Saint Francis Magazine

message from our president Dear alumni and friends, This issue of the Saint Francis magazine holds extra special meaning for me, as much of it reflects on the 27 years I’ve had the honor of serving as USF President.

During my time here, which began a decade before becoming president in 1993, I’ve worked with extraordinarily talented and gifted students, faculty and staff who have teamed to make USF the great university it is today. Our alumni continue to daily live out our Catholic and Franciscan values in Fort Wayne and beyond.

Reminiscing isn’t usually foremost on my mind. I’ve always tried to serve USF by being forward-thinking and working for improvements and growth. However, in preparing for my retirement from the presidency on June 30, I have been asked by many people to reflect on the growth of USF during my years as president. We have indeed expanded as a university in myriad ways, from increasing the size of the main campus to branching out to the downtown site to expanding offerings at Crown Point and online. We offer a wider variety of majors than were available 27 years ago. We have grown in athletics, not only with on-field success (national titles in football and men’s and women’s basketball), but in the academic achievements of our athletes. Decisions made more than 20 years ago, whether starting a football program or further emphasizing health sciences, have reverberated over the years.

Within this magazine, you will encounter some reminiscing about the past and maybe even a few fun facts you didn’t know. Many friends, associates and supporters in the Fort Wayne community graciously offered some of their thoughts. I am humbled by their kind words.

It has been interesting to look back on photos over the years. I still remember operating that earthmover many years ago. Seeing that photo, and others along the way, brings a smile to my face. I hope you enjoy looking back, as you were part of the journey and success, too.

In this issue, you’ll also find an introduction to the next USF President, Rev. Dr. Eric A. Zimmer. You’ll see a glimpse of the road he has traveled and how it led him to USF. I have been meeting periodically with Fr. Zimmer and I look forward to a successful transition.

Many people have asked me about my plans after the transition. I intend to take some personal time away, and then return to the University of Saint Francis to continue to serve, but in a new capacity. I look forward to the continued growth and change at USF as it moves into the future.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out and wished me well over the past few months. Your kindness and friendship are appreciated beyond what words can convey. Please continue to support USF. Go Cougars!

God’s blessings,

Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF, President University of Saint Francis 2

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Magazine | Spring 2020

Office of Institutional Advancement Kathy Calvin Administrative Assistant

Melissa Eastman Director of Alumni Relations

Jessica Eggers-Buttes Director of Foundation Relations and Grant Writer

Sister Marilyn Oliver, BSE ’62 Planned Giving

Sandie Phalen Director of Marketing and Development for USF Crown Point

Tess Steffen Annual Fund Coordinator

Mary Timm-Zimmerman Donor Relations Specialist

Tatiana Walzer, MBA ’13 Assistant Director of Advancement Services

Magazine Staff MARKETING AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Carla (Satchwell) Pyle, BA ’00 EDITOR AND FEATURE WRITER

Reggie Hayes EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Melissa Eastman Sister Marilyn Oliver, BSE ’62 Mary Timm-Zimmerman GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel (Weaver) Brooks, BA ’16 Danielle (Vonderau) Kiefer, BA ’99 PUBLISHER

University of Saint Francis 2701 Spring St., Fort Wayne, IN 46808 260-399-7999, alumni.sf.edu/news-publications SPRING 2020

2019-2020 FRANCISCAN VALUE

RESPECT CREATION

The magazine of the University of Saint Francis is published twice annually by the USF Marketing Department and distributed without cost to alumni, faculty, staff and other friends of the university.

Photo and cover photo by Tim Brumbeloe.

in this issue features 6

Change Agent Sister Elise’s vision and leadership transformed the University of Saint Francis in myriad ways

12 Memory Lane Construction and Connection

14 Reflections Sister Elise’s 27 years as president have been filled with growth and change as USF strived to serve the changing needs of students

20 Collaborative Connections Sister Elise made friends and partners in the community as USF became part of the fabric of Fort Wayne

24 Sister Elise Unplugged Being president at the University of Saint Francis is a nearly all-consuming job, but Sister Elise tries to make the most of her free time

26 Worldwide Experience Rev. Dr. Eric A. Zimmer will bring a wealth of leadership insight as USF’s next president

sections

Athletics

28-29

Campus News

30-31

Alumni News

32-35

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Sister Elise’s vision and leadership transformed the University of Saint Francis in myriad ways

CHANGE AGENT Fewer than 1,000 students were enrolled at Saint Francis College when Sister M. Elise Kriss took over as president.

She aimed to change that. To say she succeeded is a vast understatement.

Enrollment at the University of Saint Francis exceeded 2,200 students in the fall of 2019, reflective of nearly three decades plus of growth under Sister Elise’s leadership. She led a period of unprecedented growth in enrollment, facilities, programs, athletics and reach of the university, which is now worldwide via virtual classrooms.

The changes directed by Sister Elise—including a transition from college to university—can be seen vividly in three areas: campus growth, academic impact and athletics.

As she prepares to retire on June 30, 2020, her leadership is evident in all three areas.

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BOOMING CAMPUS

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ACADEMIC EXPLOSION

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SPORTS VICTORY

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USF’S PHYSICAL GROWTH, WHICH CAN BE SEEN ON CAMPUS AND BEYOND: Doermer Family Center for Health Science Education • Bishop D’Arcy Stadium • Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center • Campus Ministry Center • Padua and Clare residential halls • Pope John Paul II Center and the Lee and Jim Vann Library • North Campus • Crown Point site • USF Downtown • Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center • St. Francis Chapel •

1 A BOOMING CAMPUS When Leanne Mensing was a student at Saint Francis College, classes were held in the Bass Mansion, now known as Brookside. The beautiful, sprawling campus of 2020 was a dream, if that. “I started here in 1956 and we had three buildings,” Mensing said. “Much has happened since, but the greatest part happened when Sister Elise came. She saw the need and she acted on it. I don’t know if this is a word, but she’s a ‘happener.’ She sees something and goes after it.”

After 10 years on campus, serving as undergraduate dean, academic vice president and interim vice president of administration, Sister Elise became president in 1993. “We needed that super change agent, and they sent us Sister Elise,” Mensing said.

By 1998, Sister Elise hit her stride with three moves that would propel the university forward: changing the name from Saint Francis College to the University of Saint Francis, acquiring the Lutheran College of Health Professions (with 600 additional students) and starting a football program. Those moves served as catalysts for everything that followed. The results are clear in black-and-white: Endowment increased from $2.2 million in 1993 to $34 million in 2018, property and equipment increased from $10.4 million in 1993 to $105.4 million in 2018 and net assets increased from $6.8 million in 1993 to $97.9 million in 2018.

Numbers are impressive, but visuals also tell the story. A tour of the campus reveals incredible growth under Sister Elise’s leadership.

Sister Elise also spearheaded the restoration and beautification of Brookside, which remains a focal point of the campus.

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“If we grew programs, we had to have new or renovated facilities,” Sister Elise said.

With expansion of land and buildings, and the doubling of student enrollment, Sister Elise directed USF in establishing a visible presence in Fort Wayne that went far beyond its origins.

The recent expansion and renovation of Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center captures Sister Elise’s vision for making sure students have access to the best possible university experience. Achatz is equipped with the latest technology and world-class laboratories, and allows students to have hands-on experience with the tools and instruments they will be using in their work careers. Fort Wayne Metals runs a working lab inside Achatz.

“Since we’re in the medical industry, it really draws us to Saint Francis,” said Scott Glaze, Chairman & CEO of Fort Wayne Metals. “We have tried to find ways to work with the university on lab services and things like that. With the new labs being built, we saw that as a great opportunity to partner with the university.

It helps our people and allows us to interact with students we’ll hire in the future who can work in our testing labs.”

As she always emphasizes the Catholic and Franciscan traditions of the university, Sister Elise was pleased to see one of the final physical transformations on campus in the free-standing St. Francis Chapel. “It’s a visual symbol of how faith and reason come together,” Sister Elise said.

If there’s one word to encapsulate Sister Elise’s impact on campus, it’s growth.

“It’s not just the infrastructure and the buildings, but also the programming,” said Board of Trustees member Kathy Callen.

“Sister’s legacy can be seen very visually on campus through its expansion. Everything from the library, its first wings under Sister’s presidency, to most recently the Chapel, are reflective of who we are and what we stand for.”

