Board of Trustees 2024-2025

Board Officers

John D. Ammons (AU ’83), Vice-Chair
Chad A. De King (AU ’83), Vice-Chair

Board Members

Jonathan Birkey (AU 2019)
Hilary K. Brennan (AU '83)
Matthew Cannon (AU ’94)
Thomas Choice
Douglas J. Craft (AU '75)
Austin Dempsey
Charles B. Doss
Ronald M. Hem
Amir Kirkwood (AU '94)
Brian Konen
Scott Palmer (AU ’72, Hon. ’02)
Myron J. Resnick
MaryMargaret Sharp-Pucci (GWC '82)
Ann Sheets (GWC ’77)
Linnea Windel (AU ’96)
Susana Rivera-Mills

Board Members, Emeriti

Donald A. Churchill (AU ’68, ’85)
Farrell Frentress (GWC ’64, ’71)
Joanne Hansen
Michael K. Keefe
Dr. Donald E. Kieso (AU ’58, Hon. ’03)
Ruth Mendius (AU ’67)
Dr. Calvin R. Myers (AU '64)
Thomas R. Scott (GWC ’61, ’63)
David K. Stone (AU '68)

Administration 2024-2025

Susana Rivera-Mills, PhD President
Rebecca Flaminio, Senior Executive Assistant to the President/Board Professional

Academic Affairs

Paaige Turner, PhD Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Matthew Dabros, PhD Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sarah McHone-Chase, Director of Phillips Library

Academic Affairs, Educational Areas
Brenda Barnwell, DSW Dean, College of Education and Social Work and Education
Sarah Radtke, EdD Dean, College of Health and Sciences
Pegeen Reichert Powell, PhD Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Business
Concetta Zak, DNP Dean, School of Nursing Inter

Advancement and Alumni Relations

Margaret Howes, Senior Vice President for Advancement

Athletics

Community Relations

Sandra Galindo, Assistant Vice President for Community Relations
Natasha Ritsma, PhD Director of the Schingoethe Center

Enrollment and Marketing

Human Resources

Robert Crouch, Interim Vice President for Human Resources

Operations

Jeffrey King, EdD Chief Operating Officer
Hurstel Howard, Assistant Vice President / Chief Information Officer
William Davis, Chief of Police

Student Success

Jennifer Buckley, EdD Senior Vice President for Student Success
Arin Carter, EdD Assistant Vice President Student for Student Success and Innovation
Allison Brady, Assistant Vice President for Student Life / Dean of Students / Title IX Coordinator

AU Online

Donna Liljegren, EdD Dean of Online and Graduate Studies

University Center at McHenry County College

Kailley Harmon, Executive Director of the University Center at McHenry County College

Full-Time Faculty 2024-2025

Faith Agostinone
Professor
Education
2002
EdD, Oklahoma State University

Alison Arendt
Associate Professor; Director of Social Work
Social Work
2014
MSW, Aurora University

Susan Baird
Assistant Professor
Nursing - GWC
2020
DNP, Chatham University

Bridgitte Barclay
Associate Professor; Chair of English
English
2011
PhD, University of Texas at Arlington

Jack Barshinger
University Professor
Education
2014
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Elissa Belcher
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2018
MSN, University of Phoenix

Marianne Benedek
Lecturer
Social Work
2020
MSW, Loyola University Chicago

Richard Boniak
Associate Professor; Assistant Academic Dean - GWC; Assistant Chair of Biology
Environmental and General Science
2010
PhD, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Christina Bruhn
Associate Professor; Co-Director of Assessment
Social Work
2009
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Gerald Butters
Professor
History
1999
PhD, University of Kansas

Andrew Carr
Assistant Professor; Chair of Undergraduate Business and Finance; Graduate Business Director
Business and Finance
2016
MBA, University of Chicago

Chih-Chiun Chen
Assistant Professor
Biology
2016
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Christina Cicero
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2021
MSN, Chamberlain University

