Brittany Holliday, ’10, has shown herself to be a leader and quality professional at her job as a nurse, recently earning Advocate Health Care’s Nurse of the Year Award as well as Advocate Sherman Hospital’s Transformational Leadership Award in 2024.
More than 1,200 nominations were submitted. Nominations were submitted by clinicians and teammates and reviewed by peer committees for blinded judging according to each nominee’s passion for patient care, commitment to service, solution-oriented abilities and evidence-based practice.
Holliday’s foundation of excellence was formed while a nursing student at NIU, with help from the generosity of donors who supported scholarships.
Holliday received merit scholarships as well as the Harold W. Finney and Janet P. Finney Medical Memorial Scholarship and the Dr. Irving and Roseanne K. Frank Scholarship in Nursing
“I chose NIU because it was close to home and I could still be near my friends and family in the area,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to receive scholarships and grants to attend and pay for my schooling.”
Holliday currently serves as patient care leader at the hospital, based in Elgin, Illinois, in its Adult Medical Unit.
“I am a charge nurse, helping to support the other nurses and staff on the unit, ensuring the patients get safe and quality care,” she said. “I have been involved in professional governance since 2018. In 2022, I was elected as the first nurse staff president at Sherman. Over the next two years, I helped create new workflows and communication processes to improve the nurses’ understanding of professional governance and give a voice to the bedside nurse.”
She described the challenges and rewards of working in the nursing profession at the leadership level.
“The most challenging part of my job is seeing patients who don’t get better, despite our interventions,” she said. “The most rewarding part is working side-by-side with wonderful nurses and assistants who support each other and lift each other up, despite the challenges.”
She grew up in and still lives in Sycamore, Illinois, near he NIU campus. Her mother also works in healthcare. Before coming to NIU, Holliday was involved in her schools’ music programs, playing the cello, and in athletics, including cheerleading and track and field, throwing shotput and discus.
Holliday recalls her NIU experience as awesome.
“My freshman year I was in the honors program, and through that program is where I met my core group of friends that I maintained through college,” she said. “It was nice because we were all in the same classes together, making it easy to form friendships. Through that program, I joined the Lambda Sigma Honors Society with my friends and participated in activities through there.”
She added, “I had many positive experiences and impacts from many of my teachers while in attendance.”
She recommends that nursing students experiencing NIU for the first time to connect with their peers.
“Lean on your fellow classmates, do the study groups and have fun together,” she said. “Those people can be your lifelong friends.”
In addition to the Bachelor of Science in nursing she received from NIU, Holliday earned her medical-surgical and gerontological nursing certifications.
Holliday described her fellow Huskies as being able to persevere and work through challenges.
“A true Huskie is someone who is engaged and willing to do the work; someone that, despite obstacles in their way, can persevere and overcome,” she said. “Along with that is determination and the strength to try again after failing.”
In 2020, Pattie Schiele, ’86, saw an opportunity to volunteer remotely for her alma mater.
The opportunity—the Huskie Postcard Project—was so simple and significant that Schiele has volunteered ever since.
“It’s extremely rewarding, fulfilling, and uplifting to feel like you’re positively impacting NIU,” Schiele said.
NIU alumni volunteers write postcards to potential students to introduce them to NIU and to help admissions with overall recruitment efforts. Postcards are mailed directly to the volunteer, and when they are complete, the volunteer mails them back in a postage-paid envelope.
“I was extremely fortunate to have had exceptional mentors and role models while attending NIU, and once I had more time to devote to volunteering, I wanted to contribute to students’ experiences in the same way I received coaching and guidance,” Schiele said.
While at NIU, Schiele was active in dorm life, serving as floor president and working at the front desk of Gilbert Hall. She was a member of the swing choir and joined the student chapter of Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI), holding several board positions, including president and editor. She has fond memories of selling donuts in DuSable Hall to raise money to send WICI members to an annual career conference in Chicago. After graduation, she joined the Chicago Professional WICI Chapter and was once again fortunate to hold several board positions over the years, including president.
Remembering her NIU roots, Schiele has plans to volunteer again in 2025, starting with assembling Huskie Notecard Project care packages. She believes NIU alumni can play an important role in providing students with encouragement and fresh ideas—two things she tries to incorporate into her postcard messages.
As a communications professional, it’s no surprise Schiele enjoys speaking to and corresponding with students. She spent over 35 years in communications, the majority of which were at the global corporations of Motorola and Aon.
“I am fortunate to have led talented, high-performing internal communications teams that collaborated regularly and had a strong passion for effectively communicating key strategic initiatives with employees worldwide,” said Schiele.
One of her most rewarding professional experiences was working with Motorola’s integrated supply chain leader who, during Schiele’s tenure, received the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) EXCEL Leadership Award based on the company’s best-in-class strategic communications.
“We were all very proud of not only our business achievements but also the supply chain leader’s unwavering support of, and investment and belief in, his communications team members,” said Schiele.
