Winter 2022 Archives - Northern Now

In Memoriam

’49

Richard “Dick” Turnroth, on March 26, 2021, in Rock Falls, Illinois.

’52

Audrey Limbert, on Jan. 10, 2021, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

’54

Joyce Ann Nash, on April 11, 2021, in Batavia, Illinois.

’55

Marilyn J. Howe, on May 7, 2021, in Sycamore, Illinois.

’58

James E. McGuire, on March 10, 2021, in Joliet, Illinois.

’60

Edmund Thomas Dorner, on Nov. 11, 2020, in Bloomington, Illinois.

Lewis “Lew” Flinn, on May 5, 2021, in Princeton, Illinois.

Richard C. Smith, M.S., on Dec. 10, 2020, in Saline, Michigan.

Edward Sova, on April 26, 2021, in Minooka, Illinois.

’61

David Wheatcroft Hinde, on April 27, 2021, in Rockford, Illinois.

’62

Sonjia Olstad, on May 25, in Stoughton, Illinois.

’63

Judith Mueller, on Dec. 28, 2020, in Madison, Wisconsin.

’64

Rev. M. James “Jim” Gardiner, on April 17, 2021, in Assumption, Illinois.

Robert W. Kugel, on Dec. 16, 2020, in Champaign, Illinois.

’65

Henry A. Marshall, on Nov. 18, 2020, in Paris, Missouri.

Karen J. Swanson, on May 12, 2021, in Loves Park, Illinois.

’66

Linda Adele Pecka, on Dec. 28, 2020, in Joliet, Illinois.

’67

Walter P. Gutierrez, on Feb. 6, 2021, in Janesville, Wisconsin.

John J. Lukancic, M.S.Ed., on Jan. 20, 2021, in Crest Hill, Illinois.

Allan Stromsta, on Jan. 2, 2021, in Joliet, Illinois.

’68

Mary Jo Ann Moyer, on Feb. 8, 2021, in Palos Heights, Illinois.

’69

Daniel E. Kelly, on Jan. 23, 2021, in Plainfield, Illinois.

John Klever, Jr., M.S., on March 23, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa.

David P. Rubner, M.S., on May 15, 2021, in New Lenox, Illinois.

’70

Jill Iris Dial, M.S.Ed., on Dec. 23, 2020, in Geneseo, Illinois.

Nancy Floyd, M.S.Ed., on Jan. 30. 2021, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Barbara Kummerfeldt, M.M., on Jan. 20, 2021, in Monroe, Wisconsin.

William Nielsen, on March 27, 2021, in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Roger Irvin Uhe, M.S., on March 18, 2021, in Springfield, Illinois.

’71

Mary Nuss, on Feb. 4, 2021, in Durand, Illinois.

Patricia Rogalin, M.S. ’73, on Nov. 13, 2020, in Kirkland, Illinois.

Thomas Wartowski, J.D. ’99, on Dec. 17, 2020, in Rockford, Illinois.

’72

Robert Hastings, on Jan. 3, 2020, in Venice, Florida.

Carl “Bill” Piper, M.B.A. ’74, on April 18, 2021, in Dixon, Illinois.

Joanna Wenstrand, on April 12, 2021, in Gwinn, Michigan.

’73

Rick Ericksen, M.S. ’75, on Dec. 22, 2020, in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Lea Houdek, M.S. ’85, on April 6, 2021, in Cortland, Illinois.

Bonnie Julie Johnson, on March 28, 2021, in Normal, Illinois.

Sr. Joan Lang, M.S., on Jan. 6, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois.

’74

Jane “Jenny” Barrett, M.A., on Feb. 17, 2021, in Champaign, Illinois.

Garrett Jacoby, on Dec. 16, 2020, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Linda Ann Lowe, on May 3, 2021, in McHenry, Illinois.

’75

Robert “Bob” Ash, M.S.Ed., on May 5, 2021, in Rockford, Illinois.

Rosemary Parker, on Feb. 7, 2021, in Ottawa, Illinois.

Donald Ray Torrence, Ph.D., on April 25, 2021, in Joliet, Illinois.

’77

Samuel Blackwell, M.A., Ph.D. ’95, on Dec. 3, 2020, in Joliet, Illinois.

Eugene Kimmet, on Feb. 13, 2021, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Thomas P. Moncada, M.A.S., on Jan. 20, 2021, in Charleston, Illinois.

’79

Aaron Dubin, on Dec. 30, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri.

’80

Marguerite Inez Gutekanst, M.S., on Feb. 7, 2021, in Skokie, Illinois.

Frances Kochicas, on Nov. 25, 2020, in Rock Falls, Montana.

’81

Bradley J. Whitlock, on Dec. 26, 2020, in Rockford, Illinois.

