A PRISM OF PERSPECTIVES
Crossing academic boundaries fosters a broader view
Summer 2025
The Magazine of Elmhurst University
24 Different Lenses, Wider View Tackling problems from a variety of perspectives introduces students to a
approach.
Full Circle
For these alumni, working on campus means shaping the Elmhurst experience for new generations.
A Place to Grow The
MAKING HEALTHY PROGRESS
Construction of the new Health Sciences Building entered the final phase during Spring Term. The exterior, including rooftop solar panels, was completed, and classrooms, labs and gathering spaces took shape within the 45,000-square-foot facility.
The Magazine of Elmhurst University
Summer 2025 volume v 111, number 1
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Debra Lukehart
SENIOR DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Desiree Chen
CREATIVE DIRECTION AND DESIGN
Laura Ress Design
EDITOR
Margaret Currie
PROJECT MANAGER
Emily Federighi
CONTRIBUTORS
Emily Ayshford, Aron Gagliardo, Molly Heim, Amanda Layne, Amy Merrick, Ross Middleton, Brian Moore, Lisa Morema-Murphy, Andrew Santella
PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrzej Brach, Bob Coscarelli, Emma Filipsson, Rob Hart, Abigail Martinez, Sarah Nader, Saverio Truglia, David Sameshima, WBEZ Chicago, Steve Woltmann
ILLUSTRATION
Kent Barton, Adam Hayes, Gracia Lam, Neil Webb
ALUMNI NEWS AND CLASS NOTES
Colleen Radzevich, Amy Young ’21
CONNECT WITH US
We welcome your comments! Email us at marketing@elmhurst.edu.
Prospect is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Elmhurst University
190 Prospect Ave. Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
© 2025 Elmhurst University All rights reserved.
PHOTO BY BOB COSCARELLI
BEHIND THE SCENES
Every couple of months, many of us who work at Elmhurst University start our morning at a gathering called Bluejay Buzz. At this informal meeting, we spend an hour together drinking coffee and sharing campus updates, celebrating achievements and announcing upcoming events.
It’s one way we foster a campus culture of gratitude and belonging, making Elmhurst a great place not only for students to learn but also for faculty, administrators and staff to work.
In this issue of Prospect, we explore Elmhurst University as a workplace, recognizing that the success of the institution is built on the hard work, commitment and success of our people. Our cover story is about Elmhurst’s distinctive, interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research, which gives faculty the opportunity to share a range of perspectives with students and one another.
We also meet some of the alumni who’ve come back to their alma mater to work in leadership roles across campus, drawing on their own student experiences to help the University advance. And we visit the Center for Scholarship and Teaching, whose innovative programs, grants and other activities enhance faculty research efforts and teaching skills—all to the benefit of our students.
I invite you to come visit us this summer as we work hard to prepare our campus—and our brand-new Health Sciences Building—to welcome new and returning students in the fall.
TROY D. VANAKEN President
THE CLASS Work Motivation
THE RIGHT INCENTIVES
THE PROFESSOR
Jessica Sim
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PSYCHOLOGY
PROGRAM DIRECTOR, M.A. IN INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
By confronting common misconceptions about employee motivation, graduate students learn what it really takes to help others—and themselves— do their best work.
THEORY AND PRACTICE
Most of the students in this class plan to be practitioners of industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology, but I also want them to have a good foundation in the science. Each week, a student team leads a facilitation on a couple of empirical journal articles related to subjects like incentives and extrinsic motivation. The team also publishes a social media post on the topic, usually on LinkedIn, because I want them to practice communicating these ideas to the public.
The course is not just giving them the skills to be good employees—they should know how to talk to leadership and to be good leaders themselves.
IT’S (NOT) ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
When most people think about what will get them excited to go to work every day, the default answer is money. But the literature shows money actually isn’t the top motivator for a lot of people. You need to pay people enough to feel secure, of course, but internal motivation turns out to be more important. People want autonomy, relatedness—a feeling of connection— and a sense of competence.
A lot of students say their employers don’t pay attention to these types of intrinsic motivation. I tell them they need to make the business case to their organizations that productivity improves when people have their needs fulfilled.
Younger generations want to do something that matters. In my class, we talk about the double-edged sword of seeking passion. Sometimes we’re too obsessed with that hokey saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That doesn’t always seem realistic. Should we make work our passion, or should we pursue passions outside of work? There’s more than one way to create purpose and meaning.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
At Elmhurst, we’re so student centered, and the I/O program exemplifies this. We have small cohort sizes, I know all my students, and I love hearing their personal journeys and stories.
I bring in guest speakers to class, and I would love to have more people come to talk about how they’ve encountered these concepts around work motivation in their careers. When people share their experience, it really helps bring these ideas to life.
THE STUDENT VIEW
“Through this course, I’ve learned that progress toward something that is meaningful to them is the thing that motivates employees the most. A critical role for managers is to clear the path for employees to make progress. When you know how to motivate employees, you’re going to have a team that works well.”
— LINA KLINGER, M.A. ’25
CAMPUS TREES ���
The two Austrian pines that stand along Prospect Avenue are magnificent examples of an ancient tree species that flourishes under harsh conditions. With its dense needles and full crown, the tree makes an excellent windbreak and played a critical role in soil restoration during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Elmhurst’s Austrian pines are notable for their short, bifurcated trunks resembling giant tuning forks.
SPEAKER
Q&A
Before giving the Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law, the best-selling biographer, journalist and Tulane University professor spoke with Prospect about writing, storytelling and his next book.
What do you like most and least about working on a biography?
I find the whole process to be enjoyable. I love reporting and getting to know somebody, and I love the storytelling. Some biographers use researchers, and to me that’s like going fishing and having somebody else bait your hook or cast your line.
Does it matter whether your subject is alive or dead?
One good thing about people who aren’t alive is that they’re easier to deal with than living people—especially difficult people, like Elon Musk or Steve Jobs. On the other hand, writing about a living person plays to my strengths because as a journalist, I’m particularly good at getting people to talk. I could sit by Elon Musk for two years, off and on, and get him to tell me everything. I take a break from living people when I’m sick of them and write about people like Leonardo da Vinci. But I’m much better at writing about living people.
In the leadership roles you’ve held, did you always have a clear vision for what you wanted to accomplish? When I became editor of Time in 1996, I had a clear vision of the magazine as a lively chronicle of everything from the arts to the sciences. I also wanted it to be a common ground for America,
Walter Isaacson spoke at Elmhurst on April 22 about historymakers and timeless leadership.
where we could share values and stories and information, and to help knit us together as a nation. I think we’re lacking that in America today—the media tend to divide us rather than unite us.
What are you reading for fun?
My next book is about Marie Curie, so I’m reading mainly about her. It’s fun to read not only her work but also other things from that period—I’m reading Zola; I’m reading Balzac. I’m reading in French so that I can learn French. And I’m reading The Belle Époque by Dominique Kalifa [2021], which is about Paris and that period.
The Bluejay spirit is everywhere, from downtown Elmhurst to a leading bank to a sixth-grade classroom in Minnesota. Follow us on your favorite social media channels to see more highlights!
elmhurst_ecelerator Jocelyn’s success in landing a Data Analyst role at BMO Harris, her first post-graduation job from Elmhurst University, is a testament to her exceptional abilities. Her strong mathematical background, energy, positive attitude, and eagerness to learn, demonstrated during her Elmhurst University E-Celerator internship, combined with her Harvard CS50 micro-credentials, led to this well-deserved achievement. Congratulations, Jocelyn! Way to go!
eu_osi Wishing you all a relaxing spring break ☀️�� meanwhile we’re still reminiscing about the St. Patty’s parade ��
elmhurstadmission Happy National Squirrel Appreciation Day! �� We love our squirrels on campus so much that our student ambassadors dressed up as them for our Open House Caravan! ��
elmhurstadmission Today we wanted to give a shoutout to Lily, a sixth grader at Northfield Middle School in Minnesota! She recently did a college research project and chose Elmhurst University �� She said, “I want to be an entrepreneur and Elmhurst has a good business administration program” ��
MY SLP JOURNEY
Annice Coughlan ’12 pursued her passion for speech-language pathology as a student at Elmhurst. Now she’s on the faculty, teaching alongside her former professors and helping others find their voice.
Read Coughlan’s story at elmhurst.edu/Blog.
BY THE NUMBERS
From its modest beginnings to today’s dedicated teams, Elmhurst University’s dynamic workplace thrives on commitment, collaboration and lots of coffee.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN 1871
1*
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN 2025
768 YEARS SERVED BY LONGEST-TENURED EMPLOYEE
50**
EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ALSO ALUMNI 180
ALUMNI WORKING FULL TIME OR ENROLLED IN GRAD SCHOOL WITHIN A YEAR OF GRADUATION
>93%
OFFICES ON CAMPUS
425
CO FFEE DRINKS SOLD ON CAMPUS EACH YEAR
~15,000
* Carl F. Kranz, founder of what became Elmhurst University
** Larry Carroll, former professor of management and executive director of the Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence
PLAY BALL!
The University and the Elmhurst Park District celebrated significant renovations of the baseball diamond at Butterfield Park with a first-pitch ceremony.
Butterfield, where the Bluejays play baseball, also hosts local youth baseball programs. The renovations represent just the latest component in a long-standing partnership between the University and the park district.
President Troy D. VanAken threw out the ceremonial first pitch, along with state Sen. Suzy Glowiak-Hilton and Elmhurst Park District Executive Director Jim Rogers.
A STUDIO FOR PHYSICS
More than 50 faculty, friends and alumni attended the dedication of the Earl Swallow Memorial Computation Studio, including (from left) Dean Brian Wilhite and his son Anderson, Professor Venkatesh Gopal and Bonnie Boerger. The studio was made possible by a generous gift from Boerger, widow of 35-year faculty member Earl Swallow (1941–2017).
A WINNING PROPOSAL
Families that have lost a loved one to homicide face a staggering array of challenges, from overwhelming grief to practical issues such as funeral costs. In Chicago, where 500 people are killed each year, the need for trauma-related services is great.
The nonprofit group Chicago Survivors provides critical services to family members of homicide victims, including immediate crisis response, family counseling and case management support. For youth survivors, the organization’s Summer Storytellers Camp offers a safe haven where they can share their experiences with counselors and peers.
Thanks to the work of three Elmhurst students, Chicago Survivors recently won a $31,500 grant from Rivers Gives to support its 2025 Summer Storytellers Camp.
Jose Benitez ’25, Salvador Ceja ’24 and Kaitlyn WilsonWitte ’26 wrote the proposal as part of their coursework in Writing for Nonprofits, an advanced writing seminar taught by Bridget O’Rourke, professor of English and director of Elmhurst’s Writing Program.
“Knowing that we worked so hard and we got this grant for this organization, it was the best feeling ever,” says WilsonWitte. “I never thought about grant writing or nonprofit work before taking this class, and I’m really grateful I did, because it gives your writing a bigger sense of purpose.”
Last summer, Elmhurst hosted a fundraising walk for Summer Storytellers Camp. Kaitlyn Wilson-Witte ’26 (left) helped organize the event.
CAMPUS FAREWELLS
Join us in wishing a fond farewell to this group of faculty and staff members who recently announced their retirements.
Since joining Elmhurst University in 1996, LYNN HILL has been more than a professor of art history and special topics. She’s also a practicing artist herself. Focusing on digital imaging, digital photography and mixed media, Hill has exhibited her work in conventional and online galleries alike. She draws artistic inspiration from places she’s traveled, including India, England and South Africa, as well as the landscapes of the Midwest.
JAMES “JIM” KULICH has seen a lot of change in the data science and computer science fields in 37 years at the University. He’s currently director of the M.S. in Data Science and Analytics program and professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems. His expertise is in applying quantitative methods and analytical tools to produce useful and actionable information from widely varying data.
Chaplain of the University for 27 years, the Rev. H. SCOTT MATHENEY is the longest-serving chaplain in Elmhurst history. Matheney will remain on campus through Sept. 1 to continue to support students through the summer and the start of the following academic year, he told the student newspaper, The Leader. “My hope is that incoming future generations of students will have the joy that I have found here.”
TAKING KIDS TO WORK
On April 24, the University welcomed 35 children to campus in celebration of Take a Child to Work Day. More than 20 Elmhurst employees across departments brought their kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews to campus for a day of activities, including a special welcome at the beginning of the day. This was the University’s first time participating in the annual national event.
PHILLIP RIORDAN, who joined the University in 2017, holds crucial roles in shaping the experience of students on campus. As vice president for student affairs, he nurtures student life on campus, working to create a supportive, inclusive community where students can develop their interests. He also serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet, supporting President Troy D. VanAken in the University’s day-to-day operations.
As dean of the School of Health Sciences, DIANE SALVADOR has played an instrumental role in the development of the University’s new Health Sciences Building. She was there for both the groundbreaking ceremony in October 2023 and the completion of the building in spring 2025. Her experience in nursing spans almost five decades in practice as a clinician and administrator, and in education as faculty and in administrative positions.
When he looks back on 24 years at Elmhurst, ROBY THOMAS will remember the students most of all. “Seeing these students walk across the stage at graduation and getting to congratulate them, I will never forget those things,” said Thomas, program director of the M.S. in Supply Chain Management. His research has been published in journals such as the International Journal of Production Research and Computers & Industrial Engineering.
MOVING UP
Three members of the Elmhurst administration have taken on additional responsibilities in leadership.
KURT ASHLEY has been appointed interim VP for business and finance/CFO. Ashley, who joined the University in 2016, was previously VP for operations and technology. His new position incorporates many of the responsibilities of his prior role.
In February, ALEXANDER BLUMENBERG was named executive director for inclusion and belonging, a role that focuses on “making sure that all students, faculty, and staff feel they have a voice and a safe place on campus where they feel they belong,” as he puts it. Blumenberg was previously senior director for community partnerships and first-year admission.
COURTNEY MILLER , dean of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of communication, will serve as interim VP for academic affairs and dean of the faculty as of July 1. In this role, she will focus on academic programs and curriculum development.
NEWS BRIEFS
VERONICA COSIO ’28 won Scholar All-American honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association in March. A member of the women’s wrestling team, which recently concluded its debut season, Cosio was also an All-CCIW honoree and conference runner-up.
LORRIE DECKER ’25, a member of the women’s bowling team, qualified for the Intercollegiate Singles Championships. She was the first Bluejay ever to qualify. The national event brought together 24 top women bowlers for an April competition in Las Vegas.
CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS
The Elmhurst community recently recognized several incoming and graduating students for remarkable achievements in the classroom and beyond.
In March and April, the University awarded four-year full-tuition scholarships to two outstanding admitted students. Brissa Sarabia, a Glendale Heights resident who plans to major in business administration, won the American Dream Scholarship, which celebrates and rewards firstgeneration college students. Nicole Anderson won first place in the Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship competition. Named for alumni and theologians Reinhold and H. Richard Niebuhr, the award recognizes admitted students who serve their communities and contribute to positive change in the world.
In May, the University recognized three seniors whose commitment to service embodies humane values by awarding them the Founders Award, one of the University’s oldest and most prestigious honors. Christian Tomás Guzaro Cruz won the Cureton Award for Service to the Global Community, Sarah Hansen received the Rev. H. Scott Matheney Award for Service to the Greater Society, and Lily Morgan won the Founders Award for Service to the University Community.
At the same ceremony, Lucia Gaviria Vesga won the Senior of the Year Award, and Nakala Nadeau received the Dr. Phil Riordan Bluejay of the Year Award.
KAREN BENJAMIN, associate professor of history, is the author of the forthcoming book Good Parents, Better Homes, and Great Schools: Selling Segregation Before the New Deal (University of North Carolina Press, 2025). The book examines the history, tactics and lasting legacy of residential segregation in the U.S.
MIKALA MARCUSSENABUHARB ’27 was chosen for the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. As a CLS scholar, she will participate in a fully funded intensive summer course on Arabic language and culture.
WINNING ON THE FIELD
The women’s track and field team made Bluejay history twice this year.
The team captured its first-ever CCIW conference title at the Indoor Track and Field Championships in March, followed by its first-ever outdoor conference title in May.
In both meets, the Bluejays won multiple events, set new school records and delivered memorable performances. Graduate student Alyssa Busker ’26 was named Women’s Track Student-Athlete of the Meet for both events.
The men’s track and field team also competed in the CCIW meet, as did women’s bowling, men’s lacrosse, men’s golf and both men’s and women’s basketball.
In addition, the Bluejays welcomed a record number of student-athletes this year and saw a rise in average GPA to 3.33. “Our student-athletes are succeeding academically, and that’s what I’m really proud of,” says Glen Brittich, director of athletics. “The wins are great, but when they’re doing it in the classroom, that’s wonderful.”
LIVE FROM WGN
An elite Elmhurst University jazz combo made a special appearance on WGN-TV ’s Midday News in mid-February to promote the 58th Annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival, held Feb. 20–23. The sextet of talented musicians gave a spirited performance of jazz classic “Casa Forte.” Chris Parsons ’11, director of the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival, joined the performers in the studio to talk about the festival’s rich history and ongoing evolution.
A $1.5 MILLION ESTATE COMMITMENT will create the University’s first endowed faculty chair in science, technology, analytics and mathematics. The anonymous donors are a married couple with ties to the University.
HONORS PROGRAM
STUDENTS led a campus discussion about the Nobel Peace Prize with support from Partners in Peace, a partnership between the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Nobel Peace Center. Elmhurst was one of just 16 institutions nationwide invited to participate in the program’s inaugural efforts.
NHAT (MINH) NGUYEN ’25 WON FIRST PLACE and $1,500 in this spring’s Bluejay Tank competition for his startup idea, an AI-powered app that optimizes travel in Vietnam. The event featured nine contestants pitching ideas, including a beauty education app and a water recycling system.
KORTNEY PEAGRAM AND JOSH VANARSDALL received the 2025 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at a ceremony in May. Students nominate professors for the annual award and support their nominations before members of the Faculty Development Committee.
From left: Aidan Pelletier ’27, Matthew Swick ’25, Henrik Rivadeneira ’25, John Pinns ’28, Maddux Masopust ’26 and Lissette Hernandez ’26 perform at WGN.
HATS OFF TO THE CLASS OF ����!
ELMHURS T U N IVERSITY
2023
2025
Elmhurst celebrated the Class of 2025 during the University’s 154th Commencement exercises on May 24. Nearly 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students walked across the stage at the Rosemont Theatre to accept their diplomas. Please join us in welcoming our newest alumni!
See the highlights at elmhurst.edu/Commencement.
Gilman Scholar Crystal Herrera approaches her future with a global perspective.
READY FOR THE WORLD
As a management major specializing in human resources, senior Crystal Herrera is committed to creating strong personal connections. “HR means always helping people,” she says. “It’s satisfying when someone lets you know that you helped them, whether you’re talking about benefits or about problems at home.”
Herrera knows the value of individualized support firsthand. In the hope of joining a University-led experience in Singapore and Malaysia in January, she applied for a Gilman Scholarship, which offers federal funding for Pell Grant recipients to study abroad. The scholarship application process is rigorous and competitive, and University staff gave her step-by-step support along the way.
She won the award and spent January Term taking a three-week course on global business in Singapore and Malaysia. She and her classmates also engaged in learning outside of the classroom, visiting temples, mosques and the Batu Caves, as well as the Singapore Exchange, where they saw international finance and management in action. She pushed herself out of her comfort zone, trying local cuisine, meeting new people and preparing herself for a rich professional life.
“I learned a lot about myself,” Herrera reflects. “In the future, I’ll have to be willing to adapt: I might not know everyone in a situation or workplace, but reaching out and networking will help.”
By taking the time to connect with others on her travels, she developed the skills to make people feel included and understood at a moment’s notice, even in unfamiliar situations. “That could be happening in the workplace too—those on-your-feet moments,” she observes.
Herrera’s experience in Asia is just one highlight from her time as an undergraduate. She’s found community with her classmates and professors, and she’s gotten involved as an Orientation Student Leader, a peer advisor, a senator in the Student Government Association and a lot more. Following her graduation, Herrera looks forward to contributing to an employee-centered professional culture. “I’m going to join any volunteer opportunity or committee within an organization because I loved it so much at Elmhurst. That’s how I felt more welcomed, involved and fulfilled.”
PHOTOS BY DAVID SAMESHIMA
A NEW FIELD
Professor Chris Travis reveals his singer-songwriter side in a debut album.
Chris Travis and Matt Greenberg grew up together in Corrales, N.M., and have been friends since first grade. But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that Travis and Greenberg started making music together.
Last summer, under the name Two Fields Over, the pair released their debut album, Grains of Verse, a collection of jangly indie-rock songs with folk and post-bop inflections à la Nick Drake and Michael Head. (The duo’s name refers to the farmland they traversed as boys to meet up with friends.)
The project was complicated by the fact that both men had long since relocated—Greenberg to Los Angeles and Travis to the Chicago area, where he is a professor of Spanish and Latin American culture at Elmhurst University. So they conducted their
collaboration remotely, swapping melodies, lyrics and chord progressions via sound files. When it came time to record the album, Greenberg laid down instrumental tracks in Los Angeles, while Travis retreated to his basement to record his vocals and harmonies.
In March, the two old friends finally came together in person at a performance in Evanston, Ill., to promote their new album.
“It was incredible to be side by side with Matt on stage again, performing the songs we had created together,” Travis says.
Plans are in the works for additional shows on the West Coast.
Travis, a poet, critic and translator whose scholarly work focuses on 20th-century Chilean literature, is a prolific researcher who has contributed chapters and articles to many scholarly publications. His academic enthusiasm shines through on the album. The environmental themes of the leadoff track, “Anthropocene,” mirror his interest in eco-criticism,
which explores how literature treats the natural world. Another song, the mournful “Paula,” was inspired by a reading from one of Travis’ classes— the real-life story of the death of a woman trying to immigrate to the U.S.
In addition to his Evanston appearance with Greenberg, Travis has been performing the Two Fields Over material in a series of Chicagoarea shows, featuring a band heavy with Elmhurst connections. The group has included David DeVasto, associate professor of music theory and composition; Timothy Hazen, assistant professor of political science; Bob Long, an adjunct professor of history; and Catherine Callahan ’12, an adjunct professor of Spanish.
Even Travis’ students have become fans after stumbling across his musical pursuits online. “At first, I was reluctant to share this part of my life with them because I didn’t want it to be a distraction from my teaching,” Travis says. “But I think it’s good for them to know that their professors are fully rounded human beings, with families and hobbies and all kinds of talents.”
John O’Malley’s energy inspires his students— and propelled him to a national award.
MATH-MENTUM
High school math teacher John O’Malley ’11 knows that not every kid loves numbers. As a teenager, he wasn’t the best math student himself.
But as a teacher, he has a secret weapon: his unflappable energy. “Even at 8 a.m., I’m so energetic,” he says. “I tell my students, ‘Let’s do this! Let’s go!’”
O’Malley witnessed the power of that kind of teaching energy firsthand as a student at Elmhurst University, where Allen Rogers, chair and professor of mathematics, ran around the classroom wearing gym shoes, writing problems on the whiteboard. In fact, all of O’Malley’s math professors worked to make the subject interesting and accessible to students—an effort that had a profound impact on him.
“They really cared about us and wanted us to be successful,” O’Malley says. “Even when classes were hard, they taught us perseverance, and that’s a lesson I’ve brought to my classes.”
At Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Ill., O’Malley teaches all levels of math—from Honors Geometry to Precalculus to Algebra 2 for students who are struggling. He even started a teaching assistant program for upper-level students who hope to become teachers themselves.
His efforts have garnered national attention. Earlier this year, he won the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honor for STEM teachers. The award came with a $10,000 prize and a trip to Washington, D.C.
“Sometimes you think, ‘Did I do well enough as a teacher?’” he says. “So winning this award made me proud. And it’s not just for me—it’s for everyone who has helped me along the way, including at Elmhurst.”
It was at Elmhurst where he learned the power of collaboration—whether through working on problems with other students in the library or finding community in the student Math Club, which he helped found. He hopes his students understand that working with people using the power of logical thinking will take them a long way in life.
“If my students can walk out of my classroom saying to themselves, ‘This was hard, but I persevered because I’ve got some grit and stamina built up, and I can analyze that problem and think outside the box,’ then I feel like I’ve done my job,” he says.
