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IN THIS ISSUE, Alumni Sightings | UIS On The Move: English Graduate Wins ...
FEATURED STORY — Winter 2004
The Republic of Botswana
On a warm spring day in Botswana, Professor Jan Droegkamp sat down with Gaone Masire, a 1985 graduate of the master's of public affairs program at SSU/UIS. Jan was a visiting professor at the University of Botswana and interviewed graduates there, and Masire was among them. Interviewing her was a bit like "Where in the World is Gaone Masire?"
Masire has been a busy and well-traveled alumna, starting with a trip to the U.N. Women's Conference in Kenya shortly after college graduation. Her first job was with the Bank of Botswana as a personnel officer. She told Jan she was able to take courses in the MPA program to help meet the needs of the emerging economy of Botswana, and that Professor Jeff Cornog prepared her well in the area of personnel management.
She stayed with the bank for seven years but did not stay put. In 1990 she was a Fulbright Scholar with the Hubert Humphrey program for mid-level managers, and gained hands-on experience with the City of Seattle Human Resources Program. She came back to the United States in 1993 to accompany 15 traditional dancers who were on a cultural exchange with Virginia Tech University. And, when the Bank of Botswana sent her to India for a six-week banking course, she "had her eyes opened to new situations."
As President of the Botswana Junior Chamber of Commerce, Masire took trips to Senegal, Scotland, Miami, Hong Kong, Korea and, most recently, to Denmark in 2003. For a change of pace, she took a 2-year job in London with the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management, which facilitates business exchanges and dialog between government and private business. She also worked with Namibia on project planning, implementation and evaluation.
In 1999, Masire took a job in the private sector as a public relations and training coordinator for Engen, a franchise service-station/convenience-store corporation. In February 2003 she was back in the United States at Luther College for her 20th college reunion, and stopped in Springfield to see old friends Terri Jackson, UIS multicultural services coordinator; and Pam Hammond-McDavid, former director of the UIS Career Services Office.
— By Jan Droegkamp
Washington, D.C.
In mid-January, Mary Caroline Mitchell, assistant director for alumni relations at Springfield, had the opportunity to meet with several UIS alumni in the Washington, D.C., area. Gordon Heddell '75 MA, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Labor, welcomed her to his spacious office overlooking the Capitol Mall. He credits his master's degree in legal studies as a great stepping stone in his career, during which he has served as part of the Secret Service for every president since Nixon.
Alumni Denise Warner '82 MA, Dana DeBeaumont-Hig '89 MA and Frank Fuhrig '95 met over lunch to discuss future UIS events in the D.C. area. After a successful career using her degree in community arts management at Washington's Kennedy Center, Warner took time out to start a family and decided she wanted more flexibility. Using skills that came as second nature after growing up in a family whose business was real estate, Warner is now a top-producing real estate agent in the District.
DeBeaumont-Hig, a public affairs reporting graduate, has been a congressional staffer. Following a break in employment to spend time with her family, she returned to the political scene as governmental relations director for a D.C. lobbying firm.
Fuhrig moved to the area fairly recently with his wife, Lynda Fuhrig '01 MA. Fuhrig is using his fluency in German plus his degree in political studies to serve as news editor and correspondent for a German press service.
Brian Kasher '88 '90 MA, his wife and 1-year-old daughter joined Mitchell for a late lunch. Kasher is an entrepreneur who started his own company providing environmental analysis related to occupational health and safety after he moved to Washington in the '90s. Experience as a leader in student government at UIS, linked with his education, has been a key to Kasher's success.
Everyone who was contacted in the D.C. area was enthusiastic about the prospect of a local alumni chapter. If you are interested in helping establish a D.C. UIS alumni chapter, contact the Association at alumni@uis.edu.
Chicago
It was a cold, dark, windy night, but a group of stalwart UIS Chicagoland alumni braved the elements to enjoy camaraderie, drinks and fun after work on Jan. 24 at the Rock Bottom Brewery. Kent Redfield, professor of political studies and director of the Institute for Legislative Studies, joined the group and shared his wisdom on things political in the state and nation. Many who attended had studied with Redfield at UIS. Two of them — Donovan Pepper '94 '96 MA, and Brian Cross '95 — have been friends since attending Triton Community College. They came to UIS together and both obtained degrees in political studies. They continue their friendship that began more than a decade ago.
St. Pete Beach, Fla.
Sunday, Feb. 8, the sea breezes at St. Pete Beach, Fla., were blowing hard enough that the alumni reception was moved inside. But those who attended enjoyed a warm greeting from the Alumni Association and Chancellor and Mrs. Richard D. ringeisen. Twenty-five alumni and friends gathered to renew acquaintances with those who had attended last year's alumni gathingering in Tampa and to meet and greet others who attended for the first time. Chancellor Ringeisen brought greetings from campus and shared the latest information with area alumni who attended. Mary Caroline Mitchell shared the Association's plan for establishing alumni chapters and three alumni in attendance — Randy Dunn '73 '74 MA, Christine Richter-Harvey '85 MA and Mary Lou Shea PhD '71 MA — volunteered to assist with forming one in southwest Florida. Other area alumni who are interested in workig with the Association and the alumni planning group are encouraged to contact the UIAA at alumni@uis.edu.
Naples, Fla.
In Naples, Fla., a small group of alumni gathered for dinner Monday, Feb. 9. Tom Boerio '90, an accountant in Naples, joined Helen Dunn '72 MA, Joan Sestak '89 and Mary Caroline Mitchell. Tom indicated that it was his first contact with the campus since he graduated. He credits UIS with providing the faculty support and small classes that helped him achieve the degree he needed in order to move to Florida and join an accounting firm.
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