- BILL NIEZER, CHAIR OF THE USF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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AN ACADEMIC EXPLOSION

In the pivotal year of 1998, Sister Elise led the way to USF acquiring Lutheran College of Health Professions, a prescient decision anticipating the growing demand for nursing and other health-related fields of study.

Sister Elise’s wisdom in anticipating academic needs proved to be another essential accelerant of the university’s growth.

“One of Sister Elise’s biggest legacies will be her contribution to health science and nursing,” said Dr. Dave Johnson, professor of nursing. “Sister Elise was the champion for nursing. We had the first Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the first Master of Science in Nursing. I’m sure others will see her greatest legacy in leadership and all sorts of things. From my perspective, nursing and health sciences will be her greatest legacy.”

Sister Elise spent time in the first few years of her presidency assembling the right team—filled with innovative leaders—and looking for ways to grow the university. She believed the health sciences were going to be a boom industry and she was right.

“We had our eye on growing the health sciences and we had been watching Lutheran College of Health Professions, which grew out of the school of nursing,” Sister Elise said. “We thought that was a developing program that would be good to have here. As it happened, we were providentially able to bring that program to the University of Saint Francis.”

Photos by Mollie Shutt (BA ’19)

The addition of 600 health sciences students paved the way for the growth of the program, including the construction of the Doermer Family Center for Health Science Education. Most importantly, it established USF as a top university for quality health sciences education.

As part of the growth of the program, Sister Elise and other USF leaders worked to establish strong connections with the largest healthcare institutions in Fort Wayne, Parkview Health and Lutheran Health.

“Our Chief Nursing Officer, Judy Boerger, will tell you the people we get from Saint Francis, they’re in it for more than just the job,” said Mike Packnett, President & CEO of Parkview Health. “They bring so much more to the health system. Healthcare is a calling for them. We certainly have appreciated the partnership we’ve had with Sister and especially the school of nursing for more than 15 years.”

The continued demand for nurses and healthcare professionals has proved Sister Elise’s instincts correct in emphasizing the programs at USF. “We’re in a community with great healthcare opportunities, with two big systems,” she said. “If we had a couple hundred more nurses, they would be hired. That’s what’s great about those health sciences programs. There’s no question about the quality of those graduating.” saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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“One of Sister Elise’s biggest legacies will be her contribution to health science and nursing.

Sister Elise was the champion for nursing. We had the first Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the first Master of Science in Nursing.”

- DR. DAVE JOHNSON, PROFESSOR OF NURSING

Growth in the health sciences was a leading factor in the academic growth under Sister Elise, but it was hardly alone.

In addition to 11 degrees in health sciences, USF offers 10 degrees in creative arts, 10 degrees in business, nine degrees in behavioral and social sciences, and highly sought-after degrees in biology, pre-professional sciences, environmental sciences, chemistry, computer sciences, education, English, kinesiology, nutrition, Theology and more.

“The art program had grown and developed, and we built the Mimi and Ian Rolland Center around the same time as Doermer,” Sister Elise said. “Liberal arts and sciences grew, which had the humanities, science, philosophy and theology, and the school of business grew into our facilities downtown.”

The decision to purchase downtown facilities for the USF Business Center and the Music Technology Center was another move anticipating areas of growth.

As downtown Fort Wayne blossomed over the past decade, Sister Elise made sure USF was part of the mix. The result is a place in the heart of the business world, with great access and connections for internships and other partnerships within the business community. Growing fields, such as risk management

and insurance, and solid traditional fields, such as accounting, are in place to meet student needs.

“She was always asking us what we wanted: ‘What are you looking for in the students you hire? What do you want in the quality of the candidates you’re going to hire?’” said Jim Marcuccilli, Chairman & CEO of STAR Bank. “Most universities, it’s the reverse: ‘What can you do for us?’ She’s always taken the approach of ‘What do you expect out of our students?’”

USF Downtown also features the Music Technology Center, where students can pursue a variety of career paths.

“What I love about Sister Elise is she’s such a forward-thinking person and has such vision,” said Chuck Surack, Founder and CEO of Sweetwater. “We got together many, many years ago and she had the idea to take the best of Saint Francis and the best of Sweetwater and start a new program together, the META program. I would never have had the vision she had to take over the old Scottish Rite building downtown and turn it into an amazing school. I love she had the forethought to be so helpful for students in the future, and now it’s one of the greatest programs in the whole United States.”

“I was on the board when she came to us with the crazy idea of having a football team. I knew how expensive a football team would be. She said it would help Saint Francis grow and be a marketing tool for the university. I did not think it was the right move and voted against it.

Fortunately, I was in the minority. It showed Sister had the ability to see into the future and see this was a sport that was very popular in Fort Wayne. I don’t like to admit failure very often, but that was one time I was wrong.”

- FORT WAYNE MAYOR TOM HENRY (BA ’76, MS ’81)

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CONTINUOUS SPORTS SUCCESS

Along with the advances in facilities and academics, Sister Elise took what appeared to be a big risk—starting a football program—and enhanced the athletic landscape at USF.

only about male enrollment but in establishing relationships with people who might not have been interested in being part of it before that.”

The idea of football took a while for Sister Elise to feel comfortable pursuing. After all, it would be an enormous investment for a stadium, equipment, coaching staff and more.

Yet it would also prove unique in Fort Wayne, as USF became the only local college or university with a football program. She sought input and reaction from the board of trustees, faculty and others. It wasn’t unanimous.

Sister Elise’s enthusiasm for football is evident as she attends the games and encourages the players. She even enjoyed having a bobblehead doll created in her likeness.

“I was on the board when she came to us with the crazy idea of having a football team,” Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry said.

“I knew how expensive a football team would be. She said it would help Saint Francis grow and be a marketing tool for the university. I did not think it was the right move and voted against it. Fortunately, I was in the minority. It showed Sister had the ability to see into the future and see this was a sport that was very popular in Fort Wayne. I don’t like to admit failure very often, but that was one time I was wrong.”

Sister Elise and USF brought in Kevin Donley to start the program and the rest is history. The Cougars have had only one losing season (the first) and have been to the NAIA national championship game five times, winning the title in 2016 and 2017. Donley ranks seventh on the all-time win list for college coaches at any level and the most of any active coach.

“With the football program, she was able to build a bridge in Fort Wayne to the sports-minded community,” Donley said.

“Indiana’s a basketball state but Fort Wayne is a football town.

Alumni and friends connected with the university and became a big part of the family. She had the wisdom to see it wasn’t

“We’ve been pretty competitive from Year 2 on and she’s had a lot to do with that,” Donley said. “She always felt this was hers and did it under a lot of scrutiny and concern when it started.

We wanted to start a program of character, not a group of characters. We wanted to have a program that represented the university in a first-class manner and overall we’ve been able to do that.”

Football has not been the only sport with success in raising the profile of the university. Men’s basketball won a national championship title in 2010 and women’s basketball won a national championship in 2014. Other athletic teams and individuals have excelled, too.

“The community rallies around them,” Sister Elise said.

“Athletics have been a good addition and good for the students.

You see how hard they work to accomplish what they accomplish.

A lot of work goes into it.”

Most work accomplished on the USF campus can trace some roots to the seeds of work, planning and innovation set by its leader of the last 27 years.

“Some colleges have met their demise because they haven’t stayed current,” Mayor Henry said. “Sister Elise has the quality to see what is going to happen in the future and adjust accordingly.

That’s one of the reasons she’s been here 27 years. She has the ability to lead the university in ways of continued success.” saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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MEMORYLANE

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Construction & Connection 1. Forging Partnerships—Sister Elise helped establish many local partnerships and collaborations during her time as USF president, including a thriving relationship with healthcare organizations such as Parkview Health.

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2. Commemorating Champions — Sister Elise and football coach Kevin Donley celebrated

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teamwork when Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry (’76, ’81) recognized the Avenue of Champions outside Bishop D’Arcy Stadium, a tribute to the football team’s NAIA titles and ongoing success.

3. Taking Care of Business—Keith Busse (’73) returned to give the Commencement speech in 2019, a continuation of his connection to USF, where the USF Downtown Business Center houses the Keith Busse School of Business and

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Entrepreneurial Leadership.

4. Making Signature Moves — One of the changes under Sister Elise’s leadership was the

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construction of the St. Francis Chapel, now a focal point on campus. Sister Elise joined others in signing a beam as construction began.

5. Working Together—Sister Elise established

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relationships with local leaders as USF became a part of Fort Wayne’s landscape. She celebrated with Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke during the creation of the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center.

