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Kevin Zajdel, Ed. D., Principal: Dr. Zajdel comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy with a B.A. in English from St. Meinrad College (Indiana); an M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education from Indiana University (Indiana); and an Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership from National-Louis University (Illinois). The product of sixteen years of Catholic education, Dr. Zajdel has been involved in Catholic schools as a high school teacher, elementary and high school principal, Director of School Personnel Services (for the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago), and Assistant Professor in Education and Director of Field Experience (at Calumet College of St. Joseph). He holds Administrative and English teaching certification in Illinois, as well as Superintendent, English, and Reading teaching certification in Indiana. Dr. Zajdel’s doctoral research, “Being There”: Voices of Mexican-American Females in an Inner-City Catholic High School, focuses on the vital role that Catholic schools play for inner-city students. As a current member of the Board of Specified Jurisdiction for St. Dorothy’s School, Dr. Zajdel brings a working knowledge of inner-city school issues. An advocate for promoting state-of-the-art Catholic education, Dr. Zajdel brings theoretical knowledge and practical application experience to Chicago Jesuit Academy. Dr. Zajdel is also a volunteer conciliator for the Archdiocesan Office of Conciliation.
Thomas Beckley, Dean of Student Programs: Mr. Beckley began his career as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in 1991. He received a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Columbia University. While serving in Rome, Italy, he completed the first cycles of Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. While traveling throughout Europe, Mr. Beckley developed a fluency in Italian and German. Having completed a Master in Curriculum and Instruction at Loyola University Chicago, Mr. Beckley taught Social Studies at Gordon Technical High School and coached cross-country and track prior to joining the CJA faculty.
David Diehl, Dean of Students: Mr. Diehl’s career in education began at the Academy of St. Benedict the African in the Englewood section of Chicago. He taught there for four years, teaching in the junior high department and third grade. Additionally, Mr. Diehl served as the physical education instructor for grades K-8, the technology coordinator, and a basketball and baseball coach. He graduated from the Inner-City Teaching Corps program in 2002. Mr. Diehl earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Villanova University and has used that degree to work both in the office and in the field executing design and construction projects. He has since earned his Master of Science in Education degree from Northwestern University. He has been afforded the privilege to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in the United States and Africa.
Caela Carter, Faculty Member & Graduate Support Director: Ms. Carter graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Creative Writing and Philosophy. She was accepted to the Alliance for Catholic Education, a graduate program created by Notre Dame to encourage aspiring teachers to make a contribution to needy Catholic schools, and spent the next two years teaching ninth- and tenth-grade English and Creative Writing at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, FL. She also coached the district champion cross country and track teams at Bishop Kenny. Ms. Carter has had other experiences with children and young adults, including instructing students enrolled in special education at a summer camp, tutoring in Notre Dame’s Teamwork for Tomorrow program, conducting numerous retreats for teenagers in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., and working with criminally at-risk young men in Killarney, Ireland. She received her Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame in May 2006.
Brian Farmer, Faculty Member: Mr. Farmer comes to the Chicago Jesuit Academy with a background as an attorney for the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. As an attorney, he worked on over 40 criminal trials and was a member of the Forensic Sciences Division, focusing on cases involving scientific evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics. Mr. Farmer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame, a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, and a Master of Education from Northwestern University.
Sarah Finch, Faculty Member: Ms. Finch earned a Master in Education in July 2006 from the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). During her time in ACE, Ms. Finch taught fifth grade and coached at St. Mary’s School in Birmingham, Alabama, and helped to organize ACE teachers’ participation in the city’s annual marathon. Over 20 ACE teachers ran in the marathon in February 2006, raising $40,000 to help keep an ACE school in Tucson, AZ open. While earning a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame, Ms. Finch spent a semester studying and working at the State Department in Washington, DC. During studies at Notre Dame, Ms. Finch participated in many service opportunities including Teamwork for Tomorrow, student government, Summer Service Projects, and Urban Plunge. Ms. Finch is concurrently studying for a law degree at Loyola University of Chicago.
