August 6, 2008— Just as the fall athletic season gets underway at Saint Mary's College, the Belles have some extra support from the stands. Sarah Miesle ’07, a former Belles athlete herself, is the College’s new sports information director. In her position, Miesle will be the main media contact for athletics and will keep news outlets updated on the College’s teams through press releases, game notes and game summaries. She will also help create various media guides for the teams and maintain accurate individual and team statistics.
“We are thrilled to have Sarah back on campus,” said Lynn Kachmarik, director of athletics. “Sarah was a leader as an undergraduate and we are excited to have her as our sports information director as she brings to the job great energy and passion for sports and Saint Mary's College. She has not only great knowledge of the Belles athletic programs , but the MIAA and NCAA as well.”
Since graduating last year, Miesle has been working as the assistant sports information director at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. As a Saint Mary’s student Miesle interned for two years in the College’s sports information office. Miesle says the years she spent as a Belles’ softball player also prepared her for her new position at her alma mater. “Participating in intercollegiate athletics gave me an inside track to learn about the workings of collegiate athletic departments while also giving me an invaluable means to learn how teamwork and dedication relate to life on and off of the field,” she said. Miesle started her position on August 3.
August 5, 2008—Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D) ’66, who represents the U.S.Virgin Islands, received an award from the Century Council on July 23 for her efforts to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. Thirty-seven members of the House of Representatives received the recognition.
After graduating from Saint Mary's in 1966, Christensen earned an M.D. in 1970 from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. She interned at Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California from 1970 to 1971 and did her residency in family medicine at Howard University Medical Center from 1973 to 1974. She became a board certified physician in 1977. She maintained a private practice in family medicine in the Virgin Islands from 1975 until her election to Congress in 1996.
Christensen is serving her sixth term in Congress. She is the first female physician in the history of the U.S. Congress, the first woman to represent an offshore Territory, and the first woman Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands.
August 5, 2008—Kathleen Kilway ‘85, a chemistry professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), recently received the University of Missouri President's Award for Outstanding Teaching. University President Gary Forsee presented Kilway with the award at a ceremony in Columbia, Missouri on June 5, 2008. The honor carries with it a $15,000 stipend and invitations to participate in teaching forums throughout the University of Missouri system. Earlier this year, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt awarded Kilway with the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Since Kilway began at UMKC in 1996, the number of students majoring in organic chemistry has increased threefold, according to the university’s website. In addition to her work with students, Kilway leads workshops for area science and math teachers to demonstrate her teaching methods. In Kilway's experience, educators are there not just to teach, but also to help students through the process so they become analytical and discover the value of experimentation.
Kilway received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Saint Mary’s College and her Master of Science and Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.
August 1, 2008—Gabrielle Campo ‘03 was recently selected by the GOP to run against incumbent Rep. Andre Carson (D) in Indiana’s 7th District in December’s Congressional election. The world traveler, social worker, and advocate for children and families, is currently the director of Theology on Tap Indianapolis. Theology on Tap provides those in the Indianapolis area with an informal platform to meet and socialize, while strengthening their faith.
An Indianapolis native, Campo graduated from Cathedral High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in political science and theatre at Saint Mary’s. Upon graduation she received the Louis R. Tondreau Award for Distinguished Service in Professional Activities. “Saint Mary's taught me many things, including the notion to answer the call of servant-leadership,” Campo said. “I learned that a good leader must serve others first. The staff and faculty did just that. They worked to ensure each woman was equipped with opportunities to grow and learn.” Campo went on to obtain her Master’s in social work from Indiana University (IUPUI).
Campo has held positions on a variety of Indiana community boards and committees including the Indiana Disproportionality Committee, the Indiana Coalition to Improve Adolescent Health, Marion Countyʼs Underage-Binge Drinking Prevention Task Force, and the State Comparative Performance Measurements Working Group.
In a statement to the Associated Press, district Republican Party Chairman John Hammond said, “Gabrielle is young, energetic, and capable of waging a spirited challenge against Andre Carson.”
