SUMMER 2013
THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
CLASSROOM HEROES P.2 CLARKE ALUMNI TAKING IMPACT WORLDWIDE P.8
TELLING THE CLARKE STORY P.20
SPECIAL YEAR-IN-REVIEW AND HONOR ROLL OF DONORS ENCLOSED
Dear Alumni and Friends, Our 170th academic year came to close with a wonderful Commencement ceremony on a beautiful spring day in May. The highlight of the year for me will always be Commencement day. We remain focused at Clarke on preparing our students to leave us with the competence and confidence to forge paths of success and satisfaction at work, in friendship, and in their communities. Rick Dickinson gave a great Commencement address and asked our graduates to use their hearts and minds in their life’s work as Clarke University alumni. We are pleased to feature in this issue of the magazine a collection of remarkable alumni and students doing just that – using their hearts and minds for the betterment of all. This issue of the Clarke magazine begins with a story about our education department’s Professional Development School model. We are extremely fortunate to offer such a unique and collaborative learning environment for our education majors. Our graduates from this program do very well in their first teaching positions because of the skills learned and confidence gained through the PDS model. As a community, we continue to be dedicated in our efforts to ‘tell the Clarke story.’ The intentional efforts of our marketing and admissions offices to rebrand Clarke University have led to a new and ‘fun’ approach to our marketing and publication materials. I invite you to read more about this development in “Telling the Clarke Story”. We hope you are enjoying the new look! The arts have a long and rich tradition at Clarke. Our art community of alumni, faculty and students continue to produce fabulous work and as a result, are consistently recognized regionally and nationally. I hope you enjoy reading more about Clarke professor of art Louise Kames’ spring exhibit in the Quigley Gallery and our graphic design students’ exhibit at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Also, we are absolutely thrilled to feature the work of former art faculty member Carmelle Zserdin in the new Center for Science Inquiry. I hope all of you have enjoyed a summer filled with rest, relaxation and time with your family and friends. As we look forward to the start of another academic year, we are excited for what the future holds. We will welcome one of the largest and most diverse incoming classes of new students this fall and celebrate the grand opening of our new Center for Science Inquiry. It looks to be another fabulous year for Clarke University. I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine. Thank you for your continued support of Clarke University. Sincerely,
Joanne M. Burrows, SC, Ph.D. President
TABLE OF CONTENTS | SUMMER 2013
IN THIS ISSUE CLARKE: THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY is published three times a year for alumni, parents and friends of Clarke University. Joanne M. Burrows, SC, Ph.D. President Bill Biebuyck Vice President for Institutional Advancement Nicole Breitbach Director of Alumni Relations Jordan Rey Mendoza ’13 Alumni Relations Coordinator
FEATURE STORY: CLASSROOM HEROES.............................................................................2 SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE...DESIGN CONTEST?......................................................................7
Jill Paisley Director of Creative Services Jamie Specht Director of Marketing
CLARKE ALUMNI TAKING
IMPACT WORLDWIDE
Ken Brown Executive Director of Marketing and Communication
FEATURE STORY: CLARKE ALUMNI TAKING IMPACT WORLDWIDE .....................................8
Gayle Langel ’08 Senior Graphic Designer Heather Ames Web Manager Gwen Hayes ’07 Copywriter
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT...................................................................................................................12 HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS ......................................................................................................14
FEATURE STORY: TELLING THE CLARKE STORY........................20
CLASS NOTES ...........................................................................................................................27 CORE VALUES: SET IN STONE....................................................................................................31
EDITOR: Ken Brown DESIGNER: Gayle Langel ’08 Clarke University 1550 Clarke Drive Dubuque, IA 52001-3198 (563)588-6318 Fax: (563)588-6789 Clarke University does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or disability in its educational programs, admissions policies, employment practices, financial aid, athletics, or other university-administered programs. Clarke University complies with all pertinent state and federal regulations concerning affirmative action, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity.
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CLASSROOM
HEROES By Kylie Loeffelholz, Adjunct Instructor of Communication
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CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
Before student-teaching in the spring semester, Daniele Halfhill will have already spent hundreds of hours teaching in local elementary schools. Halfhill, an elementary and special education major at Clarke University, has had hands-on classroom experience thanks to the education department’s Professional Development School, or PDS. The PDS model requires junior education majors to teach lessons in public and parochial schools, alongside a classroom teacher and with feedback and instruction from Clarke’s education faculty. “I think the PDS puts us ahead of the curve when it comes to getting a job when we graduate,” said Halfhill, who most recently participated in the summer reading PDS program. The summer program allows Clarke students to earn a reading endorsement by teaching at St. Anthony Elementary School’s summer literacy camp. “There are so many benefits of the PDS,” said St. Anthony’s Principal Lori Apel. “It’s really a win-win for everyone. It’s a win for the college students because they get to come in and teach real students, and it’s a win for the students and teachers at this school because it helps them as well.”
You can’t teach students to be teachers by sitting in a classroom reading a textbook. Michele Vosberg, associate professor of education at Clarke, brought the PDS model to the department in 1999. Since then, education majors have taught everything from science to special education at St. Anthony, Fulton Elementary, Table Mound Elementary or Mazzuchelli Middle School. Not all universities follow the PDS model, but according to
Stephanie Spillane ’13 dissects a cow heart with seventh graders at Mazzuchelli Middle School.
Vosberg it ensures future teachers are qualified for the job. “You can’t teach students to be teachers by sitting in a classroom reading a textbook,” Vosberg said. Clarke’s PDS model requires juniors seeking elementary education licensure to spend two semesters at a local PDS – one at a public school and one at a private school. The model requires students seeking secondary licensure to spend one semester in a PDS at a local middle school. The students prepare lessons, teach and receive instruction and feedback from their professors five mornings a week each semester. If students want to receive an endorsement (many Clarke students seek more than one endorsement to make themselves more marketable), they must participate in another semester or summer PDS. The state of Iowa requires about 65 hours of classroom experience; Clarke students have hundreds of hours upon graduation. “Our students are really well-placed and that speaks to the quality of our programs,” Vosberg said. PAGE 3
In addition to the PDS, the department has recently created a conceptual framework that guides every course and the overall mission of creating a “collaborative community of teachers and learners.” The framework includes the BVM core values of freedom, education, charity and justice; the required essentials of the National Association for Professional Development Schools; and numerous state, local and national teaching standards. These three components are designed to develop in students continual growth in: (1) best practices in teaching; (2) dispositions (including caring, communication, critical and professional); and (3) knowledge of content and pedagogy.
Amanda (Fleege) Beidler ’11, who graduated with degrees in elementary education, physical education and special education, attended the conference not only to learn, but to visit her former professors.
Paula Schmidt, associate professor of education and chair of the department, said she encourages students and alumni to be lifelong learners. The department requires students to work with local non-profits such as Hillcrest Family Services, and offers opportunities to teach in inner city schools in Milwaukee. Faculty and students have also taken their teaching experience to schools in Ecuador.
Beidler, a Title I teacher in Benton, Wis., said her experiences in the PDS and the continual encouragement from faculty gave her the confidence to lead a classroom.
Colin Rust ’12 reading to students at St. Anthony School.
In April, the education department hosted its second day-long education conference with keynote speaker and nationally known educator, Rafe Esquith. The conference gave area educators, students, alumni and other local agencies a chance to learn from one another. PAGE 4
I think the PDS puts us ahead of the curve when it comes to getting a job when we graduate.
“You find a home here and you just connect,” said Beidler. Along with alumni presenters, former Clarke professors also attended this year’s conference. “When I was teaching in the PDS at Clarke, I listened to students presenting lessons who sounded like veteran teachers,” said Deb Fordice, who taught at Clarke from 2003 to 2010. Fordice was also instrumental in creating the Partner Professionals Master’s Program, a 12-month postbaccalaureate program that provides students who have completed a BA in education from Clarke and acquired teacher licensure, the opportunity to engage in graduate study while simultaneously working in full-time elementary, middle or secondary school teaching. Graduate students are supported on a daily basis by an on-site teaching professional. The collaboration between faculty is integral to the quality of the education department. Kayla Schnoebelen said the professors have not forgotten what it’s like to be classroom teachers. “They encourage and teach the holistic adult,” said
CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
Schnoebelen, who graduated in May 2013 with a degree in secondary education and a middle school endorsement. Two faculty members are assigned to each PDS, so working together is essential. Clarke’s PDS model requires professors to spend five mornings per week in local schools instructing students on lesson plans, assessments and classroom management. “We are all teachers and maintain a teaching license,” said Schmidt, who teaches in the special education PDS at Table Mound. “Everyone here is really dedicated to making students be the best teachers.” Bridget Bowman ’13, Lindsey Roussel ’13 and Nicole Pollock ’13 presenting at the NAPDS National conference in New Orleans.
