SPRING/SUMMER 2025
PROFESSIONALISM
TEAMWORK
TECHNOLOGY
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
LEADERSHIP CRITICAL THINKING
CAREER AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNICATION
Building career readiness step by step
HOW AU IS BRINGING THE SKILLS EMPLOYERS VALUE MOST INTO THE CLASSROOM
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 30 REASONS TO LOVE AU
Aurora University Magazine
Spring/Summer 2025 Volume 11, Issue 1
aurora.edu/magazine
President
Susana Rivera-Mills, PhD
Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing
Deborah Maue
Editor
Sandra Jones
Designer Nicole Dudka
Contributing Designers
Teresa Drier
Mary Nicholas ’17 MBA
Contributing Writers
Zachary Bishop
Sean Frey
H. Lee Murphy
Christina Young ’16, ’21 MBA
Copy Editors
Todd J. Behme
Molly Heim
Photographers
Sam Krueger
Sylvia Springer
Aurora University
347 S. Gladstone Ave. Aurora, IL 60506-4892
© 2025 Aurora University
Aurora University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.
On the cover: Photography by Sylvia Springer and Sam Krueger. Design by Mary Nicholas. Special thanks to Shams Aljumaili ’25.
Spartan spirit
Enthusiastic fans gather at Spartan Athletic Park for the first home football game of the season, just one of the many reasons to love AU. page 8
AU celebrated its inaugural Day of Generosity on April 4. page 36
30 Reasons to Love AU
When a university has this much heart, you can’t help but take notice. 8
The Journey from Classroom to Career, Reimagined
By infusing core career readiness skills into the curricula, AU is preparing students to step with confidence from education to employment.
» Versatile spaces
Beautiful campus
Convenient location
Exceptional support
From the President
It may seem unusual for a college president to appreciate this time of year, when the campus is quieter and students are away. But as spring fades into summer, I see a season of firsts—first jobs for new graduates, a new mentorship program to support first-year students, and first-time summer externships for faculty with local businesses and organizations.
This season of firsts follows a spring semester when we hosted our inaugural Day of Generosity— a celebration of the giving spirit that has long defined Aurora University. This day highlighted the power of collective action through service and charitable giving, supporting programs that impact our students and community.
Part of our broader story is told through a recent economic impact report that highlights how AU fuels Illinois’ growth by educating a skilled workforce, strengthening businesses, and contributing to tax revenue.
Beyond these economic contributions, the university is providing lasting value to students through career-focused education and hands-on learning. Today, strategic partnerships, internships, and community initiatives are equipping students with real-world experience and profes -
sional connections, ensuring they are prepared for lifelong success.
All of this signals growth and upholds our “future promise,” which begins with reaffirming our commitment to students. This means making sure that every student has the confidence and adaptability needed to thrive in a complex global society. In line with this commitment, another first for the university was the introduction of the Skills Infusion program, in which professors are integrating curriculum enhancements to help students identify and practice the skills that employers are actively seeking.
Our future promise also means presenting students with opportunities and experiences that challenge their thinking, expand their horizons, and prepare them to lead with purpose. We accomplish this in part through our Celebrating Arts and Ideas series, which showcased a diverse array of speakers this past year, including more firsts: the first Hispanic American to travel into space and a first-generation college student who became a best-selling author.
The series is just one highlight of the AU experience, as you’ll read about in the feature story, “30 Reasons to Love AU.” This list of people, places, and moments reflects the distinctive aspects of our community and the many ways we empower students to thrive.
What I love about AU is how our firsts inspire our future. Each new achievement, whether it’s a program, a partnership, or a student milestone, is paving the way for continued growth and success.
Susana Rivera-Mills, PhD President
How AU boosts the Illinois economy
Aurora University generated an estimated $1.3 billion in added income to the Illinois economy in fiscal 2022–2023, according to a new economic impact report.
Alumni working in Illinois made the biggest impact, contributing $1.2 billion to the state economy. The top industries, based on the equivalent of jobs supported, included healthcare and social assistance, government and education, and other services.
The long-term return on investment in an AU education is significant. A graduate with a bachelor’s degree from AU earns an average of $31,700 more annually than an Illinois worker with a high school diploma or equivalent, amounting to $1.2 million in increased lifetime earnings, according to the report.
The study, released in January, also found that for every dollar invested in AU, the people of Illinois receive $16.70 in benefits in return. The calculation is based on the added tax revenue and public sector savings Illinois citizens will gain over the working lives of AU students due to lower crime rates, reduced welfare dependency, and less use of public health services.
The findings come from an independent economic impact analysis commissioned by AU and conducted by Lightcast, a labor market analytics company. Read the full report at aurora.edu/econreport.
$1.3 billion
AU’s economic impact in Illinois
17,215
Jobs supported in Illinois
$31,700
Average increase in annual earnings of an AU graduate with a bachelor’s degree compared with a high school graduate working in Illinois ... students gain $4.70 in lifetime earnings. society gains $16.70 in added income and social savings.
For every $1 invested in an AU education … ... taxpayers gain $350.4 million in added tax revenue and public sector savings. In total …
Welcoming the newest members of the Board of Trustees Athletics program expands, makes history
Aurora University will add two intercollegiate sports in the 2025-2026 academic year. Women’s flag football and men’s bowling become the school’s 25th and 26th varsity programs, with bowling beginning competition this fall and flag football starting next spring.
Women’s flag football has exploded in popularity across Illinois, so much so that the Illinois High School Association sanctioned its first state championship last October. The NCAA is considering flag football for recognition in its Emerging Sports for Women program, putting the sport on track to potentially have an NCAA championship. Lane Barlow, who coached Perspectives Leadership Academy in Chicago to a 37-1 record over the past two seasons, has been tapped to coach the women’s flag football program at AU.
Men’s bowling will compete against other collegiate programs in the United States Bowling Congress. Rich McElmeel, who coaches the AU women’s bowling team and led the Spartans to the 2022 championship for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, will be the head coach for both programs.
Men’s ice hockey had a historic postseason run. After winning the NCHA regular-season championship, the Spartans earned their first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III men’s hockey championship. They won their first-round matchup against UW-Eau Claire, 3-2, before falling to SUNY Geneseo in the quarterfinals.
Junior wrestler Alexis Janiak, from Plainfield, Illinois, made history as the first female AU student-athlete to become a national champion, capturing the 131-pound title at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
James A. Byrd, Jr. ’97, ’00 MBA is a senior managing director and senior vice president at Northern Trust Corp. in Chicago, where he leads a team of wealth management professionals. Prior to joining Northern Trust, he worked at J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Management. Byrd is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and serves on the boards of the Brain Research Foundation and Ignite, both based in Chicago. He is a dual graduate of AU, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree and an MBA. He is a member of the Cathedral of Grace | St. John in Aurora.
