Momentum THE MAGA ZINE OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF MARY
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the Legacy of Sister Thomas Welder
Welder Library Welder Library is dedicated to the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and “our friend and University leader Sister Thomas Welder, OSB, for her wisdom and leadership in growing the University of Mary.” Welder Library was constructed in 1998 on “Gift Hill,” so named in recognition of the 40-acre gift to the Benedictine Sisters from local farmer Charles “Chick” Swenson. Welder Library was named by the Matt and JoAnn Butler family. Sister Thomas has long inspired the generosity of the University’s alumni and friends, most recently through two $1 million matching gifts made in her memory, which will match all gifts made to the Sister Thomas Welder Scholarships at the University of Mary up to $2 million through December 2020. Learn more at umary.edu/SisterThomas.
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From the President
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A Life Lived for Others: Remembering Sister Thomas Welder
10 University of Mary Alumni Step Up During the Pandemic: “This was My Calling” Giving Every Student the Opportunity to be Successful 12 New Engineering Facility 14 A Life-Changing Degree 16 More Than Coffee 18 Alumni News
Editor Lauren Dunnigan Contributors Karen Herzog & Molly Johnson Graphic Design Specialists Holly Schaeffer & Laura Scott Photographer Jerry Anderson
Contact Momentum Editorial 701-355-8255 Circulation 701-355-3726
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Monsignor James P. Shea President of the University of Mary
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“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” -John 13:14
he University of Mary’s main campus was so very still and quiet this past summer. Some days, working alone in the Benedictine Center for Servant Leadership, I would walk over to our Board Room, named for the great and generous North Dakota entrepreneur, Harold Schafer. The floor-to-ceiling glass of the Board Room opens to the western horizon over the valley of the Missouri River below, vast and crowded with tall cottonwoods. From that vantage, I could just barely see the cross that marks the final resting place of the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. And then I would turn and gaze for a while upon a lovely, painted icon, hanging there in the
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At the heart of everything, Sister Thomas Welder was a woman of faith.
Board Room. It depicts Jesus on the night before He died, kneeling down to wash the feet of His disciples. You know, this was Sister Thomas’ favorite scene from the Gospels. And I would think of her. Sister’s life was an astonishing paradox of grace: it was in her humility that she was radiant in leadership; it was in her stability that she was dynamic in vision; it was in her own death to self that she found life – her own life, and the life of generations of students and friends of the University whom she served so beautifully. All of this is true because, at the heart of everything, Sister Thomas Welder was a woman of faith.
We’ve needed faith like that in the challenge of these past months. The swift arrival of the coronavirus pandemic led us to send our students home a month early to learn remotely for the remainder of the semester. We canceled concerts, sporting events, and most heart-breaking of all, Commencement. But at Mary, we are women and men of faith. So we rolled up our sleeves and set to work, crafting a comprehensive, thoughtful plan for the re-opening of campus. As students arrived to resume their studies, many things looked different for them. But all of us are in this together as we move forward in resilient joy, confident that there is an astonishing paradox at play here, too.
Out of this trial – as we love and care for one another – we will discover God’s tender and most surprising grace. • Our Engineering students and faculty moved into a brand-new facility this fall. It is state-of-theart and so beautiful. • As of today, our incoming freshmen class is larger than last year’s, despite the pandemic! • Our alumni continue to be bright lights wherever they are, rising up as servant leaders in their respective fields. As you know, the University of Mary was founded for students, to “prepare leaders in the service of Truth.” As we continue to serve them, I know that Sister Thomas is with us still, praying for us and teaching us how to lead and live well. Dear friends, you and your loved ones are ever in my prayers. May the Lord bless you in everything these coming months. Pray for us!
In Mary,
Monsignor James P. Shea President
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“Whoever comes my way is welcome because they have been created by God and they have the beauty of being a human person, and they are welcome into my life.”
A Life Lived for Others
Remembering Sister Thomas Welder
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ormer University of Mary President Sister Thomas Welder, OSB, passed away at her Annunciation Monastery home on June 22, 2020, at the age of 80, following a recent diagnosis of kidney cancer. Admired locally, regionally and nationally as a true servant leader, Sister Thomas cared tremendously for all University of Mary students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as her beloved Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. She lived out the Gospel of Jesus daily through her love for people. She often said people energized her and gave her joy, which was evident by her contagious smile 6
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and how she made everyone feel special. “Sister Thomas lived her life for others,” said Sister Nicole Kunze, Prioress of Annunciation Monastery. “She was always giving to others, whether it was a smile, an encouraging word, or a promise of prayer. She often said that the greatest gift you could give a person was the gift of your time, and she did that without fail. Sister Thomas modeled so many of our Benedictine values with ease and grace. She truly received all as Christ. She was intent on maintaining a vibrant connection between the Sisters of the monastery and our sponsored institutions.”
Diane Welder was born in Linton, North Dakota on April 27, 1940, to Mary Ann (Kuhn) and Sebastian Welder. She was the oldest of three children. When she was two years old, the family moved to Bismarck. A graduate of St. Mary’s High School, she joined Annunciation Monastery after a year of college in Minnesota. Attracted by the community and prayer life of the Sisters, she felt God’s call to become one of them. She made her monastic profession on July 11, 1961, and took the name Thomas. Sister Thomas cherished Benedictine monastic life, which she lived faithfully for 59 years. She enjoyed directing the community choir and
Sister Thomas during a moment of prayer at her retirement celebration.
“Sister Thomas Welder was a rare person,” said University of Mary President Monsignor James Shea. “Under her leadership and vision, the University of Mary was confirmed in its purpose to form leaders in the service of truth in renewed and ever-growing ways; and Sister Thomas’s leadership touched thousands of students’ lives as the University grew and expanded over her presidency. But perhaps even more than this, Sister Thomas was known for her attentiveness, her humility, her heart for service, and her love for her vocation as a Benedictine Sister of Annunciation Monastery. It was these qualities, too, which touched innumerable lives over the course of her life.” Not only did she impact students, but her staff as well. “She always made it a point to meet the university employees and visit us spending time with her Sisters. In 1970, her mother Mary Ann also became a Benedictine often. She’d get to know everyone, asking about our families and our lives,” shared Sister after being widowed in 1951. Joan Weltz, who has known Sister Thomas Sister Thomas began her career as a since Weltz started working at Mary 47 years teacher at the University in 1963, when it ago. “At staff picnics, she always made sure was Mary College. She was inaugurated to talk to everyone. We had to make sure as president in 1978. As president, Sister someone made her a plate; otherwise, she Thomas helped the school gain university wouldn’t eat. She was too busy talking to status, experience steady growth, and add everyone and their families.” numerous undergraduate and on-site As president, Sister Thomas relied on graduate degree programs throughout North the counsel of those around her to help Dakota. She helped make Mary one of the guide her decisions. “I don’t think she was premier institutions for the preparation of leaders and fostered leadership development ever afraid to ask for help,” Weltz said. Neal Kalberer, who served as vice president in students and colleagues.
for Public Affairs during the time Sister Thomas was president, said that Sister always welcomed insight from those around her and always made sure everyone was on the same page. “We always knew what we were going to do each day when we were coming up the hill. There was always a clear plan, but there was also always room for adjustments. Sister Thomas was constantly available to offer insight or help make a plan,” Kalberer said. Sister Thomas played a vital role in recruitment and fundraising, both of which Kalberer oversaw. “If she was available, she always wanted to meet with potential
Sister Thomas and other Sisters of Annunciation Monastery next to Gift Hill Cross. umary.edu
