BOLDLY BUTLER
Lacy
Celebrated
Inaugural
Kelly
Steven
Higher education stands at a crossroads—perhaps the most challenging in its history. The value of a college degree is questioned more than ever. Demographic shifts shrink the pool of traditional students. Artificial intelligence looms, promising disruption across nearly every profession. And financial pressures weigh heavily on families, institutions, and communities alike. This is where vision matters most. And Butler’s moment is now.
In such times, a university cannot drift—it must chart a course. Strategy is the compass; vision is the horizon. True to its founding mission, Butler is called to lead with both.
I am reminded of Ovid Butler’s bold decision to create this institution in 1855. He acted in turbulent times—on the eve of civil war—yet his conviction was clear: education should be accessible, inclusive, and transformative. That founding courage is the same spirit we need today. Butler must once again be a beacon of hope and possibility.
For five years, the Butler Beyond strategic direction gave us a roadmap, fueling innovation across our campus. Together, we built new academic facilities, launched nationally ranked programs, expanded access through Founder’s College, and embraced technology and partnerships that extend Butler’s reach. That work laid a strong foundation for what comes next.
Now we take the next step: Boldly Butler—a new strategy and the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in our history. Boldly Butler is our commitment to transform learning experiences, build a dynamic campus and community, and ensure that Butler thrives for generations to come.
This means guaranteeing that every student has access to internships, research, study abroad, and mentoring that prepare them not only for jobs, but for lives of meaning. It means advancing the health sciences to meet the urgent needs of the workforce. It means ensuring that the arts and athletics continue to enrich our culture and visibility. It means keeping our promise of affordability so that a Butler education is accessible to all students regardless of financial circumstance. And it means embracing AI and emerging technologies— harnessing them as tools for discovery, teaching, and creativity rather than threats to our mission.
The strategy is ambitious by design. Our $325 million campaign goal—combined with partnerships and new revenue sources—will generate more than $500 million in investment in our students and community. But the true impact is measured not in numbers, but in lives: a student who discovers her calling in a research lab; an alumnus whose Butler degree opens doors across the world; a neighbor whose quality of life is enriched by Butler’s presence.
The road ahead will not be easy. But Butler’s history proves that challenge calls forth our best. We adapt. We innovate. We stay true to our mission. And we invite you—alumni, donors, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends—to be part of this bold journey.
Together, we will ensure that Butler continues to shine as a national leader in innovation, a place where students flourish, and a community where the value of education is not questioned, but proven every day.
Thank you for walking with us into this bold future.
Go Dawgs, James Danko
On Homecoming weekend, the Butler University Alumni Association honored eight individuals for their commitment to the University and to their communities. The highest of these honors, The Butler Medal, recognizes profound influence that has helped Butler continue to thrive as a leading educational and cultural institution.
The Butler Medal: Dan Cooreman ’76
Dan Cooreman has devoted his life to advancing journalism, mentoring the next generation of storytellers, and strengthening the Butler University community through leadership, service, and philanthropy.
A proud Butler graduate and retired staff editor for The New York Times, Cooreman’s decades of professional excellence and volunteer commitment reflect both his passion for Butler University and his belief in the transformative power of education.
Cooreman’s professional journey began at The Butler Collegian, where he served as Editor-in-Chief. That experience set the course for a career defined by journalistic rigor, integrity, and mentorship. After an internship led to his first editing role at The South Bend Tribune, he would also serve at The Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald and the Atlanta JournalConstitution. The last 22 years of his career were at The New York Times, where he specialized in financial news. His Times colleague, Jeff Sommer, Columnist and Senior Staff Editor, captures Dan’s impact best.
“How good is he?
Well, honestly, when I first began to comprehend the quality of his editing work by seeing it from the inside, I was startled. I’m an old pro myself and thought I already knew my way around a comma. But Dan was, and is, extraordinary in his focus, literacy, and mastery of the nuances of English syntax and usage. He’s a gentleman and never needed to raise his voice or insist on the correctness of his views, because they were always and invariably so obviously correct.”
“His efforts as Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board have helped increase annual giving to the College by almost 100 percent in the last two years, and he has helped lead that group of alumni in being advocates and engaged participants in the lives of CCOM students.”
Beyond these roles, Cooreman has invested deeply in making Butler more inclusive and connected. As an active member of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Association Steering Committee, he partners with Butler Alliance, the student LGBTQIA+ group, to create programming that bridges alumni and students. For many years, he organized outings to the Indy LGBT Film Festival, creating opportunities for community and celebration.
“Personally, Dan inspires me to give back to Butler in meaningful ways,” says Chris Beaman ’12, Chair of the Butler LGBTQ+ Alumni Association Steering Committee. “His passion, energy, and belief in the power of alumni to enrich the lives of current students and the broader community serve as a constant reminder of the lasting impact we can have when we invest in our shared alma mater.”
Cooreman has also played a key role in building Butler’s regional community presence. A longtime member of the Greater New York Butler Community Steering Committee, he has served as Vice Chair and Communications Chair, planning alumni gatherings, spearheading annual service projects, and mentoring students pursuing New York-area opportunities. Whether arranging basketball watch parties or supporting students on service trips, he has consistently found ways to bring Butler pride to life in New York City.
An Enduring
Cooreman’s commitment to Butler has been constant and wideranging. He served a four-year term on the Butler University Alumni Association (BUAA) Board, where he contributed to the membership committee and helped expand the board’s geographic reach, ensuring alumni voices from across the country were represented.
Since 2014, he has also been a cornerstone of the College of Communication Dean’s Advisory Board, where he currently serves as Chair. His leadership has provided continuity and encouragement, says Dean Joe Valenzano.
Supporting Butler students remains at the heart of Cooreman’s service. He established an endowed scholarship in memory of his parents, August and Esther Cooreman, awarded annually to a Journalism major on The Butler Collegian staff. He also meets regularly with student editors to discuss the evolving media landscape and serves as a career mentor through the CCOM Network. His approach to mentoring is marked by humility, often noting that he learns as much from his mentees as they learn from him.
In 2022, Cooreman and his husband, Steve Turner, were inducted into the Carillon Society, recognizing donors with lifetime giving of $100,000 or more. Their generosity ensures that future generations of students benefit from the same opportunities that shaped Cooreman’s own life.
“I am grateful beyond words for this honor, and indeed surprised. I always thought that my service to Butler and its students was just a natural way to say thanks to the University for all the doors it opened for me.”
-Dan Cooreman
2025 Alumni Award recipients (below, left to right)
• Katharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Service Award: Cynthia A. Payne ’05
• The Butler Service Medal: Dr. Kate Morris
• Mortar Award: Lori J. Ziemba ’82 and Kenneth M. Massaroni ’83
• The Butler Medal: Dan Cooreman ’76
• Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award: Trey Meehan ’14
• The Robert Todd Duncan Alumni Achievement Award: Jasmine D. Gonzalvo PharmD ’05
• Foundation Award: Chris Beaman ’12 and Jeremy Sheetz
• Hilton Ultimus Brown Alumni Achievement Award: Ben “K’uyáang” Young ’14
Learn more about this year’s recipients.
Photo by Miss Cara Photography
By Emily Schlorf ’21
Purpose in
Universities often highlight their strong outcomes—and Butler is no exception. But the real story lies beyond the percentages. As these alumni demonstrate, Butler equips students not only for successful careers but also for meaningful lives.
Annie Brown ’21
Annie Brown ’21’s album, Handle with Care, came out January 2025, but its songs were born long before that in her days on Butler’s campus.
“Some of the songs were written in my dorm rooms and in my sorority house and were inspired by my best friends,” Brown says.
As Jordan College of the Arts’ first female Jazz Studies major and the Jazz program’s first vocalist, Brown’s biggest goal for her time at Butler was to improve her musicianship and songwriting skills. Little did she know that she’d graduate with a network of talented friends, prestigious performance experiences, and a soon-to-be-released EP.
That EP, titled Criminal, came out in 2022 and featured fellow Butler alumni Isaac Beaumont ’20, Eric Garcia ’19, Pat Petrus ’18, and Tom Pieciak ’21—friendships made within the walls of Lilly Hall. The group went on to perform at the Alt Indy Series in Garfield Park, at the HI-FI Annex, LOFI Lounge, and even aboard an IndyGo bus for the Emmy Award-winning concert web series, Music in Transit
“When I got to Butler in 2017, I never anticipated the quality and the longevity of the friendships that I would leave with in 2021,” Brown says. “They always inspire me to be better— personally and musically.”
Another influence on Brown’s music? Opera. In addition to forging new paths in the Jazz program, Brown also studied classical voice. She says that her cross-stylistic training strengthened more than just her pipes.
The style of Brown’s latest project and first full-length album, Handle with Care, is as multifaceted as her time at Butler. The electronic indie pop record blends house and subtle jazz influences to tell stories of young adulthood.
“We encounter so many different sorts of dynamics and experiences in our early ’20s,” Brown says, “and we can turn even our very trying ones into something beautiful.”
Kylie Stine ’20
Brady Stinson ’26
Kylie Stine ’20 didn’t plan to stay in Indianapolis. The Indy Summer Experience and one class changed her mind and career trajectory forever.
“Bob Schultz’s Hospitality and Tourism course helped me discover that I’m passionate about cultivating community and that I wanted to live in Indianapolis after graduating,” Stine says. “The Hospitality and Tourism class along with Career and Professional Services’ Indy Summer Experience
program showed me that the Indianapolis and Butler communities really want you to succeed and that people here care about young people’s ideas.”
A few years after graduation, the Indy community championed one of her ideas: a Barbie-themed party at The Vogue Theatre in Broad Ripple.
Although The Vogue’s production company Forty5 had pivoted away from internally run events, Stine advocated for her vision—a dance party celebrating the release of the Barbie movie, complete with a pink carpet, fashion show, women DJs, and prizes from local women-owned businesses—and proved that life in plastic truly is fantastic.
Lauren Stubbs ’25
“It was Forty5’s first-ever internal event to sell out and our most successful event of the entire year in terms of profit margin,” Stine says. “It was so rewarding to see that I could do something with my career that brings people from all backgrounds together.”
This was just the beginning of Stine’s passion for community-building.
That fall, Stine conceptualized Butler University Young Alumni Board’s Beyond the Bubble event, designed to connect graduating seniors and recent alumni to local organizations. The following year, her strategy helped double registration numbers.
In 2024, Stine was nominated for the 1828 IndyHub Leadership Project, a yearlong program that nurtures Indianapolis’ next generation of leaders through mentoring and civic participation.
Currently a Senior Associate of Internal Communications at Eli Lilly and Company, Stine hopes to continue growing her communications, public relations, and community engagement skills.
“I would love to get my master’s degree in communications or industrial-organizational psychology and one day be able to teach at Butler or at a different institution,” Stine says. “I’m so grateful for everyone who poured into me while I was at Butler, and it would be so fulfilling to be a part of that for other students in the future.”
A MASCOT
MILESTONE
THE LACY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Where experience meets opportunity
By Katie Palmer Wharton ’14
Butler University’s Lacy School of Business (LSB) is once again in the national spotlight. In the 2025 Poets&Quants Best Undergraduate Business Schools rankings, LSB was ranked No. 1 in the country for Effectiveness of Career Advising, No. 2 for Quality of Teaching, No. 8 for Best Undergraduate Academic Experience, No. 36 for Career Outcomes, and No. 48 overall among business schools. These results highlight the strength of an approach built on one simple principle: business education works best when students don’t just learn about it—they live it.
From their first semester on campus, LSB students are immersed in signature experiences that blend classroom learning with real-world application. By the time they graduate, every Bulldog has consulted for a nonprofit, launched and run a start-up, and completed at least two professional internships. The result: a track record of career success and alumni who leave Butler confident, capable, and ready to make an impact.
Through hands-on signature experiences, Butler’s Lacy School of Business is setting the national standard for preparing graduates to thrive.
“Our promise is that students will graduate with much more than a degree,” says Craig Caldwell, Dean of the Lacy School of Business. “They’ll leave with a diverse portfolio of real experiences—consulting, starting businesses, interning, and more—that prove they can solve problems, lead teams, and deliver results in the real world. That’s the difference an LSB education makes.”
The Signature Experiences
LSB’s model is anchored in a sequence of hands-on courses and requirements that have become hallmarks of the program.
•First-Year Business Experience introduces students to the fundamentals of business through real-world projects. Working in teams, students are assigned a company, research a sustainability-related challenge, and develop innovative solutions to present at the end of the course.
•Real Business Experience (RBE) has all sophomores design, launch, and manage an actual business. Teams pitch ideas, raise capital, run operations, and eventually close their ventures. Many report that the lessons learned in RBE are the most memorable—and humbling—of their college career.
•Internships are built into the curriculum, guaranteeing that every student gains professional experience before graduation. With Indianapolis as a backdrop, opportunities span Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, healthcare systems, sports franchises, and nonprofits.
•Capstone projects round out the sequence, often in the form of consulting engagements, simulations, or international collaborations that challenge students to apply their cumulative learning in complex settings.
“These experiences are not window dressing—they are central to how we define business education at Butler,” Caldwell explains. “Students are tested in situations where the stakes are real, and they emerge more confident and more resilient.”
Learning by Leading: Jenna’s Story
For senior Marketing and Entrepreneurship major Jenna Burd, the Real Business Experience was more than a class—it was the launchpad for everything that came next.
As a sophomore, Burd served as CEO and Vice President of Sales for her RBE team, which created a Butlerthemed novelty calendar. With a $1,000 seed loan, her team built the project from scratch.
“My coursework and the faculty here pushed me to explore new areas of marketing and business,” she says. “When I graduate, I won’t just leave with a degree—I’ll leave with real businesses, real networks, and real lessons that will carry me forward.”
Nick Smarrelli, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Director of Butler’s Entrepreneurship Program, has seen firsthand how students like Jenna flourish.
“Experiential learning lets students get out of the classroom, expand their perspective, and solve real problems beyond the Butler bubble,” Smarrelli says.
He emphasizes that student-run businesses like campusbased Chimba Bowls and Butler Brew are more than just projects. “They employ peers, generate revenue, and teach leadership in a way that no textbook can. And that’s why employers like Butler graduates—our students already know what it takes to lead and deliver results.”
“It was my first time really leading a team and having to be the connector,” Burd recalls. “I had to figure out how to delegate, how to leverage people’s strengths, and how to make sure they were satisfied with their work. You can’t build a company by yourself—you have to have a team with you.”
The experience proved pivotal. “Because of that class, I became a three-time business owner,” she says. “Not a lot of other schools would give you that kind of opportunity as a sophomore.”
Today, Burd runs Yalla Solutions, a digital-first fractional CMO and creative agency that supports start-ups with marketing leadership. She credits her success to the Butler entrepreneurship ecosystem and the mentors who guided her.
Outcomes Speak for Themselves
The LSB approach is more than a learning philosophy—it’s a proven strategy. For more than a decade, Butler’s business graduates have achieved a near-perfect placement rate, with 98–100 percent securing jobs or graduate school admission within six months of Commencement.
Employers consistently cite Butler graduates’ ability to contribute immediately. “They’re not just ready for their first job—they’re prepared for a lifetime of adapting to change,” Caldwell notes. “That adaptability comes from our insistence on giving them real-world experience from day one.”
While national recognition from Poets&Quants affirms the LSB model, Caldwell is quick to emphasize that rankings are not the goal. “The goal is transformation,” he says. “Our students walk in as eager, curious young people and walk out as professionals who know themselves and know how to lead.”
Butler’s Lacy School of Business is proving that the best way to learn business is to do business. And for the Bulldogs who live that philosophy, the result is more than a topranked education—it’s a launchpad for a lifetime of leading and learning.
Jenna Burd ’26
By Marc Allan MFA ’18
The way Kaveh Akbar MFA ’15 remembers things, he made his way into Butler’s MFA in Creative Writing program by the skin of his teeth. English Professor Andy Levy, who was Director of the program at the time, and Professor of English Chris Forhan each recall the situation somewhat differently.
“I was a really bad undergrad,” Akbar says. “I barely went to any classes and did the bare minimum in the classes that I went to, so had no real recommenders. I sent my application to Butler, and I remember having to go to Indy and talk to a couple of the professors—Chris Forhan and Andy Levy—who were pretty skeptical. They liked the poetry sample that I sent in, but the rest of the application was just a mess.”
Levy’s perspective tells a different story.
“Kaveh’s talent and maturity as an artist were obvious from the start,” Levy says. “It was also clear that he had some struggles in his immediate past that impacted his application … but he didn’t have to talk us into anything. We talked as much about whether this was a good place for him to advance as a writer and a person, and I’m not sure whether we were taking a chance on him or he on us. But he never let us down, and hopefully we came through for him.”
Forhan remembers Akbar’s application struck him as “oddly contradictory,” but he couldn’t ignore his immense promise.
“His writing sample was strong, and he said smart things about poetry, so part of me couldn’t wait to have Kaveh be a member of our community. However, his undergraduate transcript from Purdue was waving a big red flag,” Forhan says. “Particularly strange to me was that he had earned very low grades in his poetry workshops. But the most important thing I remember is how immediately engaging Kaveh was personally, and how rare a mind he had.”
“It turned out being a writer is a lot easier without one lobe of your brain tied beyond your back,” Akbar says. “Because I got sober, I was suddenly permeable to what I was being taught in classes and I was suddenly able to apply it.”
ALUMNI PROFILES
Thank you to our credit union partner, Elements Financial, for their support.
At Butler, he started and ran Divedapper, a website featuring interviews with major voices in contemporary poetry. Akbar says the project “became an education of its own” for him, and he began using the things he learned in class.
He remembers watching the pilot episode of Battlestar Galactica three times in a row in Dan Barden’s Story Structure class and “feeling genuinely illuminated and inspired by it.”
“He was the only student who was enthusiastic about multiple viewings of the same first episode, which explains—to me, anyway—how he became such an accomplished novelist,” Barden says. “It’s all there in that first episode.”
While the details of Akbar’s first impressions are up for debate, what followed speaks for itself.
Akbar finished 2024 as a finalist for the National Book Award for his first novel, Martyr!, which became a New York Times bestseller. He then received a Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, which provides recipients with as much as a year’s worth of funding to pursue creative projects.
Since graduating from Butler, he also has published two books of poetry, Calling a Wolf a Wolf and Pilgrim Bell, earned his doctorate at Florida State University, and taught for five years at Purdue University, his undergraduate alma mater. He is now Associate Professor and Director of the Undergraduate English and Creative Writing major at the University of Iowa.
Most importantly, though, he got sober. He wrote about his addiction in the poetry chapbook Portrait of the Alcoholic.
In Forhan’s class, he memorized Robert Hayden’s poem, Those Winter Sundays. He learned “granularity—the idea that every syllable has its place and the idea that grammar matters deeply.”
Reflecting on his Poetry Professor Alessandra Lynch, Akbar says she was “full of wonder and enthusiasm and bewilderment at what poetry can hold,” something he has resolved to carry into his writing.
Akbar developed a stellar reputation at Butler as a poet; to this day, he labels himself “poet” on his income-tax form. But he never wrote much fiction—that is, until he and novelist Tommy Orange started trading pages of their writing every Friday.
Orange said the poems Akbar sent gradually “got prose-ier and prose-ier,” and before long, Akbar had written Martyr! (Orange’s work became the bestselling novel Wandering Stars.)
Pulitzer Prize-winner Junot Diaz, writing in The New York Times, calls Martyr! “a riveting character study and piercing family saga” and says that “what Akbar pulls off in Martyr! is nothing short of miraculous.”
Now, a year-plus later, Akbar is in no hurry to create another miracle.
“I have a good job and we live pretty simply, so there’s no ticking clock,” he says. “The literary marketplace is robust enough without me rushing work into it. I certainly feel like I have more writing in me, but I would never be so hubristic to say that something that hasn’t been written yet and it isn’t scheduled for publication yet is absolutely going to be in the world.”
Engineering A VISION
By Victoria Ochs
Jeffrey Carvell ’06, the inaugural Chair of Butler’s new Engineering program, says he “fell in love” with Butler long before his first day of class.
“When my mom and I first drove from the suburbs of Chicago onto campus for a tour, the minute we stepped out of the car, we knew our decision would be ‘yes’ right then and there,” he recalls. “It felt like home.”
Carvell went on to graduate with a Butler Physics degree and a Purdue Electrical Engineering degree through Butler’s former Engineering Dual Degree Program (EDDP) partnership. Now, he’s thrilled to be “back home” for this new chapter for Butler Engineering. In August 2025, the University introduced its own Engineering program consisting of three majors within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences—Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering—set to launch in fall 2026. After serving as Interim Dean of Marian University’s Witchger School of Engineering, Carvell’s return is marked by both pride in Butler’s 26 years of EDDP excellence and excitement for what lies ahead.
“We’re not starting this from scratch—we’ve listened to the industry and employers about how they recognize when they have a Butler Engineering student and what sets them apart,” he says. “The feedback was consistent: Butler interns and graduates stood out not only because of their knowledge and abilities, but also their ability to communicate and apply the social aspects and economic impacts of their work. The liberal arts tradition builds a different type of engineer.”
Carvell’s vision for Butler’s Engineering program reflects this combination of technical expertise and interpersonal professionalism. Butler’s liberal arts core will be integrated into every course Engineering students take from their first year through graduation, with an industry-informed grading system designed around the skills and attributes employers value in rising graduates.
This competency-based approach shapes how students will be assessed. Students will use digital simulators, 3D design software, CNC machines, laser cutters, and 3D printers, in addition to the theoretical foundation of an interdisciplinary STEM curriculum. Students will also be evaluated on
how well they respond to feedback, share ideas, cope with setbacks, and collaborate with their team.
“Critical thinking, ethical decision making, communication skills—these things aren’t always a focus elsewhere,” Carvell says. “We want to train human-centered engineers: people who can solve complex engineering problems and also lead teams and consider the societal impacts of their work.”
Carvell says he’s grateful to be leading and teaching at a university that already incorporates local servicelearning into the curriculum. With the Indiana Economic Development Corporation reporting a growing gap between engineering jobs and qualified graduates, he sees Butler’s program as a chance to meet a real need.
