Dominican Magazine - Spring 2024

FOND OF FRIBOURG Alumnae recall life-changing experiences from university’s inaugural study abroad program. AUTHORING LASTING LEGACIES Social work students help local elders pen personalized memoirs. AMPLIFYING CREATIVITY Crown Library’s WeatherTech Innovation Lab and Recording Studio carry out Dominican’s forward-thinking legacy. Dominican SPRING 2024 MAGAZINE

Human rights activist Ayǫ Tometi hugs a student during her visit to campus in February as the keynote speaker for Black History Month. PRESIDENT Glena G. Temple VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Sara Acosta ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND BRAND INTEGRATION Stephanie Kubas MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Johnson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Martin Carlino Natalie Rodriguez MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY Ryan Pagelow DESIGN | ILLUSTRATION Fran Gregory Raul Ramirez CONTRIBUTORS Mark Carbonara Sararose LaGreca Viviana Blanco DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY 7900 W. Division Street River Forest, Illinois [email protected] 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. © 2024 Dominican University SPRING 2024 MAGAZINE Dominican

IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY IGNITING INNOVATION Crown Library enhances the WeatherTech Innovation Lab and Recording Studio’s connections to the classroom. FEATURES INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING Social work graduate students and community elders came together last summer for a guided autobiography project. MEMORIES OF FRIBOURG A reunion for alumnae of DU’s Swiss study abroad program sparks refl ections of lifechanging travel and learning. DEPARTMENTS President’s Letter .............................................................. 2 DUNews Student Researchers Attend Neuroscience Conference ........................................................................ 3 Prayer and Meditation Space Renovated ........... 3 Workforce Development Focus of Chicago Campus ............................................................. 4 Students Reach Out to Migrant Community .... 4 Psychology Department Marks 50 Years ............ 5 Emmaus Ecology Aims to Grow Church Leadership ....................................................... 6 Digital Navigators Help Advance IT Goals ........ 7 Heating, Air Upgrades Coming to Residence Halls ............................................................... 7 DUSports Q&A with Athletics Director Dr. John Planek ..... 8 New Window and Wall Graphics for Igini ............ 9 Faculty Focus ........................................................................ 19 Class News ............................................................................. 21 In Sympathy .......................................................................... 32 10 14 16

Inspired by these Sisters who came before us, we, too, are building something new— something vital—that will ensure access to education for entirely new groups of students with dreams for a better future. “ ” I It’s hard to believe, but in just a few short months we will be welcoming students to our new Chicago Campus. As I refl ect on this future date, I can’t help but naturally think about the past. Th is new chapter is the evolution of the legacy of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Th ey laid the framework for St. Clara College to open its doors in 1901 and then, led by the vision and determination of Mother Samuel Coughlin, made Rosary College a reality in River Forest two decades later. Th ey saw their eff orts to create new academic institutions take root and were energized by the anticipation of providing students access to these new opportunities. Inspired by these Sisters who came before us, we, too, are building something new—something vital—that will ensure access to education for entirely new groups of students with dreams for a better future. It’s a time of conscientious work and careful decision-making—and one of great excitement and hope. It’s inspiring to think that, in this way, the Sisters’ experiences were not unlike our own. It makes me feel even more connected to their legacy. And it’s a full-circle moment for our community, too. In this issue of Dominican Magazine, you’ll see the past, present and future connect in interesting ways as well. Like alumnae from our very fi rst—and much treasured—study abroad program in Fribourg, Switzerland, who, after gathering for a reunion last fall, shared memories of their time at the Villa des Fougéres. As they look back, we are focused on modern opportunities for academic study-abroad experiences, which I believe would make the founders of Fribourg well-pleased. Alumnae/i also returned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Department of Psychology. Our own Dr. Dan Beach has been with us for 49 of those 50 years, seeing—and contributing to—change and growth fi rsthand. What a remarkable achievement! Th e past was on the minds of gracious volunteers who dug deep to share stories of their lives with our graduate social work students. Th is guided autobiography project gave students the experience of working with older adults and gave the volunteers a chance to document some of their life stories to leave for future generations. It’s a project I believe all of us should consider taking part in with our loved ones. As you look through this issue, you may, inevitably, think back to your days at Rosary College or Dominican University and recall the people and experiences that formed the foundation of your own future. I hope you will consider sharing some of these memories with us in your correspondence and in your own personal refl ections as well. Th ey are all an integral part of our legacy. Glena G. Temple, President Looking Ahead and Connecting to Our Past From the President 2 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Seven student researchers from Dominican University were joined by Professors Bob and Irina Calin-Jageman, far right, for the 2023 Society for Neuroscience annual conference in Washington, D.C. Interfaith Chaplain Nora Zaki Mantas, left, shows students new wudu stations installed in Mazzuchelli Hall’s contemplation space. Largest Group of Slug Lab Researchers Attend International Neuroscience Conference INSIGHTS GAINED FROM THE MEMORY OF SEA SLUGS CONTINUE TO DRIVE DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS In November, seven student researchers attended the 2023 Society for Neuroscience annual conference in Washington, D.C., to present memory research conducted with Aplysia californica—a type of sea slug—in Dominican’s Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, more commonly known as the Slug Lab. It was the largest Dominican cohort to attend the conference to date. Bryan Gonzalez Delgadillo, Elise Gamino, Anna Kurkowski, Nelly Musajeva, Leslie Valdez and Diana Wittrock explored whether forgetting is an active process that can be manipulated pharmacologically, while Zayra Juarez, Theresa Wilsterman and Jashui Zárate Torres examined if sustaining memories over long periods requires changes in gene expression. The students were accompanied by Drs. Bob and Irina CalinJageman, who oversee the Slug Lab. “Presenting at the Society for Neuroscience meeting gave DU students a chance to share their research results with an international neuroscience community,” Bob Calin-Jageman said, noting that 30,000 people attended the event over fi ve days. “For these junior scientists, this helped them fully realize all their hard work and see their science as part of the ongoing conversation about learning and memory and how it works in the brain.” Valdez, a senior neurobiology major interested in clinical research, said sharing her lab fi ndings with experts in their fi elds was “exhilarating.” “It was nice meeting people who share the same interest as me and to explore other areas of neuroscience,” she said. Prayer and Meditation Space, Open to All Faith Traditions and Worldviews, Undergoes Renovations A contemplation space for Dominican students, faculty and staff of varied faith traditions and beliefs underwent renovations this semester. Soundproofi ng, an accessible restroom and hallway, and aesthetic improvements were all part of upgrades to the space for interfaith prayer and meditation, located on the second fl oor of Mazzuchelli Hall near Rosary Chapel. Also added were wudu stations for the Islamic practice of ablution before prayer, and builtin storage for shoes. The intention behind the changes is to make the space more welcoming to all within the university community and to cultivate the Dominican commitment to contemplation, said Tara Segal, assistant vice president and co-interim vice president for Mission and Ministry. “Very often in Mission and Ministry we talk about the fact that because Dominican is a Catholic and Sinsinawa Dominican institution, everyone is welcome. It is our work to make sure Dominican is a home for everyone,” she said. DUNEWS SPRING 2024 | 3

Dominican University’s Chicago Campus in Pilsen is scheduled to welcome its fi rst students this August. Volunteers from Dominican University served “Friendsgiving” meals to nearly 200 migrants outside a Chicago police station in the North Lawndale community last November. New Chicago Campus to Focus on Workforce Development, Job Readiness Work is moving forward on Dominican University’s Chicago Campus in Pilsen, which is scheduled to welcome its fi rst cohort of associate degree students this August. Workforce development and job readiness are at the heart of this new pathway with concentrations in high-demand fi elds of cybersecurity, certifi ed nursing assistant, legal studies, and translation and interpretation embedded in the curriculum of the new liberal arts associate degree program. “The two-year curriculum to be offered at the Chicago Campus is a carefully selected group of pre-existing courses already in implementation at the River Forest campus,” explained professor Dr. Gema Ortega. “We will create an environment of Caritas and Veritas in which students will have the space to grow as they join today’s workforce or transfer to River Forest to continue their studies after completing their associate degree.” Using the “city as a campus,” students will have opportunities for handson learning and professional networking outside the classroom in the greater community. Partnerships with industries and organizations throughout the city will allow students to explore key subject matter in their courses in an immersive way. In addition to an associate degree, the Chicago Campus will offer credit and non-credit workforce development certifi cates, adult degree completion programs and select graduate programs. The new campus harkens back to the turn of the 20th century when the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters moved their college from Wisconsin to River Forest, leaders say. “The history of who we are has always involved serving and providing educational access to historically marginalized communities,” said Dr. Barrington Price, chief executive offi cer of the Chicago Campus. “To me, this is the present-day way of doing that. We’re not moving out of the state, but we are moving into the city of Chicago to serve a population who are marginalized in terms of opportunities that can create mobility.” A Mission of Service STUDENTS INITIATE OUTREACH TO MIGRANT COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO Dominican University’s mission of encouraging compassionate service resonated this year with students who volunteered to help members of Chicago’s migrant community. In November, when students Eddie Rivera Burgos and Vanessa Bello Hernandez learned about a nonprofi t organization’s plans for a “Friendsgiving” meal to unhoused, newly arrived migrants, they wanted to be involved. With help from the Community Action Network, a project created by St. Catherine Medal recipient Grettel Gomez Reyes to pair students with volunteer opportunities, 15 students signed up to serve meals to 193 people outside police headquarters in North Lawndale. The food was provided by the nonprofi t organization Divinely Orchestrated. “What Dominican has instilled in us is that when there’s a calling, be ready to go out and serve,” Rivera Burgos said. That same month, 10 Mazzuchelli Honors Program scholars held a food drive and helped stock the pantry of New Hope Bible Church, which was helping feed newly arrived migrants, and local residents in need, in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood. The effort was organized by Mazzuchelli Scholar Nelly Musajeva. “Being in the service of others allows us to fi nd ourselves—and fi nd true purpose and fulfi llment in our life—all while performing our moral duty,” she said. 4 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: NEWS DUNEWS

Psychology Professors Dr. Dan Beach, left, Dr. Tina Taylor-Ritzler, and Dr. Bob Calin-Jageman each addressed the crowd gathered for the Department of Psychology’s 50th anniversary in September. Alumnae/i and current students came together in Parmer Hall to mark the 50th anniversary of Dominican University’s Department of Psychology and reconnect with past professors. Honoring 50 Years of Excellence DOMINICAN’S PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY Homecoming weekend served as the perfect backdrop for alumnae/i, faculty and current students alike to gather and celebrate 50 years of psychology at Dominican University. The event, held last September in Parmer Hall and organized by the Department of Psychology and the Offi ce of University Advancement, drew a crowd of about 120 people, roughly 80 of them former students from across the decades. The evening included opportunities to share memories and tour the psychology classrooms and research labs inside Parmer Hall. Colorful decorations and blue balloons added a festive feel. Dr. Tina Taylor-Ritzler, Department of Psychology chair, called the night “truly magical.” “We really wanted to celebrate our ‘birthday’ with our alumni who, together, made this program what it is,” she said. “This isn’t just faculty-driven. We’re a relationship-centered university and the success of the psychology program is in relation to the success of the students.” The psychology program was established in 1973 through the efforts of Sr. Maristella Goebel, OP. A professor and Rosary College “powerhouse,” Goebel had fostered an interest among students wanting the discipline offered as a major, said Dr. Dan Beach, a Dominican professor for the last 49 years. Once established, the program grew quickly, according to Beach. “We went from a new major to one of the most popular majors on campus,” he said. “By the middle of the 1980s, we were the number one major among women on campus.” In the early 2000s, when Parmer Hall was under development, Beach aided in the design of spaces that would accommodate continued growth in the program and much-needed research labs. Today, psychology continues to draw an ever-increasing number of students. Currently, around 240 students have declared psychology as their major, Beach said. “Not only did we become attractive to a larger number of students, but because of the facilities, we have been able to hire outstanding faculty we wouldn’t have been able to attract without our research labs,” he explained. “The psychology department sets a standard now for excellence in arts and sciences.” Dr. Janine Goldstein ’83, a student during the early years of growth, attended the 50th anniversary event. Seeing the new classrooms and labs up close in Parmer was a great experience, she said, and hearing Beach speak before the crowd was like being back in his class. “I’m truly grateful because if I had not gone to Rosary for undergrad, I wouldn’t be a clinical psychologist today. I’m thoroughly convinced of that,” Goldstein shared. “Having the support and encouragement of the core faculty was something that was invaluable to me.” The 15th anniversary of Dominican’s neuroscience department was also marked during September’s event, as the two departments are interdisciplinary. “It was a celebration of the best of what Dominican is and the care that we provide for students,” Taylor-Ritzler noted.

