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School of Business
January 2008 to December 2008
- Abe Adewale, '92 MBA, is an honoree in the Most Influential Minority Business Leaders from the St. Louis Business Journal. He was recognized at an awards luncheon for ethnic minorities who are making their mark on the St. Louis Business Community and profiled in the St. Louis Business Journal.
- William Anderson III, '98 BS, '00 MS, is the Director of Policy for Missouri's Governor Matt Blunt. He lives in Jefferson City, MO.
- Ron Andrews, '81 MBA, has been named President of Shell Trading Company and Vice President of Operations for Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited.
- Susan Bailey, '82 BS, '84 MBA is the Vice President of Business Development for the National Bank in Edwardsville, IL.
- *Jill Branch, '04 MSA, is a CPA and works at JW Boyle.
- **Harry Briggs, Jr., '69 BS, '76 MSED, '85 EDSP, is the new superintendent of the Granite City, IL schools. Briggs has been the superintendent of the Madison County Regional Office of Education for the past two decades.
- Carl Brooks, '76 MBA, was elected to the Board of Directors for Ameristar Casinos, Inc. He is the president and CEO of The Executive Leadership Council and The Executive Leadership Foundation in Washington, D.C. He residents in Arlington, VA.
- Mia Brooks, '06 BS, was named a "Power of 10 Award Winner" by Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, recognizing success in building her business and developing a client base.
- Alandra Byrd-Washington, '93 BS, '97 MPA, is the program director for Philanthrophy and Volunteerism at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, MI.
- Jinnifer Calabrese-Nall, '01 BS, '02 MBA, has joined Tucker Publishing Group as art director. She is involved with all facets of design for the company's publications including conceptualization and layout.
- Andrew Carrington, '96 MBA, '00 MS, created Aceitnow and MySkoolDaze, a website that allows users to set up profiles, private messaging and blogging.
- **Darryl Collins, '02 MBA, was elected to the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation Board of Directors. He is senior vice president, Retail Group and operations manager for Commerce Bank in St. Louis.
- Charles Cook, '72 MBA, was promoted to senior associate director of Admissions at Michigan State University. He 14-year-old daughter, Jackie, won two Grammy Awards ("Songs of Innocence" for best Classical CD) in 2006.
- Tiffany Cooley, '96 BS, is the new President of the Professional Organization of Women Inc., whose mission is to empower African-American women to learn, lead and succeed in both business and civic endeavors. She is currently the director of Human Resources for Hazelwood School District.
- Thomas Cornwell, '84 MBA, was named President of the Sustainment Systems segment at DRS Technologies Inc. in St. Louis, MO.
- Xianyuan Dai, '88 MA, is a professor in the School of Economics and Business Administration at Beijing Normal University in the Republic of China.
- *Charles Daily, '73 BS, is president of Community First Bank in Fairview Heights, IL.
- Kevin Doak, '90 BS, is the Vice President of the Financial Management Group at the Bank of Edwardsville in Edwardsville, IL.
- Denise Evans, '03 MBA, has been promoted to the Assistant Vice President of Adult and Continuing Education at Maryville University in St. Louis.
- Richard Feldman, '72 BS, has been the Vice President of Career Services and Alumni Relations for Berkeley College since June of 2007. Richard is married and has three children ranging in ages from 32 to 17. He resides in Hillsborough, NJ and would love to hear from his fellow classmates.
- *Ann Schnelt Ficken, '88 BSA, is the director of internal audit for Edward Jones in St. Louis, MO. She was recently elected to the board of FOCUS St. Louis. She also serves as an SIUE School of Business advisory board member.
- Kevin Fitzgerald, '82 MBA, joined Illinois Bankers Association as the Vice President of Financial Education Services.
- Ann Frank, '86 BSA, '93 MBA, has been promoted to Vice President and Treasurer of Madison Mutual Insurance. She lives in Alhambra with her husband and two daughters.
- Erin Frank, '06 BSA, '07 MSA, has been promoted to semi-senior accountant at Scheffel & Company.
- Jerry French, '73 BS, is the executive Vice President, treasurer and assistant secretary for Shelter Insurance in Columbia, MO.
- *Mary Frey, '01 MBA, is the chief nursing officer and Vice President of patient care services at SSM St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, MO.
- *Sharon Frey, '78 BS, '83 MBA, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Frey was a goalie in field hockey, a catcher in softball and a consistent scorer in basketball.
- Curtis Fuszard, '80 MBA, is the President and CEO of Associated Investment Services of Green Bay and has been named to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. He is also the president of the Partners in Education Drug Alliance.
- Tasha Gibbs, '03 BS, is working at Edward Jones as an Oracle Database Administrator.
- Bryan Gonterman, '99 BS, has been named president of AT&T Oklahoma. He will be responsible for AT&T's legislative, regulatory and external affairs activities in the state.
- *Jamie Grapperhaus, '04 BSA, '06 MSA, has been promoted to senior accountant at Sheffel & Company.
- Joseph Gray, '85 MBA, is the new Vice President of Administration at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN.
- Patrick Hack, '00 BS, was promoted to Electronic Banking Officer at TheBANK of Edwardsville.