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6. Enjoying Athletic Success — The Cougars have regularly competed for NAIA titles, including basketball, where the men’s team claimed the 2010 championship. Coach Jeff Rekeweg and assistant Chad LaCross posed with Sister Elise and professors Richard Avdul and Rolf Daniel.

7. Celebrating Service —A devotion to service is at the heart of USF and promoted tirelessly by Sister Elise. The university takes time to honor

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those, such as Leanne Mensing (’60, ’67), who go above and beyond to serve others.

8. Relaxing as Family—Sister Elise enjoyed

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spending time outside the workplace with USF friends and family. She always enjoys social outings such as this one where she caught up with Jason Fabini, Doug McKibben, coach Donley and Ryan Campbell at the Cougar Classic.

9. Sharing Accomplishments— USF regularly honors those who make the university and community a better place. Sister Elise was presented with the Excellence in Mission and

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Leadership Award at the Alumni Awards in 2019.

10. Establishing Trust — Sister Elise’s many collaborations and partnerships were built on

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mutual respect and trust and resulted in longtime friendships with people such as leader and philanthropist Ian Rolland.

11. Bonding with Sisters — There’s nothing quite like the bond between Sisters who have devoted their lives to Christ’s service and to making the world a better place. When they are all together, the smiles come easily.

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12. Groundbreaking Ideas — Sister Elise set the tone when it comes to innovative thinking and outside-the-box ideas for growth. Sometimes, such as the literal groundbreaking for the Pope John Paul II Center, she hopped aboard to pave the way.

13. Recognizing Support — Sister Elise

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always appreciated the support, financial and otherwise, of those who shared an affection for the university, including Lee and Jim Vann, whose names are now part of the USF library.

14. Planning Ahead — Sister Elise relied on a

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trusted colleagues and leaders when she planned any changes at USF, and among those trusted confidantes are the Sisters who shared her vision for progress inside Brookside Mansion.

15. Leaving a Legacy— Sister Elise set her sights on teaming with people who shared a view for progress and improvement at USF, including former Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Board of Trustees member Don Schenkel.

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Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF, has devoted 27 years of service as University of Saint Francis president and her devotion has made her a fixture in Fort Wayne. Her face and smile are instantly recognized by people throughout the community. As she prepares to transition to the next step of her life, she reflected on her journey, from humble beginnings to leading the biggest changes in USF history.

REFLECTIONS REFLECTIONS

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Sister Elise’s 27 years of service as president have been filled with growth and change as USF strived to serve the changing needs of students.

Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood?

“I was the oldest of six and grew up in North Judson, and what I remember a lot about that is being only a couple of blocks from Saints Cyril and Methodius school. The Sisters taught where I went for eight years and I was quite connected with them. Even in the third and fourth grade, I remember helping the Sisters, cleaning up, putting things away. I got to know the Sisters on a friendly basis and it had a lot to do with my eventually joining our congregation, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.”

What were some memorable things you did as a child?

“My grandparents—my mom’s parents—lived on the south side of town and my grandfather ran Sramek Grocery Store, which was in the family for many years. I spent a lot of time at the grocery store as a kid, stocking shelves and eventually working as cashier. My grandparents passed away rather young and my dad (Joseph Kriss) managed the store. I learned to do almost everything related to the store, talking with sales people. It was a very good experience and business-related. I think that’s behind my organizational skills and my position I’ve had here.

“Also, my mom (Marcella Kriss) was very engaged and involved with us as kids, being part of the Brownies and Girl Scouts and members of 4-H. I learned to bake and sew and all those things you do in 4-H. We’d get weeding jobs and things like that in the summertime.”

Where did you go to high school?

“I went to high school at the Motherhouse in Mishawaka, and at that time it was a boarding school for girls, St. Francis High School. I became even closer to the Sisters. They taught all the classes. I got to know the Sisters personally and that was the best part of deciding whether I wanted to be one of the Sisters. I received a very, very good education there. I entered our congregation right out of high school and spent two years in the novitiate where you become more familiar with the life of Sisters and make your vows. All the while the postulants are also taking college coursework. The Sisters were teaching for Saint Francis at the Motherhouse.”

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What were some of the ways you moved the then-Saint Francis College forward? “We were challenged financially with 1,000 students or less. We needed more for the structure already in place. If we were going to grow as an institution, we needed a team. We had to put a team together and that took two or three years to get to the right point and have the right people. I needed leaders who were leaders, and that was one thing I put into place. Then some opportunities came our way.�

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How did you decide to pursue education as a career?

“My options at the time were teaching or nursing. I knew the Sisters as teachers at my grade school and not as nurses, so I decided I wanted to be like them and to teach. Before I was finished, I was doing some teaching in schools the Sisters sponsored. I did some student teaching and went on to teach for eight years while coming back and taking summer courses.

I taught at Sacred Heart in Fowler, St. Joseph in LaPorte, St. George in Hermann, Mo., St. Therese in Waynedale and St. Agnes in Chicago Heights. I was principal at St. Mary School in Griffith, Ind., from 1977 to 1981. I studied at Saint Louis University from 1981 to 1983, finishing my doctorate.”

How did you end up returning to Saint Francis?

“One of the Sisters asked me if I had interest in coming to work at the college. I saw no reason to say no, I had enjoyed my time at Saint Francis College. They asked if I’d be open to it. It meant I needed to get a doctoral degree (in higher education at Saint Louis University). I became undergraduate dean and after that became academic vice president.

“I did that for eight years and got to know the university.

Then another Sister came and talked with me when it was determined Sister JoEllen (Scheetz) would be transitioning, retiring and moving on. For two years, I was interim vice president of administration, being on the business side, learning about the board, learning about the Fort Wayne community. I had a few other projects, working on bylaws and revisions before I became president. After two years, I became president in 1993.”

Did that length of preparation—10 years of working at the university before become president—put you in a position to succeed?

“I had a lot of time to get to know the university and how it’s run, and to have experience with the staff and faculty. It was ideal preparation for moving into being president. Not that you know everything the day you become president. That is kind of a strange day knowing, ‘Now it’s my job.’ It was my responsibility and it has been like that ever since. It took me a little while to figure out how to move things forward.”

Among those opportunities was the chance to acquire Lutheran College of Health Professions. What made that an important and necessary step for the university?

“We had already developed a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing, but I had my eye on developing more health sciences. This was something we wanted to do, and we had the opportunity to make the transition. Providentially, God was in all of this and we were able to make that happen. Overnight, we had 600 more students. We had to transition bringing in a whole new staff and faculty into our culture. It took a couple of years. After that transition period, it really set us up for continued growth in the health sciences.”

Photo upper right by Karen Thompson

The decision to start football came shortly after the expansion of health sciences.

“The idea about starting a football program first came from an admissions officer. Other schools of a similar size had football programs and found it to be a good way to increase enrollment and gain more recognition for the university. Eventually, I took a proposal to the board and to the faculty and staff. The board passed the proposal and the faculty and staff was largely in support of the idea. We went forward from there and brought in Coach Kevin Donley to be our coach. I was amazed at how many people showed up at the first football game. Adding football increased our enrollment, and it also brought the community to our campus.”

Acquiring health sciences, adding football and the third change—renaming from Saint Francis College to the University of Saint Francis—made for a pivotal 1998.

“It really changed the impression of the university from a small college on the west side of town to a larger player in the health sciences and athletics.”

Another area of ongoing growth was in the arts. What stands out in that area?

“One of the highlights of the arts was the opening of the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center. That has been the home base for our arts programs, and a regular source of community contact through student, faculty and outside artists' exhibitions. We also saw the growth of Music Technology, which is at our USF Downtown site and has produced a number of successful alumni as they’ve entered the profession, including many at Sweetwater Sound. Alumni of our animation program have had great success with various companies, including Disney. There is now a great diversity of programs offered within the Creative Arts department.”

What are some of the challenges that continue to face USF as it grows and advances?

“Challenges have included, and still include, enrollment. We’re a small university, very tuition-driven. We need tuition and enrollment. Whether it’s developing new programs to grow that enrollment or academic facilities to keep us competitive in the marketplace, that’s a challenge. The second challenge for small universities is finance. That goes along with tuition but also in raising funds. We’ve done a good job of that over the years, but it takes a lot of work and time.”

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Over the last 20 years, USF has continued to grow with expansion and renovation of buildings, most recently Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center and the St. Francis Chapel.

