MARIAN UNIVERSITY Indianapolis ® CommencementThe 84th Annual Commencement of Marian 2021University N UNIVE IA RS R IT A Y M I N A D N IA IA N A ND POLIS • I ® SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 10 A.M. MARIAN UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA Marian University grew out of the dedication and vision of Sister Theresa Hackelmeier and the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, who established a school in Oldenburg, Indiana, in 1851. After a number of transformations, the school became Marian College in 1936. The college moved to Indianapolis in 1937 and classes began on September 15 in Allison Mansion. On July 1, 2009, Marian College became Marian University. On May 4, 2011, Marian University received pre-accreditation status for a new medical school. On August 24, 2011, the university broke ground on the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences that houses the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Leighton School of Nursing. On August 6, 2013, Marian University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception for the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences. The College of Osteopathic Medicine matriculated its first class in August 2013 and held its inaugural commencement ceremony on May 7, 2017. ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP William Mirola, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Greg Rawski, Ph.D., Dean of the Byrum School of Business LaTonya Turner, Ph.D., Dean of the Klipsch Educators College Dorothy Gomez, Ph.D., Dean of the Leighton School of Nursing Marsha Casey, BSN, M.A., Senior Vice President for Health Professions Amanda Wright, DO, Interim Dean of the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine REGISTRAR Jennifer Schwartz, M.S., Office of the Registrar N UNIVE IA RS R IT A Y 2021 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY M I N A D N IA IA N A ND President Daniel J. Elsener, Presiding POLIS • I ® VIDEO PRESENTATION Highlights of the past year from our graduates, their families, faculty, and staff PROCESSIONAL WELCOME Denise B. Feser ’77, Chair of the Marian University Board of Trustees INVOCATION Monsignor Joseph F. Schaedel, M.S., M.Div. ’70, Pastor, Saint Luke Catholic Church NATIONAL ANTHEM OPENING REMARKS Alan J. Silva, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Provost COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES Daniel J. Elsener, President Denise B. Feser ’77, Chair of the Marian University Board of Trustees Doctor of Jurisprudence Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush Doctor of Philanthropy To access a digital copy of the program, Frank D. Walker use your phone to scan the QR code or visit marian.edu/program. Doctor of Business Peter Salvador Piazza Doctor of Religious Education Michele Dvorak, PHJC, Ed.D. CONFERRING OF DEGREES Daniel J. Elsener, President Alan J. Silva, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Provost Names of graduates read by Kyle Kellam, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication Anna Zimmerman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of the Speaking Studio CLOSING REMARKS Daniel J. Elsener, President BLESSING AND COMMISSIONING OF SENIORS Sister Christa Franzer, OSF ’70, Congregational Minister, Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana BENEDICTION Sister Christa Franzer, OSF ’70, Congregational Minister, Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana FANFARE AND RECESSIONAL VIDEO PRESENTATION 1 Faculty Emeriti Timothy R. Akin, M.B.A., CPA, CFP, PFS Sister Marilynn Hofer, OSF, Ph.D. Anita Siccardi, Ed.D., APRN, FNGNA Susie Beesley, Ph.D. Kevin Huston, MBA, CPA, JD Sister Carol Slinger, OSF, M.S. Reverend Francis E. Bryan, M.Div. James Larner, Ph.D. Andrew Smith, MBA Martine Camblor, M.A. Fr. Leopold Keffler, Ph.D. Diana Smith, MSN James J. Divita, Ph.D. Russell Kershaw, Ph.D. Karen Spear, Ph.D. William J. Doherty, Ph.D. Mary Malatesta, M.B.A. Jerry Stumpf, Ph.D. Thomas J. Enneking, Ph.D. Faye Plascak-Craig, Ph.D. Ann Uhar, MSN Shirley J. Friedman, RN, MSN, CNS Esther O’Dea, RN, Ph.D. Douglas Uselding, Ph.D., H.S.P.P. Robert Gasper, M.S. William Pedtke, M.A. Constance L. Wesner, M.S.Ed Cassandra Grissom, Ph.D. Rosanne R. Pirtle, Ph.D., M.S. Sister Ruth Ann Wirtz, OSF, M.M. Mary T. Haugh, Ph.D. Diane Prenatt, Ph.D. Megan Wright, M.F.A. John A. Hill, M.A. Catherine Anne Reaves, Ph.D. Karen Hardin, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE David Shumate, M.A. University Marshal Grand Marshal Jeffry Kellogg, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Presiding Officer of the Faculty Board of Trustees MARIAN UNIVERSITY 2020-21 Indianapolis ® Denise B. Feser ’77, Chair Sister Christa Franzer, OSF ’70, Vice-Chair Daniel J. Elsener Fred S. Klipsch Trustees Emeriti: Michael Becher, Chairman Emeritus Sister Joanita Koors, OSF ’77 Clark H. Byrum Fernanda Beraldi Rebecca Kubacki Robert G. Decraene Melody Birmingham Joseph Kuzmitz ’75 William V. Drew ’65 Edward Bonach Alan E. Leighton ’62 Bain J. Farris ’72 Mary Beth Bonaventura ’76 Tobin McClamroch John H. Grogan Earl G. Brinker ’74 Sister Joan Miller, OSF ’73 Eugene Henn Scott Bruns ’96 Jonathan S. Nalli S. Michael Hudson John T. Cardis ’63 Marianne Price William Kelsey ’61 Philip Carson ’81 John F. Ramsey Sr. James F. Matthews Sr. Jean Marie Cleveland, OSF ’64 Monsignor Joseph F. Schaedel, Robert H. McKinney Joseph Doyle M.S., M.Div. ’70 Charles O’Drobinak William P. Eckman ’74, Jerry D. Semler John A. Purdie Chairman Emeritus Rachel Shockley, DO Joseph L. Smith Sr. ’71 Fritz French Chad Slaughter ’96 Jack R. Snyder, Chairman Emeritus Anne M. Frye Michelle Steele ’91 D. Anthony Watt ’69, Adairius J. Gardner ’02 Sister Bernice Stenger, OSF ’77 Chairman Emeritus Theaodis Gary Jr. Len Strom ’68 Mary L. Welch ’68 Sister Annette Grisley, OSF ’74 Robyn R. Werner Mary McNulty Young ’47 Stephen J. Hackman Ramarao Yeleti, M.D. Gerald S. Zore ’63 David Haire ’71 Richard Andrew Young Jeffrey A. Harrison Scott Young ’98 Sister Margaret Horney, OSF ’75 Raul E. Zavaleta Jerry Jones 2 Honorary Degrees Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush Commencement Speaker Recipient of Doctor of Jurisprudence Loretta H. Rush took the oath of office as Indiana’s 108th Supreme Court Justice in November 2012 after being appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels. She was retained by voters in 2014. The Judicial Nominating Commission named her Chief Justice in August 2014, and she was reappointed as Chief Justice in 2019. As Chief Justice, Rush is responsible for supervising the entire judicial branch. That includes administration and funding of court programs across the state. A central administrative office with multiple agencies works under Rush’s direction to handle everything from caseload measures, to technology updates, to admission and discipline of lawyers. Chief Justice Rush serves as vice president of the Conference of Chief Justices Board of Directors, is a member of National Center for State Courts Board of Directors, and recently led response efforts to the addictions crisis as co-chair of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force. She was also recently appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction. In addition to being a member of local, state, and national bar associations, Chief Justice Rush is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is an Academy of Law Alumni Fellow for the Maurer School of Law and chairs or is a member of several commissions including the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana and the Judicial Nominating/Qualifications Commission. Chief Justice Rush was named the 2018 Indiana Chamber Government Leader of the Year. She has also received the Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award with induction into the Boiler Business Exchange Hall of Fame, the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Antoinette Dakin Leach Award, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission Spirit of Justice Award, and the Indiana Business Journal Women of Influence Award. Chief Justice Rush was born in Pennsylvania and moved frequently as a child before settling in Indiana in 1972. She earned her undergraduate degree from Purdue University and her law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, both with honors. She is married to Jim Rush with four children and three grandchildren. Marian University is privileged to award an honorary doctorate to Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush, who has generously employed her gifts and talents to lead Indiana’s Supreme Court and serve the public at large. 3 Honorary Degrees Frank D. Walker Recipient of Doctor of Philanthropy Frank D. Walker is chairman emeritus of Walker Information, a customer experience advisory firm serving national and international clients headquartered in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of The Walker Family Foundation. After graduating from DePauw University in 1957, Walker served as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force. In 1960, he joined the family business, founded in 1939 by his mother, Dorothy “Tommie” Walker. He was chairman and chief executive officer from 1983-94, stepping down when his son, Steve, the third generation, took command. In addition to Walker’s son, one daughter and two grandchildren work for the company. In 1990, Walker received the Individual Enterprise Award from the Indianapolis Business Journal. In 1994, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce named Walker Outstanding Business Leader of the Year, and in 1998, he was the Distinguished Leadership Award recipient. In 2000, he was elected to the Indiana Business Hall of Fame, and he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 2004. Walker has a passion for studying the field of ethics, and throughout his career, Walker earned a reputation as a proponent of ethical operating procedures and high standards of performance. In 2018, Walker and The Walker Family Foundation helped to establish and fund the Walker Center for Applied Ethics at Marian University.