Upcoming NIU Alumni Association Events
11.13
NIU at Toledo (National Watch Party Night)
12.12
NIU Alumni Association Holiday Reception
5.18
10th Annual NIU Alumni Association Golf Outing
Add A Special NIU Touch
When you book NIU’s extremely lovable, four-legged mascot Mission for an event, you’re bringing something special to the party. Mission is a friendly “people person,” and he’s happiest when he’s getting a scratch behind the ears or a word of encouragement. Having gone through extensive training, he works very well with adults and children, and he may even be able to dress to fit the theme of your event, as he has many fun accessories in his doghouse.
To inquire about Mission’s event availability, please go to myniu.com/mission, and click on “Book a Visit.”
The Mission Program is funded by the generosity of alumni John, ’75, and Cassandra McKearn, ‘75.
NIU Alumni Advocating for Future Alumni in Springfield

Curran, J.D. ‘98, Mary Cusack, ‘93, and Sankat Patel, ‘00.
It’s been said that the answer is always no if you never ask.
It was in this forthright spirit that nearly 40 representatives of Northern Illinois University turned up in Springfield on Tuesday, April 30, meeting with Illinois legislators to bring awareness to NIU, its contributions to Illinois, and the financial needs of the university.
Participants included university administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university, as well as NIU President Dr. Lisa Freeman, NIU Board of Trustees Chair Dennis Barsema, and DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith.
This effort was the byproduct of the advocacy program established by the Northern Illinois University Alumni Association (NIUAA) Board of Directors. In summer 2017, at the tail-end of a statewide budget impasse that lasted over 700 days, the NIUAA Board rallied to inspire alumni and friends of NIU to use their voices to elevate NIU at the legislative level. Their focus? Making sure that legislators understood the importance of funding operations and capital projects in higher education, especially at NIU. The board’s initial efforts resulted in the formation of the NIU Caucus in 2018 and culminated with NIU Advocacy Day in April.
“NIU Advocacy Day presents an opportunity for our alumni and students to engage in dynamic conversations with legislators about the value of higher education,” President Freeman said. “Our students speak to their current experiences and the ability of our legislators to promote college affordability, while our alumni speak to how much that education has advanced success in their chosen careers —many of them staying in the state of Illinois and contributing to the economy.”
Legislators who are NIU alumni or have NIU connections were very welcoming and understanding of the university’s needs, and many pledged whatever support they could provide.
“It was inspiring seeing such avid supporters of NIU mobilizing in support of the university,” said Matt Streb, chief of staff at NIU. “It is extremely powerful and effective for legislators to hear from our current students and alumni about the positive effects that an NIU education has had on their lives.”
“While members of the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker’s office continue to tackle lllinois’ many pressing issues, we must continue to bring awareness to the importance of higher education and the return on investment NIU provides the state,” said NIU State Legislative Liaison, Jenna Mitchell, who was hired by the university in the summer of 2018 and has been vital in establishing NIU’s presence among the legislature. “There is no better way to do this than by showcasing the impressive successes of alumni, students and faculty.”
While visiting in Springfield, the NIU contingent broke into teams that were assigned to meet with legislators from their home districts, or those who play a role on committees that impact higher education. The teams generally included a representative of NIU, an alumnus, and a current student.
Groups shared NIU’s legislative priorities with legislators, which mainly focused on funding for NIU. Through conversation and important “leave behind” materials that NIU produced for the day, legislators learned, among other things, the number of NIU students, alumni and NIU-contracted vendors who reside in their districts.

Sankat Patel ‘00, a Chicagoan who currently serves on the NIUAA Board, said seeing such Huskie Pride in Springfield was exciting.
“It was fun to see the collaboration of the NIU alumni groups, engaging with legislators in the right way,” Patel said. “We had conversations in their offices, in the hallways, or as they were going into committee meetings.”
The NIUAA Board considered the day a success but hope to continue to grow in the future and plans to add another layer to advocacy next year—visits in legislators’ home districts.
Alumnus Peter Garrity, ‘71, who serves as the NIUAA Board president, believes that NIU should be able to make more of an impression with legislators by engaging more alumni to advocate for the university in the areas where they live.
“Meeting with our legislators in Springfield showed commitment, but I feel that the real work will be done back in legislators’ districts during the summer recess. Going forward, we will be able to tell our story and build awareness on a much more comprehensive basis,” said Garrity.
At the end of spring session in Springfield, NIU received a five-percent increase in its budget allocation, which was due, in part, to the individual and collaborative advocacy efforts of university officials, alumni and friends.
When addressing faculty and staff in the announcement of the fiscal year 2020 budget, President Freeman said “I want to express my appreciation to the many university community members who reached out to their legislators and/or participated in the April 30th NIU Advocacy Day in Springfield. Your time, testimonials and passion for the value of higher education were well-received.”
If you’d like to learn more about advocacy, whether it’s in person or from the comfort of your own home, contact Liz McKee (Lmckee1@niu.edu or 815-753-7400).
Baseball Dreams Realized With NIU Degree

Pete Garrity, ‘71, M.B.A. ‘76.
Ned Colletti, ’76, never would have dreamed that he would spend one season in Major League Baseball, let alone nearly 40 years.
That first step towards his career as a baseball executive began when he received his journalism degree from Northern Illinois University in 1976 and culminated in 2005 when he was named the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In recognition of his hard work and accomplishments, the NIU Alumni Association chose Colletti as the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Not bad for someone who wasn’t sure if he would even be able to attend college.
“I was not a good high school student, and I didn’t really have the financial footing to venture out into the collegiate world,” Colletti said. “But it was a dream of my parents that their sons would attend and graduate from college.”
“I went to Triton first, spent a semester at Illinois State and then I was accepted at Northern,” Colletti continued. “I spent the last half of my college career at Northern and received a degree in journalism.”
That journalism degree led Colletti to four different jobs as a sportswriter, including a stop at the Philadelphia Journal. One of Colletti’s co-workers at the Philadelphia Journal introduced him to former Phillies manager and then-Chicago Cubs General Manager Dallas Green.
The Cubs were hiring and the Franklin Park, Illinois, native jumped at the chance to pursue a career in baseball with his favorite team. This change came at an important moment in Colletti’s personal life, as he was able to move back home as his dad was dying of lung cancer.
“One thing always leads to another in life and in careers,” Colletti said. “Without having a journalism degree, I wouldn’t have been in Philadelphia nor would I have known the people who would help me find my way into baseball.”

Colletti was hired as the Cubs assistant media relations director and worked his way to the media relations director position during his tenure. His job responsibilities, however, were not limited to media relations.
“I wanted the extra opportunities,” Colletti said. “Dallas Green gave me more opportunities, and I took every opportunity with me. I wanted my standing in the organization to be stronger and stronger,” Colletti continued. “It’s like playing golf. If all you have in your bag is a driver, it can be tough playing. I looked at every opportunity as adding another club to my bag.”
After 13 years with the Cubs, Colletti’s golf bag was full and he parlayed those extra opportunities into a job as the assistant general manager for the San Francisco Giants. Colletti served in that role for 11 seasons.
That’s when the dream Colletti thought might be unreachable became a little more real.
“It was probably 10-15 years into my baseball career that I thought why not? Let’s give it a shot. Let’s stay on that path and continue to take on more responsibility,” Colletti said.
Colletti was given that shot on Nov. 15, 2005, as he was named the general manager of the Dodgers. He proudly recalls this as his greatest professional moment.
