NCC Magazine Spring_Summer 2026_issuu

Spring / Summer 2026

LEARNING THAT LASTS

Work-integrated learning connects curiosity with career preparation

Also inside: Thoughtfully Approaching A.I. Chords for Kids: A Beloved Tradition

With many varieties of study spaces, Oesterle Library and Learning Commons was the place for students to be as the spring semester counted down.

FEATURE STORIES

10 2026 Commencement

The content deadline for this issue was May 15, 2026.

The Class of 2026 joined the alumni family as a record-breaking 932 graduates received their degrees in May.

12 Preparing for a Rapidly Evolving Future

North Central has been working to understand the full impact of artificial intelligence (AI) — embracing its application while also evaluating risks, limitations, ethical considerations, and how best to integrate AI into teaching and learning.

16 Chords for Kids

Over 19 years, a special performance by North Central’s Concert Winds has become a beloved tradition where “wigglers are welcome.”

18 Learning That Lasts

Undergraduate research, community-engaged learning, and internships are three examples of high-impact learning experiences that North Central has embedded across the curriculum.

26 More Than a Game

A growing number of Cardinal student-athletes hail from different countries — bringing the world to campus.

FIND ALL ISSUES ONLINE!

Do you prefer to read on your tablet or other device? Go to northcentralcollege.edu/magazine for the digital version of this issue and past issues.

Would you like to opt out of receiving the print edition? Let us know at oic@noctrl.edu northcentralcollege.edu/magazine

Editorial Director

Kim MacGregor

Creative Director

Mary Bass M’21

Contributing Writers/ Production

Jared Bogan M’10

Jeremy Borling ’02

Hannah Brauer M’25

Taiah Gallisath ’20/M’23

Nancy Jensen

Kara Kots ’18/M’23

Jordan Miller ’22/M’24

Nicholas Osterloo ’19/M’21

Mary Reynolds

Breanne Sheffer ’25/M’27

Vice President for Communication and External Affairs

Jim Godo ’93

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Rachel Gamarra

Please direct all correspondence to:

Editorial Director

North Central College 30 N. Brainard St. Naperville, IL 60540

Email: oic@noctrl.edu

We welcome your feedback!

Visit us online at northcentralcollege.edu // northcentralcardinals.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

North Central College now ranks among nearly 6 percent of business schools worldwide that hold AACSB accreditation.”

DEAR CARDINAL COMMUNITY,

Just as we were preparing to celebrate the North Central College Class of 2026 at our 161st Commencement, we received some incredibly exciting news. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) announced that the College had earned business accreditation.

I’d like to take a moment to provide some additional context on the decade-long journey toward this milestone. When I arrived at North Central as provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2015, it was clear that our business programs were an area of strength that we needed to lean into. This was — and continues to be — especially important given our location in Naperville, with its rich local and regional network of industry and community organizations offering high-quality internship and employment opportunities for our students and graduates.

Perhaps you’ve also heard about the College launching multiple new programs and earning accreditations in the graduate health sciences over the past several years (see pages 4 and 5 for more accreditation news). Just as important has been the steady and meaningful progress we’ve made within our business school during this same period.

In 2017, we consolidated our business programs and faculty offices within the newly renovated School of Business and Entrepreneurship building, featuring the Bloomberg Finance Lab just as you walk in the main entrance. We’ve attracted and retained expert faculty with a passion for teaching, mentorship and developing innovative and impactful programs like the Center for Financial Literacy, the Center for Social Impact, the Coffee Lab and more.

The pieces were in place when Dr. David Green, Paleka-Thomson Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, arrived two years ago and made the final push needed toward AACSB accreditation.

North Central College now ranks among nearly 6 percent of business schools worldwide that hold AACSB accreditation. It’s a remarkable achievement and an external marker of excellence that has a halo effect across all of our academic programs.

North Central is the only AACSBaccredited member of the CCIW athletic conference. We are also one of just 10 members of The New American Colleges & Universities – a nationwide consortium of private, comprehensive liberal arts colleges – to hold this distinction.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine. As you’ll see, we have much to celebrate as a Cardinal community.

Best regards,

Abiódún “G-P” Gòkè-Paríolá President

EXCELLENCE

Elite Distinction Earned

Fewer than 6 percent of the world’s schools hold AACSB business accreditation

North Central College has earned AACSB International (AACSB) accreditation following a rigorous review process by peers in the business education community.

AACSB accreditation ensures that North Central’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE) has the resources, credentials and commitment needed to provide students with a firstrate, future-focused business education. Fewer than 6 percent of schools worldwide offer AACSB-accredited business degree programs.

“Achieving AACSB accreditation affirms the academic rigor and intentionality that define business education at North Central College,” said Dr. Kristin Geraty, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This milestone reflects the strength of our faculty’s teaching and scholarship, the relevance and coherence of our curriculum, and our shared commitment to continuous improvement.”

AACSB accreditation applies to all of North Central’s undergraduate business majors as well as the MBA program. Accreditors

specifically commended the College’s assurance of student learning and highlighted the Coffee Lab and Center for Financial Literacy as areas of excellence and societal impact.

“This accreditation is very exciting, a point of pride, and the result of a team effort by every SBE faculty and staff member, as well as by faculty and staff across campus,” said Dr. David Green, Paleka-Thomson Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship. “It’s important for North Central College, and it’s important for our students and alumni as they lead, innovate and make ethical contributions in an increasingly complex global economy.”

Connor McGury ’18/M’20, president of the North Central College Alumni Board, said, “As an SBE alum, this accreditation validates and reinforces the quality of the experience I had when earning my degree.”

McGury is a senior manager at Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc. He added, “Incredible faculty helped prepare me for the business world, and an emphasis on bringing real-world experiences into the classroom made it easy to recognize how I’d be able to take what I was learning and apply it to my future career.”

Episode 12: Dr. David Green discusses AACSB accreditation and more.

northcentralcollege.edu/podcast

COLLEGE NEWS

Physician Assistant Program Earns Continued Accreditation

The achievement opens opportunities for MSPAS students

In May, North Central’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program was granted accreditationcontinued status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA), the national accrediting body for physician assistant education. The designation means the College’s MSPAS program continues to meet the high standards set forth by ARC-PA and reflects North Central’s commitment to excellence in the field.

“This achievement is the result of a true team effort from our talented and dedicated faculty and staff,” said Dr. Kristin Geraty, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The news also marks a significant milestone on our decade-long journey toward becoming a destination for healthcare education, as all of our graduate health science programs now hold full accreditation from their respective accrediting agencies.”

Since the MSPAS program launched in 2022, demand for PAs has continued to soar, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting employment

growth of nearly 30% over the next 10 years, driven by an aging population and increased demand for healthcare services.

Receiving accreditationcontinued status opens up a world of education and employment opportunities for our students and places North Central College on a very high plateau in the field of PA education.”

DR. TIFFANY DELANE, PA-C MSPAS Program Director

North Central’s 24-month MSPAS program begins with students spending a year primarily devoted to content area instruction, followed by a year of clinical

rotations. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, communication and patient- and relationship-centered care. Core clinical placements include six-week rotations — completed in both inpatient and outpatient settings — in high-demand areas including emergency and internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, family practice, and primary care.

“This is a big moment for the College and something that we achieved collectively over many years,” said Dr. Tiffany Delane, PA-C, North Central’s MSPAS program director. “Receiving accreditationcontinued status opens up a world of education and employment opportunities for our students and places North Central College on a very high plateau in the field of PA education.”

Accreditation will remain in effect so long as the College’s MSPAS program remains in compliance with ARC-PA accreditation standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program is April 2036.

LEARN MORE

EXCELLENCE

OTD Program Receives Maximum Initial Accreditation

North Central’s first cohort of entry-level OTD students graduated in May

Launched in 2023, North Central’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program has received maximum initial accreditation — seven years — from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

ACOTE is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs. Earning accreditation means that North Central’s OTD program meets the highest standards of preparing future occupational therapists.

“Earning a seven-year accreditation is a remarkable achievement that reflects North Central College’s commitment to

excellence and the dedication of our occupational therapy faculty,” said Dr. Kristin Geraty, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

North Central’s entry-level OTD program is designed to provide a high-quality, well-rounded education that prepares students to enter a growing healthcare profession.

Occupational therapy professionals work with people who have disabilities due to stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, loss of limbs or other impairments.

Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 16% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ACOTE-Accredited

Graduate OT Programs

All of North Central’s advanced clinical practice programs in occupational therapy have earned accreditation by ACOTE: OTD

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate MOT

Bridge Master of Occupational Therapy

Entry-Level Master of Occupational Therapy

LEARN MORE

The College’s first cohort of OTD students graduated in May.

PROGRAM LAUNCH

A New Pathway to the Nursing Profession

The two-year MENP program is designed for career changers

In the fall 2026 semester, North Central will welcome the first cohort of students to its new Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program.

The prelicensure, direct-entry program provides the opportunity for anyone with a bachelor’s degree – regardless of undergraduate major – to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The pathway is designed for college graduates with non-nursing backgrounds who wish to pursue a career in nursing.

“As the demand for qualified nurses continues to grow both locally and nationally, North Central College continues to open new pathways to a rewarding career in the nursing field,” said Dr. Mary Groll, dean of North Central’s School of Education and Health Sciences.

In January, the Illinois Board of Nursing granted full approval of the CCNEaccredited, two-year program, which includes more than 700 hours of hands-on clinical and simulation experience. Also starting in the fall, all nursing students will benefit from the College’s new, state-

As the demand for qualified nurses continues to grow both locally and nationally, North Central College continues to open new pathways to a rewarding career in the nursing field.”

DR. MARY GROLL Dean, School of Education and Health Sciences

of-the-art Nursing Skills Lab located in New Hall. The six-bed simulation lab will help prepare students for complex clinical practice through immersive, hands-on training opportunities using high-fidelity patient simulators and other leading-edge equipment and technology.

Dr. Christina Nordick, founding MENP program director and associate professor of nursing, said: “Students will graduate

with the foundational skills and knowledge they need for state licensure while being guided by expert faculty who are grounded in North Central’s humancentered, interprofessional approach to learning.”

The fall 2026 MENP cohort standard application deadline is Aug. 1, and the program start date is Aug. 26, 2026.

LEARN MORE

COLLEGE NEWS

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Partnering to Address Local Health Needs

Endeavor Health grant enables North Central to launch a telehealth program

Agrant from Endeavor Health’s 2026 Community Investment Fund (CIF) is making it possible for North Central nutrition and occupational therapy students to gain valuable experience in providing telehealth services while offering a community service and addressing gaps in local healthcare.

The $101,626 Capacity Builder Award supports a new initiative that students and faculty are spearheading: “Workforce without Walls: Bridging Gaps and Building Skills through Community Telehealth.”

The aim is to develop and deliver virtual counseling services in partnership with West Suburban Community Pantry (WSCP) and other local nonprofits in the western suburbs while creating a new way for North Central students to develop their skills in a real-life setting.

Funds from the grant have enabled the College to purchase hardware and software, improve network infrastructure, and provide professional development in telehealth delivery for students and faculty.

Dr. Kelly Frystak, associate professor of occupational therapy, and Dr. Kim Milano, assistant professor of health sciences and program director of the nutrition science program, are working with community partners to develop pipelines to recruit and serve clients via telehealth.

Locally based Endeavor Health is the third-largest health system and thirdlargest medical group in Illinois.

“Endeavor Health is here every day to support the health and well-being of our patients and their families,” said Kristen Murtos, chief innovation and transformation officer of Endeavor Health. “Through our Community Investment Fund, we’re collaborating with local organizations that people know and trust, helping them remove barriers to care, meet immediate needs and create long-term solutions that help individuals and families thrive.”

We are grateful to Endeavor Health ... their generous financial support will enable North Central to deliver on our mission of developing the next generation of ethical and skilled healthcare professionals within our School of Education and Health Sciences.”

DR. ABIÓDÚN GÒKÈ-PARÍOLÁ President

“We are grateful to Endeavor Health for their leadership and commitment to enhancing community health in Naperville and beyond,” said North Central College President Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá.

“Their generous financial support will enable North Central to deliver on

our mission of developing the next generation of ethical and skilled healthcare professionals within our School of Education and Health Sciences, while simultaneously addressing gaps in healthcare access within the local community.”

SEMESTER SNAPSHOTS

The collective support of North Central alumni and friends makes transformative moments possible each day for our current students. We invite you to follow the College on social media to see these moments as they unfold all year long.

Enjoy highlights from the spring semester!

February marked the 20th anniversary of the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. North Central College Athletics honored Maureen “Mo” Harty, recently retired executive director of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), with the 2026 Cleo Tanner award for her lasting impact on the conference and collegiate athletics.

northcentralcollege

Each spring, North Central’s senior engineering students showcase the innovative and creative projects they have developed at the Engineering Capstone Symposium held in the lobby of the Wentz Concert Hall & Fine Arts Center.

northcentralcollege

The Sankofa Trip is an annual spring break excursion that engages students in dialogue by traveling and exploring the location and background of a particular cultural group. This year, Cardinals traveled to Oklahoma City, Okla., to explore Native American history and culture.

northcentralcollege

Cardinal First continues to strengthen its legacy of empowering first-generation students. Its signature biennial event — the 2026 Alumni Academy — brought together 75 first-generation alumni who served as presenters, panelists and table hosts for an audience of 135 current first-generation students. The event inspired growth and moved our Cardinals #FirstGenForward.

northcentralcollege

Campus recreational sports are more than opportunities for friendly competition — they create connection, cultivate belonging and elevate the student experience. From pickleball to flag football, there was no shortage of ways for Cardinals to get involved in recreational activities.

northcentralcollege

This spring semester, Cardinals expanded their horizons by taking their studies to destinations including Australia, Chile, China, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland and Spain. With 36 study abroad program partnerships across more than 20 countries, a world of opportunities awaits!

northcentralcollege

At the 2026 Shamrock Shuffle in March, Cardinal volunteers — representing programs such as sport management, exercise science, health science, and education, along with members of the women’s lacrosse team — served water at an aid station for nearly 30,000 runners in downtown Chicago.

northcentralcollege

In April, Cardinals danced, cheered and conquered! Congratulations to the North Central Dance Team on becoming two-time national champions in the D3 Pom and D3 Team Performance categories at the College Classic National Championship, and to the North Central Cheerleading Team for earning the highest score in program history at the NCA & NDA College Nationals!

northcentralcollege

Commencement Weekend kicked off with the College Scholars Cording Ceremony — a tradition for Cardinals graduating from the honors program. The students received gold cords to wear at Commencement — a well-earned symbol of their dedication and hard work.

northcentralcollege

On April 16, North Central students, faculty and staff attended events for Honors Day — a spring tradition devoted to celebrating the curiosity, dedication and hard work that define our Cardinal community.

northcentralcollege

This year’s Spring Fest, themed “Chippychella,” brought students together for an evening of festivalinspired fun, featuring food, live music and activities. Organized by the Office of Student Engagement & Belonging, the event gave students a chance to celebrate the end of the academic year.

northcentralcollege

In February, the Theatre Department was all-hands-ondeck to prepare for its first performance of the spring semester: “Everybody Thrashing,” a new play inspired by true events in 1518 Strasbourg during which hundreds of people danced frantically in the streets for weeks.

northcentralcollege

The North Central Enactus team traveled to Denver for the 2026 Enactus USA National Exposition — a competition where young social entrepreneurs pitch innovative solutions to critical social and environmental challenges. Congrats to this group of Cardinals for presenting their two projects — Cacao Crunch and BoHo Conversion — and making it to the Impact Stage Final Four!

northcentralcollege

CONGRATULATIONS to the class of 2026

Cheers, applause and celebration filled the Hal & Benna Wilde Res/Rec Center as the largest graduating class in North Central College history crossed the stage during the College’s 161st Commencement ceremony on May 3, 2026.

932 DEGREE RECIPIENTS

710 Undergraduate 222 Graduate

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER

Aidan McGuire’26

Bachelor of Arts: Theatrical Design & Technology; Directing & Dramaturgy

GRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER

Chantell Windham M’26

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Occupational Therapy Doctorate*

Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Master of Arts in Professional & Creative Writing

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Business Administration

18 DEGREES CONFERRED

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Master of Arts in Sport Leadership

Master of Arts in Trauma-Informed Practice*

Master of Athletic Training

Master of Business Administration

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Music Education

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Master of Occupational Therapy

Master of Science in Nursing

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Bachelor of Science

*Inaugural graduating class.