Juan Colon Santana
Assistant Professor
Physics
2016
PhD, University of Nebraska

Margaret Conneely
Assistant Professor
Accounting
2021
MST, Northern Illinois University

Eugenie Cook
Assistant Professor
Nursing - GWC
2018
MSN, Olivet Nazarene University

Matthew Dabros
Assistant Professor; Chair Public Policy and Administration; MPA Director
Political Science and Public Policy
2016
PhD, Purdue University

Samantha Dahlberg
Senior Lecturer
Mathematics
2021
PhD, Michigan State University

Jane Davis
Professor; Chair of Human Animal Studies
Biology
2006
DVM,MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jennifer Davis
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2017
MSN, Northern Illinois University

Laura Donavon
Visiting Assistant Professor; Coordinator of Addictions and Forensics
Graduate Social Work
2011
MSW, Aurora University

Christopher Donnelly
Assistant Professor
Biology - GWC
2021
DC, National University of Health Sciences

Patrick Dunn
Associate Professor
English
2006
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Sue Durkin
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2019
DNP, Lewis University

Therrin Eber
Theatre Technical Director/Senior Lecturer
Theatre
2020
MFA, The University of Alabama

Sara Elliott
Associate Professor
English
2002
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Julie Ellis
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2018
MSN, Benedictine University

Libby Escobedo
Associate Professor
Art History
2007
PhD, Bryn Mawr College

Carlos Estrada
Assistant Professor
Exercise Science
2019
PhD, Oklahoma State University

Kara Fenne
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2016
MSN, Clarke University

Melinda Finch
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2019
MSN, Loyola University, New Orleans

Valerie Flynn
Professor; Co-Director of Assessment
Psychology
1989
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Carolyn Foor
Lecturer
Business and Communication
2021
MA, Northern Illinois University

Kimberly Fowler
Assistant Professor
Nursing - GWC
2017
MSN, Olivet Nazarene University

Renae Franiuk
Professor
Psychology
2005
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lisa Fredenburgh
Parolini Distinguished Associate Professor of Music; Director of Choral; Chair of Music
Music
2010
DMA, University of Arizona

Lani Gardner
Assistant Professor
Athletic Training
2021
DAT, Indiana State University

Sara Gerend
Associate Professor
English
2008
PhD, University of California-Santa Barbara

Michele Gill
Assistant Professor
Business - GWC
2021
MBA, Aurora University

Gregory Goalwin
Assistant Professor; Chair of Sociology
Sociology
2018
PhD, University of California-Santa Barbara

Janice Gont
Assistant Professor
Business - GWC
2021
MBA, Aurora University

Cornelius F. Gorman III
Assistant Professor
Social Work
2016
DSW, Aurora University

Elizabeth Grabowski
Assistant Professor
Marketing
2019
MBA, Northwestern University

Kendra Graham
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Social Work
2015
MSW, Aurora University

Shawn Green
Haase Distinguished Professor of Marketing
Marketing
1991
PhD, Union Institute

Janice Gries
Assistant Dean
Nursing - GWC
2013
DNP, University of Illinois at Chicago

Gopal Gupta
Associate Professor, Joe Dunham Distinguished Professorship in Ethics
Ethics
2021
PhD, University of Oxford

Donovan Gwinner
Associate Professor
English
2004
PhD, University of Arizona

Stacie Haen-Darden
Lecturer
Criminal Justice
2021
PhD, University of the Cumberlands

Marissa Happ
Associate Professor; Coordinator MSW Health Care Specializations
Social Work
2013
MSW, Aurora University

Ashley Harris
Assistant Professor; Clinical Education Coordinator
Athletic Training
2017
PhD, Oklahoma State University

Meredith Harvey
Associate Professor
English - GWC
2010
PhD, Idaho State University

Denise L. Hatcher
Professor; Chair of Foreign Languages
Spanish
2002
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Mariem Hathout
Lecturer
Health Science
2021
MD, Mohammed V University Medical School

