All awardees are listed alphabetically by last name.
College of Arts and Sciences
Mr. William Q. Davis
M.P.A. ’09
William Q. Davis has represented Illinois' 30th Legislative District in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2003, building a public-service career focused on education, healthcare, economic development, workforce opportunity, and equity.
Among his most significant legislative accomplishments, Davis served as chief House sponsor of the 2017 legislation establishing Illinois' Evidence-Based Funding model, fundamentally changing the way state resources are distributed to public school districts. His legislative work has also supported access to healthcare and addressed issues including cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, lupus, sickle cell disease, and cancer.
Davis has held numerous legislative leadership and committee roles, including chairing the House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee, and his public service has earned recognition from organizations representing healthcare, education, parks and recreation, and local government. He is also a former Joint Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.
Davis earned his Master of Public Administration from Governors State University in 2009 and is a charter member of the University's chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, the international honor society for public affairs and administration.
Monica M. Gordon
M.A. ’02
Monica M. Gordon serves as Cook County Clerk, becoming the youngest woman and just the third African American to hold the office when she was sworn in in 2024. As Clerk, she serves as the Chief Election Authority for suburban Cook County and oversees responsibilities ranging from vital records and land records to services supporting veterans and the Cook County Board.
Previously elected Cook County Commissioner for the 5th District, Gordon has built a career in public service spanning government, higher education, advocacy, and community leadership. Her previous roles include Chair of the Prairie State College Board of Trustees, Government Affairs Director for Chicago State University, and Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. She has also served numerous civic and community organizations throughout the region.
Gordon earned her Master of Arts in Communication and Training from Governors State University in 2002 and her bachelor's degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University.
Dr. John L. Sands
M.A. ’02
Dr. John L. Sands is Professor of Cybersecurity and AI at Moraine Valley Community College and Executive Director of the National AI Training Initiative. With more than 40 years of experience in education, Sands has become a nationally recognized leader in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, faculty development, and technology workforce education.
Sands directs a national faculty development academy that has trained more than 5,000 faculty members from all 50 states and serves as Co-Principal Investigator of the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center. Throughout his career, he has helped secure more than $40 million in federal funding for cybersecurity and AI workforce-development initiatives. His expertise has also reached the national policy level, including testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
His contributions have earned national recognition, including the 2024 ACCT National Faculty Member Award and the 2020 AACC Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction. Today, Sands continues to advance the integration of AI into community college education through national faculty training, curriculum development, and NSF-supported initiatives.
Sands earned his Master of Arts in Communication and Training from Governors State University in 2002.
Ms. Sheryl P. Underwood
M.A. ’91
Sheryl P. Underwood is an award-winning entertainer, producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and U.S. Air Force Reserve veteran whose career has spanned television, radio, comedy, business, and community engagement. As the longest-running co-host of CBS's The Talk, Underwood earned five Daytime Emmy Awards and seven Emmy nominations and has become a nationally recognized voice in entertainment. Her career also includes appearances across television and film and decades as a stand-up comedian.
As Founder and CEO of Pack Rat Productions, Inc. and the Pack Rat Foundation for Education, Underwood has built a multimedia and philanthropic enterprise while supporting educational opportunities for students nationwide. Her foundation supports 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their students. She also served as the 23rd International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., becoming the only full-time entertainer to hold the position.
Throughout her career, Underwood has used her national platform to advance education, civic engagement, health awareness, and community service. She earned her Master of Arts in Media Communication from Governors State University in 1991.
College of Business
Mrs. Donna Gayden
M.S. ’04
Donna M. Gayden is Interim Village Manager for the Village of Hazel Crest and a municipal executive with more than 30 years of experience in governmental leadership, financial management, economic development, and organizational transformation. Throughout her career, she has helped municipalities navigate complex financial challenges, strengthen operations, and improve accountability and fiscal stability.
Gayden previously served as City Manager and Treasurer for the City of Long Beach, New York, where she helped guide the city through financial challenges and restructuring while improving its credit rating and fiscal practices. Her career also includes executive and financial leadership roles in communities throughout Illinois, New York, and Georgia. As Village Administrator of Glenwood, she helped secure nearly $25 million in grant funding for infrastructure and community development and supported more than $10 million in new development.
A Certified Fraud Examiner, Gayden earned her Master of Science in Accounting from Governors State University in 2004 and has pursued additional executive and professional development through institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Cornell University, and Northwestern University.
Mr. Leonel Jaramillo
B.A. ’20
Leonel B. Jaramillo is an Economic Development Navigator for Kankakee, where he connects businesses and entrepreneurs with the people, resources, and information they need to establish, grow, and succeed in the community. Raised in Kankakee County, Jaramillo has built his work around communication, relationship-building, problem-solving, and expanding economic opportunity in the region.
