Douglas S. Basler
President, United Conveyor Corporation

After graduating from Millikin University in 1983, Doug worked for a company which made architectural signage such as high-rise building lobby directories. He eventually became the Production Manager.

He subsequently joined United Conveyor Corporation (UCC) in 1985. UCC, located in Waukegan, Illinois, has a long history of engineering and supplying ash handling systems for coal fired electric utility plants around the world.

During his career, Doug worked in positions in the field service group, engineering department, sales department, and production department before assuming his present position as President of the company in 1999. Today, UCC has over 400 people with operations in Illinois, Indiana, Denmark, India, and China.

Doug is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization, Vistage, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, National Mining Association, and on the Biological Sciences Visiting Committee for the University of Chicago Hospital.

Doug and his wife of over 20 years, Mary Jo, have two children, Lauren and Michael.

Lucas J. Bills
Regional Vice President, Colorado Casualty Insurance Company, a member of Liberty Mutual Group

Luke joined Colorado Casualty, a member of Liberty Mutual Group, in 2009. At Colorado Casualty, Luke has responsibility for insurance operations in the states of CO, WY, and UT. Prior to CCIC, Luke held increasing responsibilities in the areas of agency management and marketing strategy for America First Insurance Company. During the past two years, Luke has also had a leading role in the integrations of Liberty Mutual's acquisitions of Ohio Casualty Insurance and Safeco Insurance. Prior to his time at America First, Luke was a professional liability underwriter for AIG, specializing in Directors & Officers Insurance for publically traded companies. Luke holds the CPCU designation.

Luke is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur, IL where he received a B.S. in Marketing, graduating summa cum laude with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Among other activities, during his time at Millikin, Luke was a Presidential Scholar, Kemper Scholar, two-time Scovill Award winner, and a Rhodes Scholar nominee. Luke also received his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Luke currently sits on the Advisory Board for Tabor's Center for Entrepreneurship. Since graduation in 2003, Luke and his wife, Jodi, have been their class fund raising co-chairs.

Luke and Jodi currently live in Highlands Ranch, CO (suburb of Denver) with their son, Nathan.

Phillip Beck Blankenburg
Retired Vice President/Branch Manager, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.

Phil is a native of Illinois and he began his investment career working for Purvis Tabor. He joined A.G. Edwards in 1973 as branch manager of its Champaign office. He retired in 2006.

He attended Millikin University from September 1958 to February 1961 and served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1965.

Phil currently serves on the Quality Committee of the Carle Foundation and is a Director of Kirby Hospital in Monticello. He previously served on the University of Illinois' Allerton Park Policy & Advisory Board. He is a member of the University's President's Council and Millikin's Investors Society and has served on search committees for the University of Illinois and as a career connections volunteer

Kevin Breheny
President, J.L. Hubbard Insurance and Bonds

Kevin is the President of J.L. Hubbard Insurance and Bonds, a wholly owned subsidiary of Soy Capital Bank and Trust. In 1978 he graduated from Quincy University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management.

Kevin is an active member in his community. In 2003, he was the Director of the State Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of the Coming Together Community Race Relations Improvement Group and Vice President for the LPGA Futures Golf Tournament Steering Committee. He is the past chairman of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce and has been affiliated with the Decatur Celebration since its inception. He is active in Our Lady of Lourdes parish church and served on the foundation board for St. Teresa High School. Kevin and his wife Sue co-chaired a campaign that raised over $24 million for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

He also received numerous awards and recognitions. Among others, he received the Seal of Excellence Honor from Easter Seals of Illinois in 2001 and the City of Decatur Mayor's Recognition for Community Service Award in 2000.

Mikel Briggs, Chairman of the Board
Executive Vice President for Sales & Marketing at Se-Kure Controls

Mikel Briggs is the Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Se-Kure Controls, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of security solutions to help protect assets and deter theft in the retail marketplace. He previously worked for Bretford Manufacturing, a furniture manufacturer for commercial use, last serving as company president for twelve years.   Bretford’s furniture can be seen throughout ADM-Scovill Hall.