You must look back at some of those changes with much satisfaction.

“I’ll start with the first one, which was most gratifying, when we built the Doermer Family Center for Health Science Education, as part of the acquisition of Lutheran College.

The growth of the health sciences was very gratifying. Recent ones, like putting the Chapel at the center of campus, we’d been wanting to do that for years and were able to raise the funds. The sciences are in my heart—I really like the sciences.

In the new and renovated Achatz Hall of Science, students are enjoying special places to study. It’s very student-centered.”

What does the St. Francis Chapel mean to the campus?

“The Chapel is at the center of the university, located between academic buildings, and it brings together what is important to a Catholic university. Faith and reason are together; they’re not separated. It’s a visual symbol of faith and reason coming together.”

USF has also expanded to downtown Fort Wayne and Crown Point. With downtown, what are some of the opportunities for growth?

“Having facilities in downtown Fort Wayne is a great use of space for programs we’d like to continue to grow. There’s a need for Music Tech graduates at Sweetwater and other places, but we need to do some work to keep it growing. We have risk management and insurance, which is a big industry in the area, and there are many specialty insurance companies we’d like to partner with. We want to continue to stay involved with the Regional Partnership and their efforts to bring business and population to the area.”

As difficult as it is to be a university president, are there aspects you look back on with special fondness?

“I have found this to be a very gratifying period of my life. My background is in education. I earned a bachelor’s and master’s from Saint Francis as an educator and I had a chance to teach.

My most vivid memories are the commencements over the years, the number of people who have marched across the stage and I’ve shaken their hands.

That’s something I’ll miss.

That’s always a special day for all of us.

It’s why we’re here—for our students.”

Photos by Mollie Shutt (BA ’19)

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COLLABORATIVE CONNECTIONS Sister Elise made friends and partners in the community as USF became part of the FABRIC OF FORT WAYNE

Some of Fort Wayne’s leaders share thoughts about Sister Elise: “Sister has been so important to us at Parkview, really with developing great students that come and work at Parkview. We’ve had a great relationship with the school of nursing for a long time, and with other parts of the curriculum in healthcare. Our Chief Nursing Officer, Judy Boerger, would tell you how important it is for us to attract the Saint Francis graduates to Parkview. They’re a different student, a different graduate. Many of the Saint Francis graduates are in leadership at Parkview. Judy tells us the people we get from Saint Francis, they’re in it for more than just the job. They bring so much more to the health system.

Healthcare is a calling for them. We certainly have appreciated the partnership we’ve had with Sister and especially with the school of nursing for more than 15 years now.

“Sister’s legacy is one of excellence. It’s one thing to grow, but it’s another thing to have great excellence in whatever you do. Most recently, with the new additions on campus, some of the labs are world class. Great talented people are attracted to excellence. Twenty-seven years is just remarkable to have consistency over that time and build that culture of excellence over that period. You just don’t see that as much anymore. Her great legacy will be that culture of excellence.”

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“I think of Sister Elise as an irresistible force. It just seems like when she wants to do something, it gets done.

When you see her coming toward you with that smile on her face, you know you’re going to do something. You don’t know exactly what it’s going to be, but you know she’s going to get to you to do something.

“Her legacy here is the difference in the university over 27 years. It’s phenomenal. The growth of it, the sophistication of it. The imprint it has on our community is much larger than it was 30 years ago.

“There’s an optimism to Sister Elise that’s very contagious. I’ve never seen her without a smile or her engaging wit. Sister Elise touched a lot of people, myself included, with a sense of optimism. You always feel like anything is possible when talking to Sister Elise. We can all use some of that—knowing we’re not in it alone, we can accomplish many things.”

Mike Packnett

Scott Glaze

President & CEO

Chairman & CEO

PARKVIEW HEALTH

FORT WAYNE METALS

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Sister Elise cultivated special relationships with the movers and shakers of Fort Wayne over the course of her 27 years as USF president. She served on several boards and helped key community leaders determine how Fort Wayne could grow — and what role the University of Saint Francis could play in that growth.

“Devotion to service is an essential and, in many respects, a key component of her personal legacy. I suspect a lot of people might identify big capital things that have occurred, perhaps the downtown acquisition. To me, it’s Sister’s commitment to finding a dedicated board, an excellent faculty and staff, and encouraging current students and alums to become actively involved in the community. You can see where representatives of Saint Francis show up in community non-profit boards. We are always talking about the importance of investing in excellence and that is exactly what Sister Elise has done. She’s investing

in the excellence of other people.”

Cheryl Taylor President FOELLINGER FOUNDATION

“Her leadership style is pretty visionary.

She’s always trying to figure out the next step. How do I make this a better place?

How do I improve the situation for the students and how do I make the university feel a part of the community of Fort Wayne? And she’s done that tremendously.

Her legacy is going to be the impact she made in the community, having a campus downtown and having the type of student all of us have had the opportunity to interview and hire. That’s her legacy.

They’re going to be here for quite some time, all these students will be her legacy.”

Jim Marcuccilli Chairman & CEO STAR BANK Photos by Jeffrey Crane (BA ’98)

“When I think about the community and Sister Elise, I think the biggest impact was her forward thinking in having a site downtown. At first, you think ‘What is Saint Francis doing?’ But after you realize the renovations and everything downtown, you drive into town seeing the students scurrying around and you see what a great visionary move that was. That was an excellent move for

the university to be part of what’s transformed downtown Fort Wayne.

Saint Francis is right in the middle of what’s going on. Today, we have several employees who graduated from Saint Francis and it’s amazing what young students can do today, talent-wise and technology-wise. Sister Elise has surrounded herself with good people on the board, and always thinks of faculty and students and their surroundings.

She’s been able to mesh all of those things together for the benefit of the University of Saint Francis.”

Tom Marcuccilli President STAR BANK

TOP TO BOTTOM: Mike Packnett, Scott Glaze, Cheryl Taylor, Jim Marcuccilli, Tom Marcuccilli

“I think she is the University of Saint Francis. Personally, she’s a great friend to many. She truly believes in Catholic education and believes in the students and she puts herself forth to make anything be accomplished to make this a better place. She’s just solid gold, that’s all there is to it.” - Leanne Mensing

“I’ve known Sister a long time and two things have really stood out. One, her faith. There’s no question she’s a woman of faith from the many conversations we’ve had over the years, and that’s a good thing since she’s a Sister and has a direct relationship with our Lord.

Also, her stamina, her perseverance.

The University of Saint Francis has gone through a number of changes and a number of challenges, and she has hung tough. I’m not sure every administrator could have gone through what she’s gone through and kept moving forward.

“I like the way she dresses. She always has her habit, but if you go to football games, she wears an interesting combination of socks and gym shoes. There are not any airs about her. She is who she is and that makes her special.”

Tom Henry Alumnus, Mayor FORT WAYNE

“Sister Elise is just a great person. She’s somebody you enjoy working with. She

is totally committed to the university and its students and is 100% supportive in advancing the mission of the university. She’s also just fun to be around.”

“I believe Sister Elise brought relevance to the University of Saint Francis, not only throughout the Fort Wayne community, but to the Northeast Indiana region.

People are now much more aware of the university, what it stands for and the contributions it makes to the overall area, including contributions not only from an academic standpoint —you can see the hospitals and clinics are staffed with graduates of our health sciences —but also in the arts. She supported the arts, and athletics has brought in a whole other group of supporters to the university.

I believe now there is a sense of pride that our community has as far as USF is concerned.”

Bill Niezer Chairman USF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

“Sister Elise is visible everywhere in the community, no matter where you go. She attends events, she sits on boards, she visits places, she schmoozes during football halftimes. She does all kinds of things to touch people and you see her everywhere and she’s always interested in what people are saying; she wants to know how they’re doing. She’s made a great impact on the whole community.”

Leanne Mensing Alumna, Leader

USF LEGACY GUILD TOP TO BOTTOM: Tom Henry, Bill Niezer, Leanne Mensing, Kevin Donley, Kathy Callen, Chuck Surack

Sister Elise joins with others in the “Faith and Reason Breaking Ground” event in July 2017 to celebrate the beginning of construction of the St. Francis Chapel.

“Her leadership is everywhere. You can’t go to an event without seeing her there. She has been involved in a lot of economic development efforts. She served with me on the Park Foundation board and raised money for Promenade Park. She’s been involved

in about everything good that’s happened in Fort Wayne over the years. She has a long legacy.

