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Benedictine University is an inclusive academic community dedicated to teaching and learning, scholarship and service, truth and justice, as inspired by the Catholic intellectual tradition, the social teaching of the Church, and the principles of wisdom in the Rule of St. Benedict.
Benedictine University aspires to be a thought leader in Catholic higher education. We seek to provide a transformative and integrative educational experience grounded in Benedictine values, helping students shape lives of meaning and purpose as engaged citizens who care for the earth, welcome people of diverse faiths and cultures, and promote the common good.
Popular search terms:
apply online,
campus map,
admissions events,
tuition,
transcripts,
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MeShelda Jackson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the College of Education and Health Services and Chair of the School of Education where she has been a faculty member since 2006. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh in Special Education, Educational Specialist in School Clinical Psychology, and Masters degree at Nova South Eastern University in Computer Education and her undergraduate degree at Alabama A&M University in Speech-Language Pathology . Dr. Jackson taught as a teacher and administrator in public and private schools from 1982 to 1995. After receiving her Ph.D., she has been teaching in higher education for the past 17 years. Her research interests lie in the area of special education and school psychology. Dr. Jackson serves on national, state, and local committees related to education.
Send Dr. Alexis Smalec an Email
Phone: (630) 829-2275
Jude-Marie Alexis Smalec joined the full-time MPH faculty at Benedictine University in 2014. She holds a Doctorate in Public Health (major in International Health, minors in Health Communication and Nutrition) from Tulane University School of Public Health &Tropical Medicine. Her Master's degree in Public Health (Nutrition major) was also obtained from Tulane University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a post graduate Diploma in Community Health (Health Education major) from the University of the West Indies.
Dr. Alexis Smalec has more than 20 years of experience that includes work with Cornell, Benedictine, and Walden Universities, the University of the West Indies, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID, and l'agence Francophonie. Her international experience spanning several countries on various continents, has focused on a multitude of public health subjects including behavior change communication, health promotion, health and culture, intergenerational communication, HIV and AIDS, gender issues, sexuality and reproductive health. Dr. Alexis Smalec is a past International Fellow of the Kellogg Foundation and the Organization of American States. In her interaction with her online students, Dr. Alexis Smalec draws from her international public health experience to provide real world application of principles and concepts.
As an adjunct faculty member at Benedictine University from 2009-2014, Dr. Alexis Smalec taught the courses Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health, Media Technology and Health, and Cultural Context of Health Care, to students in the Master of Public Health and the dual MBA/MPH programs. She also mentored new faculty members and presented professional development webinars for staff. Dr. Alexis Smalec is an APA Style enthusiast. She completed and passed the very thorough course by the American Psychological Association, "APA Style: Mastering the Sixth Edition –An Online Course."
Dr. Alexis Smalec is very comfortable with online teaching technology, having taken time to study HTML and interactive educational software and media, at George Washington University. She is a member of several online professional groups that focus on technology in the academic environment. A Benedictine University nominee for the BestCollegesOnline.com 2013 Online College Professor of the Year contest, Dr. Alexis Smalec placed in the top 10 finalists in the competition. She delights in using new technologies and introducing them to students and colleagues.
Send Dr. Arnold an Email
Phone: 630-829-6534
Dr. Catherine Arnold joined the faculty full-time in 1990. Formerly, she worked as a clinical dietitian, community educator, consultant dietitian, and adjunct faculty member, Dr. Arnold earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology and Graduate Certificate in Advanced Quantitative Methods in Education from Northern Illinois University, and Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Rush University. She completed Advanced Specialty Training Certificate in Adult Weight Management (by CDR).
Dr. Arnold's research interests include Determining Predictors of Health Behavior Change, Educational Assessment, and Nutrition Education Outcomes Research. To support her endeavors, she was successfully funded by five granting organizations for over $100,000. Her work is published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Over the past ten years she delivered over 40 presentations at local, state, and international conferences.
Dr. Arnold is a past President of the Illinois Dietetic Association (IDA) and West Suburban Dietetic Association, past co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the IDA, and was recently appointed as a program reviewer by the by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr. Arnold was the recipient the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alumnae of the Year Award from her high school, and Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award from the IDA. She is listed in Whos's Who in Education, Whos's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World.
Send Dr. Battle an Email
Phone: 630-829-6174
Send Dr. Beezhold an Email
Phone: 630-829-6528
Bonnie Beezhold, Ph.D., M.H.S., C.H.E.S.
Dr. Beezhold joined the tenure-track faculty in 2011. She earned a Master of Health Science degree in International Health (Nutrition focus) from Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Ph.D. from the interdisciplinary Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness doctoral program (Nutrition focus) at Arizona State University. She is certified as a Health Education Specialist (CHES) by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, and leads the department's health education concentration. Dr. Beezhold primarily teaches and mentors graduate students in the MSNW program, but also teaches the undergraduate Health and Nutrition Education course. She is interested in fostering a greater public health perspective among undergraduate and graduate Nutrition students.
Dr. Beezhold's main research focus investigates the link between diet pattern and parameters of mental health in healthy populations, particularly comparing the vegan and omnivore diet. Another research avenue explores health outcomes associated with the hunter-gatherer diet compared to the modern diet. As a member of the American Society for Nutrition, she presents her research annually at the Experimental Biology conference, and her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Beezhold regularly acts as a peer reviewer for numerous nutrition and medical journals such as the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Pediatrics. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association and the National Wellness Institute.
Send Ms. Bormann an Email
Phone: (630) 829-6249
Elizabeth "Beth" Bormann
received her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health/Health
Administration in 1994 and her Master of Public Health with a
specialization in Health Promotion in 2003, both from Northern
Illinois University (NIU).
Her professional experience has included work in a hospital-based fitness
center as an office coordinator, in a social service agency assisting
developmentally disabled adults, and in a public health department in the
epidemiology unit assisting with surveillance, program evaluation and report
writing.
Beth also has extensive experience in higher education. From 2005 -
2008, she was the Undergraduate Advisor/Practicum Coordinator for the
Public Health Program at NIU where she advised junior and senior
public health majors and oversaw the students while they completed their
required public health internship. She also taught several different
undergraduate courses in public health: epidemiology, environmental health,
community health planning, and the organization of the public health and health
care systems in the United States.
From 2008 - 2011, Beth was the Director of Administrative Services for Lewis
University's School for Professional and Continuing Education which houses the
adult accelerated programs. She was responsible for overseeing the daily
operations of the School, which included course scheduling, classroom
assignments and course evaluation completion.