- *Mary "Betsey" Hall, '07 BS, is a staff assistant in the office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin in Marion, IL.
- **Thomas Harrington, '77 BS, '84 MBA, is a partner with the accounting firm Kerber F. & Braeckel, LLP in Belleville, IL.
- *Nathan Hart, '06 BS, is the project engineer with Concrete Group for Tarlton Team in St. Louis, MO.
- Steven Hausmann, '91 BS, is the golf pro at the Algonquin Golf Club in St. Louis, MO.
- Michael Havera, '01 BS, was named the new public defender in Christian County. Havera began working in Montgomery County State's Attorney Chris Matoush's office in early 2006 after working as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois.
- Craign Heinzmann, '07 BS, won the 2008 National Collegiate Golf Championship in Las Vegas. He and his partner, Kyle Lickenbrock, were returning champs and they shot 9-under, 63 to win the Alumni & Community Division and be crowned the Overall Champions at the Silverstone Golf Course in Las Vegas, setting a new NCGC record for the lowest score.
- Nelson Hellwig, '94 BS, is the Chief Financial Officer for Owensby & Kritikos, Inc. in Gretna, LA.
- Susan Hemker, '90 BSA, '00 MBA, was promoted to President and CEO of Collinsville Building and Loan.
- Cale Henke, '00 BS, is the new Vice President at Hamel Banking Center.
- Dennis Hesker, '73 BS, was elected chairman of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois.
- Larry Hollis, '87 MBA, in the new Director of Research and Development at Tone Products, Inc.
- Justin Hug, '02 BS, was selected to join Woolpert, Inc. as one of the new shareholders of the privately held company assuming the title of associate along with other select employees of the company.
- **LaVerne Isenberg, '64 BS, was honored by the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC for 50 years of active membership.
- *Olanrewaju "Lanre" Iwayemi, '03 MS, '05 MSA, and Arlene Odiachi, '05 MS, '06 MBA, were married November 9, 2007. The couple lives in Edwardsville.
- Eddie Jacildo, '87 MBA, is currently the Director of Laboratory Operations, California Cryobank Stem Cell Services in Los Angeles, California.
- Justin Joiner, '05 BS, is a broker for Joiner Realty in Edwardsville, IL.
- **Maxine Johnson, '83 MBA, is the new chief nursing officer at St. Joseph's Hospital in Highland.
- Deborah Johnston, '77 MBA, was promoted to controller with Pact, Inc., a Washington D.C.-based international development organization with offices in more than 20 countries.
- **Brian Jones, '93 BSA, was been promoted to Center Manager of TheBANK of Edwardsville Troy Center.
- Manuel Juarez, '75 MA, is an attorney in private practice in Berkeley, CA, specializing in estate planning.
- Eric Keith, '01 BSA, has been promoted to supervisor at Scheffel & Company.
- **William Kornperda, '82 BSA, is the managing director of Capital Markets and Lending for Wireless Capital Partners.
- Ron Lambert, '71 BS, is chairman and CEO of Yukon, a division of Alongside Management, Inc. in Richmond, VA. He recently co-authored the book, Is That Your Hand In My Pocket? the Sales Professional's Guide to Negotiating.
- Kyle Lickenbrock, '07 BS, won the 2008 National Collegiate Golf Championship in Las Vegas. He and his partner, Craig Heinzmann, were returning champs and they shot 9-under, 63 to win the Alumni & Community Division and be crowned the Overall Champions at the Silverstone Golf Course in Las Vegas, setting a new NCGC record for the lowest score.
- Sharon Lindsey, '81 BS, '85 MSED, won the "Woman of the Year Award" from the American Business Women's Association, Belleville Chapter 4002.
- **Jane Whorton Louer, '85 MBA, is the President and CEO of Louer Facility Planning, Inc. in Edwardsville, IL.
- Sue Lowrance, '92 BS, was appointed and sworn in as the new Bethalton Village Clerk on April 7, 2008.
- Matthew Lynch, '84 MBA, was appointed Vice President of Commercial Lending at Fifth Third Bank in Edwardsville, IL.
- **Ralph Korte, '68 BS, celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Korte Company, which was founded by Ralph in January 1958.
- Joan Mahon-Finder, '84 BS, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Finder earned All-America tennis honors from 1980-83 and combined talents with Lilian Almeida to forge a formidable doubles team.
- Alvin Marcus, Jr., '77 MBA, was appointed to Vice President to Business Development at Missouri Enterprise.
- *Samuel Masey, '85 BS, is a special investigator for Hartford in Lakewood, Calif.
- Michael Mayer, '03 BS, '04 MBA, is an analyst in Relationship Marketing with Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, MO.
- Donald Mayoras, '77 MBA, is President of Cloverleaf Transportation, Inc. in Chester, NY. He lives in Goshen, NY with his wife and two children.
- **Dennis McCracken, '76 MBA, was appointed city clerk and city collector for the city of Edwarsville.
- Valerie Frerichs McLendon, '00 BS, is living in St. Louis with her husband and son and working in Edwardsville as an account manager for Cornerstone Medical Management.