I think what’s really helped in how she’s impacted the university and community is her building of relationships. One thing that permeates every project she’s done is her ability to forge, cultivate and maintain wonderful relationships. It takes relationships to find donors to contribute and have faith in the ability to carry it through. That’s her biggest legacy. Her relationship with the business community is very, very strong. She knows every business leader in town. She has a charisma and warm, engaging style that brings people in.”

Kathy Callen Community Engagement Executive SVP, OLD NATIONAL BANK

Member USF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

“She’s a woman of God, she’s president, she deals with faculty, administration and all those things. She’s a real person, and that’s what made her connect with the community. I’m out in the community and people know my mug here in town and they usually ask me about Sister Elise. When she announced her retirement, I had more people than I could count say to me, ‘Gosh, what are you going to do without Sister?

We love Sister.’ She’s been the face of the university and

she’s going to be missed. I’ve absolutely loved our 20-plus years together.”

Kevin Donley Football Coach UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS

“Sister Elise is a great collaborator and she’s a joy to be around.

And when you look at the campus in the years she’s been there, how much that’s improved, and how she’s integrated the campus—and more importantly the school and the students and the graduates—into our community. They are the leaders

in our companies, the folks teaching our students, the folks working in our hospitals. I’m just so thankful she’s been in

charge and been a leader for such a long time. She’s made such a difference in our community for everyone.”

Chuck Surack Founder & CEO SWEETWATER saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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SISTER ELISE

UNPLUGGED

Did you know Sister Elise likes country music? Bubble gum ice cream? Science fiction books?

What is one of your favorite childhood memories?

What would be a perfect day for you?

Visiting and staying overnight at my grandparents’ house. I could take what I wanted for snacks from the family grocery store and stay up to watch TV.

A nice sunny day at the lake with friends and family.

What was your favorite game as a child?

What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

My favorite would be sugar cream, but I enjoy trying all the various flavors there are, like bubble gum, cotton candy, etc.

Monopoly.

What’s your favorite song and why?

What is your most memorable birthday?

There are many songs and artists I like from the 1960s when I was growing up. Today, I am interested in country music and a favorite is Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.”

The surprise party here at USF on my 50th birthday.

I’m not easily surprised!

What do you prefer—a book, a movie, a concert or a play?

I enjoy all these venues, but I do like to keep up on the latest movies and go to see one when I can. I appreciate how a movie can bring a book, or story, alive.

Do you have a favorite among these?

My favorite books are “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. I always enjoy fantasy and science fiction.

What is your favorite sport to play or watch?

I like to swim and golf, but do not do either very often.

I enjoy watching USF football or TinCaps baseball.

When you have an hour of free time, how are you most likely to fill it?

In the summer, that would be gardening or taking a long walk. In the winter, reading a book.

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What is your favorite season of the year and why?

Spring, when the first shoots of green appear after a long winter. It also makes me think of getting into the garden.

Do you have a favorite location for putting your mind at ease?

Any place where nature is involved—a lake, a path in the woods, a beautiful sunset or sunrise.

What is your favorite hobby?

That, again, would be gardening, swimming or reading.

I also do Swedish Weaving as a craft but have not done it lately. I also like to decorate the tables at home, or Brookside for Christmas.

Where did you learn your strong work ethic?

From my mom and dad, being I am the oldest of six children in my family I had many responsibilities. I also worked in my grandparents’ grocery store while I was growing up.

In this Q&A, Sister Elise gives us a glimpse into her personality and a few of her favorite things.

What is a question people often ask you?

What is your favorite spot on campus?

Right now, the question is, “What will you do after you are no longer president at USF?”

The sun room of my house which looks out on the lake, or any other view of the lake from other places on campus.

Who was or is a personal hero of yours?

What’s on your bucket list?

I would have to say that my parents are my personal heroes.

I don’t really have a bucket list per se because I have had many opportunities as president at USF to travel, meet people and see the beauty of the world. Rather, I have a heavenly “to do” list when time and space are no longer limiting, like spending time with the Lord and exploring the universe!

What is your favorite Bible verse?

There are many inspiring Bible verses for me. Here are a couple: “On that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (John 14:20) and “It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit.” (John 15:16).

What do you enjoy most about Fort Wayne?

I enjoy all the city has to offer in the arts, festivals and sports venues, as well as many nice restaurants. Fort Wayne also has a great park system, including the Botanical Garden, to enjoy.

If you could meet three people from history, who would you choose?

I would like to talk to some of the early founding fathers of our country like George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. As a member of the DAR, I read what I can about the early development of our country. From another period of history, that would be John Kennedy.

It would also be fun to meet and talk with the current Queen Elizabeth.

Left photo by Jeffrey Crane (BA ’98); right photo by Aaron Suozzi

For what in life do you feel most grateful?

I am grateful for my family and for the personal and professional opportunities I have had while serving as president of the University of Saint Francis.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

The gift from God of my vocation as a Sister of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.

What is one of your favorite memories at USF? Being present when three of our teams won NAIA national championships—men’s and women’s basketball and football two times.

If you had to describe yourself in a few words, what would they be?

A visionary leader who is relational, positive, determined and creative. saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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WORLDWIDE

EXPERIENCE Fr. Zimmer will bring a wealth of leadership insight as USF’s next president

The career of Rev. Dr. Eric A. Zimmer has taken him from Detroit to Delhi, from Nepal to Nairobi, from Bombay to Berkeley and from the Vatican to Notre Dame. And that’s a greatly condensed version, deleting all sorts of points in between.

As he prepares to assume the role of University of Saint Francis president on July 1, Fr. Zimmer brings a wealth of experience in education and beyond.

these wonderful things. We want to continue to build on that.”

Taking on the University of Saint Francis presidency after the 27 years of transformational leadership of Sister M. Elise Kriss will require a dedicated, relentless leader who is tireless and willing to embrace change. Fr. Zimmer should fit the bill.

He is eager to hit the ground running.

He currently serves as an associate business professor at the University of Notre Dame and pastor of Saint Patrick’s Church in Walkerton, Ind. But those are merely the latest entries in a long, storied resume.

“Saint Francis is wonderfully placed to continue to develop and grow and perhaps do so on a much greater level than anyone would have thought a couple of decades ago,” Fr. Zimmer said. “When Sister Elise came on, it was a much smaller school. She’s developed it tremendously, building up the campus and the new buildings and the new chapel and all

Multitasking and accepting challenges is a hallmark of Fr. Zimmer’s career. While teaching English in Nepal, Fr. Zimmer took two lessons a day in Nepalese. While working as a professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he flew every two weeks to Chicago, earning a master’s in business administration at the University of Chicago. During

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“When Sister Elise came on, it was a much smaller school. She’s developed it tremendously, building up the campus and the new buildings and the new chapel and all these wonderful things. We want to continue to build on that.”

- REV. DR. ERIC A. ZIMMER

He performed translation work for Catholic Charities in Mexico, earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Loyola of New Orleans, and earned a master’s in English literature at the University of Minnesota. He has a doctorate in communications from the University of Pennsylvania.

As part of his Jesuit education —he earned an M.Div and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley—Fr. Zimmer took part in two 30-day silent retreats, known as Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola.

“It’s very life-changing in getting focused on what’s important in the world, making sure you’re working toward the Kingdom rather than oneself,” he said. “There’s a St. Ignatius prayer for generosity, and it’s a very nice prayer, about giving without concerning the cost, doing anything necessary in following God’s will at whatever personal cost.”

He moved steadily into more responsibility, relocating to Rome in 2008 to work for the Vatican as Official of the Secretariat for the Congregation for Catholic Education, Universities Section, Holy See. Fr. Zimmer directed Vatican oversight of 1,013 Anglophone Catholic universities, with hands-on oversight of 38 post-secondary Catholic institutions.

“I approved the rank and tenure of anyone hired at these 38 institutions,” he said. “I handled the appointment of rectors, deans and presidents, essentially any senior leadership. I was responsible for all that, and for handling the set-up of new institutions, or mergers or shutting down of institutions.”

After two years in the Vatican, Fr. Zimmer went to Creighton University, where he was Director of Leadership Development and set up a workshop program in leadership and management for physicians that continues today. After that, the Vatican tapped him to be an attaché for the Holy See Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

his time at Georgetown, he was also an Air Force chaplain and the state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus. In addition, he simultaneously served on the board of Loyola University New Orleans, Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, preached weekend retreats at Jesuit retreat houses in Louisiana and Georgia, and served as a trustee of a charitable trust that provides scholarships to needy children.

