Welcome to the COD
Paralegal Alumni Association!

OUR MISSION

To allow alumni to stay in touch with other program graduates,
to share expertise about the paralegal profession,
and to exchange information about job opportunities.

Latest Alumni News!

For more alumni news, see the Milestones page here.

Congratulations to Heather Sykora and Elizabeth Hess on their milestones!

Linda Jenkins recently had a fun get-together with paralegal alumni, Elizabeth Hess and Heather Sykora! Both Elizabeth and Heather are currently working at the Shannon Law Group in Woodridge and have alumni milestones to celebrate!

Heather Sykora, former PC president, has been promoted at her job! She was a paralegal in the vaccine injury practice at Shannon Law Group, and she has been promoted to the vaccine team lead.

Elizabeth Hess, former PC secretary, also works at Shannon Law Group in its vaccine injury practice. Elizabeth is a former attorney and has worked as a paralegal at Shannon Law Group since February last year. She reactivated her attorney license in Illinois and was admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims! She will be working in the area of vaccine injuries and hopes to help out clients navigate the process of filing claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

A Great Time at the June COD Alumni Happy Hour Event!!

The COD Paralegal Alumni Association was well represented at the COD-wide Alumni Happy Hour event on June 21, 2023! We had a great time at the COD Alumni Happy Hour Event at the Northcott Liquorette in Naperville! COD Paralegal Studies adjunct professor, Maria Vasos, joined us with one of her staff and program alumna, Rachel Brown! We also had the pleasure of catching up with recent program graduates, Mary Beth Nagai and Shirley Angarola! Our group also had great conversations with Karen Kuhn (Executive Director - COD Foundation), Ellen Farrow (Manager of COD Alumni Relations), and Walter Johnson (VP of COD Institutional Advancement)!

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumna Rachael Elliott
on her new job as a Paralegal at Reimer, Dobrovolny & LaBardi PC!!

Rachael Elliott graduated from COD’s Paralegal Studies program in 2020. Since graduating the program, she has been given the best job ever by becoming a mom! Her daughter is now two years old. Rachael worked for a year as a legal recruiter prior to being hired as a labor and employment law paralegal. In her new position at Reimer, Dobrovolny & LaBardi PC in Hinsdale, she will be putting her paralegal certificate and legal background to good use. She is looking into taking the NALA exam next year to become a fully certified paralegal. She and her husband live in Justice and attend Grace Bible Church in Elmhurst where she was recently elected as the church hostess. She is also starting her own home business as well. Congratulations on all of your achievements, Rachael!!

PC End-of-Semester Gathering on May 3, 2023

We had a nice alumni showing at the Paralegal Club End-of-Semester gathering! (L to R: Elizabeth Holtquist, Lori Swanson, Julianne Di Benedetto, Todd Holes)

A Great Time at the April COD Alumni Happy Hour Event!!

The COD Paralegal Alumni Association was well represented at the COD-wide Alumni Happy Hour event on April 20, 2023! Pictured below are paralegal alumni James Wagner, Lori Swanson, Julianne Di Benedetto, Jacob Pineda, and Susan Haugh.

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumna
Julianne Di Benedetto!!

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has invited Julianne to be a co-author of the Bankruptcy/Creditor and Debtor section in the next edition of NALA’s Certified Paralegal exam prep book! NALA will have a new examination format beginning in January 2024, adding a section for Bankruptcy/Creditor and Debtor for the first time. Julianne will also be assisting with outlining the topics and areas that should be covered in the bankruptcy overview.

For more information on the CP Exam, visit www.NALA.org.

Sally’s Textbook Scholarship is Endowed!

It is with great joy that I announce the Sally N. Fairbank Paralegal Studies Textbook Scholarship is now endowed, meaning it will exist in perpetuity!

This endowed scholarship serves as a wonderful celebration of Sally and her legacy to this program, which she created. It will also benefit those paralegal students who receive funds for their textbooks.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make this endowment a reality!

Thank you to Karen Kuhn, executive director of COD’s Foundation, for her help in this process.

If you wish to donate to the Paralegal Studies program, please contact Karen at karen.kuhn@codfound.org for more information.

Linda Jenkins

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumna Lori Swanson on becoming
a licensed realtor with Keller Williams Infinity!

She is also announcing her Dream Real Estate Team collaboration with the Law Office of Maria V. Vasos, LLC! Maria Vasos is an adjunct professor of COD's Paralegal Studies program, and has hired three alums over the years from the program (Dawn Hebein, Rachel Brown, and Nico Buzanis)! Contact Maria Vasos at (630) 953-6157 or Maria@MVVLaw.com and Lori Swanson at (630) 945-0247 or LoriSwanson@kw.com for all of your real estate needs!!

Lori is a 2018 graduate of COD's Paralegal Studies program, where she served as Paralegal Club president and was inducted into the LEX Honors Society. In December 2022, she graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration. She is qualified by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) to provide CP® (certified paralegal) services and holds an ACP® credential (advanced certified paralegal) in e-Discovery. Lori was inducted into College of DuPage’s 2022 Class of Distinguished Alumni. Lori serves on COD’s Paralegal Studies Program Advisory Board and is a frequent presenter to students in the paralegal Practicum classes. She is also a proud member of the College of DuPage Foundation Board.

