STAFF AND ADVISORS

Bette L. Bottoms, Dean

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Dean of the Honors College. Professor Bottoms has been at UIC 1992, after receiving her Ph.D. in social psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research on child abuse, children's eyewitness testimony, and the influence of factors such as racial and anti-gay bias on jurors' perceptions of child victims and of juvenile offenders has been funded by the National Institute on Mental Health and published numerous times in scholarly journals. She has co-edited five books and serves on the editorial boards of Law and Human Behavior; Psychology, Public Policy, and Law; and Child Maltreatment.

Professor Bottoms has received an unprecedented number of awards for outstanding teaching and mentoring, including the UIC Honors College Fellow of the Year Award, Flames Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence, Silver Circle Award, the Teaching Recognition Program Award (twice), the Teaching Excellence Award, and national awards including the American Psychology-Law Society Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring and the APA Society for the Teaching of Psychology Robert S. Daniel Award.

Professor Bottoms has served UIC through membership on the UIC 2010 Strategic Thinking Committee and the campus Promotion and Tenure committee, and through prior appointments as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology and Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Nationally, she served as President of the APA’s Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice and of the APA Section on Child Maltreatment.

Janet Madia, Executive Associate Dean

I was born in the former Cabrini Hospital just a few blocks from my office, so my roots in the UIC neighborhood literally and figuratively go way back. I transferred to UIC from a small liberal arts college, fell in love with the place, and haven't left since! I earned my bachelor's and master's degrees in Hispanic Studies at UIC, and am currently finishing my doctorate in Education. It's been a privilege and a pleasure to help Honors College students achieve their academic and life goals over the past 20 years, and I continue to learn from them every day.

Laura Junker, Associate Dean

I am an archaeology professor in the Department of Anthropology who carries out research on the ancient civilizations of Southeast Asia. I earned my B.A. in Anthropology at the University of Michigan, where I was an undergraduate Honors student, beginning my career-long interest in university Honors programs. An Honors Thesis on pre-colonial Philippine archaeology led to graduate work in archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania (M.A. 1984) and at the University of Michigan (Ph.D. 1990). In addition to my work on academic affairs at the Honors College, I currently carry out archaeological research programs on 10th-16th century Philippine maritime trading chiefdoms and late first millennium B.C. fortifications and warfare in northern Vietnam..

Stacie Williams, Assistant Dean

I have been working in the Honors College since 1992 after completing my degree in education.  I went on to complete my Master’s degree in teaching of mathematics in 1995.  I work with students throughout their entire time in the Honors College, beginning with admission, serving as an academic advisor, and coordinating the graduation convocation.  I also work on planning Honors College courses, and maintaining student records.

Lisa Domkowski, Director of Advancement

I have enjoyed working at non-profit organizations since graduating in 1993 from DePaul University, where I studied in the Honors Program and earned my B.A. in Religious Studies. Most recently I was at North Park University in Chicago. During my eight years at North Park I served as the campaign director, director of development, and director of development services. In 2002 I completed my Master of Management from North Park's Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management. When I am not raising money for higher education, I can usually be found with my husband Larry chasing after our five-year-old son Matthew.

Sigmund Burdin, Senior Resource and Policy Analyst

B.A. Criminal Justice and Psychology; I work in the College and for the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, mining the academic data of the University to assist in shaping educational policy for UIC and the College. In addition to providing technical support for students and staff, I work with the student support team of the Honors College. In the support team I provide guidance, support, and instruction to the student staff as we develop technical expertise and systems that in turn provide tools to the staff of the college. The technical support team provides students real world experience and an environment to develop professionally. My former experience includes establishing the Student Mediation center in the Dean of Student Affairs office and traveling to all three UI campuses to implement an Enterprise Data Warehouse.

Jennifer Kosco, Assistant to the Dean

I’ve been with the Honors College since 1996.  I received a BA in Media Communications from Governors State University, and I’ve completed all coursework towards my MA in Communication from UIC.  I'm very lucky to work with our honors students; I learn something from them every day!  I’m the advisor for Alternative Spring Break, the Honors College tutoring program, Phi Eta Sigma, Tau Sigma, the Ampersand (the Honors College newsletter), and I’m the P.R. officer for Phi Kappa Phi. My hobbies include gardening, cooking, traveling, and photography.

Martha Duran, Assistant to the Dean

I received my Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from UIC in 2004 and joined the staff of the Honors College in the fall of the same year. My responsibilities involve coordination of various scholarships, the Faculty Fellows program and assisting with various aspects of Records and Registration for the college.

I received my Bachelors in Biology from UIC in 2007 and began as part of the Honors College staff a few months later. I enjoy working with the students and helping them in our advising sessions. I get to assist in just about every part of the Honors College and I am lucky to get to work with all the students and staff members.

Marie Khan, Assistant to the Dean

I completed a Bachelor's in Political Science as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in May of 2008. At UIC I will be serving in a communications facet at the Honors College, editing portions of the website and preparing information for the benefit of student, alumni and the general public. I am also working with Paula on coordinating the Honors Ambassadors and assisting other Honors student organizations with their communications needs. I enjoy traveling and living in Chicago; I am also working toward a masters degree in Criminology, Law, and Justice at UIC.

Jacob Mueller, Director of Operations

Having worked at UIC for 13 years, I joined the Honors College in the Fall of 2007. I manage the facilities, budgeting, purchasing and HR functions of the Honors College as well as the production of special events. I particularly enjoy working with students in a mentoring or teaching capacity, and Honors College students are amazing. I’m looking forward to working with many of them as they pursue their academic and holistic goals. I received my BA in English from UIC, and am now pursuing an MA in English Education. My wife and I enjoy animated discussions about music, films and books. Our daughter (who is about to go off to college) and our Bernese Mountain Dog (who barely made it through puppy school) keep us entertained.