Class Notes

Linda Ploenzke Sandquist ’85 started a job as an engagement officer at Rockford University. She is excited to connect with Regents she knows and those she doesn’t.

Cassandra Washington ’83 published a book titled “Meet Them Where They Are: 10 Tips to Improve Student Engagement” available on Amazon.

Lee VanDeWostine Nelson ’81 celebrated 39 years as a professional writer. For the first 21 years of her career, Lee worked as a newspaper journalist and now freelances for magazines and websites.

Geraldine Tondi-Larson Cygnor ’76 received an MAT from Rockford, which she put to good use as a special education teacher for 20 years. She is now enjoying a busy retirement.

Mary Parisoe ’75 retired in 2018 after 22 years as a French teacher at Woodlands Academy in Lake Forrest, Ill. This year, she won two Zoom-staged readings of her short plays and is currently working on a longer piece. Once the pandemic ends, she’s also hoping to see...

Bob Matthews ’74 has retired after 24 years with the U.S. Navy and more than 16 years in Washington, D.C. as a government consultant, commonly referred to as a “Beltway Bandit.”

Bob Herdegen ’74 retired after 41 years as a psychology professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. His post-retirement plans call for lots of traveling and spending time with family once it is safe.

Fred Fuld III ’74 entered his book “Beach Detective: Exploding Surfboard” in the 8th annual Writer’s Digest contest and received high marks in all categories.

Joan Densmore Harberson ’47, known by her classmates as Densy, passed away on December 29, 2019. She is survived by her daughter Kathryn Harberson Thornton, class of 1986. In life, Joan advocated for educational equality with the American Association of University...

Ken Price ’71 shared this photo (bottom, right) taken in August 2019, when he and fellow Rockford University alumni Roseanne (Rotnem) Price, Michelle Klee, Laura (Parker) Jendrzejewski, John Jendrzejewski, Karen (Palmer) McNulty, and Marilyn (Yoder) Creel, all from...

​David (Gino) Cox ’73 lives in Bangkok, where he spends his days writing noir mysteries and thrillers, such as Ice Cold, one of his most well-received novels. Recently, he spent some time in the Philippines with his two sons, Dion (8) and Alessandro (4). Catalyst Home...

Brent Johnson ’74 launched an idea 30 years ago (December 1989) to create a FAA repair station for the repair of aircraft components. Since building relationships both domestically and in Europe, Midwest Aero Support, Inc. has become a globally known service center....

Jeffri Harre ’82 earned his MA in Christian Formation with a focus on Spiritual Direction from Virginia Theological Seminary, where he will continue working as the Director of Hospitality Services and Operations. Catalyst Home Explore our News...

Michelle Jackson Collins ’86 is excited to be returning to Illinois after having served as the Faculty Director and Program Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee. She has taken a position as the...

Anita Mackenthun Rumage ’97 earned her Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield in December 2019. Her dissertation was titled Nonprofit Leadership Transition: A Preparedness Study. Dr. Rumage currently holds the position of...

Eric Hougan ’01 has been promoted to Associate Professor at Central Washington University, where he earned tenure as of the fall 2019 semester. Catalyst Home Explore our News...

Blaze Farrar ’02 published a stand-alone excerpt of her novel-in-progress in the literary magazine titled Crack the Spine. Catalyst Home Explore our News...

Emily Hoff (formerly Hoehn) ’08 and Maygen Keller ’09 recently coauthored the new book, Scenic Science of the National Parks: An Explorer’s Guide to Wildlife, Geology, and Botany, published by Ten Speed Press. This fun and beautifully illustrated guide breaks...

Angela Hendricks Hulsey ’09 and her Student Leader’s Club at West View Elementary, where she teaches first grade, recently won the Golden Apple Foundation of Rockford’s Community Grant award. Her club is focused on community service and environmental activism and is...

Rachel Rhea Hansen ’10 was recently hired as a family physician for the Byron Clinic of SwedishAmerican Medical Group. Dr. Hansen has a particular interest in women’s health and patient education, which she pursues through her work as a member of the Women’s Quality...