LeAnn Beaty, daughter of Lois Ahrendt_Meyer and the late Robert K. Meyer of Rock County, received her Ph.D. in Political Science on August 8, 2009 from Northern Illinois University. The date fell coincidentally on the same day as her youngest daughter's wedding in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Dr. Beaty lived in Anchorage, Alaska for 22 years before returning to graduate school in 2001. After receiving her MPA degree from Missouri State University, she taught American Government in China for one semester, and then returned to Illinois to complete her doctoral work in public administration. Dr. Beaty is an Assistant Professor for Eastern Kentucky University, where she teaches in the Department of Government's Masters of Public Administration Program.