a publication of butler university
“My time abroad brought me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to go beyond what I believed my limits were. It helped me reimagine my view of the world, as well as myself.”
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FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 MISSION MEASURED Dr. Khalilah Shabazz is ready to engage on DEI
A LIFE ABROAD A case of wanderlust for Laura Anderson ’15
A TASTE FOR TRAVEL Butler faculty team up to explore the science of food
NEW PLACES, NEW SKILLS Kent and Jeanne VanTyle facilitate secondary language programs
LEADERSHIP ABROAD Business and Pharmacy programs provide worldwide experiences
BROAD HORIZONS Q&A with Butler’s Director of Global Enagement, Jill McKinney MS ’11
IT’S ALL ABOUT SUCCESS Gary Beaulieu helps students discover their passions 18 FINDING AUTHENTICITY Maddie Silverstein ’14 turns searching into a career 20 DREAM BIG Nick Huang ’18 wants to show you how to get your dream job
NAVIGATING UNEXPECTED PATHS Abbas Rizvi ’12 credits an internship for a major career shift
INTERN AS THE TEACHER Butler interns help Seven Corners stay ahead of the game
GETTING INVOLVED The Basement is providing opportunities for interns...and beyond 28 SIGMA GAMMA RHO AT 100 Commemorating seven trailblazers 29 CAPTURING THE ESSENCE Butler develops new mission statement 30 75 YEARS OF BUTLER THEATRE The department celebrates its history of storytelling
HOMECOMING IN PHOTOS A banner weekend for all
Thank you to the many Butler students and alumni who generously shared their internship and study abroad photos for this issue.
Each autumn, as I see the leaves on our campus change into beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow, Robert Frost’s celebrated poem The Road Not Taken often comes to mind. Perhaps the imagery of the yellow wood or the fallen leaves is what ties the work to autumn for me, but more notably, the poem invokes the theme of change and new beginnings and opportunities—a motif that is very much apparent on campus this time of year.
On my nightly campus walks with my dog, Daisy, it is easy to see the campus foliage physically shift colors. But the most measurable change occurs within our students as they immerse themselves in campus life, explore new coursework, start new internships and professional experiences, cultivate new personal and professional relationships, and boldly navigate their own path—whether it follows their plans or leads them down a road not taken.
I am occasionally invited by a Butler faculty member to join a class session and share my own personal and professional journey. I cite times when I confronted critical decisions and chose a path, arguably, less taken, whether it was selling my business at age 37 to pursue an MBA degree, or later moving my family to pursue new career opportunities. Exploring the road less taken may not have always been the easiest way, and as I tell students, you’ll never know what the outcome would have been if you went in another direction, so leave that behind and move confidently ahead in pursuit of the life and career intended for you.
Our students often tell me about all the amazing things they are doing. More often than not, these stories include phrases like I never realized that this was something I could do or I never pictured myself doing this or I had no idea this was what I wanted to do until I took this course or started this internship. And in many of these anecdotes, diverging from an intended path and opting for a new experience has led to a newly discovered passion, a previously unknown skill, or a changed perspective.
While the students may not realize it, these types of stories speak volumes about the positive impact of the Butler experience as they are encouraged to think critically, explore opportunities outside of their comfort zone, and challenge themselves to imagine the possibilities of what a new internship or area of study could do for them. When I hear these stories, I cannot help but be grateful for the faculty and staff on campus who foster these opportunities and experiences. These conversations provide just a sample of the stories that speak to the power of exploration and how our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are charting their own courses and choosing a path less traveled.
Without the generosity and support of our alumni, community partners, and donors, many of these stories would end differently. The scope of community experiences, the relationships, and networks that open new doors, the endowed scholarships and gifts, and the brand-new facilities on campus make these life-changing opportunities possible. For so many of our students and alumni, these experiences have made all the difference.
In this edition of Butler Magazine, we explore a variety of stories about the unique paths our students have taken. These conversations always ignite so much gratitude and appreciation for the faculty and staff on our campus who help our students find their way. As you browse the pages, I hope you are reminded of the period of growth and discovery that decided your life’s path.
Best regards, James Danko
Long before the initials DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) were part of the lexicon, Ovid Butler founded the University that bears his name with a goal to admit students “without distinction on account of sex, race, or color.”
One hundred and sixty-seven years later, Dr. Khalilah Shabazz, Butler’s new Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, intends to build on that mission.
“All of what Butler is links back to the importance of diversity, the movement toward equity, and being inclusive,” she says. “An incredible amount of work has been going on here through the years. Now it’s time to take a broader institutional approach and make sure we are doing things in a way that impacts our campus and our community.”
The University has made DEI one of its strategic priorities. That means working across the campus to make sure individuals of all identities, backgrounds, and perspectives are part of the Butler community at all levels—students, faculty, and staff.
As Shabazz gets situated in her position—she started work on September 12—she says she will be thinking about diversity broadly. She wants the campus to be welcoming for all. To make sure everyone has a voice in the decision-making process and feels valued and supported. The goal is to attract and retain the best talent.
Shabazz says the reason to embrace DEI—not only at Butler, but in society at large—is simple. “In today’s society, DEI is what we’re living and existing in. We’re preparing our students to live in a global world. We need to be able to centralize and work better at providing direction of who we are as an institution that values DEI because we want folks to work here and attend as students. The demographics of our nation are shifting. If we don’t prepare ourselves to be able to welcome and engage individuals from diverse backgrounds, we’re putting ourselves in a challenging position.”
Shabazz—people call her “Dr. K”—describes herself as being in the “landscaping phase” of DEI at Butler.
That is, she’s working “to understand who we are and what we do and get an inventory of our initiatives around DEI.”
With the inventory in hand, she plans to elevate, enhance, and educate. She’s looking for what Butler’s administration, units, and six colleges are doing that need to be elevated across campus. We need to bring them to light, she says, so we can share best practices.
At the same time, she intends to identify what needs to be enhanced. In other words, what can we build upon? Are we using our resources in the best way? Are we being collaborative in identifying partners in this work?
Finally, there’s educating. “I imagine that a lot of what’s happening, people don’t know about,” she says. Her plan is to let people know about all the resources and opportunities relative to DEI. What’s going well? What are the shining moments? What are the gaps we can work on together to address?
If all goes as planned, Shabazz wants more people to feel that they belong at Butler and that they believe Butler educates around DEI principles. She hopes to hear of fewer incidents of bias, discrimination, and microaggressions, and to see greater representation and sense of belonging among students, faculty, and staff of diverse backgrounds (including race, abilities, LGBTQ+ identity, religion, and perspectives). She also wants to see the entire Butler community even more committed to its founding mission.
But, she says, she can’t do it alone. “I am approaching this work as a catalyst and a collaborator and as someone who’s helping to define the strategic direction of where we’re headed. It doesn’t eliminate the need for individuals and academic units to still continue to do the work. I’m trying to make sure that as we do this work, we’re going in the same direction. The messaging should be the same, the impact the same. I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the Butler community so I have a strong understanding of The Butler Way and how we make DEI central to that.”
Laura Anderson ’15 lives and works in London as a change management officer at Selfridges & Co., the top-ranked department store in the world.
In this role, it’s her job is to assist the company in its transformation and transition toward modern automation and processes.
“Change management is a growing industry,” Anderson says. “It’s most common in large organizations and industries that have been around for ages and ages and have outdated systems and technology solutions.”
A decade ago, Anderson gave little thought to life outside the United States, let alone how to launch a thriving career abroad.
In 2011, a wide-eyed first-year from St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson moved into Ross Hall oblivious to what it meant to study abroad.
Was it a gap year for undeclared students? Could it be a chance to galavant across Europe for a couple of months?
Her perspective and interest in international travel changed when she switched her major to Critical Communication and Media Studies.
She also spoke with Jill McKinney MS ’11 (then Associate Director of the Center for Global Education and now Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and Director of Global Engagement) and learned about the wide range of study abroad opportunities Butler offered.
“[My coursework] really drove me to change how I thought about the world and pushed me to reconsider my worldview,”
Anderson says. “I wanted to embrace my own opportunities and figure some things out for myself.
During her final two years of undergrad, Anderson lived in three additional countries while working toward her degree. First, she spent the summer prior to her junior year in South Africa with faculty from the College of Communication, including professors Margaretha Geertsema-Sligh and Ann Savage.