Jennifer Hayden
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2018
MSN, Aurora University

Elbert Hearon
Assistant Professor
Business Analytics
2018
MS, DePaul University

Steven Henry
Lecturer
Computer Science
2021
MBA, Northwestern University

Keith Herrmann
Visiting Assistant Professor
Physical Education
2005
MAT, Aurora University

Lindsey Hill
Senior Lecturer
Mathematics
2021
PhD, Purdue University

Daniel Hipp
Professor
English
1999
PhD, Vanderbilt University

Julie Hipp
Associate Professor; Director of Faculty Development
English
2011
PhD, Vanderbilt University

Denise Hobbs
Assistant Professor
Education
2015
EdD, Loyola University Chicago

Edward Howerton
Associate Professor
Education
2015
EdD, Aurora University

Willie Jackson
Assistant Professor
Social Work
2020
PhD, Loyola University Chicago 

Charmaine Jake-Matthews
Lecturer
Psychology
2021
DFT, Amridge University

Meghan Jarpe
Assistant Professor
Graduate Social Work
2019
MSW, University of Pittsburgh

Ami Johanson
Assistant Professor
Chemistry
2018
PhD, Northwestern University

Kristen Johnson
Assistant Professor; Chair of Therapeutic Recreation and Autism Studies
Therapeutic Recreation
2017
MS, Aurora University 

Sara Johnson
Associate Professor; Assistant Chair of Psychology
Psychology - GWC
2013
PhD, Northern Illinois University

James Kao
Assistant Professor
Art
2013
MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Renae Kaspar
Assistant Professor
Nursing - GWC
2021
DNP, Capella University

Ruby Kaur
Assistant Professor
Health Science
2021
EdD Aurora University

Kelly Kellen
Assistant Professor
Marketing
2021
MBA, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management

Kenneth King
Associate Professor; Chair of Elementary Education
Education
2019
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Matthew Kneller
Associate Professor; Director of General Education; Chair of General Education
Communication
2003
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Jennifer L. Kohnke
Associate Professor
Education
2008
EdD, Roosevelt University

Brandon Kooi
Professor
Criminal Justice
2006
PhD, Michigan State University

Michelle Korir
Assistant Professor
Biology
2020
PhD, Michigan State University

Thomas Kunstbeck
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2019
MSN, Western Governor’s University

David Lash
Assistant Professor
Computer Science
2017
PhD, Illinois Institute of Technology

Martin Lave
Assistant Professor
Parks and Recreation
2021
MBA, Aurora University

Caleb Lewis
Assistant Professor
Economics
2018
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Ariana Carlson Maggio
Assistant Professor; Chair of Undergraduate Social Work
Social Work
2020
MSW, Aurora University

Georgine Maisch
Assistant Professor; Simulation Lab Coordinator
Nursing
2015
MSN, Kaplan University

William Martin
Assistant Professor
Biology
2016
PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison

John McCormack
Assistant Professor
Religion
2016
PhD, University of Notre Dame

Kyle McElhoney
Associate Professor
Chemistry
2014
PhD, Tufts University

Felix Medina-Gonzalez
Senior Lecturer
ESL/Bilingual
2021
EdD, Aurora University

Shaun Neitzel
Assistant Professor
Sport Management
2020
EdD, Creighton University

Tiffany Nelson
Assistant Professor
Social Work
2021
DSW, Aurora University

Margaret Obermann
Assistant Professor
Nursing – GWC
2019
MSN, Northern Illinois University 

Joseph Oleck
Lecturer
Social Work
2021
MSW, Dominican University

Marguerite Page
Lecturer
Communication
2021
PhD, Southern Illinois University

Meredith Paskert
Assistant Professor
Exercise Science
2021
PhD, Kent State University

Cristian Pastorello
Associate Professor
Music/Theory and Keyboard
2011
DMA, The University of Connecticut

Chetna Patel
Professor; Smith Distinguished Chair of Biology and Physical Science
Chemistry
1996
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Melissa Pertl
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2015
MSN, Lewis University

Mark Petersen
Assistant Professor; Adm/Director of Dunham Scholars
Public Policy and Administration
2017
PhD, Purdue University

James Petkus
Assistant Professor
Computer Science and Mathematics
2016
MS, Northern Illinois University

Donald W. Phelps
Professor
Social Work
2001
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Austin Pickup
Assistant Professor
Education
2014
PhD, The University of Alabama

Mark Plummer
Associate Professor
Music
2009
DA, University of Northern Colorado

Regina Rahn
Associate Professor; Chair of Mathematics
Mathematics
2011
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alma Rodriguez Estrada
Associate Professor
Biology
2013
PhD, Pennsylvania State University

David Rudek
Professor; Chair of Psychology
Psychology
2007
PhD, Loyola University Chicago

Stacy Searle-Gulli
Associate Professor; Chair of Theatre
Theatre
2014
MFA, The University of Alabama

Wendy Seerup
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Social Work - GWC
2017
MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Eva Serrano
Associate Professor; Emeritus Dean of Latino/a Initiatives
Foreign Languages
2019
EdD, 2009, Northern Illinois University

Jay Shahed
Senior Lecturer
Health Science
2021
MBA, Robert Morris College

Terry Shapiro
Associate Professor
Psychology
2009
PhD, University of Iowa

Sharon Sillitti
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2017
MSN, Aurora University

Valerie Simpson
Assistant Professor
Nursing - GWC
2021
MS, Northern Illinois University

Mark Soderstrom
Associate Professor; Chair of History
History
2011
PhD, Ohio State University

Aubrey B. Southall
Assistant Professor; Chair of Secondary Education and ESL/Bilingual
Education
2016
PhD, Georgia State University

Caroline St. Clair
Professor
Computer and Data Science
2021
PhD, DePaul University

Deborah Stevens-Marchigiani
Professor; Chair of Initial Licensure Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education ESL/Bilingual
Education
2001
PhD, Loyola University Chicago

Tracey Stilley
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2021
MSN, St. Xavier University

David B. Taylor
Visiting Assistant Professor
Education-Principal Endorsement
2016
MEL, Aurora University

Jerald Thomas
Professor
Education
2003
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Laura Vargas
Assistant Professor; Coordinator of Child Welfare Specialization
Social Work
2019
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Giulia Visconti
Lecturer
Social Work
2021
MSW, Aurora University

Mark Walter
Associate Professor
Philosophy
2006
PhD, DePaul University

Kelsey Walters
Lecturer
Mathematics
2021
BS, Wheaton College

Steven Webber
Lecturer
Business
2021
MS, Indiana Wesleyan University

Christopher Wells
Associate Professor; Chair of Sport Management and Parks and Recreation Leadership
Parks and Recreation
2008
MS, Aurora University

Lynn White
Kieso Distinguished Professor of Accounting 
Accounting
2018
PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago

Stephanie Whitus
Professor
Criminal Justice
2007
PhD, Sam Houston State University

Pamela Wicks
Associate Professor
Communication
2011
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Lisa Woods
Assistant Professor
Education
2021
EdD, Aurora University

Sebastian Wyman
Associate Professor
Mathematics
2013
PhD, University of Florida

Stephanie Yelton 
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2018
MSN, Benedictine University

David Young
Assistant Professor
Criminal Justice
2021
MA, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Haley Zimmerman
Assistant Professor, Clinical Education Coordinator of Athletic Training
Athletic Training
2021
MS, Northern Illinois University

