S u m m e r 2 0 1 2magazineDEPAUL

SUCCESS STORIES

ALUMNI UNDER 40from

Front coverMitesh Dixit (LAS ’98), an architectbased in Rotterdam, runs major projects around the world.

Share Your DePaul Pride—Here, There and Everywhere

If you’re heading out for a

vacation this summer, be sure to

pack your favorite DePaul gear.

We’re collecting fun photos of

alumni decked out in Blue Demons

attire or otherwise showing their

DePaul pride. Snap a picture and

send it to dpalumni@depaul.edu

with your name and the location

where the photo was taken. High-

resolution images preferred.

Carol Sadtler, Editor

Christian Anderson, Contributing writer

Kris Gallagher, Contributing writer

Louisa M. Worthington-Fitzgerald,

Contributing writer

Maria-Romina Hench, Copy editor and

contributing writer

Read us online at depaul.edu/magazine

DePaul Magazine is published for alumni,

staff, faculty and friends by University

Marketing Communications. Inquiries,

comments and letters are welcome and

should be addressed to DePaul Magazine,

University Marketing Communications,

1 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.

Call 312.362.8824

Email depaulmag@depaul.edu.

DePaul University is an equal opportunity employer and educator.

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University NewsCelebration Commencement 4

Partnerships Lake View High School 6

Exhibits New at the Museum 7

Progress Campaign Update 8

FeaturesSpotlight Alumni Stars under 40 10

Archives Football at DePaul 20

Alumni ConnectionsNews Info You Can Use 22

Class Notes Who’s Doing What 24

Alumni Planner Coming Events 28

t a b l e of c o n t e n t s

DePaul student work on The Red Line Project, a news, entertainment and community website, won three prestigious

Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism from the Chicago Headline Club in May. The site was a finalist in

four categories and took home three Lisagors, competing against Chicago’s professional journalism outlets.

Paula Luff, associate vice president for Financial Aid, DePaul students and J.D. Bindenagel, then-vice

president for Community, Government and International Affairs, joined Sen. Dick Durbin at a news

conference on the Lincoln Park Campus to support legislation that would keep student loan interest

rates from rising. The news conference was reported nationally by NBC and locally by WLS-TV.

DePaul University is No. 19 in Diversity MBA Magazine’s annual 50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership, the top

ranking achieved by an institution of higher learning. The rankings focused on workplace diversity and leadership

opportunities for people of color at a wide range of for- and non-profit organizations.

For the third year in a row, DePaul earned a ranking in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322

Green Colleges. The guide, which was created by The Princeton Review and the U.S. Green

Building Council, features colleges in both the United States and Canada that have

comprehensive sustainability plans in place.

The Hollywood Reporter praised The Theatre School for its low student-faculty ratio and notable alumni as the school

made the entertainment magazine’s list of top drama schools. Others on the list: The Julliard School, Royal Academy

of Dramatic Art in London, Yale University School of Drama and Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Melissa Ockerman, assistant professor in the College of Education, was named Counselor

Educator of the Year by the Illinois School Counselor Association. Two alumni of the college’s

graduate school counseling program also were honored: Dustin Seemann (EDU ’08) was

named High School Counselor of the Year, and Kim Kopec (EDU ’04) was named Internship

Supervisor of the Year.

DePaul’s newest academic building, Arts & Letters Hall, has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green

Building Council, which recognizes leadership in energy efficiency and environmental design. The building’s

estimated annual energy savings over a standard code-compliant building of its size is 26 percent, according to

Illinois Clean Energy.

Since We Were Last Together�our university keeps moving onward and upward.

There’s always a lot going on around campus and in the lives

of DePaul alumni that attracts attention from Chicago to the global community.

Here are just a few such items since our last issue.

Nationally acclaimed experts in education, theatre, law, business, computer science and public relations were invited as speakers

and honorary degree recipients as part of DePaul’s 114th commencement celebration this spring.

Seven ceremonies featured the following dignitaries:

College of Law

Speaker: John B. Simon, a nationally

renowned attorney with the firm of Jenner

and Block and former federal prosecutor

who is a leader in Chicago’s civic and

philanthropic spheres. Simon also is a

member of DePaul’s board of trustees

and a former chair.

College of Education

Speaker: Linda Darling-Hammond,

a professor of education at Stanford

University and one of the nation’s top

experts on education reform. She led

President Barack Obama’s education

transition team.

School of Music and The Theatre School

(combined ceremony)

Speaker: Jackie Taylor, actress, theatrical

producer and founder of Chicago’s iconic

Black Ensemble Theater, which recently

opened a multimillion-dollar performing arts

and cultural center in Chicago’s Uptown

community.

School for New Learning

Speaker: Laurent Parks-Daloz, author and

pioneer in adult learning and the utilization

of life experience in shaping education

programs in the United States.

College of Liberal Arts and Social

Sciences and College of Science

and Health

(combined ceremony)

Speaker: E.O. Wilson, a Harvard professor

and two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize,

one of the world’s most influential biologists

and evolutionary theorists of the past

half-century.

College of Computing and Digital Media

and College of Communication

(combined ceremony)

Speaker: Alan C. Kay, a seminal force in

the development of the personal computer

and the Internet through his work with the

Advanced Research Project Agency at the

University of Utah and the Xerox Palo Alto

Research Center.

Also honored at the ceremony was

Al Golin, a leading figure in the public

relations industry and founder of the

international agency GolinHarris, an

advisor to major global corporations

and organizations.

College of Commerce

Speaker: Brian Campbell, industrialist,

investor and philanthropist who has led the

growth of several investment and

manufacturing concerns while supporting

numerous charities throughout the Midwest.

Also honored was James J. O’Connor,

former chairman and CEO of Commonwealth

Edison, current chair of Armstrong Industries

and co-chairman of the Big Shoulders

Fund, a leading organization providing

access to Catholic elementary and

secondary education for low-income,

inner-city children.

Commencement 2012

Commencement 2012 Honors Graduates, National Figures

U n i v e r s i t y N e w s

5s u m m e r

Job Outlook Trending Up for 2012 Graduates

As this year’s graduates look for jobs, the employment

landscape looks better than it did last year.

“Things are looking much more promising for 2012 graduates.

We’ve seen a big increase in job postings on DePaul’s recruiting

site,” says Gillian Steele, managing director of DePaul’s Career

Center. “The job postings in May were up 43 percent over May

2011. The 862 jobs posted represent the third-highest total since

January 2007—the highest having occurred in March 2012.”

Eighty-two percent of these job postings were for full-time

positions. Among the positions most in demand are those in

professional services, health/social and human services, and

accounting/finance/banking, Steele said. The top seven bachelor’s

degrees in demand are business, accounting, engineering, computer

science, physical sciences, communication and social sciences.

At DePaul, industries showing the largest growth in job

postings from 2010 to 2011 are professional, health care, social

and human services, and accounting/finance/banking.

According to Recruiting Trends 2011-12, nearly 40 percent of

employers will hire candidates from all majors, seeking the best

talent regardless of field of study. Computer science majors are

still in strong demand in nearly every sector, and the supply of

graduates will not be sufficient to fill all available positions.

Accounting, finance and supply chain management are also

expected to do well this year.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

predicts that employers will hire 10.2 percent more new college

graduates than they did in 2010-11. More than half of employers

intend to increase salaries an average of 3.3 percent.

Employers value the fresh perspective and skill set younger

workers bring to the table. Many companies that participated in

NACE’s survey stated that their organizations are too “top heavy.”

In addition to increasing hiring due to company expansion and

business growth, employers are looking to replace a retiring

workforce and gain younger talent. Additionally, many employers

plan to hire more interns this year—8 percent more than last year.

Internship programs again emerged as the top recruiting

strategy used by most employers (not including postings to college

and organization websites). Social media are now used by 36 percent

of employers (up 10 percent from last year) and are expected to

become core recruiting tools as more organizations quickly adopt

various media options.

Seventy-three percent of employers said they preferred

candidates with relevant work experience, according to NACE. At

DePaul, 68 percent of those who had academic internships reported

that it led to employment, supporting the emerging paradigm that

internships have become the new entry-level jobs.

DePaul’s Alumni Relations works in partnership with the

Career Center to offer Corporate Connectors, a program to help

DePaul students and alumni make a smooth transition to a new job

or prepare for an upcoming interview at a specific corporation.

Several hundred alumni have offered to meet or correspond with

fellow alumni or students who are applying to their companies.

These volunteers welcome DePaul-affiliated new hires or interns

who’ve recently joined their firms.

DePaul Art Museum AwardedLEED Silver CertificationThe DePaul University Art Museum recently

received LEED Silver certification from the

U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable

design and construction principles.

The facility includes sustainable features, such

as energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems,

storm-water collection, retention and filtering

systems, water-efficient landscaping, a partial

green roof and reflective roof coatings. These

design elements reduce energy consumption

by 17.6 percent.

DePaul University will continue its long involvement with Chicago

Public Schools in a new partnership with Lake View High School,

providing opportunities for the high school students through the

university’s science and technology programs.

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president, announced the

partnership with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on May 23 at Senn High

School, the partner school for Loyola University Chicago. The mayor is

encouraging Chicago’s four-year universities to pair with the city’s public

high schools to help the schools “launch in a new direction,” Emanuel

said. The universities will offer programs and services tailored to each

school’s needs with the hope of boosting the schools’ achievement.

Forming a bond with Lake View will be natural for DePaul. Next year,

the high school will be one of the city’s five Early College STEM

Schools (ECSS), focusing on technology skills and career readiness.

DePaul has worked for years with middle school teachers to increase

their knowledge in math and science teaching and has invested in

high-quality faculty and facilities in science and technology.

“For many years, DePaul University has been deeply committed to

enhancing the educational experiences of Chicago Public School

students and teachers through a wide range of initiatives, from training

science and math teachers to providing classical music instruction for

grammar school students,” Fr. Holtschneider said.

“This new partnership between Lake View High School and DePaul

bolsters that bond and furthers our mission to be an institutional

anchor for Chicago. By providing Lake View students with greater

access to DePaul’s high-quality faculty and facilities in science and

technology, we hope to ease their transition into college and send

them on the path toward entering careers in these fields.”

DePaul is the first four-year university planning to offer college

courses through ECSS by giving eligible Lake View students access

to some of DePaul’s college courses. To align the school’s curriculum

with college standards, DePaul will support Lake View’s curriculum

development, providing data analysis and on-going education for

its teachers.

“I want all the potential that exists in DePaul’s math classes, their

science classes, their teachers and their students to apply to our kids,”

Emanuel said.

Lake View students will benefit from DePaul’s commitment to

enhancing its science and technology programs. In 2011, DePaul

established its 10th college—the College of Science and Health—to

respond to the growing demand for well-educated professionals in the

rapidly growing science and health care fields. To support high-quality

science and education research, DePaul has constructed two science

facilities in the past 15 years on its Lincoln Park Campus. Forty-five

percent of the computer degrees held by Chicagoans come from

DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media.

DePaul to Boost Science and Technology Learning for Lake View High School Students

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.,

president, welcomed diplomats to Cortelyou

Commons on April 12 for DePaul’s Seventh

Annual Consular Corps of Chicago luncheon

and thanked them for supporting the

university’s international initiatives. The

consuls general heard from Lori Healey,

executive director of the Chicago NATO Host

Committee (at left), who described the city’s

plans for the NATO summit on May 20 and 21.

