Roger Carlson: INNOCENT DAWN Opens at USF Art Gallery

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) Art Gallery presents Roger Carlson: INNOCENT DAWN, which will run from October 25 through November 30. In his series, INNOCENT DAWN, Carlson attempts to use imagery and words to create a visual understanding of eternity and an afterlife.

The USF Art Gallery is located at 25 E. Van Buren St. in downtown Joliet, and is open to the public every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the exhibition or the USF Art Gallery, contact Jennifer Moore, gallery director, at jmoore@stfrancis.edu.

About Roger Carlson

Artist Roger Carlson ‘06, combines both traditional and digital media to create reverse paintings on plexiglass. Carlson’s technique begins with creating digital artwork. The digital works are then painted using a reverse painting technique in which the image is painted on plexiglass using acrylic paint, spray paint, paint marker and ink.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

USF Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) College of Arts & Sciences is proud to offer exciting musical performances to the Joliet and Will County communities through the Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser.

This fall’s lineup includes:

Illinois-Michigan Night: Crooked Tails and The Rebel Eves
Talented trios Crooked Tails and The Rebel Eves (pictured), from the Land of Lincoln and the Great Lakes State respectively, will magnify your sense of the world with their soulful songs and beautiful harmonies.

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 28 – 7 p.m.
Location: Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center)
Ticket Pricing: $15 per person | Free for USF Students with ID

Claritas Chorale: Christmas at the Motherhouse
Join Claritas Chorale, USF’s community choir, in a celebration of one of our most sacred and cherished seasons: Christmas!

Date/Time: Friday, December 1 – 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 2 – 1 p.m.
Location: St. Joseph Chapel (Motherhouse)
Ticket Pricing: Free for All Guests with Reservation

Joliet Symphony Orchestra: “Revitalize”
French horn soloist Emily Whittaker and the JSO explore music that revitalizes us in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s challenging “Concerto No. 3 in E-flat Major.” Also on the program are the stirring “Froissart Overture” by Sir Edward Elgar and Max Bruch’s masterful “Symphony No. 2 in f minor.” This program will delight and surprise as the JSO and audiences journey together through some familiar and unfamiliar musical landscapes. Enjoy a FREE pre-concert discussion 45 minutes prior to the performance.

Date/Time: Saturday, December 9 – 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 10 – 4 p.m.
Location: Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center)
Ticket Pricing: $10 Adults | $5 Seniors, Alumni & Non-USF Students | Free for USF Students/Staff & Music Educators with ID

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

USF Announces 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) recently honored five outstanding alumni through the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards program in San Damiano Hall on Saturday, September 30, as part of the University’s 2023 homecoming festivities. Five awards were presented to USF alumni, including The Presidential Alumni Award, the most prestigious of the Distinguished Alumni Awards, and one award from each of the university’s four colleges in highlight of the diverse disciplines of a comprehensive university. The event also included the recognition of this year’s honored year alumni (the classes of 2022, 2018, 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, 1983, 1978, 1973 and before) and celebrated the University’s 50th reunion alumnae as they were inducted into the USF Assisian Club.

The 2023 USF Distinguished Alumni Award winners include:

Presidential Alumni Award – Mike Brennan ‘81

Mike Brennan transferred to the University of St. Francis back when it was the College of St. Francis. He majored in Business Administration and was a member of the basketball team, where he made many lifelong friends and was lucky to have Pat Sullivan as his coach and mentor.

After graduating in 1981, Mike got a job at First Options of Chicago working on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange trading floor. In 2000, First Options was acquired by Goldman Sachs where Mike worked as a vice president until he retired in 2016.

Mike served as a trustee at the university for six years, co-chairing the finance and investment committees for two years. He experienced firsthand the collaboration and dedication that trustees bring to the university.

Mike is most proud to have contributed to and championed the capital campaigns in the naming of the Pat Sullivan Center and the Pat Quigley Court.

Currently, Mike is enjoying retirement by splitting his time between Arizona and Illinois with his wife Laura. They enjoy hiking, spring training baseball games, and any chance to see their sons, Joe, Dan and David.

College of Education Alumni Award – Dr. Abir Othman ’21

Dr. Abir Othman is currently the principal of Andrew High School in District 230, after serving as associate principal for 11 years and dean of students prior to that. She has been an educator for 26 years, serving the last 20 in District 230.

