Welcome to Northeastern Alumni Class Notes
Find out what your fellow alumni are up to these days. Share your news and events by submitting a note.
William Kirkwood
(B.A. ‘79 Music; M.A. ‘83 Music)
Kirkwood recently completed a Doctor of Worship Studies degree at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Fla.
Richard Koubek
(B.A. ‘82 Psychology)
The Detroit News reported that alumnus Richard Koubek has been appointed the 10th president of Michigan Tech.
James H. Lawlor
(B.A. ‘83 Business and Management)
Lawlor works as a personal injury trial attorney at Shea Law Group, Chicago, Ill.
Melanie (Goto) Dillon
(B.A. ‘85 Speech; M.A. ‘89 Guidance and Counseling)
Dillon is the co-founder of Entourage Clinical Services, one of the first integrated Canna-conscious health care practices in Illinois. In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Dillon is a Certified Holistic Cannabis Practitioner (CHCP).
Kenneth D. Smith
(B.S. ‘87 Marketing)
Smith serves as a Tax Manager at The Abrix Group LP in Northbrook, Ill.
Jaime Escobar
(B.S. ‘94, Accounting)
Escobar was recently appointed as chief financial officer at Nanophase Technologies Corporation, a technology leader in nanomaterials and advanced nanoengineered products, in Romeoville, Ill. He also has a CPA license from the State of Illinois.
Robert Jordan
(M.A. ‘94 Speech)
Jordan presented at Northeastern as part of the NEIU Alumni All Access speaker series. Jordan retired in 2016 as a reporter and news anchor for WGN-TV’s News at Nine. He recently published “Murder in the News: An Inside Look at How Television Covers Crime.” The book examines how news programs decide which murders to cover and how social media has changed the dynamic of reporting. Jordan received the 2011 NEIU Distinguished Alumnus Award and also served as the December Commencement Speaker at NEIU.
Enrique Gallego
(M.A. ‘97 Political Science)
Gallego served as a regional policy coordinator at the Department of State’s Counterterrorism Bureau. He is currently training for a new assignment with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia as the deputy political counselor for External Affairs.
Roberta Dietzen
(M.A.‘99 Linguistics)
Dietzen published a Holocaust memoir, Gypsy Music Street, in 2013. Her speaker’s program is titled “Gypsy Music Street: Genocide and a Daughter’s Journey to her Mother’s Shattered World.” She speaks about the inter-generational trauma of the Holocaust, and the importance of people standing up to hatred, cruelty, and injustice.
Jade Maze
(B.A. ‘04 University Without Walls)
Maze recently published “Walk Until Sunrise,” a memoir about her experiences as a 15-year-old-runaway. Her book received a review from windycityreviews.org. She is currently am a member of the voice faculty at Merit School of Music and a teaching artist for Ravinia.
