Distinguished Alumni Recognized at 75th Anniversary Alumni Awards Dinner

is celebrating 75 years of excellence this year and six distinguished alumni were presented with a 2012 Alumni Award at the annual Alumni Awards Dinner on Wednesday in the Sister Camille Kliebhan Conference Center in Bonaventure Hall.

Stritch annually honors individuals for their professional and personal achievements, which have made a significant impact in their field, and whose life and character have earned the respect and admiration of their peers and professional colleagues.

The following alumni were selected by the Cardinal Stritch University Alumni Board of Directors as the 2012 Alumni Award recipients:

Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.)
Undergraduate recipient
Samantha Erschen, ’09, B.A. Psychology, Religious Studies, ’11, M.A. Ministry

Samantha Erschen, a native of Pewaukee, Wis., is one of the youngest Catholic chaplains working in the U.S. today and the youngest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In her role as chaplain, Erschen works to help residents at St. Camillus find “purpose” in life. She is also called to administer tender touches, soft-spoken prayers and gentle guidance as the residents approach their final hours. Erschen has received numerous awards for her work, including being named Employee of the Year in Customer Service in 2010 for her outstanding service at St. Camillus. That same year, she also was recognized by Divine Savior Holy Angels High School as their Young Alumna of the Year, recognizing her exemplary leadership in society. Erschen was a 2009 recipient of Stritch’s Pace e Bene award, given to students who incorporate Stritch’s mission into their personal, spiritual and faith lives.

Spirit of St. Francis Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service
Winston Sharpe Jr., ’11, M.S. Management

Winston Sharpe Jr., a native of Charlotte, N.C., has dedicated himself to working with inner city youth and improving community stability through numerous volunteer roles. He is the president of Champions for PEACE Scuba Divers, which is an affiliate of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers and was established in 1992 to enhance the critical thinking skills of at-risk youth (ages 12-18) through scuba diving and mentoring. In addition to his work with Champions for PEACE, Sharpe has remained committed to his community through his involvement on a number of nonprofit boards including: the Global Youth Leadership Institute, National Black Child Development Institute, The Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals, 100 Black Men of Milwaukee, and Habitat for Humanity in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C. Sharpe is the recipient of the “Do the Write Thing” writing award for at-risk youth, the “Martin Luther King Jr. Keeping the Dream Alive” award sponsored by the Mecklenburg County North Carolina Board of Commissioners, and the “Service to Diving” award presented by the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. He has published two books focusing on motivating, educating, and lifting the spirits of African American males.

Spirit of St. Francis Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service
Rev. Geraldine ‘Gerri’ Sheets-Howard, ’06, M.A. Religious Studies

The Rev. Geraldine ‘Gerri’ Sheets-Howard, a native of Milwaukee, has devoted her life to serving the needs of the poor, advocating for social justice issues, and defending the rights of those less fortunate. As the first female layperson appointed executive director of The Province of St. Joseph-House of Peace (HOP), a Capuchin ministry in Milwaukee, Sheets-Howard manages all aspects of this multi-faceted ministry that serves the poor in Milwaukee. In addition to her House of Peace position, Sheets-Howard is actively involved in ministry as the pastor of New Bradford Memorial African Methodist Church in Milwaukee. Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector, Sheets-Howard was a deputy sheriff with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department for nine years. She currently is working toward a Master of Divinity degree at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.

Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.)
Graduate recipient
Molly D. Shiffler, ’04, Ed.D. Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service

Molly D. Shiffler, Ed.D., a native of Medford, Wis., serves as the director of Cardinal Stritch University’s Literacy Centers. Under her leadership, the centers have expanded from one to five locations. Shiffler, along with Stritch professor Dr. JoAnne Caldwell, researched, designed, and implemented an intervention model called CLIFFTOPS, reflecting the complex nature of literacy acquisition. This unique model is used to serve the more than 300 students served each semester at the five Literacy Centers. Shiffler has been instrumental in receiving a multi-year improving teacher quality grant, which through repeated funding, has given more than 50 Milwaukee-area teachers training in advanced literacy instruction and assessment techniques. Shiffler, a tenured assistant professor at Stritch, has taught courses in the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in the School of Urban Initiatives and the Language and Literacy Department.  In 2011, Shiffler was appointed to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Milwaukee Succeeds Literacy Team and to the University of Wisconsin Internal Evaluation Team for Milwaukee Public Schools’ Comprehensive Literacy Plan.

Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement
Souheil Badran, ’88, B.A. Computer Studies, ’97, M.B.A.

Through exemplary leadership, Souheil Badran, a native of Milwaukee, continues to excel in shaping the future of global e-commerce security and payments. In 2011, Badran became the senior vice president and general manager of Digital River Incorporated in Minneapolis, where he provides executive leadership for a full range of functions, including strategic planning, sales, product marketing, and public relations. Prior to working at Digital River, Badran held multiple senior-level positions with e-commerce companies including serving as senior vice president and general manager for eCommerce Solutions at First Data Corporation, a Fortune 250 company, and VeriSign, where he served as vice president and general manager for international operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Central and Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Badran is a current member of Cardinal Stritch University’s Board of Trustees.

Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement
James T. Alfred, ’96, B.A. International Business

James T. Alfred, a native of Chicago, is an accomplished actor, speaker, and mentor, After graduating from Stritch, Alfred landed a position with the FMC Corporation, a Fortune 500 company where he managed $20-$40 million in business for their phosphates chemical division. Alfred then pursued a career in the arts. Soon after, he was selected for the M.F.A program at the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, one of the top dramatic training institutions in the country. As part of the program, Alfred studied acting in Russia at the famed Moscow Art Theatre School. In just 10 years, he has built an impressive body of work, working at some of the most prestigious theaters in the country, including the highly regarded Guthrie and Steppenwolf theaters. Alfred also writes and produces for both the screen and stage and runs his own multimedia production company, Turhan International. A dedicated mentor, Alfred Partnered with Chicago Public Schools and established a program that uses theater to provide a platform for dialogue and give voice to at-risk inner city youth. In 2011, Alfred received highest honors from both the Black Theatre Alliance and the African American Arts Alliance for his work in the critically-acclaimed production of “Brothers of the Dust.”