Alumnus Appointed CEO of Catholic Charities in Colorado Springs
C
Christendom College Alumnus Mark Rohlena has been appointed the new President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs. He began this new leadership role on February 1, 2011. “We are thrilled to have someone of this caliber, background, and proven passion for the missions of Catholic Charities, and we are looking forward to working with him. Catholic Charities is in a good place and Mark will help bring it to the next level,” says Betsy Sobral, Board Chair of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs. Rohlena, a member of Christendom’s class of 2000, has been serving as the Senior Ethics & Conflicts Attorney for Holland & Hart in Denver, the largest law firm in the Rocky Mountain region. A graduate of the Ave Maria School of Law, he is a member of the
Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, and Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee as well as board member of the National Lawyers Association and the St. Thomas More Society of Colorado.
increased. My understanding of the bigger picture deepened, and the need to continually prioritize and order things in my life developed. I left Christendom with a rich and abiding sense of moral and ethical issues.”
While at Christendom, Rohlena double-majored in History and Political Science/Economics. Rohlena describes the education he received at Christendom as “remarkable.”
Rohlena says that he is thankful for the skills he gained at Christendom and sees his Alma Mater as an essential first step to the success he has found as a lawyer and, now, as CEO of Catholic Charities.
“Christendom helps sharpen analytical skills, while immersing you in an amazing Catholic environment unlike that at most other schools in the country,” he says. “The goal of Christendom’s curriculum is the development of the entire person. My reasoning skills were honed. My ability to problemsolve and sift through dense material to get that important information had greatly
Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Golf Tournament Join Christendom College’s Friends, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni as they take part in the 2nd Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Fund.
Save the Date: October 7, 2011 Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club, Front Royal, Virginia “#4 Best Courses You Can Play” - 2010 Golfweek Magazine • Directly funds scholarships to assist student-athlete leaders in attending Christendom College • East vs West Alumni Challenge • Contests and Prizes • Buffet luncheon and Awards Ceremony • Kickoff Homecoming Weekend (October 7-9)
• For more information or to register, please go to www.christendom.edu/golftournament 6
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Rohlena volunteered with Catholic Charities in Denver for several years, staffing a monthly legal aid program and assisting with periodic material needs drives. “I am truly humbled by this incredible opportunity to serve those most in need in our community. I have felt a strong call to participate in this vital work over the last several years, and my family and I are excited about beginning this new chapter in our lives,” he says.
Please Take the Survey!
As part of Christendom College’s strategic planning process, the College has developed a number of crucial strategic vision statements to help improve its offerings and services. One of the strategic vision statements is that the College will offer its students a wide variety of diverse activities and opportunities to ensure their understanding of today’s society and thereby become effective lay apostles. The ad hoc committee responsible for achieving this goal, the “Engaging the Culture” Committee, is studying how well Christendom does in achieving this goal. Made up of college faculty, administration, and staff, the committee is looking at non-academic aspects of college life, seeking ways in which the students’ experience can be improved so that they are socially better prepared for evangelization. A major part of this study is a survey which all students, alumni, parents, supporters, and friends of the College are encouraged to take. All Instaurare readers are welcome to take this survey on this important matter. Please go to surveymonkey.com/s/ChristendomCulture and take the survey. It only takes a few minutes, and it will help Christendom College better fulfill its mission.