The Alumni Page
This page outlines the students who have worked in the research group and what they are doing now.
George Nora, M.S. 2000
George was the first graduate student to work in the Hitchcock Research Lab. He obtained his B.S. degree at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign. He later obtained his M.S. degree here at Illinois State University in 2000. George is currently in his 5th year as a PhD student at the University of Notre Dame under the direction of Dr. Marvin J. Miller.
E-mail: gnora@nd.edu
David M. Casper, M.S. 2003
Dave was the first undergraduate student to work in the Hitchcock Research Lab. He received a B.S. degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor from Illinois State University in 2000. As an undergraduate, Dave did research for 2 years, developing the synthesis and use of oxadiazinones in asymmetric organic chemistry. After graduating, Dave decided to continue his research with Dr. Hitchcock while also continuing his education at Illinois State University. He graduated in 2003 with a M.S. degree in Chemistry.
Christine Hedberg
Christine successfully defended her Masters degree at the
University
of Arizona in Tucson on December 14th 2004. Since then she has
received
a job offer from Amgen in South San Francisco.
Laura Buchanan
University of
West Virginia, medical school
M. Kathyrn Buchanan
University of West Virginia, medical school
Michael D. Squire, M.S. 2003
Michael and his family now reside in California. He works at
Vicuron Pharmaceuticals. Vicuron Pharmaceuticals is an international
biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and
commercializing vital medicine for seriously ill patients. The company's lead
products are in Phase III clinical trials and include anidulafungin, a novel
antifungal agent, and dalbavancin, a novel intravenous antibiotic for the
treatment of serious Gram-positive infections. The company operates a
Fremont, Calif.-based research program focused on combinatorial and medicinal
chemistry, mechanism-based drug design and collaborations.
Jessica Speckhart
University of Missouri, St. Louis, dental school
Chelsea West 
Chelsea just started her 3rd year of medical school. She will be starting her 4 year residency program in July of 2007 with a focus on anesthesiology specializing in cardiopulmonary surgeries.
Deanna C. Taylor 
Deanna is currently working in the chemical industry.
Susan Pasquale
Florida International University, Department of Biological Sciences,
graduate school
Brian Kieth Voelker
Brian is currently working as a laboratory supervisor for
Dynegy Midwest Generation (DMG). He works in the Power Generation division
of the company, which owns and operates 5 coal fired power plants, and 3
gas turbine plants in the state of Illinois. DMG produces approximately
20,000,000 MWH of power a year. His responsibilities pertain to the
environmental aspects of the power production. His lab is responsible for
all the water waste analyses generated by these plants. He also conducts
environmental audits at other power plants Dynegy owns throughout the
country. My travels have been as far west as Denver, CO and as far east as
New York City. He is married, has two children and lives in Forsyth, Illinois.
His wife is a third grade school teacher for the Lutheran School Association. My
son is 4 years old and his daughter is 21 months old. When he is not at work, he
enjoys playing basketball. He plays in numerous 3 on 3 tournaments throughout
the year.
Carrie (Stafford) Adams
Carrie was recently offered a position at Provident Pharmaceuticals in Colorado.
She will participating in an Iron Man competition involving a run up a
14,000 foot high mountain.
David Kieser
R.N., Bloomington, IL
Jennifer R. Spurlock, M.S. 2003
Alcon Research, LTD.
Scientist I - Medicinal Chem/Glaucoma Research
Fort Worth, TX
jennifer.spurlock@alconlabs.com
Jen recently married Alan Spurlock and they have plans to honeymoon in Europe. Jen is currently working for Alcon Research. The company is listed on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work for List, 6 years in a row. We ranked 32 this year & 42 in 2005. Alcon is noted as the world's leading eye care company. Headquarters are located in Fort Worth, Texas, and we have operations in 75 countries. Alcon develops, manufactures & markets ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, ophthalmic surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care products and other consumer eye care products that treat diseases and conditions of the eye.
Jeromy T. Bentley, M.S.
2002
As of June 2006, Jeromy is working at Naperville Central High School as a dedicated teacher of the central science. He also works at the College of DuPage teaching chemistry and Advanced Chemistry. He is currently engaged to Heather and will be getting married at Disney Land for a combination wedding, reception, and honeymoon.
Trisha R. Hoover,
M.S. 2003
Trisha currently works at Anderson and Associates in
Rolling Meadows, IL.
The company makes specialty silicone products for many industries including
industries that make dental impressions and hearing aid impressions. She
also tutors chemistry part-time at McHenry County College.
James R. Burgeson,
M.S. 2003
Jim is currently working at deCODE Chemistry in Woodridge, IL.
Tana Brady
Tana is currently working at Xttrium Laboratories, Chicago, IL.
Myra Bolton
Nurse’s assistant, Atlanta, GA
Joe (Wiman) Davidson, B.S. 2002
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, graduate school
Yao Anim Addo
Yao is currently in Pharmacy school (Spring 2005).
Ross Rubel
Transferred to a private college to pursue an engineering degree.
Jesse Wolfe, B.S. 2004
Currently in graduate school at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jeremy F. Vaughn, M.S. 2004
As of June 2006, Jeremy is a graduate in the PhD program of the University of Indiana/Purdue University. He is currently engaged to be married during the summer of 2006.
The Big Men, David M. Casper and Michael D.
Squire/Graduate Symposium
at Illinois State University, Spring 2002
If I have forgotten anything or left out any info, then please contact me at Asymmetric Transformations, Inc. and I will make the additions.