“There’s 30 jobs like that in the world (as a Major League Baseball general manager),” Colletti said. “I lived in a garage until I was five, and then I moved into a four-room house. Nobody went to college in my family until I did. Having gone through all those little challenges and trials, and to have it culminate in that moment was probably the greatest.”
That moment, which expanded into a role that lasted for nearly a decade, started with a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University.
“Northern gave me a chance,” Colletti said.
Distinguished Alumni Award
The NIU Alumni Association’s most prestigious honor is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who has achieved outstanding success or recognition professionally.
1964
Harlan Hagman ‘30
1965
James E. Ackert ‘03
1966
Lester B. Ball ‘34
1967
Paul R. Ritzman ‘27
1968
Winifred Sawtell Cameron ‘40
1969
Walter E. Martin ‘30
1970
Joseph C. Vitek ‘59
1971
Martha E. Schreiner ‘36
Ivan C. Nicholas ‘29
1972
Louise J. Kishkunas ‘51
1973
Donald P. Blasch ‘37
1974
Pierre Guibor ‘62
1975
Edward R. Arquilla ‘47
1976
Joseph O. Baylen ‘41
1977
Grover J. Hansen ‘49
1978
Carl Selin ‘49
1979
Franklin M. Osanka ‘60, ’61
1980
Alene Halvorson Moris ‘70
1981
V. Webster Johnson ‘22
1982
Peter L. Johnson ‘47
1983
Rosemary Likey Hake ‘58
1984
Joseph M. McFadden ‘68
Martha Harris Fair ‘73
Bruce Churchill ‘43
1985
Suzanne Kaufman ‘68
1986
Gene L. Hoffman ‘62, ’81
1987
Everett D. Greinke ‘51, ’56
1988
E. Edward Harris ‘65
1989
Paul Jung ‘59, ’67, ’80
1990
Gaylen N. Larson ‘62
1991
Ted Kimbrough ‘56
1992
Anne Barrett Swanson ‘70
1993
Garry Kvistad ‘77
1994
Helen Gum Westlake ‘49
1996
John Nickels ‘58
1997
Gary Watson ‘67
1998
Mary Abbott Hess ‘71
1999
Herb Eldean ‘64
Christopher John Chiaverina ’68, ’72
2000
Robert Reed ‘76
2001
Kenneth Chessick ‘84
Anna Werner ‘87
2002
Joan Allen ‘89
2003
Dr. John P. McKearn ‘75
2004
Juan Andrade, Jr. ’95, ‘98
2005
Ronald L. Ream ‘64
2006
Dennis Barsema ‘77
2007
Jeffrey M. Yordon ‘70
2008
John P. Sall ‘73
2009
Thomas R. Karl ‘73
2010
Cherilyn G. Murer ‘78
2011
Linda Smerge ’72, ’73, ‘80
2012
Michael McGrath ’70
2013
Ralph M. Strozza ’81
2014
David A. Nelson ’69, ’72
2015
John C. Landgraf ’74, ’75
2016
John P. Larson ’84
2017
Frank M. Drendel ‘70
2018
Andrew Traver ‘85
2019
Ned Colletti ‘76
NIU Gears up for 125th Anniversary Observance
A 25-member committee has been hard at work planning a year-long observance of NIU’s 125th anniversary. NIU’s 125th officially kicks off in January 2020, a century-and-a-quarter after the university was founded in 1895. A special website has been created to promote the observance, and a committee of long-time NIU employees and community members is identifying 125 key moments in the university’s history that will be rolled out throughout the year.
“Significant anniversaries like this one provide opportunities that should not be missed,” said NIU President Dr. Lisa Freeman. “This is an ideal time to ask people to think about why their work matters, identify the historic trends that help us anticipate new challenges and to unify around those moments that bring us pride.”
125th anniversary celebrations will begin with a kickoff event in January 2020, followed by a series of special lectures, exhibits and events at the historic Ellwood House, an NIU Day in Chicago, a special concert and a closing event in December.
NIU and community organizations are invited to create and/or brand their own events with a special 125th anniversary flavor. Those events can bear the 125th logo and will be included in the anniversary master calendar.
Mission Aboard!
Northern Illinois University and the NIU Alumni Association—including big brother Mission—announced the arrival of Mini Mish to the Huskie Nation on Monday, Sept. 16.
Mini Mish, Aoi’s Mission Statement, was born on Saturday, July 6, weighing in at 14.5 ounces. He is from Aoi Kita Kaze Siberians, a preservation breeder located in Southern Wisconsin.
There will be a transition period for Mission and Mini Mish, before Mission retires in 2021 at the age of 10 years old. During this transition, Mini Mish will accompany him to all eligible events for experiential learning and proofing.
Mini Mish will also be trained by head trainer and Mission program consultant Lisa Boland on a daily basis and will attend puppy classes at Enjoy Your Dog in Downers Grove, Illinois, for additional specialization and practice. He will be starting with basic puppy obedience, camera skills, social cues, interactions and confidence building.
The Mission Program is funded by the generosity of alumni John, ’75, and Cassandra McKearn, ‘75.
Class Notes
’53
NORM GILBERT, former student body president and retired NIU professor, completed more than 4,000 hours of volunteer work at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, Illinois. Over more than twenty years of volunteering, Norm worked in the Emergency Room, at the front desk, and at blood drives.
MARIE ANDERSON HAMANN, M.S. ‘75, was married to Mark Miles on Nov. 8, 2018, in Ramona, California.
’68
PATRICK O’CONNOR, M.S. ’98, Dean Emeritus of the Electronics and Computer Technology Program at DeVry Tech, retired, has published three series of science-fiction novels: HaChii Commencement, HaChii Concatenation and HaChii Convergence.
’69
NORMA ANDERSON, co-owner with husband Jim and assisted by family, closed the doors of Illini Tire Co, in DeKalb, Illinois, after 42 years of service. They enjoyed a “re-tire-ment” celebration in November 2018.
’70
BRAD DUDE, published his sixth book, Quick! I Need to Be a Leader in 30 Days.
WILLIE J. KIMMONS, M.S.Ed., is the recipient of the 2018 annual award for civil rights and social justice sponsored by the National Civil Rights Conference Planning Committee, for his work supporting human dignity, civil rights and social justice.
’74
DIANE CYNTHIA MERMIGAS (NÉE STEFANOS), coauthored The Wright Stuff with former NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright, published by Rosetta Books in 2016. The leadership autobiography recounts Wright’s 21 years at the helm of NBCU. Mermigas presently is coauthoring When TV Came of Age with Ron Miller. She teaches journalism at Emerson College in Boston where she has created courses in Business Journalism and Women in Journalism for graduating seniors.
JOSEPH P. REIDY, M.A. ’74, Ph.D. ’82, has written Illusions of Emancipation: The Pursuit of Freedom and Equality in the Twilight of Slavery. Published March 18, 2019 by UNC Press.
’75
MICHAEL EMBREY, M.S.Ed. ’92, a U.S. Air Force musician/arranger, was assigned to The USAF Academy Band/Drum & Bugle Corps in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A member of the DeKalb American Legion serving as Bugler, Embrey was honored with a banner on Memorial Day 2019 on Locust Street in DeKalb, Illinois.
JAMES VICICH, M.S.Ed. ’77, was Co-Principal Investigator of a $9-million, six-year NSF grant called the Arizona Mathematics Partnership. The grant included more than 400 teachers and focused on improving middle school math teachers’ and students’ mathematical performance.
’77
DENNIS ROOP, has been promoted to executive vice president of Illinois Bank & Trust in Rockford, Illinois.
WILLIAM SULLIVAN, presented a lecture and hosted a book signing as part of the Summer Author Series at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The book is entitled, Long Before the Miracle…the Making of the New York Mets.
