Assistant dean of the Sellinger School of Business and Management, Catherine Hanna, is planning to retire in January 2010 after almost 19 years of contributing to Loyola University. Catherine Hanna was, above all, a leader dedicated to incorporating Loyola's cura personalis mission statement into each new program she introduced to Loyola.
Hanna started at Loyola in 1981 where she was hired as the coordinator of the graduate program and later became an associate in the academic advising office. For the past nine years, though, she has diligently worked with students, faculty members, parents and prospective students as the assistant dean of the Sellinger Business School.
"I don't have to worry about a thing in the undergraduate program. She is truly very irreplaceable," said Karyl Leggio, dean of the Sellinger School of Business and Management.
In the fall of 2002, Hanna created the Sellinger Scholars Program, which offers specific sections of classes to 25 highly motivated business students. Under the guidance of Hanna and other faculty members, these students are offered a business education that designates each year of study toward a specific aspect of Loyola's mission statement.
Feeling an absence of Ignatian spirituality in the Loyola community, Hanna teamed up with Rev. Tim Brown, S.J., to start the Ignatian Retreat program. This program offers students and faculty the opportunity to take time out from their busy academic and social lives for prayer and discernment.
"Working with her was a wonderful experience. She truly epitomizes the mission of Loyola through her values, grace, perspective, and wisdom," said Brown. Hanna believed faculty should be able to participate in the retreat as well and negotiated with administration to offer the retreat to faculty members without using any of their vacation days.
In addition to founding the Sellinger Scholars Program and starting the Ignatian Retreat at Loyola, Hanna was influential in developing the vision of the Experiential Learning Requirement for undergraduate business majors. Although it took a few years to coordinate, Hanna believes this requirement enriches academic discussion and a broadened learning environment through internship, international study and service-learning experiences. In true Hanna fashion, the Experiential Learning Requirement's objective is to integrate theory with real life experience, resulting in well-rounded students that employers would be excited to hire.
Hanna's leadership has brought monumental changes to the business program and the Loyola community.
"I think leadership is about starting something you believe in. After you have done your part, you should be able to walk away and it will continue to run and evolve. I hope that what I have done here at Loyola continues long after I have retired.
"It's more than a job for me," Hanna continued. "I really do feel like each day I am contributing to the greater good, and it's really been a privilege."
Hanna plans to spend her retirement enjoying life and traveling. She hopes to continue to take studio art classes and is looking forward to going bass fishing with her husband.
Catherine Hanna's leadership and dedication to Loyola has truly impacted her students as well as her colleagues. The impression she has left is sure to stick around for quite some time.
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