The Carthaginian, Summer 2020

IN THIS ISSUE Feature Articles

24 Trauma Informant In a jarring year, social work professor Debbie Minsky-Kelly sees trauma-informed approaches pick up steam.

cover story:

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All Hands Online When COVID-19 reached the Midwest, Carthage shifted to remote instruction in just 10 days.

28 Doctor by Osmosis Practically raised in hospitals due to a bone disease, Shannon Kafura ’20 zeroes in on medical school.

32 carthage.edu

Grad Spotlight Even in a hazy job market, new alumni from the Class of 2020 are going places.

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IN THIS ISSUE Departments

THE CARTHAGINIAN Volume 99, Number 2

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On Campus

From sports management to data science, Carthage expands its undergraduate and graduate offerings.

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Faculty/Staff Notes

37 48

Class Notes

At age 86, Professor Emeritus Bill Jankovich is peaking at the right time as a world-class track and field athlete.

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the thriving Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, Carthage College enrolls 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students. Named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review and a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report, Carthage is ranked No. 3 in the country for participation in short-term study abroad. The Aspire Program™, a comprehensive four-year career development initiative for all students, builds on Carthage’s strong history of providing students with the skills they need to succeed after college.

Athletics

Student-athletes whose senior season was canceled look for silver linings.

Carthaginian Editorial Team

Alumni share milestones from their careers and families.

Page From the Past

Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Photographers/Illustrators Steve Janiak Sam Payton ’19

Elizabeth Young

A century before Zoom meetings and toilet paper shortages, Carthage endured the 1918 flu pandemic.

Contributing Writers Managing Editor Mike Moore

Design/Art Direction

3 President’s Message 11 Pastor’s Message

Steve Janiak Kim King ’06

Mike Moore Traci Parker Brandon Rook Madeline VanGroll Jacqueline Kenny Danelle Orange

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jeff Hamar ’80

President John R. Swallow Vice President for Institutional Advancement Thomas Kline

For More Information The Carthaginian Office of Marketing and Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu CMYK

Update Address/Mailing Preferences carthage.edu/mycontactinfo 800-551-1518 • alumnioffice@carthage.edu

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Summer Carthaginian 2020

Transparent PMS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Keeping our bearings in the fog of 2020

T

his past spring, as COVID-19 forced colleges like ours to pivot temporarily to remote instruction, I naturally turned to “The Miracle of Carthage” for perspective.

Written by former president Harold Lentz, the definitive history reminded me that the College has served students for more than 170 years — through the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, and even the flu pandemic of a century ago.

Our predecessors achieved great things, and I know that we Carthaginians are standing in their footsteps to do what is needed now.

Let there be no doubt: Carthage will weather the pandemic of 2020 (and its economic consequences) and will continue to serve students proudly for the next 170 years.

In the last few months, I have seen the best of Carthage: the willingness to band together and do the hard work — even when the pressures come from unexpected places, and even when those pressures exceed what

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we anticipated. Carthaginians got things done in the 19th and 20th centuries, and we are doing it again now.

Shortly before this issue went to print, I announced our plans to return this fall to the in-person, residential format that delivers the most powerful Carthage education. Our planning team came to that decision after much research and consultation with public health officials and other experts.

I cannot overstate how excited we are to welcome students back to campus — to their classrooms, labs, rehearsal spaces, and extracurricular venues, alongside their trusted mentors. To make sure the transition goes as safely as possible, we adjusted the academic calendar and adopted new guidelines to minimize the risk of transmission.

All of us at Carthage learned a great deal about being adaptable this past spring, and the unpredictable nature of the pandemic means we may yet need to call on those

lessons at a moment’s notice. Embracing a new and more adaptive model for course design, faculty across all departments are adjusting their classes as needed in case they or any of their students need to move to remote learning at any time.

I am tremendously grateful for your ongoing support, which sustains and extends the powerful work of this institution — and which is needed now as much as ever.

With your help, we will deliver Carthage’s excellent education in the best way possible, following our mission statement: Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service — Together.

Thank you for your partnership, and I very much look forward to seeing you again on campus.

John R. Swallow

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ON CAMPUS

A glimpse of what’s happening in the Carthage community

Promising additions to academic lineup Carthage recently approved a variety of academic programs, both graduate and undergraduate, that students can enter this fall.

Continuing studies programs

sports management Expanding the scope of its 3-year-old Master of Science program in business, the College is recruiting students for a new sports management track.

The graduate program can be completed in as few as 10 months. It runs parallel to the original business design and innovation (BDI) track.

“We pulled together the best courses for skills needed in the industry,” said Craig Leipold, owner of the Minnesota Wild NHL franchise, one of 23 senior executives in professional sports and related industries whose input shaped the curriculum.

The new track consists of seven courses tailored to sports management, plus core courses that emphasize emotional intelligence, disruptive innovation, and cross-functional team management. It also

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features intensive workshops, a sales lab, and a culminating 10-day study abroad in Spain.

rn-to-bsn The new RN-to-BSN Program is designed for working nurses to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as 16 months.

Administrators plan to seek accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, which previously accredited Carthage’s highly successful fouryear BSN offering. Courses will be taught in a hybrid (online and on-campus) format.

The bachelor’s degree is fast becoming an industry standard. Research connects the extra education to better patient outcomes, and a large majority of health care institutions have a strong preference for BSN graduates.

Traditional undergraduate programs

major: data science A year after establishing a minor in the rapidly growing field of data science, Carthage added a major in it.

Students in the program learn how to analyze and interpret data effectively, as well as how to communicate results to nontechnical audiences. Data scientist ranks third on LinkedIn’s list of top emerging jobs for 2020.

Consisting largely of mathematics and computer science courses, the interdisciplinary

major also carves out room for concentrations.

That way, students can apply their quantitative knowledge to fields like environmental science, business, and health care.

minors Carthage approved four new minors: • African Studies • Film and New Media • Photography • Social Justice

Dual-degree program

doctor of pharmacy (3+3) A new partnership allows students who meet certain prerequisites at Carthage to gain automatic admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

With this dual-degree option, students can earn both a bachelor’s and doctorate in as few as six years — saving a full year in tuition.

Participants will take three years of undergraduate courses at Carthage, followed by three years of PharmD studies at MCW. Though it’s designed with biology and chemistry students in mind, the program is open to those in all majors.

Summer Carthaginian 2020

New Lincoln Forum lifts up classic texts Under the umbrella heading Abraham Lincoln Forum for Liberal Arts, Carthage is using new funding to establish and enhance programs that examine foundational texts.

Professors Seemee Ali and Michael McShane received more than $40,000 in grants and additional donations from the Jack Miller Center, the Creigh Family Foundation, and others to seed these programs. Matching Carthage funds push the total above $50,000.

Named as a tip of the hat to Abraham Lincoln’s service as a trustee of the College in its early years, as well as his spirit of emancipation, the Lincoln Forum will feature several initiatives: isiting scholars: Building on the long-running Hannibal Lecture Series, V the grant allows Carthage to bring in renowned scholars for presentations to students and the public.

The first three Lincoln Forum fellowships were awarded this summer: Timothy Dunnigan ’20 (with Professor Erlan Wheeler) Elements by Euclid

ummer fellowships: Student fellows receive stipends to study classical S texts or languages with faculty mentors.

Bradley Morelli ’20 (with Professor Maria Carrig) Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

onference and prize: A conference this fall will reveal the first recipient of C the Abraham Lincoln Prize for Intellectual Freedom, which organizers plan to award to an influential scholar each year.

Heidi Fischer ’21 (with Professor Seemee Ali) Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio and its Representation of Plague

“We hope to help students appreciate the intrinsic value of foundational texts,” said Prof. McShane, who teaches courses in philosophy and Great Ideas.

“Closely analyzing Dante can certainly help students to develop skills valuable in the future, but that profoundly beautiful poetry also holds value for human beings right here and now.”

The nonprofit JMC has been a loyal supporter of Carthage’s humanities programs in recent years. Founder Jack Miller is the grandfather of alumnus Adam Bernstein ’18.

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ON CAMPUS

spring speakers

Student team wins top prize for invention A team of five Carthage students won the 2020 LemelsonMIT Student Prize, which honors top collegiate inventors throughout the country.

The team consisted of Celestine Ananda ’20, Nick Bartel ’20, Taylor Peterson ’21, Cassi Bossong ’21, and Bennett Bartel ’22. Judges selected their project, a method of fuel gauging that could make air travel safer, as the best technology-based invention in the transportation category.

The budding inventors became the first team from a small school (under 10,000 enrollment) to win the prestigious competition since organizers formed undergraduate divisions in 2014. The award, announced in April, comes with a $10,000 prize.

All five students are members of the Carthage Microgravity Team, which since 2011 has partnered with NASA to refine the Modal Propellant Gauging technology for potential use in future space missions. Separately, the inventors spent several months adapting MPG for use in planes and other types of aircraft.

“We competed nationally with schools such as MIT, Johns Hopkins, and so on, but we beat the odds,” said Cassi. “I am excited to see what the future holds for both the MPG technology and the team.”

With its demonstrated accuracy, the technology could help to clear a long-standing obstacle in the aeronautical industry. Unreliable fuel gauges are a leading factor in small plane crashes and cost the commercial satellite industry more than $1 billion annually.

Looking to commercialize the technology, the Carthage inventors are negotiating patent licensing and hope to modify MPG for commercial use. The team’s work has drawn interest from market leaders and pilots alike.

“I’m proud of them, because they did this entirely on their own,” said Professor Kevin Crosby, who runs the Carthage space sciences program. “I’ve watched this competition for years, and the teams that win are spectacular.”

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Tim Wise The Equity and Inclusion Committee brought in anti-racism educator and author Tim Wise to initiate a campus- and community-wide conversation Feb. 3-4. He spoke to faculty and staff and gave a public presentation.

Zahira Kelly-Cabrera Afro-Dominican writer, singer, DJ, and visual artist Zahira Kelly-Cabrera gave a talk on postcolonial feminism Feb. 18. The event kicked off a celebration of 25 years of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Carthage.

Peter Feigin Milwaukee Bucks president Peter Feigin spoke at Carthage on Feb. 18 as part of the Spotlight on Sports speaker series. He discussed the newly built Fiserv Forum, the emergence of esports, and the international growth of the NBA.

Summer Carthaginian 2020

Al Van Maren honors Carthage women Al Van Maren ’65 is an educator, entrepreneur, and compassionate Carthaginian.

As an educator, he spent three decades teaching at Wilbur Wright College in the Chicago area after earning his degree from Carthage in business and economics.

As an entrepreneur, Mr. Van Maren invested in several small business ventures and watched them thrive and grow throughout the years. His entrepreneurial spirit AL VAN MAREN ’65 extends even into his retirement, where he operates AlsPacas, a small alpaca farm in Harvard, Illinois.

As a Carthaginian, Mr. Van Maren has lived our mission of truth, strength, and service for the past 55 years. He served on the Alumni Council for nearly 20 years and has volunteered countless hours of fundraising and friend-raising on behalf of the College. In 2001, he received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

The name Van Maren is a familiar one on campus. Along with his late wife’s name, Marianne Kidd, you will see it displayed on room 205 in the Clausen Center, the press box for Art Keller Field, and the Skybox Conference Center in the TARC. “The involvement with my fraternity, athletics, Circle K (service organization), and academics at Carthage while a student helped shape the training, perseverance, and sense of loyalty that laid the groundwork for my success,” Mr. Van Maren says.

For the 150 Years of Carthage Women celebration, he created two endowed scholarships in honor of Irma (Niekamp) Anderson ’48 and the late Beverly (Hand) Keller ’61. Mr. Van Maren wants to recognize the women who tirelessly supported their spouses, Alan Anderson ’50 and Art Keller ’44 — men he says “embodied the true Carthage spirit, never gave up on me, and played a significant role in my development and growth.”

