Illinois

Get to know your CAST leadership team

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2026

Press Room

Here are some fun facts about the College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) leadership team.

Chad McEvoy, dean

Favorite Illinois State or Bloomington-Normal annual event: Commencement

What’s your coffee order? Lots of coffee—hot coffee when it’s cold out and iced coffee in the summer

Best concert you have ever attended: Elton John and Billy Joel together

Cara Rabe-Hemp, executive associate dean

Number of years at Illinois State: I just started my 25th year.

Favorite part of your job: Working with the amazing CAST faculty, staff, students, and leadership team (and spreadsheets)

Favorite quote: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou

Kara Snyder, assistant dean of marketing, communications, and constituent relations

Favorite place on campus: The bridge between Milner Plaza and the Quad. I like being able to see it all.

Favorite way to unwind on the weekend: A hot yoga class

Favorite local restaurant: Fort Jesse Café

Tamekia Bailey, director of student success and CAST Connections

Number of years at Illinois State: 21. I came in 2004 as a transfer student and never left.

Something that is always on your desk: hand sanitizer

Leadership philosophy: Leadership is both a responsibility and a privilege, grounded in service, intentionality, accountability, and growth.

Cindy Greskiwcz, business administrative associate

Favorite place on campus: CEFCU Arena

Favorite fictional character from a book, show, or movie: Mickey Mouse

Something that is always on your desk: pen, paper to-do-list, and Breathe Deep lotion (something very needed)

Toni Burningham, director of development

Favorite local restaurant: Anju Above

Favorite fictional character from a book, show, or movie: Ellen Ripley in Alien movies (played by Sigourney Weaver)

Leadership philosophy: If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

Teresa Fowler, office manager

Favorite local restaurant: Tobin’s Pizza

Dream vacation destination: Alaskan cruise

Favorite Illinois State or Bloomington-Normal annual event: Sweet Corn Circus festival

Chandra Smith, director of CAST-IT

Something that is always on your desk: Two Minions from the Minions movie, my years of service coin, and a dumpster fire coin

Favorite quote: “Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses—unless the printer jammed again, then it’s totally the printer’s fault.” —Office wisdom

Favorite way to unwind on the weekend: Relaxing on the deck or patio with the people I love

Lucas Maxwell, chair of the Department of Agriculture

Something that is always on your desk: Sadly, a long to-do list

Favorite part of your job: Supporting students and faculty while building a strong, inclusive future for agriculture

Favorite place on campus: The University Farm, where education gets its boots muddy, and learning is hands-on

Donna Selman, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences

Favorite part of your job: Finding ways to make people’s lives easier

Go-to coffee order: London Fog

Best concert you have ever attended: Monsters of Rock in Germany, 1989

Kelly Reddy-Best, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Go-to snack: Greek yogurt

Dream vacation destination: Vietnam/Ho Chi Minh Trail

Leadership philosophy: Lead with clear and compassionate communication, a deep commitment to justice and equity, and a strong belief in work-life balance to foster inclusive, sustainable, and trust-centered environments.

Chris Grieshaber, chair of the Department of Health Sciences

Favorite part of your job: Working with my colleagues on new ideas

Favorite way to unwind on the weekend: Soccer is my therapy

Dream vacation destination: Lazy: Hawaii; Not lazy: London

Sherif Rashad, director of the School of Information Technology

Go-to coffee order: Americano, no sugar and no milk

Best concert you have ever attended: Opera Aida at the Cairo Opera House, Egypt

Favorite quote: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” —Steve Jobs

Noelle Selkow, director of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation

Favorite place on campus: Redbird Plaza, on the swings

Go-to snack: Cashews and string cheese

Favorite Illinois State or Bloomington-Normal annual event: Sugar Creek Arts Festival

Lt. Col. Steve Krippel, chair of the Department of Military Science

Favorite place on campus: Horton Field House (Morning PT)

Favorite way to unwind on the weekend: Working on old Chevys

Favorite fictional character from a book, show, or movie: Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan)

Josh Brown, chair of the Department of Technology

Something that is always on your desk: Coffee

Favorite place on campus: Adjacent to campus … Uptown Normal

Best concert you have ever attended: It’s a tie: Rage Against the Machine (Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, 1999) and Jack White (American Legion Hall, a small venue in Nashville, Tennessee, 2024)

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Illinois

2 injured in Bishop Ford Freeway shooting on South Side, Illinois State Police say

Published

4 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

2 injured in Bishop Ford Freeway shooting on South Side, Illinois State Police say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Sunday, April 5, 2026 10:24PM

2 injured in Bishop Ford Freeway shooting on South Side: ISP

CHICAGO (WLS) — Two people were injured in a Bishop Ford Freeway shooting on Chicago’s South Side early Sunday morning, Illinois State Police said.

ISP said troopers responded to northbound Interstate 94 near 115th Street in the city’s Pullman neighborhood just before 1:30 a.m.

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Two people self-transported to a local hospital with injuries.

Traffic was being diverted off of northbound I-94 at 130th Street before all lanes reopened at 3:30 a.m., ISP said.

What led up to the shooting was not immediately clear.

ISP asked anyone with information to contact the Illinois State Police Zone 1 at (847) 294-4400 or email at ISP.CrimeTips@Illinois.gov. They say witnesses can remain anonymous.

Authorities did not immediately provide further information about the shooting.

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Illinois

Our Chicago: How data centers could positively, negatively impact you

Published

16 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Our Chicago: How data centers could positively, negatively impact you

CHICAGO (WLS) — The I-Team reported in February that there were 164 operating data centers in Illinois, with dozens more in the works.

