1950s
1950s
Dorothy “Madonna” M. Buder, SFCC, ’52, of Spokane, Wash., celebrated her 90th birthday on July 24, 2020, which included a live auction with items from her many racing adventures. The items included a Cannondale bike given to Sr. Buder for earning the Spirit of Determination Award during the 2006 Hawaii Ironman, which was used for the Nike 2016 Olympics commercial; as well as the 2013 Boston Marathon medal and shirt she earned, despite the Boston Marathon bombing that year.
Jane Venneman Sulze, ’58, of Kirkwood, Mo., and her husband, Joe, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last April. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of their celebration dinner and a trip to the Southwest state parks. However, as a lifelong learner, Sulze is using this time to follow the Great Courses, a series of college-level audio and video courses.
1960s
While watching the funeral for congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, a group of alumnae from the Class of 1966 discussed their memories of the Civil Rights Movement including those who had participated in the Selma to Montgomery march. Some expressed regret that their parents didn’t allow them to attend the march. They also shared what life has been like since the pandemic began and how they miss visiting with family and friends. They all agree that they are living through interesting and historic times. The group included Dr. Margaret “Marge” Hochreiter Bleem; Dr. Virginia “Ginger” L. Drone; Kate Stoll Giordano; Jacqueline “Jackie” Howard, RSM; Patricia “Patty” Tlapek Laughlin; Sharon D. Murphy; Rose Ann Alderson Sharp; Denise M. Stauder; and Dana “Cricket” Van Borssum Vandover.
1970s
Sandra “Sandy” Radel Loftis, ’71, of Sterling, Va., received the 2020 Service Excellence Award from the JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Capital Chapter. Since 2005, Loftis has volunteered for the organization’s awareness walks. She also received the 2019 Dulles Area Association of Realtors Jeanette Newton Community Leadership Award for 30 years of volunteering for the association and other local schools and charities.
Paula “Penny” Spencer Teabeau, ’73, of Eureka, Mo., retired on January 1, 2020, after 40 years as a social worker with the St. Louis County Jail. She is enjoying retirement with her spouse, John “Stan” S. Teabeau, ’77. The couple plans to travel, enjoy their Lake of the Ozarks condominium and visit with their three-year-old grandson, Parker, in Springfield, Mo.
Arlene “Bernie” Prather-O’Kane, ’74, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, reflected back on her time at Maryville as a nursing student, and said some of her favorite memories include the parties on “The Hill” and watching St. Luke’s Hospital construction. After working as a nurse in a variety of areas and teaching students at the University of Northern Iowa and Wartburg College, she is grateful for the many achievements she’s had since graduating from Maryville. Besides nursing, she remains busy volunteering for the Red Cross, teaching and spending time with her five grandchildren.
Donald L. Ebner, ’75, of Farmington, Mo., is running for chief law enforcement officer of St. Francois County. He retired from the City of St. Louis Police Department after 20 years of service, from 1972 to 1993.
Barbara “Barb” Kohl Finbloom, ’77, of Kirkwood, Mo., retired after 31 years as an elementary and middle school language arts instructor in the Parkway School District. Her husband, Neil, is also a retired educator from the Parkway School District. In retirement, the couple has turned their attention to gardening and antique collecting. Their hard work in this new hobby paid off, as they were selected first place in the 2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Great Gardening Contest. Their garden provides a casual and welcoming environment by incorporating vintage garden items with a variety of herbs, perennials and annuals. Finbloom also volunteers her time as vice president of the St. Louis Herb Society. The couple also enjoys traveling around the Midwest and New England with their antiques business, Schoolhouse Antiques.
Karen “Kacey” Cowdery ’78, of St. Louis, graduated with honors, earning a BFA, majoring in Interior Design. Barbara Zappulla is a retired adjunct instructor in Maryville’s Design and Visual Art department. The two had known one another through commercial interior design in St. Louis. They also shared a love of fiber art and worked together on the exhibitions committee for Missouri Fiber Artists. With expertise gained from their work together, the next step seemed to be, write a book. That book, “Produce Successful Art Exhibits, Events, Workshops,” is now available for purchase on Amazon.