- Jenee Meier, '04 BSA, is with KPMG and is hoping for a six-month rotation in Chicago for a special audit.
- Donald Miller, '97 BS, completed his Masters degree in Media Literacy (Writing) at Webster University in May 2009.
- Richard Millies, '75 MBA, was named Vice President for International Strategy and Business Development at BAE Systems.
- **Donna Mizerski, '90 BS, was promoted to Customer Service Officer at TheBANK of Edwardsville.
- Jonathon Moore, '06 BSA, started working for the Army Audit Agency in January 2007. He will transfer to the agency's San Antonio field office in October 2008.
- Jennifer Morgan, '06 BS, is the human resources coordinator for ARCO/Murray Corporate Services in St. Louis, MO.
- **Becky Smith Muys, '06 MIS, is the head of IT Purchasing for Tampa Florida division of MediNotes (West Des Moines, Iowa.) She occasionally provides hardware and software technical support in-house when needed. She lives in New Port Richey, FL, with her husband, Jan.
- Deborah Patterson, '79 BS, '86 MBA, was elected the Vice President of FOCUS Enterprise, Inc., a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, and corporate finance services located in Washington, D.C.
- **Edward Pinnell, Jr., '82 BS, '90 MBA, is vice president and fiduciary officer for the St. Louis Private Client Group of National City Bank.
- **Arif Pyarali, '88 BS, '93 MS, is a senior project manager at AT&T in St. Louis. He and his wife, Karen Barczewski Pyarali, '88 BS, live in Edwardsville.
- Jeffrey Rabenort, '83 BS, is the President and CEO of The Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Nashville, IL.
- Robert Reidelberger, '05 BS, Branch Manager for GCS Federal Credit Union in O'Fallon, has been elected to the two-year position of First Vice Chair of the Southern Illinois Chapter of Credit Unions.
- Garrett Reuter, '69 BS, is an accountant with Greensfelder, Hemker and Gale, PC in Belleville, IL. He is the secretary of the board of directors for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias.
- *Barry Rhein, '70 BS, accepted a position as Vice President of Global Materials Management at Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, NY.
- Sgt. Mark Ringering, '92 BS, was one of three Wood River police officers recognized for their heroic efforts in an attempt to save a couple's lives during a fire on March 11th. He was presented with a certificate of commendation from the mayor and police chief.
- Mark Robertson, '82 BS, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Underwriting at TheBANK of Edwardsville.
- Karissa Robson, '01 BSA, is a senior audit associate for Reznick Group, a public accounting firm in Washington, D.C.
- **Andrew Sanders, 01 BA, 02 MS, and wife Jennifer gave birth to their son, Nolan Elliott, in September.
- Laurie Sanders, '08 BSA, has joined Scheffel & Co. P.C. as a staff accountant.
- Ronda Sauget, '96 BS, '98 MBA, was one of eleven women honored by the Winning Women organization at an awards dinner held at the St. Louis History Museum. Sauget captured the award in the Business Executive category for her work with Validus Business Strategies.
- **Mark Shashek, '87 BS, received the Albert Cassens Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce. He was also named Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Anderson Hospital on June 24, 2008.
- Martin Siglock, '68 BS, is the building and lands supervisor for Madison County Illinois Administration Building.
- Leslie Small, '70 BS, has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer at the St. Louis Trust Co.
- Jeffrey Streif, '87 BSA, 03 MS, was recently promoted to principal at UHY Advisors and also elected President of the St. Louis Chapter of Information System Audit and Control Association.
- David Storm, '93 MBA, accepted the 2008 Lake Land College Alumnus Achievement Award during the college's 41st annual commencement ceremony. David will also be recognized at the Illinois Community College Trustees Association's annual meeting in Springfield. He is currently the director of business support at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital.
- Robert Stroh, Jr., '79 BS, is the chairman and CEO of Tempo Bank in Trenton, IL. He was elected chairman of the Illinois League of Financial Institutions.
- **Nancy Dain Thorsen, '68 BS, '75 MSED, is an associate broker at ReMax Homestead Realty in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
- **Michael Tinkler, '69 BS, recently earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner. Her is a personal financial planner with Diel & Forguson Financial Group in St. Louis, MO.
- Ronald Toops, '85 BSA, is a financial liaison auditor for USTRANSCOM/TCAQ at Scott Air Force Base, IL.
- **Gary True, '75 BS, '81 MBA, received his Master of Laws in Taxation (L.L.M.) from Washington University School of Law in May 2008.
- Rich Watson, '88 BS, was promoted to Senior Vice President Chief Operations Executive at TheBANK of Edwardsville.
- **Rita Wells, Ph.D., '78 MBA, is a manager for the Department of Energy's Golden Field Office. She has been the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
- Jodi Zimmermann, '04 BS, has been promoted to Marketing Director at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, IL.
*Indicates the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association
**Indicates the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association
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January 2008 to December 2008
- Grady Ambuel, '81 BA Mass Comm, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing at TheBANK of Edwardsville.
- Lindsey Arnold, '06 BA, is getting married June 21, 2008 to Adam Zimmer. Adam will graduate from the SIUE School of Education in May 2008. Lindsey is currently working in customer service with Daniel Schmitt & Co.
