In Memory

Professor

Gail Berger

Gail, clinical professor of management and organizations and deputy director of the Center for Executive Women, passed away on Dec. 16, 2025, at age 50. A Kellogg alumna who received her MBA in 2001, followed by her Ph.D. in 2003, Gail had an extensive career at Northwestern, beginning as an adjunct professor with the School of Education and Social Policy. Over 12 years, she also held appointments in the McCormick School of Engineering and the School of Communication.

At Kellogg she taught a wide range of courses, from communication and conflict resolution to negotiations and leading with purpose. Gail was particularly dedicated to women’s leadership, serving as a pillar of the Women’s Senior Leadership Program and the Women’s Director Development Program. She was a key architect of the Kellogg Global Women’s Summit and Kellogg Women’s Forums, creating spaces where alumni form meaningful relationships while navigating professional and personal challenges together.

Associate Dean

Vennie Lyons

Vennie passed away on Feb. 14, 2026, at the age of 81. He served as associate dean of the Evening & Weekend MBA Program from 1972 until his retirement in 2011. Vennie had just earned his own MBA from Kellogg in 1972 when he was invited to lead the Evening & Weekend MBA Program at a moment of significant transformation. Over the next four decades, he shaped and defined the part-time MBA experience for generations of students. During his tenure, the program grew from roughly 400 students to more than 1,000, while maintaining the same academic rigor and faculty engagement as the full-time program. Vennie was unwavering in his commitment to excellence. He believed deeply that the Part-Time MBA Program should be a world-class experience — equal in standards, opportunity and ambition to its full-time counterpart.

1988

Marco Peruzzi

A longtime leader at Edison, headquartered in Milan, Marco passed away on Jan. 13, 2026, after a long illness. His lengthy career was closely tied to the development and modernization of Italy’s energy sector, and he left a significant mark, particularly on the transition and industrial organization of the electricity industry. An Italian citizen, he was carried to his final resting place in a Maserati.

2023

Leticia Rezende de Almeida

Leticia, who worked at McKinsey & Company starting in 2019, passed away in October 2025. A lover of sunsets and Formula One, she completed the One-Year MBA Program in 2023.