Guided by faith. Inspired by purpose. Supported by you.
Five Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary began something very special in 1843. Today, you are called to carry on their vision, commitment and generosity of spirit to a new generation of Clarke University students. Like the Sisters, you can create a lasting legacy at Clarke University through your bequest. Please advise your attorney which option is best for you. To join the Mary Frances Clarke Legacy Society: · Designate a percentage of your estate. · Allocate a specific dollar amount or property. · Assign the remainder after all other bequests have been made.
To learn more, visit www.clarke.edu/development, email development@clarke.edu or call (888)225-2753. PAGE 5
DICKINSON INSPIRES GRADS Richard Dickinson, president and CEO of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, spoke at the university’s 170th Commencement. He also received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree at the ceremony. Dickinson has led the economic development efforts of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation since his appointment as director in 1995. As president and CEO, he is the principal liaison between business and government on all issues relating to economic development. “Just as Clarke University rose from the ashes of the great fire of 1984, so too has Dubuque transformed itself from being the greatest victim of the recession of the early 1980s to become one of the strongest regional economies in the United States,” said Dickinson. “And with God as my witness, opportunities abound!”
Pictured at Commencement: President Joanne Burrows, SC; Valedictorians Diane Baumgartner, Cody Gallagher and Ashley Brehm; Archbishop Jerome Hanus; and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Carolyn Haupert.
Under Dickinson’s leadership, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation has become one of the most respected economic development groups in the country, while the Dubuque region has been recognized as an international model for sustainable development. During his commencement speech, he invited Clarke grads to make an impact on Dubuque.
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“We need your talent to make Dubuque a viable, livable and equitable community that anyone would be proud to call home,” said Dickinson. “So if at some point the spirit moves you, come back to your future, come home to Dubuque!”
2013 SPECIAL AWARD
RECIPIENTS FRANCIS J. O’CONNOR MEMORIAL AWARD Luke Flynn Dubuque, Iowa The most prestigious award bestowed upon a graduating senior, the award is based on demonstrating leadership, cooperation, generosity, kindness and academic achievement. MENEVE DUNHAM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Andrea Bixler, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology The university’s highest award for outstanding teaching, a review committee of faculty and students recommend the selected recipient to the president. ROSE O’TOOLE STAFF RECOGNITION AWARD Andy Schroeder Development Officer, Institutional Advancement The award is given annually to acknowledge outstanding achievements that impact institutional success and/or contribute significantly to the mission of Clarke. VALEDICTORIANS Diane Baumgartner of Guttenberg, Iowa Ashley Brehm of Durango, Iowa Cody Gallagher of Ridott, Ill. Read about what makes this year’s special award recipients noteworthy. Visit www.clarke.edu/magazine.
CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE…
DESIGN CONTEST? Clarke University graphic design students participated in a cooperative project with the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium's “Turtles: Secrets of the Shell” exhibition. Students competed against one another to design the exhibit logo. Jamie Demmer, a junior from Farley, Iowa, designed the winning logo.
throughout the world. The gallery hall is divided into distinct areas of interest beginning with turtles related to gothic architecture (buttress, pillars, keystones) and turtle physiology, moving through the turtles of the world section that combines both display and live exhibits with specific interest placed on diversity and conservation efforts. Turtles are represented in a variety of cultural stories and myths around the world. These “turtle tales” provide a conceptual and thematic link for the entire exhibit.
Eric Wold, assistant professor of art, along with juniors Stephanie Buse and Hilary Post, designed the installation display including all signage, wall graphics and printed materials. Their work is currently on display at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium through Thanksgiving. “It was a daunting project that provided its twists and turns,” said Wold. “But overall, it was a wonderful experience to work with my students on such an engaging project.” The largest turtle exhibit ever assembled, this exhibit combines both living and static museum displays in a 2,000-square-foot gallery which presents the diversity of form and function related to turtles and tortoises PAGE 7
CLARKE ALUMNI TAKING
IMPACT WORLDWIDE In recent years, Clarke University faculty and staff have referenced the word “impact.� The most important aspect of that impact is that it is a two-way street. Clarke students and alumni talk a lot about the impact the university has had on them. As a result of their Clarke experience they have gone out and made an impact on their families, friends, communities and the world. This is a story of how alumni and friends of Clarke have taken the spirit of the university and helped make the world a better place.
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CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
MARY JEAN JECKLIN
Jecklin and Rea quickly realized that giving small gifts not only benefited the children, but also benefited themselves.
She and her husband, Kelley Rea, even spent more than a year in Ireland and Northern Ireland researching their book “Buy the Best of Ireland: Shopping and Learning Guide to Irish Goods and Crafts,” published in 2004.
“We travel a lot,” said Mary Jean, “and now the richest, most rewarding part of our trip is meeting those children.
Mary Jean Jecklin ’69, has seen a lot of the world and experienced life in more than 50 countries.
With the help of former Clarke history department chair Sister Dorita Clifford, BVM, she immediately started grad school in Dayton, Ohio, after graduating from Clarke. Jecklin then taught in Canada, took part in a teacher exchange program in Japan, and taught secondary school in Nigeria. She returned to Minneapolis to teach English as a second language to adult refugees from southeast Asia after the Vietnam War. During the subsequent decades, she and her husband visited every continent except Antarctica. But it was a six-week, self-planned trip throughout southeast Asia in 2009 that really moved her. “We took along pencils and began giving them to children,” Jecklin said. “I’ll never forget the children in Lao People’s Democratic Republic who came running for a pencil. But the moment that touched my heart was seeing a mother with an infant sleeping on a walkway over a Jakarta, Indonesia, busy highway. The pencil I left was so inadequate.” She decided she wanted to do something to help children living in in developing countries. Jecklin, 65, and Rea, 68, started small. They began buying small, soft toys, picture books and school supplies to give the underprivileged children they would meet. “Now we don’t just go on vacation,” Mary Jean said, “we interact with some of the neediest children in the world. We see needs everywhere we travel. We spend a tiny fraction of our travel time assisting children in a small way.”
“If you go on vacation to a developing country, you’re spending thousands of dollars. Why not give a little bit (less than half of 1 percent of the cost of your trip) to someone else? Someone unexpected will benefit from your visit. In turn, it may turn out to be the most rewarding aspects of your travels. In our pictures, you can see from our smiles and the smiles of the children how rewarding those visits have been.” The next step for Jecklin and Rea was sharing this message. They wanted other people to know the need – and the reward – of giving in developing countries. So they created a website, PACforkids.com. “We want to help people understand how to give more effectively,” Mary Jean said. “We want to explain how to give gifts in the best possible way.” “It’s important not to just give money away randomly,” Mary Jean said. “Learn the most impactful way to give. PACfordkids details this process.
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TOM WILLIAMS
A friend of Tom Williams once told him about a service trip to Colombia to provide medical care to children there. Williams, a Dubuque surgeon and a member of the Clarke University Board of Trustees, was interested in going along.
Most of the residents on Siargao live in poverty. “There is no running water, no electricity, few paved streets,” said Williams. “Fishing is a big industry. Bikes and motorcycles are the primary means of transportation. There are very few cars.” It is in these areas of high poverty that the incidence of cleft lips and palates are highest. One in 1,000 people in developing countries are born with a cleft palate; the incident rate in the U.S. is one in 2,200. While a cleft lip or palate can be due to a genetic defect, it can also be caused by poor nutrition, deficient water supply, inadequate prenatal care or pesticides. The surgeons treated 115 children in less than two weeks during Operation Taghoy alone and they will be returning to treat more in February 2014.
