Barbara Arseneau completed two years of college at Black Hawk Community College in Moline and then earned a bachelor's degree in business education with honors from Illinois State University. She taught high school in the Kankakee area for 11 years and also taught business in the evening at KCC. Arseneau began working full-time in KCC’s Student Services department in 1985 and became an adviser in 1988. She has had advisement duties ever since. Arseneau earned a master's degree in school counseling in 2003 and is also qualified to interpret Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator and Career Assessment Inventory results. A strong proponent of community colleges, she enjoys helping students to identify and to achieve their educational and career goals.  “My goal in advising is to empower students to achieve and thereby to grow personally as well as academically,” she said. 

Words of advice: Take responsibility for your actions, your decisions, and your learning. Listen more; talk less.

Bonnie Bergeron has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo and a master’s degree in school counseling from Governors State University in University Park. Bergeron has been a full-time academic adviser, specializing in the health careers programs, since July 2007. Before this assignment, she was a part-time adviser while working for state and federal grant-funded programs at KCC since 1996. Before she began as a full-time adviser, Bergeron was director of the TRIO Talent Search program for five years. She lives in Bourbonnais with her husband, Richard, and enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and genealogy.

Favorite quote: “You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself.” --Ethel Barrymore

Oshunda Carpenter Williams is an academic adviser whose focus is Health Career programs. She believes that with guidance and effort, everyone aspiring to become a health care professional will succeed. Carpenter Williams has an associate degree in pre-teaching, secondary education from Ferris State University and a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Wayne State University, both in Michigan. After moving to Illinois and deciding that helping people realize their goals was her calling, she returned to college and earned a master's degree in communications and training from Governors State University. Oshunda’s family includes her husband, Richard, and daughters, Akinele Nyala and Nyila Nicole. “I hope to show people that there are many paths to a specific goal; a plan is all you need to begin," Carpenter Williams said. " Remember that nothing beats a failure but another try.”

Dwayne Musick is an academic adviser with a focus on Business (non-transfer) and Technology. Dwayne has a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Technology from Morehead State University and a master of arts degree in Student Personnel Services in Higher Education from Eastern Kentucky University, both in Kentucky. Dwayne joined KCC as a coordinator with the Upward Bound program and as a part-time academic adviser in June of 1999. In his free time he likes to listen to music, work puzzles and read novels, mainly western and science fiction. He enjoys spending time on the internet and talking to friends.

Meredith Purcell earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. and a master’s degree in education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Purcell is a full-time adviser specializing in transfer programs and has been with KCC since January 2008. Before KCC, she was the assistant director of student affairs at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago for three years. She has also served as an adviser for four years at the University of Illinois-Chicago and two years at Kishwaukee Community College in Malta. Purcell lives in Manteno with her husband, Andy, and two daughters, Grace and Abby. She enjoys running and swimming and has completed various marathons and triathlons but now spends most of her free time relaxing with her family and reading.

Favorite quote: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Don't give up too easily; persistence pays off in the end.” --Thomas H. Palmer

Elise Schultz earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish with an emphasis in secondary education from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from the University of Toledo in Ohio. Schultz began as a full-time academic adviser at KCC in May 2008. Previously, she taught English composition courses at KCC on a part-time basis for three years. Before moving to Illinois, Schultz taught English to international students at universities in Ohio and South Carolina, taught Spanish at the college and high school levels, and worked in a university office that coordinated international student services and promoted campus globalization. Schultz lives in Bourbonnais, with her husband, Warren. In her free time, she enjoys ballroom dancing, swimming, language learning, and travel—especially to warm seaside locations. 

A favorite saying: “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” --Chinese Proverb