5 minute read
Donor Highlight
Q & A
with Dr. Greeta Cherayil Hofbauer, DSHA ‘77
Dr. Greeta Chearyil Hofbauer, DSHA ’77, is a faithful giver to the school she once called home. She gives of her time as a member of the DSHA Alumnae Board, and of her treasure, as she has financially given back to DSHA every year for decades. Gratitude is what compels her to give. She recognizes both the strong education she received at DSHA, as well as the timeless friendships she made, as priceless. She is committed to doing what she can to ensure future Dashers will receive the opportunities and experiences she did.
Hofbauer has a PharmD from the University of Illinois-Chicago and is the Medical Science Liaison Director at Novartis. She lives in Brookfield with her husband and has one son.
Q: Tell me about your time at DSHA.
A: My favorite part of my high school experience at DSHA are the friendships I made while I was there. DSHA was a great choice for me because I met so many people that I still keep in contact with. I made some great friendships through my involvement in the Angelaires. I was also involved in the musicals as part of the ensemble and in the forensics team, doing solo reading of poetry, other types of work, and speech. All of those activities are useful to me even now because I speak to others and educate others as part of my job.
Q: How did DSHA’s all-girls environment impact you?
A: It was a good place to be academically oriented. Women are encouraged to excel. In an all-female environment, all of the leadership roles have to be filled by women. For example, during my freshman year, I was my homeroom’s president. Experiences like that help shape women to be leaders in the future.
Q: How did DSHA’s Catholic identity impact you?
A: I think as a student, it helped confirm the faith and it helped me stay on track as far as being a Catholic. During a time when you’re a teenager and you question everything, it was good to have that Catholic foundation in education, and that foundation strengthened my faith. Some of the things my friends and I did together was go to Mass, even outside of school. Even as adults, I’ve gotten together with other alumnae when we’ve gone somewhere for a weekend, and we still all go to Sunday Mass together.
Q: As an alumna, why do you feel it’s important to give back to DSHA?
I owe much of my life success and friendships to what was started at DSHA. Faith, friends, and fun is how I will always remember my years at DSHA.
DONOR HIGHLIGHT
base to pursue higher education. I have completed my doctorate thanks in part to the fundamentals I learned at DSHA. It also provided a strong foundation in my Catholic faith. I have maintained close friendships with the women I met while at DSHA. I owe much of my life success and friendships to what was started at DSHA. Faith, friends, and fun is how I will always remember my years at DSHA.
Q: Why is it important to you to give back on a regular basis to DSHA’s Annual Fund?
A: It’s good to get into the habit of giving. In the beginning, I gave a little bit. You start out at a little bit and then you can make it a little bit bigger as time goes on and you have more flexibility in your income. Giving and learning to give early gets you into the habit of being a cheerful giver and giving to something that’s important to you. Almost everyone, especially in this country, has so many things to be thankful for, and being a cheerful giver is an important aspect to maintain, even if you have to start small. Every little bit helps.
Q: What do you enjoy about spending your time on the DSHA Alumnae Board?
A: I love having contact with alumnae of all ages. There are some women on the alumnae board that are jubilarians (women that graduated from DS, HA, or DSHA 50 + years ago), and I like hearing their stories. I like that contact with different age groups. Now that I’m getting older, I get to keep up with these young alumnae and hear what’s going on. It’s helpful to be exposed to all different age groups.
Q: Why do you choose to give both of your time to the DSHA Alumnae Board and of your financial treasure?
A: I chose to give back to something that was very beneficial to me, and I’d like to pass that benefit on to other young women. I’m grateful for the education and for the things that others have provided for me at DSHA. In years past, others have donated to make the school what it is today. I am amazed by what I see today. It’s an excellent learning environment for young women. I didn’t have a daughter, so I couldn’t send a student to DSHA. This is my chance to keep the legacy going.
Q: What about DSHA most impresses you today?
A: I love that DSHA has a robotics team (in partnership with MUHS). We are really pushing women to become more involved in STEM. I think that’s excellent and really important. I believe it’s important to immerse girls in STEM. When I was a student, I took advanced science and math classes at DSHA, which led me to pharmacy.
Q: What are your hopes for DSHA in the future?
A: I hope that DSHA continues to really concentrate on educating women for the future but hold faithfully to the Catholic values that are so vital in these times.
Q: If you could speak to a room full of alumnae, what would you say to them?
A: Are you thankful for the education that you received from DSHA and the Sisters of the Divine Savior, and your time spent here? Wouldn’t you want others to have that same experience? Think about just a little donation every year to get into the habit of giving. When you have more, you’ll be able to donate more.
