northwestern university school of continuing studies continuum magazine - 2006

CONTINUUMT H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E S C H O O L O F C O N T I N U I N G S T U D I E S A T N O R T H W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y

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contentsChanging the world 2A new SCS program teaches the art of public policy.

Shelter from the storm 6“Katrina students” found safe haven at Northwestern,thanks in large part to SCS.

Seniors rule! 10The discussion never ends at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

departmentsFaculty profile: Kent Middleton 14

Student profile: Kirsty Montgomery 15

Alumni profile: Merri Jo Gillette 16

SCS news 17Pre-health Professionals organization, Wieboldt Hall makeover, summer programming.

SCS people 19News from alumni, students, and faculty.

Correction: In the profile of Don Luis Leal in last issue of Continuum,credits for photography by Philip Channing and layout by HeatherCosgrove were inadvertently omitted. We regret the oversight.

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CONTINUUM

SCSN O R T H W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L O F C O N T I N U I N G S T U D I E S

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Continuum is published by the School

of Continuing Studies at Northwestern

University for its students, alumni, faculty,

staff, and friends.

Editors: Margaret Buhl, Tom Fredrickson

Associate editor: Brad Farrar

Designer: Vickie Lata

Photos: Kevin Weinstein, Sally Ryan,

Douglas Kim

Page 9: photo of the Rock by Max Behrens,

reprinted courtesy of Northwestern

magazine.

Page 16: photo by Brian Jackson, as

published in the Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.

Copyright 2006. Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.

Reprinted with permission.

Page 17: drawing courtesy of SmithGroup.

© 2006 Northwestern University.

All rights reserved.

Produced by University Relations.

3-06/22M/TF-VL/10468

Views expressed in Continuum do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of the

editors or the University.

Dear SCS Friends,

The School of Continuing Studies, like many continuing education programs, attracts

exceptional people. Our classrooms are filled with adults who seek to improve them-

selves, and they come to us thirsty for learning. Our students routinely report that their

classmates are often more interesting and the discussions more lively than they’ve en-

countered elsewhere. Perhaps that’s why SCS also attracts such strong faculty and staff

members. Our students are rarely content to merely collect their grades, degrees, and

certificates. Many act on the feeling that there is something more to life than just the

task at hand and seek out ways to give back, help out, and build up. That spirit animates

this issue of Continuum.

In our lead story (pages 2–5) we meet the founders and first graduates of our new

Master of Public Policy and Administration program. More and more Americans view public

policy in all of its varieties as a way to improve our world, and we are proud to have started a

program that helps to meet this need.

Our staff is accustomed to meeting the needs of students, but they entered uncharted territory

when Hurricane Katrina hit and sent students streaming out of New Orleans. For a number of

reasons — our flexibility, our experience with transfer students, our connections with the under-

graduate schools — the task of placing these students at Northwestern fell to SCS administrators.

How they rose to that challenge and exemplified the best of SCS is told in the story on pages 6–9.

Alumna Merri Jo Gillette (profiled on page 16) sees her brilliant career with the Securities and

Exchange Commission in terms of service to society, while student Kirsty Montgomery (profiled

on page 15) has made serving fellow students her priority as president of the SCS Student Advi-

sory Board. And finally, we have a story about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the

exciting programs participants have created (pages 10–13). These people are perhaps the ultimate

example of the SCS philosophy, where there is always something more to learn and to give.

While I can’t claim that SCS instills this spirit into its students, I like to think that it recog-

nizes and supports it — and maybe even attracts it. I know it is one of the things that makes the

SCS community special. And it’s a story we will continue to tell in the pages of Continuum.

Sincerely,

Thomas F. Gibbons, Dean

March 2006

Spring 2006 Continuum 1

From the dean

“The thing about politics in Washington,” says Paul Ryan,“is that you’ve got to stand out. Everyone here is highlymotivated and driven to do well. It’s the nature of the business.”

Ryan is referring to the “business” of public policy,where, he believes, you must have an edge to succeed.“Everyone here has worked on campaigns,” he says.“Everyone has the poli sci or communications undergrad-uate degree. But the MPPA credential sets you apart.”

“MPPA” — that’s Master of Arts in Public Policy andAdministration, a new program at the School of ContinuingStudies, and one that Ryan feels “makes a real difference.”

Paul Ryan was the very first graduate of the program.These days he works for the DCI Group, a public affairs

“lobby shop” in the nation’s capital. It’s exciting, it’s fast-paced, and it allows him to work on projects that affect the things he’s most passionate about. “I have a front rowseat at the show,” he muses, “and I’m paid to do it.”

What Ryan does — helping clients hone a message topresent to their constituents — is exactly what he hopedhe’d be doing after graduating from SCS. The MPPA program taught him “how to think, how to analyze, how to write better,” he says — all key to his current job.

“Everything we do is a form of communication, and itrequires all kinds of analysis and writing,” Ryan says. “Ifyou can write, your name will always come up as the go-toperson for a project.” Ryan adds that the MPPA programallowed him to feel comfortable in his current role. “I’mable to take a project and run with it without asking a thousand questions. That comfort level is important.”

Breadth and balanceBuilding a part-time master’s program in public policy wasan ambitious goal, especially when no full-time program

existed at Northwestern to serve as a model. There hadbeen talk of one for years in other schools and departments,but ultimately it was SCS that saw that many prospectivestudents would be either career changers or already serving in a public-policy capacity — conditions that suggested apart-time program would best meet demand.

Part of the challenge was creating a program that wouldbe sufficiently flexible and interdisciplinary yet concreteenough to address a world in flux. After all, this year’s crisismay look nothing at all like the ones that crop up next yearor the year after. Even a single field like health services policy addresses a range of issues, from Medicare reform to “biodefense,” which in turn may involve everything from deterrents for Anthrax attacks to government efforts

to thwart disease. In a time when people increasinglyview public policy as a powerful tool, it was criticalthat the MPPA program arm its graduates with a balance of skills to tackle problems both today and in the future.

Experts from more than a dozen departments and disciplines helped design the MPPA curriculum.It is based on the recognition that the creation andadministration of public policy are essential for solid

governance at the local, city, state, and national levels — as well as for the effective operation of businesses and nonprofit organizations. “This program is basically about making a difference in public service through good decisionmaking,” says Joel Shapiro, senior policy researcher andMPPA instructor.

“The aim of the program is to give dimension to stu-dents’ career preparation,” adds MPPA program directorGreg Kuhn. “This is accomplished by carefully blending intellectual exploration of theory with current lessons fromthe front lines. Achieving that balance is what keeps ourcourse offerings fresh and rewarding for both students andfaculty.”

“An important distinguishing factor is the program’sability to recruit very qualified, experienced faculty,” ex-plains Linda Salchenberger, associate dean of academics at SCS. “It draws from Northwestern’s full-time faculty aswell as top practitioners in the field” — practitioners who,as working professionals, are not available to teach in day-school programs, at Northwestern or elsewhere. This mix

SCS focus

Changing the worldA new SCS program teaches the art of public policy

The faces of the MPPA program, clockwise from top left: instructor Heidi Voorhees, graduates Kevin Kilmer and Jessica Blazier, and instructor Joseph Troiani.

“The thing about politics in Washington is that you’ve got to stand out. Everyone here is highly motivated and driven to do well. It’s the nature of the business.”

2 Continuum Spring 2006


gives MPPA students a near-ideal balance of focus and flexibility.

“Other programs are so focused that they tend to bemore like ‘training’ than ‘education,’” says Alexander Weiss,a founder of and current adviser to the program and direc-tor of Northwestern’s Center for Public Safety. The MPPAprogram is highly interdisciplinary, yet it allows students to focus by choosing one of five tracks to suit their needs:health services policy, public policy, public safety and secu-rity, technology and information management, or urbanpolicy and planning.