SPECIAL Recognition

In addition to awarding degrees, the College conferred emeritus status upon six retiring faculty members:

TOM CAVENAGH

Professor of Business Law and Conflict Resolution Emeritus

DR. ANN KEATING Professor of History Emerita

DR. KARL KELLEY Professor of Psychology Emeritus

DR. WIOLETA POLINSKA

Professor of Religious Studies Emerita

GERALD THALMANN

Associate Professor of Accounting Emeritus

DR. LAWRENCE VAN OYEN

Professor of Music Emeritus

The College also presented the following special awards: Honorary Degree Recipient

DR. MICHAEL LAMB Executive Director of the Program for Leadership & Character Wake Forest University

Harold and Eva White First Citizen of the College Award

DR. KARL KELLEY Professor of Psychology Emeritus

MARYELLEN SKERIK Vice President for Finance

Mark A. Reid Student Leadership Award

ANNALEE HECKMAN ’26

Bachelor of Arts: Psychology

Recognized at Honors Day on April 16: Outstanding Seniors

MACY FLEURY ’26

Bachelor of Science: Exercise Science

NMESOMA E. ONYEJEKWE ’26

Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry

Preparing for a Rapidly Evolving Future

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been operating in the background of our lives for decades.

What started as an early form of computer science and software engineering in the 1950s and 60s would become the stuff of science fiction thrillers about machines taking over the world in Hollywood hits like “The Matrix” and “Blade Runner.”

moved out of the background and arrived at our fingertips in late 2022 when OpenAI released ChatGPT — the first large language model (LLM)-based chatbot to enter the mainstream. With the ability to pull from an ever-growing well of online data and information, ChatGPT and other popular LLMs like Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude act like supercharged search engines, generating written outputs based on simple prompts or questions posed by the user.

In everyday life, AI can be a useful and friendly assistant, whipping up recipes from the assorted items in your pantry or making tidy to-do lists based on your personal calendar. However, in the world of education, AI tools represent something more complex — a sea change that is equal parts exciting and threatening, depending on your point of view.

As an institution of higher education, North Central has been working to understand the full impact of AI — embracing its application while also evaluating risks, limitations, ethical considerations, and how best to support students as they prepare to live and work in a rapidly changing world.

Prior to the 2023-24 academic year, the College adopted a statement to provide clarity to faculty on how generative AI relates to existing College policies, particularly the Academic Integrity Policy, which covers topics like cheating and plagiarism. The College also empowered faculty to make their own decisions about the use of AI in their classrooms and for student work. Faculty must make expectations clear for students by including AI statements in course syllabi.

Dr. Mark Hoggarth, assistant professor of physical therapy at North Central, is a strong proponent of AI use, both by him as an educator and by students as a learning tool. For example, he created a custom AI chatbot for students to use in his neuroscience course, designed to help answer their questions about parts of the brain as they work on assignments outside of the classroom or late at night, when he’s not otherwise accessible to them.

At the same time, Hoggarth encourages students to think critically about how they use AI and to discern if it’s actually helping them learn.

“If they use AI to generate practice questions to study for a quiz,” he said, “my first question to them is: ‘Were those questions any good?’”

AI Teaching and Learning Framework

In summer 2025, Dr. Kristin Geraty, provost and vice president for academic affairs, convened a working group to participate in the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum. Over the course of the yearlong program, the group collaborated with peer institutions and developed a plan to engage academic departments in a bottom-up process to better understand current uses of AI across academic departments and to develop strategies that help faculty thoughtfully integrate AI in teaching and learning.

“We are a student-centered institution with relationships at the heart of everything we do,” said Geraty. “The approach we are taking to integrate AI

into the curriculum is to recognize that students are using AI, and we need to understand from faculty what’s working and what’s not in their field and in their classrooms — and we need to identify areas where additional resources are necessary.”

An outcome of those ongoing conversations is the formation of a framework that faculty members across all disciplines can use to build student skills related to AI. Skills range from the basic understanding and recognition of AI and how it works within their field of study, to the assessment of limitations and ethical concerns.

“It was important for us to develop a framework that is true to our mission and true to the skills that we hope our students will graduate with,” said Supna Jain, principal lecturer in communication and faculty director for North Central’s Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ). Jain served as a member of the AI working group. “We want a framework where there is space for everybody, regardless of where they fall on the spectrum of being early adopters to those who are resistant, and all for good reason.”

Jain pointed out that a unique aspect of the College’s framework is an emphasis on social and emotional competencies. Faculty and students alike are encouraged to use emotional selfawareness to understand their response to and interaction with AI.

“We need to be supportive of one another as we walk through this, and to provide faculty with support and guidance on good teaching and pedagogy as it relates to AI,” said Jain. “Maintaining good teaching has to be at the heart of it.”

New AI Minor

While faculty are working to incorporate AI across disciplines, students will soon be able to do a deeper dive into the subject.

Starting fall semester 2026, students can minor in applied artificial intelligence. Previously, AI and machine learning were only taught as upper-level electives within computer science and engineering, but the applied AI minor is available to students of all majors. Though offered through the Computer Science and Engineering Department, the new minor is distinct from those programs.

Dr. Sun-il Kim, professor of computer science and engineering and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, said that while he expects STEM majors will be attracted to and benefit from the AI minor, it was designed with non-technical majors in mind.

“We want students from all different disciplines to come in and use their creativity to innovate within their own areas,” said Kim, emphasizing that the study of AI goes far beyond “prompt engineering,” or focusing on basic LLM text inputs and outputs.

“The focus is on giving students a foundational understanding of how modern AI systems work, and then creating their own solutions using AI,” said Kim. “They’ll work with open-source tools to build their own AI, configure it, play with it, and create workflows and applications.”

AI and the Liberal Arts

It can be difficult to reconcile a rapidly emerging technology like AI with the timelessness of a liberal arts education. On the one hand, the liberal arts foster critical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving skills — precisely the human behaviors that can be so easily outsourced and replicated by AI. On the other hand, one could argue that the liberal arts are more important than ever. With the advancement of AI technology, there is a premium on personal connection, creativity and ingenuity all qualities that can help a person respond to disruption and change.

For example, Dr. Jennifer Smith, assistant provost for student success and engaged learning, and professor of English, said her professional life has, in recent years, been transformed by AI in ways she could not have anticipated when she started teaching. But her own liberal arts education has helped her navigate the new challenges.

“When I was a college student, AI didn’t exist the way it does now, but I learned how to think. So when AI emerged in my work life, I had the ability to respond,” said Smith. “I knew how to integrate AI where it’s meaningful, how to resist it where it’s not, and how to ask questions about its ethics and limitations. That’s what happens in our classrooms. We learn to ask those bigger questions so students are prepared for whatever comes next.”

Just as Hollywood foretold, the age of AI is here, and its speed and scale will continue to intensify. Students, whether they are majoring in music or computer science, can’t afford to sit on the sidelines.

“We want to open students’ eyes to the opportunities that are out there that they may not even have imagined,” said Kim. “No one can tell you what AI will look like in five or 10 years, but we need to make sure our students will be part of that transition.”

In February, the College co-hosted a panel discussion about AI and its impact on education and the workforce. The panel was moderated by Dr. Stephen Maynard Caliendo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (pictured far left), and panelists included (from left to right) U.S. Congressman Bill Foster; Dr. Sean Jones, deputy laboratory director for science and technology at Argonne National Laboratory; Betsy Covell, chief architect of technology at Nokia; and Dr. Mark Hoggarth, assistant professor of physical therapy at North Central.

Chords

A beloved tradition where “wigglers are welcome”

for Kids

Each spring semester, North Central’s Concert Winds ensemble puts on a performance for the community that veers sharply from the group’s traditional music selections. The set list includes Disney sing-a-longs and interactive dance tunes like “YMCA” and “The Chicken Dance” — even Homer Simpson’s rendition of “Spider Pig,” complete with costumed Spiderman characters bounding across the Wentz Concert Hall stage.

The one-of-a-kind concert experience is called Chords for Kids, with the motto: “Wigglers Welcome!” Designed for children with special needs and their families, the event sets typical concert etiquette aside. Attendees – young and old – are encouraged to let the music move them, literally. Singing and dancing in the aisles is not only allowed, it’s encouraged.

It’s become a beloved tradition on campus not only for audiences but for the student-musicians on stage.

