Class Notes 2022
December 2022
1980s
Souheil Badran (B.A. Computer Studies, '88; M.B.A., '97) has been named senior executive vice president and chief operations officer (COO) at U.S. Bank. He will oversee the bank’s operations teams and call centers.
2000s
Tracy Melger (B.A. Art, '03) owns The Artroom Flowers in Fish Creek, Wis., and was recently featured in a Green Bay Press Gazette article.
Jill Schwieters (M.S. Management, '06) has been named Senior Managing Director at Surgical Directions, the leading expert in procedural care services committed to improving patient care.
Erika Smith (B.S. Business Administration, '09) has been named executive director of Light the Hoan, a collective of Milwaukee-area business and civic leaders who have joined forces to illuminate the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge
2010s
Dr. Eric Dimmitt (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '12) has been appointed to the Professional Standards Council for Teachers (PSCT) as a representative of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities by Wisconsin State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly. Eric is the associate dean for Stritch's Kellner College of Education, Literacy and Leadership.
Dominique Spencer (B.S. Business Administration, '15) has joined Trelleborg Sealing Solutions as a customer success advocate at its Customer Solution Center in Fresno, Calif. Trelleborg is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of precision seals, bearings and custom-molded polymer components.
Dr. Joseph Koch (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '17) has been named superintendent of the Mukwonago (Wis.) School District. He will join the district in July 2023.
November 2022
1990s
Former men's soccer player and member of the Stritch Athletics Hall of Fame Jan-Scott Richard (B.A. Psychology, '97) has been elected to a second term as mayor of Scott, La.
2000s
Latisha Rathell (B.S. Management, '09) has been named director of customer service for the Bradley Corporation, located in Menomonee Falls, Wis.
2010s
Oby Nwabuzor (M.B.A., '17) has been named to the State of Wisconsin Public Health Council.
October 2022
1990s
Barbara Volbrecht (M.S. Management, '99) has been named director of communications at Telling the Truth, Inc., based in Brookfield, Wis.
2000s
Kate Brewer (M.B.A., '02) was named to the 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100 list, which recognizes the top 100 CEOs & C-level executives.
Chris Wolf (M.B.A., '04) has been named Dean of Nursing, Health and Wellness at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota.
Kelly Gauthier (M.B.A., '06) has been named Transformation Readiness Lead at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2010s
Sean Clark (M.A. Teaching (Elementary) '13) is the Education Program Director at the War Memorial Center in Milwaukee.
Gene Manzanet (B.S. Business Administration, '14; M.B.A., '16) was named to the Madison365.com Wisconsin's Most Influential Latino Leaders of 2022.
Denita Ball ( Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education, '18) was appointed Milwaukee County (Wis.) Sheriff by Governor Tony Evers. She is the first woman to hold this position.
September 2022
1970s
Lauren Beckmann (B.A. Psychology, '78) will receive the Archbishop's Vatican II Award for Distinguished Service in Education from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on September 22. Lauren retired as principal at St. Robert School, Shorewood (Wis.), in May.
1990s
Glenn Mathews (M.B.A., '99) has been named executive director of Prism EDC, a Milwaukee-based organization that operates UpStart Kitchen, a shared commercial kitchen that provides a space for entrepreneurs to start or grow their food-oriented business. Prism EDC is evolving into a hub for food-related business development and community service.
2000s
Wes Shaver (B.A. Theater, '09; M.S. Sport Management, '11) has been named president and CEO of Milwaukee Pride Inc., the parent organization to Milwaukee's PrideFest. Wes serves on Stritch's College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business advisory councils.
Renae Sigall (B.S. Business Administration, '09) will moderate a panel discussion addressing "Bridging the Gap: Creating Wealth through Equitable Opportunity" at the Wisconsin Leadership Summit in Madison. Renae serves as Branch Manager III at the UW Credit Union in Madison, Wis.
