ALUMNI ASSOCIATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
- Customer Service Representative / Registrations
Daniel works for Arthur Dixon Elementary as a second-grade teacher for Chicago Public Schools. Daniel uses his passions to educate outside of work as the director of education for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.- Epsilon Chi Sigma. Daniel also is an ambassador for Teach Chicago Tomorrow and a scholar of Illinois for the Golden Apple Foundation. He earned his master's from Chicago State University educational leadership and administration with PreK- Age 22 principal licensure in 2023.
As a student, Daniel was vice president of Golden Apple Scholars, education chairman for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., a member of the NAACP, a resident assistant, and served on the Umoja Black graduation celebration committee as well as became involved with the Black Colleagues Association.
His involvement with Black Colleagues Association continued after graduation as he serves as membership chair. Daniel also has been a presenter for ISU's Culturally Responsive Campus Community and the College of Education's Future Teacher Conference.
He currently serves on the Alumni Association board of directors' RED and board development committees.
Job Titles:
- Director - Chicagoland Area
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant, Programming
While working hard in his studies, Jay was an active member of Sigma Nu fraternity and worked at TV-10. Jay loved ISU so much, he never left! He held various communication roles across campus and left an impact along the way. Director of TV-10 news and director of media relations to start before he moved to the Office of the President where he started as assistant to the president overseeing all communication efforts and retired as chief of staff in 2017.
Now he stays busy working with various organizations such as Faith in Action, Quincy Canine Connection, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and the School of Communication Alumni Advisory Board. He is looking forward to being a member of the board and bringing perspectives from his many Redbird point of views as an undergraduate student, graduate student, graduate assistant, instructor, staff member, administrator, annuitant, and, of course, as an alumnus.
He currently serves on the Alumni Association board of directors' RED and Homecoming committees.
Jenna teaches at Rockford University and Oregon State University Ecampus, and is the City of Rockford Poet Laureate. Prior to these roles, she was the assistant director of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at ISU and senior instructor of writing at Oregon State University Cascades in Bend, Oregon.
While a student at ISU, she was active in PRIDE, FLAME, Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honor Society), the ISU Fashion Show, and the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Jenna sits on the awards and diversity, equity, and inclusion committees.
Juliana Nelson '14
Assistant Director
jedunca@IllinoisState.edu
Manages informal video tours and event logistics for Alumni Engagement. Serves as Staff Liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Director's Homecoming Committee.
Job Titles:
- Social Worker for Chicago Public Schools
Karyn now works as a social worker for Chicago Public Schools impacting the lives of many children and their families. Karyn also holds several certifications in school social work and was most recently elected by the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter as an Illinois delegate for the National Association of Social Workers delegate assembly. She also has a master's degree in social work from the University of Illinois Chicago and a master's in educational leadership from the American College of Education. Outside of work, Karyn is heavily involved with ISU's Black Colleagues Association holding several positions including immediate past president. She is also an active member of her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and its Chicago alumnae chapter. Karyn is also a 2020 Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame inductee.
As a student, Leah worked in Vrooman Cafeteria, volunteered with the Office of Disability Concerns, and was a member of the American Marketing Association. She currently is a substitute teacher for the Westchester School District. Prior to this, she worked as a federal probation officer for the Northern District of Illinois.
When she is not assisting in the educating of young minds, Leah is stating her passion as a proud Redbird. She has volunteered for over 20 years with the Alumni Association at various events and programs, with the majority in the Chicagoland area where she serves as chair of the Chicago Suburban Alumni Network. She is also a Redbird football season ticket holder and hopes to attend as many games as possible. Her son, Aidan '19, M.S. '21, is a two-time alum with degrees in agriculture business.
She is the past president of the Alumni Association board of directors, the board development committee chair, a member of the executive and RED committees, and the Foundation Board liaison.
Nikita has over ten years of experience in the communication industry, guiding companies through how to survive the next wave of marketing, data analytics and innovative customer relations. She is the owner of NDR Communications which focuses on crisis diversion, management and political communication. She is currently the internal/external communications and legislative affairs officer for the Office of the Governor's Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion. Prior to this, she was the employment coordinator for the City of Bloomington where she manages the city's recruitment as well as training and development.
A United States Navy veteran, Richards was appointed to serve on Governor Pritzker's transition team in late 2018 for Illinois veterans and has since been appointed to the Illinois Council on Women and Girls in the spring of 2019.