In addition to providing her with the opportunity to dive with great white sharks in Cape Town, Anderson was able to work toward her degree and experience an introduction to the richness that a life abroad offered.
Next, she spent the fall semester in the Netherlands at the partnering institution, the University of Maastricht.
“That was completely on my own and life-changing,” Anderson says. “When you go to college, you’re still surrounded by faculty and many curated experiences to prepare you for your first time away from home. Being abroad was the first opportunity to completely be out on my own. People spoke a different language, I experienced culture shock, and overcame ambiguous situations and barriers.”
Upon her return, as her friends spoke of their once-in-alifetime experiences abroad, Anderson again felt called to flee the comforts of home and further broaden her horizon.
“I was really eager to see what other opportunities there were,” Anderson says. “I thought, ‘what’s next?’”
The next summer she landed a position with World Next Door Magazine as a multimedia journalist intern.
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, she covered a safari and lake district destination, often overlooked by international
tourists, as well as a story about a local nonprofit led by and funded by local Kenyans.
“My roommates and colleagues were Kenyan,” Anderson says, “and I fully immersed myself in that experience.”
During her senior year, she returned to the Butler campus and worked as an operations and communications intern at Indy Hostel, where she would interact with international guests daily, but the itch to return abroad never subsided.
She frequently discussed post-graduation interests with her Butler professors, Kristin Swenson and Allison Harthcock, to explore options for completing a master’s program abroad.
Not only did they work extensively to help her fit her various internships and study abroad opportunities into her schedule, but she found everyone was heavily invested in her future endeavors.
In 2015, Anderson enrolled at the University of London, where she received a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies.
“Once I got here, I fell in love with the city itself,” Anderson says. “The vibrancy of everyday life here and the hustle and
bustle. Of course, you’ve also got to love a bit of dry British sarcasm. London is just so saturated with language, culture, and access to anything in the world just within the city itself.”
Over the next five years, she advanced her career in researchrelated roles at various companies, such as The Guardian and Virgin Media.
In fall 2019, Anderson began her career as a Change Management Officer at Selfridges. Though she’s no longer working within the media industry, she still leans on her education daily.
“Thinking about my audience and how people need to actually receive information in order to process it is at the core of my role,” Anderson says. “My strong communication background absolutely enabled me to be successful today.”
In addition to calling London home, she’s visited 32 countries across five continents. Up next on her list are destinations in South America and Antarctica.
“Without my experiences studying abroad, I wouldn’t have had the confidence, the curiosity, or the urge to move to London and to start a life and career or even think of it as an option,” Anderson says. “Each one of those experiences showed me that I had the necessary capabilities, skill set, and tools. I have to credit a lot of that to the Butler faculty.”
“I wanted to embrace my own opportunities and figure some things out for myself.”
When Anne Wilson and Mike Samide led a group of 31 Butler community members on a trip to Europe this past summer, it was about more than just tourism. By focusing on food—as well as the science, cultures, and history behind it—the Chemistry professors aimed to reconnect participants with the classroom experience.
By Katie Grieze
“It was travel for a purpose,” Wilson says about the tour, which included Butler alumni, faculty, staff, and their families. “We wanted to bring people together and be traveling for a reason. It was exactly what we were hoping it would be.”
That hope began more than four years ago. The inaugural Alumni Travel Tour was planned for summer 2020, incorporating topics with mass appeal: beer, wine, cheese, and chocolate. Wilson and Samide launched their Science of Food event series in 2018 to give guests a taste of the concept.
But following the sold-out gatherings at local businesses like Metazoa Brewing and Tulip Tree Creamery, they had to shift along with the rest of the world. Restaurants closed. Events moved online. And the European tour was rescheduled— twice.
Wilson and Samide used the extra time to deliver some of the curriculum they had planned to cover while abroad, sending out videos and research prompts to keep the would-betravelers engaged. After two years of backyard meet-ups and online content, the group set out for their 10-day trip in early June.
They began in Paris, where a sommelier demonstrated how swirling wine can show its sugar content, and how holding the glass up to light reveals acidity. They learned that wines can vary based on where they are produced. At another shop, an artisan chocolatier served pumpkin praline candy made with responsibly sourced cacao.
Travelers also spent time exploring on their own. There was less structure than on student trips, but they came back together each day to share their experiences.
“I have been to Paris several times now, so it was the people that made this trip special to me,” says Mary Shaw ’93, a Business Marketing grad who attended Butler on a full basketball scholarship before launching her career as an entrepreneur. “I wear a lot of different hats for Butler: I’m on the Board of Visitors, I’ve served in the Central Indiana Alumni Community, and I’m part of the Giving Circle. I also have season tickets to Butler Basketball. So my husband and I already knew a lot of the people going, but it felt like we all became a closer family.”
Traveling as part of a large, faculty-led group also gave participants a richer experience of their surroundings. They had lively conversations after dinner or on the bus between cities. They shared written reflections in a WhatsApp chat that is still active months later. And of course, they learned from the residents in the places they visited.
“We wanted the travelers to engage on a deeper level with the culture and the people,” Samide says. “When you travel as a tourist, you go see the tourist spots, and you go to your hotel. You might interact with people when you order a coffee, but you are really doing it on your own. Here we wanted to direct some conversation between locals who have expertise and our group who wanted to learn. A deeper connection was the goal. And when I come back, I’m different because I now understand someone else and their perspective a little better.”
Next up was a cheese tasting in Trier, Germany. Sampling from a plate of regional varieties, they discussed the history and economics of the area’s dairy production. The presenter also shared how using either goat’s milk or cow’s milk changes the end product. Wilson says the smallest details can make a huge difference in flavor and mouthfeel.
“The cheese tray was mind blowing,” Shaw recalls. “And I had never been to Germany before. It was absolutely beautiful.”
When Noah Cross ’18 first heard that Wilson and Samide would be leading a study abroad tour for alumni, he signed up right away. A graduate of Butler’s Science, Technology & Society and Chemistry programs, Cross remembers both professors as major influences during his time as a student.
“The trip was an amazing experience,” he says. “Mike and Anne put together a really great itinerary. I also enjoyed traveling with other members of the Butler community. I was the youngest person on the trip, and it was interesting to hear from other alumni about the similarities and differences between our experiences at Butler.”
Cross works at a brewery part-time in addition to his job as a patient care technician, so he was most intrigued by all things beer. The group spent a full day in Heidelberg, enjoying brewery tours across the city. Then there were beer tastings in Munich and Ettal, plus a stop at the German Hop Museum in Wolnzach, where he learned that only female plants produce the hops used in beer.
“From the way I brew beer in my driveway, to a small brewery in the Alps, to the giant Brewery in Munich,” Samide says, “the process is all the same. It’s just scale. These travelers walked away understanding that science and food can be a universal language.”
Wilson and Samide plan to continue hosting local Science of Food events, and the next travel tour is slated to visit Italy in 2024.
In 2004, Kent VanTyle ’67 was serving as an associate dean in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) and becoming aware of the growing Hispanic/Latino population in Indiana. As an educator responsible for preparing future health providers, VanTyle wanted to be sure Butler students were being adequately prepared to provide Spanish-speaking patients with the best care possible.
“I don’t speak Spanish and I didn’t have an extensive understanding of the culture, so I knew I would need help to get this started,” VanTyle says.
He soon became connected with Gala Kennedy, then an adjunct instructor in the Modern Languages Department. Kennedy, a native of Colombia, had the language skills, cultural awareness, and passion for teaching VanTyle was seeking. Together, the pair created an Intro to Medical Spanish course, and student interest in the elective class exceeded their expectations. In 2007, a two-week, short-term study abroad course was added, which included a homestay, cultural excursions, and Spanish language immersion classes.
Kennedy traveled with the students and did language assessments at the beginning and end of the trip and found the students’ language skills were markedly improved with two weeks of immersion.
“They showed a huge improvement in their language skills,” Kennedy says. “As a matter of fact, we had to create an advanced course after that because they were improving so much and they wanted to keep learning.”
Within a few years, they developed an Advanced Medical Spanish course for students to continue expanding their healthcare language vocabulary and conversation skills. With the addition of a servicelearning class for students to complete volunteer work at a clinic serving predominantly Spanishspeaking patients and an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation at a Spanish-language clinic site, the Medical Spanish Concentration was born.
“The Medical Spanish concentration was actually part of the appeal for me coming to Butler in the first place,” says Joe Kirkpatrick ’23. “Besides everything else that made Butler a good fit, I knew I was interested in the language from my experience in high school, and knew that an opportunity like this would help set me apart as a uniquely trained pharmacist.”
Kirkpatrick participated in the most recent Spanish Language immersion course Butler was able to offer in winter 2020 before pandemic travel restrictions began. He says the language skills he gained on the trip, combined with more recent experiences like an APPE rotation at Alivio Pharmacy in Indianapolis, have helped to grow his confidence in serving Spanish-speaking patients.
VanTyle retired in 2015 after 43 years at Butler, and in 2017 his wife, Jeanne ’74, MS ’80, followed him into retirement with her own 40 years of teaching experience in COPHS. Family and friends established the Drs. Kent & Jeanne VanTyle International Travel Fund in 2015 to honor their years at Butler. The couple contributes to the fund through their own philanthropic giving and has requested that the fund be used to support students taking the language immersion course.
“Over the years students would tell us they really wanted to take the course but they just couldn’t afford it,” VanTyle says. “So that was the idea of the fund, to not necessarily pay for the whole thing, but just to help students a bit with the cost, and interestingly that little bit is often the boost students need to be able to go.”
With pandemic travel restrictions lifting, Butler hopes to reinstate the immersion trip soon. For students like Kirkpatrick who have completed the coursework, the Medical Spanish Concentration has provided the foundational skills to launch a pharmacy career serving a diverse range of patients.
“The trip was much more about language and cultural immersion than about any kind of medical practice, but it helped strengthen my foundation,” Kirkpatrick says. “Now that I’m near the end of my degree program and I have the clinical background, I find myself able to put it into practice for a wider range of patients than ever.”
Butler University is nationally recognized for its study abroad programs, and the Center for Global Education continues to expand its offerings. In 2008–2009, Butler offered four faculty-led study abroad programs; this year 32 faculty-led programs are in the works. For those faculty who have a front-row seat to the experiences students are having abroad, the impact is more personal than rankings could ever demonstrate.
Professor of Finance Bill Templeton and Professor of Pharmacy Practice Jane Gervasio ’88, PharmD ’95 each lead short-term study abroad courses and believe so strongly in the value of those global experiences for students that they have each established funds at Butler to help students with financial need to participate.
Templeton leads a course called Leadership London, which takes place over three weeks in May and is open to students of any major. The course includes case studies of leadership issues combined with site visits to enhance the daily reading. Templeton says the experience of standing in the physical locations where the leaders they are studying once stood leaves a lasting impression.
Hannah Ravaris ’24 participated in the course earlier this year and says the immersive nature of the course was unique from any others she has taken at Butler.
“I’m definitely a visual learner so it was really cool to read about Winston Churchill and learn about the history, and then go stand in the Churchill War Rooms and experience what we’re reading about,” Ravaris says.
Leadership London participants have weekends free, and many take advantage of the chance to explore other cities during their stay. Templeton says these experiences are just as valuable as classroom learning for broadening students’ perspectives and gaining crosscultural understanding.
“One of the beautiful parts of studying abroad is that students gain a deep appreciation of the place they are visiting and the culture, but they simultaneously come to appreciate their home country and culture more deeply as well,” Templeton says. “It’s not one or the other; they learn to appreciate both simultaneously.”
Templeton has been teaching the course in London since 2014, and his wife, Linda, accompanies him. Together, the couple has witnessed the powerful effect studying abroad has on students. As a result, last year they established The Passport Fund, an endowed fund to assist students with study abroad program expenses such as course tuition, fees, or travel.
About seven years ago, Gervasio, too, was inspired to create a short-term study abroad course—one that would be accessible for Pharmacy students whose course schedule conflicts with most study abroad options. Sparked by her own continuing education about nutrition and wellness,
Gervasio created a course that examines the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet and the associated practices of the Tuscany region that foster longterm health. The 10-day course is open to students of any major, while Pharmacy and Health Sciences students also have the option of a Culinary Medicine course.
“As a Pharmacy student, I loved how this experience allowed me to experience a vast diversity of learning opportunities in such a brief trip that didn’t conflict with my course schedule,” says Sarah Abu-Salih ’23, who took the Culinary Medicine course in May.
Templeton and Gervasio are both passionate about increasing access to study abroad experiences for students through both thoughtful scheduling of courses and their own philanthropic giving. Gervasio also recently established an endowed fund to support Pharmacy and Health Sciences students studying abroad.
“The biggest heartbreak I have is when a student tells me they can’t afford it,” Gervasio says. “To me, the immersive experience of a study abroad course means that the learning doesn’t stop when the class ends, so these global experiences are incredibly valuable. When this was presented to me as a giving opportunity, I thought, ‘Yes, this is something I can get behind.’”
University leadership is also focused on removing barriers to global experiences to ensure any Butler student who wants to study abroad has the chance. Those who have had the opportunity say it’s one they will cherish for a lifetime. “[Studying abroad] wasn’t just one of the pinnacles of my time in college; it was one of the pinnacles of my life,” AbuSalih says.
Jill McKinney MS ’11, Butler’s Director of Global Engagement, shares how the study abroad program has grown in recent years and the significant impact on and benefits to students who study abroad as part of their undergraduate education.
How long has the study abroad program at Butler been in existence, and how has it changed over the years?
Study abroad has a long history at Butler. In my 15 years here, international education has been a prominent part of all strategic plans for the University. Over time, the number and type of available study abroad programs have steadily grown. For instance, the number of students going abroad each year has more than doubled in the last 10 years and the number of faculty creating short-term courses abroad has more than tripled in the last five years. We know that about 40 percent of all Butler students study abroad before they graduate.
What are the options/programs available to students?
The Center for Global Education maintains a list of more than 200 study abroad programs in over 60 countries. The goal is to provide students with a wide range of options, both in location and duration. This is the best way to help the most students fit a study abroad experience into their course plan. Students of any major or minor can go abroad for a semester, a full academic year, or any break in between.
What are the benefits of study abroad/domestic programs for students?
One of the lessons from the recent global pandemic is that all people around the globe are interconnected; our humanity depends on each other. Since our graduates will soon be the world’s leaders and educators, it feels imperative to me that we graduate students who have a keen understanding of the impact individuals have on the collective. I think the benefits of studying abroad are far-reaching and have a long-term impact because the student is influenced on a personal, academic, and professional level.
On the journey of personal discovery, students report that study abroad often provides them an environment to learn about themselves more than any other experience. Most return from abroad with a renewed sense of purpose, an increased awareness of the interconnectivity of the world’s people and economies, and a stronger understanding of their own capability to succeed in life, not to mention lifelong friendships.
In our advising process, we ask students what their personal and academic goals are because, after all, this experience will serve as a mechanism to help them fulfill their own educational goals. Another benefit is that study abroad provides the opportunity for students to take courses abroad that apply to their degree completion—often courses that are not offered at the home school. I always use the example of Biology. A Biology student cannot take a Marine Biology course at land-locked Butler, but that student can access an incredible Marine Biology course at a university in Sydney, Australia.
Intercultural development is a unique benefit of the study abroad experience and is necessary to train future global leaders. To graduate and compete in a global marketplace, students who have studied abroad are able to articulate transferable skills on their resume, such as the ability to communicate and work with a diverse set of people, to tolerate ambiguity, to problem-solve independently, and to understand their own cultural biases. These are all value-adds for future employers.
What are some real-life examples of how students have benefitted from studying abroad?
Study abroad often brings vocational clarity. Students routinely return from study abroad with a renewed sense of their own purpose. Alumni report to us that the lessons they learned and the skills they gained while studying abroad are continually used in their adult lives and professions. Many students unlock future opportunities because they studied abroad, such as: applying for prestigious scholarships like Fulbright upon graduation, continuing their education with a global focus, or moving back overseas to work abroad. For me, studying abroad in undergrad changed the trajectory of my career, leading me to meaningful work in higher education.
What is your advice to prospective and current undergraduate students?
Go for it! I feel that the college years present a time in life where there is more access to be abroad for an extended period of time. Those who return from study abroad reflect on it being one of the best decisions they made while in college and are often still learning from the experience years after graduation. Students gain the important study abroad skills of self-confidence, problem solving, and flexibility while at the same time honing the important professional skills of interpersonal communication, collaboration, and initiative.
“Studying abroad helped me to discover that I was capable of diving headfirst into unfamiliar situations and gaining a lot from them—I don’t think my post-graduation life would have been as adventurous as it has been had it not been for my semester in India.”
–Aaron Harrison ’14
While the Career and Professional Success (CaPS) office’s name (formerly Internship and Career Services) and location (now in Dugan Hall) may have changed over the years, its purpose has remained the same—direct students to the tools and resources available to help them score an internship, become a networking pro, write a stand-out resume, or land their dream job.
Twenty years ago, the office was seeing an average of 600 students each year. Now, thanks to a University-wide focus on career outcomes and increased staffing, the CaPS office sees more than 2,000 students every year.
Gary Beaulieu, Director of CaPS, joined Butler from Indiana State University 19 years ago and has played a crucial role in helping students discover their passions and, subsequently, how those passions translate into internship and career opportunities.
“I had been through three different majors; I had been through multiple careers. I didn’t have an easy major to career path” says Beaulieu. “When I saw a Career Services position become available, my boss at the time told me, ‘You should really apply for this. You should teach students how not to do the things you did, or didn’t do, as the case is.’”
“Students should not be expected to know what they want to do for the rest of their life when they’re 18 years old. They need to experience the world, experience college, experience life before they make that decision,” says Beaulieu, who encourages students to start visiting the Office as soon as they get to campus.
But help isn’t just coming out of Dugan Hall. “The strategic partnerships with the colleges are really critical, too. All of our career advisors are within the colleges,” says Beaulieu. That means that College of Communication students are getting to work directly with experts who are aware of the nuances of that college—the best semester to take an internship, how specific coursework will tie to their real-world experiences, what to look for in a job description, and so on, he explains. CaPS career advisors also tap into Butler’s 55,000-person alumni network, connecting students with alumni from across the world to serve as mentors and leads to internships and jobs.
And this all pays off. “Students who engage with our office are 92 percent more likely to have a job when they walk across the stage at Commencement,” says Beaulieu. And help doesn’t end once a student gets their diploma. CaPS is equipped to help every alumnus navigate the post-grad landscape. Whether it’s finding their first job or graduate school, or switching careers years down the road, CaPS wants to stay connected.
A great way to give back to the University is to help a current student. Alumni can utilize Bulldogs Connect (butler.wisr.io), a service powered by Wisr, to connect with other alumni and current students, chat about internship and job opportunities, and search for Bulldogs in your field.
Members of Sigma Gamma Rho L-R, Khalilah A. Shabazz, International Grand Anti-Grammateus (Secretary), Rasheeda S. Liberty, International Grand Basileus (President) and Karin Sarratt,
The keyword search meant something much different to Maddie Silverstein ’13 as a student than it does now. The Brooklyn-based comedian, model, and business owner has always enjoyed the opportunity to create her own path, but never would have guessed that her search for an extra internship during her time at Butler would place her in the realm of search engine optimization (SEO), content strategy, brand storytelling, and, ultimately, the pursuit of stand-up comedy.
As an incoming student from Vernon Hills, Illinois, Silverstein came to Butler in search of the college experience that many other first-year Butler students dream about— spending time with new friends, discovering passions, exerting some new-found independence, making memories on campus, and exploring life’s biggest questions through academic coursework and professional experiences.
After just a few weeks on campus, Silverstein knew she was where she was meant to be. But what she did not realize was that this was just the beginning of a life focused on searching in more ways than one.
She quickly cultivated a close group of friends, became involved in a variety of student organizations, and found an academic pathway that she was excited to pursue. After deciding on majors in International Studies and French, Silverstein began to envision a career working abroad, focusing on non-profit organizations. She took advantage of the liberal arts coursework and curriculum and explored different fields and topics that expanded her outlook and perspectives. Having taken classes covering criminal justice, sociology, religion, gender and sexuality studies, and African studies, Silverstein decided to study abroad in Madagascar.
“My semester abroad opened my eyes to many new perspectives, and ultimately, my place in the world,” says Silverstein. Fueled by a desire to explore fields outside of international non-profit work, Silverstein landed marketing and social media internships at Top Box Foods and The International Center.
But it was an internship with Indianapolis firm Slingshot SEO that really paved the way for Silverstein’s future. “It was a bit of a ‘chance’ opportunity as it was not a field or role I had ever considered for myself before,” she says. Although well outside of the nonprofit world Silverstein had originally envisioned, working in SEO would allow her to take the lessons learned in her International Studies coursework and utilize data about humans and human behavior in a new application. Following graduation from Butler, Silverstein was able to use her latest internship to land her first full-time job in an SEO role with Chicago-based marketing agency Digitas. The work challenged her in meaningful ways and the company provided many professional and personal development opportunities—including funding improv comedy courses.
With her company’s support, Silverstein began pursuing her longstanding interest in comedy—taking courses and classes in improv, writing, and stand-up at the Annoyance Theater and IO in Chicago. Although she did not anticipate the two worlds colliding, she quickly found that her comedy courses were positively influencing her professional career in unexpected ways: “When I started taking stand-up courses, I became a much better presenter and manager and speaker, and everything with my clients got so much better.”
A few years into her position with Digitas, Silverstein found herself searching for ways to seriously develop her stand-up hobby into more of a career. Able to work remotely she moved to Los Angeles and began taking on freelance clients to grow her network. By 2019, Silverstein had built up her client base enough to take the leap to start her own SEO consulting firm, C&F Silver. A cross-country move to Brooklyn, New York in 2022 has allowed Silverstein to continue her SEO business, and with the help of a talent manager, land auditions with Netflix and perform in weekly comedy shows—including at renowned venues like NYC’s Stonewall Inn. Silverstein is also currently developing a pilot for a comedy series.
While unconventional, Silverstein continues to be grateful for her time searching for her path at Butler. Her advice to Butler students is to take the time to explore the things that interest them—even if they don’t follow the traditional path they had envisioned. “Just go after the things that you want in life. We live in a world that tells you to follow a set of rules to be successful, but I just don’t think they really apply anymore. Accept your authentic self and go after the things you want.”
In his own words, Nicholas (Nick) Huang ’18 is tasked with “building great products for users” as a product manager at technology giant Google. He does so alongside some of the brightest people in the industry—people who, he says, shook his confidence when he started three years ago.
“I was on a marketing team of around 20 folks, and more than three-quarters of them had Ivy League degrees. And then there’s me, a small-town Midwestern guy who went to public school, got turned down by the big natonally ranked universities, and ended up at a great but small liberal arts college. I experienced quite a bit of imposter syndrome,” he says. “I’m living proof that you don’t need to be an Ivy Leaguer to land your dream job at a top company like Google.”
He’s also proof that you can turn your life lessons into a guidebook for others.
A program for high school seniors interested in college listed Butler as fitting Huang’s criteria for a university. He made a somewhat last-minute choice, he says, and still unsure about his academic direction, began his Bulldog years as an Exploratory Business student.
“I’d done a job shadow that had to do with a small healthcare firm, and I got advice that business is a great way to build skills that will be applicable no matter what you do in life. It seemed like a nice middle ground from which I could connect to other things as my interests shifted.”
He found an array of opportunities to explore those interests at Butler. After his first year, Huang chose Finance as a core major and Marketing as a secondary major. He secured an internship in each of his four years: risk and insurance in Chicago, marketing in Indianapolis, tax consulting in Shanghai (through the Butler in Asia program), and serving former U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly in Washington, DC.
Huang also was a resident assistant and in student government, and he squeezed in annual service trips with Butler’s Fall Break Alternative program (“one of my top five most impactful experiences”) to improve living conditions for people in Appalachia.
Being LGBTQ+, Huang also sought out like-minded folks within the larger Butler community, finding just that at the Diversity Center. “Those people became my chosen family and the foundation of my support system from the time I was a first-year student through the present day,” Huang says.
“At Butler, you hear over and over that it’s really important to get as much real-world experience as possible and a large breadth of it. So my intention was to explore different environments, different types of work, different people.”
