VOLUME XXVIII NUMBER 2 | Fall & Winter 2018
MOUNT MARY MAGAZINE THE
STRENGTH OF OUR
STORIES SHARING PERSONAL NARRATIVES HELPS STUDENTS FIND THEIR CALLING
IT’S MORE THAN A CAMPUS — IT’S A
community. About this photo:
Our admissions and recruitment materials for this year celebrate sisterhood and the spirit of community present on campus at Mount Mary University. The photo above is the cover image for our 2018-19 viewbook, a 16-page booklet that showcases the many facets of academic programs and campus life. If you would like a copy of this viewbook to share with a prospective Mount Mary student in your life, email mmu-admissop@mtmary.edu.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
New student orientation in August featured a sunset cruise.
TABLE 4
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CONTENTS
The Strength of Our Stories: Finding your calling through personal narratives Student Essay: How I learned to write for others Strategic Planning: Moving Mount Mary forward Downtown Designers: Mount Mary’s alumnae revitalize Milwaukee
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Online
mtmary.edu
mtmary.edu/magazine
Calendar of Events
READ:
From the President
Student’s reflection on walking El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain
MMU Serves
Tribute to professor Maureen Leonard
Student Essay
LISTEN: Student interview with WTMJ News Radio on the longform journalism semester project about suicide prevention
Leading Lady Then & Now
ON THE COVER:
Student Spotlight
By sharing personal stories of discernment, students gain understanding of mission and vocation
Women's Leadership University Development Alumnae Spotlight Campus News Achievements & Accolades Class Notes In Memoriam Reflection
©2018 Mount Mary University Compiled by Mount Mary Office of University Marketing and Communications, Kathy Van Zeeland, Editor Contributors: Joan Hartin, Sister Joan Penzenstadler SSND, President Christine Pharr, Kou Vang, Julia Wachuta, Kayla White, Office of Alumnae and Donor Relations Mount Mary University is sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 1
Madonna Award Nomination Deadline 12/31/18
DECEMBER 2018 Christmas Luncheon – Milwaukee mtmary.edu/luncheon
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Christmas Luncheon – Chicago mtmary.edu/luncheon
Winter Commencement mtmary.edu/commencement
Madonna Award Nomination Deadline mtmary.edu/awardsnight
JANUARY 2019
26
Alumnae Association Breakfast and Class Delegate Meeting
FEBRUARY 2019
20
Giving Day
MARCH 2019
21
Voices of Leadership mtmary.edu/vol
MAY 2019
Jessica Shortall 3/21/19
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CREO mtmary.edu/creo
May Commencement mtmary.edu/commencement
For all of Mount Mary’s upcoming events, visit mtmary.edu.
Power Lunch
Mass in Our Lady Chapel
View recorded webinars at mtmary.edu/alumnae/learn
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at noon during the academic year.
Look for new ones in January, March and May of 2019.
Alumnae are always welcome to attend weekly Masses. For a schedule, visit mtmary.edu. Weekly Masses are generously sponsored by Therese Campos ’66.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
FROM PRESIDENT
Christine Pharr, Ph.D., President, Mount Mary University Dear Mount Mary Alumnae and Friends, As we enjoy the beautiful colors and chilly mornings of autumn, I am reminded again about the cycle of life’s beginnings and endings. It is only as we let go of the old that we can be reborn again to the spring of new ideas and ways of being. This is particularly relevant as we move into strategic planning here at the university.
not only a good investment, but also is becoming more valuable each year. Additionally, the Women’s College Coalition has completed research that shows that women’s college students have the following characteristics compared to women from co-educational institutions:
As another example of new endings and beginnings, the cover story is on vocation, which is a critical aspect of our students’ educational journey here at Mount Mary. According to author and theologian Frederick Buechner, “your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” The topic of this letter addresses how my vocation has met a great need — the value of an education.
• Over 81% of them go on to graduate school and 50% complete a graduate degree. • They are twice as likely to get into medical school. • They achieve more leadership positions, have higher salaries and report greater happiness in their lives. • They are more likely to graduate from college.
Over the past decade, the popular press has continued to make the case that higher education may not be worth it. They cite high cost, large debt upon completion and lack of jobs after graduation. While most of us know at least one person impacted by these challenges, there is significant data compiled by the National Association of College and University Business Officers which shows that college is
EDUCATION OUTCOME
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
$61,400 average annual salary $1 million more lifetime
$36,800 average annual salary
2.8%
5.4%
39%
16%
$328,511
$136,564
$1,304
$385
PERCENTAGE WHO VOLUNTEER
AVERAGE ANNUAL CHARITABLE DONATIONS HEALTH (percentage who smoke) LIFE SPAN
Blessings,
COLLEGE GRADUATES
UNEMPLOYMENT IN 2015
LIFETIME TAX CONTRIBUTIONS
If all this isn’t enough to convince you, let’s talk next time you are on campus. I’m a big believer in women’s education and an even bigger believer that education, single-sex or co-educational, changes lives for the better. I see it every day!
Men – 8%
Women – 6%
Men – 28%
Women – 23.5%
Men – 5 years longer Women – 3 years longer
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THE
STRENGTH OF OUR
STORIES Sharing personal narratives helps students find their calling
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COVER STORY
I
t is one of the most powerful and personal questions a person can ask of another:
How did you become who you are? The question is only seven words, yet the answer draws upon a lifetime of experiences. In order to help our students through the self-discovery process, members of the faculty, staff and administration are learning to express the stories of their own personal journeys. These conversations are building blocks that can lead to much larger discussions about vocation and purpose, said Sarah Olejniczak, dean for student affairs. “Vocation as a topic can be overwhelming,” she said. “Breaking the concept down into small, tangible pieces such as narratives can make this feel more attainable to our students, most of whom have had limited experience with the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation before coming here.”
Mount Mary is part of a select group of liberal arts colleges across the country that are creating pathways to make the topic more approachable. The Council of Independent Colleges-Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, also known as NetVUE, has funded a number of campus projects for the last three years. These projects have included reading groups, retreats, pilot projects and most recently professional development. Facilitators from the local storytelling organization Ex Fabula conducted training in October; by the end of March, some 150 members of the Mount Mary community will be trained in sharing purposeful vocational narratives. It is not uncommon for Olejniczak to meet with students who are in crisis — it is part of her job to address students’ academic and personal issues with them. Sometimes she shares her own story, a turning point that helped shape her identity.
Sarah Olejniczak, dean for student affairs
After an unsatisfying first semester of college biology, she realized that she no longer wanted to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. “It was an identity crisis,” she said. She switched first to education, then business. Through all the changes, she worked as a resident assistant in her college dormitory. She was so successful at her job that one of her supervisors encouraged her to consider a career in higher education. “Someone saw something in me and helped me turn on the light bulb,” Olejniczak said. They Continued on page 6
What is a VOCATIONAL NARRATIVE?
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It’s your story — and more. Identifying one’s vocation involves matching personal skills and interests with the needs of the world.
Institutions can have narratives, too. The School Sisters of Notre Dame articulate their vocation and calling right in the title of their Constitution, “You Are Sent.”
Failures and false starts are just as important to your story as your successes. Each twist and turn represents your ability
to take a new direction and refocus your path.
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These stories are never complete. Connecting our strengths with the needs of the world is a never-ending journey.
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You don’t need words. Some Mount Mary faculty have shared their stories through music and poetry.
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COVER STORY WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CENTER Continued from page 5
helped her realize that her personal gifts and talents could be used in a way that served a greater good. “It was a pivotal moment in my vocational journey.” Jason Meyler, assistant professor of Spanish and chair of the World Languages Department, has also led the vocational initiative on campus. He said he cannot trace the beginning of his vocational journey to a single moment; his narrative started as an infant, adopted from Bogata, Columbia. He was raised in suburban New Jersey and spoke no Spanish until some Puerto Rican neighbors introduced him to Spanish food and culture. He studied Spanish in college and studied abroad, eventually returning to Bogota on a Fulbright scholarship at the age of 23. He tells his story in Spanish and often discusses such topics in Spanish with his students. “There is no better place to share your vocational story than with a college population,” he said. Colleges and universities rooted in the liberal arts are particularly well suited to undertake the task of educating future leaders who are theologically literate, whose attitudes and behaviors are shaped by their values and commitments, and who are eager to sustain a life of service that is guided by a sense of calling, Olejniczak said. As Mount Mary launches a new initiative in fall 2019 aimed at assisting undecided students to discern their major and career path, the program will be distinctive, in part because the exploration process for students will be embedded in the deeper context of purpose, mission and vocation.
