Alumni Features

  "My life story consists of seasons where I was either the initiator of strategic career moves or the strategic career move chose me. Lewis University chose me," stated Dr. Okey Enyia, a 1999 biology alumnus. Influenced by his father, Dr. Samuel Enyia, a retired professor at Lewis, Okey highlights how Lewis prepared him for his future by providing a solid educational foundation coupled with enriching social opportunities. The smaller community at Lewis gave Okey the chance to develop meaningful relationships with faculty and staff.   These mentors impacted both his education and career paths. "Lewis was intentional about creating spaces for students of color to build community. This was particularly crucial for me, as a Biology major, often being the only or one of the few Black men in the classroom," stated Okey. During his sophomore year, he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he received life-changing support, camaraderie, and mentorsh

From her earliest days, Carolyn Brodnicki Serdar '99 '02 had a unique connection to Lewis University. "As a high school student, I volunteered behind the scenes at the Philip Lynch Theater. I fell in love with the faculty, staff, and students, as well as the theater program curriculum," she recalled. Lewis University was already part of her life, as her parents worked at the university, and frequent visits to the campus made her appreciate its beauty and community. At Lewis, Carolyn found a place where she could challenge herself and discover her vocation through supportive experiences like campus ministry and the theater program. She immersed herself in campus life, engaging in various clubs, organizations, and activities that forged deep friendships. "Some of my favorite activities included joining the Peer Ministry program and starting the college’s first LGBTQ+ club," she says. Her involvement in the Koinonia retreat, the church choir, and a service tr

On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Lewis University’s Aviation and Transportation Department experienced a “blast from the past!”   Roger Hougham, who turned 95 years old in August, returned to campus to revisit his aviation roots.   Hougham attended Lewis from 1954 to 1955 and served as a flight instructor at Lewis from 1955 to 1956.   He and his friends, Bill Arbogast (who also attended Lewis and served as a Certified Flight Instructor in the 50’s), and Doug Reeves, all with the Prairie Aviation Museum in Bloomington, Illinois, made the trip to Lewis in honor of Roger’s upcoming birthday. Roger Hougham served in the United States Marines Corps in air traffic control in the early 50’s. He earned single-engine certification during that time.   He then spent a year as an aviation student at Lewis, and then a year as a flight instructor. In 1956, he joined Delta Airlines.   Upon his retirement from Delta in 1989, he had flown more than 27,000 hours both domestically and internationally.   Duri

Lights, curtains, action! Traci Gaydos ’02 came to Lewis University to study Theatre and Music. While pursuing her BA in Theatre, she stumbled upon Stage Management. Stage Management was the springboard for her successful career in event production because it provided her with a transferable skillset. “My Lewis Experience was exactly what I needed for that time in my life: highly connected instructors who met my individual learning style and needs, and a department full of folks cheering each other on to success on and off the stage,” explains Gaydos. After graduating from Lewis and interning at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, Traci applied to the University of Illinois’ MFA program in Stage Management.   After completing her MFA, she continued in opera and theatre production roles until she landed the Production Manager and Marketing Director role for the University of Northern Iowa’s Theatre Department. Traci stayed in Cedar Rapids for three years before being selected to serve as

Fostering community through service has been part of Lewis University’s mission since its inception. Lewis alum, Garret A. Eisin MSN, RN ‘68 ’93, exemplifies these values through his vocation as a Registered Nurse whose passion is to help our nation’s heroes.  Garret’s story began in 1968 when he graduated from Lewis University with his Sociology degree. By 1969, Garret had enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a medic at Letterman Army Medical Center, San Francisco. After serving as a medic, he enrolled at Saint Xavier University School of Nursing and graduated with a BSN in 1974. Eisen then began his nursing career as a Registered Nurse at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, where impacted the lives of his patients through his dedicated service. He later returned to Lewis and graduated in 1993 with a Master’s in Nursing. Eisin acknowledged the important role Lewis played in his life in better preparing him to live out his calling as a nurse. Garret stated, “My education at Lewis Univer

Tatiana Machado-Griffin '14 was inspired to pursue her studies at Lewis University when a dear friend recommended the Organizational Leadership M.A. program. Knowing she wanted to expand her expertise and further her career, Tatiana reviewed the program and settled on studying three concentrations. She was especially grateful for this opportunity as an international student to advance her studies abroad, finding it deeply meaningful in creating experiences that allowed her to pivot her career and pursue new roles. She credits, “The M.A. in Organizational Leadership program not only helped me in establishing a career but also helped me become more deeply connected with people in my growing community as an immigrant in the United States.”  Her time as a Graduate Assistant in the offices of University Advancement and International Students offered hands-on experience which helped her further her skills in interpersonal relationships and communication with people from all over the wo