Dominican University Magazine, Fall 2018

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FALL 2018

ENG AGING THE CRE ATIVE MIND

A HOME FOR THE CREATIVE SPIRIT

A CALLING FOR CREATIVE WORK

The theatre arts department’s inventive take on a Shakespeare classic

Alumnae/i and faculty open up about life in the theatre

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RANKINGS PLACE DU AT #1 BEST VALUE IN ILLINOIS


The Magazine of Dominican University Fall 2018

PRESIDENT

Donna M. Carroll EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

Leslie B. Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Jason Keyser James Winters MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Ryan Pagelow DESIGN

Jim Bernard Design

Dominican University 7900 W. Division Street River Forest, Illinois 60305 dom.edu magazine@dom.edu Dominican Magazine is published twice yearly by Dominican University for its alumnae/i and friends. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. © 2018 Dominican University


table of contents

Engaging the Creative Mind

In this issue we explore Veritas as the inspiration for Dominican’s Theatre Arts program, and how creativity fuels everything from ministry to MBAs. Guided by a passion for Caritas, programs and people set the stage for success.

DU news 3

Dominican named # 1 Best Value in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report. 4

The Siena Center celebrates 15 years of exploring issues of faith and scholarship. 5

Meet the recipients of the Davlin and Bradford O’Neill Awards. 6

Q&A with Hosffman Ospino, PhD, this year’s Mazzuchelli lecturer.

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Romeo & Juliet: Where Caritas and Veritas Converge A behind-the-scenes look at how the theatre arts department explores truth, and what we can learn from Shakespeare’s classic play.

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My Life in Theatre Three alumnae/i and a professor reflect on their successes in the creative world.

20 A decade of theatre

arts in photos.

7

Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rukmini Callimachi shared stories from the front lines as a current foreign correspondent for The New York Times. 8

The new MBA Gateway program puts grad students in the boardroom. 9

STEM programs get a big boost with a grant from the National Science Foundation. 10

Women’s soccer has a star in Josseline Williams; and men’s volleyball went to the Final Four.

departments 22

class news

35

in sympathy Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 1


from the president

Defining Moments of Service On May 14, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, the community that founded Dominican University, presented their inaugural Cornerstones Award to Donna M. Carroll, the university’s tenth president. The award honors four founding sisters—Clara, Ignatia, Josephine and Rachel—whose courage in adversity and commitment to mission made them “cornerstones” of the community. President Carroll accepted the award at the Sinsinawa Mound, the home base in southwestern Wisconsin from which the sisters have ministered since 1847. These are Dr. Carroll’s remarks.

The sense of place and relationship that I discovered at Rosary was unexpected and life changing. I came for the responsibility; I stayed for the mission; and Dominican University and I grew up together. —President Donna M. Carroll

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Thank you for the lovely acknowledgment—and for the privilege of sharing this inaugural moment with you. It was 25 years ago that I accepted your invitation to serve as the first lay president of Rosary College. There are not as many “firsts” in my life these days, so to be honored with the first Cornerstones Award is as refreshing as it is humbling. I am deeply grateful. Samuel Mazzuchelli was an architect—of buildings and communities—so it is not surprising that he would refer to the first four vowed Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters as “cornerstones,” or that he would see their fortitude as foundational. He could not have foreseen, however, how one story would shape the character of a religious community, or how, well into the future, that legacy would call others to defining moments of service. In 1994, it was Prioress Kaye Ashe who spoke passionately to her Rosary College board colleagues about the readiness of the community to appoint its first lay president. Not until the trustees were hanging my picture on the wall did I fully understand the magnitude and generosity of that endorsement. I was so different—and I am not just referring to wardrobe. Why me? I quietly wondered. And then I discovered the story of the cornerstones—four young women stepping into leadership. What they lacked in years and gravitas, they countered with resourcefulness, determination, and a deep and binding affection. As I was deliberating about the presidency, a colleague said to me, “Do not not do it out of fear.” He might just as easily have said, “Providence will provide.” The “choice to stay” has been a defining factor in my life, as I suspect it was for Clara, Ignatia, Josephine and Rachel almost 170 years ago. As I mentioned in my 2015 Mazzuchelli Lecture, I was not raised professionally to fit in—or to stay put. Quite the contrary, I was mentored to aspire high, achieve early and move on. So the sense of place and relationship that I discovered at Rosary was unexpected and life changing. I came for the responsibility; I stayed for the mission; and Dominican University and I grew up together. When asked about the vitality of the university today, I often say that Dominican has “good bones.” And, while Father Samuel would delight in our beautifully built campus, he would understand that the bones to which I refer are not structural, but rather the traditions, values and stories that give meaning and resilience to our work—and our lives.


President Carroll was honored for

modeling the hope, courage, vision

and faith embodied by the first four sisters of the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation.

Higher education today is facing a period of enormous uncertainty and change, one that will test the foundation of our Dominican academic community. As we struggle with di˜ cult, often emotionally charged decisions, and as I struggle with the weight of leadership, I am reminded of the courage of the four cornerstones—and the purpose of a faith-based university. Truthfully, had it not been for the integrating vision of feminism, justice and mercy that I found among the Dominicans, I would not have the adult Catholic faith that I have today—or the sense of presidential vocation and accomplishment. I stand on strong shoulders, embraced by a loving community. In my “maturity” as president, I am often asked to speak at the inauguration of up-and-coming presidents. Let me end these words as I often begin my ceremonial remarks—with a mix of wisdom and nostalgia. ° e inauguration of a president is an intimate moment in a crowded room, a freefall into the heart of an institution. When you stand up, with that medallion around your neck, you are di˛ erent. You are connected to a larger purpose, responsible for the welfare of a community, and truly humbled by the burden of hope. ° ank you for this extraordinary recognition. Your conÿ dence and a˛ ection are the cornerstones of my presidency.

Dominican scores record-high rankings among Midwest universities— and leads the pack as the Best Value School in Illinois. Dominican University has achieved its highest This year’s rankings formula emphasized ever ranking in the prestigious annual study by outcomes and, for the first time, social mobility. U.S. News & World Report. In a single year, it Dominican’s rankings reflect its strong perforjumped eight places to the Number 11 spot on mance in guiding high numbers of low-income the publication’s list of students successfully to 165 regional universigraduation. The univerties in the Midwest—a sity has made significant competitive category it investments in student shares with North Cenadvising and support tral College, Elmhurst through its new Division College, Lewis University, of Student Success Saint Xavier University and Engagement. In an and 172 other instituearly sign of the impact, tions, from Ohio to North freshman-to-sophomore Dakota. Dominican is retention has risen 11 now the highest ranking percentage points over BEST VALUE IN ILLINOIS small university in the the past two years, to 83 Chicago area. percent. The 2019 “Best “I am delighted and Colleges” review also proud to see Dominican recognized Dominican University excel across REGIONAL UNIVERSITY as the No. 1 Best Value U.S. News & World ReIN THE MIDWEST School in Illinois for its port rankings this year, combination of high indicating the critical academic quality and importance of inclusive lower cost of attendance excellence in higher to students and families, education today—that BEST UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING after financial aid. The is, excellence that is ranking reflects the uniaccessible, affordable, versity’s determination to outcomes-oriented, and ensure that academic commitment, not family anchored by quality teaching,” said President wealth, opens its doors. More than 95% of Donna M. Carroll. Dominican undergraduates receive financial aid.

BY THE

NUMBERS 1

No.

11

No.

TOP20

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Short takes on a season at Dominican

The MBA Gateway Experience is a tough first challenge for new students.

The National Science Foundation awarded Dominican with a five-year grant for STEM education.

PAGE E I GHT

PA G E NI NE

Dominican’s Men’s Volleyball team made it to the NCAA Final Four. PA G E EL EV EN

‘Love Follows Knowledge’

For 15 years, the Siena Center has worked to reach audiences and inform their understanding of Christian life in the modern world.

Past Siena Center Speakers Include Alice McDermott Novelist and National Book Award winner Joan Chittister Benedictine sister and outspoken advocate for justice, peace and equality David Brooks New York Times columnist and author of The Road to Character

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The St. Catherine of Siena Center embodies the full schedule, see events.dom.edu/siena-center) The university’s determination to serve as a thought anniversary season will conclude on April 9 with the leader in Dominican Catholic education. Established return to campus of Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest, in 2003, the center spends each academic year the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, engaging critical issues of church and society within and a noted author. His latest book is Barking to the the contexts of scholarship and faith. It presents a Choir: The Radical Power of Kinship. “Human beings provocative series of lectures and courses that are are settlers, but not in the pioneer sense,” he writes. open to anyone who wishes to deepen his or her “We settle for the fear-driven when love longs to understanding of Christian life in the modern world. be our engine. We settle for a puny, vindictive God To mark its 15th anniversary season, the center when we are being nudged always closer to this is exploring the theme of “Embracing the Common wildly inclusive, larger-than-any-life God…. We settle Good.” Fall topics included healing faith, the changfor the illusion of separation when we are endlessly ing role of Catholic universities, and the recurring call asked to enter into kinship with all.” of advent “to become what we pray.” Named for the Dominican The center also launched Siena in the philosopher and theologian who is City, a new initiative that deliberately honored as a Doctor of the Church, expands its reach beyond the campus the Siena Center welcomes more to the urban center. On October 3, the than 2,000 guests to campus each Reverend Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran year. Previous speakers include Alice pastor and best-selling author on McDermott, the novelist and National spiritual themes, spoke to a sold-out Book Award winner; Joan Chittister, crowd of more than 800 at Old St. the Benedictine sister and outspoPatrick’s Church in the West Loop. ken advocate for justice, peace and She “walked alongside the crowd equality, especially for women; and and shared the transformative power David Brooks, the New York Times Nadia Bolz-Weber, Lutheran of finding the humanity in all of us,” columnist and author of The Road to Pastor and best-selling author. an audience member said afterward, Character. “using humor, honesty and theologi“Saint Catherine of Siena herself cal wisdom to invite us to reconsider the Christian once observed, ‘Love follows knowledge,’” says the understanding of sin and mercy.” center’s director, Dr. Rachel Hart Winter. “I believe The spring semester will bring lectures on spirthe Siena Center has become such a meaningful ituality, health and justice; a “report card on health part of our patrons’ lives because we provide a care”; and a mini-course on the power of collective unique opportunity to grow together in both knowlmemory for reckoning with oppressive pasts. (For a edge and love.”


Caritas Veritas Symposium

“To Participate in the Creation of a More Just and Humane World” The university sums up its mission in 29 words: “As a Sinsinawa Dominican-sponsored institution, Dominican University prepares students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.” Each year, the institution honors members of both the larger community and the faculty and staff whose work reflects Dominican values, with two awards presented at the Caritas Veritas Symposium on September 25th.

Sarita Brown, a national leader in advancing diversity in higher education for more than three decades, received the 2018 Bradford O’Neill Medallion for Social Justice. In 2004, Brown founded Excelencia in Education, which works to accelerate academic achievement, improve retention and expand opportunities for low-income and minority college students. The organization provides colleges and universities with effective strategies for recruiting and retaining Latino students, and works to advance public policies that support diversity in higher education. Like many Dominican students, Brown was the first in her family to attend college. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She started her career leading minority recruitment efforts at her alma mater, where she built a national model promoting minority success in graduate education. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Brown as the first executive director of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. She also served as the founding president of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute, where she worked to advance federal support for Latino college and university students. This year, Dominican is one of 12 HispanicServing Institutions participating in a national survey by Excelencia in Education that seeks to measure the degree to which Latino graduates feel engaged in their careers and

Chavella T. Pittman, PhD Sarita Brown

successful in life. The survey is one example of Excelencia’s data-driven, evidence-based approach to evaluating Latino student success in college and beyond. Dominican’s president, Donna M. Carroll, is a member of Presidents for Latino Student Success, an Excelenciasponsored organization. The university established the medallion to honor Sister Vincent Ferrer Bradford, OP, and Sister Thomas Aquinas O’Neill, OP, pioneering Rosary College professors who embraced social justice through their scholarship and actions. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization reflecting the university’s mission of creating a more just and humane world.

Chavella T. Pittman, a professor of sociology at Dominican, received the 2018 Davlin Diversity Leadership Award. Pittman’s keen interest in social justice has inspired her scholarship and teaching and has had a significant impact on campus life at Dominican. Since joining the university in 2010, she has helped students and colleagues to better understand how discrimination, microaggressions and intersectional biases jeopardize the success and social mobility of marginalized persons. Raised in South Carolina and Ohio, Pittman grew up around both overt and covert racism; and she found the latter to be the more toxic. She saw how Shaker Heights, a Cleveland suburb intentionally designed to promote integration, struggled with the difference between civic goals and practices. A perception of the dissonance between what people believe and how they behave has informed Pittman’s life and career. An academically talented student, she tested into the highest levels of each of her subjects—although many of her teachers assumed, because of racial stereotyping, that she was in the wrong class. She was fortunate to have a mother and a high school teacher who fiercely advocated for her, ensuring that she remained in the advanced classes in which she belonged. The experience prompted a lifelong commitment to advocating for marginalized students. In Bridge to Careers, a Dominican course she created and teaches every year, Pittman helps students develop concrete plans for their professional lives and encourages them to find the resources within themselves and in their communities to ensure that they achieve their professional aspirations, regardless of ethnic identity or socioeconomic status. Dominican presents the Davlin Award annually to a member of the faculty or staff who demonstrates the commitment to diversity, service and justice embodied by Sister Mary Clemente Davlin, OP, a revered, longtime professor of English who died in December 2017. The award was established in 2003. Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 5


‘At Stake Is the Vibrancy of Catholicism’ In November, Hosffman Ospino, a theologian and Director of Graduate Programs in Hispanic Ministry at Boston College, delivered the annual Mazzuchelli Lecture. He discussed the promise and challenge of the rising generation of students in Catholic higher education, which includes many Hispanic students. Dominican is federally recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Dr. Ospino. The full interview can be found at events.dom.edu/mazzuchelli-ospino. Q: What can Catholic universities do to serve Hispanic students better? We need to make sure that Hispanic young people are sincerely welcomed on our campuses. This requires a major strategy that starts by partnering with parishes, dioceses, elementary schools and other organizations to support Hispanic children from a very early age. If Hispanic children are attending

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underperforming public schools all their lives, the chances that they will succeed in Catholic institutions diminish by the day. Once Hispanics are in our Catholic colleges, we must create conditions of support that will ensure their success. Q: Many Hispanic college students are second- and third-generation now. How do their needs differ from those of their parents or grandparents? The immense majority are English-speaking and understand well what it means to be a member of U.S. society. Many have witnessed poverty, marginalization and discrimination. Many have seen their parents and grandparents mistreated for being immigrants or for being Hispanic. They grow up negotiating identities. The Catholic college community needs to understand these realities and integrate its understanding into all programs and activities.

Q: How would you describe Dominican University’s place in this national conversation? Dominican has made an intentional commitment, not only to react to the changing culture and demographics of the Catholic Church in the United States, but also to anticipate and embrace the future. Not many universities would look at a community that struggles on a large scale with poverty and migration issues as a foundation to chart its future. Dominican has. That is brave and prophetic. What Dominican is doing reminds me of the earlier days of Catholic higher education in the United States. No one knew whether a college could survive serving immigrants and poor students. Yet, many Catholic colleges in the earlier days, led by brave sisters and priests, knew that they had to do the right thing, because that meant living the Catholic identity to its core. Today, Hispanic-Serving Institutions lead with their prophetic example. At stake is the future and vibrancy of Catholicism in the United States.


FROM THE FRONT LINES.

Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times correspondent, Rukmini Callimachi spoke on campus about ISIS and the rise of terror organizations.

While serving as a foreign correspondent for the West Africa bureau of the Associated Press, she traveled to Timbuktu just after its liberation from al-Qaeda. Searching the group’s headquarters, she discovered thousands of pages of documents left behind as the terrorists fled the incoming French troops.

John Jenks (left) welcomes the audience. Students (upper right) engage at the Q&A session. Georgie Anne Geyer (lower right) attended the event.

Rukmini Callimachi

Few reporters have done more to explain and expose the evolution of the Islamic State than Rukmini Callimachi. The New York Times foreign correspondent took a short break from overseas reporting in early October to discuss the growth and methods of the international terror network. A three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Callimachi delivered the third annual Georgie Anne Geyer Lecture on October 2 and met with Dominican students the following morning before resuming her reporting on the front lines of the fight against international terror. An expert on the Islamic State’s use of social media, Callimachi has gone beyond typical governmental sources to gain access to the inner world of jihadists. Her series, Caliphate—which Esquire magazine ranked as the best podcast of 2018—tracks the development of ISIS from a set of encrypted, online chatrooms to a many-sided network across four continents. Callimachi started her career in foreign journalism in India, covering the catastrophic 2001 earthquake in Gujarat for Time. While serving as a foreign correspondent for the West Africa bureau of the Associated Press, she traveled to Timbuktu just after its liberation from al-Qaeda. Searching the group’s headquarters, she discovered thousands of pages of documents left behind as the terrorists fled the incoming French troops. The documents provided a window into the organization’s operations and inaugurated the investigative technique that she later used so effectively in “The ISIS Files,” a groundbreaking New York Times report that described the brutality and many-layered bureaucracy that has kept ISIS a powerful threat for so long. Callimachi’s visit to campus was part of the Georgie Anne Geyer Initiative, a program launched by Gera-Lind Kolarik ’74 to honor the trailblazing columnist and foreign correspondent who began her long and legendary career at the Chicago Daily News. The initiative includes lectures by wellknown foreign correspondents and scholarships for Dominican students interested in pursuing the field. Geyer, who covered some of the most momentous international events of the past 60 years, was on campus for the event. She is renowned for her in-depth interviews with generations of world leaders, including Juan Perón, Anwar Sadat, Yasser Arafat, Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. Like Callimachi, Geyer was tenacious in her efforts to talk with world leaders, including many who were in conflict with the United States. Callimachi’s appearance drew students from a wide variety of majors, including digital journalism, communication studies, political science and many others. Annelise Metcall, a junior majoring in international relations and diplomacy, was impressed by Callimachi’s Caliphate podcast. “The podcast made me realize that not all terrorists are monsters,” she said. “Many are humans who make mistakes. But the podcast also made it clear that some of the terrorists will never change.” Erick Mendoza, a junior majoring in political science and psychology, appreciated Callimachi’s discussion of how ISIS uses the Internet to recruit fighters. “The Internet plays a huge role in the terrorist organization’s ability to grow,” he said. “They use encrypted websites, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr—they’re everywhere. They use a twisted concept of religion to recruit people and convince them to kill. It was an eye-opening experience to have Rukmini on campus.” Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 7


“When you sell on price rather than quality everybody will leave you for a nickel,” explained José Jr., the company’s chief financial officer. The students—a diverse group that included a construction project manager from Poland, a theology graduate from Iowa and a human resources specialist from Saudi Arabia—peppered them with questions about their “ideal customer,” the dynamics of a family operation, and how much they were willing to invest. The next morning, the students fanned out for some field research. They interrogated customers and owners at mom-andpop grocers specializing in traditional Mexican products and large chains alike. Back on campus, the teams hunkered down around tables littered with coffee cups and takeout boxes to brainstorm, rehearse their pitches and build PowerPoints. Barely three hours later the students were presenting in the boardroom. The González family scribbled notes. Proposals ranged from the super ambitious (build new distribution centers) to low-hanging fruit (make the website more customer friendly; consider organics; invest in software to better manage and cultivate customers). The winning team’s suggestion: examine public databases of new restaurant licenses to target establishments still looking for produce suppliers. “I’m actually going to do that,” José Jr. responded excitedly. “Those are the kinds of solutions we can actually do right away.” His feedback gave a boost to the entire group. “I’m so impressed,” he said. “If we had hired a consultant for hundreds of dollars, I don’t think they’d have come up with something better.” Celebrating over drinks, members of the winning team were astonished their ideas might actually be put into practice. “I never imagined that,” said accountant Lauren Adduci. Fellow team member Abadi Bakraa, who wants to open an HR consultancy in his native Saudi Arabia, said one takeaway was recognizing a family business was going to want practical solutions. “Solving a business problem is a little like solving an equation,” he said. “You put all the pieces together and arrive at a realistic outcome.”

Welcome, MBA Students. Meet the Board.

New MBA students at Dominican are challenged to solve business problems for local companies—then sell their ideas in a reality TV-style competition where the judges are actual corporate executives.

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It’s your first assignment as a new MBA student: appear before a panel of executives in a boardroom and present compelling solutions to their most vexing business problems. Oh, and you have three hours to prepare. Better get cracking. This is the Gateway Practicum, a highlight of the redesigned MBA curriculum at the Brennan School of Business. What might seem like a nightmarish cross between boot camp and Shark Tank is meant to introduce students to Brennan’s radical emphasis on wrestling with real-world business issues and putting theory into practice—right from the start. “It is baptism by fire,” admits marketing professor Dave Aron, a faculty facilitator for the Gateway experience. “But sometimes in the real world you only have hours. You don’t have a whole semester to solve a problem. Sometimes, you only have minutes.” One afternoon this spring, four teams of new MBA students filed into the Cusack Board Room in Power Hall. They had 10 minutes each to present proposals that would impress the leadership of J. L. González Produce, Inc., a family-run wholesale distributor of fresh Mexican produce in the Chicago area that’s been in the intensely competitive business for more than 20 years. The challenge: how to increase sales across all retailers, particularly grocery stores outside Latino neighborhoods. Before they dove in, they needed to know a little bit about the grocery business. So the afternoon before the presentations, company founder José Luis González and his sons, José Luis Jr. and Ulises, gave the group of 15 students a master class in everything from how to grow an avocado that won’t turn into guacamole overnight to why competing only on price is a race to the bottom.


“We believe that our grant was approved by the NSF because we proposed an innovative, holistic set of best practice interventions that will work in concert with each other to help all STEM students, not just those who are struggling.” Dr. Tina Taylor-Ritzler, associate professor of psychology

Dominican University Receives $527,000 National Science Foundation Grant to Enhance Undergraduate STEM Education Dominican University has received a $526,892 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to build capacity and enhance pedagogy and holistic supports in undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses. The grant, which is part of more than $45 million in NSF funding to 31 Hispanic Serving-Institutions (HSIs) across the country, will bolster Dominican’s efforts to increase retention and graduation rates of undergraduate students pursuing STEM degrees. Through this grant, Dominican is expected to receive additional NSF funding totaling nearly $1.5 million over the next five years. “Research has shown that early success can be crucial to student retention and long-term success in STEM fields,” said Dr. Christopher Anderson, associate professor of biology and principal investigator for the grant. “This grant will help Dominican implement teaching and student support practices designed to increase the success of undergraduates in early

STEM courses. We plan to create a robust intervention program to help our students persist in their pursuit of careers in the sciences.” Using NSF funding, Dominican plans to launch in fall 2019 a STEM Gateway program designed to enhance student engagement in introductory biology, chemistry and mathematics classes. The grant will also fund two-week residential STEM Summer Bridge experiences beginning in 2020. This orientation program will help prepare entering freshmen who have expressed an interest in science for success in college-level STEM courses. “Most attrition in STEM fields occurs at the transition between introductory-level and advanced coursework,” said Dr. Tina Taylor-Ritzler, associate professor of psychology and a co-principal investigator for the grant. “We believe that our grant was approved by the NSF because we proposed an innovative, holistic set of best practice interventions that will work in concert with each other to help all STEM students, not just those who are struggling.”

The grant will fund the appointment of a STEM learning specialist who will work with Dominican’s newly created Division of Student Success and Engagement to implement the grant activities and connect students with university and community resources designed to facilitate their academic, social and emotional success. The grant provides robust funding for undergraduate student employees to work as embedded tutors in introductory STEM classes. Throughout the grant period, this project will investigate the extent to which the summer bridge program, embedded tutoring, inclusive pedagogy and case management improve academic performance and persistence of STEM students. Other co-principal investigators for the project include Paul Simpson, director for civic learning, and Chad Rohman, interim dean of the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences.

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Josseline Shares the Joy Soccer’s Josseline Williams tied for the most game-winning goals across NCAA Division III last year. But she prefers to talk about the team. By Emily Lapinski Women’s soccer has found a true Star in Josseline Williams. “Soccer teams need goal scorers,” says head coach Carlos Carrillo. “A goal elevates the entire team. The excitement generated has a huge impact on the energy level. Josseline provides that impact regularly.” Last year, the junior forward from Kaysville, Utah, netted a league-best 31 goals on the season, including nine game-winning goals. She was voted Offensive Player of the Year for the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). On the national level, she tied for the most game-winning goals across NCAA Division III and was second for most goals and points overall. Williams has picked right up in her junior season, leading the Stars to their first regular season conference championship with a perfect 11-0-0 mark in NACC play. The Stars’ forward leads the conference in both goals (23) and points (50), through the team’s first 18 matches and her nine game-winning goals is tied for the lead in all of NCAA Division III women’s soccer. “Her biggest asset is her drive to be better,” Coach Carillo says. “She scored 13 goals as a fresh-

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man and 31 goals as a sophomore. That does not happen without a lot of focus and hard work.” Williams likes to focus on the team’s achievements. “We went undefeated and made history winning the conference tournament and going on to the national tournament,” she says. “We as a team are building the program and increasing the standard of play, and being a part of it is very special. I would like to get further in the national tournament, make it as far as we can go.” A nutrition and dietetics major, Williams maintains a 3.68 grade-point average and participates in the Honors Program. “She is an extremely hard worker on the field and in the classroom,” says Carillo. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was a little kid,” Williams recalls. “My parents say that I had a ball at my feet since I was learning to walk.” She started playing with friends, then shifted to playing competitively at age eight. “One of my first memories is deciding the team name based on jersey colors like ‘purple tigers.’” Soccer is still fun for her. “When she scores a goal, the first thing she does is find the teammate who gave her the assist,” says Carillo. “Josseline shares the joy with her and her teammates.”


Men’s Soccer: 30 Years of Success At Homecoming 2018, Dominican celebrated the 30th anniversary of the men’s soccer team. The Stars (originally the Rosary College Rebels) have posted an all-time record of 453-145-42 while winning 19 conference championships and 17 conference tournament championships. It is the most successful program in the university’s athletic history. In their first season, back in 1988, the Rosary Rebels went 8-8-2 under head coach Phil Birch. In its third season (1990), the Rebels captured their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) championship, going 16-6-0 on the season under head coach Jorge Espinoza. Seven years would pass before the next conference championship, in 1997, under the current head coach, Erick Baumann ’93. A four-year alumnus of the men’s soccer program, Baumann returned as head coach

in 1995, and has posted a 375-91-34 record in 23 seasons. In his entire Dominican career, including four seasons as a player, Baumann has contributed to 428 wins in 27 seasons—an average of more than 15 wins per season.

MEN’S SOCCER FIRSTS 1990

FIRST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

1997

FIRST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

1999

FIRST NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE

2002

FIRST NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE

2003

FIRST NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL APPEARANCE

2009

FIRST NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL APPEARANCE

Three-time regional Coach of the Year, Erick Baumann.

A Final Four First The Dominican men’s volleyball team fought their way to the NCAA Division III championship semifinals for the first time last spring, continuing a rapid rise for a program only in its fifth year. In the end, the Stars lost to the Stevens Institute of Technology. But advancing to the tournament for a second straight year capped a remarkable run for the

graduating seniors who helped launch the team. “It’s been a hell of a ride,” said middle hitter Nick Timreck. “It’s been a fun five years.” The team’s win over Carthage College in the quarterfinals earned them the Team Performance of the Year award from the athletics department. Reflecting on the

year, new head coach Dan Pawlikowski said he was especially proud of how the team stuck together over the entire challenging season. “They had each other’s backs the whole time,” Pawlikowski said. “We talk about being a family. You could really see that.” The Stars went 26-8 on the season and advanced to the NCAA Division III championship tournament for a second straight year. It was their first appearance in the Final Four. Among other milestones for the young program: two players, Luke Spicer and Alex Coyne, were named All-Americans twice.

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Juliet

LOVE AND TRUTH CONVERGE

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HEATRE HAS BEEN PART OF THE DOMINICAN scene since

“The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means ‘the seeing place.’ It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation.” STE LLA A D LE R

Three of the fiercely talented women of DU’s 2017 production of Romeo & Juliet. Ashley Montero as Paris, Yizleibis Barreto as Tybalt and Annika Strolle as Mercutio.

the start. In 1923, after the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters moved their school from southwestern Wisconsin to the Chicago suburbs, Rosary College students started staging plays in the gymnasium, under the cloister walk and even in the woods on the west side of campus. Sister Mary Peter Doyle, OP, a future president of the college, directed student productions of Shakespeare and contemporary plays. In 1942, Sister Gregory Duffy, OP, joined the faculty and started the Grex Guild, which became the legendary Rosary College Players. A force of nature, Sister Greg got involved in Broadway productions, came to know Mary Martin and Rodgers and Hammerstein, and served as an advisor on The Sound of Music. She also assisted the architects who designed the campus’ Fine Arts Building. It opened on November 7, 1952, with an acoustically ideal auditorium that seats 1,100. Th firs performance in what is now the Lund Auditorium was Victor Herbert’s operetta, Sweethearts, directed by Sister Greg and Robert E. Thompson an actor and professor at the college. Today, the Lund is the home of a vibrant Performing Arts Center as well as annual productions of the university’s thriving Department of Theat e Arts and Music, established in 1999. Th green room is named for Sister Greg. Associate Professor Krista Hansen chairs the department, teaches theatre arts and regularly directs student productions at the Lund. “All kinds of people end up in theatre, from true extroverts to the very soft spoken,” she said. “What they all have in common is a strong sense of social interaction and a desire to creatively impact the world around them.” Lund productions often inspire wider campus engagements. Th 2012 run of RENT, for example, was accompanied by an effo t to educate students about HIV infection and AIDS. Th 2014 production of Extremities, a searing play about rape, formed the basis for campus-wide discussions about domestic violence and sexual assault. Last fall, Chicago writer Jonathan Black, who frequently covers the arts, went behind the scenes for rehearsals and the opening of

a Hansen-directed student production of Romeo and Juliet. “Great drama can tolerate innovation, even benefi from it,” he noted, and this Dominican production did both. Here is Black’s report: In Elizabethan England, women were barred from performing on stage, so all the female roles in Shakespeare were played by men. A nice turn, then, that director Krista Hansen decided to cast Romeo and Juliet entirely with women. Professor Hansen had not plotted this Romeo to comment on historic inequities. She was not trying to make a feminist statement. She was not even trying to do something diffe ent. Early in the planning, she had toyed with the idea of a “gender-fl id” staging, and had kept the costumes equally suited to male and female actors. But the moment of truth came during auditions for the play. “Tha ’s when it happened,” she recalled. “As I went through the casting process, the women’s voices were really strong. So instead of casting a few women in male roles, I decided to go with all women in all the roles.” Exit rules and preconceptions, stage left. Th all-women cast meant Hansen had to consider possible moping among male Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 13


actors denied the limelight. She needn’t have worried—her decision drew widespread support from across gender lines. “All my students are open to learning and excited for their colleagues,” she said as rehearsals got underway. She also was quick to remind the male students that acting isn’t the only way to participate in a play. “˜ ere are plenty of production positions where you can learn and build skills.” For the women, switching to male identities presented more challenges than dropping their voice an octave or two. ˜ e six-week rehearsal process had its share of interesting revelations. In one scene, Melanie ˜ ompson, the actor playing Romeo, jumped up and pointed her foot in a way that was, well, not manly. She quickly admonished herself: “Oh, that was so girly.” For ˜ ompson, transforming herself into Romeo was a breeze in some ways and tricky in others. “I have a feminine gait and my weight distribution is di° erent from a man’s,” she said. “So it’s a game of ÿ guring out how to make myself more masculine, quote-unquote.” On a more profound level ˜ ompson came to realize how di° erently men and women convey feelings, how men tend to struggle to pull themselves together. “Men play trauma and emotion very di° erently in their bodies than women do. Men hold it in. I see a lot of female characters kind of drop down and use their bodies to stop themselves from falling apart. ˜ e direction I’m heading is a crumbling, holding myself together because I’m falling apart. Not trying to hide that I’m falling apart.” Bringing a new awareness to male and female roles was just one of the beneÿ ts Hansen saw in her gender-˝ uid Shakespeare. ˜ e professor believes that the study of theatre teaches students an “abundance of life skills.” She counts “problem solving and staying calm under pressure” among the 14 Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

“...appreciating the truth of others puts us on the path to creating a more just and humane world.” PRO FES S O R K R ISTA H A N S E N

beneÿ ts that come from work on the stage, as well as a “mastery of verbal and written communication.” ˜ at last skill was on particular display as Hansen worked to bring the best possible script to the production. ˜ e full text of Romeo and Juliet would have required a show in excess of three hours, testing the limits of both actors and audiences. Hansen is practiced at paring Shakespeare plays; she’s trimmed Othello, Macbeth and As You Like It for Lund productions. She picked up her editor’s pencil and snipped Romeo to a single, brisk, 85-minute act. “It’s fast-paced to suit a contemporary audience. We already know the story, so we don’t need to set it up so methodically,” she noted. “We can bring the meaningful stu° to the forefront. But none of the familiar scenes were cut,” she added. “It still ends badly.” Mia Powell, who played Juliet, was one of the production’s few actors who was not formally enrolled in the theatre arts program. She’s an English major with a theology minor. She took a few early courses in theatre, and when she chose another major, “Krista kind of kept me in the department,” she said gratefully. Romeo was her ÿ fth Dominican production. She is considering keeping a hand in acting after graduation. Powell had no problem playing opposite a female actor as Romeo. She and ˜ ompson are “both actors,” she said. “We would have had to ÿ nd trust in each other no matter what.” “I’m fortunate to be friends with my counterpart,” ˜ ompson said. “She’s a

phenomenal scene partner. She gives me a lot to play with. Historically, of course, the love story is hetero, but it doesn’t change no matter who’s playing the characters.” To deepen their connection, the two friends did an exercise together early in rehearsal. ˜ ey matched each other’s breathing: one breathed in, the other out; then they alternated. “She breathes faster than I do,” said Powell. “We discussed it, and she slowed down. It was nice to know we were meeting each other halfway.” Romeo and Juliet, even streamlined, is a complicated production. Left intact were a half dozen ÿ ght scenes between various Montagues and Capulets, requiring lots of swordplay and mortal wounds. Claire Yearman, a guest artist who has choreographed several productions with Hansen, had a number of issues to address besides the cast’s inexperience with ÿ ght training. “˜ e theater is so large,” she said. “I took liberties with the small sword so it looked ˝ ashier to the audience.” ˜ e small sword, unlike the more traditional rapier, required extra precision when “targeting”—the technical term for a realistic thrust, aimed just o° the bicep and never near the face. Late in rehearsals, Yearman seemed satisÿ ed with the actors’ work. “We got them where we wanted,” she said. “We made adjustments.” One adjustment was for Tybalt, played by Yizleibis Barreto, who tripped during a rehearsal and fractured her wrist. She returned with a cast. Yearman modiÿ ed her moves so she could stay in the production. “She ended up really excelling.” “Most people are unaware of how much work goes into a theatre production,” said Hansen. It’s an issue with the arts in general. “As an industry, the arts are often undervalued, though people cannot go a day without being impacted by the arts,” she said. “We listen to music, play video games, watch


TV, go to movies and see countless ads and graphics every day. ˜ e arts are everywhere. What we neglect to see is that people spend years honing their skills to create these things we take for granted.” Watching the rehearsal process, it was impossible not to be impressed by the give and take of criticism—a life skill on abundant display. After almost every rehearsal the cast gathered in the front rows while Hansen read notes from the stage. “We should be o° book by now. We’re a little behind where we should be. We open in four weeks. Don’t think you have oodles of time. You don’t!” Not everyone, she complained, was articulating clearly or loudly enough. “˜ ere’s an enormous amount of trailing o° ,” she said. “˜ e most important words are often at the end. We are in the Lund. I need your full actual voices. Rehearse where you breathe. You must earn your pauses. ˜ is is not Mamet.” Often her comments were targeted to speciÿ c characters: “Romeo: ˜ ink of it as being so di˝ cult to say that bile comes up in your mouth every time you say it. How’s that?” “Mercutio: Your whole speech is rhymed. When we rhyme we sort of show o° . You’re going to be witty! So maybe enjoy the banter a little more.” ˜ e giving and acceptance of praise presented another opportunity. “Nurse: You are o° the stage and ˙ ying! Awesome! Let’s keep that.” Occasionally even Hansen strayed o° script. Speaking of the nurse, she said to ˜ ompson, “She’s not the parent of Juliet, but she’s the person you have to convince. Whenever you’re in a relationship there always seems to be that person in the other person’s life you want to impress. ˜ at’s the best way I can put it.” Life lessons intrude on any good drama, but they seem especially pertinent in Romeo and Juliet. For any responsible, e° ective ac-

“You have all this hate, and you have this love that tries to overcome it.” C H R IST IN E H EC K M A N

tor, it was impossible not to be struck by the behavior and motivations of the characters in the city of Verona. “You have all this hate, and you have this love that tries to overcome it,” said Christine Heckman, who played the Nurse. “It’s so important, especially in this political climate.” Hansen, for her part, thought the play would have particular resonance at Dominican. “Romeo and Juliet teaches us to accept others and live our own truth. ˜ e parents’ domineering actions and callous attitudes forced the couple to hide who they were, which lead the pair to a tragic end and left the families with interminable grief and regret. ˜ is play—and theatre as an art form—can remind us that knowing ourselves, living our truth, and appreciating the truth of others puts us on the path to creating a more just and humane world.” Rehearsals, from casting to opening, lasted seven weeks. In the ÿ nal week everything ramped up, with the appearance of costumes and scenery and the need for sound checks and tech rehearsals. ˜ e ÿ rst public performance was on Friday, November 3, at 10:00 in the morning. It was preceded by an onstage warm-up led by ˜ ompson, still in street clothes. Facing the entire cast, she did a ÿ fteen-minute high-energy session of body and voice exercises which featured everything from pinwheels to spinning to grunting to reciting, “She sells seashells by the seashore.” “Alright,” she concluded. “You owe it to yourself to give it everything you’ve got.”

˜ e assistant ÿ ght director followed, running the cast through the weapons scenes, complete with writhing and death gasps. Hansen, watching from halfway back in the still-empty auditorium, seemed to relax. “It’s a well-oiled machine,” she said quietly. ˜ e curtain rose promptly at 10:00 a.m. to an audience of 400 teen-aged students, and the show went o° without a hitch. No one dropped a line; no one missed an entrance; light appeared where it was supposed to appear; the sword ÿ ghts looked real and scary. ˜ e audience was engaged, emitting a swell of high-school “Ooohs!” when the two lovers, entranced with each other at the Capulet ball, joined in two long kisses. ˜ ey were rapt again when Juliet stabbed herself alongside her dead Romeo. Predictably, the talk-back session after the ÿ nal curtain had one male high school student asking the two women, “How do you feel about that kissing?” “We all respect each other as actors,” ˜ ompson answered, then added, “We use a lot of toothpaste!” Another student asked Juliet how she managed to remain still so long, playing dead, as she was carried on a litter before being laid in the tomb. “I focus on other things,” Powell answered, “like my next lines.” Others in the audience wanted to know how di˝ cult it was to learn to speak Shakespeare (it took work) and the composition of the balcony (wood). Finally a student asked why all the actors were women. Hansen answered this one. She o° ered three reasons. In Elizabethan times it was men who performed all the parts, so she decided to ˙ ip it. She also wanted to “take gender out of the equation” to help the audience to focus on the relationships. ˜ en she paused and smiled. “And three, the ladies were good—really good!” It was a ÿ tting coda to a hugely popular and dynamic production. Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 15


My Life in the Theatre

Victoria Whooper ’11 Stage Manager

Dominican University Yale School of Drama University of Miami

Victoria Whooper found her calling at Dominican, when she began working as a stage manager for theatre arts department shows. Now, having earned a master’s degree at Yale School of Drama, Whooper is living her dream, working at the University of Miami as Lecturer in Stage Management, and as a freelance AEA Stage Manager for shows like Acorn Theatre’s Off-Broadway production of Shadowlands. Stage managers don’t get a lot of accolades,

You spend so much time with the cast

and I’m okay with that. The people I work with

and crew. For Shadowlands, we rehearsed

know how much pride I take in my work, and

for five weeks before previews, and we did

they are the ones who matter. My role is to

72 performances. A stage manager has to be

serve the director’s vision. The stage manag-

able to communicate effectively with everyone

er coordinates all of a production’s technical

from the actors and designers, to producers

elements, like light and sound, with the actors’

and artistic directors to ensure the successful

creativity. We create a schedule and make sure

running of a show.

everyone stays on it. We have to understand all

One of the unique things about Shadow-

the personalities involved in the production and

lands is the range of ages of the actors. The

keep the creativity and productivity flowing.

youngest is ten years old; the oldest is in his

From the first day of rehearsals, I’m at the direc-

late 70s. Obviously, their needs are quite differ-

tor’s side, recording all the staging notes, creating

ent. I try to be flexible enough to anticipate and

a record of the director’s artistic vision. After

understand everybody’s needs. Lucky for me,

the show opens, when the director goes away, it

they’re all lovely people. About the only thing

becomes my responsibility to see that the show is

they ever ask of me is an occasional cup of tea.

performed the way the director intended.

When I came to Dominican, I was already interested in theatre production, but I thought

16 Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

“I like being the one who pulls it all together.”

I wanted to be a sound engineer. Fortunately, Krista Hansen, the current theatre arts chair, saw something in me and told me I would make a great stage manager. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I listened to her and learned from watching a senior work as stage manager. As a sophomore, I worked as assistant stage manager on Into the Woods, and I found that the role fit me. It was like, “Yes, this makes sense! This is what I want to do!” I’m very organized, but I also like to be involved in the creative process. I like being the one who pulls it all together. I’m so grateful to Krista for seeing that in me. I was fortunate to learn and grow at Dominican. I was involved in all facets of theatre from the box office to assistant lighting design to acting, which gave me a fuller appreciation of theatre. It’s such a thrill now to see my name attached to an Off-Broadway production like Shadowlands. I was made for this job, and I plan to keep on making great theatre and educating the next generations of stage managers for as long as I can until someone tells me to stop.


My Life in the Theatre

Margaret More Hunt ’67 Playwright

For her latest work, the playwright Margaret More Hunt ’67 drew on her experiences as a student at Rosary College. A Kids’ House is based on the year she and three classmates shared an off-campus apartment in Oak Park. Her plays have been produced in New York, Chicago and Rome and have had workshops at such highly regarded venues as the Goodman Theatre and the New Harmony Project in Indiana. She told us about her life as a playwright and how the lessons she learned at Rosary continue to resonate.

Rosary College Goodman Theatre New Harmony Festival

This was 1966. We were seniors and the first students from Rosary to live on our own

“Playwriting belongs to you in a way that acting doesn’t.”

more time writing, I stopped acting. I could only afford to lose money on one career at a

off campus. We actually had to ask permission

time. I found that playwriting belongs to you in

from the school. There is so much you don’t

a way that acting doesn’t.

know when you are young and on your own for

I like to return to Dominican to do play

the first time. We were all scholarship students

readings. During the planning for our 50th re-

with very little spending money. We learned

union in 2017, we planned a reading of scenes

how to budget, how to divide the chores, how

from A Kids’ House, a work in progress. The

to stand up to an awful landlord. We thought it

Alumnae/i Office gathered some recent gradu-

would be fun, and it was, but it turned out to be

ates—all theatre majors—and a current student

so much more. It was a bridge to adulthood.

to play the parts, and we read the play for about

That’s why I thought it would make a good play.

100 people in the Martin Recital Hall.

In college, I was as interested in performing

Playwrights always learn from readings. A

as I was in writing. With my classmate Jean

playwright is like a composer in that you can’t

Seitter and other students, I co-wrote our

tell what you really have till you hear all the

freshman show—a musical comedy version of

instruments playing together. You hear what

the Odyssey. I also directed and played Odys-

needs to be changed. Sometimes if there is

seus to Jean’s Penelope.

one syllable too many in a line, it falls flat. If it’s

It was only after I’d moved to New York that

a punchline, it won’t get a laugh. But you can’t

I started writing plays. It was 1976. I was going

know that until you hear it. In fact, I learned

to auditions as a character actress and needed

from Sister Jeremy—a published poet with

fresh material to perform; so I decided to write

a great sense of humor—that most English

monologues for myself. Some of those mono-

punchlines are written in iambic pentameter.

logues eventually turned into plays. As I spent

Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 17


My Life in the Theatre

McKinley Johnson Playwright and Composer

Open Door Repertory Goodman Theatre Jefferson Award nominee

“Musicals have a way of touching people”

McKinley Johnson’s path to the theater started in his childhood home, which his mother filled with gospel tunes. A Jefferson Award nominee, Johnson has written nine musicals and done work at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, the Open Door Repertory in Oak Park and elsewhere. He also is a professional costume designer, tailor and patternmaker, and has taught in Dominican’s fashion program since 1999. I grew up in Smithfield, Virginia, in a house full

that harmony. It’s wonderful. Gospel music bor-

musical helped people to embrace the story of

of music. My mother taught classical piano.

rows from classical music and from spirituals,

Bayard Rustin and not overlook his contribu-

She worked with gospel music, classical music,

and the music that I write for my shows also

tions, which really built the foundation of the

spirituals. There were five of us, and thankfully,

borrows from those two genres.

way we’re able to live now. I also have sewn since I was about nine

we had parents who encouraged us to follow

As a writer, I’m drawn to the faith that my

our interests. I came to Chicago to study the-

characters need to overcome obstacles. Thom-

years old. Theater and fashion, sewing and

ater in graduate school.

as Dorsey had to overcome prejudice within the

costuming—they all come together for me. I

black church against gospel music. A musical

enjoy putting the puzzle pieces together, kind

sketch about the beginnings of gospel music

I finished recently, Eye of the Storm, also is

of creating something out of nothing.

and Thomas Andrew Dorsey, who is regarded

about overcoming prejudice. It’s about Bayard

as the father of black gospel. As I was research-

Rustin, who organized the Southern Christian

so much. I’ve learned that you have to stay

ing Dorsey’s life, I said, “Gosh, I could write

Leadership Conference and the 1963 March on

engaged, even when things go poorly, as they

a musical about this.” That became my first

Washington. Bayard Rustin did all that, but he

do sometimes. Whatever mission you’ve been

musical, Georgia Tom, in 1994—and I’ve been

is not well known as a civil rights organizer be-

given, you have to stick to it, even when it looks

writing musicals ever since. Musicals have a

cause he was gay. He was marginalized in the

as though you might not succeed. The world

way of touching people and getting them to

movement. He had to hide himself in order to

may take you down, but you should never take

listen to a story or point of view.

help his fellow man. This musical was produced

yourself down. You have to have that inner

earlier this year by a black theater company

strength to keep going.

