28,148 research outputs found
Portrait of Louis Nowra, author, 1981, 2 [picture] /
No full textTitle devised by cataloguer from inscription.; Part of the collection: Portraits of Louis Nowra, author, 1981.; Inscriptions: "Louis Nowra 5/2/81, H de Berg"--In ink on verso of print.; Condition: Soiled, scratched.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4728375
Portrait of Louis Nowra, author, 1981, 1 [picture] /
No full textTitle devised by cataloguer from inscription.; Part of the collection: Portraits of Louis Nowra, author, 1981.; Inscriptions: "Louis Nowra 5/2/81, H de Berg"--In ink on verso of print.; Condition: Soiled, scratched.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4728368
Portrait of Louis Nowra, author, 1981, 3 [picture] /
No full textTitle devised by cataloguer from inscription.; Part of the collection: Portraits of Louis Nowra, author, 1981.; Inscriptions: "Louis Nowra 5/2/81, H de Berg"--In ink on verso of print.; Condition: Soiled, scratched.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4728377
Portrait of Louis Nowra, author, in front of a tree, 1981 [picture] /
No full textTitle devised by cataloguer from inscription.; Part of the collection: Portraits of Louis Nowra, author, 1981.; Inscriptions: "Louis Nowra 5/2/81, H de Berg"--In ink on verso of print.; Condition: Soiled, scratched.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4728421
Catalog - 1849 - note
No full textNote from the bound reprints of the Saint Louis University catalogs, explaining that there was no catalog printed for the 1848-49 academic year, due to a major cholera outbreak in St. Louis that year
Portrait of Louis Nowra, author, leaning on a railing, 1981 [picture] /
No full textTitle devised by cataloguer from inscription.; Part of the collection: Portraits of Louis Nowra, author, 1981.; Inscriptions: "Louis Nowra 5/2/81, H de Berg"--In ink on verso of print.; Condition: Soiled, scratched.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4728382
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSpring/Summer 2003 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversityT H E M AG A Z I N E O F S A I N T L O U I S U N I V E R S I T Y
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 0 3
SLU &
Midtown
By Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
Saint Louis University President
It’s official: After extensive research and planning, Saint
Louis University is moving forward on plans for two excit-ing
projects — an arena and a research building. You can read
more about the details elsewhere in this issue, but I wanted to
share my perspective on these monumental undertakings and
what they mean for SLU.
Let’s start with the arena. This project has generated much
discussion over the years, especially among our Billiken faith-ful.
Although SLU has been eager to put the pieces in place
for a top-notch athletic facility for some time now, funding
proved to be a major obstacle. We also maintained that a
new arena should serve much more than our Billiken men’s
basketball program.
Yes, we envision a 13,000-seat basket-ball
venue with a cozy atmosphere, a true
college feel and a potentially exhilarating
home-court advantage. But with a new
arena, we are adding yet another compo-nent
to the overall Saint Louis University
experience. This project will provide a
facility that is easily accessible to our stu-dents
for commencement ceremonies and
other special engagements, thereby
becoming a multipurpose events center.
(For more details, see page 13.)
We plan to construct our new facility
near the Grand Center arts and entertain-ment
district. As we strive to strengthen
our community, a new arena will be yet
another beacon for Midtown. We remain
committed to creating a true “college
town” atmosphere with shops, restaurants
and entertainment, ultimately making
Midtown a place where people go to live,
to socialize and to learn.
Of course, there are direct benefits for our athletic pro-grams.
A new arena will allow us to avoid scheduling conflicts
at Savvis Center, the current home of our men’s basketball
team, and will help us in recruiting student-athletes.
Finally, we believe a new arena will better cater to our fans
— even those not living on campus. We came to this con-clusion
thanks to a marketing study, which also indicated that
once built, an arena could provide the University with new
sources of revenue from premium seating, advertising and
sponsorship. This revenue would allow us to operate the
building without drawing on SLU tuition dollars or dipping
into our endowment.
This “budget neutral” concept for the arena project also is
providing a model for our other major endeavor, a research
building. Candidly, as excited as I am about the arena, my
first and foremost priority is the research building.
The need for a dedicated research facility has become a
necessity as external funding for SLU research has expanded
significantly and successfully during the past decade. The ini-tiative
for a new research building at our Health Sciences
Center is part of an overall 80 million investment in new
and renovated research space that will represent the largest
single building project since the University’s founding in
1818. (For more details, see page 2.)
The new research building will provide state-of-the-art
facilities for health sciences research that directly touches lives
while providing additional services to the community. The
facility will allow for the consolidation of laboratories scat-tered
in different locations at the Health
Sciences Center. This unification will
strengthen the thematic areas of research
through collaborative interactions. In addi-tion,
the new research building will aid in
the retention of experienced biomedical
investigators, assist department chairpersons
in recruiting outstanding faculty
researchers and enhance the development
of new research and degree programs.
The building also will expand the
University’s research efforts and strengthen
our ability to compete for important exter-nal
funding. This, in turn, would increase
the prestige of Saint Louis University as a
major research center and aid in the
recruitment of students.
Pursuit of truth and scholarly inquiry
into new and better understandings of our
world have been part of the Ignatian tradi-tion
for hundreds of years. Research is an
integral part of our mission, a strong com-ponent
of our faculty endeavors and an
unparalleled educational tool for our students. As we move
forward on this important initiative, I look forward to the
future benefits we will reap from this important investment
in research.
I would like to extend my gratitude to all of those people
involved in both projects and invite everyone in our Saint
Louis University community to spread the word about these
two important developments. It is an exciting time to be part
of our Saint Louis University family as our destiny of becom-ing
the finest Catholic university in the nation continues to
take shape.
UNIVERSITAS
Volume 29, No. 2
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Assistant Editor
Chris Waldvogel
Intern
Billy Brennan
Contributors
Marie Dilg (Soc Ser ’94)
Katie Hanson (A&S ’02)
Matt Shaw
Bob Woodruff
Photo Credits
David Altman, 6
Bill Barrett, 7
Steve Dolan, 25
Kevin Lowder, 4, 14-17, 20-21
Kristen Peterson, 3
John Vieth, 9, 11, 12
James Visser, cover, 9, 10
Design
AKA Design Inc.
Art Direction: Richie Murphy
Design: Stacy Lanier
UNIVERSITAS is published quarterly by
Saint Louis University. Opinions
expressed in UNIVERSITAS are those of
the individual authors and not neces-sarily
those of the University adminis-tration.
Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome but will be
returned only if accompanied by a
stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed,
and letters not intended for publica-tion
should indicate that fact. The
editor reserves the right to edit all
items. Please address all mail to
UNIVERSITAS, DuBourg Hall 39, 221
N. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63103. We
accept e-mail at [email protected] and fax
submissions at (314) 977-2249.
Address fax submissions to Editor,
UNIVERSITAS.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
UNIVERSITAS, Saint Louis University, 221
N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
www.slu.edu/pr/universitas.html
UNIVERSITAS is printed by Universal
Printing Co. and mailed by Accurate
Business Mailers Inc.
