NLU alumni-magazine-winter2024-online

NEWS & NOTES

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS NLU Alumni Are IMPACTING THE WORLD

John Lietzau ’06 , M.A.T. in Special Education, is now an author. The Missing Link: Northlake to Whiskey Point has been submitted to his editor for publication. The book spans his 30 year history working as a clinical therapist with adoption as well as searching for his own birth family. Before attending NLU, a summary of Mr. Lietzau’s M.A. thesis at Northeastern Illinois University on “The Psychology of Adoption” was entered into the Congressional Record when he testified in D. C. John is an award winning environmental science teacher and recipient of a Mission of Service Award for F.A.C.T. (Fathering Accountability and Commitment Training) Workshops in Illinois and Kentucky.

Kathie Robinson ’99 , M. Ed. in Administration and Supervision, retired in 2019 after 35 years as a teacher and school administrator.

2000s Grads

Wendy Randall ’02, M.Ed. in Adult Development Studies, is so thankful that her book, Once There Was a Girl: A Memoir , has been translated into Spanish. The Spanish title is Habia Una Vez: Una Nina . Wendy is also a member of the NLU Alumni Association Board. Felicia Taylor ’03 , B.S. in Management, received Certification in Data Analytics in 2021 at Thinkful (a Chegg Service), an online education platform based in NYC. Untress Quinn ’02 , B.S. in Management, has been named managing attorney at Armstrong Teasdale LLP in Edwardsville, Ill.

1980-90s Grads

Kristin Fine ’96, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, is Director of Programs at Reading Power, Inc., a nonprofit early literacy tutoring organization based in Lake Bluff, Ill. They would love to have more tutor volunteers. Sign up: readingpowerinc.org More Info on Reading Power on page 23 Patricia Feager ’95 , B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences, has been a successful, self-employed residential real estate agent for 20 years in Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex. She relocated to Texas in March 1997 with Abbott Laboratories. After major layoffs in 2002, she became a realtor.

A. Keith Young ’94 , M.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Studies, published two books with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): The Instructional Coaching Handbook and Training Design, Delivery, and Diplomacy. Both books are available on Amazon and ASCD.com/ people/a-keith-young Robert Vinson Brannum ’91 , B.A. in Management, is third VP of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP), D.C. branch. He attended the White House signing ceremonies for the PACT Act in 2022. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act will deliver comprehensive benefits to all generations of veterans who have suffered from exposure to burn pits or other toxic substances. Keith Podhradsky ’84 , B.A. in Elementary Education, is now a semi-retired nature photographer based in Lisle, Ill. He sends love to the Class of 1984! Kristin Rydholm ’88 , B.A. in Elementary Education, is a freelance educational writer. To read her recent articles for Edutopia, go to edutopia. org/profile/kristin-rydholm.

Olivia Pantoja ’06 , B.A. in Social Science and ’10 M.A. in Public Policy, has joined Faegre Drinker Consulting in Chicago, Ill. as senior director. Pantoja has served as a government relations consultant at all levels, including federal, multi- state, Cook County and

the City of Chicago. In addition to her extensive experience representing restaurant groups, health care associations and other industries, she has also served as an adjunct faculty member at NLU.

Cynthia Andrew ’04 , B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences, received her MBA from DePaul University. She currently is project manager for the realty execution team with Walmart Inc.

Kevin Miller ’97 , M.S. in Written Communication, is working on a short science fiction satire about former President Donald Trump.

Don Kahn ’08 , B.S. in Management, is a proud alumnus who is now working in the role of senior manager, product management at Wilo USA LLC., a leading pump manufacturer based in Cedarburg, WI.

Rosa Higgs ’98 , M.A.T. in Elementary Education, has over fifty years of experience as an educator, with a focus on Special Education. She has taught hundreds of struggling students to read during her teaching career. She developed the Read in 40 workbook series, a four volume phonics-based program that helps to teach students how to read in less than 40 hours of direct instruction by decoding words.

Katherine Brown ’05 , Ed.D. in Adult and Continuing Education, was celebrated by the American Heart Association during CPR Month in June 2023. Dr. Brown has personally trained over 300,000 people for free in CPR.

Tinisa Huff ’09 , Certificate in Administration and Supervision, has been a principal at Betsy Ross Elementary School in Forest Park, Ill. for the past four years.