“My goal, especially for the gap in Indiana, is to bring in, teach, and train high-quality engineers and encourage and reward them to stay here in Indiana to serve the community,” he says. “To think globally but be able to apply their knowledge locally.”
And he knows Butler alumni will be critical partners in that mission. Carvell hopes to continue fostering relationships with EDDP graduates as the program prepares for its launch, inviting them to share their experience with students in ways both big and small—whether that’s joining advisory boards, team leading senior projects, or even grabbing coffee to mentor a future engineer.
“With our rich history, there’s so much to build upon here,” Carvell says to graduates looking to contribute. “You are welcome and you’re wanted.”
Interested in helping Butler Engineering students? Have questions about the new program? Reach out to engineering@butler.edu.
Thank you to our credit union partner, Elements Financial, for their support.
BEING on the BALL
By Hailey Radakovitz ’21
In an 8th grade National Honor Society event, Kelly (Kyle) Kidd ’16 proudly declared that she wanted to work in orthopedics and play Division I volleyball when she grew up.
Now, years later, Kidd has made both dreams a reality. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduate spent her collegiate experience preparing for a career as a physician assistant (PA) in orthopedics while simultaneously competing as a member of the Butler women’s volleyball team.
Initially recruited to Butler for athletics, Kidd quickly recognized that the University would also provide a launchpad for her career aspirations. Upon admission, she was selected to be a part of the then-offered auto advanced Master’s in PA Studies program.
She completed her rotations in Indianapolis and ultimately confirmed that she wanted to pursue her passion in the field of orthopedics. In addition to confirming her career choice, the program allowed her to build lasting relationships with classmates and professors alike.
Despite a rigorous course schedule, Kidd’s passion for volleyball and competing at the collegiate level never wavered. This was largely due to the Butler women’s volleyball team and coaches, who provided constant encouragement and a warm, supportive atmosphere.
Early on in her collegiate athletic career, Kidd was recognized for her impressive contributions in a publication that featured Deaf and hard of hearing athletes. Her feature caught the eye of Coach Lynn Ray Boren of the Women’s USA Deaf Volleyball Team, who reached out to gauge her interest in joining the team and representing her country on an international stage.
Kidd was honored to be recruited and presented with such an incredible opportunity.
“When someone asks you to come play for the US Team, it’s a pretty cool opportunity, especially for a college student,” she reflects. That year, she joined the team and they finished fourth at the 22nd Summer Deaflympics in Bulgaria, an unforgettable experience for Kidd.
“In 2013, during my first Olympic experience, I had no idea what to expect,” she says. “To be a part of the opening ceremony and compete at that level, it was an amazing experience.”
Kidd played with the US Women’s Deaf Team until 2019 and made an impressive impact on the program. Not only did she forge
meaningful relationships with her team and coaches, but she also had the opportunity to achieve incredible feats. She reflects especially fondly on the 2016 season, when the team hosted and won gold in both the Pan American Games and the USA Volleyball Open.
In addition to competing at an elite level with the team, Kidd was also proud to be a part of a program that consistently works to advance the athletic opportunities available to Deaf and hard of hearing players. The organization is always looking to promote new ways for players to get involved in volleyball, whether it be through the creation of developmental teams or through highlighting various athletic opportunities available to players.
After a brief hiatus from the team to start a family, Kidd was selected to return this year to compete with the program. She will be competing in Tokyo in November at the 25th Summer Deaflympics, where the women’s team will battle for the gold. She’s thrilled to bring her loved ones along for the ride.
“I’m looking forward to the fact that my family will be joining me and can experience this final Deaflympics with me,” she says. “I have a great support system behind me, and I’m very thankful. My kids are very young and may not remember these moments together, but I look forward to making memories with them during this experience and looking back on them in the future.”
Reminiscing on her athletic career, Kidd acknowledges that her family, her faith, and all the individuals who have supported her along the way have made a meaningful impact on her journey.
“My husband, kids, and parents have been incredibly supportive throughout the years,” she says. “Additionally, fundraising is a key aspect of the sport, and anyone who has donated or cheered me on from afar has helped make these dreams a reality. I’m so grateful for their support.”
Success THROUGH PERSISTENCE
By Elle Rotter ’27
Steven Williams II spent much of his childhood questioning if football was the sport for him. With a father who played football at North Carolina Central and a mother who loved basketball, athletics surrounded him—but Williams gravitated toward artistic hobbies. His father encouraged him to try football, hoping it would get him outside. At first, Williams struggled with confidence. Coaches reinforced his doubts, telling him he was too small, too slow, and lacked football IQ.
Despite the discouragement from his coaches, Williams grew to love the sport thanks to the encouragement of his family. Determined to prove himself, he transferred schools in hopes of finding support and building both his skills and confidence. Still, he knew playing college football as a 5’9”, 225-pound defensive end would be a challenge.
“I was looking at the statistics for my position group,” Williams says. “Those numbers range anywhere from 6’2” to 6’5” and 240-plus pounds. As a stubborn kid, I didn’t care about any of that. I liked to compete, so to me, it was just another challenge.”
That persistence eventually caught the attention of Butler Assistant Football Coach Adam Sawicki, who recruited Williams relentlessly.
“The coaching staff was my saving grace,” Williams says. “When I visited Butler, I fell in love right off the bat. They showed me love and they had confidence in me—that’s all you want to hear.” Butler has given Williams more than just a football career.
On the close-knit campus, he has thrived as a self-described “social introvert,” balancing athletics, academics, internships, study abroad, fraternity life as an Omega Psi Phi, and personal growth.
Now in his final season with the Bulldogs, Williams is focused on leaving a legacy built on hard work and resilience.
“Regardless of what happens, I want to know that I did it. And to everyone who said it couldn’t be done, thank you for the motivation,” Williams says. “I want to be a role model for the younger guys. I was told I had nothing to provide to this game, but through hard work, dedication, and trusting myself, I was able to make something out of nothing.”
ON TOP OF HER game
By Elle Rotter ’27
Chase Metcalf didn’t follow the typical path of a collegiate tennis player. While many of her peers picked up a racket at a young age, she didn’t start until she was 10, hitting balls recreationally at a park. By 13, she joined a club and began competing more seriously while also traveling for soccer. In high school, she was told she had to make a choice between her two sports—and tennis prevailed.
The decision paid off. By the end of her high school career, she was an All-State performer who caught the eye of college recruiters.
Though she knew she wasn’t the most polished prospect, one strong match was enough to gain the attention of Butler University’s Head Coach. On her campus visit, Metcalf clicked with the coaching staff, team culture, and the Lacy School of Business.
“It just felt right,” she says.
Since arriving at Butler, Metcalf has steadily climbed the ranks. In her first year, she secured key wins at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles. Sophomore year brought a coaching change and a more trying season. But she bounced back her junior year with a breakout performance, earning Big East First Team honors while playing both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.
“I remember telling my coach, ‘I’m not good enough to play No. 1 singles,’” Metcalf recalls. “Then I went out there and proved myself wrong.”
Metcalf has become a model student-athlete at Butler, excelling on the court while embracing campus life. As a member of Alpha Phi, she’s built friendships and contributed to philanthropy efforts while balancing demanding athletic and academic schedules.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to be part of a sorority,” Metcalf says, “but Alpha Phi does a really good job of letting me have a balance between tennis and sorority life. I’ve been able to meet some of my best friends, and it’s nice to have that break.”
When not on the court, Metcalf double majors in Business Technology and Marketing Analytics. She interned with Roche Diagnostics over the summer and now works part time while finishing her degree. Long term, she hopes to build a career in medical sales and eventually take on a leadership role where she can mentor others.
“I’ve always loved mentoring,” Metcalf says. “One day, I want to do for others what my mentors have done for me.”
A Look Back:
The Butler Beyond strategic direction, publicly unveiled on October 5, 2019, guided our work as a University community over the past six years. At the heart of Butler Beyond was an acceptance of the reality of a changing higher education landscape that mandated us to evolve. Together, we charted a bold course for Butler’s future anchored in the idea of dual transformation—enhancing our traditional undergraduate residential experience while simultaneously developing new models of education to serve learners of all life stages and backgrounds.
Butler Beyond undeniably transformed the University and our community for the better. State-of-the-art academic facilities like Dugan Hall and Levinson Family Hall were built to match the talent of our exceptional students and faculty. The Transformation Lab, the University’s innovation incubator, was created and has become a national model of excellence. Online, adult education, graduate programs, and corporate partnerships were significantly expanded. Founder’s College was successfully launched, delivering on our promise to offer a Butler degree that is accessible to high-ability, low-wealth members of our community at little or no cost. Through Butler Beyond, we rapidly adapted to meet the needs of our students and community, and as a result built a powerful foundation for continued growth.
Butler Beyond
as of Summer 2025
% by the numbers
40 3-year degrees 18 articulation agreements 14 new undergraduate programs
31 new adult and online programs
3,485 learners served through new adult and online programs
87.5% first-year cohort retention
5,747 total enrollment
35% increase in membership in faculty/staff affinity groups
$18M in gross revenue from new programs
78
increase in external research funding awarded to Butler faculty in 2023–2024 from the previous three years
150 annual diversity activities in skill-building, leadership development, exploring identities, community engagement, and civic service
$262.7M raised from more than
7 over +
+19 increase in employee satisfaction with campus experience and environment %
35,039 donors during the Butler Beyond Campaign
years Butler University ranked #1 Regional University in the Midwest, according to U.S. News and World Report
438
members of the Butler community have been trained in Mental Health First Aid
Taking Butler Beyond
priority legend
Access & Impact
Well-Being
March 2021
Future Models
Hinkle Fieldhouse was one of six Indiana venues that hosted the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Sixteen tournament games took place at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Culture
August 2021
Student initiative led to the establishment of the Butler Latinx Alumni Association in 2021, a significant milestone in Butler’s many efforts to build an environment of belonging for our growing Latinx community through social, cultural, and educational programming.
March 2022
October 2020
Butler Ventures was established to advance bold ideas from concept to reality. Through the Transformation Lab, ideas for new and innovative educational and business models are vetted, designed, and launched.
May 2022
The Butler Beyond fundraising campaign closed in May 2022, raising over $262 million and exceeding its $250 million goal. Major gifts from Bill Dugan ’51 and Frank Levinson ’75 named Dugan Hall and Levinson Family Hall, two key campaign priorities.
July 2022
Butler welcomed thousands of members of Sigma Gamma Rho to campus for The Homecoming celebration on July 12, 2022 commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. on Butler’s campus on November 12, 1922.
August 2022
Enhancements were made to undergraduate advising efforts with the launch of Navigate online learning management system and the development of a comprehensive institutional advising philosophy and approach.
The Institute for Well-being at Butler University launched to help colleges and universities understand student needs and improve well-being initiatives, allowing students and institutions to thrive.
August 2022
Butler announced a $4 million gift from Trustee Jay Love ’76 and spouse Christie (Kile) Love ’79 to fund the construction of a new University House and Presidential Residence, which will be named the Jay and Christie Kile Love University House.
Beyond
September 2022
Butler hired its inaugural Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, marking the establishment of a Cabinet-level position to lead the development and execution of Butler’s DEI strategy.