Dominican University’s Emmaus Ecology initiative aims to grow church involvement and leadership. A Time of Revival NEW EMMAUS ECOLOGY PROGRAM AIMS TO GROW YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT INVOLVEMENT IN PARISHES In a time of challenge for many Catholic congregations, Dominican University is embracing opportunities for revival. Thanks to a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, Dominican’s Offi ce of University Ministry and its Theology and Education Departments have launched Emmaus Ecology, a program aimed at reaching—and igniting the spirits of—youth and young adults. The name Emmaus comes from the town in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus appears to two of his disciples after his resurrection. “Emmaus is a story of disillusioned disciples as they walk away from the Church, a story which mirrors the lived experience of so many young people today,” said Dr. Clodagh Weldon, professor of theology and co-interim vice president of Mission and Ministry at Dominican University. “But it is also a story of encounter and accompaniment, a story of the risen Jesus who dares to ask them, ‘What are you talking about?’ That is ultimately what this project is all about.” Emmaus Ecology goes beyond the walls of Dominican with its outreach to parish communities near the River Forest campus, as well as in Little Village and Pilsen, where the new Chicago Campus is being developed. The goal? More church involvement and leadership among young people, allowing their voices to be heard. “Ultimately, we envision a robust ecosystem where youth-facing practitioners and congregations have the skills, resources, and confi dence to effectively accompany young people throughout their faith journeys,” said Tara Segal, assistant vice president and co-interim vice president for Mission and Ministry at Dominican University. In partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago, the program will: • Create and invest in youth ministry “hubs” that coordinate activities like retreats, peer leadership and worship nights. • Increase professional development opportunities for Catholic school teachers. • Convene small groups of pastors and parish staff to discuss challenges, brainstorm new ideas for their parishes and refl ect on their roles and practices. “The ultimate goal of this is to help the parishes become more youth-centric,” explained Elizabeth Young, advancement and communications coordinator for Mission and Ministry. “This grant will allow us to create intentional spaces for professional ministers to explore the minds and hearts of the young people they serve and to contemplate creatively— together—the future of youth ministry and leadership in their congregations.” 6 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: NEWS DUNEWS

Digital navigators meet to discuss options for improving student experience with technology on campus. Student Interns, Software Literacy Courses Advance IT Goals at DU A technology “think tank” and opportunities to become software savvy are two initiatives underway at Dominican University thanks to last year’s grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In addition to funding extensive information technology upgrades and improving access across campus, the $2.5 million grant, provided through the federal Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, established the digital navigators internship and digital literacy program. Digital navigators are nine paid student interns with technology and business interests who examine the university’s technology offerings and provide feedback and insight to IT department leaders on ways to improve security, accessibility and student experience. They also crafted instructions to students for setting up multi-factor authentication to protect accounts and devices, and they surveyed students on the technology they would like to see on campus. “They have become my litmus test,” said Dr. Todd Kleine MBA ’11, Dominican’s chief information offi cer. “I can go to the group and say, ‘We’re thinking about doing this. What do you think?’ They give very honest and blunt feedback—and that’s been really valuable.” Ideally, the internship will give students the opportunity to use the knowledge they acquire in the classroom in real-life scenarios, preparing them for the workplace. “What I’ve learned from the internship so far is teamwork, management, some miscellaneous software usage and, most importantly, the ability to confi dently present in a professional setting,” said digital intern Michael Pawlowski, a senior economics major. The Digital Literacy program offers courses to students, faculty and staff who wish to boost their proficiency in a variety of software and obtain professional certification in each at no cost. This can enhance employment opportunities, said Okie Inweh, technology education coordinator. Spring classes focused on Microsoft Offi ce 365, Python, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, with sessions meeting weekly for seven to nine weeks. “Because technology is constantly evolving, we have to evolve with the times and supplement our curriculum,” Inweh said. “That’s not a bad thing. It’s not taking away from classes—it adds to the value.” On March 4, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois visited Dominican University to learn more about these two initiatives and meet with the digital navigators. The meeting took place in a Lewis Hall classroom that received technology upgrades thanks to funding from the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program grant. State Grant to Fund Residence Hall Heating and Air Upgrades Much-needed heating and air conditioning upgrades are on the horizon for DU residence halls. A grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Independent College Capital Improvement initiative will provide Dominican with $7.5 million for infrastructure upgrades. The grant will be used to convert the HVAC system in Power and Coughlin Halls from steam heat to modern, energy-effi cient heating and air conditioning, according to university offi cials. Preparation work is already underway, with the fi rst phase of the conversion slated for this summer. SPRING 2024 | 7

Dr. John Planek, second from right, is joined by (from left) Trinity High School Director of Athletics Ken Trendel, Trinity President Laura Curley, and Fenwick High School Director of Athletics Scott Thies during a Trinity-Fenwick girls basketball game held in January in Dominican University’s Igini Sports Forum. New Athletics Director Dr. John Planek Shares Game Plan for Enhancing DU Sports An award-winning athletic administrator with strong ties to the Dominican mission is Dominican University’s new director of intercollegiate athletics. Dr. John Planek joined the university last fall with decades of experience behind him, including previous leadership roles at DePaul University, Loyola University of Chicago and St. Ignatius College Prep. Planek recently sat down with Dominican Magazine to discuss his goals for DU athletics. Q. When you arrived, you had a vision of the athletics department enjoying the same excellence and growth that the university is currently experiencing. What are some initiatives you have planned to begin accomplishing this? A. The University has enhanced its enrollment in recent years and I think that our athletic department can provide opportunities for students to have a quality athletic experience during their time on our campus. I think that any initiatives that we start will be those that help strengthen the university and its mission. We plan to enhance our cross country and running programs by adding track to our offerings. We also will be studying the feasibility of adding additional athletic opportunities based upon student interest. Additionally, we will look to establish partnerships in and around our campus. We recently hosted an all-Dominican girl’s high school basketball game between Fenwick and Trinity High Schools, which was very well-received. We hosted the River Forest Park District’s grammar school basketball championships, as we have recently partnered with them, and we look to study some additional partnerships with Oak Park and River Forest High School, Concordia University and Fenwick High School related to facility sharing. On campus, we initiated a True Blue Friday spirit apparel wearing day. We wanted to have a common experience for faculty, staff and students that could be a symbolic way for promoting the university colors and athletics. This initiative has been really well received. The winners each week have expressed their enthusiasm and have been really excited about being a True Blue winner. Q. What are some key goals for yourself and the athletics department? A. I think that key goals for the department would be athletic success across all programs. In addition to that, high rates of student retention with healthy rosters on all teams. Hopefully, high rates of retention of quality students will translate to increased graduation rates and student success. Q. You’ve been a resident of neighboring Oak Park and the surrounding Dominican University community for decades and you’re also deeply connected to our Dominican mission as a fully professed Lay Dominican. What does it mean to you to step into a role that is so close to home? How does being a Lay Dominican uniquely qualify you to serve in this role? A. Quite literally it means I will be driving less to get to work! I think if you can have any opportunity to work close to home, it is obviously benefi cial. As it relates to the Dominican mission, I don’t think that you need to be a Lay Dominican to serve in this capacity, but I certainly fi nd it benefi cial to have a very deep understanding of St. Dominic and his original formation of the order that founded this institution. From that aspect, I would think that I have a deeper understanding and basis of what it means to be Dominican: the integration of prayer, study, community and preaching into one’s life. Q. Fans of Dominican athletics are always eager for exciting initiatives or potential updates/changes on the horizon. With an eye toward the future, what are some new ideas, updates or plans you can share with Stars fans about what’s ahead? A. We just hired a new women’s volleyball coach, a new head cross country and track coach, and a new head women’s basketball coach. We expect these hires will have a signifi cant and immediate impact on the quality of these programs. Q. What is your personal experience as a student athlete and how do you feel your prior associations with athletics have shaped your life to this point? A. I participated in basketball and baseball at Fenwick and played baseball at Illinois Tech. I also have coached baseball and basketball at the high school and youth level, and I offi ciated baseball and softball at the high school, collegiate, 8 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: SPORTS NEWS DUSPORTS

youth and recreation level for many years. These experiences, along with my decades of being an athletic director, have shaped my career to this point. I really enjoyed competing in athletics and the excitement that it brings. I enjoy seeing athletes grow as competitors and succeed by working hard to develop their skills. Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Dominican community? A. I want people to say with confidence that the Division III program at Dominican University is a quality one across all offerings. We have work to do to ensure that is a true statement. Sporting a New Look DOMINICAN’S IGINI SPORTS FORUM SCORES UPDATED EXTERIOR WITH FRESH WALL AND WINDOW GRAPHICS, NEW CONCESSIONS AREA SPRING 2024 | 9

WeatherTech Innovation Lab, Recording Studio Off er DU Community New Pathways to Discovery For generations of students, Dominican University has long been a gateway to exploration and learning. Guided by Rosary College’s progressive history of cutting-edge research spaces, students who call Dominican home have routinely unearthed new avenues to pursue their passions in innovative ways. Today, healthcare simulation labs, modern art studios and state-of-the-art spaces adorn campus, allowing students unique opportunities to connect their academic goals and creative interests. Dominican’s WeatherTech Innovation Lab and Recording Studio, born out of the creation of the Learning Commons, are two of the latest spaces continuing this forward-thinking history. The WeatherTech Innovation Lab (WIL) was made possible through a generous donation from David MacNeil, founder and CEO of Bolingbrook-based WeatherTech. The WIL serves as a resource for students to experiment with new ideas using a variety of technology. Students use state-of-the-art 3D printers to design digital objects on a computer and then watch them come to life. Beyond the printers, sewing and embroidery machines help students discover a talent for fashion design, while a drone allows students to experiment with video and photography high above campus. An augmented reality cube teaches STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts by turning everyday objects into virtual 3D images that students can closely examine through their phone. Meanwhile, in the Recording Studio, students learn how to leverage new software and recording equipment to create and edit podcasts for course projects, produce their own original music, and make short videos using a green screen. Three years in, the spaces, with their emerging technologies, have steadily become focal points of creativity, innovation and hands-on learning—the evolution of more than a century of Dominican University meeting the needs of students to elevate their futures. IGNITING THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION WeatherTech Innovation Lab, Recording Studio IGNITING THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION 10 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: IGNITING INNOVATION

Junior Isabela Flores enjoys a moment in the Dominican University Recording Studio where she created Spanishlanguage podcasts for course projects. Advancing Skills for the Workplace Undergraduate students are looking to the WIL to take their academic endeavors to the next level. Student Pablo Cesar Bedolla Ortiz and his team used one of the space’s 3D printers this semester to print prototypes of a plastic lithium battery container for a device they are building that will be capable of collecting data from the surface of the moon. The project is funded through NASA’s Minority University Research Program (MUREP) Innovative New Designs for Space, also known as NASA MINDS. It encourages students to think about scientifi c projects that could potentially be used in the Artemis moon exploration program. For Bedolla Ortiz, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering and mathematics, this was his fi rst time learning to use a 3D printer and 3D modeling. “Being able to use the lab—and just knowing we have an innovation lab with 3D printers at Dominican—opened up a whole new range of options for us,” he said. “In the future, if we want to make gears or rotating systems for devices, the 3D printer will be the best option.” For graduate students studying library and information science, the WIL also serves as hands-on job preparation. As one of the fi rst student workers in the lab, Alex Lorenz ’19, MLIS ’23, learned how to troubleshoot the 3D printers, and planned programming—important skills in a professional library setting. He also worked closely with students who used the lab’s portable sound recording equipment to make a documentary fi lm for a class, helped business students design a logo for marketing the WIL, and hosted creative workshops for university clubs. Lorenz also used the lab’s camera drone to capture images of Lewis Hall, which he then used to turn into a plastic model using one of the 3D printers. The model was featured on fl yers that promoted the WIL. “Mentorship and helping people brainstorm and workshop their ideas for things they wanted to make was always a rewarding experience for me,” Lorenz said. When Lorenz created an online 3D printing resource guide for lab users, it was noticed beyond Dominican. The Lyndhurst STEM Club for girls in New Jersey ended up using the guide for their school’s beginner 3D printing program. In a note, teacher Denise Goodwin thanked Lorenz for the guide’s “treasure trove of information for the girls to learn from.” “That’s still one of my proudest moments,” said Lorenz, who now works for Chicago’s Newberry Library. “It was nice to have an effect outside Dominican and give other groups resources I felt were important.” SPRING 2024 | 11

First-year student Allison Cruz navigates a 3D printing Dominican University’s Rebecca Crown Library. Fashion design major Azulo Cazares, left, and fi rst-year student Jorge Aguilar pose for a photo in front of the green screen available in the Recording Studio while donning garments from Cazares’ senior collection, which was displayed during the university’s annual fashion show. Podcasts and (Educational) Parody The popularity of podcasts has made the Recording Studio a sought-after space for student projects. The studio was incorporated into some Critical Reading, Writing and Speaking courses last fall. Adjunct Professor Megan Chesney developed the “Power of Language Podcast” and assigned students to create a podcast of their choosing using the studio’s recording equipment and editing technology. Themes included a discussion on the use of Latinx as an identifi er of people of Latin American descent; the power of positive affi rmations; a discussion among nursing students about language barriers in the medical fi eld; and using music to spread awareness of Indigenous languages, among other topics. This “alternative to an essay” allowed students to practice both writing and speaking skills, Chesney noted. “I think there’s so much potential,” she said of the studio’s use for classroom work. “At Dominican, we have a lot of students who know at least a little bit of Indigenous languages, and having the recording studio is a great way to record some of those languages and teach other students about them. I think there’s a lot of possibilities to add to the educational environment.” During the fall semester, students in Dr. Clodagh Weldon’s honors course Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? wrote and recorded a parody of The Twelve Days of Christmas called The Twelve Books of BK, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, the course’s core text. “I helped them record that in a very We Are the World style,” said Phil Skurski MLIS ’22, the new user experience librarian. “I’m sure that plenty of those students are going to remember a lot more about the Brothers K than if they hadn’t had to sing the song they wrote about it!” Isabela Flores, a junior majoring in mathematics and Spanish, admits she knew little about creating a podcast when she learned her Introduction to Spanish America course required one for the fi nal project. At the advice of Brisa Ruiz ’23, Flores reached out to the Recording Studio and became trained and certifi ed in using the equipment, including Audacy, a platform frequently used for publishing a podcast. Ruiz learned how to use the technology when she created a series of Spanish and English-language podcasts for her Mazzuchelli Honors Program practicum during her senior year. She conducted a series of interviews with students, exploring topics important to the Latine community on campus, like identity, immigration and the experience of being fi rst-generation college students. Flores herself went on to create three podcasts, each in Spanish, for three different courses. One explored U.S.-Latin America politics in the 1970s, another analyzed how college students can combat burnout, and the third featured an interview with her uncle, a mechanical engineer. “My experience with the recording studio keeps growing and growing—not just because of the wonderful equipment they have, but the effort I put into it,” Flores said. “I now have a goal in mind of creating a podcast with my mom. She has a very unique take on life and I’d like the world to hear it.” 12 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: IGNITING INNOVATION

Tiny, plastic calaveras were printed and painted by students in the WeatherTech Innovation Lab to mark Día de los Muertos in 2021. The project also taught students about the tradition behind the holiday. program in the WeatherTech Innovation Lab inside Cultivating Cultural Connectivity True to the vision of the Sinsinawa Sisters, the WIL connects students from all backgrounds. As an HispanicServing Institution, cultural events are a key part of this tradition, and the WIL offers ways to connect celebration and hands-on learning with technology during these important occasions. In 2021, students put forward a creative twist on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, when they made customized calaveras, the colorful skulls that adorn altars, with the lab’s 3D printer, rather than utilizing the traditional means of sugar. The initiative, using the new innovative technology, also taught the students about the Mexican tradition and the symbols associated with it. It even made its way to a conference of library professionals in Mexico City last year, where representatives of Rebecca Crown Library presented the project as an example of how the university celebrates student identities and age-old cultural practices—while using modern technology to do it. “I’ve always found that kind of programming, which is culturally relevant to the Dominican community, to be some of the most successful programs that we did in the Innovation Lab,” said Lorenz, the former grad student lab worker. ‘ It’s Only a Sign of Things to Come’ As Dominican’s enrollment continues to grow and more students learn about the technology and experiences that the WIL and Recording Studio have to offer, enhancement of the spaces is inevitable. The lab and studio’s technologies are already incorporated into the classroom and the university’s curriculum. Skurski is tasked with furthering progress. A signifi cant aspect of Skurski’s role involves faculty and student outreach to identify new academic opportunities for the recording studio and lab. “There’s great potential to help enhance the curriculum,” Skurski said. “I want the community to help guide me in the new directions this space should go,” they added. Skurski believes the trailblazing work students are already pioneering in the spaces is only a small preview of the inventive study that’s ahead. “As happy as I am with how the space has developed so far, I think it’s only a sign of things to come,” Skurski said. SPRING 2024 | 13

