2 Freshmen Serve the Community, New Trustees Named,St. Edward’s Remembers Sept. 11
F E A T U R E S
8 Philanthropy Update
9 Hilltop Voices
10 Future Forward
12 Learning SpacesReflections on Trustee Hall
15 Launch!Redesigned web site takes to the information superhighway
16 Catalyzing the CommunityWomen in Science aid Afghan refugees
S P E C I A L S E C T I O N :
E V E R Y D A Y E T H I C S
17 St. Edward’s and the Congregation of Holy CrossA history of ethics education on the hilltop
20 Infusing EthicsPhillip Thompson, director of the Center for Ethics and Leadership
24 CollaborationEthics, St. Edward’s & Austin
A L U M N I N E W S
26 Alumni and EthicsProfiles of alumni practicing ethics
29 Alumni Notes
30 Remembering Kay
35 Reunion 2003
36 A Night at the Ballpark
page 20
page 12
CONTACT US!1-800-964-7833
Alumni Relations — ext. 8405
Bookstore — ext. 8575
Registrar — ext. 8750
Theater tickets — ext. 8484
www.stedwards.edu
on the cover
teaching ethics
Edward’sSt.U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Ethics at St. Edward’stranscends the classroom:
it is an inseparable part of our community,
programs and history. To learn more about
ethics education at St. Edward’s, see page 17.
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Freshmen volunteered for 15 com-munity organizations, including AustinNature Preserves (above) and CapitalArea Food Bank (top), as part ofHilltopper Helping Hands in September.
FRESHMEN LEND A HANDIn September freshmen were busy moving in, getting adjusted to their campus homes and lend-
ing a hand to the community. For the second year, St. Edward’s sponsored Hilltopper Helping Hands,a freshman service project. Faculty, staff, student leaders and freshmen met for breakfast, piled intovans and headed to non-profit organizations aroundAustin. The St. Edward’scommunity completed projects ranging from paint-ing at Project Transitions toboxing groceries at CapitalArea Food Bank to garden-ing at Sustainable FoodCenter.
Hilltopper HelpingHands spanned four week-ends in September andaided 15 agencies. Studentschose projects that interest-ed them and worked ingroups of 10 to 15, led by a student leader andfaculty or staff member. “This project providedstudents an opportunity to visit Austin areaagencies and meet their peers as well as makeearly connections with other members of thecommunity,” said Nicole Guerrero, ’99,MAHS ’01, assistant dean of students. “Wehope that this initial activity will encouragefuture civic engagement.”
SEU HIRES CIOBill Cahill, former associate provost for
information technology at Loyola University inNew Orleans, La., has been selected as the newvice president for information technology at St. Edward’s University. He will oversee plan-ning and coordination of information technology across the university.
“Of the 53 candidates that applied, Billhas the leadership, managerial and technicalexpertise and a wonderful university technologytrack record, which made him the ideal candi-date,” said John Houghton, vice president forthe College of Professional and GraduateStudies and search committee chair. Othercommittee members included DorisConstantine, director of student financial services; Pauline Albert, assistant dean of theGraduate School of Management; Sue Currey,assistant professor of communications for NewCollege; and Laura Baker, associate professorof computer science for the School of NaturalSciences.
Cahill said he was drawn to the missionand vision of St. Edward’s. “It’s one thing to seetechnology, but another to do it. St. Edward’s isnot only investing in it, but also is significantlyahead of other universities.”
STUDENTS CONDUCT RESEARCH AT HARVARDCharissa Grummon, ’03, of San
Antonio, and Jacqueline Guzman, ’03, ofHouston, spent the summer involved in scien-tific research for Harvard University.
Grummon participated in the HarvardSchool of Public Health’s Division of BiologicalSciences Undergraduate Internship forMinority Students. She spent 10 weeks underthe direction of a Harvard faculty member andworked in the cardiovascular lab helping todevelop better blood clot drugs for heart attackand stroke victims. She is pursuing her bache-lor’s degree in biology and was one of 13 stu-dents across the country accepted into thisprestigious program. She discovered theinternship through the new Career Opportunityand Internship Office at St. Edward’s, which
provides experiential learning information tostudents in the schools of Natural Sciences andBehavioral and Social Sciences.
Guzman conducted biology research inHarvard Forest, the most renowned researchforest in the country. She spent 12 weeksstudying the biological relationship betweenhemlock trees common in the northeast UnitedStates and an aphid-like insect that preys onthe trees. She presented her findings at the endof the research period and could potentiallyreturn to Harvard next summer to continueher research. Guzman, a biology major, wasone of 20 students selected for the Harvardprogram, the only participant from Texas andone of three participants from the Southwest.
This year all incoming freshmen partici-pated in the project as part of the FreshmanStudies curriculum. Over the summer, studentsread A Measure of Our Success, a book aboutservice to the community. In the classroom thisfall, they began to tie the reading to their ownvolunteer experiences.
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The St. Edward’s University Board ofTrustees appointed five new trustees to two-year terms in August, and longtime Trustee JimA. Smith was elected chair for 2002–2004.
Smith, a certified public accountant andcorporate financial advisor, is the former vicepresident, treasurerand chief financialofficer for Tracor. Hehas received numer-ous honors in thefield of accounting,including CPA of theYear and OutstandingCPA Texas ChapterPresident. He is the capital campaign co-chairfor the Capital Area Council of Girl Scouts andserves on the board of the Headliner’s Cluband the Festival Institute at Round Top.
Margaret Crahan is the Dorothy EpsteinProfessor of Latin American History at Hunter
College, City University ofNew York. A former pro-fessor at Johns HopkinsUniversity’s School ofAdvanced InternationalStudies, she also hasserved as director of theHuman Rights Project at the WoodstockTheological Center and
has twice been awarded a fellowship at theWoodrow Wilson International Center forScholars. She is a member of the Council onForeign Relations and a former Henry R. LuceProfessor of Religion, Power and PoliticalProcess.
Larry Franklin is chairman of the boardof Harte-Hanks, Inc., a publicly traded, world-wide marketingcompany located inSan Antonio. Sincestarting at Harte-Hanks in 1971, hehas been chief finan-cial officer, executivevice president, andchairman and chief
executive officer. The former chairman of theBoard of Regents of East Texas State University,he has served on boards of the BaptistFoundation of Texas and the SouthwestFoundation for Biomedical Research.
Roger S. Kintzel is former AustinAmerican-Statesmanpublisher and currentpublisher of theAtlanta Journal-Constitution. He ischairman of theNewspaper Associationof America Foundationand president-elect ofthe Southern Newspaper PublishersAssociation. Active in the Atlanta civic commu-nity, Kintzel serves on the executive committeeof Central Atlanta Progress and the MetroAtlanta Chamber of Commerce.
Victor Miramontes is president andchief operating officer for American CityVista, aCisneros Communities Venture that developsurban residential communities. He has heldsenior executive positions with Wells Fargo
Bank, LaredoNational Bank,Rotan Mosle Inc.and LaQuinta Inn.He is vice chairmanof the San AntonioWater System,chairman of theAlamo Public
Telecommunications Council and a member ofthe Solid Waste Advisory Committee for the Cityof San Antonio Electric Utility.
Robert Weiss is vice president foradministration at the Meadows Foundation.Weiss formulated and implemented DallasPublic Schools’ educational reform effort andserved on the city’s Commission forEducational Excellence. He is former executivedirector of the Jewish Community Center inDallas and former national director of develop-ment for B’nai B’rith International inWashington, D.C.
NEW TRUSTEES APPOINTEDSEU HONORS
■ St. Edward’s University was namedone of 10 “exemplary” institutions inthe country for diversity educationprograms by the Association ofAmerican Colleges and Universitiesthis fall. AAC&U called the six-course Cultural Foundations pro-gram at St. Edward’s “one of a kindin its model and implementation”and cited its “strong leadership,dynamic faculty” and “utmost carefor student learning.”
■ For the fifth year in a row, theAustin Critics Table awarded theDeacon Crain Award forOutstanding Student Work to a St. Edward’s University theater stu-dent. Elizabeth Wakehouse, ’02,took this year’s honors. The MaryMoody Northen Theatre productionof The Medea Stories also was honored with EnsemblePerformance and Movement awards last summer.
■ Hilltop Views, the student news-paper, received six awards from the Texas Intercollegiate PressAssociation last spring. Honorsincluded first place in news featurestories for the second straight year;third place in sports feature storiesand individual headline; and honor-able mention in news page design,feature photo and editorial column.
■ The 2002 editions of Sorin OakReview and Arete, the university’sstudent-produced creative and academic journals, respectively,received first place with specialmerit in national competition fromthe American Scholastic PressAssociation this fall. Judged in con-tent, organization, design, presenta-tion and creativity, Sorin OakReview received the highest possi-ble distinction in its category fromASPA for the second consecutiveyear. Arete was named best aca-demic journal in the competition,which included entries from 2,000high schools and universities.
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Main Building at St. Edward’sUniversity underwent interior renova-tions this summer to make it a morehistorically accurate representation ofVictorian architecture and interiorstyles. Workers installed new direc-tional signs, recarpeted hallways,refinished stairwells, replaced base-boards, touched up columns, paintedarchways and accented woodworkdetails.
The interior of Main Building was lastrenovated in 1986 when the buildingclosed for 18 months for major struc-tural repairs. The exterior, with statelyred doors and signature tower,marked its 99th year this summersince being reconstructed in 1903 following a devastating fire.
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CAMP STUDENTAWARDED
SCHOLARSHIPCollege Assistance Migrant Program
student Brenda Cornejo, ’05, of Eagle Pass,was the sole recipient of the 2002 MigrantFarmworker Baccalaureate Scholarship, aprestigious award given to migrant studentsbased on academic merit by the GeneseoMigrant Center in New York. The grant pro-vides undergraduate students with financialsupport to cover educational expenses up to $20,000.
“I feel lucky to have received this award,”Cornejo said. “The scholarship has taken a bigweight off my shoulders because I know thatI’ll have enough money to pay for college.”
The award is given annually to one personin the country, and over the last five years, threeSt. Edward’s University students have earned thehonor. Jesus Alonso, ’01, was awarded thefirst-ever Geneseo scholarship in 1998. AlmaCruz, ’03, received the award in 2000.
Cornejo credits the CAMP program withmuch of her success. “The people in the CAMPprogram are like my family,” she said. “Withouttheir encouragement, I would have never evensubmitted my application. I truly appreciatewhat the program has done for me.”
BROTHER DANIELREMEMBERED IN BOOK
“He earned a degree in botany but rarely taught the subject, wrote poetry but pub-lished little, loved two women but married neither, and researched Texas native plantsfor forty years only to see his plots destroyed by developers or excavated for rainwaterrunoffs. He was called the ‘weed gardener,’ ‘Don’t-give-an-inch Lynch’ and ‘Sweet Pea’after the hairless baby of Popeye and Olive Oyl, characters in a once-popular newspapercomic strip. He was Daniel Matthew Lynch, Brother of HolyCross, scholar, poet, teacher, philosopher,optimist and wit.”
So begins Lover of All Things Living,a biography of Brother Daniel Lynch,CSC, penned by longtime friend and fellowSt. Edward’s University professor BrotherGerald Muller, CSC. The biographyrecounts Brother Daniel’s 76 years — 42 ofwhich were spent at St. Edward’s. Here, hetaught myriad science courses and led effortsto build a campus greenhouse. He alsobecame a recognized expert on the plantspecies of Central Texas, in addition to occa-sionally but gently reprimanding residence hallcurfew-breakers. Lover of All Things Livingwill soon be available in the St. Edward’sUniversity Bookstore.
Lover of All
Things LivingA BIOGRAPHY OF
BROTHER DANIEL LYNCH, C.S.C.
BY BROTHER GERALD MULLER, C.S.C.
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C A M P U S B E A T
SINGERS PERFORMABROAD
St. Edward’s University students, facultyand staff traveled across the globe to performat a summer music festival hosted by theAmerican Institute of Musical Studies in Graz,Austria. Thirty-three members from the uni-versity’s three musical ensembles, theHilltopper Chorale, Omni Singers and VocalJazz Group, performed two masses with fullorchestra at cathedrals in Graz — Gounod’sSt. Cecilia Mass and Dave Brubeck’s To Hope!A Celebration.
This is the first year that St. Edward’s hasbeen invited to perform at the AIMS festival,which has been held in Graz for 32 years.“Our music program has never experiencedanything like this,” said Pamela Stout, musicinstructor for St. Edward’s. “It gives our stu-dents an opportunity to experience a profes-sionalism in the music world that most peoplenever get.” Stout accepted on behalf of herstudents when the AIMS director called from
Munich, Germany, to personallyinvite St. Edward’s to perform.
Stout has worked withAIMS for eight years as apianist. In addition to leadingthe singers from St. Edward’s,she performed Igor Stravinsky’sSymphony in Three Move-ments with the AIMS orchestra.
Members of the St. Edward’s community performed at aninternational music festival in Graz, Austria, this summer.(clockwise from top) Students prepare to perform; facultymembers Pamela Stout and Oliver Worthington (right) withthe AIMS conductor; the St. Edward’s singers visitthe Austrian countryside.
MMNT EXAMINES VIETNAMThe St. Edward’s University theater
department closed its 2001–2002 season witha summer production of Tracers by John diFusco. This fast-paced collage of the Vietnamexperience was developed in the early 1980sthrough intensive workshops and improvisa-tions. The play examines the experiences ofeight young men who served in Vietnam.
At St. Edward’s, director and designerStephen Balgooyen, technical director for MaryMoody Northen Theatre, wove a compellingaccount of the day-to-day lives of the young GIsplayed by Aaron Alexander, ’05, MatthewAddison Cross, ’03, David Higgins, ’04,Jeffery Mills, ’02, Jason Newman, ’04,Patrick Pope, ’04, and Brent Werzner, ’03.
Tracers incorporated a wall of remem-brance in the theater lobby that featured asmall section of the nearly 59,000 names onthe Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington,D.C. Audience members were invited to writemessages on the wall andleave items such as flowers,notes and artwork. “The pointof the whole installation was toremind us of the unequivocaltragedy that was the Americanwar in Vietnam,” saidBalgooyen.
Following the success ofTracers, the theater depart-ment announced its2002–2003 season, whichincluded a production of AllMy Sons by Arthur Miller fromSept. 18 to Oct. 6. The seasoncontinues with C/O The Groveby J. Ed Araiza from Nov. 13 to24; The Kentucky Cycle byRobert Schenkkan from Feb. 19 to March 9; andNunsense by Dan Goggin nextsummer. For ticket informa-tion or reservations, call 512-448-8484.MMNT’s summer produc-tion of Tracers chroni-cled the experiences ofeight soldiers during theVietnam War. B
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WELCOME DAYSThe Office of Student Affairs hosted a
week of welcoming activities Aug. 23–30 forthe university’s 447 new students, its largest-ever freshman class. Welcome Days introducedfreshmen to the university’s history and tradi-tions as well as its programs and services.
Events began with student-athletes andalumni helping freshmen move into their resi-dence halls. On Saturday, student leaders, ath-letes, faculty and staffled the Discover YourSpirit rally to get fresh-men excited about tra-ditions at St. Edward’s.Later that day, facultyand staff membersjoined students and their families for mariachimusic and barbecue in the Robert and PearleRagsdale Center.
The Medallion Ceremony, an annual eventinducting new undergraduates into the St. Edward’s community, was held Aug. 25. This year’s freshmen were the first to view a
SEU REMEMBERS 9/11On Sept. 11, 2002, the university marked the one-year
anniversary of last year’s terrorist attacks.In the morning, student leaders and athletes distributed
U.S. flag stickers, donned by community members to commem-orate the victims and show support for their families. A churchbell tolled at mid-day, calling members of the university commu-nity together for a moment of silence, followed by song andprayer. Later, Paul Louis, associate professor of criminal jus-tice, led a student–faculty panel discussion on terrorism andhomeland security.
In the evening, two screenings of the award-winning HBOdocumentary “In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01” wereoffered in the Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center. Throughoutthe week, a listing of 9/11 victims’ names and images from theuniversity’s 2001 candlelight vigil were displayed in the RagsdaleCenter.
“The wounds of 9/11 still run deep,” said Father Rick Wilkinson, CSC, director of campusministry. “We need to remember not only the horror of that day, but also the tremendous responseof generosity, valor and hope.
“It’s hard to express the meaning of 9/11. Perhaps the best way to do that is through silenceand by just being with one another. At St. Edward’s, that’s what we did.”
video created by current students to expresswhat St. Edward’s means to them. Thepresidential reception followed, allow-ing new students to meet faculty mem-bers in their majors while also hearingfrom President George Martin.
On the first day of classes, studentsmet Topper, the Hilltopper mountain
goat, at a birthday celebration honoring thecreation of the new mascot. The Price is Rightinvolvement fair Aug. 27 introduced freshmento the various student organizations on campusas they spun the wheel for a chance to winprizes. A screening of the movie Spidermanconcluded Welcome Day activities Aug. 30.
Faculty, staff and students gathered atthe university seal for a moment ofsilence on the first anniversary of theSept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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SPIRIT TEAMS WINThe St. Edward’s University spirit teams,
comprised of the Cheerleading Squad, SEUElite Dance Team and Hilltopper mascot,received 21 awards at the 2002 UniversalCheerleading Association and Universal DanceAssociation Collegiate Summer Camp held atSouthwest Texas State University in July. TheCheerleading Squad received two second-placetrophies from UCA in Division II cheer andfight song competitions. They also were awarded one red “excellent” and two blue“superior” ribbons and a “superior” trophyfor most improved. The SEU Elite Dance Teamwas just as successful. They brought home a“superior” trophy from UDA for overall teamperformance plus one red and nine blue rib-bons for individual performances. Topper, the university’s new Hilltopper mascot, wasawarded one red and two blue ribbons andplaced fifth out of 23 mascots for overall campperformance. The spirit teams competed withuniversities in and around Texas includingTexas Tech University, Texas A&M University,The University of Louisiana at Lafayette andSam Houston State University.
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Members of the university spirit teams won 21 awards incompetition this summer.
SEU PARTNERS WITHBOSTON UNIVERSITY
Continuing Professional Education at St. Edward’s University, which provides trainingprograms for working professionals, joinedBoston University’s TrainingTrack affiliate net-work earlier this fall. TrainingTrack’s nationallyrecognized system of regional training includescompanies and academic institutions that span14 states and four international locations.
TrainingTrack programs began at the St. Edward’s Professional Education Center inOctober. Through courses offered in the pro-gram, students learn tools and techniques foreffective project management in their business-es, from coordinating time and resources todefining project risks from beginning to end.Applicants are put through a screening processand an automated assessment, then counseledon the types of courses that will most benefitthem. Fifteen classes offered throughout theday and evening provide in-depth project man-agement training in nine subject areas.
Through the partnership, St. Edward’s isworking toward its goal to make continuingprofessional development programs accessible.“Boston University’s TrainingTrack is a best-of-breed program in project management,” saidRudy Rodriguez, director of services at theProfessional Education Center. “Students willtruly benefit through learning from qualifiedinstructors who are experts in their fields.”
Campus Beat was compiled by MiaAllen, Stephanie Bazan, ’02, StaciaHernstrom, Carrie Johnson andMichelle Martinez, ’01.
May we e-mail you?If you would like to receive e-mail
MDA RETURNSOn Sept. 1 and 2, the Mabee Ballroom of
the Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Centerbecame grand central station for the localbroadcast and phone bank of the Jerry LewisMuscular Dystrophy Association Labor DayTelethon. This is the second year that St.Edward’s University hosted the telethon, whichraised more than $550,000 to fight neuro-muscular diseases.
“We had more faculty, staff and studentsto volunteer than available space,” said MiaAllen, special events associate for the university.“The commitment of the St. Edward’s commu-nity is always overwhelming and makes meproud to be a part of something so special.”Volunteers received a T-shirt bearing the uni-versity logo, which they wore while answeringphones and recording pledges.
Hosted by KXAN TV-36 personalitiesLeslie Cook and Jim Spencer, the telethonexceeded last year’s fund-raising total by$30,000. To promote the university, KXAN utilized footage of the St. Edward’s campusduring cutaways from the national telethon toAustin’s broadcast.
Representatives from MDA said theywere excited to return to St. Edward’s. Theywere pleased with not only the actual facilityspace, but also the wonderful communityresponse from faculty, staff and students at St. Edward’s.
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P H I L A N T H R O P Y
Trustees set newGiving Record
At the event...
Keynote speaker Jack Bacon, an expertin spacecraft integration for NASA, at theBusiness Development Council’sExecutive Briefing in September.
(above) Brother RichardDaly, CSC, ’61, andBrenda Thompson ofTateAustin at theExecutive Briefing.(right) Carla Mendoza,’03, outlines her undergraduate biologyresearch to theExecutive Briefing audience.
St. Edward’s University trustees and their families exceeded a $7 million “board chal-lenge” fund-raising goal in 2001–2002 through record-setting commitments totaling $7.8million. Representing a sixfold increase over the last board challenge, their gifts supportedconstruction of the new academic building — named Trustee Hall in recognition of theirefforts (see stories on inside cover and page 12).
Carolyn Lewis Gallagher, immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees, led fund-raising efforts.
“President Martin and I personally visited with each trustee. Everyone was enthusias-tic and wanted to participate. Despite the difficult economy, trustees increased their finan-cial support to a new level,” she said. “The board’s record-breaking success shows howstrongly trustees believe in the future of St. Edward’s University and how committed weare to being recognized as one of the best small universities in the country.”
Trustee Greg Marchbanks agrees, and says the results of the board challenge are “animportant signal that the board is engaged and committed.” He and his wife, Mari, areinspired by the vision for St. Edward’s. “We responded to add moral support to the generous lead gifts made by other members of the board.”
Gallagher’s efforts made the board challenge successful, says Jim A. Smith, chair ofthe Board of Trustees.
“Carolyn’s personal financial commitment to St. Edward’s spurred fellow board members to increase their annual giving levels,” he explained. “Her parents, R.B. andPeggy Lewis, honored her work on behalf of St. Edward’s with a gift that — when cou-pled with gifts from Carolyn and her husband, Tom — provided $1 million to commencea physical transformation of the university’s academic facilities.” In appreciation for herleadership, Trustee Hall’s three-story computer tower is named for her.
J. William Sharman Jr., hs ’58, chair of the board’s development committee, pointsout that trustees utilized the various types of giving opportunities offered by St. Edward’s.Support for the board challenge came mainly in the form of gifts of cash and assets, andseveral trustees established estate gifts.
“I think that every donor — whether an alumnus, a parent or a supporter — notonly has a relationship with the university but an interest in some particular aspect ofhigher education. Their focus might be on the endowment of a particular program, orstudent scholarships, or physical plant additions that provide places for learning, or justgeneral support of the university’s vision. St. Edward’s offers various ways for us to expressand support the university,” Sharman explained.
“It’s one thing for trustees to talk about the university’s mission and vision and themaster plan. The successful board challenge demonstrates the enthusiastic personal com-mitment of trustees to this institution and its future.” ■
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A L U M N I N O T E S
Hilltop Voices features
perspectives on the
St. Edward’s experi-
ence in the words of
students, alumni and
other members of the
university community.
This essay was written
by English writing
and rhetoric major
Cesar Diaz, ’03, as
a part of Assistant
Professor Laurie
Drummond’s
Magazine Writing
class.
stranger late at night in the atrium, butI could use someone to talk to. I sawthis warm-up clad woman make herselfcomfortable a table away from me.