Right time, right placeThe MPPA program is certainlymeeting students’ needs: it hasgrown fivefold in its first twoyears. The reasons are many.Consider the fact that Chicago is an important hub for severalfederal offices administeringservices to the Midwest, or thatthe city is economically tied tosome 17 counties in three states,or that the Illinois MetropolitanMayors Caucus has 272 members— each one the head of a munic-ipality in the Chicago area. Inaddition, there are an increasingnumber of nonprofit and for-profit organizations interested inemployees with policy expertise.It all adds up to an ever-growingdemand for policy-related jobs in the Midwest — a market SCSis dedicated to serving.

“There are no other schoolsin the region that have been asresponsive to the marketplace aswe have been and will continueto be,” says Salchenberger. HeidiVoorhees agrees. She is an MPPAinstructor and vice president ofthe PAR Group, a public-sector management consultingfirm. “The intellectual resources that Northwestern has to offer can be a wonderful support system for governmentshere,” she says.

Asked why the program has proven so successful,Voorhees points to a growing interest in civic involvement,which leads to more competition for jobs, bringing with it

an increasing desire for advanced degrees. Senior personnel,in particular, are finding that the MPPA degree, combinedwith their experience, helps them compete with youngerpeople just getting involved in public policy. Voorhees alsoobserves that people today are more likely to change careersthan they were in the past. They are, she says, more inclinedto “look at what interests them and what they really want todo.” Often that process leads them to public service.

“When you talk with people about how they got intopublic service, a lot of them say they sort of ‘backed into

it,’ says Voorhees. “They find that it’s interesting, rewarding work, butthey realize they need to go back forthat graduate education to do the jobeffectively.”

Following the action“Our profession is based on the separation of policy and administra-tion,” Voorhees says. “The idea is thatelected officials make policy and administrators carry it out.” In reality,elected officials frequently look to administrators for information aboutpolicy alternatives. As an example,Voorhees cites how city managers adhere to a strict code of ethics thatrequires they not participate in elec-tions or in local politics of any kind.Sometimes, however, it is necessary for city administrators to communicate to elected officials about the optionsavailable to them.

“Policy touches people through ad-ministration,” says Shapiro. “If you’reon the policy side and you don’t knowanything about administration, you’relacking.” Likewise, he says, if you’re onthe administrative side, it’s difficult tojump into a policy role without furthereducation. The MPPA program offerspeople in both groups the chance to

rededicate themselves to their careers. The program acceptsapplications year-round, does not require GRE scores, andwelcomes applicants who do not have previous policy or research experience along with those who do.

After just two years, the MPPA program has demon-strated itself to be one of the top public-policy offerings at an American university.

AT A GLANCE

Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program

Curriculum• five-course core

• four-course specialization• capstone project

• four noncredit seminars focusing onmanagement and leadership

Specializations• Health services policy

• Public policy• Public safety and security

• Technology and information management• Urban policy and planning

All classes are offered on evenings or weekends.

Most students take one or two courses per quarter, but it is possible to complete

all requirements in five quarters.

For more information, visit www.scs.northwestern.edu/grad/ppa


TOP GUN

When people refer to bringingMPPA faculty straight from the“front lines” of public policy,they might as well be describ-ing Joseph Troiani. An instruc-tor in the MPPA program’shealth services policy special-ization, his résumé is a map of intersecting interests andresponsibilities that prettymuch define the public policyprofessional in the early 21st century.

He is director of mental health, forensic, and addictionsprograms for the Will County Health Department, where he isresponsible for leading the mental health disaster responseteam. As an adviser to the Illinois Department of HumanServices, Troiani is developing the state’s behavioral healthdisaster response plan. He is a certified addictions counselorand is director of addiction studies at the Adler School ofProfessional Psychology in Chicago. Troiani also holds facultypositions at the Joint Military Intelligence College at the DefenseIntelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., the Joint InteragencyCivil-Military Institute, and American Public University. In 2006Troiani will conduct workshops in the Counterterrorism Fellow-ship Program of National Defense University. He’s also a U.S.Navy Reserve officer.

One of Troiani’s special interests is health-related nationalsecurity. He says that one of the fastest-growing areas ofhomeland security is what was initially called “bioterrorism” but is now referred to as “biodefense.” This shift in terminologyreflects the understanding that a hazardous biological eventneed not be premeditated but in fact might be a natural event,such as the Asian bird flu, West Nile virus, or mad cow disease.The government’s ability to perform disease surveillance andreact quickly to outbreaks has led to significant shifts in healthpolicy in recent years, accompanied by increases in govern-mental funding for the development and enhancement of publichealth programs to meet the mission of biodefense.

Troiani holds a PhD and MA in clinical psychology from theFielding Institute, an MA in health administration from GovernorsState University, an MS in strategic intelligence from the JointMilitary Intelligence College, and a BA in psychology/sociologyfrom Northeastern Illinois University.

“It’s not easy to find this caliber of program in a con-tinuing education setting,” says Jessica Blazier, who grad-uated from the health services policy specialization at theend of 2005. “I looked at different programs, and North-western’s was right on target — I didn’t even apply any-where else.” When it came time to test the degree on herrésumé, the program did not fail her. “I’m now working as a project coordinator at the University of Chicago Hospi-tals,” Blazier says. “After I was hired, I was told that my degree made the difference. What’s more, I made the firstcut simply because my degree was from Northwestern.”

The diversity of participants is another factor cited bycurrent and former MPPA students. “I just reviewed the last batch of applications, and there’s an interesting mix ofpeople,” says Alexander Weiss. “We’ve got someone who’shead of the parks department in a major Chicago suburband somebody else who just completed an internship at theWorld Bank. We’ve got recent graduates from Stanford andWest Point.”

“That’s what I loved about the program,” says KevinKilmer, a Chicago police officer who completed coursework in the public-policy specialization in 2005. “One guy is a municipal fire chief. Another was an interrogator in Iraq for two years.” Kilmer himself was an intern for Illinois Senator Dick Durbin before graduating and becom-ing one of 12 people appointed to a special Chicago PoliceDepartment antiterrorism unit, where he’s designing curric-ula to educate police personnel. “We all brought somethingreally interesting to the discussion,” says Kilmer. That discussion routinely forms part of the extraordinary prepa-ration these students are given in the MPPA program.

Such preparation is exactly what the field has needed,Heidi Voorhees believes. With workplace demands becom-ing increasingly stringent, it is essential that the MPPA program examine current trends and craft curricula to respond to the changing realities of policy roles in govern-ment, business, and the nonprofit sector. That is preciselywhat the program has done so far.

Others involved in the program point out that its suc-cess may be due to how it speaks not just to students’ careergoals but also to their deepest — and best — aspirations.

“This generation of workers has a social conscience,”says Linda Salchenberger. “They want to be more thanbusiness leaders; they want to effect change in society.”Greg Kuhn has seen this in his students. “Their ambition is not just to arrive at the future — but to take an activepart in shaping it, as well.”

With that student spirit combined with the responsive-ness of Northwestern’s public policy program, well — lookout, world! —Stephan Perrault

Joseph Troiani


When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, more than 75,000 students attending

colleges in the region were displaced. In the wake of thecrisis, Northwestern joined schools across the nation offering to enroll a temporary class of “Katrina students”for the fall term.

It was only natural that the School of ContinuingStudies would play a central role in the effort to enroll, register, house, and teach the Katrina students at North-western. After all, the SCS mission is to serve nontradi-tional students. With the challenges they presented, thesehurricane-displaced students were anything but traditional.