That was nearly 25 years ago and in February, Williams made his 35th service trip, this one to the Philippines. Williams’ reason for continuing to serve others is simple: “We’re making a difference.” The latest trip was sponsored by Uplift International and titled Operation Taghoy. A team of 40 volunteers – four surgeons (including Williams), pediatricians, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and others – traveled to Siargao Island in the Philippines. Williams, who has a dental degree and a medical degree, graduated from the University of Illinois and completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. The trip to the Philippines, like most of his trips, treated children with cleft lips, cleft palates and facial deformities. PAGE 10
The hospital the team worked in was in Dapa, but children came from throughout the island and from neighboring islands, as well. “The word got out by the locals that volunteers were coming,” said Williams. “Two brothers traveled 13 hours. Their mother used her life savings – $50 – to get them to Dapa.” Williams, who recently retired from his practice in Dubuque but remains on the staff of the University of Texas at Houston, once took a Clarke nursing student on a service trip to Colombia. He said he would like to take another Clarke student on his trip to the Philippines. “We get a lot out of it,” he said. “It benefits us to a much greater degree. You meet people who are likeminded and make wonderful friendships. “You do something that is pure medicine and not for the money.”
CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
IAN HART
Ian Hart ’13 graduated from Clarke University with a degree in biology. But before beginning his venture into the working world, he had an opportunity to take a trip to Peru with Mission Opportunities Short Term (MOST) Ministries and jumped at the chance. “A friend of mine that I went to church with in my hometown (Peoria, Ill.) messaged me two weeks before graduation,” said Hart. “She asked if I wanted to go with. I said, sure, why not?” He has no regrets and called it an “eye-opening” experience. The team Hart joined was headed to Lima (pop. 7.6 million) to help with eye care and provide eyeglasses to the poor. Ian's team held clinics for two days in La Victoria and two days in Los Olivos.
“It was crazy how different the neighborhoods could be,” said Hart. “You could have a real nice neighborhood, and only a few blocks away were slums. La Victoria is basically slums. We set up the clinic in a park there. We had people come in who were in their 60s and they had never had an eye exam before. Peru has socialized medicine so you would think all of these people would be able to see a doctor, but that was not the case.” Hart and the other nine missionaries on this trip found some of the conditions startling. “The plumbing system was not strong enough for toilet paper,” he said, “so you couldn’t throw toilet paper in the toilet.” Los Olivos is a region in southern Lima. It is one of the most prosperous regions in Lima, however; it still has thousands of people living in poverty. In total, the group saw about 600 patients and dispensed around 800 pairs of glasses. The group split into stations at the clinic. Hart was at the nurses’ station/medical station where he checked to make sure the patient had no communicable eye diseases. He was provided with a flip chart of commonly seen diseases. “The coolest thing was to see how grateful the people were,” said Hart. “Everyone left with a smile on their face.” That included Hart and the other missionaries.
La Victoria is one of 48 districts that make up the municipality of Lima and is one of the poorest districts in the city. The largest retail district of Lima is located in La Victoria so there are many street vendors and shops. Most of the children in the area are forced into labor at a very early age and have little supervision growing up.
“Before I left I was worried about getting a job – like the weight of the world was on my shoulders,” Hart said. “When I got down there, being able to help people, I realized I was headed in the right direction as far as a career in medicine goes. I had my doubts, but going down there and seeing how grateful the people were – this is what I want to do.” View full stories and photos at www.clarke.edu/magazine.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CLARKE ALUMNI MAKING AN IMPACT
ROBERT WETHAL ’97
JOSEPH AUSMANN ’05
Clarke gave me an incredible base knowledge in nursing practice, but more importantly, the professors taught me what a professional nurse was and how to strategically conduct my practice to always achieve those high standards.
Clarke prepared me for grad school and my future career in software development with high-quality, hands-on classes like software engineering. In class, we produced a card game and created an editor for simple programs from a diagram. The problem-solving skills I learned were particularly beneficial during grad school.
Director of Critical Care & Cardiovascular Services at Mercy Medical Center Dubuque, Iowa
While at Clarke, I was the class president, played soccer and worked off campus. These activities taught me a great deal about finding a balance between personal and professional obligations as well as fine-tuned my leadership skills. After graduating from Clarke University, I began working as a nurse at large cardiac units like Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa and North Colorado Medical Center (NCMC) in Greeley, Colo. My current position at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque consists of strategic planning and leading the daily operations of four cardiac units. We just completed a $13 million renovation of our ICU and cardiovascular units where I acted as the clinical leader ensuring the space was inviting for both employees and patients. Clarke helped me help others. That’s something I’m thankful for every day.
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Software Engineer at WMS, video slot gaming company Chicago, Ill.
Beyond the coursework at Clarke, I was involved with computer club where we could explore other technologies and new innovations in the field. The faculty at Clarke were pros at guiding me toward careers that aligned with my interests and helped me to pursue them. After Clarke, I earned an MS in computer science and worked as a software engineer at organizations like Navigon Inc. on GPS navigation devices, Sun Trading as a software developer and currently at WMS. For game projects, I get to be creative, problem-solve using mathematics, create software designs and write code. It's a lot of work but is fun and rewarding, just like my time at Clarke.
CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
S
STEPHANIE KRONLAGE ’12
Graphic Designer at Lessing-Flynn Advertising Des Moines, Iowa At Clarke, the quality of work and commitment coming from the students and professors is quite impressive. As a graphic design major, we were taught more than just graphic design; drawing, 3D work, marketing, photography and how to communicate and work with a team. The well-rounded, liberal arts curriculum is what sets Clarke graphic design students apart from other graphic designers. Outside of coursework, I had three internships that immersed me in the professional world. I had the opportunity to work with clients, co-workers and printers. I also was involved in many volunteer opportunities, Clarke Dance Team and the sustainability committee. I work more efficiently when I have a lot to do, so I was thrilled when I found out all the ways to get involved at Clarke. Also, it presented opportunities to meet new people at Clarke, as well as in the community. My current position is a graphic designer at Lessing-Flynn Advertising. I work on numerous different projects every week so there is always a lot of variety in the styles of work. What is unique about my position is that, thanks to my Clarke education, I have a very broad set of design skills so I am able to design for a large range of clients. Clarke shapes students into professionals because wellrounded is always an esthetically pleasing design.
CLARKE UNIVERSITY is seeking comments from the public about the university in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency.
Clarke University will host a visit November 18-20, 2013, with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Clarke University has been accredited by the Commission since 1918. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO SUBMIT COMMENTS REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY: Third-Party Comment on Clarke University The Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1411 The public may also submit comments on the Commission’s website at www.ncahlc.org.
Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing.
ALL COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY
OCTOBER 1, 2013.
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2013
ECOM I N G PR
G
GOLD
IDE
There are so many ways to reconnect and enjoy the Clarke homecoming festivities. There is something for everyone from concerts, to athletic events, to the reunion tent party. Here’s our list of the top seven things to do. We suggest doing them all!
OMIN
MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAPPY HOUR CRUISE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 5 - 7:30 P.M.
Join us for an inclusive food and beverage cruise on the American Lady Yacht in the Admiral’s Quarters.
OMEC
BLUE
SIT
SPIR CLA I R T HOM UNIVER K
HIGHLIGHTS
AND
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HOMECOMING
ALUMNI RECOGNITION BRUNCH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 10:30 A.M. - NOON
Meet this years’ distinguished alumni award winners at our fabulously famous Clarke brunch in the student dining hall.
ALUMNI TENT PARTY AND FESTIVAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | NOON - 5 P.M.
The annual tradition continues! Grab your classmates and friends and make plans to attend the tent party for live music, free popcorn, a nacho bar, giveaways and prize drawings. Even more fun awaits just outside the tent with family-friendly games.
ALUMNI GOLF TOURNAMENT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | 9 A.M.
The Clarke men’s golf team invites alumni and friends to this 18-hole golf tournament.
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 4 P.M.
Don’t miss the third annual Clarke Varsity Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring Jennifer Brotzman Calvert ’94, Elizabeth Constantini ’99, and Scott Schuessler ’00.
JAMIE TWORKOWSKI FOUNDER OF
PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP CONCERT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 7:30 - 8:30 P.M.
Join us for this concert featuring performances by students, faculty and alumni.
“TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS” SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | 4 P.M.
Jamie Tworkowski is speaking at Clarke, so make plans to stay the day for a brush with fame.
CHECK OUT THE FULL SCHEDULE at WWW.CLARKE.EDU/HOMECOMING or call (888)225-2753.
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FROM THE DESK OF
Bill Biebuyck Time seems to be going by faster and faster as I age, or perhaps it’s just going by so quickly because I am having so much fun! I enjoy my work and look forward to each day because I am privileged to work with such dedicated and enthusiastic colleagues. Dedication and enthusiasm seem to be the hallmarks of all those affiliated with Clarke, whether they be BVMs, alumni, trustees, friends, faculty, staff or students. The values, traditions, and Clarke culture created by the BVMs remain the bedrock of our community and provide a rich legacy for our students. I am grateful for the unique experience of serving an institution whose core values are truly alive and not just words on paper. Throughout my travels these last two and a half years, I have been so impressed by the loyalty and passion expressed by all of you. Your support of the vision, mission, and strategic plan of Clarke University is clear. As demonstrated by the generous gifts listed in this annual report, Clarke’s future is promising. Dedication and enthusiasm are certainly instrumental in our success, but it takes resources for new facilities like the Lingen Technology Commons, the Center for Science Inquiry, and the Jack and Rosemary Gantz Athletic Practice Center. We also received a magnificent gift of $1 million to initiate renovations to Eliza Kelly Hall. These and many other strategic initiatives would not have been possible without your generosity this past year. We look forward to the future with great anticipation. We move confidently into year number two of the strategic plan and remain committed to being progressive with the times, as challenged by Mary Frances Clarke so many years ago. Your continued support ensures the legacy of Clarke University and for that we are grateful. It has been a wonderful year at Clarke and it’s true – time really does fly by when you’re having fun! Thank you for contributing to our success and for believing in the bright future ahead for Clarke University. Wishing you all the very best! With thanks,
Bill Biebuyck Vice President for Institutional Advancement
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CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
JOINING A MOST DISTINGUISHED GROUP The annual Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at this year’s Alumni Recognition Brunch on Saturday, October 12, during Homecoming. The 2013 award recipients are:
BILLIE SPRINGER LARKIN ’70
TAKADA DIXON-EPPS ’93 2013 Humanitarian Service Award Recipient
2013 Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient Billie Larkin’s passion for helping others is undeniable. She attributes her visionary way of thinking to Clarke. For the last 20 years, Billie has been involved with the National Children’s Alliance movement for children who have been sexually or physically abused. Billie has devoted her life to improving the lives of children, as a volunteer and as a working professional.
Takada Dixon-Epps is a humanitarian in the truest sense of the word. Takada created a nonprofit organization called Phase I Fitness dedicated to helping children escape abusive households. Takada’s organization teaches coping skills and educates individuals on healthy lifestyles and suicide prevention. In addition to her work with Phase I Fitness, she is a volunteer with House of Hope, Clara’s House, Public Image Partnership and the Phalanx Youth Program.
TED GOERGEN ’01
2013 Rising Star Award Recipient
Ted Goergen is truly a rising star. Responsibility and the necessity to serve others were the most important values Ted learned while at Clarke. As director of student activities at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, he trains hundreds of student leaders each year. Last year, Stevenson students logged nearly 75,000 hours of community service and raised almost $250,000 for various charities.
For full bios of the winners, visit www.clarke.edu/magazine.
MEET THE NEW ALUMNI RELATIONS TEAM NICOLE H. BREITBACH Director of Alumni Relations
Nicole has been working at Clarke for the past two years in the annual fund office, and prior to that worked with the phonathon on campus through RuffaloCODY. Nicole has her B.A. in Communication Studies with an International Business Certificate from the University of Iowa, and is currently working on her MBA at Clarke. She is a native of Dubuque, and her mom is a 2001 Clarke alumna. Nicole loves to travel and is excited for the opportunities to visit different Clarke alumni across the country.
JORDAN REY MENDOZA Alumni Relations Coordinator
Jordan is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and has spent the past four years at Clarke University earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a student, Jordan worked as an intern in the institutional advancement office for two years. He also participated in the track and field program and holds the school record in the 60m dash. Jordan loves to travel and since he left the Hawaiian Islands, he has visited nine different states.
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TIMEOUT
The CLARKE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL season is approaching. Cuttie took a break from cheering on the Crusaders to sit down
ELLE KOSCIUK ’15 HOMETOWN: WINNECONNE, WIS. MAJOR: ATHLETIC TRAINING POSITION ON THE COURT: MIDDLE HITTER
Why do you participate in athletics? I participate in athletics because I have been given the opportunity to play a sport that I’ve had a passion for since I was a little girl! Volleyball has always been a big part of my family and being able to participate in a sport that I love and God has gifted me the ability to play is awesome. And of course it’s healthy and keeps me motivated to stay in shape and on top of my game.
Do you hold any records at Clarke? Last season, our team broke the school record for the most wins in a season for women’s volleyball, which was very exciting! I personally made first team allconference, which I was very humbled and thankful for. What have you personally been working on improving? I’ve always been dissatisfied with my vertical jump, so I’ve been doing my plyometrics, as well as my cleans in the weight room to help with my jumping.
How do you juggle athletics and class work? Juggling athletics and class work is not easy. It often involves a lot of late nights, but I believe it’s totally worth it. I make sure that I use my “free time” wisely. Also, making sure that I take time to pray throughout each day is a great relief for me. Besides athletics, how else are you involved on campus? As an athletic training student, I am involved with the Clarke Athletic Training Society (CATS). My first two years at Clarke, I was a member of Cantabile and Clarke Collegiate singers which was a wonderful opportunity to be able to do something else I love which is sing. Does anything you learn in the classroom translate onto the court? Communication is key to learning in the classroom, as well as on the volleyball court. PAGE 18
What expectations do you have for the upcoming season? After our previous season, we would like to continue our success. There are some teams that we just would love to beat, so they will be targets for this season. Overall, I am just excited to get back on the court and share my passion of volleyball with my teammates.
WITH
CUTTIE
with two players to get the insider info on Crusader athletics, classes, goals and the exciting life of student-athletes.
CORRIN LARKIN ’15 HOMETOWN: JOHNSTON, IOWA MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY AND SPANISH POSITION ON THE COURT: SETTER
Why do you participate in athletics? I love sports, being active and meeting new people through athletics. I’ve met all of my best friends while playing sports. Being a part of an athletic team provides you with a sense of community and belonging you can’t find anywhere else. Your teammates will always be your teammates, no matter what.
Do you hold any records at Clarke? I am #4 overall in Clarke history for serving percentage and #5 overall in Clarke history for total assists. Hopefully these next couple of years will build upon these numbers to improve the record standings! What have you personally been working on improving? My consistency in my sets can sometimes waver a bit, so I’m working on getting them perfect and consistent. I’m also working on my defense. As a setter, I’m stereotyped as not being very good at defense, so I’m working on changing that perception.
How do you juggle athletics and class work? The bus trips help a lot. It’s multitasking at its finest! I get all of my work done while on the road to away games. It helps a lot to be extremely organized and be ahead of your work instead of trying to catch up. Besides athletics, how else are you involved on campus? I am an officer in the psychology club, I am a Spanish tutor, and I work in the Kehl Center at the front desk. Does anything you learn in the classroom translate onto the court? How? We learn in life that we always don’t have the outcome we desire, and that we need to work to achieve our goals. You have to learn to pick yourself up, forget about what already happened, and move on. Volleyball is basically a shorter game of life, and that’s something I love about it.
What expectations do you have for the upcoming season? To kick some butt! I want to show our rival teams and all the doubters out there that Clarke CAN hang with the historic “big teams” in our conference. I know after last season we are all ready to come out strong and prove we aren’t just Clarke anymore, we’re one of the “big teams” and we’re ready to compete. PAGE 19
TELLING THE CLARKE STORY
KAYLEE STEEN
PAGE 20
CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
Clarke University is a place where students can get a top-flight education in a caring, nurturing environment. It’s a place where everybody is like family. You’re not just a number. It’s also a place where students can have fun on a beautiful campus located in the picturesque and thriving city of Dubuque, Iowa. Students know this. So do alumni, staff and faculty. The question the Clarke marketing office had to ask itself was: Does the tri-state area community know this? Do prospective students know this? The honest answer was no, not enough people know this. So the Clarke admissions and marketing offices set out to rebrand the university and, as the 2012-17 strategic plan dictates, to “tell the Clarke story.”
management. “The previous viewbook was facts and figures. It didn’t have that emotional aspect. Good things happen at Clarke University and we want to tell that story. It was an intentional thing to try and be authentic. Our previous publication was not inauthentic. It was factual, with other people telling the story, not us telling the story.” Specht says it was time to tell that story – and tell it loud and proud.