2010s
Dr. Victor Amaya (M.S. Educational Leadership, '14; Ph.D. Leadership in the Advancement of Learning and Service, '18) has been named Chairman of the Board of Your Move MKE.
Dr. Jeffrey Weiss (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '17) has been named superintendent of the Kenosha (Wis.) Unified School District.
August 2022
2000s
Nikki Purvis (M.S. Management, '03) has been named the CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin.
Brian Sniff (M.E. Professional Development: Teaching, '06; M.S. Educational Leadership, '08) and Jeff Behrens (M.S. Educational Leadership, '09) serve as the principal and athletics and activities director, respectively, at Pewaukee (Wis.) High School. They were featured in a WTMJ TV 4 story about pursuing Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) so they can transport students to activities and athletic events due a bus driver shortage.
2020s
Dr. Kenneth Santiago (Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '21) was named dean of applied arts, workforce education and training for Joliet Jr. College in Joliet, Illinois.
July 2022
1990s
Kimberly Harris-Mooring (B.S. Business Management, '91) has been hired as Senior Vice President of People & Culture at Rise, an industry-recognized performance marketing agency specializing in media, analytics, and customer experience, based in Chicago.
2010s
Public Allies Milwaukee renamed its Public Allies Milwaukee Changemaker Award to the Tonya M. Mantilla Changemaker Award. She received the 2022 award posthumously. Tonya earned an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Stritch in 2010.
Dr. Susanne Fenske (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education, '11) has been named Senior Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Student Affairs and University Police at Pennsylvania Western University.
Dr. Victor Amaya (M.S. Educational Leadership, '14; Ph.D. Leadership in the Advancement of Learning and Service, '18) is the president and executive director of Data You Can Use and was featured in a Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service article.
Rhiannon McHugh (M.S. Sport Management, '15) has been named assistant sports director at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha.
2020s
Curt Evans (M.S. Sport Management, '20) has been named sports director at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha.
June 2022
1980s
Stritch Board of Trustees member Ray Allen (M.S. Management, '85) has been named president and CEO of Columbia Savings & Loan Association in Milwaukee. Columbia Savings and Loan Association is featured in this TMJ4 news story.
1990s
Katie Cummings (B.A. Theater, '97) is a recipient of United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County Philanthropic 5 Award that recognizes community leaders in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who give, advocate, and volunteer for change
2000s
Dr. Matthew Mineau (M.S. Educational Leadership, '04; Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '16) has been named superintendent of the North Fond du Lac (Wis.) School District.
Kylie Daemmrich (B.S. Education, '07; M.E. Instructional Technology, '11) is a Senior Admissions Counselor at Cardinal Stritch University.
Chantell Jewell (M.B.A. '07) is the superintendent of the Milwaukee County House of Correction. She was featured in a Milwaukee Business Journal article about her efforts to "create opportunities that create change."
Congratulations to Dr. Mary Kellner (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '07) who received the 2022 Linda T. Mellowes Woman Leader of the Year from the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. Dr. Kellner, who is co-chair of the Stritch Board of Trustees, was recognized for her commitment to addressing the achievement gap among Milwaukee's children and other disparities that exist in the community.
2010s
Rayon Brown (B.S. Management, '14) is the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wis.
Suzanne Thomas (M.S. Educational Leadership, '15) has been named the director of data quality and analytics for the Wauwatosa (Wis.) School District.
Yessica Galvan (B.S. Psychology, '18) is an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor at Cardinal Stritch University.
2020s
Michael Knutson (M.S. Elementary Teaching, '20) has been hired as a math and social studies teacher in the School District of Jefferson (Wis.)
Robert England III (B.A. Religious Studies, '18) was ordained a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Youngstown (Ohio) June 4, 2022.
Jasmine Johnson (M.S. Management, '10), vice president of sales for iHeartMedia in Milwaukee, received the Peak Performer Award from Junior Achievement of Wisconsin.
May 2022
1970s
Lauren Beckmann (B.A. Psychology, '78) was featured in a Milwaukee Catholic Herald article about her retirement as principal at St. Robert School in Shorewood, Wis.
