MOUNT NEWS MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
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SPRING 2015
CHANGING THE WORLD
SCARY STATISTICS DON’T FRIGHTEN THE MOUNT
EDUCATION AT WORK PROVIDES ON-CAMPUS JOBS
SERVICE LEARNING SERVES DUAL PURPOSES
PRESIDENT’S LEGACY
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I have been honored to lead this great university whose mission is lived daily by dedicated faculty,
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staff and students. – Tony Aretz, Ph.D.
Seven years ago, Tony Aretz came to the Mount to become a college president. In May, he will leave as a university president, signaling just one of the major accomplishments achieved under his tenure. Aretz is the Mount’s sixth president and its second lay leader. When he officially resigned, he did so with pride toward the university. “I have been honored to lead this great university whose mission is lived daily by dedicated faculty, staff and students. I have been able to complete many of the goals I had when arriving at the Mount and, throughout the rest of my career, will reflect upon the many accomplishments we achieved with great pride.” Those accomplishments include the following: • Evolution from college to university, which conveys a broader range of educational experiences and opportunities • Strategic plan Vision2020 developed • Addition of new majors, including graduate and doctoral degrees in nursing and business, plus the Mount’s first fully online program • New core curriculum developed • Launching the Center for Ethical Leadership and the Ethical Leadership Development Initiative (See pages 8-15.) • Talent Opportunity Program created for career preparedness (See pages 13-15.) • Education at Work partnership established (See pages 16-17.) Ken Stecher, chairperson of the Board of Trustees, added another accolade: “With Tony at the helm, the Mount successfully weathered the impact of the national recession to continue its vital and important role in this community and in the higher education landscape. As a result we are well positioned for success through the Mount’s centennial year in 2020 and beyond.” In praising Aretz for his “generous, dedicated” service, Joan Cook, SC, ’64, president of the Sisters of Charity, said, “He has embraced the values of the Sisters of Charity and continued the Mount’s tradition of academic excellence, respect and concern for all persons, and service to others, producing Mount graduates who make a positive impact on our world.” Students also formed bonds with the president, something rare at most universities. Jack Brown ’14 says one of his most poignant memories of his Mount career was attending a dinner that the president hosted for former military. “That whole night, my wife and I were talking about how crazy it was to be eating dinner with the president of the school,” Brown recalls. “Had we been at any other big school, that likely wouldn’t have happened. He was very personable, going around the room, wanting to know each of our individual stories, asking us what brought us to the Mount. It was really cool.” A search committee of trustees, faculty, administration, staff, students, alumni and the Cincinnati community are conducting a national search for a new president.
MOUNT NEWS FEATURES
SPRING 2015
2 LAUREN HILL ATTAINS HER DREAMS 8 Scary Statistics Don’t Frighten the Mount
AROUND THE QUAD 4 News 7 Academics
by Andrea Tortora National fear over lack of career readiness stimulates university to build on its successes, even in unusual ways.
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THE LION’S CORNER
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MAKING AN IMPACT
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FACULTY & STAFF UPDATES
ALUMNI UPDATES 16 Education at Work Proves Education Really Works at the Mount — and Leads to Jobs
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News Classnotes Alumni Profile: Mike Brooks ’04 Passages
by Susan Hines-Brigger ’94
PUBLISHED BY
Students develop valuable career skills, earn a real-world salary and bank future tuition without leaving campus.
Division of Institutional Advancement Mount St. Joseph University 5701 Delhi Road | Cincinnati, OH 45233 www.msj.edu
18 Service Learning Serves Dual Purposes
EDITORIAL/DESIGN TEAM Catie Adams ’15 Gina Bath Tara Byrd Kathleen Lundrigan Cardwell ’87 Kim Cochrane ’01 Jill Eichhorn
by Jessica Baltzersen ’13 Students gain educational experiences; community gains loving laborers.
Amanda Gratsch ’15 Brittany Hill Libby Odenbeck ’16 Sandy Oldendick Mark Osborne Robert Schaich ’15
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR & WRITER Deb Rieselman CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITOR Arlene Werts All photos by Don Denney unless otherwise noted. If you would like to contact a member of the editorial team, call 513-244-4871 or 800-654-9314. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please e-mail sandra.oldendick@msj.edu.
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Mount St. Joseph University (“the University”) is committed to providing an educational and employment environment free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation or other minority or protected status. This commitment extends to the University’s administration of its admission, financial aid, employment, and academic policies, as well as the University’s athletic programs and other University-administered programs, services, and activities.
ON THE COVER: Suffering from vertigo and the inability to shoot with her dominate hand — all from inoperable brain cancer — Lauren Hill, Hon. D.H.L. ’15 scored the Lady Lions’ first points of the season last fall. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images.
The University has designated the chief compliance and risk officer, 513-244-4393, Office of the President, as the individual responsible for responding to inquiries, addressing complaints, and coordinating compliance with its responsibilities under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and other applicable federal and state civil rights laws. The University has designated the director of Learning Center & Disabilities Services, 513-244-4524, as the individual responsible for responding to inquiries, addressing complaints, and coordinating compliance with its responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
SPRING 2015 • 1
Lauren Hill Attains Her Dreams Miracles abounded at the Mount for Lauren Hill, Hon. D.H.L. ’15. It started when women’s head basketball coach Dan Benjamin received special permission from the NCAA to move up the team’s season opener by two weeks, so Lauren could take the court for her first collegiate game. Lauren scored the opening and closing points in the sold-out game against Hiram College, played in Xavier University’s 10,000-seat arena in November. Fortunately, her first game was not her last. Lauren pressed on to play in four games and was later named an honorary coach for the women’s basketball team at the Mount. The miracles continued as Lauren astounded doctors with her will to live fully and much longer than expected. During the winter months Lauren also became a selfless spokesperson for research efforts to find a cure for her rare form of brain cancer, known as DIPG or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. To aid her cause, Sports Illustrated featured her in a story, Wheaties put her photo on a box, Glamour Magazine named her one of the country’s 50 most inspirational women, and the NCAA displayed her jersey and story in their national office lobby prior to the beginning of March Madness. Lauren appeared on ABC’s “The View” and ESPN as well as in USA Today, People Magazine and even Great Britain’s Daily Mail. All through it, she relied on the strength of her teammates and coach to see her through. At the same time, they also relied on her strength to be their inspiration. The world watched in awe as she used her dreams to create new dreams for other children — by raising nearly $2 million (and counting) for The Cure Starts Now Foundation. “I’m spreading awareness on a level that’s never been spread before,” Lauren said. “I really hope it’s going to bring a change to the world. Being able to have this opportunity is all I’ve wanted and prayed for.” Lauren Hill passed away on Friday, April 10, 2015. She was 19 years old. “We thank God for the gift of Lauren and thank her parents and family for the honor of allowing the Mount to be a part of her life. Her love and laughter will remain in our hearts,” said Mount President Tony Aretz. To see more of Lauren’s story, as shared through social media and the Mount’s website, go to www.msj.edu/playfor22.
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1) Lauren and the Lady Lions celebrate Lauren’s first collegiate basketball goal. 2) Lauren served as an honorary member of the football team at the Lions’ homecoming game, where she flipped the coin. 3) “We will remember that layup forever,” announced the commentator at Lauren’s first college basketball game on Nov. 2. “I’ve never felt this good in my life,” she later said. 4) Lauren speaks to the press after presenting $58,776 (proceeds from the Nov. 2 game) to The Cure Starts Now Foundation. 5) At the Nov. 2 game, the United States Basketball Writers Association presented Lauren with the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, normally given to a Division One player from the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Next to her is Summitt, who holds the record for the most wins of any coach in NCAA basketball history.
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6) “I always wanted to step out on a college court, looking down at my shoes, stepping out on that wooden floor, and feeling the vibration of the crowd. It’s just what I dreamed.” — Lauren’s quote to CBS Sunday Morning following her first game with the Lady Lions. 7) Family and friends cheered for Lauren at the game. Xavier University hosted the Nov. 2 game in its 10,000-seat arena. Tickets sold out in one hour. 8) Right before her first collegiate game, Lauren greeted cancer patients from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. 9) Lauren (center back) with her dream team, the Lady Lions, who cried with her, laughed with her and always supported her. 10) Shown with her family in early February, the Mount awarded Lauren an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. 11) Mount head basketball coach Dan Benjamin ’94 escorted Lauren onto the court for her first game.
SPRING 2015 • 3
AROUND THE QUAD NEWS Athletic-Training Students Win State Honors by a Landslide For the second time in three years, the Mount’s athletic training students won top honors at the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association Collegiate Quiz Bowl. Students Kyle Sterwerf ’15, Nicole Wirth ’15 and Adrien Brooks ’16 took first place at Cedarville University by competing against 17 teams from Ohio’s accredited AT programs. The top three scores at the bowl were:
5,727 4,774 3,674
MSJ Akron Ohio University
The Mount’s score was 20 percent and 56 percent higher than the respective runners-up. “It was a great experience, not only for the team and all of the Mount students who attended the symposium, but also for our Athletic Training department,” said senior Wirth after the state victory. “It really put our program into view.”
Upward Bound Reaches Enrollment Goal Upward Bound, the Mount’s pre-college program with Cincinnati Public Schools to prepare students in grades 9-12 for college, has successfully reached its enrollment goal for the school year with 60 students — doubled from last school year. The program has also successfully launched a Parent Volunteer Association to help parents understand their role in preparing their students for college. In addition, the Mount became a member of the Community Learning Center at Western Hills High School, providing services to its students. “This has been a wonderful opportunity to begin spreading the word about the Mount to a new market,” says Marsha Watts-Visher, director of Upward Bound.
4 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
Tibetan Monks Bring Interfaith Understanding A group of Tibetan monks diligently worked several hours a day for a solid week to meticulously craft a colorful Tibetan sand mandala last fall at the Mount’s Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery. Having watched the progression of the mandala all week long, the Mount community joined the monks along the Ohio River for the Dissolution Ceremony, where the renowned scholar and the monks’ world-tour leader, Geshe Yonten Gyatso, ritualistically deconstructed the Mandala and dispersed the sands into the river. According to the Tibetan Buddhism’s ancient art form, dismantling symbolizes the impermanence of life, and releasing the sand into running water spreads the mandala’s healing energy to all of creation. Loyola Walter, department chair of art at the Mount and organizer of the monks’ visit, says the monks’ spiritual demonstration spread awareness of compassion and interfaith understanding across the University. “The Mount community hosted a particularly meaningful visit for the touring monks as our mission is so really akin to theirs,” she said. “The response of students, faculty, staff and visitors was beyond expectation — warm, participatory, generous and loving. Everywhere they were on campus, students engaged them.”