’82

Douglas B. Cobb, M.S., on March 6, 2021, in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

’84

Roberta Christians, M.S.Ed., on March 27, 2021, in Mt. Morris, Illinois.

’85

Robert E. Child, on May 15, 2021, in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

’87

Sharon Sue Burton, M.S.Ed., on Dec. 16, in Worland, Wyoming.

’89

R. Stuart Tarr, M.S., on Nov. 24, 2020, in Empire, Michigan.

’97

Kristy Line, on Oct. 30, 2020, in Winter Park, Colorado.

Catherine Shiobhan “Kate” Vos, on April 16, 2021, in Rockford, Illinois.

John Louis DiGaetani, M.A., retired as an emeritus professor of English from Hofstra University, where he has taught for the last 42 years. In June 2021, his latest book, The Definitive Diva: The Life and Career of Maria Callas will be published by McFarland Press.

Robert O’Connor, published his 18th book, Catesby The Final Chapter,
a historical novel, in January 2020. O’Connor, a nationally known Civil War author, has been named a finalist for National Book Awards four times. The Dixon, Illinois, native now livesin Charles Town, West Virginia.

’76

Melissa D. Avery, was named editor-in-chief of “Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health” for The American College of Nurse-Midwives in May. She will begin her role in January 2022.

’78

Mark DeSantis, announced his retirement from WEEK-TV in Peoria, Illinois, in January 2021. He had been vice president and general manager of WEEK-TV for more than 23 years, and he has enjoyed a 40-year broadcasting career. WEEK is the ratings leader in Peoria and dominant news operation.

’80

Michael Sarich, created artwork that was featured in an exhibit called “The Lilley in the Open” at the University of Nevada where he is associate professor of art in the College of Liberal Arts.

’81

Roger Eddy, former Illinois State representative, was named to the Illinois State Board of Education in February. Eddy is currently the interim president of Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Prior to his current role, he was the executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards and the Superintendent of Schools at Hutsonville, Illinois.

’82

Bob Reczek, a basketball referee, was honored in January 2021 by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association for his work with Special Olympics.

William Tate IV, was named the Louisiana State University’s (LSU) president in May. He began his term in July and is the first Black president of the LSU system and first Black university president in the Southeastern Conference.

’85

Susan Harkin, M.S.Ed. ’05, was named superintendent for Algonquin, Illinois-based Community Unit District 300 in May 2021. She will be the first female superintendent of the district. Harkin, who was hired as District 300’s chief operating and financial officer in 2012, also has previously served as chief financial officer of Crystal Lake Elementary District 47.

Jerry Rumph, was installed as a director of The Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation Board in Godfrey, Illinois, in April 2021. Rumph is president of OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois. He has 25 years in healthcare experience and has implemented solutions for operational, financial, quality and regulatory issues in addition to military leadership experience that includes expertise in disaster planning and use of telemedicine for primary care.

Ellen Skerke, was appointed to a newly created position of town administrator for Neenah, Wisconsin, in January 2020.

’87

Casey Warnecke, was named chief growth officer for the Horton Group, one of the largest privately held insurance brokers in the United States, based in Orland Park, Illinois. In this position, Warnecke will be responsible for gaining new business/client retention, recruiting top talent and implementing a strong sales infrastructure across multiple office locations.

’89

Derek L. Hancks, J.D., was voted in as an associate judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit. Hancks currently has a solo practice in Moline, Illinois.

’90

Virgina Devlin, was inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Femme in April 2021, which honors inspiring women leaders who are guiding lights within the communications industry. Devlin’s firm, Current Global, launched “Accessible by Design” in December 2020, which supports the highest accessibility standards and inclusivity in communications.

’92

Susan Carter, M.B.A., was appointed as a non-executive director and a member of the board’s audit committee for Amcor in January 2021. Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care and other products.

David Curtin, M.B.A., was promoted to vice president at Harford Mutual Insurance Group in March.

’93

James Bachman, was named fire chief for Peoria, Illinois, in May. Bachman began his career with the Peoria Fire Department in 1994. He has served the community as a firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief and division chief of operations in that time.

Ellen Spitalli, M.A., was hired as a Spanish language instructor, including for Advanced Placement classes, at Jefferson High School in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

Bob Yates, was appointed, in May 2021, to the new role of vice president, Distribution, Analytics and Data at AmeriLife Group, LLC. AmeriLife is a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing annuity, life and health insurance solutions, which is based in Clearwater, Florida.

Todd Hileman, M.P.A. ’94, was named city manager for Palm Desert, California, in January 2021.

Dave Kim, joined Frazier & Deeter, one of the nation’s Top 50 accounting and advisory firms, as the national leader for its international tax practice in November 2020.

