After a decade spent on the board, 1993 alumnus Stephen O’Keefe was voted the new chairman of the board of directors. He replaces longtime Chairman Donna Bethell, who led the College through an extraordinary era of growth during her 20 years of exemplary service. Donna will continue to serve as vice chairman. O’Keefe has an extensive background in founding and growing companies, including NovusCG, a data management company that was acquired by IBM in 2007. During his time on Christendom’s Board of Directors, O’Keefe has helped guide the college through an extraordinary period of growth. As the new chairman, he will look to continue guiding the college through this integral new period, helping it to achieve its mission of helping students to “restore all things in Christ.”
From left to right: Tim Halisky, new chairman Stephen O’Keefe, and Karla Hester.
“The need for Christendom and its graduates in this world has never been greater,” says O’Keefe. “I vividly remember that when I was a student at Christendom, I loved our studies of the Reconquista. I am profoundly honored to be asked to play a leadership role in the Reconquista of my time. Viva Christo Rey!”
This story is from the Winter 2018 issue of Instaurare. Read more from the issue here!
Joining O’Keefe on the board is new member alumna Karla (Kuykendall) Hester, from the Class of 1999. Hester, who now works with O’Keefe at Virtual Service Operations after a decade spent at IBM, has been heavily involved with the college’s alumni base in recent years, helping to form the alumni advisory council and playing a key part in the college’s first alumni Giving Day, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“It has been a wonderful three years serving as the chair of the recently formed alumni advisory council, seeing how truly dedicated Christendom alumni are to their alma mater, and seeing how the relationships from college never end. When approached about becoming a member of the board of directors, I knew I couldn’t say no. I was already convinced that this is where God was directing me to use my talents at this point in my life, and I am highly motivated and overjoyed to help the college network grow and mature.”
Fellow alumnus Tim Halisky is also a new face on the board. A graduate of the Class of 2001, Halisky is currently the president of RLA Mid-Atlantic, working to assist retail agents serving the healthcare industry. Halisky plans on bringing that same spirit of service to the board of directors, ensuring that students receive the best possible education while they are at Christendom.
“I am blessed to serve Christendom College in this capacity,” says Halisky. “As a result of the courage and conviction shown by Dr. Carroll and the founders, Christendom College is preparing young men and women for a life journey rooted in the Catholic faith. More than just a liberal arts education, Christendom provides a glimpse of Catholic culture that our modern world needs to see and experience. The Christendom culture seeks to fill souls with all that is Good, True, and Beautiful in an environment surrounded by God’s beauty and anchored in the life of the Church through the sacraments. I look forward to furthering the mission of Christendom College as we embark on the next chapter of ‘restoring all things in Christ.’”