What a wonderful tribute to an amazing student affairs educator. Thank you for all you’ve done for the field and Western Illinois University. Hope you enjoy every moment of your retirement.
Shari Rich, WIU CSP Alum

Posted to Facebook on May 7, 2016

So glad to hear the celebration was as wonderful as you are. You have been such an amazing influence on so many people’s lives. I’m sure you will enjoy a great retirement.
Carmen VanBuskirk Kiefer, WIU CSP Alum; former Grad. Asst. in Res. Life/Graduate and Family Housing

Posted to Facebook on May 7, 2016

Made us all proud to be Westerwinds

Happy well-deserved retirement, Janine!
Marilyn Van Ausdall, Monmouth (IL) Branch AAUW

Posted to Facebook on May 7, 2016

Well deserved Cuz! So glad they recognized you with style!
Cathy Derrick, Cousin

Posted to Facebook on May 7, 2016

Rica Calhoun, University Attorney; Former supervisor, as Interim Assoc. VP for Student Services (Spring 2015)

Posted to Facebook on May 7, 2016

Happy retirement Janine – you deserve great things just for YOU because you spent your career doing so many good things for others.
Monique van den Wildenberg, WIU CSP/Res. Life/GFH Alum

Posted to Facebook on May 7, 2016

As a lifer in higher ed I appreciate your service and dedication. Well done!
Kim Myrick Hinkle, friend from Junior High

Posted to Facebook on April 28, 2016

Posted to Facebook on April 27, 2016

You were such a pivotal role in bringing the WC to the MCC. It essentially went from a closet to such a lovely space, and it was your tenacity that did that. All of the programs: Vagina Monologues, Take Back the Night, Go Red, Women’s History Month exhibits, The Clotheline Project, and all of the others I forgot to mention. As well as the Feminist Action Alliance and OASIS, all of it you had such a huge part of it even being possible.You worked very hard, and your legacy at WIU will be remembered for years to come. Thank you for the opportunity I had to work at the WC. I enjoyed it very much. Good luck in all you do, Janine!! Cheers!
Angie Petersen, former WIU Women’s Center student assistant and OASIS president

Posted to Facebook on Jan. 7, 2016

Wow Janine, so this event in April (the Women’s Center 30th Anniversary Celebration) has extra meaning!! Your energy and passion will surely be missed! Yet your legacy will live on in all your work and leadership at the Women’s Center!!
Donna Denoncourt, WIU CSP, res. life, Student Development, and Women’s Center alum

Posted to Facebook on Jan. 7, 2016

You deserve the BEST retirement ever after all you gave to the entire WIU and Macomb communities! Now go have some fun!

Happy Retirement! Dad and I are proud (oh, so proud) of all your accomplishments, contributions, honors, awards, your hard work, and your dedication to the students and staff at WIU and to the community of Macomb! You have been a treasure to Western Illinois University….and to us! They loved you….and so do we! Now your time is your own! Have a great retirement! Party on! ❤️

Some people leave footprints in your heart…sounds cheesy but so true! Janine, I hope you know how much of an inspiration you have been on my path to womanhood. You are one of the strongest women I know and I know you have left a mark on my life as an educator, leader, and woman’s advocate. I hope I get to see you before your retirement. Best of luck to you in the future and we will be in touch! 

Afsha Merchant – Former WIU Campus Girl Scouts officer

Submitted: April 27, 2016

Such a loss to WIU and the Women’s Center!
Good luck! WIU is losing such great people and you are one of them! But you will love your freedom to volunteer at the WC often

Submitted: April 2, 2016

Hooray for you, Janine! So glad to celebrate you and everything you’ve done for WIU and been to the good folks on campus. Your dedication and love for your work is inspiring — you’ve certainly made your mark!

Thank you for always being so kind and helpful during my time as a grad student at WIU. You are one of the people who made my time there so lovely.

Now I wish you a retirement filled with all good things! You’re an excellent example of a life well-lived, Janine, and I know you’ll continue in that vein as you explore what comes next. Happiness and peace to you always!

take care,
Julie P. 🙂

I have known you since you were a graduate student and we shared experiences at WIU and at First Presbyterian Church. There are many that bring a smile to my face, but the one that makes me laugh is the time that you left me in charge of your crazy cats! One of them did not like me at all and hissed and taunted me when I came to feed them :). I think that damn cat (Dink or Whitney) gave me nightmares!! Needless to say, you never asked me again 🙂

For all the good work you did to grow the services and outreach of the Women’s Center, contribute to SRP and Student Services, I should not have chosen the cat story. But when I think of you, I often remember, in addition to your good work, your amazing editorial skills… And your cats.