Learning from exceptional leaders like this one, Schiele wants NIU students to feel equally supported and invested in by the alumni community. She encourages others to get involved with many of the volunteer opportunities available–whether virtual or in person–even if it’s just once per year. She believes alumni will be eager to do more after feeling inspired and energized.
“Alumni volunteers can help prepare students for life beyond NIU and DeKalb,” she said. “I feel like we can assist them in connecting the dots, perhaps seeing things from a different perspective, and offering students additional insight into themselves. We can field questions in a safe, non-judgmental environment and further build their confidence. It is a critical time in their lives as they continue to identify who they are and what they want to be in the world.”
NIU alumni volunteer their time in meaningful ways. Want to brainstorm ways you can get involved? Contact Liz McKee, M.S.Ed. ’14 at lmckee1@niu.edu or 815-753-7400.
Jordan Lynch, ’13, Huskie Football quarterback 2009-2013, wins fourth state championship as head football coach of Mount Carmel High School. (Photo Credit: Jerrold D. Berry | Alpha Photography)
When former Huskie quarterback Jordan Lynch, ’13, arrived at NIU his freshman year in 2009, he wanted to be the hardest-working athlete on the field. He was confident it would lead to extraordinary things.
Lynch went on to set five NCAA records and 25 school records, all while recording a 23-game, regular-season undefeated streak as a starter. He fell in love with NIU and the people surrounding it—and Huskie Football fans admired him.
Fans watched Lynch’s 12 100-yard rushing games and nine 200-yard passing games during the 2012 season. They cheered when NIU Football became the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) team to appear in a Bowl Championship Series game (Orange Bowl, 2013) with Lynch as the starting quarterback.
NIU was ranked as high as 16th in the national polls and finished the 2012 season with a record of 12-2, including the MAC championship.
In 2013, Lynch was recognized as a Heisman Trophy award finalist, earning the highest finish ever by a player from the MAC.
Today, Lynch’s hard work pays dividends in the form of Huskie Pride.
“It was a great honor that wouldn’t have been possible without the coaching staff or my teammates,” Lynch said. “My NIU experience molded me into who I am today. I had a lot of great mentors and teachers that taught me the right way.”
He attributes his success to having had many great coaches and mentors, like former NIU Head Coach Jerry Kill, who was pivotal in bringing him to NIU. Still, he recognizes his parents, Shelia and Jim, for making him a strong, driven football player and instilling the confidence to chase his dreams.
“Growing up, I dreamed of being a professional football player,” Lynch said. “My family was the backbone of my success. My parents supported and believed in me, even when I sometimes didn’t believe in myself.”
Lynch said playing youth sports taught him about hard work, sacrifice, time management, and working together to reach a common goal, all things that helped prepare him for the future.
Jordan Lynch calls NIU “a community of close, tight-knit people.” (Photo: NIU Today)
He chose NIU—the only school to offer him an athletic scholarship as a freshman—and created many great memories, including bonding with teammates and experiencing the support of the administration and fan base.
“NIU is a family,” Lynch said. “It’s a community of close, tight-knit people. There are alumni throughout the entire nation that truly love Huskie Football and the school.”
Upon graduating, Lynch briefly played for the Chicago Bears before joining the Canadian Football League where he scored the game-winning touchdown and led the Edmonton Eskimos to the 2015 Grey Cup Championship. In 2017, he returned to NIU as its running back coach before taking on the role of head football coach at Mount Carmel High School in 2018.
“My professional football career helped me to become a head coach today,” Lynch said. “It strengthened my work ethic and time management skills, and I was always a captain leader, so it’s a natural fit for me to do what I do today!”
Lynch refers to Mount Carmel and NIU as “home” and “family.” His brother, Justin, also a Huskie, just completed his third season as an NIU Football running back.
Mount Carmel helped grow Lynch’s love for the game and build his confidence, so he was thrilled to return and give back.
“The year coaching at NIU was an absolute blast,” Lynch said. “I never thought I would coach in high school, but now that I am, I love every second. My players have a voice on the team; I’m a players’ coach. I’ve learned it’s not how much I know; it’s how much the players know, and when I receive full buy-in from the players, that’s when the team really takes off.
“I also learned first-hand that hard work WORKS!”
Deborah Collura, ’83, has decades of experience as a broadcast journalism executive at TV stations across the U.S., covering a variety of crucial news stories for the communities where she’s worked and lived. Her love for news and storytelling was nurtured while a student at NIU.
“My NIU experience was amazing,” she said. “There were so many opportunities that helped pave the way for a 40-year career in broadcast television. I was able to write for the Northern Star; I was thrilled when I was given the sports beat. I attended the college basketball games and traveled to the MAC championship with the football team and reported on their success. I worked at the National Public Radio station on campus and reported as well. I covered all media bases with my newspaper writing, radio reporting and broadcasting training.”
Collura currently serves as the president and general manager of CBS-owned and operated stations KOVR and KMAX in Sacramento, California. During her career, she has held a variety of positions leading journalists at stations across the country.
Collura was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, and is the oldest of three children. Her dad ran a barber shop in town and her mom was an interior designer. It was in her dad’s shop where she discovered she loved to talk to people.
“He and his partner ran the four-chair shop,” she said. “My father was a diehard Packers fan, and his partner was a diehard Bears fan. It made for interesting rivalry discussions, newspaper stories and bets! I hung out at my father’s shop often and loved to interview his customers about their careers.”
Before coming to NIU, Collura loved writing poetry and short stories, as well as photography. She also liked to compete in softball with her sister and was on the debate team in high school.
“I thought I wanted to be a lawyer until I attended NIU and became a part of the broadcast journalism team,” she said.
Collura liked that NIU was affordable, close to home, and had a center for TV broadcasts. The proximity of NIU helped her build a resume for her future success in broadcasting.
“Since NIU was an hour commute to my hometown of Rockford, I continued to work at the Rockford Register Star, Gannett Newspapers and later WREX TV, the NBC affiliate in Rockford,” she said.
The university’s broadcast journalism program helped Collura learn and hone the skills she would need in the workplace.
“The broadcasting center was the best experience for an upcoming broadcast journalist,” she said. “We learned to write, produce, shoot, edit and anchor newscasts. It was challenging and thrilling and gave us a glimpse of what the television business would look like after graduation. It was firsthand training daily with talented teachers and educators.”
She has great memories of Professor Robert LaConto, who taught broadcast journalism at NIU from 1964 until his retirement in 1990.
“He was inspirational in getting me ‘hooked’ on television news,” she said. “Professor LaConto taught us to roll up our sleeves and dive into the business. He taught us how important it is to be curious and to ask the how, what, and why for each story. He pushed us to try all aspects from shooting, producing and anchoring. He told us to keep our passion alive through our storytelling.”
As president and general manager of a network affiliate news station, Collura is the strategic leader in all aspects of broadcast sales, news, multi-platform content and community initiatives.
“I oversee all departments of duopoly,” she said. ““The CBS/KOVR side is an extension of CBS Stations and the network where our mission focuses on content, culture, and community. KMAX is our independent station which prides itself on a daily, four-hour Good Day lifestyle program.“
Collura talked about the challenges of operating a modern news operation.
“The most challenging part of my job today is helping employees navigate through the constant change and evolution of our business,” she said. “As advertising dollars for stations shrink, and fickle audiences turn elsewhere for content, it is critical television stations remain committed to community journalism and relevant coverage of our complicated world. Fragmentation will continue to be an obstacle, so understanding our viewers and what they want is key to our success moving forward.”
She added, “The most rewarding part of my job is collaborating with journalists who are dedicated to sharing stories that impact people’s lives daily and the impact we have on serving our communities.”
During her 40-plus-year career in journalism, she has overseen a wide range of breaking news stories. In addition to her current role in Sacramento, she has held positions at stations in Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Houston; Detroit; Miami; Minneapolis; Albany, N.Y.; and St. Louis. Those roles have landed her and the stations prestigious awards, including several Emmys for investigative reporting, Edward R. Murrow Awards, a George Peabody Award, and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.
Collura shared her memories of two news events that impacted her and her career.
The first was a hostage crisis that occurred in Sacramento in the early 1990s while Collura was the executive producer at KCRA, the NBC station in Sacramento. In 1991, 41 employees and customers were taken hostage by four gunmen at a Good Guys electronic store in Sacramento. The eight-hour ordeal unfolded on live television, and in the end, six were killed, including three hostages and three of the gunmen; 14 hostages were injured. The hostage crisis remains the largest rescue operation in U.S. history, she said.
“I was in the control room navigating the coverage as four Vietnamese teen immigrants, who were frustrated with life in the U.S., commandeered the dramatic event,” she said. “Media outlets were able to get harrowing video as the situation unfolded live on television. The store’s glass front doors allowed video crews with their cameras to transmit video as events unfolded — the hostage takers lining up captives in front of the glass entrance as human shields.”
Collura said she learned valuable lessons that day.
“For eight hours, I stayed in the control room producing the live breaking news,” she said. “During that day, I realized the power of live television and of viewers witnessing history being made in real time. I also learned the responsibility I had as the person in the control room making decisions as we were broadcasting live – to be constantly aware of the necessary steps, care and concern we must take as journalists to alert the audience of what they are about to witness, especially that which may be graphic, disturbing and traumatizing. While television needs to inform, it was a real-time lesson in being responsible to our viewers.”
Another impactful story for her was coverage of former Michigan State Representative and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his ultimate downfall. Kilpatrick was convicted of multiple felonies and served time in federal prison before being pardoned by President Donald Trump in January 2021. Collura was serving as news director at WDIV in Detroit as the station covered Kilpatrick.
“The uncovering of Kilpatrick’s corruption was the result of investigative journalism and the courage to make the necessary investment to take on a political figure who was abusing power and bilking taxpayers,” she said. “I had to make the decision that we commit enormous resources and time into revealing the story because it was our ethical duty to honor the public’s right to know. After much contemplation with our executive team, I decided that we should disclose and make public text messages between Kilpatrick and his mistress, which detailed his abuse of power and infidelity.”
She continued, “This was a difficult decision because even though Kilpatrick was a public political figure who was involved in criminal activity, the ripple effects that it would cause were a source of consideration – his family, including his young children, and the disclosure potentially causing the ruin of his political aspirations. The story gained national attention and we won several awards for our coverage and investigative reporting. Many documentaries have been produced on Kilpatrick’s rise and his subsequent fall.”
Collura’s rise has remained constant since her graduation from NIU and its been nothing but good news ever since. She has been a leader and decision-maker in a competitive, intense industry, and she prepared herself for her roles while at NIU. Collura’s proudest moment is when her son Marco told her he wants to follow in her footsteps. He is now preparing to graduate from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree in May 2025.
Riley Oncken, J.D. ’04, DeKalb County state’s attorney and proud Huskie (Photo: Riley Oncken)
Riley Oncken, J.D. ’04, embraced DeKalb County in 2001 to attend NIU and never left. He developed a deep connection with the community, guided by his faith, family, and focus, and he considers himself blessed.
Recently, Oncken was elected as the DeKalb County state’s attorney, a position he was sworn in to on December 2, 2024.
“It is an exciting challenge,” Oncken said of his new role. “After being in private practice for most of my legal career, taking on this position is exciting but also scary. Each day brings new and different issues and challenges. The first month started with me drinking from the proverbial ‘fire hose.’ Now, things are getting a little easier, and I am starting to understand better how I can support the attorneys and staff in doing their jobs well. I am thankful I entered a healthy office with great people and culture. It is easier to lead well when there is a solid foundation.”
Oncken may still be establishing himself in his new role, but his strong desire to serve and supportive family set him up for success.
“I didn’t grow up wanting to be an attorney,” Oncken shared. “I attended law school at NIU intending to go into federal law enforcement after I graduated. However, I realized that I could make a difference in people’s lives in our community by being a lawyer. It may sound cheesy, but those who know me well know I am sincere when I say, ‘My favorite thing about being an attorney is the opportunity to help and serve people.’ It gives my life a sense of purpose that I don’t know I would have experienced in any other career.”
Riley Oncken poses with his family for a photo. (Photo: Riley Oncken)
Oncken says he is blessed to have an incredibly supportive wife, Heather, and kids, Mia, Quinn, Hattie, and Rowan.
“I would not have had the success that I had in private business and now as an elected official without my family’s support, encouragement and understanding,” he said. “As an attorney in private practice, it was not unusual for me to work until 11:00 p.m. a few times a month, and my wife and kids understood that was what I needed to do to help my clients and take care of our family financially. Having a supportive spouse who manages our household well and ensures that our home is where I can return to and relax makes the long hours and stressful days bearable.”
The past year of campaigning was tough for Oncken and his family, but knowing that there was an end in sight made putting in the hard work toward winning the election an achievable goal.
“My wife and I have had a saying since our twins were born, ‘It’s not forever, it’s just for now,’” Oncken said. “I am also a Christian, and I do my best to love God and people and try to do the next right thing. I have strong morals and a strong work ethic. If I keep a healthy perspective and focus on those priorities, I find that I have more success and less stress. When I veer off those priorities, things tend not to go as well.”
Oncken’s strong work ethic is what carried him through college. After graduating from West Aurora High School in 1997, he studied law enforcement and justice administration at Western Illinois University. He worked as an intern for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Customs Service, which gave him insight into law and policy making, law enforcement, and, ultimately, the prosecution of offenders. The wide range of internship experiences helped him to be better prepared for the NIU College of Law despite feeling the shock of the rigor of law school.
Riley Oncken was sworn in as DeKalb County state’s attorney on December 2, 2024. (Photo: Christina Lamphere)
“When I graduated from Western Illinois University, I was confident that I was among the smartest students, and my grades reflected that,” Oncken said. “I finished my coursework with a double major in three and a half years and spent my final semester interning for U.S. Customs Internal Affairs. I thought law school would be easy, but I didn’t realize and should have known that most of my classmates were also all at the top of their respective classes. That revelation was like whiplash the first semester when I did not do as well and when the content was more challenging than anything else I had learned in my academic career—except for maybe honors physics.”
Now, as a proud NIU alumnus, Oncken fondly recalls his days at the NIU College of Law as “the best time that I never want to have to go through again.”
“During law school, my classmates and I worked hard and played hard, and I have had the pleasure of practicing regularly with many of my classmates from NIU over the last 20 years,” he said. “I am thankful that NIU gave me a great legal education without saddling me with overwhelming debt. I am grateful to be able to give back to DeKalb County and the NIU community as DeKalb County’s next State’s Attorney.”
Oncken previously served for several years on the NIU Alumni Council and recently attended the College of Law’s 50th Anniversary Gala to celebrate fifty years of success in creating high-quality attorneys and judges.
