PNW Alumni Hall of Fame
Honoring distinguished graduates of the Purdue University Northwest campuses.
2026 Hall of Fame Inductee
Deno Yiankes
Deno Yiankes (BS’88) has been dedicated to transformational service and leadership in hospitality and tourism management for over three decades. He first joined White Lodging in 1985 as a line cook while working toward his bachelor’s degree. He rose through the company’s leadership ranks to become president and CEO of Investments and Development, a role he held from 2006 to 2020.
Yiankes was integral in supporting the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation and the Bruce and Beth White Family Foundation’s joint transformational $5 million gift establishing the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at PNW in 2009.
His incredible generosity is also embodied in the Irene and Kostas Yiankes Endowed Scholarship established to honor his parents as well as a significant gift to create the Deno Yiankes, White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Study Abroad/Study Away Support Fund.
After a brief period of retirement from White Lodging, Yiankes in 2025 launched Chimera Hospitality Corporation, a privately held investment and asset management firm focused on the hotel sector, with his two sons, Alex and Eric.
Additional 2026 Honorees
Pride of PNW Alumni Award
Ryan Elinkowski (BA’11)
The Pride of PNW Alumni Award recognizes alumni who embody the values and mission of PNW, showcasing leadership, integrity, innovation and commitment to making a positive impact on society.
Ryan Elinkowski has led many organizations, including St. Jude House as its executive director. At St. Jude House, Ryan transformed the organization into a model of trauma-informed care and community partnership, expanding outreach and ensuring that survivors of domestic violence and their families received comprehensive, life-changing support.
Under his leadership, St. Jude House built new partnerships with law enforcement and schools, enhancing prevention, education and access to vital resources. He is currently is CEO of Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana.
Power Onward Emerging Leader Award
Spencer Summers (BS’22; MBA’23)
The Power Onward Emerging Leader Award recognizes alumni aged 35 and younger who have demonstrated emerging and unique innovation, creativity and success in their chosen careers.
Spencer Summers is an Economic and Business Development Manager at Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). Prior to NIPSCO, Summers served as the Economic Development Director at the Northwest Indiana Forum.
His leadership is marked by authenticity, resilience and a genuine desire to make a difference qualities that align perfectly with Purdue University Northwest’s legacy of excellence. He was recently recognized in The Times of Northwest Indiana’s IN Business 2024 “20 under 40” class. He was also recognized by the Crossroads Chamber as Up and Coming Leader in 2024.
PNW Campus Pride Alumni Award
Erin Okamoto Protsman (BA’88; MA’01)
The PNW Campus Pride Alumni Award recognizes PNW faculty and staff members who are alumni and have made significant contributions and impacts for the PNW campus community and student experience.
A member of the PNW faculty since 2013, Erin Okamoto Protsman serves on several committees within PNW’s College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, including Curriculum Assessment; One Book, One University; Communication and Creative Arts Advisory Board coordination; and various hiring committees.
Protsman has received many accolades, including PNW’s Lionhearted Leaders Award (2022) and the CCA Public Relations Alumni Award (2024). She is currently a continuing lecturer of Communication and Creative Arts at PNW.
PNW Alumni Hall of Fame Induction
May 29, 2026
Nominees selected for inclusion will be inducted during PNW’s 10th Anniversary Gala on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
2025 Hall of Fame Inductees
Nicole Kupchik
Nicole Kupchik (AAS, ‘93), who resides in Washington state, has built a career as a critical care registered nurse (RN) and clinical nurse specialist for over 25 years. She is the CEO of Nicole Kupchik Consulting and Education, which specializes in providing critical-care education and consulting services for nursing professionals. Founded by Kupchik, the company offers services to enhance clinical skills and improve patient outcomes.
She earned her associate’s degree in Nursing from PNW in 1993. She went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing from the University of Washington.
During her career, Kupchik has earned the Washington State March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award in Research and Innovation for research on the implementation of therapeutic hypothermia treatment after cardiac arrest. As a critical care educator, she has also earned two Washington State Qualis awards for Patient Safety and Clinical Leadership.
Mitchell “Mason” Macenski
Mitchell “Mason” Macenski (BA, ‘86), who resides in Minnesota, is the vice president of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at Miromatrix Medical Inc., a body organ bioengineering firm and subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation.