From 2007 - 2011, Beth taught part-time for the online MPH Program at Benedictine University. In September 2011, she became a full-time faculty member for the Master of Public Health program in the College of Education and Health Services at the Lisle campus of the University. Beth is very happy to be teaching her passion, public health, full-time again!
Beth is a member of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), the Illinois Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education (ISOPHE), the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) and two honor societies: the Alpha Eta Honor Society at NIU and Sigma Beta Delta at Benedictine University. She received the Students' Choice Award from Northern Illinois University's Student Association in May 2006. In April 2012, Beth received certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. This is a nationally recognized certification that demonstrates an individual's competency in the seven main areas of responsibility in health education.
Beth is married with two children and enjoys reading, watching movies and relaxing with her dogs, two retired racing Greyhounds named Menlo and Lucy. She and her family currently reside in Downers Grove.
Pat Brown joined the Benedictine University faculty in 2013, and teaches in the B.S.N. program. Her course specialties include nursing research/evidence-based practice and nursing leadership.
Prior to coming to Benedictine, she served in different nursing roles in college and hospital administration, nursing education, staff development and nursing research. She is an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, recently served on the Illinois Healthcare Action Coalition: Education Workgroup on Seamless Academic Progressions for Nurses, and was selected as contributing editor for Critical Care Nurse. She has presented on the topic of family engagement in patient care at various regional, national and international nursing conferences.
Dr. Brown earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Rush University with a focus in critical care family partnerships, Master of Science (M.S.) in adult medical/surgical nursing from Northern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in nursing from Andrews University, and an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in nursing from Morton College. She holds certification in critical care nursing and advanced practice nursing licensure as a clinical nurse specialist.
Dr. Sunil Chand is Professor and Director of the Ed.D. program in the Center for Higher Education and Organizational Change at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. The Ed.D. seeks to prepare mid-career professionals for leadership positions in higher education. He came to Benedictine in 2009 having served as President, College of DuPage, in Illinois, and Executive Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs at Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio. Prior to that, in the UK he was Vice President, Academic Services, at Richmond, The American University in London, where he went after ten years at Triton College, Illinois, serving in the developmental education program and later as Dean, Arts and Sciences. He came to the US having been a faculty member and Head of the Department of English at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, India. Professional contributions include conference presentations, publications, and commission service and leadership development at local, state and national levels. He earned his doctorate in Literature from Kent State University, Ohio, and earlier degrees in English from Delhi University, Delhi, India.
Send Dr. Cheng an Email
Phone: (630) 829-6181
Dr. Susan Cheng joined the Benedictine University's Department of Public Health faculty full-time in 2013 as a tenure-track, assistant professor, and currently serves as the Department Chair. Prior to joining the faculty, she served as an adjunct faculty member for Trident International University in their MPH program. In addition, she served as a Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Epidemiologist for the Emergency Preparedness Resources for Native Americans project in California from 2002-2013. She earned a MPH in Epidemiology from San Diego State University researching male endogenous hormones and bone mineral density, and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of California, San Diego in the field of HIV research.
Dr. Cheng's primary research interests focus primarily on Maternal and Child Health, special populations, and mental health. She is interested in health outcomes for women and children during pregnancy and in early childhood, in the fields of gestational diabetes, post-partum depression, mental health impact of adverse events, childhood obesity prevention, and infant mortality and birth outcomes. She has several publications in peer-reviewed journals, and has presented locally and nationally at a variety of public health conferences, including the American Public Health Association, Illinois Public Health Association, the World Conference on Disaster Management, and the National Rural Health Association Conference.
Dr. Cheng believes that research should be relevant, timely, and engage student participation and interest. She has created and implemented the annual MPH research symposia to showcase student research projects for the department, several of which were later presented at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting, and some of which are in stages of manuscript writing and publication. She has also mentored a variety of student research projects on a range of topics from drug interaction and toxicity, nutrition and social determinants of health, psychological impact of disasters and outbreaks, tobacco-free campus initiatives, HPV and cancer risks. She believes that a strong research portfolio should include opportunities for student participation and mentoring. She heads the quantitative courses for the MPH program, serves as the assessment and evaluation specialist, and serves on several committees for the college and university.
Send Ms. Davis an Email
Phone: 630-829-6521
Ms. Julie Davis joined the department in 1998. She is part-time instructor and Coordinator of the Food Lab and Practicum Experiences. Formerly, she was employed as a manager in both clinical dietetics and food services, consultant in long term care, clinical dietitian, and adjunct faculty member. Ms. Davis earned her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Rush University.
Ms. Davis has been an active board member of both the West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (WSAND) and the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAND). She currently is on the Programs Committee for WSAND. Ms. Davis was the recipient of the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award and Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award, both from the IAND.
Send Ms. Delaney an Email
Phone: (630) 829-6296
Dr. Margaret Delaney joined Benedictine University in 2007 and has instructed in both the BSN completion and MSN program. Margaret received her BSN from Loyola University in Chicago, IL and a Masters in Science, with the focus: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from DePaul University, Chicago IL. Margaret completed her Doctorate of Education in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University Lisle, IL. Before joining Benedictine, Margaret taught nursing at Loyola University of Chicago. Her teaching experience includes both face-to-face and online learning environments. Her course specialties are Family Health, Population Based Health, Community and Leadership Clinical, Health Assessment, Nursing Leadership and Practicum Synthesis.
For the vast majority of her practice, Margaret was employed at a large, free-standing children's hospital in Chicago, Lurie Children's Hospital, formally Children's Memorial. She worked in general pediatrics, and the ICU as a staff nurse. Margaret was promoted to serve as a Clinical Educator and Clinical Research Coordinator where she oversaw unit and institutional education initiatives as well as multiple clinical research studies. After completing graduate school, Margaret assumed the role of Nurse Practitioner caring for the pulmonary/asthma and allergy population.
Margaret is an active board member of Sigma Theta Tau, a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Nurses Association.
