Carthage racks up points for holistic support of its student-athletes
Students squeeze in a few more minutes of sand volleyball before sunset at the court behind The Tower Residence Hall.
Class of 2025: Strength & Numbers
In a record graduating class, meet some of the up-and-comers who are already making waves.
12 cover story
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Beyond the Game
To give student-athletes an extra edge in competition and life, Carthage invests in strength, nutrition, mental health, and more.
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Amped to Teach
Business professor Lisa Franklin draws on her own extensive expertise in automotive batteries.
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President’s Message
Firebirds student-athletes epitomize our holistic approach to education.
On Campus
A School of Health is born to alleviate healthcare shortages, and the newly endowed campus pastor position is renamed in honor of Dudley Riggle.
Athletics
Carthage picks four for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. Plus, the late Jack Meachum ’14 inspired a new lacrosse fund.
The Arts
For 10 years, the Verbatim Theatre Project has given voice to the voiceless.
Alumni
Stay in the loop with news from our accomplished graduates.
TLC for the Dog Days
THE CARTHAGINIAN
Fall 2025 Issue
The Carthaginian, produced biannually in fall and spring, is the official magazine of Carthage College. The Office of Marketing and Communications compiles the content in collaboration with the Office of Advancement to inform and engage alumni, parents, students, employees, and friends of the College.
All issues published since 2013-14 can also be viewed online: carthage.edu/carthaginian
Carthaginian Editorial Team
Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Elizabeth Young
Managing Editor
Mike Moore
Photographers/ Illustrators
Steve Janiak
Hunter Montano
Kassidy Nader ’27
Kamren White ’26
Kayleigh Wieska ’26
Abbey Calhoun ’25
Design/Art Direction
Steve Janiak
Kim King ’06
Jess Wicinski ’20
Contributing Writers
Mike Moore
Julie Thomas
Andrew Horschak
Lauren Hansen ’10, M.Ed. ’15
Christine Renaud
Tim Knutson
Freedom Tomasello ’27
Ellie Pavletich ’27
Class Notes
Hundreds of miles apart, two alumni have forged careers in the emerging specialty of veterinary social work.
Newly crowned Miss Wisconsin Willow Newell ’25 and other alumni share milestones from their careers and families.
In Memoriam
Carthage remembers Professor Dan Magurshak, dining staffer BenNita Body, the Rev. Harvard Stephens Jr., and others who touched our lives. 28 30 33
Faculty & Staff
Professor Angela Dassow’s innovative research protects Nepali residents from tiger attacks.
A Crimson Thread
Explore connections between Carthaginians from different eras and roles, including Kenosha’s new mayor and a charter faculty member at Stanford University.
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Gina Madrigrano Friebus ’76
President
John R. Swallow
Vice President for Advancement
Philip Hood
For More Information
The Carthaginian Office of Marketing and Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu
At Carthage College, we take great pride in preparing students — not only for their next steps, but for lives of deep purpose and impact. To see a shining example of this commitment, we need look no further than our athletic program.
strength, nutrition, and career coaching, we provide a level of support that rivals or exceeds institutions far larger than ours.
This holistic investment reflects what Carthage does best: seeing each student as a whole person. Our studentathletes are leaders in the classroom,
“As we chart our course toward 2030, my vision centers on student potential, the removal of barriers, and the distinct advantage of a Carthage education.”
As I witness in the growth of individual Firebirds, athletics at Carthage represents far more than competition and scoreboards. It is a powerful engine of transformation, cultivating leadership, resilience, and integrity across all of our 28 varsity teams, reaching over 850 student-athletes.
Our approach is bold and uncommon. From mental and spiritual well-being to
contributors to research, and mentors in our community. They pursue not only excellence, but greatness, with humility and grit. And they emerge ready not only to compete, but to lead, serve, and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Earlier this year, we inaugurated
The Champions Club, which gives recognition and community to those who support our athletic programs. These investments from members —
totaling nearly $500,000 in operational support this year — allow Carthage to plan for its future with confidence.
As we chart our course toward 2030, my vision centers on student potential, the removal of barriers, and the distinct advantage of a Carthage education. Our athletic program is a key pillar of that vision. It affirms my belief that challenge can shape character — and that every student, given the right opportunity, can do something extraordinary.
To our student-athletes, coaches, families, and supporters: thank you. You make Carthage stronger. Together, we are building a future worthy of our shared ambition for greatness.
Warmly,
John R. Swallow
on campus
Carthage graduated a record class during the 2025 Commencement weekend.
A loaded spring
During the spring semester, Carthage:
BUZZED
with activity during its first Aerial Drone Competition on Feb. 1. Twenty teams of middle- and highschool students showcased their drone piloting skills in the TARC at an event co-hosted by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (headquartered at Carthage) and NASA Langley Research Center.
REGAINED
its place among the national leaders for short-term study abroad. Carthage ranked No. 8 among schools in its category with the highest participation, according to the new Open Doors report. The figures reflect a resurgence in J-Term travel after the COVID-19 pandemic.
WON the Forward Award from the Kenosha Area Business Alliance for growth, innovation, and positive impact on the community. President John Swallow accepted on behalf of the College at the 2025 Ovation Awards on Feb. 6.
SECURED
a prime designation as a core partner for Deloitte, thanks to the consistent excellence of Carthage’s accounting graduates. Last fall, students from the program competed in the firm’s regional FanTAXtic case study competition for the first time.
STIMULATED
young scientific minds, welcoming about 25 high school researchers for a regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium on March 1. The U.S. Department of Defense sponsors this prestigious STEM scholarship competition. The winning project involved a mobile app designed to search for free and low-cost health clinics.
guest roundup
A few of the presenters who came to campus to share their expertise during the spring term:
Feb. 21 – Author John Patrick Green, best known for his wildly popular “InvestiGators” graphic novels, delved into the latest installment in the spin-off “Agents of S.U.I.T.” series. In conversation with fellow children’s writer Mary Winn Heider, he gave insights into the new book “Wild Ghost Chase.”
Feb. 27 – Three expert panelists discussed Equity and Housing Development with members of the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition: S.R. Mills, CEO of Bear Property Development; Tim Casey, director of development for the City of Kenosha; and Jeff Towne, community and economic development officer for WHEDA
April 1 – Actor Marie Tredway ’17 (center), a series regular on “Chicago Med,” returned to campus to help students craft their creative pitches. The Aspire Program and theatre honor society Alpha Psi Omega organized the hands-on workshop, which introduced effective storytelling techniques for any audience.
April 25 – Historian Joan Waugh gave a keynote talk titled “Vicksburg Is the Key: U.S. Grant and the Turning Point of the American Civil War” at the fourth annual Lincoln Symposium Carthage and Kenosha’s Civil War Museum presented the two-day event with The Lincoln Forum and the Lincoln Presidential Foundation.
School of Health established to address regional care shortage
Already well-known in the region for preparing highly qualified, compassionate healthcare professionals, Carthage has stepped forward to meet the rising demand by opening a School of Health.
This realignment brings thriving academic programs like nursing and neuroscience together with planned offerings in the biomedical sciences and other emerging fields. The new school will serve as a highly adaptive talent incubator that relies on realtime input from regional practitioners.
“We see an extraordinary opportunity for the School of Health to directly impact tens of thousands of people,” said Carthage president John Swallow. “Thanks to our central location and our strong relationships with industry partners, Carthage is ready to dive into the work of thoroughly preparing many more healthcare professionals, at all levels and in many different fields, who will serve their communities from day one.”
Paul Martino, a faculty member and administrator at Carthage since 2009, has been appointed dean for the School of Health. An accomplished biomedical scientist who trained at the Medical College of Wisconsin, he envisions new clinical and educational
partnerships, an annual healthcare symposium, and a speaker series.
Over half of the 11,000 students who applied to Carthage for fall 2025 admission expressed interest in the programs under this new umbrella. Healthcare leaders are invited to help shape the new school’s priorities through one-on-one meetings, surveys, and public forums.
“The benefits of creating this School of Health stretch far beyond a new name,” Prof. Martino says. “This paves the way for Carthage to build a unified identity as one of the major players meeting the everexpanding healthcare needs in the ChicagoMilwaukee corridor.”
a growing need
Right now, Wisconsin produces about 3,500 new nurses per year — a fraction of the number needed to keep pace with the state’s aging population. Carthage stands well-positioned to alleviate that shortage.
Nursing consistently ranks as Carthage’s most popular undergraduate major, and program graduates enjoy a remarkable 100% placement rate. Another 182 students have completed a certified nurse aide (CNA) training program since the monthlong sessions began in January 2024.
To accommodate this continuing growth,
Carthage has begun a phased expansion of its Nursing Education Center. Buoyed by $2.6 million in grant and donor funding, the project will more than quadruple the classroom and lab space by fall 2026.
The School of Health also encompasses majors in allied health science, exercise and sport science, social work, sociology, and criminal justice, as well as a master’s program in athletic training. Studies increasingly link this interprofessional model to improved patient outcomes.
Regardless of a student’s major, the College’s robust pre-health advising tracks set the stage for success in graduate-level health programs. Carthage is pursuing more specialized dual degree pathways like the ones it offers with Rush University, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), and others.
Aside from patient care, the new school will boost student opportunities for medical research. Carthage plans to showcase the work of its neuroscience faculty, whose studies hold promise for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, eye cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions.
A grand opening celebration is being planned for the School of Health in spring 2026.
Get to know some of our newerfacultymembers, fromtheirfavoriteapps totheirbestcollegeadvice.
Find links to this and other digital content, plus current and past issues of The Carthaginian magazine: carthage.edu/carthaginian
Pastoral care in perpetuity
New campus ministry endowment honors the Rev. Dudley Riggle
This past spring, Carthage celebrated the first recipient of the Dudley Riggle Endowed Chair for Campus Ministry with the installation of its new campus pastor.
The new endowment strengthens the College’s spiritual foundation as its enrollment and community footprint continue to grow. Its name honors the retired Rev. Dudley Riggle and his Carthage legacy as a pastor, professor, and friend to generations of alumni.
The Rev. Adam Miller-Stubbendick became the first to hold the seat when he
was formally installed March 27.
“I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of faithful leaders like Dudley Riggle,” Pastor Miller-Stubbendick says. “Each time I’m graced with the opportunity to talk with him, Dudley’s wisdom, compassion, and curiosity continue to flow from him. I believe it’s his way of reflecting the love of Christ, and I hope to carry on in that spirit for the benefit of Carthage’s students.”
Pastor Riggle devoted nearly 40 years to Carthage as a full-time pastor, faculty member, and administrator. Known more
widely for his compassionate teachings on grief and end-of-life issues, he co-founded southeastern Wisconsin’s nonprofit Hospice Alliance.
Though George Chardukian ’77 never took a class with Pastor Riggle, the clergyman greatly impacted him.
“Wherever Dudley was, there was peace,” Mr. Chardukian recalls. “He just had that aura. Kindness. Gentleness. Integrity. Being around him made you feel closer to Christ, even if he didn’t know your name.”
That motivated the alumnus to support the new endowed chair.
“I believe the more we give, the more we get,” he says. “When we give our time, our talent, our treasure — we’re feeding our souls.”
Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Carthage welcomes students from all religious and nonreligious backgrounds. The Center for Faith and Spirituality serves as a beacon for interfaith engagement, worship, and service.
Along with the pastor’s salary, the endowment will provide for additional student programming.
“I am thrilled about this happening, because it solidifies the future of campus ministry at Carthage,” says Debbie Clark, the longtime administrative assistant at the center. “It opens the door for so much opportunity for ministry.”
The Rev. Bob Walters ’57, another donor to the endowed fund, looks back at his Carthage experience — along with some encouragement from a hometown pastor — as the foundation for his lifelong call to ministry.
Although their time at Carthage didn’t overlap, he came to admire the way Pastor Riggle “modeled what it means to live your faith with humility and compassion.”
“It’s an honor to help ensure future
The Rev. Adam Miller-Stubbendick, left, is the inaugural holder of an endowed pastoral position named for the Rev. Dudley Riggle, right. They’re shown together at the March 27 installation ceremony in A. F. Siebert Chapel.
“Each time I’m graced with the opportunity to talk with him, Dudley’s wisdom, compassion, and curiosity continue to flow from him.”
students experience that same kind of spiritual care,” says Pastor Walters. “Knowing that the chair will help keep campus ministry and pastoral care on the campus — that’s important to me.”
Pastor Riggle took on the chaplaincy in 1961 at the previous site in Carthage, Illinois, and then shaped campus ministry when the College relocated to Kenosha. Later, as a religion professor, he developed and taught the popular Issues in Living and Dying course.
Since retiring in 1998, Pastor Riggle has occasionally led sessions at alumni events. He returned again in March to
attend the installation and take part in a panel discussion alongside two prominent Lutheran leaders: Deacon Sue Rothmeyer, secretary of the ELCA; and the Rev. Lamont Wells, executive director of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities.
Calling it “my privilege and a real blessing to be part of this community and serve in some way for 64 years,” Pastor Riggle provided a synopsis of Carthage’s Lutheran underpinnings dating back even further than its founding in 1847.
“To be true to that tradition and honor that history, we need a continuing commitment to think about the College not
Board
only as a place for increasing knowledge, but as a place for increasing faith,” he said. “That means learning about, learning from, and honoring other faith traditions.
“And it means remembering that faith is not mainly about beliefs and doctrines,” he continued. “It’s a profound grace … a grace we Christians believe is seen and shown most fully and most clearly in the life and love and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Beyond the financial aspect, the new campus ministry endowment serves as a promise that kindness, faith, and deep human connection will always have a home at Carthage.
picks Gina Madrigrano Friebus ’76 as chair
Moved by her dedication to Carthage and her extensive experience as a civic leader and businesswoman, the Board of Trustees elected Gina Madrigrano Friebus ’76 as chair.
She enjoyed an impactful 33-year business career, retiring in 2009 as vice president of administration at W.O.W. Distributing Co., and has remained a tireless advocate for women. Ms. Madrigrano Friebus helped establish women’s professional networks across southeastern Wisconsin and co-chaired the 150 Years of Carthage Women celebration in 2019-20.
“We are extremely fortunate to have
Gina Madrigrano Friebus’ forward-looking leadership and wisdom in the years ahead,” said Carthage President John Swallow. “In her capable hands, the board will be stronger than ever before.”
Ms. Madrigrano Friebus, whose philanthropy to the College extends a family legacy, became a trustee in 2011 and first vice chair in 2018. She also sits on the boards of Tempo Kenosha, Saint Joseph Catholic Academy Foundation, and the Pleasant Prairie Police Appreciation Association.
Carthage presented the Distinguished Alumni Service Award to her in 2011.
As board chair, Ms. Madrigrano Friebus succeeds Jeff Hamar ’80, who completed a second successful stint in that seat and will continue to serve as a trustee.
The other officers are:
• Fred Krull ’83, who was elected vice chair. The retired executive from “Big Four” financial services firm EY has been a Carthage trustee since 2020.
• David C. Wiers ’98, who was re-elected secretary. A board member for the College since 2016, he is the founder and president of Satori Energy.
• Thomas Martinez, who was elected treasurer. The Kenosha native joined the board in 2015 and works as strategic vice president of revenue operations for Chainguard.
Adding to its tradition of alumni leadership, Carthage also welcomed Don Wruck ’96 as a trustee. He’s a founding partner of multistate law firm Wruck Paupore PC.
Firebirds everywhere unite in spirit of giving
During the 2025 Red & Ready Giving Days, people from all corners of the Carthage community united to fuel innovation, empower future leaders, and strengthen the Firebird spirit.
Organizers established a goal of 1,000 donors for the 36-hour celebration, and Carthaginians came through. A total of 1,048 alumni, parents, employees, students, and other supporters made gifts between midnight April 10 and noon April 11.
For those who couldn’t make it to campus, celebratory events offered multiple ways to reconnect. More than 100 people attended social gatherings in Chicago (hosted by Derrick Collins ’05 and Jason Wendt ’08), the Twin Cities (hosted by Trustee Emeritus Dennis Monroe ’74), and Milwaukee (hosted by Kalen Theusch ’79). Dozens more logged on for virtual
mini-reunions, an alumni author panel, and a Carthage-themed trivia contest.
This year’s Giving Days brought in more than $300,000 for student-centered programs and financial aid. All contributions count toward the College’s ongoing $100 million Light that Travels campaign.
Six of nine targeted giving challenges succeeded, as well. That secured matching gifts for visual and performing arts, athletics, study abroad, scholarships, textbooks, and student publications.
final leaderboard
A real-time Red & Ready leaderboard tracked the action as Carthaginians jockeyed for the top spot in multiple affinity groups. Based on total giving, these were the final 2025 leaders:
Wondering how daily life on campus has changed since you attended? Know high school students who are curious about Carthage? Check out our student-run Instagram account and see the world through our students’ lens.
www.instagram.com/mycarthage
Graduate Spotlight: Class of 2025 strength & Numbers
A total of 668 students took part in the 2025 Commencement festivities May 23-24, putting this graduating class in position to be the largest in Carthage’s 178-year history. And the quality of these new alumni matches the quantity. See what’s next for select members of the Class of 2025.
faith and justice
Just a few days after Commencement, sister yustina intan ’25 boarded a flight to the Caribbean islands — not for a relaxing post-graduation getaway, but to begin a new religious assignment in Antigua and Barbuda.
Originally from Indonesia, she has served in a Catholic order known as the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters for nearly 20 years. While based in Chicago, Sr. Intan came to Carthage in 2023 to study social work — a field the nun deemed highly relevant to her ministry.
Sr. Intan took courses alongside traditional students, soaking in knowledge about trauma-informed care and supporting diverse communities. She’s especially grateful to her academic advisor, Professor Debbie Minsky-Kelly, whose “mentorship played a crucial role in preparing me for this meaningful engagement.”
In Antigua and Barbuda, Sr. Intan primarily assists the Hispanic community through a women’s empowerment group. Passionate about social justice, she’s also looking for committed partners to push for systemic change.
deeper into
space research
justin wheeler ’25 brings four years of NASA-affiliated research experience under Professor Kevin Crosby to his next step: a Ph.D. program in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. He’s thankful that Carthage gave him room to explore academic options, which led him to a Bachelor of Science in physics.
“Carthage allowed me to explore many facets of engineering and physics while also providing me with internship opportunities on campus, at NASA, and at Fermilab.”
global firm, windy city office
Consummate multitasker michael malyszek ’25 channels that energy into his new role as a middle market banking and specialized industries analyst with JP Morgan Chase in Chicago. He earned a degree in finance from Carthage while holding leadership roles in several organizations.
“Carthage has challenged me, but it has given me even more. It has taken me to competitions and conferences across six countries, broadened my worldview, and deepened my belief that I have a responsibility to give back.”
teaching students on the spectrum
An ideal first job led morgan shetzer ’25 to relocate to Phoenix. After graduating with majors in elementary and special education, she accepted a job as a special education teacher at the Autism Academy for Education and Development. The school celebrates the distinct needs of students on the autism spectrum.
“This is truly my dream position! I am passionate about supporting students with diverse needs, and I’m excited to be surrounded by people who share the same passions.”
keeping a community informed
A successful internship with the city of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, served as a springboard for public relations major thomas parker ’25 to a full-time position as its communications coordinator. He’ll coordinate messaging for the Milwaukee suburb through social media posts, media relations, and events.
“The tight-knit community and personalized attention at Carthage allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, and I left feeling confident, prepared, and inspired to make an impact in my field.”
GOING PLACES
Hannah Elliott
B.S.N. in Nursing
registered nurse – burn intensive care unit
Ascension Columbia
St. Mary’s Hospital –Milwaukee
Kiannah Hayes
B.A. in Social Science (Secondary Education)
ela social studies teacher
MacArthur Middle School – Prospect Heights, Ill.
Aidan O’Neill
M.Sc. in Sports Management
digital design intern
Cleveland Browns
Jessica Rosa
B.A. in Allied Health Science graduate student –radiography
Northwestern Medicine
Chris Dondajeski
B.A. in Engineering Science advanced manufacturing engineer
Summit Packaging Systems – Racine, Wis.
Melynna Hakim
Arreola-Quiroga
B.A. in Finance director of development
Serving People with a Mission – Chicago
beyond the game
In the hypercompetitive arena of modern college sports, talent and effort are no longer enough to separate champions from the pack.
Sure, practice still matters, but preparation is what pushes teams over the top. So Carthage has shifted gears to ensure that its more than 900 rostered student-athletes go into competition razorsharp, both physically and mentally.
“Anybody who’s competitive is looking for an edge,” says Ryan Kane, director of athletics. “Whenever a student-athlete gets off the bus to represent Carthage College, they should feel fully prepared in all aspects — the coach’s game plan, their mind and body, all at peak performance.”
Though it painted a largely positive picture of Carthage’s dedication to the health and wellness of its studentathletes, a May 2023 external review also highlighted gaps in strength and conditioning, nutrition, and mental health. Since then, administrators have substantially increased staffing and
resources for off-the-field needs like those.
A new generation of Firebirds is actively looking for that competitive boost.
“The dimensions of the playing field are the same as always, but studentathletes’ needs have changed,” Mr. Kane says. “We know more than ever about the factors that impact athletic performance, and today’s competitors come to college already attuned to that.”
At this point, few NCAA Division III peers can match Carthage’s comprehensive support for student-athletes.
“These are still students first, but the investment we’re making in their total development is rare at this level,” says Mr. Kane. “It’s a testament to the value Carthage places on athletics inside the student journey.”
For nearly two centuries, the College has walked the talk by providing a wellrounded education. Student wellness remains a key pillar in that blueprint, even as its definition expands beyond physical fitness.
nutrition strength and conditioning
Building better people
Directed by Dexter Molinaro ’17, M.Ed. ‘20, the growing strength and conditioning program at Carthage now supports almost all of its athletic teams. Staff members prepare a personalized training regimen for each competitor in their assigned sports.
Sticking to a 12-month schedule requires a stronger off-season commitment from the student-athletes. Inside the Marconi Weight Room, a varsity training facility with newly upgraded equipment, they’ve reacted with gratitude — not grumbling.
“I’ve heard from several athletes that they appreciate the consistency,” Mr. Molinaro says. “They understand the goal is truly to build better people. The
weight room is just the vessel.” Staff members also monitor their conditioning, fine-tuning the delicate balance between fitness and rest. Soccer, lacrosse, and football players wear GPS monitors during competition for more precise tracking, and students from the Exercise and Sport Science Program mine that treasure trove of performance data for academic research.
Fond of the cliche “If you’re juiceless, you’re useless,” Mr. Molinaro expects his staff to be much more than passive onlookers. They’re encouraged to butt in as needed during practices.
“There’s a lot more to our work than saying ‘I’m gonna add 10 pounds onto your squat,’” he says. “We think of ourselves as an extension of each coach’s culture.”
Fueling excellence
Knowing what’s required to power a 19- to 22-year-old body and mind through a season of intense workouts, practices, and competitions, Carthage advises newcomers — and reminds returning team members — how to choose the right fuel for their respective sports and academic majors.
For authoritative guidance, student-athletes can now turn to Abby Olcott, a registered dietitian with additional certification in sports dietetics. A recent addition to the Carthage Athletics staff, she gives educational presentations, schedules one-on-one meal planning consultations, and posts nutritional tips on the Firebird Fuel Instagram account.