Prior to Bretford, Mikel worked in sales for IBM Corporation in Springfield, IL until 1984. From 1984 until 1993, he worked for Office Electronics Inc. Business Forms in Itasca, IL in various positions including Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Operations.  He took on the role of President and Chief Operating Officer in 1988 and was responsible for 13 printing plants and sales offices nationwide.

Mikel is currently a member of the Naperville Country Club where he also served as a past president.  He is also a past member of the Franklin Park of Illinois Economic Development Board and is a past member of the Little Friends Organization Board of Directors in Naperville.

Mikel is a member of the Millikin class of ’79.  His family has strong Millikin ties.  Mikel’s mother, C. Lyn Houston, is a Millikin trustee since 1998, and his father, Robert Sterling Briggs, is a member of the Millikin class of ’56.  Mikel and his wife, Tina, have two children, Matthew, a member of The Millikin class of ’04, and Lindsay, a member of the Millikin class of ’05. 

R. Michael Campbell
Principal for Campbell Properties, L.P.,

Mike graduated from Millikin University in 1967 and received his M.B.A. from Northern Illinois University in 1969.

He is presently Principal of Campbell Properties, L.P. and related entities. Campbell Properties is a privately held real estate development and investment company, specializing in the development and management of industrial and commercial properties. Projects owned are in Madison Wisconsin, Indianapolis Indiana, and Nashville Tennessee.

Mike is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Mt. Prospect National Bank and Northwest Suburban Bancorp, headquartered in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.

He is a past member of the Board of Trustees of First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Elta LaVerne (Turner) Cooke
Retired Businesswoman, Horse Trainer

Elta was born on her grandfather's farm in McCracken County, Kentucky, which most likely accounts for her love of horses. She is a member of the Millikin Class of 1952.

She married a Millikin SAE (Class of '52) and they started successful construction, laundromat and dry cleaning businesses in Champaign, Illinois. Elta sold the businesses in 1993 to return to what she loves most, farming and horse training.

She raises and trains Arabian horses of Blue Star bloodlines. Elta divides her time between Illinois in the summer and Florida in the winter and the horses accompany her to Florida.

She describes herself as an "antique addict" and is active in her churches in Illinois and Florida.

Cathy Coulter
President, Swartz Properties

Cathy is President and Operating Manager of Swartz Properties, which manages over 2,000 multi-family apartments and condos in the Decatur area. She started the business in 1978 with just 24 apartment units. Cathy received her Real Estate Brokers license in 1980 and became Decatur's only Certified Property Manager (CPM) in 1990.

Cathy served on the Richland Community College Board of Trustees from 1993-2005, and was Board Chair from 1997-1999. She has served as Past President and General Chairman of the Decatur Celebration Board and Past President of the Decatur Leadership Institute Alumni Association. She has also served on numerous community boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, Partners in Education, and the City of Decatur Planning Commission. She has received the Woman of Excellence Award and the ATHENA Award.

Karen DeWerff Crapse
Quality Leader of Parts and Service Business; Cummins, Inc.

Karen was raised in central Illinois on a small family farm. After completing her college education, she relocated to Columbus, Indiana to begin her career with Cummins Inc. She has worked for Cummins for 18 years in various manufacturing and quality leadership positions. She now serves as the international quality leader for Cummins re-manufacturing, parts distribution centers, and warranty administration. Karen has received professional certifications as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Society of Manufacturing Engineers certified Manufacturing Engineer.

Karen was voted into the Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2006 for her achievements as a track and cross country record holder. She continues her love of running and has completed five 13.1 mile marathons since leaving Millikin.

Karen has served as a Deacon and Elder of Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Columbus for six years. She has also served on the Building and Grounds committee for six years.

Karen enjoys spending time with her husband of 11 years and their son. Amos is also employed by Cummins as a human resource manager. Kenny is a junior at Columbus East High School.

Van A. Dukeman, Vice Chairman
President & CEO, First Busey Corporation

Van is President and CEO of First Busey Corporation. Prior to joining First Busey Corporation, Van served as Chief Investment Officer for a $700 million bank holding company in Illinois. He has also worked for a regional banking organization in Houston, Texas.

