One of the proudest moments in my nearly 10 years as president of Elmhurst University took place on Oct. 3, when we officially celebrated the opening of our new Health Sciences Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Every day, students and faculty from our nursing, public health, occupational therapy, and communication sciences and disorders programs come together in this state-of-the-art facility to learn within and across disciplines.
It’s been so exciting to walk by the building and see our students making the most of this energizing environment, whether they’re taking classes, running simulations, treating patients in one of the clinic spaces, or studying in a cozy spot by one of the many windows.
This issue of Prospect offers a guided tour of the Health Sciences Building— from the stunning rooftop solar panels to the cutting-edge simulation labs. This facility, and all that went into its creation and construction, resoundingly affirms Elmhurst’s commitment to academic excellence, responsible stewardship of our resources, and career-focused preparation.
Indeed, the new building, and the spirit of collaboration and innovation it inspires, will give future health care professionals an invaluable educational experience that will lead to better patient care and a healthier world.
At the ribbon cutting (from left): Kurt Ashley, interim vice president for business and finance/CFO; President Troy D. VanAken; Wes Becton, chair of the Board of Trustees; and Heather Hall, dean of the School of Health Sciences.
THE CLASS
Acute Physical Health Challenges
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
THE PROFESSOR
Marie-Claude Touchette
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
In a new lab set up like an everyday living space, graduate students learn creative ways to help people with mobility issues reengage with life activities.
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE
Occupational therapists figure out adaptations that will enable clients with mobility issues to return to activities that are meaningful to them. For years, one of our goals was to provide more hands-on experiences for our OT students, but the space we had was limited and not always easily accessible. Now, with the new Health Sciences Building, students can practice real-life situations in the Activities of Daily Living Lab. We can demonstrate how to modify activities in the home for patients who use a walker or a wheelchair. We can talk about how to reach into the refrigerator or unload the dishwasher.
In this class, we focus on interventions for the conditions we encounter frequently in practice, such as cardiopulmonary conditions, neurological conditions like stroke, and musculoskeletal conditions such as fractures, joint replacement, tendon injuries and complications from burns. We also have a two-day certification workshop on the use of physical agent modalities, which gives our students a head start as it meets the State of Illinois Practice Act requirements. Along with our orthosis fabrication workshop, these are often some of our students’ favorite activities because of their strong hands-on component.
IMPROVING LIVES
I worked in a clinical setting for about 20 years before I came to Elmhurst. OT is both an art and a science, especially in physical disability, where you have to know the pathophysiology and the typical healing process for a specific condition. There’s a scientific basis for what we do—understanding the physics, biology and chemistry of the human body.
OT also allows you to really get to know your patients. You can make such a big impact in a short amount of time, and you learn to celebrate little moments. You cry with a patient who finally moved their thumb after three months of not being able to use their hands.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
I want to make sure that students have not only a basic understanding of the conditions they will encounter but also the ability to research and gather information about things they haven’t studied. My aim is for them to become independent thinkers who can apply clinical reasoning to physical disabilities, and empathic individuals who put their clients’ needs first. This makes them stronger students in their fieldwork and, ultimately, stronger clinicians.
THE STUDENT VIEW
“It has been incredible to simulate different situations, from bed mobility to wheelchair transfers, and receive immediate feedback from the supervising professors. Dr. Touchette takes an immersive approach to teaching. She prioritizes jumping right in alongside learners to ensure a positive and thorough learning experience.”
— KELSI KING, MOT ’26
CAMPUS TREES ���
Just north of Daniels Hall stands a vibrant example of an increasingly rare species. The white ash, a native woodland tree used to make baseball bats and other products, is a prime target of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that has wiped out trees across the U.S. Elmhurst’s white ash has so far escaped this fate, towering over Daniels Hall and providing welcome shade on a hot summer day.
SPEAKER
Q&A
Before his talk, the Grammy-winning producer, singer-songwriter and author told Prospect what keeps him engaged, why his father’s popularity endures and more.
You wear so many hats—record and film producer, performer, writer. Which is your favorite?
I don’t really have a favorite, as each one of these roles feeds my creativity differently and challenges me. For example, producing records is a different energy from directing or writing, but they all keep me engaged and evolving as an artist.
When are you at your most creative? I’m most creative in the early morning. I get up before the sun rises, and I like to watch the world wake up. I write or just sit in silence to prepare for the day ahead.
Are you surprised by people’s continuing admiration for Johnny Cash and his music?
Not really. My dad embodied a rare combination of authenticity, rebellion, vulnerability and timeless artistry. He could be spiritual and self-destructive, tender and tough, faithful and flawed. That complexity made him deeply human and relatable. He wrote about his struggles, his victories, his faith and his family, and people can relate to all of those things, even today.
John Carter Cash spoke at Elmhurst on Oct. 30 about the lyrics and legacy of his iconic father, Johnny Cash.
What do you like to do in your spare time, if you have any?
I have a lot of hobbies. I love to go deep-sea fishing in Florida. I have a farm outside of Nashville, and we keep bees and sell our own honey, Cash Cabin Honey. I like to hunt and basically spend a lot of time in nature.
What advice do you have for young people eager to work in the music industry?
Don’t wait for permission to start. Make music with what you have—a guitar, a laptop, your voice or even a kitchen table. The journey is about discovering your own unique voice in whatever way you create. Once you begin to find that voice, surround yourself with people who help it grow and challenge you to explore new ways to share it.
HAS HTAG HIGHLIGHTS
Campus highlights this fall included the first day of classes, a trip to Chicago, a visit from a beloved former president and much more. Follow us on social media to keep up with the latest.
elmhurstu_csd First-year graduate students are excited to welcome clients today to our new clinic! The Elmhurst University SpeechLanguage-Hearing Clinic opens its doors today in the new Health Sciences Building. We are loving our new space and can’t wait to share it with our amazing clients. ����
eu_global Our international students had a blast exploring downtown Chicago, including the "Bean" and Navy Pier. Follow us for updates about future Chicago Explorers events!
elmhurstalumni We had an amazing time welcoming former University President Bryant Cureton and his wife, Jeanette Cureton, back to campus. They stopped by Cureton Hall and received a tour of the new Health Sciences Building. ☀��⛲
Cureton served as the 12th president of Elmhurst University from 1994 to 2008. During his presidency, he oversaw multiple building projects, including the construction of two residence halls, a new academic building and the fitness center. The University also renovated the A.C. Buehler Library and expanded the Frick Center.
LEARN TO LEAD
In today’s volatile business environment, one skill remains vital: leadership. As a student in the Elmhurst Management Program (EMP), you’ll do more than earn a bachelor’s degree—you’ll build the skills to lead in any situation. Read more about the EMP at elmhurst.edu/Blog.
BY THE NUMBERS
The new Health Sciences Building will foster collaborative, hands-on learning for decades to come. Here are some details that showcase what makes the building so special.
BRICKS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
104,000
ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS
304
PROJECTED ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS FROM THE PANELS
$25,000
ARTWORKS ON DISPLAY
11*
SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING CLINIC CLIENTS SERVED WEEKLY, ON AVERAGE
60–70
STUDENTS IN THE NURSING, PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAMS
656
POSSIBLE SIMULATION EXPERIENCES IN THE VIRTUAL REALITY LAB
* Including six created by former faculty members
elmhurst.university First day of classes and Fall Term is in full swing! We’re so excited to have all of our best friends back on campus. ��
TOPS FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY AND MORE
TRANSFER STUDENTS WIN SCHOLARSHIPS
Stefan Soh ’28 has played basketball most of his life and credits the sport with teaching him critical skills such as leadership and teamwork. When he developed an interest in data science, he set out to leverage technology to help basketball coaches make better decisions.
In the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report, released on Sept. 23, Elmhurst ranks No. 3 on the list of Top Performers for Social Mobility, and also No. 3 as one of the best schools in the Midwest for veterans.
In the Best Regional Universities Midwest category, which includes 161 colleges and universities across 12 Midwestern states, Elmhurst came in at No. 7 and was the only Illinois university in the top 15.
Elmhurst also ranks among the top 500 colleges in the country, including 18 in Illinois, on Forbes’ annual America’s Top Colleges guide, which highlights colleges and universities “that produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt.”
Elmhurst’s rankings underscore the University’s historic commitment to student success and educational value, President Troy D. VanAken said.
“Our academic and pre-professional programs, combined with our student-centered approach and overall campus experience, are central to how we can best prepare our students for success both on campus and beyond,” he said.
Thanks in part to that curiosity, Soh recently won first place in the 2025 Elmhurst University Transfer Scholarship Competition, along with a $10,000 renewable scholarship for up to two years of study at Elmhurst. Soh, who plans to study computer science, says, “At Elmhurst, I’ll keep asking bigger questions to find smarter answers.”
A record 127 transfer students participated in this year’s competition, which asked applicants to submit a video about a defining moment when their curiosity drove them to explore something in a different way. Trinity Barrueta ’28, a bioinformatics student, won second place and a $5,000 renewable scholarship, and accounting major Khamiya Langston ’27 won third place and a $2,500 renewable scholarship.
Left to right: Christine Grenier, vice president of admission; Stefan Soh; Trinity Barrueta; Khamiya Langston; and Kristina Black, director of academic partnerships and transfer admission.
A NEW FLOCK OF
BLUEJAYS
In August, Elmhurst welcomed nearly 630 new undergraduate students to campus for New Student Orientation and the start of the 2025–26 academic year. Students in the diverse incoming class come from 23 states—including Alaska—and 14 countries.
During orientation, new students toured downtown Elmhurst, tackled a zipline adventure course and packed meals at the nonprofit Feed My Starving Children. Along the way, they took time to explore their values and learn about navigating college successfully.
“Each of you brings distinctive gifts to our campus, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do here,” President Troy D. VanAken told the firstyear class during New Student Convocation. “We look forward to getting to know all of you and to sharing this special place with you.”
MEET OUR NEWMAN
CIVIC FELLOW
Netochukwu Kalu ’26, a sport management major with a passion for building community, is one of just 150 students from the U.S. and Mexico named to the 2025 class of Newman Civic Fellows.
The yearlong program—hosted by Campus Compact, a coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that promotes civic engagement— recognizes students who are committed to creating positive change in their communities and around the world. Participants engage in learning and networking opportunities emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth.
Kalu actively participates in campus organizations that focus on building community, including the International Student Association and Cru, while also taking part in service opportunities.
Being nominated and selected for the fellowship was a moment of pride for Kalu. “It is an encouragement to continue to keep looking for ways to give back to my community,” she says.
GROWING TRANSFER FRIENDLIER
Elmhurst U. has cemented its status as one of the nation’s most transfer-friendly universities by earning a spot, for the sixth year in a row, on Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s 2025 Transfer Honor Roll, and by becoming one of the first schools in the country to offer direct admission to eligible members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for community college students.
Currently, 71 percent of PTK members transfer to a four-year college or university. With PTK’s new direct admission option, that number is expected to grow as students receive admission offers, as well as scholarship award information, from participating colleges without having to submit a traditional application.
A NEW VP
KERI ANNE ALIOTO, ED.D., joined the University in August as vice president for student affairs. Chosen through a nationwide search, Alioto came to Elmhurst from Mount Mary University, a small, Catholic liberal arts college in Milwaukee, where she was vice president for student affairs.
Alioto notes that the Elmhurst role appealed to her because of the University’s “phenomenal reputation for putting students first.” After coming to campus for interviews, she says, “I could tell that people just live and breathe the mission and values of the University. I want to work where the things that matter most are emphasized, and I see that shining through in every facet of the student experience.”
NEWS BRIEFS
GINA VENIER ’12 sang the national anthem at Chicago’s Wrigley Field for a Cubs game on July 2. “To say this was a dream is literally the biggest understatement of my life,” Venier wrote on Instagram. “I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl who just adored watching and playing baseball.”
WALTER BRUEGGEM ANN, 1933–2025
WALTER BRUEGGEMANN ’55, H ’97, one of the most respected and influential Bible scholars and theologians of the 20th century, died on June 5 at age 92.
Over the course of a distinguished and prolific career, Brueggemann wrote more than 100 books, inspired clergy and churchgoers as a public speaker, and made a lasting impact on biblical scholarship. His best-known book, The Prophetic Imagination, is said to have sold more than a million copies.
An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Brueggemann taught generations of future ministers as a faculty member at Eden Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. In 2015, he became the first Elmhurst graduate to receive the Niebuhr Medal for extraordinary service to humanity, the University’s highest honor.
In an obituary, Adam Nossiter of The New York Times wrote that Brueggemann was “an influential theologian who used biblical exegesis to argue against nationalism, racial injustice and ignoring the poor.” He added, “Dr. Brueggemann was a rare scholar of the Bible who combined close textual analysis of the Hebrew prophets with a sociological consciousness. Just as these prophets denounced Pharaoh and the oppression of their time, he argued, latter-day prophets should oppose the oppressive traits, like consumerism, militarism and nationalism, that dominate American life.”
THREE ELMHURST STUDENTS won the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to intern and study abroad.
Matthew Cortina ’26 interned at a marketing firm in Australia over the summer, and Anna Lakey ’26 and Jackelyn Lopez Barrera ’26 are studying nursing in Ireland during the Fall Term.
JAMES STISO ’26 AND MARTIN MUNGUIA ’26 traveled to New York City with The BASE, a Chicago youth-focused nonprofit. They filmed the trip, which focused on developing young people’s financial literacy and investing skills.
BLUEJAY IMPACT
The women’s soccer team welcomed a new honorary member to its roster this fall.
Sadie, an 8-year-old who lives with cerebral palsy and apraxia of speech, visited campus on Sept. 11 for her official “signing day” with the women’s soccer team. After attending a practice session, she signed a celebratory letter signifying her honorary membership on the team. She also got to know the players, tried on a jersey, ate popsicles with her new teammates and “rang the bell,” as is traditional after Elmhurst home field wins.
Sadie’s visit to Elmhurst was made possible by Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that matches children facing serious illness or disability with college sports teams to create long-term, life-changing experiences.
NEWS BRIEFS
THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
partnered with Chicago Survivors, a nonprofit that supports families of homicide victims, to present A Walk Toward Healing on Sept. 14. The two-mile walk, a fundraising event for the nonprofit, began near the Frick Center and wound its way through campus and the surrounding community.
