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Shraddha Adhikari didn’t have to go far to find the inspiration to help the people in her community. She saw her grandmother do it every day as a health care worker. Adhikari did, however, have to go a little farther to find the education she wanted—half a world, in fact.
New health science degrees and certificates—in nursing and beyond—as well as innovative enhancements in established programs that are responsive to the needs of employers and the labor market will play a vital role in keeping Viterbo strong for decades to come.
What Jane Eddy did in one form or another during her 38-year career was assist students, whether it was on the individual level, securing the all-important federal TRIO grant (the funds from which make the ARC possible) several times as a “committee of one,” bringing $9 million to the university, overseeing the services and staff of the ARC, teaching a wide variety of classes, or serving in various campus leadership roles.
John Armbruster's 2022 book, "Tailspin," recounts the true story of a poor farm boy from Wisconsin who enlisted to serve his country in World War II and survived an unimaginable ordeal—he fell four miles to the ground in the tail of a plane without a parachute, became a prisoner of war, and was forced to take part in a 600-mile death march.
Haleigh Zanoni of Machesney Park, Ill., was introduced to Viterbo when she received a phone call from the V-Hawks softball coach inviting her to enroll at the university and join the team. After visiting campus, Zanoni didn’t need any more convincing.
Ministry major Michael Krueger '10, '15, was honored with a Young Alumni Award in 2013 while he was in the process of earning his Master of Arts in Servant Leadership degree. He worked in residential facilities for adults with developmental disabilities, as a social worker, and as a stay-at-home father before landing in his current role as director of affiliation for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
Biology/chemistry major Shane Peper '98 had a doctoral degree in analytical chemistry by the time he was honored with a Viterbo Young Alumni Award in 2004. Much of his career, which took him all over the world, was spent in nuclear research and security, but he also delved into molecular pathology as a researcher and educator. He's now on assignment in France doing nuclear security work for INTERPOL.
Education major Debra (Kelly) Schams '81 was honored with a Viterbo Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1989, the same year an alumni award for global community service was given to Thea Bowman, FSPA '65. Schams was a much-loved teacher in La Crosse's Aquinas Catholic Schools until her recent retirement.
Matthew Bersagel Braley, director of the Viterbo University honors program and professor in the Ethics, Culture, and Society program, has a reputation for getting students to dig (and think) deep.
As an academic advisor for students in the Conservatory for the Performing Arts, School of Human Behavior, and College of Nursing and Health, Kristen Nyholm works closely with students in their first two years at Viterbo, but provides support as needed throughout a student’s journey.