Julie Nimmons ‘77

Former Owner, Schutt Sports

I have had the privilege of getting to know Eastern from a variety of perspectives, first as an EIU student (’77), then as the parent of EIU students (Jennifer ’02, ’03 and Stephanie ’04), and now as a member of EIU’s Board of Trustees and Chairperson of the Campaign for Eastern. From the vantage point of our more than thirty-year relationship, I have come to believe certain things about my University.

I believe in Eastern’s faculty and staff, who see excellence as their daily goal and strive to instill this attitude in their students. I believe in their shared achievements. In part, this means that I believe in high retention, graduation, and alumni satisfaction rates, and that I believe in reaching goals which include the growth of priority programs such as honors, study abroad, and faculty mentoring, as well as both faculty and student research.

I also believe in outcomes which cannot be reduced to statistics. I’ve seen for myself that what Eastern does best is to prepare graduates who not only are knowledgeable about their particular disciplines, but who have skills, aptitudes, and values that will serve them throughout their lives. EIU graduates are graduates who have both academic and social confidence. They perceive themselves to be leaders, and as such, they are committed to lead in their professions and their communities.

Last, I believe in us. I believe when you and I join together to support our University, we will prove the title of this campaign is both well chosen and well earned.

Because we do expect greatness. Because it is the Eastern way.

Julie Nimmons '77

Campaign Chairperson