NATO Host Committee Director Addresses Consular Corps Lunch Guests

U n i v e r s i t y N e w s

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (left) and the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider,C.M., DePaul president, tour Lake View High School.

7s u m m e r

DePaul Art Museum Exhibit “Draws” on Images of Social Transformation

Showcasing 13 artists who use drawing to meticulously

translate images originally received through photo-based

media or digital circulation, the exhibition “Drawn from

Photography” includes images of war and protest as well

as views of urban landscapes and industrial developments.

Free and open to the public, the exhibit runs through Aug. 19.

“In focusing on the act of drawing as well as on the content and

meanings of their images, the artists in the exhibition engage and

connect political events and meditative practice,” says Louise

Lincoln, director of the DePaul Art Museum. “The works become a

way for artists—and viewers—to understand our place in the world.”

More than any other art form, drawing is traditionally

understood to be an inherently intimate and direct means of

expression. The act of drawing is a way to deliberately slow things

down. Whether using found media sources or their own

photographs, the artists share a reconstructive, labor-intensive

impulse that counteracts the rapid dissemination of information

that defines the media age.

The artists in the exhibition adopt a variety of approaches

to their subjects. Emily Prince and Mary Temple create evolving

installations that respond to contemporary events, such as the war

in Iraq; Andrea Bowers, Sam Durant, D-L Alvarez and Frank Selby

replicate iconic photos of political clashes and countercultural

movements; Fernando Bryce comprehensively redraws historical

documents; and Ewan Gibbs and Richard Forster copy their own

snapshots of the changing industrial landscape. In each case,

drawing as translation marks a desire for agency coupled with a

sense of distance between the world and the artist’s attempt to

comprehend or impact it.

“Drawn from Photography” is organized by The Drawing

Center in New York and curated by center curator Claire Gilman.

For more information, visit museums.depaul.edu.

Frank Selby, Light Blue Riot, 2010

Scholarship Resources Key to Mission The Many Dreams, One Mission

Campaign is the most ambitious

fundraising initiative in the history of

DePaul University. In announcing the

campaign’s new $300 million goal,

campaign leaders set as a primary

focus the achievement of the $100

million goal for scholarships.

To date, DePaul has raised

$75 million toward the $100 million goal for student

scholarships. Scholarship funds are distributed among

students in DePaul’s 10 colleges.

Lisandra Tena (THE ’12) ran away from a troubled home

and dropped out of high school, but eventually found her

way through a GED program and community college.

“Before DePaul, I could only dream of experiencing an

education from The Theatre School, since there was no

possible way my father could afford it, having eight other

children to support,” she says. “Now, I am happy to say I am

the first in my family to attend college, but I am even happier

to inspire my younger siblings and encourage them to dream

big, because anything is possible. Scholarships made my

dream into reality.”

The Many Dreams, One Mission Campaign bolsters the

university’s commitment to the education of first-generation

college students, especially those from diverse cultural and

socioeconomic backgrounds. Scholarship gifts are gifts of

opportunity, helping DePaul to provide high-quality

education to students demonstrating intellectual potential

and academic achievement. Building these scholarship

resources strengthens DePaul’s mission to assure talented

students from diverse backgrounds are able to strive and

achieve an excellent DePaul education.

The Many Dreams, One Mission Campaign for DePaul surpassed its original $250 million goal in February 2012,with two years remaining in the campaign timeline.

Following a recommendation by the capital campaign committee and university leadership, the DePaul University Board of

Trustees voted to expand the campaign, increasing the goal to $300 million. The campaign will continue on its original time

frame through June 30, 2014.

“The Many Dreams, One Mission Campaign has been the most ambitious in our university’s history, and I am very grateful and

pleased to say that our alumni and friends have responded with historic vision and generosity,” says the Rev. Dennis H.

Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul University. “Our trustees, campaign volunteers, leadership donors, and alumni from

all ages and backgrounds recognize the importance of this effort in fulfilling the dreams of students and their families and in

strengthening the DePaul mission for future generations.”

“In setting the bar higher, we are confident that the same commitment that resulted in the campaign’s early success—

commitment to DePaul’s current and future students—will enable the university to reach this new goal,” says Mary Finger,

senior vice president for Advancement.

Campaign Raises Sights to $300 million

Tena

Facilities Foster Academic Excellence The performing arts play a crucial role at the university,

fulfilling DePaul’s Vincentian mission to educate both the

mind and the heart, awakening within individuals a response

that can help them realize their potential as human beings.

The Many Dreams, One Mission Campaign for the Performing

Arts will help ensure that theatre and music remain important

components of university life for the next 100 years.

Completing much-needed, state-of-the-art facilities for

DePaul’s renowned theatre and music schools is a top focus

of the expanded campaign goal. While The Theatre School

and School of Music are ranked among the country’s top

conservatory-style programs in their respective disciplines,

the schools have long been housed in inadequate facilities.

The campaign aims to create spaces for DePaul’s theatre and

music students to learn their art in facilities commensurate

with their respective schools’ national reputation.

In addition to highly qualified faculty, strong financial

aid and scholarship support, along with easy access to an

arts-rich environment like Chicago, every truly excellent

performing arts program requires top-notch facilities. These

buildings, says John Culbert, dean of The Theatre School,

are “physical manifestations of DePaul’s commitment to

providing a world-class education and will aid in attracting

top faculty and students while facilitating specialized

excellence.”

Alumni Giving Key to Campaign Success Gifts at all levels are instrumental toward reaching and

exceeding milestones in the Many Dreams, One Mission

Campaign for DePaul University. “The historic $30 million

gift from Richard Driehaus is the largest among thousands of

generous investments by alumni in the Campaign for DePaul

University,” says Fr. Holtschneider. “In many ways, the goals

of this campaign and its record-breaking success thus far

signify recognition on the part of the donor community that

our university has matured as one of the leading institutions

of higher learning in the country. We must continue to work

hard to fulfill the responsibilities that come with leadership.

This campaign will provide DePaul with critical resources

to continue to offer an excellent education across the

disciplines to the most talented students from a broad

cross-section of backgrounds.”

Greenberg Gift Supports PioneeringCollaboration

A visionary campaign commitment from DePaul alumnus

and trustee Jack Greenberg (BUS ’64, LAW ’86, DHL ’99)

and his wife, Donna, has led to a first-of-its-kind, multi-year

collaboration between DePaul University and the

international nonprofit organization Facing History and

Ourselves. The collaboration will incorporate Facing

History’s acclaimed resources, materials and classroom

strategies on civic engagement and social justice throughout

programs for working and aspiring teachers in DePaul’s

College of Education.

The collaboration, with the potential to impact

thousands of elementary and high school students, is the first

between Facing History and a university college of education.

“Facing History and Ourselves has developed very powerful

and effective pedagogies and professional development

programs for teachers that address some of the most critically

urgent issues of our time,” says Fr. Holtschneider. “This

agreement strengthens and extends the College of Education’s

programming in a manner consistent with the university’s

historical commitment to social justice.”

For more information on the campaign, including the currentfundraising total, please visit campaign.depaul.edu.

9s u m m e r

Donna and Jack Greenberg look on as Marc Skvirsky, vicepresident and chief program officer of Facing History andOurselves, and DePaul President the Rev. Dennis H.Holtschneider, C.M., sign a collaboration agreement at aMay event. Chicago Director of Facing History andOurselves Bonnie Oberman is at right.

As you know, DePaul University alumni are a wide array of

interesting and accomplished people. To celebrate that, every

year we choose a group of young alumni whose careers and

lives are on the rise—based on nominations from themselves,

the faculty members who taught them, their friends, or others

who have noticed their achievements.

As your university grows—with the addition of two new

colleges in the past few years—we increase the number of

alumni selected to reflect the ever-evolving opportunities

for growth that DePaul offers to those who look for them.

We hope you enjoy this seventh annual issue and find it

an interesting mix of professions, personal histories and

achievements. May it highlight for you, and anyone you share

it with, the real measures of a DePaul education—not only

professional success, but creativity and satisfaction in other

facets of life.

You may be inspired to nominate yourself or other alumni

for next year’s issue. Just send a few details about your

achievements or those of another DePaul graduate.

Email us at depaulmag@depaul.edu.

Seventh Annual Edition

Flying High: SUCCESS STORIES

ALUMNI UNDER 40from

Mitesh Dixit (LAS ’98)Design DirectorClaus en Kaan Architecten

Mitesh Dixit remembers that he sometimes rolled out of bed to make his evening

classes at DePaul in his pajamas. “I was on my own schedule,” he says.

Although he says he’s been “lucky to be at the right place at the right time” in

his career as a successful international architect, it’s tempting to attribute his

accomplishments to his ability to create his own way.

Instead of becoming a chemical engineer like his father and siblings, Dixit says,

“I never thought once about my career” when he came to DePaul. He followed

his interests in politics and philosophy, soaking up ideas, conversing with his

professors and hanging out with a group of older writers off campus. “DePaul

taught me how to think,” he says.

Dixit went to graduate school in architecture at Washington University in St. Louis.

“I wanted to deal with people, cities, cultures—and I wanted to make something.

I chose architecture so I could physically practice politics.”

He joined Skidmore, Owings and Merrill after graduation. From the bottom rung

of the global firm’s hierarchy, he was scooped up by one of the firm’s partners to

work on a crash project to design a tower for Shanghai when everyone else was

off for a holiday. “I had never done a tower in my life, so I bought a bunch of

books,” Dixit says. He and the partner won the competition and continued to

work together. Eventually, he managed his own competition team, running

projects that included the Transbay Tower in San Francisco and The New

Philippine Stock Exchange in Manila.

About three years later, Dixit joined Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA),

where he worked with founder Rem Koolhass on innovative projects such as the

Taipei Performing Arts Center in Taiwan. “The project brings together Rem’s history

of working in theatre and my experience in working with towers. You’re constantly

evolving—so the idea gets richer and richer as you keep going,” he says.

The Taipei project allows the three theatres to function separately or as one and

incorporates a vibrant night market that existed on the site. “It was important

because it dealt with so many layers—the city, the theatre, the culture—

simultaneously. It fulfills the requirement to make a place for a unique theatre

experience. The building performs,” Dixit says.

Design Director Dixit now works with Claus en Kaan in Rotterdam. “Every year

of my life has gotten better,” he says. “I really want to make something with this

next step.”

Carla Stone (EDU ’97)Math and Science TeacherNichols Middle School, Evanston

It’s hard to say what inspires Golden Apple winner Carla Stone more—

basketball or chocolate-covered ants.

She credits basketball, and in particular DePaul women’s basketball Coach

Doug Bruno, with teaching her skills and strategies that she uses in the

classroom every day: an intense work ethic, visualizing success, being quick

on her feet, service to others and the importance of teamwork.

“Basketball is like a game of life,” says Stone, who played center and forward for

the Blue Demons from 1991 to 1995, followed by 11 years on the pro and semi-

pro circuit abroad. “You have to overcome obstacles and any kind of negative

situations, find a way to look at it in a more positive way, persevere.”

Teaching, like basketball, should be fun. Stone admires how her 12th-grade

biology teacher used “crazy, off-the-wall” tactics such as candied ants to draw

students in. She makes math and science just as invigorating for her sixth-

graders, who create everything from cooking shows to multimedia presentations.

“I’m really focused on reaching all my writers, my performing artists, my

architects, my builders, just really understanding that kids learn in so many

different ways,” she says. “Credit to Doug, credit to DePaul, for keeping me in

tune with the individuality of each child.”

