By: Leo Boshardy
College of DuPage recently honored five alumni for their outstanding achievements during the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards Reception.
Recognized for their accomplishments were John Atkinson, Chris Johnson, Pamela McLean Meyerson, Marisol Nichols and Shelby Van Pelt.
COD President Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi congratulated the honorees on their success.
“Moving on from COD is not the end—it is just another beginning,” he said. “We are happy to maintain a relationship with our alumni to watch their personal and professional growth, celebrate their accomplishments, and continue offering support and encouragement.”
COD's Alumni Engagement, part of the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Foundation, keeps alumni and friends informed of College happenings and invites them to get involved. This includes becoming part of the Chaparral Alumni Network, which fosters a lifelong connection with COD.
John Atkinson, Business Leader (’81)
Atkinson earned an Associate in Arts degree at COD before completing a bachelor’s degree in political science at Benedictine University. He built a distinguished career in business leadership and public service, currently serving as managing director at Marsh, the world’s largest insurance broker, where he leads strategy, risk and people solutions and serves as chairman of Marsh Chicago. Appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to several key leadership roles, Atkinson chairs Illinois EDC, driving statewide business attraction and economic development, and served as chairman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education from 2019 to 2024. During this same period, he also chaired the State Universities Retirement System of Illinois, overseeing a $27 billion pension fund serving more than 236,000 members worldwide. Earlier in his career, he directed the rapid growth of one of North America’s fastest-growing business units and expanded the Chicago presence of Willis Towers Watson as executive vice president and managing director.
Chris Johnson, Cinema Executive (’87)
When Johnson earned his Associate in Arts degree, he inspired his mother to later complete her own degree. He then finished a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Illinois Chicago and an MBA in entrepreneurial studies and finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Today, Johnson is the owner of Tivoli Enterprises, Inc., and CEO of Classic Cinemas, a regional movie theater chain headquartered in Downers Grove with 16 locations and 144 screens across Illinois and Wisconsin. He began his career in 1980 as an usher and has since built over 40 years of experience in operations, finance, HR, IT and strategic planning. Since 2014, Johnson has served as president of NATO of Illinois, advocating for theater owners across the state, while also holding leadership roles with the Entertainment Food & Beverage Association, the National Association of Theater Owners – Wisconsin/Upper Michigan and Cinema United. He also sits on the boards of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation and the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.
Pamela McLean Meyerson, Retired Judge (’78)
Meyerson earned her Associate in Arts degree while persevering through a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Disease and treatment during her freshman year. She went on to graduate with top honors from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration before earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. Meyerson built a distinguished legal career, starting in commercial litigation at Antonow & Fink and later Goldberg Kohn Ltd., before founding her own firm dedicated to civil litigation, business law and election law. Deeply committed to service, she offered pro-bono support in foreclosure mediation and criminal record expungement and served as an arbitrator in Cook County’s Mandatory Arbitration Program for over 20 years. In 2013, Meyerson was appointed to the bench in Cook County. She was elected the following year and retained in 2020. Over her judicial career, she presided in traffic court, foreclosure court and the Chancery Division, retiring in January 2025.
Marisol Nichols, Actress and Humanitarian (’92)
While at COD, Nichols twice won the National Speech and Theatre Championship Award, a testament to her talent and dedication. She has remained a strong advocate for the College, often crediting COD with helping her to find a path during a rebellious youth and launch her foray into acting. Nichols’ credits during her decades-long career include her roles as Nadia Yassir on the Fox series “24” and Hermione Lodge on The CW Network’s “Riverdale.” In addition to her on-screen success, Nichols makes a difference through Slavery Free World, the nonprofit she founded to combat human trafficking. She has been deputized as an undercover operative, working alongside law enforcement and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad for the past decade. She was recognized by President Barack Obama with the President’s Distinguished Volunteer Service Award, received the Sword and Shield Award from the Attorney General Alliance, and was honored at the Yahoo Makers Conference in 2022 as a featured speaker on human trafficking.
Shelby Van Pelt, Author (’22)
In the acknowledgements of her debut novel, “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” Van Pelt credited “writing workshop folks at College of DuPage and instructor Madelle Fortier,” noting the impact these experiences had on shaping her work. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics, Van Pelt’s former career in consulting took a turn when she decided to try writing fiction. On a whim, she signed up for a six-week adult learning session at Emory University in Atlanta, where she lived at the time. Her story’s first pages were written in that class, where she found a community of critique partners and fellow writers. After moving with her family to Wheaton, Van Pelt discovered that same sense of community in COD’s Continuing Education program, where she finish her novel. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” was an instant New York Times Bestseller and has sold more than 2 million copies. The book was also selected as a Read with Jenna Today Show book club pick, won the 2023 Heartland Booksellers Award for Fiction and earned the McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize. Currently in production as a Netflix film, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” has established Van Pelt as a celebrated voice in contemporary fiction.