Dr. Phil Willink, President
La Grange Park, IL 60526
Senior research biologist, Shedd Aquarium, with more than 20 years experience in research, teaching and global exhibitions, with a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Michigan.
Ken Czulno, Vice-President
Chicago, IL 60617
Retired finance director of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and former accounting supervisor at US Steel Corp; with degrees in accounting and psychology from Calumet College of St. Joseph.
Dr. Valerie Pennanen, Secretary
Hammond, IN 46324
Professor emerita of history at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting; BA from Bryn Mawr College, MA and PhD from University of Michigan in classical art and archaeology; co-host of Calumet Revisited Forums.
Dr. Ahmed Lakanni, Treasurer
Glenview, IL 60025
Assistant professor of chemistry at Calumet College of St. Joseph; undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Michael L. Boos of Chicago, Executive Director, Ex Officio non-voting member
Chicago, IL 60617
Communications consultant and author, public relations, University of Chicago; past director of the Hegewisch Chamber of Commerce and Calumet Ecological Park Association; newspaper editor and reporter; BA and MA degrees in editorial journalism and mass communications, respectively, from the University of Iowa.
Dr. Michael Galbreath
Peotone, IL 60468
Retired regional school administrator of Chicago suburban schools; former coach and college professor; a US Peace Corps volunteer; graduate of Calumet College of St. Joseph; MA from Cardinal Stritch University; PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Keith Carey, Hammond, Ex Officio
Whiting, IN 46394
Staff member of the Hammond Port Authority; member of AWLI’s Wolf Lake Vision Task Force.
Bill Emerson Jr., Lake County, Ex Officio
Crown Point, IN 46307
Lake County Indiana Surveyor and an attorney with Lucas, Holcomb & Medrea LLP, he is a former civil engineer with Strand Associates Graphic. He received his law degree from Loyola Chicago School of Law and his BS degree from Purdue University.
Marianne Kozlowski
Chicago, IL 60637
Retired bank administrator; co-steward at Eggers Grove, Forest Preserve District of Cook County; member of the Calumet Nature Exchange.
Dr. Richard Morrisroe
East Chicago, IN 46312
City planner; lawyer; former adjunct professor at Calumet College of St. Joseph; PhD from Chicago Theological Union; law degree from Northwestern University.
Dan Spencer, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Ex Officio
Melrose Park, IL 60160
Southeast Regional Ecologist, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, has been involved in ecological restoration in the Calumet region for more than 10 years where he oversees Powderhorn Lake Nature Preserve.
Jeramie Strickland, Illinois DNR, Ex Officio
Chicago, IL 60628
Director of Outreach, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, received M.S. degree from Iowa State University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and received B.S. degree from Delaware State University with a major in Animal and Poultry Science.
Dr. James P. Sullivan, Jr.
Munster, IN 46321
Owner and president of Sullivan Technology; adjunct professor at Purdue University Calumet and Calumet College of St. Joseph; degrees from United States Military Academy at West Point, Webster University, St. Louis and Argosy University, Chicago.
Linda Trinkle
Hammond, IN 46323
Member of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Indiana.
Nicole Machuca
Chicago, IL 60617
Environmental social scientist and community engagement specialist who works at the Field Museum's Keller Science Action Center. Has worked for Chicago Harbors, Alliance for the Great Lakes and Friends of the Parks.
Dr. Joan Crist
Hammond, IN 46320
Latin teacher at Thea Bowman Academy in Gary, IN. Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame and has extensive teaching experience on both college and high school levels, plus long-time experience in religious education and administration.
La Grange Park, IL 60526
Senior research biologist, Shedd Aquarium, with more than 20 years experience in research, teaching and global exhibitions, with a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Michigan.
Ken Czulno, Vice-President
Chicago, IL 60617
Retired finance director of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and former accounting supervisor at US Steel Corp; with degrees in accounting and psychology from Calumet College of St. Joseph.
Dr. Valerie Pennanen, Secretary
Hammond, IN 46324
Professor emerita of history at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting; BA from Bryn Mawr College, MA and PhD from University of Michigan in classical art and archaeology; co-host of Calumet Revisited Forums.
Dr. Ahmed Lakanni, Treasurer
Glenview, IL 60025
Assistant professor of chemistry at Calumet College of St. Joseph; undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Michael L. Boos of Chicago, Executive Director, Ex Officio non-voting member
Chicago, IL 60617
Communications consultant and author, public relations, University of Chicago; past director of the Hegewisch Chamber of Commerce and Calumet Ecological Park Association; newspaper editor and reporter; BA and MA degrees in editorial journalism and mass communications, respectively, from the University of Iowa.
Dr. Michael Galbreath
Peotone, IL 60468
Retired regional school administrator of Chicago suburban schools; former coach and college professor; a US Peace Corps volunteer; graduate of Calumet College of St. Joseph; MA from Cardinal Stritch University; PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Keith Carey, Hammond, Ex Officio
Whiting, IN 46394
Staff member of the Hammond Port Authority; member of AWLI’s Wolf Lake Vision Task Force.
Bill Emerson Jr., Lake County, Ex Officio
Crown Point, IN 46307
Lake County Indiana Surveyor and an attorney with Lucas, Holcomb & Medrea LLP, he is a former civil engineer with Strand Associates Graphic. He received his law degree from Loyola Chicago School of Law and his BS degree from Purdue University.
Marianne Kozlowski
Chicago, IL 60637
Retired bank administrator; co-steward at Eggers Grove, Forest Preserve District of Cook County; member of the Calumet Nature Exchange.
Dr. Richard Morrisroe
East Chicago, IN 46312
City planner; lawyer; former adjunct professor at Calumet College of St. Joseph; PhD from Chicago Theological Union; law degree from Northwestern University.
Dan Spencer, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Ex Officio
Melrose Park, IL 60160
Southeast Regional Ecologist, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, has been involved in ecological restoration in the Calumet region for more than 10 years where he oversees Powderhorn Lake Nature Preserve.
Jeramie Strickland, Illinois DNR, Ex Officio
Chicago, IL 60628
Director of Outreach, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, received M.S. degree from Iowa State University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and received B.S. degree from Delaware State University with a major in Animal and Poultry Science.
Dr. James P. Sullivan, Jr.
Munster, IN 46321
Owner and president of Sullivan Technology; adjunct professor at Purdue University Calumet and Calumet College of St. Joseph; degrees from United States Military Academy at West Point, Webster University, St. Louis and Argosy University, Chicago.
Linda Trinkle
Hammond, IN 46323
Member of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Indiana.
Nicole Machuca
Chicago, IL 60617
Environmental social scientist and community engagement specialist who works at the Field Museum's Keller Science Action Center. Has worked for Chicago Harbors, Alliance for the Great Lakes and Friends of the Parks.
Dr. Joan Crist
Hammond, IN 46320
Latin teacher at Thea Bowman Academy in Gary, IN. Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame and has extensive teaching experience on both college and high school levels, plus long-time experience in religious education and administration.
Honorary Board
Gary Bell of Munster, IN
Former president of AWLI; federal prosecutor with the US Attorney’s Office, Hammond; instructor at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting; BA from University of Michigan; law degree from Indiana University.
Bruce Caruso of Munster, IN
Welder; officer of the local chapter of Perch America; graduate of Ivy Tech; director of Hammond Parks Foundation.
David Dabertin of Hammond, IN
Hammond attorney; member of United Citizens Association; author of Walk-Able, Ride-Able Whiting & Robertsdale; BA in chemistry and history from Indiana University, Bloomington; law degree from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University Bloomington; former assistant regional counsel at US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5.
Jeff Langbehn of Munster, IN
Former director of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District; degrees from Purdue University and John Marshall Law School.
Dr. Dennis W. Nyberg of Chicago, IL
Former president of AWLI; retired associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he is director of UIC’s James Woodworth Prarie and has served on UIC’s faculty since 1973; PhD from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Patrick Owens of Munster, IN
Former president of AWLI; employed by Foote Cone and Belding, Chicago; degrees from Western Illinois University and University of Illinois; past president of Laren Montessori School Board, South Holland, IL.
Bob Robertson of Culver, IN
Retired biologist with Fish and Wildlife Division, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
William J. Smith of Chesterton, IN
Former president of AWLI; high school science teacher; interpretive naturalist with Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; BA from Purdue University and MA from University of Illinois.
Dr. Zaki L. Zaki of Chicago, IL
District superintendent, Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church; PhD from Chicago Theological Seminary and MA from McCormick Theological Seminary in Hyde Park.
Former president of AWLI; federal prosecutor with the US Attorney’s Office, Hammond; instructor at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting; BA from University of Michigan; law degree from Indiana University.
Bruce Caruso of Munster, IN
Welder; officer of the local chapter of Perch America; graduate of Ivy Tech; director of Hammond Parks Foundation.
David Dabertin of Hammond, IN
Hammond attorney; member of United Citizens Association; author of Walk-Able, Ride-Able Whiting & Robertsdale; BA in chemistry and history from Indiana University, Bloomington; law degree from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University Bloomington; former assistant regional counsel at US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5.
Jeff Langbehn of Munster, IN
Former director of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District; degrees from Purdue University and John Marshall Law School.
Dr. Dennis W. Nyberg of Chicago, IL
Former president of AWLI; retired associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he is director of UIC’s James Woodworth Prarie and has served on UIC’s faculty since 1973; PhD from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Patrick Owens of Munster, IN
Former president of AWLI; employed by Foote Cone and Belding, Chicago; degrees from Western Illinois University and University of Illinois; past president of Laren Montessori School Board, South Holland, IL.
Bob Robertson of Culver, IN
Retired biologist with Fish and Wildlife Division, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
William J. Smith of Chesterton, IN
Former president of AWLI; high school science teacher; interpretive naturalist with Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; BA from Purdue University and MA from University of Illinois.
Dr. Zaki L. Zaki of Chicago, IL
District superintendent, Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church; PhD from Chicago Theological Seminary and MA from McCormick Theological Seminary in Hyde Park.