Saint Mary Success Stories

How Will Your Saint Mary Degree Help You?

With flexible, convenient degree-completion programs and cutting-edge grad programs, USM has helped hundreds of area professionals take the next step in their careers - and we're ready to help hundreds more! Below are just a handful:

Leanne Hilligas, M’16

Training Coordinator for the Professional Development Department at The Family Conservancy

Board Member of the Mid-America Association for Education of Young Children

A month after graduation, Hilligas was selected to present at the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Professional Development Institute (NAEYC PDI) in Baltimore, with approximately 3,000 people in attendance.

Pulling from the research she completed as a student at USM, she discussed how educators can teach and advocate quality conversations in childcare centers. School readiness is a big topic in the Kansas City area, and her findings showed a lack of quality conversations in the classroom. For children to build their vocabulary, creativity, and school readiness, quality conversations with children from parents, teachers, and family is crucial.

She credits Saint Mary for preparing her for such an incredible opportunity: “My experience at the University of Saint Mary encouraged me to explore my creative side in the adult education world. Dr. Bogdon’s Adult Education course was one of my favorites. She modeled facilitation techniques and questioning methods I applied at the NAEYC PDI Conference and can continue to apply in my own professional development workshops.”

Thomas Ngundo, M’16

Chairman of the St. Francis African Catholics Community

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Thomas Ngundo has an amazing story of perseverance, achievement, and aspiration. In 2004, he left Nairobi, Kenya to pursue a future in the States. He was a newlywed, with a wonderful family surrounding him, and had just been accepted into medical school—but Ngundo couldn’t forgo the opportunity the Green Card Program presented him. He was placed with a family in Kansas, and 12 years later, Olathe is still home.

On top of working full-time as a clinical laboratory scientist, he’s earned two master’s degrees (health care administration and business administration), multiple certifications, and serves as chairman of the of the St. Francis African Catholics Community. This community has grown from just 15 members to over 150—thanks to the leadership efforts of Ngundo. “I’ve actually taken what I learned at Saint Mary and completely restructured our finances, while also organizing the first-ever Catholic Convention in Kansas City, which brought more than 250 Africans across the Midwest together in the name of faith, worship, and community,” said Ngundo.

On top of that, he’s following his dream of building an eight-room guesthouse in Kenya. This idea sat stagnant since 2005, but with all that he learned in USM’s MBA program, permits have been approved, the foundation is laid, and walls are going up. “You just find yourself being a businessman,” said Ngundo with a smile.

Ed Rafter, M’16

Vice President of Critical Systems Operations at Switch

Rafter wouldn’t call himself an expert, but after 30 years in the business of electrical and mechanical systems design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and testing, he understands the technicalities of million-dollar data centers—and he’s passionate about sharing his expertise.

He’s not just mentoring rookie technicians on the ins and outs in the industry, he’s actually worked with his employer, Switch (developer of award-winning, highest-ranking collocation data centers in the world), to develop a formal training curriculum. Rafter has spent endless hours talking through this structured curriculum with community colleges, universities, and industry leaders to adopt and recognize Switch’s rigorous training program as THE universal curriculum for all data technicians nationwide. Along with the curriculum being a national model, Rafter also hopes to have Switch’s curriculum recognized at a bachelor-level.

Earning a Master of Arts in Education at USM has bolstered his credibility in adult education, while it also serves as a reflection of his personal philosophy on learning. Rafter explained, “I’m not your typical student. I came back to not only honor my late wife who was a teacher, but I also believe education is a life-long process. It’s both formal and informal. It’s not just an event that starts and ends. It goes on.”

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Some of the brightest minds and boldest thinkers call Saint Mary home. USM faculty make student success priority and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to truly leave a mark on our world. Our new space in Johnson County—and our growing space online—mirror our dedication to every students’ potential and the true strength of a Saint Mary education.