Listen in as Harper College alumni share their stories, experiences, and life journeys. Through Harper Talks conversations lead by Assistant Professor of Communication Arts Brian Shelton, Alumni are invited to share how education, career successes and failures and human connection have impacted them along the way.
From toy designer in Venezuela to medical interpreter in the United States and ultimately a neuro ICU nurse, Harper College alumna Elda Holbrook discusses her road to finding her calling on the latest Harper Talks. A 2024 Harper College graduate and HOPE Scholarship recipient, Elda reflects on the financial support, hands-on learning and unexpected opportunities, including studying healthcare in South Africa, that helped shape her path. Today, Elda is a registered nurse in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and shares how she thrives in the fast-paced environment of the Neurointensive Care Unit, where she cares for patients experiencing some of their most critical moments.
5 Jun 2026
Harper Talks Episode 54 - Kris Piepenburg
Harper Talks host Brian Shelton sits down with retiring Harper College English Professor and alumnus Kris Piepenburg to reflect on a remarkable journey that began as a Harper student in 1979. Kris shares memories of a very different campus, his experiences as a WHCM radio DJ, and his role in bringing legendary musical acts like Survivor and Pat Metheny to Harper. He also discusses the professors who inspired his path, his career in publishing, and his return to Harper as a faculty member who would spend more than three decades shaping students’ lives.
23 Apr 2026
Harper Talks Episode 53 – Kiara Trejo
As the construction manager leading the work on Harper’s new Canning Student Center, alumna Kiara Trejo shares her full circle journey from Harper College to IIT to her current role at Ardmore Roderick. She discusses breaking barriers as a Latina in a male-dominated field, the value of hands-on learning, and how networking opened unexpected doors, including her return to Harper. Kiara offers insight into career growth and why stepping outside your comfort zone can change everything.
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