Featured News
Jedidiah Barton ’17, ’20 credits Viterbo University with shaping the trajectory of his life.
Patty Sullivan O’Brien ’65 has been retired from her career at the Phoenix Zoo for nearly 15 years now, but she hasn’t stopped chasing her passion for working with animals. Today she has become an essential volunteer for the Southwest Monarch Study, raising monarch butterflies right in her backyard.
Tony Welch came away from his four years at Viterbo with a degree in sports management and leadership and a sense of mission in life. “No matter the situation, I always want to put myself in the shoes of others and take care of people by being kind,” he said.
Zach Schmit, who graduated in May 2022 with a biology degree, had planned to be a physician when he came to Viterbo. He has decided to go to Mayo's Doctor of Physical Therapy program, however, so he will get the chance to better connect with the people who come to him for healing.
Mary (Garvey) Verrill ’78 noticed a lot of schools had been named after Thea Bowman, FSPA ’65, but there weren’t any books about her for younger readers. Verrill offered something unique as the author of such a book: Sr. Thea was Verrill’s favorite teacher at Viterbo.
Since graduating from Viterbo, Lynnae (Salzwedel) Schatz ’84 has had a career in nursing and ministry. She's led a life characterized by a solid core of caring.
For Emily (Hund) Dykman ’98, returning to Viterbo as a religious studies professor was strange at first, but now she feels she's right where she belongs.
The Rev. Brian Konkol '01 started at Viterbo intent on becoming an attorney, but found a ministry path instead that led him to Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University.
Since her untimely death on March 30, 1990, at least 16 institutions have taken the name of Sister Thea Bowman, from schools and academies to spirituality centers. In March 2022, Viterbo University was added to the list of institutions honoring her with the creation of the Sister Thea Bowman Center.