“It’s their favorite concert of the year,” said Dr. Larry Van Oyen, who founded Chords for Kids in 2007.

This year’s concert on Feb. 28 was bittersweet. It was the last with Van Oyen conducting before his retirement from teaching at the end of the academic year.

After a 33-year career at North Central, he is now professor of music emeritus.

When he started Chords for Kids, Van Oyen had no particular connection to the special needs community. The idea was brought to him by local mothers who were looking for a judgement-free space for their kids to attend a concert. Van Oyen loved the suggestion and ran with

I’m so proud of our students and how much they put into it. I had no idea how much it was going to mean to the community, and how much it was going to give back to us.”

DR. LARRY VAN OYEN Professor of Music Emeritus

it. The show has grown from around 50 attendees in the first year to an annual sellout with hundreds of children and families returning year after year. Tickets have always been free of charge.

Toward the end of the performance, young audience members are invited on stage to take their turn directing the band – a fun and interactive concept the band came up with. When the show is over, they get their picture taken with the band.

It’s a moment of celebration – of music bringing people together.

In February, Van Oyen and the Concert Winds were recognized for their impact by the DuPage County Board with the reading of an official proclamation during a monthly board meeting.

“Today we honor a person who gathers students, students with special needs, young adults, and their parents, mixes in familiar music, costumed characters, and some silliness, as he creates pure magic,” said DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy.

“Dr. Van Oyen and members of the North Central College Concert Winds ensemble have shown incredible leadership in fostering an environment where every child can feel valued, respected, and welcomed into the world of music.”

“I’m so proud of our students and how much they put into it,” said Van Oyen.

“I had no idea how much it was going to mean to the community, and how much it was going to give back to us.”

LEARNING

THAT LASTS

By connecting curiosity with career preparation, work-integrated learning experiences are difference makers.

I’ve found research to be very formative to my direction at North Central. I’m grateful that I had a lot of resources here and to always be supported in this work.”

MIRANDA DOMINGUEZ ’27

Miranda Dominguez ’27 knows when the spark occurred. It was in her first year at North Central when she wrote a term paper for the course Economics of Social Issues.

The topic so ignited her curiosity that Dominguez overcame initial nervousness about reaching out to her professors beyond the classroom. With faculty in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship available through office hours, she initiated conversations about what it would look like to major in economics, expand her term paper research for her senior year honors thesis, and eventually pursue a career in economics research.

“These conversations really ended up inspiring the work that I’m doing now,” said Dominguez, who is pursuing a double major in economics and music performance with French horn as her instrument.

That work includes finalizing her thesis after presenting preliminary findings at a national conference in the spring. It also includes working this summer as a paid economics research assistant — her second summer working alongside faculty on their own scholarly project. In the fall, as she begins her senior year, Dominguez will start applying to economics graduate

school programs with confidence that her experiences at North Central have prepared her for the next chapter.

“I’ve found research to be very formative to my direction at North Central,” she said. “I’m grateful that I had a lot of resources here and to always be supported in this work.”

From Classroom to Career

Dominguez’s experience has not been incidental. It reflects intentional planning and work at North Central over the past decade to embed what are known as “high-impact practices” (HIPs) across the curriculum.

HIPs are specific learning experiences that are proven to have long-term benefits. They are characterized by academic rigor, sustained inquiry and vocational exploration, and they often include both faculty mentorship and learning outside the classroom. Examples of HIPs include undergraduate research, communityengaged learning and internships.

“These practices are difference makers,” said Dr. Jennifer Smith, assistant provost for student success and engaged learning. “They’re called ‘high impact’ because scholars have been able to prove that this way of approaching learning produces lifelong problem solvers.

Continued on next page.

Dr. Miranda Mendiola, assistant professor of economics (left), has served as an important mentor for Miranda Dominguez ’27 (right). Mendiola has advised Dominguez on undergraduate research projects and career exploration in the field of economics.

Research shows that students who pursue this kind of education have longer, better-paying and more fulfilling careers because they can adapt to change. They also can have better prospects after graduation, since job offers are often directly related to graduates having these kinds of experiences.”

Also known as “work-integrated,” “engaged” or “experiential” learning, HIPs can have positive effects beyond a person’s career.

“Curiosity is the key to everything,” said Smith. “Being open to what you don’t know enhances personal relationships and even the search for meaning in this life. It’s a lifelong asset.”

Building HIPs into the College’s general education curriculum, and across all majors and minors, helps ensure that every student benefits from deep, sustained learning and faculty mentorship.

For example, all majors at North Central include a capstone requirement — a significant project that challenges students to apply their disciplinary learning. Also, since 2022, every student must meet the College’s career readiness requirement: to take a course about career preparation and exploration and gain academic credit through an

experiential learning opportunity like a practicum or internship.

Smith said, “We create the conditions for success. Then, we push students to carry engaged learning forward to translate the knowledge they gained in the classroom to their career.”

DIFFERENCE MAKER

#1:

Undergraduate Research

Students in the College’s honors program, such as Dominguez, are required to complete and present an honors thesis –an original research project about a topic of their choosing. Through Dominguez’s sophomore and junior years, Dr. Miranda Mendiola, assistant professor of economics, served as her thesis advisor as Dominguez honed her research topic to focus on the impact of the school voucher system in the U.S.

“Doing this type of undergraduate research puts you 20 steps ahead,” said Mendiola. “Economics is a graduate degree-driven field, mainly because it requires quantitative skills. Miranda is learning more than coding. She’s also learning how to think qualitatively, and critical thinking skills like that are immeasurable.”

Like Dominguez, Lukasz Teper ’26 has found undergraduate research to be pivotal while attending North Central. A behavioral neuroscience major, Teper transferred from a community college and initially majored in psychology and art. But after the first day of an introductory neuroscience class, Teper knew: “This is what I want to do.”

We create the conditions for success. Then, we push students to carry engaged learning forward to translate the knowledge they gained in the classroom to their career.”

DR. JENNIFER SMITH Assistant Provost for Student Success and Engaged Learning

Teper began working in the lab of Dr. Michael Stefanik, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience.

Stefanik’s research is focused on studying molecular, cellular and circuitlevel changes in the brain that contribute to oxycodone craving and relapse. The goal is to define the changes and identify therapeutic targets aimed at decreasing relapse to drug seeking.

“I’m drawn to the idea that understanding behavior means understanding biology and the challenge of testing ideas, rather than assuming answers,” Teper said.

A first-generation college student, Teper later became a paid student researcher in the lab through the LEAPS (Leadership

Experience and Advancement Program in STEM) scholarship program. Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation, North Central has been able to provide support to high-ability students who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to conduct research in biology, computer science, environmental studies, mathematics, and neuroscience in their undergraduate years.

In addition to being part of the research team in Stefanik’s lab, Teper has been developing a thesis project. Teper’s experiences at North Central have illuminated a career path: to pursue a dual degree program for both an M.D. and Ph.D.

“I plan to focus on molecular neuroscience research while in medical

school and wish to potentially pursue surgical oncology,” Teper said.

“One of my goals is to identify molecular signatures that distinguish glioblastoma cells from healthy brain tissue and use that knowledge to improve tumor mapping and develop targeted treatments, potentially including viral-based therapies."

Stefanik said Teper has gained a foundation for pursuing those goals: “This research is pushing forward the field of neuroscience, and Lukasz is driving this type of work. Thanks to the funding we’ve received, we operate at a level like a bigger institution. It really sets students up for future success.”

Continued on next page.

Lukasz Teper ’26 (left), a behavioral neuroscience major, has had the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research in the lab of Dr. Michael Stefanik, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience (right).

These experiences reflect North Central’s commitment to student-centered high-impact education.”

AIMEN AHMED ’26

DIFFERENCE MAKER #2: Community-engaged learning

North Central College’s location in Naperville provides many opportunities for students to benefit from communityengaged learning, which is a high-impact approach to teaching and learning that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection.

North Central College defines communityengaged learning as an educational experience in which students collaborate with community partners to apply academic knowledge and critical thinking skills to meet societal needs. Through critical reflection on their activities, students gain a deeper understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic efficacy and responsibility.

“By connecting students with reallife organizations that impact others, community-engaged learning has the power to connect students more deeply in their classroom learning,” said Dr. Nicole Rivera, professor of psychology.

Rivera teaches Community Psychology, a course that explores factors that impact community well-being and the role psychologists can play in addressing real-world challenges. Like many courses across North Central’s curriculum, it includes a community-engaged learning component: a project that requires students to devote about 15 hours working with local nonprofits and other community organizations to address a specific challenge or opportunity.

In the fall 2025 semester, Aimen Ahmed ’26, Riley Knoop ’27, and Angelina Warcaba ’26 each took Community Psychology

and worked with a different organization on their community-engaged learning project.

The students partnered with local and North Central-based organizations — such as Cowlishaw Elementary School, Inside Out Club, and Cardinal Operation Hope and Help — to assess needs and impact. Their findings and recommendations were shared with organization leaders to consider as part of continuous improvement efforts.

Though the students’ communityengaged experiences were different, Ahmed pointed out that they shared a common goal. “All of our projects produced tangible outcomes that community partners can use,” she said.

“Community-engaged learning prepares us for leadership beyond graduation through real-world application,” Ahmed said. “You learn to treat people as partners, not subjects, which fosters trust and long-term relationships. These experiences reflect North Central’s commitment to student-centered highimpact education.”

DIFFERENCE MAKER #3: Internships

Data show that the number one thing employers look for on a recent graduate's resume is related professional experience — and internships are one of the most important, especially in some fields.

For example, sport management can be a highly competitive career to break into. Therefore, students with the major must complete a 360-hour internship in the field during a semester their senior year.

“Students aren’t required to take additional classes during their internship semester. They can completely focus on their internship,” said Dr. Krystina Sarff, assistant professor of sport management and clinical coordinator. “We want them to be fully immersed in the sport industry, so they form deeper connections and experiences, which are both vital components of their sport careers.”

Last fall as sport management major Dominic Rohrer ’26 began his senior year, he secured an operations and marketing internship with Team ONE Lacrosse in Naperville. A member of the Cardinals men’s lacrosse team and a leader with several student organizations across campus, Rohrer was drawn to the operational and leadership aspects of the role, such as event coordination, marketing and communication with athletes and their families.

“This was not observational learning,” he said. “It was real pressure, realtime decision-making, outcomes and consequences, and it forced me to problem solve and adapt in real-world environments, which allowed me to understand what a future in this career could really look like.”

In addition, Rohrer had opportunities to build his professional network and his confidence. The internship confirmed both his passion and his career plan. This summer he is working for a Napervillebased marketing firm, and this fall, he will begin pursuing an MBA at North Central with the goal to eventually work in sport management.

Sarff, who served as Rohrer’s faculty mentor said, “Internship experiences give students the best chance to secure a job post-graduation. Ultimately, we want their internships to set them up for long-term financial security, high job satisfaction and overall happiness in life.”

Rohrer said he’s grateful for the support. “Dr. Sarff has been amazing to me and helped me so much in my time here at North Central. This experience really reflects what North Central does well in preparing students,” he said.

“The program pushed me to seek realworld experience, supported me through that process, and helped me graduate with clarity about what I want to do in my future. Experiences like this connect education to purpose and prepare students to contribute meaningfully beyond the classroom.”

TOP: As part of a course with Dr. Nicole Rivera, professor of psychology (middle), Angelina Warcaba ’26 (left) and Riley Knoop ’27 (right) partnered with local organizations to address real-life challenges.

BOTTOM: Sport management major Dominic Rohrer ’26 (left) secured an internship with a Naperville-based youth sports organization. His faculty mentor has been Dr. Krystina Sarff, assistant professor of sport management and clinical coordinator (right).

WORK:

How Design Agency Prepares Student Designers FROM CRITIQUE TO CLIENT

For students pursuing careers in design, experience matters. At North Central, Design Agency (ARTD 395) offers a practicum that moves beyond traditional coursework.

During the semester-long course, students are immersed in a clientdriven environment modeled after a professional creative agency. They take on the role of designers, working directly with campus and community partners to develop creative solutions like logos and social media graphics. Their work is used in real-world settings by local businesses and nonprofits as well as campus partners.

Hale Ekinci, professor of art and design and chairperson of the Department of Art and Design, has taught ARTD 395 for 15 years, shaping it into an immersive, career-focused experience.

“Students run every aspect,” Ekinci said. “From meeting with clients to managing projects and presenting their work, they are fully responsible for the process.”

The course primarily attracts graphic design and design majors after they have developed foundational skills, though students from disciplines such as marketing, theatre and studio art also participate. Many choose to enroll more than once to expand their portfolios and gain additional client experience.

Graphic design major Jessica Zambo ’26 worked with the North Central Coffee Lab to develop branding and packaging for a line of tea. The collaboration included partnering with the Coffee Lab’s supply partners in Guatemala.

“We were challenged to create a product and think about how it would be experienced by the consumer,” said Zambo.

“Students run every aspect. From meeting with clients to managing projects and presenting their work, they are fully responsible for the process.”

HALE EKINCI Professor of Art and Design

Rather than rely on lectures, Design Agency centers on studio work, collaboration and critique. Students are evaluated holistically, with an emphasis on growth, professionalism and contribution to the class community. Along the way, they build essential skills in communication, project management, teamwork, and creative problem-solving — all of which translate directly to careers in design and related fields.

By the end of ARTD 395, students leave with a professional portfolio and real client experience they can point to in future job interviews.

Graphic design major and course preceptor William Wrage ’26 said, “It was a really unique opportunity to get real hands-on client experience in a class structured like a professional agency.”

UBELONG provides North Central student-athletes with opportunities to learn from one another as they talk about their experiences on and off the field.

The Power of Belonging

BY: BRIAN JOHNSON ’95/M’15 Assistant Athletic Director for Community and Belonging

Encouraging tough, thoughtful conversations that build community

Let’s keep it real – young people are growing up in a complex world. When students arrive on our campus, they bring with them a host of different experiences, lenses, backgrounds and beliefs. Through social media and other forms of content, those differences can often be highlighted and used to drive people even further apart.

To challenge this, I developed UBELONG as a way to celebrate differences and to create a sense of belonging among our 800-plus student-athletes — more than a quarter of North Central’s student body. UBELONG is a Cardinal Athletics initiative that includes platforms and opportunities for student-athletes to learn from one another and talk about the tough stuff they go through, on and off the field, including conversations around race, religion, politics, mental health and life after sports.

UBELONG is built on three pillars:

Inclusion Team (I.T.) - A diverse group of staff and student-athletes who guide the department’s community and belonging efforts.

Critical Conversations - Organized events to discuss topics on community and belonging, the student-athlete experience, identity and more.

Community Engagement - Helping student-athletes use their platform for the greater good, including through volunteering, community service, food drives and reading to local first-graders.

Through this work, we aim to provide student-athletes with broader perspectives, to amplify marginalized voices, to provide resources to those in need, and to foster fellowship.

As I think about my time as a studentathlete at North Central and the people who impacted my journey and sense of belonging – coaches, professors and staff, many of whom I still call friends – I get choked up. I most likely would not have made it without them. They lifted me up, challenged my thinking, and guided me along a bumpy road to maturity.

Now I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be that person in the lives of others by

providing spaces for our student-athletes to learn, share new perspectives, and broaden our collective thinking.

It’s important for prospective Cardinal student-athletes to be able to see and understand our commitment to community and belonging. It’s even more important for our current studentathletes to feel that commitment while they are here. Belonging is a basic human need that not only helps someone unlock their athletic potential, but their human potential.

At North Central, we view athletics as a critical part of the learning experience, and we know that the best learning happens when people feel a sense of belonging. My hope is that as we move forward, we will continue to build and adapt through this challenging cultural climate — and remain strong in the knowledge that North Central College can be a place where everyone belongs!

MORE THAN

How International Student-Athletes are Shaping Campus Life

The energy inside the Hal & Benna Wilde Res/Rec Center during photo day is high, with cameras flashing, teammates laughing, and woven through it all, a chorus of languages and accents that makes the moment feel bigger than sports.

Such scenes have become increasingly common at North Central. In the 2025-26 academic year, the College was home to 28 international student-athletes across nine programs. Together, they represented 15 countries. What began as a gradual international presence has grown into a defining element of campus culture — a sizeable increase from just 11 international student-athletes in 2016.

CHOOSING NORTH CENTRAL

A notable surge in international studentathletes at North Central followed the hiring of men’s soccer head coach Enzo Fuschino in 2019. Since his arrival, Fuschino’s recruiting footprint has reached 17 countries. His outreach is shaped in part by his own experience as a former international student-athlete from Italy who studied and competed in the United States.