They would require courses to fulfill their homeschools’ requirements, which didn’t necessarily jibe withNorthwestern’s curricula. They wouldn’t be able to presentcomplete academic records for evaluation, since theirschools were closed. And they might need extra help to find housing and get settled.

For the Northwestern administration, the timing wastricky. The fall quarter was due to start in a few weeks. Ontop of the usual scramble of registering existing students

— weighing course requests and student seniority to fill afinite number of course slots — the administration had tothink about the needs of an as-yet-undetermined numberof Katrina students.

Sorting this all out fell in large part to a team of SCSadministrators.

Very special studentsThe first step was to find out how much interest theKatrina students had in Northwestern — and where theywould fit into the University. The students themselves provided the answer. Even before the University made its welcome official, SCS was being contacted by Katrinastudents who had found its “Nondegree Special Students” web page.

That got Summer Session director Stephanie Teteryczmoving. “Before Northwestern could decide as a schoolwhat to do,” she says, “I had e-mailed Keith Todd [director of Undergraduate Admission for the University]and Steve Fisher [associate provost for undergraduate education] saying that we could take the students in our

Shelter from

“Katrina students” found safe haven at Northwestern, thanks in large part to SCS


nondegree category. That’s when all these areas startedworking together.”

All Katrina-displaced students, whether they wouldeventually attend day or evening classes, were instructed to apply through SCS’s nondegree special student process.A committee from SCS, Undergraduate Admission, and the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts andSciences, the largest undergraduate school at Northwestern,reviewed the applications of students from Tulane, Dillard,Xavier, and Loyola Universities in New Orleans.

“We were getting flooded with calls the first couple of weeks,” Teterycz says. “We wanted to accept as manystudents as we could, but we didn’t want to overload the day courses. We thought the day program could handlemaybe 50 students, and the overflow could take eveningcourses at SCS.”

The decision about whether to enroll a student in day or evening courses was based on the match betweenthe student’s needs and Northwestern’s offerings, says Tim Gordon, associate dean of student services for SCS.“We had to think about what courses they were request-ing, where they were in their academic careers,” Gordonsays. “There was the consideration that freshmen andsophomores might want more of a traditional college environment. Where we could, we admitted them to dayschool courses.

“From the students’ perspective, I hope the enrollmentprocess looked seamless,” Gordon says with a slight smile.“From our behind-the-scenes perspective, it looked frantic.”

Of the 195 undergraduates from New Orleans who applied to Northwestern, 161 were accepted. Sixty-four enrolled — 45 in day courses and 19 in SCS eveningcourses. The majority of evening students still carried a full load of three or four courses so they didn’t fall behindschedule. The University also took in 25 graduate students.

Yes we canPeter Kaye, assistant dean for undergraduate programs atSCS, took charge of getting the displaced students intoclasses. “I worked with SCS adjunct faculty, Northwesternfaculty, SCS staff, and other University administrators, andthe level of cooperation was extraordinary,” Kaye says.“The turnaround to my requests was so quick, it was almostas if I was instant messaging faculty and staff. We expandedenrollment limits to get Katrina students into courses thatthey needed. We added additional sections of some high-demand courses. We set up independent studies in account-ing and finance because courses students needed weren’tbeing offered, and, in one case, we arranged for an eveningstudent to take advantage of a daytime seminar related to his professional goals. The director of the WritingProgram even volunteered to offer a new writing course

the storm

SCS administratorsanswered the callwhen Katrina stu-dents began arrivingat Northwestern.Leading the effortwere (above right)Stephanie Teterycz,Tim Gordon (also farleft) and Peter Kaye.


to accommodate Katrina students,though it turned out that we didn’tneed it.”

Northwestern’s aid didn’t end with course registration. Day studentswere offered University housing, and Gordon’s staff helped the SCS

students find off-campus housing. Tuition was waived for students who’d already paid their home schools. WhileStudent Affairs was welcoming the displaced day students at New Student Week events, Gordon and Teterycz held

an orientation for evening students and their parents.Teterycz developed web pages to answer the displaced students’ questions about academic and other matters; theSCS academic advisers continued as ongoing contacts forthe students; and a 24-hour pager service gave the studentsimmediate attention for any concern.

“It was definitely a ‘yes we can’ response,” says Teterycz.“Sometimes in big institutions, you hit bureaucratic road-blocks. Not this time. It was an amazing collaborative effort. Colleagues were willing to drop everything to get it sorted out.”

When Katrina-displaced studentswere being assigned to their

classes, Tim Gordon faced questionsfrom a few who were admitted to SCSevening classes but wanted to take day classes.

“I explained how attending a school ofcontinuing studies can be an advantage,”says Gordon, associate dean of studentservices at SCS. “In a traditional format,everyone starts at the same level. But in continuing studies, the person sittingnext to you may have a wealth of experi-ence in a field you’re interested in. That’sa great opportunity.”

The talk wasn’t necessary with LaneRichoux. When Richoux was told that she

could attend Northwestern’s day pro-gram, she replied that she preferred tobe an evening student.

“I’d fallen in love with SCS. Tim andStephanie [Teterycz, Summer Session director] were so helpful. When they saidthey’d have an answer in 48 hours, theydid. They came through on everything,”says Richoux, who was expecting to be a senior at Tulane University whenKatrina hit.

In fact, Richoux decided she loved SCS enough to make a commitment tothe school beyond the one term of mostKatrina students. She is an SCS studentnow, even though staying here meansshe won’t graduate with other 22-year-olds this year. She had to choose a newmajor, political science, since Northwest-ern doesn’t have her Tulane majors, polit-ical economy and paralegal studies. “Itwill probably take me an extra year to finish my bachelor’s,” Richoux says.“That’s OK.”

Richoux wasn’t surprised to prefercontinuing studies courses to day schoolat Northwestern. She had attendedTulane in the evening, taking the sameload as day students, four courses a semester. The schedule allowed her towork during the day. But that’s not theonly thing about continuing studies thatappeals to her.

“People in continuing studies under-stand that individual circumstances canmake it tough to meet requirements ex-actly,” she says. “Take the situation withthe medical records of those of us fromTulane. SCS understood that our doctors’offices were under water and so wecouldn’t produce our medical recordswithin two weeks.”

Fellow students also went out of theirway to help. Kirsty Montgomery, presi-dent of the SCS Student Advisory Board(see Student Profile on page 15), made apoint of asking Richoux how things weregoing. One day Richoux replied that she

< < Changing course > > >Lane Richoux makes a new

home for herself at SCS

“Being flexible anddealing with uniquesituations is part ofour mission.”

Lane Richoux


The big pictureThere no longer are Katrina students at Northwestern. The majority returned to their home schools when they reopened for winter term. Those who wanted to stay atNorthwestern went through the transfer admission processand, if accepted, are now full-fledged Northwestern stu-dents. But the Katrina effort isn’t likely to fade soon fromthe memories of SCS administrators like Tim Gordon who consider it “one of the most remarkable things I’veever experienced.”

“It was a classic example of the big picture of continu-ing studies,” he says. “Access, flexibility, diverse students,

diverse offerings, high-quality programs — all of thosethings came together nicely to help a population.

“Watching the Katrina stories on TV, you had a sensethat there’s got to be more to do to help than give money,”Gordon continues. “Northwestern’s faculty, staff, and ad-ministration got to come to work and have a direct impacton people who were affected by this tragedy. I don’t thinkthere was anyone at SCS who wasn’t involved. Our teamwas definitely well suited for this operation. Being flexibleand dealing with unique situations is part of our mission.”

was having trouble finding a textbook.The next thing she knew, the SAB stu-dent liaison was offering her his book.

Although high on SCS now, Richouxchose Northwestern for pragmatic rea-sons. She happened to be in Evanstonvisiting her boyfriend, a student in theSchool of Communication, when Hurri-cane Katrina struck. “What was I going to do?” she says. “Even if I could havegone back, I didn’t know where I’d be. Idecided the best thing would be to stayput. I’d been to Evanston many times tovisit Joe. He’s here, and at least I knowwhere things are.”

So, Richoux approached SCS. Gordonremembers how organized and calm she appeared when they met, eventhough her life had been turned upsidedown. “Lane came in with a list of thingsto do, and I was impressed that shecould think so clearly,” Gordon says.“Continuing her education was obviouslyimportant to her.”

Richoux started the fall quarter withfour courses but dropped two becauseshe had other things to deal with as well.Clothing, for instance; she had only afive-day supply of summer clothing withher. An Evanston woman who offered hera bedroom appealed on Richoux’s behalfto the Woman’s Club of Evanston, whichcame through with clothing, a toiletriesbasket, and Jewel, Target, and AmericanExpress gift cards.

A New Orleans native, Richoux livedwithin 10 blocks of her whole extendedfamily — parents, younger sister, step-father, stepmother, aunts, uncles, andcousins. Her mother and stepfather livedin Algiers in Orleans Parish. Her fatherand stepmother were a short drive awayin Marrero in Jefferson Parish. She andher sister, a freshman at Louisiana State University, kept bedrooms at bothhouses. Both residences were badlydamaged. Richoux’s mother went to live

with relatives in Opelausas, Louisiana,and her father went to Houston.

Richoux saw the destruction in NewOrleans for the first time in late Novem-ber. Before leaving for the visit, she said,“I’m kinda scared to go and drive pastplaces where I have memories andthere’s nothing there now.” She’s notsure if she’ll ever again live in the city she grew up in and loved. “Nothing’s the same. Normal everyday things aren’tthere. You can’t do what we used to do,”she says.

What is a certainty is that Richoux intends to finish a bachelor’s degree at Northwestern through SCS. She maythen go to law school. “I used to want togo to law school at Tulane,” she says.“Now I’m not sure where. New Orleans is just a big unknown now.”—Marianne Goss

First and third photos fromleft: The New Orleans home of Lane Richoux’s boyfriendbefore and after Katrina. Second and fourth photos from the left: Northwesternwelcomes Katrina students — the Rock on the Evanstoncampus painted with Tulane’scolors and logo; the Arch.


Phyllis Woloshin docks her iPod to a portablespeaker, and out streams a liturgical plainchant by

12th-century composer and visionary Hildegard vonBingen — mood music for the discussion of medievalphilosophy that is about to begin. Woloshin, whoearned a doctorate in philosophy, asks those seatedaround the seminar table to consider some of the dichotomies that challenged medieval thinkers: the universal versus the ideal; concrete versus abstract; reason versus faith. She quotes 6th-century Romanphilosopher Boethius and 13th-century Scottish theologian Duns Scotus, explaining how the latter’sname became the basis for the word dunce.

The pace is swift, the discussion lively and nuanced.Then it’s on to the topic of botanicals, with Laura AnnWilber sharing her research on medicinal herbs likemonk’s hood and lady’s mantle. Though seemingly unrelated, both discussions illuminate the theme thisgroup is exploring, Medieval History with Brother

Seniors rule!The discussion never ends at the

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteCadfael. Brother Cadfael is the central figure in a seriesof 20th-century “medieval whodunit” books by EllisPeters, many of which have been filmed for television.

If this sounds like one of Northwestern’s most stim-ulating classes, that is only partially correct. Stimulating— undoubtedly. But a class — no. Rather it is one ofdozens of peer-led study groups offered by the Schoolof Continuing Studies through its Osher LifelongLearning Institute (OLLI).

Formerly known as the Institute for Learning in Retirement, the institute was renamed last year inrecognition of a renewable $100,000 grant from theBernard Osher Foundation and joins 73 other OLLIprograms nationally (see story on page 13). The Oshername further enhances the high reputation of North-western’s program, now in its 18th year. In 1998 the institute captured the prestigious Outstanding ProgramModel Award for Older Adults from the Association for Continuing Higher Education.


Exercise for the brainOLLI’s noncredit study groups differ from traditionalNorthwestern classes in more than name. There are no grades, no tests, and no prerequisites — except curiosity. There are also no professors: OLLI partici-pants take turns leading discussions on topics they have researched. Furthermore, OLLI participants tend to be decades older than their counterparts inNorthwestern’s undergraduate and graduate programs.Despite these differences, the study groups have muchin common with University classes. The discussions are intellectually rigorous, the topics often match those in Northwestern’s course catalog, and there is —alas — homework.

The homework is important because at OLLI par-ticipation is key. Members must not only participate in discussions, they also take turns leading those discus-sions. In addition, some members volunteer to coordi-nate study groups, which can entail hours of extrawork. With peer-led learning, participants take respon-sibility for their education — an approach that mightresult in chaos with a younger, less experienced popula-tion, the kind where students are prone to ask, “Willthat be on the test?”

At OLLI, love of learning is the sole motivator, and the result is a high level of intellectual engagement.Indeed, OLLI participants are so engaged in what they are learning that OLLI director Barbara Reinishsays they remind her of the gifted and talented middle-school students she taught early in her career: “Theydisplay the same sort of curiosity and openness tolearning.” That passion for learning may also be whatmakes OLLI members act and feel younger than many

of their peers. “Lifelong learning is critical for healthy aging,” says Reinish. “It’s like exercise for the brain.”

This year more than 600 OLLI members are par-ticipating in study groups on Northwestern’s Evanstonand Chicago campuses, choosing from dozens of ap-pealing titles, from Environmental Science and Policyto Films of Alfred Hitchcock. OLLI welcomes mem-bers of all ages; this year the youngest is 52, the oldest96. Women slightly outnumber men on the Chicagocampus; in Evanston the split is 50-50. Many have ad-vanced degrees, and about one-sixth are Northwesternalumni.

How peer-led learning worksArt Goldman, now a fifth-year OLLI member, admitsthat initially he had some doubts about peer-led learn-ing. “Could I learn without an expert teaching me?” he asked. “The answer turned out to be: absolutely.” In fact, Goldman says he has learned the most duringhis turns as discussion leader: “I Google the subject todeath and read piles of books.” Goldman, who earned a PhD in chemical and nuclear engineering and retiredfrom Argonne National Laboratory after 27 years asthe deputy chief operating officer, often volunteers tocoordinate study groups and has organized classes tai-lored to his own interests. “One of my goals in retire-ment was to learn about areas I never had a chance tostudy formally,” says Goldman. “Peer learning isunique, unlike anything else in my career.” Goldman’swife, Joan, joined OLLI after witnessing her husband’sexcitement.

Participants who want to hone their discussion-leading skills may opt to attend an OLLI shared


inquiry workshop facilitated by the Great Books Foun-dation. Even OLLI members with considerable teach-ing experience — Woloshin, for example, taughtphilosophy and medical ethics at Oakton CommunityCollege for 27 years — discover that managing a dis-cussion, as opposed to teaching, incorporates some different skills.

Merilyn Schiffman calls peer-led learning a pleas-ure. “Sometimes one good question is all it takes tospark a discussion for the day,” she says. Schiffman,who earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology,taught psychology and sociology at Niles Townshiphigh schools for more than 20 years before she retiredin 1988. By 1990 she was back in the classroom — thistime as an OLLI participant. One of her favorite studygroups is The New Yorker, and so many OLLI membersshare Schiffman’s enthusiasm that Reinish keeps addingsections, which now number seven.

