Xavier University
Graduate Commencement
Awards
Teacher of the Year
The Teacher of the Year Award is given annually in two categories to a tenured faculty member and senior teaching professor. The prestigious award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated a commitment to the principles of Ignatian Pedagogy in their full responsibilities as educators. Recipients are nominated by students, faculty and staff. A committee of faculty and students reviews all nominations before submitting recommendations to the provost.
Rick Browne, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Health Services Administration
Frederick (Rick) Browne, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Services Administration. He worked as a psychologist and administrator before joining Xavier’s faculty in 2012. His main areas of focus in teaching are healthcare ethics and law. He found his passion and vocation in teaching, and loves to help students work to figure out their own education and career paths. He earned his degrees from DePauw University (BA, psychology) and Indiana University (MS and Ph.D., counseling psychology).
Diana L. Boling (MSN ’10)
Senior Teaching Professor
College of Nursing
Diana L. Boling , is a Senior Teaching Professor specializing in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing and teaches in the Accelerated BSN program. Since 2019, she has been dedicated to infusing Ignatian pedagogy, holistic practices, and curiosity into her courses. “Prof DB,” as she is known, curates belonging through intentional dialogue and invitations to connect. Diana earned her bachelor's degree with honors in Sociology from the University of Cincinnati (2005) and her master’s degree in nursing from Xavier University.
Magis Award
The Magis Award recognizes a Xavier undergraduate alumnus or alumna who has achieved a high degree of excellence and embodies Jesuit morals and ethical values in his or her life.
Lydia Glover ('18)
Lydia Glover (’18) works to bring high-quality education to students of all backgrounds and abilities as Founding Dean of Academics at Allegiant Prep Academy. She designs and monitors inclusion programs, ensuring that all students receive the support they need to succeed. Glover received the Black Excellence in Education Award for her exemplary leadership and commitment to improving educational outcomes, particularly within underrepresented communities. For her professional leadership and service to her community, Glover was named a member of Xavier’s inaugural 30 Under 30 Class.
St. Francis Xavier Medal
The St. Francis Xavier Medal is given to outstanding individuals who, through their lives and endeavors, exemplify the qualities that made Francis Xavier a saint of action, courage, daring and imagination; and who have manifested high moral principles in their professional lives.
Donald Klekamp ('54)
Donald Klekamp’s (’54) leadership and accomplishments in the field of law as well as his service on the Ohio and Cincinnati Bar Associations, Xavier’s Board of Trustees and countless other organizations highlighted an exceptional professional career. His service on the Board of Trustees as well as his generous support of other causes such as St. Xavier High School and the Donald P. Klekamp Community Law Center shows his commitment to the betterment of others and true dedication to Xavier’s Jesuit Catholic values. Klekamp has been recognized with several awards, including Greatest Living Cincinnatian, a Lifetime Achievement in Law Award by the Cincinnati Bar Foundation and Xavier’s own Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Charles P. Gallagher Leadership Medallion
The Charles P. Gallagher Leadership Medallion recognizes exceptional individuals for leadership accomplishments of the highest distinction in their field or professional career such as medicine, law, education, science, business, government and public service. Honored individuals are those who have contributed to the betterment of society and who exemplify the values and mission of Xavier University.
Robert Heidt, Jr. MD
Robert Heidt Jr., MD, is a retired, board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 30 years of experience practicing at Wellington Orthopedic & Sports Medicine. Heidt Jr. has dedicated his career to the service and care of athletes. He has served as team physician for the Cincinnati Bengals and St. Xavier High School while also having served as past president of the NFL Physicians’ Society and Chief of Staff at The Christ Hospital. For his service to the Bengals, he has been named the recipient of the NFL’s prestigious Jerry “Hawk” Rhea Award for care and commitment to the franchise.
Heidt Jr. has made an indelible impact on his community through leadership, philanthropy and board service. In addition to service on Xavier’s Board of Trustees, he has served on boards for St. Xavier High School, the Bethany House, The Children’s Home of Cincinnati and CBank, all of which exemplify his commitment to the Jesuit Catholic values and mission of Xavier University.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes a Xavier alumnus or alumna who has given outstanding service to the University and/or society and whose life reflects Jesuit Catholic morals and ethical values.
Gary Sharpe (MBA '79)
Through a career in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry that has spanned more than 35 years, Gary Sharpe (MBA ’79) has established himself as innovator, philanthropist and an advocate of Jesuit Catholic values in education. As President and CEO of Healthcare Logistics, Sharpe has streamlined medical systems that have helped hundreds of hospitals run more efficiently through the manufacturing, packing and distribution of hard-to-find products. Sharpe and his wife, Connie, have made generous philanthropic contributions to several nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association. Gary has made numerous contributions to Xavier through Xavier’s Center for Innovation and the Williams College of Business. His wife, Connie, has helped Xavier launch its future College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Father Albert Bischoff, S.J. Award
The Father Albert J. Bischoff, S.J. Award honors an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to student formation through spiritual conversion or campus ministry. The award recipient embodies Bischoff’s capacity to honor the full dignity in every person as having been created in the image and likeliness of God.
Greg Carpinello ('01)
Greg Carpinello (’01) has dedicated his career to the advancement of social justice and the spiritual formation of young adults through the values and principles of Jesuit Catholic education. Carpinello has served the Xavier community for nearly 15 years, first as a campus minister (’02-’06) and then as leader of the Center for Faith and Justice (’10-’19). Carpinello was named Executive Director of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (Northwest) in 2019. In that role, he works with volunteers and partner organizations, to coordinate service opportunities while advancing the common good.
Undergraduate Honorary Degree
The Honorary Degree recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions well beyond normal expectations in multiple areas such as their chosen vocation, or to Xavier University, or to society through involvement in governmental, philanthropy or social and civic affairs at the local, state, national or international level, or in any area of endeavor.
Holly Schapker ('92)
Holly Schapker (’92) is a prolific American artist whose work is displayed for veneration internationally and throughout the Midwest region. From New Zealand to Chicago, from Kenya to Peru, and from Dayton to Brazil, Holly’s work can be found in churches, universities and libraries.
For the past 15 years, Schapker has focused her time and talent on Catholic art. She has been recognized in many exhibitions and by significant accomplishments. Recently her “Universal Mother” exhibit was displayed at the St. Xavier Church Sacred Art Gallery in Cincinnati. Her “Angels of Liberty” lithograph and letters from NYC firemen was acquired by the 9/11 Museum in NYC. In 2016 she received a Presidential Citation from Xavier University in recognition of her dedication to the mission of the University and Jesuit network, and the Christian Community through her artistic talents and education services.
Graduate Honorary Degree
The Honorary Degree recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions well beyond normal expectations in multiple areas such as their chosen vocation, or to Xavier University, or to society through involvement in governmental, philanthropy or social and civic affairs at the local, state, national or international level, or in any area of endeavor
Dan Misleh
Dan Misleh is the founding Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant which seeks to build partnerships among Catholic organizations to better enable the Catholic community across the country to be a significant voice in climate change discussions and public policy focusing on both care and creation of care of those most impacted by climate change: low-income individuals at home and abroad.
Dan spent 11 years in the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and three years in the Office of Social Action in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. After graduating from Xavier University, Dan joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska where he met his wife, Susie. Dan received an M.A. in Theology from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, CA.