Focusing his interests for the future involved “crossing out a lot of things I found out I did not want to do. Butler helped me do that,” he says. “I found the traditional corporate style to be a little bit stifling, so I knew I wanted to work at a company that would be more flexible.”
Huang graduated summa cum laude in 2018. Despite offers, he walked off the Commencement stage with no desire to accept a corporate job. He had another plan.
“As a senior, I applied to more than 50 top companies and got zero callbacks,” he says. “So I ended up taking a gap year. I taught English in Macau (China) as a Fulbright Scholar. While I was doing that, I did a ton of research on how to land a job at a top company. Then I went through a second recruiting cycle and was lucky enough to get a job at Google.”
His job-hunting experience inspired him to write a book to help other non-Ivy Leaguers land the position they wanted. The book is now on Amazon. For the Non-Ivy Leaguer: How to Get a Job at Google, McKinsey or Goldman Sachs If You’re Not From the Ivy League is, according to Huang’s sales pitch on the site, “designed to help motivated non-Ivy Leaguers land their dream job at a top company. No fancy degrees and no family connections; just a smart, scrappy approach on how to play the job-recruiting game the right way.”
It’s a comprehensive guide, starting from a student’s first day on campus through four years of college to their hire date. Templates include the resume Huang used to snag the Google gig. Here’s an excerpt from “The Sophomore Year” chapter: “As a sophomore, you likely have a solid foundation—a good GPA, on-campus involvement and a close group of friends— and now crave some real-world experience. This was me as a sophomore, but I had no idea where to start. I was still undecided on my major, had no idea what internships to target and worried, as a second-year college student, that I was wildly underqualified. Looking back, I made a ton of mistakes, but I did one thing right: I jumped in.”
And “I jumped in” could very well be Huang’s lifelong motto.
Nick Huang wants students to know how he got his dream job so they can get theirs, too.
“Getting that opportunity at that moment pushed me toward what I was finding myself drawn to,” Rizvi says. “Those experiences can have such an impact.”Photo by Jeff Haynes
Thank you to our credit union partner, Elements Financial, for their support.
Dana Lee ’19
Abbas Rizvi ’12 credits an internship experience for altering the trajectory of his career—placing him on a path completely different than the one he started on. Today, Rizvi works as a geriatric physician at Rush University Medical Group in Chicago, but he started at Butler as a finance major.
He had an interest in medicine because of his father’s work as a radiologic technologist, but was uncertain if that curiosity would turn into a career. That’s where the internship came in.
Encouraged by his career advisor, Jill Novotny-Steele ’86, MBA ’11, Rizvi applied for an accounting and finance internship with the Hoosier Oncology Group the summer before his senior year. The Hoosier Oncology Group, now the Hoosier Cancer Research Network, works with clinics that implement new treatments for various cancers, organizing data so it can eventually be presented to the FDA.
At the time, Rizvi was leaning toward a career in business. “I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just enjoy doing the finance aspect in a medical setting,’” he says.
As an intern, he worked with the accounting department to provide financial projections and examined how to best expand the organization. Rizvi’s role also meant he was able to shadow meetings where the Chief Medical Officer presented findings on clinical trials.
Listening to the doctors discuss their research fascinated him, Rizvi says. Most of all, he liked knowing that the treatments would eventually help patients.
“I had been interested in medicine and had taken some of the prerequisites just in case,” Rizvi says. “But at that point I was beginning to think, ‘OK, this is really making me realize that I’d rather do the medicine than the finance part.’”
Later, a second internship at an investment banking firm helped him discover what wasn’t for him, and reinforced what Rizvi had already been feeling after his time with the Hoosier Oncology Group. He liked helping people, and he wanted to do it as a doctor.
Novotny-Steele, Rizvi’s assigned mentor through the Lacy School of Business, knew from the beginning that Rizvi was interested in potentially pursuing a career in medicine. During conversations in her office over the years, she had helped her mentee navigate the necessary coursework. By the time Rizvi was a senior, he had already taken a science course here, another there, intermingled with his business classes. Rizvi jokes he was the only senior among first-years in his Introduction to Biology class.
Rizvi says he also received advice from Professor Bill Templeton, whose son was in the middle of a medical fellowship en route to becoming a doctor.
“There was a lot of support,” Rizvi says. “They gave me guidance, conveying, ‘We understand you’re here now, but this is what you’re interested in.’”
A few weeks after graduating from Butler with a degree in Finance, Rizvi took the MCAT. He passed, and later enrolled at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school.
“My experiences made me realize it’s never too late to pursue anything, whether it’s going back to study more or deciding to change your field,” Rizvi says. “Wherever you start doesn’t have to be where you end up. Being a Finance major and being a physician now, it’s not a typical route that most people take, but I’m glad I was able to make it work.”
“Interning with the Indiana Fever helped me solidify my interest in working in the communications realm of sports.”
—Kobe Mosley ’23
When Greg Jung MBA ’98 and his colleagues work with interns, they always aim to provide meaningful learning moments. Students don’t just check off tasks—they own initiatives, collaborate on projects, then give presentations about how the experience has influenced them. But even as the interns gain new skills, Jung says it’s just as important to learn from the students.
“We value the perspectives of students, especially around new technology,” says Jung, Chief Growth Officer at Carmel, Indiana-based travel insurance company Seven Corners, Inc. “They are particularly strong with social media, which is typically what we’re lacking from a staff understanding. So the interns can provide that skill set. Especially because a lot of our social media is focused on aspirational travel, we really look for the younger demographic to come in and help us reach our target market.”
As an MBA student at Butler, Jung pursued a concentration in Organizational Leadership. He appreciated the flexibility to fit classwork around his fulltime job while moving through the program at his own pace. He credits Butler’s focus on servant leadership with helping shape his career.
“The experience there, with it being smaller and more intimate, the professors really cared,” says Jung, who received his Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University.
“Butler has given me so much from an educational standpoint that I wanted to continue supporting the University and stay involved.”
In addition to having served on the College of Communication Board of Visitors and the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Jung often hires Butler students as interns for Seven Corners. Roles include positions in marketing, sales, technology, and other business areas. The company recruits students from all class years, and as someone who discovered during an undergrad accounting internship that he didn’t really like accounting, Jung knows just how valuable those experiences can be.
“We like working with the first- or second-year students as much as someone entering their final year,” he says. “It’s helpful to have an internship early in college because it can guide your career.”
No matter the class year, Jung is constantly impressed by Butler interns.
“I have always found Butler students to be very prepared,” he says. “They typically come in with a very strong work ethic. They are very professional in how they present themselves, and the projects they work on with us have been very beneficial for both our company and the student experience.”
“Studying abroad completely changed my life in how I see the world, myself, and my relationships with others. I now have great exposure to what it’s like living in another country, and it gave me realistic expectations for my future career of wanting to live and work abroad.”
—Madeline Hoskins-Cumbey ’23
Experiential learning opportunities have long been emphasized for Butler students. And Todd Bolster ’05 immediately recognized that value. Through his involvement at Butler in Greek Life and the Student Government Association, the Communication Studies major discovered resources that supported him as he searched for his first experiential learning opportunity. His fraternity’s academic advisor, Pat Gibbons MBA ’95, played an especially significant role. He stressed the need for Bolster to get involved in the Indianapolis community and encouraged him to pursue his first internship, which was in marketing with Walker Information.
“It was a really eye-opening experience to see what I was good at, what I wasn’t good at, and what I enjoyed,” Bolster notes. Now the Vice President of Client Services at The Basement, Bolster is helping to give back to Butler by supporting these valuable experiences. The Basement, an Indianapolis-based advertising agency, hosts a well-known internship program that allows students to learn and grow in an accepting, professional space. The agency’s people-driven culture and impressive portfolio of work has drawn dozens of Butler students to intern at the agency, and many have transitioned to full-time roles after graduating.
The Basement’s program started as a way to create more opportunities for students, and has since grown into a highlysought-after experience pursued by many Butler students each semester. The program focuses on providing interns with a wide variety of professional experiences, which gives students a well-rounded view of agency life.
For Bolster, the value in The Basement’s program is found in giving students the tools and confidence they need to succeed professionally. “I think it’s important to help interns understand what’s going to be expected of them after graduation. To me, that’s one of the most important things, other than the relationships. It’s teaching them what will be expected of them as a professional, and how that’s different than what’s expected of them as a student.”