Another New Yorker regular is Bill Bridgman, 59,who earned degrees at Princeton and Harvard and issemiretired after 29 years in finance at Amoco BP. InThe New Yorker study group participants lead discus-sions on articles in the current issue of the magazine.“Whether the topic is politics or poetry, there’s alwayssomeone with a close connection to the subject,” saysBridgman, who reports regularly on the financial page.“There are many points of view and a lot of respectaround the table.” Bridgman is also one of 14 OLLIadvisory council members (seven representing eachcampus) who help shape policy at the institute.

Unlocking new worlds of thoughtThose animated discus-sions often spill over toinformal lunches, whereparticipants gather tokeep talking about thetopic. “We have an un-written law not to discussour health at lunch,” says Schiffman. “No ‘organrecitals,’” seconds Woloshin, “and no talk about ourtalented grandchildren either. That would take all day.At lunch we talk about what we learned.” Participantstake the excitement home as they prepare for the nextstudy group. For Woloshin, leading the discussion of medieval philosophy in the Brother Cadfael groupsparked an idea for writing a book. “It made me think of how tied we are to the past,” says Woloshin. “I started writing a book about the history of howdeath is determined.”

Participants cite intellectual stimulation as theirnumber one reason for attending OLLI, but the program also offers an appealing social component, especially since some members have been learning together for 10 years or more, giving them much moretime to bond than the four years allotted to most college friendships. Many attend concerts and plays together, and several have discovered compatible traveling companions.

Molly Lazar even took her entire study group onthe road. After 10 years of organizing film study groupson campus with co-coordinator Corrine Goldman,


Lazar launchedOLLI’s first filmcruise, where partici-pants kibitzed aboutthe films of JohnCassavetes in theCaribbean. This fallLazar and OLLImember Henrie Moise coordinated Cuba: Up Close, an in-depth exploration of the history, politics, and cul-ture of Cuba — with a Cuban dance lesson and Cubanlunches thrown in for good measure. Participants hadthe option to follow up their study with a mission toCuba on a religious license in February. “Our groupbecame very cohesive as we learned about Cuba,” saysLazar, who has proposed a trip to Argentina next.

Part of a larger intellectual communityFor many OLLI participants finding intellectual stimulation close to home is as rewarding as travel.“We’re lucky to have a program of this caliber right in our neighborhood at Northwestern,” says Bridgman.“It’s more than a program; it’s an entrée into otherthings,” says Woloshin, who joined what she calls “geriatric gym” at Northwestern, an exercise class forseniors. OLLI members receive WildCARDs, which allow them to use Northwestern libraries and comput-ing services and ride a free shuttle on and betweencampuses. They are also eligible to audit SCS classes at a reduced rate. “They become part of the North-western community,” says Reinish.

Strengthening those ties are new mentorship programs in medicine and law. In one, OLLI memberswho are retired health care professionals advise SCS

The Bernard Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a successful businessman,

community leader, and philanthropist. The Osher Foundation provides scholarships and grants to

postsecondary students in California and Maine and supports programs in integrative medicine in the

United States and Sweden. In 2000 the foundation began to focus on programs for mature students who

were not well served by most continuing education efforts. Today it has established 73 Osher Lifelong

Learning Institutes at universities and colleges in 30 states. Initial grants of $100,000 are made with

the understanding that the foundation will renew grants and provide endowment support to institutes

that show the potential for continued success. The foundation

aims to establish a network of 100 Osher Institutes, with at

least one in each of the 50 states.

postbaccalaureate premedstudents. In another, retiredattorneys — 21 have volun-teered thus far — help international students at theNorthwestern UniversitySchool of Law with their

study of English writing and language. “We’re lookingforward to doing even more collaborative initiatives,” says SCS associate dean Linda Salchenberger, who addsthat OLLI and SCS are natural partners in education.“OLLI is a very important part of continuing educa-tion. It completes the continuum of professional andpersonal development programming that SCS offers toa broad constituency.”

OLLI publishes a newsletter and an annual juriedliterary journal (see spring 2005 issue of Continuum),and the grant from the Osher Foundation will help the institute create a handbook and video about theprogram. The Osher grant will also be used to improvetraining for discussion leaders, support strategic plan-ning, boost technology, identify better classroom space,and enhance the scholarship fund.

SCS Dean Thomas F. Gibbons views OLLI as anintegral part of the School. “The School of ContinuingStudies seeks to be a lifelong educational partner withits students,” says Gibbons. “OLLI is true to the SCSmission. It is a nationally recognized community program for seniors who have a true love for learning.OLLI offers to its adult students what NorthwesternUniversity offers to any student who comes throughour doors — robust intellectual engagement.”—Leanne Star


Faculty profile

Want to lose weight, look hot,and sleep like a baby? Then

enroll in Kent Middleton’s advertisingsequence at SCS. Truth be told,Middleton’s students probably don’thave time for such pursuits, but whatMiddleton offers them — an insidelook at a business that is at once highlycreative and competitive — is priceless.

That Middleton manages to convince his students that the high-

pressure work of advertising is fun is testament to hispowers of persuasion. Those skills have taken him tothe top of the advertising world: the renowned LeoBurnett agency, where Middleton is an executive vicepresident and executive creative director. A Clio Awardwinner (the advertising world’s Oscar), Middleton hascontributed to ad campaigns for McDonald’s, Disney,Harris Bank, Brookfield Zoo, and Procter & Gamble,among others.

And there’s more! Middleton holds his SCS classesright at Leo Burnett’s Chicago offices on West WackerDrive. Middleton began teaching at SCS in 1984, offer-ing a creative strategies class for business professionalstrying to develop effective communication strategiesand the skills for evaluation of creative work. By themid-1990s he saw the need for a purely creative classsequence, designed solely for budding art directors andcopywriters. That sequence, which Middleton teamteaches with one or two other advertising professionals,arms students with interview-ready portfolios.

At the time the course started, the three-term sequence meant holding sweaty summer classes in Wieboldt Hall, which then lacked air conditioning.That’s when Middleton had one of his brilliant creative insights: He decided to move the classes to Leo Burnett’s air-conditioned offices. The new turf has proved beneficial for more than its climate. Stu-dents experience the advertising world firsthand, andwhen student projects are up for review, volunteersfrom Leo Burnett offer a variety of perspectives.

“The agency has been 100 percent supportive,” says Middleton. “It’s also in our interest to develop newtalent.” A few graduates of Middleton’s classes have

landed coveted spots at Leo Burnett, where some 300hopefuls apply for every creative job. Securing a spot is only the start of the struggle: Of the 22 people whobegan work at Leo Burnett with Middleton in 1980,Middleton is the only one left. “Advertising is an ex-tremely tough, competitive business,” says Middleton,“but it’s also fun. There’s no such thing as a boring dayin advertising.”

Middleton, who earned a master’s degree in adver-tising from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalismin 1979, communicates that excitement to his students.

Peter Kaye, assistant dean of under-graduate programs at SCS, recalls visiting one of Middleton’s classes:“One student referred to him with

a mixture of respect and disbelief as ‘the wild man.’” As entertaining as Middleton is, he keeps things real.“The second term we all go shopping across the streetat Treasure Island,” Middleton explains. The studentspurchase a handful of products and later create ads forsome of them.

“In advertising you have to learn to relate to the products and learn about the consumer,” saysMiddleton. “I make students read magazines theywouldn’t ordinarily read. I once subscribed to Cosmo— it’s information we don’t get anywhere else.” TheCosmopolitan subscription helped Middleton learn howto market a global cosmetics brand to women. “I likethe projects that stretch me creatively.” he says. “Oneof the joys of advertising is learning about worlds out-side your own.”—Leanne Star

“There’s no such thing as a boring day in advertising.”