1980s
Mark E. Conley, ’86, of Hurricane, W. Va., was honored as a West Virginia Soccer Association Hall of Fame member. For more than 25 years, Conley has been committed to the growth of youth soccer in West Virginia and the development of the state’s Olympic Development Program. Conley also achieved success while wearing a Maryville Saints soccer jersey and continues to support the men’s soccer program.
Terrence “Terry” Likes, PhD, ’86, of Starkville, Miss., is head of the Communications department at Mississippi State University. Likes is also a tenured professor at the University, teaching one class per semester, including radio news reporting and podcasting, sports announcing and media careers.
1990s
Nicholas “Nick” B. Toenjes, ’90, of Littleton, Colo., has enjoyed careers on cruise ships, in radio broadcasting and with Dish Network. This year, he is excited to begin a career as an RV sales consultant. Toenjes and his wife, Janet, are celebrating 25 years of marriage in 2020.
Michael “Mike” G. McGrath, ’91, of Wildwood, Mo., is the CEO and owner of UniformsAndScrubs.com, an e-commerce retailer of health care apparel and accessories. After a successful career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, in a variety of leadership roles in the management consulting practice, McGrath came to a point in his life where he wanted to pursue a purely entrepreneurial endeavor. So, in 2006, he closed a deal to acquire UniformsAndScrubs.com and has since developed it into a successful e-commerce health care business.
Kristina “Kristi” McDermott Higgins, ’92, ’93, of Manchester, Mo., is the general manager of Bemes, Inc. The company specializes in the service and rental of respiratory-related equipment to hospitals, clinics and medical facilities.
Diane Kloeppel Ray, ’93, ’05, of Wildwood, Mo., was selected as a recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2020 Most Influential Business Women Award. Ray is the senior vice president, chief operating officer and network chief nursing officer at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Anthony “Tony” G. Rothermich, ’93, of Wentzville, Mo., has been named 2020 auxiliary board chair for the United Way of Greater St. Louis West Region. Rothermich serves as administrator for Mercy Hospital Lincoln and vice president of operations for Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Rothermich earned a bachelor’s degree in health care management from Maryville in 1993.
Todd E. Meiser, ’94, of Bethalto, Ill., is a physical therapist for Alton Memorial Hospital’s new Human Motion Institute.
Sarah Roe Sise, ’94, of St. Louis, was selected as a recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2020 Most Influential Business Women Award. Sise is a partner at Armstrong Teasdale, LLP.
Tony M. Spielberg, ’96, of Chesterfield, Mo., joined SensrTrx on March 11, 2020, as the chief business development officer. SensrTrx is a leader in manufacturing analytics software. Spielberg has experience in business operations, sales and manufacturing, which will help him in his new role.
Darin W. Sorrell ’97, of Brentwood, Mo., a member of Maryville’s National Leadership Council and Alumni Council, ran into fellow alumni and siblings Heather Eickenhorst Lewis, ’92, and Marcus P. Eickenhorst, ’01, this summer. They were accompanied by their children and mother, Pat Parker, professor emerita from Maryville’s John E. Simon School of Business. The group enjoyed reminiscing about their favorite Maryville memories during their chance encounter.
Christina “Chrissie” Hren Cutler, ’98, of St. Augustine, Fla., was promoted to partner at Swindell, Bohn, Durden & Phillips, PL. She will continue to serve as director of small business accounting where she oversees the firm’s services for small to medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations, trusts and estates. Cutler has been part of the Swindell, Bohn, Durden & Phillips, PL team since August 2015, and her team is appreciative of her continued commitment to the mission and values of the firm.
Maria Gettinger Rottler, ’98, of Bloomsdale, Mo., is a physical therapist for Potential Therapy Services in Ste. Genevieve and Bonne Terre, Mo., with a specialty in women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy. She received her certification in health coaching and is a co-manager at Potential Fit gym, coordinating health and fitness programs and serving as a certified health coach. Rottler also works for First Steps Missouri treating pediatric patients, from birth to age three.
