About Us:

The Observer, formerly The Journal, is the editorially independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Our mission is to publish news and feature stories, editorial and opinions relevant to the campus community while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards as outlined in The Observer Code of Conduct and Editorial Board By-laws and Procedures.

Staff :

Priyanka Deo

Priyanka Deo is the Director of Student Media at UIS, overseeing ‘The Observer,’ the campus’s independent digital news outlet. She also teaches within the School of Communication and Media. Before this, she was Assistant Director of Media Strategy in the Office of the Chancellor. Priyanka joined UIS from The Times of India Group in New Delhi, where she hosted her own digital show. She also worked as a national anchor and deputy editor at Associated Broadcasting and contributed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2019 election campaign.

Prince Chandra Singh

Prince Chandra Singh is a Graduate Assistant at The Observer and a second-year Computer Science graduate student at the University of Illinois Springfield. He leads the publication’s technical efforts, managing the website, formatting digital content, and ensuring a smooth online experience for both readers and contributors.

Lilian Georgiou

Lilian Georgiou is the Graduate Assistant Editor-in-Chief of ‘The Observer’ and is pursuing an MA in Public History. She aims to connect students with each other and the wider Springfield community through local issues and student voices.

Brandyn Johnson-Foster

Brandyn Johnson-Foster is a senior at UIS majoring in Communication with a minor in Computer Science. He has interests in photography, advertising, and video editing.

Braden Nuttall

Braden Nuttall is a Junior at UIS studying Communication. Braden is a member of the UIS Athletics broadcasting team, UIS Social Media, and the Speech and Debate team on top of the Observer. He is interested in the St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers and has hopes of becoming a Sports Broadcaster.

Edward Anderson

Edward Anderson is a senior at UIS with a minor in communications, a passion for media, and a quickly growing to-do list. From government to science to ecology to carpentry, there’s so much he enjoys in this vast, mirthful world.

Robert Murphy

Robert Murphy is a Computer Science major at UIS and an active duty Navy Sailor with more than eight years of service. His academic and professional interests focus on technology, software development, and applying problem-solving skills to real world challenges.

Will Platt

Will Platt served 10 years in the US Army. Upon finishing his service, he studied for two years at Western Illinois University and transferred to Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) to complete his bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Science. For over 20 years Will has used his GIS degree in the fields of Environmental Services and Electrical Power Generation and Transmission. Will is married and has two college-aged daughters.

LeAnne Withrow

LeAnne Withrow is an author, veteran, and civil rights activist. LeAnne proudly served her country for 13 years in the US Army before her medical retirement, including more than a decade as a military journalist. When she is not participating in civic engagement, she finds time to write and has written six novels. LeAnne has been married to her wife for 14 years, and together they have one daughter. Now completing her bachelor’s degree in communication at UIS, she plans on furthering both her advocacy and personal writing.

Omowunmi Esther Kolawole

Omowunmi Esther Kolawole is an international student at UIS studying Computer Science and pursuing a future career in law. Her curiosity and inferential mindset drive her to engage and explore events and issues within the UIS community. When she’s not exploring UIS and Springfield, she’s involved in the student organization, International Student Friendships, where she works as treasurer.

Letters to the Editor:

Letters may be sent by e-mail to [email protected], postal mailed to The Observer, RHB 140, Public Affairs Center, One University Plaza Springfield, IL 62703-5407. Letters should be no more than 2 double-spaced pages. Deadline for submitting letters is noon on the Thursday prior to the publishing date. The Observer reserves the right to reject or edit any submitted letter-to-the-editor. If any revisions take place, the author will be notified.

Editorial/Guest Commentary:

Observer editorials are the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Guest columns should be no more than 4 double-spaced pages. The Observer does not necessarily endorse opinions expressed in any column. The Observer recognizes the importance of providing a forum for our readers to express personal views. Questions may be directed to The Observer at 217-206-NEWS (6397).

Disclaimer:

The Observer reserves the right to select and edit all letter, columns and articles. The content herein should not be construed as official university sentiment.

The views and opinions expressed within podcasts, videos and other media shared via uisobserver.com are those of the participants and do not reflect the opinions or policies of the administration or employees of University of Illinois Springfield or The UIS Observer.