Join us in applauding these accomplished Illinois State University alumni.
Providing compassionate care
Jamie (Fenton) Dlatt ’98 is the chief operating officer of Legacy Healthcare, overseeing more than 50 nursing homes in Illinois. She was inspired to pursue a career in the health care sector after her experience at Illinois State—specifically, an Introduction to Gerontology class with Dr. David Eaton. As COO, Dlatt has developed a program to train administrators to operate their own facilities. Dlatt was included in McKnight’s inaugural Women of Distinction Hall of Honor class in 2019, was among Crain’s Chicago Notable Women in Healthcare in 2018, and was a national finalist for the Connected Women of Influence’s 2021 Gamechanger Award.
Launching a program
Regina Smith ’06 was named head coach of the Morgan State University women’s acrobatics and tumbling team in August 2022. A former member of Illinois State’s cheerleading team, Smith has coached acrobatics, tumbling, cheerleading, and dance, and has served as a collegiate cheerleading official. She has held various coaching positions at Ottawa University, Ohio State University, and Thiel College, and previously served as the inaugural coach of the acrobatics and tumbling team at Adrian College. Morgan State is the first historically Black college or university competing primarily at the NCAA Division I level to offer the sport, which incorporates skills common to gymnastics and cheerleading. Morgan State’s acrobatics and tumbling team will begin competition in 2023-24.
Cooking with kindness
Brian Hillmer ’02 is the chief culinary officer of Community Servings, a nonprofit delivering made-from-scratch meals to individuals in greater Boston. With over 20 years of culinary experience, Hillmer is a leader in the organization that operates with the motto “food is medicine.” Community Servings provides nutritious and medically tailored meals to individuals and families experiencing illness and food insecurity. The organization has served as a blueprint for other community food programs. It has also regularly caught the eye of both local and national media for its efforts, including its annual “Pie in the Sky” bake sale, with proceeds from the sale of more than 18,000 pies helping feed families.
Innovative administrator
Todd Dugan ’97, M.S. ’06, was the 2022 recipient of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Lighthouse Award. Dugan is the superintendent of Bunker Hill Community Unit School District 8. The statewide award recognizes a school administrator whose outstanding practices or new ideas result in significant contributions to school entities that can be replicated by other school business officials. Dugan developed and implemented a program that enabled Bunker Hill High School students to earn certified nursing assistant credentials during their normal school day, with certification completed by the time of their high school graduation.
