Alumni Board Profiles
Meet the Board.
Lynn O’Linski ’76
President
Lynn is a 1976 journalism graduate of SMWC. She has spent the majority of her professional career in higher education as a professor and athletic administrator. After leaving higher education, Lynn worked full-time for the Chicago White Sox and still does seasonal camps and clinics in the Chicago area.
Over the last eight years, Lynn has dedicated her time to working with seniors. Lynn currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Client Care at Senior Helper’s corporate office in Chicago. She is also a faculty member in the Heller College of Business graduate program at Roosevelt University, downtown Chicago.
Lynn has actively stayed involved in The Woods student-athlete recruitment initiative and serves as a member of the SMWC Hall of Fame Committee.
Fun Fact: Lynn was a consultant for the movie, “A League of Their Own “
Karen Aeschliman Hurley ’89
Vice President
Karen graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Minor in French. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Business Philosophy and Theory from the North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, in 1997. She is the former Chief Operating Officer for the Society of Surgical Oncology, a non-profit professional organization with the mission to improve multidisciplinary patient care by advancing the science, education and practice of cancer surgery worldwide. She holds the designation Certified Association Executive and has published 14 professional practice statements to advance the field of association management. She credits SMWC with providing her with the education, knowledge and leadership to achieve her career goals.
She serves as an Alumni Board Member to advance the mission of SMWC, support its strategic direction and reconnect the alumni with the College.
She met her husband Brian on a golf course and married in 2000. She lives in Chicago and has a dog named Jameson, after the Irish Whiskey.
Fun Fact: I was a founding member of SMWC’s first Equestrian Team in 1986. I’m a golfer, runner and occasionally saddle up for a trail ride with my favorite horse, Sunshine.
Nancy Beckerich ’90
Nancy graduated from SMWC in 1990, with a degree in Paralegal Studies, and studied piano during her years at The Woods. After graduation, she worked for the Indianapolis Law firm Bingham Summers Welsh & Spillman for several years on the Creditors Rights and Litigation practice group teams. Also working as a paralegal with Kunz & Kunz, Indianapolis. Growing up on the north side of Indianapolis and currently living in Carmel, Nancy is also a mother of 4 children, ages 17 to 31. Nancy spent years volunteering in the kids’ schools, helping in the library and cafeteria, working various book sales, and being a room parent. Additionally, teaching religious education with the preschool program in her Indianapolis Parish and serving as a Eucharistic Minister over the years as well.
While at the Woods, Nancy was a member of the College Chorale, INLaw Club treasurer, tennis team and continued her piano studies. Nancy currently serves as the Director of Accounting for RAL Inspection Services, Carmel, IN, a company dealing in Corporate Relocation and Trust properties throughout the US and Canada. She enjoys her family and friends, and her chocolate lab and bunny.
Nancy is a bunny mom to an impish little Netherland Dwarf Bunny, Mooshie – and previously, Coco & Peshey. Her kids wanted the first one – Nancy did not! She ended up falling in love and has not lived without a sweet bun for the past 22 years.
Nancy is very excited to join the Alumnae Board and give back to such an amazing community that guided and shaped her and gave her some amazing lifelong friends.
Maureen “Mo” McEvilly Carmody ’87
Maureen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration, SMWC Class of 1987. She served on the elected Presidential Corps under Barbara Doherty, SP, ’53, Ph.D., and was a member of the Professional Business Fraternity, Phi Gamma Nu, serving as National VP for Mid-Central States from 1987-88 and National President 1988-90. Her on-campus involvement included working with fellow business majors on fundraising projects and hosting presentations by working business professionals covering a wide range of topics with significance for business undergraduates. For two terms, she managed the sales, inventory and staff of “The 1840” and served as Resident Assistant (RA) in Le Fer Hall.
Following graduation, she returned to Chicago and worked in manufacturing corporate offices before transitioning to commercial/residential property management and small business ownership – including an authentic Irish Pub. During this time, she volunteered with her children’s schools, PTA boards, youth athletic boards and currently serves in administration and accounting for men’s Irish hurling clubs.
Maureen is first generation Irish-American, married to an Irishman and very proud of her heritage. She and her family frequently attend cultural and sporting events held in Chicago’s Irish-American Heritage Center and Gaelic Park Association. Being active with Ireland Network Chicago is one of her favorite volunteer activities. Always an energetic and enthusiastic lady, Maureen has built on her childhood love of dancing from traditional Irish Step-dancing competitions to a Jazzercise leader/instructor where she can motivate even a hesitant class attendee with her fun, joyful spirit and good humor.
The opportunity to serve on the Alumni Board of Directors is an honor and she looks forward to working with the members to advance the mission of our beloved College.
