Illinois State University’s College of Applied Science and Technology is inducting eight alumni into its CAST Hall of Fame. A reception in honor of the newest inductees will be held on Friday, Nov. 12, from 3:30 – 5 p.m. in Turner Hall Room 132.
CAST Hall of Fame inductees are chosen for outstanding performance and leadership in their career fields, committed service to their communities, favorable statewide, national, or international recognition, outstanding service to Illinois State University, or proof that their work has benefitted a pronounced segment of society. For full biographical information of this year’s CAST Hall of Fame inductees visit http://cast.illinoisstate.edu/events/CASTHallofFame.shtml
Ray Brownfield, a1965 Department of Agriculture alumnus, is president of Land Pro LLC, and also a licensed real estate broker with John Greene Land Company in Oswego. Brownfield manages approximately 5,000 acres in Illinois and Wisconsin for absentee land owners, and conducts real estate transactions for clients throughout Illinois.
Andrew Velasquez III, a 1993 Department of Criminal Justice Sciences graduate, serves as the regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V. In that position, he coordinates preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities for the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Charlotte Talkington, a 1961 Department of Family and Consumer Sciences alumna, began her teaching career at Roanoke-Benson High School and joined the Home Economics faculty at Illinois State in 1968. She retired as a full professor in 1994.
Jenny Pan-Yun Ting, a 1975 Department of Health Sciences graduate, is the William R. Kenan Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and an immunology program leader at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Peter Tapling, a 1982 School of Information Technology graduate, is president and CEO at Authentify, Inc., the leading provider of OOBA (out-of-band authentication) services, a position he has held since co-founding the company in 1999.
Darlene Kluka, a 1972 School of Kinesiology and Recreation alumna, is a recognized scholar and leader in the fields of sport science and women and sport. Her 38-year professional career has been dedicated to the advancement of women and sport science.
Colonel Mark Jackson, a 1987 graduate with a major in finance and a minor in military science, is the brigade commander for the 65th Troop Command Brigade, Illinois Army National Guard, located in Springfield. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army through Illinois State’s Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC).
J. Michael Adams, a 1969 Department of Technology graduate, is president of Farleigh Dickinson University, where he promotes the school’s mission of preparing world citizens through global education. He is a member of the steering committee of the World Bank’s Researchers Alliance for Development and the editorial advisory board for International Educator, the flagship bimonthly magazine of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