Worldwide circulation: 109,325
© 2003, Saint Louis University.
All rights reserved.
On the Cover: The Continental
Life Building. Its renovation is a
sign of the resurgence of SLU’s
neighborhood. For more on
Midtown St. Louis, see page 8.
IIN MEMORIIAM AALLUUMMNNII nnootteess
2
23 32
28 30
SPRING/summer 2003
8
A Grand Plan
Saint Louis University’s neighborhood
is undergoing a Renaissance.
14
Jesuit Treasures
Take a peek at the newest exhibit
at the Saint Louis University
Museum of Art.
18
Are You What You Eat?
SLU nutritionists share their tips
for healthy living.
C O N T E N T S
2
Research building
slated for Health
Sciences Center
Saint Louis University’s
board of trustees has
authorized the SLU adminis-tration
to proceed with the
design and site selection
for a new research cen-ter
at the Health
Sciences Center, part of
an 80 million invest-ment
in new and reno-vated
research space. This
is the largest single build-ing
project since the
University’s found-ing
in 1818.
Last spring, University
President Lawrence Biondi,
S.J., identified the new
research center as his top pri-ority.
The building has been
in the planning stages for sev-eral
years.
Dr. Joseph Weixlmann,
who as provost is the
University’s chief academic
officer, said SLU has several
areas of emphasis on its
research agenda, including
biodefense, infectious dis-eases,
virology, cardiovascu-lar,
cancer and liver disease.
“This initiative is critical to
our success in attracting top-notch
researchers and to
compete for external fund-ing,”
Weixlmann said. “The
new structure will contain
basic and clinical science
research in focused areas.”
The University has identi-fied
several possible sites for
the building. Details will be
announced in the coming
months. Bonds will be issued
to finance construction of the
center. In addition, raising
money for the building is part
of the University’s 300 mil-lion
“Campaign for Saint
Weixlmann
named provost
Saint Louis University has a
new provost, but the per-son
assuming the post is not
new to the job. Dr. Joseph
Weixlmann — who served as
interim provost since replac-ing
Dr. Sandra Johnson in
May 2002 — has been named
Louis University: Where
Knowledge Touches Lives.”
“An opportunity exists
for a donor to make a
major gift and name the
building,” said Don
Whelan, vice president
for development and
University relations.
“We are actively
pursuing this.” or edited five books and pub-lished
50 articles and book
chapters, mostly on American
and African-American literary
topics. He earned a master’s
degree and doctorate from
Kansas State University.
A committee has been
formed to begin the search
process for a new dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences,
Weixlmann’s previous posi-tion.
Mike May, S.J., (A&S
’81) has served as interim
dean of the college since last
June. The chairman of the
department of mathematics
and mathematical computer
science, May is expected to
continue in his role as interim
dean through the upcoming
academic year.
provost. The appointment
follows a nationwide search.
Weixlmann was appointed
dean of SLU’s College of Arts
and Sciences in March 2001.
Prior to that appointment, he
was dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences at Indiana
State University.
As provost, Weixlmann is
the University’s chief acade-mic
officer and also oversees
information technology and
student development. “Very
few universities evidence the
depth of commitment to
learning, research and service
outreach that can be seen
today at Saint Louis
University,” Weixlmann said.
“I am extremely pleased to
assume a key leadership role
in moving forward the
exceptional team of faculty,
students, administrators, staff,
alumni and friends working
collaboratively to make SLU
America’s finest Catholic uni-versity,
and indeed, America’s
finest university, period.”
Weixlmann’s familiarity
with Jesuit education began at
an early age. He attended a
Jesuit high school and col-lege,
Canisius High School
and Canisius College, both in
Buffalo, N.Y. He has written
Weixlmann
CENTER OF ATTENTION: Progress continues on the renovation and expansion of Busch
Student Center, which is scheduled to open in early August. The architectural rendering pic-tured
above shows what the finished building will look like from Grand Boulevard. The project
includes 51,000 square feet of new construction and 100,500 square feet of renovation.
NEWS BRIEFS
By The Numbers
214 SLU students who studied
abroad during the 2002-03 acad-emic
year in countries such as
Spain, France, the Netherlands,
Belgium, El Salvador, Australia,
Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Poland
and England.
7,874 Parking spaces at SLU,
2,727 of which are at the Health
Sciences Center.
29,952 Pieces of candy stuffed
into 7,484 Easter eggs hidden at
SLU for the annual alumni Easter
Egg Hunt. In all, 926 children
attended the April 19 event.
30,671 Meals prepared by
SLU’s Campus Kitchen from
October 2001 through April
2003. SLU volunteers cook and
deliver meals to those in need in
the St. Louis area. In all, 22,096
pounds of food have been res-cued/
received from campus din-ing,
and 9,730 hours of
community service have been
completed by those involved.
Dr. Paul G. Schmitz (Grad
’66), professor of internal medi-cine-
nephrology, received the
2002 Governor’s Award for
Excellence in Teaching, which
recognizes outstanding faculty
members from Missouri colleges
and universities and is presented
annually to one faculty member
from each of the state’s two- and
four-year institutions. … Dr.
Raymond G. Slavin (Med ’56),
director of the division of allergy
and immunology at the School of
Medicine, received the Fellows
Award from the Academy of
Science of St. Louis. The award
recognizes an active scientist who
excels in communicating to col-leagues,
future scientists and the
general public. A leading
spokesman and researcher, Slavin
is an expert on allergies and asth-ma.
… Dr. Eleonore A.
Stump, the Robert J. Henle, S.J.,
Chair of Philosophy, presented the
Gifford Lectures at the University
of Aberdeen in Scotland in March.
Established as early as 1888, the
lectures are among the world’s
foremost intellectual events. Past
Gifford lecturers include Nobel
Prize winners Niels Bohr, John C.
Eccles and Albert Schweitzer. …
In March, the SLU Women’s
Commission celebrated its 30th
anniversary with a reception and a
presentation that outlined the pre-sent
climate for women at SLU.
The report was based on a survey
of 1,301 women, and results will
guide the commission’s activities
and programs.
New deans named
for AHP, Parks
The Doisy School of Allied
Health Professions and
Parks College of Engineering
and Aviation soon will be
under new leadership. Dr.
Charlotte Royeen has accepted
appointment as dean for the
Doisy School of Allied Health
Professions and officially will
begin her duties July 1.
Royeen will come to SLU
from Creighton University,
where she has served as associ-ate
dean for research in the
School of Pharmacy and Allied
Health Sciences and was a
founding member of
Creighton’s Research Council.
She holds a doctorate from
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University and a
master’s degree in occupational
therapy from Washington
University’s School of
Medicine.
Dr. Bjong Wolf Yeigh will
be the dean of Parks College.