“You see mija over there?” Thelady pointed at her daughter playingnear the Coke machines. “I wouldn’thave her if it wasn’t for my education.”
She explained that she had illegallyemigrated from Honduras in the 1970sand was later admitted to St. Edward’s.She struggled the first years because herEnglish was extremely poor. She had towait tables and baby-sit to make endsmeet. Her family was far away, her lan-guage restraints restricted her frommaking friends, and she struggledbetween the desire to succeed and herinsecurities. Even though she wasuncertain, she continued on until shegraduated with a degree in English. Shesoon began teaching and eventuallyreceived her citizenship. She married afew years later and —
H I L L T O P V O I C E S
hould I drop out of college?” Thequestion replayed inside my headlike a scratched 45 on a record
player as I studied past midnight at theMoody Hall atrium during my sopho-more year at St. Edward’s University. Icontemplated my biology and chemistrynotes and gazed wearily at my booksand backpack, lying strategically aboutthe table to ensure my comfort whilestudying.
Comfort? I was going nowherewith my biology major. I hated my job,and I had no money. My best friendhad stopped talking to me, and I hadno girlfriend. Nothing was going right,and I was beginning to wonder if it wasworth staying in college. “God, whatam I going to do?” I asked.
The chatter of a little girl and hermother snapped me back to reality.They maneuvered out of the computerlab into the atrium in bright warm-upsuits. I diverted my attention back tomy notes, chemistry formulas and biology terminology.
“Estudiando ha estas horas?” themother’s voice said.
“Yeah, I have two finals, chemistryand biology, in the morning.”
“Hmm, maybe you should restinstead of over-studying.”
Who was this lady? Why did shecare? She didn’t know me. With a smirk,I told her that I’d rather give up. I feltuncomfortable being approached by this
“ … had two lovely girls. Now myniñas are inheriting this new traditionof persevering against all odds to get aneducation.”
She looked down, and my eyes fol-lowed hers. My notes had fallen on thefloor, and I hadn’t even noticed. Shespoke as I picked them up.
“I owe a lot to this university. If itwasn’t for the school’s traditions, ambienteand continual faith in God and in our-selves, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Those words stuck with me. Now,thinking back on that night, I agreewith her. This stranger doesn’t knowhow much she helped by sharing herexperiences with me. I began to realize Ishouldn’t focus entirely on the situa-tions that students face during college,but instead should work hard on over-coming obstacles and getting an education. The strong traditions that St. Edward’s instills in every studenthelped me strengthen my own faith inGod and in myself.
Two years later, I’m a senior andon the verge of graduating with anEnglish writing and rhetoric degree.Though I never knew her name, I oweher. She may not have known what shedid, but she is one reason why I am stillat St. Edward’s University. ■
MOODYINSPIRATION
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F U T U R E F O R W A R D
Providing a personalized education is a cornerstone of aca-demic programs at St. Edward’s University. As the universitystrives to meet two of its strategic priorities — to increaseenrollment and to recruit and retain high-quality facultymembers — it remains committed to preserving its low student-to-faculty ratio. Here is a look at faculty and enroll-ment growth since 1999, which underscores the university’sconcerted effort to maintain its tradition of fostering mean-ingful interaction between faculty and students.
Information provided by the Office of Academic Affairs at St. Edward’s University. Full-time equivalencies for part-time students and facultymembers are based on the number of courses they are taking or teaching, respectively, and are rounded to the nearest whole number.
When Trustee Hal l opened th is fa l l , s tudents and
facul t y across the cur r iculum began to benef i t f rom
the un ive r s i t y ’s newe st ac ade mic fac i l i t y. B e low,
a facul t y member, a student and an administrator
of fer a g l impse of l i fe ins ide Trustee Hal l , a long with
ref lect ions about the cr i t ica l ro le of fac i l i t ies with in
the communit y of learners at St . Edward’s Univers i t y.
“The design of a campus affectshow people are attracted to it — interms of the architecture and the feel ofthe classrooms,” said Alan Altimont,associate professor of English. This fall,he’s teaching two courses in TrusteeHall, Playwriting and Romantic Poets.He finds the new facility congenial andwelcoming, with classrooms that areflexible and able to accommodate various arrangements suited to the spe-cific courses taught within them. “Idon’t typically need a lot of bells and
whistles for the materials I teach,” hesaid. Yet, he does require different con-figurations throughout a course. “InPlaywriting, for example, we begin thesemester in the standard lecturearrangement, with me at the lecternand the students as the audience. Wesplit into groups midway through thecourse, then we return to the lectureformat to wrap up.”
For Altimont, the building’s covered walkway is reminiscent of thecloisters at Canterbury Cathedral,
which he visited two years ago with hiswife and daughter. “It creates a placefor students and faculty to congregate;it’s already become a gathering space,”he explained. “Throughout the build-ing, there are nooks where you see people pausing to read or gathering tochat. It’s comfortable.” Meeting aca-demic needs across the curriculum iskey, says Altimont. “Trustee Hall is setup principally for teaching — we’veneeded that for a while. We could usemore facilities like this.”
Alan J. Al t imontAssociate Professor of English
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textbooks and notetaking, room to reference the text while the instructorlectures, room to sit back and concen-trate on the lecture,” Cashner explained.She says students appear comfortableand relaxed in the new facility. “Comfortis very important for learning — especially for freshmen. They’re alreadytense enough in their first semester ofcollege. The setting puts them at ease.”
The surroundings bolster the tonefor which Cashner strives. “Right nowthe students are working on their first
Ample space for learning is themost attractive element of Trustee Hall,according to Paulette Cashner, ’03.This fall, as a Freshman Studies intern,she assists Annette Lucksinger, anadjunct faculty member, with Rhetoricand Composition I, which meets weekly in Trustee Hall. Their course islinked to the Introduction to LiberalArts course, The Sixties, taught by SusanLoughran, professor of theater, andNeal Wise, professor of political science. “Students need room for
college papers,” she said. “They’re writ-ing about Malcolm X — the decisionshe made throughout his life and themoral reasoning he utilized in makingthose decisions. The students are nervous. I want to help them be at easewith their writing.” The seating areasincorporated into the building’s design,she notes, contribute to this sense ofease. “The students congregate to reviewnotes together and prepare for quizzes.They look like they’re having fun, wait-ing for class to start.”
Paulette Cashner, ’03Communication Major and Freshman Studies Intern
W r i t t e n b y C a r r i e J o h n s o n
P h o t o g r a p h y b y B i l l K e n n e d yS p a c e s
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For the Graduate School ofManagement, Trustee Hall has becomea programmatic hub. Nearly two-thirdsof its courses are taught there, and allbut three of its faculty members officethere. “It’s going to make the free flowof ideas easier,” said Marsha Kelliher,dean. “It also enhances our ability tocoordinate the curriculum. We arealready experiencing increased commu-nication among colleagues.”
More importantly, says Kelliher,Trustee Hall is meeting students’ expectations for their educational
Marsha Ke l l iherDean, Graduate School of Management
facilities. “Our students are workingprofessionals. After they’ve put in a fullday of work, they want to come to a comfortable environment that reflects a professional atmosphere and providesthe type of classroom format that sup-ports the way faculty teach graduate-level courses,” she explained.
Trustee Hall also demonstrates theuniversity’s commitment to providingpremier instructional technology,Kelliher contends. “The universityunderstands how important technologyis to our students’ educations. Having
the computer tower’s three computerclassrooms will allow us to accelerateincorporation of new technology —such as computer simulations — intoour courses.” Moving her office into thenew building has provided aestheticbenefits as well. “One of the things Ilike is that, in unexpected places, youfind unexpected things,” she said. “Youfind crosses on buildings across campusframed through this building’s win-dows. I find the views and this buildingto be very spiritual.” ■
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LAUNCH!“My staff did a great job, and we
were very happy to provide the designand production services necessary for aproject of this scale,” said Scott.
Not only did committee membersand programmers integrate the newweb site design with existing award-
winning marketing publica-tions, but they also workedto meet the needs of thosewho use the site most.Through usability testing,the committee surveyed faculty, staff, and currentand prospective students togauge the kinds of informa-tion they wanted from theweb site.
As a result, visitorscan browse the new “Vision andValues” section for the university’s history, mission statement,strategic priorities and cam-pus master plan. Currentstudents can link to a sepa-rate page that allows directaccess to essential informa-tion such as grades, onlineregistration and student lifeactivities. Members of themedia may reference thenews center for a universityprofile, downloadableimages, press releases, student population dataand campus media con-tacts. Prospective students,who often conduct initial collegeresearch via the web, can link directlyfrom the home page to online
Click here. Scroll down. Quicklinks. Welcome to the World WideWeb. What was once an optional pieceof technology is now one of the chiefways to find information. In August,the new St. Edward’s University website debuted on the information superhighway.
For the past year, theuniversity’s web marketingcommittee worked toredesign the web site. Thecommittee collaboratedwith content managersacross campus to convertexisting web pages to thenew design. Users immedi-ately notice the site’s newlook from the home page,which includes a prominent photographof campus, new quick link options anda news center with a rotating featurestory and weekly calendar of events.
“While our work on the web sitewill be ongoing, the redesign is a signifi-cant step, and we are proud to haveachieved it,” said Paige Booth, associatevice president of marketing and web mar-keting committee chair. “Our web site isa dynamic marketing and service tool.”
The committee included SherryScott, MLA ’02, web site manager;Tracy Manier, director of undergraduateadmission; Tom Evans, director of theCenter for Academic Progress; andStephanie Elsea, director of communi-cations. In addition, the instructionaltechnology web team and several con-tent area managers helped to completethe project.
applications and information regarding campus visits.
The university community cele-brated the web site’s new look with aweb site “makeover” event in the lobbyof the Robert and Pearle RagsdaleCenter. Promotional posters hungacross campus included before-and-afterpictures of students, showing theirtransformation from geek to chic.Participants at the makeover party navi-gated the site on large television screens,enjoyed refreshments, took home amagnet with the web site address andreceived autographed pictures fromTopper, the university mascot.Attendees submitted their names forprizes, including university web T-shirts, and Alicia Rivas, ’06, won thegrand prize, a makeover spa specialcourtesy of Bradz Salon. ■
By Mia Allen
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Associate Professor of Biology FidelmaO’Leary, and decided to act.
“Being able to help was a biggrowing experience,” said PatriciaPalacios, ’03, WIS president. “Ilearned to be more appreciative of whatI have.”
On Valentine’s Day, instead of theusual candy-gram fundraiser, WISbegan what would turn out tobe a semester-long project.They sent out campuswide e-mails, hung banners, postedflyers and set out collectionboxes. Their goal: to collectbasic items for the families whohad no possessions when theyarrived in Austin. The result:more than they could have everimagined. The university com-munity donated clothing, food,televisions, computers, furniture,microwaves, toasters, irons, dishes, textbooks and even an air purifier.
“We had a mini-Goodwill,”remembered Palacios. WIS had somany donations that they held twogarage sales with the items they couldnot give to the families. With the nearly$1,200 raised, they bought gift certifi-cates so that the families could buyother needed items.
But the project’s impact was worthmuch more than the contributions.Ray Mechler, MBA ’01, a SETONHealthcare Network employee, heardabout the project and enlisted hisdepartment. They helped raise money
An Afghan woman walks into agrocery store. Shots fire outside. Whenshe returns to the city street, she findsher husband lying dead on the pave-ment, the victim of a Taliban shooting.Forbidden to work, she could do littleto support her children. She fled toPakistan where she and her familyawaited passports to the United States.Early this year, she arrived in Austinwith her daughter and three sons. Asecond woman, in a similar situation,arrived soon after with her two daugh-ters. They came with nothing.
Caritas of Austin, a nonprofitorganization that assists families withbasic needs in times of crisis, was help-ing to house the women and children.Members of the St. Edward’s UniversityWomen in Science organization learnedof the refugees through their advisor,
and also offered assistance for anyrefugee family member seeking a job atSETON. Two New College studentswho worked for FOX 7 News receivedthe original e-mail asking for donationsand thought the WIS project wouldmake a gripping human-interest story.The story ran a few days later, andmore donations arrived.