’78
BRIAN HURLEY, a high school teacher at Reavis High School, in Burbank, Illinois, was recognized as an outstanding teacher by receiving the highly respected Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The presentation was a surprise in front of students, family and school leadership.
’79
MICHAEL CRAVEN, J.D. ’84, L.L.M. ‘89, C.P.A., is a partner at the law firm Harrison & Held, LLP in Chicago. He was recently selected as a 2019 Leading Lawyer for the 10th year in a row, which is a peer recognition from other attorneys. Michael is a regular contributor to the Chicago Law Bulletin, a daily newspaper that serves the Chicago legal community, and has remained active in Chicago’s legal community since receiving his law degree in 1984.
SARA THOMPSON, has moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and is working in aviation at McFarlane Aviation Products since December 2018.
’81
CARL ARMATO, has accepted the full-time head coaching position at Guilford High School in Rockford, Illinois.
JAMES EGAN, retired in 2015 after 20 years as superintendent of the Southwestern Wisconsin School District and after a 50-year career in education.
BRENDA LLOYD-JONES, was the recipient of the 2018 Paragon Award from Leadership Tulsa. The award recognizes an individual who has excelled professionally in ways that benefit the Tulsa community.
’83
DAVID BROWN, J.D., has accepted the position of public defender for Carroll County, Illinois.
PAOLO COLOMBO, M.A., is co-curator of an exhibition, presented for the first time in Iraq, entitled “Fatherland.” The Iraqi artist, Serwan Baran, will represent Iraq at the 58th Venice Biennale.
TAMARA GREENE, M.A., ’00, a fourth-grade teacher at Kings Consolidated School District 144, was awarded the Illinois State Historical Society’s Olive Foster History Teacher of the Year award for 2018, for outstanding contributions to the study and teaching of state and local history.
JAMES NORRIS, M.P.A., was honored as one of the top five award recipients of the 2019 International City/County Management Association Mentor Awards, for providing growth, guidance, knowledge, confidence and integrity to his mentees and local government as village manager of the Village of Hoffman Estates.
’86
SUSAN INGRAM HOWARTH, has been appointed executive vice president for Strategy, Operations and Finance at Western Kentucky University.
LINDA LEBLANC, retired in 2018 after more than 30 years teaching for The State of Illinois at The Jack Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, Illinois.
MICHAEL K. MACLEAN, has been approved as the chief executive officer and president of KI Industries, Inc. located in Berkeley, Illinois.
DANIEL O’MALLEY, M.P.A. ’88, was honored as one of the top five award recipients of the 2019 International City/County Management Association Mentor Awards, for providing growth, guidance, knowledge, confidence and integrity to his mentees and local government as deputy village manager of the Village of Hoffman Estates.
’87
BARBARA KOEHLER MICA, has joined the firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as the chief operating officer based in the Denver office.
JAMES SNYDER, J.D. ’88, had the honor of swearing in Governor J.B. Pritzker as the 43rd governor of the state of Illinois. Snyder previously served as general counsel for the Illinois Human Rights Commission.
MARYDALE STEWART, Ph.D. ’87, is launching her second novel, Leaves of the Linden Tree. The novel is a sequel to The Wanderers, both published by Black Rose Writing.
’88
BRENT R. BRODESKI, M.B.A. ’91, CEO of Savant Capital Management has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s top wealth advisors.
MICHAEL K. HONEY, Ph.D., is the author of six books, the latest being, To the Promised Land: Martin Luther King and the Fight for Economic Justice. Michael has produced a film entitled, James Lawson and Nonviolence in the Search for Workers’ Rights.
RON VASILE, a Lockport Township High School social studies teacher, collecting information for more than 30 years, has written and published a book entitled, William Stimpson and the Golden Age of American National History.
‘89
TRACEY J. SCHOLTEMEYER (NÉE GAZDA), and her husband Titian Scholtemeyer, M.M. 1986, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2018. Tracey is the chief financial officer and vice president of administration at Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, California. Titian is the owner and principal of Mediamax Productions founded in 1994.
’90
BRETT D. WHITE, a private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, was named to the list of “400 Top Financial Advisors,” published by the Financial Times, making it his fifth year in a row on the list. Brett has also been honored as Top Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes Magazine, which recognizes his high levels of ethical standards, professionalism and success.
’91
JOSEPH W. ALBRECHT, a wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual, Chicago, has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., to use the CFP certification marks in accordance with CFP Board certification requirements. Joe has achieved the highest standard in personal financial planning.
CHRISTOPHER HENNESSY, a member in Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group, has co-authored an article in Law360 Expert Analysis regarding restrictive covenants.
EDWARD STEFAN, works as project manager for the Palo Verde Generating Station Main Generator Stator Rewind project and was recognized by leadership and the project’s primary vendor.
JUDITH TYLER, M.S.Ed., a high school teacher at Main East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois, was recognized as an outstanding teacher by receiving the highly respected Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The presentation was a surprise in front of students, family and school leadership.
’92
TERRY TRAFTON, Ed.D. ’92, has launched a novel, Spider Lines, a paranormal love story.
’93
KARI CARLISLE, M.A., was hired as Executive Director for Heritage Square Foundation. Located on Block 14 of the original town site of Phoenix, the square dates back to the late 1800s, and the restored Rosson House Museum is its crowning jewel.
’94
ROBERT C. DEEMER, P.C. ’01, M.M. ’01, faculty member of the StateUniversity of New York at Fredonia School of Music and director and founder of the Composer Diversity Project, has been awarded the Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Media/Internet Award.
’95
KIMBERLY BUCHANAN, M.A. ’98, a coach and entrepreneur, has written her latest book, Unlock Your Potential: A Guided Journey for Women.
CRAIG PHILLIPS, has retired from the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles, Missouri.
’97
NICOLE HENSE, is producing art-instruction videos, as well as videos relating to other topics.
PAUL ROYER, formerly of Mooney & Associates, has been appointed as an assistant public defender in Adams County, Pennsylvania.
’98
DAVID GRADLE, has joined the sales team of Laundry Concepts, a commercial laundry equipment distributor.
MOHAMMAD IQBAL, was elected to serve on Kane County Board. Kane County is the 5th largest county in Illinois.
JEN SLUSSER-MACTERNAN, has published a novel inspired by her life, Soulnotskin, available on Amazon!
Nathan Wyman, M.F.A., is professor of theatre and producing director of Jewell Theatre Company at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. This summer he will complete his 23rd year of NIU Theatre Arts Camp, where he has been the director for the last six years. This will be his last year at the camp as he passes the baton to Prof. Kendra Helton of the NIU School of Theatre and Dance.
’99
ALLISON WADE SHEPHERD, M.S. ’02, has been selected for induction into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame for 2019 for Women’s Soccer, 1996-1997.
ADAM J. SLAGELL, M.S. ’00, has taken a position at Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) as the Chief Security Officer.
’00
DAVID A. NAZE, M.A.’02, has been hired as vice president for instructional and student success at Kankakee Community College.
BRANDY C. WILLIAMS, professional engineer and land surveyor, has been promoted to project manager of Fehr Graham, a Midwest engineering and environmental firm.
’01
MICHAEL MINELLA, has authored the book, The Definitive Guide to Spring Batch, which takes you from the “Hello, World!” of batch processing to complex scenarios demonstrating cloud native techniques for developing batch applications to be run on modern platforms.
’02
TIFFANY VICTOR-CASTLEBERRY, nurse and director of discharge planning and utilization review at University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, received the Young Healthcare Executive Award from the Chicago Health Executive Forum (CHEF) of the American College of Health Executives. She was honored at the 43rd CHEF Annual Meeting at Soldier Field.
