Two members of the Rotary Club of Rock Island — Rebecca Arnold and Andrea Talentino — are among 11 honorees selected as 2026 Women of Influence by the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal. Arnold is the community impact and development manager at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
The Journal cited her for “measurable impact” from her leadership in strengthening community systems and advancing equity, both locally and globally. A veteran of the Peace Corps, Arnold has a strong background as a global practitioner of public health. She teaches courses in Augustana College’s undergraduate public health program, and she has received a distinguished alumni designation from the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
Since Talentino became president of Augustana College n 2022, she has been widely recognized by many Quad Cities leaders for her own leadership in the community and of the college, which the Journal reports that she equates to “running a town.” Before coming to Rock Island, Talentino held several administrative positions in higher education, including at Nazareth College in New York, Norwich University in Vermont, and Drew University in New Jersey. In nominating her for this honor, Visit Quad Cities President and CEO Dave Heller wrote that her “thoughtful leadership, ability to inspire others, and her strategic vision are delivering for Augustana, for higher education, and for our community.”