ֱ announces the six recipients of its prestigious Alumni Medal:
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Michael Anderson ’86 (Washington D.C.), senior advisor at Children's National Hospital and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);
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Frank Grace ’63 (Chianti Fl, Italy), owner and founder of Il Molino di Grace winery and co-founder of Team Relations;
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Mary Jo Hogan (Casserly)’76 (Annapolis, MD), retired colonel of the United States Army;
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Bruce Jarosz ’72 (Mentor, OH), retired CFO, current senior advisor of IMCD US (formerly M.F. Cachat);
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David Robinson ’74 (Bloomfield Hills, MI), retired director of market operations for Hospice of Michigan;
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Tim Russert ’72, journalist and former host of NBC’s “Meet The Press.”
Theis the highest award given annually by the ֱ Alumni Association. It recognizes an individual’s accomplishments in their profession, contributions to their community, exemplary family and personal life, and dedicated service to ֱ post-graduation.
ֱ also namedStacey Diane Arañez Litam, Ph.D. (Westlake, OH) and Euguene Malinskiy (Mayfield Heights, OH) as its Young Alumni Award recipients. Litam, who received her undergraduate degree in 2010 and a graduate degree in 2014 from JCU, is a nationally recognized educator, researcher, clinical counselor, and Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Cleveland State University. Malinskiy, a Ukrainian immigrant, is the CEO and cofounder of Lazurite, a healthcare and innovations company focused on the cutting edge of surgical and lighting technologies.
Other honors include Rosanna (Violi) Hoelzle ’07 (Toledo, OH) as the Rev. William M. Bichl, S.J. Alumni Volunteer Service Award recipient for her dedicated volunteer service to the JCU Alumni Association, and long-time faculty member in the Tim Russert Department of Communication, Joseph Miller ’59 (South Euclid, OH), who will receive the Rev. Casey Bukala S.J. Distinguished Service Award, honoring a JCU graduate who has served the University with distinction as a member of its faculty or staff.
About the 2022 Alumni Medal Recipients:
Tim Russert ’72, who passed away suddenly in 2008, was widely recognized in the journalism field for his ethics and known as one of the most trusted figures in the media. He was a lawyer and, most notably, an American television journalist who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's “Meet the Press.” At the time of his passing, Russert was chief of the Washington Bureau and senior vice president of NBC News. An iconic and legendary student, alumnus, and family man, Russert’s life has inspired the JCU community for decades. As a tribute to his legacy, ֱ renamed the Department of Communication in 2009. JCU has also honored Russert’s memory with the exciting and highly sought-after NBC/ֱ Meet the Press Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to one graduating senior who is pursuing a career in political journalism. The fellow works with “Meet the Press” for nine months following graduation. Russert is the first JCU graduate to be honored posthumously with the Alumni Medal.
Michael Anderson ’86 is a pediatric critical care physician, healthcare executive, child advocate, and a nationally renowned expert in Disaster Response/Health Policy. Dr. Anderson has served in several healthcare leadership roles, including as the inaugural president of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco (December 2016 to October 2020), and chief medical officer for the University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland (2008 to 2016), as well as being appointed by various federal and state agencies to help guide pediatric emergency response and policy.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anderson was asked to join the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) full-time, and is currently a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS in Washington DC. He has been charged with helping oversee a pediatric-focused response strategy, been a key leader of the COVID-19 therapeutics workgroup, and has deployed with federal teams to areas of crisis. His work on novel therapeutics under Operation Warp Speed/Federal COVID Response focused on stakeholder engagement, product distribution, and the creation of innovative infusion centers aimed at saving lives and preserving hospital capacity. Anderson has remained a leader of the JCU centennial class of 1986 and continues to give his time to various JCU initiatives. He served on the University’s Board of Directors from 2014-2018.
Frank Grace ’63is an international business leader who first discovered an aptitude for understanding the big picture of transportation when he served with the Army Transportation Corps following his graduation from JCU. Grace went on to become founder of American Overseas Shipping in 1970, after first moving to Europe with the international division of Global Van Lines. In 2002, Grace formed Team Relocations, one of the world’s largest international relocation and move management firms. Throughout his career, Grace, and wife Judy, developed a passion for the arts, including culinary arts and wine making. Grace is best known for Il Molino di Grace, a winery he founded in 1999 in the heart of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region. The vineyard’s wines are critically acclaimed and recognized for sustainable practices in both the vineyard and cantina. Grace was a standout athlete at JCU and remains a dedicated member of his class.
Mary Jo Hogan (Casserly) ’76retired from the U.S. Army in 2003 with the rank of colonel. Hogan was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Women’s Army Corps, and began her military career after graduating from JCU. During her 28 years with the military, she held leadership positions as a military intelligence officer. She was Commander for two military battalions, a position she calls the highlight of her career, preparing hundreds of soldiers for training to head overseas. She also commanded a military intelligence detachment providing worldwide support to the U.S. Army and served in increasing positions of responsibility. In her final assignment, she served as the senior army emergency preparedness liaison officer, where she advised the governor and the state adjutant general as their interface with the Department of Defense for support to civil authorities during emergencies within the state. In addition, Hogan held roles with the U.S. Department of Labor, worked with the White House Military Office and National Security staff, and on several federal interagency boards led by the National Security Council. She is a member of the ROTC Hall of Fame, and served on the University’s Board of Directors from 2015-2021.
A certified public accountant since 1974, Bruce Jarosz ’72worked for Roth Steel Tube Company and Premier Industrial Corporation before his executive roles at the M.F. Cachat Company, where he became controller in 1991. He rose to vice president of operations and CFO before retiring in 2017. He is currently a senior advisor for IMCD US (formerly M.F. Cachat), a leading specialty chemical producer and distributor. Known as a humble servant leader, Jarosz has dedicated his time and talent to the advancement of his alma mater, especially to the Boler College of Business and its accountancy program. He currently serves on the JCU Board of Directors and lends his expertise in support of strategic initiatives.
David Robinson ’74 personifies the Alumni Medal through his decades-long involvement with JCU and exemplary service to his community, family, and the JCU Alumni Association. Robinson, along with his wife Molly (Alumni Medal recipient in 2006), have devoted their time and talents to JCU dating back to the 1970s. In addition to chairing reunion committees and leadership of the Iota Chi Upsilon fraternity and its alumni, Robinson’s biggest impact on his alma mater is in the area of student recruitment in Greater Detroit, where he has shown the way to ֱ’s campus for numerous prospective students. He currently serves on the JCU Alumni Association Board, an advisory board advancing the Alumni Association and its programs. After a long and successful sales career, Robinson passed up more lucrative professional options and devoted the last ten years of his career to mission-based work at the Hospice of Michigan, where he was known as one of the nonprofit’s top ambassadors in Southeast Michigan. Dave retired in 2020 and now serves as a hospice volunteer for the organization.
