Board of Trustees 2021–2022

Board Officers

Hilary K. Brennan (AU ’83), Chair
Chriss Johns, Vice-Chair
John D. Ammons (AU ’83), Vice-Chair
Douglas J. Craft (AU ’75), Vice-Chair

Board Members

Matthew Cannon (AU ’94)
Thomas Choice
Chad A. De King (AU ’83)
Austin Dempsey
Charles B. Doss
David Edelman
Jim Fuentes
Ronald M. Hem
Brian Konen
Gerald Palmer
Scott Palmer (AU ’72, Hon. ’02)
Myron J. Resnick
Ann Sheets (GWC ’77)
John D. Simms, Jr.
Michelle P. Simms
Brian Stading (AU '85)
David K. Stone (AU ’68)
Thomas T. Stuhley
Odie Washington (AU ’72)
Linnea Windel (AU ’96)
Dr. Rebecca L. Sherrick

Young Alumni Trustee

Jonathan Birkey (AU 2019)

Board Members, Emeriti

James E. Benson
David R. Bergman
Donald A. Churchill (AU ’68, ’85)
Tell Coffey (AU ’53)
Farrell Frentress (GWC ’64, ’71)
Joanne Hansen
Michael K. Keefe
Dr. Donald E. Kieso (AU ’58, Hon. ’03)
John F. McKee
Ruth Mendius (AU ’67)
F. R. Miller (AU ’61)
Dr. Calvin R. Myers (AU '64)
Thomas R. Scott (GWC ’61, ’63)
Calvin B. Thelin
Frank K. Voris

Administration 2021-2022

Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD President
Rebecca Flaminio, Executive Assistant to the President

Academic Affairs

Frank Buscher, PhD Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mary Tarling, PhD Dean of Academic Administration
Katherine Clark, PhD Director of University Library
Melody Nabors, Registrar

Academic Affairs, Educational Units

Toby Arquette, PhD Dean, School of Business & Public Policy
Brenda Barnwell, DSW Dean, School of Social Work
Jennifer Buckley, EdD Dean, School of Education
Karol Dean, PhD Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Sarah Radtke, EdD Dean, School of Health Science
Janice Strom, PhD Dean of School of Nursing

Enrollment

Alumni Relations

Community Relations

Sarah Russe, Vice President for Community Relations
Natasha Ritsma, PhD Director of the Schingoethe Center

Development

Margaret Howes, Vice President for Development

Finance

Sharon Maxwell, CPA Vice President for Finance
Bill Sanders, Assistant Vice President for Finance

Marketing and Communications

Deborah Maue, Vice President for Marketing & Communications

Operations

Hurstel Howard, Assistant Vice President / Chief Information Officer
John McIvor, Chief and Director of Campus Public Safety

Student Life

Lora De Lacey, PhD Executive Vice President
Amy Gray, PhD Vice President for Student Success
James Hamad, Vice President for Athletics
Ann Almasi-Bush, Dean of Student Life

Student Success

Jennifer Buckley, EdD Vice President for Student Success

George Williams Campus

Kathy Herrick, PhD Vice President for Academic and Student Life, GWC
Kailley Harmon, Assistant Vice President GWC
Yvette Howard, Vice President for Operations, GWC

Full-Time Faculty 2021-2022

Faith Agostinone
Professor
Education
2002
EdD, Oklahoma State University

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

Jacqueline Babb
Assistant Professor; Director of Graduate Studies
Digital Marketing
2017
MS, Northwestern University, IL

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

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

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

Donald Danner
Assistant Professor
Accounting
2013
MBA, University of Missouri

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

David Dial
Associate Professor; Chair of Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
2012
MA, United States Naval Postgraduate School

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

Patrick Dunn
Associate Professor
English
2006
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Sue Durkin
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2019
DNP, Lewis University

Sara Elliott
Associate Professor
English
2002
PhD, Northern Illinois University

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

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

Joan Fedota
Assistant Professor; Assistant Dean of Social Work - GWC
Social Work
2014
EdD, National Louis University 

Kara Fenne
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2016
MSN, Clarke University

Jonathan Fernand
Assistant Professor
Applied Behavior Analysis
2018
PhD, University of Florida

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

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

Jeremy Fransen
Assistant Professor
Exercise Science
2019
PhD, University of New Mexico

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

Pamela Garriott
Visiting Assistant Professor; Chair of Special Education
Special Education
2016
PhD, Indiana University

Alyssa Gentile
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2020
MSN, Walden University

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

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

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

Donovan Gwinner
Associate Professor
English
2004
PhD, University of Arizona

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

Jennifer Hayden
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2018
MSN, Aurora University

Elbert Hearon
Assistant Professor
Business Analytics
2018
MS, DePaul University

Keith Herrmann
Visiting Assistant Professor
Physical Education
2005
MAT, Aurora 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

Farah Ishaq
Assistant Professor
Sport Management
2020
PhD, University of Kansas

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

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

Stacy Joyce
Associate Professor
Theatre
2014
MFA, Columbia University

Wotaka Kajjumba
Visiting Assistant Professor
Computer Science
2019
MS, Bellevue University

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

Jennifer Kennedy
Assistant Professor
Nursing - GWC
2017
MSN, Northern Illinois University 

Douglas Kieso
Professor
Criminal Justice
2001
PhD, University of California-Irvine

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

Ralph Kober
Assistant Professor; Director of MA Programs
Education
2016
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

Caleb Lewis
Assistant Professor
Economics
2018
PhD, Northern Illinois University

Dawn Livorsi
Assistant Professor
Social Work
2016
DSW, Aurora University

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

Lara Mann
Assistant Professor
Autism Studies
2020
PhD, University of Kansas

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

Timothy Moran
Professor
Accounting
2003
EdD, Northern Illinois University

John Myers
Assistant Professor
Biology - GWC
2017
DC, National College of Chiropractic

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

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

Chetna Patel
Professor; Smith Distinguished Chair of Science and Mathematics; Chair of Physical Sciences to John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School
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

Katherine Reifurth
Assistant Professor
Sport Management
2019
PhD, University of South Carolina

Todd Roach
Assistant Professor
Biology
2017
DC, National University of Health Sciences

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

Meaghan Rowe-Johnson
Assistant Professor
Psychology
2018
PhD, University of Iowa

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

Jessica Scurte
Assistant Professor
Graphic Design
2018
MA, University of Phoenix

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

Terry Shapiro
Associate Professor
Psychology
2009
PhD, University of Iowa

Sharon Sillitti
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2017
MSN, Aurora 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

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

Barbara Strassberg
University Professor
Sociology
1991
PhD, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

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

Pamela Taylor
Associate Dean of Nursing
Nursing
2020
PhD, Northern Illinois 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

Jessica Vivirito
Professor; Chair of EdD Program
Education
2008
EdD, Northern Illinois University

Stephen Walker
Associate Professor
Applied Behavioral Analysis
2013
PhD, University of Florida

Mark Walter
Associate Professor
Philosophy
2006
PhD, DePaul University

Robyn Welk-Richards
Assistant Professor
Social Work - GWC
2020
PhD, Loyola University - Chicago

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

Sebastian Wyman
Associate Professor
Mathematics
2013
PhD, University of Florida

Stephanie Yelton 
Assistant Professor
Nursing
2018
MSN, Benedictine 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