ERIE JOHNSON, J.D., has been appointed by the Mayor of the City of Davenport to the Davenport Civil Rights Commission.
RAHULA KOCHAR, M.S. ’03, has joined Akos as chief information officer, leading the team to a cutting edge telehealth platform.
ADAM REIDEL, and his husband Gordon welcomed home their daughter, Amelia Bernice, born March 23, 2018.
’03
RAMONA “ROMY” DECRISTOFARO, M.S.Ed. ’06, M.S.Ed. ’08, has been appointed by the Board of Education as the executive director for special services for the Evanston/Skokie School District 65.
’04
MATTHEW ANDERSON, a staff biologist at Flinn Scientific, participated in Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in Brazil. He also studied saving golden lion tamarins in Brazil.
CANDICE C. CORTESE, has been selected as a Golden Apple Teacher for her commitment to educational excellence at Hononegah Community High School, teaching 9th-12th math.
LISA CUSTARDO, M.B.A., has been appointed as vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Rockford University.
LINDA ELAINE ALBERTY LAYHEW, and Austin A. Layhew were married on May 3, 2018 in Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii.
AMBER (NEE BAKER) MACK, and Codey Mack welcomed their third child, Easton Jay, on September 17, 2018.
JAMES P. ROSCOE, M.S.Ed., a high school teacher at Grayslake North High School in Grayslake, Illinois, was recognized as an outstanding teacher by receiving the highly respected Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The presentation was a surprise in front of students, family and school leadership.
’05
ERIC J. JOHNSON, J.D. ’10, has been appointed to the role of village manager in Carpentersville, Illinois.
’06
KRISTINA CAMPOS, has been selected for induction into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame for 2019 for Women’s Gymnastics, 2002-2005.
TODD GARZARELLI, M.S., was named as athletic director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
RYAN GOYAL, manager, has been elevated to principal at Novogradac & Co. in Austin, Texas, specializing in low-income housing and historic rehabilitation tax credits.
VERNON HILTON, vice president and credit analyst manager for PlainsCapital Bank’s Fort Worth market, has been listed in the “40 Under 40” in the Fort Worth Business Press.
SOMYA MUNJAL, M.A.S. ’07, released her book, Audacious Endeavors: 8 Steps to Social Consciousness that will Spark Your Inner Fire (Third Edition), a must-read for anyone yearning to launch into social entrepreneurship and ignite change.
CHARLES BEN ROSECRANS, a Sandy Hook, Connecticut, resident, has joined the staff of Brookfield Craft Center, Inc., in the newly created position of artist in residence/education director.
’07
ASHLEY MORROW, has been selected for induction into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame for 2019 for Women’s Track and Field, 2004-2007.
JACLYN J. VASQUEZ, M.S.Ed. ’09, has been named to the annual Latinos 40 under 40 list by Negocios Now in Chicago.
BRIAN WAGNER, M.A.’09, was honored as the 31st recipient of the Rock Valley College Faculty of the Year award.
’08
LARRY ENGLISH, has been selected for induction into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame for 2019 for Football, 2004-2008.
STEPHANIE J. RAYMOND, has been selected for induction into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame for 2019 for Women’s Basketball, 2003-2007.
JUDE REGIS (FORMERLY REGISTRE), M.S., was married to Allison Regis on March 4, 2017, in blissful Belize!
BRITTANY SAMSON, is the official selection of WomenCineMakers magazine for her work on the short film, “Leaves.”
JAMES MONROE STEVKO, made his New York Off-Broadway acting debut as Mendl in National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene’s acclaimed Fidler afn Dakh, the American premiere of Fiddler on the Roof, which was extended four times until Dec. 30, 2018, after a sold-out summer season.
’09
REBECCA BROCKSCHMIDT BRENNAN, has been awarded a place on the CRN 2019 Women of the Channel list. Rebecca currently works as a sales director at Carahsoft and this high honor is from premiere publications in the government contracting space.
BERNARD LONG, JR., received the 2018 Salute to Excellence in Education award from The St. Louis American, the oldest African American newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri.
LINDSAY SATTERLEE MOCKMORE-BENNETT, has joined the staff of Mercyhealth Heart and Vascular Center in Rockford, Illinois.
’11
DEVIN NOBLE, J.D., has been elected to partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP and will practice in the Rockford, Illinois, office in the area of business litigation and transactions, corporate law and bankruptcy law.
’13
DANIELLE N. HARRIS, attorney with Cozen O’Connor, has been selected as a Fellow to the 2019 National Employment Law Council Academy.
BOB CHIKOS, M.S.Ed., has written a short story “Bicycling,” which has been published in the Fall 2018 edition of The Heartland.
SHANE ROSENBERRY, and Jennifer (Barnett) Rosenberry, ’13, welcomed the birth of their son Jackson Lee Rosenberry on June 20, 2017.
’16
SONYA M. FITZPATRICK, M.S.Ed., has been named the operations manager of Morgan Park High School in Chicago.
SAMUEL PARRA, M.S., has been hired as a Quality Manager at BASF Corp. Chemical Company.
’17
ALEX WILLIAMS-HOFFMAN, formerly a bush pilot in Alaska, has joined a major commuter airline in the Midwest as one of the youngest pilots.
MAX SCHARPING, M.S.Ed. ’18, was selected to the NFL in the second round by the Houston Texans. Scharping is the 38th NIU player ever chosen in the NFL Draft.
’18
ZAHRA LAKE, is the first female Steelband arranger to claim victory for the Panache Steel Orchestra at the 2018 Antigua and Barbuda Panorama.
LINDSEY SALVATELLI, a University of Illinois Springfield Public Affairs Reporting graduate student was awarded a scholarship from the Illinois Press Foundation Board of Directors.
SUTTON SMITH, was selected to the NFL in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith is the 39th NIU player ever chosen in the NFL Draft.