“I am a proud Huskie and enjoy playing in the annual NIU College of Law Golf Outing,” Oncken said. “I believe that I can claim that my foursome has won it more times than any other group since the outing began. It helps that I always bring much better golfers than me. I learned long ago that if you want to be successful, surround yourself with people who are better than you, and you will learn and get better.”
Hard work and servant leadership describe Andrew “Andy” Gorski to a ‘T.’ His 33-year successful sales career was shaped by his experiences in youth football and at NIU, which instilled in him the grit and determination necessary to excel in competitive sales environments.
“Football built me; NIU inspired me,” he said.
Gorski grew up in Summit, Illinois, near Chicago’s south side. He played football at Argo High School.
“Football taught me how to mentally and physically get knocked down and get back up,” Gorski said. “It taught me the importance of teamwork and focusing on my goals.”
After being denied admission to the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business, Gorski turned to his second-choice university, NIU.
“Being turned down (by the University of Illinois) ended up being one of the luckiest moments of my life,” he said. “I was lucky to study professional selling at NIU. Its strong curriculum, including many industry speakers, taught me things that I still use in my career today. Dr. Stephen Castleberry founded the program, which is the second oldest sales program in the country, and it remains top-notch.”
Former NIU sales professor Dr. Rick Ridnour distinctly influenced Gorski’s career path by showing him what a successful professional sales career looked like.
“Dr. Ridnour’s Introduction to Professional Selling class changed my direction and my life,” Gorski said. “I saw that you could make a good living helping customers get what they needed. Dr. Ridnour is one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. We are still friends today, and he continues to inspire me whenever we speak.”
Gorski looks to inspire current NIU students, just as Ridnour did for him. He has served on the NIU Sales Advisory Board for over 25 years, offering his ideas and expertise and working with students looking to enter sales. He also returns to campus almost every semester to guest lecture in classes. Simply helping students brings him immense joy.
“I truly treasured my time at NIU and continue to treasure my experiences as an alumnus,” he said. “I doubt I would have been involved after graduation if I went to any other university.”
The same joy of helping others drives Gorski’s noteworthy career. Whether it’s growing a new seller to make their first sale or helping a top seller to close a landslide deal, Gorski says the ability to help others succeed in their careers or serve customers is heartwarming and never grows old.
Gorski led sales teams for 22 years during his nearly 25-year career at CDW, a global IT services and IT consulting company. A significant highlight came when he was selected to pilot teams that aimed explicitly at selling to healthcare providers. Teaming up with another sales leader, Gorski piloted the effort from 2003 to 2005, culminating in the official launch of CDW Healthcare in 2005.
“At launch, the healthcare teams brought in $325 million,” Gorski said. “Today, they bring in over $3 billion in revenue. We set the strategy, we built the team, and it was such a rush!”
His success didn’t come without challenges, requiring him to draw on his resilience and determination to rise again after setbacks.
“In 2008, I built and led a team at CDW focused on selling a nurse communications system,” Gorski said. “After growing sales at 5X, the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) of our main offering decided to pull out of the channel, leaving my six sellers, my engineer and myself without jobs. We found new roles for almost everyone, and I entered the world of collaboration, the market I’m in today. The lessons learned were that ‘life can change in an instant’ and to ‘always be open to new opportunities.’”
Today, Gorski is vice president of sales for SVT, a national audio/visual solutions integrator specializing in designing and installing conference rooms, video walls, digital signage and other solutions. He focuses on working with channel partners and leading a solution-driven team of sales professionals who listen to customers’ needs to design solutions that meet their vision and budget.
Gorski’s proudest accomplishment is seeing many people he’s worked with grow in their careers and achieve their dreams.
“It results in hard-working teams, success and loyalty,” Gorski said, reflecting on the foundation of his servant leadership style.
He emphasizes his philosophy of uplifting others in all aspects of his life, including volunteer work at OscarMike.org, Operation Support our Troops and the Daybreak Shelter in Joliet. Still, Gorski acknowledges that it’s critical to know when to accept support from others.
“My wonderful wife, Paula, did the bulk of the hard work raising our children,” Gorski said. “With her support, I was able to focus throughout my career. I am a fighter, and I can work as hard as it takes to win with her by my side.”
Clearly, Gorski was meant to be a Huskie. He’s proud to be associated with NIU and its culture.
“Huskies are gritty!” he said. “Huskies work hard and get the job done. They do whatever it takes to earn their degree and succeed.”
Sisters and doctors of audiology Ashley (St. Peter) Goryl, Au.D. ’13, and Taylor (St. Peter) Bender, Au.D. ’21, use their sound education at NIU to enhance their patients’ hearing health.
Goryl’s practice, The Hearing Doctors, and the sisters’ success is built on the bedrock of their hardworking family.
“We are both first-generation college graduates in our family,” Bender said. “Our maternal grandparents were Mexican, and our paternal grandparents were Italian. All our grandparents have passed now, but our parents have always said that it would have made them so proud to see both of us with graduate-level degrees. This is what the American dream is all about.”
