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CLASS NOTES
Let us hear from you! Send a note to alumni@elmhurst.edu or call us at (630) 617-3600. Better yet, stop by the O≈ce of Alumni Relations on the first floor of Lehmann Hall.
1950s and 1960s In October, a group of alumni gathered at the home of Mary Brueggemann in Montreat, North Carolina, for an annual reunion of the group’s trip to Turkey a few years ago. Joining Mary were Rev. Dr. Richard Ellerbrake ’55 and Johann Ellerbrake, Rev. Reine Abele ’54 and Elsa Abele ’60, and Rev. Dr. Donald Mayer ’55 and Lynnea Mayer ’57. Rev. Bill Johnson ’68 received a Distinguished Alumni/ae Award from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, on March 18, 2017. Elmhurst College friends Bill Kruse ’68, Jan Warzyn ’69 and Michael Steeb ’69 attended the award luncheon. Bill lives at Pilgrim Place in Claremont, California. 1970s and 1980s Elizabeth Dudek ’73 has joined international law firm Greenberg Traurig as director of health-care affairs. Elizabeth, former secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, will join the firm’s state and national Health & FDA Business practice, as well as the Government Law and Policy practice. John Dispensa III ’83 and his wife became grandparents for the first time with the birth of Isabella Marie Watson. Jay Augustyniak ’89 recently earned the Certified Association Executive credential, the highest professional credential in the association industry, requiring intense education and training.
1990s and 2000s Christina Collins ’92, a wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual Chicago, has earned the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation from the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Christina is recognized as a top investment specialist on the national level. Her quality of service has earned her the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Quality Award for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Theresa Jordan ’92 has taken on the newly created role of director of sales and marketing at Montgomery Place, a continuing-care retirement community in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Theresa earned her MBA from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, in May 2016. Lisa Oddo ’93, M.Ed. ’06, is a contributing author to the new book Overcoming Mediocrity iv: Remarkable Women, a collection of motivational stories about faith, hope, strength and overcoming adversity. Chapters are written by women who have faced significant challenges and emerged stronger. David Murphy ’94 recently graduated from Purdue University Northwest with an MBA. David graduated summa cum laude and was accepted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Kelly C. Coleman ’98, M.Ed. ’10, published a book in 2015 titled Choose It! Kimberley Savino ’02 traveled to the Amazon in the summer of 2016 for a graduate
course in avian and tropical ecology. Kimberley, a teacher at Michael Collins Elementary School, lives in Roselle, Illinois, and took the graduate course as part of her master’s degree studies with Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program. James Kryshak ’06 premiered the role of Lightborn in Edward ii, an opera based on the 1593 play of the same name by Christopher Marlowe. Commissioned by Deutsche Oper Berlin, the opera premiered in February 2017. James also made his debut with the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in Lisbon in May singing the role of Bob Boles in Britten’s Peter Grimes. Erin ( Joyce) Jackson ’07 founded Inspire Santé, a nonprofit dedicated to broadening awareness of women’s health issues and educating providers. Erin speaks nationally about patient-centered care and is a vocal advocate for pelvic health. The nonprofit’s board members include fellow Elmhurst College alumni Vedrana Todorovic ’07, Sevi Sulemani ’07 and Terresa Byrd ’07. Kelly (Kral) Kelly ’07 and Matt Kelly ’08 both have new careers at Realtor Team (residential, commercial and property management). Lisa Johnson-McFarland ’08 became an Internet sensation last fall when her gospelflavored rendition of Go Cubs Go on Facebook went viral. The video received more than a million views, and she was invited to perform on several TV networks, including ABC7 Chicago and CBS2 Chicago.
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