Kaleshia “Kay” Page is a director of government and regulatory affairs at Comcast. Prior to her current role, Page honed her government relations expertise working at both the state and federal levels of government and in the political arena. She is on the boards of the Aurora-based organizations Quad County Urban League and Mutual Ground. Page completed a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Smith College and earned a JD from the law school at Vanderbilt University.
Joseph “JJ” Kinahan ’85 is CEO of IG North America. His previous roles include managing director and chief marketing strategist at TD Ameritrade and market maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Kinahan is on the CBOE Advisory Board and is a board member of Chicago-based Greenwood Project. After graduating from AU with a BA in finance, he earned an MA in financial markets and trading in 1996 from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
News of Note
A new reality: VR is revolutionizing the classroom
Learning at Aurora University is pushing into new frontiers with virtual reality. Ecology students have climbed two-mile-high elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Health science students have explored the organs of the human body in close detail. Future social workers are making home visits to check on everything from child welfare to senior care.
While the environment isn’t tangible, the lessons are real. As VR and artificial intelligence become critical pieces of learning, AU faculty are incorporating these new technologies into their classrooms, allowing students to experience real-life work situations without leaving campus.
As part of the Emerging Technologies Learning Labs project, the university has acquired 170 VR headsets and supporting 3D software and has encouraged faculty to begin incorporating the technology into classes. The headsets, using VictoryXR, have become supplemental learning tools in more than three dozen AU courses.
Professor Chetna Patel, the Smith distinguished chair in science and mathematics, who co-chairs the AU Emerging Technology Committee, said VR has allowed her students to conduct virtual chemistry experiments. Other programs allow students to dissect frogs, analyze molecules, and experience the weightlessness of being in space.
“Any student in any discipline, from freshmen to grad students, can benefit from these technologies,” Patel said.
Inside a VR simulation, students get a unique view of the human body, beating heart and all.
For many students, the AU classroom is providing their first experience with VR technology, said Arin Carter, assistant vice president for student success and innovation, who co-chairs the Emerging Technology Committee with Patel.
“These technologies are changing learning,” Carter said. “We want our students to have the opportunity to really work with these technologies and experiment.”
In health science, Ruby Kaur, an assistant professor who chairs the health science and premed programs, uses synthetic cadavers to give students a view inside the human body. These fabricated bodies are made from materials that mimic living tissue and replicate the human anatomy in great detail. With the magic of VR, Kaur can expand the learning experience by tasking her students to build a virtual body from scratch by putting all internal organs where they belong.
“A cadaver in a classroom is not circulating blood,” Kaur said. “With VR, we can simulate a beating heart and actually see the blood flowing. It’s as realistic as we can hope for.”
Allison Schuck, assistant professor of social work, wanted to re-create client home visits for her students. To make it more realistic, she asked VictoryXR to simulate a home via headset, then added her own custom touches based on what she knew her students could encounter. An unsecured firearm and empty liquor bottles, cockroaches, and moldy food along with old magazines piled high next to a space heater are all harbingers of potential trouble that an alert social worker ought to notice.
“In the old days, we’d read textbooks and talk about what a home visit would be like, and then role-play conversations with people in their homes,” Schuck said. “But that can only take a student so far.”
Richard Boniak, associate professor of biology and environmental science, chose a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park for his Ecology Lab. The students stopped at four elevations on their 12,000-foot ascent, pausing for 360-degree views of fauna and timber, ranging from the Douglas fir lower down to the Engelmann spruce near the top.
“I wanted to take them outside to places they’ve never been,” Boniak said.
Ben Strub ’25, a biology major, took Boniak’s class in the fall and is eager for more. “Our Rocky Mountain tour showed us how certain species of trees can grow differently at various elevations,” he said. “You could look up and down and all around you, and everything seemed real. It was way beyond what we could get in a textbook.”
AU was able to invest in VR thanks to a $955,000 emerging technologies federal grant secured in 2023 with the help of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster.
Like any technology, VR programs are changing as fast as software developers come up with fresh ideas. Vendors are gaining the capacity to create new and different simulations narrowly focused on just certain aspects of a course.
“One thing you can count on is that technology keeps evolving,” Patel said. “We have to find a way to keep up.”
Art, prison, and 3D math
From criminal justice to organic chemistry to fine arts, virtual reality technology is advancing learning in AU classrooms.
• Calculus students are creating high-level math concepts in threedimensional visuals.
• Interactive Media students are developing their own video games, learning the rules of game design and the application of graphic design.
• In MBA classes on conflict management, a manager must tell a VR worker she isn’t getting a promotion, or that he must change his behavior in the workplace, and field the emotional reaction that ensues.
• Drawing students make blind contour drawings of figures seen in the virtual world, resulting in development of their observational skills and hand-eye coordination.
• In a software program re-creating prison life, criminal justice students are using VR to simulate actual jail time, with students experiencing overcrowding and lack of privacy.
• Students seeking jobs and internships can use AI to practice interviews with computer-generated avatars.
30 REASONS TO
LOVE
WWhen a university has this much heart, you can’t help but take notice. There are so many reasons to love AU that it’s hard to know where to start. We gathered 30 of our favorites—people, places, and moments that make our university unique. Here they are, a tribute to our unabashed admiration for the school we love.
1AU’s first Latina president
The first Latina to lead AU as president since the institution’s founding in 1893 took the helm of the university last year. Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, who revived the presidential tradition of living on campus, can be found on any given day encouraging students and cheering on Spartans.
An escape to nature 2
Students don’t have to go far to drink in a bit of nature. The Virgil L. Gilman Trail, an 11.3-mile path stretching from the suburb of Montgomery to Sugar Grove, passes within a mile of campus and is ideal for walking, thinking, and taking a break from studies. The Spartan cross country and track and field teams use the trail for training runs of as long as 18 miles. There is plenty of shade, and road crossings are minimal, which means runs are mostly cool and uninterrupted.
Like minds
AU is one of a small number of institutions nationwide rising to meet the needs of neurodiverse minds. The Pathways program helps neurodivergent college-capable students receive the support and guidance needed to adjust to campus life, earn their undergraduate degrees, and make successful transitions into the workforce.
A different kind of spring break
Dozens of students spend their spring break involved in one of AU’s Social Impact Trips, sponsored by the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action. Students have traveled around the Midwest to help with community projects, taking the opportunity to make a difference while building leadership and teamwork skills.
Advent Christian ties
Rare and striking prophetic charts are just one reminder of Aurora University’s Advent Christian roots. Housed in the university’s collection of historic Advent Christian and Millerite records, the large banners, some as wide as 49 feet, were used in camp meetings by traveling 19th-century evangelists to convey the second coming of Christ. While AU is no longer an Advent Christian college, the founders’ strong sense of mission continues today, encouraging students to see themselves as servants to the larger society.