Dr. Alandra Devall is an associate professor and educational psychologist in the School of Education. She came to Benedictine the first time as a graduate student after receiving her bachelor’s degree at Elmhurst College in Special Education. She spent a year completing her master’s degree here in education and went on to Loyola University of Chicago for her PhD in Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Psychology. She returned to BU in 2002 as an assistant professor, where she has taught 11 different courses in both education and psychology for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
In the fall of 2006, Dr. Devall was appointed the Chair of the Institutional Review Board by the Provost, and has since worked diligently to make the IRB process not only smooth, but user-friendly for students and faculty. Currently, Alandra enjoys mentoring undergraduate, graduate and dissertation students in their research pursuits, and has completed over 40 theses, a few of which she has presented and co-presented at the prestigious AERA (American Educational Research Association), HICE (Hawaii International Conference on Education) and the University of Oxford. Dr. Devall’s primary research interests include educational psychology, teaching with technology, adolescent wellness and improving the outcomes and education of adolescents with behavior disorders. In the past five years, Dr. Devall has presented numerous internationally peer-reviewed presentations, published several articles and book chapters, and continues her research/advocacy on issues including social justice and incarcerated youth.
Send Ms. Ellinger an Email
Phone: (217) 718-5335
Valerie Ellinger joined the Benedictine University team in 2011. She enjoys teaching Community Health Nursing and Transforming Care at the BU-Springfield campus. She also is the Advisor for the RN-BSN Springfield students. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Nurse Education, at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (2009) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McKendree College (2000).
Previously, Ellinger has taught nursing at the LPN level. Her specialty areas include Acute Care, Emergency and Psychiatric Nursing. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Nu Pi Chapter. She serves on the Curriculum and the Blended/Online Committees at BU-S.
Send Ms. Ellis an Email
Phone: 630-829-1144
Ms. Stephanie Ellis joined the faculty in 2011 as half-time Instructor. Formerly, she worked as a Clinical Dietitian in a hospital setting and long term care facilities, Field Clinical Specialist for energy expenditure devices, as well as taught classes as an adjunct instructor. Ms. Ellis earned her Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University. She completed Advanced Specialty Training Certificate in Adult Weight Management (by CDR).
Alan Gorr is Professor of Public Health. His professional interests include health promotion, international health manpower development and ethics. His professional preparation include BA from University Iowa, MA from University of Toronto, PhD from University of Iowa and MPH from University of Illinois at Chicago.
Gorr began his career at Augustana College Rock Island where he became Chair of Professional Studies and initated the Health Education Program. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was an Associate Professor in the Center for Educational Development (now the Department of Medical Education). The Center was a partner with the World Health Organization. While there he advised several nations at the health ministry level and worked as a consultant in Egypt, Sudan, India, and Myanmar. Gorr helped design the PhD in Nursing and the Health Education program for the School of Public Health where he held joint faculty appointments. He was co-editor of the Handbook of Health Professions Education.
At Benedictine University he became Chair of Public Health and then Dean of the College of Education and Health Services. While chair he initiated the online MPH program as well as Health Policy, Social Context of Health Care, and updated the Ethics course. He is the founder and director of the Benedictine University's MPH program in cooperation with Dalian Medical University in China.
Dr. Ho taught as an adjunct faculty member before joining Benedictine as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2016. He received his Doctor of Public Health degree in Biostatistics, with an emphasis in statistical genetics and large-scale computing, from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2010). His Master of Public Health in Biometry is from San Diego State University (2004), and he holds a Biology degree from the University of California, San Diego (1999).
As a Senior Lead Statistician Dr. Ho has collaborated with eminent international PIs and led teams of statistical programmers, statisticians, and epidemiologists at a variety of institutions (UNC, UCSD, NIH, NIEHS, CDC, SRA International Inc., Agility Clinical Inc.) for more than 10 years, and he has authored and co-authored over a dozen peer-reviewed articles.
His biostatistical experience in all three major areas of public health—academia, government, and private industry—offers invaluable insight to guiding Benedictine students toward a sector that best fits their career goals.
With superior technical expertise in online communication, SAS, R, and various Big Data analytical tools and languages, Dr. Ho looks forward to expanding Benedictine's analytical course offerings, collaborating with other departments, as well as continuing to teach for the Benedictine University's MPH program at Dalian Medical University in China.
Dr. Ho's special research interests include applying Big Data to further understanding public health, including epigenetic variables for personalized medicine, and social media impacts on health outcomes and choices. He is also interested in determinants of health that emphasize mind-body research.
Send Dr. Jackson an Email
Phone: 630-829-6282
MeShelda Jackson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the College of Education and Health Services and Chair of the School of Education where she has been a faculty member since 2006. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh in Special Education, Educational Specialist in School Clinical Psychology, and Masters degree at Nova South Eastern University in Computer Education and her undergraduate degree at Alabama A&M University in Speech-Language Pathology . Dr. Jackson taught as a teacher and administrator in public and private schools from 1982 to 1995. After receiving her Ph.D., she has been teaching in higher education for the past 17 years. Her research interests lie in the area of special education and school psychology. Dr. Jackson serves on national, state, and local committees related to education.
Dr. Joyce Jeewek joined the school of education faculty full-time in 2006. Formerly, she worked as an elementary teacher, reading specialists, special education intervention manager, principal, district curriculum director, and an adjunct faculty member for Northern Illinois, Lewis and Benedictine Universities. Dr. Jeewek's passion is education! Dr. Jeewek earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, a Masters of Science in Education for Language Arts and Reading, and a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Mainstreaming from Northern Illinois University. In 2010, Dr. Jeewek added an ESL endorsement from Benedictine University to her resume.
Dr. Jeewek's research interests include qualitative studies where teachers, as practitioners, examine ways to improve student learning. Her areas of interest include: reading and the language arts, assessment driving instruction, differentiated instruction, effective reading comprehension and writing strategies, family literacy, English Language Learners, children's literature and family literacy. Her work is published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Illinois Reading Council. Dr. Jeewek delivers numerous presentations at local, state, and international conferences. Dr. Jeewek has also had her students present at various conferences. She teaches children's literature, reading and the language arts, and reading assessment courses to both undergraduates and graduate students.
Professional development is important to Dr. Jeewek. She is currently president of the Prairie Area Reading Council and is a voting board member of the Illinois Reading Council. Dr. Jeewek is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi, international education honor society Chapter Services Committee, in charge of developing strategic plans for the organization. She also is a member of both the International Reading Association's Arbothnot and Jerry John's Award Committee and the Illinois Reading Council's Barack Obama Literacy Award Committee. In 2009, Dr. Jeewek was awarded an Honorable Mention Award by the Barack Obama Literacy Fund and received a small library to use in her children's literature courses for future educators. As a Prairie Area Reading Council board member for the past seven years, Dr. Jeewek has been a part of a council that has received both Honor Council and Council of Excellence from both the Illinois Reading Council and the International Reading Association. She has also received numerous membership and speaker grants and membership idea awards from the Illinois Reading Council.