He is a member of all four giving societies at Carthage, but the proudest badge of honor Mr. Van Maren has worn for the past 55 years is his Carthage class ring.

If you would like to support either the Beverly (Hand) Keller or the Irma (Niekamp) Anderson endowed scholarship funds, please contact Madeline VanGroll at mvangroll@carthage.edu or make a gift online by entering the scholarship name in the “Designation” field:

carthage.edu/givenow carthage.edu

leaders in philanthropy Leadership Giving Society members give $1,000 or more cumulatively to any area of the College in a fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Tiers recognize higher levels of giving, and graduated giving levels are available for recent alumni. Membership is renewable annually.

Enduring Gift Society members have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments).

Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime.

Alford Park Loyalty Society members have contributed any amount to the College for three or more consecutive fiscal years (July 1 through June 30). Tiers recognize greater consecutive years of giving. Membership is renewable annually.

Denhart Society members have made Carthage a part of their legacy through estate commitments and planned gifts. Membership is lifetime.

To learn more about our philanthropic societies and see online donor honor rolls, please visit: carthage.edu/give/recognition

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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES

Updates on faculty and staff achievements

unning down

a dream 8

At 86, Professor Emeritus Bill Jankovich is still chasing his ultimate goal: a world championship in the decathlon, often considered the supreme test of athleticism.

It’s definitely attainable. Competing in the USA Track and Field Masters series for athletes 35 and older, he’s already won the event 10 times in his age group at the national championships.

He’s also won two world titles in other combined events, which just leaves the decathlon. Totaling competitors’ scores from 10 distinct track and field disciplines, it demands the most complete skill set.

Prof. Jankovich hoped to catch that elusive world title this summer, but organizers had to cancel the 2020 World Masters Athletics Championship in Toronto because of the global pandemic. He’s taking it in stride.

“I’ve been able to accomplish a lot,” he says. “I’ve done what a lot of people wouldn’t even dream about.”

Summer Carthaginian 2020

In January, Prof. Jankovich returned to campus to compete in the national indoor heptathlon championships at the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center. Carthage has hosted the annual event for the past 20 years.

Running alongside him was a Brazilian TV crew that planned to produce a documentary about senior citizens with healthy lifestyles. A reporter asked for his keys to success.

“I train for my health and to stay fit,” he remembers saying. “By the time I get to a competition, the real work has been done.”

The seasoned athlete has learned not to crank up the intensity too far.

“If I maintain a sense of humor during the competition, I’m always successful,” Prof. Jankovich says. “I give my 100 percent and not an ounce more — otherwise I’m sure to pull a muscle!”

He began teaching at Carthage in 1976 and joined the full-time faculty the next year. Over 33 years, Prof. Jankovich taught business classes, headed the department for a while, and advised Pi Sigma Epsilon, a highly successful marketing fraternity.

“I never had a bad day at Carthage,” he says. “Teaching there was the most fun I ever had.”

Professor Art Cyr says his friend and former colleague’s somewhat laid-back approach and use of anecdotes in the classroom made him a favorite among students. Prof. Jankovich’s classes were often overbooked, but he always managed to find an extra chair.

“Bill has amazing energy,” says Prof. Cyr, who directs the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business. “He’s direct, emphatic, restless, opinionated — in a word: authentic.”

Good friend and fellow professor emeritus Don Gottschalk, a business faculty member from 1989 to 1997, first encouraged Prof. Jankovich to get involved with the Senior Olympics.

Since the early 1990s, the speedy senior has accumulated 104 victories on

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the circuit (including 12 in international competitions). He’s peaking at the right time, too, with 30 titles last year alone.

“Bill is a fine athlete with natural ability,” says Prof. Gottschalk. “He enjoys staying in shape and loves to compete. He works hard and strives to be the best he can be — in everything he does.”

Staying in shape doesn’t necessarily mean a gym membership, a personal trainer, or even running every day.

“I mow my own lawn with a push mower,” he says. “It’s just about an acre — it takes me about six hours.”

Prof. Jankovich transformed a portion of his backyard into a home gym, building a basketball court, a short track, and a half-mile-long running path.

“My run often takes me past the local hospital and local cemetery. If I can make it home without needing any of their services, I consider that a good run,” he laughs.

The USATF recently recognized him as the 2019 Combined Events Athlete of the Year for all Masters age groups. The award signifies more than athletic feats, and he’s one of the oldest competitors ever to receive it.

“These awards aren’t for me alone,” he says. “They’re for my brothers, too.”

The youngest of three athletic boys, “Little Jank” grew up playing sports alongside his brothers and their friends despite being years younger than the rest of them. From third grade, he competed nonstop through high school, college, and two years in the Army, “When I first started at 8 years old, I had no idea where I’d end up,” Prof.

Jankovich says. “I just love to compete, but competition isn’t about winning. It’s about improving, and that philosophy applies to everything in life.”

As for that world decathlon championship?

“It’s held every two years, so my next opportunity is 2022. I’ll try again then,” he says. “I’ll be almost 89 years old, but I think my chances are pretty good.”

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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES

retirements 47 YEARS Tom Noer, Valor distinguished professor in the humanities Carol Weyrauch, accounts receivable coordinator

36 YEARS Kurt Piepenburg ’77, R. William Miller distinguished professor in the natural sciences

25 YEARS Douglas Arion, professor of entrepreneurship

16 YEARS Mark Miller, associate professor of management and marketing

15 YEARS Anne Cassidy, professor of art Paul Zavada, professor of education

tenure The Carthage Board of Trustees awarded tenure and promotion to seven faculty members, which takes effect this fall: Anthony Barnhart (Psychological Science) Lara Christoun (Education) Fatih Harpci (Religion) Andrea Henle (Biology) Rebecca Hornung (Social Work) Sara Jensen (Mathematics) Ed Kawakami (Music)

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Lara Christoun and Jun Wang, both assistant professors of education, and two Carthage teacher candidates presented research at the Council for Exceptional Children national convention Feb. 6 in Portland, Oregon. It focused on preparing teacher candidates to collaborate with families of students who have disabilities or are considered English language learners.

Debra Clark, assistant to the campus pastor, was selected by the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls as Institutional Faculty/Staff Member of the Month in August.

Nominees come from a region covering four U.S. states and Ontario.

Tracy Gartner, professor of environmental science and biology, co-authored an article in the March edition of The American Biology Teacher journal. Examining undergraduate classroom use of long-term, collaborative research, the paper draws lessons from the Ecological Research as Education Network and a leaf decomposition project that Prof. Gartner co-coordinated.

Michele Hancock, professor of practice in education, received Carthage’s 2019-20 Adult Undergraduate Studies Teacher of the Year Award.

The award signifies faculty excellence in the sevenweek evening program for adult students.

Abigail Hanna, vice president for administrative planning and innovation, was appointed to the steering committee of Milwaukee Women inc, an organization that works to “achieve a balanced representation of women on boards of directors.” Carthage president John Swallow nominated her.

Peter Dennee ’86, associate professor of music, has been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant to teach and conduct research at Tumaini University Makumira in Tanzania in 2021. Using the university’s archive of more than 1,500 video recordings of music from three regional indigenous groups, he plans to create comprehensive music teaching and learning resources for use in music classrooms worldwide. The start of the fellowship was postponed until January because of the global pandemic.

Kim Instenes, associate professor of theatre, designed early 1930s cruise wear for the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre production of “Jeeves at Sea” in November and December. Prof. Instenes is a professional costume, wig, and makeup designer in the region.

John Kirk, associate professor of chemistry, will become co-director of the Teaching Commons at Carthage in August. He brings considerable experience in faculty and student research to the role. Prof. Kirk also co-wrote the latest edition of “Chemistry in Context,” a textbook for non-science majors.

Summer Carthaginian 2020

PASTOR’S MESSAGE

Diane Levesque, associate professor of art, painted “The Chariot,” which was part of the Wisconsin Artists Biennial exhibition from Jan. 25 through March 29 at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend.

Janet Levey, associate professor of nursing, was a guest speaker at a two-day faculty training session in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this past January. She provided a framework that faculty in health care programs can use to foster content that’s accessible to students with disabilities.

Jennifer Madden, associate professor of management and marketing, gave conference presentations in Greece, Slovenia, and San Diego in the latter half of 2019. Respectively, the topics were design thinking, entrepreneurship in rising economies, and doulas’ effects on African American birth outcomes in Cleveland.

photo by tommy brown photography

Bill Miller, associate provost for new program development, was hired as vice president for academic affairs at Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota. Also a professor of sociology and criminal justice, he devoted 20 years to the Carthage faculty.

Jim Lochtefeld, professor of religion and Asian studies, received Carthage’s 2019-20 Distinguished Teaching Award.

Pulling common themes from student nominations, the May 27 announcement praised his abilities to foster “an atmosphere of a Carthage family,” to “facilitate discussion in any surroundings,” and to instill “confidence, optimism, and the need to become a better person.” Prof. Lochtefeld has served on the faculty since 1992.

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A mission to reconnect This column was written in my living room, which has become my office during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everything suddenly changed. We started to go to church at our kitchen table. The kids attended school from home. My job as mom taxi, shuttling kids to and from sports practices and 4-H meetings, was put on hold.

On the other hand, it was a great time for my oldest to have her driver’s permit. Less traffic on the interstate made it a perfect time to overcome her fear of the biggest roads.

Likewise, our society has fears to overcome now that leaders have started to roll back the shelter-inplace orders. Together, we are fighting a war against an invisible virus. At least until a dependable vaccine is developed, some people will be afraid to gather in larger groups, to go back to the grocery store, or simply to get within six feet of a stranger.

Another big fear has been the looming threat of an economic collapse. Millions have lost their jobs and don’t have another paycheck coming in. I’m far from an economist, but I do understand the danger of an interruption in a system that relies on people to work, get paid, and spend.

Many protested the government orders for residents to stay home and nonessential businesses to close. Fear lay at the heart of those protests — fear of losing what they have gained, but mostly fear of being unable to care for their families.

I am a theologian, which means I’m spending time thinking about how faith communities will play a role in helping the world overcome all of this fear.

The word religion — derived from the Latin religio — means to reconnect. The role of religion is to make connections between the spiritual world and the physical world, as well as connections between one another. Religion can help us move away from “me” thinking to “we” thinking, reminding us that we are all truly bound to one another.

Religion’s role, with or without a pandemic, is about healing connections that are broken, creating whole (yet scarred) communities, and helping us to see that we truly are one. When we live up to what is good about being connected and reconnected, it can calm our fears and reassure us that we’re working together for the good of all people.

I started writing this in the midst of the Easter season, when Christians were reminded once again that new life — not death — has the final word in this world. In the resurrection, Jesus reconnects with his disciples at the tomb (Matthew), on the road to Emmaus (Luke), and in a locked room or around a fire during breakfast (John).

We, too, will reconnect as we walk this journey of life together. We will dine together again — in a restaurant or at communion — and know that, through all of this, our connections really were never broken.

Until then,

Rev. Kara Baylor Campus Pastor

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Barnes & Noble at Carthage is the official campus bookstore.

Find Carthage apparel and souvenirs, reading or textbooks, and an assortment of gifts and gift cards, in addition to all of your supply needs!

Visit us in the Campbell Student Union or online at

carthage.bncollege.com

SHOW YOUR

PRIDE!

262-551-5778 • 800-551-6202 • 2001 Alford Park Drive • Kenosha, WI 53140

FACULTY/STAFF NOTES

Maribel Morales, assistant professor

Jean Quashnock, professor of physics and

Ingrid Tiegel, professor emerita of

of modern languages, gave a presentation on “Successful Globalizing Initiatives at Small Liberal Arts College” during a conference on intercultural competency in January at the University of Arizona.

The following month, Prof. Morales presented a poster on general education revisions at an Association of American Colleges & Universities conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Dana Garrigan, associate professor of biology, co-authored the poster.

astronomy, co-authored a study of ultraviolet radiation from distant quasars that was summarized in the April issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Studying quasars — luminous and massive black holes at the center of distant galaxies — and their UV emissions offers insight into the early days of the universe, billions of years ago.

psychological science, has been appointed to the executive council of the Wisconsin AARP, a nonprofit that promotes the well-being and health of older adults.

Mark Mrowiec, adjunct faculty in management and marketing, presented research titled “To Share or Not to Share: The Impact of Social Media Transparency on Dollar Spend and Willingness to Do Business” this January in Chicago. With researchers at DePaul University, Prof. Mrowiec found that buyers allocate fewer dollars to salespeople who express differing viewpoints on social media.

Colleen O’Brien, assistant professor of management and marketing, presented “Role Overload and Counterproductive Work Behavior: On the Role of Narcissism and Emotional Intelligence” at an American Psychological Association conference in Philadelphia that explored the changing nature of work and its implications for workers’ health and safety.

Mark Petering, professor of music, composed a concerto for tuba and orchestra that the U.S. Army Orchestra premiered Feb. 7. The performance featured Aubrey Foard of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, a renowned tubist for whom the concerto was commissioned. In addition, Prof.

Petering released a classical music album for children, “The Tomten and the Fox.”

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Patricia Rieman, associate professor of education, was awarded a sabbatical for fall 2020 to create a poverty awareness program in partnership with the Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency. She plans to lead staff from local agencies and businesses through a simulated month in impoverished conditions, and to develop a related service learning course.

Isabel Rivero-Vilá, associate professor of modern languages, has begun filming a documentary about cinema in West Africa, conducting on-site interviews in Senegal with top actors, filmmakers, and producers.

Steven Rogg, associate professor of education, contributed to a research poster and served as an ambassador for first-time attendees at the National Association of Biology Teachers conference Nov. 14-17 in Chicago. The research involves Chicago EYES on Cancer, a program that supports high school educators whose students are underrepresented in biomedical careers.

Greg Sadler, adjunct faculty in philosophy, co-hosts the “Wisdom for Life” radio show, which began airing Feb. 28 on Riverwest Radio (WXRW) in Milwaukee. The show discusses practical philosophy — ideas, insights, and practices that can be applied to live happier and more productive lives.

Darwin Tsen, assistant professor of modern languages, presented new research at the annual conference of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Central Asian studies last November in San Francisco. His essay analyzed theoretical debates of Marxism among Mao Zedong (China), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia), and Nicolae Ceaușescu (Romania) and the implications for international relations, culture, and domestic policy.

Jojin Van Winkle, assistant professor of art, was awarded funding for an equity-based storytelling and photojournalism project in her Color Photography course, a new offering in the Art Department. She also led a workshop at the College Art Association conference in Chicago this past February titled “Recharge Your Practice: Researching and Applying for International and National Artist Residencies.”

Mimi Yang, professor of modern languages and Asian studies, won a regional fellowship from the Massachusetts Historical Society to pursue a project titled “What Is the Women’s Suffrage Centennial to a ‘Browner’ and ‘Flatter’ America?”

She plans to spend the 2020-21 academic year at various sites in New England to research, write, and present her work. Earlier, as part of her series on Americanism, an article by Prof. Yang appeared (with versions in English and Spanish) in Diálogos, a major Brazilian journal.

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all hands

online

S

ome machines are engineered to turn on a dime with minimal elbow grease.

Helicopters. Harrier jets. Even fancy riding mowers.

Colleges, on the other hand?

To make a sharp turn, even the smallest, most agile of them need the collective strength of hundreds tugging in the same direction.

That’s how Carthage powered through the spring 2020 semester, arguably the strangest and most difficult in its 173-year history.

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To protect the community after COVID-19 infiltrated the country, Carthage — like nearly every American higher education institution — suspended in-person teaching in March and pivoted to remote instruction.

In ordinary times, you’d want to set aside months or years to implement a change of that magnitude.

Carthaginians did it in 10 days.

“Everyone pulled together in true Carthage spirit,” says President John Swallow. “Faculty with more experience in online education quickly taught those with less, and all were supported by excellent and committed staff. In a little over a week, we were ready to go. I could not have been more impressed and proud.”

Weeks before the new coronavirus darkened Wisconsin doors, Carthage had an eye on the devastation it was causing abroad.

Still, teaching and learning continued on campus, unaffected, through the first month of the spring semester. Before scattering for spring break, faculty

Summer Carthaginian 2020

COVER STORY

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MOBILE WI-FI HOTSPOTS PROVIDED

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VIRTUAL WRITING CENTER CONSULTATIONS

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STUDENTS RECEIVED TELETHERAPY

moment” for the College.

“Everybody just put everything else aside and said ‘We’ve got to do this,’” he adds. “It was really impressive to watch.”

tech turnaround and students traded exuberant where-ya-goings, fully expecting to reconvene in the classroom with recharged batteries and stories to tell.

No such luck.

As the virus progressed from an outbreak to a full-on pandemic and slithered into the Midwest, a campuswide preparedness team gathered daily to weigh the options. On March 12, President Swallow made the big announcement: When the semester resumed, all academic courses would temporarily move online.

“This was a very difficult decision,” he wrote in a message to students. “Carthage has long prided itself on our small classes, hands-on learning, and supportive, in-person academic environment.”

Buying a sliver of time to coordinate the transition, Carthage extended spring break by a week. To navigate that hairpin turn, faculty and staff rolled up their sleeves and cranked the wheel with all their might for a solid week and a half.

David Timmerman, the provost and chief academic officer, looks back on that as “a collaborative and heroic

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On the most basic level, remote teaching requires online tools and the proficiency to get the most out of them.

For that, Carthage turned to an assortment of in-house experts.

At least they weren’t starting from scratch. A recently revived Blended and Online Learning Team (dubbed BOLT 2.0) had already spent considerable time developing online components for the continuing studies programs, and faculty had taught the College’s first two fully remote courses the previous fall.

As students settled in for an extra week off, instructional technologist Chris Grugel and instructional designer Zubia Mughal led two days of workshops that almost 140 faculty members attended in person or virtually. They got a crash course in webbased tools like Zoom and Screencast-O-Matic, plus some underutilized features of the College’s learning management system, Schoology.

Going remote also gave Ms. Mughal an opening to connect with professors she hadn’t met since arriving in February 2019. Explaining that she’s there to help them

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Most students were away for spring break when Carthage announced plans to close the residence halls due to COVID-19. To minimize traffic in the buildings, residential students were assigned specific time windows in April and May to move out their belongings.

Student Emergency Assistance Fund Recognizing that the pandemic has put additional strain on many families’ finances, Carthage has taken multiple steps to provide some financial relief.

Besides distributing federal emergency funds (awarded through the CARES Act) to more than 1,800 qualifying students, the College established its own line of assistance. The Carthage COVID-19 Student Emergency Assistance Fund supports students whose unforeseen financial need endangers their ability to continue their education.

Alumni, parents, students, employees, and friends of the College responded to the need, pitching in more than $40,000.

That, combined with the remaining federal funds, allowed Carthage to provide almost $360,000 in aid to more than 350 students through June 1.

To add your support, please contact Madeline VanGroll at mvangroll@carthage.edu or 262-551-5798, or make a gift online:

integrate educational technology anytime — including evenings and weekends — she got plenty of takers.

Meanwhile, a group of tech-savvy Carthage professors stepped forward to advise their peers. These 29 “tech fellows” cover a wide range of academic departments, effectively giving everyone a trusted colleague or three to approach.

“We created a very wide web of support,” says Michelle Hobbins, associate vice president for information technology.

Yes, there were hiccups, particularly at the beginning.

“Every video conferencing system was being crushed,” Mr. Grugel says. “That was an issue nationwide.”

The show went on. Carol Sabbar ’82, director of library and instructional technology services, leaned on a pair of virtues the Carthage Choir ingrained in her decades ago: patience and flexibility.

For the first couple of weeks, the LIS staff met daily to go over system status reports and adjust on the fly as needed.

“Being a small college, we could be a little more dynamic in that transition than a major university,” says Mr. Grugel. “I’d give our faculty and students an A-plus.”

Some professors stuck with the original schedule, holding live video classes at the usual times on Monday-Wednesday-Friday or whenever. Others practiced “asynchronous” teaching, posting recorded lectures and activities that students could access when it was most convenient.

Most of all, they got creative. Rather than wave the white flag, faculty found ways to simulate things you’d expect to happen in the same room (see sidebar for examples).

“They tailored it. They didn’t just do cookie-cutter,” says Ms. Hobbins. “They did it in a way that made sense for their curriculum and their style.”

the human element It’s fairly easy for an instructor to control the learning environment on campus.

If the wi-fi signal acts up, a phone call sends it to the top of someone’s priority list. If the noise from the Starbucks line gets too loud, you can close the door.

Monitoring those kinds of distractions in the homes of all 5, 10, or even 20 students in your class? Best of luck.

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Following public health guidelines, Carthage essentially had to close the residence halls during the remote period. By the end of the semester, only 19 residents — international students and others who received special exemptions — lived on campus.

Staff knew that switching to remote learning could go smoothly if a student had the necessary hardware — an uncomfortably big if. To plug those gaps, Library and Information Services loaned out every laptop it could wrangle and shipped wi-fi hotspots to students without reliable internet service.

The Division of Student Affairs helped with low-tech materials, locating and mailing back textbooks that residents had left on campus over break. To minimize the intrusion, students could direct employees to the right spot in their rooms using a live video app.

The College transferred its academic support services to the web.

Students kept booking appointments with trained peers in the Brainard Writing Center and the Tutoring Center.

Some favorite campus activities, like bingo, kept drawing crowds remotely as staff from all corners worked to keep students engaged.

A slimmed-down event calendar still featured virtual chapel services, fine arts performances, career forums, and club meetings.

Unfortunately, technology has limits. No amount of megapixels can replicate the social interactions in classrooms, offices, and random spots along Campus Drive.

“I think we all took for granted the ability to see a student and say hello,” says Amber Krusza, director of residential life.

So, when faculty and staff members sent check-in emails to every current student, the benefit was mutual. Volunteers divided the list into manageable groups of 40 or 50.

The incoming class got the same treatment. In preparation for fall 2020 course registration, advisors organized individual 30-minute Zoom meetings with roughly 800 new students. Normally, those are group sessions in a conference room.

“A lot of people choose Carthage because of that personal interaction with faculty and staff. This gives them a sense of that, which is important with the uncertainty that lies ahead,” says Joseph Towey, interim director of the Center for Student Success.

Counselors Karen Seif and Lydia Zopf knew the disruption would affect mental health, already a growing point of emphasis in higher education. The Health and Counseling Center scrambled to offer

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The 7 Tactics of Remotely Resourceful Faculty In the shift to remote instruction, Carthage faculty and students found creative ways to maintain the flow of learning:

special guests Accomplished professionals in fields like graphic design (Michael Bierut from Pentagram, at right), space biology, theatre, and sports marketing met with classes over video. Those experts were stuck at home, too, making it easier than usual to get a “yes” from them.

language exchange Professor Matthew Borden arranged an ongoing “intercambio” on Zoom between his advanced Spanish students and native speakers who are learning English at Tandem, a language academy in Madrid.

chamber music Layering their parts in the Acapella app, Professor James Ripley and 10 members of student ensemble AMATI produced a video premiere of “Talitha Cumi” by Sydney Kjerstad, marking 150 Years of Carthage Women.

field work When their field sites trimmed services or closed during the pandemic, many education and social work students fulfilled the requirements for field hours by creating or contributing to online resources.

lab work Rest easy: No dissections were performed on kitchen counters.

Once hands-on experiments were rendered impossible, faculty in the sciences generally redirected their lab classes to data analysis and case studies.

electronic portfolio In lieu of a final exam, Professor J.J. Shields’ marketing students created an e-portfolio to showcase their qualifications in the job search. Using no-code software, he made a template with detailed instructions.

virtual study abroad Unable to travel as scheduled, 22 students settled for a virtual study tour of Germany and Austria in June.

Professors Greg Baer and Temple Burling simulated much of the itinerary with videos and Zoom chats with residents.

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home dilemma, or just a state of anxiety during the pandemic. So, we wanted to do something to help,” says Casey Aicher ’22, president of the group. “We have a great group of passionate members who really care very deeply about each other and the Carthage community.”

grades and guts

teletherapy service while students were away.

Licensing regulations limited the remote service to existing clients, but relaxed laws during the pandemic freed the counselors to work with students from several more states than usual — a change Ms. Zopf calls “hugely important for us.”

Loneliness and isolation naturally emerged as students’ top concerns. Some were quarantined in unstable homes, while others who consider Carthage their true home struggled to regain their footing.

“Having a job has been a huge life-saver for a lot of my students,” Ms. Zopf says. “It adds a rhythm to their life that they usually have at school.”

Although face-to-face therapy remains the preferred choice for all involved, the technology is in place for the center to offer teletherapy over breaks in the future.

For an extra layer of support, students took care of their own. Six social work majors started a Facebook group, Carthage Connects, to help their peers and gain clinical hours at the same time. About 150 students joined.

Meanwhile, first-year organization Let’s Just Talk organized a virtual support session and shared a Google Doc with practical tips.

“We, as a club, knew that many students were going home to either tense family situations, a work/school/

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Faculty glanced ahead, knowing the deadline for endof-semester grades stood just around the corner. The unknowns gnawed at them.

What if a shelter-in-place order left someone no quiet space to study? What if a parent lost a job — hardly a stretch in 2020 — and the student suddenly became the family breadwinner? What if someone in the household contracted COVID-19?

A thousand variables could sabotage a student’s academic performance.

“That led us to say ‘We have to come up with some kind of safety valve for the students,’” says music professor Edward Kawakami, who headed a task force that dug for a temporary alteration to the College grading policy.

Rejecting a wholesale change to pass/fail grading like some schools adopted, faculty came up with a nuanced plan that Prof. Kawakami sees as “a really elegant solution” for a clunky situation. While preserving the core A/B/C/D merit system, it offers a mulligan for any outliers that might drag down a student’s grade-point average.

For example, those who got a C or D in spring 2020 have the option to switch it to an S (satisfactory). They get credit for passing the class, but the grade doesn’t factor into their GPA. Likewise, a student who received an F during the spring semester can switch it to a W, the equivalent of withdrawing from the course. Students have till late September to decide, giving them time to consult with

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advisors and weigh the options rationally.

“The signal this sends to the students is we care,” says Prof. Kawakami. “We know they’re going to do their best, but right now we don’t know what that looks like.”

Carthage transcripts will bear a footnote identifying the COVID-19 semester, he adds, so “employers or graduate schools will understand why this 3.9 student suddenly had a 2.8 semester.”

For all of the anxiety they stirred up, those two frenzied months inflicted only superficial wounds on the rugged graduating class.

Pressing on through the haze, more than 620 seniors and graduate students earned their degrees in May. That included the first cohort in the Master of Music (music theatre vocal pedagogy) program.

Carthage honored the new alumni with a Virtual Commencement on May 23, tiding them over until a traditional celebration can be scheduled on campus. In his video address, Distinguished Senior Kamren Smith ’20 put in perspective the “wild ride” his class had just completed.

“During these last few months, we have learned to adapt and power through times of hardship, even more so than before,” he said. “This experience has equipped us with skills like flexibility and strength, and, in my eyes, this is the true identity of the Class of 2020.”

The incoming class looks just as hardy. Based on deposits through June 5, the Office of Admissions projects the 2020 freshman class to top last year’s by 14 percent.

since Carthage greatly expanded its summer offerings this year. Almost all of the 37 listed courses are remote.

While the two summer terms are designed for adult students, the results of a post-COVID survey indicate the course topics and online format will also appeal to traditional students who want to stay on track.

Registration for the Summer I term more than doubled from the previous year.

After extensive research and consultations with public health officials, President Swallow announced in June that the College would resume in-person, residential instruction this fall — with a few safety-driven tweaks to the academic calendar and campus facilities.

Will the pandemic cooperate? Hard to say, so the Blended and Online Learning Team rolled out an “adaptive course design” strategy in June.

“Our faculty are updating and redesigning their courses for multiple formats — live or remote,” says Professor Dennis Munk, co-chair of the group. “That way, we’ll be prepared to adapt quickly to a number of possible scenarios and make expert use of teaching technologies that provide value in any format.”

Often, the story behind a lingering scar shapes the way you view it. Rather than hide the scars of spring 2020, this community can wear them as a point of pride.

Instructional designer Zubia Mughal compares the mid-semester change to an airplane’s emergency landing — safe, but far from the original destination. With time to regroup before fall, the College can prepare to steer clear of any future turbulence.

Faculty are already logging some extra practice time,

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people vs. pandemic Besides continuing the educational mission, Carthaginians played active roles in the broader community response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

amanda (jackson) prochaska ’04 runs Las Vegas-based HPP Coach, which guided more than 1,000 small and mid-sized businesses through the complex application process for federal disaster loans as they tried to weather the storm of government-ordered closures and restrictions.

Of all the forms her team reviewed, she says about 85 percent contained errors that could’ve forced clients to repay the benefits they receive through the Paycheck Protection Program — intended as forgivable loans — or doomed their chances for relief altogether.

Ms. Prochaska and her staff assisted all kinds of entrepreneurs, from restaurant owners to Uber drivers.

“The one thing I hadn’t expected was the emotional burden of it all,” she says, describing heart-wrenching phone calls with people who had cashed in their life savings to keep businesses afloat until better days arrive.

Clients could use the services at no charge. The firm’s preferred lender receives payment from the Small Business Administration and, in turn, pays HPP for the referral.

Normally focused more broadly on procurement, Ms. Prochaska’s company shifted almost entirely to the COVID-19 relief programs in March. First came a steady flow of clients seeking Economic Injury Disaster Loans, followed by a flash flood of PPP applicants.

“We were expecting this to be a very short sprint,” she says, “and it became a marathon.”

The bad news? For most businesses, the available PPP benefit only covers a portion of the losses.

The good news? Every first-time applicant HPP assisted got approved for a loan. That drew some more uplifting phone calls to the Carthage alumna.

“I hope and pray that, after they get the money, they can make it through.”

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alumni across the United States leapt into action as hospital administrators, physicians, nurses, and EMTs. Those include all 13 alumni from Carthage’s first Bachelor of Science in Nursing cohort, who work in acute care settings on the front lines. nathan clark ’21 tested more than 1,000 people for COVID-19 in the first six weeks of his mission as a medic with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Before that, he provided assistance at a Kenosha polling site for the April 7 election, as Guard members compensated for a shortage of poll workers.

michael rowan ’98, an enterprise sales manager at Abbott Laboratories in suburban Chicago, is part of a team that helped to roll out a molecular lab test for the novel coronavirus in the northeastern United States.

samantha (chavez) hoogland ’13 owns TH3D Studio in Hobart, Indiana, which used its 3-D printers to make face shields for health care workers. The company charged only the cost of shipping.

the nursing department at Carthage donated hundreds of medical supplies and equipment to area health care facilities.

Items included masks, face shields, isolation gowns, sterile gloves, and nitrile gloves.

THE OAKS RESIDENTIAL VILLAGE was made available as quarantine space for first responders and other essential employees who tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to the virus. The city of Kenosha agreed to pay for all cleaning expenses.

carthage dining donated 1,604 pounds of food to the Shalom Center, which provides emergency food and shelter to low-income residents in Kenosha County.

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Pep talk for perseverance Over the course of the spring, many Carthaginians like these offered words of encouragement to support students through a challenging period.

“What we are going through as a nation is something you will never forget. … Many of you will experience the challenge of remote learning, understand the fear of getting the disease, and witness financial distress within your family, and you will become stronger because you lived through it.”

— Jeff Hamar ’80, Chair of the Board of Trustees

“Sending my love and wishes that you remain safe, you continue to excel in your studies, and you let your light shine in these unprecedented times.”

— Roger Moreano, Assistant Dean of Students,

Director of Equity and Inclusion

“When I thought my world was coming apart, I started writing down everything I heard that was funny or absurd: jokes, one liners, weird sayings.

That collection has grown through the years into dozens of pages. When I get depressed, disillusioned, or bored, I go to those pages to gain a sense of perspective on my life, and on the strange quality of human existence.”

— Tom Lentz ’63

“I hope you hear the world cheering you on; you’ve got this!” — Trista Walas ’01

“The culture at Carthage is unique in that it embraces many values that are sometimes overlooked in our society. We will survive this crisis and hopefully learn a valued lesson.”

— Cress and Susannah Hart ’67

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“The Carthage experience is about more than just a beautiful campus. Be sure to treasure and nurture the relationships you have built while at Carthage. ” — Cynthia Walker ’78

“A good quote by Mr. Rogers: ‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ One thing is certain, our Carthage community is strong and always will be.

Look for the helpers.”

— Cammie Bergman ’14

“There are times in life that you will be tested. This is one of those times. Remain faithful and believe in your ability to persevere.”

— Nancy Mann ’95

“Remember to give yourself grace during this time, and in times of uncertainty, lean on your faith.”

— Veronica (Hunter) Moore ’05

“During these past several weeks, I’ve become even more aware of the impact you have on my life and the lives of those around you. I’ve been reminded that you are remarkable, creative, resilient and caring. This time will not define you, but it can refine you into an even more magnificent you.”

— Debbie Clark, Assistant to the Campus Pastor

“The sun will come out again, and the Carthage flame will burn brighter than ever.”

— Patrick Anderson ’85, parent and trustee

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DIPLOMA DRIVE-THRU

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Cheered on by faculty and staff, 111 members of the Carthage Class of 2020 took one last ceremonial ride down Campus Drive at the Diploma Drive-Thru Pickup on June 10.

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illlustration by scott laumann

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Trauma informant Well-acquainted with societal struggles, social work professor takes aim at common cause

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n her 25 years as a clinical social worker, Debbie MinskyKelly became intimately familiar with all kinds of struggling populations.

Those dealing with addiction or mental illness. The homeless.

Abused and neglected children.

Lots of people with lots of distinct needs, yet she noticed a single common denominator.

“The thread that ran through all my years of social work practice was seeing the effect of trauma on communities,” she says.

The clinical assistant professor of social work has closely studied psychological trauma and its impact on brain development, health, learning, and relationships. Hint: It’s all bad.

This Debbie doesn’t mean to be a downer.

She simply understands the hidden dangers lurking in the wake of the nation’s turmoil.

That’s why local and national media have interviewed Prof. Minsky-Kelly in recent months, trying to gauge the potential fallout — and a path to recovery — from a jarring year.

Assessing the damage What is trauma? In that discussion, ACEs trump everything.

A landmark study in the 1990s traced a host of societal problems back to a set of Adverse Childhood Experiences grouped under three headings: abuse, neglect, and household challenges. The list has grown since then.

Distilling all of the pyramid charts and toolkits for a mainstream audience, Prof. Minsky-Kelly explains what lies at the heart of any traumatic event: an unsafe feeling.

Sometimes trauma smolders for years, as police brutality against African Americans has. The killing of George Floyd finally set the nation’s anger ablaze.

“There’s this constant state of toxic stress that people of color have faced since any of us have been alive,” says Prof. Minsky-Kelly.

