DePaul University Alumni

From DePaul’s pitch to NASA 🚀⚽️ Joseph Hart (CSH ’13) is helping detect ripples in spacetime with advanced lasers—proving Blue Demons go far beyond their field.

Learn how the collaboration between DePaul Athletics and faculty empowered Joseph to excel as a student-athlete while exploring new academic paths in physics and nonlinear dynamics—ultimately leading to his career at NASA.

https://bit.ly/3RTCx77

Google shows the campus.
We remember the moments. 💙

Swipe through how Google sees DePaul vs. how Blue Demons remember it. What DePaul memory would you add?

🎵 Alumni spotlight: John Zielinski (SOM ’79), a Chicago-based composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist, released Beyond Thought, an album of instrumental ambient music, nearly a year ago. Take a moment to listen and celebrate his work!

Happy birthday to Chicago’s shiniest icon!

20 years of reflections, selfies, skyline views, tourist photos, graduation pics and countless memories at The Bean.

Chicago wouldn’t be the same without you. 💙

Suzanne Hammer (BA ’04, MA ’12) is this year’s American Red Cross Blood Services Hero ❤️

After returning to DePaul in her 50s, Suzanne earned her degrees while working full-time (60+ hour weeks), paving a path from banking into nonprofit service. With decades of experience hosting blood drives, she built a career in blood banking, connecting corporate, educational, and nonprofit communities.

Guided by her passion for helping others, Suzanne worked with a professor to align her studies and graduated with an MA with a concentration in nonprofit management. Her journey shows how DePaul SCPS supports learners at every stage of life.

Even in retirement, she continues to give back—volunteering at Advocate Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, organizing drives and creating a welcoming experience for donors (often with homemade cookies!).

Honored for a lifetime of service, she reminds us: every blood donor is a hero. 💙

Scott Ellis (TTS ’78), a Tony Award–nominated director behind hits like You Can’t Take It With You and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, brought Flat DIBS along to his latest production, Fallen Angels—now boasting 5 Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Play 🎭✨ DIBS took in the show, met the cast, and capped off the night with Mark Consuelos and friends. Thank you, Scott, for brining DIBS to Broadway!

DePaul Theatre alumnus Zach Schnitzer (BFA, ‘24) premiered his film Loafers at the iconic as part of the film festival. Written and directed by .schnitzer and presented with producer Nate Simon, the screening capped off with a lively Q&A. A showcase of fresh, rising talent, .movie brings a new wave of recent grads to the screen, with much of the cast and crew made up of Schnitzer’s fellow alumni.

Flat DIBS visits Milwaukee!

This stop takes us to TMJ4 News, where DePaul alum Taj Simmons (CMN ’14) is making history as the station’s first reporter exclusively covering Lake Geneva/Walworth County.

From Good Day DePaul to reporting in Indianapolis, Des Moines, and now Milwaukee, Taj has built a career rooted in purpose and community. 💙

“DePaul taught me the true measure of success is how your hands lift up the community you serve.”

And that DePaul pennant on his desk? It’s the very same one he bought before freshman year — still traveling with him every step of the way!

This past Saturday, the DePaul community came together for Vincentian Service Day—an annual tradition rooted in service, compassion and action.

From Chicago to New York City, Los Angeles to Denver, and beyond, alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends rolled up their sleeves to make a difference in their local communities.

Whether it was cleaning parks, supporting food banks, serving thousands of residents or giving time to organizations in need, Blue Demons showed up in a big way.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and shared your impact with us. This is what it means to live out our Vincentian mission. 💙

Join fellow alumni and friends for an evening with President Robert L. Manuel as we come together to move DePaul forward. 💙

✨ Connect with President Robert L. Manuel

✨ Enjoy complimentary drinks & hors d’oeuvres

✨ Learn how DePaul is preparing to lead in a changing world

📅 May 12 | 6–7:30 p.m.

Free event. Registration required:
https://www.alumni.depaul.edu/s/1906/19/interior.aspx?sid=1906&gid=2&pgid=4676&cid=11398&ecid=11398&crid=0&calpgid=630&calcid=1537

Alumni stories like this remind us that careers aren’t always linear.

Fiacha D. Heneghan (CSH ’14) discovered violin making during the pandemic and now works professionally crafting fine instruments—recently featured in a widely viewed documentary, Building a Violin.

Read how his DePaul education laid the groundwork for lifelong curiosity and adaptability:
https://bit.ly/4t9IkTf