Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
On August 23, Creighton University celebrated its annual Evening of Honors. Trustee Emeritus Patrick Zenner, BSBA’69, received the Alumni Achievement Citation. Ten other alumni received Alumni Merit Awards from the University's schools and colleges, and Jack Pettyrock, BSBA’19, was recognized with the Recent Alumni Award. Mr. Mike Yanney and Dr. Gail Walling Yanney were named Friends of the University for their distinguished leadership and service.
“Celebrating accomplishments at this level speaks volumes about the enduring power and influence of a Jesuit education," says Creighton President, Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD. "Creighton University’s 2024 honorees exemplify the core values of our mission and bring great honor to our campus, our communities, and all who know them."
Evening of Honors is one of several events during Mission Week, held August 23 through September 5 across Creighton’s Omaha and Phoenix campuses. This year’s theme is "Companions in Mission.” Read more about the 2024 honorees.
2024 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT CITATION HONOREE
Patrick Zenner, BSBA’69
Patrick Zenner received the highest all-University award presented to a Creighton University alumnus/na. Zenner graduated from Creighton in 1969 and began his career in pharmaceutical life sciences as a sales representative.
In 1975, Zenner earned an MBA in pharmaceutical-chemical studies from Fairleigh Dickinson University. By 1982, he was vice president and general manager of Roche Laboratories. He then spent two and a half years in Basel, Switzerland, with Roche Holding Ltd., as head of international pharmaceutical marketing, development, and regulation. In 1988, Zenner was elected to the U.S. company's executive committee and board of directors, serving as senior vice president of pharmaceuticals until 1992. The following year, he was appointed president and CEO, leading the company until his retirement in 2001.
Zenner served and chaired many public and private pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences companies, including the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey. He has been involved with the Hollings Oncology Center, the Myositis Association, and the New York State Council on Children and Families. Other affiliations include the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, the Health Care Leadership Council, and the National Committee for Quality Health Care.
Zenner dedicated more than 25 years to the boards of Creighton University and Fairleigh Dickinson University and remains connected to his high school alma mater, Cretin-Derham Hall in Minnesota. In 2023, Creighton’s Board of Trustees granted Zenner emeritus status for his exceptional service. Zenner’s family includes his partner, Betsy Ryan, and his three children and two grandchildren. His late wife, Margaret “Peggy” Trondle Zenner, BA’69, passed away in 2015.
Betsy and Zenner are staunch supporters of higher education and maintain multiple scholarships at Creighton and Villanova University, where Betsy attended graduate school. They reside in Naples, Florida, and are involved with the Naples Children and Education Foundation and the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
2024 FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY HONOREES
Mike Yanney and Dr. Gail Walling Yanney
Mr. Mike Yanney and Dr. Gail Walling Yanney received the Friends of the University Award, which recognizes distinguished leadership and service by non-alumni.
Mr. Yanney founded Burlington Capital, formerly America First Companies, in 1984 and serves as chairman emeritus for the Omaha-based investment management firm. He has held numerous positions, including chairman of the Joslyn Art Museum Board of Governors and president of the Building Bright Futures Executive Board.
Dr. Gail Walling Yanney dedicated over 25 years of her career to anesthesiology, primarily at Clarkson Hospital, and served as a clinical instructor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She also served as executive director of the Clarkson Foundation and on the board of directors of UNMC. Dr. Walling Yanney is involved in many boards, including the College of Saint Mary, the Nebraska Arts Council, the Omaha Community Foundation, the Visiting Nurse Association, and Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. Additionally, she was involved in starting The Women’s Fund and The Nebraska Nature Conservancy.
The Yanneys have given their time, energy, and resources to numerous civic, community, and educational initiatives, with a specific focus on the arts, the environment, healthcare, and assisting disadvantaged and at-risk youth. Together, they founded Partnership 4 Kids in 1989—a mentoring and scholarship program in the Greater Omaha area that has now been active for 35 years.
