LAS Distinguished Service Award

Douglas H. Hoffman

BA, '75, religious studies

Douglas H. Hoffman has retired from a dual-faceted career as both a member of and an employee of Cboe Global Markets (formerly known as the Chicago Board Options Exchange). He is an active volunteer with the Program for Jewish Culture & Society at Illinois, serving since 2016 as the first chair of the programʼs advisory council.

Jerrold M. Levy

BS, '73, actuarial science

Jerrold M. Levy retired after working for more than 40 years as a consulting actuary and pension consultant. He served on the LAS Alumni Council from 2008- 2015 and again from 2016- 2019, acting as council president for several years. He has been a member of the Mathematics Development Advisory Board, playing a key role in the creation of a new scholarship program for undergraduate students.

Richard Berkowitz
BS, ‘79, biology; MD; ‘83

Richard Berkowitz has played an integral role in helping Illinois students interested in medical professions to achieve their career goals. Berkowitz, a physician anesthesiologist and perioperative physician, co-founded the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Pre-Health and Professional Mentorship Program with the school’s assistant director of advising and recruitment Tina Knox in 2010. The mentorship program connects undergraduate students with alumni already practicing in the field, and includes monthly check-ins between students and their mentors as well as job-shadowing and site visits opportunities for students whenever possible. Watch a video interview of Berkowitz.

John Coady
BA, ’74, political science

John Coady, who retired as judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Illinois in 2009, currently represents the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences on the Illinois Alumni Association board. He served several years on the College of LAS Alumni Association Board, including two years as president, and meets regularly with students to talk about careers in law. He is actively engaged in supporting fellow alumni, and he has offered advice and shared resources to improve the student experience. Read more about John Coady.

Keith Westcott
MS ’78, PhD ’80, Biochemistry

Keith Westcott was at Amgen when it burst onto the scene in the 1980s, sparking the biotechnology revolution. He has brought his industrial know-how back to U of I through graduate fellowships in biochemistry, talks, U of I Foundation activities, and innovative teaching. Read more about Keith Westcott.

Dorothy DiIorio
BA '49, Spanish

Honorable. Gracious. Dependable. Curious. Fun. Dorothy DiIorio lives up to all of the descriptions of her character. As a former LAS Alumni Board member, a tireless advocate for the college, and a generous contributor, her service to LAS and the Urbana campus has been incalculable. Read more about Dorothy DiIorio.

John Micetich
BS, '69, Psychology

John Micetich, owner of a successful investment firm in San Diego, returns to the U of I campus each January to teach an eight-week course in financial planning-pro bono-as a way of giving back to the University that gave him his start. Read more about John Micetich.

Katherine Wolcott Walker
AB '52 Spanish

Ms. Walker, a retired development officer for the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation in Chicago, is president of the LAS Alumni Association and a board ember since 1991. A vocal advocate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she is committed to nurturing alumni ties to the institution. Among her accomlishments has been a revitalization of the alumni recognition program, which included the establishment of the LAS Alumni Humanitarian Award.

Richard J. Faletti
BS '47, Commerce, JD '48, Law

Mr. Faletti, a senior law partner with Winston and Strawn in Chicago, is a founding member of the University of Illinois' Spurlock Museum's board of directors and a major contributor to the museum's African culture collection. He helped shape the museum board's charter and has donated more than 50 artifacts to the museum. He and his wife, Barbara, endowed the Richard and Barbara Faletti Gallery of African Cultures in the museum.

Mary Kay Peer
AB '34, General Curriculum, AM '36 English

Ms. Peer served the Department of English for 41 years, retiring as an administrative aide, having served under 13 department heads. In addition to her responsibilities for the budget, timetable, and assignment of classes, she oversaw publication of the literary journal Accent and the nationally recognized freshman writing magazine Green Cauldron. She served on board of directors of the University Library Friends and member of World Heritage Museum (now the Spurlock Museum) Guild and charter member of Krannert Art Museum. In 1987, appointed to LAS Alumni Association Board of Directors, serving with distinction for six years.