Catalyst THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ALUMNI
WI NTE R 2021 SPRING 2014 3
Catalyst The Magazine of Rockford University Alumni
IN THIS ISSUE THE NEW NORMAL...........................................................................................................................................1 TIMEOUT: HOW OUR ATHLETIC TEAMS ARE STAYING STRONG WHILE SIDELINED.............................3 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES DURING PANDEMIC....................................6 PROFESSORS INCREASE ACCESS TO BIG NAME CONTENT.....................................................................7 MEET OUR FIRST CHARLES E. BOX SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT..............................................................8 PROGRESS WITHIN A PANDEMIC: AN ENROLLMENT SUCCESS STORY.................................................9 CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2020.............................................................................................................11 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT: SUSAN SCHMITZ..................................................................................................13 FACULTY NOTES..............................................................................................................................................14 CLASS NOTES..................................................................................................................................................16 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: A MATCH MADE AT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY.......................................................17 ALUMNI STORY: FAMOUS NPR VOICE HAS ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ROOTS.......................................18 IN MEMORIAM................................................................................................................................................19 SPECIAL TRIBUTE: JOHN MCNAMARA.......................................................................................................20 SPECIAL TRIBUTE: JOHN BURPEE WHITEHEAD.......................................................................................21
Catalyst is published by Rockford University’s Office of Advancement. Contact us at 815.394.5041 or communications@rockford.edu.
Greetings from President Fulcomer When we made the shift to online learning in March, as part of the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, we didn’t grasp the magnitude of the growing pandemic. Initially, we hoped that our shift would only be for a few weeks – just until the virus was under control. Of course, hindsight is 20/20. But that thinking illustrates just how dynamic and uncertain these last many months have been. It is with great appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of our entire campus community – faculty, staff, and students – that I report we successfully made it through the fall semester with in-person living and learning. As national news reports demonstrate, this was no easy feat. We implemented health and safety protocols that allowed us to proceed with a thoughtful blend of classroom, hybrid, and online courses and it took the cooperation of everyone on campus to make it work. This decision was well received by both continuing and new students. Our fall enrollment of 1,275 is 50 more students than last year. We were particularly gratified that so many new, first-year students joined us – a 39% increase over last fall. We also saw significant growth in our education graduate programs. New students told us that with our small class sizes, they thought they would have a better chance of completing the term with in-person learning than their peers at larger institutions. Thankfully we delivered on that expectation and had a successful and meaningful fall semester.
In the midst of a global pandemic, we have seen many examples of Regents stepping up to make a difference in the world. One concrete example is the creation of the Charles E. Box Scholarships, a program established last spring by alumnus Sunil Puri. Mr. Puri wanted to do something tangible for Rockford’s Black community in response to the death of George Floyd. The scholarship program enables Black students in our region to complete a business management or accounting degree debtfree through our Puri School of Business bachelor’s completion program. The scholarship is named in honor of former Rockford mayor and current Rockford University trustee, Charles Box. As I close, I want to remember two of Rockford University’s finest who served this institution with distinction and recently passed away. Longtime board member and supporter, John Whitehead, passed away in September at the age of 97. Former vice president for institutional advancement, and former Rockford mayor, John McNamara, also passed away in September at the age of 81. You can read tributes to both of these gentlemen on the pages that follow.
Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D. President
the new
normal
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Like so many colleges across the country, Rockford University has had to find a way to provide an exceptional education while keeping our students, faculty, and staff safe and supported as our nation continues to navigate the coronavirus pandemic. After a spring and summer of uncertainty, the university reopened for the fall semester with a hybrid schedule allowing students and faculty to meet for inperson learning while adhering to strict health and safety protocols. We talked to students, faculty, staff, and coaches about how they are staying safe, staying connected, and staying innovative.
STUDENTS TELL US IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE AN UNDERGRAD AT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
NOR ALAMERY Major: Biochemistry Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
“Being on campus this fall is something that I am grateful for as it brings back some normalcy in my life. I feel very lucky to have the privilege of being able to attend classes on campus versus taking a fully remote schedule. As a freshman, this is especially important because having the ability to take on-campus classes has supported a smooth transition from high school to college. The student experience at Rockford University is the best one that could have been curated during this pandemic. I have been able to join clubs and truly make connections with my peers, even though it seems tough to achieve that at this time. Rockford University has made it possible for students to carry out modified versions of campus events and club activities by adhering to safety regulations.”
“I have been able to have community on campus with my friends in my nursing cohort. Sometimes, we take the time to just check in and update each other with what’s going on in our lives individually. Because that’s what is most important. Rockford University has still given me the student experience by allowing me to be on campus and still having campus open in our ‘new normal’ mode of learning this semester.” DAVONTE MIKELL Major: Nursing Hometown: Brookfield, Illinois
ELIZABETH DUTCH Majors: Musical Theatre and Political Science Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia
“I am thankful that the university is taking the necessary safety measures to allow students to remain on campus. My professors have been extremely understanding of the importance of our mental and physical well-being. The Lang Wellness Center has always been a helpful resource to students, but now more than ever, they have taken steps to care for us in many ways. And because of our transition to hybrid learning, I have been able to improve my skills with technology. For one of my performance classes, we had to film an audition video and submit it online. This helped me hone my video editing skills, which will be beneficial for professional auditions after college.”
“Being able to be on campus this fall instead of completely remote gave me a sense of normalcy. Having limited social contact was beginning to be draining during quarantine, but having the opportunity to attend a class, even if it’s just 50 minutes a day, is enough to fill that void of social interaction with others. All my professors have enforced social distancing protocols and my peers have been considerate about cleaning their areas before and after class. I’m a commuter student and the Commuter Council has been doing a magnificent job in organizing creative and fun events throughout the week for students to participate in while maintaining social distancing protocols. One of my favorites this semester was when they rode around in a golf cart delivering Starbucks to commuter students.”