Send Dr. Jezuit an Email
Phone: 630-829-6372
Dr. Jezuit joined Benedictine University as an Adjunct MSN Faculty in 2010 and was appointed in August 2014 as Assistant Professor. Prior to joining Benedictine, Dr. Jezuit served as the Director of an Associate Degree nursing program for 10 years and as assistant professor at Northern Illinois University in the BSN program for 6 years. She has served as a doctoral advisor for several students.
Dr. Jezuit has nearly 40 years of nursing experience including critical care nursing and nursing management, curriculum development and program design, ethics, and nursing presentations.
Earned degrees include: PhD in Nursing Ethics from Rush University, Chicago, with a focus on end of life issues. She received her Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) from Purdue University Calumet, Hammond IN as a critical care clinical specialist and Bachelor Science Degree in Nursing from Ball State University in Muncie IN.
Send Dr. Kipta an Email
Phone: (630) 829-6236
Margaret M. Kipta is a highly recognized educator with a long history of teaching in graduate nursing programs. Since June 2011, Dr. Kipta has been a faculty member at the Benedictine University Department of Nursing and Health. Before coming to Benedictine, she had taught in the graduate nursing programs at DePaul University for 11 years and had served as an Interim Director of the Nurse Practitioner programs at DePaul University between 2009 and 2011. She was honored there with the prestigious DePaul University Excellence in Teaching Award in 2006. Dr. Kipta is a scholar of National Health Service Corps and served in the U.S. Army Reserves between 2006 and 2014. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Finch University of Health Sciences/Barat College, North Chicago, IL in 1996, her Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University, Chicago, IL in 2000, and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree in 2016 from University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI. She holds two national board certifications: Family Nurse Practitioner certification since 2000 and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist certification since 2008. Dr. Kipta's research interest include: application of simulation and technology in nursing practice and interprofessional education: effects on professional practice with healthcare outcomes.
Dr. Eileen Kolich is a Professor and full-time faculty member in the Ed. D. program in the Center for Higher Education and Organizational Change. During her 25 years at Benedictine University she has received numerous service awards, including the Blackburn Award for Exemplary Administrative Leadership (2004), the President's Award for Leadership (2003), and the President's Award for Innovation (2000). Prior to her current position, she served in a number of administrative roles, which included Chair of the Education Department and Division, Dean of the School of Education, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Founding Dean of the Moser College of Adult and Professional Studies. She earned her BA at Rutgers University and her Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in Curriculum &Instruction: Reading, Communication, Language Education, and Instructional Systems. Her area of expertise is in Curriculum Development in Higher Education.
Gena Lewis is a professor in the College of Education and Health Services. She is a graduate of National Louis University who holds a Doctorate in Reading and Language with a specialization in bilingual education. At Benedictine, she is part of faculty in the Graduate Education programs of Reading Specialist, English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education. She has been a part of multiple area school districts teaching in grades K-8. Also she has worked at ISBE as a reading consultant. Dr. Lewis is a preferred provider of literacy training in Illinois as part of the Reading First grant initiatives. In the past, she was a Reading Lead Teacher at West Chicago School District 33. The areas of research that she has been involved with are bilingual literacy, RTI, Balanced Literacy and Reading Recovery models.
Dr. Kathleen Liace is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, Reading and Literacy Program. Formerly Dr. Liace worked as a reading specialist, district curriculum coordinator, and special education teacher in the public school systems. In addition to teaching, Dr. Liace also provided literacy workshops and training for content area teachers as a Project C.R.I.S.S. Trainer (CReating Independence through Student owned Strategies) , to help teachers learn how to incorporate literacy strategies into their content area instruction. Dr. Liace earned her Doctorate of Education in Reading and Language from National Louis University, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration and Supervision from National Louis University, a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education/Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University.
Send Dr. Libner an Email
Phone: 630-829-1153
Dr. Libner joined Benedictine University in August 2011 as faculty and Director of the RN to BSN Program. In August 2014, she assumed the added role of Chair of the Department of Nursing and Health. Teaching responsibilities are met in both the RN to BSN and MSN Programs. Prior to joining Benedictine, Dr. Libner served many years at Triton College as nursing faculty and chairperson. There she taught all levels of medical-surgical nursing, including supervising clinical experiences in over a dozen sites as well as meeting administrative responsibilities.
In 2010, Dr. Libner was appointed to the Illinois Board of Nursing and currently serves as Chair and as a member of the Education Subcommittee. She is a participant in the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Institute of Regulatory Excellence Fellowship Program pursuing her interest in the implications of nurses' understanding of licensure regulation in Illinois.
Dr. Libner earned an Ed.D. with a focus in educational
leadership from Concordia University Chicago, Master of Science in Nursing
(MSN) with a clinical specialty in medical-surgical nursing from Loyola
University Chicago, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Northern
Illinois University. She holds certification as a nurse educator with the
National League for Nursing and as a gerontological nurse with the American
Nurses Credentialing Center.
Send Dr. Milen an Email
Phone: (630) 829-2274
David Milen join Benedictine University in 2012. He was an adjunct faculty for 3- years, and is now recent addition as a full-time faculty member to the MPH program. His Doctorate is from Walden University in Community and Public Health, holds a Master's in Community and Public Health as well as Occupational Safety Management from both Walden University and Indiana State University. He also holds a Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in Communications/Media Studies and has an English minor. Dr. David Milen's previous working experiences include being a firefighter /training officer for the Hammond Fire Department, and served as an ambulance captain wt for several years. Dr. Milen further pursued his career with Franciscan Alliance-Saint Margaret Health in Hammond, Indiana. He was the manager of safety and security, safety officer for two facilities, emergency preparedness and bioterrorism coordinator, and served as a member of the safety committee for the Alliance. He further worked alongside many hospitals within the Northwest Indiana Region to establish of the Northwest Indiana Patient Safety Coalition as a nonprofit organization where he served as executive director for 3 years. Dr. Milen was also the chairperson for the Bioterrorism Hospital Planning Committee within District One for the Northwest Indiana Region.Dr. Milen has spoken and published both nationally and internationally regarding public health emergencies, disaster and emergency planning, as well as behavioral health issues that are encountered during disasters. He has earned the distinction of the Timothy Galvin Award for outstanding community service and serving the community, and has also been awarded the Lake County Emergency Planning Committee's community service award for disaster and emergency planning. Dr. Milen has taught public health, public administration, health and safety, occupational safety management, as well as disaster and emergency preparedness courses globally.
Send Ms. Moreschi an Email
Phone: 630-829-6548
Ms. Julie Moreschi joined the university in 1994 as an adjunct faculty member. In 1997 she was hired as the Dietetic Internship Director. Julie's prior positions include clinical dietitian, cafeteria manager, diet office manager, assistant foodservice director, internal management consultant, and consultant at a variety of health care organizations in Illinois and Minnesota. Julie earned her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Rush University, and is currently in working on her Ph.D. in Public Health at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Julie's professional interests lie primarily in the areas of community nutrition, maternal and child wellness, and obesity prevention/ intervention from preconception through pre-K. Julie is a chapter author in two textbooks: Managing Food and Nutrition Services for the Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professions and Nutrition and Public Health. Julie is involved in many community organizations including serving as chairperson of the Nutrition Advisory Council at Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, and the advisory board and several committees for the obesity prevention coalition FORWARD (Fighting Obesity Reaching healthy Weight Among Residents of DuPage).
Gina Panozzo joined Benedictine University in August 2017 as a tenure track Assistant Professor. Gina is happy to return to Benedictine after being a pre-nursing student there from 2000-2002. Her background includes psychiatric and mental health nursing, home health, hospice, QI/PI management, consulting, former business owner of a consulting agency, and academia. She has taught at the ADN, BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN and MSN levels (didactic, online, and in psychiatric clinical settings). She is passionate about working with underserved and diverse individuals such as the homeless and mentally ill populations. She teaches in state psychiatric facilities and has coordinated numerous food/clothing drives for patients. She is fluent in Spanish. She received her BSN from the University of St. Francis, MSN in nursing administration from Aurora University, and DNP in systems leadership from Rush University. She is board certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing. She enjoys tutoring and mentoring students as well as speaking at student professional conferences and lunch and learn sessions. She is a member of two chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Gina received the 40 Under 40 Award in 2016 through the Illinois Nurses Association. Gina's first publication in July/August 2017 was focused on reducing readmission levels at a mid-sized home health agency. Her areas of research interest include home health, simulation, the online learning environment, and mental health nursing.
After a thirty-year career as a high school math teacher, Dr. James Pelech joined the school of education in June of 2003. Dr. Pelted has earned a Doctorate in Curriculum and Social Inquiry from National Louis University, a Certificate of Advanced Studies from Concordia University, a Masters of Business Administration from Governors State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Saint Norbert College.
As a mathematics teacher at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, he was instrumental in working with the writing across the curriculum initiative and the new teacher mentoring program. He was the first mathematics teacher at the school to participate and complete the “Content Area Reading Program.” Additionally, Dr. Pelted initiated cross-curriculum activities in which he worked with pilots to demonstrate how mathematics is used in flying and navigating a plane. This resulted in receiving a grant to enhance this program, and also led to the introduction of Problem-Based Learning in all of his classes. He was a member of the school’s North Central Accreditation Team, and in 2003 was Richards High School’s nominee for the “Excellence in Education Award.”
Here at Benedictine, Dr. Pelech is using action research to enhance student learning, including the application of the Constructivist philosophy in his classes. He has had two books published by Information Age Publishing. The first one, The Comprehensive Handbook of Constructivist Teaching: From Theory to Practice, examines how to incorporate the Constructivist philosophy into one’s daily teaching. The second book, Guide to Transforming Teaching Through Self-Inquiry, examines the use of the Constructivist theory to monitor such teacher activities as personal journal writing, research, and professional development. He has had articles published in the Mathematics Teacher, the Journal for the Practical Application of Constructivist Theory in Education, and the Journal for Research in Education. He also serves as a peer reviewer for numerous professional journals.
In terms of professional development, Dr. Pelech is very involved in a wide range of professional activities and organizations. He is President of the Association for Constructivist Teaching, an international organization comprised of teachers, administrators, and researches from America, Mexico, Poland, and China. He has presented at conferences across America and in Mexico. He has worked as a professional developer with teachers from California and upstate New York. He was one of the founding members of the Benedictine/Saint Ethelreda partnership. In this capacity he works with teachers to improve their teaching; this includes co-teaching at different grade levels. He is also President of the Saint Ethelreda School Board, this past year the National Catholic Education Association awarded the Saint Ethelreda Board the "Outstanding Board" Award..
Send Dr. Plawecki an Email
Phone: (630) 829-1145
Dr. Karen Plawecki joined the faculty full-time in 2012. Recently, she was the Director of the undergraduate program at the University of Illinois, Champaign. Prior positions include employment as the Director of a Metabolic Research Kitchen, Coordinator of wellness programs, Outpatient Dietitian, and Clinical Dietitian. Dr. Plawecki earned her doctorate in Nutrition from the University of Illinois, and Master of Science in Nutrition Science (Food Science emphasis) from Purdue University.
Dr. Plawecki's research interests include interventions for improvement of Calcium and Vitamin D status in humans. To support her endeavors, she has been successfully funded by grants. She has delivered numerous presentations and her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Plawecki is a past President of the Illinois Dietetic Association (IDA) and Eastern Illinois Dietetic Association, past co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the IDA, and serves as a Team Lead Reviewer for the by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr. Plawecki was inducted in the Purdue University Nutrition Science Hall of Fame. She is the recipient the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award and Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award from the IDA, College of ACES Outstanding Instructor Award, and voted Outstanding Advisor/Mentor. She was listed in Whos's Who Among America's Teachers.
Send Dr. Polyak an Email
Phone: (630) 829-6217
Georgeen Polyak is an Associate Professor at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.She teaches courses in health systems, health policy, and coordinates on campus student internships.Her primary research interest is in public health services and systems.She has published studies on the performance and funding of public health agencies.Prior to her teaching position, she was Director of Public Health for the Village of Oak Park, Illinois and worked at the Will County Health Department. She is a site reviewer for the Public Health Accreditation Board. She received her doctorate in Public Health Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Send Dr. Richey an Email
Phone: (620) 829-6189
Dr. Richey joined Benedictine University as Adjunct MSN Faculty in 2011 and was appointed in August 2012 as Associate Professor. Prior to joining Benedictine, Dr. Richey served as Associate Professor in Nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa.