FACULTY FAREWELL
PROFESSOR JOHN JEFFREY has retired from the Elmhurst University faculty after more than 40 years of dedicated service.
Jeffrey, who joined the University’s Department of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) in 1983, won the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018–19. In response to the myriad tech revolutions that happened during his tenure, he regularly revised the CSIS curriculum to provide students with relevant content and skills to prepare them not just for rewarding careers but also for lifelong learning.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Jeffrey has worked as a software developer in statistics research and as a scientific programmer for companies and agencies including NASA. He also served as a trainer for new software systems for large audit firms.
THE WCPE HAS A NEW NAME that more explicitly conveys the center’s focus on career development. Now known as the Russell G. Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence, or WCCPE, the center will retain its long-standing emphasis on building values.
THE LAW AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS FAIR in September brought together about 250 Elmhurst students with representatives from graduate and professional programs. Participants made connections and learned more about pathways to successful careers.
Bluejay Sky Und the HOMECOMING 2025
2025
The Bluejay community came together in October for a weekend of alumni reunions, tailgating, a bonfire and parade, sports matchups and much more. Under clear blue skies, alumni reconnected, reminisced and celebrated their Elmhurst roots.
See the highlights at elmhurst.edu/Homecoming.
Jackelyn Lopez Barrera helps other student veterans make the transition to campus life.
FROM SERVICE TO STUDIES
Jackelyn Lopez Barrera ’26 was 10 when her beloved godmother was diagnosed with brain cancer. Seeing the impact nurses had on her godmother’s care, Lopez Barrera decided that she, too, wanted to become a nurse.
As a high school senior, Lopez Barrera enlisted in the U.S. Army. She served for three and a half years in the 25th Infantry Division, learning to maneuver tanks and other assault vehicles, training as a medic, and saving up for nursing school. Then she came home to Illinois to begin her studies at Elmhurst University.
College life was an adjustment—more downtime, less chaos, younger peers. She loved being back home in Hillside with her parents and siblings, but she’d left behind her second family—
the fellow soldiers she’d shared every experience with during her service.
But she’d chosen Elmhurst in part for its welcoming environment, especially toward veterans and active military members, and soon she started getting involved in campus activities. One of her first steps was to join the Student Veterans Association, or SVA.
Last year, Lopez Barrera became SVA president. In that role, she reached out to other vets and military students and explored ways to make them feel not only at home at Elmhurst but also appreciated for their service. This fall, she is coleading the SVA from a distance as she joins yet another chosen family—her fellow nursing students—for a study abroad program in Ireland.
“Veterans are sometimes shy when coming back to civilian life. There can be a bit of a culture shock because it’s very different from what we’re used to,” she says. “But there are ways to make connections and to find other veterans like you.”
Making those connections just got even easier, now that the Jans Family Veterans and Military Center is open in its prominent new home just off the lobby in the Health Sciences Building.
“It’s amazing to have the Jans Center be so visible,” she says, “and to be recognized with a designated space that says, ‘We’re here to be helpful; we’re here for you.’”
PHOTO
PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA
A COMMITMENT TO CARE
At Elmhurst’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Ilana Feld is driving change in the community.
For people with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, clinical interventions in speech and communication sometimes come too late. “With Parkinson’s, people don’t often reach out to a speech pathologist until there’s a problem—they see it as a natural consequence to lose their voice or not be understood,” explains Ilana Feld, clinical assistant professor in Elmhurst University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
As an instructor and supervisor of graduate clinicians at Elmhurst’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Feld is changing narratives about treatment—and creating opportunities for students and the community. Serving 60 to 70 clients (mostly children) each term, the clinic provides clients and their families with the tools
to manage a variety of conditions that affect communication and cognition. At the same time, it enables Elmhurst students to build their skills and make a positive impact.
“Our in-house clinic allows us to support students at an early learning phase,” Feld says. “Even in their first semester as graduate students, they each have a client they’re responsible for. I’m in the next room or supervising from my office, providing a unique level of support.”
In addition to her clinical leadership, Feld teaches courses in adult language disorders, equipping students for
rewarding careers in speech pathology. Almost all of the students graduate with job offers. They also become deeply attuned to the concerns of their clients, building strong connections by developing treatments in response to their needs.
Now, clients have even more ways to benefit from the work of Feld and her students. With a new home in the Health Sciences Building, which also houses the occupational therapy, nursing and public health programs, the clinic is creating more client capacity and space for interdisciplinary collaboration. “In the new building, we will be able to provide more opportunities for students to work together with other disciplines,” Feld says. “As a result, students will be able to have an even more dynamic experience.”
A generous gift from Thomas Tyrrell pays tribute to his wife, Diane, while giving back to the school that helped launch his career.
A SURPRISE TRIBUTE
When Thomas Tyrrell ’67 was looking at colleges in the 1960s, Elmhurst’s basketball coach successfully recruited him to join the Bluejays with a job offer: washing the team’s gym clothes after practice.
“I was going to have to pay my own way through college, so that sounded good to me,” Tyrrell says. A commuter student from Westchester, Ill., Tyrrell majored in business and English, played basketball, and ultimately was elected class president. During his senior year, he was thrilled to be invited to join a prestigious yearlong training program at Bethlehem Steel. But the offer was contingent on getting his grades up during his final semester.
“My study habits weren’t strong then, but Elmhurst really helped me through,” he says. The training program launched his career in the steel industry, and he worked his way up the ladder until he founded his own steel company. Along the way, he remembered his time at Elmhurst as the foundation of his success. “I started giving back early from a small philanthropic standpoint,” he says.
Tyrrell joined the Elmhurst University Board of Trustees in 1990, and his giving continued to grow. Over the next 21 years, he and his wife, Diane, helped shepherd the school while supporting the Annual Fund, student scholarships and campus improvement projects, including the Tyrrell Fitness Center.
When the University announced plans for the new Health Sciences Building, Tyrrell saw an opportunity to honor Diane with a naming gift for some aspect of the project. A critical-care nurse for 45 years, Diane has a deep commitment to the health sciences and to supporting students. So Tyrrell, now a trustee emeritus, made plans to endow the Diane Tyrrell Department of Nursing and Public Health.
At the dedication ceremony in July, Diane was surprised and pleased. “I’m happy to be able to honor her, because she is absolutely the best person I have met in my life,” Tyrrell says.
“I have incredible pride at being a part of this school, and I will never be able to pay the debt of gratitude that I owe Elmhurst.”
PHOTO
GOING PLACES
A world-traveling childhood inspired two-sport athlete Caden Sultzbaugh’s interest in international business.
Caden Sultzbaugh ’26 began his fourth consecutive year at Elmhurst University this fall. That may not sound remarkable until you consider that, in the 18 or so years before he settled in at Elmhurst, Sultzbaugh had lived in eight locations in five countries.
Sultzbaugh owes his childhood globe-trotting to his father’s career in the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. In addition to stints in Maryland, Texas and the Chicago area, Sultzbaugh has lived in Havana; Guatemala City; Lima, Peru; and San Salvador, El Salvador.
“I feel very fortunate to have lived in so many places. That’s an experience not too many people get,” he says. “I think it has helped shape who I am.”
Sultzbaugh’s time abroad provided him with fluency in Spanish, an interest in international affairs, and a deep appreciation for the soccer-mad culture of parts of Central and South America. At Elmhurst, he’s majoring in finance and international business, and he captains the men’s soccer team. He also competes on the men’s tennis team.
