University News

Four Selected for 2025 Alumni Achievement Award

December 4, 2025

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Four Western Illinois University alumni have been selected to receive the 2025 WIU Alumni Achievement Award. The recipients will be honored at the Saturday, Dec. 20 Commencement exercises.

This year's Alumni Achievement honorees are president of Dentons Davis Brown law firm Lori Torgerson Chesser, president and CEO of Midwest Financial Group Matthew M. Cuplin, CEO and chairperson of QIS Behavioral Health Robert H. Haley and museum consultant and former director of the Wood Library Museum Matthew Toland.

Western's Alumni Achievement Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions in one or more of the following: exceptional accomplishment in one's chosen field of endeavor; exceptional service in community affairs at the local, state or national levels; or exceptional service in support of the advancement and continued excellence of WIU.

Lori Torgerson Chesser
Chesser, a 1984 Finance graduate, is a prominent immigration attorney and advocate in Des Moines, IA. After earning her juris doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law, she initially practiced corporate law before identifying the growing need for immigration services in Iowa. Chesser started at Dentons Davis Brown as a summer associate in 1988 and became president in January 2025.

Throughout the last 30 years, Chesser has developed and led a nationally recognized immigration law practice, representing a variety of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries including health care, insurance, IT, agribusiness and higher education.

Chesser has been recognized by multiple organizations for her work, including the Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations' Pro Bono Award in 1999, the Business Record's Forty Under 40 Class of 2022 and Women of Influence Award in 2008, the Immigrant Champion Award at the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit in 2011 and the A. Arthur Davis Distinguished Community Leadership Award by the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute in 2015. Additionally, Chesser has been the Immigration Law Lawyer of the Year for the Des Moines metropolitan area in 2020, 2024 and 2026, the 2025 Great Plains Super Lawyers list, the Chambers USA 2025 Immigration Iowa Band 1 and the Best Lawyers in America for Immigration Law every year from 2003 to 2026.

Outside of her work, Chesser has been deeply involved in immigration law and policy. Chesser was a co-founder and the first chair of the Iowa/Nebraska chapter of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She has also chaired multiple national committees and held numerous leadership positions within AILA. Chesser served on the board of trustees of the American Immigration Council for ten years, including two years as chair. In the community, Chesser has served as chair of organizations such as Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Des Moines and Nexus Executive Women's Alliance and is currently a board member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Central Iowa's chamber of commerce, and a member of Nexus Women's Executive Alliance and the Greater Des Moines Committee.

During her time at WIU, Chesser was involved in the student alumni council, serving as president for two years. She was also a member of the orientation team, Beta Gamma Sigma and the WIU choir. Chesser has been a consistent supporter of Leatherneck Athletics and the Malcolm and Mary Lou Torgerson Scholarship in the College of Business and Technology.

Matthew W. Cuplin
Cuplin, a 2005 Marketing and 2007 master of Sport Management graduate, is a decorated financial planner and business owner in Madison, WI. He started his career at Thrivent Financial in 2007 as a financial representative. In 2008, Cuplin was hired at Midwest Financial Group as a senior financial advisor. He became a Certified Financial Planner in 2015 and a Certified Financial Fiduciary shortly after. Since 2017, Cuplin has served as the President and CEO of Midwest Financial Group in addition to his senior financial advisor role.

Cuplin has earned numerous recognitions throughout his career, including Top 4 Under 40 Advisors in Wisconsin by the National Association for Insurance and Financial Advisors in 2016 and Top 4 Under 40 nationally by Advisory Today in 2017. In 2020, he was named to the InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 list.

Cuplin has been recognized by Forbes several times, including Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisor in 2019 and the national Best Next-Generation Wealth Advisors title in 2021. He was invited to join the Forbes Finance Council in 2019. In 2022, Forbes named Cuplin a Best-In-State Wealth Advisor. Earlier this year, Forbes recognized Cuplin again as a Best In-State Wealth Advisor and Midwest Financial Group as a Best In-State Wealth Management Team.

In 2023, Cuplin was named the Small Business Executive of the Year by In Business Magazine, based on his leadership, innovation and company success. In 2025, Cuplin was named to the AdvisorHub Advisors to Watch list.