The Basement also places significant value on adapting its internship program to fit the changing needs of students. “We make sure that we are asking, listening, and paying attention to what the student enjoys while also balancing the fact that there has to be some structure and definition [to the program],” says Bolster. He recognizes that students bring a unique perspective to the table. “We like to say as an agency, ‘Great ideas come from everywhere,’ and it really isn’t about the title; it’s about the quality of the idea.”
Bolster’s closing advice for Butler students pursuing experiential learning? Dive into it with no fear. “The point of these opportunities is to experience and learn—you can’t let fear hold you back. Believe in yourself, have courage, and get out there.”
Read more about The Basement’s many connections with Butler University at stories.butler.edu.
Just steps from Atherton Union, a small pathway of mosaic bricks commemorating seven trailblazing women often went unnoticed. However, after more than a year of planning and construction, this pathway has led to the creation of a monument honoring the lives and legacy of the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho.
One hundred years ago, seven young Black women founded Sigma Gamma Rho sorority on the Irvington campus of Butler University—the only historically Black sorority to be established at a predominantly white institution. To commemorate this centennial celebration, the new Sigma Gamma Rho Founders’ Plaza was formally dedicated during a ceremony on July 12.
This new campus landmark is the result of more than a year of planning and collaboration between Sigma Gamma Rho, Butler University, LandStory Architects, and Harmon Construction and is the result of the generosity of Sigma Gamma Rho and Butler University. In recognition of the sorority’s centennial anniversary, it is an honor to
welcome this permanent addition to the campus landscape to celebrate these trailblazing leaders and the historical bond between Butler University and Sigma Gamma Rho International Sorority, Inc.
For more information about the SGRho Centennial Celebration, please visit www.sgrho100.org.
“As a permanent addition to the campus landscape, this monument will allow all Bulldogs and members of Sigma Gamma Rho to recognize and celebrate the founders’ vision today and beyond.”
—Danny Kibble, Executive Director of Advancement for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives and Family Philanthropy
As part of Butler’s preparation for a February 2023 visit from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the University conducted a review of its mission statement. Realizing that it had not been revised for many years, the University engaged in a months-long process that built upon efforts that began during the development of the Butler Beyond strategic direction, and included reviews of existing academic and co-curricular mission and value statements across campus, as well as input from a variety of stakeholders including alumni, faculty, and staff.
Butler’s new mission statement was revealed at President Danko’s end-of-year address to the Butler community in April, and subsequently approved by the Board of Trustees during its June meeting:
Butler University, founded on ideals of equity and academic excellence, creates and fosters a collaborative, stimulating intellectual learning environment. We are inspired to boldly innovate and broadly educate, enriching communities and preparing all learners to lead meaningful lives.
With references to our founding mission, commitment to academic excellence and innovation, and responsibility to be inclusive as Butler pushes the boundaries on who, how, and where it educates, the new statement captures where the University started, where it stands, and where it is headed.
The HLC’s Reaffirmation of Accreditation process for the Standard Pathway requires two reviews in a 10-year period— one at the fourth year, which we successfully completed in 2017, then a comprehensive evaluation in the 10th year (our current cycle). While this process allows Butler to showcase our many accomplishments since the last review, it also compels us to improve as an institution and evaluate opportunities to more holistically live out our mission. Butler University’s final draft of its Assurance Argument, which is the result of our comprehensive self-study, will be posted for public review and comments in December, as we prepare for the HLC site visit in 2023. You can learn more about Butler’s HLC reaccreditation process at www.butler.edu/academics/ hlc-reaccreditation.
Diane Timmerman, Chair of Butler Theatre, likes to say that “storytelling in a group”—theatre—“is as old as human beings are.”
Butler Theatre is not quite that old, but this year, the department turns 75. Theatre performances at Butler have been around far longer than that, but since 1947, students have been able to formally study theatre and earn what Timmerman calls “the most practical degree at the University.”
“You have to be a self-starter and self-motivated and work solo,” she says. “You have to be able to work as a team. You have to be able to lead. You have to be able to make something out of nothing because people are going to pay money and be there on a Friday night at 8:00 PM—so there’d better be something. “Theatre is about taking time, money, space, people, and ideas and making something out of it—and that describes just about every career there is. Creative, smart problemsolvers who can get the job done—that’s a Theatre major. The art is irreplaceable, and the practical side of theatre is just unbeatable.”
Over the years, Butler Theatre has educated stage, TV and film actors, directors, producers, playwrights, drama therapists, and even the occasional lawyer. People like Jonah Winston ’08 who is starring as Col. Mustard in Mercury Theatre Chicago’s production of Clue. (His wife, Amanda ’11, whom he met at Butler, is in the current Remy Bumppo Theatre Company production of Routes, directed by Mikael Burke ’09.)
And Molly Gray ’09, a Los Angeles-based actress/producer/ writer whose credits include Inside Amy Schumer and the independent film 86 My Life, which she wrote and starred in. And Raphael Schwartzman ’11, who worked in theatre until he hurt his back and now runs an online coaching community for
marketing strategists, cmox.co. Classmate Amanda Winston introduced him to his current boss, who told him, “I don’t know what help I need, but I need help.”
“That’s what we do in theatre,” says Schwartzman, who lives in Philadelphia. “We figure out what needs to go onstage and work with the team to make it so. If I hadn’t had theatre training, I don’t think I would have felt confident enough to do this.”
All say that at Butler, they developed lifelong friendships and relationships with faculty and classmates and received a wellrounded education that prepared them for the future.
“Butler is one big reason I haven’t gone to grad school,” Gray says. “I’m out here by USC and UCLA and a bunch of great schools. Five, six years ago, a lot of my peers who didn’t have the same training were like, ‘I need more. The undergrad degree isn’t really doing it for me.’ But I’ve always had that training. I feel like I have the tools. What I learned at Butler has really served me well.”
To celebrate Butler Theatre’s 75th anniversary, the department held a dinner, a tailgate event, workshops, tours, reception, and rehearsal visits during homecoming. It’s digitizing its papers, posters, and more for an online, searchable archive, and it put up displays in the Irwin Library lobby of costumes, photos, and programs. In addition, all tickets for this year’s season are free.
“Theatre really shows us what it means to be human,” Timmerman says. “We learn about ourselves, we empathize with other people. There are so many things that theatre does for us as individuals and does for our society that the relevance and the need for it can’t be understated.”
With perfect fall weather to set the tone, Homecoming weekend proved to be one of the most attended in recent history.
The annual Alumni Recognition Ceremony launched the weekend’s festivities, this year honoring the achievements of nine alumni and one University instructor with eight prestigious awards.
The weekend also celebrated the grand opening of Butler Esports Park, the new, state-of-the-art facility that serves as a hub for the tech, gaming, and academic communities in Indianapolis.
Jordan College of the Arts alumni and friends attended the many events marking the 75th Anniversary of the Department of Theatre.
With special exhibits, tours, and gatherings, there were many opportunities to honor this history. (Read more about Theatre’s anniversary year on page 30.)
Of course, the annual events of Bulldog Beauty Contest, Hinkle Lot Tailgating, Diversity Center Open House, and football game with the Bulldogs defeating the Marist Red Foxes 31 to 10 were again fan favorites.
Be sure to follow Butler Alumni on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for announcements of Homecoming 2023!
For a list of award winners, visit www. butler.edu/alumni/alumni-awards.
“Never did I think I would hike the Amazon Rainforest, live with a host family in Peru, or snorkel in the Galapagos. I am so grateful for all the amazing opportunities; it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
—Madison Pines ’23
Ted Linn ’76 retired from 43.5 uninterrupted years in Broadcast news in September 2020. Linn was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Association Hall of Fame (the Broadcast Pioneers) on October 5, 2022.
James Baur MBA ’78, President of JF Baur LLC, announced his retirment as Chairman of the Board for Ultra Electronics Secure Intelligence Services (UESIS).
Joyce (McClellan) Click ’78, MM ’85 retired as a music teacher of MSD Washington Township Schools after 44 years. For more than half of her career she was a choral director at North Central High School where she was voted 2022 teacher of the year. An endowment to support North Central choir students was named in her honor.
