OLIVIA MALONE ’13
As summer unfolds, preparations are already underway for another exciting year at Bradley University. New projects, expanded opportunities, and exciting initiatives are coming to life as we continue our focus on creating a Premier Student Experience and strengthening the spirit of One Bradley across our campus community.
Work is underway on the new gateway entrance at Main and University Streets, a welcoming addition to campus that features the Harper Hall mural created by Bradley alumna Olivia Malone ’13 (see page 5), as well as renovations to University Hall and construction of the Zaleski Recreation Complex, which includes pickleball courts, sand volleyball, and the Kolb Music Pavilion.
This fall, Bradley will also expand opportunities for women through the addition of five new Premier Club Sports: ice hockey, flag football, soccer, wrestling, and STUNT (see page 4).
On page 6, you will read about Dr. Jim Davis ’72, who was honored with the Excellence in Scholarship Philanthropy Award. His generosity and commitment to giving back exemplify the lasting impact alumni can have on future generations.
As we continue to strengthen relationships with alumni and supporters, I am pleased to welcome our new Vice President of Advancement, Jane Walsh. She brings more than two decades of fundraising leadership to the Hilltop (see page 3).
Finally, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported Bradley’s Day of Giving. Because of your generosity, we surpassed our goals and strengthened support for the vision of Lydia Moss Bradley, whose commitment to education laid the foundation for our University and continues to inspire excellence and growth.
Thank you for your continued support of Bradley University and our students. Together, we are building a stronger future for the next generation of Braves.
One Bradley,
James E. Shadid ’79 President, Bradley University
Bradley Builds Up Exemplary Educators
Bradley is setting the standard in teacher preparation. According to the Illinois State Board of Education’s latest State Score Card, Bradley’s History/Social Studies Education program is ranked No. 1 in the state and has been designated “exemplary.” Bradleytrained history teachers earned the highest classroom performance scores in Illinois, with a remarkable 118% rating.
Speech Team Takes on the World
The Bradley University Speech Team dominated the postseason, starting in March with an Illinois state championship and, just days later, traveling to Athens, Greece, where they took first place at the International Speech and Debate Tournament. After returning to the U.S., they continued their success with a second place finish at the National Speech Championship, and top five placements at the AFA National Speech Tournament and NFA Championship Tournament.
New VP for Advancement
Bradley University has appointed Jane Walsh as Vice President for Advancement. The Peoria native brings more than 20 years of experience in fundraising leadership, strategic planning, and nonprofit management. She previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).
“Jane is a proven advancement leader with a deep understanding of the transformative power of higher education,” said President Shadid. “Her ability to build meaningful relationships, inspire philanthropic investment, and create meaningful advancement strategies makes her an outstanding addition to Bradley.”
New Interim Dean for Business and Engineering
Dr. Joshua Lewer will be serving as Interim Dean of Caterpillar College of Engineering & Technology and Foster College of Business to replace outgoing Interim Dean Kris Maillacheruvu. Dr. Lewer came to Bradley in the fall of 2007 as an Assistant Professor of Economics and currently serves as the Department Chair of Economics and Finance and the Associate Dean of New Initiatives.
As Associate Dean, he has worked closely with Maillacheruvu, faculty, and staff across both colleges, and external partners to advance interdisciplinary education and convergence-based capstone experiences.
Introducing Premier Club Sports
Bradley University is expanding competitive opportunities for women with the addition of five new Premier Club Sports: ice hockey, flag football, STUNT, soccer, and wrestling. Together, these clubs signal Bradley’s continued investment in expanding athletic opportunities for women, enriching campus life, and building a vibrant, competitive community at BU.
This expansion was made possible through the Nick and Nancy Owens Excellence Fund, established through a generous $1 million gift from Nick ’67 and Nancy Owens. The fund honors their children, Nicholas ’01 and Natalie, and recognizes the dedication of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds for advancing women’s athletics and women’s club sports at Bradley.
A Bradley Family’s Enduring Impact
FOR THE DAVIS FAMILY, BRADLEY IS MORE THAN A SHARED EXPERIENCE—IT’S A LEGACY THEY’RE HELPING FUTURE STUDENTS BUILD.
BY EMILY POTTS
When Dr. Jim Davis ’72 reflects on his time at Bradley, one lesson stands out: It wasn’t just what he learned, it was how to think. That mindset shaped everything that followed.
