Campus News

Noted design expert Bob Schwartz to lead Arts and Design, Business

MMU welcomes Bob Schwartz as Dean of the School of Arts & Design and the School of Business. Formerly the Vice President for Global Design & User Experience at GE Healthcare, he has held executive leadership roles at P&G, Levolor Kirsch, Motorola, IDSA and AdvaMed. In 2015 the Industrial Designers Society of America named Schwartz among the 50 most notable industrial designers of the last 50 years. He won a Design Management Institute lifetime achievement award in 2019. Schwartz has a master’s degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Design and a bachelor of fine arts in industrial & graphic design from the Kansas City Art Institute.

ALIOTO NAMED VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

Keri Alioto has been named the Vice President for Student Affairs at Mount Mary University. She joins Mount Mary after 19 years at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. At Franklin, Alioto most recently managed the college’s student involvement team and center for student success and served as the chief retention officer. At Mount Mary, the Student Affairs division includes oversight of student success, persistence and engagement efforts. Alioto is currently enrolled in Northern Illinois University’s executive Doctor of Education Program in higher education. She is also a watercolor artist and has been involved in competitive dog sports with her golden retrievers.

Undecided to unstoppable: Strong gains continue for Compass program

When the Compass Year program launched in 2019, advisors Beth Felch and Katie Kramer set out to provide adequate resources and guidance to first-year students who have yet to declare a major.

The first cohort consisted of 16 students. Today there are 25 students enrolled in the program, representing a 56% student increase. “These numbers do not shock us,” Felch said. “Students feel more at ease knowing there is a program dedicated just to them.”

In the first semester of the program, over 62% of students chose their majors due to extensive guidance, guest speakers, aptitude tests and individualized counseling. By the end of the year, only one student remained undecided, and she has continued to take advantage of the services Advising and Career Development offers.

“Now that we are in the second year, Compass is more integrated into the Mount Mary community,” according to Kramer, who said the program continues to make strong gains. “We have more access to advising resources and students feel support across campus from faculty and staff.

In the Compass Year program, you are a part of a community that supports who you are, helps you determine your skills and interests, and cheers you along as you determine your purpose and passion in life. Katie Kramer, Career Development Specialist Title III

FIRST GRADUATES REFLECT UPON MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS MINOR

This spring, five students were the first to graduate with Mount Mary’s multidisciplinary arts minor, which was created in 2017. This minor exposes more students to the benefits of the fine arts in a way that enhances their major area of study. It also makes students more marketable to employers as they embark on their careers.

“When I found out about this minor, I knew I had to add it to my coursework,” said Hannah Rose ’20, who graduated in occupational therapy in May. “It allowed me to have a creative outlet amidst my more science-based courses.”

Elmbrook students participate in dual enrollment

Mount Mary initiated a partnership with the Elmbrook School District that enabled 12 high school students from that district to earn high school and college credit by taking classes on campus.

The college credits earned will count toward their future college education, and also serve the purpose of familiarizing students with Mount Mary’s campus, faculty and online learning platform, Canvas. Students took classes in fashion and nutrition. Next semester’s offerings include classes in interior design and food science.

PANDEMIC CAUSES INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENTS TO PIVOT, CREATE PODCAST

With a decline in the number of internships available to interior design students, department chair Gigi Szeklinski and students Megan Tacke and Kylie Flores devised a weekly podcast, an innovative solution to fullfill their requirement.

“They’ve taken it to a whole new level,” Szeklinski said. “It’s far exceeded what I expected.”

Every Wednesday on “Design Speaks,” the students interview alumnae from the interior design program. It has been streamed in North America and Europe and this student-led format is one-of-a-kind in the industry, according to Szeklinski.

The podcast has been an essential tool in the classroom in connecting students with alums who would normally come to campus for visits. “Our freshmen are loving this platform,” she said.

Find “Design Speaks” on Spotify to hear the latest episodes.

INTRODUCING VISIT DAYS FOR ALUMS AND GUESTS Young women are profoundly influenced by the women they admire. If Mount Mary changed your life, share your experience with a sister, niece, neighbor or friend by bringing them to campus virtually for a special tour opportunity.

Saturday virtual visits December 5 and 19, and January 9 and 23.

