The Magazine of St. Ambrose University | Spring 2018 SCENE

ALSO INSIDE: SAU Gets A Great Report Card

Leap of Faith Led Alum Across Border 50 YEARS at St. Ambrose of Co-educationCelebrating a Milestone Decision SCENE 10 The Magazine of St. Ambrose University Spring 2018 | Volume XLV | Number 3

Managing Editor Photo credits: SAU Archives, cover, inside front cover; John Mohr Photography, p. 2, Craig DeVrieze ’16 MOL 4–5, 6, 8–9, 10–11, 17–19.

Scene is published by the Communications Staf Assistant and Marketing ofce for the alumni, 8 Darcy Duncalf ’12 students, parents, friends, faculty and staf of St. Ambrose University. Its purpose Contributing Writers is to inform and inspire through stories highlighting the many quality people Jane Kettering ’17 and programs that are the essence of Dawn Neuses ’94 St. Ambrose’s distinguished heritage of Rev. George McDaniel ’66 PhD Catholic, values-based education. Circulation is approximately 30,000. Dustin Renwick ’10 St. Ambrose University—independent, 24 Robin Ruetenik ’15 MOL diocesan, and Catholic—enables its students to develop intellectually, Designer spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically 18 and physically to enrich their own lives and Rebecca Harris-Klawon the lives of others. 2 Under the Oaks www.sau.edu/scene St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, Iowa 52803. 8 Who’s SAU: Kris Eitrheim [email protected] 10 Faculty Profle: Deanna Stoube 12 50 Years Later, Alumnae Making a Diference 16 The History of Women at St. Ambrose 18 A Big Thumbs Up for Computer Sciences 22 Alumni Profle: Franc Contreras 24 Early Alumnae Helped Break Old ‘Habits’ 26 Gift of Giving: Frank Mallerdino 26 Class Notes

Paula (Laird) Raney ’72 uses a surveying instrument as one of the frst women engineering students in 1969. A Message from the President

A Celebration of Equality

Two weeks into my term as president of St. Ambrose, Yet I also take tremendous pride in the fact St. I told a gathering of Quad Cities businesswomen Ambrose students learn today in a gender-diverse that we will know gender equality has truly been environment that empowers women and men of achieved when we no longer see the words “frst all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds to aspire to woman” in front of president. anything they want to achieve, while also allowing them to learn from diverse perspectives. Or doctor. Or dentist. Or scientist. Or engineer. Or mechanic, for that matter. I very much hope our students see me as 2 Under the Oaks Still, I believe the 50th anniversary of the 1968 St. Ambrose’s 13th 8 Who’s SAU: Kris Eitrheim decision to make St. Ambrose College a fully president, rather 10 Faculty Profle: Deanna Stoube co-educational institution is an occasion worthy than the frst woman 12 50 Years Later, Alumnae Making a Diference of celebration and refection. to hold that ofce. 16 The History of Women at St. Ambrose I hope they learn In the context of today, the choice to become a co- 18 A Big Thumbs Up for Computer Sciences equally well from our educational institution seems obvious and, perhaps, accomplished male 22 Alumni Profle: Franc Contreras overdue. Hindsight, however, rarely considers the faculty members as 24 Early Alumnae Helped Break Old ‘Habits’ context of the era under review. they do from our 26 Gift of Giving: Frank Mallerdino accomplished female 26 Class Notes I believe St. Ambrose has always been attentive professors. And I hope our students take pride and to the signs of its times; we must remember that fnd encouragement in the success of the alumnae for more than a century, Catholic colleges and we highlight in this celebratory edition of Scene. universities across the U.S. predominantly were single-gender institutions. It was not until the late The fact is that any student with a St. Ambrose 1960s that a vast majority of Catholic institutions degree can aspire, like Rachel Bahl ’05, to rise in the saw the beneft of co-educational classrooms and engineering ranks of an industry giant such as Ford campuses. Motor Company. Likewise, of course, any student —woman or man— can dream of following the I also would suggest the idea of single-gender intrepid journalistic path of Franc Contreras ’87. colleges had its right time and purpose, particularly for women, because women coming out of women- Dating back to Bishop John McMullen’s earliest only institutions tended to assume leadership vision of a Catholic school for men and boys, our positions in an out-sized manner. Having attended long Ambrosian history is worthy of celebration. a college that began to admit male students only in The fact that the past 50 gender-diverse years the last year of my undergraduate studies, I might comprise a rich part of that history is cause for be an example of that. celebration, too.

Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD

1 under the OAKS University Earns Great Online Textbooks Will Save ‘Report Card’ Students Money Ten years of self-refection, strategic A new afordability initiative at SAU could save assessment and forward planning earned students as much as $1 million per year. signifcant praise for St. Ambrose when a That’s real savings. peer review of the university’s programs, processes and plans won the unequivocal St. Ambrose has contracted with the University of Minnesota’s Open Textbook Network (OTN) approval of the Higher Learning Commission to help reduce the money students spend on (HLC) earlier this year. textbooks each year. Beginning in the fall, Based on the work, documentation and textbooks and instructional materials for a number of courses will be available online strategic goals outlined by staf, faculty for free or at a minimal cost. and students, the commission issued a fnal—and enthusiastic—report granting full According to Mary Heinzman ’08 MBA, accreditation for the next 10 years. chair of a workgroup tasked with addressing the afordability of a St. Ambrose education, “Every single criterion and core component textbook costs have increased 88 percent in was met and this does not often happen,” the past decade. She said students can spend between $900 and $1,200 on texts and materials in a single year.

The new initiative can signifcantly reduce those costs. “If we could get half of our classes to use free or minimal cost materials online, we could save students upwards of $1 million in a year,” Heinzman said.

A number of instructors have embraced the open textbook concept, and others are investigating. Most online courses next fall will enlist the OTN options or fnd other means of making text, video and other instructional materials available for free or at a lower cost online.

The Library has purchased a number of instructional materials that will be available at no charge via Blackboard, Heinzman said. The SAU Bookstore also will make text materials available online at reduced costs.

“There is no one perfect option for everybody,” Heinzman said. “We are trying to fnd a mix of options that will make education more afordable for our students.”

2 under the OAKS

said Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, president Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, of the university and a member of the HLC New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, peer review group. “I was thrilled. This is a South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and report card for us and it documents for the Wyoming. public that we are doing what we say we do.” “This was outstanding work by the entire The Higher Learning Commission is an campus,” Sister Joan said of the three-year independent corporation that was founded process for earning accreditation. “I’d like in 1895 as one of six regional institutional to especially thank Tracy Schuster- Matlock, accreditors in the United States. PhD, our dean of university academic programs and director of strategic planning, HLC accredits degree-granting post- for her dedicated leadership on this secondary educational institutions in the important initiative. All Ambrosians can be North Central region, which includes the proud of this milestone.” following 19 states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,

St. Ambrose Joins esports Evolution

St. Ambrose will join a growing a number of colleges and away convinced the popular activity will help St. Ambrose universities in felding an esports team in 2018-2019. recruit additional bright and academically engaged student-athletes. The Fighting Bees will compete with other collegiate esports teams in the popular games “League of Legends” “This new esports program is an exciting opportunity and “Overwatch” under the direction of coach Joshua to bring a new generation of students interested in Sides. intercollegiate competition to study and grow at St. Ambrose,” she said. “These virtual competitions Ray Shovlain ’79, ’82 MBA, SAU’s director of athletics, will call upon teamwork, strategy and individual skills in said the move into the cyber sports realm is in step with an activity we know has been popular with college-aged the university’s recent additions of cutting-edge academic students for many years.” programs in science, technology, engineering and the health sciences. Also next fall, St. Ambrose will add a color guard to its athletics band program. The guard will join with what The co-ed esports team will be the 29th SAU athletics is expected to be a 60-musician-strong marching band ofering. performing full-length halftime shows at Fighting Bees Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, said the university football home games. studied other collegiate esports programs and came 3 under the OAKS Focused on Building Building a aCareer Career

Free course will help more students it is ofering students this free, one-credit elective,” experience internships Matteson said. Students can earn the credit while working closely As part of a renewed commitment to ensuring every with the Career Center to make sure the internship St. Ambrose student learns through an internship is successful. or another experiential activity, SAU now ofers Experiential Learning 202, a free, one-credit elective “We will make sure the student is creating learning course for students who can’t otherwise aford to objectives, refecting on the experience, and being pay for summer academic internship credit. evaluated by a supervisor/mentor in their feld.”