Yeigh’s appointment also is
effective July 1. He joins SLU
from Yale University, where
he is assistant provost of sci-ence
and technology, a post he
has held since 1999. Yeigh
Sword goes to
Joyner-Kersee
Saint Louis University has
bestowed its highest honor
for individual achievement ––
the Sword of Ignatius Loyola
–– on Olympic champion
Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The
award was presented to her at
the University’s DuBourg
Society Recognition Dinner
Dec. 8. Joyner-Kersee is often
regarded as the best all-around
female athlete in the world and
the all-time greatest heptath-lete.
A native of East St. Louis,
Ill., Joyner-Kersee has won
several Olympic medals and is
noted for her contributions to
the community. The Sword of
Ignatius Loyola is named for
the founder of the Society of
Jesus, Inigo Lopez de Loyola.
Symbolic of the Ignatian vision
of service, the sword is award-ed
to those who have given
themselves to humankind for
the greater glory of God.
Arena project
OK’d by trustees
The Saint Louis University
board of trustees has
approved the construction of
a new SLU arena contingent
upon raising an estimated 45
million in private donations.
The arena would be built in
Midtown St. Louis, where
SLU’s campus is located.
Michael F. Shanahan Sr.
(B&A ’61), chairman and
CEO of Engineered Support
Systems Inc. and SLU trustee
emeritus, is leading the fund-raising
effort for the project.
For more details, see page 13.
Service hours at
an all-time high
Members of the Saint
Louis University com-munity
have answered the
call to be “women and men
for others” as 11,591 people
contributed 617,911 hours of
service during 2002. The
numbers — which were
taken from a recently released
University report — are up
drastically from 2001, when
8,778 participants contributed
489,505 hours of service. The
reported number of students
participating in community
service and volunteerism
went up from 4,217 in 2001
to 5,079 in 2002 — an
increase of 20 percent.
Faculty and staff who
responded to the survey also
increased 11 percent (from
659 in 2001 to 731 in 2002).
From left: Joe Adorjan, chairman of SLU’s board of trustees;
Joyner-Kersee; and University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
received a master’s degree in
mechanical engineering from
Stanford in 1987 and a doctor-ate
in civil engineering and
operations research from
Princeton in 1995. Dr. Charles
Kirkpatrick will step down as
dean this July after nine years
of service. He will continue his
SLU career as a full-time facul-ty
member in the department
of chemistry.
4
Grad School ranks
first in doctorates
Saint Louis University’s
Graduate School ranks
first in number of doctoral
degrees granted from
Catholic universities for the
2001 academic year, accord-ing
to data compiled by the
Graduate School and the
National Research Council.
During that period, the
Graduate School granted 105
Ph.D.s and 41 Ed.D.s for a
total of 146 doctorates. The
Graduate School has ranked
among the top five Catholic
universities in doctoral
degrees granted since 1987,
the first year SLU officials
began compiling that data.
Only Notre Dame joins SLU
in that distinction.
SLU gets largest
research award
Protecting babies and a
woman’s reproductive
health are among the major
goals of the largest research
award in Saint Louis
University’s 185-year history, a
$36.8 million NIH contract to
combat herpes. SLU will lead a
four-year herpes vaccine study
involving 7,550 women across
the United States for the
National Institutes of Health.
When herpes is passed from
a mother to a child during
birth, the disease is life threat-ening
for the child and leads to
birth defects. “A successful
vaccine to fight this disease
would represent a major public
health triumph,” said Dr.
Robert Belshe, the national
study chair and Adorjan
Professor of Internal Medicine
and director of the Center for
Vaccine Development at the
School of Medicine.
“This is the largest clinical
trial we’ve organized and has
the potential for making a sig-nificant
contribution to
SLU lab makes
cancer discovery
Alab headed by a Saint Louis
University researcher has
made a major breakthrough
that could lead to a better mol-ecular
understanding of cancer.
Results published in the jour-nal
Molecular Cell by Dr. Ali
Shilatifard and his colleagues
show for the first time how a
protein known to be involved
in the development of cancer
functions in normal cells. “This
opens the door for further
Information
initiative launched
Aproject under way at Saint
Louis University will rev-olutionize,
enhance and
expand the delivery of infor-mation
to students, faculty,
staff and alumni. Called
“Gateway: the information ini-tiative
of Saint Louis
University,” the project will
plug SLU computer users into
significant facts, figures and
data. Making use of recently
purchased computer hardware
and software, Gateway will
integrate information from
both the administrative and
academic aspects of the
University and reformulate the
way information is cataloged
and stored. Student records,
financial aid, alumni databases,
University financial data and
human resources information
all will move over to the new
system. The shift will take
approximately 36 months for
the entire University.
GLAD GRADS: Approximately 1,800 students graduat-ed
from Saint Louis University during annual commence-ment
exercises May 17 at Savvis Center. The graduating
class is larger than those in recent years. Last year, 1,508
students graduated from SLU. Pictured above with this
year’s commencement speaker Bill McClellan (left), a St.
Louis Post-Dispatch columnist, are (from left) honorary
degree recipients Frank Reale, S.J., (A&S ’74) provincial
of the Jesuits of the Missouri Province; Martin L.
Mathews, co-founder of St. Louis’ Mathews-Dickey Boys’
and Girls’ Club; and Emily Rauh Pulitzer, founder and
president of the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts.
study of this protein in the reg-ulation
of gene expression,”
said Shilatifard, an associate
professor of biochemistry and
molecular biology. “Once we
understand the normal, we will
have a better understanding of
where something is going
wrong.” This, in turn, could
lead to ways to block the path-way
and ultimately could stop
cancer development, he said.
Also participating in this
research was the lab of Dr.
Mark Johnston at Washington
University School of Medicine.
women’s health,” he said. The
study will be conducted at 16
U.S. locations, with Saint
Louis University as the nation-al
coordinating site. SLU’s
Vaccine Center will enroll
approximately 500 people.
Check out smoke-free
dining online
Smoking in restaurants is still
legal in St. Louis, but that
doesn’t mean it’s pleasant. The
School of Public Health
recently assembled a list of 100
percent smoke-free restaurants
in the St. Louis metro area.
More than 200 local establish-ments
appear on the list,
including Bevo Mill, Café
Napoli, Lemon Grass and all
locations of the St. Louis Bread
Co. For a look at the list, visit
www.breatheeasymo.org.
25
Nurses prepared
for terrorism
Nurses who want to learn
how to handle the after-math
of a terrorist attack
began their studies Feb. 3,
when the School of Nursing
launched a one-of-a-kind
certificate program. “Our dis-aster
preparedness certificate
program is based upon what
we learned when we visited
Israel to find out how nurses
there deal with terrorism,”
said Dr. Dotti James (Nurs
’71, Grad Nurs ’74, ’94, ’97),
associate professor of nursing.
Four SLU educators — two
from the School of Nursing
and two from the Center for
the Study of Bioterrorism and
Emerging Infections in the
School of Public Health —
traveled to the Hadassah
Medical Organization in
October to see what Israeli
health care professionals do
after a terror attack. Students
working toward SLU’s cer-tificate
will participate in 10
sessions. The curriculum is
available through distance
learning on the Internet and
is offered at Saint Louis
University.
