Class Notes
1970s
Michael J. Lindsay, AS’75 (Criminal Justice), served in the Military Police from 1971 to 1974. He then returned to school at IU South Bend and then to IUPUI to complete his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1977. Lindsay worked as a La Porte Park policeman, hospital security officer, and a deputy marshal in Westville, Ind., until he took the marshal's position at Westville, which he held for seven years. Lindsay was then hired as a staff instructor at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1986. He took a sojourn to Arizona where he worked for the U.S. Marshals Prisoner Transportation Service (Air Operations) where he transported prisoners and people living in the country without permission back to Honduras and El Salvador, as well as throughout the western states. In 2006, he accepted the position of deputy director for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and Training Board, a position he held until his retirement in October of 2017.
Mary (Peg) (VanHimbergen) Kasa, MS Ed ’78,was installed as president of the University of Kentucky Woman’s Club (UKWC), a social and philanthropic organization, at their April luncheon. She has served this past year as president-elect, training for the year to come into the leadership position.The UKWC has given over $637,000 in scholarships to nontraditional undergraduate students since the 1970s.
Barbara (Shrader) Rohrer, MS Ed ’78, has been retired for nearly 20 years. She is expecting her second great-grandchild in June and her third in September. Rohrer survived brain surgery and three hip surgeries on the same hip while she was employed and is enjoying good health and mobility in her 80s. She is looking forward to warm weather when she can ride her new adult tricycle. Rohrer offers best wishes to those who remember her and to those who wish they knew her.
1980s
Julie Hentz, BA’82 (English), went on to complete a Master of Public Health and a graduate certificate in social marketing at the University of South Florida after graduating from IU South Bend with degrees in fine art and English. She currently enjoys working in public health in the D.C. area as director of social issue marketing for IQ Solutions, effecting behavior change for improved public health, both nationally and internationally. In 2017, she worked to improve public health policy in Ghana with the Ghana Ministries of Health. Hentz further serves as communications chair for the International Social Marketing Association. She is grateful to IU South Bend for its contributions to her most satisfying career.
John Miller, Jr.,AA’84 (General Studies), has retired as a social worker. He now serves as assistant pastor at St. Luke Memorial Church of God in Christ in South Bend, Ind.
John Engel, BS’86 (Accounting), has been working at the University of Notre Dame for 25 years now as a senior accountant in Research & Sponsored Programs Accounting. He is a current member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and of the Michiana Chapter of the IMA.
1990s
Kelly Olson Stewart, EdD, BS’95 (Education), is an assistant professor for the College of Education at Ashford University. She enjoys teaching for the Master of Arts in Education program and developing courses for the new program, Master of Curriculum and Instruction, which begins in August 2018. Stewart also serves as a member of the Faculty Support Development Team, developing mentoring systems to support associate faculty. As a two-year research grant recipient for the college she will be presenting this summer in Dublin, Ireland. Her research focus is on teacher retention.
Jeff Hemmes, PhD, BS’97 (Computer Science), was recently selected for an appointment as a fellow in the 2018 Air Force Research Laboratory Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. Hemmes will spend the summer conducting research in cyber security at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Deirdre Davis, BS’99 (Business), MBA’03, chief marketing officer of MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), is honored to have been selected as the 2018 Marketing Professional of the Year by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing & Business Development Council on March 13, 2018.This award celebrates individuals who exemplify excellence in credit union marketing and are dedicated to benefiting members, supporting communities, and advancing the ideals of the credit union movement. “This award is a testament to the creative talent, skill, and vision Deidre contributes to the success of the Credit Union,” said April Clobes, MSUFCU’s President/CEO. “Her marketing efforts and strategic foresight demonstrate her commitment to our members and community through the mission and core values.” In the last year, under Davis’s leadership, the Marketing and Communications Department of MSUFCU created numerous innovative programs and initiatives designed to meet and exceed business objectives, including a first-time homebuyers’ mixer, an Amazon Prime Day promotion, an event celebrating the credit union’s 80th anniversary and the grand opening of its newest headquarters building, and several other unique promotions that connected members with the products and services that help them achieve their dreams.