Project:
“Our students know that answering the question of who I am isn’t just my major,” Olejniczak said. “They recognize that life is a journey.” Turn to page 36 for a reflection written by S. Joan Penzenstadler SSND on purpose and vocation in the SSND tradition.
Sharing PURPOSEFUL NARRATIVES
Funder: Council of
Independent Colleges Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) AMOUNT: $10,000
This is Mount Mary’s third NetVUE grant since 2016, bringing the total support for our vocational initiatives to $60,000.
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Jason Meyler, assistant professor of Spanish and chair of the World Languages Department
Purpose: This grant will support a new
campus-wide vocational initiative that will benefit all students, especially undecided students by providing the MMU community with professional development opportunities on communicating personal narratives.
MMU SERVES
Mount Mary assists dozens of local organizations with
creative
PROBLEM SOLVING
Organizations present real-world challenges, and Mount Mary community members use their newfound skills to listen and brainstorm solutions. Through design thinking, a strategy for addressing challenges creatively and responsively, members of the Mount Mary community have applied this skill to serve some 40 Milwaukee area organizations. This initiative began in 2013 and five years later, the design thinking process has been introduced across campus, both in the classroom and through annual workshops for faculty and staff. During the learning sessions, local agencies and organizations present real-world challenges, and Mount Mary community members use these newfound skills to listen and brainstorm solutions. This summer, Lake Valley Camp brought some of their challenges to the Mount Mary design thinking workshop for faculty and staff. Amanda Panciera, Lake Valley Camp director of administration, said that Mount Mary workshop participants shared a variety of well-planned, relevant, thoughtful and useful solutions. “Since then, during several key planning conversations we think, ‘What did Mount Mary suggest?’ and realize we have answers right in front of us,” she said. Some of the issues the group tackled included marketing and branding and how to increase volunteer and community support.
testing. The process generates hyper-focused solutions from a wide array of research, listening and feedback from stakeholders. Deb Dosemagen, Education Department chair and co-leader of the design thinking workshops for faculty, reflects on how Mount Mary makes a difference in the community. “Having the opportunity to work with community non-profits as part of the design thinking process has been invaluable. It gives students, faculty, and staff the chance to engage in an authentic process with real people and real challenges.” Community leaders such as Panciera said that organizations like Lake Valley Camp reap even more immediate benefits. “We left feeling energized and excited about the possibilities presented to us, and also felt like we’d gained 20+ new supporters who felt passionate about our mission and work,” she said.
The five stages of design thinking, or human-centered design, are empathy, definition, ideation, prototype and
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STUDENT ESSAY
At this point we were no longer just student reporters. We had become part of a community that was fighting for the same goal.
HOW I LEARNED TO WRITE FOR OTHERS STU DEN T E S SAY BY J ULI A WACH UTA
I was shaking as I held my phone in my hand. I had to call this number to reach the deputy fire chief. There was no email listed, and I was short on sources. It had to be done. But would they take a student reporter like me seriously? This story was going to be important. I picked up my phone, inhaled and exhaled slowly, then hit the green button. This past spring semester, I had the privilege to be a part of Laura Otto’s longform journalism class. The class created a semester-long project on the subject of suicide prevention, which resulted in a multimedia website. Longform journalism is a style of reporting that enables a reporter to cover one topic or story extensively over a longer period. Doing so allows more specific details to be reported, along with more angles. When it came time to choose our subject, the class voted for the topic of suicide prevention. When it was assigned, I wasn’t happy about it. I had been hoping for something a little more original. Little did I know how much I would come to appreciate the many facets of this project.
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At first, we struggled. In trying to find sources, some people had not gotten replies and others had been denied interviews. I was struggling to break out of my comfort zone and contact a man that I knew would be an excellent source. This required a phone call to contact a Milwaukee deputy fire chief who had prevented someone from jumping off the Hoan Bridge. Eventually I swallowed my fear and dialed the phone. In no time, I had an interview scheduled with a knowledgeable source. Around this time, other students were busy emailing a variety of sources: survivors, medical professionals, mental health professionals, professors and organization members. We had no idea that one email would change the whole course of our project. When we contacted Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee, its chairperson, Barbara Moser, was more than happy to help. She volunteered to speak to our class, invited us to a quarterly meeting, introduced us to more sources and invited us to a showing of the movie Suicide: The Ripple Effect. At this point we were no longer just student reporters. We had become part of a community that was fighting for the same goal.
STUDENT ESSAY
In the end, our project certainly received a lot of attention, as it was released around the time of the high-profile suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade. When this project began, I thought it was going to be just another assignment. In reality, there was purpose in our efforts, as our stories met a public need. The fight against suicide is far from over. This is why journalism is important. Reporters tell the stories that would otherwise remain silent. They recognize that all it takes is one good story to open someone’s eyes or spark the need for change in a community.
View this student project at www.stopsuicidemke.com.
What happened next?
I’m so grateful that I took the risk and enrolled in the class. I walked through the door in January thinking that I was taking this class just for me. After everything, I feel like a more complete person, not only because of the writing, but because of the people that I came to know, learn about and relate to.
Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee asked us to present our finished project at it's June quarterly meeting. The members were excited to see what our class had done with their contribution.
Through this class, I realized that I was not writing for myself anymore, but for every pair of eyes that read my articles.
One of our students, Branwyn, was interviewed on WTMJ radio about the project. People are noticing our work.
Julia Wachuta is a junior majoring in English with a specialty in Writing for New Media. She is minoring in business and Spanish. She is also the managing editor of Arches.
We spread the website around on our social media pages after the recent celebrity suicides. The project quickly got well over 400 views, and the number is still growing.
To listen to the interview, visit magazine.mtmary.edu.
— Julia Wachuta
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STRATEGIC PLANNING
Reaching beyond
the now
STRATEGIC PLANNING WILL BRING MOUNT MARY TO A NEW AND DIFFERENT PLACE BY C HR I S T I NE P H A R R, P R E S I D E NT
True leadership comes from vision. And I believe visionsetting is a community process. As Mount Mary enters the last year of the 2016-2019 strategic plan, it is time to consider our way forward into the future. Because I care deeply about this process and your role as an alumna and lifelong friend, I’d like to explain why this matters to those of us who value Mount Mary’s agility in providing an education that is responsive to our modern needs, yet timeless in values. To start with, let’s define what it means for a plan to be strategic: This type of planning must distinguish between good ideas, operational initiatives, tactics and truly strategic initiatives. In my view, these initiatives must differentiate Mount Mary from the many higher education competitors in the Milwaukee area. During this stage of gazing into the blue sky of the future, our ideas represent dreams and wishes that may — or may not
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— ever be realized: a renovated theater for the fashion program, an opportunity to have your ashes entombed on the outside walls of the building, an intergenerational residence hall for students, single mothers with children and School Sisters of Notre Dame, and tuition relief. The sense of care for our students was strong during these sessions, as proposals for additional student support abounded. The task before the strategic planning committee will now be to meet and assemble this information into meaningful focus areas. Holding the future of the college in our hands is no small task and yet I cannot imagine being in a more innovative and people-focused institution than Mount Mary as we envision a future that develops bright, bold, courageous women who will carry forward our mission.
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Strategic planning at a glance 1
and collaboration; research/innovation; and preparing women for the world of work. At the end of the day, each small group of participants presented their best ideas in a modified “Shark Tank” presentation to the shark panelists that included Doug Dietz, Karen Friedlen, vice president for academic and student affairs and Christine Pharr, president.
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INCLUDE ALL STAKEHOLDERS
The second strategic planning session took place at a Board of Trustees retreat on Sept. 6 and 7. Participants included board members, President’s Council, alumnae, community members and a few MMU faculty and staff. Susan Marshall, a long-time strategic facilitator with extensive experience, facilitated this session.
