Bradley Hilltopics - Spring 2012 by Bradley University

Bradley University Spring 2012 bradley.edu/hilltopics

After Scrubs, he keeps us laughing in The Middle. p. 16

president’s prelude

Before the hartmann center for the Performing Arts opened

Duane Zehr

in 1979 in the renovated Hewitt Hall, theater students took the stage in Bradley Hall in what was then called Neumiller Chapel. Later they performed at the Carousel Playhouse, a former hardware store near University and Main, and occasionally in the Student Center Ballroom. The cover of this edition of Bradley Hilltopics highlights one of the biggest stars to get started in our theater program: NEIL FLYNN ’82. For the last 11 years, Neil has come into millions of homes every week through two of the most popular comedies on television, Scrubs and The Middle. Neil “broke through,” as have so many other Bradley alumni who came to the Hilltop with a love for acting. Through the years — from Neumiller Chapel to the Carousel Playhouse to the Hartmann Center — the University has had successful theater alumni. Here are just a few of them: CAL GIBSON ’68 is a well-known character actor and comedian in Los Angeles who has had roles in popular television shows such as Castle, Murphy Brown, Barney Miller and Sanford and Son. His movie credits include Scrooged with Bill Murray and Best Men with Drew Barrymore, and he toured the country for 15 years as Waylon Jennings’ opening act. Besides performing, President Glasser poses with BRIAN ZINDA ’12, SARAH TILFORD ’12, and JULIAN STROOP ’12, from The Tempest, one of a trio of Shakespearean he is a teacher and acting coach at The Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop plays Bradley’s theatre department collaborated on with Western in L.A. Illinois University and Loyola University in February. Visit bradley. AMRO SALAMA ’93 came to Bradley as a civil engineering major, but he edu/hilltopics/go/fest for more information on the “theater exchange” called the 3U SHAK3SFEST. found his heart on the stage. He’s had roles on television — Modern Family, Third Watch, Law & Order — and films, including The Siege with Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis. Amro continues to perform and also serves as an acting and audition coach to other aspiring actors in Los Angeles. ERIC PETERSEN ’03 is our latest Bradley star, playing Shrek in Shrek the Musical during its 13-month national run that concluded last summer. Recently, Eric appeared on Modern Family and is shooting a guest-starring role on Jessie for the Disney Channel. Eric also was part of the national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and was in Shrek the Musical on Broadway. Coincidentally, Eric played George Gibbs in Our Town at Bradley, the same role played by Neil Flynn 19 years earlier. It is a small Bradley world! FLORENCE ANN ROMANO ’08 is just getting started in the business, but she has an extensive resume. Her credits include Ghosts and The Laramie Project on stage, television pilots, and a feature film, Officer Down, that is slated for release. She recently joined a new Chicago theater company and has been cast in Six Degrees of Separation. These impressive alumni have left a legacy that continues. The Department of Theatre Arts has a national reputation for creativity, innovation and imagination. In 2008 the department received the Internet2 IDEA Award for The Adding Machine, and the ORION Learning Award of Merit for Alice (Experiments) in Wonderland. The plays were produced simultaneously in Canada, Florida and Peoria. This semester the department’s outstanding season was equally ambitious. (See photo above). As always, I invite you to visit campus to experience the progress we are making on the Hilltop in Theatre Arts and every other academic discipline. I remain humbled to serve our beloved University.

Warm regards,

Spring 2012

Volume 18 Issue 2

Romney campaigns on eve of primary

Bradley’s chapter of College Republicans arranged for a campus visit by Mitt Romney (shown with U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK ’02 and KATIE CHILDS ’12).

Neil Flynn ’82 keeps us laughing

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With starring roles in The Middle and Scrubs, NEIL FLYNN ’82 just might be Bradley’s funniest alumnus. And to think, it all started on the Hilltop.

What counts at work

Dr. Jennifer Robin shares what really matters in a great workplace. Hint: It’s not just about money.

Lydia’s home on the bluff

Bradley professors now reside in the Moss Avenue home of founder Lydia Moss Bradley. Plus, her lovely cranberry glass dishes have been gifted to the University.

Departments ViewPoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 InMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 aBC / Diana Koenigsberg

NoteBook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 AlumniNews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SportScene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 CampusView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 ClassNotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Web Extras The stories don’t stop here. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/extras for more articles, as well as pictures and videos from this issue. Follow Bradley Hilltopics magazine and other Bradley University accounts on your favorite social media sites: bradley.edu/socialmedia.

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Staff

Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/lydiathrowback to view a larger version of this historical photo of Lydia placed in the modern context of her home.

Karen Crowley Metzinger, MA ’97 ABBY WILSON pfeiffer ’10 executive editor editorial assistant Gayle Erwin mcdowell ’77 sarah dukes associate editor art director bob grimson ’81 Duane Zehr assistant editor university photographer

Student Staff Assistants sarah hallstein ’12, hannah antonacci ’12

Administration joanne K. Glasser president

shelley epstein associate vice president for university communications

On the cover: NEIL FLYNN ’82 takes a break on the set of The Middle, now in its third season. Prior to the ABC sitcom, Neil co-starred as the janitor in Scrubs for eight seasons. Photo by Phil Channing.

ViewPoint Send your letters & email

More on the Appalachian Trail After reading about the hike JIM DODGE ’71 MEA ’76 took through the Appalachian Trail (Fall 2011), I thought I would share my AT back-packing adventures. After I retired from nursing in 2003, I started hiking sections of the AT beginning at Springer Mountain. Since then, I have hiked and backpacked approximately 400 miles of the trail. I have hiked in our beautiful national parks but still prefer to head out on the iconic AT. I taught nursing at Bradley for a number of years, and my husband Peter was department chair in speech pathology and audiology. I could not complete my hiking quests without the love and support of Peter, who is my way-pointer, dropper-offer, picker-upper, and, at times, bailer-outer. My advice? Hike while you are young. REGINA PAYNE, MA ’73

Walker, La.

I enjoyed the article in the fall issue about hiking the Appalachian Trail. My wife is an avid AT hiker and has been out five times to hike short segments. In May 2010, when I was 74 years old, I rode my motorcycle from the southern end of the AT in northeast Georgia at Amicalola Falls State Park to the northern end of the AT in northern Maine in six days and three hours. This time compares to six months walking the Appalachian Trail by JIM DODGE ’71 MEA ’76, the author of your article. In 2007 I rode this same motorcycle to Alaska alone when I was 71. I chronicled the trip at bobsmotorcyclingnotes.com. BOB FISCHER, MSME ’65

Powell, Ohio My Appalachian Trail experience in 2005 only relates to the climbing of Mt. Katahdin, which is a very short part of the trail, but for me it proved a real challenge. Our group was on a weeklong canoe trip on the Allagash River in Maine. I thought that my marathon training would let me jog up this mountain. After all, it was only about a mile high, and a marathon is 26.2 miles. We started mid-morning and made it to the top. I was keeping up pretty well. We had lunch, a short rest, and started down. At that point, my fear of heights and my 65-year-old body started to take their toll. Fortunately, one of the college students stayed with me as we got farther and farther behind. We ran out of food and water, and the cell phone died. The others finished way

before sundown, but we finished the climb more than an hour after dark. The trail was marked with rocks painted red, which we could not see after dark. I had visions of coming down in New Hampshire instead of Maine! It was great to see those flashlights at the bottom of the mountain. JOHN BROWN ’62

Arlington Heights, Ill.

Reflecting on Bradley bonds This year marks 20 years since my Bradley graduation, and I have been reflecting. My BU experience remains one of the most important influences of my life. Not only were my 4½ years on the Hilltop memorable, but also the friendships forged have held strong. I had never heard of Bradley when I started researching colleges, but choosing Bradley remains one of the best decisions I ever made. Ironically, one of the main reasons I decided on Bradley was during a campus visit when I saw guys throwing around a football in the quad and I thought to myself, “This is college.’’ Still waiting for my first BU football game, though. I never thought I would join a fraternity, but Phi Kappa Tau* provided me with bonds and life experiences from which I continue to learn and grow. I established lifelong friendships at Bradley, the likes of which I do not have from anywhere else. I make an effort to see my friends from Bradley at least once a year. I have attended weddings on both coasts and everywhere in between. With fellow BU alums, I have seen the Braves play basketball in at least 10 different

Bradley is a private, independent university in Peoria, Illinois, offering 6,000 students the choice of more than 100 academic programs. Bradley links academic excellence, experiential learning and leadership development with an entrepreneurial spirit for a world-class education. Our size provides students extensive resources not available at most private colleges and the personal attention not commonly found at large universities. © Bradley University 2012 Bradley Hilltopics is published in winter, spring, summer, and fall by Bradley University for alumni, faculty, staff, parents of students, and other friends of the University. Send letters and address changes to: Hilltopics, Bradley University, 1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625. 309-677-2249 fax 309-677-4055 e-mail: hilltopics@bradley.edu website: bradley.edu/hilltopics campus information: 309-676-7611 Bradley University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities for all persons regardless of age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The University also is committed to compliance with all applicable laws regarding non-discrimination, harassment, and affirmative action. Bradley Hilltopics reserves the right to edit all letters to the editor based on length and content.

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Campus tours with iPads We found an article referencing the Winter 2012 Hilltopics story about the use of iPads for Admissions tours in our local newspaper, The Island Packet. Just goes to show that fresh and original ideas are a product of Bradley University. CARL A. READ ’50

Bluffton, S.C.

An engineer’s perspective arenas, including the memorable Sweet 16 run at Auburn Hills in 2006. The Missouri Valley Conference tournament is a yearly gathering when we always rehash our Bradley stories. I have made more friends through the Bradley University Alumni Association. Nothing would make me prouder than if one of my two children attended BU. Few things remain constant in our lives. We all seem to have less time as life provides additional joys and challenges. One thing that has remained unbroken is that my Bradley bonds are as strong as they were back in 1992 when I was still determining the course of my life. I am always proud to tell people that I am a Bradley Brave. Go BU!

My family and I were in town to visit Bradley and attend a reunion of Sigma Phi Delta engineering fraternity recently. It was very good to see my brothers from so long ago. It has been 10 years since I was last in Peoria to visit friends and show my boys the Bradley campus. The fraternity held a road rally that routed us around the city. I was very impressed to see all of the hard work that has been done to improve the standard of living of Peoria’s citizens and taxpayers. I was glad to see the improvements in public works and public spaces. I am proud of the people of the Peoria area and all that they have accomplished.

ANDREI JUNGE ’92

Kingwood, Texas

Fox Point, Wis. * Editor’s note: Phi Kappa Tau celebrates

50 years on campus this year.

RANDALL E. SIEMON ’79

61 years later My granddaughter Maria is a freshman at Bradley, and we enjoyed the 2011 Homecoming activities. When we toured the campus, I

explained the many changes to my granddaughter and our family. During my undergraduate days, I resided on Bradley Avenue directly across from the Library. My last visit to the campus was our 40th class reunion in 1990. My former residence is now a University building. Time changes everything, but I’m impressed with the wonderful additions made to the University. I can understand why my granddaughter is so thrilled being a student. I enjoy the articles in Bradley Hilltopics. Keep up the good work. JOHN J. BATES ’50

Joliet, Ill.

Family history My sister and I enjoyed the excellent article about our family ancestors (“Lynch Family History Mirrors Bradley’s”) in the Winter issue of Bradley Hilltopics. We can’t believe that our mom, FRAN LYNCH RECTOR ’39, could remember all of it in so much detail. We learned some things about our family that we didn’t know. Mom truly enjoyed helping with the research. Years ago, the plan was that when it was time for me to go to college I would go to Bradley and live with my grandmother, HAZEL COOPER LYNCH, 1912. She passed away long before it was time for college, so I didn’t end up at Bradley. I am a Pi Phi like my mother and grandmother though. Judy Rector Knox

Longview, Texas

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

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Overarching Strategic Goals: I. Enhance educational excellence and value of a Bradley education; II. Enhance Bradley’s living and working environment; III. Enhance Bradley’s operations, endowment, and resource efficiencies to support activities of national distinction.

“Ambitious, assessable, and, above all, bold, the Strategic Plan explodes with progress, lighting our pathway to national distinction and requiring personal commitment from all of us.” Provost David Glassman exudes confidence and enthusiasm about the five-year Strategic Plan the University has embarked on since the Board of Trustees approved the initiative in January. The University Senate strategic planning committee of 20 faculty, staff, and students met for 12 months under the guidance of Glassman, with a goal of being transparent, inclusive, and innovative. Following on the heels of an unprecedented rejuvenation of physical facilities, this Strategic Plan focuses on three overarching initiatives: enhancing educational excellence and the value of a Bradley education; enhancing Bradley’s living and working environment; and enhancing Bradley’s operations, endowment, and resource efficiencies to support activities of national distinction. A key component is to enrich academic progress. Some of the initiatives include conducting a comprehensive review of the general education model; increasing faculty-student collaboration in undergraduate research; creating a School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and completing an in-depth analysis of the Graduate School’s programs, structure, and brand.

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“Our intellectual potential is enormous,” Glassman explains. “Our world-class faculty will continue to create new classes and new majors to meet marketplace demands and to expose our students to fields on the cutting edge. We are concentrating on building our enrollment, while simultaneously increasing our student selectivity to create an even stronger student academic profile. Enhancing our academic excellence reflects on a bigger stage that the value of a Bradley degree is one of great substance.” Glassman acknowledges that ramping up ongoing renovations to Cullom-Davis Library is also a component of academic progress. Plans call for improvements in journal databases, more space for group study, more power outlets, and other needs recognized by a library task force.

Constructing an engineering/ business convergence center Unlike the previous five-year Strategic Plan where dramatic physical changes occurred simultaneously, the administration is focusing on building only one major structure: the engineering/business convergence center. The facility will be home to both the Foster College of Business Administration and the Caterpillar College of Engineering and

Technology, “a model of engineering and business that represents a growing trend in higher education,” Glassman notes. The most ambitious academic facility campaign in Bradley’s history will support a key initiative to facilitate greater collaborative efforts between the two colleges. “Of course, the convergence center will fall in line with our broadening sustainability efforts,” Glassman explains. “We will construct the facility at LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standards and continue to increase our sustainability awareness in all areas across campus.”

Three feasibility studies The Strategic Plan also explores how to enrich student and campus life. A comprehensive review of current residential living facilities is taking place while the University explores the future needs of residence halls. A study to consider improving or replacing the Michel Student Center is also under way. The feasibility of establishing a law school and how it could impact students and the community is being researched. A vital component to the success of the Strategic Plan lies in the University’s ability to engage its 60,000 alumni, and measures are being taken to expand the reach online of Alumni Relations. Visit bradley.edu/ “Although we remain strategicplan to read financially strong with more about Bradley’s an endowment of future plans. more than $230 million,” Glassman says, “we must increase our resources to move this Strategic Plan forward to support our quest for national distinction. We are climbing mountains on the Hilltop.”

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— Karen Crowley Metzinger, MA ’97

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centers’ new directors help navigate health and law careers A dynamic duo arrived on campus last fall to lead Bradley’s two pre-professional centers. Dr. Melinda Maris is the founding director of the Pre-Professional Health Advisory Center, and attorney Nicole Meyer was named director of the Pre-Law Center.

Dr. Melinda Maris With a Ph.D. in genetics and molecular biology from Emory University and a passion for teaching, Maris said, “The opportunity to build a center from scratch in a thoughtful way that would be responsive to what the students and faculty need” outweighed leaving the research program that she had developed in Atlanta. “I love being in the classroom, so having the opportunity to continue to teach made it an easier decision for me,” she said. “This fall, I’ll teach Bio 111. Since I advised 239 students during my first semester here and that number will only grow, teaching one class per year is good enough to keep me in the classroom to get that ‘fix.’” The Washington, D.C., native has three initial priorities: engaging students on the Center’s Facebook community that she continues to build; implementing a bi-weekly e-newsletter informing students about deadlines; and facilitating workshops and guest speakers who help students understand the “inside tips and tricks to the application process and preparing for the MCAT. ” Long-range goals include raising awareness for career paths in public health — from education to policy-making to research — and in health fields outside of pre-med, including physician assistant, dentist, optometrist, veterinarian, podiatrist, and physical and occupational therapy. Another goal is to increase service opportunities to make students more competitive applicants to health professional schools. “The application process is so non-transparent,” Maris stressed. “It’s a full-time job in itself, and students need someone to shepherd them through the system; they need an advocate. I’m looking forward to building relationships with many health professional schools by saying, ‘Look at the rigor of our curriculum. Look at the students we’re producing and the amazing experiential opportunities they take advantage of. Keep an eye out for these applicants.’ Bradley students’ hearts are in the right place, and they have the right motivation for going into this field. We’re going to produce some phenomenal health care practitioners.”