Running for office has been a dream of Campo’s since she was a Saint Mary’s student. “I am running because I see this as a vehicle to change lives,” Campo said. “I know policies alone cannot change people, as much as people can change policies. I believe it is in that process that we affect people's lives. This race, and more importantly this seat, is about people. Voters must have confidence that their voice will be heard.”
July 25, 2008—Maureen Barber-Carey ‘72, will receive the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award on July 27. The award is the highest honor given by EP Global Communications, publisher of Exceptional Parent Magazine. The late Maxwell J. Schleifer is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Exceptional Parent and was an advocate for people with disabilities and other special needs.
Barber-Carey, who is executive vice president of the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute, will be honored at a special Disability Awareness Night to be held at the Erie SeaWolves minor league baseball game in Erie, Pennsylvania on Sunday. Barber-Carey is well known to parents and professionals in the disabilities community, most notably for her expertise in the field of autism. Prior to serving the Institute, Barber-Carey was a special education teacher in the Erie School District.
Under Barber-Carey’s leadership, the Elizabeth Lee Black School at the Barber National Institute recently became the first school in Pennsylvania to be designated a "School of Excellence" by the National Association of Special Education Teachers. She is the niece of the Institute's founder, the late Dr. Gertrude A. Barber.
Barber-Carey holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary's College and a master's degree from the University of Missouri. She earned her doctorate in educational administration at Columbia University.
July 11, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce Adriana Garces Petty ‘01 has started her position as the international student and scholar coordinator for the Center for Women’s InterCultural Leadership (CWIL), a revised position in the Center. In her role, Petty advises the College’s international students and provides them with programming and immigration services; she supports and assists visiting scholars from other nations; and facilitates the planning and implementing of student-led programs.
“This reshaped position is critical to supporting our commitment to increased internationalization in the College's Strategic Plan. We are delighted to have been able to hire such a talented alumna as Adriana, who has already brought great insight and vision to this role and to CWIL's long-term direction,” said Elaine Meyer-Lee, CWIL’s director.
Petty, who graduated from Saint Mary’s with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 2001 and has served on the Alumnae Association Board since 2006, says what excites her most about her position is being back home at Saint Mary’s. “I love to be able to support students to help make their Saint Mary's experience be as positive and enriching as possible,” Petty said during Summer Orientation, which was held recently for incoming freshman. “This is my favorite time at the College because you see incoming students. Some are so excited to get started and be on their own, and others are scared and unsure about going down this new road in their life. It's a great time in a person's life, when they are for the first time, beginning to see who they are and who they want to be.”
Petty’s professional experience includes working as the minority outreach specialist and later as the director of the St. Joseph County Minority Health Coalition.
June 25, 2008—Elizabeth VanDersarl ‘92 has been promoted to vice president of government affairs of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). In her new role, VanDersarl will manage the association’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, as well as on the state and international levels.
VanDersarl joined AF&PA in 2005 as a director of congressional affairs, handling energy, environment, and homeland security issues. Most recently, she served as executive director of public affairs where she was instrumental in streamlining AF&PA’s message development and communications.
Prior to her work at AF&PA, she managed a portfolio of regulatory issues at the Office of Management and Budget. She has also served as counsel to former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) on the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and was an assistant states attorney in Illinois.
In a press release, AF&PA President & CEO Donna Harman said, “Elizabeth’s varied experience in the Administration, in Congress, and at AF&PA makes her an invaluable asset to our Government Affairs team. With an election in November and critical policy debates occurring in Washington, her in-depth knowledge of both government and the forest products industry will be essential.”
VanDersarl holds an undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame.
May 22, 2008—Anne Meagher Northrup '70 is a step closer to reclaiming the congressional seat she narrowly lost two years ago. In Tuesday’s Kentucky primary, the Saint Mary’s College alumna and five-time former congresswoman beat two lesser-known primary opponents in her bid to regain Louisville’s 3rd District congressional seat, which she held for 10 years. Northup won nearly 80 percent of the vote. The stage is now set for a rematch with U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, the Democrat who defeated her in 2006.
Northup began her political career in 1980 as a volunteer for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign. In 1987 she joined the Kentucky General Assembly and served there until 1996. She served in the United States House of Representatives from 1996-2006. Northup lost her seat in 2006 by less than 6,000 votes to Democrat John Yarmuth.
(May 7, 2008)—The Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice (SVCCJ) will present Saint Mary’s College alumna Denise DeBartolo York ’72 and her husband, John, with its 2008 Exemplary Leadership Award at the organization’s annual gala on May 8, 2008.
The Yorks will be honored for their involvement in the San Francisco 49ers RESPECT community outreach campaign, established to leverage the power of the 49ers brand—and its players and coaches—to highlight the importance of showing respect. The program teaches Bay Area youth about the importance of demonstrating respect for their families, schools, and communities.
Under the Yorks’ leadership, the team’s community program and the 49ers Foundation has grown by leaps and bounds. In 2007, players, coaches, staff and alumni participated in 170 community events and donated more than 3,500 hours of volunteer time. Similarly, the Foundation has grown from $200,000 to an unprecedented $1.5 million raised and donated in 2007 to Bay Area non-profit organizations and causes, bringing the total to more than $5.5 million over the past 5 years.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Denise DeBartolo York is the daughter of the late Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. and Marie Patricia Montani DeBartolo. After graduating from the College in 1972, she joined the family business and was named its executive vice president. In 1994, she assumed the role of company chairman following the death of her father. From 1988 to 1991, DeBartolo York served as president of the Pittsburgh Penguins National Hockey League team — a squad that clinched the national title during the 1990-1991 season. She was part owner of the 49ers from 1994-2000, and in 2000 she and her husband gained full control of the team.
The Exemplary Community Leadership awards have been presented annually by the SVCJ, San Jose and its predecessor organization for 43 years. The Yorks, along with other award recipients, will be honored on May 8 at the organization’s annual gala dinner at the Fairmont San Jose.
(March 13, 2008)—The Saint Mary’s College Department of Social Work will honor Hollye Harrington Jacobs '93 of Chicago, Ill. for her exceptional passion for the field of social work at its seventh annual spring luncheon on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
“The luncheon recognizes the profession of social work and serves as an opportunity to honor an alumna who is supportive of the profession or who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in social work,” said Associate Professor JoAnn M. Burke, Chair of the Department of Social Work and coordinator of the Certificate in Social Work Practice in Health and Gerontology.
Jacobs is the featured alumna speaker at the event and will receive the Social Work Leadership Award for her work with at-risk youth in health care settings and her ardent support of social work education.
After graduating from Saint Mary’s with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history, Jacobs worked in communications and public relations at Polo Ralph Lauren in Chicago. Two years into that job she completed an accelerated nursing program at Loyola University and her career began moving in a very different direction. She found her niche in pediatric hospice care and has since become an advocate in the field of end-of-life children.
Jacobs' education includes the University of Chicago MacLean Fellowship in 2002, serving as a faculty scholar in Harvard Medical School’s Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice in 2002, and earning a master’s degree in child development at the Erikson Institute in 2004 and a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University in 2005. Jacobs currently serves as Project Coordinator for the Pediatric End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (PELNEC).
(February 18, 2008)—Eileen Beehan ’72, director of social services at Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc., has been appointed to the National Committee on Aging of Catholic Charities USA, a national network of 1,700 agencies and institutions serving more than 7.8 million people annually. Beehan is the only Tennessean to serve on the nine-member National Committee on Aging which advises Catholic Charities USA on best practices, programs, resources, issues and training related to services for older adults with particular concern for low-income seniors and their families. Beehan has been appointed to a three-year term on the committee.
“We are very proud that Eileen was selected to serve in this important position. Her appointment is a great honor for her and for our agency,” said Bill Sinclair, executive director of Catholic Charities of Tennessee.
