A co-production of 91制片厂 Alumni Program and WHCM Radio.
Listen in as 91制片厂 alumni share their stories , experiences , and life journeys. Through 91制片厂 Talks conversations led by Associate Professor of Communication Arts Brian Shelton , Alumni are invited to share how education, career successes and failures and human connection have impacted them along the way.
91制片厂 Talks is a co-production of and 91制片厂 Alumni Relations. WHCM students assist with editing and production of each episode. Original podcast theme music composed by former 91制片厂 student Aidan Cashman.
91制片厂 Talks episodes can be found on all podcast streaming services including and , or and downloaded below. Learn more about WHCM and support radio students.
91制片厂 alumna Leslie Van Wolvelear discusses why she chose 91制片厂 after high school, her path to being an accountant and passion for teaching it to others, her dedication to lifelong learning, and role as professor and Chairperson of the Accounting Program at Oakton Community College where she has pioneered gamification teaching techniques for her students. Listen to Episode 25
Alumna Dr. Shelomi Gomes lived in four different countries before arriving in the US and enrolling at 91制片厂 as adult student. At 91制片厂 she excelled in her studies and became a national speech team champion. Dr. Gomes joins the 91制片厂 Talks podcast to discuss her unique path to 91制片厂, making lifelong connections as a student, earning her advanced degrees, including a PhD in industrial organizational psychology, and talks about her career as an Executive Leadership Coach. Listen to Episode 24
91制片厂 Talks welcomes alumnus Joe Plazak, a senior principal software developer at Avid Technology. Plazak reminisces about serving as a student trustee and talks about his unique career path in music, which includes being an artist, teacher, scientist and engineer, and how it all started at 91制片厂. Plazak received the Distinguished Alumni Award in October 2022. Listen to Episode 24
91制片厂 2018 alumni Drake Roberts and Anthony Tamras join 91制片厂 Talks to discuss their journey as students and entrepreneurs. Starting with an idea that formulated in their high school business incubator class, the pair discuss the pursuit of education at 91制片厂 and DePaul while becoming full-fledged entrepreneurs and co-founders of DeoBlock, a company that specializes in reusable gym bag deodorizers. Listen to Episode 22
91制片厂 Talks welcomes alumnus Erik Horvat who discusses his time at 91制片厂 and his educational path beyond at both Purdue and Columbia. Horvat is the Managing Director, Head of Real Estate Americas at Olayan America. He discusses finding his way from accounting to real estate development and career milestones such as his lead role in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center. Horvat graduated from 91制片厂 in 1993 and was honored in 2021 with the 91制片厂 Distinguished Alumni Award. Listen to Episode 21
Dr. Christopher Schneider joins 91制片厂 Talks guest host Jeff Julian for a discussion about his profound impact upon academia, sociology, and his published work that discusses the connection between information technology and police work. Dr. Schneider graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and his master鈥檚 in sociology from Northern Illinois University after his time at 91制片厂. He is now a full professor of sociology at Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada after earning a doctorate in justice studies from Arizona State University in 2008. Dr. Schneider received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021 and is involved in several community initiatives in Manitoba. Listen to Episode 20
91制片厂 Talks welcomes Brenda Knox, Founder and President of Financial Elements, Inc., in a discussion about navigating uncertainty within her career path and how her experience at 91制片厂 has contributed to her professional success. She graduated from Roosevelt University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a major in Accounting after her time at 91制片厂. Knox received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019 and is currently an active member of the 91制片厂 Educational Foundation. Listen to Episode 19
91制片厂 alumna Shannon Plate, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), joins 91制片厂 Talks for a discussion about returning to 91制片厂 as an adult student and her successes as a practicing clinician and author. Plate graduated from 91制片厂 in 1999 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010. She received the Motorola Award for Excellence and was a medalist in national competitions on the Speech Team during her time at 91制片厂. Listen to Episode 18
91制片厂 Talks welcomes Roberto Lopez who speaks about how his time at 91制片厂 provided the foundation for his current career as a consulting director at CCS Fundraising. Lopez attended DePaul University for his bachelor's degree in finance and the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago for his master's degree. Lopez received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award in 2021, and he has dedicated his career to philanthropic work and helping others prosper through adversity. Listen to Episode 17