Catalyst - Fall 2022

THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ALUMNI

Afternoon tea played an integral role in the history of Rockford University, ranging from the May Day Tea to less formal social gatherings.

For example, faculty gathered each afternoon for tea on the Faculty Porch, which was located in Middle Hall — the first seminary building on the old campus. Students occasionally stopped by the porch and were “allowed to invade its serenity for after-dinner coffee and serious discussions or to meet some important visitor,” according to the 1942 “Cupola" yearbook, where this photo appeared.

ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

PRESIDENT

Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D. PROVOST & VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Michael A. Perry, Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Lisa Custardo, CPA, CGMA

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Michael J. Quinn, Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE & DEAN OF STUDENTS

R andy Worden, D. Min.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT

Randal V. Childs, MBA

ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHAIR Rebecca Epperson VICE CHAIR L. Thomas Heiser ’84

MEMBERS

TREASURER

Greg Allen ’98

SECRETARY Jeffry Potter ’98

Keith Akre, Teresa Beach-Shelow, Charles Box, J.D., Lesly Couper, Elizabeth Donovan ’20H, Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D., Deborah Breiter, Ph.D., Dawn Gile ’02, Anisha Grimmett, Elizabeth Hegel, J.D., ’81, Ganesh Iyer, Lain D. Johnston, J.D., ’87, James W. Keeling, J.D., ’18H, Joel Moore ’00, Thomas Muldowney ’74, Aaron Potter ’98/MBA ’09, Michael Schablaske ’87, Kristin Smith, Marci K. Taets ’92, Barbara R. Tanaglia ’73, Patricia Tumilowicz ’87, Frank E. Walter, Janet Zelenka ’80, Nor Alamery

Catalyst is published by Rockford University’s Office of Philanthropy & Alumni

Contact us at 815.394.5111 or alumni@rockford.edu.

As I prepare to conclude my service as Rockford University’s 18th president at the end of the fall semester, I have been thinking about how the institution has changed and grown during the last decade.

I arrived on campus in March 2013 as Vice President for Enrollment Management, just as Rockford College was to become Rockford University. Among the goals of the name change were to increase both our international and graduate student populations. We, indeed, have experienced quite a bit of growth. Between the fall of 2012 and the fall of 2021, our international enrollment grew nearly tenfold — from 11 students from four countries in 2012 to 101 students from 15 countries in 2021 — and our graduate student population grew 21 percent, from 222 in 2012 to 268 this past fall.

Since my term as president began in July 2016, I have had the great honor of traveling the country to visit with alumni and friends to provide updates on what is happening on campus and to invite philanthropic support. I am grateful for the many ways you have supported us over the last six-plus years. We successfully completed the Rock Solid and Ready Campaign. Among other things, the campaign created the Student Opportunity fund, offering students the chance to travel and receive enhanced educational experiences that they might not otherwise afford. We also renovated the main level of Starr Science, and we completed a new strength and conditioning addition and extensive renovations to the Seaver Center.

As I reflect on the financial sustainability of the institution — a topic that is often raised in conversations with alumni and donors — two indicators stand out. First, our net assets increased from $27 million in 2016 to $47 million in 2021, and our endowment grew from $12.7 million to $27.7 million over the same time period. This financial strength will provide a good foundation on which to build our future.

A highlight for me personally during my time at Rockford University has been celebrating our rich history. I was honored to be president for both our 170th anniversary celebration in 2017 and our demisemiseptcentennial (175th) anniversary that we are celebrating throughout 2022. You will find references throughout this issue of Catalyst to the 175th celebrations that occurred during the spring semester. On February 25, the 175th anniversary of our charter, we held a series of events on campus that included a fantastic Charter Day Forum speech by alumnus Dr. Charles Branham. I was grateful for the attendance of all but one of the living former presidents; Drs. Bill Shields, Paul Pribbenow, and Robert Head all joined us for the special day. Dr. Gretchen von Loewe Kreuter, 14th president of Rockford College, passed away just a few weeks before Charter Day and we have included a memorial for her in this edition.

Rockford University’s greatest strength is its people. I am honored to work with a talented group of faculty and staff and grateful to have the privilege of presiding over events recognizing the achievements of our current students and alumni.

The support of our alumni and friends during our 175 years has gotten us to where we are today, and I am confident that your support will sustain Rockford University in the future. I believe that the next 175 years holds much promise for this institution that will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you.

Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D. President

Greetings from President Fulcomer

Looking Back on Events Celebrating 175 Years of Rockford University

On February 25, 1847, the charter was signed by The Illinois State Legislature establishing Rockford Female Seminary, the predecessor to Rockford College, and today’s Rockford University. In January, we kicked off our demisemiseptcentennial (yes, that is 175 years) with a number of events and celebrations honoring Rockford alumni, faculty, students, friends, and the community.

