For Immediate Release: 

March 22, 2024

Employers from fifty different industries will be on-site. 

What: Rockford University Spring 2024 Internship & Career Fair 

When: March 27, 2024, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. 

Where: Regents Hall, Burpee Student Center, Rockford University, 5050 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108 

Who: Rockford University students, local and national employers, university officials, and media 

ROCKFORD, Ill. —Rockford University is excited to host a student career and internship fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Regents Hall. The event is open to all current Rockford University students, alumni, and community members. The fair will provide guests with the opportunity to meet with employers from a variety of industries. 

The career fair will feature fifty employers from the local community and beyond, including representatives from healthcare, finance, technology, education, and more. 

Companies attending include Hard Rock Casino, MercyHeath, Winnebago County, WQRF/WTVO Nexstar Medic Inc., Department of Juvenile Justice. UW Health, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, Rockford Police Department, OSF Healthcare, Belvidere Park District, and more. 

Students will have the chance to speak with recruiters, learn about job and internship opportunities, explore potential career paths, receive a free headshot, use the career closet, and partake in giveaways.

Pre-registration for the event is strongly encouraged. The registration form can be found here.  

Media are invited to attend the career fair and speak with university officials, students, and recruiters about the importance of career fairs for college students. Interviews and photo opportunities will be available upon request. We ask all media to RSVP by March 27 at 9 a.m. 

We look forward to seeing you at the career fair! 

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Contact:

Sara Myers-Hogshead

Rockford University Marketing & Communications

shogshead@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

Based on the weather forecast updated to a winter storm warning, Rockford University will be closed on Friday, March 22, 2024, including all campus offices. 

Remote classes will be in effect. All scheduled events on campus for Friday will be canceled.

-RU Communications

ROCKFORD, Ill. (March 18, 2024) – The Board of Trustees for Rockford University, the region’s leading private four-year institution, has announced the appointment of Dr. Patricia Lynott as the 19th President of the university, effective immediately.

Dr. Lynott has been serving as the Interim President since December 2022. During that time, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a deep commitment to the university’s mission and values.

“We are thrilled to appoint Dr. Lynott as the official President of Rockford University,” said Rebecca Epperson, Chair, Rockford University Board of Trustees. “Throughout her tenure as Interim President, she has proven to be an outstanding leader, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. The impact she has made in just 18 months has been instrumental in moving our organization forward by identifying and launching new degrees, and programs to benefit students as well as further connecting it with our community’s business leaders for future workforce needs.” 

Dr. Lynott brings a wealth of experience to the role, with over 35 years in higher education. She began her career as a communications professor teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in rhetoric, political communication, and public speaking. At Elmhurst College, Dr. Lynott served as Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education, and became the founding director of Elmhurst Partners, the college’s corporate training division that provided custom programming to Chicago-area Fortune 500 companies.

At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), she played a critical leadership role in transitioning a small regional business college into a national, multi-faceted university. Dr. Lynott successfully managed the impact of rapid and significant growth that required new business processes and structural reorganization during a period of remarkable transformation. She also served as vice president of academic affairs, provost, and as president of SNHU’s University College.

“I am honored and excited to continue serving as President of Rockford University,” said Dr. Lynott. “I am committed to advancing the university’s mission of educating people to lead responsible lives by means of a curriculum grounded in liberal arts learning and complemented and extended by professional and practical experience, and I look forward to working with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to ensure that Rockford University remains a place of excellence, innovation, and opportunity for all.”

ABOUT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY

Rockford University, a private not-for-profit institution in Rockford, Illinois, is dedicated to providing a quality education rooted in liberal arts and professional studies. With a rich history from 1847, Rockford University is committed to preparing students for rewarding careers, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning. To learn more about Rockford University, visit our website at www.rockford.edu.

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Contact:

Sara Myers-Hogshead

Rockford University Marketing and Communications

shogshead@rockford.edu

communications@rockford.edu

For Immediate Release: 

March 15, 2024

ROCKFORD, Ill. —Five Rockford University Pathway Teaching Students received tuition assistance from members of Master Builders Masonic Lodge #33  and The Jarrett Family, in a ceremony at the Burpee Student Center on RU’s campus on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 3 p.m. 