No.
On Spartan Spirit Fridays, staff, faculty, and students break out the blue and show their school pride by wearing their favorite AU gear.
We celebrate the arts—and make them available to everyone.
For a small private university, we think big when it comes to the arts. Since founding Celebrating Arts and Ideas in 2006, AU has hosted scores of musicians, authors, scholars, filmmakers, journalists, and dancers from around the country.
These events, open to the surrounding community, have included (pictured here) Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, NASA astronaut José M. Hernández, singers Ann Hampton Callaway and Carrie Newcomer, authors Alex Kotlowitz and Jacqueline Woodson, actress Anna Deavere Smith, storyteller Susan Marie Frontczak, the Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, and Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, to name a few.
Many of the guests take time for class discussions with students before taking to the stage.
No.
The Quad has a fashion icon.
The Spartan Statue in front of Alumni Hall is always dressed to impress! His usual shield and cape are resplendent, but he’s also worn a mummy costume on Halloween, bundled up with a scarf on a cold day, been shrouded in AU blue balloons and—our favorite—donned a cap and gown for commencement each semester. The 8-foot-tall bronze warrior, unveiled in 2014, stands watch over the Quad and is a popular spot for student photos. 8
In February, students relive their childhood and flock to “A Very Bear-y Valentine” to create cuddly plushies for themselves and loved ones. Since its 2023 debut, the tradition has soared in popularity, with 300 bears this year finding new homes and filling the air with warmth and connection.
Raising the roof
A magnificent feat each spring is the construction of the massive commencement tent. Stretching nearly the entire length of the Quad, the structure is raised in less than a week and sets off a rush of excitement that commencement is approaching. Students emerge as graduates, prepared for fulfilling lives and purposeful careers.
Belonging
At AU, belonging is more than a word—it’s a way of life. Creating unity, caring for one another, and serving the community define the Spartan culture. Through volunteer projects, student organizations, and engaged professors, AU fosters an atmosphere of kindness and empathy. And that’s good for everyone. Studies show that students who feel a sense of belonging are more engaged in their academic pursuits and more likely to persevere through life’s challenges.
Our CPAs crush the numbers.
AU accounting students are climbing the ranks in Illinois. In 2024, AU undergrads earned the highest passing rate and highest average score in the state on the CPA exam in a field of 20 schools with the same or more sections taken, according to data released by the Illinois Board of Examiners. To become a certified public accountant, you must pass four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
Glorious sounds
It’s not every university that can boast the regal majesty of a handcrafted, custom-built mahogany pipe organ. Installed in Crimi Auditorium in 2010 under the direction of AU’s music department, the Létourneau Opus 119 with 1,230 pipes heralded a new era of arts at the university.
Great works of art are at your doorstep.
The Schingoethe Center museum curates world-class art exhibitions while also housing its own collection of American and Native American art. In 2017, the Smithsonian Institution granted the Schingoethe Center status as an affiliate—one of only a handful of Smithsonian Affiliates in Illinois—making possible new opportunities for collaborative exhibits, artifact loans, research, and educational programs. Every semester, the museum hosts either an original or a traveling exhibition. It also showcases selections from its permanent Native American collection. The stunning series “Four Seasons” by Wendy Red Star, a member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe, is among the many works in the permanent collection that wow visitors.
Pictured: “Spring,” 2006. Archival pigment on Sunset Fiber rag.
Popping the question
Many AU sweethearts become engaged on campus and share the big moment with friends. Frances Taylor ’22 MSW said “Yes” to John Franklin III on a snowy day near Engagement Rock, where countless AU students have pledged their love since the boulder was placed outside Eckhart Hall more than a century ago.
Nowhere on campus draws a crowd quite like Tru Blu Dining on Friday afternoons. That’s because the dining hall serves an eternally popular combination with AU students: chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. Hungry Spartans pile in for lunch, eating about 3,400 nuggets and 40 pounds of mac ‘n’ cheese each Friday.
Blazers, ties, and dress shoes
Spartan Attic helps AU students and alumni look their best for job interviews. The on-campus clothes closet provides free head-to-toe professional attire, with approximately 500 guests visiting the closet each year. In appreciation, many students drop off handwritten notes thanking donors when they pick up their clothing.
Flying above it all
AU’s FAA Drone License Prep course, introduced this past fall by Professor of Parks and Recreation Christopher Wells, is taking students to new heights. Demand is on the rise for certified professional drone pilots, and students from a wide range of majors are heeding the call, unlocking career opportunities in aerial photography, data collection, and emergency response.
It’s
so easy being green.
The green rooftop at John C. Dunham Hall is buzzing with activity. Biology classes and other student groups conduct experiments among the sedum, grasses, and pollinating insects atop the building, which is certified LEED Platinum, the highest rating given by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Junior Alayna Nosalik, a double major in marketing and communication, is the first AU student from the class to earn an FAA drone pilot license and plans to tout her newly acquired skills on her résumé.
Students volunteer more than 14,000 hours annually through events such as Project Linus, which for 22 years running has brought teams together each winter to make blankets to comfort children in need.
There’s plenty to cheer about.
Game days (and nights) at Spartan Athletic Park overflow with Spartan spirit. Since the 45-acre outdoor athletics complex opened in 2017, the AU football, lacrosse, soccer, and softball teams that call SAP home have won a total of 19 conference championships.
No.
Your very own guide for medschool prep and beyond
Thinking about medical school?
C.J. Chen is your guy. As AU’s premed advisor and associate professor of health science, Chen helps students navigate the complex application process, advising them on entrance requirements, interviewing, the MCAT, personal statements, and research experience. And if it turns out med school isn’t your vibe, he will help you sift through a dozen different pre-health profession majors to figure out what career feels right for you.
Going to the dogs never felt so good.
Nothing is quite as calming as a furry, fourlegged friend. Therapy dogs are frequent visitors to campus, especially around exam time. Studies say that simply petting a dog can lower stress hormones—but honestly, who needs science when you’ve got puppy eyes curing your blues?
The legendary Late Night Breakfast, a longstanding tradition held the week before finals, gives students a chance to take a break from studies, chow down on pancakes, and socialize with friends.
Just last year, AU’s campus was recognized for its beauty by U.S. News & World Report. Part of its appeal: the more than 800 trees on site, a number that grows each April when students plant a new tree for Arbor Day. All that foliage makes for a spectacular autumn. Made in the shade
Courses that pique curiosity
What’s behind superstitions? Students line up to enroll in Professor David Rudek’s popular seminar Voodoo, Ghosts & ESP to find out. Rudek created the course in the wake of the Great Recession as he noticed a rise in mystical beliefs. He surmised that people were looking for more control over their lives in a complicated world. The course explores the psychology and brain science behind the human penchant for magical thinking.