University’s Second Commencement Features Dual Ceremonies Proud families and friends will gather in the Jean Patrice Harrington, SC, Student Center on Saturday, May 9, for Mount St. Joseph University’s commencement ceremonies. A total of 445 undergraduate and graduate candidates for graduation will be part of the second commencement ceremonies to be held at Mount St. Joseph University. Sister of Charity Paula Gonzalez ’52 will address the adult Sr. Paula Gonzalez, SC and graduate students during the morning ceremony. She is an internationally known futurist, environmentalist and educator who has been a proponent of energy conservation since the 1970s. Her passion led her to convert an old chicken barn on the grounds of the Motherhouse into a solar house called La Casa De Sol and to create EarthConnection, a solar 21st century resource-efficient building that serves as the headquarters for programs, tours and internships. During the afternoon, David Dougherty will speak to the traditional students and their families. Dougherty is the founder and CEO of David Dougherty Education at Work, a nonprofit organization that employs college students to help them earn money to manage the cost of their education and gain the job skills and education needed to compete for 21st century jobs. The Mount opened an on-campus Education at Work site earlier this year, the first on-campus contact center location for Macy’s Inc. (See pages 16-17.)
Sister’s Life of Service Heading Toward Sainthood
Lessons in Ethical Leadership from Community Leaders As one of the few universities in the country with a Center for Ethical Leadership, the Mount presented its second annual Duffey Conway Ethical Leadership Series this academic year. S. Craig Lindner, co-chief executive officer/co-president and director of American Financial Group, delivered the keynote address “The Story of HOPE and Our Community.” Dan Hurley, director of Leadership Cincinnati USA and host of WKRC Newsmakers, moderated a panel S. Craig Lindner discussion on “Lessons of Leadership: Health, Wellness and Our Community,” featuring Michael Fisher, president and CEO of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Craig Hockenberry ’95, superintendent of Manchester Local School District, a Mount alumnus and an honorary degree recipient; and Linda Smith Berry, manager of Good Samaritan Free Health Center. “This program encourages interaction among local business, community organizations and the Mount community,” says Tim Bryant, Center for Ethical Leadership executive director. “By hosting collaborative conversations on leadership, ethics and civic engagement, we create greater awareness of the significant contributions the Mount makes in Greater Cincinnati, and open opportunities for our students to network with local leaders for these important discussions.” For information about the Mount’s Center for Ethical Leadership, please visit www.msj.edu/ethical-leadership. Sr. Paula Gonzalez, Sr. Blandina Segale and Dave Doughtery photos provided.
Out of 10,000 saints, only 12 came from the United States, but a new one may come from the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Sister Blandina Segale. Born in Italy, Segale moved to the U.S. with her family at age 4 and joined the convent at age 16. In her 20s, Segale was sent to Trinidad, Colo., to teach poor children and was later transferred to Sante Fe, N.M., where she co-founded public and Catholic schools. From there, she worked with the poor, the sick and immigrants while advocating for Hispanics and Native Americans who lived in the area. She even founded St. Joseph’s Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M., before returning to Cincinnati in 1897 to start Santa Maria Institute, which served recent immigrants. In addition to this mission work, Segale is said to have had several encounters with the legendary Billy the Kid. “She was just amazing,” said Victoria Marie Forde, SC, ’62, an archivist at the Sisters of Charity in Cincinnati. “It’s tough to live up to her example.” The Vatican has approved the cause of her canonization as a saint and will now investigate her work and identify miracles. Any decision on sainthood could take many years. One other saint is connected to the Sisters of Charity in America. Their foundress St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born American to be canonized.
Blandina Segale, SC
SPRING 2015 • 5
AROUND THE QUAD NEWS Mount Minecraft Game Goes Global The Mount became one of the first universities to use the internationally popular video game Minecraft to recruit potential students last August. “Mount St. Joseph University: A Minecraft World Adventure” consists of a virtual tour for prospective students to walk through campus landmarks. Minecraft avatars can engage in conversation with other students on campus, interact with admission counselors and play mini-games. Gamers, for example, might try to solve riddles that take them throughout campus and finally launch fireworks when all the riddles are decoded. Trevor Griffith, associate director of marketing at the Mount, and his nephew Tyler Flood created the digital world by shooting thousands of pictures of the campus from every angle imaginable, then spending seven months laying down more than 2 million Minecraft blocks to build the campus. Before releasing their creation, beta testing was done with high school students. The Mount partnered with AMC theaters and NCM Media Networks to bring the Mount Minecraft adventure to the big screen by creating a thirty second animated short advertising the world. The animation premiered at the Newport on the Levee AMC theaters during the opening weekend of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. The following week Western Hills Rave Cinemas began showing the animation and both cinemas ran it through the winter holidays. So far, Mount Minecraft has paved its way to building awareness among the pre-college gaming audience from 24 countries. For more information about how to access the game, visit www.msj.edu/MountMinecraft.
Students learned how to live the Mount’s mission.
Mount’s Mission in Action in New Orleans Eleven Mount students and Michael Casciato, the campus ministry coordinator, spent this past Christmas break renovating a home in New Orleans as part of a service project with the Mount’s campus ministry. “I believe the group came away with a more concrete understanding of the common good, its relation to the Mount’s mission and what it looks like in being put into action,” Casciato says. “The common good, while it can be difficult to define, is a mindset where all that we do must be focused on how to benefit and promote the well-being of all of creation. “We want our students to experience the Mount’s mission not as a concept, but as something that is tangible and can be applied in all aspects of their lives. This trip gave them just that – a sense of how to live the mission, specifically the aspects of respect and concern for all persons, diversity of cultures and beliefs, and service to others.”
Mount Celebrates Scholarship Benefit’s 45th Anniversary Alumni, business leaders and friends gathered on April 30 to honor individuals and organizations who have made a significant impact on the Mount and its students. Mount alumni Anita Sullivan Doyle and Don Doyle Jr., alumna Linda Stalf Antus and husband Paul Antus said that they felt privileged to co-chair the 45th benefit to raise money for student scholarships. Honored that evening were: Jean Frolicher ’52, Ann Rasche Award; The Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee, and The Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee, Trustees Awards; The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Corporate Partner Award. Alumni William Lambers ’06, ’95, Erika Lehman ’04, Eucabeth Akinyi Mose ’10, Tori Schaefer, Ph.D., ’04 and 2nd Lt. Matthew Schmittou ’12 were presented with Future Five Awards. From left: Paul Antus, Linda Stalf Antus, Anita Sullivan Doyle and Don Doyle Jr.
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ACADEMICS Darla Vale Appointed New Health Sciences Dean
DID YOU KNOW? Beer brewing is actually a (terrific) biology lesson? The Mount kicks off “BRW 101: Beer Brewing and Appreciation” in May. The six-week course teaches the science behind beer brewing. Students over 21 years old will learn how to make a good craft beer, discover different styles of beer and tour a local brewery. Alumni are welcome to take the class, too. For more information, go to www.msj.edu/brew.
Accreditation Review at the Mount As mentioned in the last issue of Mount News, the accrediting body for post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region of the United States, the Higher Learning Commission will visit the Mount this October. In preparation for this visit, the Mount is seeking comments from the public about the University. The Mount and other higher education institutions must undergo a regional accreditation evaluation on a regular basis. The Mount has been continuously accredited since 1932 and accreditation was last reaffirmed in 2006. The team from HLC will review the Mount’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the University to the following: Public Comment on Mount St. Joseph University, Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Ste. 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411. The public may also submit comments on the Commission’s website at www.ncahlc.org. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing and signed. All comments must be received by Sept. 7, 2015.
New Orleans mission photo provided. Brew poster original design by Christopher Metz, 2011 graphic design graduate. Adaptation design by Kurt Grannan, professor of graphic design.
On July 1, the School of Health Sciences welcomes its new dean — Darla Vale, Ph.D., MSN, BSN, previously dean of adult and graduate studies Darla Vale at the Mount. “Nursing and health science-related majors have long been key areas for Mount students because of the rich heritage with the Sisters of Charity,” Vale said. “We have recently added new majors and programs in our school and will continue to find ways to meet the needs of the health care community.” The new dean has been the primary author of nine grants totaling more than $514,000 and authored more than 13 publications. She serves on the board for the Greater Cincinnati Nurse Executives, volunteers for the Good Samaritan Hospital Free Clinic and enjoys medical mission trips, including her most recent one to Honduras in 2012.
Nursing Department Honored Nationally The Mount’s nursing program was one of only 100 nursing programs in the country to receive funding to pilot a White Coat Ceremony for sophomore nursing students. The traditional white coat signifies students’ commitment to providing compassionate care as a future health care professional. On April 22, an All Nursing Convocation was held in the Mater Dei Chapel featuring a traditional nursing pinning ceremony for all undergraduate and graduate nursing students. In addition, the Mount’s graduate nursing programs have a reason to celebrate at the May commencement — the first graduation for the Mount’s Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates. The master candidates include those in both the education and administrative tracks.
SPRING 2015 • 7
SCARY STATISTICS DON’T FRIGHTEN 8 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
From left: After graduation, Olivia Warner Andriot, BA ’12, worked with the Career & Experiential Education Center, directed by Linda Pohlgeers. Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, BS ’13, MSOL ’15, most benefitted from writing her own personal branding statement at the Mount.
