In this edition: Two decades of servant leadership; singing the praises of Nancy Allen; fun and games at the ballpark
To view this email as a web page, go here.

April 2023

For the Common Good

It's been almost 50 years since Distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership Tom Thibodeau, then a grad student, came across an essay on servant leadership by Robert Greenleaf that changed the course of his life, setting him on a mission to "engage and inspire others to work for a greater good every day."

Thibodeau began advocating for a servant leadership graduate degree program 10 years into his 40-year tenure at the university. Twenty years ago, Viterbo's first Master of Arts in Servant Leadership cohort graduated.

Viterbo's program, under the leadership of Thibodeau and D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership Director Rick Kyte, has had a major influence on the servant leadership movement over the past two decades, continually expanding its reach through new learning opportunities. In addition, the servant leadership lessons they and other faculty teach are a key part of the Viterbo experience for all students.

For this edition of the alumni newsletter, Thibodeau, Kyte, and others reflect on servant leadership at Viterbo and the impact it has had. READ MORE

Servant Leadership Learning Opportunities

Conference on Servant Leadership, held June 29-30 at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts

Online Certificate in Servant Leadership, next seven-week session starts Sept. 12

Certificate in Servant Leadership (in person), next six-week session starts Oct. 5 

Master of Arts in Servant Leadership, two-year program, evenings and weekends with two-week summer institute

Swan Song, Salute for Nancy Allen

A packed Fine Arts Center included more than 150 Platinum Edition and Diamond Edition alumni for Viterbo's 25th annual spring show choir concert on Saturday, April 22. The event also served as a salute to music professor Nancy Allen '84, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Alumni performed twice at Saturday evening's show, closing the evening with a joint performance with the current show choirs and an emotional tribute to Allen. Check out our photo gallery from the weekend's activities.  

A feature story on Allen is included in the spring edition of the Strides alumni magazine (or you can read the story online).

To honor her legacy, the Nancy Allen '84 Angel Fund was established to provide emergency financial assistance to Conservatory for the Performing Arts students. By the end of the weekend, 38 donors had given more than $8,000, with 29 gifts coming through the online giving site.

Alumni Having Major League Fun

"America's Pastime" has been a hit with Viterbo alumni this spring, with two baseball events and one more on deck.

Almost 100 people signed up for an outing sponsored by the Viterbo Alumni Association to see the Milwaukee Brewers play the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, April 23, at American Family Field, enjoying the game in style in one of the stadium's luxury suites. Almost half of the group, which included alumni and guests and Viterbo employees, rode a bus together from Viterbo.

Check out the photo gallery from the Milwaukee event as well as pictures from the March alumni gathering in Arizona at a Brewers spring training game.

Baseball also figures into the First Thursday alumni social on June 1, which will be an evening at Loggers Field to watch the La Crosse Loggers take on the Waterloo Bucks. Tickets are $30 ($10 for ages 4-12), which includes admission, exclusive access to the Coverra Insurance Cabin, food, soft drinks, and three beers or hard seltzers. Alumni family and friends are more than welcome. Tickets, while they last, can be ordered online through the Loggers website. 

Italy Trip Virtual Info Session Set

Father Conrad Targonski, OFM, will host a virtual information session from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, for people interested in Viterbo's Alumni and Friends Franciscan Heritage Tour of Italy planned for Oct. 23-Nov. 1.

The tour will include stops in Rome, Greccio, Viterbo, Gubbio, and Assisi, offering the pilgrimage experience of walking in the footsteps of Saints Francis, Claire, and Rose of Viterbo, as well as including more traditional tourist activities.

The information session is meant for those who have signed up already as well as those who are considering joining the tour. Fill out the online registration form to be included in the May 9 session.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check the calendar on the alumni homepage for registration information and more details on alumni events. Details on campus events can be found on the events calendar.

Through May 3: All Student Show and Touchstone art exhibit
April 27–28: Scholars Days
April 28–30: Dance Kaleidoscope 2023
May 5: Courtyard Carni
May 7: Spring Choral Concert
May 9: Italy trip virtual info session
May 13: Commencement
May 17: SFSN Alumnae Chapter meeting
May 22: MBA/MASL Alumni Chapter meeting
June 1: First Thursday alumni social at La Crosse Loggers game
June 29–30: Conference on Servant Leadership
Oct. 12–15: Viterbo Days alumni weekend
Oct. 23–Nov. 1: Alumni and friends Franciscan heritage tour of Italy

Military Writers Group Forming

Military-aligned alumni are invited to join students and Viterbo faculty in Vanguard, a group that will explore creativity through writing across a variety of genres, offering a creative outlet to improve mental wellness and provide the opportunity for community and healing.

The group, whose membership will be capped at 12, will meet monthly, with the first session held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in the Reinhart Center's Skogen Family Welcome Center.

Fill out the online form to register.

KEEPING UP: The Viterbo University alumni email newsletter is published eight times per year. To keep up on the latest news, visit our webpages for Viterbo alumni, Fine Arts Center, and V-Hawks athletics. Also, our Viterbo in the News page is packed with media reports on alumni and happenings at the university.