Moments of mindfulness
A symbol of life’s journey, labyrinths remind us that paths are rarely straight. Since 2017, when the Aurora College Class of 1967 provided a gift to build a labyrinth outside the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, AU students have found moments of contemplation in walking its circuit. Unlike a maze, with its dead ends and problems to solve, a labyrinth leads inexorably toward the center. Here students can discover meaning, purpose, and insight before setting off anew.
Meet you on the Quad.
Whatever the season, the Quad is the heartbeat of campus. Students bustle across it each day, among the blossoms in the spring, under the brilliant colors in the fall, and around the snowmen they’ve built in the winter. It’s a favorite place to read a book, eat lunch, play games, and occasionally, on a nice day, hold class.
What’s not to love about Sammy?
Our armor-clad ambassador has had different looks over the years, including a friendly makeover in 2024. But he always delights the AU crowds, cheering on the Spartans, giving high-fives, and hamming it up for selfies.
The Journey from Classroom to Career, Reimagined
By infusing core career readiness skills into the curricula, AU is preparing students to step with confidence from education to employment.
EEarly in the fall semester, Organic Chemistry students gathered in the lab at John C. Dunham Hall to study the solubility of alcohols in hexane, a basic step in understanding the foundational concepts in chemistry. At first glance, the lesson would appear to have nothing to do with interviewing for a job.
“This is a very fundamental chemistry class,” said Ami Johanson, associate professor of chemistry. “You’re never going to run this organic reaction in your job. But you are going to need to know how to solve problems and communicate.”
Johanson is one of a growing group of Aurora University professors exploring how to integrate practical career skills into their everyday coursework. The effort is part of AU’s new Skills Infusion program aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and the skills employers demand in new graduates.
It’s no secret that organizations are looking for more than textbook learning in students entering the workforce. Yet, employers across the country consistently report that while graduates possess technical knowledge, they often lack the essential skills necessary for succeeding in the workplace, such as problem-solving, adaptability, and effective communication. By “infusing” career skills into the curriculum, AU enables students to identify and master the skills they need to begin their careers.
“Our students sometimes don’t realize how much they have learned,” said Johanson. “This program gives them vocabulary around teamwork and critical thinking and other skills employers value by pointing it out when it happens in class. By doing this over and over again in many classes, students are equipped to talk about themselves in a positive way when the time comes to interview for a job.”
The Skills Infusion program, which began its multiyear rollout across campus this past fall, aligns curriculum with eight specific skills that the National Association of Colleges and Employers has identified as essential to launching a successful career. The NACE core competencies are those employers say they value most in new hires, specifically: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and
inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology.
The challenge at many higher education institutions is that too often students wait until their senior year to think about these core skills as they face graduation and a competitive job market. At some universities, students find themselves in career services departments that are siloed from the rest of the school. Other students avoid the career services support altogether and forge ahead on their own.
AU takes a different approach. With the development of workplace competencies embedded throughout academic programs, students not only achieve learning outcomes and master course content, but they also graduate with the core skills that transcend a specific major or industry.
The eight core skills employers value most
The National Association of Colleges and Employers has identified eight career-readiness competencies that are essential for college graduates to secure good jobs
Career and self-development
Continuously accumulating professional and selfdevelopment abilities, growing in awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, building relationships, and demonstrating job growth
Communication
Expressing ideas in a clear, precise manner through various media, including strong verbal and written capabilities
Leadership
Inspiring and motivating one’s team toward organization goals
Critical thinking
Making decisions through reasoning and judgment without bias
Professionalism
Demonstrating integrity and accountability toward oneself, others, and the organization
Teamwork
Working in a team to attain common goals and objectives
Equity and inclusion
Engaging with and including people from local and global cultures and having an awareness of racial policies and laws
Technology
Embracing technology, which includes updating oneself about new iterations and understanding technology-use policy
Speaking the same language
“In the simplest terms, we are teaching students to talk in the same language as an employer about their experiences at AU,” said Arin Carter, assistant vice president for student success and innovation, who oversees the initiative.
Provost Paaige Turner emphasized that the Skills Infusion program isn’t a replacement for career services, but rather a method for students to articulate how their educational experience aligns with employers’ needs.
“We’re helping students recognize when and how they acquire these skills,” said Turner, who is also executive vice president for academic affairs. “For example, all courses require critical thinking, but now we are connecting critical thinking to assignments, pointing it out to students when they use critical thinking, and letting them see exactly how and where they learn it.”
When Patrick Shelton ’92 interviews new college graduates for a job, he is looking for more than technical knowledge. He wants to see candidates who can collaborate, communicate effectively, and think critically.
“When students come in for an interview, I expect them to have some insights into the auto industry,” said Shelton, regional marketing manager for Reston, Virginia-based Bentley Motors Americas. “There is a lot of public knowledge available about industry trends that you can read and think critically about in advance. I expect them to know how to communicate and collaborate. And to want to network. But it’s rare to find new grads who have these core skills.”
At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Christy Howell leads talent and training for product engineering. She said she doesn’t look just at coursework, since most candidates have already demonstrated their technical chops by the time they make it to the interview stage. Rather, she is looking for professionalism and communication and a sense that they want to grow in the job.
“A lot of what we focus on is potential,” said Howell. “We evaluate a student’s ability to communicate authentically, their trainability, and their capacity to learn. The NACE competencies are all part of it. Any time a student can highlight one of those skills
There is a lot students can do to build their communication and networking strengths in the classroom.”
Patrick
Shelton ’92, Regional Marketing Manager, Bentley Motors Americas
and give examples in an interview, it helps them differentiate themselves.”
Both Shelton and Howell are members of AU’s newly formed College of Liberal Arts and Business advisory council. The group of corporate and community leaders, many of them alumni, share insights with the dean about workforce challenges, hiring trends, and career skills gaps.
Even without much work experience, students can talk about how they collaborated on a class project, how they approach social situations, and what they think about the industry they are looking to enter, they said.
“There is a lot students can do to build their communication and networking strengths in the classroom,” Shelton said.
Mapping competencies to assignments
Professor Caroline St. Clair, chair of the computer and data science department, and Carolyn Foor, lecturer of business and communication and coordinator of experiential learning at the Dunham School of Business, are the designated faculty fellows leading the Skills Infusion program. They facilitate faculty training and serve as liaisons between faculty, deans, and career services staff.
Full-time faculty were invited to participate in the program for the 2024–2025 academic year as AU works toward integrating the program across all curricula. The goal for faculty is to introduce at least three of the eight NACE skill competencies into their courses and map the competencies to assignments.
St. Clair introduced the skill of teamwork into her upper-level computer science curriculum. She divided students into groups to solve a problem, and then asked the students to describe their approach to working in a team. While teamwork is a frequent part of the class, the Skills Infusion program put a new spotlight on it, she said.
Faculty on the front lines
Exploring workplaces allows faculty to bring career and industry knowledge back to the classroom
Aurora University is piloting a faculty externship program this summer that offers hands-on opportunities for faculty to make the connection between academic knowledge and industry practice. The university is teaming up with businesses, nonprofits, local government, and schools to give professors a chance to experience directly what’s happening in the work world.
Six AU faculty members will shadow a host professional for 40 hours and bring industry insights back to the classroom and into their curricula. The goal is to make sure students are learning skills that matter in today’s job market.
“I’m really excited to get out of my comfort zone and learn new skills,” said Christina Cicero, who spent many years as a pediatric nurse before joining the AU faculty. Cicero was selected to spend a week at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
“I am so used to working in a hospital. It will be fun to experience a new setting and build relationships across disciplines.”
The externship program is supported by a grant from the Dunham Foundation.
Christina Cicero
Assistant Professor of Nursing, Chair of Undergraduate Nursing
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Chicago
Health Insurance
Ami Johanson
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Entegris Aurora
Semiconductor materials supplier
Libby Escobedo
Professor of Art History, Coordinator of Undergraduate Research
McCormick & Co.
Geneva
Spice and flavoring manufacturing
Shaun Neitzel ’05 MS, ’10 MBA
Assistant Professor and Chair of Sport Management
Special Olympics Illinois
Chicago
Nonprofit sports organization
Keith Herrmann ’07 MAT
Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Physical Education
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois Elgin
Nonprofit youth organization
Caroline St. Clair
Professor and Chair of Computer and Data Science
City of Aurora
Aurora Local government
““It was eye-opening for me and for the students,” said St. Clair. “Some said they hadn’t noticed before that they took over the conversation. Another group was sitting together, yet solving the problems by themselves—that’s not teamwork. This program is getting all of us to be more reflective about what we’re doing.”
Professionalism is one of the NACE skills Keith Herrmann ’07 MAT, assistant professor of physical education, is weaving into his education courses. For example, he coaches students on how to compose a professional email and how to dress appropriately as a student teacher.
“I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years. Technology and the way we consume information and build relationships over social media has really caused a shift in these types of skills,” said Herrmann, who is also coordinator of physical education. “There is a gap between knowing the content and being a professional, and a lot of students are struggling with this. That’s why I’m excited that we’re putting these NACE skills into classes because I think it’s really going to have an effect.”
Shaun Neitzel ’05 MS, ’10 MBA, chair and assistant professor of sport management, has already noticed a shift in student behavior since introducing Skills Infusion into his Sports in Society course last fall.
“I’ve seen better in-depth conversations,” said Neitzel. “I mention critical thinking every time the students break into groups to do their in-class assignments, and then we talk about it as an entire class. We focus on breaking down assumptions and discovering where they need to seek more information.”
AU President Susana Rivera-Mills brought the Skills Infusion program with her to AU from Ball State University, where as provost she saw the potential in a pilot program the career services department had developed. Under her direction at Ball State, the program moved from pilot to full implementation in 2019 and scaled across the university in 2020. Within a few years, there was enough evidence to begin connecting the program to national data from NACE, including student and employer feedback, showing that students exposed to skills-infused coursework demonstrated stronger workplace competencies compared with their peers, said Jim McAtee, assistant vice president and executive director for career and professional development at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
There is a gap between knowing the content and being a professional, and a lot of students are struggling with this.”
—Keith Herrmann ’07 MAT, Assistant Professor of Physical Education
McAtee presented Ball State’s program and results to AU leaders last year as the Skills Infusion program was taking shape at AU.
“These skills transcend industries, transcend majors,” said McAtee. “They’re holistic skills that everybody needs regardless of the next step in their journey.”
The art of communicating
The Skills Infusion program works best when students get reinforcement in these skills from all corners of AU throughout their college career.
Art History Professor Libby Escobedo revised her Art and Power class to incorporate the NACE competencies of critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, and professionalism. Students work in teams on in-class assignments throughout the semester, and on a larger research project in which they have to negotiate a common theme and assign tasks to get the project completed. They are accountable to each other throughout the process and need to recognize and capitalize on strengths of individuals and the team, build collaborative relationships, and demonstrate effective work habits.
“Even in classes that don’t have an obvious link to career competencies, like my Art and Power class, students can still do work that builds these competencies and be provided the words to talk about them,” said Escobedo. “This is important because students often don’t realize how their coursework outside of their major strengthens their résumé. Beyond what they learn about art and the role of visual culture, they also learn skills that are broadly applicable to any future endeavors.”
As more faculty begin to incorporate the NACE skills into their curricula, AU is looking to expand the program beyond the classroom to support services such as tutoring, career advising, peer mentoring, and volunteering.
“It may take some time, but it is worth the effort,” said Carter. “It’s only going to make students more attractive to employers and more confident about how they take their next steps, whether it’s with an employer or graduate school.”
A rare bird
The first AU player to reach MLB stopped by campus to warm up with the Spartans
It’s a February afternoon at the Sport Zone dome in Aurora, and the Aurora University baseball team grinds through preseason drills. Catchers field bunts, infielders turn double plays, and baseballs zip across the turf. Amid the action, one figure stands out—not just for his 6-foot-8-inch frame, but for a rare Division III achievement.
Chris Roycroft ’19 became the first AU alumnus to make a Major League Baseball roster when he joined the St. Louis Cardinals last season. The relief pitcher returned to campus for a workout with the Spartan baseball team before heading to spring training in Florida. Despite the whirlwind of pro ball, he still holds AU close to his heart.
“This is a fraternity; we’re one big family,” he said. “When I’m in the weight room here, students will come over and introduce themselves, and just talk to me. Those are things I value. I want to give back.”
Roycroft made his MLB debut May 7, 2024, pitching the ninth inning against the New York Mets in St. Louis. AU head baseball coach Adam Stevens and his staff watched at Busch Stadium.
“I was very nervous in the bullpen. My legs were shaking,” Roycroft said. “I was pacing. My mind wouldn’t stop. As soon as I was on the mound, everything went away, and it was strictly about being there to do one thing, and that’s pitch, and that’s what my focus was.
“It was an amazing experience,” he added. “The adrenaline of 40,000 people will get to you. It was euphoric. It’s unreal—unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced.”
Roycroft made 27 appearances for the Cardinals last season, recording 33 strikeouts in 34 innings. He quickly established himself as an intimidating righthanded reliever. His sinker averages 96 mph, and his fourseam fastball—clocking in at 95 mph—held opponents to a .158 batting average. He is a fearsome presence on the mound, with a long reach and high extension that make his pitches appear even faster.