For over two decades, they have been invaluable advisors to three Creighton University presidents: Rev. John P. Schlegel, SJ, Tim R. Lannon, SJ, and Creighton’s current and 25th president, Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD. They support numerous causes and programs at Creighton, including the establishment of endowed scholarships. They are passionate advocates for healthcare initiatives and research and take an interest in the work of Creighton faculty. They are also members of the Heritage Society, having named Creighton a beneficiary of their estate.
2024 ALUMNI MERIT AWARD HONOREES
College of Arts and Sciences
Tom Kirsch, MD, MPH, BA'80
Dr. Thomas Kirsch graduated from Creighton University’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1980. He and his wife, Dr. Celene Domitrovich, reside in Maryland. Dr. Kirsch is a physician, scientist, humanitarian, and author renowned for extensive contributions to disaster medicine and public health. He has led disaster response and research efforts on six continents and was recognized by President Barack Obama as a hero in healthcare.
Dr. Kirsch earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He is a board-certified emergency physician and a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He holds professorships in emergency medicine at George Washington University and international health at Johns Hopkins University.
Most recently, Dr. Kirsch served as the director of the Department of Defense's National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health. Prior to that, for two decades, Dr. Kirsch was on the faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, where he founded and led the Hopkins Austere Medicine I course.
Dr. Kirsch began his humanitarian journey in a Cambodian refugee camp after medical school, which extended to notable efforts during the 9/11 attacks, and Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and Nepal. Dr. Kirsch has consulted with numerous organizations, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the American and Canadian Red Cross, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FEMA, and the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, to enhance global disaster response strategies and operations.
He has published over 175 scientific articles, abstracts, textbook chapters, and a disaster medical textbook and has written creative essays for The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Health Affairs, and several literary journals. His contributions have earned him prestigious awards, such as the inaugural Disaster Science Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Clara Barton Award for Leadership from the American Red Cross. He has also been a guest lecturer at the Creighton University Kingfisher Institute and shares his time with the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Fellows.
College of Nursing
Mary Jo Jerde, BSN'80
Mary Jo Jerde graduated from Creighton University’s College of Nursing in 1980 and earned her MBA in 2000. She resides in Arizona where she is the senior vice president of the Center for Clinician Advancement at UnitedHealth Group. Under her leadership, she has helped guide the creation of programs such as the Center for Clinician Advancement and UnitedHealth’s summer intern program.
Before this role, Jerde spent 14 years at SHPS (now Carewise Health), holding positions including vice president of Operations and Innovation. Her career includes more than a decade at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. Her work has had a significant impact, particularly through initiatives such as the Nurse Leader Executive Program.
Jerde was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and was recognized by Business Leaders in Healthcare, the March of Dimes, and Catholic Healthcare West. She serves on the board of Arizona Autism United and the advisory board of St. Thomas University School of Nursing. She is also a member of the American Academy of Nursing and Women Business Leaders of Healthcare.
At Creighton, she and her husband established the Mary Jo and Bruce Jerde Endowed Scholarship and the Jerde Faculty Nursing Fund for Phoenix. The Jerdes will join the University's inaugural Council of Regents. Additionally, Mary Jo has served on the Creighton Presidential Health Sciences Phoenix Advisory Board.
Graduate School
Christopher Kelly, BSBA'69, MBA'70
Chris Kelly graduated from Creighton University in 1969 with his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, followed by his MBA. As a student, Kelly held an internship at Omaha National Bank, where he was offered a full-time position upon graduation, launching a 50-year career in banking and financial consulting. He held leadership roles, including chief financial officer and chief executive officer at various banks and firms, and his expertise and leadership have earned him widespread recognition within the industry.
Kelly became the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce chairman in 1990 and received the Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International in 1989. For nearly two decades, he was an instructor for the bank simulation course at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Texas.