Social work graduate student Regina Alexander interacts with a group of older adults during a guided autobiography class session at Parmer Hall in August 2023. Everyone has a life story to leave behind. The key is getting it down on paper. Last summer, a class project gave graduate-level students in the School of Social Work the chance to help members of the River Forest-Oak Park community fi nd their stories— all while establishing an intergenerational connection. The School of Social Work offers an academic track in aging, adulthood and gerontology. Tying into this, the Successful Aging: Communities of Care and Intergenerational Experience course, led by Dr. Julie Bach, associate professor of social work, included a fourweek guided autobiography session in which fi ve social work students helped volunteers over age 65 write stories from their lives. “Once your loved ones are no longer with you, those stories get lost. And we want people to tell their own stories,” said Bach, who specializes in gerontology, the study of aging. Students used the book Telling the Stories of Life Through Guided Autobiography Groups as their manual, encouraging their elder partners to refl ect on several important life topics, such as professional or life accomplishments, work experiences, families or meaningful relationships. By guiding these individuals in the writing of their autobiographies, students gain insight into the diversity of life experiences among older adults while challenging their perceptions, Bach explained. “A lot of health care professionals have very minimal experience working with older adults, or they view older adults as frail,” she said. “This population is actually very vibrant, so this course gives students a positive view of the later years. The hope is, for some students, they will be more willing to consider working with older adults in their future years as a social worker.” And that’s important, as the population continues to age. According to a recent U.S. Census report, by 2034, the number of adults over 65 will outnumber children for the fi rst time in U.S. history. The guided autobiography project has its roots at the Sinsinawa Mound. Prepandemic, students would travel to the Mound for interactions and interviews with the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Last summer was the fi rst time that guided autobiography occurred with volunteers from the local community. Sandra Sokol, of Oak Park, was one of those volunteers. The former Oak Park village clerk and teacher admitted that writing about herself was, at fi rst, challenging, but the guidance and direction that Bach provided made the process easier. “She wanted us to think deeply into whatever we wrote about, not just say, ‘I was born on this day and this happened,’” Future Social Workers Gain New Perspectives by Helping Older Adults Share Their Life Stories INTERGENERA

Sandra Sokol of Oak Park and Master of Social Work student Christian Meyer partnered during last summer’s guided autobiography project. Meyer helped Sokol share written stories from her life. Dr. Julie Bach, associate professor of social work, leads a class project in guided autobiography for graduate students and older adult volunteers in August 2023. Sokol explained. “She didn’t want a biographical account. She gave us poignant questions to think about and delve into the ‘why.’” Sokol wrote about growing up in the South Bronx neighborhood in New York City. She wrote of various family members, the jobs they had, and tidbits about their lives. The experience sparked an interest in writing more about her maternal grandmother, who left Europe at the age of 13, accepted an arranged marriage, and stepped in to help her daughter’s household when Sokol’s father was drafted to serve in World War II. Sokol noted how she and her grandmother shared a special bond and closeness. Student Christian Meyer partnered with Sokol in the class. Both felt comfortable working together, they said. “Sandra and the other member of our group shared lots about their lives and that was an important part of it,” Meyer said, adding that they were receptive to feedback as well. “The most positive thing about the class was working with the students and hoping we are helping them,” Sokol said. While the class itself also focused on different long-term care options and services for older adults, the guided autobiography portion served as a great way to understand their different life experiences, Meyer acknowledged. It also aided in relationship formation. “No matter the work we’re doing—whether it’s writing someone’s life story or doing therapy or connecting people with resources—relationships are at the core,” he said. “We have to have that connection with people and build it in a way that is meaningful.” Jessica Mercer MSW ’23 participated in the course and now works with older adults in post-hospitalization care coordination. During a discussion of the guided autobiography project at Dominican’s Caritas Veritas Symposium last September, Mercer noted that it can be easy for younger adults to look at older adults as “other” if they lack interaction with this population. The course, she said, gave her a new perspective. “I got to meet people who had life experiences that were a world away from anything I grew up with,” she said. While the project was not meant to be part of therapy, it can be used in that way, Bach said. Working with older adults can also help students themselves become more informed of their own aging, she said. Bach’s hope is that intergenerational learning in the classroom can be greatly enhanced at Dominican University. Making new connections with older adults through special events and activities could be a start, she suggested. “What would it be like to walk into a class and have people between the ages of 18 and 90 in your class?” Bach asked. “How would that change what the class is like? I think it would really enrich it.” CONNECTION ATIONAL SPRING 2024 | 15

Decades After ‘Fairyland Experience,’ Dozens of Rosary in Fribourg Alumnae Reconnected to Share Memories of Semesters Abroad W hen Patricia Tabet ’52 was a young student living in Rosary College’s Villa des Fougéres in Fribourg, Switzerland, lights out really meant lights out. “At 10:30 p.m., the main switch was pulled. In order to study, many of us lit candles and studied by candlelight,” Tabet recalled, chuckling at the memory. “But that’s how we did it!” Even 74 years later, Tabet’s memories of what she calls a “fairyland experience” are clear, from the villa itself to the names of her travel companions and the details of an extracurricular adventure or two. “It’s something that is with me for all my life,” Tabet said. This is a sentiment echoed by many alumnae of “Rosary in Fribourg,” the college’s very fi rst study abroad program. Last November, nearly 50 alumnae from the 1950s through the end of the 1970s attended a reunion at Dominican University organized by the Offi ce of Alumnae/i Relations. “We decided to organize a Fribourg Reunion because the program is one of the most cherished memories of our alumnae and because the relationships between groups who attended Fribourg have remained strong for many decades,” said Dr. Mark Carbonara, assistant vice president of advancement at Dominican. The afternoon included a luncheon in the Noonan Reading Room, refl ections from alumnae and words from Dominican University President Dr. Glena G. Temple on the importance of studying abroad today. Photos and artifacts from Fribourg history were also shared. “The look on attendees’ faces when they saw the actual sign from the villa in Fribourg or pictures of their teachers was truly heartwarming,” Carbonara said. “It showed the impact the program had on these women in their most formative years.” Sarah Keane Davy ’70, a Fribourg alumna who spoke at the reunion, said she enjoyed connecting with alumnae from earlier decades and hearing their stories. “They had the same joy in their voices when they talked about their experiences and their independence,” she said. “You could see there was a bond that went from year to year to year.” SISTERS CHOSEN TO LEAD For 55 years, between 1924 and 1979, Rosary College students had the option of spending their junior year at the Institut des Hautes Études of Fribourg. The institute’s property, which included a towering villa where the students resided, was owned by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, who also ran the program. According to an account from Sr. Mary Eva McCarty, OP, published in the book The Sinsinawa Dominicans: Outlines of 20th Century Development, 1901-1949, the Sisters acquired the property at the recommendation of the Rev. John T. McNicholas, OP. The priest was acting at the direction of the Dominican Master General and the Rev. Joachim Berthier, OP, the founder of the Institut des Hautes Études of Fribourg, who wished to see a Dominican order from the United States take over the school and the property, which was about to be sold by its current owners. “Father McNicholas had been asked what Sisters would be best suited for the work,” Sr. Mary Eva’s account said. “He had, ‘without a moment’s hesitation,’ recommended the Dominicans of Sinsinawa.” 16 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: FRIBOURG

Patricia Tabet ’52 stands outside the gate to Villa des Fougéres in Fribourg, Switzerland, as a student in 1950. World War I was raging, and while Switzerland was a neutral country, traveling to Europe during such a volatile time carried dangers. At the request of Mother Samuel Coughlin, OP, Sr. George Adamson, OP, and Sr. Mary Grace James, OP, set off on the precarious journey. After a safe arrival and much prayer and pondering, they agreed to purchase the institute in August 1917, according to Dominican University archives. When Rosary College students started arriving in 1924, they studied English, literature, art, history, French and German. They also attended classes at the nearby University of Fribourg. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 interrupted the program, but Rosary students returned in the fall of 1947, according to archived correspondence. Just three years later, Patricia Tabet arrived to study there. “I enjoyed that year in Fribourg very much,” she said. “We did a lot of travel. I saw most of Europe while I was there, including Vienna, which was under the four powers at the time—England, France, Russia and the U.S. We always had to have a chaperone. We weren’t allowed to travel alone.” An art student, Tabet studied under a porcelain painter and relied on the French she’d previously learned to complete her courses. Tabet’s stories of her year in Fribourg and her travels around postwar Europe rubbed off on her eldest child, Veronica Tabet ’80, who studied there during the spring semester of 1979. “Fribourg seemed like a magical place because of how fondly my mom talked about it,” Veronica said. It did live up to her expectations, though her experience was very different, she said. The villa, that grand building with its distinctive tower, had closed and students were housed in apartments. “About once a month we visited the apartment of the Sisters in charge for a community dinner and that was always very, very nice,” Veronica said. “Sister Candida (Lund, OP), the very powerful president of Rosary, visited us, and that was a wonderful experience, having dinner with her in the Sisters’ apartment.” She recalled spending time in the “picturesque” town of Fribourg with its cobblestone streets; attending a traditional costume party that dated back to Medieval times and featured music and dancing in the streets; and frequent trips to other European countries with a Eurail pass. Veronica described November’s reunion as “heartwarming.” “Everyone was reminiscing and smiling,” she said. “I think everyone’s hearts were fi lled with those beautiful experiences from long ago—our glory days.” Veronica Tabet was among the last of the Rosary College students to attend Fribourg. The program ended in 1979 and the property was sold in the early 1980s. Correspondence from the 1970s, kept in Dominican’s archives, notes a steady decline in enrollment due to the availability of other European study programs for American students and fi nancial challenges caused by the infl ation of the Swiss franc. ‘IT’S LIFE-CHANGING’ Diane Miller Daly ’70 also studied in Fribourg and, with Davy, shared refl ections during November’s reunion. Daly was drawn to Fribourg thanks to an older cousin who had studied there. She began studying French in high school, hoping she, too, would spend her junior year abroad. “We’ve had many Fribourg reunions over the years and we’re still in close touch with not only our Rosary friends, but our friends who went to Providence, LaSalle and other colleges,” she said. “I think we all shared something in our experience and I think that brought us close.” Family connections brought Davy to Fribourg in 1968. Sr. George, who traveled to Fribourg in 1917, is a cousin, while a great-aunt was a teacher in the program. “She stayed at the villa with the nuns a couple of times and loved being there,” Davy recalled of her great-aunt. It was the relationships she formed with her classmates that stand out in her mind, Davy said. “We became each other’s family and those relationships were very, very strong,” she said. “They have lasted until this day.” Both Daly and Davy traveled across Europe during their time in Fribourg. One trip for Davy involved going behind the Iron Curtain into Eastern Europe, where she and her classmates stayed with a family near the border with the Soviet Union. “It was wonderful seeing the warmth and graciousness of people who lived so differently than we did,” she recalled. Studying abroad allows students to have experiences of which they never dreamed, Davy said. “It brings independence to a new level,” she said. “It’s like jumping into deep water and knowing you can swim. It’s life-changing.” The Dominican community remembers Patricia Tabet, who passed away on April 13, 2024. SPRING 2024 | 17

◀ Trudy Smith Schmidt ’64, left, and Joann Casciato Hillebrand ’64 look over a book of Rosary in Fribourg memories during the reunion of alumnae held in Dominican University’s Noonan Reading Room. The Villa des Fougéres in Fribourg, Switzerland, as it appeared in a postcard. ▶ From left to right: Deborah Bowser Joyce ’76, Sandra Di Bacco Cavalieri ’76, Catherine Juric ’76 and Suzanne Herkes Ingallinera ’61 MBA ’80 attend the Fribourg reunion at Dominican University in November 2023. MODERN STUDY ABROAD OFFERS STUDENTS EXPERIENCES ON FIVE CONTINENTS Like Rosary in Fribourg, today’s study abroad programs provide Dominican University students with new opportunities for travel and learning. But these modern programs also offer diverse experiences and lengths of stays on five continents. Like a year studying theology, literature and history in Oxford, England. Or a semester of learning about European business in Strasbourg, France, fashion in Florence, Italy, or a wide range of subjects in Limerick, Ireland. There are even spring break excursions immersed in the cultures of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago, and winter break service work in Guatemala. There are over a dozen study abroad programs in which students can enroll. Some of the shorter programs that occur over breaks may include participation by faculty. All offer students credit hours. Nan Metzger, the new director of study abroad programs at Dominican, says study abroad is “rebounding” after the pandemic shut down travel, and efforts are being made to create new partnerships and academic opportunities to draw more student interest. “Part of adapting is not only ensuring that we have destinations that are attractive to our students, but that we offer programs fitting the life circumstances of students,” Metzger said. “If they don’t feel they can go away for a full semester, offering trips that are 10 days or two weeks can still give them the advantage of studying abroad.” A new partnership under development with Icesi University in Cali, Colombia, would establish student exchanges between the universities. “That helps to internationalize the campus further,” Metzger said. Work is also underway to establish what would become Dominican’s domestic “study away” program at St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia. Similar to study abroad, this short-term program would give students a new worldview, but it would come with lower travel costs and be more equitable for students who cannot travel out of the country, Metzger explained. “Often, students come back from study abroad with a broader sense of being citizens of the world,” she said. “When they go away and learn about different issues, they come home more motivated to work on them in their own backyard.” Cost should never dissuade a student from travel, Metzger said, as scholarships, grants and other resources exist to help students get to their destination. 18 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: FRIBOURG