My church pastor asked me to write a

Gospel has inspired me greatly. With gospel music, you have all of the choral parts, all of

18 Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

on the South Side of Chicago. I’m hoping the

Working on these musicals has taught me


My Life in the Theatre

Deb Acker ’75 Stage Manager

Apollo Theater Steppenwolf Theatre Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Watching her older brother and sister on their high school stage in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Deb Acker ’75 got hooked on the magic of theater. So much so, that after realizing a year into college that acting wasn’t for her, she went into lighting design and other technical work instead. Today, Acker is production stage manager and associate producer at Tony Award-winning Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, one of Chicago’s premier cultural attractions and her artistic home for more than 25 years.

“The biggest challenge—and the biggest joy—is keeping the actors safe and happy”

beautiful and not to be feared at all. My favorite parts of rehearsals are what we call “table work,” where you work on the language and the story. The scope of his work is challenging. You can have an actor coming on as a soldier, then running off, changing clothes and coming back a minute later as a servant. It has to run like a clock. A lot of people think of stage management as being about calling the cues for

I started out at the Apollo Theater on Lincoln

Sinise, Laurie Metcalf, Glenne Headly. They

a show. In smaller theaters, however, it’s very

Avenue when it opened in 1978. They hired

had to do every aspect of the show themselves

hands on and technical—you set the props and

me full time as an electrician. I became their

and were grateful for any help you could give

the costumes, run the lights, watch the actors.

technical director and bluffed my way through

them. John Malkovich always wanted to help

everything. I knew what I was doing to an ex-

with technical tasks, and he’s completely tech-

tent; but it’s amazing what you can learn when

nically inept. But I was so happy to get to know

and challenging. The biggest challenge—and

you shut up and listen.

those actors before they became stars. They

the biggest joy—is keeping the actors safe and

are the nicest, hardest-working people.

happy. That’s the hard part, I think, dealing

Coming from Rosary College, one thing I wasn’t used to was the sexism. I realized

Before I started at Chicago Shakespeare

Today it’s also much more of a people management job, which makes it more interesting

with the actors’ psyches, temperaments and

that I was going to have to prove myself, and

Theater in the early ’90s, I enjoyed Shake-

emotions. That’s our job: to provide them with a

I didn’t take any crap. The great thing about

speare but there was nothing really special

safe place to do their best work.

Rosary College was that you came out of there

to me about it. I learned to appreciate it here.

I’ve been lucky, but I don’t think I would

knowing you could do anything. It gave me a

Barbara Gaines, who founded the theater, is

have survived in this business had Rosary not

backbone and integrity.

famous for making the language accessible

turned me into a person who could survive. We

to everyone. The language in Shakespeare is

were trusted and expected to do well.

In those days, Steppenwolf did some shows at the Apollo. All the stars were just kids—Gary

Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 19


A Home for the Creative Spirit THEATRE ARTS AT DOMINICAN EST. 1923 Theatre Arts Lab Series 2008–2018 2017/2018

2012/2013

Romeo and Juliet Erasing the Distance: Dominican Chap. 2 Songs for a New World

RENT Rabbit Hole Six Characters in Search of an Author

2016/2017

2011/2012

The Addams Family Beautiful Bodies Waiting for Godot

Gypsy The Gift of the Magi The Art of Dining The Night of the Iguana

2015/2016

Legally Blonde The Seagull The Miss Firecracker Contest 2014/2015

Our Town Almost, Maine The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 2013/2014

The Drowsy Chaperone Extremities As You Like It

2010/2011

The Wiz The Women of Lockerbie She Stoops to Conquer 2009/2010

Macbeth Free to Be You and Me Lend Me a Tenor The Musical of Musicals (the Musical!) 2008/2009

Into the Woods The Laramie Project Lysistrata

The Black Box Experiment An experimental showcase presented by students in the department’s Directing Workshop class 2016/2017 2014/2015 2012/2013

’Tis the Season Family Truth

2010/2011 2009/2010 2008/2009

Wendy Wasserstein Sam Shepard Women and the Body



class news

You Always Belong to Dominican Class News provides Dominican Alumnae/i with an opportunity to share news and celebrate life events. Class News is prepared through the Office of Alumnae/i Relations in cooperation with class agents. If you would like to be a class agent, have news to report or have questions, please contact the Office of Alumnae/i Relations at alumni@dom.edu or (708) 524-6286. Class News items are submitted by alumnae/i and do not represent positions, policies or opinions of the Office of Alumnae/i Relations or Dominican University. Some items have been edited for length and content. Class News published in this issue was collected before July 13, 2018; news submitted after that date will appear in the spring 2019 issue. To access Class News and selected news media items about Dominican Alumnae/i, go to dom.edu/alumni. Thank you for sharing your news!

Undergraduate Alumnae/i Class News

1957 Ellen Bendry Class Agent

Hi classmates, I visited Sarasota, IL where Jean Horrigan-Delhey, Sue Rutherford Wilson and I spent time with Joan Keegan’s sister and visited Joan’s grave site (July 2, 2017). We celebrated her life and shared many college memories. Dave Smith wrote that Rita Cleary Smith continues to remain stable and is able to go out for dinner and attend family celebrations. Our summer Dominican gathering occurred on September 10 with an open invitation to all classmates. Please keep this in mind for next year and call me for more details. Audre Coia-Kurowski wrote that she never thought she would still

22 Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

be learning in her 70s and 80s at college, as well as learning a new skill like playing an organ with electronic capabilities that mimic orchestral instruments. Currently, she serves as a part-time music minister, playing organ/piano and accompanying cantors and congregations for weddings and funerals. Her home parish for the past 10 years is St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, Sugar Grove, IL. The parish’s new church was completed in 2010 and continues to grow. Sister Genevieve Pinion, OP has become her lifelong friend. Audre visited her many times and she still has the bookmark that Sister Genevieve gave her at graduation that says, “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love and the future to His providence.”—St. Augustine. Audre’s two daughters planned a treat for her birthday; they took a sailboat cruise on Lake Michigan, followed by dinner at her choice of venue. Happy Birthday Audre!

I made my silent retreat in February at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL. I am so grateful to have been there. God’s Blessings.

1962

Kay Pielsticker Coleman, Elizabeth Freidheim, Corrine Carnivele Hanley, Carolyn Sweeney Judd, Gloria Adams Mills and Mary Beth Vander Vennet Tallon Class Agents Karen Arntson McDonnell writes that “some of you knew my dear mother, Margaret “Marge” Arntson, who passed away on February 15, at the age of 100. The day she died would have been my Dad’s birthday. Quite a birthday present! Last September, my brother and I hosted a grand celebration for her 100th. She never wanted anyone to know her age before! She loved it that day!” Corrine Carnivele Hanley writes, “My husband, Robert, has narrated his book Do You See What I See? Discovering the Obvious. The audiobook has been submitted for a Grammy Award, and is available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes along with the paperback and Kindle versions. Robert and I enjoyed a private tour of the American Film Institute (AFI), which recently awarded George Clooney its Lifetime Achievement Award. Five nieces and nephews from Denver, Austin and Chicago came to Los Angeles to visit me for Mother’s Day. I was thrilled! I’ve been performing with a 25-member vocal group that entertains weekly at convalescent homes, retirement homes and assisted living facilities. Our presentation includes about 25 songs from the 1930-1960 era. It is wonderful to see everyone brighten up with the memory of songs from long ago.”

Donna Bloemer Cash writes, “I am writing this while in the midst of preparing for our family reunion at the lake. All of the kids and grandkids were there for July 4. A lot has happened to us in the last six months. Bob had major back surgery and came home Christmas Eve. It helped that the family was all there for Christmas. I am happy to report that he is doing much better, is almost completely out of pain, and has gained some weight, which is good for him but not so good for me! We always attended daily Mass together and while I am back to doing that, it won’t be too long before he joins me again. We continue to be on the Gallery Board and the Community Concert Board, which keeps us busy. Please know that I keep my Rosary, oops, Dominican University, sisters in my prayers.” Sue Meyer Hubbard says “those of us still here at 78, even if we have to deal with a few ‘issues’, are grateful. Alan drove me to Nashville to St. Thomas Hospital but thankfully, all is fine. As all seven of the Meyer family are living, our children decided to have a reunion this summer in Breckenridge, CO. It was a fun weekend. I sew with a wonderful group and I play Canasta with another group. I joined a book club, and while I like the group, I haven’t cared for the first three books. Maybe I will come up with a suggestion. You all are way ahead of me with grandchildren. I only have three and the oldest two are 6 and 6 1/2. My ‘shot in the arm’ every week is talking with my granddaughter on FaceTime. It is hard to put into words the love you have for your grandchildren.” Carol Carey Leblique says “I received a signed letter from Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. of the Archdiocese of Newark in response to my sending him a copy of my original poem “Holy Innocent September 2, 2015.” I sent my poem to him because he is sympathetic to the plight of refugees. My poem is an outpouring


of the tragic death of 3-year-old Aylan al Kurdi, who was washed ashore on a beach near the Turkish resort of Bodrum. Following is an excerpt of his beautiful letter: ‘I believe your artistic eye and heart have captured the tragedy of that horrific scene. I had thought when the picture was first published, it would move hearts in such a way that people could not help but be supportive of other children in the same dire circumstances. There is no easy solution it appears to the challenges that face the Church and the world. We must continue to be a voice for the voiceless. You have done that, Carol, and I thank you for taking the time to send me this piece of art.’ ” Judy Drabek Bettice writes “I am always hoping to find some Rosary sisters here in the Mid-South. I’ve been living and teaching in Memphis since 1965 after I got my MAT at Notre Dame. I have four grown children, three of whom live in the Memphis area. The fourth lives in Texas. I have taught in diocesan Catholic schools, Memphis City Schools, and in the Refugee Empowerment Program. In 1987, I got a Master’s in Pastoral Studies. My husband, Jerry, and I are also active with adult faith formation at our parish. In 2015, we took a scenic train trip from Memphis that included Chicago, Glacier Park, Seattle and San Francisco. It was a wonderful adventure, and we managed to see Herb and Elaine Shylin Waco Thompson as well as Pat Fagan DeFrank for lunch. I also stay in touch with Eileen Kenny. Memphis is a great place to visit, and we would be happy to introduce you to the Delta music and foods.” Mary Beth Vander Vennett Tallon says “Andy and I have spent much time traveling to Poughkeepsie to be near our son, Andrew, who is now in hospice care. We also welcomed our four grandsons (Andrew and Marie’s children) for two weeks in June. We saw many of the sights that Milwaukee and

A Healthy Business Born in the Lab As a lab assistant at Dominican, Maria Dellanina ’17 watched nutrition students spend months developing amazing products in a course on experimental foods, only to abandon them at the end of the semester. “I was thinking, ‘But you worked so hard!’” she recalls. When it was her turn to take the course, she and a classmate, Cheryl Fitzgerald ’04 (who had returned for a post-baccalaureate degree), decided to make a product they could take with pride and confidence into the marketplace. The result: Guiltless Guac, a low-fat, low-calorie guacamole. The pair substituted fiberand protein-rich beans and vegetables for some of the high-fat avocado. It was the top-rated product in a showcase judged by industry experts. “We got great feedback, and it encouraged us to start a small business,” Fitzgerald says. Guiltless Guac now comes in six flavors and is a hit at food festivals and farmers markets. Through their startup company, The Guiltless Garden, the classmates-turned-business partners plan to develop other snacks for which no atonement is required.

Chicago had to offer. The favorites were Six Flags and the beach. Our daughter, Clare, her husband, Dan, and their two teenagers joined us to help with the little boys, so we were surrounded by all of our grandchildren. It was good to be together to dispel some of the sadness of Andrew’s illness. It is unfortunate to realize that all of our news has to do with Andrew. But that is the story of our lives now!” Patricia Egan-Turner writes “I have been involved with a high

integrity, multilevel marketing company based in Dallas, TX-AMBIT ENERGY. It serves 16 states, Washington, D.C., a part of Canada and Japan. There are weekly meetings, regional conferences/ trainings, and annual Ambition. It is enjoyable to meet a new crowd of people from all over. I serve on the RNC Presidential Advisory Board. We attended a dinner in Washington, D.C., sponsored by George W. Bush. The food was great and the rose bouquet on the table was gorgeous. I won the table decoration game so I took it to

Emily Roubicek Parry at her Long Island home. My sons, Alexander and Michael, are now 24 and both living at home. They work at a tech company not far from where we live. Alex finished his degree at Lewis University and Michael is in the process, and he also works at Jewel. My big health news is that I had a stroke on December 1, 2017. I spent 17 days in hospital rehab, came home and continued rehab near my home. I had a driving assessment as part of the rehab requirements and passed so am able to drive again. I am feeling well, though I have some issues with my knees and lower legs. On a happy note, the boys and their friend and I have gone to Aruba four of the past six summers. People are nice and the weather is perfect.” Elizabeth Freidheim writes “Three of us attended the 55th reunion in 2017. Beth Klein and her sister attended the 60th reunion which had about seven attendees. Mary Ellen Martin Kizior and I both signed up because we live close. We had fun chatting with each other and two ladies from two older classes. Staging for the reunion has changed. Instead of holding the luncheon in the dining hall, elegant small tables were spread around campus. When Donna Carroll circulated to our table, I told her I had attended a Rosary graduation the previous summer. She confirmed my observations that Dominican University demographics have shifted in age and ethnic background. DU is successfully reaching new groups with its blend of faithbased education. I am still working in government. It is still fun, so I haven’t planned my exit yet, but live in the security that I could leave at my pleasure. What to do then? Perhaps join the battle for health care. It would be good if the grandchildren of the class of 1962 could enjoy as much health security through their lives as we now enjoy.” Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 23


class news

Kay Pielsticker Coleman writes “I can’t remember when I wrote last so you may or may not know that I ran and won re-election to the San Anselmo Town Council. I am the only woman on the council and I just couldn’t leave it to the men, especially when one of them came over, SAT IN MY KITCHEN and told me not to run because I was TOO OLD! That did it. I ran and won, beating his candidate royally!! I have immersed myself in all the councilperson meetings and am often out three nights a week. It keeps me occupied. My ‘grands’ (9, 8, 5, 4 and 26) keep me hopping. However, I did have time to sneak out to a movie and ‘RBG’ is

the greatest film I have seen in a long time. Carter and I know we have to downsize and I am finding it difficult to think of leaving our house and moving 46 years of stuff! I do it a little at a time and we are giving it a year before we put it on the market. Some of you from Fribourg days may remember Mimi Schubert (now Maury?) Her grandson, Arlo, lives with his parents here in Marin County so I see her a couple of times a year. She never changes! Life goes on ladies, sometimes too fast and sometimes too slowly. We had special times together and may there continue to be blessings in our lives. Each Sunday, I pray for all those mothers and children

It’s a Journey, Not a Destination As a history major at Dominican, Nicole Lang ’07 decided to accept an internship offer from Metra as a kind of experiment. “I hadn’t planned to seek a career in transportation, but when the option became available, I thought, ‘Why not?’” she recalls. “If I didn’t like it, it was only a summer.” Lang loved it and went on to build an impressive career at one of the nation’s biggest and busiest rail systems, which carries more than 80 million passengers a year. A human resources manager, Lang helped Metra fully implement a pioneering system that allows employees to report close-call safety issues. Last year, she made Mass Transit magazine’s list of the industry’s top 40 professionals under 40. And she was promoted this summer to an HR management position. “Internships are an extremely important avenue to discover whether a field is right for you,” she says. “Helping people get where they need to go as safely as possible makes me happy.”

