Mount Mary Magazine Spring 2021

MAGAZINE

LEADERS AT HEART 4

U.S. News & World Report ranks Mount Mary among the best in the Midwest for graduating women of all backgrounds.

See the President’s Column on page 3 for details.

mtmary.edu

mtmary.edu/magazine

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A groundbreaking ceremony kicking off the transformation of the Health Sciences Center, the space that once housed a locker room and pool in the lower level of Caroline Hall.

A stress-relief presentation by Mount Mary faculty member Rita Burlingame-Toppen ’14 and ’18, OTD.

A live camera stream of the construction at Trinity Woods.

READ:

A tribute to former Mount Mary President S. Ellen Lorenz in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ON

Chief Nursing Officer Kara Groom, Ph.D., stands outside the Health Sciences Center, ready to welcome nursing students to the on-campus BSN program, which begins in fall. ©2021

Compiled by Mount Mary Office of University Marketing and Communications, Kathy Van Zeeland, Editor Contributors: Genaviv Alcantara, Stephanie Chadek, Joan Hartin, Sister Joan Penzenstadler SSND, President Christine Pharr, Taylor Robinson, Kou Vang, Kayla White, Office of Alumnae and Donor Relations Mount Mary University is sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Jordan Anderson, professor and chair of the art and graphic design department, displayed her work at a recent faculty exhibit.

MAY 2021

Alvarado

Breaking barriers, believing in yourself

Life’s unexpected turns can be a challenge. Linda Alvarado believes in one’s ability to succeed through all. Alvarado is founder, president and CEO of one of the fastest growing commercial general contracting companies in the nation and the first Hispanic owner of a major league baseball team.

Hear what it was like to break through the concrete ceiling in the male-dominated construction industry as well as upend the ultimate boys’ club. Alvarado embraced the lessons and changes set before her, trailblazing the way for other women (and men) to follow.

$35 early bird pricing through August 30, 2021

For all of Mount Mary’s upcoming events, visit mtmary.edu.

6 Lunch and Learn with Shelly Dretzka ’95 (virtual) mtmary.edu/alumnae/learn

14 CREO Student Designer Fashion Show Virtual Watch Party (virtual) mtmary.edu/creo

21 Commencement Mass with Light of Learning mtmary.edu/commencement

22 Spring Commencement mtmary.edu/commencement JUNE 2021

21-24 Summer Leadership Academy mtmary.edu/sla

21-25 Fashion Academy mtmary.edu/fashionacademy

SEPTEMBER 2021

12 Starving Artists’ Show mtmary.edu/sas

OCTOBER 2021

1-3 Alumnae Reunion Weekend (hybrid) mtmary.edu/reunion

NOVEMBER 2021

4 Voices of Leadership with Linda Alvarado mtmary.edu/vol

We cannot be observers. We have to get in the game.

– Linda Alvarado

Linda Alvarado’s appearance arranged by Gotham Artists.

Linda

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021

President and CEO of Alvarado Construction

FROM PRESIDENT

Christine Pharr, Ph.D., President, Mount Mary University

A ranking came out recently in U.S. News and World Report that really matters to me: Mount Mary was ranked as the #1 institution in Wisconsin and the #3 university in the Midwest for increasing student social mobility.

Dear Mount Mary Alumnae and Friends,

As we move into the warmer days of spring and summer and the flowers emerge from their long winter sleep, new life abounds and I myself have been blessed with the wonder of a new granddaughter. Spring and new life always instill hope in me. It is a sign of beginning anew. This has been one of the most challenging years in recent history for many people and yet my look back at Mount Mary’s successes over the years reminds me that we constantly strive to educate our students as a whole person as they adapt and thrive in a changing world.

How do we measure success and thriving of our students?

The world is full of rankings and Mount Mary, like other higher education institutions, constantly examines data to see how we stack up. Rankings certainly do not tell the whole story but they do matter, and there is one that came out recently in U.S. News and World Report that really matters to me: social mobility. Mount Mary was ranked as the #1 institution in Wisconsin and the #3 university in the Midwest for student social mobility. So what does this mean? It means that although we serve a wide array of students with different levels of income, that amongst those of low-income (who have the most significant barriers to completion), Mount Mary graduates more students than any other school in Wisconsin and than most schools in the Midwest.

This success is important because it provides solid evidence of an outcome, set within the context of a larger community conversation currently in the news, that of free community college for all. Many of you have heard about the advantages of free college. While on the surface it may sound attractive, I would invite you to consider some facts and perhaps some unintended consequences of free college:

FACT 1: Free college does not selectively help those most in need. It allows students from all income levels to attain a free college education. It will be very expensive to taxpayers.

FACT 2: Free public education will result in even larger public institutions that have large class sizes, less student support and individual attention to students. In time, this will likely result in less student success – especially for those most in need of a personalized college environment.

FACT 3: Smaller private colleges will not be able to attract undergraduate students, resulting in lower enrollment and significant financial burdens that may cause some schools to close. Only truly wealthy students will be able to choose the kind of education that is offered only at private schools.

FACT 4: Nothing is free. Someone must pay salaries, operations, etc. Taxpayers will pay for free college.

FACT 5: There is no system in place to orchestrate free college and many unanswered questions. It will take much time to figure out how this works.

There is a more equitable and justice-focused alternative. One solution is to double Pell grants. Why is this better?

continued on page 9

President Pharr recently traveled to her daughter’s home in Colorado to welcome her new granddaughter, Beatrice Harper, into the family.

New nursing program focused on mission LEADERS AT HEART

Chief Nurse Administrator Kara Groom, Ph.D. demonstrates the new interactive mannequins and nursing equipment that will provide engaging, hands-on learning.

In fall, Mount Mary will open the doors to a new four-year BSN program designed to fill an important niche in the community: To create nurse leaders who will further equitable health care for all.

The new BSN program is a traditional, rigorous program that meets the state’s requirements for licensure. However, Mount Mary’s mission-centered curriculum is uniquely prepared to train nurses who:

• Address health disparities within the population as advocates for health care equity.

• Work effectively with other health care providers within complex health care environments.

“We know that health disparities exist in our community and know that we need nurses who are ready to address these disparities and advocate for the change needed

to take the very best care, not just for their individual patients, but for the broader community in general,” said Chief Nurse Administrator Kara Groom, Ph.D. These differentiators are reflected in the curriculum and are evident in the design of the physical space, which will promote reflective and rich learning.

STUDENTS LEARN CARE THROUGH COMPASSION FOR ALL

High-tech debriefing conference rooms with one-way mirrors will enable students to learn as they observe their peers perform real-world nursing simulations.

To prepare nurses for this challenge, the first year of studies will include the Leadership for Social Justice seminar course, science courses and liberal arts core curriculum classes.

This lays the foundation for an understanding of the human body – and for the complexities of our world. “Mount Mary’s new nursing program has the distinction of a mission-focused curriculum that encourages leadership, integrity and a deep sense of social justice,” said Karen Friedlen, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs.

COLLABORATIVE SPACE ENSURES COOPERATION

Nursing coursework will take place in the new, state-of-the-art 6,500 square-foot Health Sciences Center, Nursing Skills Lab and Interprofessional Simulation Lab located in the lower level of Caroline Hall. Construction began last fall, and the labs and classrooms will be fully functional and ready to welcome students in August. The center will include spaces such as a CPR training facility, high-tech conference rooms and a simulation lab modeled after a real hospital space with high-fidelity, interactive mannequins. The facility has been designed to create an immersive, hands-on learning environment between students and faculty from various fields of health care.

Students across multiple health disciplines, including occupational therapy and dietetics, will also utilize the space, fostering a sense of collaboration around the common goal of providing exceptional healing and care for patients.

“Research has shown that a high-quality learning experience includes more than just time in a simulation lab taking care of patients,” said Groom. “An effective learning experience also includes the preparation and debrief after a simulated experience. That’s where the reflective learning takes place when we think about simulation activities.”

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY

Mount Mary has a history of nationally-recognized programs in the health sciences, enabling pre-existing clinical partnerships to expand to the new nursing program. Clinical rotations take place at partner facilities located in greater Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin. Students will have clinical training at a variety of institutions including Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin; Froedtert; Advocate Aurora; Ascension; ProHealth Care; Milwaukee Catholic Home; and Clement Manor.

Trinity Woods, the new intergenerational housing community for students who are single mothers and their children, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and seniors from the community, will also create additional learning opportunities.

NURSING OPTIONS AT MOUNT MARY

Mount Mary will continue to offer the Nursing 1-2-1 and the RN to BSN completion programs alongside this new four-year on-campus BSN.

The Nursing 1-2-1 program is offered in partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College and Waukesha

County Technical College. Students enrolled in the 1-2-1 program take their first year of courses on the Mount Mary campus, followed by two years at a partner institution and their fourth year fully online. Students obtain an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), licensure as a Registered Nurse, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), all within four years.

This 1-2-1 program is an ideal option for students who want to have a fast pace and streamlined way to both enter the workforce in as little as three years and be on target for their bachelor’s degree in four years.

The Nursing 1-2-1 continues to thrive, with a planned enrollment of 30 students.

The RN to BSN program is offered fully online for working nurses with an associate degree who want to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

“Each student is unique and needs to find the program that is the best fit for them. We are pleased to offer these distinct pathways so that students can become successful nurses who serve our community,” Groom said.

PROGRAM DESIGN MEETS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS

Mount Mary will welcome the first class of students into the new, four-year nursing program on campus in fall 2021. Since announcing the program last October, 108 prospective students have applied, over four times the amount of students needed to reach the enrollment goal.

Nursing students and students in other health sciences programs will work in collaboration in the newly redesigned space.

The Health Sciences Center is an interprofessional space where occupational therapy, dietetics and nursing students can collaborate with each other so they are ready to work with a variety of professionals.

-Cheryl Bailey, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural and Health Sciences and Education

The accredited, 120-hour program is a traditional nursing program and offers direct admission. Students do not have to enter as a pre-nursing student to later compete for a limited number of spaces their junior year, as is often the case at larger institutions. This creates a positive learning environment as well as the ability to graduate on time.

Mount Mary is also dedicated to addressing the diversity in nursing. As the most diverse higher education institution in the area, 60% of undergraduate students identify as persons of color.

“We know the diversity in nursing does not reflect the diversity in our community and we have a mission here at Mount Mary to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce,” Groom said.

Learn about the Nursing Skills Lab and Interprofessional Simulation Lab at magazine.mtmary.edu.

Learn more about Mount Mary’s nursing programs at mtmary.edu/nursing.

The lower level of Caroline Hall, which previously housed the pool and lockers, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art 6,500 square-foot Health Sciences Center, Nursing Skills Lab and Interprofessional Simulation Lab.

Celebrating an era

Leadership of

Board of Trustees Chair Cathy Buck reflects upon years of growth

Although she’s never studied or worked here, Cathy Buck possesses a powerful understanding of what binds her to Mount Mary, personally and professionally.

Buck joined the Mount Mary Board of Trustees in 2011, approximately the same time that she became president of Froedtert Hospital, an academic medical center affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin. She was keenly aware that her hospital and Mount Mary shared the goal of building the diverse workforce of tomorrow, particularly in health care professions predominantly held by women.

She was herself an example of how a woman could rise through the ranks, having begun her career as a staff nurse in the transplant floor of what was County Hospital at the time. Through the years she became a manager, vice president of nursing and chief operating officer. Shortly after Buck joined the board, Eileen Schwalbach, president of Mount Mary at the time, started a nursing task force to explore the idea of a nursing degree at Mount Mary. Mount Mary’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing on-campus program opens this fall (see page 4).

“These plans evolved over time to grow the program thoughtfully, slowly and steadily,” she said.

This accomplishment coincides with Buck’s departure from the board, as trustees are limited to three three-year terms. She steps down from her years of service in June.

Last summer, Buck retired from Froedtert, after serving nine years as president.

While nursing is an obvious connection, Buck’s first involvement with Mount Mary began a number of years earlier, when another community supporter, Geneva Johnson, invited Buck to join the Women’s Leadership Institute. Here, Buck said her awareness and understanding of the value of all types of diversity grew tremendously. She brought this deepened understanding into her role on the board.

“As the country struggles with issues of anti-racism, MMU has been ahead of the game,” Buck said. “As the Board of Trustees chair, I support an antiracism agenda.”

She and the board have worked to set goals to diversify the board as well as the faculty. During the 2020-21 academic year, two diverse professionals joined the board and for 2021-22 there are more diverse individuals under consideration.

This has been a significant intentional initiative under Buck’s board leadership.

“Such goals will be easier for MMU than for many institutions to achieve, because the foundation has been laid by the SSNDs, and the mission of Mount Mary has been active for a very long time.”

This mission resonates with Buck, who attended the all-girls Immaculata High School operated by the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the north side of Chicago. Because of the strong imprint of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Mount Mary is “engineered to be a different experience than anyplace else,” she said.

“We have an awareness that we, as women, can do just about anything,” she said.” It is an incredible advantage being educated in this way in this day and age.”

During retirement, Buck had planned an active agenda of volunteering extensively. And while she is still able to log in 30-40 miles of running each week and spend time reading, she’s honed her focus and spent more time devoted to leadership at Mount Mary.

“I’ve had more time than ever to read and understand what is happening in the world,” she said. “In my desire to contribute and to make the world a better place, Mount Mary has taken that place for me.”

Soon, her focus will change again. The mother of four adult sons, she has become a grandmother three times over in March. She will assist with child care for her grandchildren a few days a week, caring for the next generation in a different way than before.

Meanwhile, Mount Mary will carry forth with the vision that Buck – for so many years and in so many ways – helped set into place.

From the President, continued from page 3

Pell grants go to the neediest students and thus are targeting those who can least afford an education rather than funding students who can afford to pay for their education. Thus it will cost taxpayers less.

Pell grants go to students who attend both public and private colleges, thus maintaining a student’s choice of the academic environment in which they can thrive. This will allow students to retain the environment of the small private and religious colleges as an option.

Doubling Pell will take us back to the 1970s model of education where assistance provided by both state and federal governments covered a high percentage of the cost of a college education. Over the years, neither federal nor state funding for education has kept pace with the costs, which has resulted in increases being laid on the backs of students and their families.

In 1975-76, the maximum Pell grant covered more than three-fourths of the average four-year public university cost of attendance, including tuition, fees and living expenses. In 2019-20, the maximum Pell grant covered about 28% of the average four-year public university cost of attendance.1 According to the PEW Institute, in 1990 state per-student funding was almost 140% more than that of the federal government. In 2015 it was only 12% above federal levels.2 This decreasing aid has led to rising costs for students and universities and concern with student debt across both public and private institutions. The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) support doubling Pell Grants because they believe this is a more just and equitable way to give students choices to select the type of education experience they desire.

I encourage you to seek information on this topic because it will become an important issue for the future of institutions like Mount Mary.

Social mobility occurs best when universities like Mount Mary exist. Please know that we make every effort to make our education affordable and donated scholarship dollars are allocated very carefully to assist a large percentage of our students today.

Mount Mary is proud to continue our tradition of educating women to transform the world. We can and will continue to do that with sound policies, as well as the financial and prayer support from all of you.

With gratitude,

1 https://www.collegeaidservices.net/2019/11/22/pell-grant-funding-then-and-now/

2 https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2019/10/two-decadesof-change-in-federal-and-state-higher-education-funding

“The hard work and wonderful ideas come from Mount Mary, and the Board of Trustees serves to make these projects successful. I helped build many synergies.”

Cathy Buck, Chair, Board of Trustees

Rita LEADING LADY

BURLINGAME-TOPPEN

To heal after an injury, finding the right treatment can be difficult. Sometimes, it may take many months or years of seeking care to find the right combination of modalities to ease pain and return to well-being.

For occupational therapist and educator Rita Burlingame-Toppen, OTD ’14 & ’18, this became personal when she experienced a neck, shoulder, and back injury from lifting.

Now she is driven to help others have better experiences in their health and wellness journeys and the Mount Mary community has benefitted from her wellness crusade.

As an assistant professor in Mount Mary’s occupational therapy department, she integrates these ideas into her teaching. Throughout the course of the pandemic, she’s also given numerous presentations to students and employees on strategies for alleviating physical and mental stress.

“The conventional rehabilitation approach for my injury took me from a state of pain and dysfunction to the ability to function again, however it was the addition of holistic wellness practices (such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, nutrition and chiropractic) that enabled me to shift from functional to thriving,” Burlingame-Toppen said.

“I had to do a lot of my own independent searching and learning to find the modalities and practitioners who could help me. I want to save others that time. The more people who know about these modalities, the more people we can support in their health journey.”

Burlingame-Toppen’s career started in Milwaukee Public Schools in various roles, one of which was a teacher of life skills to students in special education classrooms. She also earned her yoga teaching certificate and taught yoga to students with disabilities and the public.

When she made the decision to go to graduate school for occupational therapy, Burlingame-Toppen originally thought she would become a pediatric therapist. However, after her experience with injury, she shifted her focus to integrative physical disabilities rehabilitation.

After receiving her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Mount Mary in 2014, Burlingame-Toppen became an instructor in 2015, and later an assistant professor in 2018, after earning her doctorate.

Looking ahead, Burlingame-Toppen is currently creating a new, occupational therapy elective course that will be focused on wellness and prevention to be offered this fall. The course will emphasize occupational therapy’s role in community based wellness, health management education and integrative rehabilitation.

For her, wellness is more than a luxury, it’s an act of self-love for one’s self and others.

Wellness practices take individuals from functional to thriving

“Wellness isn’t a valiant and highly disciplined effort, but rather an act of love for oneself and one’s community,” she said.

“Be easy on yourself, practice gratitude, and start small. You can always build on small successes,” she said.

“Start with something. You can always make time for a one-minute meditation in the morning, stretching for ten minutes each day, or adding a handful of spinach to the dish you were already making. Find wellness habits that you enjoy, and continue to build on small changes.”

Campus joins with SSNDs in prayers, grief and hope

In December 2020, COVID-19 took a dark toll on the SSNDs residing at Notre Dame of Elm Grove. As with many other congregate living facilities, the sisters sustained great loss, including eight deaths in one week.

Creator …”

From the SSND Constitution, “You are Sent”

Coming together in the holy presence of God would be the only way for the heartbroken community of Mount Mary to reflect back the love and support that the SSNDs have given our campus.

On December 21, administration, faculty, staff, students, board members and the SSND from across the Central Pacific Province united in a virtual prayer service. In addition, the campus collected prayers and personal letters of love together and sent print booklets and digital copies to the sisters in Elm Grove.

During the service, our shared legacy of faith, hope and courage were sustained through our prayers – the healing words of Scripture, the SSND Constitution, the Our Father and Hail Mary. Representatives from campus included Melody Todd, Jane Rheineck, Michelle Smalley and Ann Angel, who spoke on behalf of the faculty and Mount Mary community. Students Olivia Hickman and Mary Parlier offered personal prayers and Keri Schroder ‘95, director of alumnae relations, represented the alumnae community.

The words from the song “Beyond the Moon and Stars,” by Dan Schutte, were particularly resonant in this moment of grief, hope, fidelity and unity: “… so great our hunger, Lord, to see your light.”

Learn more: View Burlingame-Toppen’s stress relief presentation to students at mtmary.edu.magazine.

The service concluded with a special blessing for all SSNDs, and a renewed sense of our bond and the sustaining presence of God, one that we share through the light and the dark.

This new feature, “Living our Catholic Identity,” will appear regularly in the Mount Mary Magazine.

In our society, being burnt out can become a badge of honor; it’s important to remember that self-care is not selfish, it is a form of self-preservation that enables us to be able to give more.

“Fundamentally in prayer we acknowledge, accept and freely surrender to the reality of who God is and who we are, creatures unconditionally loved by our

Friends for life

reconnect through Mount Mary

For many years, Anne Salamun Huff kept in touch with other members of Mount Mary’s Class of 1942 as a volunteer class delegate, writing annual letters filled with news and updates. She kept everyone abreast of their activities, these women who graduated from college at the height of World War II, as they established careers and settled into their lives as mothers, teachers, professionals, grandmothers and more.

As the years passed, she recorded losses in their ranks too, fellow students who passed away or lost touch.

Obstacles present challenges

About a year ago, Huff got an email and photo from classmate Lynne Luchini, who had just turned 100. Lynn’s request: “Send me a photo when you get to be 100,” Huff recalled.

This is the story of a milestone, and two photos worth sharing.

Little did Luchini know, Huff’s eyesight had deteriorated to the point where she could no longerstay active on email. She had to close her account and lost many email

Anne Salamun Huff ‘42

B.S. in home economics (foods and clothing), minors in English and chemistry

After graduation, Huff worked in a rural high school in Lee, Ill., for a year and then the Wisconsin Industrial School for Girls in Oregon, Wis., near Madison (currently the site of Oakhill Correctional Institution). A few years after the war ended, she returned to her family home in West Allis and began teaching home economics at Henry Clay Junior High in Whitefish Bay. She joined a Milwaukee group for young Catholics, the Catholic Alumnae Club, and in 1948 met Ed Huff, a graduate of Notre Dame University. They married the next year, moved to Wauwatosa and had one child, Melanie. Huff taught throughout the Milwaukee Archdiocese until 1970. Huff was widowed in 1995 and in 2005 moved to Texas, to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter.

1973, Huff was awarded the Madonna Medal for her service to Mount Mary.

“After you graduate from Mount Mary, you are off to someplace else and you’d like to keep in touch but you get busy,” Huff said. “People come and go from your life. But reunions were always a time to reconnect.”

Sharing a milestone

The years passed, and both these members of the “greatest generation” would say that time has been kind. Huff said her granddaughter has kept her young at heart, and Luchini is grateful for good health.

“It doesn’t feel any different to be 101, but I am slowing up a little bit,” said Luchini, who lives independently in a senior community. “I don’t need a walker or a cane. I have perfect eyesight and I can drive.

“I do my own cooking, but I don’t bake much, though.”

This past year presented challenges in seeing family and friends; Luchini’s family had to cancel her 100th birthday party last March, and COVID made it difficult for Huff to see her family until a month ago.

As they reflect upon their lives, they recognize the value of their time at Mount Mary and relish the joy of reconnecting.

“It’s nice to see how we look at our ages,” said Luchini.

“I’m grateful for my time at Mount Mary,” said Huff. “The nuns encouraged us to learn, try new jobs and be leaders, that’s how I got interested in so many new things.”

At the age of 100, Huff shares some timeless advice:

“Don’t be afraid to try something new, to get out there and do work. Don’t just sit on your rocker.”

And never, ever be afraid to reach out to an old friend.

leads the way Margaret

The student perspective

Tourguide uses many platforms to engage with new students

Margaret Dishaw is virtually everywhere, making new students feel welcome, whether they’re on a campus tour or building a network of friends online.

Dishaw is one of the friendly faces in the campus Welcome Center, and on virtual tours, videos, webinars and ZeeMee, a new social networking platform for incoming students to get to know others before coming to campus.

As a student ambassador and tour guide for all four years of college, Dishaw is quite experienced at helping prospective students feel at home from the moment they step on campus; “I’ve probably done hundreds of walking tours of campus so far,” she said. While the pandemic closed campus last spring and created some challenges in conveying Mount Mary’s friendly and close-knit environment firsthand, Dishaw’s new roles reflect the creative thinking and resourcefulness the admissions team has put forth in building connections. Even though Mount Mary has been able to safely re-open for on-campus visits, many new virtual options give students who live far away or those who aren’t yet ready to visit campus several more opportunities to explore

Dishaw has helped coordinate over 60 informational webinars this school year alone, so prospective students can learn about specific academic programs, financial aid and affordability and student life, all from the comfort of home.

Dishaw also helped pilot a new live virtual tour option last November, so that students can check out campus in real time from wherever they are located. She conducts live virtual tours throughout the week, allowing participants to join her online to check out campus and ask questions.

Once her work in the Welcome Center is done for the day, Dishaw heads back to the dorm, where she works as a senior resident assistant (RA), helping other RAs with scheduling and creating fun and engaging programming. It’s not unusual for these residents to have first met Dishaw on their first campus tour.

As a food science major, Dishaw spends much of her school time in science labs, and some of her programming for residents reflects her love of science – weekly viewing parties for Grey’s Anatomy, and a DIY event where participants learned to make their own Dippin’ Dots.

“I had to ask food service to provide me with ice cream that was already melted,” she said. “They thought that was a really odd request!”

Her work in the admissions department has opened her eyes to another career, in higher education administration.

“I’ve worked in higher education for 40 years, and Margaret is one of the best students I have ever worked with,” said Undergraduate Admissions Director Jim Wiseman. “Her ability to connect with prospective students and their families is fantastic.”

“My roles on campus have made me realize how much I enjoy working with students and this specific age group,” said Dishaw. “I love being a resource and mentor.”

During a year that has brought stress and turmoil to many, Dishaw finds ways to bring the Mount Mary spirit to others. For her social posts on ZeeMee, she’s led dance breaks in the Welcome Center and mini workouts, too.

“I love being part of each student’s journey as they explore schools. The best part is seeing their excitement when you tell them something about Mount Mary that piques their interest.”

This spring Dishaw hosted a live Q&A event on ZeeMee, which was an opportunity for new students to ask questions about what it’s really like to attend Mount Mary.