THE MOUNT by Andrea Tortora
National fear over lack of career readiness stimulates university to build on its successes, even in unusual ways. SPRING 2015 • 9
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They took enough time and thoughtfulness to point out something in which I excelled and which was different from my major. That is a differentiator. They knew us
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as individuals. – Richard Wallace, BS/BA ’91
Across the country, businesses are giving colleges and universities quite a bleak report card, based upon how ill prepared graduates are for entering the work field these days. New alumni are probably going to have a hard time getting hired unless schools take a proactive approach, not only in educating students in the mechanics of their field, but also in preparing them for professional success. Several recent studies have shown a majority of both employers and graduates believe higher education has failed to equip students with skills needed to succeed in their first jobs: • 39 percent of business leaders say colleges do an “only fair” or “poor” job of preparing students for their business careers. — Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools study, 2011 • 48.1 percent of career-center directors say their students lack the knowledge needed to find jobs. — Job Preparedness Study by the Career Advisory Board, 2012 • 61 percent of graduating seniors never went to their school’s career center or only went once or twice. — Job Preparedness Indicator survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2014 • Only 11 percent of business leaders strongly agree that graduates possess the needed skills to succeed in the workplace (compared to 96 percent of chief academic officers believing that they are ready). — Lumina Foundation survey, plus the 2013 Inside Higher Ed Survey of College & University Chief Academic Officers, conducted by the Gallup poll
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
The Mount is bucking this trend by paying attention to such studies and listening closely to what Mount students, alumni and the community say they need in terms of workforce development. Best of all, the Mount makes sure it delivers. Richard Wallace, BS/BA ’91, offers a good example. When he enrolled at the Mount, he loved biology and planned to seek an advanced degree in the subject. But an on-campus job at the Mount’s Computer Learning Center exposed him to the wonders of technology. “It turned out I had a pretty good knack for it,” says Wallace, now the managing director for AlixPartners, a New York-based management consulting firm. Biology Professor Gene Kritsky and others had encouraged Wallace to take a computer-science class and explore the field as a career option. “They took enough time and thoughtfulness to point out something in which I excelled and which was different from my major,” Wallace says. “That is a differentiator. They knew us as individuals.” By helping students make the most of their educational investment, the Mount plays an important role in preparing its graduates for professional success, while bolstering the region’s economy at the same time. The Career and Experiential Education Center at the Mount has a database containing 592 registered employers. Students work real-world When students complete a cooperative education assignment, jobs while earning internship or summer employment with these entities, the credits and being paid. Mount seeks corporate input on how it can better prepare graduates for the current marketplace. In 2014, employers cited interviews, phone skills, computer skills, communication 269 co-op and self-confidence as areas in which students need to be placements better prepared. made in the 2014-15 academic year, which was a 5.9% increase from the year before In many ways, career readiness is about knowing the answers to three questions: $931,544 1. Who are you? amount co-ops 2. What do you know? collectively earned 3. What can you do? in 2013-14, up 5.6% from ’12-13
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
MAKING IT PERSONAL
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That’s the premise Rich Utecht, the Mount’s former career and co-op coordinator, adopted as the basis for teaching his professional-development classes. Before students can excel in a career, he says they need a firm grasp on who they are as individuals and what they want to accomplish in life. Because the college years are a critical period in the formation and maturity of student belief systems, those years help form students’ “values, attitudes, passion and desire to make a difference with their lives,” he adds. The Mount promotes personal and organizational growth with attention to social responsibility through its focus on ethical leadership. “It is leadership that values integrity and a social consciousness,” says Tim Bryant, executive director of the Center for Ethical Leadership. “The Mount provides an environment that empowers students to apply their talents and skills to influence others to become involved in something greater than themselves. I believe it is our responsibility as educators to challenge students to think about how they will use their chosen disciplines to address the multitude of needs they will encounter in the world.”
1. WHO ARE YOU?
Ultimately, making the most out of the three questions previously mentioned means that job seekers should use the answers to form personal branding campaigns. Such an idea is new to most people, although the Mount has been promoting it for a few years. Alumni who have used it and employers who have seen the results equally praise the process. For Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, BS ’13, MSOL ’15, the process started with writing a personal mission statement as part of Utecht’s professional development class. The result was one of the most influential assignments in her Mount career, she claims, because it let her focus on who she really is and has also shaped how she lives her life today. Her personal mission statement is awe-inspiring: “I will not do anything dehumanizing, immoral or illegal. With a just conscience, I will contribute to organizational success, which contributes to economic growth and the improvement of living standards. Through effective leadership, education and service, I commit to making a social impact. I challenge myself daily to face life’s challenges by walking around walls rather than through them.” Oglesby-Henry wrote those words following a difficult time in her life. She had transferred to the Mount in 2006 from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, but illness and family issues forced her to leave college in 2007. Five years later, this mother of two returned to complete a co-op in human resources with Validex XLC Personnel Services and earn her degree in 2013. She recently shared her personal statement during a job interview with the founder of the Life Learning Center, a Covington, Ky., nonprofit that helps individuals recover from adversity and find sustainable employment. “He stated he had never had a person present a personal mission statement,” she says. “He loved the last sentence. It was then he gave me the opportunity to talk about my undergraduate experience and writing the mission for my life.” In the end, she got the job and is now director of enrollment. Co-op experiences such as OglesbyHenry’s “round students out in terms of their value proposition,” Utecht says.
SERVICE LEARNING Students apply classroom knowledge while volunteering in meaningful ways.
2,125 student placements since program’s inception in 1994
63,750 service hours completed by students since ’94 (excluding current semester)
45 community partners work with Mount students on an average year
$1.2 million approximate value of service hours worked (based on the value of a volunteer hour by year, as established by the Independent Sector coalition)
Rich Utecht believes students need a firm grasp on who they are as individuals and what they want to accomplish in life.
SPRING 2015 • 11
Jessica Mazzei, BA ’14, co-oped at the Sisters of Charity Ministry Foundation for experience in communications and social media. She remains in touch with her co-op supervisor to talk about the different ways in which she can use her new media-studies degree.
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT Students can work summer jobs with local nonprofit organizations.
77+ students participated in the Summer Employment program in 2014
28 nonprofits hired those students in ’14
More than 50% nonprofit employers in the program have participated for six years or more
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“They realize where their values are, and they know what they can do.” Oglesby-Henry says she lives to serve others in a leadership capacity to impact the lives of those in need. She will soon graduate with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) from the Mount, and her capstone project is based on this concept. She is a great example of how the Mount’s ethicalleadership focus teaches students to understand ethics and leadership through a lens of human relationships. Efforts are “designed to empower students to become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, effective communicators and ethical decision makers so that students can lead active, effective and meaningful personal, professional and civic lives,” director Bryant says.
2. WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
The Mount is a liberal arts university — one that trains its graduates in life skills and prepares them to be nimble enough to adapt to the ever-changing business climate, says Joel Thierstein, executive vice president for academic affairs. Students who learn how to relate things in disparate fields and put them together in ways that make sense will go far. Co-ops and service-learning experiences, he says, teach these lessons, as do interactions with professors and staff. “Many faculty are involved in serving in a way that is beyond their discipline,” he continues. “This makes students see by example what it means to be a good citizen.” Jessica Mazzei, BA ’14, says her co-op at the Sisters of Charity Ministry Foundation gave her real-world experience in communications and social media while building lasting relationships that go beyond the classroom. She remains in touch with her co-op supervisor, for instance, and they often talk about the different directions in which Mazzei can take her new media-studies degree. That’s how networking works. Many people don’t appreciate how valuable it can be, Utecht says. “Almost no one turns you down if your request is for help, advice and guidance.” Frequent networking makes people more comfortable with selling themselves and creating circles of people willing to help. “You discover job opportunities you might never hear about in other ways,” Utecht says. Hollie Wimmers, BS ’14, learned this first hand while attending the Duffey Conway Ethical Leadership Series, put on by the Mount last fall. Encouraged to attend by Sociology Professor Nazneen Kane, Ph.D., Wimmers found herself conversing with professionals from University Hospital and the Josh Cares nonprofit group. “It was the push in the right direction for me to truly see what it is I want to do after graduation,” she says. “I want to touch people’s lives.” Wimmers is still searching for that perfect job, but she made connections willing to assist her in her career journey.
On a basic level, leadership education at the Mount gives students the confidence to articulate the value of their skills and knowledge to potential employers, Bryant says. But he also identifies a list of other benefits — the ability to understand individual and group dynamics, learning relational processes that allow students to “collaborate, problem solve, communicate, make decisions and lead change that advances common purposes and organizational goals.” Craig Davis, MSOL ’11, enrolled at the Mount precisely to strengthen his leadership skills. The real world experiences and personal interactions with other professionals in the program aided Davis as he zeroed in on his personal leadership style. “When I graduated, I felt more fluent and confident about how to navigate certain management situations,” says the vice president and general manager for the Intelli-Hood division of Melink Corp., based in Milford, Ohio. Davis uses his MSOL knowledge on professional and personal levels. “It is about improving yourself and your approach,” Davis says. “It made me a better manager and made me think more about who I am as a person so I can try to be a better husband, father and friend.”
3. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
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When I graduated, I felt more fluent
When employers conduct job interviews, what they really want to know is and confident how a candidate’s strengths can solve a company’s specific needs. “It relates to your transferrable skills,” Utecht says. “Employers need proof points.” about how to This is why Utecht teaches students to sell themselves. Students, graduates or anyone looking for a job need to be prepared to answer the question, navigate certain “What can you do for me?” with a story or example that substantiates their management specific key qualities. Utecht’s professional development classes — and to a greater extent, situations. It the Mount’s Talent Opportunity Program (TOP), which focuses on bestin-class career readiness — guide students through the process of building a made me a better personal brand that tells who they are and shows what they can do. Required manager and courses and events lead students through putting together a resume, handling an interview, presenting yourself as professional and the etiquette of business made me think dining, for instance. The Career and Experiential Learning Center delivers extensive services that more about who allow students to hone their interview prowess and resume-writing stamina. I am as a person Olivia Warner Andriot, BA ’12, turned to the Career Center about four months after graduation when she was struggling to find a job. The so I can try to be communications major had two marketing co-ops under her belt — one at Bayley Senior Living in Delhi Township, the other in the Mount’s a better husband, marketing department. father and friend. The Career Center “tore my resume apart, and we worked on it,” Andriot says. “They pointed out why I was having trouble and told me how to show – Craig Davis, MSOL ’11 what I could do on paper.” She quickly landed a position at Cincinnati-based leadership development consulting firm Xecutive Metrix, where she wore many hats and learned human resources, strategy, succession planning and leadership development. That experience launched Andriot into her current position at TriHealth, where she works for the Surgical Institute and Women’s Services Institute. This online career job board connects students and After completing his MSOL, alumni with job opportunities. Craig Davis remained at Melink while broadening his responsibilities and 780 refining his management techniques. active employers currently involved “If you want to give yourself more credibility, you need to separate yourself 31.7% from the herd and show what you add,” increase in employers since 2012 Davis says. His Mount experience taught him not to
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MOUNTCONNECT
Jessica Mazzei and Craig Davis photos provided.
SPRING 2015 • 13
be afraid of failure. “It took me a while to appreciate the fact that what allows each of us to get better is to fail and learn from those mistakes,” Davis says. “The more you try, the more you fail. But as long as you are learning and leveraging that for future growth, the better off you will be.” Classes and events deliver high-level, Deer Park Schools Superintendent Jeff Langdon, career-readiness information and skills. BA ’95, has hired at least 20 Mount graduates in his 21 years as an educator. He says people who choose the 168 Mount value relationships and collaboration. “Once you the number of students who have are inducted into the Mount family, those relationships participated in TOP since the program start to form. Students get the perfect role modeling from began in 2013 their professors, and then they model that in whatever they choose to do.” $2,500 Qualities that Langdon sees in Mount education grads the value of career services offered to are strong communication and collaboration skills focused a student six months after graduation on the whole student. “They realize they have to build a (through PROMARK, a Career Partners relationship with a student first in order to teach them.” International Firm) when the student Stacey Liddy, project manager for the Cincinnati Home had completed the highest level in Injury Prevention Study at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital TOP and still needed services Medical Center, notices similar mature characteristics in the seven Mount co-ops who have worked on the study. The co-ops administer the study’s quarterly telephone surveys to collect parent-reported data and are trained in the ethics of conducting human subjects research. “These students understand the importance of having well-rounded experiences — both in class and the working world,” Liddy says. “The cooperative work is an invaluable part of preparing the students for their next chapter and gives them real-world perspectives that can shape and change their career decisions.”
TALENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (TOP)
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These students understand the importance of having well-rounded experiences — both in class and the working world. The cooperative work is an invaluable part of preparing the students for their next chapter and gives them real-world perspectives that can shape and change their career decisions.
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– Stacey Liddy, project manager for the Cincinnati Home Injury Prevention Study at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
14 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY
The Mount clearly recognizes the value in allowing students to explore real-world possibilities for their professional lives and in giving students the OK to change their minds if another avenue feels like a better fit. For Wallace, who changed his major from biology to computer science, a co-op at Cincinnati Bell solidified his decision to follow a new path. In his two years at Cincinnati Bell, he was treated as a full-time employee and gained a high level of understanding about how the team functioned. “I would often talk with my professors about what we were doing, and they loved it because it gave them insight into my practical experiences from the industry and showed them how the skills they were teaching were relevant,” Wallace says. Which brings us back to the inherent power of a job candidate who can describe how his abilities will benefit an employer. “It is a process of discovery that very few have had an opportunity to go through,” Utecht says. “In this day and age, with competition being what it is, you need to make the most of who you are.” For Davis, it’s about innovating early and frequently, whether that means improving a process, thinking smarter or thinking out loud. For Oglesby-Henry, that means not being afraid to live and remembering that the best leaders are also the best at following. For Mazzei, it is being confident and not doubting herself. For Andriot, it is not being afraid to ask for help when it’s needed in order to build a network. And for Wallace, it is the knowledge that one wrong decision won’t kill you — and could even make you stronger.
Career Center staff are happy to help students chose appropriate donated attire for job interviews.
CAREER CENTER DELIVERS PROFESSIONAL ESSENTIALS The Career & Experiential Education Center provides students and graduates with numerous professional services to achieve career success, including career development, experiential learning, cooperative education and service learning. The center tailors its services to each person’s individual needs. Students can earn credits for past experiences through a Prior Learning Assessment. They can also gain next-level career services by taking part in the Talent Opportunity Program. TOP offers three achievement levels in career readiness, professionalism and ethical leadership, plus access to additional post-graduation services if students still are seeking employment six months after graduation. Undergraduates can take advantage of many workshops, job fairs and networking opportunities. Olivia Warner Andriot, BA ’12, strongly encourages use of the Career Center. She took advantage of workshops, resume writing and career counseling services as an undergraduate. Then after struggling to find employment a few months after she graduated, she went back for help in landing her first job.
“The workshops were great for networking and interacting with people from other firms,” Andriot says. “I would not have met half the people I have without the Career Center.” To better serve all students, the Career Center has launched a new project called Career Wear: Professional Essentials. Linda Pohlgeers, Career Center director, says a career closet has been created to assist students who lack the appropriate attire for job interviews. Students can “shop” through donated professional attire with the assistance of Career Center staff. Pohlgeers hopes young alumni will consider donating clothing appropriate for students between the ages of 18 and 22. Needed professional attire includes: •F or Men — long-sleeve shirts (white or light blue preferred), dress pants, suits, sports coats, ties, belts and dress shoes. • For Women — dress skirts, dress pants, jackets, suits (pants or skirts), blouses (solid colors preferred) and dress shoes (heals or flats). To make a donation, you can contact Becky Leighty at 513-244-4888 or rebecca.leighty@msj.edu. M
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‘EDUCATION AT WORK’
proves education really works at the Mount — and leads to jobs Students develop valuable career skills, earn a real-world salary and bank future tuition without leaving campus. Answering calls for Bloomingdale’s may seem like an odd job to find on the Mount campus, but it is the kind of job that sophomore Alexis Benjamin is eager to reach in the mornings and evenings.
On Mondays, sophomore Alexis Benjamin is anxious to get to her desk at the Mount by 9 a.m. — even though she has no lecture, no test and no textbook. Those will come later in the day, but her first stop is handling calls for Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s through the Education at Work program, located just below the Mount’s library. Alexis has been taking part in Education at Work since she learned about it during her freshman year. At first, she says, she was a bit worried about the commute to the offices in Norwood. But those fears were allayed when the program opened its first on-campus telephone contact center at the Mount last fall. At that point, Alexis says, she was all in. The Cincinnati nonprofit organization helps students develop valuable career skills, gain opportunities for promotion and leadership, build their resumes, earn spending money and bank additional money for their education, all while serving the needs of the organization’s business clientele. The Mount partnership began in 2012.
16 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
by Susan Hines-Brigger ’94
LET’S LEARN
Come afternoon, Alexis kicks into student mode and heads off to class, just steps away. The “education” component of Education at Work is important. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 in order to take part in the program. This semester, Alexis is taking 15 credit hours toward her degree in early childhood education. She says the work she is doing in the contact center is definitely helping her prepare for her post-college plans. What does she think she’s learning the most? “Patience,” she says. “I have quite a bit of patience, but to be patient with adults is much more difficult than with children.” Once she’s done with classes for the day, it’s time for homework.
MORE TO COME
After dinner, she will once again head across campus to the contact center in order to pick up another shift of a few hours. She works anywhere from 16 to 20 hours a week. Once at the contact center, Alexis stays busy answering the phone, placing orders and helping to fix orders that aren’t correct. “I also do what we call same-time, where I don’t end up taking phone calls, but if a customer doesn’t like the answer an agent gives them, then I step in and take over a call,” she explains. By the end of her shift, Alexis and the approximate 35 to 40 other students and supervisors in the contact center that night will have earned $9 an hour, as well as money toward their tuition. In all, more than 100 students work in the program, which offers up to $6,000 in tuition assistance annually for each student worker — a nice incentive. “Helping students, especially first generation students, afford college” was the impetus for the university becoming involved with Education at Work, says Mount President Tony Aretz. That reasoning also echoed in the company’s founding. “College becomes more and more expensive year after year, and young adults find it difficult to pay for their schooling,” says Dave Doughtery, Education at Work founder and former Convergys president and CEO. “I started Education at Work to help students get through college with less debt while also allowing them to gain professional work experience along the way. My goal is for every student that works for us to graduate with little to no debt and skills employers desire, including communication, problem solving and critical thinking.” When asked how she likes the Education at Work program, Alexis is quick to answer: “I plan on continuing as long as I go to MSJ.” For more information visit www.msj.edu/education-at-work.
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My goal is for every student that works for us to graduate with little to no debt and skills employers desire, including communication, problem solving and critical
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thinking. The on-campus facility will allow us to
– Dave Doughtery, founder of Education at Work
continue giving back to the community by creating job opportunities for more local students and providing them with a way to cover some tuition costs, while gaining customer service skills they can take with them when
”
they graduate.
– Mike Gatio, president of Macy’s Credit and Customer Services, which provides one of the jobs in which Mount students can work on campus
FACTS ABOUT EDUCATION AT WORK • Employees must be enrolled in at least one college class. • Employees can earn up to an additional $6,000 annually toward their college tuition based on their GPA and course load. • The SC Ministry Foundation awarded a grant to the Mount to fund a portion of the program’s start-up costs and the initial scholarships for Mount students. M
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Service Learning
SERVE Dual Purposes Students gain educational experiences; community gains loving laborers
by Jessica Baltzersen ‘13
18 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
ES In the quiet uninhabited basement of the Mount’s library, amongst shelves of old chemical abstracts and donated literature, sat sophomore English student Josh Zeller, as he cataloged a rare collection of books transported from Alaska in the care of a Mount faculty member. Meanwhile, during the same 2014 fall semester, Jessica Davis, sophomore special-education major, faced the challenge of tutoring two students at Holmes Junior/Senior High School in Covington. Founded in 1853, Kentucky’s oldest public high school is also the state’s worstperformance-rated school, where one in every 10 students is homeless.
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Classroom learning is essential, but what I did was so different, unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced. When doing something hands-on, you get to apply your knowledge, which I haven’t experienced in a
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classroom as often. – Josh Zeller, sophomore
20 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
Although Josh and Jessica’s individual experiences were vastly different, they both were a part of the Mount’s Service Learning program, where students encounter invaluable educational opportunities that enrich their academic knowledge base and their lives. “Through service learning, a student’s learning goes beyond simply sitting in a classroom and absorbing information,” says Joel Thierstein, executive vice president of Academic Affairs. “They’re engaging and participating in the problem-solving of society.” The purpose of the program is for students to apply their classroom knowledge to volunteer work, so they can gain both a hands-on experience and the opportunity to work for the betterment of the community in meaningful ways. In one semester, each student works a minimum of 30 service hours. Once the job is complete, students present their learning outcomes to their class where they reflect on what they have learned and how they have grown personally. “Presenting in front of a class is always nerve-wracking for me,” says Zeller, “but I gave details of my project and then took questions. The question-and-answer segment was what made the presentation so positive, because people asked a lot of questions. I was glad that they were so interested in what I had to say about my experience!” “Essentially, service-learning students theorize in the classroom, complete service related to academic content and demonstrate learning through reflection,” says Service Learning Coordinator Keith Lanser. With his cataloging project, Zeller found himself in the midst of a rich anthology of butterfly species, science and poetry books. The late Kenelm Philip, butterfly expert who resided in Fairbanks, Alaska, left part of his literature collection to close friend Jill Russell, Ph.D. ’96, associate professor of biology at the Mount, after he passed away in March 2014. The two met in the summer of 2010 when Russell taught at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She inquired about an unusual butterfly and was told to ask “The Alaska Butterfly Guy,” or Dr. Philip. “We immediately became fast friends, and I had dinner with him once a week ever since,” says Russell. “He was a brilliant man, who loved to share the newest scientific information he had just read about. He was the best friend anyone could ever want.” Philip’s collection contained more than 10,000 books, including first-edition poetry, science fantasy and children’s literature. The books were distributed in various directions. Many of the most valuable books from his collection were sent to his family in New England. Some books were donated to the UAF library, and others were given to the public library in Fairbanks where they have since been sold, earning about $20,000 to fund the library.
Student Josh Zeller says that interviewing associate biology professor Jill Russell, Ph.D. ’96 about her friend and butterfly expert Kenelm Philip was an exciting part of his service learning project in which he cataloged Philip’s rare book collection.
