Welcome to the NLU Adjunct Council

Nancy Hekkema Ed.D.
National College of Education

Nancy earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wheaton College and a master’s in psychology from University of Illinois at Chicago, and then an Ed.D. from National Louis in July of 2012. She is a retired school psychologist and has been teaching educational psychology courses at National Louis since 2007.

She has always enjoyed technology, and really loved teaching educational psychology for an Ipad MAT cohort several years ago. Nancy has represented adjuncts on the Faculty Academic Support and Technology Committee and currently serves on the University Leadership Committee. She currently serves as Chair-elect for the Council.

Elizabeth Schaefer M.S., M.A.
College of Professional Studies and Advancement

Elizabeth Schaefer is currently a Professional Adjunct Lecturer at National Louis University, where she has taught since 2015. Elizabeth teaches in the B.A. in Applied Communications, the B.S. in Business Management, and the M.S. in Written Communication programs. Her professional background is in corporate and nonprofit communications and marketing, and teaching business English. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology and an M.S. in Written Communication--both degrees she earned at NLU. In addition to teaching, Elizabeth is also a doctoral student in NLU's new "Higher Education Leadership" Ed.D. program. She owns and operates a small publishing company, authors, and teaches composition and creative writing at a local community college.

Terry Costello  M.A.
National College of Education

Terry began at National Louis University as a field supervisor in 1998, added on teaching classes for the elementary education program both at the BA and MAT levels, and then joined the college as a full time assistant professor in 2000. Teaching mainly in the BA program, she also worked with the ITEP and CTPP grant programs, as well as leading the university field supervisors for a time. In 2013, Terry returned to work as an adjunct still teaching, supervising, and now, as a new member of NLU’s Adjunct Council, she hopes to draw on her unique experience to support the mission of the council. 

Joy St. Pierre  M.A.
National College of Education

Joy has been an adjunct instructor for educational psychology courses at National Louis University since 2008.  She has worked as a school social worker in the state of Illinois for 10 years and as a clinical social worker in both Illinois and Indiana for over 20 years. Joy earned her Bachelor and Masters of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. 

Among her interests, Joy likes to read, cook, and explore technology. 

Barbara Gomez M.S.
National College of Education

Barbara began her teaching profession as a secondary education social studies teacher and then took time off to raise her three children. She returned to part time work teaching ESL to adults at McHenry Country College, and then progressed to full time teaching in Huntley District 158 where she taught middle school English language learners for nearly 20 years. She received her Master’s Degree in Education from NLU with an ESL endorsement and then went on to get her Type 75 certification to fill the role of ESL coordinator, which she did for one year in Huntley.  She has taught ESL classes as an adjunct at National Louis since 2001 in the language minority education department of NCE. She has served on the board of Illinois TESOL for several years and is currently the Awards Committee Chairman.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, walking, and biking. In addition when the opportunity allows, she travels to Austria to visit her relatives.

Barb currently serves as Secretary for the Adjunct Council.

Kristen Mitchell MPH
College of Professional Studies and Advancement

Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana  and a master’s in public health from Benedictine University. She is a contract trainer for an employee assistance provider in Chicago and has been teaching communications-related courses in the HCL and ABS Programs at National Louis since 1998.

Sharon McNeely Ph.D.
College of Professional Studies and Advancement

Sharon earned a bachelors and masters in special education/rehabilitation, and most recently a doctorate in educational psychology from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Previously she has worked in both educational and clinical settings and is also a licensed psychologist. She is a professor emeritus from Northeastern Illinois University. Sharon is experienced with both face-to-face and online learning and has chaired over 60 dissertations in the past four years. She is currently doing adjunct and consultative work at various universities. Sharon likes NLU's nurturing environment and deep concern for the individual student. She conducts research in learning processes and is now focusing on undergraduates and how to connect prior learning in meaningful ways to facilitate new learning and enhance motivation.

Sharon currently serves as the Chair of the Adjunct Council.

  ‌
Deborah Shefren M.A.
National College of Education

Deborah Shefren is an adjunct faculty member at National Louis University where she teaches graduate courses in reading and supervises student teachers. She is also an educational consultant with more than 35 years of experience as classroom teacher, reading specialist, and literacy coach. Deborah received her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University. Deborah has presented on numerous occasions at the International Literacy Association and Illinois Reading Council conferences. She has provided professional development on writing, reading and writing workshop, comprehension, assessment, balanced literacy, inquiry-based instruction, word study, differentiation, and classroom management. Deborah has served as president of SCIRA (Suburban Council of the International Literacy Association) and is currently its treasurer. She also serves as a board member of the Illinois Writing Project.