Distinguished Alumni Awards 2001
Fall 2004, Spring 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996

James Rose received his B.S. from Northern Illinois University and continued his education at Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management where he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Management, Finance, Accounting and Information Systems. James feels that his job during high school as manager at Kentucky Fried Chicken gave him a strong foundation and a sense of business for his future career.

After graduation, James worked for Deloitte and Touche and ACNielsen, Inc., becoming Managing Director for the company in the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. In 1996 James was Chief Executive Officer of Blackwell Information Services in Oxford, England, and then became Chief Executive Officer of United Information Group in London, England, a $200-million global supplier of marketing information services.

At present, James is the CEO of QXL.com, Europe’s leading on-line auction retailer for business-to-business and consumer-to-consumer transactions. He is a member of the Northwestern University Graduate School of Management Alumni Advisory Board, in addition to being on the boards of directors of several companies. Also, James is a member of the Royal Society, a British institution which promotes the arts and sciences. On a personal level, James feels his greatest achievement involves his family, especially sons Brian and Brandon. James is married to Deborah, and the family resides in Chalfont St. Giles, England.

Sarah D. Vega
Class of 1981

Sarah Vega’s character and leadership have brought her success in the very best sense of the term. She earned her B.A. and Juris Doctor degrees from DePaul University and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989. While at DePaul, Sarah was a member of several honorary societies and fraternities and also received the distinguished Arthur J. Schmitt Student Leadership Award.

Sarah was employed by the office of the Secretary of State as a hearing officer in the Administrative Hearings Division and as an enforcement attorney for the Illinois Securities Department. In 1991 Sarah joined the Department of Financial Institutions as Supervisor of the Credit Union Division where her responsibilities included the regulation and oversight of 500 state-chartered credit unions with total assets of $13.5 billion. Sarah is the former Chairman of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors.

Currently, Sarah is the Director of the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions, having been appointed by Governor Ryan. As the only female Hispanic in Governor Ryan’s cabinet, she has unique insight into state government. She manages a staff of 100 and administers the enforcement of the Illinois Financial Institutions Code in the entire State of Illinois.

Sarah is proud of both her professional and personal achievements. She resides in Chicago with her husband, Leonard Sherman, and their twin daughters, Marissa and Elizabeth.