clarke UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE | 2021
WS E N i & n m NOTES alu UPDATES: CAREER & VOLUNTEER
Dubuque, she educates and supports moms and babies throughout their breastfeeding journeys.
Celeste Pechous ’94 (pictured above, left) was cast as a series regular in Season 2 of Showtime's 'Work in Progress', which began shooting in the Spring of 2021. She will play the role of Campbell in the critically acclaimed series.
Adam Rapp’s ’91 play "The Sound Inside" has been nominated for six 2021 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Joyce (Walstead) Meyer ’94 was elected to City Council in Medicine Lake, MN. She was sworn in on January 4, 2021.
Rebecca (Johll) Franzen ’95 After nine years as a band director and music teacher and 15 years as a private lesson teacher, Rebecca returned to school for her Master of Arts degree in Health and Wellness with a focus in lactation. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Brian Webb Award for Outstanding MA Thesis Distinguished by Academic Rigor and Creative Thinking for the 2018-19 academic year for her thesis titled, "Infant Sleep Location, BedSharing, and Safe Sleep Education." Rebecca became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and started her private-practice, Brave Breastfeeding, LLC in 2019. As an independent contractor at Statera Integrated Health and Wellness in
Demetris Hall '97, Shelly Graybill '13, and Nico Piscopo '14 were elected to the Clarke University Alumni Association Board. Their terms will begin in fall 2021. Jill (Farrell) Budde ’99, ’00M, ’06D was promoted to Vice President, Learning & Engagement at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. Patricia Marroquin-Norby ’99 was hired as inaugural Associate Curato of Native American Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Benjamin Busch ’01 was promoted to Vice President of Information Technology at PSSI. Greg Lehman ’02 was announced as incoming Principal at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Dubuque, Iowa.
Katie (Bahl) Steffensmeier ’04 began her role as Community Outreach Advocate for the East Central Intergovernmental Association in Dubuque, Iowa. Eric Meyer ’15 was named Principal of Seton Catholic School in Peosta and Farley, Iowa.
Jeff Schmitt’s ’92 article, "Disruptive MBA Startups You've Never Heard Of," appeared in the November issue of Inc. Magazine. He is currently the senior writer for Poets & Quants, where he covers the business school beat.
Ann (Kluesner) Arnold ’07 was a recipient of the 2020 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award, which honors teachers who help inspire students to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Ann currently teaches mathematics at the Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
Brittney Ross ’15M was promoted to Executive Marketing Manager: Non-Majors Biology & Environmental Science at McGraw-Hill Education in Dubuque, Iowa. Patrick McCullough ’17 was named President of McCullough Creative in Dubuque, Iowa. Sydney Eustice ’20 took over as the head men’s and women’s golf coach for Putnam County High School in Granville, IL. Sydney is also a sixth grade homeroom and junior high social studies at Holy Family School in Oglesby, Ill.
AWARDS & HONORS Jante Goetz, PBVM ’65 celebrated 60 years of religious life in 2020.
Photo credit: Telegrah Herald
Doug Bausch ’99 was recognized as a Telegraph Herald “Everyday Hero” for his extensive volunteer work in the Dubuque community. Mary Rose Corrigan-Psihoyos ’04M received the 2020 Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award from Iowa Primary Care Association and was recognized by Women’s Leadership Network of Dubuque with a Women of Achievement Award in the category of Achievements in Her Field. Mary Rose currently serves as the City of Dubuque’s Public Health Specialist.
Sue Riedel ’68 was honored with the Dubuque Grand Opera House’s 2021 Founder’s Award. Sue has been an integral part of the Dubuque theater community for decades, founding the Barn Community Theater, spear heading the purchase and return of live theater to the Grand Opera House and founding The Bell Tower Theater.
Micki Ostrosky ’80, Molly (Junk) Andersen-Schreiber ’99 and Gabby (Sullivan) Jean Gilles ’11, ‘12M were recognized as recipients of Clarke’s Distinguished Alumni Awards in September 2020. Due to COVID-19, they were honored through a virtual ceremony.
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Clarke University | 2020
Julie (Weires) Cirks ’06 was recognized by Women’s Leadership Network of Dubuque with a Women of Achievement Award in the category of Growth and Accomplishments in Personal Life. She also was the recipient of the Clarke University Rose O’Toole Staff Recognition Award, which is given annually to acknowledge outstanding achievements that have impact on institutional success and contribute significantly to the mission of Clarke University. Julie currently serves as the Director of Transfer Admissions.
Kayla (Carr) Hopson ’08, Chief Operations Officer & Privacy Officer at Grand River Medical Group, was recognized by Women’s Leadership Network of Dubuque with a Women of Achievement Award in the category of Organizational Impact.
