Accelerate Faculty

Alverno College will honor Baird Foundation, three alumnae and one honorary alumnae for their philanthropic contributions to Alverno and the community during the college's Celebration of Giving event Nov. 5. The annual event is a recognition of those who have generously given their time and financial support to the college. Students who have been directly impacted by this generosity through scholarships will be in attendance giving them the opportunity to personally thank their benefactors.

Baird Foundation will receive the Bene Award, given to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to Alverno through gift support of the college's programs, operations and capital endeavors. Baird Chairman Paul Purcell has served on the Alverno board of trustees for 17 years. The organization has a long history of supporting programs at Alverno including the Summit Fund, which provides scholarships for students in their final semesters; Inferno Athletics; Character Education; Baird Scholars and the Sister Joel Read Scholars. Most recently they established and provided annual scholarship support for graduates of Carmen Schools of Science and Technology to attend Alverno. Baird also hosts students for “A Day at Baird” and a mentoring lunch to connect Baird Scholarship recipients with women working in a variety of departments at Baird.

Milwaukee resident and community volunteer Patricia Hribar, class of 1965, will receive the Exemplar Award. This award is given to an alumna for consistent gift support and leadership in helping Alverno to grow and improve. Hribar made her first gift to Alverno in 1970 and continues to give today. She and her husband established the Anthony & Kathryn Niggemann Education Scholarship Fund in 2002 to honor her parents and all the hours of service they provided to Alverno through the various offices they held in the Alverno parent group. In 2011, Hribar led the effort to establish the Class of '65 Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was awarded at the 50th reunion in 2015. She continues to organize ongoing activities to engage the women from her class. She has served on numerous committees with the college, served on the Alumnae Association Board of Directors and has helped to organize alumnae gatherings in Florida.

Honorary alumna Kathy Hudson will receive the Ambassador Award, which is given to an alumna or friend who has given time and talents in support of the college and has demonstrated distinguished service. Hudson was the first female president and CEO of a major public company in Wisconsin when she joined the Brady Corporation in 1994. She has served on Alverno's board of trustees since 1994, is a member of the Vanguard Society and has led efforts to bring together the Alverno Texas Alumnae Group.

Dr. Patricia Dix Brewer, class of 1968, will receive the Golden Jubilarian Award, awarded to an alumna celebrating more than 50 years as an Alverno graduate and who has been committed to philanthropy and service throughout her life. Dix Brewer is an award-winning practitioner of neonatal-perinatal medicine with Cox Health in Springfield, Missouri. She made her first gift to the College in 1970 and has provided ongoing support. She also played an essential role in planning her 50-year class reunion, was a speaker at the 2018 Alum Teach & Learn Weekend and is a member of the Vanguard Society.

Sister Barbaralie Stiefermann, class of 1964, will receive the Franciscan Spirit Award, which is given to a School Sister of St. Francis who embraces the Franciscan values of learning: reverence and love for all life, joyfulness of spirit, and creating a caring community. She served on the Board of Trustees for 14 years and was an assessor for 13 years. She also serves as a historian and author for the School Sisters of St. Francis. Her most recent biography is the compelling story of Mother M. Corona, the woman of undaunted courage and vision who merged Alverno Teachers College, Alverno College of Music and Sacred Heart School of Nursing into one institution, which became Alverno College.