FRANZ WINKLER
It started with market research indicating that the “fun” element was important to prospective students. It led to the “impact” branding campaign – “What will your impact be?” And it led to the “Culture Book.” Clarke’s Culture Book replaces a “viewbook” that was pretty much just like every other college viewbook. It told you about the university in facts and figures. “The viewbooks were very standard,” said Jamie Specht, director of marketing at Clarke. “There are a lot of stereotypical pieces that go into viewbooks – things that everybody does. Clarke – we are different. Faculty, students – we are different.” The question was how to show that difference. The answer was the Culture Book. Instead of facts and figures, the Culture Book profiles students. It tells their stories of life at Clarke accompanied by big, eyecatching photos. “We have a focus on people telling their own stories,” said Beth Triplett, vice president for enrollment
“Clarke is one of the best-kept secrets in Dubuque. But Clarke is very humble. We don’t boast a lot. I think that comes from the BVM culture – humble workers who don’t need a lot of recognition. With the Culture Book, we’re being more deliberate; more willing to put that out there. Many schools for years have been patting themselves on the back. We decided – from the top down – that we needed to do something to show who we are.” Deciding to do something different was the easy part; executing it would take even more effort. It would also take a leap of faith. The Clarke marketing office could have turned to a tried-and-true firm, a company with a lot PAGE 21
of experience with university viewbooks to help it produce its new product. Instead it turned to a new company, headed by Sean Murphy and Tom Culbertson, called Rally Collective. “Being willing to take chances was big with this,” said Specht. “We got away from the standard, every college is doing it this way. We used different resources. They (Rally) didn’t know it was wrong to propose something like this. It’s like a kid before they learn, they color the sky green and the grass yellow. They don’t know that’s wrong. “Rally helped push us out of our comfort zone. And President Joanne Burrows and the Board of Trustees were willing to trust staff and employees.”
CLARKE ART DEPARTMENT
DESIGN MATTERS With a foundation in fine arts, Clarke graphic design is a program that rests on fundamentals of the craft. You will work towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, not a liberal arts-focused Bachelor of Arts (BA). That means more time spent fine-tuning an area of concentration. It also means working in studio art classes, whether it is two-dimensional drawing, painting and printmaking or three-dimensional ceramics and sculpture. The success of the program is seen through student achievement. Clarke students often receive recognition and top honors at the annual ADDY awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation of Dubuque, as well as regional and national spotlight. When you’re ready to win your award, Clarke’s connection to the local advertising community exposes you to internships and a chance for face time. “There are so many opportunities in this area because they know of the quality of students,” Lynsey said. “I feel confident because of the success of students before me.”
GREEN FACTS CUPPS
“LANDFILL”
Painted on all campus trash bins, it is a word that embodies the din of bulldozers, perched seagulls, and your hamburger wrapper’s inevitable resting place. Although perfect for thoughtful introspection, a good idea didn’t end there.
“I would walk past trash bins and see recyclables, and it made me upset,” said Lynsey Christensen, Clarke student and president of CLEAN, a campus conservation group, “so I thought, ‘What can we do?’” After a long afternoon of counting bins (over 200, according to her), Lynsey drafted a sustainability grant proposal to add attachable recycling containers. The grant was soon awarded and the containers installed. Lynsey gives credit to the Clarke administration’s future-forward thinking and the effort of Brian Schultes, head of facilities management and CLEAN adviser.
“Cannot Use Paper Plastic or Styrofoam,” reusable mugs free to new students for use in lieu of disposable options.
LYNSEY CHRISTENSEN CLASS YEAR 2012
HOMETOWN Decorah, Iowa
MAJOR Art (Graphic Design Emphasis) CLARKE ACTIVITIES CLEAN, Admissions Tour Guide SUMMER ACTIVITY Studying abroad along the rolling hills of Bangor, Wales
GALLoNS
I woulD wAlk pAST TRASh bINS AND SEE REcyclAblES, AND IT MADE ME upSET, So I ThouGhT, ‘whAT cAN wE Do?’
24,000
SToRY
Water saved each month from new, energy-efficient campus washing machines.
RECENT CAMpUS pROJECT Installing a water fountain that displays the amount of plastic bottles saved UNIqUE 4TH gRAdE INTEREST Garbology, or sorting of recyclables and compostables from regular garbage. “It was how I was raised. We were green before it was cool.”
Amount of waste reduction shown to occur by removing trays from dining halls. Clarke is now tray-free.
24 PER MONTH
Average of recycled material from residence hall recycling bins, an 80% increase in three years.
“If you never take a risk, you never do anything exciting,” Burrows said. “Finding a new way to sell what everybody else is selling is hard. Everybody has dorms, everybody has a business department, everybody has athletic teams. How do you make that distinctive? The Culture Book was the way. “The best way to tell someone about Clarke is to let them feel the culture. The culture is what makes everything distinctive. I trusted Beth. I trusted the marketing office’s judgment.” The result was something not every other university was doing. “The people who are Clarke are really the best people to tell the university’s story,” said Triplett. “We have a lot of stories to tell. The hardest part is narrowing down. We want to get variety in the limited number (of profiles) we can use and find ways to get multiple uses out of each one. “The Culture Book features are very popular. Current students want to be in them. Students ask how they can be profiled.” The industry took notice as well. The Culture Book started in 2010 and soon after won a Gold Award for Admission Publications from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
“He is really open and good with suggestions. If you have an idea, you can pitch it,” she said. She believes Brian is integral to Clarke’s sustainability initiatives, including his push for organic cleaning products and dining hall food composting. “He had enough already. He was like, ‘Stop talking, and let’s just get it done.’”
GREEN IS GooD
Lynsey is constantly thinking of new ways to change her world for the better. She recently attended the Greening of the Campus conference, a national college event to share green ideas. The latest information on methods and technology allows Clarke to stay ahead of the conservation curve.
During student orientation, Lynsey will work with new students to plant a campus rain garden and dumpster dive. It goes towards what she believes is Clarke’s reputation as an extremely environmentally-conscious campus. Change doesn’t always happen overnight, however. Just like trash itself, every bit matters. “You take it piece by piece,” she said.
CONSERVATION CRUSADER WHAT WILL YOUR IMPACT BE?
CLARKE UNIVERSITY
VISIT WWW.CLARKE.EDU
PAGE 17
Shown above is a spread from the first version of the Culture Book. In each layout, the design is driven by the featured student’s passion. Pictured here, Lynsey Christensen’s profile represents her strong interest in sustainability and art. Burrows said giving the OK for the Culture Book was an easy choice. PAGE 22
The Culture Book wasn’t the end of the story, however. Burrows said it was just the beginning. “Moving to the Culture Book has changed most everything we do,” she said. The bold move of the Culture Book has changed the, well, culture at Clarke. It has changed the approach of the marketing and admission offices to be bolder, to take more risks. Clarke is now telling its story in an entirely different way. “The other ways we are ‘telling the story’ are with ads, our postcard series, the Impact Wall in the Atrium
CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY
Conference Room, billboards, web, print, posters hanging in campus offices, Facebook…,” said Triplett. “We’ve had a lot more intention lately. We’re bolder than we have been. That was a change for Clarke, which has been a ‘fit-in’ kind of place. It took a collaborative effort of the marketing and admissions offices.”
When Burrows finds herself talking to community or alumni groups, she doesn’t feel the need to use the word impact. She would rather give examples. “The point is not to say the word,” Burrows said. “I tell stories in most of my addresses so people can touch and feel and hear the impact of Clarke.” Burrows said she sees those examples every day. “I see them sitting in my home as freshmen,” she said, “and then you look at them when they walk across the stage at graduation. How accomplished, how articulate, how engaged they are. You see what we’re sending out into the world. We don’t just make them competent. We do that. But they leave here compassionate, caring and engaged.