The city of Joliet recently voted to approve plans for a large data center.

That vote came after hours of public meetings, packed with people eager to weigh in. Joliet city leaders said it would bring tax revenue and financial benefits for the community.

Some residents expressed concerns about the potential environmental impacts.

But, what exactly is a data centers and why are some communities eager to attract them?; Why are so many people opposed to them?

“A data center is going to be a building that provides the space, the power and the infrastructure for everything that we do online today,” said Brad Tietz, the director of state policy for the Data Center Coalition. “So, when you look at where demand is going, for data, so everything we’re doing on the internet, the average household has 21 connected devices to it. We’re going to use twice the amount of data in the next five years than we’ve used in the last ten years.”

Part 2 – Our Chicago: Data Centers

When it comes to the types of jobs created by data centers, he says it depends on the size of the facility.

“There’s going to be technicians, service engineers, etcetera. The real value, especially for Illinois residents, is going to be on the construction side,” Tietz said.

In some communities considering data centers, residents are concerned about their water usage.

“The data center industry has been a large water user, historically, but by no means the largest compared to other industries. And if you look at how efficient the industry is getting, and I’ll remind you too, not every data center uses water. Some are actually using, especially in a colder climate like Illinois, the outdoor air temperature to help cool their facilities,” Tietz said.

Jen Walling is the Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Environmental Council.

She wrote in Crain’s that “Big Tech” is coming to Illinois and that the state isn’t ready.

“We don’t have the guardrails in place that are going to be necessary to protect our environment, to keep our rates low, to protect our communities and most importantly, protect our water,” Walling said.

Part 1 – Our Chicago: Data Centers

She says the Alliance for the Great Lakes has put out a report where they’ve looked at water usage, and some data centers aren’t using much water.

“Some data centers are using up to five million gallons of water a day. These are huge water users, and they can be taking from different sources including Lake Michigan,” she explained.

“We’re also very concerned about air pollution and the energy usage, these are huge energy users,” Walling said.

She also explained the concerns for people living nearby.

“They need to be on with energy all the time. So, all of these facilities have backup diesel generators. And the residents in the [Aurora] community said that they could smell the methane gas that was being burned, the diesel gas that was being burned. And that’s particulate matter, it’s odor, so these communities face real consequences when something happens,” she said.

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Illinois

Braylon Mullins elevated UConn’s offense. What’s next is ‘a blessing in itself’

Published

1 day ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Braylon Mullins elevated UConn’s offense. What’s next is ‘a blessing in itself’

INDIANAPOLIS — You can sum up Braylon Mullins’ first Lucas Oil Stadium shooting performance like this: a near-dagger and a tongue-wagger.

Six days after becoming a national name with his last-second, game-winning 3-pointer vs. Duke, Mullins scored 15 points in a 71-62 UConn victory over Illinois. The Huskies will play for their third national championship in four years Monday against either Michigan or Arizona.

It was exactly the scenario Mullins envision when he committed to the Huskies in a ceremony at Greenfield-Central less than 18 months earlier.

“These are the moments you play for, and knowing how far and how long this season has been, just to be a part of the national championship – I think that’s a blessing in itself,” Mullins said.

“But we came here to win, so we’re ready for Monday.”

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Mullins made 4 of 7 from behind the arc – two of which came at crucial junctures.

Last things first. Mullins had missed all five of his shots in a scoreless second half when Illinois’ Keaton Wagler scored with 1:38 remaining. It cut the UConn lead – as high as 14 points with under 10 minutes to play – to 63-59.

After a timeout, UConn’s Alex Karaban missed a late shot clock 3, but Silas Demary Jr. grabbed the rebound. The Huskies reset their offense, and Demary later found Mullins, who hit a 3 from the elbow to make it a seven-point game with 52.1 seconds remaining.

“The play got broken down, and we run sets with under 5, 10 seconds on the shot clock,” Mullins said. “I just saw a little bit of separation, and we work on that shot in practice every day, so it just felt like repetition.”

Wagler responded with a 3 on the ensuing possession. Illinois, however, could never make a basket after cutting the lead to two possessions in the final two minutes.

The double-digit lead UConn opened up in the first half had the Illini chasing all night. Mullins snuck one in before halftime to help the cause.

That possession, off an Illinois turnover, began to run late in the shot clock as well. Mullins was aware of the clock, thought he saw a sliver of daylight and took a deep shot – similar to the one he swished in the Elite Eight.

It bounced off the center of the backboard and through the hoop for a 37-27 UConn lead with 47 seconds left in the half. Mullins headed back up the floor smiling, shaking his head and letting that tongue wag a bit.

“If you see a little window, you’ve gotta shoot it,” Mullins said. “I did not call glass, though – but it went in.”

Mullins scored only two points in 10 minutes when UConn and Illinois played at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 28. It was his collegiate debut after the 2025 IndyStar Mr. Basketball missed the first six games with an ankle injury.

Some of the Huskies’ other trusty shooters struggled Saturday. Demary, Alex Karaban and Jaylin Stewart combined to make 3 of 17. Mullins was a big reason why 3-point shooting became one of the night’s decisive elements. UConn finished 12 of 33, while Illinois made only 6 of 26.

Jayden Ross said teammate Jaylin Stewart called Mullins’ final 3 as they sat together on the bench.

“Sure enough, he came off the pin-down and he knocked it down,” Ross said. “He put us in a great spot to pull away. He just gives us great confidence. But he’s also an unselfish player, and he plays real hard on the defensive end too, so he does a little bit of everything.”

UConn will need Mullins’ clutch abilities one more time.

Nathan Baird is IndyStar’s Purdue insider. Sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter for the best Purdue coverage.

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