Staff Directory
Jim Ahern, Ph.D.
Dean of the Graduate School
jahern@niu.edu | 815-753-0883 | Williston Hall, Room 125A
Ahern joined NIU in 2025 and brought in 30-plus years of graduate education research and administrative experience. He completed his master’s degree at NIU and his doctoral degree at the University of Michigan, both in anthropology. For leisure, he enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing and travelling for research and to see family.
Areas of Responsibility
As dean, Ahern is responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of graduate education at NIU. Areas of focus include:
- Academic leadership
- Graduate enrollment strategy
- Graduate student success
- Policy and process oversight
- Faculty collaboration and development
Read more about Jim Ahern
Ahern built expertise in higher education administration as head of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming before moving into graduate education. In 2018, he established UW’s Office of Graduate Education, followed by the School of Graduate Education in 2022. Under his leadership, the university reached its highest-ever graduate enrollment, alongside a significant increase in underrepresented student populations.
Since 1992, Ahern has conducted research in the Western Balkans, with an initial focus on the biological transition from Neandertals to early modern humans. His research focuses on the biocultural dynamics of the Neandertal-modern human transition, which involves regular archaeological and biological fieldwork in Croatia. His current work examines human ways of life in the northern Adriatic over the past 100,000 years, supported by ongoing excavations in Istria County, Croatia. He is the author of three books and nearly 50 peer-reviewed articles and chapters.
Jessica Reyman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of the Graduate School
jreyman@niu.edu | 815-753-9406 | Williston Hall, Room 120B
Reyman joined NIU in 2006 and has worked in the Graduate School since 2023. She completed her doctoral degree in rhetoric and scientific and technical communication from the University of Minnesota. For leisure, she enjoys reading, nature walks, and spending time with family and friends.
Areas of Responsibility
As associate dean, Reyman serves as a lead visionary and steward for graduate student success initiatives and supports the overall operational needs of the Graduate School. Areas of focus include:
- Graduate student programming
- Graduate student funding
- Graduate student appeals
- Graduate faculty relations and academic policy development
Read more about Jessica Reyman
Reyman began her career in higher education as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she taught writing and technical communication courses. A recognized scholar on law and ethics in digital communication, she has published books and articles in her field and received the Computers and Composition Distinguished Book Award for “Digital Ethics: Rhetoric and Responsibility in Online Aggression.”
Prior to her role in the Graduate School, Reyman served as professor of English at NIU and as her department’s director of graduate studies and job placement advisor. Her dedication to inclusive excellence is reflected in her service as director of NIU’s Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality. She received the Outstanding Mentor Award (2015), the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award (2018), and the Sharon Howard Women Who Make a Difference Award (2020).
Janelle M. Laudick, Ed.D.
Associate Dean of the Graduate School
jlaudick@niu.edu | 815-753-6808 | Williston Hall, Room 100D4
Laudick joined NIU in 2023 and brings broad experience in graduate enrollment management to her role, having worked at multiple large, public institutions across the Midwest throughout her career. She completed her doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Kansas. For leisure, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the Chicagoland area, sampling wines and spoiling her own Siberian Husky at home.
Areas of Responsibility
As executive director, Laudick serves as a senior administrator responsible for the university’s strategy and operations in all areas of graduate enrollment management (GEM). Areas of focus include:
- Graduate enrollment marketing and recruitment
- Enrollment funnel data and analytics
- Graduate admissions oversight
- New student yield and onboarding
- Graduate program partner consultation
Read more about Janelle Laudick
Laudick began her career at a Kansas City-based advertising agency, partnering with various colleges and universities on enrollment solutions. She later spent seven years at the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences as a marketing and communications manager before serving as director of graduate recruitment and marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Combining expertise in higher education administration and integrated communications, Laudick is uniquely positioned to drive the Graduate School’s long-term enrollment strategy. Along with core strengths in policy development, budget management and team leadership, she brings a commitment to equity and inclusion as NIU’s inaugural executive director of graduate enrollment .
Graduate Admission
Arezou Kashani Soto, Ed.D.
Director of Graduate Admission
akashani@niu.edu | 815-753-8276 | Williston Hall, Room 100
Soto joined NIU in 2014 and has worked with the Graduate School specifically since 2019. She completed her doctoral degree in higher education administration from NIU. For leisure, she enjoys spending time with family, working out and traveling.