The course is part of a pilot program that the SAU Internships, as well as full-time, part-time, and Career Center hopes to continue beyond this year. work-study jobs, are posted on BEE Careers, a website It is one of several new opportunities and programs all students can access. As of late April, more than being introduced by Director Kim Matteson and 600 jobs were posted on the site. her staf. The Career Center makes sure students know about “We know when a student has relevant work these opportunities. Last fall, staf began emailing experience on their résumé, it helps them obtain students a weekly list of open positions that match full-time employment. The university their major. Lists are also created and emailed to cares so much about this, faculty, who often encourage their advisees to follow up or learn more.

Also this spring, the Career Center launched a new Health Sciences Career Boot Camp, featuring the same opportunities as the biannual Career

Career Center Director Kim Matteson talks with a student about available career options.

4 Building a Career

Boot Camp—mock interviews, résumé critiques, Due to recent moves and retirements by longtime LinkedIn critiques and networking with local Career Center staf, Matteson and administrative employers and alumni. The focus is designed for assistant Theresa Panich are joined by new staf students pursuing a health-related major or graduate members Stephanie Gronowski ’14 MOL, program. Health care experts from the two local coordinator of internships and career advisor; health care systems, Genesis and UnityPoint, Emily Rollins, career advisor and coordinator of conducted mock interviews and participated in all events and marketing; and Kiley Schmidt, student boot camp activities. employment coordinator.

The Career Center also launched two new programs, Bee Internship Ready and Bee Career Ready. These programs match students with volunteers who will coach, guide and encourage them through a job We know when a student or internship search. The advisors are alumni and has relevant work experience university friends who already volunteer to answer on their résumé it helps them career-related questions from students through BEE Connections. There are more than 200 people ready obtain full-time employment. to help. These programs were built in collaboration The university cares so with the ofces of Alumni Engagement and Advancement. much about this, it is

Matteson said BEE Internship Ready is making an offering students this impact. The number of contacts between students free, one-credit elective. and alumni or university supporters has increased — Kim Matteson, Career Center Director 125 percent this academic year. “The alumni connection can be really benefcial to our students,” she said.

5 IN APPRECIATION of a Couple of True Ambrosians: RACHEL AND ART SERIANZ

BY JANE KETTERING ‘17

For Art Serianz, PhD, professor of chemistry, and Rachel with engineering camps and, possibly, observing student Serianz, PhD, professor of education, retirement will simply teachers. Art will serve as an adjunct and continue his work be another step in a series of life metamorphoses. on the Higher Learning Commission Committee, where he They plan to travel, spend time with family, plant a big has served for more than 30 years. garden, join a gym, become more involved in parish ministry and volunteer in many forms. Rachel is going to learn The Source of Their Passion another language, but still is trying to decide which one. Art has sustained his passion as an educator by being genuinely engaged and curious about his students. And for Art? “Students are always diferent, and it’s always so amazing “Maybe just kicking back a little bit—there is nothing and wonderful to learn what they’re about, to teach them wrong with relaxing,” he said. as new developments occur in science,” he said. “And the In terms of their lives as Ambrosians—43 years for Art and material, the topic that I teach, continues to fascinate me.” 30 for Rachel—both will stay involved. Rachel will continue “Similar to Art, I have a deep passion for the content that to be an adviser of the Kappa Delta Pi education honor I teach,” added Rachel. society, a role she has flled for 22 years. She also will assist

6 under the OAKS

Both identify another source of their teaching pleasure— Goodbye Is Not Goodbye watching students evolve. After turning in grades for the last time, the couple will “My pleasure has come from being part of developing begin training for their 25th Bix 7-mile road race in July, excellent teachers,” said Rachel. “From their entry into the followed by a 13-day land and sea tour of Alaska. And program to my methods courses to observing some of them then it’s back to doing what makes them who they are: as student teachers—the entire metamorphosis.” Ambrosians committed to service by helping others “As students take courses and broaden their experiences, evolve into their best selves. they become more aware of themselves and what they really might want to do in their lives,” said Art. “We watch them develop. The butterfy emerges at the end.”

Leaving Their Mark Staying Connected: For Art, one signifcant change in the Chemistry Department The Art & Rachel Serianz has been the emphasis on health sciences education. Scholarship “I was on some of the committees to help develop those

programs and they have certainly strengthened enrollment in the basic sciences.” The Art & Rachel Serianz Scholarship has been established in honor of their combined Rachel’s legacy includes bringing about “a more pervasive 73 years of service to St. Ambrose and to acceptance and honoring of science” in the School of support students from their respective Education. areas of teaching. of a Couple of True mbrosians: Rachel and Art played major roles in creating and sustaining A The scholarship will be funded through SAU’s well-respected outreach summer camps in engineering and chemistry. an initial gift from Art and Rachel, with an additional solicitation of former students Both have been involved in grant-writing, with Art responsible and colleagues to make a gift in their honor. for approximately $8 million in grants received by SAU over the years. The Chemistry scholarship will be awarded Both also identify an increased atmosphere of service as part to a rising sophomore who has shown of their legacy. passion and dedication in the classroom. A rising junior majoring in elementary “We’ve made that a priority as far back as we’ve been here,” education will be eligible for the Education said Rachel. scholarship, preferably one with an For Students, A Lasting Impression endorsement in science or STEM. “This is our way to stay connected to the students “Art was tough, fair, and supportive—a major positive and the teaching experience,” said Art. infuence in my life,” said Rob Philibert ’83, MD, PhD, a University of Iowa professor of psychiatry and CEO and Should funds allow, a portion of the earnings principal founder of Behavioral Diagnostics. “I would not be will be dedicated to funding The Art and here without him.” Rachel Serianz Lecture on Faith and Science. “Rachel is the best mentor I ever could have asked for,” said “We have always been defned by our faith Felicia (Toher) Pfuger ’95, artistic director and founder of and by our felds of study,” Rachel said. LATTE Theater in LaGrange, Illinois. “She has been a constant source of vibrancy, goodness and strength in my life … (even) walking me down the wedding aisle.”

7 Who’s SAU? Kris Eitrheim For people trying to By Robin Ruetenik ‘15 MOL fnd their place in the world, giving them that power of directing or designing a set is something really cool.

