AMU Magazine Summer 2020 by Ave Maria University

SUMMER 2020

ICE

IN FLORIDA A BEAUTIFUL AND AMBITIOUS VISION

SUMMER 2020 CONTENTS

Contents

Features

03 04 34 36 38

08 ICE IN FLORIDA

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter AMU News Academic Faculty Athletic Update Alumni News

Get to know what supernatural force brought Christopher Ice to Ave Maria University and how he has already overcome so much as our third president.

14 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY? Gabriel Martinez lays out the defining characteristics of a Catholic university and how integral they are to life at AMU.

16 THE POWER OF OUR NAME Kevin Murphy asks us to stop and contemplate the power of our name and the model it provides every student.

AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE TEAM Kimberly King, VP of Student Affairs; Brent Johnson, VP of Enrollment; Kevin Murphy, VP of Marketing and Communications; Christopher P. Ice, President; Tim Dockery, VP of Institutional Advancement; Eddie Dejthai, Chief Information Officer; Dr. Roger Nutt, Ph.D., VP of Academic Affairs; Eugene Munin, VP of Finance and Administration

18 COLLEGE: A CHOICE OF LIFE OR DEATH

24 AMU’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

There are many factors to consider when choosing a college, but none so important as eternity.

Kim King, vice president of student life, provides a comprehensive overview of AMU’s response to COVID-19 and our deep desire to return to a vibrant campus life.

20 CONTENDING FOR THE SOULS OF OUR YOUTH Rich Olon refused to let his hard work of evangelizing youth be torn asunder by colleges. His tenacity planted the seed for AMU’s new Ambassador Program.

22 WHAT’S UP DOCK? He has an Ivy League education and has raised a half a billion dollars for Catholic causes in his career. Meet Tim Dockery, new vice president of advancement.

30 COMMITMENT TO NEW EVANGELIZATION Father Richard Pagano is using new media platforms to bring Christ to the World.

32 FROM SHOW-ME STATE TO SUNSHINE STATE A Q&A with the new vice president of marketing

SUMMER 2020 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1

PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER P. ICE CONTRIBUTORS ASHLEY PROTHRO DR. GABRIEL MARTINEZ ELIZABETH O’DONNELL ‘17 JOSEPH PATTERSON KATHRYN DE LOS REYES ‘17 KEVIN MURPHY KIMBERLY KING MADELEINE O’ROURKE ‘20 NICOLE CRAWFORD ‘07 PATRICK O’CONNELL PAULA SHUTE ‘16 ROGER NUTT TIM DOCKERY PHOTOGRAPHY BRYANT MORIN SPIRIT JUICE STUDIOS ST. JOHN PAUL THE GREAT PARISH THE SHOOT GROUP, CRAIG HILDEBRAND DESIGNER JESSE ADAMS CREATIVE EDITOR BRYANT MORIN MANAGING EDITOR KEVIN MURPHY Ave Maria University Magazine is published by Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Florida for alumni, parents and friends. Third class postage paid at Ave Maria, Florida. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Advancement, Ave Maria University, 5050 Ave Maria Blvd., Ave Maria, FL, 34142Ave Maria University is a Catholic, liberal arts institution of higher learning devoted to Mary the Mother of God, inspired by St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Alumna Sarah Miller in Ave Maria Catholic Church

ON THE COVER PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER P. ICE PHOTO BY: CRAIG HILDEBRAND,THE SHOOT GROUP

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER P. ICE

Despite all of this, neither my faith, confidence, nor excitement are shaken. Our Lord and Our Lady are interceding on our behalf. It is in times like these I call to mind Psalm 120: 1-2, “From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord.” Our great God will always provide the grace to prevail. Prior to this litany of challenges, I held numerous listening sessions with students, faculty, staff, and our board of trustees. They shared great ideas for improving AMU. Students shared they wanted a place to exercise and an area where they could congregate with their friends outside the dormitory. Therefore, I am proud to announce, after a generous gift from a beloved benefactor, we are in the beginning stages of planning and building a new arena that will house our basketball and volleyball teams, a fitness center, intramural basketball courts, a workout room with cardio equipment, free weights, and a walking track, along with common areas for students to gather in private settings. In addition to new physical structures, we have secured a generous confidential donor who will match academic scholarships dollar for dollar, up to $1,000,000 over the next four years (see page 6). On top of all of this, we have also secured a generous gift to launch the first marching band in AMU history. In other impactful news, we added two new members to our Executive Team. When I arrived, I saw a great need for AMU to invest much more in marketing.

I created a new position, vice president of marketing and communications, and hired Kevin Murphy on April 1. He is doing tremendous work creating new marketing campaigns along with developing a comprehensive strategic marketing plan for the whole university. Two weeks later, we added Tim Dockery as the vice president of advancement. Tim is a graduate of Princeton University and, in his previous roles, has developed large capital campaigns for Catholic organizations around the country. His extensive fundraising background will help us launch aggressive new initiatives. Together, these two individuals bring over 50 years of experience. Hopefully, you can see how we take life’s challenges and turned them into great opportunities. Ave Maria University continues to be the leading authentic Catholic university in the United States. With Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary guiding us, we will succeed. May God bless all of you and I look forward to meeting you in person soon.

God Bless,

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began my presidency on January 1 (the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God) excited about the future of Ave Maria University, the potential for this university and its students to take on the culture and challenges of our time. I have always believed with every challenge, there are opportunities. Little did I know what lies ahead. In late February, while preparing for my inauguration, the Feast of the Annunciation, commencement, and other events, we were introduced to a worldwide pandemic – the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There were no experts to rely on for advice, and suddenly, university life began to look strange as our student population retreated from campus. Simultaneously, my family experienced the worst tragedy of our lives when my beautiful wife, Mary, passed away after a five year battle with breast cancer. While my immediate family was suffering, many in our university family began experiencing the financial hardships due to job loss and a crumbling economy. In May, our nation was again thrust into tragedy with the death of George Floyd. It is a sad reality acts of racism still permeate our society. This is why I implored the AMU family to join me in prayer by offering a novena for racial healing and reconciliation.

AMUNEWS RAINEY IS ALL-IN

atrick Rainey has been involved with Ave Maria University (AMU) for the last ten years. Rainey got to know AMU founder, Tom Monaghan, while on a trip to the Holy Land. A month later, Monaghan asked Rainey to join the board of trustees. Rainey went on to serve as vice president of the board for two years, and was unanimously chosen as the new chairman of the board in 2019. In 1984, Rainey founded Encore Construction in Orlando, Florida. He went on to build the business until the company’s sale in 2013 when it was named one of the top 100 environmental construction companies in the United States by Engineering News-Record. One of Rainey’s goals as chairman is to bring that same success to AMU’s enrollment. Despite the current pandemic and all its challenges, enrollment is strong for the coming year - a promising sign that AMU is a leader in Catholic university education. Rainey emphasized that continued growth will only come about by commitment to the AMU vision. “Our first goal is to stay true to our Catholic values.” Rainey recalled a letter Tom Monaghan sent to Legatus members in the early years of AMU’s founding. “In that letter, Monaghan said he was committing all his time and resources to this project. I thought to

myself, ‘Wow, that’s some commitment.’” This dedication to the AMU vision is what inspired Rainey to join the board. “I wanted to be a part of something where everyone else was all in. I can still say today there are so many people who are all in with that vision.”

A BUSINESSMAN FOR THE LORD

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aul Roney, vice chairman of the Ave Maria University (AMU) board of trustees, is one of the University’s pioneers. He worked with founder Tom Monaghan at Domino’s Pizza from 1985 to 1998, when he left to assist Monaghan in AMU’s founding. The AMU project was “a huge endeavor,” since it involved not only founding a university but also planning the surrounding town. But the challenges were worth it. “Coming out there that first year and having a freshman class of close to 300 students - that was so rewarding,” Roney shared. He has remained actively involved with the University and served as its chief financial officer from 2003 to 2011. Roney’s extensive professional experience is grounded in faith. During college, he decided he wanted to be “a businessman for the Lord.” He has witnessed AMU students receive the same grace to discern God’s will during their time at AMU. “[AMU students] become people equipped to be strong Catholics and raise strong Catholic families...They come here as good kids, and they leave as great young adults.” Seeing the students grow in faith has been the most inspiring aspect of his time at AMU. As Roney noted, excellent academics and vibrant student life are foundational. Ultimately, though, it all comes back to the original vision. “Mr. Monaghan has always said, ‘My goal is to get to Heaven and bring as many people with me as possible,’” Roney reflected. “That’s a simple model, but I believe it’s something that really can happen for students attending AMU.”

AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY RENEWS COMMITMENT TO FOUNDERS CLUB: A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER ICE

uring my first few months as the president of Ave Maria University, I have heard many incredible and inspiring stories of the early days of Our Lady’s university overcoming great odds and challenging economic times. Of all the stories I’ve heard, none impressed me more than that of the Founders Club. To learn more than 25,000 Catholics from all 50 states donated to a college none had previously attended, was simply astounding. I want to recognize your faith in Ave Maria University by reinstituting regular gatherings of the Founders Club regionally once we get the green light to safely travel and gather together again. I want every Founder to know they are especially welcome to visit our campus and meet our students once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. In the coming months, Founders will hear more from me, but until then, know how grateful I am for your generous financial support and prayers over the years. Also, know our campus community lifts you up in daily prayer.

Founders Club Mission Statement Founders are our “Alumni in Faith.” We gather together in fellowship, to further develop our faith, and in support of Ave Maria University. We are committed to learning more about our faith and fostering relationships with those who believe that authentic Catholic education, in fidelity with Christ and his Church, must be preserved and strengthened.

AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $4 MILLION SCHOLARSHIP BEQUEST

adding the University as a beneficiary to their will or a “designated beneficiary” of their retirement account. For more information pertaining to these and other planned giving opportunities, please call Patrick O’Connell at 239-280-2461 or Patrick. OConnell@avemaria.edu

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n 2014, after the loss of her husband, Dr. Robert Ullen, Mary Milka Ullen called Ave Maria University and offered to launch an annual $50,000 scholarship in Robert’s memory. Over the next six years, dozens of students benefited from the annual $50,000 Robert and Mary Ullen Scholarship. Mary was able to meet and get to know several of these students. When Mary passed away from cancer on December 16, 2019, Ave Maria University became the sole beneficiary of her estimated $4 million estate to be used for scholarships. Mary grew up in rural Canada with a strong work ethic. She rose through the ranks of an esteemed banking career starting as a bank teller at the City Bank of Toronto to overseeing the credit card division of a global banking concern. Her husband, Robert, was a pioneer in the formation and development of the contact lens industry. Robert’s crowning achievement was in the development of the intraocular lens giving sight to people with cataracts. He conducted the testing of thousands of patients and compiled the data required to secure Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for what would be the first contact lenses in history. Both Mary and Robert were attracted by the promise of Ave Maria University and its faithful students, many of whom come from similar humble origins. In discussing the impact of this scholarship windfall, Ave Maria University President Christopher Ice explained the timing of her bequest was transformational and almost divine. “We realized that the pandemic and shutdown of the United States economy could have an adverse impact on fall enrollment. Mary’s bequest gave us the financial ability to continue attracting top-caliber students at a critical time for Our Lady’s university.” Ave Maria University encourages all of our benefactors to please consider

AMUNEWS

$1,000,000 CHALLENGE PLEDGE AIMS FOR LARGEST FRESHMEN CLASS IN AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY HISTORY

esponding to concerns about the impact on college enrollment from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, an anonymous friend of Ave Maria University has pledged $1,000,000 towards the creation of 100 new four-year scholarships of $5,000 annually, to be awarded to freshman students who enroll in Fall 2021. To meet the challenge, Ave Maria University must match the $1,000,000 pledge through individual donor commitments of $2,500 annually for four years for a total of $10,000. “The opportunity to have your pledge doubled has proven compelling to potential donors,” reports Ave Maria University’s Vice President of Advancement, Tim Dockery. “Some donors have committed to multiple scholarships.” To be eligible, incoming freshman must be practicing Catholics with an ACT score of 23 or higher. The scholarships cannot be combined with other Ave Maria University scholarships.

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BOOKSTORE INCREASES VISIBILITY WITH CORNER LOCATION

ve Maria University Bookstore has moved to 5060 Annunciation Circle, Suite 105, making it directly adjacent to the university and Ave Maria Parish. “We are excited to announce our new corner location, said Brian Scanlan, director of auxiliary services for Ave Maria University. “To launch this, we have a wonderful new fall collection of University tee shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, books, gifts, and accessories,” he added. The Grand Opening will be Saturday, August 29, at 10:00 a.m. Bookstore hours remain 10:00 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. In addition to university apparel and gifts, the bookstore also offers dry cleaning services. For more information, call 239-304-7032, or go to campusstore.avemaria. edu.

“More than 90% of Ave Maria University undergraduates are the beneficiaries of donor-funded financial assistance,” Dockery explained. “Our benefactors are absolutely essential in helping our students attend AMU, and many appreciate being able to honor a loved one, a favorite saint, a teacher, or religious person who has positively impacted their faith through a named scholarship. We’ve even had some alumni exploring whether they can join with classmates to fund an Operation 500 scholarship to be awarded in their class’ name.” If you’d like to explore how you can offer a student - or multiple students - the life-changing opportunity to join the Ave Maria University family, please contact Tim at tim.dockery@avemaria. edu or at 239.280.1695.

85% OF CATHOLICS LOSE THEIR FAITH IN COLLEGE You can do something about it. Become an Ave Maria University Ambassador and ensure young adult Catholics have the chance to strengthen their faith during their college years, not lose it. All we require is a passion for AMU and a willingness to share our message in your community. We'll provide all the tools you need to be successful. GET STARTED AT LINK.AVEMARIA.EDU/AMBASSADOR

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PREPARED BY

FAITH AND

EXPERIENCE

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PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER ICE HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE

in several fields relevant to his current position, from college admissions, to fundraising, to athletics, and even the insurance industry. He has owned businesses and served as CEO of a major Catholic charity. He has a beautiful and ambitious vision for Ave Maria University’s (AMU) future. But at the root of it all lies the quality that makes him the ideal university leader: Ice is a man of deep faith. “If it wasn’t for my faith, I’m not sure I would be sitting here today as president of Ave Maria University. I say that because I rely on that [faith] in so many respects.” His trust in God’s plan, combined with a strong devotion to our Blessed Mother, is what drew Ice to AMU. “I’ve always had a draw to the University and there was something pulling me here, ever since it first started...When it came to the opportunity for the president’s job opening, I had three or four calls from people saying, ‘I think you need to apply.’ It really wasn’t on my radar. I was working as CEO of Catholic Charities in Kansas City, things were going well, and I was not looking for any kind of change, but I did commit to them I would put it to prayer.” After discussing the opportunity with his wife, Mary, Ice decided to consider the position. On August 15, 2019, after completing a Marian consecration, he submitted his application to AMU. Our Blessed Mother continued to guide him at every turn. A few months later, as he was looking out his window at the Portiuncula (Our Lady of the Angels) while on pilgrimage in Assisi, Ice received the phone call offering him the position. “Our Lady has shown the way

through the whole process,” President Ice recalled. “That gave me a strong sense of calm, that this was the right decision. I was really at ease through it all.” But that doesn’t mean the path was easy. President Ice’s wife, Mary, finished a chemotherapy treatment in September 2019. In November, shortly after AMU announced Ice would be the university’s next president, the doctors found a tumor on Mary’s brain and she underwent surgery to have it removed. The COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, prompting the whole family to move to Florida much earlier than anticipated. As if that weren’t enough of a challenge, Mary’s health was declining. She went home to Our Lord and Our Lady on April 30, 2020. Through it all, President Ice held firmly to his faith in Christ, just as Mary did through her fight with cancer. Ice reflected on his wife’s great faith and courage throughout her health challenges: “That’s the way my wife was. She was faith-filled. She always said, ‘Jesus, I trust in You.’ She kept bringing that back...she embraced it all as a gift. One of the things I asked of her before she passed was that she continue to pray for the University and intercede for us, and she promised that. With her and the Blessed Mother side by side, I continue to go forth in faith. I feel her presence a lot, and I know she’s got a great interest in this University.” President Ice asked for prayers as he takes on his new responsibilities as president. “I just pray that God can help me navigate everything clearly. That’s why I keep saying, ‘Keep praying for me to create this clear vision.’” In these uncertain times, President Ice’s authentic faith and trust in God and His plan for the future of AMU is a beacon of light. His journey has been marked with both great joy and deep sorrow, but as he said, “...all the way through, Our Lady has shown the way.” For example, Ice mentioned how grateful he is that the family moved to Florida earlier than they had anticipated. “It would have made it more difficult if [the kids] were still in Kansas City, which was our original

Nick Christensen, Kassie (Ice) Christensen, Jacob Ice, Therese Ice, Nathan Ice, Chris Ice, Mary Ice, Ryan and Magdalena Welch, Katie (Ice) Welch, Michael Ice, Julia Ice, Milkah

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ICE’S PATH WITH THE BLESSED MOTHER At age 12, a priest visiting Ice’s grade school recruited him to attend high school seminary at St. Henry’s Prep in Belleville, IL. The school was operated by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

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After high school, Ice attended St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas where he met his future wife, duly named, Mary.

Ice began a Marian consecration on July 13, 2019. Three days later, on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, he submitted his application to become AMU’s next president. On August 22, the Feast of the Coronation of Our Lady, Ice received an email congratulating him on making it past the first round of the search for a new president.

On September 8, the feast of the Birth of Mary, the AMU Board requested Ice come to campus for an in-person interview. On October 7, feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Ice checked his voicemail to find a message from the search committee. He was on pilgrimage to Rome and listened as he opened the blinds to his hotel room, taking in the sight of Saint Mary of the Angels Basilica. Ice laughs, saying at this point he almost knew what was going to happen on that telephone call. He was offered and accepted the position of President of Ave Maria University. By the way, Ice’s first day as president was January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God.

intent. That’s God’s hand in all of this, I can see it...you can’t always see God’s Providence in advance, but then when you look back, you see, ‘Wow, He really guided us in this process.’” Of course, God’s Providence has been at work much longer than the last year. Christopher and Mary Ice were married 1988, and saw many changes over the next thirty years. President Ice’s career journey began in higher education. His first job was as a college baseball coach and admissions counselor at St. Mary of the Plains in Dodge City, Kansas. Then he transitioned to the insurance sector. “I loved the competitive nature of that,” Ice shared during our interview. “I managed a sales team of seventy people, with over a hundred million in premiums at one point over five states. And with all of that success, as an individual in the corporate world, you go, “Wow, that’s great!” But inside, it was a little empty, in some respects, because there wasn’t that support of my faith.” After the birth of his fifth child, Ice decided to move in a different direction and have more time with his family. He went on to work as the CEO of two hospice organizations, then worked as the Director of Major Gifts at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. In

“ W I T H M A R Y, M Y W I F E , A N D M A R Y, MY MOTHER, I GO F O R WA R D I N F A I T H .”