Enjoy your next chapter. You will be missed!

Janine-

I am so fortunate that I have had the opportunity to know and work with you. WIU and the Women’s Center are much better places because of your commitment to improving the lives of women. Wishing you much joy in this next chapter of your life.

Congratulations–I feel certain your retirement will be as meaningful and productive and fun as your career at WIU has been!!

I’m so happy to hear you’re retiring! All the people at WIU will certainly miss you.

Remember when you were leading the Woman’s Conference and we all had to go to the basement because of a tornado? Never a dull moment in Macomb!

Enjoy every moment of this next phase of your life.

Jean

Hi Janine,

I appreciate the work that we have done together and you have been a valued colleague! Looking forward to seeing you on the golf course?

All the best for your retirement,

Jennie

Janine:

….THANK YOU for all you have done over the past couple of decades for Women’s issues and for the greater good of the Campus AND Community. WE are going to hope you will be available for continued Community involvement on a board or commission for the CITY !!??!!

Sincerely, Mike

Michael J. Inman
Mayor
City of Macomb

Hi Janine,

I want to tell you how much I appreciate all you did for WIU, Macomb, and your Department. You were a good leader for our students, and you are always willing to say “Yes” anytime you were asked to help. I appreciate all of your help with the many events we had in the MCC. Enjoy your retirement…it’s a BIG part of what all of your years of service were for. All the best to you, and always come back to see us! You will truly be missed!

Most sincerely,
Sheila

Hi, Janine,

Congratulations on your retirement. I hope you enjoy it and whatever you do. I appreciated working with on the projects we collaborated on over the years.

Now get some rest!

David

———-
David E. Patrick
Professor and Chair Emeritus
Department of Theatre and Dance
Western Illinois University

Let me say here what an honor it has been to work beside you all these years. You are a remarkable, special woman Janine. A champion of women’s rights, of human rights. The master of the complex calendar! Enjoy your retirement every day. Let me know if you ever want to go for a Harley ride!.

Janine, Thanks so much for all you’ve done all these years at the Women’s Center, for our students, and for our larger WIU community. Wishing you all the best in your retirement, Shazia

It’s been a pleasure knowing you. Congratulations on the work you’ve done at WIU and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

Janine, thank you so much for all of your work at the Women’s Center, for your advocacy for the Multicultural Center, for your support for LGBT issues, and for the contributions that you’ve made to advance the empowerment and safety of students at WIU and in Macomb. Western won’t be the same without you, but it is certainly much better because of you. Congratulations on your retirement. Hope you have a wonderful and fulfilling post-WIU life! Thanks again.

Janine has been the lifeblood of the women’s Center for as long as I’ve been associated with WIU. I am grateful for her representation of women on campus, for her support and guidance for my late husband Sean, and especially for her friendship. I’ve been very blessed to have her in my life!

Janine – Wish we could have joined you in person to help celebrate this huge milestone! I have followed you through the many years of your career, but when reading all your accomplishments all at once, all I could say was, “Wow!” Very impressed and very happy for your success and that you are now beginning a new, and I’m sure, adventurous chapter in your life! Live it up and congrats! Love you…Kristan and Rob ?

I knew Janine since 2007, having volunteered in the Women’s Center in the past and kept in contact throughout the years. When I told her I was getting married and planning on changing my last name, she said that even in marriage, that I should have my own identity. Thankfully, my husband Marshall is supportive of my career goals of becoming a journalist.

Janine, I can hardly believe it is time for you to retire!! I remember when you were a graduate assistant at WIU!! I want to tell you how impressed I am with the wonderful work you have done with the Women’s Center!! It has truly been a place for education, support, and inspiration to so many women. You have done a tremendous job and I am proud to be your friend!!

Janine, One of my most favorite memories was working on the production of the Vagina Monologues with you as a graduate assistant. That experience forever changed my life. It allowed me to be open about my own past and reclaim a part of my soul that was hurt and hidden away. Thank you for you guidance, your support, your care and your laughter. You are truly a gift and much happiness to you as you journey onto the next part of your life. Many blessing to you!

Hi Janine! I hope you enjoy your retirement and the freedom to travel and enjoy what makes you happy! Thank you for all you have done over the years for our students and keeping the Women’s Center at WIU moving forward and promoting the organization on campus and the community! All the best to you!