ANTONIO RAMIREZ Major: Social Science Education Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
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TIMEOUT: When athletic competitions are postponed, how does a team stay connected?
Football DAYSHON MOORE M aj o r : Exercise Science H o m eto w n : Bolingbrook, Illinois
How have you stayed connected as a team despite the pandemic? We have stayed connected as a team during the pandemic through a multitude of things that we previously took for granted. Some really simple things, like catching a ride with someone to practice, feel a lot more meaningful now. We have also taken advantage of using the student center to watch sporting events in small groups and play pool a lot more often. This has helped us stay connected and have interactions with some of our teammates that we don’t get to see every day. How have your coaches supported you during this challenging time? The coaches have supported us this semester by checking up on the players as much as possible. It is much harder to be a student during the pandemic because of how chaotic class schedules are and how easy it is to fall behind, especially with the mixture of online, hybrid, and in-person classes that most people have. Having the coaches not only checking up on our grades, but also seeing how we are doing mentally is a huge benefit since this is a new experience for everyone and it can be very stressful. If a student is struggling for any reason, the coaches will connect them with the correct people in order to get them the help they need. What does being a Rockford University student-athlete mean to you right now? Being a student-athlete at Rockford means that I have hope for the future. This has been a very different semester than what I’m used to, but having football has sort of given me a sense of normalcy, and I think it has done the same thing for a lot of other players. Even though our season was postponed, I feel like still being able to have football practices and activities made 3 CATALYST
all of the strange and different things going on during this semester easier. I have also seen how each athletic team has adapted to the situation. Each team has made it work in their own way and continued to get better, and that gives me a lot of hope for great things to come.
softball RYLEE KLEMA M aj or: Criminal Justice Hom etown: Mendota, Illinois RYLEE CURRENTLY SERVES AS A COMBAT MEDIC IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE. HER RANK IS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS.
How have you stayed connected as a team despite the pandemic? Pandemic or not, I have never felt closer to a group of girls in my life. Of course the pandemic alters some of the things we are able to do, but it does not stop the connections we build through every practice, every scrimmage, and the daily interactions we have with each other. This may sound odd, but the players and coaches that are a part of this team have stayed connected by keeping our distance. By following safety protocols and doing our best to keep everyone healthy, we are able to attend our scheduled practices and become closer as a team. As a player coming up on my third season at Rockford University, I can say that we as a team want a season. We are a group of players who lost our season to this pandemic last year. We are going to do everything in our power to have the best softball season that Rockford University has seen yet. How have your coaches supported you during this challenging time? The Rockford University coaching staff, Coach Keener and Coach Robison, have gone to extensive measures to support each other and the team through all the challenges we have faced so far. Practices are set up to accommodate the health and safety measures for COVID-19. Players and coaches wear a mask at all times during practices and games. The coaches are more than understanding if anyone isn’t feeling well. They would rather an individual skip practice than have
HOW ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC TEAMS ARE STAYING STRONG WHILE SIDELINED We sat down for a virtual Q&A with some Rockford University student-athletes and coaches to find out how they’re maintaining community and staying at the top of their game, despite being (temporarily) sidelined. them show up and get worse with a potential of spreading any sickness. Aside from all of the health and safety precautions, the coaches have also been supportive mentally and emotionally. I have never enjoyed playing for any coaching staff as much as I enjoy playing for this one. I feel they care about us as players and people. They want us to succeed in softball and in life, and they have shown us support and encouragement through their words and actions. What does being a Rockford University student-athlete mean to you right now? Being a Rockford University student-athlete has never had as much of a meaning as it does in this current moment. Right now I am waiting and wondering if all the work I am putting in will be showcased in the spring. Wondering if I am going into a practice and not realize it was my last one. I am taking on responsibilities to strictly practice safety and health precautions because of not only what I have at stake, but because of what everyone else has at stake as well. Professors, coaches, and everyone behind the scenes are doing everything they can to keep the campus up and running. They are working early mornings and late nights to make such a drastic change easier on every student. I am proud of myself, my teammates, coaches, and the whole university because we are fighting and trying so hard to do our best to win back what we had before. I am beyond proud and thankful to wear purple, label myself as a Regent, and call Rockford University my home.
baseball BOB KOOPMANN HEAD COACH
essential, and we have a great culture within our team largely because of our returning players’ leadership. They all are helping the newer players in this transition during these tough times. Are there any creative things you’re doing to stay connected to your team? Now that we’re currently done practicing outdoors, we have some team bonding activities planned. We divided into two groups and had a World Series against each other. The players loved it because they are competing and they get to know their teammates even better. When the students return for the spring semester we hope to have an event called the ROCK competition. We divide the team into small groups and they compete in an event each day for a week, culminating with an “Amazing Race” type finish. We like to do this in January because traditionally we add about five to six players in the spring. Have there been any positives to come out of this experience? A lot of positive things have happened with the players and a lot of other people here at the university. I think everyone here at Rockford University is extremely grateful that we are on campus and in classes. Not every school can say that. I get a sense that everyone has a lot of gratitude and thankfulness we are all here.
baseball BRADY MILLER M aj or: Business Hom etown: Princeville, Illinois
How have you stayed connected as a team despite the pandemic? How are you building community with your team during the pandemic? We are trying to build a sense of community within our team by keeping in contact with the players outside of practices. I think seeing the players come together in these times is
We stay connected as a baseball team a great deal by social media. We have several group chats to stay connected, but we still do things together while social distancing and wearing our masks.