24 Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

who are living unsheltered; a situation I try to deal with as a public official. I ask you to join me in this prayer. Does anyone remember the name of the Art teacher/sculptor during our time at Rosary? I recently returned a statue she made of Thomas Aquinas, which was given to me for graduation by Jane Lampe Groh ’60. I thank Mary Kremer, OP for helping me to ‘downsize.’ “ Gloria Adams Mills said that while it was a cold winter for Virginia, she had forgotten what real cold was until spending New Year’s Eve in Chicago. She had a wonderful dinner with many old friends and family, but the walk out to the car afterward convinced her that Virginia’s cold was okay. “Spring and early summer brought lots of rain, so the garden thrived. I had bumper crops of asparagus and beans and black raspberries. The peach, apple and pear trees were loaded, and the other veggies came in. I was disgustingly healthy this year except for a lousy problem with one of my eyes that prevented me from driving and being able to see my computer keyboard and phone keys for some weeks. Things are slowly getting better. Many thanks to Carolyn Sweeney Judd and Corrine Carnivele Hanley for stepping up to gather our news and continue to keep us all in touch.” Carolyn Sweeney Judd writes “I happily report that our family cabin in Southeastern Colorado was spared from the huge spring wildfire. We are among the fortunate, for many homes were burned. In the last update, I reported being in Houston, recovering from Hurricane Harvey. No one in my extended family was affected by the flooding, so again our prayers were answered. On a more even keel, my family is thriving. Our five grandchildren are wonderful and fun. My oldest, at 15, proclaims that she wants to be a chemistry teacher.

She is the youngest member of a research program involving high school students at the University of Texas at Austin. In June, she and her professor gave me a tour of her nanochemistry lab. What an experience to be in the same building where I was a TA! My husband and I still enjoy our high rise living, overlooking a park, within walking distance of the zoo, six museums, and a free outdoor theater. We try to keep in shape by going several times a week to the local YMCA. Life has been good to us.” Ginny Lane says summer in Oklahoma was just plain HOT! “Fortunately, most places are air-conditioned and my condo complex has a swimming pool! I am a lap swimmer. I still volunteer at Clarehouse, a place for individuals at the end-of-life who can no longer be cared for at home. It is a wonderful place. Though you may think it is sad and gloomy, people are so well cared for that it is a joy to be there. Life is good though aging isn’t fun. The trip of six years ago to our reunion now seems that it would be much more complicated. I do look forward to hearing from all of you!” Mary Kavanagh Sherry says “I am fairly well-settled in Central Wisconsin after a year and a half in Wisconsin Rapids. Yes, it is flat, but there are sand dunes south of here that look like the Indiana Dunes. Not much grows here other than cranberries and evergreens. Anything I plant must like acid soil, sand, and be distasteful to deer. This is a big shift from 42 years in the Twin Cities, but I am getting the hang of it. Last year, I offered my services to tutor at a community technical college, knowing many of their students need extra help in English and writing. Sadly the program doesn’t accept volunteers, so I had to be hired! I love working with that population, but a program reorganization is in the works, so I am looking for another calling. If nothing turns up, I may go back to school. Geology would


“Helping people get where they need to go as safely as possible makes me happy.” Nicole Lang ’07

interest me, mainly because it is something older than I am. I completely agree with Ginny: aging isn’t much fun, however, I wouldn’t trade all I’ve learned for a more youthful body. Well, maybe knees.”

1963 Susan Flynn Class Agent

Hello to the ’63 Rosarians, This past June, 22 of us gathered at the college for our 55th reunion. The campus looks wonderful, both familiar and new. We had a great time with much talk and laughter at lunch on Saturday, and more in the class suite in Murray Hall. Saturday evening, we all sat together at Mass in the Chapel, followed by dinner and more talk in the dorm. Sunday, we attended the prayer service for classmates who have died since 2013 (10 in our class), and then had a nice brunch in the Dining Hall. We said our good-byes and headed home with much to ponder about—education, experience and existence. Martha Amen Daly shared some of her experiences as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Louis University Hospital. It was very moving to visualize the comfort the Eucharist brings to those in the hospital. Judy May Ziemba and husband, Ron, continue their travels and are looking forward to a train trip in Russia this fall. Debbie Hegberg Heer was not able to attend the reunion because she was in Turkey with a group of Turkish exchange students returning home from their American Field Service (AFS) stay in the United States. Susie Thompson Drane was also inspiring, telling us about her volunteer work with seniors. She has done considerable research on finding places to live for older friends and family members. Susie sent me some details because our class is and/or will be looking for

residential care in the not-toodistant future: “Attic Angel is a retirement community for older adults living independently. It also has specialized memory care and a health center. What makes Attic Angel special are the more than 300 ‘angel’ women volunteers who help. We drive residents to medical appointments and we are trained to transport residents and wait for them while they are treated. I always ask where people are from and the answers are amazing. One woman I drove was an air traffic controller during WW II while the men were overseas in combat. She continued doing it when the war was over until she retired. Her husband stayed home and tended to their kids. Another woman raised and trained sled dogs for Iditarod dog-sled races. She used Polish codes to train them so no one could learn her secret commands. As volunteers, we wear name tags that also tell the year we started as angels. 1989 is my group! It is a blessing to help because so many of that age are great examples of what is possible and how they not only survived but prospered.” Thank you, Susie for sharing the stories and for being an “angel.” Inspiring! Susan Hartnett Lutz, one of our class artists, is moving from Arizona back to the Midwest and is packing up her art studio while husband, Fred, ponders the move of his tractor collection. Beth Linskey has sold her jam business but remains busy with travel and volunteer work at a non-profit farming group. The email group continues and a number of classmates are on Facebook. Join in when and where you can. Our 1963 endowed scholarship continues to grow. You can contribute to it every year and you can contribute to the Dominican fund for other needs of the university. Please continue to be generous. Caritas et Veritas.

1964

Mary McGough Schultze Class Agent We have reached an age where we are losing more and more people who played a role in our history. It is time to tell your stories to your family and we need to talk about our special time at Rosary and the special friends from then. I attended the Rosarian luncheon and was delighted to see four tables of the class of 1963 having a ball. And they looked good! Put the luncheon on your calendar now. I heard from Joan Canale Szuberla who has retired and seconded my invite for Reunion 2019. Pat Connery Koko came out of retirement to run the OP Annual Book Fair. With husband, Paul, and daughter, Marie, Pat enjoyed a QM cruise around the UK, which included the rescue of a sailor midocean. Paul’s Myasthenia Gravis has curtailed travel but Marie is home often to help update the house for Dad. Congratulations to Renee Durand Borra and husband, Pier. In recognition of their support, the Dominican University College of Health Sciences bears their name. Pier is serving on the Board of Trustees. Barb Dineen writes she is preparing for a cruise on the St. Lawrence from Montreal after dealing with esophageal cancer. She is still active with the Ladies of Charity clothing center, several inner city meal programs and parish activities while staying connected to Barb Riley Rygiel, Jean Kozlik Brady and Mary O’Boyle Lyons.

1966

Judy Purvin Scully Class Agent “Immigration, What’s Your Story?” was the focus of the January 2018

Sinsinawa Dominican magazine. It was heart warming to read the stories of the Dominican sisters’ immigration experiences. I was especially delighted that one of our classmates had a story of her own to tell. “An Immigrant’s Desires Remain,” was written by Sister Marie Stella Storch, OP. Her parents immigrated to America from Germany to provide a better life for their four children after having lived through the horrors of World War II. Starting over with a new language, customs, new laws, and new jobs was not easy for her parents, but she and her siblings adapted quickly and had teachers who helped them along the way. Being called “aliens” seemed funny at the time but has a more negative connotation today. When they proudly became American citizens, they knew they had truly arrived and were “no longer aliens or foreign visitors.” In an email from Sister Marie Stella, she thanked me for getting in touch with her and added, “I am so proud of my courageous parents.” In February, Kerry Hubata celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Evanston School of Ballet. Past and present students, their parents and other friends of the school attended the open house. Kerry continues to teach at the school. Congratulations, Kerry! Kathy Albright Roth and I enjoyed a tour of the College of Health Sciences in Parmer Hall in April. We met the Founding Dean, Kavita Dhanwada, and faculty members of Nutrition Sciences, Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical, Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. They took the time to share information about their programs and showed us the state of the art teaching and learning facilities. With cutting-edge programs and facilities, Dominican students are truly receiving a distinctive education. It was very impressive and made me proud to have been on the Board

Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 25


class news

of Trustees and part of the capital campaign that made Parmer Hall (which houses the College of Health Sciences) possible. Having served as Chair of Academic Affairs when the nursing program was approved, I was especially gratified to see and hear that it is thriving. (One of our scholarship recipients graduated from the nursing program this May and has spoken very highly of the program.) Kathy Kahler Matthews, Maureen O’Rourke Cannon and Mitzi Battista Witchger joined us for lunch at Recipe Box Café in the Parmer Hall atrium after the tour. We enjoyed catching up on what’s been happening since our luncheon last June. Suzy Wills Kessler, Mary Jones Harrison and Joan Condon (our adoptee from Mundelein) who had planned to drive in from the Milwaukee area, cancelled because of a weather alert for snow, but expect to join us in the fall at our next luncheon. Please email me if you would like to be included. Maureen Connolly is working on a new novel and seeking an agent/ publisher for her first novel. She is happier having left medicine this past winter but is looking for income and is available for copywriting. Good luck with your new career, Maureen! Mariann Haberle Leahy is still following her passion in the arts. She sent photos, noting they were from her latest show “From the Kiln” at Turquoise Tortoise Gallery in Sedona. Go on YouTube and search Mariann Leahy, to see the talk she gave, which included giving a shout-out for Dominican University. Janice Ciastko Lane reported she had a wonderful weekend visit with Meg Cameron Beeler at her lovely home in Skokie. Rosary and her 1966 classmates were indeed part of the conversation. In late August, she traveled to England to attend a study program on the campus of Cambridge University. She noted it was a treat to

26 Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

live in the hallowed dorms and to study the scientists and the art of Cambridge. When the program was over, she joined some British birders to observe birds in the countryside. Kay Brennan took a Rhine River cruise in April—three days in Lake Como, seven days on the cruise, and two days in Amsterdam. She said that the basilica in Como had wonderful tapestries, that the cathedrals in Strasbourg and Cologne were gorgeous, and that the Keukenhof Garden in Lisse was amazing. She was surprised to see that a firm in Gurnee, IL installed one of the tulip beds. Barbara Barry officially retired as a neuropsychologist. After a three-week cultural tour of Japan, she is taking a bridge class, and one in watercolor painting. Barb looks forward to a birthday family reunion in Kona followed by a three-week visit to Cuba. Lina Fruzzetti sent the following: “Akos and I will leave for Italy to the Bologna Film Festival to attend a screen of our documentary film. We will have a number of students and faculty from Brown who will attend and many Eritreans to whom this film will mean a lot. These are Eritreans who left home in early 1970 and were given citizenship for being half Italian. I am eagerly awaiting their comments and Q&A.” (As mentioned in an earlier Dominican Magazine, we were fortunate to have “In My Mother’s House” screened at Dominican. Several members of the Class of ’66 were there to show our support for Lina and proudly watched as Donna conferred an honorary doctorate.) Kitty Yore Smith has been in touch with Maureen Doran Zimmerman and reported: “I am now officially a movie star, or maybe starlet. Well, okay, I was an extra on a film Reunion by Cheryl Rhodes and am lending her some clothes for a film she is in next week. My son now has seven chil-

dren from nearly 1 to 13. We have a riotous time with the kids and the two huskies. Mary Wingfield Grace and I are planning to attend the Girl Scout Senior Roundup Reunion in Vermont. My husband has a trial in Vermont at the same time, so we will drive up. Loren is still active as a judge and very active in the University Club. He runs his discussion group Port, Cigars, and Politics on the roof of the club and offered his Supreme Court Review on July 12, considered the most prestigious event the club offers. At the present time, we are catless but are looking. I would like to downsize and my husband wants to put an addition on the house.” Maureen’s response to Kitty’s news was: “You have quite a clan!!!! I spent nine days in Cape Cod for our annual sisters’ week. Sheila Doran Lima ’76, Kathy Doran Halfpenny ’69 and Eileen Thompson, who attended Rosary for two years and graduated from Illinois State, were at Sheila’s house. We take turns visiting each house every year and this year it was Sheila’s turn to host the giggles. It is fun because she lives on the Cape, Eileen lives near Baltimore, Kathy in Oak Park and I live in Indy. My husband’s health is deteriorating but we have been blessed because he was given three years in 2004. It is still difficult to watch. I still work almost full time as a substitute teacher and really enjoy the atmosphere and the students. My four children are all doing very well —blessings for sure—and my 12 grandchildren (ranging from 6 to 30) are all thriving. My grandson Tim is working on his Master’s in Business Analytics while serving in South Korea in the Army. He will be back in Ft. Sill, OK, with his wife and two daughters in November. I am awaiting greatgrandchild number 10 in August and number 11 in December. I am certain I am not old enough for that craziness!!!!” Terry Wilkenson Pawlik wrote: “Ray and I will celebrate our 50th

anniversary at Thanksgiving this year! As he says, ‘We got married on Thanksgiving Day so I would always have something to be thankful for!’ All the kids, kidsin-law, and grands are coming home for the celebration. One of the five priests on the altar is still alive and active at age 90, so he is coming to dinner and then we will renew our vows. In the meantime, we continue to travel to see our family. We went to Phoenix and spent a long weekend in Flagstaff with two of the families. We treated ourselves to an early anniversary trip to Ireland in May. Ray has never been, but Marysue Brown and I hitchhiked throughout the area on our way home from Fribourg in 1965. It was harder to scale Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney stone this time! Our children are all doing well. Our son is working on his next promotion to Lt. Colonel. He is hoping that his deployment days are over as he has done his share. Our daughter, Kate, is working on her dissertation for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Northern Arizona University. She hopes to be hooded next May. Her daughter, Maya, is scheduled for her First Communion next May also, and our oldest grandson, Aidan, will graduate from high school then too. We may end up renting an Airbnb the whole month! I hear from Sister Teresa Margaret (Suzy Brinkman) rather infrequently as she is suffering from dementia and has a hard time writing. Kerry Hubata and I are planning to visit her next summer for her 75th birthday, but that may change as her condition deteriorates. I am so glad I was able to see her for her Golden Jubilee in 2015. Carpe diem! Judy Schleitwiler Wolicki reported: “My life continues to be full and joy-filled. I especially enjoy my three grandchildren, my daughters and son-in-law. I have a new grandniece and two new grandnephews who were born this year. My immediate family now numbers over 90! My work as


