Creighton University forms Council of Regents

By Micah Mertes

Creighton University has formed the Council of Regents, a select group of 33 University ambassadors and benefactors.

For the inaugural council, Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, and University leaders have selected a wide-ranging group of alumni, parents and friends from across the country. They were chosen for their leadership in their respective communities or professions, for their capacity to bring diverse and unique perspectives to the work of the University and for their ability to serve as Creighton’s most effective ambassadors.

Each Regent will serve a three-year term. The Council of Regents is not responsible for governing, and members are not guaranteed future appointment to the Board of Trustees.

In establishing the Council of Regents, Creighton joins other Jesuit institutions with a tradition of prestigious and impactful Regents programs, including Georgetown, Boston College, Santa Clara University and Fordham.

“Through the Council of Regents, this terrific group will deepen their relationships to Creighton’s mission while growing their roles as some of the University’s most pivotal ambassadors,” said Fr. Hendrickson. “They will do so at one of the boldest and most exciting moments in Creighton’s history. The Council allows us to bring together some of our best minds to see where Creighton is today and imagine where it could be headed tomorrow.”

At two in-person gatherings each year, Regents will take part in immersive and interactive experiences that highlight the work of distinguished faculty and students while modeling practices of reflection and discernment, the hallmarks of Jesuit education. Regents will also continue to make the University a top philanthropic priority.

“Each Regent was chosen because they are an excellent advocate and spokesperson for Creighton,” said Mardell Wilson, EdD, Creighton Provost. “We plan to share with the Regents some of the most fascinating and pivotal features of the University, through sessions that highlight everything from Creighton’s Ignatian spirituality to Creighton’s social impact, from groundbreaking student projects to the people and programs that drive everyday life on campus.”

Provost Wilson said that University ambassadors will take their increased knowledge of Creighton back to their respective communities, promoting the University’s mission, vision and priorities.

The first group of Regents come from across the country. Of the 19 households to join the Council, only two reside in Omaha. The rest come from all corners of the U.S. — including Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, the D.C. area and Alliance, Nebraska.

Council of Regents co-chairs Mike Meehan, DDS’92, and Deb Meehan, PHARMD’91, (who live near Chicago) said they are excited to be “part of a group that can contribute to transformational changes for the University. Higher education institutions will face numerous challenges in the decades ahead. We hope the Council of Regents can assist the University in positioning itself ahead of these challenges.”

Mike and Deb Meehan come from a family with four generations of Creighton graduates. They said that co-chairing the inaugural Council of Regents allows them to contribute to “the University that has given our family so much.”

“We feel that the moment you graduate from Creighton University,” the Meehans said, “you become a member of the alumni family and thus become an ambassador of the University. As alumni, we attempt to represent Creighton in a way that the University has always represented us.”

Council of Regents

A.J. Acierno, DDS’01, BS’97
Christine Acierno 
Norridge, Illinois 

Lisa Andrus, JD’03
Phoenix, Arizona 

Tim Burd, MD’96
Michelle Burd 
Omaha, Nebraska 

Alex Calfo, JD’90
Beatriz Calfo 
Los Angeles, California

Dan Curran, JD’97, BA’94
Jenn Curran 
San Diego, California

John Goza, MD
MarySue Goza, MD 
Overland Park, Kansas

Jeff Gross, MS’95, BSPHY’93
St. Louis, Missouri

Mary Jo Jerde, BSN’80
Bruce Jerde 
Fountain Hills, Arizona 

Jeffery King, BSBA’14
New York, New York 

Jay Langhurst, BSBA’01
Daniel Klingler 
Dallas, Texas

Deb Meehan, PHARMD’91
Mike Meehan, DDS’92
(Council of Regents co-chairs)
Palos Heights, Illinois 

Lisa Meekins, BSBA’02
Chicago, Illinois 

Aimee Otto, BSPHA’94
Rich Otto, BA’91 
Alliance, Nebraska 

Eric Oxley, BSBA’01
Emily Oxley, BSBA’01
Omaha, Nebraska 

Steve Swift, BSBA’82
Nicole Swift 
Potomac, Maryland 

Alvaro Tafur, BA’89
Coral Gables, Florida 

Madeleine White
Peter White 
Coppell, Texas

Scott Wirges, BSBA’96
Kristin Wirges
Fulshear, Texas 

Andrew Zeniou, MD’89, BS’85
Rosalee Zeniou 
Setauket, New York