When Scott Mihalovic was approached with the offer to be the first William Medland Chair of Educational Leadership, university officials didn’t know just how deep of an honor it would be to him.

Mihalovic has been at Viterbo for 10 years, overseeing the university’s educational leadership graduate and certificate programs. His connection with Viterbo, however, goes back much longer.

When William Medland came to Viterbo College in 1991, hired as the institution’s seventh president, he planned to stay for five years. By the time he stepped down as president in 2006, Viterbo had experienced 15 years of growth and transformation, going from a college undergoing financial difficulties to a financially secure, full-fledged university that had experienced 13 straight years of record enrollment.

Apryl Denny retired in December after more than three decades teaching English at Viterbo University. She was awarded the title of professor emeritus in honor of her outstanding service. Here is a Q&A story that was published in the spring 2024 edition of Strides, the Viterbo University magazine.

Sandy (Contreras) Burns remembered feeling over the moon excited when Viterbo launched its first official women’s basketball team and she was going to be a member. “I was in seventh heaven,” she said.

Activities such as having dinner with Holocaust survivors, speaking with community leaders, event promotion, and website editing work aren’t things the typical Viterbo student gets to experience. Senior nursing major Abbey Fedie has had these and other opportunities, thanks to three years as a D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership Student Fellow.