ANNUAL GALA

Every February, the university celebrates its heritage with the annual gala. A swanky event, this year had something for everyone by highlighting the theme of 175 years. Rockford University’s Vocal Collective sang a medley of songs from decades past and present. Student actors presented life on Rockford University’s campus in the 1890s, 1940s, and 1960s. Guests generously supported the event through enthusiastic participation in the first annual Wine and Whiskey Pull.

COMMUNITY HONORS LUNCHEON

Not every institution makes it to 175 years. It takes commitment, determination, flexibility, and generous support. To commemorate this, Rockford University bestowed the inaugural community honors awards to seven regional organizations and businesses that have been partners and advocates throughout its history. Leaders from Collins Aerospace, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Puri Foundation, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rock Valley College, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Woodward, Inc. were recognized during a luncheon at the university on February 25.

175th ANNIVERSARY CHARTER DAY

The university hosted a series of celebrations for faculty, staff, and the school community throughout the day on February 25, with the signature event being the annual Charter Day Convocation, which took place in the university’s Maddox Theatre.

This time-honored tradition featured faculty and leadership processing in full academic regalia, remarks from President Fulcomer, and a keynote address by Charles Russell Branham ’67/’05 L.H.D, scholar and Emmy-award winning historian. It also included a city proclamation from Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. Joining President Fulcomer on stage were three of the university’s four living past presidents: Dr. William Shields, who served as president from 1992 to 2002; Dr. Paul Pribbenow, who served from 2002 to 2006; and Dr. Robert Head, who served from 2008 to 2016.

Members of various departments worked together to curate a gallery show titled One Hundred Seventy Five — an exhibition of historical artifacts from the university’s archives. The little-seen relics included historical photographs, vintage clothing, and the academic hoods and class ring of Nobel Peace Prize winner and Rockford University alumna Jane Addams. The exhibition was on display February 26 through March 11.

REGENT REVELS

In the spirit of history, faculty and staff brought back the old tradition of “Faculty Follies.” Called “Regent Revels,” the event featured music, comedy, dance and more – all performed by the university’s faculty and staff for the amusement of students and guests. This fun-filled night showed students that faculty and staff members are quite the talented bunch.

END OF THE YEAR BASH

Marking the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, students, faculty, staff, and their families gathered in the Burpee Student Center for the annual End-of-the-Year Bash.

Featuring food from local food trucks and vendors, live music, carnival games, arts and crafts, sign-making, and a crowd favorite - live t-shirt printing by Rockford Art Deli. The day was a great way to celebrate the end of the academic year while commemorating 175 years of Rockford University.

50 Years of Title IX: Celebrating Women’s Athletics at Rockford University

The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the monumental law that established gender equity and protection against sex or gender-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding.

Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on June 13, 1972, the 37-word statute reads:

While the law created numerous outcomes, the most visible was the effect it had on college athletics, since Title IX created equal opportunities for female athletes at the collegiate level.

Beginning as Rockford Female Seminary in 1847, Rockford University has a rich history of women’s athletics that predates Title IX. Sports and recreation truly began in the 1890s with the construction of Sill Hall on the Old Campus by Principal Martha Hillard. Outfitted with pulley weights, a rowing machine, Indian clubs, and dumb bells, the hall was the “first and finest gymnasium for women in higher education institutions west of the Alleghany Mount ains.”

With the belief that recreation was an integral part of academic life, Hillard continued to add facilities over the years for basketball, fencing, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and swimming. Students also competed in inter-class competitive sports, such as field hockey, basketball, crew, and swimming.

Women’s sports continued at Rockford College on a separate basis while men’s sports officially began in 1956. After the passage of Title IX, women’s sports officially became a part of the college’s intercollegiate program. The first programs were field hockey, volleyball, and basketball.

Now, women’s athletics has expanded to six programs that compete in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) at the NCAA Division III level.

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

“ ”

NICOLE EGGERS

"Being a student-athlete is the definition of staying busy. Being given the opportunity to still continue playing the sport I love with other people who share the same passion along with getting an education is indescribable. The environment that the professors give us to be able to excel in the classroom and on the court is something that I appreciate more than they will know."

"I have learned a lot as a student-athlete. Like never taking anything for granted, selfdiscipline, resiliency. It's ok to make a mistake, but it's all about how you handle it, and how you come back from the setback that will define you."

To celebrate how far women's athletics have come at Rockford University, current female student-athletes reflected on their time playing sports at RU.

MARIAH MARTINEZ ’22

DR. FULCOMER: LEAVING A LEGACY OF STABILITY AND

People know Rockford University as Rock Solid, and President Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D., helped us get there.

Dr. Fulcomer has spent nine important years in leadership at Rockford University, first as Vice President of Enrollment Management; then, beginning in 2016, as the university’s 18th President.