Her next challenging population? Introverts. Ebullient by nature, Stone is

studying how to work effectively with quiet students during one of the free

graduate courses she’s taking, courtesy of the Golden Apple Foundation. She’s

close to finishing her book “Path of the Enlightened Teacher: Lessons in Self

and Classroom Motivation.” (She also co-authored “Three Diseases of the

Prostate” with her father, Albert Stone.) And, she’s collaborating with other

Golden Apple winners on ways to address educational issues ranging from

poverty to preparing the next generation of teachers. She says that, too,

reminds her of DePaul.

“I love being associated with an institution that’s known for helping people,”

Stone says. “I am very grateful to DePaul for the whole ideology of being a

Vincentian. It’s a way of life.”

13f e a t u r e

Ryan P. Theriault (SNL ’03, LAW ’07)AttorneyFoote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers

Plaintiff’s attorney Ryan Theriault understands law enforcement in a way that

many attorneys don’t—from the inside.

In addition to having brothers who are police officers, he worked for a large

suburban Chicago police department for eight years. One of his jobs was

assigning tasks to offenders sentenced to community service. Rather than

sending them all off to pick up trash by the highway, he developed a program

to match them with tasks that took advantage of any special skills they had.

For example, a carpenter atoning for a drunken driving conviction did his

community-service hours with Habitat for Humanity. While Theriault has

moved on, the program is still going strong.

He now represents plaintiffs in personal injury cases, with a special interest in

police and firefighters injured on the job.

“Often there’s a David versus Goliath factor, with our little firm taking on large

corporations,” Theriault says. “A lot of people won’t stand up to the big

companies even if their rights have been violated.”

Theriault always knew he wanted to go to DePaul, “if they’d take me.” His

father had been a student at DePaul Academy, a boys’ high school formerly

affiliated with the university, and inculcated his children with the Vincentian

tradition of service.

With some prodding from his wife, Theriault earned his undergraduate degree in

legal studies from DePaul’s School for New Learning, going to school at night

while working. A law degree earned the same way fulfilled a long-held dream.

His heart has always been in trial law. “I want to help people, as hokey as it

sounds,” he says. “We deal with a lot of tragedy, like we did at the police

department. People throw themselves in your lap and cry. Although a

psychology degree may have been helpful, this is where my legal training

combined with my public service background is really pressed into service.”

Theriault, a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, also offers his

services pro bono for Prairie State Legal Services. He has volunteered for the

Kane County Bar Association’s Ask a Lawyer phone bank and has served as

a judge in student moot court competitions.

Patricia Esparza (CSH MA ’06, PHD ’09)Assistant Professor, Webster University GenevaConsultant, World Health Organization

Patricia Esparza’s world turned upside down in junior high school. The native of

Santa Ana, Calif., was chosen to be educated in elite boarding schools on the

East Coast.

“It was very, very difficult. I grew up in a city with 99 percent minorities and went

where I was in the 1 percent. But yet it opened up a whole world for me,” she says.

Esparza continued to expand her world, studying psychology at Pomona College

and then moving to New York to work as a labor organizer for textile workers. “I

saw the strength of people’s ability to come together in an organized way and

decide on a set of goals that they wanted to achieve to improve everybody’s

welfare,” she says.

Seeing connections between people’s mental health and their ability to be

effective—and the synergy between the community and the individual—Esparza

looked for a graduate psychology program that offered a combination of clinical

and community study. “DePaul was the only one in the U.S.,” she says.

In Professor Bernadette Sanchez, Esparza found a mentor for her focus on

community/clinical psychology research, and in Professor Kathryn Grant, she

found support for her desire to link academia with public policy changes.

Through grants and fellowships they developed, Esparza began to build her

career, interning at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva for a

summer and also connecting with members of the Illinois State Senate.

Today, along with a research and teaching post at Webster University in

Geneva, Esparza influences global public health policies through her work

with WHO. Her recently published, co-edited book is instrumental in creating

a comprehensive international mental health classification system that will be

used by mental health professionals around the world.

She’s happy living near Geneva with her husband and daughter. “I wanted to

be where the world comes. The world comes to Geneva. This is where policy is

made,” she says.

Esparza is grateful for the opportunities that allowed her to use her abilities.

“If I hadn’t been raised in the U.S. where I earned a free education through

merit-based scholarships, I would have been lost somewhere,” she says.

Paula Hunsche (CMN MA ’06)Executive Media DirectorJacobson Rost

When Paula Hunsche spoke to a graduate journalism class at DePaul last fall,

she “told them to take charge of their careers, know themselves and look for

ways to improve the company they are working for,” she says. It’s these tips that

have made her more than 13 years in communications so successful.

Hunsche’s strengths as a writer and presenter led her to major in speech

communication at Miami University in Ohio. As she pursued a career in public

relations in Chicago, advertising and media caught her interest.

Hunsche began her career at Starcom, a leading media agency, as a

communications architect. There, she pursued a master’s degree to supplement

her experience with an academic background in advertising. “DePaul’s master’s

program in advertising and PR was geared toward working professionals. I

spoke with professors at the College of Communication, and the diligence with

which my questions were answered cemented my desire to attend DePaul.”

After earning her master’s degree, Hunsche left Starcom to start her own

consulting business. Then she was approached by Mindshare, another global

media company, for an interim position leading the team that provided

communications support to BP after the Deepwater Horizon Incident in April 2010.

“BP was tested like few other companies, and the resources and effort they put

toward addressing the incident were remarkable. I had the responsibility of

managing the advertising, integrating with the other communication efforts,

analyzing those efforts and providing recommendations based on the analysis.

It was a true partnership across BP and their agencies,” Hunsche says.

Today, as the executive media director at Jacobson Rost, a growing marketing

communications company, she manages a team of communications strategists

who work with regional and national clients, including Johnson Controls,

Kalahari Resorts, Stein Gardens and Gifts, Carl Buddig and BOSS.

Using Jacobson Rost’s “Truth to Transactions” approach, Hunsche’s team

discovers the truths that their clients are working to achieve, then develops

communication strategies and transaction trackers that allow them to apply

metrics to their work. “Calculating return on investment allows us to make

smarter marketing decisions. It is tools like this that inspire me and drive my

recommendations and daily discussions with clients,” Hunsche says.

Hunsche, mother to three children under 6, says, “I have to make sure that

everyone is getting my best. Balancing work with life is very important to me.”

Jenny Januszewski (SNL ’02)Director and Actor

When it comes to a new creative opportunity, Jenny Januszewski goes for it.

And she often reaps the rewards.

She moved to Hollywood about three years ago without any work lined up.

“All I knew was that there would be warm weather and palm trees. Both are

things I’m quite partial to,” she says. Last year, Januszewski walked the red

carpet to receive the award for Best Experimental Film at the 3D Film Festival

in Hollywood. Two of her feature-length screenplays were selected for the

Beverly Hills Film Festival in 2010 and ’11.

Januszewski was born in Vietnam and grew up with her Polish-American

parents and three siblings on a farm in Springport, Mich. In high school, she

discovered a passion for fine art photography, which her parents supported.

“Neither were artists themselves, but they created an environment where I was

exposed to the arts and encouraged to blaze a path. I think my parents were

rather brave that way,” she says.

And so was she. When her mom took her and her best friend to meet some of

the actors after a performance of “Miss Saigon” at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre,

one of them said that Januszewski should stay and go to school. “One semester

later, I did,” she says.

In Chicago, she explored abstract color photography and television and film

production. She acted in national commercials and an Equity stage production,

toured the country performing in a musical, and signed with modeling and talent

agencies. When she landed at the School for New Learning—“after three or four

colleges”—she studied international business and media coordination.

“At SNL, I gained the most important skill ever—learning how I learn and work

best. After attending one of the classes—maybe it was the Lifelong Learning

course—I realized that I’m someone who needs an enormous amount to do all

at once,” she says.

Currently, Januszewski is directing a 2D film based on a short story by Stephen

King called “The Boogeyman,” a project that suits her talents and aspirations.

“I want to challenge myself with something different. I’ve never attempted an

adaptation, and this is my first full-length feature film.

“There’s not a huge difference between what I do for dollars and what I do for

personal satisfaction. As I get older, I realize what a luxury that is. Whether it’s a

motion-picture or still photography, I enjoy creating a story, sharing an emotion

and creating the environment in which the subject can best share its journey

with the audience.”

15f e a t u r e

Nambi E. Kelley (THE ’95)Playwright and ActressPlaywrights Unit, Goodman Theatre

Like most of her projects, “The Book of Living and Dying” came looking for

Nambi E. Kelley.

“I have a firm belief that I don’t choose plays to perform in or to write about.

They choose me,” says Kelley, who partnered with director Chong Tze Chien

and fellow playwrights/actors Oliver Chong of Singapore and Antonio Ianniello

of Italy to adapt “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” and perform it at the

Singapore Arts Festival earlier this year.

Loosely based on the Tibetan reincarnation system, the play “focuses on a

relationship between a mother and a daughter, echoing the book’s premise that

every relationship you have is not a singular event in history, but one that is

repeated in the consciousness of every individual,” says Kelley.

Similar themes are woven through the play she is writing for Chicago’s Goodman

Theatre, “For Her as a Piano,” about how the lives of three generations of women

interconnect across time, space, memory and music.

“This play … is one of the most important pieces of work I've ever embarked

upon because it is so personally connected to my own journey as a woman and

artist,” she says.

Her journey began when Kelley wrote a piece about her family that was so good

she used it to audition for plays. She enrolled in The Theatre School as a

playwright, continued to act, and has successfully blended the two ever since.

Her award-winning plays have been produced from New York to Los Angeles.

She recently was commissioned by the American Blues Theatre to adapt “Native

Son” for the stage, and she received a full scholarship to do a writing residency

at the Norman Mailer Institute this summer.

Her stage work, which includes performances with the Goodman, Steppenwolf

and Victory Gardens theatres in Chicago, is equally acclaimed and includes

three national tours in South Korea.

Kelley says her work with “The Book of Living and Dying” is particularly

challenging because she herself is dealing with the death of a loved one. “When

other actors embody the roles I’ve written, there is a mask, a cover of sorts.

Here, where I am performing what I've co-written, there is no mask. It is me out

there naked, with something that I am still grappling with in my personal life, and

it's painful.

“I try to remember that by engaging fully in the material, it is bringing peace and

quiet to someone who may witness it and is living the same thing.”

P.J. Powers (THE ’95)Co-founder and Artistic DirectorTimeLine Theatre

Thankfully, P.J. Powers’ life has not gone according to plan. It’s one reason why

TimeLine Theatre was hailed as the country’s Best Company by the Wall Street

Journal in 2010.

“The way TimeLine came to be founded is still one of the surprises of my life,”

says Powers, who began acting at age 5, was in professional shows by age 12,

and came to The Theatre School (TTS) to prepare for a career onstage.

He had serious doubts when classmate Nick Bowling (THE ’96) coaxed him and

four other TTS graduates into founding a theatre company in 1997—one devoted

to history, at that. “My reluctance at first was misinterpreting the phrase ‘history

theatre’ as something that’s dry, dusty and overly academic.”

Instead, TimeLine has spent the past 15 years riveting audiences through

productions that connect the past with the political and social issues of today.

Powers was equally reluctant when company members persuaded him to take

over as artistic director in 1999. Today, he says, “While I still love acting and

occasionally do it, running this company has become not only my main focus,

but also my greatest honor.”