Kelly has been a loyal supporter of Creighton for more than four decades. He and his wife, Dr. Patricia Kelly, established the Christopher J. and Patricia A. Kelly Endowed Scholarship in 2018 and have named Creighton as a beneficiary of their estate. He is a member of the Heider College of Business Alumni Ambassadors Council, through which he connects graduates with opportunities through the Creighton University John P. Fahey Career Center.
The Kellys reside in Dallas, where he continues to occasionally act as a consultant and volunteers with the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and the Dallas Fort Worth United Service Organizations (USO).
College of Professional and Continuing Education
Martha Wilcoxson, MS'15, EDD'19
Dr. Martha Wilcoxson graduated in 1975 with a degree in public administration from Oregon State University and completed a graduate degree in management from the University of Central Queensland in 1980.
Her commitment to lifelong learning led her to Creighton University, where she earned a Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in 2015 and a Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership in 2019. She now serves on the College of Professional and Continuing Education Alumni Advisory Council.
As the founder of Wilcoxson Wealth Management, Dr. Wilcoxson specializes in retirement and estate planning, helping clients secure their financial futures. She is also an instructor at the Hasan School of Business at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Dr. Wilcoxson has been an arbitrator for FINRA® for 25 years, is a board member of the National Association for Community Mediation, and a mediator for the Colorado Negotiated Dispute Resolution.
Her dedication to education extends to her role as a member and mentor of Alpha Iota Sigma, the interdisciplinary honor society. Dr. Wilcoxson is a passionate advocate for women's business development and financial literacy. As a public speaker, she shares her insights on these critical topics across various platforms, encouraging ethical practices in finance and business. In 2023, she shared her expertise and provided mentorship for rural community development initiatives at the DRC Social Innovation Summit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Heider College of Business
Todd Foje, JD, LLM, BSBA'87
Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications in Blair, Neb., is recognized for outstanding leadership in both the business world and community. Foje earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Creighton in 1987, a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University.
In 2019, Foje was elected chairman of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a role in which he has been a vocal advocate for workforce development, tax relief, and improving the business climate in Nebraska. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the American Red Cross, where he was board chair, Creighton Prep High School, Duchesne Academy, and the Durham Museum.
His involvement with Creighton University is extensive, having contributed to various committees and initiatives in support of the university's mission. A longtime volunteer with TeamMates youth mentoring program, Foje has maintained a meaningful relationship with his mentee for over 20 years.
Foje and his wife, Creighton alumna Amy Sitzmann Foje, reside in Omaha with their three children: Amanda (BSBA'17, MBA'21), Nathan, and Emily. The Fojes are known for their generosity and dedication to charitable causes. They have chaired numerous charitable events for Duchesne Academy, the Omaha Archdiocese Education Dinner, and the American Red Cross, and have been loyal donors to Creighton University for over three decades. They support two Ignatian Merit Scholarships at Creighton: The Todd and Amy Sitzmann Foje Family Scholarship in Nursing and The Todd and Amy Sitzmann Foje Family Scholarship in the Heider College of Business.
School of Dentistry
Joseph Barsetti, BA'77, DDS'81
After earning a bachelor's degree in psychology from Creighton University in 1977 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1981, Dr. Joseph Barsetti completed a specialty degree in pediatric dentistry at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in 1983.
Dr. Barsetti practiced alongside fellow Creighton alumnus, Vincent W. Mancuso, Jr., DDS '71, in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1983 until his retirement in 2020. Following his retirement from private practice, Dr. Barsetti accepted a clinical teaching position in Creighton's Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, where he continues to mentor the next generation of dental professionals.
Throughout his career, Dr. Barsetti has held numerous leadership roles within various dental organizations at local and state levels, including serving as past president of the Iowa Society of Pediatric Dentists. He represented central Iowa in Kofu, Japan, through a sister city program, becoming one of the first dentists from the Des Moines District Dental Society to participate in this international exchange.