Dr. Othman was named Assistant Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association in 2020 and the IPA South Cook Assistant Principal of the Year in 2019. She received the Illinois High School Theatre Festival Administrator Support Award in 2017, and the Outstanding Activity Director Award from the Illinois Directors of Student Activities in 2016.

Prior to joining District 230, she was an English teacher, academic advisor and administrator at Universal School in Bridgeview. Dr. Othman also served as head dean of students at Stagg High School in Palos Hills.

Dr. Othman is passionate about helping the community and making a difference for all students. Given her background as an immigrant looking to empower others, Dr. Othman has served for over ten years on the Board of Directors for Arab-American Family Services in Worth, an organization dedicated to helping families improve their quality of life. She is recognized as an emPower10 Women leader by the Arab American Business Professionals Association as one of ten most inspirational and empowering women in the state. She is also the first Arab American public high school principal in Illinois.

Dr. Othman earned Doctorate in Educational Leadership with Superintendent Endorsement from the University of St. Francis. The opportunity at St. Francis changed her life. She feels blessed for her wonderful experience at the College of Education. Additionally, the strong relationships fostered in her cohort with her peers and professors are unparalleled. Servant leadership is not just a token word used but was emulated by everyone in the College of Education. Dr. Othman also received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Secondary Education from Governors State University.

College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Award – Victorio Pellicano ‘04

Victorio Pellicano is the founder and CEO of Avianna, the most revolutionary AI software on the planet today. Born out of his relentless pursuit to make robots smarter and humans safer, Avianna is the world’s first autonomous artificial intelligence software for robots that enables full autonomy and natural language communication between the robot and its operator. Avianna is revolutionizing how AI can be used for good, creating a transformative impact on our world through the intersection of robotics and AI.

Victorio is a veteran in software manufacturing whose path to founding Avianna was shaped by overcoming personal loss and navigating the founding, growth, and eventual sale of his first company to Oracle. Today, Victorio stands shoulder to shoulder with his team dismantling preconceived negative notions surrounding AI and actively enhancing the power of robots, data collection and surveillance, human safety, and the future of work. Beyond envisioning this future, Victorio is a devoted father of four (and counting), a loving husband, serial investor and active philanthropist.

College of Business & Health Administration Alumni Award – Drew Wolfer ‘17

Drew Wolfer came to USF in 2015 when he was offered a soccer scholarship by Coach Ko Thanadabouth. He participated as a student athlete for the next two seasons before graduating in 2017.

While a student, he participated in Student Government Association as the CFO of his class, as well as being the economics and finance tutor. During his first year, Dr. Shannon Brown, now dean of the College of Business & Health Administration, invited Wolfer to work with her to assist a local company in better understanding their corporate culture and values utilizing SPSS software. He received the Support for Research Excellence “SURE” Grant. In the following year, he worked at Providence Advisors with another esteemed professor, Dr. Steve Morrissette. Wolfer advised a surgicalist group based out of Arizona on whether to expand, merge, or allow itself to be acquired. Both of these opportunities, as well as experiences he had through organizations and activitied he participated in at USF, helped Wolfer acquire countless skills that supported his growth as a soon-to-be entrepreneur. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa and Delta Mu Delta honor societies.

Upon graduation, Wolfer was hired by Liberty Mutual. He eventually transitioned to a position in cyber security and technology at the IronShore division of Liberty Mutual in Chicago. In 2018, he started an e-commerce business and expanded it to over eight figures within the first year. That afforded him the ability to gracefully exit Corporate America to pursue his passions in entrepreneurship. He founded a wholesale and distribution company in the suburbs of Chicago that serviced clients across the United States, importing products from Europe.

When the COVID-19 outbreak happened in 2020, Wolfer’s import/export and wholesale/distribution companies took a backseat to e-commerce, which sparked and funded his entrepreneurial entrance into the blockchain industry in 2021. Since that time, he has founded multiple social media brands and channels, as well as a blockchain infrastructure company called Wolfer Finance in 2022. He was then approached with an opportunity to create and found a Silicon Valley-style technology startup company, PreSend, that now has a pending patent for transaction security processes inside the blockchain sector.