- Steven Babcock, '71 BA Geography, '73 MS City & Regional Planning, retired on February 29, 2008 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seattle, WA, with 33 years of combined federal service. Babcock received the Department of the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service and the Northwestern Division Commander's Planning Excellence Award.
- David Boedeker, '86 BS Earth Science, received the Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award at a District 7 school board meeting.
- *Gary Beamon, '05 BM Music, is continuing his studies in the D.A. program in win ensemble conducting at the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley in Fall 2008.
- Howard Bell, '85 BA, is deploying as an Air Force Reserves Chaplain to Afghanistan for a four month tour, beginning May 3, 2008. He is currently a United Methodist Pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, serving at the Evangelical United Methodist Church, Oblong, IL. This is his first deployment and he will be the Hospital Chaplain at the hospital in Bagram.
- Doug Bray, '98 BS Mass Comm, is the Communications Specialist for the Ritenour School District and received the Missouri School Public Relations Association's Rookie of the Year award at the organization's annual spring meeting in Lake Ozark, MO.
- Theresa Counts Burke, '85 BA Government, was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt to associate circuit judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Theresa is a municipal judge for the City of St. Louis.
- Dr. Elizabeth Chastain, '02 BS Bio Science, graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. She will enter a pathology residency at Emory University in Atlanta in July.
- Alan Churchman, '96 BS History, is the new curriculum director for Jerseyville Community School District Unit 100.
- Edwin Cockrell, '84 BS Government, finished sixth in the shot put at the Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Helen Collier, '73 BA Human Services, is the author of "My Oprah in Recreating the Legacy" published by AuthorHouse. For more information, visit www.myoinrecreatingthelegacy.com. - Dr. Alissa Conklin, '02 BS Bio Science, graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. She will enter an obstetrics and gynecology residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis in July.
- **Rachel Doyle, '03 BA Mass Comm, in the new Director of E-Communications at McKendree College.
- Lisa (Herman) Engelke, '00 BS, '03 MS Mass Comm, married Ryan Engelke on November 15, 2008.
- Belinda Feezel, '98 BLS, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations at TheBANK of Edwardsville.
- **Bev George, '75 BS English, has been named a Five Star Real Estate Agent by St. Louis Magazine. This is an elite group representing less than four percent of licensees in the greater St. Louis area. She received recognition and was featured in the magazine's April issue.
- Gary Gnaedinger, '81 BA Chemistry, Senior Business Development Manager ASEAN for The Dow Chemical Company - Hydrocarbons and Energy (H&E) Business, has been named Dow Chemical’s Global Commercial Director for Alternative Feedstocks. In this new role, Gary will lead Dow’s search for alternative petrochemical feedstock business opportunities on a global scale. Gary will assume his new role immediately, while also keeping his current responsibilities as the Hydrocarbons and Energy focal point for Glycerin and Dow’s Petrochemical Major Project in Thailand. He will remain based in Shanghai, China.
- Richard Goodwin, '73 BA American Studies, '79 MA, received the "Men of Distinction" award from the YWCA for his outstanding personal achievement and contributions to the community.
- Rebecca Gould-Levine, '00 BS Speech Comm, was promoted to Senior Account Executive, Season Ticket Services/Fan Development with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association.
- Krysti Harris Connelly, '98 BS, '00 MA Speech Comm, is the new Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at McKendree College in Lebanon, IL.
- Todd Haug, '02 BS History, is the new Alton High School baseball coach. He will continue to teach history at the school.
- **Joseph Hinton, '02 BA History, received his master of arts in geography at the University of Illinois in August.
- Dr. Holly (Hollingsworth) Hoefgen, '02 BS Bio Science, graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. She will enter an obstetrics and gynecology residency at SIU and its affiliated hospitals in Springfield in July.
- Larry Hollis, '71 BA Chemistry, in the new Director of Research and Development at Tone Products, Inc.
- Mark Hopper, '80 BS Mass Comm, won a Academy Award for his work as rotoscope animator on the fantasy film, "The Golden Compass," with Rhythm and Hues Studios. Mark lives in West Hollywood, California, and has worked with Walt Disney, Pixar and George Lucas.
- Darryl Howlett Jr., '97 BS Mass Comm, was selected December 16th as the top Sailor for a Navy command in northern Illinois. Petty Officer 1st Class Howlett is a public affairs director with the Navy Operational Support Center Rock Island. He is married to the former Latisha Fitzpatrick of Chicago and they are the parents of four children.
- Michael Jantzen, '72 BS Art & Design, is being featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York through October 20th. His exhibition: Home Delivery; Fabricating the Modern Dwelling, can be viewed at www.momahomedelivery.org.
- Chad Jennings, '98 BS Sociology & Political Science, has been named a partner at the national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson. He focuses in the area of municipal law, medical malpractice, personal injury, workers' compensation defense, toxic tort and general liability litigation.
- Linda Jurging-Pereda, '07 MSW, is working as the social worker for LSS Hospice Care.