“It’s important to have international students,” Fuschino said. “It creates a nice balance. It’s a mix of playing styles, perspectives, ideas, and personalities.”

Rafael Lessa ’27, a finance and economics major from Brazil and a member of the men’s tennis team, saw North Central as an opportunity to pursue both academics and athletics in ways not available back home.

“I chose North Central because it has a strong tennis program and academics, and it is in a great location,” Lessa said. “I’ve had international teammates before, and I felt it would be a great opportunity to experience different cultures, not only from the United States but also from other countries.”

Joris Rijnja ’26, an accounting major and member of the men’s soccer program, arrived at North Central after spending one year studying in his home country of the Netherlands. When searching for a college in the United States, Rijnja had two priorities: a campus with a strong international student presence, and to be close to a major city.

“I really love North Central,” Rijnja said. “The location, the people, and the faculty have all been incredible. I’ve had the time of my life here.”

SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY

From admission through graduation, international students receive guidance from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) within North Central’s Center for Global Education. ISSS supports, advocates, and designs experiences for international students and international faculty and staff. ISSS also provides immigration and cultural support, as well as personal and professional development opportunities outside the classroom. Before classes even begin, international students arrive on campus a week early for an orientation experience that is designed specifically to help them build connections early.

“Almost everyone’s second language is English, so you’re all figuring things out together,” Lessa said. “It really helps build that community from the start.”

LINDA LUPPI ’29 Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country // Parma, Italy

“The challenges international students face are similar to those anyone might experience in a new country,” Fuschino said. “Language barriers, cultural differences, even food and the pace of life. But our campus is very welcoming, with many activities that help our international students stay engaged and feel supported.”

A cornerstone of that support is the International Living and Learning Community (I-LLC), which brings international and domestic students together in a shared residential environment. The program encourages daily cultural exchange while helping students foster relationships and global awareness.

Campus organizations like the International Club and NCC for Africa also help celebrate cultural traditions from around the world, creating opportunities for students to share their customs with the campus community through meals, fitness and art.

A GAME

Women’s Tennis Madrid, Spain

CONTRIBUTING TO CONNECTION

That sense of belonging often extends beyond campus. When academic breaks don’t align with travel home, many international students spend holidays with American roommates or teammates and their families, experiencing U.S.

In turn, they share their own cultures and strengths. Rijnja points to his Dutch background, which encourages direct communication and leadership, with helping him earn a captain role on his team. Lessa shares his Brazilian roots through music, teaching teammates songs from his culture.

For Lessa, the message to future international students is simple: come ready to grow. “We have a very good international environment and great support,” he said. “From the first day you arrive, you’ll have a community that helps you every step of the way.”

In the end, the impact of international student-athletes reaches beyond wins and losses. They bring the world to campus, one practice, one conversation, and one shared tradition at a time — shaping a more connected and culturally

From left:

RAFAEL MIQUEL ISERN ’28

Men’s Tennis // Cullera, Spain

DAVID VILARROIG MARTINEZ ’27

Men’s Tennis // Castellón, Spain

ANDRES VALVERDE GONZALEZ ’27

Men’s Tennis // Mérida, Spain

TIM CHAI ’27

Men’s Soccer Budapest, Hungary

CLASS NOTES

1950

JOHN PRESCOTT, a World War II veteran, celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec. 31, 2025, with a community parade honoring his military service at his home in Naperville. 1

1969

RAY McKOSKI received the Illinois State Historical Society’s 2026 Best of History Awards - Award of Superior Achievement for his book “David Davis, Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Judge.” One reviewer stated that “the goal of this book is to remind the reader of the importance of David Davis in the career of Lincoln, and the author succeeds in this brilliantly.” McKoski is a retired judge and adjunct professor at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

1973

JIM MACNIDER was inducted into the NJCAA Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame and named one of the first recipients of the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award. In the role of head coach since 2011, he has guided the Harper College cross country program to 15 NJCAA Division III national titles, including five women’s and 10 men’s championships.

1976

PETER JONES has retired and notes that his new chapter begins 50 years after his graduation from North Central. He writes that he is “just bouncing around the world to see what there is left to see and do!” He adds, “Somewhere between Brazil, Panama, Uganda, Rwanda, Vietnam, Detroit and D.C., you’ll find me!”

1981

THOMAS O’CONNOR was recently promoted to lead test engineer at Sierra 7, where he works as a contractor at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Hines, Ill. He conducts independent validation and verification of software used to provide benefits and memorial services to veterans and their dependents.

1984

DAVID M. MEUNIER led a team of researchers at Dow, a global materials science company, in developing improved analytical techniques for determining microplastics. The findings were published in the Springer Nature journal “Microplastics and Nanoplastics.”

ALUMNI SNAPSHOTS

1992

TODD BITTNER is director of natural areas at Cornell Botanic Gardens in Ithaca, N.Y. He recently initiated the first lingering ash conservation bank in the Northeast to support long-term restoration of ash trees impacted by invasive species.

1995

MATTHEW LUECKE was recently promoted to partner at Chartwell Law, a national law firm. He is based in Chicago.

1997

ANTHONY HOLUB was recently appointed principal of Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy in East Aurora, Ill.

1998

RYAN FRIEDERS was recently elected as an at-large member of the 2026 Executive Committee of the American Soybean Association. He farms in Waterman, Ill. 2

1999

Chicago, where he earned a 2023 IHLA Hotelier of the Year nomination. In 2016, he opened the first Kimpton hotel in Ohio: the Kimpton Schofield Hotel in Cleveland. His hospitality career began as a front desk agent at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Naperville while attending North Central.

2000

BRIAN SCOTT was recently inducted into the Jacksonville High School (Illinois) Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Scott has remained an active runner since his North Central days, completing 19 marathons — including two wins at the Colorado Marathon.

2001

YULANDER WELLS JR. M’05 has been named chief operating officer, with oversight of the football program, at Syracuse University. Since January 2023, Wells had been deputy athletic director at the University of Notre Dame, where he oversaw both business strategy and the men’s basketball program.

2002

BRANDON HOEFT M’06/M’19 has started a new role as a wealth advisor at Clear Perspective Advisors in Aurora, Ill. He focuses on personalized financial planning, portfolio construction, retirement income strategies, and risk-managed asset allocation. 1 4 3 5 2

ADAM GURGIOLO has been appointed as general manager at Kimpton Gray Hotel, located in the historic 1894 New York Life Insurance Building in Chicago. With nearly 30 years of hospitality experience, Gurgiolo previously served as general manager of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco

2003

KIMBERLY ROBERTS BLITEK has been named Illinois Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. A physical education teacher at Kingsley Elementary School in Naperville, Blitek was recognized for “outstanding instructional performance.” She spent the first 11 years of her teaching career at Kennedy Junior High School in Naperville before moving to Kingsley 12 years ago.

2005

RYAN MCGUCKIN has been named superintendent of schools for Pontiac Township High School District 90 in Pontiac, Ill. He previously served for 10 years as superintendent of Streator Woodland School District 5 in South Streator, Ill. He also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Illinois Association of School Administrators.

2006

BRIAN LAWSON M’06 will assume the role of principal at Fearn Elementary School when West Aurora District 129 students return to the classroom in the fall. He recently served as principal of Strassburg Elementary in Sauk Village School District 168 in Sauk Village, Ill., where he has led school-wide instructional improvement efforts, implemented student intervention structures, and expanded family and community engagement opportunities.

OLIVER SABUGAL has joined Republic Bank of Chicago as vice president of commercial lending. He brings nearly 20 years of banking experience to Republic Bank, including a track record providing lending solutions to a range of small and medium-sized businesses.

2007

DR. KRISTINA SCHIEFEBEIN STUEDEMANN has opened her own dental med-spa practice: Teeth & Beauty. Proudly located in Naperville, it’s a place where “Self Care Meets Smile Care.” 3

2008

KRISTINA MATRANGA KAUFMAN M’08 has written and illustrated a children’s book titled “Stars Align,” published in March through Notable Kids Publishing. It was inspired by her lifelong love of astronomy and a 2006 trip to New Zealand that lingered long after it ended. The story follows a girl who learns that sometimes the universe has a way of connecting us and guiding us back to what we love most. 4

2009

JOHN RUSKAMP was recently named a finalist for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. He teaches at Irene C. Hernandez Middle School for the Advancement of the Sciences in Chicago.

