Mount Mercy Magazine: Winter 2020-21 by Mount Mercy University

THE MAGA ZINE OF MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSIT Y | CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

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COMMUNITY RESILIENCE After the derecho ripped through Cedar Rapids, Brady Klein was given the task of making campus beautiful and accessible again. His resilient attitude is reflective of the Mount Mercy community, and our greater Cedar Rapids community, throughout the ups and downs of 2020.

Winter 2020â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21

MTMERCY.EDU

Shea Francis Assistant Vice President for Business & Finance

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

Welcome to her offices WARDE HALL OFFICE

1 2

Looking at this painting by a local Puerto Rican artist reminds Shea of walking down the country’s colorful streets during her two visits there. On cold Iowa winter days, she escapes to Puerto Rico for a little while.

CAMPER OFFICE Without electricity or WiFi after the derecho—and very spotty cell phone service—employees scrambled out of Cedar Rapids to maintain basic campus processes and communicate with each other. Shea drove to Frentress Lake Marina and Campground in East Dubuque, Illinois, where she worked out of her permanent camper. Her dining area functioned as her workstation.

Pieces of Warde Hall’s slate tile roof and Ludowici tiles from the presidential residence reflect the derecho devastation but also coming together as one community to pick up branches, take care of one another, and show the Mercy spirit of compassion. The calculator represents Shea’s day-to-day job as MMU’s controller. However, following the derecho, she took on other duties like starting the insurance process, helping with the Cabinet’s information flow, and coordinating campus clean-up.

Her camper was equipped with all the necessities such as a full fridge, stove, oven, and microwave. She managed to save most of her food from her Cedar Rapids refrigerator. At her kitchen table she enjoyed some of her famous cakes with her family.

Winter 2020–21

CONTRIBUTORS

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 6 | A SELFLESS NURSE

Lia (Basemann) Dickes ’17 pushed through emotional and physical exhaustion, separation from her fiancée (now wife), and exposed herself to COVID-19 to help in the fight against the virus—while always putting her patients first.

OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTION

Dr. Tim Laurent | Interim President Sister Linda Bechen ’74 | Vice President for Mission & Ministry

Dr. Tom Castle | Interim Provost Anne Gillespie | Vice President

12 |

for Business & Finance

Brenda Haefner ’96 | Vice President

for Development & Alumni Relations

Dr. Nate Klein ’07 | Vice President for Student Success

Charles Rohde | Chair, Board of Trustees

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mount Mercy University 1330 Elmhurst Drive NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 319-363-8213 mtmercy.edu magazine@mtmercy.edu

INSIDE A 2020 CLASSROOM

To keep students safe and engaged, Mount Mercy implemented a hybrid class model. With the investment in new technology, as well as additional safety precautions, Mustangs are able to learn safely.

18 | MONTHS-LONG JOURNEY HOME

Srdjan Jankovic ’20 found himself stuck in Canada after traveling there for spring break. Three months later, he was finally able to get home—only to find more surprises waiting.

20 | HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL

From the unveiling of the new Wente Education Center to cleaning up after the derecho, the Hill has embraced the changes of 2020.

30 | CLASS NOTES

See what fellow classmates and other members of the Mount Mercy alumni community are up to, and help them celebrate personal and professional accomplishments.

Mount Mercy Magazine is published by Mount Mercy’s Office of Marketing & Communications. MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

A YEAR OF CHANGE. A YEAR OF HARDSHIPS. A YEAR OF RESILIENCY. In the last issue of the Mount Mercy Magazine, Former President Laurie Hamen shared the challenges our Mount Mercy community was facing during the COVID-19 pandemic—and the strength and courage of our students, employees, and alumni who boldly rose to the occasion. Her words continue to ring true as our community is enduring, still, a season of change. Staff members worked from campers and hotel rooms following the derecho when campus was without power. Faculty adapted seamlessly to our hybrid model—keeping the safety of our students at the forefront. Students worked diligently to reach academic goals despite a different classroom format. Our alumni and trustees cared for our community, and the greater Cedar Rapids community, by lending a hand—or a chainsaw. In true Mercy tradition, we met and continue to meet these challenges with grace and compassion—values that are deeply ingrained in who we are. Not only did we maintain our focus on academic excellence and compassionate service, we courageously moved forward despite several bumps in the road. In the year ahead, we will continue caring for our community and lifting up those who have been affected by COVID-19, the derecho, and other hardships. This issue of the Mount Mercy Magazine epitomizes our Mount Mercy community— inspiring and resilient. With Mercy,

Dr. Tim Laurent Interim President

Winter 2020–21

LIA (BASEMANN) DICKES ’17 Nursing Staff Floor Nurse & House Supervisor UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital

Lia (Basemann) Dickes ’17 didn’t bat an eye when her manager asked if she would work on floor 5E at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital—the COVID-19 floor. “I knew this was something I needed to do,” Lia said. “As a nurse, this is something I could do to help several people.”