come into my home, you know these are my values. You don’t ask me to take down my crucifix because you’re in my home. This is our home, Ave Maria University. We want to invited you to come in and experience it. Let’s have a great logical debate about the Catholic faith, and we’ll have a lot of fun. But we’re going to seek the truth.” As an AMU alumna (Class of 2007!), I can say this vibrant faith is what made my time at AMU life-changing. As I watched

many of my close friends and family members lose their faith during the college years, at AMU, my faith was fostered, not forgotten. As President Ice explained, a primary reason AMU’s students hold fast to the faith is the strong Catholic identity of the school’s professors. “So often schools waver from that. They put out there that they’re Catholic, but then you dig into the details a bit and find maybe their professors aren’t following suit.” Lack of authenticity and orthodoxy pushes people away. As Ice put it, “People flock to authentic things. People want to know they’re not going to get a watered-down version of something and our Catholic faith should never be watered down.” Likewise, in the athletic program, passing on the faith starts with the leaders. “It starts with coaches. They’re the mentors, so we’re looking and talking with each of the coaches and mak-

ing sure they understand the clear vision of who we are as a Catholic university, and the expectation built within that.” This integrated vision of Catholic education is what drew Ice to AMU, and what makes it unique among other Catholic universities. “The Catholic faith can be integrated into every segment of the educational environment,” Ice explained. “Whether it’s philosophy, business, economics, nursing - having that opportunity to build the Catholic faith and values within every one of those disciplines helps students graduate and go into the world. All of a sudden they say, ‘Wow, I can apply my Catholic faith.’” As a personal example, Ice talked about his time working in hospice care at the time the Terri Schiavo case was happening in Florida. “I was able to go to my Catechism at that time and demonstrate to my hundred-employee staff, ‘Look, here’s the truth.’” President Ice knows the youth of our times want an encounter with reality. “This generation of youth are looking and seeking for truth... They are searching for that authentic Catholic faith, for being taught.” He shared the story of two football players who came to AMU as non-Catholics, who graduated and converted to the Faith. One of them is now attending seminary. Daily Mass, perpetual adoration, the nightly Rosary walk - all of these small witnesses are powerful, especially when combined with a core curriculum and community life rooted in the reality of our Catholic faith. As I spoke with President Ice, I was struck by his great courage. We live in confusing and tumultuous times that call for evangelization. As President Ice put it, “You simply share the truth in love, and people will be attracted.” But as we all know, sharing the truth requires tremendous courage. AMU can be proud to have a leader who not only possesses the wisdom to see the need for Christ’s love, but also the courage to share it in an authentically Catholic way - with AMU students, faculty, and ultimately, the world. —Nicole Crawford ‘07

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2017, Ice moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to become the CEO of Catholic Charities, a 140-year old organization. Needless to say, all these experiences have brought a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to Ice’s presidency at AMU. For example, I asked President Ice how he plans to grow AMU enrollment while still remaining true to the Catholic faith. His answer: Be true to who we are. “When you are true to your statement, people will come to you,” Ice explained. “I witnessed this at Catholic Charities. People told me, ‘You’re going to lose donors if you change the way things are,’ and I chose to, and we had more donors.” Even for non-Catholic students, the witness of authentic, orthodox Catholic faith rings true and calls to the human heart. As Ice noted, “If you

30 Years of Ex Corde Ecclesiae

W H AT DOES IT MEA N to be a

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CATHOLIC UNI V ERSIT Y?

here is nothing greater than serving God. Studying, working, and teaching at a university is one of the most wonderful jobs on earth. When you combine these two - teaching at a university dedicated to serving God - you have the ultimate…a Catholic university! But, what makes a university Catholic? If you want the best answer, read Ex Corde Ecclesiae, John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities. It is so important to Ave Maria University we put it center stage in our seal.

This translates to how it sets its priorities, goals, and strategies, in its choice of leaders, officers, staff, and faculty, in its admissions, athletics, and student life. It is Catholic in what it celebrates and commemorates, in what it criticizes and condemns. It is Catholic in its choices of academic programs, student activities, policies, rules, and regulations. It is Catholic publicly and unabashedly, without embarrassment or apology.

CATHOLIC IN ITS PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE HUMAN PERSON. While society has experienced unprecedented accomplishments in science and technology it lacks an accompanying ethic and enlightenment to the meaning of these discoveries so as to ensure they are used for the good of mankind. John Paul II emphasizes this by saying what is at stake is the “very meaning of the human person.”

A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IS:

CATHOLIC IN ITS INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE. There is a joy in searching for, discovering, and communicating truth in every field of knowledge. However, just as it ‘is not good for man to be alone,” it is not good for scholars and students to be alone and to become too compartmentalized. Bringing the various disciplines together provide mutual enhancement and all of this should be anchored by an understanding of theology. This way, faith and reason can be brought into dialogue enabling people to come to the full measure of their humanity.

A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ANIMATED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. More than just a collection of books, scholars or students thrown together, a Catholic university is dedicated to the cause of truth and not caught up in convenient lies or trendy catchphrases. Their common vision of the dignity of the human person informs and directs their study, work, and fun. Some choices considered perfectly normal everywhere else (in the neo-pagan world) are unthinkable here because they demean people. All realize the distinctiveness of their school comes from Jesus Christ, who He was, and what He said. In everyday life, this means treating others with respect. No gossip, cynicism, or destructive criticism. Everyone gives each other the benefit of the doubt, learns from each other, and is willing to contribute and serve. Each strives to see Christ in their colleague. I remember the phone call that introduced me to Ave Maria University 18 years ago. I still keep my notes from that conversation as a bookmark to Dialogue V of Newman’s Idea of a University. Through thick and thin, what a pleasure, what an honor it has been to serve my Holy Mother the Catholic Church in this little piece of her heart. — Dr. Gabriel Martinez, Ph.D. chair of economics gabriel.martinez@avemaria.edu

A UNIVERSITY WITH ALL ITS DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. It is built on rigor and critique, research and teaching, dignity and culture, autonomy and academic freedom, individual rights and the common good. However, if there is something good a secular university does, a Catholic university does it better. Because while both search for truth, the Catholic university already knows the fount of truth – Jesus Christ and His Church. CATHOLIC AS AN INSTITUTION.

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When the document was published in 1990, it created an uproar. Some felt a pope shouldn’t tell Catholics what to do. Others thought John Paul II didn’t know anything about universities, even though he’d been a professor for decades. Still, others thought he was simply a biased European lacking a working knowledge of America. Despite the backlash, the document was a game-changer. Since the 1960s, universities (along with schools, hospitals, charities, etc.) had been defining “Catholic” in their own way, often standing in defiance against the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Basic doctrines of the faith, standards of morality, the Bible, liturgy, church buildings, the Sacraments had all been reviled and redefined. Catholic came to mean whatever they determined. Therefore, the idea that the Catholic Church might have anything to say about Catholic universities was provocative. And then came Thomas S. Monaghan, with a vision of a university that would consecrate itself to the cause of truth; a university that would unreservedly desire a place at the bosom of Holy Mother Church, fulfilling her call to be Catholic.

AIL MAR VE MARI

THE POWER OF OUR NA ME

AVE MARIA IS A SUMMATION AND MODEL FOR EVERY STUDENT

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Naming something has always been a powerful act.

God brought all the animals to Adam to see what he would call them (Gn 2:19). God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning father of the multitudes. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, and he became the head of a nation. Simon was changed to Peter, and he became the head of the Church. Fast forward a few thousand years and we instinctively still want to name things. However, names weren’t previously chosen simply for cadence or recall; they signified something deeper about the essence of the person. This is certainly true with the name Ave Maria. While many recognize the term Ave Maria is Latin for Hail Mary, others mistakenly think this was the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary in Luke’s gospel. Although it is a fair summary of the encounter, it is not Gabriel’s words verbatim. Gabriel did not say “Hail, Mary,” he said, “Hail, Full of Grace.” This is not insignificant. The term “Hail” is often followed by a title. For example, Hail Caesar, indicating royal authority. Even that bastion of Catholic thought, Wikipedia, says Caesar is a title of imperial character. ‘It is derived from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, and later changed from a familial name to a title adopted by Roman Emperors.’ Another powerful example is when Jesus was enduring the passion. Recall the guards mocking Jesus by putting a crown of thorns on his head and saying, “All Hail, King of the

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be

God. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done onto me according to thy word.” Then the angel departed from her. As Catholics, we’ve heard this story a million times and perhaps breeze by it as fast as we can say Hail Mary, but the Catechism of the Catholic Church described it in a way I had never considered. In paragraph 490, it says: To become the mother of the Savior, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as “full of grace.” In fact, in order for Mary to be able to impossible for

give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne of

God’s grace. Gabriel was announcing to Mary her vocational calling. Think of this sequentially: • A messenger of God is sent to a girl named Mary. • Mary is “Full or Grace.” • The angel announces Mary’s vocational call. • Mary inquires about the vocational call. • Mary accepts with a profound Fiat – “Let it be done unto me according to thy word.” • Mary goes on to become the Mother of God and all the spiritual living, as she is given to each of us at the foot of the cross (John 19:26). As a university bearing such a weighted name as Ave Maria, THIS-IS-OUR-MODEL! It is the model for every student. At Ave Maria University, we provide a culture

where a student can grow in God’s grace, prepare them to discover their vocational call, whatever that call might be, and then, equip them to respond wholeheartedly with their free assent. Mary’s response to her vocation was not a reluctant or passive participation, but a joyful collaboration, even when she didn’t completely understand it. How many times did Mary ponder these things in her heart? The same is true for a student seeking their life’s vocation and the will of God in their life. Ave Maria is more than just the name to the university, it’s a life-loaded phrase; an open invitation -- Come, be filled with God’s grace, discover your vocation, then, emboldened by that grace, go out and live your calling as the royal heir you were called to be. Ave Maria! —Kevin Murphy, vice president of marketing and communications kevin.murphy@avemaria.edu

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Jews.” (Mark 15:18) Again, Hail, followed by a royal title. In the case of Mary, it’s “Hail, Full of Grace,” which is astonishing considering this is an angel, “sent from God” (Luke 1:26) to greet a young, virgin girl with such a magnanimous title. It’s no wonder Mary was deeply troubled and wondered what his greeting meant. “Full of Grace,” indicates Mary had already been graced by God and filled with his divine life. The angel goes on to declare to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Royal language permeates the context. It goes on: But Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I do not know man?”*And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age,

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

COLLEGE: A CHOICE OF L I F E O R D E AT H

85%

OF CATHOLICS

LOSE THEIR FAITH

IN COLLEGE

hard enough without having your beliefs challenged at every turn. Taking all of this into consideration, many opt for a Catholic college, but even these parents have been misled. If faith formation ranks high on college “musts,” the search may need to be refined beyond just the Catholic-name universities. While many colleges claim to be Catholic, few adhere to Church teaching in the classroom and campus life. Sadly, such schools and their misguided teachings impose worse damage than those claiming no religious affiliation at all.