’95

Sean Allgood, was named interim athletic director for the Ashtabula, Ohio, area city schools.

Paul Czarapata, was named the new president for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in May 2021, following a nationwide search. Czarapata had been serving as interim president since October.

Dan Hennessy, was appointed chief sales officer for FIFCO USA. Hennessy, who has held a variety of commercial leadership roles at MolsonCoors/MillerCoors over his 15-year career there, joined the company in February.

’96

Grant Hoffman, M.B.A. ’06, joined Poly as executive vice president, chief supply chain officer
in January 2021. Poly creates premium audio and video products for meetings.

Jennie Vana, was named the new director of media services for the City of Des Plaines, Illinois, in December 2020.

’97

Dr. Julia Jasken, M.A., was selected by the McDaniel College Board of Trustees as the college’s 10th president, and took office on June 1, 2021. Jasken is only the second woman president in the history of the college, which is based in Westminster, Maryland.

’98

Sonni Choi Williams, J.D., was elected third vice-president of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) in May 2021. She is now in succession to become the first woman of color, first person of Asian American heritage, first person of Korean heritage, and the sixth woman president of the ISBA in its 144-year history.

Richard Irvin, J.D., was reelected as mayor of Aurora, Illinois, in April. Irvin, a former Kane County, Illinois, prosecutor, was elected as Aurora’s first Black mayor in 2017. He spent his formative years in public housing, as the son of a single mother and later joined the military and served in Operation Desert Storm, which he says was a turning point that led to his focus on public service.

Patrick Sandusky, was appointed to the role of senior vice president of communications for PointsBet, a premier global sportsbook operator, in April 2021.

’01

Jeff Lauritzen, M.B.A., was elected as chairman of the board of directors for the RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA), the chamber of commerce and the economic development organization for the communities of the Riverbend in Godfrey, Illinois. As chairman, he will manage the decision-making process of the association.

’03

Gary McDowell’s story “If There Is a Thesis Statement, This Is It” was published in the Winter 2020-21 issue of Ploughshares, an award-winning journal of new writing from Emerson College.

’04

Kenny Braasch, appeared as a contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” which aired in late 2020.

Michael Flanagan, M.S.Ed. ’10, was named district superintendent for Harlem School District in Rockford, Illinois.

Charlie Hollingworth, M.A.S., was recently promoted to partner in audit services at Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting and technology firm in the U.S., with offices around the world. He is based out of the New York office and has been with the firm for over 16 years.

’05

Christine Benson, Ed.D., was named to the Illinois State Board of Education in February. She was a teacher for 20 years and worked as superintendent in the Mendota High, Ottawa Elementary, and Streator Elementary school districts in Illinois before her retirement.

Scott Piner, published his first book, Great Scott!: And Other Poems, which focuses on themes of themes of questioning, dreaming and believing.

’06

Seth Chapman, M.S., Ed.D. ’17, was named the Glenbard District 87 assistant superintendent for finance and operations for schools in Glen Ellyn and Lombard areas in Illinois.

Keith Petersen, was named chief strategy officer for Barchart, a leading provider of market data and technology services to the financial, media and commodity industries, in January 2021.

Walt Wiltschek, has been named district executive minister for The Church of the Brethren’s Illinois and Wisconsin District.

’07

Mary Holland, B.F.A, played the role of Jane Caldwell in the critically acclaimed Christmas romantic comedy, “Happiest Season,” which she co-wrote with Clea DuVall.

’08

Jason Meyers, has been named an associate of Cohen Ziffer Frenchman & McKenna, the boutique insurance recovery law firm that launched in New York City in January 2021. He joined from Lowenstein Sandler and brought experience in transactional and securities matters for public companies to his insurance recovery practice.

’09

Amanda Meyer, was hired as the executive director for the Havre Public Schools Education Foundation in Havre, Montana, in January 2021.

Rachel Oracki, M.A.S., was hired in December 2020 as a mortgage planner for Blackhawk Bank in the Rockford and Ogle County, Illinois, market.

Eric Palm, M.P.A., was hired as the village manager for Hoffman Estates, Illinois, in November 2020, for his broad experience in economic development, municipal finance, communications and leadership.

’10

Anna Gouker, published her first book, Don’t Ask Permission to Fly, a short collection of essays about her life as a person with a severe physical disability, observations about the world, and some of the people who have impacted her the most.

’11

Mark Langer, M.S.Ed. was appointed principal at William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois.

’19

Chad A. Baker, M.B.A., J.D., joined Goostree Law Group with offices in St. Charles, Naperville, and Wheaton, Illinois in December 2020. He focuses his practice on family law and divorce, including child custody and parenting time, support calculation, and property allocation.

