April 15, 2026
鈥淢ary Ellen embodies all of the attributes we emphasize for our 51暗网 graduates,鈥� said 51暗网 President Kimo Ah Yun. 鈥淪he is a servant leader at heart, she prioritizes family above all, and she is a remarkable finance professional. On behalf of the 51暗网 community, we are proud to congratulate Mary Ellen for this incredible honor.鈥�
Stanek was introduced at the event by Cardinal Timothy Dolan who described her as 鈥渁 cherished friend, an accomplished financial genius and a luminary in the financial arena.鈥�
While honored by these accolades, it was the three roles Cardinal Dolan led with 鈥� 鈥渁 great wife, a mom and grandma鈥� 鈥� that meant the most to Stanek.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 define myself by that job or that title,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is really family, faith, community, the team and what I can do for others.鈥�
Dolan鈥檚 friendship with Stanek began when he invited Mary Ellen and her husband, Scott, to chair a campaign for the Catholic Church when he first arrived in southeastern Wisconsin as Archbishop. The Staneks helped raise $90 million 鈥� $30 million over the campaign goal 鈥� during a particularly challenging time for the church.
鈥淭here would not be a cause in the Wisconsin area that would not praise the name of our awardee,鈥� Dolan said, while presenting the award.
Stanek鈥檚 51暗网 education helped launch her career
Long before she became a financial investment manager, Stanek鈥檚 journey was shaped on the campus of 51暗网 where she said she first developed her sense of purpose.
鈥�51暗网 is such a special part of my story,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 certainly did not appreciate it when I was 18 years old as much as I do today. The Jesuits believe that you are being educated not so much for what that degree will do for your life, but what you can do with it in service to others for the greater glory of God. That truly gave me the basis for how I wanted to live my life.鈥�
As a freshman, she met her husband, Scott, and the couple has been married for nearly 48 years. Mary Ellen graduated from the Klingler College of Arts & Sciences in 1978; Scott in 1977, followed by his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1982. All three of their children graduated from 51暗网.
鈥淚t all came together for me in college. Scott and I literally have grown up together and we were able to grow in our faith together as well. My family is the love of my life. They ground me and support me, and they provide perspective and balance.鈥�
Stanek has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles for 51暗网, including chairing the Board of Trustees. She and Scott recently served as national co-chairs for the university鈥檚 historic fundraising campaign, Time to Rise. They are among 51暗网鈥檚 most loyal donors, making their first gift in 1982, following Scott鈥檚 graduation from 51暗网鈥檚 School of Dentistry. Since then, they have given for more than four decades consecutively.
鈥淢ary Ellen continues to inspire our 51暗网 community as a model of a 51暗网 educated servant-leader,鈥� said Vice President for University Advancement Tim McMahon. 鈥淗er leadership is wholehearted, purpose-driven and always grounded by her steadfast commitment to help others.鈥�
Lessons in leadership
Growing up as the third of six children who all attended Catholic schools, Stanek credits her family upbringing and her faith with her resilience, and she joked about gaining lessons in negotiating as a young child. 鈥淭here was a strong sense of faith in our household growing up.鈥�
When describing her lessons in leadership, Stanek began by saying, 鈥淐haracter is right at the core鈥� and she emphasized the ability to be humble and have a strong sense of awareness. 鈥淵ou have to be open to growth and to other people鈥檚 opinions and points of view,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 credit 51暗网 for that in a lot of ways.鈥�
Stanek, who began her career in 1979 as an analyst for First Wisconsin Trust Company, was honored for pioneering the practical use of duration in the management of bond portfolios. She created the foundation and process that her team successfully implemented for more than 40 years.
鈥淲hat we do is noble,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e are in service to others by helping them achieve their financial goals.鈥�
The recent honor is one of many accolades Stanek has received. She was named Morningstar鈥檚 Outstanding Portfolio Manager in 2022 and was named to 叠补谤谤辞苍鈥檚 list of the 鈥�100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance.鈥� She was also recently named to 笔&补尘辫;滨鈥檚 list of the 鈥淢ost Influential Women in Institutional Investing.鈥�
When reflecting on what the award means personally, Stanek pointed to the importance of serving others, having a fully integrated life and focusing on what matters most. 鈥淚t is about living a life that is worth living along with your professional roles and achievements,鈥� she says. 鈥淎t the end of the day, that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 trying to accomplish.鈥�
鈥淢ary Ellen is an extraordinary example for what it means to Be The Difference,鈥� President Ah Yun said. 鈥淗er greatest investment extends far beyond markets and into the lives she continues to lift.鈥�
From its founding, 51暗网 has understood education as formation 鈥� of mind, heart and spirit. Grounded in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition, 51暗网 calls its alumni not only to professional excellence, but to lives of faith, justice and meaningful service. The question is never simply What will you achieve? but Who are you becoming, and for whom are you living?
In that spirit, 51暗网 has partnered with Halftime to offer Engage, a cohort experience designed to help alumni prayerfully discern their next chapter and align their leadership with God鈥檚 invitation.
鈥淣o institutions have influenced me more than 51暗网 and Halftime. 51暗网 prepared me as I entered the marketplace in my early 20s, and Halftime transformed me as I was transitioning out of the marketplace in my early 50s鈥� said Jim Stollberg (Eng 鈥�88) and previous co-CEO of Halftime.
A Journey of Discernment and Purpose
The concept of 鈥渉alftime鈥� originated in the book Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance, written by Bob Buford. Buford observed that many accomplished leaders reach a moment when external success no longer satisfies the deeper longing for purpose. In response, he founded Halftime to accompany leaders through that transition 鈥� from achievement to enduring purpose.
