In Memoriam

’43

FERN E. SHORE on September 21, Sterling, Illinois.

’48

VIRGINIA A. “GINNY” WEDDIG on September 20, Waupaca, Wisconsin.

’49

MABLE GRAY on April 16, Mt. Morris, Illinois.

INGRID N. PAUTSCH on July 13, Rockford, Illinois.

’53

HELEN F. BLOCK on June 7, Sterling, Illinois.

LOIS J. FRANKLIN in May, Tallahassee, Florida.

GORDON W. HERMANSON on May 25, Franklin Park, Illinois.

ELIZABETH “BETTY” J. TABISZ on July 8, Phoenix, Arizona.

’54

PHYLLIS A. GILMORE on July 25, DeKalb, Illinois.

’55

JOANNE C. KNUDSON on August 1, Morris, Illinois.

JAMES G. LANGAN, M.S.Ed. ’56, on May 14, Evanston, Illinois.

JAMES “JIM” RUMSA on August 29, Algonquin, Illinois.

MILDRED “MILLI” VELEK on April 15, Decatur, Illinois.

’56

JOSEPH CAPONE on September 29, Rockford, Illinois.

RICHARD “DICK” MARIANI on April 20, Dalzell, Illinois.

HELEN S. NEWMAN on March 8, Fort Collins, Colorado.

’57

SHIRLEY J. ANGELL, M.M. ’70, Performer’s Certificate ’91, on April 13, Rockford, Illinois.

LEONA E. BALEK on May 18, Carmel, Indiana.

REV. PHILIP A. BERGSTROM in April, Naperville, Illinois.

KEITH SACK, M.S.Ed. ’67, on July 28, Tucson, Arizona.

’58

RICHARD “DICK” FOGEL on April 10, DeKalb, Illinois.

GERALDINE R. PFLUGER on April 10, Rockford, Illinois.

JAMES SLEZNICK, JR., M.S.Ed. ’59, on April 21, San Juan Bautista, California.

RUTH A. WOODRUFF on March 26, Grayslake, Illinois.

’59

ELEANOR R. HUSKE on June 26, Glenview, Illinois.

’60

GARY R. BRANSTROM on July 18, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

LEONARD “LEN” E. FRENCH on August 4, Freeport, Illinois.

KAREN A. JOHNSON on May 10, Park Ridge, Illinois.

JAMES R. MALONEY on September 31, Plainfield, Illinois.

DONALD MARTIN, M.S.Ed., on July 6, Lexington, Massachusetts.

FRED MARTIN, M.S.Ed. ’73, on May 22, Naperville, Illinois.

JULIE ANN SANDERS on July 14, Mazon, Illinois.

’61

GAYE A. ANDERSON, M.S.Ed. ’67, on April 4, Marengo, Illinois.

MARILOU J. DYSON, on June 11, Rock Island, Illinois.

JANICE S. NOBLE on May 4, Apex, North Carolina.

DAVID R. “DAVE” PAULEY, M.S.Ed., on May 30, Normal, Illinois.

MARION TOWNSEND on June 25, Cedar Park, Texas.

ROBERT E. QUANE on May 1, Chicago, Illinois.

’62

LARRY E. BOWERS, M.S.Ed. ’66, Ed.D. ’77, on May 26, Manhattan, Kansas.

KATHLEEN M. CANNON on June 6, Oak Park, Illinois.

JOSEPH J. DISPENSA, M.S.Ed. ’64, Certificate of Advanced Study ’70, on September 12, Downers Grove, Illinois.

JAMES R. HIRONIMUS on March 6, Antioch, Illinois.

ARTHUR J. MADZINSKI on June 1, Chicago, Illinois.

JAMES L. TATE, JR. on May 5, Washington, D.C.

ROY H. WALTERS on March 12, Osage Beach, Missouri.

GENE L. WRIGHT on August 13, Makanda, Illinois.

’63

PATRICIA A. DENNISON on June 27, Morton, Illinois.

NANCY ERISMAN on June 29, Bellvue, Washington.

DAVID P. FULLING, M.S.Ed. ’73, on March 22, Rockford, Illinois.

GLORIA HEARNS-RUFFINS on August 17, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

’64

ROBERTA J. LEWIS on May 5, Granite City, Illinois.

GAY “GAYLE” MAY on July 27, Madison, Wisconsin.

BRADLEY C. NELSON on April 7, Geneva, Illinois.

WILLIAM “BILL” POWERS on August 28, Long Beach, Indiana.

PATRICIA R. SAUNDERS, M.S.Ed. ’69, on June 8, Spring Hill, Florida.

JUDITH M. SNIVELY on April 20, Caledonia, Illinois.

CAROLYN E. STOFFEL on May 24, Peoria, Arizona.

’65

DONALD RICHARD “DICK” BARBER on June 2, Cape Coral, Florida.

THOMAS A. BUBOLZ on May 1, Grand Junction, Colorado.

PATRICIA J. CHAMBERLIN on May 11, Parker, Colorado.

JAMES P. CRIMMINS on June 28, Augusta, Georgia.

LOUIS W. “LOU” HARMENING JR., M.A., on March 22, Terre Haute, Indiana.

ERIC D. HAWKINS, Lebanon, Connecticut.

FRED “FRITZ” PETERSON, Certificate of Advanced Study ’73, in April.

’66

ELEANOR H. BROADUS, M.A., on March 23, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

GARRY CRULL on August 16, Caledonia, Illinois.

DAVID ELLIS CUDDEN, M.S.Ed., on June 12, Elgin, Illinois.

PATRICIA “PAT” FRISCH on July 12, Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

LINDA E. PEPPARD on July 28, Littleton, Colorado.

ROBERT SPIEWAK on July 23, Marana, Arizona.

LYNN H. SWANSON, M.S.Ed., on May 14, Clearwater, Florida.

RONALD C. TESCH on July 31, Denison, Texas.

’67

DAVID V. BLOOMSTRAND, M.A., on June 15, Rockford, Illinois.

MARILYNN DIXON, M.S.Ed. ’70, in May, Knoxville, Tennessee.

KARYNE S. DUNBAR on July 2, Worland, Wyoming.

ROGER GEDNEY, M.S.Ed., on September 28, Macomb, Illinois.

PETER G. JONES, M.F.A., on August 18, Bridgman, Michigan.

WAYNE H. MILLER, M.S.Ed., on March 7, St. Charles, Illinois.

EILEEN A. PAUL on March 24, Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

DELORAN R. PETERSON, M.S., on September 17, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

ARTHUR “ARCH” RICHOZ on March 7, DeKalb, Illinois.

TERENCE D. SWEENEY on August 30, Amery, Wisconsin.

KATHLEEN E. WELLS on April 15, DeKalb, Illinois.

’68

SHARON BARGER, M.S.Ed. ’76, on July 22, Woodstock, Illinois.

WILLIAM A. BRANDT on April 28, Lake Forest, Illinois.

MARY CURRIER, M.S.Ed. ’70, on April 24, Naperville, Illinois.

VIOLET L. DALEEN on June 10, Lisle, Illinois.

CAROL C. FRERICKS on August 14, Chandler, Arizona.

WAYNE P. IFFT on June 23, Overland Park, Kansas.

DAVID J. KNOTT, M.S.Ed., on May 31, Elgin, Illinois.

RANDALL A. LOCKE, M.S. ’69, on July 16, Rockford, Illinois.

JOSEPH T. MADONIA, M.B.A. ’72, on June 14, Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

JEAN A. NIGBOR, M.A., on September 10, Dixon, Illinois.

SUSAN B. SOBKOWIAK on August 4, Downers Grove, Illinois.

ROBERT “BOB” STOCKI, M.S.Ed., on September 21, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

RHODA M. SULAK on August 20, Fairfax, Virginia.

RONALD J. TUISL, M.S.Ed., on March 12, Plainfield, Illinois.

’69

RONALD E. BARCZAK on April 25, Mount Prospect, Illinois.

DONALD J. DRAGISIC, M.B.A. ’71, on March 4, Plainfield, Illinois.

CHERYL A. FRIEBUS, M.A., on September 12, Elgin, Illinois.

MYRTLE M. JESKE, M.S.Ed., on September 17, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

SCOTT A. KRUEGER on June 12, Atkinson, New Hampshire.

MARGORIE A. LARKIN on July 29, Earlville, Illinois.

MARY L. LEONE on July 2, Peru, Illinois.

JANE C. MILLER on March 18, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

KENNETH J. MORGAN on April 5.

CYNTHIA J. MYERS on May 6, Ovid, New York.

DIANA L. RAUSA on August 14, Oswego, Illinois.

GERALD D. WESSEL, M.S.Ed., on May 26, Romeoville, Illinois.

’70

LINDA L. BRADY on March 4, Thomaston, Georgia.

JENNIE E. DINCECCO, M.S.Ed., Ed.D. ’76, on June 1, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

REBECCA HOLMES on June 16, Edgewater, Florida.

CHRISTOPHER W. JOHNSON on July 6, Barrington, Illinois.

BRUCE W. MAKI on August 10, Bristol, Wisconsin.

AUDREY MCKENNA, M.S., on September 1, Naples, Florida.

ROBERT E. NAGEL on May 19, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

ROBERT V. PINTA on July 7, Darien, Illinois.

RONALD H. SATHER, M.S.Ed., on July 12, McAlester, Oklahoma.

PHILLIP TRUCKENBROD, M.A., on April 22, St. Louis, Missouri.

MARTHA J. WHITE, Chicago, Illinois.

HUBERT N. WHITTEN JR., M.A., on July 21, Bridgewater, Virginia.

DANIEL C. WISNIEWSKI, M.S.Ed., on June 8, Scottsdale, Arizona.

RONALD YUCCAS on May 4, Naperville, Illinois.

’71

EDWIN A. ALDERTON on May 31, Freeport, Illinois.

RICHARD A. BERMAN, M.S.Ed., on June 13, Rockford, Illinois.

DAVID J. BURTON, M.S.Ed., on March 1, St. Charles, Illinois.

LORNA M. ENGWALL, M.S.Ed., on May 26, Portland, Oregon.

JOHN W. FASBENDER, M.S.Ed. ’89, on April 10, Geneva, Illinois.

JOHN A. GALLO on August 16, Wheaton, Illinois.

STANLEY R. GOLDSMITH, M.S.Ed., on August 1, Rockford, Illinois.

MARY L. KNAPP on July 13, Yuba City, California.

STEPHEN P. KUHN, M.S.Ed., on May 21, Machesney Park, Illinois.

MARTIN “MARTY” MAZUREK on March 6, Naperville, Illinois.

MICHAEL MICHALIK on July 15, Rockford, Illinois.

KAREN M. MURPHY on May 5, Carrboro, North Carolina.

ELIZABETH “BETSY” PARRISH, M.S.Ed., on September 8, Rockford, Illinois.

VICTOR RICK, M.S.Ed., on June 14, Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

WILLIAM H. SCHULZE on June 22, Elburn, Illinois.

JOHN L. SOMER, Ph.D., on April 23, Chicago, Illinois.

JAMES “JIM” WIRTH on March 24, Hollister, Missouri.

JOSEPH F. ZEMAN JR. on August 4, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

’72

KATHLEEN BOHAN on June 22, Oceanside, California.

ROBERT “BOB” J. BURKE on June 21, Oregon, Illinois.

JON MICHAEL PATRICK CASEY, Ed.D. ’77, Jamesville, New York.

THOMAS FILIPOWSKI on June 4, Naperville, Illinois.

SCOTT J. FRANCIS on March 12, Rockford, Illinois.

SUSANNE K. KOOB on August 22, Garden Ridge, Texas.

ELEANOR M. JENKINS on March 5, Polo, Illinois.

JOHN LEBBING on September 17, Villa Park, Illinois.

ROBERT “BOB” K. OLSON, M.S. ’74, on August 21, Houston, Texas.

MELVIN O’NEAL, M.A., on September 11, Freeport, Illinois.

BIRDIE MAE PETERSON on May 11, Marshfield, Wisconsin.

MARY A. SHAW, M.S.Ed., on July 13, Marissa, Illinois.

GARY E. STUART on May 28, Glendora, California.

SIDNEY “CYD” LEE LAWSON YOUNG, Salt Lake City, Utah.

’73

RICHARD “RICK” E. BODDA on April 28, DeKalb, Illinois.

ROBERT T. GARCIA on July 13, Ankeny, Iowa.

LOIS J. HOPWOOD on April 7, Rochelle, Illinois.

ANNE J. INGOLD on July 23, North Aurora, Illinois.

TERRI KORMAN on March 6, Tucson, Arizona.

VICKI JO LAFONTAINE on July 13, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

JANET K. OLSON on May 13, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

SUZANNE SEDLACEK, M.S.Ed. ’77, on September 28, Naperville, Illinois.

PETER G. SOTOS on May 19, Madison, Wisconsin.

GARY W. WULF, M.S., on August 4, Wells, Maine.

’74

BARBARA A. BAER, M.S.Ed., on March 30, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

EDWINA A. “EDIE” BONE on July 16, Belvidere, Illinois.

DONALD J. BROMBEREK on July 4, Atlanta, Georgia.

LOREN REX BUFFINGTON on March 24, Roscoe, Illinois.

JOHN A. DOUGHERTY III, M.A.S. ’80, on September 29, Warrensburg, Missouri.

CATHY ANN FERGUSON, M.S.Ed. ’84, on March 15, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

NANCY J. HOPP on June 18, St. Charles, Illinois.

TERRENCE E. LYNCH on June 23, Joliet, Illinois.

DONALD H. MCROBERTS, M.S.Ed., on July 11, East Moline, Illinois.

JAMES “JIM” E. PETERSEN, M.S.Ed. ’74, on May 29, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

HOWARD “JACK” E. ROEMER, M.S.Ed. ’74, on June 25, Thompson, Illinois.

’75

DOUGLAS A. BROWN, M.S., on July 21, St. Charles, Illinois.

JERRILYN CRABTREE, M.S.Ed. ’85, on April 12, Muscatine, Iowa.

GLENN DANCEY, M.S., on June 14, Sterling, Illinois.

DANIEL A. HENDERSON on April 17, Sun City Center, Florida.

ROGER M. HINTZ on August 4, Freeport, Illinois.

CHERYL R. HONACK, M.S.Ed., on July 24, Naples, Florida.

JENNIFER JENSON, M.S.Ed., on April 15, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

KENNETH A. KALBERG on September 13, Schaumburg, Illinois.

JUDITH L. KAMINSKI, M.A. ’78, on June 22, Mission Viejo, California.

ROBERT N. KAUPPINEN on June 1, Davis, Illinois.

ARNOLD C. KUMOREK on June 21, Naperville, Illinois.

HELEN M. MEADOWCRAFT on June 14, DeKalb, Illinois.

STEPHEN R. MILLARD on April 12, Lemont, Illinois.

ANTHONY J. RAGONA, M.A., on April 5, Saugatuck, Michigan.

’76

JOYCE COCKER, M.S.Ed., on June 12, South Elgin, Illinois.

