College Magazine | Summer 2019 Man on Fire A new perspective on our founding saint Reflecting the mission of the college, St. Norbert College Magazine links the institution’s past and present by Contents chronicling its academic, cultural, spiritual and co-curricular life. ST. NORBERT COLLEGE MAGAZINE In Print Online Vol. 51, No. 2, Summer 2019 A sampling of related content available at snc.edu/magazine. Cover Story Page 7 Inspired: Karlyn Crowley (CVC, English) The 2019 Thriving Institute presented on her road to Earlham College, on Quaker a unique opportunity to engage with pedagogy and on the Earlham professors SNC’s Catholic higher-education peers who inspired her own teaching (page 8). in conversation about the importance of remaining nimble, innovative and In the Bible: Images from a service of adaptive, as higher education navigates blessing at St. Norbert Abbey (page 9) intensifying headwinds. reveal the rich experience that The Saint John’s Bible opens to all who explore its Page 12 pages. “If there’s one thing I learned from the Page 20 In the big leagues: Spenser Thompson- trinity of women in whose generative Myers ’19 kicked his way into the record shadows I became the person I am, it’s In Case of Emergency books (page 10), and the NFL took notice. that wise women can stand up and step up in part because they know when to His country mourned and for Jamie In BIOL 320: Our inner workings laugh.” – Julie (Donovan) Massey ’87 O’Brien (Business Administration) the revealed (page 13) in the Human (Mission & Student Affairs) needless tragedy lingered in his heart Anatomy & Histology course taught Page 16 and mind. Now his case study on the by Deb Anderson (Biology). Air France 447 disaster can be studied in Page 13 management courses around the world. In conversation: Man on Fire Tom Kunkel, president Students in BIOL 320: Human Anatomy emeritus, joins Judy (Sprangers) Turba ’76 & Histology became their own textbooks Those familiar with Norbert of Xanten and two young Norbertines to talk about as they applied their knowledge of know him as peacemaker, defender of the writing of his “Man on Fire” (page 16). musculature through the medium of the Eucharist and strong-willed church body paint. reformer. But other characteristics of In the footsteps of the disciples: A Norbert have been difficult to decipher. telling episode from a new biography A new book by President Emeritus Tom of our founding saint (page 16). Kunkel, “Man on Fire: The Life & Spirit of Norbert of Xanten,” brings Norbert to life In the cockpit: Our business students are and shows that he, as most saints did, led learning real-world lessons (page 20) a life that was emotional, conflicting and, from the errant reactions that brought indeed, a bit messy. In short, Norbert led down Air France 447. a life that was altogether human. Departments In his own words: This year’s On our cover: The Benedictine artist Page 23 Commencement speaker (page 35) was 6 President’s Message Brother Martin Erspamer, known for his the CEO of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. contemporary Romanesque style, was an Packed Summer 7 News of St. Norbert exciting choice as illustrator of the new Our summer plans are rich and diverse, 27 Alumni of St. Norbert biography. and we pack accordingly! Keep an eye open throughout this edition for 34 Connection more links to content on the web. Follow us snc.edu/magazine on your favorite social media channel, too. Just search for St. Norbert College. We did it! With business administration major McKenna Egnarski ’19 and all her classmates, we share in the joy of achievement and celebrate four amazing years. Next up: the rest of their lives! 4 St. Norbert College Magazine | Summer 2019 snc.edu/magazine 5 In My Words / President Brian J. Bruess ’90 News OF ST. NORBERT COLLEGE HIGH IMPACT Here and thriving On campus for this Fine print, great passions St. Norbert is partner- year’s Thriving ing with higher-ed Institute were the consultants Credo leadership teams of on Moving the Needle, As you are reading this edition of SNC Magazine, and serving others, leading the college’s Habitat for an 18-month campus- • Avila University most likely it is high season for weekends at the Humanity chapter and now, as a newly minted alum, wide exercise focused cabin, family reunions, evenings on the patio and the is heading out to do work in a nonprofit focused on on student retention, • College of St. Benedict array of joys summer brings – minus the inevitable the needs of the world. achievement and overall experience. mosquitoes. Although, even those pesky little friends Like senior Kristina Herman who majored in • Dominican President Brian University are a welcome sight, a sure sign we did indeed chemistry with a biochemistry concentration and Bruess ’90 says, survive another Wisconsin winter. As I’m writing this math minor. She happened to also play two varsity “The Move the Needle • Edgewood College column, it’s a type of high season on campus – one sports at SNC and serve as research assistant for initiative galvanizes • Lewis University the entire St. Norbert of my favorites of the academic year, in fact – that the National Science Foundation – in her free time. • St. Norbert College of celebrating the academic accomplishments of our Kristina is now choosing between multiple offers community to identify, The annual Academic further develop and • University of NEWS Awards Dinner is a current and graduating students. As Dr. Howard from Ph.D. chemistry programs. implement impactful St. Francis highlight of the spring Ebert, professor of theology and religious studies, Like senior Roman Buss, an international student practices and solu- semester and was aptly described during his keynote at this spring’s from Prague in the Czech Republic, who double- tions that will ensure celebrated this year on Academic Awards Dinner, “… tonight is a high feast, majored in economics and political science. Roman that students are Sustaining OF ST. NORBERT OF ST. April 23. President Brian the Academy Awards, the All-Star Game, the Super is similarly fielding multiple offers – his from law able to realize their “It was a delight both graduation and Bruess ’90 reflects on the Bowl of academics: a time we celebrate the academic schools across the country, many of them wooing to join seven fellow real message underlying career goals.” Both excellence of our students!” him with full scholarships. presidents whom I the stories he heard there. the process and the Thriving colleges confer at SNC respect and also to Indeed, it was a fantastic celebration. And, without Like senior Megan Lau, an instrumental and music outcomes of this olleges and universities that are stop. “The institutions that are truly return to St. Norbert question, the excellence and accomplishments of this education major who has not only been a member partnership, Bruess after 20 years. The group of students left every one of us in the room of multiple choirs the past four years – from flute adds, seek to build truly thriving in today’s changing thriving are the ones that are thinking campus looks terrific, awestruck. What also quite viscerally struck Carol to hand bell to wind ensemble – but also played on an infrastructure landscapes are the ones that about how they can be most agile and and you are fortunate of practices that and me as we honored St. Norbert’s most impressive varsity golf, earning three Elite 20 Awards. She is now Care constantly looking ahead, industry adaptive to whatever comes next,” she says. to have a great allow the college experts agree. Such institutions are always Ron Slepitza, president of Avila president in Brian students that evening – those receiving Distinguished headed off to realize her passion for education as an to continue placing Achievement Awards in their disciplines, summa elementary school teacher. thinking about how they can adapt with University, found the deep dive into [Bruess]. The Thriving students where they Institute is well the most agility to whatever comes next adaptive learning and design thinking cum laude and/or other honors – was their intense Like senior Emily Steuer, a sociology major whose need to be – at the named, as schools and apparent passion. From education to theology passion for research was recently given national center of its decision- in the rapidly changing landscape of higher offered at Thriving powerful, as his own like St. Norbert will to biology to law, these juniors and seniors display recognition as she was named a prestigious Fulbright making. education. So St. Norbert found itself in college moves toward a new strategic continue to innovate what I’d describe as an uncommon passion for what student. good company as it played host to the plan. It would be equally helpful, he said, and take steps to they are being called to do in this world. One after I could go on. The program booklet that evening Thriving Institute, a May 21-23 conference in navigating the “white waters” of the ensure long-term sustained success.” another, as we learned of this generation of students’ was 40 pages long, printed in a font so small I might sponsored by Credo and the Association constant change in his industry, in learn- many accomplishments as well as what they are off to have welcomed my strongest spectacles. But the of Catholic Colleges & Universities. ing, and in the world in which Avila’s – Guest speaker Tom do next as Green Knight alumni, it became decidedly evening, of course, was not about the quantity of Emma Jones of Credo says: “The students, alumni and business partners Flynn, president of Alvernia University clear: Our students are readily and fully embracing certificates nor the volume of handshakes as students higher-ed landscape is not a static thing.