Taylor Porter is a professor of theatre and served as Walleser’s first academic advisor. Walleser says she spent her four years at IC working closely with Taylor Porter, whom she describes as a “driven, dedicated and organized professor who develops inspiring relationships with her students.”

Walleser recalls how Taylor Porter’s patience and innovative approach to teaching pushed her out of her comfort zone and allowed her to grow into a role she never imagined for herself, that of a true performer.

“Nancy was patient and always encouraged me to push the envelope. Whether that meant putting things in ‘sport terminology’ or meeting me for extra rehearsals, she was always willing to help me grow. It was exciting to try something entirely different and have her assist me and be fully confident in me. This was the moment I discovered another passion of mine,” said Walleser.

Walleser’s IC experiences also nurtured her passion for sports, and allowed her to come to the realization that both areas could co-exist in her life. She graduated with a major in biology and exercise science with a concentration in sport psychology and a minor in music. Today, she lives in Fort Knox, Kentucky, on an Army base with her husband. She is pursuing a graduate degree in sports psychology with performance enhancement at John F. Kennedy University. She also works for the United States Army as a certified Master Resilience Trainer, teaching others how to face and overcome adversity, while performing at one's optimal level of performance, and at a hospital as a medical assistant and scribe.

“Studying sport psychology and how it enhances one's performance is a combination of the mental aspect of competing in sports and performing on a stage,” said Walleser. “Illinois College let me do it all: academics, athletics, music and theatre. I’ve been able to form the type of career that combines all my passions.”