Presidency marked by new initiatives, campus upgrades

Remembering S. Ellen Lorenz, SSND

Honoring the life and legacy of one of Mount Mary’s most influential educators

Often described as a humble master educator, outstanding mentor and excellent role model, S. Ellen Lorenz, SSND, was a source of great inspiration to colleagues and students during her five decades of service and leadership within the Mount Mary community. Lorenz passed away in December of 2020, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for years to come.

“Her keen intellect, educational excellence, appreciation of community and self-giving love gave rise to an extraordinary servant leader,” said Mount Mary Vice President for Mission and Identity S. Joan Penzenstadler, SSND. “We are so very grateful for all the ways that S. Ellen Lorenz gave of herself for over 46 years at Mount Mary.”

Her guiding light shaped even those students who never met Lorenz directly. In 1972, she developed the current core curriculum with its foundational course, “Search for Meaning.” It has been the basis of the university’s core curriculum for nearly five decades.

Lorenz was born July 6, 1935, to Genevieve and Frank Lorenz in Berlin, Wisconsin and attended school in a oneroom schoolhouse until fifth grade. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Latin from Mount Mary College, a master’s degree in education from Loyola University in Chicago in 1966 and a Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and supervision three years later from Northern Illinois University. In 1968, Lorenz joined Mount Mary as a faculty member in the Education Department.

“My greatest joys often came from seeing these students develop their values and skills

During her eight years as president of Mount Mary, S. Ellen Lorenz, SSND and her team led many changes on campus, such as:

The establishment of the Ewens Center, to meet the needs of adult women.

Programming to enable students the possibility of earning a degree through evening classes. Initiatives with other Catholic universities around the city to expand the city’s capacity for adult literacy and work force development. The upgrade to graduate-level accreditation status. The building of the Haggerty Library and the introduction of the computer age on campus.

and go on to inspire countless other young people through their teaching,” Lorenz said during an interview. “Certainly among my greatest joys was seeing student teachers successfully working with their students.”

“I credit my desire to go into academia to her mentorship through my master’s thesis. I was fortunate enough to be assigned S. Ellen Lorenz as my advisor,” said Michelle Falter ’07, assistant professor of English education at North Carolina State University.

“We kept in touch over the years, and I know she was very proud of the journey I have been on as a teacher. I feel blessed and fortunate to have had her in my life.”

In 1979, Lorenz became the sixth president of Mount Mary, a position she held until 1987. After that role, she returned to the education department, spending another 25 years working with prospective teachers.

“My fondest memories of S. Ellen Lorenz involve the quiet conversations we would have about books we had shared, religious life and the church, and, of course, about education.

As president and administrator, S. Ellen Lorenz, SSND, worked to make higher education accessible to all students, regardless of background. Because of her efforts, Mount Mary is now the most diverse higher education institution in Milwaukee.

Stories about her experiences as a Mount Mary student, her early years of teaching, and her own academic studies are memories I will treasure,” said Deb Dosemagen, chair of the education department. “By her example, S. Ellen Lorenz called everyone around her to be better versions of themselves.”

After her successful career as a professor and administrator for four decades, Lorenz retired in 2013. She then served as a part-time tutor in the Student Success Center until mid-2015.

Lorenz’s deep commitment to education and to all that Mount Mary embodies, the words of the School Sisters of Notre Dame Constitution, “You Are Sent” ring particularly true. These words are as follows:

“We educate with the conviction that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons.”

So many have been transformed simply by knowing her.

S. Ellen Lorenz, SSND, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Haggerty Library on March 25, 1980.

Despite delivery challenges, programs for young leaders continue to resonate

This year, the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) at Mount Mary had to make adjustments in order to maintain impactful programming for young women. While some things needed to pivot, they searched for ways to remain true to their mission.

What they learned was sometimes

surprising.

When the staff shifted the Summer Leadership Academy (SLA) for high school girls from a residential experience to a completely virtual program, they had no idea what to expect. Feeling “Zoomed out” themselves from months of a surprise national quarantine, they were encouraged that the student applicants showed up and then returned for day two and day three.

“The topics of college preparation, career exploration and leadership were as relevant as ever,” said Anne Kahl, Executive Director of the Leadership Institute.

“We were overwhelmed at the participants’ sentiments during the closing ceremony about the community, saying that they now felt part of the group, and how their futures felt clearer as a result of the knowledge gained during the academy,” she said.

“Increasing the confidence in these young women at this stage of their lives is critical. For some it helps them be sure of choosing a particular career path, but for others it helps them realize that college is actually an option for them and they can succeed.”

That encouragement prompted WLI staff to challenge themselves: How can we do more, and reach even more young women? The virtual format offered a unique opportunity on which they hoped to capitalize.

After a busy fall meeting with high school counselors to explore interests, needs and gaps in their current curriculums, they identified areas where the Women’s Leadership Institute could offer support.

Focusing on the three tenets of SLA leadership, college prep and career exploration, the first edition of the Leadership Academy Mornings pilot was launched in March.

Young women from Saint Joan Antida, Brookfield East and Brookfield Central high schools learned about different programs of study and careers that could be pursued with the different majors and minors. They also received supply kits to participate in various hands-on activities that allowed them to dig a little deeper into what it would be like to study fashion, food science, nursing, history, studio art, interior architecture and design, English and business.

“We put into practice the same leadership that we instill in our future leaders,” Kahl said. “We turned a challenge into an opportunity.”

In 2020, high school students participating in the Summer Leadership Academy attended sessions virtually.

Mount Mary University and the Mount Mary Alumnae Association honored three distinguished alumnae and delivered the 2020 President’s Award of Distinction in a virtual Awards Celebration on April 24.

The Madonna Medal represents the highest honor bestowed upon Mount Mary alumnae who demonstrate a longstanding commitment to their profession or volunteerism. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 awards ceremony was postponed until 2021 and the 2020 awards were presented at this event.

TOWER AWARD

Lakiesha Russell Class of ‘10, ‘13

The 2020 Tower Award , given to alums within 15 years of graduation who demonstrate excellence and potential for future growth, is awarded to Lakiesha Q. Russell ’10, ’13. Russell, of Milwaukee, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral science/psychology and returned and graduated in 2013 with a Master of Science in Community Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin and provides child and family therapy services at Children’s Wisconsin. She has founded The Evolving Chair Counseling and Consulting Agency, providing services to children and women who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety and more. Russell integrates her professional expertise with a strong faith base to bring mental health awareness and access to the African American community in Milwaukee and across the country.

MADONNA MEDAL For Professional Excellence

Perie J. Longo, Ph.D, LMFT Class of ‘62

The 2020 Madonna Medal for Professional Excellence is awarded to Perie J. Longo ’62, Ph.D., LMFT. Longo, of Santa Barbara, CA, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and drama and a minor in education. She went on to receive her master’s in speech and communication from UCLA and eventually a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Sierra University in 1991.

Longo has helped many find their voice through poetry and writing, thanks to her work as a registered poetry therapist. For 30 years, she has brought poetry into the Santa Barbara K-12 classroom with the CaliforniaPoets-in-the-Schools program, as well as facilitating workshops privately to teach poetry to adults. She currently works as a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice. She also leads writing groups for Hospice of Santa Barbara and Sanctuary Psychiatric Centers and is a longtime member of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.

MADONNA MEDAL Beth Kowall Class of ‘74

For Service to the Alumnae Association

The 2020 Madonna Medal for Service to the Alumnae Association is awarded to Beth Kowall ’74, who graduated in occupational therapy and holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Kowall, of Greenfield, Wis., has volunteered both in Mount Mary’s Occupational Therapy department and in the Alumnae Association in roles such as the Mount Mary Awards Committee, the Starving Artists’ Show and assisting with other campus events. She has also held many positions on the board and has served as a class delegate for 32 years.

PRESIDENT'S AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Gary and Judy Jorgensen

The President’s 2020 Award of Distinction is awarded to Gary and Judy Jorgensen, who have been personally and professionally invested in many projects around Mount Mary and the greater Milwaukee community through Gary’s firm, VJS Construction Services. They have been deeply involved in the planning and construction of Trinity Woods, the intergenerational living community set to open on campus in fall 2021.

Striving for excellence in teaching and learning is at the heart of what we do. These individuals are living out our founding principles of competence, compassion, community and commitment.

Christine Pharr, Ph.D. Mount Mary President

Donor-funded President’s Emergency Fund aids students in times of need

BY AMY LAMACCHIA

Vonisha Guy wanted to stay in school. As a single mother of five, she knew getting her degree in social work from Mount Mary would help her provide for her family. Life was already a juggling act with MMU classes, working second or third shift and her kids’ schedules. Then COVID-19 hit.

Like the rest of the world, Guy hadn’t planned on a pandemic. She hadn’t planned on being out of work, either. Due to the shut-downs and the fact that her children would be learning from home, she had to make the tough decision to leave her job.

