The Administrative/Professional Council announced the winners of awards for distinguished service, emerging leader, and Esprit De Corps.
Distinguished Service
Dr. Ashley Hicks, College of Business
Dr. Ashley Hicks currently serves as the assistant to the dean for student services in the College of Business. In this role, she oversees undergraduate recruitment, outreach, and special events in the college. She is also responsible for coordinating scholarships and advising the Business Themed Living Learning Community, Beta Gamma Sigma honor society, and the College of Business Executive Council (COBEC). Hicks has made a commitment to improving processes, maximizing student engagement, and overall achievement in the College of Business.
Some of her accomplishments include becoming a founding member of the College of Business Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Team. In this role, Hicks organized students in developing a new registered student organization called Business ACUMEN (Business Association for Cultural Unity in Mentoring, Education, and Networking). This organization has allowed members to network and learn from industry professionals from companies such as USAA, Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch, Cintas, and the Chicago Bulls. Hicks also on-boarded the ISU chapter of the Association for Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), a national organization dedicated to the advancement of Latino students in business.
Additionally, Hicks is responsible for the enrollment management and recruitment of undergraduate students in the College of Business. In her time in this role, the percent of students of color enrolled in the College of Business has increased by more than 30 percent. She has served as a Project Rebound instructor to help students who were dismissed from the University get reacclimated to campus. Hicks has also revamped the College of Business dean’s level scholarship submission process to make it more user friendly for students.
Hicks holds a Ph.D. from Illinois State University, a master’s degree from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Hicks is the 2019-2020 recipient of the College of Business Administrative Professional Staff Outstanding Service Award, and a 2020 recipient of the First-Generation Hidden Figures LEGACY award from TRIO Student Support Services. Hicks has worked at Illinois State for over 10 years and lives in Normal with her husband Justin, son Kayin, and daughter Reagan.
Cheryl Fogler, Planning, Research, and Policy Analysis
Cheryl Fogler is the assistant director of Planning in the Planning, Research, and Policy Analysis (PRPA) office. She began her career at Illinois State University in PRPA in 2011 and has held various positions within the department both in planning and institutional research. Fogler received her master’s degree in history from ISU in 2018 and is proud to be a Redbird alum. She notes that it is this pride in the University that fuels her desire to serve the campus community and give back to the institution that has given so much to her.
Individualized Attention is a hallmark as well as a core value at Illinois State. Fogler experienced this value firsthand as a member of the Women’s Mentoring Network during graduate school when her mentor, Dr. Kyle Ciani, was always ready with good advice, a listening ear, and a contagious smile. Ciani inspired Fogler to find ways to help students feel they are a valued member of the Redbird Family. Welcoming new students to campus is one of her favorite ways to do this and she rarely misses an opportunity to volunteer for Move-In, Welcome Week, and House Calls. Fogler is an advisor for three registered student organizations as well as a Student Conduct consultant.
Fogler is a recent graduate of the Multicultural Leadership Program whose curriculum focuses on servant leadership. This intensive program bolstered Fogler’s desire to serve the broader community and she expanded her volunteer activities to include the School Street Food Pantry, Midwest Food Bank, and the Multicultural Leadership Impact and Development committee. Fogler served on the Carnegie Elective Community Engagement Classification Task Force at ISU and now serves on the advisory board for the Center for Civic Engagement, which inspires her to reach for more opportunities to positively impact her community. Lastly, Fogler is actively involved in the Society of Campus and University Planning (SCUP) and annually reviews SCUP conference proposals for national and regional conferences.