Borra College of Health Sciences Dr. Jonathan Uebelhor is the recipient of a 2024 Nurse Educator Fellowship from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The fellowship is designed to ensure the retention of qualified nursing faculty at institutions of higher learning. Brennan School of Business Dr. Roberto Curci, vice provost and dean of Brennan School of Business, was selected for the 2024 Burnham Fellowship cohort. Offered by Leadership Greater Chicago, the fellowship is a “strategic partnership accelerator” designed for business leaders to help shape the future of the region’s workforce and economic progress through collaborative work. Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Joseph Heininger, professor of English, published the article, “Representing Contemporary Life and Searching for the Sacred in Dennis O’Driscoll’s Poetry,” in Christianity and Literature, June 2023. Dr. Jane Hseu, professor of English, was named to the Board of Directors of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, an organization celebrating, promoting and preserving Chicago’s literary history and writers. Dr. Chavella T. Pittman, professor of sociology, is the author of “Achieving Racial Equity in Promotion and Tenure,” published in Academe, the magazine of the American Association of University Professors, and “Keys to Unlocking Tenure and Academic Freedom,” published in Academe’s blog. Dr. Tina Taylor-Ritzler, professor of psychology, co-authored “Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ Perspectives on Rehabilitation Success,” published in Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, November 2023, and co-authored “Disability Rights and Empowerment: Reflections on AJCP Research and a Call to Action,” published in American Journal of Community Psychology, October 2023. School of Information Studies Dr. Bill Crowley was the winner of the 2023 Annual Library Juice Paper Contest from Library Juice Press. Crowley was recognized for his paper entitled “Allies, Cobelligerents, and the Political Realities of Pursuing Social Justice Librarianship in Conservative Republican Communities,” published in Library Philosophy and Practice. He also published “Socially Just Library Management in Conservative America,” in The Political Librarian on December 15, 2023. Dr. Todd Kleine MBA ’11, chief information officer and adjunct instructor for the School of Information Studies, was elected to the Board of Regents for the Institute for Certified Records Managers. He is responsible for all activities related to administering and grading certification exams. Dominican faculty help build awareness and boost the reputation of the university. We’re pleased to highlight some of their recent accomplishments. For more information about faculty and their achievements, visit dom. edu/faculty-focus. Dr. Kara Malenfant, visiting assistant professor, co-edited the January 2024 issue of College & Research Libraries. The issue showcases new research on how the academic and research library workforce has accelerated change in the scholarly communications environment. Dr. Karen Snow, professor and PhD program director in the School of Information Studies, is the author of A Practical Guide to Dewey Decimal Classification, published in February by Rowman & Littlefield. Dr. Jingfeng Xia joined Dominican as university librarian in February. He has directed several academic libraries, most recently serving as director of Keiss Library at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania. School of Social Work Sr. Peggy Ryan, OP, ’79, adjunct instructor and former assistant director of field education in the School of Social Work, was named university chaplain for mission. In her new role, she is available to members of the DU community for community and mission building, and to offer bereavement support. In Memoriam Dominican University mourned the loss this year of Dr. Hugh T. “Mac” McElwain, a respected and beloved professor of theology for 47 years. Dr. McElwain formed deep relationships with the university community and made it a priority to support Dominican events, service projects, mission trips, athletics and academic programs through the decades. He held the leadership positions of dean of the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Core Curriculum; served on the Rosary College Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1990, and from 1994 to 1995; was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017; and, with his wife, Anne, received the O’Keefe Outstanding Volunteer Leadership Award in 2009. FACULTYFOCUS SPRING 2024 | 19

Collaboration has been Chaudhry’s focus in business sustainability education at Dominican. Since 2021, her students have partnered with college students from Canada, Spain and Indonesia through the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) experience. The students met virtually and interviewed local business owners with a goal of writing a paper on innovative sustainability practices adopted by these businesses. In 2023, their submission, “Reducing the Carbon Footprint in the Footwear Industry,” was a finalist for the Flourish Prize. This prize recognizes students for “discovering innovations that promote economic prosperity while contributing to a healthy world and human wellbeing.” Chaudhry said would like to expand Dominican’s COIL experiences to include students from UCC. This interest in collaboration and sharing of ideas initially led her to apply for the Fulbright opportunity and join the work taking place at the Irish university. “UCC is at the forefront of things we, at Dominican, care about, whether it’s sustainability or social justice,” she explained. Chaudhry plans to bring the knowledge she has gained from her time at UCC back to the classroom at Dominican and continue working to make students more aware of sustainable practices and the impacts they can have on the climate. “To get students to care, the first step is bringing awareness,” Chaudhry said. “Sustainability is a complex issue that most people have a difficult time understanding. It requires creativity and ingenuity so that it goes beyond cognitive learning and appeals to the students at an emotional and a personal level.” Fulbright Focused: Prestigious Award Sends Dr. Anjali Chaudhry to Irish University as Visiting Professor Dr. Anjali Chaudhry’s passion for teaching sustainable business practices in the fight against climate change took her to Ireland this semester as the recipient of a prestigious award. Chaudhry, professor of management in Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business, is a 2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar. The fellowship allowed her to join Cork University Business School at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland as a Fulbright visiting professor of sustainable business. There, she engaged in workshops and seminars on sustainability, conducted research and assisted faculty in developing curriculum initiatives in sustainability education across disciplines. “I have been amazed at how warm and welcoming everyone has been at UCC,” Chaudhry said earlier this semester. “On a daily basis, I get to engage in insightful conversations as well as presentations with faculty, staff, and even students.” Incorporating sustainable practices in business encompasses Chaudhry’s work at Dominican and is a key initiative of the Brennan School of Business. Sustainability is part of the curriculum and students are challenged with identifying sustainable practices within their majors and future careers. During her first week at UCC, Chaudhry led a workshop on climate action where professionals of the school’s executive MBA program participated in a simulation, playing the roles of industry leaders in conventional energy, clean technology and agri-business. “As one [participant] noted, the immensity of the climate action is a sobering realization, but also cause of optimism as collaboration is going to be the key for averting the worst effects of global warming,” Chaudhry said. FACULTYFOCUS 20 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: FACULTY FOCUS

Undergraduate Alumnae/i Class News 1957 Ellen Bendry Class Agent Audre Coia-Kurowski writes, “My parish celebrated my retirement with a St. Vincent de Paul cross and chain, a dinner at the church, a bouquet and a commendation from the pastor for my music contribution from 2012 to 2021. Since then, I have been retired except for brief stints as a substitute musician in various parishes and my ongoing participation in the St. Vincent de Paul Conference visiting/assisting applicants with needs.” 1963 Susan Flynn Class Agent Kathy Markley Scruggs was taking her two adult granddaughters to Ireland in early February, focusing on Dublin with two quick visits to Kilkenny and Waterford. Kathy’s Sweeney ancestors lived in Fermoy, County Cork. Kathy makes several visits to Chicago annually to support her sister, but doesn’t get to her favorite museums. Nevertheless, she loves being back in her hometown. Several classmates are moving or have moved into assisted living places or apartment buildings for seniors. Living in a dorm as a young person sort of helps one acclimate to group living. We recall our classmates who have died. We note how “interesting” the 80s are—so many mental and physical changes and challenges. Life is always about changes and challenges, but in our 80s, they are more personal and functional. But we learn and do our best. 1964 Jeanette Nelson Fisher Class Agent Please contact me, Jeanette Nelson Fisher, anytime to update me on what is going on with you, so it can be sent out to the class. Message me on Facebook or give me a message on Rosary College Class of 1964 on Facebook. Everyone loves to hear, so keep the news coming in. Pat Connery Koko writes, “Pat and her husband both were fully vaccinated with all fi ve shots, fl u shot, and RSV, and her hubby came down with the new COVID strain. Bummer. Pat was involved again with the Oak Park Library Pat Palooza.” Bonnie Lessner Hoshal writes, “Heading to the Florida Panhandle to escape Minnesota winter weather, although we had a brown Christmas. Incredible. Finally received a few inches of lovely snow. Bonnie, with others, spent the night at a homeless shelter and made breakfast for those present. Looking forward to seeing a Brazilian exchange student from years ago who is visiting with his wife. I get to practice my Portuguese I took with Sr. John Berchmans. Our Rosary education comes in handy.” Jeanette Nelson Fisher writes, “My life has been one health event after another since Thanksgiving, with a fl ash pulmonary edema scare, an ambulance ride and four days in the hospital. I ended up again in the hospital in December with an ablation, then a heart block and spent Christmas in the hospital. BUT I survived and Greg and I did get to come to Florida as planned, as our kids drove us down and got us all set up. Not fun talking about illness rather than exotic travels.” 1965 Mar Poelking Sclawy Class Agent This was a year of signifi cant changes for the Sclawys. After years of kicking around the idea of leaving our house on the lake and moving to a senior community, I spotted a place with a sign outside announcing that it had apartments and garages available. For reasons I still don’t understand, I swung into the place, parked in the spot that said, “reserved for future residents,” and asked to be shown around. Steve liked the place, breakfast and dinner included, and we leased a place at All Seasons West Bloomfi eld and moved in Oct. 15. Of course, we still had to sell the house and contents, which took only another month (leaving us to think we’d underpriced the house on the lake). Two estate sale specialists told us they were sure we loved all our stuff , but there wasn’t enough good stuff to run an estate sale. (Neither was impressed with Grandma’s silver plate service for 12 that she’d won at the dog track many years ago.) One off ered to do an online auction, and we were in our new place with house and contents sold by Dec. 1. We love our new home and our new neighbors. At 79 and 80, we’re about the youngest folks here, but the residents are friendly and up for a good time. Steve is taking art class two days a week; I play Rummikub and am relearning Euchre. We’re not embarrassed to ask folks to remind us of their names, as they do the same to us. Gradually, it’s all sinking in. This year, we added a grandnephew and a grandniece: Tom and Oly’s son, John, and his wife, Elyse, had Eliott in June and Mike and Cyn’s daughter, Michelle, and her husband, Jackson, had Clara Rose in November. A fair number of the family made it to Thanksgiving Friday in Arlington Heights. Dot Macina Grimm writes, “Part of the fall DU edition contained hacked information from a bogus email. For one thing, I did not break any bones. On the plus side, I received phone calls from relatives and friends I hadn’t talked to since the pandemic hit. Here’s what really has happened: I tried to increase my activities during our Wisconsin summers. But air quality was iff y due to Canadian forest fi res. Being on oxygen does require caution. I got an oxygen concentrator that is acceptable on airplanes so we can visit our Colorado and Oregon children. Colorado granddaughter repeated her vows and held a wedding reception here so I could attend. She and her now-husband were legally married in Colorado. I taught math for 12 years at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, retiring in 2004. It was a shock that CSU abruptly announced in spring they would be closing after the spring semester. Our alma mater doesn’t seem to be in the same dire straits. I pray many other young people have the chance to experience a small liberal arts college education as we did at Rosary.” Joy Birmingham Donahue MALS ’77 writes, “I am recovering from a fall on my right knee. I just had knee replacement surgery.” Maureen McMahon Hibbott writes, “For us, a year of themes: signifi cant birthdays, travel, and visits. After our summer class Zoom call, Katie Vicars You Always Belong to Dominican Class News items are submitted by alumnae/i and do not represent positions, policies, or opinions of Dominican University. Items have been edited for length and content. Class News published in this issue was collected before January 12, 2024; news submitted after that date will appear in the Fall issue. If you have news or questions, please contact the Offi ce of Alumnae/i Relations at [email protected] or (708) 524-6286. For up-to-date information about alumnae/i, go to dom.edu/alumni. Thank you for sharing your news! SPRING 2024 | 21 CLASSNEWS

Wille and her husband and son arrived in London and we had a joyous day mostly spent in a Mayfair pub enjoying a nice lunch and air conditioning as the day was a real scorcher. During a full family gathering, we were able to celebrate a 21st, an 18th and a fi rst decade among the grandchildren, a 50th among the daughters, and my hurdle over 80 (which Richard follows next year). Overseas travel activity slowed, due in part to the increasing dread of airports. We had a delightful 10 days in Spain, taking the car on the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander. The sights were just as we remembered and treasured, though a little more pricey. Richard did skip off to northern Minnesota in September to fi sh with colleagues from the 1983-84 teaching exchange. Four old men, two fi ne fi shing boats, 112,000 acres of water in Leech Lake, with gossip, politics and fi sh fry-ups. There were international incomers. We managed to meet up with Chris and Sue Graham, who were with us when we met 55 years ago! In September, my roommate from Uni in Chicago (60 years ago) arrived to a very hot London, so we spent a delightful day mostly chatting in an air-conditioned pub. We enjoyed several expeditions and family gatherings in the UK. Two get-togethers with Richard’s old college mates, one in South Wales, and the other on a Dutch barge on the Thames. We visited Richard’s sister Kate and husband, John, in Wymondham, Norfolk, and stayed with Alice and her sons Rob and Jamie in London. Following our big family gathering in the summer, we joined Helen and Gareth in the Lake District. On health, we’ve had a lucky year. I had a cataract operation and Richard is scheduled for one. Christmas was again a family gathering before the next generations departed in installments to visit other family and friends. Richard and I stayed in the village, leaving dear family to wriggle in together in the house. We were short one, however. Angus, who recently graduated, got a job as a host in a ski lodge in Japan. A lift pass is part of his compensation. He was much missed by the entire family, especially the younger cousins who, of course, like looking up to all 6’6” of him! While a goodly bunch (read: almost all) of us turned 80, Dianne Hanau-Strain had the most dramatic 80th birthday reported. Her son Aaron solicited wishes and memories from Dianne’s friends and relatives from her life. All told, Aaron collected about 45 minutes of videos. I didn’t count how many people chipped in total, but fi ve Rosary friends chimed in: Kim Regan, Monica Vogel Getzendanner, Peg Duggan von Briesen, Maureen McMahon Hibbott, and me. Please keep an eye out for the next Class of ’65 Zoom call. Announcement of the date will be an email from Marifred Broucek Cilella. 1966 Judy Purvin Scully Class Agent Mary Celine Baier Rutsche reported that in September, “we received a visit from Bob Odenkirk of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame. He is my nephew. Bob and his wife had been traveling through Ireland and just extended their airtime by an hour to land in Zürich. It was a pleasure to see my family interact with a cousin they knew so many years ago and, of course, to meet Naomi.” Alice Kuehne Finn shared the following: “Our latest travels included our son, Sean, and his partner of 10 years, Shelly. We wanted to do something special for his 50th birthday and decided on a cruise of his choice. They only had two weeks because of work, but Sean chose Norway, which included departure from Dublin to Ålesund, followed by 10 ports ending in Oslo with a return home from Copenhagen. It was fjord-intensive and really a great fi rst experience! The fact that there were fewer than 250 passengers made it even more special. Being the extroverts they are, Sean and Shelly were known by all the participants who always asked us where they were. Even the crew often commented to us about where the two were or, especially, when they left the ship—all in good humor without us ever asking! It became very comical on the crew’s part! John and I are sure they had a fantastic time, but whenever they cruise again, it will never compare to this fi rst, unique experience! And it truly provided us with an amazingly memorable time with family.” Terry Wilkinson Pawlik and her husband are happy with their move to Arizona to be closer to family. She wrote in November that they were enjoying the good weather after their 90-plus-degree summer. Although it’s been an adjustment for them after more than 70 years in Georgia, “the close proximity of our three daughters and families certainly helps.” They celebrated Christmas over the New Year’s weekend when their son and his family were there. It was “nice to have all four kiddos and spouses as well as all six grands. Lots of fun.” Jan Ciastko Lane hosted a birthday lunch for three friends. One of them was Peg Glynn ’65. “We had a lovely time sitting at the dining room table eating tortellini pomodoro soup and birthday cake (for four hours!). A Lifetime of Social Justice In 2010, a newspaper headline called Harriet Hausman ’72 a “kindly senior” who was “tough as nails on social justice.” It’s a description that fi t her mother well, Harriet’s daughter, Barbara Hausman, said. “She was steadfast about weaving into her daily life ways to help others who were less fortunate,” Barbara said. Harriet Hausman passed away in November of last year at the age of 99. Between raising a family in River Forest, Harriet, with her husband, Martin, at her side, found opportunities for activism. She marched for civil rights in Selma, Alabama; protested against the Vietnam War in Washington, D.C.; worked alongside the Black Panthers serving breakfast to children; and defended Constitutional free speech by supporting the right of a neo-Nazi group to march in Skokie even though the Hausmans were Jewish. “We believed it was better if their ugly words were aired,” Harriet said of the marchers. She would go on to serve on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union, which presented her with the Edwin A. Rothschild Civil Liberties Award for her lifetime of activism In her 40s, Harriet returned to school, studying psychology at Rosary College. Her work in social justice was aided by what she learned there, her daughter believes. “It enriched her understanding of people and circumstances,” Barbara said. Her interests were many. She wrote Refl ections—A History of River Forest, which is in the Library of Congress local history collection, and wrote regular columns for the Wednesday Journal newspaper up until the week she died. When her husband passed away in 1988, Harriet took over the railroad supply business she had helped him run. “She had an unwillingness to give up, to give in,” Barbara said. “She was an incredible role model.” Photo courtesy of the Hausman family 22 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: CLASS NEWS CLASSNEWS