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strong and resilient athletes | This is RU CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
How have your coaches supported you during this challenging time? Our coach has done everything he can to make us feel as comfortable as possible in these uneasy times. We wear masks and practice in small position groups which also helps. What does being a Rockford University student-athlete mean to you right now? Being a Rockford University baseball player has been a great experience for me thus far. As a freshman, I had no idea what being a college baseball player would be like. We have a long break when we go home at the end of the semester, and I’m excited to have the extra time to get ready and improve myself, so I am ready to go for the spring season.
volleyball
We have had the ability to grow as a team and as a family. I have seen our upperclassmen turn into leaders during this fall semester. Typically when we move onto campus, we are in such a hurry to get ready for competition, that we have to wait until spring for some of this growth. We have also had time to develop skills and learn team expectations. I don’t want this pandemic to define this year. We are not dwelling on it, we are using it as a gift that has been given to us to strengthen our bonds, develop us as better young women, and grow us as a team.
volleyball CASEY SHEETZ M aj or: International Studies Hom etown: Rockford, Illinois
JENNIFER SAYLOR HEAD COACH
CASEY CURRENTLY SERVES AS STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE PRESIDENT.
How have you stayed connected as a team despite the pandemic? How are you building community with your team during the pandemic? The women’s volleyball team has worked hard to build community during this time. We have practice and lifting three days a week, but we have also done team building, leadership lessons, and have worked on setting up personal and volleyball goals. We have also had opportunities to do contactless community service and any time you are giving back to others, it helps drive personal relationships. Are there any creative things you’re doing to stay connected to your team? Our team has always done “date nights” with other members of the team. This has been a huge focus during the fall so that we could really work on developing relationships with each teammate. Our team has had to be more creative with “date nights” because of social distancing. We had our annual Halloween costume practice and incorporated more fun games and activities. Without competitions to prepare for, we have time to incorporate some fun elements that we have never felt that we have had time for during the season. Have there been any positives to come out of this experience? I personally have enjoyed this time with the team. It gave us an opportunity to really get to know our incoming freshmen. 5 CATALYST
We have dedicated so much of our time to checking in on each other, both privately and as a team. We take more time now to encourage each other and get to know one another outside of our sport, given the fact that we don’t have the same experiences with each other in practices, games, etc. How have your coaches supported you during this challenging time? Our coaches, although they are still fighting their own battles, have been so aware of the strange circumstances and the additional stresses in academics, in sports, and in our personal lives. Where we have lost time with them watching film and playing, we have gained personally because it has been so necessary to communicate thoroughly throughout our day. Whether this means a text message check-in or a sociallydistanced one-on-one meeting. What does being a Rockford University student-athlete mean to you right now? Right now being a Rockford University student-athlete means to think about our goals. It can be easy for us to take days off and just go through the motions. However, the best athletes and the best Regents are the ones pushing through to create the absolute best of each complicated situation. The important goal to remember is to leave the program every day in a better state than it was the day before.
Rockford University International Students Face Unique Challenges During pandemic
ABDULAZIZ ALENEZI
LEA KOWALIK
JIAYI HE
There’s little doubt that COVID-19 has caused new challenges for everyone. But for Rockford University’s international students, the pandemic is an even greater struggle to contend with while so far from home. Students from around the world have chosen to stay on the Rockford University campus and continue their education through COVID-19 challenges, saying the school’s quick response and dedication to student safety helped confirm their decision to stay. “Despite the challenges we’re facing, pursuing my education shouldn’t pause for a minute,” said Abdulaziz Alenezi, an undergraduate student from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. “I feel this pandemic proved to me how important it is to be educated.” A nursing student, Alenezi faced the challenge of not being able to work inside area hospitals as part of his training. “My professors took very quick action to have us do virtual clinicals, which I personally learned a lot from and had so much fun doing,” he said. “I felt I have not lost any opportunity when I got to do the virtual clinicals.” Other students were quick to credit their professors with being able to change lesson plans and delivery to accommodate a variety of needs. “Professors were able to adapt for us to continue receiving our education,” said Lea Kowalik, a student from Othis, France. “I have been at Rockford University for three years and I believe the education I receive here is better than the education I would receive back home.” Kowalik says she was able to stay in Rockford over the summer because of the school’s Community Friends program. “I was paired with a family when I first got to Rockford and they are here for me if I need a place to stay, if I need to go to the store or other necessities,” she said. “As the years went by, I developed a very strong relationship with the family I was paired with. When the pandemic happened, my American family let me stay with them during the summer as I was not able to go back home.” Jiayi He, a graduate student from Guangzhou, China, had a big decision to make when the pandemic first hit. “My parents had suggested to me to go back home, and I was struggling with should I go back or not,” she said. “What made me stay at Rockford University was because the school decisively closed the campus immediately and blocked the speed of transmission.” “When the school reopened, they decided to have a strict rule to protect students’ health. They require us to wear masks all the time and keep six feet away. They gave me courage to stay on campus because they are proving that they care.” Most international students continue to stay in touch with their overseas family via social media, phone calls, or video chats. And while they miss being face-to-face, many know they will emerge from Rockford University — and from this pandemic — better prepared to face the future. “I feel that this experience is preparing me to be able to adapt quickly with the resources available,” Kowalik said. Alenezi agrees. “The challenges I went through and the fast changes in almost every aspect of my life was needed,” he said. “I am ready to start the career I want and the positive impact I desire on myself, my family, and my community.” WINTER 2021 6
From Conference Room to Living Room, Rockford University Professors Increase Access to Big Name Content Although the coronavirus pandemic has challenged our university in many ways, it has also been a catalyst for innovation and access as faculty, staff, and students have been required to think outside the box when it comes to teaching and learning. Two recent initiatives have brought the insight of Rockford University thought leaders and global policy experts to not only students, faculty, and staff, but to the wider public.