“Many nights I cried to myself on the way home, praying my patients would still be there when I went to work the next morning.”

Afraid of contracting and passing on the virus, Lia and her fiancée (now wife) lived apart for three months during the height of the pandemic. “I didn’t know how much this would impact my personal life,” said Lia. “It was difficult to work some of the hardest shifts of my life and then come home to an empty house.” Several nurses with different specialty areas came together to treat patients on the COVID-19 floor where Lia worked as a primary nurse. To conserve personal protective equipment, she and fellow nurses interacted with patients in clusters. “It was much different than a usual day on my cardiology floor,” said Lia. “I usually can walk in and out of my patients’ rooms as many times as I want without any thought.” Although she was surrounded by the infectious virus, putting her own health and safety at risk, Lia’s patients were her number one priority. “Many nights I cried to myself on the way home, praying my patients would still be there when I went to work the next morning,” said Lia. “Several times I didn’t know if I could go back to work because I didn’t know if I could emotionally handle it.” 6

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

But Lia did go back to work. In true Mustang fashion, she not only showed up, but continued to support, treat, and care for her patients. “The biggest challenge of working on the front line was that these patients were so sick, and their families couldn’t be there for them,” said Lia. “We were their family. We were their nurse, family, therapist, and comfort throughout their stay. I am blessed to have brought some joy and hope into my patients’ lives.” The pandemic forced Lia to challenge herself as a nurse—and as an individual. Though she gained valuable critical thinking skills, her biggest takeaway came from a personal realization. “This has made me truly take advantage of every minute I have with my family,” said Lia. “I now live more in the moment than I used to. I used to be a planner and try to plan every aspect of my life. Now, I live my life more carefree.”

Winter 2020â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21

FEATURE

“There is a constant reminder of how fleeting life is. It passes so quickly, and soon it’s gone.”

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

HELEN BLEVI ’21 MBA Graduate Assistant, Mission & Ministry Mount Mercy University

“There is this fear and worry for my own health,” said Helen. “As an international student without American health insurance, I sometimes worry about how I would cope financially if I caught the virus.” Then, when the derecho hit, Helen remembers the shock she felt after seeing the destruction of the community. “There is a constant reminder of how fleeting life is. It passes so quickly, and soon it’s gone,” Helen said. In spite of all she’s gone through, Helen keeps pushing forward in her MBA studies and graduate assistantship, which includes managing the Mustang Market food pantry. Helen Blevi ’21 MBA has faced a turbulent year. After losing a family member to COVID-19, her mental and emotional well-being suffered—affecting her academic habits and social interactions. With Iowa experiencing multiple waves of infections, Helen still has not been able to return to normal.

“For me, resilience does not mean absence of difficult times, anxiety, distress, or fear,” said Helen. “It means how well I go through those low moments with my head held high, with a renewed hope and conviction to keep moving forward and rise above all those low moments. It’s about refusing to be broken by what you go through.”

Winter 2020–21

FEATURE

JANET FOSDICK ’97, ’16 MAED Adjunct Faculty Mount Mercy University

Janet Fosdick ’97, ’16 MAEd has adapted her teaching for the safety of herself and others. “We face many unknowns with COVID-19,” said Janet. “I feel our biggest challenges lie within this question, ‘How do we provide the learning that must happen, prepare opportunities for both face-to-face and online learning, while also ensuring the health and safety of all involved?’” Janet has seen many changes throughout her years as an educator, but none requiring such a large transition within such a small timeframe. Shortly after starting as an adjunct faculty member for MMU’s Master of Arts in Education program, Janet transitioned her classes, supervising duties, and student-teacher feedback to a completely online format. “The transition to online instruction took an enormous amount of cognitive time to figure out not only the dynamics of Brightspace, but also how to present content, assess, provide collaborative conversations and professional learning, support tutoring of elementary students, ensure technology works for parents, and much more,” said Janet. Many people at MMU stepped up to help support her. From brainstorming possible opportunities to working out Brightspace issues, there was always someone she could turn to for guidance. “Ensuring we have rich conversations based on collaborative and engaging learning opportunities is critical to any educational environment, regardless of what is happening in our world,” she said. “My personal saying is, ‘My students’ learning reflects the efforts I make.’”