- Karen Kearns, '72 BA Theater, '74 MA Speech Comm, is currently the Associate Dean of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication at California State University Northridge. Her film about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, "That All May Be One," is being featured at the St. Louis Film Showcase on July 23rd at the Tivoli Theater in St. Louis.
- Dr. Joshua Knolhoff, '03 BS Bio Science, graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. He will enter a general surgery residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix in July.
- *Bob Kochan, '72 BS Mass Comm, President of Kochan & Company Advertising and Marketing in St. Louis, was recently inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame for Public Relations/Advertising. He is one of only 14 people to be inducted to date into the PR/Advertising Hall of Fame located at the St. Louis Mercantile Bank. He is the only inductee still active in running an advertising agency.
- Colleen Kremitzki, '01 MSW, '06 MSED, is the new assistant principal at C.A. Henning Elementary in Troy, IL.
- **Shrylene Clark Langston, '94 BS Speech Comm, has been employed at SIUE in the Human Resources Offices for 22 years. While her husband is not a graduate of SIUE, they first met on the campus in February 2005 and were married on the campus May 27, 2006. Her wedding pictures are still on the web and can be viewed at: http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharpeyephotos1/MrMrsJesseLangston/photo#5010329880456326242
- **Dr. Roger Lowery, '66 BA, '69 MA Government, is the chair of the Department of Public & International Affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. His wife, Patricia Lowery, '67 BA Speech Path, is recently retired from public schools but is still working part-time as a speech-hearing-language pathologist in private practice.
- Bruce Malone, '78 BS Government, won the Democratic primary for the District 10 seat on the Madison County Board.
- Brenda (Rombach) Marthens, '76 BA Mass Comm, has worked at Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, CA, since 1996. Her work involves restoring old WB/MGM films through a digital technology of scanning the original negative to the digital world. Some of the films she has worked on include Casablanca, Wizard of Oz, and Singing in the Rain.
- Kathy McCarty, '86 BS Theater, has written "The Ladies Quintet" which is appearing on the West Stage at the Raven Theatre Complex in Chicago July 10-20. For more information, visit www.galateanplayers.com.
- **John Meinzen, '93 BS Math, '99 MS Electrical Engineering, was recently named the winner of the 2008 Verona Computational Science Teacher Leader Award. He was recognized for his work in the design, development and implementation of three computer science courses at Edwardsville High School.
- Robert Mueller, '75 BS Mass Comm, has been a co-anchor with WKRN-TV News 2 for more than 20 years. He is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and is also a winner of the coveted George Foster Peabody Award for investigative reporting.
- Robert Perrin, '75 MA English, Chairperson of the Department of English at Indiana State University (Terre Haute), received ISU's 2008 Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award. He was a previous winner of the Caleb Mills Distinguished Teaching Award (1991) and the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor Award (1992).
- **Stephanie (Hartman) Perryman, '03 BS Speech Comm, and her husband, John Ryan Perryman, '04 BS Construction Management, gave birth to their second child in March 2008. Cole Jackson Perryman was born 7 lbs, 15 oz, 20.5 inches long.
- Dean Plovich, '01 BLS Liberal Studies, was appointed the new police chief of Gillespie, IL.
- Michael Rawlins, '88 BA Mass Comm, produced the directed "Porampo: Pirates of the Malacca Straits" which brings to light the frequency, danger and reality of modern day piracy. Fifteen years ago, Michael left the world of broadcasting to join the Merchant Marines and travel the world.
- Eugene Redmond, '64 BA English, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from SIUE. He taught at SIUE for 17 years until his retirement in November 2007. He came poet laureate of East St. Louis in 1976 and won an American Book Award in 1991.
- W. Curtis Riddle, '72 BA Mass Comm, has been the senior group president of the East Newspaper Group and publisher of The News Journal of Wilmington, DE, since 1994.
- Dr. Christopher Rivera, '04 BS Bio Science, graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. He will enter a family medicine residency at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana in July.
- Tashanna Rucker, '06 MPA, has joined the Morehead State University's Office of Enrollment Services as an enrollment services counselor for diversity.
- *Tarek Samara, '03 BS Political Science, is the owner of the Beatles-themed Sgt. Pepper's Cafe in Edwardsville and Wood River.
- Rebecca Sandlin, '01 BA Mass Comm, has been named managing editor of The Times in Noblesville, Ind. Sandlin had worked at the Noblesville Daily Times as a reporter for more than three years.
- Benjamin Shashack, '01 BA History, is working for the Japanese education company Kumon North America. As a St. Louis associate, he is responsible for consulting instructors at area Kumon centers.
- Kathy Simones, '95 MS Art Therapy, was the "Heart of the School" award winner for the month of April. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the "extra mile" is providing service to students.
- *Melvin Spall, '74 BA Government, is the Chief Investigator of Missouri Family Court - Juvenile Division, for over 30 years, supervising the Investigation and Intake Units in the City of St. Louis.
- Lindsay Spears, '04 BS Political Science, started working as a graduate assistant in the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's office. She has returned to the University to work on her master's degree in Mass Communications and will be working on "Arts & Sciences Today," the CAS alumni electronic newsletter.