Crystal Nourie, Office of the University Registrar
Crystal Nourie joined the Office of the University Registrar in 2002, and currently serves as the assistant university registrar, overseeing academic scheduling, course registration, and the Registrar Service Center. Nourie also worked in the Office of the University Registrar as a student here at Illinois State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and began her career as a registration specialist, assisting students directly, before transitioning to the assistant university registrar position where she took on the academic scheduling role in addition to her registration duties. In recent years, she has served on the Textbook Affordability Committee, ISU Incident Management Team, Learning Spaces Working Group, as well as several other committees related to classroom utilization and enhancements. Nourie was the recipient of the Jonathan Rosenthal Advising Advocate Award in 2012 as well as the EAF Spirit Award in 2019. She currently serves as the advisor liaison for the Office of the University Registrar, and she works with the departments and schools on a daily basis for course and classroom scheduling and registration.
During the past year, Nourie has been heavily involved in the COVID-19 related issues impacting the University. She was instrumental in reconfiguring the student information system for the spring term allowing students to update their class status beyond the original deadline. For the fall term, Nourie was challenged with building courses and scheduling classrooms around the ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines. This included working with numerous other offices to establish modified classroom capacities, new instruction modes and definitions, classroom technology needs, study spaces, and utilizing alternative spaces around campus. While she enjoyed experiencing the amazing collaborative work ethic of the Redbird community during this past year, she is ready for “normal” schedules and the students, faculty, and staff to return to campus.
She met her husband Michael, also a graduate of Illinois State University, while pursuing her degree, and they have three wonderful children.
Katy Killian, Office of the President
Katy Killian has served the University in various roles for 25 years and currently serves as interim assistant to the president for communication. In this role, she serves as chief communications officer for the Office of the President, assists with the oversight of communications and public relations for the University, and supervises Media Relations. Killian serves as a member of the University’s Incident Management Team and leads the Campus Communication Group (CCG), which is charged with directing campus-wide crisis communication efforts for the University.
Most recently, she served as assistant vice president for Student Affairs where her portfolio included University Housing Services, the Illinois State University Police Department, Emergency Management, Marketing, and Student Affairs Information Technology.
Killian began her professional service to Illinois State working in the Office of Admissions as an Admissions Counselor from 1993-95. After working in the private sector and freelance as a graphic illustrator and designer, she returned home to Illinois State in 1997 and served the Office of Admissions in various roles including assistant director of Admissions and coordinator of publication services, and associate director of Admissions and coordinator of publication, web and marketing services. In 2004, she accepted a position in Enrollment Management and Academic Services as director of enrollment communication and academic services. She joined the Division of Student Affairs in 2006, serving in multiple senior administrative roles including assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs for marketing and communication and chief of staff.
Killian is a two-time graduate of Illinois State with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications ’92 and master’s degree in Communications ’14. She and her husband Jason have two children, Emily (a biology major and soon to be Redbird alum) and Tommy, a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame. Killian enjoys community volunteerism and has served on many committees and held leadership roles within her church and children’s schools.
Emerging Leader
Lauren Hardy, Alumni Engagement
Hardy is an associate director in Alumni Engagement at Illinois State University and has been with the University since 2018. Her role focuses on engaging alumni networks across the country, serving as the Alumni Engagement’s liaison for the student to alumni transition, advising the Student Alumni Council, welcoming new graduates to the alumni association at each commencement ceremony and organizing and executing the homecoming parade. Hardy received a bachelor’s degree in 2012 and a master’s degree in 2014, both from Illinois State University.
Hardy has a true passion for building strong relationships. She grows and maintains over 25 regional alumni networks across the nation, including alumni networks in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Panama. These relationships help keep Redbirds engaged and connected to Illinois State University no matter where life takes them after graduation. As the advisor for Student Alumni Council, a registered student organization which provides programming for students and alumni, Hardy strives to help students build relationships with one another, with the University, and with alumni. The Student Alumni Council provides unique programming and professional development and helps students take part in some of ISU’s longest standing traditions. In the last three years, Hardy has doubled this group’s membership and helped grow a group of diverse and strong student leaders.