In his economic development role, Jaramillo has worked with more than 500 businesses, helped more than 300 become fully licensed in Kankakee, and conducted more than 100 business retention visits. His work has also exposed him to business attraction efforts, major corporate discussions, and significant economic investments, while his participation in conferences, networking, and negotiations has extended his work beyond the city to the county, regional, state, and national levels.
Jaramillo’s professional background spans several industries, including restaurant supervision, dentistry, and laboratory training operations. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Governors State University in 2020.
Mrs. Kimberly Kislowski
B.A. ’91
Kim Kislowski is Executive Vice President of Visit Chicago Southland, where she has built a 36-year career promoting tourism and economic vitality throughout the Chicago Southland region. Her career with the organization began while she was a Governors State University student, when an internship opportunity led her into tourism marketing and ultimately launched her professional career.
Today, Kislowski oversees publications, digital content, advertising, social media, websites, mobile passports, tourism applications, grants, and destination promotion. She has served as the creative force behind 38 visitors guides and was the architect of VisitChicagoSouthland.com, which received a 2024 Illinois Excellence in Tourism Award for Best Website. Her work has also helped distribute more than $1.25 million in tourism grants to communities and nonprofit organizations, supporting tourism development and economic vitality throughout the region.
Kislowski continues to maintain a strong connection with Governors State, helping promote university cultural attractions to visitors throughout the region. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Governors State University in 1991.
Mr. Rene C. Rivas
B.A. ’16
Rene C. Rivas, CRPC™, is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients throughout the Chicagoland area. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Rivas has built his career around helping individuals and families make informed financial decisions and work toward long-term financial security. His professional and community work reflects a broader commitment to financial literacy, minority business leadership, and economic opportunity.
A first-generation Mexican American, Rivas transferred to Governors State University through the Dual Degree Program after attending Joliet Junior College and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance in 2016. Since entering financial services, he has progressed through multiple promotions, earned additional professional certifications, and estimates that his work has allowed him to assist thousands of individuals and hundreds of families.
Rivas extends his professional expertise into the community through financial education, student mentorship, and regional economic-development involvement. He is a member of the University Summit Gateway and has remained actively engaged with GovState through student mentoring, professional programming, and past volunteer service. In 2026, he presented a financial literacy workshop at the University’s Hispanic Heritage Month Symposium and received the Alumni Impact Award in recognition of his continued commitment to students and the GovState community.
College of Education and Human Development
Dr. Kelly Chaney
Degree
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Ms. Kimanne Foraker-Koons
Degree
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Dr. Jessica Love Jordan
Degree
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Dr. Yetunde Toro Uwajeh
Degree
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College of Health and Human Services
Ms. Jamelia Hand
B.A. ’02, M.H.S. ’04
Jamelia R. Hand, MHS, CADC, CODP, is Founder and CEO of Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC and an internationally recognized healthcare executive, public servant, consultant, author, and advocate whose career has helped shape addiction treatment, overdose prevention, recovery services, and behavioral health policy for more than two decades. Today, she advises healthcare organizations, government partners, treatment providers, and community leaders and serves as a consultant with the Opioid Response Network.
Hand previously served in executive leadership with the Illinois Department of Human Services, providing oversight of the state's licensure and compliance system serving more than 1,100 treatment organizations and co-authoring the Illinois Statewide Overdose Action Plan. As Vice President of Reentry Services for Safer Foundation, she led more than 200 employees and managed a program portfolio supported by approximately $32 million in contracts. Her career has also included work expanding access to naloxone across 13 states.
Hand serves on the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse and has received numerous honors for her advocacy and leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2002 and Master of Health Science in Addiction Studies in 2004 from Governors State University.
Dr. Somi Nagaraj
M.S.N. ’08, D.N.P. ’13
Dr. Somi Nagaraj, DNP, MSN, RN, CONTL, CSSGB, SMQT, is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Nursing Executive and Innovative Leadership option at Governors State University. A healthcare leader, educator, scholar, and quality expert, Nagaraj brings more than three decades of experience in healthcare leadership, education, patient safety, and quality improvement. Her areas of expertise include innovative leadership, healthcare regulation, interprofessional education, curriculum development, and student mentorship.
Nagaraj also serves with the Illinois Department of Public Health as a Public Service Administrator. Her scholarship focuses on nursing leadership, community health, quality improvement, artificial intelligence in nursing education, and interprofessional collaborative practice. In 2025, she received multiple accolades for leading an interprofessional community-based project focused on stroke awareness and education.
Her commitment to community health includes quarterly education sessions addressing brain health, stroke prevention, diabetes, heart failure, ADHD, and women's health. Nagaraj earned her Master of Science in Nursing in 2008 and Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2013 from Governors State University.
Dr. Simon Tadros
B.H.S. ’20
Dr. Tadros is a dentist and practice owner with advanced training in oral surgery and root canal therapy. His clinical expertise also includes crowns, veneers, restorative dentistry, and removable prosthetics.
Dr. Steven Tijerina
B.S. ’13, D.P.T. ’16
Dr. Steven Tijerina, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist and Clinic Director at Goodlife Physical Therapy in Orland Park, Illinois. Raised in Chicago's south suburbs, Tijerina has built his career serving the community where he grew up, helping individuals with orthopedic, neurological, and vestibular conditions improve their function and quality of life through individualized patient care.
Tijerina has continued to advance his clinical expertise through specialized training in vestibular rehabilitation, Parkinson's disease rehabilitation, and the treatment of spinal and extremity pain. He completed an American Physical Therapy Association-endorsed competency-based vestibular rehabilitation program and holds certifications in LSVT BIG for individuals with Parkinson's disease and Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, also known as the McKenzie Method. He has also completed advanced postgraduate training in male pelvic health.
Beyond patient care, Tijerina is committed to education, mentorship, and community outreach, including patient support groups and community health workshops. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2013 and Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2016 from Governors State University.
Rising Star
Mr. Vamsi Gorle
Degree
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Mr. Richard Greenfield
Degree
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Dr. Carlos A. Uresti Jr.
Degree
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Mr. Jacob Walsh
Degree
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Emeritus/Retiree
Dr. Lorri Glass
Professor Emerita of Social Work
Dr. Lorri Glass, Ph.D., LCSW, ACSW, CCTP I/II, is a Professor Emerita, licensed clinical social worker, educator, consultant, trainer, and trauma specialist whose career spans more than four decades of social work practice, education, scholarship, and community service. Her work has centered on trauma-informed practice, culturally responsive care, women's mental health, resilience, social justice, and preparing future social work professionals.
Glass served as BSW Program Coordinator and Associate Professor at Governors State University from 2007 to 2024. During her 17 years at GovState, she taught and mentored students in areas including trauma-informed social work practice, crisis intervention, family social work, children's mental health, cultural diversity, and professionalism. She also mentored students through the Generating Hope Student Organization, and her commitment to future social workers continues through the Dr. Lorri Glass Generating Hope Scholarship.
Beyond the University, Glass has maintained a private practice and consultation role since 1993 and has served as an external clinical consultant for the Veterans Administration since 1996. Her scholarship, professional training, and advocacy have contributed to trauma-informed and culturally grounded approaches to social work practice. Her contributions have been recognized through honors including the Coretta Scott King Award, Council on Social Work Education dissertation recognition, and the Minority Fellowship Program.
Dr. Frances Kostarelos
Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political and Justice Studies
Dr. Frances Kostarelos is Professor Emerita in the Anthropology and Sociology and Political and Justice Studies programs at Governors State University. A cultural anthropologist, scholar, educator, and researcher, Kostarelos devoted 28 years to GovState, serving from 1995 through 2022. She earned her doctorate in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago. Her research interests include race, ethnicity, social class, religious pluralism, religious fundamentalism, ecotheology, and environmental justice.
Throughout her GovState career, Kostarelos demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting students and creating opportunities for learning beyond the traditional classroom. She provided spaces for students to display their artwork, took students into the field for experiential learning, and emphasized supporting students as individuals as they developed their academic interests and abilities.
Her scholarship has included ethnographic research among American evangelicals and Eastern Orthodox Christians in the United States and Greece. In recent years, her work has increasingly explored ecotheology, climate change, environmental sustainability, and the relationships between religion, culture, and the natural environment.
Kostarelos has remained an active scholar following retirement, with invited lectures and presentations in the United States and Europe. Her recent work includes presentations through the Volos Academy for Theological Studies and the European Academy of Religion, as well as a book manuscript under contract with Bloomsbury Publishing examining social forces shaping the Greek Orthodox Church in the United States.
Mr. Tony Labriola
Professor Emeritus of Television and New Media
Tony Labriola is a three-time Emmy Award-winning producer, director, educator, theater artist, and Professor Emeritus of Television and New Media at Governors State University. During more than three decades at GovState, he taught students while producing educational, documentary, and public affairs programming distributed through PBS, The Learning Channel, educational networks, and other broadcasting outlets.
Labriola's professional accomplishments include three Emmy Awards for children's television programming produced for WGN-TV and WBBM-TV. His work in children's media also extended internationally: he participated in World Summits for Children and Television in Australia and the United Kingdom and helped research and co-write the Children's Television Charter in the United States.
At GovState, Labriola's contributions extended beyond teaching and media production. He chaired the Faculty Scholarship and Teaching Center, helped lead the University Diversity Committee, participated extensively in university governance, and supported faculty development and instructional innovation. His career has also encompassed documentary filmmaking, scholarship, and decades of work as a director, actor, designer, producer, and leader in regional theater.
Labriola continued serving GovState after his retirement, remaining Master of Ceremonies for University commencement for another decade and continuing his involvement with the Center for Performing Arts. He has also remained active in theater, storytelling, film, photography, and the broader Chicago Southland arts community.
Keynote Honoree: Speaker
Name
Degree
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