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ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY
The strategic planning process kicked off on August 21 at the All-University Workshop with fireside chats facilitated by Doug Dietz, a design thinking expert and “chief innovation architect” at GE Healthcare. Small groups of parents, students and employees presented their perspectives on their Mount Mary experience. The lighthearted tone continued as all the workshop participants were given top-secret spy envelopes to brainstorm ideas around academic programs; technology trends; wellness; co-curricular programs; partnerships
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CATEGORIZE AND FOCUS
The task before the strategic planning committee will now be to meet and assemble this information into meaningful focus areas with subcategories and tactics under each. This work should be completed by November, when it will go back to stakeholders for further review and input.
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STAY TUNED
In the spring semester, the strategic planning committee will continue to revise the strategic plan, taking into account additional input from stakeholders. A finalized version of the strategic plan will be presented to President Pharr by the end of May, and she will then present the strategic plan to the Mount Mary Board of Trustees. The finalized plan will begin to be implemented in fall 2019.
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LEADING LADY
LEADING LADY Lynn Diener TRANSFORMING SCIENCE EDUCATION Lynn Diener, professor and sciences department chair, can prove to students that science and creativity are not exclusive to one another. And with an office full of colorful 3D models and past student projects, the evidence is conclusive. “Students have said, ‘I chose science because I am not a creative person.’ And I remind them that they are creative, just not in the way they’ve been told,” she said. Diener, who holds a Ph.D. in molecular and environmental toxicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison serves as program director of the $1 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The purpose of the grant is to break down barriers to learning for women in STEM, through university-wide trainings and new opportunities for students. Science is comprised of asking questions and seeking the answers to those questions, which uses creative, innovative and analytical thinking skills. During this process, Diener encourages her students to make mistakes, which often serve as the best form of learning. Through Diener’s fellowship with the Milwaukee Public Museum, her ecology students participate in interactive learning by examining the museum’s exhibits and reporting their findings. Diener was selected through a competitive proposal process, and implemented the curriculum in her ecology class two years ago. Diener also plays an active role in several professional organizations. She serves on the National Science Teachers’ Association, the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers, and the Expanding Your Horizons Network (EYHN), which creates STEM-based learning opportunities for middle-school and high-school girls.
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THEN AND NOW
Mount Mary Un
Arches Mount Mary University Fall 2018
66% of sexual assaults go unreported It’s time to speak out p. 27
Day Care to No Care Child Care Center Gone but Not Forgotten
p. 2
Community of Hope The Future of Bronzeville Looking Up
p. 11
“I have always been dedicated to helping young women and girls be successful in STEM,” Diener said. “I believe that women can change the world, and an important part of that is being involved in STEM, where a great deal of really important and innovative work is occurring.” And as Mount Mary continues to educate women to transform the world, Diener is playing an important role in upholding that mission by preparing women for science-related careers. “Students have entered careers right after graduation, pursued advanced degrees in graduate school, professional programs and medical school,” she said. “Our students come back and tell us how well their degrees prepared them to be successful in whatever they do next. “I am proud to have gotten the chance to help them toward their careers and future.”
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THEN & NOW It was 1930 when Mount Mary’s student publication made its first debut and as you can imagine, it was vastly different from the publication we know today. The newspaper with the handwritten headlines was called the Mount Mary Herald, then The Periscope and later The Mount Mary Times. In the ‘50s, the name was shortened to The Times. For many years, Arches was referred to as the yearbook, which was eventually discontinued. In the 1970s, The Times was retitled Arches, and the publication became a part of the curriculum instead of an after-school activity. Today, Arches is open to students across campus, including the English Writing for New Media majors, and is a multimedia platform that has adapted to the media and technology of our time. In addition to the printed magazine, students write a blog, publish an online news magazine and maintain social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and most recently, Instagram. This spring, Arches introduced its first online issue that featured moving graphics. In 2013 Linda Barrington, Arches design advisor, sifted through the archives to put together a detailed history of Arches for Mount Mary’s centennial celebration. She noticed there has been one constant through the years.
Arches was recognized as among the top five percent of all college magazines last year, “The Times was winning awards all the time,” according to the Associated Collegiate Barrington said. “Members of the staff were going Press. Each year Arches also competes — and wins — against much larger to conventions and competing.” college publications through the Even though the times may change — and so has Midwest College Journalism Convention and the Milwaukee the name — the Arches commitment to delivering Press Club. high-quality news has not.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
PIONEERING ART THERAPIST SAYS PROGRAM HAS HELPED FOCUS AND INSPIRE HER WORK
J
essica Stallings has an impressive list of credentials: she is an award-winning researcher, clinician and leading expert in the application of art therapy with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. She is a Mount Mary student, too.
Jessica Stallings
For the past three summers, she’s taken the time out of her professional schedule to come here from her home in Kansas as part of Mount Mary’s doctoral program in art therapy. The program is low-residency, meaning professionals like Stallings take classes and conference throughout the year online, and come together in August for two intensive weeks of learning, sharing and art making. “The program was developed for professionals who can integrate our work into our doctorate,” she said.
Meggan Tigges's artwork "Prowess" acrylic on mixed media on wood
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Stallings has worked as an art therapist since 2005 and for the past 10 years has been an associate professor at Emporia
Liz Mueller's "Ode to the Soft at Heart" mixed media.
State University in Kansas, the only public institution in the Plains area that has an art therapy program. There, she helped develop a certificate program for autism spectrum disorders. Her doctoral research centers on how to work most effectively with clients with autism through incorporating their special interests into the therapy. For example, if a client is passionate about a particular video game, Stallings believes that effective therapy should involve those characters in art projects and role-play. This builds a connection to the therapist, and helps put some distance between the individuals and the problems they might be facing.
Emily Drenovsky's "Cultural Compass" collage and paint.
This move back into clinical work was partly inspired by her doctoral research, and her experience at Mount Mary. “I’ve had the opportunity to look at the changes I want to be able to affect,” she said. These changes include greater accessibility to art therapy, and advocating for insurance reimbursement for art therapy treatment for autism, as this is oftentimes not part of standard coverage. She is also formulating a proposal to establish graduate programs in art therapy within the university system in Nebraska.
“If a situation is happening to a character, and not themselves, it helps them externalize the issues,” she said. “People can be guarded. This approach allows a distancing — and that barrier provides comfort.”
“The ability for practicing art therapists to converge at Mount Mary to become leaders in their profession brings about a creative synergy between the university — the first in the nation to offer a doctorate in art therapy — and the students,” said Lynn Kapitan, art therapy professor and director of the doctoral program.
Last fall, Stallings received a Rawley Silver Research Award from the American Art Therapy Association for her research.
“Together they inspire one another to stretch beyond the comfort zone of everyday practice and set the world on fire with their pioneering visions,” she said.
Stallings will graduate in May, and said she will come away with a new set of skills and a new focus to her career. She is finishing out her academic year at Emporia State and setting up a clinical practice 225 miles north, in Omaha, Neb. She will provide one-on-one and group inpatient counseling and create treatment plans for youth transitioning out of residential psychiatric care.
“Their work ripples out in all directions and draws future generations of artists, practitioners, researchers and leaders to Mount Mary University.” Turn to page 30 to learn more about the work of Mount Mary’s art therapy doctoral students.
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WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
PARTNERS in LEADERSHIP
The Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) at Mount Mary University currently offers two signature programs — Voices of Leadership and the Summer Leadership Academy — that are made possible through grants and corporate sponsorships. New partners for the 2018-19 academic year include the Brewers Community Foundation and Inspirio Youth Ministries. The Brewers Community Foundation and Inspirio Youth Ministries have specifically directed funding towards the Summer Leadership Academy scheduled for June 23-26, 2019.
WLI. “The Academy nurtures these young women by promoting self-awareness and developing vital skills in leadership, ethics, confidence, communication and care for others. It also provides them with a window into preparing for the college experience.”
Brewers Community Foundation and Inspirio Corporate and foundation partners of WLI and the university support Youth Ministries inspirational leaders and leadership opportunities for their support the Women’s development employees. Not only do partners Leadership Institute have access to a talent pipeline, they
During the three-day residential program for young women in high school, panels, lectures and interactive workshops will be presented by speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including law, business, education and non-profits. “The Summer Leadership Academy provides a tremendous opportunity to develop leadership skills and prepare these young women for success in college and beyond,” said Anne Kahl, interim director of the
can inspire MMU students through valuable mentoring and internship experiences. They can also provide once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunities through scholarships for young women in the community to attend WLI programs. Corporate and foundation partners are also invited to support Jessica Shortall’s campus presentation on March 21, 2019 for the annual Voices of Leadership event, an opportunity that is open to the entire community and is sure to be insightful for both women and men.