Areas of Responsibility
Soto oversees the graduate admission team and serves as lead for all graduate admission operations. Areas of focus include:
- Graduate admission procedures and process improvement
- Graduate admission training and support for graduate program partners
- Graduate admission team supervision and leadership
Anne Arne
Domestic Graduate Admission Officer
aarne@niu.edu | 815-753-4900 | Williston Hall, Room 100
Areas of Responsibility
Arne serves as the primary admission officer to process applications for domestic degree-seeking applicants. Areas of focus include:
- Graduate admission liaison with Peoplesoft team
- MyNIU procedure training for graduate admission
Emily Maduzia
Online Graduate Admission Officer
emaduzia@niu.edu | 815-753-0165 | Williston Hall, Room 100D1
Maduzia joined NIU in 2024. Prior to her time at NIU, she spent nine years working in graduate admission for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She completed her bachelor’s degree in history (minor in secondary education) from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame (South Bend, IN). She completed her master’s degree in health communication from UIUC. For leisure, she enjoys adult coloring books, singing/dancing in community theater, volunteering with NIU’s Huskie Closet and watching Chicago sports with her husband.
Areas of Responsibility
Maduzia serves as the primary admission officer to process applications for fully online degree-seeking and graduate certificate-seeking applicants. Areas of focus include:
- Graduate admission liaison with Office of Online Learning
- Graduate admission Slate training materials
- Processing final official transcripts
Erin Corwin-Surwillo
International Graduate Admission Officer
corwinsurwillo@niu.edu | 815-753-9410 | Williston Hall, Room 100
Corwin-Surwillo joined NIU in 2006.
Areas of Responsibility
Corwin-Surwillo serves as the primary admission officer to process applications for international degree-seeking applicants< . Areas of focus include:
- Graduate admission liaison with International Student and Scholar Services
- International documentation check-in for new admits
Wade Rosebrook
Graduate Non-degree Admission Representative
wrosebrook@niu.edu | 815-753-4343 | Williston Hall, Room 100D2
Rosebrook joined NIU in 2023. Prior to his time at NIU, he worked in customer service for the retail industry. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at NIU (anticipated graduation in 2027). For leisure, he enjoys walking, writing and painting.
Areas of Responsibility
Rosebrook serves as the primary admission representative to process applications for non-degree- and graduate certificate-seeking applicants. Areas of focus include:
- Primary support for departmental inbox and main phone line.
- Applicant NAP status review
Student Success Services
Mary Ann Warren
Graduate Student Success Coordinator
mkolls@niu.edu | 815-753-6067 | Williston Hall, Room 342
Warren joined NIU in 2024. Prior to her time at NIU, she spent 16 years as the director of workforce development helping young adults and non-traditional students navigate college and career readiness at both Kishwaukee College and Rock Valley College. She completed her bachelor's degree in sociology from NIU and her master’s degree in social and community services from Capella University (Minneapolis, MN). For leisure she enjoys gardening, crafting natural herbal wellness products, and spending time with family and friends.
Areas of Responsibility
- GradConnect newsletter
- Appeals for reinstatement after dismissal/discontinuation
- Graduate Student Advisory Committee
- Underload permit and graduate assistantship exceptions
- Dissertation completion fellowships
- Outstanding thesis and dissertation awards
- Medical and hardship withdrawals
- Graduate student events (appreciation week, colloquium, orientation and welcome activities)
- Responsible Conduct of Research Series
- Beyond Graduate School career preparation
Christine Holloway
Thesis and Dissertation Coordinator
cholloway@niu.edu | 815-753-9409 | Williston Hall, Room 341
Holloway joined NIU in 2018. Prior to her time at NIU, she worked at a library and a bookstore, but mostly as a teacher or tutor to both children and adults. She completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at NIU. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing, being in nature, and visiting public libraries wherever she goes.
Areas of Responsibility
- Thesis and dissertation deadlines and forms
- Formatting for theses and dissertations
- Committee composition and oral defenses
- Dean’s designee for questions and reports
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
Administrative Support
Kayla Hawkins
Administrative Assistant to the Dean
kdoane@niu.edu | 815-753-9403 | Williston Hall, Room 125
Hawkins joined NIU in 2023. Prior to her time at NIU, she worked in financial aid at Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL). She completed her bachelor’s degree in history, criminal justice and women’s studies at Bradley University (Peoria, IL). For leisure, she enjoys long nature walks, watching reality TV and reading.