CLIFFORD COUSSENS, M.A., on April 4, Kaysville, Utah.

LESLIE HODGES, M.S., on April 29, Hinsdale, Illinois.

STEPHEN KITCOFF on April 27, The Villages, Florida.

WILLIAM KOEHRING, M.S. ’80, on August 16, Kirkland, Illinois.

WILLIAM “BILL” LITTLE, M.A. ’78, on September 5, Perrysburg, Ohio.

GARY MATUS, M.S.Ed., on June 22, Goodyear, Arizona.

LYNN RUDY on March 29, Elroy, Wisconsin.

SANCEE SIEBOLD on June 24, Rockford, Illinois.

’77

JEANNE BUDDINGH on June 4, Naperville, Illinois.

JAMES DOMBEK on August 12, Sycamore, Illinois.

DAVID ETNYRE on July 20, Elyria, Ohio.

RICHARD LESNIAK on March 13, Cary, Illinois.

MICHELE D. PAUL on September 17, DeKalb, Illinois.

PHILIP R. RIDER, Ph.D., on September 5, DeKalb, Illinois.

’78

BARBARA DUIS on July 24, Morrison, Illinois.

DORIS HYLDON on June 28, DeKalb, Illinois.

MEGAN SCHUETZ on September 16, Madison, Wisconsin.

GARY SEDLACKO on June 6, Grayslake, Illinois.

’79

JOSEPH BODE, J.D., on March 31, Downers Grove, Illinois.

TERESA ANN CARQUEVILLE on April 20, Seattle, Washington.

MARK DEPAOLO on August 15, Willowbrook, Illinois.

GARY FRONTIER on June 9, Schaumburg, Illinois.

BARBARA GUILFOYLE on April 10, Mendota, Illinois.

JANICE KNIGHT, M.S.Ed., on September 8, Madison, Wisconsin.

THOMAS MICEK on May 5, Woodstock, Illinois.

CATHERINE WROBEL SORENSEN in June, Westmont, Illinois.

’80

CAROL LOUISE RUSH ADRIAN on July 26, Ottawa, Illinois.

BETTY SUE GILL, M.M. ’82, on April 23, Lexington, Kentucky.

MICHAEL R. GREETIS, M.S.Ed., Boise, Idaho.

CHERIE HALL, M.S., on August 31, Raleigh, North Carolina.

DAVID A. LITTLE, Ph.D., on April 21, Newton, Pennsylvania.

LESTER TOWNSEND on September 29, Joliet, Illinois.

’81

CHARLES BUSER on September 7, Mount Morris, Illinois.

LINDA SWEDBERG on July 1, DeKalb, Illinois.

’82

DAVID R. DOWNING on August 14, Tonica, Illinois.

KATHLEEN “KATIE” HATTENHAUER, M.S.Ed., Des Plaines, Illinois.

TODD VAN RYN on April 17, Wausau, Wisconsin.

’83

KAREN RITA BOESEN, M.S.Ed., on March 11, Sterling, Illinois.

MARGARET B. CARLTON on April 19, DeKalb, Illinois.

ELIZABETH CLEMMONS on September 16, Chicago, Illinois.

KIMBERLY A. HUDSON on July 1, Roscoe, Illinois.

MICHAEL D. LEWIS on July 15, Mount Vernon, Iowa.

RUSSELL C. RHOADS on September 11, Dixon, Illinois.

STACY J. SCHIMBKE on March 22, Elgin, Illinois.

PHYLLIS W. SHAFRON, Ed.D., on August 6, Deerfield, Illinois.

MARY M. VINCENT, J.D., on September 3, Warren, Illinois.

’84

SUZANNE M. DIEKELMAN, M.A., on June 7, Lake Bluff, Illinois.

MELINDA K. MONIGOLD on June 26, White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

’86

JEFFERY L. WILGUS on September 14, River Grove, Illinois.

’87

KATHY J. MOORE on June 21, Belvidere, Illinois.

CHERYL J. SKIDMORE on August 8, Lewisville, Texas.

DAVID “DAVE” JOHN STOUDT on March 19, Boulder, Colorado.

’88

KARL A. ASTROM, M.S.Ed., on April 15, Joliet, Illinois.

SANDRA L. BURKE on March 20, Wausau, Wisconsin.

MARY BETH BURNS, J.D., on April 21, Bartlett, Illinois.

DAVID W. NORD, M.P.A., on September 20, Camby, Indiana.

’89

CHRISTINE M. CARLSON on August 9, DeMotte, Indiana.

MICHAEL MORRIS, Wheaton, Illinois.

’90

DENNIS DONFRIS on September 12, Cary, Illinois.

JANET A. HARRINGTON on September 20, Anamosa, Iowa.

GARY L. HUBBARD, M.S., Rockford, Illinois.

JANET E. WEHLAND on August 27, Rome, Wisconsin.

’91

MICHAEL J. “MIKE” CZOCHARA on June 10, Naperville, Illinois.

CHRISTOPHER J. FALATER in April, Fort Worth, Texas.

HON. DUANE M. JORGENSON, J.D. on April 21, Darlington, Wisconsin.

MATTHEW F. MILLER on May 6, Appleton, Wisconsin.

CYNTHIA “CINDY” L. SPIRES, M.S., on June 23, Mount Dora, Florida.

KEITH J. WHITE, M.F.A., on June 8, Joliet, Illinois.

’92

ADAM N. ANDRZEJEWSKI on August 18, Hinsdale, Illinois.

KELLY C. SUNDBY on June 23, Rockford, Illinois.

GAIL A. ZEAMER, M.A., on June 2, Neenah, Wisconsin.

’93

SCOTT J. CASSIDY, M.S. ’95, on March 3, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

JENNIFER E. GUSSE LOWRY, M.B.A., on June 18, Milton, Wisconsin.

DAVID M. MECKLENBURG, M.B.A., on June 13, Rockford, Illinois.

JOHN P. “JACK” YETTER on September 2, Saint Charles, Illinois.

’94

CHRISTINE S. SARMIENTO on June 20, St. Louis, Missouri.

’95

LISA FABRIZIUS, M.B.A. ’99, on April 10, Sycamore, Illinois.

PATRICIA A. NELLIGAN, M.S., on April 15, Lutz, Florida.

PATRICK F. SCOTT, J.D., on June 21, Washington, D.C.

DARLENE SODERBERG, J.D., on March 4, Roscoe, Illinois.

ELEANOR WILLIAMS on July 21, Tampa, Florida.

’96

HEATHER L. JERNSTAD on June 20, Elgin, Illinois.

MARINA S. LEVIN on September 1, New York, New York.

’97

JASON G. JORDAN on July 13, Rockdale, Illinois.

’98

SIDELLA HUGHES, M.S.Ed., on March 10, Rockford, Illinois.

BEVERLY SPANGLER, M.F.A., on July 23, Chicago, Illinois.

’99

CHRISTOPHER L. CARCERANO, M.F.A., on May 4, El Paso, Texas.

MICHAEL S. GUDYKA, M.B.A., on May 16, Geneva, Illinois.

BRIAN ROCK, Lombard, Illinois.

TRACI L. STAHL, M.P.H. ’03, on March 30, Sycamore, Illinois.

’00

MICHAEL R. SCHWEIKERT, M.B.A., on June 3, Overland Park, Kansas.

’02

MICHAEL A. NELSON, M.B.A., on May 23, Rockford, Illinois.

’04

DOROTHY “DORI” M. DOHERTY on July 20, Rockford, Illinois.

’05

BUSTER SHAW on September 29, Paducah, Kentucky.

