Theme: Becoming Human

How do we destigmatize mental illness? Can we leverage our uniquely human ability to tell stories to bridge the divide between us and those we disagree with? How do we reconcile our complex identities with the rigid boxes outlined by society?

Join us for TEDxIWU 2019 as Illinois Wesleyan faculty, students and alumni explore these, and many more, fascinating ideas about what it means to be human.

Hansen Student Center
300 E Beecher St
Bloomington, Illinois, 61701
United States

Amanda Wesche

Sociology + gender studies major

Amanda is a junior at Illinois Wesleyan University studying sociology and gender. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri with five older brothers and parents who taught her it's okay to make mistakes. She currently works as a residential community advisor and multifaith ambassador. Amanda is passionate about working with college-aged students and encouraging people to take risks and accept compliments. What does "becoming human" mean to Amanda? "Becoming human" means accepting both our excellent qualities and excellent flaws. It is inherently human to mess up, and too often we aren't okay with that. To become human means to appreciate what we can do and be okay with not being perfect.

Cindi Perrine

Story telling coach + trainer

Cindi graduated from IWU in 1988. She and her husband (Peter '86) married that same year and she started graduate work at the University of Illinois. After earning her Master of Science degree in Psychology, she began work at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). She has worked there for 28 years in the areas of learning, design, and innovation. She has always been fascinated by the impact of technology on the human experience. Cindi is currently a certified storytelling coach and trainer within Accenture and leads a team that uses storytelling and design thinking to explore the future of technology with clients. Personally, Cindi has three children who are all attending college. She and Peter are still married (happily!) and they live in Wheaton, Illinois. Cindi and Pete are long-term members of First United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Hailey Thomas

Virtual project manager

Hailey is runs a virtual project managment company called BrainSpace Optimized. She and her team help tech leaders become more available, generous, and accomplished through virtual coaching and project management. Hailey lives in Normal, where she is wife to a talented carpenter, mom to one wily toddler and spends her free time reading fiction, traveling and weightlifting. Officially, Hailey have a degree in organizational communication and leadership from Illinois State University where she was also a letter winning Redbird athlete. Before founding BrainSpace Optimized, Hailey used her time as a Division I athlete and then recruiter for a multi-million dollar consulting firm as a way to exercise her communication & facilitation skills. And now, she brings all of that to bear in your business helping tech leaders realize their ambitions.

Nicole Jovicevic

Career coach + life strategist

Nicole Jovicevic is a career coach and life strategist who helps people tap into their greatest strengths, decide who they want to be, and take dynamic action to get there NOW. In addition to her business, she's a career coach at a nonprofit, a LinkedIn Local Chicago networking event host, a LinkedIn and resume fanatic, an amateur swing/blues/hop hop dancer, and a lover of watching Vine compilations and Netflix. She spends most of her free time with her boyfriend Kevin, mom, two cats, and close friends and is quite happy with that.

Niyant Vora

Biology major, german minor + pre-med student

Niyant was born in Mumbai, India, and has lived in the U.S. since 2000. He's a biology major and german minor at Illinois Wesleyan University. On campus, he currently works as the lead Observer for the IWU Mark Evans Observatory, and as german tutor. He volunteers regularly at the local hospital. While at IWU, Niyant's had the opportunity to participate in a series of research projects in biology, physics, psychology, and german, many of which are related to his interest in understanding the human mind. Currently, Niyant is tackling three projects: an honors thesis in german, a thesis in psychology, and his own personal research project, which he's in the process of patenting. In his spare time, Niyant enjoys swimming, (astro)photography, playing the ukulele, and learning languages––he's currently learning Latin, Hawaiian, and Sanskrit.

Wendy Kooken

Professor of Nursing

Dr. Wendy C. Kooken received an A.A.S. in nursing at Illinois Central College in 1985. She earned a B.S.N. in 1999 and a M.S.N. in Nursing Administration in 2002 from Bradley University. Her Ph.D. and post doctoral fellowship were completed at Indiana University in 2008 and 2011, respectively. Prior to joining the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University in 2012, Dr. Kooken taught for Bradley University in Peoria, Western Illinois University in Macomb, Indiana University in Indianapolis, IN, and for Kansas University Medical Center. Her nursing positions have been diverse and include post anesthesia care at Pekin Hospital, tissue services coordinator for American Red Cross and American Tissue Services Foundation, and staff nurse at Crittenton Care and Counseling in Peoria. She volunteers as a 4H leader, loves her students and helping others find their passion. Her own passions include teaching, reading, embroidery/crewel, horseback riding, and most of all, her family.