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Photo courtesy of the Fellows Program: Pictured (L–R) Back row: Mayor Mike Inman, City of Macomb; Dr. Chris Merrett, IIRA/WIU; Chris Adams, McDonough County Health Department; Stacy Nimmo, Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC); Lashawn Gordon, AC Member; Taylor Clarke, AC Member; Kelly Shiraki, WIRC. Front row: Miranda Lambert, Office of Community Development, City of Macomb; Savannah Ballard, Office of Downtown Development, City of Macomb; Po Wilkey, AC Member; Cambrie Rhodes, AC Member. Not pictured: Whitney Fowler and Audra Elam, AC Members.
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WIU Peace Corps Fellows & AmeriCorps Program Welcomes 2025–26 Cohort

September 29, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's Peace Corps Fellows & AmeriCorps Program welcomed its newest cohort of AmeriCorps members with a gathering and orientation in the Community Room at City Hall. Supervisors representing local community organizations hosting the members for the 2025–2026 academic year joined in the event.

The group was welcomed by Macomb Mayor Mike Inman and Dr. Chris Merrett, Dean for Innovation and Economic Development and Director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at WIU. The day's program was led by Fellows Program Director K. Mauldin-Curtis (KMC).

This year's AmeriCorps members serving the Macomb community include:

Po Wilkey and Taylor Clarke, with the Offices of Community Development and Downtown Development, City of Macomb

Lashawn Gordon, Western Illinois Regional Council

Cambrie Rhodes, McDonough County Health Department

Whitney Fowler, Giving Gardens

Audra Elam, serving the City of Nokomis, IL

The Fellows Program in Community Development at WIU is a graduate fellowship program for returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and AmeriCorps (AC) alumni. Managed through the IIRA, the program offers participants the opportunity to pursue graduate studies at WIU, with an emphasis on rural community and economic development.

As part of their degree program, Fellows enroll in AmeriCorps and serve community-based graduate internships. These placements assist organizations with projects such as downtown revitalization, business retention and expansion, youth leadership, health education, volunteer management and disaster preparedness.

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, providing opportunities for Americans to serve their communities. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

For more information about WIU's Fellows Program in Community Development, visit wiu.edu/pcf or contact K. Mauldin-Curtis at k-mauldin-curtis@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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