Goryl and Bender were also inspired by their parents’ hard work.
“Our parents are the reason we are where we are today,” Bender said. “They showed us what hard work and putting family first looks like.”
Growing up in Naperville, Illinois, the two sisters have always been very close. Their father worked for ComEd for 35 years, and their mother works in insurance housing, helping families find housing while they are displaced from their homes.
“They both earned a high school education and then worked hard to provide us both with an amazing upbringing,” Bender said. “It was a priority for them to be able to give us the opportunity to have a college education.”
Goryl and Bender both attended NIU because of the audiology program’s stellar reputation of having outstanding faculty, cutting-edge facilities and equipment.
Goryl describes her NIU experience as life changing.
“The program provided an intense curriculum, but we were also provided the support needed to succeed,” she said. “My class started Hustle for Hearing, a 5K fundraiser in the community. We raised and donated over $4,000 to Illinois Hands & Voices, an organization that supports children with hearing loss and their families.”
Bender continued to be involved in the Hustle for Hearing 5K in addition to participating in the Student Academy of Audiology on campus, and said her NIU education prepared her for the hard work of seeing patients.
“While it was a lot of hard work and pretty intense and extensive studying, it prepared me greatly for the real world of working with patients,” she said. “I made amazing friends in my program. We created bonds with each other due to our similar passion of helping people.”
Both Goryl and Bender praised Diane ScheckLong as a mentor and an impactful professor.
“Dr. ScheckLong was not only a great professor but guided us to think outside of the box,” Goryl said. “She was also helpful in teaching us how to apply what we were learning to our everyday situations with patients.”
Bender said that all the faculty were accessible and helpful but she had a great relationship with Dr. ScheckLong working in the clinic.
“While I had a great experience with all the professors who always took extra time to make sure we succeeded, Dr. ScheckLong really impacted me while at NIU,” she said. “She was my in-house clinical preceptor for a semester, and she really helped guide me in my clinical patient care. She provided a very laid-back atmosphere that made learning easy, fun and relaxing while still being very effective. Dr. ScheckLong really taught me what a day-to-day experience would look like in an audiology clinic, and it helped reinforce why I love the field and what we can do for patients.”
Bender said the two sisters see patients from early childhood to seniors. They meet with patients and conduct hearing evaluations, make recommendations to help with their hearing loss, including hearing aids and conduct a hearing aid fitting if hearing aids are necessary.
“We make sure they are successful throughout their whole hearing journey over the years,” she said. “A hearing journey is a partnership with a patient and their audiologist.”
Hearing loss can create a loss of connection, and the sisters aim to reconnect their patients with their lives and loved ones.
“The most rewarding part of our job is definitely helping people hear and therefore giving the gift of reconnecting socially with their loved ones,” Bender said. “People don’t realize how isolating hearing loss can be, when someone can’t hear they disconnect from the world and from the social activities that they love. Being able to give some of that back to people and seeing how people react and are grateful for that is something I will never get over.”
Goryl said the best part of her job is making that connection through better hearing.
“Seeing a patient’s face light up when they can hear again is the most rewarding part of what we do,” she said. “We also try to help everyone that walks through our door so if someone has budget restrictions we try and find them a solution, so no one leaves without hearing better.”
Bender and Goryl are living examples of the true Huskie spirit.
“Ashley and I believe a true Huskie holds qualities of being hardworking, having perseverance, and being a dreamer,” Bender said. “I always dreamed that my sister and I would one day be working together in a family practice. It just shows that NIU helped us prepare for this amazing experience.”
Inspired by the opportunities that shaped his professional journey, Kevin Sweeney, ’99, M.S. ’00, joined the Computer Science Alumni Council (CSAC) to ensure NIU students can thrive just as he did.
“I was given many opportunities during my education that prepared me for success, and my time at NIU was a big part of that,” Sweeney said. “I want to give back so that others can have the same opportunities.”
Sweeney became involved with the CSAC in 2022 and most recently took on the role of president. He has been involved in the job shadow program, career fair prep workshop, and as a panelist at the CSAC “Real Jobs in the Real World” event.
“I was looking for volunteer opportunities related to my professional life,” he said. “Over the past two years, I have found my time volunteering at NIU to be rewarding and enriching.”
Sweeney said he recalls being very nervous about making the transition from student to professional and is grateful for the opportunities NIU offered that helped him to better understand what would come next.
“The events that prepare students for the transition to the working world rarely work without volunteers, including activities like practice interviews,” he said. “It’s worth my time.”
While at NIU, Sweeney learned that volunteering is an excellent way to learn and practice new skills.
“My freshman year resident assistant in Douglas Hall pushed me to get involved in group activities to help raise my confidence,” he said. “It worked!”
Volunteering enables you to practice skills in an approachable way because if you get it wrong, it won’t come up in class or a performance review.”
