Division of Student Affairs
Division of Student Affairs list
Paige Buschman, M.S. '19
Paige Buschman serves as associate director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University, where she strengthens partnerships between the university and community partners, builds programming for student civic learning and political engagement, and supports faculty professional development.
Buschman earned a Master of Science in college student personnel administration from Illinois State University in 2019 and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University. At Illinois State, she serves on the College Student Personnel Administration Advisory Board and the University Hearing Panel and advises the Rainbow Floor themed living-learning community. She also serves as president-elect of Illinois Wesleyan's Alumni Association Board of Directors and was a student Lincoln Laureate and member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Nehemiah Chung '13
Dr. Nehemiah Chung is the associate dean of students and director of orientation and transition at the University at Buffalo, where he provides strategic leadership for orientation, first-year experience, student transition, and retention initiatives. Previously, he served in student affairs leadership roles at the University of Illinois Chicago and Rutgers University–New Brunswick, with additional experience at the University of California, Riverside; North Carolina State University; and Ajou University in South Korea.
As a student at Illinois State University, Chung was actively involved in the Student Government Association, serving as student body vice president, as well as Alternative Spring Break, the Association of Residence Halls, Alpha Phi Omega, the Korean Student Association, and the Asian Pacific American Coalition. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Illinois State, a Master of Science in college student affairs from Nova Southeastern University, and a Doctor of Education in higher education administration from Northern Illinois University.
Lucas Cook, M.S. '13
Lucas Cook earned a Master of Science in sport management from Illinois State University, where he served as a graduate assistant in Campus Recreation. Upon graduating in 2013, Cook opened and operated a sports performance facility in Normal, Illinois, specializing in strength training and skill instruction for youth athletes. After selling the facility in 2019, he created the strength and conditioning program for Heartland Community College Athletics, where he now serves as head strength and conditioning coach and manager of Heartland's Fitness and Recreation Center.
Cook has also served as an instructional assistant professor in Illinois State's School of Kinesiology and Recreation and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in Heartland's Division of Health Sciences. He remains grateful to Illinois State for fostering his passion for education, mentorship, and physical wellness.
Ryan Friel '20
Ryan Friel is the senior program manager in emergency management at Washington University in St. Louis. Specializing in higher education emergency management, he leads initiatives across emergency notification systems, technology integration, and Emergency Operations Center management.
Friel's career in public safety began at Illinois State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in public relations. As a student, he worked as an emergency management specialist with Illinois State Emergency Management and welcomed incoming students as a Preview Guide.
At the national level, Friel holds the Certified Emergency Manager credential through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and serves as co-chair of the IAEM Universities and Colleges Caucus Symposium Planning Committee. He also volunteers locally with the McLean County Emergency Management Agency.
Alondra Gonzalez, '19
Alondra Gonzalez is a special educator on the south side of Chicago, teaching a writing course to ninth graders. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Illinois State University in 2019 and a master's degree in education from Relay Graduate School of Education.
During her time at Illinois State, Gonzalez was active in the Association of Latin American Students, Leaders of Social Change, and Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She is dedicated to providing a space for student growth, appreciation, and learning so that students can holistically become the best versions of themselves.