Births

Natalie Troiani, ’02, M.S.D.M. ’20, and her husband Brad welcomed daughter Margaret on Aug. 22, 2020. She was brought home to older sister and brother Lucille and William.

Letter from the Editor

Have you ever noticed just how many successful Huskies we have in our ranks, across every industry all around the world?

I know I am constantly impressed by the Huskies I meet—both students and alumni—and their ability to rise to the top of their peers and organizations, making a positive impact on our world. I think this can be attributed to the fact that we are innovative and problem solvers by necessity. Most of us have had to earn our success “The Hard Way,” and we are not afraid to make change to get better results.

This issue of Northern Now showcases a handful of NIU’s most promising and changemaking entrepreneurs. From innovative alumni who won a deal on ABC’s “Shark Tank” to a speech-pathologist who wrote a best-selling book about teaching her dog to talk, this issue is full of examples of how our people are changing the playing field forever, making their own rules, and blazing a trail for others to follow.

We are so proud of and inspired by our entrepreneurial Huskies, and hope you will be inspired by their stories as well. Huskies. Never. Quit. They’re too busy finding groundbreaking solutions that will benefit us all!

Go, Huskies!

Reggie Bustinza

NIUAA President Letter

Huskie Friends,

The school year is in full swing, and as a proud alumnus and NIU Alumni Association Board President, there is plenty to be excited and optimistic about.

The NIUAA continues to excel in its annual directives. Led by NIU Foundation Executive Director of Operations and Alumni Relations, Reggie Bustinza, I know the best is yet to come.

Now that the new NIU Alumni Association board is in place, we are off and running on our major initiatives, and I can’t wait to see the results!

We have established pilot programs with both the College of Business (Alumni Leadership Circles Campaign) and the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (Points of Pride). These projects have both helped re-engage Alumni with Northern Illinois University, and also encourage potential students why NIU should be a destination.

We could not take these projects on without the leadership and partnership of Dean Balaji Rajagoplan (Business)
and Dean Donald Peterson (Engineering and Engineering Technology), and for that, we are forever grateful.

The fall has brought the return of NIU Football to Huskie Stadium, led by head coach and alumnus Thomas Hammock, ’02. We look forward to seeing the Huskies on the gridiron, but most of all, we’d love to see you back at your alma mater and see the great things happening at NIU!

Go Huskies!

Joseph Sener, ’93, M.S. ’10

Rashon Burno: The New CEO of Huskie Men’s Basketball

It is often said that college head coaches are like CEOs, with their responsibilities reaching far beyond Xs and Os into all the daily operations of the programs they oversee. In early March, the NIU men’s basketball program gained a new CEO when Rashon Burno was named the 29th head coach of the Huskies.

Burno comes to NIU following six seasons at Arizona State while also spending time at Towson University, Manhattan College and University of Florida. A native of Jersey City, N.J., Burno played collegiately at DePaul University from 1998-2002 and made his start in coaching at Marmion Academy—a high school in Aurora, Illinois—leading the Cadets for three seasons from 2007-10. During his first couple of months on the job, he has already begun to see why head coaches are often compared to CEOs.

“You are executing your plan and that is a huge difference than before when, as an assistant, you are executing someone else’s,” Burno explained when asked about the difference in being a head coach. “You have to formulate your plan, you have to bring it to your staff and support staff, to go out and put it in play and execute at a high level. Obviously, there are similarities to being a CEO of a corporation, or president of anything, you have to go out and make sure that the plan that is set forth is being executed.”

Unlike many coaches who enter the profession immediately following their playing days, Burno’s post-playing career started out in the private sector where he worked as a financial planner before the pull of basketball brought him back into the game. That work experience has also been beneficial to how Burno approaches running a program for the first time.

“I think for me, it is just understanding that every day is going to be different,” Burno explained. “Expectations are going to go like the Dow Jones (Industrial Average). They are going to go up and down. Being able to be consistent is important and so is being able to manage expectations, especially when you are a start-up. I don’t want to build too fast because I have to make sure the infrastructure is able to ‘produce the orders’ that may come out. I don’t want to cut corners, because this thing is about sustainability and long-term growth versus ‘let’s hit it now’ and then we don’t have the infrastructure to start over the next year.”

“The next year for business is the next quarter, the next year for us will be 2022-23. I want to do this thing the right way to where we can grow gradually, and have long-term success, because that’s what good companies do.”

Empowering Youth to See the Difference-Maker Within

Orlando Bowen was a DE/LB for NIU from 1994-98.

After completing his master’s degree, Orlando Bowen felt like he had arrived.

Bowen earned his B.S. in marketing in 1998 and his M.S. in management information systems in 2000, both from the NIU College of Business. He was working as a consultant for a boutique technology firm in downtown Chicago. He felt blessed to have a successful career in a field he was passionate about. But something
was missing.

“It was the opportunity to help other young people, especially people of color, understand that they are not their circumstances,” Bowen said.

Before the year was out, Bowen was offered a spot in the Canadian Football League. The former Huskie linebacker spent the next four years playing professional football. Before making the move, he made sure the team would support his desire to serve the community.

“I saw young people who had so much talent and potential giving up on life because they didn’t feel connected. They didn’t feel valued,” he said. “I thought, if they only knew! If they only knew what was possible. If they knew that despite where they come from, what their parents did, what their older siblings did, they can do amazing things and redefine possibilities for themselves and the next generation of their family. If we can give them that opportunity, maybe they would make different decisions.”

Between 2001 and 2008, Bowen drew on his passion for inspiring young people to develop One Voice One Team. When injuries sustained in a brutal encounter with police ended his football career, Bowen threw himself into the work full time. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping youth use their gifts to improve the world around them.

The arresting officer in Bowen’s case was later arrested and all charges against Bowen were dropped.

The lessons Bowen learned at NIU gave him the foundation to launch a nonprofit that runs like a business but is “focused on the mission rather than the bottom line.”

“When I go into high schools and talk about making a difference, young people look at me and say, ‘Sir, you don’t know where I’m from. I don’t have things I can use to make a difference.’ We challenge that thinking,” he said. “We help them understand they are a gift, and they have gifts to give.”

To prove it, young people in the program are invited to service opportunities. They build houses with Habitat for Humanity, feed the homeless, and plant trees. Through serving others, youth begin to view themselves as someone who can make a difference.

Patrick Stephen (L) with Orlando Bowen (R)

Graduates of NIU’s entrepreneurship program are increasingly using their business skills to create social impact. When donors Dennis and Stacey Barsema created the Barsema Professorship in Social Entrepreneurship in 2018, they said social entrepreneurship is critical to solving the pressing issues of this century.

“Solving social issues through the innovation and creativity of students is paramount to a successful world,” Dennis Barsema, ’77, said. “We are proud that NIU has world-class faculty dedicated toward the education and motivation of our students in the field of social entrepreneurship and responsibility.”

The professorship is held by Dr. Christine Mooney, a leader in the field of social impact through business enterprise.

Bowen said his NIU education went much deeper than the nuts and bolts of how to launch and run a company. The experience he had can’t be summarized in any text.

“NIU gave me perspective in terms of what’s possible,” he said. “I bring those ideas of pushing through challenges, accountability, and commitment to something bigger than myself to my roles every day. I knew those concepts before, but it was my experiences at NIU that made them part of my DNA.”

College of Business Dean Balaji Rajagopalan said donor support is key to providing students with the tools to lead. Donations such as the Barsemas’ allow faculty like Mooney to pursue research that builds a richer curriculum.

“A curriculum informed by research in areas like social entrepreneurship is critical for preparing students to lead in shaping a better future for generations to come,” he said.

College of Business Opens the Doors of Innovation, Launches De La Vega Innovation Lab

To enter Barsema Hall is to enter a world where anything seems possible.

With its high ceilings, open stairways, and busy common areas, the building is virtually electric with the energy and ideas of those who work and learn there.

It’s a scene Jenee Carlson, ’19, remembers well from her days as a business student.

“It’s so motivating to see everyone working together in the open areas,” she said. “You know people are doing great things because you can see them in action all around you.”

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Barsema Hall is now home to the De La Vega Innovation Lab.

The 3,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art lab is a resource for all NIU stakeholders to use as they identify emerging needs and create new products and services.

Users will have access to 3D printers, rolling white boards and conferencing technologies. Moveable seating and tables allow for a range of configurations to suit a variety of needs.

Ideas for a Better World

Ralph de la Vega delivers the keynote address at
the Innovation Lab dedication.

“By design, the lab will help users hone their creativity and empathetic skills because we know those are really the cornerstone of innovation,” said Christine Mooney, Barsema Professor of Social Entrepreneurship.

She explained the lab’s fun and relaxing atmosphere helps facilitate innovative thinking.

“When we ask people to be creative, we’re asking them to pull on their vulnerability, and in order to be vulnerable, you need to feel safe,” she said. “Safe emotionally and safe that you can make mistakes.”

Carlson, who now works as a recruitment consultant at EngTal, Engineering Talent, New York, sat on the student steering committee headed by Mooney back in 2019.

“I remember a group of us students sitting on the floor in the space that is now the lab just dreaming up ideas of what it could be,” she said. “We had Post-It Notes and pictures and diagrams posted all over the wall.”

Seeing the lab today, Carlson says it far exceeds any of their wildest dreams.

“I’m thrilled that a resource like this exists for students today,” she said.

