2023 Staff Merit Awards Winners

Carmen Croce has held many positions over his more than fifty years time at Saint Joseph’s University, but none more important than the curator of the University Art Collection and director of Saint Joseph’s University Press. His curatorship of the University Art Collection is impeccable, and he is ever ready and eager to share his in-depth knowledge of the collection with visiting scholars and curators from other museums, as well as with colleagues and our students. He has guided the University Press for decades where he has helped SJU attain an international reputation as one of the most prestigious publishers in the Visual Arts and Jesuit Studies. Recently Carmen has worked tirelessly as the curator of the Francis M. Maguire Art Museum. Carmen’s knowledge of Saint Joseph’s, its history and traditions, his professional expertise, good taste and wealth of experience makes him an irreplaceable colleague and dear friend of Saint Joseph’s.

Tom Fithian is Executive Director of Alumni Relations at SJU where he is leading efforts to engage 75k+ Hawks and 16k+ USciences and PCP alumni. Partnering with a very active National Alumni Board of volunteers with over 30+ alumni and the campus community, Tom is leading efforts to keep SJU relevant in the lives of close to 100K alumni. He is a triple Hawk with his bachelor's and masters from SJU and then being part of the Ignatian Leadership Program in 2017. Tom has been a member of the SJU advancement team since 2012 holding roles in Alumni Relations, SJ Fund, and major gifts, leading the Barbelin program (i.e. donors of $2500) as well as being the key liaison between Advancement and CAS.

Dr. Beth Hagovsky, Director of Student Leadership & Activities, has worked at Saint Joseph’s University for 16 years. Beth is responsible for many large scale University programs and initiatives, including the Hawktoberfest, Senior Week, Greek Life and all student organizations. Beth is most known for New Student Orientation as she collaborates with the entire campus to welcome the newest Hawks to the University in a high energy program where students and families build connections with each other and to the University. Beth truly committed to the Jesuit mission of SJU, exemplifying cura personalis and being a Hawk for others.

Lizanne is an invaluable member of the CAS administrative assistant team, providing exceptional support to the Biology and Chemistry departments on Hawk Hill. She is resourceful and detail-oriented, whether she’s resolving a supply issue or assisting with the coordination of complex academic schedules. She regularly finds new ways to improve processes and procedures for faculty and students. Lizanne is extremely collaborative and generous with her time and talents. She can always be counted on to support her colleagues or participate in service opportunities throughout campus.

Donna has been an integral member of the CAS Dean's Office for over 9 years, and a dedicated SJU employee for almost 17. She supports a broad range of programs for the College including Summer Scholars, Faculty Development, and the Donald I. MacLean Chair. Whether planning an event or processing a contract, her organizational and time management skills are unmatched. Donna approaches every task and interaction thoughtfully and with care. Her tireless work behind the scenes is vital to the success of the College of Arts and Sciences, its faculty, and students.

Raoul Weinberg came to the Occupational Therapy department in late 2021 as a temporary employee filling a vacant position as the Administrative Coordinator of Fieldwork Education. We quickly realized that his talent and skills were highly valued and he would be an asset permanently to our team. Since early 2022, Raoul has been a diligent team player. He filled a need initially, but through unforeseen circumstances, he was able to offer additional support in the office when the Physical Therapy department lost his counterpart from their clinical education team. Raoul stepped up to the plate and allocated additional time to cover the incredible need for both departments as we merged with Saint Joseph’s in June of 2022. Contract amendments for clinical sites was so incredibly important to keep our studentS on track with their program progression. It goes without saying that without Raoul, there would have been a lot more chaos last summer than just typical merger things! Raoul has many interests and is a strong advocate for diversity in the workplace and adds to our department’s JEDI focus. Our students are lucky to have such a resource as they transition from classroom to clinical experiences. Thank you, Raoul. You deserve recognition for the service you provide our department, the institution, and most of all, the students. Congrats.

Angela Flowers has been the Administrative Coordinator for the Graduate Physician Assistant Program, since 2012, when the program was initially created by the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Her consistent presence during multiple major changes, including the recent merger with Saint Joseph's University, illustrates her tenacity and ability to adapt to different processes and building new skills along the way. I would like to congratulate Ms. Flowers for receiving the Special Initiative Award. This honor is well-deserved due to her immense effort and hard work to keep the program organized and operating smoothly. Ms. Flowers consistently goes above and beyond their responsibilities to ensure that the program is running efficiently and effectively, and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. More recently, Ms. Flowers has worked tirelessly to help the PA program maintain compliance with accreditation requirements, overseeing many administrative aspects of the program, helping to ensure that standards are met. Her expertise and attention to detail have been invaluable in guiding the program through the merger and the accreditation process, and her dedication to excellence has been instrumental in our success. Angie has been an integral part of the success of the program, and her dedication and commitment have inspired all who work with her. Again, congratulations to Ms. Angela Flowers for her outstanding work and contributions to our Physician Assistant Program.

Since coming to SJU in 2016, Mike has played a key role in numerous enrollment systems projects. A recent example is when Mike oversaw the Unified Student Recruitment - Slate/Merger Project. The success of this initiative can be attributed to Mike’s outstanding planning abilities as well as his comprehension of, and attention to, technical details. Mike brings these skills to work every day, making important contributions that support and advance Saint Joseph’s enrollment strategies.

Rosemary Theveny is the Program Coordinator of SJU's new PACE program, an inclusive college program for students with intellectual disabilities. In her role, Rosemary is responsible for recruiting and hiring SJU peer coaches who provide academic and social enrichment for their peers enrolled in PACE. Rosemary is a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion because she helps SJU students develop genuine and meaningful friendships, which is a vital part of the college experience. Prior to working on Hawk Hill, Rosemary worked on the University City campus as the Administrative Assistant and Test Proctor for the Office of Student Accommodations; in this role, she supported all students who received ADA accommodations. Rosemary's efforts have made the University a better, more inclusive place for all students with disabilities.

Katie Kuester ’12, is in her 5th season as Assistant Coach and eighth overall on the Women's Basketball Staff. Katie's ability to connect with student-athletes on the court coaching, mentoring, and leading young women has been impactful. Katie's primary responsibilities include Recruiting Coordinator, Post Player Development, and game day scouting. Katie has coached two Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year recipients, and three All-Conference players in her area of expertise in the last two seasons while assisting in a 20 Win season and the 12th appearance in the WNIT. As a former women's basketball player, Katie was one of the top shooters in SJU history, named to the All Big Five second team and earned Academic Honor Roll recognition with both the Atlantic 10 and Saint Joseph's Athletic Director.