Tour campus virtually, learn about the admissions process and connect with fellow alumnae and current students.

Sign up: mtmary.edu/alumvisit

P.S. Prospective students interested in undergraduate or graduate studies at MMU are welcome.

Best of MMYOU

To you, the new generation of Mount Mary University, Julia’s reflections of her time at I pass the torch. I share my hope and my highest Mount Mary formed the basis expectations that you will find a loving community here … To you I pass down a piece of a home that I have come to of the new “Best of MMYOU” blog. Read more at mtmary.edu/bestofMMU know, and with it the community that built me.

ACHIEVEMENTS ACCOLADES This section highlights recent noteworthy accomplishments and awards of the Mount Mary University faculty, staff and students.

FACULTY AND STAFF

Kerry Bergin, M.S., Caroline

Scholars Director, contributed to the “Wisconsin Community Engaged Professional COVID-19 Conversation and Resources” document, a Wisconsin Campus Compact tool for service learning and civic engagement professionals in higher education.

Nicole Boyington, O.T.D., OTR/L, Occupational Therapy,

was elected President of the Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association. She was also a co-presenter in a webinar, “State Advocacy Update: Ensuring Access to OT During a Pandemic,” in April.

Cindy Clough, Ph.D., Occupational

Therapy, taught a three-week course via distance technology for the Université Episcopale d’Haiti in Haiti in April.

Jennifer Dahlman, R.N., Ph.D.,

Nursing, wrote an article, “Diverse Students Collaborating to Address Social Determinants of Health Using Listening Session,” that was published in the Journal of Professional Nursing in April.

Faculty awarded at Investiture

During our virtual Investiture ceremony on August 20, we welcomed one hundred incoming students into our community. Students introduced themselves, shared how they would transform the world and committed themselves to lifelong learning through the Cap & Gown Pledge.

Also at this event, the 2020 Teaching Excellence Awards for full-time and part-time instructors were presented. Congratulations to Jennifer Kontney, Ph.D., assistant professor in English (far left) and director of the composition program, and Keri Erickson instructor in counseling (left).

Shawnee Daniels-Sykes, Ph.D.,

Theology, was featured in an April 2020 article for the National Catholic Reporter entitled, “Triage and Ventilator Rationing not the Only Ethical Issues in the Pandemic, Bioethicists Say.”

Nicole Gahagan, Ph.D., Student

Support Specialist, wrote a three-part blog and webinar in September about making transformational institutional change that promotes student success for Complete College America.

Andrea Greer, M.S., Grace Scholars

Director, wrote an article for the Negro Educational Review Journal that was published in January. “Forecasting the Future Success and Well-Being of Black Women in Student Affairs” was a qualitative study describing the perspectives of 34 Black women.

Julie Hunley, Ph.D., Occupational

Therapy, had a journal article accepted for publication in the Journal of Lymphoedema titled “Lymphoedema Practice Patterns: The Current State of the Industry,” in April.

Be part of our creative conversations. Like and follow us

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of in-person events, exhibits and presentations, including the CREO Student Designer Fashion Show. Before the pandemic struck, the Fashion Show Production class had already selected the visual theme of the event, pictured here. This graphic design was created by Nraim Vang and the garments featured in this illustration were designed by See Yang.

The CREO Art & Design Senior Exhibitions in studio art, art education and graphic design transitioned from an in-person exhibit to a print catalog of the students and their work. Also, students in interior design set up a YouTube page as a means of presenting their projects to peers, faculty and staff. Both of these projects can be viewed at mtmary.edu/magazine. series, “Becoming Becky.” The Pinnacle

Carrie King, Ph.D., Counseling,

collaborated with the Wisconsin School Counselor Association and the California School Counselor Association on the development of the website: http:// covid19k12counseling.org.

Jason Meyler, Ph.D., World

Languages, was one of two presenters for an academic workshop titled, “Building an Inclusive Classroom” at a summit titled Universities held at Alverno College, Feb. 2020.

