Sponsored by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered through the Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities, the Lilly Faculty Fellows Program is designed to nurture faculty leadership, strengthen the integration of faith and learning, and support the development of mission-centered teaching and campus programming. Fellows participate in multi-year cohorts that provide structured mentoring, attendance at national Lilly conferences, collaborative seminars, and resources to design high-impact projects that advance institutional mission, faculty formation, and student learning.

As Lilly Faculty Fellows, Drs. Granic and McCarthy will lead a campus initiative titled “Serving Together: Benedictine Leadership Through Community Action.” The project brings together faculty from the humanities and the sciences on both the Lisle and Mesa campuses to model interdisciplinary leadership grounded in the Rule of St. Benedict and Catholic Social Teaching. Through a series of presentations, roundtable discussions, and collaborative workshops with academic mentors and community partners, the initiative will generate innovative curricular approaches that integrate ethical reflection, service learning, and evidence-based inquiry. Faculty participants will work across disciplines and across Benedictine University’s Lisle and Mesa campuses to develop assignments that encourage students to practice deep listening, hospitality, shared decision-making, and responsible action for the common good.

This recognition is especially meaningful for BenU as a Catholic institution rooted in the Benedictine tradition. The Lilly Faculty Fellows Program directly supports the University’s mission by fostering faculty leadership that integrates intellectual rigor, moral formation, and service to others. Drs. Granic and McCarthy’s project reflects core Benedictine values—Community, Ora et Labora, Respect for Persons, and Stewardship—while strengthening collaboration across disciplines and campuses. Their work will help form students not only as skilled professionals, but as ethically grounded leaders inspired by faith, reason, and a commitment to the common good.

Benedictine University congratulates Drs. Granic and McCarthy on this significant achievement and looks forward to the lasting impact their Lilly Faculty Fellowship will have on faculty, students, and the wider University community.

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The gathering began on Thursday, Nov. 13, with a the Gold Mass in St. Benedict Chapel. Celebrated by Fr. Eddie Haule, the Mass honored the vocations of scientists, researchers, and science students, blessing their pursuit of knowledge as a sacred calling. The Chapel, filled with a congregation of students, faculty, staff, and community members, provided a serene start to an evening dedicated to the harmony of belief and inquiry.

The celebration continued with a dinner and keynote lecture in the Kindlon Hall. The event featured Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, a renowned theologian and scientist who holds the Connelly Chair in Theology at Villanova University. In her lecture, “Christianity and Evolution,” Sr. Delio wove together insights from her dual doctorates in Pharmacology and Theology. She presented a compelling vision of an evolving universe charged with divine presence, challenging the audience to see evolution not as a challenge to faith, but as the mechanism through which God continues to create.

The conversation deepened on Friday, Nov. 14, with the Faith and Reason Symposium, centered on the theme “Faith and Evolution” – held in the Daniel L. Goodwin Hall of Business’s Sorensen Hall of Leaders.

The morning was packed with engaging panels featuring Benedictine University’s own experts. Panel I, moderated by Ellen Ziliak, PhD, featured insights from Preston Aldrich, PhD, Robert McCarthy, PhD, and Tim Marin, PhD, ’96.

“The Benedictine University Faith and Reason Symposium gives our academic community a rare chance to have honest, intellectually serious conversations about big questions, especially those at the often-avoided crossroads of science and religion,” said Dr. Marin. “It reminds us that genuine learning happens when we are willing to bring our diverse convictions, doubts, and disciplines into the same room and engage one another with openness, respect, and joyful curiosity.”

This was followed by Panel II, moderated by Joy Matteson, MLS, which included discussions by Blair Nelson, PhD, Peter Huff, PhD, and Phil Hardy, PhD.

A standout Interfaith Student Panel moderated by Jayashree Sarathy, PhD, gave voice to BenU students Katie Brill, Khushi Joshi, and Osman Khan, who shared their unique perspectives on navigating their faith in their academic and personal lives.

The symposium culminated in a capstone presentation by Alfred Martin, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences, titled “How Science and Religion Fit Together to Explain Reality.” Dr. Martin’s talk served as a powerful synthesis of the two days, offering a coherent framework for understanding scientific and religious truths as complementary, rather than conflicting, ways of understanding our world.

These events underscored Benedictine University’s unique role as a place where the life of the mind and the life of the spirit are not only welcomed but are seen as essential partners in the pursuit of truth.

