College of Applied Science and Technology

Jason Lay '95 

Jason Lay graduated from the Department of Agriculture in 1995, where he majored in agribusiness and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He is the owner of Lay Farms, a corn and soybean farming operation near Bloomington. Lay holds several leadership positions with agricultural cooperatives. He is vice chair of the board of directors for GROWMARK, Inc., serves as treasurer of Evergreen FS, Inc., is a member of the board of directors for Sunrise FS, Inc., and serves on the board of directors for CoBank.

Rob Shaffer '93 

Rob Shaffer is a 1993 graduate from the Department of Agriculture, where he studied agribusiness and animal science and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Shaffer, who farms near El Paso, Illinois, has served on the Illinois Soybean Association's board of directors since 2010, where he holds the leadership positions of treasurer and chair of the Government Relations Committee. In February, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve as a director on the United Soybean Board, where he advocates for creating new opportunities to increase demand and improve the bottom line for U.S. soybean farmers.

Emilee Green '16, M.S. '18

Emilee Green is a research analyst at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, a state government agency that oversees grants administration and research. In this role, she works closely with state leaders, leads program evaluations and research initiatives, and helps manage multiple task forces focused on addressing critical issues within the criminal legal system. Her work has been presented at several academic conferences, including the American Society of Criminology and the Midwestern Psychological Association. Green earned a Master of Science in criminal justice sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Illinois State University, where her work as a research and teaching assistant significantly influenced her career trajectory.

Allen Vaughn '03 

Allen Vaughn earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice sciences from Illinois State University in 2003 and has built a career dedicated to public service, leadership, and education. He currently serves as an administrator with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and as an adjunct instructor at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas. Vaughn has more than 15 years of experience in operations management, workforce development, compliance, and organizational leadership. Throughout his career, he has led complex programs, supervised multidisciplinary teams, and supported initiatives that strengthen organizations and communities. Illinois State holds a special place in his journey, representing a transformative period of growth, independence, and educational opportunity. It was here that Vaughn first began building the foundation for his future, and Illinois State has helped shape both his personal and professional paths. A proud Redbird alumnus, Vaughn remains actively involved in alumni programs and university events and would enthusiastically choose Illinois State all over again.

Randall Wikoff '85, M.A. '07 

Randall Wikoff joined the Bloomington Police Department in February 1988. He worked as a patrol officer and field training officer for four years and joined the SWAT team in 1992. Wikoff was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division in 1993. In 2001, he began a Master of Arts degree program. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2005 and also served as a McLean County deputy coroner. Wikoff was an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences for nine semesters and was honored to receive the 2011 CAST Award for Criminal Justice Science. He retired from the Bloomington Police Department in 2014. He and Marcy moved to Lincoln County, New Mexico, in 2015, where he worked as a deputy sheriff for six years and served on the New Mexico 12th Judicial Circuit Major Crimes Unit. Wikoff is back with the Bloomington Police Department in the Office of Professional Standards Background Investigations Office.

Gabrielle Raucci '21, M.S. '22

Gabrielle (Haskell) Raucci, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., is an oncology dietitian at the OSF Cancer Institute, where she provides evidence-based, compassionate nutrition care throughout the cancer continuum. She has experience in enteral nutrition support and feeding tube management, helping patients maintain strength and tolerate treatment. Raucci co-developed an enteral nutrition skills lab for local dietitians to increase product knowledge and highlight the full scope of dietetics practice. This skills lab was recently highlighted on the "Dietitians in Nutrition Support" podcast. Raucci is also co-owner of Nutrition by Addition, LLC, an independent enteral nutrition consulting business that educates students, interns, and dietitians on all things enteral nutrition and provides hands-on enteral learning experiences. Outside of work, she serves as president of the Central Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Raucci holds a Master of Science in nutrition from Illinois State University and was recently named the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year in Central Illinois.

Rebecca Brtva '03, '07

Becky Brtva graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and later a Bachelor of Science in clinical laboratory science. She later earned an MBA in healthcare administration from Colorado Technical University in 2009. As regional director of hospital laboratory operations for Quest Indiana, Brtva is a clinical laboratory operations executive overseeing a footprint covering three-quarters of the state. She manages four contracts, 24 hospital laboratories, and a team of more than 500 employees. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for driving quality performance, rigorous process improvement, and executing complex, collaborative projects, including multi-year contract renewals. Brtva credits her time at Illinois State as a student and athlete with shaping her skills and passion for the field. Outside of her professional life, she resides in Indianapolis with her wife, Daphne, where they enjoy spending time with friends and family, gardening, and cheering on their favorite sports teams.

