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Alumna Melissa Worley
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125 Anniversary Celebration: Melissa Worley

June 25, 2025

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Editor's Note: This is a series of stories about Western Illinois University students, alumni and community members, highlighting their experiences during our 125th anniversary celebration. We will feature 125 individuals from August 2024 to August 2025.

MACOMB, IL - - Alumna Melissa Worley describes Western Illinois University as the place that shaped her future and prepared her to succeed in her professional career.

"When I think about WIU, I see it as the foundation of my career," Worley said. "It was where I learned to balance academic responsibilities while staying focused on my long-term professional goals. The experience helped shape both my work ethic and my direction."

Worley believes that being a Leatherneck goes beyond individual achievement—it symbolizes a shared sense of pride and purpose.

"To me, the Leatherneck is a symbol of pride and achievement," Worley said. "It represents the shared spirit, resilience and accomplishments of the WIU community."

Among her Leatherneck memories, Worley's favorites are the ones made during Homecoming season.

"Some of my favorite memories from WIU are centered around Homecoming—the energy, school spirit and sense of community made it a truly special time each year," Worley said.

After graduating from WIU with a business management degree, Worley launched her career with Hy-Vee, where she worked for 17 years. Eventually, she returned to Macomb to serve the community as the Finance and Human Resources director.

"WIU played a key role in preparing me for each step of my journey," Worley said. "It instilled in me the value of hard work, perseverance and goal setting and gave me the grit needed to grow and succeed in my career."

Worley's advice to students considering further education highlights WIU's potential to prepare students for a successful future.

"WIU is a great place to grow and explore what you want your future to look like. College is a time when so many things are coming at you at once and WIU offers the space and support to reflect, discover your path and build a solid foundation," Worley said. "Take the time to evaluate your goals and don't be afraid to lean on the network of supportive staff and fellow students—they're an incredible resource to help you learn, grow and succeed in whatever direction you choose."

As we honor 125 years of educational excellence, we invite local WIU students, alumni, faculty and staff to share their stories and be featured in our series. Contact University Communications at U-Communications@wiu.edu to participate.

To learn more about the WIU Business programs, visit wiu.edu/cbt/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing