Incandescence One word captures the life of television’s exceptional lighting designer Jon Kusner. FEBRUARY 2016 FEBRUARY • NUMBER 3 • VOLUME 16 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Susan Marquardt Blystone ’84, M.S. ’03

ALUMNI EDITOR Rachel Kobus ’09, M.S. ’11

COPY EDITOR Kevin Bersett LEAD DESIGNERS FirstWord Dave Jorgensen, M.S. ’03 Michael Mahle If asked to describe Illinois State, what would you say? DESIGNERS ‘Redbird Family’ is a likely response, conveying the unique bond felt by all with a Jeff Higgerson ’92 Sean Thornton ’00 campus connection. As I consider the University, two other words also come to mind: Carol (Jalowiec) Watson ’08 Strong and Stable. WEB EDITOR Ryan Denham Let me explain.

PHOTOGRAPHER ISU has not only withstood a financial storm within the state of Illinois, but has Lyndsie Schlink ’04 continued to progress through a period of uncertainty. For those unaware, the current PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Tracy Widergren ’03 fiscal year began without a state budget in place. Months passed through summer and

WRITERS the fall semester with no sense of what our state Steven Barcus ’06, M.S. ’09 appropriation would be—although it was certain a Kevin Bersett Ryan Denham cut of some magnitude was inevitable. EDITORIAL INTERN Other universities across the state were forced Mike Postregna to enact furlough days, impacting academic programs Illinois State (USPS 019606) is published quarterly and student services. Illinois State is positioned with for members of the Illinois State University Alumni Association at Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main Street, such strength and stability that we did not short- Normal, Illinois 61790-3100. Periodicals postage paid change students. In fact, we found a way to cover at Normal, Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. tuition waivers the state no longer provides and allow Magazine editorial offices are located at 1101 N. Main Street, Normal, Illinois 61790-3100; telephone students waiting for state supplements to continue (309) 438-2586; facsimile (309) 438-8057; email [email protected]; Website IllinoisState.edu/ attending without penalty. Magazine. Postmaster: Send address changes to Illinois State, Illinois State University, Campus Box Hiring has been frozen, leaving more than six 8000, Normal, IL 61790-8000. dozen administrative-related positions unfilled. Material may be reprinted with prior approval, Professional travel has been curtailed, equipment provided no commercial endorsement is implied and credit is given to the author, to Illinois State purchases postponed, and renovation work pushed University, and to Illinois State. back. But our students have been served with such uninterrupted excellence that our Website: IllinoisState.edu An equal opportunity/affirmative action university enrollment continues to increase. encouraging diversity 16-0003. This document is The fact that the fall 2015 freshman class set a 26-year record high is an available in alternative formats upon request by contacting Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2586. amazing achievement. Numerous other indicators provide more evidence to support my word choice. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kaci Rollings ’94 Joe McGuire ’77 The Washington Monthly ranks ISU fourth in the Midwest as a Best Bang for the President Kathy Coyle Murdoch ’86 Buck institution. The Chronicle of Higher Education named us A Great College to Work Kathryn Bohn ’74, M.S. ’80 Bob Navarro ’91, M.S. ’93, Lisa Castleman ’96 Ph.D. ’02 For, and U.S. News & World Report places us in the top 80 of Best National Universities. Jeff Charnogorsky ’85 Tim Pantaleone ’07 We remain in the top 10 percent nationally for retention and graduation rates, and Bob Freitag ’84 Scott Preston ’10 continue to be recognized as a national model for civic engagement. Our student default Ryan Gilbert ’03 Doug Reeves ’69 Jennifer Groezinger ’02 Steve Smith ’89, M.S. ’93 rate is low and dropping, expected to be 2.8 percent this year compared to a national Michele Guadalupe ’01 Alice Spann ’78 average of nearly 11.7 percent. Dave Horstein ’08 Ron Whitton ’80 Magnolia Im ’96, M.S. ’01 Mike Willis ’82 I applaud all Redbirds for a positive attitude and stellar performance during difficult Julie Jones ’90 Jerry Wright ’62 times. I have confidence in our institution and our people because Illinois State Univer- Jerry Kerber ’74 Linda Yap ’74, ’81 sity has a long and proud tradition of quality. Daniel Lopez, Ph.D. ’02 Betty Kinser ’73, M.S. ’75, Ashley Mayor ’08, M.S. ’15 Board of Trustees Our standards of teaching, learning, research and service bow to no superiors. Our Alumni Liaison excellence lies with our belief in and our adherence to our mission, our vision, and most Let us hear from you! Your feedback is appreciated. of all our values—and they remain as strong and stable as bedrock. Send comments or suggestions, Class Notes, Letters to the Editor, How We Met and Legacy stories, as well as Where Are They Now and Reggie Reads submissions to Susan Blystone at [email protected], or mail to Campus Box 3420, Normal, IL 61790.

Larry H. Dietz, Ph. D. President, Illinois State University Volume 16, Number 3, February 2016 12 FEATURES 8 Trials and tribulations Adolescents in East St. Louis are often on a path to college, the military or trouble. Judge Walter Brandon Jr. ’82, M.S. ’84, chose college. An associ- ate judge handling juvenile and family court issues, Brandon is determined to make a difference.

12 A tally of traditions With more than 200,000 alumni from across generations, graduates have different memories of their days on campus. There are some events, rituals, and places that define Redbird life re- gardless of attendance years.

16 Let there be light Amidst the bedlam that is live television lies a calm, cool and collected ISU alum. With two Emmy wins to his name, Jon Kusner ’95 is a lighting designer for live television events. His niche career has taken him all over the world.

20 Orientation celebration This year marks the 50th anniversary of Preview. Created in 1966 by President Robert Bone, the summer program for freshmen transforms in- coming students and guides. Rooted in an effort to make the University a warm and welcoming environment, Preview put ISU ahead of other large institutions and remains a point of pride.

24 Going against the grain 8 20 Nestled in the Corn Belt, Central Illinois farms are largely reserved for corn and soybeans. That didn’t deter Mary (Mouser) Hofmann ’76 from taking a different direction. She opened a vine- yard on 22 acres just minutes from campus.

DEPARTMENTS 2 University News 24 6 Redbird Athletics 16 28 #RedbirdProud What’s trending on 30 Class Notes A Five things you’ll discover in ISU’s new research magazine On the cover: Jon Kusner rarely takes the stage himself, More campus landmarks, then and now as his job is to keep the spotlight on others. He has Reggie surprises four future Redbirds with acceptance letters worked with myriad celebrities and politicians, including President Barack Obama. Read those stories and more at IllinoisState.edu/STATEside UniversityNews

Emerging field University at the forefront of biomathematics

he University is becoming a said. Illinois State is, for example, one of State University to start the IBA. Four national force in the study of few universities to offer a graduate pro- additional institutional members joined. biomathematics—the inter- gram in biomathematics. The alliance provides research and pro- section of math, computer Akman, above, thought universities fessional development opportunities via scienceT and natural science. ISU has a could improve opportunities by partner- colloquia, workshops and teleconfer- scholarly journal making international ing. The consortium allows for shar- ences. headway and is spearheading a consor- ing academic, intellectual, infrastruc- “Thanks to the funding from IBA, tium of universities dedicated to advanc- tural and physical resources. The IBA mathematics instructors from all over ing the field. also enables students to engage experts the U.S. can stream or record lectures Mathematics Professor Olcay Akman across university lines. to share with other institutions,” Akman is at the center of the success. He devel- The field cuts across the sciences, said. oped the idea for a consortium named with many research avenues. Scholars IBA members benefit from a super- Intercollegiate Biomathematics Alliance might work to compute the rate of infec- computer housed at Illinois State, prov- (IBA). tion of a disease or help farmers estimate ing the partnership is a viable approach “Biomathematics is a young science, the amount of pesticide needed for crops. to advance programs despite the reality which means there are not many faculty Akman partnered with faculty at of shrinking higher education budgets. members dedicated to the field,” Akman Benedictine University and Chicago

2 Illinois State February 2016 Millions in federal grant helps at-risk children The University has received a nearly $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Admin- istration for Children and Families to empower at-risk youth in Champaign. The funds will assist with creation of the Champaign Area Relationship Education for Youth (CARE4U) program. Family and Consumer Sciences Chair Ani Yazedjian is principal inves- tigator for the grant, which will be dis- tributed as nearly $1 million annually for five years. The program will target youth ages 15-24 throughout Champaign County, where one in five children live in pov- erty. Sessions will cover communication skills, job readiness skills, and finan- cial literacy. A component for subsidized summer youth employment or commu- nity college tuition reimbursement is Edwards Photo by Kevin also planned. “The goal is to enhance the well- Students in Vidal-Gadea’s lab combine genetically encoded dyes of green, left, with standard histochemical stains of red and blue, right, to study the neural and genetic basis of behavior. being of these young people and sup- port their successful transition to adult- hood,” Yazedjian said. Partners include research could unlock the key to all ani- fall, places the University at 149 among the United Way of Champaign County mal migration. all public and private universities in the and Champaign Urbana Cradle to Career. Labs around the globe have been nation. ISU psychology faculty Renée Tobin and racing to be the first to find the receptor. ISU has kept 34 percent of classes Leandra Parris will lead the program’s Vidal-Gadea has taken the lead world- at fewer than 20 students despite rising evaluation team. wide in the study of how animal behavior enrollment and maintained a 71 percent is linked to the nervous system. graduation rate, which far exceeds the His research, published in the jour- national average of 56 percent. Minuscule worm brain nal eLife, is supported by the National Washington Monthly ranked Illinois reveals migration key Institutes of Health and the National State as fourth among the Best Bang for It is known that animals use the Earth’s Institute of Neurological Disorders and the Buck Colleges in the Midwest cat- magnetic field to migrate. Through the Stroke. egory of its 2015 college rankings. The research of Andres Vidal-Gadea, it is now report identifies colleges that are doing also known what the magnetic receptor ISU’s quality confirmed the best job of helping students attain mar- looks like and how it works. with two national rankings ketable degrees at a reasonable cost. ISU is An assistant professor of molecular the only university from Illinois ranked in neuroethology, Vidal-Gadea has identi- The University’s excellence has once the top five. fied the first sensor of the Earth’s mag- again been noted by separate publica- netic field in the brain of tiny worms tions in rankings that assess academic quality and value for dollars invested. Gates Millennium Scholar called C. elegans. The worms possess an part of ISU freshman class antenna-like structure that allows them Illinois State is listed as the 79th to navigate through soil. best public university in the nation by For the second consecutive year, Illinois “There are a lot of critters in the U.S. News & World Report, which con- State has been the University of choice soil that use magnetic fields to do verti- siders student retention, faculty and for a Gates Millennium Scholar. Christa cal migrations. Now we have a better financial resources, and graduation rate Hale, a graduate of Epic Academy in idea how they do it,” he said, noting the performance. The report, released last Chicago, is one of only 1,000 students

February 2016 Illinois State 3 Where are they now? Neil Skaggs arrived on the Illinois State campus in 1979 after completing a doctorate in economics at Duke University. At the time, he was searching for his first faculty position. Skaggs chose ISU based on the quality of the Department of Economics. The University became his professional home, as he remained on faculty until his retirement in 2010. Skaggs developed an expertise in the areas of monetary theory, money and banking, and public choice. He enjoyed a teaching load covering those subjects in classes of graduate, undergraduate, and Honors students. He also taught Prin- ciples of Economics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, and History of Economic Thought. His research specialty is the history of monetary economics. His work has appeared in the History of Political Economy, Southern Economic Journal and Canadian Journal of Economics. He has also published numerous journal articles on the development of British monetary theory and policy in the 19th century. In addition, Skaggs co-authored a Principles of Economics textbook while with the department. On campus, Skaggs was active as chair of the ISU Credit Union board for three years and was also vocal in leading a resistance to faculty unionization. He Economics Professor Emeritus Neil Skaggs served as an administrator as well, taking on the interim duties of department chair for economics, psychology and chemistry. Beyond the classroom, Skaggs was very involved in the Christian Collegians campus ministry for many years and remained an avid fan of Redbird basketball. He also spent two semesters teaching as part of ISU’s study abroad program in Salzburg, Austria. Travel remains one retirement pleasure for Skaggs and his wife, Barb, who continue to make Bloomington-Normal their home. The two have four adult daughters and especially enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren. Skaggs has remained active, continuing to enjoy running, pursuing scholarly projects and staying involved with ISU’s Campus Christian Faculty. He can be reached at [email protected].

to be awarded the scholarship through children who have been trafficked along Center’s market research graduation. the Thailand-Myanmar border. helps small businesses Offered by the Bill and Melinda Publications Director Steve Halle Small businesses and entrepreneurs Gates Foundation, the scholarship com- made the connection to create Forget Me have access to free customized market petition drew 57,000 applicants nation- Not: Stories of Child Trafficking from the research intelligence through ISU, which wide. Recipients pursue an undergradu- Thai-Burma Border. Illinois State stu- now provides an Illinois Business Intel- ate degree at the college of their choice dents took the lead in production. ligence (IBI) service. with all expenses covered. Artist Andrew Zeal volunteers with The Stevenson Center for Commu- Hale enrolled as a criminal justice Children of the Forest, which is a half- nity and Economic Development makes major. She joins fellow ISU Gates scholar way house for stateless children. Zeal the information and quality referrals Dyrell Ashley from Chicago, who began traveled to the border with the children available to any business owner or start- studying biology teacher education in to complete an art project that grew into up. Service is provided within one busi- 2014. the novel. ness day. Halle donated the time needed to By subscribing to private databases, produce the book. ISU students com- IBI can generate reports on consumer Students produce book to pleted the project in just eight weeks. spending habits, market potential, and address trafficking issue Senior Tess Culton appreciated the expe- national financial benchmarking metrics. A graphic novel produced by the Uni- rience. “By having the chance to work Easy-to-understand data provid- versity’s Publications Unit was key to a on this book, I feel like I’ve been part ed in real-time allows clients to make United Nations presentation made last of something that has the potential to informed decisions when developing fall by the director of Children of the change lives.” business plans. IBI also has a large net- Forest. The not-for-profit agency assists work of referrals, directing entrepre-

4 Illinois State February 2016 neurs to the organization that can best ISU senior chosen as meet their needs. Student Laureate in state For more information on IBI’s free Maureen Christensen has been named services, call (309) 438-0610 or visit a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Acad- Mail www.illinoisbusinessintelligence.org. emy of Illinois by Governor Bruce Raun- To the Editor, er. A senior, she is I was very pleased to see that there is an effort Cyber defense education majoring in mar- underway by Professor Michael Gizzi to allow in the national spotlight keting and broad- ISU students to have an option to study in Isra- cast journalism. The Center for Information Assurance el and the Palestinian Authority (August 2015). The award and Security Education in the School of It is my hope that if approved, this program recognizes excel- Information Technology has once again will be presented in an objective and impartial lence in curricu- been designated as a National Center of manner so that students can see all aspects lar and extracur- Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense of life in this region and the complexities that ricular activities. Education. surround it. It goes to seniors The recognition, from the National from each of the Maureen Christensen Rob Festenstein ’92 Security Agency and the Department state’s four-year, of Homeland Security, covers academic To the Editor, degree-granting colleges and universi- years through 2020. Illinois State first I entered ISU (then ISNU) as a freshman in the ties. One student represents the state’s received the national designation in fall of 1953. Although a non-smoker, I noted the community colleges. 2009. The University’s center is commit- strict warning to all freshmen: No Smoking On Christensen holds a 3.93 GPA and ted to furthering information assurance Campus. We understood that it was unseemly is a Robert G. Bone Scholar, which is the education on campus, across the state for a student to smoke, especially a student highest honor for ISU undergraduates. and nationwide. training to be a teacher. She has received several scholarships The honor places ISU among the Some years later, the University tried to and is civically engaged as a Student leading institutions in the U.S. for infor- “catch up with the times” and allow smoking. Government Association leader as well mation assurance and cyber security Your August story (“Policy change eliminates as human relations commissioner for the education. Students have an opportunity tobacco from campus”) makes no moral judg- Town of Normal. for federal scholarships in those areas of ment, saying the prohibition “promotes the study as a result. health and well-being of Illinois State students, Program partnership will faculty, staff and visitors.” Still a non-smoker, I improve mental health care heartily agree. History faculty member named Obama Fellow The University has joined The Cam- Kenneth Janda ’57 pus Program in support of student well- History Professor Alan Lessoff is the To the Editor, being and mental health. spring 2016 Obama Fellow at the Trans- As a former Union Board member under The program offers self-assessment national Institute for American Studies the leadership of Bruce Kaiser, and as a stu- and feedback tools as well as techni- at the Johannes Gutenberg University in dent and later faculty member and friend of cal assistance that helps colleges create Germany. President Robert Bone, I was part of the rapid more comprehensive solutions to sup- An internationally recognized schol- growth of ISU. I am sure both Bruce and Bob port their students. It is funded by The ar of U.S. and comparative urban history, would approve of the design concepts of the Jed Foundation and The Bill, Hillary and Lessoff will continue his research as an new Bone Student Center. Chelsea Clinton Foundation. Obama Fellow, give presentations, and “The program is designed to help Online comment take part in seminars at the German Richard Nimz ’62 schools prevent the two leading causes university. of death in young adults: suicide and On ISU’s faculty since 2000, Lessoff To the Editor, unintentional injuries—including those is the recipient of two Fulbright appoint- It’s a quote! From Chaucer! I’d go back to the caused by prescription drug overdoses or ments at universities in Germany and original quote with the old(e) spellings and alcohol poisoning,” said Student Coun- Turkey. everything! I think our graduates are smart seling Services Director Sandy Colbs. He presents his research across enough to figure out what it means. Participating schools make a four- Europe, is a prolific author, and served year commitment. They receive a frame- Online comment for more than a decade as editor of the work for supporting student mental (“Making of the motto,” November 2015) esteemed Journal of the Gilded Age and William Starkweather ’71 health, substance abuse and suicide pre- Progressive Era. vention programming.

February 2016 Illinois State 5 RedbirdAthletics

Conference champions Second consecutive title, playoff run for football

fter making it to the national “That is always going to be our goal a battle against the University of Iowa on championship game a year here. Everybody in the program knows the Hawkeyes’ field. ago, Brock Spack’s football that,” Spack said of a national title. “It In just two seasons of play as a team had one objective this was a struggle. This season could have transfer, Roberson made his way into Apast season: return to the finals and bring gone south in a heartbeat, but the play- ISU’s record books for yardage and pass home the trophy. Although falling short ers didn’t let that happen. I think it was completion. The season ended with of that goal, the men had a spectacular a successful year to get this far and win Coprich nominated as one of three final- 10-3 season. They retained the Missouri 10 games.” ists for the national FCS Offensive Player Valley Football Conference champion- Spack noted that the team advanced of the Year. He and wide receiver Antho- ship title and took a No. 2 seed into the despite obstacles that weren’t a factor a ny Warrum captured All-America hon- FCS playoffs. year ago. “We won differently this year ors, with Coprich selected as first-team. The Redbirds advanced to the than last year. It wasn’t as easy, it wasn’t “Our players have nothing to hang quarterfinals, but fell to the Richmond as smooth,” he said. “We had kids banged their heads about. They have done a Spiders. While the loss was a disap- up. It was a tough year from that stand- great job here. They have set a level of pointment, Spack praised his players for point. The kids just fought through it.” performance never before seen at ISU, achieving a 23-5 record over two seasons. Quarterback Tre Roberson and tail- and that’s something to be very, very back Marshaun Coprich, both seniors, proud of,” Spack said. were the offensive force that led the Red- birds through a season that started with

6 Illinois State February 2016 Leader in women’s athletics mourned

Former Director of Women’s Intercol- lations for equality in women’s sports, legiate Athletics Laurie Mabry passed which were enacted by Congress and away last October at the age of 86. She signed into law by President Gerald Ford. Tre Roberson with Athletics Director Larry Lyons built ISU’s women’s sports into a major “Laurie was a big part of Illinois national program as director from 1960- State Athletics and was particularly Four take top annual awards 1982. instrumental in progressing the cause of Rachel Tejada and Tre Roberson won top hon- A physical education professor, she women’s athletics,” Director of Athlet- ors last fall at The Reggies, which is the annual coached golf and women’s basketball ics Larry Lyons said. “She was a strong awards ceremony sponsored by State Farm before retiring in 1985. She was inducted advocate nationally. One of the reasons Insurance Companies. Tejada, of the soccer team, received the Jill into three halls of fame, including ISU’s Illinois State has had such a strong pres- Hutchison Female Athlete of the Year Award. Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame. A ence in women’s athletics is because of Quarterback Roberson won the Milt Weisbeck- banner hangs in Redbird Arena in her the foundation Laurie set here.” er Male Athlete of the Year Award. honor. Mabry moved to Vandalia in 1991, Tejada finished her collegiate career last fall Mabry served from 1975-1976 as where she loved playing golf. She as the MVC Player of the Year for the fourth president of the Association for Intercol- also enjoyed playing cards in various consecutive year. She set several ISU and MVC legiate Athletics for Women, the national bridge and poker groups. Donations career records. Roberson led the football team governing body for college women’s ath- in her memory can be made to the to a national championship game appearance, letics. Mabry played a key role in author- Weisbecker Scholarship Fund at while earning All-Missouri Valley Football Con- ing and sponsoring the Title IX regu- WeisbeckerFund.com. ference First-Team honors after setting several single-season records. Gymnast Sami King received the Linda Her- man Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and Jacob Hendren, of the baseball team, cap- tured the Doug Collins Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. King finished her career last spring as a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier. She Men’s tournament is March 3–6 in St. Louis completed an exercise science degree with a Women’s tournament is March 10–11 in moline perfect 4.0 GPA. Hendren posted a 10-2 pitch- For tickets call (309) 438-8000 ing record and a team-leading 2.80 ERA, while striking out 99 of 106 innings pitched for an ISU single-season record. His 3.83 GPA as a math- Athletes serve community and beyond ematics major helped him earn Capital One Academic All-America and All-Region honors. Student-athletes logged 2,666 hours of basketball team scheduled time to help community service during the 2014-2015 others during a pre-season trip to Spain Athletes remain strong academic year. in August. as classroom students Redbirds worked with children in The international trek allowed for the Recess Buddies program and helped visits to a local orphanage and center Statistics for the Graduation Success Rate at a holiday party for local families. They for individuals with disabilities. Team (GSR) released last fall by the NCAA shows an 87 percent for Illinois State, which equals collected canned goods at Halloween and members and staff provided instruction ISU’s all-time high. The national average is 86 helped social service agencies. Senior and played with nearly 50 youngsters percent. C.J. Hamilton, a track and field athlete, in the community of Mataro, outside of A total of 11 Redbird teams recorded a GSR logged 146 hours alone with the Bloom- Barcelona. equal to or better than the national average in ington Crisis Help Line. There will be plenty of upcoming their sports, and six of those teams achieved The outreach extended beyond Cen- opportunities to serve, with a challenge perfect rates: men’s golf, men’s tennis, women’s tral Illinois. The football team took time for student-athletes to set a record of golf, women’s tennis, soccer and volleyball. last season to volunteer with the Miracle 3,000 service hours this academic year. League while in Frisco, Texas. The men’s February 2016 Illinois State 7 8 Illinois State February 2016 Judge combines compassion with justice in juvenile court

“Now he knows the department isn’t playing,” a DCFS Judge Walter Brandon Jr. representative testified. looked as placid as a pond, as he had all day, while he waited The father had a few things in his favor: He had a job for the next case to begin in St. Clair County’s juvenile justice and acquired a car. And a home inspection didn’t turn up any courtroom. Everyone who was supposed to be there was there bottles of alcohol in his yard. He, however, couldn’t offer a except the one person for whom the hearing had been called. coherent explanation for his continued defiance of the manda- It was 1:43 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, and it had already tory assessments, other than he didn’t understand why he had been a long day. Brandon had the court skip lunch so he could to do them. get through the afternoon docket. “So sir, basically you have not done anything on the ser- Finally, 15 minutes late, an East St. Louis man rushed vice plan,” Brandon said. into the courtroom and into a mess. The man was launching a What to do? Should Brandon give the children to the last-ditch effort to gain custody of his two children, 10 months father, leave them in foster care, or grant custody to the grand- and 2 years old. They had been living in foster care while their mother, who lives hours away in Tennessee? mother, a drug addict, sat in a St. Louis jail and their father These are the imperfect decisions that Brandon ’82, M.S. tried to turn his life around after a stint in prison. ’84, faces all day, every day in cases of child custody, child The father was lucky the hearing had been called at all. abuse and neglect, and juvenile delinquency. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services “You want to get the kid integrated back into the home if (DCFS) had failed to follow a court order issued by Brandon at all possible,” Brandon said, back in his office. Jazz pumped granting custody of the children to their maternal grandmoth- from a radio behind his desk and a mechanical waterfall er. The department disobeyed the order so the father could rumbled soothingly nearby. “But our main premise is what is have another chance to do a set of assessments, including one in the child’s best interest.” for domestic violence, that he had repeatedly ignored over the Despite being a serial witness to human and institutional previous two years. error, misbehavior, and short-sightedness—sometimes all in

February 2016 Illinois State 9 you think, and you change the way you feel.” He finds solace in his Christian I want to protect the community. The best faith—his wife is a minis- way to protect the community is to make ter—and a daily exercise “ regimen. that individual feel that they don’t have “I pray a lot. I can’t get inside of someone to do what they did to come in here. else’s mind. What is ratio- nal to me is not rational ” to them,” he said. “A lot of people deal with trauma. I can’t change that, but I can apply kindness and try to put the services in place so that won’t be their future. So that’s the way I look at it.” Back in court, it was 3:07 p.m. A pole-thin 17-year-old in shackles stood awkwardly in front of the judge. The boy pleaded guilty to pushing a relative in his home and pleaded with the judge Judge Walter Brandon Jr., a graduate of East St. Louis Senior High School, maintains not to put him in juvenile strong ties to his hometown through community service and his work on the bench. detention, even though he had missed an earlier court date. (Photos courtesy of Zia Nizami.) He said he wouldn’t be able to find a job or go back to school behind bars. the same case—Brandon rarely betrayed any sign of frustra- Brandon warned him to follow court orders this time. tion. When the father offered his business cards in the middle “If you decide not to, we are going to lock you down,” of the hearing to everyone in the courtroom, without any Brandon says. “We will find you if you run.” prompting or logical tie to the case, the judge didn’t chastise Moments later a second teen stumbled forward in him or laugh. Brandon just said that as the judge he couldn’t handcuffs. The scrawny kid, 16, with an empty face and a T- accept the card. shirt with the No. 3 on the back, was tied to an assortment of “People come from different situations and circumstanc- crimes: breaking into an East St. Louis home, stealing a GPS es. Sometimes it takes people a long time to get an understand- system from a car, possessing a stolen vehicle, giving police a ing,” Brandon said. “My whole focus is the best interests of the fake name. He pleaded guilty and was detained until his next children.” court date. Brandon handles an average of 500 cases a year as the Brandon said he makes sure each juvenile defendant main juvenile court judge in St. Clair County. He has served in undergoes mental health and substance abuse evaluations. He the post since 2008. tries to provide services up front—even though budget cuts are “My mission in life is to be a servant,” he said. “Our time making that more difficult—so the teens don’t end up in felony here is short. So you got to seize the moment. And try to make court as adults. a difference in somebody’s life. I deal with a lot of situations, “I want to protect the community. The best way to protect and circumstances, and problems that kids have. the community is to make that individual feel that they don’t “This is one courtroom where you can really make a dif- have to do what they did to come in here,” Brandon said. ference in the future.” Brandon grew up in East St. Louis, a St. Clair County It’s a heavy job that he wears light. Brandon keeps in town along the Mississippi River, that has long been synony- mind a saying he learned at Illinois State: “You feel the way mous with crime and urban decay. Many of Brandon’s friends you feel because you think the way you think. Change the way went to college or the military; others ended up in prison.

10 Illinois State February 2016 Now he works in Belleville, an old German town that to serve their communities after graduation. “So I came back serves as the seat of a county of 265,000. Belleville has its share to do exactly that,” Brandon said. of problems, but it is light years from the apocalyptic land- He served as a prosecutor in St. Clair County State’s Attor- scape of East St. Louis and its troubled neighboring communi- ney’s office before moving into the Public Defender’s office. He ties. There daytime gunfights, blocks of vacant lots and blown- then worked as a civil attorney for the locally prominent Cueto out homes, and a desperate sense of abandonment pervade. law firm. He started a private practice and represented East St. “Any time you are looking at the inner city, there is a lot Louis’ municipal government and neighboring Centreville for going on,” Brandon said. “Lack of resources. Like right now, a time in the 1990s. we have a lot of youth who don’t have the mentors, don’t have Brandon was appointed an associate judge in 1997. He the guidance. You have the stuff that is going on in Ferguson. A requested the juvenile court post after years in adult courts lot of people have problems. A lot of people are hurting. I have because it is where he thought he could do the most good. to have that ear: to decide what is right and what is wrong and “It’s challenging when you have to take kids,” he said. apply the law.” “You give birth to them, then I take them away.” Similar racial, poverty, and law enforcement issues that That’s the choice Brandon had that August afternoon. added fuel to the protests and rioting across the river in Fergu- Things weren’t going well for the man who was trying to get son, Missouri, are also present in St. Clair County. custody of his two children. Leaving them in foster care also “You still have the same issues. You still have the allega- didn’t seem like a good option, especially considering the care- tion of racial profiling. It’s the same thing, but it just hasn’t takers weren’t allowing the judge’s monitors into the home to blown to that proportion in St. Clair County,” Brandon said. see the children. “It’s a good thing that it hasn’t, because then you have more The grandmother pleaded her case to Brandon and poor people who will find themselves dead. described a bureaucratic nightmare. She was supposed to get “I do believe you have individuals in the communities the children a year ago but that got delayed once the father who are working to try to stop that. But I think more needs to became aware of her plans. When she was finally granted cus- be done. You have a lot of juveniles out here, man, that don’t have the guidance.” Brandon learned a lot from his father, a former East St. Louis police lieutenant involved in his local union. Brandon grew up working in the trenches of city politics. He pursued those interests at Illinois State, earning a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in criminal justice. “Like most students, I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do,” he said. “I wanted to change the world. I wanted to help people. Saw there was a need, and we had to roll up our sleeves.” Brandon started in sociology and took business and phi- losophy classes. It wasn’t until later he thought of criminal jus- tice, thinking there was a lot of employment in that area. “The one thing about it was crime wasn’t deteriorating,” he said. Accepted into the University provisionally, he worked his way through school at the Bone Student Center and selling hot dogs and soda on the Quad. He honed patience with tasks like tody, DCFS failed to act on Brandon’s order that would have using a toothbrush to clean crevices in student union elevators. allowed her to take the children out of their home state. Brandon served with several committees and organiza- “I’ve done everything that I’ve known to do,” she said. tions, including the Academic Senate and the Pi Beta chapter The children’s guardian ad litem advocated for her: “The of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He maintains strong campus kids should be placed with their grandmother.” Brandon ties through the Black Colleagues Association and the Attor- agreed and restarted the legal process of granting her permis- neys Advisory Board, and is a season ticketholder for Redbird sion to take the children out of Illinois. football. The father apologized to the grandmother as he left the “I had a great experience there,” he said. “I met a lot of courtroom: “I hope you get them.” good people.” Brandon turned to his clerk and said, “All right, go to the Brandon attended law school at Southern University in next one.” Louisiana. The historically black school encouraged students

February 2016 Illinois State 11 Redbird proud tracing traditions that speak to illinois state’s legacy

BY RYAN DENHAM

12 Illinois State February 2016 hat are Illinois State’s traditions? W That’s a complicated question. There are easy responses like Homecom- moved beyond all that is readily identi- that alums and current students will ing and Founders Day. But every Redbird fied as meaningful to Redbirds. It quickly equally embrace the list that includes knows the Illinois State experience is became clear that the idea of what stands people, events and places, Wey said, more than just a few annual events. as a tradition is hard to define. regardless of when they attended the A cross-campus team undertook an Can a tradition be a place? Can it ex- University. One of the newest traditions extensive exploration of Illinois State’s ist off campus? Can a tradition just be on is Wear Red on Fridays, which was initi- traditions, answering the question by Fridays? The team answered with a re- ated in 2002. identifying a range of events, people and sounding yes when making the decision Work on introducing the traditions places that make ISU unique. The work about what to deem worthy of inclusion. to current and prospective students has was completed in the fall semester and The Quad, for example, made the list. begun. The website, which is easily ac- is showcased on Traditions.IllinoisState. “The Quad was more difficult to de- cessed on mobile devices, was the first edu. The website offers facts, photos, fine because it’s a place, but it becomes step. A printed traditions book is planned. videos, and stories that help cement the a tradition to a lot of people because Students will hear more about traditions core traditions of Illinois State’s culture. of the variety of activities that take at future Preview orientations and Wel- The website is part of a larger plan place there,” Groves said. The center of come Week convocations. A “traditions to increase the visibility and value of campus means something different to room” may even pop up on campus. traditions at Illinois State, according to alumni across generations depending on Why is it important to understand Doris Groves ’81. The executive director their years of attendance. campus traditions? If today’s students of Alumni Relations, Groves partnered For some of ISU’s oldest gradu- have a stronger sense of pride and own- with Lora Wey, director of ISU’s Annual ates, the Quad is meaningful because it’s ership in ISU, they’re more likely to be Giving, in debunking the notion Illinois where they walked at commencement. engaged alumni—maybe even become State lacks traditions when compared to For others, it’s where Rites of Spring financial supporters. other historic campuses. took place. Many who attended during “That all starts with tradition. We “What we discovered is that there the 1970s still recall the music festival all win on a campus that has very en- are a whole lot of traditions at Illinois as some of their best ISU memories. To- trenched traditions,” Wey said. “I’d feel State,” Groves said. “We just haven’t day’s students will remember the Quad like we succeeded if, five years from now, been intentional in talking about them as a social hub where Frisbees fly and we stopped a student on the Quad and BY RYAN DENHAM or promoting them.” hammocks hang. asked them, ‘What are the traditions at The team’s work started with long- Wey and Groves recognize that Illinois State?’ If they rattled off the same standing events such as Homecoming. graduates from across generations will traditions that our team identified back The mascot and ISU Fight Song made undoubtedly respond differently when in 2015, I think that would be success.” the list of traditions without debate. The asked to identify ISU’s traditions. They work became difficult as conversation worked to define the idea in such a way

TRADITIONS.ILLINOISSTATE.EDU February 2016 Illinois State 13 TraditionsFIGHT SONG The song was penned in 1932 by alum Kenyon S. Fletcher, who was also an industrial technology profes- BATTLE BIRD sor and the school’s band director. The bronze sculpture was unveiled Go you Redbirds onto battle! SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIEDin 2000. AS Each A coach TRADITION and student- AT ILLINOIS STATE IS EXPECTED, WHILE OTHER ENTRIES MAY COME AS A SURPRISE. DO YOU HAVE A TRADITION TO SUGGEST? athlete touches the battle bird prior Fight for ISU. ALMA MATER AND MOTTO to every home game. Raise the banner, red, and white; The alma mater was composed in to this emblem we’ll be true. 1926 by faculty members Wanda COLLINS-ROBINSON STATUE So let us cheer the Redbirds on Neiswanger and Jennie Whitten. A statue honoring ISU basketball great to victory! Every voice proclaim: Glory hast thou, might and power; Doug Collins ’73 and his coach, Will proud the halls of ISU. Robinson, was unveiled in 2009. The ‘We’ve got the fight! We’ve got work was sculpted by Lou Cella ’85 the might! Let’s win this game.’ Deeds that live in song and story, and donated by the Don Franke family. loyal sons and daughters true. FOUNDERS DAY AND OLD MAIN So shalt thou in years increasing COMMENCEMENT Old Main, was the first building send they grads of honest worth, The ceremonial awarding of degrees is constructed on campus. It opened Illinois State’s oldest tradition. The first in 1860 and cost $200,000 to com- forth to bear with zeal unceasing event was held in Old Main in 1860. plete. Demolition occurred in 1958. wisdom’s torch throughout the earth. Founders Day ceremonies merged The original motto traces to Geoffrey FESTIVAL ISU with convocation during the Depres- Chaucer’s 14th century Canterbury Created as an event to welcome sion and World War II. The day was Tales. The motto was changed in students to campus, Festival ISU restored as a full-fledged campus 1992 to “Gladly we learn and teach.” began in 1989. It is held annually birthday celebration in 1955. on the Quad every fall and now includes nearly 400 booths.

14 Illinois State February 2016 REDBIRDS Athletics Director Clifford E. “Pop” Horton and Daily Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young collaborated JESSE FELL AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN in 1923 to change the University’s Jesse Fell and Abraham Lincoln unofficial nickname away from shared a mutual interest in educa- Fighting Teachers. Horton wanted tion. Fell, considered founder of the Cardinals. Young instead changed GAMMA PHI CIRCUS Town of Normal and the University, the nickname to Red Birds to avoid The University’s circus dates back to asked Lincoln to represent the confusion with the St. Louis baseball 1926, making Gamma Phi the oldest board proposing the school. Lincoln team. Over the next decade Red collegiate circus in the United States. agreed, drawing up the bond and Birds morphed into Redbirds. It is one of only two still in existence. bill of sale documents for property Traditions that became the campus. VICTORY BELL HOMECOMING PARADE On the sidelines at Hancock Stadium Beyond commencement, the Home- since the 1964 football season, the coming parade is Illinois State’s bell came from an old Navy ship and oldest tradition. A precursor event was procured by an ISU cheerleader. was organized in June 1919 to rec- It was rung the first time at Home- SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A TRADITION AT ILLINOIS STATE IS EXPECTED, WHILE OTHERognize ENTRIESthe service of MAYISNU students COME AS A SURPRISE. DO YOU HAVE A TRADITION TO SUGGEST? coming in 1965. Today the bell leads and alumni in WWI. The first official the team onto the field prior to kick- Homecoming was held in November off, is rung after every Illinois State 1921. The celebration became an touchdown, and is a mainstay of the annual tradition with a downtown annual Homecoming Parade. Normal hobo parade in 1923. QUAD ILLINOIS STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY The Quad has been a focal point The University’s first name was chosen of campus since the University’s because the school was established founding. Jesse Fell obtained $3,000 to prepare teachers. The name was from the state legislature for campus changed to Illinois State University in landscaping in 1867. He hired William 1964 to reflect the broadening scope Saunders—known for his design of of learning and teaching. the Gettysburg National Cemetery— WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS to create a campus grid. Fell planted Showing pride by donning red every nearly 1,900 trees in two years. Friday is one of ISU’s newest traditions. The idea was introduced by the Redbird Pride Committee—a group of campus staff, faculty and Blooming- ton-Normal community leaders.

February 2016 Illinois State 15 SUBMIT YOUR ORIDEA CALL ONLINE ALUMNI AT TRADITIONS.ILLINOISSTATE.EDURELATIONS AT (309) 438-2586. by Susan Marquardt Blystone

Alum masters the art of illumination

16 Illinois State February 2016 Jon Kusner has one of the most significantly subtle jobs in a working world that is known for glitz and glamor. Television audiences of multiple thousands have seen his talent displayed on live productions for years, and yet few viewers know of the 1995 School of Theatre alum. That’s because Kusner prefers to put everything but his name into lights. Kusner is a lighting designer for live television events. Such a short and simple title belies the enormity of creativ- ity he brings to chaos. The first is crucial and the second inevitable for the work Kusner does with celebrities and high-profile politicians. He has served as designer or director of lights for the Academy Awards and Emmys for more than a decade. MTV Video Music Awards and Grammy telecasts are on his resume as well, with his work on the latter bringing him two Emmy wins and numerous nominations. Kusner has brought to life stages and stars at the Country Music Awards (CMA), Bill- board Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards and in VH1, Nickelodeon and BET productions. Other assignments have included the Salt Lake City Olympics and the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and 2012, where he met Presi- dent Barack Obama. He later worked the Kennedy Center Honors, which included a White House event with Obama again at the podium. From “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful” to more than a decade working Vic- toria’s Secret fashion shows, Kusner has traveled across the country and around the world to elevate the art of lighting from mere illumina- tion. He does it with humor, humility and a level of calm that is baffling given the potential for nationally televised glitches that can happen despite months of

February 2016 Illinois State 17 team planning and years of personal experience. A self-described mediocre student, he was liter- “We get in the door and hit ‘go’ at the same ally drawn to the theater within Maine East High time. We have one shot to get it right. We are in School in his hometown of Park Ridge. the background flirting with disaster,” Kusner said “It was parent orientation and I walked past in discussing live shows of grandiose proportions, the theater, which had lights on and there was music playing. It grabbed my attention.” His enthu-

Photo by Peter Guither siasm grew exponentially under the wing of David Jeffers, chair of fine arts at the school, who gave Kusner the opportunity to work in productions. He became comfortable with the technical side of per- formances and was determined to study theater in college. Jeffers pointed Kusner in the direction of Illinois State, where he “jumped in with both feet.” “I was ready to do shows from day one of my freshman year,” Kusner said. From the start of his first semester, he was working with Dennis Mays in the theater department’s shop. “The best part of my ISU experience was the hands-on work with shows.” He handled props and lighting for several campus productions, including Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Adding Machine and Bloody Poetry, for which he also did scenery. When not working for a College of Fine Arts production, Kusner was across the Quad at the Bone Student Center. There he joined the Braden Auditorium crew to gain more Theatre Professor John such as the Grammys and Academy Awards. experience. Stark remembers fondly his days of having Jon “The worst and most complicated circum- Always eager for the next challenge, Kusner Kusner in class. He was stances are when the artist doesn’t come back convinced his parents he should attend a trade a driven student ready to to stage as planned,” he said, recalling instances show in Texas during his senior year. An impromp- seize every opportunity, where an entrance was delayed or opposite what tu conversation while there with the CEO of Vari- Stark recalled when the two took to a campus was expected. Lite, a premiere lighting company in the 1990s, stage last fall. Kusner Planning is tricky for award programs, as resulted in a two-month internship. returned for his induction Kusner revealed in explaining the work done prior “The first three days I sat quietly, then I sorted into the College of Fine to the 2015 CMA Awards. “We sat down months in equipment,” Kusner said. It was an early lesson Arts Hall of Fame. He advance as a creative unit with a producer, director in the wisdom of making himself useful. That spoke with students, advising them to give and set designer. We knew what set we were using first real-world experience resulted in valuable their all no matter how and discussed how to augment it. But we had to networking opportunities that opened unexpected menial a task. guess who would be nominated and probably per- doors for Kusner, who also met lighting designer forming, so it became a spitball session of visuals Ken Billington that senior year. appropriate to an artist and particular song.” Billington has done more Broadway shows Even if assumptions are made correctly, issues than anyone the past 40 years, including Chicago. surface when talent opts for a new direction short- The connection resulted in a significant career ly before the curtain rises. “We have gone through boost for Kusner when he headed to New York rehearsals and then had the artist come back with University after completing his undergraduate the decision to do a different song,” he said, which degree. requires an immediate new lighting plan to set the Plans to complete a graduate program in appropriate mood and helps explain 16-hour days lighting were scrapped as Kusner pursued working prior to a show. with Billington. For seven years Kusner honed his Such is the work of Kusner, who was inducted theater skills, learning the important lesson of what into the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame last fall. he calls doing the homework. In the two decades since entering the profession, he has never regretted the decision made as a teen.

18 Illinois State February 2016 “You have to know what happens when you Regardless of his work location, one constant are on site,” he explained. “What are the physi- exists. He must problem-solve. cal needs once you get to the venue? The rigging, “The circumstances we work in are never the lights, scenery, physical set all have to come linear. There is never enough time to finish, and no together as pieces of the narrative.” one cares,” Kusner said. As an example, he recalled The puzzle is complicated on Broadway but the China World Exposition in Shanghai. The head in a different way, as theater incorporates months of the Communist Party wanted a light show that of rehearsals and numerous performances to allow would encompass two bridges two miles apart. for perfecting and executing a plan that is repeated. Kusner was responsible for the design of one small That is a luxury Kusner left behind when he began corner of the project, which was only partially to do corporate productions with fellow ISU fine completed when the party leader called for the per- arts alum Joseph West ’85. formance to begin. The steady income from such high-end pro- The White House event, which included as ductions as the WorldCom and Mary Kay Indus- honorees David Letterman and Dustin Hoffman, trial Show gave Kusner the freedom to explore presented a completely different challenge beyond another sphere of lighting—live television. It was a litany of security rules. “We get in the door and hit ‘go’ at the same time. We have one shot to get it right.” through Billington that Kusner met Bob Dickinson “From a camera perspective, we had to expose and became part of the Full Flood Lighting Family. the room so it would look like a happy place and “Bob is involved in 85 percent of live television not a dark hole, but from a theatrical sense you productions,” Kusner said. “He is the second gen- would have asked what we are lighting since it eration of TV lighting. Fearless, he brought moving seemed very under lit. It was like working in a lights into the television world. Before it was more museum,” Kusner said. Even the most glamorous of a mechanical or practical approach.” of events, such as Victoria’s Secret, is a struggle. In his early days with Dickinson, Kusner was “There is a lot more science to that show. There far removed from the executive work he now leads. is the long distance of the runway to cover with a “I got coffee and did script revisions,” he recalled flattering and consistent manner of lighting. It’s without complaint. “I learned in high school to difficult.” pick up a broom and sweep the floor. Make yourself Whether working in an outdoor tent or Hol- useful. Attitude is as important as finding your lywood theater, the end goal is always the same. niche.” Kusner and a production team unite to move be- He patiently studied the intricacies of his craft yond “the vanilla” of ensuring visibility to make an under Dickinson and gained wisdom that carries event an experience. As his mentor Billington has him forward today. “I made a career by learning explained it, the job is to paint with electricity. how to light under someone else’s name.” “It’s an intangible, as the sense of lighting is And what a professional journey it has been. visual but not quite physical,” Kusner said. Creating Now 43, Kusner readily admits he never anticipat- that sensory experience is what drives him and ed all he has experienced while working projects in remains his focus. Sweden, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Japan, “I am totally thrilled where I landed,” he said, India and Sri Lanka. Now most of his work is in and equally excited about what lies ahead. “There New York or Los Angeles. He chooses to live in is the demon out there called success, of getting Utah with his wife, Anne Brahic, who is a profes- where I want to go. I can’t tell you where that is, sional production designer; and their daughter, but I have a never-ending thirst for what is next.” Lucie.

February 2016 Illinois State 19 YEARS OF

20 Illinois State February 2016 Why Illinois State’s summer orientation program was ahead of its time by Ryan Denham

few summers ago, Ann visionary University President Robert worried about Illinois State (Stanley) Dobbels ’87 Bone. becoming impersonal, like took her daughter, Alyssa That 50-year history of success other large institutions. They Damato, to her Preview is due in large part to Preview Guides, created a plan for a new A orientation at Illinois State. the student leaders who help incoming summer orientation program, As the first day’s program ended, she Redbirds navigate and feel comfortable called Preview, that would watched as her eldest child ran off with in their new home. There’s something build closer relationships YEARS OF her new friends for her first overnight special about that summer job—really between staff and incoming stay away at college. only two months—that’s sparked a freshmen, and between parents Dobbels knew exactly how she camaraderie among former guides that and the University. felt, because she lived the experience lives on 20, 30, even 50 years later. “Bone wanted to make sure we herself 31 years earlier when she was Turns out, the freshmen weren’t the kept that small-college feel,” said Mary a new student at Preview. Back then only ones learning. Jo Fabich, coordinator of Preview for the clothes were different and course “Having the opportunity to the past 25 years. “We still talk about catalogs were still made from paper, but represent Illinois State and be the face that need today.” everything else was the same. of the University as a student was really Dave Templeton ’67, M.S. ’71, was Nervousness fades. The beginning transformational for me,” said Steve among the first guides in summer of independence. A new adventure. Smith ’89, M.S. ’93, a former guide and 1966, or “Premiere Preview Guides,” “By the second day, Alyssa didn’t current member of the ISU Alumni as he calls them. Templeton loved the want to leave. She was ready to stay,” Association Board of Directors. experience so much—especially building Dobbels said. Prior to 1966, Illinois State’s relationships with the other guides— It’s a moment that’s played out orientation was less formal and typically that he came back for a second year. thousands of times since Illinois took place in September. There were “The fact that the University State created the Preview program tests, academic meetings, and old-school looked at us as leaders, that they 50 years ago. So much has changed social gatherings such as Watermelon felt we were the right people to lead on campus in the past half century, Picnics in 1953 and “All-University incoming students, that felt good,” but Preview remains remarkably Hootenanny” in 1965. Templeton said. similar. It’s aged incredibly well, As the campus and student Most large institutions weren’t perhaps because it was so ahead of enrollment grew, Bone and others doing full summer orientation programs its time when first created in 1966 by Guides span generations Watch Steve and Zack Smith talk about their special Preview connection: IllinoisState.edu/Magazine

February 2016 Illinois State 21 Fifty years after its start, the Preview experience continues to get high praise from parents and incoming freshmen. Small group sessions are the backbone of the program, which relies on student guides to make families feel comfortable on campus before the academic year begins. The guides, shown in various uniforms from years past, consider it a privilege to represent the University. interviews. The junior public relations major in the 1960s, and even less included Performing Arts Concert Hall. The goal, said Preview had a parents in the experience. The important Fabich said, is to make parents feel like a “huge impact on me” as role of parents has been integrated in Redbird too—not just a checkbook. a freshman, and he wanted the program from the very beginning, “It was amazing. It’s uplifting,” to have that same impact on the next just like its two-day/overnight schedule. Dobbels said. “It was all very interesting generation. In the official 1971 Preview schedule and fun.” “I met a ton of people. It really booklet recently unearthed by the Dr. Jo Talking with the parents was the made me feel comfortable on campus,” Ann Rayfield Archives, “DISCUSSION best part for Aaron Watson ’97, a former Zack said. “A lot of times when students OF CONCERNS BY PARENTS IS guide who is now the office manager for first come in, they’re a little bit shy, ESSENTIAL” is plastered in all-caps. Preview. or nervous, or excited. So my job as “We were ahead of the curve,” “I remember how nervous I was as a guide is to bring them out of their Fabich said. a student at Preview,” he said. “Hearing shell, help them meet people, and build connections.” Today’s Preview is strikingly similar to those from the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. Even some of the training materials used by guides today date back to the 1960s, Fabich said. “It’s nice to know that legacy continues and that’s a shared experience people at ISU have,” said Smith. Some things have changed. Gone are the paper catalogs and punch-card registration. Today’s students—some of whom attend orientations at multiple During today’s Preview, parents and parent questions and realizing that colleges to help make their final students still split up for certain sessions they were just as nervous as their decision—can pull up their schedules on and rejoin for others. Alumni parents students, but in different ways, was the Illinois State University mobile app. like Dobbels get to wear a special very eye-opening to me. Talking with Preview is no longer themed, like it Redbird pin. Parents who’ve been them, giving them honest answers, and was in 1996 (“Set Sail for Preview”) or through Preview before with an older helping them feel comfortable with 2001 (“Welcome to the Redbird Zone”). student are called “Expert Parents.” their student’s choice in coming to ISU, Since Fabich took over, they’ve moved Dobbels especially liked it when that really felt good.” away from “talking heads” in big rooms her daughter and the other students Smith’s son, Zack Smith, was a toward smaller group interactions, such returned and greeted their parents with first-year Preview Guide last summer, as EXPO and conference sessions. custom cheers in the Center for the a job that now requires three stages of There were 20 guides last summer,

22 Illinois State February 2016 From the Parents

These are real quotes from parent evaluations collected at Preview in summer 2015:

“I liked that this was parent-centered as well as student-centered. I don’t feel like a checkbook anymore.” up from just nine in 1971. And they got lifelong friends. Others fall in love. “I feel my child is in great hands. You to wear shorts and polo shirts, unlike the Twenty-five years after his last outing truly want them to succeed.” red blazers that Templeton’s Premiere as a guide, Smith still occasionally gets Preview Guides endured. (The fash- recognized by former students. ionably questionable guide uniforms “It’s only two months of their life, “The best part was being separated through the years are perhaps Preview’s many years ago, but it’s still a part of from my student to allow her a greatest flaw.) who they are today,” said Fabich. glimpse of what decisions she will have to make on her own.” “It was definitely warm most days That’s why everyone in this story, wearing those blazers,” Templeton and many others, plan to attend the laughed. Preview staff 50th anniversary reunion “My son passed on a full scholarship Guides bonded over more than just April 22–24. (See adjacent column for ride at another college, but I’m still uniform gripes. Each summer’s group details and RSVP information.) pleased he is coming here.” would fill dry erase boards and scrap- Smith has another son in high books with favorite quotes, funny pho- school, which means the family is “This program is great, and I’m proud tos, Preview Proverbs, and other memo- starting to visit other college campuses to say as an alum that ISU is a great ries. Templeton’s crew would perform for tours and open houses. The school. This is our second child at- skits for the freshmen and their parents welcoming atmosphere that Illinois tending. Thank you for making this every night in the basement at Linkins State has grown and sustained is now experience so enjoyable!” Dining Center. Smith’s group always part of our culture, Smith says, and it dreaded giving the after-dinner bus tour sets us apart. “My daughter was sulking, ‘Why do I of Bloomington-Normal, but made it fun “It’s not a sales approach. It’s very have to be here for two days?’ on the with a heavy dose of corny jokes. authentic. It’s very real,” Smith said. way here, but now she has met some Some guides, like Templeton, make “And it’s been that way for 50 years.” new friends, hung out last night, and is looking forward to fall.”

Preview Staff 50th anniversary reunion April 22–24 / Illinois State University

RSVP online at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Preview or call Alumni Relations (309) 438-2586.

February 2016 Illinois State 23 By Steven Barcus Alumna's vineyard dream takes root in Illinois America’s love for wine continues to grow. A U.S. Alcohol and She changed her major to German and immersed herself in Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau report reveals that more than the language, traveling to Germany with a group of students. 835 million bulk gallons of wine were produced in 2014, up It was there another defining moment occurred. Mary became almost 1.7 million gallons from 2010. For those unwilling to acquainted with Elizabeth, who worked at the guesthouse do the math, that amounts to consuming more than 21 billion, where the group stayed, and the two continued to correspond five-ounce glasses. While California still leads production at after Mary returned to the United States. 709,647,220 bulk gallons annually, Illinois produces 373,089 During her final senior semester, Mary received a letter gallons—enough for 9,551,065 five-ounce glasses. that her friend was coming to Minnesota for Farm Fest ’76, Among those meeting the demand are Central Illinois the largest farming exhibition in the United States. She would winemakers Mary (Mouser) Hofmann ’76 and her husband be traveling with her brother-in-law and his brother, Rudi. Rudi, who operate White Oak Vineyard in Carlock. Their pas- The visit the ladies arranged resulted in Mary meeting her sion for operating the business just northwest of Normal was future husband. The relationship blossomed when Mary took a the culmination of a lifelong dream that took them across the translator’s job in Germany in December 1976. She worked at a world and back again. company close to where Rudi lived in Ebrach, allowing the two Mary grew up on a farm that bordered the old university to reconnect and eventually marry in August 1977. farm in north Normal. Her home’s proximity to campus made Over the next 23 years, Mary and Rudi made a life in the choice to attend Illinois State an easy decision. She en- Germany. While raising their two children—Stephanie and rolled as a music major intending to study vocal performance. Michael—Rudi was managing his woodworking business and The major required students study a foreign language. Her Mary worked in translation and teaching English. In 1986 father suggested Spanish, but she chose German. she joined Delta Air Lines in Munich as the assistant to the “That is the moment my life changed,” Mary said. “I manager, but was transferred to inflight services in 1998. She think there is a plan for all of us out there, and that plan began primarily flew international routes as Purser and German to reveal itself to me. Now that I look back and see what has and Dutch speaker. It was then the couple decided to relocate happened in my life, German was the first step that started to closer to her Illinois family. They also decided it was time to change it.” realize their dream of farming. Mary fell in love with the language, something she at- “Ever since we met, we knew we wanted to do some sort tributes to ISU professors Wolfgang Pfabel and Jim McEntyre. of farming,” Mary said.

February 2016 Illinois State 25 They bought seven acres in the before. That’s what we enjoy—seeing the smaller grapes must be plucked off White Oak Township, land that was set perfect strangers sitting out there and and the vines tended. to a corn and soybean rotation. They getting to know one another,” Mary said. “Every year, without exception, began exploring an alternative crop, “What you see when you walk in we start pruning mid- or late-February considering everything from strawber- here is that romantic vision. I think we depending on the weather,” Mary said. ries to ginseng. During a drive through and all of the vintners around are good “Every one of those plants has to be Mackinaw Valley, they saw grapes at presenting a pleasant picture with- pruned before bud-breaking time.” planted and stopped to speak with the out letting anyone know what goes on After that there is mowing and vineyard’s owners. behind the scenes. This is just the tip of weeding, as well as behind-the-scenes “A few hours later, we came back the iceberg.” administrative duties such as marketing, knowing that we were going to start a She and Rudi keep their focus bottling, labeling, and licensing paper- vineyard,” Mary said. “We started with on the time and energy that goes into work. Labeling itself can be a complicat- three acres, and we have been adding perfecting each drop of wine. They tend ed process. Each label must be approved ever since.” more than 6,000 plants across their by the federal government, which can That was in 2002. Today they own vineyard. All of them were put in by take two weeks to several months. 22 acres, with 12.5 of them on the vine. hand, primarily by Rudi. He attended “Things have to be verified,” Mary Two houses sit on the property, with a several viticulture seminars sponsored said. “The wine you put into the bottle

Mary and Rudi Hofmann enjoy meeting with visitors from around the world in the tasting room, which is decorated to proudly display the couple's German ties. remodeled log home serving as a tasting by the Illinois Grape Growers Associa- has to reflect what is on the label.” room. The large wrap-around porch is tion and Southern Illinois University to Though the initial idea was to grow perfect for guests to enjoy a quiet after- learn exactly what needed to be done. grapes and sell them to local winer- noon sipping on one of 15 wines. The The task is arduous, so much so that ies, the Hofmanns decided to enter the idyllic building with sweeping views of finding help with the process is difficult. world of winemaking after the demand the vineyards offers visitors a place for Planting the grapes is just the beginning. for grapes from other wineries de- peace and relaxation. They must be trained up a bamboo pole creased. Having no previous winemak- “We find that when people come and across a wire, or trellis, as they grow. ing experience, Mary enrolled in an out here, they tend to relax. They talk It can be three to four years before the online program at University of Califor- with people they haven’t spoken with grapes are useable, during which time nia–Davis and traveled to the campus for

26 Illinois State February 2016 The winery's Bernese Red-Frontenac bottle captured a silver medal at the 2013 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition. The wine's label features Moritz, one of two dogs who roam the property as the official mascots for the vineyard. The design of the tasting room, below, allows guests an opportunity to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of a Central Illinois landscape. several semester seminars. She com- We find that when people come out here, they tend to pleted her training at the University of Missouri–Columbia. relax. They talk with people they haven’t spoken with “The certificate is just paper,” before. That’s what we enjoy—seeing perfect strangers Mary said. “You don’t learn anything until you’ve made enough mistakes and sitting out there and getting to know one another. learned what you did wrong.” Such real- world lessons are shared with students vineyard’s official mascots—such as only place for quality wine. Visitors from ISU’s Department of Chemistry. Golden Days or Bernese Red. Many also marvel at the personal story of They welcome the chance to partner others reflect the German connection. how Mary and Rudi literally planted with the two, who have perfected their Landhaus, made from Norton grapes, their dream. Their journey reveals the process in part by staying close to their translates to “country home.” Weiße couple’s passion and patience—both roots in Germany. Eiche is dedicated to the White Oak of which remain a key ingredient in They employ a European winemak- Township for which the vineyard is maintaining a successful win- ing style, allowing wines to ferment on named. Schlittenfahrt, a bestselling red ery in the middle of their own as much as possible so that table wine, translates to “sleigh ride.” corn country. their natural flavors can surface. Oc- Despite the intense labor, Mary casionally Mary will select certain yeasts and Rudi continue to delight in sharing compatible with a particular variety of their heritage through wine with grape to uncover a hidden taste. For the individuals from around the most part, she avoids adding flavoring. world. Many are surprised Some bottles find ties to the and impressed to realize couple’s dogs, Moritz and Maxl—the California is not the

February 2016 Illinois State 27 RedbirdProud

Stay connected University’s first mobile app is convenient tool

n a move to make Illinois State This is Illinois State’s first univer- ners, including the Division of Student online resources more mobile- sitywide app. Its launch is in response to Affairs. It has become a valuable tool friendly, the University has changing expectations among Redbirds for reaching out to students, who prefer launched an app available to all as they look for information about ISU to access information on their mobile IRedbirds at no cost. online. They want it anytime, anywhere. devices. “We wanted to provide a platform In response to more traffic from “The app provides us with another where you’re just two clicks away from smart phones and tablets, WEB has way to communicate with students to the information you need,” said Arturo developed approximately 100 mobile- provide them with important informa- Ramirez, M.S. ’01, ’07, director of Web responsive websites across campus. tion about safety and security, housing, and Interactive Communications (WEB). More are on the way. dining, health and wellness, involvement The unit spearheaded the app, “We’re keeping track of what kind of opportunities, advice from the Career which offers guides for various topics information people are trying to look for Center, activities in the Bone Student and special events such as Homecom- on their mobile devices. What terms are Center, and much more,” said Katy ing. Beyond a general ISU guide, there is they searching? What are they trying to Killian ’92, M.S. ’14, chief of staff for Stu- one for Athletics that features schedules find?” Ramirez said. “That’s what’s going dent Affairs. and ticket information. Some guides are to really drive content on the app.” Download the app for free from campus specific for students, such as Expenses tied to the app are paid for the App Store or Google Play Store at one during move-in that gave parking through cost-sharing among ISU part- IllinoisState.edu/app. updates and maps.

28 Illinois State February 2016 Alumni News

Alumni events set for milestone anniversaries Graduates from the Class of 1966 will celebrate their 50th class reunion on April 29 and 30 during the annual Half Century Club event. A variety of activities will take place across campus, including luncheons, tours and information sessions. The Class of 1966 will be inducted into the Half Century Club on Friday evening. Members of the classes of 1961, 1956, 1951, 1946 and 1941 who will be celebrating their 55th, 60th, 65th, 70th, and 75th reunions will be honored that evening and receive a special recogni- tion gift. Two other milestone celebrations will take place in April as well. WZND will hold its 35th anniversary reunion on April 8 and 9. Women’s and men’s rugby will mark 40th and 45th anniversaries respectively on April 29 and 30. Several events and special recognitions will take place on campus for both events. For additional information, con- tact Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2586 or (800) 366-4478, or email Stephanie Duquenne at saduque@IllinoisState. edu.

Deadline approaches for awards nomination The Alumni Association honors individ- uals during Founders Day celebrations. Recipients of the Distinguished Alum- ni, Outstanding Young Alumni, Alumni Achievement, E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service and Senator John W. Maitland Jr. Commitment to Education awards are recognized. From the archives The deadline to nominate 2017 Established in 1929 by Clifford “Pop” Horton, Gamma Phi Circus is the nation’s oldest and largest collegiate circus. Much has changed over time, with more simplistic routines years ago, top, recipients is the end of May. Make a compared to recent years. The group has developed tightwire, teeterboard, Russian swing, partner nomination online at Alumni.Illinois- balancing, juggling and rolling globes acts. Graduates have gone on to perform with Cirque de Soleil, State.edu/Awards or call (309) 438-2586. as well as at Disney World and Universal Studios-Florida. Annual campus performances began in 1931 and continue this year on April 15 and 16. Information, including ticket prices, is available at GammaPhiCircus.IllinoisState.edu or call (309) 438-2586.

February 2016 Illinois State 29 ClassNotes

Marketing movies Making trailers is alumna’s unique, creative challenge

am an alien from outer Its work includes Oscar contenders Wild, Such a challenge is a perfect fit for space. Sell me a Diet Coke.” The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Best Pic- Artis, who grew up in Des Plaines want- That line hooked ture winner Birdman. ing to write. She met someone in a Los Heather (Wilson) Artis ’94 The marketing alum is responsible Angeles screenwriter class who worked “Ion advertising. It’s what her professor for producing all trailers, TV commer- for a company that made movie trail- said on the first day in her first College cials, and radio spots for every movie Fox ers. She started writing scripts for them of Business advertising course. Searchlight releases. Each is a different part-time. Now a vice president for creative challenge. Having been with Fox Searchlight advertising at Fox Searchlight Pictures, For example, how should you sell four years, Artis works on films gearing Artis still thinks of that alien. What if Birdman, the Michael Keaton film about up for production or release. She knows he’s never had a soda before? What if he’s a has-been superhero-movie actor who is a good trailer is more than eye-rolling never had liquid? directing a play in New York? puns and cheap gimmicks. “It comes up to this day,” Artis said. “It was a movie that needed a lot of “A film is like a 10,000-piece puz- “I have to remind myself that no matter marketing help, because people could’ve zle. We’re going through those pieces how well I know the product I’m try- easily dismissed it as being too weird, too and trying to find the corners,” she said. ing to sell, the people I’m selling to may New York, too arthouse,” she said. “We “I basically play creative games all day know absolutely nothing about it.” embraced the attitude and boldness and long.” The passion sparked at ISU led Artis originality of it and were defiant in our to one of the top studios in Los Angeles. advertising.”

30 Illinois State February 2016 William Dunham ’71 is a managing 1950s partner with DunhamTrimmer Ivan Maras ’52 served in the 65th LLC. He resides in Bridgewater, infantry regiment during the Kore- New Jersey. Pause for applause an War. He taught 47 years and Catherine (Schafer) Cavanaugh ’72 now volunteers at St. John’s Hos- worked as a medical technolo- Leading the way pital. He still carries his Alpha Tau gist for 20 years. She returned to Julie (Williams) McMillin ’01 is a role model Alpha membership card from 1951. school and became a cytotechnolo- for every retail dietitian in the country. She was He and his wife, Lorene, reside in gist. After 22 years in the field, she named Retail Dietitian of the Year for 2015 by the Rochester. is retired. She and her husband, Retail Dietitians Business Alliance. The award Loren, reside in DeMotte, Indiana. recognizes her leadership in utilizing business 1960s Patrice (Alexander) Hughes ’72 is a skills and industry knowledge to impact con- former high school French and sumer behavior change through the retail sector. John McKenzie ’60, M.S. ’65, is com- social studies teacher. She has From her start working part-time in a Hy-Vee deli and kitchen, McMillin pleting 56 years in the classroom. worked in real estate the past 22 has worked her way up the corporate ladder. She is an assistant vice He taught middle school math for years. She and her husband, John- president of the chain, supporting 228 dietitians, three retail dietetic 31 years, retiring in 1991, and has ny, reside in Troy, Michigan. supervisors and one corporate dietitian. continued to substitute. He was John Rauschenberger ’72, M.S. ’74, is employed by the Chicago Cubs for the executive vice president and Game changer 10 seasons. He and his wife, Doris, general manager of the Technology reside in North Aurora. The Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and and Manufacturing Association. Phoenix Coyotes are just a few of the organiza- Tipton McCawley ’62, M.S. ’65, is He is a partner at Rauschenberger tions on the resume of 2015 College of Applied a retired educator. He taught in Partners LLC. He has been named Science and Technology Hall of Fame Inductee Wheaton Warrenville District by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner Mike Bucek ’82. During his time with the Coy- 200 and the College of DuPage. to serve on the Secure Choice otes, the team’s marketing department won the He volunteers with School and Savings Plan Board. He resides in NHL’s Best Member Club Marketing Campaign. Community Assistance for Com- Chicago. The award is presented for overall marketing efforts. Now with the posting and Recycling Educa- Patrick Winters ’72 is president Kansas City Royals, Bucek is vice president of marketing and business tion (SCARCE), which provides and CEO of S2ET Consulting. He development for the franchise. He helped the Royals secure the 2012 recycled education materials to has taught board governance and MLB All-Star Game, establishing franchise records with ticket and cor- teachers. He and his wife, Marilyn, policy development classes at the porate revenues for the 2015 World Series Champion. reside in Wheaton. U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Insti- William Sharp ’65 leads The Mad tute of Organization Management Head of the class Bavarian Brass Band, which per- at the University of Arizona. He Already praised as an inspiring and motivating forms at the Oktoberfest Show resides in Maylene, Alabama. Band in New England. He directed math teacher at Woodruff Career and Techni- Thom Cobb ’73, M.S. ’74, is president ISU’s first basketball pep band in cal Center, Kim Thomas is now also known as of the National Dance Education the 1970s. He resides in Lebanon, the 2016 Illinois Teacher of the Year. The 1993 Organization. He retired after New Hampshire. elementary education graduate brings an energy teaching 40 years at the university to her Peoria Public School District classroom, level, most recently with Slippery using teaching techniques that help her students Rock University. He received the change their attitude toward the subject of math. A lifelong learner 1970s 2013 President’s Award for Excel- herself who keeps pace with the best teaching practices, Thomas will Larry Chapman, M.S. ’70, retired after lence in Teaching from the school. begin a speaking tour this spring. She will represent Illinois at the NASA 45 years in education. He worked His wife, Christine (Pedersen) ’76, is Space Camp in Alabama and the National Teacher of the Year program. 44 years in special education, serv- a professor at Youngstown State ing as teacher, coordinator and University and director of the principal. He retired as a director. dance major program. They reside At the helm of oral health He now writes for the local news- in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Robert Moore ’95 will put his degree in indus- paper. He and his wife, Christine, Kathy (Peak) Knott ’73 retired from trial/organizational psychology to good use as reside in Port Byron. teaching deaf/hard of hearing stu- the first chief operating officer of the Ameri- Arland “A.J.” Johannes ’70 completed dents after 40 years. Her husband, can Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). He a master’s and doctorate in engi- Doug ’72, retired from downtown brings to the position a wealth of industry knowl- neering at West Virginia Univer- development administration for edge and experience, having worked with the sity and University of Kentucky, the City of Rochester, Minnesota. Technology Councils of North America and the respectively. He retired from Okla- They reside in Loveland, Colorado. Institute of Food Technologists. Moore will be crucial in the continued homa State University, where he growth and development of the association’s programs, services and Deborah (Van De Voort) Mink ’73 was a professor of chemical engi- support structure. ADHA promotes oral health care access, research, completed a doctorate at Curtin neering. He and his wife, Linda, ,and dental hygiene education. In 2015, Moore was named a Diversity University in Perth Australia. reside in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Executive Leadership Scholar by the America Society of Association She is an associate professor in and Executives. the School of Education at Indi-

February 2016 Illinois State 31 How we met Alexander “Lex” Samaras grew up in the Illinois agricultural town of Hoopeston. He transferred to Illinois State Normal University in 1941 with a love for music and a passion for music education. His second day on campus, he headed to the University’s Co-Op. “You got everything you needed at the Co-Op—books, soda fountain, and sandwiches,” he said. For Samaras, there was one thing more. “I walked in and saw four girls in a booth. I told my roommate: ‘I want to meet that girl.’” The one who caught his eye was freshman Carolyn Jean Brown from Virden, the same hometown as Samaras’ roommate, who would introduce the two. Sama- ras knew instantly that he had met his wife. In those days, poor college kids met for a soda, Samaras recalled. “It was a cheap date, but money was scarce,” he said. “You’d spend a nickel on a coke. It was the style then.” They set up a coke date, and it went pretty well. They married on Dec. 26, 1943 and were together until Carolyn’s death in July 2014 at age 91. He described her “as the same beautiful girl I met at the Co-Op 72 1/2 years before.” Serving in the Navy during World War II, he landed at Normandy on D-Day. Later, aboard a landing craft support ship at Okinawa, he witnessed the terror of kamikazes. “I felt so sorry for Carolyn,” he said of that time. “During the war and after D-Day, everyone else was hearing from their spouses. She didn’t hear anything until August. All those months she thought I was dead.” When the mail finally caught up, her P.O. Box was filled with 56 letters from her very-much-alive husband. Lex taught music for more than 20 years and owned a confectionary/res- taurant business. He and Carolyn had four children. Now 94, just to speak her name Lex and Carolyn were together more than 70 years. turns the corners of his eyes soft and watery. ISNU, as he still calls his alma mater, “meant my life,” he said.

ana University Southeast. She Pat, reside in Palm Beach Gardens, ance Companies. He and his wife, “Developments in Search and Sei- was a teacher and administrator Florida. Kathy, reside in Oxford, Georgia. zure Cases in the Post-September in Miami-Dade County Public 11 Era.” It is a chapter in Privacy in Lisa (Larsson) Ashley ’75 retired after David Bueltmann ’76 received an Schools for 33 years and taught the Digital Age: 21st Century Chal- 24 years as a school social worker honorary Doctor of Letters degree eight years at Winthrop University lenges to the Fourth Amendment. for the Hopkins public schools in at Concordia University-Nebraska. in South Carolina. She and her He resides in Bloomington. Minnesota. Her husband, James Now retired, he is interim director husband, Charles, reside in Louis- ’75, retired from Godfrey & Ash- of Camp CILCA in Cantrall. He Terese Pawletko ’76 completed a ville, Kentucky. ley, having worked 24 years as an and his wife, Charlotte, reside in master’s and doctorate at Penn Paul Dunn ’74 is a salesman at BND insurance defense litigation attor- Buffalo. State and post-doctorate work at Express. He resides in Blooming- ney. They reside in Eden Prairie, the University of North Carolina Claudia (Cangilla) McAdam ’76 has ton. Minnesota. School of Medicine. She lectures published The Mermaid’s Gift and across the U.S. on working with Mark Janssen ’74 retired from Rock Pam (Albertson) Cass ’75 is a psy- Kristoph and the First Christmas children with visual impair- Island Schools. He and his wife, chotherapist with Shorehaven Tree. Both are children’s picture ments and autism spectrum Susan, reside in Le Claire, Iowa. Behavioral Health. She resides in storybooks. She is the author of disorders. She has contributed a Burlington, Wisconsin. 16 books in total and has won the Greg Stoda ’74 has retired after 40 chapter to the book Vision and Highlights for Children national years as a newspaper sportswriter. Brad Reynolds ’75, ’07 retired from the Brain: Understanding Cerebral fiction contest. She resides in He earned national recognition Fisher Junior High School, where Visual Impairment in Children. She Highland Ranch, Colorado. multiple times for excellence in he taught social studies. He has resides in Eliot, Maine. event coverage and column writ- held 64 jobs and lived in 13 states. Tom McClure ’76, M.S. ’01, is an asso- Barbara Schwind ’76, M.S. ’10, is a ing. He worked for the Wilmington He resides in Savoy. ciate professor in ISU’s Depart- special education teacher with Star-News, Dallas Times Herald, ment of Politics and Government. Thomas Black ’76 is a systems busi- Lowpoint-Washburn Unit 21. She the Detroit Free Press, and the He is the director of the Legal ness analyst for State Farm Insur- and her husband, David, reside in Palm Beach Post. He and his wife, Studies Program and author of Roanoke.

32 Illinois State February 2016 Russell Haschke ’77 retired after with McDonalds Corporation. She was a principal 12 years. He has working more than 35 years for 1980s resides in Burr Ridge. started studying at Kent School of Texas Instruments, Inc. He com- Law in Chicago. He and his wife, James White ’80 retired from Cat- Dean Popovich ’86 is the trade pleted process engineering work in Jacqueline, reside in Minooka. erpillar, Inc., where he worked as association manager for Heritage- Massachusetts, Texas and Maine. a purchasing category manager. Crystal Clean. He and his wife, C.M. Stiel ’88 is an educator at Riv- He and his wife, Jill, reside in Port- He and his wife, Pamela, reside in Rita, reside in Algonquin. erside Brookfield High School and land, Maine, during the summer Peoria. a freelance writer. She resides in months and winter in Cedar Creek Jennifer Bloom ’88 is an associ- Deborah (Spinner) Ahlden ’81, M.S. Oak Park. Lake, Texas. ate professor in the Department ’87, retired from West Aurora of Educational Leadership and Dan Wagner ’89, M.S. ’94, is a Paul Johnson ’77 is a quality engi- School District 129. She and her Research Methodology at Florida licensed broker and senior vice neer with J.L. Clark. His avocation husband, Mark, relocated to Atlantic University. She coordi- president of government relations is basketball officiating. He enjoys Ooltewah, Tennessee. nates the Higher Education Lead- for the Inland Real Estate Group. working the girls’ state finals Royal Delegge ’81 is environmental ership master’s degree program. He serves on governmental boards tournament at Redbird Arena. He health director at the Salt Lake resides in Stillman Valley. County Health Department. He Bill Porter ’77 is interim execu- and his wife, Susan, reside in Mur- tive director of WCBU-FM, the ray, Utah. National Public Radio station for Lyn Fedden ’81 is an engagement Peoria and surrounding counties. manager at Cisco Systems. She He is also chief engineer for the resides in Hudson. station and WTVP-PBS. He resides in Carlock. Alice Jo (Shannon) Rainville, M.S. ’81, is a professor of nutrition and Debbie (Davis) Yates ’77, M.S. ’82, dietetics at Eastern Michigan passionately cares for the elderly. University. She and her husband, She is the clinical nutrition man- Richard, reside in Plymouth, ager at Sarasota Health and Rehab Michigan. in Florida and nutrition consultant for the Sarasota County Senior Denise (Maggiore) Schwartz ’81 is a Friendship Center. She is past graphic designer at Schwartz Artz president of a local district dietetic Creative Solutions. She resides in organization. She and her hus- Longmont, Colorado. band, Richard, reside in Sarasota, Steve Haywood ’82 is chief of the Four decades later Florida. Ottawa Fire Department. He and In the fall of 1972, five freshmen girls met on Colby 5. They were joined Dee Leman ’79 is the national direc- his wife, Jessica, are parents of by another friend the following year. The connection established in tor of rehabilitation services for three daughters and reside in that residence hall has continued for 43 years. Over time, some of the The Goodman Group. She has Ottawa. group has regularly met at ISU or in their homes. After a 19-year lull, more than 25 years of experi- Mary Lynette “Lyn” (Engelhardt) the entire group reunited in 2015. Their Illinois State legacy continues ence in rehab services and holds Landon ’82 is the controller at Pin- through children who also chose to be Redbirds. The friends include, National Board Certification in nacle Actuarial Resources, Inc. front row from left, Lynn (Westphal) Sierpinski ’76 of Wisconsin; and Judy Occupational Therapy. An avid She and her husband, Joe, reside (Dirksmeyer) Kastler ’76, M.S. ’83, of Illinois. Back row from left, Alison cyclist, she has raised more than in Bloomington. (Holste) Bartoli ’76 of Illinois; Lynda (Record) Grogan ’76 of Indiana; $15,000 biking for the Multiple Jean Yeung, M.A. ’83, is a Provost’s Nancy (Meyer) Hocker ’76 of Illinois; and Beverly (Pauli) Nichols ’76, Sclerosis Society. She resides in M.M. ’78, of Missouri. Lees Summit, Missouri. Chair Professor in the Depart- ment of Sociology in the National Viviana Lopez ’79 is director of edu- University of Singapore. She is cator initiatives at Texas Education also director of the Center for Agency. She and her husband, Ric, Family and Population Research She and her husband, Steve, reside and committees, including the reside in Austin, Texas. in the faculty of arts and social in Boca Raton, Florida. International Council of Shopping sciences at the school. She is lead- Tim Schweizer ’79 is a public ser- Centers. He has advocated for the ing a research cluster at the Asia Michael Cline, MBA ’88, is vice presi- vice administrator for the Illinois Marketplace Fairness Act debated Research Institute. An author, she dent of finance and treasurer at Department of Natural Resources. by Congress. He is also an advocate is affiliated with the University of Kansas City Southern. He obtained He is the voice of high school for special needs children. He and Michigan and Peking University. the CFA designation from the CFA sports in the Springfield area. The his wife, Lisa (Thompson) ’93, are Institute. He serves on two non- Illinois High School Association David Clark ’84 is an IT analyst at the parents of four children and profit boards for performing arts honored him with the IHSA Dis- John Deere. His daughter is now reside in Wheaton. organizations in Kansas City. He tinguished Media Service Award attending ISU. He and his wife, resides there with his wife, Leatha. for his work on WFMB. He resides Mary, reside in Moline. in Springfield. Donald McKinney ’88, M.S. ’95, is Gina DeSanto ’85 is manager of stra- superintendent for Nettle Creek tegic change and communications CCSD 24. He taught 10 years and

February 2016 Illinois State 33 Redbird legacy Megan Geigner doesn’t have to look far to see how her family got connected to Illinois State. It began with her parents. Charles Geigner Sr. and Judy Fletcher got the Redbird legacy ball rolling decades ago. Chuck, from Lombard, met Judy from Wheaton at the College of DuPage. Judy’s plan was to continue her education at Illinois State. She arrived in 1970 and earned a special education degree in 1972. She was among the early residents of Watterson Towers. “Dad didn’t have a firm plan for after junior college. But he was devoted to Judy, and so decided to attend ISU too,” said daughter Megan ’01, M.S. ’03. A year after Judy arrived, Chuck followed. The two married a few months after Judy’s graduation. Chuck ’73 went on to earn a master’s in psychology in 1986 and his Ph.D. in educational administration in 2001. The two started a line from the Geigner home to campus. Megan earned degrees in theatre. Megan’s brother, Charles “Logan” Geigner Jr., attended Il- linois State, as did his wife, elementary education graduate Kelly E. (Misch) ’04. Several family members also made ISU their place of employment. Chuck became an applied computer science instructor. He also ran InfoTech for more than a decade. Megan worked for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. There she met her husband, Joel, which wrought yet another connection when the two married at Ewing Manor. Chuck and Judy’s nephew, Chuck T. Geigner ’97, studied industrial technol- ogy and stayed to work at Milner Library for several years. His wife, JoAnne, was Family patriarch Charles Geigner Sr. loved his role as Santa Claus. also an ISU employee. Judy went into teaching and retired from Bloomington District 87 in 2013. Chuck was well known around Bloomington-Normal for his portrayal of Santa Claus at a number of venues over the years. He dubbed himself “Santa Chuck of Central Illinois.” Sadly, last August the Geigners lost Chuck to lung cancer. The many shared Illinois State memories have helped sustain the family through the loss.

Lisle Kauffman, M.S. ’93, is a Ful- University. He is the chief financial Mark Quesenberry, M.S. ’96, is an 1990s bright Scholar working with officer and chief operating officer instructor at Rhodes State College Leigh (Knobloch) Bowen ’91, M.S. ’96, faculty of Volovymyr Dahl East for Berg, a biological research in Lima, Ohio. He resides in Lake- is a transition specialist in Peoria Ukrainian National University company. He and his wife, Yvette view, Ohio. in Kyiv, Ukraine. He is teaching (Boultinghouse) ’94, reside in Rob- Public Schools District 150. She Nichole Brandenburg ’97 is the SNAP- online distance courses to deaf stu- binsville, New Jersey. and her husband, Mike, reside in Ed program coordinator at Ohio dents displaced by the fighting in Dunlap. Tonya (Bobbitt) Barra ’95, M.S. ’11, is a State University. She resides in East Ukraine, providing in-service Paul Rosen ’91 completed an MBA special education teacher at Pekin Powell, Ohio. training to secondary teachers from the University of Chicago. Community High School. She and and partnering to write a book on Jeffery Davis ’97, M.S. ’99, is a school He is the chief sales officer for her spouse, Quinn, reside in Pekin. educating deaf and hard of hear- counselor in District 300. He On Deck Capital. He and his wife, ing students. He resides in Kansas Kevin Griffin ’95 has completed a resides in Crystal Lake. Shari, are parents of twin boys and master’s in mental health counsel- City, Kansas. Alyssa (Lanhue) DeLosSantos ’97 reside in Pittsford, New York. ing and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Amy (Burian) Laures ’93 is senior works as a tutor with Northside William Stinnett ’91 is a quality counseling education and supervi- finance manager at Kraft Heinz Independent School District. Her assurance manager at American sion at Capella University. He is a Company. She and her husband, niece, Taylor Pholman, is com- Utility Management. He resides in mental health specialist at River- Tom, reside in Mount Prospect. pleting her freshman year at ISU. edge Hospital. He resides in Plano. Bellwood. DeLosSantos and her husband, Nicole (Benson) Thompson ’93 is Edward Anderson ’93 is vice presi- Donald Rush II ’95 is a driver for John, reside in Fair Oak Ranch, an HIM operations manager at dent of sales for SG360, a Seg- Crossroads LLC. He resides in Texas. Lake Regional Health System. She erdahl company. He and his wife, Golconda. resides in Osage Beach, Missouri. Rebecca (Aldrich) Hansen ’97 is a Jenn, reside in Elgin. Corey (White) Murphy ’96 is a special education teacher with Jason Haddock ’94 is a certified Heather Bates ’93 is a resource stay-at-home mom. She and her PSUSD. She and her husband, management accountant and com- teacher of learning and behavior. husband, Christopher, have two Paul, reside in Desert Hot Springs, pleted an MBA from Washington She resides in Auckland. children and reside in Antioch. California.

34 Illinois State February 2016 Stephanie (Doolin) Craig ’98 is a county library. She resides in New intervention teacher, and the reg- Anna Eiskamp ’02 is a financial therapist in private practice. She Cambria, Missouri. istrar at Westlake Christian Acad- administrator at Northwestern resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. emy. She and her husband, George, University. She resides in Chicago. Jason Zimmer ’99 owns Parlay Mort- reside in Ingleside. Bart Gampe ’98 is a project manager gage and Property. He was accept- Dawn Burns ’03, M.S. ’13, is a special at Meredith Xcelerated Market- ed into the prestigious Goldman Susan (Cunningham) Werner ’01, M.S. education teacher at Washington ing. He resides in Los Angeles, Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses ’10, works at Prairie Central CUSD School District 52. She resides in California. initiative. He and his wife, Lisa, are 8. She resides in Bloomington. Washington. the parents of twin girls and a son. Jill (Mason) Huse ’98 launched her Meaghan White ’01 is a special Zac Chase ’03 is a National Fellow They reside in Mokena. own consulting business, Society education teacher with Harvard for the Institute for Democratic 54 LLC. She resides in Charlotte, CUSD 50. She resides in Fontana, Education in America and an North Carolina. Wisconsin. original Freedom Writer Teacher. 2000s He has co-authored his first book, Whit Chaiyabhat ’99 is a global Mike Bogle ’02 is a guest service Building School 2.0: Creating the security manager with Raytheon Braden Cheshier ’00 is a sales manager at Walt Disney World. Schools We Need. He resides in Missile Systems. He and his wife, account manager at CDW. He and He and his wife, Melissa, reside in Washington, D.C. Amanda, reside in Oro Valley, his wife, Lisa, reside with their two Windermere, Florida. Arizona. children in Volo. Jennifer (Blumthal) Kettering ’04 is Aubrey (Howie) Carpenter ’02 is an early childhood special educa- Benjamin Grabowski ’99 is an officer Wendy (Witowski) Culp ’00 is an an instructional math coach for tion teacher with Community Unit with the Aurora Police Depart- administrative assistant at True Danville District 118. She and her School District 95. She and her ment. He won a silver medal in Value Distribution Center. She husband, Brian, have five children husband, Mark, reside in Spring submission grappling at the 2015 and her husband, Chuck, reside in and reside in Danville. Grove. World Police and Fire Games. He Wonder Lake. Elizabeth (Lowery) David ’02 com- resides in North Aurora. Erica (Johnson) Rehm ’04 is with Nichole DePaul-Miller ’00 completed pleted her master’s in special Grayslake High School District 127. Brian Henkels ’99, M.S. ’01, is a com- a Ph.D. in secondary science edu- education from Southern Illinois She resides in Round Lake. pliance manager at N.F. Stroth & cation. She is on the Professional University-Edwardsville. She is a Associates. He and his wife, Sha- Women’s Bowling Association tour, special education consultant with Kimberly (Goyke) Sanderson ’04 is a ron, reside in Northbrook. the national staff for Real Bowler’s the Mississippi Bend Area Educa- marketing specialist with Sonoco Tape, and the regional staff for tion Agency in Davenport, Iowa. Alloyd. She and her husband, Kurt, Laurie Krolikowski ’99, M.S. ’10, is a DV8 Bowling and Logo Infusion. Her husband, Brian ’03, is a family were married in July 2015. They content leader with Parent Family She and her husband, Jason, were consumer science teacher at Dav- reside in Sycamore. and Community Engagement. She married in July 2015. They reside enport West High School. They resides in Normal. Jill (Gotter) Delin ’05 has taught in Baytown, Texas. have two daughters and reside in math nine years at Glenbard North Ryan Lawless ’99 is an environ- Andalusia. Dawn Riordan ’00 retired as the High School. She and her husband, mental scientist with Hanson managing director of the Normal Phillip, reside in Glendale Heights. Professional Services, Inc. He has Theater. She is a self-employed worked for the Illinois Department visual artist and resides in Bloom- of Nuclear Safety and Krueger ington. Engineering and Sciences. He resides in Springfield. Jeffrey Waple, Ph.D. ’00, is vice chancellor for student affairs Bryan Terry, Ph.D. ’99, is associate at Southern Illinois University- provost at the University of North Edwardsville. He previously served Carolina Greensboro. He resides in as assistant vice president for stu- Burlington, North Carolina. dent affairs and dean of students at Elna Williams, Ed.D. ’99, retired Northern Kentucky University. He after 33 years with the Davenport and his wife, Susan, reside in Glen School District. She was the school Carbon. library media specialist at Dav- Jen (Sjostrand) Centimano ’01 is tal- enport Central High School for ent director of GFX International, a decade. She volunteers in com- Inc. She and her husband, Tony, munity and church activities, and reside in Elgin. completes genealogical research for lineage organizations and a Chelsea (Davis) Schopper ’01, M.A. Four friends forever ’06, is a college prep and reading It was the fall of 1985 when four young women connected in Atkin Hall. Their friendship remains strong through regular gatherings. They met for a luncheon last year, reliving memories that were sparked when sharing a photo taken of the four the winter they met. They are, from left, Amy (Hight) Cornelius ’90, of DeWitt, Iowa; Diane (Nelson) Lade, ’89, M.S. ’90; Lisa (Lucki) Simpsen ’89; and Laura (Cluskey) Meyer ’89, all of Bloomington.

February 2016 Illinois State 35 Amber (Pellum) Duncan ’05 is a Brian Mueller ’09 completed a mas- benefits manager at Carle Founda- ter’s in curriculum and instruction tion. She and her husband, Justin, at Saint Xavier, where he works as reside in Champaign. the undergraduate clinical compli- ance and support officer for the Kate (Fuehne) Haselhorst ’05 is the School of Nursing. He and his wife, diversity officer for the Virginia Sarah, reside in Evergreen Park. Community College System. She and her husband, Chris, reside in Jennifer Mullins ’09 teaches social Chester, Virginia. studies at Champaign Central High School. She resides in Urbana. Jim Rossetti ’05 is an English teach- er with Leyden High School Dis- Adventurous group reunites Dena Poppe ’09 is an instructional trict 212. He resides in Palatine. designer for Kelly Services. She Graduates from 18 states, including Alaska, returned to Normal for an resides in Tinley Park. Claudia Curtis, M.S. ’06, is a licensed Outdoor Adventure Program reunion in the fall. Former program director athletic trainer with ProHealth Jim Rogers hosted the event with Georgi Baird. She worked 14 years with Care. She and her husband, Josh, the unit that gained national recognition as part of Recreation Services. 2010s reside in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Trips offered provided students the chance to explore beyond Central Illi- Nick Greco ’06 is a commercial nois and gain leadership skills. Nearly 160 past assistants, outing center Tara Adams ’10 is a training man- insurance producer with Esser managers and coordinator supervisors gathered to share stories of how ager in the administrative office Hayes. He and his wife, Laura, the program touched their lives. Among the group were four couples of the Illinois Courts Judicial reside in Park Ridge. who met through the program and later married. Education Division. She resides in Chicago. Kimberly (Wetter) Munoz ’06, M.S. ’09, is a speech/language patholo- Ricky Alfonso ’10 is assistant vice gist in the Chicago Public Schools. Rebecca Kovar ’07 released her first and her husband, Brady, reside in president and brokering leader She works with children from pre- novel, Faire Play, with the second Thornton, Colorado. with Willis. He resides in Chicago. in the series due out in 2016. She is school to fifth grade. She resides Sarah Lotter ’08 is a project special- Brian Bak ’10 is a superintendent an administrative aide and ethics in Chicago. ist at Nosco. She resides in Wau- with Skender Construction. He training coordinator at ISU. She Hitomi (Tsukioka) Oum ’06 is an conda. resides in Chicago. resides in Minier. academic counselor at Glenwood Bailey (Slechta) McMurray ’08 com- Lauren Benson ’10 is a middle school Sarah (Woodward) Orwick ’07 is an Academy. She and her husband, pleted her master’s in organiza- teacher at St. Agatha School. She office support specialist at the Sam, reside in Schererville, Indi- tional leadership and not-for-profit resides in Freeburg. University of Illinois. She and her ana. management. She is a member husband, Jared, reside in Saint Daniel Brennan ’10 is in human Todd Scheffert ’06 co-owns Maaco relations coordinator at Ortho- Joseph. resources for Southern Wine and and has opened a bodyshop in pedic Research Society. She and Spirits. He resides in Chicago. Bloomington, where he and his Ross Richards ’07 is the associate her husband, Edd, were married Debra Carl ’10 wife, Kelly, reside. director for annual giving opera- in September 2015. They reside in is a cultural arts spe- tions at the University of Illinois Villa Park. cialist with Waukegan Park Dis- David Starke ’06 is a senior graphic Foundation. He resides in Cham- trict. She resides in Waukegan. designer with Professional Medi- David Rose ’08, MBA ’10, is a project paign. Nate Coon ’10 cal, Inc. He and his wife, Ashley, manager at Lend Lease Construc- teaches music and are parents of a daughter. Sophie Kristin (Scachette) Adams ’08 is tion. He resides in Wheaton. drama to elementary students in an instructional designer at OSF Des Plaines CCSD 62. He resides Grace was born in July 2015. They Lynsey Sloan, M.S. ’08, is the director Healthcare Systems. She resides in in Lakemoor. reside in Aurora. of clinical and placement services Metamora. Sean Fenske ’10, M.S. ’12, Christine Van Fleet ’06 is a produc- for ChildServ. She resides in Lom- is a health tion manager at The CW Televi- Mark Albrecht ’08 works in the haz- bard. educator with ORISE. He resides ardous waste management area at in Tacoma, Washington. sion Network. She resides in Bur- Michael Bares ’09 is the traffic pro- the University of Florida. He and bank, California. ducer for Fox Chicago News and Chris Gardner ’10 is a student in his wife, Dehlia, reside in Willis- Hailey (White) Gould ’07 is an inter- the Total Traffic and Weather Net- Mennonite College of Nursing’s ton, Florida. national logistics analyst for Com- work. He resides in Wood Dale. family nurse practitioner program. James Allendorph ’08 works for She works as a registered nurse mercial Packaging. She and her Amanda (Eggemeyer) Johnson ’09 the Illinois Attorney General. He at St. Joseph Medical Center and husband, Judd, reside in Bloom- teaches Spanish at Glenwood High resides in Chicago. resides in Normal. ington. School. She and her husband, Wes, Faith (Evans) Grapes, M.S. ’10, Katrina Hockin, M.S. ’07, is a special Deidre Graham ’08 is a juvenile jus- reside in Springfield. is a tice specialist supervisor with the production supervisor at Alcore, education teacher in Rantoul City. Michael Kennedy ’09 is an account Illinois Department of Juvenile Inc. She and her husband, Jona- She resides in Piper City. manager for Brown Distributing. Justice. She resides in Aurora. than, married in June 2015. They Erica (Gerth) Kelly ’07 is a certified He resides in Winter Park, Florida. reside in Bel Air, Maryland. Sarah (Melton) Jiter, M.S. ’08, is a school nurse with the Naperville Stephen Laphen ’09 is a sales repre- recruiter at the Community Col- Sarah (Long) Greenaway ’10 is a reg- Community Unit School District sentative for Promet Steel, Inc. He lege of Aurora in Colorado. She istered nurse at Rush University 203. She and her husband, Ryan, resides in Chicago. reside in Naperville. Medical Center. She and her hus-

36 Illinois State February 2016 Carrie (Pope) Vogt ’10 is a registered ance Companies. She resides in nurse working at Mayo Clinic. She Danvers. and her husband, Steven, reside in David Noord ’11 is a production Rochester, Minnesota. technician with DuPont Pioneer. Kristen (Doe) Waller ’10 is an assis- His wife, Amanda (White) ’11, is a tant clinical manager of surgical preschool teacher with Princeton services with Advocate Good Elementary School District. They Samaritan Hospital. She and her reside in Malden. husband, Joseph, reside in Plain- Kathleen (Rose) Sampson ’11 is a spe- field. cial education teacher. She and her Julianne Zajac ’10 completed a mas- husband, Andrew, were married in ter’s in scene painting specializa- July 2015. They reside in Franklin tion. She is a lead scenic artist for Park. the scenery company Sets to Go Kara (Witz) Winslow ’11 is a regis- in Los Angeles. She has painted a tered dietitian with Aurora Health guest house in the Bahamas and a Friends and fans Care. She and her husband, Aaron, roller coaster at Hershey Park. She Four men who attended ISU during the 1960s remain close despite living reside in Hainesville. resides in Northridge, California. in separate states. Nearly 50 years after all graduated, they still gather Rachael (Vallender) Behrens ’12 is a Matthew Zawicki ’10 is a senior periodically. ISU football is one way they stay connected, as they united graphic design and Web manager marketing specialist with G & W to support the team at last year’s national championship game. They are, at the Bloomington-Normal Area Electric. He and his wife, Elizabeth from left, Tom Lorig ’64, M.S. ’65, of Arizona; Dale Perona ’67, M.S. ’68, Convention and Visitors Bureau. Sisler, reside in Chicago. of Illinois; Dave DiPaolo ’65 of California; and Bill Sneddon ’67, M.S. ’70, She and her husband, Bradley, of Florida. Lorig and Perona were on ISU’s math faculty in the late 1960s. Jeffrey Cleveland ’11 is completing reside in Bloomington. a graduate degree in music and Emily Burklow ’12 is a software engi- human learning at the University neer with GoWeb1. She resides in of Texas. He is a teaching assistant band, Bryan, reside in Arlington Springfield. Heights. for the Longhorn band and pep Heather O’Leary ’10 is an administra- band. He resides in Austin, Texas. Delia Daly ’12 is a registered nurse Mackenzie (Lee) Hankins ’10 is an tive assistant at the University of in the operating room of Rush Uni- Sarah Michel ’11 is an investment accounting analyst with Archer Illinois. She resides in Chicago. versity Medical Center. She resides Daniels Midland Company. She technician with State Farm Insur- Mark Schmitt ’10 is an academic in Chicago. and her husband, Jacob, reside in instructor at Chicago Job Corps. Shelbyville. He resides in Downers Grove. Jeremy Hennings ’10 completed a Jerry “Randy” Simpson ’10 is an master’s degree in educational accomplished drag racer and leadership. He teaches middle champion. He is general manager school math with West Central of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianap- School District 235. He and his olis. He oversees the daily opera- wife, Jamie, reside in Burlington, tions of the historic, multipurpose Iowa. facility in Brownsburg, Indiana. Colleen (McKenna) Ittner, Au.D. ’10, Three easy ways to submit your information Samantha (Brown) Spence ’10 is a is a pediatric audiologist with Ann process analyst with Growmark, 1) Go online to Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/ClassNotes and click and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Inc. She and her husband, Samuel, Hospital of Chicago. She and her on “class notes.” Information submitted using this method will own and operate Band of Brothers husband, Brian, are parents to a also be posted online. Martial Arts LLC. They reside in daughter. Emerson was born in Bloomington. August 2015. They reside in Lisle. 2) Email your news to [email protected]. Genevieve (Gibson) Stevens ’10 is Kyle Kroening ’10 is an application 3) Mail your news to Class Notes, Illinois State University, the coordinator of student life at support analyst with TriZetto, a Carl Sandburg College. She and Alumni Relations, Campus Box 3100, Normal, IL 61790-3100. Cognizant Company. He and his her husband, Aaron, reside in Please include your graduation year, major, maiden name wife, Kristen, are the parents of a Galesburg. son. Kainen Andrew was born in when applicable, and daytime phone number for verification May 2015. They reside in Yorkville. Steve Suess ’10, M.S. ’12, is the direc- purposes. News releases and information from published news tor of convergent radio broadcast- Tara (Osterhoff) Latz ’10 is a staff clippings may also be used. Engagements and pregnancies will ing at ISU. He resides in Normal. accountant with the Village of not be published. Bourbonnais. She and her hus- Lauren (Jump) VanNatta ’10, M.S. ’12, band, Robert, reside in Manhattan. is an instructor at the University For additional information, contact Alumni Relations at (309) 438- of Illinois-Champaign. She runs Mark Long ’10 is a regional creative 2586 or (800) 366-4478, or by email at [email protected]. her own business, LHV Pho- services director with Cumulus tography. She and her husband, Media. He resides in Normal. Andrew, reside in Effingham.