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assistant for twenty years. Sister Janet joined Annunciation Monastery a year after Sister Thomas. “She always gave everything she had to a day. I think she realized that life is short, so she put everything she had into each day,” she said. “She never ran out of energy,” said Kalberer. In her free time, Sister Thomas enjoyed music, reading, spending time with family, and picking wildflowers. “She loved going to Medora and the Badlands and picking wildflowers,” Sister Janet shared. “One Fourth of July, she heard of a rare white orchid by Valley City, so we drove there with Sister Nicole and found it. It brought her great joy.” Sister Janet Notes sent from Sister Thomas to Joan Weltz, now treasured keepsakes, described Sister Thomas which display her gift for writing and also her sense of humor. as a true “Dakota woman” who took great pride and students and their parents when they came delight in her home state. to visit,” he said. “This was often the key to At the start of Shea’s current presidency enrollment,” Kalberer added, noting that in 2009 and after her 31-year tenure as the Sister Thomas was always his best marketing fifth University of Mary president, Sister tool. She was a valuable companion on his Thomas continued to be involved with development visits, even if she made him University of Mary as president emerita run a little behind schedule. “She never — remaining active with public speaking wanted to end a good conversation,” he said. events, committees, and fundraising in the “I tried to send her subtle messages that we department of Mission Advancement until had another meeting, but she never paid any her passing. attention. She was too focused on the person “There’s no question of the impact in front of her. she had on the University of Mary, the “She had a real presence, a true presence,” Bismarck-Mandan community, North Kalberer continued. “Wherever she was, Dakota, and beyond,” said Kalberer. “It’s that’s where she wanted to be. She was remarkable, all that she did.” always in the moment, and you could tell. When she’d walk in the room, you knew it any alumni, students, and friends was going to be a special time.” of the University gathered both in Sister Thomas was a night owl and often person and virtually to give thanks for worked late into the evening, shared Sister her life over a three-day vigil and funeral. Janet Zander, who served as Sister Thomas’s “The pain we feel today at losing Thomas
“True hospitality is marked by an open response to the dignity of each and every person. Henri Nouwen has described it as receiving the stranger on his own terms, and asserts that it can be offered only by those who ‘have found the center of their lives in their own hearts’.” – Kathleen Norris, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography
is nothing compared to the joy of having known her,” said Sister Nicole at the funeral. “Thank you, Sister Thomas, for the joy you have given us. We are better people for having known you.” Many of her Benedictine Sisters, friends, family, and colleagues now cherish all the little notes and cards she wrote them. “Her cards always had a poetic, refreshing message,” Sister Janet said. “She often
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Sister Thomas with her signature smile and laugh at a groundbreaking ceremony.
One of the most important things to Sister Thomas was the Benedictine value of hospitality. She enjoyed getting to know the University’s students and joining them for lunch.
recycled cards in a funny way, and they were the kinds of cards you would keep to read again, to be encouraged and to laugh.”
of words, but when Sister Thomas spoke would marvel when she asked about people about servant leadership, about education, and situations in their lives that had been about religious life, when she said your discussed months, even years, earlier. She name, something stirred inside you,” said had a ready laugh and gentle nature that “She liked to have fun,” Weltz said, another Shea in his funeral homily. Sister Thomas’ made others comfortable in her presence,” recipient of her ‘recycled’ cards. “She had a knack for remembering names, particularly said Sister Nicole. sneaky little sense of humor.” the thousands of students, alumni, and But for Sister Thomas, it was never about Kalberer remembered her notes as well. faculty, is one of her most gifted qualities the names. “It’s the people that matter,” “She had a gift. She was highly skilled in that will be forever treasured. she would say. “Whoever comes my way is writing letters, even emails, that made you “Her attention to the details of daily lives welcome because they have been created feel special and known. I often wonder how and family members of those she met would by God and they have the beauty of being a someone can be that special—but she just be recalled in future encounters. Students, human person, and they are welcome into was.” faculty, staff, and guests of the Monastery my life.” ister Thomas Welder influenced countless people during her lifetime If you wish to honor the memory of Sister and, more profoundly, so many students during her time as the longest serving female Thomas Welder, memorial donations are university president in American history. She being accepted to the University’s Sister was the same person no matter where she Thomas Welder Scholarship Fund at was or who she was around and was always umary.edu/SisterThomas. very humbled by the attention she received.
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“Wherever you went, you always had to share her,” said Weltz. “But she was always so gracious. She took a deep interest in everyone.” “She always had for everyone a gracious and encouraging word. A public life is a life
Thanks to generous friends of the University and of Sister Thomas, all gifts made from now until December 31, 2020, will be matched, up to two million dollars.
