Alumnae Notes

Sparkle Whitaker ‘18 attended Washington University in St. Louis and currently works as a Business Technology Analyst for Deloitte. She is the founder and driving force behind two game-changing initiatives, “The Onyx Incubator” and “The Onyx Label”. “The Onyx Incubator” is a non-profit educational collective dedicated to empowering at-risk youth through design workshops and mentorship. The program offers young people the chance to develop their creative and social skills, helping them build a brighter future. “The Onyx Label,” on the other hand, is a fashion brand founded and led by Sparkle, which is committed to sustainable, on-demand production and the implementation of zero-waste techniques. By offering stylish and accessible fashion while reducing its impact on the environment, “The Onyx Label” is making a significant contribution to a more sustainable future. She is a leader in her field, inspiring others to follow her example and make a positive impact on the world.

Read the Q&A with Sparkle

Karen Spears ‘13 is a lettering artist, creative director, and founder of Kareracter, based in Chicago. At McAuley, Karen was a Daniel Murphy Scholar and after graduation she continued to the University of Missouri and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a minor in Business. Early in her career, Karen had the privilege of working for Google & Leo Burnett and served as a programming advisor for the Obama Foundation. In 2015, she founded Kareracter Creative Studio in her dorm room, a creative firm specializing in hand-lettering and graphic design. In 2018, she was named Emerging Designer by the Professional Association of Design in Chicago, IL. Soho House recognized her as one of Chicago’s Rising Stars in 2021, and more recently, she has been featured on WGN, WGN Radio, NBC, Fox, and WTTW. Kareracter’s most recent project is The Wintrust Mural, in collaboration with The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund. Today, Karen can be found managing the personal brands of media personalities and non-profit leaders, running a team of creatives, conducting mind-mapping strategy sessions with business owners, mentoring young designers of color, and supporting causes that champion the advancement of women and girls.

Read the Q&A with Karen

Jessica Jones ‘09 graduated from Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School in 2009. After McAuley, she attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 2013 with her Bachelor of Arts and her Masters in Education in 2015. She is currently working as a Senior Educator in the Education Department at the Museum of Science and Industry. In this role, Jessica provides professional development experiences for teachers and administrators throughout the Chicagoland area. She also works as adjunct faculty for the University of Notre Dame, Alliance for Catholic Education, teaching and mentoring aspiring and new classroom teachers. Jessica attributes much of her drive and confidence to her time as a student at Mother McAuley. As a young McAuley woman, she learned to strive for her goals while trusting and collaborating with her peers.

Read the Q&A with Jessica

A leader in the Entertainment and Marketing industry for 20+ years, Nikki Jennings ‘88 has a passion for marketing, live events, branding, consumer engagement, TV event production logistics, project and talent management. Her attention to detail, professionalism and savvy executions has allowed her to work with major corporations, media, and select government agencies. Nikki worked at Black Entertainment Television (BET) for 15 years, starting in an entry-level marketing position and working her way up to Senior Director of Off-Channel Marketing and Promotions for the network. She oversaw the development and implementation of Award Winning Marketing campaigns for BET programming and specials. One of Nikki’s proudest accomplishments while in this position was creating, managing and overseeing the development of BET’s College Marketing Representative Program in colleges and universities across the United States. The program was so successful it was implemented by over 48+ colleges as part of its internship curriculum. Nikki mastered her marketing skills and garnered a vast network of stakeholders that became the lever to open the doors of Jennings Global Media Group, LLC; a woman and minority-owned boutique agency with over 20+ years of experience. Nikki is committed and has a strong desire to help aspiring young adults seeking a career in the marketing and entertainment industry.

Read the Q&A with Nikki