This spring, Davis was honored with the Excellence in Scholarship Philanthropy Award at the Scholarship Connection dinner, recognizing a commitment that began decades ago as a student and continues today as a donor. In 2022, he and his wife, Susan Edwards Davis ’73, established a scholarship to support students pursuing degrees in biology and chemistry— fields that are close to his heart.
“Bradley supported me with scholarships and loans,” Davis recalled. “But more importantly, it taught me how to solve problems. That made all the difference in dental school and beyond.”
After earning his doctorate in dentistry, Davis built a long and respected practice in Peoria. But his impact didn’t stop there. Service became a throughline, supporting organizations like United Way, the Salvation Army, and Easterseals, while staying closely connected to Bradley as a member of Phi Kappa Tau and a dedicated member of the 1897 Legacy Society. Now retired, he continues to work with students enrolled in Illinois Central College’s Dental Hygiene program and serves on the Peoria County Board of Health.
Bradley, in many ways, became a family tradition. Jim and Susan’s sons, Ryan ’03 and Greg ’07, are also alumni, and they’re encouraging the next generation. Their three granddaughters already know Bradley is part of their story.
Giving back, Davis says, was never a question, it was a responsibility.
“Bradley played such an important role in my personal and professional growth,” he said. “Helping other students have that same opportunity just makes sense.”
That belief is built into the scholarship itself. Originally created to support biology and chemistry students from Davis’s high school, Lane Tech in Chicago, it has since expanded to include local students and those pursuing engineering, widening the circle of opportunity.
Davis shares one piece of advice with every scholarship recipient: Your circumstances today aren’t your circumstances forever. Success brings the chance, and the responsibility, to give back. It’s a simple, but powerful idea.
Because what Jim and Susan have created is more than financial support. It’s momentum. It’s possibility. It’s a legacy that ensures future Bradley students don’t just learn facts— they learn how to think, lead, and give back in turn.
And that’s a story that keeps growing.
1970s
Rick Scardino ’76 joined Metro Commercial Real Estate in the Chicago area as a principal.
Gary Pielak ’77 was awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2026-2027 academic year at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biophysics.
Jeffrey Greenfield ’74 was elected as Trustee Emeritus at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, N.Y. He has served on the board for 24 years, helping to guide the university through periods of growth and transformation.
1980s
Lisa Fielding ’89 celebrates 20 years at WBBM radio in Chicago where she has worked the anchor desk the past eight years for the afternoon news.
1990s
Daren Epley ’93, was ranked No. 1 on Forbes’ 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for Illinois. He works at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Peoria.
Doug Hott ’94 was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Snap, Inc., the parent company of Snapchat.
Kyle Epley ’96 was appointed Chief Financial Officer at Caterpillar Inc.
2000s
Aleeza Granote ’02 has been named a 2026 Woman of Achievement which recognizes outstanding volunteers from across the St. Louis metropolitan region.
Amy (Malave) Wilkins ’00 has been named Chief Executive Officer at Kenway Consulting in Chicago. Melissa (Vallejo) Cikesh ’02, An Instructional Technology Coach
at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., has earned the distinguished Google Certified Coach accreditation. She is also a Google Certified Trainer.
Brittany Cerwin ’05 has been named Chief Financial Officer of Middleby Corporation.
Douglas Valentine ’08 was awarded the Provost’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award at the University of Missouri. He is an assistant teaching professor of sociology in the MU Honors College.
2010s
Robert Lugiai ’12 has been awarded the State of Illinois American History Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Daughters of the American Revolution. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in teaching and a commitment to preserving American heritage through education. Lugiai teaches Social Studies at Naperville Central High School.
2020s
Ryan Hodgett ’21 graduated from University of Michigan Law School on May 11, and has accepted a position at Lesak, Hamilton, Calhoun & Pontieri law firm in Jacksonville, Fla.
Rodrigo Trujillo ’25 earned a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program Award for their project, Public Perceptions of Bukele-Style Anti-Gang Policies in Guatemala.
Cody ’16 and Rebecca (Schwartz) Lefkowitz ’16, Dylan Grey Lefkowitz, March 31, 2026.
Jack Heinz ’17 and Caroline Maddalozzo ’16, Henry Paoli Heinz, Jan. 19, 2026.
Nick ’16 and Andrea (Barr) Maggiore ’16, Adaline Marie Maggiore, Jan. 15, 2026.
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Faculty & Staff
Dr. Stephen Kerr, 5/2/26, Associate Professor of Accounting, 2007-2026: During his time at Bradley, Dr. Kerr taught cost and managerial accounting to hundreds of students, helping them understand how organizations thrive. His humor, optimism, and steady presence shaped the way he approached both his work and the people around him.
1950s
Robert McCarthy ’51, 1/20/26
Frank Patota ’51, 3/8/26
Calliope Dikos Mustakas ’51, 2/4/26
Arthur Zetterberg ’52, ’53, 1/11/26
Ronald Hall ’53, 3/16/26
Gerald McDowell ’54, 1/23/26
Louise Sobray Sumnarski ’54, 2/1/26
James Barton ’55, 1/14/26
John Jacobus ’56, 5/17/26
John Call ’57, 2/13/26
David Hirst ’57, 1/18/26
Roger Dunn ’58, ’71, 1/11/26
Caryl Baschieri Stewart ’58, 2/13/26
1960s
Eugene Detweiler ’60, 4/19/26
Rolland Uphoff ’60, 1/6/26
Garth Pearson ’61, 4/1/26
James Barton ’62, 1/14/26
George Daniel ’62, 2/11/26
Donald Root ’62, 4/23/26
John Harris ’63, 4/1/26
Larry Stunkard ’63, 4/9/26
Joyce Habian Windle ’64, 2/18/26
Dale Young ’64, 2/7/26
Joseph R. Stowell ’50, ’56, 2/14/26: Joe Stowell’s connection to Bradley spanned generations. As a student-athlete from 1947 to 1950, he helped shape the legacy of Bradley Basketball as a player. He returned in 1956 as an assistant coach and went on to serve as our ninth head men’s basketball coach from 1965 to 1978, leading the Braves to 197 victories during his 13 seasons at the helm.
Rich Welsh ’12, 5/17/26, Networking Engineer, Information Technology 2015-2025: In his role as a networking engineer, Welsh helped maintain the technology infrastructure that keeps Bradley’s campus connected and running each day. A proud Bradley alumnus, he dedicated his work to supporting the campus community.
Leonard Hekel ’65, 4/22/26
John Hutchinson ’66, 2/20/26
Robert Difederico ’67, 1/7/26
Robert Fugle ’67, 2/5/26
Loren Armstrong ’68, 4/16/26
Elizabeth Olack ’68, 2/14/26
Marcus Olson ’68, 1/3/26
Charles Pillsbury ’68, 7/7/25
Faye Coultas ’69, 3/14/26
Sandra Canaday Powers ’69, 1/4/26
Allan Spenks ’69, 1/10/26
1970s
James Gormley ’70, ’71, 4/24/26
Pamela Shuck-Hoehne ’70, ’95, 2/9/26
Peter Roake ’70, 3/17/26
Sidney Peterson ’71, 2/6/26
Fred Roberts ’71, 4/4/26
Mitchell Sellett ’71, 1/18/26
Paul Waytenick ’71, 1/23/26
Richard McMunn ’72, 2/24/25
John Anderfuren ’73, 4/18/26
Rita Koepke Dunn ’73, 1/8/26
Joseph Tsiakals ’73, ’74, 3/2/26
Jane Beckway Bailey ’74, 5/26/25
Paul Coteus ’74, 1/24/26
Ronald Krause ’74, 2/2/26
Leslie Miller Stuba ’75, 1/11/26
Gregory Ross ’77, 12/28/25
Laurence Olson ’78, 4/26/26
Bruce Pershke ’78, 4/11/26
Donald Kettleborough ’79, 3/18/26
1980s
Paul Remillard ’83, 2/4/26
Stuart Moore ’85, 1/15/26
Meg Schefelbein Angevine ’87, 2/11/26
Kurt McMahon ’89, 4/28/26
John Stiglich ’89, 3/5/26
1990s
Amy Reeve Blank ’91, 2/11/26
David Finley ’94, ’97, 3/10/26
Robert Bretveld ’96, 2/9/26
2000s
Mark Rogers ’03, 3/16/26
Michael Mangiapane ’09, 3/1/26
Joanna Tapia ’23, 1/14/26