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UNIVERSITY OF MARY ALUMNI step up to serve during the pandemic supportive but worried. She has two little boys she was leaving behind. But she knew it was something she had to do. “For me, I knew I had to go to NYC. I had an overwhelming gut feeling that this was my calling; this is why I went into healthcare.” Evans decided to go to New York. She Evans, center, featured on the news during her time in New York. was placed in the Coney Island (CI) Hospital Emergency Department in Brooklyn, NY– literally thrown into the frontlines in the Emergency Department (ED) of a huge metropolitan hospital. Ninetyfi ve percent of patients in the ED were rooke Evans, ’18, always planned to COVID-19 patients, and all were very sick be a nurse. “I followed in my mom’s because many would wait to come in over footsteps,” she said. “She’s a nurse, and so fear of the virus. Many other healthcare growing up I always wanted to be one.” workers at the hospital were also temporary, Evans sees it as a calling–as a nurse, she is due to many of CI’s doctors and nurses meant to help people. After attending the becoming infected with COVID-19 University of Mary as an undergraduate, themselves. While Evans was there, seven Brooke returned to Mary for her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Ordinarily, CI staff members lost their life due to she is a nurse practitioner in the Orthopedic COVID-19, and many more were out sick for weeks at a time. Trauma Unit at Montana Orthopedics in Butte, Montana. But when the COVID-19 But Evans’ time in New York was not all pandemic hit the states, she heard a new about devastation. It was also about the calling: to go serve on the frontlines in New strength of the human spirit in the face of York City for six weeks. difficulties. “It was amazing to see a group It was a Thursday afternoon when she got of strangers come from all over the United States to band together during a time of the call – she had 24 hours to decide if she wanted to go, and then 24 hours to pack up uncertainty. The passion, heart, and never– give-up attitude that I saw was something I her life and get to New York City. “I had so many emotions running through me: scared, will never forget,” she said. “We shared many tears and laughs together. The bond that we excited, anxious, nervous, and willing,” all formed was something amazing.” she said. Her mother and husband were
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vans credits her University of Mary education and her amazing instructors for her preparedness to serve. “Especially during grad school, all of our instructors were amazing and so helpful and led by example. They taught me how to look at the big picture, to dig in, and to do what you have to do. The graduate nursing program set me up to make it through that situation. “The University of Mary set me up for success for sure. It was an amazing program, and I left feeling confident not only going into my first job but going out to work the frontlines in a pandemic.” Evans said her experience in New York had a huge impact on her personally and professionally. “I think that it was something I was called to do. Hopefully I impacted a lot of people and helped them when I was out there. It changed my outlook on a lot of things in life.” Some people have called Evans a hero, but she doesn’t agree. “If you go into the medical field, you go for a reason, and that’s to help people,” she said. “I would go back in a heartbeat.”
Evans in her personal protective equipment at work at Coney Island Hospital.
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or Trevor Lennon, teaching extends far beyond the four walls of his classroom. While Lennon primarily teaches video, web design, and multimedia courses at Grand Forks Central High School, you can also find him coaching football and basketball, supervising student-led clubs and organizations, and spending time with his wife, Melissa, whom he has known since the sixth grade, and three-year-old daughter, Olivia. Lennon was raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota, until his family moved to Bismarck when his dad became the head coach of the University of Mary football team. Lennon was later recruited to play football for the Marauders and graduated in 2014 with his bachelor’s in Business Administration and Business Education. Lennon never considered himself a strong student in the classroom and often relied on the tutoring services the University of Mary offers to help him overcome challenging courses. It was at the University of Mary that Lennon developed the teaching philosophy that would ultimately lead to the honor of being named Teacher of the Year. “My philosophy is that every student has the opportunity to be successful. One of the hardest parts of teaching is not every student believes they can succeed, so I always celebrate their accomplishments, big or small,” Lennon said. Lennon was named Teacher of the Year by the Grand Forks Public Schools this past spring. “I am incredibly honored that my administration chose me to represent Grand Forks Public Schools as their Teacher of the Year. It is something I never thought I would earn, and it still feels surreal to me,” Lennon said.
every student the opportunity to be successful
In a nomination letter shared in the Grand Forks Herald, a parent of one of Lennon’s students wrote, “I don’t know Mr. Lennon personally outside of work, but I am so thankful my son is one of his students and in his extracurricular activities. I am a single mother battling cancer and know with everything he does for the kids, that I have one less thing to worry about.
“He truly cares, wants to make a difference in their lives, and is always available if someone is in need.”
