Alumni Spotlight

Our alumni have some pretty amazing stories to tell. Harper alumni have overcome significant obstacles, worked hard on their journey toward success and are making great contributions in both career and community. If you have an idea for an Alumni Spotlight story, contact alumni@harpercollege.edu.

A large group of Harper College alumni and staff smiling and waving together during the Harper @ Work event at the Zurich Center.

Harper @ Work: Celebrating Alumni and Workforce Partnerships at Zurich Center

Harper @ Work at Zurich Center brought together alumni and corporate partners to celebrate Harper’s workforce collaborations and the growing community of alumni thriving at Zurich, Wheels, and ADP. Read More

Lillian Xie, Harper College Distinguished Scholar alumna and youngest planned giving donor.

Lillian Xie: A Full-Circle Journey of Purpose and Philanthropy

The Distinguished Scholar alumna shares how a Harper scholarship shaped her journey and why she became the college’s youngest planned giving donor. Read More

Alumna Ushna Zamir shares how Harper’s Speech and Debate team changed her career path on Harper Talks

The human resources professional discusses the lifelong friends she made as a Harper College student and the impact of one professor’s belief in her. Read More

Harper College, Partners for Our Communities partnership transformed Erick Flores’ life

The Harper alum and his family found support and success beginning with Harper English literacy classes, and free child care, at POC’s Community Resource Center in Palatine. Read More

Alumnus Steven Mastandrea discusses how Harper connected him with internet pioneers on Harper Talks

The software engineer’s time at Harper College helped him decide to pursue a career in computer engineering, landing him on the ground floor of the modern internet in the ’90s. Read More

Alumnus Andrew Payette shares how Harper connected him with a public policy career on Harper Talks

The constituent services liaison for the office of Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi discusses how his Harper College experience prepared him for apolitical work helping constituents on the newest episode of the Harper Talks alumni podcast. Read More

From ESL student to teacher: A full-circle moment for Harper alum

When Roger Doherty-Ramirez signed up for Harper College Foundation’s Interactive Tour last fall, he didn’t anticipate an emotional homecoming. Read More

Carolina Szoepe works as a GIS project assistant

Harper’s GIS program graduates find success in an expanding field

Alumni Carolina Szoepe and Ryan Facks embarked on careers in geographical information systems because of the skills they honed and the encouragement they received in Harper College’s GIS program. Read More

Latinos Unidos alumni reunion celebrates club’s impact and finding ‘family’ on campus

Current and former members of Harper College’s club for Latine students recently joined together to honor its legacy of support and inclusion. Read More

Ten Questions with Isaac Jean-Paul

Isaac Jean-Paul, 2024 Harper College Commencement speaker, on being a father, the inspiring world of adaptive sports, why "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield brings a smile to his face, and more. Read More