October 2022
March 2024
In the Great Colleges to Work For Survey, Butler achieved distinction in areas of Job Satisfaction and Support; Faculty and Staff Well-being; Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness; Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Mission and Pride; and Confidence in Senior Leaders.
January 2024
Butler Blue IV’s Instagram page garnered more than 114,000 followers worldwide.
The Butler Esports Park opened in fall 2022, integrating competition, curriculum, and community. Butler’s varsity esports teams compete in the BIG EAST in both Rocket League and League of Legends, with club-level esports teams competing in 13 titles.
August 2022
Butler hired its first ever Director of First-Year Experience and established the Student Success Center, a collaborative hub comprising academic advising, coaching, workshops, and exploratory studies to help students be successful throughout their Butler experience.
August 2023
Renovations to Residential College (ResCo) were completed, including updated residence wings, student lounges, bathrooms, and renovations to the dining hall, kitchen, and lobby.
August 2023
April 2023
Butler celebrated the official opening of the University’s $100 million expanded and renovated Sciences Complex, which now houses all of Butler’s undergraduate science programs in a fully connected corridor.
The Butler Lifelong Learning Collaborative was launched to provide adult learners with non-credit courses on a variety of topics through both in-person and virtual formats, lowering barriers to educational opportunities for all.
August 2023
As a result of our work with The Gardner Institute, Butler developed and implemented a cohesive first-year student strategy with enhancements to New Student Registration and Orientation to support first-year student outcomes.
August 2023
Butler launched core and aspirational EXCITE values to maintain a work environment in support of our mission where trust, pride, and respect for all people are valued and professional success is enhanced.
April 2024
In a major step toward the achievement of its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, Butler University Board of Trustees announced the establishment of a campus-wide Office of Sustainability and approval of the Butler Decarbonization Master Plan.
November 2023
Butler announced the creation of a new two-year college, Founder’s College, which will provide students from the greater Indianapolis area with an affordable pathway to pursue post-secondary education. Founder’s College will welcome its inaugural class in fall 2025, supported by a $2.5M gift from Marianne Glick and Mike Woods.
October 2023
The Division of Student Affairs announced the creation of the Office of Student Advocacy to provide comprehensive case management services to assist students experiencing crisis or personal challenges, connecting them with resources on and off campus.
August 2024
Butler Athletics announced the establishment of The Butler Way Society, a new philanthropic giving society created to inspire and honor major multi-year gift commitments that will resource the student-athlete experience at an elite level.
September 2024
With the partnership and in-kind design assistance of the Indiana Native Plant Society, more than 400 Butler students, faculty, staff, and community volunteers replanted Holcomb Gardens with approximately 3,700 native plants.
April 2024
Butler University hosted thousands of visitors from around the country to view the total solar eclipse, including solar scientists gathering data on the solar corona as part of a community science project funded by the NSF and NASA. Butler faculty conducted interviews with dozens of local, national, and international media.
June 2024
Butler’s first degree completion option, the online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, launched as a bridge for individuals with either an associate’s degree or 60 college credits.
May
2024
Butler launched a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program, accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. Starting in August 2025, the program will offer courses that focus on technology’s role in healthcare, working with underserved patient populations, and holistic patient care.
December 2024
Clowes Memorial Hall was ranked 59th in the world for most tickets sold according to Pollstar.
December 2024
Butler announced its vision for a $100 million Midtown Arts District, beginning with a renovation of Clowes Memorial Hall in 2025 funded by a $9 million grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.
August 2024
Butler was awarded a $22.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support initiatives within the Butler Gateway Project, which aims to create a vibrant, interconnected community between Butler University and Midtown Indianapolis. The grant funding will support a number of community and campus projects, including the construction of a new Safety and Transit Hub.
January 2025
After a comprehensive two-year plan, Butler went live with Oracle Cloud financial and human resources implementation, building a foundation for operational excellence supporting the dynamic growth of the University.
January 2025
Butler announced a $4 million anonymous gift to the College of Communication (CCOM), a portion of which will establish the first endowed faculty position in CCOM since the creation of the College in 2010.
February 2025
Butler Athletics announced a $12 million estate commitment from Trustee Rebecca Graham Paul ’70 MS ’75 that will provide support for female student-athletes and student-athlete leadership development initiatives.
This timeline contains a small sample of the many milestones and memorable achievements of the Butler Beyond era. The scope of the work accomplished by the Butler community during this period far exceeds the limitations of these pages.
September 2025
Butler University announces Boldly Butler, its new strategic direction and comprehensive fundraising campaign.
We now plan for the future amid a higher education environment that presents a wide array of new challenges.
Distrust in institutions has become pervasive across our society. Universities have been caught in the crossfire of ever intensifying political divisions. Students who are entering university experienced intense K-12 learning gaps due to pandemic emergency remote instruction. And, a negative national narrative of declining ROI and lifelong student debt has led some to question the very value of higher education. These challenges, coupled with ongoing demographic pressures, have led to declining college enrollments, resulting in more than 70 colleges and universities closing their doors since 2020.
In the face of these challenges, Butler has a clear vision for the future. We will not ignore or shy away from these obstacles but rather confront them by once more adapting to the present realities while remaining firmly grounded in our mission to “boldly innovate and broadly educate.” We will overcome doubts about the value of higher education by delivering a highly relevant and transformational student experience that prepares our students to achieve unparalleled professional success and to lead lives of deep meaning. And we will be a catalyst for the prosperity of our community as an anchor institution dedicated to the vitality of Central Indiana.
Building upon the strong foundation created during Butler Beyond, and with this clear vision guiding our way, we are prepared to face the future boldly.
BOLDLY BUTLER
Boldly Butler is our commitment to setting the standard for delivering a transformative education with local impact and global reach. To achieve this strategic vision, we’ve launched the Boldly Butler comprehensive fundraising campaign, the largest in Butler’s history, with a goal of raising $325 million by May 31, 2030. Additionally, revenue from athletics fans and arts patrons, and co-investment with corporate and community partners, will total over $500 million invested in our students and community by 2030.
Driving this bold vision are three core commitments that will guide our three-year strategic planning and propel us through the end of the decade and beyond:
Transformational Learning Experiences
We commit to delivering highly relevant, engaging, and personalized transformational learning experiences that prepare all learners to achieve professional success and lead lives of meaning.
We will:
• Guarantee every Butler graduate is prepared to achieve professional success and lead meaningful lives by embedding high-impact experiential learning opportunities, expanding the Lacy School of Business’s No.1-ranked career mentor program, and extending the nationally recognized BU|BeWell model for holistic well-being to all Butler students.
• Advance Butler’s founding mission and lifelong learning models by successfully delivering, growing, and expanding innovative pathways that meet learners’ needs at every stage of life.
• Create greater opportunities for interdisciplinary programs that align with areas of market growth, preparing graduates to thrive in emerging fields and contribute to society in impactful ways.
• Lead the dynamic future of health education and contribute to the wellness of our region by excelling as a national leader in the preparation of health professionals through a significant interdisciplinary expansion of the health sciences that aligns with workforce needs and addresses the social drivers of health in our community.
• Set our community’s most promising students on a path to success by expanding student scholarship support and guaranteeing that any graduate of Founder’s College can continue to complete a four-year Butler degree for little or no debt.
DYNAMIC CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
We commit to building a dynamic campus and community that enriches our students’ experience and enhances our neighbors’ lives by propelling the economic and cultural vitality of Central Indiana.
We will:
• Strengthen Butler’s national prominence in Arts and Athletics by advancing the development of the Midtown Arts District and achieving Top 25 success in Men’s and Women’s Basketball, elevating the University’s visibility and impact on a national stage.
• Transform the campus experience through gateway development projects that enhance gathering spaces, foster connectivity, and create a more vibrant and welcoming environment for students, alumni, and the community.
• Deepen Butler’s role as a trusted partner in Midtown Indianapolis by expanding collaboration with institutions, neighbors, and community-based organizations to drive shared growth and opportunity.
We commit to creating a thriving Butler, recognized as a premier national university with global reach, centered on a culture of growth, and built to endure.
We will:
• Elevate Butler’s national reputation as a leader in transformational learning, expanding enrollment reach, and deepening alumni engagement.
• Establish Global Hubs that extend Butler’s international presence by building upon Butler’s strength in study abroad and the newly launched Global Degree Model, creating new opportunities for students and faculty to engage in cross-cultural learning, research, and collaboration.
• Foster a vibrant and inclusive campus culture by intentionally supporting employee development and advancing opportunities that strengthen belonging and professional growth across the Butler community.
• Harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence to enhance teaching and learning, accelerate research, and drive operational excellence across the University.
By Victoria Ochs
Imagine if your college experience spanned across continents.
Studying conservation after experiencing the beauty of Sri Lanka’s Horton Plains National Park. Living in the international business hub of Sydney, Australia as you study global supply chain management. Practicing your Spanish over a home-cooked meal with your host family in Merida, Mexico. Butler didn’t just imagine a global degree—it made it a reality.
In August 2025, the University announced Butler Overseas: an undergraduate degree program that combines rigorous academics with immersive cultural experiences. Students live and learn in six continents in three years, engaging in placebased learning alongside classmates from around the world.
“Butler Overseas provides a transformative opportunity for students seeking a global college experience that opens doors to the world,” says Butler University President James Danko. “As global challenges continue to grow, we need well-educated, culturally fluent leaders who can collaborate across borders to create meaningful solutions. Butler Overseas is designed for highly motivated students who want to make a lasting impact.”
Its first two majors, Environmental Studies and International Business, were chosen for their global relevance and demand. Students select one major and minor in the other.
Using a unique hybrid approach, the degree integrates online courses taught by Butler faculty while students are abroad with in-person instruction by local faculty from the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA).
Like any other Bulldog, Butler Overseas students will find that the program offers all the same resources, such as advising and career mentorship, hands-on internships, service learning opportunities, and more. Thanks to the University’s long history of nationally recognized study abroad programs and a 30-year partnership with IFSA, students can also expect a robust infrastructure of support in the areas of health, safety, and well-being while abroad.
“This partnership creates an exciting new opportunity to expand our commitment to helping each student advance toward their academic, professional, and personal goals with impactful global experiences,” says Heather Barclay Hamir, Ph.D., IFSA President and CEO.
“As global challenges continue to grow, we need well-educated, culturally fluent leaders who can collaborate across borders to create meaningful solutions.”
Through Butler Overseas, students go beyond a “tourist” experience, prioritizing immersion, intercultural competence, and a curriculum that’s rooted in local significance. The entire program was also designed around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empowering students to become informed and engaged leaders in environmental stewardship.
“Butler Overseas gives our students an extraordinary chance to integrate Butler’s small-class, relationship-rich education while using the world as the classroom,” Jill McKinney, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and Director of Global Engagement, says. “These one-of-a-kind global degrees allow students to explore the world through immersive experiences while maintaining the academic quality and close mentorship that define a Butler education.”
The inaugural cohort will embark on its journey across Butler Overseas’ eight locations in 2027, starting on Butler’s campus for an intentional time of preparation and bonding as they begin their coursework. Students will return to Butler’s campus each summer of the three-year program, with a shortterm African experience in the second summer.
Adventurous, resilient, globally minded students are invited to apply beginning on August 1, 2026.
Learn more about Butler Overseas.
FIRST IN THEIR CLASS
By Marc D. Allan MFA ’18
Butler University is expanding what it means to prepare students for the future. With the launch of Founder’s College—an associate degree program designed to provide access and affordability—and the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing—directly addressing Indiana’s critical healthcare needs—Butler is reducing barriers so students can pursue their passions and make an immediate impact on their communities.
In searching for a college Nursing program, Amelia Buhner didn’t consider Butler.
“Because for the longest time, they didn’t have one,” she says.
Then, in May 2024, Butler announced the new Bachelor of Nursing program—right as she began her applications.
“When the news was announced, I was immediately interested and started getting connected with Dr. Seth Carey, the program’s Founding Director, and started making those contacts,” she says.
Now, Buhner is one of 48 students in the first year of the program, which is designed to get students into clinical settings by their second semester and ultimately help alleviate Indiana’s nursing shortage.
Buhner, who lives in Fishers and graduated from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis in May, says becoming a nurse had been her goal throughout high school. She had always loved the Butler University campus and said she was especially attracted to the new Nursing program because it offers direct admission, with no need for additional applications.
“When I talked to Dr. Carey, it really just felt like the right fit,” she says. “And it felt like that’s where I would be able to grow and be supported—not only in my education, but in all aspects of my life at Butler. It really just felt like home from the start. I didn’t have that feeling at any of the other schools I applied to.”
Buhner says entering the University’s first Nursing class also made attending Butler more appealing.
“It really was an awesome opportunity,” she says. “With the inaugural class, you get to set the pace for the generations and classes behind you. You get a very intimate class and you have special relationships with your professors, because they don’t have any other students to be looking out for. And once we have this first year under our belt, we get to join them in guiding the class behind us. I couldn’t pass that up.”
Four years from now, Buhner aspires to be a travel nurse, working in healthcare facilities around the country or internationally before returning to Indianapolis after a few years. She said her specialty “could absolutely change a million times,” but right now she wants to be an ER nurse.
For now, though, she looks forward to making an impact right where she is.
“We’re going to go out into the community and do amazing things—not only within the Butler community but within the Indianapolis community,” she says. “And I just could not be more excited to be a part of it.”
When Emmanuelle Wagnac’s friend told her about Butler University’s new Founder’s College—which enables students with limited financial resources to graduate with an associate degree and little to no debt—she thought it sounded too good to be true.
“But I did some research and I found out more about it,” she says. “And honestly, they’re doing God’s work.”
Wagnac is one of 67 students in the first Founder’s College class, which opened this fall. The 2025 graduate of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis is majoring in Healthcare Studies (Clinical Science), one of five career-focused areas of study offered through the College. Founder’s College also offers two-year associate degrees in Business Data Analytics, Business Management Studies, Healthcare Studies (Medical Coding), and Youth and Community Advocacy.
Founder’s College is geared toward students who have at least a 2.5 GPA. Beyond that, Dean Carolyn Gentle-Genitty says, the College wants students who are “determined, they have academic ambition, they have wit with personal agency, they have grit and passion, and they have support.”
That’s Wagnac, who earned a 3.9 GPA in high school, participated in numerous activities including volunteer tutoring, and has the full support of her parents. She had applied to other colleges and universities—and been accepted— but she worried about graduating with a mountain of debt. But it was more than the cost that sold her on Founder’s College: it was the way the faculty and staff championed her long before stepping foot on campus for her first day of class.
“They’re really patient—and I ask them a lot of questions,” she says. “They take time to answer as much as they can, giving me as much information as I need.”
In particular, she credits Stephanie Fernhaber, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Entrepreneurship, and Donneisha Baker, Associate Director Admission–Founder’s College, for making her comfortable and answering questions about her schedule, her classes, the curriculum, and more. They even made sure she had transportation to get to school, as Founder’s College students live at home to save on room and board costs. Their tuition includes meals when they’re on campus.
At the end of the two-year program, Wagnac is slated to graduate with an associate degree and the option to stay at Butler for a bachelor’s. She says that her career choice will boil down to either working in pharmacy or practicing medicine. But that’s a few years down the road. Right now, she’s just happy to be a Bulldog.
“I find it clever that they gave it the name ‘Founders College,’” she says, “because really, it’s the foundation of a person’s dream.”
Briefs
Butler welcomes largest first-year class in seven years
Butler University’s move-in day was especially busy this year, as 1,246 firstyear students arrived on campus. It is Butler’s largest incoming class since 2018 and the third largest in the University’s 170-year history.
These students represent the broadest geographic reach in Butler history, with 22 countries included in the class—the most ever. Hoosiers make up 56 percent of the class, while the remainder hail from 33 states and every continent except Antarctica.
The incoming class is academically accomplished, with an average GPA of 3.90. Twenty-nine students graduated as valedictorians of their high schools, 33 are recipients of the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, and 99 are participants in Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program, many of whom are first-generation college students.
“The challenges facing higher education are well documented, and enrollment is declining at many colleges and universities in the face of those challenges,” says Lori Greene, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “But Butler has made several strategic investments in recent years that have positioned us well for future growth.”
Pacers Bikeshare comes to campus
Local leaders, students, and community members gathered on August 26 to celebrate the addition of three new Pacers Bikeshare stations and 30 new electric bikes on Butler’s campus. This investment expands sustainable transportation options for students, faculty, and staff, as well as Butler’s Midtown neighbors, residents of Marion County, and visitors.
Through the new partnership, all active Butler students, faculty, and staff will receive the Butler University Pass, which grants unlimited free 30-minute trips on Pacers Bikeshare. The system now includes 54 stations across Indianapolis.
Founder’s College welcomes inaugural class
Founder’s College’s first cohort of 67 students started classes this fall, marking a new chapter in the University’s long history of access, innovation, and service to Indiana families. Founder’s College is Butler’s new two-year college designed to deliver an affordable, high-support pathway to an associate degree in high-demand fields. The model combines small classes, dedicated success coaching, and career-connected learning so students can build momentum from day one. With financial structures that are intended to minimize or eliminate
Butler University launching Institute for Sports and Entertainment to support Indy’s growing sports ecosystem
As Indianapolis accelerates its bold pursuit to become the global capital of sports and entertainment, Butler is launching the Butler Institute for Sports & Entertainment (BISE), a transformative initiative that unites academic excellence, industry innovation, and hands-on experiential learning to power the city’s next era of leadership on the world stage.
Designed to amplify Butler’s longstanding strengths in athletics, media, business, and education, BISE will serve as a catalyst for developing the talent, research, and partnerships needed to fuel the region’s growing influence on the sports and entertainment industries. Through cutting-edge academic offerings and immersive real-world experiences, BISE advances both Butler’s institutional priorities and the shared vision articulated
out-of-pocket costs for most students, Founder’s College offers clear on-ramps into the workforce and transfer pathways for those who choose to continue into Butler bachelor’s degree programs—keeping opportunity close to home and aligned with regional talent needs.
“These students are choosing pathways that matter—to their families, to Indianapolis, and to Indiana’s economy,” President James Danko says. “Founder’s College is built to connect ambition with opportunity and reflects Butler’s responsibility to lead in making higher education more affordable for students now and into the future.”
in Indiana Sports Corp’s 2050 strategy, positioning the University—and the city—as a driving force in shaping the future of global sports and entertainment.
Butler Professor Bob Schultz, who previously held leadership roles with Downtown Indy, Inc. and Visit Indy, will lead BISE. Schultz has worked on countless local organizing committees for large-scale Indianapolis sporting events, including the 2012 Super Bowl, 2021 College Football Championship Game, 2024 NBA All-Star Game, and every Men’s Final Four since 2003.
“One of the reasons I chose to join the Butler faculty full-time was to connect our amazing students to the many outstanding learning opportunities that these high-profile events provide,” Schultz says. “BISE will take this further and allow us to expand on a rich tradition of bringing the Butler Way to community partners and making meaningful contributions to the tapestry of Indy-area sports and entertainment milestones.”
Butler University named Among 75 “New Dream Schools” in Jeffrey Selingo’s new book
Butler University has been recognized as one of 75 colleges and universities nationwide named to the “New Dream Schools” list featured in Dream School (now on sale), the latest book by New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo.
Dream School is the follow-up to Selingo’s acclaimed 2020 bestseller, Who Gets In and Why, which took readers inside the world of college admissions. This new book shifts the conversation from how colleges choose students to how students and families—including those focused on highly selective institutions—can more effectively choose strong colleges that better fit their needs.
As part of the book, Selingo highlights 75 institutions across the country that embody these values. These “New Dream Schools” represent colleges that deliver accessible admissions, strong outcomes, affordability, and dynamic student experiences.
Transforming summer at Butler
Learn
Briefs
This summer, Butler reimagined what it means to be part of campus life—welcoming more than 1,350 young learners through a bold new initiative that connects education, exploration, and community.
In its inaugural year, Butler’s Camps and Community Programs combined two of the University’s cornerstone youth initiatives—Camps at Butler and the Butler Community Arts School (BCAS)—to create a unified, expansive experience. Over the course of nine weeks, students from across Indiana and beyond participated in 40 camps that spanned leadership, the arts, humanities, and sciences. And thanks to the generous support of the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative, Butler awarded more than $120,000 in tuition assistance to campers—ensuring access and opportunity for more students than ever before.
Butler receives $1.2 million gift to launch the Lori Ziemba and Ken Massaroni Greek Life Leadership Institute
This summer, Butler University announced the creation of the Lori Ziemba and Ken Massaroni Greek Life Leadership Institute funded by a generous $1.2 million commitment from Butler graduates Lori Ziemba ’82 and former Trustee Ken Massaroni ’83. The couple’s gift was inspired by their own fraternity and sorority experiences at Butler and those of their daughter, Frankie Massaroni ’14. The Institute is designed to foster leadership development among members of the Butler fraternity and sorority community and will begin offering programming this fall. The Institute’s initial offerings will include developmental training to further equip students holding leadership positions within Butler’s fraternity and sorority community, with plans to expand programming to serve larger audiences.
“Over the years we came to realize how important the Greek system at Butler was to us personally and to the very unique character of the University. Greek life taught us about leadership, life lessons, philanthropy, and building community. Through the Leadership Institute we will give all Greek members the opportunity to strengthen these skills so that they may in turn take them to their housing units, the campus, and out into the community both while in school and throughout life beyond their years at Butler,” the donors say.
Butler achieves national rankings
Butler University continues to earn national recognition for excellence in student experiences and outcomes, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, released September 23. Butler ranked No. 32 in Study Abroad, No. 40 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects, and No. 45 in First-Year Experiences.
In addition to its national accolades, Butler was named the No. 1 Regional University in the Midwest for the eighth consecutive year and the No. 1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest for the 11th straight year. The University remains one of the top institutions in the Midwest for Undergraduate Teaching (No. 4) and was named a Best Value School (No. 34).
“These rankings are a testament to the commitment of our faculty and staff to provide an education that is both transformative and impactful,” Butler University President James Danko says. “We take pride in cultivating an environment where students thrive academically, personally, and professionally, preparing them for meaningful lives and careers.”