Kristi Fable ’83 now works for J.M. Smucker as a French/ English Bilingual Consumer Relations Representative.
Martha Nommay ’83, CPA was recently honored with the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana CPA Society for outstanding service to the profession.
Kevin Ault ’84, MD has recently been named Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Western Michigan Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine.
Richard Orr ’85 has been promoted to Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Thiel College. Since joining the College in January 2017 as the Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, Orr has strengthened all aspects of Thiel’s marketing and communications efforts. Under his leadership, the Office of Communications and Marketing has been recognized with awards from the Education Digital Marketing Awards and the College & University Public Relations and Associated Professionals.
Leah Brandon ’86 is currently the Associate Director of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. She partners in the strategic planning and leadership of The School, focusing on operations, marketing, and recruitment, including a new initiative, the Pillow 360 Intensives with partner organizations and universities around the world.
Scott Kerin ’91, an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon, was recently awarded the U.S. Department of Justice’s Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service for his role in prosecuting a large international fentanyl distribution case. The Assistant Attorney General’s Award is one of the U.S. Department of Justice’s highest honors.
Keely McClelland ’01, started a new position as Head of Talent Acquisition with Essendant in November 2021.
Ryan Falquist ’02 was hired by Corteva Agriscience, a global provider of seed and crop protection solutions, as the Global Technical Education Learning Support and Systems Leader.
Matt Harris ’02, MS ’11 published a children’s book titled, The Warrenville Nine: A Story of Baseball and Friendship. The book is based on his experience as a little league coach and is dedicated to Warren Little League which closed in 2021.
Jonathan Manning ’02 accepted the position of Risk Oversight Officer at the IMF on May 1, 2021.
Catie (Brazda) Stimmel ’03 has been promoted to Senior Director Pharmacy Quality, Compliance, and Pharmaceutical Integrity; Chief Controlled Substance Compliance Officer for Walgreens.
Abigail Barreto ’04 won a Capital Emmy award for a film she produced about nursing homes and their courageous efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Angel Velez ’05 served as Music Director for Miss World 2021, one of the largest televised events in the world, with an estimated viewing audience of over 1 billion. The show was originally scheduled for December 16, 2021 but was postponed at the last moment due to a COVID outbreak and successfully rescheduled and aired globally on March 16 from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Velez also served as guest conductor with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in a special May 4th Star Wars: Past and Present concert featuring world premiere performances of Battlefront II (Gordy Haab), Ahsoka Tano Suite from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels (Kevin Kiner), and The Book of Boba Fett (Ludwig Göransson and Joseph Shirley).
Jessica Harbison Weaver ’05 was promoted to Senior Associate Commissioner/Senior Woman Administrator at the PacWest Conference in July 2022.
Emily Abbott Davis ’08 began a new job as Associate Director of Advancement Services in Development and Alumni Relations at Columbia Business School.
Kaitlin Cherichello Tente ’10 recently published episode 50 of the weekly podcast where she interviews people doing good in the world, Be the Good with Kate Cherichello. Numerous Butler alumni have been featured.
Jacki Thering MM ’12 was recently awarded the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship. She teaches 5th and 6th grade orchestra at two elementary schools in New Berlin, WI.
Hanna Yaeger-Busch ’12 accepted the role of Director of Community Engagement at Teachers’ Treasures, a nonprofit dedicated to serving teachers and students in Marion County
Stuart Lewis ’14 has been named Associate Artistic Director and Director of Community Engagement for Dance Kaleidoscope in Indianapolis. Stuart has been with Dance Kaleidoscope since graduating Butler and is happy to be finding new ways to serve the Indianapolis arts community in this new hybrid role.
Velena (Meade) Nowling ’15 achieved the Fellowship of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and was promoted to Associate Actuary, Assistant Pricing Director at Anthem.
Steve Zikeli ’15 started a two-year expat assignment in Amsterdam, NL with PwC. He and his wife Meg (Hebb) ’16 and their dog Percy moved in September 2022.
Courtney Considine ’16 was promoted to Manager of Suite Services the NFL’s New York Football Giants.
Joshua Grant ’16 is currently an Associate in Vedder Price’s Chicago office and is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property group. He has experience working with clients in trademark, copyright, and patent matters, which involve patent and trademark prosecution.
Kaitlyn Enderle ’18, MD graduated from IU Medical School in May 2022. She is currently practicing medicine as an OB/ GYN Resident at Kentucky University Hospitals.
Pat Petrus ’18 is proud to announce the release of “Sextet,” a collection of six short stories about family ties, tesseracts, trauma, and tornadoes.
Kyra Laubacher ’20 accepted the role of Assistant Editor at Dance Media Publications.
Clara Moore ’22 graduated from Butler in May 2022 and has been accepted into Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, IN.
James Sweeney ’22 is now living and working in Denver, CO in the recruiting industry.
Jonathan Manning ’02 and Brook Lameo on August 5, 2020.
Denise Kolanczyk PharmD ’09 and Eddy Copot on October 02, 2021
Stephen Armstrong ’12 and Alexis Harkins on April 29, 2022. (1)
Kathryn Ceranski ’12 and Matthew Kasper ’12 on August 13, 2021.
Scott Ruffell ’13 and Kelsey Binion on June 18, 2022. (2)
Jacqueline Goodwin ’14 and Kevin Shaw on July 22, 2022. (3)
Stuart Lewis ’14 and Doug Lewis on February 14, 2022. (4)
Mercedes (Kolb) Stitt ’14 and Samuel Stitt ’14 on February 26, 2022. (5)
Ellen (Tabler) Underwood ’14 and Michael Underwood on March 5, 2022. (6)
Dan(iel) Zinn PharmD ’14 and Kelly Petty on July 15, 2022. (7)
Brett (McMurray) Long ’15 and Matthew Long on February 19, 2022. (8)
Catherine (Eifrig) Swisshelm ’15 and E.J. Swisshelm on April 30, 2022. (9)
Samantha (Chapin) Hill PharmD ’16 and Tyler Hill on May 27, 2022. (10)
Ashley (Crossland) Van Dyke ’16 and Alex Van Dyke on June 25, 2022 (11)
Erin (O’Neil) Lovelien ’17 and Josh Jones-Lovelien on October 15, 2021. (12)
Sarah Moore, PharmD ’ 17 and Joey Hebert ’15 on May 29, 2022. (13)
Jordan (Minnick) Houston ’18 and Tyler Houston ’18 on September 3, 2021. (14)
Emily (Loughman) McMullen ’18 and Graham McMullen ’18 on July 02, 2022. (15)
Lindsey (Koch) Rushton, PharmD ’19 and Jared Rushton ’18 on September 26, 2020. (16)
Michela Semenza ’20 and and Benjamin Poynter on August 13, 2022.
Courtney (Deeg) Townsend ’20 and Jacob Townsend ’15, MPACC ’16 on June 4, 2018. (17)
Your fellow alumni are interested in your professional accomplishments, including a job change, a promotion, or retirement; community and volunteer activities; a recent marriage or addition to your family; or any other news you would like to share.
Submit your updates at www.butler.edu/classacts.
Due to space limitations, submitted photographs and/or Class Acts may not always be published.