— Kris Eitrheim

8 under the OAKS

At any time of day in Kris Eitrheim’ s ofce, you’ll “We get to spend free time together,” he says of most likely fnd at least one student; a diferent his close relationship with students. They practice student’s bookbag; an assortment of tools and the craft of theatre not for a major, necessarily, cofee cups; and a very large portrait of General but because they love it. “This is something we’ re Field Marshal Albrecht Von Roon. all passionate about, and when we’ re working on a show, we get to share with each other what we The 19th century Prussian general’s likeness love.” was used as a photo of Hedda Gabler ’s father in a 2017 SAU Theatre production. Along with many other memories of past productions that What About Your Work Makes It Fun? somehow ended up in Eitrheim’— s ofce usually The backstage of Allaert Auditorium is basically as part of an inside joke between himself and a giant playground for people with all kinds of SAU theatre students— General Von Roon is interests, which is what makes it a great place part of the life of one of St. Ambrose’ s biggest for college students. The collaboration between Theatre icons. students and faculty on a production — whether for the intimate, 50-seat Studio Theatre or the 1,200- They Call Him Redbeard seat auditorium— is what makes work synonymous with fun. Ok, so the beard isn’ t red anymore, but the greying chin is proof of how long Eitrheim has “They are active participants in an art form,” been at St. Ambrose. Since 1991, he has taught Eitrheim says of his students. “For people trying scores of SAU theatre students in scene and to fnd their place in the world, giving them that lighting design, as well as stagecraft. Toward power of directing or designing a set is something that end, he occupies a large share of the Galvin really cool.” basement where students learn machinery, carpentry, painting, and any other jack-of- all- SAU Theatre Department in 10 years? trades skill required for backstage work. There’ s If everything stayed the same, then nothing would also an impressively organized tool room where change. And for all the talented, successful, and Eitrheim demonstrates 54 tools to stagecraft award-winning students the department has students in a 50-minute class period (roughly churned out over the years, one would think not one tool per minute, if you’ re calculating). a lot should change.

About That Fancy Golden Wrench “In certain ways, it will still be the same in 10 years,” Eitrheim says. “It will still be a family-like The SAU Tech Team has won the Golden place. It will still be a place of opportunity for C- Wrench six times, the most recent being artists and technicians with skills to learn. People in January at the Kennedy Center American will come and go, and facilities will change, but I College Theatre Festival for the Central hope the favor and spirit of this department will Midwest Region. It’s awarded annually to the stay the same.” fastest and most profcient technical crew. The winners learn their skills from Eitrheim. And they love him for it.

9 The IMPACT of Teaching Teachers Deanna Stoube Strives to Build a Community of Readers

By Dawn Neuses ‘94 Area elementary students who need extra reading support sign up for the clinic and are paired with an SAU student. Twice a week for one semester, they tutor the child and so much more. Nearly two decades ago, Deanna Stoube, PhD, told her frst- grade students and their parents she had accepted a job at Stoube teaches education majors how to observe and assess St. Ambrose University and wouldn’t be returning to their the child’s skill level, plan lessons and set goals based on grade school after Christmas break. specifc needs.

As a teacher focused on reading skills for Davenport Then, once a week, Stoube follows-up to review the tutoring Community Schools, Stoube had become close with her progress, lesson plans, and goals. During these sessions, students and their families. So close in fact, she remembered Stoube does exactly what she wants these future teachers the father of one student—almost angered by the news— to do: listens and ofers guidance and encouragement. abruptly left her classroom.

“A week later, he returned and apologized,” Stoube said. “He said to me, ‘I thought about it, and yes, my son is going to miss out on you. But you will be teaching students how to be a teacher like you, so more kids are going to get that experience. And that’s important.’”

Repeating the story almost brings Stoube to tears. “I continue to think about my job like that,” she said. “I’m not just teaching my 20 frst-graders; hopefully, I’m teaching a bunch more.”

Now in her 17th year as a professor in the St. Ambrose School of Education, Stoube continues to teach education majors how to be the best teacher they can be, while tirelessly working to ensure Iowa teacher education programs continue to rank No. 1.

Not only do current and former students appreciate her knowledge, but so do many others. Stoube is president of the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE) and works closely with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the Iowa Department of Education. She also lends counsel to the education adviser to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

In SAU classrooms, Stoube teaches literacy and content area literacy. Any student who takes her course on how to diagnose and treat reading issues also participates in the SAU Reading Clinic.

10 facultyPROFILE

“I’m not just teaching my students how to teach reading or But, Stoube believes the best measure of impact isn’t found communication arts and writing skills; I model how to be a in test scores; it’s in the child’s attitude. teacher and how to work with the whole child through my “We have to work on changing their attitude and value of personal interaction with each of them,” she said. literacy,” she said. There are yet more ways for SAU Education majors to Stoube wants all K−12 students to have high-quality further develop their diagnostic skills. For those who want to teachers who will help them grow as a class and as specialize in teaching reading, those majors participate in a individuals. So naturally, she’s known for being a little second, more advanced reading clinic where they brainstorm tough on her students. with their fellow education students to analyze the best ways to help each child. “Usually, after they’ve graduated and started working in a classroom of their own, I begin getting phone calls and These reading clinics—also ofered in the summer—are highly emails of ‘thanks for all you taught me. It was hard and a lot valued by the local schools, parents and children, and are of work, but it has really helped me help my students.’” making an impact. Reading test scores almost always improve.

11 50 Years Later, St. Ambrose Alumnae Are Making a Difference

By Craig DeVrieze ‘16 MOL More than 16,000 women have earned college degrees under the oaks since April 4, 1968, when the Board of Trustees voted to make St. Ambrose a co-educational institution. Over the past 50 years, more than 1,000 alumnae have gone on to become teachers, 800-plus have become nurses and another 800 have entered the feld of accounting. Close to 700 women, meanwhile, have earned undergraduate business degrees, 400 graduated with degrees in biology and nearly 300 earned degrees in economics. Since St. Ambrose added graduate programs in 1987, more than 1,500 women have earned their doctoral or master’s degrees in business administration and 500-plus gained Master of Social Work degrees. Other health-related graduate programs have awarded more than 1,200 degrees to women It’s not you or me. It’s us. in or entering the felds of physical and occupational therapy, And we have that balance speech-language pathology and physician assistant practice. The 1968 decision did not open the doors to the frst alumnae at St. Ambrose. in St. Ambrose history. St. Ambrose degrees were conferred to more than 500 women by various means over the frst 86 years I never thought one gender of the school’s existence. Yet, it wasn’t until the fall of 1968, was superior. I felt it was when 166 women enrolled as commuter students, that very balanced and we had St. Ambrose ofered a true co-educational experience. The past half-century has brought signifcant change to the make-up of our student and alumni populations. Women respect comprise better than 55 percent of all St. Ambrose graduates for one another. since 1968, and more than 59 percent of students enrolled this year are female. — Celeste (Raya) Canfeld ’15 Included among our alumnae are numerous lawyers and judges; school principals and a college president; foundation chairs and nonproft leaders; CEOs and entrepreneurs; medical doctors and hospital presidents; biologists and

12 chemists; engineers and inventors; an Olympic medalist and several college athletics coaches. Above all, these women are Ambrosians, informed by a university-wide commitment to diversity in all its forms, gender included. “I am extremely proud of St. Ambrose’s mission to be a diverse and inclusive place where all are welcomed and made to feel a part of the university,” said Angela Lindsay ’94 MBA, an associate vice president of sales for Nationwide Insurance in Atlanta and one of 10 females —fve of whom are alumnae—currently serving on the university’s Board of Trustees. Lindsay earned her undergraduate degree at Jackson State University, a historically black college that she said gave her a sense of empowerment and pride. She felt fully prepared for the working world after experiencing St. Ambrose MBA classes that included a diverse cross section of gender, ethnicity and experience. “St. Ambrose believes in preparing students for a real world that may look diferent from what they are used to,” Lindsay said. Where gender is concerned, men and women who learn together are prepared for a world which looks very much like the one in which they will work, said Julie (Hughes) Link ’07. She came to St. Ambrose after attending an all-girls high school in Chicago, and while it wasn’t a culture shock, Top, left to right: Angela Lindsay ’94 MBA, Julie (Hughes) Link ’07, it was a new learning experience. Maureen Hughes ’01 Middle, left to right: Lori Sundberg ’03 DBA, Celeste (Raya) Canfeld ’15 “You’re kind of in the real world,” she said of SAU classrooms. Bottom, left to right: Kim Clarke ’91, Miracle Leach ’14, ’16 MSW “Being in that environment helped pave my thought process. ‘Hey, we’re equal.’ Certainly, it gave me a wider perspective.” Thanks to St. Ambrose, she said, the transition to law Link earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at school at Western Michigan University was easier still. St. Ambrose and went on to add a Doctor of Nursing Practice “I’m not saying it was easy, but I felt like I was prepared degree and an MBA elsewhere. She currently is a health adviser for it,” she said. “Because I was successful at St. Ambrose for Press Gainey Associates. Her sister Maureen Hughes ’01 and because of the support of professors, staf and fellow also attended an all-girls high school. She went straight to law students, male and female, I felt like ‘Yes. I can do this.’” school after earning an SAU degree in teacher education and is For most alumnae, discussing the impact of gender-diverse an Assistant State’s Attorney in a Cook County (Illinois) ofce classrooms seems superfuous. It is what they have always that has more female prosecutors than males. known. “I guess it’s hard for me to think about it any other Hughes said that the transition from an all-girls high school way—it just seems like the educational setting would always to co-educational college classes at SAU wasn’t difcult for her. be co-educational,” said Lori Sundberg ’03 DBA.