1990s
Two-star Major General Johnny Davis (B.S. Business, ’93) was recently featured in a WISN news story. The high ranking military officer, who oversees Fort Knox in Kentucky, threw out the first pitch at the Brewers; Military Appreciation game on Sunday, May 22.
Caryn Esten (B.A. Accounting, '94; M.S. Computer Science, '97; M.B.A., '02) has been named senior vice president and chief strategy and transformation officer at Froedtert Health, where she has served since 2005.
José Pérez (B.A. Political Science, '99) was elected the first Latino president of the Milwaukee Common Council last month. He was recently featured in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article that highlighted his Stritch education. President emerita Sister Mary Lea Schneider, OSF, and retired Communications professor Cheri Frey-Hartel share their memories of José’s time on campus and his impact on the Stritch community in the article.
2000s
Dr. Chris Nonhof (M.E. Educational Computing, '04; Ph.D. Language and Literacy, '19) has been named the 2022 recipient of the Northwestern Teaching Excellence Award. Nonhof, assistant professor of education and English at Northwestern College, was honored during the college’s commencement ceremony on May 14.
2010s
Damira Grady (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education, '17) has been named vice president of equity and inclusion at Madison (Wis.) College.
2020s
Christopher Reuter (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '20) has been named superintendent of the Germantown (Wis.) School District.
Chayse Lowney (B.S. Sport and Recreation Business, '22) was featured in a Fort Madison Daily Democrat article.
April 2022
2010s
David Snieg (M.S. Sport Management, '10) is the head baseball coach at Port Washington (Wis.) High School. He also is an assistant professor in Stritch's Sport and Recreation Business undergraduate and graduate programs.
Amy Jahn (M.S. Educational Leadership, '15) received a 2022 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership Award. She is the principal at Pier Elementary School in Fond du Lac, Wis.
2000s
Jermaine Murry (M.S. Management, '08; M.S. Sport Management, '10) has been named the chief diversity officer at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Heather Lore (M.B.A., '09) has been named executive director of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC).
1990s
Sheila Mayhorn (M.B.A., '98) has been named chief operating officer at YWCA Southeast Wisconsin.
March 2022
2010s
Julie P. Blake (M.S. Management, '14) has been named chief marketing officer at AXCEND, a provider of innovative, compact and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, based in Provo, Utah.
Bregetta Wilson (B.S. Human Services Management, '14) will serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of YWCA SEW. She is the founder of Embrace Improve Empower, LLC, an organization that supports organizations with mental health and community engagement efforts.
Robert Blake (B.S. Business, '11) has been named head women's soccer coach at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill. He is a former player and assistant coach for the Stritch men's soccer team.
2000s
Steve DeTroye (B.S. Business Management, '06) has been named field sales engineer for U.S. sales team at Vicon Industries, global leader in advanced security and surveillance technology to safeguard businesses, schools, municipalities, hospitals and cities across the world.
Denise Thomas (B.S. Management, '06) will receive 2022 Trailblazer in Women's Leadership Award from St. Joan Antida High School in Milwaukee in May 2022. She is the founder and owner of The Effective Communication Coach.
Tracy L. Williams (M.S. Management, '04) has been named President and CEO of YWCA Southeast Wisconsin.
Heather Hartz (M.A. Visual Studies, '04) is Is an art teacher at Sullivan Central Middle School and Innovation Academy in Blountville, Tenn. She was recently featured in the Johnson City Press Teacher Spotlight Series.
Jeridon Clark (B.S. Computer Science, '01; M.A. Educational Leadership, '09) has been named superintendent of the Cedarburg School District. Jeridon successfully defended his doctoral dissertation and will receive his Ph.D. in in May 2022.
1990s
Randy Casey (B.S. Business, ’98) was named the 2022 Region 4 - Midwest B District Coach of the Year after his team won the following the Region 4–Midwest B District championship. The team is ranked 5th in the national NJCAA poll and is headed to the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament. Randy is in his 14th season at MATC and was a men's basketball player during his time at Stritch. in addition to his head coach duties, Randy is MATC's athletic director.