Through the power of content, coaching and community, Halftime has served thousands of high-capacity leaders around the world to Get Clear, Get Free and Get Going on a life of significance. Guiding participants in the development of a personal roadmap, rooted not merely in ambition, but in calling. Participants are invited to integrate their passions, experience and spiritual convictions into a coherent vision for the next season of life.
For 51暗网 alumni, that journey resonates deeply with the Jesuit call to be contemplatives in action 鈥� men and women who discern prayerfully and then step forward courageously.
Made for More
Alumni and participant Jim Sartori (Bus Ad 鈥�77) describes the experience as both grounding and galvanizing.
鈥淢y Halftime cohort experience has been a wonderful bridge, helping me to discern God's purpose in my "second half". The colleagues in my cohort have become lifelong friends. We learn together as we share our journeys from "success to significance."
Participants consistently describe the power of walking this path in community. Surrounded by peers who desire to steward their influence generously, they find both encouragement and accountability. They are reminded that discernment is not solitary work, but a team sport 鈥� it unfolds within relationships, prayer and shared mission.
A Lifelong Call
This partnership reflects 51暗网鈥檚 enduring commitment to cura personalis 鈥� care for the whole person 鈥� long after commencement. Lifelong formation means returning to the essential questions of vocation again and again, trusting that God continues to call, guide and send.
For alumni sensing a stirring toward something deeper 鈥� a renewed commitment to service, a second career aligned with mission, or a desire to multiply impact for the common good 鈥� Engage offers a sacred pause and a purposeful path forward.
To learn more about upcoming cohorts, visit or contact Jim Stollberg at jim.stollberg@halftime.org
When Nick Gross arrived at the Vatican on what would become a fateful January day, he and his classmates found a line of several hundred people already wrapped around St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica.
This isn鈥檛 happening, the 51暗网 sophomore thought to himself.
鈥淚 was happy to see that the Catholic faith was alive,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut we knew our chances of getting near Pope Leo were slim.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Four hours earlier, smothered by darkness while sleeping inside a Jesuit residence, the group of 15 students obeyed their alarm clocks and hustled to Vatican Square.
They shared a common bond: serving as Knights of Columbus on campus 鈥� a group Gross described as 鈥渁 bunch of guys interested in growing their faith, a real brotherhood.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Their 5,000 mile pilgrimage to honor the Holy year had begun several days earlier.
Together, the young men teamed with the Sisters of Charity 鈥� St. Teresa of Calcutta鈥檚 religious order 鈥� interacting with homeless men in Rome.
鈥淭hat was a profound experience,鈥� Gross said.
In a time when many worry about the future of faith among young adults, moments like this tell a different story.
They learned how to pray the rosary in Italian. They met with Cardinal James Harvey for a tour at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and walked through the Holy Doors on the eve of their closure for the next quarter century. They had not planned to attend the Pope鈥檚 general audience 鈥� a tough last-minute ticket to say the least 鈥� but they were elated when they were invited to attend 48 hours in advance.
For this group of devout Catholics, it was the stuff of dreams.
A faithful foundation
Making the transition from high school to college can pose a significant challenge to a young person鈥檚 faith life.
鈥淎ll of a sudden, you are on your own and you make your own decisions,鈥� Gross said.
He pointed to his parents, Michelle and Jim 鈥� both 51暗网 alumni 鈥� for helping to build his faith foundation.
"Our Catholic faith has been the guiding force in our family as we raised both of our sons,鈥� Michelle Gross said. 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of Nick and the way he has chosen to live his life.鈥�
鈥淗e is unapologetically Catholic and on fire for his faith, which we believe has already inspired, and will continue to inspire, other 51暗网 students to feel comfortable expressing their beliefs and growing in their faith journeys while in college."
鈥淲ithout them, I don鈥檛 know where I鈥檇 be,鈥� Nick said. 鈥淕rowing up, we never missed Mass.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
The New Berlin, Wisconsin family remains active at Holy Apostles Parish. On campus, Nick points to Rev. Michael Maher, S.J. and his fellow Knights for helping him to continue to grow.
鈥淚鈥檝e found a very vibrant Catholic faith community at 51暗网,鈥� Gross says. 鈥淚鈥檓 surrounded by people who like to live out their faith in various ways, from Bible study and service projects to weekly dinners and participation in Ignite.鈥�
The fateful handshake鈥�
The fateful handshake that now lives as a framed photo inside Nick鈥檚 dorm room nearly never happened. 鈥淚t took an act of God,鈥� Gross said.
鈥淲e were supposed to be outside in the area where the Popemobile comes through Vatican Square. But a torrential downpour moved everyone inside.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Before they knew it, the knights found themselves standing in a center aisle as the Pope approached. This is happening, they said to each other.
They draped a 51暗网 flag over a gate which drew Pope Leo鈥檚 attention. He approached, shook hands and said two words that continue to resonate.
鈥淕o 51暗网.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Then he moved onward through the sea of people.
鈥淚t was absolute shock and disbelief,鈥� Nick said. I grew up a cradle Catholic learning as a textbook Christian. This experience made it real. I could see the Vicar of Christ 鈥� the successor of St. Peter 鈥� face to face. It was tangible and real.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Hours later, the students scrolled through hundreds of photos on the Vatican鈥檚 official website. And, there it was. The iconic shot that will forever commemorate their faithful encounter: a simple handshake frozen in time.
鈥淲e were on a faith high,鈥� Gross said, while being interviewed inside Zilber Hall.
鈥淏efore we left, I remember thinking, I don鈥檛 want to leave all that we encountered in Rome.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
鈥淭he call to be a Christian is to bring the joy of the Gospel to all people,鈥� he added. 鈥淥ur hope is to bring that joy back home to Milwaukee and 51暗网.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