2000s
Brandon E. Labertew, ’00, of McPherson, Kan., has been employed by RehabVisions for the last 19 years. He is an area manager over four hospitals in central Kansas. Labertew is also actively involved in providing sports coverage for the local high school. He and his family have been in McPherson for 19 years and share that it has been a great community in which to raise their family, which includes their children: Drew (20), Brycen (18) and Lauren (16).
Susan Kerpash Toedebusch, ’00, ’15, of Troy, Mo., is a second-grade teacher in the Lincoln County R3 School District. Her daughter, Megan, is also a freshman this fall at Maryville University, majoring in interior design.
Derek A. Lagemann, ’01, of Alexander, Ark., is the owner of Physical Therapy Institute, a private physical therapy practice. Lagemann shared that life as a small business owner in the middle of a pandemic was “unique, to say the least.” In order to survive, he had to make continuous adjustments to his business. Lagemann continues his small rehabilitation facility and also recently celebrated 16 years of marriage with his wife, Jo.
Julia D. Michels, ’01, of Noble, Ill., started the year as president and chief executive officer of Magura USA. Prior to her promotion, she was the chief financial officer and treasurer on Magura USA’s management team.
Brian M. Gant, ’03, of Florissant, Mo., accepted the position of instructor of cybersecurity at Maryville University this past fall.
Jessica R. Flannery, ’04, ’07, of Pacific, Mo., joined St. Louis’ Spellman Brady & Company as office manager in March 2020. In her role, she supports human resources, information technology and senior management while overseeing administration processes.
Joyce “Joy” Rosell Medley, ’04, of Orange Park, Fla., and her husband, Chris, welcomed daughter, Cora, on July 30, 2019. The couple enjoyed celebrating Cora’s first birthday this past summer.
Kristen Westbrook-Tatum, ’04, of St. Louis, joined N.B. West Contracting as their human resources director in January 2020. Westbrook-Tatum graduated from Maryville with a Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership in 2004.
Alexis E. Burnett, ’05, of St. Louis, joined Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) as director of family support initiatives. She will support some of ARCHS’ workforce development initiatives and provide technical support to these organizations.
Bethany A. Moran, ’05, of Ballwin, Mo., is vice president of the Higher Education Strategy Consultants for the West Region of ACT | NRCCUA. Moran is also an online graduate instructor for Maryville’s John E. Simon School of Business.
2000s (continued)
Justin M. Panther, ’06, of Chicago, was recently granted the credential of Certified Catastrophe Risk Modeling Professional (CCRMP) by the iCAS and ISCM. It is a new credential which was developed specifically for catastrophe modeling and is intended to mirror the actuarial credentialing process. Currently, there are approximately 50 people who have this credential. He was approved via the Experienced Industry Professional pathway, following a review of his experience by a panel of industry experts.
Rebecca “Becky” Wesche Filipek, ’07, of Lidgerwood, N.D., earned her Master of Arts in English from Southern New Hampshire University in April 2020. The commencement ceremony was canceled because of COVID-19, so she celebrated with a private ceremony at home with her family. Filipek homeschools her four children, the oldest of whom will be in eighth grade this fall.
Sara Hotze Lane, ’07, of Tolono, Ill., was promoted to director of human resource operations and compliance for FE Moran Security Solutions in January. Lane and her husband, Robert, welcomed their third child, Elise Kay, on June 15, 2020. Big siblings Alexis and Henry love their little sister and enjoy helping mom and dad.
Stephanie M. Stegman, ’08, of Eureka, Mo., was recognized as a Mission Champion by Memory Care Home Solutions. Stegman was honored to be recognized, as she believes strongly in their mission and the incredible work they do to help families care for people with dementia and pushing research and evidence-based practices forward.
