Since 2013, new freshmen and new transfer students have nominated Illinois State faculty, staff, and students for an Impact Award. Award recipients make a significant difference in students’ first-year experience on campus and ultimately to their academic success. Please join us in congratulating the following individuals who have been recognized for a 2021 Impact Award honoring their contributions to our students and to first-year retention.

image of the Impact Awards logo


Academic Advisors

George Banks, Academic Advisor, University College
Ashley Berg, Academic Advisor, Technology
Nicholas Finnessey, Academic Advisor, College of Business
Ronald Gifford, Assistant to the Department Chair, History
Martin Greenberg, Academic Advisor, University College
Nicole Hughes-Liss, Lecturer, School of Communication
Molly Knapp, Academic Advisor, Psychology
Julie Navickas, Academic Advisor, School of Communication
Amanda Papinchock, Academic Advisor, University College
Erik Rankin, Academic Advisor, Politics and Government
Lana Summers, Academic Advisor, University College
Jazmyn Thomas, Academic Advisor, University College
Heidi Verticchio, Director, Speech and Hearing Clinic, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Daphyne Walker, Academic Advisor, Kinesiology and Recreation
Amy Yacucci, Supervisor Clinical, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Students

Ryan Burns, Sophomore, Music
Elizabeth Deiters*, Senior, Sociology (Academic Peer Advisor Leader)
Victoria Disilvio, Junior, Marketing
Dominique Hampton, Freshman, Criminal Justice Sciences
Anna Heiar, Junior, English
Mikayla Jurczykowski*, Freshman, Elementary Education
Nora Lally, Freshman, Communication Sciences Disorders
Kyle McCoy, Junior, Sociology (Resident Assistant)
Eduardo Monk, Freshman, Communication Studies
Morgan Olefsky, Freshman, Special Education
Julia Shepard, Senior, Economics
Justin So, Sophomore, Nursing (Resident Assistant)

Staff

David Adams, Staff Psychologist, Student Counseling Services
Ashley Bollhorst, Marketing Associate, Mennonite College of Nursing
Misia Grzybowski, Senior Specialist, Peer Ed Advocacy, Health Promotion and Wellness
Lori Hemmer, Food Service Administrator II, Event Management, Dining and Hospitality
Stacy Ramsey, Associate Director Enrollment Management, Enrollment Management
Derek Story, Director of HR Systems, Human Resources
Allan Weddle, Business Administrative Associate, Event Management, Dining and Hospitality

Faculty/Instructors

Lori Adams, Professor, School of Theatre and Dance
Jennifer Banning, Associate Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences
Ryan Baxter, Instructional Assistant Professor, University College
Frank Beck, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
Deanna Bennison-House, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
Heidi Bowman, Instructional Assistant Professor, English
Daniel Breyer, Associate Professor, Philosophy
Joshua Brown, Professor, Technology
Anne Dervin, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Music
Kelsey Fisher*, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Theatre and Dance
Lee Anne Hale, Lecturer, School of Communication
Sherri Hildebrand, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Recreation
Matthew Himley, Associate Professor, Geography, Geology, and the Environment
Richard Hughes, Associate Professor, History
Michelle Hutchison, Instructional Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Jillian Joyce, Lecturer, School of Communication
Steven Juliano, Distinguished Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Jeffrey Kahn, Professor, Psychology
Benjamin Keil, Instructional Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Thomas Lamonica, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Communication
Regina Leffers, Instructional Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Kristin Marshall, Instructional Assistant Professor, English
Michelle Martinez, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
Joe McDonald, Instructional Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Paul Meister, Coordinator, Academic Services, Geography, Geology, and the Environment
Erin Mikulec, Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
John Miller, Associate Professor, Wonsook Kim School of Art
Maggie Morris Davis, Director, English Education, English
Lindsey Nicholson, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Recreation
Pirmin Nietlisbach, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Emma Oliver, Graduate Assistant Teaching, Wonsook Kim School of Art
Anjali Patel, Graduate Assistant Teaching, School of Communication
Yvette Pigman, Instructional Assistant Professor, Mennonite College of Nursing
Sarah Piotrowski, Coordinator, Academic Services, History
Touré Reed, Professor, History
Jay Rich, Professor, Accounting
Jeanna Rodda, Lecturer, Criminal Justice Sciences
Gillian Schenk, Instructional Assistant Professor, Special Education
Michelle Sleevar, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
Kate Smith*, Instructional Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Matthew Smith, Associate Professor, School of Music
Lynda Swan-McClendon, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Bryanna Tidmarsh, Graduate Assistant Teaching, English
Tuyen Tonnu, Associate Professor, School of Music
Madeline Trimble, Assistant Professor, Accounting
Christopher Wellin, Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
Tina Williams*, Director, Honors Program
Madeline Witt, Graduate Assistant Teaching, School of Communication
Alicia Wodika, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences
Benjamin Wodika*, Instructional Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

*Received more than one nomination