AHP introduces
two new degrees
Two new degree programs
are under way at SLU’s
Doisy School of Allied
Health Professions. The
University has created the
first and only five-year degree
in the country that blends a
bachelor of science in health
information management
with a master of health
administration. The Doisy
School and the School of
Public Health are offering the
joint degree
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSpring 2009 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversityVolume 35, Issue 2
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Contributors
Clayton Berry
David Chilenski (Cook ’98)
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
John Gilmore (A&S ’88)
Nick Sargent
“On Campus” news stories
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
Cover Photo
Kevin Lowder
Design
Art Direction: Matt Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of the
individual authors and not necessarily those of the
University administration. Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome but will be returned only if
accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed, and letters not
intended for publication should indicate that fact. The
editor reserves the right to edit all items. Address all
mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall 39, One Grand Blvd.,
St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept e-mail at utas@
slu.edu and fax submissions at (314) 977-2249.
Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
One Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
www.slu.edu/pr/universitas.html
Universitas is printed and mailed by
Cenveo-Color Art Printing Inc.
Worldwide circulation: 111,390
© 2009, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
FALL 2004 WINTER 2005
Greetings to Saint Louis
University’s many alumni
and friends around the
world. I hope the beauty and hope
of spring has met you with a warm
embrace wherever this message may
find you.
Unfortunately, as you know all
too well, the economy weighs on
the shoulders of our nation. In fact,
in this issue of Universitas, you will
read interviews with six of Saint
Louis University’s brightest business
and economic minds. You will find
that they are cautiously optimistic
about the year we have ahead of us,
and they believe that our collective
will is strong. They are confident a
recovery will occur in due time.
This downturn has affected us
all, even here at SLU. However, I
am proud to report that Saint Louis University
remains in a strong financial position thanks to
years of prudent spending, as well as responsible
planning and investment.
We know the economy is profoundly affecting
our students and their families as well as our
alumni and generous donors. That’s why we
continue our dedication to being stalwart stew-ards
of our students’ tuition dollars and of the
generous gifts from friends and alumni like you.
For the next academic year, we have com-mitted
to raising tuition just 2 percent. We
chose this modest increase to assure the afford-ability
of a SLU education for our students and
their families during these difficult times.
With the sagging economy in mind, we
have sought new and innovative ways to make
the most of our budget dollars. In this issue
of Universitas, you will read about one such
program: Quantum Weather.
This one-of-a-kind weather system is allow-ing
the St. Louis utility company, AmerenUE,
to monitor weather systems on a block-by-
block basis — and it’s thanks to SLU’s
department of earth and atmospheric sciences.
A group of SLU professors and researchers
collaborated with the utility to create this in-novative
solution.
The project is an excellent example of the
type of private-public partnerships that help
our professors and researchers make practical
use of their research. It also fulfills our mission
of assisting our community. For the first time,
AmerenUE can pinpoint the likely effect severe
weather will have on specific neighborhoods
so the company can efficiently and quickly
send repair crews to shorten the length of time
customers go without power.
As we move forward, the University will
seek more of these unique partnerships. I feel
strongly that in order to strengthen com-munities
like St. Louis — and those in which
you live — government, private industry and
educational institutions must work together.
Each entity is like a leg of a stool supporting
the greater good. And especially in these dif-ficult
economic times, we must strike the right
balance, or we may all fall down.
As we face the reality of tighter budgets,
such partnerships will not only help us make
the most of our limited funds, they will aid
in the further development of our cities and
regions. Such a critical mass of collaborative
decision makers and innovative thinkers can
only result in positives for all of us.
I am confident that in the months and years
to come even more of these partnerships will
come to fruition on the SLU campus, mak-ing
your generous gifts even more effective in
transforming the world around us.
Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
President
Photo by Jim Visser
{ president’s message } { contents }
8 | Set for more
SLU’s volleyball team earned a top 25 national ranking and
an NCAA bid thanks to a season that surprised even the
coach. — By Nick Sargent
12 | Economy 101
Six SLU experts tackle questions about the nation’s financial
crisis and offer their opinions on what to expect next.
— By David Chilenski and Nick Sargent
17 | A Quantum Leap in Forecasting
SLU’s partnership with the local electric company has yielded
a weather monitoring, forecasting and response system that’s
already in use. — By John Gilmore
20 | Choice Firsts
SLU history is filled with many milestones. Here are the stories
behind several of those memorable dates. — By Marie Dilg
2 | On Campus
Japanese visitors bring
their Billiken to campus
• New majors unveiled •
Service and spirituality
site for alumni • Students
for Life • Art exhibitions
6 | Billiken News
Hall of Fame inductees
• Soccer accolades
• Baseball at Busch
Stadium
7 | Advancement News
A conversation with Dr.
Boyd A. Bradshaw, vice
provost for enrollment
management
24 | class notes
Catch up with classmates.
28 | In Memoriam
Remembering those
members of the SLU
community who recently
died
30 | alumni events
Find SLU alumni
activities wherever you
live.
32 | Perspective
An alumnus explains the
importance of folklore.
33 | the last word
Letters to the editor
features
depar tments
17 20
8
12
2 5
2 U NI V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u U N I V E R S I T A S S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3
{ on campus }
Saint Louis University is launching several
new undergraduate majors to prepare
students for some of the country’s hottest
careers. It’s also enhancing its communi-cation
program to meet the needs of the
21st century.
In October the Saint Louis University Billiken met his Japanese
brother as two special visitors arrived from Osaka, Japan, with a
hand-carved Billiken statue.
Normally, the Japanese Billiken — a 2-foot-tall, 30-pound
wooden statue — resides in a shrine atop the 298-foot-tall Tsuten-kaku
Tower. Each year, thousands of visitors donate a coin and
rub the soles of the Billiken’s feet to make a wish. (In St. Louis it’s
considered good luck to rub his belly.)
The Japanese visitors were in St. Louis because 2008 marked the
100th anniversary of the Billiken, and they wanted to see where their
revered good luck symbol got his start.
Created by Florence Pretz in 1908, the Billiken enjoyed world-wide
fame in his heyday. In 1912, a Billiken figure was displayed in
an amusement park in Osaka as a symbol of Americana. When the
park closed in 1923, the wooden statue of the Billiken disappeared.
In 1980, to help revive the city’s Tsutenkaku Tower, a replica of the
Billiken statue that once appeared in the park was made based on an
old photograph and placed on the tower’s observation deck.
Last fall, that same Billiken toured America, along with Ryuko
Takai, a vice president with the company that owns the tower, and
Kei Iguchi, a writer with the Daily Yomiuri, Japan’s largest English-language
newspaper. Takai took the wooden statue to visit key spots
in Billiken history. Iguchi chronicled the visit. Their first stop was
St. Louis.
At SLU, they hopped on golf carts for a campus tour. As they
came up on SLU’s iconic bronze Billiken statue, the men gasped
with excitement. They jumped out of the cart for photos, and Takai
placed their wooden Billiken face-to-face with his American brother.