ADAM O’DELL
The impact message has continued as well.
“That is cool to watch.”
GET A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK Visit www.clarke.edu/magazine to watch a behind the scenes video of how this photo of Jonathan Shepherd was created!
“Impact is our brand,” said Triplett. “It transcends audience – it applies to Timesaver students, graduate students and undergrads. “It’s indicative of what a Clarke education is. There is a dual nature – we impact you and you impact Clarke and the world. It has multiple meanings and that was intentional.”
JONATHAN
SHEPHER
D
Burrows said impact is not just a slogan. It is very real. “People always tell me how Clarke changed them,” she said. “They’ve given service to their community; they’ve become involved in their church. And many of them point back and say that all started at Clarke.”
PAGE23 21 PAGE
EARLY IN THE SPRING By Erin Daly ’13, Marketing and Communication Intern Visitors to the Quigley Gallery this spring were greeted by two seemingly unrelated bodies of work as they entered: one side of the gallery contained color drawings of branches and leaves, the other side smaller black and white images of symbols of Lent and Palm Sunday. The two halves, though different, were part of the same exhibition designed to explore the relationship between artistic practice, spirituality and organic forms. Louise Kames ’77, who is in her 30th year of teaching at Clarke University, displayed her latest exhibition, titled “Early in the Spring,” in the Quigley Gallery. She completed the exhibition during the spring 2012 semester, while taking part in two artist residencies.
Whereas the works in the first series can stand on their own, the pieces in the second series are meant to be viewed together. The series consists of 40 small charcoal and screen-printed drawings of Lenten objects and symbols – most notably palm branches that have been woven into crosses and drawings that use smoke as a medium – on hot press watercolor paper. Kames says she was inspired to create the series after listening to a podcast about sensory elements of the spiritual practices of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. She was also interested in the interconnectedness of the elements of Lenten spiritual practices such as incense, ashes and palms. The depiction of woven palm branches serve as a bridge between the first and second series, as the plant elements in Kames’ first series are manipulated plant forms.
The first residency was in March 2012 and was held at the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Ill. The second, in May 2012, was at Schloss Plüschow in the Mecklenburg province in Germany. “Early in the Spring” consists of two halves and Kames worked on both halves at both residencies, spending most of her first residency doing research for the series and the second residency creating them. Kames drew inspiration from the first half of her exhibition from objects that she collected while taking walks. The first half consists of 12 colored pastel drawings of branches and similar objects arranged in her studios in what Kames calls an “iconic manner,” in which she manipulates her subjects to “quote something other than themselves and to suggest more than they are.” She says she wanted the pieces to reflect the stillness of religious icons and to create a quiet space for the viewer. “The arrangement is very intentional,” says Kames. “The objects float in nebulous backgrounds to create a quiet space. They’re not botanical illustrations; they’re stilllifes, not just chance selections. My meditations on those objects are meant to be revealed in the work.”
Kames says that her goal with the second series was to create a quiet space for viewers, but she also wanted to invoke memories in viewers who practiced palmweaving themselves. “What I like about this work is that viewers can make a personal connection with it,” Kames says of the second series. “Many of us have palm-weaving in our Catholic heritage; it makes a connection with your history, beyond the immediate history that you experience with the exhibit.”
To view the Your Best U! presentation about Louise's artwork, visit www.clarke.edu/magazine. PAGE 24
SNAPSH
TS
A PHOTO COLLECTION FROM ALUMNI GATHERINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUBUQUE, IOWA (BELOW) Recent Clarke graduates are welcomed into the alumni association by alumni board members, faculty and staff at the Senior Social event. Pictured Elizabeth Eiseman ’13, Maria Covington ’13, Melissa Hartl ’13 and Ashley Kirner ’13
PHOENIX, ARIZ. (ABOVE) Clarke Physical Therapy Professor Alecia Thiele met with physical therapy students and graduates in March. Pictured John Fjelsted; Erica Fjelsted ’12, DPT; Suparada Buck; Matt Buck ’09, DPT; Lindsey Jasper ’12, DPT; Matt Jasper; Amanda Dudek ’09, DPT; Pete Dudek ’11; Elizabeth Beighley ’11, DPT student; Alecia Thiele, associate professor and ACCE Clarke DPT Dept.; Emily Esser ’09, DPT; Matt Jaspers ’11, DPT and Dustin Brown ’09, DPT
BOCA RATON, FLA. (BELOW) This spring, Clarke alumni attended a poolside brunch at the home of Juan “Camilo” Tamayo ’95 and Carla Ossa in Boca Raton, Fla. Pictured Donald Connor; Kari Nickol, development officer; Olga de Arazoza Connor ’67; Carla Ossa and Juan “Camilo” Tamayo ’95
ROCKFORD, ILL. (ABOVE) The Clarke Culinary Club prepared brunch for an alumni gathering at the home of alumni board member Charlie Sturm ’86. Pictured Keri Schwanekamp ’15, Charlie Sturm ’86 and Reid Johannsen ’15
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Want to see more alumni snapshots? Visit www.clarke.edu/alumni/eventphotos.
LAMB NAMED HEAD SOFTBALL COACH Fort Madison, Iowa, native Jeff Lamb has been named Clarke University’s new head softball coach.
CLARKE PROGRAMS NAMED SCHOLAR-TEAMS
Lamb comes to Clarke from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College where he has served as the Tigers’ head softball coach the past five years. “We are very excited about the future leadership of our softball program under Jeff Lamb,” said Clarke Athletic Director Curt Long said. “Jeff is not only a talented coach but, above all, he shares the values of our university.” During his stint at Marshalltown, Lamb’s teams broke more than 30 individual and team records. Lamb also served two seasons as the head softball coach at Marshalltown High School. He guided the 2012 Bobcats to their first state tournament appearance and coached the program’s first all-state player in over a decade. Lamb played two seasons of collegiate baseball at Marshalltown Community College. He was also a member of the baseball programs at Drexel University and West Chester University. Prior to taking the softball reins at Marshalltown, Lamb spent two seasons as the Tigers’ assistant baseball coach. He also served as a graduate assistant baseball coach at Georgia College and State University and as a volunteer assistant baseball coach at West Chester. Lamb is a member of the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Division II All-American Committee. Lamb received his bachelor of science degree in professional studies from West Chester University and his master of science degree in education from Iowa State University.
Twelve Clarke University intercollegiate athletic programs have been named 2012-13 NAIA Scholar-Teams. Clarke teams named to the NAIA honor list include baseball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s track, women’s track and women’s volleyball. For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar-Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team gradepoint average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes. A total of 898 programs were named NAIA Scholar-Teams.
GET IN THE ACTION! PAGE 26
Follow all of the Crusader athletic teams on their quests for victory. Get up-to-the minute stats, see results and watch live events. It’s all a click away at www.clarkecrusaders.com.
CLASS NOTES FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 12, 2013
1930s IN MEMORY
Carolyn Weibeler ’37, BVM
NOTES
Shirley Johnsen Francavilla ’61 Arvada, Colo. Shirley and her husband Tony celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 23, 2013. They are grateful for fifty years of God’s blessings.
1940s
1970s
IN MEMORY
IN MEMORY
Susan Louise Schrup Linn ’42 Joan Lechtenberg Blacker ’47 Jeanne Heitkamp Carr ’49
1950s IN MEMORY
Patricia Jans Doll ’50 Patricia Da Costa ’55, BVM Kathryn Maher ’55, BVM Eloise Kaufmann Smith ’55 Mary Veronique Hennegan ’57, BVM
1960s IN MEMORY
Bernadita Finnegan ’60, BVM Darlene Jenkins Ruhl ’67 Ruth Ann Takes ’68, PBVM
Maria Dullard ’73, PBVM
NEWS
Susan Hamilton Friedman ’72 Fort Atkinson, Wis. “We have been fortunate to be able to spend a year in Asia and one in Africa and also time in India where we have seen unparalleled need. Therefore, we recently converted our home into a bed-and-breakfast, and have donated all of our proceeds to Freedom from Hunger.” www.rockriverinn.com Suzanne Rubenbauer ’73, FSPA La Crosse, Wis. A mission councilor, Sister Suzanne is a former co-minister of FSPA’s (Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration) Affiliation program. She also has experience in the healing arts practice of water therapy as well as adult spiritual formation and pastoral and campus ministry. She holds certification in spiritual direction, a bachelor of arts in English from Clarke College, and a master of arts in Theology from the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Ill.