To learn more about partnership opportunities, please contact Anne Kahl, Interim Director of WLI and the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, at (414) 930-3248 or kahla@mtmary.edu.
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Just Announced:
VOICES OF LEADERSHIP SPEAKER
Jessica Shortall MARCH 21, 2019 In a talk designed to be thoughtprovoking, funny and emotional, social activist Jessica Shortall will delve into the myriad of ways our culture reinforces gender roles in work and caregiving. In her presentation, “What We Tell Ourselves About Gender and Work,” Jessica will share her eclectic background that, through its many facets, has stayed rooted to the idea of positive social impact. Don’t miss this morning of big ideas that examine how we, individually and as organizations, can start to find our way past gender stereotypes that limit realities of how men and women can fully participate in both work and family. To learn more about Shortall and to register, visit www.mtmary.edu/vol.
WLI exists to educate, prepare and inspire women of all ages to become thoughtful, self-aware and confident leaders in every stage and aspect of life. The Institute not only enhances the educational experience of current MMU students with its programming and the professional experience for faculty and staff, but it reaches beyond the campus confines to engage alumnae, encourage relationships with business leaders and community organizations, and inspire prospective students to enroll.
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DOWNTOWN
DESIGNERS
Mount Mary’s alumnae set the vision for the city’s newest spaces
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hen Colliers International moved into the newly constructed office at 833 E. Michigan St. in downtown Milwaukee, the real estate firm wanted a space that could depict its status in the community — and in the world. “They wanted to increase employee and visitor engagement by using glass for visual transparency and a central thoroughfare that showcases the hustle and activity of the office,” said interior designer Michelle Kempen ‘11. “They wanted a space that said ‘we are a global leader,’ one that matched the level of service they provide.” Kempen led the sleek, minimalist design of the space, clean lines punctuated with stripes of neon blue lighting running across the ceiling. The blue lights visually connect the work center to the spectacular view of Lake Michigan and the world beyond. Through her employer, Kahler Slater, Kempen has lent her creativity to the design of Milwaukee’s newest spaces, including many other tenants in the building. The building was named the Milwaukee Business Journal’s real estate project of the year in 2017. She is among the Mount Mary design alumnae who are helping Milwaukee’s revitalization to take shape. “It’s an exciting time for Milwaukee,” said Meg McKenna, director of development for VISIT Milwaukee. “Developers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders are coming together to breathe new life into both the downtown core and the adjacent neighborhoods. We know from our over 23 million leisure and business travelers each year that Milwaukee continues to surprise and delight, and that there is a different energy in the air.” As the co-lead interior designer along with Populous out of Kansas City, Jackie Posselt ‘98, is at the head of arguably the city’s most celebrated project, the Fiserv Forum. As a senior interior designer and shareholder at Eppstein Uhen Architects, she has worked extensively with the Bucks, not only on the forum but also the design of the Bucks headquarters in historic Stock House at Schlitz Park. Michelle Kempen '11, an interior designer with Kahler Slater, designed the Milwaukee office of Colliers International. This high-rise office building was recognized as one of the 2017 real estate projects of the year by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
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DOWNTOWN DESIGNERS
For this project, completed in 2015, the Bucks wanted to accent the warehouse feel and exposed surfaces of the hundred year-old space while accommodating new technology and incorporating modern touches. “I wouldn’t do a design project without Jackie because she is a valued partner, she understands our brand and is integral to the design process,” Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin stated on the Eppstein Uhen website. Many influential designers with ties to Mount Mary continue to foster the creative pipeline from campus to downtown. Posselt and Kempen are regular guest lecturers at Mount Mary. “Our interior design students benefit greatly from the real-world examples of the alums that have come before them,” said Gigi Szeklinski, chair of Mount Mary’s interior design department. “It’s easy for them to envision themselves becoming part of Milwaukee’s new energy. Students and alumnae alike understand that this connectedness is an important facet to our program.” Mary LaFrombois, interior designer for Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s new concert hall for Kahler Slater, serves on Mount Mary’s interior design advisory board. She is also engaged in renovations at the Milwaukee Athletic Club and has worked on several office suites, including ones in the new 833 East Michigan building for WEC Energy Group
Mary LaFrombois
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executive Gale Klappa and for former baseball commissioner Bud Selig. “Mount Mary designers are well prepared to help lead the growth and future of Milwaukee,” LaFrombois said. “It’s exciting to see such talented graduates involved in the renaissance of Milwaukee.” Each year, Lisa Blazek ’97, an interior designer who serves on the department’s advisory board, looks forward to the ASID interior design awards to check out the most recent work of fellow Mount Mary designers, “that’s when we get to see the impact they are having,” she said. Blazek is particularly impressed with the trend she is seeing in making each project distinctive through the use of custom-made signature pieces by local artisans. These signature touches are present, even on the largest of projects such as Posselt’s work on the Fiserv Forum. “I love the shift of the ‘Makers Movement,’ and I am trying to incorporate handmade and even
Mary LaFrombois, interior designer for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra project on Wisconsin Avenue, blends contemporary design with historic renovations. Pictured here are renderings of the pre-function space (left) and performance hall (right) currently under construction. LaFrombois serves on Mount Mary's interior design advisory board.
DOWNTOWN DESIGNERS
Jackie Posselt ‘98 of Eppstein Uhen Architects led the design at the Froedert & Medical college Sports Science Institute, Godfrey & Kahn's office in the 833 Building & the Milwaukee Bucks headquarters in Schlitz Park.
Michelle Kempen '11 is comfortable designing residential spaces, such as Vantage on the Park (formerly the Park East Hotel located on the corner of State and Marshall Streets), as well as corporate offices such as Colliers International at 833 E. Michigan St.
local products into my designs where I can,” Posselt said. “For example, while designing several areas of the new Fiserv Forum, I chose to use Scathain, a local manufacturer in Milwaukee’s 5th Ward for various metalwork pieces.” Another key differentiator that sets Mount Mary alumnae apart is a commitment to practicality, Kempen said. “Creativity is innate in all of us,” Kempen said. “But there is a lot of reality to the design work. When I work with another Mount Mary alum I know they will have the ability to meet schedule, budget and understand building codes.” They will know everything that it takes to turn vision into reality, she said. “That’s what makes a great interior designer.”
FALl/WINTER 2018 | 21
UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT
MAKE AN
ON CURRENT STUDENTS THROUGH MOUNT MARY’S ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
Gifts to Mount Mary provide a vital source of restricted and unrestricted operating income. Mount Mary’s annual campaign is a great way for alums and friends to support the lives of students today. Because annual gifts are expendable during the year they are received, your gift has an immediate impact on our students and the university. The strength of collective giving is powerful! Support at all levels from the entire community — alums and friends alike — is needed to ensure that Mount Mary’s tradition of academic excellence continues to advance.
MOUNT MARY FUND
Although some gifts arrive designated for specific scholarships or academic departments, gifts to the Mount Mary Fund allows the greatest flexibility for Mount Mary to support institutional
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mtmary.edu/give
priorities and the most pressing needs of our students. Examples include general scholarships and financial aid, student organizations, campus landscaping, faculty/ staff development, classroom upgrades, program or technological enhancements and more. Continued support and growth of the Mount Mary Fund is critical for our success. Your annual gift allows Mount Mary to replenish the resources needed to continue offering an outstanding education
Mount Mary formed the values and principles that crystalized what I deem important in my life. Little did I know then that I would be fortunate to walk away with a fine education and a bonus of friendships that have lasted so many years. ROBERTA HANKES OLSHANSKY ‘63
UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT
D
EL
T
FI
at an affordable cost. Your investment is put right to work sustaining Mount Mary’s mission of transforming lives through education.
Y
Members of Mount Mary's Promise Program gathered for a daylong retreat in October.