He spent the summer of 2024 working as a paid intern with the Department of State’s Bureau of International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement in Guatemala City, where he assisted organizers of the annual Central American Security Conference. This summer, on a recommendation from one of his business professors, he worked with the global sales enablement team and strategic client management team of credit card giant Discover on projects to build the company’s acceptance rate among merchants in Canada.
Now, Sultzbaugh is determined to make the most of his final year of college. He prizes his role as soccer team captain, calling it “one of the most rewarding experiences you could have, because you are working not just for yourself, but for all of your teammates.” And, hoping to import a bit of the fan enthusiasm he experienced abroad, he has made it a mission to increase attendance at Langhorst Field soccer matches.
Sultzbaugh recently accepted a full-time position at Capital One as a management rotational program associate starting in the summer of 2026. Eventually, he hopes to work in international business.
After all, he explains, “I’ve had such amazing experiences living abroad, it would be a waste not to take advantage of some of what I learned there.”
PHOTO BY ROB HART
IN TUNE WITH STUDENTS
Taka Matsunaga inspires music students with insights from a wealth of experience.
Taka Matsunaga approaches his work with passion and purpose. As assistant professor and director of orchestras at Elmhurst, the acclaimed conductor shows his students that a career in music is possible with focus and hard work. “We must be honest with the music,” Matsunaga says. “This means self-discipline through daily practice is a must. Our music students are musicians who have chosen to make it their craft, and they strive to improve and let that passion shine through every note.”
Since joining Elmhurst in 2019, Matsunaga has grown the orchestra in size and quality, inspiring students with his understanding of diverse musical styles.
Matsunaga’s own artistic journey began in fifth grade, when his uncle gave him a recording of Isaac Stern performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. That transformative moment inspired him to pursue a career in music, a path that has led to performances with professional orchestras and appearances in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. In 2021, he won a Conductor of the Year award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras as well as an American Prize in Orchestral Conducting.
Matsunaga has a rich background as an instructor, and his experiences leading regional orchestras have informed his
teaching at Elmhurst. In 2007, he founded the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra, an award-winning youth orchestra based in Schaumburg, Ill., and in 2022, he became conductor of the Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center, a summer music academy in Door County, Wis. He also recently conducted at the first summer orchestral festival of the San Salvador Youth Choirs and Orchestras System.
“I realized that what I did reached beyond myself,” he says of the experience. “It reaffirmed the power of music to connect people across borders and inspired me to continue supporting music education globally.”
Matsunaga collaborates closely with other musicians, including colleagues at Elmhurst. In 2024, he premiered Malambo by Joshua Rodriguez, associate professor of music theory and composition at Elmhurst. And in October, he conducted the U.S. premiere of Like Water Through a Dream, an orchestral work by David DeVasto, associate professor of music theory and composition.
“The music is full of colors and beauty,” Matsunaga says. “It’s an honor to share this wonderful work by my colleague at Elmhurst University.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAKA MATSUNAGA
UNDER ONE ROOF
BOOSTER SHOT
The new Health Sciences Building brings a big dose of pride and promise to campus.
Health care is a team effort. That’s why the students and faculty of Elmhurst University’s communication sciences and disorders, nursing, occupational therapy, and public health programs are now working under one roof in the new Health Sciences Building. The state-of-the-art facility’s open spaces and flexible classrooms are purpose-built to encourage collaboration and community.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the new building is a stunner, gleaming with natural light and high-tech learning tools like an immersive virtual reality lab. Elmhurst’s newest building and the first to open in nearly two decades, it stands confidently alongside the oldest, Old Main, at the heart of campus. Featuring accent bricks that echo the color of the brickwork in Old Main, the new facility is designed to blend seamlessly into the campus landscape.
The Health Sciences Building is also benefiting the local community. A new home for the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic accommodates more clients than ever, and the expanded space could enable the provision of public health services such as flu shots and occupational therapy evaluations.
“It’s hard to think of a discipline that has more of a positive impact on the broader community than health care,” says President Troy D. VanAken. “I’m so proud that the new building will position the University to play an important role in preparing our students to lead in the increasingly collaborative and rapidly evolving health care industry.”
In these pages, we take a close look at the new building’s innovative technologies, sustainable design and transformative impact on campus and in the community.
UNDER ONE ROOF
VIRTUALLY AMAZING
Nursing students use the latest immersive virtual reality tools to master some timeless skills.
BY ANDREW SANTELLA
A century ago, about the only option for U.S. nursing students who wanted to practice the skills they were learning in the classroom was to spend some quality time with Mrs. Chase. A rosy-cheeked, 5-foot-4-inch wooden doll whose most realistic features were limbs that flexed like a marionette’s, Mrs. Chase (named for the doll designer who produced it) was a pioneering attempt at simulation-based nursing education.
Nursing education has made impressive technological strides since then, and Elmhurst
University’s new Health Sciences Building makes that abundantly clear. There, nursing students sharpen their clinical skills in an immersive virtual reality (VR) lab—the first of its kind in the Midwest—that replicates real-life health care situations. They also practice with a family of programmable, highfidelity patient simulators capable of breathing, bleeding, sneezing, coughing, sweating, giving birth, displaying rising blood pressure, having seizures and responding to medical interventions. If it all seems a long way from Mrs. Chase, the basic premise remains
PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA
PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA
PHOTO BY EMMA
timeless: preparing students for clinical practice by giving them hands-on, low-risk practical experience that builds their skills and confidence.
The new 45,000-square-foot facility gathers Elmhurst’s nursing, public health, occupational therapy, and communication sciences and disorders programs under one roof. It houses the University’s new nursing simulation center, replacing the former facility at nearby Elmhurst Hospital. It also features a new space for the University’s Speech-LanguageHearing Clinic and the Jans Family Military and Veterans Center, which provides an array of resources for student veterans and military service members.
The Health Sciences Building was designed to replicate professional health care environments, down to some surprising details. According to Jenny Bengeult, executive vice president and director of design at Momentum, the Seattle-based company that oversaw the construction project, the building’s design incorporates wider hallways, an elevator that can accommodate gurneys and hospital beds, and hard flooring surfaces instead of carpet.
Courtney Miller, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, says the building underscores Elmhurst’s long legacy of innovative nursing education and signals its ongoing commitment to preparing leaders in health care.
“Our nursing programs have such a strong reputation in the community,” Miller says. “This investment shows that we’re operating from a position of strength to provide students with stateof-the-art experiences.”
Simulations have long been a central part of training in high-risk fields such as aeronautics. In recent years, nursing educators have also leveraged new technologies to transform students’ training. A 2023 study by researchers at Georgia Tech found
immersive VR training to be as effective as in-person training for students learning to provide care for pediatric patients. Indeed, some employers use simulations to evaluate candidates for nursing roles.
In the building’s new VR lab, instructors can create specific, realistic health care scenarios for students, simulating environments as different as a hospital operating room, the back of an ambulance and a patient’s living room. Using the walls as touchscreens to interact with videos, students are immersed in a multidimensional simulation. They manage high-pressure emergencies such as cardiac arrests, complete complex processes such as chest tube placement, and practice caring for patients with conditions such as dementia.
