Catalyst Fall 2012

Catalyst Think. Act. Change your world.

News from RC and beyond.

There’s no place like Reunion @ Homecoming!

This year’s Reunion @ Homecoming was another big success! With over 300 alumni in attendance from as far away as Oregon, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Florida and even Japan, Reunion @ Homecoming provided a fantastic opportunity for RC grads to keep in touch with friends and the College. Events geared for all ages, including current students, took place throughout campus on Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29. More of the weekend’s highlights are also on Page 5.

Fall 2012

Top left. Dr. David Tanaglia ’73 received the Karl C. Williams award.

From mentor to booster to race director and “archivist,” he has served RC for nearly 40 years. His project to collect and nurture acorns from the old campus is now evidenced by four trees planted on the new campus.

Additional photos are available at www.rockford.edu/?Reunion2012. Please feel free to share any great photos you have with us by sending them to alumni@rockford.edu!

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend! If you missed it, we’ll do it again next year and look forward to you joining in the weekend’s festivities. Mark your calendars!

Next year’s Regent Royale/Reunion @ Homecoming is scheduled for October 11–13, 2013! Can’t wait to see you then!

Above. Golden Grads, class of 1962, celebrated their 50-year reunion.

INSIDE

Right. Tailgating fun in Parking Lot A included caricatures, balloons, hot dogs, jousting, a bouncy house and slide for kids, and an obstacle course, all to the tunes of Rockford College Radio and great friends.

Becoming Rockford University, p2

Far right top. Runners’ enjoyed a pictureperfect morning for the President’s 5K Run.

Class notes, p8

Far right bottom. Kipton Bucey ’12, Alumni Graduate Assistant, is ready for visitors at the Alumni tent.

New faculty, p3 RC Rock Stars, p4 Athletic updates, p5 Geropsychology certificate, p10 Assessment at RC, p11 Catalyst, Page 1

Rockford College Radio is for everyone!

Streaming on the internet 24/7, Rockford College Radio now has more than 20 shows ranging in content from film-making, to faulty interviews, to jazz, reggae and local indie music to philosophy, to live RC sporting events.

One new show, “The Rolling R” – Rockford College as seen through the eyes of its heart, the alumni and friends of Rockford College – is growing in popularity. Recent shows (now archived on the radio’s website) feature the 1965 Rockford College GE College Bowl Team (pictured below) and an interview with the Voss sisters, Evelyn, Shirley, Sally and Dorothy (pictured in class notes, Page 8).

Another program, “The Old School Radio Show,” is produced by WRCR alumni (individuals who participated in the original campus radio station from 1963–1995).

The project allows them to indulge their creativity and fondness for music and broadcasting. Music includes a mix of favorite oldies or songs tying in to a theme; drop-ins and other choice material from the original WRCR may be featured.

We hope you listen by going to www.rockfordcollegeradio.com.

There is a wealth of programming, a good way to spend a few hours.

1965 Rockford College GE College Bowl Team: Mike Oberdorfer, Bill Manson, Gordon Knight and Tom Gartland.

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Becoming Rockford University July 1, 2013, will mark a significant milestone in the history of Rockford College. The Rockford College Board of Trustees announced on October 2, 2012, their unanimous decision to move forward with the change from College to University. However, this also may be viewed as less actual change, and more of a means to accurately reflect the diversity and maturity of programming that Rockford College already has in place.

Board of Trustees Chair Charles Colman stated, “By officially becoming Rockford University, we are able to better define our standing in the marketplace and the world.

For 165 years, Rockford College has been a stalwart example of what a small institution of higher learning can achieve for its students, its alumni and its community. There is no doubt that as Rockford University, we will continue to grow our tradition of excellence in transforming lives through an education grounded in liberal arts learning.”

It is that commitment to protecting the institution’s core mission that will drive the full transition to University throughout the coming months. A committee to include faculty, staff and trustees will be appointed

by President Head and be charged with fully examining the structure and governance of the College under the university umbrella.

The committee’s priority will be to ensure the retention of a liberal arts President Head meets with Daniela Medrano to discuss student topics. curriculum throughout Daniela is a junior from Rockford, Ill., and is majoring in business the University in administration. She is also the current student government president and its undergraduate, student trustee representative. graduate and continuing education, and professional programs. Dr. Head adds, “We have the unique opportunity and obligation to continue championing the 165-year commitment to liberal arts learning our institution has so strongly established, while also successfully serving the growing and diverse needs of our students.”

The designation of university should not automatically be equated with size. Rockford’s student body of more than 1,250 students already exemplifies what a university setting includes. The College is made up of populations of traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate programs include the traditional liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional programs. There are currently two graduate programs with master’s degrees and certifications in business and education.

The adult undergraduate population is also served with the growing adult accelerated degree completion program where students are able to earn a bachelor’s of science in management studies (BSMS).

The months leading up to July 1, 2013, will undoubtably be busy and exciting.

Requests have already been received for items that reflect Rockford University! While it’s too soon to deliver on that just yet, it’s definitely in the works and we look forward to sharing regular updates on our progress. A dedicated page has been created on the website, www.rockford.edu/?UniversityStatus, to help answer questions and share new developments.

Rockford College welcomes new faculty The College is pleased to welcome several new faculty members to campus this fall. Along with our new colleagues come fresh ideas for curriculum enhancements and opportunity for continued growth in our academic offerings.

The Rockford College faculty continue to focus on meaningful ways to further the College’s strategic goal of distinguishing itself through academic programs designed to expand our academic reputation.

Arts and Humanities Associate Professor of Art Christopher Sisson received his M.F.A in Studio Art (Painting) and his B.F.A. (Illustration) from Northern Illinois University. Christopher specializes in graphic arts and desktop design.

Assistant Professor Kyle D. Stedman, Ph.D., earned his B.A. in English with a music minor from Rollins College. After teaching English at an Orlando high school for two years, he earned an M.A. in English at Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition at the University of South Florida. His work has been published in both academic journals and open-source writing textbooks, and his co-authored book “Agency in the Age of Peer Production” was released in summer 2012.

Assistant Professor of Performing Arts Angelo O’Dierno received his M.F.A. from the University of Utah and his B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. Angelo provides design/technical instruction.

SAVE THE DATE! October 11–13, 2013 The classes below are celebrating a reunion year!

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1938 1973 2008

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1943 1978 2013

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1948 1983

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1953 1988

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1958 1993

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Assistant Professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry Sarah Stahl, Ph.D., successfully completed her Ph.D. in the summer of 2012 from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. She received her M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Houston and a B.S. in Chemistry from State University of New York College at Fredonia.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Virginia Aulik received her M.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis and an M.S.N. with an Emphasis in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University. She received her B.S.N. from Viterbo College (Viterbo University) in LaCrosse.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Sarah Gabua received her Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education, M.S.N. from Walden University with an Emphasis in Nursing Leadership and Management, B.S.N. from Chamberlain College of Nursing and A.S. from Rock Valley College.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Jacqueline Garland received her M.S.N. from Lewis University and B.S.N. from Northern Illinois University. She is currently working on her D.N.P. from Walden University.

Division of Social and Behavioral Science and Education Assistant Professor of Economics, Business and Accounting Roxana Idu, Ph.D., received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Her dissertation investigates the patterns and determinants of the skill composition of migration during transitional development periods. She has previously been a Visiting Assistant Professor at North Central College, where she has taught courses in Macroeconomics, International Economics and Money and Banking.

Associate Professor Ina-Ann Freeman, Ph.D., has teaching and research experience in France, England, Canada, the United States and Kazakhstan. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham, England.

Regent Royale Reunion @ Homecoming 2013

1933 1968 2003

Science, Math and Nursing

1963 1998

We are always looking for members of each class to help reach out to other class members and encourage them to attend! Interested? Contact the alumni office at 815.394.5111 or alumni@rockford.edu.

Assistant Professor of Physical Education Ann Boe received her M.S. degree in Exercise Science from Seattle Pacific University. She also received a B.S. in Physical Education and Health from Seattle Pacific University and has been working, teaching and coaching in the physical education field for the past 26 years.

Catalyst / Page 3

Outstanding students featured in first round of Rockford College Rock Stars Rockford College Rock Stars, a new Charter Fund campaign designed to showcase the high caliber of RC students, professors and alumni, debuted in this September’s appeal letter. Six students (one from each undergraduate division, and one each from the BSMS, MBA and MAT programs) and their stories were showcased in separate letters. Alumni received the letter of the Rock Star whose experience most closely mirrored their own; for example, Ashley Eggert ’14, a Science Rock Star

alumni with an English degree received the letter starring the Humanities Rock Star, alumni with an MBA degree received the letter starring the MBA Rock Star, and so on.

It is very exciting to share these students’ experiences, and it would be a disservice not to learn about each Rock Star. All Rock Stars can be found at www.rockford.edu/?RockStars. While reading, please remember how central a character the Charter Fund is in all of their stories; from faculty and classroom technology, to campus activities and scholarships, the Charter Fund is what has made this chapter in their lives possible.

The second phase of Rockford College Rock Stars (coming in December) will feature Rock Star professors, and our third round (Spring 2013) will showcase Rock Star alumni.

Edith Vaughan ’31 leaves generous gift to College John Vaughan ’73 and Richard Vaughan `76, nephews of Edith Hughes Vaughan (English, `31), visited the campus on August 14, 2012, to present a generous, unrestricted gift of $268,629 to the College from their aunt’s trust.

After graduating from Rockford College, Edith started work with Sears Roebuck & Co. She earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1946 and took extensive post-graduate study at the University of Chicago from 1951–56. She was a corporate attorney at Sears, retiring in 1974.

Throughout her vibrant life she remained a loyal friend and supporter of RC.

John Vaughan ’73 (left), President Head and Richard Vaughan ’76.

In memoriam Edith H. Vaughan ’31, 3/12/2012 Marian I. Peters ’31, 7/2/2012 Cynthia Cooper McCarter ’33, 3/28/2012 Georgeanna Kime Barr ’34, 8/3/2012 Virginia Shellman Becker ’34, 9/2/2012 Mary Knickerbocker Sproull ’41, 7/29/2012 Betty Bush Wessel ’44, 4/17/2012 Hildred Haight King ’45, 6/25/2012 Doris Egeland Sjostrom ’45, 8/5/2012 Clarice Larson Kullberg ’46, 4/19/2012 Deborah “Jane” Jenswold Klotzbach ’47, 6/1/2012 Eileen Cobb Sides ’47, 6/16/2012 Page 4 / Catalyst

No matter the amount, the College is grateful for all support provided from individuals during their lives or through their estates. Gifts allow for the flexibility to provide the latest advances in teaching and learning.

It is policy of Rockford College that the first $10,000 of unrestricted estate gifts be allocated to current-year operations.

The remainder of Edith’s gift will be used for initiatives yet to be determined. If you would like to talk to someone about remembering the College in your estate plan, call Senior Development Officer John McNamara at 815.394.5152.

Sue Carlson Anderson ’55, 5/16/2012 Lowell Landry ’55, 6/3/2012 Beverly Y. Cockrell ’59, 3/1/2012 Charles Herman Farrar ’60, 4/4/2012 Hart Alden Fisher ’62, 4/13/2012 John Anthony Vitale ’63/ ’71, 3/31/2012 Flossie Skinner Ellsworth ’69, 6/21/2012 Jane Davis Guedet ’70, 4/18/2012 Joanne Hall Magnuson ’71/ ’76, 4/11/2012 Karen August Kempken ’87, 6/17/2012 Adrean Nelson Washington ’91, 6/5/2012 Jennifer DeVries Meale ’97, 5/14/2012 John M Patrick ’99, 6/11/2012 Cheri M. McCray ’00, 9/13/2012

Regents Ball 2012 raises funds for scholarships

Reunion @ Homecoming 2012!

This year’s Regents Ball, May Day in September, not only helped raise funds for scholarship, but also allowed students an opportunity to meet and interact with those in attendance.

From valet parking, serving, and attending as guests, students and donors alike had a magnificent evening. Dean of Students Brad Knotts provided dinner music on the piano with the tunes of Harlan Jefferson following after dinner. A silent and live auction, as well as a 50/50 raffle, were also part of the festivities.

Students Priscilla Senyah, Amour Muro, Eric Woelbling, Alex Albaugh, Bobby Tassone, and Luis Ortiz provided top-notch valet service for guests.

What we will (and will not do) with your e-mail address At Rockford College, we are committed to keeping all of our alumni and friends up-to-date with everything happening at RC. It is for this reason that we ask for your e-mail address; to ensure that we are providing you all of the information you need to stay current in the format most convenient for you. Because we are asking for something as personal as your e-mail, we feel you are entitled to know everything for which we will (and will not) use your address.

What we will do with your e-mail:

Above top. The President’s 5K Run/Toto’s Trot/Kid’s Fun Run took place among beautiful fall leaves with quite a few canine friends as well as future Regents in attendance.

Above. Keiko Habu Harada ’58, Alumna of the Year recipient, spearheaded a January 2012 gathering in Kobe, Japan, with 17 RC alumnae who also graduated from Kobe College. In addition, Keiko played a key role in Charter Day 2012 by reporting live via Skype from Kobe. (l to r) President Head, Harada, Sally Koepsell ’46 and Dr. John Koepsell.

Below. The Alumni Awards honored nine outstanding alumni.

Before a delicious meal, Vocal Collective (pictured) sang.

• Store it in our secure database.

• Send you periodic e-newsletters, of which you have the option to opt-out.

• Use it as a means of contact should your home address or phone number become invalid.

What we will not do with your e-mail: • Sell it to any company or share it with anyone. Never. Ever.

• Continue to send you e-newsletters or updates after you have requested to not receive them.

• Post it on the website or any other public forum for others to reach you. Not even once.

Catalyst / Page 5

From professional grid iron to Division III, former NFL players add coaching depth Chicago native Jason Jefferson spent four years in the NFL, three with the Buffalo Bills and 2008 with the Atlanta Falcons, where he had his best season, playing in 13 games, recording 12 tackles and earning one start.

But for all the Peyton Mannings and Brett Favres who seem to play forever, NFL careers usually are very short, three years on average, according to the NFL Players Association. The Falcons drafted the defensive tackle with their first round pick in 2009, Jefferson got hurt and Atlanta released the then 28-year-old in August 2009. Jefferson spent most of the next two years back in Buffalo with his wife and son, trying “to figure out my path.”