Brown Bag Series Delivers Engaging University Content to All The university’s Brown Bag Series started in 2017 as a way to promote intellectual exchange and a campus-wide sharing of faculty and staff expertise. Typically held on campus, the coronavirus pandemic forced the program online this fall. But where the series lost in-person interaction, it gained in engagement by opening up to an audience outside the walls of the university through the use of technology. “I believe that connecting the series to an online platform has not only increased visibility and accessibility, but is now creating deeper connections to Rockford University’s alumni with this new virtual format open to all,” said program creator Dr. Marilén Loyola, assistant professor of Spanish. “I very much look forward to seeing the Brown Bag Series develop further and grow to increase in its connection to all members of the Rockford University community and beyond.” Presented by faculty and staff, Brown Bag topics have ranged from artificial intelligence and economics, to mental health and podcasting.
Virtual Foreign Policy Lectures Connect International Experts with Students and the Public Viewing the increase in virtual learning as an opportunity to provide students with access to content they otherwise wouldn’t have, two political science instructors have led an effort to identify global leaders with a variety of backgrounds to provide unique insights to current students, as well as to the public. During the fall semester, Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Ron Lee and former Congressman Don Manzullo invited guest lecturers to speak virtually to the students in their foreign policy class. High-profile speakers included ambassadors, members of the National Security Council, advisors to Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, and a special advisor to President George H.W. Bush. “These guest lecturers include some of the most prominent experts in international trade, business, diplomacy, media, and national security,” said Dr. Lee. Not only did students benefit, but the sessions were made available to the public for free. “This unprecedented array of talented guest lecturers reflects Rockford University’s commitment to provide our students with outstanding resources to enhance their educational experience,” said Rockford University President Dr. Eric Fulcomer. “We were thrilled to invite alumni and the community at-large to sit in on these classes.” Rockford University currently enrolls more than 110 international students from 18 countries and these lectures underscore our commitment to educating students and the general public on foreign policy issues. Recordings of the Brown Bag Series and foreign policy lectures, as well as additional Rockford University content, can be found at alumlc.org/Rockford. Access is free and open to all. 7 CATALYST
NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ENABLES BLACK STUDENTS TO COMPLETE A BUSINESS DEGREE DEBT-FREE “Naturally gifted when it comes to business, leadership, and entrepreneurship . . .”
who reviewed his application and conducted interviews.
That is a description of Antonio Evans by a former employer recommending him to be named as the first recipient of the Charles E. Box Scholarship to attend Rockford University.
“Antonio is an exemplary candidate and a well-deserving recipient of the Charles E. Box Scholarship,” said Mandolen Mull, Ph.D., chair of the Puri School of Business. “The scholarship committee members were unanimously impressed with Antonio’s life goals and how, through his education, Antonio will be able to achieve those goals to better himself, our institution, and our greater Rockford community.”
The Charles E. Box Scholarship is a program which was announced earlier this year enabling Black students to pursue a business degree, without cost, at the Puri School of Business. Evans is the first individual to receive this scholarship, which will be awarded to Black students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management or accounting through the degree completion program at the Puri School of Business at Rockford University. The scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis to up to six students per year over the next five years. The program will allow students to complete their business degree at Rockford University debt-free and be well-positioned for careers in our world today. In his application, Evans, 40, said he decided to complete his degree to fulfill his lifelong goal of higher education, to give himself and his family options in his next stage of life, and to set an example for his three children. “I’m always preaching the importance of education to my kids and attaining this degree will allow me to practice what I preach,” he said. Evans is a Rockford native who graduated from Jefferson High School. Evans’ personality, communication skills, and leadership attributes have fueled his career growth and positive impact at MCI Telecommunications and American Income Life Insurance Company, despite not having a degree. Managers from both organizations praised Evans and wrote letters of recommendation commenting that “when Antonio sets his mind to something there is nothing that will stop him from successfully completing what he has set out to do.” Evans earned unanimous approval for the scholarship from the six-person panel
“I’M ALWAYS PREACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION TO MY KIDS AND ATTAINING THIS DEGREE WILL ALLOW ME TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH.”
The scholarship program honors Box, a lifelong community advocate who served three terms as Rockford’s first Black mayor and currently serves as a Rockford University trustee. A pledge of $250,000 by the Puri Foundation will leverage more than $800,000 in tuition for the recipients. The Puri Foundation was founded by Sunil Puri, CEO of First Midwest Group and alumnus and Trustee Emeritus of Rockford University. The Puri Foundation was established in 2014 by Sunil Puri, the founder of First Midwest Group and lifelong philanthropist in the Rockford region. The organization’s core mission is to fund opportunities that empower underprivileged individuals. The Puri Foundation accomplishes this goal by contributing financial resources to foster educational, athletic, civil society, and other philanthropic initiatives led by high-impact organizations. The Puri Foundation’s initial gift was a $5 million monetary and building pledge to endow the Puri School of Business at Rockford University in 2014. Since then, the foundation has been active in the region with a $2.25 million donation of the Puri Family YMCA building in 2015, the establishment of the Puri Residence Hall at Rockford Christian Schools in 2018, and continual support for the Golden Apple Foundation through the Puri Family Outstanding Principal Award, among others. The foundation is also active internationally, providing seed funding for Water for Dignity, a non-government organization providing clean water and women’s empowerment initiatives to India’s most impoverished regions.