Peggy (Rupard) DeLanghe, BS’99 (Education), MS Ed’08,accepted the Hoosier Educator Award for the Preschool and Early Elementary Education Division given by Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC) on April 6, 2018. This award honors an educator whose exemplary practices embody the practical application of Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children standards and who shares those methods with others through workshops, publications, or other means.
Mary Jo (Klodzinski) Malstaff, BA’92 (English), was voted president-elect of the Junior League of South Bend (JLSB) in May. She will serve a one-year term in 2018–19. As the JLSB is celebrating its 75th anniversary, it plans to complete 75 Done in a Day projects in the community in recognition of the anniversary. Malstaff has been a member of the JLSB since 2007 and also serves on the Advisory Board for the Racing for Steve-O Foundation.
2000s
Joseph Briones, BS’02 (Education), just earned his MBA in International Business from Park University in Parkville, Mo. Briones currently works for Kiewit Corporation as a contracts specialist in Lenexa, Kan.
Monica Escalante, BA’02 (Sociology), recently obtained a new position at Grand Canyon University as a university development counselor. She has been an academic counselor for nearly 15 years, and started at IU South Bend as a peer mentor. She works remotely from home and gets to do a lot of community outreach in the area. IU South Bend was a huge influence in her career, and it provided her with the foundation for becoming a counselor.
Colin Flora, BA’08 (Political Science), has pursued a legal career as an attorney with Indianapolis-based Pavlack Law. In addition to his practice, Flora focuses much of his limited free time working on legal writing and contributing to the IU McKinney School of Law's moot court program. Last year was a success for Flora as he was recognized by the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) for his writing with the Harrison Legal Writing Award and the Donald R. Lundberg Writing Award. He recently presented to the ISBA's business law division on topics covered by his writing and was invited to speak at the St. Mary's Law Journal Seventeenth Annual Symposium on Legal Malpractice & Ethics held in San Antonio, Tex., at the start of the new year.The presentation accompanied the publication of his article relating to ethics in litigation.
2010s
KaRena Hochstetler, BA’10 (Psychology), MSW’14, has become a licensed clinical social worker since graduating with her MSW. She has opened her own private counseling practice and is doing a job she loves. Hochstetler says, “Thanks IUSB, for making this possible!”
Ben Domonkos, BS’11 (Education), teaches fourth grade at Tarkington Primary Center, where he was selected by his peers as Tarkington’s Teacher of the Year. In April Domonkos was named the South Bend Community School Corporation’s Teacher of the Year from among 33 teachers honored for being top educators in their schools.
TaMara Kampondeni, BA’11 (Political Science), is excited to announce that she just opened a brand-new spa in Mishawaka called Tulé Spa. Tulé Spa is a haven that serves and nurtures our valued guests and gives them rest from the daily stresses of life.
Matt Owen, BGS’13, was promoted to administrative coordinator within his first year at the Mishawaka campus of Oaklawn Psychiatric Center. The position, which he assumed in December 2017, includes long-range planning, oversight of daily operations, executive support, and managerial assistance.
Hailey Hennessy, BGS’14, has relocated to Columbus, Ind.—the Athens of the prairie. She is the outreach coordinator of their local food co-op. The store itself is not yet open for business, but events take place weekly that organizes, advertises, promotes, and sees through. Hennessy manages a vibrant team of volunteers and loves seeing others passionate for healthy, locally raised foods. She is taking courses through SPEA at IU Bloomington and is working toward her master's degree in nonprofit management. As much as she enjoys Bloomington, she still deeply cherishes her South Bend education.
Edmond Irankunda, BSN’14, was accepted into medical school at the IU School of Medicine after completing his degree at IU South Bend. He recently graduated and is now a doctor. He will be a resident practicing Emergency Medicine for the next four years at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He and wife, Victoria Irankunda, BS’14 (Health Services Management), have been married for almost four years and have been blessed with a handsome one- year-old son. Victoria worked as the clinic manager at OSMC in Elkhart and will be seeking a new position as the family makes the move to Cincinnati.