- Corey Stulce, '99 BS Mass Comm, created and co-hosts the new weekly web show, "Around the Bend" which is dedicated to showcasing the arts and entertainment scene in the River Bend area. The new show is available on The Telegraph's web site - www.thetelegraph.com.
- Dexter Suggs, Sr., '94 BS Speec Comm, received $25,000 from the Milken Family Foundation at the 2008 Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference in Los Angeles, CA, on March 30, 2008. Dexter is the principal at Emma Donnan Middle School in Indianapolis.
- *Patrick Sullivan, '07 BS Anthropology, spent the last year in Mississippi building homes with Americorp in response to Hurricane Katrina. He returned home in July 2008 to pursue other ventures.
- David Timmerman, '73 BM, '86 MSEd, '96 EDSP, has been hired as the new principal for St. Paul Catholic School in Highland, IL.
- Dr. Ronald Trimmer, '69 MS Math, is the chairman of the United Congregations of Metro East and Gamaliel of Illinois Job Task Force. He participated in "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy" in Washington D.C.
- Marsha Tolle, '72 BA Sociology, served as co-committee chair of the Westwood Trail Riders Club St. Jude's Charity Benefit Trail Ride. Tolle is rarely not riding, spending six to eight hours each day on a horse. She leases about 200 head of horses in her programs and even has a big band with an indoor arena on her property.
- Master Gunnery Sgt. Chalres Willett, '83 BM, '84 MM Music, performed at the Annual White House Correspondents Dinner with the Marine Band, Marine Chamber Orchestra and Marine Chamber Ensembles in Washington, D.C. This performance was conducted by President Bush. After receiving his degrees from SIUE, Willett received a doctorate degree in clarinet performance at Florida State University and also attended the Conservatoire d'Orleans in Orleans, France.
- Ruth Ann Wilson, '07 BA English, formerly of Alton, is the Democratic nominee for the Rockdale County George Clerk of Superior Court.
- Doreen Van Lee, '99 BA Mass Comm, has been working with the Department of Human Services in Chicago for eight years. She is now working part time as a columnist for The Windy City Word, a local Chicago newspaper. She has published a book of poetry and an autobiography.
- Ronald York, '93 BS Chemistry, has been named director of information technology for the newspaper division of the E.W. Scripps Company.
* Indicates that the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
** Indicates that the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
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January 2008 to December 2008
- Dr. Larry Crocker, '87 DMD, founder of Dentistry with TLC, is partnering with "Serve India Ministries" to help 1,000 underprivileged children of Dalit, India. He is offering matching funds programs to aid these children.
- **Susan Rieken, '95 DMD, '92 BS, has completed two certificate programs through the SIU School of Dental Medicine (a two year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in 1998 and a one year fellowship in Implant Dentistry in 1999. She is currently Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program at the School of Dental Medicine in Alton, IL
- Ron Schefdore, '83 DMD, is one of the first dentists in the US to become certified to take CRP tests in the dental office on anyone with significant bleeding when probing.
* Indicates that the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
** Indicates that the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
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School of Education
January 2008 to December 2008
- Jeff Atterbury, '96 BS, is the new assistant principal at Steger Sixth Grade Center and the Elementary Computer School in the Webster Groves School District.
- Kevin Baker, '01 MSED, has been named the winner of the "Heart of the School" award for Alton Middle School for the month of October. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Mark Beatty, '01 BS, a teacher and coach in the Bethalto School District, recently won the Excellence in Teaching Award for Madison County.
- **Richard Benben, '73 BS, '77 MSED, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Benben was the starting goalie of the 1972 NCAA D2 championship soccer team.
- Lori Blade, '88 BS, '94 MSED, was named the Large School Girls Basketball Coach of the Year from Edwardsville High School.
- Steve Bradley, '73 BS, '95 MSED, has recently retired from teaching and coaching wrestling after 33 seasons of guiding wrestlers at the Civic Memorial High School.
- Mike Brey, '06 MSED, is the new Assistant Principal at Alton High School.
- Mark Briggs, '00 BS, was named the Small School Boys Basketball Coach of the Year from Roxana High School.
- Michael Brink, '01 MSEd, was appointed the new superintendent at High Mount District 116.
- Carolyn Miller Brown, '80 MSED, a member of the Dr. Silas Hamilton Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Jerseyville, was elected Illinois State Vice Regent of the 112th Illinois State Conference in Bloomington, IL. She will be installed July 15th at the annual Continental Congress in Washington, D.C.
- **Jeanne Brunworth, '71 BS, '85 MSED, was chosen as a finalist for the National Education Association Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence.
- Jill Christeson, '99 BS, was one of nine finalists for the 2008 Illinois Teacher of the Year award.
- Alan Churchman, '00 MSED, is the new curriculum director for Jerseyville Community School District Unit 100.
- JoAnne Curvey, '88 BS, '04 MSED, '08 EDSP, received the "Heart of the School" award for East Elementary for the month of November. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Debra Dachsteiner, '76 BS, '97 MSED, a third grade teacher at St. Jacob Elementary School, is the 2007 Emerson Excellence in Teaching award recipient for the Triad School District.
- Richard Essington, '72 BS, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Essington was a standout basketball player and was the school's first 1,000 point scorer.