13 In August, Sundberg will become the frst female president English as a Second Language teacher in Rochelle, Illinois. in the history of Kirkwood Community College, a system “It’s not you or me. It’s us. And we have that balance at with more than 14,000 students spread across 10 campuses in St. Ambrose. I never thought one gender was superior. I felt central Iowa. “What we know from research is that diversity it was very balanced and we had respect for one another.” really enhances the experience,” she said. “It works that way In athletics, Canfeld’s track and feld experience was unique in organizations, and it works that way in classrooms.” in that the women frequently practiced with the men and That was certainly the enhanced experience Celeste (Raya) routinely competed at the same venues. “Our coaches were Canfeld ’15 gained in pursuit of her Bachelor of Science in adamant that ‘It’s not the women’s team or the men’s team. Teacher Education degree, as well as from practicing We’re SAU track,”’ she said. alongside men as a track and feld athlete. As women’s basketball players, Kim Clarke ’91 and Jenny “It’s one of those things where (DeSmet) Putnam ’01 often traveled with the men’s team and you have two perspectives, competed in doubleheaders before the same crowds. and I think bringing “There was great cohesion and support between the men’s those two together and women’s teams,” said Putnam, now an assistant women’s really helped create basketball coach at the University of Missouri, where her not only what former SAU coach, Robin (Becker) Pingeton ’92, is head coach. St. Ambrose Putnam said she and Pingeton often marvel at the close is today but bonds their SAU experiences created, something they say essentially the Division I atmosphere can’t replicate. what we want our “That tightknit St. Ambrose experience provides that communities closeness and allows you to improve your communication and our world and relationship skills,” Putnam said. to be,” said Clarke is a three-time U.S. Olympian in women’s handball Canfeld, who sandwiched her SAU career between the 1988 and 1992 who is Summer Games. Now a manager of reporting and data an analysis for RIA in Atlanta, Clarke also played softball at SAU and felt that female athletics were a priority here. “St. Ambrose was a place to play and learn as an equal,” she said. “I didn’t feel like the women’s basketball team was slighted at all.” Chicago-area social worker Miracle Leach ’14, ’16 MSW learned about herself through the diversity she experienced in the classroom and on the SAU campus. “Ambrose really gave me the opportunity to get to know myself and be around people who were accepting of me while I was going through that process,” she said. “I grew up in public schools, but my schoolmates were African-American.

Jenny (DeSmet) Putnam ’01 is an assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Missouri. Margaret Gustafson ’99 MBA is among the many St. Ambrose alumnae who have risen to the top of their professions. She served as president and CEO at two Illinois hospitals before recently taking time of to look after family. “I had no immediate plans for career advancement,” she said of her decision to enroll in the H.L. McLaughlin MBA program. “I wanted to prepare for an opportunity that might present itself. Given these hopes, it was important to fnd the right academic partner with an excellent reputation, professional faculty and a cutting-edge curriculum. SAU was a terrifc choice for me.” Likewise, Sundberg said her St. Ambrose doctorate “has made all the diference in the world for my career.” When she moves on to the presidency at Kirkwood, Sundberg will pack a shard of glass given to her by a friend when she assumed her frst post as a college’s frst woman president, at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois, in 2006. “It’s to remind me that I have broken that glass ceiling — twice now,” she said, before adding, “Here we are in 2018, and we would think that women in leadership would be routine, but, in fact, it’s not. Only a third of junior college presidents are women and it’s less than that at four-year institutions. “These are difcult conversations to have,” she said of challenges yet to overcome, “but I think we have to have them.”

Rachel Bahl ’o5 is a project manager in the vehicle design studio at Ford Motor Company.

I didn’t experience diferent cultures until I got to St. Ambrose. I learned how to view things from other perspectives, which is a necessary thing in any profession.” I didn’t experience different Likewise, Rachel Bahl ’05 leaned on the shared perspectives small St. Ambrose classes provided as she followed in the cultures until I got to engineering footsteps of her grandfather who owned 13 patents St. Ambrose. I learned how at Deere and Co. Bahl said she never felt like a gender pioneer until physics to view things from other professor Tom Yang, PhD, pointed out she was a true rarity as a left-handed female engineering student. “He was just trying to perspectives, motivate me,” she said. It worked. Today, Bahl is a project manager in the vehicle which is a necessary thing design studio and a rising leader in the engineering division in any profession. of Ford Motor Co. — Miracle Leach ’14, ’16 MSW

15 The hisTory of Women aT sT. ambrose − A Great and Lasting Beginning

By Rev. George McDaniel ’66, PhD Although Bishop John McMullen founded St. Ambrose as a school for boys, women have been present on campus since the school began accepting boarding students in the mid-1880s. Members of the Sisters of Humility and some laywomen came as housekeepers and cooks. As the curriculum expanded, Helena Bradford Churchill was hired in 1918 to teach public speaking and dramatic arts, a position she would hold until her death in 1939. She later was joined by another woman, Elizabeth Arnauld, who taught shorthand and typewriting. By the mid-1920s, states were demanding elementary and secondary teachers have college degrees and be certifed— endangering the status of Catholic schools—where classes were taught largely by religious sisters who had not attended college. To serve that need, St. Ambrose established an extension division to teach these teachers at of-campus sites in 1925. The frst year, fve sisters enrolled and that number increased each year. In the 1928-29 academic year, 19 laywomen enrolled. The frst two women to receive a degree from St. Ambrose fnished in 1931: Sister Mary Aquinas Freehill received a Bachelor of Science and Sister Margaret Mary Dwyer received a Bachelor of Arts. In 1932, the college began to ofer summer classes for religious women. In that frst summer, at least 125 religious and laywomen enrolled. Over the next 40 years, hundreds of sisters from several Midwest religious communities enrolled in summer sessions. In 1934, St. Ambrose established a Women’s Division, but all classes except science laboratory classes would be taught ofsite. The Women’s Division students took part in social activities and wrote for the student newspaper. However, not many women enrolled.