Each student has received $3,000 as a donation towards their tuition. The five students are Donovan Turner, Rashad Hoel, Erinique Johnson, Jamera Morris, and Adorant Boukandou. All students are freshman RU Education Pathway students. 

“What a great way to diversify our teaching ranks by selecting students who are already in our school system, who understand the students and the culture of Rockford Public Schools,” said Earl Dotson Jr. of Master Builders Masonic Lodge #33 in a quote from their news release. 

In 2019, the Jarrett Family and Master Builders Masonic Lodge partnered to raise money to help fill in the financial gap for selected students. They worked with the RPS 205 Department of Equity & Inclusion to select students to qualify for the extra assistance. The students wrote essays on why they wanted to be teachers and the lodge selected students on their essays and passion for the teaching profession.

About the RU Pathway: The Rockford University Pathway is a partnership with Rockford Public Schools and Rockford University. RPS 205 students selected for the program attend Rockford University at a steep discount. Students spend their student teaching experience in RPS 205 and receive preferred hiring for RPS 205 teaching jobs after graduation. Once they are teaching in RPS 205, they can earn a master’s degree from Rockford University in urban education, tuition-free.

Photos from the event can be found here. 

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Contact:

Sara Myers-Hogshead 

RU Marketing & Communications

shogshead@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

Rockford University’s Dr. Karen Walker received the Racial Justice Award at the YWCA Leader Luncheon XLIV and 2024 Women of Achievement Awards on Monday, March 4. 

Dr. Walker is the Dean of Student Support Programming, Dean of the Center for Learning Strategies, the Coordinator for the Men of Color Mentorship Program, and the founder of Regents First.

“As the Dean of the Center for Learning Strategies at Rockford University, Dr. Walker launched the Regents First program to support first-generation college students. She consistently aligns these students with local programs and opportunities (such as Patriots Gateway and United Way) to support them and their community with their talent and skills,” said the YWCA.

“One of her favorite quotes is ‘Literacy is the tool we use as humans to find one another, so it must belong to everyone,’ from author Pam Allyn.

Believing this strongly, Dr. Walker also works with the United for Literacy movement to ensure any child, regardless of race, can read to succeed.” 

A Message from President Lynott on Women’s History Month: 

“As we embark on this month of March, I am compelled to reflect on the profound significance of Women’s History Month.  This is a time for us to honor the invaluable contributions of women throughout history and within our own university community. It is a moment to celebrate their achievements, acknowledge their struggles, and reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and inclusivity.

Women’s History Month serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by women around the world. In the spirit of Women’s History Month, I encourage each of us to learn, reflect, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the role of women in society and academia. Let us celebrate the achievements of women past and present, while rededicating ourselves to the pursuit of a more just and equitable future.”

Patricia A. Lynott, Ph.D.

President

RU Community–

The ongoing construction of our new baseball and softball fields is now being live-streamed on our YouTube.

The construction was made possible by a significant $3.58 million investment from the state of Illinois. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, Nov. 28. The new facilities were funded by the Illinois’ Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant.

By Sara Myers-Hogshead, Digital Media & Communications Specialist  

Rockford native and local business owner Anisha Grimmett is very involved in the community and has become a key player in the city through the connections she has made. She sits on many boards including Keith Country Day School (where her children attend) and Rockford University’s Board.

Grimmett was asked by former President Eric Fulcomer to be on the board in 2020. She knows Rockford University well, as it is both her brother’s and her mother’s alma mater. Her brother graduated from RU with a Business degree, and her mother graduated with a master’s in teaching degree. 

 Grimmett grew up in the Rockford area and went to Auburn High School.  