PHOTO BY STEVE WOLTMANN
GOALKEEPER
Lacrosse player Noah Mickelson nets successes in the classroom and on the field.
Ask Noah Mickelson ’23, MPM ’25, about the men’s lacrosse team at Elmhurst, and the goalkeeper will begin not by telling you about the team’s championship-game appearances, or its four consecutive seasons with doubledigit wins, or even about all the personal honors he has collected.
He will begin by telling you about the team’s grades.
“Our team GPA has improved every year since I’ve been here, and we’re proud of that,” says Mickelson. “We keep setting new program records.”
Indeed, in 2024 the Bluejays earned the Team Academic Award from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), which recognized the team for its high GPA (3.43).
A WINNING STRATEGY
Mickelson has been a key part of the team’s recent successes on the field—and just as big a contributor to the team’s academic excellence. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration (GPA: 3.9), he followed the advice of one of his professors, the now-retired Bruce Fischer, and enrolled in Elmhurst’s master of project management (MPM) program.
While pursuing his master’s, he landed a pair of project management internships. In 2023, he worked on retail
store conversion projects for Emery Jensen Distribution, a subsidiary of Ace Hardware, and last summer, he was part of a program management team at Lisle-based Navistar (now International Motors) that brought commercial transportation products to market. During lacrosse season, he continued to mind the net for the Bluejays as he completed his coursework.
Mickelson was an Academic All-Conference honoree and USILA Scholar All-American in 2024. He was also named Co-Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Elmhurst.
OLDER AND WISER
Given all these accomplishments, it’s no surprise that Mickelson’s younger teammates regard him as a battletested veteran they can lean on.
“They joke with me all the time about being an old man,” he says. Not that Mickelson minds the ribbing. “I want to help the younger guys all I can. I want to teach them the things about college and about lacrosse I wish I’d known at their age.”
Mickelson’s post-MPM prospects look just as promising as his career as a goalkeeper. Before he even graduated, Emery Jensen Distribution offered him a full-time role as a project specialist on the strength of his internship experience. If past performance is any indicator, he will ace the test.
A CAPITALIST PLAID
In her paintings, Assistant Professor Dawn Kramlich explores the idea of ‘value’ in our society.
Cooped up in her apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, artist Dawn Kramlich began turning over a word in her mind: “value.” She was prompted by the reflections of the writer and activist Rebecca Solnit on the “tyranny of the quantifiable,” the way that what can be measured— profit, speed, efficiency—takes priority over “lives that have some purpose and value that survive beyond us to make a civilization worth having,” as Solnit described it.
Kramlich started painting “value” in acrylic on 8-by-10inch wooden boards. She would cover the word in gesso, a white paint primer, to partially obscure it, and then rotate the board and paint the word again, eventually highlighting the whitewashed intersections with more saturated colors. Later, she branched out to other forms, including larger
cradled panels in her favorite technique, encaustic, in which she combines hot beeswax and resin with pigments before applying the mixture to the surface of the painting.
To Kramlich, the grids that formed through the overlapping layers of the word came to mean many things: the way American society values people, the layouts of cities, the patterns of language that can both connect and confine, and the human systems that bind us together.
“It became this metaphor for the fabric of American culture,” says Kramlich, assistant professor of painting and drawing at Elmhurst. “I’m using language to challenge viewers to think through not just their relationship to the word ‘value,’ but how that impacts the way they move through society. I cannot
PHOTO BY ABIGAIL MARTINEZ
“Capitalist Plaid 9: Distraction System” by Dawn Kramlich
change capitalism single-handedly, but I can attempt to find interstitial moments in communities and try to move the needle.”
Displaying each painting side by side with a related piece that she calls a “poem-drawing” allowed Kramlich to deepen these ideas. In one diptych, mirror images of “value” seem to glow from within the painted panel, while the poem alongside it reads, in part, “The system locks,” referring to oppressive social structures. In another work, strips of color pop through the gesso, while the poem urges “integrity at the intersections.”
Kramlich presented the series, “A Capitalist Plaid,” at a solo exhibition in May 2024 at Pink Noise Projects, a collectively run gallery in Philadelphia.
“I think all artists would love to change people’s minds,” she says. “I don’t know that we’re always successful, but hopefully we can establish some solidarity or empathy, or spark conversation that can open your eyes.”
In her Intermediate Painting and Drawing course at Elmhurst, Kramlich similarly encourages her students to create art that reflects on and responds to social issues. “One of my goals is to get them to dive into the content of their work and learn to be visually literate such that they are making decisions that aren’t just, ‘I think it looks cool,’ but, ‘It looks cool, and here’s my reasoning,’” she says. “It is the responsibility of the artist to take ownership of what you put out into the world.”
BY ANDREW SANTELLA ILLUSTRATIONS BY NEIL WEBB
DIFFERENT LENSES, WIDER VIEW
Elmhurst’s interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research gives students a professional edge—and a lot to think about.
Every two weeks, students in Elmhurst University’s Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar dig out their name tags again.
The course is team-taught by a rotating cast of six faculty members from different academic departments who take turns conducting two-week “mini units.” This unusual approach means that students introduce themselves to a new professor a couple of times a month—hence the recurring name tags.
But for students in the seminar, this bit of extra logistical effort proves well worth the trouble because it introduces them to a wide range of perspectives. Each spring, the course focuses on a different topic, such as gun violence, hunger or artificial intelligence.
The six faculty members teaching the course tackle the topic through the lens of their own discipline, enabling students to practice integrating a variety of approaches to a single problem or issue.
Mary Kay Mulvaney, director of the Honors Program, says this multifaceted approach gives students insight into how problems are tackled and progress is made in the world beyond campus.
“We live in an interdisciplinary world. Even the way we experience reality can never be from just one perspective,” she says. “Making progress on any problem requires considering multiple—sometimes competing—perspectives.”
Mary Kay Mulvaney, director of the Honors Program, is one of six faculty members who teach the Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar from diverse perspectives.
DIFFERENT LENSES, WIDER VIEW
The Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar is just one way in which Elmhurst encourages students and faculty to transcend traditional academic boundaries. Through the Integrated Curriculum, the school requires students to complete courses in a variety of broad areas of knowledge, such as ethics and justice and social and political analysis. It also encourages faculty to develop bidisciplinary courses and create academic programs that draw on multiple disciplines—for example, environmental studies, digital media, sport management and bioinformatics. And when it came time to build a new facility for the study of health sciences, the University designed an interdisciplinary hub to foster collaboration.
REDEFINING DISCIPLINES
Elmhurst’s new bioinformatics major lives at the busy intersection of computer science and the life sciences. Bioinformatics has emerged as a rapidly growing field,
as advances in machine learning and data science give scientists new ways to investigate problems—in disciplines ranging from agriculture to personalized medicine to pharmaceuticals—once thought beyond their reach.
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that harnesses tools from computer science to glean insights from enormous datasets. In addition to computer science, Elmhurst bioinformatics majors take courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics. They learn to use and develop software to access and understand biological data, and create data visualizations to make complex conclusions understandable.
“Bioinformatics has become super-important. It has really transformed all of biology,” says Assistant Professor Rohan Mehta, who leads the bioinformatics program. He says the interdisciplinary nature of the
BIDISCIPLINARY COURSES AT ELMHURST
Astrobiology: Life in the Universe BIOLOGY + PHYSICS
Cultures of Slavery:
Retracing Colonial Histories in the French Caribbean
ENGLISH + WORLD LANGUAGES, LITERATURES AND CULTURES
The European Union and Cities: Regional Integration and Urbanization of the EU
POLITICAL SCIENCE + URBAN STUDIES
Exploring Conscious Capitalism Through Documentary Film Analysis BUSINESS + COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA
Federal Politics and Media Ethics
PHILOSOPHY + POLITICAL SCIENCE
Feminist Poetry
ENGLISH + POLITICAL SCIENCE
Forensic Science BIOLOGY + CHEMISTRY
Native Americans: Public Policy, Religion and Justice POLITICAL SCIENCE + RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Neuroethics
PHILOSOPHY + PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology and Political Philosophy of Gender PSYCHOLOGY + POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Theatre and Music Scene in Chicago
ENGLISH + MUSIC
Understanding Politics Through Literature
ENGLISH + POLITICAL SCIENCE
Water and Energy: Resources for a Sustainable Future BIOLOGY + CHEMISTRY
DIFFERENT LENSES, WIDER VIEW
field makes it attractive to students, “especially if you love doing math and computer stuff. This is where the breakthroughs are happening.”
