University Relations Team

Office of University Relations Org Chart

Leadership Team 

Lynn Griffith 
Chief Marketing and Communication Officer

Ralph Weber
General Counsel

Rana Altenburg 
Associate Vice President for Public Affairs 

Jeff Kipfmueller 
Deputy General Counsel 

Tom Pionek 
Assistant Vice President of Marketing 

Carmel Ruffolo 
Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement 

 

Office of University Relations Team 

Communication: 

Lynn Griffith 
Chief Marketing and Communication Officer

Monica MacKay 
Senior Director of University Communication 

Melissa Barclay 
Senior Communication Specialist 

Kevin Conway 
Associate Director of University Communication 

Andrew Goldstein 
Marketing and Communication Specialist, Nursing and Business 

Jack Goods 
Communication Specialist 

Alex Nemec 
Marketing and Communication Specialist, Mission and Ministry, and Health Sciences 

Emily Reyes 
Digital Content Specialist 

Chris Stolarski 
Associate Director of University Communication 

Enrique Torruco 
Associate Director of Social Media 

 

Economic Engagement: 

Carmel Ruffolo 
Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement 

Kalpa Vithalani 
Executive Director of Technology Transfer 

Lucie Wehbe 
Economic Engagement Coordinator 

 

General Counsel: 

Ralph Weber
General Counsel

Jeff Kipfmueller 
Deputy General Counsel 

Jessica Franken
Associate General Counsel

Lauren R. Orton
Assistant General Counsel

Laureen B. Zello
Legal Assistant

 

Innovation Alley: 

John Knapp 
Executive Director 

 

Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute:

Bill Marcou
Project Manager

 

Marketing: 

Tom Pionek 
Assistant Vice President of Marketing 

Lauren Burke 
Director of Video 

Dwayne Burtin 
Director of Digital Media 

Tara Christopher 
Senior Marketing Specialist 

Zak Eden 
Graphic Designer 

Steve Filmanowicz 
Director of Editorial Projects 

Caroline Forsmo 
Marketing Specialist 

Sarah Koziol 
Senior Copywriter 

Riley Lade 
Assistant Producer 

Patrick Manning 
Marketing and Communication Photographer 

Claudio Moya 
Web Designer 

Rachel Gintner Orlando 
Assistant Editor and Writer 

Karen Parr 
Creative Director 

Molly Perszyk 
Advertising Specialist 

Brandon Richardson 
Digital Media Designer 

Jennifer Russell 
Senior Director of Marketing 

Kasie Van Sistine 
Project Manager for University Relations

 

Public Affairs: 

Rana Altenburg 
Associate Vice President for Public Affairs 

Mary Czech-Mrochinski 
Senior Director of Public Affairs 

Kelsey Otero 
Senior Director of Community Engagement 

Jacqueline Schram 
Director of Public Affairs/Special Assistant for Native American Affairs 

 

University Relations: 

Claudia Avila
Director of Business Services

Kathleen Hohl
Manager of Presidential Communication

Stacy Tuchel 
Executive Assistant