- *Sharon Frey, '78 BS, '83 MBA, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Frey was a goalie in field hockey, a catcher in softball and a consistent scorer in basketball.
- **Bev George, '79 MSED, has been named a Five Star Real Estate Agent by St. Louis Magazine. This is an elite group representing less than four percent of licensees in the greater St. Louis area. She received recognition and was featured in the magazine's April issue.
- Barb Gillian, '96 MSED, is the new Principal at Alton High School.
- Jane Hemann, '75 BS, '84 MSED, won the National Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award for 2008. She is a first-grade teacher at Mount Olive Elementary School in Mount Olive, IL.
- Dale Huwer, 75 BS, was awarded the 2008 Girls Track and Field Official of the Year by the Illinois High School Association. Huwer has been a track and field official for 16 years.
- Cindy Inman, '93 BS, '98 MSED, '07 EDSP, received the "Heart of the School" award for District at Large for the month of November. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- **Karen Kelly, '72 BS, '77 MS, '83 EdD, was previously known as Karen Kelly Schutzenhofer. She has been a faculty member in the School of Nursing since 2002, returning to teaching after 14 years in administration and consulting.
- Ryan Ketchum, '04 BS, '07 MSED, has been promoted to assistant principal at Woodland Elementary.
- Rhonda Kiger, '93 MSED, is currently a math teacher at Carrollton High School. She will retire at the end of the 2008-2009 school year and is being honored for her 36 years of teaching chemistry, physics and math.
- Colleen Kremitzki, '01 MSW, '06 MSED, is the new assistant principal at C.A. Henning Elementary in Troy, IL.
- Debra Kreutztrager, '92 BS, '92 MSED, became the Roxana School District's first female superintendent on June 19, 2008.
- Michael Kurth, '93 BS, '02 MSED, is the new Athletic Director at Roxana High School. He is also an assistant principal.
- Latasha Leflore-Porter, '05 MSED, received the "Heart of the School" award for Alton Middle School for the month of November. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Sharon Lindsey, '81 BS, '85 MSED, won the "Woman of the Year Award" from the American Business Women's Association, Belleville Chapter 4002.
- Nancy Lochman, '91 MSED, eighth-grade teacher and assistant principal at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Collinsville, received the "School Recycling Coordinator of the Year" award.
- Susan Loose, '94 BS, won an "A Day Made Better" award from Office Max which included $1,000 in school supplies. Loose is a fourth-grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.
- Daniel Lytle, '04 MSED, earned his juris doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law and has joined the firm of Hepler, Broom, MacDonald, Hebrank, True and Noce LLC. He will work in general litigation in the Edwardsville office.
- Bruce Malone, '90 MSED, won the Democratic primary for the District 10 seat on the Madison County Board.
- **John McDaniels, '77 MSEd, received the "Men of Distinction" award from the YWCA for his outstanding personal achievement and contributions to the community.
- **Robert Meyers, '71 BS, '72 MSED, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Meyers guided the women's tennis team to four successive D2 crowns from 1986-89.
- Teresa Mize, '05 BS, has been named the winner of the "Heart of the School" award for East Elementary School for the month of October. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Greg Mossman, '71 MSED, is celebrating 25 years in business with State Farm Insurance Company. He started with State Farm in Alton in 1983 and moved to Wood River 14 years ago.
- Keri Mueller, '97 BS, '06 MSED, is the new principal at South Roxana Elementary School.
- **Debra Pitts, '75 BS, '83 MSED, was named School Employee of the Year in Bethalto. She is the principal at Civic Memorial High School.
- Carol Poll-Pacatte, '92 BS, was inducted into the LCCC Hall of Fame for women's basketball on April 30th.
- Eugene Redmond, '64 BA, was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from SIUE.
- Dr. Timothy Richards, '78 MSED, accepted three awards on behalf of the Illinois Association of Teacher Educators for outstanding state unit, achievement and development.
- Martha Richey, '88 MSED, has been appointed to serve as the first principal of Albert Cassens Elementary School.
- Karen Schillings, '71 MSED, recently received Homewood’s Hometown Hero Award during the WGN Radio Hometown Voices Tour. She also recently wrote and received a grant from Homewood Foundation for Educational Excellence to start a monthly featured fruits and vegetables program at Willow School.
- Rebecca Shaw, '75 BS, '97 MSED, received the Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award at a District 7 school board meeting.
- Nancy Spina, '85 MS, has been appointed assistant superintendent at Edwardsville.
- *Ginger (Sanders) Steinhauff, '92 BA Psychology, '05 MSED, recently graduated from Lindenwood University with a Master's in School Counseling. Her new job will be the 8th/9th grade transition school counselor in the Hancock Place School District located in St. Louis County.
- Parisa Stoddard, '98 BS, is the new Principal at North Park Elementary School for the 2008-90 school year.
- Heather Strebel, '97 BS, '00 MS, was the "Heart of the School" award winner for the month of March. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the "extra mile" is providing service to students.
- Terri Taake, '95 MSED, is the new head girls basketball coach at Jerseyville High School.