Areas of Responsibility
Hawkins supports the administrative needs of the dean of the Graduate School. Areas of focus include:
- Graduate Council and affiliated subcommittees
- Graduate faculty membership and graduate faculty status
- Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award
- Honorary degree process
- Great Journeys
- Graduate tuition waivers (recruitment, retention, artistic talent)
- General office support (technology, ordering, office supplies, work orders)
- Calendar management (dean’s calendar, staff meetings, other office events)
Stark joined NIU in 2012. Prior to her time at NIU, she was an accounting manager for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL). She completed her bachelor's degree in accountancy at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and holds an MBA from Benedictine University (Lisle, IL). For leisure, she enjoys bicycling.
Areas of Responsibility
Stark manages financial and business operations for the Graduate School and the Division of International Affairs. Areas of focus include:
- Budgeting (planning, forecasting, analysis)
- Internal control (purchasing/payables, commercial billing, contract review)
- Facilitating study abroad programs (student invoicing, financial aid budgets)
- Approval of all cost center expenditures (purchase requests, payment requests, travel vouchers/advances)
Lindell joined NIU in 2002. She completed her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from NIU and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs at NIU. In her free time, she enjoys concerts, road trips, cupcakes and animals.
Areas of Responsibility
- Outstanding Graduate Student Awards and ceremony
- Graduate student travel grants
- Grant-participant and international tuition waivers
- DFI Fellowships
- Rhoten A. Smith (RAS) Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Records and Registration
Theresa LaRocco
Graduate Enrollment/Records Coordinator
tlarocco@niu.edu | 815-753-9411 | Williston Hall, Room 300
LaRocco joined NIU in 2006 and has worked in the Graduate School since 2010. Prior to her time at NIU, she worked in early childhood education for children with special learning needs. She completed her associate’s degree at Triton College (River Grove, IL). For leisure, she is a member of a shooting range and enjoys riding side-by-side vehicles on outdoor trails.
Areas of Responsibility
- Graduate records process management and team training
- Academic dismissals and appeals
- Degree verifications
- Leave of absence and return from leave of absence
- Commencement
Bailey Scidmore-Sievers
Graduate Records Representative
bmartin6@niu.edu | 815-753-9413 | Williston Hall, Room 344
Scidmore-Sievers joined NIU in 2022.
Areas of Responsibility
Scidmore-Sievers provides general support for graduate records and registration processes. Areas of focus include:
- Change of major/degree level/specialization
- Kuali forms and process improvements
- Schedule change forms
- Accelerated student registration
- Program/university withdrawals
- Academic advising report (AAR) changes or course substitutions
- Course revalidations
- Grade changes
Yap joined NIU in 2024. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL) and her master’s in industrial organizational psychology from Illinois State University (Normal, IL). For leisure, she enjoys watching TV shows and playing video games.
Areas of Responsibility
Yap provides general support for graduate records and registration processes. Areas of focus include:
- Graduate records departmental email inbox
- Course withdrawals
- Certificate of graduate study completion form
- Transfer credit pre-approval and approval requests
- Commencement participation exceptions and deferrals
- UG in graduate course for UG credit requests
- Graduate student milestone changes
Lakeisha Jackson
Academic Advising Report Specialist
lapplewhite@niu.edu | 815-753-9414 | Williston Hall, Room 100
Areas of Responsibility
Jackson develops and maintains the academic advising report (AAR) for graduate programs in PeopleSoft. Areas of focus include:
- Curriculum management
- Mass matriculation
Other Key Campus Partners
Stephanie Brown
Interim Executive Director of International Affairs
sbrown11@niu.edu
Anna Richardson
Director of Online and Adult Learning
arichardson@niu.edu
Ted Campbell
Associate Director for CRM Operations
tcampbell9@niu.edu
Lori Salinas
CRM Analyst
lsalinas@niu.edu
Wester Wuori
Associate Director of Strategic Communications
wwuori@niu.edu
Contact Us
The Graduate SchoolWilliston Hall 100 Northern Illinois University
1425 West Lincoln Hwy
DeKalb, IL 60115
Office Hours
Monday | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (virtual, by appointment only)
Tuesday | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (in-office)
Wednesday | 8. a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (in-office)
Thursday | 8. a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (in-office)
Friday | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (virtual, by appointment only)
Closed for lunch: noon to 1 p.m. each day