Art Posch (B.S. Business Administration, '92) named platform development for bakery by Kemin Food Technologies in Des Moines, Iowa.
February 2022
2010s
Jason Alston (B.S. Management, '17) was recently featured in a TMJ4 news story. Alston is the owner of Heaven's Table BBQ in Milwaukee.
Shannon Reed (M.S. Management, '11) has been named national director of the Young Men United initiative for United Way Worldwide. The program will support young men of color to successfully navigate high school and college and enter the workforce with meaningful careers.
Michael Hostad (B.S., Management, '10) has been named a recipient of a 2022 Milwaukee Magazine Unity Award for his work on the Light the Hoan initiative. The awards recognize individuals who have dedicated themselves to building bridges – and facilitating profound healing and growth – in the metro Milwaukee community through a spirit of leadership, innovation and commitment to bridging the divide.
Chandra Rodgers (B.S. Management, '10; M.S. Management, '13) has joined the Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee Board. She is a Senior Vice President and Community Affairs/ Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer for Associated Bank. Chandra is responsible for the administration of Associated Bank’s CRA program to ensure the bank is fulfilling its obligations and commitments under the Community Reinvestment Act.
2000s
Dr. Jeanette Mitchell (Ed.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '01) will receive the Maria Monreal-Cameron Lifetime Achievement Award at the April 14 Milwaukee Business Journal Diversity in Business Awards celebration. Dr. Mitchell founded the African American Leadership Program and African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee. She received the 2014 Stritch Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement.
1990s
Jeffrey Mulder (M.B.A., '98 ) has been named director of airports for Oklahoma City (Okla.).
January 2022
Obiageli "Oby" Nwabuzor (M.B.A., '17) and Wes Shaver (B.A. Theater, '09; M.S. Sport Management, '11) have been named to the prestigious Milwaukee Business Journal 2022 40 Under 40 list that honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement while also becoming leaders in their communities.
Oby is the director of community impact for the American Heart Association and founded the Envision Growth real estate development firm in 2019.
Wes is the president of Milwaukee Pride and serves on Stritch's College of Arts and Sciences advisory council.
2020s
Dr. Sheri Swokowski (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '20) was interviewed in a story on Milwaukee's WTMJ TV 4 about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs adding gender identity to health records.
2010s
Carrie Wegner (B.S. Business Management, '18) is a co-owner of Brama's Pizzeria in Germantown, Wis. The new restaurant was featured in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
Obiageli "Oby" Nwabuzor (M.B.A., '17) is featured in a Milwaukee Business Journal article that details her efforts to create a positive community impact through urban regeneration and Envision Growth, a real estate development company she founded in 2019.
David Polk (B.S. Business Administration, '11) has been named director of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.
2000s
Donna Aboayge (B.S. Biology, '08) opened Frankies Restaurant, an establishment that serves African, Caribbean and American food on Milwaukee's east side.
Jermaine Murry (B.S Management '08; M.S. Sport Management '10) has been named head football coach at Greendale (Wis.) High School.
Janette Braverman (M.S. Management, '09) and Renae Sigall (B.S. Business Administration, '09) were named to Madison365.com list of Wisconsin's Most Influential Black Leaders.
Braverman serves as the Executive Director of External Partnerships at Cardinal Stritch University, is the first Black County Board Supervisor for Ozaukee County, and is the president of the NAACP Ozaukee County branch. Sigall is the branch manager at the corporate UW Credit Union branch in Madison (Wis.), where she oversees operations.
Laurette Pettibone (B.S. Management, '09) has been named interim general manager for the Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls (Minn.).
Marcus Arrington (M.S. Educational Leadership, '05; Ed.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '14) was featured in an Assemblies of God news article. He is the senior pastor at Parklawn Assembly of God Church, Milwaukee.
