NLU Alumni Magazine Spring 2022

N LU’s Magaz ine f o r A lum ni an d Fr i e n d s

Realizing Our Mission Through

RESILIENCE & PERSISTENCE

NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 National Louis University VIEW | SPRING 2022

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

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Nivine Megahed, Ph.D.

NLU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FEATURES

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Realizing our Mission Through Resilience & Persistence

A SNAPSHOT FROM THE PAST

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NLU Student Life in the 1970s

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NLU LAUNCHES TWO NEW SCHOOLS

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RECENT HAPPENINGS AT NLU

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Acknowledging the Generosity of Our 1886 Society Members

RECENT EVENTS AT NLU

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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SCENES FROM KENDALL

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Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management

SCENES FROM NCE 11

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The National College of Education

NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FROM NLU TRUSTEES 17 NEWS & NOTES FINAL GLANCE Threading the Needle

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INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Christopher Chantson Vice President of Institutional Advancement

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Vanessa Figueroa Director of Advancement Operations Eric Judson Institutional Advancement Coordinator Michael Kenahan Director of Major Gifts & Sponsorships Joel Rittle Associate Director of Annual Giving

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Arlene Strong Director of External Funding and Grant Development Michael Zarobe Director of Alumni Relations

22 website | nl.edu/alumni email | alumni@nl.edu phone | 312.261.3111 facebook.com/nationallouis twitter.com/nlu_alumni instagram.com/nationallouisu

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Greetings National Louis Alumni,

Welcome to the 2022 issue of The View, National Louis University’s official alumni magazine. Inside, you will find a rich tapestry of stories highlighting the amazing work of our students, faculty, and staff, whose commitment to NLU’s mission to drive educational equity and empower all learners to achieve their goals has made us a recognized leader in the field. You will also have the chance to catch up with many of our notable alumni, who continue to carry forward our commitment to service to their communities – a tradition more important than ever in times like these.

The theme of this issue is resiliency in the face of hardship. Over the last two years, the only certainty has been a constant sense of uncertainty. First, the events of 2020 came out of nowhere to strike us all like a bolt of lightning.

In March, the COVID-19 pandemic turned life upside down. Business, education, even our leisure activities – everything had to be reimagined for a new, remote, and socially distant world. In late May of that year, the nationwide, mass demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd shook the country. The unrest was, and continues to be, a wake-up call about the systemic, racial inequities that afflict this nation.

The impact of that tumultuous year still reverberates today. So many things have changed including how people work and go to school. It has created new expectations on workplaces to reflect the full diversity of our workforce.

It has changed the career landscape, placing a premium on innovators who recognize the critical link between education and the job market. And it has placed new demands on institutions of higher education, which, as crucial vehicles of economic mobility and civic education in our country, must also adapt to changing times.

I am pleased to share that NLU has continued to demonstrate its resilience and adaptability to respond to a changing world. Because of our continued growth we divided our College of Professional Studies and Advancement into two separate colleges: The Graduate School of Business and Leadership and the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. To address the need for economic stability, we launched a new initiative that gave learners a route to sustainable employment within six months: Accelerate U, a first-of-its-kind program blending flexible, online education with on-the-job training that results in a recognized credential, a job, and that builds toward a college degree. We are a Minority- and Hispanic-Serving Institution, nationally recognized as among the most diverse universities in the country. Our remarkable institutional growth reflects our commitment to understand what the needs of tomorrow’s students and employers will be, and to adapt accordingly.

Over the last two years our alumni have played an invaluable role in supporting their communities as they navigated the pandemic environment. You will have the chance to read about many of them in these pages.

Whether it is teachers helping students overcome adversity in the classroom, counselors guiding individuals experiencing mental health challenges, or culinary and hospitality professionals developing creative solutions for an industry hit particularly hard by the pandemic, NLU alumni are living out our mission to serve and support our neighborhoods, our communities, and our country.

I hope you will enjoy this update on NLU and all of the amazing people in our extended community. A university leaves its most lasting impact through its alumni, and as one yourself, you can take pride in the mark your alma mater and your fellow alumni are leaving on our society.

Sincerely,

Nivine Megahed, Ph.D. President

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on being NLU alumni, and welcome to an array of opportunities

The National Louis Alumni Association is a gateway for our 80,000 strong alumni community to engage and strengthen belonging to NLU. From milestone class reunions, mentoring programs, virtual webinars, alumni recognition celebrations, and networking events, there are many ways to stay connected and show your NLU pride. Go to www. nl.edu/alumni/ to learn more.

