Meet ICCEFA's Executive Board

 Email: iccefa@gmail.com

Dr. Katherine Schuster is a Distinguished Professor of Education at Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL. She was hired in 2003 to build Oakton’s Education Program. Prior to Oakton, Dr. Schuster taught undergraduate and graduate courses for three years at Northeastern Illinois University in the Educational Foundations department. She has also previously taught Foundations courses as an adjunct at Loyola and Roosevelt Universities. She received her PhD in Comparative Education in the Cultural Foundations of Education program from Loyola University – Chicago in 2001. She completed her masters in Counseling and Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Mankato in 1993. Katherine also serves as the Global Studies Coordinator for Oakton and is passionate about encouraging community college students to study abroad. She loves traveling internationally, most recently to Ghana and Togo on a 5-week Fulbright-Hays grant, singing, running, and yoga.

Dr. Karen Ladendorf is an Assistant Professor of Education and Chair of the Education Department at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She teaches foundations of education, instructional technology integration, special education, and instructional psychology courses. She also coordinates preserve teacher clinical placements throughout the Chicago area and is the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society college advisor. Karen holds a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Educational Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University. Her research focused on remote learning experiences with elementary students and bringing the younger student voice to the forefront of research. Karen spent 20 years in the K-12 setting as a teacher, instructional coach, professional development provider, curriculum writer, and Director of Innovation and Technology. Karen lives in the Glen Ellyn area with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs.

Dr. April Zawlocki is a Professor of Education at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She has served in numerous roles in her 17 years in education, including being a middle school ELA teacher, a high school Title One teacher, and, for the last 9 years, a professor in higher education. She completed her undergraduate work at Illinois State as a Middle Level Teacher Education major, her masters at North Central College in Educational Leadership and Administration, and, most recently, her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Curriculum Leadership at Northern Illinois University. April has a passion for developing and providing equitable access to education to students so they may pursue careers in the field of Education.