While overseeing enrollment, he put Rockford University on a course for consistent, sometimes record-breaking numbers in undergraduate, graduate, and degreecompletion programs.

Early in his tenure as President, Dr. Fulcomer led a strategic planning initiative to align all stakeholders in identifying and achieving priorities for the university’s success. That plan became the roadmap for vitally important and successful initiatives.

During his six years as president, he has helped solidify the university’s financial footing, enhance its community presence and partnerships, realize consistently strong enrollment, and navigate the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the start, Dr. Fulcomer had big goals. He oversaw a major capital campaign that concluded in 2018 having raised $18.4 million, more than $1 million over the initial goal.

The success of the capital campaign facilitated a multimillion-dollar investment in campus improvements. An addition to Seaver Physical Education Center now houses a new fitness center and renovated classrooms for a growing kinesiology program. Other improvements include renovations to the Starr Science Center; upgrades to residence halls; and significant improvements in campus infrastructure, technology, and the student experience.

Rockford University’s Board of Trustees credits Dr. Fulcomer with creating a culture of strategic planning,

GROWTH

sound governance, and a high-functioning executive leadership team. He helped create an improved governance model for the Board of Trustees that is being utilized effectively still today. All of this contributed to enhanced enrollment, student involvement, donor development, and alumni engagement.

While Rockford University has navigated many challenges in its 175-year history, no one could have predicted how the COVID-19 pandemic would upend daily life for everyone. During the pandemic, Dr. Fulcomer supported students, faculty, and staff to manage campus safety and transition learning so that students had the flexibility to continue coursework without interruption.

Working with regional higher education partners, Rockford University implemented new agreements with area community colleges that enhanced transfer of applied credits for undergraduate students. From this, accelerated degree partnerships were created with Rock Valley, Kishwaukee, and Highland community colleges.

The university also has welcomed Rockford Public Schools (RPS) graduates through the Rockford Promise Program for the

past few years. A “grow your own” program was created with RPS that prepares graduates to become teachers. Those students earn their undergraduate teaching degrees from Rockford University. After they begin their teaching careers at RPS, they return to Rockford University to pursue graduate degrees.

One of the most exciting areas of growth in recent years is the Bachelor’s Degree Completion program, an online offering with three majors in business management, accounting, and human services. The flexible format means online classes can fit into a busy schedule, allowing students to study close to where they live and work.

It’s been an honor to have Dr. Fulcomer at the helm of Rockford University during our 175th anniversary this year. When he first started, the campus had undergone a major shift in changing the name from Rockford College to Rockford University. He has helped nurture that change to better represent the institution and our degree offerings for students, including the opportunity to complete graduate work and increase enrollment for international students.

These milestones and more created the path that got us to 175 years. We continue to celebrate our successes and look forward to our bright future.

Rockford University is stronger and more successful because of Dr. Eric Fulcomer. That Rock Solid footing is complemented by the meaningful connections made during his tenure with faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, and community members.

His achievements are numerous, and his legacy leaves the university heading in a positive direction for years to come.

First international service trip to Ecuador impacts local community and RU members

By: Dr. Kelly Monson, Director of Graduate Studies, Education and Assistant Professor of Education

On May 17, 2022, 18 students and three Rockford University faculty began a week-long transformational journey to serve a small, rural community in Ecuador through a multidisciplinary serve-and-study abroad trip.

It was the culmination of a vision started when Dr. Deepshikha Shukla, Dean of the College of Science, Math and Nursing and Associate Professor of Physics, began organizing the study abroad trip in 2019.

The trip included a three-tiered project to learn about the culture of the community while providing service and support to encourage learning and play. The team — led by Julie Griffith, Assistant Director of Office of Global Affairs; Dr. Amy Martin, Assistant Professor of Psychology; and Dr. Kelly Monson, Director of Graduate Studies and Assistant Professor of Education — guided the psychology and physics students through a cross-cultural experience that integrated their study-abroad academic experience with service.

Rockford University partnered with Kids Around the World, an outreach organization established in Rockford to build a playground in the Portoviejo area in the province of Manabi in Ecuador. After three rewarding and challenging days of building the playground, the Rockford University students and faculty had the privilege of celebrating with the community and local government while watching the children play.

“This experience far exceeded the expectations I had going into the trip,” said Griffith. “Seeing how grateful and excited the local community was about a playground is unforgettable. These families will be impacted for many years to come thanks to the safe space this playground creates for their community.”

The six physics students were able to connect with the children in the community each morning. They planned physics lessons that were shared in the community school with children ranging in ages from six to fourteen years old.

The psychology students visited members of the community in their homes and interviewed local families to learn more

about their culture. Additionally, students were able to interview and connect with other psychology university students, learning about higher education and cultural norms in Ecuador. Martin established the course and created opportunities with our partners from Kids Around the World to connect with the families in the community we served.