After receiving her degrees from Illinois State University, Hardy stayed involved with ISU as a non-tenure track instructor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and is a frequent guest speaker in the classroom. Hardy is very active with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce’s Bloomington Normal Young Professionals and served as president in 2019; she is a 2016 graduate of the Leadership McLean County program; and a past president for the Illinois Council on Family Relations. Additionally, The Pantagraph and McLean County Chamber of Commerce selected her as one of 2017’s “20 under 40” and she was the inaugural recipient for the Liz Larson Rising Leader Award.
Amy Dennison, School of Social Work
Amy Dennison joined the School of Social Work in 2019, and currently serves as the director of Master of Social Work Student Services. Dennison is responsible for the recruitment, admissions, and advising of students in the Master of Social Work graduate program. In addition, Dennison teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, and provides supervision to social work students completing their field practicum placements. Dennison received a bachelor’s degree from ISU and a master’s degree from Aurora University. Dennison is currently pursuing a Ph.D. through ISU from the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations with a specialization in leadership, equity, and inquiry.
Since joining ISU, Dennison has actively engaged in advancing graduate education. Dennison proposed the first graduate certificate in the School of Social Work, which has been approved and will begin accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. Dennison has partnered with the Graduate School to engage in numerous recruitment activities, including soliciting funds to obtain new recruitment tools for the School of Social Work such as updated program brochures and a revised website. Dennison is currently serving on the advisory group for the spring provost’s retreat for research and graduate studies, which includes making recommendations for improving graduate education. Dennison was also asked to participate on the workgroup to develop the graduate student success dashboard, which will mimic the undergraduate student success dashboard and provide key information to graduate advisors at a glance.
In addition to her collaboration with the Graduate School, Dennison has served as a member of a search committee for Student Counseling Services, in which the staff social worker position was successfully filled. Dennison has also served on many committees and teams internal to social work, including the administrative team and multiple committees overseeing curriculum development.
Prior to coming to ISU, Dennison held leadership positions in child welfare organizations. Dennison continues to volunteer with the child welfare community through her board involvement with a nonprofit organization serving children who are suspected to be abused or neglected.
Esprit De Corps
Stacy Ramsey, Enrollment Management and Academic Services
Stacy Ramsey has been part of the Redbird family since 1988 when she arrived on campus as new freshman. Currently, Ramsey serves as associate director of Enrollment Management and Academic Services (EMAS) where she has been since 2014. In this role, Ramsey serves as a member of the EMAS leadership team where she coordinates and assists with a variety of initiatives that support recruitment, retention, and overall enrollment goals. Prior to her current role, Ramsey served 18 years in a variety of positions in the Office of Admissions, and two years as a residence hall coordinator with the Office of Residential Life. In addition to her position in EMAS, she teaches IDS 128: Thriving in College, Career and Beyond, and enjoys helping our Redbirds with the transition from high school to college life.
Throughout her time at Illinois State, Ramsey has served on numerous committees. She presently serves on the Growth Change Team, University IT Portfolio Council, Athletic Council, Student Success Analysis Planning Team, Staff Success in Academic Affairs Team, and EMAS Committee on Recruitment and Retention Initiatives, to name a few. Ramsey regularly volunteers for Move-In, Welcome Week, House Calls, and Milner Library Finals Week. Ramsey is also an active member of several state and national professional organizations.
Ramsey served on the A/P Council from 2006-2014 in various roles including general member, Campus Communications Committee liaison, vice chair, and chair. Ramsey received the A/P Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and Team Excellence Award in 2012. She most recently served on the search committee for the Vice President and Provost as the A/P Council representative.
Ramsey holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology, both from Illinois State University. She is currently serving on the Illinois State University Alumni Board of Directors.
Ramsey and her husband Bob have three children, Jeffrey, Emily (ISU B.S. ‘20), and Abby (current ISU sophomore). In addition to her involvement with activities at Illinois State, Ramsey volunteers for The Baby Fold Festival of Trees and the Play4Kay cancer fundraiser. Ramsey’s passion is to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