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She most recently served as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at The Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati, overseeing a 555-bed hospital and multiple outpatient sites. Her career is marked by a focus on advancing patient outcomes, building workforce engagement, and developing innovative care models. Dr. Conyers is also a frequent speaker on nursing excellence and is passionate about creating strong cultures of care.

It came as no surprise that Dr. Conyers moved into the CNO role at UPMC,” said Alison Ridge, DNP, RN, CNE, BenU Professor and Graduate Program Director for Nursing. “Her clinical expertise, extensive leadership experience, and the advanced knowledge and systems-level perspective cultivated through doctoral education exemplify the qualities of an exceptional executive nurse leader.”

Congratulations, Dr. Conyers!

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The official notification arrived confirming that the program has been granted the maximum five-year initial accreditation, a significant achievement that reflects the program’s high quality and rigorous standards.

“Receiving the news that the DNP in Executive Leadership program received its initial CCNE accreditation is a testament to all the nursing faculty, staff, and administrators who collaborated to launch Benedictine University’s first doctoral nursing program,” said BenU Professor and Graduate Program Director for Nursing Alison Ridge, DNP, RN, CNE. “I am incredibly proud of the work our doctoral students and recent alumnae (cohort 1 graduated in August) are doing to improve patient and population health. They are exceptional leaders who are well positioned to advance nursing and shape healthcare now and into the future.”

The accreditation process is a comprehensive review of a program’s curriculum, academic support, faculty, and student and program outcomes.

Receiving accreditation demonstrates th�鶹��ýӳ��’s DNP program meets the highest national standards for nursing education and provides students with exceptional preparation to become transformation leaders of nursing practice and healthcare.

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Over the next five years, the BenSTEMS program will provide scholarships, mentoring, leadership opportunities, career-readiness programming, and research experiences to academically talented students with significant financial need. By addressing both financial difficulties and the academic “chokepoints” that often hinder student success in STEM, the initiative seeks to expand access, improve retention and graduation rates, and prepare graduates to thrive in high-demand fields.

“With BenSTEMS, we are not only investing in our students’ futures but also advancing the University’s mission by supporting those students with the greatest financial need,” said Darya Aleinikava, PhD, Professor of Physics and Principal Investigator on the grant. “We are creating pathways for talented young scientists and engineers who might otherwise be unable to pursue their aspirations.”

The BenSTEMS program builds on Benedictine University’s long-standing strengths in science education, combining its liberal arts foundation, Catholic intellectual tradition, and commitment to inclusive excellence. Students in the program will benefit from a cohort-based model that emphasizes community building, peer mentoring, faculty engagement, and opportunities to connect with alumni and industry partners.

Beginning in their first year, participants will be supported through tailored coursework, professional development workshops, and access to undergraduate research projects �鶹��ýӳ�� and partner institutions, including regional national laboratories and industry sites.

A distinctive element of the grant is its research and evaluation component, which will study the impact of combining financial support with academic and social interventions. The findings will not only inform future programming at Benedictine University but also contribute to the national conversation on how to better support students from low-income backgrounds in completing STEM degrees.

“This grant represents a transformative investment in our students,” said Kate Lang, PhD, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Through BenSTEMS, BenU will be able to reduce financial obstacles, foster a sense of community, and prepare the next generation of scientists, innovators, and problem-solvers who will make a difference in society.”

By equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and professional networks they need to succeed, BenSTEMS will help ensure that Benedictine University graduates are well-prepared for careers in research, technology, engineering, education, and other high-demand areas where STEM expertise is vital.

Stay tuned for more information about BenSTEMS and how to apply.

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Fast credits her time at BenU for providing the foundation for her academic and professional success. The small class sizes and supportive faculty allowed her to thrive, offering personalized guidance as she explored internships and graduate school opportunities.

“The professors were invested in each of our academic journeys,” said Fast. “Their encouragement helped me prepare for the next steps, from applications to research.”

Now at Texas A&M, Fast combines her love of chemistry and physics in a lab studying photodissociation dynamics, contributing to advancements in atmospheric chemistry. Her achievements include presenting research at an international conference and earning the Texas A&M HEEP Fellowship for students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, research ability, potential, and leadership qualities.

Benedictine University’s Hallmarks continue to influence Fast’s daily life, particularly Community, Discipline, and Hospitality.

