News Archive 2019
Read Alumnae/i in the News 2019. Have you spotted a Rosary College/海角社区 alumna/us in the news? Let us know at alumni@dom.edu.
Rapper and librarian Roy Kinsey MLIS 鈥17 releases 4th album
December 10, 2019
Rapper and librarian Roy Kinsey MLIS 鈥17 released his 4th album, Blackie: A Story by Roy Kinsey. He has been featured in major local, national, and international publications like Billboard, NPR, WBEZ鈥檚 Vocalo, the Chicago Tribune, WGCI and the RedEye. Read more.
Joanne DiGuido鈥嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧 鈥86 encourages students to "seize the opportunity to study abroad"
November 2019
Following the devastating fire at the Cath茅drale Notre-Dame de Paris, Joanne DiGuido 鈥86 visited France with her son in November. Read more.
Governor Pritzker appoints Dennis O鈥橞rien 鈥75 to IWCC position
November 26, 2019
Dennis O鈥橞rien 鈥75 has been appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve as an arbitrator with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC). He currently serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Springfield law firm of Livingston, Mueller, O鈥橞rien and Davlin. Read more.
Laura Ligos MBA 鈥12 publishes Cookbook
November 26, 2019
Laura Ligos MBA 鈥12 is a New York-based sports dietitian and online real food-based blogger, educator and nutrition expert. She recently published her first book, The Complete Clean Eating Cookbook: 200 Fresh Recipes and 3 Easy Meal Plans for a Healthy Diet. Read more.
Matthew McCabe MAT 鈥12 on the rise at Noble Schools
November 25, 2019
Matthew McCabe MAT 鈥12 is on the rise at Noble Network of Charter Schools as he was recently promoted to Chief of Staff & Public Affairs. He will oversee strategy, communications, government and community affairs. Read more.
Mary Yu 鈥79, Washington State Supreme Court Justice, credits Dominican for life's direction
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
鈥淎ll that I am, and all that I will ever be is because of my experience at Dominican,鈥 Mary Yu 鈥79 told her classmates and others in a talk delivered during Alumnae/i Weekend in early June. Read more.
Eileen Willenborg 鈥69 - Advocating for the Disenfranchised
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
Throughout her life, Eileen Willenborg 鈥69 has remained an avid supporter of her alma mater and has funded two scholarships that are near and dear to her heart. Read more.
Michelle Agins 鈥77 - Refusing to be Defeated
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
Michelle Agins 鈥77, who has worked as a photojournalist at The New York Times for 30 years, delivered the 2019 commencement speech and received an honorary degree from the university. Read more.
Gera-Lind Kolarik 鈥75 - Honoring the Legacy of Georgie Anne Geyer
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
Through the Georgie Anne Geyer Initiative, Gera-Lind Kolarik's 鈥75 admiration for Georgie Anne Geyer will benefit budding young foreign correspondents for many years to come. Read more.
Anna Dominguez 鈥09: The Queen of Tape
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
Anna Dominguez 鈥09 creates intriguing works of art entirely from multiple layers of colorful adhesive tape. Her work has been commissioned by several celebrities. Read more.
Ramiro J. Atrista铆n-Carri贸n 鈥89: Adjunct instructors give back to their alma mater
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
鈥淚 was raised by my grandparents. They lived their lives by the principles of caritas and veritas.鈥 Alumni continue relationship with Dominican by connecting with a new generation of students. Read more.
John Strauss 鈥82: Adjunct instructors give back to their alma mater
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
John Strauss 鈥82 was inspired to pursue his vocation by another current adjunct instructor and alumnus. Alumni continue relationship with Dominican by connecting with a new generation of students. Read more.
Matt Toles 鈥97: Adjunct instructors give back to their alma mater
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
"Together, we find how best to navigate through the work, while I strive to show them how they can learn and grow.鈥 Alumni continue relationship with Dominican by connecting with a new generation of students. Read more.