Dr. Barsetti's dedication to increasing access to dental care for special populations has earned him recognition from the American Dental Association. His advocacy alongside the mother of one of his patients, was instrumental in successfully lobbying the Iowa legislature to pass a bill mandating insurance coverage for dental treatments performed under general anesthesia.
Dr. Barsetti and his wife, Rita, are residents of West Des Moines. The Barsettis have established The Joseph and Rita Barsetti Fund for Faculty Development at Creighton, fostering a culture of research and inquiry within the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Their three children—James Barsetti, BS'16, DDS'20, Joseph Barsetti, BS'17, DDS'21, and Margaret Barsetti, BA'15, OTD'18—are Creighton University graduates.
Dr. Barsetti remains involved in his community, contributing to organizations such as the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Iowa City Hospice, and the Iowa Health Foundation.
School of Law
Chief Justice Susan Christensen, JD'91
Iowa Chief Justice Susan Christensen was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa. She earned her bachelor's degree from Judson College in 1988 and her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1991. She began her legal career practicing in her hometown and rose through the judicial ranks to become the third woman to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court and the second to hold the position of Chief Justice.
Her father, the late Jerry L. Larson, is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Iowa Supreme Court, serving from 1978 to 2008. In 2007, Chief Justice Christensen was appointed as a district associate judge, and in 2015, as a district court judge. Her exemplary service led to her appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018, and she was selected as Chief Justice in February 2020.
Chief Justice Christensen is passionate about advancing children's rights, family justice, and mental health initiatives. She has chaired the Children's Justice State Council and the Family First Task Force. Her service on the Supreme Court's Family Law Pro Se Forms Committee, Child Support Guidelines Review Committee, Parents Representation Standards Committee, Guardianship/Conservatorship Task Force, and the Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee further highlights her dedication to improving the judicial system.
She frequently speaks to local high school students, sharing insights into the workings of the judicial system. In 2021, Children's Square USA honored her with the Jason Award for exemplifying their mission of caring for children and families.
At Creighton, she regularly speaks with law students, presides over the finals of the annual Creighton Law Moot Court competition, and assists students in finding clerkships and externships. Recent Creighton Law graduate, Mckenzie Meradith, JD'23, is her outgoing clerk. Chief Justice Christensen and her husband, Dr. Jay Christensen, continue to live in Harlan and have five children and nine grandchildren.
School of Medicine
Andrea "Andy" Holden McGuire, MS'78, MD'82
Dr. Andrea McGuire graduated with honors from Creighton University in 1978, completing her chemistry degree in just three years. She continued her education at the School of Medicine, earning a medical degree in 1982 as one of only 11 women in the class. She specialized in nuclear medicine at the Veterans Administration and St. Louis University Medical Center. In 2001, she earned an MBA from Kennesaw State University.
Dr. McGuire served as CEO and president of Meridian Healthcare Plan, where she spearheaded initiatives that led to significant improvements in immunization rates and prenatal care in Iowa. She also served as chief medical officer of American Enterprise, vice president of medical resources, and medical director of Wellmark BlueCross BlueShield. Additionally, Dr. McGuire served as a clinical assistant professor of nuclear medicine, with experience in both clinical and research activities, contributing to publications in leading scientific journals.
She has made significant contributions to national healthcare policy, through her work with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and as a voting member of the American Medical Association CPT committee. Dr. McGuire continues to influence community health as a trustee of Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines and through leadership positions on multiple boards, including as president of the board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Iowa, and vice president of the board of the Interfaith Alliance.
At Creighton, Dr. McGuire has played a pivotal role through her involvement on the Creighton University Board of Trustees, the National Alumni Advisory Board, and as a member of the "Willing to Lead" campaign committee.
School of Medicine
Daniel McGuire, MD'82, BA'20
Dr. Dan McGuire is an orthopedic spine surgeon with over 40 years of experience. He graduated from the Creighton School of Medicine in 1982. In 2018, driven by his commitment to lifelong learning, Dr. McGuire re-enrolled at Creighton to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Health Management degree online, graduating magna cum laude.
