To join or renew your HCAA/SUAA membership, click here
The meeting notes from the HCAA October meeting are now posted here.
Meeting notes from the most recent SUAA meeting are posted here. Highlights include
– SURS is looking at additional health insurance options
– Tier II is a rapidly growing issue. By 2030, 75% of employees will fall under Tier 2.
– A new SUAA webpage is coming with added member benefits.
Retiree Interests – let your legislators know:
The main impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” are summarized here . Thank you Michael Nejman and Linda Kolbusz
Upcoming Gatherings Dates to Remember
– 12/9 – Benihanas Lunch (book club theme)
– 12/3 and 2/4 Book Club Zoom
See below for details
Lunch at Benihana Japanese Restaurant – Going with the theme of our book club selection
December 9th at 11:30am
1200 E. Higgins Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Please RSVP Jaci Carroll at (myhcaa@outlook.com or jaci6820@yahoo.com)
Upcoming Book Club Selections are (For more information contact Jaci Carroll at (myhcaa@outlook.com to receive zoom link for meetings) :
Book Club – December 3, 2025 Clark & Division by Naomi Hirahara from Amazon:” Set in 1944 Chicago, Edgar Award-winner Naomi Hirahara’s eye-opening and poignant new mystery, the story of a young woman searching for the truth about her revered older sister’s death, brings to focus the struggles of one Japanese American family released from mass incarceration at Manzanar during World War II.” (For more information contact Jaci Carroll at (myhcaa@outlook.com to receive zoom link for meetings) :
Book Club – February 4, 2025 First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston from Amazon: “This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.” —Reese Witherspoon. Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. (For more information contact Jaci Carroll at (myhcaa@outlook.com to receive zoom link for meetings) :
Several HCAA members attend a popular in-person Lunch Book Club Series held at the Old Orchard Country Club in Mt. Prospect. If enough HCAA members join they can have a lunch table for the group. (For more information contact Jaci Carroll at (myhcaa@outlook.com to receive zoom link for meetings) :
Retire Without Regrets An interesting guide to retirment.
Have a suggestion for an other event, place to meet up, or anything else, email us at myhcaa@outlook.com
Recent Events
Minigolf Outing – May 23, 2024
HCAA memebers at Harper Heart Day April 9, 2025
HCAA members get a head start on St Patrick’s Day on March 12, 2025 at Peggy Kinain’s in Arlington Heights.
Guys and Dolls March 7-15 2025 – HCAA members at the March 9 matinee where Kevin Long and his dramaturg, Mary T. Christel, hosted a “coffee with the director and dramaturg” before the show.
Sam Levenson, Linda Kolbusz-Kosan, Linda Frank, Kathy Hanahan, and Liz McKay at Hope Giving Circle event Mocktails and Cocktails, January 23, 2025.
- Click here for more information on the SUAA Scholarship Program available to SUAA members in good standing, their spouses, children or grandchildren
- For more news click here for the HCAA newsletter
Retirements
2025 Retirees – Welcome
| NAME | Effective Date (end date) | Empl Grp | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathy Zuo | 12/31/2025 | FAC | Associate Professor | Liberal Arts |
| Paula Akialis | 12/31/2025 | FAC | Associate Professor | Health Careers |
| Lori Eschenbaum | 12/31/2025 | SM | Executive Coordinator | President’s Office |
| Wayne Sopher | 9/30/2025 | IEA | Custodian | Operations Services |
| Thomas Cassell | 9/20/2025 | ADM | Senior Director | Business Development |
| Patrick Sean Colbert | 9/1/2025 | PT | Box Office Coordinator | Events Management |
| Patty Loyola | 8/30/2025 | PT | Specialist – Assessment and Registration | Adult Educational Development |
| Njambi Kamoche | 7/31/2025 | ADM | Dean | Resources for Learning |
| Bobby Summers | 7/31/2025 | FAC | Professor | Business and Social Science |
| Helen Burroughs | 7/31/2025 | FAC | Associate Professor | Business and Social Science |
| Carlson-Nofsinger, Carol | 7/31/2025 | FAC | Associate Professor | Career and Technical Programs |
| Robert Galick | 6/30/2025 | ADM | Execuive Vice President | Finance & Administrative Services |
| Susan Egan | 6/30/2025 | SM | Operations Coordinator | Planning and Institutional Effectiveness |
| Karin Lacour-Rivers | 6/30/2025 | PT | Academic Advisor | Advising Services |
| Karen Berthold | 6/30/2025 | CS | Administrative Secretary | Health Careers |
| John McManus | 6/30/2025 | SM | Senior Technical Manager | Infrastructure Services |
| Heidi Spirakes | 6/30/2025 | PT | Lab Technician – Biology | Mathematics and Science |
| Regan Myers | 5/31/2025 | AD | Director – Infrastructure Services | Infrastructure Services |
| Laura Pulio Colbert | 5/31/2025 | FAC | Professor | Liberal Arts |
| Thomas Lange | 5/31/2025 | SM | Manager- Conference and Events Services | Events Management |
| Jeanne Leifheit | 5/31/2025 | FAC | Professor | Health Careers |
| Sandra Minich | 3/31/2025 | SM | Creative Services Manager | Marketing Services |
| Margaret Lansky | 2/28/2025 | SM | Manager – Fast Track | Business and Social Science |
2023 – 2024 Retirees!