Macenski is a first-generation PNW graduate from Hammond, Indiana and earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1986. He went on to earn a doctorate degree in Behavioral Pharmacology from the University of Minnesota.
Macenski manages the application process to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Miromatrix’s bioengineered transplantable organs, including a decellularized kidney. He continues to support PNW students through the Michael and Geraldine Macenski Behavioral Scholarship.
Additional 2025 Honorees
Pride of PNW Alumni Award
Rick Calinski (BS, ‘03; MBA, ‘10)
The Pride of PNW Alumni Award recognizes alumni who embody the values and mission of PNW, showcasing leadership, integrity, innovation and commitment to making a positive impact on society.
Rick Calinski in his position at NIPSCO supports external affairs with different community, governmental, business and media leaders in NIPSCO’s service territory. He serves as Director of Public Affairs and Economic Development for NIPSCO and also serves on PNW’s College of Business Advisory Board.
Power Onward Emerging Leader Award
Ayana Clark (BA ‘17; MA ‘19)
The Power Onward Emerging Leader Award recognizes alumni aged 35 and younger who have demonstrated emerging and unique innovation, creativity and success in their chosen careers.
Ayana Clark leads Chicago-based A&J Branding, helping politicians, businesses and nonprofits connect with communities in impactful ways. Inducted into the National Society for Leadership and Success in 2016, she further solidified her reputation as a trailblazer, earning the title of Most Outstanding Graduate Student in 2019 for her groundbreaking research at the intersection of media and minority movements.
PNW Campus Pride Alumni Award
Debbie Bachmann (AS, ‘11; BS, ‘14)
The PNW Campus Pride Alumni Award recognizes PNW faculty and staff members who are alumni and have made significant contributions and impacts for the PNW campus community and student experience.
Debbie Bachmann has served PNW students for 21 years and in her current role supports PNW Honors College students in their extracurricular and philanthropic engagements, as well as connecting students with internship and employment opportunities. She has received recognition as PNW’s Administrative Staff of the Year in 2020 and by the NWI Influential Women’s Association for Outstanding Service and Tourism professional in 2023.
2025 Alumni Hall of Fame Highlights
Purdue University Northwest celebrated five impactful alumni on April 3, including the induction of Mitchell “Mason” Macenski and Nicole Kupchik (pictured with PNW Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford at right) into the PNW Alumni Hall of Fame.
Additional Honorees
- Rick Calinski – Pride of PNW Alumni Award
- Debbie Bachmann – PNW Campus Pride Alumni Award
- Ayana Clark – Power Onward Emerging Leader Award
2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
Thomas McDermott, Jr.
Thomas McDermott Jr. is the 20th mayor of the city of Hammond. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Finance from PNW in 1996. He then earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2000.
As mayor, he has supported Purdue Northwest in its mission and growth. The city’s College Bound program has allowed hundreds of Hammond residents to attend PNW, achieving their goals of higher education and supporting the university. When the city planned the opening of its only charter school, Hammond Academy of Science and Technology (HAST), McDermott turned to PNW’s School of Education and Counseling to help write the curriculum
McDermott, an avid sports fan and supporter, has helped set aside land at Dowling Park for the benefit of several Pride Athletics programs, such as baseball, soccer, softball and tennis. Dowling Park is now a premier facility for both Hammond and PNW. The investment additionally helped Pride Athletics elevate to the NCAA Division II level. McDermott also serves on the PNW Chancellor’s advisory board. As he enters his sixth term, McDermott looks forward to continuing an outstanding relationship with PNW as Hammond’s mayor and as a proud alumnus.
The Honorable Diane Kavadias Schneider
The Honorable Diane Kavadias Schneider is a Northwest Indiana native and earned her bachelor’s degree in English from PNW in 1971. She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 1982. Judge Schneider went on to become the first female judge of the Civil Division of the Lake Superior Court in 2000, and previously served as Court Administrator in the Juvenile Division and Magistrate in the County Division.
She has served on boards of the Lake County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana WINGS Guardianship Task Force. Under her direction and in partnership with Franciscan Health, Lake County became the first Indiana county to have a volunteer guardianship program.