Through Midwest Financial Group, Cuplin is a strong supporter of the Madison community, including the Boys & Girls Club and the Madison Mini Marathon and 5K. Cuplin can also be seen as a contributor on WISC-TV's "Buzzed into Madison" segment, providing financial insights and resources to the greater Madison community.

While a WIU student, Cuplin served as a resident assistant, was recognized as the Resident Assistant of the Year, was the founder of the men's club soccer team and was a member of the University Union Board and the student orientation team. He is also a former member of the WIU Alumni Council. Cuplin frequently supports the Leatherneck Athletics Purple & Gold Auction and has contributed to the upcoming Finance & Commodities Trading Lab project, among other philanthropic priorities.

Robert H. Haley

Haley, a 1985 Law Enforcement Administration and 1987 master of Law Enforcement Administration graduate, is the founder and CEO of an opioid treatment center outside of Cincinnati, OH. He has dedicated his 30-year career to the behavior health field, serving as the director of Premier Care of Illinois and Premier Care of Ohio. In 2017, he was instrumental in the opening of Choices Behavioral Health Care in Middletown, OH. Haley opened QIS Behavior Health in Middletown, OH, in 2020.

Outside of his professional career, Haley has deeply invested in WIU students. In 2023, Haley established the Haley Education Excellence Fund to provide scholarship support to students from Southern Illinois. When fully endowed, the $1 million fund will support approximately 40 students annually. Beyond his scholarship fund, Haley has also provided financial resources for multiple student experiences. He has supported Dumela Alumni Council, provided a five-figure gift to upgrade furniture in the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center lounge and has covered expenses for WIU students to attend and present at the National Council for Black Studies conference. He has also supported the GBCC Dance Troupe and the upcoming Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts.

As a student, Haley was a member of the Black Students Association. He worked as a graduate assistant in the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center. In 2024, Haley was selected as a recipient of a Black Excellence Award by the WIU Black Alumni Council. Based on his philanthropy, Haley has been recognized as a member of the Foundation Fellows for his lifetime giving and the Sherman Circle for his annual financial support.

Matthew Toland
Toland, a 2005 Women's Studies and 2010 master of Museum Studies graduate, is a museum consultant in Chicago. He has built a distinguished career advancing the preservation of cultural heritage and strengthening professional organizations.

Toland began his career as assistant director of the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies. He then went on to become the executive director of the International Preservation Studies Center, a museum director, then a professional museum association director, prior to launching his consulting business. He is a previous adjunct faculty member at WIU and Highland Community College.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Toland is deeply involved in his community. He performs in Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles and is a section leader for the Ravenswood Community Orchestra. Toland serves on the board of Gerber/Hart Library & Archives and has served on the boards of the Illinois State Historical Society, the Illinois Association of Museums and Quad Citians Affirming Diversity.

While at WIU, Toland was involved in UNITY (then BGLFA), Iota Iota Iota Honors Society, the Women's Center and Women's Studies Student Ambassadors. He has remained involved with WIU since graduating. He donated a framed portrait of Abraham Lincoln, made from an original glass plate negative from an 1860 portrait session, to WIU in 2013. In 2015, Toland coordinated the addition of 1,400 LGBTQA-related books to the WIU University Libraries.

In 2024, Toland wrapped up a 14-year stint on the Alumni Council, where he served in multiple roles including President. He was instrumental in establishing enduring traditions, including the Alumni Council President's Medallion, which is worn during commencement exercises, and the annual Alumni Council holiday ornament program. During his time on the council, Toland was a frequent attendee of alumni events across the United States and as far away as South Korea.

Toland has also been a strong financial supporter of WIU. In 2022, he established the Dr. Huang International Student Scholarship. He has also supported his academic programs, the Multicultural Center and Alumni Programs through his personal philanthropy. Toland is a member of the Foundation Fellows and is a Sherman Circle donor.

The WIU Alumni Achievement Award was established in 1971. To view a complete list of recipients, visit wiu.edu/alumni/recognition/past_achievement.php.

Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing