National Louis University Alumni

Congratulations to NLU’s Class of 2024!

NLU alumni! NLU is excited to participate in the national 2024 SHRM Conference & Expo this June. Stop by Booth 3716 to say hello! More details below.

NLU Students, National Louis University Alumni and partners! NLU is excited to participate in the national 2024 SHRM Conference & Expo this June. Stop by Booth 3716 to say hello, take part in a raffle or two, and learn more about exciting opportunities for you and your organization. Hope to see you there!

(Can’t attend this year? No worries! Check out how partnering with NLU can elevate you and your staff here: https://bit.ly/NLUSHRM)

Congratulations to adjunct instructor Jasmine E. Guy for being included in Marquis Who's Who, which chronicles the lives of accomplished individuals and innovators.

A seasoned leader with years of expertise in higher education and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Ms. Guy excels as an adjunct instructor at National Louis University, through which she teaches human resource management courses, covering such topics as employee engagement, talent development, and performance management.

Alumni are invited to . . .

NLU's Fireside Chat - the Final Chat of the Academic Year

Guest: Crane Kenney, President of the Chicago Cubs

When: Tuesday, June 4, noon-12:50 p.m. Central

Where: Three options:
• In-person at the Chicago campus, 122 S. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor Atrium. Please RSVP to Elizabeth Schaefer, Director of Communication Studies, at [email protected] by Monday, June 3 at 2:00 p.m.
• In-person, streaming at the Wheeling campus, 1st Floor Public Forum room
• Fully online via Zoom: on.nl.edu/fireside-chat-june

Questions? Email Elizabeth Schaefer at [email protected].

“Approximately 5,900 CPS Class of 2024 graduates will save an estimated $8 million in total college tuition costs through the District’s early college partnerships, primarily with the City Colleges of Chicago, but also with . . . National Louis University.”

We are proud to partner with Chicago Public Schools, helping graduates find an affordable and high-quality higher education.

Chicago Hispanic Newspaper, Lawndale News, Hispanic Bilingual Newspapers, Su Noticiero Bilingue » CPS Celebrates Class of 2024 Historic Savings of More Than $8 Million in College Tuition Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez, City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Chancellor Juan Salgado, DeVry University President and CEO Elise Awwad, school administrators and families came together to recognize more than 800 Class of 2024 scholars from 79 CPS high schools who are graduating with...

Are you a seasoned professional looking to advance in your career? The Graduate School of Business and Leadership is hosting a virtual information session to share more about their programs.

When: May 30, 2024 from 6 to 7 pm CT.
Where: on Zoom.

Register here:

National Louis University If you wish to bring more than 999999 guest(s) then we must put your party on the wait-list. Would you like to be placed on the wait-list?

The inaugural alumni panel was last week! Alumni, students, staff, and faculty gathered on our Chicago campus to hear from panelists Julie Chavez ’95 ’08, Christa A. Hamilton ’06, and Lamont J. Robinson ’12. The panelists discussed how women, people of color and marginalized communities are empowered to achieve visibility, equity, and access during the election cycle.

We would like our entire alumni community to see the discussion, so we’ve provided a recording of the event: https://bit.ly/May24AlumniPanel.

We hope you enjoy and stay tuned for future panels!

We’re happy to share that Mark Larson ’93 published a new book: Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation.

Overview: From nurses and teachers to wildland firefighters and funeral directors—an intimate, honest, and illuminating collection of interviews that reveal what it’s like to work in America at this historic and volatile moment in time.

Congratulations to Mark! We’ve put it on our reading list.

Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation|Hardcover From nurses and teachers to wildland firefighters and funeral directors—an intimate, honest, and illuminating collection of interviews that reveal what it’s like to work in America at this historic and volatile moment in time. Author Mark Larson sits down with more...

We are happy to share that Kristin Rydholm '88 published another article to Edutopia. This time, she compiled a list of 13 Picture Books for a Rainy Day. It's great to see National College of Education alumni getting their work published.

13 Picture Books for a Rainy Day These books feature characters who find joy in rainy-day activities from looking for worms to emulating a classic song by singing (and dancing) in the rain.

Congratulations to John Psiharis '87 on the publication of "Breaking Ground: The Inside Story of Chicago's Greek Nursing Home Movement," the second book in the "Hellenism in the Heartland Series," which chronicles the story of the founding of Chicago's Greek Nursing Home in Wheeling, IL. Coincidentally, NLU also has a campus in Wheeling!

For more information on Greek American Press, visit their website: https://www.greekamericanpress.com/

Greek American Press is pleased to announce the release of "Breaking Ground: The Inside Story of Chicago’s Greek Nursing Home Movement", by John Psiharis. This book, the second in the “Hellenism in the Heartland Series,” chronicles the years-long effort to establish a Greek American Nursing Home in Chicago.

In December 1982, a handful of Greek Americans gathered for coffee in the back room of the Elysion Restaurant, located in Chicago’s Budlong Woods neighborhood, to discuss unmet needs within Chicago’s Greek community and set into motion an unprecedented movement that spanned the generations, involved all facets of the community, and culminated in the opening of the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre in 2002.

More than 40 years after that first meeting, Psiharis, with the substantial involvement of Dr. Elaine Thomopoulos, the co-founders of Greek-American Community Services and the Greek-American Nursing Home Committee, where they served as board members from inception through 2006, provides a behind the scenes insider’s account about how this monumental achievement came to be.

Site selection, zoning, rallying the community behind these efforts, raising funds, financing, groundbreaking, construction, and grand opening activities are covered, as are setbacks that ranged from broken political promises by Chicago politicians, internal disagreements, opening pains, and crushing debt. Through good times and bad, progress and setbacks, this diligent group persevered and navigated these challenges to accomplish the dream many thought impossible.

Psiharis reflected, “The primary reason that I wanted to write this book is to celebrate this monumental community achievement. It was something the community had never seen before or since. Many from all walks of life came together to make this happen. In detail, the book explains how this small group went from having coffee in the backroom of a restaurant and envisioning accomplishing this lofty endeavor to opening the doors to a five-star, state-of-the-art nursing home, now in its 22nd year of operation and considered among the best in the state of Illinois. This was no small project either. It was a $12 million project at the time, which is about $30 million in today’s dollars. “

He continued, “I imagine that the Nursing Home will continue to grow and thrive in the years to come, but the backstory of how a project of this magnitude came to fruition will fade over time. Many who knew and played a part in this accomplishment have passed on. Others have misplaced or discarded their records and photos over the years. When walking through the nursing home, one sees many names on plaques throughout the building and campus in memory or honor of individuals, organizations, and churches. This book offers a behind the scenes glimpse into many of them and the part they play in this story.”

Breaking Ground is the second entry in the "Hellenism in the Heartland Series" published by Greek American Press, an imprint of Psihco, LLC. The first, "Working to Preserve Our Heritage: The Incredible Legacy of Greek-American Community Services," was released in 2023. The third installment, "Hellenes in the Windy City: The Greeks in Chicago – 1970-2000", co-authored by Psiharis and Thomopoulos, is planned for 2025.

Both books are available in hardcover and eBook formats. The story is enhanced by 105 images and photos, an extensive who’s who listing with 139 entries, and a detailed chronological history covering the years 1982 through 2006. .

The print books feature a comprehensive index while the eBooks have color photos.

The print books are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Ingram Spark.

The eBooks are available through Amazon, Apple Books, Baker and Taylor, Barnes and Noble, Bibliotheca, Borrow Box, Everand, Fable, Gardners, Odilo, Overdrive, Palace Marketplace, Smashwords, Tolino, Vivlio, and other online retailers.

For further information, please visit GreekAmericanPress.com.

Amazon: https://rb.gy/yi3f81

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-ground-john-p-psiharis/1145386867?ean=9798989072422

Books 2 Read: https://books2read.com/u/mgylpX

The National College of Education is a tremendous incubator of teaching talent. Congratulations to Precious Allen '21 and Olga Nuñez-Johnson ’15 on winning 2024 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching!

Join the Illinois Restaurant Association at this year’s Meet The Experts on Wednesday, May 15, at Tunnel Chicago from 5 to 8 PM to enjoy free power networking and speed coaching!

Join us and keynote speaker Brian Jupiter of Ina Mae Tavern, Frontier, and Migos Fine Foods. To learn more and register click on the link below!
https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/page/2024MeetTheExperts

Thank you to Nia Esparza, Kendall College at National Louis University ‘21, ‘23 for telling us about this event! Nia works at the IRA and can be reached at [email protected] for any questions.

Celebrations continue on campus for NLU Day!

Alumni, we hope you'll consider NLU Day an opportunity to pay it forward to current students and support them on their path to graduation and a meaningful career.

Learn more: https://join.nl.edu/campaign/nlu-day-help-our-eagles-soar/c560358?c_src=46&c_src2=c

Today is the day!

Help our Eagles soar here: https://join.nl.edu/campaign/nlu-day-help-our-eagles-soar/c560358?c_src=46&c_src2=c

Today's the day! If you can, please support our students as they pursue their dreams of higher education and meaningful careers.

Learn more: https://join.nl.edu/campaign/nlu-day-help-our-eagles-soar/c560358?c_src=46&c_src2=c

One more day!

NLU Trustees and Life Trustees will match the first $50,000 raised. Therefore, your contributions to NLU Day will be doubled in value!

Help our Eagles soar here: https://join.nl.edu/campaign/nlu-day-help-our-eagles-soar/c560358?c_src=46&c_src2=c

Less than one week until NLU Day! Please join us on April 25 to help NLU students transform their lives and their communities.

Less than one week until NLU Day!

NLU Day provides an opportunity for the National Louis University community to support our students.

Help our eagles soar here: https://join.nl.edu/campaign/nlu-day-help-our-eagles-soar/c560358?c_src=46&c_src2=c

Hot off the presses! It’s the latest issue of View: NLU’s magazine for you, our alumni community.

In this issue:

- Discover NLU’s new nursing program
- Learn about Accelerate U, NLU’s job-first higher education model
- Check out ways to stay involved with your alma mater

Read it all here: https://bit.ly/Magazine2024

Eater Chicago recently highlighted the bagel-loving work of chef Eric Reeves, 2009 graduate of Kendall College. Eric is the “founder of carb-heavy local pop-up Salt Spoon Bakehouse.”

“His distinctive technical approach and creative culinary flair — think flavors like cacio e pepe and roasted garlic with dijon — have earned him a passionate fanbase among some of the city’s most discriminating bagel-eaters.”

Learn more about Eric’s appreciation for all things bagel and how he’s elevated the status of this popular food: https://bit.ly/EricReeves

P.S. Eric has also collaborated with chef Jennifer Kim, 2012 graduate of Kendall and Chef de Cuisine at Proxi.

Congrats to Patricia A. Findley ’85 for her appointment as the Dean of the School of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago. We wish her the best of luck in her new role!

Full press release: https://www.luc.edu/news/pressreleases/march122024/

Alumni spotlight: April Elsbernd ‘20 has been named the new volleyball head coach at Augsburg University.

"I am thrilled that I get the chance to lead an exceptional volleyball program, compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and join a welcoming and inclusive athletic department," said Elsbernd, named the 11th head coach in Augsburg volleyball history.

Congrats and best of luck to April and the Augs!

Welcome home Coach!

After 15 years at the University of Dubuque, April Elsbernd is named Augsburg’s Head Volleyball Coach!

Roll Augs!

Senator Dick Durbin secured $750,000 for our new School of Nursing!