Rosary was warmly included in the conversation.” Jan’s family Christmas gathering for the eight of them was hosted by her daughter. Meanwhile, she continues to have chemistry in her life, tutoring four high school students via FaceTime. “It is very satisfying to be able to help them, as well as for me to keep my skills.” Mariann Haberle Leahy has been invited to exhibit her paintings and ceramics at the Sedona City Hall from January through April 2024. She has been able to pursue her passion in the arts since graduation and has been a presence in Sedona, frequently recognized for her body of work. Congrats, Mariann. Suzy Wills Kessler’s extended family has been dealing with health issues. “The setbacks are under control with more positive predictions than were initially believed to be possible. I continue to be in frequent contact with several of our classmates. This has been a blessing. One of the thoughts that is currently part of my survival kit is from Albert Camus: ‘In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger—something better, pushing right back.’” Joan Monego MLIS ’98 wrote, “I fi nally made it to Doha, Qatar, the Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq (Mesopotamia). Iraq is still not well-organized for tourism. Checkpoints everywhere, and now some bombardments. You can fi nd me on YouTube in Iraq, interviewed by Richard Engel. It is good to discover these places, so old, so new as they race toward the future.” Bev Doherty and her husband, Tom, are making the most of their retirement, spending time with family, keeping up with Rosary classmates and staying engaged with new experiences and learning opportunities. She wrote, “We are back in Florida and joining the activities at the Unitarian Fellowship. Our summer in Milwaukee went by so fast. Our son and daughter-in-law moved into the apartment below us in our two-fl at. What a joy that has been as we share time together when possible. We had a few other family gatherings with both sons and their families in Wisconsin and Minnesota and combined the visits with seeing old friends from our working years. We also visited our family in Detroit and New Jersey. You may recall that Jeanne Heinen moved to Milwaukee. This summer we celebrated our 80th birthdays together with dinner at my place. The best treat was that Ann Canale, her daughter, Martha, and grandson, Mateo, came up from Missouri for that weekend. Ann’s 80th is coming up too, so we were really celebrating for the three of us. Milwaukee has been a good place for lifelong learning for Tom and me. We are in a great city with museums, live theater, music venues, places to eat outdoors and beer gardens in the parks (a great asset during COVID). This year, we joined the Osher Institute for Lifelong learning, taking brief classes in a variety of subjects. We’ll be traveling with the group to London for theater and daytime tours near Trafalgar Square. The people I’m meeting through Osher are just delightful. It feels like going back to college, with even greater freedom to explore. Tom bought me a portable speaker for Christmas, providing me with full access to his Spotify library, which greatly contributes to my mental health. And he has set up internet radio in the kitchen and living room where I can cook and listen to the good weekend programming and news from NPR stations in all the places where I have lived: Boston, D.C., Milwaukee.” Lina Fruzzetti is as busy as ever. She writes, “I spent two months in Bishnupur, West Bengal, India, to complete some old research. The study will enable me to fi nish a documentary fi lm about the town, the changes it has endured and the so-called progress it proudly advertises. I also delivered the Tarun Mitra Memorial Lecture in Kolkata on Nov. 17 on ‘How We Produce Knowledge: Journey of the Self and the Other in Rural Bengal.’ The paper will be published soon. I begin my last teaching semester, although retirement diff ers from what one thinks. I have much to work on and complete during my retirement and places to visit, such as Korea, Turkey and Galapagos.” There have been a few positive eff ects of COVID, one being the use of Zoom, according to Judy Purvin Scully. “I’ve continued to Zoom with Mitzi Battista Witchger, Maureen O’Rourke Cannon, Linda Miller Drennan, and Donna Freehill Land once a month since the start of COVID. We used to get together in person, but with the Witchgers’ move to Indianapolis and Lands’ to Succeeding with Support of the Sisters “My house is like a shrine to Rosary,” jokes Tina Valentino ’82 as she talks about her framed photographs of Sr. Cyrille Gill and other keepsakes she has held on to for the last 40 years. For Valentino, Dominican University will always be Rosary College, the place where she formed lasting, supportive bonds with the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters post-graduation. “They were there for me through trying times; there was always a letter in my mailbox,” Valentino recalled. “They showed me that Caritas Veritas is much more than a motto. They lived it. And it’s still part of me.” Valentino, who majored in English, is the founder, publisher, editor, writer and face of Neighbors Magazine. The free monthly print publication details “good news” and upcoming events in Melrose Park and surrounding suburbs, and is a vehicle for locally owned small businesses to advertise The Sisters—particularly her “biggest mentor” Sr. Cyrille—gave her the confi dence she needed to succeed, Valentino says. It was also her connection to the Sisters that made her an advocate for the canonization of Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, founder of the Sinsinawa Dominican Order. Valentino has promoted Mazzuchelli’s cause, and in the summer of 2008 attended a special Mass and ceremony at Queen of the Rosary Chapel at the Mound, where documents outlining a miracle attributed to Fr. Sam were blessed and sent off to Rome. Though sainthood still awaits, Valentino is hopeful. “I try to keep Fr. Sam’s name out there as much as I can,” she said. “His faith was so strong. I still pray to him to this day.” Photo courtesy of Tina Valentino SPRING 2024 | 23

Pennsylvania, those gatherings became less frequent without a way to communicate with one another as a group. Because Maureen, Linda and I still live in the Chicago area, we have been able to get together occasionally for lunch. John and I have continued to travel since COVID and our trip to Türkiye (the name of the country was changed in 2020) exceeded all our expectations. We started in Istanbul where we took an evening cooking class before spending the next three days visiting the usual tourist sites: the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, the Spice Bazaar and International Bazaar where carts, accompanied by guards, were seen transporting gold, the most desired currency with infl ation running rampant in the country. We enjoyed walking along the Bosphorus Strait and just sitting on a bench, people watching. Cappadocia was a short plane ride away, but dramatically diff erent in landscape and cultural experiences. The unique topography, with conical structures created from wind and rain following a volcanic eruption 2.6 million years, has allowed for fairy chimney houses in which families have lived for generations, underground cities that could hold 60,000-plus Christians for three months at a time when Turks were marauding, and an underground storage area where 66,000 tons of potatoes can be stored. The view of the area from a hot air balloon ride with 150 other balloons in the air simultaneously watching the sunrise was a unique experience. Having lunch with a multi-generation farm family, spending time with an elder who shared the history of the place as we toured, provided an additional cultural piece. We visited Göreme, a 1900-year-old monastery that was functional until the 20th century. It is now an open-air museum that has numerous churches and chapels set in the rocks with beautiful frescoes. No photos are allowed, but you know me! In Konya, attending a Whirling Dervish performance and then visiting the Mevlâna Whirling Dervish Museum was quite an experience! The quality of the carpet and pottery in the factories we visited was exceptional. In Antalya, we met with an archeologist who discovered the archeological site of Perge. Seeing pictures of the statues he found and going to the site and the museum where we saw the same statues he had excavated made the experience all the more meaningful. We were fortunate to stop at the incredibly wellpreserved ancient theatre of Aspendos, which was originally built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius between 160 and 180 A.D. It is still in use and the stunning set for Aida was on stage for the performance of the opera that evening. The temperatures were generally in the 90s with no AC on our four-night stay on a gullet along the Turquoise Coast, but it was truly a unique experience staying in the cabin with only a porthole. After the fi rst night, I slept on deck! Swimming (actually fl oating with noodles) in the beautiful waters of the Turquoise Coast was delightful. From there we hiked to the “ghost city” of Kayaköy, which was abandoned after the 1932 exchange of Turks being sent back to Greece and Greeks being sent back to Turkey. The Europeans after World War I broke up the Ottoman Empire and insisted on this exchange! Spending time at Ephesus, an ancient port city founded in the 10th century B.C. was amazing. The trip was physically challenging, but very special and will rank as one of the best we’ve taken. We always make sure we’re home for the holidays, which have mainly been taken over by the younger generation. I’m delighted to bring appetizers and/or desserts, peel potatoes, or do whatever I can to help out. Thanksgiving was at our son and daughter-in-law’s in Wilmette and our daughter and son-in-law hosted Christmas Eve with 26 extended family members included. The Scully Family Christmas is the smallest of the gatherings, only 16. Being together with all the chaos involved in family gatherings is what makes the holidays special. We were in Hawaii from Dec. 30 through March 29, the fi rst time we’ve actually been able to stay for three months without needing to return home early for family commitments. We had dinner with Roberta Brown, formerly Sr. Sarita (Roberta Engstrom Brown) ’59, who taught us American Studies majors History of American Music in 1961. She is still a tiny, eff ervescent dynamo, but is starting to slow down at age 92. We fi ll her in on what’s going on at Dominican and what’s happening in the lives of those of our classmates she taught, especially Sandy Kern Cyr who took her under her wing when Roberta came back for our 50th reunion. We’ll be home briefl y before heading off for a two-week trip to Japan in April, one of the last countries on our bucket list. I promise not to write a travelogue of that experience, but Türkiye was so amazing, I couldn’t help myself! 1967 Elizabeth McGrath Class Agent Mary Boyle Callow writes, “A 2023 summary: my professional and volunteer Dominican University Photo From the Soccer Field to the Financial World A scholarship to play for a new collegiate soccer program was the boost Eric Trejo ’93, MBA ’01 needed to get him on the corporate ladder to success. “When I started looking at universities and colleges, I knew the only way I was going to make anything happen was through soccer,” said Trejo, the son of immigrant parents who always stressed the importance of hard work and education. Thanks to coach Phil Birch, Trejo landed at Rosary College in 1989 as a member of the soccer team formed one year earlier. Back then, matches and practices took place off campus, like at Taylor Park and the nearby forest preserve. The team was tight-knit and more than 30 years later, Trejo remains in touch with many of his teammates. “We were all inclusive on campus,” he said. “Everyone knew everybody and we all looked out for each other.” Trejo, knowing his strength was with numbers, studied fi nance and set his sights on international banking. Since earning his MBA, he has held top leadership roles within the fi nancial services industry, including vice president positions with Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Bank, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. More recently, he shifted to the insurance industry, serving as vice president of credit specialties for Marsh USA. In 2009, Dominican awarded Trejo the Hispanic Heritage Award for his accomplishments. “To achieve a life of success, of complete success, happiness and fulfi llment, you must fi nd your purpose,” he said. “Rosary gave me a great foundation to fi nd my purpose: trust in my teammates and the discipline to focus on my studies and be an ambassador for change.” CLASSNEWS 24 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: CLASS NEWS

accomplishments are zero; my personal achievements are working out four-to-fi ve days a week and staying healthy and hopeful, although I’m a fi rsttime COVID recipient as of New Year’s Eve. My family successes are my three daughters who have fulfi lling professions, plus multiple grandchildren who are good human beings and (mostly) care about other people. I spent the winter and fall in Tucson, Arizona; took a summer road trip to the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina with my cousins; and visited Princeton, New Jersey, then saw Six in New York City. My goals this year are to have less judgment and more purpose. I realize how little time I have left on this earth and how grateful I am for all the good and sometimes sad things I have experienced during my life. I can’t make the world a better place, but I can make my world a better place. What I really enjoy is seeing longtime friends, and I truly look forward to our next Reunion at Dominican.” 1968 Suzanne Engle Class Agent Thanks to all who attended our class Zoom meeting in March. Our guest speakers, President Dr. Glena Temple and Dr. Barrington Price, vice president of student success and engagement, gave us an update on Dominican’s plans to open a campus (including residence hall) in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in Fall 2024. We had a lively discussion about the programs to be off ered: an associate’s degree (with subsequent acceptance to DU’s bachelor’s degree programs), workforce development certifi cate programs, options for adults to complete a degree, and select graduate programs. Congratulations and thanks to Dr. Temple and Dr. Price for speaking with us about this exciting new initiative! The ’68 Posse continues to meet regularly to plan our class Zoom meetings. Stay tuned for information about our reunion get-together in June and our fall Zoom! Tomi Campbell Hubert sent an update on our class scholarships. The market value of our Golden Jubilee Scholarship is $141,025 as of June 30, 2023. Natalie is the recipient of our scholarship this year. She is a junior and is working toward a master’s degree in Social Work. The market value of our Study Abroad Scholarship is $94,922 as of June 30, 2023. The recipient of the Study Abroad Scholarship will be announced for the 2024-2025 academic year. In Natalie’s thank you letter to our class, she said: “My goal is to be able to help improve living conditions in communities. I take a lot of pride in my passion for social work, and I hope to provide support to others in the same way you have given support to me.” Several members of our class attended the annual Scholarship Luncheon in April at DU. It is always inspiring and enjoyable to meet scholarship recipients! Marita Hoy Fenley and Mary I O’Keefe Bateman spent a weekend in St. Louis visiting Peggy May Schrage. Mary I described their visit: “First on the agenda was to head to the consignment stores. This is a tradition. We all found some gems we didn’t need! Friday night, Peggy made a wonderful dinner and we stayed up way too late talking and laughing. Saturday, Mary I went out to lunch with her sister Kathie O’Keefe Anderson ’67, who lives in St. Louis. Mary I’s niece Christie Anderson Silvey ’02 also joined them. Christie is a DU grad and lives in Edwardsville. Marita spent the day with her grandson Charlie (a darling boy whom she and Cleve are thrilled to visit as often as possible!). Another wonderful dinner at Peggy’s. After dinner, we sat around talking while Peggy knitted and Marita did needlepoint. Mary I came home with great intentions of taking up needlepoint (nothing so far). Peggy is the perfect hostess and made sandwiches for us to eat on the train ride home. Looking forward to another trip soon!” Ann Sauer continues to share photos on Facebook of her walks in beautiful Krape Park in her hometown of Freeport. We all enjoy seeing the people, scenery and animals she encounters. Thanks, Ann! In November, several members of our class attended a presentation by students and faculty who have spearheaded the DU Feeds Program to address food insecurity experienced by DU students. Established three years ago, the program is studentfounded and student-run. A food pantry has been established on campus. Kudos to Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz who has worked closely with DU organizers to help get this program up and Photo courtesy of Hodges Bend Middle School Finding Her Voice to Educate Others As a schoolgirl growing up in Kenya, Dr. Rachel Butiko MAED ’10 experienced the fruits of education in the most literal sense. Knowing she could read and write, the uneducated women of her village gifted Butiko bananas in exchange for reading the letters their working husbands sent home from the cities. “I grew up in a very poor environment and the one thing I knew would take me out of that was education,” Butiko said. “Education was a key to so many things.” Butiko began her teaching career in Kenya. After arriving in the U.S., she struggled in the classroom, which led her to enroll in Dominican University’s Master of Arts in Education program, focusing on English as a second language. “Dominican gave me a voice—the voice to be the teacher I am,” she said. “When I left Dominican, I felt confi dent. I knew I had a direction.” Today, Butiko teaches a diverse group of English language learners at Hodges Bend Middle School in Houston, Texas, where she was named Teacher of the Year for 2022-23. Many arrive in her classroom as immigrants knowing little to no English. As someone who learned English as a second language herself, Butiko sees the position, which she has held for 15 years, as a perfect fi t. Last August, she was recognized by Houston Life, a local news and lifestyle program, in a segment called “Honoring Amazing Teachers.” “This is a blessing,” an overwhelmed and beaming Butiko told the fi lm crew who surprised her in her classroom. “But you know who makes me great? These people,” she noted, pointing proudly to her students as the camera panned across their desks. SPRING 2024 | 25

running. Marilyn presented Anna Martucci ’24 with the “Heart of DU Feeds” Certifi cate of Achievement for her amazing leadership as student coordinator of the food pantry. During the 2023 fall semester, the pantry had 2,000-plus visits with 80-plus students serving as volunteers. If you would like to contribute, go to www.dom.edu/give. For more information, contact Marilyn at [email protected]. It was so good to hear from Sister Sarah Naughton in response to our Thanksgiving greeting. She says, “So grateful for you and your ways of keeping us digitally/actually connected!” Kudos to Marilyn Dobes Placek for her inspirational work creating beautiful Quilts of Valor for veterans. And special thanks to Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) member Mary Duncan Gemkow, who arranged for special recognition for Marilyn’s work. Mary explained: “At our 55th reunion, Marilyn presented a beautiful handmade quilt to Suzanne Cosimano Awalt for her military service. Marilyn has made over 10 of these quilts that have been given to veterans. As a DAR member, I felt she should be recognized for this work. As a result, my chapter, Martha Ibbetson Chapter in Elmhurst, has given Marilyn the Women in American History Award. In her very gracious thank you note Marilyn said, ‘I make these quilts to honor the military men and women who have given their time, talent, and some even their limbs, for our country. I pray I can continue this work for many, many years to come, thanking our veterans for their service.’” Thank you, Marilyn...and Mary! Pat Fitts Jacobson sent this news: “My two youngest granddaughters started kindergarten in the fall. Growing up too fast. All fi ve girls will be teenagers simultaneously—I plan to leave the country for that! Meanwhile, I did leave the country in October. Went to Sicily for 11 days, truly amazing. Watched Mt. Etna smoke and bought lava and hematite jewelry for the kids. A few weeks later, Etna erupted! I drove (again!) up to Maine to see my brother and his wife. Terrifi c trip! Went out to San Diego to see my daughter’s family and to help a close friend fi nd a new house to buy. My San Diego granddaughters got me hooked on playing Bananagrams. Everyone should play it!” Donna Renn says, “I enjoy watching the progress of our DU scholars, both those shared with ’68 and those I support personally. They are just the best. After 14 years, I continue to lead a monthly great books conversation group and participate in a weekly fi lm club. Both are sponsored by the Village Chicago, a community network of friendship, engagement and services for people over 50. Our ’68 Zooms are also a highlight as our alums are just so interesting and accomplished. Thanks for sharing!” Carol Anderson Kunze sent this update: “Jack and I had the pleasure of attending a presentation on the DU Feeds program and a tour of the pantry. We were totally impressed with the work these students and faculty members have done in addressing the serious issue of food insecurity. I send kudos to Marilyn Freehill Jancewicz on her volunteer eff orts to support DU Feeds. Although there is more work to be done, Marilyn’s eff orts have provided a signifi cant boost. On a personal note, sadly Jack and I Iost our 39.5-year-old African Gray Parrot, Louie. We are trying to focus on the fond memories we have of his entertaining antics. But since he was with us for 39 years, the loss has been tough, and our house unusually quiet. Just imagine a parrot saying to you one of his signature phrases, ‘Relax, have a beer!’ We are well and busy with volunteer commitments, house projects, and social activities. Our travels were mostly Midwestoriented, but included a ski trip to Vail and a trip to the East Coast. We enjoyed visits from our extended family and friends. The distance prize went to French cousin Maelle, who came from Marseille to visit. We look forward to travels and a visit from Italian relatives, and enjoy staying connected with classmates and Dominican.” Suzanne Engle MALS ’76 had a lovely visit with Susan Bakel Cohn in Estes Park, Colorado where Suzanne’s family was celebrating her niece’s wedding. Susan drove over from Fort Collins and had lunch with Suzanne, her daughter Ellie and Ellie’s boyfriend. It was great to catch up, and especially to hear how plans are progressing for the Polestar Village Community where Susan is director of the education program. In April, Suzanne and her family went to Richmond, Indiana, for an Engle family reunion and viewing of the solar eclipse. Her sister Mary Engle ’71 and Mary’s daughter joined them. Photo courtesy of Sameidra Carter Guiding Young Off enders Through Therapy Some of Maryland’s most vulnerable youth are receiving services that could help change the outcome of their lives—thanks to the eff orts of Sameidra Carter MSW ’10. Carter is the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) supervisor with the state of Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services. She was hired to develop intervention processes and procedures, and she trains detention center staff in DBT for treatment of young off enders. Using cognitive therapy, DBT teaches skills for managing negative emotions and behaviors. It is the foundation of the Department of Juvenile Services’ unique Comprehensive Treatment Model for young people in juvenile detention while they await placement to other treatment facilities. This keeps them productive during what is considered “dead time,” Carter explained. “It feels great being a part of this program that off ers young men therapy to address trauma as soon as possible,” she said. “Lengthy exposure to jail settings can be a painful experience for young people. Reducing the length of time spent doing nothing and removing exposure to more violence will put the youth on track to be motivated and encouraged to use DBT skills when they return to their communities.” The foundation for Carter’s work was formed during her Dominican education, she says. “I was fi rst introduced to cognitive behavioral therapy during my master’s program,” Carter noted. Dominican also prepared her for the social work doctoral program she is now enrolled in at Howard University in Washington, D.C. “It’s not easy to get straight A’s at Howard, but I had the preparation and a master’s-level program that is on par with other top-notch universities,” she said. CLASSNEWS 26 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: CLASS NEWS

Keep up to date on our private Facebook page, Rosary College Class of 1968. And send news any time to rosary1968@yahoo. com. Love to you all. Caritas et Veritas! 1969 Susan Kreuz McCoyd Class Agent I’m afraid there is scant news to report from me, the Class Agent, as I received little to no news from anyone. What I can report includes a September 2023 gathering in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin that included myself, Mary Dempsey Lowry, Mary Ballman Catalanotto, Mary Malone Janicki, Donna Dunne Martin MBA ’90, Eleanor (Mouse) Seitter, and Michelin Paterno Lentino. Two days of dining, laughing, enjoying each other’s company and Michelin’s homemade focaccia bread and Lentino Imports wines. All excellent! Our 55th Reunion is this June! You should have already received information regarding such from the Alumni Office. Our 55th will be as large or small as WE make it. Two or three tables in the Social or Dining Hall for lunch—or possibly our own room! (Hopefully larger than one of the fish bowls, but they are all offices now anyway.) Why do we wait until we find out who else will be there before deciding to go? Say “yes” to attend now, invite another classmate to attend with you, make it a weekend, a day, an afternoon to reminisce and once again enjoy each other’s company. Hey! Time is short at this point in life— Carpe Diem! Looking forward to seeing many of you in June. Caritas et Veritas! 1970 Karen Ripley Stein Class Agent Hope this year treats everyone kindly and blesses you with good health. Please pray for those less fortunate and whose lives are compromised with struggle, pain and loss of family. Among our classmates, Ann Stauffer asks for prayers from everyone as she faces her eighth surgery due to a life-altering fall at home on March 31, 2020. As she struggles to regain her ability to walk, she remains grateful for her wonderful caregivers who enable her to remain in her home, the finest specialists, and dear family and friends who have stood by her. In turn, she has been an example of strength and grace. Paula Wistafke Eggert and her husband, Bob, celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. She is active on her parish’s Council of Catholic Women and continues to expand her horizons through her six grandchildren with their various interests and activities. She would also love to get together if you’re in the Plainfield, Illinois area. Orelle Doris Pinto and her husband made up for the three years of no traveling with nine days in St. Thomas and two weeks in Italy, France, Amsterdam and cruising the Rhine River. They ended the summer in Michigan for nine days. Bounding with energy, they lit up October with a celebration of Orelle’s 75th with a family reunion at a cabin in Galena. A grand finale for 2023! Margaret Enright Molenda also enjoyed her travels to Morocco, Cuba and Alaska. Would love to hear more! Karen Hausing Brown and her husband continue to appreciate their 7.5 years of retirement in Mesa, Arizona. She keeps busy traveling and crafting with sewing machine quilting. Together with her husband’s woodworking they offer their one-of-a-kind items at local craft fairs. A great way to meet people! They travel to Chicago once a year to visit, and in June will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Brigitte Hillier DePue delights in spending her summers at her lake house in Michigan. This summer was an exceptional joy as four children and nine grandchildren all came for a family reunion. Such chaos, such fun! She survived, but upon returning home to Illinois, fell on her knee replacement, had muscle spasms in her back and ended the year with COVID! Oh dear! Carole Izzo Revers was chosen as the Leyden Senior Citizens Homecoming Queen for 2023. What a treat to be crowned. She spent Thanksgiving with her daughter’s family at her son-in-law’s mother’s home in Niles along with her three grandchildren. Tyler is a sophomore on the football team at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. Granddaughter Amanda has one more year in her veterinary studies at Northern Illinois University. Maryalice Maloney Dewbray hosted her family’s Thanksgiving. This year (the 50th!) was no exception! She and her husband prepared two 30-pound turkeys and a 10-pound turkey breast to 40 guests! She got everyone into the act with a chopping party the night before! Taking advantage of all ages of helping hands, she had 20 Christmas bins waiting in the garage for Friday’s tree decorating party. Partying on, Maryalice! She describes it best: “On Sunday, the 20 of us made our annual trip downtown to Macy’s (to us it’s Marshall Fields). We visited Santa, had our Christmas picture taken, picked out ornaments and had lunch under the tree in the Walnut Room. My grandmother used to take us to the Walnut Room when I was growing up. My mom continued the tradition, and Mike and I carry on the tradition with our kids and grandkids. Our kids and grandkids continued the day by all going to the Kris Kringle Market afterwards. Mike and I went home and took a nap instead!” What a lovely tradition in memory of her grandmother! This brought back great memories for me too: Rosary, Chicago, Fields. December was magical! Joe and I celebrated our 53rd anniversary with the arrival of our 10th grandchild. Our daughter and her husband had adopted a baby in December 2022. He was born one day before she learned she was expecting. I spent many months in Florida to help out with two babies not quite 8 months apart. What a ride! Loved spending the bonus days with our 12-year-old grandchild too. We got home before the snow to share Thanksgiving and a fun Christmas with our local son’s family: three grandchildren who believe in the magic of Christmas. Our son, Jeff, is operating in Marietta, Georgia, and the oldest, Lauren, is mayoring in Boise. My goal is to at least once have everyone here at the same time! Jean Rasmussen divides her time between activities with friends in the Chicago area, and with family and grandchildren in Iowa City. She never misses a family celebration and can drive I-80 on autopilot. We are grateful for all the time she gives our class of 1970. Over the years, her postings of photos and memorabilia have deepened the memories and the bonds to our classmates and alma mater. The joy she brought to the reunion team and the mini-reunions she spontaneously organizes are greatly appreciated, especially by those of us out of town. Thank you, Jean! Thank you to all who contributed to this column. Please consider sharing a piece of yourself with us. It keeps us rooted in friendship. God bless you and your families. 1971 Kathy Klem Large Class Agent As I write this in January and as you read it in mid-summer, I will have a flashback to this day. This morning, the “wake up” temperature was negative 15 degrees with 30 mph winds. The only saving grace was the sun was bright most of the day. Never take warmth for granted! Leslye Kalnes Madden wrote to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I, too, send belated wishes! Many of us had relatively peaceful holidays, including Lin Fosnacht Siebolds. Their granddaughter from Albuquerque stayed with them and they had a nice visit with her. Lin’s husband, John, and their son John will have spent a month in Florida to see how SPRING 2024 | 27

they liked an extended winter vacation. Lin planned to join them for a week (and if she liked it, another week!). In March, they traveled to Cabo for a week “to enjoy whale watching and margaritas!” Anne Vonderhaar was joined by her granddaughter for a quiet Christmas dinner after Rebekah worked over the holiday. Annie’s son, Michael, and his children joined his brother Bob and his family in California for their celebration. Another granddaughter Sarah and her fi ancé had a belated holiday with Anne and, as Anne said, “It was relaxing, and I didn’t have to deal with overcrowded airports by joining the clan in California!” She wishes everyone a happy, healthy and invigorating 2024! Taking advantage of the many holiday options, Linda Grzesiakowski Hanrath MALS ’74 started off the season with a visit to the “Lightscape” at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Next up was a visit to the Downton Abbey exhibit. “It was fun seeing the many rooms of the Crawley home, plus several of the period costumes on display, along with videos and exhibits.” They also managed to sneak in the movie The Boys in the Boat, which is the story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team who competed for gold in the Berlin Olympics. “A very good movie,” she said. Linda was also responsible for the next note from Paulette Fabianski Stith and the trip that she made to Belgium and the Netherlands with her father. Having seen a newspaper article about their upcoming trip, Linda suggested that I reach out to Paulette and here’s the rest of her story: “Like many of your fathers, my dad is a veteran of WWII. Last October 2023, an event called Operation Pheasant would be held which would follow the footsteps of the 104th Infantry liberating Belgium and the Netherlands. My father, who was 101 at the time, asked me to look into this event, having been a member of the 104th. I sent an email and the details poured in. I did not think that my dad would participate due to his age. But as more info became available, he embraced the idea and decided that he was going to go. So, my husband, our daughter, who is a Social Studies teacher, and myself accompanied him. A trip of a lifetime became a reality! The travel to many of the cities where he was during the war brought back a fl ood of memories, and of the friends he lost at that time. He had the opportunity to meet the U.S. ambassadors to both Belgium and the Netherlands. He was welcomed by the Lord Mayors of all the towns he visited. In addition, he saw reenactments of battles that drew thousands of grateful residents who came to experience them with their children and grandchildren. As the only member of the 104th who was able to attend, he was often given a standing ovation by the residents of these towns who still remember and cherish the eff ort of America. He was able to visit the Margraten Cemetery where over 8,000 Americans who died in this war eff ort are buried. A special visit was made to the grave of one of his friends who died in a bombing where 10 of his signal company were lost and my dad was one of only two survivors. It was an emotional but very heartwarming experience. His war experiences also took him to France and Germany where he participated in the liberation of Mittelbau-Dora prison camp in Nordhausen. I learned so much about my father’s years in the Army that he had never spoken about and I learned about the gratitude of the people in those countries who are forever grateful and continue to show it and teach it to their children.” Paulette, this is an exceptionally touching story. Please tell your father that we are so glad that he didn’t let age get in the way of this journey and how wonderful it was for him to create new memories with you and your family. Thank you so much! Vicki Woodward began her note by saying, “All in all, 2023 was a very good year until it wasn’t!” She spent Christmas Day in Rush’s ER followed by four days on oxygen in the Medical IC unit. After numerous tests, it was determined that she had strep and both viral and bacterial pneumonia. Luckily, daughter Morgan was in Chicago and was her “Nurse Nancy.” She also helped with John, who came down with COVID the next week. It was his third bout with it, but luckily Vicki has never had it! On a happier note, they headed to Park City, Utah to begin meeting with architects and builders to break ground on a second home there. Martha Yancey Hellar wrote that she and Don will be traveling on a Viking cruise down the Danube in August from Regensburg to Budapest with a side trip to Prague. Her three brothers and their wives will be along also. About the Photo courtesy of Rich Bodee Telling Stories that Matter A single course changed the trajectory of Rich Bodee’s life. Bodee ’16 transferred to Dominican prepared to study economics. But just one semester in, his newfound passion for storytelling and uncovering truths—acquired through an Introduction to Journalism elective—outweighed his zeal for fi nancial forecasts. He changed his major to journalism and never looked back. “I fell in love with the idea that one story, even one sentence, could change someone’s entire perspective,” Bodee shared. “I wanted the chance to tell stories that matter to people and shine a light on diffi cult topics.” He began honing his reporting skills at the Dominican Star student newspaper, buoyed by “fantastic” professors and opportunities to meet journalism heavyweights like Marvin Kalb and Georgie Anne Geyer on campus, he says. Just four years after graduation, Bodee, a reporter with 13 WREX News in Rockford, accepted his fi rst Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for coverage of a violent 2020 protest. A year later, Bodee’s work as an investigative reporter for ABC57 in South Bend, Indiana, earned him a second Murrow Award for shining a light on police and prosecutorial misconduct in the city of Elkhart. It’s a series of which he is especially proud, he says. As a morning news anchor for the station, Bodee also took home an Emmy Award for his coverage of a severe winter storm. Today, Bodee—the grandson of alumna Claire Cusack Cronin ’49 and great-grandnephew of Sr. Thomasine Cusack ’28, longtime professor of economics—is a news writer for Chicago-based cable network NewsNation. He focuses on international news coverage and producing segments for NewsNation Live with Marni Hughes and NewsNation Prime with Natasha Zouves. “I don’t know what is going to happen day-to-day—which is what I love,” he said. 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time that you are reading this, she will also have made a trip to Scotland and England with her two granddaughters who are 13 years old. It is through an educational company and grandma is very excited to see it through their eyes. Martha and Don hope to continue exploring our National Parks this year, but can’t decide where to go first. A ninth grandchild was expected in March also! It is with great joy that I share Sue Mackiewicz Sowa’s exciting news: “The highlight of 2023 was the birth of our first grandchild, Harrison Strider Sowa Tash. Of course, he is beautiful with strawberry blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Dennis and I adore him! Glad we have our condo in California so we can spend time with him here. Dennis had another successful golf season culminating in winning the River Forest CC Senior Club Championship. Our daughter, Lauren, is continuing as professor of communications at Pepperdine while her husband is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Kaiser. I managed a fun trip to Disneyland to see my favorites, Chip ‘n Dale. Looking forward to a happy and healthy year for all of us!” Caren Rule Lezius writes, “After only teaching for one year in Chicago after graduation, I moved to Germany in 1972 to teach foreign languages (French and English), where I also met my German husband of now 43 years. We have five wonderful children (four boys and a girl) and six grandchildren. The eldest boy and our girl live and work in Denver, Colorado. I return to the States almost every year to visit family there, but my circumstances will keep me here in Germany as an American citizen with the rest of my family.” Al and I keep busy with trips to see our sons and their families and will take a cruise through the Scandinavian countries in June. One more to check off the bucket list! 1972 Chris Lapetina Kukla Class Agent Christine Lapetina Kukla writes, “Most of us are now retired from various careers and are enjoying our retirement by volunteering, traveling, spending time with family, etc. Health and happiness to everyone in 2024! We had a luncheon on Oct. 17 at the Reserve 22 Restaurant in Glen Ellyn with a group of six women from our class of 1972. Attendees included Marilyn Aiuppa Dean, Nancy Lurito Machnowski, Regina Carlson, Barb Podesta Fox, Luisa Scala Buehler and myself. We had a good time catching up with our group and sharing stories of retirement, grandchildren and volunteer activities. Marilyn Aiuppa Dean is continuing her artistic activities and shared beautiful bookmarks that she makes that include very thoughtful phrases and quotes. Nancy Lurito Machnowski indicated that her husband just retired from his dental practice, which now allows them more time for lots of fun activities with family and friends. Regina Carlson and her family currently live in a rental home since her house in Lisle had a fire earlier this summer. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire, but now Regina is busy getting her house rebuilt and recovering. Barb Podesta Fox is keeping busy helping with her grandchildren. Luisa Scala Buehler is still managing her staffing business in Hillside and enjoying spending time with her grandson. I am also keeping busy by volunteering at three different nonprofit organizations in Naperville. I am taking yoga, Pilates and weightlifting classes at the Naperville Park District Fork Hill Activity Center. This is my never-ending effort to ‘fight the flab’ since I’m not getting any taller!” 1979 Hilary Ward Schnadt Class Agent As we head into our 45th reunion year, I find myself reflecting on all the gains and losses of the past decades. Recent losses include our classmate Julie Orr-Ranalli MSPED ’90 in early December of 2023. When I shared that news in our Facebook group, I learned how deeply she had touched the lives of many in our class. Also, both Hugh Toner MBA ’87 MCR ’19 and Tom Krickl lost their fathers in fall 2023 and Laura Graf Holden lost her mother-in-law just after Christmas. And, as I submit these notes, I have just lost my “Mom-in-law,” only three months shy of her 101st birthday. Thanks for all the condolences that have already been extended to those of us with losses. I was glad to have attended a mini reunion at Jim and Pete’s in October of 2023, organized by our unofficial cruise director, Helen Hollerich. We were joined by classmates Rick Wilk, Teresa Anderson Shultz, Sue Junkroski, Nancy Greco, Robin Nystrom, and Lynette Cabell, as well as Russina Rusev Grady ’81 and Carole Lambdin Robertson ’80 MBA ’91. Ann Van Hoomissen Bixby shared details of the two weeks she and her husband, Stu, spent in Ireland celebrating her retirement: “Early Fall weather was gorgeous (with intermittent showers to remind us we were in Ireland). The sunniest day was spent at the Cliffs of Moher walking along the cliffs to take in the stunning view. We explored the entire southern half of Ireland staying in a Benedictine Abbey in Limerick, a Georgianstyle hotel in Dublin, and a converted creamery loft apartment on a historic dairy farm looking right at the ocean in Annestown, south of Waterford on the southeast coast of Ireland. Our last day was in Belfast at the Titanic Museum and docks. Everywhere we went, we experienced the legendary warmth and friendliness of the Irish people. We fell in love with Irish brown bread, Guinness, Jameson’s, and fish and chips! Looking forward to seeing the class of ‘79 at our 45th reunion in June!” Jeanne Sullivan Goss MALIS ’82 stayed close to home but used her time productively. “In counting up the books I’ve completed in 2023, I see that I’ve read just about three times the number in a year that I read while employed. Sixty-six books under my belt this past year! I’m hoping to complete even more books in 2024.” She sends classmates wishes for health and happiness. Nancy Greco is eager to help plan the reunion and shared several ideas about how she might contribute. She will also be playing Mrs. Paroo in a concert version of The Music Man in February at the Metropolis Theatre and will later resume performing in Easter Bunny Bingo. She reports that the Memorial Mass for Julie Orr-Ranalli MSPED ’90 “was very nice, with a fitting gospel: ‘Bring the little children to me.” Laura Graf Holden retired on Jan. 5, 2024, after almost 40 years of working in dialysis. Theresa Kaminski, a selfdescribed “historian of scrappy women,” has been researching another scrappy woman after her 2022 book, Queen of the West: The Life and Times of Dale Evans. “I’ve been slowly inching my way into a new book project. The Jazz-Age Feminism of Jane Grant will be the first full-length biography of the co-founder of The New Yorker magazine and lifelong women’s rights activist. In October 2023, I spent ten days researching in Grant’s papers at the University of Oregon. After receiving a short-term research fellowship from the New York Public Library, I’ll be spending two weeks there in January 2024 researching The New Yorker collection. I spend the rest of my retirement time visiting my grandsons (2 and a half and almost 5) and, when the weather is good, golfing (though I’m never good at it).” Anne Schurmann Klytta and her husband, Dalla, are planning for an April 2024 dream trip for music lovers to Austria and Germany. They will “follow the path of the great composers Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, and many more. We will be doing all of our travel between cities via train, in the hopes that we will also see some gorgeous parts of both countries outside the cities. We plan to visit Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Eisenach, Leipzig, Weimar and Frankfurt. We can’t wait!” Tom Krickl is still teaching in Hong Kong where he expects to remain for the next year or two. Their school year runs through SPRING 2024 | 29