Palacios remembers the childrenbeing so excited, pulling out sweatersfrom boxes. One of the daughters wasso happy to find nail polish that sheinstantly began painting her fingernails.One of the mothers was in tears. Shehad made a discovery at the bottom ofa box, something that her children hadnot always had the luxury of — socks.
“The community at large had agreat response,” said O’Leary. “Theygave things that any family would loveto have. I am very happy with the stu-dents in WIS because they went all out.It was a lot of work, but they did itwith great joy.” ■
By Stephanie Bazan, ’02
CatT H E C O M M U N I T Y :Wome n In Sc ie nce A id Afgha n R e fuge e s
Catalyzing
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François Dujarié watched anxiously as the French Revolution tore apart his
country. In secret, he trained to become a priest and was ordained for the
Diocese of Le Mans during the Reign of Terror.
In the aftermath of the revolution, he faced immense challenges. The revolution
had left many citizens uneducated and angry at the church. Schools were in
ruin, entire villages destroyed. He and his societies of brothers and sisters
began rebuilding, teaching children and ministering to families.
Ailing, Father Dujarié asked his friend, Father Basil Moreau, to assume
leadership of his society of brothers. Father Moreau accepted and invited the
brothers to join his association of priests, who were also committed to provid-
ing secondary education and pastoral ministry. In 1837, the priests and
brothers joined together to become the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Father Dujarié, Father Moreau and the men and women of their societies sim-
ply and steadfastly responded to the needs of their time — a tenet that would
define their mission and become the cornerstone for an institution founded
decades later on an Austin hilltop.
St. Edward’s and the Congregation of Holy CrossBy Stacia Hernstrom
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system of education at St. Edward’s ispractical and comprehensive, calculatedto form both the heart and the intellectof the student.”
From modern-day Bangladesh tothe Texas Hill Country, members of theCongregation of Holy Cross traveledfar from their home parish in Le Mansto build schools, teach and minister tohumanity. Members embraced the natural and social sciences, combiningthe disciplines with religious educationto create competent and compassionatecitizens.
“Even though we base our philosophy on faith, no one need fearthat we will confine our teaching withinnarrow and unscientific boundaries,”announced Father Moreau in 1849. “Wewill accept the discoveries of sciencewithout prejudice and in a manneradapted to the needs of our times. Wedo not want our students to be ignorantof anything they should know. We willalways place education side by side withinstruction. The mind will not be culti-vated at the expense of the heart.”
St. Edward’s University embodiesFather Moreau’s educational philosophy.From the moment Father EdwardSorin, who led Father Moreau’s U.S.delegation, called for the creation of aschool in Austin, the new school com-mitted itself to educating the hearts andminds of its students through classes inreligion, moral philosophy and secularsubjects. It also responded to a greatneed in the local community by provid-ing secular and religious education tothose who could not afford it.
In fact, the school’s 1887–1888catalog spelled out the congregation’seducational goal, echoing FatherMoreau’s declaration from almost fourdecades earlier: “The object of the insti-tution is to impart a thorough seculareducation based upon religion andmorality and to imbue its students withChristian principles while adorningtheir minds with useful knowledge anddeveloping their mental faculties. The
curriculum, the university was facingeconomic woes. In 1974, BrotherStephen Walsh, CSC, then president of St. Edward’s, convened a special taskforce to address the pressing concerns.
The task force resolved to revisethe curriculum, focusing on a new program for freshmen and a coursewith a moral reasoning component forupperclassmen. They hoped the newprograms would strengthen and provideuniformity for ethical instruction at St. Edward’s. In 1975 the FreshmanStudies program began, and Research inCritical Missions classes began twoyears later.
In the 1980s, administratorsreplaced what remained of Model Qwith a general education programdesigned to ensure that students weresuccessfully mastering the principlesoutlined in the university’s missionstatement. They created a set of classesthat all students at St. Edward’s wouldcomplete before graduating. Imple-mented in Fall 1991, the general educa-tion program included a three-hourethics component that allowed studentsto select from a handful of ethics courses based on their majors. TheHoly Cross commitment to cultivatingthe heart had returned in earnest.
“Father Moreau always had twoobjectives: to make competent citizensin society and to make competent citizens for Heaven,” said Brother JohnPerron, CSC, who served on BrotherStephen’s task force and directed theFreshman Studies program for 12 years.“Education was always an ethical issue,but it mostly involved applied ethics —identifying people who didn’t have aneducation and trying to provide that forthem. This motif resonates throughoutHoly Cross’s ministries.”
Not only did the universityrespond to its own curricular needs inthe latter part of the 20th century, itagain reached out to the Central Texascommunity to fulfill needs there. In1972, the College Assistance Migrant
“We will always place
education side by side with
instruction. The mind will
not be cultivated at the
expense of the heart.”
— Father Basil Moreau
hroughout the university’s history,cultivating the heart of studentshas taken many forms. In the1920s, sophomores enrolled in arequired ethics course. Freshmen
who were Catholic took a series ofPrinciples of Morality courses. In the1940s, every student completed 18hours of philosophy, and Catholic students took 10 hours of religioncourses. Courses in economics, sociolo-gy and politics delved into social justiceissues in greater detail. By the 1960s,every degree program included ethicsinstruction.
In the 1970s, the university adopted a curriculum called Model Q,which afforded students much choice inthe selection of classes. Though coursesin morality and religion were offered,many students opted to take moreclasses in their majors or other electivecourses. Coupled with a weakened
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Program began in the United States andat St. Edward’s. CAMP offered the children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers the opportunity to attend college by providing scholarships andacademic support. Without such assistance, CAMP students could rarelyafford a college education. If they could,they often lacked an on-campus supportsystem, which exacerbated academicfrustrations and cultural differences.Through CAMP, migrant studentsreceived the financial, academic andpsychological support they needed.
n 1974, St. Edward’s began tooffer undergraduate degree pro-grams to working adults throughthe New College program. Thesenontraditional students faced
obstacles to higher education that traditional universities could notaccommodate — jobs, families and community commitments. By offering evening and weekend classes, accelerated degree programs and coursecredit for real-world experience, NewCollege at St. Edward’s could providehigher education to a group of citizenspreviously unable to access it.
These two programs, coupled withthe recommendations of BrotherStephen’s task force and the general education revisions, have driven ethicaleducation at St. Edward’s for more thantwo decades. The Research in CriticalMissions course has evolved into arequired Capstone course where stu-dents demonstrate their understandingof moral responsibility and social justice.Freshman Studies continues to grow andjust this year implemented a communityservice requirement for all incoming students. The CAMP program celebrates30 years of operation this year, making itthe longest-running, continuously operating program of its kind in thecountry. New College announced recordenrollment for the Fall 2002 semesterand has graduated more than 1,500 students since its founding.
Leading in Business, EthicallyBy Joan Vand, ’03
Christina Garrison Moore, ’84, MSOLE ’02, pursued ethics long before itbecame a hot topic in the business world. In fact, the ethical lapses at Enron andWorldcom had not yet been publicized when she decided to enroll in the Master ofScience in Organizational Leadership and Ethics program at St. Edward’s.
Indeed, ethics has been important for Mooresince childhood. She attributes her earliestzeal for doing what is right to her father. Amarine engineer in a supervisory position —and the sole financial provider for a family ofseven — her father was asked to look theother way on safety regulations. “Rather thando that, he stepped down,” Moore explained,“which was a very tough decision for him tomake financially.”
She found herself drawn to the MSOLE program at St. Edward’s University. “The curriculum sounded very synergistic with thework I was doing,” Moore said. As director ofglobal employee communication at MotorolaSemiconductor, Moore strives to boost herqualitative approach to leadership, seekingtheories and models that match up with herwork experiences.
Employed in her field since her senior year atSt. Edward’s and at Motorola since 1993,Moore’s ethical decision making has bothhelped to promote her professional careerand caused some difficulties. She says valuesare “so much a part of me that some peopleare threatened that I come across so strong,that I know what I believe.”
Her technique for nurturing positive relation-ships is as important to Moore as advancing ethics in the workplace. “Position yourthinking instead of adamantly stating, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ Query, try to under-stand more of what’s going on, and then perhaps come up with another solution thataccomplishes the same objective,” she advises.
Constance Porter, adjunct professor of the MSOLE program, recognizes Moore’s talent for combining strength with compassion. “I am most impressed with her abilityto communicate some difficult things in a loving way.”
Moore — a summa cum laude undergraduate set to complete the MSOLE program inDecember 2002 — can whip out a theoretically and academically correct definition ofethics. However, she lives by a personal definition created in Foundations of Ethics, aclass taught by Porter. Moore’s credo avows, “Do as I do — because it is congruentwith what I say.”
Vand is a New College student majoring in English.
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And curricular innovations continue today. In recent years, facultymembers in the Undergraduate College,New College and the graduate schoolshave begun to shape ethics courses tomore effectively meet their students’unique needs.
n Fall 2000, the School ofBusiness Administration imple-mented an ethics component inevery business course its under-graduates take. Faculty members
had discussed the idea for three years,spurred by an on-campus presentationon the Catholic intellectual traditionand by informal discussions with com-munity business leaders.
“Local business leaders looked atSt. Edward’s, and they expected our students to be well equipped in moralreasoning and ethics,” said FrankKrafka, dean of the School of BusinessAdministration. “They were excited tointerview and hire St. Edward’s graduates because they knew theywould have that ethical framework.”
To better meet those expectations,the School of Business Administrationresolved to examine and strengthen itsethics curriculum as part of a four-yearstrategic plan in 1999. A committee ofbusiness faculty members crafted a proposal to accomplish the goal andpresented it in Spring 2000. Theschool’s faculty members unanimouslyapproved the plan.
“Our faculty members are committed to teaching — to imbuingstudents with the framework to makemorally sound decisions, to put it all inperspective,” said Krafka. “We seizedthe opportunity to integrate the mis-sion and traditions of Holy Cross intoour curriculum as a business schoolwhile addressing what was an obviousneed for the community.”
The creation of the Center forEthics and Leadership at St. Edward’sin 1999 catalyzed university efforts byproviding faculty workshops, copiousreference material, lectures by renownedethicists and educators, and expertguidance from Phillip Thompson, thecenter’s director.
At a workshop hosted by the center in 2000, faculty members from a variety of disciplines in theUndergraduate College joined togetherto more systematically infuse ethics intothe university’s curriculum. Over thenext year, they developed common ethical terminology for professors to usein classes. They expanded the ethicalcomponents of three existing courses:Freshman Studies, American Dilemmasand Capstone. They then defined learn-ing objectives for each course so thatstudents were introduced to progres-sively complex ethical issues.
From design to implementation,the Moral Reasoning Across theCurriculum initiative took less than 15months — a rare feat in academia.“Faculty members at St. Edward’s areparticularly interested in workingtogether,” said Professor of Theater andCapstone Director Susan Loughran,who spearheaded the effort. “There is asense of the whole rather than the parts,and we’re all working for the good ofthe university. What draws facultymembers to St. Edward’s is the fact thatthe university cares about values andmoral reasoning. It cares about thewhole person — not just the cognitiveperson but the spiritual person and thesocial person as well.”
Loughran has presented the MoralReasoning Across the Curriculummodel nationwide to educators who areimmediately struck by the initiative’sfar-reaching scope. “There is a need forthis around the country,” she said.“Schools are feeling, as we were, thatstudents are not prepared to deal withthose kinds of challenges. For us, it wasall predicated on our university’s
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USINGHICS
By Michelle Martinez, ’01
Phillip Thompson decided hewanted to change professions afterworking as a successful trial lawyer fornine years. He traded the courtroom forthe classroom in pursuit of a moremeaningful career where he could makea difference in people’s lives.