The remainder of the books came to the Mount to be cataloged by Zeller. “We were asked by the executor of the estate to take care of Ken’s book collection and to do what we wanted with them. So, after the books went to the UAF library and to the family, I asked that the remaining books be sent down [to the Mount] to catalog them for the estate so that a dollar value could be listed,” Russell says.
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Through service learning, a student’s learning goes beyond simply sitting in a classroom and absorbing information. They’re engaging and participating in the problem-solving of society.
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– Joel Thierstein, executive vice president, Academic Affairs
Learning Outside the Classroom After the books arrived at the Mount, Zeller took bibliographic inventory and rated the condition of Philip’s collection. The cataloging included searching for the possible worth of each book and making note of general information such as the title, author and publication date of each book. The content from his Advanced Composition course prepared him for research methods and other literary practices he used during his work in the library. “It was exciting to learn outside of the classroom,” Zeller notes. “Classroom learning is essential, but what I did was so different, unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced. When doing something hands-on, you get to apply your knowledge, which I haven’t experienced in a classroom as often.” The money from the sold books will go towards a scholarship fund that has been set up by Philip’s family at UAF. The first scholarship was awarded to a graduate student who volunteered closely with Philip in the last year of his life. A fond memory Zeller had through his experience was interviewing Russell about the owner of the book collection. “You learn a lot about a person by the types of books they own,” Zeller says. “I got to learn a lot more about [Philip] who was an essential expert on butterflies in Alaska and who led an interesting and rich life, filled with books and poetry. ” “Josh has such an appreciation of the collection,” Russell adds, “that it was very rewarding to see how much pleasure he got from working with the books. It was a win-win situation.”
Paul Jenkins, director of library services, mentored student Josh Zeller through cataloging a rare book collection and conducting other research during his service learning experience last fall.
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I’ve been thinking about pursuing library science for a long time — but my service learning experience definitely strengthened my desire to pursue this field. I now feel more sure than ever before that I want to become a librarian.
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– Josh Zeller, sophomore
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Seeing my own students’ ‘light bulbs’ go off when they got something was an amazing feeling. – Jessica Davis, sophomore
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Throughout the semester, Zeller worked closely with Paul Jenkins, director of Library Services, who mentored him during the cataloging process. Zeller also had the opportunity to work one-onone with Jenkins on various research projects, including an essay on the rise of e-books in libraries. The Mount is one-of-a-kind in that it fosters a close collegial relationship between expert faculty members and students. “Mount students bond with faculty members in ways that students at larger universities aren’t able to,” Thierstein says. “Our smaller institution allows students to be guided by a faculty member personally — which is a critical component to a successful education.” “I really liked that I got to know Mr. Jenkins and Dr. Russell better after working on this project with them,” Zeller says. “They are both wonderful people who are so passionate about what they do, a passion I know that I want to apply to my own career.” “Working with these books and learning to catalog and research taught me that working with books is something I want to do for a career,” Zeller says. “I’ve been thinking about pursuing library science for a long time — but my service learning experience definitely strengthened my desire to pursue this field. I now feel more sure than ever before that I want to become a librarian.”
The Challenges are Service “The ultimate purpose of the service learning here at the Mount is for our students to develop values, skills and knowledge that will empower them to become community leaders who actively work to make Greater Cincinnati a more inclusive and equitable place to live,” Lanser says. Jessica Davis experienced up-close the hardships that come with service and the personal gratification from making a change in the community. She worked for three hours after school, tutoring two middle-school-aged children in fluency, comprehension and overall reading skills. “Holmes High School is in a very high poverty area,” she explains. “Sometimes children would go home hungry, which was really sad to see. Working with students who don’t get fed during the weekend and depend on the afterschool program so they can get fed dinner was eye opening. “I just don’t feel comfortable talking about everything that I saw at Holmes Middle School,” she says. “The students made great progress for the time I was there. And yes, I did grow a relationship with the two who I worked with. “It makes me want to become a special education teacher even more,” she admits. “I loved the experience to a certain extent.”
22 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
Far from easy, Jessica Davis’ service learning project was hands-on training that helped her make a firm commitment to becoming a special education teacher.
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The value in service learning is the ability to work in the field to helping the world’s element is the ability to reach out and
(HPAC) is an additional service offered to students seeking require skills and experiences beyond what they received while completing their undergraduate degrees. Undergraduate students in the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences
touch somebody.
and the School of Health Sciences work with academic
Higher education’s
advisors for their majors, as well as an HPAC advisor, to
purpose is to produce great learners — and
– Keith Lanser, Service Learning coordinator
academic growth. The Health Professions Advising Committee guidance in entering professional health care careers that
problems. The key
through reflection.
The Mount operates under the principle that a personal connection between students and faculty is the foundation for students’
and apply knowledge
learning happens
Personal Advising for Health Professions
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design a course of study that is tailored to suit their own specific career goals. HPAC advisors are expert faculty members who assist students one-on-one with insight on career overviews, graduate program applications, interviewing processes, shadowing opportunities for various careers and other beneficial advice for furthering their academic careers. “We
“Service learning isn’t meant to be easy, because our society’s greatest challenges don’t have simple solutions,” Lanser adds. “Service learning can be extremely difficult for students, especially when they are grappling with the realities of inequality for the very first time.” “The value in service learning,” Thierstein adds, “is the ability to work in the field and apply knowledge to helping the world’s problems. The key element is the ability to reach out and touch somebody.” By helping a student learn to read, Davis was able to effectively teach first-hand the knowledge from her Theoretical Perspectives and Foundations in Literacy class. “It was really awesome when I knew what was happening because I had just talked about it in class. Seeing my own students’ ‘light bulbs’ go off when they got something was an amazing feeling,” Davis says. When taking the service-learning credit, it’s not certain what each individual’s learning outcome will be. Some students deepen their academic comprehension, while others develop a greater understanding of social problems, a stronger appreciation for cultural diversity, or an enhanced sense of community. But what is certain, is that when students complete their service hours, they gain insight and knowledge through the intentional, systematic reflection of their experiences. “Higher education’s purpose is to produce great learners — and learning happens through reflection,” Lanser says.
offer our professional services to help and guide students along the way,” says Tracy Reed-Kessler, biology professor and HPAC co-director. “Because we work closely with our students, we know them very well and what their specific goals are. That’s what sets us apart from larger universities.” HPAC prepares students for admission to professional programs in athletic training, chiropractic medicine, dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, public health and veterinary science.
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THE LION’S CORNER ATHLETICS Lacrosse seniors Faith Koehne ’15 and Drew Stoffer ’15 remind us that the most important experiences from playing on a team have come from time spent both on and off the field — lessons learned about the lifetime value of friendship and leadership roles. Why did you choose to play lacrosse at the Mount? Faith: I knew that I would be helping to build a brand new team. Along with building that team, I knew that there would be many starting opportunities and, because I came from a large high school team, that was extremely appealing. Drew: I chose to play because of the family atmosphere of the team. I had a great experience on my initial visit, and many of the players kept in contact while I was making my decision. It really came down to being comfortable here. What is your favorite part about being on the team? Faith: My team. We are like sisters helping each other, not just on the field, but off, as well. I recently lost my grandmother, and almost every single member of the team was there for me and supported me. These ladies have made my college experience better in more ways than I could ever express. Drew: My favorite part in general would be the friendships I’ve made with so many teammates over four years here. Our team, in particular, is very geographically diverse, and having connections around the country is a great asset to have after graduation. What are your favorite wins? Faith: One of my favorite memories is from my freshman year when I scored my first collegiate lacrosse goal. Another would be passing an assist to Chrissy O’Hara ’14 to score the game-winning goal after a hard fall and laughter from the other team. My favorite win was against Calvin in our season opener my sophomore year, when we beat them by 1 in quadruple overtime. That win was the first season opener win in women’s lacrosse at the Mount and resulted in the first winning record in women’s lacrosse history at the Mount. Drew: My favorite win would be from my freshman year on our spring-break trip to Orlando. We played a great team from New York and had a great experience playing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. We played above what we thought we could and pulled out a close win. What has been the most valuable lesson learned from playing on the team? Faith: Actions speak louder than words — on and off the field. As (businessman) Harold Geneen said, “Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and actions.” This quote rings true whether I am following my coach’s instructions or leading the girls in something as simple as stretching. Playing with a team requires the skill to understand when composure or ferocity is needed, and the Mount’s lacrosse team has allowed me to understand the difference. Drew: Everything rises and falls with leadership. I have had the privilege of being a captain on the team the last two years. However, I could never have performed well in that role if I had not had great role models before me.
Faith Koehne ’15
Drew Stoffer ’15
ATHLETIC NEWS REDS PITCHER FUNDS RENOVATION: The men’s volleyball locker-room underwent a massive renovation thanks to a generous donation from Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman — a close friend of Mount player Cesar Trigo de Serrano. Chapman donated 80 percent of the funds needed for the three-month project. Head coach Ryan Lengerich says Chapman has attended a few games, has met the whole team and understands what the Mount and the team have meant in de Serrano’s life. The two men, both Cuban, met by chance at a gas station a few years ago. STUDENT ATHLETES GIVE BACK: The men’s golf team served and prepared meals for the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati this year, while the men’s basketball team helped put up Christmas decorations at the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse. BASKETBALL ACHIEVEMENTS: The men’s basketball team completed their season with a 19-6 overall mark and won their first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball regular-season title. They moved on to play in the HCAC Tournament, but lost to Bluffton in the semifinal round on Feb. 28. M
For up-to-date info on all of the athletic programs at the Mount, visit www.msjsports.com 24 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
MAKING AN IMPACT Tri-State’s Only Physician Assistant Program Being Developed Thanks to Donor Support The country faces a shortage of up to 90,000 physicians by 2025, reported the Association of American Medical Colleges earlier this year. Thanks in large part to aging baby boomers, the Greater Cincinnati area alone is expected to have a shortfall of 250 doctors by 2017, noted a 2013 Health Collaborative study. To help safeguard the community’s medical care, the Mount has been approved to develop the Tri-State’s first Physician Assistant (PA) graduate program, which will add health care providers to serve patients’ needs. Initial enrollment is proposed for 2017-18. The closest PA programs to Cincinnati are in Kettering, Ohio, and Lexington, Ky., says Tracy Reed-Kessler, biology professor, neuroscience program co-director and Health Professions Advisory Committee chair. Building upon the Mount’s long tradition of serving the community’s health care needs, the proposed program is being designed with an innovative five-year curriculum in which students would receive a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences in three years and a master’s degree after two additional years. Plans also include an option to admit students in a post-baccalaureate program so those who already have a bachelor’s degree can obtain a master’s degree. Currently, the Mount has a Pre-Physician Assistant undergraduate program in Biomedical Sciences. PAs perform many of the same duties as physicians, including care, diagnosis, prescribing medications and treatment of patients. Supervised by physicians, they practice in private practices, clinics, hospitals and other health care institutions, while serving in fields from general practitioner to surgical specialties. To make this program possible, generous contributions from George and Jeane Elliott, SC Ministry Foundation and Western & Southern Financial Fund have provided start-up funding for the program. These loyal donors are helping to launch the Mount forward in the health care arena — a priority initiative in the Vision2020 Strategic Plan.