Van is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned his B.A. in finance. He received his MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Van has been very active in many leadership capacities in the community. He currently serves as Chairman of the Carle Foundation and Carle Hospital. He is also a member of the Young President's Organization (YPO).

Scott Flora

Scott D. Flora is a Medical Device Executive with more than 30 years of healthcare experience in surgical devices and pharmaceutical management. Most recently, he was President of the Surgical Devices Global Business Unit of Covidien Ltd., a leading $10 billion global healthcare products company. Mr. Flora oversaw the global business operations and strategic business development for surgical devices, instruments, soft tissue fixation and biologic and synthetics surgery products and innovative solutions, sold to hospitals and surgical centers worldwide. He managed more than 8,000 employees in an organization that derives a majority of its revenue from outside the United States.

Before his tenure at Covidien, he spent 19 years at Smith & Nephew in various senior management and sales and marketing positions, including President of Orthopaedics Reconstruction, General Manager of the Trauma Division and Senior Vice President of Sales for the U.S. and European Regions. As President of Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Mr. Flora was responsible for Smith & Nephew's largest global business unit, which earned 28% of the company's global operating profit.  

Before joining Smith & Nephew, Mr. Flora was Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales with Ioptex Research, a position he earned after holding Sales and Sales Management positions with Ioptex.

Mr. Flora received a bachelor's of arts degree in marketing from Millikin University (Illinois). He has participated in numerous professional development programs, including the Yale CEO College and CEO Summit, Wharton Business School's Executive Business Program, the INSEAD Global Executive Program and the McNeil Sales Management Leadership Program at Pennsylvania State University. He has served on The Mount Sinai Innovation Board of Directors and was the 2008-2009 Chairman for the United Way of Greater New Haven.

Mr. Flora was a founding member of Millikin's Theta Iota Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega serving as Rush Chairman twice and Social Chairman. He was a member of the Varsity Football Team in 1975-1977. 

David L. Giertz
President, Nationwide Financial Institution Distributors Agency, Inc. A Division of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS)

Dave earned his Bachelors Degree from Millikin University and an MBA from University of Miami. He also holds NASD Series 7, 63 and 24 licenses and is an arbitrator with FINRA.

He is President of Nationwide Financial Institution Distributors Agency, Inc. (NFIDAI), a $3.2B Division of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS).

David has lead this company since 2004 and captured the #4 market share slot (top quintile) within the industry through a results oriented, performance based leadership style.

He has been with NFS in positions of increasing responsibility since 1999 and previously served as Executive Vice President of Citigroup in Miami, Florida. He is a native of Chicago, IL and has over 20 years in the Financial Services Industry.

Project Lifecycle Manager, IBM Corporation

Graduated from Millikin in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

I have worked for the IBM Corp for thirty years in various professional administrative positions. I am currently a Project Lifecycle Manager for the IBM Global Business Services Division.

I served in the active duty U.S. Air Force and later in the Florida Air National Guard. I retired as a Master Sergeant.

I am a very active volunteer in the local community. I serve as a youth basketball coach. I counsel high school students on the college selection and admission processes. I coordinated and organized career days for a local elementary school. I formerly served as a club volunteer and served as a board member for the Boys and Girls Club. I served as the local IBM Corp Community Service Coordinator.

Dr. Mark Stephen Huss
Orthopedic Surgeon

Steve has been an Orthopedic Surgeon since 1979. He was born and raised in Decatur, IL, graduated from MacArthur High School, received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1970 and graduated from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in 1974.

He was a medical intern at Hennepin County General Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, and an orthopedic resident at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL.

Steve is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Social Fraternity, Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering honorary, and Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and former Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Decatur Memorial Hospital. He also is a member of the Decatur Parks Foundation.

His father, Royce Huss, graduated from Millikin in 1937 and his uncle, Jack C. Huss, former owner of Huss Builders, attended Millikin with the class of 1945. Two brothers-in-law (one deceased) are also Millikin graduates.

Steve grew up in the home of former Millikin President Albert Taylor and is interested in the home's history.

Kimberly Dickes Kenney
Businesswoman/Community Volunteer

Kim was born and raised in Decatur, Illinois. She is a third generation trustee following in her grandfather's and father's footsteps; Lester Foltz (1959-1966) and Emeritus Trustee Tom Dickes, who's company, Christy-Foltz, Inc., has done numerous construction projects on Millikn's campus.

Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Denison University and a Math Minor and Secondary Teaching Certificate from Eastern Michigan University. Kim began her career as a junior high and high school math teacher and later was the owner and operator of an interior decorating business. She currently is a board member and officer of Christy-Foltz, Inc. and Foltz, Inc.

She has been very active in the Decatur community previously sitting on the Junior Welfare Association and YMCA Boards serving as president, Richland Community College Foundation Board, and American Red Cross Board. Kim is the current president of the P.E.O. Chapter BW.

Kim, and her husband, Fred, who is corporate counsel for ADM, have two sons and one daughter.

Donald F. McIntyre
City Management, Management Consultant

Raised in Newman, Illinois, Don received a degree in history from Millikin in 1952 and a master's degree in political science from Michigan State University in 1953. He served on active duty as a naval officer from 1953-1957 and retired as a captain from the Naval Reserve in 1975.

Don spent 30 years as a city manager, serving in four cities: Los Gator, CA, Oak Park, MI, Vallejo, CA, and Pasadena, CA where he retired in 1990 after 17 years of service.

Following retirement from city management, Don served as President and CEO of the Central City Association of Los Angeles from 1990-1994 and as General Manager of the Orange County Sanitation District from 1995-2000. Don started his own urban affairs consulting business in 2000.

Robert K. Murray
Retired Senior Vice-President, Richard E. Jacobs Group

Bob is a 1950 graduate of Millikin University, earning his bachelor's degree in Business Administration. While at Millikin, he was a four-year letterman in basketball, President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Vice-President of his senior class.

He is retired from his position as Senior Vice-President of the Richard E. Jacobs Group of Cleveland, Ohio, a major, national real-estate development company, specializing in large regional air-conditioned malls, office complexes and hotels. Bob's group was responsible for land acquisition, site planning, re-zoning, and department store negotiations for the company. Richard Jacobs was also the former owner of the Cleveland Indians Baseball team.

Previous to his position with the Jacobs Group, Bob spent 25 years with the J.C. Penney Company, where his last position was National Manager of Real Estate Operations.

He is a staunch supporter of the Big Blue and in 2001 he received the Merit Loyalty Award. Bob is a member of the Investors Society and the class agent for fundraising for the class of 1950. He also solicits his fraternity brothers for the SAE Endowment for Excellence and fellow athletes to join the Big Blue Club.

James Ralph Neff
Senior Vice President, Brechnitz Group Raymond James and Associates, Inc.

Jim grew up in Central Illinois and moved to Decatur in 1978 after graduating from Millikin with a degree in accounting. He worked for five years as a certified public accountant with a local CPA firm and joined the investment firm of E.F. Hutton in 1983 as a financial consultant. Jim was a Senior Vice President and Branch Manager of the Decatur office of Morgan Stanley. In May 2006, he joined the Brechnitz Group of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., as a Senior Vice President.

He spent many years being the coach for youth sports and loved being the coach for baseball, basketball, and especially soccer. Jim is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and former member of the Millikin Alumni Board. He currently serves on the Decatur Park District Foundation Board.

Associate Professor of Accounting

Randy graduated from Millikin in 1978 with a degree in Accounting. He went on to obtain his masters in Accountancy at the University of Illinois (Champaign) in 1986 and finished a Ph.D. in Administration at Florida Atlantic University in 2000.

Randy began his career at Caterpillar in 1978 and held various positions until he left to join Decatur Memorial Hospital in 1986 as its Controller. In 1990, Randy began his faculty career at Millikin University as an Assistant Professor of Accounting. He later also assumed the responsibility for being the Director of Institutional Research and Assessment and Chair, Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems. In 1996, Randy moved to Florida to join Florida Atlantic University as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant and upon finishing his Ph.D., was promoted to an Assistant Professor Accounting. In 2005, Randy joined Nova Southeastern University where he taught in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Randy also chaired four dissertations for students in the Doctorate in Business Administration Program (DBA) at NSU.

Randy's professional work has been recognized with numerous awards such as Distinguished Research Award from the Academy of Marketing Studies, 2010 National Author Award from the Association of Government Accountants, Gil Grain Memorial Research Grants from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and three times Accounting Professor of the Year at Florida Atlantic University. Randy is a member of the American Accounting Association and Institute of Management Accountants.

He and his partner, Ron, enjoy traveling the world, watching the Tampa Bay Rays, and experiencing theatre.

Douglas J. Schmalz
Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, ADM

Doug joined Archer Daniels Midland Company in 1985. He was appointed Senior Vice President in 2002 and has served as Chief Financial Officer since 1986. He also held the position of Controller from 1985 through 1994.

Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining ADM he spent 4 years with ConAgra, 2 years with Leisure Dynamics, Inc., and 10 years in public accounting with Ernst and Young.

He is involved in community affairs serving currently on the boards of Decatur Memorial Hospital, The Community Foundation of Decatur/Macon County, The Boys & Girls Club of Decatur and the Decatur Area Arts Council.

Joseph Schrodt
Orthopedic Surgeon

Joseph was an Orthopedic Surgeon in Decatur, Illinois, beginning 1970 and retiring in 2002.

He graduated from the University of Illinois and was a Team Physician for Millikin's Athletic Program for 30 years.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Soy Capital Bank and Perry Dynamics. He previously served as the President of the Millikin Associates and member of the Board of Directors at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Illinois Orthopedic Society and Warrensburg-Latham School District. He is the past President of the Macon County Medical Society and past Board Member of Councilors of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Joseph was a Captain in the United States Air Force and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Joseph, along with his late wife Martha, has funded scholarships at Millikin and Richland Community College for students in health-related programs. The "Schrodt Health Education Center" at Richland is named in their honor.

Joseph has been an integral part of the medical community in Decatur.

Julie Ann (Kraft) Schwalbe
President, Forever Facets, Inc.

Julie is a Decatur native and a graduate of the Lutheran School Association, St. Teresa High School and Purdue University in W. Lafayette, Indiana. She graduated from Purdue in May of 1982 with a major in retail management and a minor in marketing and received a graduate gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of American in Carlsbad, CA in November 2003.

Julie worked as a grain merchandiser for ADM until 1988. She is now a stay-at-home mother and active community volunteer, working with Race for the Cure and the Lutheran School Association. She was a board member of the Children's Museum of Illinois from 1997-2003.

Mark Staley
Partner, ES Golf

Mark is a native of Decatur and is the great-grandson of A.E. Staley, Sr., who founded the Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur.

He is a graduate of Illinois State University. Mark furthered his education with an M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School.

After working for NDB Bank for a few years, he went on to earn another degree from Xavier University in Sports Administration. This brought an opportunity to work for the Cincinnati Reds in Public Relations for a couple of seasons. Mark is currently working on a small business startup, which designs, manufactures, and sells golf accessory equipment.

Mark serves on the Board of Directors for the Mueller Museum in Decatur. He is involved in coaching youth football.

P. Trent Thompson Jr.
President, Board Member, and Owner of Decatur Industrial Electric, Inc, Mt. Vernon Electric, Kankakee Industrial Technology, Inc.

Trent is the President, Board Member, and Owner of Decatur Industrial Electric, Inc, Mt. Vernon Electric and Kankakee Industrial Technology, Inc. Decatur Industrial Electric was originally started by his grandfather, Claud Thompson, who is also a Millikin University Alumni. Trent joined the company full-time in 1996. Mt. Vernon Electric was started in 1980 and his father, Phil purchased an additional existing company in the same year. He is responsible for all aspects of the operations for all three of his companies.

These three companies serve multinational heavy industrial manufacturing, power generation, aggregate, mining, water and wastewater treatment plants. They provide industrial manufacturing equipment, electrical supplies, industrial equipment repair, and in-plant technical maintenance solutions. Trent is responsible for all aspects of operations.

Currently, Trent is a member of the Young Presidents Organization, Rotary International, Electrical Apparatus Service Association, Macon County Chamber of Commerce, and the Millikin Decatur Executive Association.

Frank C. Tyrolt
Retired Chairman of Dunn Co., Division of Tyrolt, Inc.

Frank graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Kappa Psi professional society, and the Millidek staff. He received the Alumni Merit-Loyalty award in 2000.

After serving in the Navy, Frank was in sales and sales management for nine years. He retired after a 35-year career as Chief Executive Officer and majority stockholder of Dunn Co., Division of Tyrolt, Inc. He was a national officer for the paving contractor's trade group and was active lobbying for infrastructure funds, first in Washington D.C., and then in Illinois.

Frank has served as President of the Associated General Contractors of Illinois, The American Retail Coal Association, and South Side Country Club. He has served on the Boards of Directors of St. Teresa High School, Decatur Family YMCA, Metro-Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Holy Spirit Catholic Church,

St. Mary's Hospital and the Country Club of Decatur. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Soy Capital Bank.

James Michael Vascik, M.D.
President, Atlantic Coast Neurosurgery

Jim graduated from Millikin in 1973. He finished medical school at the University of Illinois in 1978 and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Western Ontario in 1984. He worked at the Lexington Clinic in Kentucky until 1988 at which time he joined a practice in Roanoke, Virginia. He formed Atlantic Coast Neurosurgery in 2006 and serves as its president. During his career, Jim has volunteered his services to Roanoke Crippled Children's Services. He has worked at a Level One trauma center for 20 years.

Jim and his wife also own and operate Valhalla Vineyards and Winery, producing estate bottled award winning fine wine.

Jim continues to be active in the Boy Scouts serving on the Blue Ridge Mountains Council Executive Board since 2005. He and his son are both Eagle Scouts. Jim has served on the medical team of both National and World Scout Jamborees in the United States and in England in 2007.

Jim and his wife, Debra, of over 31 years, have two children, Brittany, who is in law school at West Virginia University, and Parker, who is studying aerospace engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. The family is completed by two great dogs.

Lisa Holder White
Circuit Judge, Macon County, Illinois

Judge White obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lewis University in 1990. In 1993, she earned her Jurist Doctorate from the U of I College of Law, in Champaign-Urbana.

Judge White began her career as an Assistant State's Attorney for Macon County before going into a thriving private practice focusing on the areas of family and criminal law. In 2001, Judge White was sworn in as an Associate Judge, being the first African-American Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. She is currently Supervising Judge of the Criminal Law Division in Macon County. On September 29, 2008, Judge White was sworn in as a Circuit Judge being appointed to the position by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill a retirement vacancy.

Judge White is a member of the Illinois Judicial Conference and serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Education, which is charged with planning and providing continuing judicial education for Illinois judges. She serves as an instructor for "New Judge School." Judge White also teaches at the bi-annual Illinois Supreme Court Education Conference.

Judge White is a member of the Decatur Bar Association, Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, and serves as Vice Chairman of the Decatur Public Schools Foundation.

Melvin N. Wilson
Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia

Melvin graduated from Millikin with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1970 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1977. He is currently a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. His previous positions included Associate Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of the College of Arts and Sciences at University of Virginia. His duties included research and teaching in the Department of Psychology and academic advising and supervision of the undergraduate curriculum for the College of Arts and Sciences. His courses focus on family life issues in minority families.

Melvin has a major role in the governance structure of the American Psychological Association and is well known in his field.

His current research interests focus on young, low-income, unwed, and nonresident fathers and he is working on developing intervention protocols aimed at helping young men meet family responsibilities and involvement.

Melvin has published numerous articles and papers and was awarded a variety of grants.

He is currently a member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Negro Education. He has served as the President of the Black Caucus of the Society for Research on Children and was, among others, a member of the Fellows Nomination Committee for American Psychological Society and a member of the Committee on Racial and Ethnic Issues of Society for Research on Child Development. He currently is on the Board of Directors, Trinity Episcopal Child Care.

Gary L. Workman
Retired Senior Internal Auditor, United Parcel Service

Gary is a retired Senior Internal Auditor for United Parcel Service. He began working with UPS as a part-time package handler while he was still a student at Millikin. After graduating from Millikin in 1965, he began working for the company on a full-time basis, eventually becoming a Senior Internal Auditor. Some of his responsibilities included setting up UPS internal audits in Europe. Gary retired from UPS in 1995 after spending 33 years in a variety of jobs in industrial engineering, human resources, accounting and auditing.