“My dream is to leave an impact on the world where my name will live on far after I have left this Earth, while also leaving a legacy and roadmap for my next generation of Wolfers,” he says. “PreSend and Wolfer Finance might just be that opportunity for me, and with the help of the countless people that love and support me—whether present or past—I will continue to build and innovate where I see fit, as well as attempt to provide the best life I am able to afford for my family along the way.”

College of Nursing Alumni Award – Kayla Worley ‘17, ‘19

Growing up in the greater Joliet area, Kayla’s grandparents and mother always instilled the value and importance of education. Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, she knew there was no question that she wanted to continue exploring her educational trajectory. She spent her early years as a nurse working on medical, telemetry, and post-operative units in Bloomington/Normal Illinois. In time, she was fortunate to have a once in a lifetime opportunity when she was relocated as an ER/trauma nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the Windy City. It was during this time that she found herself surrounded by colleagues and patients that continually whispered “keep going!”

She enrolled in the nursing program at USF with the intention to “test the waters” in online learning. “I’ve always loved learning,” Kayla shares, “but I still wasn’t convinced that I could be successful in a primarily asynchronous educational learning environment.” Despite initial hesitations, Kayla did surprisingly well and quickly took a liking to the often despised “3 P” courses. Through the encouragement of some of the greats (Dr. Prince, Dr. Nardi, and Dr. Terrell), she quickly learned that she wanted to be active; not only on the education side of the nursing profession, but also clinically. This decision is what ultimately led to her to applying for the MSN-FNP track. A “few courses” eventually turned into a master’s degree, and that turned into a prestigious doctorate! Kayla beams: “I’ve never had any regrets on becoming a USF Saint!”

Because of USF, she’s enjoyed career opportunities in both primary care and urgent care settings over the last five year. She also served as a university faculty member in various online learning communities over the last two years. Kayla presented her USF doctoral thesis on “Structuralized Racism in Health Care: The Impact on African Americans” during the Doctors of Nursing Practice Conference 2019 mini podium presentation series in Washington D.C. She currently is embarking on a new journey as a complex chronic care provider in correctional medicine. This which has inspired her to revise her doctoral thesis and focus on the health of incarcerated African American males. She adds,“Thanks to USF, the support of my family, and loyal standardized patient (now husband), I have been blessed with many opportunities to unapologetically explore my passions and shine my inner light in health care communities around me!”

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

University of St. Francis Introduces New Directors in Performing Arts

Joliet, Ill. – With the start of the fall 2023 semester underway, the University of St. Francis (USF) welcomes three new leaders for its performing arts areas of choral, band and orchestral activities.

“The College of Arts and Sciences’ mission includes educating the whole person and integrating the liberal arts with cutting-edge career skills. I’m really excited we have three new music ensemble directors whose experience and expertise supports our college mission and contributes to the cultivation of Joliet’s artistic community with what promises to be a showcase of tremendous musical talents,” said Elizabeth McDermott, Ph.D., dean of the USF College of Arts and Sciences.

Youngham Lee is the new director of choral activities at USF. Lee, who is also the Artistic Director of the Chicago Christian Chorale in Chicago and the Music Director of Northfield Presbyterian Church in Wheeling, will direct the Claritas Master Chorale, which is a university-community choir that rehearses in the USF choir room and performs at university-sponsored events, including the annual Christmas at the Motherhouse concert.

“I am very happy and excited to be directing the Claritas Master Chorale. Since I started my musical journey with majoring in music composition, I have had experience directing various choirs, including children’s choirs, church choirs, community choirs, as well as university-level choirs. In particular, during my master’s program, I conducted treble choir, male choir, and the school’s flagship choir. Also, I have been an artistic director of a community choir for a long time, which is why I believe my diverse choir experiences make me well-suited to lead the university-community choir, the Claritas Master Chorale, and why I find it even more exciting. The most common phrase I use during rehearsals is “listen to each other, listen to your neighbor.” I believe that in order to listen to each other’s voices, we need to lower our own voices and be humble. It is in that way that a choir can produce one voice. My goal is to lead a choir that creates one voice, and furthermore, I hope to create one harmony with everyone who encounters the music of the Claritas Master Chorale,” Lee said.

USF invites community members to audition for our Claritas Master Chorale. Contact the College of Arts and Sciences at 815-740-3819 or emcdermott@stfrancis.edu for more information or to arrange an audition.