JEWEL SOBECK on July 26, Parker, Colorado.

’06

DANIEL J. GRINDLE on July 21, Clarkston, Michigan.

THOMAS A. MOORE, M.S. ’07, on June 16, Salt Lake City, Utah.

LAURIE A. PASCUAL, M.A. ’11, on July 18, Gainesville, Florida.

’07

STEVEN J. BERGSTROM on March 31, Chicago, Illinois.

J.T. HARKEY JR. on August 18, Oregon, Illinois.

’08

NICOLE E. HERMANN on September 20, Algonquin, Illinois.

ANGEL R. RODRIGUEZ on March 27, Sycamore, Illinois.

’09

KARA V. STRONG, Janesville, Wisconsin.

’10

ADAM R. ACHILLI on September 8, Rockford, Illinois.

ALEXANDER GARIVALTIS, M.S. ’11, on April 8, DeKalb, Illinois.

ELIZABETH A. MCSPADDEN, M.B.A. ’16, on May 18, Sugar Grove, Illinois.

’11

THOMAS LOMBARDO, Ed.D., on March 26, Poplar Grove, Illinois.

’12

DANIEL A. WILLE on March 12, Elmhurst, Illinois.

’14

MARIELA COSS on May 28, Cherry, Illinois.

’15

NICHOLE D.J. KASALA on March 14, Elgin, Illinois.

’18

TATIANA V. DMITRIEVA, Ph.D., in March, Rockford, Illinois.

Faculty, Staff & Friends

Betty L. Albrecht on March 12, DeKalb, Illinois.

Byron “Beau” Andersen on September 15, DeKalb, Illinois.

Twylah M. Bacci on May 10, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Richard A. Barton on August 4, Burr Ridge, Illinois.

Ralph L. Benbow on March 10, Vancouver, Washington.

Patrice A. Boenzi on April 20, Geneva, Illinois.

Chandler H. Bowerman on April 6, Portland, Oregon.

Thomas M. Bowers II on September 11, Hollister, Missouri.

James Brophy on April 21, Rockford, Illinois.

Donald T. Burdette on August 23, Camby, Indiana.

Bryan J. Campbell on July 16, Rochelle, Illinois.

Julie E. Clucas on September 7, Brooklyn, New York.

Bryan DeStefano on September 7, Skokie, Illinois.

C. Daniel Dillman on April 21, DeKalb, Illinois.

Christine “Chrissie” Donnelly on March 9, Cortland, Illinois.

Nancy C. Duffy on September 5, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Marilyn K. Elliott on August 2, Sandwich, Illinois.

Dennis H. Evans on March 26, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Karen S. Finn on May 1, DeKalb, Illinois.

Allen H. Frerichs on July 21, DeKalb, Illinois.

Lawrence Jewel “Larry” Gregory on March 19, DeKalb, Illinois.

Barbara Haase on July 2, Hampshire, Illinois.

Earl Hanssen on April 12, DeKalb, Illinois.

Randolph B. Hesselbaum on August 18, Sparta, Tennessee.

Kathleen Hoesley on September 27, Chicago, Illinois.

Janice M. Howard on July 4, Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Rebecca A. Johnson on May 4, Columbia, Missouri.

Colleen R. Johnson on June 1, DeKalb, Illinois.

Richard Thomas Johnson on April 18, Bonita Springs, Florida.

Paul Richard Kasak on May 8, St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Myron B. Kuropas on March 29, DeKalb, Illinois.

Laurel R. Liston on April 17, DeKalb, Illinois.

G. Howard Little on April 16, DeKalb, Illinois.

Janet Sue “Jan” Logan on May 29, Franklin Grove, Illinois.

Doris “Kati” Maines on September 29, Fredrick, Oklahoma.

Linda K. McClay on June 13, Galesburg, Illinois.

Theodore R. “Ted” McLean on April 18, Belvidere, Illinois.

Janet R. Meyers on July 7, Rockford, Illinois.

Susan V. Moore on May 21, Sycamore, Illinois.

Louis F. Mustari on April 22, DeKalb, Illinois.

Alex Pastore on May 14, Joliet, lllinois.

Joan “JoAnne” Patterson on April 5, Vermillion, South Dakota.

Deborah Pickering on May 28, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Neil Pontious on March 23, Rockford, Illinois.

Donald E. Raney on March 21, DeKalb, Illinois.

John K. Rhoads on April 21, DeKalb, Illinois.

Robert “Bob” Ryder on April 26, Oregon, Illinois.

Barbara Sanner on March 9, Lima, Ohio.

Anthony J. Scantlen on June 30, St. Charles, Illinois.

Joyce A. Scheele on September 15, Coleta, Illinois.

Eva F. Schooley on August 23, Seminole, Oklahoma.

James V. Schultz on April 12, New Lisbon, Wisconsin.

Bonnie Winn Seebach on April 6, Rochelle, Illinois.

David W. Scott on March 16, Springfield, Illinois.

Jacqueline R. Stading on March 29, Palm Harbor, Florida.

Amy Truckenbrod on March 12, Granite City, Illinois.

Patricia M. Tuecke on March 20, DeKalb, Illinois.

Jason Tull on March 3, Sycamore, Illinois.

Roger Turner on May 26, Shell Lake, Wisconsin.

Dr. Theodore F. Welch on August 26, Beaverton, Oregon.

We honor and remember all our beloved alumni, family and friends who have passed away.
For a more exhaustive list, we invite you to visit legacy.com to browse by college.
Please visit myniu.com/classnotes to notify us of the death of a fellow Huskie.

Class Notes

’69

GREGORY GILOTH, M.B.A. ’72, was appointed to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Board of Trustees in September 2024.

’72

KEITH PETERSON, M.A. ’76, published his book, “American Dreams: The Story of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission,” in March 2024.

’73

BILL NICKLAS, M.A., Ph.D. ’83, was honored with the John C. Roberts Community Service Award in May 2024.

’74

NINA FAIN, M.S.Ed. ’76, was honored with the 2024 John Paul Stevens Award by the Chicago Bar Foundation in September 2024.

FRANCINE PEPITONE, business development director, HH Global, announced her retirement effective October 2024. She expressed her appreciation for her partners, clients, mentors and teammates for a rewarding career.

’78

MONA ALEXANDER was inducted into the Youngstown Press Club’s Hall of Fame in July 2024.

’80

KIM COUGHLIN received the Illinois Grade School Music Association’s 2024 Cloyd Myers Memorial Award in September.

SARESE HRANICKA opened Arlington Heights Antiques, a multi-vendor vintage shop, in September 2024.

JERRY KURZ, J.D., was appointed as general counsel and senior advisor of player operations for the Arena Football League in June 2024.

’81

MARIANNE HIRSCH, M.A. ’83, continues to serve as the executive policy initiatives advisor for Wisconsin’s Division of Family and Economic Security and chairs its Domestic Violence Task Force. She lives in Northbrook, Illinois, with her husband, Mitch ’82.

RALPH STROZZA launched Interpro Translation Solutions’ new website to elevate multilingual communication strategies in June 2024.

’83

THOMAS SCHALL was appointed to Immuneering Corporation’s Board of Directors in March 2024.

’84

TRIPTI KASAL was named senior vice president of member firm engagements of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® in July 2024.

’85

JIM KOSTECKI was named associate vice president of planning at the College of DuPage in July 2024.

’86

MICHAEL AXELROOD, J.D., was named regional sales manager for Merchants Bank in June 2024.

DANIEL BARREIRO, M.A.P.A. ’88, was appointed to 1st Ward Alderman in Aurora and given the Illinois Treasurer’s Office Award for Leadership in August 2024.

