Visitation (10 AM) and Memorial Service (11:30 AM) for Dr. Susan Berry Brill de Ramirez and Antonio Ramirez Barron at Wright & Salmon Mortuary, 2416 N. North Street, Peoria, IL on Saturday, November 17th, 2018. Join us to remember our friends. 


The Peoria Area World Affairs Council is a community where diverse viewpoints and perspectives gather to discuss world affairs. It's a place where friends engage in active learning to become informed world citizens. By blending global and local interests and relations, together we fulfill our founding mission to bring the world to Central Illinois. 

PAWAC Mourns the Loss of Board Member Dr. Susan Brill de Ramirez


The Peoria Area World Affairs Council (PAWAC) is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the recent deaths of board member Dr. Susan Brill de Ramirez and her husband Antonio “Tony” Ramirez Barron.

Susan Berry Brill de Ramirez was a Caterpillar Professor of English at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where she spent the last 27 years of her career. The Caterpillar endowment recognizes “an exemplary level of scholarship and creative production among our senior faculty.” Brill de Ramirez was a specialist in Native American literatures, environmental literatures, eco-composition, folklore, and literary criticism and theory. She also served as the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

A member of the PAWAC board of directors for over a year, she also co-chaired the marketing committee and served on the membership committee. She was deeply committed to the Council’s work to deepen understanding of global issues. The board benefited greatly from Brill de Ramirez and her keen intellect, enthusiasm for improving the world, and commitment to high ethical standards.

In addition to her work with PAWAC, Brill de Ramirez also gave generously of her time to other causes and to students, friends, and coworkers. Environmental issues were near to her heart, and she was a passionate advocate for indigenous communities. She was involved in education outreach, both locally and internationally. In Peoria, she volunteered with Look It’s My Book! This initiative distributes books several times a year to all elementary schoolchildren in Peoria Public Schools. She also served as volunteer consultant and advisor for BIHE University, serving disenfranchised students in Iran, since 2005.

Bradley University President Gary Roberts said of Brill de Ramirez and her husband, “Both were warm and generous individuals who were dedicated to the students of Bradley. . . we know Susan and Tony will always be remembered for their commitment to Bradley.” With over 40 combined years of service to the university, they brought a standard of excellence to their work.
Angela Weck, executive director of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council, reflected that “Susan and Tony were members of our PAWAC family and strong supporters of our mission to bring understanding of world affairs to the people of central Illinois, especially our students. . . They will be deeply missed.” PAWAC extends its sincere condolences to the couple's extended family, friends, and community.

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​FAQ

Why should I join?

When you join PAWAC, you are joining a community of like-minded peers who become reliable friends. As a non-partisan organization, PAWAC offers a broad tent for people looking for civil discussion of the day's most pressing global concerns. We entertain a wide variety of interests and ensure that your own personal viewpoints are both respected and welcome.

I don't even watch the news regularly. Am I qualified to be a member?

You don't have to be a professor of international studies to be a member (though we do have a few!). Our members come from all walks of life, including laborers, teachers, writers, lawyers, homemakers, and more. We offer a space where people of all backgrounds develop their knowledge about international affairs.
 
What's the cost of your programs?

We strive to provide programming that is accessible to all individuals in the Peoria Area. Many of our presentations by expert speakers are free, and all (free or not) are open to the public. Additionally, by joining as a member, you receive discounts to events that do require ticket purchases.

Where do you get your funding?

PAWAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sponsored primarily through member donations, which are tax-deductible. Our generous donors and members make it possible for us to provide Central Illinois with programming and other services such as educational outreach to area high schools.  You can read more about our organization's financing at our Public Discourse page.