Board of Visitors

The purposes of the Board of Visitors of the Northern Illinois University College of Law are to:

  • Increase awareness of the college's mission and programs within the Illinois legal community, with particular emphasis on the northern tier of the state
  • Serve in an advisory capacity to the administration and the faculty in self-study and evaluation of the college and its educational programs
  • Provide a linkage between the college and the Illinois legal community and develop mechanisms for the interchange of ideas between the college and the legal profession
  • Assist in developing strategies for enhancing the resources and financial support of the college
  • Advise the college with regard to recruitment and improvements in the areas of recruitment and retention of students and career counseling and placement

Current Board of Visitors

Hon. Kenya Jenkins-Wright ’03, Chair

Circuit Court of Cook County
Chicago, IL

Brent Eames '09, Vice Chair

Eames Law Group
Chicago, IL

Julie Johnson '07, Secretary

Of Counsel, Weiss-Kunz & Oliver LLC
Elmhurst, IL

Hon. Sonni C. Williams '99, Immediate Past Chair

12th Judicial Circuit
Joliet, IL


Louis G. Apostol '78, past Chair

Public Administrator, Cook County
Chicago, IL

Salvatore Barbatano

Of Counsel, Williams Williams Ratner & Plunkett
Birmingham, MI

John S. Burke

Partner, Higgins & Burke, P.C.
St. Charles, IL

Kenneth C. Chessick '84, past Chair

Law Office of Kenneth Chessick, M.D., J.D.
Of Counsel: Clifford Law Offices
CEO and Chairman, Restaurant.com
Chicago, IL

Michael Cklamovski '13

President, Northern California at Northern Trust
San Francisco, CA

Hon. Vincent F. Cornelius '89, past chair

12th Judicial Circuit
Joliet, IL

Robert W. Fioretti '78

Roth & Fioretti, LLC
Chicago, IL

Thomas Hammock

Coach, Northern Illinois University Football
DeKalb, IL

Katie Haskins Becker '11

Haskins Becker, PC
Warrenville, Schaumburg and Chicago, IL

Doressia Hutton '01

Vice President and General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Chicago, IL

Richard Lenkov '95

Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov LLC
Chicago, IL

Ryan Lipinski '04

Chief Compliance Officer, Modivcare
Chicago, IL

Hon. Mark J. Lopez (ret.) '83

JAMS Family Law ADR
Chicago, IL

Nancy McKeating '78

Law Office of Nancy A. McKeating
Georgetown, TX

Mary Milano '78

Executive Director, Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
Chicago, IL

Dr. Glenn Milos '93

Vice President Chief Medical Officer, OSF HealthCare
Peoria, IL

John S. Monical '94, past Chair

Managing Partner, Lawrence Kamin Law Firm
Chicago, IL

Cherilyn G. Murer '78

CGM Advisory Group, LLC
Chicago, IL

Lonny B. Ogus '78

Law Offices of Lonny B. Ogus
Chicago, IL

Hon. Linda Perez '00

Circuit Court of Cook County
Chicago, IL

Bryan L. Perry

Vice President and General Counsel, Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL

Carmen Rossi '12

Founder, 8 Hospitality
Chicago, IL

Hon. Rouhy Shalabi '81

Circuit Court of Cook County
Chicago, IL

Hon. Henry R. Simmons (ret.)

Managing Partner, Clifford Law Offices
Chicago, IL

Trace Tyler '93

Trace Tyler Law
Grand Junction, CO

Hon. Ed Underhill '84

Circuit Court of Cook County
Chicago, IL

Jay Wiegman '92

Alumni Council Liaison
Assistant Appellate Defender, Third District
Ottawa, IL

Vincent R. Williams '91

Vincent R. Williams & Associates, P.C.
Chicago, IL

Hon. Thaddeus Wilson '94

Circuit Court of Cook County
Chicago, IL