In addition to being a member of our alumni community, you also have access to a team of highly qualified career advisors who can help navigate and prepare you for your job search—whether you are a new graduate or seasoned alumni. NLU’s Career Bridge can connect you with our almost 400 employer partners and have you participate in virtual career and hiring events. Reach out to careerbridge@nl.edu to start your job search today!

From webinars to networking events and supporting career pathways, NLU is your life-long learning companion. As such, you will automatically qualify for our Alumni Scholarship, a 15% tuition discount given to any NLU alumni who enrolls in an additional NLU degree program. NLU’s Enrollment Team is available to assist with any questions related to degree programs and the enrollment process. To learn more, contact enrollment@nl.edu.

Together we are here to celebrate your accomplishments and support you in your future endeavors.

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REALIZING OUR MISSION THROUGH

RESILIENCE & PERSISTENCE We are building on our existing strengths to achieve ambitious yet achievable goals that will provide the foundation for sustained growth as a recognized leader in accessibility, equity, and quality education for anyone who wants to learn.

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2020 unexpectedly turned into a perfect storm of challenges for institutions of higher education. This, of course, includes NLU. Schools had to abruptly and rapidly transition to an all-remote, virtual environment basically overnight, at breakneck speed. Neither NLU nor any other university had ever faced such a task before, but NLU passed this test with flying colors, even outperforming some of its larger and better-known peers with a seamless transition to the new normal of remote learning.

During the upheaval of that period, NLU’s community stepped up in a big way to support our students. In a typical year, NLU students make significant sacrifices in order to attend to school. The 2020 pandemic added additional disruptions that impacted their ability to continue their education. But, because of our community’s commitment to NLU’s students, funds were raised to provide emergency support to help them stay on the path to earning their degrees. The generosity of our individual, foundation and corporate donors resulted in 920 awards being made to 705 students and nearly $430,000 were distributed in 2020 through the Emergency Fund and COVID Emergency Tuition Scholarships. This sum was a portion of a larger total to accrue over the following year.

“With 29% of our students reporting a COVID infection, hospitalization, or death in their family, the call to action was clear and urgent. Our faculty and staff stepped up to offer unprecedented support during unprecedented times. In total, NLU secured and distributed over $2.5M in direct aid to our students to support emergency funds, technology access, and basic needs support.”

-Aurélio Valente, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students For several years, NLU has taken active steps to address food insecurity among our students. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has only exacerbated this challenge: recent data reveal that 55% of NLU undergraduate students have experienced basic needs insecurity (food and housing) during the pandemic. 22% of graduate students went an entire day without food, of whom 56% stated they went without food three or more times in the past 30 days.

In 2020, NLU launched our first full-service Food Pantry at our Chicago campus. In the 2020-21 school year, the Pantry supported 120 individual students during 313 visits. Of the students served, 72% were eligible for financial aid, 71% identified as representing a minority group, and 62% were first-generation college students.

In fall 2020, donors contributed generously to an appeal in support of the NLU Food Pantry. The results were outstanding: thanks to our donors’ unconditional support, NLU collected and purchased 6,700 pounds of food! Most notably, 98% of students* who visited the Pantry in the winter term enrolled in the next term, persisting in the pursuit of their educational goals.

NLU continues to flourish in rapidly changing times. Our 2030 Strategic Plan anticipates the seismic impact of current events on the future of higher education.

We are building on our existing strengths to achieve ambitious yet achievable goals that will provide the foundation for sustained growth as a recognized leader in accessibility, equity, and quality education for anyone who wants to learn.

Ultimately, the drastic disruptions of the last two years have only made National Louis University a stronger, more durable institution. Whatever the future holds for higher education, NLU will be prepared. * The typical student term-to-term persistence rate is 85%.

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NLU Launches Two New Schools In 2020, NLU launched the Graduate School of Business and Leadership. The School grows out of a foundational commitment to the communities we come from, the families that raise us, and the neighborhoods we call home. This commitment ensures that NLU’s alumni are poised to leave a positive impact in the city of Chicago and beyond.

At NLU’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership, students will learn to seize the chance to build innovative new business models that also advance social equity for the communities that will benefit the most from renewed investment and economic opportunity. One such area is in succession planning.

Local communities would benefit tremendously from education and outreach that helps business owners prepare to keep locally-owned businesses in the hands of minority individuals. Enduring, sturdy small businesses with roots in the neighborhood are a vital part of any healthy community, and our students, professors, and alumni will be learning, teaching, and founding enterprises of their own in the years to come. Areas of focus like this embody the University’s heritage of service and stewardship.

NLU also founded the brand new Graduate College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences in 2020 – a founding that could not be more timely. Health service psychologists have never been more important to the world, and NLU’s Graduate College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences has never been more integral to the field. Our graduate psychology program doesn’t just produce capable counselors; it produces agents of social change.

At the Illinois (ISPP) and Florida (FSPP) Schools of Professional Psychology, we prepare future health service psychologists to meet the world’s most pressing mental health needs, while furthering the fields of psychology and behavioral sciences. Our faculty serve on international boards and as expert consultants globally, bringing the diverse perspectives baked into NLU’s DNA to the world’s stage.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ignacio Lopez, Dean of the School of Business, and Dr. Kelli Johnson, Dean of the College of Psychology, these two new, exciting schools are preparing NLU alumni to make a difference both at home and across the country.

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RECENT HAPPENINGS AT NLU

Acknowledging the Generosity of Our 1886 Society Members In early November 2021, NLU’s 1886 Society hosted its first fall event in Kendall College’s intimate dining room to recognize the inaugural class of annual donors. Attendees enjoyed a four-course dinner prepared and served by Kendall students and faculty, along with wine pairings presented by our faculty sommelier.

University President Nivine Megahed thanked 1886 Society members for their generosity, and introduced DaZay Green, an NLU Student Ambassador and aspiring special education teacher, who spoke about his experience at NLU and the positive impact that it has had on his life.

Interested in joining the 1886 Society?

The 1886 Society recognizes donors who invest in NLU students and their bright futures through gifts of $250 or more in a single calendar year (January 1 – December 31). The Society’s name recognizes the year of NLU’s founding.

Learn more about 1886 Society benefits and opportunities at: nl.edu/donate/the-1886-society/.

For additional information, please contact Joel Rittle at (312) 261-3915 or jrittle@nl.edu.

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RECENT EVENTS AT NLU November 8, 2021 - Veterans Appreciation Dinner NLU hosted a special dinner to honor our veteran and military-connected students, staff and community partners. Guests enjoyed a delicious four-course meal prepared and served by Kendall College students and faculty. Speakers included Stacey Dixon, Director of the Veterans and Military Program, and NLU President Nivine Megahed, who thanked veterans for their bravery and service. This dinner was the first of several events during a week-long appreciation of our veteran and military-connected students that included candlelight vigils at our Chicago and Wheeling campuses.

December 10, 2021 - Toys For Tots Each year, the Veterans and Military Program (VMP) at NLU supports the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Drive, which provides toys and holiday joy to children in need. This year, VMP worked with NLU staff, faculty and students to collect and donate 225 toys for the drive at our campuses or through our Amazon wish list!

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December 3, 2021 - Day of Service NLU was delighted to welcome six volunteers from McKinsey & Company’s Chicago office who joined us for their company-wide Day of Service. Fueled by breakfast pastries from Kendall College, these volunteers helped assemble medical supply kits for students in NLU’s Accelerate U medical assistant certification program. In just 90 minutes, our intrepid volunteers assembled 70 intricate kits, saving NLU staff many hours of time! Each kit contains a stethoscope, thermometer, surgical gloves and other medical supplies, which students use during their six-month certification program.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Helping Vets one click at a time

Alum helps veterans express emotions, prevent suicides Click. Robert Perez, a military veteran, takes a gorgeous photo of a river flanked with trees. Click.

He takes another of the neat rows of a mid-summer cornfield. Click. And a photo of the faithful brown dog following him around, tongue hanging out.

He’s participating in the PhotoVoice project, which encourages veterans to bond by capturing photo images that have meaning for them.

Cari Stevenson, Ph.D., a 2017 graduate of NLU’s Community Psychology program, had obtained a “Making Connections” grant from the Movember Foundation, which primarily works to improve men’s health and well-being. Stevenson is a professor of psychology at Kankakee Community College and co-advisor of KCC’s veterans’ group. She also teaches I/O Psychology and Human Resources Management at NLU as an adjunct professor.

One of the student veterans she taught at KCC, Pedro Santos, liked photography, and she introduced him to Movember’s PhotoVoice project. He enlisted other male veterans from the school, and they

decided to plan and execute the “mission” of PhotoVoice together, in the same style of planning and executing missions together they had learned in the military.

“The photos they took in PhotoVoice became a catalyst for incredible, meaningful dialogue that this (veterans) group usually doesn’t have,” Stevenson said. “Veterans don’t usually sit down and talk about their feelings. So the project opened up a lot of doors for them.”

Stevenson feels that dialogue and mutual support is important for veterans. The latest research indicates about 22 veterans commit suicide every day; having meaningful connections and conversations with supportive friends, especially fellow veterans, helps them process their experiences in a healthier way.

The Movember Foundation funded the production of a video on the project, which also features NLU’s Brad Olson, Ph.D., co-director of the Community Psychology program.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT #DoughSomething: Kendall College Alumna Serves up a National Campaign for Justice In May of 2021, the Chef, and Kendall College alumna, Beverly Kim (‘00, A.A.S. in Culinary Arts), was featured in an ABC-7 story about her efforts to shine a spotlight on the stubborn problem of anti-Asian racism. When the COVID-19 pandemic set in two years ago, Kim was struggling with the news of rising hate crimes against Asian-Americans. As the story details: “Desperately wanting to do something to help, Kim finds inspiration again in her kitchen. The award-winning chef decided to answer the call to action with the hashtag #DoughSomething. What started as a social media campaign to raise awareness and funds for Asian Americans Advancing Justice has now turned into a national movement with nearly 100 restaurants joining the campaign. “It’s about solidarity across the board and the country, solidarity that we need to reckon with,” Kim said.

“This anti-Asian hate, we have to name it, we have to have time and space to grieve. For the first time, I see this really deep connection to it in our whole community, finally allowing ourselves the space to grieve and be mad and demand change, not just ask, but demand. This is not the way we should live.”

Chef Kim’s activism on this issue represents the best of what we can be. We encourage you to read the full story here: https://abc7. com/beverly-kim-doughsomething-our-americaasian-voices-aapi/10553774/ More recently, Kim has been involved in efforts to help working mothers stay and succeed in the restaurant industry. In 2020 she launched The Abundance Setting, which according to a recent interview is “a nonprofit designed to support working mothers in the culinary industry, with programming that includes meal relief, networking assistance, and mentoring opportunities.”

You can read the full interview here: https:// backofhouse.io/stories/beverly-kim-interviewabundance-setting-working-mom-restaurantindustry

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Presidential Honors for a NLU Alum NLU alum and military veteran, Darrell Williams, was inducted into the White House Communications Agency Hall of Fame in 2021! White House Communications Agency military members or civilian employees are inducted into the WHCA Hall of Fame in recognition of their sustained superior performance of duty in support of the President of the United States.

Mr. Williams graduated from NLU in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Management, which he says opened the door to his post-military career.

Congratulations, Darrell!

A Champion for Her Community COVID-19 upended many lives, but it hit poor communities such as Chicago’s predominately Latino and Black Little Village neighborhood particularly hard. At a critical juncture in her students’ lives, Olga Contreras (‘02, B.A. in Early Childhood Education), a second grade teacher at Saucedo Scholastic Academy, a second grade teacher at Saucedo Scholastic Academy, stepped up to battle the threat of learning loss. Doing everything she could to make remote school feel like regular school, Olga became an advocate for her students when they needed one most. Her passion for her students led to two feature articles in Chicago’s Public Radio Station, WBEZ.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Professor Kristin Lems was honored with the 2021 Elliot Judd Outstanding Teacher award from the Illinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/ Bilingual Education for her outstanding teaching and dedication to the professional field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Culinary Arts Program Chair at Kendall College and NLU, Wook Kang, gave a cooking demonstration on WGN’s Midday News that put a fusion spin on a traditional Saint Patrick’s Day staple. The dish featured corned beef and colcannon empanadas with pub curry sauce, and was a big hit!

Dr. Gloria McDaniel-Hall, Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at National Louis University, appeared on ABC-7 Chicago discussing the psychological, physical, and academic aspects of returning to the classroom, and what parents can be doing at home to help prepare their children for regaining their educational foothold.

SCENES FROM KENDALL Kendall College Offers New Research and Co-Op Program to Support Students amid COVID-19 Crisis In October 2021, Kendall College faculty released The Future of Hospitality Management: Preparing Students for a Changing Industry. This research offers insights into the ways educators can promote hospitality careers to mitigate changes wrought by the pandemic and ongoing market challenges, including labor shortages and changing workforce expectations. Senior industry leaders participated in focus groups and were asked to rate skills that they viewed as most important for hospitality professionals: while technical skills such as fluency with technology, and financial management rated highly, it was versatility, communications and

empathy that were most frequently cited as more important. These “soft skills” promote creative problem-solving, adaptability and collaboration – all of which are critical in hospitality careers.

Additionally, Kendall College is now providing hands-on career experiences for hospitality students through a newly-created co-op program that also helps to address ongoing industry labor shortages.

Piloted in the 2021-22 school year, participating students take a full slate of foundational hospitality courses in the fall and winter terms, and are then matched with a local employer partner for a fulltime position starting in the spring term and beyond.

This “earn to learn” model helps students hold paid, full-time industry positions and receive credit for their on-the-job learnings towards their bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about these initiatives at www.nl.edu/ kendall-college.

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SCENES FROM NCE The Golden Touch Golden Apple, the leading Illinois nonprofit committed to preparing, honoring and supporting great educators who advance educational opportunities for students, awarded four NLU alums with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. Teacher recipients demonstrate – in their teaching and results – significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning.

Following a highly competitive process, the ten 2021 and 2022 teaching award recipients were selected from a record-setting 708 nominations of Pre-K-3rd grade teachers.

In 2021, Meghan Rice ’13, M.Ed. in Urban Education, received the honor. She is a Kindergarten teacher at Willard Elementary School in Evanston, Ill. She builds a classroom of respect and inclusion and looks for ways to expand her capacity as an educator to support and uplift the livelihood of the children and families that she serves. To ignite student interest, she shares a connection to bridge their previous learning or lived experiences. She is intentional in including multiple learning modalities to help support both the language acquisition and application of skills. She sees her students thrive when they know what they are doing and why they are doing it. Rice worked to ensure her school’s literacy curriculum was culturally responsive and relied on that framework to build a system to support both monolingual and bilingual K-2 teachers, especially with the shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, Rebecca White Perry ’11, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, was an honoree. Perry has always wanted to be a teacher. She was inspired by caring educators throughout her life. Now in her eleventh year teaching 8th grade science at Belvidere South Middle School in Illinois, Perry is making a difference in the lives of her students every day. According to Perry, NLU offered a positive experience that was full of practical applications that could immediately be utilized in the classroom to support students. Her advice to new teachers is to be kind to yourself and focus on the good in each student and each day.

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Meghan Rice '13

Fellow awardee Kelli Houghton ’05, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, has called Prairie Hill School District in Illinois home for 20 years. During her time at Willowbrook Middle School, where she teaches literature, she implemented The Literature Lounge, where students analyze and discuss literature in a unique coffee house style setting.

Teaching continues to be a passion for Houghton and helping students make a real life connection to literature. While at NLU, she learned collaboration can be a powerful source for learning. Her cohort consisted of 25 educators and they met once a week to develop, research, and implement strategies in the classroom.

Robert Davis ’07, M.A.T. in Secondary Education, was surprised with the news that he joined the ranks of Golden Apple honorees this year. He teaches at George Westinghouse College Prep High School in Chicago.

NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FROM NLU TRUSTEES Beginning this year, NLU students have two new scholarship opportunities, thanks to the leadership and generosity of two trustees.

The Barbara Wilks Froetscher Scholarship Fund has been endowed by NLU trustee Janet Froetscher and her husband, Bob Froetscher, in honor of Bob’s late mother who enjoyed a successful career as a teacher.

Barbara Wilks Froetscher loved finding fun and creative ways to share knowledge with her students. This endowed scholarship – for eligible undergraduate or graduate education majors – honors Barbara’s important legacy as a teacher, while also supporting future generations of NLU students in pursuing their dreams.

New Scholarship Funds The first recipient, Jessica Marcano, realized she wanted from NLU Trustees

to become a teacher through her work with children with autism. Jessica currently holds two jobs as a COVID-19 screener and as a substitute teacher. She shared that she is only able to pursue her Master of Arts in Teaching Beginning this year,degree NLU students have two new scholarship opportunities, because of this scholarship. thanks to the leadership and generosity of two trustees. “[Teaching] is a rewarding career that know will make a The IBarbara Wilks Froetscher Scholarship Fund has been endowed by NLU difference in the education of youth.”

– Jessica Marcano trustee Janet Froetscher and her husband, Bob Froetscher, in honor of Bob’s

mother who enjoyed Inspired by the Froetschers’ leadership, trustee Penny a successful career as a teacher.

Brown and her husband, Jeff Rappin, haveWilks endowed Barbara Froetscher loved finding fun and creative ways to share a scholarship to support an NLU student majoring in students. Now retired, she remains passionate about knowledge with her education, as there are many teachers in Penny’s family. education. This endowed scholarship – for eligible undergraduate or graduate The first recipient of the Penny Brown and Jeffrey education majorsRappin – honors Barbara’s important legacy as a teacher, while also Scholarship Fund, Chaunteney Prichett, is pursuing his supporting future generations of NLU students in pursuing their dreams.

Master of Arts in Teaching degree, with concentrations in learning disabilities and behavior disorders.

Chaunteney The first recipient, Jessica Marcano, realized she wanted to become a teacher has spent 20 years in education and youth services, through her work and with children with autism. Jessica currently holds two jobs currently works at Perspectives Charter School. screener and as a substitute teacher. She shared that she is as a COVID-19 only able to pursue her Master of Arts in Teaching degree because of this scholarship. “[Teaching] is a rewarding career that I know will make a difference in the education of youth.” – Jessica Marcano Inspired by the Froetschers’ leadership, trustee Penny Brown and her husband, Jeff Brown, have endowed a scholarship to support an NLU student majoring in education, as there are many teachers in Penny’s family. The first recipient of the Penny Brown and Jeffrey Rappin Scholarship Fund, Chaunteney Prichett, is pursuing his Master of Arts in Teaching degree, with concentrations in learning disabilities and behavior disorders. Chaunteney has spent 20 years in education and youth services, and currently works at Perspectives Charter School.

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NEWS & NOTES 1960s

1990s

Patricia Jane Ryan ‘60, Bachelor of Education, published the book In His Own Words: Charles Orr Ryan, The Story of a WW1 American Soldier. The book is based on the letters her father wrote during the war and the stories he had told Jane over the years. The letters had been stashed away for nearly 100 years. Jane wanted to bring light to the sacrifice the soldiers made in service to their country.

S. Gale Vanater ’92, B.A. in Management, is currently an online Adjunct Professor at State College of Florida. She also earned graduate and doctoral degrees.

Susan Martindell ’66, B.A. in Elementary Education, retired from Easthampton School System in Mass., in 2006. She moved to Massachusetts in 1971 after teaching in Schaumburg, Ill. For the past 11 years, she’s been an elementary school volunteer in Northampton, Mass.

1980s Luann Grosscup ‘88, B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences, collaborated on the book FLIGHT: An Air America Pilot’s Story of Adventure, Descent and Redemption (History Publishing Company, 2019) with Neil Hansen, a former CIA pilot. The book is a historical aviation narrative that incorporates the pathos of a war zone, humor and candid insight.

Pat McCombs ‘88, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, was featured in Windy City Times, Feb. 6, 2019, for being a mover and shaker in the city’s LGBTQ community for more than four decades.

Susan Wells ’88, M.S. in Management, published her debut mystery, Secret Lives. The book follows a veteran detective and her partner as they discover the dark sides of suspects intertwined in the life of a missing Chicago woman.

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Julie Wang Plyer ’92, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, highly valued her educational experience at NLU. She is proud to announce that 32 years later, her daughter will attend Kendall College at NLU. John Bradley ’94, B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences, was interviewed in the Minot Daily News in North Dakota for his work with youth. His book, Future Leaders or Losers: Guidelines for Understanding Youths, was first published in 2005. He is a residential adviser at Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot. He received the NLU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006.

LaMonica Stephens ’95, M.A.T. in Elementary Education, has been an international teacher for over 20 years. She has taught in Japan, Kuwait, and currently teaching Grade 1 in the United Arab Emirates.

Carla J. Curtis ’97, B.S. in Management and ’99 M.S. in Managerial Leadership, is a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified alcohol and other drug counselor in the state of Illinois in private practice.

Curtis’ updated twentieth-anniversary edition of her first book, A Single Woman’s Parenting Journey: Survival Tidbits, was recently released.

Catherine Stark ‘97, M.S. in Management, was honored

by Robert Morris University for 30 years of service as a professor of Management and Business Ethics. She also serves as the Teaching Institute Coordinator.

Luke Francois ‘98, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, is the new superintendent of Waterford Union High School, Waterford, Wisc.

Nancee Perry ‘98, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, has retired after 40 years of teaching.

NEWS & NOTES 2000s Kelly Kustusch ’00, M.A.T in Elementary Education, is working for a disability awareness company which brings awareness to school districts. She is also the Marketing and Operations Director of an architectural design firm. Previously, she taught kindergarten and first grade before deciding to stay home and raise her three children.

Tara Peacock ‘00, M.A.T. in Elementary Education, is the new assistant principal at Parker Junior High School in Flossmoor School District 161.

Maryann Scarborough ’00, M.Ed. in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy, provides educational and mental health consultation for early childhood centers. She also provides mentoring to ECE professionals.

Wendy Louis ‘01, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, who teaches at Putnam County High School, was a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist in 2019.

Wendy Reed Randall ’02, M.Ed. in Adult Developmental Studies, is a writer, motivational speaker, substance abuse counselor, and teacher who has taught students of all ages. She especially loves working with young students and encouraging them to embrace and enjoy reading and learning. She is the author of Once There Was a Girl: A Memoir. The catalyst for her story came from a written response to an assignment while she worked on her degree at NLU. Felicia Taylor ’03, B.S. in Management, received her certification from Thinkful School for Data Analytics.

She currently lives in Georgia.

Marilyn Anderson Rhames ’04, M.A.T. in Elementary Education, has been selected for a Pahara Institute Fellowship, a program that brings together leaders in educational excellence and equity, especially those serving low-income children and communities. She is a graduate student at the University of Arkansas. An education consultant with clients in the philanthropy, government and nonprofit sectors, Rhames served on the design team of Harvard University’s Leadership Institute of Faith and Education. Her book, The Master Teacher: 12 Spiritual Lessons That Can Transform Schools and Revolutionize Public Education, serves as a course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Rhames also founded Teachers Who Pray, a nonprofit with more than 140 school-based chapters in America.

Katherine Bardales Sardeña ’06, M.A.T. in Elementary Education, self-published a young adult translingual book in Spanish and English, Desde Chorrillos hasta Chicago: una novela translingüe. She is an elementary school teacher in the Chicago suburbs.

Wendy Yanow ‘07, Ed.D. in Adult and Continuing Education, published a chapter “Teaching against Color Blindness” in a newly released book, Teaching Race: How to Help Students Unmask and Challenge Racism (Jossey-Bass, 2018).

Rachel Filippi ‘08, M.A.T. Special Education, has been named Sherwood Elementary School Principal, North Shore School District 112, Highland Park, Ill. Deborah Finn ‘08, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision, has been named Principal at Highland Park High School in Ill. Anna Sansone ‘08, M.A.T. Secondary Science, has been selected as the 2019 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Teacher of the Year for the Europe South District. Anne is a 7th grade science teacher at Vicenza Middle School in Vicenza, Italy. She has taught at several American schools overseas, most notably in Japan, Turkey, and Italy.

Bill Clifton ‘09, A.A.S. Culinary Arts, who is the executive chef and co-owner of The Counting House Restaurant and Pub in Georgetown, Delaware, appeared on The Food Network series “Beat Bobby Flay” on May 2, 2019.

Kurt Pusch ‘09, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision, has been appointed Director of Summit Charter School, a tuition-free K-9 public charter school in the Cashiers-Highlands plateau of North Carolina.

National Louis University VIEW | SPRING 2022

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NEWS & NOTES 2010s Elizabeth Farrow ‘10, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, who teaches at Oak Park and River Forest High School, was a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist in 2019.

Mavis Linnemann-Clark ‘11, Certificate – Personal Chef and Catering, was featured in The Lane Report article “A small town that feels like a city.” She is a Northern Kentucky native and serves as executive chef and “fearless leader” at The Delish Dish, Made

by Mavis and Kickstart Kitchen.

Aaron Dubnow ‘12, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision, was named Principal of Harper Elementary School District 39, Wilmette, Ill. Megan Hansen ‘12, English as a Second Language Endorsement and ‘17 M.Ed. in Administration, was appointed Assistant Principal at Holmes Primary School, Maercker School District 60, Westmont, Ill. Paul O’Malley ‘12, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, was named Superintendent of Schools for Butler School District 53, Oak Brook, Ill. Rachel Sax ‘14, M.A.T. in Special Education, has been named impact measurement manager at YWCA Evanston/North Shore.

Amanda Schumacher ’15, A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry, is a food scientist specializing in refrigerated dough products that are found in major grocery stores across the Midwest and southern regions.

Darrell Williams ‘16, B.S. in Management, was part of the team to be recognized by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for Outstanding Technical Program/Project of the Year.

Sara Baffoe ‘17, M.S. in Counseling, was chosen as Telluride Education Association (TEA) School District’s Employee of the Month for January 2019.

Hector Freytas ‘17, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, is the new Principal at Riverside Brookfield High School.

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National Louis University VIEW | SPRING 2022

Hostel owners Emily and Christopher Obrist earn “Best Hostel in North America” Award for Maya Papaya.

Hostelworld.com has named Maya Papaya, opened by Emily and Christopher Obrist, as its Best Hostel in North America. Maya Papaya, located in Antigua, Guatemala, also won Best Hostel in Guatemala in Hostelworld’s “HOSCARS” award, decided by the votes of hostel guests worldwide.

Christopher and Emily earned bachelor’s degrees in hospitality management from Kendall College in 2013 and 2014, respectively. They married in 2014 in Antigua and opened Maya Papaya the same year.

“We took what we knew from working in luxury hotels and applied those principles in a hostel model,” Emily said. The Maya Papaya concept is half hostel, half hotel.

“Antigua is the tourism epicenter of Guatemala, and serves as a jumping off point for travelers.

The way the shuttles work around the country is that they often only leave from Antigua, so we get a lot of repeat customers, which is a big part of our success,” said Christopher.

Like any great couple, the two complement each other. “We’re good business partners because we have completely opposite talents,” Christopher said.“Emily handles the interior design, PR and marketing, and a lot of the communication between the hostel and our guests. I have always been focused on food and beverage and have more interest in overall management than she does.”

The couple’s son, Adrian, was born in August 2018. Their dogs Maya and Hugo are also a big hit with guests.

NEWS & NOTES 2020s Shunmeka Peeples ’20, M.Ed. in Early Childhood Administration, is working as an educator and loving it.

Nathan Roy ’20, M.A.T. in Secondary Education, is a social studies teacher at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Ill. Christina Russo ’20, B.A. in Early Childhood Education, is a preschool teacher for the Community Action Agency Head Start of McHenry County, Ill. In Memoriam – Alumni Suzanne Daleo Less ‘65

Retiring Faculty: College of Professional Studies and Advancement Robert Benway, Ed.D. Joanne Koch, Ph.D. Howard R. Zacks, Ph.D. Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Theodore Mandigo John Zimmermann, Ph.D. National College of Education Shani Beth-Halachmy, Ph.D. Virginia Jagla, Ph.D. Deborah O’Connor, Ph.D. Diane Salmon, Ph.D.

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Send an email to alumni@nl.edu and share your news.

2022

Class Gift Fund

To commemorate this occasion and mark your transition from student to alum, we invite you to contribute to the 2022 Class Gift Fund.

Graduating class members are asked to donate $20.22 in support of students who are still working toward their degrees.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH ONLY $20.22!

This special fund is for students, from students. Your gift will lead the way for future Eagles to have the same quality experience you enjoyed.

nl.edu/classgift

National Louis University VIEW | SPRING 2022

21

FINAL GLANCE

THREADING THE NEEDLE: How NLU’s Pathways Program Evolved into a New Kind of Undergraduate College Pathways started in 2015 after NLU President Nivine Megahed reviewed national data on college completion rates for low-income and minority students. It showed thousands of students weren’t enrolled in college or completing it.

Pathways began as a program to provide opportunity to these students, empowering them to pursue their education affordably and with the resources they need to succeed.

The Pathways Program is The Pathways Program is launched for the 2015-2016 launched for the 2015-2016 school enrolling school year,year, enrolling 85 85 students and inaugurating a students and inaugurating a new approach to undergraduate new approach to undergraduate education focused on expanding education focused on expanding access for qualified students access for qualified students from underserved communities. from underserved communities.

2014 2014

Pathways program quadruples Pathways program quadruples enrollment numbers enrollment numbers for itsfor its second academic second academic year. year.

2016 2016 2015 2015

Harrison Professional The The Harrison Professional Pathways program is conceived Pathways program is conceived in response a University in response to a to University of of Chicago report a mere Chicago report that that a mere 14% 14% of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) freshmen gotoon to receive freshmen go on receive theirtheir bachelor’s degrees. bachelor’s degrees.

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National Louis University VIEW | SPRING 2022

2016 2016

Based on GPA, Based on GPA, 60% 60% of of first-year Pathways students first-year Pathways students on-track to graduate, werewere on-track to graduate, compared to 20% compared to 20% at theat the beginning the academic beginning of theofacademic showing transformative year,year, showing transformative growth in the meantime. growth in the meantime.

FINAL GLANCE “I really enjoy how supportive everyone around me is starting with my peers, professors, and coaches. I feel comfortable with everyone around me and I strongly believe that I belong here.”

-NLU student testimonial

Pathways Program officially becomes the Undergraduate College at NLU

While enrollment from historically underserved communities continues to grow, NLU’s pioneering model for quality, accessible higher education increasingly attracts national attention from education thought-leaders, the business press, and the U.S. government.

A jury of higher education leaders and advisors selects NLU as a winner of the 2018 “Eduventures Innovation Award.”

2017

2018 2018

Enrollment increases nearly ten-fold from the program’s first to its third year, from 85 to 814 students.

2021 2020

College Factual rates NLU in the top 5% of schools in the nation for serving non-traditional students.

Emerging from the challenges of the pandemic, the Undergraduate College continues to grow by offering opportunity to aspiring, determined students who won’t let COVID-19 get in the way of their education and career goals.

National Louis University VIEW | SPRING 2022

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2022

Class Gift Fund

To commemorate this occasion and mark your transition from student to alum, we invite you to contribute to the 2022 Class Gift Fund.

Graduating class members are asked to donate $20.22 in support of students who are still working toward their degrees.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH ONLY $20.22!

This special fund is for students, from students. Your gift will lead the way for future Eagles to have the same quality experience you enjoyed.

nl.edu/classgift