Often, Ms. Olcott has to counteract bad eating habits that student-athletes learned from friends or self-appointed nutritionists on social media. She wishes guidance like this had been more widely available in her collegiate running days — especially for the track teammate who ate nothing but soup.
“These athletes may not have had to worry about diet in high school, but now they’re swimming with the big fish,” she says. “I let them know they can really optimize their performance by eating right.”
At the cafeteria and five other campus locations, food service provider Parkhurst Dining emphasizes fresh, nutritious meals made with locally sourced ingredients. Supplementing that, two healthy snack hubs are exclusively open to Firebirds team members, further instilling good habits.
Shown at left, Dexter Molinaro ’17, M.Ed. ’20, makes the Marconi Weight Room a year-round destination for student-athletes.
mental and spiritual health
Prioritizing well-being
Recognizing the unique pressures these young adults encounter in their dual role as students and competitive athletes, the College provides specialized support.
It begins with proactive mental health screenings for incoming recruits and ramps up once they’re enrolled. In addition to the free in-person or virtual counseling sessions that any Carthage student can schedule, the Health and Counseling Center has athletic counseling interns with graduate-level training.
“I felt like that piece was always
missing when I competed,” says last year’s intern, Anna Tristani, a former college soccer standout with a master’s degree in sports psychology.
While pursuing an additional degree in clinical mental health counseling at Marquette University, Ms. Tristani met with Firebirds coaches and taught student-athletes how to set measurable goals, build a positive mindset, and manage burnout. Her successor, Hannah Moll — who’s following the same graduate track at Marquette — plans to
career development
Preparing champions for life
Carthage goes out of its way to accentuate the personal and professional benefits that playing a competitive sport yields long after the red-and-white uniforms have been turned in.
A key element in The Aspire Program, Carthage’s national award-winning career development initiative, is the aptly named MAP (My Aspire Plan), which helps all students chart a course to a meaningful career. Digital rewards offer extra incentive to complete the selfreflection activities.
The new Collegiate Student-Athlete badge is reserved for those who compete as Firebirds. To earn it, they identify the valuable skills they’re building in sports — teamwork, discipline, and more — and
ACHIEVEMENT
COLLEGIATE STUDENT
practice communicating that value to employers.
One MAP exercise probes more deeply into why they compete. The responses are compelling: Self-improvement. Unity. Leadership. Or even balance, which women’s volleyball player Clara O’Brien ’28 sees as the key to unlock a full life “and stay happy and calm while doing it.”
As they work toward the badge, student-athletes build familiarity with the expert career services staff in The Aspire Center. By taking advantage of the center’s resume-building assistance, mock interviews, and networking events, they can maximize their real-world readiness.
“Feedback from student-athletes who use MAP regularly indicates they feel a greater sense of control over their personal and professional growth,” says Stephanie Stover, director of The Aspire Program. “They learn how athletic excellence translates to long-term success.”
build on that momentum in 2025-26.
For those seeking spiritual guidance, new campus pastor Adam Miller-Stubbendick recently began the “Firebirds of Faith” initiative. Participants who opt in receive a weekly Christian devotional by email and invitations to bimonthly gatherings.
“Student-athletes have particular joys and challenges, and it’s important to nurture their faith,” explains Pastor Miller-Stubbendick.
“As we approach education holistically, that’s an integral part of the conversation.”
Women’s golfer Annika Erickson ’25, left, accepts the Aspire All-Star Award from Stephanie Stover, director of The Aspire Program, on April 26 during the Celebration of Scholars.
Winning is the immediate goal in any sport, and the 28 intercollegiate teams at Carthage win a lot. But this isn’t driven by the thirst for first. Instead, the investment reflects a genuine, campus-wide belief in athletics as a fully integrated piece of the institution’s mission to educate the whole person. Any extra championships will be a welcome by-product.
“If we’re developing people the right way, it’ll naturally translate to more wins,” says Ryan Kane, the athletic director. “Whatever goals they’re chasing, it’s our job to remind student-athletes: Who you become during that chase is the most important thing.”
Whether they’re All-Americans or unheralded team leaders, each Firebird graduates with a playbook for lifelong success.
26 national champions (all time) more than 1/3 of students compete as Firebirds
3.40 average GPA for student-athletes
234 members of the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame
13,378 protein packets provided to Firebirds in 2024-25
Firebirds student-athletes are eligible to wear a special stole at Commencement.
2025 Hall of Fame class announced
In June, Carthage announced plans to welcome four new members to the Athletic Hall of Fame for their historic accomplishments. The 2025 class will be officially inducted during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
Herman Abban ’19
Men’s Tennis
Transfer student Herman Abban was the conference Player of the Year in both of his tennis seasons at Carthage. Qualifying for both the NCAA Division III singles and doubles tournaments in 2016-17, he reached the doubles semifinals with Pawel Jaworski ’17. Mr. Abban still holds Carthage season records for singles victories (30) and combined victories (64).
Matt Meneghetti ’18
Men’s Golf
Four-year Carthage standout golfer Matt Meneghetti maintains school records for single-season scoring average record (72.81) and career average (74.32). The two-time all-conference honoree won six tournaments as a senior in 2018, including the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship.
Augie Schmidt IV Baseball
In the 38 seasons head coach Augie Schmidt IV devoted to the Carthage baseball program, his teams won 1,032 games — ranking him 19th all-time in D-III. The newly retired Coach Schmidt led Carthage to nine conference titles and back-to-back third-place national finishes in 1993 and 1994. A 10-time CCIW Coach of the Year award winner, he developed 26 All-Americans.
Griffin Shields ’19 Men’s Volleyball
Three-time All-American Griffin Shields is one of the most prolific attackers in Carthage volleyball history. Among the program’s career leaders, he ranks No. 1 in kills per set (3.80) and in the top five for total kills, points, and aces. Mr. Shields twice helped his team make NCAA postseason appearances. register to attend
Join us as we honor these outstanding alumni and coaches! The 2025 Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at the Homecoming Brunch at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Cost is $25 per person (free for children 5 and under), and space is limited. carthage.edu/homecoming
Men’s hoops completes worst-to-first upturn
The Carthage men’s basketball team accomplished a pair of lofty goals this past season, winning the outright conference championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 2010.
The Firebirds finished 21-7, including 14-2 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. That secured the 2024-25 regular season title, completing a four-year turnaround under head coach Steve Djurickovic.
In 2021-22, Coach Djurickovic’s first full season, Carthage’s freshman-filled lineup endured growing pains on the way to a lastplace 2-14 conference record. Those young players’ evolution into experienced leaders paid off during last winter’s championship run, when they played key reserve roles in their final year of eligibility.
In March, hot-shooting opponent St. Norbert College took a massive 25-point lead into halftime of Carthage’s NCAA
opener. The Firebirds whittled that seemingly insurmountable lead down to one in the closing seconds, ultimately falling 92-89.
“It’s tough to see this senior class go,” Coach Djurickovic said. “All I want is for you to leave the program in a better spot than you found it, and every single one of these seniors has done that.”
On the bright side? All five starters are expected to return next season.
all sports
Big W for Firebird Classic
The 50th annual Carthage Athletics golf outing raised more than $50,000 to enhance the student-athlete experience. Presented by Palmen Motors, the 2025 Firebird Classic took place June 23 at The Club at Strawberry Creek, drawing more than 140 entrants. The winning foursome featured Tom Lee ’93, Joe Duerr ’01, Greg Wall ’00, and Joel Meinen ’02.
softball
Another batting bonanza
Leadoff hitter Clare Rettler ’26 topped Division III in batting average for the second straight year. The first-team All-American outfielder set new single-season Carthage highs in average (.618), hits (94), runs (49), stolen bases (49), and on-base percentage (.646). Her 32-game hitting streak is also the longest in program history.
VICTORY MILESTONE: Taking the second game of an away doubleheader against Augustana on April 5, the Firebirds gave Coach Amy Gillmore career win No. 600 in her 28th season.
Carthage men’s basketball players raise the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship trophy in February after clinching the 2024-25 regular season title.
Firebirds head coach Steve Djurickovic ’11, M.Ed. ’18 takes his turn cutting down the net during the trophy celebration.
A winning hand full of Jacks
Lacrosse alumni honor late teammate with new fund
David Neff, head coach of the Carthage men’s lacrosse team since its inception in 2009, calls the late Jack Meachum ’14 the toughest player he’s ever coached.
“Jack was an ironman,” Coach Neff explains. “That’s kind of how he played lacrosse. He was a skilled player, but he just outworked everybody on the field.”
Transferring here as an upperclassman, Mr. Meachum quickly developed a strong attachment to Carthage — and especially the lacrosse team. After graduation, he redirected that familiar work ethic to help the program he’d grown to love.
A few years ago, he came up with the idea to start a men’s lacrosse alumni association that would provide financial support and mentorship. Former teammates Owen Foley ’12, Spencer Curley ’13, and James Fleming III ’16 joined him.
Even as the former teammates fanned out to build careers and families, their efforts began to pay off. Along with hosting alumni games and weekend events, the group raised a few thousand dollars in its first two years.
Tragically, on Aug. 22, 2023 — the day after one of the alumni association’s monthly conference calls — Mr. Meachum was killed in a car accident north of Indianapolis. He was just 31 years old.
their teammate’s legacy
The reverberations from the loss were felt widely.
“There were not a lot of people who didn’t like Jack,” says Mr. Fleming. “If he was in your corner, there was nobody else that you would want in your corner because he was the ultimate hype man. He was the kind
of guy that you wanted on your side.”
It had been a banner year for Mr. Meachum, both personally and professionally. He and his wife, Bethany, were newlyweds. And, in his sixth season, he had just coached the Carmel High School boys’ lacrosse team to the Indiana state championship.
The grieving Carthaginians started thinking about how to memorialize their fallen friend. They decided to create an endowed fund in Mr. Meachum’s name that would benefit future Firebirds.
“It seemed like the way to support the team — not just financially, but to keep Jack’s name attached to the program for decades to come,” Mr. Curley says. “It’s about members of the team hearing about Jack’s story and what kind of competitor he was, what kind of coach he was, and what kind of mentor he was.”
Many sports have endowments like these, which provide funding beyond Carthage Athletics’ operational budget. The lead donors envision this money going toward the team’s travel, meals, equipment, and potentially a full-time assistant coach.
someone to emulate
Originally from Naperville, Illinois, Mr. Meachum began his collegiate lacrosse career at Aurora University. Shifting to Carthage as a junior, the midfielder made an immediate impact.
He accumulated 172 total points in those two years, which ranks among the Firebirds’ career leaders — alongside a host of fouryear letterwinners. His single-season record of 43 assists from 2014 hasn’t yet been topped.
After completing his degree in elementary and special education, Mr. Meachum stuck around for a year as a graduate assistant for
both Carthage lacrosse teams (men’s and women’s). He went on to launch the men’s program at the former Northland College on Wisconsin’s extreme northern tip, before relocating to Indiana.
The Jack Meachum Memorial Lacrosse Fund should soon be official. The initial $25,000 needed is within sight, thanks to a successful fundraising challenge during the Red & Ready Giving Days this past spring.
The team has found additional ways to preserve Mr. Meachum’s memory. The Firebirds award a practice pinnie every week to the player who best embodies “the culture of Jack.” At the end of the season, the pinnie — signed by every honoree — is presented to one deserving player.
This year, that was Ben Krok ’25.
Starting next spring, Coach Neff will also award uniform No. 1 — the number Mr. Meachum wore as a senior — to the player who epitomizes the former star, who lived by the motto “Today is a great day to have a great day!”
Jack Meachum ’14
Two-year Carthage lacrosse letterwinner Jack Meachum ’14 made an even bigger impact off the field.
A decade giving voice to the voiceless
Ten years ago, when Carthage theatre professor Martin McClendon wanted to bring the true stories of U.S. service members to the stage, he looked for a script and discovered that none existed. So he recruited Laurel McKenzie ’16 to interview veterans and write her own play.
Drawn entirely from those first-person accounts, “Afghanistan/Wisconsin” premiered on campus in fall 2015 and toured the state. Rather than a one-off production, it blossomed into Carthage’s highly successful Verbatim Theatre Project.
Over the past decade, Carthage verbatim plays have explored weighty themes like racial justice, women in the military, homelessness, religious trauma, and burnout among healthcare workers. Each time, students conduct hours of interviews and distill those stories into powerful scripts.
This documentary-style theatrical format gives voice to stories that would otherwise go untold and leaves a lasting impact on everyone involved. Brimming with authenticity, these original productions
showcase theatre’s ability to do more than simply entertain.
“Drama is what’s happening all around us,” says Prof. McClendon. “Positioned at the intersection of life and art, verbatim theatre has the potential to not only move hearts but change minds.”
therapeutic salve
Leah Gawel Keller ’19, M.M. ’21, was cast in “Frontline,” a verbatim play that Carthage produced live in October 2022 to highlight the challenges healthcare workers confronted during the COVID-19 pandemic. That transformative experience continues to prove valuable as she pursues a Master of Divinity at Harvard University.
For a required M.Div. creative project, Ms. Keller decided to use verbatim theatre techniques to tell the stories of individuals who have experienced religious trauma.
“Broken Covenant” debuted in August 2024 with a staged reading at Carthage, and she’s now fine-tuning the work into a capstone project for her master’s program.
These projects showed her that verbatim theatre can generate healing and community among people who previously suffered alone. As she reflects on scars inflicted by her strict religious upbringing, Ms. Keller says “working on the script helped me reconcile my own experiences.”
Aspiring playwright Katie Layendecker ’25 was deeply involved in two verbatim plays during her time at Carthage. The first began the summer after her freshman year, when she teamed with Rayven Craft ’23 on the “Kenosha Verbatim Project” first performed on campus as a one-night-only staged reading in May 2023.
Rooted in personal accounts from the city’s summer of racial unrest in 2020, their poignant script won the national Rosa Parks Playwriting Award — one of several accolades the verbatim works have earned in the Kennedy Center’s annual American College Theater Festival.
“It is crazy to say that I’m an awardwinning playwright,” says Ms. Layendecker, who credits the project and Prof. McClendon
Maria Romero ’27 and Logan Gonzalez ’28 portrayed doctors in Carthage’s verbatim theatre production “Terminal Exhale,” which premiered in March.
for shaping her career path.
She also co-wrote and acted in “Terminal Exhale,” the ninth and most recent installment in the Verbatim Theatre Project, which premiered with sold-out shows at the Wartburg Theatre in March. Derived from 28 hours of recorded interviews, it focuses on gun violence through the eyes of healthcare workers who treat the victims.
beyond the stage
Heavy on each playwright’s mind is a sensitivity to tell the stories of trauma without exploiting the storytellers. Dr. Kellie Snooks, a pediatric critical care physician in Milwaukee, welcomed the “space of empathy” that the interviewers created.
“Seeing my personal story and the stories of my colleagues treating patients with firearm injuries portrayed on the stage was truly amazing,” she says. “Sadly, I had already treated so many firearm injury patients since that interview, I had forgotten
some of the stories I shared.”
Carthage took “Terminal Exhale” on the road, staging it for staff at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The performance captivated Dr. Snooks and her fellow healthcare professionals.
“We hope to see this production and message spread beyond Carthage,” she adds, “because it is truly that powerful.”
The interest spawned a daylong interprofessional seminar that the Theatre, Nursing, and Social Work departments co-sponsored with three advocacy groups: Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, Everytown for Gun Safety, and the 80% Coalition..
“Healing the Healers” drew more than 50 visitors to campus for sessions that explored recovery from trauma due to gun violence, the impact on America’s youth population, and effective public policy.
Ten years in, the Verbatim Theatre Project is entrenched as part of a dynamic original theatre scene at Carthage. It complements
the renowned New Play Initiative, which annually brings in a different playwright to collaborate with students on a more traditional dramatic script.
These firsthand perspectives still speak to Prof. McClendon, who believes they can open minds and illuminate our shared humanity.
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Dr. Kellie Snooks, center, shares insights as a panelist at a daylong “Healing the Healers” seminar the College co-sponsored on March 29.
An insider’s perspective on Soviet-era art
For a pair of students with no interest in art careers, Anna Polietaieva ’27 and Jared Werner ’27 expended tons of energy researching a couple of paintings from Carthage’s Soviet-era art collection.
What fueled that deep personal investment? Their heritage.
Anna, a chemistry major who’s on a Ph.D. track, spent her entire childhood in Ukraine. She came to the United States with her mother in 2022 through a federal program instituted when Russian forces invaded their homeland.
Jared was born in Russia and raised by adoptive parents in the United States. He plans to attend law school after completing undergraduate studies in political science (and his recently added second major, studio art).
Two years ago, Carthage introduced the Samuel and Berry Shoen Soviet Art Collection, which consists of 131 oil paintings and drawings from several former republics of the Soviet Union. Arts patrons gifted these pieces to the College, which exhibits a rotating selection each year.
Unaware of the collection when they enrolled, Jared and Anna attended Carthage’s second Soviet art symposium as freshmen. They left the event eager to contribute the kind of rich historical context that only insiders can.
“Collaborating with students like Anna and Jared, whose Ukrainian and Russian backgrounds lend personal insight and a deep sense of urgency to their engagement, has been especially inspiring,” says Leslie Brothers, a visiting assistant professor in the Division of Arts and Humanities who organizes the symposium. “Their work exemplifies the kind of interdisciplinary inquiry that this collection is intended to foster.”
Awarded a summer research grant to collaborate with Carthage art professor Robin Holmes, the two friends spent much of the 2024 break studying separate paintings from the Shoen collection. They dug deep, even enlisting family friends in Ukraine and Russia to track down undigitized paper records.
Both students showcased their findings multiple times, most recently with posters at Carthage’s Celebration of Scholars in April.
Anna focused on “Wander … Zdravnevo,” an 1892 painting by Ilya Repin. An outlier in the collection because it falls outside the Soviet era, the piece spoke to her because of the artist’s high standing in their mutual homeland.
A web search yields pages of results that describe Mr. Repin as a Russian painter, which clashes with the information Anna always learned back home in school. Her digging turned up conclusive evidence that both his signature and titles of his artwork were Ukrainian, flouting the Russian Empire’s efforts to suppress the language.
“My conscience is clear now,” Anna says.
“It’s really important for me to educate others and show them there are famous people from Ukraine.”
Jared studied a more recent (1963) piece, “The Return of the Communist Party Membership Card” by Ida Belyakova, a Jewish artist with roots in Russia and Belarus. She was also a prolific illustrator for children’s books.
Both the title and the depiction leave room for ambiguity. Although Communist officials likely approved it based on one interpretation — that it depicts a man getting his card back for demonstrating loyalty to the party — Jared wonders if it’s really a protest piece. The man could be surrendering the card voluntarily.
“Party membership was required to advance in life,” he says. “But, because it’s art, it could have a double meaning … and that makes it interesting.”
Anna’s conducting research again this summer, but with a project (studying potato viruses) that marks a return to her academic track. Jared, meanwhile, has offered to help curate Carthage’s yearly Soviet era exhibition.
Wander … Zdravnevo by Ilya Repin
The Return of the Communist Party Membership Card by Ida Belyakova
Do you have a bachelor’s degree but want to further your education and advance your career? Enroll in a graduate program at Carthage. We offer master’s degree programs and certifications in a variety of fields.
master of science*
1 year
Business Design and Innovation
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master of education*
1.5 to 2 years
Accelerated Certification for Teachers
Bilingual
Curriculum and Instruction
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Teacher Leadership
master of music
1 year
Music Pedagogy
Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
master of arts 2 years
Athletic Training
*These programs can be taken partially or entirely online.
Learn more at: carthage.edu/graduate
LEADERS IN PHILANTHROPY
Determined to clear more students for takeoff
By creating a study abroad scholarship, Patty (Pierman) Larson ’76 and her husband, Dave, have established themselves as leaders in philanthropy at Carthage.
Their support comes in gratitude for the excellent education and financial support that Patty received as a student. While Dave attended another university, he has wonderful memories of visiting the Kenosha campus during semester breaks — studying in the library and sitting on the patio overlooking Lake Michigan.
They started to develop a global outlook in those college years — Patty by studying German literature and taking part in the German Club, Dave by spending a semester abroad — but the truly life-altering moment came more than 20 years down the road. A 1997 trip opened their eyes to the Chinese government’s one-child policy and its dire implications for baby girls, prompting the couple to adopt a daughter, Jade, from China.
Through the Patricia Pierman Larson and David Allen Larson Endowed Scholarship Fund, the couple will help Carthage students to acquire a global perspective and experience their own life-changing adventures.
The Larsons both went to Waukegan (Illinois) High School with 5,000 other students. That led Patty to select a smaller school for her college experience. Between generous scholarships, a work-study job in the campus library, and low-interest loans, she navigated Carthage as a first-generation college student.
Patty double majored in history and German, and her history advisor (Professor John Neuenschwander) suggested she go to law school. The critical analysis and writing skills she learned at Carthage proved instrumental in a career with West Publishing Company (now Thomson Reuters), where she read case law, wrote abstracts, and eventually became a director.
Dave, too, went into law. He’s now a professor and senior fellow at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in the Twin Cities.
Patty and Dave live not far from there in St. Paul, Minnesota, and still return to Waukegan to visit family. During those trips, they enjoy stopping at Carthage to sit on the library patio and look out at the lake.
If you would like to create or contribute to a Carthage scholarship fund, please contact the Office of Advancement at giving@carthage.edu or 262-551-5700.
Leadership Giving Society members give $1,000 or more cumulatively ($250 for alums 0-5 years out; $500 for alums 6-10 years out) to any area of the College in a fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is renewable annually.
Enduring Gift Society members have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments). Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime.
Alford Park Loyalty Society members have contributed any amount to the College for three or more consecutive fiscal years (July 1 through June 30). Tiers recognize greater consecutive years of giving. Membership is renewable annually.
Denhart Society members have made Carthage a part of their legacy through estate commitments and planned gifts. Membership is lifetime.
Sustainer Society members have demonstrated an ongoing commitment by setting up recurring gifts that provide steady, reliable support for Carthage.
To learn more about our philanthropic societies and see online donor honor rolls, please visit: carthage.edu/leaders-in-philanthropy
MLK Legacy Awards
In January, Carthage presented 2025 MLK Legacy Awards to individuals and organizations who live out the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The recipients included three alumni:
VERONICA H. MOORE ’05 (pictured), award-winning author and wellness advocate
NICK DEMSKE ’06, executive director of the Racine Public Library
SHARMAIN HARRIS ’20, M.SC. ’21, author, father engagement expert, and justice reform advocate
Alumni
TLC for the dog days
Meet two pioneers in veterinary social work
Hundreds of miles apart, two Carthage alumni have forged careers in veterinary social work, an emerging specialty that acknowledges the bond between humans and animals.
No, their clients aren’t cats and dogs. These social workers provide practical and emotional support for pet owners and the assorted professionals who work with animals.
filling a gap
For Valerie Bogie ’05, this is a second career that’s providing a second wind. After majoring in environmental science and geography at Carthage, Ms. Bogie spent 15 years as an animal trainer at major sites like SeaWorld, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. That work took a toll on her.