An avid sports fan, Gary has contributed generously to Millikin's Big Blue Club, which includes the University's athletics boosters. He also donated funds to purchase the final pieces of equipment needed for Millikin's weight training room in the Decatur Indoor Sports Center.

Not only a Millikin sports fan, Gary enjoys baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, and likes to attend the team's spring training camp. He has also been a supporter of the Decatur Pride fast-pitch softball team and the USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Tournament held in Decatur.

Hsia-Hung "Michelle" Wong
President, Leo Industries, Ltd.

Michelle earned her degree in Business Administration from Millikin in 1986. While a student at Millikin, she became close friends with mathematics professor Carol Likins and her husband, Gary, which is how she remained connected to Millikin since graduation.

Her Millikin education was sponsored and funded by Dick Burket, an ADM vice president who passed away in 1991. Michelle established the Richard E. Burket scholarship in his memory benefitting students from Hong Kong or China.

After graduating from Millikin, Michelle worked for Berman Industries, Ltd. in Chicago as the assistant to the President for four years. In 1992 she started her own business; Leo Industries, Ltd., which manufactures and exports home décor items and domestic lighting from mainland China to the United States and Europe. She also has a partnership with a group of Chinese entrepreneurs manufacturing non-woven automobile interior carpet in China near Wu Xi (a city near Shanghai) and Xiamen.

Michelle's daughter, Bianca, began her freshmen year at Millikin Fall 2008.

H. Gale Zacheis
Retired Surgeon

Gale is a graduate of the University of Illinois and received his M.D. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago.

He completed an internship in surgery in 1966 and his residency in surgery in 1970 at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, followed by a fellowship from 1970-1971 at St. Francis Hospital, in Evanston, Illinois.

Gale received his board certification from the American Board of Surgery in April 1972 and is currently the Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Illinois, Chicago and serves as Senior Attending at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Gale held numerous offices, among them President of University of Illinois Hospital House Staff; President of Illinois Surgical Society; Board of Governors, Illinois Surgical Society; Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mainstreet Trust, and more.

He serves currently on the Advising Board of the Salvation Army.

He received America's Top Surgeons Awards in 2002 and 2005.

Dr. Parrish developed and taught 15 field travel courses for non-majors and biology majors. These courses have taken her and Millikin students to Alaska, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos, and South Africa. These courses have allowed students the opportunity to experience not only diversity of ecological communities, but diversity of human cultures.

Dr. Parrish serves as the Chair of the Department of Biology, and as the departmental representative to the Committee on Teacher Education Programs. She also serves on the Community Environmental Council and on the Lumpkin Family Foundation Environmental Board.

She earned her Ph.D. in Plant Ecology from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (U of I) in 1978 and also received her Masters of Science Degree in Botany from U of I in 1974. She also worked as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Forestry at the U of I. Dr. Parrish received her Bachelors of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University with majors in Zoology and Botany in 1972.

Judy and her husband, Mark, live in Decatur and are the proud parents of four adult children and three grandchildren.

Julia Smith, Student Representative

Julia is from St. Charles, IL and is a senior at Millikin studying Musical Theatre.

Julia is an RA, a member of Pi Beta Phi and a veteran of Student Senate. Previously on Senate she has served as the representative to the College of Fine Arts, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and in the 2011-2012 academic year she will serve as the Vice President of Student Affairs.

On the Millikin Mainstage Julia has performed in three productions. In 2009 she performed the title role in Kiss Me, Kate! In the spring of 2010 she played Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Most recently she was a member of the ensemble in the collegiate premiere of the new musical Golden Gate. She has also been involved in many student directed productions including Antigone and many original works.

After graduating from Millikin she plans to move back to the Chicago area to pursue her career as an actress

Rick Rieder, Treasurer of the Board
V.P. of Financial and Business Affairs, Millikin University, Decatur, IL

Marilyn Davis, Secretary of the Board
Chief of Staff, Millikin University, Decatur, IL

Dr. Harold G. Jeffcoat, Ex Officio
President, Millikin University, Decatur, IL