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Progress within a Pandemic: How Rockford University Enrolled Its Largest First-year Class in Decades This fall, Rockford University welcomed 212 new first-year Regents, which was the largest incoming class in at least 30 years. The university achieved the milestone during a pandemic by adapting its traditional and personal approach to recruiting new students with the adept use of technology. A perfect example of that strategy was a decidedly “low-tech” event that occurred about a month before the start of classes. On a sunny July day, newly-enrolled Regents, family members, faculty, and staff celebrated the record-breaking Rockford University class on the Burpee Lawn and Howard Colman Library terrace. The university met county, state, and university mandates for attendance limits, social distancing, and face mask use, but the unusual restrictions did not dampen the fun. There was music, lunch, and plenty of Regent purple everywhere. After months of Zoom calls and emails, the students and families enjoyed an
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in-person experience. The picnic represented a few hours of “normal” for attendees and was a fitting symbol of the university’s commitment to its students. “Your education here is grounded in the liberal arts and built upon a mission, vision, and philosophy of learning that emphasizes the individual,” Rockford University President Dr. Eric Fulcomer shared with the picnic guests. This mission-driven emphasis on the individual student inspired the university’s interactions with prospective students. As the pandemic took hold in early March, the Rockford University team had to reimagine how it would maintain the personal approach while working virtually. There would be no spring travel to high schools for discussions with undecided seniors; no constant stream of campus
visitors getting a last look at the newly-renovated Seaver Center; no student-athlete recruit visits with coaches and teams; and no admitted student events with hundreds of undergraduates, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. There was no way to know how many students would change their minds during the summer and attend elsewhere, which happens even during non-pandemic recruiting years. In response, Rockford University got creative. The recruiting and enrollment work would be supported by technology, but not controlled by it. While the faculty pivoted to online teaching and learning for continuing students, admission counselors and coaches began to make adjustments to the way that they recruited students. By mid-March, prospective students had the option to enjoy a safe, on-campus visit experience or meet with an admission counselor, coach, financial aid counselor, or faculty member via Zoom. Online “Lunch and Learn� sessions every other Friday covered topics such as financial aid, career services, and residence life. Staff and faculty across campus stepped up their interactions with prospective students and their collaborations with other university departments. Even the traditional breakfast with college counselors at high schools went virtual, and attendees were delighted to find donuts and coffee delivered to their offices in time for the virtual meeting. First on the long list of innovative new practices was shifting advising and registration online, and enabling new students to complete the process earlier. Incoming Regents were able to discuss their goals with a first-year advisor, set their first-semester schedule, and register for classes on a Zoom call immediately upon committing to Rockford University. Nearly 125 advising appointments were completed in April alone, and students were excited and looking forward to their first semester of college. By mid-August, nearly the entire first-year class was planning for their first day of classes. When the 212-student-strong Class of 2024 arrived, they found the same attention to detail and level of care that they experienced during their entire admission and registration process. From the (safely distanced) in-person orientation program and personal interactions with first-year advisors and Residence Life staff to those first exciting days in a college classroom, Rockford University fulfilled its commitment to emphasize the individual and grew its student enrollment — even in the midst of a pandemic.
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VALERY VALLECILLO LAGOS, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
SEAN MARK, Master of Business Administration
Celebrating the JESSICA LINDLEY, Master of Arts in Teaching - Instructional
AUTUMN WATKINS, Bachelor of Arts in Business 11 CATALYST
WILLIAM RICKARD, Master of Business Administration
VIVIAN KNAPP, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
ALISSA JOHNSON, Bachelor of Science in Biology
MOHAMMED ALQARNI, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
GINA YEARTON, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
CLASS OF 2020 When the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of large-scale events, it meant that the Class of 2020 would miss out on Rockford University’s traditional commencement experience. While our ceremony turned virtual, the achievements of the more than 330 undergraduate and graduate degree recipients were no less significant than any Regent that has come before them. Although they couldn’t celebrate together in person, our graduates didn’t let the milestone pass without some much deserved pomp and circumstance.
Congratulations to the Rockford University Class of 2020!
KAYLA SMITH, Bachelor of Science in Management Studies
GABRIEL REYES, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics WINTER 2021 12
C L A S S O F 2020 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT: SUSAN SCHMITZ Susan Schmitz raised two sons and saw them graduate from college. Then it was her turn. introduced to some flower arranging classes at the College of DuPage. She took enough courses for a certificate program, then continued to complete an associate degree in ornamental horticulture. Susan moved to Rockford after remarrying and, as a newcomer, was looking for an opportunity to meet people. She learned about the flexible class schedules and variety of student backgrounds at Rockford University, then quickly decided it was a good fit for her. For the next five years, Susan took classes at Rockford University while working a full-time job in human resources for a group of greenhouses and also supervising the care of her mother back in England. She credits the school’s flexibility with allowing her to pursue all of those endeavors at once. “If I had to fly to England, I could time it between class offerings and not have to take off an entire year,” she said. At age 69, Susan Schmitz graduated from Rockford University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in management studies. Unlike many adults who return to complete a degree, Susan didn’t do it for career advancement. In fact, she retired six months before graduating. Instead, Susan got a degree for the best reason of all: herself. “I wanted to see it through,” she said. “As my sons earned their degrees, I wanted my opportunity.” Susan grew up in England, at a time when college wasn’t a popular option for many women. She focused instead on raising her family and didn’t consider college until she was
For Susan, learning about management while simultaneously living it through her job was fascinating. “It was very interesting to me to learn more about my field,” she said. “It definitely opens your eyes to different viewpoints.” Now with a bachelor’s degree behind her, Susan has found a passion for learning she didn’t know she had. She is taking time now to relax and enjoy working in her garden, but entertains the idea of completing a master’s degree in her 70s. “The world is open to me at the moment,” Susan said. “I’m just keeping my options open and seeing what comes my way.”
“AS MY SONS EARNED THEIR DEGREES, I WANTED MY OPPORTUNITY.” - Susan Schmitz
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FACULTY NOTES
Dr. Yoandy Cabrera Ortega, Assistant Professor of Spanish, was invited by the Department of the Classics at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign to give a virtual presentation in September 2020 about classical reception and myths in Hispanic culture titled “Queering Myth: Tragic Suspension as a Possible Theoretical Third Space.” The goal of the presentation was to read part of the classical tradition as a potential third space that is neither Mexican nor American, it is neither Spanish nor English, it is neither feminine nor masculine. Or it is all these things at the same time. A new third identity created from mythology, femininity, and transgression against any apparatus of capture.
Dr. Mehmet Dik, Chair of the Department of Mathematics,
Computer Science, and Physics and Professor of Mathematics, researched and wrote for several publications in 2020. He wrote a chapter titled “Introduction to the Grey Systems Theory and its Application in Mathematical Modelling and Pandemic Prediction of COVID-19” published in the edited book volume, Analysis of Infectious Disease Problems (COVID-19) and Their Global Impact. Additionally, the journal Proceedings of International Mathematical Sciences accepted Dr. Dik’s study titled, “The HasseMinkowski Theorem for Quadratic Forms in Two and Three Variables.” Dr. Dik also served as a judge for the Young Mathematician Conference in August 2020.
Dr. Orhan Erdem, Associate Professor of Finance, published a book in April 2020. After the Crash, Understanding the Social, Economic and Technological Consequences of the 2008 Crisis seeks to diagnose and analyze the social, economic, and technological consequences of the 2008 financial crisis. Dr. Erdem also published a paper, “Freedom and Stock Market Performance during COVID-19 Outbreak” in the financial journal Finance Research Letters in June 2020.
Dr. Jacob Hardesty, Associate Professor of Education, partnered with Dr. Paula Egelson ’75 to research and coauthor a chapter to be published in the upcoming book, Preparing Quality Teachers: Advances in Clinical Practice. Dr. Hardesty also published book reviews for the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education and History of Education Quarterly, and serves on the editorial board of the former. He also recently served as an external reviewer for the Journal of Research in Music Education.
Dr. Stephen Hicks, Professor of Philosophy, had his 2004 book, Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault, published in Arabic, Hebrew, and Estonian translations. Russian and Portuguese translations are scheduled CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 WINTER SPRING2021 2018 14 12
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to publish in 2021. His book, Nietzsche and the Nazis, is forthcoming in Polish, Portuguese, and Korean.
Dr. Mandolen Mull, Chair of the Puri School of Business and Assistant Professor of Leadership, and research partner Clayton Duffy ’17/’20, presented on “Organizational Unlearning” and “Leadership Branding” at the Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in the Americas held in Atlanta in February 2020.
Dr. Donna Ogle, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, co-wrote a chapter titled “The Social Media Presence of OD: A Social Network Analysis Using Big Data” in volume 28 of the book Research in Organizational Change and Development published in July 2020. The book brings forth the latest scholarly work and practice in the fields of organization development and organizational change. 11 CATALYST 15 Campus
Dr. Jennifer A. Rea, Assistant Professor of English, published a poem, “Plagiarizing My Suicide,” in the fall issue of the Delta Poetry Review. An audio recording of her poem, “The Language of Philosophers is Enough,” aired on WNIU Northern Public Radio in October 2020. Her poems “Solitude” and “Crazy Psychopathic Creatures” will publish in the Winter/Spring 2021 issue of The Rockford Review, a publication of the Rockford Writers’ Guild.
Dr. Kyle Stedman, Associate Professor of English, recently published a personal essay titled “Drenched in 1988” as a chapter in the book, Obsessed: Essays on Pop Culture Obsession (Gimmick Press, 2020). The editors chose to nominate Dr. Stedman’s essay for a Pushcart Prize, which honors the best literary publications from small presses.
Class notes Roger L. Thomas ’74 published his sixth book, and fourth historical mystery novel, The Specter of Spar Mountain in May 2020. It is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format. He’s currently writing his fifth book in the mystery series, all set in Laramie, Wyo., in the 1880s.
Jillian Christenson Cajigas ’13 was married on June 6, 2020.
Kyle Truax ’02/’06 graduated from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville with a master’s degree in landscape architecture. Denis Paiste ’75 retired in May 2020 after four decades as a journalist. Paiste worked for 33 years for the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News, filling roles as a reporter, photographer, and editor. He joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Materials Processing Center as a science writer, photographer, and videographer from August 2012 to October 2017 and the MIT Materials Research Laboratory from October 2017 to May 2020. He and his wife, Marsha, live in Salem, N.H. Fred Fuld III ’74 has published a mystery novel, Beach Detective: Exploding Surfboard. Fuld is also the author of two non-fiction books, Investment Trivia and Real Estate Trivia.
Irene Helm Sedeora ’70 has published a poem titled “POSSIBILITIES” in the Fall 2020 issue of The Pen Woman, a quarterly literary magazine produced by The National League of American Pen Women.
Glenn Moss ’70 and his wife Mary met up with Stephen Otto ’66 and Jacquie Clarke Otto ’65 for a socially distanced visit in Woodstock, Ill.. Mary Leslie Wheeler Dickerson ’45 taught for 40 years and has been retired for 35. She has incredibly fond memories of her time at Rockford College during the WWII years and is very proud of her education.