“We enjoyed the excitement of the students as they engaged in learning and connected to the visitors in their classroom,” said Monson. “Our students were able to immediately engage and build relationships with the local students, despite the language barrier, and were able to accomplish all of their academic goals.”

“This trip reminded me how even when in difficult situations, with language and cultural barriers, you can still make connections and impacts on students,” said Allison Callaway, class of 2024. “Seeing the smiling faces of those students gave me the strength and motivation to continue in what I am doing; in my goal to help children not only in Rockford but around the world. I will be forever grateful for this experience, as I have learned so much from these brilliant young children.”

DESCRIBING THE EXPERIENCE

Students were asked to provide a word and story that summarized the impact of their trip to Ecuador. The impact terms included: transforming, reassuring, radiant, inspiring, rewarding, growth, unexpected, eye-opening, courageous, involved, holistic, positive, humbling, and evolutionary.

“My word for the trip is ‘transformation.’ Transformation of the mind, the soul, and the things we did as a group. We transformed an area of land into a safe, happy place for children to learn, grow, be creative, and thrive. We transformed our hearts and allowed new people to come into our world and change our perspective and outlook. We transformed each other's expectations by showing humility. We have become more than what we were when we left, and we are growing closer with each other. We have created lasting memories and reflections with the community we helped, with the Kids Around the World team. We have paved the way for new things to be possible, and we have transformed into something better. We worked together to truly experience and feel the mission.”

— Kaylynn Hayward ’22

“My one word is ‘radiant.’ From the serene sunrise on the beach where we stretched each morning and mentally prepared for the day, to the speed of new friendships, to the big smiles of the children as we taught them science lessons at their school, to the unimaginably bright laughter of those same children at the playground as we danced and ran and played with them ... everything had a glowing radiance to it. And, this may be a slight exaggeration, but not by much: Even the food had a radiating glow of perfection to it. This trip allowed us to radiate our love into the community and, in return, radiated positivity back into our lives, keeping us well fed. Physically, of course, but also mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually”

— Elijah Lowry ’23

FACULTY NOTES

Yoandy Cabrera Ortega, Ph.D., Chair of Department of Languages, Philosophy, Religion, and Cultures and Assistant Professor of Spanish and Classics, was awarded an “Ancient Worlds, Modern Communities” grant by the Society for Classical Studies Committee on Classics in the Community for his project, “A Teenager Medea.” Rockford University students performed this play on campus and in the community in November 2022.

William Doria, Chair of Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences and Associate Professor of Chemistry, was named co-chair of the American Chemical Association’s Earth Day 2024 national outreach activities. In March 2022, Doria shared his research titled, “Using Small Forces to Solve Big Problems: Designing Metal-Organic Frameworks for Environmental Applications” with the Illinois Science Teachers Association. Additionally, in August 2022, he presented a poster about science-themed community outreach efforts done through the American Chemical Association at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education at Purdue University.

Jacob Hardesty, Ph.D., Dean of College of Social Sciences, Commerce, and Education and Associate Professor of Education, published an article with Danielle Klein, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education, and Paula Egelson ’75 titled, “Teaching and Learning the Age of Covid-19: Cognitive Dissonance in a Pandemic.” Hardesty also presented “Effective Strategy or Not? Outcomes of Structured Student-Teacher SelfReflections” at the Critical Questions in Education Conference.

Mehmet Dik, Ph.D., Chair of Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics and Professor of Mathematics, was named an Organizing and Scientific Committee Member of the 6th International Conference of Mathematical Sciences 2022. Dik judged a number of projects at the Young Mathematician Conference in August 2022. In addition, he was on the Technical Review Committee at the International Conference on Nonlinear Analysis and Applications in November 2022.

Orhan Erdem, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance, presented a joint paper with Sukran Erdem and Kelly Monson, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Education, at the 86th Annual Meetings of Midwest Economic Association in Minneapolis on March 25, 2022. The research aims to analyze the effectiveness of cash payments on vaccine enrollment. Erdem also presented a guest lecture titled, “Behavioral Finance in the Age of Cryptocurrencies” at Beloit College on April 7, 2022.

Joel Lynch, Ph.D., Chair of Department of Psychology, Professor of Psychology, along with Dr. Renee Just, Associate Professor of Leadership, completed research and published an article that examined undergraduate college students’ motivation during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Published in the Journal of Social Sciences, the research examined the student identity in the midst of COVID-19 and its impact on the motivation to study. The results showed that identity as a college student appears to be a driving factor of student motivation.

Ron Lee, Ph.D., Chair of Department of Political Science, Sociology, and Criminal Justice and Associate Professor of Political Science, presented “A Sacred Effort: Lincoln’s Greatest Speech and Its Relevance Today” at the annual Last Lecture at Rockford University in April 2022. The lecture was delivered in Fisher Chapel to an audience of students, faculty, and staff as well as guests from the larger Rockford community.

