Illinois Wesleyan University Promotes Three Women to Associate Professor

Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington has announced the promotion of 10 faculty members to the rank of associate professor. All 10 were granted tenure. Three of the promotions were awarded to women.

Meghan A. Burke was promoted to associate professor of anthropology and sociology. She joined the faculty at the university in 2009. Dr. Burke is the author of Race, Gender, and Class in the Tea Party: What the Movement Reflects about Mainstream Ideologies (Lexington Books, 2015). She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Dr. Burke earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in sociology from Loyola University in Chicago.

Brenda Lessen was appointed associate professor of nursing. Previously, she taught at the Methodist College of Nursing in Peoria, Richland Community College in Decatur, and Mennonite College of Nursing in Normal. Dr. Lessen is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in neonatal science from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Adrianna Ponce was named associate professor of music. Before joining the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan, she taught at Rutgers University in New Jersey and Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Ponce is a graduate of Boston University and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.