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ensuring we have rich conversations based on collaborative and engaging learning opportunities is critical to any educational environment, regardless of what is happening in our world.â&#x20AC;?

IN CLASS

Mount Mercy implemented hybrid classes this year to limit person-to-person contact and ensure the MMU communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hybrid learning model splits students into rotating groups, with some attending in-person on a given day while the rest participate remotely. This limits the number of people in a classroom so that social distancing can take place. Hybrid learning also offers the advantage of a smooth transition if fully online learning becomes a necessity, as it was in the spring 2020 semester.

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

See an example hybrid class from Dr. Jonathan Humston, assistant professor of chemistry MTMERCY.EDU/VIDEOS

SAFETY & TECHNOLOGY • In-person classes are conducted in accordance with health and safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). • Students are required to wear face masks and sit six feet apart at individual tables or desks, which are sanitized after each use. • Students join remotely using Zoom with Meeting Owl conference cameras in every room, making it possible for students to see the classroom and hear the instructor and other students. • Hand sanitizer is available in every classroom and building on campus.

Winter 2020–21

PROFILE

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

BRADY KLEIN GROUNDS SUPERVISOR MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY

Brady Klein saw firsthand the devastation caused by the derecho and immediately assembled crews and got to work. What was the impact from the August 10 storm? The derecho was unlike any other weather event I’ve witnessed while working at MMU. The storm left trees blocking roads, loose limbs hanging over walkways, and considerable structural damage across campus. In total, we lost 124 trees with another 180 damaged at our four properties.

You were responsible for the grounds clean-up on campus. How did you manage it all? The most challenging part was trying to get all the supplies needed and coordinating crews. The grounds department worked hard to clear roadways so staff could leave campus safely. We managed the clean-up efforts with the help of numerous people on campus.

The local businesses that provided trucks, golf carts, skidloaders, supplies, and support of any kind after the storm— especially Noe Tree Service for their efficient removal of most trees on campus—helped expedite clean-up efforts.

Walk us through a day during the clean-up. I would start my day operating a chainsaw and managing the largest tree service of my career. I would leave to help family, friends, and neighbors. I cut trees from sun up to sun down. I helped around 20 different households with tree damage.

What has the community response been like? It’s been amazing to see the MMU community work together. Employees and students volunteered their time to get us back on track. It will take some time to get used to the current landscape, but this gives us a great opportunity to plant healthy, strong trees.

Winter 2020–21

PROFILE

DR. JOY OCHS PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

Dr. Joy Ochs felt the support from the MMU community after the derecho put her family into survival mode. Your home was severely damaged in the derecho— what happened?

How did you prep for courses while still dealing with the effects of the derecho?

Where there used to be a continuous canopy of tree cover, there was empty sky. Every door to our house was blocked with fallen trees. We had to crawl out. It took almost three full days of the neighbors working together to clear our road. Without electricity, we didn’t have running water; cell towers had been destroyed, so no one had a reliable phone signal. It was a few days of just raw survival mode.

I had to do as much emotional prep work as anything else: how to welcome and connect with students who were themselves dealing with COVID-19 and derecho stress. Whether in-person or online, MMU’s hallmark is our connection with students. If every other thing went wrong, it was still important to me to do that one thing well.

How did your MMU colleagues help you during this time? Dennis Dew was the first to check on us and bring needed supplies. Chris DeVault loaned me his chainsaw, which was the only tool I had for two weeks. Neil Bernstein and his wife took us under their wing; we ended every day at their house, where they fed us supper and provided hot showers while our power was out. Jennie Schmidt organized a clean-up day where 15 colleagues showed up with chainsaws, rakes, and big smiles. Students sent encouraging messages and even offered to come over and help! I felt truly embraced by my community.

But with no cell signal or WiFi at home, it was impossible to get my course materials online. It was the same situation for my husband, who teaches at Kirkwood. Tim Laurent gave us the key to his Graduate Center office—the sole reason we were able get ready for class on time. And, we might also have had the first Kirkwood course ever to be broadcast from an MMU building!

Any final thoughts on this experience? After two floods and a derecho, Cedar Rapidians have become my role models for building community resilience.

Winter 2020–21

PROFILE

SRDJAN JANKOVIC ’20 MARKETING

A one-week spring break trip turned into a months-long journey home for Srdjan Jankovic ’20. You’re back home in Belgrade, Serbia, but it was quite a journey to get there. Tell us what happened. I planned a one-week spring break trip to Canada before COVID-19 hit. The day after I got there, MMU went all online and the borders closed. So my plan was to stay in Canada until graduation and then fly home, but I couldn’t get home because of travel restrictions. Finally, a flight to Serbia was approved in June. It felt like the apocalypse because no one was at the airport.

You stayed with your aunt and uncle in Canada. What did you do to pass time? I kept myself as busy as possible by writing a TV script with my father, studying, working out, and enjoying my uncle’s best dishes in the world. Every night, I watched movies with my aunt and uncle and talked with quarantined friends on the phone. My aunt and uncle were very cautious; they didn’t let me go to stores or be around other people.

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

When you got home, you were met with a few surprises. Yes, my mom got sick with COVID-19 and could barely get out of bed. She does all the chores at home, so suddenly my dad and I were cleaning, cooking, and taking care of everything. It was way harder than we thought. We are artistically oriented and don’t know these practical things! Then my grandma got sick, and my grandpa’s dementia got worse. When we finally moved him into a nursing home, he died just two days later. At the same time, the government announced that we beat COVID-19 right before the elections. After that party won, they suddenly declared another 72-hour lockdown due to an increase in cases. Violent protests started within hours. It was a shaky time.

What did you learn from all of this? COVID-19 showed that we humans are just a pawn on the universe’s chessboard and that everything can quickly turn upside down. It also showed us that nothing is as important as relationships with family, friends, and the community around us. That’s what we’re missing the most during this pandemic.

Winter 2020â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21

HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL

BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP SHOWCASE In July, Mount Mercy faculty launched the Business & Leadership Showcase—monthly events designed to share business knowledge and strategies with community members and show what graduate classes look like at MMU. “By sharing the expertise of our faculty, we offer the opportunity to learn about our programs and faculty while supporting lifelong learning,” said Marcie Van Note, MBA and MSL program director. Held via Zoom, attendees came together to brainstorm ideas and share their varied experiences. “Though we’re physically distancing, the showcases allow us to continue to stay social and share knowledge,” said Cherrie Spurlin, assistant professor of MSL. “Attendees left the sessions with useful information and instant connections with others,” added Todd Hutcheson, assistant professor of MBA.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Virtual Business & Leadership Conference | February 24-25, 2021 mtmercy.edu/virtual-business-leadership-conference

WENTE EDUCATION CENTER

After a generous estate gift from the late Janice Nie Wente ’71 and her husband Arlin, Mount Mercy opened the Wente Education Center in February 2020. “The gift the Wente family has given MMU is remarkable. We can’t even begin to describe how deeply their gift has impacted us,” said Dr. Norma Linda Mattingly, associate professor of education. “It is truly a blessing and one for which we are forever grateful.” Space was cleared on the upper floor of Busse Library for the new education center, composed of four large classrooms and 10 offices for education faculty and support staff. The gift also helped improve accessibility on campus. “One of Janice’s wishes was that the education department’s new space be handicap accessible to students and all who would be served by her gift,” Norma Linda said. The estate gift also led to the creation of the Wente Endowed Education Scholarship.

Winter 2020–21

HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL

MMU COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AFTER THE AUGUST 10 DERECHO 9 days without power

5 organizations donated in-kind

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

304 trees lost or damaged

160+ volunteers cleaned up 100% of our buildings sustained damage

A dedication event honoring volunteers was held September 28. A paver was dedicated, reading “In gratitude of relief provided following the 2020 derecho.” Volunteers were also given a t-shirt with the saying “Evergreen, EverMercy.”

MMU also recognized funding from the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Ministry Grant and a donation providing monetary relief to employees who had auto insurance deductibles to pay—as a result of damage incurred while on campus. The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas provided emergency relief funding for students and employees, alongside funding to assist clean-up efforts.

“The clean-up efforts showed what the MMU community can do. They were my first glimpse into the strength and kindness of our Mercy family.” —Cara Reilly Coordinator of Volunteerism & Service

“I have become more resilient. We didn’t have power or water for almost two weeks while I entertained two kids that couldn’t play outside, helped chainsaw, and took care of my mother. This cemented the fact that I can get through anything.” —Emily Barker ’20 “Over 160 volunteers came together to get campus ready for our students—despite having to take care of damage to their own homes, cars, and personal property. This shows the tremendous commitment of our entire Mount Mercy community.” —Dr. Tim Laurent Interim President Winter 2020–21

HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL

WATCH THE LECTURES mtmercy.edu/videos

FALL FACULTY SERIES The 19th Amendment: 100 Years Later This year’s Fall Faculty Series began one month after the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment that secured women’s right to vote in the U.S. The annual series featured the following lectures: 20

• Am I Woman? Black Women at the Intersections of Suffrage, Citizenship, and Democracy • The Fight for Women’s Suffrage in the Hawkeye State • Influential American Women: Infusing Race and Culture into Politics • Portraits of American Suffragettes: Troublemakers or Trailblazers? • Women in the World: Addressing Gender Equality and the United Nations • Voter Turnout: An Examination of the Characteristics of the Non-Voting Population

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SERIES

“I think this series helped the audience orient themselves to not only official government accomplishments, but all of the grassroots and organizational work it takes to achieve any sort of progress,” said Joseph Hendryx, Fall Faculty Series coordinator and assistant professor of English. “The government didn’t give women the right to vote; women and other folks forced the government to recognize and act on their right to vote.”

ATHLETICS DURING COVID-19 Sports look a little different on the Hill this season. Additional health and safety precautions are being taken along with frequent COVID-19 screenings. A negative COVID-19 test is required for all student-athletes before participating in sports. “Mount Mercy is following the Heart Promise like all schools in our conference,” said Lydia LaMere, head athletic trainer. “Masks are worn on the benches when athletes are not in the game, and hands are sanitized after coming off from competition and right before going back in.”

Athletes are also screened through a mobile app every morning. The app asks athletes questions about their health and requires them to record their temperatures. Screenings happen before all games and traveling, with busses at 50% capacity to allow for social distancing. Temperature checks are required before athletes participate in workouts or practices. Masks are also used while in the athletic training room, to and from the gyms on campus, and any time student-athletes aren’t doing cardio exercises.

Winter 2020–21

HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL

CLOTH FOR A CAUSE Mount Mercyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Enactus club partnered with a local group of African refugees, African Women Empowered (AWE), to bring 2,000 cloth face masks to the Hill, incorporating them into student COVID-19 safety kits at the beginning of the fall semester. The Cloth for a Cause project used a one-for-one business plan to donate a face mask to local non-profits for every mask sold. The goal of the project was to provide work to the women of AWE and keep our community safe during the pandemic.

Winter 2020â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21

STAYING CONNECTED

THANK YOU! 2020–21 ALUMNI BOARD We appreciate your passion and dedication to Mount Mercy. Thank you for all you do to support our alma mater. Kathy Ebel Harriott ’87 | President Nick Timm ’14 | Vice President April Hageman ’08 | Secretary

Catherine Metz O’Connell ’00 Amber Vranek O’Connor ’97, ’21 MSL Dr. Susan O’Conner-Von ’76 Lisa Lindmeier Roughley ’90 Blake Seda ’19 Andy Small ’79 Shelby Sorensen ’18 Tracy Sorensen ’20 Lindsey Cooper Starrett ’06 Janet Teahen ’17 Sarah Jencks Watson ’08

Aminah Baloch ’17 Patty Barnes ’79, ’11 MBA Mary Daehn ’86* Peggy Bruns Detweiler ’92* *Emeritus Alumni Board member Tony Dickinson ’02* Jennifer Hamdorf ’20 MBA Tricia Hoffman-Simanek ’98* INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED Karen Woodhouse Jahlas ’84 WITH THE ALUMNI BOARD? Michael Kaduce ’09 Email us at alumni@mtmercy.edu Goar Kempf-Heitlinger ’17 Sara Kendall ’90 Katie Kielkucki ’06 Marcel Kielkucki ’02 Tammy Clemenson Koolbeck ’86* Jennifer Engelhardt Kreeb ’98 Kellie J. Lala ’89 Michael Markham ’16 Ron Maxa Jr. ’06, ’11 MBA John McDermott ’05 Joan Kress McFarland ’92, ’16 MSN

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IN MEMORIAM 1960S

1930S Jean Dwyer Dunne AC ’36

1940S

Mary Annis Bartel ’62 Sister Alice Maiers ’67 Ruth Gadient McComber ’67 Ann Schilling Perl ’67 Sister Theresa Ann Spitz ’67