February 2016 Illinois State 37 Cassie Goodman ’12, M.S. ’14, works Marko Govedarica ’13 is a financial were married in June 2015. They Dana Christopher ’14 is a payroll for the National Institute of Stan- advisor for Morgan Stanley. He reside in Mt. Pulaski. coordinator with Arthur J. Galla- dards and Technology. She and her resides in Bloomingdale. gher. She resides in Crystal Lake. Andrew Torbert ’13 is a music teach- husband, Gregory, reside in Point Renae Kirkton ’13 is a special proj- er at Buckeye Elementary School Matthew Cosenza ’14 is a project of Rocks, Maryland. ects coordinator with Education District. He resides in Avondale. engineer with F. H. Paxdhen S.N. Hannah Hassler, M.S. ’12, is soror- for Employment System 330. She Nielsen. He resides in Lombard. Jeanine Williams ’13 works as office ity programming coordinator for resides in Champaign. staff at State Farm Insurance Com- Carolyn Cox, M.S. ’14, is a social Gamma Phi Beta International Ian De La Rosa ’13 is a digital market- panies. She resides in Peoria. worker in senior behavior health Sorority. She resides in Denver, ing coordinator with Revenew. He with McDonough District Hos- Colorado. Samantha Atkinson, M.S. ’14, is a resides in Chicago. pital. graduate student at the University Andrea (Garay) Lopez ’12 is a guid- Megan (Morrison) McMullen ’13 is a of Iowa. She resides in Iowa City, Jacqueline Dellamano ’14 is an admis- ance counselor at East Aurora language arts teacher at Broad- Iowa. sions and records representative at High School. She and her husband, moor Junior High School. She ISU. She resides in Bloomington. Joel, reside in Woodridge. Jeremy Ber ’14 is an application and her husband, Jimmy, reside in developer with Allstate Insurance. Shayla Dennis ’14 works in ISU’s David Nelson ’12 is a financial ana- Bloomington. He resides in Wheeling. Campus Dining Services. She lyst at John Deere. He resides in Andrew Meyers ’13 is a social worker resides in Normal. Fargo, North Dakota. Ellen Blindt ’14 is an associate with Waukegan Public Schools. He account executive with Brighton Stacy Dressler-Brown ’14 is a pur- Rachel Bohlmann ’13 is a space man- resides in Evanston. Agency. She resides in Belleville. chasing officer at ISU. She and her agement analyst for Sears Hold- Amy Micik ’13 teaches at Springfield husband, John, reside in Bloom- ings Corporation. She resides in Teja Bloom ’14 is customer experi- Ball Charter School. She resides in ington. Algonquin. ence coordinator in event plan- Chatham. ning for Creative Group, Inc. She Tyler Fuller ’14 is an accountant at Jacob Carlson ’13 is an associate Kailey Perez ’13 is an operations resides in Lake Zurich. COUNTRY Financial. He resides solutions consultant with Signal. consultant with Allstate Insurance. in Bloomington. He resides in Chicago. Mia Bogusz ’14 is an art teacher at She and her husband, Sebastian Thurgood Marshall Middle School. Nick Goodwin ’14 is a geospatial ana- Michael Dyner ’13, M.S. ’14, is an Pazderski, reside in Crystal Lake. She resides in Elmhurst. lyst with Northrop Grumman. He auditor at Ernst and Young. He Kyla Peterson ’13 is an English resides in Troy. resides in New York, New York. Ryan Busha ’14 is an institutional teacher at Beecher High School. fixed income broker with Baird. Arturo Hernandez ’14 is a sales con- Chelsey Gallegos ’13, M.S. ’15, is a She resides in Peotone. He resides in Chicago. sultant with Best Buy Mobile Sales. speech-language pathologist with Mindy (Spear) Switzer ’13 is a physi- He resides in Champaign. the Chicago Public Schools. She Quinn Carlson ’14 is a mechanical cal education teacher at Chester resides in Chicago. associate with Nuclear Power Nicholas Johnson ’14 is an outpatient East Lincoln Elementary School. Technologies, Sargent & Lundy. He therapist with Heritage Behavioral She and her husband, Zachary, resides in River Forest. Health Center. He resides in Tin- ley Park.

38 Illinois State February 2016 Jennifer Jorgensen, M.S. ’14, is an band, Kevin, reside in Dover, New Inc. Since graduation she has mar- Rockford public schools. She administrative assistant with Hampshire. ried, purchased a home, accepted resides in Peru. Fresno State Athletics. She resides the job and remains a cancer sur- Alex Pilgrim, B.S./M.S. ’14, is an audit Michael Schoose ’15 is an internal in Visalia, California. vivor. She and her husband, Travis, associate at BKD, LLP. She resides auditor with State Farm Bank. He reside in Witt. Juliann Kelly ’14 is a communica- in St. Louis, Missouri. resides in Bloomington. tions coordinator for the American Jenessa Zimmer ’14 is a middle Stephanie Rahn ’14 is a fourth grade Carley Strader ’15 is an underwriter Heart Association. She resides in school art teacher with Rockton teacher at Washington Academy. with CCMSI. She resides in Dan- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. School District 140. She resides in She resides in Lake Zurich. ville. Rockton. Alyssa Koerner ’14 teaches second Nathan Reed ’14 is a GPS precision Kelley Sullivan, M.S. ’15, is a coach grade in Washington School Dis- Fakhri Abbas, M.S. ’15, is a Web mapping and ag application UAV education manager with USA trict 52. She resides in Washington. application developer at ISU. He pilot with Rock River Lumber and Rugby. She resides in Boulder, resides in Normal. Sara Lindsey ’14 is a business analyst Grain. He resides in Sterling. Colorado. with COUNTRY Financial. She Joseph Biel ’15 is an underwriter Rachel Resler ’14 is a registered Herlinda Vargsa ’15 is a bilingual and her husband, Randy, reside in with United States Liability Insur- nurse with Advocate BroMenn teacher with CCSD 15. She resides Heyworth. ance Group. He resides in Crest Medical Center. She resides in in Palatine. Hill. Tess Losada ’14 is a physical therapy Normal. Luke Vernam ’15 is a marketing con- technician and a Pilates instructor Thomas Bolivar ’15 is an admissions Zachary Rose ’14 is a sustainability tent specialist with Apple, Inc. He in training with Balanced Body. counselor at the medical school of manager at ISU. He resides in Ger- resides in San Jose, California. She performs and teaches with Loyola University in Chicago. He mantown Hills. Good Dance, a professional con- resides in Lombard. Scott Walding ’15 is an associate temporary dance company in New Lindsey Sebade ’14 is a registered underwriter with Zurich North Rebecca (Vaessen) Bontz ’15 is an Orleans, where she resides. nurse with OSF St. Francis Medi- America. He resides in Deer Park. accounting associate with Grow- cal Center. She resides in Hudson. Erin Marten ’14 teaches math and mark, Inc. She and her husband, science to seventh grade students Alison Seberger ’14 is an assistant Kevin, reside in Amboy. in Schiller Park School District 81. women’s basketball coach at Our troops Paul Bristow ’15 is the director of She resides in Willowbrook. Lenoir-Rhyne University. She Kenneth McComas ’87 has retired sales at Home2 Suites by Hilton. resides in Geneva. from the U.S. Navy. He and his Meghan McGuire ’14 is an image and He resides in Champaign. wife, Connie, reside in Temple, safety consultant at G&K Services. Andrew Seketa ’14 teaches special Brooke Davis ’15 is an associate secu- Texas. She resides in Bloomington. education in Community High rities compliance specialist with School District 117. He resides in U.S. Army Major Terrance Deuel ’98 Carter Mulvihill ’14 is a sports writer COUNTRY Financial. She resides Grayslake. retired from active duty in May at the Kankakee Daily Journal. He in Bloomington. 2015 after serving at U.S. Central also writes a blog, Premier League Michelle Sherman ’14 is a guest ani- Erika (Smoes) Kennedy ’15 teaches Command. He enlisted in the Prowler, covering the British Pre- mal experience educator at Walt third grade with Clinton CUSD 15. Army Reserves while attending mier Soccer League. He resides in Disney Parks and Resorts. She She and her husband, John, reside University High School. During Peotone. resides in Kissimmee, Florida. in Normal. his 27 years in the military he Nicholas Nalley ’14 is a ministry Nathan Stein ’14 teaches at Pontiac James Kenney ’15 is an execu- deployed to Saudi Arabia, Somalia, intern at Dickson Valley Camp Township High School. He and his tive team leader with Target. He Haiti, Afghanistan and three times and Retreat Center. He resides in wife, Velia, reside in Chenoa. resides in Batavia. in Iraq. He has returned to Afghan- Newark. Rebecca Swanson ’14 is a training istan as a training and develop- Marissa Mason ’15 is an adminis- Ronald Otoo, M.S. ’14, is a business specialist with First American ment specialist working with the trative loan assistant with First analyst with Caterpillar, Inc. He Bank. She resides in Saint Charles. Afghan military. His home is in Farmers State Bank. She resides in resides in Peoria. Waleska, Georgia. Emily Szymczak ’14 received a Ful- Armington. Hazel Ozuna, M.S. ’14, is a research bright grant for the 2014-2015 Sebastian Coates ’12 is a ranger bat- Ryan Mortenson ’15 is a tax staff assistant graduate student at Uni- school year to serve as an English talion medical operations officer accountant with Plante Moran. He versity of Louisville. She resides in teaching assistant in Mexico. She with the U.S. Army. He resides in resides in Schaumburg. Louisville, Kentucky. now serves as a mentor to the new Tacoma, Washington. English teaching assistants. She Cassidy Obis ’15 is a public relations Tiffany Parks ’14, is a spa and front resides in LaGrange Park. account coordinator with Fishman. desk receptionist with Formula She resides in Grayslake. In memory Fitness Club. She resides in Oak Dane Thompson ’14 is a residence Park. hall manager with Interlochen Tammy Pollard ’15 is the technol- Faculty/Staff Arts Academy. He resides in Inter- ogy coordinator at Gifford Grade Samantha Petrella, M.S. ’14, is a pro- lochen, Michigan. School. She and her husband, Margaret (LaPorte) Balbach, Agri- gram manager with Vanderheyden. Jason, reside in Sibley. culture; 9/15 Armando Torres ’14 is a registered She resides in Clifton Park, New Audrey “April” Francis ’63; Special nurse with OSF St. Francis Medi- Brianna Reed ’15 is an English edu- York. Education; 9/15 cal Center. He resides in Oglesby. cator in the Mesa public schools. Bianca (Gerardi) Pietro ’14 is a life She resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Barbara A. Glenn, Provost’s Office; skills special education case man- Amy (Follmer) Wyant ’14 is an agri- 9/15 ager with SAU 61. She and her hus- culture customer service repre- Johnna Schmitt, M.S. ’15, is a speech sentative with Springfield Plastics, language pathologist with the

February 2016 Illinois State 39 Ivo P. Greif, Special Education; Robert D. Webb ’50; 10/15 Raymond W. Zimmerman ’69; 9/15 Nancy A. Havens, M.S. ’82; 9/15 8/15 Roy Underwood ’51, M.S. ’54; 8/15 James L. Valkema ’82; 6/15 Richard R. Hart, Geography/Geol- Maurice E. Seymour ’52; 10/15 70s Carol L. Woodbridge ’83; 9/15 ogy; 8/15 Mary J. (Maloney) Kraft ’54; 10/15 Cecile (Jarte) McCarthy ’70; 7/15 Cheryl (Turner) Eagles ’85, M.S. Robert W. Koehler; Health, Physi- Barbara A. Prince ’54, M.S. ’61; Carol A. O’Hare ’70; 10/15 ’92; 8/15 cal Education and Recreation; 9/15 9/15 Brian G. Tesar ’70; 12/13 Karen (Carlson) Greer ’85; 7/15 Fred A. Putnam, Building Service Carolyn A. (Moody) Knudson ’58; Julie Lindemann, M.A. ’89; 8/15 Worker; 9/15 Guy E. Johnson ’71; 9/15 10/15 William Weakley, Building Service Jean E. (Burns) Lord ’71; 8/15 Frances J. Timmerman ’58; 9/15 90s Worker; 8/15 Martin Sack Jr. ’71; 10/15 Jo Ellen (Jones) Maske ’59, M.S. Michael W. Rabbe ’72, M.S. ’73; John M. McQuary, M.S. ’90; 7/15 ’81; 6/15 30s 8/15 Cynthia L. Fleck ’91; 8/15 William S. Swinney ’72; 9/15 Heidi K. (Bricher) Hennig ’91; 6/15 Dolores M. (Harty) Connor ’36; 60s 9/15 David R. Stumpe ’73; 9/15 Todd “T.J.” Johnson ’91; 8/15 Beatrice F. (Shult) Marting ’60; George W. Latham ’36; 8/15 Cynthia A. Watson ’74; 8/14 Gail C. (Wallace) Gordon ’92; 9/15 9/15 Ellen R. Hendrix ’39; 9/15 Stephen F. Davis ’75; 9/15 Kristi (Monferdini) Baechle ’93; David H. Grimm St. ’62, M.S. ’68; 8/15 9/15 Joseph S. Gnidovec, M.S. ’75; 8/15 Lori (Maul) Shipley ’94; 9/15 40s Barbara L. (Butterfield) Arntzen Kafondi Okwumabua ’75; 8/15 John W. Cowell, MBA ’98; 9/15 Frances E. (Neeson) Brownfield ’64; 8/15 Marilyn R. Moody ’76; 9/15 ’41; 8/15 Kathleen Alderman ’65, M.S. ’66; John. T. Tomassetti, M.S. ’76; 9/15 John “Jack” Moore III ’99; 7/15 Florence M. Hensen ’42; 9/15 6/15 John Troiani ’75; 8/15 Elston “Steve” E. Roady ’42; 8/15 Norman L. Robeson ’65; 10/15 James H. Bower ’77; 9/15 00s Doris J. (Gunsten) Hunt ’44; 9/15 Harold D. Showalter, M.S. ’65; Jack J. Heverly ’77; 9/15 Jeffrey P. Tangeman, M.F.A. ’01; Ellen (Dawson) Thomas ’45; 6/15 10/15 Arthur Larson ’79, M.S. ’82; 8/15 8/15 Marjorie (Young) Ashbrook ’47; Antoinette A. (Galinausky) Hodor Matthew C. Nelson ’03; 9/15 8/15 ’66; 1/15 80s Laura E. Fisher ’05; 10/15 Gordon D. Hawes ’67; 5/15 Jonathan S. Franklin ’15; 7/15 Dorothy (Lyles) Claus ’49; 8/15 Laura L. Nier ’80, M.S. ’82; 8/15 Joseph H. Kelley ’67; 10/15 Melvin Kuethe ’49; 4/15 Marie (Maslajczuk) Schechtman Catherine A. (McKean) Dubuisson ’81; 6/15 Our troops ’68; 9/15 50s John P. Daly ’82; 10/15 U.S. Marine Corps Major Retired Sara (Roesler) Francis ’69; 9/15 Barbara E. (Funk) Richmond ’50; Sandra J. (Stappenbeck) Elder ’82; Donald J. Buczynski Jr. ’86; 6/15 M. Lynn (Ballantyne) McKinley 9/15 8/15 ’69; 10/15

40 Illinois State February 2016 Thanks to you!

Alumni, students, faculty, staff, retirees and friends and White Scholarship Fund that provides emergency of Illinois State came together on Giving Tuesday on dollars to students in a crisis situation. December 1 to support the University’s people and Students were actively involved in the day and programs. More than 1,400 gifts exceeded a total of grateful for the support that empowers them to con- $556,733 in the 24-hour campaign launched primarily tinue pursuing their passion as a Redbird. Now more via social media. than ever, private support is critical to meet student This was the second consecutive year ISU strate- needs. Scholarships in particular are life-changing for gically reached out for support on the worldwide day those who would otherwise be unable to attend the dedicated to giving back. Donors were engaged through University. Twitter, Facebook and email to spread word across the Will you make a difference by supporting your passion? Make a gift country of Illinois State’s excellence and endeavors. online at IllinoisState.edu/Giving or call (800) 366-4478. Planning evolved over many months. Throughout the day, several individuals issued challenges that en- couraged others to give at any level. Most donors chose to indicate how their gift would be used, with options ranging from specific academic programs to the Red Advancement Operations Campus Box 8000 Normal, IL 61790-8000

Warm greeting on cold Quad February weather in Central Illinois can make the walk to class dreadful. History major Mike Anglemire doesn’t mind snowflakes or dropping temperatures. He took the time to share a smile with a friend on a blustery winter day.