Jacob J. Crust, ’09, of Ballwin, Mo., is a family nurse practitioner in the emergency department at St. Luke’s Hospital. During the pandemic, he worked long and exhausting shifts where he treated many patients impacted by COVID-19. He is among many admired health care heroes.
Curtis J. Goodwin, ’09, of Keller, Texas, joined the Houston Texans NFL football team in June 2020 as a performance data scientist. Goodwin received his Bachelor of Science in management and leadership from Maryville.
Kevin S. Johnson, ’09, of Denver, is the cemetery director of Fort Logan National Cemetery. He is also responsible for Yellowstone National Cemetery, Fort Missoula Post Cemetery and Fort Douglas Post Cemetery. He is currently overseeing the construction of two new national cemeteries in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Cedar City, Utah.
Dr. Stephanie Long Prinster, ’09, ’11, and Sarah Pollock Spain, ’17, both of St. Louis, found creative ways to brighten up the spirits of nursing home residents during the pandemic. The two brought in shower supplies, lotions, nail polish and other spa-related items. They called themselves the S&S Spa Service to help keep things fun and positive during a time of uncertainty and stress. The residents loved and appreciated the activities.
Katrina Archambault Vitale, ’10, and Paul J. Vitale, ’12, both of Eureka, Mo., welcomed their first child, Maxwell Joseph, on January 20, 2020.
Lisa M. Meredith, ’11, of St. Peters, Mo., serves on the state board for the Missouri Literacy Association.
Erica M. Virgin, ’11, of St. Cloud, Fla., is celebrating three years of employment at Entertainment Outfitters Incorporated, where she designs merchandise for a number of clients including Disney, Universal Studios, Hard Rock and Top Golf. She shared, “Knowing that my designs bring a bit of joy to people is the most rewarding part of my job.” Virgin also recently celebrated her first year as a homeowner. Additionally, last year, Virgin took a Mediterranean cruise with family and saw some of the art and architecture she had read about in her Maryville art history classes. Highlights of the trip included seeing Michelangelo’s David, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum.
Travis J. Agne, ’12, and Sarah Graham Agne, ’13, of St. Charles, Mo., welcomed their second child, Graham Ryder, on June 18, 2020. Graham is doing well, and his big sister is getting along great with him.
Callan A. Howton,’12, of St. Louis, was recently awarded a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to serve as principal investigator of a new National Peer-Run Training and Technical Assistance Center for Addiction Recovery Peer Support through the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)’s Collaborative to Advance Health Services. Howton will coordinate this new national center through UMKC, and a steering committee comprised of persons in recovery from substance use disorders will drive efforts and guide the work plan. UMKC will collaborate with the University of Wisconsin Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the University of Texas and the National Council for Behavioral Health to implement the project. Leveraging the capacity of multiple institutions, this peer-run center will serve as a robust resource for the nation.
Kimberly “Kim” Hester Norwood, ’12, of St. Louis, was selected as a recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2020 Most Influential Business Women Award. Norwood is a professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis.
Aaron R. Weston, ’12, ’14, of Scottsdale, Ariz., left his role in organ transplantation at Saint Louis University Hospital in December 2019 for an opportunity in stem cell transplantation at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He changed positions to learn a new branch of medicine and work with a new patient population. Weston shared that he enjoys his new job and living in the Southwest.
Kaitlin “Kate” J. Childs, ’13, ’14, of Lake Oswego, Ore., is transitioning from assistant coach to head coach of the women’s basketball team at Lake Oswego High School. Childs has been an assistant coach and math teacher at the school for three years and is excited about her new role.
Dr. Kristy M. Frey, ’13, ’15, of Highland, Ill., is a physical therapist with HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. Frey shared, “While none of us could have prepared for this pandemic, I do feel Maryville has prepared me to handle change. All the clinical experience I gained while attending school and during my clinical education placements has really prepared me to be flexible and adapt to the unpredictability this career has thrown at me.”
Dr. Kendall R. Giles, ’13, ’15, of Teutopolis, Ill., married Kourtney on May 30, 2020, at Immaculate Conception Church in Mattoon, Ill. Giles is a physical therapist at Sarah Bush Lincoln Bonutti Clinic in Effingham, Ill.