In Memorium
Ervin E. Woods, M.S.Ed. ’40, on Jan. 16, 2019, in Vero Beach, Florida
Louise L. Lange, ’42 2-year degree, on Nov. 10, 2018, in Barrington, Illinois
Marcella M. Shipley, ’43, on Nov. 16, 2018, in Naperville, Illinois
Elizabeth G. Prall, ’44, M.S.Ed. ’66, on Nov. 11, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
Fern M. Erxleben, ’48, on Jan. 21, 2019, in Rockford, Illinois
Elmar V. Schmidt, ’49, on Sept. 15, 2018, in Huntington Beach, California
Marcella H. Whitten, ’51, on March 10, 2019, in Manteno, Illinois
Carol R. Johnson, ’52, on Feb. 15, 2019, in Kewanee, Illinois
James E. Mayer, ’52, M.S.Ed. ’53, on Oct. 26, 2018, in Geneva, Illinois
Norma E. Norling, ’53, on Jan. 22, 2019, in Sandwich, Illinois
Robert W. Whiteside, ’53, on Nov. 6, 2018, in Beach Park, Illinois
Frances Johnson, ’54, on Dec. 15, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin
Bert H. Anderson, ’55, M.S.Ed. ’56, on Dec. 31, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Nancy Kubat, ’55, MS.Ed. ’71, on Oct. 18, 2018, in Roscoe, Illinois
Dan Bjick, ’56, on Dec. 3, 2018, in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey
Richard F. Felicetti, ’56, M.S.Ed. ’64, on Sept. 27, 2018, in Peoria, Arizona
William W. O’Leary, ’56, M.S.Ed. ’65, on Nov. 23, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin
Dorothy A. Erickson, ’57, on Jan. 15, 2019, in Arlington Heights, Illinois
Alessandro Guerrera, ’57, M.S.Ed. ’62, on Feb. 17, 2019, in Rockford, Illinois
Faye E. Perry, ’57, on Feb. 23, 2019, in Peru, Illinois
Larry L. Dangerfield, ’58, on April 3, 2019, in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Ronald Bressler, ’58, on Dec. 24, 2018, in Englewood, Ohio
Duane E. Stone, ’58, M.S. ’69, on Jan. 18, 2019, in Naperville, Illinois
Roger Hewitt, ’59, on Jan. 29, 2019, in Lakeland, Florida
James J. Braida, ’60, M.S.Ed. ’66, on Sept. 9, 2018, in Franklin Grove, Illinois
Sally A. Dunkelberger, ’60, on March 12, 2019, in Peoria, Illinois
David A. Hamilton, ’60, M.A. ’64, on March 5, 2019, in DeKalb, Illinois
Robert E. Isbell, ’60, on March 14, 2019, in St. Charles, Illinois
Kathleen A. Umland, ’60, M.S. Ed.’65, on Jan. 1, 2019, in Harvard, Illinois
William H. Webster, ’60, M.S.Ed. ’75, on Dec. 12, 2018, in Crystal Lake, Illinois
Marietta R. Hansen, ’61, on Oct. 4, 2018, in West Chicago, Illinois
Joseph P. Plaskas, Jr., ’61, M.S.Ed.’71, on Jan. 16, 2019, in Rockland, Maine
Louis Tangorra, Jr.,’61, M.S.Ed. ’67, on Sept. 27, 2018, in Jacksonville, Florida
Rudolph West, ’61, on Feb. 4, 2019, in Covington, Louisiana
Janice L. Campbell, ’62, on Oct. 1, 2018, in Genoa, Illinois
Roger W. Sargeant, ’62, M.S.Ed. ’77, on Feb. 20, 2019, in Naperville, Illinois
Wayne A. Sauer, ’62, on Aug. 6, 2018, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota
David R. Sieger, ’62, M.B.A. ’72, on May 11, 2010, in Park Ridge, Illinois
Barbara E. Parsons, ’62, on Nov. 5, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
David L. Yordy, ’62, on Nov. 18, 2018, in Winfield, Illinois
Allan Hudson, Jr., ’63, on Jan. 19, 2019, in Alexandria, Virginia
Ronald L. Johnson, ’63, M.S.Ed. ’67, on Oct. 18, 2018, in Sycamore, Illinois
Bruce Glover, ’64, M.S.Ed. ’68, on Feb. 28, 2019, in Palm Desert, California
Gerald J. Heavens, ’64, on Dec. 6, 2018, in Morris, Illinois
Todd D. Nelson, ’64, on Nov. 20, 2018, in Clearwater, Florida
Dallas B. Chapman, M.S.Ed. ’65, on Feb. 27, 2019, in Fort Collins, Colorado
Paul N. Halverson, ’65, on Nov. 10, 2018, in Dixon, Illinois
John F. Kozlowicz, M.A. ’65, on Dec. 19, 2018, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Jo Ann L. Moss, ’65, on Dec. 11, 2018, in Crystal Lake, Illinois
Donald L. Cunningham, M.S.Ed. ’66, on Aug. 5, 2018, in Palm Harbor, Florida
John H. Healey, ’66, M.S.Ed. ’67, on Dec. 10, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Thomas J. Jachimiec, ’66, on Dec. 26, 2018, in Michigan City, Indiana
Thomas M. Lagger, ’66, M.S.Ed. ’70, on Nov. 28, 2018, in Aurora, Illinois
Paula LeRoy, ’66, on Nov. 26, 2018, in Tiburon, California
Barbara J. Polash, ’66, on Jan. 6, 2019 in Ft. Meyers, Florida
James A. Wisner, M.A.S. ’66, on Dec. 5, 2018, in Wonder Lake, Illinois
David J. Cole, M.S.Ed. ’67, on Sept. 26, 2018, in Hooppole, Illinois
Charles J. Kantor, ’67, on Oct. 17, 2018, in Brewster, Massachusetts
Geraldine C. Kolb, M.A. ’67, on Feb. 17, 2019, in Nixa, Missouri
Jane Lawson, ’67, on Feb. 15, 2019, in Elgin, Illinois
Robert J. Maple, Ed.D. ’67, on Jan. 7, 2019, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Nancy J. Marsh, ’67, on Dec. 21, 2018, in Winnebago, Illinois
Thomas R. McKelvey, ’67, on April 7, 2019, in Sun City West, Arizona
William J. Scott, M.S. ’67, on Oct. 22, 2018, in Waterloo, Iowa
Sandra Lee Seither, ’67, on March 19, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois
Jacob J. Skala, ’67, on Oct. 20, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
Tony L. North, ’68, on Oct. 21, 2018, in Waterman, Illinois
Hedy C. O’Donnell, M.S.Ed. ’68, on Dec. 11, 2018, in Oro Valley, Arizona
John P. Speckman, ’68, on Jan. 18, 2019, in Sun City Center, Florida
Louise J. Wallin, ’68, on Nov. 1, 2018, in Joliet, Illinois
Richard G. Buturff, ’69, on March 7, 2019, in Knoxville, Tennessee
Dorothy A. Aylward, M.A. ’69, on Nov. 2, 2018, in Wheaton, Illinois
James W. Chaplin, M.S.Ed. ’69, on Oct. 22, 2018, in Baileyville, Illinois
Catherine Dumolien, M.S.Ed. ’69, on Jan. 2, 2019, in Burlington, Iowa
David J. Stone, M.A. ’69, on Dec. 12, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Mary Leah Weber, ’69, on Feb. 11, 2019, in Peoria, Illinois
Kurtis B. Borre, ’70, on Oct. 2, 2018, in La Crosse, Wisconsin
Jeffery L. Moon, M.P.A. ’70, on Oct. 3, 2018, in Frankfort, Illinois
Brian J. Stone, M.B.A. ’70, on Nov. 23, 2018, in Wever, Iowa
Thomas J. Theis,’70, on June 30, 2018, in Mount Airy, Maryland.
Loretta A. Nero, ’71, on March 8, 2019, in Bonita Springs, Florida
Patricia Volz, M.S. ’71, on Feb. 23, 2018, in Pentwater, Michigan.