“I wanted to go from success tosignificance,” said Thompson. “I havealways believed that higher educationserved as a catalyst for positive changesin the community, so I decided to pursue a career in academic life.”
Thompson returned to the worldof academia to pursue his doctorate inthe history of culture at the Universityof Chicago, where he met his mentor,Jean Bethke Elshtain. “Dr. Elshtainreally got me interested in studyingethics,” he said. “She is a world-classscholar who combines an incrediblemind with a great sense of compassionand integrity. To have learned fromsomeone of that quality was a tremen-dous mentoring experience for me.”
It also was an experience he hopedto give his own students when, afterreceiving his doctorate, Thompson cameto St. Edward’s University in July 1999as the Patricia A. Hayes Professor ofEthics and director of the newly createdCenter for Ethics and Leadership.
Thompson first set out to establishgoals for the new center, including anationally recognized initiative to incor-porate ethics across the university’s cur-riculum. He also participated in thedevelopment of the Master of Sciencein Organizational Leadership and Ethicsprogram, one of the only master’s pro-grams in the country that marries thetwo fields. The MSOLE program willgraduate its first class this year.
As a teacher, Thompson has developed classes on many ethicalissues, including business ethics, warand justice, legal ethics, theological perspectives, and genetics and ethics.Thompson educates students on how to think critically and act ethically byusing real-life situations in his lessons.In his recent class on war and justice,for example, students participated indebates and developed a policy analysison the possibility of war with Iraq.
“Ethics is about how we livedecently with one another,” Thompsonsaid. “Teaching students about how totreat each other justly and fairly con-tributes to a more ethical world. I canhelp shape the whole person by infus-ing them with a sense of ethics.”
Thompson takes his passion forethics into the Austin community aswell. Under his guidance, the Centerfor Ethics and Leadership recently part-nered with the Austin Samaritan Centerfor Counseling and Pastoral Care forthe first-ever Business Ethics Awardsheld in November (see story, page 24).
Thompson has served as a consultant for Austin Lyric Opera’supcoming production of Dead ManWalking. He also has worked withM.D. Anderson Cancer Center todevelop a teaching module to help highschool students learn about the rela-tionship between ethics and genetics.
During his tenure at St. Edward’s,Thompson has personalized ethics forhis students and brought attention toethical issues facing the Austin commu-nity. By educating others about theimportance of ethics, Thompson says hehas gained a sense of accomplishmentand, most importantly, significance.
“My job is something I really enjoybecause I think that there is a certainpurpose to my work,” he explained.“There is meaning to teaching ethicsbecause students know this affects theirlives. Having the peace that comes fromfeeling as if you’re doing something goodfor people is very important for me.” ■T
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mission statement. We talked aboutwhat the mission statement charged usas faculty members to actually do — tomake sure our students thought aboutand grappled with moral reasoningthroughout their college careers.”
Since the mid-1990s, New Collegefaculty members have taught moral reasoning skills through a series of threeMission Courses. Designed to accomplish the same goals as the under-graduate Moral Reasoning Across theCurriculum program, the courses focusmore on adult students. In CriticalInquiry, students acclimate themselvesto college-level learning and begin toreflect on the values and obligationsthat personally drive them. In EthicalAnalysis, students contemplate personalmoral dilemmas while learning aboutand applying philosophical and ethicalconcepts through assignments and dis-cussions. In Capstone, like traditionalundergraduates, students analyze asocial issue in depth and examine itsethical implications.
“We try to tie each course to theuniversity’s mission statement in termsof critical thinking, human dignity andmoral reasoning skills,” said DanneyUrsery, associate professor of philosophyin New College. “It is part of our mission to instill in our students a senseof ethics, a sense of living a moral life.Our mission as adult educators is to create lifelong learners and good mem-bers of the community who are tolerantof other ideas and cultures, whichrequires the ability to think and reason.”
evelopment of ethics-based curric-ula has extended to graduate pro-grams as well. In Summer 1999, agroup of students in the Masterof Business Administration
program surveyed local business leadersto gauge interest in a graduate programin leadership. Overwhelmingly, the busi-ness community responded in support ofsuch a program and expressed interest inenrolling employees.
From Theory to PracticeBy Carrie Johnson
Marco Altamirano, ’03, founded the Ethics Bowl team at St. Edward’s in Spring2002. Collegiate Ethics Bowl competitions are similar to debate societies and quizbowls. The twist: student teams utilize their knowledge of ethical theories to addresspractical ethical problems, such as those that arise in the classroom, personal relation-ships, the workplace or science and health care.
After a moderator presents ascenario to be analyzed, oneteam discusses whether themoral agent’s reasoning andactions were morally justifiable.The second team responds to thefirst team’s answer, and thenjudges evaluate the answers forsoundness of reasoning, clarity,focus and depth.
“The substance of our debatewill draw directly on the moralreasoning tools we’ve gained inclasses at St. Edward’s,”Altamirano explained.
He says that the moral reasoning curriculum at St. Edward’s gives students stability by helping them under-stand the process they use toassess ethical dilemmas.
“By applying the ethical philosophies we’ve learned about, we’ll further clarify the limits and reach of their applicability. No doubt, we’ll develop our analytical abilitiesand articulation skills as we defend a stance from a philosophical perspective,” he said.
The four-member team is advised by Danney Ursery, associate professor of philoso-phy, and Phillip Thompson, the Patricia A. Hayes Professor of Ethics and director ofthe Center for Ethics and Leadership.
Inspired by the ethical debates in one of Thompson’s philosophy classes, Altamiranoinitiated formation of the team.
“The motivation and support at St. Edward’s lets us embrace the opportunity to partici-pate in the Ethics Bowl,” Altamirano said.
This fall, the team is recruiting additional members and developing its repertoire. Theybegin competition next spring.
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“We learned from the survey thatcompanies had all the managers theycould handle,” said Associate Professorof Management Allan Pevoto. “Whatthey said they needed were leaders whocould take their organizations into thenext century and do so ethically andmorally.” In response, St. Edward’s created the Master of Science inOrganizational Leadership and Ethicsprogram. Launched in Spring 2001, theMSOLE program focuses its curricu-lum on building relationships andteaching leaders to accept responsibility.The first cohort of MSOLE studentswill graduate in December. Its fifthcohort began this fall.
“If you think about the Holy Crosstradition of St. Edward’s, one of thethings that could always be said, one ofthe outcomes we have always stood for,is how the university can make our com-munity a better place,” said Pevoto, whodirects the MSOLE program. “That’swhat the MSOLE program is all about:If we do things morally and ethically,our communities will be better.” Andthe MSOLE program reaches far intothe community. Its students are businessexecutives, schoolteachers, nonprofitmanagers and government employees.
Whether in specific classes, in sin-gle programs or across the curriculum,ethics education at St. Edward’s createsresponsible, morally aware citizens whograduate prepared to tackle the prob-lems of their societies — just as FatherDujarié helped to rebuild his country,just as Father Moreau sent Holy Crossdelegations to teach and serve through-out the world, and just as Father Sorincreated St. Edward’s to serve Austin.
“With this kind of curriculum, wewill in fact graduate students who arecompetent to do moral reasoning inwhatever environment they find them-selves, in whatever careers they assume,”said Brother Perron. “As citizens of society, they will be able to contributetheir moral reasoning to create a morejust, more peaceful world.” ■
Ethical EnforcementBy Carrie Johnson
“Every day, in more ways than I probably realize, I utilize my ethics instruction,” saysDan Beck, ’03, lieutenant with the police department at St. Edward’s.
As a New College student majoring in criminal justice, the university curriculum hasafforded Beck many opportunities to continue the ethical training required of all Texaslaw enforcement officers. It’s also given him insight into his decision-making process.
“In classes, we have to discuss, give opinions, explain our reasoning — andwe’re held responsible for the decisionswe make. It carries more weight when Ican measure the ethics instruction againstmy own real-life experience,” Beckexplained.
“What impresses me about Dan is that herealizes the need for ethics education at adepth which is more complex than ethicstraining,” said Danney Ursery,associate professor of philosophy. InEthical Analysis, a course required of allNew College students, Beck often discovered connections between trainingmanuals provided to law enforcementofficers and material covered in the class.“In fact, some of those manuals could justas easily have been used as handouts inthe Ethical Analysis class,” Ursery said.
Beck says that education in moral reasoning has made him a better lawenforcement officer and that such knowledge has universal applications for“all students, whether they are in physicsor sociology or English.”
Treating people equitably, gathering factsand information, considering a person’sculture, and, sometimes, making snapdecisions that will have long-term conse-quences for the people involved — these are the duties of a police officer, says Beck.
“Ethics has a place in most decisions a person makes,” he explained. “As a supervisorwith the St. Edward’s police department, it’s my responsibility to treat my officers ethi-cally and to make sure that they treat others ethically in the course of their work.”
Ursery concurs. “Ethics is more than just having a viewpoint. Dan has incorporated thisinto his thinking.”
In the end, Beck says, “As an individual, you have to make the best decision possiblewhen faced with an ethical dilemma. It would be best if everyone studied religion, phi-losophy and ethics and then tried to implement that knowledge in their everyday life.”
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In recent years St. Edward’s University has experienced aquiet revolution. Long before ethics became a buzzword for business analysts and before paper shredders became accessoriesto white-collar crime, campus leaders at St. Edward’s Universitywere planning to better serve students — future business leaders— by preparing them to think critically and to employ ethicalpractices in the workplace.
The first step: development of a variety of programs, activities and curricula in ethics and moral reasoning. PhillipThompson, director of the Center for Ethics and Leadership,says there are three basic phases to shaping ethical graduates.“First, you begin with classroom instruction. Then you exposestudents to businesses and mentors who incorporate ethics intotheir work. The final step is creating ethical habits. Once students have learned about and seen others doing the rightthings, it’s crucial that they are required to participate in somekind of experiential learning to create those good habits withintheir personal work styles.”
As a small, private university, St. Edward’s has the flexibilityto respond to and work with the local business community’sneeds. “We enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with manyAustin-area businesses,” said Thompson. “The companies pro-vide us with the necessary mentors and internship opportunities,and in return, we are able to offer resources to help them developethics programs or to examine and refine existing programs.”
Earlier this year, the Austin Samaritan Center forCounseling and Pastoral Care decided the time was right tolaunch the first business ethics awards in central Texas. Theorganization needed help researching nominees, so members
Collaboration:
Ethics,St. Edward’s
AustinBy Stephanie Elsea
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contacted Thompson at the Center for Ethics and Leadership.Three local businesses, one nonprofit organization and oneindividual will be honored as leaders who have demonstrated aproven commitment to practicing the highest ethical stan-dards. Thompson created a steering committee to develop theethics criteria for judging and then helped to organize theawards selection team. Along the way, he realized the awardsoffered a tremendous opportunity for students at St. Edward’sand invited students from the Master of Science in Organi-zational Leadership and Ethics program to assist with detailedreviews of each nominee.
“I can’t even begin to speak to the amount of learningand personal growth I have experienced as a part of this pro-gram,” said Marie Krebs, MSOLE ’02, who is co-chairing ateam of MSOLE student leaders as part of her Capstone project. “I’ve spent more hours than I can even recall, but theopportunity to investigate the ethical practices of businessesand individuals has been invaluable. I have earned a deeperrespect and appreciation for the many good people and companies that are examples for the rest of us.”
Winners of the business ethics awards were announced in November.
Collaborative efforts with the local community are notreserved only for faculty and students. President GeorgeMartin recently initiated a series of Presidential Dialogues onEthics, which brings together small groups of communityleaders and expert panelists to inspire meaningful discussionon important issues.
“This is a very important role for St. Edward’sUniversity,” said Martin. “Our goal is to offer an appropriateenvironment for the community to engage in a seriousexchange of ideas about ethical challenges within a frameworkof moral reasoning.”