The new simulation lab includes four state-of-theart patient simulators, or manikins. (The spelling is unique to health care contexts to differentiate them from clothing-display mannequins.) Like a driver’s ed simulator or any other simulation-based educational tool, their purpose is to create lowrisk opportunities for students to practice, making mistakes and learning from them—minus the real-world consequences. Students get real-time feedback not only from instructors but also from the manikins, which are so lifelike that students who fumble through their procedures see the impact. Make enough mistakes, and the manikin’s condition may rapidly worsen.
Like elite athletes, nursing students depend on practice repetitions to prepare for high-pressure situations. “It’s all about deliberate practice. Do it over and over, and then reset and do it again,” says Sara DePaul, director of simulation in the Diane Tyrrell Department of Nursing and Public Health. “One thing I love about this new building is that it makes it so easy for students to practice, because it’s all right here for them.”
Surely, Mrs. Chase would be proud.
UNDER ONE ROOF
HOLISTIC BY DESIGN
The new building prioritizes wellness for people and the planet.
BY EMILY AYSHFORD
The first thing visitors are likely to notice when they walk into Elmhurst University’s new Health Sciences Building is the prominent staircase that cascades down into the lobby.
With the elevator tucked out of sight in the side hallway, visitors are more likely to take the stairs to the next floor. And when they do, they’ll benefit from natural light coming through large windows, and breathe air ventilated with high-grade filters.
That’s all by design. From the first architectural sketches through construction and furnishing, Elmhurst has made sure that the new home for
its health sciences programs promotes a healthy lifestyle. By prioritizing sustainability—through building materials, energy systems, water consumption and indoor air quality—the University has created an institutional building that saves money, minimizes environmental harm and offers occupants and visitors an enriching environment for work and study.
This fall, the building earned LEED Gold certification, a U.S. Green Building Council award given to buildings that prioritize environmental and social benefits.
Spotlight on sustainability: The roof of the new building features more than 300 photovoltaic solar panels.
PHOTO BY
“The return on investment is really the user experience for the occupants of the building,” says Bob Saunders, vice president of strategic partnerships at Momentum, the firm that managed the construction of the building. “But it’s also the energy savings and the rebates and incentives that come with making a building sustainable. It’s a win-win.”
LOCAL RESOURCES
Elmhurst enlisted the help of Cyclone Energy Group, a consulting firm that provides organizations with analysis and recommendations on how to make buildings more sustainable. In its work on the Health
Sciences Building, Cyclone sought to achieve LEED certification by developing a sustainability road map and consulting with the University, the architect, the construction manager and contractors every step of the way.
Many sustainable features were established in the building’s blueprint—such as large windows that let in daylight, thereby reducing the energy needed for lighting—but Cyclone also provided life-cycle analysis on materials, air quality, and water and energy consumption.
For example, building materials were purchased
PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA
PHOTO BY EMMA FILIPSSON
PHOTO
BY SARAH NADER
Karl Walsh, sustainability team technical leader at Cyclone Energy Group; and Kurt Ashley, interim VP for business and finance/ CFO, hold the LEED Gold certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
locally when possible—specifically, within 500 miles. The gold-colored bricks cladding the building facade? Made and fired in Sugar Creek, Ohio. The steel for the building’s structure? Milled in Indiana. The mechanical systems? Built in Wisconsin.
“Let’s say you get materials from China,” says Ben Skelton, president and CEO of Cyclone. “You’re putting them on a cargo ship for two months and burning all this energy to get here. But if they’re made locally, the transportation is less carbon and fuel intensive.”
Windows and insulation were designed for maximum thermal efficiency, an additional way of cutting down on energy costs. The team also used paints and flooring materials without volatile organic compounds, which can be harmful to human health.
GREENER WATER AND ENERGY SYSTEMS
The Cyclone team carefully considered systems throughout the building. Faucets and toilets are low flow, reducing water consumption. Rooms are ventilated with the highest-quality filters, and the ventilation system can detect and respond to carbon dioxide levels.
“If there are four people in a room instead of 50, the ventilation system can adjust accordingly,” Skelton says. “Actual energy use of the building is 61 percent better than baseline.”
The result is a naturally lit, quiet building that doesn’t emit that new-building smell.
To save energy, the four modular boilers in the basement can be used individually as needed— including to melt ice off the sidewalks outside. That’s a far cry from the giant steam boiler system that was previously used to heat much of campus through a maze of tunnels.
The crowning achievement lies on the roof—more than 300 photovoltaic solar panels, which will generate nearly half of the building’s energy needs. “Operating this structure over its entire 100-year lifespan will take less carbon than building it and tearing it down,” Skelton says.
Even the construction site ran with strict green protocols: More than 70 percent of waste construction materials were recycled.
AN INVESTMENT WITH MULTIPLE RETURNS
By prioritizing sustainability, the University took advantage of programs, grants and tax incentives aimed at creating a more environmentally friendly world. The solar-power system benefited from both federal and state tax credits, while the energy efficiency of the building garnered Elmhurst and its contractors another federal tax deduction.
“We are getting the majority of the cost of the photovoltaic panels back over the next six years,” Saunders says. “That’s even better than the initial analysis proposed.”
The building’s sustainable features were more than enough to qualify it for LEED Gold certification, the third-highest status of its kind. But beyond status, the real winners are those who will spend their days in the building.
“Air quality, natural light and building features that encourage physical activity—like the open, inviting main staircase in the new building—are important social determinants of health,” says Molly Tran, director of Elmhurst’s Master of Public Health Program. “For our students, faculty and staff who spend a lot of time in the building, these features can have a real impact on health and well-being.”
UNDER ONE ROOF
MEMORIAL HAUL
As Memorial Hall comes down, a time capsule is discovered in the cornerstone.
When the former home of the University’s nursing department was demolished to make way for the Health Sciences Building, a surprising relic of the past emerged: a time capsule dating back to 1921, when Memorial Hall was built.
Featuring yearbooks, newspapers, handwritten letters, photo albums and much more—in both English and German—the capsule offers a rare snapshot of an important moment in the University’s history.
UNDER ONE ROOF
BLUEPRINT FOR IMPACT
Elmhurst faculty share what the new building means to their fields—and to society.
BY AMY MERRICK
With expanded clinics, simulation spaces and state-of-the-art technology, the new Health Sciences Building facilitates human interactions across classroom and community. Future health care professionals have more opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, while events and therapy groups will invite more participation from community members.
To mark the opening of the building, several faculty members gathered for a roundtable discussion on the societal benefits of upgraded health care training and expanded cooperation among departments:
• Heather Hall, professor and dean of the School of Health Sciences
• Ruiying Ding, professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Becky Hulett, associate professor and chair of the Diane Tyrrell Department of Nursing and Public Health
• Molly Tran, assistant professor and director of the Master of Public Health Program
• Elizabeth Wanka, associate professor and director of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program
Heather Hall
Molly Tran
Elizabeth Wanka
Ruiying Ding
Becky Hulett
How will the new building enable students to work together, and why is that important for future health care professionals?
Heather Hall: I’m most excited about the increased opportunities for interprofessional education, or IPE. When our students graduate, they’re going to work with others in different fields, probably even more so as changes in health care occur. By incorporating IPE and crossdepartment collaboration, we’re creating truerto-life experiences.