Attorney Nicole Meyer Peoria native Nicole Meyer left a downtown Chicago law firm to mentor students and continue to develop Bradley’s Pre-Law Center. Although the DePaul University Law School

graduate had positive experiences in her practice, she was ready for a new challenge. “This position is just perfect,” she said. “I’m working with young adults, sharing my experiences, helping them navigate classes and internships, and helping them decide what they want to do after they earn their undergraduate degrees. Not many universities employ a full-time director who offers individualized pre-law advising. I can help students determine how to go to law school because it’s a serious commitment — emotionally and financially.” Communication is key to the success of the Center. Her outreach includes Facebook communities for the Center, the Pre-Law Club, and the mock trial class she teaches. She advised about 200 students last semester. Last September, Meyer’s mock trial class began to prepare for several competitions. Teams are critiqued by judges and attorneys, exposing them to many areas of the law. Other experiential learning opportunities involve pairing students with young lawyers in conjunction with the Peoria County Bar Association. “Mentoring students in their undergraduate studies is important,” she added. The Center’s most recent commitment is to Peoria County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates program (CASA). The national program relies on volunteers, and after 30 hours of training, select juniors and seniors are sworn in as officers of the court and as child advocates. “It shows students how they can make a difference in our community while gaining real courtroom experience,” Meyer said. Attorney Maria Vertuno, the inaugural director of the Pre-Law Center in 2009, is now Bradley’s executive director of legal education programs. — Karen Crowley Metzinger, MA ’97 Photography by Duane Zehr

top photo: Dr. Mindy Maris provides one-on-one advising for students considering a host of health-related careers at the new Pre-Professional Health Advisory Center. Lower: Attorney Nicole Meyer offers advising at the Pre-Law Center. The directors invite alums to contact them to volunteer to mentor, present programs, and support the centers.

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online Visit facebook.com/ BradleyPreLawCenter and facebook.com/ BradleyPrehealth to view the Centers’ Facebook pages.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

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his family to Peoria in 1956 to found Bradley’s electrical engineering department; 33 years later, the Brooklyn native retired as dean of the Engineering and Technology College. Along the way were some twists. For almost a decade, Weinberg veered away from engineering to take on the role of founding dean of the College of Communications and Fine Arts.* “Fine arts at Bradley have a great future,” Weinberg remarked when CFA was launched in 1978. “This is only the beginning — the best days are yet to come.” The new College included the divisions of art, music, journalism, speech, and theater. Weinberg’s interest in the arts and his role as “the father of public broadcasting in Peoria” made him a logical candidate to shepherd Bradley’s new College. He had been the driving force behind the creation of WTVP-TV in 1971 and he served as its board president for many years. Weinberg also was responsible for WCBU becoming a fullpower public radio station. Weinberg died on February 2 at age 86. His obituary appears on page 37. * CFA became the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts in 1996.

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Visit bradley.edu/ hilltopics/go/ romneyvisit for more photos and videos.

daryl wilson

PHIL WEINBERG, HON ’73 moved

online

Romney campaigns at Bradley on eve of primary In front of historic Bradley Hall, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke March 19 on the eve of the Illinois primary election. With students just back on campus from Spring Break, the former Massachusetts governor and business executive touted his experience in the private sector. “One reason I’m running is to get people back to work,” Romney said. “Americans are optimistic, innovative, passionate — more can-do. Everyday Americans do extraordinary things.” Speaking in front of a crowd of hundreds of students and area residents, Romney was interrupted by applause several times. He used a series of stories to call for reduced government regulations. In response to an audience question about student debt, the candidate said, “The best thing I can do for student debt is to get you a good job when you get out.” Bradley President Joanne Glasser, U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK ’02, and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney acknowledge the crowd March 19 before Romney spoke in front of Bradley Hall.

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Romney was introduced by U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK ’02, who noted, “We need a man of action — a man who can implement a plan, who has a track record. Mitt Romney is that guy.” Many in the crowd felt the first presidential candidate’s appearance on campus since John Anderson on March 11, 1980, was a plus for the University. “It’s significant the night before the primary election that he came here at the request of a Bradley alumnus,” remarked SHARON McBRIDE ’60, MA ’87, a retired student adviser in the College of Engineering and Technology. She cited the work by Schock and the Bradley University College Republicans in bringing Romney to campus.

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Weinberg left mark on Bradley and Peoria

Ukraine welcomes Fulbright Scholar

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Hailing from a family of educators, Dr. JENNY TRIPSES ’73 decided to take her teaching skills in a different direction than others in her family. She traveled to Ukraine to teach contemporary U.S. instructional practices and promote school leadership at Vinnytsia Teacher Training University this semester. The associate professor in the Department of Leadership in Education, Human Services, and Counseling is one of 10 current Fulbright Scholars on Bradley’s faculty. About 800 U.S. faculty and professionals are teaching worldwide through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program this year. Following a lengthy wait for her teaching visa, Tripses left in midFebruary for Ukraine, a country that sits south and west of Russia on the ABOVE: Dr. JENNY TRIPSES ’73, a 39-year educator, is a 2012 Fulbright Scholar spending Black Sea. Vinnytsia, which translates the spring semester teaching in Ukraine. to “vineyard,” is set in an agricultural area, with a population of more than 350,000. The Institute of Foreign Languages, where Tripses is teaching English classes, has an enrollment of 600 students. Besides English, students Fulbright encourages its teachers to conduct an American can study German and Russian. Tripses said students Night or establish an American Club. She had conducted and teachers at the school are eager to communicate a Russian Club, so it gave me an idea of what I’d like my with a native English speaker. club to look like.” Since the university does not have a leadership Tripses credits Bradley professors Dr. Nancy Sherman preparation program, Tripses is teaching leadership and Dr. Christopher Rybak with planting the seed of interest strategies to undergraduate and graduate students, in applying for a Fulbright. Both as well. She teaches through the end of April when are two-time Fulbright Scholars. online all university programs must be finished. In May, Tripses plans to explore Visit bradley.edu/ “I don’t follow sports,” Tripses noted, “but Poland hilltopics/go/ Eastern Europe with a few family tripses to read and Ukraine are co-sponsoring the 2012 European soccer Dr. Jenny Tripses’ members and friends. She feels championships in June, and the Ministry of Education weekly blogs and an obligation to share the unique decreed classes be finalized in April to allow students view her photos. opportunities her Fulbright offers in both countries to work on the tournament.” and noted in her initial blog post, Although the Russian language has presented the “Normal everyday activities are organized differently than Missouri native with challenges, she has learned the Cyrillic in the U.S., but in ways that are sensible. Everyone waits alphabet, can sound out words, and believes in the power his or her turn. We’re enjoying the Ukrainian sights, people, of total immersion. “I had a great experience in my Russian food, and atmosphere. So far, very good.” language class at Illinois Central College,” Tripses said. “Our — Karen Crowley Metzinger, MA ’97 teacher, Anastasia Devapriya Chernetskaya, was a young

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Visit bradley.edu/ bradleyworks to read more about the Fulbright scholars listed below, along with recent research, publications, performances, and exhibitions by faculty in Bradley Works. Fulbright Scholars on campus Dr. Charles Bukowski ’77,

1994, University of Ljubljana in Slovenia Dr. Jeanie Bukowski ’86,

2006–07, Spain Dr. Timothy Conley,

1991–92, 1995–96, Austria; 2004, BosniaHerzegovina Dr. Jean Marie Grant, 1997,

China Dr. Mitch Griffin, 1997–98,

Russia Dr. Christos Nikolopoulos,

1994, Malta Dr. Matt O’Brien, 2011,

Japan Dr. Christopher Rybak,

2002–03, India; 2009, Nepal Dr. Nancy E. Sherman,

2001–02, Latvia; 2008, Romania Dr. Jenny Tripses ’73, 2012,

Ukraine

Fulbright student, so I picked up a lot of ideas from her.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

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Bradley news, views & updates

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Westlake construction winding down 1 New clock faces were installed last December in Westlake Hall’s iconic tower. From left, JAKE McCOY ’08, ’13; CODY GERDES ’06; Bill Brown; and Kent Grigsby prepare the new clock faces. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/clocktower to view a video of the clocktower installation. 2 After the installation, the new, brighter clock faces and the new copper dome replicate the original dome, which was removed during the early stages of work on the century-old building. Exterior work, such as sidewalks connecting with the quad, is ongoing, helped by mild winter and spring weather. Workers soon will begin the new Glenwood Avenue extension, which will connect with the cul-de-sac by the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. 3 Interior work continued on ceiling tiles, flooring, painting, cabinetry, and doors. Custom wood planking is being installed on the auditorium walls and the main corridors of the addition. The atrium, shown above, features a unique handrail system. Furniture and equipment will be moved into the building in May. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/westlakeinterior to see more construction photos.

— Photography by Duane Zehr

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pointofpride Accounting for success

Graduates look ahead Jobs were a major topic of Thomas J. Donohue’s address at the midyear commencement on December 17, 2011. Some of the statistics offered by the president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce were more positive than others. “Our nation needs to create about 20 million jobs over the next 10 years,” he said. Donohue added that 10,000 people retire every day, and he encouraged new Bradley graduates by saying, “You’ve got a statistic on your side. Over 95 percent of Americans who have college degrees are online currently employed.” Visit bradley.edu/ Donohue, who was awarded hilltopics/go/ a Doctor of Humane Letters degree decgrad2011 for more information at the ceremony, suggested that and videos. graduates take a risk every once in a while. “Don’t buy into the cynicism about America. Don’t waste a minute of your time questioning the opportunities that lie ahead and the ability of America to reclaim its greatness. I wouldn’t trade our strengths for any other country in the world,” he remarked

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to the crowd at the Renaissance Coliseum. “We are counting on your generation to renew the promise of the American Dream — to claim it for yourselves and to build on it for future generations.” Officially, 246 degrees were awarded in December, as well as 86 master’s degrees. The graduate commencement ceremony, held on December 14 at the Markin Center on campus, featured GARY ROBERTS ’70 as keynote speaker. Roberts is dean of Indiana University’s law school in Indianapolis and is the on-air legal analyst for the NFL Network. A member of Bradley’s championship GE College Bowl team in 1969, the Stanford Law School graduate praised BU for being “as good as they come.” He stressed the need for good leaders, and asked graduates to always be empathetic. “Put yourselves in other people’s shoes,” advised Roberts, who previously taught at Tulane University’s law school.

Bradley’s accounting students are near the top of the class with the second-highest passing rate for first-time Certified Public Accountant candidates among four-year schools in the state, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. BU’s rate of 69.6 percent was well above the national average of 53 percent and was just a fraction of a percentage off the leading school, the University of Illinois, Chicago. Twenty-eight Illinois schools were included in the report. “We consistently have above-average pass rates.” said accounting professor Dr. Simon Petravick. “For many positions in accounting, the certification is required. It gives you eligibility for promotion beyond entrylevel positions.” Students must pass the exam’s four parts, covering auditing, financial accounting and reporting, taxes, and business environment and concepts. Tests can be taken in any order at any time, and they take about 14 hours to complete, according to Petravick. “It’s a big benefit for an accountant to pass this exam,” he said, adding that Bradley has a near 100 percent job placement rate for accounting graduates.

— Gayle Erwin McDowell ’77 Photography by Daryl Wilson

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global game jam comes to campus

Lincoln laureate

A group of game enthusiasts gathered January 27 in the Caterpillar Global Communications Center to conquer the challenge of creating an original game within 48 hours. This was the fourth year of the international contest known as the Global Game Jam, and the first year for the event on Bradley’s campus. More than 10,000 people around the world met at 5 p.m. local time for the announcement of the secret theme, and then had exactly 48 hours to complete and submit their game electronically. Six Bradley students and two alumni worked on various aspects of the game, including idea formation, coding, graphic design, and sound. Dr. Monica McGill, assistant professor in the Department of Interactive Media and the event’s organizer on campus, believes the Jam was a good opportunity for students to work on their skills outside the classroom, as well as a fantastic ROB BRAUN ’12, MARIAH DONNER ’14, and NICOLE WERLING ’13 review the game resume booster. “The gaming industry is highly they created during a 48-hour international competition in January. Their competitive, so anything that students do to teammates were ANDREW HOWELL ’12, MIKE SCHMIDT ’12, JULIE MOHEDANO ’13, distinguish themselves is absolutely necessary,” and alumni JES SCHROEDER ’11 and SHAUN GREINER ’09. she said. After surviving the weekend with minimal sleep in the form of naps on couches in interactive media studio classrooms, Bradley’s group created actions. Visit games.bradley.edu for more information on a game called Cyclic. In the game, players start as cavemen game design and development courses at Bradley. and then move back and forth in time depending on their — Sarah Hallstein ’12

KATHLEEN CLEMENS ’12 received the

Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award in Springfield last November. The academy selects a recipient from each of the four-year, degree-granting institutions in Illinois for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. Clemens has been active on campus as a resident adviser, a member of the LINCS senior leadership group, and as director of Panhellenic recruitment. As the 2011 recipient from Bradley, the English and secondary education major received a medallion, honorarium check, and a certificate of achievement.

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pointofpride

Prestigious Navy path for May grad

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BRYCE RANDALL ’12 was one of 15 students nationwide to be accepted into the U.S. Navy’s

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Naval Reactors Engineer program. After graduating in May with his mechanical engineering degree, he will attend Officer Development School in Newport, Rhode Island, before being commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. Randall will then move to Naval Reactors headquarters in Washington, D.C., for a five-year position, where he will help approve, confirm, and plan the design, operations, and maintenance of more than 100 nuclear reactors. He also will receive graduate-level education in nuclear engineering at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pittsburgh. The Groveland native was selected after a rigorous application process that ended in a round of technical interviews with senior engineers at the Naval Reactors headquarters and a final interview with Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. “I’m excited to serve my country using my degree,” Randall said. “I can’t think of a more exciting field to work in as an engineer.” Randall’s father, Dr. Kevin Randall, is assistant professor of family and consumer sciences and director of the C.C. Wheeler Institute at Bradley. — Abby Wilson Pfeiffer ’10

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Bradley’s got game Bradley earned an honorable mention in The Princeton Review’s third annual list of the best undergraduate schools for studying video game design. Fifty schools in the United States and Canada were recognized in March for their game design education programs. Rankings were based on a survey of 150 institutions online offering game design coursework Visit games. or degrees. Topics in the survey bradley.edu for more information. included curriculum quality, faculty, infrastructure, and facilities. Also considered was information on scholarships, financial aid, and career opportunities. “Our program provides students a unique learning experience working across disciplines to advance their knowledge and skills,” said Bradley President Joanne Glasser. “This program prepares students to meet the challenges ahead and succeed in the workplace.” Bradley’s interdisciplinary program started in 2010 and will have its first graduates this year. Students focus on both programming and game design, learning terminology and

methods for both disciplines. They are prepared to use the technology not only in game design but in other fields such as medical simulation and manufacturing. “What makes Bradley stand out is our interdisciplinary approach between the computer science and interactive media programs. Computer science is programming intensive and interactive media is design intensive,” said Steve Dolins, chairman of the computer science and information systems department. The Princeton Review, a leading educational services company, ranked the University of Southern California tops for both undergraduate and graduate programs. DePaul University and Columbia College were the only other Illinois schools honored. — Bob Grimson ’81

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ABOVE: JESSICA MARDER ’13, NICK TROMPETER ’12, and ANSON GOODE ’14 try out the game “Squirrelologist: Playing with Squirrels.” It was

Honoring Peace Corps volunteer posthumously BLYTHE O’SULLIVAN ’04, who died in December 2007 while serving in the Peace Corps in Suriname, South America, has been honored with the renaming of Bradley’s Lab Theatre in Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts. O’Sullivan was a business and marketing major but also loved theater. She was active in the department and served on the executive board of the Alpha Psi Omega theatre honor society. The Blythe O’Sullivan Studio Theatre, a gift from her parents John and Joan O’Sullivan, is being transformed into an open studio that can be used for practice and performance. So far, the renovations include the installation of a doublethick wall that serves as a sound block, re-leveling the floor, and the additions of a new lighting lab and storage areas.

The FIRST Robotics Competition, sponsored by Caterpillar Inc., had its area kickoff event on January 7 at the Renaissance Coliseum. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an annual challenge where teams build a working robot. After six weeks of work, teams compete to advance to the championship in St. Louis. Shown are Tremont High School’s Roboteers, from left, MATT DRAEAR ’13, lead mentor; Katee Murphy; Luke Vetroczky; Dilan Berchtold; and Grace Johnson. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/FIRST for more information. Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

SportScene pointofpride

Gaul with LA Galaxy

JOSH KOEBERT ’12, left, and ZACH KEESEE ’12 had a super time in Indianapolis the first week in February. The sports communication majors got a close-up view of the media frenzy around Super Bowl XLVI as interns for NBC/Universal, assisting NBC Sports with coverage of one of the biggest media attractions in the world. “We clipped articles, which means we searched the Web for items mentioning NBC, its coverage of the Super Bowl, or its on-air talent,” Keesee said, explaining that their reports were sent to NBC executives. “We dealt a little with talent coordination (getting the on-air personalities where they were supposed to be) and transcribing NBC Sports programming,” Koebert added. The internships were arranged by Dr. Paul Gullifor, chairman of the communication department. The students stayed with a local family and worked out of a hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Workdays stretched from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with his Super Bowl Sunday shift lasting into the early morning, Koebert said. That left some time for seeing the sights, some of which were literally across the hall or around the corner.

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“One of the coolest parts was that the NFL Network had the room across the hall from us, so random players and celebrities were always in the hallway and popped in to our room occasionally,” Koebert said. He added that Radio Row, where shows from around the country originated that week, was also there and provided additional chances to see celebrities. Rubbing shoulders with people like commentators Dan Patrick and Mike Florio, coach-turned-broadcaster Tony Dungy, and top-ranking NBC Sports executives highlighted the pair’s weeklong stay. Plus, there were other memories. “As a Bears fan, I got my picture taken with Mike Ditka before work started one morning,” recalled Keesee, who interned for NASCAR at the Chicagoland Speedway Geico 400 last year and is one of 10 Bradley students who will intern for NBC at the 2012 London Olympics. Koebert and Keesee also said they thought the game’s final result was expected. “I had a feeling New York was going to pull it out all week,” Koebert said. — Bob Grimson ’81 Photography by Duane Zehr

a first for bu tennis

daryl wilson

Former Bradley soccer star BRYAN GAUL ’12 gained a spot on the roster of the defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy for the 2012 season. He was drafted by the Major League Soccer team in the first round of the league’s supplemental draft in January. Gaul, a three-time All-Missouri Valley selection, led the Braves to consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament. The Naperville native shared the MVC regular-season scoring lead in 2010 and tied for second in the conference in goals and points in 2011. The 6-foot-5 left-footer ended his BU career fifth in scoring, tied for fourth in goals, and second in career game-winning goals. Gaul is the eighth Bradley player drafted by an MLS team and the fourth Bradley player taken by the Galaxy. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/soccerpros for a complete list, and bradley. edu/hilltopics/go/gaul for coach Jim DeRose’s thoughts on Gaul’s experience.

a super time for bradley interns

ARTHUR ROMANET ’14 became the first Bradley player ever to win a singles-flight title January 22 at the State Farm MVC Individual Championships in Des Moines. He rallied for a 3-set victory and the Flight 7 crown over Kester Black of Wichita State, winning the third set in a tiebreaker. Romanet, an economics major from Barcelona, Spain, is the team’s co-captain. “We can achieve great things, but we need to believe in ourselves,” said Romanet, adding he hoped it was a start for continued success for the Bradley tennis squad. At the same event, ERIC NGUYEN ’13 lost his Flight 6 title match to Jonathan Hadas of Drake 6-3, 6-3. “Winning the conference at the No. 7 position definitely sets the tone for our season,” said their coach, Jesse Plote. At the conference meet, the Braves finished with a 13-12 singles record, playing without No. 1 player Gabriel Townes, who was out with an injury. In doubles competition, Bradley finished 3-6. — Bob Grimson ’81

Bradley has reinstated its men’s outdoor track team for the 2012 season, focusing on middle and distance events and using the same athletes and coaches as the men’s cross country program. “The whole idea stems out of the University’s commitment for our student-athletes to be successful,” said coach Marc Burns (pictured above, back row, at left). He added that the year-round opportunity to train and compete will aid in recruiting and also benefit the cross country program. “Success builds on success.” This season features four to six outdoor meets, including the Missouri Valley Conference championships. “The experience gained from competing at a championship-level meet is unparalleled,” Burns said. “You can’t mimic that kind of atmosphere. I’m really excited our kids are going to have that opportunity.”

He said initially there would be 15 to 20 members on the squad, and they would concentrate on the middle- and distance-running events, from 800 meters up to 10,000 meters. “We have everything we need to develop a cross country runner and the 800 on up on the track,” Burns said. Bradley had a men’s track team from 1900 until it was disbanded after the 1992 season. The school’s first Olympic medalist was track athlete Charles Lambert “Pat” Redd ’34, at right, who won a silver medal in the broad jump at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Bradley now has seven men’s intercollegiate sports and eight women’s sports. — Bob Grimson ’81

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men’s track is back

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online Visit bradley.edu/ hilltopics/go/patredd to read more about Pat Redd and his Olympic silver medal.

broken record in florida

daryl wilson

THEA HEDEMANN ’15 had a record day February 20 at the Lady Moc Classic at Lakeland, Florida. Hedemann shot a school- and tournament-record 68, four-under-par for the course at the Club at Eaglebrooke. Fellow Canadian and teammate KELLY AMUNDRUD ’12 finished the 54-hole tournament tied at 225, six shots off the lead at the team’s spring opener. Hedemann’s record broke the previous record by a stroke. That was held by BARI ERAIS ’09, MEGHAN LeBLANC ’06, and KELLY DILLON ’02. Hedemann and Amundrud shared Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week honors for their play at the tournament.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

SportScene

Highlights from Snell’s first 1,000 games: • The 1982 NIT champion• The longest men’s ship against Purdue at basketball game (seven Madison Square Garden overtimes) in NCAA history against • Two MVC Tournament Cincinnati in 1981 titles • The final men’s basketball • Five regular-season game at Robertson Field MVC titles House and the first • In the 1985–86 season, at Carver Arena at the the best single-season Peoria Civic Center record (32-3) by a Bradley • The longest gamebasketball team winning shot in college • The last undefeated basketball postseason (16-0) MVC regularhistory, a 75-footer at the season champion, buzzer by CHRIS ROBERTS also in 1985–86 ’10 to beat Oakland in the 2009 CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

Heidi Wegmueller was named Bradley’s assistant athletic director for external affairs in December. With more than eight years of experience at the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America, Wegmueller is focusing on corporate sales, branding, marketing/promotions, and generating revenue for the Bradley athletic department. “Bradley is a tremendous institution with so many assets and opportunities to reach out to local and national partners to support men’s and women’s sports,” Wegmueller said. “One of my goals is to give Bradley that recognition across the nation. ” At the PGA, she was a senior account executive managing corporate partners including American Express, Mercedes-Benz, National Car Rental, and Rolex. A high school athlete in golf and tennis and confessed “big basketball fan,” Wegmueller earned her bachelor’s degree in sports management and communication from the University of Michigan in 2003 and a master’s in international mass communications from Lynn University in 2006.

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New assistant AD

BRADLEY’S MR. CONSISTENT Just as he has since November 30, 1979, DAVE SNELL ’76 called a Bradley basketball game on January 7. But this was not an ordinary game at Carver Arena for the University’s assistant director of athletics communications, even as the Braves played well and battled back in a 92-83 loss to 24th-ranked Creighton. This marked Snell’s 1,000th Bradley basketball game behind the microphone for 1470 WMBD Radio. Since starting as the Voice of the Braves in a game against second-ranked Kentucky at the Great Alaska Shootout, Snell, a member of the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame, has seen 555 wins and 445 losses in his first 1,000 games.

He’s also seen a slew of Bradley highlights, including the final men’s basketball game at Robertson Memorial Field House in 1993, and is the only broadcaster to call the championship game of three different postseason college basketball tournaments. At the 1,000th game, the Dave Snell Endowed Scholarship was announced. To honor Snell with a gift, contact Bradley’s Office of Advancement, 309-677-3159 or donate online at campaign.bradley.edu/ssl/gift and designate Snell Scholarship. — Bob Grimson ’81

chet “the jet” flies high CHET WALKER ’62 will be inducted September 7 into the Naismith Memorial

Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Walker, nicknamed “The Jet,” was an All-American his three varsity seasons and a consensus pick in 1961–62. A member of the Bradley Team of the Century, he ranks among the school’s leaders in scoring and rebounds. He went on to be a seven-time All-Star in 13 NBA seasons. Walker lives in Los Angeles.

tourney time for women’s basketball Bradley got chilled in Minnesota on March 18, ending the season with an 85-59 loss to the Golden Gophers in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. The Braves ended with an 18-16 overall record, 7-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Earlier, Bradley had its strength in reserve to fight back from a 20-point deficit and overcome visiting Tennessee Tech 74-71 in the opening round of the WBI on March 14. Played at the Renaissance Coliseum, it was the first postseason game on campus in program history and the second time in three years that Bradley played in the postseason. The Bradley bench scored 40 of the team’s 50 secondhalf points against Tennessee Tech. LATASHA HOLLINGSHED ’12 matched a career high with 21 points. Also in March, Bradley had five players score in double figures in an 85-67 victory over Southern Illinois in the opening round of the MVC Tournament. In a seesaw battle that saw eight lead changes and 10 ties, the Braves lost to Missouri State 58-54.

Oh, what a night Three months earlier, December 17 was a memorable night for the team and its coach. The Braves beat Iowa 96-88 for coach Paula Buscher’s 200th career victory. It’s her 12th season at Bradley, making her the longest-serving coach in the program’s history. She also has been a collegiate head coach at Minnesota State, Mankato, and the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Along with the milestone victory: • It was the Braves’ first home victory over an opponent from the Big Ten Conference since December 3, 1999. • KELSEY BUDD ’14 became the first Bradley women’s player to score 30 points in a game since January 2007. • The 1,506 fans broke the attendance record for a women’s basketball game at the Renaissance Coliseum. “It was one of those memory moments. We had a great crowd and Kelsey just had a night,” Buscher said. — Bob Grimson ’81

ford reflects on first bradley season To head basketball coach Geno Ford, resilient is an apt description for this year’s men’s team. “Typically, when you see a team lose as often as we did, by February they quit. Our guys did not quit,” said Ford about the 2011–12 Braves, who finished 7-25 overall and 2-16 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The coach said progress and process also were important words. “The whole year, that’s what it’s been about,” he said. “We did make progress. It would be great if it was a light switch you could have someone go and flip. I’m not scared off by one bad season. It’s part of the evolution of a program.” Ford saw positives, in spite of the school record for losses in one season and in the MVC. He cited a lack of off-court distractions and issues, the team’s competitiveness, and getting players to understand the physical commitment at the college level. Classroom success also was a plus. Ford noted the team had the highest grade point average in school history.

ABOVE left: Bradley head coach Paula Buscher talks to her players during the 74-71 victory over Tennessee Tech in the opening round of the WBI in March. RIGHT: KELSEY BUDD ’14 goes up for a shot against Iowa in Bradley’s 96-88 victory in December 2011. She was the first Bradley women’s player to score 30 points or more in a game since January 2007.

“We had two MVC first-team, all-academic selections,” said Ford, citing WALT LEMON JR. ’14 and CHARONN WOODS ’12, along with second-team choice JAKE EASTMAN ’13. “We had more academic honors out of our team than any other school in the conference.” He said improvement means not only bringing in new players but getting consistent performance by veterans. “Consistency is more important than occasional greatness,” said Ford. With two recruits to the program, Ford said he intends to continue recruiting through the spring. Ka’Darryl Bell, who played at Oak Park-River Forest High School in suburban Chicago, and Tyshon Pickett from Dodge City Community College in Kansas are the new Bradley recruits for 2012–13. “They’re going to help us immediately with our competitiveness,” said Ford. Despite the losing record, Ford noted more than 10,000 fans attended the team’s final game against rival Illinois State. “There is tremendous support and complete love for our team. It is appreciated; it doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said. “We will be working to get the program back to where everyone would like to see it.” — Bob Grimson ’81

mvc honors for bradley pair TAYLOR BROWN ’12 was

named honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference. Also honored by the league was WALT LEMON JR. ’14 on the Most-Improved Team. The All-MVC team is selected by head coaches, sports information directors, sportswriters, and announcers. The Most-Improved squad is chosen by sportswriters. Brown tied for sixth in scoring in the conference and was ninth in rebounding before injuring a wrist early in February and missing the final three games with a partially torn ligament in his foot. Lemon was Bradley’s second-leading scorer this season. He led the team in steals and was second in assists.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

From Scrubs to The Middle:

Neil Flynn ’82 abc.com

By Gayle Erwin McDowell ’77

Cast as a hospital janitor with an attitude, NEIL FLYNN ’82 appeared in the pilot of Scrubs in 2001, not expecting that his role on the top-rated comedy would continue for eight years.

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ow much do you know about actor NEIL FLYNN ’82? Test your knowledge with this True-False quiz. Neil Flynn is or has been:

The TV husband of Ray Romano’s former TV wife. T

Lindsay Lohan’s dad on the big screen. T

A cop in nearly 20 movies/TV shows T

The most famous “janitor” in the world. T

An improv artist in Chicago and Los Angeles. T

Featured in the latest Indiana Jones movie. T

A speech major and Sigma Nu at Bradley. T

Starring in top-rated sitcoms for 11 years running T

A forward on a ’70s Waukegan East Bulldogs basketball team. T

If you happened to answer “true” for all questions, you scored an 88 percent! The Bradley alumnus didn’t play high school basketball, although he did help Sigma Nu become intramural champs in basketball at Bradley one year.

Keeps us laughing BACK IN CALIFORNIA after a holiday visit to family in Waukegan, NEIL FLYNN ’82 was home finishing a slice of LOU MALNATI’S sausage pizza when BRADLEY HILLTOPICS caught up with him. While he’s lived in L.A. for more than 15 years, Neil still comes across as a MIDWESTERNER . Not only does he savor that occasional deep-dish pizza from Chicago, most of his friends are transplanted Chicagoans. He keeps in touch with friends from BRADLEY and high school. That helps explain why his portrayal of an Indiana family man in ABC’s THE MIDDLE has been spot-on for three seasons.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

Winding path to Hollywood

Roles in Night Must Fall (shown above) and Our Town in 1981 helped convince speech major NEIL FLYNN ’82 that his future was in acting. He appeared in Antigone in January 1982. Neil reports also being inspired by two Bradley acting classes.

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After Neil and his speech team partner clinched the “humorous duet acting” title at the state tournament for Waukegan East, a recruiting telegram arrived from Bradley speech coach George Armstrong. Taking Bradley up on the offer of a partial scholarship, Neil was on campus in Peoria that fall. “I was just 17 when I started college so I did a lot of growing up there. I learned how to socialize. I found what I wanted to do,” Neil says of his Bradley years — 1978 to 1982. “It was all a very positive time.” Neil has good memories of the speech team: “We traveled quite a bit — Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio. … We always drove. Hanging out with a van full of friends was fun,” he recalls. Neil was one of about 50 former teammates who gathered in Chicago for an informal reunion last summer. “I held a couple of offices in Sigma Nu, but I wasn’t involved in any award-winning community outreach,” he jokes. “I just enjoyed the company of the other guys and the parties and the sports. I took some kidding at the fraternity about what a speech major expects to do when one graduates, and I didn’t have a good answer.”

abc.com

anaga 1982

efore being cast as The Middle’s Mike Heck, husband of Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton), Neil Flynn ’82 spent eight seasons as the ubiquitous hospital janitor on Scrubs. (Not familiar with Scrubs? It should not be difficult to find an old episode on TV.) The Middle, set in fictional Orson, Indiana, continues to lead off ABC’s popular Wednesday night lineup. Considering that Neil has worked 11 consecutive years on two hit primetime TV series, it might appear that success came easy. “Just last week someone I knew from high school said, ‘Are you surprised you made it so quickly?’ I said ‘Are you crazy? It took 20 years!’” Neil exclaims. The acquaintance might have been thinking back to his classmate’s role in The Fugitive (1993). “I told him that was one day of work. … The challenge for an actor is just to stick around and pick up enough work during each year so you can pay your bills. That’s how I did it for a decade or two.”

His “aha” moment about pursuing an acting career didn’t occur until junior year when Neil enrolled in his first college acting class and then auditioned for a play. By graduation, he had appeared in three productions with glowing reviews. He was inspired by director Richard Marriott and his professor, “Doc Bell” (the late Dr. Collins Bell). “Deciding to work in the theater at Bradley was a really good decision for me. I came to the conclusion that I’d like to give acting a try as my profession.” While the journey was challenging, Neil admits he’s proud that he never gave up. “I moved out to California in the mid ’80s, mostly because my girlfriend was moving out here. The timing wasn’t right for me. I was pretty much ignored that first time,” he recalls, laughing. “They weren’t waiting for me.” Within five years, he was back in the Windy City with the intention of going back to doing theater — and maybe “someday” giving L.A. another try. “A nice development there that I hadn’t planned on is I sort of wandered into the iO Theater (formerly the Improv Olympic Theater) in Chicago. And it turned out I was capable of improvising. I had never tried it before. My path took a turn and I ended up working at Second City,” Neil says. “That did me some good as far as preparing me to work in comedy.” Eventually, Neil returned to Los Angeles and, at age 40, was cast as the quirky janitor in a new hospital-based comedy, Scrubs.

STARDOM ARRIVES Neil Flynn might be uncomfortable with the word “stardom,” but his star was clearly rising that second time around in Hollywood. During a summer break from Scrubs, one of his roles was as Lindsay Lohan’s father in Mean Girls (2004). So what must it be like when celebrity status

MORE THAN THE MIDDLE Because the actors are usually still at work during The Middle’s time slot (7 p.m. Central on Wednesdays), Neil records it and watches later that night. The production schedule allows little free time during the week, but Neil enjoys fantasy basketball and baseball. The lifelong Cubs fan also follows politics closely. Until last year, he did improv with a group of friends almost every Saturday night at iO West. “We did that for years for free just because it was so much fun. Most improvisers are not getting paid. They’re doing it for the love of the game,” he explains. “I wanted to quit before I started to damage my own reputation. You gotta know when to hang it up.” Neil also decided recently it was time to give up playing sports, especially softball. “I tried to stretch it out as long as I could, but I’ve faced facts. It’s hard to play without getting hurt now,” says the 51-year-old. “My bosses aren’t thrilled at the chances of their actors being hurt in any way. Showing up with a black eye wouldn’t go over well.” When summer approaches and the show’s 24 episodes are completed, Neil continues to work in movies if the timing is right. He’s happy, however, to have “found a home on TV.” He pauses to reflect on a day on the set of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). “I had a little speech in there, and as we’re shooting it I realized there was a roomful of people paying attention to me. Steven Spielberg was 10 feet away from me, and 10 feet the other way was Harrison Ford. Just for a moment I thought ‘what an odd situation this is,’ and I then had to quickly shake it off and just do my job.” In the 31 years since he first appeared on the stage at Bradley’s Hartmann Center, this same thought has replayed in his mind: “I’ve thought if I’m making some small accomplishment, at least I can say I did this — if this is all I ever do. Working with Spielberg was one of those moments.”

aBC / Richard Foreman

comes along, and people start recognizing an actor on the street? “I don’t have a hard time. People don’t harass me or anything. They’re usually polite and brief. That’s fine. That’s part of the deal,” says the 6-foot-5 actor who often poses for pictures with fans. “It’s a reminder that something must have gone right. You have to make the adjustments that when you’re in public, strangers will know who you are.” After eight seasons on Scrubs, Neil traded his janitor’s uniform for Mike Heck’s plaid shirts and jeans on The Middle. Often struggling to make ends meet for his harried family, “Mike” is a nice, regular guy. “I think I am a regular guy so I don’t find it difficult to play one. I don’t think I’ll ever play the chief of medicine or a senator or anything. I fit into the regular guy slot,” he jokes. As much as he enjoyed Scrubs, Neil is more than content on the set of The Middle. The cast, including the talented actors who play the three Heck kids, gets along very well. “This role has me at work quite a few more hours than Scrubs. It’s a bigger role and that’s a good thing. While they’re both comedies, I play a much more grounded character now than I did on Scrubs. It was a lot of fun, but I’m happy to have the more significant role now,” says Neil, who usually is the voice of reason in the Heck household. Each episode takes five days to shoot, with production beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays. Workdays are typically about 12 hours long, and the cast is due back 12 hours after the previous day’s shooting ends. Neil points out that it’s not physical work, but it can be draining on days when an actor has many lines. “It’s not working the whole time. A lot of time is spent sitting around talking with co-workers,” he reports, adding, “We see each other outside of work sometimes. I just had lunch with Eden (Sher), who plays my daughter, yesterday. I’m happy to say we’re all friends. Patty (Heaton, who starred as Debra on Everybody Loves Raymond) and I get along very well, and that’s a real bonus.” The Middle often features guest stars, including Brooke Shields, Ray Romano, Ed Asner, Norm Macdonald, and Molly Shannon. Doris Roberts sometimes plays one son’s snarky teacher. Jerry Van Dyke and Marsha Mason show up as Neil’s in-laws. “I like it any time Jerry Van Dyke is around. I like the old-timers, and it gives me a kick that I’m working with somebody I watched on TV when I was a kid,” says Neil, one of six children who also has a cousin he considers a brother.

aBC / Richard Foreman

LEFT: The fictional staff of Sacred Heart Hospital looks happy even though the Scrubs janitor (Neil Flynn) caused trouble for them for nearly a decade. RIGHT: In a recent episode of The Middle, the Heck kids vote in favor of moving. “They’re all good actors and they’re all good people. To have the children be capable of carrying a story line is a real bonus because that’s not always the case,” Neil remarks.

ABOVE: Neil and his TV wife

Patricia Heaton star as Frankie and Mike Heck in ABC’s The Middle. LOWER PHOTO: During his junior year, Neil portrayed George Gibbs in Our Town, his first play at Bradley.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

ay you were trying to imagine the Shangri-La of workplaces. Would you envision a state-of-the-art fitness center, a cafeteria with chef-inspired food stations, complimentary tickets to sporting events, and on-site childcare? Maybe you’d add free haircuts, like Google has. In real life, a great workplace might provide all those things, but not necessarily. According to Bradley’s Dr. Jennifer Robin and her colleague Dr. Michael Burchell, it’s less about the perks and more about how employees are treated. What counts is knowing that when they give their best, the company will return its best to employees.

The Great Workplace stresses that three qualities are vital to experience trust: credibility, respect, and fairness.

“It’s really leadership taking the perspective that everything they do builds trust or breaks it down. It’s that attitude or perspective. It’s not about the policies and practices; it’s about the extent to which those policies and practices help to build trust and create relationships with other people,” Robin explains.

bradley.edu/hilltopics

She and Burchell co-authored The Great Workplace: How to Build It, How to Keep It, and Why It Matters, released last year. Their shared expertise comes from their roles at the Great Place to Work® Institute, based in San Francisco. The Institute produces the annual list of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. Robin is a research fellow and adjunct consultant for the Institute; she also enjoys teaching undergraduate and graduate-level business courses at Bradley. The Great Workplace stresses that three qualities are vital to experience trust: credibility, respect, and fairness. Basically, do leaders’ actions match their words, do they care about employees as people, and are individuals treated in a manner that allows them to voice concerns? Besides trust, the other two main components are pride and camaraderie. Surveys used by the Institute indicate employees need to see how their work contributes to the organization and to feel that what they do matters. The authors point out that workers are in a relationship with their jobs. “Sometimes there’s this assumption that employee relationships exist separately from the business. And it can’t be a separate initiative,” says Robin, the recipient of Caterpillar Inc.’s New Faculty Award for Teaching in 2003. With her doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Tennessee, Robin taught at Bradley from 2001 until 2004, and then set out to gain hands-on experience in consulting, returning to Bradley in 2009. Her work with the Great Place to Work® Institute included site visits to a number of businesses featured in the book, which includes case studies of 10 highly regarded companies.

What counts in the workplace By gayle erwin mcdowell ’77 photography by duane zehr

What do America’s greatest workplaces have in common? Probing their success can help employers (and employees!) everywhere.

“There’s no substitute for being inside so many great workplaces because you know it when you set foot in them. They’re all so different, but you feel something when you walk in the door. To be able to see from the inside what makes them tick was very informative,” says Robin, who co-authored her first book, A Life in Balance, in 2006 with Bradley’s Dr. Chuck Stoner.

Workplaces may look different Not surprisingly, great workplaces in 2012 have a different look than they might have 10 or 20 years ago. Of the top 100 list-makers this year, 13 are hospitals (including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), four are grocery chains (Wegmans, Publix, Nugget Market, and Whole Foods), and four are hotel chains (Kimpton, Marriott, Four Seasons, and Intercontinental). Google occupies the #1 spot for the third time, and as you might assume, a number of technology companies now have spots on the prestigious list. Financial services companies like Edward Jones, #5 on the list, and retailers such as The Container Store, Men’s Wearhouse, and Nordstrom, are also there. What traits do these Top 100 companies on the Fortune list share? “Most, if not all, have some sort of flex-time and … flex-space working option,” Robin says. “Most have some sort of town hall meeting where people can interact directly with their senior leaders.” Today’s top workplaces are taking even more steps to support parents and caregivers. For example, Ernst & Young sponsors a Saturday/ Busy Season Child Care Program for employees during tax season. PricewaterhouseCoopers has

a Mentor Moms program and also guarantees that employees may return if they choose to take five years off to care for a dependent. It’s not all about what the company can do for the employees either. At SAS Institute, #3 on the list, it’s the employees who operate a “caring closet” stocked with donated medical equipment — items that people might need temporarily to care for family members. “Companies do a lot for their employees, but they also encourage and support grassroots efforts,” Robin explains.

Great Workplaces, the sequel Robin and Burchell are finalizing plans for a follow-up to The Great Workplace, which sold 20,000 copies in its first year and has been translated into five languages. (A publisher in India has also acquired the rights.) With a working title of No Excuses, the focus will be on helping businesses become great workplaces. “Any company can get there, I truly believe,” says Robin, but her book cautions, “If you attempt to go too far too quickly, you will encounter resistance at best, and broken trust at worst.” Companies don’t have to have 1,000+ employees to aspire to the list, she notes. The Institute also compiles a list of Best Small & Medium Companies to Work For in America, as well as lists of best companies to work for in more than 45 countries. Great Workplace seminars are presented about three times a month by Robin or Burchell. Robin’s recent travels include Paris, Peru, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. Bradley alumni and friends are invited to a free Great Workplace webinar on April 25. To learn more about her work, read Robin’s blog at www.jenniferrobin.net.

Your Great Workplace: Lessons from the Best! Join Dr. Jennifer Robin as she broadcasts from the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. This webinar may be viewed online by alumni everywhere. • April 25, 2012, 1 p.m. (Central) • Cost: free • Preregistration at bualum.org/events is required by April 18.

Scan the QR code above to add this event to your smartphone calendar. Sponsored by Bradley’s Department of Alumni Relations. Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

Lydia’s home on the Bluff By karen crowley metzinger, ma ’97 photography by duane zehr

igh upon the West Bluff overlooking the Illinois River, Tobias and Lydia Moss Bradley built their family home in 1858. Little did they know that in 1980, their stately home would be a gift to the Institute Lydia had established in 1897. Today, the expansive Italianate-style brick home at 802 W. Moss Ave. has been divided into two spacious apartments. Faculty tenants, Dr. Jeanne Muzzillo, and Dr. Stacey Robertson (above) and her family, agree they are honored to live in a house so steeped in rich history. Muzzillo, an assistant professor of English who has resided there since 2007, enjoys a separate entrance and stunning views from her bright and airy second-floor apartment. Robertson’s family occupies the main level and third floor of the home. Bradley’s director of women’s studies and Oglesby Professor of American Heritage moved to the home with her husband Tom Thurston and her sons Isaac and Evan in 2010. “I am a women’s historian,” said Robertson. “Knowing that Lydia Moss Bradley built this home and lived here makes it seem like a dream. The spaciousness, elegance, and history of the home are simply irresistible.” A tour of the main level of the home begins with noticing the hardwood floors throughout. Just to the right of the foyer’s small seating area is a roomy master bedroom that boasts large windows with

Bradley faculty members are tenants in the founder’s 154-year-old Moss Avenue home.

bradley.edu/hilltopics

garden views and two bathrooms. To the left, a unique walk-through leads to an ample dining room that opens on the right to a large family room. The original marble fireplaces are positioned like historic bookends on the far ends of the dining room and family room. Focal points in the home, the ornate fireplaces have been carefully replicated in the new Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. To embellish the family room fireplace, Robertson personalized it with photos. “We printed and framed several rare black-and-white photos of Lydia and her 19th century home for the fireplace mantels,” she noted. “At the same time, we have a large black-and-white print of our wedding photo over the fireplace — reminding us of love, family, and celebrations. I think Lydia would approve.“ Robertson’s sons like to have friends over to discover “secret” places to hide and play, and they find the backyard an oasis for sledding in the winter. During warmer days, the family sits on the back porch and enjoys the backyard that reportedly is home to the largest ginkgo tree in Peoria. “We also take advantage of the central location by walking along beautiful Moss Avenue, strolling to work at Bradley, and enjoying the charming, historic homes in our neighborhood,” Robertson added. “I love to sit in the sunroom off our kitchen, watching hummingbirds, people walking down the street, rabbits in the front yard. It gives me such a wonderful sense of our community.” Following in Lydia’s generous tradition of inviting Bradley Polytechnic students to her home,

Mrs. Bradley’s dishes A 75-piece cranberry glass luncheon set that once graced Lydia Moss Bradley’s table has come home to the Hilltop, thanks to the generosity of

Anaga 1940

LOIS SHANEMEYER HAMILTON ’40, left,

and the trustee of her estate, Johnna Tallman. Appraised at more than $15,000, the collection is priceless to the University. “I can’t imagine sitting down to these dishes at a luncheon; it would be gorgeous,” said Tallman, an antiques dealer. “They were all so beautifully done, and each piece is unique.” According to Tallman, Hamilton appreciated her passion for cranberry glass and antiques and showed her the century-old collection about 12 years ago. “It’s a rarity,” Tallman said. “What makes cranberry glass unique is the gold in it. The older it is, the more gold there is. This is why the color is so lovely in these dishes. Lois never used them, nor have we. This is why they are in mint condition. I’d be terrified of breaking them.” Hamilton had explained that Lydia Moss Bradley gave the large set to her mother, Edna Shanemeyer. Not all the history behind Edna’s friendship with Lydia is known, but Hamilton had said that her mother was very social, very worldly, and that Lydia had admired her. LEE TALLMAN ’74 MLS ’05 believes Hamilton was the shyest person the couple has ever known, but he emphasized that she was a “great lady and a lot of fun with a good sense of humor. We had been her neighbors since 1988, and after the deaths of her husband and brother, she eventually became part of our family.” The Tallman family includes AMY TALLMAN SUMMERS ’92 and JIM TALLMAN ’93. The couple added that Hamilton was from a well-to-do family who lost everything but their dry cleaning business during the

Muzzillo and Robertson open their respective doors annually. Muzzillo invites her English teaching methods class before they begin student teaching. Robertson hosts her graduating women’s studies students and students in her senior history seminar, introducing them to the house and the importance of its history firsthand. Not a day goes by that Robertson doesn’t think

ABOVE: Select pieces of the cranberry dishes are currently displayed in the Cullom-Davis Library and the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. The most famous period of cranberry glass production was in 19th century Great Britain during the Victorian era.

Great Depression. The Peoria High graduate and Bradley Lambda Phi member (now Pi Beta Phi) was involved in the French Club, History Club, and Women’s Athletic Association. She also taught swimming on campus. Hamilton took flying lessons, earned her wings, and served briefly as a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) in Sweetwater, Texas, during World War II. She was the head librarian at the Peoria Public Library. At 38, she married Llewellyn Hamilton, relocated to Lake Forest, and worked with him in the plastics company they founded. After selling the successful company, they traveled the world. Hamilton died in 2010, leaving Bradley $400,000 for scholarships and $150,000 to the Library through her estate.

of Bradley’s founder and the privilege of living in her home. “I take strength from her presence in the house,” she said. “Her walls, floors, and rooms are filled with memories of her strength in times of loss, her independence, her generosity, her compassion, and her quiet leadership. I respect the history of this home.”

{

online Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/lydiahouse for additional photos.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

alumni center showcase: 1940s The “decades cases” in the new Hayden-Clark Alumni Center provide a look back at Bradley University since its name changed from Bradley Polytechnic Institute in 1946. The 1940s decade case showcases the effect of World War II on campus, including a serviceman’s cap and dog tag. The case also features past Bradley traditions, such as a beanie that freshmen wore. A timeline notes important campus events, such as the Tech newspaper becoming The Scout, a tripled freshman enrollment rate between 1945 and 1946, and the bestowing of the first honorary degree in 1949 to former Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson II. A parallel timeline of events in the city, state, and nation, such as the discovery at the Northern Regional Research Lab that allowed for the mass production of penicillin, provides a broader context. Pictures show The Scout staff working on typewriters, Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) soldiers training on the football field, and students enjoying dances and other social events. Dr. Ernest Ising, professor emeritus of physics, is remembered for his Ising Model, a “widely used standard model of statistical physics.” A diorama in a display series nearby shows what a contemporary dorm room may have looked like. — Abby Wilson Pfeiffer ’10

bradley.edu/hilltopics

Homecoming image sparks memory When BILL SEELYE ’54 opened his 2011 Homecoming & Parents’ Weekend invitation last summer, he was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar design on the cover of the mailing: an image featuring the Homecoming “B” atop the Bradley Hall tower, a throwback to his time on the Hilltop. He had won a medal from the University for a similar design for an alumni crest 60 years ago. In 1952, Bill entered a competition to design a seal for the Alumni Association that would reflect the nationwide presence of Bradley’s alumni base. Bill was always interested in design and color, so with the encouragement of an art professor in his design class, he submitted his project for a grade and won the competition. His design (at left) was chosen to grace correspondence sent from the Alumni Association office. “The $15 prize paid for a tank of gas and a date with my girlfriend, LAVONNE HEPFER SEELYE ’54, my wife of 60 years,” said the father of three and grandfather of nine. Bill attended Bradley for two years before leaving for the service. He returned to Peoria to work in the family business, A.H. Seelye & Son, and was a painting contractor on Bradley’s campus, retiring 11 years ago. “I worked on campus for 40 years, and our son RON SEELYE ’82 MS ’86 finished two degrees here,” Bill said with pride. The former president of the Illinois chapter of Painting and Decorating Contractors of America recently gave his medal and the original 1952 Scout article about his award to the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center’s memorabilia collection. — Karen Crowley Metzinger, MA ’97

’48

ELLEN GOVE GREELEY ’48 and BOB GREELEY ’49 are avid

volunteers, continuing to serve others for almost 30 years and traveling to Colorado each year for five months to work at Rocky Mountain National Park. They also are active at Maple Lawn in Eureka, where they live. The couple has five children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

’58

NORMAN KELLY ’58 has

published his twelfth book, False Face. It is available online. Norm and his wife GLORIA KEITH KELLY ’60 live in Peoria.

’61

CHARLES WISE ’61 is a

professor of speech communications at the Lackland Air Force Base campus of St. Philip’s College in San Antonio. He has been honored by the Texas Speech Communication Association as an Educator of the Year and is a life member and emeritus (active) member of the organization.

He and his wife June live in Lockhart, Texas.

’67

and his wife Barb have three children and four grandchildren. They live in Tampa.

ROBERT J. CLARK ’67 was

elected to the Bradley University Board of Trustees. Bob is director, president, and CEO of Bear Tracker Energy. He is a member of Bradley’s Centurion Society. The new Hayden-Clark Alumni Center recognizes the financial support of Bob and his wife Kathleen. The couple lives in Golden, Colo. DANIEL GURA ’67 was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is vice president for development and university relations at the University of Tampa. Dan has been at UT since 1990 after working for 10 years in development at Bradley. He won the Alumni Association’s Lydia Moss Bradley Award in 1985. He also was a Peoria City Councilman for 11 years. Dan

’68

ELIZABETH SHWACHMAN NELSON ’68 recently won her

age group in the North Shore Inline Marathon, the only internationally sanctioned inline skating marathon in the U.S. Elizabeth ran her own business as a freelance costume designer for theater, movies, opera, and dance companies. She and her husband Peter live in Island Lake.

’71

CHARLES WISE ’61

DAVID DODD ’71 MA ’73

retired after a career as a psychologist and recently published a novel, Star Shooting. He lives in Fish Creek, Wis. JUDY LINDSEY ’72 joined Chicago Public Media as vice president of philanthropy. With more than 30 years experience in fundraising and human services, she is overseeing

’72

JUDY LINDSEY ’72

*RED NAMES, see photo.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

an excerpt from lhotka’s latest how-to art book:

digital art pioneer Household computers were still the stuff of science fiction when BONNY PIERCE LHOTKA ’64 graduated from Bradley. In fact, 1964 was the year the computer mouse was invented. It wasn’t until the early ’90s that Bonny decided to utilize the skills she honed in her printmaking and painting classes at Bradley to create digital art. “It was a very bad time for the art market around 1990,” she recalled. “There was a tremendous shift in what kind of art people would purchase. I considered abandoning it altogether, but around that same time, Hewlett-Packard came out with color inkjet printers. I saw one and knew that was the direction I wanted to go. I bought a computer and jumped right in.” Fast forward two decades, two books, and three DVDs, and Bonny is considered an expert in digital art. Together with her colleagues Dorothy Simpson Krause and Karin Schminke, she laid the groundwork for blending art and technology. “We pioneered many of the methods people are using today to produce mixed media work,” she said. Her finished products are a mix between photography, painting, printmaking, and Photoshop. Bonny creates her art using “layers of destruction,” editing images to add and remove elements, then digitally layering them. “In the end, it’s about 15 to 20 layers on top of one another.” Her work is shown internationally and has been commissioned by United Airlines, Johnson Space Center, the U.S. State Department, Charles Schwab, and the Consumer Electronics Association, among others. She is the recipient of the Smithsonian/Computerworld Technology in the Arts Award and has work in the collection of the American Art Museum at the Smithsonian. Bonny’s most recent book, Digital Alchemy: Printmaking techniques for fine art, photography, and mixed media, published by New Riders Press, demonstrates how to use a computer and printer to turn everyday pictures into “true works of art.” Bonny credits much of her success to learning the ins and outs of technology, online including social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. She also ensured that Visit lhotka.com for her book would be available on e-readers. more information. A native of La Grange, Bonny chose to attend Bradley for its printmaking department. “Dow Mitchell was my printmaking instructor, and there was something magical about his teaching and his allowing us individual exploration and expression,” she said. “My art is who I am.” She and her husband JOSEPH LHOTKA ’63 live in Boulder, Colorado. Her work is part of the Digital Dark Room exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles until May 28.

{

— Erin Wood Miller ’09; Photography by Bonny Lhotka STEP-BY-STEP alcohol transfer: 1 Materials The alcohol gel transfer process requires a digital image printed in reverse on DASS Transfer Film, Arches 88 silkscreen paper, Purell alcohol gel hand sanitizer, cellophane, waterproof gloves, and a brayer. 2 While wearing the gloves, pour the gel on the paper and use the brayer to coat both sides until wet through. 3 Remove the gloves and align film to paper’s center and set one edge down. 4 Gently roll film down onto the paper, cover it with cellophane; then burnish the film to the surface. 5 Remove the film. This alcohol gel transfer artwork is called Carousel.

bradley.edu/hilltopics

one Classnote reunites dozens of friends LESLIE SPIVACK BAER ’71 was reading the summer 2010 issue of Bradley Hilltopics, and she spotted her husband’s old friend, RICHARD STERN ’67. That small photo in Classnotes made an impression on KEN BAER ’67, and it also created

a challenge. The retired Caterpillar executive began to brainstorm a reunion for his Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity brothers, a group of college friends who hadn’t seen each other in decades. From the Baers’ Florida home, Ken spent months tracking down as many of the guys from the 1965 to 1969 era as possible. He found 55, and on December 11–13, 2011, they reunited in Las Vegas. The reunion reception at the Grand Lux Cafe at the Palazzo Hotel included the unveiling of a poster-size photo of Stern. “It was the inspiration for the reunion,” Ken insists. “We unveiled it as the face that launched the reunion.” Twenty-nine fraternity brothers and 22 wives attended the party. One couple, ELIAS AZPURUA ’70 and his wife Carmen, traveled from Caracas, Venezuela. More than half the partygoers enjoyed some of the music of their youth at Jersey Boys the next evening. “Most of us had not seen each other in 42 or 43 years,” Ken reports. “It was great to relive memories. Everybody seemed extremely pleased to be getting together. We were a small fraternity so we knew each other very well in college.” Bradley’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, a national business fraternity, was founded in 1951 and remained on campus until December 1990. Its former chapter house at 1515 West Fredonia has operated as private student housing.

above: A 2010 Bradley Hilltopics photo of RICK STERN ’67 (front row, third from right) was the impetus for an Alpha Kappa Psi reunion in Las Vegas. All nine members in the front row of this 1967 Anaga photo attended the event, along with 20 other fraternity brothers.

{

online Visit bradley. edu/hilltopics/go/ alphakappapsi for a new group photo from the December 2011 reunion.

— Gayle Erwin McDowell ’77

efforts to build on the organization’s $15 million capital campaign. For the past 12 years, Judy was development director for the six libraries at the University of Chicago. She has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and lives in Chicago. BRUCE MASEK ’72 MA ’74 is clinical director of outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He also is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. Bruce and his wife LINDA TOSTO MASEK ’73 live in North Andover, Mass.

’74

PATRICK BAIKAUSKAS ’74

is pastor of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic center at Purdue University. The center is one of the largest Newman Centers in the country, serving more than 12,000 students and 700 families. He lives in West Lafayette, Ind.

WILLIAM SHAY ’74 recently founded Shay Law Group Ltd. The firm focuses on businesses and entrepreneurs. Earlier, he was a founding partner of the law firm Cover, Shay, and Evans. Bill received his law degree from the University of Illinois. He lives in Peoria with his wife MARDONA THORNTON SHAY ’74, who retired from School District 150 last year as a teacher.

’76

STEVE L. FISHER ’76 is vice

president with responsibility for the large power systems and growth markets division at Caterpillar Inc. He was vice president in charge of the integration of Caterpillar and mining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus. He joined Caterpillar in 1978 and has held numerous management positions, becoming a vice president in 2006. Steve and his wife Sandra live in Dunlap.

’78

JAMES BORGIA-FORSTER ’78

was elected town justice in Chatham, N.Y. A graduate of Hofstra University Law School, he has been an attorney for 30 years. He and his spouse Daniel live on Kinderhook Lake near Albany, N.Y. SHARON QUINN DIXON ’78 has been named 2012 Miami Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America 2012. She is a shareholder at Stearns Weaver Miller and is on the firm’s board of directors. A graduate of the University of Miami Law School, she and her husband ROBERT DIXON ’76 live in Miami.

’79

SUSIE LANGE KETTERER ’81

KATHLEEN BUCK HOLST ’79

was elected to the Bradley University Board of Trustees. She is senior vice president of RoadSafe Traffic Systems Inc. Kathy is on the National Advisory Council for Bradley’s Foster College of Business and received

PEGGY FRASER, MA ’83

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

alcatraz accomplishment

The water in San Francisco Bay can be choppy, rough, and cold. But that didn’t stop LEE BOEKE BURKE ’72 from completing the 1.4-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco shortly before her 62nd birthday last September. She raised $16,000 for the Build UU Philippines project, which seeks to construct a women’s dormitory at a Universalist Unitarian school in that country. Lee said she wanted to raise awareness about the project and inspire others to reach their goals. In addition to working in mental health and education programs, Lee has worked nationally and internationally for the Universalist Unitarian Church in a variety of paid and volunteer positions. She holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University. Lee and her husband John have two children, including a son, Kelsey, who studied art at Bradley for three years. They live in Neenah, Wisconsin.

the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2010. She and her husband GREGG HOLST ’80 are the parents of two daughters and live in Aurora.

’80

CHERYL PROCTER-ROGERS ’80

’81

SUSIE LANGE KETTERER ’81

’83

PEGGY FRASER, MA ’83 was

’84

JUDY BURNS ’84 is being

was awarded the 2011 Gold Anvil Award for lifetime achievement by the Public Relations Society of America. The Gold Anvil is the group’s highest individual honor. She is a senior consultant with Chicago-based A Step Ahead Public Relations and has an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Cheryl lives in Buffalo Grove.

was named vice president of the North American arm of the Advertising and Marketing International Network (AMIN). She is co-owner and principal of Simantel Group. She and her husband MARK KETTERER ’91 have three children and live in Peoria. (Photo on page 27.)

awarded tenure as a professor of education at Metropolitan State College of Denver. She received the outstanding teacher award for the School of Professional Studies in 2008. Peggy holds a doctorate from Illinois State University and lives in Littleton, Colo. (Photo on page 27.)

inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in Indianapolis in April. She was Bradley’s first female Academic All-American. She was named the school’s Most Outstanding Athlete for 1982–83, ranking fourth in scoring in BU history. A three-time team MVP, she still holds several school records. She was inducted into Bradley’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. Judy works in financial aid at Indiana Wesleyan University and lives in Marion, Ind. ERIC WELLES ’84 was promoted to senior vice president of business development at Access Media 3 in

bradley.edu/hilltopics

Oak Brook. Eric and his wife Carrie live in Lake Bluff.

’85

SCOTT CISEL, MLS ’85,

’86

JOHN A. CASSIDY ’86, MA ’90

was honored as a 2011 distinguished alumnus by CulverStockton College. He is chairman, president, and CEO of Ameren Illinois. Scott and his wife SUSAN MANUEL CISEL ’77 live in Morton. CARLA HAGEL EDWARDS ’85 became finance director for the city of Dresden, Tenn., in September. She holds an MBA from Keller Graduate School at DeVry University. Carla and her husband Don live in Sharon, Tenn. FRASER ENGERMAN ’85 was named director of global media relations for Johnson Controls in Milwaukee. Previously, he was a public affairs manager for State Farm Insurance. His wife KRISTEN AHLENIUS ENGERMAN ’85 is government affairs director for the Illinois Association of Realtors. They live in Dunlap with their two daughters. DAVID POLK ’85 recently joined Weber Shandwick, a global public relations firm, as executive vice president in corporate practice in Chicago. He earned a juris doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Most recently, David was executive director of corporate communications at Amgen. He and his wife Julie and their two daughters live in Chicago.

recently had an exhibit of his abstract pastel drawings, Learning Simple Things, at the Armstrong Gallery of the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. John lives in Peoria. SCOTT HARBAUGH ’86 is president of Gen Power Inc. The family business has supplied temporary generator power and light towers to NASCAR, NASCAR Truck Series, the Geico 400, IRL races, and NHRA events at Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Drag Strip. Scott and his wife Teresa have three children and live in South Elgin.

criminal mind CINDY BERGSTRAND SAMPLE ’71 recently

’88

CATHY RAMEL WIEMANN ’88

’90

STEPHEN MILLHOUSE, MS ’90

became a national board-certified science teacher, the highest credential for U.S. educators. She teaches middle school science in Des Plaines and also helped create an after-school STEM club. Cathy and her husband Tom and their two children live in Mount Prospect.

completed a 1,460-mile fundraising walk to aid the homeless. Starting from Missoula, Montana, on August 3, he finished at Los Angeles’ Hospitality Kitchen on January 2. He chose the number of miles for his walk based on the average distance a homeless person travels yearly in search of food, water, shelter, clothing, and medical care. His goal is to raise funds for groups aiding the homeless, especially homeless veterans.

’91

CALVIN BUTLER ’91 was

named a Business Leader of Color for 2011 by Chicago United, a group of executives and managers promoting multiracial leadership and development. The award honors his

had her second book, Dying for a Dance, released in print and electronic versions by L&L Dreamspell. It was nominated for a West Coast Crime Conference Lefty Award for best humorous mystery novel. She currently is researching the third book in her series, Dying for a Daiquiri. Along with her writing, Sample was co-chair of last year’s Left Coast Crime Conference, a three-day convention in Sacramento of more than 500 mystery authors and readers. The former CEO of a nationwide mortgage company, she was a columnist for the Gold River Community Newspaper. Cindy has two children and lives in El Dorado Hills, California.

professional success along with cultural, civic, and educational contributions. Calvin has a law degree from Washington University and is senior vice president for corporate affairs at Exelon. He and his wife Sharon live in Naperville with their two children. ANGIE MARKLEY PETERSON ’91

was named the 2011 Outstanding Campus Adviser by People to People International and received her award in Brussels. She is director of the Office of International Education and Study

revolutionary honor

Abroad at Park University in Missouri. Angie, who has a master’s degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago, is a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas. She and her husband Garth live in Kansas City, Mo., with their two children. QUENTEN SCHUMACHER ’91 is a senior producer at Creative Producers Group, based in the company’s Chicago office where he oversees event production, special events, and social engagements for corporate clients. He has served as board president for the past three years of the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and raises funds for HIV/AIDS assistance organizations. Quenten and his partner Steven Geiermann live in Chicago.

MARY ANN MIDDLETON, MS ’72 was

elected one of 21 DAR vice presidents general at the group’s national conference in Washington, D.C., in July. As a vice president general, she helps set policy for the 170,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the United States. Active for 41 years in the DAR, she has served as the national chairwoman of the Good Citizens award for high school students and the Flag of the United States of America committee, which focuses on appreciation, etiquette, and education about the American flag. A retired grade school teacher and reading specialist, Mary Ann portrays Betsy Ross for schools and civic groups. She and her husband Bob live in Peoria.

’92

CALVIN BUTLER ’91

ANGIE MARKLEY PETERSON ’91

QUENTEN SCHUMACHER ’91

SCOT ARMSTRONG ’92 has

had a comedy project picked up by NBC. Scot, who has been a writer for several films including The Hangover Part II, is an executive producer of Animal Kingdom. The show involves a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. He and his wife Kerry and their two children live in Los Angeles. THOMAS DUNN ’92 became a territory sales manager with Rapiscan Systems Inc. last March. He and his wife Lindsey welcomed their third daughter, Remington Charlotte, in July. They live in Wildwood, Mo.

ERIN DURBIN CRAIG ’97 MA ’05

and Jeff Craig were married November 26, 2011. Erin is a program coordinator for the Children’s Hospital of Illinois. They live in Marquette Heights.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

Keeping New York on the move NURIA white FERNANDEZ ’82 has been appointed chief operating

officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She is responsible for safety and security throughout the system, capital planning and programming, government affairs, environment and sustainability, and oversight of the operations of the subways, buses, commuter rail, bridges and tunnels, and the capital construction program. “The MTA is the largest transportation system in the U.S. with an annual operating budget of more than $8 billion, 68,000 employees, and five operating agencies moving 8 million people each weekday,” Nuria said. “A typical day is like drinking out of a fire hose!” Nuria has plenty of experience in transportation. Most recently, she was senior vice president of major programs for CH2M HILL. She also has been commissioner of the Chicago Airport System, deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the senior vice president for design and construction at the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Washington, D.C., and senior vice president for engineering and construction at the Chicago Transit Authority. Originally from Panama, Nuria came to the United States in 1978 to pursue her civil engineering degree at Bradley. “I was attracted by the notion of transforming abstract concepts into physical solutions that would improve the quality of our built environment,” said Nuria. At Bradley, she was involved with the International Students Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. A member of the Engineering Advisory Council, Nuria holds an MBA from Roosevelt University. She has two daughters and lives in New York City and Chicago with her husband Daniel Hall. — Abby Wilson Pfeiffer ’10

MARCUS POLLARD ’94 and KERRI SKRUDLAND ’96 and ’96 her his wife Amani finished in husband OLIVER GROSS third place in The Amazing Race last ’96 welcomed their second child, November on CBS. The couple won Samantha Lynn, on May 14, 2011. a trip to Bali for winning one leg of They live in Springfield. the race in Thailand. A member of the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame, Marcus DURBIN CRAIG ’97 MA ’05 ’97 ERIN played basketball for the Braves from and Jeff Craig were married 1992 to 1994, then played 14 seasons November 26, 2011. (Photo on in the NFL with Indianapolis, Detroit, page 29.) Seattle, and Atlanta. The Pollards live SARAH SCHULER HEWITT ’97 and in Pine Mountain, Georgia, with their her husband Chris welcomed Kathryn four children. Patricia on Sept. 4, 2011. They live in Chicago. JOE SPROVIERI ’94 is now vice president of partner solutions for BONNIE PARIS ’97 MSIE ’04 was restaurant.com. He lives in Schaumburg. named program development manager at Quality Quest for Health of Illinois. She is pursuing a doctorate in industrial JONNA TYLER, MA ’95 conducts ’95 play therapy training from and systems engineering at the University of Wisconsin. Previously, she her home via Skype for counselors worked at OSF Saint Francis Medical in Kathmandu, Nepal. Jonna, her Center and taught at Midstate College husband Ron, and two children live and Bradley. Bonnie lives in Peoria. in Peoria.

’94

NICHOLAS PIVONEY ’97 MBA ’00

and Elizabeth Lehnert were married October 10, 2010. He is an engineer with Dell. They live in Peoria.

bradley.edu/hilltopics

LISA HOFFMAN RAMSDELL ’97 and her husband Shane recently adopted their daughter Delaney Keum-Byul from South Korea, born on April 10, 2010. They live in Grand Rapids, Mich., with their three children. ERIC A. PETERSON ’98 won a regional Emmy at the 53rd annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards for outstanding achievement in sports programs for his work on the Big Ten Football Saturday Pregame show on the Big Ten Network. He is a director for Comcast SportsNet Chicago and also works as a freelance director. Eric and his wife Beth live in Chicago.

’98

COURTNEY FASSLER WALSH ’98

recently had her novel, A Sweethaven Summer, released by Summerside Press/Guidepost. A freelance writer, she has written two books on scrapbooking and has been a

contributing editor for Memory Makers magazine. Courtney and her husband ADAM WALSH ’98 live in Loveland, Colo., with their three children. TRISHA JORDING WIERENGA ’98

became an international boardcertified lactation consultant in July. Trish teaches breastfeeding classes at Methodist Medical Center and also is a leader for La Leche League in Peoria and Washington. Her husband BRIAN WIERENGA ’96 is a system analyst for Windsor Foods. They live in Eureka with their four children.

’99

ANNE SHIPMAN CLAUSSEN ’99 and her husband Tom

announce the birth of Benjamin Michael on September 10, 2011. They live in Naperville with their three children. MICHAEL DENNING ’99 has been named a partner in the Rockford office of Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen. He joined the firm in 2004 with a juris doctorate from Northern Illinois University College of Law. Mike and his wife Amanda live in Belvidere with their son. RICH MINAGLIA ’99 and his wife Donna welcomed twins Dean Richard and Noah Robert on December 23, 2010. Rich is an IT recruiter for TEKsystems. They live in Bartlett. CHAD UDELL ’99 was named one of the 40 Leaders Under 40 for 2011 by InterBusiness Issues magazine. He is managing director of Float Mobile Learning, an agency specializing in mobile development. Chad and his wife Renee live in Metamora with their three children.

’00

MATTHEW DAWSON ’00 MSCE ’10

was named one of 40 Leaders Under 40 by InterBusiness Issues magazine. He is a transportation engineer and technical design lead for Hanson Professional Services. Matthew is also past president and membership chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Illinois Valley Branch and is active in the community. He is

a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and a certified professional traffic operations engineer. Matthew lives in Peoria. JAMIE R. JOHNSON ’00, a social entrepreneur for Verde Sustainable Solutions, recently released an iPad application to help people save money on energy, increase energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. He lives in Chicago. KATIE MORIN ’00 and her husband Kevin Sullivan welcomed their second daughter, Evelyn Leigh, on April 13, 2011. They live in St. Paul, Minn. BETH LAZAR SATTLER ’00 and her husband Scott welcomed their second child, Riley Paige, on July 26, 2011. The family lives in Northbrook. PIYUSH SINGH, MBA ’00 was honored as a top ten 2011 CIO breakaway leader at the Global CIO Executive Summit. The award celebrates world-class IT leaders and their organizations. He is senior vice president and CIO of Great American Insurance Company and a member of the National Council of Advisors for the Foster College of Business. Piyush lives in Loveland, Ohio. KRISTIN ANDERSON LEESMAN ’01 PT ’03 and her husband TIM LEESMAN ’01 welcomed their

’01

pursuing a master’s degree in speech pathology, and Andrew is a city planner for the City of Muscatine. He has a master’s in urban planning from the University of New Orleans. The Fangmans live in Muscatine, Iowa. MELISSA CRIBBS ’03 began working at the Cleveland Clinic in October as a nurse practitioner in cardiac electrophysiology, which focuses on the electrical impulses and rhythms of the heart. She has a master’s degree from Ohio State University. She lives in Cleveland.

’03

COURTNEY FASSLER WALSH ’98

DARLA BAUGHMAN MARSHALL ’03

and her husband James announce the birth of Liam James on September 29, 2011. Darla earned a master’s degree in literacy education and her reading specialist certification from Northern Illinois University in 2010. The family lives in Oswego.

MICHAEL DENNING ’99

KARISMA WILLIAMS ’04 was featured in an interview by BlackEnterprise.com. She is creative director of Matimeo.com and a senior experience developer/designer for Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect. Karisma lives in Chicago.

’04

CELSO PIERRE, MBA ’05 is supplier quality assurance manager for Fisker Automotive, a second daughter, Hayley Renae, on start-up company producing extendedSept. 17, 2011. Kristin is a physical range electric vehicles. Celso and his therapist for Professional Therapy wife Laura live in Orange County in Services, and Tim is an account California. supervisor for Simantel. They live in Dunlap. ANDY RIDGEWAY ’05 is a workforce JOHN REDLINGSHAFER ’01 was named analyst for the U.S. Department of Labor. Previously, he was program one of the 40 Leaders Under 40 for 2011 by InterBusiness Issues magazine. director of the Highway Construction Careers Training Program at Illinois He is an associate with Heyl Royster Central College. Andy holds a master’s Voelker & Allen, PC. He holds a juris degree in public administration from doctorate from DePaul University. University of Illinois, Springfield. He John and his wife STEPHANIE BOEHM lives in Washington, D.C. REDLINGSHAFER ’01 live in Washington. KEVIN ZEPP ’05 is a network engineer in information technology services at ANDREW FANGMAN ’02 and ’02 his wife KRISTINE PIPER University of Illinois, Springfield, where he earned a master’s degree in computer FANGMAN ’04 announce the birth of science. He lives in Springfield. their second child, Emmett Andrew, on November 30, 2011. Kristine is

’05

JOSIE LUEDKE WEATHERFORD ’00

married Andrew Weatherford on October 8, 2011. She is a teacher in Maroa-Forsyth schools. They live in Decatur.

MELISSA CRIBBS ’03

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

’06

STEPHANIE GRIFFIN NORRIS ’02

and BRENTON NORRIS ’06 were married November 18, 2011. She owns The Bar Method exercise studio in Naperville, and he is an auction manager for Donlen Corp.

RiverWatch coordinator at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, a collaboration between the University of Illinois, Lewis and Clark Community College, and the Illinois Natural History Survey that is committed to understanding big river ecology. Nathan trains volunteers to gather samples at streams across the state. He holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from University of Illinois, Springfield, and lives in Springfield. JOHN SELBURG ’06 maintains an art studio in the Murray Building on the Peoria Riverfront. His solo exhibit opens at the Paul Vincent Gallery in Hoboken, N.J., in March. John was recently featured in Numero magazine. He holds an MFA from the University of Missouri and also teaches private art lessons. John lives in Peoria.

’07 MICHELE REYLING OHL ’02 and

Temple Ohl were married October 22, 2011. She is in administrative support for Bradley’s Center for Orientation and Advisement. They live in West Peoria.

THOMAS CURRIE ’04 and LAURA EERTMOED CURRIE ’05 were

married June 18, 2011. He is a branch support specialist at Heights Finance, and she teaches second grade in Pekin. They live in Peoria.

bradley.edu/hilltopics

ANDREA BUSTINZA HELMAN ’07 and her husband Andy

announce the birth of Nathan Douglas on November 22, 2011. They live in Kansas City, Mo. CHAD PACEY ’07 and his wife Rachel announce the birth of their second son, Jackson Stott, on Oct. 21, 2011. Chad works in inside sales for American Precision Supply. They live in Genoa with their two children. JONATHAN L.A. PHILLIPS ’07 has joined Shay Law Group Ltd. in Peoria. The firm focuses on businesses and entrepreneurs. Jonathan earned his juris doctoral degree from DePaul University College of Law and lives in Peoria. BRITTANY FLAHERTY THEIS ’07 is a lawyer with Whitt Law LLC. She holds a juris doctorate from John Marshall Law School. She and her husband MICHAEL THEIS ’07 were married on November 27, 2010. He is in sales for R.S. Bacon Veneer. They live in Aurora. JAMES BELL ’08 and his wife Ulonda welcomed Brodie James on July 16, 2011. James is a civil engineer with the

’08

Piece of cake

NATHAN KEENER ’06 is a

SHAUNA SEVER ’00 has two cookbooks coming out this year. Marshmallow Madness was released in February and another will be released later. A food writer and TV host, she writes the Piece of Cake blog at shaunasever. com. Her recipes have been included on the Parade and Huffington Post websites, as well as in Working Mother Magazine. Shauna and her husband SCOTT E. WEBB ’99 live in San Francisco with their daughter.

Illinois Department of Transportation. The Bells live in Peoria. MATT FULLER ’08 became a member of the Peoria Heights board of trustees in December. He is the international education coordinator at Illinois Central College. Matt lives in Peoria Heights. CHEVIE RUDER ’08 is executive director of the Washington Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she was sports sales manager for the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Chevie lives in Washington.

’09

LAUREN SHADID ’09 is a

’10

MARLON WASHINGTON ’10

corporate partnership service representative for the Chicago Cubs. She lives in Chicago.

starred in a Walmart holiday commercial and also portrays the Nerd in a series of Boost Mobile commercials. In addition to community theater productions, Marlon performs in murder mysteries with Murder Mystery Co. He lives in Tinley Park.

’11

MARLON WASHINGTON ’10

STEPHANIE COX, MBA ’11

joined St. Anthony’s Hospital in Alton as director of physician operations. She will oversee an office of 10 physicians and about 40 staff members. She lives in Alton. STACI TONS ’11 is the special events advancement manager at Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis. She lives in St. Louis.

STACI TONS ’11

you moved? pthomas@bradley.edu OR

send address changes to: Alumni Records, c/o Paula Thomas Bradley University 1501 W. Bradley Ave. Peoria, IL 61625

Send Us Your ClassNotes ... we want to share your news! Full Name____________________________Maiden__________________ Class Year____________Degree__________________________________ Advanced Degree(s)____________________________________________ Institution(s)__________________________________________________

MICHELLE MURPHY O’BRIEN ’04

GREG BROWN ’05 and Ashley

and Daniel O’Brien were married May 7, 2011. They live in Chicago.

Ubelhor were married November 12, 2011. Greg is a project manager for the Concord Group. They live in Chicago.

Home Address_________________________________________________ City_________________________________________________________ State________________________________Zip code_________________ E-mail_______________________________________________________ Phone: Home _________________________Work____________________ Current Job Title(s)_____________________________________________ Employer’s Name______________________________________________ Spouse name___________________________Maiden___________________ Is spouse a BU alum?_________If yes, spouse’s class year__________________ If BU alum, degree_______________________________________________ Advanced Degree(s)______________________________________________

COURTNEY MARCORDES-BRUNS ’06 and RYAN BRUNS ’08 were

COLIN MOSS ’07 and KASEY KLIPPSTEIN MOSS ’07 were

married October 29, 2011. She is a special education teacher in Stickney, and he works for Lauterbach & Amen accounting firm in Warrenville. They live in Woodridge.

married October 8, 2011. Kasey is a senior marketing associate at Enjoy Life Foods, and Colin is a project engineer at Sigalos and Associates. They live in Chicago.

Institution_____________________________________________________ Current Job Title(s)_______________________________________________ Employer’s Name________________________________________________ Family information_______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ My news: (Please provide month/day/year for weddings and births.)_____________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

SUZANNE HAGEMANN JEZIORCZAK, MBA ’09 married Paul Jeziorczak

ERIC SINN ’10 and STEPHANIE ROSS SINN ’11 MSA ’11 were

on July 16, 2011. She is a marketing manager for McGladrey & Pullen. The couple lives in Milwaukee.

married June 4, 2011. He is a mechanical engineer at Dell, and she is a staff accountant for Heinold-Banwart. They live in Peoria.

Please note: ClassNotes are published in the order they are received. Please send wedding and birth announcements within one year of the event. mail to: Bradley Hilltopics, Bradley University, 1501 W. Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625 fax 309-677-4055 e-mail hilltopics@bradley.edu online form bradley.edu/hilltopics Photo submissions: Digital photos should measure at least 1,200 pixels on the short side. Please include photographer’s written permission to reproduce copyrighted photos. Bradley Hilltopics reserves the right to make the final selection of all photography based upon available space, subject matter, and photo quality. questions: Call 309-677-2249.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

InMemory 1920s

NETA HOOBLER POTTLE ’29, March 8, 2011, Peoria, Ariz. Before her marriage, she worked at Farmers Savings Loan & Homestead. She was the bookkeeper for her husband’s Shell Oil business in River Forest, and later worked at Wieboldt’s. Neta was active in Sigma Kappa and enjoyed gardening. She was 102. Two children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren survive.

1930s

MARY LECKIE SALISBURY ’36, Dec. 2, 2011, Schaumburg. She was a nurse counselor at Liberty Mutual from 1949 until she retired in 1976. Previously Mary taught at several nursing schools. LOUISE BARRINGTON SCHOENHOLZ ’39, Oct. 14, 2011, Paw Paw. She was a high school home economics teacher and then worked as the cooperative extension adviser for Lee County from 1942 to 1945. Survivors include her husband Raymond, two sons, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

1940s

BETTY DILLON ENGLAND ’43, Oct. 5, 2011, Peoria. She worked for the law firm Hunter, Kavanagh, McLaughlin, and Bond. A lifetime member of St. Thomas Catholic Church, Betty volunteered for Guardian Angel Home, the American Red Cross, and Head Start. Her daughter survives. E. MICHAEL GYERMAN ’43, Aug. 26, 2011, Belleville. After serving in World War II and the Korean War, he became chief of staff of wing ground training in Tucson. Michael retired from the Air Force as a colonel. Later he was chairman of the industrial arts department at Belleville West High School. He created a historical display with more than 600 miniature military aircraft he built. He held a master’s degree from Colorado State University. His wife Alice survives. OPAL MIRIAM BACKES ROSZELL ’43, Jan. 28, Decatur. She was president of Junior Welfare, as well as board president of the Girls Home of Webster-Cantrell Hall. Miriam enjoyed golf and was active in PEO. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. Her sister EILEEN BACKES HUGHES ’44 survives. ESTHER SUTTER DELOTIS ’44 MA ’49, Dec. 13, 2011, Peoria. A social worker with the state of Illinois, she held an MSW from the University of Illinois. Esther received the Zonna L. Robbins Mental Health Award in 1994. She also worked at Bergner’s. Esther was an active member of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church. Two children, three granddaughters, and a great-granddaughter survive.

34 bradley.edu/hilltopics bradley.edu/hilltopics

BETTY KOCH HEERMAN BURCH ’46 MA ’67, Oct. 4, 2011, Peoria. In 1992 she retired from teaching in School District 150 after 31 years. Betty was the organist at Glen Oak Christian Church for 50 years. She was a member of Sigma Kappa and the Eastern Star. Eight children, 33 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren survive. VIRGINIA GIBBENS STANARD ’46, Dec. 21, 2011, Peoria. Ginny worked at Gibby’s Pharmacy for many years. Later she was employed at Bergan High School and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. She was an active volunteer. Survivors include four children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. JOSEPH “MILES” CHAMBERLAIN ’47, Nov. 28, 2011, Peoria. He was president and director of Adler Planetarium in Chicago for 23 years, retiring in 1991. He also had been chairman of the American Museum-Hayden Planetarium in New York City for 12 years. He organized and was chairman of an international conference for planetarium directors for a dozen years. In 1974–75, he was president of the American Association of Museums. A World War II Navy veteran, he also taught at the Merchant Marine Academy for five years. He held a doctoral degree from Columbia University and was honored as Bradley’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1967. Survivors include his wife PAULA BRUNINGA CHAMBERLAIN ’43, three daughters, four grandchildren, a brother, and his sister BARBARA CHAMBERLAIN ABEGG ’48. HENRY “BUD” LANG ’47, Sept. 18, 2011, Dundee. Bud was a stockbroker for many years, retiring as vice president of investments for Dain Rauscher. A World War II Navy veteran, he was a member of Sigma Chi. Bud was active in his church, Rotary, and the Lions Club. Surviving are his wife Jeanne, two children including STEPHANIE LANG ST. JOHN ’76, and three granddaughters. HOWARD MOOS ’47 MS ’52, Nov. 19, 2011, Peoria. During his 41-year career with Caterpillar, Howard headed the Fluid Mechanics Lab and set up the management training program for engineers, which he also ran. He had served as president of the local chapter of the Illinois Professional Engineers Society and taught night classes in physics at Bradley. Howard was an owner and operator of Do Dive In Scuba Shop until 2003. Two children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandsons survive. THERESA KUNTZ SOMERS ’47, Sept. 7, 2011, Decatur. Terri worked in medical technology at hospitals in Peoria and Decatur. Active in her church, she enjoyed bowling, golf, and bridge. Five sons, 21 grandchildren, and 23 greatgrandchildren survive.

JOHN VESPA ’48, Dec. 8, 2011, Springfield. He worked for Fiat-Allis for 38 years, retiring in 1985. John was a World War II Army veteran.

1950s

WILLIAM BALES ’50, Dec. 15, 2011, Scottsdale, Ariz. Bill had served as president of both the National and International Purchasing Associations. He was vice president of purchasing and materials for Quaker Oats Co. until retiring in 1980, and then at Union Pacific Railroad until 1990. He was a World War II Navy veteran. Surviving are his wife Betty, two children, and two grandchildren. WAYNE STEIN ’50, Jan. 4, Arlington Heights. He was a sales engineer for Tecumseh Products. A World War II Navy veteran, he enjoyed sailing. Wayne was active in his church and volunteered at a hospice and the Rolling Meadows library. His sister LOIS STEIN LEWIS ’47 survives. PAUL WHITNEY ’50 MS ’51, Nov. 9, 2011, Carterville. He was an architectural draftsman and technical specification writer for more than 50 years. Paul was active in Boy Scouts and his church for many years. Survivors include his wife Wanda, two children, three stepchildren, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. WESLEY DAVIS ’51 MS ’54, Oct. 18, 2011, Prescott, Ariz. A teacher and football coach in the Champaign school district for 32 years, he also worked as a switchman for the railroad. Wes was inducted into halls of fame for Bradley athletes and for Illinois high school coaches. As a Bradley student, he was ranked tenth in the nation for punting. Four children and three grandchildren survive. HARRY FINE ’51, Dec. 9, 2011, Bolingbrook. A World War II Army veteran, Harry worked in sales and training for General Mills for 35 years. He also was a fruit wholesaler, running trucks to Michigan to supply Chicago-area fruit stands. Harry sold Christmas trees in Calumet Park. He was an active member of Compass Church. Four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandsons survive. EUGENE MARTIN ’51, Sept. 21, 2011, Lake Forest. Gene retired as president of Grayslake National Bank. He served on the school board in Libertyville and the Lake County Board. An Army veteran, he was past commander of American Legion Post #329. Two children and three grandchildren survive. ROGER MONIER ’51, Nov. 18, 2011, Henry. He sold seed corn for Burrus Seed Co. and was a lifelong farmer. Roger was a 33rd degree Mason and enjoyed traveling in his Airstream trailer. He served in the Air National Guard during the Korean War. He is survived by two daughters, including MARY MONIER

HUFNAGEL ’74, several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, and his companion Mary Jo Grothe. GEORGE PEDERSEN, MS ’51 Ed.D ’57, July 3, 2011, Mesa, Ariz. He worked for several corporations including International Harvester. With his industrial arts degrees, he taught at the University of Illinois, the Manitoba Institute of Technology, Bradley, and several other colleges. A World War II veteran, George was active in Kiwanis. THOMAS BREHM ’52, June 30, 2011, Atlanta, Ga. He was marketing manager for Valspar Paint Co. An active volunteer, he raised funds for a residential care facility for individuals with special needs. He was a Korean War Army veteran and a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Two children survive. THOMAS GARRISON ’52, July 25, 2011, Largo, Fla. He was an Army veteran and a member of Sigma Chi. His wife Eileen, one son, three grandsons, and three great-grandchildren survive. WILLIAM NELSON ’52, Oct. 30, 2011, Maumee, Ohio. A Korean War Marine Corps veteran, Bill later commanded a Reserve unit in California. He worked in banking in Oregon, California, Nevada, and Wisconsin. He retired in 2005 after 10 years as office manager of the Ohio Auditor of State. Survivors include his wife Helen, three children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. HAROLD SELANDER ’52 MA ’53, Sept. 25, 2011, Griffith, Ind. He enjoyed the outdoors. Three children and seven grandchildren survive. BARBARA ARMIN BARUCH ’53, Dec. 9, 2011, Elmhurst. A retired speech therapist from Marquart District 15, Barb was a founding member of Congregation Etz Chaim of DuPage County. She also volunteered with Head Start. Surviving are her husband DAVID BARUCH ’52, two children, and three grandchildren. WILLIAM LARSON ’53, Oct. 16, 2011, Peoria. A World War II Navy veteran, Bill operated Larson Jewelers until retiring in 1991. He was active in the Knights of Columbus. Surviving are his wife Catherine, five children including ROBERT M. LARSON ’74 MA ’93 and RICHARD LARSON ’87, 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one sister, and his brother DONALD P. LARSON ’53. MARGARET CORNET PUGH ’53, Dec. 22, 2011, Peoria. Margaret was a founder of the local Planned Parenthood, where she later worked as clinical supervisor. She was the first certified nurse practitioner in women’s health in the Midwest. Margaret was active in First United Methodist Church. Her husband TOM PUGH ’52 MA ’55, two children, and two grandsons survive.

DONALD SHAVER ’53, Oct. 7, 2011, Williamston, S.C. Don retired from Ryerson Steel Co. A Korean War Marine Corps veteran, he was active in his church. He was a member of Theta Xi. Survivors include two sons, six grandchildren, and his companion Linda Hoffman. ROBERT SLACK ’53, Dec. 19, 2011, Rockford. He owned and operated an office furniture supply company. A Korean War Air Force veteran, Bob enjoyed watercolor painting, golf, and gardening. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Survivors include his wife JOAN KNIGHT SLACK ’53, three children, and five grandchildren. RAOUL “TERRY” THERIAULT ’53, Nov. 4, 2011, Aurora, Colo. A member of Bradley’s track team, he taught and coached at several high schools, retiring from Westminster High School. He was instrumental in bringing cross country to Colorado. Terry later worked for Target for 20 years. A World War II Navy veteran, he held a master’s degree from the University of Colorado. Surviving are his wife Peggy, a daughter, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. BILL VAUGHN ’53, Aug. 2, 2011, Severna Park, Md. He was a manager for Armour General, John Hancock Life, and Heils Meats. He owned and operated Beezer’s tavern in Pasadena, Md., for many years. Bill was a Korean War Marine Corps veteran. Four children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive. RICHARD BURKE ’54, Sept. 27, 2011, Las Vegas. Dick worked in applied statistics and was a principal member of the infrastructure and technology group of Parsons Corp. in Pasadena, Calif. He retired in 1996. Dick held a master’s degree from Purdue. He worked on the Army’s chemical stockpile disposal program, Department of Energy programs, and Alaskan gas projects. His wife Eleanor survives. JOHN DIETZ ’54, Sept. 14, 2011, Peoria. John and his wife Peggy owned Dietz Insurance Agency until retiring in 1978. An Air Force veteran, he was active in his church. His wife survives, along with two daughters and two grandsons. L. TRACY JOHNSTON ’54, Oct. 27, 2011, Altona. A decorated veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, he was an aircraft commander until retiring from active duty in 1975. Tracy then farmed for more than 30 years. He was director of the Altona co-op board for 10 years and was active in Masonic work. He enjoyed flying and woodworking. His wife Lou Ann and three children survive. ROBERT C. VOGEL ’55, Sept. 10, 2011, Morton. He taught industrial arts in Homer, worked at Hiram Walker for 15 years as a millwright, and retired from

Bradley in 1999 after 15 years in the maintenance department. A Korean War veteran, he received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Surviving are his wife Helen, four children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. RALPH RICH ’57, Feb. 7, 2011, Englewood, Fla. He was an accountant and corporate secretary for Arbie Scooter Feeds in Marshalltown, Iowa. A Korean War Army veteran, Ralph enjoyed golf. Survivors include his wife DOROTHY CLARKE RICH ’54, five daughters, and six grandchildren. MARY ANN WHITE SMERK ’57, Dec. 9, 2011, Bloomington, Ind. She worked in sales for CBS Radio in Chicago for two years and later operated a tax preparation business. Mary Ann edited The Encyclopedia of North American Railroads and other works by her husband, GEORGE SMERK ’55 MBA ’57. He survives, along with one son. BARBARA DETRICK BELL ’58 MA ’60, Oct. 14, 2011, Peoria. Barb taught history and was the dean of students at Woodruff High School until retiring in 2000. A tennis champion, she was inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. She also enjoyed golf. FRANK DALRYMPLE ’58, July 31, 2011, Gainesville, Ga. He was executive vice president of Administrative Services Inc. from 1974 until retiring in 2000. Earlier he worked for Continental Casualty Co. in Chicago. “Shottie” was a Korean War Army veteran. He was an elder in his church and was a hospice volunteer. Survivors include his wife Christie, two children, and six grandchildren. L. FRED DAVIS ’58, Nov. 25, 2011, Louisville. Fred worked for Broyhill, Ashley, and England Furniture during his 40-year career in the furniture industry. A member of Theta Chi, he was a pitcher on Bradley’s team that played in the 1956 College World Series. He played for a St. Louis Cardinals minor league team for one year. Fred was active in his church and enjoyed travel and tennis. He was a member of the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame. His wife MARGUERITE CLAES DAVIS ’61 and their son survive. DONALD GUTTINGER ’58, July 13, 2011, St. Augustine, Fla. Don had been an analyst for the state of Georgia. He was vice president of the Friends of the Anastasia Island Branch Library. Surviving are his wife Hellen, two sons, and two grandsons. CATHERINE LOGAN PARSONS ’58, Nov. 10, 2011, Peoria. Cathy worked at Bankers Title Co. and as a real estate agent. A founding member of the St. Patrick’s Society, she helped stage the first modern-day St. Patrick’s Day parade in Peoria. She Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

InMemory was the first president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. Cathy also was active in Pi Beta Phi and her church. Survivors include her husband RICHARD PARSONS ’58, three children, eight grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. DENNIS VACCARO ’59, Sept. 1, 2011, Melrose Park. Denny was founder and director of Leyden Family Services and Mental Health Center. He was a member of Theta Xi. His wife Elisa survives, along with four children and nine grandchildren.

1960s

WILLIAM HINES ’60, Oct. 27, 2011, Tucson, Ariz. He worked for IDS Financial Services before opening Hines Financial Services. Bill retired in 1996. He enjoyed golf and travel. Surviving are his wife Sherrill, four children, and five grandchildren. JUNE BALSIS SCHUH ’60, Nov. 19, 2011, Naples, Fla. June also resided in Swanton, Ohio, and formerly lived in Glenview. She was a member of Chi Omega. Survivors include four children, four grandchildren, and her companion Robert Erausquin. JEAN LYNN ’61, Jan. 25, Peoria. Jean retired from teaching at Wilder-Waite School in 1976. A member of the DAR and Prospect United Methodist Church, she enjoyed gardening and bridge. Surviving are three children, five grandchildren, and 12 greatgrandchildren. RICHARD DeSOLLAR ’62, Sept. 27, 2011, Springfield. He taught chemistry until beginning a long career with Central Illinois Public Service (CIPS). He retired in 1998. He was active in Knights of Columbus and the local philatelic society. Survivors include his wife Jeanne, three children, and five grandchildren. BURDETTE “BUD” FREW ’62, Sept. 25, 2011, Columbia, Mo. He worked at FS Services and then at MFA Inc. for 29 years, retiring in 1998 as CEO. Bud was an Army veteran. His wife Kit survives, along with two children and four grandchildren. DAYLE SLY NELSON ’62 MS ’67, Nov. 28, 2011, New Lenox. She taught chemistry at Joliet Junior College and biochemistry at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital. Her husband Jon and one son survive.

“In Memory” Guidelines: In Memory is written from newspaper clippings, as well as published obituaries supplied by friends and family. Bradley Hilltopics attempts to identify spouses, parents, children, and siblings who are also Bradley alumni. Submit an obituary by mailing a newspaper clipping or memory card from the funeral home to Bradley Hilltopics, 1501 W. Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625.

36 bradley.edu/hilltopics

GEORGE KOKINES ’63, Feb. 17, 2011, Simsbury, Conn. George worked for Transnational Communication Inc. and retired from Pratt & Whitney. He was active in his church and was a member of Sigma Nu. Three children and four grandchildren survive. JOHN KRAFT ’63, Nov. 6, 2011, Princeville. He farmed and worked in the fertilizer business until retiring in 1991. John was on the board of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association. He helped found the local Lions Club and the Princeville Heritage Museum. John served in the Army Reserves. Surviving are his wife Judy, three sons, his mother, and five grandchildren. WILLIAM R. MARTENS ’63, July 22, 2011, Granby, Conn. He retired from teaching science at Avon High School. Bill enjoyed studying geology. He held a master’s degree from the University of Florida. His wife Emily survives. JUDITH ONIKUL SIEGEL ’63, Aug. 18, 2011, Mundelein. She raised her family in Milwaukee. Two children and five grandchildren survive. KEITH CLARK ’64, Oct. 2, 2011, Kewadin, Mich. Keith began the new century as a Caterpillar retiree, retiring on Jan. 1, 2000, after 41 years. He worked summers at a golf course and also enjoyed fishing and boating. Survivors include his wife Paula, four children, two stepchildren, 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. DEAN JAMESON ’64 MSCE ’65, Dec. 18, 2011, Waco, Texas. He worked for Caterpillar in Peoria for 13 years before becoming facilities engineering manager in Pontiac and then Decatur. Dean was assigned to find a location in the South for a facility to build articulated trucks, and later was project manager there in Waco. Dean retired in 2002 and then consulted for Caterpillar. He was active in Rotary and enjoyed genealogy. Survivors include his wife SANDRA ZIMMERMAN JAMESON ’65 and their son BRETT JAMESON ’98. PAUL REIFF ’64, April 30, 2011, Mansfield, Texas. He was an operating manager for Sears Roebuck. Paul was a member of Sigma Nu. Surviving are his wife Nancy, four children, and three grandchildren. LOWELL STAFFORD ’64, Nov. 26, 2011, East Peoria. He retired in 2001 as a senior claims adjuster after 35 years with Pekin Insurance. Lowell enjoyed slow-pitch softball and fishing. His wife Jenny, two children, and six grandchildren survive. WALTER HAUPT, MSME ’65, Jan. 11, Peoria. After 38 years with Caterpillar, he retired in 1990 as facility manager of the Peoria Proving Ground. An active volunteer, Walt was a member of University United Methodist Church and Bradley’s OLLI program. He

was an Army veteran. Surviving are his wife Joanne, three children, and nine grandchildren. CHARLES JOYCE, MS ’66, June 29, 2011, Chicago. He entered the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1953, and taught and helped with extracurricular activities at Brother Rice High School for many years. He helped construct the stained glass in the chapel and around its campus. He also worked in New York, New Jersey, Washington, and Michigan. His sister survives. NANCY FRISBY CLARKE ’67, Jan. 14, Vienna, Va. Her memoir, My First Ladies: Twenty-five Years as the White House Chief Floral Designer, was published last September. Nancy trained at Hixson’s School of Floral Design in suburban Cleveland before her family moved to Washington, D.C. She began as a volunteer at the White House in 1978 and became chief florist in 1985. She served during six presidential administrations. Nancy appeared each year on HGTV’s White House Christmas special. In 2002 she was named Woodruff High School’s Distinguished Alumnus. Survivors include her husband Michael, two children, and two grandchildren. JAMES FIALA ’67, Nov. 28, 2011, Downers Grove. The founder and president of James D. Fiala Paving Co. in Bolingbrook, Jim also was president of Delcumbray Inc. and ILS Properties. His business grew from a residential paving contractor to a major road building general contractor with IDOT projects in excess of $20 million. Jim was inducted into the Bradley Centurion Society in 2005. He had served as president of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association and as director of the Illinois State Crime Commission. Survivors include his wife Jane, three stepchildren, and a grandchild. WALTER McCULLA, MEA ’67, Dec. 19, 2011, Huntley. He ended his 43-year career with Caterpillar in 1981 as agreements administrator. A recipient of Rotary’s Paul Harris Award, he was active in his church, the Peoria Color Camera Club, and the Peoria Civic Ballet. Two children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren survive. MARK KUGLER ’68, Oct. 27, 2011, Palmetto Bay, Fla. Mark was president and CEO of Medexec Inc. A member of Zeta Beta Tau at Bradley, he held an MBA from the University of Miami. His wife Elise and one daughter survive. CARL CHERRIE, MS ’69, Sept. 18, 2011, Princeton. Carl began teaching at Princeton High School in 1965 and retired as superintendent in 1996. Earlier, he taught in Wyanet and at Rockridge High School. He held an Ed.S. degree from Western Illinois University. Carl enjoyed chairing fundraising events

Faculty DOROTHY LASKO OHLMAN ’40, education instructor for almost 40 years, died in Peoria Heights on October 24, 2011. In 1965 she began teaching in the evenings and summers at Bradley, retiring in 2005 at age 91. Dorothy held a master’s degree from Illinois State University. She was a principal at Pleasant Valley School, Marquette Heights School, and in Elmwood. In her early years of teaching at Peoria Heights School, Dorothy was the first female band director in the state. JOHN R. HOWARD ’53 MA ’54, professor emeritus of international studies, died on January 9 in Edelstein. He was director of international studies at Bradley and taught in the European summer semester. He wrote and edited books on foreign policy and world affairs. The recipient of the Frances Mergen Award for Public Service, he also was honored by the Lions Club recently. He was a leader in Bradley’s University Senate and the American Association of University Professors. He was a founder and 50-year board member of Youth Farm, and was also active in Masonic work and the American Legion. A World War II Marine Corps veteran, he held a Ph.D. from American University. Survivors include his wife MARY HOWARD, MA ’80, two children, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. HAROLD RATCLIFF, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, died in Peoria on February 1. He taught at Bradley from 1950 to 1985, chairing his department and serving as assistant dean of the engineering college. He developed the cooperative education program. He was active in the community and enjoyed singing in several choirs. He was a charter member of the Peoria North Rotary Club and received four Paul Harris Fellow awards. A World War II Navy veteran, he held a master’s degree from Purdue. Survivors include his wife CAMILLE

and was active in the American Red Cross, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Ducks Unlimited. His three daughters survive, along with four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. JAMES EASTERLY ’69, Oct. 30, 2011, Litchfield. He worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation for many years, retiring in 2003 as director of highways. He then became vice president of McDonough Associates Inc., a consulting firm. He was active in his church and held a master’s degree from the University of Illinois. Surviving are his wife Gale, two children including GREGG EASTERLY ’96, and two grandsons. DANIEL KING ’69, Nov. 13, 2011, South Glastonbury, Conn. He was an engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for 37 years, retiring in 2006. He held an MBA from the University of Hartford. Dan enjoyed travel and woodworking. His wife Susan survives, along with one daughter and two grandchildren.

1970s

WILLIAM McDONNA ’71, Sept. 13, 2011, Bradford.

A Korean War Air Force veteran, he retired from Caterpillar in 1992 after 37 years of service. Surviving are his wife Carole, four daughters

ABRAMS PRIMM RATCLIFF ’63 MA ’64, former dean of women; three children; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. JANE ISING, professor of economics, died on February 2 on her 110th birthday. She earned a doctoral degree from the University of Berlin before fleeing Germany in 1939 with her late husband Ernest, also a Bradley professor, who was known internationally for his Ising Model in physics. She enjoyed swimming and was an active member of Universalist Unitarian Church. She also taught German in School District 150. She led a Great Books of the Western World group. A longtime resident of Peoria, where she was a founder of the local Planned Parenthood, she had lived in Matteson since 2005. Her son Tom survives, along with two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. PHILIP WEINBERG, HON ’73, professor emeritus of engineering and dean of two of Bradley’s colleges, died on February 2 in Peoria. He began Bradley’s electrical engineering department in 1956. In the early ’60s he established a coordinated research office at Bradley, as well as the University Television Center. He was considered responsible for bringing public TV and radio to central Illinois. (A related story appears on page 6.) He received the Mergen Award in 1978, the same year he became founding dean of the College of Communications and Fine Arts, a position he held for eight years. He returned to engineering as dean of Engineering and Technology from 1986 until his 1989 retirement. A World War II Navy veteran, he held a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Bradley in 1973. Surviving are his wife Rose, three children including FRED WEINBERG ’75, two granddaughters, and a great-grandson.

including SUSAN McDONNA HERMACINSKI ’95 and WENDY McDONNA EDWARDS ’05, and four grandsons. JILL NEWMAN SANDLER ’71, Oct. 18, 2011, Milwaukee. Jill taught in Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay and later was assistant director of the Jewish Community Center for many years. Survivors include her husband Steven, two children, her father, and one grandson. MARY ELLEN HONINGS ’72, Dec. 9, 2011, Peoria. She was an art instructor at Illinois Central College and Father Sweeney School. Mary Ellen also provided art lessons for numerous organizations. Three children, several grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren survive. LORRAINE DRIVER ’74, Sept. 10, 2011, Peoria. Lorry had worked as a claims analyst at Caterpillar. RANDEE LYONS ’75, Jan. 5, Christopher. Employed by River City Construction for 25 years, he ran the branch in Benton for the past 16 years. Randee enjoyed bass fishing. Survivors include his father and sister.

1980s

DEE WOELLERT, MA ’84, Nov. 17, 2011, Rockford. She was a counselor in the Peoria area until 1993. Dee held a doctoral degree from Northern Illinois

University. Surviving are four children and six grandchildren. DAVID PARKER ’88, Dec. 1, 2011, DeKalb. David held a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University where he taught math for 20 years. Surviving are his wife CARRIE GEKAS PARKER ’89, their son, and his parents. DOEBA PATRICK BROPLEH ’89, Oct. 14, 2011, Sacramento, Calif. He was an independent business consultant with Four Bees Consulting. Doeba held an MBA from California State University. He had been president of the Association of Citizens and Friends of Liberia since 1991. Survivors include his wife Victoria Jackson, his parents, and four brothers. DAVID WOJCIK ’89, Nov. 12, 2011, Melrose Park. He was an accountant at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Surviving are his wife Ann Marie, one daughter, and five siblings including WILLIAM WOJCIK ’80.

2000s

MICHAEL BAIR ’03, Feb. 4, Chicago. Mike was employed at Northern Trust and previously worked at HSBC. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau. Survivors include his wife VICKI PIENIAZEK BAIR ’05, their daughter, and his parents.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

AlumniNews people & events

Director’s Corner Alumni Events April 13–14 Peoria Pi Kappa Phi 30th anniversary. Contact JESSE MARCZEWSKI ’14 at historian@ pikappaphiemu.org or call 800-952-8258. April 20–22 Peoria BU Black Alumni Alliance reunion. Register online or call 800-952-8258 for more information. April 25 Online Webinar “Your Great Workplace: Lessons from the Best!” 1 p.m. (Central). Preregistration required at bualum.org/events by April 18. Free. April 28 Peoria Delta Tau Delta 25th anniversary. Contact MATTHEW KUNTZ ’04 MBA ’10 at kuntz_matthew@yahoo.com. May 4 Peoria CIBAC wine tasting, Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, Peplow Pavilion, 5:30 p.m. June 21–24 Las Vegas Bradley Vets Club reunion, Golden Nugget. Contact RON KASSING ’66 at rfkslk@ earthlink.net or 303-522-0722. June 23 San Francisco Oakland A’s vs. San Francisco Giants, tailgate party 2 p.m.; 4:15 p.m. game.

How do you define “leadership?” We talk and write about it frequently in relation to our government or corporate leaders. We strive to be leaders in our community, our workplaces, and our homes. Libraries and bookstores are filled with volumes of “how-to” publications, and a Google search on “leadership” will turn up hundreds of thousands of results. Part of the mission and vision of the Bradley University Alumni Association is to provide lifelong resources in support of the personal, professional, and civic aspirations of our alumni. We seek to keep you connected with your alma mater and look for opportunities to provide you with purposeful programming in support of your interests and development. I am excited about an upcoming program that speaks to all of us in the workforce and showcases one of our talented faculty. On April 25, all alumni are invited to participate in a free webinar, “Your Great Workplace: Lessons from the Best!” Facilitated by author and Bradley professor Dr. Jennifer Robin (see What Counts at Work, page 20), you’ll learn how you can capitalize on the latest workplace trends, retain top talent, and enjoy tangible business value in return for efforts to build a great workplace. You don’t have to be a manager or business owner to participate. Anyone wishing to learn more about the importance of trust, pride, and camaraderie in the workplace will benefit from the program. Find details and register for the webinar at bualum.org. Invite your friends, colleagues (and boss!) to join you. After all, how often can they benefit from great professional development programs — free of charge! lori winters fan executive director, alumni relations

october

SAVE THE DATE! Bradley’s Homecoming is slated for

June 25 Chicago Golf outing, Royal Fox Country Club, St. Charles, 11 a.m.; lunch, golf, and dinner.

october 10-14, 2012

August 3 Peoria CIBAC Bratfest, Jimmy’s Bar, 2801 W. Farmington Rd., 5 p.m.

Class of 2002 and Class of 1962 reunions

August 12 St. Louis Alumni picnic and student send-off, Stacy Park, Olivette, 1–3 p.m. $5.

Volunteer for a planning committee by contacting reunion co-chairs listed below, completing the volunteer form at bualum.org/volunteerapplication, or calling 800-952-8258.

September 28–29 Peoria Sigma Phi Epsilon Reunion ’50s & ’60s, contact HARRY SHORT ’64 at harryshort@cox.net or 480-236-3960. November 10 Chicago All Greek Reunion & Exchange, Harry Caray’s, Lombard. For program information, visit bualum.org or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 309-677-2240 or 800-952-8258.

Class of 2002 contacts:

Class of 1962 contacts:

STEPHANIE BLOCK ’02

SANDE FLEMING CARRUTHERS ’62 MA ’65

EDWARD WANYANDEH ’02

JOHN T. BROWN ’62

stephblock@alum.bradley.edu

wanyandeh@excite.com

sjcarruthers@att.net

jbrownchrtr@comcast.net

JOHN W. DAY ’62

daybreak1939@yahoo.com

bradley.edu/hilltopics

2 1 4 3

6 7

New York More than 60 alumni and friends attended a reception on November 17 at the Tribeca Grill. Pictured with President Joanne Glasser, from left, are DAN O’MALLEY ’71, Dr. RICK KAY ’70, JOAN LaVETTER KAY ’71, and PETER BAZELI ’98. 2 Chicago About 300 alumni and fans gathered on November 25 at the Sears Centre Arena to watch the Braves take on the Wisconsin Badgers. From left are ANDREI JUNGE ’92, BRETT DOSTAL ’93, RICH PILLMAN ’94, and ED CABRAL ’93. 3 Peoria The Bradley band and cheerleaders brought KAL PAAR ’68, Jerry and Karen McKnight, Howard Hartke ’55, and more than 350 alumni and fans to their feet during the Alumni Weekend pregame party at the Peoria Civic Center on January 21. 4 Washington, D.C. More than 50 alumni and friends gathered on December 15 at Tonic Restaurant prior to the Bradley vs. George Washington men’s basketball game. Pictured with President Glasser, from left, are CAL COOLIDGE ’74, his daughter Sarah, and ANDREW HEATON ’82. 5 Chicago About 20 alumni and friends joined head golf coaches Mary Moan and Jeff Roche and the Bradley golf teams at Golf Nation in Palatine, owned by BOB DiMEO ’83, for a winter golf tune-up on February 11. From left are Coach Roche, JILL ROGGEVEEN ’03, Ronni Graf, LISA HINKLEY ’00, TIM POLZIN ’00, and ZACHARY MATYJA ’02. 6 Wyoming AARON WOOD ’08, a grad student at the University of Wyoming, cheers on the Braves when Bradley played Wyoming in Laramie on December 3. 7 Peoria More than 100 alumni and students attended the first Rising Star and Bradley Ambassador Networking Reception in the Shaheen Hall of Pride on January 20. This year marks the first graduating class of Rising Stars — Outstanding First Year Student Award recipients. From left are MICHELLE NOE ’98, SYDNEY SCHNEIDER ’14, CASSANDRA HARVILL ’14, and JULIE TURNER HARVILL ’85. BUAA vice president BRIAN MILLER ’79 and president SHELLY HEIDEN ’85 look on from the stairs. 1

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

CampusView

back in style on campus With a standing-room-only crowd of 4,340 on Nov. 16, 2011, Bradley played a Division I opponent for the first time on campus since 1982. The 66-65 victory over Southeast Missouri also was the first regular-season men’s game at the Renaissance Coliseum. JORDAN PROSSER ’14 takes a shot over a Southeast Missouri defender during the Braves’ victory. His 15 points led Bradley, but it was a 3-point play by TAYLOR BROWN ’12 with 4.6 seconds left that sealed the victory. The 1981–82 MVC and NIT championship team, including current assistant coach WILLIE SCOTT ’83, was also honored at the game. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/extras to download this photo by Duane Zehr.

Bradley Hilltopics Spring 2012

Bradley Hilltopics 1501 West Bradley Avenue Peoria, Illinois 61625

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not your everyday dishes

Duane Zehr

Select pieces of Lydia Moss Bradleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 75-piece hand-blown cranberry glass luncheon set are on display in the Cullom-Davis Library and the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, thanks to the generosity of an alumna from the class of 1940 and the trustee of her estate. The rare, century-old collection has an estimated value of more than $15,000, but the set is priceless to the University. Read about the gift on page 23.