President - Kelly E. (Stevens) Moshier
Class Year: 1997
Major: Management
Email: kesteven@us.ibm.com

Why did you choose to attend Loras?
I wanted a college that provided me with an excellent education, a campus the size where I could meet many new people but not feel like a number, and an athletic program where I could compete in both organized and intramural sports. Loras was the perfect choice for me.

Vice President - John O'Brien
Class Year: 1984
Major: Business
Email: job@salestalentgroup.com

How did Loras prepare you for life after college? 
The list is long, but I would have to say the most important life lesson was perseverance and don’t give up attitude.   When you surround yourself with good people that genuinely care about you, it is hard to fail at anything.  School did not come easy to me and I had to work harder than the average student to get a good grade.   I really did learn that by working hard, listening to wise people (teachers, counselors, faculty), sticking to it and believing in myself things would eventually pay off. They did at Loras and they have in life. I am very thankful for my experiences at Loras.

Secretary - Todd T. Welu
Class Year: 1986
Major: Accounting
Email: todd.welu@crowehorwath.com  

Why did you choose to attend Loras?
Loras has a deep rooted tradition in our family. I had two uncles and an aunt that graduated from Loras, and my grandfather worked on the campus for a number of years. My parents were both born and raised in Dubuque, and we had many relatives in the area. My fond memories of Dubuque as a child wouldn't be complete without Loras. My sophomore year in high school, my dad was transferred to Dubuque with his company. I had no idea how that move would impact my life. I had decided early in my college search that I didn’t want to go to one of the big schools. I was intent on choosing a school where there was plenty of personal attention. Therefore, I focused my search on a number of smaller schools (Augustana, St. Ambrose and Loras). However, when it came time for me to choose a college it seemed natural for me to choose Loras due to my familiarity and fondness of Dubuque.

Treasurer - Lori L. (Welsch) Thielen
Class Year: 1987
Major: Accounting
Email:  lthielen@edsb.com

Why did you choose to attend Loras?
I choose to attend Loras College because I wanted a strong business college and a smaller college where I could feel part of the whole. I found both at Loras.

Katie Bellendier
Class Year: 2006
Majors: Media Studies and Public Relations
Email: kat1446@mchsi.com

How did Loras prepare you for life after college?Loras taught me how to go above and beyond and branch out of my comfort zone. Being involved in LCTV, I not only learned about myself but about the surrounding community through conducting interviews for news stories. By being involved in this and many other activities and organizations I learned how to network with many diverse groups. 

William H. Callaghan, Jr.
Class Year: 1974
Major: Business
Email: bcallaghan@henrybros.com

How did Loras prepare you for life after college?
Loras further strengthened my faith and morals and helped me learn the importance of good ethics in the business world.

Cari (White) Campbell
Class Year: 2007
Majors: Politics & International Studies
Email: cari@caricampbellassociates.com

Which faculty or staff person influenced you most and why?
I can’t pick just one. Dr. O’Connor helped me explore my passions as they related to economics and offered me opportunities that professors didn’t need to; Dr. Budzisz prepared me the most for law school even though I was probably a pain in his petute; and Dr. Cochran had amazing stories and intellect that made class interesting and provided a wonderful learning atmosphere. 

Rich Clayton
Class Year: 1987
Major: Accounting
Email: rich.clayton@oracle.com

What advice would you give to current or prospective students? 
Follow your passion and be open to different career paths.  After graduating from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, I knew I was destined to be an accountant and work for a CPA firm.  Accounting is the language of business, came easy to me and was my passion.  After graduating from Loras, I passed the CPA exam, got a job at McGladery and within a few months started to be much more curious about technology and computers. I kept exploring technology and became less interested in accounting and transitioned into the IT industry implementing analytical software for consumer packaged goods companies.  Within three years after graduating, I had explored four different career paths only to find that marketing was my true passion.  The liberal arts model of Loras College provides you with the flexibility to explore different career paths and be successful in jobs completely outside your major.  The reflective and lateral thinking skills you learn at Loras will be an integral part of your professional development and will set you up to succeed in whatever field you choose. 

Jane F. (Noonan) Demmer
Class Year: 1976
Major: Mathematics
Email: jfdemmer@gmail.com 

Which faculty or staff person influenced you most and why?
Frank and Bud Noonan (my uncles) were big factors in me choosing Loras College. They also had an influence on me while I was there. From an academic standpoint, Dr. Jay Kopp and Dr. Joe Schaefer had the biggest influence on me. They constantly encouraged me to pursue opportunities in Engineering and helped me understand all of the careers I could pursue. 

Kathleen M. (Keller) Giovingo
Class Year: 1976
Major: Speech Communication
Email: Duhawksx2@aol.com

Why did you choose to attend Loras?
Coming from a large high school of nearly 5,000 students in the suburbs of Chicago, I wanted to attend a smaller college where I was treated like a person and not a number.  The minute I walked on the campus, I knew it was the place for me.  I loved the beautiful rolling hills of the campus along the Mississippi River, the friendly people, the small teacher to student ratio and the many opportunities for me to get involved.

Kendall A. Griffin
Class Year: 1994
Major: Psychology
Email: kagee06@hotmail.com

What was the highlight of your Loras experience?
It was definitely the success I had playing football and the opportunity I had to play professionally. But I would also add that the friends I made and the relationships I had with people at Loras, were just as rewarding to me. 

Jeff Heitzman
Class Year: 1975
Major: Mathematics
Email: JRHHOU@aol.com

What advice would you give to current or prospective students?  Get a balanced education at Loras.  For example if you major in a STEM discipline, then minor in one of the humanities or vice versa.  This plus a graduate degree later on will have you prepared for the world ahead.

Kristine J. (Heissel) Melloy, Ph.D.
Class Year: 1977
Major: Education
Email: kris.melloy@spps.org

Which faculty or staff person influenced you the most and why? Dr. Donna Bauerly was the most influential faculty member then and still remains one of the most influential persons in my life. Without her, I don’t know that I would have finished my BA degree – or gone on for a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. Dr. Bauerly’s influence on me as a teacher carried on into my own teaching into k-12 and university classrooms – there was not a day that I went into my own classroom that I did not think of her and thank her for what she taught me about Literature but most importantly, what she taught me about being an excellent teacher.

Mark J. Meloy
Class Year: 1983
Major: Business
Email: mmeloy@firstbusiness.com

What was the highlight of your Loras experience?
There are several but as I reflect upon them so many years later the common theme is the people. The fellow students I met remain special people in my life, and I feel extremely fortunate to call them friends this day. The faculty and staff were genuinely committed to my success and positive experience as well. Little did I know the guy across the hall of my dorm would one day be the President of Loras. 

Thomas P. O’Brien
Class Year: 1982
Major: English
Email: tobrien@mahealthcare.com

What advice would you give to current or prospective students?
Make the most of it.  Your classes, friends you make, excellent professors, the extracurricular programs, intramural games, the Catholic foundation – all provide an excellent atmosphere to help you learn and grow.  Go to class, study hard, play, enjoy the people – students and faculty – and have fun!

Thomas M. Onan
Class Year: 1957
Major: Economics
Email: tomonan@ync.net

Which faculty or staff person influenced you most and why?
Fr Edmund Kurth; he threw a lot of material at the students and it was their responsibility to absorb. Ten years later at U of Chicago I was taking advance courses which in some instances repeated the course material from Fr Kurth's classes.

Brian R. Schermerhorn
Class Year: 1997
Major: Finance
Email: bschermerhorn@ahtins.com

What advice would you give to current or prospective students?
This is simple: Enjoy it!  Embrace it!  Live it!  The four years I spent at Loras exploring who I was and the friendships I made – are some of the best of my life.  It is why I have spent 12+ years since graduating trying to find ways to help others have the same experiences.  Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and have fun!

Wendy Schrunk
Class Year: 2007
Major: Finance and Economics
Email: schrunk.wendy@gmail.com

How did Loras prepare you for life after college?
The faculty, staff and students I interacted with and got to know through my time at Loras have shaped the way I think, act and live. The people I met and the relationships I formed during my four years on campus helped me define what's important in life and helped me discover my strengths.   

Jim Smith
Class Year: 1956
Major: Accounting
Email: smith.jamesedward@gmail.com

Luke J. Vandermillen
Class Year: 1988
Major: Finance
Email: Vandermillen.Luke@principal.com

What advice would you give to current or prospective students?
I would encourage current or prospective students to take advantage of all the opportunities that Loras has to offer. The size of the school provides you with the ability to interact with the faculty as well as your fellow students in a way that you will not find at other institutions. The culture of Loras is something that you will appreciate not only while you are a student, but for many years to come.