While out of work, Guy struggled. She knew staying in school was the best decision she could make but as bills piled up and her car was in need of repairs, she wondered how she was going to make ends meet. That’s when she learned about Mount Mary University’s President’s Emergency Fund.

The President’s Emergency Fund offers assistance to Mount Mary students who are suffering from unexpected financial hardships so they are able to meet basic needs and stay in school. Funds are used to help with whatever is needed from basics like food, medicine and feminine hygiene products to bigger expenses such as rent, child care and transportation.

Since COVID-19 struck in March of 2020, the President’s Emergency Fund has become a lifeline for many MMU students. The fund has awarded over $60,000 of assistance over the past 12 months to 46 students who needed it to stay afloat. These funds have helped students like Guy continue their schooling.

“This award really helped me stay in school and made it so I didn’t have to take out more loans,” she said.

During this past year of unprecedented struggle, the need has risen significantly. Although things are slowly turning around, Mount Mary wants to make sure we continue to support students so they can stay in school and complete their goals of graduating. With 55% of Mount Mary students coming from low-income backgrounds, there is always a need.

Like Guy, COVID-19 has certainly affected many Mount Mary students and their families, and our President’s Emergency Fund has made the difference in multiple cases in people keeping their living arrangements and feeding their children.

Today, Guy has a new job using her skills and experience and recently received a promotion. She’ll be graduating in December with a degree in Social Work. She attributes the support she received from the President’s Emergency Fund with keeping her in school.

Thanks to the generosity of this community, she knows that she has a support system at Mount Mary, and that she isn’t alone.

Amy La Macchia is Mount Mary’s director of donor relations.

Our President’s Emergency Fund has made the difference in multiple cases in people keeping their living arrangements and feeding their children. I am so grateful we can provide this desperately needed assistance because of our generous alumnae and friends.

Christine Pharr, Ph.D. President, Mount Mary University

From assimilated to liberated Langen passes along understanding of cultural heritage

Today, Linda Langen ’10, ’18, embraces her personal identity as an active member of the Oneida tribe, attending general council meetings in Green Bay and serving on a tribal advisory board. Professionally, she works as a school counselor in Milwaukee, supporting children in their own journeys.

It wasn’t always like this for Langen, who spent her youth in the 1970s and 80s trying hard to assimilate into the dominant white culture.

“I did not want to be different,” she said, recalling how she used to tint her hair with blonde highlights, “I wanted to blend in and be like everyone else.” But her journey toward self-actualization — and deep pride in her personal history — began at Mount Mary.

“I took a class in anthropology where we had an assignment to learn more about our culture,” she recalled. This led to reaching out to the Southeastern Oneida Tribal Services office and enrolling in language and craft classes. Before long, Langen had opened her world, making connections with others from local First Nation tribes, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwa, Lac du Flambeau, Potawatomi, Bad River, Menomonie, StockbridgeMunsee, Red Cliff, and Lac Courte Oreilles.

As an MPS elementary school counselor at Burbank, Forest Home Avenue and Victory Schools, Langen passes along the importance of authenticity in the face of societal pressures, which she calls, “advocating for others’ selfadvocacy.” Her daughter, Guinevere Duquaine ’12, graduated from Mount Mary with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and works for the First Nations Studies Program with MPS as an academic advisor.

Langen will return to Mount Mary this fall to work on her Ph.D. in Mount Mary’s new Counselor Education and Supervision program. This program is the only Ph.D. of its kind in the metro Milwaukee area, preparing graduates to teach on a collegiate level, and for professional practice in multicultural settings.

Langen’s Oneida name, Kanatiyostha, means, “she makes a place good.” How fitting it is to return to the place where her awakening first began.

“Knowing my heritage helps strengthen and educate myself and the Milwaukee community.”

CAMPUS NEWS

Restructured MBA program increases options

Some updates to the MBA program will make it easier for non-degree-seeking students to pursue graduate-level professional development.

Beginning in fall 2021, MBA coursework will consist of both core classes and four-credit electives for those interested in earning their MBA. Those opting for electives only can earn certificates for completing the elective coursework.

“Our reimagined MBA program responds to the needs of today’s professional as well as the challenges and opportunities organizations are facing in 2021.”

Kristen Carioti, MBA Program Director

This refreshed design opens up the program to students interested in learning specific skills in highdemand topics, or micocredentials, said MBA Program Director Kristen Carioti.

“Our reimagined MBA program responds to the needs of today’s professional as well as the challenges and opportunities organizations are facing in 2021,” Carioti said. “The program offers options for both degree-seeking students and certificate students, as well as flexibility for how students want to join the class, on campus or remotely.”

For more information visit mtmary.edu/mba.

FALL 2021

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Business: Students design a diversity, equity, and inclusion program to fit their organization’s needs and strategic vision, then troubleshoot issues and opportunities that create barriers to their program’s success. Other topics include building and fostering an inclusive culture; mitigating bias in the hiring and performance review processes; and building relationships with minority-owned businesses and other external stakeholders.

Small Business Management: Students investigate key issues and competencies needed in starting, growing, managing and transitioning small businesses. Topics include marketing, human resource management, accounting, finance, business law and operations management. Upon competition, students develop a strategic business plan for starting and operating their small business.

SPRING 2022

Leadership and Organizational Behavior: This course challenges students to reflect upon their current leadership capacity as individuals who lead with courage, humility and compassion. The course moves progressively through individual, team, and organizational levels of behavior drawing on concepts and practices from the field of organizational behavior.

Managing Talent and Organizational Culture:

Topics include finding and managing talent through social media, creating and sustaining remote teams, and enhancing the employee experience with design thinking principles. Special topics include addressing employee mental health and burnout.

All MBA classes are delivered on-campus, with the option to join remotely. Certificate classes meet eight times over the span of 12 weeks, while core classes meet in an accelerated eight-week format.

Program offers new elective certificates in high-demand topics

A friendly face for every new student

Beginning in fall 2021, all first-year and new students will be matched with student success mentors, campus volunteers who will ease the transition into college and welcome these new members into the community.

“We want every new student to have a touchpoint and a sense of belonging,” said Keri Alioto, vice president for student affairs. “The Mount Mary mentors will not take the place of an academic advisor, but will serve as a go-to resource for them.”

There is solid academic reasoning behind a community-building program like this, Alioto said.

“We do know students who have a sense of belonging on our campus are more likely to persist and graduate. We have statistics that show that our cohort programs (Grace, Promise, Jewel, Caroline) have better first-year and retention rates.

“That personal one-on-one connection is a significant piece of our cohort programs, and creating the potential for meaningful relationships will enable us to move the marker on student success.”

New purchasing policy reflects commitment to minority- and women-owned businesses

Mount Mary has recently instituted a new policy that will support and develop relationships with Minority and WomenOwned Business Enterprises (MWBEs).

Every employee with delegated responsibility to influence or commit the expenditure of University funds for the purchase of goods and services shall encourage meaningful participation with MWBEs. For any expenditures over $75,000, leaders must identify and obtain quotes from these businesses. For any contracts or ongoing activities involving amounts less than $75,000, MMU team members are expected to identify and consider qualifying businesses.

The university is currently building a database of businesses and seeks assistance in developing this resource of information. If you have a business to recommend, email MMU-AccountsPayable@mtmary.edu. Mount Mary is open to exploring all credible sources of information about MWBEs in the greater Milwaukee area.

Alumnae show care for students with COVID-19

To comfort students in quarantine this semester, several alums came together in winter to gather donations and create care packages including goodies such as coloring books, fuzzy socks and spiced apple cider mix. Rachel Miers’16 and other alums also worked with Mount Mary’s alumnae relations team to make delivery drop-offs. To date, they have delivered 15 care packages. (We are glad the numbers are staying low because it means our students are staying safe!)

Design program updates name, lobbies Wisconsin legislature

Wisconsin lawmakers will soon review a bill that would enable Wisconsin Registered Interior Designers to stamp and seal some of their own commercial drawings within a non-structural, interior alteration capacity. Mount Mary students created a video in support of this legislation and a class representative will testify at a hearing in Madison. The video has also been picked up nationally by the American Society of Interior Designers as an example of advocacy in action.

Additionally, Mount Mary’s program in interior design has changed its name to Interior Architecture and Design, to better reflect the rigor of curriculum content while more strategically aligning with industry needs. The department also received approval for a post-baccalaureate certificate in interior architecture and design. This is the first (and only post-bac certificate) in interior design or interior architecture and design in Wisconsin.