Scott Zinzer
Assistant Professor
Mathematics
2017
PhD, Arizona State University

Faculty/Dean Emeriti

Sandra Alcorn
Dean Emeritus - GWC; Dean of the School of Social Work and Professor of Social Work, 1986-2003
GWC
2003
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Joan K. Arteberry
Professor Emeritus of Nursing and Communication; Professor of Nursing and Communication, 1979-2002
Nursing and Communication
2002
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Rayonia A. Babel
Associate Professor Emeritus, Phillips Library; Reference Librarian, Phillips Library, (Associate Professor), 1971-2000 
University Library 
2001 
MA, Northern Illinois University 

Ronald Banaszak
Professor Emeritus of Education; Professor of Education, 2000-2013
Education
2013
PhD, Indiana University

Ronald G. Benson
Dean Emeritus, John and Judy Dunham School of Business and Professional Studies; Dean, John and Judy Dunham School of Business and Professional Studies, Professor of Management, 1999-2001 
John and Judy Dunham School of Business and Professional Studies 
2001 
PhD, University of Iowa

Roald O. Berg
Associate Professor Emeritus; Associate Professor of Mathematics and Education, 1967-1999;
Mathematics
1999
MEd, University of Florida

Henry Boer
Professor Emeritus of Education; Professor of Education, 2001-2016; 
Education
2016
PhD, Southern Illinois University

Sara E. Bonkowski
Professor Emeritus of Social Work; Professor of Social Work, 1986-2001
Social Work
2001
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Deborah Brotcke
Professor Emeritus of Education; Professor of Education, 1992-2016
Education
2016
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Raymond S. Christiansen
Associate Professor Emeritus, University Library; Head of Media Services, Phillips Library; Associate Professor, 1977-2003
University Library
2003
MSEd, Northern Illinois University

Laurel Church
Professor Emeritus of Communication; Poetry Artist in Residence, Professor of Communication, 1985-2003
Communication
2001
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Carol D. Crane
Professor Emeritus of Biology; Associate Professor of Biology, 1968-1971, 1978-2006
Biology
2006
MA, University of North Carolina

Robert A. Dillon
Professor Emeritus of Mathematics; Associate Professor of Mathematics, 1977-2006
Mathematics
2006
MA, Ball State University 

Willam B. Duncan
Senior Vice President Emeritus - GWC; Vice President and Chief Academic Officer – GWC; Assistant Professor of Recreation Administration, 1970-2011 
GWC 
2011 
EdD, Northern Illinois University 

Carol R. Dunn 
Vice President for Enrollment Emeritus; Vice President for Enrollment, 2000-2009; Director of Adult and Continuing Education, 1982-1985
Enrollment
2009
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Marvin Edwards
Professor Emeritus of Education; Professor of Education, 2002-2017
Education
2017
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Joan Fee
Professor Emeritus of Education; Professor of Education; Chair EdD Program, 2003-2016
Education
2016
PhD, University of Chicago

David Frost
Professor Emeritus of Business; Associate Professor of Business, 2006-2016
Business
2016
MBA, Harvard University

Donald A. Fuller
Professor Emeritus of English; Professor of English, 1963-1999
English
1999
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Mary Glenn
Associate Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing; Associate Professor of Nursing, 1984-2004
Nursing
2004
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

John Gudenas
Professor Emeritus of Computer Science; Professor of Computer Science, 1991-2010
Computer Science
2010
PhD, Illinois Institute of Technology

Crystal R. Janaskie
Professor Emerita of Economics and Business; Assistant Dean, Director of Academic Advisement and Associate Professor of Economics and Business, 1959-1977
Economics and Business
1977
MBA, University of Chicago

Gary D. Jewel
Dean Emeritus, College of Education; Director, Graduate Programs, 1994-1996; Dean, College of Education 1996-2003; Executive Director, Institute for Collaboration, 2003-2005; Part-Time Instructor, 2005-2012
Education
2012
MS, Illinois State University

Christina Krause
Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychology; Associate Professor of Psychology, 1996-2016
Psychology
2016
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Steven R. Lay
Professor Emeritus of Mathematics; Professor of Mathematics, 1971-1990
Mathematics
1990
PhD, University of California-Los Angeles

