Search Results
Viking Connections: Greg van Choyke
Greg van Choyke is the senior director of global strategic initiatives with the Institute of Internal Auditors, where he oversees global projects and certifications for a nonprofit association. He has also worked many years in association credentials. Previously, he was a senior killer whale trainer at Sea World San Antonio, working with a variety of marine animals, including killer whales, beluga whales and pacific white-sided dolphins. He also oversaw the animal training program for staff.
"It is always great to give back to Augustana students. I can provide guidance and help to students who are interested in getting into the association or animal training industries."
Graduation year: 2005
Post-grad: Master of Arts in Training and Development
Majors: Biology and pre-dental
Campus activities: Rowing
Best way to contact: Email
Viking Connections: Lindsay Morgan Tracy
Lindsay Morgan Tracy works in systemic poverty reduction. She works with all the state agencies, academia, philanthropy, tribes and nonprofits and centers those who stand to benefit the most from program and policy decisions (centering lived expertise). She tracks progress to date on a plan that was co-created with the aforementioned people. She also uses data important to communities furthest away from decision making tables (research justice framework). Her group's hypothesis is that doing this book of business in this way will get justice - economic justice, environmental justice, health justice and most importantly racial justice.
"I got a note from a current student asking me to participate and I asked her to send me a link to this. I absolutely believe in the power of relationships and connections."
Graduation year: 1997
Majors: Psychology and secondary education
Minor: Political science
Campus activities: Sigma Pi Delta, Study Abroad - South America
Best way to contact: Email
Viking Connections: Stormy Tovar
Stormy Tovar is a family counselor, providing individual and family counseling to youth in high-risk situations and families in crisis.
"I'd like to connect with other alumni in this field and students aspiring to enter into this field."
Graduation year: 2013
Post-grad: Master of Social Work
Major: Sociology
Campus activities: Admissions Ambassador, L.O.V.E.
Best way to contact: LinkedIn
Viking Connections: Erin Thor
Erin Thor is a sales manager at CDW, a technology solutions provider, where she manages a team of 17 individual sellers.
"I'd love to help students decide if they would like to go into a career in sales! For me, as a math and music double major, there wasn't an obvious career path. I could go to grad school, I could get a teaching certificate... but I chose not to do that. I chose to pursue sales and have not looked back!"
Graduation year: 2011
Majors: Mathematics and music
Campus activities: Phi Rho Sorority, President Student Advisory Council, Opera@Augustana, Augustana Choir, Chamber Singers
Best way to contact: LinkedIn
Viking Connections: Kelly Thompson
Kelly Thompson works in philanthropy and macro-level social work as a vice president of grantmaking and community initiatives.
"I’m happy to speak to students considering any of the helping professions or who are looking for ways to include community impact in their for-profit careers."
Graduation year: 2004
Post-grad: Masters in Social Work
Majors: Sociology with a social welfare concentration, Spanish minor
Campus activities: Sigma Pi Delta, Augustana Women’s Ensemble and Gospel Choir, College Democrats of Augustana
Best way to contact: Email
Viking Connections: Jordan Thill
Jordan Thill is the lead of a community support team offering case management, mental health therapy and crisis response to vulnerable populations coming out of psychiatric hospitalizations and prisons. She also provides outpatient therapy in a private practice setting, incorporating art therapy techniques.
"I can provide advice regarding navigating therapy and social work in community mental health and private practice settings, as well as addiction specialties."
Graduation year: 2019
Post-grad: MS in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
Majors: Psychology and art
Campus activities: Phi Rho, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Phi Mu Alpha, Mortar Board
Best way to contact: Email
Viking Connections: Anna Tegge
Anna Tegge is a legislative research analyst and project manager for Lockheed Martin, working in their Government Affairs Office.
"I would like to participate in Viking Connections because it is an opportunity to pay-forward for Viking alum who helped me."
Graduation year: 2018
Majors: International business and political science
Campus activities: Varsity Soccer, Symphonic Orchestra, Opportunity Kicks Tutoring, Admissions, Model United Nations
Best way to contact: LinkedIn
Viking Connections: Jess Taylor
Jess Taylor is the Marketing Director for ESPN Chicago, where she oversees all branding and marketing strategies. She also works closely with the sales team to brainstorm new solutions for ESPN Chicago's partners.
"My time at Augustana meant so much to me and I’d like for a chance to give back, whether it’s offering advice for students pursuing a career in marketing or sports marketing or simply reviewing resumes and networking."
Graduation year: 2008
Majors: Business marketing and management
Campus activities: Phi Rho, softball
Best way to contact: Email
Viking Connections: Chaney Tambling-Link
Chaney Tambling-Link is a full-time equine veterinarian.
"I want to help guide students through Augustana but also give them support as they get into professional school."
Graduation year: 2014
Post-grad: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Majors: Biology and Spanish for the professional use
Campus activities: Basketball, softball, Sigma Pi Delta, SAAC
Best way to contact: Email
Viking Connections: Joe Strabala-Bright
Joe Strabala-Bright is the dean of student services at Sauk Valley Community College.
"By the time I was nearing the end of my senior year at Augie, I realized that I did not want to work in a field directly related to either of the majors I was studying. I think it's important for students to understand that their experiences at Augie and the skills they learn in their courses can take them anywhere, and have a myriad of applications. I felt so much anxiety when I decided to pursue a career in higher education rather than something related to business or political science, and it would have been very helpful to have had someone just explain to me the versatility of my skills and experiences."
Graduation year: 2013
Post-grad: Master of Public Administration
Majors: Political science and international business
Campus activities: Politics Club, Student Government, Model UN, Reading/Writing Center Tutor, Community Engagement Center
Best way to contact: Email