“In some ways, I never trained a day in my life for this job, and in some ways,

everything I did at DePaul trained me for this job,” he says. “I learned about

artistic integrity, having a point of view, and using the great gift and platform of

theatre purposefully. We try to choose plays that we think will mean something

to people, and that was really instilled in me at DePaul.”

That’s why he and his classmates run TimeLine differently from most theatres.

It’s an artistic collective that democratically chooses which shows to produce.

Powers’ job is to hire directors and designers, cast shows, manage marketing

and fundraising, and handle the myriad tasks that enable the show to go on.

He was thrilled when TimeLine was named 2011 Best Theatre by Chicago

Magazine, but he’s even more proud that the company won two national awards

for managerial excellence.

“One of the secrets to TimeLine’s success … is that from day one we realized

that producing great art alone would not necessarily make us a great arts

organization. We had to focus as much on being smart business managers as

we did on being smart theatre producers,” he says. TimeLine has operated in

the black for 15 years. “In many ways, some of those awards mean more to us

than those artistic awards, because it speaks to the health behind the scenes,

which is essential for the work onstage to happen.”

SUCCESSSTORIES

ALUMNIUNDER 40

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Jon Harris (LAS ’95, MS ’00)Founder and PresidentAthlife and the Athlife Foundation

Jon Harris studied political science as an undergraduate at DePaul, but it was

his four years on the basketball team that shaped his career—not as a pro

athlete, but as a person who helps athletes with their transition into the post-

athletic life.

When NFL players retire, for example, Harris says, 78 percent end up broke,

divorced, or battling substance abuse, sometimes all three, within a year. Many

never finished college or otherwise planned ahead.

To help former athletes, Harris founded Athlife in 2004 to provide the kind of

one-on-one counseling and coaching that professional leagues generally don’t.

Previously, he’d been manager of player development for the National Football

League and had founded, with fellow alumnus Tom Kowalski (CMN ’98), its

continuing education program to help players with degree completion and

preparation for graduate school.

Athlife contracts with many professional and collegiate sports organizations,

including the NFL Players Association, the NBA Retired Players Association,

the Major League Soccer Players Union and the Atlanta Falcons. The

organization also has contracted with more than 40 college and university

athletics departments since its inception.

Harris got his start with the National Consortium of Academics and Sports,

an organization to help student-athletes with the “student” part, after earning

his bachelor’s at DePaul. The job was based at DePaul, where he also earned

a master’s degree, writing his thesis on how athletes make transitions to

non-athletic life.

Currently, Harris is moving Athlife’s pro activities into a not-for-profit foundation

that promotes academic success for high school athletes. “Our focus has turned

to working with kids and trying to fix the problems before they start,” he says.

A native of upstate New York, Harris played basketball in high school and had

heard of the Blue Demons and Coach Joey Meyer. He was looking for an urban

campus with a mid-sized student body and the potential for him to learn to coach

basketball. He phoned Meyer, who called him back personally and promised

they’d find a spot for him in the basketball program if he chose DePaul.

“That sold me,” says Harris, who made his way on to the team as a freshman

walk-on and earned a scholarship as a senior. “It worked out beyond what I was

hoping for. DePaul is a welcoming, family place.”

Agnieszka Rapacz (BUS ’99)OwnerTeaGschwendner USA

To see Agnieszka Rapacz in Chicago’s North State Street retail location of

TeaGschwendner is to catch her excitement about tea. She dips into bins to

offer visitors smells and tastes of trend teas—macadamia, raspberry chocolate,

blueberry—and the best versions of classics, such as Earl Gray, Darjeeling

and jasmine.

Rapacz recently acquired TeaGschwendner USA, making her a partner in the

largest retail tea company in the world—Tea & Beyond, doing business as

TeaGschwendner. Formerly the chief financial officer of its U.S. business, she

finds that the Germany-based company’s dedication to quality and her high

standards are a match.

“I’ve visited the facility twice already, and I’ve seen the high-tech laboratory

where they test the tea. They go directly to tea gardens all over the world. It’s

all organic, and we win awards every year,” she says.

Rapacz, who grew up in Poland, came to the United States with her family

as a high school senior. “Learning English was the hardest part,” Rapacz says.

At school, she excelled in mathematics and accounting, entering a state

competition. She chose DePaul for college, hearing from friends that the

university had good programs in business and accounting.

“I became a commerce major right away. The program is very well organized,

very well put together. DePaul teaches at an advanced level, which includes the

teaching of accounting on the state and federal level, which is nice to see, and

I got very well prepared for taxation,” Rapacz says.

Rapacz progressed in accounting positions for various manufacturing

companies. By then she had two children. In 2002, she experienced kidney

failure. “It just happened out of nowhere,” she says.

After dialysis, a kidney transplant from her sister, and months of therapy and

recovery, she joined Finn-Power, where she found a great mentor in her CFO.

“I was a senior accountant there and accelerated to a controller. When I left the

company, I was ready for a CFO position,” she says.

In 2011, Rapacz also was ready to represent the United States in the World

Transplant Games in Sweden. She swam her way to two gold medals and a

silver, and she was inspired by her fellow athletes, who were all “friendly, happy

and thankful,” she says.

The same can be said for her.

17f e a t u r e

Dennis Kass (LAW ’06)Teacher, Infinity Math, Science and Technology High SchoolFounder, Chicago Law and Education Foundation

While earning a DePaul law degree—he already had a master’s in education

from the University of Michigan—Dennis Kass planned to open a free legal clinic

at the school where he would eventually teach. When he started teaching at

Infinity Math, Science and Technology High School, he learned that needed to

be sooner rather than later.

“My first year here I had this impromptu clinic, which was kids running up to me

in the hallway after class asking questions,” says Kass. “My second year here,

we started a full legal clinic once a week after school.” His students helped him

organize and advertise the clinic and served as translators. The following year,

he incorporated his own non-profit legal services agency, Chicago Law and

Education Foundation, and launched legal clinics at four other schools. Today,

the foundation has nine clinics serving Chicago Public Schools students and

their families. Kass covers some of the clinics while still teaching full time, and

the rest are operated by a handful of dedicated volunteer attorneys.

“I really love teaching and running my clinic,” Kass says. “It’s a unique and

innovative way to address the legal needs of lots of low-income families.”

Kass says the biggest help in starting the clinic and foundation was working in

DePaul’s Community Development Law Clinic. “It was practical legal experience

that allowed me to make this project happen.”

Kass’ primary work is to connect his clients with legal resources they may not

know about. “Most low-income families don’t know they have a legal problem.

When they do have a legal problem, they don’t know where to go.”

To that end, the foundation has partnerships with a number of organizations—

including DePaul’s Center for Public Interest Law, First Defense Legal Aid,

National Immigrant Justice Center and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless—

that can take their cases or provide them with assistance.

The foundation also teaches students about the law. Under Kass’ guidance,

students work on issues that concern them, such as the DREAM Act and

domestic violence.

Two of their research projects have been accepted for presentation at the

American Sociological Association annual meeting. Last year, students

presented a paper on racial discrimination in the rental housing market on

Craigslist. This year, they will present their immigration rights study. “That’s with

two 15-year-old students. They will be the only high schoolers there presenting

with professors and researchers,” Kass says.

Kellie Willis (LAS MA ’10)Director Vincentian Service Corps

College graduates who experience a gap year before they settle into a job

sometimes find their lives take an unexpected turn. Kellie Willis says her year

was “a total and utter surprise.”

With her undergraduate degree from Marquette University and a plan to become

a librarian in hand, Willis spent a year as a Gateway Vincentian Volunteer (GVV),

serving people living in poverty in St. Louis, her hometown. She worked at a

social service agency established by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de

Paul and lived in community with other young volunteers. Today—11 years

later—she mentors volunteers in the program that changed her life.

Willis explains this course of events by her spiritual journey. Raised as a

Presbyterian, she met a Jesuit priest at Marquette who influenced her spiritual

life and connected her with Catholic social teaching. “I didn’t have experience in

service as a child. I didn’t really feel that spark until college, until I really found a

home in a faith community,” she says.

During her time in GVV, Willis says she learned about “Vincentian charism and

asking that Vincentian question: ‘What must be done?’ For me, that was kind of

like, ‘Yes, that’s my question, and this is my identity, and I want to be doing this.’”

After a year as a GVV, Willis chose DePaul University for her graduate work,

finding the Vincentian spirit in the people she met on campus. She also found

that her Master of Arts in liberal studies program was a good choice. “I love to

learn. It was a perfect fit for me. … It really prepares you for intellectual thinking,

new ways of thinking.”

In the summer of 2008, Willis took a leave from her studies to teach English to

sixth-graders in Ethiopia, an initiative of the Vincentian Lay Missionaries. She

says this rich experience prompted her to participate in an international lay

Vincentian missionary conference in Bogota, Columbia. She hopes to return to

Ethiopia and to become more involved internationally.

In her position as director of the Vincentian Service Corps, soon to be merged

with GVV and renamed the Vincentian Mission Corps, she guides volunteers

learning about the Vincentian mission. Willis hopes “they find some desire to

serve people who are struggling in poverty or injustice” and learn to “treat

everybody with dignity, to carry themselves like servants in whatever they do, and

appreciate community as the basis for positive interaction and positive change.”

Samuel Delgado (BUS ’03)Senior Finance ManagerAbbott Laboratories

People skills, technical expertise, flexibility—Sammy Delgado has it all. No wonder

his career trajectory goes straight up.

After graduating from the DePaul Strobel Scholars accounting honors program,

he joined Abbott as a financial analyst and progressed rapidly through its

financial professional development program, working in various locations. The

six following years included more moves and a few promotions. Delgado and his

wife, Fabiola, also in finance at Abbott, moved to Wiesbaden, Germany, for two

and a half years. There, Delgado managed financial planning for Abbott’s Middle

East and Africa region.

Along with his financial and technical expertise, Delgado’s people skills contribute

to his success in working cross-functionally with marketing and sales, research

and development, manufacturing and supply chain and other groups—which is

why he says he thrives in a large company such as Abbott.

“As much as I’m a technical accounting guy, I’m a very social person as well,

so I can take my technical accounting skills and apply them in a business

environment beyond just debits and credits and financial statements. It was easy

to come here and know that there was going to be room for growth.”

Delgado says that there were “lots of venues to work on those skills” at DePaul.

As a member of the first DePaul Midwest Association of Hispanic Accountants

(MAHA) case competition team, which won first place nationally, he gained

“great experience in terms of taking complex business topics and presenting

them to partners and other senior managers from companies at a national level.”

Some of his classes “were very strategic management-based,” he says.

Today, as a senior finance manager for Abbott in Lake Forest, Ill., Delgado

shares his time and expertise. He helps coach MAHA students for case

competitions, mentors young accounting professionals and supports his

profession. As a former board member of the Association of Latino Professionals

in Finance and Accounting, he says, “Being involved in various organizations,

especially as a board member, you get to develop yourself to a certain extent,

but really, a big part of it is serving the rest of the members.”

Delgado grew up in a family who served their community through the church. He

connected with the Vincentian mission of service at DePaul, and those values

inform his hopes for the future.

“My goal is to continue in the organization and to lead a broader piece of it. I’d

like to stay involved in global decisions. I want to learn new things so I can pass

that knowledge and those experiences on to those who come after me,” he says.