Trainers enjoy putting on nature talks and exotic animal performances as much as audiences enjoy watching
known for grueling hours, intense physical demands, and emotional fatigue from animal deaths and relocations.
Using her insider knowledge, Ms. Bogie helped start a virtual support group for owners of pets with behavioral challenges and another for zoo and aquarium workers. Hundreds signed up.
“Would I still be in it if I had more emotional support? Maybe,” she admits, but that glaring void unexpectedly sparked an exit strategy.
Ms. Bogie went back to school, earning a Master of Science in Social Work with a certificate in veterinary social work at the University of Tennessee in May. During an internship at the affiliated clinic, she led a webinar series covering “The Animal Loss Grief Journey.”
Reinvigorated, she’s become an ambassador for this growing subfield. Members elected her to the International Association of Veterinary Social Work board of directors, and she’s compiling a database of practitioners to spread awareness. Instead of caring for dolphins and penguins, Ms.
Aubrey Tesch ’21 and Yoki, the resident cat at WisCARES Veterinary Clinic
Bogie now tends to vets and dog trainers. All in all, it’s been a smooth transition.
“At the end of the day,” she says, “we’re just large mammals.”
how pets factor in
For the past year or so, Aubrey Tesch ’21 has worked at WisCARES Veterinary Clinic in Madison, a nonprofit facility that’s tied to the University of Wisconsin but located off campus.
She coordinates a foster program featuring a network of volunteers who provide temporary care for pets while the owners navigate roadblocks like homelessness or inpatient medical care.
Valerie Bogie ’05 and Wylie, one of her three dogs
to for them, can be quite amazing to see.”
Supporting students in the UW School of Veterinary Medicine is another vital aspect of her job. Aspiring vets might seek advice to prepare for difficult conversations with clients about surrendering pets, or they might need tips to manage their own stress when asked to perform “convenience euthanasia” on animals that aren’t terminally ill.
“My Carthage professors encouraged me to feel comfortable in any setting. Adaptability is something they lean into.”
Firmly committed to this rewarding path, Ms. Tesch built on her undergraduate social work degree with an MSW and a certificate in animal-assisted social work through the University of Denver. She’s grateful for a diverse resume that includes previous career stops at a youth counseling center and a charter school.
“My Carthage professors encouraged me to feel comfortable in any setting. Adaptability is something they lean into,” she says. “They really care about you as a person, and you want to carry that forward into your career. That’s the beauty of a small school.”
Scholarships, the gift of a lifetime
Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service – Together
When I think about the Carthage mission statement, it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes. The late Mahatma Gandhi shared, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Following that sage advice, every year I take the time to participate in the annual Presidential Scholarship competition at Carthage.
Hundreds of admitted students apply, write essays, and complete interviews with alumni, faculty, and staff volunteers in January — all for an opportunity to win these valuable scholarships.
I begin each interview the same way: “Tell me about someone who has made a major impact in your life. The person can be living or deceased, famous or a family member.” Answers vary from Gandhi to Grandma; from Simone Biles to LeBron to Beethoven.
The conversations are extremely dynamic. I leave every session inspired, moved, and sometimes even brought to tears. One student shared that, due to her brother’s childhood health struggles, she’s determined to become a cardiac nurse. They reveal how they will impact the College from day one. A student gave me his blueprint to campus leadership: “I’m going to speak it into existence and become captain of the baseball team and Student Government president before I receive my bachelor’s degree.”
I give my Saturday mornings, but these interviewees give me so much more. Time spent with our future leaders is critical, and
I’m grateful for every opportunity.
Without financial support from alumni and friends of the College, the annual scholarship competition would not be a possibility. It’s a gift of a lifetime.
One of Carthage’s annual key moments to give is during Red & Ready Giving Days, which this year took place April 10 and 11.
Many Carthaginians gathered virtually and in person to reconnect and raise funds for financial aid and other priorities.
Regional events allowed pockets of alumni to join in the celebration. In my hometown of Chicago, I organized an alumni gathering at Industry Ales, a downtown pub co-founded by Carthage alumnus Matt Wiegers ’08. The event, co-hosted by Derrick Collins ’05 and Jason Wendt ’06, was filled with big laughs, good food and drinks.
As we approach a new school year, I challenge you to volunteer at the Office of Advancement’s welcome table during New Student Arrival on Saturday, Aug. 23; email Melanie Landro at mlandro@carthage.edu if you’re interested. You might get to chat with the parents of those very students who competed for a Presidential Scholarship.
Give your time when you can. Strongly consider giving financial resources — our community is counting on it.
Like Gandhi beautifully illustrated, when we pour into the cups of others, we are pouring into our own cups. By giving to our community, we are in fact giving to and finding ourselves.
Jamin McGinnis ’06 is serving a three-year term as president of the Alumni Council.
Class Updates
Roommate Reunions
Two pairs of roommates who attended the previous campus in Carthage, Illinois, reconnected in person after years apart.
Former Carthage roommates
DAWN (COOKSEY) SMICK ’50, left, of Salem, Wisconsin, and LILLIAN (SWARBRICK) PINKSTON ’50 of Pekin, Illinois, reunited last October. Given the distance between their homes, they settled on a halfway point and met in DeKalb, Illinois.
BARBARA (JONES) STUART ’62 , left, of Midland, Michigan, and her four-year college roommate, PATRICIA (LONG) REBLITZ ’62 , recently got together for a memorable visit at Mrs. Reblitz’s home in Auburn, Virginia.
1950s
THE REV. RICHARD HANSON ’57 of Peoria, Illinois, had a festive May. He celebrated 65 years of full-time ministry, his 90th birthday, and his 50th wedding anniversary.
1960s
JUDITH (DELAPP) ANDREWS ’62 of Gardnerville, Nevada, traveled to several countries in 2024. “Scottish charm and Irish farms were amazing, despite the weather,” she writes. “However, Australia topped all expectations.” Highlights included a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef and a ziplining adventure.
JIM NELSON ’65 of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, retired from Northwestern Mutual after 35 years of service.
JOE TROTTER ’69 of Pittsburgh wrote “Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life,” a book that was published in October. The historian describes how Black residents built and revitalized communities in Milwaukee, Chicago, and other major cities.
1970s
WILLIAM JOHNSEN ’71 reports that he’s enjoying retirement after nearly 45 years as a band director, administrator, and director of instructional technology in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. As Mr. Johnsen puts it, “kayaking the rivers, lakes, and streams in the Tidewater area during the warmer months is the latest hobby to keep me off the streets.”
JOANNE (ROHLING)
KUDRNA ’77 received the 2025 ATHENA award from the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation in June. The organization noted she was honored for “her dedication to the strategic mentoring of women personally and professionally.”
DAVID KRUEGER ’79, Ph.D., has retired after a 35-year career at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, where he taught business ethics and sustainability. He recently relocated to Southwest Harbor, Maine.
1980s
BERT CIOROMSKI ’82 of Park Ridge, Illinois, received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit from the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on Nov. 11 at the presidential residence in Warsaw. The award recognizes Mr. Cioromski’s many years of philanthropic activity in the Polish American community.
BRENDA CAREY-MIELKE ’89 was elected chairperson of the Mountain (Wisconsin) town board on April 1.
CHRIS ROSSING ’89 of Maple Grove, Minnesota, was one of 100 honorees (out of more than 100,000 employees) that Delta Air Lines selected for admission to the Chairman’s Club last November. Honorees are distinguished by their contributions and service to Delta customers, co-workers, and the community.
1990s
KIMBERLY BROGAN ’90 retired from her accounting practice of 40 years and opened a wellness center called Holistic Haven in Union Grove, Wisconsin, specializing in salt and light therapy. Ms. Brogan is thankful to Carthage for providing a foundational education to build a good life.
BONNIE FLESSEN ’92, Ph.D., wrote her first novel, “Frontier Man,” which was published earlier this year. Her research explores the intersection of masculinity and resistance to the Roman Empire.
BETSY BARNUM ’95 works as a substitute nurse for Froedtert Health, floating among the medical-surgical units at four of the network’s Milwaukee area hospitals. She enjoys the variety involved in nursing, her chosen career since leaving the graphic design field 15 years ago.
TRINNY (GAULKE) SCHUMANN ’95 received recognition as a 2025 Music Teacher of the Year in Civic Music Milwaukee’s annual presentation. Ms. Schumann is choir director at Nicolet Union High School in Glendale, Wisconsin. The awards bio highlights her determination “to lead outreach programs, bringing music to skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities.”
DONNA LEWIS-MOBLEY ’96 has been promoted to commander with the Maywood (Illinois) Police Department, where she has served for 27 years.
HANS P. DYKE ’97 rejoined the Washington, D.C., office of Bracewell LLP — the firm where he previously worked from 2017 to 2021 — as a partner in its energy practice. He most recently served as general counsel of Sol Systems LLC.
Births
COURTNEY (LANDEM)
ULRICH ’07 and her husband, Johnnie, of Chicago welcomed their second child, Emerson Jay, on Jan. 12.
JASON
OLCHAWA ’08 and his wife, Kathleen, brought a second child into the world: Nolan Wyatt Olchawa, who was born Oct. 22. The couple, who met as Carthage freshmen, live in Yorkville, Illinois, with the newborn and his older sister, Whitney.
ERIC STIBBE ’09 and his wife, Dolly, welcomed their third child, Bennett, on April 1. They live in Beloit, Wisconsin.
CHRISTINE KING ’97 of Kenosha was promoted to private wealth advisor and now serves as managing director at Ameriprise Financial Services in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
ALLIE (MARSHALL)
DETERT ’11 and her husband, James, of Athens, Wisconsin, welcomed baby boy Otto Jameson at the end of January. They also have two daughters.
TABITHA (BELL) SCHROCK ’13 and JESSE SCHROCK ’13 of Bloomington, Illinois, welcomed their third child, Jordy.
KRISTIN (BRANDT) GORDON ’14 and her husband, Benji, welcomed their first child, Ella Elizabeth, on Feb. 10. They’re from Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
KASEY (DALLMAN) PAULOS ’14 and her husband, Hurue, welcomed their first child on April 11, 2024. They reside in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
Weddings + Anniversaries
TOM CHRISTENSEN ’72 and SUE (PEDERSON) CHRISTENSEN ’75 of Venice, Florida, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with mostly Carthage friends. Both are retired; Tom was an editor in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel sports department, while Sue was a kindergarten teacher.
MARK SHIMKUS ’74 and his wife, Janet, of Racine, Wisconsin, celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary in Shoal Bay East, Anguilla.
BRAD WERY ’99 AND JAIME (ASH) WERY ’99 celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Dec. 31. They live in Wisconsin’s Door County.
CARL (RAPISARDA) COOMBS ’05 married Garth Coombs on Aug. 10, 2024, in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Adrienne (Saputo) Hoyt ’05 served as matron of honor, and the wedding party also included alumni Nicole (Carson) Kohlmeier ’04, Sarah Gorke ’04, and Amber (Lamers) Torres ’04. A Boston resident, Carl is the assistant head of school at Brimmer and May School.
ADAM MILANO ’16 of Austin, Texas, and his wife, Alexis, tied the knot in November after graduating together with MBAs from Northwestern University in June 2024. Mr. Milano was also selected for inclusion in “Marquis Who’s Who” publications based on his work at Deloitte.
DR. MICHAEL VON BORSTEL ’17 and KAELYN SCULL ’18 were united in marriage on July 14, 2024, in Carpentersville, Illinois. The groom is a rehabilitation physician at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, and the bride is an occupational therapist with the Downers Grove School District.
ERIC PETERSON ’99 of Charlotte, North Carolina, was promoted to managing director of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he oversees officiating and competition operations for the second-tier stock car racing series. Mr. Peterson has more than 30 years of professional motorsports experience.
2000s
ANDREW FEKETE ’04 won a seat on the Huntley (Illinois) School District 158 board in the April 1 election.
