Office of Graduate and Adult Admission Staff

Leslie Jacobson
Director of Graduate and Adult Admission

Phone: (815) 836-5821
e-mail: jacobsle@lewisu.edu

Leslie received her B.S. in Psychology from Kansas Newman College (now Newman University) and her MBA from Baker University, in Kansas. Leslie started at Lewis University as Assistant Director in the Graduate School of Management. She became Assistant Director/Graduate Coordinator of Graduate and Adult Admission in Fall 2003. Leslie lives in Aurora with her husband Kyle (a Lewis alum), son Joshua (a sophmore at Lewis), and daughter Britney (a junior in high school).

Julie Nickel
Assistant Director of Graduate and Adult Admission
Graduate Coordinator

Phone: (815) 836-5574
e-mail: nickelju@lewisu.edu

Julie received a B.S. Degree in Communications from Illinois State University in 1993. She spent the first eight years of her career selling and consulting for Xerox Corporation. She recently worked as an admissions counselor for three years, and joined Lewis University one year ago. Julie is currently working on her Master of Arts in School Counseling and Guidance. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters, Lindsay and Rachel.

Angeline Bizzotti
Admission Counselor

Phone: (815) 836-5573
e-mail: bizzotan@lewisu.edu

Angeline has been with Lewis University since 1990 after working in several Joliet law offices. Angeline began at Lewis as a secretary when a new department opened in fall of 1990 when the Accelerated classes were offered for the first time. Angeline is also a graduate of the Accelerated program completing her degree in 1994 so she understands firsthand some of the apprehensions potential students experience. The degree also allowed her to advance to an Enrollment Representative position where she enjoys the opportunity to meet new students. She enjoys gardening, cooking and spending time with family & friends.

Nancy Wiksten
Admission Counselor

Phone: (815) 836-5628
e-mail: wikstena@lewisu.edu

Nancy has been a part of the Lewis family since 1999. She has worked as a recruiter for adult students for the past five years while earning her bachelor’s degree in the adult accelerated program. Her favorite part of the job is seeing the transformation in students when they realize that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that their educational goals are within reach. She is the proud mother of three sons, all successful Lewis alumni. She and her husband treasure their time with family and friends, and love to travel.

Carmen Green
Adult Admission Counselor

Phone: (815)836-5994
e-mail: greenca@lewisu.edu

Carmen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In 2007, she graduated from Lewis University with a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. She spent many years in Sales/Marketing as a District Manager and Senior Representative before making a career change that would allow her to assist others in reaching their educational goals. Carmen began at Lewis as a Graduate Assistant for the MAOLS program. Carmen believes Lewis University has played an intricate part in her transition to the windy city from the motor city. Carmen enjoys reading, decorating and traveling. She and husband Mark, love spending time with family and their two sons, Mark Jr. and Joseph.

Rita Herrick
Executive Director of Regional Campuses and Partnerships

Phone: (815) 836-5552
e-mail: herricri@lewisu.edu

Rita Herrick joined Lewis University in July 2003. In her current role as Executive Director of Regional Campuses and Partnerships, Rita is responsible for oversight of the campuses in Tinley Park, Shorewood, Hickory Hills and Oak Brook. Additional responsibilities include representing Lewis University graduate and adult programs to the external community. Her emphasis is on establishing programs and cohort groups at their workplace with area businesses, corporations, agencies, government and municipal offices.

Rita’s background encompasses nearly 30 years of work experience including 13 years in municipal and county government and 13 years in human resources development. Prior to joining Lewis she was employed as Training Director for BorgWarner Automotive in Frankfort, Illinois. Rita holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Saint Francis and a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Susan Cagle
Secretary

Phone: (815) 836-5753
e-mail: caglesu@lewisu.edu

Sue is currently pursuing a B.A. in Applied Sociology and Political Science at Lewis University. She started at Lewis in 2003 with the nursing programs and is now in admission. Sue is a Certified Massage Therapist and a Reiki Master. She has two sons, Paul, a third year medical student at Loyola University, and Mike, who graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a major in Psychology and a minor is Sociology. She resides in New Lenox with her husband, Al and their 3 dogs.

Barbara Peterek
Secretary

Phone: (815) 836-5610
e-mail: petereba@lewisu.edu

Barb worked for twenty-one years at St. Anthony Hospital in Chicago. During that time, she worked in various departments including Human Resources, Business Office and Accounting. When that hospital was sold in 1994, she took a position in the Accounting Center for Waste Management in Oak Brook. When Barb’s dad became ill, she left the workforce to help care for him. She became a member of Lewis’ temporary pool in 2000, then worked part-time in the Registrar’s Office prior to joining Graduate and Adult Admission. She enjoys time spent with family and friends, working puzzles of all sorts and reading