Brittney Curtis Sniezak, ’13, and Daniel “Dan” T. Sniezak, ’14, of Florissant, Mo., recently celebrated one year of marriage. The couple also welcomed daughter, Myla Anne, on April 13, 2020, and shared that they love being parents. Brittney is a full-time student at Webster University pursuing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She is set to graduate in Spring 2021. She shared, “Life has been full speed, but I process each milestone one day at a time.”
Wyatt E. Essenpreis, ’14, of Lebanon, Ill., celebrated his fourth year as the owner and operator of Essenpreis Carpet Care. After serving as an assistant coach for five seasons, along with coaching club teams as a head coach, he will be named the new head coach of the Mater Dei Catholic Girls soccer team in Spring 2021. Wyatt also recently accepted a new position as the college advisory program director at Gateway Rush Soccer Club.
Brady K. Griffith, ’14, of Overland, Mo., married Christa on May 2, 2020, on their driveway. Due to the pandemic, the couple had to bump up their wedding date by a few months and hold a private ceremony. They invited their friends to a drive-by reception after the ceremony, where they visited briefly with people in their cars and handed out decorated cookies. Two of Griffith’s groomsmen were Maryville alumni: Kevin O’Gorman, ’14, ’15, and Matt Renaud, ’11, ’13. The couple was featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for celebrating their wedding in a creative way during a time of upheaval.
Kassiana Richardson Johnson, ’14, of Houston, married Rodrick on March 2, 2020, during a cruise. The couple had an at-sea ceremony while also enjoying places like Key West, Belize and Cozumel. The couple is enjoying life together and time with their fur baby, Ace.
Dr. Ta’Keshia M. Parker, ’14, of Ballwin, Mo., was recognized as an Exemplary New Principal by the St. Louis Suburban Elementary Principal Association. Parker is in her third year as the principal at Sappington Elementary School. She has helped implement “Lesson Study” for Sappington’s teachers, where they can observe one another and learn best practices to include in their own classrooms.
Shelby Miller Gliebe, ’15, of New Albany, Ind., was named head coach of the women’s basketball team at New Albany High School. Previously, she was head coach at Clarksville High School.
Dr. Cory W. Hermann, ’15, ’17, of St. Charles, Mo., is a physical therapist at Premiere Home Health. When treating patients during the pandemic, he shared, “With current isolation, I feel that we are not only treating patients physically, but providing them with avenues for emotional and social connection. I love seeing my patients and I’m getting used to smiling with my eyebrows.”
Dr. Rita Flynn Hermann, ’15, ’17, of St. Charles, Mo., is a pediatric physical therapist at Mercy Kids, where she assisted the clinic in successfully moving patients to virtual treatment sessions during the pandemic. Hermann also took on many other roles during the pandemic, such as patient screening and family support, while continuing to treat her patients.
Dr. Kelsey Sites Hirth, ’15, ’17, of Eureka, Mo., married Zach on February 29, 2020, at Silver Oaks Chateau in Wildwood, Mo. Five Maryville physical therapy alumni attended the wedding, two of whom were bridesmaids. The couple celebrated their honeymoon in Oyster Bay, Jamaica. Shortly after, they purchased their first home, located in Eureka.
Martel Hulsey, ’15, of Chesterfield, Mo., joined the Kwame Building Group, Inc. as a business developer and diversity monitor. He is responsible for maintaining client relationships while creating business and marketing opportunities.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Bader Morris, ’15, and Dr. Ricky R. Morris, ’15, ’17, of Tacoma, Wash., celebrated the birth of their son, Julian Alexander, on March 15, 2020, exactly one day before Washington state issued a stay-at-home order for residents because of the coronavirus pandemic. Julian was born weighing 7 lbs, 1 oz and measuring 19 inches. The couple is loving parenthood and shared, “Being mom and dad is literally the best thing ever! Some days are more exhausting than others, but he makes us smile every day and is growing up way too fast.”
Dr. Amanda E. Peters, ’15, ’17, of O’Fallon, Ill., plans to wed on November 14, 2020. She shared, “It has been very interesting being a bride amidst the pandemic, but we are making the best of it! We are trying to enjoy every step of the planning process in the hopes that the show will still go on.” Peters also recently received a promotion to facility manager at the Athletico Physical Therapy Belleville clinic. She has been a physical therapist for two-and-a-half years and is excited about the advancement; she will still be treating patients full time while learning more about the business side.
Dr. Monica Lee Schnitzler, ’15, ’17, of North Salt Lake, Utah, is an acute care physical therapist. During the pandemic, Schnitzler shared, “I love my job, but I am scared because if I social distance, I can’t do my job. And right now, my job is getting infected and uninfected people out of the hospital and home.” Schnitzler continues to serve patients and works to keep everyone safe and well.
Nicholas “Nick” J. Schwent, ’15, ’17, of St. Peters, Mo., is a home health physical therapist in the St. Louis area with Premiere Home Health. During the months of the pandemic, Schwent experienced a lot of shifts in the way he treated patients but shared that his training at Maryville and time at the University helped him get through those challenges.
Stephen “Brad” Thompson, ’15, of Ballwin, Mo., and his wife, Christine, opened a new Primrose School in Ballwin in late Spring 2020. This will be the first school in St. Louis County that is a part of this national system of accredited early education and care schools, serving infants through kindergarten. The couple shared that they look forward to the opportunity to help future Saints grow as well as provide internship and career opportunities for Maryville’s School of Education graduates.
2000s (continued)
Shadrick “Shad” W. Tillotson, ’15, of Eagle Mountain, Utah, joined Vitality Unlimited on the integrated programs team. Tillotson graduated at the top of his class from Maryville with a Master of Science in nursing.
Blair Stabile DePew, ’16, of St. Charles, Mo., has been a labor and delivery nurse at The Family Birthplace at St. Joseph Hospital – St. Charles for four years and loves her job.
Katie E. Flynn, ’16, of St. Louis, has worked in the Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital for almost four years. In Spring 2020, Flynn became a certified critical care nurse. She shared, “I love continuing to learn and care for the tiniest humans.”
Nicole K. Gorris, ’16, of St. Louis, started her career as a nurse at the Burn Center at Mercy Hospital St. Louis, treating patients in the Burn Center’s intensive care unit. Following that role, she received her critical care certification and floated all the ICU floors. Recently, she has transitioned to floating almost every unit of the East Region Mercy Hospitals. She shared, “I love how nursing is always changing and keeping me on my toes.”
Krista Potts McCord, ’16, of O’Fallon, Mo., is an intensive care unit nurse at St. Joseph Hospital West. McCord loves working as a nurse and is thankful for her time at Maryville.
Tammy L. Sasse, ’16, of Brownstown, Ill., joined the HSHS Medical Group as a primary care provider. Sasse received her master’s degree in nursing in 2016 and is an advanced practice registered nurse.
Brittany E. Seper, ’16, of St. Louis, is a nurse on the medical-surgical unit at St. Clare Hospital. She recently became a certified medical-surgical registered nurse. Seper shared, “I love learning something new every day and getting to know my patients.”
Richard “Drew” Simmons, ’16, of St. Louis, was recognized as Public High School Coach of the Year in 2020. He is the head Boys’ Basketball coach and athletic director at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy High School. Donald
“Donny” T. Thorsen, ’16, of Lake Saint Louis, Mo., is an occupational therapist and facility manager at Athletico. Thorsen and his team successfully transitioned their patients to a telehealth practice during the pandemic, which helped to provide a true activity-based care within the patient’s environment. While things were tough, he also found the times of chaos a great opportunity to reflect and see the silver linings in the midst of the pandemic.
Amanda “Mandy” M. Wagner, ’16, ’20, of Hillsboro, Mo., received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She shared, “The teamwork, appreciation and generosity that I have received from coworkers and nursing leadership has made a huge difference as I care for patients.”