JOSH HAGEN ’07 won re-election to the Johnsburg (Illinois) village board in the community’s spring vote.
MATT ULMER ’06, M.ED. ’08, accepted the head coaching position for women’s volleyball at Kansas University in January. He spent the previous eight seasons at the University of Oregon, leading the Ducks to seven NCAA tournaments.
MARILYN WIKNER ’09 of Kenosha plans to retire this fall after 28 years at Gateway Technical College, where she works as an administrative assistant. Two other big milestones are approaching before the end of 2025: her 70th birthday and her 30th wedding anniversary with husband Steven.
2010s
PATRICK PATTON ’10, chief of the Kenosha Police Department, graduated from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Command College. The intensive six-week program prepares law enforcement leaders for the challenges facing their profession, and graduates become Certified Public Managers. He has served with the department since 2006.
In Memoriam
NATASHA WILKINS ’11 earned a Ph.D. in translational neuroscience from the University of Louisville. She is now a postdoctoral researcher in biomedical engineering at Duke University.
ANDREA (WINBIGLER) EITER ’13 of Hainesville, Illinois, attained National Board Certification as a Spanish teacher.
DAN MAGURSHAK
Dan Magurshak, professor emeritus of philosophy and Great Ideas, died Feb. 8 at age 76 after a long illness.
Instantly recognizable on campus, Prof. Magurshak always wore a fedora and shorts — regardless of the temperature. He taught at Carthage from 1984 to 2019, becoming the first director of the Heritage Studies program. Each summer, he renewed his love of the
BENNITA BODY
Longtime Carthage dining staff member BenNita Body, beloved by a generation of students for her warmth and lasting friendship, passed away March 17.
Over 16 years with Sodexo and then Parkhurst Dining, Ms. Body became much more than a cashier to the campus community. From Sub
REV. HARVARD STEPHENS JR.
The Rev. Harvard Stephens Jr., who served faithfully as dean of Siebert Chapel for eight years, passed away at age 73 on July 7.
In 2001, two years before appointing him to the staff, Carthage awarded Pastor Stephens an honorary Doctor of Divinity for his commitment to public health and his pioneering multicultural ministry in the broader Evangelical Lutheran
STEPHANIE KUZMANIC ’14 took over as girls’ basketball head coach at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.
WILLIAM DECRAENE ’15 was hired as associate athletic director for sports medicine and head athletic trainer for Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.
HUNTER SANDIDGE ’15 was named co-director of the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute at Marquette University.
American West, looking out over the Bitterroot Mountains from his Montana home and plastering his red Toyota Corolla with bumper stickers that he accumulated while exploring. Sharing his personal and scholarly interests with students during J-Term, Prof. Magurshak offered a popular course that debunked many of the Hollywood myths about the “Wild West.”
Connection to The Caf, her countless Carthage “kids” looked forward to their daily interactions. A motherly figure, Ms. Body created a nurturing home-away-from-home. She playfully scolded those who neglected to wear coats in colder weather and cheered students’ accomplishments long after they graduated.
Church in America.
In the pastoral role at Carthage from 2003 to 2011, Pastor Stephens elevated church relations by preaching at ELCA congregations across the region. He helped students launch the Lutheran Student Movement on campus and led two trips to New Orleans to assist after Hurricane Katrina.
Weddings + Anniversaries
JESS (THIERFELDER) WICINSKI ’20 and COLTON WICINSKI ’19 of Kenosha married on June 14 at Carthage College.
MARISSA (LUIKEY) HALLSTROM ’22 and ANDREW HALLSTROM ’22 of Roscoe, Illinois, married Oct. 5. The couple met while working on campus together at Einstein Bros. Bagels during their sophomore year.
DANIEL GILLESPIE ’16 of Lincolnwood, Illinois, made it to the semifinal round of online voting in the 2025 “America’s Favorite Teacher” contest, which is organized each year by fundraising platform Colossal.
RAY CUSHMAN ’18 of Racine, Wisconsin, was promoted to head coach of the Horlick High School football team. He’s a special education teacher and longtime assistant coach at the school.
MALIK FRAZIER ’18 was elected to the city council in Racine, Wisconsin, on April 1. As an alderman, he will serve a two-year term.
JOSE GARCIA, M.ED. ’18, joined FaithBridge Church in Deer Park, Texas, as a youth pastor. He coached boys’ basketball at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Kenosha and founded the nonprofit Anointed Hoops.
DEVIN SUTHERLAND, M.SC. ’18, of Union Grove, Wisconsin, joined DeWitt LLP as director of marketing. According to the law firm’s announcement, he’ll oversee “content creation, digital campaign development, webinars, media relations, branding, and advertising.”
KARINA LEE ’19, M.ED. ’20, was awarded a 2025 Emerging Leaders Fellowship from Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) International, a nonprofit association for educators. The program highlights those under 40 who demonstrate leadership and impact in their schools, districts, and communities. Ms. Lee is pursuing a doctorate while teaching in the Racine Unified School District.
2020s
JORDON KEDROWSKI ’20 joined the coaching staff at Mayville University in St. Louis last July as a men’s basketball assistant.
SEYI AJIBADE, M.M. ’22 of Yaba, Nigeria, is a member of the concert team for the Àkójọpọ Music Foundation, a nonprofit e-commerce marketplace that connects global audiences to authentic African digital sheet music, workshops, lessons, and a vibrant Pan-African music community. He is a Ph.D. student in ethnomusicology at the University of Pittsburgh.
KYLE COHAN ’22, of Kirkwood, Missouri, was hired as an assistant men’s volleyball coach at Saint Louis University. Mr. Cohan spent the previous two seasons at Western Kentucky University, where he completed a master’s degree.
MADISON ZALESKI ’22 joined Gulf Coast News in southwest Florida as a reporter in March after honing her skills at WTHI in Terre Haute, Indiana, as a weekend anchor, reporter, and fill-in weather forecaster.
JENNA ZEIHEN ’22, co-directed the 2025 Miss Kenosha Scholarship competition. She was Miss Kenosha 2022.
MICKEY REILLY ’24 signed a contract to play professional soccer for the Portland (Maine) Hearts of Pine, a new expansion team in USL League One.
WILLOW NEWELL ’25 of Racine, Wisconsin, was crowned Miss Wisconsin in June, becoming the first Black woman to win the scholarship competition. Over the next year, she’ll make appearances across the state and promote her community service initiative, “Expression Without Exclusion,” ensuring equal access to opportunities in the arts. With the title, Ms. Newell qualified for the Miss America Opportunity in September.
In Memoriam
HELEN T. CLAUSEN
Generous donor Helen T. Clausen, whose portrait hangs prominently in Carthage’s business facility, died Nov. 7 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She was 98. Together with her husband, esteemed Carthage alumnus Alden W. “Tom” Clausen ’44, she gave more than $2 million to fund scholarships, programs, and critical operations. He passed away in 2013.
Nicknamed “Teasie,” Mrs. Clausen worked for
DICK MARCONI
Renaissance man Dick Marconi ’56 passed away July 30, 2024, leaving an entrepreneurial and charitable legacy. The longtime resident of San Juan Capistrano, California, was 89.
After studying Eastern herbal medicine in China, Mr. Marconi helped launch Herbalife International, producing nutritional supplements and weight-loss products. He and his son donated their extensive car collection to establish the Marconi Automotive
KAREN VAN LONE
Karen (Fink) Van Lone ’74, whose ardent support has aided the College for more than 35 years, passed away Jan. 1.
After graduating from Carthage with majors in business and accounting, Ms. Van Lone worked for Modine Manufacturing Co. and DENSO Sales California. She diligently applied the same fiscal stewardship to her role as an elected village
DR. CARY BJORK
Highly regarded physician, humanitarian, and philanthropist Dr. Cary Bjork ’68 passed away May 12.
Raised in Marquette, Michigan, he later returned to practice medicine there for 36 years. Dr. Bjork took part in many medical missions, assisting patients in Ecuador, training faculty in Uganda, and treating
many years as an assistant to Tom Clausen, who became president at both Bank of America and the World Bank. They wed in 2002.
Inside the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business, the Helen Therese Clausen Atrium is named in her honor. A plaque notes Mrs. Clausen’s rise as a secretary at Bank of America, where she regularly handled “responsibilities that today would be assigned to upper-level executives.”
Museum and Foundation for Kids in Orange County. Mr. Marconi achieved success in boxing and auto racing despite being blind in one eye. His support for Carthage Athletics spanned decades, from a scholarship in memory of Coach Art Keller to the Marconi Weight Room — where Firebirds still train daily.
In 1987, the College awarded him an honorary doctorate.
board member in Wind Point, Wisconsin, from 2012 to 2020.
Ms. Van Lone and her husband, the late Dick Britton, supported a variety of Carthage priorities, from the Science Center to the new campus pastor endowment. Much of her remaining family lives in Australia, including younger brother Ronald Fink ’76.
migrants on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border.
A 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, he gave regularly toward the College’s facilities and programs in both pre-health and the sciences. Dr. Bjork’s many survivors include his sister and fellow Carthaginian, Karen (Bjork) Cass ’72.
Class Notes Submission Form
Deadline for the next issue is Nov. 1, 2025
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Other News (attach additional sheets as necessary)
Besides family updates, here are some other examples of news for alumni to share:
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In Memoriam
1950s
Harold Risdon ’52 Franklin Grove, Ill.
Dec. 11, 2024
David Schroer ’53 Phoenix, Ariz. Feb. 24, 2025
Rev. Larry Ruegg ’54 Walworth, Wis.
June 21, 2024
Ivy (Scott) Tucker ’56 Brainerd, Minn. March 21, 2025
Esther Aden ’57
Camp Point, Ill.
July 28, 2024
Rev. Andrew Carlsson ’57 Mars, Pa.
March 25, 2025
Donald Zitzewitz ’57 Buffalo Grove, Ill. Feb. 9, 2025
Dr. James Pavlik ’59 Boylston, Mass. Nov. 21, 2024
Larry Rubendall ’59 Palmyra, Va.
Jan. 26, 2025
1960s
Wilma Boese ’60 Fox Point, Wis. Feb. 4, 2025
Barbara (Behmer) Schulstad ’60 Bloomington, Minn. Dec. 27, 2024
Bill Kelly ’61
Branson, Mo.
March 2, 2025
Ron Grimmer ’63 Carbondale, Ill. Feb. 1, 2025
Pat (Miller) Kelly ’64 Muskego, Wis. March 21, 2025
Frank Osimitz ’66 Racine, Wis.
Nov. 1, 2024
Marilyn (Reuschel) Andersen ’67
Harvey, Mich.
April 25, 2025
Tom Fugette ’67
Presque Isle, Wis.
Dec. 24, 2024
Dave Krause ’67 Racine, Wis.
Feb. 13, 2025
Patricia (Piper) Schaeffer ’67 Grayland, Wash. March 13, 2025
Vickey Wentland ’86 Wheatland, Wis. March 18, 2025
David Blythin ’87 Shawano, Wis. Oct. 15, 2024
Georgia (Traxel) Von Behren ’88 Bradenton, Fla. Dec. 2, 2024
1990s
Karen Gulbransen ’92 West Melbourne, Fla. Nov. 28, 2024
Suzanne Gelinskey ’93 Caledonia, Wis. March 4, 2025
Jesse Ceballos ’94 Oak Creek, Wis. Dec. 15, 2024
Mary Van Ryzin ’94
Greendale, Wis. Feb. 23, 2025
Carol Szulczewski ’95
Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Dec. 31, 2024
Chad Laehn ’96 Oshkosh, Wis. Dec. 31, 2024
Ben Caldwell ’97 Madison, Wis. Dec. 30, 2024
Laura Powell ’98 Racine, Wis. Nov. 24, 2024
Friends of Carthage
Joyce Barina Racine, Wis. Jan. 20, 2025
Julie Bella Kenosha Feb. 13, 2025
Scott Bosak Racine, Wis. July 4, 2025
David Ehlert Oconomowoc, Wis. March 19, 2025
Lowell Mays Madison, Wis. Feb. 28, 2025
Ellen Van Osdol Elwood, Ill. July 19, 2024
Jim Walsh Kenosha May 4, 2025
“There are no boring products,” Professor Lisa Franklin ’82 frequently reminds Carthage business students.
To a curious mind, dull just means unfamiliar. Once you’ve studied a product — and, more importantly, the people who use it — all you see is the sparkle of opportunity.
Skeptics only have to glance at Prof. Franklin’s office wall for evidence. Framed patents, accumulated during her 26-year career at Johnson Controls, signify advances in the unglamorous automotive battery market.
Nobody starts out as an expert. Early in her career, a customer looking for 9-volt batteries caught her off-guard at the Radio Shack store she managed. “Which ones are those?” she wondered silently.
Amped teAch
Business professor LisA Fr AnkLin draws on Battery expertise
Learning enough to send the person home with the right product to keep a smoke alarm or clock radio running constituted a small victory that day. In the years ahead, her inquisitive nature would produce much bigger wins for Johnson Controls.
And now?
“I love batteries,” Prof. Franklin says with sincerity. “I have friends all over the world because of that job.”
In class, she coaches students to embrace that mindset and shift their curiosity into a higher gear.
“Consumers can only tell you about needs that are obvious to them,” she says. “The best innovations address problems that people have just subconsciously accepted.”
terminAL FuLFiLLment
Raised just outside of Kenosha in the village of Pleasant Prairie, Prof. Franklin graduated from Tremper High School and enrolled at Carthage in 1978.
Embracing her hometown college’s emphasis on the liberal arts, she took the grand tour of possible majors before settling on geography. The blend of art and science intrigued her, even as she kept her career options open.
Preceding an era of expansion, full-time enrollment at the time hovered around 1,150. That made it feasible to know practically everyone else on campus.
“I loved every minute of my time at Carthage,” Prof. Franklin says. “It was wonderful.”
That Radio Shack gig and a couple of sales jobs supplied her first couple of resume entries, and in 1991 she took a customer service position in the automotive battery division at Johnson Controls.
Headquartered in Milwaukee at the time, it was the nation’s leading supplier.
Supervisors soon promoted the savvy young employee to the firm’s international arm, largely because she had studied French.
“These things you learn in school come into play unexpectedly,” says Prof. Franklin.
Her steady climb continued with management roles in marketing, sales, and product development. Looking back, the upbeat professor chuckles about the lone con in a career that overflowed with pros: Her parents could never wrap their heads around what she did.
They practically begged for a simple term to include alongside her siblings’ self-explanatory occupations, flight attendant and court reporter. When Prof. Franklin started to acquire the battery patents, Mom and Dad thought they’d finally solved it.
“She’s an inventor!” they bragged to friends and neighbors.
Close enough.
coming FuLL circLe
By the time her Carthage sorority reunion rolled around in 2015, the successful alumna had risen to director of global product strategy and portfolio management at Johnson Controls. She started to ponder a new challenge.
While reminiscing with Kappa Phi Eta sisters on campus, she had an epiphany: I should teach here.
Not long afterward, she came across a job listing for an adjunct faculty member to teach marketing at her alma mater. She inquired by email and got a reply 15 minutes later.
“I feel like teaching was a calling,” says Prof. Franklin. “I was essentially doing it all along.”
For several years, she taught evening classes while sunlighting as a consultant. In 2022, the College promoted her to the
full-time faculty.
Sure, enrollment has more than doubled since she attended, but some of the best attributes remain unchanged. Like the personal connections formed in small classes.
“
” Consumers Can only tell you aBout needs that are oBvious to them. the best innovAtions address proBlems that people have just subconsciousLy aCCepted.
As a student, young Lisa wished in vain that her absences from those painful 8 a.m. classes would slip past professors unnoticed. Sitting in their seat now, she gets it.
“If my students aren’t in class, I worry about them,” Prof. Franklin admits.
Undergraduate students take classes like Consumer Behavior, Marketing Research, and the senior seminar with her.
“She goes above and beyond to make personal connections with students and understand their individual learning styles,” says Carly McLaughlin ’24, who’s pursuing a master’s in interior architecture and design through the Academy of Art University. “I
This plaque acknowledges one of several battery-related patents that Lisa Franklin holds for her work with Johnson Controls.
walked away from every class with Professor Franklin feeling heard, valued, and filled with new knowledge.”
Insisting that failure is an excellent teacher, the professor shares both ups and downs from her career.
“She often explained how she got ahead while being at a systemic disadvantage,” adds Ms. McLaughlin, “and that being a woman in business should not stop you from achieving high standards in a company, following your passions, or speaking up in a room you feel silenced in.”
“
technical solutions.
As a valuable exercise, Prof. Franklin challenges her students to enhance a flawed product — like foil yogurt lids, a personal pet peeve. Not only do those take forever to open, she explains, but anyone who succeeds in that quest invariably has to dodge little dairy projectiles.
” we’re trained to look for the unspoken needs that others ignore.
“No one thinks to say ‘Make a container that doesn’t spit on me and ruin my day.’ They just grumble and change their shirt,” she says. “We’re trained to look for the unspoken needs that others ignore.”
product mAstery
In a world that’s saturated with competing products, no company has the luxury of waiting for a “Eureka!” moment. The only way forward is to tap into that bottomless curiosity and figure out how to connect customer needs to
Despite her years in the field, Prof. Franklin didn’t fully grasp how the pieces fit together until she went back to school for a master’s degree from Northwestern University. So she has a soft spot for Carthage graduate students.
“Lisa is incredibly empathetic and knowledgeable,” says Bradley Toshner, M.Sc. ’25, who studied product
management. “She mixes in real world perspectives and keeps the material tangible through course-long group projects that apply the lessons.”
Mr. Toshner heard good reviews about Carthage’s graduate business program from a trusted source: his wife, Chloe, M.Sc. ’22. Now, degree in hand, his pivot from software engineering to technical product management is underway.
“I can leverage my five years as an engineer and this degree to launch my career down the path I’ve always wanted,” he says. “I see software through a completely different lens since beginning this program, so I know I made the right choice. It’ll serve me well.”
Likewise, teaching was the right move for Prof. Franklin. Energetic students recharge her battery on a daily basis.
So many exciting unknowns lie ahead for them, she’s actually a little jealous. Not that she’d want a do-over of her own career — more like a sequel.
With her trademark optimism, this Carthaginian insists “it’s still the best time in the history of the world to be alive.”
Working with Carthage students energizes Prof. Franklin.
Prof. Franklin encourages students to tap into the innovative mindset that secured patents like these.
Two new distinguished professors
Carthage recently elevated Julius Crump to the Rev. Raymon L. Pedersen Distinguished Professorship in Social Change, a newly endowed position designed to facilitate contemporary social discussions.
LeAnn Pedersen Pope ’79, a tireless anti-racism champion who serves on the Carthage Board of Trustees, committed $1.5 million to establish the professorship. She sees it as a critical component of a liberal arts education, preparing students to dismantle the systems impeding people of color.
The faculty seat is named in honor of Ms. Pedersen Pope’s father, the Rev. Raymon Pedersen, a retired pastor and community bridge-builder. Prof. Crump, a member of the faculty since 2018, is the inaugural appointee.
“I have tremendous respect for Professor
Crump. He brings the heart of a preacher and the mind of a scholar — a powerful and inspiring combination,” says Ms. Pedersen Pope. “This Distinguished Professorship in Social Change was created to ensure that Carthage remains a place where serious scholarship confronts the realities of racial disparity. I’m proud to support this important work and look forward to the lasting impact Professor Crump will have on the Carthage community.”
Prof. Crump has taught religion and general education courses over the past seven years. In 2022, he took on additional Carthage duties as director of equity and inclusion for faculty and academic integration.
“I’m incredibly honored to accept this endowed chair and will do my best to embody the courage its namesake has exhibited,” he says. “I look forward to continuing the collaborative work with
colleagues and students that makes our industries and institutions more just. Knowing this professorship will exist in perpetuity, I’m encouraged that someone will always be empowered to address our most difficult social challenges.”
In May, Prof. Crump won the campus Quality of Life Award, in part for organizing interdisciplinary faculty panels and thoughtprovoking book groups. Presenter Christine Blaine gushed that he “single-handedly breathed life into the intellectual state of the College.”
He holds a Ph.D. in religion from the University of Chicago and has published articles on topics such as cultural studies, Black theology, and public philosophy.
palmer distinguished professorship
Earlier this year, Joseph Tenuta was named the Rogers Palmer Distinguished Professor in Business. He’s the fourth faculty member to hold the endowed chair, which Snap-on Inc. executive Rogers “Rod” Palmer and his wife, Mary, established in 1983.
Prof. Tenuta, who has taught at Carthage since 2017, chairs the Management Department and directs the new healthcare administration program. He holds an MBA in finance from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee and draws on leadership experience in industries from manufacturing to healthcare.
Carthage celebrated Prof. Tenuta’s appointment at a campus event April 24. A similar gathering will be planned for Prof. Crump this fall.
Julius Crump, the inaugural recipient of the Rev. Raymon L. Pedersen Distinguished Professorship in Social Change, addresses students during Commencement weekend.
Professor Angela Dassow took this photo of a female Bengal tiger, which the research team spotted in Nepal’s Bardiya National Park.
Protecting tigers and humans alike
The comeback of the endangered Bengal tiger has been a double-edged sword for residents in remote Nepal.
Conservation efforts have boosted the species’ population from 18 to around 200 in the area around the Dalla community forest. The downside? That triggered a spike in tiger attacks on the villagers, with up to 30 fatalities a year.
This is a legally protected animal that’s considered sacred in Nepali culture, so hunting isn’t a viable option. Enter Carthage biology professor Angela Dassow and her extensive field experience studying animal vocalizations.
Her research team is implementing an innovative detection system to reduce those attacks and make the tigers’ resurgence something to celebrate rather than fear.
“It’s been an incredibly fun project, because we’re developing technology nobody has ever used,” says Prof. Dassow. “It can be applied to any human-wildlife conflict in a land ecosystem.”
Funded by the nonprofit Great Plains Foundation and a private donor, the project makes use of a new acoustic recording device developed by University of Oxford scientists. Instead of directly tracking tigers, which are notoriously tight-lipped, the equipment is programmed to isolate specific danger calls from chital — a type of deer that Prof. Dassow jokingly calls “snack size” for hungry Bengals.
By mapping the chital calls, the system can triangulate the location of one or more tigers. Park rangers can then alert residents when the feline predators get too close to inhabited areas. Back on campus, Carthage students will pitch in by validating the acoustic data.
In a career that has taken Prof. Dassow
around the globe to learn how wolves, dolphins, jackals, turtles, and gibbons communicate, the Nepal project has been the most gratifying.
“This one is different,” she acknowledges, “because it directly helps to save human lives.”
Highlighting the urgency, tigers killed three locals during her initial trip to the field site — the first of four visits Prof. Dassow made in a 15-month span. There’s a team of about 20 on the ground, including two researchers from the Zoological Society of London and a pair of documentary filmmakers.
On sabbatical next spring, this globetrotting professor will return to Southeast Asia armed with new funding to extend her research with gibbons. The rugged areas of Cambodia and Vietnam are only accessible to two-wheel traffic, which doesn’t bother Prof. Dassow — an avid motorcyclist — one bit.
Prof. Dassow climbs a ladder to adjust a monitoring device in the field during a recent trip to Nepal.