IS SOC
IE
GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Scholarship support continues to be one of the most important needs at Mount Mary University. Making education affordable is essential and scholarship assistance is often the deciding factor for many. One hundred percent of Mount Mary’s full-time undergraduate students receive financial aid and many work one to two jobs on campus or in the community to support the cost of their education. This year, Mount Mary provided $11 million in student aid. Less than 10 percent of that current need is met by the scholarship endowment’s annual spending allowance. The remainder must be drawn from the general scholarship fund, or the general operating budget, diverting resources from other university priorities. Your gift to the General Scholarship Fund is vital for recruiting and retaining
students. As the economic landscape continues to shift, general scholarship support helps students lessen the enormous worry of tuition payments and focus more on their higher learning.
ENDOWMENT SUPPORT
Stocks
Mount Mary’s endowment provides academic excellence for future generations who walk through the arches. Throughout Mount Mary’s history, gifts and bequests have increased the principal of the endowment, which is never spent, and an amount of the annual interest, determined by the University Spending Policy (currently five percent), is used for scholarships, building, and academic purposes as designated by the donor. A named endowment fund is established with an outright gift of $25,000 or above. Donors may also make an endowment pledge and take up to five years to fully fund it.
IRA Charitable Distribution
Donors making annual contributions to the endowment will help ensure the future of Mount Mary’s mission and vision while addressing the pressing needs of Mount Mary today.
Matching Gifts
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 23
ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
Sisters come together to create the Luxem legacy In 1942 she was known as Sister Mary Ignatia, Mount Mary’s registrar, but to the three Luxem sisters she was “Aunt Mamie.” Every summer the girls would travel from Indiana to visit their aunt, and those fond memories began the sisters’ lifelong commitment to Mount Mary. Staying in the dorms, eating in the dining room with the Sisters and staff, and playing with the switchboard were childhood favorites during those summer visits. It was through these visits Mary Ellen Luxem ‘68, Nancy Luxem Bynan ‘62, and Catherine “Kay” Luxem Fogel ‘58, came to know Mount Mary as a warm and inviting place. During Sister Mary Ignatia’s 18 years at Mount Mary, she was able see two of her nieces attend. Their aunt, Sister Eucharita, was one of the first SSND missionaries to be sent to Guam and frequently wrote letters to the Luxems. She also inspired the sisters’ commitment to a Catholic education. The sisters, all first-generation college graduates, share how their parents worked hard to make their goals of attending Mount Mary come true. A $100 scholarship to Mount Mary was awarded to each sister and influenced their decision to attend.
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The impact of this scholarship later led the sisters to establish a scholarship of their own. The sisters donated $26,000 to start the The Luxem Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, offered in various amounts to social work majors, chosen in support of Mary Ellen's and Nancy’s careers in social work. “Scholarships made it possible for us to attend Mount Mary, and we wanted other students to be given the same opportunity,” Mary Ellen said. “We also wanted to honor the Luxem family legacy. It started at Mount Mary in 1942 and will continue for years to come.” The sisters fondly remember the unique, personal experience Mount Mary provided, which allowed them to learn, grow and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. This lasting impact inspired the sisters to support Mount Mary, both financially and through volunteer involvement since their graduations. “We hope others will have the same opportunity to develop their character, find opportunities to better themselves, and contribute to the diverse world they live in.” Mount Mary has a strong tradition of legacy families, providing the Mount Mary experience to multiple family members. Is there someone in your family today to follow in your footsteps? Visit www.mtmary.edu/refer.
CAMPUS NEWS Campus pays tribute to beloved professor Students, faculty and staff gathered for a memorial service this summer for biology professor Maureen Leonard, who passed away unexpectedly on July 5. Leonard had been a member of the faculty since 2009. Leonard was often recognized for her teaching style by having “flipped” her microbiology class. She posted her lectures online and used class time to help students learn how to think critically and problem solve in microbiology. Leonard also worked behind the scenes, helping Mount Mary apply for and administer federal grants. Leonard was the principal investigator on the National Science Foundation's $650,000 grant to establish the Jewel Scholar program, annually providing scholarships and programming for 18 low-income, academically talented students in STEM majors. At the service, one student commented,“Many of us would not be aware of our potential if it wasn’t for you. We made you crazy and vice versa, but your classes always came with a laugh. We hope our future works make you proud ... We really loved being a part of your life.” To read the full tribute to professor Maureen Leonard, visit mtmary.edu/magazine.
THEATER LEGEND’S ICONIC CLOTHING RETURNS TO THE LIMELIGHT Evening gowns, dresses and accessories worn by Lynne Fontanne have returned to her Wisconsin estate for an exhibit that showcases the theater legend’s personal style and her influence on 20th century fashion. All of the items on display at Ten Chimneys come from Mount Mary’s Historic Costume Collection and will be on display through Dec. 2. “Lynn Fontanne is best remembered with husband Alfred Lunt as half of the greatest acting team in the history of American theater, but Fontanne also was a creative designer in her own right, as well as an inspiring force in 20th century fashion,” said Ashley Brooks, chair of Mount Mary’s fashion department. Brooks also delivered a presentation celebrating Fontanne and her influential style at a lecture hosted at Ten Chimneys in September. The estate, a National Historic Landmark, is located 25 miles southwest of campus in the picturesque town of Genesee Depot.
FALL/WINTER 2018 25
CAMPUS NEWS
Mount Mary creativity, inside and out
With over 200 artists displaying their wares and over 4,000 art lovers on campus, the Starving Artists’ Show is a hallmark event for Mount Mary. This year, members of the faculty set up a booth and led hands-on activities to provide a glimpse into campus creativity. For example, Natural and Health Sciences Dean Cheryl Bailey (right) led an activity in which participants like Bella Lipski (left) created a necklace with their own DNA, a project that blended together science and art. “We are connecting the creativity of the artwork all around us today with the creativity in our academic disciplines,” said Karen Friedlen, vice president for academic and student affairs. “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase what goes on in these majestic halls every day,” she said. The Starving Artists’ Show is led by the Alumnae Association. Proceeds from this event support important scholarships for Mount Mary students.
NEW UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ENROLLMENT INCREASE CONTINUES There is much good news in the most recent enrollment numbers, most notably the continued increase in new undergraduate students, a trend that was also evident in spring 2018. This fall, the number of new undergraduate students was up 5.4 percent; last spring this figure increased 20 percent over the previous year. “It is very encouraging to reverse the trend of decreasing numbers of new students each of the last few years,” said President Christine Pharr. The challenge, however, as Pharr also points out, is that because of a very large graduating class last May, the total number of Mount Mary students is down slightly, one percent compared to last year.
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In other news, Mount Mary continues to serve its mission by enrolling 52 percent women of color at the undergraduate level. In fact, Hispanic students now constitute 23 percent of the undergraduate population, which classifies Mount Mary as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, a national designation that notates an increasing preparedness to educate the Latino population. Each year this percentage has increased and once the university reaches 25 percent, it will be eligible for extensive federal funding that will benefit all Mount Mary students. “The trends are headed in the right direction,” said Pharr, “and so are we!”
$3 million grant
to decrease time to completion, lessen student debt The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Mount Mary University $3 million to increase graduation rates for low-income students who enter college needing developmental support in English and math. With this grant, Mount Mary has procured $8.4 million in federal and national funds in recent years designed to reduce barriers for students and expand inclusionary practices within the institution. This Title III grant from the Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program will build on existing successful student programs to increase first-year retention, decrease time to completion and increase the percentage of students who persist to graduate within four years. Data indicates that students who arrive at college needing support in English and math lose enthusiasm and confidence, in part because they cannot progress quickly enough to graduate in four years. Support programs that are now in place to help selected Mount Mary students have proven so successful that this grant will extend and build on these services throughout the institution. The grant includes additional provisions for technology upgrades and faculty development. A portion of the funding also goes to the University’s endowment.
Successful programming drives increase in federal and national assistance
$8.4 MILLION Mount Mary’s student support initiatives continue to see success in retention and persistence. This has prompted federal agencies and national organizations to extend to programs and scholarships to these thriving initiatives.
$8.4 MILLION
$3
BOLD
(Building Opportunity for Learner Development) U.S. Department of Education Title III: Increase graduation rates for
MILLION
low-income students who benefit from additional support in English and math
2018-2023
SUCCEED SCHOLARS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Support to
25 disadvantaged and underrepresented students annually in Mount Mary University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program
$650 THOUSAND 2017-2021
Annual scholarships for 18 lowincome, academically talented STEM students with the goal of improving graduation rates and ultimately diversifying the STEM workforce
opportunities for underrepresented women, specifically first-generation and low-income students. This program serves 140 students each year
2018-2022
$1.1
MILLION 2016-2020
INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE Howard Hughes Medical Institute: University-wide training
and STEM-specific initiatives to enhance and sustain inclusivity
DASH EMERGENCY GRANT JUST ANNOUNCED: Last month, Mount Mary was named one of the three most diverse regional institutions in the Midwest, according to U.S. News and World Report.
2016-2019
National Science Foundation:
U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Program: Improve educational
MILLION
MILLION
JEWEL SCHOLARS
PROMISE PROGRAM
$1
$2.6
Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation: Covers the costs of
unforeseen emergencies for qualified students
$84
THOUSAND 2017-2019
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 27
ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES
ACHIEVEMENTS
ACCOLADES
This section highlights recent noteworthy accomplishments and awards of the Mount Mary University faculty, staff and students.
© Genaro_Melendrez
P ictured here is one of the waymarkers that lead pilgrims along the 500-mile journey of El Camino de Santiago in Spain.
FACULTY AND STAFF
FAITH IN THE UNFAMILIAR Theology student Madeline Banach
www.mtmary.edu.magazine to read Madeline’s full reflection.
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Josh Anderson, Art and Graphic Design, and Jordan Acker Anderson, Art and Graphic Design, were featured artists in the juried
international visual artist publication, Studio Visit, for volumes 39 and 40. The print exhibit was juried by George Kinghorn, Director of the University of Maine Museum of Art.
Ann Angel ‘75, English,
© Flora the Explorer
journeyed to Spain to walk El Camino de Santiago, a major Christian pilgrimage route of 500 miles. Even though her journey was cut short due to an injury, Madeline gained valuable lessons of humility and gratitude. “There occurs a shedding of the old self, which provides space for the new self to emerge and grow. In this vulnerability, one becomes humbled and this, in turn, provides an openness to receiving the gift of grace. I became so very humbled on this journey, and from that daily experience of humility flowed such gratitude for the many blessings of the Spirit,” Madeline shares. Visit
accepted the offer to contribute manuscripts/proofs of her published books to the Ted Hipple Special Collection at the University of South Florida. This young adult collection is coordinated through ALAN (The Assembly of Literature for Adolescents), an assembly of the National Council for the Teachers of English. Additionally, Angel will join the board of the Wisconsin Center for the Book.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES
Debra Brenegan, English, and Josh Anderson, Art and Graphic Design, collaborated on a course project in
which students in Advanced Creative Writing and students in Studies in 3-D Media created physical and written works of art as responses to each other’s creative works. These pieces were displayed in the Marian Gallery in April and presented during the Aspire conference.
Debra Brenegan, English, Emily Nolan ‘14, Art Therapy, and Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, Justice, served as co-editors of the inaugural issue of "Untold Stories" literary magazine, a publication dedicated to publishing the creative works of survivors of gender-based violence. Additionally, Brenegan had five poems published in the August 2018 issue of Adelaide Literary Magazine.
Kristen Carioti, Business, along with
her co-author Keith A. Bender from the University of Aberdeen, published the paper “Educational Mismatch and the Earnings Distribution” in the Southern Economic Journal. Carioti and Bender’s research focuses on the interrelationship between educational mismatch (working in a job unrelated to one’s schooling) and earnings. The paper uses three new econometric approaches and finds larger earnings penalties for workers who are mismatched due to working conditions, location and family reasons.
Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth, Philosophy, accepted a publication
offer for a festschrift for Professor Emeritus James Conlon titled "Just in Time: Grasping the Moment in Teaching Philosophy." This will feature essays previously published by Conlon alongside essays written by Mount Mary alumnae and faculty in philosophy. Additionally, Dragseth participated in a Wabash-funded weeklong seminar in Boston, Mass., which brought together 14 scholars from around the U.S. to study the use of dialog in the theology and philosophy classroom.
Lynn Kapitan, Art Therapy, presented the
keynote address, entitled “Art Therapy in the Ecotone: Contact, Collaboration, and Creative Entanglement,” at the first Cultivating Community Creative Arts Therapies Conference sponsored by Marylhurst University and Portland Oregon Creative Arts Therapies. Lynn also taught a postconference master class on practitioner-led research publication.
Pat Kempen ‘79, Dietetics,
received the Outstanding Dietetics Educator of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (WAND), presented at the group’s annual conference in spring. She is also the 20182019 Professional Education Chair for WAND.
Mary Ellen Kohn-Buday, World Languages, served as
the outside evaluator for the Program Review Self-Study of the Dept. of Modern Languages & Cultures at Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio in March and the Language Dept. at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio in October.
Future of
FUNDING
Terri Holzen, Biology, and Justin Hustoft, Physics, judged science fair participants at the Hmong Peace Academy in spring 2018.
Anne Kahl ‘12, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations and Interim Director of the Women's Leadership Institute, earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive designation in June from CFRE International.
Over the summer, psychology major Ana Andrade took part in the prestigious Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) 500 Stars internship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her work placement was within the grants and contracts team at the Blood Research Institute. She concluded the program with a presentation about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the grants that make research possible.
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 29
DOCTORAL ART THERAPY STUDENTS Art therapy doctoral students were active in projects in their home communities throughout the world: Zoe Armstrong was presented with an award
from the Yukon government at the first Yukon Women’s Award Night for her work with gender equality. Armstrong provides counseling services in her community of Whitehorse, Northwest Territories in Canada. Additionally, she presented an art therapy workshop entitled “Transitioning Into Visibility: How Arts Support Being Seen,” at the International Transgender Conference sponsored by the University of Victoria (Victoria, BC).
Huma Durrani taught a graduate
course on group art therapy for LaSalle College of Arts & Design in Singapore.
Estela Garber taught an art therapy
workshop at the Centro de Vida: ”Addictions Prevention and Support” as part of her outreach efforts in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Erin Headley presented on the efficacy of
arts-based experiences at the annual national conference of the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors in San Francisco.
Elizabeth Hlavek curated an art
exhibit based on her doctoral research, entitled "Meaning Making Through Art Making: From the Holocaust to Contemporary Art Therapy Practices," at Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mary Ellen Kohn-Buday and Jason Meyler, World Languages, continue to participate with Mount Mary’s Latina Taskforce to bolster recruitment of Latina undergraduate students. In addition to working actively on this taskforce, they also translated myriad campus documents, including some of the materials for commencement, into Spanish.
Jennifer Kontny, English, Catherine Homan, Philosophy, and Debra Dosemagen, Education, led a project to propose
a campus-wide writing assessment tool. This project will help faculty and students develop a shared language around writing instruction and promote iterative writing beyond core courses.
Jennifer Kontny, English, and Sherrie Serros, Math,
collaborated with Admissions, Advising and the Registrar’s office to revise and update placement practices in English and math. The proposed changes will help streamline the placement process, while making it more equitable.
Nan Metzger, Director of International Studies, was
selected as an observer at a Fulbright National Screening Committee. She is creating a series of Fulbright workshops for prospective applicants to move step-by-step through preparing their applications.
Jason Meyler, World Languages,
presented a paper titled, “Calling Higher Ed! Calling Higher Ed!: Vocational Exploration and Latin Studies” at the Latina/o Studies Association Third Biennial Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer.
Laura Otto, English, presented “Building an Online Community Through Blogging” and “The Art of the Narrative: Storytelling Techniques for Feature Writers” at the Associated Collegiate Press Best of the Midwest Conference in Minneapolis in spring 2018.
Kai-Ying Huang developed and taught a
training curriculum in art therapy for the Amity Foundation in the Jiangsu Province of mainland China and also conducted field observations at the University of Hong Kong.
Jessica Stallings’s practice with children on the
autism spectrum was featured in an interview by Artsy and picked up in the national association newsletter Art Therapy Today.
Tzafi Weinberg published a peer-reviewed article entitled, “Gaining Cultural Competence Through Alliances in Art Therapy With Indigenous Clients,” in the Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal.
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Paula Reiter, English, and Julie Tatlock, History, published
“Conflict and Student Engagement: Reacting to the Past at Mount Mary University” in Peace Review, Issue 30(1): Teaching Peace and War.