Megan Etlinger (CDM MS ’09)Associate ProducerWYCC-TV

When Megan Etlinger first started college, she aspired to be a dentist. But

learning about cinema and the power of media led her down a new path. “You

can really affect people in different ways, open people’s eyes to things, and

that’s what drew me in,” she says.

She gained her first production experience at the University of Illinois at

Chicago’s campus housing television station. “I had this awesome mentor who

was really good at showing us how to take a project from beginning to end and

make it a TV show,” says Etlinger, who won a Bronze Telly Award for one of the

shows she produced as a student. She then entered DePaul’s digital cinema

graduate program and started at PBS affiliate WYCC-TV (Channel 20) after

completing her first year.

Etlinger says she enjoys working at the public television station because of the

opportunities she has to tell stories and encourage community involvement and

because of the station’s focus on diversity. In addition to weekly shows that air

on the station, Etlinger works on special forums that focus on community topics

and issues, like Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Facebook town hall meetings and a

forum with talk show host and author Tavis Smiley. She was one of the

producers of “Chicago Sinfonietta: Sounds of Diversity,” the Emmy Award-

winning documentary about the life and contributions of maestro Paul Freeman,

Chicago Sinfonietta founder and its retired music director.

“Getting to tell stories that people can learn and grow from is motivating,” she

says. “PBS is beneficial to communities, and I’m glad I’m there helping to create

programming like this.”

Since joining WYCC, Etlinger created and now coordinates the station’s

internship, production assistant and shadow programs for students interested in

pursuing a career in television. “It’s cool to have students who are excited to be

a part of something like this and watch them grow and gain experience,” she

says. “I was there a few years ago, so it’s nice to be there for them.”

Etlinger soaks up all the knowledge she can—from projects she works on, from

mentors and co-workers, and even from the experiences of her older brother, a

film director in California—and says she’s been able to take advantage of all

these opportunities with her family’s support. “Family is a key element of my

success. My parents have been my support, and I’m just lucky to have such a

wonderful network of friends and family.”

19f e a t u r e

Jon Irabagon (MUS ’02)Saxophonist

Saxophonist Jon Irabagon gets around: touring with Michael Bublé, leading or

co-leading half a dozen bands of different configurations, playing as a side man

with half a dozen others, recording CDs, and connecting with new jazz

communities when he’s booked for tours in Europe. (A current favorite is Bergen,

Norway.) He’s won a slew of competitions and awards, including the 2008

Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the 2011 DownBeat

International Critics’ Poll Alto Saxophone Rising Star Award. He also was

nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association in both the Up and Coming Artist

and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year categories for its 2011 Jazz Awards.

Though Irabagon currently lives in New York, it was in Chicago that he first

developed his jazz chops. From suburban Gurnee, he took up alto saxophone in

fourth grade and piano shortly thereafter, but didn’t consider a career in music

until high school. Bob Lark, DePaul’s director of jazz studies, gave clinics at

Irabagon’s high school and drew him to the School of Music. He majored not in

music performance, but in music business with a minor in journalism.

“I figured I wouldn’t be in school forever, and I needed to learn as much as I

could,” he says, adding that the business training has been invaluable in helping

him manage his career. He used the city’s jazz scene to hone his skills, with a

regular Sunday night gig at Andy’s and appearances at many other venues,

including the legendary Jazz Showcase.

“Chicago was such a big city with so many different venues and styles,”

Irabagon says. “It was a chance to immerse myself.”

Irabagon moved to New York in 2001 to study with saxophonist and jazz

educator Dick Oatts, who was then teaching at the Manhattan School of Music.

They met when Oatts was a guest artist at DePaul. New York was the next step

in creating a serious music career. Irabagon earned a master’s degree in jazz

performance and then went on to the Juilliard School for two fully subsidized

years in its highly selective artist diploma program.

Irabagon is thankful for his undergraduate years in Chicago. “If I had moved

here right out of high school, I would be competing against the top guys,” he

says. “Five years in Chicago really helped me get my feet wet and get used to

playing gigs at that high level.”

Brooke Anderson (CMN MA ’09)Press Secretary forIll. Gov. Patrick Quinn

Brooke Anderson occupies one of the hottest seats in Illinois as press secretary

to Gov. Patrick Quinn, the outspoken leader of a state facing financial crises on

every front. She bounces between Chicago and Springfield, tours the state and

even goes abroad occasionally. Days off are rare, and tough questions from the

press are almost constant. But she wouldn’t have it otherwise.

“Working for Quinn is the best opportunity of my life,” says Anderson, a self-

confessed political junkie. “The challenges are so dire and threaten every area

of government. I wouldn’t take this position for just any elected official. Quinn is

committed to giving working people a voice.”

Quinn is battling to solve a pension crisis caused by decades of fiscal

mismanagement and to contain the burgeoning costs of Medicaid without gutting

health care for the poor. The state is facing what Anderson calls a “do or die

moment,” and it’s her job to get Quinn’s message out, even when it won’t please

everyone—or anyone.

Anderson credits DePaul with providing the fuel to help her passion for politics

catch fire into a career. A Florida native, she moved to Chicago in 2007 after an

hourlong phone conversation with Professor Bruce Evensen convinced her that

DePaul was the place to pursue graduate study in journalism. She’d been

working at a public relations firm in Florida for health- and lifestyle-related

accounts, but her heart was with politics. She was attracted by the school’s

commitment to ethics and sense of mission, as well as its top-notch faculty and

connections in local media. Evensen, in particular, taught her how to evaluate

whether news stories were fair—a skill that’s proving indispensable in her

current job. Instructor Mike Conklin, a former Chicago Tribune reporter,

introduced her to Serafin and Associates, a public affairs communications firm

that employed her while she was in school.

“I was so engaged in every class I took at DePaul,” she says. “It was just really,

really fun.”

Anderson doesn’t know where her career will go from here, but for now, it

doesn’t matter. “I am so focused on getting through each day, and the hours fly

by,” she says. “I go to bed exhausted every night. It’s really challenging, but the

governor is leading us in the right direction. I’d rather be involved when times

are tough and be part of the upward surge.”

SUCCESSSTORIES

ALUMNIUNDER 40

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by Ryan Johnson and Ryan LeahyPhotos courtesy of DePaul Universi ty Archives

The “Red and Blue,” as they were known, played intercollegiate ballfrom 1898 to 1938. Most home games were played at the DePaulAthletic Field on the Lincoln Park Campus, but big matches wereplayed at Wrigley Field. Here are some of the team’s historic moments.

The Rise and Fall of

DePaulFootball

18981900 1929 1931

An Early TeamWhen St. Vincent’s College, soon to become DePaul University, was

formed in 1898, it fielded a football team. The team of 1900 played when

the school was still an all-male institution.

A Crowd of 50,000Some 50,000 fans packed Soldier Field

to watch DePaul University play Loyola

University Chicago for the annual Battle

of the Ole’ Brown Barrel at the 1929

homecoming game. Loyola closed down

its football program in 1929, leaving

DePaul and the University of Chicago

as the only major teams in the city.

Hall of Fame CoachingCollege Football Hall of Fame Coach Eddy

Anderson compiled a 21-22-3 record at DePaul

before leaving for the College of the Holy Cross,

where he had a record of 47-7-4 from 1933 to

1938, including undefeated seasons in 1935

and 1937.

1932 1935

1938

Go Harrington!Gerald Harrington was a standout in the early

1930s. The 1932 DePaulian yearbook wrote:

“Harrington is a man who is hard to stop. His

form might be brought to the turf, but his spirit

is never stopped. He is a good ball-carrier and

also a smart one. A ninety-yard run back of a

kickoff for a touchdown proved his adeptness

during the past season. Two years ago, when

the tide was against De Paul in one of its big

battles at Soldier Field, it was Red Harrington

who carried on most valiantly.”

Last Squad, Few FansIn its final season in 1938, the DePaul football team went 2-7 and had the worst student

attendance of any year to date. Fewer than 1,000 fans attended the homecoming game.

Final Score: 0On Dec. 13, 1938, DePaul

announced that it would no longer

have a football program. A large

article on the front page of the

Chicago Tribune sports section

chalked the cancellation up to

student apathy and financial loss

by the university.

DePaul Fans DwindleEach game averaged tens of thousands of attendees

from 1929 to 1931. During the final four seasons, DePaul

averaged less than 30 percent of its 5,000 students at any

one game despite several successful seasons.

22 a l u m n i

tidbits

Join the Celebration at Reunion Weekend 2012Mark your calendars and start planning your return to campus

because Reunion Weekend 2012 is just around the corner. Get

ready for a full schedule of activities devoted to commemorating

your time at DePaul, reconnecting with old friends and

remembering everything you love about your alma mater.

This year, Reunion Weekend takes place Oct. 12 to 14. All

DePaul alumni are invited to attend, regardless of class year,

so we hope you’ll join hundreds of graduates and friends for

a trip down memory lane. Alumni celebrating a milestone

anniversary—those who graduated in years ending in “2” or “7”

—will enjoy special recognition throughout the weekend.

On Friday, Oct. 12, the class of 1962 will be inducted into the

Fifty Year Club at the Reunion Luncheon, which is always a

memorable event. Friday evening, recent alumni are encouraged

to mingle with fellow graduates from the past five years at the

Young Alumni Reunion.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, the Reunion Celebration will bring together

DePaul alumni from near and far for a cocktail reception at the

Palmer House Hilton. This festive occasion also will honor former

Campus Recreation student employees, as well as alumni who

were resident advisors during their time at DePaul.

At the Hotel InterContinental, College of Law alumni who

graduated in years ending in “2” or “7” will gather to celebrate

their reunion anniversaries.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, all reunion classes are invited to attend the

Reunion Weekend Brunch at the Lincoln Park Student Center.

To register, visit alumni.depaul.edu/reunion.

Giving UpdateThe following alumni gave their generous support to DePaulUniversity from February 2012 through April 2012.

$30,000,000

n Richard H. Driehaus (BUS ’65, MBA ’70, DHL ’02), The Richard H.

Driehaus College of Business

$100,000 to $499,999

n Robert A. Clifford (BUS ’73, JD ’76, LLD ’03) and Joan E. Clifford

(EDU ’72), Robert A. Clifford Symposium on Tort Law and Social Policy

n Malcolm D. Lambe (JD ’84) and Linda Usher, The Theatre School

Performing Arts Capital Campaign

$25,000 to $49,999

n Frederick S. Cromer (MBA ’91) and Catherine Hanley Cromer,

Fred Arditti Endowed Scholarship

n The Honorable Richard D. Cudahy (LLD ’95), Public Interest Law

Summer Fellows

n Fran Ferrone (BUS ’53) and Don Ferrone, Henry and Fannie

Ferrone - American Sightseeing Co. Endowed Scholarship in

Hospitality Leadership

n Anne Perillo Michuda (MM ’75) and the Michuda Family,

School of Music Performing Arts Capital Campaign

New Planned GiftsThe following alumni indicated that they will supportDePaul University through a planned or estate gift of$25,000 or more.

n Kenneth C. Barr (LAW ’49)

23a l u m n i

Jumpstart Your ProfessionalDevelopment with an AlumniCareer Conference Call

“Enhancing Your

Personal Brand.”

“Job Searching

While Employed.”

“Over 40 and Hired.”

These were just a few of the

topics offered during recent

Alumni Career Conference Calls.

The monthly teleconference

provides alumni with the

opportunity to access valuable

career advice and learn from

experts in the DePaul

community, including faculty,

staff and fellow alumni. With

DePaul graduates scattered throughout the country and internationally,

these teleconferences make it easy for you to stay connected to DePaul

and utilize your alma mater’s career services.

The live Alumni Career Conference Calls take place on the second

Wednesday of every month at noon CST. On Sept. 12, the next slate of

conference calls gets under way with “Incorporating Alumni Career

Resources in Your Job Search.” For more information, please visit

alumni.depaul.edu/benefits/career/index.aspx.

While the conference calls do not take place during July and August,

there’s no need to put your career aspirations or uncertainties on the back

burner. You can still explore “Strategies in Discovering Work/Life Balance”

or acquire tips to “Negotiate the Salary You Want”—as well as access

all other previous presentations—through the conference call archive.

Audio recordings are available for free through iTunes U at

itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/office-of-alumni-relations/id458081803.

Whether you’re looking to change careers or seeking guidance on managing

workplace challenges, your alma mater is a terrific resource for career

assistance, professional development and networking advice. With the

Alumni Career Conference Calls, you can reap these benefits anytime, from

anywhere in the world.

For Alumni Only: Text $10 in 10 Seconds to Support DePaul Student ScholarshipsDePaul alumni can make an immediate impact in the lives of

students—quickly and easily—with mobile giving. Simply refer

to the back of this magazine for your personal code above your

address, then text “DePaul (Your Code)” to 20222 to make your gift

of $10.* There are no lengthy forms or credit card information to fill

out to make a small donation that makes a big difference.

Your gift supports the Many Dreams, One Mission Campaign and

helps the university continue to provide an excellent education to

all talented students who seek it, regardless of their economic

circumstances. Take 10 seconds to send a text today.

*Replace (Your Code) with the code number located on the back ofthis magazine; reply “YES” to confirmation text to finalize donation.Your gift of $10 will appear on your mobile phone bill. Standard textmessaging rates may apply.

Legacy Gift: From Students for StudentsThanks to the generosity of the graduating class, more than

1,400 gifts were made to the Class of 2012 Legacy Gift, totaling

more than $17,500 that will be used to assist in scholarship aid

to deserving students and to various programs and departments

across the university.

This is only the second year of the Legacy Gift, an opportunity that

allows students to give back directly to the students who follow

them—via the general scholarship fund or a program or department

of the student’s choosing. Last year, the Class of 2011 raised more

than $11,000, with over 900 gifts made. The Legacy Gift is a unique

opportunity to give back to the university, student to student.

Through the Legacy Gift, students are able to ensure future

generations of DePaul students have the same experiences they

had while attending the university—many of which would not be

possible without the generosity of donors. Students who donate

are given a special cord to wear at commencement to show their

support for future generations of students.

Edward Buron (LAS ’57) became amember of the advisory board for theBenedictine University Center for LifelongLearning. The center is part of theuniversity’s Moser College of Adult andProfessional Studies in Naperville, Ill.

Malcolm O’Neill (CSH ’62) received the2012 Ronald Reagan Missile DefenseAward for his outstanding support andleadership of the United States’ ballisticmissile defense program. A veteran of 34years of active military service, he retiredas a lieutenant general in the U.S. Armyfollowing a highly decorated career. Mostrecently, he was assistant secretary of theArmy for acquisition, logistics andtechnology.

Mark J. Horne (JD ’73), a partner atQuarles & Brady LLP, was named a 2012BTI Client Service All-Star in Real Estateby The BTI Consulting Group Inc.

Laura A. Ross-White (THE ’76) is afounding member of the Asylum TheatreCompany and is the assistant director of its current production, “The Tempest.”The production was chosen by the RoyalShakespeare Company to participate in theOpen Stages project, which recognizesnew adaptations of Shakespeare’s work.Ross-White also is the manager of theGallery Shop at Gallery North and is theartistic director of The Oberon Foundation.She is married to artist Christian White.

Cathy S. Hampton (LAS ’77, MA ’81)was admitted to the Ph.D. program insystematic and philosophical theology atthe Graduate Theological Union and theUniversity of California, Berkeley, for the2012-2013 academic year. She recentlycompleted a master’s degree in spiritualityat Loyola University Chicago.

Stephen W. Micatka (BUS ’77, MBA’85) has decided to retire and pursue hisnext career, after spending 27 years infinancial management at Illinois Tool WorksInc. He is not yet clear on his future plans,but they certainly will involve relaxing a bit, cheering on our Blue Demons andtraveling with his wife, Lenore Micatka(BUS ’77, MBA ’85), who retired fromMorton Salt two years ago.

William S. Bike(LAS ’79) recentlypublished the thirdedition of his politicalscience book,“Winning PoliticalCampaigns,” this timeas an e-book. He is ajournalist, public

relations professional and political pundit.

James P. McKay Jr. (CMN ’80), anassistant state’s attorney in Illinois, was theprosecutor in the Chicago trial on the killingof the family of actress Jennifer Hudson.He heads the complex litigations task forcein the Cook County office and hasprosecuted many high-profile cases.

William W. Crossett (JD ’81) wasinducted as a fellow of The College ofWorkers Compensation Lawyers. He is afounder and vice president of the InjuredWorkers Bar Association of New York.

Richard J. Gorny (BUS ’81, MBA ’89)formed his own company in 2011 and isnow president and CEO of Value Creation:Management and Financial ConsultingLLC. Previously, he was director of riskmanagement at Follett Higher Educationfrom 2005 through 2010.

Jamie T. O’Reilly (MUS ’81) created andperformed a spring showcase, “Songs of aCatholic Childhood,” with singer MichaelSmith in April. The shows were matchedwith a special prix-fixe menu at ChiefO’Neill’s Pub and Restaurant in Chicago.

Robert E. Douglas (JD ’82) was appointedan associate judge of the 18th JudicialCircuit. He is currently affiliated with theDuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office in Wheaton, Ill.

Robert W. Smyth Jr. (JD ’82) was namedto the Illinois Super Lawyers list as one ofthe top attorneys in the state for 2012, arecognition he has received in consecutiveyears since 2004. He practices at DonohueBrown Matheson & Smyth LLC defendingcatastrophic injury and high exposure cases.

Steven A. Betts (JD ’83) joined theArizona State University Foundation for aNew American University as its senior vicepresident and managing director of assets.He is former president and CEO of SunCorDevelopment Company.

Stephan D. Blandin (LAS ’83, JD ’86)received a Trial Lawyer Excellence Awardfrom Law Bulletin Publishing Company forthe highest reported verdict in an Illinoischiropractic malpractice case for 2011. He is a founding principal and partner inthe Chicago law firm of Romanucci &Blandin LLC.

Rose M. Doherty(BUS ’83) wasappointed to theIllinois CPA Societyboard of directors. Sheis a partner at LegacyProfessionals LLP.

David J. Kalainoff (MBA ’83) waspromoted to president and chiefunderwriting officer of U.S. reinsurance at Alterra Capital Holdings Ltd. He has been with the company since 2002 andpreviously worked with its Bermuda division.

John H. Wallace (MUS ’83) conductedthe premiere of his new work, “FiveMiniatures,” in February in Boston. Thework, for flute, clarinet, percussion, piano,violin, viola, cello and double bass, wascommissioned by Theodore Antoniou andBoston University’s contemporary musicensemble. He is the director of under-graduate studies in the School of Music atthe Boston University College of Fine Arts.

Leslie Schermer (JD ’85, MED ’99)was appointed unanimously as regionalsuperintendent of schools in McHenryCounty. Previously, she served as assistantprincipal at LaSalle Language Academy in Chicago.

Bradford J. White (JD ’85) was appointedassociate director at the AlphawoodFoundation Chicago. He has more than 25 years of professional and volunteerexperience in community and economicdevelopment, affordable housing,preservation, public policy and advocacy.

G. Allen Barbee (MM ’86) was appointedthe director of music ministries at ChambleeFirst United Methodist Church in Chamblee,Ga., and remains director of bands at St.Martin’s Episcopal School in Atlanta as wellas music director and conductor ofPeachtree Symphonic Winds.

Steven C. Rubinow (CDM MS ’86) ischief information officer for FX AllianceInc., an electronic foreign exchangeplatform. For the past six years, he wasexecutive vice president and CIO of NYSEEuronext Inc.

Jeffrey J. Kroll (BUS ’87, JD ’90),principal of the Law Offices of Jeffrey J.Kroll, was selected as a Fellow of theLitigation Counsel of America. Theinvitation-only trial lawyer honorary societyincludes less than one-half of one percentof American lawyers. Kroll uses his 21years of experience representing injuredvictims and their families at his Chicago-based personal injury law firm.

Kwame Raoul(LAS ’87), an Illinoisstate senator, joinedthe national law firmof Quarles & BradyLLP. He will work inthe Chicago office asa partner in the laborand employmentgroup.

Allison L. Wood(JD ’87), after serving the IllinoisAttorney Registrationand DisciplinaryCommission ashearing board chairand litigation counsel,started her own firm,

Legal Ethics Consulting P.C. The firmprovides preventive ethics counseling,research for ethics inquiries, disciplinaryand malpractice defense, and expertevaluations.

’50s

’60s Reunion Years:1962 and 1967

’70s Reunion Years:1972 and 1977

24 a l u m n i

’80s Reunion Years:1982 and 1987

Log in to alumni.depaul.edu to read additional class

notes and to discover the many ways to connect

with other alumni and the DePaul community.

class notes

Richard H. Gellersted (JD ’88), avolunteer attorney for Lake Bluff, Ill.-basedBENNU Legal Services, recently served as a judge in the opening round of theAmerican Mock Trial Associationcompetition. BENNU Legal Services is anonprofit legal aid agency that providesassistance to immigrants transitioning intothe United States and to entrepreneurialsmall businesses.

William Williams (JD ’90) was appointedcompanywide chief financial officer of H. D. Smith, one of the nation’s largestpharmaceutical wholesalers. Previously, he was the company’s interim CFO.

Stephen T. Powell (MM ’91, MUS ’93)appeared in the concert performance ofFranz Schmidt’s opera “Notre Dame” bythe American Symphony Orchestra,conducted by Leon Botstein. According toa New York Times review, “The rich-voicedbaritone Stephen Powell sang with powerand authority.”

Theodore Aldrich (LAS ’92), presidentand chief operating officer of DelawarePlace Bank in Chicago, was elected to the Greater North Michigan AvenueAssociation’s board of directors. He willserve a two-year term ending in 2014. Healso serves on the dean’s advisory boardfor DePaul’s College of Liberal Arts andSocial Sciences.

Peter T. Chantel (BUS ’92) is chieffinancial officer at SugarSync, a cloud-based data service with headquarters inSan Mateo, Calif.

Elizabeth G. Vaughan (SNL ’92) joinedTrustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions asregional sales director for the company’sMidwest region. She has more than 20years of experience with the past 10 yearsin voluntary and worksite benefits.

Oto R. Carrillo (MUS ’93) was appointedto the Chicago Symphony Orchestra hornsection in 2000. He has been teachinghorn at DePaul University since 2003.

Chiara L. Mangiameli (THE ’94) was inthe cast of “Rick Bayless in Cascabel” atthe Lookingglass Theatre in Chicagothrough April.

Tara Parks (THE ’94) had a travel featureabout New York City in the November 2011issue of The Market, a magazine appearingin newsstands, first-class cabins and hotelsacross Europe. She still practices singingand teaches English to German executives.