Years before her brother’s college journey, Grimmett decided to leave home and attend the University of Illinois in Champaign. She discovered more about herself that first year and began finding her independence. However, Grimmett quickly discovered Champaign was much too big of a campus for her. She transferred to Devry University in Chicago, Illinois, and finished her bachelor’s degree in engineering there. 

 Grimmett discovered her love for “figuring out how things worked” early on. 

“I was always the one taking things apart looking at the insides of things and putting things together,” she said. “Don’t give me instructions, I’ll figure it out.” It was her uncle who told her that she should be an engineer because engineers do exactly that. 

Before even attending college for engineering, Grimmett had a prestigious internship lined up at home. She received an internship at what was then called Sunstrand (now called Collins Aerospace). 

After a few summers interning, “They hired me because I was going to be moving back to Rockford and driving into Chicago for school, so I was part-time,” she said. “They paid for my college, and it was a huge blessing. I would go to school in the morning and then come straight to work and work into the evenings sometimes.”

 After graduating college at Devry, Grimmett came back to Rockford where she worked at Collins Aerospace. There, she met her husband, they got married and had 2 kids. 

“I was the person that wanted to leave Rockford and never come back but all the great opportunities that Rockford had for me,” she said. “It was hard to leave that. I had a job that paid well, and this was in 1997. I’m an intern making 18 bucks an hour. I was learning so much and being able to apply what I had learned in the classroom to work and vice versa.”

 Grimmett worked at Collins for over 20 years. 

 During her time at the engineering giant, she had multiple opportunities. She worked in different departments like components, systems engineering, test labs, customer service, cost account management, project management, and international trade compliance. At one point in time, Grimmett was an engineering manager. 

 Around 2011, Grimmett’s husband’s position took their family to China for 3 years. Grimmett brought her two kids, their cat and dog, and all their furniture overseas. 

“That was the best experience of my life,” she said. “Especially in terms of discovering who I was as an adult and a mom and wife. I had the opportunity to stay at home with the kids, which was a true blessing. My kids went to an international school. We learned Chinese and met people from Sweden, Australia, France, Canada, Korea, Japan, Germany and South Africa. So many families were there, and we were exposed to many more cultures. Our potlucks together would just be amazing.”

Grimmett also learned a lot more about fashion and style during her time in China. She noticed how different those in China dressed than in the U.S. She described the style as more “fashion forward, eclectic and unique.” 

 “To me, it’s the look of luxury without having a lot of money,” she said. “That is a skill in itself. It was just heaven to me to explore and create and to use the landscape and different cultures to hone in my vibe and style. And then bringing all that back here (to America).”

Grimmett came back to work at Collins Aerospace after her time overseas. When she returned, her title was Executive Assistant to the President. In this position, Grimmett had a hand in UTC’s operations, marketing, human resources, talent development, and more. 

 It was in this position that she realized how much she loved working with people. 

After 20-plus years at Collins, Grimmett went on to work with the Education nonprofit Alignment Rockford. 

“There are so many levels of decision-making and politics here,” she said. “I learned a lot and met a lot of great people who are now my clients today and created another level platform of public speaking.”

Grimmett added that the position helped her rediscover her passion for fashion and helping people. She had colleagues come up to her, compliment her fashion, and say how they wished they had Grimmett to go shopping for them. 

After doing some research into how to become a personal stylist, she found a personal stylist based in Los Angeles who became her mentor. Grimmett officially started her style business, “CEO of A New Look by Nisha,” in January 2022. 

Most of her clients currently are referrals and connections she has made through her network throughout the years. When working at Alignment Rockford, her network expanded and she’s been able to grow her clientele through the connections she’s made. 

 Grimmett is now working on creating a social media presence for her business to help her attract more clients in the future. 

“When I’m working with clients, it’s more of style therapy, even when going through their closets,” she said. “Because they discover things about themselves they never would have known. (For example) a client said I didn’t think I bought oversized clothes. That was 90% of my closet because I was too busy wanting to hide myself. It’s hard to achieve greatness when you’re hiding. So the problem statement is, how can I now make myself more visible so I can achieve the greatness I want?”

