When I entered Alvernia College in 1981, I had a full-time career in banking and was raising five children, so little did I know where I would be in 2024—holding a master’s degree in theology from the Franciscan School of Theology at University of San Diego and moving from my home for 22 years, Nevada, to Kansas City, MO to be with family. My major in undergraduate school was banking and finance because the bank I worked for was paying my tuition. I chose Alvernia because it was a Catholic College, and not far from my home. I was aware that all students were required to take two philosophy and two theology courses, and as a I took the required courses, I realized I was in the wrong profession. I recall when I went into the registrar’s office to add a major on theology and philosophy, I raised a few eyebrows, and later, when I decided to add a major in communications the registrar looked at my record and said, “Hmm—banking and finance, theology/philosophy, and now communications—what are you planning to do--become a televangelist?!” Well about a month after graduation in 1988, I became part of the Alvernia staff as Associate Vice President, later Acting Vice President, for Institutional Advancement. I guess raising money for a Catholic University was as close as I could get to being a televangelist!

My career at Alvernia, although it was short, added to the seven years there as a student, taught me about the joy of philanthropy and about Franciscan values and traditions. I have run my own fundraising consulting firm for more than thirty years and love serving the nonprofit sector. During this time, I have been fortunate to travel to Egypt, Canada, England, Mexico, and all fifty of the United States, to speak to nonprofit fundraisers and to work with an amazing number of clients. My one totally leisure vacation was to Italy, where I was privileged to visit Assisi. During this time, I often thought of my creative writing course with Sister Rosemary, and I began to realize that writing was one way I could pass along my fundraising knowledge to future generations. I have now written about forty books, mostly for the nonprofit sector, but also one spiritual novel, one travel book, and four spiritual books. I began to find more joy in writing about my passion for theology and for philanthropy and am currently working on books in both genres—two fundraising books and two spiritual books. I know that no one in their right mind works on writing four books simultaneously, but then who said I was in my right mind?

I also realized that my love for Saint Francis, his ideals, his love for God’s created world, and for the poor was leading me in a new direction so, at the age of 81, I received my master’s in Franciscan theology, from the Franciscan School of Theology at University of SanDiego.  I looked at several online universities where I could get a master’s in theology and was drawn to FST because of the love and admiration I found for St. Francis at in my early years as a Roman Catholic. One of the major books I am working on right now is tentatively titled, Francis of Assisi, Universal Saint: Franciscan Spirituality In Various Faith Perspectives. I realize that the world is divided and, often sadly, divided by religion, but the common things I see among all religions is a love for peace, care for the poor, and love for Creation. I am looking forward to getting started on this book. I hope Saint Francis will guide me as he has so often in the past. Watch for this book to be released in September 2025.