5 minute read
Serving Where You Are Asked to Serve
Dr. Karel Sovak didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life but knew he wanted to serve. “When you don’t know what you want to do, you join the Air Force,” Sovak said. He joined the Air Force right out of high school and was stationed in Minot, North Dakota. “I was told I’d see the world. And that was the only place that I got sent.”
A native of Ohio, Sovak realized North Dakota was a great place to live, so when he was done with the Air Force, he decided to stay, and he ran his own insurance agency for 20 years. Teaching was always a dream in the back of his mind, so he jumped on the opportunity to teach courses that help people get licensed to sell insurance. “I fell in love with the classroom. I fell in love with facilitation. I fell in love with the discussions before and after class,” Sovak said.
Sovak decided he wanted to get into higher education, so he cashed out his business, went back to school, and let everyone know he wanted to teach at the university level. “I truly believe that it was a calling. I was called to teaching and to make use of the talents that I had,” he said.
Shortly after he graduated with his master’s, the University of Mary introduced its accelerated face-to-face classes through the College of Professional Studies, now known as University of Mary Online. Sovak admired the five-week course set-up and decided that the University of Mary was where he wanted to work. Sovak accepted a position in the School of Business in 2005. For the first two years, he drove two hours from Minot to Bismarck each day to teach with his family still living in Minot. Sovak smiled as he shared that he only missed one class those two years due to weather.
His passion for teaching and belief in the University of Mary motivated him to make that drive each day. “I really loved what we were doing and the difference we were making in people’s lives. I was able to talk about my spirituality and bring my faith into the classroom. I have no regrets whatsoever,”
Sovak said. In 2007, Sovak’s wife started a job in Bismarck and the family moved to town. His passion for teaching continued to grow, and he got more involved in the Bismarck-Mandan community, serving where he felt called to serve. Fast forward 13 years, and Sovak was still doing what he loved, teaching in the classroom, when he was called to serve in a new way.
It was near the end of July 2020 when Monsignor James Shea and Dr. Diane Fladeland, vice president for academic affairs, asked Sovak to join them for lunch. They told him that they were looking for a new dean of the Gary Tharaldson School of Business (GTSB) and asked him what he would look for in a candidate for the job.
“I had my list of things, and I said, ‘are you looking for some names of people that I think would be good for this?’” Sovak said. “And Monsignor said, ‘how about I give you one?’ I said, ‘sure.’ And he said, ‘how about you?’
“I was very surprised. I had never applied for the position when it was open before, and I love teaching. He asked me what my biggest reservation was, and I said, ‘I love the classroom. I love my students.’”
Monsignor Shea told Sovak he could still teach a class. Sovak took a few days to consider the offer. “My wife and I prayed on it together and determined that God wants me to be in this position,” Sovak said. He met with Monsignor Shea and Fladeland and took the job.
Although Sovak wasn’t expecting to become dean, he’s been enjoying the job and knows it’s where he is called to serve. “I’m feeling very comfortable in this position. And I truly believe that it’s where God called me to be. It wasn’t anything that I was seeking out. And I think that’s what makes the best leader. Leaders don’t seek out those positions, but they do go where they’re asked to serve and where their skillset can be used,” Sovak said. He’s been able to continue to teach and advise students even with his new administrative duties. Both Sovak and his students are grateful for that.
“Dr. Sovak challenged us to make greater expectations for ourselves and to see the potential in our work inside and outside the classroom,” said Maura Stevenson, ’20. “He has a great gift for helping students realize and achieve their goals academically, spiritually, and professionally.”
Sovak loves staying involved with alumni and hearing what they are doing. “It’s a way for me to embrace and find out what we did to help them be successful. Sister Thomas always said our alumni’s success would be a direct reflection of us. Your success is our success,” Sovak said. He encourages all Mary alumni to get involved, whether it’s being a guest speaker in a class, mentoring a student, or having a student intern.
– Pope Francis
“Karel has great relationships with the students, local business leaders, and alumni and does a wonderful job of introducing them to each other and making those important connections,” said Myron Schulz, GTSB associate professor.
“I’ve always had a desire and a drive to make the School of Business what it needs to be, and I learn by talking with the business community and asking them what they think. By having that insight and wisdom from the business community, we learn what is best for everyone,” Sovak said.
Sovak uses insights from the community to help build curriculum and strategize new programs. One of the School of Business’s newest initiatives is the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), which will launch in fall 2021. “There’s nothing like it in the region,” Sovak said. “There are a few schools that have it, but nothing with that distinctive Catholic business education touch. We’ll continue with our virtuous servant leadership philosophy. We’ll continue with the formation of a whole person philosophy.”
Sovak says that the Catholic business philosophy is what sets the University of Mary apart from other business schools. “We’re not going into business just to earn a bunch of money. We can do better with our wealth,” Sovak said. “We can enhance the environment where people work by being compassionate, empathetic, and showing our vulnerabilities.
“What I’m trying to do is help my faculty understand how they can embrace and bring their faith into the classroom. Students can learn from their example and bring their spirituality and faith into the secular business world.”
