Alumni | North Central College

Jazz studies alum performs on “The Late Show with David Letterman”

Grant Gustafson, a 2010 graduate who majored in jazz studies, performed with Jessica Lea Mayfield on a network television show.

March 10, 2011—North Central alumnus Grant Gustafson recently performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Gustafson, a 2010 graduate who majored in jazz studies, appeared on the Feb. 25 broadcast playing electric bass behind up-and-coming singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield. In this photo, he's the second from the left.

Local United Methodist churches to celebrate Lenten service March 23 in Wentz Concert Hall

The public is invited to participate in a Lenten worship service with local Methodist churches as part of North Central College’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Contact: Ted Slowik, director of PR and media relations, 630-637-5307

March 10, 2011—The public is invited to participate in a Lenten worship service March 23 with members of four Naperville United Methodist congregations as part of North Central College’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Student volunteers serve local refugee community

From left, elementary education and Spanish majors Sarah Hall ’12 and Liz Linnin

North Central College’s service learning program was featured in an online story.

March 9, 2011—In early 2011, the Aurora office of World Relief published a story on its website about North Central College student volunteers who tutor and serve refugee children on a weekly basis as part of the College’s service learning program. Here’s that story, written by World Relief intern Glenn Oviatt.

Alumna Cynthia Jele wins Commonwealth Writers’ Prize

Alumna and author Cynthia Jele has won the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Best First Book in the African region.

Alumna Cynthia Jele wins Commonwealth Writers’ Prize

March 7, 2011—North Central graduate and author Cynthia Jele has won the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Best First Book in the African region for her novel “Happiness is a Four-letter Word.”

Jele earns a trip to the Sydney Writers Festival in May, when her book will compete against finalists from other Commonwealth regions for two overall best first book awards.

Education alumni share advice with current students

Shane Gillespie, Class of 2004, English teacher

Four alumni of North Central College's undergraduate and graduate education programs share their expertise and advice with students.

March 7, 2011—Students majoring in education at North Central College get to learn from excellent faculty members on a daily basis and from highly respected teachers in the field. Recently, four alumni of North Central’s undergraduate and graduate education programs returned to campus to share their expertise and advice with students in the 242 Classroom Management Techniques in Secondary Education class taught by Kristine Servais, associate professor of education.

Distinguished alumni, cancer researchers are Rall keynote speakers

Dr. Doris Mangiaracina Benbrook, Class of 1981

Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research welcomes two noted scholars, cancer researchers, professors and North Central alumni as keynote speakers.

May 5, 2011—Each spring, North Central College celebrates and recognizes top student scholars and their academic achievements with a daylong event called Honors Day. The 2011 Honors Day takes place Tuesday, May 17, and includes the 14th annual Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research in the morning and the 35th annual Honors Convocation in the afternoon.

Alumnus offers advice to art students

Benjamin Buchenot spent a day at his alma mater sharing tips with art students about creating and marketing their art work.

Feb. 23, 2011—Benjamin Buchenot, Class of 2005, spent a day at his alma mater sharing tips with art students about creating and marketing their art work.

Art students watched Buchenot demonstrate how he works with clay on a wheel and listened to him describe how he throws clay and uses tools to make walls. He also shared tips on how to clean up pieces more easily, and fielded questions from students on such topics as properly pricing and photographing pieces.

Neuroscientist discusses gender and the brain Feb. 22

Lise Eliot discusses gender and the brain.

Author of “Pink Brain, Blue Brain” and neuroscientist Lise Eliot will give a talk about gender differences and the brain on Feb. 22.

Contact: Nancy Dunker, associate director of public relations, 630-637-5306

Feb. 8, 2011—North Central College welcomes neuroscientist Lise Eliot, author of “Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps and What We Can Do About It,” to speak about gender and the brain.

Eliot will give a free talk at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in North Central’s Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville.

Students from other colleges may enroll in summer courses at North Central

Enrollment is underway for summer school at North Central College. Courses are open to students from other colleges.

Contact: Ted Slowik, Director of PR and Media Relations, 630-637-5307

Feb. 19, 2011—Enrollment is underway for summer school at North Central College. Courses are open to students from other colleges and to all North Central undergraduate and graduate students.

College appoints coordinator of undergraduate research

Nancy Peterson, professor of chemistry, was recently appointed the College’s first coordinator of undergraduate research.

Feb. 18, 2011—Nancy Peterson, professor of chemistry, was recently appointed the College’s first coordinator of undergraduate research. In making the announcement during a faculty meeting fall term 2010, R. Devadoss Pandian, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty, noted that one of the objectives of the 2007-2012 Strategic Plan is to expand faculty-student collaboration, including undergraduate research.