As a result of this work, Rockford University is one of the first higher education institutes to receive approval from the Illinois State Board of Education on the CRTL alignment.

paper titled, “Lost in Translation, A Social Media Characterization of Organization Development.”

’17/’20

published an article titled, “Forgetting to Learn and Learning to Forget: The Call for Organizational Unlearning.” Mull also presented “Exploring Workplace Classroom Motivation and Self-Determination Theory: Using Facilitated Focus Groups to Discover Motivational Techniques for Non-Traditional Kinesthetic Learners” at the Academy of Human Resource Development in Arlington, Virginia, with Dr. Jon Musgrave. Additionally, Mull was recognized as one of Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Leaders Under Forty.

Kelly Monson, Ed.D., Director of Graduate Studies, and Assistant Professor of Education, worked with the Rockford University Education Department and the Center for Success in High Needs Schools to integrate the newly adopted Illinois State Board of Education Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Standards (CRTL). The CRTL standards work to ensure that Illinois teacher candidates enter classrooms prepared to support and empower their students, no matter the students’ race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, physical ability, income status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Monson also chaired a task force through the Center for Success in High Need Schools to collaborate with other professors in Illinois to unpack the CRTL standards.

Donna Ogle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science, presented “Research in Organizational Change and Development: Conversations with ROCD 28, 29 and 30 Authors” at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in Seattle. Ogle also published a research

Kristen Ravel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English, and students in her “LGBTQ+ Rhetoric, Community, Advocacy” course wrote, designed, and published a website for the LIAM Foundation, Rockford’s first LGBTQIA+ Resource Center. With an outdated and underdeveloped website, the center previously used Facebook Messenger to connect with clients, which created a barrier for those who did not have accounts. The students worked collaboratively to design pages and develop content over the course of the semester. The website was published in January 2022.

Bethany Twitty, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, was awarded the 2022 Richard Block Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research from the Homicide Research Working Group. Titled, “’Acts of Pure Evil’: The Portrayal of Mass Shooting Events on Online Media Platforms,” the dissertation looked at eight mass shooting events that gained national news coverage and their reporting on four news sites across the political spectrum: Fox News, NBC, Breitbart, and Slate.

Mandolen Mull, Ph.D., Chair of Puri School of Business and Assistant Professor of Leadership, along with professors Clayton Duffy

and David Silberman

WELCOME RANDAL V. CHILDS – VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT

Randal V. Childs joined Rockford University as the Vice President for Advancement on August 15, 2022.

In this role, Childs serves as the university’s chief philanthropy officer and strategist for the Office of Advancement and as chief development officer to the President, the Board of Trustees, and other university officials on all matters involving current and potential philanthropic support.

Previously, Childs served at North Carolina Central University for 17 years as its director of major gifts, assistant vice chancellor, and most recently its associate vice chancellor. He is well versed in developing strategic partnerships and fundraising and corporate giving programs which, during his time, averaged $7.8 million annually.

“We’re pleased to have Randal join our Rockford University leadership team,” said President Eric W. Fulcomer. “His depth of experience and energy for raising funds in higher education and keen understanding of the opportunities that we have before us will be instrumental in moving Rockford University into the future.”

As a member of the President’s Executive Council, Childs will participate in strategic planning and work collaboratively with leadership across the institution to support key academic and university priorities, initiatives, and opportunities. He also will lead a robust effort to further engage with current donors and develop effective outreach plans to connect with constituents.

“I already have an affinity for Rockford University and am excited about its potential to impact the region’s educational landscape,” said Childs. “The institution is in a strong position, and I look forward to furthering its mission by focusing on alumni relations, community engagement, and constituent development to raise the university’s profile and commitment going forward.”

A native of Greenwood, South Carolina, Childs received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science at Morehouse College and his MBA in Management/Marketing at Elon University.

ALUMNI STORY: A HISTORIAN REFLECTS ON THE GIFT THAT ROCKFORD GAVE HIM

In September 1963, Charles Russell Branham ‘67/’05 L.H.D, arrived at then-Rockford College as change swept across America. Days prior, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C., following months of violent attacks on civil rights demonstrators in the South.

Branham was one of seven black students in the incoming freshman class. He had earned a full scholarship to attend Rockford after graduating from high school in Memphis, Tennessee.

Branham was far from home in more ways than just miles. His high school had been segregated. “I had never spoken to a white person until that first day at Rockford,” he recalled. In his dorm room, Branham had a bed—not a cot like back in Memphis. And on campus, there was beauty in the modern buildings and treelined paths. “It was like heaven,” he recalled.

Four years later, Branham graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rockford College and went on to earn a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow.

For more than five decades, Branham was a professor of history at Chicago State University, Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, and Indiana University Northwest. He served as a Senior Historian at the DuSable Museum of Afro-American History in Chicago and authored publications on African American history and politics. He also won an Emmy Award as the writer, co-producer, and host of “The Black Experience,” the first nationally televised series on African American History. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Chicago.

Branham credits Rockford with putting him on a path to “a satisfying career devoted to what I am passionate about.” Faculty sparked his passion for history and teaching, especially professors Russell Planck and Gordon Ross. “Both were inspiring in different ways,” Branham said. “They emphasized excellence and exploration, and the community was small enough that you could really get to know people.”

A standout memory was a week-long celebration on campus called “Creativity of the Negro.” It featured accomplished African American artists, actors, musicians, writers, and scholars from across the country and world. “They would perform or meet with small groups of students,” Branham said. “Here was this small college introducing African-American art and history as another example of American Genius in a way you wouldn’t find on larger campuses.”

Student life in the dorms offered another kind of education. “Whether it was a late-night card game or sneaking off campus, you learned about the rest of America by meeting students from all over the country. I remember someone putting headphones on me and playing the Beatles. My mind was blown!”

Now retired, Branham lives in Chicago with his wife, Evelyn. He sat on the Rockford College Board of Trustees from 1990 to 1992. In 2005, Rockford University bestowed on him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Last February, Branham delivered the keynote address for the Charter Day Convocation to kick off the university’s 175th anniversary. He talked about how his mother sat him down to discuss college. It was expected that Branham and his two sisters would pursue higher education, but he would need a scholarship. His mother, a second-grade teacher, was a single parent. She raised her children to be curious and hard-working.

He said, “The scholarship from Rockford College changed my life. I got an excellent education, was introduced to the world, met lifelong friends, and was inspired to devote my life to teaching others. I am eternally grateful.”

Marie Baumann ’67 lost her husband of 38 years when he passed away on June 14, 2021. The couple lived in Arlington, Virginia for their working careers and relocated to Sarasota, Florida in 2015.

Gene Johnson ’71 retired as a Professor of Psychology at Central Washington University. Gene is spending his time between Ellensburg, Washington; Venice, Florida; and Charlestown, Rhode Island.

Dianne Wolf ’73 along with Janet Hortin, Linda Brandberg, Barry Smith, and Carol Toris had a lovely Zoom conversation this spring.

Peter Bouxsein ’75 retired at the end of January 2022 and, along with his wife Cathy, is planning a cross-country road trip that includes stops in Alaska, Georgia, and the East Coast. Along the way, Cathy and Peter will make use of their National Park pass and visit some friends from Rockford University.

Kosala Wickramanayake

’83

nominated to the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The institute is a think tank that provides insights and recommendations that advance justice, peace, prosperity, and sustainability.

Marianne (“Fudge”) Pelletier ’84 founded the Staupell Analytics Group in 2012. The company serves nonprofits through database management, process improvement, and data science. Marianne also speaks around the country about improving fundraising through analysis and business intelligence. She and her wife, Laura, are restoring their 1880s farmhouse in upstate New York, and Marianne is trying to learn how to grow her own vegetables. So far, the deer are enjoying the veggies very much -- so learning how to install better fences is in their future. So is a real (but small!) tractor.

Brad Dineen ’85 took a three-hour tour around Rockford that included a look at the Rockford Casino, which features many hometown touches thanks to Rick Nielsen and Cheap Trick. Brad also drove through Rockford University’s campus, which he has not visited for 15 years.

Steve Rudnicki ’85 visited family in Rockford over the summer and stopped by campus. He enjoyed a few rounds of disc golf, visited the alumni office, toured a few classroom buildings, and bought some great swag.

Tom Sandquist ’85 left his law practice at WilliamsMcCarthy after 33 years to start a new career adventure. He is currently serving as the executive director of the Rockford Community Investment Fund, a community development financial institution that provides financing for the rehabilitation of dilapidated housing in Rockford’s low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

Tim Anderson ’87 successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in Hispanics Linguistics in June and graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago with a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies in August 2022. Tim began his 16th year at Kishwaukee College, where he is an associate professor of philosophy.

Mary Ann Cascio Laudicina ’91 was named Chair of the Rockford University Addams Circle in January 2022 and is working with members to increase alumni membership, education, and mentorship of female students at the University. Mary Ann also has announced her new partnership with Megan Preston, CFP®, Financial Advisor, with whom she shares the same values and investment philosophy. Together, they have formed The Laudicina Preston Group under Baird and will continue to serve clients along with team members from their current offices in Rockford, Illinois as well as in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This partnership will expand the services provided to include advanced financial planning, guidance to young adult children, and further insight into the myriad issues facing an aging generation. Additionally, Mary Ann and her husband, Frank, are celebrated the wedding of their son Andrew and his fiancé Alexandra in September 2022. Their oldest son Nick lives in Los Angeles, California, and works at the NFL while youngest son Luke is a junior at Hononegah High School in Rockton, Illinois. They are all looking forward to being together for this joyous occasion with family and friends

Celebrating the

CLASS OF 2022

On Saturday, May 14, more than 370 undergraduate and graduate students crossed downtown Rockford's historic Coronado Performing Arts Center stage to receive their diplomas in front of family and friends. The University’s 168th Commencement ceremony was an extra joyous occasion, marking a return to the Coronado after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graduates — representing 23 states and 13 countries — received words of wisdom from President Eric Fulcomer, Student Government Association Vice President Kristine Adams-Wedemeyer ’22, and keynote speaker Kimberly Wehle, an author, lawyer, law professor, and legal expert.

With the return to the Coronado in the university’s 175th anniversary year, the 2022 commencement will be remembered as a significant and poignant moment in our school’s history.

Barbara Wright Heck ’48, March 14, 2022

Marilyn Vallee Benson ’49, May 9, 2022

Barbara J. Slemmons ’50, May 17, 2022

Phyllis Beckmann Mielke ’51, December 15, 2019

Joan Gilmore ’51, March 1, 2021

Marie Reichen Gill ’52, December 01, 2020

Molly Rideout Johnson ’53, March 7, 2022

Yvonne Sill Petersen ’53, April 01, 2022

Mary A. Bartels ’53, June 21, 2022

Charles E. Carter ’54, May 8, 2022

Gretchen von Loewe Kreuter ’55, February 1, 2022

Bruce D. Anderson ’61, December 1, 2021

Mary Karwelis Klopfenstein ’61, April 1, 2022

Rose Connelly Duguid ’61, May 8, 2022

Lowell Doyle ’64, May 6, 2022

Robert T. Slattery ’65, April 10, 2022

Evelyn Gloster Dawkins ’68, July 8, 2022

Donald D. Williams ’69, June 2, 2022

Barbara Wolter Fisher ’69, June 29, 2022

Sarah "Sally" Stevens Koepsell ’71, April 21, 2022

Daniel C. Bergstrom ’79, August 21, 2017

Donald B. Ewaldz ’83, March 19, 2022

Kathleen Nelson Good ’89, June 23, 2022

Jeanny Pletschette Foster ’90, July 3, 2022

Justine Simon Walhout ’92H, July 6, 2022

Cynthia K. Lundberg ’96, April 20, 2022

“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So … get on your way!”

Gretchen Von Lowe Kreuter, Ph.D., selected those triumphant final exclamations from Dr. Seuss’, “Oh the Places You’ll Go” to conclude her Rockford College commencement remarks of 1992, placing a coda on her tenure as the institution’s 14th president. Hired just five years earlier to help deliver the college from the throes of crippling debt, she had certainly come to know a thing or two about the figurative mountains that loom over everyone’s horizons.

Gretchen first arrived at Rockford College in 1951 with her trademark smile and irrepressible sense of humor. A Minneapolis native, she had received a scholarship to study German. While matriculating, her interest turned to global affairs. She graduated in 1955 as student body president and a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in International Relations.

During graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), Gretchen traversed the uneven foothills of academia, facing the difficulty for a woman to balance those pursuits with a co-equal desire to have a family alongside her history-professor husband. In 1960, she gave birth to their son, David, while simultaneously earning her M.A. and Ph.D. in history. In 1965, their daughter Betsy was born. Along the way, Gretchen secured teaching appointments at several colleges. During that time, among other accomplishments, she co-authored an award-winning book, developed the women’s studies program at St. Olaf College, and was the founding president of WHOM (Women Historians of the Midwest).

By 1980, she had quietly amassed an impressive resume of project management and strategic planning. Over the next seven years, she coupled those skills with a burning desire to be a college president. She served as assistant to the president of St. Olaf, followed by the assistant to the vice president for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota. Meanwhile, at her alma mater, things were not going well. In an eight-year effort to distinguish itself, the college had taken an aggressive posture relative to its peers — purchasing the leasehold of a brick-and-mortar campus (Regents University) in London, UK while simultaneously developing undergraduate programs in engineering and nursing along with a graduate program in business. When the dust had settled, the college was left with a $10 million debt and insufficient means to bridge the gap. Gretchen was hired to help the college move forward.

In a hybrid model that included fundraising, faculty/staff reductions, budget cuts, the liquidation of 70 acres of land around the perimeter of campus, and the sale of Regents University, the debt was cut to $4 million. Having given all she could in the face of such adversity, Gretchen stepped down. The wounds were deep, but the future of RU has been secured.