’88

BRENT BRODESKI, M.B.A. ’91, was named CEO of the Year for RIA firms with assets of $20 billion or more by WealthManagement.com in September 2024.

MARK PARCHMANN, M.A., will retire at the end of the 2024-25 academic year and will focus on completing his first novel, “American Backroads.”

’89

CYNTHIA HOFFMAN, M.B.A. ’05, was named vice president of finance and corporate treasurer of the Evangelical Covenant Church in May 2024.

’90

STEPHEN “STEVE” BREWER was named chief operating officer of GI Associates in March 2024.

GEOFFREY DECKER, M.S., was nominated as an “influential mainframer” by Planet Mainframe in 2024.

JOHN HIGGINSON was named chief technology officer of Curriculum Associates in June 2024.

’91

AMY KING was appointed to the Council for Accreditation on Counseling and Related Educational Programs Board of Directors in July 2024.

VISHAL SHAH was elected to the National DCP Board of Directors in March 2024.

DANIEL SWANSON, J.D., was appointed by IL Governor JB Pritzker to serve as arbitrator of the Workers’ Compensation Commission in August 2024.

’92

HON. MICHAEL BETAR, J.D., received the Lifetime Advocate Award from the Arab American Bar Association in May 2024.

AL CROOK was named chief human resources officer of Zurich North America in July 2024.

PATRICIA LYNOTT, M.A., was named Rockford University’s 19th president in April 2024.

BRENT SHIRES, M.M., worked with musicians in Bolivia highlighting Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” as well as a newly commissioned piece, “Fanfare for Oya” written by upstart composer Katahj Copley in June 2024.

’93

JOE CASSIDY was named assistant provost of workforce development at the College of DuPage in July 2024.

TIM DALTON was named the 2024 South Cook Assistant Principal of the Year in July.

MELISSA FLETCHER, M.A., was recognized as Dakota County Technical College’s 2024 Outstanding Staff of the Year in April.

KEVIN HENDERSON was named executive director of BOMA/Suburban Chicago in March 2024.

’94

DOUGLAS MAXEINER, M.P.A., was appointed to Davenport city administrator in September 2024.

DAWN PETERS, M.P.A. ’97, received the Advocacy for the Profession Award from the International City/County Management Association in July 2024.

’97

HEIDI AGUSTSSON was appointed as Winnebago County 17th Judicial Circuit associate judge in April 2024.

STEPHANIE A. KIFOWIT, M.P.A. ’04, Illinois state representative, has been elected vice president of the Executive Board of the National Conference of State Legislators Women’s Legislative Network in August 2024.

PAMELA MCMEEN, M.B.A., was named chief marketing officer of Ideal Industries Inc. in April 2024.

MELISSA OLIVERO, J.D., was honored by the Illinois State Bar Association with its Civic Education Award in April 2024.

’99

RICHARD BOBBY, III was named chief executive officer of Little City in March 2024.

PAUL DESRUISSEAUX is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and recently became a CFP®.

MARK TAGHAP, SR. was named chief information security officer for the City of Aurora in March 2024.

SONNI CHOI WILLIAMS, J.D., was installed as the 148th president of the Illinois State Bar Association in April 2024.

’00

MICHAEL KRUK was named deputy director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Technology Partnerships Office in March 2024.

’01

HEATHER BLAND, J.D. ’04, joined Stewart Title as senior vice president, Chief Underwriting Counsel for Direct Operations in September 2024.

MICHAEL LILLY was named president of TwinSpires Horse Racing in June 2024.

’02

ETHAN NETTERSTROM was named chief of schools for Network 6 in March 2024.

TIFFANY VICTOR-CASTLEBERRY was named one of “The Great 100 Nurses” for North Carolina in August 2024.

’03

ERIC BARSEMA was named vice president of philanthropic impact at Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation in 2024.

AMY CHAMOUN, M.S.T. ’04, received the Illinois CPA Society Outstanding Leadership Award in May 2024.

MARLON FELTON was named principal of Niles North High School in May 2024.

’04

EDDIE PHILLIPS, M.A. ’06, Ed.D. ’21, was selected to join the Leadership Greater Chicago Signature Fellows Program in July 2024.

’05

LAURA CONLEE was named deputy director of resource management for the Missouri Department of Conservation in June 2024.

NUHEMI “EMI” MORALES, J.D., was appointed as a trustee of the Fox River Water Reclamation District in June 2024.

MONICA SCHROEDER, M.S.Ed., Ed.S. ’07, Ed.D. ’12, was named deputy superintendent of North Shore District 112 in May 2024.

’07

DAVID GISCH, M.S., was named associate academic dean of sciences at Des Moines Area Community College in March 2024.

’08

JOHN CLAIBORNE, M.B.A., was named vice president of digital transformation and data intelligence at Porsche Financial Services, Inc. in April 2024.

JESSICA ESTRADA, M.A.S., was named Grant Thornton’s market managing principal for Phoenix, Arizona, in August 2024.

HEATHER SMITH was named assistant principal at Conrady Junior High School in Hickory Hills, Illinois, in June 2024.

NICHOLAS M. STROZZA launched Interpro Translation Solutions’ new website to elevate multilingual communication strategies in June 2024.

’10

JOSHUA BOLDT, M.P.A. ’18, was named IaCMA Emerging Leader in July 2024.

KATHLEEN “KAT” MARTIN, M.S.Ed., was named director of development for Saluki Athletics in March 2024.

TYLER WEDELL was named to the 2024 Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” list in August 2024.

’11

ERIC JOHANSON was named captain of The University of Texas Police Department in September 2024.

TAMARA MITCHELL, M.S.Ed., was named chief financial officer of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 in June 2024.

NINA VETTER, M.P.A., was named city manager of Newport, Oregon, in June 2024.

’12

JENNY SHAFFER, M.A.S., was named chief financial officer of the National Sporting Goods Association in June 2024.

’13

PATIENCE BERTANA, M.S.Ed., was named associate principal at Sherwood Elementary School in March 2024. HON. RUSSELL A. CRULL, J.D., appointed to associate judge for the Illinois 15th Judicial Circuit in September 2024.

MARK D. HESPEN was named morning anchor of News Channel 20 Springfield in August 2024.

’14

ERIC WITTE, M.B.A., was named chief operating officer of Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in March 2024.

’16

SHAWN COLLINS, M.P.A., was named deputy fire chief of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department in July 2024.

MOLLY KETTELHUT received the Golden Apple Award from the Golden Apple Foundation in March 2024.

MAURICE MCDAVID, M.S.Ed., Ed.S. ’23, was named principal of Dr. Leroy A. Mitchell School in May 2024.

ALEXANDER MILLER, Ed.D., was named vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Washington and Lee University in March 2024.

KRISTEN STOICESCU joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard as an associate attorney in September 2024.

’17

TERRY LUSBY, JR., M.S.Ed., M.P.A ’21, was named public works director of the City of Champaign, Illinois, in July 2024.

RACHAEL MAHMOOD, Ed.D., was named Illinois Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education in April 2024.

’18

JUSTYCE DIXON, was elected to GRAEF associate in June 2024.

JULIE LAM, Ed.S., Ed.D. ’21, was named the next principal of East Leyden High School in April 2024.

RAYMOND MUNCH, M.P.A., was named director of finance for the City of Naperville in April 2024.

’19

ADAM PARISI, Ed.S., E.d.D. ’22, was appointed as board commissioner for Carol Stream Park District in June 2024.

’20

C.J. BOUDREAU was appointed to the Manteno Village Board in July 2024.

’21

ALEXA MAHONEY was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Hall of Honor in April 2024.