The third of five children, young Eric Zimmer’s natural leadership abilities emerged at a Detroit-area Jesuit high school. As a senior, he ran a tutoring program for younger students. During his novitiate, he worked in a westside Detroit major trauma center emergency room. He also worked at a home for terminally ill cancer patients. “I had never thought about being a doctor and I thought, ‘This is really cool, I could do that,’ but I was already on another track,” he said.

“Years later, I ended up on faculty of a medical school.”

Photo by Steve Vorderman

Upon leaving the Jesuits to join the Diocese, Fr. Zimmer was asked by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese to assume leadership of Saint Patrick’s Church in Walkerton as well as continue with his teaching at Notre Dame in the Mendoza College of Business. Fr. Zimmer also continued to increase his expertise in fundraising. Among his accomplishments was developing the fundraising arm of the National Office for Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing.

At USF, Fr. Zimmer will have a single job, but with many facets and responsibilities.

“The fundraising is preeminent. Also, managing a team, fulfilling the strategic initiatives of the board, working with the board and working with the community,” Fr. Zimmer said. “Sister Elise has been very gracious with connecting me with benefactors, faculty, staff and students. I’m excited.

There is a ton of stuff to do.”

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FALL 2019 SPORTS

COUGARS ON THE PROWL CROSS COUNTRY— MENTM Sophomore Justin Gephart led USF finishers with a 30thplace finish in the Crossroads League Championship.

Sophomores Tyson Agnew finished 60th and Andy Kohrman 61st. Freshmen Camden Abernathy and Eduardo Santoscoy rounded out USF’s top finishers. Among the season highlights for the Cougars was a sixth-place team finish in the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge in Grand Rapids, Mich.

CROSS COUNTRY— WOMEN Freshman Alex Ebertino, who graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School, made USF women’s cross country history by being the first woman to compete in the NAIA Women’s National Championship. She finished 75th overall and was the 10th-fastest freshman in the field. During the season, Ebertino set a school record early in the season and later broke it with a best of 18 minutes, 51.7 seconds in finishing seventh in the Crossroads League Championship.

USF was selected as one of 52 teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as an all-academic team, a first in USF cross country program history. “We had the 22nd-highest team GPA in the NAIA for women's cross country,” coach Corey Birchmeier said.

Ebitino was also named an All-Academic Individual because of her performance at the national meet and her cumulative GPA. To qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. The Cougars posted a 3.5 team GPA.

by Matt Swartz that was recovered by Jack Givens, who scored the game-winning touchdown. Another exciting win came when the Cougars stopped Indiana Wesleyan’s two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter to take a 31-30 victory.

Senior defensive end James Jamicich was named to the 2019 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NAIA Coaches’ All-America Team. With 9.5 sacks in 2019, Jamicich became the first USF player to lead or tie or the lead in USF sacks in three consecutive seasons. He tied Stephen Whited for the USF career record of 27.5 sacks. Jamicich also led the Cougars with 12 tackles for loss in 2019.

Junior quarterback Matt Crable threw for 1,805 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead the passing game while sophomore Martell Williams led USF rushers with 766 yards and seven touchdowns.

Senior Dan Ricksy caught 53 passes for 791 yards and nine touchdowns and tied a single-game record with four touchdown receptions against Lawrence Tech. Senior Rocky James caught 32 passes for 538 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Nick Lucas led USF with 96 tackles and Jamal Jackson was second with 63 tackles. Junior Jalen Moss led the Cougars with three interceptions.

FOOTBALL Another thrilling football season came to an end on the road as USF lost a 30-26 game at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., in the first round of the NAIA playoffs. USF led 26-16 going into the fourth quarter but gave up two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes to fall short. The Cougars finished the season 7-3. The seniors on the team compiled a four-year record of 44-7 and were part of two NAIA national titles.

The regular season featured some incredible wins, including a 34-27 win over Concordia that came on a blocked field goal 28

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SOCCER — MEN The Cougars finished with a 7-12 record. Senior goalkeeper Braden Conn closed out his career with 391 saves in 61 matches. He had 94 saves in 2019. Junior midfielder Ethan Vigario led the Cougars with 16 goals.

SOCCER — WOMEN Three players were selected honorable mention on the Crossroads League All-League Team: senior defender Alexis Siegel, junior midfielder Jade Thompson and freshman forward Calista Geiger. USF finished 3-12-3.

TENNIS — MEN The men’s tennis team made it back to the Crossroads League Tournament and finished with a 3-10 record.

TENNIS — WOMEN The women’s tennis team ended the season with a 2-11 record.

VOLLEYBALL Junior Maria Pelak was named to the 2019 Academic AllAmerica NAIA volleyball team, becoming the first USF player to be voted to NAIA’s first or second team. Pelak was a second-team selection with a 3.97 GPA as an elementary education major.

In addition, she was named NAIA All-American third team, another first for USF. During the season, she set a USF record for career assists. A native of Mattawan, Mich., she finished third in the Crossroads League with 1,343 assists, an average of 11.2 assists per set. That placed her fifth in the NAIA. Pelak and senior Kendra Siefring were named All-Crossroads League first team. Seniors Nikki Marshall and Anne Clark were second team and senior Megan Diagostino was honorable mention.

Maile Steckelberg was named to the All-Freshman Team.

USF finished with a 21-13 record, losing to Grace College in the Crossroads League Tournament. Pelak had 60 assists in the final-game loss, her 17th time with 50 or more assists in a match.

TIPPED OFF

WITH WORDS FROM PURDUE COACH MATT PAINTER The USF men’s basketball team saw its 2019-20 season tipoff with some words of encouragement and inspiration from Purdue University coach Matt Painter.

Painter spoke about the importance of a strong culture during the USF Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Gala & Auction on Oct. 19 at the Parkview Mirro Center.

The event raised more than $40,000 toward men’s basketball scholarships through a silent and live auction. The amount raised was an increase of about $5,000 from 2018.

MITCH ELLISEN RETIRES AFTER 21 SEASONS AS USF MEN’S SOCCER COACH Mitch Ellisen closed out his long career as a USF men’s soccer coach, retiring from the position and leaving a legacy of toughness, character, competitiveness and success in the soccer program. Ellisen coached the Cougars for 21 years and his 2000 team set the school record with 15 wins. The Cougars won the Mid-Central Collegiate Conference title in 2003 and the Crossroads League title in 2013.

“I’ve been so very fortunate to work with so many great young men in 21 years, guys who were dedicated to service off the pitch, winning several awards for their service to the Fort Wayne community,” Ellisen said. “I’ve worked with many great assistant coaches and owe them a debt of gratitude for their time and expertise.”

USF selected Jake Essig, a longtime assistant coach at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, to succeed Ellisen as men’s coach. saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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USF awarded $100,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment

Bishop Luers High School student awarded Pay It Forward Scholarship to USF Maria Solis of Bishop Luers High School has been named the recipient of the 2019 University of Saint Francis Pay It Forward Scholarship. The full-tuition scholarship to USF is awarded annually to an incoming student who represents going above and beyond to serve others and “pay it forward.” Maria was selected after submitting an essay, reaching the finalists stage and being profiled in a feature video by WANE-TV. Maria was awarded the scholarship after Mass on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Bishop Luers. USF President Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF, presented the award along with WANE’s Terra Brantley.

The other finalists, Madison Schoeneman of Adams Central High School and Madison Smith of Edgerton (Ohio) High School, will receive half-tuition scholarships. More than 180 applicants submitted essays.

USF has been awarded a $100,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant is part of Lilly Endowment’s new initiative, Charting the Future for Indiana’s Colleges and Universities (CTF). Lilly Endowment launched CTF with the hope that it will help the leaders of Indiana’s 38 colleges and universities engage in further thoughtful discernment about the future of their institutions and advance the speed of their strategic planning and implementation efforts to address their key challenges and opportunities. Lilly Endowment has allocated up to $108.2 million for the initiative, which will have three phases: a planning phase, an implementation phase and an invitational phase for large-scale proposals.

“We are pleased to be awarded this planning grant from Lilly Endowment and thank Lilly Endowment for its continued investment in higher education,” said USF President Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF. “This grant will assist USF in exploring innovative ways to best serve the needs of students.”