June, so he won’t be able to attend the reunion, but looks forward to reading all about it. Sr. Peggy Ryan, OP was celebrated by the Sinsinawa Dominicans at an evening prayer service on Oct. 8, 2023 as a Jubilarian who marked 40 years of ministry in 2023. She served in the School of Social Work at DU for 5.5 years and is now the University Chaplain for Mission. Peggy has ministered in Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, Alabama, California, and Illinois, as well as Bolivia, always dedicated to peace and justice. Teresa Anderson Shultz checked in with exciting plans on the eve of her first trip to Hawaii, delighted to see in person what she used to watch on Hawaii Five-0. We’ll expect to see pictures of beaches, whale watching and Pearl Harbor at reunion, Teresa. Nan Silva already shared her travel photos with us on Facebook. She writes, “Finally got my Christmas in London! So blessed. What a week it’s been. Most memorable moment of this trip: Stonehenge on the day England experienced ‘highly unusual’ Storm Gerrit, with 50 mph winds and a ferocious sideways downpour.” She and son Gareth also took a Harry Potter walking tour, saw Bath and spent New Year’s Eve at a pub. Hugh Toner MBA ’87 MCR ’19 has a “new position in Tazewell County as a part-time felony public defender. While this is essentially the same thing that I have been doing in Peoria for the past 28 years, it provides me with an opportunity to work alongside our son. I look forward to doing that.” He also shared this intriguing tidbit: “I have a surprise of sorts for my New Year’s resolution. I will be happy to share my progress on this at the reunion. Until then, I am going to be superstitious and keep it to myself.” My curiosity is piqued, and I hope this is yet another draw for all of you to attend the reunion. Anne Campbell Williamson hopes to join us. She writes, “My biggest news is that my son and his family moved from London to Portsmouth in September! So, my granddaughters (4 and 2) are now close by— delightfully exhausting!! I have also stepped down as associate rector at St. John’s. I am now part-time as the associate for Pastoral Care—timely, with the grands in town and my mom not at all well.” As for me, I continue to volunteer with the Women in Religion Wikiproject. The book I helped to edit, Women Advancing Knowledge Equity: The Parliament of the World’s Religions, is now in print and an open access copy can be downloaded from the PoWR website. After Helen Hollerich alerted me to the Wikipedia entry for Sr. Clemente, I met via Zoom with the Wikipedian who created it. Since she had selected Sr. Clemente’s name from a centralized list of women who deserved Wikipedia entries, she was delighted to meet someone who knew and loved her, could tell stories about her, and who then sent her a copy of Sr. Clemente’s memorial card. Hope to see you next June in River Forest! 1981 Michael Carrier MSA ’83 writes, “I turned 65 on a Monday and was fired on a Tuesday from my barista position with Starbucks. I was the 20th person to have left my store in nine months. First time in 45-plus years and four other terminations, I was part of a house cleaning. Unlike previous occasions, this time I didn’t land in a dung heap. A neighbor suggested I start my own business, which I intend to do following an internship of sorts at a similar firm to learn the business of dog walking and pet sitting. I am also going to take part in a six- to eight-week study with NIH on a depression treatment study. Since I have had depression since I was 5, I make a unique candidate. I am looking forward to helping examine a new possible treatment for this life-impacting condition. (Yes, during my six years at Rosary, I spent fourand-a-half years untreated and started on 40 years of counseling that continues to this day). I am spending my first three weeks of unemployment visiting a friend and out-ofstate family. My daughter’s art career continues to flourish in Cleveland, Ohio and I am a very proud dad.” 1982 Barbara Jean Balaskas Fox Class Agent Barbara Jean Balaskas Fox writes, “Just wanted to let you know that John and I have retired from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board after 43 years of service and 40 years of service, respectively! I had emergency surgery for a torn and detached retina in my left eye on March 25, 2023. I had cataract surgery on my left eye on Oct. 17, 2023. I am glad to be able to see out of that eye again! Other than that, we are enjoying our retirement and love being home with our two cockatiels and parakeets! Our best wishes to the Dominican Community! Please keep us in your prayers!” Kathleen Morris Lisle writes, “Married David Jude Bulger of Wheaton, Illinois on June 12, 2021 in a small, intimate ceremony and then toured U.S.” 1989 Garett Auriemma Class Agent Frank Storino MBA ’91 writes, “Retired after 28 years of service with the City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation. Worked as a titled foreman/laborer on various projects throughout all neighborhoods within the city for all those years.” Ramiro J. Atristaín-Carrión authored a book in Spanish titled El Dinero en tu Vida, 100 Consejos para Lograr Bienestar Financiero (Money in Your Life, 100 Tips to Achieve Financial Wellbeing), Archway Publishing, in the Spring of 2023. The book is a collection of 100 tips, how-tos, and “inspirational” advice to help Hispanics conquer their personal finances in the U.S. 1990 Nicola Germann Class Agent Rob Otrembiak writes, “Relocated to Los Angeles for a great work opportunity. Enjoying new learning and life experiences. Looking forward to a September visit to Chicago.” 1992 Melissa Mascari Santo Pietro Class Agent In 2019, Mark H Gordon, Ed.D. was awarded the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement award. Mark has been associated with and noted in publications of Marquis Who’s Who for 14 years. After starting out in education, following graduation from Rosary College, he has been a graduate and doctoral professor since 2005, helping prepare principals and superintendents, among other professionals. Jennifer Sutton Granvold writes, “Celebrated several milestones in 2023! Jeff and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a visit to Paris and a Mediterranean cruise. It was an amazing adventure and absolutely beautiful to experience during December with the holiday festivities and decorations. I also celebrated my 30th work anniversary at Insight. I can see the retirement light, but it’s still veeery dim.” 1996 Jennifer Utterback Davis Class Agent Dayna Clark writes, “My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in October 2023. We plan on taking a belated vacation in 2024!” 1997 Matthew Toles Class Agent Susan Jankowski Westwater writes, “My book, Voice Marketing: Harnessing the Power of Conversational AI to Drive Customer Engagement, CLASSNEWS 30 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: CLASS NEWS

was published by Rowman and Littlefield this past July. I coauthored it with my husband, Scot, and two prominent marketing leaders, Colleen Fahey and Laurence Minksy. This was my second book focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and voice technology and is meant to provide marketers with the guidance they need to understand how to use conversational AI to engage audiences and improve customer experience.” 1998 Scott Hanak Class Agent Andrew Karcher was recently hired as the senior director of data architecture at Pluralsight, headquartered in Utah. Pluralsight is an online learning and workforce development platform that helps businesses and individuals adjust to changing technology. Andrew currently lives in San Diego with his wife and three kids. 2006 Diane Schultz Meske, Annie Hughes Halsema Class Agents Annie Hughes Halsema writes, “Currently an adjunct professor at Aurora University for their master’s in social work program while continuing to be full-time school social worker at East Aurora High School.” 2007 Stephanie Adams Taylor, Mark Carbonara, Stephanie Lieberman Class Agents Stephanie Adams Taylor recently competed and placed 15th in adult traditional-set dance at the Mid-America Oireachtas regional championships in Indianapolis. She competed against 45 dancers from 16 states. Stephanie also participated in the spring 2023 Retrospective Review at Dominican University with classmates Katie Carlin Arbogast, Kristen Rupar, Charlotte Shuber MSW ’18, and Mark Carbonara. Rose Mae Turner created a custom Rosina~Mae swimsuit from reclaimed materials and her design was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2023 edition on model/activist Leyna Bloom. Rose resides in Brooklyn, New York, and has also been actively gaining notoriety for her sustainable textile designs. 2014 Sam Viola, Anthony Garcia Class Agents Megan Graves was one of three recipients awarded the inaugural Dr. Mark Pilisuk Transformative Social Change and Leadership Scholarship at Saybrook University. Their interest in inspiring positive social change and advancing peace in our world is in harmony with the work championed by Dr. Pilisuk. Megan is pursuing a PhD in Transformation Social Change at Saybrook. 2015 Katie Schmidt, Tanner Strong Class Agents Tyler Polich writes, “Celebrating 10 years of employment at the Village of Brookfield Public Works!” Tanner Strong writes, “Mynor Carcamo ’16 and I just got married this past October. It’s been an amazing adventure and I am so lucky that I got to meet Mynor for the very first time as his orientation leader so many years ago at Dominican.” 2016 Olivia Szuszkiewicz McKinney, Berto Aguayo, Erin Winkeler, Andrea Hinojosa Class Agents Andrea Hinojosa has her own business and will be hosting a transformative wellness series with two other professions. GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWS School of Information Studies Leanna Wills MALS ’70 writes, “I spent a busy summer delving into research about my maternal German ancestors who founded Thiensville, Wisconsin in the early 1800s. Thiensville is a small suburb north of Milwaukee. I donated documentation, photographs, family mementos and a 1918 christening gown hand sewn by my great-grandmother Anna Marguerita Wilhelmina Lincolndina Mohrhusen Voelz (born in 1865 in Chilton Wisconsin). These items were donated to the MequonThiensville Society for their archival collection.” Dan Zamudio MLIS ’01 writes, “Wanted to let you know that my home/studio/gallery will be a featured location for Open House Chicago 2023!” This year marks the third year Sulzen Fine Art Studio, the former Wold Airbrush Factory, in Logan Square will open its doors during the annual citywide event hosted by the Chicago Architecture Center. For over 20 years, oil painter Julie Sulzen and her husband photographer/writer Dan Zamudio have owned, lived, hosted events, and raised a family inside the former Wold Airbrush factory. James Levins MLIS ’10 was promoted to the position of branch librarian of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library as of August 2023. Beth Simon-Kovacic MLIS ’19 received the AISLE Exemplary Library Award on behalf of Dryden Elementary School in Arlington Heights. The AISLE Exemplary School Library Award recognizes school libraries throughout the state of Illinois that exemplify the standards set forth in Linking for Learning. This award is presented to a school library in public, private, or charter schools. This is her sixth year as LMC director in Arlington Heights District 25 and her first as LMC team Lead. Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Clara Agüero Ortiz MFA ’82 taught visual and performing arts for 40 years at Savannah State University, Jacksonville Community College and Hampton University. She received several art degrees, including the Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Master of Arts Degree in Printmaking from Rosary College, Florence, Italy. Since her retirement in 2010, she has produced and illustrated four books—two for children and two for general audiences. Clara also presented two solo exhibitions and a two artists’ exhibit. She lives in Savannah, Georgia and in Bogotá, Colombia. Matt McCabe, MAT ’12, was named to the Class of 2024 cohort of the Leadership Greater Chicago’s Signature Fellows Program, the area’s premier civic leadership development program. Matt is the executive director of strategic initiatives for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago SPRING 2024 | 31

INSYMPATHY ALUMNAE/I 1940’s Patricia Kopecky Kolarik ’47 1950’s Rana Schima Weiss ’50 Norene Burke Caruso ’51 Jeanne (Jill) Parmer Danelski ’52 Sophie Biedrzycki Gottemoller ’52 Jane Kelley Sheeran ’52 Jody Velis Alexander ’53 Mary A. Brennan ’54 Ann Kelley ’54 Shirley Vitt Dahl ’55 Sr. Ann Willits, OP ’55 + Julia Joyce Riordan ’56 Mary Alice Ryan Eckman ’57 Catherine Booth Arts ’58 Mary Ellen Morrissey Brouder ’59 Mary Catherine Hawkins ’59 Mary Sundquist Lofton ’59 1960’s Mary Jean Byrne Callahan ’60 Elizabeth Sopko Leech ’60 Antoinette Beland ’61 Maureen O’Connell Anderson ’62 Gayle Hilding Kohn ’63 Sr. Cecilia Mattingly OSF, MALS ’64 Donna Hahn Branson ’65 Angeline Fasolo ’65 Theresa Hwa MALS ’66 Sr. Mary Ellen Werner, OP, MALS ’66 Patricia C. Diedrich ’68 Pamela Gervais Greanias ’68 Jeanette Kopstain MALS ’69 (MHS) Eleanor Robien MALS ’69 1970’s Dorothy Wilkening Weedman MALS ’71 Harriet Rubin Hausman ’72 Sr. Antoinette McNamara, IHM, MALS ’72 Sr. Estelle Neveu, CSC, MALS ’73 Mary Wallace Gjermo MALS ’75 Carolyn Oglesby Ogen MALS ’76 Julie Orr Ranalli ’79, MSPED ’90 1980’s Judith Anderson MSPED ’80 Robert Le Beau MBA ’80 Jean Richardson Nebel MALS ’80 Sandra Karlson Alton MBA ’84 Nancy Hoffmann McCray MALIS ’84 Michael Rafa MSA ’84 Marjorie McCormick Doherty ’85 Sam Shigeo Uemura ’86 1990’s Doris Olson Nichele MBA ’91 Marlon French MBA ’93 Margaret Peplies Hutchings MLIS ’94 (MHS) Kenneth Przystup ’94 2000’s Irene Porter Wood ’00 Shannon French Daab MSPED ’09 2010’s Hannah Zeller MSW ’18 FAMILY MEMBER OF Jacob Barajas ’03 Matthew Barajas ’05 Julianne Bruska ’78 Juan Jose Curci MSA ’20 Elizabeth Fischer ^ Abby Zupancic Frisk ’07 John Gearen Jr ^ Paul Gearen + James Goedert ^ Robert Goedert ^ Trudi Goggin MCR ’14 Glenn Hamilton ’91 Jem Macalisang ’18, MSIM ’23 Jorge Orduño ’18, MBA ’21 Kelly Zupancic Palumbo ’12 Carolyn Noonan Parmer ’52 + Raymond Parmer + Maria Pascarella * Therese Hefele Shelven ’58 Frank Tomaszkziewicz * Hugh Toner IV ’17 Phillis Goedert Wilson MALS ’67 Julie Zeller MLIS ’16 * Michael Zupancic ’06 Tony Zupancic ’09 PARENT OF Nancy Blanchard ’84 Margherita Caruso ’79 Christine Chorostecki MLIS ’10, MSIM ’18* Mary Le Beau Coffey ’80 Roberto Curci * Thomas Fasolo ’92, MBA ’00 Ben Freville MSPED ’02 * Leszek Gluszynski ’05 Andrew Karcher ’98 Susan Kaszynski ^ Denise King * Largo Krouse* Paul Millman ^ Douglas Nichele ’97, MBA ’99 Karen Madura Sheeman ’92 Christopher Toner ’92 Hugh Toner III ’79, MBA ’87, MCR ’19 Kevin Toner ’89 Terrence Toner ’82, MBA ’89 Timothy Toner MLIS ’97 Andrea Caruso Townrow ’83 Alena Valenzuela ’20 Gustav Viise ’22 Steven Yandel ’90 SIBLING OF Kawkab Alhejoj * Margaret Kelley Balducci ’59 Katherine Barajas ^ Ellen Sopko Cacic ’60 Andrew Karcher ’98 SPOUSE OF Darryl Blackmon * Kathie Schwall Boley ’71 Patricia Carey ’66 Mary Anne Saal Chevalier ’71 Mary Janecek Gaynor ’69 Barbara Frische Graue ’69 Helene Gross Harvey ’58 Mary Faith Boyle Johnson ’54 Ann Lee Tyler Levitt ’57 Linda Becker Madura ’67 Anne McElwain ^ Steven Olderr MALS ’72 Rita Burns Olk ’58 Carole Dagian Parnell ’61 Rita Seaman Pinkowski ’57 Maureen Buckley Toner ’54 UNIVERSITY FRIENDS Anthony Barbato Bishop Kevin Birmingham Bishop Raymond Goedert James Heffernan William Hejna Willis Johnson Hugh T. McElwain James J. O’Connor John W. O’Connor (MHS) Laura Viise Ann Williams + Former Trustee (T) Current Trustee * Staff/Faculty member ** Student ^ Friend (FS) Founding Sister (MHS) Mazzuchelli Heritage Society (NGA) Non-graduating Alumna 32 | DOMINICAN MAGAZINE: IN SYMPATHY THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT PSALM 34:18

Honoring Our Stars DOMINICAN’S ANNUAL TRUSTEE BENEFIT CONCERT RECOGNIZES OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS The Trustee Benefit Concert raises much-needed scholarship funds for Dominican University’s deserving students. This year, the university will also recognize long-time community and corporate leaders at the event. Please join us in congratulating these deserving awardees. Heart of Dominican Award MARTY AND MARY LOU NOLL will be honored with the first-ever Heart of Dominican award. This award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly over time to both the university and the surrounding community. The Nolls have been steadfast supporters of civic and philanthropic causes for decades, advocating strongly for Dominican and numerous esteemed organizations within Oak Park, River Forest and neighboring regions. Their devotion to mission, education and ensuring a vibrant network of support for so many is a lived example of Dominican’s motto of Caritas in action. To learn more about the 2024 Trustee Benefit Concert, please visit dom.edu/benefit. Pillars Award W.S. DARLEY & CO. will receive the inaugural Pillars Award from the university. This award recognizes an organization that represents the four Dominican pillars of faith, study, community and service. Darley, a four-generation, family-owned and operated company headquartered in Itasca, provides the highest levels of quality, integrity and service to first responders, the military and educators.

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. Dominican University men’s volleyball players celebrate after scoring a point on March 12 during the Set the Record match at the Igini Sports Forum. The program broke the record for the largest attendance at a home game in school history during the contest against Benedictine University. 7900 W. Division Street River Forest, Illinois 60305 dom.edu 04/24