Regina Flynn , Faculty Member: Ms. Flynn comes to CJA from St. Thomas the Apostle School in Hyde Park. She has taught in the Chicago Archdiocese for over twenty years at all grade levels 3rd to 8th. During her time teaching, she received the “Heart of the School” and also “Teacher of the Year” awards. Ms. Flynn served as Unit Coordinator of both the junior high and middle school, headed numerous committees and served as principal of summer school. Ms. Flynn is a graduate of Regis College in Weston, MA with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and minors in education and economics. Ms. Flynn continues with her interests in science and mathematics through courses in scientific methodology at the Museum of Science and Industry and with courses at the Federal Reserve in economic literacy for children through the Illinois Council of Economic Education.
Joyce Hatch, Faculty Member & Recruitment Coordinator: Ms. Hatch has much experience working with the development of children with special needs and has traveled extensively around the world working for social justice in global education. Ms. Hatch has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Northern Illinois University. In addition to building special education departments for autistic children in London and Singapore, Ms. Hatch has co-founded an inner-city organization, “Community Ministers”, which facilitates cultural and global awareness of young African-American leaders in West Garfield Park.
Matt Houlihan, Faculty Member: Mr. Houlihan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (’05) and a Master of Education (’07) from the University of Notre Dame. He is a graduate of the University’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program. He spent two years in Mobile, Alabama, teaching at Most Pure Heart of Mary School. He served as a teacher of history, religion, art and physical education. He was a football coach, discipline chair and acting vice principal in his time there. He has also taught at Franklin Middle School in Champaign, Illinois. During his time there, he taught reading and history and ran the school’s intramural sports program. While a student at Notre Dame, he participated in the National Youth Sports Program and volunteered with Teamwork for Tomorrow.
Quincy Jones, Assistant Dean of Student Programs: Mr. Jones comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy as a graduate of the Inner-City Teaching Corps (ICTC). Prior to being involved with ICTC, Mr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University. While a student at James Madison University, he served as a resident advisor in the on-campus residence halls and was involved in Brothers of a New Direction (BOND), established to provide support for minority men as well as fostering cultural awareness throughout the university community. He also worked as a summer counselor at Fort Belvoir military base in northern Virginia. Mr. Jones serves the young men of the Academy as both a fifth-grade Fine Arts teacher and a sixth- and seventh-grade Social Studies teacher. He also coaches the soccer and basketball teams. Mr. Jones is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education at Northwestern University.
Hung Nguyen, S.J., Volunteer: Mr. Nguyen is currently a second year Jesuit Scholastic at Loyola University Chicago. He joined the Jesuits upon graduating from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL and he is currently working on undergraduate degrees in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Philosophy at Loyola. A native of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen has taught the Vietnamese language to Vietnamese American children at St. Henry Parish in Chicago. In addition, as part of Jesuit formation, Mr. Nguyen worked with the elderly and the homeless in Detroit, assisted refugees in Seattle and helped organize service trips for Brebeuf Jesuit Prep in Indianapolis. Mr. Nguyen has spent the past two summers in Peru and Bolivia, respectively, studying Spanish and experiencing both cultures. He looks forward to teaching Spanish to seventh and eighth graders this year at Chicago Jesuit Academy.
Stephen Pitts, S.J., Volunteer: Mr. Pitts graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2006, completing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Japanese. During his time as an undergraduate, he spent his junior year studying Japanese language and culture at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. After graduation, he entered the New Orleans province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and spent the following two years working in a variety of settings: a L'Arche community for the mentally handicapped; a parish, hospital, and juvenile detention center in McAllen, TX; Jesuit High School Tampa; and, a soup kitchen and social services center (Casa de los Pobres) in Tijuana, Mexico. In August 2008, he took first vows as a Jesuit and came to Chicago to complete an MA in Social Philosophy at Loyola University. Last spring, Mr. Pitts began volunteering at Chicago Jesuit Academy tutoring math, helping with student retreats and working on information technology projects. In the 2009 summer term, he worked with the Archdiocese to computerize the Academy's student records. In the fall, he looks forward to working with the new student formation program and teaching Spanish to the 6th graders.
Administration and Staff
Matthew Lynch, President: Mr. Lynch began his career in education as a teacher at federal prisons in Virginia and Maryland. He later taught and coached at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, a Nativity-model middle school in Baltimore. Upon returning to his hometown of Chicago, Mr. Lynch worked as a teacher and administrator at St. Ignatius College Prep. He was subsequently named the director of the Jesuit Alumni Volunteers-Chicago, a teacher-training program that serves St. Ignatius, St. Procopius Elementary School and Poder Learning Center. While at St. Ignatius, Mr. Lynch helped create the St. Ignatius Higher Achievement Program, a middle-school enrichment program for students from underserved backgrounds. Mr. Lynch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown and a Master of Business Administration from Washington University. He has worked as an educational consultant to Lindbergh High School and Our Little Haven. Mr. Lynch is a past recipient of the Kraft Medal (1998) and the Landegger Grant (1998) for “outstanding service to the community, the nation, and the world." More recently, Mr. Lynch received the 2007 St. Josaphat Parish Unity Award for “commitment and dedication to Christian unity and the community at large” and was named one of Community Renewal Society's 35 under 35.
Catherine Cassidy, Vice President of Operations and Development: Ms. Cassidy began her career in sales, marketing and client service, during which she managed many major accounts including Home Depot, Target and General Mills. A graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep, Ms. Cassidy views Chicago Jesuit Academy as an opportunity to use her sales skills to make a Jesuit education available to young men who would not otherwise have access to a quality, faith-based education. Ms. Cassidy is also an active member of TEACH (Towards Educating America’s Children) and recently completed a trip to Guatemala where she worked with Claretian ministers to identify the needs of schools throughout the country and helped build critical infrastructure. She continues to help sponsor students and schools in the region. While earning her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of Illinois, she completed a service project to Appalachia and since college has volunteered with Children’s Memorial Hospital as a Kids First Marathon runner and The American Diabetes Association. Ms. Cassidy will complete her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business in 2010.
Nick Ashenburg, Program Assistant: Mr. Ashenburg recently graduated from Boston College (’09) with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Having earned acceptance to Tufts University School of Medicine, Mr. Ashenburg chose to defer his entrance into medical school by one year and instead spend that time at Chicago Jesuit Academy. While studying at Boston College, he served as Vice-Chairperson for the Quality of Student Life Committee and as an assistant coach for the Boston College Special Olympics team. Additionally, much of his time outside the classroom was spent volunteering and serving in underprivileged communities both in Boston and elsewhere. Through the 4Boston program, he gained valuable experience tutoring at a government subsidized housing project and working at the Franciscan Hospital for Children. As an Appalachia Volunteer, he was afforded the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity in Morgantown, WV. Mr. Ashenburg has been fortunate to have gained international experience having spent the summer of 2007 studying abroad in Nairobi, Kenya enrolled in a course entitled “Delivering Healthcare in a Developing Country." Most recently he added to this experience as a participant on a service/immersion trip to Lima, Peru sponsored by BC’s Arrupe International Volunteers Program. Mr. Ashenburg intends to begin medical school at Tufts in August 2010.
Clara Chu, Development Associate and Volunteer Coordinator: Ms. Chu earned a Bachelor of Science from Santa Clara University and a Master of Education from Northwestern University. As a member of the Inner-City Teaching Corps, Ms. Chu taught the sixth grade and middle school math at Nativity BVM School. Prior to joining Chicago Jesuit Academy, she taught English to students of all ages in the People’s Republic of China. At Santa Clara, Ms. Chu founded Sisters Speak, an organization empowering women of color through social action; volunteered as a coordinator within the Santa Clara Community Action Program; and, served through the Pedro Arrupe Community-based Learning Project as a coach and tutor at various schools in East San Jose, California. She was the 2003 recipient of the Center for Student Leadership Student Life award and is unceasingly inspired by her family and the sacrifices they have made for the opportunity to attain a quality education.
Jim Dalton, Business & Database Manager: Mr. Dalton manages day-to-day administrative and accounting tasks for CJA. He also helps out with student testing and with Formation classes. He retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois after 35 years of work in Marketing and Account Management positions and has participated in the Ignatian Volunteer Corps since 2006. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Mary of the Lake and an S.T.L. in Theology from the Gregorian University while studying for the priesthood. He helped found the Howard Area Community Center in Rogers Park in the late 1960s. Interested in urban issues, he attended DePaul University where he earned an M.A. in Sociology. While working for Blue Cross he acquired an M.B.A at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business. He is hoping to complete the University of Chicago’s Master of Liberal Arts program in 2010. When he grows up, he plans to play shortstop for the Chicago White Sox.
Christopher Dwyer, Director of Facilities & Information Technology: Mr. Dwyer attended Marquette University High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. At Macalester he conducted research on the chemistry of fossil dinosaur teeth and captained the basketball team. His undergraduate work in Earth Science has been published in the Geology Society of America. After college, he spent two years in Jesuit Volunteers International living and working on the island of Weno in the Federated States of Micronesia. At Xavier High School, a Jesuit institution, Mr. Dwyer taught English Skills, General Science, Biology, and Calculus. In addition, he coached the Xavier Navagators boys’ volleyball and basketball teams, served as the choir director, and assisted with retreat programs.
Marcy Haugh, Social Worker and Parent Outreach Coordinator: Ms. Haugh comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy with a diverse number of experiences working with children and families. After receiving a degree in Education from the University of Illinois, Ms. Haugh volunteered in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) for two years in Juneau, working for Catholic Charities assisting pregnant and parenting teens. While in Juneau she also served as a member of the Domestic Violence Task Force, a group of concerned professionals working together to decrease domestic violence and assist victims of abuse. Ms. Haugh volunteered with AmeriCorps during the 2004 school year, implementing literacy interventions at an elementary school in Commerce City, Colorado. Ms. Haugh is pursuing a Master in Social Work, is a member of the Illinois Association of School Social Workers and is participating in the JVC Magis Program.
Megan Kennedy, Development Associate: Ms. Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Program of Liberal Studies with a concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Notre Dame. She received her Master of Arts in Education degree from St. Xavier University. She began her career in the financial industry, working in both the financial futures markets and as a client services specialist at Morningstar in Chicago. In the last several years, Ms. Kennedy has combined her financial experience and research skills to serve as a marketing and fundraising advisor for several Catholic institutions in the Chicago area. A graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep, Ms. Kennedy is an advocate for faith-based education and the Jesuit ideals of service, justice and life-long learning.
Bernina Sykes, Administrative Assistant: Ms. Sykes comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy with over ten years experience in customer service and office work. She worked as a Financial Representative for Oak Park Hospital for three years where her duties included maintaining contracts with insurance companies, medical billing and maintaining medical records requests. Ms. Sykes previously worked as a claims adjuster and client service representative for United Healthcare and Unicare. Ms. Sykes is pursuing a Bachelor degree at Benedictine University, serves as a member of Toastmaster International (TMI), and has a son who is a graduate of Chicago Jesuit Academy and is attending St. Ignatius College Prep.
Co-Curricular Programming
Thomas Beckley, Dean of Student Programs
Quincy Jones, Assistant Dean of Student Programs
Marques Carroll, Music & Jazz Band Director: Mr. Carroll earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University Music School with a focus in Jazz Studies Performance. Although raised in St. Louis, Mr. Carroll has made Chicago his home for the past 13 years. He is a freelance musician who has carved his own path in the music scene by being a diverse trumpet player, band leader and educator. Marques has toured Ireland with the DePaul Wind Ensemble, shared the stage with Louie Bellson on the QEII cruise line and toured Vietnam with the Kimotion Big Band led by Kimo Williams. Since then, Mr. Carroll has taught privately for the last 10 years and within 3 years, rebuilt the Thornton Fractional High School Jazz Ensemble who placed first in all of their jazz competitions. He also restructured and directed the DePaul University Screamin’ Demon Pep Band. Currently, Mr. Carroll is a private trumpet instructor for the New Trier Music Department and jazz combo instructor.
