academic institutions. Those are fluid situations and either build on the past, or, remain static, or, offer less than a positive impact. The aggregate situation is to build ahead, improve.
Ms Rivera-Mills is a native of El Salvador and on he surface of the situation could be a good it at Aurora University. She arrived in the United States at the age of 12 when she and her family fled El Salvador in Central America because of the country’s civil war. She learned English and learned what it meant to work for and earn and education. She was provost at Ball State the past five years.
John Ammons, chair person of the Aurora University Board of Trustees was quoted in a press release, “She is a dynamic, authentic, leader and a thoughtful listener who has lived with her servant-leadership style and passion to bring education to a broad population.”
Previously she has served in academic institutions at Oregon State University and Northern Arizona. She and her husband, Sean, and their golden retriever, Scout, will move to Aurora. Their son will continue at Ball State where is finishing his degree in economics and political science.
• The Rotary Club of Aurora was charted March 13, 1923 and recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Club will be host to a celebration event Friday, May 12, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begin its next chapter. The Club sponsors three scholarships through the Fox River Valley Community Foundation.
• Another Rotary Club in Aurora, Friday, March 25 will conclude its biggest event of the year. The Sunrise Rotary Club of Aurora will hold its 20th annual Wine and Chocolate Extravaganza at the Stonebridge County Club, 2705 Stonebridge Boulevard, Aurora. The big fundraising event helps to propel for the rest of the year the many good deeds and support within its community.
• Illinois lawmakers have held discussions and will debate whether the State should join a growing list of jurisdictions in the U.S. that allow voters to pick more than one candidate for an office and ranking them in order of preference, rather than just choosing one candidate. The system deserves serious consideration as a preferred method of voting.
• Two weeks of free Spring yard waste will begin in Aurora Monday, April 3 and end Friday, April 14. The free bundled collection will begin Monday, April 3 and run through Friday, Nov. 3. Its impact should not be brushed aside!
• The ukulele continues its modest increase with learning to play the instrument. A ukulele school will begin at the New England Congregational April 1.