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumni Scott Simpson
on his new job as an Associate Attorney
at Meagher + Geer, PLLP!!

Scott graduated from COD’s Paralegal Studies program in December 2017 and served as Vice President of Paralegal Club and was inducted into the LEX Honors Society. He went on to attend law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law and graduated in May 2022. While studying for the bar exam, he was a law clerk at Meagher + Geer, PLLP. He became a licensed attorney in November 2022 and was promoted to Associate Attorney at the firm. Scott practices in the firm’s insurance defense group.

Congratulations Scott!! You are an inspiration!!

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumna
Ana Sanchez on her new job at
Esp Kreuzer Cores in Wheaton!

Anna works as a bilingual paralegal in the area of family law. She really enjoys learning a lot in the fast-paced work environment and getting to work with a lot of wonderful families. Ana graduated from COD’s Paralegal Studies program in May, 2022 Ana wants to pursue a Bachelor’s in English and then go on to law school. Her dream is to become a personal injury and workers compensation attorney. Since graduating from the Paralegal Studies program, Ana has enjoyed traveling with her boyfriend to Long Beach and Los Angeles, California, Florida and going on a cruise to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cozumel, and Cabos!

Ana also enjoys spending time with her dogs, Medusa and Frida. Ana used to play the violin and is looking to also learn to play the cello. Wonderful aspirations!

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumna Cynthia Limon-Briseno on her wedding! Cynthia married her husband, Noel Limon, on December 9, 2022.

Cynthia graduated from COD’s Paralegal Studies program in December, 2020. After graduation, she began working for MG+M The Law Firm as a litigation paralegal for asbestos cases in their Chicago office. The firm has 13 offices across the United States and focuses their practice in many types of litigation issues. Cynthia hopes to pursue law school one day.

Cynthia’s husband opened a vintage clothing store in April, 2022 in downtown Aurora called Undisputed Vintage. At Undisputed Vintage, you can buy, sell, and trade vintage clothing, sports apparel, shoes, novelty items, framed pictures, and 90’s memorabilia.

We are very happy for Cynthia and Noel! Congratulations!

Congratulations to Paralegal Alumna Laura Waidzulis (Gallardo)!

Laura and her mother opened their own store this past Fall in Aurora called Elly’s Nutrition! They serve protein shakes, teas, coffee, and protein waffles and donuts. Elly’s Nutrition is located at 1721 Town Center Street, Suite 104, Aurora, Illinois. See the attached picture of Laura and her mom behind the counter at Elly’s Nutrition. Congratulations on this wonderful endeavor!

Laura graduated from COD’s Paralegal Studies program in May 2020. After graduation, she continued working for Geraci Law as a bankruptcy clerk. At the same time, she was an Assistant Soccer coach at Waubonsee Community College. In the spring and fall of 2021, her team traveled to Georgia for the NJCAA National Tournament and then traveled to Kansas for Nationals. See the below picture of Laura and the Waubonsee Community College soccer team.

In October 2021, Laura changed fields and started working for Verros Berkshire P.C., a firm that handles property taxes, incentives, and commercial real estate transactions all over Illinois. Laura has been working for the firm a little over a year as a legal analyst and also handles their accounts receivables and invoicing. The Chicago-based firm will be relocating to Oakbrook Terrace soon.

Congratulations to Sally Fairbank on the birth of her new grandson, Remy!

Remy was born in late October, 2022 weighing 7 lbs. and measuring 20 inches long!

Congratulations, Sally!!

Congratulations to Lori Swanson

for her induction into the

College of DuPage Distinguished Alumni on September 18, 2022!

Lori is a 2018 graduate of COD’s Paralegal Studies program. She serves on the Paralegal Studies program advisory board and volunteers her time in many other ways to the program. She and her husband are generous donors and have endowed a dedicated classroom to the Paralegal Studies program, the first gift of its kind at COD.

Welcome Annie Knight!

We are excited to have Annie Knight
join the Paralegal Studies Program as the new program chair!

Students gathered to meet and welcome Annie at an event on September 14, 2022.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Holtquist
on her new paralegal job!

She is now working for The Law Offices of Raleigh D. Kalbfleisch, P.C. in the areas of family law, guardianship, and probate. Elizabeth spent over 3.5 years at Schmidt & Barbrow as a paralegal in the areas of personal injury, eminent domain, and litigation.

Elizabeth also graduated from Elmhurst University in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and a minor in Environmental Studies! She also made the Dean’s list and was inducted into Pi Gamma Mu International Honors Society in Social Sciences. Elizabeth is a 2020 graduate of the COD Paralegal Studies program.

Congratulations to Emily David!

Congratulations to alumna Emily David for recently being named the Captain for the Chicago Bulls Luvabulls! During her time at COD, she was able to pursue her dance career while taking paralegal classes at COD. Emily is also celebrating two years as a paralegal at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC.