Tag: College of Arts & Sciences

USF News

JSO “Revitalize” Concerts Set for December 9 and 10

Joliet, Ill. – The Joliet Symphony Orchestra (JSO) is pleased to announce the second concert series of its 2023-2024 Season with newly appointed Artistic Director & Conductor, Dr. Sean Paul Mills, leading a program featuring works by Edward Elgar, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. French horn soloist Emily Whittaker is the featured guest artist on this concert set.

Titled “Revitalize”, the JSO will be performing Edward Elgar’s “Froissart Overture”, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “French horn Concerto No. 3”, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral)” on Saturday, December 9, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 10, 2023 @ 4:00 p.m. Both performances will take place in Sexton Auditorium which is located in the Harold & Margaret Moser Performing Arts Center on the University of St. Francis campus at 500 Wilcox Street in Joliet.

New to the JSO this season is a series of FREE pre-concert discussions titled “Noteworthy.” These discussions will take place 45 minutes prior to each performance and provide audience members with an opportunity to learn more about the composers, selections, orchestra, and soloists as well as ask questions and interact with the conductor and guests.

Tickets for JSO concerts are available through the JSO website at www.jolietsymphonyorchestra.org, the Music at Moser website at stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser/, and at the door beginning one (1) hour before each performance. Adults are $10; seniors, alumni & non-USF students are $5; USF students, music dducators, and youth (18 & under) are FREE with a current ID.

Please join us as we continue a season of exploration and discovery featuring both familiar and new works for symphony orchestra. We will present our annual Family Concert on January 20. This will be followed, in February, by our next concert set which will feature a celebration of American music with works by Aaron Copland, Florence Price, Leonard Bernstein, and John Knowles Paine. Our Season Finale in April will feature trumpeter Gilmar Cavalcante as soloist in Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s trumpet concerto along with works by Ferdinand Herold and Antonin Dvorak.

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

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

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USF Music at Moser Series Welcomes “Illinois & Michigan Night” on November 28

Music at Moser Series

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) welcomes singer/songwriter trios Crooked Tails and The Rebel Eves for “Illinois & Michigan Night,” on Tuesday, November 28, at 7 p.m. as part of the University’s Music at Moser series. The concert will take place in the Sexton Auditorium, which is located on the University’s main campus in Joliet (500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, Ill., 60435).

The concert, showcasing the talented trios’ original songs, stories and harmonies, features Illinois’ Crooked Tails, a collaboration of noted songwriters Brian Motyll, Allison Flood and John Condron, all of whom have enjoyed artistic success and audience popularity with their individual band projects.  Joining Crooked Tails is Michigan trio The Rebel Eves, recently named a “Band to Watch” in their home state. The “Eves” boast award-winning credentials as individual artists. Grace Theisen, from Kalamazoo, won “Best Americana Video” (2022) at the Michigan Music Awards. Ann Arbor-native Katie Pederson’s composition “The Landing” won “Best Country Song” in the International Songwriting Competition (2018), and Jilian Linklater, from Grand Rapids, has amassed more than 5 million Spotify streams of her solo work. Together since 2022, the Rebel Eves have toured extensively during 2023, and next year, will release their first album and be featured showcase performers at the 2024 Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City.

Tickets cost $15 each (USF students are admitted free of charge with valid USF ID). Visit stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser to purchase tickets.

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

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

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USF Fall 2023 Student Art Fair on November 15

Fall 2023 Student Art Fair flyer - full page

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) Art and Design Department will host its fall 2023 Student Art Fair on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Marian Hall Abbey Lounge (604 Taylor Street, Joliet, IL 60435). The free event, which is open to the community, is centered around student-produced items that will be for sale, including photography prints, screen prints, crochet items, tote bags, clothing, paintings, jewelry, stickers and more. Fourteen students from a variety of departments will participate. The items are modestly priced, so come out and support students in this preholiday season.

For more information, please contact professor Michael “Chester” Alamo-Costello, MFA, at mcostello@stfrancis.edu. For more information on the USF Art and Design Department, visit stfrancis.edu/art-design.

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

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

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Roger Carlson: INNOCENT DAWN Opens at USF Art Gallery

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

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

About Roger Carlson

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

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

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

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USF Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series

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

This fall’s lineup includes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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USF Announces 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

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

The 2023 USF Distinguished Alumni Award winners include:

Mike Brennan

Presidential Alumni Award – Mike Brennan ‘81

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Victorio Pellicano

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

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

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

Drew Wolfer

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kayla Worley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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