AU sophomore Joe Lukancic had a chance to work with Roycroft during his visit to AU and was impressed not only with his fastball but with his discipline and work ethic.
“It’s just cool because of how hard he’s worked to get there,”
Lukancic said. “I was able to pick up spins and stuff like that. His sinker is absolutely nasty. It would be pretty terrifying if you saw that in the batter’s box.”
At AU, Roycroft began his sports career not on the baseball field but in Thornton Gymnasium on the men’s basketball team. Talented in both basketball and baseball at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois, Roycroft found himself recruited by AU coaches from both teams. He favored basketball at first. He had never worked with a pitching coach in high school, and in his mind, baseball felt more like a side pursuit.
professional baseball, working in a classic car shop. In 2021, he landed a spot with the independent Frontier League’s Joliet Slammers. He returned to Joliet in 2022 before he caught the attention of the Cardinals, who signed him midseason.
From there, Roycroft worked his way up the minor league ladder, eventually reaching Triple-A, the highest level of minor league baseball. It was while playing for the Cardinals’ affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, that Roycroft got “the call”—he would be suiting up for St. Louis.
33 Strikeouts in 34 innings in Roycroft’s debut season
96 mph Roycroft’s average sinker speed
200 Career strikeouts as a Spartan
That changed quickly. After one season as a two-sport athlete, Roycroft decided to devote himself to baseball. He developed into a dominant pitcher, earning All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference honors three times and going 18-3 in his AU career with more than 200 strikeouts. He helped the Spartans to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019.
“Chris was a coach’s dream,” Stevens said. “He has a relentless work ethic combined with great physical talent. He was extremely coachable. Every day he was here, he was trying to learn.”
Roycroft credits his AU coaches with helping him grow into the pitcher he is today.
“Coach Stevens and the whole staff have always been in my corner,” he said. “They put their heart and soul into coaching, and I’m forever grateful for that.”
Roycroft’s shot in the big leagues is a testament to his perseverance. Despite his college success, he wasn’t drafted, and he spent two years away from
“I immediately called my mother, my dad, my friends,” Roycroft recounted. “I said, ‘I’m going to the Show. Come to the game!’”
Roycroft earned a spot on the roster for Opening Day this season, helping the Cardinals secure a 5–3 victory by retiring three hitters in the seventh inning. “That’s one of those things that has always been on my bucket list to accomplish, and I can finally say that I’ve done that, and it meant a lot to me,” he told MLB.com of pitching in the home opener.
As a relief pitcher, Roycroft, 27, shuttles between the Cardinals and the Redbirds. In the offseason, he has become a familiar face on AU’s campus. It’s common to find him in the weight room at Spartan Athletic Park, playing catch with AU baseball players or even participating in the team’s annual opposite-hand dodgeball tournament.
“Chris is a relentless worker, and that got him to where he is today,” said Stevens. “He talks to the guys about how hard you have to work to get to where you want to go. It’s a tremendous message that the students can take with them, no matter what path they pursue.”
Putting humanity into human resources
Bree Wysocki Casey ’24 MSW is empowering women to embrace their full potential
When Bree Wysocki Casey ’24 MSW decided to pursue a master’s degree in social work at Aurora University, she was searching for a new purpose. Although she had built a successful career in human resources, she felt disconnected from the people behind the résumés and performance reviews. She wanted to bring more empathy and a more human-centric approach into the business world.
With an undergraduate degree in business from Indiana University Bloomington, an MBA from DeVry University, and senior HR roles at blue-chip firms including Salesforce and Deloitte, she had reached a comfortable point in her professional life helping employees find the right roles. But she began to sense that something was missing.
“I realized I didn’t really know much about my colleagues beyond the office,” Casey said. “I wanted to understand how a social work lens could make us better leaders—by bringing more compassion and humanity into the workforce.”
Determined to make a meaningful shift, Casey pursued her master’s degree at AU, enrolling in the online learning format that allowed her to keep her day job while completing her coursework. She finished in two and a half years, gaining both the skills and the confidence to take on a new challenge: building a nonprofit from the ground up.
In 2020, Casey founded Beautifully EmpowHERed, which she reestablished as a nonprofit in 2023 to help women often overlooked by traditional HR pipelines reach their full potential and pivot to fresh opportunities and careers.
“This started as a passion project and community movement and has grown steadily since then,” she said.
The Naperville, Illinois-based organization offers its clients guidance on the road to a new life through assistance with their résumés, interview skills, and job searches—all with compassion and understanding.
“We help women connect in getting through the corporate barriers,” said Casey, 36. “Many of our clients lack even the basics—like a professional outfit to wear to an interview. We stock donated apparel anyone can buy—the price is $3 per item— so they are ready to go.”
In addition to career counseling, Beautifully EmpowHERed offers mental health services, events, and workshops. For the past four years, Casey has held the annual HER Story Conference, covering topics ranging from financial literacy to motherhood to career transitions to self-advocacy. And with the help of her nonprofit board, she hosts an annual fundraiser, A Night of Sparkle and Strength. Casey is the only full-time employee, although she gets a
network of support through 16 volunteer interns, including many from AU. The student interns earn course credit for work.
Dorothy Pryor ’25, assistant circulation manager at the Aurora Public Library, interned at Beautifully EmpowHERed while working online toward her bachelor’s degree in social work. “What I love is the dedication to empowerment for all women and teen girls to thrive and embrace their full potential,” she said.
Abby Ledezma ’25, a senior double majoring in graphic design and business administration, also interned this past spring at the organization, working in social media and communications to promote events.
“I love what we do here,” Ledezma said. “I’ve gotten to create my own designs and learn how the nonprofit world works. It’s been a real education.” Meanwhile, Casey has plenty of goals. While she continues to work as an independent HR consultant, she would like to expand Beautifully EmpowHERed so it’s big enough to qualify for state and city grant funding. She hopes to hire full-time employees to help run the nonprofit and to open satellite offices in Chicago and the north and south suburbs.
—Bree Wysocki Casey ’24 MSW “
I wanted to understand how a social work lens could make us better leaders.”
She also plans to keep leaning into Beauitfully EmpowHERed’s signature pink color, which adorns the office walls, the website, and even the clothing and gear. Casey chose the shade very intentionally.
“Pink to me represents both power and softness,” said Casey. “It’s a vibrant and joyful shade that reflects the spirit of our community: bold, resilient, and deeply rooted in sisterhood. We’re redefining what strength looks like, and pink is our unapologetic statement of that.”
Giving
Celebrating AU generosity
Aurora University celebrated its first Day of Generosity on April 4 as Spartans came together to demonstrate their support for the programs and initiatives that shape AU and help students learn, thrive, and grow.
