Office Hours

Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

(773) 442-4981
Amie Jatta
Amie
Jatta
M.S. Ed.
Director of TRIO Programs, Achieve (Regular), Access (Disability) and Teacher Preparation
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
Project Management, Team Building, Student Services, Program Development, Relationship Building, Student Retention, Student Recruitment, Student Success, Fiscal Management, Grant Management
Education

University of North Dakota, Master of Science in Educational Leadership 

University of North Dakota, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

University of North Dakota, Bachelor of Business Administration in Management

Background

Amie Jatta is a multilingual (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Wolof and English) higher education professional with more than 10 years of experience working in post-secondary education. She has dedicated her career to the creation of pathways to success for underrepresented students, and to the development of support structures within the institutions they attend.

Amie began her career at the University of North Dakota where she interned with five TRIO programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Center, Student Support Services and Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program). She then became the Team Wellness Coordinator at the UND Wellness Center where she was in charge of the hiring, training and development of all student employees. Coming to Northeastern Illinois University in January of 2011 and working for TRIO SSS was a full circle moment for her as she now was working for the program that sparked her passion for higher education. 

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Deliberative; Consistency; Harmony; Woo; Communication

Room LIB 407
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Monday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
Lunch: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Jesse Rutschman, M.A.T.
Jesse
Rutschman
M.A.T.
Assistant Director, SSS Achieve
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
Strengths-based mentoring and career development; academic advising; individualized success coaching; motivational interviewing; overseeing tutoring/student service programs; assessment planning and instruction; experiential and adventure education; creating a college success pipeline for Chicago Public Schools students.
Education

National-Louis University, M.A., Teaching (some coursework completed with Northeastern Illinois University’s MSTQE program)

Earlham College, B.A., Psychology

Background

Enrollment coordinator and student advisor for TRIO SSS Achieve (2014-Present); Teacher (grades 7-9) of Natural Sciences and Language Arts in CPS and Noble Charter Network (2011-2014); College and career advisor for middle school and high school youth through GEAR UP (2005-2012); Youth enrichment programs and youth/adult job training programs supervisor (various projects/positions); Adventure education/team-building facilitator.

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Ideation, Connectedness, Activator, Individualization, and Input

Room LIB 405
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Regular Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Lunch: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Office (773) 442-4974
Mobile (312) 805-5890
Stacy Alikakos, B.S.
Stacy
Alikakos
B.S.
Academic Advisor, SSS Achieve
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
Critical thinking, academic advising, foster relationships and community, integrative learning, responsive student programming, student empowerment
Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S., Integrative Biology

Background

Stacy is determined to see NEIU undergraduates thrive by providing them guidance and meaningful support on their journey. Her drive to help students is cardinally motivated by her own undergraduate experience. She navigated her degree alone with a lot of needless difficulty but now heartily applies the lessons she learned to benefit the next wave of students. Prior to advising in TRIO Stacy has worked at NEIU as an admissions representative in Enrollment Services, a program advisor in the College of Business and Management, and a coach for science, math and psychology students. She is also a current graduate student at NEIU in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies. She treasures studying and working with NEIU students because they are dynamic, inspiring and at the vanguard of excellence.

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Learner, Harmony, Input, Intellection, Individualization

Schedule an appointment with Stacy.

iaalikak@neiu.edu

Room LIB 410
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Lunch: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Christina Matuschka, Ph.D.
Christina
Matuschka
Ph.D.
Assistant Director, SSS Teacher Preparation
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
First Generation College Experience, Students with Children, Single Mother Students in Higher Education, Non-Traditional Students, Adult Students, Teacher Preparation Programs, College Success Strategies, First Year Experience Curriculum, Public Speaking, Presentation Skills, Event Planning
Education

Northeastern Illinois University, B.A., Communication

Northeastern Illinois University, M.A., Higher Education Leadership

DePaul University, Ph.D., Curriculum Studies

Background

Dr. Matuschka was born and raised in Chicago where she attended Chicago Public Schools. She was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. NEIU is like her second home because she completed an undergraduate degree in Communication (2004), a graduate degree in Higher Education Leadership (2007), and has worked here in numerous roles. Her career in higher education started as a Graduate Assistant in Academic Advising in 2005, she went on to establish an Off Campus Program for SIUC, and then began a position in Teacher Preparation in 2011. Since then, she has taught in the First-Year Experience program, completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Curriculum Studies at DePaul University, conducted research studies, and completed projects for the Goodwin Dean of Education. She’s happy to be working with future educators as the new TRIO Assistant Director of Teacher Preparation. 

Additional Information

Top strengths: Input, Achiever, Learner, Connectedness, Relator

 

Room LIB 409
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Regular Hours
Monday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lunch: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Office (773) 442-4972
Mobile (312) 805-7897
Paris Puckett
Paris
Puckett
M.A.
Academic Advisor, SSS Teacher Preparation
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
Rapport building, holistic advising, student services, student engagement, team collaboration, professional flexibility, stakeholder relationship management, project management, budget management.
Education

Columbia College Chicago, B.A., Journalism

Lewis University, M.A., Organizational Leadership

Background

Paris has four years of experience in higher education as a financial aid and academic advisor, and three years experience working in an elementary education school district in the area of student and administrative services, and as a classroom teacher assistant for special education.

She completed her bachelor's degree in Journalism at Columbia College Chicago and her master's degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education at Lewis University. She is excited to share her passion for student services to assist TRIO SSS Teacher Preparation students overcome cultural barriers while reaching their educational goals.

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Connectedness, Individualization, Strategic, Belief, Developer 

Schedule an appointment with Paris.
 

Room LIB 406
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Regular Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Lunch: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Office (773) 442-4973
Mobile (312) 805-1522
Erin Long, LSW, M.Ed.
Erin
Long
LSW, M.Ed.
Assistant Director, SSS Access
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
Individualized success planning, holistic advising, building relationships, applying a strengths perspective to working with students, project management, needs assessment, research, advocacy.
Education

DePaul University, Master of Social Work

Lamar University, Master of Educational Administration

Ohio University, B.S., Interpersonal Communication

Background

Erin has always loved working with students and her 10-year teaching career took her across the U.S. -- from Western Colorado to San Antonio, Texas, to Kansas City! She relocated to Chicago to be closer to her adorably goofy nephews and graduated in June with her Master of Social Work from DePaul University. She earned her LSW in November 2018. Erin is excited to connect with NEIU students on their educational journeys. As coordinator of the TRIO SSS Access program, Erin hopes her office will be a place everyone feels comfortable stopping by. She’d love to chat with you about your interests … feel free to ask about her time as a National Parks ranger or what podcast she’s listening to lately.

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Empathy, Positivity, Responsibility, Achiever, Learner

Room LIB 404
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Regular Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Lunch: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Adriana Castillo, M.Ed., SSS Access
Adriana
Castillo
M.Ed.
Academic Advisor, SSS Access
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
Student services, relationship building, holistic advising, student empowerment.
Education

University of Illinois at Chicago, M.Ed., Urban Higher Education

University of Illinois at Chicago, B.A., Sociology

Background

Drawing from personal experience as a first-generation college student from a PELL-eligible background, Adriana brings a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by students navigating higher education. As a former financial aid counselor and student high-impact practice coordinator, she aims to foster opportunities that enrich students' academic and professional journeys.

Adriana recently earned her Master's in Urban Higher Education at University of Illinois at Chicago and is eager to continue making a positive impact in the field of education.

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Positivity, Developer, Empathy, Connectedness, Belief

Schedule an appointment with Adriana.

a-castillo21@neiu.edu

Room LIB 411
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
United States

Office Hours
Regular Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lunch: Noon-1:00 p.m.
Vernon Collins
Vernon
Collins
B.A.
Office Support Specialist
TRIO Student Support Services
Expertise
In conjunction with the department’s director, Vernon coordinates TRIO SSS activities at NEIU, provides a wide range of office support services, implements promotional and social media campaigns, and assists in preparing the Annual Performance Report for the U.S. Department of Education.
Education

University of Colorado, Boulder, B.A.

Background

Vernon is dedicated to providing first-rate customer service to students participating in TRIO Student Support Services programs and to all NEIU students. He specializes in office administration and furthering the mission of TRIO SSS.

Additional Information

Top five strengths: Input; Learner; Achiever; Intellection; Discipline

Room LIB 403
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Office Hours
Regular Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Lunch: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Office (773) 442-4981
Mobile (312) 805-5036