June Masterson Jarrard JC ’40 Elaine Burns McEldowney JC ’42 1970S M. Loretta McAleer Reidy JC ’42 Rose Zubak RN ’43 Vera Anderson ’70 Margaret McCrea Pilcher RN ’45 Judith Boddicker Garbers ’70 Veronica Manton Doty AC ’46, JC ’48 Sister Philomena Husak ’70 Mary Urbain Lassance JC ’46 Karen Klimesh Shores ’70 Peggy Welch Meek AC ’46 Joyce Ream Hammes ’71 Dolores Kaalberg Suchomel JC ’47 Carleen Grandon ’72 Lucille Greene Fairley AC ’48 Ann Sullivan ’72 Dorothy Duhachek Hanus AC ’49 Dick Woods ’76 Genevieve Crock Platner RN ’49 Jay Alan Duenow ’78

1950S

1980S

Mary Ellen Kroeger O'Brien JC ’51, ’71 Jim Noonan ’80 Bernice Schulte Zenisek JC ’51 Kasaundra Adams ’85 Alice Jones Prince RN ’52 Terry Lee Levelle ’85 Alice Rader Camozzi JC ’53 Tom Patterson ’87 Florence Rosenbaum Gapinski JC ’53 1990S E. Betty Mahoney Schulte JC ’54 Jo Ann Pugh Burger RN ’55 Charles Peterson ’90 Eleanor “Sue” Martin Fisher RN ’56 Linda Angell ’91 Elaine McDonald Young RN ’58, ’95 Marie Costigan Riesenberg ’91 Daniel Spangler ’92 Jacqueline Flagel Bridges ’94 Diana Fritz ’94 Dean Daniels ’96 AC = Academy Jennifer Hills Wise ’96 JC = Junior College RN = Mercy Hospital School of Nursing Ann Wohlford George ’99 2020s Justin Ilg ’20 Winter 2020–21

STAYING CONNECTED

CLASS NOTES 1970s

1980s

1990s

Sister Mary Gertrude Keefe ’70

Cindy Loebig Fagan ’80 was named

Dr. Kim Maslowski Bro ’90 was

celebrated her Sisters of Mercy 70th Jubilee in September 2020.

Angie Brown Turner ’75 received

the American Red Cross Employee Excellence Award.

Dr. Susan O’Conner-Von ’76 received

the 2020 Iowa School Nurse of the Year by the Iowa School Nurse Organization.

Tracy Donohoe Maher ’83 is a 5th

grade math teacher at the Decorah Community School District.

named one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses of 2020.

Maureen Kler Osako ’93 retired after 22 years of co-owning Informatics, Inc. with Frank Osako ’87.

Denise Shaffer Brotherton ’94, ’20 MACJ is captain of the Iowa City

the 2020 Excellence in Practice Award through Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nurses Alumni Association, of Rush University Medical Center.

Lorenzo Canalis ’85 retired as

Dexter Brecht ’79 married Jack Heidt

and husband Darwin opened Heritage Lodge Bed & Breakfast in Red Oak, IA.

special agent in charge of criminal investigations at the Internal Revenue Service’s Chicago field office. She is the first woman to lead this office.

Paula Pollastrini Yetmar ’85 retired

Holly Schantz Ervin ’97 is co-owner

on June 28, 2020.

the head women’s soccer coach at Berry College.

Teresa Crossett Peterson ’85

after 33 years with the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Police Department.

Kathy Halvorsen Enstrom ’96 is a

of Feedwell Kitchen and Bakery with Melanie Abu-Nameh ’14, ’19 MSL.

Lori Portzline Manley ’99 is the

principal of Linn Grove Elementary in the Linn-Mar Community School District.

Members of the 1986 class attended a reunion in Charleston, SC. Nursing alums pictured: Ann (Kelly) Regan, Lee (Klaus) Patterson, Michele (Cahalan) Wolf, Brenda (Anstoetter) Ehlers, Connie (Ries) Deutmeyer, Bev (Langel) Koehler, Ann Peterson, and Ellen (Ritchie) Holm.

Ann Vogl Jeffries ’89 was named partner at Benchmark, Inc. 30

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

2000s Dorea Sathern Burkamper ’00 was

named a 2020 Tribute to Women of Achievement in Service to the Community, presented by Waypoint.

Karen Smith Brunscheen ’01, ’20 MSL is a senior internal audit manager at Transamerica.

Jennifer Thomas Moore ’01 was

named a 2020 Tribute to Women of Achievement in Leadership, presented by Waypoint.

2010s Aaron Baumert ’05 is vice president of business banking for BankIowa.

Jill Schueller Hoeger ’05 is a school nurse for the Maquoketa Valley School District.

Dr. Nicole Peterson Smith ’05 was recognized as a 2019 Top Doctor by Minnesota Monthly.

Julie Fisher Facion ’10 is the donor

relations director at Salvation Army of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Rose Graber Hedges ’10, ’12 MSN

was a 2020 honoree in the Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.

Eric Bearbower ’11 is a senior

accountant at VGM Insurance.

Sheryl Cline ’07 was named

2020 Counselor of the Year by the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling.

Mallory Specht DeMay ’07 is a faculty support and classroom consultant at Ashford University.

Ashley Knipper Monaghan ’07 and

Tony had a baby girl, Claire Rose, on January 21, 2020.

Wade Steinhoff ’01 is the

superintendent of schools for the Orchard Farm School District in St. Charles, MO.

Lydia Tiedemann Christoffersen ’08, ’19 MSN is a lecturer of nursing

Dan ’11 and Carrie Weber Clouse ’11 had a baby girl, Coralyn Rose, on August 6, 2020.

at MMU.

Kaitlynn Mell ’11, ’20 MSL is a service Chad Greenlee ’02 is a market leader at BerganKDV.

Dr. Teri Knapp ’03 earned a

doctorate in integrating technology, learning, and psychology from Grand Canyon University.

and support coordinator at The Arc of East Central Iowa.

Marty Tope ’11 received a Life Saving Commendation Award, one of the highest honors a law enforcement officer can receive, from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Kate Barnts Lyon ’03, ’20 MBA

was named a 2020 Tribute to Women of Achievement in Leadership, presented by Waypoint.

Rev. Eric Wright ’04 is a pastor of First

Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville, IN.

Winter 2020–21

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES Emily Grace ’15, ’17 MSL was

named a 2020 Tribute to Women of Achievement in Leadership, presented by Waypoint.

Kristen Hawes Wink ’11, ’15 MSL

Sarah White ’15 married Alex

and A.J. had a baby boy, Coleson Edward, on March 30, 2020.

O’Connell on August 3, 2019.

Jacob ’15, ’19 MSL and Emily Greiner Misener ’12, ’16 MBA Brittney Savoy Clarke ’12 MBA was named a 2020 Tribute to Women of Achievement in Leadership, presented by Waypoint.

had a baby boy, Sully Briggs, on January 2, 2020.

J.J. Schwennen ’15 is an athletic

recruitment coordinator at MMU.

Jeremy Cline ’16 is the quality

assurance manager for Heartland Goodwill Enterprises’s soybean oil packaging operation.

Michael Markham ’16 is

co-owner and therapist at Dozier Therapy Associates.

Mark Mettler ’17 is a funeral director and embalmer at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Evan ’15 and Deanna Knustrom Boddicker ’16 had a baby boy,

Robert James, on April 5, 2020.

Christina Walker ’15

married Steven Krapfl on October 3, 2020.

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Jessica DeSotel ’19 is a senior engineer project assistant at Collins Aerospace.

Jeremiah ’19 and Nicole Moreno Herman ’13, ’19 had a baby girl, Arya, in February 2020.

Karen Wielert ’19 MSL, ’20 MBA is a workforce advisor for the State of Iowa.

Dondre Osborne ’16 married

Laquisha on October 9, 2020. They also had a baby girl, Dray. Dondre is a food and beverage coordinator at Target.

Vanessa Shekleton ’17, ’20 MBA

is a teller service representative at Veridian Credit Union.

Anne Youngman ’19 MBA was a Patricia Ochs ’18 MSL is an

2020 honoree in the Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.

executive assistant for the Association of Former Members of Congress in Washington, DC. She also had a baby girl, Sophia Grace.

Benjamin Jones ’18, ’20 MSL

is the interim men's head golf coach at MMU.

Matt Monthie ’18, ’20 MSL is a

transition manager at Transamerica.

Winter 2020–21

STAYING CONNECTED

CLASS NOTES 2020s Mallory Allen ’20 is an ICU

nurse at the Iowa City VA Health Care System.

Peyton Baskerville ’20 is an

accountant at Ahmann Companies.

Trista Behrens ’20 is a middle

school special education teacher at the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District.

Rylee Blood ’20 is an emergency

McGrath Automotive Group.

Marlon Flores-Paniagua ’20 is a music and voice instructor for ages 4-50.

Cara Frank ’20 is an internal general clerk for Transamerica.

Wendell Gan ’20 is a systems engineer for radio systems engineering at Collins Aerospace.

Brooke Mallicoat ’20 is a senior engineering project assistant at Collins Aerospace.

Chelsie Mangold ’20 is a K-4 art

teacher at the West Delaware County Community School District.

Manda Marshall ’20 is an instructional technology consultant at the University of Iowa.