 If you’re interested in Grimmett’s style coaching business, you can reach out to her at anishagrimmett@outlook.com. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 at 4 p.m.

WHERE: Maddox Theatre in Clark Arts Center at Rockford University. Rockford University is located at 5050 E. State St. in Rockford, Illinois.

WHAT: Rockford University will hold its annual Charter Day Convocation Ceremony this February 26, 2024. The ceremony will include a theatrical performance of the “The Addams Thread.” This play was written and directed by Rockford University Performing Arts Professor Deborah Mogford. The play was originally first performed on Oct. 13, 2023. The play centers around renowned alumnus Jane Adams and her college classmates whom she called, “The Glorious Seventeen.” 

WHO: The ceremony will also include remarks from President Patricia Lynott, Provost Elizabeth Davies, Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Epperson, and VP for Advancement Linda Sandquist. 

Contact

Sara Myers-Hogshead

Rockford University Marketing & Communications

shogshead@rockford.edu 

815-394-5052

Upon achieving an associate degree, Harper and ECC students will be able to easily transfer to RU to complete a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity.

Rockford, IL – February 21, 2024- Leaders at Harper College, Elgin Community College, and Rockford University recently signed a memorandum of understanding to make it easier for students to achieve a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity. Rockford signed an agreement with both Harper and Elgin to help create this pathway. 

This two-plus-two agreement between both institutions is designed to streamline students’ education pathways, eliminating excess credit hours, degree costs, and time to completion. After two years at Harper and two years at RU, they will come away with a wealth of computer science expertise and a four-year degree centered on a growing industry.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Harper College and Elgin Community College in advancing education in the important and exciting field of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Patricia Lynott, president of Rockford University. “The signing of this memorandum of understanding for a two-plus-two program in cybersecurity leverages the academic rigor and expertise of Rockford University, with the practical focus and accessibility of Harper College – one of the country’s premier community colleges. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in this critical field.”

Here is how it works: Students take their first two years of courses at Harper College, earning an Associate of Science degree with an emphasis in Computer Science or an Associate in Applied Science degree in Information Systems. They can transfer to Rockford University if they have maintained a 2.0 GPA, provided official transcripts, and completed the RU application. Students will take their final two years of courses at the university, completing program requirements and the necessary credit hours from RU. After four years, they will earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity from RU.

To bolster this collaboration, Harper is providing advising services to help potential and current students transfer within this program and Rockford University representatives will come to the Palatine campus to recruit students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science and beginning a career in cybersecurity.

“We are delighted to partner with Rockford University and its excellent computer science program as a means to help Harper students achieve their bachelor’s degree goals and cybersecurity career aspirations,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, president of Harper College. “This agreement is just one example of how we are intentionally opening doors to programs in high-demand fields to provide our students with sustainable careers, ultimately transforming lives and communities in Northern Illinois.”

Similarly at Elgin, students complete their first two years of courses at Elgin Community College, earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems. After completing their degree at ECC, students can then apply to seamlessly transfer to Rockford University. Students will take their final two years of courses at RU, completing program requirements and the necessary credit hours. After four years, they will earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity from RU.

To assist students, Elgin Community College’s Transfer Advisors are available to help potential and current students transfer within this program. Rockford University representatives will visit ECC’s campus to recruit students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science and beginning a career in cybersecurity.

The career outlook for students who complete this collaborative pathway is bright. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 33% employment growth in cybersecurity careers during this decade. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16,800 open cybersecurity jobs each year during this decade. According to ZipRecruiter, as of Jan 12, 2024, the average annual pay for a Cyber Security Analyst in Illinois is $87,149 a year. The equivalent of $1,675/week or $7,262/month. Leaders at Elgin Community College, Harper College, and Rockford University are excited about the recruitment and career opportunities that will result from this partnership.

For more information, visit harpercollege.edu, rockford.edu, and elgin.edu. 

Contact:

Sara Myers-Hogshead

RU Marketing & Communications

shogshead@rockford.edu

815-394-5052