If not for earning her servant leadership master's degree at Viterbo University, Onalaska Mayor Kim Smith might not have even thought about taking on the mayoral duties and becoming the city's first female mayor. “I really do credit Viterbo with giving me the confidence to raise my hand and say, ‘I’ll do it.’”

In a career that took her from groundbreaking nutritionist to food industry change agent, Jean Storlie ’80 took note of the power of stories for creative problem-solving. In 2020, she published a book that shares her insights on story telling, "Once Upon an Innovation," chosen for the Viterbo Alumni Virtual Book Club.

Growing up in Nigeria and Togo, Wale Elegbede ’19 learned a lot from his father about leadership and being a good person. Viterbo taught him even more. “Viterbo has been really instrumental for me. Ethical leadership isn’t just something that’s nice to have. It’s a must have.”

With hard work and some luck, Jamie Schloegel finds herself serving as executive director of the La Crosse Community Foundation, one of the oldest philanthropic community foundations in the country. As Schloegel sees it, it's important for leaders have to have two key traits: courage and vision.

For Frank Perez-Guerra ’84, ’10, administrator/CEO at Gundersen Moundview Hospital and Clinics in Friendship, the best approach to leadership is one that keeps focus on the needs of his people. “My job is to take care of people who take care of people,” he said.

Viterbo University’s D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership is partnering with IM Education to offer "Rebuilding American Civics," a virtual series of four classes led by Sam Scinta on Wednesday evenings via Zoom from 6:30–8 p.m. beginning Feb. 3.

Renowned pastry chef Jen Barney, winner of two Food Network baking championship titles and owner of Meringue Bakery in La Crosse, will speak as part of the Leadership at Noon Series at Viterbo University Tuesday, Jan. 26 on Facebook Live.

There was never any doubt for Jorge L. Espat ’84 when he was growing up in Belize that he would go to college. Even in a family with 10 children (all but one boys), his parents viewed investing in education as far preferable to accumulating wealth.

Social justice leader Rev. Dr. William Joseph Barber II will present the keynote address at the La Crosse Community Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18 hosted by Viterbo University on Facebook Live.

Viterbo University’s internship program is designed to develop and promote connections in the community while offering educational opportunities for students. Sometimes, as in the case of senior Maya Roberts, an internship also directly connects with a student’s passion.