Professor Angela Dassow, second from right, and her collaborators have worked to reduce conflicts between Bengal tigers and residents in the Dalla forest area.
Retirements
(10+ years of service)
48 years
Leroy Slater Locksmith
38 years
Augie Schmidt IV Head Baseball Coach
28 years
Jeffrey Roberg Professor of Political Science
25 years
Richard Sperber Professor of Modern Languages
23 years
Jerald Mast Professor of Political Science
18 years
Deanna Byrnes
Dean for the Division of Natural and Social Sciences
Tenure
The Board of Trustees approved tenure for these faculty members:
Nancy Reese (Nursing)
Siovahn Woolum (Education)
The best of 2024-25
Continuing an annual tradition, the campus community celebrated the excellence of Carthage’s faculty and staff at a year-end reception May 8.
distinguished teaching award
colleen palmer
Associate Professor of Communication and Public Relations
Professor Colleen Palmer, who developed Carthage’s public relations curriculum, received the 2024-25 Distinguished Teaching Award for her exceptional dedication to student learning and mentorship.
Nominations from students and colleagues gushed about Prof. Palmer’s efforts to build personal connections with those in her classes, supporting their academic and professional growth.
“Dr. Palmer provides her students with opportunities to connect with other schools all over the country to learn and grow from others’ work,” one nominator wrote. “Further, she provides her students with a safe place to explore their interests, speak their minds, make mistakes, and learn in an encouraging environment.”
Her courses are built around real-world projects with local partners.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Colleen for 13 years and, through it all, she has overachieved at a level I didn’t know was humanly possible,” another nominator wrote. “Her blood, sweat, and tears have rebuilt the PR major into a thriving, successful community.”
distinguished staff award
holly hess
Purposeful Life and Leadership Coordinator
The Carthage Staff Council presented the Distinguished Staff Award to Holly Hess for her unwavering commitment to the Carthage community and her ability to elevate the spirit of service across campus.
Ms. Hess bridges the Center for Faith and Spirituality and The Aspire Center, deepening students’ understanding of vocation through programs and guided conversations.
“She is literally the mom of Carthage,” one student nominator explained. “She never fails to show up to help in any way we need her, even if she is beyond busy. She has taught me so many valuable life lessons that I will take away even after I graduate.”
In addition, Ms. Hess helped coordinate volunteer opportunities for the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity to supplement the organization’s building projects.
“Providing connections and opportunities for us to volunteer at the Hospitality Center and Women’s Resource Center have truly inspired a service culture that aligns with the College’s mission,” another student supporter stated.
campus safety grant
Carthage received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to proactively enhance its awareness and prevention efforts related to sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
The Carthage Safe Culture Project will feature student-driven education, advocacy, and outreach. Plans for the three-year initiative include bystander intervention training for all first-year students and improved trauma-informed services.
As part of the grant, the College will also partner with local organizations such as Women and Children’s Horizons and the Kenosha Police Department to refine its procedures.
research corner
anthony barnhart, assistant professor of psychological science, and two collaborators from Poland conducted a survey comparing the personalities of award-winning magicians and non-magicians. Their findings, published in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, suggest that particular traits — such as a tendency toward curiosity — may facilitate success in the magical arts.
kevin crosby, professor of physics, astronomy, and computer science, co-authored a comprehensive two-year review of the Modal Propellant Gauging technology in the JANNAF Journal, which is published by an interagency committee involving NASA and three branches of the U.S. military. Along with several current and former research students, he also contributed articles to the Acta Astronautica journal detailing Carthage’s progress on two other space science projects.
emily wollmuth, assistant professor of biology, and her research collaborators wrote an article that was published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. The article described a newly identified bacteria species that’s believed to help a New Zealand fish digest seaweed.
Other Updates
melissa cardamone, adjunct assistant professor of music, has joined the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus as a rehearsal pianist.
don johnson, Palmer professor emeritus of business administration, has released a book titled “What I Could Have Said about What I Should Have Said: A Christian’s Legacy Letter to Loved Ones.” This book explores faith, eternity, and the importance of sharing spiritual beliefs with loved ones, and uses biblical wisdom to engage readers in meaningful discussions about the questions of life.
katharine keenan, senior director of corporate and foundation relations, completed the Leadership Kenosha program, which connects participants to community organizations, issues, and leaders.
richard meier, professor of English, wrote “A Companion,” a collection of poem-essays that was published in May. Composed from daily writing practices and years of looping reductions and arrangements, this work asks what it means to be in company.
debra minsky-kelly, clinical assistant professor of social work, has taken on an advisory role for the podcast “Wish You Knew,” which highlights the importance of mental health in teens.
laura swoboda, assistant professor of nursing, has been appointed to the board of directors for The Save a Leg, Save a Life Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to prevent unnecessary amputations and support amputees. Prof. Swoboda, a family nurse practitioner and regenerative medicine specialist in Milwaukee, is part of a team that recently received the Gold Award from the Journal of Wound Care.
sarah terrill, assistant professor of neuroscience, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio. Presented on May 15, the award recognizes graduates from the past decade or under 40 for notable achievements.
Carthage dad, Kenosha mayor
Last fall during Welcome Week, David Bogdala blended in with the rest of the parents carrying bins into Denhart Hall, attending orientation sessions, and offering support as his son launched his first year at Carthage. Few in the crowd realized that this dad was also the newly elected mayor of Kenosha.
Growing up in Kenosha, Mayor Bogdala had always known about the College, but in 2024, that familiarity became deeply personal. Just a few months after taking office, he officially became a Carthage parent.
This past spring, together with his wife, Lynda, he cheered as their son, John Bogdala ’28, played lacrosse for the Firebirds. As John pursues a degree in exercise and sport science, Mayor Bogdala sees firsthand the kind of community Carthage fosters on and off the field.
“Watching my son develop not just as a student, but as a teammate and a young adult, has given me a much deeper appreciation for what Carthage offers — and for the role it plays in shaping the future of our city,” he says.
This personal connection has helped to fuel one of the mayor’s signature initiatives: rebranding Kenosha as a college town.
The city you remember is growing fast. your alma mater is helping to lead that progress, and there’s real momentum here.
Mayor Bogdala recognizes that Kenosha’s higher education institutions serve as powerful economic, cultural, and educational engines for the community. He envisions the city doing more to embrace them, attracting students and families while driving innovation and workforce growth.
As he participated in Carthage’s move-in, he saw an opportunity to expand welcome activities citywide with downtown events and local businesses warmly greeting students as they begin the academic year.
“You create a virtuous cycle: Carthage students feel at home, and Kenosha’s downtown thrives and solidifies its reputation as a true college town,” he says.
As Kenosha celebrates 175 years as a city, Mayor Bogdala brings a fresh perspective and ambitious goals. After 16 years of serving on the City Council and a long career at Abbott Laboratories, his leadership style brings elements of being communitycentered and business-savvy.
He encourages Carthage alumni to take a second look at their college hometown.
“The city you remember is growing fast — new businesses, infrastructure, and educational partnerships are taking shape,” he says. “Your alma mater is helping lead that progress, and there’s real momentum here.”
That momentum is visible in Carthage’s presence at the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, a new facility that helps local students and young adults build career skills. Other initiatives, such as partnering with employers to offer classes in the workplace and bringing Carthage criminal justice students to the Kenosha police training center, set the foundation for future collaboration.
As Kenosha moves forward, Mayor Bogdala’s unique perspective — as both a public servant and a proud Firebird parent — helps build stronger bonds between the city and campus.
David Bogdala, right, gets to experience Carthage from two perspectives: as the new mayor of Kenosha and the father of John Bogdala ’28, a student-athlete on the Firebirds’ lacrosse team.
the past Carthage graduate helped to launch Stanford
Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University is firmly entrenched among the country’s elite research institutions. But that was by no means guaranteed when the doors opened Oct. 1, 1891.
Carthage graduate Fernando Sanford was among the “pioneer professors” whose heavy lifting got Stanford off the ground. Presumably quoting him, a Carthage class note published decades later revisited the university’s origin “in a hay field thirty miles from a city with no post office, one train a day.”
It’s unlikely that posed a culture shock for Prof. Sanford, who grew up on a farm in northern Illinois. The promise of an education brought him 180 miles southwest to Carthage, a city near the Iowa border
where the College was settling into its new home.
The 1879 Commencement program shows him winning “first honor” in Carthage’s scientific track but losing out to Caroline Bartlett Crane as class valedictorian. From previous articles, readers might remember her trailblazing work in ministry and public health.
The next year, Prof. Sanford married classmate Alice Crawford. Love conquers all — even the heated rivalry between their respective Carthage literary societies, Cicero and Galileo.
Putting his teaching career on hold, he spent two years in Germany studying alongside a prominent physicist. Turning down an offer to stay, he brought that scientific rigor back to American classrooms.
Stanford’s inaugural president soon convinced Prof. Sanford — then in his mid-30s — to launch the university’s physics program, luring him to California with a $3,000 starting salary. In case the similar names trigger a double take, the faculty member had no relation to university founders Leland and Jane Stanford.
Prof. Sanford published dozens of research papers but wasn’t above the mainstream press. In an 1894 article for Popular Science, he debunked hucksters’ claims that they could induce rain, equating them to “every patent-medicine fraud and electric-healing quack who has ever swindled an ignorant public.”
He retired from the university in 1919.
By then, physics had the most Ph.D. candidates of any Stanford department, he proudly noted in a letter to old Carthage friends.
After Prof. Sanford’s death in 1948, the Stanford Historical Society drafted a memorial resolution that portrayed a man ahead of his time. It cited his role in shaping admissions criteria that “were unusually liberal for those days, but which were adopted later in principle by most of our leading universities.” And it praised his emphasis on lab work, “now so common that it is hard for us to think of it as an innovation.”
There’s a tangible legacy, too: his home in Palo Alto, California, the city that grew up around the university. Designed by one of Prof. Sanford’s students, it’s part of a registered historic district called Professorville.
Professor Fernando Sanford, Carthage Class of 1879, as a young scholar
Prof. Sanford in later years
homecoming and family weekend
Homecoming at Carthage is a weekend you won’t want to miss! This fall, we are excited to welcome back alumni for a weekend of connection, celebration, and campus spirit. In addition to festivities for all alumni, we’ll be marking special reunion milestones for class years ending in 0 or 5. Reconnect with old friends, relive your favorite Carthage moments, and make new memories together.
SEPT. 26-28, 2025
weekend highlights:
• Homecoming Brunch featuring Athletic Hall of Fame Induction
• Speed Networking with The Aspire Center
• Homecoming Concert
• Class of 1975 Reunion Dinner
• Reunion Celebration Tent
• Biergarten
• Class of 1980 Kenosha gathering at Villa D’ Carlo
• Throwback Lawn Party
• Gold Plus Reunion
Scan the QR code below to purchase ticket today. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
carthage.edu/homecoming
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 11
Business and Professional Coalition Event: Wisconsin’s Labor Forecast with guest speaker Ron Hetrick
Sept. 17
Spotlight on Sports Conference
Sept. 26-28
Homecoming and Family Weekend
Oct. 24-Nov. 1
New Play Initiative: Blue Bird
Nov. 12
Performing Arts Series: Soprano Laura Strickling
Carthage forward Ryan Johnson ’27 dribbles past a defender from Elmhurst University during the Firebirds’ regular season conference titleclinching victory Feb. 19 at Tarble Arena. Ryan was named Most Outstanding StudentAthlete in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin for 2024-25, becoming the sixth men’s basketball player at Carthage to win the award and the first since 2011.
Nov. 13
Business and Professional Coalition Panel: Healthcare and Higher Ed – Partners for Life
Dec. 5-7
Carthage Christmas Festival: To Wake the Sky (tickets on sale starting Oct. 1)
