NAA Service and Club Awards
Learn about the University's most dedicated volunteers.
The Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) relies on its dedicated volunteers to help fulfill its mission of inspiring alumni intellectually, socially, and professionally. These volunteers play a vital role in organizing programs that spark lifelong curiosity, connection, and growth among alumni. Their exceptional commitment and service will be honored at the NAA Service and Club Awards on October 11, 2026.
Service to Northwestern
Since 1941, this award has been the NAA’s most distinguished award for alumni volunteer service. It recognizes alumni whose volunteer leadership and exemplary, sustained service have made a lasting and meaningful impact on Northwestern University.
Ebony Campbell
Ebony Campbell ’05 MS has spent over a decade fostering the next generation of Northwestern talent. She has served as a mentor and alumni host across key mentoring initiatives with the NAA—including the NAA’s Northwestern Externship Program, Affinity Leaders and Learners Mentorship Program, and Northwestern Alumni Mentorship Program—as well as Northwestern’s Master in Science in Communication Alumni Association mentorship program pilot.
Professionally, Campbell is deputy chief of Resident Services Programs at the Chicago Housing Authority, where she leads equity-focused innovations, directs a team of more than 100, and stewards an expansive $30 million portfolio. She holds a master of science in communication from Northwestern with an emphasis on managing complexity and collaborative leadership—these principles fuel Campbell’s commitment to building pathways to economic mobility and disrupting persistent disadvantage.
Candy Deemer
Candy Kaelin Deemer ’76, ’77 MS is a founding member and past chair of the Council of One Hundred at Northwestern; has served on the board of advisers of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, the NAA Board of Directors’ executive committee, and multiple Reunion committees; and is a longtime member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle (NULC) giving society in Los Angeles. She was inducted into the Medill Hall of Achievement in 1997 and is currently chair of the Alumni Regents.
Deemer spent 23 years in advertising before retiring from DDB Worldwide in Los Angeles as chief operating officer/co-managing director in 2000. She then co-wrote Dancing on the Glass Ceiling, and started a new career as an executive coach, retiring again in 2026. Along the way, Deemer got married, had three sons, lived in Barcelona for a year, and traveled to more than 50 countries. She also co-founded Los Angeles Social Venture Partners, a nonprofit that connects business professionals as mentors to nonprofit leaders; served as a trustee of the Kappa Foundation; and discovered the joys of volunteering for Northwestern.
Ken Porrello
Ken Porrello ’78, ’82 MBA has served as chair of the McCormick Advisory Council for over 10 years. He has also served on the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences Advisory Board since 2005, as co-chair of multiple Northwestern class Reunions, as an Alumni Admissions Council volunteer, and as a student mentor. Porrello and his wife, Sherry McFall ’78, have generously provided support to the Kellogg School of Management, McCormick School of Engineering, and Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. Porrello also serves as a life trustee of the Civic Consulting Alliance and an emeritus trustee of Steppenwolf Theatre. He earned his BS in industrial engineering and management sciences from McCormick and his MBA from Kellogg.
Porrello spent most of his professional career at Deloitte Consulting, where, in addition to client service, he held a number of regional, national, and global leadership positions. Since leaving Deloitte in 2017, Ken was a founding investor in SteelCloud LLC, a cybersecurity software firm, and Kinzie Capital Partners LP, a private equity firm, and serves as an operating partner at Kinzie.
Club Leader of the Year
This award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and exemplary service to an affinity, international, or local club.
Randy Bennett
Randy Bennett ’88, ’91 MS serves as president of the NU Club of Orange County, where he has led the club’s revitalization since 2024, strengthening alumni engagement and expanding programming. Under his leadership, the club has renewed its presence and fostered a more connected, active alumni community. Previously, Bennett served on the board of the NU Club of San Diego. He also has supported Northwestern as a member of both his 30th and 35th class Reunion committees.
A marketing and business development executive, Bennett has more than 30 years of leadership experience with UPS and The UPS Store, where he has driven initiatives in product development, franchise growth, and customer experience. He is recognized for his collaborative, results-oriented leadership style and his ability to empower teams to deliver meaningful outcomes. Today, Bennett is a consultant for the transportation and logistics industry.
The Rising ’Cat
This award recognizes alumni for emerging volunteer leadership that significantly enhances alumni engagement. Honorees demonstrate initiative, commitment, and potential through voluntary service such as mentorship, student or alumni support, or school- and unit-based engagement.
Idil Kara
Idil Kara ’21 is president of the Northwestern Club of Greater New York, where she has been an active member since graduation, and sits on the NAA Club Leaders Council, working to build programs that engage younger and more diverse alumni nationwide. Originally from Turkey, Kara also serves on the board of the NU Club of Türkiye, bridging her roots with the Northwestern community. Additionally, she volunteers with the NAA Mentoring Program and Alumni Admission Council. Kara earned her bachelor of arts in economics and psychology from Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences in 2021. Professionally, she has dedicated her career to the world of startup companies, with a passion for building structures, systems, and teams from the ground up.
The Rock
Recipients of this award are alumni who have performed sustained, impactful volunteer service that has significantly advanced alumni engagement at Northwestern. This award honors individuals whose long-term commitment—across clubs, schools, units, or other University initiatives—has strengthened the Northwestern community through leadership, mentorship, advocacy, or service.
Michelle Madigan
Michelle Madigan ’02, ’03 MS is a dedicated Northwestern alumna. Madigan is a longtime member of the Council of One Hundred, where she has served as chair, Trailblazer Award lead, and membership chair. She also mentors students and alumni through the Northwestern Alumni Mentorship Program. While living in New York City, Madigan served as president of the NU Club of New York.
Madigan is an Emmy Award-winning producer for Dateline NBC, where she has spent more than two decades covering breaking news, major trials, natural disasters, and other high-profile events. She began her career at NBC News in 2003 with Today in New York City. She now resides in Southern California with her family.
Clubs of the Year
Presented to alumni clubs who have had an exemplary alumni impact as well as club growth and innovation. Winning clubs must have also excelled in governance and leadership, philanthropy and fundraising, and events and programming and achieved the Wildcat level in the Leading Strategies Model (LSM) in the fiscal year. The NAA presents up to four awards annually.