EDUARDO PEREZ, M.S.Ed., was named director of the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Spanish Bilingual Early Learning and Family Empowerment Lab Site in July 2024.

ANDREW VONDRAN, Ed.S., Ed.D. ’23, was named the next principal of Carl Sandburg Middle School in March 2024.

’23

NICOLE LACOGNATA, Ed.D., was named senior director of student financial assistance, veteran services and scholarships at the College of DuPage in April 2024.

’24

LADY AILEEN A. ORSAL, M.A., was honored with the Excellence Award in the Teaching Profession from the United Federation of Fil-Am Educators Inc. in May 2024.

Do you have a recent professional accomplishment to celebrate? Submit a class note at myniu.com/classnotes.

ISYE Professor Plays Key Role in $2M National Science Foundation Grant

Christine Nguyen

Christine Nguyen, an associate professor in CEET’s Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, is part of a core group of NIU professors leading a $2 million initiative to help high-achieving, low-income students in pursuit of a STEM degree.

The National Science Foundation grant builds on a prior NSF grant that helped 49 students in a similar way. This one, which will support at least 68 students, has been expanded to include CEET students, said Ralph Wheeler, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry who is spearheading the project.

Dubbed “Scholarships and Enhanced Mentoring to Promote Equity and Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics,” the project begins in January 2025.

For Nguyen, whose parents came from Vietnam, the grant hits close to home. She was the first member of her family to earn a doctoral degree in the U.S. and benefited from a two-year mentoring program when she was an undergraduate at Northwestern University. Her parents worked extra shifts to support her and her two brothers to secure a college education.

“I had student loans and worked 15 to 20 hours a week as a student worker for all four years, including summers, to afford textbooks, a laptop and other course materials,” Nguyen recalled. “Over the years at CEET, I have met many highly talented students that would benefit from a scholarship like this. I’m really excited that this opportunity includes students in CEET.”

The project will recruit college transfer students or rising juniors who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry/biochemistry, computer science, engineering, geosciences, mathematics, physics or statistics. The focus is to help them graduate and embark on technical careers, with research, internship and mentoring opportunities.

NIU College of Law Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with a Sold-Out Gala

Dean Cassandra L. Hill and the NIU College of Law celebrated its 50th anniversary with a sold-out gala of over 500 guests on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

The event was a powerful reminder of the College of Law’s legacy and its incredible future. The College of Law was honored to have Michelle Relerford, NBC 5 Morning News co-anchor, serve as the program’s emcee along with other distinguished guests in attendance. The program featured welcome remarks from Governor JB Pritzker, NIU President Lisa C. Freeman, and Illinois State Bar Association President Sonni C. Williams, ’99; inspiring speeches from students; and honoring distinguished alumni.

Every moment highlighted the impact of the law school community’s passion, resilience and dedication. Special thanks to the alumni, faculty/staff, students and friends who helped make this an extraordinary evening!

Dean Joan Phillips-Hernandez Leads NIU College of Business

Joan Phillips-Hernandez

This past July, Joan Phillips-Hernandez was selected as dean of the NIU College of Business.

“Phillips-Hernandez brings experience as an innovative and visionary academic leader who has served as a dean, associate dean, department chair and graduate program director,” said NIU Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper, who oversaw the national search that drew outstanding candidates. “She shares NIU’s commitments to access and equity, and she is a passionate advocate for first-generation students, impactful research and student success.”

Before coming to NIU, Phillips-Hernandez worked for nearly three decades in higher education; first as an assistant professor, associate professor and professor of marketing, then with increased leadership roles including dean for the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Barry University. She also previously served as an associate dean for Loyola University Chicago and was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow at Purdue University Northwest.

“I share my passion for student success with my colleagues on the College of Business team,” said Phillips-Hernandez. “Together, it is our goal to leverage technology and use the most effective pedagogy to give our students the best business education possible.”

She noted that she is eager to see the college grow from here, acquiring the best technology to ensure students are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow. The recent grand opening of the HAVI Center for Analytics and Technology demonstrates the college’s dedication to providing cutting-edge resources and spaces.

“We are excited about these opportunities, and I am delighted that so many of our spaces and resources are interdisciplinary, meaning they can be used by students and faculty across campus. We also offer them to alumni for lifetime learning opportunities,”
Phillips-Hernandez said.

Phillips-Hernandez earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University at Albany, her M.B.A. in general management (marketing) from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. in business administration (marketing and statistics) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

After so many years in higher education, she believes NIU’s approach speaks for itself.

“The result of our experiential learning philosophy shows in the continued success of our Huskie network,” Phillips-Hernandez said. “This web of support is made up of many talented and engaged faculty, our 60,000 accomplished and passionate alumni, corporate partners, executives and friends who come together to keep our promise to you and future generations of students. I am so proud to be a part of that.”

History STILL in the Making

From the moment the Northern Illinois State Normal School (N.I.S.N.S.) opened its doors as a teachers’ school in 1899, athletics has been a part of the history of Northern Illinois University. In 2024-25, NIU Athletics is celebrating its history, its tradition and the 125th anniversary of Huskie sports across each of its 17 programs.

The first recorded intercollegiate competitions played by N.I.S.N.S. students were in the sports of football and baseball in that inaugural year. By the next year, both men’s and women’s basketball and men’s track and field were facing outside competition.

The “Girls’ Athletic Association,” meanwhile, numbered 112 women, as the history of women’s athletics in DeKalb matched that of any in the nation.

From those beginnings, NIU Athletics has seen milestone victories and incredible achievements on both the team and individual levels, and has thrilled hundreds of thousands of fans and alumni across the country.

For many alumni, memories of NIU include some of those Huskie milestone moments like:

  • Watching George Bork, ’64, in action at “Glidden Field” en route to becoming the first 3,000-yard passer in college football history while leading NIU to a 10-0 record, a win in the Mineral Water Bowl and the 1963 College Division national title. In 1999, Bork became the first—and remains the only—Huskie player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

George Bork ’64




  • Filling Chick Evans Field House to cheer on the Huskie women’s basketball teams of the early 1990s during their run to five NCAA Tournament appearances in a six-year span, behind players like Carol Owens, ’90, Tammy Hinchee, ’92, Lisa Foss, ’91, Angela Lockett, ’95, and E.C. Hill, ’95, to name just a few.

Carol Owens ’90




  • Joining 1,300 fellow students, boarding one of 26 buses and making the 24-hour bus trip to Miami, Florida, to cheer on the “BCS Busting” Huskies, led by All-American quarterback Jordan Lynch, ’13, in the 2013 Orange Bowl.

Jordan Lynch ’13




  • Seeing the NIU softball team make history with its run to the 1988 NCAA Softball World Series, behind a lineup that featured three-time first-team All-American Jill Justin, ’89.


From the familiar names to the teams, championships, and unforgettable moments, it has become clear over the past 125 years that NIU Athletics is inextricably woven into the fabric of Northern Illinois University.

“NIU has a proud tradition of intercollegiate athletics dating back to 1899 and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone anniversary with our fans and alumni throughout this year,”
said Sean T. Frazier, NIU vice president and director of athletics and recreation.

In honor of the 125th anniversary, a unique logo honoring NIU’s history, its home city and region, and its tradition will appear on NIU uniforms, on home courts and fields, and on merchandise this year. Special 125th anniversary celebrations are set to take place during the NIU Basketball doubleheader on Saturday, January 25th, and at the Beauty and the Beast meet featuring the Huskie wrestling and gymnastics teams on February 7th this winter.

Fostering Hope

Hoa Vo, ’23, is an agent of change.