Pro-Bono Consultants
Maureen Smith Cogan, Classroom Assistant: Mrs. Cogan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from DePaul University and a Master's degree in Religious Studies from Loyola University. She comes to CJA with twenty-four years of high school teaching experience in both Social Studies and Religious Studies. Her last fifteen years of teaching were spent at Loyola Academy in Wilmette. In addition to her teaching, she brings experience as a social worker having worked for Catholic Charities at Maryville Academy for three years. Mrs. Cogan is also a certified hospital chaplain and worked at Children's Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Cogan is married and has three adult children and three grandchildren. She enjoys retirement and being able to travel with her husband. Mrs. Cogan is a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps and as such she also enjoys the opportunity to tutor the young men at CJA.
Pam Gilmour, School Nurse: Mrs. Gilmour comes to CJA as a registered nurse with post graduate certification in pediatrics. She began her career working in a hospital emergency department, an immunization outreach clinic for the state of Florida, and a family practice where she had the privilege of assisting Guatemalan and Haitian migrant workers with their health care needs. After relocating to Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. Gilmour worked in Ravenna City Schools as a district R.N. and developed a Health and Family Living curriculum for middle school students. Prior to moving to Chicago, she spent nine years in Columbus, Ohio, at St. Joseph Montessori nursing and teaching 7th and 8th grade Life Science. Ms. Gilmour is a volunteer for the St. Edmund Parish P.A.D.S. program and a telescope facilitator at the Adler Planetarium.
Janet J. Underwood, Academic Affairs Committee Member : Mrs. Underwood retired from Sacred Heart Schools on Sheridan Road four years ago where she served for 14 years, first as Principal of Hardey Preparatory, then as Head of Schools for both the Academy and Hardey Prep and finally as Head of the Lower School of both the Academy and Hardey Prep. Prior to that she was Dean of Students at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart from 1975 to 1978. Mrs. Underwood earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Barat College of the Sacred Heart, completed her Master's studies in Theology at Catholic University of America and earned a Master of Science in Administration degree from Notre Dame University. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Ignatius College Prep where she chairs the School Programs Committee and is a member of the Ancona School Board of Trustees where she is a member of the Education Committee. She is also a member of the Educational Committee for the Clinical Pastoral Educational Program of the Church Home at Montgomery Place, a social service agency of the Episcopal Charities and Community Services of Chicago. Last year Mrs. Underwood also became a member of the Education Committee of Chicago Jesuit Academy.
Board of Directors
Mr. Matthew J. Botica, Chair
Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
Mr. Kevin J. Conway
Partner, Cooney & Conway
Mrs. Catherine Denny
Civic Leader
Mr. Russell Dyer
Account Supervisor, Weber Shandwick
Mr. Paul C. Gearen
President, Nicholson Porter & List Inc.
Mr. Darrell W. Hill
Corporate Finance Marketing Director, William Blair & Company
Mrs. Lindy Keiser
Recruitment Coordinator, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation
Mrs. JoAnn Kunkel
Philanthropist/Homemaker
Mr. John Lahey
Managing Principal, Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates Inc.
Mr. Brian C. Lewis
Assistant United States Attorney
Mr. Matthew Lynch
President, Chicago Jesuit Academy
Ms. Kimberly V. Martiny
Executive Director, The Gies Foundation
Rev. Rick Millbourn, S.J.
Socius, Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus
Mr. Michael Miller
Partner, CIVC Partners
Rev. Richard H. McGurn, S.J.
Superior, Loyola Academy Jesuit Community
Rev. Patrick McGrath, S.J.
Provincial Assistant, Secondary Education
Ms. Sarah Polich
Business Manager, Gabriel Environmental Services
Ms. Leslie Richards-Yellen
Diversity Partner, Hinshaw and Culbertson LLP
Rev. Martin Schreiber, S.J.
Education Doctoral Studies, Loyola University Chicago
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