Retired faculty members Willard and Anita Bohn live in the San Francisco Bay Area now, but fond memories of their time at Illinois State live on.
Appears InWillard and Anita have been retired for approximately 15 years. The lifelong scholars have published numerous works; Willard recently published One Hundred Years of Surrealist Poetry: Theory and Practice. It’s his 20th book.
“I finally seem to have exhausted all the subjects I want to investigate,” he said. “I hate to say that I’m finished though, because I never know.”
The Bohns enjoy traveling, visiting museums, dining out, and tending to their vegetable garden. Anita volunteers at a repertory theatre and a nature center. Willard is a blues guitarist.
Willard began teaching at Illinois State in 1981 in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; he taught French and graduate literature classes. He specialized in avant-garde studies, the Middle Ages, and the French language. He was a graduate coordinator and served on multiple committees, including the college research grant committee and the university library committee. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
“What I remember about ISU is primarily my students,” he said. “I have some great colleagues in the department and across the University, but engaging with students was most rewarding.”
Anita began teaching at Illinois State in the Department of Mathematics in 1992 before moving to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, where she taught while earning a doctorate in education. An associate professor of social studies education, she served as the coordinator of the elementary education program and helped to develop and teach in the University’s professional development school in Pekin for Illinois State student teachers preparing to teach there.
The Bohns stay in touch with friends and former students from Illinois State and often reflect on the time they spent in Bloomington-Normal.
“ISU presents a wealth of opportunities for students and faculty alike,” Willard said. “My advice is to take advantage of the opportunities you encounter and profit from this valuable experience.”
Willard can be reached at wbohn@IllinoisState.edu. Anita can be reached at apbohn@IllinoisState.edu.