It is also where the jobs are—the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15 percent increase in bioinformatics jobs over the next decade. Bioinformaticians help target new drugs for development, analyze the genetic makeup of bacteria crucial to the makers of dairy products, sequence plant genomes to create more robust crops, and perform many other critical functions.
Mehta makes sure to inform his students about the real-world benefits of pursuing bioinformatics.
“From a purely practical perspective, you’ll leave with transferable skills that will prepare you for careers in many fields,” he says. “These are skills that you will actually be able to use after graduation.”
REAL ENGAGEMENT
The Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar has proved so popular that some students take it more than once. “It was definitely a challenging course, but that’s what I liked about it,” says Mikayla Zinkel ’25. “It pushed me to be more adaptable, and it definitely helped me grow as a writer.”
The spring 2025 version of the course, which focused on AI, brought together faculty in digital media, economics, philosophy, computer science, literature and criminal justice to share insights on everything from the ethics and biases of AI to its potential to co-opt creative works.
Mulvaney notes that from the beginning, faculty members have responded positively to her invitations to participate in the seminar. “Nobody has ever said no,” she says. “It is a chance for them to spend two weeks teaching on a topic that they are really passionate about.”
The seminar routinely sparks lively debate. Zinkel recalls one discussion on Second Amendment rights in which students traded views and argued against their own positions. Emma Selle ’25, in the seminar on AI, was intrigued by a discussion of how and why we attribute consciousness to certain creatures and not others. (For more, see “Surprised by Philosophy” on page 29.)
“At a liberal arts college you’re going to engage with other disciplines anyway, but this is a more interesting way to do it. You’re not just checking the boxes for your requirements,” she says. “There is real engagement with different perspectives.”
Indeed, interdisciplinary study makes for an ideal preparation for professional life, Mulvaney argues, because it helps students become flexible, broad-minded problem-solvers—qualities that employers prize.
“There is real value in opening students’ eyes to the complexity of problems,” Mulvaney says. “They learn how to assess and integrate different perspectives. I think any student will be enriched by that.”
SURPRISED BY PHILOSOPHY
Partway through this spring’s Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar about the ethics of artificial intelligence, Emma Selle ’25 found herself doing something she had previously seen as nearly impossible: She enjoyed a philosophical debate.
“I just never thought of myself as someone who would be interested in philosophy,” Selle says.
But that was before Professor of Philosophy Katrina Sifferd’s presentation on attributions of consciousness and agency. For Selle, the presentation turned out to be one of the most instructive and memorable moments of the seminar.
“It gave me a new way of thinking about the ethical implications of AI,” she says. “It was a perspective I had never encountered before.”
BY
PHOTO
BOB COSCARELLI
FULL CIRCLE
As alumni, these staff and faculty bring a special commitment to Elmhurst’s mission.
BY AMY MERRICK
As a teenager, CHRISTINE GRENIER ’06 longed to study English in college. She pictured herself walking the paths of a tree-covered campus and discussing iconic books with inspiring professors. But her dream seemed impractical. Grenier bounced around several schools, ultimately receiving a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in marketing.
But she couldn’t let go of her original vision. After joining Elmhurst University’s staff in 2002 as an admission counselor, Grenier enrolled in undergraduate English classes to earn a second bachelor’s degree.
Working at Elmhurst gave her the chance for a do-over. Just as she had imagined, she found herself having passionate conversations with professors about authors ranging from William Shakespeare to Gabriel García Márquez. “It’s a small, close-knit community,” says Grenier, who today is vice president for admission. “It made me feel complete that I achieved the dream I had as a 17-year-old.”
Grenier is just one of many University staff members who’ve experienced Elmhurst student life firsthand. Some attended as undergraduates and were drawn back to engage with the campus community in a new way. Others,
like Grenier, joined Elmhurst first as employees and then took opportunities to earn additional degrees. The insights they gained as students have enhanced how they serve the University today, whether that involves recruiting new students, providing a meaningful academic experience to current ones, or nurturing a healthy work environment for faculty and staff.
Spending time in Elmhurst classrooms, Grenier says, made her better at her job. “Participating in the interactions between faculty and students and understanding what it felt like to be in a small class has helped me describe the experience accurately to prospective students,” she says.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
Attending Elmhurst was a life-changing experience for JAMES FITZGERALD ’12, MBA ’16 He arrived as a shy student from a small high school, but the campus community made him aspire to more. “The University met me where I was,” he says. “There was an energy and a support system in place that consistently challenged me to run faster and do more and fear less.”
That shy freshman went on to become president of his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, and join Union Board. Fitzgerald was named Student Employee of the Year for
What advice would you give your younger self as an Elmhurst student?
“Take the time to connect— even if you’re an introvert. This is an environment where people care about each other and want to see you do well.”
CHRISTINE GRENIER ’ 06
“Embrace the whole experience as much as possible. Say yes to as much as you can.”
CARRIE HEWITT ’ 96, M.A. ’ 06
FULL CIRCLE
“ Slow down and trust the process. Balance the feelings that motivate you to move forward with being kind to yourself and understanding that things have a time and a place.”
— JAMES FITZGERALD ’12, MBA ’16
“Take risks. When I went into college, I didn’t realize all the opportunities I would have.”
— SARAH GALARZA ’ 06, MBA ’ 25
“Give yourself grace. If things don’t pan out, learn from your experience and then get out there and try again.”
— LAWRENCE BROWN MBA ’ 15
his work in the Frick Center. He also was getting a preview of his future: As a junior and senior, he interned in the Office of Human Resources. “I enjoyed being at the center of the business,” he says.
He also realized that he wanted to stay at Elmhurst to help keep the University strong. Immediately after graduating with a business degree, he joined Elmhurst’s staff
as a technology support technician. He quickly moved up to overseeing academic technology. Along the way, he earned an Elmhurst MBA.
Fitzgerald left Elmhurst briefly for a role in project management, but the University soon recruited him back to campus as director of technology support services. His responsibilities expanded over the next six years, until he was certain that his career path was set. So he was surprised when he was asked to lead human resources— bringing him back to the office where he had interned years earlier. Today, he is assistant vice president for human resources, reporting directly to the president.
While he says he’s “always happy to be in a spreadsheet,” connecting with other people is what drives him. In good weather, he keeps his office windows open so he can listen to the activity on the University Mall. “Hearing the music and the laughter and joy, that’s what fuels me and reminds me of why I’m here,” he says.
PHOTO BY BOB COSCARELLI
LAWRENCE BROWN MBA ’15 AND SARAH GALARZA ’06, MBA ’25
FULL CIRCLE
“I hope that we can continue to create an environment that allows our students to have the types of experiences that I had, that prepared me to serve in my role today.”
FROM STUDENTS TO LEADERS
LAWRENCE BROWN MBA ’15 began his MBA studies at Elmhurst in 2013 with ambitious goals: improve his quantitative capabilities, get promoted and increase his salary. The former insurance consultant quickly accomplished these ambitions—and opened the door to a new career.
Brown began teaching at Elmhurst as an adjunct faculty member shortly after earning his MBA in 2015. Six years later, he stepped into the role of MBA program director and assistant professor.
“It’s fun and surreal being on the other side,” he says. “Having gone through the program helps me identify with the students. I now have the responsibility of setting the tone and determining what the future holds for the Elmhurst MBA.”
Like Brown, CARRIE HEWITT ’96, M.A. ’06, has been an Elmhurst student, faculty member and now administrator. As dean of the School for Graduate Studies, Hewitt advises students to do more on campus than just attend classes. “A well-rounded individual is involved and active, meeting various people who can become part of their larger network,” she says. “You can build connections that can influence you for many years to come.”
Hewitt set this example as an Elmhurst undergraduate. She was vice president of her sorority (Sigma Kappa), took part in the Mock Trial Team, served as a student ambassador and Orientation Student Leader, and was elected recording secretary of student government (where she met her husband, KRISTOPHER HEWITT ’98,
who was vice president). She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science, went to work in human resources, and came back to Elmhurst for a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology.