Adam McCrary '11 

Adam McCrary earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental health with a minor in safety from Illinois State University in 2011. He brings 19 years of experience in environmental health, safety, risk management, and regulatory compliance across higher education, insurance, life sciences, and military sectors. McCrary holds several of the profession's most respected credentials, including Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Professional, and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. He began his career with Illinois State University Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) in 2011 as a safety officer and advanced to assistant director before leaving in 2017. He subsequently served as a safety and security specialist with State Farm and as a senior property and casualty risk engineer with Chubb. In 2022, McCrary returned to Illinois State as director of EHS, where he leads programs supporting occupational and laboratory safety, environmental compliance, fire and life safety, workers' compensation, public health, Redbird Emergency Medical Services, and other campus-wide safety initiatives.

Jennifer Peterson '96, M.S. '97, Ph.D. '19

Jennifer Peterson's close ties to Illinois State University started early in life — her father was a professor in the Department of Art from 1959 to 1993. After graduating from Illinois State with a degree in medical records administration, Peterson worked as an oncology data specialist and oncology research coordinator. In 1992, she began teaching part time at Illinois State in the Health Information Management (HIM) program. Between 1992 and 2012, she taught part time in the department, hosted professional practice students for the HIM program, and served on the Health Sciences Department Alumni Board and the HIM Advisory Committee. In 2012, she joined Illinois State as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences. Peterson retired from her position as a professor in health sciences in June 2026 and has since relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado. A proud Redbird, she will always remain part of the Illinois State community. 

Cynthia Cortinas-Vogt '96 

Cindie Cortinas-Vogt earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Illinois State University in 1996, where she was named student teacher of the year. Illinois State's Physical Education Teacher Education program, along with the influence of Dr. Diana Jones and student teaching coordinator Debby Hopkins, laid the foundation for a fulfilling career in education.

Now in her 30th year of teaching, Cortinas-Vogt has focused primarily on elementary physical education. She was named the 2023 Illinois Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year and the 2024 SHAPE America National Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Bilingual in Spanish, she uses her language skills daily to connect with students. Her commitment to the profession includes mentoring future educators, teaching as an adjunct at Northern Illinois University, and serving in leadership roles with IAHPERD and SHAPE America. She now begins a new chapter at Illinois Park Elementary.

Tracie Henry '05, M.S. '08

Tracie Henry is the associate executive director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), where she oversees competitive dance, girls gymnastics, softball, eligibility rulings, wheelchair basketball, the IHSA internship program, and the IHSA Foundation. She has served on four National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules committees, including flag football, gymnastics, spirit, and softball.

Henry earned a Bachelor of Science in health education and a Master of Science in sport management, both from Illinois State University, in 2005 and 2008, respectively. Prior to joining the IHSA, she served as director of events and game operations for Redbird Athletics. She also served on the Illinois State Recreation and Sport Management Advisory Council and currently serves on the Bloomington-Normal YMCA Board of Directors. Henry coaches youth soccer and remains an active supporter of Illinois State, regularly attending athletic and campus events.

Joe Murray '13 

Joe Murray has more than 15 years of construction experience in the Chicagoland area. In 2013, Murray began his career with Bulley & Andrews (B&A) after graduating from Illinois State University with a bachelor's degree in construction management and a minor in safety. He spent a decade in field supervision before transitioning to his current role as QA/QC manager, where he develops and manages B&A's quality program across all regions, including Chicago, Nashville, and Jackson, Wyoming.

Murray's commitment to Illinois State includes serving as an executive member of the Construction Management Advisory Board and attending nearly every career fair since graduation, helping recruit and hire construction management students along the way. His certifications include LEED AP BD+C, CM-Lean, and Certified Air Barrier Specialist (CABS). He resides in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and their two young sons.

Luke Verplaetse '18, M.S. '19 

Based in the Bloomington-Normal area, Luke Verplaetse is an engineering leader and Illinois State University alumnus. He earned a Master of Science in quality management and analytics and bachelor's degrees in engineering technology and renewable energy from Illinois State, where he also supported STEM education as a graduate assistant.

Verplaetse is a staff manufacturing engineer at Rivian, where he specializes in dimensional stack analysis and data clarity, ensuring accurate part assembly for the Drive Unit division. Over a seven-year career at Rivian, he has progressed through quality engineering and management roles, cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and boosting production quality. He remains passionate about solving complex technical challenges in the automotive industry.