Chris S. Feigum (MUS ’95) performedas Danilo in the Kentucky Opera productionof “Merry Widow” and performed Brahms’“Requiem” with the Kansas City Symphony.

Tanya J. Stanish (JD ’95), a Chicagodivorce and family law attorney, waspromoted to senior partner with thenation’s largest matrimonial law firm,Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP. She joinedthe firm in 2008 as a partner and has morethan 16 years of experience in family law.

Alexsandra Sukhoy (CMN ’95) is anadjunct professor at the Monte AhujaCollege of Business at Cleveland StateUniversity. Additionally, she teaches filmclasses at the Cuyahoga CommunityCollege. Sukhov continues her careercoaching and writing with CreativeCadence LLC.

Margaret A. Larrea (JD ’96), acommander in the U.S. Navy’s JudgeAdvocate General’s Corps, recentlyreturned from a nine-month deployment toBaghdad, Iraq, where she served as thechief of the Rule of Law Division. She isnow the executive officer for Naval LegalService Office Mid-Atlantic in Norfolk, Va.

Paul D. McGrady Jr. (JD ’96) joinedWinston & Strawn LLP in Chicago as apartner in the firm’s advertising, marketingand entertainment law practice. He alsoteaches cyberlaw as an adjunct professorof law at DePaul’s College of Law.

Jeremy W. Robinson (JD ’96) is thesenior legal advisor/instructor for the U.S.Army Command and General Staff Collegeat Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Sarah R. Schaus (MBA ’96) wasappointed assistant vice president oftreasury of Allianz Life Insurance Companyof North America. She joined Allianz Life inFebruary 2009 as director of treasury andassistant treasurer.

Vincent M. Auricchio (JD ’97), of theAuricchio Law Offices, was selected as aNational Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 inpersonal injury litigation.

Michael D. Muhney (THE ’97) wasfeatured in a high-fashion spread inJanuary in Watch magazine. He playsAdam Wilson in CBS’ “The Young and theRestless” and was in the movie “ThePortal” with Michael Madsen. Hecampaigned with NATAS and ATAS formajor reform for the Daytime Emmys.

Jeffrey A. Hesser (JD ’98) and Ehren V.Bilshausen (BUS ’99) were both namedpartner at Cassiday Schade LLP in thefirm’s Chicago office. Hesser concentrateson general negligence and medicalmalpractice defense, while Bilshausenconcentrates on construction andtransportation-related litigation.

Micah E. Marcus (JD ’99), a partner atKirkland & Ellis LLP, was named an IllinoisSuper Lawyers Rising Star for 2012.

Ray J. Melton (JD ’99) was named partnerat the law firm of SmithAmundsen LLC. Heworks in the firm’s Rockford, Ill., office incivil litigation, personal injury defense,product liability defense, commerciallitigation and insurance coverage.

Brent R. Walters (LAS MS ’99) waspromoted to vice president of STV, aleading engineering, architectural andconstruction management firm. Hepreviously was associate general counsel,having joined the firm in 2008 in its New York City office.

Kevin W. Douglas (THE ’00) was in thecast of “Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting” atChicago’s Lookingglass Theatre throughFebruary.

Jisha V. Dymond(BUS ’00) wasnamed counsel atGenova, Burns &Giantomasi. She is amember of thecorporate politicalactivity law andappellate law practice

groups and is based in the firm’s New YorkCity office.

Colby A. Kingsbury(JD ’00), a partner atFaegre Baker DanielsLLP, received the 2011Charles L. WhistlerAward. The awardhonors a lawyer orconsultant at FaegreBaker Daniels who

has excelled in pro bono service or hasmade outstanding contributions to the firm’spro bono program.

David J. Wyrick (MBA ’00) is businessunit director of the marine and industrialgroup for Charles Industries Ltd. His priorexperience includes product developmentand design, marketing, manufacturing andbusiness strategies focused on storedenergy solutions.

Patrick A. Godon (MUS ’01, MM ’03)is the artistic director of InternationalChamber Artists. He was also the featuredsoloist with the Lake Shore SymphonyOrchestra for Tchaikovsky’s PianoConcerto No. 1 in November 2011.

Alana S. Arenas (THE ’02) was in the cast of “The March” at SteppenwolfTheatre, where she is an ensemblemember. She also received a 2012 AlumniAward for Excellence in the Arts from The Theatre School.

Jason P. Eckerly (JD ’02) was namedshareholder at Segal McCambridge Singer& Mahoney. He is a litigator in the firm’sChicago office who focuses on the defenseof toxic tort, asbestos and general liabilitylitigation.

Hisham A. Alrayes (MBA ’03) is actingCEO for Gulf Finance House, a Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank. Hepreviously was chief investment officer atthe corporation, where he has workedsince 2007.

David J. Corchin’s (MUS ’03) children’sbook, “Sam and the Jungle Band,” waspublished. It is the latest in a series ofchildren’s books that includes “BandNerds—Poetry from the 13th ChairTrombone Player.”

Patrick J. Regan (MBA ’03) is the globalbrewing and spirits lead with GeneralElectric, where he has worked for morethan 12 years. He helped create GE’s“power and beer” commercial withBudweiser, which aired during the 2012Super Bowl.

25a l u m n i

’90s Reunion Years:1992 and 1997

’00s Reunion Years: 2002 and 2007

26 a l u m n i

class notes

Kelly C. Elmore (JD ’04) joined KovitzShifrin Nesbit, a Chicago-area law firm, asa principal in its community association lawpractice group. Previously, she was apartner at Penland & Hartwell.

Ryan W. Kastner(MBA ’04) joinedHeartland Bank andTrust Company asvice president in assetmanagement forcommercial realestate. He will serve the Chicago

metropolitan and suburban market from thecompany’s Western Springs, Ill., office.

Mark M. Lezerkiewicz (MBA ’04) waspromoted to manager of the EnterpriseSecurity Program for the Federal Reserve.

Kristine Meek(MBA ’04) wasappointed assistantdirector of theHarmon-Meek Galleryin Naples, Fla. She isthe eldest daughter ofowners William andBarbara Meek.

Curt Owens (THE ’04) is the executiveassistant to the CEO and a producingassociate at NETworks Presentationsworking on national tours, including “Billy Elliot,” “Les Miserables,” “La CageAux Folles,” “Shrek the Musical” and “War Horse.”

Christina Toto Lynch (JD ’04) wasnamed an Illinois Super Lawyers RisingStar in Business Litigation for 2012.

Janai E. Brugger-Orman (MUS ’05) is a second-year artist with the Los AngelesOpera’s Domingo-Thornton Young ArtistProgram. Last season, she appeared asBarbarina in “Le Nozze di Figaro” and thePage in “Rigoletto.” She recently receivedher master’s degree from the University ofMichigan.

Nicole M. Homb, D.O., (LAS ’05) wasselected to be an intern in the Departmentof Health Statistics and Informatics with theWorld Health Organization headquarters inGeneva, Switzerland. Currently, Homb is apracticing doctor of chiropractic and a clinicalresearch fellow in the Master of Science inclinical research program at Palmer Collegeof Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

Brennan Parks (MFA ’05) produced anddirected a short film, “15:2,” which wasscreened at 12 international film festivalsand won Best Horror Comedy Short at theFear Fete Horror Film Festival in BatonRouge, La. Parks has worked in post-production on “Hung,” “Big Love,” “InTreatment,” “The Vampire Diaries” and“Girls.”

Mathew T. Siporin (JD ’05) was namedas a Rising Star among Illinois litigators bySuper Lawyers Magazine.

Michelle J. Spellerberg (MBA ’05)became chief marketing officer of Sikich LLPin November 2011. Sikich, headquartered inNaperville, Ill., is a top accounting, advisory,technology and managed services firm formidmarket organizations. Spellerberg wasformerly with CareerBuilder as the seniordirector of emerging media solutions.

Laura B. Bacon (JD ’06) joined O’HaganSpencer as a litigation associate in thefirm’s Chicago office. She focuses onemployment, professional liability andcondominium association law.

Phillip Brannon (THE ’06) was in the cast of “The March” at SteppenwolfTheatre. Also in the cast were ShannonR. Matesky (THE ’10), who played Pearl, and understudies Lucy T. Sandy(THE MFA ’10) and Derek N. Gaspar(THE MFA ’11).

Szymon M. Gurda (CDM MS ’06, JD ’06) was named partner at Cherskov,Flaynik & Gurda LLC. The firm specializesin intellectual property issues for small-and medium-sized clients.

Cecelia J. Hall (MUS ’06) appeared inLyric Opera of Chicago productions of“Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Aida” and“Rinaldo” this past season. She made herChicago Opera Theater debut in the titlerole of Handel’s “Teseo.” According to aChicago Tribune review, “the gleaming-voiced mezzo-soprano Cecelia Hall, arising star of Lyric’s Ryan Opera Center, is headed for an important career.”

Sara M. Poorman (THE ’06) is thedirector of marketing for Curious TheatreCompany in Denver.

Jason N. Abrahams (MBA ’07) joinedClub Colors, a global provider of promotionalproducts and branded apparel, as marketingmanager. He came to the company afterserving as vice president of marketing atElgin, Ill.-based National Gift Card.

Jiyeon Choi (JD ’07) is staff attorney forLake Bluff, Ill.-based BENNU Legal Services,a nonprofit legal aid agency that providesassistance to immigrants transitioning intothe United States and to entrepreneurialsmall businesses.

Timothy Frank (THE ’07) and JessicaRosenberger (THE ’07) are in a shortfilm, “Anatomy of Numbers,” which wasshown at multiple international andindependent film festivals in California.

Amanda D. Powell (THE ’07) was in“Bachelorette” at Profiles Theatre.

Michael R. Shoemaker (MBA ’07) is the chief compliance officer for DriehausCapital Management LLC and DriehausMutual Funds in Chicago.

Cortney S. Closey (JD ’08) is on theIllinois Rising Stars list as one of the top upand coming attorneys in the state. Sheconcentrates her practice at DonohueBrown Mathewson & Smyth in productliability, professional negligence andcommercial litigation defense.

Leanne G. Medeiros (THE ’08) is thedirector of education and communityoutreach at Performance WorkshopTheatre in Baltimore.

Christina Nieves (THE ’08), Sean Parris(THE ’11) and Levenix Riddle (THE ’11)appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

Bryan Wilson (JD ’08) was named anIllinois Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2012.

Kimberly Dawson (SNL ’09, MA ’11) isa volunteer for the University of Chicago atthe school’s Hyde Park Campus.

Keira A. Fromm (MFA ’09) directed“Enfrascada” at the 16th Street Theatre in Berwyn, Ill.

Rebecca L. Robinson (MUS ’09), amezzo-soprano, won first place in theNorth Shore Chorale Society Competitionfor young artists.

Andrew J. Thompson (MUS ’09) wasnamed the contrabassoon for the St. LouisSymphony Youth Orchestra. A St. Louisnative, he was a member of the CivicOrchestra of Chicago and its outreach-oriented MusiCorps Woodwind Quintet. Hehas performed with the Chicago SymphonyOrchestra and other orchestras in Chicagoand Boston.

Ian M. Tobin (LAS ’09) will be a fellow inChicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office forsummer 2012. He will conduct research forthe mayor’s senior staff on several policiesrelated to community stabilization.

Wilma-Marie Cisco (THE ’10) directed“Baseball Music: The Sweetest Sound”with MPAACT at the Greenhouse TheaterCenter last spring. Cisco is MPAACT’sdirector of audience development, theresident stage manager and a companymember.