Growing up in DeKalb, her journey through foster care fueled a deep passion for advocating for others. While at NIU, she witnessed firsthand the lack of support provided to former foster youth as they transitioned into college, leading many to drop out after their first semester.

“My goal is to empower individuals to make more intentional decisions in their lives, become the advocates they need and discover their own voice,” said Vo who earned bachelor’s degrees in both psychology and human development and family sciences from NIU in 2023.

Hoa Vo, ’23

“I am committed to continuing my work with minority and underrepresented communities.”

In 2021, Vo was an intern at Be Strong Families, a national non-profit organization that has been preventing child abuse and neglect through community-based, peer-to-peer activities since 2012.

Along with a fellow intern, she presented data identifying the lack of resources and support available to foster care youth and proposed a program to address it.

“At the time, we didn’t know what to expect. However, years later, the Department of Children and Family Services invested in more foster programs, contributing to the development of the Foster Progress Youth in Care-College Advocate Program, also known as Y-CAP,” Vo said.

Navigating college can be challenging for many students, and students coming from the foster care system face additional obstacles. The Y-CAP program provides critical academic and personal support for today’s students.

“The program understands that students can’t focus on academics when they are navigating adulthood without guidance and often find themselves in a fight or flight state,” said Vo. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in applied human development and family science with a specialization in marriage and family therapy at NIU.

This is how the program works: Y-CAP pairs peer advocates with foster youth who are either entering or continuing college. Advocates participate in training sessions and curriculum that covers essential topics such as resource access, vicarious trauma, conflict resolution and collaborative planning. NIU is one of six universities in Illinois that have active Y-CAP chapters, and Vo serves as a peer advocate.

“I provide ongoing support to NIU students with foster care experience by conducting workshops, planning events and meeting one-on-one with my mentees,” Vo said. “This experience has enriched my time as a Huskie by connecting me with a larger community and improving my leadership skills.”

After she graduates, Vo plans to continue working with minority and under-represented groups, aiming to become a therapist and potentially apply for doctoral programs with a goal of providing trauma-informed and culturally sensitive support.

Professor DeAnna Harris-McKoy, director of the specialization in marriage and family therapy program at NIU, said Vo is a great representative of the program and of the Huskie spirit.

“Hoa Vo is a smart, talented and determined student,” said Harris-McKoy. “It is evident that she takes her education and future career as a marriage and family therapist seriously. I am so excited to see where her knowledge, skills and talents take her after graduation.”

To learn more about Y-CAP, please visit foster-progress.org/ycap

Reimagining: Two Popular Courses Have Been Redesigned With Today’s Learner in Mind

Gibson Cima

Ann van Dijk

Mary Quinlan

A major challenge facing educators is how to adapt courses to meet the learning needs of today’s students. NIU’s general education courses present a particular opportunity because of the desire to offer an introduction for students who may or may not be familiar with the subject while still being stimulating and compelling.

In recent years, two of the most popular gen ed offerings in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, ARTH 282 – Introduction to World Art and THEA 203 – Introduction to Theatre, were redesigned to be more inclusive and better serve the learning styles of today’s students while still maintaining academic integrity.

Introduction to Theatre had been created at a time when it was traditional for courses to be more European focused, based on a specific culture and time period, and lacking in perspective of the broader world. Introduction to World Art faced the challenge of how to adapt the delivery of the course to better connect with today’s students.

The results of the changes to both courses have been impressive and show that students are more engaged and perform better in both courses. Gibson Cima, associate professor and head of theatre studies in the School of Theatre and Dance, was tasked with undertaking a purposeful redesign of Introduction to Theatre.

“For me, there was a need to recognize what the students need to know to understand theater and to become lifelong lovers of the art. To that end, it’s valuable to learn how theater functions including what it can do well and where it might miss the mark.” Cima said.

Ann van Dijk, associate professor of art history, took a step back to ponder how you can more accurately evaluate what is being learned.

“One of the leading elements I’ve really rethought is the purpose of testing in art history. Is a test built to identify what you know or can it be more of an opportunity to learn?” van Dijk said.

“We had a problem with students frequently failing the test at the end of each unit. What if you give students two chances at a test? After they take a test, students get a better sense of areas where their study can improve. Once they retake the test, they can re-apply what they have learned. It’s a win-win situation.”

Professor of art history Mary Quinlan said that another challenge lies in how much you can teach of a broad subject in just 16 weeks, and how new learning methods could benefit students in all of their courses.

“When a slide library existed in our building, I would explain to the classes there are 240,000 slides upstairs, but we will only be studying the tiniest fraction of those,” she said.

“That was true, and it is still true in the digital age. We are extremely selective. But the kinds of analytical work and skill-building that we do with them crosses a lot of art cultures—close visual analysis and clear descriptions of what is seen, for example.”

To learn more and read the entire interview with Cima, van Dijk and Quinlan, visit: myniu.com/courseredesign

Transferring Trust

While navigating the educational terrain, where each student charts their own distinct path, community colleges offer vital opportunities—bridging gaps and paving pathways—that NIU proudly continues to enrich and expand.

NIU’s enrollment of new transfer students increased in fall 2024 by more than 10% year over year—for a total of 1,462 new students. The vast majority of these students came from area community colleges, bringing with them a commitment to their education and having developed the skills and resilience needed to thrive at NIU.

Community colleges provide opportunities for any student eager to learn. They are accessible in size and affordability and cater to the needs of students who face complex challenges that could hinder their success starting at a four-year university like NIU. They offer a chance for students to continue living and working in their communities, often while fulfilling family obligations.

To embrace the unique circumstances of community college students, NIU is leveraging its partnerships with area community colleges and developing intentional strategies to create opportunities tailored to meet the needs of students like Blerina Mimini, a Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) transfer.

Mimini chose SVCC to complete her general education requirements while saving money, living at home and working at her family’s business—something she couldn’t do while living on DeKalb’s campus as an NIU freshman. Mimini’s father, Lirim, ’08, M.A. ’12, an Albanian immigrant, NIU alumnus and adjunct faculty member at SVCC, talked to Mimini about his time at NIU. After visiting the DeKalb campus, she was impressed by the opportunities available and began discussions to transfer.

“My advisor at SVCC provided me with a detailed list from NIU of the classes I needed to take before transferring,” she said. “My NIU advisors made the class registration process easy and helped me choose the right major for my goals. NIU easily transferred all my credits; everything was very smooth.”

Mimini was also awarded two scholarships, specifically for transfer students.

Positive transfer student matriculation experiences like Mimini’s aren’t happenstance.

With students’ educational pathways becoming increasingly complex, it’s not uncommon for students to lose accumulated credits when transferring between institutions. NIU has taken this issue into its own hands. By partnering closely with community colleges, the university is positioning itself as a leading choice for their transfer students.

Rodrigo Lopez, executive director of community college initiatives, developed a comprehensive community college plan to ensure the success of transfer students. Lopez’s role does not exist on all university campuses—an illustration of NIU’s commitment to supporting the community college student population.

“NIU is paying close attention to community colleges,” Lopez said. “We are authentically engaging with them and leveraging our shared resources to strengthen our partnerships, thereby purposefully attending to the needs of our students. It’s clear that NIU understands the amazing work that community colleges are doing, and by collaborating, we are wholeheartedly committed to improving student outcomes throughout their academic journey. It’s no coincidence Mimini’s experience was so positive, as we have a close relationship with SVCC.”

Lopez and his team build targeted academic pathways, which clearly outline the scope and sequence of classes students should take. Students work through a precise academic plan to complete two years at a community college followed by two years at NIU. He is also bringing workforce development leaders together to expand NIU’s understanding of the local workforce landscape and trends. This aims to strengthen NIU’s place-based programs, meet the needs of communities and increase post-graduation success.

