2025 Outstanding Alumni Awards & Recognition Recipients
WALTER JOHNSON
Class Year: 1980
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2025
After graduating from North Central College with a degree in speech communication/theatre, Walter Johnson served for 23 years in various roles at his alma mater, including as director of athletics from 1993 to 2005. During that time, he helped develop the south campus Master Land Use Plan to support the construction of Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium and other future athletic program needs. Johnson was chair of the NCAA Division III Championships Committee and the NCAA Division III Management Council, earning the NCAA’s Distinguished Service Award. He was recognized as Athletics Director of the Year for 2000-01 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
Johnson is currently vice president for institutional advancement at College of DuPage.He has held senior leadership roles as president of Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, Chicago Hope Academy and the YMCAs of Northwestern DuPage County. A longtime Naperville resident and public servant, Johnson served as commissioner of the Board of Fire and Police for the City of Naperville, was president of the Naperville Exchange Club and was a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He is co-founder of the Naperville Jazz Festival, for which he received the Chicago United Way’s Innovative Program Award.
mICHAEL SOENKE
Class Year: 1986
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2025
Throughout his nearly 30-year career at McDonald’s, Mike Soenke successfully drove business results in critical leadership roles. He earned his accounting degree at North Central with a minor in computer science and worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young. Starting out as regional controller at McDonald’s with a focus on retail operations, Soenke rose through ranks – as the Los Angeles region controller; South Asia region financial director; U.S.central division controller; corporate senior director of investor relations; and vice president and assistant corporate controller – before being named senior vice president and CFO of McDonald’s USA.
Upon retirement from his corporate career, Soenke returned to North Central and served for four years as executive in residence and adjunct professor in the School of Business & Entrepreneurship. In this role, he helped business students plan and strategize their college-to-career transition and helped accounting students develop critical skills to position them for early career success. He served as chair of the Financial Advisory Board for the City of Naperville and as board treasurer of the Wellness House, a non-profit that helps people living with cancer using a psychosocial approach.
DR. DAWN PLEAS
Class Year: 1990
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2025
Dr. Dawn Pleas is an accomplished higher education leader who credits her 31-year career at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where she serves as vice president for special projects and planning, to her formative years at North Central and the influence of campus minister Rev.Dr.Barbara Isaacs. Pleas described Isaacs as guiding her “spiritual and vocational path” during college and early on in her career. After earning a degree in business management at North Central, Pleas earned her master’s degree in adult education from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, and her doctoral degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was honored with the Carruth Sustained Leadership Award.
In 2024, Pleas was inducted into the Kansas Black Educators Hall of Fame, and in 2021, she was recognized by the Wichita Business Journal as part of its “Women Who Lead” series. She has been named Outstanding Administrator of the Year on multiple occasions by the Southwestern College Student Government. Pleas is also founder and executive director of Builder Bound Camp, a summer enrichment program that introduces low-income middle school students to the college experience.
DR. MICHAEL EARING, M.D.
Class Year: 1993
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2025
Dr. Michael Earing, M.D. is a nationally recognized expert in congenital heart disease, combining clinical leadership, innovative research and compassionate care. Since joining the University of Chicago in 2020, he has strengthened pediatric and adult congenital cardiology services across the Chicago area. He continues to advance the field through cutting-edge research, the development of national care guidelines, education, and mentorship. A dual-trained cardiologist in both pediatric and adult medicine, he leads comprehensive care across the lifespan for congenital heart disease patients, particularly during the critical transition from childhood to adulthood.
After graduating from North Central with a degree in biology, he earned his medical degree from Rush University in Chicago. Earing is chief of pediatric cardiology and professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at the University of Chicago, as well as division director of cardiology for the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 2000 to 2008. He has contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and 19 book chapters and serves on numerous medical boards dedicated to congenital heart disease, Marfan Syndrome, aortic aneurysms and dissections, and pulmonary hypertension.
dr. kathy guy guthrie
Class Year: 1998
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2025
Dr. Kathy Guy Guthrie is a professor of higher education in the College of Education at Florida State University (FSU). She also serves as director of FSU’s Hardee Center for Leadership and Ethics in Higher Education. Her research focuses on leadership learning in higher education contexts, including culturally relevant and international leadership learning, learning outcomes, and professional development for student affairs professionals. Guthrie has authored and co-authored more than 100 publications, including journal articles, book chapters and books. She is an affiliated researcher with the Center for Arts, Business and Culture at the Stockholm School of Economics in Stockholm, Sweden; a board member of the International Leadership Association; and a member of the North Central College Board of Trustees.