Alexander W. Konetzki (JD ’10) becamean associate in the FEC compliance andvetting department of President BarackObama’s re-election campaign.

Lindsay B. Metzger (MUS ’10) won thirdplace in the Musicians Club of WomenScholarship Competition in March, winninga $7,500 scholarship, membership to theclub and a recital in the Cultural Center.She also performed as Daphne in theHaymarket Opera Company’s production of Charpentier’s “La Descente d’Orpheeaux Enfers.”

Ginny Cascio (JD ’11) joined McMillanMetro P.C. in Rockville, Md., and assistsclients with business, employment,intellectual property and artist’s rightsissues.

Noah M. Hayman (THE ’11) designedthe lighting for “Jack’s Precious Moment” at Will Act For Food Theatre last winter.Azar Kazemi (MFA ’11) directed theshow.

Patricia L. Lavery (MFA ’11) was in the cast of “Alexander and the Terrible,Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” atEmerald City Children’s Theatre.

’10s

27a l u m n i

We want to hear about your promotion, career move, wedding, birth announcement and otheraccomplishments and milestones.

Please include your name (andmaiden name if applicable), alongwith your email, mailing address,degree(s) and year(s) of graduation.

Mail to: DePaul University Office of Alumni RelationsATTN: Class Notes1 E. Jackson Blvd.Chicago, IL 60604

Email to: dpalumni@depaul.edu

Fax to: 312.362.5112

For online submissions visit:alumni.depaul.edu

Class notes will be posted on the Alumni & Friends website and will be considered for inclusion in DePaul Magazine.

DePaul reserves the right to edit class notes.

Share your news with the DePaul community.

Chris A. Rickett (MFA ’11) was in thecast of “The Strange and Terrible True Taleof Pinocchio (the wooden boy) as told byFrankenstein’s Monster the WretchedCreature” with the Neo-Futurists.

Kristen M. Staky (THE ’11) is the in-house ventilator and the assistant headof special effects at Nigel’s Beauty Emporiumin Los Angeles.

Gianfranco Berardi (CDM ’04) isengaged to Laura Riordan. They will marryin May 2012.

Issa Alia (BUS ’09) is engaged toNatalie Balicki (BUS ’09). A fall 2012wedding and reception is planned inLockport, Ill., and Chicago.

Patrick Emling (CDM MS ’10) andJennifer McCafferty (LAS MA ’11) willbe married June 30, 2012, in Cincinnati atSt. Ursula’s Chapel.

Eric P. Seaborg(JD ’97) and his wife,Christina, are proud toannounce the birth ofdaughters Alex andSophia on April 3,

2011. The twins were welcomed home bytheir big brother, Jake.

Michelle M. Stopka(CMN ’99) and herhusband, Michael, areproud to announce thebirth of their son,Evan Nathaniel,welcomed with love

on Jan. 27, 2012. Evan joined big brotherVance, 18 1/2 months.

Dan P. Green(BUS ’01) andMelinda Green(CSH ’01) welcomedtheir daughter, EllaInez, on March 10,2012.

Kathleen A. Clair(BUS MS ’08) andher husband, Ron,happily announce thebirth of their secondson, Andrew James,who arrived on Feb. 22, 2012. Andrewwas welcomed homeby his big brother, Tyler.

Lord, we commend to you the souls ofour dearly departed. In your mercy andlove, grant them eternal peace.

AlumniHarold T. Berc (LAW ’37)

Genevieve R. Mueller (LAS ’38)

Jack F. Bussert (CSH ’47)

Harvey W. Keller (LAW ’49)

William H. Rhoden (CSH MS ’49)

Andrew M. Sutton (BUS ’49)

Dorothy Keenan (LAS ’50)

C. Frederick Leydig (JD ’50)

June C. Oda (MUS ’50)

Francis E. Youssi (JD ’50)

Delphine Fleming (MED ’51)

Sister Annamarie Gierszewski

(LAS ’52, MA ’58)

Sister M. Johanna Didier (EDU MA ’53)

Robert D. Edison (MBA ’53)

Donna J. Johnson (LAS ’53)

Frances M. Mazurek (CSH ’53, MS ’57)

Leroy W. Mitchell (JD ’54)

Ralph J. Vesecky Jr. (CSH MS ’54)

Carrie L. Bowens (LAS ’55)

Frank G. O’Connor (BUS ’57)

Donald Ulias (LAS ’57)

James J. Raftery (LAS ’58)

Joseph F. Colligan (LAS MA ’59)

Neal Farrell (BUS ’62)

George F. Klepec (JD ’62)

Janalee D. Lindley (LAS ’62)

Carl J. Madda (JD ’62)

August J. Prahlow (LAS MA ’63)

John P. Dunne (JD ’64)

Thomas J. Lowry (MUS ’64)

Jeremiah S. Shannon (JD ’64)

Thomas P. Cullen (LAS ’65)

Walter J. Wadycki (BUS ’65)

Patricia J. Drown (EDU ’66)

David B. Jensen (LAW ’66)

Wayne F. Kalina (BUS ’67)

Thomas R. Pozatek (BUS ’69)

Vijay S. Sampat (LAS MA ’69)

Norine C. Lynch (MED ’72)

William J. Hibbler (JD ’73)

Lorin E. Levee (MUS ’73)

Paul A. Sweas (BUS ’75)

James A. Telford (MBA ’76)

Emma W. Richardson (BUS ’77)

Richard L. Sosnowski (BUS ’77)

Gerald J. Brady Sr. (MBA ’78)

Michael J. Ryan (MBA ’86)

Rupert O. Brockmann (LLM ’91)

Jon A. Shultz (MBA ’92, MED ’04)

Sister Caroline Vasquez (MED ’93)

Glenda M. Madison (SNL ’97)

Lindsay K. Habinak (EDU ’00)

Danielle M. Becker (LAS ’04)

Stephen A. Smith (BUS ’04)

Michella McMaster (LAS MS ’06)

Brian J. Fanning (CDM MS ’08)

Kenneth W. Leonchik (CDM MS ’08)

Nikolai K. Mazeika (MBA ’10)

FriendsRosemary S. Bannan

Fred Breitbeil

John P. Curtin

Bill Granger

Richard J. Houk

Joe Marconi

Virginia Rutherford

Stephen Vagi

Editor’s Note: Due to space limitations, this

memorial list includes only those alumni and

friends who our offices have confirmed have

passed away since the previous issue was

printed.

Births & Adoptions

In MemoriamMarriages & Engagements

Event CalendarVisit alumni.depaul.edu/events or call 800.437.1898 for further information and to register.Fees and registration deadlines apply to some events. Registration for fall events willopen in late summer. Check alumni.depaul.edu for more information.

JulyJuly 18Goose Island Pregame Party and

Chicago Cubs vs. Miami MarlinsChicago

July 22St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs St. Louis

July 25DePaul PicnicNaperville, Ill.

AugustAug. 1DePaul Picnic Alumni Welcome for

Graduates and First-year StudentsGlenview, Ill.

Aug. 3Pregame Party and Chicago White Sox

vs. Los Angeles AngelsChicago

Aug. 16Sunset Boat Cruise Chicago

Aug. 23Alumni & Friends Summer GatheringMunster, Ind.

SeptemberSept. 5Washington Nationals vs. Chicago CubsWashington, D.C.

Sept. 6 Young Alumni Kegged Cocktail TastingChicago

Sept. 12Alumni Career Conference Call:

Incorporating Alumni CareerResources in Your Job Search

Teleconference

Sept. 14Lunchtime Tour of the Modern WingChicago

Sept. 19Private Performance by School of Music

studentsChicago

Sept. 26Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago CubsDenver

OctoberOct. 12Alumni Career Conference Call: Advanced

Social Media for Your Job Search Teleconference

Oct. 12 to 14Reunion Weekend Chicago

Oct. 18 DePaul Reception with the PresidentSouthern California

Oct. 20 Volunteer Outing Chicago

Oct. 28House of Blues Gospel Brunch Chicago

NovemberNov. 3Arizona Giving Thanks Volunteer DayPhoenix

Nov. 3Annual Fall Tour Chicago

Nov. 7DePaul Reception with the PresidentBarrington, Ill.

Nov. 13DePaul Art Museum ReceptionChicago

Nov. 14Alumni Career Conference Call:

Informational Interviews Teleconference

Recent Alumni Events

alumni relations

28 a l u m n i

More alumni photos at flickr.com/depaulspirit.

United States Capitol Building TourHosted by alumnus and United States Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance Gainer (LAS MS ’76, JD ’80), approximately140 DePaul University alumni, staff and friends joinedInterim Provost Patricia O’Donoghue in Washington,D.C., on April 26 for the exclusive opportunity toparticipate in a special reception at the U.S. Capitolbuilding. Guests also were treated to private tours thatshowcased the art and history of the Capitol.

Tea at The Drake HotelDePaulalumni andfriendsparticipatedin afternoontea at thehistoricDrake Hotelin Chicagoon May 12.

This event quickly sold out, drawing about 40 guests.Attendees were seated in a special DePaul section to enjoytraditional tea, sandwiches, sweets and live harp music inthe hotel’s Palm Court.

Vincentian Service Day 2012 Yields Great SuccessOn May 5,approximately1,600 DePaulUniversitystudents, alumni,faculty, staff and friends came together tocelebrate VincentianService Day, anannual volunteeropportunity

designed to foster the spirit of St. Vincent and to spreadthe university’s mission. In addition to the events in and around Chicago, volunteers participated in projects at regional Vincentian Service Day sites in Denver, New York, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., to log nearly 4,800 hours of service.

Alumni enjoy a springtime tea.

Hard at work in Chicago’s Wicker Parkneighborhood.

The generosity and vision of Jim and Cate Denny have had a profound impact on Chicago’sleading cultural and educational institutions. At DePaul, their contributions are shaping academic

excellence that spans science and the performing arts. Jim, a life trustee, serves as co-chair of the Many Dreams, One

Mission Campaign Committee for Performing Arts. He served on the steering committee of the Campaign for Excellence

in Science, which raised $20 million toward the construction of the Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Science Building.

The Dennys made very generous leadership gifts to the School of Music scholarships and the Campaign for Excellence

in Science Capital Fund and have moved others to do the same.

President of Two Rivers LLC, a family investment firm, Jim began his career as a lawyer and went on to serve as vice

chairman of Sears, Roebuck & Co., executive vice president and chief financial officer of G.D. Searle and Co., and

treasurer of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., as well as on the boards of many other organizations.

At the groundbreaking celebration for The Theatre School’s new home, Jim remarked that the performing arts “open our

minds to new ideas and new ways of thinking, which is crucial to human development individually and culturally.” In

that same spirit, DePaul is deeply grateful to the Dennys; their remarkable contributions will inspire students, faculty

members and the community for generations to come.

Learn how you can support DePaul University and its students by visiting campaign.depaul.edu.

Thank You, ON BEHALF OF DEPAUL’S FUTURE SCIENTISTS,

THEATRE ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS

James M. and Catherine Denny,

1 East Jackson BoulevardChicago, Illinois 60604

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDDePaul University

“I’d rather be involved when times are tough

and be part of the upward surge.”

Brooke Anderson (CMN MA ’09)

Press Secretary for

Ill. Gov. Patrick Quinn

Text $10 in 10 seconds to supportDePaul student scholarships.See your mailing label for directions.