Cecilia Winskunas Bejcek ’74 Oak Brook, Ill. “My husband of 32 years, Kevin Bejcek, died in May after a long illness.” Kathleen Maloney Loomis ’74 Davenport, Iowa. “I retired from John Deere & Company as of the end of Jan. 31, 2013.” Maxine Kollasch ’79, IHM Sylvania, Ohio. Maxine is featured in the movie Band of Sisters. Band of Sisters tells the story of Catholic nuns and their work for social justice after Vatican II of the 1960s.
1980s IN MEMORY
Elizabeth Sacco ’82
ADVANCED DEGREES
Jayne Hildebrand ’86 Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Master’s in business administration from Tippie College at the University of Iowa. Sharon Mayer ’89 Gilbertville, Iowa. Master’s in school administration from University of Notre Dame in July 2011.
PAGE 27
1990s IN MEMORY
Jane Lindauer ’94
BIRTHS
Angela Bicker Gabriel ’98 Albany, Ill. “I married Mike Gabriel on April 13, 2013, at the Evangelical Free Church in Clinton, Iowa. We have made our home in Albany, Ill. I also received second-place from the Iowa AP for an online package about urban chicken farming in January.”
2000s ADVANCED DEGREES Rebecca Johll Franzen ’95 and Stacy ’96 Cuba City, Wis., Audrey Rose Terry Belken ’96 and Jolene Dubuque, Iowa, girl Stacy Franzen ’96 and Rebecca ’95 Cuba City, Wis., Audrey Rose Kelly Arensdorf Heysinger ’99 and Hiram Dubuque, Iowa, Mac Miles
NEWS
Marc Gaber ’92 Bondurant, Iowa. Marc will become the new chief information officer at Life Care Services (LCS). Marc joined LCS in 2002 and is currently the business application manager within IT. He is responsible for managing LCS’s financial and human resources/payroll enterprise software applications and works closely with the company’s corporate finance, community finance and human resources groups. Together with these groups, Marc and his team have implemented a number of technology solutions that have benefited both the company and our communities. Marc has 18 years of experience implementing enterprise-wide business systems.
PAGE 28
Anthony Breitbach ’07 Dubuque, Iowa. Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison completed Jan. 11, 2013. Cheryl Kerper Biermann ’07 Peosta, Iowa. Cheryl has achieved the Certified Financial Planner certification. She successfully completed the rigorous requirements that include course work and a series of examinations covering the following areas: the financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning and management, retirement and employee benefits, and estate planning. Christine Eck ’08 Mokena, Ill. Christine will be graduating from Loyola University School of Social Work in Chicago with her master’s degree. Michelle Schlosser Shafer ’08 Davenport, Iowa. “I graduated from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences with the degree of D.O. I will be a family medicine resident at Trinity Hospital in Bettendorf, Iowa.”
BIRTHS
Angela Adrian Adams ’01 and Don Cassville, Wis., Isabel Mary Hillary Clinton Koetz ’02 and Russell Sherrill, Iowa, Brooke Tanya Cook Maiers ’02 and Marty Dubuque, Iowa, Tate David Sara Leazer Ayres ’03 and Marley Byron, Minn., Beckham Lila Sous Cabral ’03 and Gustavo Peoria, Ill., girl Keith Gutierrez ’03 and Abigail ’04 Dubuque, Iowa, Elias Levi
Teal Spencer McCartney ’03 and Kyle Evanston, Ill., Beckett Spencer Adam Skinner ’03 and Julie Peosta, Iowa, Benjamin Emily Osterholz Goken ’04 and Joe Winnebago, Ill., boy Abigail Peckham Gutierrez ’04 and Keith ’03 Dubuque, Iowa, Elias Levi Rhonda Prellberg Huber ’04 and Steven Byron, Ill., Matthew Steven
Kenyon Duner ’00 and Katherine Brookfield, Ill., Beatrix Elizabeth
Jessica Kelley Steger ’04 and Luke Dubuque, Iowa, girl
Amy Zeidler Meitner ’00 and Thomas Watertown, Wis., Caleb Thomas
Justin Kosek ’05 and Danielle Milwaukee, Wis., baby
Erin Germain Sell ’00 and Spencer Dubuque, Iowa, Iylah Jane
Dina Hoke Rashid ’05 and Tom Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Madelyn Anne
Tania Ibarra ’06 and Paul Madison, Wis., Alexandra Marie Cory St. Germain ’06 and Michelle Dubuque, Iowa, boy Nicholas Trumm ’07 and Emily Dyersville, Iowa, boy
Gayle McAllister Langel ’08 and Jeremy Guttenberg, Iowa, Hayden Marie Colin Muenster ’08 and Elizabeth Dubuque, Iowa, girl Jessica Krogmann Pape ’08 and Paul Dyersville, Iowa, boy Molly Schroeder Weber ’08 and Ben Epworth, Iowa, Cael
MARRIAGES
Christine Portzen Kuzdas ’03 Madison, Wis., to Brian Kuzdas Brian McDaniels ’03 Wildwood, Mo., to Sarah Reichardt Holly Boche Fisk ’05 Davenport, Iowa, to Bradley Fisk Lindsay Cross Roose ’06 Prairie City, Iowa, to Tyler Roose Nathan Ehlers ’09 Davenport, Iowa, to Emily Schwenker
NEWS
Amy Berentes ’00 Lanark, Ill. Eight area women and one local business will be recognized for their extraordinary efforts and accomplishments in the community at the 40th annual presentation of the YWCA Woman of Achievement awards. Amy is the recipient of the Professional Woman of Achievement Award. She is responsible for creating the structure and environment that cultivates professional practice, elevates the quality of care and improves patient outcomes. Prior to working in Clinton, she worked at Mercy-Dubuque and FHN as the director of clinical and professional development/ magnet coordinator. She received her associates in applied science from Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Ill., and both her undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees from Clarke College in Dubuque. Among her other duties, she serves as an ANCC Magnet appraiser, a Clinton Salvation Army Advisory Board member and as a lector and former youth leader at Prince of Peace Church in Freeport, Ill. Additionally, she is a member of the Iowa Nurses Association, the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She was recognized as one of Iowa’s Top 100 Nurses in 2010. Amy and her husband Mike have three children Brandon, Allie and Michael. Meghan Van Meenen Sievers ’00 Platteville, Wis. Meghan joined Tri-Technical Systems as a technical writer. She has more than 10 years of technical writing experience. David Bunting ’01 Charleston, S.C. Trio Solutions Inc. (Trio) is pleased to announce the expansion of their web services division with the addition of a new team member. Dave Bunting joined the Mount Pleasantbased marketing communications agency earlier this year as a web coordinator. Bunting will assist with
web development and design projects as the company continues to expand its web services. He has more than 11 years of web development and marketing experience in a variety of businesses. Prior to joining Trio, Bunting was an e-business manager for Peninsula Gaming, a company that manages casinos in the South and Midwest. He was also an account manager at McCullough Creative in Dubuque, Iowa. Connie Fuerstenberg ’02 Dubuque, Iowa. “Over the past few years, I have been working hard to care for Brandon and Kate and working on my business when I can. This is my new business website www.escapeinteriorsbycf.com. It has links to my business Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as my Facebook page for Art and Research for Autism. Denise Wubben Stejskal ’02 North Liberty, Iowa. Denise and Grant ’02 sold their house for a boat. To read about their adventure visit their blog: http://vagabondingundersail.org/ Ry Meyer ’03 Dubuque, Iowa. Ry is in his last year of law school (following a few years in the Navy) in Vermont. He was back in Dubuque over the summer and worked with Joel Cross ’04 on a couple of Joel’s cases. (Joel is a Dubuque, Iowa police officer). James Liddle ’08 Dubuque, Iowa. First Community Trust announced that James Liddle, C.P.A. has joined the company as vice president - trust officer. He joins the company after more than six years with Honkamp Krueger & Co. P.C. in Dubuque, most recently as tax department/ estate planning supervisor. He will be responsible for providing trust and investment management services to current and new clients in the Dubuque market.