Though she expressed a desire to take a well-deserved break, Gretchen was immediately drafted into a one-year presidency at Olivet College in July 1992. There, she ran into a real Everest — hard to climb, impossible to get around. Racial unrest that March had lit a tinderbox, tearing at the fabric of the college. She detailed that year and its fallout in a memoir: “Forgotten Promise: Race and Gender Wars on a Small College Campus.”

She served one more interim presidency — at the College of St. Mary in Omaha, Nebraska,— before quietly slipping into retirement with her husband, Bob Sutton. She had found the valley of her mountains in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. There, she was content to garden, keep bees, count monarch butterflies and sandhill cranes, become a devotee of the naturalist Aldo Leopold, and many other things that inquisitive and content people do in such bucolic surroundings.

Soon after Bob’s death in 2004, Gretchen relocated to Minnesota, where she lived out the remainder of her life. She kept busy with scholarship and writing, surrounded by family and active in her community up until her death of natural causes on February 1, 2022. She is survived by her children, her brother, Karl, and their families, who are full in the knowledge that while on this Earth, and to borrow from Dr. Seuss, Gretchen “ … joined the highfliers who soared to great heights.”

A Donor’s Story

On July 20, 2022, BestColleges.com updated an article on the mental health of the nation’s college students. According to the updates, over 90 percent of college students are experiencing negative mental health symptoms since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic; 50 percent of students are dealing with the effects of isolation, anxiety, and lack of focus; and students continue to struggle with online courses.

Rockford University is uniquely positioned to assist with this challenge through Lang Wellness Center. The Center provides a safe, supportive on-site environment that meets the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the university’s community. Kristen Clarke, MSW, LCSW, and Director of Lang Wellness Center says, “We take pride in offering one-on-one sessions with counselors to help with stress management, anxiety, depression, and other mental health needs with no out-of-pocket cost to students, faculty, or staff.”

But how are these concerns addressed when the need doubles because of a worldwide pandemic? Through the generosity of an anonymous donor who stepped forward last fall with the desire to support his alma mater.

The donor reached out to Rockford University’s advancement office, explaining that he had attended Rockford University for two years and transferred due to financial constraints. While he finished his degree at another university and went on to earn other degrees, Rockford University was always foremost in his heart. “I recall distinctly feeling when I stepped into my room for the first time at Olson Hall that my life had just begun,” the donor said.

After a 50-year career in the mental health field, the donor explained that he wanted to give back to Rockford University because it had been central to his profession where he worked with his clients in such a personal way that he regarded it as a sacred trust. After many discussions with a Rockford University engagement officer, the donor learned about the work at Lang Wellness Center and recognized that assisting students with needs relative to anxiety, depression, and relational concerns would resonate with his profession and his former work.

It would also please his grandfather who wrote to him, “Try to live a noble life, and set for yourself a standard of honor and integrity, unselfish service, and goodwill toward others to live by.” Receiving a letter with these words from his grandfather when he was a freshman simply reinforced the foundation that was being built at the university. “I came to think of the combined aspirations and inspiration provided by my grandfather in conjunction with Rockford University as creating the bedrock foundation for my life ahead,” said the donor.

Talks between Clarke and the donor generated a plan for the donor to support an additional part-time counselor at Lang Wellness Center who could devote their time to students’ mental health challenges. The donor signed a three-year pledge to support the new counselor position. “That charitable decision was one of the best I ever made,” the donor said.

In a note to the engagement officer, the donor wrote, “Thank you for your efforts to craft this very personal, meaningful, and satisfying donor opportunity. You listened carefully and helped target my giving in a manner that beautifully aligns a Rockford University need with my passion for a rewarding 50-year career. Rockford University lit that fire.”

If you want to give back to Rockford University, call our advancement office. We will work hard to connect your passion to the university’s needs and to make sure your fire of commitment to your alma mater is never extinguished. Contact Linda Ploenzke Sandquist ’85, Engagement Officer, at 815-394-3756 or at Lsandquist@rockford.edu.

Looking forward to the next chapter of Rockford University

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Rockford University has seen tremendous growth in its students and campus life for more than 17 decades. As we continue to move forward in pursuits of educating the whole student, your donations allow us the opportunity to impact many more lives.

SCAN TO GIVE NOW:

ROCKFORD.EDU/GIVE

OR RETURN THE ENCLOSED REMISSION ENVELOPE.

Looking forward to the next chapter of Rockford University

The IRA Charitable Rollover Act is now permanent and allows you to make a tax-free gift to Rockford University from your IRA.

You must be at least 70 ½ years old

Gifts up to $100,000 per person per year may be given and will satisfy all or part of your IRA minimum distribution requirement.

For more information on making a gift to Rockford University through your IRA, please contact Linda Sandquist at 815.394.3756 or LSandquist@rockford.edu.

Office of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement

5050 E. State St. Rockford, IL 61108 815.394.5111 rockford.edu