Callings

When you were in college, what would you have said if someone asked, “What is your vocation?” Would you have named your future career? Perhaps your plans for single, married or religious life? The Callings program at the University of Dayton gives students a different perspective — focusing their attention on arguably the most important time of life: right now.

“People think of vocation and think too far ahead,” said John-Paul Bugada, a junior chemical engineering student and one of two student directors for the 2022 summer Callings program. “But right now, we’re called to be students and to fully engage in that. Part of that is preparing for the future, but it’s also about making the most of your time here and now.”

Bugada is joined by Anna Kopsick, a junior psychology major from Hollywood, Florida. As student directors they joined Callings as participants their first year, then as leaders the summer before their sophomore year. They spoke about the impact of Callings while performing service work at the Mission of Mary Cooperative, a Dayton-based urban farming nonprofit that transforms vacant land plots into vegetable gardens with neighborhood partners to sustainably develop the community. Seeing Bugada and Kopsick work and interact with participants, it was clear they were inspired to be a part of the program.

“The Callings program is about allowing students to see where God is calling them in this chapter of their life,” said Elizabeth Montgomery, director of the Callings program and campus minister for Christian leadership and vocation. “Callings provides incoming students a rich way to learn about the heart and soul of the University of Dayton and orient themselves to, not only the Marianist charism of the University, but ways they could learn, lead, serve and pray while they are here.”

During their day of service this year, Kopsick explained that one of the student leaders gave a talk earlier in the morning telling participants how the simplicity of service can reveal beauty in life without having to be a huge, dramatic project. Small projects of service can be life-changing when performed purely. Bugada agreed and described service as an active prayer.

Together they are serving as directors for the week, focusing on logistics as well as inspiring a small group of student leaders and about 80 incoming first-year students who are the participants this July. The timing of Callings provides another great benefit.

“Introduction to campus life is an attractive feature of Callings, becoming familiar with campus, eating in the dining halls and getting to know some of your classmates even before orientation,” said Kopsick, who came to UD knowing no one. “For me, it was really important to be able to start establishing a community on campus.” 

Both directors were more than happy to serve in the program that has given them so much while helping them understand and adapt to their own callings during their time at UD. For Kopsick, it helped her when she decided to change majors.

“I’m kind of a person who thought, ‘Change? Something bad must be happening.’ So being in Callings and embracing the intentionality of living in the moment of this four-year student experience helped me embrace what I want to learn about, and what I really want to do,” she said.

And Bugada has seen his own growth throughout Callings. “Experiencing the different roles — from participant to leader to director — has helped with my path through college. It changes and it evolves,” he said.

“You might be needed in different roles and support different people. But you can grow and change while keeping your core values,” said Bugada. “The faith aspect of Callings helped me explore that element of personal growth and understand its importance to me.”

UD Community — How Sweet It Is

Jeffrey Neace ’88, identifies as a serial entrepreneur — ideas are his stock-in-trade, and he is always ready to develop the next one. 

In the spring of 2020, Neace, who earned his business degree in management and has taught business at UD as an adjunct instructor, was riding the wave of a successful sale of Paragon Infusion Therapy’s pharmacy business. It was a lucrative deal, and he was ready for the next big idea when the pandemic slowed everything down. Yet, that turned out to be a bright spot, too. 

“Because everything was shut down, I decided to do some plantings and was headed to Grandma’s Garden’s (a local nursery and garden center),” said Neace. “I ended up driving past where I used to get frozen custard and remembered how much I loved that place. People would congregate there, and I really missed that.” 

That was the moment he began his next venture — building community through frozen custard just 8 miles away from the UD campus that showed him the value of community years ago.

“It all comes back to community,” said Neace as he talked about how his love for UD basketball as a kid developed into an appreciation for what he saw around campus. “Just the whole sense of community … hanging out on the porches of all those houses and that sense of gathering and connectivity and belonging. It affected me so much that I’ve kind of brainwashed my kids into loving UD, too,” he laughed. 

His oldest, Emma, is currently a sophomore at UD, and it was her idea to make sure the dining room had a big, cool booth for groups to gather and hang out in the space. And that’s exactly what Neace wanted. 

“We’re not just selling custard, we’re creating memories. We’re creating those moments that you remember with your grandparents … with your children,” said Neace as he swept his arm back toward the booth and the photos surrounding it. “That’s all my life. Those are all family photos. That’s my aunt on the top right. And the big one is my father.”

Family. Friends. Gathering together to eat. It all certainly has a Marianist ring to it. And Neace is amped up for everything that comes next, even if it comes with a little risk. 

“I’m just really excited for the fall and football games and all the kids showing up to, you know, wreck the place," he said with a laugh. For Neace, it’s all about creating traditions and, hopefully, a new Dayton institution. So far so good — his primary concern right now is keeping up with demand. And, to Neace, the success is no surprise. 

“When you can marry a good business idea with developing community, you’re really onto something."

Weird Is the New Community

Becoming a new mother didn’t go the way Ariella Siegel ’13 expected. Her son, Chase, arrived five weeks early and spent nearly a week in the hospital, so when the doorbell rang a few days after the new family came home, neither Siegel nor her husband, Ryan Landy ’13, felt ready for company.

But that was okay with Amy Plassenthal ’08.

She and her husband, Christopher Plassenthal ’08, lived around the corner from Siegel in suburban Cincinnati but, for some reason, they had never noticed the UD Flyers flag in Siegel’s yard before. They saw it now though, along with balloons announcing Chase’s arrival. And that gave Plassenthal an idea. Her son, Will, had just outgrown a few Flyer outfits, and she knew they would be perfect for Chase. Plassenthal packed up the outfits and, with a little note welcoming Chase to the Flyer family, left the gifts at the front door.

“Will had grown out of them so why not?” said Plassenthal. “We were just hoping that it wasn’t taken as a weird gesture. We Flyers have to be supportive of one another!”

“When the doorbell rang, we thought that maybe it was a neighbor. We had hoped for cookies,” said Siegel. “But it was so much better than cookies! It was the nicest thing on the planet.”

Touched by the gesture, Siegel shared the random act of Flyer kindness on social media.

“It was one of those thoughts I had where I didn’t know how they would react,” said Plassenthal. “It’s an amazing experience to have a baby and raise a human. Now that I’m a mom, I’ve been there and done that, and I know it’s not easy.”

“After such a stressful week at the hospital, it was really nice,” said Siegel.

The women are now friends and are making plans to take walks together with their boys. The Flyer families hope to attend UD men’s basketball games together this winter, too.

And it all started with a gesture that proves the sense of community so many Flyers value on campus continues after graduation and beyond the University.

“Don’t worry about thinking you’re weird,” said Siegel. “Those first few weeks of Chase’s life were hard when they were supposed to be exciting. To have someone reach out with an act of kindness like that made our month.”

Learning to Make a Difference

Much of what shaped Cierra Stewart’s ’20 current career path was set into motion before she ever stepped foot onto the campus of the University of Dayton. Stewart came of age during the summer of protests over the deadly police shooting involving Michael Brown in 2014 and was influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement that followed.

“Watching injustice occur made me realize that I needed to do something to help solve these problems,” said Stewart.

Knowing she wanted to be part of the change she wanted to see in the world, Stewart got to work. While still in high school, Stewart began taking college courses through the UD Sinclair Academy, a partnership between Sinclair Community College and UD. By the time she transferred to UD, Stewart only needed two years of classes to complete her degree.

Stewart quickly discovered it wasn’t just her goals or being a transfer student that made her unique. Stewart, a native of Dayton, lived at home and commuted to her classes. She was also non-Catholic and nonwhite. It wasn’t long before she learned that even nontraditional students have a home in the Flyer community. She got involved with student government, the Asian American Association, and the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center.

“The college experience is what you make it,” said Stewart. “It might be hard, but you can do it. You can find your place here.”

When she graduated two years early with a degree in political science, Stewart leaned into the relationships she built during her DC Flyers summer internship with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office in Washington, D.C. She worked on Desiree Tims’ 2020 bid to represent Ohio’s 10^th Congressional District before rejoining Sen. Brown’s office, where she is now a legislative correspondent, covering education and environmental and energy policy.

In February 2022, Stewart’s dedication paid off in a personal triumph — meeting then-Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Judge Jackson met with all 100 senators in advance of her Senate confirmation hearing. During her meeting with Senator Brown, Stewart took the opportunity to share a few words with the justice.

“She was so kind and down-to-earth. It was my once-in-a-lifetime chance to tell her how inspired I was by her and how much her nomination meant to me and to other Black girls,” said Stewart. “She grabbed both my hands and spoke to me, but I don’t remember what she said because I was too excited at that moment.”

How does she top a moment like that? Stewart plans to continue her current career path in politics before returning to law school to study civil rights and constitutional and public interest law. She wants a better understanding of the legal system so she can combine it with her political experience and create real change in the world. She might even run for political office one day.

“I look up to Black women trailblazers like Judge Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris,” said Stewart. “Why can’t I make history too?”

Flyers — and Friends — for Life

A lot can happen in 50 years, good and bad. And in the five decades since the self-dubbed UD 4-14 Gang graduated from the University of Dayton in 1972 they have been right by each other’s sides.

Their friendship started in 1968 when Carolyn Milillo, Patricia Dignam Azar, Ann Meidt D'Agostino, Maureen Cunningham Herwood and Gail Donley Mulkeen met on the fifth floor of Marycrest during their first year at UD. The group stuck together all four years, eventually living together at a since-demolished home at 414 Lowe Street — hence, the UD 4-14 Gang — their senior year.

After graduating, the women saw each other for big life moments like weddings during the first few years. But, as they found themselves busy building careers and raising families, they decided they needed to make more of a commitment to their friendship. That meant getting together in person at least every two years.

Sometimes those reunions came in a city where one of them lived or at a vacation destination. Sometimes it was during Reunion Weekend.

“It’s great to come back and reminisce,” said Herwood. “You get to see the old and new buildings. You can clear your mind of the current days and remember what your friendship is all about.”

Over the years all of the women have leaned on their friendship when things got tough. Like in 2011 when they gladly changed their plans to spend more quality time with Mulkeen before she passed away. And again in 2020 when a global pandemic forced them to cancel plans for a collective 70^th birthday party.

“I forget who suggested it,” said Milillo. “But, when it was clear we weren’t going to be able to get together in person, we started meeting every week on Zoom.”

This Reunion Weekend, set for June 10-12, the women will reunite face to face. They have plans to travel from their homes back to Dayton and stay at a hotel downtown to sit and talk together for the first time in years. Herwood will make the longest trip. She and her husband currently live in California.

“Not knowing what to expect becomes the surprise itself,” said Herwood. “It’s totally unexpected and a good experience.”

And for the members of the UD 4-14 Gang, this reunion might just be the ultimate trip down memory lane as they are inducted into the Golden Flyers.

“I can’t believe it’s been 50 years. It’s crazy. But I loved my time at UD. It was a special time,” said Milillo.

“UD teaches you to look beyond yourself, and being in a community teaches you to be a good neighbor. That impacts the rest of your life,” said Herwood. “It feels good just being back at UD.”

Reunion Weekend is open to all Flyers, so 2022 might be a great year to start a similar tradition with your UD roommates and friends. Register before Friday, June 3, when prices increase.

Giving Back Before Graduating

Drew Moyer ’22 graduated May 8 thankful for the philanthropy that helped him earn his degree and hopeful he fostered a philanthropic spirit among his peers.

As the departing Students for University Advancement philanthropy chair, Moyer was involved with One Day, One Dayton, the University of Dayton’s annual giving day, and helped students make the connection between philanthropy and their day-to-day lives. And it was successful; the graduating Class of 2022 beat all others, including alumni classes, with the largest percentage of donors.

For One Day, One Dayton, Moyer encouraged students to “give what they can, even one dollar” to show their appreciation for their UD experiences and for the donors who helped build the University they know and love.

Moyer, the outgoing president of the Student Government Association, led by example. As one of the 172 Class of 2022 donors, he directed his gift to the Counseling Center, an area of interest for him as he watched his peers navigate isolation during the pandemic and the stresses of school and personal life.

“I was here — and many of us were here — because of donor-funded scholarships,” Moyer said. “And I think that ties into my love and support of philanthropy, giving and One Day, One Dayton as a whole. I hope someday I will be fortunate enough to do the same so somebody else can have the opportunity and possibility to grow, and to learn, lead and serve just like I had over my four years.”

In addition to the endowed scholarships supporting Moyer's studies, he further saw "what was possible because of donors" while working to help keep students safe and engaged on campus during the pandemic. One project geared to get students outdoors included a donor-funded ice rink on Stuart Field.

“Giving is bigger than just me. It's bigger than my friends. It's bigger than the group we're a part of,” Moyer said. “It’s us pushing forward to leave a lasting legacy at the University to help students like ourselves continue to have the experiences we have had and hope they are able to have even better experiences.”

University of Dayton honors late dean with Mittelstaedt advising center, scholarship

“The advising center and the scholarship in John’s name are perfect ways to honor the memory of a man who so positively influenced the School of Business Administration,” said Dean Trevor Collier. “As the plaque outside the advising center so accurately notes, John’s legacy will support the success of students both now and in the future.”

Mittelstaedt, dean from 2017 until his death in 2020, was passionate about the important role academic advisors play in helping students on their path to graduation and finding their vocational calling in life, and he added academic advisors to staff during his tenure. He also helped launch new master’s degree programs, elevated research and teaching activities of the faculty and created the Center for Student Engagement.

The Mittelstaedt scholarship, created through the generosity of more than 50 donors including his wife Patrice and their two children, will benefit business students who have financial need. Friends of the family, faculty, parents, staff and members of the University board of trustees contributed with gifts ranging from $20 to more than $15,000. 

Gifts from the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, donors from the University’s One Day One Dayton annual day of giving, and others contributed to the advising center. Along with advising staff, the center houses staff who assist business students with career services and graduate program advising and admission as well as peer student advisors.

“Academic advising is key to student success,” said Jamie Riley, director of the undergraduate advising office. “Research shows a direct correlation between advising and retention. Having an updated and expanded advising space gives us more opportunities to interact with students and meet with prospective families.”

Invested in Each Other

Bob Daley ’55 and Michelle Hwang, a UD senior set to graduate May 8, met during the 2022 Stander Symposium. Hwang was presenting a research project that could save the University money while it advances campus sustainability efforts, and Daley was attending a Golden Flyer event. After 20 minutes of talking together, Daley exclaimed: “I wish we could sell stock in your future career because I would be an investor!”

Actually, Daley already is. As a University of Dayton donor recently inducted into the John Stuart Society and longtime volunteer, Daley consistently gives back to his alma mater. And it’s gifts like his that helped open the doors of UD to Hwang.

A first-generation college student, Hwang grew up in the Dayton area and never thought she would be able to afford to attend UD. She was actively making plans to enlist in the Marines or Air Force and was speaking to recruiters when she learned that she was selected to receive a Flyer Promise Scholarship. She smiled through the tears that arose as she shared her story.

That’s how much UD means to current Flyers, just like it did for UD alumni. Certainly, there have been some major changes along the way — Daley spoke of the School of Business Administration when it was housed in a Quonset hut left over from World War II use, and the union was a much smaller wood structure. However, when they spoke about their individual UD experiences, they could have been talking about the exact same moment.

Daley compared his experience at UD to that of his daughter’s experience at a large, public university. He visited her a lot, and especially enjoyed the experience of attending football games and other sports, but he had “no feeling of the friendliness and helpfulness of UD. The personal concern that is clear across the UD community.”

A look of recognition shone in Hwang’s eyes, replacing the tears, and she shared how her experience has mirrored his.

“The genuine interest, care and kindness are still very present on campus,” she said. “Like the professors are concerned with more than what happens in the classroom. They care about your experience in the community, too.”

That care encouraged both Flyers to become leaders on campus, even if they weren’t looking for that title.

“I don’t really feel like I became a leader; I feel like I got the opportunity to do certain things that benefitted this community and benefitted me. In the process, I accidentally became this role model or leader,” said Hwang, president of the National Society of Leadership and Success and active in several student organizations.

And Daley was junior and senior class president during his time at UD, and he talked about how his class debated what they should do for their class gift. “One of the main things we talked about was putting up a statue of Blessed Chaminade behind the Chapel. The other thing was a scholarship program. We never did get that statue up,” Daley chuckled. “But we do have a scholarship program.”

Based on the conversation between these two wonderful Flyers, the Class of ’55 definitely made the smart investment.