Matt Hlinak
Executive Director
Matt Hlinak served as Assistant Provost for Continuing Studies & Special Initiatives at Dominican University in River Forest, IL, for eleven years. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national honor society for adult learners, including a term as Society President in 2019-20. He previously managed professional development programs at Northwestern University and has taught courses in English, communications, and legal studies at Dominican, Northwestern, Ellis University, and the University of Illinois. Matt holds a JD from Illinois and an MFA in Creative Writing from Northwestern. He lives in River Forest with his wife, two daughters, two geriatric cats, and a dog.
Christopher Lockwood
Associate Executive Director
Director of the National English Honor Society (NEHS) and ELA Honor Society
Christopher Lockwood holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Keele (UK) and Loyola University New Orleans, an MPhil (Cantab) from the University of Cambridge (UK), an MEd from the University of Buckingham (UK), a CSML from Harvard University, and a PGCE from the University of Buckingham (UK). Prior to joining the English Honor Societies, Christopher was a middle and high school principal, a teacher of Shakespeare, the Contemporary Novel, and Modern Drama, and an NEHS Chapter Advisor. Aside from his work at the English Honor Societies, he is a professional translator and works on the University of Buckingham’s PGCE program. He is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and the Chartered College of Teaching, and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators.
Jeannine Szostak
Director of Society Operations
Jeannine has spent the bulk of her career in education, serving as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist/Vision Rehabilitation Therapist for students of all ages who are blind and visually impaired, as well as teaching undergraduate, graduate, and not-for-credit courses focusing on safety/disaster planning. She previously worked as the Assistant Director for the National Safety Education Center and as Assistant Director for NIU’s Affirmative Action office, where she earned certificates in both mediation and Title IX, and has served in private industry as a Construction Risk Manager and national recruiter in the energy sector. She holds a BA in Psychology, two MSEds focusing on blindness/vision impairments, and an MS in Industrial Safety/Disaster Planning, all from Northern Illinois University. She has four children, two boys and two girls, and an extremely social, 12-lb Pomeranian named Sherlock.
Katie Mudd
Director of Marketing & Communications
Katie Mudd holds a BA in English from the University of Kentucky, an MA in English from Eastern Kentucky University, and is a PhD candidate in English at Northern Illinois University where her research centers on women, beheading, and social order in Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur. She has taught developmental writing and freshman composition, as well as film and literature courses. Before returning to higher education, Katie was a copy editor and librarian for Thoroughbred Times, a weekly news magazine dedicated to the Thoroughbred racing industry. While with the Times, she worked on both the daily and weekly publications, as well as the annual Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac and the book Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America’s Breeding Industry. Katie joined Sigma Tau Delta during her time at EKU and was Vice President of the Sigma Epsilon Chapter. In 2015 Katie began working with the Central Office as a Graduate Assistant and became a full-time member of the team in 2016. She particularly enjoys the student-facing aspects of her job.
Namon Kent
Director of Technology
Originally from Florida, Namon Kent enjoys long walks with his wife Mary Jo and hanging out with his son and daughter, Randy and Rachel. When he is not spending time with his family, he plays a mean game of chess, enjoys short runs, and reading a good book.
Nicole Adams
Event Planner
Nicole Adams is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in organizational leadership and public administration. Holding a BA in Organizational Leadership and currently pursuing an MPA, Nicole brings a rich blend of process insight and practical experience to the office. As a devoted wife and mother of three, she balances family life with a passion for music as the Musical Director of the Rockford Barbershop Chorus in Rockford, IL. Nicole also shares her home with three beloved dogs, adding an extra layer of joy to her busy life. In addition to these roles, she serves as a Guardian ad Litem, advocating for the best interests of the elderly.
Dawn Jamrog
Membership Specialist
Dawn Jamrog has worked for the English Honor Societies Central Office for nine years. While she prefers to work behind the scenes, her favorite part of the job is getting to know and helping the Chapter Advisors. Before her current role with the English Honors Societies, Dawn volunteered and worked at her children’s schools before they graduated. She has worked in various customer service jobs over the past 30 years. In her spare time, she loves listening to music, reading, and going to concerts. She also loves to go on day trips and checking out new antique stores with her husband and two kids. She also has an adorable 11 year old cat, Kit.
Marge Clements
Nonprofit Administrator
Marge Clements comes to us from a varied, 21+ year career in banking, most recently with Wells Fargo. She was primarily focused on mortgage lending; however, also spent 10 years analyzing securities account portfolios as well. Simultaneous to her regular working hours, she helped to found a fledgling nonprofit in Charlotte, NC, called What if Everyone, Inc and is still on the Board of Directors for this organization. Her administrative strengths led to her Paralegal Degree and also to volunteering with other nonprofits in various positions including assisting in the formation of other grass-roots organizations. She is also currently an Organizer with the Ethels Group, a division of AARP.
Marge is currently an empty-nester with her son still living in Charlotte, NC, and her daughter in Denver, CO. She shares her home with her 2 lively Miniature Pinchers and is active in the community of Sycamore, IL. Her first love is for the Cubs baseball team and still says that the week of the World Series was the best week of her life!
Arshiya Bhasin
Technology Graduate Assistant
Arshiya Bhasin is a Master’s student in Management Information Systems at Northern Illinois University with over six years of experience in front-end development. She has worked as a Senior Software Developer at organizations including John Deere, Publicis Sapient, and Airtel Africa. In 2025, she joined English Honor Societies as a Graduate Assistant, where she leads automation, web, and systems initiatives across multiple programs to improve operational efficiency. Outside of work and academics, Arshiya shares her life with her husband, her “partner in crime,” who brings balance and joy to her busy schedule.
Elizabeth Addai-Owusu
Communications Graduate Assistant
Elizabeth Addai-Owusu is a Communications Graduate Assistant at Northern Illinois University, where she works with the Department of English. She oversees the English Honor Societies’ social media presence and helps market opportunities to student and Chapter Advisor members across multiple programs. Elizabeth’s interests lie at the intersection of communication, storytelling, and data-informed strategy, and she is especially passionate about student-centered engagement and community building through digital platforms.