Field Secretary of the Illinois Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends keeps me busy visiting meetings in Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. I offer programs, retreats, workshops, and resources. My favorite part of the job is listening to people’s stories. I’m also still serving occasionally as a chaplain at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Wishing I was spending more time visiting with friends from Rosary. No expectations of ever retiring though.” According to Sue Jerman Adams, “For a group of women of a certain age, we’re not doing badly, are we? We are writing novels, acting in movies, traveling the world, rejoicing over ever-expanding families, contributing to the liveliness of our communities ... it is pretty impressive! I decided to explore a bit more and took a trip to Alaska; a National Geographic cruise along the Inside Passage, on board with 63 other passengers, none of whom I met. Something I have wanted to do ever since Anne Garvey Maggiorana told me about an Alaskan cruise she took just after we graduated, when she slept on deck and awakened to see whales alongside her boat. May more adventures continue to expand our lives for many years to come!” Maureen E Magee wrote: “I attended Rosary as Sr. Maureen Patrick, CSJ. I have had the privilege of traveling on many wonderful trips. The most recent was a small group tour of South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Botswana where I fulfilled a bucket list item of seeing giraffes in the wild. We also saw elephants, rhinos, hippos, lions, leopard, cheetah, monkeys, hyena, and antelope, not to mention the beautiful birds! This visit to my sixth continent was beautiful and thought-provoking.” Suzie Howard Bassi noted: “Our second generation includes two teachers and four lawyers: one couple in Connecticut, one in Chicago, and one just moved to Min-

neapolis. Our three children have so far given us seven grandkids —five boys. I am still serving on a few boards (one soon to be called “Reform for Illinois” —don’t laugh) and traveling. Soon I am headed to boundary waters in Minnesota and to Tuscany.” Nancy King Murray wrote. “I retired from practice in 2016 and stepped up the travel. Has anyone done the wine road in Bosnia? For the past 20 years, I have met with three friends and a French teacher virtually every Saturday to read and discuss classic and contemporary literature. After Rosary and before law school, I got my MA at Northwestern in English literature and now I am back there again taking classes through their alumni program.” Alice Kuehne Finn and her husband, John, have been busy traveling and celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. She wrote: “John and I have been busy during these past six months. On February 6, we departed for the 81-day cruise on Holland America for the second half of our “world cruise.” The biggest attraction was the many ports in Africa, the last of the seven continents we hoped to reach! Goal achieved!! Upon arriving home, I started planning a small celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary. Invitations were created, favors were embroidered, a Mass of Thanksgiving with personally written vows were arranged, etc. Our day included the Mass, a breakfast at our local 50+ year Rose Garden Café, which included my maid-of-honor Kathy Hytry Nichols, followed by a gathering with relatives and friends. Our son, Sean, joined us for four days, and as a recording engineer, provided music at church, and recorded an original version of our song, “Moon River,” with the multiple instruments he plays as well as with a beautiful solo from his partner, Shelly. It was memorable and more perfect

than I could ever have imagined! These past 50 years flew by, but provided many wonderful experiences and memories.” Mary Celine Baier Rütschi reports: “Our second grandchild is now 6 months old and lives only a five-minute walk away. Last month, my husband and I took a four-day trip to Bavaria, Germany. While there, we crossed into Austria to visit Hitler’s birthplace. It is a small, baroque town, badly in need of restoration. A rock from a concentration camp stands in front of his house, which is locked and the windows blackened. No one knows what to do with the place, and until a decision is made, funds for the town will be withheld. My daughter and I also spent a week in Wales. What a change for the better the Welsh have experienced since the mines closed. We have been living outside Zurich, Switzerland for 47 years, which makes traveling easy.” Bev Doherty wrote, “My husband, Thomas, and I have moved from Maryland to Wisconsin. We are so happy to be living in Milwaukee where our youngest son, Matt, and his wife, Gretchen, live. The move also brings us closer to Minneapolis where our other son, Pete, and his wife, Jenny, live. Living in Milwaukee will make it an easy commute to my family in Detroit and to friends in Chicago and Wisconsin. We are still in the middle of the transition, which has been a bear, but we are taking our time. We plan to reconnect with friends and explore more of our Midwestern home. In the fall, we return to Florida. From there, Thomas and I will be going to Spain. We are very fortunate to have each other, our family, and our health.” In April, John and I thoroughly enjoyed our Doro River cruise through Portugal, with a pre-trip to the island of Madeira and two

days in Spain at the end of the trip. The weather was not ideal, but we were dressed for it. We basically ate and drank our way through all the regional pastries and wines as we visited various towns, churches, markets and wineries. Olive and almond trees were everywhere, and tiered crops are all harvested by hand. The scenery, as well as the sites we visited, was spectacular. The Portuguese were friendly, and all spoke with great pride about the area in which they lived and worked. Our side excursion to Fatima was very moving and one of the highlights of the trip. We flew down to Florida to take my parents out to dinner on May 18, their 75th wedding anniversary. They avoided winter by spending five months in their home away from home, so the family celebration wasn’t until June 9. There were 54 family members coming from all over to join in the celebration. Mom and Dad renewed their vows at St. Mary’s in Riverside where they lived for 25 years before moving to Graue Mill in Hinsdale. At the luncheon that followed, it was fun to be a part of so many lively conversations. For our 52nd anniversary on June 11, we went out for a quiet dinner for two! Thanks one and all for your contributions to our class news. Please stay in touch. After all, it’s just three years and counting until our 55th reunion. Congrats to the Class of ’68 for endowing a new $100,000 scholarship!

1967

Elizabeth McGrath Class Agent Sister Jean McGrath, CSJ retired after 32 years as Principal of St. John Fisher Elementary School in Chicago.

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class news

1968

the Caritas Veritas Award. So many great reunion memories!

The Class of ‘68 had a fantastic 50th reunion weekend in June! To those who came, thank you!! Seeing so many of you there was what made it so special. Almost one-half of our classmates whom we could contact attended—a great turnout! We heard from so many people that they had a great time. To those who were not able to come, we missed you and we want to hear from you!

Thanks to everyone who sent in bios for the Rosary Dish that went out recently. Wonderful stories and great reading! If you didn’t send yours, it’s not too late to get in on the fun of reconnecting with your classmates. Be sure to GET ON OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK PAGE “Rosary College Class of 1968!” It’s just for us and full of fun photos, news, and memories. You can post news there, or contact your class agents Mary Duncan Gemkow (mdgemkow@ aol.com) and/or Suzanne Engle (nelsonengle@sbcglobal.net). We can post news for you on our Facebook page if you wish. We want to hear from you!

Suzanne Engle and Mary Duncan Gemkow Class Agents

Kudos to the “Posse” (aka Reunion Planning Committee) for all their hard work over eight months to reach out to everyone in our class and to plan such a fun weekend —Carol Anderson Kunze, Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz, Donna Renn, Marita Hoy Fenley, Mary Duncan Gemkow, Kathy Wessels Toborg Cook, Tomi Campbell Hubert and Suzanne Engle. President Donna Carroll’s reception at her home was lovely. The next morning, her State of the University address was informative and inspiring. Our alma mater has been transformed into a comprehensive university, but retains the intimacy of a college. Our class luncheon was so much fun. Marilyn’s performance as Sister Freecopious (wearing a nun’s habit!), with her sidekick Donna Renn as Sister Rensselaer, will go down in the annals of reunion history as unique and hilarious! We were so proud to present a $100,000 check to President Carroll (the most of any class!) to endow a second scholarship in all our names. Thanks to all who contributed!! The awards dinner in the Social Hall was lovely. The O’Keefe Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award went to ’68ers Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz and Carol Anderson Kunze. And ’68ers Dianne Mathiowetz and Susan Bakel Cohn were co-winners of

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Following our fabulous 50th reunion, Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz spent a week with family relaxing at the beach in South Haven, Michigan. She said it was incredibly fun and restorative. “Being Sr. Marilyn Freeocopious for our reunion skit was such fun that our reunion posse believes it has gone to my head. You see, in August, I started as one of Sister Janet Welsh’s volunteers at Dominican’s McGreal Center. It houses the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters’ archives. To help in the preservation of their history and stories is of great interest to me.” Carol Anderson Kunze wrote in July: “I am writing from the Clinch Marina in Traverse City, MI. After being racing sailors for many years, Jack and I are enjoying our fourth season as power boaters. We are taking an extended cruise up the western shore of Michigan with various stops in Traverse Bay, Little Traverse Bay, Mackinac Island, and hopefully a short exploration in the North Channel before heading back south to our home port in Macatawa Bay. The cute harbor towns offer markets, concerts, fairs, ice cream shops, art galleries, craft beer breweries and wineries—all facilitating a

relaxing vacation. We will attend a family wedding and post-Mac Race parties in Mackinac and return to our annual family days at the lake in August. I have wonderful reunion memories and enjoyed reconnecting with so many classmates. I hope our class Facebook participation will continue to grow. Thanks to Suzanne and Mary for keeping Facebook fresh and re-energizing our class news.” Suzanne Engle heard from Barbara Shekleton Hegele. Barbara sent regrets that she couldn’t attend our reunion. She and her family were attending her daughter’s wedding on June 9. Barbara and her husband lived in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles for 43 years. They moved to Ave Maria, Florida four years ago. Kathy Wessels Cook and her husband, Robert, were busy over the summer, getting a new little cottage ready for visitors in Iowa on Cedar River, about three and one-half hours from Chicago. They live in Cedar Rapids. Suzanne Engle’s daughter, Ellie Nelson, was home in Chicago for a two-week visit at the end of August. Ellie is serving in the Peace Corps as a literacy specialist in Jamaica, working in a small elementary school. She and her students just scored a big win for the school. They won first place for several environmental projects in a countrywide contest sponsored by LASCO Corporation. LASCO’s Releaf Environmental Awareness Programme encourages primary school children to become involved in recycling, tree planting, and conservation. Her students collected more than 132,000 plastic water bottles from several communities for recycling. Among the prizes are cash and desktop computers for the school. Ellie will end her service in Jamaica in May 2019. Marita Hoy Fenley was hard at work all summer preparing for

Ed Hoy International’s big annual Customer Appreciation sale in August. Marita and her husband, Cleve, have been running the family business for several years. It is the largest supplier of art glass supplies to both the wholesale and retail market in North America. The Reunion Committee met there in Naperville in May at Marita’s invitation. She gave them a tour of the facility, and all marveled at the beauty and quality of the art glass. Peggy May Schrage recently went to San Francisco to attend her son Paul’s concert. He is the conductor and artistic adviser for the Midsummer Mozart Festival, an annual concert series and the only music festival dedicated exclusively to Mozart. He was the last student of George Cleve, who founded the Festival in 1974 and died in 2015. Paul conducted the 2018 concert program, carrying on the festival tradition.

1969

Susan Kreuz McCoyd Class Agent It doesn’t seem that long ago (1994!) that my class agent letter began with “The big TWO FIVE is upon us!” And now, in less than a year, the even bigger FIVE ZERO will be upon us. News from our class over the last 49 years has been sporadic. There are some who regularly send me year-end letters with news; some who keep in touch by email, phone, or text for lunch, dinner, or travel, or those who have attended one or more of the nine reunions we have celebrated to date. And then there is Facebook. The Rosary College Class of 1969 established a closed group Facebook page in July of 2013. Joining the group is a great way to learn about what is going on at Dominican (aka Rosary); catch up on news about the Class of 1969; share pictures and posts of


interest; learn about and become involved in the plans for our 50th Reunion, to be held June 7–9, 2019. Speaking of reunions, Camille “Cami” Jarasek McNamee organized a 50th reunion for all the U.S. students who studied at the University of Fribourg in 1967-68. With her committee, she found the women who were at the Villa des Fourgeres, as well as the men who were with Providence, Lasalle and Georgetown programs. It was a fun-filled weekend of reminiscing, getting reacquainted and joy. The Rosary grads were: Patricia Bobeck ’70, Ann (Beth) Rasmussen Bonner ’70, Mary Dailey, Irene Connors Golec, Catherine Kenzie La Plante, Mary Anne McDonough, Linda Cowel McGuire, Cami Jarasek McNamee, Marlene Brumleve Pickett, Mary Ann Piwowarczyk ’70, Lynn Giles, Pamela Kirk, Patricia Rink, Janet Skupien and Barbra Neininger Yablonski. Do you have Rosary College 1965– 69 memories, photos, or memorabilia you’d like to share either on Facebook, or email, or mail for our 50th Reunion? Who remembers “What Makes Bunny Run?”; the Grill; family-style dinners in the dining hall; two pay phone booths per floor in Power; Mary Iannucilli raising and lowering the flag on the second floor Cloister Walk while singing the “Star Spangled Banner.” I was able to attend the 50th reunion of the Class of ’68 this June. Wow! Those women had fun during their four years at Rosary and most definitely at their 50th Reunion. I hope we can do the same June 7–9, 2019. Let me or the alumni office hear from you, if you have ideas or suggestions, or a willingness to help plan our 50th. Please be sure to join the private Class of 1969 Facebook page for a quick and easy way to keeping touch with our classmates!

A Dominican Star Runs for Alderman As a community organizer on Chicago’s Southwest Side, Berto Aguayo ’16 found that no matter what issue he was trying to address, he would invariably end up in the office of one alderman or another. Lots of promises would be made; little would change. “I realized that if I wanted to have more impact I had to run for office myself,” he says, during a break from knocking on doors and working the phones in the city’s Fifteenth Ward. If he wins his campaign to represent the ward in February’s municipal elections, Aguayo, 24, would become one of the youngest members in

1971

Kathy Klem Large Class Agent Nancy Sidote Salyers wrote that at the end of January it was discovered that her mother had multiple metastases in her lungs. They worked with hospice and had additional quality time with her until she passed peacefully on April 30. Her mother had taught third and fourth grade for more than 40 years, and many of her former students were able to visit with her until the end. Shortly before she died, Nancy was able to share the news that after having four

the history of the City Council. It’s the latest step in his remarkable transformation from teenage gang member in the Back of the Yards neighborhood to Obama Foundation national leadership trainer, student body president, and summa cum laude graduate of Dominican. In addition to meeting challenges such as youth unemployment and finding resources for education and mental health care, Aguayo hopes to inspire more residents to get involved in their communities. “This work is not done alone,” he says.

grandsons, my “little princes” were going to be blessed with a “little princess.” Nancy and her family are very excited and said “I’m finally knitting something pink!” Recently, Annie Vonderhaar and I had a long “phone visit.” I caught her in the closing days of the school year and she was planning to spend the summer taking “a very long nap.” She proudly shared that her granddaughter had recently graduated with her honors high school diploma and simultaneously earned her associate’s degree. In the fall, she will attend the University of Nevada in Reno.

It is always good to meet friends over food and that is exactly what Linda Grzesiakowski Hanrath did recently. She and Sue Mackiewicz Sowa had a wonderful time reconnecting and plan to meet Jacque LaSalle Bolger the next time for a mini lunch reunion. Marty Kahler Van Ness wrote that she has been selling real estate since 1988 and backed away from her wonderful job with the Butterball Turkey Talk in 2017. She had been a supervisor with the talk line for many years. (Unbelievable questions I’m sure and worthy of a book contract one

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class news

day.) Her daughter Nora is working part-time and daughter Nina and husband, Alex, just welcomed baby Wilhelmina in April 2018. She joins her big brother Wolfgang who is 3 1/2. Marty and her husband, Ron, have been bitten by the travel bug! In the last two years, they drove to Evergreen, CO, and Santa Fe, NM, and spent three and one-half weeks in Italy. They joined Martha Larkin and family for a Germany Christmas cruise and then onto Prague. By the time you read this, she will have been to Helsinki and St. Petersburg. On a final note, she suggested that “Each of us encourage someone we remember, but have not seen in years, to attend our 50th Reunion, for a fun and momentous event!” I second her notion! Vicki Woodward shared the happy news of her son Woody’s new baby, Benjamin, born on April 24. Big sister Evelyn is 2 1/2 years old. Vicki and John’s daughter, Morgan, lives near Woody and his family in San Francisco and works for Google in “experiential marketing.” Vicki and John checked off an Alaskan cruise this summer! Vicki continues, “I have become quite the political activist in my old age.” She has joined a local women’s organization, Invest to Elect Illinois. It was an offshoot of the D.C. Women’s March and has grown from five original founders to 149 in the first year. They have collected more than $700,000 to support national candidates, both incumbents and neophytes, who share preserving democratic principles and constitutional rights. Al and I were blessed with little grandsons this spring. Luke Thomas arrived in Asheville, NC, and James Michael in Carmel, IN. Everyone is very excited in the Large clan. We took a trip this summer from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and then by river to Moscow. I will fill you in later on that one and keep those cards and letters comin’.

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1975

Mary Alice Griesinger Class Agent Loretta Ragsdell earned the National Council for Higher Education’s first Higher Educator of the Year Award. Loretta has taught students from pre-school to college and currently teaches English and writing at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC).

A Showcase for Courage in Adversity The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, is working hard these days to establish a legacy that goes far beyond honoring the game’s top athletes. It also is growing like crazy, with a nearly $900 million complex in the works that includes playing fields and player care facilities. For Robert Zmudka MBA ’93, a senior vice president of GATX Corporation, it’s an exciting time to join the hall’s board of trustees. He’s been involved with the organization for more than a decade, raising money for the hall and for a partner charity that helps student athletes from the Chicago area succeed in college and beyond. He points to the impact that hall of famers can have with their stories of overcoming personal adversity. “It’s about so much more than football,” says Zmudka. “The hall is about celebrating excellence everywhere. It showcases the best of people. There’s a bigger lesson here, that you can do great things.”

1972

Chris Lapetina Kukla Class Agent Chris Lapetina Kukla wrote: “Several members of the Class of 1972 got together for a luncheon at the Reserve Restaurant at the Village Links in Glen Ellyn. Attendees included: Luisa Scala Buehler, Mary Pat Thornton Collins, Marilyn Aiuppa Dean, Barb Podesta Fox, Joan Hopkins, Chris Lapetina Kukla, Mary Hajlo Taylor, Mary Pat Weldon Woitas, and Julie Driscoll Neptune. We all had a great time talking about the good times we had at Rosary/Dominican, realizing that it has been 50 years since we all started as freshmen at the college. Time flies! Joan Hopkins brought

her Rosary Yearbook from 1968, and we all looked for photos of ourselves and remembered our classmates and professors. Marilyn Dean brought her old Neil Diamond album from the same time, and we broke out in a spontaneous rendition of “Sweet Caroline.” Many of our classmates have retired, others are still working, but all seemed to be doing well. It was really great seeing everyone!”

1973 Lydia Colon Perera wrote from Cusco, Peru: Recently, I had a wonderful visit from some of my best friends from Dominican University. I have been living here for 20 years, so this was a very special occasion.

1979

Hilary Ward Schnadt Class Agent Greetings classmates: It’s been a time of sorrows and joys since our last update. I am sorry to report that we lost a classmate, Mary Beth McCormick Dale, on January 26, 2018. May happy memories help to sustain her family and friends. I am also sorry to tell you that classmates lost family members this winter. Both Alice Heinze and Margaret (Foy) Shields lost their mothers in February and Tom Krickl lost his older brother David in January. Let me extend condolences to the three of them on behalf of all of us. Happier transitions are underway for others. Karen Allegra (BA/ MA 1979) published her debut novel this year with HarperCollins, The Reluctant Fortune Teller. It’s available through Barnes & Noble, Amazon and some independent bookstores. I was pleased to be a beta-reader as she was polishing it and am impressed that it is translated into Korean, French, Czech, Slovakian, Dutch, Chinese, and Bulgarian. You can learn all about it by visiting her website: www.Keziahfrost.com. Bridget and Joe Cortina (both double-alumni who went on to earn MBAs from Dominican in 1982) have made a big change:


“It’s about so much more than football. The hall is about celebrating excellence everywhere.” Robert Zmudka MBA ’93

“Joe and I retired after 50+ years of working careers. Bridget from JPMorgan Chase for the last 37 of the 50 years worked and Joe from Avon for the last 34 years of his 50 years worked.” That called for a celebration and celebrate they did. Each bought the other a first class ticket for a 33-day South Pacific cruise. Next came a pilgrimage to Ireland with the pastor from their church. They finished off the year by purchasing and remodeling a second home in The Villages, Florida. They are finding retirement very rewarding and relaxing.” Nancy Greco sent word that she will be in California Suite by Neil Simon, June 21–July 14 with MadKap Productions at Skokie Theatre, playing Millie in Visitor from Philadelphia. Helen Hollerich has been enjoying her state’s benefit for those over-60—free audit classes at the University of Wisconsin. She and Ann (Van Hoomissen) Bixby organized an open house at a rental home in Elmhurst on April 22, 2018. It was a mini-reunion for those who had avidly followed their “Best Road Trip Ever” to mark the 40th anniversary of their Rosary-in-London trip. The house’s ‘70s era interior design was just the right setting for a group of 79ers: Gus Simpson Archer, Kathleen Johnson, Teresa Shultz, Rick Wilk, Jim Twist (with wife Judy), Nancy Greco, Julie Lunkenheimer Jette and me. Mike Hattie and Russina Rusev Grady from the Class of 1980 rounded out the group. Theresa Kaminski wrote to say, “This spring I received the Eugene Katz Letters and Science Distinguished Faculty Award, which is presented annually to a College of Letters and Science faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in recognition of ongoing excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Then I retired. I had attained the rank of full professor in the Department of History and International Studies.

I’m looking forward to spending all my free time researching and writing more books.” Congratulations, Theresa! Kevin Killips deserves thanks from all of us. He wrote, “I am in my third term as Dominican’s Board Chair. It has been quite a run and a great honor to help the university navigate the changing face of higher education. Dominican continues to perform and stay true to its mission and values. I think I may spend as much time at the university as I did as an undergrad! We are finishing our current campaign and I hope that all my colleagues from the class of ‘79 consider Dominican in their charitable planning where possible.” I’m glad to support our alma mater financially and second his encouragement that classmates give what they can now and in the future. Anne Schurmann Klytta wrote, “Dallas and I took our ‘bucket list’ vacation in July to England, Scotland and Ireland. We want to extend special thanks to Helen Hollerich and Ann Bixby for their help in planning this trip. Their experiences were invaluable, and we had a great time!” Tom Krickl wrote to say, “I just finished my fifth year teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Wuyi University in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, China. It is really enjoyable working in a place where students, parents and society respect teachers and where students want to learn. Unfortunately, the school calendar revolves around Chinese New Year, so I can never make it back to a Reunion Weekend. The school year usually ends in mid-July.” Rick Wilk shared, “After 25 years with the U.S. Public Health Service I decided to start a new chapter. The first part of the next chapter required a river cruise from Switzerland through France, Germany and The Netherlands.

My youngest son made a surprise visit coming from Spain to the Netherlands where we spent a week exploring Amsterdam and Belgium. Following the holiday, the next adventure began with national speaking coupled with community engagements to redesign the American health care delivery system to address comprehensively the needs of the medically underserved.” Lou Guagenti ’80 invited me to join him in volunteering with Program Action to Delivery Shelter (PADS) in Cook County. PADS provides overnight shelter, dinner, breakfast, and a box lunch to individuals experiencing homelessness and economic challenges. PADS is an extraordinary program across the metro area looking for volunteers one day per month. I’m very much hoping to see many of you in June 2019 for our 40th reunion. I’ve started recruiting for a reunion planning committee and am pleased to report that Robin Nystrom, Helen Hollerich, Rick Wilk, Nancy Greco, and Nan Silva have volunteered. Let me know if you would like to join us. You could do so by phone/email so don’t hold back because you aren’t in the Chicago area. *Please note that in the Special Edition 2018 Class News, Dominican incorrectly listed the name of Anita Heinze as Alice “Anita” Heinze. We apologize for this error.

1980 Linda Rohde Class Agent

Mike Hattie was happy to catch up with friends he doesn’t see often enough. He always seems to find someone he hasn’t seen since college. Again this year, a spouse told him that they don’t have anything like our Alumni Weekend—friendly and welcoming, regardless of how long it’s been

since someone was back or how well you knew them back in the day. The conversations range over grandchildren now, and life events with people connecting and even providing advice. He says these events and people reorient his priorities and affirm his gratitude for what he has and for what he has overcome. He also wants to remind people that Dominican is still recovering from the Illinois budget crisis, so donations are as importantly needed as ever. Many of the kids and families most benefitting from a college degree are not in a position to bear the full cost. Do what you can to help. Diane Kaczmarek Lenihan went to work for Commonwealth Edison Company one week after our graduation and is now retired after more than 35 years of service (retired 1/1/2016). She is enjoying spending time with her first grandchild. DD Thurman and wife, Laura Powers ’81 also want to know where all the time went—their son is now engaged.

1983 Dr. Corinne Lally-Benedetto was named president at Trinity High School in River Forest. Corinne is a 1978 graduate of Trinity and she started at the college prep school January 22.

1987

Rosemary Adams Class Agent Tiana Brazzale is the new foundation development manager for Oral Health America (OHA). For the past seven years, Tiana was the grants administrator at DuPage County-based Ray Graham Association (RGA), a provider of services and supports to people with disabilities and their families.

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class news

1999

Kara Green Hanak and Christy Miklautsch Gumbach Class Agents Tim Trendel, MAEA ’08 is the new boys basketball coach at Marist High School. Tim begins his stint at Marist as a physical education teacher, in addition to basketball coach. He spent the last eight seasons with Providence Catholic.

2001

Alison Hecimovich Class Agent Alison Hecimovich, MSPED ’05 earned her Master of Arts in Illinois Principal Preparation from Concordia University Chicago in December 2017. This past year, Alison accepted a student services teacher position in Kenilworth. Ann Wach-Tomory, a program integrity and evaluation specialist with the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, was honored with an RRB “Award for Excellence” in the performance of her duties. An RRB employee since 2011, Ann was cited as a “valuable resource” who is a “very conscientious, dependable, and hardworking employee.”

2004

Joe Bruno and Brandy Foster Class Agents Fallon DePetro Drake said, “I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Mia, who is the joy of my life. In 2017, I received my SPHR certification and am enjoying my job as human resources leader.” Sarah Schwarting and mom, Susan Schwarting ’74, have joined to create The Center for Serenity in Oak Park. Susan is a certified meditation instructor and Reiki master practitioner. Sarah is a clinical therapist and does counseling and coaching. Their

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business was featured in Voyage Chicago, an online newspaper. Tracey Janowitz was on campus in April to talk to students in the Fashion Club about how she started her own athletic wear line known as sweatyswag. The talk was part of Fashion Week, which leads up to the Dominican University Fashion Show. Agatha Rymanowska, MSCIS ’09 is the senior vice president for Enterprise Operations at Conversant, and she was recognized as one of “50 Women You Need to Know” by MarTechExec. MarTechExec is a rapidly growing online community for marketing technology professionals.

2005

the bridal party including Stephen Litewski ’11, Becky Clancy ’09, Elena Maans-Lornicz ’11, Dan Wawzenek ’09, Zach Holtman ’09, and Tim Keenan ’10.

Ryan Riske has joined the IT department of Ford Motor Company as a Mainframe Systems Engineer. He recently moved to the Detroit area.

Melissa Fleming Higgins and Mark Higgins, welcomed their third child, Keegan Timothy, on March 27, 2018. Keegan is their “tiebreaker baby” as they now have two boys and one girl!

Tina Gustafson Biel and her husband, Bob, welcomed their third child and first daughter, Caralai Irene Biel, on February 16, 2018. She weighed in at 5 lbs 10 oz and her big brothers Aiden and Casey already adore her!

Matt Bohlman converted his freelance business to an LLC with a new look and feel, visionsconnect.com.

Marcella Scaduto Blackwell and Tyler Blackwell welcomed Sebastian Crist Blackwell on February 7, 2018. He joins big sister Milena.

Megan Reidy-Champion and husband, Kevin, welcomed their first child. Son Liam Hunter Reidy-Champion was born on June 1, 2018, at 10:49 a.m. weighing 7 lbs, 13 oz and 20 inches.

2008

Catherine Calixto and Eileen Terrien Class Agents

Tory Kathrein Theodossopoulos Class Agent Colleen Seisser, MLIS ’09, is a selection specialist for the Aurora Public Library, and she was elected to the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Board of Directors for a three-year term. Colleen’s position at the Aurora Public Library includes the selection of materials for teens at all library locations.

2006

Annie Hughes Halsema and Diane Schultz Meske Class Agents Ivan Tsios was promoted to Director of Economics and Valuation Services at Baker McKenzie Law Firm.

2007

Mark Carbonara, Stephanie Lieberman and Stephanie Adams Taylor Class Agents Matt Litewski wed Ashlie Giuffre ’09, MLIS ’11 at St. Giles Church in Oak Park on April 21, 2018. There were multiple alumnae/i in

A Gift for the Record Books At their 50th reunion this spring, the Class of 1968 became the first Dominican class in history to establish two endowed scholarships at the university. They raised $100,000 for students with great promise and financial need. A decade ago, the class set up a study abroad scholarship fund worth $75,000. Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz ’68, a reunion organizer, attributes the class’s generosity in part to a sense of unity and engagement inspired by memories of the tumultuous events of their commencement year. “It was a difficult time to be a college student—the height of the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy,” she recalls. “We were shell-shocked, and we all experienced it together.” Some reunion attendees were returning to campus for the first time since graduation. Jancewicz described it as a heartfelt and eye-opening homecoming. “We were so impressed with the students and the campus,” she says. “People could not believe the growth.”


“We were so impressed with the students and the campus. People could not believe the growth.” Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz ’68

Andrea Williams, CLU®, CFP®, financial advisor, is the first African-American woman in Northwestern Mutual’s history to be awarded Forum Membership, one of the company’s top honors. She was recognized by Northwestern Mutual-Chicago as Financial Advisor of the Year. Williams has dedicated her financial services to underserved markets, focusing on women and the African-American community. Seeing the disparities in these communities, Andrea has made it her mission to make a difference as a leader and advocate. She has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Rolling Out, Black Enterprise and she was named to the “Top 40 under 40 Game Changers” through the Urban Business Roundtable in Chicago.

Hauling in Franklin Park. Jeanette started DCH four years ago as a college senior and single mother. The company has grown from $50,000 in revenue to $1.3 million in 2017. DCH’s growth puts Jeanette in an exclusive club: Fewer than 2 percent of U.S. businesses owned by women break the $1 million mark.

2009

School of Information Studies

Lindsay Buoniconti and Shannon Sromek Hickey Class Agents Jerica Copeny MLIS ’11 was named an Innovator in the Library Journal’s 2018 Movers & Shakers edition. She works as the Civic Data Scientist at Evansville’s Vanderburgh Public Library.

2013

Karla Bayas, Molly Brauer and Marco Rodriguez Class Agents Dustin and Stephanie Ciura Sneath welcomed a baby girl, Madeline Marie, on 1/31/18.

2015

Tanner Strong and Katie Schmidt Class Agents Jeanette Chavarria-Torres was recently named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 20 in Their 20s. The 26-year-old is the President and CEO of DCH Construction &

Colleen Zitkus joined the ranks of the Prospect Heights Police Department in June. While attending Dominican, she completed an internship with the Prospect Heights Police Department and after graduation, started in the department as a records clerk.

Graduate Alumnae/i Class News

David R. Bryant MALS ’69, counsel to Bryant Legal Group of Chicago and a former lecturer in Law Librarianship, was appointed as a member of the Environmental Quality Commission of the Village of LaGrange on June 11, by Village Board President Tom Livingston. Sharon Mader MALS ’76, Dean Emeritus and Professor at the University of New Orleans, is the winner of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Instruction Sections (IS) Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award. The honor recognizes a librarian who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of instruction in a college or research library environment. Susan Roman MALS ’76, Dean Emerita of the School of Information Studies at Dominican University, is the recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) 2018 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship.

Jill Strand MLIS ’02, Senior Manager, Library & Knowledge Information Systems at Fish & Richardson, has been named a 2018 “Unsung Legal Hero,” by Minnesota Lawyer. The award recognizes the most talented and dedicated legal support professionals in Minnesota. Kasia Gonnerman MALIS ’03 was named Director of Vanderbilt University’s Central Library. Kasia came to Vanderbilt in April from St. Olaf College Libraries, where she served as head of research and instruction for the past decade. Scott Mehaffey MSOL ‘03 was appointed as the Executive Director of the Farnsworth House, a National Trust Historic Site located in Plano, IL. Scott assumed his new role on April 2. Scott has an impressive 30-year career history of public- and private sector leadership focused in the Chicago area. Dennis Johnson MLIS ’07 is a librarian for the School of Justice Studies at Rasmussen College. Emily Kofoid MLIS ’09 was hired as the Library Director at the Graves-Hume Public Library in Mendota, Minnesota. After college, Emily spent nine years at libraries in St. Charles, MN. Tracie Padal MLIS ’09 is the winner of the 2018 Grand Prize for Poetry from the TallGrass Writers Guild, a Chicago-based independent arts organization. This is the third time she has won the Grand Prize in Poetry from the TallGrass Writers Guild. J. Zachary Holt MLIS ’11 is the new Director of the Galesburg Public Library. For the last three years, he has served as the Director of the Forrest Public District Library.

Brennan School of Business

Roosevelt University, where she served for nearly 20 years in the human resources department, starting as Associate Director in 1998 and becoming Vice President in 2016. Christine Stannard MBA ’90 is the Vice President of Global Sales at Ocean Optics based in Largo, FL. Ocean Optics is a leading supplier of spectral solutions for optical sensing. Robert Zmudka MBA ’93 was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees. He had previously served on the Hall of Fame’s Advisory Board. Robert is the senior vice president and chief commercial officer of Rail North America, GATX Corporation.

School of Education Tara Kristoff MAT ’06 is the Principal of Lincoln School in Brookfield. Tara began her career as a lawyer. After having her first child in 2001, Tara stopped working as a lawyer, enrolled in a teaching program at Dominican University and earned her master’s degree and teaching certification in 2006. Adam Dufault MAT ’08, MAEA ’10 was appointed Episcopal Moderator of Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, April 30. A native of the Chicago area, Adam oversees the operations of 11 high schools and 42 elementary schools within the 23-county Diocese. Eve Ewing MAT ’09, creative scholar, delivered the Kenneth A. Spencer Lecture at the University of Kansas in January. Eve is a poet, visual artist, essayist, sociologist and educator based in Chicago.

Susan Fay MBA ’89 was named the Executive Director of Human Resources for the College of Lake County. She comes to CLC from

Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 33


scrapbook

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1. Colleen Seisser, ‘05 MLIS ’09, was elected to the Young Adult Library Services Association Board of Directors. 2. Jeanette Chavarria-Torres ‘15 was recently named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 20 in Their 20s. She is president and CEO of DCH Construction & Hauling, a company she started as a college senior.

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3. Matt Litewski ’07, wed Ashlie Giuffre ’09, MLIS ’11 in Oak Park on April 21, 2018. 4. Andrea Williams ‘08, was recognized by Northwestern Mutual-Chicago as Financial Advisor of the Year, and is the first African-American woman to be awarded Forum Membership, one of the company’s top honors. 5. Theresa Kaminski ’79 received the Eugene Katz Letters and Science Distinguished Faculty Award, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

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6. Ann Wach-Tomory ‘01, was honored with an “Award for Excellence” from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. 7. Dr. Susan Roman MALS ’76, Dean Emerita of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, at Dominican University, is the recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) 2018 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship.

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8. Lydia Colon Perera ‘73, a 20-year resident of Cusco, Peru, recently enjoyed a visit from some of her best friends from DU. 9. Johanna Chavez Barsotti ’02, Industry Strategist for Tribune Publishing, was presented with the 2018 Hispanic Heritage Award on October 12th. 8

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BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED. M AT T H E W 5:4

in sympathy Alumnae/i Helen Conway Forrest ’36 Caroline DiValerio DeVale ’37 Lorraine Halpin Cross ’41 Jane Wahle Murphy ’41 Patricia Keegan Dillon ’42 Rose Marie McIntosh Duffy ’42 Florence Szot ’42 (MHS) Sr. John Eudes Courtney, OP ’43 Ruth Hulburt Hamilton ’43 Catherine Salerno Smith ’44 Valerie Ryan Carlin ’45 Sr. Jeanne Crapo, OP ’46 + (FS) Betty Johnson Sine ’46 Joan Wilson Bramlette ’47 Yvonne DeGuire Clement ’47 Ann Urbanowski Conner ’47 Geraldine Morrissey Redmond ’47 Marialyce Matthews Riedle ’47 Mary Louise Burke Burns ’48 Josephine Capizzi Reif ’48 Carol Powers Blomquist ’49 Cycelia Truhan Hayka ’49 Jane Impens Shepstone ’49 Patricia Roney Huebner ’50 Naomi Feen Mitchell ’50 Geraldine Kolasa Colton ’52 Rose Mary Sullivan Fahey ’52 Patricia McNeal Roehl ’52 Joan Fogarty ’53 Angela Gabriel Guertin ’53 Adrienne Dembo Magnuson ’53 Patricia Fitzgerald Mooney ’54 Patricia Lorson Carnevale ’55 Nancy Hamilton Burke ’56 Joanne Geiger Ludwig ’60 Fr. Angelo Ossino MALS ’60 Doris Soper Slad ’60 Geraldine Lauerman Seaman ’61 Susan O’Hara ’62 Emily “Joy” Dougan Fiala ’63 Virginia Schroeder Collins ’64 Sr. Dolores M. Boemker, SND, MALS ’65 Thelma Volger Winchell ’65 Donna Anderson ’66 Jean Berkland Franklin ’68, MLIS ’98 Joan Parojcic MALS ’69 Raymond Schilling MALS ’71 Krystal Nitschke ’74 (MHS) Shirley Williams ’76 David Swinehart MALS ’78 Mary McCormick Dale ’79 Roger Burgess ’80 Barbara Francescon Foster ’80 Eileen P. Byrne ’83

Christopher Johnson ’83 Marion Miller ’83 Jacqueline Shaffer Silveri ’83 Gloria Alexa Van Dyke MSPED ’83 Judith Crowley MALIS ’84 Cynthia Wilson MFA ’85 Carolyn D. Brown ’86 Sr. Jacqueline Miller, SSA, MALIS ’91 Julaine Schueler MALIS ’91 Sharon Gross MALIS ’93 Mary Hagan Wajer MLIS ’95 Maureen McCarthy Gamboney MAT ’96 David Prak ’03 Susan Demaree MSW ’04 S. Randle England MLIS ’06 Robert Croston MAT ’10 Margret Wilson Sanders MLIS ’10 Anne Benfield Fuller MAT ’11

Family member of Thomas Abrahamson (T) Peter Alonzi* Amanda Bell ’16 Shannon Bell ’17 John Brennan ^ Mary Boyle Callow ’67 (T) Laura Dowdle ’73 Elizabeth Fischer ^ John Gearen ^ Paul Gearen ^ Samella Hargro* Felice Mooney Madda ’58 Kevin McCoyd (T) Nicole Reinhard Nayder ’16* Linda Moretti Ojemann ’56 Rita Seaman Pinkowski ’57 Agnes Tierney Prindiville ’50 Gregg Ragalie ’07, MBA ’11 Drew Rutz ’71 Cecilia Salvatore* Louis Scannicchio* Mary Sylvester Tate ’60 Jamie Wilson ’90, MBA ’96

Grandparent of Catherine Cavenagh ’10 Margaret Cavenagh ’15 Kayleen Fahey ’12 Nekesa Josey ’07 Joel Nayder ’01* Dana Nolan ’14 Brittany Scannicchio ’11 Lisanne Scannicchio ’10 Emily Tegenkamp ’09

Parent of Margaret Abu-Taleb ^ Jean Brennan (T) Sue DeVale Carter ’64 Lori Fisk-Conners ’85 Paul Darley (T) Peter Darley ’89 Stephen Darley ’82 Sarah Donnelly Dulay MLIS ’94 John Franklin MLIS ’04 Warren Green* Rose Guccione* Mary Guertin ’80 Michael Hattie ’80 Alice Heinze ’79 Peggy Horan ^ Margaret Guertin Kralicek ’83 Beth Logan* Felice Maciejewski* Mary-Rita Patricelli Moore ’83, MBA ’89 Barbara Sowa Nayder ’71 Frances Nolan* Cecelia Fahey Osborn ’81 Anthony Patricelli MBA ’82 Jenny Patricelli ’84 Adrienne Sowa Poole ’80 Kathleen Redmond* Alfred Rosenbloom* Mary Cavenagh Schlesser ’79, MSPED ’93 Elizabeth Sorce Seery ’94, MA ’01 Margaret Foy Shields ’79 Lisa Fisk Snyder ’91 John Sowa ’79, MBA ’86 Katherine Sowa-Beach ’74 Nelson Tillman* Anthony Trekas ^ Diana Trekas ’04 John Tsouchlos ^ Julie Zeller MLIS ’16*

Sibling of Joan Lauerman Alfredson ’56 Mary Ellen Morrissey Brouder ’59 Ian Cook ’14 Sandra Giannini ’65 Jerome Hargro* Nancy Cowel Hayden ’66 Phyllis Calabrese Heckmann ’47 Thomas Krickl ’79 Susan Kreuz McCoyd ’69 Linda McDonald* Linda Cowel McGuire ’69 Evelyn Ogiela ’59 Patricia Feen Olson ’51

Joanne Ragalie MBA ’16 Jeremy Royko ’17, MBA ’18 Catherine Krickl Rutz ’72 Mary Urbanowski Schulte ’49

Spouse of Janet Proteau Bonnike ’58 Mary Beth Chambers Carroll ’73 Madeline Kessler Cavenagh ’46 Frances Butler Darley MBA ’81 Jean Saunders Donnelly MALS ’81 Lynne McCracken Herbstritt ’63 Carol Anderson Kraus ’56 Erin Howard Prak ’04

University Friends Lerone Bennett Jr. ^ Maidel Cason ^ William J. Darley + Barbara Furlong ^ Roberta Hughes ^ Roger T. Hughes + Robert F. McDavid ^ (MHS) Sr. Mary O’Donnell, OP (FS) Egidio “Gene” Silveri ^ James Sorce ^ Jean Sowa ^ Louis “Rocky” Trekas ^ Note: This list reflects deaths reported to the Office of Alumnae/I Relations between February 1, 2018 and July 31, 2018. Please call (708) 524-6286 regarding omissions or discrepancies. The Mazzuchelli Heritage Society recognizes and honors the alumnae/I and friends of Dominican who have provided for the university through their estate plans. If you have included Dominican in your estate plans or would like more information, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at (708) 524-6283 or giftplanning@dom.edu. +

Former Trustee

(T)

Current Trustee

*

Staff/Faculty member

**

Student

^

Friend

(FS)

Founding Sister

(MHS) Mazzuchelli Heritage Society (NGA)

Non-graduating Alumna

Dominican Magazine FALL 2018 35


For a full schedule, go to events.dom.edu

Lula Washington Dance Theatre

Diane Kennedy, OP Lecture and Dinner “Samuel Mazzuchelli, Rose Hawthorne and the Search for an American Saint” Kathleen Sprows Cummings, PhD Wednesday, January 30, 2019 5:00 p.m. Shaffer Silveri Atrium Parmer Hall, Main Campus

The President’s Holiday Concert Judy Collins: Holidays and Hits Saturday, December 1, 2018 7:30 p.m. Lund Auditorium Judy Collins brings her silvery soprano back to Dominican for a performance of songs of the season as well as her greatest hits. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has been a star for five decades.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre Saturday, January 19, 2019 7:30 p.m. Lund Auditorium One of the nation’s most admired African-American contemporary dance companies. Innovative and provocative choreographer Lula Washington uses dance to explore social and humanitarian issues, including aspects of African-American history and culture.

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Dominican Magazine FALL 2018

Dr. Cummings will discuss the lives and after-lives of two Dominican candidates for sainthood, including the priest who is honored as the founder of Dominican University. Mazzuchelli and Hawthorne, she believes, may well be the saints our nation needs today.

Mother Courage and Her Children By Bertolt Brecht February 21–24, 2019 Thursday preview 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sunday 3:00 p.m. Martin Recital Hall The play follows the itinerant trader Mother Courage as she pulls her children and wagon of wares through the carnage of Europe’s religious wars. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest anti-war plays ever written and as Brecht’s masterpiece.

Carrie Newcomer and Over the Rhine

Friday, March 22, 2019 7:00 p.m. Lund Auditorium A sociologist of education, Eve Ewing is the author of Electric Arches, which was honored by the American Library Association and the Poetry Society of America and was named one of the year’s best books by NPR and the Chicago Tribune. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Atlantic and many other prestigious publications.

St. Catherine of Siena Lecture “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship” Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ

Saturday, February 9, 2019 7:30 p.m. Lund Auditorium Acclaimed for her rich alto and exquisite melodies, singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer is joined by folk band Over the Rhine, whose mix of lyrical eloquence, emotional nuance and melodic soulfulness have earned them a passionate fan base and critical acclaim.

The 6th Annual Caesar and Patricia Tabet Poetry Reading Eve Ewing

39th Annual Trustee Benefit Concert and Gala Under the Streetlamp Saturday, March 9, 2019 5:00 p.m. Lund Auditorium Under the Streetlamp delivers tight harmonies and slick dance moves for an electrifying evening of old time Rock ‘n’ Roll. This signature event raises student scholarship support, celebrates world-class artists and honors champions of the performing arts in Greater Chicago.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 7:00 p.m. Lund Auditorium The founder of Homeboy Industries, Father Boyle will share how compassion, kindness and kinship are tools to fight despair and decrease marginalization. Through his stories and parables, he reminds us that no life is less valuable than any other.


With $65 million raised to date, Powerful Promise is the most successful fundraising campaign in Dominican’s 117-year history. The impact of the campaign already can be felt in so many ways, from academic innovations to capital improvements to scholarship support for a rising generation of deserving students. The campaign ends on June 30, 2019. Don’t be left out of this historic effort. Help Dominican become an even more vital force for good—for our students, our society and the world. Become a proud donor to Powerful Promise today.

IT ALL ADDS UP Almost 9,000 donors More than $65 million in gifts and pledges received More than $10 million in operating support raised, including the Annual Fund for Dominican More than 60 new endowed scholarships created An endowed faculty chair and two distinguished professorships established The Borra College of Health Sciences founded Please use the envelope in this magazine or give online at dom.edu/give or call THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT (708) 524-6283


Where Learning Demands More 7900 W. Division Street River Forest, Illinois 60305 dom.edu

OUR MISSION

As a Sinsinawa Dominican–sponsored institution, Dominican University prepares students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.

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