A Message from President Aceves

Dear Colleagues,

As we end the academic year, I am reminded of the transformative power of a Jesuit Catholic education and its tremendous impact on our students, faculty and staff. Our mission is inspiring because it instills a deep understanding of our Jesuit values, particularly in becoming "contemplatives in action." I asked Ken Sagendorf from the Anderson College of Business and Computing, Cheryl Schwartz from the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, and Sheryl Tirol, our communications director, to share brief thoughts about their journey through immersive encounters. Here is what they shared.

‪Ken Sagendorf, Professor, Chair, Graduate Business and Director of the Innovation Center – Anderson College of Business and Computing

“Over the past few weeks, I've been connecting with past winners and student directors of The Innovation Challenge to create videos for this year's event, and I've been deeply moved by how eager these students are to share how the Challenge has shaped them personally and professionally. It's been a privilege to reconnect with them recently.

The Innovation Challenge, now in its 7th year, kicks off each October with individuals and teams pitching their ideas in November. Selected participants receive mentoring from our faculty, alumni, and community members to guide them in starting and growing sustainable businesses. Throughout the spring, the chosen entrepreneurs — typically 40 to 50 each year — engage in a series of events aimed at refining their business concepts, forging partnerships, and seeking assistance from the local entrepreneurial community, which generously donates time and expertise to support their ventures.

One standout story involves Paul Hunter, a sophomore student who launched a business recycling materials into bowties. We met around 2016 when Paul had the opportunity to showcase his bowties at the Emmy Awards in LA. This experience led to deep discussions about the social impact of his business, ultimately inspiring Paul to pursue a B Corp certification. Paul and his co-founder won the Innovation Challenge's inaugural year, sparking further conversations about sustainability. Though Paul's bowtie business didn't continue into his senior year, the Challenge opened doors for him to join other impactful ventures focused on sustainability, including a company that later became the first publicly traded B Corp on the London Stock Exchange.

The Innovation Challenge isn't just a competition — it's an immersive journey that extends beyond graduation. Immersion isn’t merely about exposure; it is about sensemaking and ultimately, about putting a response in action.  It takes time. I think we need to talk about the value of immersion experiences as both gaining the experience but Regis also is amazing at providing extended guidance and revisiting of what the initial experience means. Immersing in the Innovation Challenge doesn’t end when students graduate. I am so proud for Paul and could share so many stories about students like this. This is the true joy of my current work at Regis – the experiences we provide for our students and seeing the impact of those experiences. “

Cheryl Schwartz, Senior Director, RHCHP Service Learning and Global Health

“As part of the RHCHP Global Health Pathway (GHP) concentration, Nancy Mulligan, PT, DPT (School of Physical Therapy) and Susan Wilcinski, MS, APRN, NNP-BC (Loretto Heights School of Nursing) led a RHCHP interprofessional group of students (6 School of Physical Therapy Class of 2024 and 2 School of Pharmacy Class of 2025) to Coban, Guatemala from April 13-22 as part of spring 2024 GHP international immersion with La Ciudad de la Esperanza. The group provided clinical services, a rural health fair, and forged new partnerships with a private hospital and non-profit school for individuals with physical, visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities. The students and faculty were able to learn from community leaders the challenges of limited health care access and the impacts of domestic violence. Rachel Yohanan, DPT Class of 2024, summarized 3 key themes that were solidified for her in the GHP program and Guatemala immersion: 1) Seek God and recognize the beauty in all peoples and culture, 2) Seek awareness and understanding of the plethora of cultural, religious, and personal factors that influence care – strive to provide care to the whole person, and 3) Recognize the value of physical therapy care and advocate to increase access for those in underserved communities.”

Sheryl Tirol, Director of Communications, Marketing & Communications

“Reflecting on the pilgrimage I embarked on a little over a year ago with my colleagues from Regis and Creighton universities, I am profoundly grateful for the transformative experience. Over 10 days, 25 colleagues from all over the country, led by Rev. Kevin Burke, S.J., vice president of Mission, retraced the footsteps of Saint Ignatius, starting at his birthplace in Spain and journeying through locations significant to his life and spiritual transformation. Reading about Ignatius and the Jesuits is one thing, but standing where he stood and experiencing these symbolic places firsthand brings a whole new depth of understanding. One of the most impactful moments for me was at Montserrat, where Ignatius surrendered his former life, symbolized by giving his sword to Our Lady before donning sackcloth. This act marked his commitment to serve God, making the phrase "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" (For the greater glory of God) resonate deeply within me. Throughout the pilgrimage, I felt the presence of Ignatius and the Holy Spirit guiding us. Immersing myself in this experience has profoundly shaped my perspective on our work at Regis and beyond, reinforcing how we serve our communities and the world. Sharing this journey with my colleagues made it even more special, fostering a deeper connection and shared commitment to our mission.”

Thank you, Ken, Cheryl, and Sheryl, for sharing such inspirational thoughts. Your experiences reflect how our lives are enriched professionally and personally, and how our community is strengthened.

I do want to share that as the Regist undergoes a reimagining phase, my weekly messages will come to an end. This is my final reflection in the Regist. Moving forward, I invite you to read my monthly updates that will be distributed via email. 

One final thought - thank you. I am deeply grateful for your commitment to Regis University, a community of learners and scholars dedicated to making our world more just and humane.

Kindly,

Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D.

President