U N I V E R S I T Y
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F R A N C I S
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI A W A R D S
PRESIDENTIAL ALUMNI AWARD
Julie McCabe-Sterr '75 (B.A. Social Work)
Retired President & Chief Technology Officer at
Problem Solving Court Coordinator at the Office of the
Empowerment Associates, LLC
Will County State's Attorney
Cheryl Stepney obtained bachelor’s degrees in History and English and a minor in Education. She went on to work at large firms in Chicago and then obtained a Computer Science degree from Roosevelt University and became one of the first female pioneers in the technology industry. Her employer, AT&T, sponsored her in the Executive MBA Program of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. After filling multiple roles at AT&T, she came across a small, 25-person firm in California and accepted the position of chief trainer. Moving from one million employees at AT&T to a startup proved challenging but paid off in stock option investments. That small firm was Oracle Corporation, which grew to over 40,000 employees by the time Cheryl was recruited to move to Minnesota for another startup opportunity. She had implemented a sound methodology for delivering database applications to business. She was hiring manager to over 10,000 consultants. She had started Oracle University, a profit center certifying customers had the knowledge to build the same systems the consultants could build. And, she did product management for a suite of tools to automatically build systems, the earliest Machine Learning capabilities. Upon moving to Minnesota to become the vice president of professional services for Macromedia, she leveraged her abilities to design database-enabled computer learning systems for large companies. Having been on the leading edge of technology for over 20 years, she then established her own consulting company, Empowerment Associates, for the next 20 years. Empowerment created systems that would reward individuals and teams with tangible data points on which their salaries could be derived. Clients included some of the largest firms in finance, health care and package delivery logistics. Empowerment became a data warehouse and business intelligence company known internationally from Europe, to the U.K. to South Africa. Stepney sold Empowerment to Microsoft Corporation and held positions on the Database Team as a power business intelligence consultant. Rounding out her 50-year career, Cheryl continued to do consulting until her retirement in 2020. She has been a dedicated volunteer throughout her career years for Loaves & Fishes, creating the Girl Scout Technology Badge, March of Dimes, and leading the 300 Minnesota volunteers teaching Safe Driving through AARP for nine years. She served two terms on the Board of Trustees for the University of St. Francis, which Stepney has included in her legacy gifting plans.
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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ALUMNI AWARD
Cheryl (Schroeder) Stepney ‘70 (B.A. History)
Engaging Mind & Spirit Magazine
After obtaining her B.A. in Social Work, Julie McCabeSterr began her career working with emotionally disturbed children in Virginia and California. Returning home to Illinois, she worked with the Franciscans at the Center for Correctional Concerns in the Will County Adult Detention Facility from 1989 to 2004. In 2004, Julie joined the Office of James W. Glasgow, Will County State’s Attorney, as drug court coordinator, which allowed her to bring together her passion for working with the criminal justice involved population and her compassion in helping those less fortunate. Using her aptitude for leadership, strategic thinking and program creativity, she worked with State’s Attorney Glasgow and the community to expand the Drug Court into the Will County Problem Solving Courts, a program that is relevant, sustainable and effective. In fact, Will County is the only Problem Solving Court in the nation to have both a women’s and men’s sober living residence and an apartment building for transitional housing. During her career, Julie relies on her Franciscan values, recognizing the unique dignity and needs of each individual and their family. For instance, as part of the programming for the Problem Solving Courts, Julie developed and works collaboratively with the University of St. Francis on a reading project for inmates’ children, day programming and internship opportunities. A three-time cancer survivor, Julie has spent the last 20 years volunteering with the American Cancer Society by serving in leadership roles for the Relay For Life of Joliet, as well as community outreach for those suffering with cancer. Besides spending time with her children and grandchildren, in her spare time, Julie loves to garden, swim, and hike the national parks with her husband.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & HEALTH ADMINISTRATION AWARD Teresa Andrea '15 (M.S. Health Administration) Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Silver Cross Hospital
Teresa Andrea is currently the vice president and chief information officer at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois. Teresa received her B.S. in Nursing from Bradley University, and then received an M.S. in Health Administration from University of St. Francis. With a strong technology background and diverse clinical roots, Andrea offers a futuristic and adaptive perspective as people, process and technology are connected. Her experience in multiple roles has allowed her the ability to problem solve through various perspectives. Known for her transformational and innovative approach, she has