It is expected the work done in the lab will contribute to solving pressing global problems, including food insecurity, sustainability and climate change.

“This lab provides an opportunity for our entire diverse student body, working with faculty and staff, to do what we do best here in the United States: innovate,” said NIU Trustee Dennis Barsema, ’77.

“As long as we do that, we will retain our leadership in the world as a global business partner for other countries. It will create jobs and a better world for those who come after us,” he said.

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

NIU College of Business Dean Balaji Rajagopalan described the lab as a fitting tribute to its naming benefactors, Ralph and Maria de la Vega. “Ralph and Maria personify the magic that occurs when innovation, creativity and empathetic leadership are combined,” he said.

As young children in 1962, Maria and Ralph each travelled separately— mostly alone — from Cuba to the United States.

Along the way, they each encountered many obstacles, including cultural and language barriers. “Ralph and Maria have mastered the art and discipline of converting adversity into positive, significant opportunity,” said Rajagopalan.

“What has really resonated with me is the de la Vegas’ belief that some people never reach their full potential because they don’t see the opportunities embedded within challenges,” said NIU President Lisa Freeman.

“Through the de la Vegas’ generosity, we now have a space that will support our students not just in seeing opportunities but in seizing them as well,” she said.

Fortune Favors the Prepared

Ralph de la Vega, MBA, ’89, is the former vice chairman of AT&T, responsible for all of AT&T’s global business operations, CEO of AT&T Mobility, COO of Cingular Wireless, and president of BellSouth Latin America.

De La Vega Innovation Lab Ribbon Cutting

He said that the education he received at NIU helped him continue learning his entire life. He added NIU prepared him to compete—and thrive—in an industry that didn’t exist when he was a student.

“In 1985 there were 300,000 cellular phones in the whole country. They cost $3,500 a piece, and some were so big you had to put them in the trunk of your car,” he said.

“Starting in an industry with 300,000 wireless subscribers, and by the end, being responsible for a company that had 100 million subscribers and was generating $80 billion in annual revenues, is something that dreams are made of,” he said. “NIU made that happen.”

Giving Comes Full Circle

The Innovation Lab is the result of a wide base of donor support in addition to the de la Vega lead gift.

The lab’s Networking Circle was named in honor of Eric Wasowicz, ’80, Chair of the NIU Board of Trustees, and his wife Ann Lawrence for their generous support to help make the lab a reality. In addition, the Tech Hub was named in honor of Jim Wong, ’92, and his wife Kathy Harenza for their generosity.

Mike Cullen, ’87, former NIU Foundation Board Chair, said the lab will raise awareness of the importance of philanthropy at NIU.

“The quality of education that students receive here will help them find success after graduation,” he said. “It will put them in a position to give back and start the whole cycle again.”

President Freeman reminded donors their impact will reverberate far beyond the NIU community.

“Your contributions will not only serve our students today but will extend into the business world when our students take what they have learned here and apply it in ways we can only begin to imagine,” she said.

At NIU, Anything is Possible

Standing at the top of the stairway leading to the lab, Ralph de la Vega said he hopes it will be a place for great innovation and inspiration.

“When students walk up these steps and see the Innovation Lab, I hope they know that a 10-year-old boy who got to this country by himself, without his family, without speaking a word of English, and without a penny in his pocket, had something to do with it, and there was a school named NIU that helped him do it,” he said.

“I hope they also see that they too can make it, because once you are a Huskie, everything that you want to do is certainly possible.”

For more information about the De La Vega Innovation Lab, contact Kelsey Johnson at
kelsey.johnson@niu.edu.

One Sly Dog

They say every dog has its day.

Well, Catahoula and Blue Heeler mix Stella is having her moment now, and she was nice enough to bring her owner, Christina Hunger, along for the ride.

It all started a few years ago when Hunger, who graduated from NIU with a master’s in speech pathology and works as pediatric speech pathologist for Early Intervention in San Diego, decided to follow her curiosity about animal communications and how Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) might be able to help humans understand what animals are thinking.

“I really didn’t know this is where speech therapy was taking me until I got Stella,” Hunger says.

“At that same time, I was working with toddlers and children who use communication devices to talk, and I would see Stella whining or barking or going to the door to show us she needed to go outside. Every time I saw her understanding the words we were saying, I just couldn’t stop thinking about how she needed a way to communicate with us. I knew that, if she can understand language, she should absolutely be able to use language.”

Hunger (right) with her now-husband Jake (left) and Stella, when she was just a puppy

For those who are not familiar with the term, AAC is everything we use to communicate that is not verbal speech, and we all use it every day. A roll of the eyes, different facial expressions, typing on a keyboard—that is all AAC—and animals can also benefit from these types of communications.