Ellen Matheny ’20 is a nurse at

nurse at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Aaron Golding ’20 is a financial analyst at Transamerica.

UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital.

Steven Bush ’20 is a nurse at Mercy

Adam Grier ’20 is a risk management

Medical Center.

coordinator for Johnson County.

Sarah Melsha ’20 is a human resource

Katelyn Canby ’20 works for the Linn

Jennifer Hamdorf ’20 MBA is director

manager accountant at Banjo Equipment Company.

of contracts and legal operations at Ruffalo Noel Levitz.

Kirsten Meyer ’20 works at TaxAct.

is the interim women’s head golf coach at MMU.

Irena Henry ’20 is a software engineer at Collins Aerospace.

teacher at the Linn-Mar Community School District.

Erin Duncan ’20 MFT is a marriage

Jarred Johnston ’20 is a social studies

and family therapist at the Counseling Center of Iowa City.

teacher at the Waterloo Community School District.

Maddie Neisen ’20 is a nurse at

Darcy Dzick ’20 is a financial

Kortney Kaiser ’20 is a teacher at

County Sheriff’s Department.

Danielle Ducklow ’20 MBA

adjustment specialist at Transamerica.

Taken Engelken ’20 is a

structural designer at Suburban Lumber Company.

Amber Eterno ’20 is a nurse at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Caleb Finley ’20 is a parts advisor for

MOUNT MERCY MAGAZINE

the Guilford County School District and worship director for Gate City Vineyard Church.

Kevin Kastl ’20 was signed to the

Cedar Rapids Inferno professional soccer club.

Kaitlin Mikkola ’20 MFT is a 6th grade

UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital.

Bailey Newell ’20 is a nurse at Mercy Medical Center.

Cassie Noel ’20 is an audit coordinator at Green Iowa, AmeriCorps.

Darius Nupolu ’20 MSL works at Nordstrom.

Morgan Ohl ’20 is a graphic designer at JCPenney.

Morgan Olsem ’20 is pediatric and

Mikaela Rans ’20 is a nurse at

Lexxis Onken ’20 is a direct support

Maximilian Rieger ’20 is a strategist

NICU nurse at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital. professional at The Arc of East Central Iowa.

Maddie Orton ’20 is a writer/content strategist at MMU.

Noel Padilla ’20 MBA is a maintenance

the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. with the Office of Marketing & Communications at MMU and also works in Talent & Development at TrueNorth Companies.

Melany Roggow ’20 is a family safety,

plan coordinator at Altorfer, Inc.

risk, and permanency services worker at Four Oaks.

Taseandra Parker ’20 is a social

Angela “Gigi” Sage ’20 is a customer

worker for the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Matt Pelzer ’20 is a staff accountant at Terry Lockridge & Dunn.

Maggie Peterson ’20 is a RISE

AmeriCorps member for the City of Columbus Junction, IA.

Angela Petrie '20 is an account manager at Transamerica.

Brittany Pleasant ’20 is assistant property manager at Lincoln Property Company.

security and crisis response supervisor at the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Therese Wheeler ’20 is a lean sigma

tech intern at Whirlpool Corporation.

Cheyenne Wright ’20 is a senior

account clerk at the Linn County Sheriff’s Department.

advocate at NRTC Managed Services.

Adolf Scott ’20 MBA is an assembler at Whirlpool Corporation.

Jerry Sikkema ’20 MSL is the assistant track and field coach at MMU.

Tim Smith ’20 is a medical float pool nurse at Mercy Medical Center.

Zach Tinkey ’20 is a digital

technology collaboration assistant at Collins Aerospace.

Frankline Tshombe ’20 is a

Travis Prior ’20 is a business process specialist at Collins Aerospace.

kinship specialist (child welfare social worker) at Families First Counseling Services.

Jessica Purgett ’20 is the assistant

Mikaela Upah ’20 is a financial

editor for AviationPros.com.

Eric Werling ’20 MACJ is the school

processor at Transamerica.

Winter 2020–21

1330 Elmhurst Drive NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402-4797 mtmercy.edu

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WRONG ADDRESS? Let us know! | alumni@mtmercy.edu

WITH GRATITUDE What these featured individuals and others, including you, have done to embody our Mercy values during these times is truly inspirational. Thank you for being a beacon of light and continuing to passionately advocate for those who may need it most. Your resiliency uplifts us; your character inspires us; and you make us proud to be Mustangs. Thank you.

Winter 2020â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21

MTMERCY.EDU