Becky Hulett: I’ve challenged our nursing and public health faculty to find out who’s teaching in the building at the same time. If we have guest speakers, there’s no reason we can’t cross over. It’s only going to make our students more compassionate and better professionals when they graduate.
Molly Tran: For years, we’ve wanted to provide simulation experiences in which students from different health sciences can work together in a more real-world setting. Now that’s doable because we are not scattered all over campus.
How do you envision serving community members in this building?
Ruiying Ding: We see a lot of possibilities. Our Speak Out group for individuals with Parkinson’s disease will be able to meet in our new group therapy room. We will also be able to host coffee chats in our own space for aphasia and stroke patients. In addition, we would like to have some kind of summer camp.
Elizabeth Wanka: We’ll bring in community members who have experienced stroke or traumatic brain injury to work directly with our students. We also plan to expand partnerships with local organizations and schools, offering occupational therapy evaluations and wellness services.
Becky Hulett: In the past, our students have given flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines, usually off campus. Looking forward, this space might allow us to link our public health program more closely to the community. Also, the University’s Jans Family Military and Veterans Center now has a beautiful space in this building where students who have served in the military can access resources and make connections.
What are the benefits of new technologies such as the updated simulation lab and the 360-degree virtual reality room?
Becky Hulett: The new simulation lab is a complete game changer—not just for nursing students but for our faculty. Before, the simulation lab was off campus, at the hospital. Now that it’s here in this building, students are experiencing patient care in a new way. In the main room, students treat a “patient”—a manikin that can exhibit symptoms and respond to medications— while faculty operate the manikin behind a window. In those situations, students feel like they’re really in it.
Ruiying Ding: The simulation lab gives us much more opportunity to practice co-treating, which is common in hospital settings. Speech therapy faculty can simulate a stroke patient’s behavior, such as swallowing problems and speech issues, while our occupational therapy colleagues can focus on positioning, evaluation, feeding and limb movements.
Becky Hulett: And our virtual reality immersion room is the only one of its kind in the Midwest. It has four projectors, creating a 360-degree experience. When we dim the lights in there, the students really get immersed in what’s happening. It orients students to spaces like an obstetrics room, so they can practice interacting with the equipment before they even get into the hospital. Also, the room has special paint on the walls that makes them like a touchscreen computer.
Heather Hall: You can touch the wall, and it asks you a question.
Elizabeth Wanka: The Activities of Daily Living Lab, which replicates a home health environment, is especially transformative for occupational therapy. Students can practice real-world skills such as cooking alongside individuals recovering from a stroke in a fully equipped kitchen.
Becky Hulett: Given the complexity of care today, physical therapists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers and sports-medicine physicians all work together—and our new building provides the technologies and spaces students need to prepare for that.
How will this interdisciplinary model of health care education and hands-on practice help you prepare students to be knowledgeable and confident professionals?
Molly Tran: One of the unique things about our public health program is that it’s on a liberal arts campus, where we can actually practice public health as the highly interdisciplinary field that it is. Having this space makes that even stronger.
Elizabeth Wanka: Students can now move seamlessly from theory to practice—for example, applying what they’ve learned about hip precautions while recording themselves completing a wheelchair transfer. The larger spaces allow for safe, realistic practice of interventions and reflect our vision of fostering skilled, confident occupational therapists who are ready to serve a variety of populations.
Heather Hall: Health care is not the way it used to be, with just the physician and the nurse. There are so many layers, with physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and people come from all different backgrounds and levels of training. We are preparing professionals who can manage the complexities of health care from day one and who can work together to best serve the needs of patients and the community.
ALUMNI NEWS
OUR 2025 AWARD WINNERS
Elmhurst University’s Founders Medal and Alumni Merit Awards honor outstanding contributions by alumni and friends to the University and the world. This year’s winners were recognized at the Founders Recognition Evening on Oct. 2.
FOUNDERS MEDAL
One of the University’s most prestigious honors, the Founders Medal celebrates those who have distinguished themselves through philanthropic or personal service to the University. This year’s medal honors David Juergens ’59, a retired librarian living in Mississippi who has supported his alma mater for more than 65 years. Since making his first gift to Elmhurst in 1959, the year he graduated with a degree in English, Juergens has given more than $1 million to the University. He also has designated his estate to Elmhurst, ensuring that generations of students will benefit from his generosity.
ALUMNI MERIT AWARDS
The Alumni Merit Awards celebrate Elmhurst graduates who have made exemplary contributions to the community and their alma mater.
This year’s Distinguished Young Alumni award was given to Juan Francisco Sandoval ’22. Since graduating from Elmhurst, he has completed a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Michigan and is currently working on research initiatives to create new programs for the Hispanic community in Detroit.
The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater award honors Amanda Rodriguez ’20, MSN ’24, an infusion registered nurse at Elmhurst Hospital’s Nancy W. Knowles Cancer Center. While serving as an adjunct faculty member in the Diane Tyrrell Department of Nursing and Public Health, Rodriguez mentored students and also developed and implemented an internship program for international nursing students.
The Distinguished Service to Society award recognizes Ellen Cleary ’91. Throughout her career, Cleary has demonstrated her dedication to the field of nursing through mentorship and leadership roles at a number of hospitals across northern Illinois. She also has served in leadership roles at the Huntley Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations.
Did You Know?
Memorial Hall, home base for generations of Elmhurst nursing students, opened in 1922 as the University’s first freestanding library, thanks to a fundraising campaign led by Reinhold Niebuhr, Class of 1910, who went on to become one of the most prominent American theologians of the 20th century. Initially named Memorial Library to honor members of Elmhurst’s foundational church who were killed during World War I, the building gave way to the new Health Sciences Building this fall. Parts of Memorial Hall have been preserved, and the land it once occupied is now green space.
From left: Amanda Rodriguez, Juan Francisco Sandoval and Ellen Cleary are this year’s Alumni Merit Award winners.
CLASS NOTES
1969 The University’s first Black Arts Festival featured music, presentations, discussions, a fashion show and more.
1974 1970s-era nursing students practiced their skills on early versions of the high-tech manikins in use today.
1985 The women’s volleyball team made Bluejay history by winning their second NCAA Division III National Championship in three years.
1950s
The Rev. Dr. John Modschiedler ’59 and Christa Modschiedler ’67 celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 2 with their two daughters and sons-in-law. The couple were married in a civil ceremony in Berlin and then had a church wedding on Sept. 1, 1965, in Saginaw, Mich., where John’s father was pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran UCC.
1960s
The Rev. Dr. Frank Dietz ’62 is in his sixth year of writing a conversation column for the New Braunfels HeraldZeitung newspaper in Texas.
Karen Pantermuehl Dietz ’63 continues to create master quilts for her family. She helped plan her granddaughter’s outdoor wedding, which was attended by more than 40 guests.
Alexander Rassogianis ’69 received an offer from Columbia Pictures for the film rights to his memoir, Return to Glenlord: Memories of Michigan Summers (2013).
1970s
The West Suburban Philanthropic Network recognized James Benzin ’74 as Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year at an awards ceremony on Aug. 28, 2025. Benzin serves on the board of directors for Donka, a Wheaton, Ill.-based nonprofit that provides computer
training for people with disabilities. A U.S. veteran, he has spent more than 50 years serving fellow veterans through his volunteer work.