While they were admiring the statue, SLU’s Billiken mascot made
a surprise appearance. The visitors were clearly excited to see the cos-tumed
creature.
As Takai and Iguchi rode away in a golf cart on to see another
Billiken statue on campus and take a quick tour of Chaifetz Arena
— where they placed the Osaka Billiken on center court —Takai
summed up their affection for SLU’s beloved mascot: “Goodbye, my
Billiken brother!” — Clayton Berry
Japanese Billiken visits American brother at SLU
Photo by Clayton Berry
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
News Briefs
In January, Dr. Devin Johnston, associate
professor of English, was named a finalist for
a National Book Critics Circle award in poetry,
one of the world’s most prestigious literary
awards. Johnston’s Sources, a book of poetry
released last fall, was selected, and it’s the
first time that a member of the SLU faculty has
been up for the award.
Dr. Bert Barry (Grad ’95) is SLU’s new director
of international services. Most recently he was
director of English as a second language and
director of international services for Webster
University in St. Louis. At SLU Barry works to
promote, recruit and enroll international students
and students studying abroad. He also facilitates
cross-cultural educational experiences on cam-pus
for students and academic departments.
In November SLU Provost Joe Weixlmann was
recognized by his alma mater, Canisius College,
with a Distinguished Alumni Award for embodying
“the Jesuit ideal of intellectual excellence, leader-ship
and service to others.” He is a 1968 graduate
of the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Jesuit institution.
Dr. James Kelhoffer, associate professor of
theological studies, is a winning author in Alpha
Sigma Nu’s 29th annual Book Award competi-tion.
His book The Diet of John the Baptist was
chosen from entries submitted from among the
33 member Jesuit institutions of higher educa-tion.
Winning books are selected by Alpha
Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society, and by the
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities,
which supervises the competition.
Kate Becker (A&S ’83), former SLU Medical
Center associate general counsel, is now ex-ecutive
director of the University Medical Group.
As executive director, she oversees all opera-tions,
planning and the budget for the UMG.
In February SLU was recognized as one of the
region’s best places to work by readers of the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who voted SLU one
of “St. Louis’ Top Employers” in an online poll.
The University was one of only three employers
named for providing the best benefits. And in
January, St. Louis Magazine once again named
SLU one of St. Louis’ “Great Places to Work.”
Only 58 firms made the magazine’s list this year.
Saint Louis University’s School for Profes-sional
Studies, which provides degrees and
certificates designed for busy adults, is launch-ing
a bachelor’s degree in general studies that
will be offered totally online. The new general
studies degree also can be earned on site or in
a combination of both formats.
SLU named to national honor roll
In February, SLU was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service
Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. The
prestigious award is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment
to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a
series of factors, including innovativeness of service projects and the percentage of student
participation in service.
SLU professor is new provincial
of the jesuits’ missouri province
Adolfo Nicolas, S.J., superior general of the Society
of Jesus, has appointed a Saint Louis University
professor as the next provincial of the Missouri Province.
Douglas Marcouiller, S.J., associate professor of econom-ics,
will have responsibility for some 300 Jesuits working
in St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Belize and in many other places throughout the world.
In addition to his teaching duties at SLU, Marcouiller
serves as rector of Bellarmine House of Studies, which
provides religious and academic formation for Jesuit
students. He also travels regularly to Central America
to teach short courses in economics at the Universidad
Centroamericana, the Jesuit university in El Salvador.
Marcouiller succeeds the current provincial, Timothy
McMahon, S.J. (A&S ’80), July 31.
expansion in
communication
In addition, SLU is adding
four new areas of study to
its undergraduate com-munication
program for the
fall, including journalism and
public relations. The Univer-sity
also will put more focus
on practical education and
hands-on experience with
cutting-edge technologies.
civil engineering
Next fall, Parks College of Engineer-ing,
Aviation and Technology will
offer an undergraduate degree in civil
engineering, a career field expected
to grow by nearly 20 percent during
the next decade. The new major will
have a strong focus on sustainable
engineering and green technologies,
and will be the only one of its kind in
St. Louis.
health management
The School of Public
Health’s new health man-agement
major is tailored for
students who want to study
the business of health care
and medicine. Students in
the new major are get-ting
personalized attention
from the same faculty who
teach courses for SLU’s No.
12-ranked master of health
administration program.
environmental studies
SLU also plans to add an
environmental studies major,
which will offer environ-mentally
focused courses
in science, communica-tion,
business, philosophy,
theology, prelaw and more.
This new program will help
students understand the
economic, political, legal and
ethical forces that influence
environmental issues.
SLU launches new
majors for fall 2009
Photo by James Visser
From left: SLU’s bronze Billiken,
Ryuko Takai, the Japanese
Tsutenkaku Tower Billiken and
SLU’s Billiken mascot.
Marcouiller
Saint Louis University’s department of nu-trition
and dietetics is celebrating its 75th
anniversary by releasing a book. Making
It: Gardens to Tables mixes recipes from
top St. Louis chefs with the story of how
the department began using cooking and
gardening to teach that local, homegrown
food is good for diners, good for the envi-ronment
and good for the community.
Through photos and words, Making It
traces how the department grew to empha-size
sustainable food systems and created one of the only programs in the
country that combines the art of cooking with the science of nutrition. It
also focuses on SLU’s commitment to reach out to children in the commu-nity
and explain to them why French fries aren’t the
only vegetable they should eat.
Published by SLU’s Doisy College of Health Sci-ences
and Reedy Press, the book costs 1,000 to
3,000 award. Any additional siblings attending SLU as
undergraduates also would be eligible for the award, which will
be added to any other scholarships or grants a student may be
awarded.
From left: Students for Life
members Hannah Diamond, Katie
Marx, Briana Klostermann, Sarah
Daubach, Rachel Rath, Amy
Winkler and Matt VonRueden
at the Capitol in
Washington, D.C.
New book
shares
nutrition
story and
recipes
New graduate degrees
to debut this fall
Students interested in pursuing
graduate studies at Saint Louis
University will have two new options
this fall.
supply chain management
SLU’s John Cook School of Business will
offer a new master’s degree in supply
chain management. As businesses look for
a competitive advantage in today’s global
economy, there’s increasing demand for
skilled professionals in this field.
health informatics
As technology revolutionizes the health
care field, SLU’s Doisy College of Health
Sciences is preparing students with a
new graduate program in health informat-ics.
The new master’s degree program
will allow students to work as information
managers and executives in hospitals and
clinics, pharmaceutical companies and
research organizations as they learn how
technology is used to manage and store
health information.
Students for Life group
wins national honor
The Saint Louis University Students for Life group, which promotes
a pro-life message in the community, has been recognized by the
national Students for Life organization as “Group of the Year.”
During the Students for Life of America Conference in Wash-ington,
D.C., in January, SLU’s chapter received the award for
its large and dedicated base of student involvement, as well
as for implementing many pro-life initiatives. Each year, SLU’s
Students for Life sponsors Respect Life Week, planning events
around right-to-life issues. Last fall, the group established the
Virginia Murphy Pregnant and Parenting Student Assistance Fund,
an endowed scholarship that will provide assistance to any SLU
student facing unexpected pregnancy or parenthood.
Medical Center makes
changes to foster
inte g ration
A dministrative
changes at the
Medical Center
were announced in
January that aim to
enhance academic
departments and
increase efficiency.
In addition to serv-ing
as dean of the medical school, Dr.
Philip O. Alderson is now vice president
for health scien
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textFall 2024 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University.FA
LL 2024THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITAS THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITYFALL 22
Three of a Klein
Billiken men’s soccer has
relied on the Klein family for
generations. — by Joe Barker
24
SLU Goes Hollywood
A movie based on alum John
O’Leary’s life brought a film
crew to campus.
— by Joe Barker, photos
by Sarah Conroy
28
Under One Roof
The Catholic Studies Program
offers more than a major; it
offers community.
— by Catherine
Kraemer
’
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6
Paralympic Mettle
Dr. Sarah Adam won silver as
the first woman on the U.S.
Paralympic wheelchair rugby
team. — by Bridjes O’Neil
10
Lost and Found
Dr. Douglas Boin’s
discovery of an ancient
Roman temple is making
headlines. — by Marie Dilg
14
Join the Club
SLU’s sport clubs go beyond
traditional collegiate athletics.
— by Amy Garland,
photos by Sarah Conroy
18
Lighting the Spark
Ignite Seminars allow faculty
to share their passions with
students. — by Amy Garland
Members of SLU's
rowing club practice
on Creve Coeur Lake.
PHOTO BY SARAH CONROY
FEATURES
DEPARTMENT S
2
ON CAMPUS
Jon Hamm speaks at commencement
Literary Award
Campus dog
New men s basketball coach
Billiken Hall of Fame
31
CLASS NOTES
33 Alumni Spotlight: Sharee (Brown)
Silerio (A&S ’09) — by Amy Garland
34 Alumni Merit Awards
37
IN MEMORIAM
41
THE LAST LOOK
VOLUME 51, ISSUE 1
EDITOR
Laura Geiser
{A&S ’90, Grad ’92}
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Garland {A&S ’97}
ART DIRECTOR
Matt Krob
ON CAMPUS NEWS
STORIES
University Public Relations
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE COVER
Dr. Sarah Adam, SLU
assistant professor and
Paralympic silver medalist
Photo by Sarah Conroy
Universitas is published by
Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in
Universitas are those of the
individual authors and not
necessarily those of the
University administration.
Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome
but will be returned only if
accompanied by a stamped,
self addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must
be signed, and letters not
intended for publication
should indicate that fact.
The editor reserves the
right to edit all items.
Address:
Universitas
DuBourg Hall 39
1 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
Email address:
[email protected]
Website: slu.edu/universitas
Universitas is printed by
Cummings Printing
Worldwide circulation:
127,000
©2024, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole
or in part without
permission is prohibited.
President’s message
Stories that reveal the heart of SLU
ASLU faculty member in occu-pational
therapy is the first
woman in history to compete
on the U.S. Paralympic wheel-chair
rugby team (page 6).
A history professor has made a major dis-covery
of an ancient Roman temple (page 10).
Numerous faculty members have created
new courses designed to ignite a lifelong pro-cess
of curiosity and learning in the Ignatian
tradition (page 18).
And our club sports program offers every
student a path to continue — or to discover —
an engagement with athletics that supports
their well-being, sense of community and con-nection
to the natural world (page 14).
When I talk to students about why they
love Saint Louis University, they often tell me
that it is because our commitment to mission
is real — that “higher purpose, greater good”
is more than a tagline.
This issue of Universitas highlights many of
the ways that we are delivering on our com-mitment
to pursue truth, to re-imagine what
is possible and to foster communities where
all people thrive.
SLU’s Catholic Studies Program is one
distinctive example of our Catholic, Jesuit
identity in action (page 28). It is a place where
students are centered in their spiritual lives,
integrating insights from across academic
domains as they seek the presence of God in
all things. Through numerous gatherings, dis-cussions
and events, students can experience
what it means to be part of a community that
is expressly committed to seeking wholeness.
As Billiken alumni, you know well: A SLU
education expands our students’ worldviews,
the opportunities they will find after gradu-ation
and the sense of purpose they will bring
to all aspects of their lives.
Indeed, our University’s talented alumni
continue to tell powerful stories that reflect
t he exper iences and t he exper t ise they
acquired in their years at SLU. Graduate
Sharee (Brown) Silerio (A&S ’09), who worked
on the Academy Award-winning documentary
short film The Last Repair Shop, is dedicated to
creating films that expand representation of
Black women and girls (page 33). And alum
John O’Leary’s (CSB ’99) story will soon be
released asa motion picture filmed in part on
our St. Louis campus (page 24).
Not all of us will make movies, but we all
have an essential role in the Billiken story. In
the multiple ways that you contribute to your
families, communities and professions —
each one of your stories reflects the profound
potential of our University’s noble mission.
Thank you for continuing to bring SLU’s
story to life.
Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
President
-
-
On campus
SARAH CONROY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A graduate prepares
for commencement; graduates celebrate
after the ceremony; a group selfe before the
ceremony begins in Chaifetz Arena; and the
2024 honorary degree recipients (from left)
William and Susan Klepper, Hamm and Christie.
SARAH CONROY
SARAH CONROY
FROM TOP: Hamm (center) receives his
honorary degree from Board of Trustees
Chair Joseph Conran (left) and SLU
He reminded the graduates that they are now for the Society of Jesus; Dr. Susan E. Klepper
part of a shared community. (DCHS ’66), emeritus professor at Columbia
President Dr. Fred P. Pestello; Hamm poses
for a selfe with student speaker Sky Carroll.
University; and Dr. William M. Klepper (A&S
’66), academic director at Columbia University.
SARAH CONROY
2 UNIVERSITAS / THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y FALL 2024 3
SARAH CONROY
KABANCE PHOTO
‘Resilient’ Class of 2024 Celebrated at Commencement
For many of Saint Louis University’s newest “Be proud sons and daughters of St Louis,” he
alumni — who started college during the said. “Be proud of where you’re from, knowing
COVID 19 pandemic — the 2024 spring that it made you. Be at peace with where you
commencement was their frst chance to are, knowing it’s transitory and is leading
experience a proper graduation. to something else on the path. But most
importantly, be excited f St. Louis native and Emmy award-winning or where you’re going actor Jon Hamm congratulated the nearly — the future is endless, it is ripe with possibility, 1,600 students on their ability to thrive. and it is all yours to make of what you wish.”
“Your resilience in the face of continued In addition to delivering the main address, discomfort and distraction is impressive,” Hamm joined three SLU alumni in receiving Hamm said. honorary degrees: P. Maria Joseph Christie, S.J. (CSB ’99), secretary of higher education
4 UNIVERSITAS / THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
On campus
’ ’
’
’
’
’
-
-
-
-
- -
- -
-
ATHLETICS
SARAH CONROY
DISTINCTION Class of 2024 University Names
New Leadership
William
Johnson
RECTOR AND
VICE PRESIDENT,
SLU-MADRID
Johnson was
dean of the
SLU School of
Law for more
than seven years. He served
over four years as the director
of both the law school’s
Center for International
and Comparative Law and
its Summer Law Program in
Madrid.