16 A few years later, discussions began with the Sisters of Humility to move a junior college in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Davenport and open a four-year all-women’s college. These discussions bore fruit when Marycrest College opened in 1939. In its frst years, St. Ambrose provided accreditation for Marycrest. Also in the 1930s, nursing students from St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rock Island and Mercy Hospital in Davenport began to attend summer and night classes. St. Ambrose faculty members taught courses—including basic science—to nursing students from Mercy Hospital. In 1951, this arrangement was formalized when St. Ambrose created a nursing division where student nurses could earn a bachelor’s degree. The nurses lived at Mercy Hospital but they participated in campus activities and became part of student life. In the years following World War II, the number of women on the faculty grew and some women took on administrative roles. In 1959, three women were added to the St. Ambrose Board of Trustees. Women continued to attend summer classes and receive degrees. It is estimated that by the mid-1960s more than 500 women had received degrees from St. Ambrose. Msgr. Sebastian Menke became the 10th president of St. Ambrose in 1963 and began to recognize the need to make St. Ambrose a co-educational institution. In March 1968, the issue was put before the Board of Trustees. Some weeks later, the Board voted to make the change, but only for women who would commute to campus. That fall, 166 women enrolled as commuter students. The next year, construction was completed on the new South Hall (Cosgrove) and women moved on campus. Bishop McMullen’s school was now available to all who wanted a college education. Left: Instructor of public speaking and dramatic arts, Helena Bradford Churchill. Above: Nursing students from the 1950s were part of a cooperative nursing program between St. Ambrose and Mercy Hostpital.

17 A BIG THUMBS UP FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES

SAU Department One of Eight in U.S. Chosen for Facebook-sanctioned Cybersecurity Program

By Craig DeVrieze ‘16 MOL Facebook Inc. has been forced SAU was asked to join the program after Stephanie Siteman, Facebook’s diversity and academia outreach to take an intense look at its manager, represented the company at the CornCon IV information-sharing practices Cybersecurity Conference on campus this past fall. Siteman was so impressed with the CIS department’s faculty and in recent months. That doesn’t curriculum, she quickly ofered to include St. Ambrose as an mean the social media giant Info Security Program partner. “I was looking for a Midwest presence,” she said. “Now, wasn’t already aware and we’re invested in St. Ambrose.” pro-active, however, regarding In January, fve St. Ambrose students attended the Enigma 2018 Conference in Santa Clara, California. They were the need for enhanced security accompanied by Sayonnha Mandal, PhD, the assistant in our digitally driven age. professor who is teaching the SAU special topics course. Along with Facebook, the primary sponsors of the two-day To strengthen the worldwide frewall against cyber crime, conference included digital industry giants Google, Netfix Facebook has turned to higher education. and Dropbox. “It was awesome to see the wide array of research and The Facebook Info Security Program debuted in 2016 and eye-opening things in the industry,” said Vincent Beckman, currently sanctions only eight college and university a senior computer science major. “And it was a huge computer science programs across the U.S. to teach a hands-on opportunity to rub elbows with people in the industry, cybersecurity training class developed for industry insiders by as well as vendors and job recruiters. It was interesting to the cyber-savvy organization CodePath. The program was get their take on what the industry is looking for.” designed in part to fll a dire and growing need for educated cybersecurity professionals. The students also spent a morning visiting Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California. “The people from A special topics course on creating new kinds of code to their security team actually sat down with the students to defeat hackers was added in January to the SAU Computer talk,” said Mandal. “That’s a big opportunity.” Information Science (CIS) Department’s Computer and Network Security degree program. Angelique Iradukunda, an SAU junior from the small African nation of Rwanda, is a perfect example of the diversity— In addition to St. Ambrose, foundational partners in both gender and ethnic—Siteman said the Info Security Facebook’s Info Security Program include Mississippi Program hopes to foster in the cybersecurity feld. State University, Virginia Tech University, the University of Virginia, the City College of New York, Hofstra University, While standing in Facebook HQ, Iradukunda couldn’t help Merritt College and California State University-San but wonder what her old Facebook friends back home might Bernardino. think to see her rubbing shoulders with the famed social network’s inventors and primary protectors. Beyond invaluable professional training, the Facebook Info Security Program provides students at each school the “I would say that was a miracle,” said Iradukunda, who also opportunity to participate in all-expense paid trips to several joined Mandal for a Facebook-funded trip to Chicago for a of the biggest cyber conferences involving many of the March conference on women in cybersecurity. “The frst world’s largest digital corporations. thing that came to my mind was ‘anything is possible.’” More signifcantly, students who excel in the CodePath The Facebook stamp of approval only serves to illustrate the course can earn front-of-the-line access to internships with increasing impact of the computer sciences at St. Ambrose. Facebook itself. “Facebook selected eight universities that it thinks have the Talk about a big thumbs up for one of SAU’s most-poised- faculty and facilities capable of serving this initiative— to-grow programs. and that also bring an established commitment

19 to teaching cybersecurity,” said Kevin Lillis, PhD, a professor Kevin Sinclair, a one-time flm school student from Boston, of computer science and the CIS department chair. began his pursuit of a St. Ambrose degree with a focus on “This doesn’t just set us apart. It recognizes that we were programming and development. Then the intrigue and already set apart. fast-expanding need for digital security professionals caught his interest. The Facebook partnership sealed his decision to “We have had a cybersecurity program here for the past 15 major in Computer and Network Security. years. That’s light years ahead of other universities.” “Everybody should jump on it,” he said of the opportunity St. Ambrose has ofered degrees in the computer sciences for to learn in a Facebook-approved program. “They really want 30 years. In addition to Computer and Network Security, to shape students into desirable job candidates. This is a SAU students can major in Computer Science, which focuses challenging course, but it’s expected to be.” on programming and software creation, as well as Computer Network Administration, which prepares students to work Mandal and St. Ambrose are increasing the challenge within as network and systems administrators. the 12-week CodePath course by adding four weeks of academic classwork around it. That includes a fnal paper At the graduate level, a Master of Science in Information and an exam. Technology Management degree helps IT professionals hone their professional management skills.

This doesn’t just set us apart. It recognizes that we were already set apart. — Kevin Lillis, PhD Professor and Chair Computer and Information Sciences Department

20 “We’re asking our students to refect on what they have deciphering any classical algorithm—and personal password— learned and put it into context of how it fts in the entirety in a matter of seconds. of the computer security realm,” Lillis said. “How does Mandal recently received a grant from Dr. Tom and Mary it relate to our other courses? How does it relate to other Ann Stofel to build a fve-year research project in the concepts? CodePath is giving us the technical, hands-on quantum cryptography feld, enlisting the assistance of SAU training. We are taking it and putting it within the context student researchers. of the bigger picture.” That’s just one of the ways the Computer and Information A frst-year member of the department, Mandal brings Sciences Department is poised to grow. Lillis points to cybersecurity expertise of her own. She has a doctorate in an increasing number of internship partners who give information technology and a master’s in cybersecurity from students a taste of the strong employment opportunities the the University of Nebraska-Omaha. computer sciences ofer. She also earned an additional master’s in telecommunications “That’s why this Facebook partnership can be so good for engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Her thesis us—and not just because it’s Facebook,” he said. “Part of it centered on quantum cryptography, an advanced level of is helping students recognize that there is something beyond encryption that could prove to be cybersecurity’s last line of academics here. The computer discipline is growing. defense against computers built with processors capable of We’re positioned to grow with it.”

21 STORIES OF DEATH, POVERTY AND Uplifting Resilience SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Foreign Correspondent Franc Contreras’ Own Story Took a Turn at SAU

By Craig DeVrieze ‘16 MOL Franc Contreras was mere hours from returning to St. Ambrose for the frst time since his May 1987 graduation when one of the many major news stories he has reported as a foreign correspondent in Mexico shook up those plans. This time, quite literally. When a 7.1 magnitude earthquake killed 370 people in central Mexico, including 228 in his adopted hometown of Mexico City, Contreras scuttled his SAU Homecoming plans late last September, picked up his camera and went about the important business of sharing the quake’s impact with the world as a freelance reporter for the global television network Al Jazeera English. The deadly earthquake was another in a long list of heart- wrenching stories Contreras has reported since he moved to Mexico in 1996 to serve as the country’s primary correspondent for Latino USA Radio. He previously had worked in the U.S. as a producer for the Latino USA network and for National Public Radio’s award-winning program, All Things Considered. Over 21 years in Mexico, he also has collaborated extensively for BBC World Service radio and other news agencies.