Beehan has been associated with Catholic Charities of Tennessee since 1980 when she joined the agency as a school counselor. In 1992, she was named director of the agency’s Social Services Department. Before joining Catholic Charities, she worked with Luton Mental Health Center and the Tennessee Department of Public Welfare/Human Services.
(February 13, 2008)—Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce that Kara M. O’Leary ’89 is the College’s new director of alumnae relations. O’Leary comes to the College with understanding of its history, its mission, its students and its alumnae. She is a member of the College Board of Trustees and the current President of the College Alumnae Association Board of Directors, a role that was set to expire in June and that she will vacate a little early in taking her new position. In addition to her service as an alumna, O’Leary’s educational and professional experiences have prepared her well for the directorship of alumnae relations.
O’Leary completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the College in 1989 with a double major in History and Government. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Valparaiso University in 1991, and in 2000 earned a Master of Science in Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame. For more than a decade O’Leary has been employed by Notre Dame, where since 2002 she has worked in the athletic department as the Assistant Director of Recreation Facilities and the Director of Sports Camps.
The College conducted a national search for the director of alumnae relations position. A number of very qualified higher education professionals were considered but O’Leary stood out as the best candidate, said Shari Rodriguez, vice president of college relations.
“We may have already known Kara, but we did our homework,” Rodriguez said. “We learned that she is a hard working, detailed-oriented individual and a strong manager. These are qualities that are crucial for this position.”
In addition to her service to Saint Mary’s as a member of the Alumnae Board and the Board of Trustees, O’Leary has served the board of the South Bend Alumnae Club , including stints as the president and corresponding secretary. Kara also serves as president of the Belles Varsity Club and is a member of Saint Mary’s Athletic Hall of Fame selection committee.
“Kara’s passion for Saint Mary’s coupled with her knowledge of event planning and higher education make her the right woman for the job,” Rodriguez added. “We look forward to her coming aboard.”
Kara will be starting her position at Saint Mary’s College March 3, 2008.
(February 11, 2008)—Anne Meagher Northrup '70 has plans to reclaim the congressional seat she narrowly lost two years ago. The Saint Mary’s College alumna and five-time former congresswoman filed candidacy papers recently in an effort to win back the 3rd congressional District seat she held for 10 years. Northup told the Associated Press (AP) the she is “thrilled” to enter the three-way GOP primary.
Ted Jackson, a longtime political advisor for Northup, told the AP the former congresswoman is “a driven hardworking person” who is “very much up to this race.” Northup threw her hat in the ring after Erwin Roberts dropped out of the race earlier this month. Roberts is a former federal prosecutor and army reservist who will likely be called to active duty. The Saint Mary’s alumna, an ardent supporter of Roberts, has offered herself as an alternative.
Northup began her political career in 1980 as a volunteer for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign. In 1987 she joined the Kentucky General Assembly, where she served as a Representative of Kentucky’s 32nd House district until 1996. She served in the United States House of Representatives from 1996-2006. Northup lost her seat in 2006 by less than 6,000 votes to Democrat John Yarmuth. Last Spring, she lost the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary to Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
Saint Mary’s College Alumna Honored for Professional Success and Giving Heart(January 25, 2008) The YWCA of Greenwich, Connecticut has recognized Saint Mary’s College alumnae Susan P. Peters ’75, vice president of executive development for General Electric (GE), as one of its BRAVA Award winners. For more than 25 years the BRAVA Award has been given to women achievers who have excelled in their professional careers, while also volunteering their time and talent to help others.
Peters has been recognized many times for her exceptional success in the professional world. In 2005 she was invited to speak at Saint Mary’s College as a Shannon Executive Scholar Lecture speaker, an honor granted annually to an outstanding alumna. According to an Observer article written about her lecture, Peters said good leadership skills such as problem solving, courage, motivation, willingness to learn, effective communication and tenacity are valuable traits for management and executive positions. Peters told the audience Saint Mary's students have above average "performance, values and integrity - which are [their] tickets into the game."
