BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE VOICES

COMING BACK HOME PRESIDENT CHARLES W. GREGORY SHARES HIS VISION

DREAM COME TRUE ALUMNUS GOES TO SUPER BOWL WITH THE L.A. RAMS

SPRING 2019 8 IN THIS 24 IN ALL THINGS PRESENCE Mission Trips Help Students While I didn’t attend as an undergrad Live Their Faith or a graduate student, I was privileged to receive an honorary Campus Ministry organizes international doctorate from the Board of Trustees in 2017. So, when trips for students drawn to service. I came back here last year to serve as interim president 28 IN ALL THINGS DISCIPLINE of this institution, it felt like I was coming home. I was Player is the humbled and honored to be named president of BenU. Heart of His Team Joe Lock embodies the meaning of hard Much has changed in the world of higher since I first work on the men’s volleyball team. arrived here in 1997 as vice president of enrollment management ISSUE and marketing. These days, many university administrators struggle to prove the value of liberal arts, and, in fact, some small liberal arts 4 IN ALL THINGS TRANSFORMATION colleges are closing. Twenty years ago, we didn’t need to worry about Alumni Achievement Awards relevance, but today, we find ourselves in the position of explaining In March 2019, 13 notable alumni were why Benedictine is so important to its students, faculty and graduates. honored for their achievements.

8 IN ALL THINGS COMMITMENT I can tell you that in one word: values. Students at BenU don’t BenU Graduate Pursues 18 just attend classes for the purpose of starting a career. They Video Producer Dreams learn about finding their place in the world today, about how John Mathews, B.S.’18, works in video they can work toward achieving truth and justice, about how to production for the L.A. Rams. 28 respect people of all faiths and cultures. Our strong Catholic 12 IN ALL THINGS RESPONSIBILITY heritage equips our graduates not just to be educated members From Small-Town Boy To Visionary Leader of society, but also to be compassionate, empathetic and loyal. BenU President Charles W. Gregory shares

his story and hopes for the future. In the pages of this magazine, you will see many stories that 30 ATHLETICS UPDATE highlight the strong values our students, alumni, faculty and 16 IN ALL THINGS CHARACTER Alumni Return to Shape BenU staff all share. I hope you will be as inspired as I am by the The five new members of the Board 32 CLASS NOTES quality of the people who comprise the BenU community. of Trustees are all alumni.

18 IN ALL THINGS FORMATION 36 IN MEMORIAM The Start of Traditions at BenU Mesa Two members of BenU Mesa’s first class share

their memories of the brand-new campus. OUT & ABOUT WITH BENU ALUMNI 38 Regards.

Charlie Gregory President 12

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Alumni Achievement Visionaries Hon. Richard M. Pajtas, ‘65 Richard attended St. Procopius College Tanjia M. Coleman, from 1961 to 1963, when he transferred Ph.D.’16 to Michigan State University. He earned Tanjia earned her Ph.D. in his juris doctor from Detroit College of organization development in 2016 Law (now the Michigan State University from Benedictine University. She College of Law) in 1970. In 1984, Richard also holds a master of science was elected to the 33rd Circuit Court On March 2, 2019, 13 accomplished alumni were honored degree from Loyola University and for Emmet and Charlevoix counties. He AWARDS a bachelor of science degree from presided over the Charlevoix County at the 2019 Alumni Achievement Awards in the following DePaul University. Tanjia has more Circuit from 1995 until his retirement in than 18 years of experience working 2015. He continues to accept occasional categories: Distinguished Alumnus, Visionary and Rising Star. as a senior-level human resources assignments to trial courts in need These distinctions recognize alumni who display leadership and organization development of assistance. professional in non-profit and and innovation in their career fields as well as a personal Fortune 100 companies, including dedication to philanthropic endeavors. Congratulations alumni! Microsoft, Starbucks, Tribune Company, Whirlpool, Sears and Anthony G. Rainey, B.A.’76 Anthony graduated with a bachelor Motorola. Currently, she is the of arts degree in physical education chief human resources officer at from Benedictine College in Distinguished Alumnus the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, 1976. He also completed his master’s the oldest and largest women’s degree in school administration at organization in the region. Chicago State University and earned a Mark J. Doyle, B.A.‘79 theology endorsement from Concordia Mark is the managing member of Prairie University Chicago. Throughout his Avenue Advisors, a Chicago-based strategic 43-year teaching, coaching, and consulting firm with deep political roots in Thomas R. Huberty, administrative career, he earned many Washington and Chicago. He earned his M.D., B.S.’69 Tom graduated from St. Procopius accolades, including the Chicagoland B.A. in literature and communication from College in 1969 with a bachelor Lutheran Educators Foundation Teacher Illinois Benedictine College in 1979. He of science degree in biochemistry. of the Year Award for Excellence in has worked for both President Bill Clinton He subsequently attended the teaching. He led high school track and Vice President Joe Biden, and was University of Illinois Abraham Lincoln teams to three state championships, deployed to Afghanistan as part of an anti- College of Medicine in Chicago and with numerous runner-up finishes. corruption task force in 2010. After returning became an orthopaedic surgeon. from Afghanistan, Doyle founded Rags of Tom founded Aurora-based Castle Honor, the only custom silkscreen operation Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, in the country devoted to hiring homeless and was the senior and managing and chronically unemployed veterans. partner there until his retirement in 2010. He is currently chair of the governing board for Amita Health’s Chicago hospitals.

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Rising Stars Lisa M. Nijm, M.D., J.D., B.S.’98 Aaron D. Clevenger, Hon. Lisette C. When she is not advocating for Ed.D.’14 Mojica, B.A.’94 her patients in Washington, D.C., Aaron earned his doctorate of Stacy Jo Barber, B.A.’06 Lisette is a 1994 graduate of you will find Lisa serving as a education in higher education Stacy graduated from Benedictine Illinois Benedictine College, where board-certified corneal, cataract and organizational change from University in 2006 with a bachelor she majored in political science and LASIK surgeon at the practice Benedictine University in 2014. of arts degree in studio art, and with a pre-law concentration. She she founded, Warrenville EyeCare Now, he serves as the dean of earned her master’s degree in art is also a 1997 graduate of the & LASIK. After graduating from international programs for Embry- therapy at the School of the Art Chicago-Kent College of Law. Benedictine University with a Riddle Aeronautical University and Institute of Chicago in 2008. She She worked as a prosecutor and bachelor of science degree in health is an adjunct professor teaching worked as a counselor and art assistant state’s attorney at the Cook science, she completed a six-year organizational behavior, social justice therapist at several locations in County State’s Attorney’s Office for 19 M.D. and J.D. dual degree program and ethics, and social responsibility. the Chicago suburbs, and was an years. In July 2018, Lisette was sworn at Southern Illinois University He has led study abroad programs adjunct professor at BenU from in as an associate judge in the Circuit School of Medicine and School of to Hong Kong,