PROFESSORS DETERMINED TO UNDERMINE EVEN THE MOST ROOTED CHRISTIANS LURK ON CAMPUSES FAR AND WIDE. Here’s a thought exercise: when your child comes home from the first semester of college, what are the ways you hope he or she has changed and grown? Is it possible for noticeable changes to happen in that short of a period of time? What will be the foundation of their identity? Everyone loves a good deal on tuition. A school close to home may appeal to mom and dad. And, choosing a university whose reputation places them on the cutting-edge of research is a fine place to be. Yet, Ave Maria University gives priority to another factor, faith! College can be a place of refuge, a faith community, a place where its inhabitants are nourished, developed and supported by peers. Inherent to all colleges is the community

formed by on-campus living arrangements. The community of state-school dormitories is built on a culture of hook-ups, binge drinking, and drug use. In contrast, the community at Ave Maria University is founded on a shared desire to become virtuous followers of Jesus Christ. The most consistent feedback we receive from our students about why they love Ave Maria is not our new dorms, the warm weather, or even the student events. It is the people that make our University so special. People are attracted to the community at AMU, unlike any other place. College is a challenging time no matter where a student decides to attend. Students at AMU are transitioning to adult life with the freedom that comes from moving away from home just like any other college student. However, what is available to them during these years makes all the difference, namely, the sacraments. Mass, confession, and adoration are accessible daily. Bible studies, households, retreats, and Catholic speakers are theirs for the taking. While some of these resources can be found at a state school with effort, Ave Maria offers an environment where these events are not just tolerated, but well-attended by the majority of students. Perhaps you’re in the thick of visiting and applying to colleges with your children, or maybe you are a grandparent, teacher, or coach, in a position to influence someone who is grappling with a college decision. If given the opportunity, share this statistic with them – 85% of Catholics lose their faith in college. Through an authentically Catholic education and community, four years at Ave Maria University prepares students for this world as well as the next. Faith formation for our youth during the college years has never been more critical for the life of the Church. Instead of the confused and turbulent climate of many colleges, choose a school rooted in the unchanging God and enjoy the college experience done right. —Elizabeth O’Donnell ‘17 elizabeth.odonnell@avemaria.edu

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ppearing toward the end of the long list of parental milestones is sending a child off to college. First-timers and empty nesters alike know the complexities of this big decision and the mixed emotions that come with weighing the options, applying, visiting campuses, and, finally, parting ways at freshmen orientation. With over 4,000 possibilities for higher education in the United States, students and parents are ranking cost, location, size, majors, family legacy, athletics, dormitories, meal plans, amenities, and more. While all of these are important considerations in choosing a college, studies have shown as much as 85% of Catholic youth lose their faith in college and most never return. Parents who are hoping their child will wake up for Mass most Sundays may not realize the choice of college is truly, in terms of salvation, a matter of life and death. It is no secret U.S. colleges have become more than just academics. The dawn of collegiate athletics has radically altered where and why students go to college. Schools across America are fiercely competing to offer the best buildings and recreation centers, the most things to do around campus, all tied together with the biggest scholarships package. We have stopped emphasizing the bachelor’s degree and started emphasizing the “college experience.” In the panoply of options, choosing a large public university with a good Newman Center doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Many parents are attracted to this plan. Perhaps they’ve adopted the “how bad can it be?” mentality for the sake of a major the school offers or the benefit of reduced tuition. Unfortunately, professors determined to undermine even the most rooted Christians lurk on campuses far and wide. Biases exist in almost all subject areas, many of them propelled by an anti-Christian agenda. Even if the Newman Center is remarkable, college is

CONTENDING for the SOULS of OUR YOUTH BECOMING AN AMBASSADOR FOR AMU

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R 20

ich Olon has worked for 10 years as the youth minister at St. John Francis Regis in Hollywood, Maryland. It was only his second year on the job when he realized something about the college students who were alumni of his youth group: those who went off to secular colleges had lost their faith by the end of their freshman year. Refusing to accept students falling away from the Church as an inevitable “rite of passage” for young adults, Olon sought a new approach. Olon began using some of the proceeds from St. John’s summer program he runs to fund college visits for his high schoolers. At a small fee for the student, the group visits a handful of authentically Catholic colleges every year. The program started off small. Rich and his brother, John, took a few students on road trips to colleges in the parish vans. “We drove to Ave Maria the first time,” Olon said, recalling a few details of the 16-hour expedition from Hollywood, Maryland to the campus of Ave Maria in southern Florida. “Once we realized how cheap airline tickets were, we did that instead. The program grew from there.” Rich and John now organize and lead at least two groups to campus a year, and have

Rich Olon

“ Y O U C O U L D TA K E T W O KIDS WHO WERE IN IDENTICAL PLACES IN THEIR FAITH ... WITHIN ONE YEAR, ONE HAD BLOSSOMED AND THE O T H E R W I T H E R E D .”

helped hundreds of students with their college choice. The results were astounding: “We really didn’t know how much of a difference it would make until we could see the side by side comparison. It was night and day.” Olon keeps in touch with his youth group students after they graduate from high school, and attests to the impact of the college decision: “You could take two kids who were in identical places in their faith and if one went to a secular school and one went to an authentically Catholic school, even within a year, one had blossomed and the other had withered on the vine.” On the flip-side of the sobering statistic - 85% of Catholic youth lose their faith in college - is a fact further strengthening the case for an authentically Catholic school: nearly 70% of our visitors who spend one night on campus choose Ave Maria. Many of the people who visit have pre-conceived notions about what “authentically Catholic” looks like, but are surprised at what they find. Rather than forcing religion on students, the environment at AMU fosters a joy so apparent in the community it attracts even people who are only visiting a few hours. Olon also shared that the Florida sunshine is a primary motivator of many kids on the trip, but after spending time on campus, they consider AMU as a legitimate

college option. “Of all the schools we visit,” he says, “we have the largest group of kids wanting to go on the Ave Maria trip. Many will admit they just wanted to go to Florida in February, but ended up having a great experience and love the school.” Olon has inspired an initiative at AMU making it easy and more enjoyable for influencers like himself to bring a group of Catholic high schoolers to visit the campus. This fall, we are launching the Ave Maria University Ambassadors Program. This program finds adult leaders who are motivated by the statistic - 85% of Catholic youth lose their faith in college - and empowers and equips them to bring a group of high schoolers to the campus.

truer snapshot of what life is going to be like at school because their parents aren’t going to be there.” Many of the students in Olon’s group end up reuniting with former youth group members and older siblings who chose to come to Ave Maria. “They are more comfortable in a new setting with people they know,” Jud adds. “It helps the students to relax and enjoy the experience more when they are with their friends.” The Ambassadors Program is looking for coaches, teachers, priests, youth ministers and guidance counselors who are ready to respond to the alarming number of students who fall away from the faith during their college years. While parents are the obvious first influencers in many cases, every person who works with Catholic youth is in a position to offer guidance on a decision directly impacting the future of the Church. To learn more about how to get involved in the Ambassador Program, contact Jud Cavey at Jud.Cavey@avemaria.edu or 720840-9680. —Elizabeth O’Donnell ‘17 elizabeth.odonnell@avemaria.edu

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Jud Cavey

The Ambassador program is led by Jud Cavey, who joined the Enrollment team in March 2020. Jud has worked with youth, particularly on the baseball field, since 1992. He and his wife, Wendy, are relocating to Ave Maria from Billingsley, Alabama. “I’m excited to see the Ambassador Program grow,” Jud says. “Once people start hearing about this, I expect to have groups visiting every week.” While here, visitors will tour campus, stay in the dorms, attend classes, eat in the cafeteria, meet professors and coaches, and get to know some of our current students. Jud makes sure visiting groups know that is not all we offer: “We love to give groups an experience tailored to their interests. If it’s a youth group, we can make it a retreat weekend with talks, Mass, and adoration. If it’s a baseball team, they can meet our coaches and players. Service groups can work with our Mother Teresa Project.” Jud and Rich both emphasize the benefit of group visits. After leading groups to AMU for six years, Olon understands the students are better off experiencing the campus with peers. “Groups are so much more effective than sending a student with their parent to visit a school. It’s a

MEET TIM D O C K E R Y, V I C E PRESIDENT OF A D VA N C E M E N T

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WHAT’S UP, DOCK? 22

Tim Dockery

, a 2009 transplant to the Naples area, joins Ave Maria University as the new vice president of advancement. Advancement has always played an important role at Ave Maria, but the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has magnified the importance of philanthropy to help secure vital financial aid for our students.

Q: You and your wife have been residents in the Naples’ area since 2009. What led you to apply for this position? A: My wife had been encouraging me to

begin thinking about getting out of the world of fundraising consulting, and all the travel required, and find the right opportunity locally. My previous employer operated with a business model called embedded

consulting, which required me to relocate temporarily to the client’s location and live in hotels for most of the past 16 years. I said, ‘Well, there’s really only one major non-profit in Collier County that aligns with my values.’ When I saw President Ice had been hired, I thought well I’ll bet they’re going to start looking for someone to fill the advancement position that had initially posted a year prior. When I met

Q: As a proud Princeton graduate, what about Ave Maria University’s mission is inspiring to you? A: When you look at the roots of for-

mal education, and particularly higher education, it was the Catholic Church that started the concept of universities in the West. There is a perception that to be faithful is to not believe in science, and I think it is just the opposite. Faith does not fear truth, but truth is not what secular society thinks it is. Truth is the freedom to explore the full human potential but to do it in a way that is understanding of the Natural Law and that God has given that order to the universe. I am fully on-board with Mr. Monaghan’s vision that Ave Maria will seed leaders throughout the Church who are people of deep faith, well-formed, well-educated, and well-equipped to be significant contributing members of parish communities and to help participate in the reawakening and revitalization of the faith. As Archbishop Vigneron wrote in his pastoral letter Unleash the Gospel, God wants His world back! Q: You have run many successful fundraising campaigns throughout your career, what qualities would you say you now bring to Ave? A: I think what I bring to Ave Maria is a

proven track record in successful philanthropy, married with a deep understanding and commitment to the doctrines of the Catholic Church. I have raised over half a billion dollars for my clients. During my time as director of development services for the Archdiocese of Chicago, my team oversaw one of the largest capital campaigns a Catholic archdiocese had ever conducted and simultaneously grew the annual fund for the archdiocese almost five-fold. I think my experience of raising significant money

and leading successful fundraising teams was important to President Ice, but the questions he asked me during the interview process had every bit as much to do with whether I was someone who would authentically represent Ave Maria and whether I lived my Catholic faith. I think those were the qualities President Ice saw. Longer-term, I hope we can secure a much larger number of endowed professorships, endowed scholarships, and just grow the base of donors supporting Ave Maria. In Pastores Dabo Vobis, Pope St. John Paul II refers to a vocation to the priesthood as a “…gift to the whole church” and says the whole Church must therefore nurture and support that call to consecrated life. Ave Maria is helping students discern and respond to God’s vocational call to them and I hope we can invite the whole Church to support that as well. Q: How has your fundraising experience helped you navigate the COVID-19 crisis? A: It’s an incredibly worn-out phrase, but

these are unprecedented times. Nothing in my 32 years of experience has had as massive a global reach as the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is, many of Ave’s most significant contributors are somewhat insulated from day-to-day market movements. However, it’s going to be a challenging environment. Many of our current donors have to pause or reduce their giving as they deal with the changes in the economy. At the same time, what we thought was adequate to meet the financial aid needs of our students three months ago is not adequate now. One of my first initiatives was to support President Ice’s crisis response fund to make available additional financial support for our students who have been impacted. We certainly hope that appeal is received by people who are able to respond. I’m always optimistic because if God is with us, who can be against us? But, faithful optimism is not naiveté. We are praying

“I’M ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE IF GOD IS WITH US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” God will help us find people who believe in our mission and have the ability to support us financially, and we’re working our tails off to try to make this happen. Q: Any final message? A: Ave Maria has enjoyed strong philan-

thropic support since its inception from a great group of people who believed in our mission and invested in it, even when they weren’t alumni or parents. We’re grateful for that, and we owe it to them to go find more people who will continue that legacy, and that’s what we’re going to do. —Madeleine O’Rourke ‘20

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with President Ice, the Executive Team, and some members of the Board of Trustees, I was thrilled about this opportunity. It’s absolutely God’s providence I’m here.

AMUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

OUR UNIQUE ABILITY TO W E AT H E R T H E S T O R M

ve Maria University faculty and staff have been working diligently to prepare for a return to in-person, on-campus classes. For months, working groups comprised of staff from various departments, assisted by a newly-created Healthcare Advisory group, have been meeting to consider the best and safest way to facilitate campus life both in and out of the classroom.

We recognize AMU has a bit of an advantage over other schools in understanding what campus life looks like during a pandemic, as we never closed our campus entirely. We had students, faculty, and staff on campus for the entire semester, albeit in smaller numbers. When AMU made the switch from in-person to online coursework, we did so without missing a single day of classes. While we know the transition back to campus may be different than what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve experienced in the past, we

expect the transition to be a smooth one. When the coronavirus first hit the United States, AMU students had already returned from spring break. While churches and schools across the country shut down completely, our community was uniquely blessed in that after a six-day hiatus, we returned to receiving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Mass was live-streamed daily out of our St. Sebastian Hall Chapel, and communion was distributed outside, with the added protection of hand sanitizing

SACRAMENTAL LIFE

» We will make use of a larger space such as the Student Union Ballroom and O’Bryan Performance Hall for campus liturgies. » We will expand the number of outdoor liturgies when needed for larger groups. » Adoration will have a safe, limited, capacity. » All adjustments will be in coordination with diocesan regulations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

semester will begin on Monday, August 24 as originally scheduled. Here are some preparations and precautions we are planning for the fall:

ACADEMICS

» To reduce traffic in traditional academic halls, we will multiply the number of class locations. » All classrooms will have hand sanitizers which must be used before entering and upon departure. » We will seek to use technology to facilitate student access to faculty. » Fall break, which was scheduled to take place on October 15 and 16 (Thursday and Friday) will be canceled and classes will be held on these days. » Classes on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week will be canceled. » The last day of in-person classes for the fall semester will take place on the Friday before Thanksgiving week (November 20). » Classes will resume exclusively online the Monday after Thanksgiving (November 30) for one week and final exams will take place online the week of December 7-11.

SANITIZATION

» We have purchased a professional electrostatic backpack sprayer to disinfect all surfaces. It has a virus kill time of less than three minutes. Collier County school systems (48,000 students) just purchased this same unit » We will continue the process of pressure-washing bathrooms using a disinfectant. We have done this since the outbreak of COVID-19 » We hired a private cleaning company to wipe all door handles nightly. » We will steam-clean and sterilize all dorm hallway carpets, dorm rooms, classrooms, common areas, and stairwells.

HEALTH

» We have formed a Healthcare Advisory Board comprised of medical personnel to advise President Ice on all health, safety, and logistical measures. » We will arrange ongoing COVID-19 testing options. » Every student will be provided a return to campus wellness check. » Personalized plans will be developed for students with underlying health

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stations, social distancing cones, and receiving in the hand, which made for a successful and safe distribution. Weathering the storm is nothing new for Ave Maria University. We follow the Blessed Mother’s example of prevailing in faith through trial and adversity. Recall that just three years ago, during Hurricane Irma, Ave Maria University sheltered in place and returned to classes quicker than any of our neighboring institutions. These facts should comfort fears. While we are certainly not overlooking the threat or health implications derived from this pandemic, we share in the resolve of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who said, “The only thing we have to fear is letting fear overwhelm our sense of purpose and determination.” The students love Ave Maria University, and it is because of them we are determined to return to a vibrant campus life. This will demand we apply different approaches and precautions when students return. These precautions will coordinate with the Center for Disease Control and Florida Department of Health guidelines. We are devoted to following the recommended best health practices surrounding COVID-19. New and Returning student arrivals will be staggered. Orientation will also take place in smaller groups to allow for less crowding and proper distancing. The fall

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR STUDENTS WE ARE DETERMINED TO RETURN TO A VIBRANT CAMPUS LIFE.

conditions. » There will be a dedicated space and protocols for quarantine should the need arise. » We will follow Florida state guidelines-Collier County is mandating all persons are required to wear a face mask or face covering whenever social distancing cannot be maintained. » A newly formed partnership has been developed to provide on-campus medical appointments several days a week for students, conveniently located in the residence halls. » The campus will have supplies of Personal Protection Equipment for individuals requiring additional protection if needed. » We have sufficient testing, monitoring, and contact tracing plans in place for students, faculty, and staff. » The University will be providing a starter health kit for each student with

their own AMU facemask and a bottle of hand sanitizer.

HOUSING AND MEALS

» We will continue the protocol of adapting space in the dining hall by separating tables and chairs. » Dining hall staff will continue to serve students, rather than allowing students to self-serve. » Fortunately, every dorm room at Ave Maria University has a private shared bathroom, negating some of the issues encountered with communal bathrooms. » The Residence Hall Guest Policy will not allow non-student overnight visits (until further notice). » Appropriate isolation and quarantine spaces have been identified in Xavier

Hall if needed for residential students including meal, health care, and other support services » The residence hall move-in process will be spaced out over a six-day period » Each residence hall will have thermometers in their first aid kits. Students will also be encouraged to bring their own thermometer for personal use.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

» Student events and activities will abide by physical distancing recommendations meaning smaller groups and/or larger venues. Hand sanitizer will be provided. » Student Life is working with local businesses in Naples to provide more outdoor activities for students (i.e. kayaking, paddle boarding, drive-in movies,

Electrostatic backpack disinfectant sprayer

Protectant sneeze guard

Naples Botanical Gardens, etc.), taking advantage of the beautiful Southwest Florida weather. » AMU has invested in new, upgraded fitness equipment to promote healthy living and allow for students to work out in smaller groups for proper social distancing. » Our study abroad program in Rome will continue, as we work with Thomas More staff to take into account any

ATHLETICS

» The NAIA has announced that fall sports practices will begin Saturday, August 15. Ave Maria will bring its fall student-athletes back to campus August 12 to engage in conditioning in order to begin the acclimatization process. » The Sun Conference and the Mid-South Conference have released revised fall schedules to eliminate or minimize overnight trips. Football, for example, will have an eight-game conference schedule with no games outside the

state of Florida. » Daily temperature checks will be performed on every athlete prior to participation in a practice or competition. » Each sport will follow the protocols established for its sport by the conference and the NAIA. » Weight room sessions for athletic teams will be spaced out to allow for proper disinfecting.

SECURITY

» There will be enhanced security precautions, including revised building access hours, combined with public access restrictions. » We will increase patrols to monitor interaction between non-university

ave ma r ia maga z i ne | ave ma r ia.edu

restrictions put in place by the US and Italian governments regarding travel, social distancing, and the wearing of masks and other PPE.

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BEFORE

WE ARE EXCITED AND PREPARED FOR A POSTIVE NEW CAMPUS EXPERIENCE WHERE WE ARE ALL TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN.

members. » Sensible travel restrictions will be implemented in accord with state policies.

BUILDINGS & SPACING

» We will stagger August move-in and orientation in order to space-out arrivals. » Only students, employees and approved guests can have access to the campus and campus facilities. » Any member of the university community physically coming to campus should formally agree to participate in a manner to protect the health and safety of the university community. » Whenever possible, larger spaces will be reimagined for alternate uses to provide

AFTER

more space for all area needs.

COMMUNICATIONS

» We will make a renewed effort to update contact information upon check-in to ensure students and parents are easily reachable through multiple mediums (mobile phone, email address, physical address), providing updates in the manner in which you wish to receive them. All members of the community must follow guidance and take responsibility for their health and safety and the rest of the community. Faculty, staff and students will be provided guidance for shared personal

ing

behavioral change, which will include taking measures and precautions when they are feeling ill or believe they may have a contagious illness. Students will be asked to bring their own thermometers and take temperature checks under various conditions and scenarios including prior to event gatherings and athletic or club practices and competitions. Student culture changes will continue to be evaluated and developed in accordance with CDC and local government agency guidelines. Those areas include: » Social/physical distancing guidelines » Gathering limits » Visitation/access to campus » Personal protective equipment (facemasks) » Cleaning protocols » Expectation regarding COVID-19 re-

6’

porting and quarantining » Travel restrictions Expectations for individual behavior should include, at minimum: use of face coverings where required, maintaining social distancing and good hygiene, as well as adherence to expectations for testing, contact tracing, isolation, and/or quarantine. There will also be the expectation all members of the University community keep track of and report contacts if they test positive for COVID-19. Despite some unique challenges in the world today, we are excited and prepared for a positive new campus experience where we are all together once again. — Kimberly King, vice president of student affairs, kimberly.king@avemaria.edu

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spac d e d n x pa

St. John Paul II Catholic Church, Ponte Vedra | Nocatee, FL

COMMITMENT TO NE USING NEW PLATFORMS TO BRING CHRIST TO THE WORLD

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

R 30

ev. Richard Pagano (AMU ’08) flashed a good-natured smile from across the computer screen. Sunshine streamed in through his office windows as he finished off the last few pieces of an orange. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom meetings are the all-toocommon meeting platform with those outside the home. However, back then, it was simply the most expedient way to interview Pagano. Pagano is the pastor at St. John Paul the Second parish in Ponte Vedra, FL. As a diocesan priest, Pagano compared his role in the church to being a soldier in the trenches. “You have one foot in the world and so you’ve got to be present to the world in all of its filth, worldliness, and as it’s directed by the passions and the flesh. You’ve got to

be present there for people.” Referring to the fact that Tom Monaghan, the founder of Ave Maria University, is a proud Marine, Pagano shared how he appreciates being a Gyrene and part of the Ave Maria University family. As a priest, “You’ve got to be like a marine, you’re a trench-man, you’re on the frontlines.” In addition to his pastoral ministries, Pagano co-hosts the number one Catholic podcast in the country, The Catholic Talk Show, covering a broad range of topics from whether it’s time for Vatican III, to the ranking and sampling of Trappist Beers. For Pagano, media is an extension of his ministerial work of bringing God into the world. According to Pagano, the church’s channels for outreach have changed dramatically. “The church used to build beautiful cathedrals and churches in the public square, utilizing the attractiveness of tapestry, fresco, stained glass, and a rousing preacher to engage and evangelize travelers passing through the square. Now, due to the digital structure, traffic is no longer guided to the physical square. Instead, people are guided to the digital squares of social media, podcast forums, YouTube, and other streaming platforms.” Pagano continued, “What the church needs to do is to find itself in these different formats and forums open to the wider public. We need

to begin the discussion in the marketplace of ideas now being driven online, striving to present the idea of God incarnate, the person of Jesus Christ.” The conviction with which Pagano spoke of evangelization overflows from his own encounter with Christ during his freshman year of college. As Pagano described it, his life pre-conversion was a product of MTV and the rap culture. After blowing out his left knee in high school, Pagano’s college coach at Bergen Community College told him he needed to get knee surgery if he wanted to take his college basketball career seriously. A month after his surgery, Pagano recalled being in a dark mental place and walking down to the basketball courts in a full hip-to-ankle leg brace. After being enticed into joining a game of full-court basketball, he blew out his other knee and had to go straight back to the same orthopedic for a second surgery. “It was the felix culpa of my life, the fortunate fall as Saint Augustine says. I started looking at the door closing on my basketball hopes and aspirations, all of that just fell apart. It opened me up to a desperate prayer I said from my heart. ‘Jesus, I’m doing everything wrong,’ and I really was. Jesus came to meet me on my recovery bed after my second knee surgery. There was

The Catholic Talk Show

a Bible on my kitchen counter, I have no idea how it got there. It was a miracle. It was one of the first miracles I encountered. I opened it up to the book of Ecclesiastics and it said, “Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all is vanity and chasing after wind.” This Bible passage spoke directly to the emptiness Pagano had been experiencing in his life, and he resolved to change. This encounter began Pagano’s journey into a deep and vibrant relationship with Christ, strengthened through a devotion to the rosary, consistent reading of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Sacred Scripture. Years later, while working as a youth minister, Pagano started experiencing an attraction to the priesthood. He attributed his vocational stirrings in large part to the influence of St. John Paul II, who was declining in health at the time. After reading many of St. John Paul II’s books and attending his final papal audience, Pagano decided to answer his calling on the Feast of the Annunciation in 2005. Pagano’s vocation to the priesthood is actually what landed him at Ave Maria University as a Philosophy major. In fact, he was the first seminarian endorsed by the diocese to attend Ave Maria University. After the local vocations director advised Pagano to visit Ave Maria University, he recalled going straight to a campus daily

mass and being impressed by the reverence shown to the Blessed Sacrament. Looking back, he saw it as Our Lady guiding him. Ave Maria University’s devotion to the Annunciation did not escape the notice

WE NEED TO I N V E S T I N D I G I TA L P L AT F O R M S B E C A U S E THIS IS THE NEW E VA N G E L I Z AT I O N . of Pagano, who observed how it tied in perfectly with him receiving his calling on the Feast of the Annunciation. “She’s got an incredible touch,” Pagano remarked with a smile. Pagano often encourages many of his college-aged parishioners to attend Ave Maria University and has continued his involvement through AMU’s summer

conferences. When asked to summarize what made AMU so special for him, Pagano described it by quoting one of his Theology professors, who once broke down the word university etymologically. “Universitas means a turning together as one and that all practices of academic endeavor come together into the climatic reality of the oneness in truth. That is Veritatis Splendor. That is the very motto of the University.” Only days after my interview with Pagano, Ave Maria University joined with institutions across the globe in the transition to online learning. AMU professors continued the University’s pursuit of truth through the digital medium. As Pagano spoke of the necessity of online missionary efforts, he unknowingly foreshadowed the following months, when the digital continent would serve as the only means to connect the faithful. Just like the Zoom call, Pagano’s convictions about the new evangelization were prophetic. “I feel very strongly about this. Catholic media is the most important investment in the stewardship of the people of God and the stewardship of time and talent. We need to invest entirely into these digital platforms and forefronts because this is new evangelization.” —Madeleine O’Rourke ‘20

ave ma r ia maga z i ne | ave ma r ia.edu

EW EVA NGELIZATION

MEET KEVIN M U R P H Y, V I C E PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

FROM SHOW-ME STATE TO SUNSHINE STATE a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

In April 2020

, Ave Maria University welcomed Kevin Murphy as the new vice president of marketing and communications. He joins us from Kansas City where he previously worked for Catholic Charities with President Ice as the executive director of marketing and communications and where he rebranded the140year-old organization. Sitting in his sunny office on the West side of the Canizaro Library, he shared a bit about himself, his plans for communicating Ave Maria University’s message, and his Catholic faith.

Q: How did you first hear about Ave Maria University? A: Ave Maria University came on my radar

when they first discussed launching it. I remember seeing it in a news story, and as soon as I saw the concept, I was hooked. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I’d love to be a part of that.’ I wrote a letter to Tom Monaghan saying, “Look, you are going to need someone in marketing.” I don’t recall if I sent that letter or not, it was so long ago.