Thanks to incredible generosity from in and around the AU community, 368 donors gave more than $135,000 during this inaugural event. The gifts are already at work supporting emergency microgrants, student wellness initiatives, scholarships, and student support resources.
The success of the day went beyond the dollars raised. More than 900 faculty, staff, students, and alumni engaged in pop-up events that brought the AU community together in creative and fun ways. This included a living wall of encouragement, dubbed the Community Canvas, filled with hundreds of inspiring messages from Spartans.
The 24-hour period of giving was ushered in by the Grammy Award–winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, an all-female band, who entertained a capacity crowd at Crimi Auditorium.
AU students, faculty, and staff demonstrated their generosity across campus, assembling 500 brown-bag lunches for distribution through Hesed House, a homeless shelter in Aurora, and making blankets that will be sent globally through the nonprofit
World Relief and locally to the Oaken Acres Wildlife Center in DeKalb County. Felt flowers, potted flowers, and notes of kindness were also created to donate to residents of nearby Fox Knoll Village senior living community.
In sharing a word of encouragement, joining a campus event, or making a gift, participants contributed to the spirit that makes AU so special—whether it is on the Day of Generosity or all yearround.
Honoring legacy, embracing the future
For more than a century, the George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, has been a cherished place of learning, reflection, and transformation. As Aurora University turns a new page, it does so with deep respect for the generations of alumni who have called this lakeside campus home.
On April 17, the university finalized the sale of the GWC property to Topography Hospitality, a Chicago-based firm known for its thoughtful, sustainable approach to development. Topography plans to develop a high-end, eco-conscious hotel on the site, and AU is heartened by the firm’s commitment to being responsible and respectful stewards of the land. Topography’s plans suggest it will be great partners with Williams Bay, creating a
nature preserve with grass-cut paths to the lakeshore. The firm’s vision calls for exploring plans to build a new concert pavilion that would revive the spirit of Music by the Lake with a new performance series.
AU remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving the spirit and mission of GWC through the George Williams School of Social Work at Aurora University and in the needsbased scholarships that continue to be offered in the GWC name—efforts that reflect AU’s belief in the lasting impact of this community.
In addition, AU is safeguarding the college’s archives and developing a long-term preservation plan to ensure that its history remains accessible to future generations. As we reflect on the accompanying photos, we hope that, like us, you feel pride in a legacy that endures.
In memoriam: Thomas R. Scott GWC ’61, ’63
Thomas R. Scott GWC ’61, ’63, a former Aurora University trustee, lifelong champion of education, and distinguished George Williams College alumnus, passed away last October at age 94, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of dedication to learning and philanthropy.
Born on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, in 1929, Scott moved to Chicago to attend GWC, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science. He also met Shirley Klein, an aspiring elementary school teacher who would become his wife and partner in educational advocacy for the next 53 years.
He went on to earn a doctoral degree in adult and continuing education from Northern Illinois University before serving as assistant dean for NIU’s College of Continuing Education, and previously, dean at the Central YMCA Community College in Chicago, which has since closed. Meanwhile, Shirley taught for 35 years in west suburban grade schools.
Tom served on the AU Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2015, and then continued on as a board member emeritus. Together with Shirley, he established numerous scholarship funds and supported improvement projects at AU. Their dedication to lifelong learning is permanently recognized through the Scott Center for Online and Graduate Studies, named in their honor. The center fulfills the Scotts’ commitment to ensuring that education remains foundational to achieving goals with faith and meaning.
Scott was a devoted member of his church and sang in the choir for over 50 years. After Shirley’s passing in 2013, he continued their shared mission of supporting educational opportunities for learners of all ages.
Alejandra Campoverdi to first-gen students: Be all of you, ‘unapologetically’
Best-selling author and former White House aide Alejandra Campoverdi spoke with AU students about the challenges and triumphs she experienced as a first-generation college student. C ampoverdi, whose memoir “First Gen” was published in 2023, answered a range of questions in a one-hour session at Crimi Auditorium this past November before her public appearance at AU’s Celebrating Arts and Ideas event in a lecture titled “The Emotional Toll of Being First.”
Her main message to the students: Remain true to yourself.
“The sooner that you come to terms with the ‘real you’ and allow yourself to be contradictory and celebrate parts of yourself that supposedly don’t fit together— where you come from, where you are, and where you’re going next—that’s when you really start hitting your stride,” said Campoverdi, 45. “Your only responsibility is to be all of these pieces as unapologetically as possible.”
Campoverdi forged a path as the first White House deputy director of Hispanic media, working under President Barack Obama. In 2024, she founded the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit that provides hardship grants directly to first-generation students. She holds a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and earned her undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of Southern California.
36% of undergraduates at AU are first-generation students
In conversation with moderator Eva Serrano, associate professor of foreign languages and the coordinator of AU’s program for first-year students, Campoverdi recounted the mixed feelings of pride, melancholy, confusion, and anxiety in her journey, from being on welfare as a child growing up in a crowded apartment in Santa Monica, California, to graduating from one of the nation’s most prestigious universities and working in the country’s highest office.
Along the way, as her career advanced, she experienced rejection from former friends and “breakaway guilt”—a term that describes the feeling first-generation college students may experience when they leave their families to pursue higher education.
“The further you go, the more opportunities there are to feel breakaway guilt,” Campoverdi said. “As bad as it feels, you don’t want to wish that feeling away. That’s the part of you that doesn’t forget where you came from. No matter what industry you go into, you’ll think of and include other peoples’ experiences.”
First-generation students make up more than one-third of AU’s student body. President Susana Rivera-Mills, a first-generation student herself, established the Future Promise Fund upon her arrival at AU last year to support students who are the first in their families to attend college.
“When I first got to AU, I had doubts about whether I was supposed to be here,” said freshman Elijah Byanski, who hopes to be the first in his family to graduate from college. “Listening to her made me feel more confident and understand that a lot of other students probably feel that way too.”
Cheryl Hellyer ’21 MA
K-5
Connecting the dots
“Third grade is really when students begin to understand the impact
of art on us as human beings.”
Schingoethe Center opens art exhibitions to local school districts
Agroup of third-graders huddle around a 10-by-3foot acrylic painting of a woman wrapped in white, floating in a black void. As they look closer, they discover the blackness is actually an enormous number of tiny black dots.
The subject of the painting is Chicago-area artist Tim Lowly’s daughter Temma, who lives with profound disabilities. Some 150 people worked on the painting, “Without Moving (after Guy Chase),” over a period of 10 years in a participatory art project.
“How many dots do you think are there?” Natasha Ritsma, director of the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University, asked the students.
Guesses flew: a hundred, a thousand, a million. The answer? 370,000—each one a quiet testament to the presence of others surrounding and supporting Temma.