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ennon strives to care for his students in the same way that he felt his professors, advisors, coaches, and the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery did for him during his time at Mary. These lessons of servant leadership were particularly helpful when COVID-19 altered traditional educational settings and the way that Lennon was used to interacting with his students. According to Lennon, his approach this last spring was to be more understanding with the students than ever before. “Everyone was experiencing something during those last three months of school that nobody was prepared to go through. Some students thrived in the online model and
others struggled. It was important for all the students to know that we teachers were there to help them,” Lennon said. For new teachers entering the field, Lennon advises them to remember to have fun, be themselves, and watch and learn from other teachers. “I know I wouldn’t have received this award if it had not been for all of the teachers, para-professionals, students, and administrators that I have worked with and learned from over the years. I am so thankful for all they have taught me,” Lennon said. Lennon was excited to return to his classroom in the fall, motivated by the students that started it all. “There are so many reasons why I teach. It’s impossible to say them all. But my all-time favorite teaching experience is watching students grow. As a high school teacher, the students come in as kids, and when they leave, they are young adults. It’s a fulfilling experience to watch a young person you have taught, coached, and celebrated with complete major life milestones.” umary.edu 11
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The University of Mary never stops
innovating ways to serve
our students and our community. That’s why we’ve opened a state-of-the-art facility for our new School of Engineering, filling our region’s critical need for highly skilled, culturally prepared engineers. Our engineering faculty is world-class, and they now have a beautiful space to practice their craft of educating our students, who will go out and serve their communities. Learn more about our new programs at umary.edu/Engineering. umary.edu 13
The University of Mary’s “Billboard Mom” shares how she balanced a growing family and a growing career.
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arijke Leible and her classmates share a rainbow. Not literally, of course. But when fellow members of her doctoral group at the University of Mary comes across a picture or an image of a rainbow, they share it with their classmates because it has come to have a deep symbolic meaning to this ‘friends-for-life’ group. “When we see a rainbow, we take a picture and share within our group,” Marijke said. “The rainbow symbolizes purpose and hope for the future. I will never see a rainbow without thinking of them.” ‘Them’ are those in Marijke’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership cohort at the University of Mary, from which Marijke 14
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graduated in 2018. “I have always felt a tug toward a career in education,” she said. Originally, while at Baylor University, Marijke studied premedicine and hoped to attend medical school. However, after graduation, she began as a paraprofessional in a high school special education classroom in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After being in the classroom, she realized education was her passion. So she returned to school and earned her master’s degree in elementary education and spent eight years teaching in Albuquerque. When her family moved to Bismarck in 2012 to be closer to her husband’s family, Marijke had three children and was expecting another. “So I decided to stay home with them for a while. I appreciated being home with my kids,” she said, “but I missed teaching.” A few years later, as she began to think about applying for a teaching position, she became intrigued by the University of
Mary’s Educational Leadership doctoral program. “One evening while making dinner, I listened to a radio interview with Dr. Carmelita Lamb talking about the program and immediately felt the nudge to apply,” she said. Marijke said she loved teaching but was excited at the idea of supporting other teachers the way so many of her colleagues had supported her in the past. Shortly after, she applied and was accepted into the program. When she did, Carmelita promised Marijke the program and degree would be “life-changing.” It had been many years since Marijke had taken classes, and to her, it felt like a completely different world of learning. “With the invaluable support from professors like Dr. Mike Taylor, Dr. Brenda Tufte, Dr. Lamb, and Dr. Rod Jonas and the encouragement from my cohort, I learned more than I ever thought possible,” she said.
a life-changing
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“Although my decision to go back to school started with my desire to become a better educator, it evolved into the goal of becoming a better person. I will forever be grateful for my University of Mary family.” Marijke knows first-hand the challenges that come with returning to earn a degree when one has family responsibilities. “When I started the doctorate program, my kids were ages 8, 6, 4, and 2,” she said. “When I was not at Mary, I enjoyed spending the days with Henry and Lucy at the library story times, playing at the parks, meeting friends, and doing art projects at home.”