“As we confront the challenges posed by evolving health care needs, the significance of NLU’s new School of Nursing cannot be overstated,” said Durbin.

Senator Durbin visited NLU for a press conference this past Monday: https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1427303.

Today we’d like to spotlight another NLU graduate making waves in local government. Alderman Lamont J. Robinson ‘12 has represented the 4th Ward in Chicago since 2023. Previously he was an Illinois State Representative. You can learn more about Lamont in this news article from his victory in April 2023: https://bit.ly/LamontRobinson.

Did you know an NLU alumna is a Chicago Alderwoman? Monique Scott ‘03 has represented the 24th Ward in Chicago since 2022. You can learn more about Monique in this news article about her appointment.

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2022/june/mayorLightfootNamesMoniqueScottNew24thWardAlderman.html

Congrats to Dr. Dominic Manola ‘19!

Leyden High School District 212 announced the transition of Dr. Dominic Manola ‘19 from East Leyden principal to assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Dr. Manola is also an adjunct professor at NLU.

Fireside chat with Lori Lightfoot, former mayor of Chicago, happening tomorrow, March 12.

Alumni, this event is available for you to attend via Zoom. Comment if you’re interested.

Attention, students! We're thrilled to announce that Mayor Lori Lightfoot will be joining us on campus for our Fireside Chat Series!

Please note that this exclusive opportunity is reserved for our university community only. Get ready to gain valuable insights from a distinguished leader!

Nine NLU alumni were announced as finalists for the prestigious 2024 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching. We are so proud of these tremendous educators!

- Rogelio Aguilar ‘17, Marquette School of Excellence
- Tracy Aiden ‘93, ‘01, University of Chicago Laboratory School
- Precious Allen ‘10, ‘14, ‘21, Betty Shabazz Academy
- Melissa Behrendt, ‘24, LEARN 6 Charter School
- Tammy Dati ‘04, Hillcrest Elementary School
- Lauren Jensen ‘04, Courtenay Language Arts Center
- Olga Nuñez-Johnson ‘15, Thomas J. Waters School
- Melissa Pantoja ‘21, Marquette School of Excellence
- Christina Tortorello ‘10, Sherwood Elementary School

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. The selected recipients will be surprised in the spring.

The Golden Apple Foundation is a leading nonprofit committed to preparing, honoring and supporting educators who advance educational opportunities for students.

To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/NLUGoldenAppleFinalists.

Alumni, this event is available for you to attend via Zoom. Comment if you’re interested.

Attention, students! We're thrilled to announce that Mayor Lori Lightfoot will be joining us on campus for our Fireside Chat Series!

Please note that this exclusive opportunity is reserved for our university community only. Get ready to gain valuable insights from a distinguished leader!

Alumni spotlight: John P. Psiharis ‘87, NCE and former student government president, authored a book on the incredible legacy of Greek-American Community Services. See the post below for more information.

The book can be purchased at Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/GACSbook

Working to Preserve Our Heritage: The Incredible Legacy of Greek-American Community Services|Hardcover On a cold and snowy evening in December 1982, motivated by the lofty Hellenic ideals of philotimo and philoxenia, a diverse and dynamic group of Greek Americans launched a groundbreaking movement that forever changed the landscape of Chicago's Greek community.

The Lodge at Blue Sky, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, announced the appointment of Guillermo Tellez ‘89, Kendall College at National Louis University, as its new Executive Chef.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/GuillermoTellez

Alumni spotlight: Claudie Phillips.

Claudie Phillips ‘85, NCE, is a trailblazer in Education and the School Food Service Industry. Among many accomplishments, such as being the Director of Food Service for Chicago Public Schools, she founded The International Council On Nutrition Solutions (ICONS) Foundation.

Learn more about her career: https://www.theiconsfoundation.org/ #:~:text=LEADER-,Under%20The,-Leadership%0AOf%20Claudie