Class Notes

JACQUELINE B. MARCUS, M.S. ’79, published her 40th book, “Culinary Nutrition: The Science and Practice of Healthy Cooking, 2nd Edition.”

HARLAN TELLER, was named vice president of university communications and chief marketing officer at Central Michigan University.

BILL MICKOLS, M.S. ’78, was elected into the National Academy of Engineering.

GARY DOBBS, was appointed to associate judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for the Illinois Courts.

DEHAVEN WOODCOCK, M.B.A. ’80, retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, investment management professional, and K-12 teacher, completed the Chevron Houston Half-Marathon — marking 18 marathons and 18 half-marathons to date.

ALVA SACHS, M.S.Ed., was honored with the 2025 McMullen Award from St. Ambrose University.

WILLIAM TATE IV was named the 22nd president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

TAMMY KORDIK was named Elementary Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association.

CATHERINE MARSDEN published “Finding My Stride: A Guide to Finding Power Raising a Child with Special Needs.”

TRUDI SABAJ, M.S. ’87, was named chief academic nursing officer at Henderson State University.

JOYCE ESTER was named the seventh president of Governors State University.

LARRY FOGEL retired from 34 years of teaching. He taught at Niles West High School, Mahomet-Seymour High School and Paxton Buckley Loda High School.

JAMES CHRISTENSEN was named president and head of research and development at Terremoto Biosciences.

CHRISTY NOSEK CARTER achieved tenure at Oakton College in Des Plaines, Illinois, where she serves as associate professor of Speech and Theatre.

CHRIS HENNESSY was named a 2025 Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney by Crain’s Chicago Business.

MATTHEW WHITE was appointed to chief customer officer of Second Nature Brands.

JACQUELINE BROWN, J.D., was appointed to circuit court judge of the Eighth Judicial District serving four counties in Wyoming.

MICHAEL HUGHES, M.A. ’93, was named Resultant’s executive vice president for professional services.

KEVIN KEDZIOR received Sigma Nu Fraternity’s Chapter Advisor of the Year Award for the 2024-2025 academic year.

DON HARER joined Paladin Management as partner.

DEBORAH MENAS, J.D., was appointed associate judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit for the Illinois Courts.

ERIC STOPKA was named chief operating officer of AITX.

JEFFREY CLAYBORNE was appointed to chief financial officer of Newton Golf Company.

MICHAEL GOBBER was named 2025 Illinois REALTOR® of the Year.

ROBERT KOLEK, JR. was named chief financial officer of Insight Investments, LLC.

LAURA MUELLER was named chief human resources officer at Groundworks.

JENNIFER STOCK, J.D., was appointed to lead the Coconino County Public Defender’s Office.

HERIN SHETTY, M.S., was named president and board member of West Monroe.

KELLIE O’CONNELL was named regional chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois.

JENNA KOHL, M.P.A., was named preserve director of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona.

JAMES ROWE, M.S.Ed., received a 2025 Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award.

MELISSA YARBROUGH was named assistant principal of Hope D. Wall.

MOSES AMIDEI, M.P.A. ’03, was named Oak Forest city administrator.

CARRIE BLACKWOOD-WILLIAMS received the Future of the Field recognition by the Society of Research Administrators International.

JOHN PALMER, J.D. ’03, received one of the inaugural Northern Lights Awards from the NIU Alumni Association.

SARAH RODRIGUEZ was named principal of Glen Ellyn District 41’s new kindergarten center.

ANTHONY BARTL published his second book, “Constitutionalism and Liberty: Essays in Honor of David K. Nichols.”

JACLYN BISKUP was named executive director of the Center for Performance Research.

JEFF EAGAN, M.B.A. ’08, was named assistant superintendent of business services for Consolidated High School District 230.

ANTOINETTE GRANHOLM was appointed associate judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit for the Illinois Courts.

SARAH RADTKE, M.S.Ed., Ed.D. ’08, was named dean of Midwestern University’s College of Health Sciences.

GILLIAN SCHNEIDER, M.A., was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award.

JASON STIPP, M.S.Ed., received the Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award from the Illinois PTA.

HON. JOHN HAY, J.D. ’07, 15th Judicial Circuit associate judge, was appointed to resident circuit judge of Jo Davies County.

JAY WACHTEL, M.S.Ed., was named principal of Naperville North High School.

NATHAN WERVE retired from the United States Marine Corps.

CRYSTAL DVORAK was named principal of McCleery Elementary School.

JULIE GOOLISH, M.S.Ed., was named principal of Algonquin Middle School.

EHREN JARRETT, M.S.Ed., Ed.S. ’06, Ed.D. ’09, was named superintendent of Hononegah Community High School District.

RYAN TYRRELL LIPINSKI, J.D., was named chief compliance officer of Mom’s Meals, a Purfoods company.

LISA ROBINSON received a 2025 Rockford-area Golden Apple Award.

MATTHEW ERBACH was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award.

LAURA WALAN, M.S.Ed., was named 2025 Health Education Teacher of the Year from the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

GERRIE AULISA, M.S.Ed. ’10, was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership.

RENE FINCO, M.S.T., was promoted to chief financial officer at Neuco.

RYAN HOOPER was named deputy police chief of Sycamore.

JULIE KONCZYK (née Edmunds), M.A. ’11, was named associate dean of continuing education at the College of DuPage.

THOMAS KONCZYK, M.B.A. ’15, was named director of partnerships for Cirque du Soleil in the United States.

JOE MARCANTONIO was named director of the Winfield Public Library.

COREY NEWGENT, M.S.Ed., was named director of parks and recreation, Des Peres, Missouri.

GREGORY OLSEN was named public health director, City of Oak Park, Illinois.

MICHELE PANKOW, M.P.A., was selected as state fire marshal by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and honored with a key to the City of Rockford.

CASSANDRA PFEIFER received the 2025 Gene Budig Outstanding Faculty Award for her commitment to education and Mid-Plains Community College students.

KRISTINA SAUTER was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award.

RICHARD SLONSKI was named to Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s 20 Under 40 list of successful alumni.

MARY ANN STEWART was named regional head of liability, North America, for Allianz Commercial.

MARLON WATSON was named head football coach at Fort Valley State University.

MICHAEL BOSCO, M.A., was named senior vice president and chief accounting officer at Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, Inc.

JEFFREY FONTANA was named police sergeant for the Village of Arlington Heights.

WILLIAM MICHELSON, CPA, was named chief financial officer of Morris Nichols.

LAMATA MITCHELL, Ph.D., was named president of Kettering College.

ANDREW JORDAN was named superintendent of Oakwood School District.

KEEGAN NICHOLS, Ed.D., was named vice president of student affairs at the College of DuPage.

WILLIAM ZENS was appointed to the Illinois Valley Regional Port District.

JOSHUA MOON-JOHNSON, Ed.D. was named campus president of CT State Asnuntuck, CT State Manchester and CT State Middlesex.

JON KINDSETH, M.P.A., retired after 20 years as Park Forest village manager.

SAMANTHA DEDINA received one of the inaugural Northern Lights Awards from the NIU Alumni Association.

KRISTA GIES (née Perine), M.S.Ed., earned a second master’s degree in special education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and now teaches special education with Clark County School District.

PAMELA PAUW, M.A.S., was named corporate finance manager at CTB, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

SEAN CHASE was named tight ends coach for Ball State University.

CATHERINE ORIN, M.S.Ed., was named assistant principal at Nicholson Elementary School.

DANIEL PHELPS, Ed.S. ’21, was named superintendent of Rockton School District 140.

MUHAMMAD SIDDIQI, Ed.D., was named the eighth president of the College of DuPage.

AMY HOWERTON, Ed.D., was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award.

ERIK TIAN, M.B.A. was named chief financial officer of Diversified CPC International.

NICHOLAS GARCIA LISLE was named a senior attorney at Flaherty & Hood, P.A.

TERESE MARINELLI, M.S.Ed., was named principal of Goshen Elementary, Edwardsville, Illinois.

JACOB LANDRY, M.S.Ed., was named running backs coach at Iowa State University.

ANITA MOORE-BOHANNON, Ed.D., was named vice president of student affairs at Prairie State College.

KERI ALIOTO, Ed.D., was named vice president for student affairs at Elmhurst University.

JOSEPH BERGMAN, Ed.D., was promoted to executive vice president of academic affairs at Illinois Central College.

ERIN CARTER was named marketing manager for Heartland Animal Shelter in Wheeling, Illinois.

AIDAN O’BRIEN received Sigma Nu Fraternity’s Alpha Alumni Chapter Affiliate Award for the 2024-2025 academic year.