Joseph M. Weresch, ’71, M.S. ’72, on March 3, 2019, in West Linn, Oregon
Elene Sparks Chastain, M.S.Ed. ’72, on Oct. 1, 2018, Ashville, Alabama
Edward J. Curzon, M.S. ’72, on Dec. 15, 2018, in Sycamore, Illinois
Gregory A. Lewis, M.B.A. ‘72, on Nov. 5, 2018 in Palatine, Illinois
Rev. Bruce Pangborn, ’72, on December 5,2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Dorothy A. Roth, M.S.Ed. ’72, on Oct. 12, 2018, in Everett, Washington
Evelyn I. Stebbins, M.S. ’72, Ed.D. ’75, on Jan. 26, 2019, in Red Oak, Iowa
Robert Nicolas Woll, M.S.Ed. ’72, C.A.S. ’77, on Nov. 23, 2018, in Lincoln, Illinois
Brian Allen, ’73, M.P.A. ’81, on Jan. 2, 2019, in Springfield, Illinois
Carol E. Donahue, ’73, on Nov. 28, 2018, in Woodstock, Illinois
Linda E. Fullerton, ’73, on Feb. 18, 2019, in Waukegan, Illinois
Dennis R. LaBoube, ’73, on Nov. 29, 2018, in Torrance, California
Barbara A. Mantynband, ’73, M.S. ’75, on Feb. 24, 2019, in Norwood Park, Illinois
Karen A. Pierce, ’73, on Jan. 4, 2019, in Portland, Oregon
Robert Unglaube, M.S.Ed. ’73, on Dec. 31, 2018, in Woodstock, Illinois
Barbara Whitaker, ’73, on Oct. 11, 2018, in McHenry, Illinois
Frank S. Bilardello, ’74, on Feb. 27, 2019, in Rockford, Illinois
Ellen M. Fritz, M.S.Ed. ’74, on Nov. 11, 2018, in Cape Coral, Florida
O. Gregory Johnson, C.A.S. ’74, on Feb. 26, 2019, in Crystal lake, Illinois
Dwight L. McBride, M.B.A. ’74, on Jan. 19, 2019, in Kannapolis, North Carolina
Robert E. Nordlund, ’74, on Oct. 23, 2018, in St. Charles, Illinois
Larry J. Johnson, ’75, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Catherine A. Nordlund, ’75, on Jan. 9, 2019, in St. Charles, Illinois
Kenneth D. Kramer, Jr., ’76, on May 15, 2018, in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois
Kathryn Leeson, M.S.Ed. ’76, M.S.Ed. ’82, on March 13, 2019, in Loves Park, Illinois
Jacqueline Mannery, M.S.Ed. ’76, on Dec. 11, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Anita Lundbert-Stanhope, ’77, on April 4, 2019 in Rockford, Illinois
Penny A. McIntire, ’77, M.S. ’82, on Dec. 18, 2018 in Oregon, Illinois
Karen L. Olson, ’77, on Dec. 10, 2018 in Oswego, Illinois
Clare C. Bogle, M.A. ’78, on March 8, 2019, in Arlington, Texas
Joseph S. Corbett, ’78, on Dec. 5, 2018, in Naperville, Illinois
Dale A. Zeal, M.B.A. ’78, on Nov. 16, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Gary D. Christenson, M.S.Ed. ’79, on Jan. 13, 2019, in Sleepy Hollow, Illinois
Richard A. McCue, ’79, on March 24, 2019, in Hermitage, Tennessee
Carol C. Romkey, ’79, on Jan. 6, 2019, in Bettendorf, Iowa
William L. Wesselhoff, ’79, on March 7, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida
Carolyn Jane Jones, ’80, on Sept. 29, 2018, in Northbrook, Illinois
Janet M. Lamm, M.S. ’80, on Oct. 29, 2018, in McHenry, Illinois
Jean Marie Nickels, M.A. ’80, on March 31, 2019, in Shorewood, Illinois
Barbara Patton, M.S.Ed. ’80, on Dec. 20, 2018, in Springfield, Illinois
David W. Todorovich, ’80, on Oct. 25, 2018, in New Lenox, Illinois
Sandra K. Veselka, ’80, on Feb. 16, 2019, in Yorkville, Illinois
Joseph Bartoli, ’81, on Sept. 11, 2018, in Ashton, Illinois
Karen J. L’Heureux, ’81, on Oct. 10, 2018, in Cary, Illinois
Marjorie G. Maclean, M.S.Ed. ’82, on Oct. 14, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Randall E. Parker, ’82, on Nov. 4, 2018, in Greenville, North Carolina
Michelle R. Lewis, M.A. ’84, on April 2, 2019, in Decatur, Illinois
Mary B. Schlick, M.S.Ed. ’84, on Jan. 22, 2019, in Wheaton, Illinois
Barbara Taylor, ’84, on Sept. 20, 2018, in Hampshire, Illinois
Rhonda Downey, ’85, on Feb. 7, 2019, in Henry, Illinois
William N. Herman, ’85, on Jan. 20, 2019 in Streamwood, Illinois
Diane L. Horner, Ed.D. ’86, on Oct. 27, 2018, in St. Louis, Missouri
Marilyn B. Barrile, ’87, on Sept. 30, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
Mary M. Lebold, Ed.D. ’87, on Nov. 9, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois
William R. Ball, Ph.D. ’88, on Dec. 6, 2018, in Marquette, Michigan
Linda Manlove, M.S.Ed. ’88, on Feb. 7, 2019 in Bremerton, Washington
Carolyn Ann Smith, ’88, on Sept. 11, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois
Marcia Shattuck Frowein, M.A. ’89, on April 1, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois
Patty S. Strayer, M.S.Ed. ’89, on Jan. 3, 2019, in Oswego, Illinois
Christopher W. Tackett, ’89, on March 4, 2019, in Loves Park, Illinois
Patricia D. Towner, ’90, on Feb. 5, 2019, in Olympia, Washington
Mark R. Cameron, M.S.Ed. ’91, on Oct. 3, 2018, in Byron, Illinois
Richard Hearn, M.S.Ed. ’92, on Dec. 4, 2018, in Belvidere, Illinois
Robert L. Hombaker, III, ’92, on Oct. 14, 2018, in Round Lake Beach, Illinois
Mark A. Hird, M.B.A. ’95, on Sept. 17, 2018, in Schaumburg/Roselle, Illinois
Jean M. Thompson, M.S.Ed. ’95, on Dec. 8, 2018, in Wayzata, Minnesota
Victoria L. Wohlt, Ed.D. ’97, on Feb. 15, 2019, in DeKalb, Illinois
Christopher S. Ordlock, ’99, on March 6, 2019, in DeKalb Illinois
Krista Jo Bugenhagen, ’00, on Dec. 13, 2018, in Stamford, Connecticut
Karen Koehler-Dunsworth, M.S. ’02, on Dec. 14, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona
Colin Reid Baumgartner, ’03, on Oct. 4, 2018, in Sugar Grove, Illinois
Alvin P. Portis, Sr., M.A. ’03, on Sept. 27, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Patrick Waughon, ’03, on Oct. 3, 2018, in Alachua, Florida
William P. Weatherly, J.D. ’03, on Oct. 21, 2018, in Maywood, Illinois
Daniel C. Bocklund, ’06, on Oct. 6, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
Andrea Eden Levey, M.S.Ed. ’12, on Oct. 4, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa
Clayton Parks, ’14, on Feb. 15, 2019, in Aurora, Illinois
Stacia F. Hollinshead, J.D. ’18, on March 23, 2019 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Faculty, Staff and Friends
Clifford Alexis, retired, NIU Steelband pan builder and co-director, on Jan. 29, 2019, in DeKalb, Illinois
Anita M. Andrew, associate professor in history, in Rockford, on Dec. 14, 2018 in Beloit, Illinois
Abraham Zisha Bass, former journalism professor, on Dec. 9, 2018 in DeKalb, Illinois
William T. Brown, retired, teacher began Interior Design Program, on Dec. 17, 2018, in Aiken, South Carolina
Mary Lou Cahill, retired, administrative secretary to the president’s office, on March 4, 2019, in Geneva, Illinois
Richard A. Cervantes, on Jan. 2, 2019, in Decatur, Illinois
Sanford J. Dean, former professor and chair of psychology, on Jan. 24, 2019, in DeKalb, Illinois
Doris E. Driesbach, retired employee, on Jan. 15, 2019, in Wheaton, Illinois
Mary Lucill Fink, former music teacher, on Dec. 6, 2018, in Germantown Hills, Illinois
Lawrence D. Finkelstein, retired, political science professor, on Feb. 13, 2019, in Manchester, New Hampshire
David C. Johnson, retired employee, on Jan. 13, 2019 in Rockford, Illinois
Everett A. Johnson, on Feb. 23, 2019, in Huntley, Illinois
Gala Kujnisch, on Dec. 25, 2018 in Rockford, Illinois
Edwin J. Lagger, on Aug. 31, 2018, in Joliet, Illinois
Eugene P. Meyer, on Nov. 6, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Josephine A. Monat, on Nov. 6, 2018, in Manhasset, New York
Bruce Pangborn, on Dec. 5, 2018, in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Robert H. Phifer, NIU Police Officer and first African American Police Officer in DeKalb County, on Dec. 24, 2018, in Winfield, Illinois
William Rock, building services, on March 8, 2019, in DeKalb, Illinois
Stuart A. Schweisberger, on Dec. 2, 2018 in Rockford, Illinois
Robert M. Tennant, on Oct. 3, 2018, in Rockford, Illinois
Joyce A. Terry, retired, food service, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Sycamore, Illinois
Diane L. Haws Tilton, retired staff, on Feb. 4, 2019, in Oregon, Illinois
Dewayne R. Triplett, professor of Education, on April 9, 2019 in Green Valley, Arizona
Ruth Waite, on Jan. 17, 2019 in Rochester, Minnesota
Rebecca Walkington, on Jan. 16, 2019, in Woodstock, Illinois
Trevor M. Wehner, on Feb. 15, 2019, in Aurora, Illinois; Graduation was to be in May 2019
Darlene Wiggins, on Dec. 21, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
Joseph M. Wood III, retired, studio art teacher, on Nov. 10, 2018, in DeKalb, Illinois
Orange is the New Red & Black
Scores of internships. Dozens of job offers. A bustling new innovation center in the heart of campus.