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Observing my peers in the cohort, I was inspired and empowered. These ‘cheerleaders’ became an integral part of my life during those three years. As a rule, Marijke said, she tried not to do her schoolwork while caring for her kids. Instead, she worked late into the night and early in the morning during the workweek. She also spent many Saturdays and Sundays at the library or in her office on campus researching her dissertation and doing coursework. “Often, my husband would drop off dinner or treats for me as I worked,” she said. “Sometimes my oldest son, Will,
would hang out with me in my office and read or play games on his computer as I worked. Balancing being a full-time student and mom was difficult and I constantly looked for ways to do both at the same time.” This innovative doctoral program allows for coursework and dissertation research to be done simultaneously. “When each semester ended, I used the school breaks to completely focus on my dissertation work,” she said. “This schedule left me little down time but helped me finish in three years. I took advantage of free Wi-Fi at libraries and coffee shops in South Dakota, Colorado, and Texas, as we visited family over the holidays. “I wrote most of my first draft of my dissertation on road trips down to Texas as my husband drove. Every hour or so, I would describe to him what I was writing or ask him if a paragraph made sense. It seems funny now as I look back at those times, but those were precious memories.” Marijke believes that education is one of the purest professions, for which she sees evidence every day in her work. “Teachers work hard to find the ‘combination’ to unlock learning in their students,” she said. “When it’s stuck, the lock can take a long while to open. My motivation for earning this degree was to learn how to ‘unlock the lock.’” The desire to support students is what motivated her to earn her doctorate. “I wanted to learn more about how to help students succeed in school and life. When I graduated, I trusted that God
would lead me to a position that would allow me to use the skills and knowledge I learned in the doctorate program. In my current position at the North Dakota Teacher Support System, I have numerous opportunities for me to apply these skills. As Dr. Lamb said years ago, the doctorate program is a life changer.”
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arijke was gracious enough to allow the University of Mary to use an image of her with her children at her graduation to symbolize success for the university’s adult learners – including on a billboard in Bismarck. She laughed as she recalled the impression this made on her kids. “The kids were very surprised and a little confused to see their faces on huge billboards in Bismarck. However, Henry said he loved it, and Lucy shared that she was excited to have her friends see her picture. “Joey, my now-10-year-old, said he feels like the luckiest kid in the world to have a mom who works hard and loves her family that much,” she said, adding, “I will reward him with lots of hugs and desserts for that answer. “My oldest, who attended my dissertation defense, responded, ‘You know, Mom, usually you say you are proud of me and my brothers and sister for the things we do. Well, I now am proud of you.’ I hope that their memories of me working on my doctorate are positive, inspiring, and happy. “Even though it was tough, it was well worth it.” umary.edu 15
University of Mary alum keeps his community caffeinated and connected.
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or Brian Jackson, ’10, it’s about more than coffee. “It’s about connection,” he said, sitting at a table at his roastery, with the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans in the air. Jackson is the owner of Mighty Missouri Coffee Co., a roastery and coffee shop based in Bismarck. He grew up in Hazen, North Dakota, not far from the shores of Lake Sakakawea. “I love all the adventure, the North Dakota scenery. I’m at the lake every chance I get,” he said. When Jackson graduated from the University of Mary with a degree in communications, he started a job in marketing. But in the back of his mind, he had a dream about building a brand around his love for adventure and the Missouri River. Slowly the pieces started to come together, and all he needed was the product. Coffee was the perfect fit. “I’ve always liked coffee, but I didn’t exactly know much about it. Once I learned more about coffee, from the growing process to the roasting and the brewing, it was hard not to love,” he said.
pol•y•math
noun: a person of great and varied learning. dictionary.com
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From there, Jackson took a deep dive into starting his business, learning everything he could about coffee. Some things came naturally, like the creative side. He thanks his professors for that, especially Jerry Anderson. “What I learned in Jerry Anderson’s design class gave me the confidence to do things, like build my logo. That’s what I really love doing, and that was the initial step into business,” Jackson said. Anderson speaks highly of Jackson as a student and said he could tell right away Jackson was motivated and would do well. Jackson took two classes from Anderson
creative things. We had an ordering section on the website where people could buy coffee for Sanford staff. The coffee bag tin ties that fold the coffee bag down work for facemasks. We donated 9,000 of those to people who were making facemasks,” said Jackson.
