Alumni News and Updates

Vincent Davis is the recipient of SXU's 2020 Teaching Excellence Award. A two-time winner of SXU's African-American Achievement Award for Outstanding Faculty in 2018 and 2020, Davis began teaching as an adjunct at SXU in 2015 and became full-time faculty in 2017.

In 2017, Maggie Walsh graduated from the accelerated BSN program and began her nursing career at LaRabida Children's Hospital with an interim position working for a year in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Advocate Christ Medical Center. At LaRabida, Walsh cares for children suffering from lifelong complex medical conditions as well as those who have experienced abuse or trauma and require in-patient rehabilitation.

Michelle Kozik, a Homewood-Flossmoor High School teacher since 2005, won the Outstanding Illinois Biology Teacher of the Year award. Given by the National Association of Biology Teachers, the nominations are open to biology teachers for grades 7 to 12 throughout the nation. In addition to biology, Kozik also teaches chemistry and physics.

Jourdin DeYoung Garcia is using the knowledge she picked up as a nurse to help others with fitness and nutrition. She wants to spread the word that being happy and healthy doesn't have to be boring or look the same for everyone. Her website, Live More With Jour, shares food and fitness programs to help women with weight-loss/fitness goals.

DeYoung Garcia and her husband, Kevin Garcia, a professional soccer player for FC Tulsa, reside in Tulsa.

Dr. Nicole Palumbo started her journey at SXU's School of Nursing and Health Sciences. After a year of reflection, she realized that she wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

"The staff and advisors [at SXU] helped me achieve my bachelor's degree in biology (medical track) in just three years. I was then accepted to three different veterinary schools. SXU was the perfect choice for a more intimate learning experience and really helped create connections with the SXU community. I worked in the chemistry lab stock room and also was a student advisor for several chemistry classes," said Palumbo.

SXU's flexibility in class times allowed her to keep a part-time job at a veterinary clinic to gain experience in a realistic work environment. She was then accepted to the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine School and tracked in small animal medicine.

"The first two years of classes were made easier due to the intense biology and chemistry courses taken at SXU. After another four years, I graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and started working immediately at a large clinic in Pennsylvania," said Palumbo.

Dr. Palumbo would go on to take another job at a clinic close to Pittsburgh and recently became the managing DVM. She is currently pursuing board certification in feline medicine.

Steven Szajek is a lab research technician at Rush University Medical Center. After performing undergrad research with Dr. Wiester, Szajek earned his Master of Science in Biotechnology from Rush University.

Now an adjunct professor at SXU, Gloria E. Barrera was named this year's Henrietta Villaescusa Community Service Award recipient by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. She was recognized at the annual conference in July for her work and dedication to improving community health outcomes, especially in our most vulnerable populations, through her practice and teaching. Barrera was also featured on "Your Next Shift" podcast and highlights her community service work in the interview.

Ryan Bain is a scientist advisor at Keller and Heckman, LLC., a law firm based in Washington D.C.

"I might move into program management in the treasury department, but it takes a long time to get government security clearance. I did research at SXU with Dr. Alappat and because of that research with her, I was able to do my Ph.D. with Graham Cooks, a well-known chemist she helped me connect with. I did my postdoc at Stanford University," said Bain.

Jenna Haase is currently attending Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to obtain a doctorate degree in physical therapy. Her anticipated date of graduation is spring of 2022.

After graduating from SXU, Robert Besset had planned to attend medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon. Although he did not follow that path, he states that he still gets to flex his "science chops" in a lab that studies and tests everything from bourbon to kombucha as the head of the barrel-aged mixed-culture beer and quality assurance and control programs at a brewery in Colorado.

"My life following graduation has certainly taken some unexpected turns. I was met with a sense of discontentment and unease as I worked and shadowed in the field. I'd be lying if I said this was an easy time for me, as I had just committed so much time and effort to achieving this goal I thought I yearned for. It was during this time after graduation that I began to home brew. I instantly fell in love with brewing and the way it melded my love of science with the inner creative that I had been stifling for years. This discovery of brewing led me back to the classroom to pursue brewing school where I traded in my scalpel and forceps for yeast, barely and hops," said Besset.

