A celebration of 75 years of Roosevelt University
1971
Walter E. Heller developed a leading financial company in Chicago. His business empire grew to include food manufacturing, jewelry and finance. In 1971, Roosevelt renamed the College of Business after him with the support of his widow, life trustee Alyce DeCosta, and the Heller Foundation. Today the college continues the legacy of entrepreneurialism and excellence that defined Heller’s career.
1972–Present
By 1956, Roosevelt University was home to the second-largest education program in Illinois. The College of Education officially became its own division in 1972. The college has trained socially conscious teachers and school administrators that have shaped instruction for decades.
1973
BA Political Science, ’73 | Head Librarian of Congress
Carla Hayden transferred to Roosevelt hoping to reignite her passion for her college education. She studied with professors like Frank Untermyer, who encouraged her to reflect on what the U.S. government is and what it could be.
After graduating, Hayden led community libraries in Chicago, Baltimore and Washington, DC before becoming the 14th Head Librarian of Congress. She is the first African American and first woman to serve as the highest librarian in the country.
Read more about Carla Hayden in the Roosevelt Review or watch her Commencement address.
1974
BGS Political Science, ’74 | 14-Term U.S. Representative
In the 1960s, Bobby Rush served in the military and, after his honorable discharge, formed the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers. His time at Roosevelt marked his pivot to electoral politics. He won a seat alderperson of Chicago’s Second Ward in 1975, holding the seat until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992.
By representing diverse communities facing a spectrum of contemporary issues, Rush has advocated for progressive policies to improve the lives of all his constituents.
The current congressperson returned to campus to celebrate the opening of the Wabash Building. “As I travel Lake Shore Drive, and I look up and see that Roosevelt University is a part of the skyline of the city, it makes me even more proud to know that beneath that tall sign in the sky, there is a true foundation,” he said.
1976
BSBA ’76 | Veteran TV Anchor, Financial Literacy Expert
Karen Gibbs broke barriers in Chicago’s financial industry as the first woman to work on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade. She began her career there as a board marker and left as a member of the Office of Investigations and Audits. Gibbs has worked as an anchor and financial news reporter for CNBC, PBS and Fox News.
1977
BA Theater, ’77 | Actor
Danita Vance was classically trained in acting at Roosevelt’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. As a student, she wrote the play Skylark, which was performed by Roosevelt students for years after. In the 1980s, she became the first African American woman to appear in Saturday Night Live’s main cast. She is remembered for breaking barriers in theatre, from Chicago to New York to London.
1978
In 1978, Roosevelt opens its first satellite campus in Arlington Heights. As enrollment grew, the University relocated to the former Forest View High School. Roosevelt also offered extension classes in Logan Square, Downers Grove, Schaumburg and Waukegan.
Today Roosevelt reaches students online and at four campus locations: downtown Chicago, Schaumburg, Lake County and Peoria.