Virginia “Ginny” L. Batie, ’17, of Hugoton, Kan., joined Gundersen Moundview Friendship Clinic as a nurse practitioner.
Dr. Jessica L. Hair, ’17, ’19, of St. Louis, is a physical therapist with SSM Health. She treated many patients with COVID-19 and shared that it was heartbreaking to work with patients who were unable to see their families in person; those patients were only able to see family members through hospital windows. She shared, “Many of the patients hadn’t seen their families in weeks or even a month or more. If you have the opportunity to work from home and spend time with your family every day, do not take this time for granted. Some people don’t get the chance to see their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Jordan Coker King, ’17, ’20, of St. Louis, will join Maryville’s Communications department as an adjunct professor. She also started a new full-time role with U.S. Bank for campus recruiting and loves it.
Nicholas “Nick” F. Smith, ’17, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., married the love of his life, Lexi Vandeven Smith, on May 23, 2020. Nick was also recently promoted to assistant program coordinator of the EDGE Program where he works to help parents with child support find work in Southeast Missouri.
Brenna Bohatec, ’18, of Hopewell, Va., joined Oral Roberts University’s Anna Vaughn College of Nursing in Tulsa, Okla., on August 5, 2019. She serves as director of the nursing program and associate professor. Bohatec shared, “Obtaining a doctorate of nursing practice from Maryville provided me the education needed to launch a brand-new doctoral nursing program. My Maryville education has been beneficial as I learn to do things I have never done before. Now that I am part of a wonderful nursing faculty, I realize how hard my professors worked in sharing their knowledge and expertise with me. Thank you to all my Maryville nursing professors.”
Nicole Jackson, ’18, of Hazelwood, Mo., is a nurse in the Neurosurgical Step Down Unit at Barnes Jewish Hospital. Jackson shared, “Being able to facilitate and witness a patient recovery from initial treatment to rehabilitation is extremely rewarding. I am serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and I promise to take care of my patients even if that means putting my own life on the line.”
Kelsey E. Martin, ’18, and Dr. Carter L. Montgomery, ’15, ’18, of Ballwin, Mo., met at Maryville in 2017. The two often saw each other around campus and more frequently on the third floor of Myrtle E. and Earl E. Walker Hall. After realizing they had a connection as physical therapy 17majors, they wanted to see if they had more in common. From their first date on, they learned they also both love sports, dogs, winery trips and helping others. Exactly two and half years later, Montgomery popped the question at Chandler Hill Winery surrounded by their family and friends. Martin said yes, of course, and the couple plans to wed on May 15, 2021, in Palmyra, Mo., in Martin’s parents’ backyard.
Mario Morgan, ’18, of St. Louis, got engaged to his fiancée, Hayley, on March 30, 2020, in the middle of stay-at-home orders. The couple met at a local St. Louis brewery, which set the stage for their relationship from day one. They continue to tour every brewery they can find in town as well as on vacations. Their love of breweries and trying new beer led to the proposal being centered around it. Mario had a custom branded beer label made to ask the question, and of course she said “yes!” The couple will wed on December 31, 2021.
Madisyn “Madi” May Reuter, ’18, and Conner “Chance” Reuter, ’17, ’18, of Nashville, Ill., recently married. The couple started dating in high school and continued their relationship through college. Madi joined Chance at Maryville after spending one year playing golf and earning her general education credits at Kaskaskua College. She was then recruited to play for the women’s golf team by Chance’s head golf coach, Glenn Paulus. Although Madi was skeptical at first, she quickly learned how great a community Maryville was. The couple shared a lot of great memories at Maryville, made many friends — both on campus and on the golf course — and continue to share those friendships today.
Aleah Scharfenberg, ’18, of Washington, Mo., is a graduate of Maryville’s Evening and Weekend Program. She is an emergency room nurse at Mercy Hospital Washington. In reflecting on the months of the pandemic, Scharfenberg was grateful for the support from the community and local businesses.
Emily Buhnerkempe Arndt, ’19, of St. Louis, has had a lot of exciting changes since graduating in May 2019. She is a nurse in the Mercy Hospital St. Louis Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit. She also married her husband, Billy, on February 8, 2020.
Matthew R. Brayfield, ’19, of St. Louis, completed Maryville Online’s Master of Business Administration program in December 2019.
Kelly L. Briggs, ’19, of Oklahoma City, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She joined the team of advanced practice nurses at INTEGRIS Health to help launch palliative care in that health care system.
Kayla Bubach, ’19, of Ashley, N.D., is a family nurse practitioner and a member of Trinity’s pediatric team at Health Center – Medical Arts. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Maryville in 2019.
Logan T. Chiri, ’19, of New London, Iowa, began a new job as a nurse practitioner at Family Medicine with Great River Health in West Burlington, Iowa, during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been able to use the skills she learned from Maryville to adapt to a pandemic world.
Kara De la Pena, ’19, of Edmond, Okla., noticed a growing trend in mobile clinics and identified the need for one in the Edmond region. After much research, she decided to take a leap toward this medical innovation. She started a mobile urgent care clinic in September 2018. A registered nurse, Kara graduated from Maryville with a Master of Science in nursing.
Melinda Luka Hector, ’19, of Columbia, Mo., married her high school sweetheart, Tristan, on January 4, 2020. Hector works for the Missouri State Police as a criminalist in the toxicology section of the crime lab.
Sheila O. Jourdain, ’19, of Reading, Penn., is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner serving patients at Lancaster General Hospital. She is also a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, which helps her maintain her continued education and stay connected to other psychiatric mental health nurses.
Brittany N. Pomilee, ’19, of Columbia, Mo., is now a second-year graduate student at the University of Missouri pursuing her Master of Education in Student Affairs Leadership. She serves as the graduate assistant for Tiger Pantry, an on-campus resource to those facing food insecurity within the Mizzou community.
Erica D. Shaw, ’19, of Jerseyville, Ill., joined Centerstone as a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Shaw has more than five years’ experience in the mental health industry and graduated in 2019 from Maryville University with a Master of Science in Nursing in psychiatric mental health.
Aaron P. Stover, ’19, of St. Louis, is a Level 1 Trauma-Neuro ICU nurse at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. His patients have critical needs, and while the work is very fast paced, he spends a significant amount of time with his patients. Many are there for weeks, even months. Stover takes this opportunity to get to know his patients and their families on a personal level. He was honored as a top nurse in St. Louis and nominated for The Heart of Health Care program, a series that recognizes nurses for their incredible work.
Ashley M. Stuedle, ’19, of Cameron, Mo., joined the staff at Saint Luke’s Mercer County Clinic as an advanced practice provider. Stuedle received her Master of Science in Nursing from Maryville in 2019.
Timothy “Tim” Vires, ’19, of St. Charles, Mo., was promoted to data analytics senior advisor at Cigna and Express Scripts.
Yasmine Gholami, ’20, of Manchester, Mo., accepted a position as a sixth-grade teacher at Selvide Middle School in the Rockwood School District. Gholami is also pursuing her master’s degree at Maryville.
Susan Nankya, RSCJ, ’20, of St. Louis, graduated this past May with a master’s degree in strategic communication and leadership. Upon graduating, she received an award for academic excellence, honoring her achievements.
Nnenne Onwuzo, ’20, of Brooklyn, N.Y., overcame many obstacles during her final months as an online graduate student. She was battling COVID-19 while working to complete her professional conversation, the last step of Maryville Online’s Doctor of Education — Higher Education Leadership program. Onwuzo completed the professional conversation from her home via Zoom, stopping to catch her breath when needed. She shared, “Once it was over, I can’t explain the happiness I felt. It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Getting a doctoral degree was my dream, and I finally achieved it.”
Melanie C. Wilmert, ’20, of Chesterfield, Mo., accepted a position as a math teacher at Parkway North High School.