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Abby Schultz McInerney ’08 Aurora, Colo. “Patrick and I moved to Denver after he was transferred. As soon as we moved here I started pursuing becoming a professional actor. I have been cast in three shows, Bat Boy, Hair and now Minimum Wage. I am going to be singing the national anthem for the Colorado Rapids and I will be auditioning for the X-Factor in May.” Melissa Drozda Klinkkammer ’09 Dubuque, Iowa. Melissa Klinkkammer, MSN, BSN, RN, clinical leader and educator for Mercy Home Care, was named to the list of 100 Great Iowa Nurses. The recognition program identifies 100 outstanding nurses every year whose courage, competence and commitment to patients and nursing profession stand out above all other and contribute significantly to the profession of nursing. She positively influences home care staff and closely works with staff to improve their nursing practice and the care of clients by being available, approachable and encouraging.
2010s MARRIAGES
Kayla Muller Schockemoehl ’12 Cascade, Iowa, to Alex Schockemoehl
Raychel Nicks Weber ’12 Hazel Green, Wis., to Russell Weber
NEWS
Brenden West ’11 Mokena, Ill. “My job as a weekly newspaper reporter for the Dyersville Commercial has granted some amazing experiences. From covering the president, to walking the sidelines at Soldier Field, I have fulfilled too many fun and rewarding opportunities to count. I got my start at Clarke with writing contests, working on our college publications, pursuing my degree and writing minor and tapping into a very supportive faculty. I now realize that CU provided numerous tools that helped me succeed after college. Now, I’m very honored to have been named a 2013 Outstanding Young Iowa Journalist by the Iowa Newspaper Association (pictured above, on the left). And although I don’t know what else is in store, I owe wherever I go to where it all began — on Clarke’s campus.”
Alyssa Steiner Corey ’12 Dubuque, Iowa. “I married John Corey on Dec. 1, 2012 in Platteville, Wis. John and I now reside in our new home in Dubuque where we both are employed by Mercy Medical Center. I am a registered nurse on the cardiovascular unit and John is a security officer.” Kathryn Gross ’12 Dubuque, Iowa. She took second place in Single Illustration: Computer Generated for Magazine which is an award for her illustration for 2012 Clarke Catalyst. This is a very tough competition among nearly all colleges and universities in U.S. Kaitlin Kilburg ’12 Bellevue, Iowa. Kaitlin joined Kunkel & Associates as an administrative accountant. She recently completed an accounting internship with an organization in Bellevue, Iowa.
SHARE YOUR JOY: SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF AMAZING HAPPENINGS – AND WE LOVE TO SHARE IN YOUR JOY! Share your updates with us for inclusion in the magazine by emailing alumnirelations@clarke.edu or online at www.clarke.edu/alumni. (Don’t forget to send pictures!) PAGE 30
CORE VALUES: SET IN STONE By Tia Grap ’14, Marketing and Communication Intern
As the Center for Science Inquiry was designed and built, the decision was made to include a memorial for the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the founders of the institution. Former art faculty member, Carmelle Zserdin was asked by Joan Lingen, provost and vice president for academic affairs, to create a design for the terrazzo floor in the main entrance of the science building. “At that point, ideas for a commemorative design were wide-open,” said Zserdin. “I was told the design was for a new idea and not a rendition of former logos.”
“The main image — a white circle within a blue star surrounded by waves — represents the energy, freedom and spirit that characterizes the BVM mission.” The design is symbolic of a compass. “The image suggests the community’s foundation on the Mississippi from which the sisters spread their charisma of charity, freedom, justice and education across the country and beyond,” said Zserdin. Instead of symbols representing the core values, she set the words directly into the floor.
With nearly limitless possibilities, Zserdin began researching everything from terrazzo to former BVM logos to avoid any repetition. “I needed to find a completely new direction,” she said. The two things Zserdin was sure of when she began were the location of the final design and the medium. Terrazzo is a composite material that contains marble, quartz, granite, glass, or chips of other suitable materials. The chipped materials are what causes the textured appearance in the flooring. Zserdin worked through a variety of ideas during the design process and eventually settled on the theme of the BVM core values of charity, freedom, justice and education combined with the location of Mt. Carmel on the Mississippi River. “The colors, terra cotta, blue, and yellow refer to the basic elements of earth, air, and water,” said Zserdin.
KEEP UP WITH CLARKE!
From the moment she was asked to create the design for the science building, Zserdin took every advantage of this experience to create a permanent representation of what the BVMs have done not only for Clarke, but for the world. “This was an extremely exciting experience,” she said.
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THE END OF AN ERA: RETIRING FACULTY SHELIA O’BRIEN, BVM, has been part of the Clarke community for 44 years. She held several positions on campus and saw many transformations at Clarke during her tenure. In 1969 she began teaching Spanish, after receiving her master’s and doctorate degrees from Indiana University. In addition to teaching, she took student groups to Spain and Ecuador on summer mission trips. She has been an important figure in the history of Clarke. She was the academic dean during the late 1970s, which was a significant time in Clarke’s history as it admitted male students for the first time. During her term as dean, she helped to create the nursing and business departments, and majors in computer science and education.
NANCY LEASE made an impact at Clarke for 36 years. Lease joined the Clarke community in 1976 as an adjunct faculty member teaching piano and was a fulltime faculty member since 1981. She taught piano, music history and music appreciation courses while performing in countries around the world. Lease holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and a master’s degree in piano performance/pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. In her retirement, Lease hopes to travel more with her husband, John Lease, who retired as choir director and a voice teacher at Clarke two years ago. Lease also hopes to spend more time with her grandchildren and possibly do some volunteer work as well.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
The Word of God Alive on a Page The Making of The Saint John's Bible Presented by Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB In this presentation, Fr. Eric will use illuminations from The Saint John’s Bible to “illustrate” the importance of the arts and how artists (e.g. painters, calligraphers, musicians, etc.) speak to us in ways others cannot. Eric is a medievalist with degrees from Princeton and Yale, and speaks to audiences around the world on The Saint John’s Bible. Presentation | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Quigley Gallery Social | 6:30-7 p.m. | Wahlert Atrium
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Reservations are required by October 29, by phone at (563)588-6553 or (888)225-2753 or online at www.clarke.edu/alumni/events.
THE BACK PAGE A L OOK AT YES T ER DAY AND TODAY
MOVING TO CAMPUS By Tasha Redmond ’14, Marketing and Communication Intern
Every August, new students and their parents flood Clarke Drive to move in to their new dorms. These students and parents are assisted by orientation leaders called Tuckpointers. A Tuckpointer is a person who helps bring together the new students by helping them connect with the campus and the faculty and staff. Move-in day has changed a bit though the years.
Forty years ago, a student moving onto campus might have brought: ˯˯ Electric typewriter ˯˯ Popcorn popper ˯˯ Hot pot ˯˯ Spiral-bound address book and stamps ˯˯ Hot rollers ˯˯ Record albums/stereo ˯˯ Makeup mirror ˯˯ Correction slips for the typewriter
Today, a new student might be seen bringing: ˯˯ Flat screen TV ˯˯ Microwave ˯˯ Fridges ˯˯ Laptops ˯˯ DVD players ˯˯ Clothes hampers ˯˯ Wooden trunks ˯˯ Comfy chairs ˯˯ Tall floor lamps ˯˯ Pizza ovens ˯˯ Guitars ˯˯ Square cubby organizers
Although the types of things being brought to Clarke on move-in day have changed, the excitement of this day has stayed the same. Check out our move-in video! Visit www.clarke.edu/magazine. PAGE 33
1550 Clarke Drive Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3198
legacy Buy a Brick Let your
Near the entrance of the Center for Science Inquiry is a special area set aside with paver bricks. These paver bricks can be engraved with your name or that of someone you wish to honor.
be a part of ours –
4 x 8 inch - $200 | 8 x 8 inch - $500
Honor someone special: Professors | Parents | Loved ones | Yourself | Classmates The 4 x 8-inch bricks can have 3 lines with up to 14 characters per line. The 8 x 8-inch bricks can have up to 5 lines with 14 characters per line. BRICKS ARE LIMITED! VISIT WWW.CLARKE.EDU/DEVELOPMENT OR CALL (563)588-6477.