Held on Wednesday, Sept. 4, the first dialogue focused onethics and the arts post-Sept. 11. The topic reflected ongoingnational debate and criticism about the perceived lack ofresponse by the artistic community. Three panelists, Austin
American-Statesman arts critic Michael Barnes,local artist Jill Bedgood and St. Edward’sUniversity Professor of Theater Susan Loughran,led the discussion. While all three panelists agreedthat artists have no ethical obligations to respondto any event in their midst, they also agreed manyartists would do so instinctively. Panelists andapproximately 40 audience members discussed artas a medium for healing and introspection, andthey debated proposed plans for an Austin memorial to the victims of Sept. 11.
The second Presidential Dialogues on Ethicsevent, planned for February, will explore ethics
in business. To further facilitate learning both on campus and within
the community, the Center for Ethics and Leadership has pro-duced a series of videos explaining the educational approachused to teach ethics and moral reasoning at St. Edward’s. Thevideos explain the steps used in theMoral Reasoning Across theCurriculum initiative and illustratehow the program is implementedthrough Freshman Studies, AmericanDilemmas and Capstone classes.
“The tapes provide an importantresource for students that will supple-ment the ethics instruction in theclassroom,” Thompson said. Thetapes also may be used to train newfaculty members, to teach transferstudents who may have missed partof the curriculum and to assist students who may want a refresherbetween courses.
The teaching philosophy cap-tured on the videos may be repackaged as a university outreachprogram, helping business leadersprovide ethics training to employees.“We have already been approached bylocal organizations that are interestedin applying our model to their busi-nesses,” said Thompson. “Theseorganizations want to create a corpo-rate culture of integrity, which canchange the cycle of dishonesty and result in increased employee satisfaction, reduced turnover and fewer losses dueto abuse of company resources. Committing to ethical prac-tices and providing meaningful training and resources foremployees is a smart investment.” ■
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The seeds of ambition were planteddeep within Geronimo Rodriguez, ’90,early one morning as he watched theother kids board the school bus boundfor the seventh grade. Instead of joiningthem, 13-year-old Rodriguez remainedbehind to work in the fields with hisfamily. Seasonal migrant workers, theydepended on the meager wages eachmember earned harvesting crops acrossthe country for eight months each year.“I watched the bus drive away, and Imade a decision to do something different with my life,” he said.
When his family went on welfare,Rodriguez was angry at the lack ofopportunities for the poor, which onlystrengthened his resolve to do better.He worked hard in the fields during theday and even harder in night school,
Education.
Politics.
Sports.
Law.
Media.
Social Work.
Medicine.
Science.
Finance.
Ethics is everywhere.
Humans spend their days making
decisions, ethical and otherwise,
that affect themselves and their
communities. Here’s a look at three
St. Edward’s University alumni who
consistently challenge themselves to
make ethical decisions —
to do the right thing.
Politics. Geronimo Rodriguezeventually graduating with honors inthe top five percent of his high schoolclass. He attended St. Edward’sUniversity on a combination of a four-year academic scholarship and a CollegeAssistance Migrant Program scholar-ship. Soon after, Rodriguez earned hislaw degree from the University of Texasat Austin and quickly began climbingthe political ladder. He went on to runstate and presidential political cam-paigns and later served in the WhiteHouse Office of Congressional Affairsand as the counsel to the solicitor at theU.S. Department of Labor.
Inside the Washington beltway, hehad a close-up view of politicians usingtheir power to wield positive changes orabusing it for personal gain. His experi-ences taught him that while ethical
Politics.
Finance. 27
decisions may not always be the easiestand most popular choices, there is nosubstitute for doing the right thing. “It’seasy to get lost in the allure and powerof politics and to forget public service isan honor,” he said. “My parents taughtme to value hard work and integrity, andSt. Edward’s taught me to constantlychallenge myself. The combination hasallowed me to become a person that I,and they, can be proud of.”
Unlike many financial gurus,Susana Ornelas-Dade, ’90, doesn’tkeep an eye on each day’s stock marketnumbers. She keeps two — one fixedon the New York Stock Exchange, theother on the Mexican Stock Exchange.
She works as vice president offinancial planning for Banamex, theMexican division of Citigroup. Fromher desk in Mexico City, Mexico, shemonitors revenues and expenses; brain-storms ways to raise profits and reducecosts; and studies competitors’ numbers.Since Citigroup trades on the MexicanStock Exchange, the information shegathers is reported directly to theMexican government, not to mentionCitigroup shareholders and managers.
While many companies succumbto the demand for positive numbers,she focuses on accuracy. “Companies
are always under pressure frominvestors to do better, increase revenues,lower expenses, show consistent earnings growth,” said Ornelas-Dade.“That is the nature of the markets.However, corporate officers have amoral and legal responsibility to makesure that the information they provideis truthful — and not just whatinvestors want to hear.”
And she has many ears listeningfor the figures she prepares sinceCitigroup operates in more than 100countries. “Laws may be different acrossthe world, but the values on whichthose laws are based are the same every-where,” she said. “I apply my ethicalstandards regardless of the culture. It isthe only way to stay true to your values.”
Finding unity amid diversity is atenet Ornelas-Dade learned as an inter-national student at St. Edward’s. “The
Finance. Susana Ornelas-Dade most importantskill I learned at St. Edward’s wasthe ability to acceptand enjoy culturaldifferences,” shesaid. “It is impor-tant to appreciatethose differences inorder to work effec-tively with peopleand avoid misun-derstandings.”
But appreciat-ing diversity doesn’timpact her bottomline: “In the end,markets recognize and reward compa-nies that are honest and trustworthy,”said Ornelas-Dade. “The same can besaid for individuals, and within a cor-poration, each of us is accountable forour work.” — S.H.
In 2000, Rodriguez returned toAustin to practice law at Leonard FrostLevin & Van Court, where he focuseson municipal finance, bond, legislativeand administrative matters. Not fin-ished making a difference, Rodriguez isplanting the inspirational seeds of ethicsand integrity in another generation ofstudents. This fall at St. Edward’s, he isan adjunct professor in political scienceteaching Politics and the Media. — S.E.
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Three times a week ChuckNguyen, ’97, teaches yoga to a handfulof men in an empty room with a smallwindow. The room is nestled in themiddle of a facility better known forbars and locked gates than deep breathing and meditation — the MaineState Prison where Nguyen is a clinicaltherapist.
He holds classes, like the yoga ses-sions, for small groups of prisoners;organizes speakers to talk about stressmanagement; and presents slide showsabout art and travel. He counsels indi-vidual prisoners every week, trying tounearth the internal motivations andbehavioral patterns of each man so thattogether they can work to change them.He also assesses every prisoner whoenters the prison system and recom-mends a course of psychological treatment for each.
“Ultimately, the goal is to develophealthy living strategies and copingmechanisms,” said Nguyen. “Prisonerslearn as differently and uniquely as students do, whether it is math skills orliving skills. It is important to imple-ment programs and resources to reflectthose diverse learning needs.”
While Nguyen champions educa-tion and counseling, he must success-fully balance the well-being of individ-ual prisoners, the prison communityand the outside community where pris-oners may one day find themselves. Incounseling sessions he must decidewhich ideas should remain confidentialand which constitute a threat to other
prisoners. He must work closely withprison security officers to identify pris-oners who need additional psychiatrictherapy.
To resolve these ethical dilemmas,he first challenges himself. “The mostimportant strategy when working within a difficult environment is howyou present yourself,” said Nguyen,who remembers the example set forhim by the social work faculty at St. Edward’s. “You have to be open-minded and eager to learn if you wantthe same from your clients.”
Despite the tough work and eventougher choices he sometimes makes,Nguyen is committed to helping others.“I learned the fundamental concept ofservice through the lives of the Brothersof Holy Cross,” said Nguyen. “Trueservice cannot be discriminatory or iso-lationist. It has to be present and avail-able to all who request it.” — S.H. ■
Social Work. Chuck Nguyen
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70s
60s
50sWalter Mackey, ’50, taughtschool for 30 years. The majority ofhis classes were industrial arts.Walter was a carpenter in WorldWar II and in the Navy Seabees. Helooks forward to reaching his 80thbirthday on Jan. 1.
Joseph J. Kumhera, ’61, was aHoly Cross Brother for 12 yearsand retired this year from teachingafter 42 years. He works part timeat Eastern Mountain Sports to keepin touch with people and learnabout new outdoor gear. He andhis wife, Anne Marie, celebratedtheir 33rd wedding anniversary onApril 26. Anne Marie is a biologyteacher and director of religiouseducation at St. Peter’s Parish inNorth Ridgeville, Ohio. Their son,Glen, teaches at the University ofAkron and is earning a doctoratein medieval history from theUniversity of Chicago.
Rev. Paul J. Nomellini, ’63,retired from active administrationto a cottage on the lake nearFlorence, Wis., after 25 years as apriest for the Diocese of Marquettein Michigan.
Michael Lessner, ’64, retired inMay after 38 years as a teacher.When he and his wife, Sherry, mar-ried in 1963, he was the only mar-ried student at St. Edward’sUniversity. He did his studentteaching at St. Edward’s HighSchool in the old carriage houseand has taught continuously since1964. Mike plans to play lots ofgolf and work part time untilSherry retires next year. In October2003 they will retire in Wimberly.
Michael F. L’Annunziata, ’65,provides short courses to institu-tions throughout the country,including Los Alamos NationalLaboratory and Oak Ridge NationalLaboratory. His paper on the analy-sis of yttrium-90 will be publishedin Applied Radiation and Isotopes.
Theodore A. Benton, ’65,recently gave a seminar on hypno-sis and children at the nationalconvention for the American Boardof Hypnotherapy in Irvine, Calif. Helives in Winchester, Mass.
Larry Maurer, ’65, is IT adminis-trator for Earth Balance, an envi-ronmental consulting companybased in North Port, Fla. He occa-sionally teaches as an adjunct pro-fessor at Edison CommunityCollege. Larry and his wife, Sharon,have five grown children. Sharon isa special education teacher andprogram planner at Neil ArmstrongElementary School.
Andre Guerrero, ’68, received adoctorate in education and socialpolicy from Harvard University. Forthe past 10 years, he has been anofficial with the ArkansasDepartment of Education in LittleRock, where he currently is direc-tor of programs for Language-Minority Students in Arkansas andthe department’s U.S. Title VIIdirector.
Bill “Straw” Hopfensack, ’69,married for the first time inNovember 2000. In attendancefrom St. Edward’s University wereMichael Dillard, ’69, MichaelMcEwen, ’69, Bill Hickey, ’69,and Don Davis, ’69.
The Rev. Canon RobertJohnson Brooks, ’70, organizeda multinational corporate coalitionto join the religious community insuccessfully lobbying Congress forfunding of debt relief for poorcountries. He is rector of St. Paul’sChurch in Willimantic, Conn.
Alberto Vadas Kuhn, ’70, hasworked at Conaculta as director ofLa Tallera Casa Estudio de DavidAlfaro Siqueiros for nearly sevenyears. He also is president of theCultural Fundación Morelos inCuernavaca, Mexico.
Dear Alumni Community:The Alumni Association has had a busy summer and fall.We have hosted gatherings from Chicago to Washington,D.C., to the major cities in Texas. Over 40 alumni haveparticipated in college fairs and have spoken with future“Hilltoppers” about their SEU experiences. In July, wewere 500 strong at a Round Rock Express baseball game.Our Alumni Association continues to provide venues foryou to come together with other St. Edward’s alumni.Check out the calendar of upcoming events in this issue,and make plans to join us for our next big alumni gather-ing — Reunion 2003. I look forward to seeing you there.