Dr. Twinette
Johnson
(A&S ’96, GRAD ’19)
DEAN, SCHOOL
OF LAW
Johnson began
her academic
career as an
associate
professor at the SLU School
of Law over 20 years ago.
Most recently, she was dean
and professor of law at the
University of the District of
Columbia David A. Clarke
School of Law.
Dr. Jackson
Nickerson
EDWARD JONES
DEAN, RICHARD
A. CHAIFETZ
SCHOOL OF
BUSINESS
Nickerson was
a professor of
organization
and strategy at the Olin
School of Business at
Washington University in St.
Louis, where he’d been since
2007.
JOE BARKER WYLIE AGENCY
Hot Diggity! SLU Welcomes
Campus Facility Dog
The SLU community welcomed a new
member to campus this spring: Duo
Facility Dog Woody.
Unlike a service dog, a facility dog is
trained to work with multiple handlers in
homes, clinics or organizations and carry
out specific,skilled taskswith multiple cli-ents.
Facility dogs do not have public access
rights and are authorized to work within
the assigned facility only.
The first Duo Facility Dog to ever go to
college, Woody is a two-year-old English
Labrador retriever who has been training
his entire life for his role: decreasing stress,
improving moods and promoting well-be-ing
through interactions with students,
faculty and staff.
KINCAID RECEIVES LITERARY AWARD; WHITEHEAD TAPPED FOR 2025 HONOR
Renowned Antigua- Pulitzer Prize-winning author
CHRIS CLOSE
born author Jamaica Colson Whitehead will come to
Kincaid received St. Louis next April to accept the
the 2024 St. Louis 2025 St. Louis Literary Award.
SLU EARNS
NATIONAL
FOR
ENGAGEMENT
The Carnegie
Foundation for
the Advancement
of Teaching
announced
that Saint Louis
University
earned the 2024
Community
Engagement
Classifcation.
The elective
designation
is awarded by
Carnegie and the
American Council
on Education.
SLU is one of
Billiken Hall of Fame
CAMERON NEISLER
COMMUNITY The Department of Athletics inducted
new members into the Billiken Hall of
Fame in February.
BILLIKEN GREAT: CONTEMPORARY
Honoring student-athletes who
competed in the past 30 years
Aspen Cervin Ryan McCoy
(CSB 17), tennis (CSB 18), swimming
Miller Hogan, Alex Nickel (PH 17),
baseball softball
Jackie Kemph Tim Ream (CSB 10),
(CSB ’17, GRAD CSB ’18),
basketball soccer
Rick Majerus, Jenny (Kehl)
men’s basketball Wallace (A&S ’03),
head coach soccer
head coach for Bi l l iken
men’s basketball.
S che r t z c ame f rom
Indiana State, where he
finished his third season
with the Sycamores last
spring and led them to a
32 7 record and a run to the NIT championship game.
Prior to ISU, he spent 13 seasons at Lincoln Memorial,
where he led the Railsplitters to 10 NCAA Division II
national tournaments, including an appearance in the
2016 NCAA Division II national championship game.
Schertz is 403 109 in 16 seasons as a collegiate head
coach. His .787 winning percentage ranks in the top 10
among all active coaches in the NCAA. Schertz was named
the 2024 MVC Coach of the Year and the Hugh Durham
Schertz Heads Up
Men’s Basketball
J osh Schertz has started
his first season as the
National Coach of the Year, which is presented annually to
the top mid major head coach in college basketball.
Literary Award on Whitehead is the author of many 368 campuses DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD nationwide holding
novels, including The Underground the classifcation. Honoring former student-athletes for
April 25.
Soccer’s Schulte Makes Olympic Team
Former Saint Louis University men’s soccer standout
Patrick Schulte (CSB ’24) made it to the 2024 Paris
Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Olympic men’s
Kincaid’s work Railroad, The Nickel Boys and their contributions to SLU athletics and
explores themes of colonialism, Harlem Shufe. In addition to the Pulitzer, he The report distinguished careers
gender and sexuality, racism, class won the National Book Award and the Carnegie highlighted SLU’s
and family. She wrote the novels Medal for Fiction, among other awards. He work on issues like Tom Strunk (CSB 89), soccer, is chief
Annie John, Lucy and See Now Then, has received a MacArthur Fellowship and a food insecurity fnancial ofcer of World Wide
and several other books. Guggenheim Fellowship. through Campus Technology Inc. He was instrumental in soccer team. The team advanced to the quarterfinals,
Kitchen and bringing Major League Soccer to and Schulte made five appearancesduring the Olympic
The new Target store is located along Grand Boulevard
between Gratiot and Papin streets.
Time for a
Target Run
TARGET’S NEWEST ST. LOUIS STORE,
located near the Saint Louis
University campus, opened on
July 21.
The approximately
72,000-square-foot store
includes a CVS Pharmacy,
Starbucks Café, and Ulta
Beauty at Target. The store flls
a void of anchor retail tenants
along the Grand corridor and
is part of the retailer’s eforts
to open more stores that meet
community needs for urban centers, dense suburban cities and college campuses.
The project is located within the 400-acre redevelopment area that’s guided by the
St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corp., a joint efort of SLU and SSM Health.
Billiken Bounty
and community
improvement
through initiatives
like Habitat for
Neighborhood
Business, SLU
Legal Clinics, and
the engagement
eforts of the
St. Louis Midtown
Redevelopment
Corp.
The classifcation
has been the
leading framework
for institutional
assessment and
recognition
of community
engagement in U.S.
higher education
for the past 19 years.
FALL 2024
St. Louis and has an ownership stake in
St. Louis CITY SC.
BAUMAN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Honoring individuals who made
outstanding contributions to Billiken
athletics
Joe Conran (A&S ’67, LAW 70) is a retired
partner and former chair at Husch
Blackwell LLP, where he is of counsel. He
chaired the SLU board of trustees for the
past 10 years.
BOB BURNES AWARD
Honoring teams that brought
recognition to SLU
2006 women’s soccer team, led by head
coach Tim Champion
2011 12 men’s basketball team, led by
head coach Rick Majerus
tournament.
As a Billiken from 2019 to 2021, he was the Atlantic
10 Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2020
and was a first team All Conference pick in 2021. In
2021, he helped the Billikens to a 16 1 4 record and an
NCAA quarterfinal appearance.
Noted as one of the best young goalkeepers in the
country, Schulte was drafted by the Columbus Crew of
Major League Soccer in 2022 and helped the team win
the MLS Cup in 2023. He was the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro
Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022 with Columbus Crew 2.