In CTF’s planning phase, funds may be used at the discretion of the institution’s president for a variety of purposes, such as consultants, staff time, conferences and seminars, travel to gather information and ideas, and preparation for a Phase 2 proposal and Phase 3 concept paper. During the initiative, Lilly Endowment plans to provide opportunities for college and universities to convene to discuss topics of common interest.

Maria wrote in her essay about her desire to pay it forward with many volunteer hours at Community Harvest Food Bank, serving at a charitable organization that helped her family many years ago. She plans to study nursing at USF. “I come from a Catholic family and my parents always taught us to give because greater is the reward in heaven,” Maria wrote. “As a Catholic, service is a way to show Christ’s face unto those who perhaps do not know Him, so they get a glimpse of his love. Service is the greatest thing human beings can do to help and love each other!”

USF and Manchester University announce affiliation for Master of Athletic Training The USF Kinesiology and Nutrition department signed an affiliation agreement with Manchester University for the Master of Athletic Training program. USF students who are interested in athletic training will have a direct route to pursue their master’s degree. USF students who meet Manchester’s Master of Athletic Training program entry requirements are guaranteed a seat.

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Griest family donates rare book collection to USF USF alumna Patricia Griest has donated more than 250 rare books to the university, with a selection of highlights of the collection to be on public display. Griest and her late husband Walter D. Griest, M.D. amassed the collection over four decades.

It includes books published by the Limited Editions Club and its predecessor, the Heritage Club. They are limited press books using archival papers, letterpress and fine embellished bindings.

The texts include a variety of subjects: visual art, poetry, classic literature, history and politics. The collection also includes books with bound prints that illustrate the narratives of the texts by numerous historic artists, including Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Ryman, Sean Scully, Jacob Lawrence, Leonard Baskin, Francesco Clemente, Henri CartierBresson, Elizabeth Catlett and others.

Photos by Hannah Fowerbaugh (BA ’19) and Tim Brumbeloe

campus news

Jesters receive $30,000 grant from National Endowment for the Arts

USF student Emily Napier receives Student Art Teacher of the Year award

The Jesters program of the University of Saint Francis has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The award is a $5,000 increase over the NEA’s support last year. The grant is another illustration of the continuing value of the program, which is recognized locally and nationally. Sponsored by USF since 1978, the Jesters is a performing group of people with developmental disabilities, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. “USF and the Jesters team continues to appreciate the opportunities this funding provides Jesters participants, as well as the credibility it gives the Jesters program,” Jesters Director Allison Ballard said.

USF senior Emily Napier was named the 2019 Student Art Teacher of the Year for Indiana by the Art Education Association of Indiana. The award was presented at the AEAI convention Nov. 7-10 in Vincennes, Ind. Award recipients were nominated by their teachers for exhibiting outstanding artistic achievement and service in education. Napier is an art education major.

“The continuous work on my art as well as how to educate our youth has been recognized in a way that I still cannot believe,” Napier continued. “Being a first-generation college student, it means that my support system of family, friends, teachers and mentors get to celebrate in this achievement alongside me. It means I get the opportunity to represent the USF community and all that it has given to me as a second family. Lastly, it gives me hope that I am where God has intended me to be at this point in my life serving others with love. I am so very thankful.”

USF to receive grant from Parkview Physicians Group for Anatomage Table USF will receive a grant from Parkview Physicians Group to purchase and install an Anatomage Table in the Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center. The Anatomage Table is a virtual cadaver that will allow USF students to visualize and dissect skeletal tissues, muscles and organs by virtual slicing and segmenting the anatomy.

“Through this interactive 3D virtual anatomy dissection table, students will build a diverse skill set by developing familiarity with common radiographic studies of CT and MRI images and by engaging with over 600 case studies and pathologies,” said Dr. Andrea Geyer, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “This 3D anatomy visualization center will serve as an excellent complement to USF’s four-table cadaver lab as it will be used in a significant number of courses in the sciences, along with more than 24 School of Health Sciences courses.”

USF stages “The Sound of Music” as fall production The famous Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, “The Sound of Music,” came to life at the USF Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center in October. USF alumnus Quentin C. Jenkins portrayed the Captain while USF junior Kennedy Lomont was Maria. The cast of children included Sloan Amburgey as Liesl, Matthew Llewellyn as Friedrich, Cassandra Smith as Louisa, Xavier Rowan as Kurt, Grace Johnson as Brigitta, Alivia Wheeler as Marta and Evelyn Wedler as Gretl. Louis Soria played Max Detweiler, Stephanie Longbrake played Mother Abbess and Tia Hackbush played Elsa Schraeder. saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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alumni news

class notes keeping connected with alumni and friends 1990s, continued

Dr. Frances Krauskopf (professor emeritus) celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends Jan. 16 at Majestic Care.

Jenny (Bowers) Shultz (BSN ’99) won the Highland Games championship for the second time.

1960s

2000s

Kristin (Schlotterbeck) Campbell (Lutheran ’69) is retired in Florida and spends summers in the mountains of North Carolina. She and her husband Charlie have been married 28 years and enjoy traveling to see their grown-up blended family in various parts of the country and traveling abroad. She worked as a CRNFA late in her career and says that was her favorite part of her operating room nursing career.

1970s

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Deborah Davis (Lutheran ’79, MSN ’99) is a nurse care manager at Anthem in Indianapolis.

1990s

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Kristan (Biller) Rheinheimer (BSN ’92, MSN ’00), a nurse practitioner, has joined the medical oncology team at Goshen Center for Cancer Care. She is certified by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corp. and holds certification in chemotherapy. Audrey (Schultz) Buenrostro (BA ’97) is the Graphic Designer/Associate Director of Communications at Pathway Community Church in Fort Wayne. Tim Beaumont (BSE ’98), Ryan Bolyn (BA ’01), Dustin Butcher (BA ’01) and Kristian Gayday won the Reagan Swinford Benefit Golf Outing with a score of 58. Jessica (Meyer) Swinford (BA ’98, MBA ’10) and Adam Swinford (BSE ’99) organized the Reagan Swinford Benefit Golf Outing on Aug. 3, 2019 at Brookwood Golf Club to help raise funds for the Reagan Swinford Memorial Scholarship in honor of their late daughter Reagan. Jim Bolint (BS ’99) welcomed Cameron Rae Bolint on Aug. 21, 2019. Cameron was 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and 20 ¾ inches long. Michael Mitchell (BA ’99) welcomed Bryson Ray on Jan. 13, 2020. Bryson weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and was 20 ¼ inches long. n

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Clayton Howard (BA ’00) is an art teacher at Snider High School in Fort Wayne. Ryan Bolyn (BA ’01), Dustin Butcher (BA ’01), Tim Beaumont (BSE ’98) and Kristian Gayday won the Reagan Swinford Benefit Golf Outing with a score of 58. Andie Hines-Lagemann (BA ’01) was named Regional Director of Entrepreneurship at Fortitude Fund.

Christina (Searing) Knowlton (BS ’01) married Joshua Knowlton at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Oct. 12, 2019 and resides in Columbia City. Kelly (Bachinsky) Acra (BA ’03) is married to Joe Acra. Jeremy Dutcher (BA ’03) and his wife, Brittany, welcomed Charlize Jisèle on Nov. 5. Charlize weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 18 inches long. Rachel (Stauffer) Pritz (ASN ’03) is one of seven Thrive Guides (coaches) for Rise & Thrive Indianapolis, a transformative seven-month experience for high-achieving women. Tina Leavell (MS ’04) joined the Lutheran Health Physicians family medicine practice in DeKalb County. In her final year at USF, Leavell received the Clinical Year Excellence Award in Physician Assistant Studies. Jake Sauer (BA ’04) has published a book, “Rock, Paper, Pencil: The Gig Poster Art of Jake Sauer.” It is a 113page dive into almost all the music-related imagery he’s put together in the last 15 years. Jacqueline Thomas (BS ’05) received the 2020 Light of Learning Award. She teaches at Huntington Catholic School. Rev. Matthew Landry (BBA ’07), Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of South Bend, received the Lacy Ecumenical Medal during worship service Aug. 18. The award is presented by St. Paul Christian University’s Covenant Divinity Seminary, affiliated with the Lutheran Orthodox Church, to those who have dedicated themselves to the cause of Christian Unity and Inter-religious dialogue and who exemplify the tenants contained in the

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alumni news

2000s, continued Decalogue for Ecumenical Discipleship, authored by the late Rev. Dr. Donald Charles Lacy for whom the award is named. Rev. Landry currently serves as Senior Pastor of First UMC after having served as Associate Pastor of Mission and Discipleship and Spiritual Director at Meridian Street United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Rev. Landry credits Roman Catholic Franciscan sisters with helping him discern his call to the pastorate as a USF student. He is the author of The Franciscan Methodist blog, an associate of the Franciscan Community of Oldenburg and earned a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Sisters of St. Benedict. For his ecumenical writing, Rev. Landry was conferred the Doctor of Letters degree honoris causa from SPCU. Kristin (Jones) Miller (BA ’09) and Ryan Miller (BA ’09) welcomed baby Riley Quinn, who weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces. n

2010s Jenna Oberley (BS ’10) received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry, where she also served as president of the Public Health Dentistry Club and member of the Indiana University Student Outreach Clinic. Following dental school, Jenna worked as a dentist in the Indianapolis area for two years. She then decided to further her education and accepted a position at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine Orthodontics program, where she trained the past two years. She is a practicing orthodontist in Indianapolis. Tonya Young (AS ’08, BA ’10) received the 2020 Light of Learning Award. She teaches at Queen of Angels School. Kibwe Cooper (AS ’12, BS ’13) recently performed in the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre production of “Choir Boy.” Nicole Sanderson (ASN ’12, BSN ’13, MSN ’16) joined the Lutheran Health Physicians family medicine practice in DeKalb County. She has several years of clinical experience, working locally as a registered nurse and emergency care technician. Nora Gibbons (BA ’13) started a new position as social media specialist at Elkay Manufacturing. Lauren Oberley (BS ’13) resides in Iowa and is a practicing optometrist. Amanda Pedro (BSN ’13) married Tyler Bunn on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Cassandra Degood (BA ’14) is a litigation specialist at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance. Amber Wharton (BA ’14) received the 2020 Light of Learning Award. She teaches at St. Louis Academy. Jasmine Bejar (BA ’15) is the Communications and Community Engagement Manager for Indiana Arts Commission. Nathan Byrd (BA ’15) is the Director of Marketing at Kimberly Clark. Carolina Flores (BS ’15) passed the bar and became a full-time associate at Barnes & Thornburg. She is also on the USF alumni cabinet.

Paul Hernandez (BA ’15, MOL ’17) is the Employer Engagement Manager at University of Notre Dame.

Kaleb Ahrens (BA ’17) is an employee of Ruoff Home Mortgage and is married to Rebekah Ahrens. n

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Audra Brown (BSN ’17) has been working at Franciscan Health in Lafayette for the last two years and recently transferred to Franciscan Health in Indianapolis. Angel Colon Santiago (MBA ’17) was named the 2019 Outreach Volunteer of the Year of the American Chemical Society. He served as president of a student chapter, committee member and secretary of the Puerto Rico section. He organized undergraduate forums where professionals from academia, industry and law shared their experience and approach to using chemistry outside the laboratory. Also, Angel organized two entrepreneurial forums, where science entrepreneurs shared their experience with young scientists about how to be a scientist entrepreneur. Learn more at www.acs.org/ voty. Madalyn Steinke, PTA (BS ’17, AS ’17) was honored at the Indiana Chapter of American Physical Therapy Association Awards Dinner on Oct. 11 in Indianapolis. She is the University of Evansville recipient of the 2019 Team Rehab Scholarship. Maddie graduated from the USF Physical Therapist Assistant Program and is currently in her third year of DPT School. Rebekah (Frey) Ahrens (BA ’18) is married to Kaleb Ahrens. Madison Cafaro (BA ’18) is an Optometrist Technician in Chandler, Ariz. Ian Coffey (BS ’18) is employed with Franklin Electric and enjoys traveling globally with his role. Justin Davis (BA ’18) started a new position as retirement income designer at Ash Brokerage.

Tony Hampton (MBA ’18) is a server engineer at Franklin Electric in Fort Wayne. Morgan Hubble (BSN ’18) is employed by USF as the graduate assistant of Bonzel Hall, where she has been since 2018. She is in the Family Nurse Practitioner program and will graduate in May 2020. She will be leaving the university after living in the dorms for six years.

She is currently working as a nurse PRN at Dupont Hospital in the pediatric unit. Morgan is also the assistant coach for USF softball where she played four years as an undergraduate.

She loves USF and is so thankful for the opportunities it has given her. She is excited to see where she will end up as a nurse practitioner in a few short months. Magdalena Mendez (BSW ’18) works at Cedar Creek Retirement Community as an independent living companion. Nanette Ambrose (BA ’19) started a new position as a corporate trainer at Platinum Retail Marketing. Kylin Bass (BS ’19) resides in Indianapolis and is the social services assistant at American Senior Communities. Eric Dunten (BS ’19, AS ’19) is a physical therapist assistant at Optimum Performance Therapy.

Melody Ferrier (MA ’19) started a new job at Bishop Luers High School as a marketing coordinator. Jose Garcia (BA ’19) is working as a student engagement coordinator at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. Joey Lamping (BS ’19) released his debut album, “Simpler Times,” on Spotify and is touring on his East Coast Tour, performing through New York and Washington D.C. Paige Rockett (BS ’19) works at Franklin Electric in Fort Wayne as a tax accountant. n

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USF Christmas brings out the holiday spirit The annual Christmas at USF festivities brought plenty of people to campus and spread the spirit of the season.

Christmas in the Castle at Brookside Mansion revealed a bounty of beautiful decorations and creative displays of the Christmas season. Bishop Dwenger High School repeated as the People’s Choice Award winner. Parents and children enjoyed the annual Breakfast with Saint Nicholas event at the USF Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center, featuring stories and interactions with Saint Nicholas. Students and others also enjoyed Christmas Meditations and the Lighting of the Lake, sharing peaceful reflections of the season. The University Singers capped off the week of fun with their annual Christmas concert.

events calendar

Homecoming creates another fun-filled day for alumni Nothing tops a Homecoming weekend quite like a win by the football team, and the Cougars provided that with a huge 31-13 victory over St. Ambrose on Sept. 28. Quarterback Matt Crable threw for 351 yards and three scores in front of 4,000 fans. The weekend included the annual Alumni Awards on Friday, alumni games in basketball and soccer, Brunch and Cheers, Cougar Spirits with Sister Elise and more.

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April 24

St. Joseph School of Nursing Reunion

April 25

Athletic Hall of Fame and CASPYs Awards

April 30

Nursing Pinning

May 2

50-year Brunch Reunion

May 2

Commencement

May 30

Legacy Gala

For event information, visit alumni.sf.edu/events.

Photos by Hannah Fowerbaugh (BA ’19)

saint francis magazine | spring 2020

and Carla (Satchwell) Pyle (BA ’00)

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Sister Carol celebrated and honored Friends, colleagues and former students of Sister Carol Meyers gathered at Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center to celebrate her professor emeritus status during Homecoming weekend at the Achatz Evolution Party. The party was held on the evening of Sept. 28, with appetizers and plenty of stories about Sister Carol’s love for chemistry and her science students. Sister Carol was also presented with a new telescope, so she can continue to enjoy the stars.

in memoriam Irene (Girod) Longenberger ’40* Almeda Walker ’52 Karen Wild ’60* RoseMary (Murphy) Sifferman ’63 Bonnie (Briggs) Stuelpe ’63 Neil Emon ’65 Leonard Myers ’65 Sally (Mayers) Rebert ’65 Katherine Brown ’68 Betty E. Stein ’68 Gary Van Gardner ’68, ’73 Michael Sanders ’71, ’74 James Ingledue ’72 Bernita (Eggers) Schmalzried ’72 Jerry Flueckiger ’74 Donald Waldrop ’74 Jerry Rich ’77 John Daniel Liechty ’79 Debra (Schuemann) Kunkle ’79* * From Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing— Lutheran College of Health Professions ** St. Joesph School of Nursing

Achatz Hall blessed Most Reverend Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Catholic Diocese of Fort WayneSouth Bend addressed the crowd in attendance on Oct. 2 and offered blessings in the renovated portion of Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center. USF President Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF, was also among the speakers to share excitement over the completion of the project. As part of the ceremony, USF alumna Toni Murray (’71, ’72) was presented with a framed commemoration of her $3 million gift to the USF Faith and Reason Campaign. saint francis magazine | spring 2020

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