Friendly persuasionKent Middleton lures students into the world of advertising


Student profile

NAME Kirsty Montgomery HOME TOWN I was born in Chiswick, London, but

spent 30 years living in Hampshire — Jane Austen country. CURRENT SCS PROGRAM:

I’ll earn a bachelor of philosophy in June. DAY (AND NIGHT) JOBS: Mum, SCS

student, and president of the Student Advisory Board. HOBBIES: The children,

running, drinking tea. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SCS? I had a career as a medical

photographer in England, which I gave up after suffering a detached retina.

After moving to the United States, I decided to stay at home to raise a family. When I was eight months pregnant with my third

child, I became concerned that I had a severe case of “pregnant brain,” so I enrolled in a class at SCS. Northwestern had an

excellent reputation, the campus was nearby, and the hours were convenient. I absolutely loved it! I missed one class to deliver

my son and finished the semester; my professor encouraged me to bring the baby in to class so I could continue breastfeeding

him. I haven’t looked back since then. I’m graduating in June and applying to PhD programs. For having the privilege of such

a wonderful education, I’d like to give something back and go into teaching. WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? My parents, the most hard-

working, selfless people I know. No matter what life throws at them, they have a brilliant sense of humor and giggle at absolutely

everything. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT NORTHWESTERN? The wonderful people you meet: students, faculty, and administration —

especially those I’ve met through Student Advisory Board activities. The diversity of the SCS community never ceases to amaze

me. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSORS? Lee Eysturlid (history), Jeff Rice (history), and Katie Duke (English). Funny, kind, warm

people who genuinely care about adult students.

How did you get involved with the SAB? I took

classes with the previous SAB president, Tim Lindsey,

and he encouraged me to join. Rather than sit on the

sidelines, I wanted to get more involved with the SCS

student body. The students on the board are such a

fun, dedicated, hard-working bunch. We’re really

trying to make a difference!

Kirsty Montgomery: political science and history major

(and mum)


IN 2004 CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission had sent a“bulldog enforcer” to head itsChicago office, an aggressive litiga-tor with a reputation for bringingdown “big-game targets.” As the director of the Midwest RegionalOffice, Merri Jo Gillette (79) super-vises 250 employees and oversees enforcement and examination pro-grams throughout nine states. Underher leadership the office has pursuedcases against Bristol-Myers officersfor fraudulent earnings managementschemes and Conrad Black for diverting cash and assets from Hol-linger International, publisher of theChicago Sun-Times.

If that résumé conjures up a picture at odds withthat of a mother of five who counts sewing and quiltingas favorite pastimes, that’s because Gillette has madedefying stereotypes a theme throughout her life.

The daughter of teachers, Gillette attended NewYork’s Stony Brook School in the first class of girls toenroll in the formerly all-male boarding school — anexperience, she says now, that prepared her “to succeedin a male-dominated environment.” After her junioryear and “anxious to get on with life,” Gillette startedKalamazoo College. After two years, however, she tooktime off. “I can only imagine what my parents, who devoted their lives to education, thought when theiroldest child announced she was dropping out of col-lege! To their credit, they let me find my own way.”

That led to Chicago, where Gillette began doingvolunteer work with the North River Commission, acommunity organization on the city’s Northwest Side.Within a few months she had become a VISTA volun-teer at the NRC, where she fought to improve housingconditions, helped tenants negotiate leases with land-lords, and worked with the city to enforce housingcodes. The experience rekindled her long-standing interest in a career in law. “Everything I did at theNorth River Commission pointed me to law school.”

All she needed was a college degree. Gillette foundher solution in an unlikely place. “I saw an ad in thesubway,” she says. “I hadn’t been aware there was an

evening division at Northwestern.” She was drawn bythe flexibility of University College (as SCS was thenknown). “I was working full-time, I was still doing vol-unteer work, and I was taking as many classes as I couldmanage,” she says. By 1979 she had earned a bachelor’sdegree in sociology and admission to law school.“Northwestern provided the natural extension of therigorous prep school education I had received, therebypreparing me for success in law school and thereafter.”

After earning a degree at Dickinson School of Lawin Pennsylvania in 1982, Gillette worked for the U.S.Department of Labor and the Pennsylvania Depart-ment of Labor and Industry before joining the SEC’sPhiladelphia office in 1986. She held positions of in-creasing responsibility, culminating in associate directorof enforcement. On her watch the office pursued casesthat resulted in settlements of $90 million with PilgrimBaxter & Associates for charges of market timing and$50 million with Morgan Stanley for failing to disclosethat mutual fund companies paid fees to Morgan topromote their funds, as well as other precedent-settingcases. In the words of former SEC chairman WilliamDonaldson, Gillette “initiated a number of importantcases that have made our markets safer for investors.”

“The SEC is an amazing place,” says Gillette. “The work is exciting and timely; the public charge is daunting. I am both honored and proud to be a partof that group, and I am humbled to have been giventhe opportunity to lead one of the largest offices within the SEC here in Chicago.”

All “worldly successes” aside, Gillette is most proudof being a parent to five children, ranging in age from 6 to 21. “No matter what accolades I may accumulate,there is nothing that keeps me grounded so well as mychildren,” she says. “I think my children’s standards are alot tougher — and I’m not so sure I always measure up.”

Though she operates at the loftiest realms of finance and locks horns with corporate giants, Gillettesees her role in terms consistent with her experience as a community organizer. “I was raised,” she says, “toembrace two interrelated concepts: first, that much will be expected from those to whom much has beengiven, and second, that a person’s true character will bemeasured in part by what he or she gives back to thecommunity. It has been my privilege to have served the public through government service for the past 20 years.”

Alumni profile

Merri Jo Gillette returns to Chicagoas the SEC’s Midwest chief


SCS news

Smart classrooms,community space for students, and a new “front door” into SCS are among the plans for a multi-phase renovation of Wieboldt Hallslated to begin this summer. Theproject continues the significant facilities improvements undertakenby SCS over the past several yearsto meet the needs of staff, stu-dents, and the school’s academicprograms.

The renovations reflect a contin-ued commitment to face-to-facecourses as well as to growing pro-fessional master’s degree and cor-porate training programs on SCS’sChicago campus. They will also enhance the SCS presence inWieboldt Hall.

“Our goal is to provide the high-est quality part-time educational

programs to adult learners in theChicago area. This cannot be donewithout superior classroom facili-ties,” says SCS Dean Thomas F.Gibbons. “Over the past four years,SCS has aggressively updated and improved its undergraduateand graduate programs. We havebrought together an excellentgroup of faculty, and we have sig-nificantly expanded our studentservice resources and scholarshipopportunities. This renovation willcomplete the circle and provide our students with state-of-the-artclassroom and community space.”

The first, and most complex,phase of the renovation includesupgrades to the infrastructure ofWieboldt Hall: new heating, air-conditioning, and electrical sys-tems; a third elevator; new rest-rooms on the fifth floor and theelimination of restrooms on stair-well landings. The first-floor lobby

Delta Sigma Pi gift targetsSCS scholarships

Three members of theDelta Sigma Pi fraternitysurprised Northwestern Universitydevelopment staff lastMay when they arrivedin Evanston bearing acheck for $10,000.Presenting the checkwere Robert Mocella(46, Kellogg 55), VirgilNeedham (66, Kellogg68), and Mark O'Daniell, membersof the professional fraternity thatfosters leadership skills for menand women in business.

The gift marks the latest chapterin a long relationship betweenDelta Sigma Pi and Northwestern.The fraternity’s Beta (second) chap-ter was founded at the University’sSchool of Commerce in Chicago in 1914. (The first Delta Sigma Pichapter was started in New York in 1907.) The School of Commerce,in turn, had strong connectionswith University College, as SCS wasformerly known. In 1954 UniversityCollege merged with the eveningundergraduate program of theSchool of Commerce, and the new entity was designated North-western’s Evening Division. ManyEvening Division students becamemembers of Delta Sigma Pi, andmany fraternity member taughtbusiness courses in UniversityCollege.

The fraternity’s gift will fundscholarships for SCS students onthe Chicago campus.

Wieboldt Hall upgrades planned

will get a makeover, with plans calling for a reception area, an online registration kiosk, and newsignage (above).

Plans for the fourth and fifthfloors call for 18 classrooms, includ-ing a 75-seat classroom and a number of seminar rooms. All willbe wired as smart rooms, and twowill be wired for videoconferencing.The fourth floor will feature twocomputer/technology labs, andboth floors will include communityspace for students configured asstudy rooms and student lounges.

This first phase of the renovationis expected to be completed in thesummer of 2007, with a secondphase focusing on renovations toclassrooms and communal areas on the seventh and eighth floors of Wieboldt Hall to follow.


SCS news

When SCS students returnedto classes last September, theystarted not only a new year but anew academic calendar as well.After decades of following its ownthree-semesters-a-year rhythm, theSchool of Continuing Studies hasjoined the rest of the University inthe quarter system.

“Changing the academic calen-dar was a major undertaking thatrequired the cooperation of boththe academic and administrativearms of the University,” saysProvost Lawrence B. Dumas. “SCSnow has a calendar that will materi-ally enhance opportunities for col-laboration between SCS and otherparts of the University.”

The change brings significantbenefits to SCS students:

• Closer alignment of SCS pro-grams to “day-school” counter-parts. All undergraduatedegrees, majors, minors, andcourses have been reviewed andupdated to meet the University’shigh standard of excellence.

• Greater involvement of Universityfaculty. The quarter system

encourages the involvement of day-school faculty.

• Better access to University facili-ties and services. The Universityinfrastructure — including the libraries, bookstores, cafeterias,and intercampus shuttles — aredesigned to serve a populationon the quarter schedule.

• Faster progress toward a degreein most programs. Under thequarter system students cancomplete the 45 courses neededto graduate in 61⁄2 years — a year and a half sooner than under the semester system.

SCS has worked to ensure asmooth transition for students whoare enrolled during the switch —especially in terms of credits andtuition. All work done in the semes-ter system at SCS (or that has beenaccepted as transfer credit) will beconverted to the quarter systemwith no loss of credit. In addition,per-term tuition has been reducedso the total cost of a degree is con-sistent with costs under the semes-ter system.

Summer institutes offer variety, tools for success

Seeking professional growth? Aesthetic bliss? Tools to defuse a crisis? Look no further than the 2006 SCS summer institutes. Taught by faculty from Northwestern and other top schools as well as experienced practitioners from outside of academia, theseprograms provide intensive learning opportunities over just a few days.All summer institutes take place on Northwestern’s Evanston campus.Several offer per-day registration and optional individual sessions. Formore information, see www.scs.northwestern.edu/summernu/programs.

Pre-Law Summer Institute July 12–14If your sights are set on law school, this program provides an excitingpreview of what you need to succeed. The institute helps studentssharpen their critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills and laysthe groundwork required for success in law school and beyond.Students who successfully complete the program are awarded a certificate of completion, a credential that can be included in their application to law school.

Summer Institute in Negotiation July 13–15This institute offers a unique and powerful approach to negotiation. Bycombining theory with strategies employed by experienced negotiators,participants discover new ways to manage key issues, defuse crises,and mediate disputes. They also learn to prepare for, conduct, and re-view a negotiation and understand issues of race, gender, and culture innegotiation.

AP Training for High School Teachers July 24–28Designed to support new and experienced teachers in all aspects ofAdvanced Placement course content, organization, and methodology,this program addresses nine subject areas ranging from calculus andstatistics to European history and Spanish.

Art and Craft: The Northwestern Summer Writers’ Conference July 27–30 This noncredit institute is tailored to new writers, established writers,and anyone seeking a fuller understanding of the craft — and business— of writing. Participants select from a host of seminars, faculty andstudent readings, workshops, and optional manuscript consultations, alldesigned to give participants new perspectives on their work in the sup-portive company of other writers.

Much Ado about Shakespeare! Celebrating the Bard throughInterpretation, Adaptation, and PerformanceAugust 3–5This three-day conference explores the work of William Shakespearefrom a variety of perspectives, including the teaching, adaptation, andperformance of plays. Participants enjoy a robust selection of seminars,workshops, and coaching sessions along with the opportunity to con-nect with a community of actors, teachers, directors, and admirers ofthe Bard.

What’s NUPP?

Northwestern University Pre-health Professionals (NUPP)is a student-run organization dedicated to serving the needs of continuingeducation students at Northwestern who are preparing for careers inhealth-related fields. The group seeks to provide pre-health students withresources, information, and contacts to ease their entry into a professionalschool and to plant the seeds of a successful future career.

For information about upcoming meetings, speakers, social events, andmore, join the NUPP listserv by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Turning a new leaf on the SCS calendar


SCS people

Alumni and students

Syrola Schaefer Hirsch (61)

of Chicago, a retired geron-

tology clinical nurse practi-

tioner who served in the

U.S. Army as a nurse during

World War II, was elected

commander of Women Vet-

erans American Legion Post

919 in 2004. She is listed in

the World War II Registry of

Remembrances at the Na-

tional World War II Memorial.

Ola Mae Woolridge Hitt (66)

of Chicago, a retired teacher,

taught for more than a

decade at Betsy Ross Ele-

mentary School and loved it.

She retired in 1977 — her

mission accomplished.

Gwen Ihnat (05), a June grad-

uate of the MALS program

and winner of the MALS

Distinguished Thesis Award,

is teaching a class at the

Newberry Library called

The Golden Age of Radio in

Chicago, which addresses

the period in the 1930s and

1940s when Chicago stood

at the center of the medium,

both geographically and

creatively. Ihnat is an editor

at the Chicago History

Museum.

Joe Ann Jackson (88) of

Chicago was promoted to

policy associate at the

American Medical Associ-

ation in July 2004.

Kenneth Kates II (02,

GMcC04) of Chicago estab-

lished the Beverly Pagoda

Martial Arts Academy. He

is working for the law firm

Kirkland & Ellis in prepara-

tion for law school.

Joe Kendall (05) wrote a play

for the Red Tape Theater

Company in Chicago called

My Richard. The play, per-

formed last summer at the

Lakeshore Theater, is an

adaptation of Shakespeare’s

Richard III in which Richard is

portrayed by a schizophrenic

to fully realize the insanity of

the character.

Gene Koprowski (97) of

Chicago, a columnist for

United Press International,

received the 2004 Lilly

Foundation/Religion News-

writers Foundation Award for

writing about the interface

of science and religion. The

award funds two semesters

of study at the University of

Chicago Divinity School.

Cynthia LeVan (95) of

Milwaukee became vice

president of advertising for

Roundy’s Inc. in spring 2005.

Candice Poston Mathers (97)

of Chicago established a

project management and

high-end interior design firm

specializing in commercial

medical clinics and doctors’

offices.

Jiaqi Nie (05), a September

graduate of the MPPA pro-

gram, has been hired as a

senior budget analyst in the

Illinois Governor’s Office of

Management and Budget in

Springfield.

Adam Pasen (MCW program)

is having his second play,

Butterfinger, published by

Brooklyn Publishers. His

short story “The Strobe

Effect” will appear in the

Scrivener Creative Review,

and his poetry will be pub-

lished in The Georgetown

Review as well as The Story-

teller. His review of the book

Choir Boy will appear in

Other Voices magazine.

Choose Me, the debut novel

by Xenia Ruiz (01), was

published last year by Walk

Worthy Press/Warner Books.

She is the first Latina author

signed by Walk Worthy Press.

She lives in Chicago with her

family and is currently editing

her second novel, scheduled

for release in 2006.

Lynn Rundhaugen (97, G04)

of Gaithersburg, Maryland,

became an economic model-

ing associate in the health

economics and outcomes

services division of Covance,

a drug-development services

company, in June 2004. She

earned a master of public

health degree from North-

western’s Graduate School in

June after participating in a

fellowship at the National

Cancer Institute in Bethesda.

Rodrigo A. Sierra (96) of

Chicago is vice president

of communications and gov-

ernment relations at Peoples

Energy. He and his wife,

Elizabeth, are the parents

of Vasco Roberto, born in

May 2005.

Ruth Sinker (98) of Chicago

is youth services technology

coordinator at the Skokie

Public Library. She published

an article about the library’s

Web Connections program in

the December 2004 issue of

ALSConnect, the newsletter

of the Association for Library

Service to Children. She de-

veloped Web Connections in

2003 to help students and

teachers use the libraries’

web site and online re-

sources for research, refer-

ence, and homework help.

Laura Lynn Smith (99) of

Singapore married Steven F.

Orpurt in October 2004.

NorthwesternAlumni Association

Northwestern CareerNet,

your online, searchable net-

working resource offered by

Northwestern Alumni Associ-

ation, has more than 11,100

alumni career contacts in its

database. This service offers

you the benefit of establish-

ing and maintaining valuable

connections with fellow

alumni in your field of work.

You may also volunteer to

be an alumni career contact

yourself. By volunteering,

you are agreeing to be con-

tacted by fellow alumni or

students so you can share

your career knowledge and

experiences with them.

You may access North-

western CareerNet at www

.alumni.northwestern.edu

/career. For more information,

contact Aspasia Apostolakis,

Northwestern Alumni asso-

ciation, at alumnicareers

@alumni.northwestern.edu.


SCS People

Faculty

Faisal Akkawi, director of

the Master of Science in

Computer Information Sys-

tems program, received a

certificate of recognition

from the National Aeronau-

tics and Space Administra-

tion, the American Society

for Engineering Education,

and the Universities Space

Research Association for his

contributions to the 2005

NASA Summer Faculty

Research Opportunities pro-

gram. The program provides

opportunities for faculty to

engage in research at NASA

Centers. Akkawi also re-

ceived an SCS Distinguished

Teaching Award for 2004–05.

John Keene, associate pro-

fessor of African American

studies and English and on

the faculty of the Master

of Creative Writing program,

was one of 10 writers to

receive the 2005 Whiting

Writing Award, given to

emerging writers who show

exceptional talent and prom-

ise. The selection committee

remarked on his dense poetic

prose and commented that

Keene “doesn’t sound like

anyone else.” His first novel,

Annotations, was published

by New Directions in 1995.

A new collection of poems

entitled Seismosis is forth-

coming from 1913 Press. He

is working on another volume

of poems, a collection of

short stories, and a novel.

The Mrs. Giles Whiting

Foundation has given the

awards, in the amount of

$40,000, annually since

1985. Previous recipients

have included Jeffrey

Eugenides, Jonathan Franzen,

Cristina Garcia, Jorie Graham,

Mary Karr, Tony Kushner,

Suzan-Lori Parks, William T.

Vollman, Colson Whitehead,

and August Wilson.

Albert Hunter, professor of

sociology in the Weinberg

College of Arts and Sciences

and on the faculty of the

Master of Public Policy and

Administration program, was

elected chair of the Evanston

Plan Commission, a group on

which he has served for the

past four years. This, he says,

is “a very interesting tie-in to

MPPA program, my course on

urbanization, and my sched-

uled course City Political

Processes.” Hunter has also

published two books re-

cently: Foundations of Multi-

method Research (with John

Brewer; Sage Publications)

and Pragmatic Liberalism:

Constructing Civil Society

(with Carl Milofsky; Palgrave

Macmillan).

Alexandra Patera, an instruc-

tor in biological sciences

and assistant director of the

Weinberg College Program

in Biological Sciences, re-

ceived an SCS Distinguished

Teaching Award for 2004–05.

Richard Potter, an instructor

in the Certified Financial

Planner™ program, received

an SCS Distinguished Teach-

ing Award for 2004–05.

Charles F. Whitaker (J80,

GJ81) assistant professor

of magazine editing in the

Medill School of Journalism,

director of the Academy for

Alternative Journalism, and

lecturer in SCS, received a

Northwestern Alumni Asso-

ciation 2005 Excellence in

Teaching Award. The award

recognizes outstanding fac-

ulty members based on rec-

ommendations from deans,

alumni, and students.

In memoriam

Edward W. Bilinski (60)

James F. Cooke (52)

Margaret Daley Gustafson

(52)

Paul W. Keegan (47)

Fred Kort (47, G50)

Mitchell H. Lane (55)

Sarah Stagman Levin (40)

Arthur M. Luebbing (62)

Marlene M. Morrison (83)

Wilma Fithian Noble

(SESP47, 83)

Emaline Bolin Schell (71)

Elsa Roeschlein Schuster

(38)

Ellen Holm Vogel (66)

Salchenberger joins SCS as associate dean

Late in 2004 Linda Salchenberger joined SCS as associate dean of academics.

In that position she oversees all

SCS academic units — undergrad-

uate, graduate, and noncredit

certificate programs as well as

Summer Session. She is also a

senior lecturer at the J. L. Kellogg

School of Management.

Salchenberger was associate

dean of the School of Business Administration at Loyola Univer-

sity Chicago before joining SCS. During her 19 years at Loyola,

she held positions as associate vice president for academic

affairs and faculty administration, founding director of the

Center for Information Management and Technology, and pro-

fessor of information systems.

Her appointment at SCS marks a return to Northwestern

for Salchenberger. She earned a PhD in managerial economics

and decision sciences and an MM in decision sciences and

information systems from Kellogg. She also has bachelor’s and

master’s degrees in mathematics.

Salchenberger has published research articles on data

mining and neural network applications in health care and

has been invited to give presentations on medical informatics,

data warehousing, and data mining in health care to profes-

sional associations including the American Association of

Medical Colleges. She has taught and developed distance-

learning courses in decision-support systems and health care,

and she has participated as a consultant in an integrated

advanced information management systems project funded

by the National Library of Medicine.

“Linda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the

School of Continuing Studies,” says Dean Thomas F. Gibbons.

“In her short time here, she has played a significant role in the

development of our three-year strategic plan, launched two

new master’s programs, and played a leadership role in rein-

venting our undergraduate program as it has moved from a

semester to quarter system. With her extensive knowledge of

information technology, Linda is now leading our new distance

education initiative. We are very lucky to have such a profes-

sional in our school."

Attention SCS Alumni!

Where have you been? What are you doing now? How has your SCS experience prepared you for your current and future endeavors?

We want to hear from you!Complete the brief online survey at www.scs.northwestern.edu/alumni and become eligible to receive a $50 gift certificate from Borders Books and Music.

I wanted towrite somethingto conveythe wondermentI feel aboutbeing in this bodyon this dayin this place.

I wanted tosay somethingto expressmy astonishmentat being aliveon this planetin this universe.

I also wanted toconfessI don’t understandany of it. Do you?How can life be finite,time circumscribed,and yet each daya gift immense,immeasurable?

I Wanted Toby Patricia Thrash

Left: Chicago’sHistoric and ModernArchitecture, 2005, by MarshallMarcovitz.

Both works reprintedwith permission fromthe Osher LifelongLearning InstituteJournal.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYSCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIESWIEBOLDT HALL, SIXTH FLOOR339 EAST CHICAGO AVENUECHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60611-3008

PHONE 312-503-6950FAX [email protected]

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGEPAIDNORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

northwestern university school of continuing studies continuum magazine - 2006

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