Stay in Touch
1970s
Charlotte Pfeifer, BA ’76 (History), MPA ’81 (Criminal Justice), was named a 2019 YMCA Sojourner Truth Recipient. This award is given to community members who have helped empower others. Charlotte was recognized for being a voice for women and minorities in the community for decades. Charlotte is also an adjunct faculty member in the School of Social Work.
1980s
Tamara Arment, BGS ’85, MPA ’89, retired from a career in financial aid administration and found a new passion through Proud Scholars. Proud Scholars supports a diverse community by providing educational services to students and their families within the LGBT community. They provide students with volunteering opportunities, mentoring and social services, corporate internship possibilities, and scholarships throughout their college experience to help them build a sustainable future and create stability in their lives. Tamara serves as a member of their Board of Directors and is responsible for their scholarship program. Proud Scholars currently offers three $500 scholarships, one each for a student from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The organization also evaluates eligibility and awards scholarships from partner agencies, as well as assist students in finding safe spaces to live or stay, tutoring, and mentoring. Visit their website to learn more at Proudscholars.org.
William Fields, AGS ’81, went on to complete a bachelor’s degree at the University of Redlands in California. Currently working as a photographer, William published a limited edition photo book, his second, on the Southwest. Additionally he spent April of 2019 as an Artist in Residence at Fort Union National Monument in New Mexico. For more information visit Williamfieldsartphoto.com.
1990s
William C. Brown, BS ’90 (Business and Administration) MLS ’00 has had a wonderful career to-date in commercial credit analysis in banking, where both of his IU degrees earned at IU South Bend have served him very well. Now, he is pleased to say that his step-daughter, Mary Carr, is an IU South Bend student, whose goal it is to obtain her nursing degree. Mary has just completed her freshman year.
Shelley Lesher, BA ’99 (Physics), associate professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, was awarded the Yale Presidential Fellowship allowing her to take a year-long sabbatical during the 2019-20 year to teach at Yale. Shelley’s expertise in nuclear physics and her course on the history of the atomic bomb and its implications on society caught the attention of a Yale staff member who nominated her for the Yale Presidential Fellowship. Shelley is one of ten recipients of this award and will teach a course on nuclear weapons during the fellowship.
Amy Miller, BA ’91 (Political Science), currently works as the clinical research manager in the Radiation Oncology department at the IU School of Medicine. She has held several position in various departments at at IUPUI since 2008.
Timothy Rushenberg, BA ’98 (Political Science), was named vice president of government relations by the Indiana Electric Cooperatives in September. He most recently served as vice president of the Indiana Energy Association. Prior to that he was with the Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. Timothy also served four years in the United States Air Force.
2000s
Kris Robinson, BA’09 (Psychology), serves on the IU South Bend Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Holy Cross Parish Pastoral Council. Last spring Kris served as assistant director of Gem of the Ocean with the South Bend Civic Theatre and is a former director of the Michiana Monologues.
2010s
Brian Albers, BS ’18 (Computer Science), passes on the message to “Never give up chasing the dream. I chased it from Indiana to the Gulf and back. Now I have my dream job, house, loving wife, and two kids. If I can do it anyone can.”
Casey DeSmith, BS ’14 (Finance), and Cody DeSmith, AS ’12, BS ’17 (Accounting), founded DeSmith Consulting, a finance and accounting firm. They create customized solutions to meet their client’s business needs, whether bookkeeping, cash flow analysis, or financial modeling. Submit inquiries to the DeSmith’s at DeSmithConsulting@gmail.com.
Ben Domonkos, BS ‘11, MS ’19 (Education), became principal at LaSalle Elementary School with School City of Mishawaka last year where he encourages a culture of #BeAwesomeLaSalle. Ben previously taught 5th grade at Swanson and 3rd and 4th grade at Tarkington. As a student Ben worked in the Arts Box Office at IU South Bend where he earned the moniker Benny Ben Ben and established life-long friendships.
Alexandria Hepburn, BA ’17 (Psychology), graduated with her Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University in Chicago this past summer. She accepted a position in the PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision program at the University of Toledo for the fall of 2019.
Stacey Horstmann, BS ’19 (General Business) and Jacob Roth, BS ’19 (Health Sciences), are license brokers at Cressy & Everett Real Estate. They are dedicated to their clients and are honored to assist any alumni, students, and staff to find their dream home or offer services. Their contact information is staceyhorstmann@cressyeverett.com and jacobroth@cressyeverett.com.
Ali Mahamat, BA ’15 (Psychology), joined the admissions team at a counselor and diversity coordinator at IU South Bend last fall. He is currently finishing his Masters in Behavior Analysis at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Ali was born in the Central African Republican and identifies as a multicultural individual because of the different adaptions and languages he learned from moving around the globe and living in different cultures.
Kevin Schascheck II, BS’ 19, BA ’19 (Finance & German), was the student body president at IU South Ben during the 2018-19 academic year. He has completed his first year at the University of Virginia School of Law as a juris doctor candidate. Kevin joined their extramural moot court team, UVA Law Democrats, and International Refugee Assistance Project which allowed him to combine his two passions of debating people and helping refugees. He plans to work in New York City after graduating in 2022.
William Spalding, BA ’19 (History), is a box office sales clerk at the Morris Performing Arts Center. He also takes photos of South Bend for AmeriCorps and works seasonal with South Bend Venue Parks and Arts.
Kyle Techentin, BFA ’13 (Theatre), served as the production management assistant on the Blue Man Group: Speechless Tour and Once on This Island first national tour. Kyle has traveled the country touring multiple Broadway shows and has taken a picture of each theatre along the way. (Other Broadway credits include: Finding Neverland; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Jerome Tiah, BS ’13 (Dental Hygiene), and Taylor DeBruce, BS ’15 (Dental Hygiene IPFW) opened an sweets shop in Indianapolis named TeeJay’s Sweet Tooth specializing in serving ice cream on donuts and Fruity Pebble Treats. Both owners are licensed dental hygienists “satisfying one sweet tooth at a time.”
Caitlin Vlaeminck, MS ’10 (Nursing), graduated in the first cohort of nurse practitioner students with an MS in nursing in 2010. She returned to IU South Bend as a clinical assistant professor in the master’s program in 2014 and became the program director in 2017. Caitlin is honored to be able to assist students in achieving their academic goals, just as she did 9 years ago.
Asya Williams, BGS ’18, quotes Nipsey Hussle, “I’m about seeing long-term, seeing a vision, understanding nothing really worthwhile happens overnight, and just sticking to your script long enough to make something real happen.”