Amanda Ritchey, Director of Service Learning, coordinated two successful blood
drives on campus, one with the Blood Center of Wisconsin and the other with the Red Cross. Mount Mary’s chapter of the National Biology Honor Society, Tri-Beta, assisted with the marketing for both events.
MOUNT MARY IN
ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES
THE BIG APPLE
Fashion merchandise management major Polly Thao interned at Fashion Snoops, a global trend consulting agency in New York City over the summer. She was able to bring her classroom experience of product writing, creating concepts and trend forecasting to the agency.
Tammy Scheidegger, Counseling,
presented at a conference sponsored by Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, “Our Future Starts Now: Healing, Hope and Resilience” in September. Additionally, she and Carrie King, Counseling, and colleagues Lea Denny ’16 and Dr. Jim Hastings also presented at the Healing Trauma Conference that the SWIM coalition of Milwaukee held in October.
Wendy A. Weaver, Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, participated as an elected board member for the American Conference of Academic Deans at its annual board of directors meeting at Western Carolina University in spring.
The philosophy of design Nicole Holstein ’18 was a finalist in the 2018 Independent Handbag Awards. She was selected as one of five in her category from thousands of applicants worldwide. Nicole incorporates a combination of her philosophy and psychology background in her designs.
STUDENTS International students and communication majors Misaki Amano and Manami Komatsu gave a campus presentation on Japanese culture at the International Club in spring. Three students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, a prestigious federal scholarship, for their studies abroad this summer: Hanna Blanchard, art therapy, was awarded $2,500 to support her study abroad in Australia. Yengyung Hang, biology health science, was awarded $4,500 to support her study abroad in London. Pang Kou Xiong, justice/international studies, was awarded $5,000 to support her study abroad in Thailand this summer. Last spring at the Wisconsin United Residence Hall Association annual conference, Caroline Hall’s student delegation received numerous awards, including the Building Block of the Year award for Caroline Hall Council’s Harry Potter Halloween Dance. Several students won individual awards; Ali Bubloni and Olivia Sparks earned a 2-year pin, Olivia Sparks was named Communications Coordinator of the Year, and Lexi Woerishofer ’18 was named Student of the Year and earned a 4-year pin.
Jennifer Halpin Henderson, a student in the
Post-Professional Master's of Occupational Therapy Program, recently received Board Certification in Pediatrics from the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Tis The Season ALUMNAE CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
SAVE THE DATE: Milwaukee 12/4 • Chicago 12/11
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 31
ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES
She shoot s,
Jeannette Ingabire attended the Clinton
shecores s
Global Initiative-University program; over a thousand students from across the United States gathered in Chicago this October to work on solving global and social issues.
A THOUSAND TIMES
Andrea Peterson received the Student
Scholarship of the Future Water Leaders Fund presented at the Water Leaders’ Summit in Milwaukee in June. Pi Theta Epsilon Occupational Therapy Honors Group members Courtney
Tarmann, Katlyn Olig, Kellie Janski, Erin Kaupla ‘17 and Kasey Vande Voort represented Mount Mary at the Special Needs Resource Fair at St. Luke Catholic Church in April. Over 30 organizations provided resources. Their booth focused on children's sensory needs and provided ideas for occupying children with busy bodies, busy hands and busy minds.
Precious Xiong, business administration,
Last season, Becky Onan became the first Blue Angel in recorded history to score 1,000 points in her collegiate basketball career. Onan led the Blue Angels in multiple career categories: points, assists, total rebounds, defensive rebounds, blocks, steals, and minutes played. After the season's end, Onan graduated with a degree in interior design.
participated in the UW Law Plus Program with 26 students from different states over the summer, studying constitutional law, criminal law and legal writing analysis. She had the chance to meet with the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visit a prison and network with attorneys from Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Law Firm.
Send us your updates! Access our online form at:
mtmary.edu/magazine
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CLASS NOTES 1950-1969
Celebrate with us Share your weddings, births and significant milestones with the Mount Mary community. Send us your update (and a photo, if you’d like). You can fill out the online form at mtmary.edu/magazine or send an email to mmualumnae@mtmary.edu.
Victoria Wagner Sanchez '55 was
recognized by the Marquis Who's Who with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
1970-1989 Julie Arndt-Thompson ’80 helped lead the interior design of Auburn II, the 2018 Parade Home in Brookfield, Wis., for Anderson Homes, LLC.
Monica Jablonski ’86 was awarded the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by the Marquis Who's Who for her contributions to science education and research.
Luanne Washburn ’86 actively works on the Monarch Trail restoration on the Milwaukee’s County Grounds.
1990-2009
Elizabeth Macken Lemke ’15 and husband Daniel welcomed daughter Adelaide Lorraine, July 30, 2018.
Vanessa Ali Beere ’07 started as a science teacher at Raymore Peculiar School District, located in Peculiar, Missouri, in July.
Tom Matthews ’08 participated in the first Wauwatosa Author Festival in October.
Nadia Greenhill Dhuey ’09 started as a nurse
Tanya Gross ’91 co-directed Reach Out Reach In, a summer
week of service for high school students, through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It is Gross’ sixth year with the program.
Margie Wirth ’95 self-published “The Carrot Monster’s Cookbook and Coloring Book for Kids,” a storybook, coloring book and cookbook. The recipes are kid-friendly and healthy with a focus on vegetables, and the book features a charming dog who grows a garden and loves vegetables.
Lisa Nuszbaum Dennis ’03 & ’10 presented
on the need for increased diversity in teaching and reading selections in America’s high school English classrooms at the National Council of Teachers of English in Houston in November. Dennis presented with Cornelius Minor on behalf of the education blog Three Teachers Talk.
Kristina Mullenix ’04 won a scholarship to attend the 2018 summer conference on poetry at The Frost Place in New Hampshire.
Kristin Kult Jablonski ’06 started as the senior manager of nutrition and wellness for Exact Sciences in August.
practitioner for UnitedHealthcare Group in June.
2010-PRESENT Loni Foreman Rahn ’11 started as the general manager of Sodexo in San Antonio in August.
Melissa Lor '12 started at Composure Graphics as a production artist/graphic designer in April.
Marsha James Thrall ’12 accepted the position of Religious Education Coordinator at Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield, Wis., in July. Over the past year, she has also presented work at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Engaging Particularities Conference and the annual meeting of the Upper Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
ALUMNAE AWARDS | SPRING 2019 Friday, Dec. 31 Deadline mtmary.edu/awardsnight
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 33
CLASS NOTES
Mary Andrus ’17 was featured in Portland
Monthly as one of the 2018 Women Who Move the City. In July, she started as the graduate art therapy program director and associate professor at the Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
Adriana Coronado ’18 accepted a position as a paid language assistant at a SSND school in Regensburg, Germany.
Behind the SCENES
Nikki Jaekl Lueck ’18 began volunteering with the Sunset Playhouse, a community theater in Elm Grove, in 2008. She has held the role of actor, stage manager and co-chair of the volunteer appreciation night committee. This summer, Nikki was the assistant director for its production of Mel Brooks' “The Producers.” Jessica Schwartz Felly ‘13 was promoted to territory manager for CVS Coram, located in Portland, Oregon, in July.
Lynnea Cox Schliesleder ’13 had a solo show, “Touching Hearts,” at Inspiration Studio’s West Allis Gallery in June, which featured watercolor, acrylic and mixed media pieces.
Artanyia Bell ’15 was promoted to office
operations assistant at Milwaukee Enrollment Services.
Heather Thomas Flores ’15 attended the Intensive Nahuatl Language Study at the University of Utah this summer. Nahuatl is a Uto-Aztecan language spoken in Mexico.
Madelyn Herbert Kempen ’15 joined the
board of directors for the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, Wisconsin.
Lorelle Luckett ’15
started the Human Influencer Training at THRIVE in September.
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Beth Van Hammond ’18 started as a graphic designer at College Kids in Neenah, Wis.
Judith Leibovitz Hellman ’18 completed
30 hours of training to become a volunteer crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line before she graduated. Crisis Counselors assist others in crisises ranging from suicide, self-harm and sexual/physical abuse, and help determine if a person is at imminent risk of suicide.
Payton Hintz ’18 accepted a layout designer
position for the publications Reminisce and Birds & Blooms, both part of Trusted Media Brands. Before her graduation in May, she earned the Association of Division III Independents Softball Player of the Year Award for her senior season. She finished the season in the top ten in the Association of Division III Independents for batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, RBIs, doubles and hits.
