For the first edition of the Mid-Illinois Communications Association’s new “Meet a MICA Member” series, we are excited to spotlight a communicator whose career has been rooted in storytelling and authentic human connection. Sister Beth Murphy, OP, Director of Communications for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, has spent decades helping organizations and communities communicate with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

The Mid-Illinois Communications Association hosted a Lunch & Learn on April 22, 2026, that featured five college students in a panel discussion titled “Communicating with Gen Z: What Actually Connects?” MICA’s immediate past president, Michelle Eccles, moderated the question-and-answer session with the students, who are all members of “Generation Z.”

Jeff Ebbing, director of marketing and communications at Southeastern Community College in Iowa, presented the webinar “Stop Being Just the Comms Person: How to Lead, Influence, and Build Trust without a Bigger Title (Yet)” on March 25, 2026, to members of the Mid-Illinois Communications Association and guests.