J. Kenneth Leask
Professor Emeritus of Psychology; Professor of Psychology, 1966-2001
Psychology
2001
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Maryanne Locklin
Associate Professor and Director Emeritus, School of Nursing; Director, School of Nursing; Associate Professor of Nursing, 1995-2006
Nursing
2006
DNS, Rush University

Barbara Lockwood
Associate Professor Emeritus of Nursing; Associate Professor of Nursing, 2003-2016
Nursing
2016
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Stephen P. Lowery
Professor Emeritus of Art; Professor of Art, 1986-2013
Art
2013
MFA, Tulane University

John J. Melles
Professor Emeritus of Physics; Professor of Physics and Engineering Science, 1974-2006
Physics
2006
PhD, University of Missouri

Mary A. Harper Miller
Dean Emeritus, School of Nursing; Dean, School of Nursing; Professor of Nursing, 1996-2001
Nursing
2001
PhD, University of Colorado

John Morrison
Professor Emeritus of Social Work; Professor of Social Work, 1987-2008
Social Work
2008
DSW, Hunter College, City University of New York

Carolyn Mull
Professor Emeritus of Nursing; Professor of Nursing, 1987-2003
Nursing
2003
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Kay Nelson
Associate Professor Emeritus of English; Associate Professor of English and Communication, 1991-2003
English
2003
PhD, University of Chicago

Linda Olbinski
Dean Emeritus - GWC; Dean, School of Professional Studies - GWC,  2002-2010; Director of Continuing Education, 2010-2012
GWC
2012
PhD, Marquette University

Kenneth A. Olenik
Professor Emeritus of Sociology; Associate Professor of Sociology, 1966-1996
Sociology
1996
MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Susan L. Palmer
Professor Emeritus of History; Professor of History; Curator of Jenks Collection, 1973-2010
History
2010
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Charlotte G. Peichl
Associate Professor Emeritus of Music; Associate Professor of Music, 1974-1994
Music
1994
MM, Northwestern University

Marianne Piet
Associate Professor Emeritus of Social Work; Associate Professor of Social Work, 1996-2006
Social Work
2007
DSW, Loyola University Chicago

Ronald Ramer
Associate Professor Emeritus; Associate Professor of Philosophy/Interdisciplinary Studies, 1991-2010
Philosophy/Interdiscipinary Studies
2010
PhD, Syracuse University

Susan Ross
Professor Emeritus of Social Work; Professor of Social Work, 1995-2010
Social Work
2010
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Michael Sawdey
Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts; Professor of Fine Arts, 1985-2011
Fine Arts
2011
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sonja Scarseth
Associate Professor Emeritus, University Library; Catalog Librarian, Phillips Library, (Associate Professor), 1964-1998
University Library
1998
MLS, University of Michigan

Harold Schrage
Professor Emeritus of Social Work; BSW Program Director, 1987-1991; Field Coordinator of Field Placement, 1991-1992
Social Work
1994
PhD, University of Minnesota

Deanna Sommers
Associate Professor Emeritus of Nursing; Associate Professor of Nursing, 2006-2016
Nursing
2016
MSN, Wayne State University

Hanni U. Taylor
Professor Emeritus of English; Professor of English, 1978-2006
English
2006
PhD, Northern Illinois University

John G. Vanko
Associate Professor Emeritus of Education; Associate Professor of Education, 1996-2008
Education
2008
EdD, Loyola University Chicago

Richard F. Westphal
Professor Emeritus of English; Professor of English, 1971-2010
English
2010
DA, Illinois State University

Rita Yerkes
Dean Emeritus, School of Experiential Leadership; Dean, School of Experiential Leadership; Professor of Leisure Studies, 1987-2008
Experiential Leadership
2008
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Craig A. Zimmerman
Professor Emeritus of Biology; Professor of Biology, 1975-2000
Biology
2000
PhD, University of Michigan