CREO celebration of student fashion design moves online Video premiere event set for Friday, May 14

Following the trend of major design schools around the country, the CREO student designer fashion show will be presented virtually this spring, said Fashion Department Chair Ashley Brooks. The virtual premiere will take place Friday, May 14.

The video format enables students to spotlight garments in a variety of settings. Students will film segments at locations around Milwaukee that complement the garments and designs.

This format actually gives this class much greater creative freedom to experiment with storytelling and the look and feel of the show than the runway production does,” said Brooks. “The video format will also make

our show more accessible; we can share our students’ creations with a broader audience that isn’t tied to geography or a limited number of available seats. We want this production to go viral and make it around the globe!”

The fashion video format is a trend within the industry due to the pandemic that has some unexpected benefits, said Mount Mary Fashion Executive Fellow Donna Ricco, who is one of the coordinators of this year’s CREO presentation.

“The fashion industry began showing new collections virtually last summer, and now fashion schools around the world are featuring students’ creativity through some amazing virtual presentations,” Ricco said. “This video production is an exciting opportunity for Mount Mary fashion students to broaden their experience by conceptualizing the runway presentation in a whole new way.”

Garment by Myrianna Nelson, photo by Lindsey Kleppin. See page 19 for ticket information.

ACHIEVEMENTS ACCOLADES

FACULTY AND STAFF

Chris Belkofer, Ph.D., Art Therapy, keynoted an introduction to art therapy presentation at the annual Croatian Psychiatric Association Conference hosted viritually in Zagreb, Croatia.

Stephanie Beisbier, M.S., OTD, co-authored “Occupation and ActivityBased Interventions to Improve Performance of Activities of Daily Living, Play and Leisure for Children and Youth Ages 5-21: A Systematic Review,” in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2020.

Kathy Boyle, Ph.D., Biology, and Esther Calderon-Gierszal, Ph.D., Biology, were awarded a National Science Foundation grant for $1 million over the next five years to support the second cohort of Jewel Scholar students. They will focus on isolating antibiotics from the soil in a research project with important applications to the human population.

Kara Coleman, MBA, Business, was interviewed for a feature in the Wisconsin Institute of CPA’s CPA2b magazine. The article will discuss the 2021 job outlook for college graduates with accounting degrees.

Jeremy Edison, Ph.D., Mathematics, published “Ore Extensions and Infinite Triangularization,” in the Journal of Algebra.

Mary Fletcher, MBA, Business, serves as the faculty athletic representative to the athletics program, ensuring the success of student athletes. She was selected to receive a fellowship to attend the NCAA 2021 orientation, designed to orient and support new representatives in this role and build networks to establish goals for engagement in this role.

spirit of our founders

Each year, Mount Mary commemorates the courageous University founders by recognizing high-achieving students and awarding distinguished employees at Founders Day in late February.

Staff Award |

Carol Julin

Assistant for Advising Technology, Registrar’s Office Julin has served Mount Mary in multiple roles, beginning as a writing tutor in 2013. She is an adjunct instructor for the English department, and continues her tutoring with math and writing in the Student Success Center. She also founded the Sustainability committee and is a member of the Strategic Planning committee.

“On a day-to-day basis, I put the students, faculty and staff first. In essence, I try to make time for everyone and be as helpful as possible.”

Peter Clark

AWARDS GRANTED IN THE Administration Award

Network Administrator, Information Technology

Peter Clark has served the Mount Mary community for 22 years. His leadership skills are applied in his planning and managing the university’s computer infrastructure and security.

“Communication is the key. I help computers talk to each other, which in turn lets people talk to each other. Mount Mary has fostered my ability to help others communicate and connect.”

Faculty Award |

Marmy Clason, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of the Communication Deptartment Clason, a faculty member for 14 years, takes pride in how she pushes her students to think creatively to inspire the world, and she has a reputation for a great sense of humor.

“I teach, advise, schedule, hire, assess, evaluate, facilitate, engage write, present and probably still make two or three mistakes amongst this very forgiving and supportive community!”

Mother Caroline Student Award | Der Yang ’22

Yang values spreading her morals of compassion and genuine care into the community through her service to the local Hmong community, her family and Mount Mary’s Promise Program.

“I want to start a new generation with knowledge and confidence. I want to guide each of them to better opportunities and continue pursuing a higher education.”

Mother Theresa Student Award | Trisha Xiong ’22

Xiong advocates for her peers as the vice-president of the Asian Student Organization, social media coordinator for Theta Alpha Tri-beta, co-leader for InterVarsity, and as a volunteer at both her church and former high school.

“During this pandemic, violent hate crimes against the Asian community have been on the rise. As a leader, I try to voice my concerns on these topics and see what MMU can offer to those who are affected.”

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

Andréa Greer, M.S., Grace Scholars Director, was appointed to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-East Board for the 2021-2023 term as the Membership and Volunteer Coordinator.

Kara Groom, Ph.D., Nursing, wrote a research article, “Comparing Interprofessional Socialization in Mixed Discipline and Nursing Student-Only Cohorts,” that was accepted for publication in Nurse Educator.

Kari Inda, Ph.D., Occupational Therapy, is a contributing author for the second edition of the National Speech-Language Pathology Examination Review & Study Guide by TherapyEd, Ltd.

Lynn Kapitan, Ph.D., Art Therapy, keynoted “Resilient Community: A role for Community-Based Art for Social Transformation,” at the Second International Conference on Art, Culture, Craft, and Design, hosted virtually by the Institut Teknologi in Bandung, Indonesia. Additionally, Kapitan published a book chapter, “The Influence of the Studio in the Thinking and Practice of U.S. Art Therapists,” in Studio Art Therapy Today.

WALL OF HONOR

A new display in Notre Dame Hall recognizes the Alumnae Association awardees throughout the years. It is located just outside the Alumnae and Donor Relations Department. Stop by and check out the winners of the Madonna, Tower and President’s awards.

Melinda Kiltz, M.S.W., M.P.A., Social Work, completed work as an expert on digital content for Pearson Publishing in January 2021. The final electronic content (learning management application exercises and learning outcome quizzes) was published as part of “Introduction to Human Services: Through the Eyes of Practice Settings,” by Michelle Martin.

Paula Reiter, Ph.D., English, and Julie Tatlock, Ph.D., History, had a chapter entitled, “Enhancing Student Engagement in Online Courses,” published in “Handbook of Research on Developing Engaging Online Courses,” released in January.

Jane Rheineck, Ph.D., Counseling, published “Transitions for LGBTQ+ Older Adults: Trends, Disparities and Intersectional Counseling Practice” in the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex and Gender Expansive Identities virtual conference.

Genevieve Szeklinski, M.Arch., Interior Design and Architecture, was a panelist for the ASID-WI’s Government Affairs Day. This event discussed the interior design legislation currently being proposed and the state of interior design licensure. Szeklinski’s participation focused on design education.

Wendy Weaver, Ph.D., Dean for the College of Humanities, Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, serves as a leader on the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities’ Advisory Task Force for the Strong Start to Finish grant. She moderated “Advising and Alignment with Majors,” as part of the Persistence and Completion Series.

STUDENTS

Hannah Ashbach, a Caroline Scholar majoring in math, has been accepted into the Discrete REU summer program at Baruch College in New York City this summer to do research work in combinatorics, probability and related topics.

Sydney Schuck, a psychology and philosophy major, spoke at a continuing education seminar in Deerfield, Illinois for psychologists and post-doctorates hosted by The Chicago Dialectical Behavior Therapy Institute. She will be presenting on the harsh reality and dangers of the multimillion-dollar troubled teen industry, the breaking code silence movement and how to raise awareness.

Grants in Action

GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS STUDENT PERSISTENCE AND RETENTION

Read how Mount Mary is currently utilizing $9.53 MILLION in new and multi-year grants from federal agencies and national organizations to support programs, scholarships and thriving initiatives.

SDS Health Resources and Services Administration Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

$3.25 million

PromOTe Success Scholars have been attending monthly meetings where they have learned about best practices in occupational therapy and how to handle substance use disorders with patients. Fall 2020 speakers included Carrie King, Ph.D., who oversaw MMU’s previous Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) grant for the Clinical Mental Health Program, and Donna Costa, Ph.D., Professor and Program Director of the occupational therapy program at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. King shared insights on being a successful SDS scholar. Costa presented “The Opioid Crisis and the Role of Occupational Therapy.”

National Science Foundation S-STEM

$1 million

Mount Mary Jewel Scholars have been busy working on their annual hemoglobin projects, investigating and modeling three very diverse hemoglobin molecules. This year, they compared molecules from the bar-headed goose, greyhound dog and the gutless beard worm. The bar-headed goose is one of the world’s highest-flying birds, and the gutless beard worm lives at ocean depths up to 10,000 meters. The scholars will be presenting their projects and results to the American Society of Biochemistry at the Molecular Biology Protein Data Base 50th Symposium in May. This is a national symposium that will take place virtually, allowing scholars access to the event for the first time.

U.S. Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions

$3 million

Data from the grant’s Annual Performance Review shows increases in student retention rates and decrease in time to completion. Additionally, the Title III grant allowed MMU to hire student workers to assist the instructional designer in troubleshooting technology as classrooms navigated the transition to additional online and hybrid course modalities. The grant also provided a $195 stipend to scholars served by the grant to purchase course materials for the spring semester.

Members of the Jewel Scholars, a program funded through the National Science Foundation, compared molecules from three extraordinary creatures, the bar-headed goose (left), the gutless beard worm and the greyhound dog.

U.S. Department of Education TRIO Student Support Services

$1.3 million

Students enrolled in the Promise Program continued to experience success. At the end of the fall 2020 semester, 74% of Promise students had a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. In December, Promise students participated in a financial literacy workshop, where students learned about the importance of financial fitness. Students learned about credit scores, budgeting, how to set financial goals and how to achieve long-term financial health.

HHMI Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence

$1 million

The Inclusive Excellence project hosted two book clubs last semester. Faculty members Shawnee Daniel Sykes, Ph.D., and Kathleen Boyle, Ph.D., lead a reading of “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism,” by Robin DiAngelo. MMU’s Director of Visitor Services and President of the Latinx Taskforce, Gabriela Barbosa, led a reading of “Becoming Hispanic Serving Institutions: Opportunities for Colleges and Universities,” by Gina Ann Garcia. Several MMU faculty and staff participated in both readings and participated in discussions about related topics.

CLASS NOTES

Young alumnae RECOGNIZED in Milwaukee and Chicago

Two alumnae have been named to the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list for 2021, Michelle Glynn ’07, ’11 and Marilka Velez ’03.

Glynn ‘07 graduated with a B.A. in marketing and with her MBA from Mount Mary three years later. She is currently the Director of Wisconsin System Operations at WEC Energy Group. Through the skills she developed here she felt prepared for the challenges that she has encountered.

Mount Mary gave me the confidence and real-world experience to enter the workforce.

Velez ‘03 graduated with a B.A. in graphic design. She is currently the senior vice president for marketing at Associated Bank and has worked as an adjunct faculty at Mount Mary. She currently serves on the Alumnae and Donor Relations Committee that reports to the Board of Trustees.

My experience at Mount Mary University has been instrumental in my career growth and continues to be a touchstone,” she said. “Mount Mary is where I learned to find and use my voice confidently. The professors and faculty were important role models to me and taught me how to lead with humility and kindness and share my talent and opportunities with others through service to the community.

In Chicago, alumna Melissa Flores ’12 was named to Negocios Now’s list of Latinos 40 under 40 Class of 2020.

Flores ’12 graduated with her bachelor’s in English professional writing. She recently joined the Latino Policy Forum after working for three years in senior director roles at the Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago.

A 2021 New Leaders Council Fellow in Chicago, she is also part of the prestigious Civic Leadership Academy 2021 cohort at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. In 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker recognized her expertise and leadership by appointing her to serve as a commissioner on the Illinois Youth Budget Commission.

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1980-1989

1984 Cynthia LaConte was recognized as a notable alum in the March 29 issue of the Milwaukee BizTimes. She was recognized for her work building healthy communities as CEO and founder of the Dohmen Company Foundation and for the 2020 launch of the foundation’s Food for Health program.

1987 Kathleen Murphy Willer was the featured artist for ArtFest 2021 in Fort Myers, Fla. Her acrylic painting, “Dandelion Fan Flowers,” was used as the art for the festival’s posters and t-shirts.

1990-1999

1991 Tanya Gross was promoted to director of information technology service delivery at Trustmark in Lake Forest, Ill.

1996 & 2005 Amy Dedow started as the COVID-19 response coordinator for Mount Mary last November.

1996 Cheri Aker Sexton Yarborough has been included in the Marquis Who’s Who.

1997 Kim Malone is the co-host of a new podcast, “Both Sides of the Fence.”

1999 Pamela Olszewski

Collicott started as the senior GI (gastrointestinal) sales specialist at Syneos Health.

1999 Mary DuQuaine started as the director of the Mercy Center in Burlingame, Calif.

2000-2009

2003 Tracy Milkowski started as the vice president for development and communications at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

2004 Allison Swalboski DeCamillis started as the counseling manager at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Minneapolis. In 2019, “LISTEN/ Stories of Cancer and Resilience,” a project she worked on while the program director at Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, was nominated for an Upper Midwest Emmy.

2007 Becky White Abbott gave birth to her third son, Lachlen Grey, in January.

2007 Kathleen Pik Krebs published her first novel “Reflections: A Woman’s Spirit,” a collection of stories she wrote over the years.

2008 Emma Daisy Bouman Gertel curated the Bayshore mural project, capturing Milwaukee’s distinctive and different voices.

2010-2020

2010 Tiffany Watts Buell started as a recruiter at Lionrock Recovery.

2010 & 2018 Linda Duquaine Langen was featured in the December 2020 issue of the Shepherd Express for her work in the community connecting Native Americans with their cultures and building a strong support system for future generations. She works as a counselor in Milwaukee Public Schools.

2010 Patrice Moore now works as a clinician on the crisis assessment response team for Milwaukee County.

2011 Brittani Woodruff Simmons graduated from Capella University with her master of science in nursing in December 2020.

2012 Michelle Doege Ray started as the sales and marketing manager for Alliance Tax and Accounting Service, LLC in Brookfield, Wis.

Dandelion Fan Flowers, Kathleen Murphy Willer

2013 Sasha Solana Walton had her clothing line featured in the December 2020 issue of FabUplus magazine.

2014 Christine Evans helped with recipe development and testing oversight for an event interns in Mount Mary’s dietetic program hosted at Shepherds College. She works as the food and nutrition services manager/ executive chef at Froedtert in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

2014 Allison Kelly started as a freelance content writer for Artil Magazine. She also works full time as the brand strategy coordinator at Kohl’s Corporation in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

2014 & 2017 Ana Solano-Pacheco shared her expertise and experiences on stress, mental health and endof-year challenges for an episode of Milwaukee PBS’ “Adelante Pronto” podcast. She works as a bilingual family counselor at Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee.

2014 & 2019 Vanessa Villafuerte Rosas now works as a schoolbased psychotherapist at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers in Milwaukee. She has been accepted to the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology where she will earn her doctorate in psychology.

2014 Cindy Solano was promoted to the digital content and campaign coordinator for Batteries Plus Bulbs in Hartland, Wis.

2015 Ashley Grice founded The Creative Revival program, where she teaches passionate artists and entrepreneurs how to unlock their creative blocks and unleash their talents. She owns a design company, The Mannex, which prints art that promotes identity, self-awareness and self-love on clothing and lifestyle items. Soon, she will be launching a nonprofit called Ink to Impact that teaches kids art and sign language and builds awareness towards the deaf community.

2015 Yasmin Henderson Tucker is teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in art therapy at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Mount Mary this semester. She is also working with state senators to pass an art therapy act in Nebraska.

2016 Shelby Loosen Eckelberg’s company, Shelby Lynn Designs, won the invitation category for Wedding Wire’s 2021 Couple’s Choice Awards.

2016 & 2019 Paige Flanagan is now a fully licensed professional counselor. She works as a mental health therapist for Genesee Lake School in Oconomowoc, Wis.

2016 Ericka Lewandowski started as the director of operations at Marathon Machines in Milwaukee.

2016 Krista Olson’s business, KO Custom Stitching, was featured in the Colorado Springs Gazette. She sews custom hats for car shifters, coined “shifter beanies,” from recycled sweaters and other secondhand fabrics.

2017 Emily Williams Gil was promoted to senior graphic designer at FTD in Downers Grove, Ill. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their rescue dog.

2017 Sara Loeffelad was selected to serve on the American Society of Hand Therapy’s education committee. She works as a hand therapist at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis.

2017 Kinishewa Quinn started as a tax auditor for the Department of Revenue-Wisconsin Lottery in Milwaukee. She is currently working on her MBA at Mount Mary.

2017 Panyia Xiong now works as a production coordinator at Kohl’s Corporation in Menomonee Falls, Wis. She is a finalist in the Collective Vision Fashion’s virtual fashion competition.

2018 Emily Dachs started as a human resources specialist at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in Tomah, Wis.

2018 Kayla Urban Fettig was accepted into the UW-Milwaukee Ph.D. program in public rhetorics and community engagement. She received a Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award for her studies.