22 alumniPROFILE

Working as a foreign correspondent in a country where drug cartels and corrupt ofcials frequently kill journalists they see as threats, Contreras said he has feared for his life on a few occasions. Just as harrowing, however, has been the work of bearing witness to gruesome deaths of scores of local journalists, drug-war combatants and, especially, innocents caught in the battle’s crossfre. “I saw some things that I just don’t want to talk about— a lot of dead bodies, a lot of visits to the morgue, a lot of shootouts,” he said. “I also have seen a lot of very desperate poverty. And I wonder which of those things has weighed most heavily on my soul.” The heartache, however, hasn’t caused him to reconsider a vocation that ofers rewards stretching far beyond a paycheck.

“I have seen every state in Mexico three or four times. I’ve And, so, Contreras found himself at St. Ambrose—both heard dozens of indigenous languages I could never hope literally and fguratively. to understand,” he said. “I have also seen some amazing, Here, he said, “the brilliant Joe McCafrey opened my mind brilliant moments where people in a country we think of as to the world of ideas,” while, in the KALA and SAUtv studios, less than our own have shown me a thing or two about what he honed the working skills that still drive him today. life really means. It has been a pretty incredible experience, no doubt.” “I think St. Ambrose gave me the analytical tools to understand complex things,” he said. “My studies showed Contreras grew up in a barrio in Tucson, Arizona, but never me how to be a good journalist, showed me how to follow considered crossing the nearby Mexican border until a few what instructor Julie McDonald told us over and over. years after coming north to St. Ambrose. It does matter that you get the story right.” He left the University of Arizona after a year and was about Contreras believes his own amazing story has resulted from to start a stint in the Navy when he met Rev. Tony Clark, doors that opened at the exact right moment. a priest from the Diocese of Davenport, who was serving a mission with the Sanctuary Movement. “Part of it was just the courage to do it, too,” he said. “Sometimes I took jobs where I was making $100 a month. That movement brought refugees from war-torn countries When I moved to Mexico, I spoke no Spanish. I learned it in such as Nicaragua and El Salvador across the border and the streets. So it was kind of a great series of leaps of faith. gave them sanctuary in the Catholic Church. One night, And one of those was a leap of faith to go from Tucson to Fr. Clark gave Contreras the keys to a van, a map to an Davenport. To me, it was like going to a diferent culture. obscure destination and instructions to park and await a I learned so much and have so many good memories. knock on the vehicle’s window. Soon enough, Contreras And I still love corn.” found himself driving a group of El Salvadoran peasants escaping persecution in their homeland to a sanctuary church. On that drive, he said he felt closer to who he ultimately wanted to be than he would as a sailor. “I told Tony, ‘I think I need a diferent path,’” Contreras recalled. “And he said, ‘I think I’ve got the thing for you.’”

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hen women began to attend St. Ambrose as full-time Yet Raney never felt uncomfortable. students in the fall of 1968, it marked a change in the “The students in the engineering program were great. My Wuniversity’s long-standing history as an all-male institution. classmates were very helpful,” she said, “and the faculty Alumnae who enrolled those frst few years said they were was tremendous. They made sure you were successful and welcomed, challenged, and supported; and they highly value understood the material, and if not, they invited you to stop their Ambrosian experience, friendships and education. by their ofce to get extra help. Kathy Williams ’72 attended a large co-ed high school and “It was not only the faculty and my peers, the whole campus was very comfortable being one of the frst female students at was welcoming,” she said. St. Ambrose in 1968. As she sat in Rev. Herman Strub’s class, Christine (Krumdieck) Shelton ’73 enrolled in 1969 as a however, she realized some changes would require a bit more commuter student, but at mid-semester decided to move time to process. into the brand new, female-only residence hall, South Hall “Fr. Strub had a habit of saying, ‘You are all good men.’ And (now known as Cosgrove Hall). She said it was built with to that I would respond, ‘Thank you, Sister,’” she said, with a an amenity the male residence halls lacked—a full, shared laugh. “He wasn’t doing it intentionally, but out of habit.” bathroom for every two rooms. Williams said she always felt accepted by her male classmates. Shelton said she and the other estimated 50 women who lived In fact, she bonded with many, fnding a community of in South Hall that frst year were envied and even teased a bit supportive peers and a campus open to discussion and by their male peers. diferent opinions. “I never felt unwelcomed or challenged “Everyone thought we were the cream of the crop,” she said. because I was a female. I felt challenged because I was an “But we were very well accepted by the male students.” The English major and because I was conservative in a very liberal same was true of the faculty. “We were treated as equals, and time,” she said. we were respected and valued,” she said. Paula (Laird) Raney ’72 also was one of the frst full-time Moving into South Hall strengthened Shelton’s ties to female students. She was drawn to St. Ambrose by a partial St. Ambrose. “Living in the dorms was a much diferent scholarship and its strong engineering and physics programs. experience than when I was a commuter student because there “It was interesting; I would be in class and suddenly realize was such a sense of community. I saw the same women day I was the only woman,” she said. after day,” she said.

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As her social circle grew, Shelton formed lifelong bonds with Schwartzhof said it was at St. Ambrose that she realized the some of the women she met in South Hall as well as her male world was changing; women were no longer expected to be classmates, many who were seminarians. They challenged and lifelong homemakers and they weren’t being sent to college to supported each other during a time of great debate about the fnd a husband. She was there to gain an education that would Vietnam War. support her throughout life, and she changed her major to “I liked going to college. I liked the academic growth. But education. the diference in me as an individual came out of those At one point, she joined a women’s group that met in South friendships. I believe I am the woman I am today because of Hall. “I remember going to the dorm room, and the women the community that supported me,” Shelton said. who were sitting on those twin beds are still my friends today,” Helen Schwartzhof ’75 agrees. “Something very special she said. happened to me at St. Ambrose.” Schwartzhof also got involved in social justice activities and Schwartzhof enrolled in the fall of 1971 as an art major. the peace movement and gained a wealth of experience. “It was She lived on the fourth foor of South Hall and Shelton was a great time for liberal arts education and I had the ability to her RA. They became close friends, and part of a group of explore many diferent things,” she said. Ambrosians who continue to meet once a year and spend a “St. Ambrose was a great community and I felt supported as a week together. woman on campus.” Early Alumnae Helped Break Old ‘Habits‘ By Dawn Neuses ‘94

The bond created within the frst group of female Ambrosians is still strong. These alumnae and their families get together annually to spend a week together. 25 The Gift of Giving

Paying His Passion Forward Not every St. Ambrose alumnus can say they’ve swung from the rafters of Lee Lohman Arena. Frank Mallerdino ’84 can. And if he ever does it again, he’ll remember to wear gloves. Mallerdino’s enthusiasm for his alma mater is large and Mallerdino’s enduring support for St. Ambrose is delivered with that same sustained. And that’s notwithstanding the time when, dressed up-at-5 a.m.-to-mop-the-foors kind of passion. He poured that passion as Barney the Bee, he climbed over the rail of the running track into serving as Admissions recruiter immediately following his graduation, above the arena, grabbed a rope attached to the rafters, started but, even now, as a long-established salesman in Wisconsin, his dedication swinging, and only then realized he’d forgotten to put on is unwavering. Barney’s gloves. “Frank does it all,” said Anne Gannaway, director of alumni engagement “I slid down the rope, got horrible rope-burn and almost broke and special events. “He has hosted Bee Happy Hours in Milwaukee, where my back,” Mallerdino said, laughing as loudly on the tale’s he lives, and he has welcomed admitted SAU students from Milwaukee to 1,000th telling as he did on its frst. his house for gatherings. He also served on the alumni board. He still has Mallerdino’s Ambrosian memories also include being the school spirit he had when he was Barney the Bee.” Homecoming king; president and treasurer of the Student Mallerdino also found a way to pay his memorable experiences forward Government Association; waking at 5 a.m. every morning as a when his fellow alum and former Q-C area roommate Jim Stangle ‘82, frst-year student to mop the foor of the student union and pub; now vice president for Advancement at SAU, asked for his help with the and, then, a year later, becoming the frst sophomore to manage Building Our Future campaign. that very same pub. As a widower raising three sons, Mallerdino doesn’t have the means just “That was basically because of my dedication to mopping that yet to write a fve-fgure check, but on a payment plan, he was able to foor,” he said of his promotion.