Then he got an e-mail in the spring of 2011 from the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) asking him if he’d like to apply for a program that helps former players get in the college coaching ranks as unpaid interns at Division II, Division III or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) programs.

Jefferson filled out the paperwork, learned he had been accepted into the program and a few weeks later he was heading to Rockford College. “I didn’t know much about Rockford or Rockford College football,” said Jefferson, who played college football at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “I just remember driving past Rockford on the way home from college.”

Jefferson arrived about five days before practice started for the 2011 season, thinking he’d mostly be an observer. Rockford College Coach Vic Wallace told him, no, he’d be the defensive line coach. “I wasn’t expecting to start coaching right off the bat.

I thought I’d be a behind the scenes guy, but coach Wallace just threw me out there,” said Jefferson, whose goal now is to become a defensive coordinator or position coach at a Division I program.

“The first meeting with my guys was alright. It’s football. I’m comfortable in that kind of setting. And we just went on from there.”

Wallace said Jefferson “fit in perfectly.” “His players loved him.

You can tell he has a future in coaching,” Wallace said. When an opening came in the program, Rockford College hired Jefferson as a full-time coach for the 2012 season.

Wallace, who is in his 35th year of coaching football at the collegiate level, the past two at Rockford College, had never heard of the coaching internship program until he received an application asking whether or not he wanted to participate. “I filled out the application, but I also sent in a letter with more detail in how the intern would receive a quality experience,” Wallace said. “I stressed my experience and the fact that I’ve helped a lot of coaches get their first jobs.”

Leslie Satchell, manager of player services development for the NFLPA, said between 50 to 80 schools apply a year. The NFLPA tailored the program for smaller schools because many schools Division II, Division III or NAIA schools are understaffed.

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A committee from the coaches association then narrows the field before the NFLPA matches players with schools.

Satchell said she couldn’t specifically say why Rockford College was chosen, although she said the experience of the coach, the commitment by the college and the geographic requests by the players all play a part. Jefferson, for example, wanted a college close to Chicago, where much of his family still lives.

Satchell did say that both the school and intern have to fill out an evaluation form after the season, and the fact that Rockford College and Jefferson meshed so well that the college brought him on full time undoubtedly helped the College receive a new intern again for this season.

Jermaine Hampton was born in Riverdale and starred as a defensive back in college at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb from 1998 to 2000.

Hampton was signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2001, made the team and appeared in 10 games. Hampton then hurt his back in 2002, was placed on injured reserve and released at the end of the season.

Hampton went back to NIU from 2006 to 2008 to complete his degree and was coaching high school football until this year.

Hampton thought he would like to work his way back to the NFL as a coach and some other retired players mentioned the internship program to him.

Wallace said although Rockford College didn’t need a defensive secondary coach for this season, the team needed a wide receivers coach. So Hampton jumped in after some persuading. “I told them I thought I could help them out a little bit more on the defensive side of the ball, but that’s where they needed me, and I didn’t want to turn the opportunity down,” Hampton said. “I’ve been covering receivers all my life so there really isn’t much that I don’t know about them.”

Hampton, like Jefferson, is enjoying himself. “I’m pretty good with the kids. I’m still young. I can relate,” said Hampton, who is unmarried and living on campus. “I just want them to work hard and be dedicated to the game.”

Dane Kirk, a sophomore tight end from Rochelle, said players listen better just because they know Hampton and Jefferson excelled at the highest level. “Coach Hampton teaches you all the little tricks on how to get open, how to get the defensive player’s hips turned,” Kirk said. “I was just taught the basics in high school and then to come to a Division III school and learn from an NFL player, you want to learn everything you can.”

Wallace said in all of his years coaching, he never had a former NFL player on his staff until these past two seasons. “I’ve seen a lot of things and I’ve gone to a lot of clinics, but these guys have gotten coaching at the highest level, and they’ve been taught a lot,” Wallace said. “It’s exciting to see them share those unique experiences with our young players.”

Elevating the Rockford College brand As we shared in the last issue of Catalyst, the College has engaged the services of Stamats, a premier higher education marketing research and consulting firm based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to assist us in strengthening our brand messaging.

Ultimately, this work will reinforce and further define our unique value proposition as well as elevate our brand among our various audiences – prospective students, current students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members. As we build for the future and plan to transition to university status, strategic use of consistent and branded messages is critical to our success.

The foundation of this brand development work lies in the creation of a brand promise statement which highlights the significant overlap between all that an organization delivers and all that its principal audiences desire. A brand promise is a concise articulation of what any organization promises to its principal audiences – something that the audience views as having intrinsic or extrinsic value for them personally. Our brand promise statement was developed through research, reflection, and testing to ensure that the promise articulated persuasive and distinctive strengths. To reflect our growth and to speak more clearly to our audiences, the following promise statement emerged from the research conducted among our prospective students, current students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members.

Rockford College challenges and supports learners with rich academic opportunities, practical experiences, and global perspectives to develop the knowledge, values, and skills that impact their lives and our world.

Our brand promise statement is structured to link a cluster of defining attributes that broadly represent the institution in the minds of its students, faculty and staff, administration, parents, alumni, community, and prospective students. These attributes include:

• Inviting campus with urban opportunities.

• A community of communities.

• Accomplished and engaged faculty and staff.

• A focus on global perspectives.

• Ties academic experience with practical applications.

Our next step is to uplift our promise statement and attributes in meaningful ways for our audiences – both internal and external. It is not enough to simply state our promise statement and attributes; we must clearly and articulately demonstrate how they shape our work and differentiate our institution. As a result of the decision to become Rockford University, we have decided it will be most efficient to use this unique opportunity to unveil the new creative advertising image campaign in conjunction with our transition on July 1, 2013. We look forward to bringing these many elements to life in the coming months!

Athletic website gets new look and improved features. Go Regents!

The Rockford College Athletic Department launched a new athletic website hosted by PrestoSports on September 16. Fans are now able to access a vast amount of new content and follow their favorite Regents athletics teams, and individual studentathletes, in a variety of exciting ways. The new athletic website will continue to be located at www.GoRegents.com.

The new home page features: • All recent news stories with pictures and statistics.

• A full calendar of events, results, and standings for sports in the Northern Athletics Conference.

• Links to follow Regents Athletics on Facebook and Twitter, and for live game coverage and post game alerts.

• Recent photo galleries and a Regent of Week section.

• Links for information and applications for prospective student athletes.

• Sponsorship information for those interested in supporting Rockford College Athletics.

Each sport has its own individual page with a similar setup to the main home page, but with a few additional features: • Enhanced statistics including where the team and individual players rank in the conference in various statistical categories along with stat splits, game logs and much more.

• Player bios including a picture of the student-athlete, roster information, a brief description of prior years and, if available, enhanced statistics from the current season.

• Additional information for some sports, including junior varsity schedules, along with external links to websites relevant to that particular sport.

We thank everyone for their continued support of Regents Athletics.

Catalyst / Page 7

Class notes

Alexandria, Va., in the beginning of May, at which time he began readying the newly-renovated guest houses for their reopening. He is serving his last year on the Board of Forma (formerly NAECED), an association of Christian educators, formation professionals, and their institutional partners. He is on the planning team for their upcoming conference in Albuquerque, N.M., next January.

Pictured above from left to right, sisters Sally Voss Trefz ’50, Shirley Voss Henley Philon ’50/’69, and Dorothy Voss Baits ’51 during their interview on Rockford College Radio’s show “The Rolling R” (see article on Page 2). Their sister Evelyn Voss Palm ’42, not pictured, participated by phone.

1960s Bob Kisken ’62 recently entered three of his photos in the 2012 Wyoming State Fair. He won two first places and one second.

Some of his photos have appeared in “Mules and More” which is a magazine for mule and donkey enthusiasts. Recently he photographed a rodeo clown reunion in Sheridan, Wyo.; burro races in Fairplay, Colo.; a cowboy poetry gathering in Lewistown, Mont.; ranch rodeo in Glenrock, Wyo.; and a chuck wagon cook-off in Helena, Mont. Many of his photos can be seen at www.ropeburns.org.

1970s Terry Paciorka ‘74 (right) and John Holtkamp ‘75 recently visited campus. The realization that it was 42 years since they first arrived on campus was, shall we say, . . . sobering. They found the campus vital and very much alive with renovations, new students moving in, and friendly guides and staff throughout. Much of the campus remains the same as when they first arrived in 1970, although ‘freshened.’ They discovered the ‘high-rise’ girl’s dorm is closed, but other dorms were seen to be in great shape (and still recognizable across all those years!).

Most of the dorms appeared to be co-ed; quite the change from the days when a visitor of the opposite sex would require doors be left wide open and chaperones posted (those were the days!).

Terry now has an insurance operation in Chicago and real estate holdings in Wisconsin. John is a County Social Services Director in North Carolina where 400 people call him ‘boss’ (that’s a scary thought for anyone who knew him back in the day!?). Terry and John invite the former ‘Raiders’ from Caster Hall to post in the Catalyst to keep everyone informed of their adventures (They’re quite sure they did not end after Rockford!).

1980s Jeffri Harre ’82 was hired as the Hospitality and Guest Residence Manager by Virginia Theological Seminary and moved to Page 8 / Catalyst

Katie Henry-Schill ’84 just celebrated her 21st wedding anniversary with her husband Fredrick, who is an attorney in Massachusetts. As her daughter enters into the early stages of “college shopping,” she thinks back to her first semester at RC, being the only girl from New York and remembering all the fun she had with friends that included Dave Warden, Mike Strand, Jonathan Roakes, Scott Bunn, Mike Miller and her hall mates of the six floor. She can recall receiving a letter from RC indicating that for the first time in RC history, men, who later nicknamed themselves the Vault Crackers, would be allowed on the second floor. Thankfully, she made the right decision of not showing her parents (although she thinks her father must have gotten a copy of the letter), just in case they wanted to pull her from a new coed dorm and go with an all-girls dorm. She has fond memories of McGaw Hall and all the fun that she had with the guys on the second floor who became her big brothers away from home. She is happy to be living on the East Coast, but is grateful to have also lived in Oak Park, Ill., where she purchased her family’s first home.

She spent most of her free time this past summer at her summer home on the lake where she was able to enjoy kayaking, jet skiing and other fun outdoor water sports. She is in awe of how RC has grown and attributes a lot of that growth to Sunil Puri ‘82 who was always a nice person to encounter at RC while she was there. ileta A. Sumner ‘87, former General Counsel for Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. d/b/a The Battered Shelter of San Antonio, has been selected to join the Board of Directors of Disability Rights, Texas (previously known as Advocacy Inc.), which addresses the needs of disabled persons including, but not limited to, accessibility, housing, health care, transportation and civil rights. ileta is herself disabled, having survived congestive heart failure and chronic weight loss among other maladies.

1990s Matt Fewkes ’90 is now living in Midland, Mich., with his wife, Kim, and their three children: Zach (11), Cassie (10) and Conner (7). With Kim’s help, Matt graduated from Seton Hall School of Law in 2002 with a J.D. and passed both the Patent Bar and NJ Bar exams in the same year. In 2006, he started working for the Dow Corning Corporation as IP counsel. More recently, Matt has assumed the responsibility of global IP counsel for the Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, which is an affiliate of the Dow Corning Corporation.

Shawn Garrett ’99 was recently part of a team of instructors who spent three weeks teaching in the United States Sports Share your GOOD NEWS with us! In each edition of the “Catalyst” we like to share the good news of our alums!

Got married? Had a baby? Received a promotion or an award? Joined a board? Let us know! Please send updates to alumni@rockford.edu. Pictures also welcome!!

Academy’s new pilot program, which is retraining 1,000 of Malaysia’s physical education teachers. The Malaysia Ministry of Education (MOE) approved the pilot program, which began June 20 and runs through the end of December 2012. The courses are taught in six different locations throughout the country, which is considered one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. Garrett has nearly 12 years of experience teaching physical education and coaching at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Currently, he is the physical education and health teacher at E. Lawson Brown Middle School in Thomasville, N.C., and he serves as a baseball scout for Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. He also is a baseball instructor for youth and coaches at the Doyle Baseball Academy. Garrett earned his master’s in sports leadership from Concordia University in River Forest, Ill.

Travel the world with RC… This year, Rockford College is hosting three trips abroad for our alumni and friends! For more information or to reserve your seat, visit www.rockford.edu/?AlumniTravel

2000s

Southwestern Ireland golf trip

Heather Holzwarth Snider ’03 welcomed Willett Gene Snider, her second little boy, to her family on March 20 of this year.

May 4 – 12, 2013 The scenery on this southwestern Ireland golf vacation will take your breath away. Green grass, blue sky and white waves all meet here, which makes this part of Ireland a golf course designer’s dream. This Irish golf vacation includes rounds at Lahinch, Killarney, Tralee, Ballybunion and Waterville, with more golf in store for those who join our post-tour extension.

Sara Dumpman ’06 is engaged to Robert Schopf and will be married on October 20 in Freeport. Sara earned a master’s degree in Reading Instruction from Aurora University in 2011.

She currently teaches fourth grade in the Freeport School District.

CORRECTION – In the last edition of the Catalyst, we made an error in the update of Donnette Dean ’07. Donnette received the 2011–2012 Educator of the Year award from the Frankfort Community High School Student Council. This is the sixth time she has won the award. After 38 years in education, Donnette recently retired. We apologize for the previous error.

Golfers’ traveling companions will enjoy sightseeing through Ireland on tours of the Cliffs of Moher, Ross Castle, the Ring of Kerry and more. Look for the Alternate Guided Sightseeing itinerary on each day of this tour.

Donellyn Dean Bernhardt ’07 married Jay Bernhardt on July 9, 2011. The couple is expecting their first child in October.

Donellyn teaches math at Frankfort Community High School.

August 3 – 8, 2013 From the moment you arrive, you’ll inhale Iceland’s refreshing air and tap into the island’s natural, restorative powers. A revitalizing soak in the Blue Lagoon will help you understand why Iceland’s people are some of the happiest on Earth, while an included tour of the country’s South Coast showcases Iceland’s otherworldly beauty. An Iceland tour lets you leave your cares a world away.

2010s Stina Tanaglia ‘10/’12 recently began working as Marketing Assistant with First Rockford Group.

Iceland: Reykjavik to the glaciers

Almir Causevic ‘10/’12 accepted a position as a Contracts Administrator at UTC AEROSPACE SYSTEMS.

PLUS, alumni gathering in Iceland - August 5, 2013!

Courtney Pehl ’12 took a position as a second-grade teacher at St. Joseph Elementary School in Freeport, Ill., and was also named the new head coach for Aquin’s varsity volleyball team.

Venice, Florence & Rome

Matt Weber ’12 was hired by Williams-Manny in Rockford as a business insurance specialist, focusing on commercial property and casualty sales, after he completed a successful internship with the company.

Emily Smith ’12 married Tony Hardin ’09 on July 28 in Rockford.

Emily is employed at Rockford Memorial Hospital and Tony is employed at Rosecrance in Rockford.

September 19 – 30, 2013 This tour highlights three of our favorite Italian cities.

Experience the majesty and romance of Venice, lose yourself in the history and art of Florence, and end your journey in Rome, where you’ll be engrossed in the history and the culture of the Eternal City.

New Geropsychology certificate program up and running

Unique collaboration brings exceptional talent to the stage

The Psychology department is excited to offer a new certificate program in Geropsychology within the emerging field of gerontology. Geropsychology is defined by the American Psychology Association (APA) as the field within psychology that applies the knowledge and methods of psychology to understanding and helping older persons and their families maintain well-being, overcome problems, and achieve maximum potential during later life (APA Office on Aging, 2011).

Rockford College’s Performing Arts program offers a one-of-a-kind experience in its collaboration with the professional in-residence equity theater company Artists’ Ensemble (AE). AE has kicked their season off with a bang, selling more than 1,100 subscriptions to the season. This is AE’s biggest season yet expanding to a fiveproduction season, and partnering with Rockford College on a special joint production.

The focus on geropsychology was prompted by knowledge of the “graying of America” as a common theme for projections of age distributions in the United States. The report, “The Next Four Decades – The Older Population in the United States: 2010– 2050,” released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May 2010 cites major shifts in the population as the baby-boomer generation progresses through the aging process. Elaine Sharpe ’75, Assistant Professor of Psychology says, “Geropsychology may be a relatively new term in the field, but the issues it addresses are not new to the inevitable human condition of aging. We recognize the importance and need to provide leading-edge instruction for careers that support aging adults.”

The Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA) reports that over the next 10–20 years, the population in northern Illinois over the age of 60 will increase from approximately 127,000 to 254,000. Due to the aging trend, there is a projected increase in demand for geriatric services. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics describes job growth opportunities in several occupations related to the field of gerontology. For example, social and human service assistants are estimated to experience a 23 percent growth rate. Students trained in geropsychology will be competitive in this job market. Currently, no gerontological or geropsychology training beyond applied skills specific to certificates such as the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), is required by most agencies whose employees are serving the aging population.

A Certificate in Geropsychology indicates a standard of competency in caring for the developmental needs of the aging population. Coursework for the program is offered online and conducted by full-time faculty of Rockford College. Students must also complete 45 clock-hours of internship work. Rockford College is unique in offering this course of study. As indicated in the AGHE 2010 Directory of Gerontology Programs, only seven institutions offer a fully online college credit-bearing certificate in gerontology that meets the AGHE guidelines. None of these institutions are located in Illinois. The program encourages careers with older adults at all levels of education and training.

To learn more about the Geropsychology Certificate program, contact Elaine Sharpe, esharpe@rockford.edu or 815.226.4112.

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In April 2013, the College’s Performing Arts department and AE will produce the musical Meet Me in St. Louis. This will mark the first joint production between the two organizations and is sure to be a highlight of the season. However, the show runs for just one week so get your tickets early!

Upcoming productions for the two groups include: Rockford College Performing Arts The Way of the World, by William Congreve Nov. 15–18, 2012 (Thurs.–Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m.); Maddox Theatre; for tickets or more information, call 815.226.4100 or visit www.rockford.edu/?TheatreSeason Featuring AE’s Steven F. Vrtol III ’79 in the role of Sir Willful Witwoud, a country squire come to town, The Way of the World tells a complex comedic tale woven in the universal and timeless truths of relationships complicated by money, hypocrisy, greed and morality.

A timeless treasure first performed in England in 1700, you’ll find yourself amused by how little the human condition has changed over the past three centuries. Directed by Assistant Professor of Performing Arts Deborah Mogford.

Artists’ Ensemble It’s A Wonderful Life (a live radio play) Nov. 30–Dec. 16, 2012; Maddox Theatre; Contact the AE box office at 815.394.5004 or visit www.artistsensemble.org for more information This delightful adaptation of the classic movie is done as if it were a live radio broadcast in 1946. The cast features Rockford College alumnus Ramaad Morris ’12 and AE artistic director Richard Raether, with Linda Abronski directing.

Strengthening Assessment at Rockford College While many of us no longer base our progress on letter grades or GPAs, we continue to evaluate or assess the many aspects of our personal and professional lives. Assessment is particularly vital in the College’s primary work of teaching and learning.

Relevant and accurate assessments are necessary to ensure that students are successful in mastering the College’s defined learning expectations of Knowledge, Values and Skills. These expectations are the basis of the liberal arts and sciences that easily extend into the classical majors as well as into the professional programs at Rockford College.

Assessment is not new at Rockford College by any means, yet the process must continue to evolve with the expectations of society and the workforce. Faculty administers a number of assessments throughout the 15 weeks of a course. It starts with identifying objectives in course syllabi and continues through a series of evaluations, grading criteria, defined rubrics and action plans to help students increase learning and reduce the deficit in their understanding.

What is new is work to formalize the assessment cycle to the desired curricular outcomes of a major and general education requirements. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Steven F. Siconolfi, Ph.D., FACSM, along with the faculty-based Committee on Academic Assessment and Planning (CAAP) and the Assessment Academy Team (AAT), are leading the development of the Rockford College assessment system that all departments will use to keep curriculums intentional, relevant and grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. We achieve the ultimate outcome when we design today’s curriculums to ensure student success in their first and subsequent careers. In addition, our public responsibility includes helping students to be a well-rounded citizen at the local, national and global levels of engagement.

This past summer, the AAT transformed our learning expectations (knowledge, values and skills) into measurable Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). CAAP has since approved these as part of the College’s program on academic assessment. Each major has two to three SLOs that are specific to the field. Faculty add another two to three objectives designed to keep the curriculum content relevant for society’s expectations and/or meeting regulations from outside agencies (such as Illinois State Board of Education’s requirements for licensure of teachers). We add these SLOs to the general education SLOs to create a complete intentional educational system.

Dean Siconolfi visits with students Cody Jennings, Priscilla Senyah and Candice Elsasser. early upper-level courses. Courses at the “D – Demonstration” level provide senior-level opportunities for students to refine and demonstrate competency for each SLO. Each department develops a curricular matrix for each major by identifying where each required course is at the “I,” “R,” or “D” level. This ensures that students have a minimum level of competency that will ensure success in the first and subsequent workplace positions.

The ATT group has completed this task for general education based on initial input from department chairs with courses in the distributed requirements. Departments are now developing curricular matrices for each of their majors. Dr. Siconolfi will review 50 percent of the departments’ SLOs each year in an effort to help departments find the resources to be successful and to see trends that may suggest a policy or procedure change that will enhance student learning. Eventually, the SLOs will serve as the basis for an ongoing quality improvement program for all majors through a vigorous system of academic program review. Rockford College is known for its exceptional education programs. This system of assessment will provide those proof points needed to attract the top-level students and faculty, and will ensure we have an ongoing program of quality improvement.

We use the SLOs to create a curricular matrix by identifying courses that introduce a specific SLO in lower-level course work or “I – Introduction” courses. Courses at the “R – Reinforcement” level continue to build and re-enforce learning opportunities in

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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Rockford, IL Permit No. 389

Alumni Office 5050 E. State St. Rockford, IL 61108 phone: 815-226-3370 fax: 815-226-4081 www.rockford.edu

Study Buddies – moved to fall semester Each year, the Alumni Office organizes the Study Buddy program for current students. This program allows parents and alumni to send care packages filled with treats to students as they prepare for finals.

In the past, this program has been offered in the spring semester.

This year, the program will be offered in the fall instead.

Study Buddies are now available! Finals can be a stressful time for students, many of whom may be taking finals for the first time.

Help ease their stress by sending a care package! You may send a package to a specific student or to a student in a particular major or year of school (for example, a first-year international student or a junior Chemistry major, etc.).

Study Buddies are $25 each and include the following goodies: chocolates, candy, cheese & crackers, trail mix, popcorn, granola bars, hot chocolate, apple cider, fresh-baked brownies, potato chips, fresh-baked cookies, pudding cups, fresh Rice Krispie© treats, juice boxes, RC pen & notepad, sugarless gum, energy drink, and Post-It notes.

Study Buddies will be delivered to students December 5–7, 2012.

Orders must be completed by November 26. To order, please call 815.394.5111 or visit www.rockford.edu/event/studybuddy.

Join us – Chicago Shopping bus trip!

Charter buses are reserved for Rockford College alumni, parents and friends to depart from Parking Lot A at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 2. Drop-off and pick-up (6:00 p.m.) in Chicago are at the corner of Superior and Rush. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Join us for this great day in Chicago! Shop with friends, visit the museums, or see a show! The opportunities are endless.

For more information, or to register, call 815.394.5111 or visit www.rockford.edu/event/ChicagoShopping2012.

Save the Date!

Before the bustle of the holiday season kicks in…

Rockford Alumni Gathering Tuesday, November 27, 2012 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center (Alumnus-owned) For more information, visit www.rockford.edu/event/AlumniGatheringRockford2012

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