Richard Jeffrey ’74 recently published A Is for America! (Liberty Hill Publishers, 2025), a collection of poems for young Americans that celebrates our culture and our nation.
Jack Martin ’76 recently celebrated his 45th year as a chiropractic physician and acupuncturist in St. Charles, Ill.
On Aug. 3, Rev. Dr. Charles Mize ’77 celebrated 45 years of ministry and commitment to service at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Ill.
1980s
Lane Phalen ’86 recently reconnected with her friend Sandy Mueller after more than 30 years. “Lane welcomed me as though no time had passed,” Mueller wrote about her visit to Phalen’s home, reporting that Phalen, who has multiple sclerosis, has written four books and dozens of magazine articles on topics ranging from rodeos and clowns to football legend Joe Namath. “This woman, the fiery redhead who loves her family and friends, books and movies, service dogs
AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER
Elmhurst University honored Rachael Mahmood, M.Ed. ’08 with the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award at a reception in September. Named 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education, Mahmood earned a doctor of education degree from Northern Illinois University and teaches elementary school students in Indian Prairie School District 204. She prioritizes inclusivity in instruction, empowering learners from diverse backgrounds by celebrating their identities and building a culture of connection and belonging. Mahmood is also an educational consultant and shares frameworks for equitable classrooms on social media. “Everything I learned at Elmhurst was applicable to what I was doing in the classroom, and it had just enough of a blend of theory and practice,” Mahmood says.
SCIENTIST AND AUTHOR
Terrence Lagerlund ’71 takes a close look at human consciousness and cognition in Brain, Soul, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Mystery: The Neurophysics of Consciousness, Free Will, Reasoning, and Synergistic Brain-Soul Interaction (En Route Books and Media, 2025). In his book, Lagerlund draws on his expertise as a neurologist in the Division of Epilepsy at Mayo Clinic and explores the mind through the lenses of physics, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, computer science, and theology. Lagerlund, who holds both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in physics, has worked at Fermilab and done postdoctoral research at the MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory and CERN.
LAW SCHOOL LEADER
Nicholas Schroeck ’02 was named dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in January. A prominent environmental law expert and a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Schroeck joined the Detroit Mercy Law faculty in 2018. He has been part of the School of Law's leadership team since taking on his prior role as associate dean of experiential education. In that role, he led clinical and externship programs and secured significant program support from community partners, alumni and friends of the institution. Schroeck has also served on the faculty at Wayne State University Law School and as executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.
and learning, as well as all things Irish, has had a big life—a successful life,” Mueller wrote. “A life with more pain and hardship than most, yet she remains as grateful as anyone I have known.”
Charles Canfield ’89 was appointed manager, corporate governance for the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. His primary responsibilities include managing the corporate governance unit by setting the group’s strategy, planning the budget, and recruiting and retaining talent.
1990s
Jack Lowe ’93 wrote a book of poetry, Brautigan’s Blue Moon (2025), and donated a copy to the A.C. Buehler Library.
Deborah Eastman ’94 recently accepted a new nursing position in dermatology at Carle Health, based in Urbana, Ill.
2000s
Gina Boedeker ’00 is the author of Hard Stop: Live with Intention and Without Regret (2024), a book about identifying priorities and creating a life around what matters most. The book appeared on the Amazon Best Sellers lists in the Personal Transformation and Organizational Change categories when it launched. Boedeker lives in Boulder, Colo., with her husband and two children. She runs the Boedeker Group, a market insights company that specializes in helping companies gather the insights they need to make educational products for learning institutions across the U.S.
Daniel Fries ’00 was named to Barron’s 2025 Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list. His philosophy is to help clients meet their personal and financial goals while minimizing risk and increasing tax efficiency to ensure an income stream during retirement or to pass on to future generations.
Aaron Schirmer ’01 received a Fulbright Specialist award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Jessica Loustaunau ’03 defended her dissertation on March 31 and now holds an Ed.D. in K-12 educational leadership.
Bill Hillmann ’04 published a new book, White Flight (2025), a companion to The Old Neighborhood (2014).
Theresa Hall ’06 won a bronze medal in the 2025 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for Between Darkness & Light (2018), the third book in her paranormal romance series. The book was published under the name Theresa Van Spankeren.
Henry Rauschenberger ’06 accepted a partnership with the law firm of Bienvenu, Foco & Viator in Baton Rouge, La.
Laura Zimmerman ’06 fulfilled her lifelong dream of writing and illustrating a book. The Loony Day (2025) is a children’s book about Loon, a silly bird, who discovers that even bad days can be good days. Zimmerman hopes the book brings joy and encouragement to people of all ages.
Tony Lentino ’07 is programming manager for the City of Elgin, Ill., and for the Hemmens Cultural Center. He also teaches Concert Promotion and Venue Management at Elmhurst University. He enjoys passing on his knowledge to a new generation of students.
Christopher Pazdernik ’08 has been appointed managing director for Season of Concern, the emergency financial assistance fund for Chicagoland theatre workers. He also continues to work as a freelance director—most notably, of the annual production of Who’s Holiday! at Theater Wit—and produces an annual benefit concert for the AIDS Foundation Chicago.
Kimberly Minarich ’09 and her husband, Marvin, published their first children’s book, Adventures with Danny & Aubrey: All in a Day’s Work (2025).
2010s
Mubarak Malik ’12 went on to earn both a J.D. and an LL.M. after graduating from Elmhurst. Today, he practices immigration law in San Diego. He and his spouse, Raven, recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. They have been together for six years.
Joe Rau ’13 is the new head coach of Beat the Streets Wrestling Inc., a New York City nonprofit dedicated to making an impact on boys and girls through the sport of wrestling. Before joining Beat the Streets, Rau was an assistant coach at Northwestern University. Last summer, he represented Team USA in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Jacklyn Milota ’14 worked as a nurse for several years after graduation and then earned a doctor of nursing practice degree at Rush University. She returned to Elmhurst University in 2023 as a staff member and is now the director of Student Health Services in the Wellness Center.
Bryttany Winkfield ’16 earned an M.S. in human-computer interaction after completing her B.A. in graphic design, and went on to build a career in digital product design. Now a product design lead at Alight Solutions, she focuses on shaping design strategy, guiding usercentered solutions and mentoring other designers. In addition, she recently launched a creative brand, B the Designer, and celebrated two major life milestones: getting married and purchasing her first home.
2020s
George Martinez ’20 officiated at the wedding of Brandon Woolbright ’22 and Sara (Findley) Woolbright on Sept. 29 outside Boulder, Colo. Martinez, Young Alumni of the Year for 2024, has known Sara since 2017 and introduced her to Brandon in January 2022.
Annaliese DiSimone ’23 accepted a job as a flight attendant with United Airlines and started training in October. She says she’s ready to soar through the friendly skies as a Bluejay alumna.
Katie Mulford ’23 was offered a prestigious Fulbright Teaching Assistant award to teach in Germany during the 2025–26 school year.
Alexandria Schweikle ’23 became a licensed CPA on Feb. 5.
Jennie Bosas ’24 was recently promoted to marketing manager at Grease Guard LLC.