Javi Lopez ’08 was recognized by the Chicago Bears as “Advocate Health Champion of the Game” in October 2020. Javier is a physical education teacher for Torres Acero Schools in Chicago, Ill.
MARRIAGES & ANNIVERSARIES Lois (Mailander) Quinn ’61 and her husband, Richard, celebrated 50 years of marriage in July 2020 Katie Bahl ’04 to Matt Steffensmeier Kyle Webber ’08 was a recipient of the Rainbow Project’s Extra Mile Awards in 2020 for his dedication to students and families in rural Dane County, WI. Kyle currently works as a school counselor in Belleville, Wis.
Tony Breitbach ’07 to Brittani Breitbach Jessica Dirks ’12 to Stephen Vassaalotti Mike Schindel ’13 to Samantha Dugan ’13
Jessica (Lange) Coyne ’10 and Bradley, girl
Holly Maurer ’16 to Kurt Rahe
Mark Dolson ’11 and Mandi, twin girls
Elisabeth Dowling ’17 to Benson Kong
Jenni (Fuller) Even ’11 and Eric, boy
Hillary Burgmeier ’19 to Jacob Wilson Nitshelle Duuberseau ’19 to Austin Kerstein Brittney Ross ’15M was recognized as a Telegraph Herald “2020 Rising Star.”
Andy Winders ’11 and Monica, girl Nicole (Lansing) Marbach ’12 and Wes, boy
BIRTHS & ADOPTIONS Diego Velez ’99 and Tara, boy Kay (Kluseman) Schroeder ’00 and Peter, boy Gwendolyn (Hayes) Kalvelage ’07 and Scott, girl
Patrick McCullough ’17 was recognized as a Telegraph Herald “2020 Rising Star.”
Beth (Stierman) Blech ’09 and Ryan, boy Dan Spain ’10 and Jessica, boy
Michael Till ’12 and Kaitlyn (Kilburg) ’12, girl
Colleen (Dansart) Thompson ’10 and Benjamin, girl
Bailey Theisen ’20 was named the 6th grade “Educator of the Year” at Edison Middle School in Janesville, WI.
Kelly (McAllister) Goldsmith ’13 and Noah, boy
Rahni (David) Haverland ’13 and Nick, girl
Mary (Pfohl) Remily ’55
Eric Meyer ’15 and Clara, boy
Carole (Schulte) Johnson ’57
Kassie Walz ’15 and Matt, boy Sean DeVries ’16 and Theresa (Koos) ’17, girl
Dorothea (Durkin) Manghera ’56
Joanne Simonini, BVM ’57 Marty Schaub ’58 Anne Kiss ’59
Every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information; however, if you notice any discrepancies, please notify the Institutional Advancement Office at (888)225-2753.
Aggie Angerer ’60 Marie Fitzpatrick, BVM ’60 Sheila (Byrnes) Murtaugh ’61 Mary Gallagher, PBVM ’62 Corita Bussanmas, BVM ’64 Jo Ann (Armondo) Thrun ’64 Jane Haslwanter, BVM ’65
SUBMIT
Jean Tascher, BVM ‘66 Joyce Redman ’67 Johanna Brocker ’69 Virginia McCaffrey, BVM ’70 Lesley Stephens ’70 Allison (Kilburg) Johnson ’17 and Chris, boy
Patti (Ishii) Halbmaier ’71
Leah Wiesler ’18 and Clinton Austin, boy
Norma Rubenbauer ’71
IN MEMORY
Mary Beth (Noonan) Althoff ’72 Trish (Brown) Folger ’72 Maureen (Mulvaney) Konieczny ’72
Ethel (Lassance) Doyle ’49
Maria Whelan ’72
Mary (McGuiness) Lynch ’49
John Hickey ’74
Jean (O’Leary) McKay ’43
Karen (Nord) Dunne ’78
Eleanor (Grotkin) Quandt ’49
Esther (Cleveland) Chi ’79
Virginia (Wagner) Rohner ’43
Lori Steger ’85
Rosalie Glanz, BVM ’50
Mary Jo Ernst ’86
Mary Jane (Oldenburg) Hyde ’50
Theresa Simon ’00
Therese Mackin, BVM ’50
Jen (Flanigan) Garrett ’08
Mary Helen (Oktanski) Runkle ’50
Devlin Harris ’11
Mary Ann (Jochum) Andresen ’51
Brittney Duschner-Haferman ’12
Joan (Trexler) Higley ’52 Frances (McGinnis) Molloy ’52 Rita (Nessinger) Siemer ’52 Meneve Dunham ’53 Patricia (Sprung) Frein-Westendorf ’55
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Therese Pfeifer, BVM ’71
Clarke University | 2020
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