It’s safe to say Discover Financial Services’ new “code_orange” program has exceeded all expectations—for the company, NIU and students alike. It also has become a model for the University’s collaborations with businesses and other partners.
The internship program was originally proposed as a small pilot project involving a half dozen or so computer science students. But in a single year’s time, more than 125 tech-savvy juniors and seniors have participated.
Each semester and summer, Discover hires or rehires a new crop of students, known as “Campus Innovators,” who are paid for their work helping research and develop internal technologies for the company.
For many NIU students, the internships have led to jobs, too. So far, Discover has offered full-time positions to nearly 40 graduating seniors, with the majority accepting.

“The program is phenomenal,” said Ben Lane, ’19, who was among the initial 37 code_orange participants last fall.
He continued during the spring semester, when the number of Campus Innovators more than doubled. By mid-April—a month before graduating with his computer science degree—he had accepted a job offer from Discover to work at the company’s headquarters in Riverwoods, Illinois.
Lane started his career as a Discover software engineer in June.
“I got a job doing exactly the kind of work I wanted to do,” Lane said. “I feel very fortunate.”
SPEARHEADED BY ALUMNI
NIU has long served as a talent pipeline to Discover, a leading direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the nation’s largest card issuers.
It was two Huskie alumni—Glenn Schneider, ’83, chief information officer at Discover, and Joel Suchomel, ’89, the company’s vice president of application development—who championed the creation of code_orange.
“We are looking at this as a feeder group into our employee base,” Schneider said. “We’re invested in making sure, as talent comes into our company, that we’re allowing (students) to grow and continue to learn in their professional careers.”
Suchomel first proposed the idea—albeit on a smaller scale—after visiting campus in 2016 and speaking with students in computer science, where enrollment numbers have swelled by more than 50 percent in recent years. Department chair Nicholas Karonis, ’85, immediately saw the potential.
“Paid internships provide our students with invaluable on-the-job experiences—and they often lead directly to jobs,” Karonis said.
Over the next two years, NIU and Discover officials hammered out the program details, while the commitment grew on both sides. To house the program, Discover leased a 5,900-square-foot area of “71 North,” the university’s collaborative space for innovation and partnerships, centrally located on campus on the bottom level of Founders Memorial Library.
“I was excited about the mutual interest in building a partnership between Discover and NIU for the benefit of the students,” Suchomel said. “With a strong partnership, we could evolve the relationship and program to produce modern software engineers ready for the working world.”
RELAXED TECHY ATMOSPHERE
Discover completely renovated its NIU space. The code_orange facilities now feature an open, industrial design with garage doors, concrete flooring, bright orange company colors, “agile rooms” for small-group work and spacious collaborative areas with sprawling meeting tables, colorful couches and cushy chairs.
Whiteboards, laptops, big-screen monitors and wheeled furniture mimic the open-workspace feel of the company’s headquarters. Students work in teams of five or six, each overseen by a Discover mentor and product manager. The company supplies snacks galore, and occasionally orders out for lunch, particularly during “tech talks” delivered to students by industry professionals from companies such as Amazon.
“It’s almost as if a bit of the Silicon Valley were transplanted here,” said Lane, who commuted to NIU from Marengo. The job filled his time between classes.
“You use what you learn in school, but at the same time you’re working in a corporate culture,” he said. “That’s a great benefit.”
Mike Brenner, Discover’s code_orange program manager, said the company initially expected it would take a few years to grow the program to 50 participants per semester. That plan flew out the window after the first open house attracted 140 students.
“We were excited,” Brenner said, adding that students recognized the program’s value. “They are employed and interning at a great company that is right on campus, and they work on unique projects like virtual reality, web design, augmented reality and mobile applications.”
“There are added benefits of this team experience—learning how to work as a team, problem-solve and communicate with others,” he added. “Those skills are invaluable in the workforce.”
FULL-TIME SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The program name, code_orange, alludes to the work the students do. There’s a lot of computer coding and software development going on in each team project.
“It’s a very chill environment,” said Adi Attavane, ’19, of Bolingbrook, who worked as a code_orange Campus Innovator this past spring.
Attavane liked the flexible hours and convenient location on campus. Most importantly, she wanted experience in a coding environment. Over the course of one semester, Attavane made solid contributions to an augmented reality project, impressed Discover and landed a job as a software developer with the company after she graduated in May.
“We were given a lot of freedom but were also able to showcase our unique skill sets,” Attavane said.
While Campus Innovators set their own schedules during the fall and spring, each putting in as many as 19 hours a week, more than 60 students interned on campus full-time for code_orange this summer.
Most of the Campus Innovators are computer science or engineering majors, but nine students studying Operations Management and Information Systems recently joined the program as team leaders. Discover is considering seeking participants from other academic disciplines as the program matures.
A MODEL FOR INNOVATION
Karinne Bredberg, ’04, M.P.A. ’19, assistant director for innovation in NIU’s Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships, shepherded NIU’s effort to secure the program. The details required a meshing of public and private interests, and nearly two years of behind-the-scenes work by dozens of people on both sides.
“This was new for the University and Discover,” Bredberg said. “We were constantly working to make sure we were all on the same page, and that it was a win-win for everybody.”
Now the University hopes to duplicate the success.
Jerry Blazey, NIU’s vice president of Research and Innovation Partnerships, has overseen many successful partner ships with businesses, federal laboratories, government, communities, non-profits and others. With Discover, he believes the University has hit upon a blueprint for success involving committed partners, mutual benefits, talented students, flexible hours, real-word experiences and location, location, location.
“We learned that success requires a lot of upfront effort,” Blazey said. “For code_orange, it was possible because of the commitment on both sides and a mutual desire to offer opportunities to our students.”
The Eyes Have It: Setting Sights on Innovation
You could say Professor Elizabeth Gaillard has had her eye on this for decades.