2010

CHAD COMELLO co-founded the film website Cinema Sugar (heycinemasugar.com) in 2022 with fellow alum KEVIN PRCHAL ’16. The content builds on their shared love for movies and includes interviews, reviews, listicles, short videos and contributors from around the world. Comello, Prchal and their team have interviewed actors such as Michael Shannon and Andra Day and covered film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival.

JILL ZAPATA M’15 has been named principal of Emerson Elementary School in Elmhurst, Ill. Most recently, she served as assistant principal at Conrad Fischer Elementary School in Elmhurst. Previously, she served as the director of bilingual services in MaywoodMelrose Park-Broadview School District 89 and worked in East Aurora District 131, Yorkville District 115 and School District 15 in Palatine. Zapata is working toward a doctorate in education.

2012

MALLORY CARR was profiled in a recent issue of “Golf Chicago” magazine as one of the few female head golf pros in the state of Illinois. Since 2023, Carr has been the head professional at Royal Melbourne Country Club, a Greg Norman-designed facility in Long Grove, Ill.

Cardinals Dominate the 2026 40 Under 40 Achievement Awards

Eight North Central College alumni were among the 40 area professionals selected by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and the Young Professional Network (YPN) for the 2026 “40 Under 40” Achievement Awards. Cardinals made up 20% of the newest class of inductees.

Launched in 2016, the annual program recognizes young professionals who are making a meaningful impact through leadership, professional achievement and community involvement. In celebration of the program’s 10-year anniversary, NACC expanded the 2026 awards to recognize 40 individuals who are actively shaping the Naperville area across industries, organizations and causes.

Pictured at the May 21 event (from left to right): Katie Mayers ’10, sales and event manager, Morton’s Steakhouse; Linda Oglesbee ’19, NACC event manager; Steve Hlavac ’12, founder and coach, Beyond Measure Fitness Training; Kaylin Risvold M’19, NACC president and CEO; Nora Beswick ’13, event planning manager, Feed My Starving Children; Emily Rosenberg ’19, studio director, Steps Dance Center; Ashley Klco M’18, executive director of campus safety and risk management, North Central College; and Natalie Vivacqua ’10/M’12, assistant vice president for operations, North Central College.

Award-winning alumni not pictured: Marc Dunn ’16, director of human resources, DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity, and Stephanie Ryding ’10 Zobac, project coordinator, ALDI.

Photo credit: NACC

ERIN MARTIN was recently promoted to director of education at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa. She previously served as the museum’s education program manager after 13 years of teaching and instructional coaching at Wheaton North High School.

2014

ROBERT CASTILLO moved to Guatemala in September 2025 to serve in the Peace Corps through 2027. Details about his work as a musician, visual artist, sculptor, and more can be found at robertcastillo.art.

ALANA SHUMA began a new position as museum director of the Collin County History Museum in McKinney, Texas.

TIERRA THOMPSON M’14 was recently named chief of staff for Kennesaw State Athletics at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Previously, Thompson was a consulting director in the strategy and operations practice at Huron Consulting Group, leading large-scale transformation initiatives for higher education institutions with a focus on athletics strategy, change management, governance, facilities and space planning, and workforce design.

2016

ERIC GRUBER M’19 is the new head coach of the Michigan Tech womens basketball program. Previously, he was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and he held assistant coaching

Office of Alumni & Parent Engagement

Visit the Alumni webpage for event information and registration, opportunities to get involved, and ways to support the College we love!

positions at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Coe College, and Loras College. While pursuing his master’s at North Central, Gruber was a graduate assistant for the women’s basketball for two seasons.

KEVIN PRCHAL co-founded the film website Cinema Sugar (heycinemasugar.com) in 2022 with fellow alum CHAD COMELLO ’10. The content builds on their shared love for movies and includes interviews, reviews, listicles, short videos and contributors from around the world. Comello, Prchal and their team have interviewed actors such as Michael Shannon and Andra Day and covered film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival. Prchal is a digital content specialist at Harper College in Palatine, Ill.

2017

ALEXANDRA SMITH , known professionally as Alexandra Lee, performed the national anthem as a member of the band Bella Cain at the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers game on Dec. 6, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. 5

2021

MATT EAKER M’23 was named to the College Sports Communicators 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, a national honor recognizing rising professionals in collegiate athletics communications. He serves as assistant director of athletics communications at Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

2022

Either scan the QR code with your mobile device or visit our webpage.

LUCAS BURRIS has been appointed executive director of the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, which serves La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. Most recently, Burris served as assistant general manager of the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp baseball team and manager of digital and strategic content for the Prospect League. He has also worked as a freelance sports broadcaster since 2022 and an assistant coach for La Salle-Peru boys wrestling since 2024.

2023

LINDSEY NOVAK DPT’26 was recently accepted into an orthopedic residency at the University of Chicago, where she will also begin teaching in the medical school program and working in the University of Chicago Medicine’s cancer rehabilitation center.

2024

AIDAN WESTERBERG was one of just 42 recipients chosen across all NCAA divisions to receive the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship to use toward graduate studies. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Dental Medicine at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, Westerberg is the ninth North Central student-athlete ever, and the fourth since 2024, to receive the award.

Accounting Social Cubs Game

Social

Cubs Game

WEDDINGS

ALEXANDER BENSON ’17 and Karly Zucker on Nov. 29, 2025, in Chicago. Alumni in the wedding party included: ANDREW STRATTON ’17 and DRU ROZEWICKI ’17. Alums in attendance included: ZACH HERRERA ’17, REBA WERMELING ’17, OMAR GOMEZ ’17 ; SKYLAR BAYER ’17, HAYLEY RHEW ’17, SAM MARCUCCELLI ’17, KYLE OLESEN ’17, EVAN HANSEN ’17, MAUREEN JONES ’18 , and ROBYN NORTON ’15. The wedding was photographed by AMANDA CORETESE ’17 DRENDEL and officiated by DANIEL TALANCON ’17 1

LUKE GENTILE ’19 and EMILY VARGO ’18

GENTILE on Oct. 25, 2025, at Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge, Ill. Alumni in the wedding party included PATRICIA O’DONNELL ’18 , ANITA WOLFF ’18 and CIERRA TURKS ’18 2

DREW OLEHY ’15 and Alison Gramer on Oct. 17, 2025, in Peoria, Ill. Alumni in the wedding party included SHEA OLEHY ’13 MARSHALL , JOHN WESTBROOKS ’14 and ADAM GEIGER ’14 3

JOSEPH SPADA ’11 and AMANDA SIERANT ’11

SPADA on June 6, 2025, at St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church in Downers Grove, Ill.; reception at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. 4

PETER SZPYTEK ’20 and ELENA MITCHELL ’21 SZPYTEK on Dec. 31, 2025, at Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Ill. 5

BIRTHS

MICHAEL PICKETT ’05 and REBEKAH FABER ’07 PICKETT, a son, Thomas Michael Pickett, on Feb. 19, 2025, weighing 6 lbs., 7oz. Thomas joins his three other siblings, Isabella, Madeleine, and William. 6

ERIC STUEDEMANN ’07/M’08 and KRISTINA SCHIEFEBEIN ’07 STUEDEMANN welcomed a daughter, Ensley, on Sept. 25, 2023, and a son, Ellis, on Nov. 17, 2025. Their family now numbers seven with four sons and a daughter. 7

CHRIS KANE ’10 and MARCI WIRTZ ’14 KANE , a son Myles, on July 17, 2025, weighing 8 lbs., measuring 20 inches. Myles is welcomed by sibling Sullivan Kane, 2. Alumni relatives include aunt and uncle, ANNA WIRTZ ’11 SINGER and NICK KANE ’10 8

KYLE DERAEDT ’13 and Heather DeRaedt, a son, Connor, born Feb. 14, 2026. 9

CASSANDRA (CASSIE) SHAKER ’13 and Brad Hult, a son, Noah, on April 30, 2026, weighing 6 lbs., 7 oz., measuring 20.5 inches. He joins big brother, Cameron, 2. 10

ALEXIS HENZ ’21 MARTIN and CAMERON MARTIN ’21 , a daughter, Raelynn, on Jan. 11, 2026, weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz., measuring 19.75 inches. Alumni relatives include grandparents: BRIAN HENZ ’96, LYNN BRADY ’86 HENZ , and KEVIN MARTIN ’87. 11

Your Classmates Want to Hear from You

Share your recent personal and professional achievements and celebrations! Submissions are edited for length and clarity and can take up to three issues to appear. Publication does not constitute endorsement by North Central College about news, events, businesses or creative work.