Inspired by animal psychologists who came before her, like Dr. Penny Patterson who famously taught Koko the gorilla to speak through American Sign Language, Hunger set out to design a case study that would not only allow Stella to learn to speak but would also provide quantified data about how dogs, in particular, can learn to use language to express their thoughts and feelings.

Hunger used recordable buttons that Stella can paw to hear certain words, and she chose words she wanted to teach her dog and recorded each word into a different button. She started by having all the buttons in different, appropriate locations in her house. So, the “outside” button was by the door, the “eat” button was by her food, etc. Stella was able to paw the button to hear the word aloud. To Hunger’s surprise, very quickly, Stella started making her own word combinations and walking across the room to combine words. That is when Hunger decided to group the buttons on a common board for Stella, making the buttons appear as much like a human communication device as possible.

“Stella has memorized and anticipates the location of where each button is,” Hunger explained.

This is a skill that humans often develop, called motor planning. For instance, when we are typing on a keyboard, we just know where the keys are. Stella knows where the different buttons are from so much practice, and this helps her to group words together easily and get her point across.”

More than two years later, Hunger and Stella’s experiment has expanded in some pretty impressive ways. Stella’s vocabulary continues to grow, more than doubling from two years ago, as she now uses 48 different words and creates phrases or short sentences that are up to five words long.

This incredible progress has made Stella a star!

“After my work went viral in 2019, I had interest from different literary agents and publishers,” Hunger said. “I started working with a literary agent, created and submitted an official book proposal, then went out to New York City to meet with several different publishers to find the right fit. It was such an exciting time!”

These meetings resulted in Hunger’s instant New York Times Best-Selling book, How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World’s First Talking Dog, which was published in May 2021 by William Morrow.

“To me, how this all happened was equally as important as the fact that Stella was using words,” Hunger said.

“I wanted a way to share this story in its entirety, help others view Stella’s milestones through my lens as a speech therapist, and draw connections between what I was observing with Stella and in my work with children. I also wanted to be able to teach other pet owners how to teach their own dogs to talk. Writing a book seemed like the best way to accomplish all of this!”

Nearly two years after receiving her first media attention, life has changed for Hunger and her sly dog. But appearances on “Good Morning America,” CNN, and CBS News, as well as being the subject of countless major news articles in publications like The Washington Post and People magazine has not gone to Stella’s head. Her priorities are still the same—food, walks, cuddles and meeting new people.

“It has been incredibly surreal and exciting! Stella loves getting recognized when we’re out and about because that means she gets to meet new friends!” Hunger said. “It has also taken a lot of personal growth over the past couple of years to be comfortable doing all these interviews and putting myself out there.”

For Hunger, it has been just as fulfilling to see her work be recognized as it has been to watch other dog owners get excited about trying to communicate better with their pets.

“Dog owners are thrilled to be able to learn how I did this with Stella and how they can teach their own dogs,” she said. “But I also think people are really surprised when they read my book because they’re expecting a manual or guide. I included dozens of tips and strategies, but it’s actually so much more than that. It’s a memoir of this journey and discovery process. The reader can see what I saw in Stella from my perspective as a speech therapist and witness both Stella’s and my growth along the way.”

Stella relaxes next to the communication board Hunger created for her.

Hunger hopes that her book inspires thought-provoking ideas and discussions about how we communicate, animals’ language potential, and what can happen when we, as humans, try something new.

“I hope my book brings more understanding and acceptance of different types of communication, like using Augmentative and Alternative Communication AAC,” she said. “It would be so wonderful for the human populations who use AAC if the general public understood it as their voice, respected it, and knew how to teach and interact with communication devices.”

Originally from Aurora, Illinois, Hunger also earned a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2015. She chose NIU for her graduate studies because it felt so much like home, and the speech-language-pathology program had a reputation for being extremely hands-on. Its Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic offers students a practicum and research site that enhances their education while providing speech-language pathology and audiology services to the local community.

“When I visited NIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic for the admitted students’ day, I was just blown away by everything there,” Hunger remembers. “My first and most prominent clinical supervisor was Clinical Assistant Professor Michelle O’Loughlin, and she fostered my creativity, encouraged me to think outside the box, and helped me discover who I am as a speech therapist and as a person. Looking back, I think those are the most valuable lessons a teacher could ever give to a student.”

Hunger goes on to add that, during her time at NIU, the University culture really upheld the pillars of curiosity and creativity. Learning and teaching language does not always rely on or produce black-and-white information, and Hunger’s professors encouraged their students to keep asking questions. This mentality has, no doubt, shaped her animal communications research.

So, what is next for her and Stella? She looks forward to teaching her dog even more new tricks.

