Staff Contacts

IIRA Administration

Christopher Merrett, Ph.D. Bio
Dean of Innovation and Economic Development and Director of Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
(309) 298-2281
CD-Merrett@wiu.edu

Sandy Wittig, MBA
Deputy Director
(309) 298-2637
SK-Wittig@wiu.edu

Erin Wherley
Program Assistant
(309) 298-2304
EC-Wherley@wiu.edu

Email Us!

APEX Accelerators/Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center

Theresa Ebeler, Ph.D
Program Director
(618) 420-8313
TL-Ebeler@wiu.edu

Community and Economic Development MA Program

Christopher Merrett, Ph.D.
Dean of Innovation and Economic Development and Director of Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
(309) 298-2281
CD-Merrett@wiu.edu

Data Analysis and Technical Assistance

William Westerhold, MA
BGIS Project Manager
(309) 298-2576
WL-Westerhold@wiu.edu

Illinois Small Business Development Center

Ann Friederichs, BA
Program Director
(309) 762 3999 ext. 62243
AE-Friederichs@wiu.edu

Maria G Ramos Aguilar, MS
Business Advisor
(309) 762-3999
MG-RamosAguilar@wiu.edu

Carrie Kessler, BA
Business Advisor
309-298-3040
cr–kessler@wiu.edu

MAPPING the Future of Your Community

Gisele Hamm, MA
Program Director
(309) 298-4019
GF-Hamm@wiu.edu

Linda Lee Blaine, MBA
Outreach Specialist
(309)298-2647
LL-Blaine@wiu.edu

Peace Corps Fellows/
AmeriCorps Program

KMC, MA
Program Director
(309) 298-2706
K-Mauldin-Curtis@wiu.edu

Public Policy and Economic Development

Adee Athiyaman, Ph.D.
Professor
(309) 298-2272
A-Athiyaman@wiu.edu

Rural Transit Assistance Center

David Patton, MA
Program Director
(309) 298-3392
DC-Patton@wiu.edu

Mable Kreps, MBA
Transit Specialist
(309) 298-2141
MR-Kreps@wiu.edu

Jamie Bainter, BA
Transit Specialist
(309) 298-1390
jr-bainter@wiu.edu

Ed Heflin, BB
Transit Specialist
(309) 298-2377
el-heflin@wiu.edu

Value-Added Sustainable Development Center

Sean Park, MA
Program Director
(309) 298-1453
ms-park@wiu.edu

Kristin Terry, BA
Cooperative Program Coordinator
Kl-Terry@wiu.edu

Whitney Miller, MSEd
Local Food Program Coordinator
w-Miller@wiu.edu