A business administration major at North Central, Guthrie earned her master’s degree in educational administration and foundations at Illinois State University and her doctoral degree in Educational Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign. She has earned several awards throughout her career, including FSU’s Seminole Faculty Award, as well as NASPA’s Contributions to Student Affairs through Teaching Award and Robert H.Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member.
Alyssa Rabulinksi, j.D.
Class Year: 2011
Alumni Recognition Award Winner 2025
As a principal assistant state’s attorney with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, Alyssa Rabulinski, J.D. is responsible for the criminal prosecution of violent offenses and supervises a felony courtroom. She is a member of the DuPage County Fire Investigative Task Force and the Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team (MERIT), assisting in the investigation of violent crimes. Rabulinski is a passionate advocate for animal protection, safety and humane treatment. She serves as a felony prosecutor for the State’s Attorney’s Animal Protection Unit and was chair of the animal law section for the 2024 DuPage County Bar Association. In 2022, she received the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Top Animal Defender award. Rabulinski has worked with the Illinois legislature to ensure greater protections for animals within the state, resulting in the passage of a bill that was signed into law.
Rabulinski graduated from North Central with a degree in political science and earned her law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Law. While at North Central, she was a four-year member of the Cardinal softball team, earning NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete and All-CCIW Academic award designations.
MICHAEL MOSER
Class Year: 1970
Wall of Witness Award Winner 2025
Michael Moser graduated from North Central with a degree in religious studies, then earned his master of divinity degree from Garrett Theological Seminary in 1973. He accepted his first appointment at Twin Falls United Methodist Church in Munroe Falls, Ohio, but soon returned to North Central to embark on a 26-year career at the College. He initially served as an admission officer with responsibility for connecting with churches from the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois conferences of the United Methodist Church (UMC). His subsequent roles at the College included dean of students, director of alumni relations, and director of development. He served as College chaplain from 1977 to 1982.
After a brief retirement, Moser returned to North Central in 2019 on a part-time basis as a major gift officer with the goal of establishing an endowment for the College’s chaplaincy. He re-entered retirement in 2024. Moser served on the UMC Wisconsin Conference Board of Higher Education and Student Ministry for eight years, including four as president. He is a recipient of the Francis Asbury Award for his significant contributions to UMC ministries in higher education.
dennis michalak
Class Year: 1974
Cardinal Pride Award Winner 2025
A defensive end for the Cardinal football team in the 1970s, Dennis “Denny” Michalak* reveled in the success of the Cardinal football program. Upon his retirement as dean of students at Romeoville (Ill.) High School, Michalak deepened his loyalty to North Central and committed to attending every football game, home and away. He even accompanied the team on two trips to Europe. Michalak would sing the Alma Mater after each game and head down to the field to congratulate the players and coaches. Michalak was an enthusiastic member of the College’s Alumni Board and a generous supporter of the Quarterback Club and Presidents Club. *awarded posthumously
carlos barba
Class Year: 1990
Cardinal Pride Award Winner 2025
Carlos Barba graduated from North Central with a degree in international business management and currently serves as vice president of sales at Superior Farms. A past member of the College’s Alumni Board, he used his alumni scholarship to help recruit student-athletes for various Cardinal athletic programs, including football, baseball, track & field, soccer, softball and wrestling. A member of the Quarterback Club, he also supports the football team by providing food for their summer team picnic and offensive line dinner. Barba was a member of the Cardinal football coaching staff from 1997 to 2000 and currently serves as a volunteer football and baseball coach at Downers Grove (Ill.) North High School.