"I'm lucky to have stumbled upon brewing when I did, but what I've really learned since graduating is that you need to have the confidence in yourself to make big, sometimes life-changing decisions and then act on them without the fear of failure. Learn to listen to that voice in your head because sometimes the road less traveled is the one for you" added Besset.

Samantha Molda is currently finishing up her second year of medical school and says that she absolutely loves it.

"It is hard as hell, but I am living my dream every day. I am currently dual enrolled in the chiropractic medicine and naturopathic medicine program. It is an eight-year program which is done in six. Most people don't know, but chiropractors and naturopaths are primary care physicians and are gaining more and more legal rights. Our programs are nearly identical to programs for medical doctors, but instead of heavy prescriptions, even though we get most pharmaceutical training, we go into nutritional biochemistry, botanical medications, supplementation and preventative/chronic care," said Molda.

"I am also getting my diplomat in internal medicine, which considers me a full primary care physician in all 50 states where I have nearly the same scope of practice as medical doctors. With the NMD, I can do prescriptions and minor surgeries and more. I am really glad I chose this route, since it allows me to get my animal chiropractic and I stay away from the heavy pharmaceuticals, opioids, heavy lawsuits and super expensive malpractice insurance," added Molda.

Mike Sliwinski was recently selected by the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce's "Regional 30 under 40," which identifies 30 individuals under the age of 40 who are making a significant impact on their region.

In his fourth year as the director of bands at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, the Band and Music Department has continued to flourish, growing in both quantity and quality. The program has been awarded several "superior" ratings at contests and festivals.

Sliwinski also happily married fellow SXU alum, Vanessa Norman '15, '18, on October 12, 2019.

Terry Cornell Jr. is a Chicago based lobbyist who serves to help fellow veterans.

Cornell served as a firefighter in the United States Air Force for over 20 years, active and in the reserves. In 1987, he was honorably discharged from the military and went on to pursue his education. He earned his master's in business law from Loyola School of Law, a certificate in federal policy from the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, and an associate's degree in tribal administration from Southwest Oklahoma State University's Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal College. Since 2001, Cornell has worked as a lobbyist for the Government Liaison Services of Chicago who specializes in helping veterans. He is also extremely active in the volunteer community and currently works as the Chief Government Interaction Officer with Parkside Lending, LLC.

Forty years after graduation, a group of former third-floor residents got together.

Back row: Jean Knox '80, Carol Sybor, Nancy Pettrone '79, Becky Zintak '79, Sue Storto '80, Mary Rose Ryan '80

Front row: Patti Walsh '80, Kath O'Brien Grace '79, Julie Thomas '79, Liz Davis '79

Chance Cutrano was awarded the 2018 Sierra Club California's inaugural Emerging Leader Award for outstanding contributions to conservation and politics by someone under the age of 30.

Krysten James began her career as a nurse on an inpatient oncology unit located in Munster. In February 2019, James relocated to Tucson, working as a radiation oncology nurse coordinator.

At SXU, James was part of the SXU Paw Prints Dance Team (captain for two years), served as president of the SNA, acted as an RA and was a student employee for Residence Life and Public Safety.

Katie Arvia, a third generation SXU alum, has been hired by the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau as the new communications manager. Arvia's writing, marketing and design skills will be an asset in promoting the Chicago Southland.

At SXU, Arvia was a news editor for The Xavierite.

Lauren Haddad graduated from Saint Xavier University in May 2019 with a major in biology pre-health and a minor in chemistry. Throughout her four years there, she was involved in multiple clubs and particularly took interest in being involved in the biology department, where she participated and held a board position in Tri-Beta.

"The faculty at SXU always worked closely with me whether in classes or helping during the application process for optometry school during my senior year. Not only were the faculty helpful, but my time as a biology student really built a strong science foundation for me as I moved on to my graduate studies," said Haddad.

Currently, Haddad attends the Illinois College of Optometry. "I know my time at SXU and within the community there has helped me reach this point, and I'll forever be thankful for that. I advise all SXU students make the absolute most of their experience by getting involved in various organizations and leadership positions and to challenge themselves academically as much as possible. SXU is a university that can help you grow both academically and as a person. Strive to get the most out of it by learning every day, serving the SXU community when you can and building bonds along the way. You will find it rewarding for yourself in many ways and it will really help set you up for success in the near future," said Haddad.

Jason Crean has collaborated with teachers from across the state of Illinois in implementing the Next Generation Science Standards. Over the course of the last three years, as the president of the Illinois Science Teachers Association, he has organized and led a diverse group of science educators that have been designing student-driven biology curriculum. The goal is clear: to enable students to grow and become self-directed learners through real-world problem solving. The aim of this shift in teaching will make them better learners and is an Illinois and federal mandate. This storyline curriculum, freely available to all educators at the Illinois Science Teachers Association website, is now being used in science classrooms in at least 40 states and several countries that include Guatemala, Vietnam and others. Crean has now formed All Species Education Consulting that trains teachers in this student-centered approach to learning science.

Kevin Fervil began his career with BMO Harris Bank in the transportation finance sector. He credits his smooth transition from SXU into the corporate world to the courses offered at the Graham School of Management and the real-life experiences as a student at SXU.

At SXU, he played for the varsity men's basketball team and was part of Beta Gamma Sigma (business school honor society).

Marki Lemons Ryhal is a licensed managing broker, REALTOR®, avid volunteer and international best-selling author of "The Modern Real Estate Professional's Guide to Success." In 2019, she was nominated as an RISMedia's Real Estate Newsmaker and inducted into the REBAC Hall of Fame.

Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate. With over 25 years of marketing experience, she has taught over 300,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2,682% return on their marketing dollars.

In addition to her MBA, Lemons Ryhal has over 50 real estate-related licenses, certifications and designations.

Virginia Petrancosta is the new executive director of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS), the only organization solely dedicated to professionals involved in managing and directing security and safety programs in health care facilities.

Most recently, Petrancosta was director of marketing and communications at the American Society for Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM) of the American Hospital Associations. There, she was able to build and lead a high-performing team, launch new and innovative programs and exceed revenue goals.

In addition to her degree from SXU, she earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds the prestigious Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the CAE commission of American Society of Association Executives, the Center for Association Leadership.

Denzel Averhart is the associate digital director working for the Executive Office Of The Mayor's communications team in the District of Columbia. Averhart produces content and manages social media platforms. He believes that videos can be used to bring anyone's imagination to life. Averhart has worked with nonprofits, government agencies and more to bring their ideas into reality.

In 2018, Danielle McGee started Black Business Boom as an e-commerce marketplace for black-owned businesses, as they typically have less access to funding, which consequently limits their ability to spend money on marketing. Black Business Boom offers coupons and loyalty programs through a mobile app and web-based platform. Consumers can access nearly 400 black-owned businesses in several cities across the U.S.

Joseph An currently works as a medical scribe for the emergency department at a community hospital and an affiliated outpatient pulmonary center.

"The position offers an in-depth perspective into clinical work-flow, introduction into medical terminology and comprehension of medical-legal documentation. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to network with a variety of physicians," said An.

"During my time as a medical scribe, I have observed procedures such as intubation, thoracentesis, laceration repairs, and CPR, among others. I would highly recommend that pre-med students explore this position as it essentially serves as physician shadowing with paid benefits. Moreover, the physicians often offer useful insights into the healthcare system as a whole" added An.

In terms of career projection plan, An is scheduled to soon take the MCAT and has been gathering the necessary resources for the upcoming application.

In July 2019, Elenore "Ellie" Menke joined the staff at Mount Carmel High School as the graphic design and media specialist in the Marketing Department. She credits the skills she learned at SXU for preparing her for her role in developing the web content and marketing materials that promote the great educational experience Mount Carmel has to offer.

Angelica Sanchez knew she wanted to be a dentist when starting at SXU, so she began the pre-health track with a major in biology. She also enjoyed her chemistry courses, which lead her to pursue a minor in chemistry.

At the end of her junior year, she began preparing for the dental admission test (DAT) and all dental school preparations. After preparing and taking the DAT, which she had to take twice, she submitted her application the first day the application website opened. She applied to ten schools, and of those she received six interviews, but only interviewed at four dental schools.

"On December 1, during my senior year at SXU, I found out I was accepted at two dental programs. I chose to attend Marquette University School of Dentistry and started the summer after graduating. The transition from SXU to this doctoral program was difficult, but with the knowledge I had from SXU, I was able to manage my studies while developing my clinical skills. In a program such as the one at Marquette, expect 21 credit hours a semester. This also means 7 exams in one week and then having 5 exams the following week. It's very difficult!" said Sanchez.

"It was as overwhelming as it sounds, but it is manageable with great study habits and great time-management skills. I recommend developing those skills at SXU. I also recommend starting to study for your last exam first so you have a chance to read over the material calmly instead of cramming everything the day before, since you already know you will be studying for an exam the day before anyway," added Sanchez.

Sanchez graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry in 2015 and has been practicing in private practices ever since. This year, she accepted a full-time position as an associate general dentist at Romo Dental.

David O'Callaghan has recently authored "Murder Is My Life," a book which leads the reader through the life and career of the author from the patrol division through the end of his career as a lieutenant in the detective division in the Chicago Police Department. Included are true stories that illustrate the impact of crimes on the victims and their families, along with the long-term impact on detectives and prosecutors.

After graduation, Joseph Sullivan joined a telecom brokerage company as a commissions analyst. Now, Sullivan is an accounting manager at NWCCU. "Life seems to have a snowball effect in that everything you do today affects tomorrow. My tomorrow started with SXU," said Sullivan.

At SXU, he served as president of the Business Student Association and was a student intern at the Northwest Community Credit Union (NWCCU).

As of July 2019, Tom Schergen is the new school principal at Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep (ICCP). Tom has been a part of ICCP for seven years both as the athletic director and president. For the past 18 years, Schergen has developed his student-centered style of educational leadership in both public and private settings. Before joining ICCP, Schergen was the director of the McDermott-Doyle Program for Developmental Learning at Mt. Carmel High School.

After graduating from SXU in 2018, John Lafe Shannon received his Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago in 2020. Shannon is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins University, where he studies the archaeology of the ancient Near East. His research is primarily concerned with prehistoric human-environment interaction and early metallurgical production in southern Mesopotamia and Arabia. Shannon has also participated in archaeological excavations in both China and Turkey.

Saint Laurence High School in Burbank recently named Brian Herman as the school's first Director of Fine Arts. Read more on SXU News.

Jihan Atiq teaches sixth-grade Project IDEA+ (PI+) science and social studies at Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle and is an adviser for Science Olympiad and for the sixth-grade book club. She holds both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from SXU and has completed all the course work toward a doctorate in education leadership through Walden University. Hobbies include travel, kickboxing and reading.

In March 2020, Colleen Thomiszer was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Royal Financial, Inc., a federally-insured financial institution that offers a range of checking and savings products and a full line of home and commercial lending solutions. Thomiszer has served the Company and Bank as the accounting officer and controller since 2017.

Since joining the company as staff accountant in 2014, following her graduation from SXU with a bachelor's degree in business administration with core concentrations in accounting and finance, her portfolio of responsibilities has steadily increased to include accounting operations management, business process improvement, reporting controls and preparation, external auditor support and accounting for and integrating the bank's and company's acquisition and branch purchases. Thomiszer has also served as the secretary of the company since 2018, expanding from her service as recording secretary from 2014 to 2018.

Pantelis "Peter" Danos is an associate in Miller Canfield's litigation and dispute resolution group. Danos is a graduate of The John Marshall Law School, where he was in the top 10 percent of his class, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from SXU. He previously clerked for Judge Charles P. Kocoras in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Larry Rich serves as senior staff at SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication. His roles include editor of SIGNIS Media, the organization's magazine, and program lead for CommLab, a workshop series for young communications professionals in the Global South. SIGNIS, with origins in the 1920s, has members in over 100 countries, with headquarters in Brussels.

Ben Noffke attended IU Bloomington after SXU, where he studied physical chemistry. During that time, he studied fundamental processes of carbon materials and spent a few months at Argonne National Lab.

Noffke graduated with a Ph.D. in 2017 and started working for Epic, a health care software company in Madison. His duties include helping hospitals develop predictive models and writing and performing parody songs about our software.

"My advice: Learn skills that compliment your scientific studies so you can stand out in any career. Also, take more classes on statistics!" said Noffke.

Steven McComis graduated from SXU in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and is currently a graduate student at the University of Michigan in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He chose biomed because of its ability to prepare him for his end goal of applying to and attending medical school, while also giving him an in-depth look into the current field of medicine and its future challenges.

"I have two pieces of advice, some for now and some for later. As you pursue your degrees and work towards graduation, be confident in your knowledge and ability to achieve your goals. It may seem like a long road ahead, but trust in what you have learned and the tools SXU has given you. Your goals are closer than you believe. Once you graduate, take a break and relax. I took a two-week trip to Yellowstone National Park the summer following my graduation. This break, whatever or wherever it may be, will allow you to recharge from and reflect on your years of education as you enter into your next chapter of life," said McComis.

Jenna Jurkovic finished her last year of emergency medicine residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center and will be staying there next year as an attending physician in the emergency department.

Rachel Thomas is a proud alumni of Saint Xavier University. After completing her bachelor's in pre-health biology with a minor in chemistry, she enrolled in the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine as a member of the class of 2021. There, she has worked with a broad range of species in various capacities, including a zoological facility, a conservatory and a wildlife medical clinic.

"I truly believe that the education I received from Saint Xavier was instrumental in helping me develop the skills it takes to be a successful student. The course load, while appropriate for an undergraduate level, was intense, helping me to prepare for the rigorous expectations of a medical program. The aspect of my education that played the most pivotal role was the school's incredible faculty. I was fortunate to work closely with several of the faculty in both the biology and chemistry departments. These scientists were always willing to teach, and eager to help students broaden their understanding of the course work," said Thomas.

"Additionally, the mentorship and guidance that was given to me by so many made me not only a better scientist, but a better person. Saint Xavier University has a dedicated, passionate and devoted science department that I will forever be grateful towards," added Thomas.

Shortly after graduating, Bridget Forbes worked as a social worker and case manager in skilled rehab centers in the Chicagoland area. She went on to secure state and federal licences as a nursing home administrator.

Now her days are occupied raising her four children (ages 9, 7, 4 and 1) while photographing newborns at her studio, Real Life Moment Newborn Photography. Bridget has received nine international awards from the AFNS for best photographers in the field of newborn photography and maternity photography.

Alyssa Greenwald was one of six teachers from the Joliet area selected to receive the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Joliet Area Great Teachers Award in a special ceremony in February 2019.

The teachers were selected from an extensive list of educators from the Joliet area who were nominated by their students, peers, administrators and members of the community.

Dr. Najeeb T. Haddad completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology at Loyola University Chicago in May 2018. In August 2019, he began his new position as assistant professor of Religious Studies at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Dr. Therese Scanlan was surprised by her family, friends and colleagues with a new billboard on 111th and Western to honor her as President of Resurrection University.

Cleo Lampos earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin and a master's degree in special education from SXU. She spent 26 years teaching regular and special education classes in the public school system. Although retired from the classroom, she is busy as both a writer and speaker.

Her debut publication, "Teaching Diamonds in the Tough," was drawn from her personal teaching experiences and addresses the challenge of finding potential in students despite the struggles and heartbreaks teachers face. Lampos went on to write a fictional teacher's series with the titles of "Second Chances," "Miss Bee and the Do Bees" and "Cultivating Wildflowers." More recently, she focused her attention on writing historical novels, including "A Mother's Son," based on the orphan trains that traces Irish immigration in the United States, and currently, "Dust Between the Stiches," a historical romance set in the 1930s Dust Bowl. Keep up to date with her books and speaking engagements on her blog!

Scott Levins is the director of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Prior to this appointment, Levins served as the assistant director for military records at NPRC and worked on space and facility matters in the Central Office of Regional Records Services, helping with the transition of the FRC Program to a fully reimbursable operation.

He also was the coordinator of records center operations at the Pittsfield Federal Records Center and held management analyst positions in the Central Office of Federal Records Centers and at the Washington National Records Center.