Susan Dehn Matthews 鈥75, MAEA 鈥97: Adjunct instructors give back to their alma mater
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
鈥淚 realized that what I believed in and what I wanted to do in my life had to be one and the same.鈥 Alumni continue relationship with Dominican by connecting with a new generation of students. Read more.
Dominican Alumni Help Children Heal From Loss
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
海角社区 hosted on August 9鈥11 Camp Kangaroo, a free weekend camp for children five to 16 years old who have been impacted by the loss of loved ones through gun violence, drugs or terminal illness. Several Dominican alumni participated as counselors for the camp. Read more.
Eve L. Ewing MAT 鈥09 Releases Third Book, 1919
November 2019 Alumnae/i Magazine
Eve L. Ewing MAT 鈥09 has published her third book, 1919. Ewing is an assistant professor at the School of Social Services Administration at the University of Chicago. Read more.
Trenton Carls MLIS 鈥15 joins Cape Ann Museum as librarian and archivist
November 15, 2019
Trenton Carls MLIS 鈥15 has been hired as the librarian/archivist at the Cape Ann Museum. Trenton joins the Cape Ann Museum following his role as metadata and digital projects librarian at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. Read more.
Erick Baumann 鈥93 reaches coaching milestone at Dominican
November 4, 2019
Erick Baumann 鈥93, men's soccer coach at 海角社区, recently earned his 400th career win. Only 20 other coaches in the history of NCAA Division III men's soccer have reached that number and only eight are still active. Read more.
Peggy Sarason 鈥85 named an Influential Woman in Business
November 4, 2019
Peggy Sarason 鈥85, regional vice president of Comcast in Schaumburg, was one of the 21 suburban business leaders honored during the 22nd annual Influential Women in Business Awards ceremony on November 1. Read more.
Tom Prothero MBA 鈥95 Appointed to Marquette Bank's Board
September 30, 2019
Marquette National Corporation announced that Tom Prothero MBA 鈥95 has been appointed to the Board of Directors. Tom brings over 30 years of experience in operations, credit management, and commercial banking. Read more.
John Sayers MALS 鈥74 leads Cambridge Public Library
August 30, 2019
A librarian since 1972, John Sayers MALS 鈥74 currently serves as the director of the Cambridge Public Library. He has held the position since August 2018, not long after he retired from the Kewanee Public Library. Read more.
Carina Homann-Santa Maria MSW 鈥11 named to Delta Zeta's 35 Under 35
August 21, 2019
Carina Homann-Santa Maria MSW 鈥11 has been honored as one of Delta Zeta Sorority鈥檚 35 Women Under 35. She is currently the executive director of Shelter, inc., a child welfare agency in the Northwest Suburbs. Read more.
Teresa Hall Bartels MSOL 鈥04 active on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission
August 19, 2019
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that Teresa Hall Bartels MSOL 鈥04 will continue to serve on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission. Teresa is the founder of Hallbart Consulting. Read more.
Eve Mu帽oz MAT 鈥07, MAEA 鈥09 named Leyden's Dean of Students
August 12, 2019
Leyden High School Dist. 212 Board of Education hired Eve Mu帽oz MAT 鈥07, MAEA 鈥09 to be the newest dean of students in the district. Her first day on the job was Friday, Aug. 9. Read more.
Tamina O'Neill 鈥91 joins Heartland Financial as Chief Risk Officer
August 1, 2019
Tamina O'Neill 鈥91 has been named Chief Risk Officer for Heartland Financial USA, a diversified financial services company with 116 banking locations serving 84 communities across the country. Read more.
Cristina Bertolli 鈥07 appears on reality TV show "sMothered"
July 25, 2019
Cristina Bertolli 鈥07 is appearing on the TLC reality television show "sMothered." The show focuses on close mother and daughter relationships. Cristina and her mother are very close, and she said viewers can expect "a lot of laughs" in the episodes. Read more.
Susan Reynders MLIS 鈥03 hired as Mount Prospect's executive library director
July 24, 2019
Susan Reynders MLIS 鈥03 has been hired as the executive director at the Mount Prospect Public Library. Prior to coming to Mount Prospect, she served as executive director at the Lincolnwood Public Library for seven years. Read more.