Place-based programs at McHenry County College, Elgin Community College, Harper College, and Rock Valley College allow students to earn specific and varying NIU bachelor’s degrees onsite at the community college, taught by NIU faculty. With no place-based program offered at SVCC, Mimini travels to DeKalb from her hometown of Ashton, Illinois, to attend classes.

“I chose NIU because it was close to home, which allowed me to continue working for my family’s restaurant and live at home while still getting the same opportunities and services as other NIU students,” she said.

Mimini is impressed by the variety of services and resources available, highlighting the Huskie Food Pantry, Career Services, commuter programs, mentor/mentee programs, tutoring services and Barsema’s Closet for affordable business attire.

“These resources have been invaluable in simplifying my daily routine and making my university experience much more fulfilling,” she said. Student success services can foster a sense of belonging even when a student doesn’t live on campus.

“We start building relationships with incoming transfer students as soon as possible, and we want them to start connecting with peers on campus just as quickly,” said Nichole Knutson, NIU’s associate vice provost of student success, who oversees the Centers for Academic Advising and Huskie Academic Success, among others. “It’s critical for their path to success.”

Prioritizing transfer students from as early as pre-admission, Undergraduate Admissions conducts weekly virtual meetings exclusively for transfer students, which provide them with an opportunity to ask questions to current NIU transfer students and specialized transfer admissions counselors.

“Building a network of support and community in a new place, creating connections with peers, and navigating new acronyms, processes and systems are all challenges that a first-year student may experience,” Knutson said.

“Transfer students face the same challenges while also needing to relearn and adjust to a new environment that may look and feel very different from the institution they formerly attended.”



“Career Services helped me rediscover my hobbies and learn how to apply them in my career.” –Carson Williamsen

Carson Williamsen

Transferred from:

Illinois Central College

Major:

communications,
sports journalism minor

Scholarships:

Transfer Student Scholarship,
AIM High Transfer Achievement


“NIU makes everyone feel like they belong.” –Katrina Rath


Katrina Rath

Transferred from:

Carroll University and
McHenry Community College

Major:

business management,
psychology minor

Scholarships:

Transfer Student Merit Scholarship,
Huskie Marching Band Scholarship

 

“They can experience ‘transfer shock,’” she continued, “a term that describes a decrease in grade point average when a transfer student enrolls at a new institution. One theory to explain this occurrence is that transfer students may underestimate what they need to be successful. Transfer students may not think they need assistance as they are not new to college.”

To overcome these challenges, Knutson and her team work closely with transfer students to discuss academic options, academic and peer support, scholarship opportunities and other resources that interest the student. With more than 3,300 visits to the Huskie Academic Success Center last year, it has become a fundamental component of campus life driving classroom performance.

“We know that each student becomes a Huskie through a slightly different path, and we offer individualized support based on their experiences,” she said. “We believe in the intrinsic power of connecting with others.”

After finding many ways to develop connections with fellow Huskies, Mimini agrees.

“The sheer number and variety of clubs and organizations on campus made it easy to find groups that align with my interests,” she said. “As a commuter, having so many opportunities to get involved and connect with other students has enriched my experience and helped me feel more integrated into campus life.”

Jon Mandrell, SVCC vice president of academics and student services, and his team work closely with Lopez to grow the pipeline of NIU student success stories.

“NIU is the top transfer destination for our students,” Mandrell said. “Our students transfer to NIU not just for the location but the quality. I ran into Blerina at a football game, and she’s glowing about her time at Sauk and now at NIU. Our shared success is not by accident; together, we are transforming lives and meeting our missions.”

Donors Direct Scholarship to Transfer Students

Steve & Betsy Young

Having worked to finance their educations, 1983 accountancy alumni Steve and Betsy Young were inspired to create the Steven and Elizabeth Young Family Scholarship for Community College Transfer Students. Betsy attended community college, which allowed her to complete two years of her education at a lower cost while living with her parents. She credits her time at Illinois Valley Community College for giving her the confidence needed to pursue a double major in accountancy and computer science while at NIU. She self-financed her education by working and securing grants, loans and scholarships, and Steven worked full time all four years while attending NIU.

“There should be no or few impediments to obtaining an education,” said Betsy. “We hope in some small way this scholarship can help reduce the obstacles and allow those seeking an education to attain it!” The Youngs are also providing hope in times of extreme need. Through their generosity, emergency funds can be awarded to eligible College of Business community college transfer students when circumstances permit.

Kassie Long, ’24

Kassie Long, ’24, is a recipient of the Steven and Elizabeth Young Family Scholarship for Community College Transfer Students. Expected to graduate with her Master of Accounting Science in May 2025, she connects with fellow students through her participation in the Accountancy Leadership Advisory Council and acts as a mentor to first-year accountancy students.

“Instead of having to continue my part-time job to help pay for my education, the Steven and Elizabeth Young Family Scholarship for Community College Transfer Students allowed me to focus on my studies and make connections with other classmates,” Long said. “I will forever remember their kindness and generosity towards me, as I feel they even helped open the door to my future career success.”

Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our donors, we will continue to foster a diverse and inclusive community where every student feels valued, respected and empowered to excel. Visit foundation.myniu.com/give to make your gift today.

Read more about the array of services provided to Huskies through the Center for Student Assistance at niu.edu/student-assistance.

WSJ/College Pulse Recognizes NIU as a Leader in Social Mobility

Northern Illinois University rates among the nation’s leading institutions of higher education for social mobility, according to the 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings.

The rankings of 500 institutions place NIU at No. 38—the second-highest ranking of any Illinois public school and among the top five universities in the Midwest. (Fifteen of the top 20 schools are in California.)

Colleges at the top of the social-mobility rankings take in high proportions of low-income students and excel at improving those students’ graduation rates and their salaries later in life, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“It’s what we’re all about—matching talent with opportunity and lifting up students and communities,” NIU President Lisa C. Freeman said. “Our faculty and staff work hard every day to empower our students with support, transformational learning experiences and all of the tools they need to succeed in their careers and in life.”

The university has in recent years significantly increased diversity among its scholarship recipients. Test-free admissions and merit scholarship policies help to attract and foster the success of Huskies from all backgrounds. NIU has worked to close gaps in academic achievement and degree attainment for low-income and first-generation students, and to ensure that students are competitive for strong first jobs or graduate education opportunities.

The Journal, working with data scientists at Statista, a global data gathering and visualization firm, says it devised its ranking of the colleges that most help students move up the socioeconomic ladder using research by the Third Way policy-research think tank and the Brookings Institution. The newspaper reported that two key questions are at the heart of its analysis: How much does a college improve its students’ chances of graduating on time? And how much will it improve the salaries those students earn after they graduate?

Colleges that perform well in the ranking also stay accessible to low-income students by keeping tuition costs low. More than a third of NIU undergraduates earn their degrees without debt.

The social-mobility rankings further consider the proportion of students who receive Pell Grants at each college, rewarding colleges that take in a high number of students from families with lower incomes. Pell Grants are federal education grants earmarked for students who have exceptional financial need. One of every two NIU undergraduates is Pell-eligible, and more than 50% of undergraduates are first-generation college students.

NIU holds a strong position on another social mobility college ranking.

CollegeNET is the developer of the Social Mobility Index (SMI), which ranks nearly 1,400 four-year institutions according to how effectively they enroll students from low-income backgrounds and graduate them into promising careers.

In the CollegeNET 2024 ranking, NIU ranks 37th in the country—and first in Illinois among all universities, public and private.