Schulte is one of several Billikens who have been
members of the U.S. Olympic men’s soccer team
through the qualifying stages, and he joins a select
few former Billikens who have represented their coun
try in the finals. Brian McBride (Ed ’96) was on the
most recent U.S. team to make the finals at the 2008
Beijing Olympics. Matt McKeon (A&S ’97) was on the
U.S. squad at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Joe Hamm
(A&S ’73), Mike Seerey (CSB ’73) and Al Trost (A&S ’71)
played on the United States’ 1972 squad at the Munich
Olympics.
5
FA
LL 2024 7UNIVERSITAS / THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY 6 SARAH CONROY DR. SARAH ADAM is an assistant professor of occupational science and occupational ther-apy at Saint Louis University, but her recent achievement is more about making history than teaching health science. Adam became the first woman named to the U.S. Paralympic wheelchair rugby team earlier this year. And in September, that team took silver in the 2024 Paris Paralympic games.Eight teams — including France, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain and Japan — competed at the 2024 Paralympics. Adam played a key role for Team USA. She was in the starting lineup when the team kicked off its campaign on Aug. 29 with a 51-48 win against Canada, scoring six times in the victory. In the final match, she and co-captain Chuck Aoki led Team USA with 14 tries. (Tries are worth one point each.) However, Japan won 48-41, claiming gold.USA Wheelchair Rugby (USAWR) announced in May that Adam would be one of 12 athletes to represent the United States at the 2024 Paralympic Games. She was selected from an elite 16-person national training squad competing to earn a spot on the roster.“It’s an honor to be named to a Paralympic team and repre-sent Team USA at the elite level of our sport,” Adam said. “To be the first female to do it, during a time where women in sports is exploding in popularity, just elevates that honor.”PARALYMPICMETTLE– by Bridjes O’NeilA SLU PROFESSOR IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO MAKE THE U.S. PARALYMPIC WHEELCHAIR RUGBY TEAM.
Adam’s students and colleagues surprise her with
a sign at the Disabled Athlete Sports Association SLU community members cheer for Adam
(DASA) Ability Awareness Demonstration in during a watch party for her Paralympic debut
April at the Simon Recreation Center. on Aug. 29 in the Allied Health Building.
SARAH CONROY
SARAH CONROY
SARAH CONROY
Adam (right) teaches students about wheelchair
rugby during the DASA event in April.
Although wheelchair rugby has been a mixed-gender sport (with
men and women competing together) since it debuted at the 2000
Paralympics in Sydney, the sport has been dominated by men. At the
Paralympics in 2021, only four of the 96 athletes were female. That
number doubled to eight in Paris.
“To be able to compete amongst the best of the best in our sport, par-ticularly
as a female playing against mostly men, I have focused a lot on
being in peak physical shape,” Adam said. “I spent many hours at the
Simon Rec Center getting ready.”
Adam had a unique introduction to the sport as an “able-bodied
volunteer” for the Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA) in 2013,
when she was a graduate student. DASA offers the biggest selection of
disabled competitive team sports and Parasport opportunities in the
SARAH CONROY
Adam (center) makes history as the frst woman to compete on the U.S.
Paralympic wheelchair rugby team versus Canada in Paris on Aug. 29. Midwest. Adam connected with the community and attended develop-ment
events — as both a coach-in-training and a referee.
A year later, after noticing difficulty walking, gripping items, numb-ness
in her hands and bouts of fatigue, Adam was diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis. She began playing wheelchair rugby recreationally
in 2017 and competitively in 2019.
Adam describes her style of play as “cerebral,” viewing wheelchair
rugby as a large chess match, aiming to always be three moves ahead of her
opponents. She hopes a documentary about her team’s journey to Paris in
2024 will inspire others and shed light on the adaptive sports movement.
Adam (right) shows her Paralympic silver
medal to colleague Emma Edwards on her
frst day back to campus on Sept. 9.
Adam’s medal
SARAH CONROY
AP PHOTO / MICHEL EULER
“I was initially drawn to the combination of
physicality and strategy involved in wheelchair
rugby,” Adam said. “I’ve found that there is also
a great community of athletes in Parasport who
support each other not just on the court but off
the court. I’ve seen Parasport truly help trans-form
people’s lives by connecting them back to
some sense of normalcy and a community of
like-minded individuals. It’s a great community
to be a part of.”
Adam made her international debut at the
Americas Championship in 2022, where the team
won gold, and later that year won a silver medal at
the world championships. In 2023, she was part
of the gold medal-winning Parapan American
Games team that secured USA Wheelchair Rugby
a spot for Paris 2024. She also became the first
American woman to win Parapan American
Games gold in wheelchair rugby.
USAWR is the most decorated Paralympic
wheelchair rugby program in history and the
only one to be awarded at all Paralympic Games
since the sport was added to the event roster in
Sydney. The United States has won silver medals
at the past three Paralympic Games: Rio 2016,
Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
8 UNIVERSITAS / THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y FALL 2024 9
FALL 2024
Spello is a picturesque village in Italy where the meandering cob-blestone
streets are lined with baskets of flowers. Enclosed in a
circuit of medieval stone walls and nestled in the verdant rolling
hills of the central region of Umbria, Spello is considered one of
the country’s most beautiful villages.
The scenery, however, is not what attracted Dr. Douglas Boin to Spello. An
expert in the religious transformation of the Roman Empire in the fourth cen-tury,
the Saint Louis University history professor was drawn to the village by a
piece of stone sitting in a room under a frescoed ceiling and dramatic lighting.
The stone contains a rescript, a message from Emperor Constantine giving
villagers permission to build a temple in Spello to celebrate a religious festival
in their own town rather than making the long journey to another. The only
condition was that the temple be dedicated to worshipping Constantine’s
imperial ancestors. This rescript was produced at a time when the Roman
Empire was straddling the lines between pagan and Christian religions.
Over his many years of research into fourth-century antiquities, Boin came
across articles and footnotes that mentioned the rescript, which was discov-ered
in the 1700s near Villa Fidelia, a resplendent Renaissance home built
outside Spello’s walls.
“It’s a trophy piece and by far the most famous piece of antiquity to come
from Spello,” he said. “It sparked my interest because anytime you can see
something written, whether on paper or stone, it can bridge a gap in time and
help us make sense of history. So, my colleagues and I decided to take a road
trip to see it.”
The Latin inscription on the rescript references a temple of opere magnifico,
roughly translated as “splendid endeavor.” After seeing the rescript, Boin and
colleagues stopped for a glass of wine and began to muse. Where was this
splendid temple erected? What did it look like? How did it impress itself on
the village at that time?
L O S T
F O U N D
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DOUGLAS BOIN
The medieval hilltop town of Spello, Italy
A SLU history
A N D
professor's discovery sheds light on the
Roman Empire’s
transition from pagan
worship to Christianity.
– by Mar ie Di lg
The dig site in Spello, Italy
PHOTO BY LUCA PRIMAVESI
10 UNIVERSITAS / THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y PAGA N I SM A N D
P LU R A L I SM
Boin said the temple is significant
because it can offer insights into
the social change from pagan gods
to Christianity within the Roman
Empire.
Although Emper
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