| NAME | TITLE: Dept/Division | RETIREMENT DATE |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 - 2024 Retirees | ||
| Meg Cooney | Administrative Coordinator - Strategic Alliances and Innovation | 12/31/24 |
| Leslie Keress | Library Services | 9/28/24 |
| Jamie Grant | Administrative Assistant - Athletics and Fitness | 9/27/24 |
| Maria Flores | Operation Services | 9/2/24 |
| Andrea Firebug | Adult Educational Development | 8/30/24 |
| Brenna Lorenz | Professor math and Sciences | 7/31/24 |
| Carl Dittburner | Professor Career and Technical Programs | 7/31/24 |
| Timothy Manning | Professor Career & Technical Programs | 7/31/24 |
| Kathleen Fischer | Professor - Nursing | 7/31/24 |
| Yvette Santiago | Operation Services | 7/28/24 |
| Anthony Holmes | Maintenance Mechanic | 6/30/24 |
| Barbara Levin | Compliance and Project Strategist | 6/30/24 |
| Katherine Coy | Director of Institutional Research | 6/30/24 |
| Maria Coons | VP- Strategic Alliances | 6/30/24 |
| Diana Drehobl | Program Coordinator CTP | 6/13/24 |
| Rebecca Curtin | Associate Professor CTP | 5/31/24 |
| Rodney Ramey | Campus Setup Crew -Operational Services | 3/22/24 |
| Laura Brown | Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer | 1/2/24 |
| Christine Buck | Administrative Secretary Business & Social Science | 12/31/23 |
| Debarah Maropis | Administrative Coordination - Workforce Solutions | 8/31/23 |
| Joanne Gorecki | Registration & Support Services Assistant | 6/30/23 |
| Mark Hawkins | Associate - Publishing & Distribution | 12/31/23 |
| Michele DeCanio | Assoc Professor Student Development | 12/31/23 |
| Lenard Henderson | Harper Police - Community Service Officer | 11/20/23 |
| Michael Chomiczewski | Senior Graphic Designer | 9/30/23 |
| Michael Swier | Network Specialist - Infrastructure Services | 9/30/23 |
| Paula Saltzman | Diverse Workforce Recruiter - HR | 9/30/23 |
| Vernon Risty | Harper Police - Community Service Officer | 8/23/23 |
| William Hines | Custodial Foreman - Operational Services | 7/7/23 |
| Sue Skora | Registrar - Interim Director of Enrollment Services | 6/30/23 |
| Patricia Ferguson | Professor Liberal Arts | 5/31/23 |
2021 – 2022 Retirees:
| 2021 - 2022 RETIREES | ||
|---|---|---|
| NAME | TITLE - DEPT/DIVISION | RETIREMENT DATE |
| Sam Barbaro | Specialist, Network Infrastructure | 6/30/22 |
| Pat Beach | Professor, Career and Technical Programs | 5/31/2022 |
| Carl Bernard | Custodian, Operations Services | 3/31/2022 |
| Willis Boughton | Associate Professor, Career and Technical Programs | 5/31/2022 |
| Helen Chase | Accounts Payable Clerk, Accounting Services | 12/31/2021 |
| Greg Clemons | Professor and Chair, Music | 7/31/2022 |
| Dave Dluger | Technical Director, Media Events | 6/30/2022 |
| Julie Ellefson-Kuehn | Professor, Math and Science | 7/31/2022 |
| Ping Feng | Custodian, Operations Services | 11/30/2021 |
| Ellen Fisher | Manager, Academic Support Center | |
| Brad Grossman | Assistant Professor, Career and Technical Programs | 5/31/2022 |
| Kris Hoffhines | Associate Dean, Advising Services | 6/30/2022 |
| Robin James | Associate Professor, Business and Social Services | 8/12/2022 |
| Darryl Knight | Executive Director, Facilities Management | 10/31/2021 |
| Sunil Koswatta | Professor, Mathematics and Science | 7/31/2022 |
| Sandra Kreiling | Associate Professor, Mathematics and Science | 7/31/2022 |
| Sam Levenson | Associate Professor, Mathematics and Science | 7/31/2022 |
| Steve Liggio | Harper College Police | 5/27/2022 |
| Don Malzahn | Operational Data Store Administrator Infrastructure Services | 11/30/2021 |
| Margie McGowan | Coordinator, AED Bilingual Student, and Adult Education Services | 6/30/2022 |
| Kurt Neumann | Professor, Liberal Arts | 7/31/22 |
| Darlene Niebuhr | Specialist, Schedule and Curriculum Support Services | 6/30/2022 |
| Elizabeth Pagenkopf | Assistant Professor, Health Careers | 7/31/2022 |
| William Pankey | Professor, Resources for Learning | 7/31/2022 |
| Nancy Savard | Operations Services Manager, Operation Services | 10/31/2021 |
| Kathy Schmitz | Lab Assistant, Program Micros, and Interdisciplinary Student Success | 6/30/2022 |
| Theresa Sellers | Coordinator, Workforce Job Placement Resource Center | 5/31/2022 |
| Doug Spiewak | Director, Athletics and Fitness | 6/30/2022 |
| Thomas Stauch | Professor, Liberal Arts | 7/31/2022 |
| Yvonne Thompson | Limited Enrollment Specialist, Health Careers | 7/1/2022 |
| Lori Turinsky | Major Accounts Assistant, Workforce Solutions | 4/30/2022 |
| Beth Younglove | Manager, Student Accounts, ERP Coordinator | 4/30/2022 |
For prior years go to the Retirees Archive page.
Our Purpose, Your Benefit…
To promote the individual and collective interests and welfare of Harper College annuitants (retirees) and their survivors, and employees through:
- Early notification and perceived effects on HCAA members of proposed changes to State law
- Relevant updates to HCAA members on healthcare/Medicare coverage
- Discussions with and service to Harper College
- Improved communications between Harper and its retirees
- Scheduled social events for members
- Discussion/participation with other IL annuitant and state organizations
- Active communication with legislators on relevant concerns
- Workshops/ presentations on relevant topics
- Harper parking stickers
- Reduced admission to select Harper events