Largest fundraising year in University history celebrates $60.2M raised
Butler donors collectively contributed more than $60.2 million during the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the largest total ever contributed in a single year in Butler’s history. The recordbreaking total includes the significant $22.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in support of several transformational Butler Gateway Project initiatives, as well as a $9 million grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation that will jumpstart Butler’s ambitious long-term vision for its Midtown Arts District. Philanthropic gifts also advanced other major strategic University priorities including Founder’s College, Butler Athletics, student scholarships, and faculty excellence. The historic outpouring of support was reached thanks to gifts from 13,406 donors, including 2,646 first-time contributors to the University.
An anonymous $4.4 million gift announced in January established the first endowed faculty position in the College of Communication since the creation of the College in 2010. The gift also established an endowed scholarship for students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Given in memory of two beloved late faculty members, Bill Ney ’58, MS ’67 and Ed Shaughnessy ’58, MA ’63, the gift is a testament to the enduring influence of Butler faculty in the lives of their students and in the broader community.
CLASS ACTS
the ’60s
Tom Bates ’62 traveled solo to Cohasset/ Hingham, Massachusetts, to visit sites of his paternal ancestors who arrived there from Lydd, Kent, England, in 1635. This trip was a bucket list item for follow-up from his recent book, BATES, An Ancient Family Name, and a visit to an existing house that his sixth great grandparents built in 1695.
Art Meikel ’66 released his third book, Flight Plan for Becoming a Pilot (Amazon), for potential career pilots. He is a product of Butler’s resident AFROTC program, and his flying career included a visit to Vietnam (1969–1970) as a Forward Air Controller for Green Berets and tribesman allies and progression in C-135 aircraft to Command Pilot, providing worldwide VIP travel. Staff assignments included aircraft accident investigation and the USAF IG.
Ralph Ogden ’67 published a 50-page picture book about the kids at a children’s home in Meru, Kenya, where he has worked and visited three times a year since 2013.
John Spradling ’67 marked 54 years of private piano teaching and service to the music and arts community in Syracuse, New York. He has sent hundreds of musicians to higher education and careers and served as president of many community music organizations.
the ’70s
Sherry Hobbs ’70 has written her third book, Descent into Dementialand. It is the story of her and her husband’s journey (Mike Hobbs ’76 and Sherry McNeese Hobbs) with dementia. The story begins when they meet at Butler and follows throughout their lives, including Mike’s diagnosis of logopenic progressive aphasia—a rare dementia, caused by the same protein buildups of amyloid and tau that cause Alzheimer’s. The book was released on Amazon and has been given five stars by the early reviewers. It is a finalist in the Maxy Awards Best Biography/Memoir category for 2025. Profits will be donated to dementia/Alzheimer’s research.
Robert Dunkle ’72 retired in September 2024, having served 40 years in radio broadcasting as an announcer, station manager, and news reporter, followed by 11 years as a member service representative for Navy Federal Credit Union.
Kevin Horrigan ’79 was inducted into the Indiana Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame on June 21, 2025.
the ’80s
Anne McGraw Reeves ’81 received her Master of Arts in Creative Writing in 2023 and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in 2024 from Wilkes University. After 40 years as a reporter and columnist with The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, The Patriot News, the Philadelphia Business Journal, Central Penn Parent, and several other publications, she decided to try her hand at writing fiction and is working on her first novel, Animal Instincts Julie (Nason) Vincent ’81 was awarded the 2025 Indy PR Legend Award on April 25 by the Indianapolis Public Relations Society.
Ralph Blessing ’82 invented a patented product to make baby tummy time more fun and productive called Tummy Turtles and Friends, available at tummyturtles.com or Amazon.com.
Nathan Harter ’82 was recently awarded emeritus status upon his retirement as Professor of Leadership Studies at Christopher Newport University in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where he has served since 2011. Prior to that, he served for 22 years as a Full Professor at Purdue University. He is presently completing his ninth book on the topic of leadership.
Tom Jankowski ’82 retired from a 32year career as Director of Global State and Local Tax Policy with AT&T in Washington, DC; Charleston, West Virginia; and Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife, Debbie, reside in Kennesaw, Georgia, where Tom serves as the Tax Administrator for the City of Kennesaw while Debbie serves several Christian ministries in Atlanta and worldwide.
Mark A. Thacker ’85, MBA ’94 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Laura Binford ’86, a partner with Riley Bennett Egloff LLP, was honored as the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (DTCI) Defense Lawyer of the Year during its annual meeting on November 20, 2024, at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. She has been a member of the medical malpractice defense litigation team at RBE for 34 years.
Sister Paula Livers-Powell ’87 recently completed her Doctor of Education from Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation. Her research focused on how to increase underrepresented students in Gifted and Talented education.
Len Clark ’88, PhD, was one of 28 journalists invited to participate in the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at Ohio University.
the ’90s
Beth Alderton-Ernsberger ’90 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board.
Lisa Gundaker ’90 recently published her first children’s book, Feelings Make Me Feel. Russ Maloney ’91 was honored with a prestigious regional Edward R. Murrow award from the national Radio Television Digital News Association for anchoring KCLU’s continuing coverage and live reporting during the first three days of the November 2024 Mountain Fire in Ventura County, California.
Edwin Wollert ’91 has published his third novel, The Philosopher’s Wife, through Stone Ring Press in Corvallis, Oregon.
Tim Johnston ’92, currently employed as a Neurology Clinical Specialist Pharmacist, passed a milestone 30-year work anniversary at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Nancy (Hauschildt) Small PharmD ’92 retired in March 2025 as the Associate Chief of Pharmacy, Clinical Services for the Central TX VA after 30 years of service.
Jane (Prasse) Grothaus ’94, ’97, PhD, CCC-SLP, MBA, is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and an established author and researcher in the field of executive functions and achievement.
Kathleen Jones ’94 After 37 years working across a wide range of industries— including medical diagnostics, government, pharmaceuticals, adjunct faculty roles, and health insurance—earning an MBA from Butler and a Master of Science in Applied Linguistics from Texas A&M (Commerce), raising two incredible daughters, and with the unwavering support of her amazing husband, Kathleen has decided to retire.
Sarah Armington ’95 was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 Women’s Induction Class this April. Over four seasons, Armington helped the Bulldogs to a 71-42 slate while netting 1,022 points (9.9), 480 rebounds (4.7), and 179 assists (1.7).
Renee K. Nicholson ’95 has been selected to a residency at the Château d’Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency in ChampagneArdenne, France, and has been awarded The Denis Diderot Grant to support her writing. She is also the TAG Lecturer in Humanities at East Carolina University this spring, where she will give a public lecture, Is There A Poet In This Hospital: Arts and Humanities in Healthcare.
Justin Clevenger ’96 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Christian Vincent ’97 has returned to his breakout role as Ricky Davis in the highly anticipated revival, Noah’s Arc: The Movie, which premiered June 20, 2025, on Paramount+.
Matt Duch ’98 is Managing Partner and CIO at Channel Investment Partners. Channel Investment Partners won the 2025 LSEG Lipper Fund Awards for the fourth year in a row.
Matt Graves ’98, MS ’03 was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 Men’s Induction Class. At Butler, Graves averaged 8.8 points and 1.7 rebounds with a career 84.6 free throw percentage over five seasons (playing just six games in 1994–1995 because of injury). He averaged 9.9 points as a junior, and in his senior year, he averaged 12 points and was Midwestern College Conference alltournament as the Bulldogs qualified for the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Tournaments. Graves began a coaching career in 1998–1999 at Indianapolis North Central, which was the 1999 Class 4A state champion. He assisted the next two seasons at Ben Davis before returning to Butler for 12 years, 2001–2003 as Director of Basketball Operations and 2003–2013 as an assistant (or associate head) coach. On the sidelines, he helped the Bulldogs earn seven NCAA Tournament berths and national runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011. He currently serves as the Head Coach at Indiana State.
Polly Martin Jones ’98 is the owner of Miss Polly’s Music Class, LLC—an early childhood music & movement program for children ages 0–4 with locations in Franklin, Columbus, and Indianapolis. Miss Polly’s Music Class uses the award-winning The Music Class®️ curriculum beloved worldwide by children and their grown-ups.
Trena Goble Roudebush ’98 was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership at Seton Hall University.
John Sammons MBA ’98 was appointed President of Kentland Federal Savings
& Loan in January 2025. The bank was founded by his great-grandfather, Hume Sammons, in 1920.
the ’00s
Caryn Glawe ’01 Faegre Drinker has announced that Butler University alumnus Caryn Glawe has been elected to the firm’s board, effective
April 1, 2025. Glawe is based in Indianapolis and advises the insurance industry on state and federal regulatory and transactional matters, counseling insurers, HMOs, and related entities across the country.
Matt Harris ’02 appeared on Wheel of Fortune during Season 42 Premiere Week with Ryan Seacrest in September 2024. He won a trip to Greece and advanced to the Bonus Round with more than $29,000 in cash and prizes.
Ali Weisenbach Dillingham ’03 opened A Yarn Market, a local yarn store in Carmel, Indiana. The shop offers a curated yarn selection, classes, and community events.
Katherine Mortensen Essig ’03 was named the 2024–2025 Building Level Administrator of the Year for the MSD of Pike Township in Indianapolis, Indiana.
David Fryrear MS ’03 was promoted to Chief Quality Officer at Astellas in Northbrook, Illinois. He and his wife, Jamie, currently reside in Libertyville, Illinois.
Jered Petrey ’03 was named the new Chief Operations Officer for Abrams EyeCare Associates beginning July 2025. He had previously spent nearly nine years at Ascension Medical Group.
Michael Kennedy ’04 was awarded the Wiley Housewright Dissertation Award by the Society for American Music for his
INCLUDE YOUR NEWS IN THE NEXT CLASS ACTS
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dissertation, (Re)Orchestrating the Musical: Postmodernism and the Electro-Acoustic Sound of Contemporary Broadway
Benjamin (BJ) Lippert ’05, MPACC ’06 was promoted to Managing Partner of Donovan CPAs.
Emily Pentzer ’05 accepted the role of Associate Dean for Research at Texas A&M, where she is also a Professor in the Department of Chemistry.
Shawn Wooden ’05, Principal at Zionsville West MS, earned his PhD in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Purdue University in May 2024. He’s a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi and serves as Lead Advisor for the Nu Chapter at Purdue.
Matthew Carwile ’07 was promoted by the USMC to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He has served as a Marine Corps officer since 2008 and is currently serving as the Director of Recruiting Operations at the 9th District in Chicago.
Katie (Paulton) Guyer ’07 accepted the role of Director of Communications and Community Relations at Midland Public Schools in Midland, Michigan.
Mike Jasinski ’07 was promoted to National Scout of the Los Angeles Chargers. This will be his 8th season with the LA Chargers. Go Bolts!
Amy Brecheisen ’08 received the Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel honor award in education, the most prestigious of the awards in this category.
Dr. EveMarie Bessenbach ’09 graduated with her PhD in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky in May 2025. Her research focused on the survival and longevity of small dance companies in the United States.
the ’10s
David Hibbler Jr. ’10 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Steven Pelych ’10 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Alex Tracy ’10 was promoted to Senior Vice President of Natural Gas Gathering and Processing at Energy Transfer in Houston.
Zak Tschiniak ’10, MM ’16 was promoted to Principal of Franklin Central High School on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Previously, Zak was an orchestra director, performing arts chair, dean, and assistant principal.
Chioma Allen ’11 accepted the role of Pediatric Hospitalist at Riley Children’s Hospital on July 1. Chioma and her husband, James ’12, both attended Butler, where she double majored in Chemistry and Communication Disorders. This helped pave the way for her to achieve her medical career.
Chris Beaman ’12, CAE, CFRE has been promoted to Director of Strategic Initiatives for Sigma Nursing, for which he was previously the Corporate Partnerships Officer.
Ben Farthing ’12 and Kristen (Steele) Farthing ’11 opened a dermatology practice in the Noblesville/Fishers area in April 2025—Farthing Dermatology Partners. Ben is a Dermatologist and Kristen is a Dermatology Physician Assistant.
Matthew Kennedy MM ’12 accepted the role of Director of Music in the School of Music & Theatre at Heidelberg University.
Rachael Essig ’13 was elected to serve as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS). RAS-ACS is the only surgical organization devoted to the concerns and needs of all surgical residents and young surgeons.
Brad Vogelsmeier ’13, Vice President of Development at Milhaus, was recently honored in the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2025. This recognition celebrates his impactful contributions to the multifamily housing industry, including leading over $2 billion in investments nationwide.
Luke Bunting ’14 has joined the White House Counsel’s Office as Associate Counsel to the President.
Tabitha (Webster) Holliday ’15 accepted the role of Marketing Coordinator with Upperline Health.
Drew Horn ’16 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Bekah Pollard ’16 had a piece of her artwork selected to be blown up 12 feet wide and pasted on the side of the Circle Center Mall as part of the Indianapolis Arts Council sidewalk galleries. She is also pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at the Herron School of Art and Design at IU Indianapolis.
Allie (Deno) Watkins ’16, OTD, OTR opened a private outpatient pediatric therapy clinic alongside co-owner Maggie Pisano, DPT. Their clinic, BeelievAbility, is in Carmel, Indiana, and specializes in a pediatric intensive therapy model.
Rita Davison ’17 completed her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Indianapolis and was awarded the 2024 Commitment to Learning award by the faculty and administration of the University of Indianapolis Mental Health Counseling Program. Most recently, Rita passed the National Counselor Examination and is working at a private practice in Indianapolis.
Kailey Eaton ’17 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Kiersten Hawkins-Moore ’17 received her Doctorate in Public Health in May 2025.
Cristina Alma McNeiley ’17 joined the Butler University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Taylor Rose Bowen ’18 worked on the story development team for the highly anticipated Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys computer game from Her Interactive, where she wrote game dialogue, created in-game artwork, and developed puzzle strategies.
Sam Burton ’19 became General Manager of Sun King Brewing Companies at the Fishers, Indiana, location in February 2025. He was also nominated as Treasurer of the Young Professional Board of the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana, the same month.
Heidi Kastenholz ’19 earned her PhD in Chemistry from Duke University.
the ’20s
Sam Griggs ’20 accepted her place in the Rolex Watchmaking Training Center class of 2027.
Ivan Ross ’20 joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Indianapolis office. He will assist in airport master plans, airport layout plans, and other aviationrelated projects.
Allison (Marshall) Van Fossen ’20 graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Lincoln Memorial University in May 2025.
Grace Lagoner ’21 and Kayla Bartl ’21 co-founded eko social, a marketing firm in Nashville, Tennessee, to help businesses develop their brands and thrive in the digital space.
Sarah Monesmith ’22 received a Master of Public Health (MPH) at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Her thesis research involved implementing the Global Comfort Promise to improve the experience of children with cancer in lowand middle-income countries.
Andre Hardy ’23 accepted the role of COMPASS Program Community Navigator at Step Up, Inc. In this role, he will address the unmet needs of the transgender and gender non-conforming community by providing resources and education, including food, housing, transportation, affirming care, and other social determinants of health resources.
Marney Sisson ’23 was promoted to a Level III Investigative Analyst for the United States Postal Inspection Service in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Caiden Lukan ’24 was named the inaugural recipient of the 2025 Delbert D. Konnor Award of Excellence in Pharmaceutical Administration, presented by the Pharmacy Leadership & Education Institute (PLEI). He was selected for a project that seeks to improve medication safety for patients with renal insufficiency—a population at high risk for adverse drug events. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Pharmacoanalytics at the University of Pittsburgh and continuing his fellowship training. His research reflects a commitment to evidence-based innovation, patient-centered care, and academic excellence.
Damica Marshall ’24 was an intern at The Children’s Policy & Law Initiative of Indiana while she was a student at Butler University. As of May 2025, she has been working at CPLI full time.
Ben Varner ’24 joined DMG Mori, an international machine tool manufacturer, as a Sales Engineer headquartered in Chicago
WEDDINGS
Austin Bange ’17 and Natalie van Dogen ’18 on September 14, 2024
Rachel Beasley ’18 and Luke Beasley ’18 in April 2024
Darren Bloomfield ’21 and Cassidy Patscot ’21 on June 14, 2025
Sam Burchett ’22 and Isabel Burchett ’23 on July 13, 2024
Allison Collins ’15 and Sean Collins on May 10, 2024
Alec Fenne ’19 and Allison Henry ’19 on June 1, 2024
Rachel Grose ’12 and Jason Groebe on April 12, 2024
Charlotte Hinkamp ’18 and Ryan Dolan ’20 on October 19, 2024 (1)
Kaitlyn Johnson ’22 and Coleman Johnson ’22 on August 31, 2024 (2)
Tyler Kennedy ’22 and Lauren (Schmidt) Kennedy ’22 on November 9, 2024 (3)
Ursula Kuhar ’05, MM ’07 and Rohan Gejji on October 26, 2024 (4)
Ellie Liddle ’20, MA ’21 and Jared Liddle ’19, MPACC ’20 on August 10, 2024
Serena Maag ’20 and Ethan Kitt ’19 on April 13, 2024
Jeffrey Scott McClain ’83 and Linda Anderson Koon on April 13, 2025
Hannah McKee ’15 and Brady Dearing on February 24, 2024
Emily McNally ’19 and Paul Henderson ’17 on September 14, 2024 (5)
Sean McNamara ’14 and Miranda Maritato ’17 on November 9, 2024 (6)
Natalie Mondus ’23 and Graham Rieg ’23 on October 11, 2025
Zach Parker ’19 and Emily Bond ’19 on August 10, 2024 (7)
Ellie (Abbick) Pemberton ’18 and Nick Pemberton ’17 in April 2025 (8)
Andrew Raebig ’13 and Erin Mueller on April 27, 2024
Joseph Rodriguez ’21 and Victoria Rodkey on June 29, 2025
Cameron Shank ’22 and Taylor Shank on June 8, 2024
Caroline Thomas ’16 and Larry Thomas Jr. ’12 on October 18, 2024 (9)
Michael Van De Voort ’13 and Chloe Ewer on November 1, 2024 (10)
Harriet Voskuhl PharmD ’22, MBA ’22 and Justin Voskuhl PharmD ’22 on October 27, 2024 (11)
Asheley (Eimers) Wagner ’20 and Logan Wagner ’20 on May 25, 2024
Ellie Williams ’23 and Nick Williams ’21 on June 28, 2025
NEW ARRIVALS
Jeremy Bialek ’96 and Julie Bialek welcomed Justice Jackson Bialek in April (1)
Denise (Kolanczyk) Copot ’09 and Eddy Copot welcomed Ethan Copot (2)
Craig Cwynar ’18 and Julia Telari Cwynar ’19 welcomed Henry in September 2024 (3)
Stephanie DeMarco ’10 and Michael DeMarco ’12 welcomed Molly in November 2024
Allison Evans ’21 and Patrick Evans welcomed Linus in July (4)
Candice Hoos ’05 and Wyatt Heath welcomed Silas Holden Heath in January (5)
Haley Pearson Isenthal ’13 and Jared Isenthal ’13 welcomed Rowen Bishop Isenthal in May 2024
Sarah Kazmierczak ’13 and Andrew Kazmierczak ’13 welcomed Hadley Kazmierczak in October (6)
Emily Kile-Maxwell ’14 and Peter Maxwell ’16 welcomed Finley Archer Maxwell in December 2024 (8)
Evan Krauss ’16, MS ’23 and Kennedy Krauss welcomed Theo Judah Krauss November 15, 2024 (7)
Courtney Labetti ’14 and Joseph Labetti welcomed Oliver Labetti in July 2024
Erin Lovelien ’17 and Josh Jones-Lovelien welcomed Harper Lynn in February (9)
Emily McMullen ’18 and Graham McMullen ’18 welcomed Oliver McMullen in January (10)
McKaylee (Slagel) Moser ’19 and Michael Moser ’19 welcomed Murray Gene Moser in July 2024
Jacob Robleski ’20 and Megan Robleski ’20 welcomed Evelyn in January (11)
Taylor Sares MPAS ’18 and Chris Sares welcomed Wyatt in November 2024
Sierra Schmitt ’23 and Tyler Schmitt welcomed Melody Anne Schmitt in November 2024
Kim Tomich ’15 and Stevan Tomich ’15 welcomed Liana Noelle in February (12)