- Larry Thompson, '74 MSED, received the "Men of Distinction" award from the YWCA for his outstanding personal achievement and contributions to the community.
- Meda Thompson, '78 BS, '82 MSED, has been named director of professional development for Valley View School District 365U.
- David Timmerman, '73 BM, '86 MSEd, '96 EDSP, has been hired as the new principal for St. Paul Catholic School in Highland, IL.
- Dan Underwood, '02 BS, has been promoted to varsity head coach of girl’s basketball at Mascoutah High School. He currently teaches grade school physical education in Mascoutah.
- John Vatterott, '68 MSED, was honored with the Community Leadership Award at the Fellows of the St. Louis Bar Foundation Recognition and Awards Dinner.
- Jon Wagner, '90 BS, '05 MSED, was named the Wrestling Coach of the Year from Edwardsville High School.
- Michael Waldo, '80 BS, '86 MSED, was named the Large School Boys Basketball Coach of the Year from Edwardsville High School.
- Deana Wallace, '89 BS, '96 MSED, was chosen to be inducted into the 4th Annual SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. Wallace was one of the best women soccer players in school history.
- Jennifer Weller, '01 BS, '06 MSED, received the "Heart of the School" award for Alton High School for the month of November. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Nancy Whitlow, '70 MSED, was one of 12 women chosen by the Alton YWCA to receive the 2008 Women of Distinction Award.
- Joyce Williams, '61 BS, '65 MSED, was awarded the Community Service Award in the education category at the SIUE Kimmel Awards recognition program. Block captain of the Fairlawn subdivision in East St. Louis, Williams has used her teaching and administrative skills to clean up and beautify her neighborhood.
- George Woods, '80 MSED, a silver medalist in the shot put during the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, was recently inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
- Robert Zerkle, '70 MSED, was honored recently by the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools for his efforts to reform school finances with Friends of NAFIS Award. The award is given to a person who has provided long-term support or service in the field of education through impact aid.
*Indicates the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association
**Indicates the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association
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School of Engineering
January 2008 to December 2008
- Eric Brault, '95 BS Mechanical Engineering, has been promoted to Director of Operations for Henneman Engineering, Inc. in St. Louis.
- Alicia DeShasier, '07 BS Civil Engineering, is on track to earn a spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials track and field competition beginning June 27th in Eugene, Oregon. She finished third in the Tuscon Elite Classic in Arizona with a throw of 51.21 meters which surpasses the standard needed for consideration in the javelin field of 24 in Eugene and is the 10th longest in the nation this year.
- *Dustin Graumenz, '08 BS Construction Management, is a Field Analyst in the Project Controls Group for the ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery CORE Project in Roxana, IL.
- Charlie Hornsey, '89 BS Math, '91 BS Industrial Engineering, has accepted the position of Assistant Brewmaster for Anheuser-Busch at the Baldwinsville Brewery, New York.
- **John Meinzen, '93 BS Math, '99 MS Electrical Engineering, was recently named the winner of the 2008 Verona Computational Science Teacher Leader Award. He was recognized for his work in the design, development and implementation of three computer science courses at Edwardsville High School.
- Nauman Mustafa, '00 MS Electrical Engineering, works as a Technical Leader and Network Consulting Engineer in Cisco Advance Services Group, advising major Cisco customers in setting up their Voice/Video Network. He lives in San Jose, CA, with his wife and 3 year old daughter.
- **John Ryan Perryman, '04 BS Construction Management, and his wife, Stephanie (Hartman) Perryman, '03 BS Speech Comm, gave birth to their second child in March 2008. Cole Jackson Perryman was born 7 lbs, 15 oz, 20.5 inches long.
- Bruce Schopp, '82 BSE, principal at Oates Associates, was appointed president-elect for the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers.
- Fred Taylor, '96 MS Electrical Engineering, received his Master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School is Monterey, CA.
- Eric Williams, '98 BS Civil Engineering, was promoted as the new city engineer of Edwardsville, IL.
*Indicates the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association
**Indicates the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association
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January 2008 to December 2008
- Linda Becher, '85 BS, received a BJH Service Excellence Award from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
- Frank Grasso, '06 BS, received a Rookie of the Year Award from from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
- Sherry Hausman, '87 BS, was among the recipients of the 2008 "Most Influential Business Women" awards for St. Louis area women.
- **Karen Kelly, '72 BS, '77 MS, '83 EdD, was previously known as Karen Kelly Schutzenhofer. She has been a faculty member in the School of Nursing since 2002, returning to teaching after 14 years in administration and consulting.
- **Maxine Johnson, '69 BS, is the new chief nursing officer at St. Joseph's Hospital in Highland.
- Mary Lahniers, '04 BS, received a Nursing Leadership Award from from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
- Leslie Miller, '96 BS, received a Patricia Potter Quality Improvement Award from from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
- *Janet Sprehe, '88 BS, '94 MS, is the Nurse Manager of the Tampa James A. Haley VA Medical Center. Her nursing unit won an award for the Top Nursing Team in the State of Florida. The award will be announced April 2008 and the team will be featured in the Advance for Nurses nursing journal on April 28th.
* Indicates that the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
** Indicates that the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
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