November 2023 Newsletter

In this edition:

• President's Message
• Remembrance of Tanya Winegard
• Pipeline Stewardship: New Vice President
• Pipeline Stewardship: Committee Recruitment
• Save the Dates
   

President's Message

Greetings, JASPA Colleagues.

I sincerely hope this newsletter finds you well in the midst of what has been a tumultuous fall term for so many of our campuses. Your presence -- whether in the programs and services you offer, in the groups you advise, and in the conversations you have -- is a source of strength and consolation for our students. Thank you for all you are doing to help our students make sense of our world, so they may grow into hope-filled practitioners of peace and justice.

In these troubled times, we are reminded that part of the privilege of doing the work of student affairs in Jesuit higher education is the ability to lean on the rich tradition of the Catholic faith that is at the heart of each of our institutions. This is our privilege and our responsibility.

This month's JASPA newsletter illuminates the second of the Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities:

"Equips student affairs professionals with knowledge and perspectives to contribute to the Catholic mission of the institution. Grounds practice in the living tradition of the Church, as the people of God on a journey to the truth."

Whether we identify as believers in a faith tradition or not, we contribute to our institutions' Catholic mission most profoundly when we honor the dignity of each and every one of our students, when we support interfaith dialogue and understanding, and when we approach our work with joy and gratitude.

In this month of giving thanks and remembering those who has passed before us, I close with a loving tribute to our colleague, Tanya Winegard.

Tanya served as vice provost for student life at Creighton University and as JASPA’s vice president/president-elect. Tanya’s generosity to the Creighton community and to JASPA knew no bounds. She loved unconditionally, and her professional and personal example reflected the best of who we are in Jesuit Catholic higher education. Tanya lived her life as an expression of deep joy and tremendous gratitude. As we mourn her passing and extend our heartfelt sorrow and sympathy to her family, we give thanks for the good fortune of having known her. And if we can carry even a fraction of the joy and gratitude she lived on a daily basis, we will count ourselves truly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

Michele

President, JASPA
Senior Vice President for Student Development and Mission
College of the Holy Cross
 

Remembrance of Tanya Winegard

The following is a Creighton University campus message from University President Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, S.J., addressing some of Tanya Winegard's significant contributions to the campus, Jesuit higher education, the field of student affairs, and the world.

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October 28, 2023

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

It gives me overwhelming sadness to share that Tanya Winegard, PhD, Creighton's vice provost for Student Life, has died following a long and courageous fight against cancer. She spent her remaining days surrounded by friends and family before passing away peacefully on Friday, October 27.

There are simply not enough words to express the transformative, positive impact Dr. Winegard had on our University, our students, and the countless colleagues, parents, friends, and supporters of Creighton she inspired. For more than 25 years, she championed the student experience and, even when struggling with the physical and emotional pain of her illness, she was always for and with others -- putting the care and success of our students first.

In the coming days, weeks, and months, our Creighton community will be celebrating Dr. Winegard and her contributions as a higher education professional and as a person. To lose such a bright light is incredibly painful and, just as she would have done for any of us, our counseling and other services are available to those in need; this includes Student Counseling Services, Campus Ministry, and our Employee Assistance Program. St. John's Church and chapels on our Omaha and Phoenix campuses are available for personal reflection or community prayer.

Dr. Winegard first arrived at Creighton in 1997 to lead our student programs and activities. She was named assistant dean of students in 2000, which put her at the forefront of overseeing efforts such as Welcome Week, new student orientation, student government, and other student organizations.

In her role as assistant, then associate, dean of students, Dr. Winegard was a source of stability for students, particularly those on the margins, providing counseling resources and guidance on how to address instances of misconduct. She was also often the main point of contact for parents, ensuring their children were being cared for at Creighton. It was a role she excelled in as an active, engaged parent herself, often volunteering at her sons' school events and baseball contests, as well as serving as a parent-teacher organization board member.

In her career, Dr. Winegard helped initiate, create, and oversee such vital efforts as the Creighton Alcohol Recovery and Education Track to Recovery from Alcohol Abuse at Creighton (TRAAC), the Committee on the Status of Women, the Center for Student Integrity, and Title IX compliance. She was also a driving force behind the design and construction of the Mike and Josie Harper Center as well as Graves Hall. This is in addition to the work she did leading renovations for the Kiewit Fitness Center and Skutt Student Center.

Dr. Winegard also gave her time to many committees, strategic planning groups, mission and accreditation advisory groups, and selection committees for student grants and awards. Included among these efforts was establishing and chairing our Critical Incident Response Team, a vital resource to keeping Creighton operational while maintaining the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

Celebrated for her compassion and collegiality, Dr. Winegard was respected and loved by students, faculty, staff, and parents alike. She was the recipient of the 2001 Rev. Thomas J. Lukaszewicz, S.J. Award; an honorary inductee into Alpha Sigma Nu in 2002; recognized with the St. Ignatius award in 2010; received the Mary Lucretia and Sarah Emily Creighton Award in 2012; and was honored with the Creighton Administrator Award in 2020.

Dr. Winegard's peers also recognized her keen intellect and desire to improve the lives of students. She served as a member of the American College Personnel Association, NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, National Association for Campus Activities; National Orientation Directors Association; and was acting president elect for the Jesuit Student Personnel Association. She also served her community, volunteering her time to support causes such as civil rights, victim advocacy, and education.

A deeply spiritual person, I know that Dr. Winegard not only lived Creighton's Jesuit principles and had a close connection with God. Her positive attitude, fearless optimism, and passion to be a champion for others was evident especially through the final months as she was battling cancer. Her legacy will live on in the literally thousands of people she has inspired.

I join so many in mourning the loss of Dr. Winegard's presence at Creighton, and my heart goes out to her husband, Mike, and her two sons, Gabe and Noah, as well as extended family, friends, and colleagues. Please join me in praying that we can all find the guidance and strength to carry forward as we remember Dr. Winegard and support each other during this difficult time. More information about funeral services and other arrangements will be shared once they are available.

Sincerely,

Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, S.J., Ph.D.
 

Pipeline Stewardship: New Vice President

JASPA has added a new position to our Executive Board: Vice President for Pipeline Stewardship. Erin Swezey is our first Vice President for Pipeline Stewardship and is presently at Seattle University serving in several roles including Program Director, Associate Teaching Professor, and Internship Coordinator in Student Development Administration in the College of Education.

The Vice President for Pipeline Stewardship is responsible for the guidance and direction of the Pipeline Stewardship Committee and is charged with collaborating with AJCU student affairs master's program faculty and career services centers to:

• Increase the number of Jesuit-educated students entering master's programs;
• Expose master's students to internships and job opportunities within the AJCU network; and
• Provide feedback mechanisms for faculty and practitioners to update theory-to-practice curricula and improve the experience of new professionals.
   

Pipeline Stewardship: Committee Recruitment

If you are interested in joining the Pipeline Stewardship Committee to assist Erin Swezey as the new Vice President for Pipeline Stewardship, please contact Tedd Vanadilok at tvanadilok@scu.edu (JASPA Vice President for Technology and Communication, Santa Clara University). 
 

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