Nicole Holstein ‘18 started the master’s program in philosophy at the University College in London.
Michelle Harris Napoli ’18 presented her art-based doctoral
research in an exhibit entitled “Native American Resilience Through Art,” in collaboration with the Institute for New England Native American Studies.
TRENDSPOTTER
Last spring, Katie Schuppler ’09 was asked by the Chicago Tribune to be the style expert on the panel critiquing the new NBA uniforms and she said yes. Katie is the owner of KS Style Consulting, which provides a number of services to both men and women including closet clean-outs, e-styling, personal shopping trips and more.
Check out Katie's blog, the Freckled Stylist.
IN MEMORIAM 1952 Margaret Share Davis on Sept. 9, 2018 1952 Mary McCormack Johnson on May 2, 2018 1952 Donna Ban Kopish on June 24, 2018 1952 Mary Ann Tucker Waisanen on Feb. 19, 2018 1953 Evelyn Johnson on May 29, 2018
IN MEMORIAM
1953 Catherine Di Trapani Nord on May 18, 2018
1940 Anne Gorshek Goyette on May 17, 2018
1955 S. Mary Sliger, SSND on Oct. 7, 2018
1942 Elaine Kitto Poulson on April 25, 2018
1956 Carol Kozina Harding on Sept. 19, 2013
1943 Barbara Taylor Dahlin on Dec. 13, 2008
1956 Theresia Wack on Sept. 5, 2018
1943 Winifred Land Ethier on January 15, 2009
1957 Marie Herr Tyrrell on June 6, 2017
1943 Doreen Potter Hart on June 9, 2009
1958 Sister Mary Peter Eberhardy, SSND on Aug. 30, 2018
1943 Jeanne Heckman on Nov. 10, 2017
1958 Margaret Taylor Geringer on Aug. 1, 2018
1944 Mary Podruch Krier on May 27, 2018
1958 Patricia Jeske Gibes on May 7, 2018
1946 Helen Kochanowicz Jachna on Aug. 18, 2018
1959 Catalina Martinez Carbullido on April 30, 2016
1947 Mary Claire Dohney Gorman on Feb. 3, 2017
1960 Sister Mary Jo Trombley, SSND on Aug. 11, 2018
1947 Janelle Arendt Muenzer on Feb. 19, 2017
1961 Sister Mary Hope Tritz, SSND on Aug. 9, 2018
1947 Jean Steinhagen on Aug. 19, 2013
1962 Eleanor Joyce Knoblauch Korta on Oct. 6, 2018
1948 Patricia Crowley Blank on May 8, 2018
1962 Kathleen Leonard Farhat on Oct. 26, 2011
1948 Eleanor Chalifoux Condon on Nov. 4, 2015
1963 Sister Eileen Curran, SSND on Oct. 3, 2015
1948 Joan Wheeler Delzell on April 1, 2016
1963 Sandra Feather Elliott on Sept. 11, 2017
1948 Johanna Reischl Dupuy on May 1, 2016
1963 Mary Gebert on May 16, 2018
1948 Margaret Mahony Eisenreich on April 14, 2015
1963 Joan Herringer on Sept. 18, 2006
1948 Carolyn Wells Molinaro on Oct. 30, 2008
1963 Katherine Kasseckert Truog on Aug. 31, 2015
1948 Rosemarie Mueller Parent on Aug. 3, 2018
1964 Katherine Cross Schwar on May 18, 2018
1948 Lois Hills Pety on May 25, 2005
1965 Joanne Daiker McCaffery on April 27, 2018
1948 Marian Yano Seehafer on April 24, 2018
1966 Sister Jeanette Marie Wieland, SSND on Aug. 27, 2018
1948 Joyce Poenisch Smith on Aug. 25, 2008
1968 Mary Fox Crisco on May 26, 2018
1949 Nancy Kenney Grede on Sept. 29, 2017
1968 Mary Lassen Baldwin on Jan. 12, 2018
1949 Eleanor Clary Rechlicz on Oct. 20, 2014
1968 Phyllis DeLuca Tobin on July 24, 2010
1949 Mary O'Halloran Rietz on Sept. 13, 2018
1968 Aelita Warwick on May 6, 2015
1949 Patricia O'Halloran Roettgers on July 24, 2018
1970 Mary Jo Dolken Paul on June 12, 2018
1949 Joan Rohan Rutherford on Feb. 15, 2018
1971 Mary Cay Muckerheide Schmidt on May 31, 2012
1949 Jane Ploetz Wood on May 11, 2014
1975 Margaret Derse Biller on Oct. 28, 2016
1949 LuCele Poull Sabel on Oct. 8, 2018
1976 Kim Modiz Bogenberger on June 7, 2006
1950 Carole Van Drisse Burgess on June 2, 2018
1981 Kathryn Kern Biderman on July 11, 2007
1950 Rita McEnroe Helle on Jun 18, 2018
1984 Mary Cooper Hoettels on Oct. 10, 2018
1950 Alice Wittberger Hodas on Feb. 11, 2006
1991 Carol Hjerpe Hoke on Oct. 10, 2018
1950 Virginia Bartoschewski Lieske on Aug. 17, 2017
1992 Miriam Vetter on March 29, 2017
1950 Sister Mary Schmitt, SSND on May 7, 2018
1996 Deborah Iglinski Kassulke on May 23, 2008
1950 Alice DeBuhr Zinky on Sept. 9, 2018
1998 Aimee Lewan Brudnicki on Dec. 9, 2011
1951 Marland Mack King on April 27, 2018
2001 Marykate Sullivan on Aug. 5, 2012
1951 Arlene Sharpe Rehak on Dec. 4, 2016
N/A Kathleen Krause Koch on June 12, 2018
1953 Lorraine Salm Richter on Sept. 12, 2018 1954 Rita Gildner Arnold on Oct. 9, 2018 1954 Sister Mary Janice Koziolek, SSND on May 23, 2018 1955 S. Joan Kettler, SSND on Sept. 17, 2018
FALL & WINTER 2018 | 35
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
By Sister Joan Penzenstadler, SSND, Vice President for Mission and Identity
In our exploration of vocation, we are discovering more and more that vocational stories have many levels. There are aspects that call for our engagement for a certain time in our lives, and there are rhythms that carry us through a lifetime because they are so deeply embedded in who we are. We learn, throughout our lives, how to remain true to these essential rhythms of who we are and what we value.
sister joan penzenstadler
At its core, the SSND vocational story is really a love story, and that call does take a lifetime to fulfill. Words attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., are ones I can well hear our foundress, Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, saying to us:
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.
Contemplation and ministry — or being and doing — form a melody played with the heartbeat of love throughout our SSND vocational history. It is the resonance that we hear today echoed in our MISSION: SSND Directional Statement, Love Gives To help students realize Everything: “We educate, advocate and act that the development in collaboration with others for the dignity of their gifts is meant to of life and the care of all creation.” serve a purpose beyond
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart,
36
the self.
We care deeply, and we are called to activate that care in specific ways. Together we have so many gifts; we hold so much promise. When those gifts meet the great needs in our society and world, our vocation comes to life. Our collective vocation at Mount Mary is dedicated to helping others discover theirs.
With love and gratitude
DURING THIS TIME OF HARVEST, WE RECALL THE WORDS OF MOTHER THERESA OF JESUS GERHARDINGER:
“Love gives everything.” Our donors, community partners and alums have built a community centered on faith, intellectual excellence and character. This Thanksgiving, we reflect upon our gratitude, and the power of community.
Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 340 2900 North Menomonee River Parkway Milwaukee, WI 53222-4597 mtmary.edu
WELCOME! To make it easier for alums and donors to find us on campus, the ALUMNAE AND DONOR RELATIONS OFFICE is now centrally located in
Drop by, say hi
Notre Dame Hall, just footsteps away from the Welcome Center.
Please stop in to check out our new gathering space, meet with members of our team and learn how you can engage with Mount Mary University and your fellow alumnae.
Recognize this artwork? Reproductions of the tiles from the old gym adorn the walls of the new office.
NEW LOCATION!
152 Notre Dame Hall | Alumnae Relations (414) 930-3025 | Donor Relations (414) 930-3034