Skip to Content

DFI - Institutional Representatives

DFI Institutional Representatives administer the DFI fellowship on their respective campuses. In addition to student recruitment and other responsibilities; the DFI Institutional Representatives with the support and cooperation of the institutions:

  • work with students to complete application process and certify financial eligibility
  • verify to the Administrator that applicants for the fellowship meet all eligibility requirements including financial need
  • direct and coordinate campus review of applicants and submission of selected applicants for consideration by DFI Board

Students should contact their institution's Institutional Representative with questions regarding the application and/or review process.

List of Participating Institutions and Representative
Institution Name Address Phone/Fax
Adler University  La'Shawna Anderson
Diversity and Inclusion
17 N. Dearborn,  
Chicago, IL   60602
P:
F:  
Chicago State University  Dr. Devi Potluri, PhD
Coordinator, Graduate and Professional Studies
9501 S. King Drive,  
Chicago, IL   60628
P: (773) 995-2336
F: (773) 995-3530 
DePaul University  Andre Lewis
Director, Graduate Admission
2400 North Sheffield Avenue,  
Chicago, IL   60604-2215
P: (773) 325-7379
F: (773) 325-2270 
Eastern Illinois University  Dr. Ryan C. Hendrickson
Dean of the Graduate School
600 Lincoln Avenue, 1218 Blair Hall  
Charleston, IL   61920
P: (217) 581-2220
F: (217) 581-6020 
Governors State University  Mushtaq Choudhary
Dean of Student Affairs
One University Parkway,  
University Park, IL   60484-0975
P: (708) 235-7112 x7112
F: (708) 534-8955 
Illinois Institute of Technology  Holli Pryor-Harris
Vice Provost for Operations and Strategic Initiatives
10 W. 35th Street, Suite 7D6-1 & 7D7-1  
Chicago, IL   60616
P: (312) 567-3167
F: (312) 567-7140 
Illinois State University  Gavin  Weiser
Interim Director
210 S. School St, 309 Hovey Hall  
Normal, IL   61790-2500
P: (309) 438-2583
F: (309) 438-7912 
Illinois State University  Dana  Davidson
Coordinator
Campus Box 4040,  
Normal, IL   61790-4040
P: (309) 438-2597
F:  
Lewis University  VACANT 
1 University Parkway, Unit #296,  
Romeoville, IL   60446-2200
P: (815) 836-5792
F: (815)836-5135 
Loyola University of Chicago  Emily Barman
Dean of the Graduate School & Vice Provost of Graduate Education
The Graduate School, 1032 W. Sheridan Road  
Chicago, IL   60660
P: (773) 508-8949
F: (773) 508-2460 
Loyola University of Chicago  Heather  Sevener
Assistant Dean
The Graduate School, 1032 W. Sheridan Road  
Chicago, IL   60660
P: (773) 508-2476
F:  
National Louis University  Rathenia Hunter
Director of Student Finance
1000 Capitol Drive,  
Wheeling, IL   60090-7201
P: (847) 947-5887
F: (847) 947-5443 
Northeastern Illinois University  Maria Jose Nataren
McNair Program Academic Skills Specialist
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue,  
Chicago, IL   60625-4699
P: (773) 442-4253
F:  
Northern Illinois University  Sarah Lindell
Administrative Assistant, Division of International Affairs
350 Normal Road,  
DeKalb, IL   60115
P: (815) 753-9256
F: (815) 753-1488 
Northern Illinois University  Dr. Jessica Reyman
Associate Dean, Graduate School
350 Normal Road,  
DeKalb, IL   60115
P: (815) 753-9406
F:  
Northwestern University  Sheehan Fisher
Associate Dean of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The Graduate School, 633 Clark Street  
Evanston, IL   60208-1113
P: (847) 491-8507
F:  
Northwestern University  Brittany Young
Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The Graduate School, 633 Clark Street  
Evanston, IL   60208-1113
P:
F:  
Roosevelt University  Alejandra Prieto-Mendoza
Associate Director McNair Scholars Program
430 South Michigan Avenue,  
Chicago, IL   60605
P: (312) 341-2121
F:  
Southern Illinois University Carbondale  Shella Narag
Administrative Assistant
SIU Carbondale, MC 4341  
Carbondale, IL   62901
P: (618) 453-1186
F:  
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville  Elizabeth Caldieraro
Assistant Director of Advising
2308 Rendleman Hall,  
Edwardsville, IL   62026-1060
P: (618) 650-5282
F: (618) 650-3885 
University of Chicago  Kevin Doherty
Assistant Director, Fellowship
970 E. 58th Street, Office 304A  
Chicago, IL   60637
P: (773) 834-5603
F:  
University of Illinois Chicago  Lunaire Ford, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
Graduate College (MC 192), 601 South Morgan Street, 601 UH  
Chicago, IL   60607-7106
P: (312) 413-2556
F: (312) 413-0185 
University of Illinois Springfield  Cecilia Stiles Cornell
Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education
One University Plaza, PAC 525,  
Springfield, IL   62703
P: (217) 206-7230
F:  
University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign  Ken Vickery, PhD
Director of Fellowships
110 Coble Hall,  
Champaign, IL   61820
P: (217) 333-3464
F: (217) 333-8019 
Western Illinois University  Russ Morgan
Professor/Associate Provost
One University Circle, Sherman Hall 211  
Macomb, IL   61455
P: (309) 298-1066
F: