’67
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.
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