Megan Verce ’17, MPAS ’18 and Landon Verce welcomed Callie Olivia Verce in May (13)
Hannah Williams ’19 and Luke Williams welcomed Rhett in November 2024
IN MEMORIAM
Helen Rupkey ’42
Betty (Ferguson) Wallace ’48
Elizabeth (Blackwell) Bartz ’49, MS ’52
Cecile (Darsey) Daniel ’49
Margaret (Rennoe) Davies ’49
Barbara (May) Wood MS ’49
Mary Ann (Hyman) Burns ’50
James Smith ’50
Charles St. John ’50
Clyde Steckel ’50
Sally (Thorngate) Wells ’50
Betty Ann (Lewis) Foxworthy ’51
Allen Green MS ’51
Nell (Kinzel) Lines ’51, MS ’57
Frank C. Newby ’51, MS ’57
Robert Rice ’51
Charles Sykes ’51
James Ezell ’52
Claudette (Ramsay) Leist ’53
Lawrence Sparks ’53
Teena (Overpeck) Bowers ’54
Charles Owens ’54
James Smith ’54
Maureen (Pleak) Breen ’55
Julianne (Farris) Davidson ’55, MS ’67
Betty (Woods) Dotson ’55, MS ’66
Jan Jacobs ’55
William Moore ’55
Leonard Oshier ’55
David Rose ’55
Mary (Gillispie) Thompson ’55
Gerald Lee Brown ’56
Janet Jett ’56, MS ’61
Alvin Mann ’56
Patricia (Johantgen)
O’Shaughnessy ’56
Keith Brown MS ’57
Jack Clarkson ’57
Bonnie (Jenkins) Eggers MS ’57
John Hauer ’57
Eugene Henn ’57
Ellen (Warner) Koch ’57
Roger Castetter ’58
Evelyn (Anderson) Macurda ’58
Ann (Kinney) Riegner ’58
Ronald Schaffner ’58
Richard Barb ’59
George Breese ’59, MS ’61
Darrell Caudill ’59
David Harker ’59
Philip Jones MS ’59
Marjorie (Behrman) Kitterman ’59
William Miller ’59
Norman Novak ’59
Donald Vaughn ’59
Charlotte (Forsyth) Whitt ’59
Verne Williamson ’59
Donald Wortman ’59
Jean Ann Bowers-Walker ’60, MS ’64
Walter Davis ’60
Gloria (Lofquist) Laverty ’60
Jean Maschmeyer Bardonner ’60
Jane (Bernhardt) Moore ’60
Leonard Skuta ’60
Marvin Tudor ’60
Lyle Anderson MS ’61
Julia (Bronnenberg) Ashlock
MS ’61
Harold Boruff ’61
Duane Foster ’61
Robert Griffin ’61
Mary (Melick) Kramer ’61
Shirley Morgan MS ’61
Arlene (Tarlow) Pierce ’61
Sharon (Steinberg) Shriver ’61, MS ’66
Thomas Simmons ’61
Richard Steinberger ’61
Gary Walker ’61
Lucreta (Loveless) Allen ’62
David Bertram MS ’62
Nicholas D’Andrea ’62
Brooke (Meeder) Feister ’62
Gisela Hosoi ’62
David Kitley ’62
Ann (Tarlowe) Lieber MA ’62
Emma (Schick) Neper ’62
Barbara (Shook) Blakley ’63
Edie Cowan ’63
Julie (Blankschein) Hilbish ’63
Dan Kaufman ’63
David Long MS ’63
Lyle Mannweiler ’63
Sandra (Williams) Pierson ’63, MS ’69
William Powers ’63
Sandi (Morel) Rech ’63
John Weber ’63
John Worrell MA ’63
Ronald Anderson ’64
Pamela (Ulery) Barney ’64
Robert Bennett ’64
Mildred (Myers) Flanary ’64
Don Fledderjohn ’64
Carol (Reinhardt) Jung EdS ’64
Chris Miller ’64
Sigrid (Hood) Vaubel MS ’64
Richard Wehrel ’64
Robert Wright ’64
Noel (Heckert) Helmink ’65
Mary Jane (Allison) Render ’65, MS ’67
Gerry Spragg ’65
Merrily (Dee) Stout ’65
Charlotte (Newby) Thurston MS ’65
John Andrae MA ’66
Anne (Sefing) Carthy ’66, MM ’71
Tamalyn (Haines) Glasser ’66
Richard Harmening MS ’66
Barbara (Kinney) Kleiber ’66
Nancy (Crow) Rollo MS ’66
George Smith ’66
Linda (Dierolf) Stowring ’69
William Stowring ’66, MBA ’69
Renee Wargel MM ’66
Martha Bishop MS ’67
Barry Cullison ’67
Mary (Rambo) Fisher ’67
LouAnn (Nerge) Lindemann ’67
Joey Scott MS ’67
Luida Williams ’67, MS ’69
Janet (Huddleston) Dorn MS ’68
Richard Eisinger MS ’68
James Kirsch ’68
Mary (Treat) Kuhlman MS ’68
Harry Lane MS ’68
James Miller ’68
Mattie Raby MS ’68
Sue Sandlin ’68
Marilyn Thomson MS ’68
Ronald Weimer ’68
Samuel Young ’68
Carol (Clay) Hoehn ’69
Charles Kafoure ’69
Mary Lou (Atteberry) Krieg MS ’69
Marilyn (Carman) Linard ’69
James Markoski ’69
James Martin MM ’69
David Rammler ’69
Bradford Scott ’69
Robert Cloud ’70
Kathryn Foster ’70
Carol (Berglund) Kinder MS ’70
James Kurtz ’70
Nanci (Bockwell) Likens ’70
Margaret (Howard) Opelt ’70, MS ’73
Paul Rhodes ’70
Judith (Whybrew) Schumacher MS ’70
Sheryl Shepherd MS ’70
Owen Ireland MS ’71
Marilyn Bunner MS ’71
Donna Joyce MS ’71
Cynthia (Beagle) McKoy ’71
Douglas Patterson MS ’71
Douglas Pendleton ’71
Rebecca (McCorkle) Swails ’71
William Sweet ’71
John Terwilliger ’71
Barbara (Swengel) Abel MS ’72
Sue (Power) Carey MS ’72
Mary (Taylor) Frentz MS ’72
Bonnie Kingsbury MS ’72
William Koch MS ’72
William Record ’72
Sharon (Bowron) Steinmetz MS ’72
Amelia (Lowe) Von Tress ’72
Zona (Zurfluh) Weeks MS ’72
Bob Baldwin ’73
Pamela (Womer) Burton ’73
Angelo Cappello ’73
Joann (Peterman) Hawks MS ’73
Ann (Hutchison) Hunt MS ’73
John Osler ’73, ’74
Alice Shoemaker MA ’73
Susan (Starbuck) Van Dyke MS ’73
Christie (Anderson) Vansteenwyk ’73
Paul Battaglia MS ’74
Susan (Bellinger) Bucko MS ’74
Carol (Katterhenry) Dooley MS ’74
Sandra (Hays) Ferguson MS ’74
Rachel Godollei-Johnson ’74
Loreatha (Clark) Johnson MS ’74
Vicki (La Follette) Neely MM ’74
Lawrence Walters MBA ’74
Beverly (Johnson) Wilaby MS ’74
Margo (Davis) Boyer MS ’75
Katharine Campbell MS ’75
Helen (Fox) Daley MS ’75
Scott DeVoe ’75
Hugh Diehl ’75
James Eggers MS ’75
Ella Elkins MA ’75
Steven Householder ’75
Georgiana (Adams) Perkins MS ’75
John Watson ’75
Jonathan Jerden ’76, MBA ’90
Verna (Hawkins) Kosiba ’76
Richard Shadiow ’76
Deloris Sombke MS ’76
Deirdre (Bittles) Demko MA ’77
Jeanette Gumbel MS ’77
Elaine (Veerkamp) Jerrell MA ’77
Maxine Young MS ’77
Christopher Bobos ’78
Dale Bookwalter ’78
Kevin Garris ’78
Richard Haines MBA ’78
Jane (Stamper) Rapp ’78, MS ’80
Monica Zore MS ’78
Karen Eiler ’79
Katherine Mammen ’79
Jacqueline (Goad) Snow MA ’79
William Weber ’79
Gordon Knauer MBA ’80
Ellen (Bugher) Miller ’80
Nancy (Zellers) Miller ’80
Mark Purcell ’80
Mary Melbert MS ’81
James Mullen MBA ’81
Jack Ramey ’81
Nancy Reider MS ’82
Bruce Breeden EdS ’84
Susan (Marquiss) Andrews MS ’85
Brent Ellmers ’85
John Kramer ’85
Ellen Riddle MS ’86
Jane (Black) Tweedle MS ’86
Mary Champagne MS ’87
Deborah (Chernin) Galvin ’87
Paul Page ’87
Teresa (Schnarr) Prather ’87, MS ’88
Paul Haeck MBA ’88
Mary Webb MS ’88
Barbara Brown MS ’90
Raymond Coffey EdS ’90
Mary (Boucher) Jones MA ’90
David Whitfield ’90
Brian Napariu ’92
Mark Harpring ’96
Jennifer (Field) Southerland MS ’96
Anthony Bridgeman ’98
Jeffrey Hansen MBA ’98
Lincoln McKinley ’02
Rebecca (Foust) Winton ’03
Ashley Stern PharmD ’04
Jennifer McHatton PharmD ’05
Alix Clinkingbeard ’08
Maren Zuber MBA ’08, PharmD ’08
Patrick Barker ’09
Andrew Rayburn ’09
Hoagland Elliott ’13
Megan Peterkin ’13
William Thomas ’17
Henry Walter ’17
Katie Smith PharmD ’19
Patrick Holden MBA ’20, PharmD ’20
Sam Fingard
FACULTY EMERITI
Jonathan Jerden ’76, MBA ’90
Elizabeth Levin MM ’77
FORMER TRUSTEES
Philip “Skip” Kappes ’45
James White
Twenty-five years.
The Butler University Live Mascot Program has been around for a quarter of a century! It seems like just yesterday that Butler Blue made her debut on campus in fall 2000. (I’m guessing…I wasn’t born yet, obviously.)
Not to toot our own horns, but we Blues have accomplished a lot in 25 years. We have visited 24 states, surprised over 500 high school seniors, and amassed over 300,000 social media followers. Did you know that if a high school senior gets paid a visit by yours truly or one of my predecessors, they are four times more likely to attend Butler? Talk about being an influencer.
While our program has always stood for the same core beliefs and traditions, each of the four dogs who has donned the mantel of “Blue” has shaped the program in their own unique way.
Butler Blue I is our matriarch. The all-white female English bulldog and her handler, Kelli Walker ’91, paved the way by creating this program. Blue I was a fiercely loyal dog who was one of the first female live mascots in the country, joining the ranks of Texas A&M’s Reveille and Colorado’s Ralphie.
Butler Blue II, a fawn and white bulldog under his handler, Michael Kaltenmark ’02, ’16, etched his name as the gold standard of Butler Blues—calm, cool, and collected, but intensely determined. This played out especially well during our men’s basketball team’s back-to-back Final Four®️ runs, where Blue taught the world exactly what a Butler Bulldog is made of.
Butler Blue III, aka “Trip,” a red brindled pup, ushered us into the digital world by entertaining the masses with his opportunistic and mischievous spirit. Trip took hold of a rocket ship headed for the moon and took it to the stars. Capitalizing on the impact made by his predecessor, he became a strategic marketing asset like no other collegiate mascot had done before.
Then there’s me, Butler Blue IV, a red fawn bulldog with a knack for social media, if I do say so myself. Every day, I am appreciative of the foundation laid before me by these three iconic dogs. They each cleared the path that I continue to barrel through as I work to represent the greatest University in the world.
Long story short, in 25 years, we have become the industry standard for live mascot programs across the country. And while 25 years seems like a long time to me, in the mascot world, we are still in our infancy. (Yale’s
Handsome Dan first appeared in 1889.)
We are just getting started.
Here’s to another 25 years and the many great Butler Blues to come.
PRESIDENT, BUTLER UNIVERSITY
James M. Danko
VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT AND MARKETING
Jonathan Purvis
EDITOR
Rachel Stotts
EDITORIAL TEAM
Mike Beam
Kristi Lafree
Victoria Ochs
Meredith Sauter ’12
Courtney Tuell ’99
ART AND DESIGN TEAM
David Downham
Phil Eichacker (Art Director)
Alisha Luckenbill
UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER
Zach Bolinger
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marc Allan MFA ’18
Jennifer Gunnels
Victoria Ochs
Hailey Radakovitz ’21
Elle Rotter ’27
Emily Schlorf ’21
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.
“Together, we are writing the next
chapter of Butler’s story; it is bold, it is powerful, and it is ours. This is our moment. This is Boldly Butler.”