Generous contributions for the physician assistant program came from (above, from the left) Ken Ryan, assistant vice president of Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Western & Southern Financial Group; Jeane and George Elliott, and (at right) the SC Ministry Foundation, represented by Sally Duffy, SC, president and CEO.
“Students with an interest in becoming a physician assistant today have to attend a college out of the area,” the Elliotts said, “so we applaud the Mount for undertaking this initiative. We are proud to support development of a program that will help both the community and the Mount.” George is a member of the Mount’s Board of Trustees. The Elliotts are longtime supporters of the Mount. Approval for the program development was granted by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. M
SPRING 2015 • 25
FACULTY & STAFF UPDATES ACCOMPLISHMENTS John Ballard, Ph.D., professor of management, presented the paper titled “Connecting Research and Practice by Blogging: The Case of ‘Leadership, Management, and Life in the Workplace’” at the Midwest Academy of Management meeting in Minneapolis, Minn., in October. He was also honored with a Best Reviewer Award. Robert Bodle, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and new media studies, had a book chapter titled “Predictive Algorithms and Personalization Services on Social Network Sites: Implications for Users and Society” published in the collected volume The Ubiquitous Internet: User and Industry Perspectives (Eds. A., Bechman & S. Lomborg), Routledge, in December. Sheree Brown, tutor, Project EXCEL, wrote a poem, “Curve Convergence,” which was published in the Weekly Avocet, in September. BC Charles-Liscombe, Ed.D., ATC, chair of athletic training, recently presented at the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nev. His poster presentation “Using A Faculty Learning Community to Implement Interprofessional Education (IPE) in the Small College/University Environment” was developed in collaboration with Rosanne Thomas, Ph.D., chair of physical therapy; Gail Burns, DNP, RN, ’93, assistant dean of nursing; and Mary Kishman. The poster was based on the work of the faculty members in a 2013-14 IPE Faculty Learning Community. The four lead authors were FLC facilitators in 2013-14. Other FLC members included: Marsha Eifert-Mangine, Ed.D. (PT); Karen Holtgrefe, DHS, PT; Kathy Hulgin, Ph.D. (education); Bill Lonneman, DNP (nursing); Judy Singleton, Ph.D., (social work); and Angela Wolfe, Ed.D (AT). R.A. Davis, Ph.D., MS, BA, professor emeritus of biology and geology, was an invited presenter at an event “Meet a Meteorite” at the Cincinnati Observatory, in November. His topic was titled “Meteorites and ‘Meteor-Wrongs’ and How to Tell Them Apart.”
Mary Kay Fleming, Ph.D., academic assessment coordinator, and Jim Bodle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, presented an interactive session at the Lilly International Conference on Teaching and Learning in November. The session titled, “Students Fail When We Fail: Improving Assignments to Increase Validity of Assessment,” demonstrated the positive effects of the new assignment-approval process for baccalaureate-level assessment. Karen Holtgrefe, DHS, PT, associate professor of physical therapy, presented on the topic of “Treating Patients with Respiratory Disorders” in Nashville, Tenn., in September. She also attended the Item Bank Review Committee of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy in Alexandria, Va. Susan Johnson, Ph.D., RN, professor of nursing, took part in a poster presentation titled “Using the 5 T’s to Lead Faculty in Online Course Development” at the Ninth Annual National NLN/Elsevier Technology Conference in Nashville, Tenn., in October. Jamie Leslie, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor of nursing, published an article in the January issue of Nursing 2015 titled “Why Should You Attend a Conference This Year?” Craig Lloyd, MFA, associate professor of art, has work included in two recent exhibitions: The American Artists Professional League 86th Grand National Exhibition 2014 in New York City, where he received the Ridgewood Art Institute Award and Strokes of Genius, Maryland Federation of Arts Gallery, Annapolis, Md. Tim Lynch, Ph.D., professor of history, reviewed “Depression Folk: Vernacular Music in the 1930s” for University of North Carolina Press. Tim was again selected to be a Visiting Scholar at the National Endowment for the Humanities Institute “Voice Across Time” to be held at the University of Pittsburgh. He also published “Unions Helped Middle Class Grow” in the Labor Day edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Reports through January.
26 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
The “Change Agent” Faculty Spotlight on BC Charles-Liscombe “I’ve been told I have Compulsive Responsibility Disorder,” laughs BC CharlesLiscombe, Ed.D., ATC. “I am always willing to take on a lot.” That might explain why the Mount’s athletic-training BC Charles-Liscombe (back row, far chairperson spent right) with students and faculty who spring break at attended the Quiz Bowl competition a professional in Chicago. conference in Chicago with the Mount’s state-winning Quiz Bowl team, competing against major universities from the Great Lake states. Maybe that also explains why he led the charge for a new major, health and wellness, which began last fall, and why he serves as the race director for the MSJ 5K. “I see myself as a change agent,” he said. “I see the problems, and I like getting people to collaborate and work together to find a solution. I like to help people achieve their vision.” Charles-Liscombe’s vision began shortly after his family immigrated to the United States from Chile when he was a young child. His mother, a radiology technologist, used to hold family picnics with BC, then 5, and his sister, now a nurse, on an X-ray table. As a teenager, he tried every sport possible, including karate and cycling, but ended up spending more time on the sidelines than he did in games. It was on the sidelines as a freshman in high school where he found his niche. He got involved in sports teams on the team-manager side. He went to Guilford College, a small liberal arts school in North Carolina for his undergraduate degree before moving to much larger Indiana University for his master’s degree. He felt his calling to be a professor and spent seven years working on his doctorate while working full-time. A few years ago, he heard about an opening at the Mount, so he and his wife moved their young family to Delhi Township where they keep busy with their five children, ages 3 to 11. “I’ve spent nearly my entire career in liberal arts,” he said. “I like building synergy around health and wellness. My goal is for people to see that athletic trainers are used in innumerable settings, not just on the sidelines.” BC Charles-Liscombe photo provided.
Tracy McDonough, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, and Lynda Crane, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology, were interviewed by the Oral History Review managing editor Troy Reeves about their work on The Schizophrenia Oral History Project. The project was also the subject of an article published in the New York Times in May.
Seeing Things Differently Staff Spotlight on Terri Hurdle
Stacy Mueller, M.Ed., was a panelist on the topic of “Choosing a College for Students with an IEP” in Granville, Ohio, Granville Exempted School District in November. Nancy Shockey, tutor, Project EXCEL, and Deb Wille, tutor, Project EXCEL, participated in Educational Services College Night at St. Ursula High School in October. They presented, “High School Versus College, Support Services for Students with Learning Differences,” to high school juniors and their parents. Judy Singleton, Ph.D., associate professor of social work, recently celebrated 35 years as a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Marsha Smith, coordinator of Project EXCEL, was a panelist at Holy Cross High School, Covington, Ky., in November for College Information Night. Robyn Stone, adjunct instructor of English, had two poems published in Blue Collar Review Literary Journal. Karl Zuelke, Ph.D., MFA, director of the writing and math and science centers, and Fr. John Amankwah coauthored a paper titled, “Teilhard de Chardin, Evolution and Gaid,” accepted for publication in a volume of critical essays, tentatively titled Ecocriticism and Religion. It will be published by Lexington Press.
NEW HIRES Welcome to our new employees at the Mount: Gina Bath, Mimi Daria, Michael Obert, Mark Osborne, Jean Shannon, Erin Sommer, Karen Stirk, Hannah Thompson and Lenee Williams.
Terri Hurdle photo provided.
Terri Hurdle
PROMOTIONS Congratulations to the following faculty promotions: Christa Currie, Ph.D. – School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry - promotion to associate professor with tenure Elizabeth Mason, Ph.D. – School of Arts & Humanities, Department of English and Modern Languages – promotion to associate professor with tenure Lisa Dehner, PT, Ph.D. – School of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy – promotion to full professor Mary Kay Fleming, Ph.D. – School of Behavioral & Natural Sciences, Department of Psychology – promotion to full professor Charles Kroncke, Ph.D. – School of Business, Department of Business Administration – promotion to full professor Tracy Reed-Kessler, Ph.D. – School of Behavioral & Natural Sciences, Department of Biology – promotion to full professor
Plans to be a civil rights attorney after graduation were thankfully derailed for Terri Hurdle, Ph.D. “I was going to be the next Barbara Jordan (senator from Texas),” Hurdle explains. “Thurgood Marshall was my idol. My mind was made up, but then someone saw me working with students and said, ‘No, Terri. This is your niche.’” Hurdle, born and raised in Cincinnati, heeded that advice and became the Mount’s first director of diversity and inclusion in August. She joined the Mount after similar roles at Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati. “We have diversity at the Mount,” she said. “To have inclusion, you have to be open to different ideas and perspective. You have to have different voices that are open to new possibilities that challenge you to understand and see things differently.” Hurdle said she was able to see things differently herself after being asked to be the advisor for Delta Phi Lambda, an Asian-interest sorority at UC. “At first I thought, ‘Well, I’m not Asian,’” she said. “I did not want to force my concept of Greek Life on them, but I did want to see them grow as a community on campus. Working with Delta Phi Lambda was a great experience because we challenged, as well as learned, from each other.” Hurdle oversees some student groups such as Black Student Union, helps the LGBTQ community and implements peer-training groups and Safe Zone training. She’s also launching the first Hispanic Day of Learning at the Mount and is busy lining up countless speakers and programming for the community. She sees her position as a “bridge builder” for not just students, but also for faculty and staff. “It’s a pleasure that so many people are responding the way they are to the programming we’re doing with the Mount community,” Hurdle said. “I’m busy sending out surveys to the students to see what they’re thinking and what they want to see happen here. We have to figure out where we enter in to all groups — the commuters and the students who live on campus — so we can challenge people’s understanding.” Hurdle said she doesn’t regret ending up on a college campus instead of a courtroom. “I’m still making change,” she said, “just in different ways.” M
SPRING 2015 • 27
ALUMNI UPDATES NEWS New Associate Director of Alumni Relations Mount alumni and friends, I would like to introduce myself. I am the associate director of alumni relations and lead annual giving. Since the end of October, I have been a member of the team in the Institutional Advancement Division, and I have to say I am so proud to be part of the Mount family. With nearly 10 years of experience working in alumni relations, I have begun partnering with the various departments on campus to help keep alumni engaged. I look forward to our continued success and getting to know more Mount alums in the future. One of my first experiences at the Mount was the December commencement ceremony. Congratulations to our first graduating class as a university and welcome to the Mount St. Joseph University Alumni Association! You read about Career Wear on page 15, a newer initiative started by the Career & Gina Bath Experiential Education Center. I encourage you to clean out your closets and donate those new or gently used professional items you are no longer wearing. This is a great way for alumni to give back to the current Mount students. On the following page, learn how the Career Center can help with your career and job search. Their services are free to alumni for life. The best part of my job is keeping alumni connected to their alma mater. A great opportunity for alumni to stay connected to the Mount is to serve on the Alumni Board. If you are interested in receiving more information about board membership or becoming more involved with the University, call or email me. Also, please contact me with questions, stories, updates and event ideas.
