Board of Visitors

The purposes of the Board of Visitors of the Northern Illinois University College of Law are to:

  • Increase awareness of the college's mission and programs within the Illinois legal community, with particular emphasis on the northern tier of the state
  • Serve in an advisory capacity to the administration and the faculty in self-study and evaluation of the college and its educational programs
  • Provide linkage between the college and the Illinois legal community and develop mechanisms for the interchange of ideas between the college and the legal profession
  • Assist in developing strategies for enhancing the resources and financial support of the college
  • Advise the college with regard to recruitment and improvements in the areas of recruitment and retention of students and career counseling and placement

Current Board of Visitors

Sonni C. Williams '99, Chair
City Attorney, City of Lockport
Lockport, IL

Kenya Jenkins-Wright ’03, Vice Chair
General Counsel, IL Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
Chicago, IL

Hon. Vincent F. Cornelius ’89, Immediate Past Chair
12th Judicial Circuit
Joliet, IL


Louis G. Apostol '78, past Chair
Public Administrator, Cook County
Chicago, IL

Salvatore Barbatano
Of Counsel, Williams Williams Ratner & Plunkett
Birmingham, MI

John S. Burke
Partner, Higgins & Burke, P.C.
St. Charles, IL

Kenneth C. Chessick '84 past Chair
Law Office of Kenneth Chessick, M.D., J.D.
Of Counsel: Clifford Law Offices
CEO and Chairman, Restaurant.com
Chicago, IL

Brent Eames '09
Eames Law Group
Chicago, IL

Robert W. Fioretti '78
Roth & Fioretti, LLC
Chicago, IL

Hon. Bill Haddad (ret.)
Circuit Court of Cook County
Chicago, IL


Katie Haskins Becker '11
Haskins Becker, PC
Warrenville, Schaumburg and Chicago, IL


Doressia Hutton '01
Vice President and General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Chicago, IL


Julie Johnson '07
Of Counsel, Weiss-Kunz & Oliver LLC
Elmhurst, IL

Hon. Thomas L. Kilbride
Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
Rock Island, IL

Richard Lenkov '95
Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov LLC
Chicago, IL


Ryan Lipinski '04
Vice President, Compliance, Modivcare
Denver, CO


Hon. Mark J. Lopez (ret.) '83
JAMS Family Law ADR
Chicago, IL

Mary Milano '78
Executive Director, Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
Chicago, IL

John S. Monical '94, past Chair
Managing Partner, Lawrence Kamin Law Firm
Chicago, IL

Cherilyn G. Murer '78
CGM Advisory Group, LLC
Chicago, IL

Lonny B. Ogus '78
Law Offices of Lonny B. Ogus
Chicago, IL


Bryan L. Perry
Vice President and General Counsel, Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL

Matt Pfeiffer '00
Pfeiffer Law Offices, P.C.
Wheaton, IL


Carmen Rossi '12
Founder, 8 Hospitality
Chicago, IL

Hon. Henry R. Simmons (ret.)
Managing Partner, Clifford Law Offices
Chicago, IL


Trace Tyler '93
Trace Tyler Law
Grand Junction, CO

Jay Wiegman '92
Alumni Council Liaison
Assistant Appellate Defender, Third District
Ottawa, IL