Jeremy Robinson MAT 鈥09 recognized as a 'Distinguished Teacher'
July 17, 2019
Jeremy Robinson MAT 鈥09 was recently recognized as a Distinguished Teacher, a newly-created program by The Noble Network of Charter Schools in Chicago. He is an English teacher at Noble鈥檚 Rauner College Prep and a Rhodes Scholar. Read more.
Judy Cullen BLS 鈥18 named executive director of FoxPACF
July 17, 2019
Judy Cullen BLS 鈥18 has been named the executive director of the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation (FoxPACF). With the position, Judy returns to St. Louis as well as to her theatrical roots. Read more.
Mary Pakosta 鈥08 hired as PBHS volleyball coach
July 16, 2019
Mary Pakosta 鈥08 has been hired as head coach for the girls' varsity volleyball team at Riverside-Brookfield High School. Mary, who graduated from RBHS in 2004, previously coached the girls' freshman team for six years and then the girls' junior varsity at RBHS the past three seasons. Read more.
Mary Iannucilli 鈥69 retires after decades in education
July 2, 2019
Mary Iannucilli 鈥69, Principal of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School, retired on June 30 after 11 years at CJB in Orland Hills. CJB has been nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School twice while under her leadership. Read more.
Brie Martin MLIS 鈥16 becomes owner of Southern Oregon Spartans
June 28, 2019
Brie Martin MLIS 鈥16 and her husband Dylan have purchased the Southern Oregon Spartans, a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). Read more.
Karen Rubel MAEA 鈥95 Named President and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice
June 25, 2019
Karen Rubel MAEA 鈥95 has been named President and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice, the largest and only non-profit hospice in Southern Nevada. Read more.
Anna Dominguez 鈥09 featured in The Chicago Tribune
May 29, 2019
Anna Dominguez 鈥09, a Chicago tape artist named the Queen of Tape, was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune. She recently had her first permanent piece unveiled at the St. Jane Hotel. Read more.
Colleen Waltman MLIS 鈥95 hired as director of Homewood Library
May 24, 2019
Colleen Waltman MLIS 鈥95 has been hired as the new executive director of the Homewood Public Library. She comes to Homewood from her job as director of Blue Island Public Library, where she has worked since 2014. Read more.
Susan Swords Steffen MALS 鈥76 leaves legacy at Elmhurst College
May 23, 2019
After 22 years in the position, Susan Swords Steffen MALS 鈥76 is retiring as the director of the A.C. Buehler Library at Elmhurst College. Read more.
Claire Stewart MLIS 鈥95 named Dean of UNL Libraries
May 15, 2019
Claire Stewart MLIS 鈥95, the associate university librarian for research and learning at the University of Minnesota Libraries, is the new dean of libraries at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Read more.
Lauren Rosenthal MLIS 鈥08 named library director in Fox River Valley
May 5, 2019
The Fox River Valley Public Library District board of trustees has named Lauren Rosenthal MLIS 鈥08 incoming library director. Lauren joined the Fox River Valley Public Library District staff in 2014 and currently serves as deputy director. Read more.
Melissa Connelly MAT 鈥08, MAEA 鈥13 named CEO of OneGoal
April 25, 2019
Melissa Connelly MAT 鈥08, MAEA 鈥13 has been promoted to CEO at Chicago-based OneGoal, a nationwide coalition of teachers, students, school leaders and education advocates working to close the college degree divide. Read more.
Michelle Agins '77 to speak at 海角社区 Commencement
April 22, 2019
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times photographer Michelle Agins 鈥77 will serve as the commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony, during which she will receive an honorary degree. Read more.
John Netherly MSW '10 helps homeless community with The Bedrock Movement
April 16, 2019
John Netherly MSW '10 founded with the goal of inspiring others to recognize the needs of the homeless residents in their neighborhood and realize how a small act of kindness goes a long way. Read more.
Jennifer Rodriguez MSW 鈥16 reaches #1 on Amazon eBook rankings
April 10, 2019
Jennifer Rodriguez MSW 鈥16 recently published an eBook on Amazon. The eBook, titled , reached #1 in new releases for its genre, Children's eBooks on Death, Grief & Bereavement. Read more.
John Signa 鈥02, MBA 鈥04 achieves success with E78 Advisors
April 10, 2019
John Signa 鈥02, MBA 鈥04, co-founder and Managing Partner at Element78 Advisors, was recently in the news as his business advisory firm moved to Oak Brook, Illinois. Following accelerated growth in 2018, E78 Advisors relocated to larger space to accommodate its growing team and client base. Read more.
Fanny Y. Lopez-Benitez 鈥11 wins Hanover Park Election
April 3, 2019
Fanny Y. Lopez-Benitez 鈥11, Title V project manager and adjunct professor at 海角社区, was elected a trustee for the Village of Hanover Park. Fanny is the first formerly undocumented Mexican immigrant woman to serve as a trustee for the village and, at age 29, the youngest woman to be elected. Read more.
Lisa Badger BLS 鈥17, MCR 鈥18 wins seat on Springfield Park Board
April 2, 2019
Lisa Badger BLS 鈥17, MCR 鈥18 collected the most votes in a five-person field to claim one of three seats on the Springfield Park District board of trustees. Lisa is a community affairs specialist in the state Treasurer鈥檚 office and a registered nurse. Read more.
Mary Mulholland 鈥42 celebrates her 100th birthday
March 25, 2019
Mary Mulholland 鈥42 of Hinsdale, who raised four children and sold real estate in the Chicago area for decades, celebrated her 100th birthday. Read more.
Five Alumnae/i Elected to Athletics Hall of Fame
March 6, 2019
Kelly (McEndry) Donlevy 鈥94 (women's volleyball), Michael Kapusta 鈥11 (men's soccer), Emily Mahoney 鈥13 (softball), Willis Lamont McGee 鈥92, MBA '94 (men's basketball) and Megan Vaccaro 鈥10 (cross country) will be honored June 8.
Dr. Carmen Ayala MBA 鈥87 named Illinois' Superintendent of Education
February 26, 2019
Dr. Carmen Ayala MBA 鈥87 has been named the 30th State Superintendent of Education, making her the first woman and first person of color to serve as the permanent superintendent. Read more.
Colby Burnett MAEd 鈥16 captains team in Jeopardy! All-Star Game
February 20, 2019
Colby Burnett MAEd 鈥16 is the first Jeopardy! contestant to win both the Teachers Tournament and the Tournament of Champions. Read more.
鈥嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧婮im Madigan 鈥74, MLIS 鈥00 honored by Oak Park Library
February 5, 2019
After a quarter-century serving patrons at the Oak Park Library, Jim Madigan 鈥74, MLIS 鈥00 will be retiring on Feb. 8. Jim currently serves as the Oak Park Library Deputy Director. Read more.
Michelle Agins 鈥77 awarded with prestigious honor from NPPA
January 28, 2019
The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) has awarded its highest honor, the Joseph A. Sprague Memorial Award, to Michelle Agins 鈥77 for her commitment to the craft of visual journalism and to education that advances the profession. Read more.
Tekki Lomnicki 鈥78 featured by the Chicago Reader
January 25, 2019
Tekki Lomnicki 鈥78 is a brilliant solo performer and the creator of , which has produced and fostered creative work by people with disabilities for more than 20 years. Read more.
David Lawler 鈥06 named finalist for Young Professional Leader Award
January 3, 2019
David Lawler 鈥06 has been selected as a finalist for the Marion Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Young Professional Leader Award. Read more.
Elaine Low 鈥07 Joins Variety as Senior TV Writer
January 2, 2019
Business Journalist Elaine Low 鈥07 has been hired by Variety as a senior TV writer. Read more.
Tina Beaird MLIS '02 featured in The Daily Herald
January 1, 2019
Tina Beaird MLIS '02 is the owner of Tamarack Genealogy and is a genealogy and history librarian at the Plainfield Public Library. Read more.