“Without community, I would not have made it through the long nights of studying and persevering in the lab when experiments failed in both undergrad and graduate school,” said Fast. “Discipline has helped to keep me going even when school or life gets hard and knowing that my friends and family will be there to help push me along, and hospitality is something that I always strive to live by as giving people a safe and welcoming environment helps them succeed.”

Fast’s journey exemplifies the impact of BenU’s academic environment and values, proving that dedication and mentorship can lead to extraordinary achievements.

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President Foy delivered remarks for all three Commencement Ceremonies, encouraging graduates to apply their expertise to global challenges while fostering inclusivity and sustainability worldwide. His remarks reflected Benedictine’s core values of ethical leadership and global engagement that define the University’s mission.

“This collaboration embodies our belief in education without borders,” said President Foy. “The future is filled with promise, and we look forward to seeing the ways all graduates use their education to better their communities, their countries, and our shared world.”

Strengthening Ties Through Visit

President Foy also visited Changchun Financial College further strengthening BenU’s international partnerships. During the meeting, college leadership highlighted the successful collaboration between the two institutions since 2012, particularly in academic exchanges and joint research initiatives.

They noted the renewal of the cooperative agreement until 2031, demonstrating both institutions’ commitment to deepening their partnership. The visit culminated in the signing of a supplementary agreement for cooperative education projects.

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Such runoff has detrimental effects on the ecological health of Lake St. Benedict and the larger East Branch of the DuPage River Watershed. The projects include retrofit of detention ponds on campus to act as wet ponds, installing a nutrient deactivation system in Lake St. Benedict, and installing a goose deterrent system to minimize the amount of phosphorus-bearing animal waste that enters the lake.

The County WQIP grant will allow offset of up to $6,065 incurred by the University in making these improvements. Congratulations to Mr. Schubert and the BenU engineering students for securing a grant that will positively impact the environmental health of the University!

The attached photos show the students currently working on the project: Ernesto Carlton, Rachel Cepolski, and Alexander Corbett in the photo standing by the poster. Mohammed Hussain, Michael Nawas, and Rema Qazi are in the photo by Lake St. Benedict. Also standing with the students near Lake St. Benedict is Chris Cartwright of Kasco Marine, who has been kindly assisting in testing of Kasco Marine aeration and mixing equipment at no cost to the University

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Maddie worked with mentors Dr. Leigh Anne Harden and Dr. Tiara Perez Morales �鶹��ýӳ��, as well as with Dr. Joe Milanovich at Loyola University Chicago on a collaborative study focusing on the physiology and ecology of two isolated and endangered spotted turtle populations inhabiting an industrial landscape in northwestern Indiana. Her project specifically focused on assessing the spatiotemporal variation immune function of these spotted turtle populations using bacteria killing assay methods.

Maddie is currently working at Aurora VCA Hospital and writing her research manuscript before heading off to University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in August!

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“Benedictine University is thrilled to join forces with Des Moines University to enhance our students’ opportunities in medical and health sciences careers,” states Joseph Foy, PhD, president of Benedictine University. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to academic excellence and creating pathways for students to reach their academic and professional aspirations. With guaranteed interview slots, concurrent degree options, and reserved seats in DMU’s esteemed programs, we are providing our students with the skills and chances they need to become future healthcare leaders.”

This strategic partnership offers a multitude of benefits for BenU students, including:

• Guaranteed Interview Opportunities: Qualified BenU graduates will be guaranteed interviews for admission into several of DMU’s prestigious programs, including Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and more.
• Streamlined Degree Options: The agreement facilitates the pursuit of concurrent degrees, allowing BenU students to earn their undergraduate degree while beginning coursework relevant to their chosen DMU graduate program.
• Priority Admission Consideration: A designated number of seats will be reserved for BenU graduates in DMU’s Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OT) programs.

This collaboration aligns with BenU’s mission to empower students from all backgrounds to pursue their passions and serve their communities. Like DMU, BenU places a strong emphasis on increasing diversity within the healthcare workforce. The University’s Master of Science in Integrative Physiology program is specifically designed to address this critical need by creating opportunities for underrepresented minorities in healthcare professions.

“Through this innovative partnership, BenU students will gain a significant advantage in their pursuit of healthcare careers,” concluded Dr. Foy. “We are confident that this alliance will produce future generations of compassionate and skilled healthcare leaders.”

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