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A MATCH MADE AT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY Both of the Hougans point back to their education at Rockford University as critical to their professions now. “As a business owner, I use my business skills quite a bit – especially marketing,” said Lesley. “There are a lot of takeaways from a business education.” The couple credits the school’s international focus for opening their eyes to experiences around the world. Lesley enjoyed “meeting international students and learning about different countries, different cultures, and different languages,” she said. “It was really neat.” For Eric, that point was driven home through his study abroad experience through the school, when he spent time at Regent’s University in London. For Eric Hougan ’01 and Lesley Irizarry-Hougan ’00, Rockford University was the perfect launching pad for more than just their careers: it prepared them for a life together. The alumni were acquaintances even before they arrived at Rockford University. But it was at the university that the pair became good friends. “We are both really competitive,” said Eric. “We ended up in class together and would compete for the best scores. We struck up a friendship and really connected.” Over the years, that friendship grew and the Hougans were married in 2003 at the university’s Fisher Memorial Chapel. Today, they are parents to three children and live in Seattle. While both Eric and Lesley graduated with business degrees, their careers took very different paths. Eric pursued both master’s and doctorate degrees in education, and today works as an education professor at Central Washington University. Lesley attended Northern Illinois University Law School and now runs her own immigration law firm. 17 CATALYST
“Growing up as a hometown boy, that was a really good way to be exposed to other cultures,” Eric said. “We appreciated being exposed to things we wouldn’t have otherwise. Rockford University pushed us out of our comfort zone, and taking risks is something that has stayed with me.”
ALUMNI STORY: FAMOUS NPR VOICE HAS ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ROOTS For more than 30 years, Frank Tavares was perhaps the most-heard voice on National Public Radio. NPR listeners will remember him as the voice who said “Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and…” Frank Tavares died on Dec. 30, 2019. While many will likely remember his voice, very few know the connection between the longtime NPR voice and Rockford University. In 1969 he was teaching in the Rockford Public Schools and working nights and weekends at WROK Radio in Rockford. At the same time the executive board of WRCR Radio, the university’s radio station, was working with Vice President for Development John Spence on the design of a new studio space in the 1969-70 expansion of Burpee Center. The board was also interested in an FM radio station and advocated for a broadcast curriculum at Rockford. Spence arranged for Tavares to teach an evening “Introduction to Radio & Radio Broadcasting” class. The Photo of Frank Tavares courtesy of Southern Connecticut State University Theatre Arts 106 class was offered in the fall of 1969. Perhaps a half dozen WRCR staffers and a couple of Rockford community members took the class. Many of the students later took and passed the Federal Communications Commission test for a Third Class Radio TV license. When the class ended we went our separate ways. In 1972, Tavares left Rockford to go back to school at the University of Texas at Austin to get a Ph.D. in communications. Following that he taught at Cal State in Fresno for a couple of years, was a partner in an advertising and marketing agency, then moved on to NPR in 1978 where he headed one of their programming departments for a decade. When NPR began using funding credits in 1982 Tavares was selected to voice them. By 1989, he was tired of the long work weeks and accepted a teaching position at Southern Connecticut State University, but kept doing the NPR funding credits. He did the NPR recording in his bedroom closet. By 2011, he had recorded more than 15,000 of those 10-second funding credits. I came across his name on an NPR website in the early 2000s. The name seemed familiar and it took a while before I realized he was the same person who taught an evening class so many years earlier at Rockford University. I was able to reach him by email in 2010. He wrote “As a matter of fact, it was the very class that you took that made me realize I wanted to teach full time on the college level. So I’m blaming you and your classmates for a major shift in my career aspirations!” Story submitted by Ross Hunter ’71
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IN MEMORIAM Elizabeth Peterson Johnson ’38, August 17, 2020
Judith Meyer Penniman ’61, October 13, 2020
Chris A. Erickson ’79, August 20, 2020
Patricia Bingham Pember ’44, March 14, 2020
James D. Baldwin ’62, October 22, 2019
John B. Whitehead ’83L.H.D., September 15, 2020
Lucille Beddoes Gallagher ’46, November 30, 2018
Richard G. Brown ’62, May 06, 2020
Dolores Lyons Glennon ’85, December 01, 2019
Francie L. Ross ’46, November 22, 2019
Manuel M. Livesay ’63, September 21, 2019
Ruth Swenson Anderson ’86, June 23, 2020
Kathleen Bessel Richardson ’48, February 20, 2020
Joseph Lindenfelser ’64, October 02, 2020
David W. Sisney ’86, February 19, 2019
Norma Bloom Beckman ’48, August 22, 2020
Ruth E. Drake ’65, February 04, 2020
Jack E. Simpson ’88, October 18, 2020
Nancy Crumlish Bruemmer ’49, May 15, 2020
Joan Ralston Duchon ’65, January 26, 2020
John F. McNamara ’89LL.D., September 30, 2020
Dorothy Martens Mastricola Verstynen ’49, Robert P. Schafer, Jr. ’65, May 19, 2020 August 07, 2020
Marcia K. Beaumont ’90, September 29, 2019
Carol White Piper ’49, May 25, 2020
Beverly Allen Gustafson Black ’65, August 01, 2020
Coila Brown Davis ’90, November 04, 2019
Lois Goette Martello ’49, April 10, 2020
Kathleen Muldoon Barch ’66, July 31, 2020
Mark N. Jansen ’90, July 09, 2020
Jean Baker Getts ’49, May 07, 2020
Pamela Walton Fuller ’67, September 14, 2020
Mary L. Doyle ’92, December 27, 2019
Barbara Skafgard Williams ’49, August 03, 2020
Barbara King Clarkson ’68, January 08, 2020
Rita Yurko Polek ’93, August 30, 2020
Norma Elfline Barrett ’51, July 05, 2020
Zylphia Crawford Collen ’69, October 12, 2020
Valerie Wagner Grable ’95, October 14, 2019
Doreen Nelson Johnson ’53, September 01, 2019
Richard C. Shelain ’70, May 01, 2019