Dan Doran ’68 has published two Terry Ousley ’84 retired as the vice as a Master at Arms and has a new The Sixties thriller books, The Copper Casket and president of customer satisfaction position as a police ofcer for 60 The Candidate. at MidAmerican Energy Company Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Beth Furlong ’63 wrote a chapter on after 38 years in the utility industry. ethics and safe patient handling and He will continue to represent mobility and served as a co-editor The Seventies MidAmerican Energy in the Quad The Zeros 70 Cities on various boards he serves. 00 for Health Care Ethics—Critical Issues st Lawrence Clark ’72 is retired and Ryan Maxwell’01 is the clubhouse for the 21 Century. Furlong is a State Farm Insurance hired Tina living back in the Quad Cities with manager and travel coordinator for member of the board of directors his wife, Carol. They have seven Kohn ’87 for the team manager- the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple A for the National Association of Safe daughters, 24 grandchildren, ofce of learning position in baseball afliate of the Colorado Patient Handling Professionals. She and seven great-grandchildren. Bloomington, Illinois. Rockies. also wrote a chapter on agenda setting for Health Policy and Politics, Jessie (Mernka) Maxwell ’03 works which is for advanced practice for the University of New Mexico The Eighties The Nineties registered nurses and other health 80 90 Hospitals as a neonatologist and professionals. In Omaha, Furlong assistant professor of pediatrics. She Kelly (Pratt) Garrett ’83 has joined Joseph Rodriguez ’99 was promoted serves on the boards of directors completed her pediatric residency at State Farm Insurance as an IT to commercial casualty claims of the Visiting Nurses Association MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland, analyst-architecture at its corporate manager for State Auto Insurance and the Foundation for the Douglas where she also spent a year as chief headquarters in Bloomington, in Des Moines, Iowa. County Health Center. pediatric resident. She completed Illinois. Theresa McConnell-Hill ’99 is a her Neonatal Fellowship at the member of the U.S. Navy Reserves University of New Mexico in 2016. 26 alumniNEWS

She Learned the ‘Why’ Behind the ‘Want’ at SAU Serving others comes naturally to Rachel Hohneke ’16. She started volunteering in sixth grade and continued through high school. As a frst-year student at St. Ambrose, she attended an Ambrosians for Peace and Justice meeting and found like-minded peers committed to social justice and action. They held fundraisers, hosted informational events and volunteered. commit to a $25,000 donation to help build the “I found my passion for service when I found Ambrosians for Peace and Justice. new Wellness and Recreation Center. He was It fulflled not only my want to help people, but why I wanted to do it,” she said. honored to be able to dedicate the gift to his In January 2016, Hohneke joined AmeriCorps and worked with elementary late wife, Stacy. students in the Davenport Schools Stepping Stones program. When her term ended, the district hired her as a kindergarten paraeducator and to teach As the Building Our Future campaign moves parenting classes, too. toward its June conclusion, Mallerdino urges any Ambrose alumni with a checkbook and Now, Hohneke is serving a “service year” through great memories to pay their own experience Urban Servant Corps, a one-year, full-time Lutheran forward. volunteer program. She is a case manager for Urban Peak, which is the only agency in Denver, Colorado, Those Lee Lohman Arena rafters he swung providing direct services to youth, ages 15 to 24, from were basically brand new when he arrived experiencing homelessness. on campus, he noted. Hohneke helps run the drop-in center, teaches “I knew alumni helped build that building and classes on healthy relationships, co-facilitates helped me make great memories,” he said. a mindfulness class, helps youth set goals and “Where do you get to do all the things I was connects them with community services. able to do at St. Ambrose and be a leader and learn? I really believe I became who I am today That is half of her job. The rest is outreach. because of St. Ambrose.” Hohneke and her co-workers load backpacks and spend two hours a day looking for youth living on the streets. Once found, they ofer the youth things that are central to life: food, clothes and a Lori Sundberg ’03 DBA will become the ffth steady, accepting, caring presence. president of Kirkwood Community College in Many of her clients have unstable or unsafe central Iowa beginning in August. Sundberg is currently the president of Carl Sandburg relationships with adults. Her mission is to be a College in Galesburg, Illinois. person they can consistently rely upon, to create trusting relationships. “What I try to keep in Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund Inc. hired perspective is I am a person walking the path Chris Burhans ’05 as senior vice president and chief information ofcer. with them, helping in any way I can.”

Stephanie (Cervantes) Crouppen’05 is She fnds joy in her work at Urban Peak. Google Cloud’s frst representative in the Helping others is very uplifting, and yes, at times, St. Louis area. emotionally draining. “Compassion fatigue is very real, and I feel it, but I try to Sara (Jones) Loquist ’05 graduated with a put sufering in a bigger context and fnd a way to learn from it,” Hohneke said. Master of Architecture degree from Louisiana And, she has. State University in May 2016. “Every person I serve is somehow connected to me and to ignore that kinship Tyler Edwards ’06, ’14 MBA is the investment is detrimental to my service,” Hohneke said. “I always keep in mind we are center operations manager for Quad City all sisters and brothers in his world, and to take care of one another is the biggest Bank and Trust. charge I have.” Allsteel in Muscatine, Iowa, announced Andrea (Fischer) Guck ’08 as project coordinator. 27 classNOTES

Natalie Knoblauch ’08 and Chris Rev. Vincent McMurry ’46, Baltimore, Edward Desmet ’58, Rock Island, 10The Teens Fryzek, Chicago, Illinois Maryland, July 24, 2016 Illinois, Aug. 29, 2017 Eva Dondanville ’10, ’11 MBA and Matt Richard Lahr ’47, Iowa City, Iowa, James Laude ’60, Lincroft, New Jersey, Exelon, the leading energy provider in Schmid, Galena, Illinois Oct. 19, 2017 Jan. 12, 2014 America, hired Ryne Nicklin’10 as a Tanika McNeal ’11 and Jason Hill, William Hofmann ’49, Pleasant Valley, Lloyd Frueh ’61, Davenport, Iowa, supply analyst. Waterloo, Iowa Iowa, Jan. 25, 2018 Dec. 17, 2016 After graduating in May 2017 with Bethany Dufy ’12 and Jonathan Ketz, Edward Wehr ’49, Bettendorf, Iowa, John Ryan ’62, Omaha, Nebraska, a Master of Divinity and working Davenport, Iowa Jan. 27, 2018 April 15, 2017 towards ordination in the United Methodist Church, Rebecca Hannah Thomas ’12 and Elijah Molina, Theodore Stevenson ’50, Beloit, Walter “Ted” Halm ’64, Iowa City, (Swanson) Groves ’12 is the director Rock Island, Illinois Wisconsin, Nov. 28, 2017 Iowa, Jan. 9, 2018 of youth ministries at Summerside Jena Keimig ’13 and Sam Peterlin ’13 Donald Berg ’51, Beecher, Illinois, James Britt ’67, Tucson, Arizona, United Methodist Church in Davenport, Iowa Jan. 11, 2018 July 7, 2016 Cincinnati, Ohio. Chris Cox ’14 and Kayla Horstman ’15, William Hyde ’51, Clinton, Iowa, Philip Brunt ’67, Ramsey, Minnesota, Hannah (Thomas) Molina ’12 is a ’16 DPT, Eureka Springs, Arkansas Oct. 27, 2017 Dec. 20, 2017 registered nurse with UnityPoint Health in Moline, Illinois. Mary Adlfnger ’16 and Ty Balduf ’16 John Feehan ’52, Ottawa, Illinois, Joseph Vize ’67, Bettendorf, Iowa, Davenport, Iowa Dec. 14, 2017 Jan. 26, 2018 Mark Brauweiler ’13, ’15 DPT is the clinic manager at Progressive Paul Gould ’53, Freeport, Illinois, Kenneth Walanski ’67, Carlsbad, Rehabilitation Associates LLC, in Oct. 23, 2017 California, Oct. 26, 2017 Births Tipton, Iowa. ■ Gerald Kraus ’53, Copake, New York, Rev. Msgr. James Parizek ’68, Jena (Keimig) Peterlin’13 is a special James ’10 and Sara (Lopata) Lyons ’11 Nov. 18, 2017 Davenport, Iowa, Feb. 3, 2018 welcomed home son Michael, born on education teacher in the Raytown Bernard Angerer ’54, Phoenix, Richard Schmitz ’68, Cedar Rapids, Oct. 6, 2016. (Missouri) C2 School District. Arizona, July 29, 2017 Iowa, Oct. 30, 2017 Rachel (Breitbach) Cox’11 and Sarah Serkowski ’14, ’16 MOT passed Maureen (Burke) Atwood ’54, Russell Swartz ’68, Kansas City, husband, Jason, are celebrating the the National Board for Certifcation in Jeferson, Maryland, Oct. 21, 2015 Missouri, Sept. 27, 2016 Occupational Therapy in Dec. 2017. birth of their son Matthew, born on April 17, 2017. Matthew was welcomed Jackie (Whitacre) Corken ’54, Peter Zagarella ’69, Cape Coral, Total Family Eye Care hired Colton home by big brother David. Westfeld, Indiana, Nov. 18, 2017 Florida, April 2, 2015 Anderson ’15 for the position of Optician in Grimes, Iowa. Derek ’13 and Kristine (Andresen) Rev. William Devine ’54, Sioux City, Anthony “Tony” Adgent ’70, Dixon ’14, are the proud parents of Iowa, Feb. 3, 2018 Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 23, 2017 After graduating with a Master of daughter Lillie, born on Nov. 12, 2017. Science in Exercise Physiology from Charles Russell ’54, Hinsdale, Illinois, Dale Denklau ’70, Blue Grass, Iowa, Illinois State University in December, Kassi (Zbanek) Tuthill ’14, ’15 MOT Oct. 26, 2017 Dec. 23, 2017 Hannah Dohm ’15 is working for and husband, William, are happy to Richard Glowacki ’55, Davenport, Arthur Kennelly Jr. ’70, Chicago, BetterNOI–Deposit Choice/ announce the birth of son Samuel, Dec. 24, 2017 Illinois, July 13, 2017 Protection Choice as a lead for born Feb. 16, 2017. Frederick Lorenz Jr. ’55, Seattle, Susan (Spring) Shumer ’71, Burnsville, insurance operations. Washington, Dec. 2, 2017 Minnesota, Nov. 19, 2017 Jacklyn Young ’17 was hired as Deaths Robert Terracina ’55, Hofman David Loete ’78, Moline, Illinois, residential program manager at ■ Estates, Illinois, Feb. 2, 2018 Jan. 2, 2018 Transitions Mental Health Services James Stopulos ’40, Bettendorf, Iowa, in Rock Island, Illinois. Philip Clark ’56, Springfeld, Illinois, Gerard Sharp ’79, Silvis, Illinois, Jan. 19, 2018 Jan. 17, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Robert Carton ’42, Rock Island, Robert Fraune ’56, Waterloo, Iowa, Susan (Maguire) Mulready ’81, Avon, Marriages Illinois, Nov. 11, 2017 ■ Dec. 28, 2017 Connecticut, Jan. 8, 2018 Rev. Maynard Brothersen ’45, Raymond Terronez Jr. ’07 and Cristal James Keefe ’57, Woodstock, Illinois, Jean (Claussen) Bergman ’85, Davenport, Iowa, Oct. 3, 2015 Rios, Rock Island, Illinois Nov. 21, 2017 Donnellson, Iowa, Dec. 18, 2017 Rev. William Meyer ’45, Davenport, Andrea Fischer ’08 and Kevin Guck, Louis Vogel ’57, Roswell, Georgia, Elaine (Nares) Boyd ’86, Davenport, Iowa, Dec. 9, 2017 Bettendorf, Iowa Dec. 7, 2017 Iowa, Nov. 7, 2017

28 alumniNEWS

Gregory Losasso ’87 MBA, Davenport, Net Gains in Helping Urban Youth Iowa, Dec. 11, 2017 By Dustin Renwick ’10 Denise (Stewart) Bray ’88 MBA, The Woodlands, Texas, Feb. 2, 2018 Al Williams ’78 will tell anyone that he’s not a tennis player. Yet the man who still Vicki (Smithe) Smith ’98, Wilton, Iowa, March 19, 2016 holds the St. Ambrose record for most points scored in a single basketball game (56) has embarked on a new mission with a diferent court. John Michael ’02 MBA, Cambridge, Illinois, Oct. 23, 2017 “One of the most interesting things I have ever done in my life is that I created the E-Z Pop Tennis apparatus,” Williams said. What’s New? Let us know what He began teaching tennis as part of his nonproft called Kids, Sports, Fitness, you’ve been up to! Drop us a note & Education. at Alumni Engagement, St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., “I didn’t have a lot of excitement about how I was teaching my class,” Williams said. Davenport, Iowa 52803 or go “I wanted to keep their focus and attention. I started sketching things. How can I online to share updates. keep the kids motivated and focused, having fun, and at the same time learning Include your full name, class year and phone how to play tennis?” number or email where That goal covered two important areas of youth education for Williams: we can contact you to a desire to demonstrate an active lifestyle and introduce a new athletic option verify your information. for kids in his home city of Chicago. online extra: tell us “This is one sport that is not overly saturated, and it’s not available to kids in what’s new at www.sau.edu/ the inner city,” he said. “I like to show them, here’s another game. Not every keepintouch kid is good at basketball, football, baseball.” The E-Z Pop system sets up with little efort and requires much less space than the traditional tennis court, an important factor for the areas and age group Williams targets with his program—children younger than 14. “There are basically no tennis courts in many of the neighborhoods. We can take it to the playground, the basketball court, the rec center.” Adding a racket and tennis balls starts the game, where participants trade turns and attempt to stick the balls to the targets on the E-Z Pop screen. Games are scored like a regular tennis match. “I use it for frst-time learners,” Williams said. “They can learn how to control the ball by hitting it softer. They’re going to develop the power later. Right from the beginning we want them to aim small, miss small.” Williams, a self-proclaimed retiree, laughed about his second life as an entrepreneur. “This is my new journey.” He’s currently pursuing partnerships with the park district and the public schools in Chicago to spread the neon-green gospel with even more potential tennis stars.

29 518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803

What’s New? Let us know what you’ve been up to. Drop us a note at Alumni Engagement, St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, Iowa 52803, or go online to share updates. Include your full name, class year and phone number or email where we can contact you to verify your information.

online extra: tell us what’s new at www.sau.edu/keepintouch

You’ve Got Places (We hope you’ll save these dates!) May 19 Wine Festival Wine Tasting to Bee Aug. 24 June 14 Fighting Bee Bee Happy Hour Golf Classic July 28 Sept. 21-23 Bix Bee Cool Tent Homecoming 2018

Connect with us on social media or call us at 800-SAU-ALUM. Update your contact info at sau.edu/alumni.