Dr. Richey has over 30 years of experience including, mental health nursing, burn nursing, health promotion, nursing management, curriculum development and new program design, nursing research, academia and public speaking.
Earned degrees include: Doctor of Education, specializing in Health Professions Education from College of Saint Mary, Omaha NE. She received her Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) from Drake University, Des Moines, IA, and Bachelor Science Degree in Nursing also from Drake University. In addition, she holds a Diploma in Nursing from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines, Iowa, (1982).
Dr. Richey completed her doctoral dissertation on Registered Nurses’ Perceptions of Health Literacy and Its Effect on Patient Self-Efficacy and Patient Health Care Decisions. Current research interests include: effectiveness of communication and patient education methods among high-risk patient groups; importance of curricula development that stress health literacy; homelessness and its effect on self-efficacy, patient access and patient health care decisions.
Dr. Richey is passionate about health literacy and about meeting the needs of the underserved and homeless. She is devoted to assisting others in the development of their own areas of passion in the service of nursing leadership and nursing education and sharing her love for the profession with her students.
Send Dr. Ridge an Email
Phone: (630) 829-1160
Alison Ridge joined Benedictine University in June 2012 as MSN Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing and Health. Prior to joining Benedictine, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing at Rush College of Nursing in Chicago, IL. Over her twelve years on faculty at Rush, she taught didactic and practicum courses in three pre-licensure programs and taught online at the master's and doctoral level. Her administrative expertise grew during the seven years she served as clinical nurse manager of a geropsychiatry unit followed by eight years as a project director on two NIH funded research grants. She received her BSN, MSN specializing in psychiatric nursing, and DNP in systems leadership from Rush College of Nursing. Her practice has focused on the care of acute and chronically ill adults with mental health issues as well as promoting young children's social emotional development through her work with the Chicago Parent Program, an evidence-based parent training program delivered to diverse parents in community settings. Her research interests include online education and program assessment. She became a Certified Nurse Educator in 2011, is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the National League for Nursing. She has received recognition in leadership, mentoring, and teaching and was awarded a two-year Wiley Faculty Fellowship in 2014.
Send Dr. Ritt an Email
Phone: (630) 829-1933
Dr. Ritt received a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Nursing from North Park University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University, and a Doctor of Education from Northern Illinois University. She is a full-time tenured professor of nursing in the graduate nursing program at Benedictine University, Illinois. She has 38 years of nursing experience with over 15 years of progressive administrative and teaching experience in higher education. She served in the roles of director of education, national health care consultant, department chair, dean, and provost. Dr. Ritt maintains executive level expertise in accreditation, assessment and evaluation, faculty development, financial and strategic planning, new curriculum and program development, and health care analytics. She has presented and published in the areas of faculty development, analytics in nursing education, and recently completed a research study that examined the identification of post-acute patients at risk for hospital readmission. Dr. Ritt received a Fulbright Scholarship, numerous professional grants, and served as a peer evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission-North Central Association. Currently, she conducts on-site evaluations as team leader for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Dr. Ritt is serving her second term on the CCNE-Accreditation Review Committee and recently completed service on the 2016 CCNE nominating committee.
Dr. Heather Sipsma joined the BenU MPH faculty full-time in the fall of 2016. Prior to joining the faculty full-time, she taught at BenU as an adjunct faculty member during the 2015-2016 academic year, worked as a researcher at the University of Chicago, and was a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Sipsma received her bachelors degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University and her PhD in epidemiology from Yale School of Public Health.
Dr. Sipsma has expertise in epidemiological study design and analysis and more than 10 years of experience in maternal and child health research. Her primary interests include breastfeeding behaviors, contraception, and mental health, with a focus on young mothers and on the interaction between health systems and individual outcomes. She has presented her work both locally and nationally at several conferences and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles to date.
Send Dr. Sochacki an Email
Phone: 630-829-6597
Dr. Paula Milas Sochacki joined the university as an adjunct faculty in 2007. In 2017, she was hired full-time as an Assistant Professor and the DPD Program Director. Recently she was Assistant Professor at Dominican University for the undergraduate program. Her previous clinical work experience were primarily within the area of renal and transplant nutrition at the University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago and Fresenius Medical Care North America. She has also been fortunate to work in a wide variety of clinical and community nutrition settings throughout the Chicago-land area.
Dr. Sochacki completed her doctoral degree at Northern Illinois University where her research interests focused on Leadership, Diversity and Career Pathway development of Dietitians. She also received her Master in Public Health (Concentration in Community Nutrition) from Benedictine University. She has been involved in a variety of capacities at both the district and state level. Her recent professional leadership positions are: the West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (WSAND) Past-President, Committee Chair and Programming Committee Member. Within the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAND) she has continued to be involved as being the Membership Committee Co-Chair and as a Planning Committee Member for the IAND Spring Assembly.
Dr. Sochacki has been the recipient of the: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship for Doctoral Research, the Dietitian of the Year (2016-2017) and Young Dietitian of the Year (2010-2011) both awarded from Illinois by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Recipient of the Leadership Award in Adult and Higher Education by Northern Illinois University, and was the recipient of the Benedictine University undergraduate commencement Procopian Award.
Dr. Sochacki is passionate about the importance of continuing professional development and the role of leadership within one's professional organization. Her ongoing participation has been evident, and she hopes to encourage all nutrition professionals to acquire influential positions of leadership; where their "voices" can be heard and they can impact decisions related to the future growth of the dietetics and nutrition profession.
Dr. Ovid Wong is an associate science education professor with Benedictine University since 2007. He has a joint teaching assignment in the College of Science and the School of Education. He received his B.Sc. and Dip. Ed. from the University of Alberta (Canada), his M.Ed. from the University of Washington (Seattle), and his Ph.D. in science education from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign).
His experience in public education spans over twenty years from the inner city classroom in Chicago to the suburban office of the assistant school superintendent. For twelve years he was the lead science instructor at the Center for Gifted and Talented Development at Northwestern University. In the summers of 2012 and 2013, Dr. Wong was invited by Dalian Nationalities University in China to train young faculty members representing twelve academic departments in pedagogy and andragogy. In 2013, he was invited by Shenyang Normal University in China to conduct cross-cultural training for faculty and students. The China trips were supported by the Foreign Expert Exchange fund of the Chinese government.