My first contact with Dr. Sutherland came in1990, as I entered New College. For 12 years,our relationship evolved from professor-stu-dent to deep friendship. Her enthusiasm formy budding abilities, whether my focus wason a project or a dream, seemed withoutlimit. She played a major role in changingthe direction of my life, and from her exam-ple I learned how to live with greater satis-faction and fulfillment than I ever believedpossible. Two years ago I sent her a five-yearcollection of weekly columns I write for apaper. She called me, and her first remarkswere, “Oh, Bob, there’s a book here. Do it!”I did. My first book, Exemplary Parenting,will be published later this year. It is dedicat-ed to Kay.
Bob Jones, ’95, MAHS ’02
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Kay Sutherland was my first instructor uponentering New College in 1991. At 59, I wasas nervous as a child approaching her firstkindergarten class the day I peeked in Dr.Sutherland’s office and saw her reading at adesk piled high with papers. As if sensing myanxiety, she immediately put me at ease byoffering me a chair and talking to me as if Iwere an old acquaintance.
Linda Reynolds, ’93
Kay Sutherland, professor of anthropology at St. Edward’sUniversity, passed away on May 11 after a long battle with leukemia.
Sutherland came to St. Edward’s in 1988 and inspired her peers andstudents with her wisdom, wit and zeal. She is remembered here by a handful of themany students and faculty members whose lives she touched.
■ ■ ■
In 1993 I signed up for New College to com-plete my degree so that I could go to semi-nary. The first course I took was Mythology,Values and Culture with Dr. Sutherland. Ithink it was the best course that I took in allmy college experience, seminary included.Dr. Sutherland opened up a whole new wayof looking at the stories that have shapedand formed us and at the ways in which wegive meaning to a confusing world throughmyth. I use what I learned from her everyweek.
Reverend Sue Abold, ’95
Remembering
Kay
For more pictures and memories, visit the web sitecreated by Kay's husband, Jim McCulloch, atccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~ifza600/kweb/dedication.html.
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ALUMNIASSOCIATION
BOARD OFDIRECTORS
Paul J. Tramonte, ’91, ChairEliseo Elizondo, ’87, MBA ’98,
Vice Chair
MEMBERSAnnette Chavez, ’92
Dario Gutierrez Jr., ’74 Bob Lucash, ’72
Father Ray John Marek, OMI, ’83Dawn Lotti-Martinez, ’92Fred McNair, hs ’63, ’67
Bruce Mills, ’90Frank Moore, hs ’63Bob Oppermann, ’56
Tony Pompa, ’94Donna Rodriguez, ’87
Chris Ryan, ’81Pattie Slovacek, ’96Simone Talma, ’91Ken Tedesco, ’71
Leslie Karen (Butterworth)Ball, ’71, retired from the U.S. AirForce. She is self-employed as amassage therapist in San Antonioand is pursuing a master’s degreein oriental medicine.
Christine “Chris” McDermott,’74, and her husband, Mark, arefirst-time grandparents. They live inDayton, Ohio, and may be reachedat [email protected].
Melita “Gigi” Rodriguez, ’74,received the 2002 Excellence inScience Teaching Award from theTexas Medical Association. She livesin Laredo.
Rudolfo “Rudy” Guerra, ’75,retired from the U.S. SmallBusiness Administration as a per-sonnel officer after 30 years ofservice, including six and a halfyears in the Marines.
John B. McMillan, ’75, retiredfrom Southwestern Bell in 1999.He occupies his time with skydiv-ing, car racing and motorcycle rac-ing and lives in Cedar Creek.
Dennis M. Clough, ’76, was re-elected mayor of Westlake, Ohio, inNovember 2001 to a fifth consecu-tive term. He completed HarvardUniversity’s Senior Executives inState and Local Government sessionin July 2002.
Mitzi (McKool) Gadway, ’76,graduated from the University ofNorth Texas on Aug. 10 with a mas-ter’s degree in counselor educa-tion. Her husband, John, and class-mate Maureen (Flynn) Gavin,’76, cheered Mitzi on as she washooded. Mitzi works for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD as a counselor atSilver Lake Elementary School. Shehas four sons, Eric, 20, Sam, 18,Clay, 17, and Mack, 13, and twostepsons, Matt, 16, and David, 11.
Dora (Rios) Gamez, ’77, andJose A. Gamez, ’78, are first-timegrandparents of a granddaughter,Victoria. They live in McAllen.
70sCONT.■ ■ ■
Kay was a force of nature with a smile, and she loved to laugh.She was my mentor, friend and guide. We dissected goals, lifeand, especially, love. Reminiscing about Belize, we favored theRum Punch, a 40-ft. wooden sailboat. Heading back to shorewith a crew of students and adventurers, we danced in the rainto keep warm. Anyone that knew her knows they always will. Ilove, miss and am grateful for Kay.
Periwinkle Dove Ferguson, ’98
■ ■ ■
I could have never imagined how one weekend would changethe course of my life. Kay invited her classes to her home tobuild a Hogan [a Navajo ceremonial house]. I met her sisterwho owned a ranch across the street. Soon, I was riding horsesand realizing a life-long dream of owning my own horse. Kay’sfriend, Catherine, would eventually move into the finished Hoganand become my best friend. Had I not taken Kay’s class, come toher home that weekend and remained friends, I would havemissed the wonderful life I have today. Kay’s belief in me helpedme believe in myself. Her energy and spirit will remain in myheart forever.
Marcia Zwilling, ’01
■ ■ ■
Kay truly loved anthropology and loved sharing her stories andexperiences. After returning from a recent business trip fromIreland, my wife presented me with a book of Celtic mandalas. Iwas so excited that I actually understood the meaning behind thepictures. I wanted to tell Kay about the experience and get herinsight into the drawings. It was only days later that I learned ofher passing. I never got to thank her for the gift of herself that I,and many others, received. I hope and pray that Kay knew shemade a difference in a lot of lives.
Mick Carson, ’02
■ ■ ■
Kay Sutherland: when she came into a classroom, the air becamecharged with intellectual energy. At once, you knew that youwere in the presence of a Thinker. No student’s idea was passedover in haste. When you spoke to Kay, she gave you her fullattention. Her words were always surprising and left you indeeper waters, spiritually.
Brilliant, funny, a fascinating storyteller, Kay was, above all, kind.Just a little contact with Kay, as her student, left me inspired tobe a smarter and better person.
Clair LaVaye, ’02
80s
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:Working Together: Roger Beasley MazdaA strong and ethical business environment.Highly motivated workers. An understand-ing of family. These are the qualities thatRoger Beasley Mazda, Inc., wants for itsorganization, says Jim Bagan, ’84, co-owner. To him, it made sense to hire fellowSt. Edward’s University alumni for his man-agement team.
Steve Tonsi, ’83, MBA ’89, who joinedthe company one year ago after a success-ful career with Dell Computer Corporation,is CFO of Beasley Automotive Group.Robbie Hutton, ’81, is general managerof Roger Beasley Mazda South and hasbeen with the company the longest, about10 years. Tim Tobin, ’93, general managerof Roger Beasley Mazda Bastrop, joined thecompany seven years ago. EmilioMorales, ’94, a five-year member of the
team, is business manager of Dollar Rent Car and Sales.
“St. Edward’s has been talking recently about its approach to ethicseducation in business. But for me, it’s something the school has beendoing since the 1980s. I experienced it there, and the guys I’ve hiredexperienced it, too,” Bagan said.
“In fact, the university sends a lot of folks to us through internshipsand the MBA Capstone program. Our former professors send us theirstudents — and their business. I encourage all SEU students or alumnito consider us for internships, networking or job opportunities. We tryto stay close to the university and support many of its programs.”
In addition to offering internships to students from St. Edward’s, RogerBeasley Mazda has provided support to university intercollegiate ath-letics. The business is the title sponsor of the Mazda Fall BasketballClassic Dec. 6–7.
The company’s commitment to education extends to the AustinIndependent School District. Morales leads the company’s efforts withthe Partners in Education program, through which Mazda South hasadopted a local elementary’s fourth grade class. As vice president ofthe Automobile Dealers Association, Bagan serves on the board of theCapital Area Training Foundation. The group runs one of the leadingprograms in the nation, aimed at helping high school students prepareto enter college or the work force. “For some kids, the program helpsthem decide on a field of work,” Bagan said. “For others, it providesinspiration to go ahead and pursue college.”
Employ or work with fellow St. Edward’s alumni? Let us know, and we’ll feature your business or organization.E-mail [email protected].
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Benjamin Calvo, ’78, is a fourthdegree black belt and teaches self-defense courses in Georgetown.
The Rev. M. Carolyn Self-Sager,’78, is a minister in the EvangelicalLutheran Church in America inCuero.
Gloria A. Trevino, ’78, has a 15-month-old grandson named Austynafter Austin, Texas. She lives inGreensburg, Penn.
Romelia Isabel Mena, ’79, is ateacher at Little Village Academy inChicago, Ill.
Correction: In the July issue, weincorrectly listed Mary JaneCashman, ’77, in the “InMemoriam” section. Cashmanretired from Rio Salado CommunityCollege in 1999 and currently livesin Scotsdale, Ariz.
Maxine (Friedman) Endy,MAHS ’83, is relocating from NewYork City to Westchester, Penn. Sheis retiring from the New York CityBoard of Education and will workfor the Pennsylvania Department ofEducation as the ESL monitoringcoordinator for the southeasternregion. She has two sons and adaughter.
Anwar A. Mohammed, MBA ’83,completed a master’s degree inengineering from San Jose StateUniversity in San Jose, Calif., onMay 25.
Maureen Ryan, ’83, attended thefirst Communion of her goddaugh-ter, Hannah Grisemer, at St. Patrick’sChurch in Corpus Christi on May19. Hannah is the daughter of Lea(Vander Zee) Grisemer, ’83.
Richard “Rick” W. Williams,’85, was selected as a semifinalistin the United InventorsAssociation/Inventors’ Digestnational new products hunt. Rick
spent more than three years devel-oping the patent-pending PersonalEvaluation Tool (PET). The PETdevice helps terminal patients stayin touch with nurses and doctorsvia the World Wide Web and canalso be used as an early warningmonitoring device.
Gregory S. Rowin, ’86, is med-ical director of Valley Ear, Nose &Throat Specialists in Harlingen.
Leilani A.M. (Balke) Ames, ’87,graduated from Johns HopkinsUniversity in 1999 with a master’sdegree in computer science andbecame a Microsoft CertifiedSolutions Developer (MCSD) in2000. She currently is pursuingSun Microsystems certification as aJava developer and will continuetoward the J2EE certification.
Maria “Ali” DelaGarza, ’87, andSalvador DelaGarza, ’86, cele-brated their 12th year of marriage.They have three children, Angelica,10, Nicholas, 8, and Camilla, 3, andlive in Georgetown.
Louise Henson, ’87, completedmedical school in 1999 at the UTMedical Branch–Galveston. She ispreparing to join a group practice.
Elizabeth (Garcia) Nichols, ’87,MBA ’90, is director of theCorporate Internship Program atJuan Diego Catholic High School, acoeducational, college preparatoryschool established by the Dioceseof Austin. It is the first school of itskind in Texas and the third of itskind in the United States. Elizabethand her husband, Bill, and theirtwo children, Garrick, 5, andIsabella, 2, reside in DrippingSprings. She may be reached [email protected].
Toby H. Futrell, ’88, was unani-mously promoted to city managerin April by the Austin City Council.Toby began her career with the cityas a clerk with the health depart-ment in 1985.
70sCONT.
(standing, from left) Emilio Morales, ’94;Jim Bagan, ’84; Steve Tonsi, ’83, MBA’89 (seated, from left) Robbie Hutton,’81; and Tim Tobin, ’93
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FUTURE HILLTOPPERSTo Jason Killough, ’91, and Linda Killough, daughter Maria Therese
on July 2.
To Mandi (Stark) Cournoyer, ’92, and Michael Cournoyer, ’92,son Ross Sterling on Aug. 17.
To Dawn (Costantino) Kinateder, ’93, and James Kinateder, ’92,son Matthew David on Aug. 5.