Q: All these years later, what brought Ave Maria University back on your radar? A: Ave came back up when Chris Ice took

the position of president — he was my boss at Catholic Charities. A few weeks into his new role, he gave me a call and said, ‘Boy, we could really use your services down here.’ I’ve lived in Lee’s Summit (just outside Kansas City) my whole life but wanted to be open to God’s will. I have always wanted to put my skills in marketing to work for the Church. I even started a side business called Mount Nebo Market-

What has it done well? What has it done poorly? Then, I overlay what people are saying internally with what people say externally - those not affiliated with the school. Oftentimes, people think they are one thing and then the external people tell them something completely different. This allows you to see disconnects and accurately position your company.

ing. Mount Nebo was the mountain Moses was allowed to ascend and view the Promised Land from. I used this as a reminder to Catholic companies to first start out with a solid strategy, a view of where they want to go, so they don’t wander in the wilderness. This is the same principle I’ll bring to Ave Maria. Q: You revamped Catholic Charities of Kansas City, how did you go about that process? A: It’s an arduous process. Anytime you

revamp, you have to ask basic questions: What is it? What is its original intent? Has there been mission drift? It’s the same thing I’m doing now. What is Ave Maria University? Where is it, and where does it want to go? I accomplish this through an internal/ external audit process where I ask people: Why are you at Ave Maria University? What were the motivating factors that drew you? What should Ave Maria University be?

Q: What do you see changing about the way Ave Maria University presents itself and its mission? A: Tom Monaghan named this university

Ave Maria. The name is pregnant with meaning (pun intended). When you read Luke’s depiction of the encounter between Gabriel and Mary, he is sent to her, greets her with a royal title (Full of Grace), and then announces her vocational call – to be the Mother of God. Mary, because she is full of grace, gives her free assent to this call. This is the model for all students. Come to Ave Maria University, seek to be full of grace, so that you too can clearly see your calling and assent to God’s plan in your life. Q: Tell us about your wife Linda and your five kids. A: In our first 10 years of marriage, we

had five children. Our oldest is 26, and the youngest, 16. My wife is the daughter of a southern Baptist preacher, yet she made me the

Catholic that I am. I met her during my last semester of college, and when we were married, she wasn’t Catholic. I remember creating this little basement office in our first home together, which was all about trying to understand the Baptist faith. I had grown-up Catholic, so I felt I knew the Catholic faith, but I wanted to find out what this Baptist thing was all about. I would use my time on the road traveling for business to listen to Protestant preachers. I was listening to a radio program called the Bible Answer Man and he was the most vehement anti-Catholic I’d ever heard on the radio. I would be so mad listening to him, but I would listen. At home, I would dig into his assertions and discover, ‘That’s not right,’ and I would bound-up the stairs and share my discoveries with my wife. She’d respond in a kind of detached fashion, ‘Yeah, that’s interesting,’ and then I would go back down and keep studying. One day, I came home from a long business trip; it was about midnight. I was slowly getting into bed so as not to disturb her, and she turned to me and said, ‘I guess I don’t believe what you think is wrong anymore.’ I was so tired I said, ‘Okay, good,’ and went to sleep. I got up the next morning and was shaving and wondering, ‘Did that really happen?’ The first thing that came to my mind was: You are just like the disciples, you couldn’t stay awake for one hour. She finally gives an indication she’s open to the Catholic faith, and you say ‘okay good,’ and go to sleep! I went back into the room and asked, ‘Did you really say that? She responded, “yes.” A few weeks later she joined RCIA and converted on Easter Vigil 1999. —Madeleine O’Rourke ‘20

ave ma r ia maga z i ne | ave ma r ia.edu

“START OUT WITH A SOLID STRATEGY, A VIEW OF WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, SO YOU DON’T WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS.”

ACADEMIC FACULTY

ROMANUS CESSARIO, PROMOTIONS O.P., TO OCCUPY THE Dr. Tony Barbosa, Ph.D., ADAM CARDINAL Associate Professor of Chemistry MAIDA CHAIR OF THEOLOGY Dr. Janice Breidenbach, Ph.D., Ave Maria

Associate Professor of Philosophy

University awarded the Adam Cardinal Maida Chair of Theology to the Reverend Romanus Cessario, O.P. and will be teaching graduate theology courses for the University starting

Dr. Michael Breidenbach, Ph.D.,

this fall.

Associate Professor of History

Last fall Rev. Cessario accepted a Research Fellowship and assumed residency at the University. Before coming to AMU,

Dr. Daniel Davy, Ph.D.,

Rev. Cessario served as professor of systematic theology

Associate Professor of History

at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. He holds an S.T.D. from the Université de Fribourg (1980) under Colman E. O’Neill, a leading sacramental theologian of the immediate

Fr. Robert Garrity, S.T.D,

post-conciliar period, as well as an S.T.L. (1972) and S.T.B.

Associate Professor of Theology

(1970) from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. He previously earned a B.A. (1967) and M.A. (1969) from Saint Stephen’s College. In 2013, Rev. Cessario was the recipient of the Sacrae Theologiae Magister, the highest honor bestowed by the Master General of the Order of Preachers.

FOUND ON AMAZON Thomas Aquinas and the Greek Fathers

A specialist in Thomist theology, Rev. Cessario is an

Edited by Dr. Michael A. Dauphinais, Ph.D., Professor

author or editor of more than a hundred scholarly articles

and Chair of Theology, AMU; Dr. Roger Nutt, Ph.D.,

and over twenty books including Thomas and the

Associate Professor of Theology & Vice President

Thomists: The Achievement of Thomas Aquinas and His Interpreters, Theology and Sanctity, Introduction to Moral Theology, and The Moral Virtues and Theological Ethics. Rev. Cessario serves as Socio Ordinario for the Pontifical Academy

of Academic Affairs, AMU; Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., Associate Professor of Patristics & Ancient Languages, Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C.

of St. Thomas, Associate Editor of The Thomist, General Editor

The Mystical Theology by Dionysius

of Catholic Moral Thought, a multi-volume series of textbooks,

The Areopagite Facing-Page Translation with

and Senior Editor of the Magnificat.

Introduction & Commentary

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

Translated by Dr. William Riordan, Ph.D., Professor

Emeritus of Theology

DR. STEPHEN LONG, PH.D., ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC PHILISOPHICAL ASSOCIATION (ACPA) The ACPA is a community of scholars and thinkers, mostly based in Canada and the United States, having forged a unique tradition since 1926. Steeped in classical sources and cultivating the Catholic Philosophical heritage, this tradition is known for creative engagement with major philosophers of every era and bold responses to the themes and issues of contemporary philosophy.

The Cambridge Companion to the First Amendment and Religious Liberty Edited by: Dr. Michael D. Breidenbach, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History, AMU; Dr. Owen Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Arizona State University

Love Your Cross: How Suffering Becomes Sacrifice Therese M. Williams, ‘17

ADVANCE WHILE THE WORLD RECEDES Get an online Master’s Degree from Ave Maria University. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, but one thing is clear: An online Master’s Degree from Ave Maria University will distinguish you from the competition when companies start hiring again. Master of Arts in Theology | Master of Business Administration GET STARTED AT LINK.AVEMARIA.EDU/MASTERS

ATHLETICS UPDATE

NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, JOE PATTERSON

hen Ave Maria University approached Joe Patterson about being the new director of athletics, he responded with an enthusiastic, yes! “The sports programs at Ave Maria are critical to the fabric of the school,” said Patterson. “We want to build a culture of competitiveness that doesn’t compromise the core mission of being faithful followers of Christ.” For Patterson, that culture of competitiveness goes hand-in-hand with the larger culture of excellence within the University. A key component of that excellence is, of course, academics. During Patterson’s four years as head football coach at AMU, the football team’s grade point average has improved dramatically, just recently eclipsing the 3.00 mark for the first time in program history.

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

Retention for the football program has also skyrocketed, and success on the field followed as the Gyrenes went from a winless season in 2016 to Sun Division Champions in 2018, a turnaround earning Patterson Sun Division Coach of the Year honors. During the most recent season, the football team had a record 21 players named to the Dean’s List while 18 were awarded Academic All-Conference honors. “Progress would have been impossible without cohesion with the University’s strong culture of faith and virtue,” said Patterson.

Prior to coming to Ave Maria University, Patterson taught literature for 19 years at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., where he also served as the school’s head football coach. As an educator, he recognizes the positive role athletics can have in a student’s education. “There are so many lessons learned in a team setting,” said Patterson. “When done properly, sports will reward the same virtues that life rewards. Sports help to show us that happiness awaits those who prioritize

faith, self-sacrifice, discipline, and teamwork.” During these past few years, the University’s athletic profile improved also because of facility upgrades. Patterson’s leadership was integral to the installation of the new artificial turf field servicing soccer, lacrosse, and football (2017) and the permanent lighting accompanying that field (2018). These two projects transformed the student-athlete experience and promoted a fan-friendly atmosphere. Patterson first began visiting Ave Maria on a yearly basis in 2008 when his in-laws moved here. Over the years, the vision and values of the University, as established by its founder Tom Monaghan, began to take root in his mind. In February 2016, Patterson accepted AMU’s offer to be the head football coach, and his attraction to

ATHLETICS UPDATE

the school has only grown. “There is a joyfulness to this place that bears witness to the truth,” said Patterson. In particular to the athletics at Ave Maria, Patterson possesses a vision for the program that he views as ingrained in the human existence. “We are all created in the image of the Creator, so we find our greatest fulfillment when we are creating,” he said. “Sports are fundamentally about the collaborative creative process.” With more than 40-percent of the student body engaged in varsity athletics, Patterson sees the positive power of sports. “The sports teams of Ave Maria understand their important role in spreading the good news of Ave Maria, namely that we desire excellence in accord with truth and love,” said Patterson.

It would be fair to say that Catholic education has been a lifelong vocation for Patterson. He earned his master’s degree in Catholic Leadership from the Catholic University of America, and his undergraduate degree from Villanova University. He has been involved— either as a student or as an educator/ coach—in Catholic education every year since his parents enrolled him in kindergarten. He and his wife, Jana, live in the town of Ave Maria with their six children, all of whom attend Catholic school. “Education without reference to faith cannot be a full education,” said Patterson. “The graduates of Ave Maria will have a profound impact on this culture, and it is the goal of Ave Maria Athletics to represent that which is best in the human spirit.”

COPELAND NAMED NEW BASKETBALL COACH

“I look forward to getting to work,” said Coach Copeland. “I believe success comes from working with great people. We will have players that believe in the mission of this university, and we will engage the AMU basketball alumni who paved the way for us to be successful. This game is about relationships on and off the floor. We will work tirelessly to cultivate those relationships.” Copeland was the founding coach of the Ave Maria University basketball program as it first competed in the 2009-2010 season. In just his third season, the Gyrenes had their first winning record, and in his fourth season, AMU broke through with its first

20-win season, going 23-9. At one point during that season, AMU rose as high as No. 14 in the nation in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Following his time at AMU, Copeland accepted the head coaching position at the University of Texas at Tyler, where he served as the head coach for six seasons. During those six seasons, his teams notched the second, third, and fourth-most wins in a season in program history while also posting the first postseason win in program history. This past season, Copeland served as the head coach at Aledo High School in Texas, where he won District 4-5A Coach of the Year honors.

ave ma r ia maga z i ne | ave ma r ia.edu

hen Ave Maria University looked to fill the men’s basketball head coach vacancy, it was important to find someone who could produce a winning program on the court while thoroughly understanding the mission of the school. After a month-long selection process, Jamon Copeland emerged as the candidate of choice.

ALUMNI NEWS

THE ALUMNI LETTER PROJECT

s the Coronavirus impacted school year came to a close in May, students, faculty, and staff of Ave Maria University immediately began to look forward to the fall semester when classrooms, chapels, and the entire campus would once again buzz with newness of life. In a particular way, Paula Shute, program manager for Alumni Relations, had a desire to give incoming freshman a warm welcome to their new home for the next four years. As an AMU alumna, Shute knows all too well the joys and fears, victories and losses, freshman encounter in just the first few weeks on campus. Her desire to provide this comfort and reassurance that attending Ave Maria University will be one of the best decisions of their life, turned into a campaign - Welcome Them Home: The Alumni Letter Project.

During the summer, Shute reached out to AMUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alumni, asking them to write a letter to their freshmen-selves. The seasoned Gyrenes were implored to offer wit and wisdom, encouragement and advice, on the trials and joys ahead. Alumni from every class were asked to promote the project and encourage classmates to mail in letters. As the letters came trickling in with messages of encouragement, jokes, and wisdom, it was clear our alumni all received the same thing during their time at Ave Maria University: a phenomenal education, a vibrant community, and, most importantly, a resilient Catholic faith. The letters were collected, transcribed, and will be published in a small book. Each member of the class of 2024 will be given a copy of this book upon their arrival. The alumni who contributed letters to the project will also be mailed a copy. Here are just a few samples:

And, by the way, if Kevin asks you to go to The Pub, he means it as a date.

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

Your roommate Gabriella is going to be your lifelong best friend.

Classes before 10:00 a.m. are not a wise choice. Jesus doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just nicely fit into your life, He is your life!

ALUMNI NEWS

A CREATIVE CATHOLIC D’AMBROSIO MERGES CATHOLIC FAITH WITH ENTREPRENEURIAL ZEAL

Blazing new trails has become a theme for D’Ambrosio, who has since co-founded Sherwood Fellows, a marketing company empowering organizations to articulate why they exist and how best to fulfill their mission. Sherwood Fellows’ creative team uses visual language, story-telling, and campaigns, to successfully communicate newly honed missions. D’Ambrosio remarked, “What I learned at AMU was how to dig incessantly for the truth. When you have to write all of the time and everything you write is torn apart over and over again, you have to learn how not just to recite what you think is going to work or get the grade.” This skill of mining for truth has formed how he guides clients to search for their mission. D’Ambrosio shared AMU provided the invaluable opportunity to practice leadership, explaining that what made AMU unique was how it empowered students who were excited to see a “blank canvas they could write on.”

T H E C A L L O F T H E L AY P E R S O N I S A C R E AT I V E A N D I N N O VAT I V E C A L L . D’Ambrosio recalled while founding Sherwood Fellows, he wanted to find a way to unite with Catholics in the creative field, attributing this desire for community and mentorship to his experience of communal learning and lively discussion at AMU. In 2015, D’Ambrosio cofounded Catholic Creatives, an organization uniting Catholic innovators, ministers, artists, and entrepreneurs virtually and in-person, through events like the annual Catholic Creatives Summit. Instead of viewing the community competitively, he strives to foster opportunities for collaboration and mentorship. When reflecting on the role of the laity, D’Ambrosio explained, “I think the call of the layperson is a creative and innovative call right now because it’s not being done.” In order to bring God into the world, Catholics are called to live counter-culturally. Even raising a family requires going against the grain. As an entrepreneur, D’Ambrosio has explored the role of Catholicism in the workplace. Often when people address the topic of Catholic businesses, they assert these companies should pay employees better, but D’Ambrosio thinks this is missing the deeper call of the faith. “Catholic businesses should love people really well, and money is a part of that, but it’s much more about how you care for them.” At Sherwood Fellows, D’Ambrosio and his team work to provide employees with opportunities to develop personally and professionally, explaining that, “Healthy human beings produce good fruit.” As D’Ambrosio reflected on his time at AMU in conjunction with his current endeavors, he described his Alma Mater’s mission as a school for training the laity in pioneering and in blazing new trails for the church, “Because that is what I saw happening when I was there. I really believe in what Ave Maria University is, and who she can be.”

—Madeleine O’Rourke ‘20

ave ma r ia maga z i ne | ave ma r ia.edu

arcellino D’Ambrosio is an Ave Maria University alum who attended the university during its first year in Ave Maria, Florida (2007). D’Ambrosio laughed as he described the wildlife he encountered at Ave Maria, which included boars and alligators invading the new walkways and even a renegade snake stealing its way into the academic building. When asked why he chose a university just starting, D’Ambrosio shared how he received a call from an admissions advisor who told him he should go to AMU. “I was like ‘Okay, that sounds interesting. What’s the school about? What’s there?’ They responded, ‘Well, nothing really, but you can start it!’” Surprisingly, this attracted D’Ambrosio. He felt an incredible sense of peace and excitement in pioneering a new school.

ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES

Madeleine MacRae (’05)

Madeleine MacRae serves as CEO, Founder and Chief Innovator for MM MacRae Coaching & Consulting, an international firm focused on leveraging rock solid sales, marketing and business education to drive the growth of companies throughout every segment of the home services and improvement industries. Madeleine has more than 15 years of experience leading, consulting, and growing business of all sizes from family-run to fortune 500.

Eily Clossick ('19) Eily Clossick graduated in May 2019 with a Nursing Degree. In August of 2019, Eily passed the Massachusetts state boards and started her first nursing job at MA General Hospital in Boston, MA. Eily is working on the surgical Oncology floor.

Josie Hartney (’17) Josie received a Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Augusta University in August 2019. She is currently working as an Occupational Therapist in Chattanooga,

Paul Fickel (’10) Paul moved to the greater Washington D.C. area in 2012 to join Manus Dei, Inc as a Technology Specialist. He works with over 50 Catholic Schools, Churches and their extended network of businesses, supporting their in-house technology needs. In 2019 Paul was promoted to Chief Information Officer. He oversees customer-facing personnel, processes, and technologies. He currently resides in Maryland with his wife Jessica (formerly: Barrows) and five children, Paul “Drew” (8), Samantha (6), Kateri (5), Theodore (3) and Adelaide (1).

Stephen Akers (’19) Stephen Akers ’19 moved to Arlington, Virginia/the Washington, D.C. area to join Gartner, Inc. as a Client Partner. He works with over 100 leaders of customer service functions at large enterprise organizations across every industry, regularly meeting with and helping them refine their planning, talent management and channel optimization strategies.

TN.

a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2020

Catherine (Hartney) Przybysz (’11)

After graduating from Ave Maria in 2011, Catherine served with NET Ministries for three years, one year as a traveling missionary, and two years as a Team Supervisor on Staff. For the next three years, she worked as a Client Manager with Catholic Stewardship Consultants, helping Catholic Churches all over the country develop a better understanding of stewardship. In search of a better balance of home and work life, she left Catholic Stewardship Consultants and began a part-time job as an inside sales rep for FASTSIGNS. She has loved working with her friends and family at the shop and spending more time with her husband Tim, while they raise their two sons, Leo (3 years old) and Peter (1 year old).

Susan Spiegelberg (M.T.S. ’10) On the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 8, 2018, Susan Spiegelberg (Class of 2010) was consecrated as a consecrated virgin living in the world. This ancient vocation is rooted in the first centuries of Christianity where women desired to belong completely to Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom. Susan shared that this vocation is deeply rooted in spousal love for Christ and spiritual motherhood of souls. She is eternally grateful for this gift from God to live as an image of His bridal love for the Church.

Ave Maria University 5050 Ave Maria Blvd. Ave Maria, FL 34142

In loving memory

Mary Ice 10/15/65

4/30/20

AMU Magazine Summer 2020

Articles inside

A Creative Catholic

The Alumni Letter Project

Athletics Update

FROM SHOW-ME STATE TO SUNSHINE STATE

COLLEGE: A CHOICE OF LIFE OR DEATH

WHAT’S UP DOCK?

ICE IN FLORIDA

AMU’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

CONTENDING FOR THE SOULS OF OUR YOUTH

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY?

COMMITMENT TO NEW EVANGELIZATION

THE POWER OF OUR NAME