In 1989, Dr. Wong received the National Science Foundation’s Outstanding Science Teacher in Illinois award and the National Science Teaching Achievement Recognition (STAR) award by the National Science Teacher Association. In the same year he visited the former Soviet Union as the environmental science delegation leader with the student ambassador program. He was the first recipient of the outstanding alumni award by the University of Alberta in 1992 and also the first recipient of the distinguished alumni award by the College of Education at the University of Illinois in 1995. In 2013, he received the Distinguished Faculty Award in recognition of his significant achievements in research at Benedictine University.
Dr. Wong is the author of thirty books. He has received the Midwest Book Author ward from the Children’s Reading Roundtable of Chicago. He has written twelve books dedicated to coaching teachers and students to effectively prepare for the state mandated examination across the nation with specific editions for Illinois, Michigan, New York and Ohio. His recent ten books include Using Data Analysis to Improve Student Learning: Toward 100% Proficiency; Pivotal Strategies for the Educational Leader: The Importance of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War; Prioritizing Money and Power: Equalize Student Achievement; Elementary Science with Classroom Experiments; Elementary Science with Classroom Experiments for ISAT; Elementary Science with Classroom Experiments for ESPET; High-Poverty, High-Performing Schools; An Instructor Primer for Adjunct and New Faculty: Foundations for Career Success; Life Decision; and To Learn is To Do: Evangelism ABC.
Send Ms. Young an Email
Phone: 630-829-1146
Ms. Peggy Young joined Benedictine University full-time in 2015.However, Ms. Young has been connected to BU for several years, having completed both Benedictine's RN-BSN completion and MSN online programs.Furthermore, she has been adjunct faculty for BU since 2012 teaching various courses, including Nursing Theory and Community Health.Prior to joining Benedictine full-time, Ms. Young was faculty and Clinical Coordinator for Triton College.Ms. Young has clinical experience in Medical-Surgical, Labor &Delivery and Postpartum nursing.Ms. Young's background also includes extensive experience in quality management, peer review and hospital accreditation processes.
Ms. Young began her research agenda through her involvement in a research project that landed her at Mayo Clinic's Quest for Quality conference. There she presented the research that she and her colleagues conducted with mothers post-delivery. Most recently, she completed a two year term in which she advanced the Lambda Upsilon-At-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society through serving as its president. Ms. Young continues as an active member of our chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, while also a member of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN) and a Certified Provider in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).
Bonnie Beezhold, Ph.D., CHES (Nutrition) presented research at the Experimental Biology Conference in Chicago, April 21-25, 2017. Her poster was titled "Greater Fluid Intake is Associated with Cognitive Performance in College Students" was based on data from one of the MS in Nutrition and Wellness thesis projects from 2016.
Heahter Sipsma, Ph.D. (Public Health) recently has had three manuscripts published, including the following:
Sipsma HL, Ruiz E, Jones K, Magriples U, Kershaw T. (in press). Effect of breastfeeding on postpartum depressive symptoms among young mothers. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine.
Sipsma HL, Canavan M, Gilliam M, Bradley EH. (in press). The impact of social service and public health spending on teenage birth rates across the United States: A serial cross-sectional study. BMJ Open.
Sipsma HL, Jones K, Nickel NC. (in press). Hospital practices to promote breastfeeding: does maternal age matter? Birth.
James Pelech, Ed.D. (Education)
"The Quizzing Process as an Instrument of Learning."
Jamal Scott, Ed.D. (Higher Education, Guest Presentation)
"Trends in Higher Education."
Susan Hovey Ph.D., RN (Nursing)
"The Effect of First Clinical Assignments on Prelicensure Nursing Students Attitudes Toward Persons Who are Aged."
Bonnie Beezhold, Ph.D. (Nutrition)
"Faith-based Community Health Needs Assessment: A COEHS collaborative study."
David Milen, Ph.D. (Public Health)
"Stressors encountered by RSM employees, one of the top financial firms in Shanghai, China."
Susan Cheng, Ph.D. (Department Chair and Assistant Professor, Public Health), in February 2017, has been appointed the Chairperson of the Maternal and Child Health Committee for the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA).
Beth Bormann (Instructor, Public Health) helped to develop the Youth Leadership Project. The Youth Leadership Project was implemented last fall (2016) by the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team (PLT) in collaboration with the Juvenile Justice Council and Benedictine University.
Public Health - The program is presenting at APHA convention, November 2016 in Denver, CO.
Ridge, A., & Ritt, E. (2017). Adjunct faculty as key stakeholders in distance education. Journal of Faculty Development 31(2), 57-62.
Dr. Elizabeth Ritt (Professor, Nursing) was the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Advocate Health Care Nursing Research Symposium: Building the Future of Nursing Science. It was held on Tuesday April 18, 2017 at the Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, IL with more than 250 participants in attendance.
The title of her presentation was Engaging Your Imagination: The Journey from Idea to Action.
Dr. Ritt was also recently elected to serve on the CCNE Board of Commissioners for a three year term that begins in January 2018.
Send Mrs. Cecchi an Email
Phone: (630) 829-6215
I began my career at Benedictine University in December of 2001 with the College of Business with the MPH Program. After the 911 attack in New York Dr. Alan Gorr had the foresight to incorporate Disaster Management into the MPH Program. Benedictine University was one of the first education institutions to have such a program.At that time I did not have a Bachelor’s degree but I became very interested in disaster management and sat in the first graduate disaster management class to see what it was all about.I began taking adult undergraduate classes so I could earn the certificate in Disaster Management.I earned the Citizen Emergency Response Term (CERT) certificate which heightened my interest in Disaster Management.I was presented “The Tradition of Hospitality Award” (March 2007) here at Benedictine.Also in 2007, my oldest son, Vince, and I walked together at commencement as the first mother/son to graduate from Benedictine University and was on my way to earn the Disaster Management certificate which I did in May 2009. I now have earned more than 20 FEMA certificates covering a vast majority of emergency preparedness related topics.My other son, Anthony, also graduated from Benedictine University.From the city of Naperville, I earned the Citizens’ Fire Academy certificate (2011), a hands-on program learning everything that firefighters do in an emergency. I am a volunteer for the Emergency Operations Center for Naperville, IL. I am also the Planning Section Chief for the ERRT (Emergency Response and Recover Team) here at Benedictine University and have assisted and opened our emergency shelter during the flooding of April 2013.I can also open a shelter for animals. I earned an Exceptional Achievement Award from the HealthierU Program (May 2012) beating out several faculty and staff members of Benedictine University.I am now enrolled in the Police Academy here at Benedictine University. Outside interests include shopping, HGTV, and, of course, helping our undergraduate and graduate students.
Send Mrs. Divoky an Email
Phone: (630) 829-1147
Erin joined Benedictine University in April of 2015 as an Administrative Assistant for Program Assessment and Technology. Erin graduated cum laude from St. Xavier University in Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Arts in History. After graduating, Erin worked for DeVry University Online and later for DeVry Tinley Park as the Associate Registrar. She has also spent a lot of time lately volunteering at her children's school and as a member of their parent/teacher board.
Send Mrs. Eggenberger an Email
Phone: 630-829-1148
Janet rejoined Benedictine University in July 2017 and currently serves as the Coordinator of MSN Program Operations.
Janet received her Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University as well as Master of Art in Teaching from National Louis University. She has served in a variety of capacities in the education world including a classroom teacher, adjunct instructor and academic advisor for graduate non-traditional adult students.
Erica George has worked at Benedictine for 10 years as Assistant to the Dean. She also coordinates the TIDE (Teacher Inservice DuPage Educators) program with the DuPage County Regional Office of Education (ROE). She has a master's degree in Hospital and Health Administration from The University of Iowa and a bachelor's degree in English from Macalester College. She was a Donald W Cordes fellow at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. She has worked in higher education for most of her career including clinic administration, budgeting, grant projects and personnel resources. Her favorite service project at BU is assisting students in Kindlon Hall with their name cards and hoods at commencement. "It is so fulfilling to see them excited, uncertain and moving forward at the same time when we clap as they leave the building."
Send Mrs. Lange an Email
Phone: (630) 829-1152
Jennifer joined Benedictine University in July 2013. She is currently the Coordinator of BSN Advising and Office Operations for the Department of Nursing and Health. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Media Production) from Columbia College Chicago. Prior to joining Benedictine, Jennifer served as the Office Manager for the Diocese of Joliet Religious Education Office. Jennifer started her career at WGN Television in Chicago as an Assistant Director for the Morning and Noon News. Jennifer also volunteers as a Troop Leader for the Girl Scouts of America.
Send Ms. Liutkus an Email
Phone: 630-829-6596
Egle joined the Nutrition Department as an Administrative Assistant in August 2012. She earned her B.S. in Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She has completed the M.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior at Benedictine in August 2017. Egle held administrative positions in the Chemistry and Physics Departments at UIC before working in the private sector for numerous years. She moved from employment to serving as a volunteer leader in organizations while a "stay at home mom" to her two children. Her son earned his Associate Degree from COD in the Fire Science Program in December 2014. Her daughter is attending St. Xavier University's School of Nursing program, where she earned a partial 4 year scholarship. Outside of work Egle enjoys digital scrapbooking and designing, photography, gardening, cooking, and enjoying time with her family, including her grandson (and rescue dog, Pebbles).
Dr. Jan Writer joined the School of Education in 2008. She serves as the Director of Student Placement and teaches courses in the area of special education. She was previously an Associate Professor of Education at Elmhurst College and on the Education faculty at the University of San Diego and the University of Arizona, where she coordinated graduate teacher education programs in the areas of severe disabilities, orthopedic impairments, and multiple sensory impairments. She holds a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in severe/multiple disabilities, a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Southern Methodist University, and a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing therapy from Indiana University.
Dr. Writer has been working in the field of special education for more than 40 years. Prior to joining BU, she was employed as a speech pathologist, a classroom teacher, the coordinator of programs for students with moderate and severe disabilities for a 16-district special education cooperative, a state education agency staff development specialist, a multi-state Deaf-Blind Regional Center education coordinator, an independent evaluator of students with disabilities, an onsite technical assistance provider, a teacher educator, and a parent advocate. Over the past 38 years, she has consulted to programs serving persons with severe disabilities in over 34 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, the U. S. Pacific Trust Territories, and American Samoa.
Dr. Writer is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Autism National Committee, Autism Society of America, National Coalition on Deafblindness, TASH (formerly The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps), Autism Society of Illinois, and Arc of Illinois. A specialist in public school inclusion and the education of children and youth with low incidence disabilities (autism, orthopedic impairments, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, sensory impairments, and deafblindness), she serves on leadership committees for multiple national and international organizations in the field of special education. She has further presented at more than 300 regional, state, national, and international conferences on topics specific to the quality education of students with moderate, severe, and low incidence disabilities.
| Name | Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Sheila Campbell, Ph.D., RD | Nutrition | scampbell@ben.edu |
| Maureen Casten, MS, RDN, LDN | Nutrition | mcasten@ben.edu |
| Jan Dowell, M.S., M.H.S., R.D., C.S.S.D. | Nutrition | jdowell@ben.edu |
| Lynn Dugan, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. | Nutrition | ldugan@ben.edu |
| David Grotto, MS, RDN, LDN | Nutrition | dgrotto@ben.edu |
| Michel Harris, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., C.D.E. | Nutrition | MHarris@ben.edu |
| Amy Kelly, MS, RD, LDN | Nutrition | akelly10@ben.edu |
| Kelly Knopf, MS, RDN, LDN | Nutrition | kknopf@ben.edu |
| Annie Murphy, MPH, RDN, LDN | Nutrition | amurphy@ben.edu |
| Teresa Pangan, Ph.D., R.D.N. | Nutrition | tpangan@ben.edu |
| Monica Pawasarat, MS, RDN, LDN | Nutrition | mpawasarat@ben.edu |
| Linda Roberts, MS, RD, LDN | Nutrition | lroberts@ben.edu |
| Laurie Schubert, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N | Nutrition | lschubert@ben.edu |
| Jodie Shield, M.Ed., R.D., L.D.N. | Nutrition | jshield@ben.edu |
| Anna Shlachter, MS, RDN, LDN | Nutrition | ashlachter@ben.edu |
| Traci (Beierwaltes) Wessel, M.S., R.D., C.S.G., L.D.N. | Nutrition | twessel@ben.edu |
Richard Campbell, Ed.D.
Dean of the College of Education and Health Services
Erica George
Assistant to the Dean
Email: egeorge@ben.edu
Phone: (630) 829-6084
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
By Mail:
Benedictine University
5700 College Road
Kindlon Hall, Room 258
Lisle, IL 60532
Fax: (630) 829-6281