New Young Alumni and Annual Giving Coordinator I joined the Mount in early December 2014 as the new young alumni and annual giving coordinator. I, too, am excited to be a part of the Mount community and look forward to meeting our alumni. I graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Since graduating, I have been involved with several nonprofits, such as the Red Shoe Crew at the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati and American Cancer Society Relay for Life. We have events planned for the months ahead, and I invite all alumni to participate. We’re always looking for new ideas to keep our alumni involved. My goal in particular is to work with our GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) alumni. Mark Osborne The 2014-15 Mount Annual Fund is nearing completion. Funds raised go to help different areas around campus, such as student services, We’d love to hear from you! technology upgrades and financial aid. For those of you who have already donated this year, thank you for your continued support. We To contact Gina Bath, call 513-244-4298 or email gina.bath@msj.edu. are appreciative of all gifts. To donate, please visit www.msj.edu/give. I’m pleased to announce our new affinity giving campaign. With To contact Mark Osborne, call 513-244-4892 the change to University status came the establishment of several or email mark.osborne@msj.edu. schools within the university umbrella. You can decide where to Bookmark www.msj.edu/alumni. This is direct your donations within the University. For example, if your where you can find the latest news, register major was nursing, you can direct your gift to the School of Health for events, submit a classnote or passage, Sciences, or you may continue to designate your donation as an and sign up for Alumni Connections, the unrestricted gift. monthly e-newsletter dedicated to you, I would love to hear your ideas for making your alumni our loyal alumni. experience better. Please feel free to contact me.
28 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
Career & Experiential Education Center for You The Career & Experiential Education Center’s services are available to alumni for life. The Center provides several services to assist alumni and students with career readiness and job searching, which include help with updating your resume and writing a cover letter. One of the Career Center staff members can even provide information about job search strategies and conduct a mock interview to help you land that job. Career & Experiential Education Center staff Do you want to make are always ready to help alumni with career readiness and job searching. a career switch and need some advice? They can help with that, too. The Career Center is here to support you with any of your needs. Your web profile matters as much as your resume and cover letter. Let the counselors show you how to use social media, such as LinkedIn, to market yourself and create a personal brand. All these services are available to current students and to you as alumni. The Center also has a variety of events offered throughout the year. Follow MSJCareerCenter on Facebook for a list of all upcoming events. Set up an appointment with one of the career counselors by calling 513-244-4888 or emailing career.center@msj.edu. They look forward to helping you develop your professional edge.
Student Alumni Association Hosts Valentine’s Break-Up Week The number of students thrilled to be breaking up during Valentine’s Day would have been shocking if the break-ups hadn’t made so many other people happy. Far from anything that St. Valentine could have dreamed up, “Break-Up Week” was a clothing drive for Be Concerned Inc., a nonprofit that provides daily necessities for low-income families in Northern Kentucky. The Student Alumni Association hosted the event, which did not involve donations after a fight with an ex. Students were simply encouraged “to break up with other schools,” thereby donating clothing from other universities or high schools. The objective was to spread more Mount school spirit and help those in need. In all, the Student Alumni Association accepted 101 shirts, and donors received new Mount T-shirts in return. More important, Be Concerned collected good condition T-shirts and sweatshirts. Andrew Brunsman ’10, executive director for Be Concerned, said, “The commitment of the Mount and SAA is one of the many reasons I’m a proud alum. It’s always great to see the Mount putting its mission to work in the community.”
Reunion Weekend June 5-7 Mount alumni classes of 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985, plus all Royal Mounties, are invited to join us for Reunion Weekend June 5-7. This is a time to visit the Mount campus and see how things have changed over the years. The weekend will also include an alumni awards convocation, luncheon and tours of the campus. A golden anniversary celebration will be held for the class of 1965. Classes with an anniversary this year that are not listed above will celebrate at Homecoming on Oct. 3, 2015. For more information about Reunion Weekend 2015, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 513-244-4298 or visit www.msj.edu/reunion-weekend. Alumni of all ages, like these 1964 students, are invited to Reunion Weekend in June.
Historical photo courtesy of the MSJ archives.
SPRING 2015 • 29
ALUMNI UPDATES NEWS & CLASSNOTES Annual Fund Supports Students and Campus
Connect to Your Future Career Do you have an interesting career story that you think could help a current Mount student? We are always looking for ways for alumni to share their success stories with students. Each year we hold Connect to Your Future, an informal round table event that allows you to sit down with students and share your experiences and insight. Students seek guidance from successful alumni to help them decide on a major or career path during this event. If you are interested in participating in this event held in the fall, please contact Brittany Arthur ’11 at brittany.arthur@msj.edu.
Students like Danielle Hausfeld ’15 benefit from Annual Fund donations.
1950s Paula Gonzalez, SC, ’52 of Cincinnati has been named a 2015 Enquirer Woman of the Year. She is a former Mount faculty member, an internationally known futurist, environmentalist and is currently the consultant to the Mount’s Environmental Action Group.
1960s Gloria Cordova ’61 of Los Alamos, N.M., was the project scholar for the recent ALA project exhibit of the “Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone By” at the Los Alamos Mesa Public Library – one of only 25 libraries across the country to host the exhibit. Cordova was invited because of her research interests in women’s stories. The Ken Burns documentary “The Dust Bowl” used the voice of Caroline Henderson’s letters and articles in the film. Cordova launched the project to the public with her research on Caroline Henderson, “Letters From The Dust Bowl.”
Did you know that when you donate to the Mount you are helping students achieve a great education and provide equipment for various departments? You are also helping to advance the mission to educate our students through a liberal arts, career-ready curriculum with ethical leadership development. If your company participates in a matching gift program, your gift can have double impact. If you have already given to the Mount Annual Fund, thank you for your continued support. If not, please join others and donate today at www.msj.edu/annualfund. Your support helps students, like Danielle Hausfeld, who is pursuing a Mount education and a career in physical therapy.
1970s Nancy Welsh Sorg ’63 of Cincinnati is serving her fifth year as president of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cooperative Society, a 130-yearold volunteer organization. Carolyn Miller Witterstaetter ’67 of Cincinnati has retired after 35 years of service as the pastoral associate for music ministry at Our Lady of Visitation Church. Phyllis Pickar Wickstrom ’68 of Cincinnati is a volunteer at the Cincinnati Nature Center. Patricia Sullivan Stohlman ’69 of Cincinnati will retire at the end of the 2014-15 school year from Our Lady of Victory School, where she has been an administrator assistant for 27 years.
Marcia V. Twarogowski Hill ’71 of Medina, Ohio, received Honorable Mention from “Heroes Behind the Scenes” in the January 2015 edition of Cleveland Magazine. It is the first year that the organization Values-in-Action honored employees who work diligently to create a kind and productive workplace and community in Northeast Ohio. Values-in-Action Foundation advocates for new ideas that can change the culture of the community, making Cleveland more welcoming. Patricia Biss Neuendorff ’73 of Litchfield, Ohio, is retiring from Hospice nursing to work with her husband’s mobile pulmonary-function business, testing veterans at outpatient clinics in Northeastern, Ohio. Carole E. Gubser ’78 of Naples, Fla., is celebrating 35 years as a practicing dietitian. She was a board-certified nutrition-support clinician for 25 years and now specializes in home infusion therapy.
Classnotes continued on page 32.
30 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
PROFILE: MIKE BROOKS ’04
Mount Degree Launched Brooks into Retail Career By Robert Schaich ’15 Strong leadership, building operations and vice president trust and incorporating of strategy for Delhaze different strategic viewpoints America, before becoming are the building blocks for president and COO of a success for Mike Brooks ’04 technology company as president and CEO of called iControl. Busch’s Fresh Food Market, a From experiences in all family-owned grocery chain of his business roles, Brooks that operates 15 stores in believes that a good business Southeast Michigan. Brooks leader needs to always is not a member of the Busch remember one important family, so his appointment in thing: “At the end of the day, 2014 began a new chapter in it’s all about the people.” the store’s history. When considering potential “Chairman John Busch and business colleagues, Brooks members of the board have says that he looks for people been very welcoming and who have a passion for what supportive of me,” Brooks they do and who value the says. “They have given me the importance of ethics. freedom and latitude to move The Mount’s MSOL in whatever direction I feel program focuses more on the is best.” business aspect of people and Raised in Cincinnati, Brooks the organizational topics of received a Master of Science business management, rather in Organizational Leadership than directly focusing on (MSOL) degree from the finance and marketing. “The Mike Brooks with his wife, Jaelene, and their children. Mount in 2004 , after MSOL program provided a earning a bachelor’s degree strong science and academic in business administration basis and also opened up from the Union Institute in different viewpoints, different 2001. He made a career out ways of thinking and solving of his professional passion issues for people in various – the retail industry. He industries,” Brooks says with began working for Biggs grocery stores in 1984 and was pride. “I also found not only the curriculum stimulating, eventually appointed to vice president of merchandising. but how the people operated as leaders.” He has spent 25 years in various executive positions Brooks enjoys spending time with his wife, Jaelene, and including roles leading strategy, operations, analytics, their children. Though he now calls Michigan “home,” human resources and merchandising at Delhaze America he has a special place in his heart for the Cincinnati Reds and Supervalu. He served as the vice president of and Bengals.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the people.”
“Chairman John Busch and members of the board have been very welcoming and supportive of me. They have given me the freedom and latitude to move in whatever direction I feel is best.” – Mike Brooks ’04
SPRING 2015 • 31
ALUMNI UPDATES CLASSNOTES
1980s Jean Taylor Aclin ’84 of Elkton, Fla., and her husband, Keith Aclin, completed a pilgrimage to the Holy Land last summer, traveling through Israel and Jordan. Joan Sontag ’85 of Moscow, Ohio, retires from teaching in May. She taught special education for 30 years for Clermont County Educational Service Center and then for Cincinnati Public Schools. Lori Riedel Turner ’85 of South Bend, Ind., is the chief marketing, innovation and experience officer for Beacon Health System. She also serves on the board of directors for The Center for Hospice Care. Mary Kolks-Vail ’88 of Pataskala, Ohio, has been appointed to the new position of chief mission officer at Goodwill Columbus. Goodwill transforms lives through the power of employment for individuals with disabilities and other barriers. Rebecca Bethel Cyrus ’89 of Chillicothe, Ohio, volunteers at the local food bank and senior citizens center in her area.
1990s Christy Ann Miller-Pace Connelly ’90 of Cleves, Ohio, is a Hamilton Park and Great Parks volunteer who is working on the restoration of Whitewater Shaker Village. She also helped install the Shaker Herb Garden in 2013. Michael Rolfes ’92 of Cincinnati has a private investigation and security company that has now expanded to eight states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. He has 218 employees.
Kathleen Ann Schulte ’95 of Cincinnati is in private practice at Cincinnati Counseling Services. In 2005, she won the NAMI-Hamilton County award for Excellence in Mental Health Therapy.
Elizabeth Mushaben Gordon ’07 of Rockville, Md., is doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. and was also married last September.
Christina Amrhein Ashley ’99 is a second-grade teacher at Our Lady of Victory School in Cincinnati. She and her husband were expecting their second child in February.
Evan Dreyer ’07 of Amelia, Ohio, is the new football coach at Oak Hills High School.
2000s Jody Lampe Raugh ’01 of North Bend, Ohio, and her husband, Donald Raugh, welcomed their daughter, Hayden Louise, on April 17, 2014. Anna Schroth Richardson ’01 of Cincinnati just finished writing a children’s book with her sister called “Sleeperhero.” The book is now available to the public. Jeremy Rosselot-Merritt ’01 of Cincinnati is an adjunct instructor at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of English and Comparative Literature. He is teaching a course in technical and scientific writing. He also works as a full-time technical writer in the metal-treating industry, which he’s been doing since 2012. Ashley R. Vaughn ’05, ’09 of Hamilton, Ohio, and her husband welcomed their second son, Evan Maxwell, on July 26, 2014. Ashley completed her Master of Science in Biology and Emerging Diseases degree in December 2013 and is now pursuing a doctorate in educational studies at the University of Cincinnati. Megan Garrity Mears ’06 of Cincinnati and her husband, Josh Mears, recently welcomed their first child, Evelyn Francis, on Aug. 4, 2014.
Denise Taylor ’94 of Cincinnati and Barb Liphardt are proud to announce the adoption of Bryce and Branton Taylor into their family.
32 • MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
Annie Barkley Horn ’08 of Cincinnati has been promoted to program manager for Girls on the Run of Greater Cincinnati. Annie oversees all Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana program sites. Girls on the Run is a life-changing, nonprofit program for girls in the third through eighth grades, whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. Jamie Cooper Prince ’10 of Cincinnati recently married Keith Prince and is working for P&G in Sales Capability Development. Kory Brian Bailey ’12 of Fort Mitchell, Ky., is a Boone County sheriff. Neil Kelly ’12 of Cincinnati, received his Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Northern Kentucky University in December 2014. Kathryn Roedig ’13 of Cincinnati participated in Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in India. During the summer of 2014, she studied the stunning ecological, cultural and spiritual landscapes of the Western Ghats, where the fates of people, wildlife and deities meet in sacred groves and forest temples. Roedig, a teacher and coach at Summit Country Day School in Cincinnati, took the graduate course in pursuit of her master’s degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program. Debbie Ann Smith ’14 of McKee, Ky., is doing a year of service with the Christian Appalachian Project. M
PASSAGES ALUMNI
HUSBAND OF
MOTHER OF
Helen Holley Frank ’35 Rosemary Trapp Eveslage ’42 Ruth Bross Hoh ’42 Mary Enneking Merrill ’42 Mary Jean Viel Fox ’43 Barbara Sommer Kelly ’43 Mary Austing Cash ’45 Barbara Jeane Fraser DeWitt ’45 Rita Lowry Espel ’47 Mary Heil Fallot ’48 Catherine Peffer ’49 Mary Scheid Kautzman ’51 Joanne Gotta Weber ’51 Marian Braverman Gaab ’52 Ruth Vonder Haar Beiting ’54 Mary Agnes Huemmer Van Santen ’54 Ann Dorenbusch, SC, ’55 Carolyn Buckholz Harrington ’55 Mildred Shaver, SC, ’55 Diana Strigle Brown ’58 Catherine Garlock Dilts ’58 Anne Squire Hammer ’59 Chris Keane Kane ’59 Dalyte Koklys-Lukas ’59 John Catherine Gumbert, SC, ’60 Nancy Shambaugh Chapman ’61 Kathy Benken Higgins ’62 Mary Mehmert ’64 Mary Beth Merkel Buescher ’65 Vivian Compton ’67 Nancy Meyer Meuse ’67 Jane Clifford Klenotic ’70 Pamela Winner LaFalce ’76 Nancy Beck Perazzo ’77 Julie Liggett Becker ’80 Barbara Ann Bedel Legschmid ’81 Mary Huy Krekeler-Brockman ’82 Gladys Dodson Grever ’83 Ruth Dickhoner Strimple-Kupferie ’84 Linda Price ’85 Monte Garrabrant ’86 Deborah Soler, SC, ’86 Joan Valachek ’87 Shirley Secrist Black ’89 Mary Elizabeth Symes Herbst ’90 Susan Franks Barnard ’96 Rosemary Flynn ’99 Bryce Eastlick ’08
Viola Cisneros Pena ’50 Mary Farrell Hillenmeyer ’51 Rosemarie Schmitt Molnar ’53 Rima Grudsinkas Gudaitis ’55 Rosemary Jean Miesle Bagby ’67 Susan Lonz Swick ’67 Diane Donovan Burke ’81 Donna Barnett Lahrmann ’87 Judy Varney ’90 Carol Back Roosa ’94 Treva Young ’94 Terri Adams Hart ’07
Charlotte Strange Scarcelli ’65 Rosalind Zengerle ’65 Barbara Eveslage Lehrter ’66 Kristin Peterson Jordan ’71 Barbara Healy Santilli ’71 Susan Keller Kilby ’73 Carol Anderson Jordan ’75 Nancy Mohrhaus Beyer ’81 Kathleen Shea Kallmyer ’85 Elizabeth Kautzman Lauter ’85 Albert Hertsenberg ’88 Karen Ann Rudolph ’89 Mary Kanalas ’90 Penny Mangold Herr ’94 Cherie Lafleur Newman ’95 Timothy McCarren ’99 Donald Glankler ’02 Clare Koch ’05
FATHER OF
Barbara Boeh Harris ’73 Patricia Molnar Knisley ’78, Kathryn Molnar Wiesenberg ’81 and Theresa Molnar O’Flaherty ’80 Lisa Braunschweig Diamond ’79 BROTHER OF Linda Weatherwax Ransler ’79 Mary Lynn Eicher Neidich ’81 Claire Foken, SC, ’52 and Brenda Hector Slaughter ’80 Martha Louise Foken, SC, ’56 David Armentrout ’89 Ruth Anne Winterhalter ’62 Lois Huber Hartoin ’89 Carolyn Cocker Hollin ’97 Michael Cason ’90 Margie Bley Ring ’00 Cindy Telscher Fischer ’88, Mark Bardonaro ’04 Lori Telscher Poynter ’90 and Tricia Telscher Widolff ’05 SON OF Diane Luebbering Quatman ’90 Barbara Kuhn Hallstein ’75 Jody Sunderman Maly ’91 Marilyn Brun Kuntz ’85 Ken Olberding ’92 Pam Bacon Tarvin ’92 and Joseph Bacon ’94 SISTER OF Raymond Sparks Jr. ’93 Betty Scheid ’54 Mary Bagby Davis ’94 Dorothy Keane ’63 Peggy Gormley Popejoy ’96 Lois Torbeck Szucs ’67 and Karen Wolfram Riestenberg ’97 Kathleen Torbeck Vonderbrink ’74 and Nancy M. Wolfram ’02 Emery Mapes ’85 Tiffany Fox Owens ’99 Shirley Wiesenhahn Carlisle ’98 Karen Hater ’01 Michele Williams Gamble ’06 Janet Sherrod ’06 HONORING STUDENT LAUREN HILL Nancy Herzog ’09 A scholarship in honor of Lauren Hill has been Craig Beesten ’11 established at the Mount by an anonymous alumnus. The “Forever 22 Scholarship” will honor the legacy of Lauren and the accomplishments of her life. If you would like to donate to the scholarship, please go to www.msj.edu/give or call 513-244-4475 or 800-654-9314. Your gift will provide financial assistance to students. M
MAY 7 9 25
Semester Ends Commencement University closed. Memorial Holiday
JUNE 5-7 16 20 26-27
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID CINCINNATI OHIO PERMIT NO 7116
IMPORTANT DATES
Reunion Weekend Priority Registration Saturday Business Information Session Summer Undergraduate Orientation
JULY 3 17-18 21
University Closed. Independence Holiday Summer Undergraduate Orientation Graduate Information Session
12 15 18 19-20 21-30 24
Discovery Day MSJ Day at the Zoo Adult Orientation Summer Undergraduate Orientation Welcome Week Semester Begins
SEPTEMBER 7 25 25-27
University Closed. Labor Day Holiday MSJ 5K Family Weekend
OCTOBER 2 2-4 2 3 3 9 14 17 28
Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner Homecoming Weekend Homecoming Pep Rally Homecoming Game Alumni Tailgate Party University Closed. Mid-semester Holiday Leadership in Nursing Awards Dinner Get Acquainted Day Community Trick-or-Treat
Division of Institutional Advancement 5701 Delhi Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45233-1670
AUGUST
For complete calendar listings visit www.msj.edu/calendar For complete Mount Lions schedules visit www.msjsports.com
DO YOU KNOW? We’re going way back to the Mount’s 1973 commencement. Do you know those shown in this photo? Post your answer on the Mount’s Facebook page /MountStJoseph or tag _theMount on Twitter.
MISSION STATEMENT Mount St. Joseph University is a Catholic academic community grounded in the spiritual values and vision of its founders, the Sisters of Charity. The University educates its students through interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing values, integrity and social responsibility. Members of the Mount community embrace: excellence in academic endeavors; the integration of life and learning; respect and concern for all persons; diversity of cultures and beliefs; service to others.
If you have received Mount News in error or wish to update your mailing preferences, please contact Sandy Oldendick at sandra.oldendick@msj.edu or call 513-244-4871.