John Donovan is the new director of the USF pep band and is looking forward to bringing musical energy to USF athletic contests and special events.

“I am thrilled and humbled to join the USF family, and I’m excited to embark on this musical journey as part of that family. With a background of working with a wide variety of bands and drum corps for the last twenty-five years, I’m thrilled to bring fresh energy to the USF Pep Band and look forward to focusing on growth of both size and quality for the program, as well as exploring additional performance opportunities for the ensemble,” Donovan said.

The USF pep band will perform at USF home football games this fall, including the homecoming tailgate party and game on Saturday, September 30, at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

photo credit: Amanda Kishel of Kishel Photography

Sean Paul Mills is the new director of orchestral activities at USF, and will also serve as the artistic director and conductor of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve in the dual roles as Director of Orchestral Activities at USF and as Artistic Director & Conductor of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra (JSO). Working with a campus-community ensemble such as the JSO takes me back to my roots as a 12-year-old cellist who joined a similar orchestra in northern California. That orchestra was the first of many in which I was privileged to either participate as a cellist or serve as artistic director and conductor. Throughout my career, I have found ensembles such as the JSO to be vibrant, engaging, and vigorous, and I am both humbled and honored to be a part of the continued growth and development of the JSO in the coming seasons,” he said.

The JSO is open to community members. Information regarding auditions, rehearsals, etc. can be found at jolietsymphonyorchestra.org. The JSO will be performing concerts on Saturday, October 7, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, October 8, at 4 p.m.; Saturday, December 9, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 10, at 4 p.m. The concerts will take place in Sexton Auditorium (located in the Moser Performing Arts Center on USF’s main campus in Joliet). Ticket information is available at stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser and at jolietsymphonyorchestra.org.

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

USF and SUSE Host Inaugural Virtual Art, Design & Photography Symposium

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) and Sichuan University of Science & Engineering (SUSE) in Zigong, China, hosted their inaugural SUSE-USF Virtual Art, Design & Photography Symposium in April 2023. The three-session event (April 11, April 18, and April 25, 2023) featured materials by fourteen USF and sixteen SUSE students and were in response to research completed on the Sichuan region and Chicagoland. The live and interactive event allowed student presenters from each institution to discuss art, design, and new media practices in an open forum format with roughly 300 students in attendance at the primary auditorium at SUSE in Zigong, China. In addition to the symposium, USF students were introduced to traditional and new art practices and culturally significant materials of China. This included Sichuan tie-dying, the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, and the Chinese Lantern Festival in a Topics in Art & Design class during the Spring 2023 semester. USF student presenters: Stephanie Behland, Karli Ceci, Jaclyn Duske, Ayla Gilmer, Liliana Gomez, Samantha Gonzalez, David Kalter, Jareset Lagunas, Nick Munafo, Mazi Niezgoda, E. Porter, Alvaro Robles, Isaac Rodriguez, and Alana Wendel. SUSE instructor Zhang Qi (Amber) and Michael “Chester” Alamo-Costello, MFA, professor of art and design at USF, served as symposium facilitators. : : The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu. University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose. # # #

USF News

USF Hosts 2023 International Honor Society in Psychology Induction Ceremony

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) recently inducted eleven student members into its chapter of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology. The induction ceremony took place on April 18, 2023, in USF’s Sexton Auditorium. This year’s student inductees included: Olek Clark, Jalen Cooper, Ryan Czarnecki, Marissa Deering, Suzanne Fonck, Alexis Marroquin, Karley Mason, Mary Mathieu, Mary Grace McGrath, Mackenzie McGuire and Allison Ramsey. Melinda Hammond, Psy.D., assistant professor of psychology, serves as the chapter’s faculty advisor. Psi Chi is an international honor society whose purpose shall be to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. Visit https://www.psichi.org/ for additional information. : : The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu. University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose. # # #

Tag: College of Arts & Sciences

Roger Carlson: INNOCENT DAWN Opens at USF Art Gallery

USF Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series

USF Announces 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

University of St. Francis Introduces New Directors in Performing Arts

USF and SUSE Host Inaugural Virtual Art, Design & Photography Symposium

USF Hosts 2023 International Honor Society in Psychology Induction Ceremony

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