Nathan Hundt ’06
Spirit of St. Francis
Nathan Hundt represents the Spirit of St. Francis with his commitment to serving others and creating a welcome, inclusive community. Hundt is currently the program operations director at Aptiv, Inc., a disability services provider in La Crosse.
Hundt held roles as graphic designer and graphics manager with the River Valley Newspaper Group. He then enjoyed nine years with the La Crosse Area Family YMCA as marketing and membership director.
He channeled his experiences and passions in customer service, leadership, and creativity into a Viterbo program, graduating with a Bachelor of Individualized Learning and marketing and management emphasis. He earned an Associate of Applied Science from Western Technical College.
Hundt shared that his Viterbo experience helped shape his path of serving others. “Viterbo faculty modeled the role of what it means to be a servant leader,” he said.
“Professor emeritus Jan Janiszewski and Professor Tom Thibodeau influenced the way I connect with people. They embody that philosophy. They are always welcoming, helpful, and connect with their students. Both knew each student by name. Even today, when our paths cross, they greet me by name. Their values and the ability to connect were influential during my time on campus,” Hundt explained.
The campus community, small class sizes, and opportunities available to students all make Viterbo a special place to Hundt.
He feels Viterbo welcomes and supports all students. “Recently, I engaged withthe campus regarding creating a program focused on providing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities an opportunity to explore post-secondary education. I witnessed the same values-based and personalized connections that I had the privilege of experiencing myself,” Hundt reflected.
Hundt is a board member on the Disability Action Network (DAN) and a member of the City of La Crosse’s Committee for Citizens with Disabilities. He and his wife Mandi, live in La Crosse with their three children. “I enjoy attending my children's events, biking, camping, connecting with my community, and advocating for people with disabilities.”
Hundt’s nominator and coworker, Tyler Stapleton ’08, shared that Hundt exemplifies Viterbo's core values every day.
“Nate improves others’ lives by being a voice and giving a voice to people with disabilities who are often marginalized. He works to ensure that those with disabilities know what their rights are and how to make their own choices,” he said.
Stapleton said that Hundt consistently puts others before himself and is a passionate advocate for others.
“One of his most recent projects is built around ensuring people with disabilities or challenges know that post-secondary education is a possibility. He designed a program around helping anyone explore options for college, from a certificate to a bachelor’s degree.”
Stapleton added, “He finds ways to ensure proper funding so that Aptiv can provide the level of services that people deserve. Countless lives are improved by the work Nate does at Aptiv, and his work is shared and improves other organizations throughout the state.”
Read about the other 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