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“Racism has been found to be as damaging as child abuse in terms of the effect on health over the long term.”

Other times, it’s easy to put your finger on a single event or starting point, like this year’s COVID-19 outbreak. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics feared for their own well-being like never before.

In ordinary times, just seeing patients suffer can induce a kind of secondary trauma in empathetic caregivers. It’s just that nobody worries about catching a heart attack or cancer.

Over time, Prof. Minsky-Kelly grew alarmed by the damage that secondhand stress was inflicting on her own field. Her extensive clinical experience came in child welfare, homeless health care, and hospital mental health — all settings that could overwhelm a less emotionally prepared practitioner.

“I wasn’t meeting a lot of fellow social workers who had done the work for 25 years,” she says. “They were leaving because it was so hard.”

The high turnover was unsustainable. A solution had to come from upstream.

Then the director of Rogers Behavioral Health, a Kenosha treatment provider for mental health and substance abuse, she saw a glaring need to “better prepare students for what the demands of the profession really are.” So, in 2018, she left to join the Carthage faculty.

“Building that foundation with people just starting out in the field was a very important contribution I could make,” Prof.

Minsky-Kelly says.

Besides teaching, she’s the field director for the program. She coordinates seniors’ placements at more than 60 internship sites.

Students know they’ll always get a straightforward answer from the professor, who admits she’s “not a big fan of sugarcoating what the social work practice looks like.”

That’s not to scare them away from the field — on the contrary, Prof. Minsky-Kelly wants to equip them for the long haul. Driven by idealism alone, too many newcomers to the field succumb to burnout.

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carthage trauma and wellness conference For the first time, Carthage hosted an immersive two-day conference focused on trauma-informed practices.

Registration for the Trauma and Wellness Conference quickly reached capacity. More than 300 professionals from the region attended the event Feb. 25 and 26.

Tied together by the theme “A Vision for Community Engagement and Healing,” the program featured panel discussions about trauma in the justice system and education, plus a pair of keynote speakers: • Timothy Grove, senior consultant at SaintA • Ramel Kweku Akyirefi Smith, president and CEO of Blaquesmith Psychological Consultative Services Carthage co-sponsored the conference with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and organizers plan to make it an annual event.

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She strongly encourages students to consult with their classmates and their expanding professional network. The longtime social worker points out that she still leans heavily on her own peers in the field.

Many field agencies closed during Wisconsin’s “Safer At Home” directive last spring, sending senior social work majors scrambling for alternate options to meet the 400-hour clinical minimum.

(Carthage made a one-time exception to its usual threshold of 450 hours.)

With just weeks to go in his final semester, A.J. Gouriotis ’20 huddled with professors Becki Hornung (chair of the Social Work Department) and Minsky-Kelly to brainstorm Plan B — and then Plan C. For the last mile, he helped a niche professional association, the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports, to shape its upcoming virtual conference.

A.J. took more classes with Prof. Minsky-Kelly than any other faculty member.

“Helping us build that resilience and reminding us we’re more than capable was very helpful,” he says. “When times are tough, she’s at her best.”

A new approach Pay close attention to the recent graduate’s choice of words. Building resilience is a key phrase — no, more like a primary goal — for anyone who works with traumatized populations. Professionals insist the ability to adapt, to bounce back, can be taught.

Agencies are increasingly adopting a model of care that takes a person’s underlying trauma into account.

Resilient Wisconsin, an initiative the state launched in April, sums up the difference in one question: “Rather than the typical medical approach of asking ‘What is wrong with you?’ a trauma-informed approach would instead ask ‘What has happened to you?’”

For a school principal, that might mean peeling back the layers to see what’s triggering a student’s disruptive behavior, rather than automatically attributing it to ADHD or writing the kid off as a bad seed.

For a health care provider, that might mean calming a patient

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down with breathing exercises rather than restraining them. Or knowing that victims of sexual assault don’t all react the same.

“Some of the behaviors we see in traumatized people only make sense if we’re looking through a trauma lens,” Prof. Minsky-Kelly says. “This is really considered the gold standard now.”

There’s been some pushback from traditionalists in those fields, who say the trauma-informed approach just absolves people of responsibility. Prof. Minsky-Kelly counters with scientific evidence about the brain.

Plus, the strategy appears to be effective. In communities where the model’s been in place long enough to evaluate, lots of troublesome youth statistics are dropping: suicides, arrests, suspensions, and teen pregnancies.

Shortly after settling into her faculty office, Prof. Minsky-Kelly developed a new course: Trauma Across Social Contexts. Now offered each fall, it introduces students to trauma’s impact and their own role in the healing process.

Though listed as a social work elective, she argues it’s equally valuable for students pursuing careers in education, criminal justice,

I really enjoyed that recent webinar!

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health care, psychology, and economics.

No need to persuade Michele Hancock, a professor of practice in education. Given the need to dismantle systemic inequities in K-12 schools, she calls trauma “a critical topic for educators.”

Describing Prof. Minsky-Kelly as a “highly passionate and extremely knowledgeable” leader in this growing movement, she sees a big opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration.

“Debbie is willing to go the extra mile to support meaningful education to any and all about the impact of trauma on human lives,” says Prof. Hancock.

Both women served as faculty panelists at Carthage’s first Trauma and Wellness Conference in February. The free event drew a maximum-capacity audience from a wide range of occupations.

“It clearly met a community need,” Prof. Minsky-Kelly says. “Just seeing this cross-section of professionals who want to do a better job and be more responsive was a huge accomplishment.”

Little did they know one of the most traumatic periods imaginable lay just around the corner, putting all of that newfound knowledge to the test.

And I loved catching up with my sorority sisters in May! Can’t wait for the upcoming reunion.

Wait, how did you guys hear about these things?

We got an email from Carthage!

Not getting Carthage emails?

Don’t miss out on opportunities to catch up with old classmates, hear from former coaches and faculty, or receive important College updates, not to mention event invitations, free giveaways, and the chance to make an impact on campus.

Go to carthage.edu/alumni/change-address/ to update your contact information and preferences.

Update your information by Sept. 1 to make sure you get the latest updates on our (Stay at) Homecoming 2020.

Shannon Kafura ’20, left, decorated her van for the June 10 Diploma Drive-Thru Pickup event with help from best friend Jenna Cannon ’21.

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Pre-op to Pre-med After 20 surgeries, new Carthage graduate aims to swap hospital gown for hospital privleges

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orn with a genetic condition commonly known as brittle bone disease, Shannon Kafura ’20 has suffered hundreds of broken bones.

After spending an inordinate chunk of her childhood in hospitals and clinics, she’s had as many surgeries (20 and counting) as birthdays. You’d expect her to avoid those places whenever possible, right?

Quite the opposite, actually — she’s drawn to them like a magnet.

Immediately after graduating from Carthage in May, Shannon started methodically inching down the lengthy checklist for applying to medical school. The newly acquired bachelor’s degree brings her one step closer to her dream job as a practicing physician.

On the receiving end of medical care for so long, this alumna is eager to share her unique perspective as a caregiver.

“Shannon certainly embodies the empathy and compassion that’s required in a physician,” says Denise Cook-Snyder, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Carthage. “She knows what it’s like to treat a patient like an individual.”

Of course, they don’t just hand out MDs to anyone with a gentle bedside manner and a heartwarming story. A doctor also needs an incredibly sharp mind.

Well, based on observations as her teacher, research partner, and pre-med advisor, Prof. Cook-Snyder deems Shannon “an extraordinary student” and offers this unambiguous prediction: “I’m confident she’ll be a really impactful physician one day.”

A passion kindled About 1 in 20,000 Americans are born with her condition, osteogenesis imperfecta. The Latin name bluntly translates to “imperfect bone formation.”

It impedes skeletal formation and leaves people extra-prone to broken bones. A minor fall that most kids would shrug off can send someone with OI to the hospital.

If those symptoms sound familiar, you’re probably picturing

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Mr. Glass. The villainous character Samuel L. Jackson portrays in supernatural thrillers “Unbreakable” (2000) and “Glass” (2019) has a type of OI. Between a walker and a wheelchair, Shannon has the mobility to go just about anywhere she wants — including medical school. For now, at least, her aspirations lean toward neonatology, a pediatric specialty focused on premature and at-risk babies.

This aspiring MD will always have a soft spot for the tiniest of patients. After all, baby Shannon had barely made it home from the hospital when the family accidentally broke her arm and had to race back to the ER. Fractures became routine, with her femurs taking the brunt.

Doctors inserted titanium rods to reinforce the bones, then had to cycle through a half-dozen replacements on each side as the rods bent.

Over time, she also developed a potentially dangerous complication. Called basilar invagination, it occurs when the skull pushes on the spine.

The family became regulars at top pediatric facilities in the region.

From their home in Kenosha, they either headed north to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin or south to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago.

Never squeamish, the young patient found the whole medical scene mesmerizing. When doctors showed X-rays of her injuries, Shannon studied and interpreted the images right alongside her physicians.

That curiosity spilled over into playtime.

“If I had a cast, all my toys at home had casts,” she says.

As Shannon got older, the family gravitated to specialized clinics in Baltimore, where her curiosity ballooned. She shadowed physicians and lobbied the nurses — unsuccessfully — for permission to administer her own intravenous drip.

A vocational seed began to germinate, and it wasn’t just the equipment that inspired her. Grateful for the compassionate treatment she received, Shannon resolved to emulate her doctors.

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Ahead of the curve Undeterred by the physical setbacks, Shannon’s mind kept her on pace. Ahead of it, actually. Enrolled in a school with a heavy online component that lets students progress at their own pace, she put her foot on the gas and floored it.

Life expectancy for those with OI varies widely, but Shannon was determined to maximize whatever time she’s given. So, at an age when most kids start counting down the months until they can drive, she started searching for a college.

Pouncing on a supplemental option for Kenosha students, she got a head start by taking some classes at a public university. The large school atmosphere gave her that fish-out-of-water vibe, though, so she looked for another place to use those credits.

Carthage’s promise of one-on-one guidance stood out in pleasant contrast. Plus, it was close to home.

If she needed any additional encouragement, the family’s new neighbor was happy to provide it. Shannon found she could confide in Jane (Anderson) Spencer ’80, a longtime Carthage staff member who settled into the house next door in 2014.

“It was pretty fortuitous that she moved in when she did,” Shannon says.

“She even brought Carthage swag to my high school graduation party.”

The whiz kid was sold.

Armed with a scholarship from Society’s Assets, a local nonprofit that helps residents with disabilities to live independently, she committed to Carthage. Two months after becoming the youngest high school graduate in Kenosha Unified district history, Shannon entered college at 15 — just as President John Swallow had years earlier.

Intrigued by the wonders of the human brain, she declared a major in neuroscience with a pre-med concentration. Rote memorization won’t cut it in those classes, and the department’s emphasis on applied knowledge gets two thumbs up from Shannon.

“I love the challenge of the classes,” she says. “The way the tests and assignments are designed forces you to take all of the information you’ve learned over the semester and combine and apply it in unique and innovative ways to solve the problems.”

Lab work especially thrilled Shannon, who was able to conduct experiments from her wheelchair. Although campus buildings comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, she needed a few extra accommodations — like lowered paper towel and soap dispensers and extra lab assistants.

It helps to have strong advocates in your corner. While Shannon and her parents proactively initiated those conversations, the new graduate makes a point to acknowledge the efforts of Learning Accessibility Services director Diane Schowalter.

As advertised, she got plenty of individual attention at Carthage.

Shedding her natural shyness, Shannon picked professors’ brains during office hours and between classes. She feigns relief that none of them resented her omnipresence.

Two and a half years of collaborative research with neuroscience and biology faculty members further broke the ice. They studied elements of post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I feel like I’ve gotten to know the professors better,” she says. “I’m not humbled in their presence now.”