2018 & 2019 Christina Ishaq started as an occupational therapist at Exceptional Living Centers in West Allis, Wis., Renewal Rehab in Waukesha, Wis., and Aegis Therapies in Milwaukee.

2018 & 2019 Holly Monreal started as an occupational therapist at Enhance Rehabilitation and SSM Health – St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis.

2018 Logan Ormeroid was promoted to the director of rehabilitation for Enhance Rehabilitation in Waukesha, Wis.

2019 Maggie Bowen started as a paid social analyst at Haworth Marketing + Media in Minneapolis.

2019 Krystin Kantenwein Boyd started as an immigration paralegal at Fujitsu.

2019 Emma Larson was promoted to commercial account executive at LogRocket in Boston.

2019 Pang Kou Xiong transitioned to work as a Hmong bilingual probation officer and parole agent for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

2020 Quinn Clark was one of ten students accepted into Northwestern University’s prestigious graduate journalism program. As part of the investigative lab cohort, she will work directly with Washington Post reporters to learn the process of writing investigative pieces with a social justice focus.

2020 Viviana Martin Gomez started as a legal assistant at Laura Fernandez Immigration Law in West Allis, Wis. She got married last September.

2020 Jordan Green started as an interior designer at Creative Business Interiors in Milwaukee.

2020 Natasha Kalafatis started as an art therapist at Riveredge Hospital in Forest Park, Ill. and the women and children’s site supervisor for the Read to Learn Adult Literacy Volunteer Program in Arlington Heights, Ill.

2020 Johnelle Suto started as a certified phlebotomy technician at Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise, Ore.

2020 Brooke Uebersetzig started as a production chemist at Immucor, Inc.

TRINITY WOODS SET TO OPEN IN FALL

Trinity Woods is a new intergenerational housing community at Mount Mary University formed by the three-way partnership between Mount Mary University, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Milwaukee Catholic Home.

In addition to hosting private residences for the retired School Sisters of Notre Dame, local seniors and undergraduate Mount Mary University single mothers and their children under the age of 12, Trinity Woods will also feature early childhood development facilities for up to 100 children.

Wauwatosa Day Care and Learning Center (WDLC), a child care provider with 47 years of serving the Wauwatosa area, will manage the child care center. The 6,750 square-foot center will be open to the public and to the Mount Mary community, as well as the children who live with their mothers at Trinity Woods.

The community will also include full-service dining, a library, a salon and spa, a cinema and access to learning opportunities at Mount Mary.

Trinity Woods is now accepting applicants. Visit trinitywoods.com (seniors) or mtmary.edu/familyliving (students).

Live. Grow. Be well.

COMING FALL 2021

Spring is just around the corner! What better time to reconnect with MMU colleagues and return to where it all began. Trinity Woods will offer a lifestyle enhanced by unique intergenerational engagement, enriching MMU learning opportunities, dining experiences offering organic produce, and more—all on our beloved and expansive wooded campus.

Now Reserving Senior Apartments

Call today! 414-225-8252

Information Office:

Gerhardinger Center | Mount Mary University

TrinityWoods.com |

IN MEMORIAM

1944 Anne Michuda on 7/23/2019

1946 Marion Kitto Prochniak on 8/20/2018

1950 Patricia Regan Cologne on 10/28/2020

1951 Annie Laurie Gallagher on 1/10/2021

1951 Evelyn Knoth Haueter on 12/16/2020

1952 Patricia Reichard Gastreich on 1/19/2021

1952 Sister Mary Josephe Misevicz, SSND on 1/27/2021

1954 Sister Mary Alexius Portz, SSND on 12/13/2020

1956 Ann Squier Gough on 5/9/2020

1956 Sister Joan Emily Kaul, SSND on 12/14/2020

1956 Nancy Oliver McDonough on 12/2/2020

1957 Anne Hohmann Copps on 6/29/2012

1958 Sister Ellen Lorenz, SSND on 12/22/2020

1958 Gloria Rempe Murray on 8/28/2020

1959 Joanne Hummel Kubiak on 9/22/2020

1960 Sister M. Justin Wirth, SSND on 2/4/2021

1961 Sister Rose Marie Feess, SSND on 12/9/2020

1961 Mary Sigurdson Griggs on 12/11/2020

1961 Sister Mary Elva Wiesner, SSND on 12/9/2020

1962 Joan Kutchera Blatz on 10/27/2020

1962 Sister Michael Marie Laux, SSND on 12/14/2020

1962 Sister Dorothy Macintyre, SSND on 12/11/2020

1962 Mary Jo O’Malley Spalding on 4/26/2020

1962 Elizabeth Sobczynski White on 11/4/2020

1963 Madeline Miller Davidson on 12/15/2020

1963 Roberta Hankes Olshansky on 12/4/2020

1963 Jeanne Kasper Ulwelling on 10/29/2020

1964 Suzanne Hele Carlton on 12/26/2020

1964 Kathleen Harris Kraus on 11/12/2020

1964 Carla Kendziorski Waraksa on 1/29/2021

1965 Sister Cynthia Borman, SSND on 12/14/2020

1965 Sandra Kolloge* on 10/10/2020

1966 Sister Mary Johnalyn Witkowski, SSND on 2/7/2021

1968 Sister Marcene Schlosser, SSND on 12/14/2020

1969 Joan Janik Glodowski on 1/25/2021

1970 Terri Becker Merkel on 3/8/2021

1973 Marilyn Murphy Clark on 9/10/2020

1977 Debra Hintz* on 10/23/2020

1981 Debra Donahue on 1/2/2021

1984 Denise Soborowicz Dreiling on 5/22/2020

1984 Jane Hachey on 2/8/2021

1991 Julie Maziasz Ols on 12/19/2020

1992 Sister Lynne Berendsen, OCDS on 1/28/2021

1992 Stephanie Nelson Buchmann on 1/1/2021

1994 Darlene Anderson Logan on 4/6/2018

2012 Emily Kotecki on 11/9/2020

Community Supporter

Nancy Balcer* on December 6, 2020

*Fidelis Society member

The following is a list of deaths reported to us as of March 16, 2021.

Please contact the Office of Alumnae Relations at (414) 930-3025 or mmu-alumnae@mtmary.edu to notify us of the passing of an alum.

REFLECTION

By S. Joan Penzenstadler, SSND, Vice President for Mission and Identity

There is a lot of buzz surrounding the Trinity Woods venture these days with all the possibilities that could open up on campus for internships, interactions and innovations. I would like to reflect on Trinity Woods from another angle, how this move for us sisters is a profound part of our transformative process.

Ted Dunn, a clinical psychologist, offered his thoughts to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious on what work lies ahead for sisters in our society, and I wish to share some of those thoughts as we look ahead to Trinity Woods. With the rapidly changing demographics in religious communities, it is obvious that life cannot continue as it has in the past. We cannot maintain all of our properties, work harder, make slight shifts and avoid the day when the last one standing turns out the lights. We provide avenues into the future by risking new approaches. What is the rich soil of the past that will help us nurture into being what is yet to come? How do we discern what will help us plant the seeds that the future is calling for, and what old growth needs to be composted to make the ground even richer?

Wrestling with many questions, we School Sisters of Notre Dame move to Trinity Woods to begin a new approach in intergenerational living on a college campus. This change, in itself, is not to be equated with transformation. Transformation, as Dunn notes, “is an internal process, a journey that shifts the patterns, practices, norms and values, along with the structures that support these, realigning the soul with its outward expression.”

The School Sisters of Notre Dame are at a graced crossroads where we are choosing a road that has not been traveled before. Our Constitution states, “Trusting in divine providence

and in the community, we are freed for the service of God’s reign … Freed and trusting, we are ready to approach others openly in dialogue, to hope against hope, to accept privations, and to welcome insecurity.”

This crossroads is what the Celts called a “thin” time, where the doorway between the present world and the world of Spirit meet. Trinity Woods is offering such a threshold, inviting us to deeper connections with the divine. This kind of transformation is beyond our comprehension, but it does not come about without our cooperation. Martin Luther King, Jr. once wrote, “Human progress never rolls on the wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of [people] willing to be co-workers with God.”

Instead of precisely planning our future, we are trying to create the conditions for grace to proceed as we pack up, discard once-treasured articles and leave the halls that we have walked for over 160 years. We are dynamically living into a new way of being for the sake of the life that is yet to be. This is our mandate. “Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live”

[Deuteronomy 30:19].

S. Joan Penzenstadler, SSND

The School Sisters of Notre Dame are at a graced crossroads where we are choosing a road that has not been traveled before.

SISTER JOAN PENZENSTADLER

Any Percent Matters