The College of ACES Alumni Association inspires meaningful engagement and advocacy to advance our college. As a graduate of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), you are automatically a member of the ACES Alumni Association. You are invited to engage in a variety of events tailored exclusively for our alumni and friends of ACES. ACES boasts a vibrant community of over 38,000 alumni, fostering one of the most loyal and close-knit alumni networks at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association is a constituent association of the University of Illinois Alumni Association. In 2021, the ACES Alumni Association celebrated its 65th anniversary, merging with the Agriculture and Home Economics Alumni Association to become the College of ACES Alumni Association.

Our organization runs on three pillars of engagement: 

  • Fellowship: We provide opportunities for our alumni to develop strong relationships at the college, local, and international scales. 

  • Awards & Recognition: We recognize and promote excellence to inspire alumni and students. We honor recipients of our ACES Alumni Award of Merit, ACES Family Spirit, and ACES Outstanding Young Alumni Award annually. Our board continually investigates new awards to enhance the current program.

  • Student Engagement: We facilitate alumni engagement throughout our students' academic experience. We host ACES Family Academies every summer, allowing alumni and children to explore campus while learning about all things agriculture. We also work with the Student Advancement Committee to increase awareness.

Board of Directors

Our alumni play a pivotal role in shaping the future of ACES, serving as valuable advisors and advocates through their leadership on the ACES Alumni Association Board of Directors. These dedicated individuals generously contribute their time and expertise to nurture lifelong connections between alumni and the college. Additionally, they oversee our awards program designed to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our graduates.

Executive Board

The ACES Alumni Association Board of Directors is led by an Executive Board of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past President.

Trudy

President
Trudy West, Harrisburg, IL
B.S. 1981 Agricultural Communications
Current Profession: Substitute Teacher; Marion Unit 2

Rocky

Vice President
Rocky Lacey-Nelson, Champaign, IL
B.S. 1997 Ag Science
Current Profession: Managing Partner; Inneraq Consulting LLC.

Tim

Secretary
Tim McDermott, Waterloo, IL
B.S. 2004 Ag Education
M.S. 2009 Educational Leadership, McKendree University
Current Profession: Principal; Waterloo High School

Jeff

Treasurer
Jeff Behme, Carlinville, IL
B.S. 1995 Technical Systems Management
Current profession:  Director of Global Sales, Agriculture; DICKEY-john 

Alan

Past President
Alan Puzey, Fairmount, IL
B.S. 1974 Ag Communications
Current Profession: Agent; Country Financial

District Directors

Each district director is responsible for representing ACES alumni who reside within a specific geographic region in Illinois. He/she communicates the needs and concerns of constituents in their district to the ACES Alumni Association Board of Directors. The director also coordinates at least one social or professional event in his/her district every other year.

View the District Map (pdf)  View the District Counties (pdf)

Dan

District 1
Dan Block, St. Charles, IL
B.S. 1994 Agricultural Economics
Current Profession: Product Management, North America, DairyAmerica

Alison

District 2
Alison Coughlin, Chicago, IL
B.S. 2008 Agricultural & Consumer Economics
M.P.P. 2010 (University of Chicago)
Current Profession: Director, Commodity Research and Product Development, CME Group

Jerry

District 3
Jerry Brookhart, Macomb, IL
B.S. 1963 Ag Science
Current Profession: Insurance & Investments, PGIB

Kenna

District 4
Kenna Rathai, St. Anne, IL
B.S. 1993 Agricultural Communications
Current Profession: Public Relations, broadhead

Duane

District 5
Duane Noland, Blue Mound, IL
B.S. 1978 Agricultural Education & Agricultural Economics
Current Profession: Owner/Operator of Noland Farms
Retired President/ CEO for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives
Retired State Senator (R-51)

Mike

District 6
Michael Gunderson, Mahomet, IL
B.S. 2001 Agribusiness, Farm, and Financial Management
Current Profession: Chief Credit Officer, Farm Credit Illinois

Becky

District 7
Rebecca Doyle, Gillespie, IL
B.S. 1975 Agricultural Communications
Current Profession: Doyle Associates Consultant and Hickory Grove Pork Farm

Jim

District 8
Jim Dougherty, Tunnel Hill, IL
B.S. 1979 Agriculture
Current Profession: Retired, Archer Daniels Midland Company

Vocational Directors

Each Vocational Director represents one of the eight different departments of the College of ACES.  They have majored in or pursue a vocation or profession of their respective department.

Jeff

Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Jeff Behme, Carlinville, IL 
B.S. 1995 Technical Systems Management
Current Profession: Director of Global Sales, Agriculture, DICKEY-john 

Carol

Agricultural & Consumer Economics
Carol Wallace, Bloomington, IL
B.S. 2008 Agricultural Economics- University of Zimbabwe
M.S. 2013 Agricultural and Applied Economics
Current Profession: Senior Program Coordinator; Resourced

Theresa

Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications
Theresa Miller, Gridley, IL
B.S. 1996 Agricultural Communications
Current Profession: Self-Employed; Prairie View Farms

Mike

Animal Sciences
Mike McCully, South Bend, IN
M.S. 1999 Agricultural Economics
Current Profession: President/Owner, McCully Consulting

Loren

Crop Sciences
Loren Goodrich, Saint Louis, MO
B.S. 2014 Crop Sciences
M.S. 2017 Crop Sciences
Current Profession:  NA Application Technology Expert; Bayer

Nick

Food Science & Human Nutrition
Nick Tarleton, Westchester, IL 
B.S. 2016 Food Science & Human Nutrition
Current Profession: Supervisor, US Supply Chain; McDonald's Corporation

Meagan

Human Development & Family Studies
Meagan Roloff, Arlington, VA
B.S. 2011 Human Development & Family Studies
Current Profession: Director of Member Services & Engagement, National Association for Gifted Children

Lyndsey

Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences
Lyndsey Ramsey, Bloomington, IL
M.S. 2013 Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences 
Current Profession: Director of Strategic Engagement; Illinois Farm Bureau

Liaison Directors

Liaison Directors serve as the link between their respective expertise and the ACES Alumni Association.

Amanda

Extension Director
Amanda Taylor, Monticello, IL
B.S. 2004 Agricultural Communications
M.S. 2007 Agricultural Communications
Current Profession: Assistant Director; Extension Field Operations

Rachel

Young Alumni Director
Rachel Rosentreter, DeWitt, IA
B.S. 2019 Agricultural Leadership
Current Profession: Regional Training Manager; Bayer CropScience

Molly

Chicago Young Alumni Director
Molly Messner, Chicago, IL
B.S. 2018 ACE- Public Policy & Law
Current Profession: Procurement Manager; PepsiCo

Stay Connected!

Online social networking is a great tool to stay in touch with alumni and friends from the College of ACES!