Alisenne Turner, BA’14 (Mass Communications), has been busy since graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in mass communications with a concentration in public relations.After graduating, she joined the warranty staff at Thor Motor Coach in Wakarusa, Ind., where she worked as a vendor chargeback coordinator and territory concierge until July 2016. In August 2016, she relocated to Dallas, Tex., to be closer to family and joined the software company Homecare Homebase (HCHB) as an associate clinical implementation consultant. HCHB is the leading electronic medical record software provider for the home health and hospice industry. During her time as a consultant with HCHB, she traveled domestically 93 percent of the time and had the opportunity to visit 27 states. Turner ended her time with HCHB in February 2018 to join Pavaso, a software startup located in Plano, Tex., that services the mortgage and title industry. At Pavaso she works as an implementation project manager and product training specialist.Turner notes that while her career path has been anything but linear, it proves that there are no limits on where you can go if you have a willingness to continuously learn and step outside of your comfort zone.
Cecilia Roeder, BA’15 (Mass Communications), moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in 2017 to take a position with the Arizona Opera as the marketing assistant. Six months after starting, she was promoted to marketing manager.
Nichole Ross, BS’15 (Elementary Education), is a first grade teacher for the South Bend Community School Corporation. She is one of the coordinators for the conference EdTech in the Bend (edtechinthebend.com) scheduled for August 3, 2018, at Riley High School. The conference will include presenters from all over the state and a keynote address from Michael Matera, author of Explore Like a Pirate. The conference is for educators and pre-service educators to help build your professional learning network, learn about education technology, and get excited about the 2018–19 school year.
Ginger “Sky” Santiago, BFA’15 (Integrated New Media Studies), was hired as a graphic artist for still and motion graphics at WNIT-Center for Public Media, Michiana's PBS. She started her position on May 7. Her degree in integrated new media studies, with a concentration in video and motion media, along with her Master of Liberal Studies degree (in progress), is the perfect combination of academic pursuits for this position.
Michael Staszewski, BS’15 (Advertising), is the business development manager for Interstate Hotels & Resorts. He recently joined the Board of Directors of the St. Joseph County Chapter of the IU Alumni Association.
William Harrison, BA’16 (Music), is an invited guest at the Chautauqua Institute in New York, where he will lecture on the use of hip- hop music in liturgical settings. Harrison is the director of ministries at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, a parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detriot.
Lawrence Mitchell-Matthews, BM’16 (Voice), will travel to South Africa for two weeks this summer for the debut of the opera, Wading Home. He will complete his graduate work at Southern Methodist University in the fall of 2018.
Tamra Garrett, MM’17 (Voice), is director of choirs at Cashmere High School in Houston, Tex. She also serves as an instructor at Fort Bend Music Center.
Amanda Graves, BA’17 (Psychology), was accepted into Argosy University in Phoenix, Ariz., to pursue a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling and become a licensed professional counselor. She started the program in May.
Christopher (Sallak) Hillak, BGS’17, and Andrew Hillman were married the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2018, at the Cathedral of Saint James in South Bend, Ind. Fr. Brian Grantz and Bishop Douglas Sparks concelebrated the Wedding Mass. Christopher, the son of Rex and Kelly Sallak of Niles, Mich., graduated from Granger Christian High School and Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree. He is employed as a genius administrator at Apple, Inc. Andrew, the son of Stephen Hillman (Lynda) of Gilbert, Ariz., and Melita Hillman (Allan Potter) of Scottsdale, Ariz., graduated from Mountain View High School and Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree. He is employed as the merchandising manager at F&F Sales.The couple has merged last names and taken the new surname of Hillak. They reside in Osceola, Ind.
Richard Fields, BFA’18 (Integrated New Media), accepted a job offer upon graduation as a design specialist for Conn-Selmer, a manufacturer of musical instruments with headquarters based in Elkhart, Ind. He will be responsible for creating design elements to support the company’s marketing initiatives, including graphic design, multimedia, photography, and videography. Fields is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and earned first prize at this year’s Maxinkuckee Film Festival for his film Box.