Holly S. (Bessert) Edwin, Eng ’04, is a new product introduction manager at Caterpillar and was named as one of Peoria Magazine‘s 40 Leaders Under Forty in 2020. She led the introduction of the world’s first high-drive, electric-drive bulldozer and is a board member for Women in Leadership Central Illinois.

Gaelen (Bell) Orbon, Comm ’02, was promoted to senior vice president, content services at the Motion Agency in Chicago. Motion is a full-service, woman-owned agency, specializing in building brands through strategy, digital marketing, public relations, content, creative and advertising. 

John (Jay) Jackson, Arts ’00, was promoted to chief legal officer and secretary of Thrivent Funds at Thrivent Financial, a Fortune 500 financial services company based in Minneapolis. He has been with Thrivent since 2017. 

Dr. John R. Humm, Eng ’94, Grad ’99, Grad ’20, started his new position at the Medical College of Wisconsin as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery.

Kathy Pazak, Grad ’86, was appointed by Governor Tony Evers to the Wisconsin Hearing and Speech Examining Board. This board oversees the licensing and credentialing of all practicing speech-language pathologists, audiologists, hearing aid dealers and speech-language pathologist assistants across the state.   

Bartholomew Salazar, Bus Ad ’85, Grad ’88, was ordained on Oct. 31, 2020, to the Order of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Fargo, (N.D.). He is now serving as a deacon for two parishes: St. John the Evangelist, New Rockford, N.D., as well as Sts. Peter & Paul, McHenry, N.D. Bartholomew was privileged […]

David M. Murkowski, Sp ’79, was reelected to a third term as probate judge in Kent County, Mich. He is chief judge of the Kent County Probate Court and was also elected vice-chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Judge Murkowski presented at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s 60th Annual […]

Dr. Walter Cannon, Grad ’70, Grad ’78, edited (with Laury Magnus) a collection of essays, Shakespeare’s Auditory Worlds: Hearing and Staging Practices, Then and Now, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2020.