In fall 2018, the need for another surgery (on her spine) forced Shannon to pause her education for a semester — or at least slow it down. Understanding professors Julie Dahlstrom and Daniel

photo courtesy of kennedy krieger

Shannon's determination immediately impressed Dr. Mahim Jain, who cares for patients with osteogenesis imperfecta at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

30

Summer Carthaginian 2020

FE AT U RE S TO RY

Steiner arranged for her to take an essential physics course remotely.

Between physical therapy sessions, she watched recorded lectures and completed assignments from her bed while rehabbing at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. One more example of the resiliency that everyone in her campus support network has come to admire.

“She has faced considerable barriers, but Shannon’s never been someone to allow those barriers to stand in her way,” says Prof.

Cook-Snyder.

Resuming her studies in 2019, Shannon returned to campus with a rod in her back and a thesis topic coalescing in her mind. Acute flaccid myelitis, a little-understood neurological disease that had perplexed the doctors she met in Baltimore, became the focus of her capstone project.

Hand-picked as a supplemental instructor for the neuroscience thesis class the following semester, she liked the job more than expected. She’s looking forward to the lecturing aspect of a physician’s job and, farther down the line, a transition to teaching in retirement.

Deep into Shannon’s senior year at Carthage, the finish line was in sight when the COVID-19 pandemic shoved all courses online.

Despite her prior experience with remote learning, its inherent challenges became clear.

“A classroom has a certain ambience that helps you stay focused,” she admits.

Gritting out the final two months, Shannon graduated with a spotless 4.0 GPA. A jumble of sadness, nervousness, excitement, and disbelief swirled around her.

It’s easy to pinpoint the source of her nerves. The arduous medical school application process that once seemed far off is now in motion.

Four years of careful preparation at Carthage allow Shannon to breathe a little easier. She’s grateful for the support from her premedical advisors, professors David Brownholland and Cook-Snyder, as she fulfilled all of the prerequisites and took the Medical College Admission Test.

carthage.edu

Before long, the excitement will take over. Such an intensely personal career passion will burn through any amount of red tape.

“Reality has set in more,” she says, “but the motivation hasn’t abated.”

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has risen to the top of Shannon’s medical school wish list for admission in fall 2021. Unless the pandemic interferes further, the Carthage alumna plans to spend the gap year shadowing more medical professionals, raising funds for Society’s Assets (where she serves on the board of directors), and undergoing yet another femur surgery in December.

This elaborate procedure has a lengthy recovery period, but it could be a long-term fix that makes it easier for her to walk. Doctors also say Shannon’s fractures should subside in adulthood, and the pressure on her spine has stabilized.

Ultimately, that’s a good prognosis for everyone. The less attention her own health demands, the more she can devote to the health of her future patients.

31

Riley Peterson

Antoine Givens

Elizabeth Ozog

Economics

Political Science

Environmental Science / Geoscience

Budget and Policy Analyst

District Director

Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Medicaid Division

Illinois State Rep. Mary Edly-Allen

Forest Regeneration Monitoring Technician Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Check out some of the next stops for graduates from the Carthage Class of 2020:

Shiqi Xu

McKenna Sanders

Amiya Johnson

Music

Communication

Nursing

Graduate student – Classical Piano Performance

Sales Executive

Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit

Manhattan School of Music

32

FIS

Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital

Summer Carthaginian 2020

FE AT U RE S TO RY

Josey Muske

Lamar Simpson

Joseph Hansen

Biology

Marketing

English / Music

Graduate student (Ph.D.) – Immunology track

Inside Sales Representative

Graduate student – English

Ampco Metal

Loyola University Chicago

Emma Jeronimus

Dulce Zarinana

Reid Anderson

Elementary Education

Political Science

Finance

Teacher

Jesuit Volunteer Corps – Immigrant Advocate

Financial Professional Development Program

New Mexico Immigration Law Center

Abbott Laboratories

Mayo Clinic School of Biomedical Sciences

Shanghai High School International Division

carthage.edu

33

ATHLETICS

Seniors’ swan song goes unperformed A

fter a pre-meet weightlifting session, All-America thrower Sarah Schmidt ’20 was chatting with her track and field coaches outside a café in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, around 4 p.m. March 12.

The NCAA Division III indoor championships were set to begin the next day. Sarah, one of four Carthage qualifiers, came in as the No. 3 seed in the weight throw and No. 6 in the shot put.

“Someone mentioned the basketball championships being canceled, and the coaches were worried about our upcoming competition,” she said. “They had been worried the past three days as the (COVID-19) situation grew and developed.”

The outdoor season hung in limbo, too.

Unsettled, Sarah excused herself from the table and headed back to the team’s hotel, hoping for the best.

The news broke 30 minutes later: Because of the pandemic, the NCAA was calling off the indoor championships — along with all remaining winter and spring sporting events.

“My college athletic career was over,” Sarah said.

“I was done. I had competed as a college studentathlete for the last time without knowing it.

“I never even got to say goodbye.”

Gone in an instant was the chance for dozens of student-athletes to polish the ending in their Carthage stories. Incomplete drafts were published in their place.

The three seniors on the men’s volleyball team — roommates Jacob Allard, Ben Perez, and Braeden Waumans — felt the jolt. Unbeaten

34

Sarah Schmidt ’20

through six matches in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, Carthage was wellpositioned to claim the inaugural league title and a third straight NCAA tournament berth.

Emmily Zinkiewicz felt it, too. A year after reaching the NCAA softball super regionals for the first time, the speedy center fielder had high hopes for 2020 — hopes that rose with a 10-2 start to the season in Florida over spring break.

“With most of the same group of girls coming back this year, we were determined to get right back there and go even further,” she said, “so it is sad that we never even got the chance to put up that fight.”

silver linings After Carthage temporarily transitioned to remote teaching, coaches took steps to keep their teams connected. In the absence of athletic competition, men’s track and field coach Josh Henry organized a “Call of Duty” video game marathon.

“We played for about three hours,” he said. “The guys were much better than me, and I think they enjoyed beating me a little too much. I think it may have been a little bit therapeutic for them to beat me after years of challenging workouts.”

The NCAA provided a sliver of light, granting spring student-athletes an extra year of eligibility.

That’s an option some members of the Class of 2020 could pursue if they enroll in one of Carthage’s graduate programs.

The impending graduates found different ways to cope. Living under the same roof, the trio of volleyball seniors relied on lots of conversations and occasional Instagram and Snapchat memes.

Emmily Zinkiewicz ’20

“It will certainly be fun to keep up with the team next year and to see just how well they dominate all of their opponents,” said Jacob, a setter who majored in communication and plans to attend graduate school.

Summer Carthaginian 2020

During countless hours together on the softball field, teammates became a second family for Emmily. She wants people to remember the seniors for all they accomplished in the program, not for the lost season.

“This team was definitely a fun and special group, and we really just bonded together from the start,” said the athletic training major, who plans to work while preparing for the certification exam. “I would not have wanted to end my college career with any other team.”

While the new alumni can always look back on a treasure trove of varsity memories, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re retiring from competition.

“I am done throwing, but I am determined to run,” said Sarah, a biology major with a strong academic resume. “My dad used to run marathons, and I hope I will be able to run one someday (maybe not this year or next year, but soon).”

“I never even got to say goodbye.”

Dante Graham ’20

Swimming and Diving

Another Carthage conference sweep Once again, Carthage swept the team titles and grabbed three of the top individual awards at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship in February.

The Red Men won their fourth straight championship, while the Lady Reds earned their third consecutive title.

Mitchell Mages ’21, who won two individual events and contributed to three relay wins at the meet, was named CCIW Male Athlete of the Year.

Carthage also claimed both conference Coach of the Year awards, as Seith Weidmann and Beth DeLaRosby each earned it for the fifth time.

all-america honors Men’s Swimming and Diving Mitchell Mages ’21 Ethan Hare ’21 Nick Nevins ’21 Mitchel Steinke ’21

Women’s Swimming and Diving DeAnn Jones ’20 Gianna McGuire ’20 Becca Rutkowski ’20 Heather Walker ’20 Breaeden Waumans ’20

Men’s Track and Field Aaron Austin ’21

Women’s Track and Field Sarah Schmidt ’20 Elizabeth Willis ’20 Tyrani White ’21

Men’s Volleyball Matt Slivinski ’21 (first team)

Women’s Water Polo Emma Jeronimus ’20 (second team) Megan Cales ’23 (honorable mention) carthage.edu

35

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CLASS NOTES

Giving Day 2020: Generosity from a distance

$500,000+

raised for student-centered programs CHALLENGES MET:

✓ Student emergency fund ✓ Nursing initiative ✓ W-K (Black Alumni Network) funds

In spite of the daunting circumstances that kept us from physically gathering in celebration this year, Carthaginians stood together in support of our educational mission on Giving Day 2020.

Originally scheduled for March 26, the annual fundraising sprint was postponed when the College shifted to remote instruction. The new date, May 5, allowed Carthage to join in the global #GivingTuesdayNow campaign, developed “as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.”

Mindful of the widespread financial upheaval, the College also welcomed alternate forms of support. Registering as a mentor in The Aspire Network or submitting a message of encouragement for students counted toward this year’s participation goals.

In one form or another, 1,054 community members pitched in. Exceeding each successive goal for participation and dollars given, Carthage unlocked substantial gifts from several trustees.

The half-dozen fundraising priorities included a wildly successful initiative to support Carthage’s thriving nursing program. Edward and Alice Smeds, 1957 alumni who had established the fund, matched Giving Day contributions 5-to-1 up to $50,000.

In total, the Smeds Nursing Initiative raised more than $250,000 toward scholarships, equipment, and transportation for nursing students. It also renewed the Smeds Fellowship in Population Health, awarded to students who commit to tackle local health challenges.

Safety precautions nixed the face-to-face social events usually held on campus and in alumni chapters across the country on Giving Day, so the #redandready celebration went virtual. Campus Pastor Kara Baylor led a live prayer service on Instagram, and several sororities and athletic teams gathered via Zoom.

carthage.edu

✓ 150 Years of

Carthage Women

✓ Center for Faith and Spirituality

✓ Class of 2020

37

Carthage comes to you. virtual

Homecoming & Family Weekend Oct. 2-4, 2020

carthage.edu/homecoming

IN MEMORIAM 1942 Ann (Pfarr) Wade

1953 James Finerty

Cincinnati | April 12, 2020

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Jan. 3, 2020

1943 Mildred (Othmer) Lessley Baldwin, Ill. Dec. 15, 2019

1945 Sarah (Lambert) Hooker Three Rivers, Mich.

Sept. 5, 2019

1947 Ilsemarie Casper San Jose, Calif.

June 4, 2019

1949 Lee (Klein) Barringer Jennings, Fla. Aug. 5, 2019

Warren Reckmeyer Mt. Morris, Ill. March 26, 2020

1950 Howard Goodyear Morton, Ill. Feb. 22, 2020

Virgina (Garcia) Heimerdinger Pearl City, Ill. Dec. 15, 2019

Donald Petelle Fort Wayne, Ind. April 11, 2020

John Zehfus Sheboygan, Wis. Nov. 30, 2019

1951 Rev. Donald Riechers North Liberty, Iowa Jan. 27, 2020

Wilma Schneider

1954 Rev. Lewis Payne Quincy, Ill. Dec. 18, 2019

1955 Aija (Auseklis) Kengis Three Rivers, Mich.

Dec. 13, 2019

1956 Robert Larson Fox Point, Wis. Dec. 23, 2019

1957 Barbara (Erkert) Cooperrider Waterford, Mich.

March 31, 2020

Donald Mantzke Lake Carroll, Ill. March 29, 2020

1958 Frederick Lesher La Crosse, Wis. Nov. 13, 2019

1959 Geneen (Cassens) Morgan Columbia, Mo. Nov. 22, 2019

1961 John Behrendt East Lansing, Mich.

Jan. 20, 2020

1964 Charles Bell Jr. Fort Myers, Fla. April 9, 2020

1965 James Shawl

West Bend, Wis. Jan. 15, 2020,

Racine, Wis. April 7, 2019

1952 John Dose Jr.

Richard Snyder

Waverly, Iowa Feb. 6, 2020

1969 Berniece (Brockway Halverson) Finley Kenosha | Oct. 30, 2019

Elizabeth Woldt Mt. Morris, Ill. Sept. 17, 2020

1971 Michael Steinmiller Yorktown, Va. Feb. 26, 2019

1972 Janice Wilson Orangeville, Ill. Jan. 8, 2020

1973 Rev. Randal Gullickson

1989 Judith (Lange) Shaub

LEGACY LADIES

Racine, Wis. Dec. 4, 2019

This past winter, Carthage lost two of its “Legacy Ladies” — influential alumnae who bridged the gap between the previous and current campuses by attending the groundbreaking ceremony for every new facility on the Kenosha campus:

1989 Pamela SkowronskiAnderson Wauwatosa, Wis. Dec. 24, 2019

1993 Timothy John Stell Kenosha | April 5, 2020

Patrick Zuchowski Kenosha | Jan. 30, 2020

1998 Joseph Ipavec New Berlin, Wis. Nov. 25, 2019

Butler, Pa. | Nov. 10, 2019

Carol (Neu) Merten Burlington, Wis March 27, 2020

Jill (Pryse) Svoboda Kenosha | March 1, 2020

1975 Milous Adams

1999 Daniel Thornborough Pleasant Prairie, Wis. April 21, 2019

2002 Lucas Haberstich Albuquerque, N.M. Feb. 16, 2020

Racine, Wis. Dec. 23, 2019

2005 Andrea Durian

Bruce Powell

Racine, Wis. Jan. 27, 2020

Antigo, Wis. March 23, 2020

1978 Rev. Gary Landsness LeMars, Iowa Jan. 17, 2020

2011 Ahmad Landrum Kenosha | April 13, 2020 friends of carthage

Harriet Borg 1980 Eileen Gallo

Wheaton, Ill. Aug. 28, 2019

Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Nov. 15, 2019

Mike Gallo

1982 Katheryn Heide (M.Ed.)

Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Nov. 15, 2019

Geraldine Greenlee

Kenosha | Nov. 1, 2019

Allerton, Iowa Feb. 25, 2019

1985 Larry Lawler

Carole Johnson Denver | June 30, 2019

Mountain Home, Ariz.

July 20, 2019

Wadsworth, Ill. Feb. 20, 2020

Jonathan Zophy

1967 William Weisendanger

John Melis

Seabrook, Texas June 4, 2020

Freeport, Ill. Aug. 22, 2019

38

Mount Pleasant, Wis. Oct. 21, 2019

Ruth Johnson

carthage.edu/johnson-tribute

Registrar Emerita Ruth Johnson ’84, one of Carthage’s longestserving employees, passed away Jan. 21. She was 82.

Hired in 1956, Ms. Johnson worked under longtime registrar Pearl Goeller for several years in Carthage, Illinois, and then opened Carthage’s first Kenosha office. Promoted to registrar in 1981, she employed the service motto “Kill them with kindness” but also commanded faculty respect.

She set an example for adult learners, earning a degree in her late 40s by attending Carthage night classes while working full time.

Ms. Johnson received the Carthage Flame in 2000 and retired in 2002.

Beverly Keller

carthage.edu/johnson-tribute

Known as the “first lady of Carthage athletics,” Beverly (Hand) Keller ’61 passed away March 7 in Racine, Wisconsin. She was 96.

Like her husband, iconic administrator and coach Art Keller ’44, she earned induction into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame for decades of impact on the program. She was a charter member of the Athletic Booster Club and undoubtedly attended more Carthage sporting events than anyone.

Ms. Keller, a longtime teacher, likewise played a vital role in Greek life at Carthage as founding advisor for Kappa Chi Omega (now Chi Omega) sorority. Her five daughters are all fellow alumnae: Carol Dubs ’67, Sharon Matusevicius ’70, Julia Ferris ’72, Laura Devine ’76, and Martha Fergus ’77.

Summer Carthaginian 2020

list)

join THE aspire

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Building the Carthage community through of faculty have more than $250 MiLLion mentoring90 and%purposeful connections highest degree in their field

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more than

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Since The Aspirestudent-toNetwork faculty ratio more launched earlier this year, than 500 alumni have joined!

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CLASS NOTES

1976

1955 John Roth – Palmetto Bay, Florida, completed 20 years as a of Carthage speakerstudents for ecumenical Christian receive financialFood aid for the Poor. He has nonprofit preached in 28 states and has taken mission trips to Haiti, the Dominican more than Republic, Jamaica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. in merit scholarships for qualified students

Gina Madrigrano Friebus – Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, received a lifetime achievement award on March 6 at the annual Susan B. Anthony Women of Influence Awards ceremony, organized invested in by several local nonprofits. The award is MiLLion campus facilities “given to a woman who believes in equity and exemplifies this philosophy; gives of herself that others might learn, grow and succeed; and provides inspiration through leadership.” A retired business executive land on the shore of resident, Ms. Madrigrano Friebus is andof lifelong Kenosha County acres Lake Michigan co-chair of the 150 Years of Carthage Women celebration and first vice chair of the Carthage Board of Trustees, in addition to a board member for several nonprofits.

$250

1962

80

Susan Redman – Fairmont, Minnesota, was promoted to waiver case aide with Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties. She works with a team of 12 social workers, coordinating services for clients with a range of disabilities. of Carthage students more receive financial aid than

90%

1981

Cecil Jennings – Athens, Georgia, was electedinsecond president of merit vice scholarships forFisheries qualifiedSociety. students the American His term begins in September. Mr. Jennings is a fisheries research biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey and an adjunct of Carthage students more professor ofinfisheries at the University competitive receive financial aid than 4 of Georgia.

MiLLion scholarships

$15-21K

Susan (Leonard) Fulrath in competitive MiLLion scholarships – Winnebago, Illinois, became a certified master gardener through the University of Illinois Extension, have invested in more egree campus facilities and a five-acre parcel of herthan farm MinUtes MiLLionhoUr o eld to Milwaukee to Chicago was certified as an Illinois Audubon ial Scholarships ranging from 75% and Butterfly to full tuition,Bird room and board Sanctuary. For her Gary Latkow – Mundelein, 80th birthday in March, Ms. Fulrath Illinois, retired from Tempel Steel commissioned a painted quilt block Kurt M. Hilden – Albuquerque, in merit scholarships ht Company as director of engineering campus of land on the shore of Presidential Scholarships ranging from 75% that symbolizes the Trinity in a sort of Paula (Newcom) Isolampi for qualifi ed students eaching New Mexico, has moved more after 41 years. acres eateries of tuition to full tuition, room and board Lake Michigan of Carthage students “sermon on in scholarship andthe barn.” 1 – Hobart, Indiana, has been busy than 1,000 miles east. The retired receive financial aid LLion grant assistance as president of the Hobart Historical educator and religion scholar taught awarded Society and Museum and a volunteer at in California. the Portage Historical Society. She has -toin competitive in consulting scholarship and of Carthage t on a more MinUtes hoUr also finished on a third book James Pindras – Prattville, ratio MiLLion scholarships MiLLion grant assistance than graduates finish in tour in 2019 Michael Connor – Greendale, to Milwaukee to Chicago inasmerit on local history and has begun a fourth. a topscholarships Fulbright Alabama, self-published his debut awarded four years Wisconsin, received a volunteer qualifi ed students Years for producer novel, “Between the Lines,” which award for excellence after nine years Mark Shimkus – Racine, centers on a boy who finds himself in various roles at North Point Wisconsin, and Janet (Zeiler) transported to a medieval kingdom a BEST IN THE Lighthouse. He continues to serve in of ourcampus graduates Presidential as Scholarships ranging from 75% a top Fulbright celebrated their 31stengaged weddingin full of adventures when he reads a ST COLLEGEmultiple capacities at the Village Club one oreateries more internships/field of tuition to producer full tuition, room and board Years in competitive anniversary last summer in Anguilla, mysterious book. 3 placements prior to graduation rinceton Review in in Greendale.

This year, Mr. Connor iLLion scholarships an island in the British West Indies. also joined the board of directors for After honeymooning in Negril, Named a BEST IN THE Friends of Lakeshore State Park.

Jamaica, they have continued their MIDWEST COLLEGE in scholarship and of Carthage went annual to the report Caribbean. oftravels our alumni they2have scot on witha hair more more ER 1 NATIONAL

by The Princeton Reviewgrant in assistance MiLLion than than graduates finish their in dy tour in 2019 secured a job or are continuing f fire ial Scholarships ranging from 75% RTS INSTITUTION 2019 awarded studies six months after graduation four years tuition, room and board sto&full World 18 Bob McCormac – Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, spoke at the Named a TIER 1 NATIONAL Denise E. graduates (Dotson) Gifford are of employers say critical thinking, of our engaged in as a top Fulbright LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION Johannesburg (South Africa) from the Kenosha – Kenosha, communication, and problem-solving one orretired more internships/fi eld in scholarship and Years producer

by U.S. News & World matter more than your major LLion grant Holocaust School District after morewhen assistanceand Genocide Center in skills Unified placements prior to graduation Report in 2018 December. He covered topics such as it comes success. awarded thanto 30career years. Ms. Gifford and her Holocaust education, apartheid, the(Association of American Colleges their two husband, Paul, are enjoying Named a BEST IN THE survey, 2015) Tulsa Race Massacre, and travel to & Universities grandchildren, exploring hobbies, and MIDWEST COLLEGE Holocaust sites. mascot with hair more traveling. of our alumni report they have

by The Princeton Review in than secured a job or are continuing their e of fire as a top Fulbright 2019 Years producer studies six months after graduation

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41

IN MEMORIAM Bob Bonn

After presiding over Carthage’s steady ascent to the upper echelon of collegiate athletics, Bob Bonn died unexpectedly June 26. He was 68.

During his 26 years as director of athletics (1992 to 2018), the program raised 117 banners — each signifying a conference title or top-eight national finish. In that stretch, Carthage Athletics added nine NCAA Division III sports, completed $50 million in

Jack Harris

Diane Mizerka

Trustee Emeritus Ralph Tenuta forged many of Carthage’s connections to the surrounding community.

The prominent local businessman and banker passed away Jan. 15 at age 87.

Serving on the Board of Trustees from 1992

40

carthage.edu/harris-tribute

saved Carthage.”

Mr. Harris later became president of the Siebert Lutheran Foundation but remained engaged with his alma mater as a trustee emeritus and a scholarship donor. He received the Carthage Flame in 1994.

Despite his well-earned reputation as a jokester, colleagues knew Mr. Harris as a perceptive man rooted in faith. He and his wife, Carthage sweetheart Mae (Voth) Harris ’52, raised three children who all attended the College: Jolie Prasser ’78, Scott Harris ’82, and the late Jennifer Badertscher.

Considered a pioneer in Carthage women’s athletics, Diane Mizerka died Jan. 22.

She coached here from 1968 to 1980, the formative years of the program.

After juggling nine different sports in the early days, Ms. Mizerka eventually pared that list to three: volleyball, basketball, and softball. The busy coach also scheduled games and officials, provided meal money,

Ralph Tenuta

renovations, and built a $3 million endowment.

In 2019, Mr. Bonn made the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ Hall of Fame and received a lifetime award from the National Association of Athletic Development Directors.

Carthage red permeates the family. His wife, Michele, retired from the College after working as an assistant professor, registrar, and director of advising. Mr. Bonn is also survived by their two sons: Steven ’10 and Ryan, an adjunct faculty member in chemistry.

Jack Harris ’49, who played a pivotal role in the College’s rise, passed away March 9 at age 92.

Helping to make the successful pitch for a move from Illinois to Kenosha, Mr. Harris worked his way up to vice president for development in a 29-year career.

President Emeritus F. Gregory Campbell called the savvy fundraiser “a key member of the team that

carthage.edu/bonn-tribute

1985 Pamela (Downie) Mix – was promoted to senior vice president for communications, governance and human resources of the College of American Pathologists. She has 17 years of experience with CAP. Based in Northfield, Illinois, it’s the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and a leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs. 5

1987 Kathy (Dickfoss) Rasch – Normal, Illinois, was awarded a Master of Science degree in teaching and learning from Illinois State University in May 2019. Kathy is an elementary school teacher in McLean County Unit 5 Schools. 6

carthage.edu/mizerka-tribute

and washed uniforms.

“She knew her stuff, yet she cared about you as a person,” Jan Thieme ’73 said last year in a tribute to Ms. Mizerka. “A lot of us went on to coach after that, and we took that with us.”

After a three-year stint as the Carthage’s first (and only) director of women’s athletics, Ms. Mizerka retired in 1985 and was promptly welcomed into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Activities and displays will honor Ms. Mizerka’s legacy at the Women’s Athletic Reunion during Homecoming 2021.

carthage.edu/tenuta-tribute

to 2008, Mr. Tenuta organized the Business and Professional Coalition to fortify the College’s relationship with civic partners, and he became a primary decision-maker during a wave of campus construction.

Along with his late wife, Margaret, Mr. Tenuta established an endowed scholarship for Carthagebound students from Kenosha high schools. His seven children include alumnus Paul Tenuta ’92.

1993 Sally (Iselin) Reichert – Goodyear, Arizona, authored her first children’s book, “The Paper Heart,” which debuted in October.

The illustrated story shows how one boy’s actions can have a lasting effect on others, offering educators and parents a way to teach about empathy and respect.

1997 Christine King – Kenosha, earned Private Wealth Advisor status from Ameriprise Financial, an affiliation provided to only 17 percent of the company’s approximately 10,000 financial advisors.

Summer Carthaginian 2020

CLASS NOTES

1998 Jennifer (Douds) Hamill – Woodstock, Illinois, married William Hamill on July 20, 2019, in Harvard, Illinois. Stacey (Douds) Heiar ’98 was matron of honor. The Hamills have two kids. 7

2010

Rev. Jacob M. Gawlik – Sterling, Illinois, published his first book, “God Words: Broken theology for broken people.” He serves as an ordained pastor in the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA. 9

Katie (Olson) Busse –

2009 1999 David Hoeppner – Milwaukee, welcomed a son, Marshall, on June 4, 2019.

2004

2013

Rob Miller – Mount Prospect, Illinois, married Brooke Walsh on Oct. 26 in Orland Park, Illinois. The wedding party included fellow alumni Bryan Behrens ’08, Bryan Chung ’08, and Matt Brosseau ’09. Several members of Delta Upsilon and other Carthaginians also attended. 10

Brandon Helms – Grosse Pointe, Michigan, published his first novel. “Not Today, Fred” is a romantic comedy with a psychological twist that blends literary humor about overcoming depression with practical advice on how to build yourself up. 8

Richmond, Illinois, was chosen as one of the inaugural “40 Under 40” that trade publication Medical Marketing & Media celebrated in May as the “sharpest and most creative young minds” in the pharmaceutical marketing and commercialization industry. Ms. Busse is senior manager for social and digital communications marketing at Medela.

Ryan Koessl ’10 and Tricia (O’Keefe) Koessl ’11 – Kenosha, welcomed their first child, Easton, on Dec. 11. 11

2012 Kati (Pedersen) Hand – Mt.

Katarina McGuire – Monroe, Wisconsin, finished her first year of graduate school at Eastern Kentucky University, where she’s pursuing a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. Along with two of her professors, Ms. McGuire presented a paper at the annual Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference in San Antonio that explored prediction models of mental illness and substance abuse in a rural jail.

2016 Apolonia (Carreon) Sterk – Chicago, welcomed a daughter, Elliana Mae, on Nov. 10. At birth, Elliana weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches. 12

Juliet, Tennessee, married Brendan Hand on Sept. 9 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Her wedding party included Ashley Wulf ’12.

2006 Jason Atanasoff – Kenosha, passed the Certified Athletic Administrator exam in November after completing six Leadership Training Institute courses through the NIAAA. He is the athletic director at The Prairie School in Wind Point, Wisconsin.

5 9

2007

11

7

Michael Bouma – Hoffman Estates, Illinois, was promoted to manager of the Genomics Laboratory of a new molecular biology lab at Evanston Hospital in the NorthShore University HealthSystem.

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8

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CLASS NOTES

Registered dietitian Kathy (Szczesniak) Brown develops wellness campaigns for Baxter International, a Fortune 500 company based in suburban Chicago. Her highlight is seeing all of the photos employees submit during a fitness or nutrition challenge.

“It’s thrilling to see people exercising and making healthy meals around the world!” says Ms. Brown, who majored in exercise and sport science at Carthage.

As owner of TheYogiRD, she also teaches yoga classes and offers health counseling and workshops.

See other alumni submissions and submit your own: carthage.edu/six-pics

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snapshots 2017

from events for alumni, parents, and supporters

Arielle Hay – St. Paul, Minnesota, earned a research fellowship from the National Science Foundation.

As a Ph.D. student in microbiology, immunology, and pathology at Colorado State University, she’s working toward a therapy that uses adult stem cells to treat diseases caused by infectious proteins called prions. The three-year award includes a stipend of about $100,000, plus resources for tuition, travel, and professional development.

Blackhawks Alumni Event

2019 Brady Bresnahan – Faribault, Minnesota, received a grant from the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate that funds his research for four years. He’s a graduate student in materials science and engineering at the University of Minnesota. The university’s website explains that he’s studying new ways to modify “alloys for enhanced durability in extreme environments experienced by hypersonic vehicles.” Among the benefits, the award allows him to spend part of each year at a NASA laboratory, working with scientists and testing the materials he develops.

carthage.edu

Aspire Program: Small Talk for Big Moments

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planned giving We’re here to help.

In service to our community, the Office of Planned Giving is a resource for you and your professional advisor. The SECURE Act of 2019 and the CARES Act of 2020 have introduced significant changes to the tax code related to charitable giving.

We understand that the health and well-being of your loved ones is your most important priority right now. When you are ready, we can help you create a charitable gift plan that meets your needs and the needs of your loved ones while helping to support the Carthage mission..

To learn more, contact Tim Knutson, CFRE, director of planned giving, at 262-551-5786 or tknutson@carthage.edu, or visit carthage.planmygift.org.

Class Notes Submission Form

Deadline for the next issue is Nov. 1, 2020

Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Professional Title

Spouse’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Employer

Class Year

SPRE ADING THE WORD

Street Address

City

Mobile/Home Phone

State ZIP

Business Phone

Email

News

(attach additional sheets as necessary)

Photos are welcome! (Please send non-returnable photos.)

Besides family updates, here are some other examples of news for alumni to share: • Job changes, promotions, or retirements • Awards and other milestones (professional or recreational) • Publications, studio recordings, art exhibitions, etc.

• New service projects, civic appointments, etc.

• Third-generation (or more) Carthage students

Marriage Announcement Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Spouse’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Date of Marriage

City and State of Current Residence

Birth/Adoption Announcement Mother’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Father’s Name (first/last)

Class Year

Daughter’s Name (first/middle/last)

Son’s Name (first/middle/last)

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Death Announcement Name of Deceased (first/maiden/current last name)

City and State of Residence

Class Year

Date of Death

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name)

Relationship

Class Year

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name)

Relationship

Class Year

Tear off this form along the perforated edge and mail to: Carthage College, Alumni Relations, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140.

Class notes and photos also may be submitted online: carthage.edu/alumni/class-notes

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PAGE FROM THE PAST

A slice of Carthage history from the Staubitz Archives

Deja vu from the 1918 flu A century before COVID-19 introduced As the flu curve us to Zoom meetings and toilet paper began to level off later shortages, the College proved it could that month, some in the withstand a global outbreak. community pressured While Carthage students and Mayor William H. faculty members alike served in Hartzell to reopen the Europe during the waning days of town. Erring on the side World War I, those teaching and of caution, he resisted, learning on the campus in western a decision that was Illinois faced a different kind of danger: validated when a second the 1918 influenza pandemic. wave struck the area in In the early 20th century, earnest.

This colorized image of the 1918 virus was taken with a transmission electron educational disruptions due to Cases of the illness microscope. Credit: C. Goldsmith illnesses were just part of the first appeared on the Public Health Image Library #11098. landscape. “Nearly every year the Carthage campus the schools are closed on account of week after Halloween. some epidemic,” newspaper editors across the river Administrators halted classes indefinitely on Nov. in Keokuk, Iowa, grumbled after a 1910 scarlet fever 11, a day when the signing of the peace treaty outbreak in Carthage, Illinois. ending the war dominated the news.

But this newcomer demanded extra vigilance.

When the school year began, an imminent Commonly (if inaccurately) known as the Spanish Allied victory had seemed unlikely, so drills for the flu, the 1918 bug spread quickly and hit young all-male Student Army Training Corps at Carthage adults hardest — an unusual trend that must have continued throughout fall. Even as the war’s unnerved leaders in higher education. outcome became clear, the virus raced through the According to media reports, the flu claimed company and infected 75 of the 125 members. its first victims in the county late that September.

In mid-November, a temporary hospital opened The local paper, the Hancock County Journal-Pilot, on the Carthage grounds. Several presumably offered a familiar set of preventive tips: wash hands, healthy SATC members assisted the medical staff avoid travel, cover your cough, get lots of rest, etc. while the ailing trainees recuperated.

Mounting concerns prompted the College to “There were no deaths,” the Crimson Rambler issue a quarantine on Oct. 12. Students were yearbook noted with relief, “altho a few were confined to campus and chapel services were very sick.” canceled, but classes and most other activities It certainly didn’t lessen the sting, but officials continued. Municipal leaders soon followed suit, assured the public that the death of 18-yearsuspending “all gatherings of every character” in old Carthage student and training officer the town.

Merle X. Boyer was unrelated to the pandemic.

Memorialized as “a sunny-faced lad with the twinkling eye of humor,” he succumbed to pneumonia that fall.

Directly, at least, the 1918 flu inflicted only minor casualties on campus. Artistic performances were scuttled, and the Carthage football team — stocked with colorfully nicknamed leaders like “Slim” Beard, “Ham” Hiatt, “Scub” Herron, and the “bow-legged twins, Hicox and Carlton” — was limited to three games.

Considering the virus killed at least 50 million worldwide, it could’ve gone much worse. In December, the SATC disbanded and the student body was well on the way back to full health, emptying the campus as winter approached.

Classes resumed in early January 1919, but the quarantine remained in place for two more weeks until it was clear the outbreak had passed.

Students’ attention quickly shifted back to dances, birthday parties, basketball games, and fundraising campaigns.

When the Rambler finally published again in 1920, the staff could look back on the whole episode with a chuckle: World Motto – Winter of 1918-1919: Sniff and the world suspects you; Sneeze and you sit alone.

History offers hope that the bruises from 2020 will heal just as quickly.

Some information for this column is borrowed or paraphrased (with the author’s permission) from a March 13 article by Mark Cox, managing editor of the Hancock County Journal-Pilot, titled “Historical context for the coronavirus.”

Explore the rich history of Carthage at carthage.edu/library/archives

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