"Find a place where early experiences give you stretch opportunities, because that's where development takes place," Peters told that audience.
GE is where Peters found her growth opportunities. According to the GE Web site, Peters first joined the company through the Human Resource Management Program in 1979. In 1981 she became manager of Union Relations in the Central Air Conditioning Department in Trenton, New Jersey. When that department was sold to the Trane Company in 1982, she transferred to Tyler, Texas, as professional relations manager. She returned to GE in 1984 as manager of Non-exempt Relations for GE Plastics in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She was appointed manager of Human Resources for GE Plastics in Worldwide Marketing and Product Management in 1986, and in 1989 she transferred to Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, to manage human resources for GE Plastics' European manufacturing sites. In 1990 she moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, to become manager of Human Resources Staffing and Development, and the following year she was promoted to manager of Human Resources for GE Plastics, Americas. She moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1993 to become the senior human resources manager for GE Appliances. Peters was appointed a company officer in 1997, and in 2000 she became executive vice president of Human Resources for NBC. In 2007 she assumed responsibility for all training and development, including leadership.
(January 21, 2008) The Virginia Law Foundation has selected Saint Mary’s College alumnae Elizabeth Bermingham Lacy ‘66 to its 2008 Class of Fellows. The prestigious honor is granted to Virginia attorneys, law professors, and retired members of the judiciary who are deemed outstanding in their profession and in their community. Total membership is limited to one percent of the active and associate members of the Virginia State Bar.
The Virginia Bar Association has also recognized Justice Lacy with the Gerald L. Baliles Distinguished Service Award for her exceptional service and contributions to the bar and public at large. Justice Lacy was honored on January 18 at the Association’s annual meeting in Williamsburg.
In 1985, Justice Lacy became the first woman to serve as a judge of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. A true pioneer in her field, Justice Lacy made history again in 1989 when she became the first woman justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia. Justice Lacy retired from active status on the Supreme Court of Virginia in August 2007 and assumed the status of senior justice. She is now a member of The McCammon Group, a provider of dispute resolution services based in Richmond.
Justice Lacy graduated cum laude from Saint Mary’s College in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and then attended law school at the University of Texas. She received a LLM (Master of Laws) from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992. A Richmond resident, Justice Lacy is married to D. Patrick Lacy, Jr. They have four children and two grandchildren.
(January 21, 2008) CBS Sports has promoted Saint Mary’s College alumnae LeslieAnne Wade ‘85 to senior vice president of communications. Wade is the first woman to hold the senior vice president title in the network sports division. In her new position, she will oversee all corporate and media relations initiatives for the network’s sports businesses. CBS ranks as one of the largest radio and television networks in the United States.
A 14-year veteran at CBS Sports, Wade most recently served as a vice president of communications since May 1998. Her new responsibilities involve heading the public relations efforts for CBS Sports, CBSSports.com and CSTV, the division’s wholly owned cable net dedicated to college sports. Wade will also work closely with Showtime Sports and other company properties.
At CBS Sports Wade has led publicity campaigns for three Super Bowls, regular-season Sunday NFL games, the PGA Tour, the U.S. Open Tennis Championship and the NCAA Division I Men’s College Basketball Championship. She has also handled corporate and media relations efforts for CBS Sports executives, on-air personalities and other programming.
“Not only does LeslieAnne have an incredible feel for media relations, but she has become one my closest advisers because of her great understanding and knowledge of the sports television business,” said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports. “No one has better contacts in her field or a better reputation than LeslieAnne, and I can’t imagine ever running CBS Sports without her.”
Wade always dreamed of working in the sports broadcast industry — and her passion only grew with the encouragement of her father, Michael Patrick, a 1956 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 1985 with a degree in English writing and communications. There, she worked in the University of Notre Dame’s Sports Information Office, wrote for the sports section of The Observer, the daily newspaper serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, and interned at WSBT-TV, the CBS affiliate in South Bend, Ind.
Wade resides in Harding, NJ with her husband, Kevin McGinn, and their three children.