Now her focus is on increasing enrollment in Elmhurst’s graduate programs and adding services that support students. “It’s ever more important to provide students with experiences to make them more agile and more comfortable with change,” she says. “We don’t know what tomorrow brings or what job we might hold in five or 10 years. It’s a little terrifying—but also exciting.”
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
SARAH GALARZA ’06, MBA ’25, also lived Hewitt’s advice to get involved. As an Elmhurst undergraduate, she majored in music education, was a student leader for the annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival and helped create a chapter of the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity.
After graduating, she taught music and worked part time in higher education while raising her family. (She met her husband, ROB GALARZA ’04, on campus through mutual friends.)
By 2020, living in Elmhurst, Galarza was ready for a more significant change, which brought her back to the University. She is now director for admission marketing and communications. And Galarza isn’t finished learning: She earned her Elmhurst MBA in May.
“Coming back was wonderful,” she says. “Elmhurst was the first place that I chose to be, as an 18-year-old. I’m still best friends with people I met as an undergrad 20 years ago. It was a starting point for the rest of my life. I see the University as not just a place to get a degree—and not even just the place I work. It’s a really important part of my journey as a human.”
What’s your favorite place on campus?
TOP CHOICE
Hammerschmidt
Memorial Chapel
Sarah Galarza and Carrie Hewitt celebrated their weddings here.
RUNNER-UP
Bluejays’ Roost
The eatery on the lower level of the Frick Center is a favorite of staff and students. Lawrence Brown often stops here for lunch: “I appreciate taking in the energy of the students, and they see you differently when you’re outside the classroom.”
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Daniels Hall
Founders Lounge
Niebuhr Statue
BY EMILY AYSHFORD
A PLACE TO GROW
The Center for Scholarship and Teaching helps faculty develop their research and teaching skills— all in service of a better education for students.
Today’s college courses harness the power of technology, online resources and experiential learning—dynamic educational tools designed to engross and inspire. And as the world evolves through global disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of game-changing technologies, Elmhurst faculty are at the forefront of new ways to keep classes interesting and engaging.
Supporting them is Elmhurst’s Center for Scholarship and Teaching (CST), which encourages faculty development and growth. The center’s bespoke training sessions teach faculty best practices in areas such as designing courses, integrating technology and teaching online. It administers research grants as well as travel grants for faculty to develop study away courses. It also offers workshops, forums and guest speakers to create a culture of professional development on campus and to offer insights into topics such as universal design for learning and best practices for using AI in the classroom.
“We want to help faculty in all different endeavors to invest in themselves, in the interest of helping students,” says Professor Nicholas Behm, director of the center and chair of the Department of English.
“That’s what sets us apart at Elmhurst—our success in reaching faculty and helping them develop as scholars and teachers. Because what we do in research informs our classrooms, and what we do in the classroom informs our research. Ultimately, we want to ensure that students have a wonderful academic experience at Elmhurst.”
Laying the groundwork in Ghana
Born and raised in Ghana, Assistant Professor of Education Kwadwo Oppong-Wadie has taught in a wide range of school districts in the Chicago area. With a deep understanding of the difference between American primary-school classrooms and those in his home country, he knew that visiting Ghana to see those differences firsthand could be transformative for future teachers.
CENTER FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND TEACHING Dr. Andrew K. Prinz Travel Fellowship
“The fellowship allowed me to lay the groundwork for the course, which gave me a level of confidence in bringing students to Ghana. That foundation made it so our students could have the best experience possible while there.”
KWADWO OPPONG-WADIE
CENTER FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND TEACHING Creative and Scholarly Endeavors (CASE) Program
“I learned a lot from a technical standpoint. Now I’m building on that to see where the information takes me.”
SHREENATH PATEL ’26
But it didn’t occur to him to take his students to Ghana until he heard about the CST’s Dr. Andrew K. Prinz Travel Fellowship, which supports faculty in developing study away experiences. After successfully applying for the fellowship in 2022, Oppong-Wadie used the funding to travel to Ghana, where he made connections with schools, universities and hospitals and developed a new January Term course.
The result, Comparative Education in Ghana, took place for the first time in January. Education students learned different styles of teaching in primary schools, while public health majors had internships at local health centers. The group of 19 students also enjoyed the laid-back Ghanian culture. “Every single student said that they have never felt so peaceful,” OppongWadie says.
“The fellowship allowed me to lay the groundwork for the course, which gave me a level of confidence in bringing students to Ghana,” he says. “That foundation made it so our students could have the best experience possible while there.”
Collaborating with students on research
When Shreenath Patel ’26 decided to pivot from her corporate career to a calling in medicine, she enrolled
at Elmhurst for a postbaccalaureate course of study in psychology. Not satisfied with taking just the prerequisite courses for medical school, she began connecting with Elmhurst faculty, looking for a research opportunity.
She found a mentor in Catrina Notari, assistant professor of psychology. “Some of my most impactful experiences as a faculty member have been with undergraduates doing research, so I wanted to help her work on something,” Notari says. Together, they designed a study exploring the causes of burnout among nurses. Patel was personally motivated—her mother is a nurse—but she needed funding to carve out the time to execute the study.
She found it in Elmhurst’s Creative and Scholarly Endeavors (CASE) program, which gives fellows a $3,000 stipend to conduct scholarly or creative work over the summer. With the funding, Patel conducted interviews with nurses and designed a survey to understand potential causes of burnout. Now, she’s beginning to analyze the results. As a fellow in the CASE program, which is codirected by the CST and the Office of Academic Affairs, she presented her work in a student showcase and attended weekly workshops. “I learned a lot from a technical standpoint,” Patel says. “Now I’m building on that to see where the information takes me.”
Harnessing new educational tools
Vania Adams, assistant professor of economics, had a successful career as a portfolio valuation analyst who taught college courses on the side. But when the pandemic forced her to reassess her career, she decided to concentrate fully on teaching.
Despite her previous teaching experience, Adams discovered new approaches through the CST’s faculty development courses. She explored best practices in course design and found new tools for classroom engagement, such as Kahoot! and Slido, which enable students to answer questions using their phones. Now, she posts questions on the screen at the front of her classroom, and students scan a QR code on their phones to type their answers. The results appear on the screen, which leads to more classroom discussion.
“As teachers today, we need to think about ways we can make the classroom interactive and not boring for students,” she says. “And it’s not just about technology. It’s about including real-life case scenarios and simulations. The center helped me feel supported in my efforts to enhance student learning like this.”
CENTER FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND TEACHING Faculty Development Courses
“As teachers today, we need to think about ways we can make the classroom interactive and not boring for students.”
— VANIA ADAMS
The Center for Scholarship and Teaching recently moved into its new home on the lower level of A.C. Buehler Library. There, the center hosts workshops, holds office hours and makes the space available to faculty for professional development activities.
“I want it to be a place where faculty can come and get a cup of coffee and hang out with colleagues,” says Nicholas Behm, director of the CST. “We have had a strong investment from faculty who want to improve their craft, and that success is why we invested in this new space.”
Vania Adams uses technologies that enable students to answer questions with their phones.
A NEW HOME ON CAMPUS
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ALUMNI NEWS
Cross-Country Connections
A series of regional gatherings brought Elmhurst alumni together in Arizona, Florida, Texas and beyond.
The road trip launched in February with receptions in Sarasota and Bonita Springs, Fla., and continued in March with an enthusiastic Bluejay presence at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ home opener against the Chicago Cubs. Alumni also gathered in Dallas and Denver to reconnect, hear the latest news from campus and meet Lia Kampman, the University’s new vice president for institutional advancement.
Did You Know?
A women’s synchronized swim club made its Elmhurst debut in the early 1970s. The club held practice sessions in the pool at Goebel Hall, which served as the University’s gymnasium until its conversion to an administration building in 1989. In the club’s second year, five members traveled to Virginia for an international competition, where they received favorable critiques for their group and solo routines.
A Big Bluejay Win
This year’s #JayItForward Giving Day raised more than $230,000 for Elmhurst University. Over a 24-hour period on April 16, 653 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends made gifts in support of student scholarships, the new Health Sciences Building, athletic teams and much more. Each gift will help fuel the collective power of an Elmhurst education and create a long-lasting impact on Bluejays.