For two decades, Dr. McGuire has served rural Iowans through clinics in various towns across Northwest Iowa. He is a published author and has served as an orthopedic board examiner. He is actively involved in his community and church, participating in the Knights of Columbus and weekly adoration at Saint Augustin's Catholic Church.
Dr. McGuire has made a lasting impact as an assistant clinical professor of surgery at Creighton and through his role on the Creighton University Medical School Alumni Advisory Board.
The McGuires live in Des Moines, Iowa, and are the parents of seven children, three of whom are Creighton graduates: Kathleen, Hugh, Dan Jr., Shannon (MD ’19), Molly (BFA ’15), Megan, and Emily (BA '19). In honor of their parents, they established the McGuire-Holden Family Scholarship Fund, which supports students from rural Iowa and Nebraska who are pursuing medical careers. To honor their daughter Emily’s volunteer work at North High School, they established the Emily McGuire Annual Scholarship. They have also generously supported the building of McGloin Hall and the creation of the CL and Rachel Werner Center for Health Sciences Education.
School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
Merrill Landers, PhD, DPT’97, PT
Dr. Merrill Landers earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University, a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Creighton University, and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He completed a fellowship through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Education Leadership Institute.
Dr. Landers began his career in Las Vegas, where he established a clinical site for Creighton physical therapy students and served as a dedicated clinical instructor. In 2001, he helped launch the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at UNLV and today is a professor and chair of that department and a licensed physical therapist.
He earned a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace through the Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education at the University of South Florida. Dr. Landers served as the founding chair of the Physical Therapy Leadership Institute (PTLI) DEI Committee and the PTLI Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture, a national lecture addressing systemic barriers to opportunity and access for underrepresented minorities in physical therapy. As vice president of the PTLI and a member of its board of directors, he has championed inclusivity within the profession.
Dr. Landers is chair of the Geneva R. Johnson Forum Planning Committee, a national forum encouraging new ideas and innovations in physical therapy education and a recipient of the Cyrus Chung Ying Tang Foundation Research Professorship.
His research focuses on balance, falls, and exercise in Parkinson's disease, and his work includes over 85 peer-reviewed publications and has earned him numerous awards, including the Rose Excellence in Research Award. He has received over $1.1 million in funding for his research and has conducted more than 120 national and international presentations, including more than 15 invited keynote lectures.
He serves on the medical advisory board of Friends of Parkinson's and supports current Creighton School of Pharmacy and Health Professions students. Dr. Landers resides in Nevada with his wife, Creighton alumna Dr. Teresa Weaver Landers (DPT '97).
2024 RECENT ALUMNI AWARD HONOREE
Jack (Petty) Pettyrock, BSBA'19
Jack Pettyrock was recognized with the Recent Alumni Award, which celebrates significant professional achievement, personal responsibility, and service to Creighton and the community by an alumna/us during their first 10 years following graduation.
The Kansas City native is a 2019 graduate of Creighton's Heider College of Business. He began his career at the Omaha private equity firm McCarthy Capital, where he interned during his senior year at Creighton.
After graduation, Pettyrock spent two years at Stephens, Inc. in their Atlanta, Georgia, investment banking office, focusing on mergers and acquisitions. In 2021, he returned to Omaha and to McCarthy Capital as a private equity associate. Today, Pettyrock sits on the boards of four McCarthy Capital portfolio companies in the healthcare, software, and telecommunications industries.
For more than a decade, Pettyrock has volunteered at the Free Store at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City. He has also participated in projects with the Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity International. Additionally, he serves on the Alumni Board of the Barstow School in Kansas City and the Creighton Recent Alumni Board.
Pettyrock supports the Creighton University Student Emergency Assistance Fund and is one of Creighton's top donors under 30. He mentors students aspiring to enter the field of mergers and acquisitions and has served as a panelist at the Creighton Business Symposium.