Sweeney quickly took leadership positions on campus. He served as a Grant Towers North resident assistant his sophomore year, a Grant Towers assistant security supervisor his senior year, and a graduate assistant teaching a section of CSCI 330.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science with university honors and a master’s degree in computer science prepared Sweeney for his first role as a programmer at ScudderKemper Investments in 2000. Working there for nearly 20 years, through several corporate transitions, including a merger and rebranding to DWS Investments, Sweeney held positions such as mainframe programmer, reporting developer and data warehouse developer. He left his role as a software engineer in 2020 and joined Cyber Korp as a senior data warehouse developer. Today, Sweeney is principal enterprise data engineer at UScellular and leads a production support team responsible for the enterprise data warehouse and data lake systems.
Sweeney and his wife, Michelle, ’01, remain connected to NIU through visits to campus and tailgating at Huskie games. They are also charter members of the alumni association.
He encourages others to find an opportunity to volunteer at an organization meaningful to them.
“It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, and you’ll probably get more back from it than you put in,” Sweeney said.
NIU alumni volunteer their time in meaningful ways. Want to brainstorm ways you can get involved? Contact Liz McKee, M.S.Ed. ’14 at lmckee1@niu.edu or 815-753-7400.
Sara Egert, ’01, is a certified breathwork practitioner helping clients de-stress, heal, and regain focus and clarity. (Photo: Stephanie Magoulas
Amid the whirlwind of daily life arrives the holiday season—a crescendo of expectations, emotions, and endless to-do lists that further compress our lives. Did you just take a deep breath thinking about it all?
NIU alumna Sara Egert, ’01, has been teaching and guiding the art of breathwork—more specifically conscious, connected, circular breathwork—in various formats (group or individual, in-person or online) for almost a decade.
After hearing others in her book club rave about breathwork, she decided to try it herself and walked away with immense clarity. To this day, it is one of the most powerful experiences she has ever had.
She became a certified breathwork facilitator, completing a year-long seminar with Leonard Orr (the father of Rebirthing Breathwork) and immersive practitioner training with Clarity Breathwork™ in Costa Rica, California, Bali, and virtually. She has over 500 hours of breathwork training.
In the following interview, Egert offers simple and practical techniques on being more intentional with your breath to reduce stress, calm your mind, bring more clarity and creativity, and help to reprogram and reset your physical and emotional body.
Introducing Breathwork
NIU: Thanks for offering your expertise to fellow Huskies. First, what is breathwork and how does it differ from simply taking a deep breath?
Egert: There are many different breathwork teachings. I guide and teach breathwork that goes far beyond a simple deep breath. It’s called “Conscious Connected Circular Breathwork.” It’s intentional, connecting your inhalation and exhalation in a circular pattern.
In a typical guided breathwork session of one hour or more, you become fully engaged with your breathing. Breath is our life force, moving in and through our whole being in seen and unseen ways. Breathwork is a gift to our health and aliveness; I hope this interview sparks your curiosity!
NIU: What are breathwork’s mind and body benefits, especially during high-stress periods like the holidays?
Egert: During a breathwork session, you are consciously oxygenating every cell in your whole being. It lowers cortisol levels by stimulating the “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system, which releases cortisol as a response to stress. You start to regulate your nervous system naturally.
Every breathwork experience is different. Some people experience a release of stored emotional or physical tension in their bodies, whereas others experience heightened states of consciousness. Breathwork creates new neuropathways in the brain, pathways for ideas, creativity and healing. Our bodies are powerful tools, and when we create space for them to rest and consciously breathe into them, we can tap into insights that we would have never experienced being in a “fight or flight” space.
After completing a session, you feel more alive. The people I work with look different after a session. I invite them to look at themselves in the mirror and see how their eyes look different. A session can release a weight you have been carrying, allowing you to see scenarios from a different perspective.
Sara Egert teaches the art of breathwork as a powerful tool anyone can tap into. (Photo: Lloyd Kimeldorf)
Tangible Techniques
NIU: Can you share a breathing exercise to help calm down during a stressful moment?
Egert: I have two favorite go-to breathwork techniques.
20 Connected Breaths Breathe in and out of the nose four times fast. On the fifth round, breathe deeper and slower. Repeat the cycle four times.
Alternate Nose Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) Using your right hand, place your thumb on your right nostril and your ring finger on your left nostril. Your pointer finger and middle finger are floating or placed between your brows. Both nostrils should be closed.
Starting with your left nostril, lift your finger and inhale for three seconds. Close the left and right nostrils and count to three. Lift your thumb and exhale out of the right nostril.
After exhaling out of the right nostril, inhale through the right nostril for three seconds. Close both nostrils and hold for three seconds. Exhale through the left nostril.
Continue inhaling out of one nostril and exhaling out of the other for a few rounds. Work your way up to holding for longer periods of five seconds and higher. It’s your practice; do what feels right to you.
In the middle, when you hold both nostrils closed, you may repeat an intention, affirmation, or mantra like “Peace, Peace, Peace.”
NIU: Are there specific breathwork techniques to help improve sleep quality or to fall asleep faster?
Egert: Yes! I do the following, and it helps me so much!
Laying on my back or side, I focus on breathing gently in and out of my mouth, connecting my inhale to my exhale, gently and slowly. It’s Conscious Connected Circular Breathwork with the intention of “I’m going back to sleep.” It gets me out of my head and focusing on my breath. You can breathe in and out of your nose, but I prefer the mouth.
NIU: What do you recommend to integrate into your daily routine to build resilience against stress over time?
Egert: I recommend that people meditate each morning in their home space in addition to incorporating a mini breathwork practice of maybe 20 connected breaths or alternate nose breathing. I also suggest playing high-vibrational music while journaling or reading an inspiring book or quote. My go-to is “The Book of Awakening” by Mark Nepo. Consider meditating for five minutes followed by breathwork and reading. Start with a few minutes and set a timer. I like the “Insight Timer App” and “Our Mindful Nature Podcast.”
Digging Deeper
NIU: How can breathwork help you connect with your emotions or improve mental clarity?
Egert: It’s said that our issues are in our tissues! We consciously breathe into our bodies, into every single cell of our being. When ready, things in our bodies that we may have forgotten about can come up to be seen and healed. Breathwork is an amazing healing modality that helps us learn about ourselves.
Encouragement and Accessibility
NIU: What’s the easiest way to get started in breathwork without feeling overwhelmed?
Egert: I recommend having an individual session or going to a group breathwork session with a professional breathworker trained with many hours of experience. It’s important to be supported when first getting into breathwork. It’s readily available online and taught by people all around the world!
About
When Sara Egert is not working her day job as a marketing and account executive for Optimum and exploring the Austin, Texas area, she follows her curiosity and passions in the wellness world. In addition to receiving formal training in breathwork, Egert is a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui™ and works with clients to integrate Feng Shui principles into their everyday environments. She holds a 200-hour yoga teacher certification with Atlanta Hot Yoga and is trained in sound therapy and medical intuition. Egert’s holistic approach integrates breathwork, movement, yoga, and meditation to promote overall well-being, self-care and abundance in life.
While growing up in Prospect Heights, Illinois, Claire O’Donnell, ’24, now an associate buyer for Von Maur, discovered her love for fashion.
“I was passionate about fashion and the industry always stood out to me,” she said. “As a kid, I had a little ‘fashion boutique’ in my play area where I drew fashion designs and ‘sold’ other trinkets and such to those who played in my shop with me.”
O’Donnell’s mother stayed home to raise her and her older sister, and her father has held multiple positions in the business side of the food industry.
“I was fascinated by my dad’s passion for his job, and I learned a lot about sales, marketing and merchandising through him prior to college,” she said. “I always wanted to work in fashion but wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to do.”
O’Donnell, who took general education classes for a year at Harper College before transferring to NIU, earned two bachelor’s degrees from NIU – a Bachelor of Science in fashion merchandising and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a marketing minor – with help from scholarships.
“NIU offered me paths in both psychology and fashion, my two favorite subjects, so I knew it was a great place for me to explore who I was and what I wanted to do with my life,” she said. “I was also offered multiple transfer scholarships from NIU, which rewarded the hard work I dedicated to my first year of college.”
O’Donnell focused on psychology when she first entered NIU, but didn’t feel complete until she decided to take two 100-level fashion classes during her second semester and was inspired to pursue fashion by one of her professors.
“My professor, MaryAnn Lorenz, saw my potential and passion for the material, and she encouraged me to dive deeper into it,” she said. “She pushed me to major in fashion merchandising and join the Fashion Industries Organization on campus.”
In that organization, O’Donnell found students with similar interests and she became immersed in the world of the fashion industry. After joining as a general member, she became the group’s secretary and then served as the organization’s president for two years until her graduation.
O’Donnell praises Lorenz for encouraging her to follow her dreams and find success in the industry.
“Professor Lorenz was a huge role model for me since she had worked in the industry before her teaching career,” O’Donnell said. “It was her guidance that pushed me to work hard and follow my heart, ultimately driving me into the career path I am in now.”
O’Donnell began her career at Von Maur as a corporate trainee after graduation, which led to her current position as associate buyer.
“As an associate buyer, my main job responsibilities include helping my senior buyer analyze trends in business, select which merchandise should be bought and sold in our store locations, and determine unit distribution between stores,” O’Donnell explained.
Her job comes with a variety of challenges but also many rewards.
“The most challenging part of my job is learning to analyze data sets and derive the meaning behind trends,” she said. “Looking at data and analyzing how our consumers view the products we are putting into our stores is important because it helps us grow our business and learn how we can improve our selections in the future. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the positive response to items that I have helped select for our assortment. I love seeing people choose to wear products that I picked out. It is so rewarding to see people feel confident and beautiful in the items I help select for our stores.”
O’Donnell said she loves being part of the NIU community.
“Being an NIU Huskie means you are passionate, hardworking and kind to others,” she said. “The NIU community is a fun one to be a part of! I loved being surrounded by people who are dedicated and passionate about the work they are putting in while also enjoying the unique community that is NIU.”
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