Environmental Journalism class wins prestigious honor for website

STUDENTS

Quinn Clark was one of five finalists for a Pinnacle Award from CMA for Best Photo Package for her photo Advancing Equity in Our Colleges and

Awards are national awards that attract hundreds of applicants from schools of all sizes. Here is a link to her photos: http://archesnews.com/becoming-becky/

Ariana Coward, Haley Jacquez,

and Sara Rubovits, along with

Psychology Professor Laurel

End, presented their research on math anxiety in a virtual conference held by the annual Association for Psychological Science in June.

The Environmental Journalism class, which moved online after the pandemic broke out in spring, created a website on the topic of climate change. The site, Climate414, won a Pacemaker Award, the most prestigious award in collegiate journalism. “It is the college world’s answer to the Pulitzer Prize for professional journalism,” said English Program Chair Paula Reiter, Ph.D. The students used a solutions-based approach to cover climate issues with local impact. Visit mtmary.edu/magazine to view this project. Undergraduate and graduate students who contributed to the project include: • Quinn Clark • Meghan Gresk • Shaina Reno ’20 • Samantha Dahm ’20 • Nina Kesic ’20 • Madelyn Schneider • Michael Greer • Jeanna Prudhomme • Kathy Van Zeeland 28

Kristin Hardwick won the 2020 Readers’ Choice award from MKE Lifestyle for her senior garment collection (above).

Helen (Baker) Pratt, counseling

graduate student, received the Mike Troy Graduate Student Scholarship presented by the Wisconsin School Counselor Association.

Grants in Action

GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS STUDENT PERSISTENCE AND RETENTION

Read how Mount Mary has been awarded $12.8 MILLION from federal agencies and national organizations to support programs, scholarships and thriving initiatives.

SDS Health Resources and Services Administration Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

$2.6 million MMU’s Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) grant for the Clinical Mental Health program ended in July 2020. During the four years of the grant, 36 students graduated with their M.S. in Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. Overall, a total of 59 students received scholarship funds through this grant, 70% of whom were under-represented minorities. As a result, the counseling program saw increased

retention of disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students from 40 percent to 95 percent.

$3.25 million In July 2020, Mount Mary was recently awarded a new SDS grant to benefit low-income, minority students in the Occupational Therapy program over the next five years. The PromOTe Success Scholars program seeks to transform the OT profession, creating a more diverse field. According to the most recent figures from the American Occupational Therapy Association from 2015, fewer than 15 percent of occupational therapy practitioners identify themselves as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino or Asian.

National Science Foundation S-STEM

$650,000 The Jewel Scholars wrapped up their yearlong research project regarding hemoglobin. A part of their research included a visit to the MMU’s virtual reality room where they had the unique experience of being ‘in’ a hemoglobin molecule which allowed the students a new appreciation for how a protein is composed and arranged as a threedimensional molecule. Their research projects culminated in making three-dimensional models of the various hemoglobin proteins and presenting their research findings in a poster. $1 million MMU was also recently awarded a second grant from the S-STEM program beginning in the summer of 2021 and will expand upon the success of the current grant in providing scholarships and support services to low-income and academically talented students in STEM majors.

US Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions

$3 million Title III provided a number of faculty development

opportunities over the summer in English and math

that covered a number of relevant topics including the development of compassionate and equitable course policies during COVID-19. Each department also hosted a multi-week book study for faculty and came together over a six-week period to discuss the readings and how to incorporate what they learned into their pedagogy.

U.S. Department of Education TRIO Student Support Services

$1.3 million In August, MMU was awarded $1.3 million grant to

continue the Promise Program for another five

years. In September, the Promise Program partnered with MMU’s Grace Scholars Program, Title III program, and Compass Program to hold a virtual graduate school retreat. Students were able to connect with representatives from Mount Mary, Cardinal Stritch University, Alverno College, UW-Milwaukee, Marquette University and Concordia University to learn about graduate programs at each school.

HHMI Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence

$1 million The HHMI grant continues to offer campus-wide

trainings related to inclusive excellence.

In February, Karen Nelson of NelStar Leadership and Diversity Consulting presented “How Culture Fit Destroys Diversity.” In October and November, Katie Hamm, a consultant for Diverse & Resilient, presented a virtual seminar, “LGBTQ101: Health Disparities Stress and Impact of Inclusion.” Additionally, MMU faculty from the mathematics department participated in a three-day workshop in June to learn ways to manage student’s math anxiety with practices that can be incorporated into their pedagogy.