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Dominican faculty help build awareness and boost the reputation of the university. We’re pleased to highlight some of their recent accomplishments.

Fall 2025

Borra College of Health Sciences

Dr. Dylan Bellisle, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, co-authored the article “Child Tax Credit Utilization in Immigrant Households: A focus on Child Investment and College Funds,” in SN Business & Economics, Aug. 5, 2025

Dr. Kevin Miller, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, is co-author of the paper “Patterns of Resilience, Patterns of Tragedy: Perspectives from Inside and Outside to Theorize Beneficial Interventions Serving Urban African American Youth Struggling with Community Violence,” published Sept. 12, 2025 in Clinical Social Work Journal. Miller was also the co-author of two other papers this year: “‘Mentors Need Mentors:’ The Perspectives of Adolescent Cross-Age Mentors of Colour �����о��� Their Instructors’ Supports,” in Journal of Social Work Practice, May 2025; and “Toward a Theory of Resistance for an Emancipatory Social Work,” in Journal of Progressive Human Services, April 2025.

Maura Waldron, adjunct clinical instructor of nursing, was recognized by the Illinois Nurses Foundation among the 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders for 2025. The award celebrates nursing leaders who are shaping the future of the profession.

Dr. Jonathan Uebelhor, assistant professor of nursing, was the recipient of the Mother Evelyn Murphy Excellence in Teaching Award from Dominican University, presented during May 2025 Commencement.

College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology

Dr. Annette Bochenek, PhD LIS ’19, adjunct professor in the School of Information Studies, was a panelist at the American Library Association’s 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition, where she spoke on accessing business archives and history.

Dr. Elizabeth Collier, professor of ethics, was awarded the 2025 Sr. Diane Kennedy, OP, Exemplar of Mission Award from Dominican University.

Dr. Bill Crowley, professor in the School of Information Studies, is the author of “Fight if You Can Win. Otherwise, Negotiate,” in The Political Librarian, Sept. 24, 2025; and "Politics, Traditional Librarianship, Progressive Librarianship, and Conflicting Visions of Services for Children,” in Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), Sept. 24, 2025. 

Dr. Anne Drougas, associate dean of the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, participated in a two-week Visiting Professorship Program residency at the University of Strasbourg Business School in France. Drougas worked with students as a “green finance” professor, sharing insights on sustainable investing; environmental, social and governance trends; and the future of responsible finance.

Dr. John Jenks, professor of communication arts and sciences, presented the research paper “Aligning Africa: Reuters and the Development of National News Agencies, 1957-1970,” at the International Communication Association conference in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Kara Malenfant assistant professor in the School of Information Studies co-authored “Digital Equity in Higher Education” in the 2025 book Legislative Advocacy and Public Policy Work for Academic and Research Library Workers: Perspectives and Strategies.

Rosary College of Arts, Education, and Sciences

Dr. Maggie Andersen, professor of English, is the author of the memoir No Stars in Jefferson Park, Northwestern University Press, 2025.

Dr. Dan Beach, professor of psychology, was the recipient of the 2025 Hugh McElwain Distinguished Service Award for his 50 years of service to Dominican University.

Dr. Irina Calin-Jageman, professor of biology, authored the chapter “Neurophysiology” in a new, peer-reviewed, open-access neuroscience textbook, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. 

Dr. Robert Calin-Jageman, professor of psychology and director of the neuroscience program, was awarded the 2025 St. Catherine of Siena, OP, Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award from Dominican University.

Drs. Irina and Robert Calin-Jageman published an invited review on “Transcriptional Regulation Underlying Long-Term Sensitization” along with student co-author Theresa Wilsterman in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Neuroscience; and “Evidence of Active-Forgetting Mechanisms? Blocking Arachidonic Acid Release May Slow Forgetting of Sensitization in Aplysia” in eNeuro with student co-authors Bryan Gonzalz Delgadillo, Elise Gamino, Zayra Juarez, Anna Kurkowski, Nelly Musajeva, Leslie Valdez, Diana Wittrock, Theresa Wilsterman, and Jashui Zarate Torres.

Dr. Jodi Cressman, professor of English, participated in a summer writing fellowship at the prestigious Bread Loaf Writers Conference in Middlebury, Vermont. The conference was founded in 1926 by Robert Frost to bring emerging and contemporary writers together for writing and mentorship.

Dr. Jane Hseu, professor of English, was named vice president of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, which works to honor and preserve the city’s literary heritage.

Dr. Nkuzi Nnam, professor of philosophy and founding director of the Black World Studies program, was the recipient of the 2025 Black Excellence Award from the Center for Cultural Liberation for excellence in scholarship, community service and elevating Black and African American students.

Spring 2025

Borra College of Health Sciences

Dr. Sarah Jones, associate professor of nutrition, was a guest lecturer at Universidad Iberoamericana- Puebla in Puebla, Mexico in November 2024. Jones led undergraduate and graduate workshops on developing community-based participatory research.

Brennan School of Business

Dr. Anjali Chaudhry, professor of management, authored the article “Carbon Footprint is Everywhere—Let’s Go Beyond the Hype,” for Forbes, October 2024. 

College of Applied Social Sciences

Dr. Colleen Reardon, adjunct instructor, School of Education, is the author of “Teacher Wellness and a Call for Action,” published in the online journal Voices for Educational Equity in Fall 2023.

Rosary College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Claudia Herrera-Montero, assistant professor of theology, presented at the

Practical Theology Unit of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) annual meeting in San Diego, California on Nov. 23, 2024, and presented at the continental gathering of the Ecclesia in America Network, held Feb. 6-9, 2025 at the University of San Diego.

Dr. Irina Calin-Jageman gave the keynote address at the 2024 Biological Sciences seminar at Wayne State University. She also authored the chapter "Neurophysiology" in a new, peer-reviewed, open-access neuroscience textbook, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience, edited by Kirby, Glenn, Sandstrom & Williams.  This textbook was designed from the ground up for inclusive pedagogy and will be a free and frequently-updated resources for neuroscience students all over the world.

Dr. Robert Calin-Jageman was named national director of Nu Rho Psi, the national honors society for neuroscience majors, and joined the advisory board of eNeuro to lead a new edited a series on improving neuroscience. He also authored the second edition of Introduction to the New Statistics with co-author Geoff Cumming; authored the chapter “Neurophysiology” for the textbook Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience, 2024; and published “From Significance Testing to Estimation and Open Science: How esci Can Help” with co-author Geoff Cumming. This piece focuses on the release of esci, an open-source software system that can help developing and established scientists quantify uncertainty in their datasets.  The software is currently averaging over 700 downloads a month worldwide.

Drs. Irina and Robert Calin-Jageman published an invited review on “Transcriptional Regulation Underlying Long-Term Sensitization” along with student co-author Theresa Wilsterman in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, and also published “Evidence of Active-Forgetting Mechanisms? Blocking Arachidonic Acid Release May Slow Forgetting of Sensitization in Aplysia” in eNeuro with student co-authors Bryan Gonzalz Delgadillo, Elise Gamino, Zayra Juarez, Anna Kurkowski, Nelly Musajeva, Leslie Valdez, Diana Wittrock, Theresa Wilsterman and Jashui Zarate Torres.

Dr. Carlos Urani Montiel, visiting assistant professor of Spanish, was awarded a grant to complete a book project of creative essays entitled Literary Foundation of the Chihuahuan Border (1847-1937).

Dr. John Jenks, professor of communication, co-authored the article “Cold War Propaganda, Forum World Features and the Canberra Times, 1965–1973,” which was published by the academic journal Media History on Feb. 28, 2025. The article discusses the CIA’s use of fake news agencies to infiltrate propaganda into the Australian press in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dr. Joseph Sagerer, senior lecturer of physics, was the recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from Harper College. The award recognized Sagerer’s work as a professor, including leading students in the design of a muon detector for the study of the Mayan Temple of Kukulkan in Chichén Itzá, Mexico.

Corneal Westbrooks ’03, adjunct instructor of career programs and employer relations, published the children’s book, Caleb the Great: Touchdown in New Orleans, in 2024. It was written in memory of his late son, Caleb, who was a teenage victim of gun violence. 

Fall 2024

Borra College of Health Sciences

Dr. Tamara Bland, dean, was the recipient of the 2024 Sr. Mary Clemente Davlin, OP, Diversity Leadership Award for her efforts to build equitable opportunities for students of color in healthcare. Bland was also the co-author of “The Role of Nursing Leadership in Dismantling Racism in Nursing: A Call to Action,” published in Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 2024.

Dr. Michel Harris, assistant professor of nutrition sciences and director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics, received the 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award from Borra College of Health Sciences.

Brennan School of Business

Dr. Lisa Amoroso, professor of management, was the recipient of the Sr. Diane Kennedy, OP, Exemplar of Mission Faculty Award recognizing her commitment to upholding the university’s mission as a justice, equity and inclusion leader in the Brennan School of Business.

Dr. Anjali Chaudhry, professor of management, is the author of “Three Ways Managers Can Help Employees Tackle Eco-Anxiety,” published Aug. 5 in Forbes.

Dr. Brooke Reavey, associate professor of marketing, visited Romania as a Fulbright Specialist this summer and led a workshop on digital marketing strategies at the University of Babes-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca.

Dr. Derek Ruth, associate professor of management, was selected by student vote for the 2024 Brennan Excellence in Teaching Award.

Rosary College of Arts and Sciences

Philip C. Aka, adjunct instructor of political science, is the author of the book Human Rights in Nigeria’s External Relations in the Age of General Muhammadu Buhari and His Successors: Loving the Foreigner as Yourself (2024).

Dr. Sheila Bauer-Gatsos, associate professor of English, received the Professor Emeritus Dr. Hugh “Mac” McElwain President’s Distinguished Service Faculty Award recognizing her strengths as a professor and English Department chair, and her work in the development of �����о���’s new North Star Core Curriculum.

Dr. Irina Calin-Jageman, professor of biology and neuroscience, was the recipient of the St. Catherine of Siena Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award recognizing the many research papers she has co-authored with students, and her commitment to increasing participation and retention of underrepresented students in STEM fields.

Dr. Robert Calin-Jageman is the co-author of the book Introduction to the New Statistics, 2nd edition, published in April 2024; the paper “From Significance Testing to Estimation and Open Science: How Esci Can Help,” in International Journal of Psychology, April 28, 2024; and the paper “Registered Replication Report: Study 3 from Trafimow and Hughes (2012),” July 3, 2024, which was accepted for publication at Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science.

Dr. Irina Calin-Jageman, Dr. Robert Calin-Jageman and Theresa Wilsterman ’24 co-authored “Transcriptional Regulation Underlying Long-Term Sensitization in Aplysia,” in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, 2024.

Dr. Ada Cheng, adjunct professor of sociology and criminology and 2023-24 Lund Gill Chair, was the recipient of a 2024 Public Humanities Award from Illinois Humanities.

Dr. Jennifer C. Dunn, professor of communication arts and sciences, received the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Leadership and Teaching Award for 2024.

Armando Guerrero Estrada, PASOS Network director and adjunct instructor of theology, co-authored with alumna Paulina Delgadillo ’23 the chapter “Recuerda Que Jesús También Fue Niño: An Undocumented Reflection on the Spiritual Exercises,” in the 2024 book Praying for Freedom: Racism and Ignatian Spirituality, by Liturgical Press.

Dr. Claudia Herrera-Montero, assistant professor of theology, presented a lecture on U.S. Latina theology at Albertus Magnus College (a Dominican-Catholic Hispanic Serving Institution) in New Haven, Connecticut, in October 2024. Her presentation was titled “Theologizing Abuelita-mente: Reimagining themes of comunidad/community, la lucha/the struggle, and ‘permítanme hablar/allow me to speak.’”

Dr. Jane Hseu, professor of English, was the moderator and organizer for the panel "Worlds and Words of Chicago: Immigrant Stories," featuring Nestor Gomez, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, and Lani Montreal, at the American Writers Festival in May 2024 at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. Hseu was also the co-organizer of the Oak Park Public Library’s celebration for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month.

Bill Jenkins, professor of theater, gave workshops on victim health, victim rights and victim advocacy at the Parents of Murdered Children conference and the National Organization of Victim Advocacy conference this summer. He also designed lighting for the River City Players’ production of Collected Stories, and lighting and scenery for the HATTheatre production of The Roommate in Richmond, Virginia. 

Dr. John Jenks, professor of communication, authored the chapter “Working Their Cover: The CIA’s Forum World Features, Covert Propaganda Strategy, and News Tactics, 1966–1975,” in the book Media Tactics in the Long Twentieth Century.

Dr. Jeanette Mokry, associate professor of mathematics, is the author of the digital textbook College Algebra: Functions and Applications, published by Great River Learning.

School of Information Studies

Dr. Kara Malenfant, assistant professor, is the co-author of “Characteristics of Academic Libraries, Library Instruction and Student Outcomes: A Descriptive Analysis Focusing on Minority-Serving and Rural Institutions,” a chapter published in the book Assessment and Advocacy: Using Project Outcome for Academic Libraries (2024).