“I still think we are just getting started! My vision is growing each step of the way,” she said. “My career has changed from helping individual children and families to educating about communication, AAC, and speech therapy on a large scale. It’s a really special opportunity to help the masses understand these concepts.”

When Hunger steps back and considers humans’ relationship with animals in society, she cannot help but think that it would be drastically different if we could understand what they felt and thought. Through her work, she hopes to be a part of a new movement toward animal rights someday.

“Now I feel like I’ve seen the world through a different lens, and every time I see an animal, I wonder what it could say to me if given the right tools,” she said.

Follow Hunger and Stella’s progress on her blog, Hunger for Words

Social Entrepreneurship at the Core of Career Success for Vinay Mullick, ’00

Alumnus Vinay Mullick has a personal mission to make an impact on society, which has been woven into each of the diverse jobs and business endeavors along his career journey. Having earned a B.S. in industrial engineering from the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) and a minor in business administration from the College of Business, he parlayed his education into multiple careers and side business, all with the mission to give to others as a social entrepreneur.

“Early in my career I found myself at a crossroads where I wanted more fulfillment and satisfaction in my day job… and to truly help others along the way,” said Mullick.

His first job out of college was with multinational technology company Intel.

“It was an amazing opportunity with one of the top companies in the world,” he said. “I realized I found more satisfaction building equity in people and not as much in a large corporation. Thus, with my entrepreneurial spirit, I was able to find a nice niche fulfilling my entrepreneurial drive by working in the social sector.”

Alumnus Vinay Mullick, ‘00, poses with his MiniJerzeys.

His second career was teaching math and engineering for Chicago Public Schools and serving as athletic and activities director.

“Teaching students to get ready for the real world and life after high school and seeing so many graduate, succeed and excel in life have been some of my proudest moments,” he said.

Today he is the managing director for tech startup company UpMetrics, a firm that provides data analytics support to nonprofits and philanthropy. In 2016, he was one of the company’s first 10 employees, which has now grown to 30. Located in LaGrange, Illinois, Mullick also runs MiniJerzeys, an athletic apparel and award business he founded in 2015 and Monroestar, a web and graphic design company founded in 2002. In each role, he works with schools, nonprofits and small- to medium-sized businesses.

He believes his NIU education set him up for success. The rigorous engineering coursework and involvement in student leadership provided him with a tireless work ethic and valuable interpersonal skills, such as conflict resolution and working with people with diverse backgrounds.

And, his involvement with NIU continues today. He’s a board member of the NIU Alumni Association and served a term on the board of the Engineering Technology Alumni Society. He also established a scholarship for CEET students and regularly speaks to classes on campus.

Alumna Finds Her Future Far in the Past

A student practices her writing at the Belden Boy Writing Camp.

The year was 2004.

P.J. HarteNaus was beginning her third decade of teaching social studies and literacy to elementary students in Glen Ellyn School District 41 when she and about 30 colleagues enrolled in an NIU College of Education master’s degree program.

“Different professors met us at different schools on our campus,” she says. “It was perfect for us because we taught all day and didn’t need to travel to DeKalb.”

HarteNaus appreciated the flexibility of one class session each week. She also enjoyed the innovative coursework that the M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction offered, prompting creativity and thinking “outside the box,” she says. These classes led to discoveries of what teachers could accomplish for children.

It was her final professor in 2005, however, who would prove to be the most memorable. “She made us realize that the possibilities were endless,” HarteNaus said.

“Our last assignment at NIU was to go out in the field and create something educational for children, whatever it might be. Questions flew and ideas were tossed around in class,” she said. “For myself, however, I thought of heading to Galena in the upper Midwest area, creating something of educational value for children out in a rural setting. I needed to think long and hard about what it could be, and I was not sure of where to begin at first.”

What happened next would alter the course of her life, turning the local educator into the award-winning author of the acclaimed “Belden Boy,” a series of children’s books set over 100 years ago that explores anti-bullying themes.

Those books led her to speaking engagements, to creating Whistleslick Press, to writing more children’s books and to creating the Belden Boy Writing Camp inside the 1859 Belden School, the school she helped to save—and home to the book series.

As the books sold, won awards and became integrated into the curriculum of many elementary school districts from coast to coast, HarteNaus began traveling across the Midwest to talk about bullying and her journey in writing. She has addressed numerous conferences for the Country School Association of America and given radio interviews.

HarteNaus and her husband, Dave, also are the proud owners of the Belden Boy Mobile, a 1953 Chevy farm truck.

She credits it all to that one challenge.

“There’s so much more that I can do, as I still have the passion to teach children and adults, write children’s books and rescue animals,” she says. “That one class at NIU redirected my entire life, setting me on a journey I never expected!”

Visit go.niu.edu/spkd05 to read the full story!