James Terrell ’03 welcomed Harrison on February 8, 2022. (1)
Chris Hoffman ’04 and Jennifer Yeadon welcomed Finn Hoffman on August 20, 2021. (2)
Heather Hutti Kelly ’05 and Sean Kelly welcomed Nolan. (3)
Caitlin Gill ’07 and Maggie Gill welcomed Katherine Ann on November 16, 2021. (4)
Lindsay (Bowles) Krech ’07 and Matt Krech welcomed Palmer Elliott Krech. (5)
Michael McIntosh, PharmD ’07, MBA ’07 and Nicholas Worsham welcomed Barrett Owen on August 3, 2022. (6)
Johanna (Marvin) Kitchell ’08, MM ’22 and Nicholas Worsham welcomed Barrett Owen on August 3, 2022. (7)
Alexander Jackson ’10 and Megan Jackson welcomed Daevy Elizabeth on April 14, 2022. (8)
Andrew Lincoln ’13 and Amy Lincoln welcomed Lillian Olympia Lincoln in March 2022
Isabella (Lambert) Eiler ’15 and Andrew Eiler ’14, MPACC ’16 welcomed Dalton in May 2022. (9)
Nicole (Zimmerman) Kestufskie ’16, MPA ’18 and Hugh D. Kestufskie ’16 welcomed Theodore in March 2022. (10)
Alison (Hamrick) Setty PharmD ’18 and Brandon Setty welcomed Elaina Jane and Madelyn Alexis in March 2022. (11)
Allison (Keane) Evans MBA ’21, PharmD ’21 and Patrick Evans welcomed Ryan Christopher Evans in August 2022. (12)
Catherine (Clay) Robb ’39
Jo Ann (Keller) Fox
Mercedes (Banks) Russow
Carolyn (Myers) Gaugh ’42
Mary (Bimbas) Stratis ’47
Betty (Mills) Cissell
Nancy (Shreiber) Jenkins ’48, MS ’66
Mary (Swann) Means ’48
William Pease ’49
Betty (Delks) Reinacker
Catherine (Bray) Richardson ’49, MS ’53
Janice (Kiser) Tatlock ’49
Robert Le Compte ’50
Victor Mercer
Robert Colver
Margaret (Massey) Mayfield MS ’51
Paul Raikes
Harold Schneider ’51
Gertrude Zarek ’51
Cecil Hill
Helen (Hinshaw) Johnson ’52
James Paikos ’52
Sally (Lyman) Hart ’53
Joe Pirtle ’53
James Shrock ’53
Jack Burnett ’54
Wayne Fairburn MS ’54
Mary Haugh MA ’54
Harriet (Reasoner) Seacott ’54
James Bartlett
Helen (Middleton) Dickinson ’55
Harold Hilt ’55
Russell Murphy ’55
Jean (Toombs) Cruger ’56
Carol (Manwaring) Dahm ’56
Marjorie (Hovey) Eger ’56
Gordon Hobbs ’56
John Shultheis
Wanda (Sloan) Vitatoe ’56
Rozelle Boyd ’57
Howard Foltz ’57
James Newton ’57
Beverly (Weevie) Shirley
Diana (Downs) Wharry ’57, MS ’72
Ralph White MS ’57
Phyllis (Bohanan) Beasley
Keith Davis MS ’58
Richard Kilgore ’58
Nicholas Nardo ’58
William Ney ’58, MS ’67
Barbara (Stuckman) Dorsey ’59
William Douglas ’59
Ken Dreyer ’59
Carol (John) Darr ’60
William Heck ’60
Susan (Faulkner) Sheridan ’61
Burdette Wantland MA ’61
Betty (Riley) Bainbridge MS ’62
Mary Burnett MS ’62
Richard Haslam ’62
Gerry Williams
Mildred (Buening) Busch ’63, MS ’71
Carolyn (Oakshott) Chappell ’63
Allan Fish MS ’63
David Fleming ’63
Suzanne (Barclay) Hawkins MS ’63
Vito Mitkus, MBA ’63
Meredith Pearson MS ’63
Jo Ann (Nichols) Smigla ’63
Marcia (Blake) Butler ’64
Andrew Carr ’64
Peter Dehmel ’64 MBA ’66
Kenneth Earl ’64 MS ’69
Sally (Kern) Henzie ’64, MS ’68
Claire Berry MA ’65
Rosemary (Brown) Conners MS ’65
Michael Finchum ’65
Michael Hanlin ’65
Dixie (Aishe) White MS ’65
Robert Crawford ’66
Katha (Shoemaker) Dulhanty ’66, MS ’78
Frances King MS ’66
Harriet Marple ’66, MS ’69
Robert Oyler ’66
Anne (Wilkerson) Schwartz ’66
Eugene Sombke MS ’66
Rembert Stokes MS ’66
Suzanne (Geringer) Godich ’67
Anne Hamlet MS ’67
Christine (Swarts) Kenney ’67
Mary (Creager) Sands MS ’67
Marianne (Alexander) Bickell ’68
Judith (Dunavan) Gajic ’68
Donald Halsey ’68
Thomas Hostetler MS ’68
Ramona Mercer ’68
Alice (McClinock) Palma MS ’68
John Schmid ’68, MM ’69
Madiejane (McKay) Shaw ’68
George Kaczmarski ’69
Kenneth Motley ’69
Debra (Cronk) Ratliff ’69
Robert Tribbett ’69
Arthur Baxter MA ’70
Dennis Nichols ’70
SuAnn (Blackwell) Whitaker MS ’70
Wallace Bucklew MS ’71
Ruth Ann (Horn) Dick ’71, MS ’73
James Gifford
Marcia (Linder) Lustig MA ’71
Gerald Williams ’71
Waverly Eakins MM ’72
Richard Edwards MS ’72
Carol (Wightman) Bixby MS ’73
Ellen (Skinner) Bowen MS ’73
Sandra Hovermale MS ’73
Hannah (Hofherr) TenEyck MS ’73
Linda (Card) Mitchell MA ’74
Charleen (Elliott) Purdy MS ’74
John Webb ’74, MS ’76
Larry Booth ’75
Michael Congleton MS ’75
James Hausmann MS ’75
Judith (Bailey) Horton ’75, MS ’80
Madonna (Holaday) Mawk ’75
Rory (Rabin) Samberg MS ’75
Richard Adams ’76
Thomas Baima ’76
Joseph Griffey MS ’76
Judy Howie MS ’76
Kenneth Brown MBA ’77
Mark Quebe MBA ’77
Deborah Ward ’77
John Pappas MS ’78
David Whitsett MBA ’78
Alex Wrona ’78
Richard Bojrab ’79
Michael Malandrakis MBA ’79
Reva Sahm MS ’79
Lynn (Schreiber) Wallace ’79 Shirley Cline ’80
John McNeeley ’80
Kathleen Tinder MS ’80 Carl Melton ’81
Bruce Packard ’81
Douglas Smith MBA ’81
Mosunmola (Ayangade) Ayan-Oshodi ’83, MS ’86
David McClean MBA ’83
Joseph Wilsted MBA ’83
James Cassin MS ’84
Kelli (Hinds) DeHart ’86
Carolyn Haygood MBA ’88
Lawrence Wooden MS ’90
Kendall Hendricks ’91, MS ’94
Raymond Rohana MBA ’91
Ruth (Heckman) DeVoe MBA ’94 Elizabeth Roberts EdS ’96
Shannon (Brewer) Emmert ’97 Helen Straight ’03 Lindsey Kirk PharmD ’11
Faculty Emeriti
Louis Chenette Jeremiah Farrell William Ney ’58, MS ’67
Trustee Emeritus Edwin Goss
If you think being the Butler Bulldog is a lot of work, try being tasked with keeping up with me.
Interns have always been an integral part of the Butler Blue Live Mascot Program. In fact, my Dad was Butler Blue III’s intern before I came into the picture.
From the moment I wobbled onto campus, I could tell there was something different about Butler students. My program is better off thanks to the help I get from the College of Communication students who have spent their internships as assistant handlers.
Their impact goes well beyond holding a leash. My interns have had a tremendous impact on the social media presence I have become known for. Having a current student who has their finger on the pulse of the student body ensures that I keep up with the latest trends.
PRESIDENT, BUTLER UNIVERSITY James M. Danko
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & BRAND MANAGEMENT
Sherry Wallace
EDITOR Nancy Lyzun
EDITORIAL TEAM
Sherry Crabtree
Kristi Lafree
Meredith Sauter ’12 Courtney Tuell ’99
ART AND DESIGN TEAM
David Downham
Phil Eichacker (Art Director)
Alisha Luckenbill
UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER
Zach Bolinger
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jeff Haynes
Miss Cara Photography
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marc Allan MFA ’18
Mark Apple
Cindy Dashnaw
Katie Grieze
Jennifer Gunnels Dana Lee ’19
Andrew Mentock
Hailey Radakovitz ’21
Chloe Starleaf ’14
Rachel Stotts
Katie Palmer Wharton ’14 and Butler Blue IV
CLASS ACTS
Office of Butler Community Engagement
ClassActs@butler.edu
Butler Magazine is published for alumni, parents, supporters, and friends of Butler University. Share Butler Magazine story ideas and comments via email at butlermagazine@butler.edu or by phone at 317-940-9946.
“Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I made while at Butler. I came home with lifelong friends and memories and a passion for traveling.”
—Mason Sedgwick ’18