1990s
John Udvare (B.S. Business Administration, '94) has been named chief financial officer at The Equitable Bank, Wauwatosa, Wis.
1980s
Nancy Sienko (M.S. Management, '84) has been appointed the director of the San Francisco District Office for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She has worked for the EEOC since 1979.
40 oil paintings with Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin themes by Shelby Keefe (B.F.A., '81) are on display at the Art Bar through Feb. 9. Art Bar is located at 722 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee.
In Memoriam
We remember members of the Stritch family who have died and share prayers and condolences with the families and loved ones of ...
Dr. Deanna Burton (M.S. Educational Leadership, '00; Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '16) who died Dec. 22, 2022.
Sister Audrey Mozejewski, O.S.F. (B.A. Biology, '54) who died Dec. 17, 2022.
Katherine Grogan (M.A. Reading-Language Arts, '94) who died Dec. 15. 2022
James Rechlitz (B.S. Management, '87) who died Dec. 12, 2022.
Thomas Hilbert (M.S. Management, '88) who died Dec. 12, 2022.
Robert "Alex" Stormont (B.S. Business Administration, '00) who died Dec. 8, 2022.
Sister Ann Miller, OSB, (M.A. Language Arts, '74) who died December 5, 2022.
Dr. Craig L. Piotrowski (Ph.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '06) who died October 25, 2022.
Sister Verna Kayser, OSF, (B.A. Biology, '58; M.A. Special Education, '65) who died October 12, 2022.
La Vonne Jacobson (B. S. Management, '09) who died September 29, 2022.
Sister Robert Joseph Mier, O. Carm. (M.A. Special Education, '72) who died on September 19, 2022.
Michael "Mick" Jacobson (A.S. Business, '91; B.S. Management, '93) who died on September 12, 2022.
Dr. Carol Commodore (Ed.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, '01) who died September 9, 2022.
Mark Meyers (B.S. Business Administration, '93) who died September 5, 2022.
Wayne C. Kollath (M.A. Reading and Language Arts, '78) who died August 21, 2022.
Sister Irene Kundinger, OSF, (B.S. Biology, '55; M.A. Special Education, '62) who died August 21, 2022.
Joseph D'Costa (B.A. Sociology, '72) who died August 13, 2022.
Suzy Richards, (B.A. Computer Studies, ’99; M.S. Computer Science Education, ’02), former staff member and adjunct instructor and staff member, who died August 9.
Former Special Education adjunct instructor and liaison to the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center Joan Kuehl, who died August 11.
Sister Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Buergler, OSB (M.A. Special Education, 1979) who died August 6, 2022.
Charles Schubert (B.A. Special Education, '69) who died June 15, 2022.
Former faculty member Wallace White who died June 11, 2022.
Rev. Daniel Hessling (B.A. Religious Studies, '04) who died May 17, 2022.
Diane Mae Nauman (M.A. Reading Language Arts) who died May 17, 2022.
Sister Veronica Rueth, OSF (B.A. Psychology, '74) who died May 10, 2022.
Elaine Schreiber (M.E. Professional Development: Teaching, '96) who died on April 25, 2022.
Pamela Wipfli (A.S. Management, '89; B.S. Business Administration, '96) who died April 24, 2022.
Joanne Dyskow (B.A. English, '52) who died April 11, 2022.
Andrea Pernotta (B.A. Special Education, '73) who died March 25, 2022.
Philip Larson (B.S. Management, '92) who died March 15, 2022.
Gerald Satterfield (B.S. Business, '92; M.B.A., '93) who died March 12, 2022.
Ruth (Smies) Ramaker (A.A. Early Childhood Education, '83; B.A. Education, '88 ) who died February 16, 2022.
Michael Hansen (M.A. Health Administration, '96), who died January 16, 2022.
Sister Margaret Ruddy, OSF, who died Dec. 29, 2021. Sister Margaret worked in the Stritch Library for three decades before establishing the University Archives in 2009. The Archives were renamed for her in 2019 in recognition of her service to the University.