She loves to give back her time and talent to ISU having served on numerous panels and as a speaker for areas like the SoC, Career Center, and Leadershape. She also has worked with ISU students for advocacy days.
She sits on the Alumni Association board of directors' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), RED, and executive committees.
Job Titles:
- Director - Marketing and Communication
Ron Beales' Illinois State journey began in 1948. He lettered in football, wrestling, and track and field. His natural talent and athletic ability led to his induction into the 1977 Athletics Hall of Fame. Ron was extremely close with his coaches and teammates, who became like family. Notable university figures who also influenced Ron's life include Dr. Clifford Pop Horton, former director of the Health and Physical Education Department; Dr. Howard Hancock, former Illinois State University athletics director and football coach; Professor Emeritus Arthur W. Watterson; and Illinois State President Emeritus Raymond W. Fairchild.
"Ron and Mary's love for Illinois State will live on through this name, and their visionary contribution will further the important work of ISU's Alumni Engagement office," said Illinois State President Dr. Larry Dietz in a video announcing the gift and new suite name.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director - Student / Alumni Transition, Regional Networks
Stacy is currently the university registrar at Illinois State University. She is passionate about the student experience at ISU having worked in numerous positions over the years in University Housing Services, the Office of Admissions, and Enrollment Management before taking on her current position. Stacy also teaches a college success course for beginning freshman. She is active with the Baby Fold Festival of Trees and Redbird women's athletic fundraisers. She serves on a variety of campus committees and is a member of several state and national associations connected to college admission, registrar and records, and enrollment management. Stacy also received the Illinois State Administrative/Professional 2009 Distinguished Service Award.
During her time as a student at Illinois State, Stacy stayed busy as a resident assistant which led to becoming a graduate assistant for Hewett-Manchester.
She serves as chair of the Alumni Association board of directors' Homecoming committee and on the board development committee. She also serves as the athletic liaison for the board.
Stan has spent the past 30 years inspiring and strengthening many departments at Central Michigan University. While at Central Michigan he has held the positions of assistant vice president for recreation, events and conferences, and director of university recreation. and interim assistant vice president for institutional diversity. He is now the assistant vice president for university recreation and student engagement.
Stan also gives his time and talent to many professional associations and nonprofit organizations. He has been president of NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, a state director for the Michigan Intramural-Recreational Sports Association and president of the Mid-American Conference Recreation Directors Association. In 2019, he received NIRSA's highest honor, the NIRSA Honor Award. He is also active with Special Olympics Michigan, United Way, American Red Cross, the Union Township Planning Commission, and the Union Township Recreation Task Force to name a few.
As a student, he was a member of the Black Action and Awareness Committee and the Black Student Union. He was volunteered with Special Olympics Illinois and, no surprise with his parks and rec background, was very active with intramural sports. As an alum he stays active with ISU serving on the board of directors for the Black Colleagues Association, as a member of the Student Affairs Redbird Rising campaign committee, as a member of the Brothers of Campus, Inc (where he also helped steward an endowed scholarship for ISU). He is also an active 30-year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has also been inducted into the College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame and the Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame.
He chairs the Alumni Association board of directors' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee and serves on board development and executive committees.
Steve's career has focused on improving the lives of older adults and supporting family caregivers. He has held executive positions at the Alzheimer's Association and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Today he serves as CEO of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, a professional medical society that supports more than 5,000 physicians who care for those with serious illness, through education, advocacy, research and leadership development resources. He is employed by Association Management Center (AMC) in Chicago where he is also a member of the senior leadership team.
During his time at Illinois State, Steve displayed his pride for campus as a Preview guide. He also served on the Interfraternity Council and is a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Illinois State inducted Steve into the Division of Student Affairs Hall of Fame in 2016. He also serves on the School of Communication Advisory Board and the ISU Greek Task Force.
He currently chairs the Golden Redbirds committee and sits on the awards committee.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator for the City of Springfield
Tim serves as the city council coordinator for the City of Springfield. Outside of his work, he has served as a Sangamon County board member, Springfield city alderman, sits on the Sangamon Council Animal Advisory Committee, and is heavily involved with Relay for Life (he was a team captain for 20 years and chairman for two years). He also gives a great deal of time as a youth baseball and football coach. He stays involved with Illinois State as a co-leader for the Springfield Area Alumni Network.