IN MEMORIAM
COMMUNITY LEADER
Richard “Dick” Inskeep ’68, an accomplished legal professional and a dedicated community advocate, died Aug. 16 at age 89. Inskeep was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving his country on a stealth submarine before pursuing a physics major at Elmhurst. He later earned an MBA from Northwestern University and a J.D. from John Marshall Law School before opening his own law practice, where he focused on real estate law and estate planning. Inskeep served as a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Elmhurst University Alumni Association Board of Directors, and an advisor for local hospitals and economic development initiatives.
PHILANTHROPIC PASTOR
The Rev. Milton Staskal ’59, who energized congregations and strengthened communities, died Sept. 1 at age 87. A lifelong learner, Staskal majored in psychology and religion at Elmhurst before graduating from Mission House Seminary, earning a master of counseling from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and receiving an honorary doctorate of divinity. Known for his ability to unify churches and increase attendance, he served congregations small and large in Maryland, Missouri, Utah and Wisconsin. He was a contributor to Elmhurst and organizations throughout his native Wisconsin, including the New London Public Library and Habitat for Humanity.
INTERFAITH ADVOCATE
The Rev. Kenneth Robert Ziebell ’54, H ’98, passed away on July 23 at age 91. An ordained pastor, Ziebell devoted his career to fostering interfaith connections and understanding all over the world. In Belgrade, he led a faith-based relief effort. In East Jerusalem, he worked for the World Council of Churches, overseeing refugee camps in Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. In Cyprus, he expanded the work of the Middle East Council of Churches to serve Greek Cypriots. In 1982, Ziebell returned to the United States, where he joined the Board of World Ministries (now Global Ministries) and led annual “study and dialogue” tours of Eastern Europe.
Carol Glandon ’50
April 18, 2025, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Virginia A. Ward ’51
April 1, 2025, Charlotte, N.C.
John Hugh Williams ’51
Sept. 3, 2025, Brea, Calif.
Rev. Dr. Walter A. Brueggemann ’55, H ’97
Read more about Rev. Brueggemann’s life and legacy on page 10.
Rev. Robert G. Anderson ’56
March 21, 2025, Grinnell, Iowa
Kathlyn A. Warskow ’57
July 25, 2025, Glenview, Ill.
Phyllis M. Klaiber ’58
July 16, 2025, Orland Park, Ill.
Narcissza C. Layton ’59
July 13, 2025, Ridgefield, Conn.
Rev. Dr. Walter K. Mohr ’60
June 26, 2025, Green Valley, Ariz.
Erik L. Hagen ’61
Nov. 7, 2024, St. Louis
Ronald R. Reinecke ’61
May 1, 2025, Dubuque, Iowa
Janice Boelter ’64
Aug. 15, 2025, Des Moines, Iowa
Donald H. Cottler ’66
April 3, 2025, Indianapolis
Marjorie Sumner ’66
Jan. 26, 2025, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Joseph G. Bestwina ’69
Aug. 11, 2025, Forest Park, Ill.
Richard W. Goelz ’70
May 28, 2025, Kennesaw, Ga.
Dr. Thomas J. Raspanti ’70
July 13, 2025, Brookfield, Wis.
John W. Weiss ’70
July 30, 2025, Villa Park, Ill.
Wayne R. Kalbow ’71
June 25, 2025, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Gregory P. Petrone ’73
July 25, 2025, Bloomingdale, Ill.
Thomas R. Volpert ’74
March 25, 2025, Chicago
Jenaire Judice ’77
May 23, 2025, Wellesley, Mass.
Terry J. Clarke ’80
May 20, 2025, Austin, Texas
Thomas W. Overly ’80
March 1, 2025, Grangeville, Idaho
June M. Junkas ’86
June 14, 2025, Mesa, Ariz.
Gary K. Redderoth ’87
June 8, 2025, Wheaton, Ill.
Margaret Ashworth ’90
March 23, 2025, Littleton, Colo.
DEVOTED EDUCATOR
Darcel Brady ’75, whose mission-driven work elevated her church and community, died April 26 at age 71. A member of several national and global educational associations, Brady taught at Olivet University, acted as the executive director for C.R.A.F.T. (the Center for Re-Creation And Family Training), and held leadership roles at Pembroke Fellowship Church. She held a doctorate in public policy analysis from the University of Illinois Chicago. With strong family ties in the Chicago area, she is survived by relatives including her sister Alpha Brady ’83, H ’24, executive director and chief operating officer of the American Bar Association, who was featured in the Fall 2023 issue of Prospect
TEACHER AND VOLUNTEER
Jane Batte ’63 passed away on July 29. A middle school teacher for nearly 40 years, Batte served as president of the Bloomingdale Women’s Club and as a trustee of the Bloomingdale Public Library. She was also a lifelong member of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, now known as the United Church of Christ, and was a member of the Women’s Fellowship Group at her church for more than 20 years. At Elmhurst, she paid for her own education by working two jobs.
BEDSIDE MAGICIAN
John Kurth ’72 died on Sept. 12 at age 75. A specialeducation teacher for more than 30 years, he pivoted after retirement to volunteer as a hospital magician, performing bedside magic for ill children. Kurth and his younger brother, Christopher Kurth ’76, established the Kurth-Evington Family Endowed Scholarship in honor of their parents, Guenther Kurth and Diana (Evington) Kurth, with a pledge of $50,000. The scholarship will support academically qualified students with a major in religious studies or education, with preference given to students pursuing a call to faith-based ministry work.
BEYOND THE BEDSIDE
I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago, and I was the first person in my family to go to college. Elmhurst University had a highly regarded nursing program, and the clinical rotations there were outstanding. The nursing faculty walked us through our first introduction to a patient, our first dressing change and our first injection. They were strict, they were compassionate and they were skillful.
After graduation I worked in the Hines VA oncology unit and then went to Rush University Medical Center, where I earned a master’s degree while continuing to work. Since the beginning, my career has centered on understanding and treating pain. For my doctoral
dissertation at the University of Illinois Chicago, I focused on articulating some of the pain pathways within the nervous system. Today, I’m the director of the cancer pain program at Northwestern University, where I’m also a research professor of medicine.
Managing pain is complicated, because there are biological, psychological, social and spiritual components, and it has become very challenging. For example, the opioid epidemic led to more rigid requirements for prescribing, making it difficult for people with cancer to get the medicine they need. Fortunately, there are other interventional techniques, like nerve blocks and physical therapy,
As a nurse, Judith Paice ’79 is not only treating patients— she’s teaching and shaping policy.
but this is a disconcerting time for pain management.
Many people think about nurses as those folks at the bedside. I’ve done that, and I enjoyed that time, but nursing also has allowed me to participate in federal panels that have made contributions to legislation and policy. Nursing has allowed me to travel around the world and teach. I have spoken on six continents about end-of-life care. It has also allowed me to help shape the careers of junior nurses and physicians. I think back to my professors and my time at Elmhurst, and I’m amazed at the experiences I had there. I try to balance strictness and compassion with my students now too.
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Support Elmhurst during this season of giving.
Your gift to the Elmhurst University Annual Fund allows us to offer empowering experiences that prepare students to thrive, contribute and feel at home within the Elmhurst community. It also widens our circle of generosity, continuing a spirit that has defined Elmhurst University for more than 150 years.
Make your 2025 calendar-year gift by Dec. 31. MAKE YOUR