To Raquel (Espinoza) Cavazos, ’95, and David Cavazos of McAllen,daughter Sabrina Raquel on Sept. 14, 2001.
To Melissa (Serenil) Grimison, ’97, of Westminster, Colo., son Kian Lance on April 9.
To April (Martin) Bridges, ’98, and Brian Bridges, daughterMargaret Elizabeth on Sept. 2.
To Kathy Ann (Thomas) McCormick, ’00, and Anthony BennettMcCormick, son Caleb Bennett on July 17.
To Christie Gaderson, ’01, and Derrick Gaderson, son CooperMarine on June 5.
Rebecca (Chavis) Coats, ’90,graduated from the UT HealthScience Center Medical School inHouston and completed familypractice residency training inKlamath Falls, Ore. Currently, sheis a family doctor in Gonzales andis preparing to move to Austin tostart a private family practice. Sheand her husband, Brian, have oneson, Jackson.
Delisa (Hogan) Johnson, ’90,has been teaching special educa-tion for seven years at GarrisonHigh School in Garrison. She hasbeen married for 11 years and hastwo sons, Justin Todd, 8, andJoshua Taylor, 5. She may bereached at [email protected].
David L. Bohmfalk, ’91, is LawEnforcement Training Coordinatorfor the Pleasanton campus ofCoastal Bend College. He recentlyretired from the Texas State Guardas sergeant first class and opera-tions & training NCO for the head-quarters of the First Military PoliceBrigade.
Margaret Juarez Gomez, ’91, ison the Democratic Party ballot forTravis County Commissioner onNov. 5. She encourages everyone tovote in the upcoming elections.
Sherry (Holliday) Miller, ’91,has been teaching in Houston forthe past 10 years.
Tom Drohner, ’92, earned a mas-ter’s degree in education from theUniversity of Wisconsin–StevensPoint in 2002. He is in his eighthyear teaching children with learn-ing disabilities at Stevens Point AreaSenior High. Tom won a secondconsecutive Wisconsin Division 1state championship in softball ashead coach. He and his wife, Kate,have been married for eight years.They have three children, D.J., 5,Aubrey, 4, and Avery, 2.
Yvette Flores, ’92, earned a mas-ter’s degree in community andregional planning from UT–Austinin May. She continues to work as aplanner for an Austin consultingfirm and may be reached [email protected].
Dr. Melissa (Tansiongco)Hocate, ’92, graduated from UTHealth Science Center MedicalSchool in Houston in 1996. Shecompleted an internal medicineresidency in 1999 at theWashington Hospital Center inWashington, D.C. She currently isfinishing her specialty training inrheumatology.
MARRIAGESMarijean (Hansen) Leipold, ’75, to Kent Leipold, living in Austin.
Susan Marie Greenwood, ’90, to Paul McCormick III on April 27,living in Billings, Mont.
Sherry (Holliday) Miller, ’91, to Troy Miller on June 20, living inHouston.
Ludy Avila, ’93, to Joe Studer on Aug. 31.
Ruben Villareal, ’96, to Kari Jean Baldridge on June 22, living inDallas.
Elida (Juarez) Solis, ’97, to William Brock Solis on Nov. 17, livingin Laredo.
Mindy (Grasmeder) Ramirez, ’98, to Jorge Ramirez, MBA ’00,on May 18, living in Austin.
Minerva Lara, ’00, to Adrian Hernandez, ’99, living in Austin.
Ashley Ann (Kallus) Reese, ’00, to Grant Matthew Reese on April 6,living in Houston.
Keri Ronice (King) Wright, ’02, to Kyle James Wright II on Aug.17, living in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Elida (Juarez) Solis, ’97, and Mindy (Grasmeder) Ramirez, ’98, met as potluckroommates at St. Edward’s during their freshman year. Seven years later, theyboth married and served as each other’s maid and matron of honor. Pictured(left to right) at Solis’s rehearsal dinner in Laredo are Bill Solis, Elida Solis,Mindy Ramirez and Jorge Ramirez, MBA ’00.
MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING
Cole E. Holmes, MAHS ’92, isdirector of advising and academicadvisor III at UT–Austin’s McCombsSchool of Business. Cole was select-ed as an Outstanding Advising Awardwinner in the academic advisingadministrator category during the2002 National Academic AdvisingAssociation’s awards program. Theaward was presented in Salt LakeCity, Utah, during the annual nation-al conference in October.
James Kinateder, ’92, is manag-er of information technology for anational company. He and his wife,Dawn (Costantino) Kinateder,’93, have three children, Richard,5, Michael, 3, and Matthew, threemonths, and live in Missouri City.
Terry Maxfield, ’92, works as afreelance production manager forcommercials in Los Angeles, Calif.
Parona Pease, ’92, was votedTeacher of the Year by her col-leagues at Booker T. WashingtonElementary in Elgin.
Mona Hicks, ’93, is senior director of student activities atVanderbilt University. In 2003 shewill begin a doctoral program.
Raquel (Espinoza) Cavazos,’95, works for Abbott Laboratoriesas a senior sales pharmaceuticalsrepresentative in McAllen. Sheearned an MBA from UT–PanAmerican in 1999.
Yolanda Raquel Guzman, ’96,is a project manager with EncoreProductions, an event managementcompany in Round Rock.
Richard Lee Buangan, ’97, isvice consul at the Americanembassy in Paris, France.
Eva Mackey, ’97, graduated frommedical school on May 26 and hasbeen matched for a residency infamily medicine in Denver, Colo.After she completes three years oftraining, she will be a board-certi-fied family medicine physician. Sheplans to pursue further educationand certification in hypnosis, psy-chotherapy, manipulation andnaturopathic medicine.
Perry Pack, ’97, has moved fromteaching in Fort Worth to workingin Austin as a parent advocacy
coordinator for the Catholic SchoolSuperintendents of Texas.
Elida (Juarez) Solis, ’97, is aparalegal specialist for the U.S.Customs Service. She may bereached at [email protected].
Mohammad Samir Syed, ’97,earned a master’s degree in economics from San Jose StateUniversity in San Jose, Calif., onMay 25.
Celia Thompkins, ’97, recentlystarted her own business in Austin.Interactive Solutions merges orga-nizational planning, individualdevelopment and results manage-ment. She may be reached on theweb at solutions.my-lmi.com.
Charles Borders, ’98, received amaster’s degree in healthcareadministration from TrinityUniversity in San Antonio inDecember 2001. He began medicalschool at UT–Houston in August.
J. Carlos Cantu, ’98, was namedassistant director of admission atSt. Edward’s University in the Officeof Undergraduate Admission. Hewill complete an MBA with a con-centration in information systemsin 2003.
CALENDAR OFEVENTS
Dec. 14Dallas Service Project
Salvation Army9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Dec. 18SEU Men’s Basketball
vs. Rice UniversityAt Rice University
Feb. 14–16Reunion 2003
Everyone is invited!(more on page 35)
Shirley Currier, ’93, will gradu-ate in August 2003 from Our Ladyof the Lake University in SanAntonio with a master’s degree inclinical psychology. Currently sheholds a 4.0 GPA and works as anoutpatient chemical dependencycounselor for UT–Houston.
35
A L U M N I N O T E S
Alu
mni P
rofile
: Barbara Irvine, MBA ’74Like blue eyes, music runsin the family for BarbaraIrvine, MBA ’74. Beforeshe was born, her parentshosted a radio show,Candlelight and Silver,where they would sing andplay popular tunes of theday for a dinnertime audience in Hagerstown,Md. It was no surprise toeither of them when Irvinewanted to start piano les-sons at the age of eightand later decided to majorin piano performance asan undergraduate. Aftermoving to Austin,Texas, she became the second woman toreceive a master’s degree in business administration from St. Edward’s University.
“There’s more than one way to use a business degree,”said Irvine, who worked at St. Edward’s as a financial aidofficer during her time as a graduate student. “I’ve usedthe skills I learned in the program to manage my ownmusical career and the projects I’ve musically directed.”
Irvine worked in Austin as a piano teacher, performer andmusical director for 10 years. Her work as musical directorfor Baby earned her a coveted B. Iden Payne award fromthe Austin Circle of Theaters. Off the stage she broughtmusic to Austin senior citizen centers, where she organ-ized and performed classical concerts for the residents.
Irvine currently lives in New York City and manages TheOther Side of Broadway, a project she created to unearth andperform classical pieces written by theater composerswhose works outside the theater genre often go undis-covered. In 1992 she stumbled upon a classical concertowritten by Annie and Bye Bye Birdie composer CharlesStrouse.Three years later, her performance of the world pre-miere sparked the idea for The Other Side of Broadway.
She has since performed the works of renowned musicians,including West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein andHAIR composer Galt MacDermot. “Like the composerswhose music I champion, I have had one foot in the classicalworld and one foot in the world of musical theater during myentire career,” said Irvine. “Through my work I strive to enter-tain and educate, to develop new audiences for both classi-cal concerts and theater productions.”
Reunion 2003Feb. 14–16
Come back to campus for Reunion 2003 and celebrate — St. Edward’s–style! Join fellow alumni,friends and students for a Homecoming celebrationto reconnect with old friends, share memories andenjoy all that’s going on at SEU today. Also, meetparents who will be on campus for Parent’s Weekend.
Reunion 2003 is for everyone! We’ve planned eventsfor all alumni, including a Hilltopper basketball gameand tailgate party. Also, the following class years willhave special celebrations.
1952/1953 50 years1962/1963 40 years1972/1973 30 years1977/1978 25 years1982/1983 20 years1992/1993 10 years1997/1998 5 yearsHigh School All years
A complete schedule of events, hotel information and online registration will be available at www.stedwards.edu/alumni/reunion.htmin mid-November.
Visit Irvine on the web atwww.theothersideofbroadway.net.
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A L U M N I N O T E S
A nightat theBallpark
More than 500 Hilltoppers — alumni, faculty, staff and students — put on their base-ball caps and headed out to The Dell Diamond this July to root for the Round Rock Express,Austin’s Minor League Baseball Club. Fans cheered as President George Martin tossed outthe first pitch. At the end of the fourth inning,Hilltoppers were on their feet again whenBhadri Verduzco, ’02, was announced as thelucky contestant in the evening’s sports triviagame. “It was nice to see a sporting event inthe company of some people I had not seen inyears, and it was also great to see current stu-dents embodying school spirit and makingnoise for St. Edward’s,” said academic coun-selor Lindsey Taucher, ’92, who attended thegame with her husband, Tony Slagle, ’92. ■
Michael Moossy, ’98, graduatedfrom the UT Health Science CenterDental School in Houston, wherehe met his wife, Paige. They prac-tice with Paige’s father in Decatur.
Mindy (Grasmeder) Ramirez,’98, teaches physical educationand coaches at O. Henry MiddleSchool in Austin. Her husband,Jorge, is currently studying law atUT–Austin. She may be reached [email protected].
Alessandra Barrera, ’99, ispresently working on a doctoratein biochemistry and molecularbiology at the University ofChicago. She plans to graduate in2005 and hopes to teach at a uni-versity like St. Edward’s.
Jennie Hanke, ’99, is a profes-sional fitness competitor for theInternational Federation of BodyBuilders. She is a personal trainerat the Hills Fitness Center inWestlake and appears in top fitnessmagazines.
Adrian Hernandez, ’99, is headathletic trainer for Manor HighSchool in Manor.
Joshua Painting, ’99, BryanPeterson, ’97, Jeremy Sexton,’97, and Joe Fay, ’98, formedMainline Theatre Project inNovember 2001. Their first pro-duction was David Mamet’sEdmond at FronteraFest in Austin.Their next production, Billy Buddby Herman Melville, runs inNovember at the Dougherty ArtsCenter in Austin.
Jessica Lynn Speltz, ’99, com-pleted a master’s degree in psy-chology at Southern MethodistUniversity in December 2001. Sheworks at the Dallas County JuvenileDetention Center providing therapyand psychological assessments forjuvenile offenders.