Judge Schneider retired in 2019 after 33 years of service in the courts and now resides in Florida with her husband, David R. Schneider, retired Lake County Chief Public Defender. In spring 2023, Judge Schneider delivered the PNW spring commencement keynote address and was awarded her Master of Arts (M.A.) in English. Judge Schneider and David also established a scholarship at PNW that will support Criminal Justice students in perpetuity.
Jeff Strack
Jeff Strack is the president and CEO of Indiana Grocery Group, which does business as and operates Strack & Van Til stores. He received his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Purdue Northwest in 2000.
Strack & Van Til has grown to 23 locations, with a focus on providing an exceptional shopping experience, clean stores, product variety and solutions that continually evolve to meet community needs. Jeff Strack’s leadership fosters a practice for management team members to be involved in civic and volunteer engagement.
Beyond providing and supporting nourishment to local communities, Strack & Van Til stores have supported schools, veterans, first responders, local sports teams, women’s shelters and more. Jeff Strack has additionally given back to the community through service on boards such as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana; One Region’s opportunity council; St. Catherine Hospital; Tradewinds Services, Inc.; and United Way Northwest Indiana.
Strack also devotes time to his alma mater by mentoring PNW College of Business students, serving on the College of Business advisory board and serving on the PNW Chancellor’s advisory board.
Recognizing the 2024 Inductees
Purdue University Northwest inducted Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., the Honorable Diane Kavadias Schneider and Jeff Strack, president and CEO of Indiana Grocery Group, as its third annual PNW Alumni Hall of Fame class in April 2024.
2023 Hall of Fame Inductees
Robert Johnson III
Johnson serves as President and CEO of Cimcor, Inc. in Merrillville, Indiana. Cimcor develops cutting edge information technology security software to help companies meet compliance and regulatory requirements as well as protect valuable information and ensure system uptime.
Prior to Cimcor, Inc., Johnson served as manager of business systems for Davy McKee Corporation and founded Velocityware, which focuses on the development, marketing and distribution of mobile software and technology. He is an inventor and has led the development of several patented and patent-pending technologies.
Johnson earned his associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from PNW and serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for PNW’s department of Computer Information Technology and Graphics in the College of Technology.
Stewart "Stu" McMillan
McMillan is the founder of the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC) Foundation in Valparaiso, Indiana. The MAAC Foundation, named to honor McMillan’s father, Clyde “Mack” McMillan, is a multi-purpose campus that provides training opportunities to first responders in Northwest Indiana.
McMillan previously led Task Force Tips, Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of firefighting equipment, and served as a member of the Union Township and Washington Township fire departments in Porter County, Indiana.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Engineering in 1977 from PNW. McMillan’s generous support has helped PNW upgrade facilities and student workspace, including the PNW Design Studio on the Hammond campus.
Alfredo "Al" Sori
Sori retired after a distinguished career from Kiewit Corporation, one of North America’s largest construction and engineering organizations. He most recently served as division manager of Kiewit subsidiary Mass Electric Transportation, where he oversaw transit electrical, communication, traction power, security, ITS, roadway lighting projects and high-speed rail pursuits across North America. He served in division manager roles since 2013 with executive oversight of multiple Kiewit districts and subsidiaries.
In 2020 he made a gift to support a general biology lab space inside PNW’s Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building, naming the space the Sivilla-Sori Biology Lab in memory of his mother, Georgina Sivilla.
Sori earned both an associate’s degree in Civil Engineering Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management in 1989 from PNW.
Recognizing the 2023 Inductees
Purdue University Northwest inducted Robert Johnson III, Stewart “Stu” McMillan and Alfredo “Al” Sori into the PNW Alumni Hall of Fame in June 2023. The recognition honored these high-achieving alumni for their impact on their communities—and alma mater.
2022 Hall of Fame Inductee
David A. Roberts
Chairman, President and CEO Carlisle Companies Incorporated
Purdue University Northwest has selected David A. Roberts as the first honoree to the university’s new PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. A Marine Corps veteran and native of Steger, Illinois, Roberts earned his bachelor’s degree in Technology with distinction from the Purdue University Northwest Hammond campus in 1974.
Celebrating the Pride
Regardless of when you graduated, what you studied or what campus you graduated from, your diploma makes you a member of the Purdue University Northwest alumni community!