Phoenix
Denver
Sarasota, Florida
Go Fa r. Do Wel l.
KNOWLEDGE TO GO
From day one, our graduate programs provide unwavering professional support to help you excel in your career. Guided by expert faculty, you’ll gain not only timeless knowledge but also adaptable skills and best practices that will prepare you for whichever path you choose next.
Students with a direct relative who’s an alum (father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather or grandmother) and who did not attend Elmhurst University for their undergraduate degree may be eligible to receive a legacy scholarship when enrolled in a graduate degree program.
Alumni who received an undergraduate or graduate degree from Elmhurst may have the opportunity to take their first course for free upon enrollment in a graduate degree program. elmhurst.edu/FreeCourse
CLASS NOTES
1927 In the 1920s, some Elmhurst faculty members were known by nicknames such as Blitz, Krull, Freddie and Prexy.
1938 Mail call was an important time of the day for Elmhurst students, who enjoyed getting letters from home.
1959 The
1970s
Elmhurst University Trustee Rosie Phillips Davis ’71 published a children’s book, Rosie’s Superpower: The Power of Imagination, in January. Rosie’s Superpower tells the story of a young girl growing up in poverty who used her imagination to cope with her economic situation and the bullying that went with it.
1980s
John Dispensa III ’83 works for the Westmont High School Athletic Department and the Westmont Special Events Corporation. He also volunteers for Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Westmont Park District. He serves as the secretary for the Westmont Area Historical Society and is a member of the Westmont High School Baseball Hall of Fame Committee.
Ron and Mavis Barkley ’73 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 29, 2024, by renewing their vows in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Following the ceremony, they had a lovely dinner in the Frick Center with family and friends. The celebration took place 50 years to the day after their wedding, which was also held in Hammerschmidt and was officiated by the late Rev. Armin Limper ’45 , an Elmhurst theology professor at the time.
Marilyn Fawell ’75 writes that she achieved her personal and professional life goals because of what she learned at Elmhurst. When she graduated from the University, she was 36 years old, had three children and had been married for 18 years. She went on to teach high school for 25 years, earn a master’s degree in education and teach at National Louis University.
Bobby Smith ’85 is president of Elmhurst Baseball & Softball and manages the Elmhurst YMCA’s ice rink department during the winter. He is married with three kids, the youngest of whom, Robert Smith ’26, is captain of the University’s baseball team.
In January, Dwayne Wojtowicz ’85 was promoted to personnel manager in human resources for the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois.
Frank Arnone ’86 retired from Xerox Corporation on Feb. 3 after 38 years.
1990s
Jamie Marshall ’95 was named 2024 teacher of the year at Southport High School in Indianapolis, Ind., in recognition of her dedication to individualizing learning in her Spanish classroom.
Joseph Leudanski ’96 published a contemporary novel, Candace Tibbs and the Mask of the Soul (2024), under the pen name JS Bronell.
annual student picnic in the Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve included food, fun and plenty of water balloons.
THE POWER OF ADVOCACY
NBC Chicago recently featured Jerry Robinson ’97 and his family in a health and wellness segment about GAMT, a rare creatine deficiency disorder affecting two of Robinson’s children. Early detection of the disorder is a critical factor in providing appropriate treatment, and the Robinson family collaborated with Lurie Children’s Hospital and other advocacy groups to push for GAMT to become part of routine newborn screening in Illinois. Thanks in part to those efforts, the testing was approved in January. “If you test and find this before age 1, your chances of having a child that is as minimally impacted as possible are tremendous,” Robinson told NBC .
A NEW HEAD COACH
Mike Heffernan ’07 returned to his alma mater in February as head coach of the Bluejays football program. Heffernan, a kinesiology major at Elmhurst, spent the past six seasons as head coach for the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. A standout defensive lineman for the Bluejays, Heffernan was a Second Team All-College CCIW selection in 2006. “I am extremely excited to come home and rejoin the Bluejay family,” Heffernan says. “For me to be back at Elmhurst University with the opportunity to lead this program, and to be at a place that helped mold me into the person, father, husband and coach I am today, is unbelievably rewarding.”
2000s
Katie Kayastha ’02 is the new assistant principal at L.J. Hauser Junior High School in Riverside, Ill.
Layla Saleh ’06 is a coauthor of Revolution and Democracy in Tunisia: A Century of Protestscapes, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2024. An associate professor of political science and director of research at the Demos-Tunisia Forum for Democratic Sustainability, Saleh has taught political science at Qatar University and Marquette University in Wisconsin.
Heather Forster Jensen ’08 was featured in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205’s Community Connections newsletter, which is distributed to all District 205 families and Elmhurst taxpayers. The article, “Building Lifelong Readers and Lifelong Learners,” focused on her efforts as Elmhurst Public Library’s school services coordinator. A video about the district’s partnership with the library was also posted on District 205’s YouTube channel and highlighted at the December school board meeting.
William Rabulinski ’08 was married at Wilder Park Conservatory in Elmhurst on Sept. 6. Shortly after his wedding, he celebrated nine years as a behavioral health therapist with the DuPage County Health Department. Later that month, he was promoted to a role as behavioral health supervisor.
Sa’de Bryant ’09 earned a doctor of nursing practice degree with a specialization in psychiatry and mental health. Her academic journey began at Elmhurst University, and she says she will always be proud to be a Bluejay.
Rev. Emily Davis ’09 purchased a home in Crystal Lake, Ill., where she lives with her husband and 4-year-old daughter. She continues to serve as a pastor of First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake.
2010s
Noah Carson-Nelson ’12 earned a master of science in nursing degree from Rush University. While at Rush, Carson-Nelson pursued a fellowship in nursing care for older adults and participated in research related to planetary health.
Lucas Marshall ’14 earned an M . A . in English in 2016 and pivoted into a successful marketing career. He worked for Milwaukee Tool as a content and SEO manager for five years and joined Mirion Technologies in April 2024 as an integrated-content-marketing developer.
Christine Schram ’15 is a second-grade teacher in Kingman, Ariz. She is engaged and hopes to be married at Elmhurst University.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Victor Gómez ’18 was named the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education.
AMBASSADOR OF BEAUTY
2020s
Gómez, a bilingual science teacher for Leyden High School District 212, learned about the award at a surprise ceremony at East Leyden High School attended by his family and state education leaders. “I was in tears,” he told WBEZ Chicago following the event. “Just knowing that teachers can make that much of an impact is something profound.”
A biology and secondary education major at Elmhurst, Gómez has kept his ties to Elmhurst alive, helping his multilingual students earn college credit through the University’s Summer STEM Academy.
Dominika Zak ’24 was crowned Beauty Ambassador of Poland this March at a gala event at Chicago’s Copernicus Center. Zak and two runners-up will travel to Poland in June to represent the U.S. in the Miss Polonia 2025 competition. A registered nurse at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, Zak was born and raised in Chicago, but Polish was her first language, and she says she takes pride in her heritage. At Elmhurst, she double majored in nursing and psychology, was a finalist for Senior of the Year, and served as president of the Elmhurst Polish Student Association.
Gabby Slonke ’19 , M.Ed. ’23 , got engaged to her longtime partner, Gabe Ortiz ’19 , on campus at Kranz Forum on Sept. 21. The two met at Elmhurst during their senior year and have been together ever since. They plan to marry on campus.
Lisett Vidales ’20 is a tattoo and henna artist at Atmosphere Tattoo Gallery. She is taking what she learned from the art department at Elmhurst, especially from her favorite ceramics courses, to design and create permanent artwork on people. Vidales says she owes her success to her drawing, painting and ceramics professors, who helped her develop a strong artistic ability.
Marisa Karpes ’21 and Jack Macaluso ’18 got engaged on Oct. 5 in front of the Gates of Knowledge on campus.
Alexandria Schweikle ’ 23 got engaged to Jesus Lopez on May 25, 2024.
IN MEMORIAM
DOCTOR AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN
Roy Kurotsuchi ’51, a longtime obstetriciangynecologist in the Chicago area, died Dec. 30, 2024, at age 97. During World War II, Kurotsuchi and his family were sent from their home in California to an internment camp for people of Japanese descent in Poston, Ariz. He relocated to Chicago in 1943 and, during his freshman year at Elmhurst University, was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. Near the end of the war, he served in the medical corps in Okinawa, Japan. He was a big fan of Chicago’s sports teams, especially the Cubs. Kurotsuchi and his late wife traveled the world during their retirement.