She spent years of toiling away in the lab determined to help detect and find a cure for leading causes of blindness. Years of patents and research funding sought and granted, of published papers in top journals, of students mentored and relied upon for their talent, ingenuity and ambition. From undergraduates to Ph.D. students, Huskies contributed to novel research while gaining vital interdisciplinary skills.
It’s all culminated in Dr. Gaillard’s latest venture—Therome Innovation Partners, a startup company designed to distribute a new drug-delivery system for those suffering from age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Both can lead to blindness. Both require regular injections to the eye.
Dr. Gaillard’s new system would deliver a time-released drug, reducing the frequency of the painful shots from monthly to once every 12 months or so. The shots slow down the loss of sight. It’s such a simple act, but so meaningful to those suffering.
“Anything that can be done to improve their vision, even a little bit, is a huge improvement in the quality of life for them,” said Dr. Gaillard, who has become one of the leading researchers of macular degeneration in her nearly 23 years as a professor and distinguished research professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Sciences at NIU.
Both the chemistry behind the project and the story of its fruition are inspiring and represent the widespread innovation continually at work at NIU.
LEVERAGING EXPERTISE
Dr. Gaillard’s Therome Innovation Partners already has patented technology on biomarkers for ocular inflammation and potent antioxidant drugs in its portfolio.
Her journey to creating the startup has involved colleagues as well as professors and students in the Colleges of Engineering and Business, the Northern Illinois Research Foundation (NIRF), the Medical Laboratory Sciences and the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships, to name a few.
“With the creation of Therome Innovation Partners, Dr. Gaillard’s passion for ocular therapeutics and diagnostics will allow her to transform her research from basic research and development into real-world products that have the potential to diagnose and treat millions of people suffering from a variety of diseases,” said Karinne Bredberg, ’14, M.P.A. ’19, assistant director for Commercialization and Innovation for NIU’s Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships.
Along with the time-released drug delivery technology, Dr. Gaillard has developed a methodology and database to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes several years earlier than blood tests. She’d like to see the product accessible in places like drugstores, similar to blood pressure machines. With patents pending on both creations, they’re among a slew of inventions earning NIU widespread recognition.
In the past 20 years—the typical lifespan of a patent—the University has been issued about 100 patents in the United States and worldwide.
Also in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Distinguished Teaching and Research Professor Emeritus Dr. Chhiu-Tsu Lin has multiple patents in nanocoating technologies. He created his own startup, ChemNOVA Technologies, Inc., in 1999. Two “molecular fan” patents licensed to ChemNOVA are used to keep hot technology, such as CPUs, computers and cellphones, cool.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Sen-Maw Kuo and Dr. Lichuan Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, invented a wireless active-noise control system that enables newborns in incubators to hear their mothers’ voices while reducing harmful noises and maintaining communication of infant cries, coos and breathing signals. The technology is licensed to a startup in San Antonio, Texas, for commercialization in hospitals.
The leap from the lab to the market isn’t simple, though. That’s where collaboration comes into play.
“Faculty at NIU are great researchers, striving to create innovative solutions to everyday problems through research, teaching and engagement, but creating a startup also involves skills in business that researchers in the life sciences may not particularly have,” Bredberg said.
“By leveraging the expertise of others, Dr. Gaillard is able to fill those business and prototyping gaps. Additionally, the collaborations between other colleges provides the students involved real-world, hands-on experiences.”
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Dr. Gaillard teamed up with business students this past spring after a talk she gave as part of the NIRF, a nonprofit organization that promotes scientific research at NIU.
A foundation member, College of Business Dean Balaji Rajagopalan suggested she work with students in the college’s Experiential Learning Center (ELC). The center brings together teams of six to eight students every semester from a variety of majors within the college to work on real-world business issues.
Of the eight teams lined up this fall, teams will work with McDonald’s, the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and other businesses and corporations.
“The projects these students work on put them in front of the entrepreneurs, the CEOs, partners, board of directors, CIOs, anybody in the chief suites of these organizations we work with,” said Jason Gorham, the director of business consulting in the College of Business who heads up the ELC.
The students created a company logo and website, studied potential investors and found ways for Dr. Gaillard to pitch her products.
The experience has inspired team member Sai Krishna Bharath Nanduri of India, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Information Technology, to become a consultant.
“I never really thought I would work well with a group of strangers,” he said. “I ended up having five great friends. Then I realized I wanted to do this the rest of my life—working in teams and solving problems.”
ENGINEERING A PRODUCT
As business students sharpened Dr. Gaillard’s marketing plan, engineering students furthered her efforts to better diagnose diabetes.
She already had the technology to use fluorescence scanning for non-invasive diagnosis, but needed an instrument to put it to work. Once again, NIRF came in handy.
An NIRF board member, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Dean Donald Peterson approached Dr. Gaillard at a meeting about his senior design students. Teams of senior-level students tackle projects from businesses and industries as part of a year-long required capstone experience, the pinnacle of their undergraduate education.
“It’s pretty exciting,” she said. “The thought of something you do in the lab, very fundamental research, to have it actually be of value and help society in some way is enormously fulfilling.”
-Dr. Elizabeth Gaillard
Peterson knew of seniors interested in biomedical engineering, but who were unable to major in it because it wasn’t offered during their initial years at NIU. The college launched the biomedical engineering degree program this fall.
Dr. Gaillard’s project allowed team member Kristen O’Connor, ’19, of Hometown, Illinois, who graduated this past spring with a degree in electrical engineering, to take her interest in biomedical engineering to another level in a meaningful way.
“This would greatly increase the amount of screenings people get for diabetes,” said O’Connor, who started a job as an electrical engineer at John Deere this past summer.
The machine O’Connor and her teammates created sends pulses of light into the eye at the press of a button. Diabetes can be detected based on the eye’s reaction to the fluorescent patterns.
Time and financial limitations prevented the team from completely finishing the product, but Dr. Gaillard intends to pitch it again.
“What they took on was an extremely challenging project,” Dean Peterson said of the engineering team. “They carried the baton significantly down the track for, hopefully, the next team to carry on.”
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
Dr. Gaillard ’s research revolves around a long-standing fascination with the biochemistry of eye disease, particularly age-related conditions.
Now the number of people living with macular degeneration, currently estimated at 11 million people in the United States, is expected to reach 196 million worldwide by 2020. It is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults ages 60 and older in industrialized nations.
Diabetic retinopathy has become a force of its own, developing in anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, with more than 3 million cases diagnosed a year in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate more than 1 out of 3 American adults have prediabetes. Of those, 90 percent don’t know they have it.
Available drug treatments help prevent the growth of poorly developed blood vessels in the retina that cause swelling and inflammation, leading to damaged eyesight.
Eye drops are washed away through blinking and tearing, leaving behind little medication to travel to the back of the eye. Pills and intravenous medication won’t reach either.
“The only choice left is direct injection,” Dr. Gaillard said. “The problem with that is people can’t stand the thought of it. Plus, you’re creating a puncture wound in your eye and increasing the chance for bacterial infection. The fewer the injections, the better”, she said.
Her gradual drug delivery method encapsulates drugs in a liposome, a sort of sac of molecules. The key has been finding just the right therapeutic formulation.
To do so, Dr. Gaillard has worked with NIU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to test the dosage on rabbits.
“Being able to do those rabbit studies was huge for us because, otherwise, the industry would look at the work we did and say, ‘You did it in the lab, how do we know it’s even viable in a living system?’” she said.
It all comes down to restoring mobility and independence to those suffering. Even a slight improvement can have a dramatic impact.
“It’s pretty exciting,” she said. “The thought of something you do in the lab, very fundamental research, to have it actually be of value and help society in some way is enormously fulfilling.”
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