A celebration of 75 years of Roosevelt University
1984
In a massive upset, the Roosevelt men’s soccer team defeated the NCAA Division I Fighting Irish in an invitational tournament. Roosevelt was ranked No. 16 in the nation and first in Illinois by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
1987–Present
Professor Margaret Policastro started the new balanced literary program in one classroom of an Arlington Heights high school with a small group of children. Since then, the program has grown to instill a love of learning in hundreds of children across the state.
The Summer Reading Clinic, led by Roosevelt master’s in reading students, encourages reading skills and helps them build their social abilities. Read more in the Roosevelt Review.
BA English, ’87
Award-winning author Rick Yancey found a home at Roosevelt University — one that would put him on the path to his career as a writer. The alum has published fifteen novels and a memoir. His novel, The 5th Star, was adapted into a film starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Nick Robinson.
“Roosevelt gave me that self-confidence, that belief in myself,” said Yancey. “I came in here thinking I knew what I wanted to do, but by the time I left, I knew what I wanted to do.”
Board of Trustees Chair
BGS ’80
Pat Harris began her 40-year career at McDonald’s while taking classes at Roosevelt. As global chief diversity officer, she developed diversity and inclusion strategies for McDonald’s workforce around the world. The company earned recognition from Fortune, Black Enterprise and many other publications for its commitment to diversity.
Today Harris is the chair of the Roosevelt University Board of Trustees. Hear more about her journey on the University podcast.
Congressional Representative
BA Political Science, ’81
As a Roosevelt student, Mike Quigley got his start in public service with an internship at the Environmental Protection Agency. He went on to earn a master’s in public policy from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Loyola University.
In 2009, he won election to represent Illinois’ 5th District in Congress. His district covers Chicago’s North Side and some of the western suburbs. Quigley has supported health care legislation, the environment and LGBTQ+ rights.
“It only takes one voice to stand above the crowd and touch people’s lives,” He told the Roosevelt Review in 2009. “As a congressman, I plan to stand up whenever I can for the ideals that our country is all about.”
University President
Years at Roosevelt: 1988–2002
When Ted Gross became University president, Roosevelt faced daunting financial challenges and shrinking enrollment numbers. Under his leadership, Roosevelt grew the endowment to more than $33 million and hit a new enrollment high with 7,500 students.
Gross spearheaded the fundraising for the Schaumburg Campus, extending Roosevelt’s reach into the main business artery of the northwestern suburbs. During his tenure, the University also created a performing arts conservatory and the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate.