BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY

September 2017 Proven value, expertise, Benedictine’s OD program is recognized locally, nationally and internationally in providing education toward attracts CEOs, foreign managing the human side of enterprise, which includes leaders to Benedictine’s global interdependence, workforce diversity and the OD program management of change—the hallmarks of excellent managers and leading-edge companies. Imagine traveling more than 8,700 miles to speak to and learn from icons. The OD program prepares individuals for high-level careers including human resources, health care, consulting, research, That’s what a dozen citizens from Southeast Asia did this summer. business, higher education and public administration. The value But they didn’t go to Hollywood, they came to a small suburb in of OD in the world today cannot be overstated. to see two professors. According to the Academy of Management, successful organizations must continually redesign their interfaces That’s the type of star power ’s connecting their organizations to new opportunities that can have Peter Sorensen, Ph.D., and Therese Yaeger, Ph.D., dramatic impacts on shaping their communities and ultimately the national and global economy. command at home and abroad due to their global expertise and longevity in the field of Organization In advance of their dissertations, students are required to submit papers and panel discussions for presentations at international Development (OD). conferences that are overseen by some of the most influential thinkers in the OD field. This has been a key component of the program for years.

“We find that this really gives students the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to the ever- growing scope of research on the kinds of strategies and characteristics that are indicative of better managers and organizations,” said Sorensen, professor and department chair of the OD program.

Graduates of the program have become successful CEOs or The visitors from overseas, who included CEOs of multinational managers and change agents at global organizations such as corporations and foreign dignitaries, attended a workshop to CNN Worldwide, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Abbott garner insights from Sorensen and Yaeger about OD trends and Laboratories, Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Motorola Solutions, Inc., best practices. McDonald’s Corp., and other Fortune 500 organizations such as Boeing Co., General Electric Co. and General Motors Co. The workshop was a precursor to the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, which is the premier conference for academics, scholars, professionals and students in the field of management. The Academy has more than 18,000 members in more than 100 countries.

“The students all heard about Peter and Therese and Benedictine University’s OD program,” said LeeHsing Lu, Ph.D., who organized the visit. “They were excited to meet them because of their reputation in the field of OD.”

Lu is the associate dean of the Graduate School of Business and

Benedictine University • September 2017 program director for the Ph.D. in Organization Development Program at Assumption University of Thailand. Lu founded the Asia OD Network in 2006 after earning a Ph.D. in Organization Development at Benedictine in 2005. 1 Diverse talents of Benedictine alumni converge at Naperville-based professional services firm

Running into old friends at events like Homecoming is a Today, Suglich enjoys helping to position Sikich as a top pleasant experience for many Benedictine alumni, but for professional services firm while working alongside some Mike Suglich, C82, Accounting; James Sullivan, C81, of his old classmates. Both he and his wife also stay Sociology; Bob Shields, C81, Mathematics; and Dan in touch with their alma mater by attending different Berg, C83, Accounting, it’s just an average day at work. Benedictine events and by making contributions in support of Athletics. After making their mark in the professional world, the career path of these alumni eventually led them to Sikich “I stay connected at Benedictine alumni LLP, a professional services firm specializing in accounting, gatherings including Homecoming football technology, advisory and managerial services. The firm’s games and baseball alumni events,” he corporate headquarters is located in Naperville. said. “I recently attended coach Ostrowski’s retirement dinner and the Athletics Suglich launched MAS Consulting in 1989, a small business which Golf Outing. We continue to have implemented accounting software many friends and family who are for small, medium and enterprise Benedictine alumni.” companies including Arthur Andersen and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios. Sullivan enrolled at Benedictine after In 2010, the company merged with being impressed by the University’s strong Sikich and today Suglich is a partner faith-based community and commitment in the firm’s technology practice, providing leadership to academics. and direction for other partners, managers and staff in finance, project management, customer service and “I had a great experience, both business development. academically and socially,” Sullivan said. “The strength of the University was Suglich came to Benedictine after hearing great reviews providing a great education and training people for life and meeting with former baseball coach John Ostrowski. as productive adults.”

“My goals were simple: play baseball and Outside of class, Sullivan successfully ran for senior keep that dream alive, get an accounting class president and organized other social activities degree in four years, a job and then pay throughout the year, such as the Friday Afternoon Club, providing relief to students and faculty alike after a back my loans,” Suglich said. stressful school week.

Some of his greatest experiences at Benedictine included He joined Sikich after serving for 12 years as inspector a summer internship that allowed him to travel to Los general for the Chicago Board of Education where Angeles, Calif., and New York, N.Y., to work on audits for he investigated allegations of waste, fraud, financial Consolidated Foods (now Sara Lee), and the opportunity mismanagement and employee misconduct. Today, he to play in the 1980 National Collegiate Athletic does similar work as director of Forensic and Valuation Association tournament hosted by the University. Services at Sikich performing risk assessments for clients that help reduce the risk of fraud or the misappropriation “I remember former major leaguers Chet Lemon, Eric of funds. Soderholm and Jimmy Piersall working out with us and helping in practice too,” he said. “That was cool. My “What I most enjoy at Sikich is the team fondest memory though was meeting my beautiful wife, Colleen (Collins) Suglich, C82, Health Science. Thirty- of professionals and our vast array of three years and three beautiful children later, we remain experiences that we utilize to provide Benedictine sweethearts.” best-in-class services,” Sullivan said. “Much like Benedictine, I am surrounded by After graduation, he took a job automating the Inter- good people trying to achieve a variety of American Insurance Company of Illinois manual general goals while remaining friendly and collegial, ledgers with Solomon III accounting software and saw and building off each other’s experiences

Benedictine University • September 2017 an opportunity to start his own business providing a similar service as computer automation began to and talents.” reshape the industry. 2 Sullivan stays in touch with a group of Benedictine Berg decided to major in Accounting classmates annually to reminisce and occasionally at Benedictine after taking a class volunteers his services by sharing his professional at that ignited his experiences with students. interest in the discipline.

Before coming to work at Sikich, “I found that accounting Shields worked for the FBI for more simply made sense and I had than 20 years and was assigned to a an aptitude for it,” Berg said. newly created cyber squad. He is now “The program also included a professor who director of Forensic and Investigative Services at Sikich where he leads had been a practicing accountant and I felt investigations of cyber intrusions, fraud, it brought a lot to the classroom. insider threat, employee misconduct and computer forensics. “I really liked the size and the accessibility of the faculty,” he added. “Living on Shields decided to enroll at Benedictine after visiting the campus also allowed me to participate in a University and learning more about the advantages the small, liberal arts University could provide him. great deal of activities. I still get together with many of my classmates from my years “To my benefit, I had several outstanding at Benedictine.” instructors,” Shields said. “All of them made the subject matter and attending After working for a mid-sized accounting firm for one year, Berg took a full-time position with the same class enjoyable, were approachable smaller firm he interned with while he was a student at and encouraged me to work hard. My BenU. After several mergers, the firm was acquired by instructors, courses and computer science Sikich, providing Berg with an opportunity to grow its internship prepared me well for my career.” governmental and audit accounting practice.

After retiring from the FBI in 2016, he reached out to “We do more than 480 audits annually in Illinois and we Suglich for advice on working in the private sector. After also do a significant amount of accounting service work completing a round of interviews, he was hired at Sikich as well,” Berg said. “In addition, we have consulting in January. engagements that include internal controls and processes, evaluating various aspects of operations. “Working alongside James and being able to talk to Mike My role is to supervise these engagements or bring in has made the transition very smooth,” Shields said. “We other divisions and partners within Sikich to utilize their also get to reminisce about our time at Benedictine.” specialized talents.”

In April, Shields attended the University’s College of While he doesn’t get to work with his fellow Benedictine Science reunion. alumni as often as he would like, they occasionally share leads and updates on potential new projects. “It was a great experience to go back to campus and see all of the changes,” he said. “Having the shared history definitely helped break the ice as we all met up again,” Berg said. “I had the chance to meet with one of my professors and thank her for everything she In addition to Suglich, Sullivan, Shields and did to help me as a student. I also sat with Berg, Sikich also employs several other two math professors, and it was nice to see Benedictine alumni. their excitement and commitment to the program and the University.” Benedictine University • September 2017 3 4 Benedictine University • September 2017 “At BenedictineUniversity, westrivetomeetstudents “transfer friendly.” These initiatives focusonmaking iteven Through thecollaborative efforts of Among theinitiatives are guaranteed four- According to Benedictine strivingtomake school even more“transfer friendly” Now, Benedictineisstrivingtobeevenmore Benedictine haslongbeenaleaderfortransfer advising atBenedictine. credits theybring,”saidKaren Campana, director of University’s academicintegrityandvalue. United States isonly16thintheworld Benedictine isimplementingmore “transfer easier forstudentstotransfer toBenedictine expeditiously aspossible. degrees, U.S. andthepercentage of jobs where theyare andvalidatetheexperience and earn theirdegree while maintainingthe academic andadministrative areas, programs andaschoolof choicefortransferstudents seeking anundergraduate, values-basededucation. need tomake sure that each college needing collegedegrees isgrowing faster than thesupply. Colleges anduniversities young adultswithcollege the percentage of semester, 60-hourcompletionprograms for student-friendly” processes andprocedures. student cancompletetheirdegree workas Inside HigherEducation , the According totheCommunity CollegeResearch Center atColumbiaUniversity, more than80percent Benedictine transferadvisorswillworkdirectly with for allincomingstudents. Thisisanew, collaborative and personal development. academic colleges.The goal istopromote astrong, academic departmentsto assistwiththetransition complete abachelor’s degree, butittakesmany end uptransferringandabout62percent ofthose a bachelor’s degree. However, onlyaboutaquarter atleast of communitycollegestudentsintendtoearn Benedictine makes iteasier fortransfer degree within four semesters of enrollingdegree withinfoursemestersof advisor earlier intheircollegeexperience; also underreview inallacademiccolleges at acommunitycollegetoearn aBenedictine aid; expedited transfer credit evaluation positive transitionforeach student’s academic, career process betweentheAdvisingCenterand beginning withthemajorsthat are most health sciencewhoearn anassociate degree students six years to earn adegreestudents sixyearstoearn aftertransferring. programs; competitivepricingandfinancial popular withtransfer students. the creation summertransfer bridge of through newdegree pathways. Four- to seehowcredits transfer. turnaround; andutilizing“Transferology” select majors;pairingstudentswithafaculty semester, 60-hour completionprograms are students majoringinbusiness, biologyand

The implementation of summer transfer “Transferology is a web-based resource bridge programs began this past summer. through CollegeSource Inc.,” Campana said. The program allows transfer students to “The Illinois Articulation Initiative utilizes this complete courses required of all Benedictine system to assist in a seamless transition from students tuition-free and is being offered our state community colleges. This system to a select group of new transfer students is becoming more widespread across the who are expected to complete their degree country as the primary source for within four semesters at Benedictine. articulation information.

Benedictine will continue to offer expedited transfer credit evaluation. This is critical to provide potential students with accurate course articulations. Further collaboration with faculty to streamline the review process and engaging in a collaborative process for reviewing major coursework will make it easier for transfer students to complete their degree in a timely manner.

“We are exploring ways to incorporate various community college engaged learning experiences and match them to our co-curricular requirements,” Campana said. “Through Transferology, we are laying the groundwork for Benedictine’s transfer program to be prominent Transfer students have experience with and accessible for potential transfer students as well as the community college advisors,” she added. education expenses in higher education because they have attended community college or another four-year institution. Improving the transfer process and ensuring Benedictine is creating a standardized that students can transfer credits efficiently and easily understood financial award has the potential to substantially improve and competitive pricing system to benefit college attainment and help meet labor transfer students. market needs for bachelor’s-educated workers, according to the Community Benedictine also utilizes “Transferology,” College Research Center. a dynamic, integrated technology platform For more information about transferring to that allows students to see how their college Benedictine University, contact (630) 829-6300 coursework will translate to university or [email protected]. degree credit. Benedictine University • September 2017 5 6 Benedictine University • September 2017 Cathedral ofSt.Raymond NonnatusinJoliet. by BishopMartinMcNamara onMay26,1949,atthe for theschools,aposition hehelduntilhisordination the priesthood.In1945,he wasappointedregistrar on June16,1944,hecontinued hisstudiestoward entered themonasticnovitiate. Afterprofessing vows Following hissophomore yearincollege,William worked ontheschoolpaper, the would beintheofficebalancingbooks.Healso Fr. JohnCherf,O.S.B.Everynightaftersupper, William was asophomore inhighschool,heassistedtherector, talent were recognized veryearly, andfrom thetimehe The youngman’s senseofresponsibility andmanagerial Mathias Kucera,O.S.B.,totheschoolsinLisle. and in1937hefollowedhisolderbrother, thefuture Fr. an earlyageoftheBenedictinesSt.Procopius, at member ofBlessedAgnesParish,helearned second ofthefoursonsJosephandLillianKucera.A inChicagoonMay7,1923, Kucerawasborn William of Joliet. to the bishop of Natchez(Mississippi)andauxiliary titular anniversaryofbeingnominated 40th 30, 2017,the confreres were singingVespers onTuesday, May Procopius Abbey, inDubuquewhilehis died abbotofSt. ofDubuque and fifth The MostRev. DanielW. Kucera, O.S.B.,retired and St. Procopius Abbey A notefrom AbbotAustin Murphy, O.S.B., Ph.D., Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B. re We member Most Rev. Procopian News

.

Clougherty, O.S.B.,Fr. Danieldevelopedthe helpofFr. the With student population. Francis residence were andalibrary hall growing forthe built president. nextfiveyears,asecond Overthe ageof36,Fr.In 1959,atthe Danielwasnamed accreditation forSt.Procopius College. two monkscooperatedcloselyinobtainingformal Fr.College, The Danielbecamedeanofstudies. Hrdlicka, O.S.B.,wasappointedpresident ofthe St.Joseph’s former the OrphanageandFr. Adolph later, campusof Academymovedtothe afterthe Department atSt.Procopius Two College. years Fr. placedincharge Danielwasthen Education ofthe “Church-State RelationshipsinEducationIllinois.” doctorate in1954aftercompletinghisdissertationon a The CatholicUniversityofAmerica.Heearned master’s degree anddoctorateineducationat Academy, buthismajorassignmentwasobtaininga Over thenextfewyears,Fr. Danieltaughtatthe awards yearsahead. inthe would winseveralarchitectural that of abuilding 1970 sawhis laborscrowned blessing the with coordinate project, the AbbotDanielinJune Komechak, O.S.B.,whom heappointedto architect, the with Edward Dart,andFr. Michael brought Working planstofruition. the closely newabbot’sbut nowthe energy andmanagement foraquarterofcentury,idea hadbeendiscussed ofanewchurch building the andmonastery. This tomoveaheadwith announced hisdetermination Only three AbbotDaniel afterhiselection, months priory inTaiwan. in the1930swasrevived with theestablishmentofa the Chinesemissionaryeffort themonasteryhadbegun became coeducationalinstitutions.Atthesametime, was closed,andboththeAcademyCollege a re-examination oftheirapostolicworks.Theseminary renewal AbbotDanielledhisconfreres offormation, in the laybrothers intothefulllifeofcommunity and In additiontochangesintheliturgy, incorporationof Vatican Council. effect thereformsmandatedbySecond foreshadowing AbbotDaniel’s role incarryinginto fit newly approved practiceofconcelebration—a on August19includedthecountry’s firstuseofthe His blessingattheCathedralofSt.RaymondNonnatus Fr. Daniel,then41,asthefifthabbotofcommunity. The monksofSt.Procopius onJuly8,1964,elected school. offriendsthe expertise use ofthe College’s greater layboard permitted inwaysthat

7 Benedictine University • September 2017 the qualityof hispastoralletterswasmuch admired, placed great stress onleadershipdevelopment, and installed onFebruary23, 1984. Here asalways,he Dubuque, Iowa,onDecember 20,1983,andwas Bishop Danielwasnamed theeightharchbishop of Catholic studentcenterat FortHaysStateUniversity. efficiency andraisedfundsfortheconstruction of a he reorganized thediocesanofficesforgreater 57th birthday. Duringhis3.5yearsinSalina, of Salina,Kan.HewasinstalledonMay23,his Bishop DanieltheeighthbishopofDiocese On March 11,1980, JohnPaulIInamed as apostolicadministrator. Joseph Imescharrived,BishopDanielserved January untilAugustof1979,whenBishop by LouGehrig’s disease,deteriorated.From the healthofBishopBlanchette,struckdown in Jolietsoonrequired mostofhisattention,as The CatholicUniversityofAmerica.Butthesituation recognized byhisappointmentasatrusteefor Bishop Daniel’s educationalstature wassoon feast ofSt.Daniel,July21,1977. ofSt. RaymondNonnatusonthe Cathedral tookplaceatthe Bishop RomeoBlanchette HisepiscopalordinationDiocese ofJoliet. by bishopofthe of Natchez,Miss.,andauxiliary Pope PaulVIappointedFr. Bishop Danieltitular Becker, Ph.D.However, inearlyJune1977, work ofhissuccessoraspresident, Richard C. through fundraisingefforts, tosupportthe Board College of the ofTrustees. Hehoped, presidency, postofchairman acceptedthe resigning the In 1976,Fr. Daniel, Administration, wasinaugurated. first graduateprogram, theMasterofBusiness Ada RiceCenter, wasconstructed,andtheschool’s development. Anewgymnasium,theDanand five yearsheoversawtheCollege’s continued again becameknownasFr. Daniel,andforanother elected andAbbotDaniel(byhisownchoice) So, in1971,AbbotThomasHavlik,O.S.B.,was served ifamonksucceededhim. and AbbotDanielfeltthattheschoolwouldbestbe 1965, wascompletinghisserviceinthatposition, who hadsucceededAbbotDanielaspresident in Benedictine College.Fr. RomanGaliardi, O.S.B., to thepresidency ofwhatwasabouttobecomeIllinois in leadership,decidedtoresign hisofficeand return creativity andenergy were beststimulatedbychanges Soon after, AbbotDaniel,whohadlongbelievedthat

the NationalCouncilofCatholicBishops. again from 1992-1993,heservedasthetreasurer for perfectly fittedtohishearers. From 1987-1990and as washisgiftfordeliveringahomilyoraddress up residence RaphaelinDubuque,and attheVilla over thecountry. Inthesummerof2007,hetook within theArchdiocese ofDenverandasa birthday, heassistedasaministerofconfirmation For more thanadecade,wellpasthis80th Kucera, O.S.B.,wasstationed. where hisyoungerbrother, Fr. Edward “retirement,” hemovedtoAurora, Colo., onOctober16,1995.In HolyFather by the hisresignation,submitted whichwasaccepted ,O.S.B.,Archbishop Daniel Archbishop 1994arrivalofCoadjutor the with inenergy, adiminution Feeling andpleased 5700 College Road,Lisle,IL60532. 5700 College University,Benedictine University Development, by phoneat(630)829-6072 orbymail: atben.edu/giving, Gifts maybemadeonline The BishopDanielKucera ScholarshipFund. Rev. DanielKucera.Pleasedirect your giftto UniversityinmemoryofMost Benedictine maybemadeto Memorial contributions your prayers. Please remember Archbishop Danielin brothers, Fr. Edward, O.S.B., andHenry. survived byhismonasticcommunityandtwo church andmonastery. Archbishop Danielis 47th anniversaryoftheblessingAbbey Christian BurialonSaturday, June10,2017,the The monasticcommunitycelebratedtheMassof variousreunions. their attending Blessed Agnes(nowSt.Agnes)Parish,often He remained closetohis classmatesfrom monks. and enjoyedbyhisfellow anticipated monastery wasalwaysapleasureat the community’sof the ordinations. Hispresence and afterhisretirement hepresided atmost Archbishop Danielvisited St.Procopius often, days before hisdeath. remained untilsuffering amajorheartattackfew him tomovetheStonehillCare Center, where he three yearslaterbackandhipproblems obliged a varietyofgroups all and retreat masterfor respected speaker

Join us at the Founders Gala —October 7 CELEBRATING 130 YEARS OF INVESTING IN STUDENT SUCCESS

Saturday, October 7 • Benedictine University Campus Quad

Attend an elegant evening of dancing, dining and entertainment as we raise funds to help students in need earn a Benedictine education. Your help is critical to our mission and impacts the lives of so many. The proceeds from this event will help students in financial need, including through the newly created Mission Fund, which will assist students who are on their way toward earning a degree but encounter a hardship during their time here. For tickets, please go to ben.edu/gala. You can also share what BenU has meant to you and your life in 130 words or less (and attach a photo) at ben.edu/gala.

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VOLUNTEER your time and talent at University events. YOU SERVE as a mentor to a future student. SHARE your professional experiences and insights with dozens of students who are preparing to embark CAN on a career in your field.

However you decide to give, your support helps to build a supportive and inclusive community so that our students can be prepared to make a lasting impact as purposeful and engaged citizens of their communities and the world.

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Benedictine University is located in Lisle, Illinois, just 25 miles west of Chicago, and has branch campuses in Springfield, Illinois, and Mesa, Arizona. Founded as a Catholic university in 1887, Benedictine enrolls nearly 9,000 students in 59 undergraduate and 23 graduate programs. Forbes magazine named Benedictine among "America's Top Colleges" for the seventh consecutive year in 2017. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). For more information, contact (630) 829-6300, [email protected] or visit ben.edu.