The lesson in art and empathy is the result of a partnership between AU and West Aurora School District 129 that brings students into the museum to experience and talk about art.
Over the course of several weeks this past spring, the museum welcomed more than 800 third-graders from 11 schools across the district to experience the exhibition “Temma in Aurora,” a visually rich retrospective of Lowly’s work centered around his daughter. In preparation for the visit, district art teachers introduced their students to the themes of the show and discussed with them topics ranging from what it means to be an artist, how to behave in a museum and, most importantly, how to look at art through the lens of empathy.
“Third grade is really when students begin to understand the impact of art on us as human beings and explore connections that impact themselves as artists,” said Cheryl Hellyer ’21 MA, K-5
department administrator for fine arts, physical education, and health for the school district.
Ritsma curated the exhibition, which showcases paintings, drawings, sculpture, and installation pieces spanning more than 30 years of Lowly’s artistic career. His work has been exhibited around the world and is in collections of institutions including the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Lowly’s art depicts Temma as a representative of a significant population that is relatively unseen and unconsidered in our society.
“These stunning paintings, drawings and sculptures are infused with empathy, kindness, and adoration,” Ritsma said. “The children are just really excited to see the art, and their energy and curiosity help us all discover new ways to view and experience these amazing pieces.”
Scan the QR code to watch a video interview with artist Tim Lowly.
Department Administrator, West Aurora School District 129
Beyond Campus
Sweet success
Daniel Cuevas ’24 turns his childhood dream into reality
Every time a teenage Daniel Cuevas ’24 drove past Banana Split, Aurora’s beloved ice cream stand, he’d turn to whoever was in the passenger seat and say, “Man, I would do anything to own that place.”
“They would always laugh,” Cuevas said. “But I meant it.”
Last summer, at 28, Cuevas made that teenage dream a reality, purchasing the shop from longtime owners Randy and Lisa Brown. For more than 40 years, Banana Split has been an Aurora institution—a no-frills, neon-lit oasis of creamy soft serve and nostalgia. Now, under his watch, it’s entering a new chapter, one that blends tradition with fresh ideas.
Cuevas grew up just down the street, and Banana Split was more than a summer treat; it was part of the fabric of his childhood. While many dream of owning their favorite hometown hangout, few actually make it happen.
After high school, Cuevas enlisted in the U.S. Marines, serving for four years in the states and abroad, before returning home to enroll in college on the GI Bill—starting at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and transferring to Aurora University.
As an undergraduate, he studied finance and majored in business administration, working in sales to support his education. Some of his peers aimed for corporate jobs, but he had other plans. “I always knew I wanted to work for myself,” he said.
When the Browns put up the “for sale” sign in 2024, just as Cuevas was graduating from AU, he wasted no time. He had been laying the groundwork for years—so much so that the Browns still had an old email from him expressing interest long before the shop was ever officially on the market. That level of commitment sealed the deal.
Cuevas credits what he had learned in his financial accounting course at AU for making the transition into ownership smoother—he secured a small-business loan from Heartland Bank & Trust Co. to finance the purchase. His business training combined with his military experience put all the tools for entrepreneurship at his disposal.
“The Marines teaches you discipline, problem-solving, leadership—everything you need to run a
Homemade waffle cones Banana Split serves up each week
business,” he said. Cuevas compares running a small business to leading a team: keeping things running, handling challenges, solving problems, and making sure everyone, from employees to customers, feels valued.
Building on tradition
For Cuevas, owning Banana Split isn’t just about keeping the soft serve flowing. It’s about community.
Families have been coming for decades. Customers order the signature banana split—a classic trio of vanilla, chocolate, and homemade strawberry soft serve—without even looking at the menu. Parents introduce their kids to the same flavors they grew up with. “This is a special place,” Cuevas said. “It’s part of people’s lives.”
It’s that deep connection that drives his business philosophy. He plans to honor the longstanding business while taking steps to keep it relevant. His first goal is to partner with local businesses. He brought in cold brew coffee from Aurora-based Dapper Brews, and he is expanding the menu to include fresh fruit.
He is giving back in other ways too. Recently, he hosted a fundraiser for the Aurora University Student Nurses’ Association, and he plans to do more community partnerships in the future.
While Banana Split remains his focus, Cuevas is already thinking ahead. Adding more stores? Maybe. Franchising? Possibly. But for now, he’s savoring the moment—because every so often, he’ll drive down the same street he grew up on, catch sight of the neon Banana Split sign, and feel the same rush of excitement he did as a teenager.
“Owning it is everything I thought it was going to be,” he said.
A recipe for impact
Aurora University President Susana Rivera-Mills joined the judging panel at the Loaves & Fishes Chef Showdown on April 17, lending her palate to a culinary competition aimed at fighting hunger across the region.
Held inside the Aurora warehouse of Loaves & Fishes Community Services, chefs from two local restaurants—Entourage of Downers Grove and Mesón Sabika of Naperville—had one hour to create a three-course meal using fresh ingredients from the food pantry’s own market. The event brought together 250 guests and raised crucial funds to provide healthy food and empowerment programs to families in need.
“When local leaders representing different sectors come together in support of Loaves & Fishes, they help elevate awareness of food insecurity and demonstrate how collective action can drive meaningful change,” said Megan Lynch, executive vice president of advancement at the Naperville-based nonprofit.
In addition to Dr. Rivera-Mills, the other judges were John Diederich, president and CEO of Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora; Chef Alonso Beckford of The Matrix Club in Naperville; and Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli. Volunteers from Wintrust Commercial Banking, Endeavor Health, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Duly Health and Care helped the chefs prepare the meal.
The evening highlighted AU’s deep commitment to the region, supporting efforts that fight hunger, promote well-being, and bring people together, Rivera-Mills said, adding, “I’m grateful to be part of a community that shows up, gives back, and makes a difference.”
BackStory
Aiming High. In 1886, leaders from the Young Men’s Christian Association stood on the shores of Geneva Lake and saw more than just a scenic view—they saw a space for learning, reflection, and community. They purchased the land for a summer training school for YMCA administrators that came to be known as College Camp. It was a peaceful refuge from the bustle of nearby cities and a place where ideas and friendships flourished. In 1933, the group established a year-round school and named it George Williams College, honoring the YMCA’s founder. Over time, GWC expanded to include programs in camping and recreation administration, physical education, and social work, with a campus in Hyde Park and later in Downers Grove, while still holding gatherings by the lake. Swimming, boating, and hiking filled the summer days, and archery was a favorite pastime, as captured in this mid-20th century photo taken near the Yerkes Observatory. In 1992, Aurora University entered into an affiliation agreement with GWC, and in 2000 the two formally merged, with AU operating the campus for more than two decades. (Turn to page 38 for a tribute to GWC and its legacy.)
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October 10–12, 2025