The Division of Student Affairs will recognize five outstanding young alumni during Homecoming week at the Alumni Day Luncheon on October 14. The Redbird Proud Young Alumni Award recipients are Jenna Goldsmith, Richard Greenfield, Brian Loiacono, Nikita Richards, and Matthew Rillie. These alumni demonstrate great pride in Illinois State University as well as eagerly share what they learned through their student experiences with Student Affairs. Recipients of this honor live the values of Student Affairs – Integrity, Compassion, Creativity, Diversity, and Relationships.
Jenna Goldsmith ’08, M.A. ’10
Jenna Goldsmith, Ph.D. is a two-time graduate of ISU (BA ’08; M.A. ’10). While at ISU, she was active in ISU PRIDE, FLAME, and Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honors Society). She is a Lecturer in the English Department at Rockford University in Rockford, IL. She is the author of four chapbooks of poetry, most recently TITLE NINE, which was published by Press 254, the teaching press of Illinois State University.
Richard Greenfield ’17
Richard graduated Cum Laude from Illinois State University in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Most recently, Richard earned his Master’s in Public Administration degree from Governors State University. Richard currently works for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago as Director of Community and External Affairs for Commissioner Kimberly du Buclet. Richard is the Recording Secretary for the Illinois State University Black Colleagues Association and is the Legislative Affairs Chairperson for the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education.
Brian Loiacono ’18
Brian is a Compensation Analyst at CF Industries. He graduated from the College of Business in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Management. He is currently working towards obtaining an MBA from the University of Illinois. Brian was very involved in student organizations while on campus and now serves on the College of Business MQM Advisory Council. He resides in Buffalo Grove, IL with his fiancé Annika and puppy Trilli.
Nikita Richards ’06, M.S. ’15
Recently recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives and Congressional Record for her leadership and accomplishments, Nikita Richards is a proud Navy veteran, appointed member of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s transition team and the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, Vice Chair of Planned Parenthood of Illinois Board of Directors, and Illinois State University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Richards received both her Master of Arts in communication ’15 and Bachelor of Arts in politics & government ’06 from Illinois State University.
Matthew Rillie ’15
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University in 2015. He has since earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Xavier University in 2021 and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin in 2018. As a Redbird, he was heavily involved on campus including president for ISU Pride advocating for LGBTQA+ students, serving as lead coordinator for Leaders of Social Change, and working for the Student Involvement Center and Braden Auditorium. Matthew’s career is now at Columbia College Chicago working in Diversity and Inclusion.
These young alumni are great examples of what it means to live out the values of Student Affairs after graduation. To learn more about the Redbird Proud Young Alumni Award and how you can be involved as an alum, visit our Alumni and Friends page of the Division of Student Affairs website.