Email updates to classnotes@noctrl.edu or scan QR code. Alumni are listed by class year for earning a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from North Central College. Those with more than one degree from North Central are listed according to undergraduate class year; graduate degree is then included in the class note. “S” before class year indicates Shimer College alumni. 1

REMEMBERING

Dr. John Bramsen ’60

Dr. John Bramsen in 1998 on the occasion of the rededication of Old Main.

Dr. John Bramsen, proud member of the North Central College class of 1960, passed away on April 22, 2026. John was a Life Trustee on the North Central College board, beginning his service in 1991.

Bramsen earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from North Central, followed by a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago. He taught for many years at the University of Colorado.

Since Bramsen loved learning and teaching, it was fitting that in 1992, he gifted $1 million to the College to establish its first endowed faculty chair: The Svend and Elizabeth Bramsen Professorship in the Humanities, named in honor of his parents.

In 1997, he was one of several trustees to make a significant financial contribution that enabled the renovation of Old Main to proceed.

IN MEMORIAM

We are deeply grateful for all that John did as a proud North Central alumnus and dedicated trustee.”

DR. ABIÓDÚN GÒKÈ-PARÍOLÁ President

“We are deeply grateful for all that John did as a proud North Central alumnus and dedicated trustee,” said Dr. Abiódún GòkèParíolá, president of North Central College.

“We are thinking of Norma and the entire Bramsen family as we mourn the loss of John and celebrate his long legacy of service to North Central College.”

Our condolences to the families and friends of those we have lost. To notify us of a passing, please email classnotes@noctrl.edu.

DR. GERHARD HOFFMAN ’52 of Walla Walla, Wash., in March 2026.

REV. WILMER BLOY ’53 of Madison, Wis., on Jan. 10, 2026.

LOUISE SWANSON LINDBERG ’56 of Canton, Ohio, on April 4, 2026.

JANELL WELLMAN ’56 of East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 24, 2026.

MARILYN GATES ’58 JORDAN of Noblesville, Ind., on March 20, 2026.

DR. ROBERT SAUER ’58 of Newton, N.C., on March 20, 2026.

ARLO BOWER ’59 of Gig Harbor, Wash., on Nov. 3, 2025.

MAVIS ERDMANN ’59 of Chicago and Phoenix on Jan. 4, 2026.

DR. LEROY FASSETT ’59 of Highland, Ind., on March 1, 2026.

CHARLES SLOCUMB ’59 of Modesto, Calif., on Nov. 28, 2025.

RICHARD ZIMMERMANN ’61 of Avon, Colo., on Jan. 7, 2026.

JANE HANSON ’62 of Austin, Minn., on Dec. 3, 2025.

NANCY BEVIER ’62 OLUFS of Warrenville, Ill., on Feb. 18, 2026.

DONALD PLETCHER ’65 of Bonita Springs, Fla., on Jan. 1, 2026.

THOMAS GIBBS ’66 of Naperville, on Nov. 6, 2025.

JOHN BAUERNFEIND ’67 of Albert Lea, Minn., on Nov. 16, 2025.

FREDERICK HILL ’68 of Lady Lake, Fla., on Feb. 24, 2026.

DR. MARTIN FABER ’72 of Princeton, Ill, on June 4, 2025. Surviving alumni family members include his spouse, Linda Novak ’72 Faber, along with his daughter, Rebekah Faber ’07 Pickett; son, Nathan Faber ’01; son, Adam Faber, ’99; and brother-in-law, Arnold Faber ’78.

ANNA CAROLE CLARK ’70 MILES , of Piedmont, S.C., on March 14, 2026.

JAMES SPORLEDER ’73 of Mundelein, Ill., on Jan. 27, 2026.

MICHAEL A. CROWELL ’77/M’03 of Naperville, on Feb. 1, 2026.

AGNES ELEANORE FLETCHER ’82 of Lisle, Ill., on Dec. 28, 2025.

BETTY CURTIS ’82 FELTES of Naperville, on Jan. 31, 2026.

FLORENCE CROSSAN ’90 of Downers Grove, Ill., on Jan. 30, 2026.

ALLEN BROST ’91 of St. George, Utah, on Dec. 24, 2025.

GREG GUGERTY ’96 of Morris, Ill., on Feb. 26, 2026.

NICOLE PARTLOW ’98 NELSON of Aurora, Ill., on Nov. 9, 2025.

ANDREW ANDERSON ’99 of Barrington, Ill., on Nov. 9, 2025.

SAMUEL SWEENEY ’11 of Huntley, Ill., on Feb. 9, 2026.

Alumni Calendar

JULY - DECEMBER 2026

Football Golf Outing

July 27

Check-in - 10:30 a.m.

Shotgun start - 12 p.m.

Dinner - 5 p.m.

White Eagle Golf Club

3400 Club Dr., Naperville

Craig E. Fisher

Wrestling Golf Outing

August 8

Check-in - 8 a.m.

Shotgun start - 8:30 a.m.

Tamarack Golf Course

24032 Royal Worlington Dr. Naperville

Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field

Alumni Picnic

August 8, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Hal & Benna Wilde

Res/Rec Center

440 S. Brainard St., Naperville

Men’s Soccer Alumni Game and Social

August 29

Alumni Game - 6 p.m.

Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium

Social - 7:30 p.m., The Lantern

Alumni Board Meeting

September 5

Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field Golf Outing

September 27

Check-in - 8 a.m.

Shotgun start - 9 a.m.

Tamarack Golf Course

24032 Royal Worlington Dr. Naperville

Baseball Golf Outing

October 2

Check-in - 8:30 a.m.

Shotgun start - 10 a.m.

St. Andrews Golf and Country Club

2241 IL Rt. 59 West Chicago, Ill.

Homecoming Weekend

October 8 - 11

School of Business & Entrepreneurship

Alumni/Student

Networking Social

November 12, 5:30 p.m.

Elements, Hotel Indigo 120 Water St., Naperville

Alumni Track Meet

December 5

Hal & Benna Wilde Res/Rec Center

440 S. Brainard St., Naperville

Cookies with Santa & Holiday Trolley Tour

December 5, 7 p.m.

Wentz Concert Hall Lobby 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville

HOME FOOTBALL GAMES

Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium

September 5, 12 p.m. vs. Bethel University

October 3, 1 p.m. vs. Augustana College

October 10, 6 p.m. vs. Wheaton College Homecoming Weekend

October 31, 1 p.m. vs. Carthage College Family Weekend / Senior Day

November 14, 12 p.m. vs. Illinois Wesleyan University Veteran and Military Appreciation Day

Join us as we celebrate the following alums: Hall of Fame

Outstanding Alumni Awards & Recognition Ceremony

Thursday, October 8

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

Deborah Sperberg S’59

Scott Wehrli ’91

Nick Brunick ’96

Tracie Morris ’02

ALUMNI RECOGNITION AWARD

Rima Gungor ’12 Ziuraitis

WALL OF WITNESS

Ashley Prescott BarlowThompson ’06

CARDINAL PRIDE AWARD

Jan Roll ’75 Baumgartner

Ken Helberg ’82

Induction Ceremony Saturday, October 10

INDIVIDUAL INDUCTEES

Mark Schmitt ’06 Swimming

Shane Dierking ’14/M’16 Football

Ebony Stallworth ’15 Track & Field

Andrea Starr ’16 Softball

Luke Winder ’18/M’21 Track & Field

Dhurvil Patel ’19

Cross Country/Track & Field

Broc Rutter ’20 Football

Todd Raridon

Head Men’s Basketball Coach

TEAM INDUCTEES

1987 Men’s Cross Country

1989 Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field

If you are interested in helping coordinate a class reunion, contact alumni@noctrl.edu

30 N. Brainard St. Naperville, IL 60540

EXPRESS YOURSELF

Members of the Class of 2026 let their joy go to their heads during North Central College Commencement! Here are a few of the many creative ways Cardinals decorated their graduation caps. See Commencement 2026 coverage on pages 10-11.

STAY CONNECTED!

See what our Cardinals are up to all year long by following the College on social media.