Marian Gustavson Johnson ’53, January 17, 2020
Sharon Gregory Fulling ’72, December 29, 2019
Esther Tarleton Gayman ’53, August 28, 2020
Lawrence T. Miller ’73, April 27, 2020
Ruth Woodworth Howell ’54, May 04, 2020
Carolyn Dussel Conrad ’74, February 02, 2020
Ruth Milkereit Martini ’55, September 05, 2020
Cynthia Fair ’74, October 03, 2020
Barbara Blackwell Bacon ’56, August 10, 2020
Norma Johnson Anderson ’75, May 08, 2020
Barbara Kempf Dickerson ’58, July 10, 2020
James J. Mays ’76, May 05, 2020
Earlynn Shaw Mullins ’59, October 04, 2020
Terry W. Carter ’77, June 21, 2020
Margery Baker Sauer ’60, September 20, 2020
Jody Puricelli Jungerberg ’78, June 23, 2020
19 CATALYST
HONORARY DESIGNATIONS L.H.D. – Doctor of Humane Letters LL.D. – Doctor of Laws H – Honorary Alumni
SPECIAL TRIBUTE: JOHN MCNAMARA Last fall, Rockford University joined with the City of Rockford in mourning the loss of former vice president for institutional advancement, and former Rockford mayor, John McNamara. John joined the university in 2004 with a charge to forge a stronger connection between the college and the community. Through some of this institution’s most trying times, John was there as the voice of calm, reason, trust and perhaps most importantly, hope. John never lost hope, or his belief that Rockford University played a vital and irreplaceable role in the life of the community. He helped put our institution on sound financial footing during turbulent times and his tireless efforts were crucial in setting the university on the upward trajectory that we now enjoy. Ever the politician, in the best sense of the term, John made it his business to reach out to as many living alumni as he possibly could, taking careful time to get to know them personally and develop meaningful relationships. If you ever attended an event with John, you quickly noticed that he was known and beloved by more people in the room than most of us could hope to get to know in our lifetime. His tireless dedication and enthusiasm was infectious and ever-present. John concluded his tenure at the university in 2016 but the legacy he left behind will be felt for generations to come. Before John became Rockford University’s biggest and most vocal proponent, he spent decades doing the same for the city he loved. Serving as a county public defender, city alderman, and eventual two-term mayor of Rockford, John’s passion for his community ran deep. Prior to that he earned the rank of captain while serving in Vietnam. With a booming voice, hearty handshake, and infectious grin, John forever endeared himself as the mayor and as one of Rockford University’s most valuable assets. Our institution is a better place because we had John on our side. John passed away on Sept. 30, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, six children – including current Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara – and 16 grandchildren. WINTER 2021 20
Jim (left) and John Whitehead
SPECIAL TRIBUTE: JOHN BURPEE WHITEHEAD
John Burpee Whitehead, a scion of two iconic Rockford families with deep-seated ties to its university, passed away on Sept. 15, 2020, at the age of 97. Known for his reassuring smile and quick wit, he leveraged an unassuming vigor and pragmatic optimism to effect positive change in all his life’s endeavors. John’s paternal grandfather, Joel B. Whitehead was a student at Beloit College when his brother was hospitalized in Rockford for a fatal injury. After attending to his brother’s affairs, Joel decided to stay in Rockford and took a position with a local mitten factory. Five years later, in 1891, he established a namesake real estate company that quickly topped the market. In that same year, John’s maternal grandmother, Blanche Walker Burpee, was in her freshman year at Rockford Female Seminary; by 1928, she was synonymous with Rockford College. Needless to say, expectations for John were high. As salutatorian of West High’s inaugural graduating class of 1941, John enrolled at Northwestern University, where he met his wife of 68 years, Beverley Williams, and joined the ROTC program. With the onset of World War II, he found himself sweeping mines for two years in and around the 150 islands of Okinawa on the converted gunboat, PGM-32; the ship was among the first to enter Tokyo Bay immediately following the Japanese surrender in 1945. John returned to graduate in 1947 from Northwestern. He then returned to Rockford and assumed leadership of the family’s business from his father Loren. By 1980, John had expanded the sales force to 79 individuals from a core group of six that his father had been able to retain post-war. In 1963, Blanche Burpee completed her 45-year tenure on the Rockford College Board of Trustees. John then started a 26-year term of his own, concluding in 1989 (having served as chair from 1983-1986). While facilitating major advances to internationalize the Rockford College experience and to define a new core curriculum, John helped lead efforts to construct a new campus on land that his grandmother and father helped secure 35 years earlier, achievements for which he was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters (L.H.D.) in 1983. In the community, John was an integral member and leader of several organizations, including the City/County Planning Commission, Rockford Park District, Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rotary Club of Rockford, and Second Congregational Church of Rockford. The crowning moment of John’s Rockford University life came in 2011, when he and his son Jim, who served on the Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2017 were co-recipients of the Karl C. Williams award, the highest honor that can be given to an RU alumnus for, “constancy and devotion over a fair number of years.” We are grateful that the Burpees and Whiteheads have committed more than 126 years of that constancy and devotion, and can’t imagine where we would be without it. 21 CATALYST
Alum Reunio ni n may h 2020 a postpo ve been n we’ll c ed, but ome to in 202 gether 1!
COMBINED 2020 AND 2021 REUNION OCTOBER 8-9, 2021 2021 ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS If you know an alumna or alumnus who has done exceptional work in their field or for Rockford University, please visit Rockford.edu/alumni/awards/ to nominate them for our annual Alumni Awards. Nominations are due May 1, 2021.
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Rockford University students photographed in the fall of 2020.
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