Class Notes

Cherie Poole Townsend ’73 retired from public service leadership and is now serving as executive director for the International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology and for IACFP Europe, a public interest foundation in Belgium. Cherie also has her own...

Joyce Williams Warren ’71 retired after 31 and a half years as Circuit/Chancery Judge for the Sixth Judicial District in Pulaski and Perry counties in Arkansas. Catalyst...

Carolyn Sweasy Hedin ’71 remains busy and committed to her studies, teaching yoga and Vedic Chant, and by supporting the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Red Wing, Minn., a nonprofit center that offers residencies for writers and artists of all genres...

Irene Richeson Helm Sedeora ’70 took up writing after her time at Rockford University and is a published writer. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women. Catalyst...

James Tuthill ’69 and his partner, Helen, went to Australia and New Zealand on a cruise in March of 2020, and almost got stranded in New Zealand because of the virus. Jim’s initial trip to England in 1968 during the first RU January program led by Dr. Gordon Ross...

Ted Sanford ’68 is a retired anesthesiologist and captain of the United States Navy living in Coronado, Calif. He taught anesthesiology at the University of Michigan. Ted has helped to get Californians vaccinated. Catalyst...

Jane Havlicek Roth ’68 retired in December 2020 as senior director of global real estate for Ellucian, Inc. and is currently focusing on being a caregiver for her mother with whom she shares a home. Her mother is a remarkable 103 years young. Catalyst...

Gerald Bargren ’61 celebrated 60 years of marriage with his partner, Jean. They have seven children, 22 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Catalyst...

Arlene Murin Krizka ’60 welcomed her second great-granddaughter to the family. Catalyst...

Colleen Kitzmiller Holmbeck ’56 was named one of four finalists for the WIFR Eyewitness News Remarkable Woman Award. She has spent decades volunteering and activating positive change in the Rockford community. Catalyst...

Judy Symon Sophianopoulos ’53 retired in 2005 after 18 years as an environmental scientist with the EPA and 17 years as a lecturer and researcher in chemistry at Emory University. Now, Judy volunteers as a tutor at the afterschool program LaAmistad, a charitable...

Erin McDonald ’19 is a medical/surgical nurse working with various medical problems and has seen all different types of patients including those with trauma, cardiac issues, withdrawal, and COVID-19. Catalyst Home Explore our News...

Yvette Robinson ’18/’20 is excited to be serving her country as an AmeriCorps VISTA for Northern Illinois Regional Affordable Housing. She has had the pleasure of working with the Illinois National Guard and the Winnebago County Health Department during a vaccine...

Christopher Scorsolini ’17 has launched his career in aerospace and is currently a financial controller for Global Military Programs at GKN Aerospace in Connecticut. Catalyst Home Explore our News...

Jetsabel Alcala ’16/’19 was part of the TEDx Talk in TEDx Normal. She enjoyed sharing insights about how communications with students and parents have changed since distance learning started. Catalyst Home Explore our News...

Shannon Tipton ’02 is working as a staffer for an Illinois state representative and helped create a Black caucus in Will County, Ill.

Christopher Yax ’98 recently joined Teleflex, a medical device manufacturer, selling their intra-aortic balloon pump technology. His sales territory includes the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern...

Maryann Jones Hayslip ’93, principal of St. Aloysius School in Pewee Valley, Ky., is the recipient of the 2020 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership given by the U.S. Department of Education. She is one of 10 educators in the nation to receive this...

Kelly Sartorius Scott ’88 received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Award along with four other Elgin Community College employees. The award recognizes outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators of community and technical...

Charlyne Blatcher Martin ’88 published her first book of poetry titled “Walking Through Memories” available on Amazon and her historical fiction short plays have been produced by Rockford Public Library, the Ethnic Heritage Museum, and Midway Village Museum Center,...