more than
coffee during his time at Mary, Photography and Layout and Design. “He’s a likeable, smart person, but he’s also really open and honest,” Anderson said. While the creative side came easily, some other aspects of business took Jackson a little more time to learn. “I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” Jackson said. “I had a lot of confidence in my brand, but once I got into starting a food manufacturing plant, I didn’t know much. At that point, I really appreciated the unique relationship I had with so many Mary professors. Even though I had graduated, I could still call, and they were quick to help or tell me who to talk to.” Jackson credits this close, personal relationship with his professors to the small class sizes at Mary. “I knew they cared about me and were interested in what I was doing. That’s such a key thing, because when you start something from scratch, it’s such a solitary experience. It’s so lonely. But I knew that they cared, and I knew that they’d continue to mentor me and foster that relationship,” he said. Anderson was one of the professors who was there for him from the start. “When he was getting started, he bounced some ideas past me,” said Anderson. “When he put up his first website, he brought some product to my house, and we took pictures to populate his website. “I was happy to do it. He was a good student trying to do something interesting, something risky,” said Anderson, who also served as the University of Mary’s campus photographer for over 30 years until his retirement in early September 2020. “I’d describe Brian as a polymath, which is a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning,” continued Anderson. “He
Jackson is thankful for the support of the Bismarck-Mandan community to help them make it through.
learned how to roast coffee, created the brand, and researched solutions to make it ethical and environmentally friendly. He takes on problems and learns how to solve them himself.”
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ince its humble beginnings, Mighty Missouri Coffee Co. has expanded to roast coffee for many affiliate shops, retail sales at grocery stores, and opened a storefront in the Bismarck YMCA. “We’ve created a mission statement that we’re not only providing coffee, we’re providing an experience that cultivates life-affirming customer experiences,” said Jackson. “That’s the thing that helps me sleep at night, the thing that I am working toward and investing all my time and energy in – helping people.”
Jackson’s grateful for the people who helped him along the way. It’s been eight years since he started Mighty Missouri Coffee Co. “If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t think I’d make it this long,” Jackson admits. “That was the intent, I was committed, but I really didn’t think I’d make it this far.”
“We did what we could, and the number one thing was caring for our team,” Jackson said. “From day one, it’s been a faith experiment for me. Certainly, the business hasn’t grown from what I’ve done on my own.”
“I figured if God brought me this far, then whatever happens, we’ll get through it.” Finally, the question that has to be asked: how does Brian Jackson drink his coffee? He smiled as he answered the question. “I like a single-origin pour-over coffee because of all of the details and flavors. That exemplifies what coffee is capable of and what I really enjoy – to just experience a cup of coffee.”
But the people who know him aren’t surprised by his success. “Brian would have succeeded in whatever he decided to do,” Anderson said. “He could have done anything, but I think it’s a testament that he went into something he’s passionate about, something he could create.” Jackson and his team continue to be innovative as they encounter new challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. “We tried to do some
Brian Jackson and Jerry Anderson formed a special friendship while Jackson was a student in Anderson’s class, which still continues to this day. They still catch up and share ideas over a warm drink. umary.edu 17
ALUMNI NE WS & NOTES
> ZACHARY & BAILEY WALD
> STACEY (EDINGER) LANG
> AUSTEN & JULIA (JOHNSON) PALUCH
> LYNETTE PAINTER > CHENISE (NESLER) TANDSATER
MARY (SCHOENEMAN) DUERRE, ’56, > KALI (SCHWARTZENBERGER) FETTIG
passed away on July 16, 2020. She was born in Bismarck, ND on March 10, 1935. She was a graduate of Bismarck High School and St. Alexius School of Nursing. For several years, Mary worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Sacramento, CA and later went on to work at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA. After her time as an RN, Mary became a medical analyst for Blue Cross Insurance Company. During retirement, she resided in Petaluma, CA. She is survived by her loving family and friends.
JACK EAKMAN, ’75, has held a variety of
> AUSTEN & JULIA (JOHNSON) PALUCH
roles in his career as a healthcare executive, business improvement consultant, and city councilor. He later wrote a book, “Thank You for Leading”, which has recently been released by Amazon and Kindle. Jack and his wife, DELILAH (PRICE) EAKMAN, ’84, now live in Las Cruces, NM.
LYNETTE PAINTER, ’01, was recognized > ADAM CEBULLA
18
Momentum
> DONALD & BAILEY (GOROSKI) PASK
at the National Business Education Association (NBEA) conference as the recipient of the
ALUMNI NE WS & NOTES Post-Secondary Business Teacher of the Year. Lynette and her husband, Greg, reside in Bismarck. Lynette works at Bismarck State College as a Professor of Computers and Office Technology.
DONALD, ’15, and his wife, BAILEY (GOROSKI) PASK, ’15, got married on October 19, 2019. Bailey is a registered nurse (RN) at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck. Donald works as a general sales manager at Eide Chrysler. They live in Mandan, ND.
at St. Mary’s High School in Bismarck. Julia completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and currently works as a registered acute/ chronic dialysis nurse at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck. Their daughter, Luna Rose, was born April 24, 2020.
SHARON (MCDONALD) HENSLEY,
EMILY BYRNE, ’19, is now living in Minot,
’15, retired and moved to Lakewood, CO, with her husband, Deacon Joe Hensley.
ND, where she is an emergency room registered nurse at Trinity Health.
MICHAEL ROOD, ’19, now lives in Grand Forks, ND. Michael is a business education teacher at East Grand Forks Senior High School.
’06, accepted a new job as K-12 principal at Lambert Schools. Nicole and her husband live in Lambert, MT.
ADAM CEBULLA, ’17, went on to earn his master’s degree from University of Idaho in December of 2019. In May of 2019, he moved to Seattle, WA, and accepted a new position as an account executive at Barn2Door. Adam and his fiancée, Lauren, will be getting married on November 14, 2020, in Kalispell, MT.
BRENT BRANNAN, ’07, and his wife, Ellyn,
MCKENZIE PETERSON, ’17, and his
currently live in Bismarck, ND. Brent works at Aurora Energy Solutions as President of the Bismarck location.
wife, Brittany, are now living in Bismarck, ND. McKenzie accepted a new job to serve the entire state of North Dakota through a telemedicine clinic called Health Now.
KRISTEN CEGLIA, ’20, was recently married and welcomed a new child into her family. Since then, she has also accepted a new job as a physical therapist for Focus Sports Therapy and has moved to Hollister, CA.
a position as the communications officer for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. She has been a member of the North Dakota National Guard for 10 years and currently serves as an assistant operations officer with the Headquarters Battery of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Jennifer lives in Bismarck with her five-year-old twins.
ZACHARY, ’17, married BAILEY (BARNES) WALD, ’18, on July 6, 2019.
SARAH JEAN (MOCK) BERRETH, ’20,
KEVIN MASON, ’11, is an assistant
welcomed son Xander to their family June 27, 2019. Kali is an registered nurse with CHI St. Alexius Century Family Clinic. She shared, “I’m thankful for the absolute best education I received from the University of Mary nursing program, as well as the values that were instilled in me during my time on campus. I truly believe I have carried them with me as I entered the work force, marriage, and now parenthood.”
STACEY (EDINGER) LANG, ’04, spent over 15 years in marketing and event management with the Bismarck Tribune before becoming the development director for the Bismarck Public Schools Foundation. Stacey and her husband, Mitch, live in Bismarck with their two kids.
NICOLE (ASPENLIEDER) SIMONSEN,
JENNIFER ANDERSON ’10, ’19, accepted
Professor of History at Waldorf University in Forest City, IA. This past year, Kevin was awarded a PhD in Rural and Environmental History. He lives in Mason City, IA.
PAUL BRAUN, ’11, works for the Diocese of Fargo as the director of communications. He and his wife, Mary, live in West Fargo, ND.
CHENISE (NESLER) TANDSATER, ’14, ’20, started her teaching career at John Paul II Catholic Schools in Fargo after graduation. On March 5, 2020, Chenise and her husband, John, welcomed their daughter, Sawyer Marie Tandsater. Chenise has accepted a new job teaching at Kindred Elementary School in North Dakota.
Bailey works at Bishop Ryan Catholic School and Zach works at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church. Their son, Augustine, was born May 14, 2020. The family resides in Minot, ND.
KALI (SCHWARTZENBERGER) FETTIG, ’18, and her husband, Trent,
AUSTEN, ’19, and JULIA (JOHNSON) PALUCH, ’19, were married June 14, 2019, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Bismarck. Austen is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Education, Curriculum, and Assessment from the University of Mary and will graduate in the spring of 2021. He is a substitute teacher and varsity football and weight room coach
JOEL SPIEHS, ’20, earned his degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Mary. He recently moved to Lincoln, NE, and is now a physical therapist at Makovicka PT.
works for the Bismarck Public Schools Academy as a medical related careers and certified nurse’s assistant instructor. Sarah lives in Mandan, ND.
THOMAS LAWLER, ’20, is an aviation operations specialist for the North Dakota Army National Guard. Thomas and his wife, JAMIE, ’20, live in the Bismarck area.
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