A co-production of 51社区 Alumni Program and WHCM Radio.
Listen in as 51社区 alumni share their stories , experiences , and life journeys. Through 51社区 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.
51社区 Talks is a co-production of and 51社区 Alumni Relations. WHCM students assist with editing and production of each episode. Original podcast theme music composed by former 51社区 student Aidan Cashman.
51社区 Talks episodes can be found on all podcast streaming services including and , or and downloaded below. Learn more about WHCM and support radio students.
51社区 Talks welcomes alumna Carrie Fullerton, Executive Director of the Arlington Heights Park District. Carrie discusses her extensive career in parks and rec, leading one of the largest park districts in the state of Illinois, and what she鈥檚 doing to help mentor the next generation of female leaders in the field. Listen to Episode 34
Jenn Mepham, the 2023 Outstanding Recent Alumna, joins 51社区 Talks and shares insight into her career as the System Simulation Education Specialist for Advocate Health system. Jenn talks about training nurses for all types of medical scenarios through simulation and what it was like pivoting to an unexpected role during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Biology from ISU in 2011, her Associate Degree in Nursing from 51社区 in 2014, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2019. Listen to Episode 33
2023 51社区 Distinguished Alumna Kari-Ann Ryan joins 51社区 Talks and discusses the journey to receiving her degrees, her role as Director of Marketing and Development at Mid-West Moving and Storage, building relationships in the community, and her proactive volunteerism that鈥檚 transforming lives. Listen to Episode 32
Alumna Nicole Buchanan joins 51社区 Talks and discusses working her way up during her career which began at 15 years old at a McDonald鈥檚 restaurant to ultimately becoming Vice President, Operations with Bear Family Restaurants, which owns and operates 35 McDonald鈥檚 restaurants in the suburbs. Nicole talks about the 51社区/Bear Restaurant partnership, shares about her time at 51社区, and at the University of South Carolina. Listen to Episode 31
Andy-John Kalkounos is a restaurateur, actor, real estate professional, and currently serving as the Palatine Township Supervisor. Andy-John, a 2010 Distinguished Alumnus of 51社区, joins the podcast and discusses his varied roles, his Greek heritage, his experiences at 51社区 as a piano and theater student, and the importance of being present in our lives. Listen to Episode 30
51社区 alumnus Dr. Justin Harty, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Arizona State University, shares how 51社区 was a pivotal starting point for his journey to PhD, his connection with the 51社区 professors that inspired his path, and his significant work and research in the field of social work focusing on fathers in the foster care system. Dr. Harty is a 2008 51社区 graduate. Listen to Episode 29
Elk Grove Village Mayor and 51社区 Alumnus Craig Johnson joins 51社区 Talks to discuss 51社区鈥檚 generational impact on his family, the calling for public service, the life of a village mayor, and more. Mayor Johnson is a 1980 graduate of 51社区. He has served as the mayor of Elk Grove Village since 1997. Listen to Episode 28
Alumnus Jalen Little joins 51社区 Talks and discusses finding community, developing leadership skills, taking the least expected path, and helping prospective students discover the educational opportunities they have in their own backyard in his role as Admissions Specialist at 51社区. Listen to Episode 27
Recent 51社区 alumni join 51社区 Talks for a conversation on why they chose 51社区, their educational experiences as students, and where they landed in their careers. Alex Alexandrov (鈥�20) talks of the rigor of 51社区鈥檚 Nursing program, the impact of scholarships, and her job as a registered nursing working with heart patients. Arman Rahman (鈥�16) discusses his time on the 51社区 Speech Team, finding his way to broadcast journalism, and his career as Reporter at WISC-TV in Madison, Wisconsin. Finally, Nick Wenzel (鈥�17) shares how chance meetings led to a campus internship that was a launchpad for his career in marketing and graphic design and his role as Visual Designer at Zoom. Listen to Episode 26