FINE ARTIST
Elaine “Ginger” Pizza ’58 died Jan. 26 at age 87. Pizza, who graduated from Elmhurst University with a degree in education before earning a fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a master’s of fine arts from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif., was a well-respected abstract painter. She once won “Best Abstract Painting of the Year” in a juried show at the Palm Springs Art Museum in California. She also loved to golf and travel with her husband, Don. Together, they took 35 cruises and visited more than 60 countries. Her golfing highlight was playing the legendary 18 holes of the Old Course at St Andrews Links in Scotland.
Betty J. Vertovec ’45
Sept. 26, 2024, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Doris S. Krebill ’49
Feb. 4, 2025, Billings, Mont.
Rev. Russell F. Miller ’49
Feb. 2, 2025, Metropolis, Ill.
Gloria Henderson ’51
Jan. 27, 2025, Naperville, Ill.
Mildred L. Wysong ’51
Feb. 19, 2020, Richmond, Va.
Dorothy J. Buddecke ’52
Dec. 30, 2024, Florissant, Mo.
Dorothy W. Domermuth ’53
Oct. 29, 2024, Louisville, Colo.
Meta Polak ’54
Feb. 12, 2025, Naperville, Ill.
Ramon G. Gaulke ’55
Aug. 21, 2024, Old Saybrook, Conn.
Lois A. Jonswold ’55
Nov. 27, 2024, Omaha, Neb.
Rev. Finley B. Brown ’56
Oct. 26, 2024, Pleasant Hill, Tenn.
Ruth M. Carus ’56
Sept. 11, 2024, Lena, Ill.
Joan Hinkle ’56
Sept. 21, 2024, Montgomery, Ala.
Theresa M. Zilly ’57
Nov. 7, 2024, Creve Coeur, Mo.
Dr. William J. Dawson ’58
Feb. 20, 2025, Northbrook, Ill.
Grace E. Magerkurth ’58
Dec. 28, 2024, Allen, Texas
Fernando “Fred” E. Penna ’58
Feb. 11, 2025, South Beloit, Ill.
Charlene B. Fiene ’61
Jan. 16, 2025, Naperville, Ill.
Erik L. Hagen ’61
Sept. 11, 2024, Morrison, Ill.
Donald E. Woosley ’62
Jan. 12, 2025, Fair Oaks, Calif.
Rev. Sandra L. Ludwig ’63
Oct. 8, 2024, New Braunfels, Texas
William D. Winter ’64
Sept. 30, 2024, Bedford, Texas
Kelvin C. Boyle ’65
Dec. 15, 2024, Woodridge, Ill.
Donna L. Wartenbe Eime ’65 Oct. 27, 2024, St. Louis
Rev. Dr. Dennis Fredriksen ’65 Sept. 16, 2024, LaGrange, Ohio
Maria Keisoglou ’65 Sept. 16, 2024, Troy, Mich.
Judy E. Wilkin ’66 Oct. 8, 2024, Brighton, Mich.
Daniel S. Holtz ’67 Feb. 1, 2025, Tigard, Ore.
Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig ’68 Nov. 16, 2024, Hammond, Ind.
Gloria M. Schwind ’68 Dec. 13, 2024, West Lafayette, Ind.
Dr. Jennifer J. Davis ’69 Sept. 11, 2024, Pelham, Ala.
Gayle H. Schwarz ’70 Oct. 5, 2024, Lombard, Ill.
William C. Whiston ’70 Oct. 1, 2024, San Francisco
Dale R. Hahne ’71 Dec. 8, 2024, Lombard, Ill.
Marilyn R. Jelinek ’73
Aug. 1, 2024, Clarendon Hills, Ill.
Anthony Pagano ’73 Feb. 16, 2025, New Port Richey, Fla.
Bonita M. Bardauskis ’74 Jan. 30, 2019, Bonita Springs, Fla.
Fred C. Metcalf ’74 Nov. 18, 2024, Libertyville, Iowa
Jay Ordman ’74 Jan. 18, 2025, San Francisco
Randall G. Degenhart ’76 Dec. 4, 2024, Kankakee, Ill.
Roy A. Fox ’76 Jan. 18, 2025, Zellwood, Fla.
Kim K. Rogers ’78
Jan. 3, 2025, Villa Park, Ill.
Diane Zerby ’78 Feb. 20, 2025, Harvard, Ill.
Anthony I. Paredes ’79 Sept. 21, 2024, Chicago
Elizabeth M. Grabowski ’81
Aug. 25, 2024, Crestwood, Ky.
Janet J. Schippits ’82 Feb. 19, 2025, Worth, Ill.
Valerie Herrington ’83
Feb. 4, 2022, Plano, Texas
Bernadette M. Swanson ’84
Jan. 29, 2025, New Albany, Ohio
Mildred J. Haack ’87
Dec. 22, 2024, Lombard, Ill.
Daryl O. Cooper ’88
Jan. 13, 2025, Roselle, Ill.
Carole E. Johnson ’88
Sept. 25, 2024, Lake Bluff, Ill.
Michael D. Miller ’88
Sept. 21, 2024, Williams Bay, Wis.
Victor A. Zitzer ’88
Sept. 9, 2024, Lombard, Ill.
Edward T. Kraus ’89
Jan. 7, 2025, Crown Point, Ind.
Jerry W. Boseneiler ’96
Nov. 22, 2024, Sterling, Ill.
Steven W. Given ’02
Sept. 24, 2024, St. Charles, Ill.
Rev. John Buchanan H ’12
Feb. 3, 2025, Chicago
A ��-YEAR ELMHURST STALWART
Elizabeth D. “Betsy” Kuebler, a mainstay on campus from 1967 to 2013, died Feb. 10 at age 81. When she left her role as director of graduate admission in 2013, she was the longest-serving administrator in the history of the University. She also was instrumental in the development of graduate programs and helped create the School for Advanced Learning, which oversaw adult and graduate learning. Kuebler lived in Westmont, Ill., with her husband, Richard Kuebler ’74. Their daughter Erin Kuebler ’97 and their granddaughter Kelsey Kuebler ’15 are carrying on the family’s proud Bluejay tradition.
LEGACY FAMILY MEMBER
Paul W. Schade ’93, a golf pro and son of former trustee Rudolf G. Schade Jr., died Jan. 8. He was 56. Schade was a regular at Elmhurst University’s Rudolf G. Schade Lectures on History, Ethics and Law, which were named to honor his grandfather, a revered professor of history, Greek and philosophy who came to the University in 1946 at the urging of his teacher, the renowned theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, Class of 1910. The University held a memorial for Schade on Jan. 25 at Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.
THE CALL TO SERVE
The Rev. Nicolle See Grasse ’89 advocates for the vulnerable in all aspects of her multifaceted career.
I grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, where my family was part of the United Church of Christ Congregational Church. I witnessed deep poverty and abuse in the community, and I wanted to be an attorney who focused on justice. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I decided instead to go into seminary to do justice work from a different perspective. I transferred to Elmhurst my senior year to get a theology degree. Most of my classes were independent study, so I got to know the professors well.
I’m grateful for how the school encouraged and empowered me to have a different way of learning that I carry
with me still. And when I graduated, I enrolled at Chicago Theological Seminary many steps ahead of other students because of my experience at Elmhurst.
I received a master’s degree in divinity and became ordained in the UCC, and my call was to health care chaplaincy. I started out as a hospice chaplain during the AIDS crisis, and my work took me to diverse communities ranging from Cabrini–Green to the Gold Coast. That crisis led me into the political sphere, advocating for causes I believed in.
After the 2016 presidential election, I was asked to run for village trustee in
Arlington Heights. I won, and in 2024 I was appointed state representative for the 53rd District of Illinois. I won reelection in November.
My work in hospice chaplaincy prepared me well for this role. I meet people where they are without judgment and listen to them deeply to understand what matters most to them. I believe in the separation of church and state, but everyone has basic spiritual needs—the need for hope, love, forgiveness, acceptance, belonging. Those needs are what I support through chaplaincy, and they are a part of the legislation I have introduced. I try to find common ground solutions that benefit us all.
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