Fun fact: After 21 years of working in residential real estate management, she can affirm that ‘I am still an RA!’ 😉
Jennifer Cassidy Bierhaus ’11
Jennifer graduated from SMWC in December 2010, where she majored in history/political science/pre-law and minored in journalism. While attending SMWC, she was President of the Student Activities Committee for two years, was involved in many organizations and held many jobs on campus.
After graduation, Jennifer worked as a paralegal before attending law school. She graduated from law school in 2017 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she combined her interest in working with children and the law. As an attorney, Jennifer worked tirelessly as a Child Advocate representing children in foster care in DeKalb County. She recently relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, where she continues to work in child welfare as a Special Assistant Attorney General. Jennifer is also interested in obtaining her specialty license in child welfare.
When she is not advocating for children and families, she travels the world with her husband playing in co-ed sports leagues and expresses her creative side through DIY projects, crafting and painting. She is also the proud mom of a senior rescue dog.
Fun Fact: They say The Woods speaks to you when you drive through the front gates. Jennifer didn’t know how true that was until she started attending classes, where she learned that her family had multiple connections to The Woods, unbeknownst to her. The Woods called her home and has been her home ever since!
Marla Crawford ’22
Marla graduated in 1978 from Indiana University with a double Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Studies and Political Science. She earned her Master of Leadership Development (MLD) in 2022 from SMWC. She also earned her Women’s Global Leadership Certificate. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Global Leadership Program at SMWC.
She has worked in various management positions for over 25 years at the United States Postal Service and later retired from Eli Lilly Corporation after 16 years of service. Marla is currently working as a Custom Trade Agent for Federal Express. Marla has also been an active member of her church and community for over 30 years. She strives to improve the quality of life for all income-challenged minority families. In Indianapolis, Marla supports the “Unmentionables Undergarment” Clothing Drive by donating undergarments to Flanner House for children who do not have any. She also provided disinfectant products during the COVID-19 pandemic and holiday food baskets for senior citizens during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In Terre Haute, Marla has been providing donations to Club Soda, a rehabilitation center for individuals experiencing drug or alcohol dependency. She has also donated clothes and provided household products for children “aging out” of Firefly.
Additionally, Marla is a licensed Evangelist Missionary in The Church of GOD in CHRIST. Marla is enthusiastic about serving on the Alumni Board of Directors and looks forward to contributing to its success.
Fun Fact: Marla is the third member of her family to attend Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
“GO WOODIES”
Camille Collera ’16, ’18G
Camille was born and raised in Guam and joined the military after high school. She served on active duty as a Navy dental technician/hospital corpsman for seven and a half years. After leaving the military, she moved to Indiana and worked at several law offices. Camille completed her bachelor’s degree from SMWC in 2016 and was accepted into the MLD program completing it in 2018. She is pursuing a degree in early education, works at a childcare center and serves as the Parish Catechetical Leader at Sacred Heart Church in Clinton, Indiana. Camille’s daughter is entering her second year of college in California, and her son is about to begin his freshman year in high school. She enjoys going to yard sales with her dad and dabbles in crafting.
Fun Fact: When Camille was in field med training at Camp Johnson in North Carolina, she got stuck in the river. One of her shipmates lost his Kevlar helmet in the water and could not find it (they could not leave anyone behind, so they had to stand, wait, and help him find it). It was 25-30 degrees, and she could not move her shoe. Her shipmate tried to help her let go as she untied her shoe, so she fell backward and was soaked. She could not put the shoe back on because their platoon leader started to march them back to camp. Walking through muddy waters was not fun, soaking wet with only one shoe. She can laugh about it now, but she just wanted to cry back then.
Beverly Randolph Fernandez ‘91
Beverly graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1991 with a degree in business administration and minor in French translation. To immerse herself in the culture and learn French first-hand, she studied abroad at The University of Paris, Sorbonne, while a student. With this experience, Beverly was determined to deepen her etiquette and international protocol knowledge. As such, she became certified in business etiquette, international protocol, and children’s etiquette from The Protocol School of Washington. She also earned her master’s degree in international relations from the University of Indianapolis.
She has worked in the corporate international arena, including abroad, a certified entrepreneur, as an Adjunct at the university level and in the not-for-profit sector as an Executive Director.
Due to her intercultural training and education, as well as years in the international corporate world, including abroad, she is now an entrepreneur/Founder & Director of The Protocol School of Indianapolis, LLC, which is a certified consulting firm offering time-honored knowledge with a modern twist in etiquette and international protocol courses to meet the needs of today’s ever-changing society.
Currently, she combines her life experience and education by teaching business-related classes at Marian University, Indianapolis, whereby she was the change agent in their adult programs’ curriculum to experiential learning involving local companies and not-for-profits.
Beverly is active in professional and civic organizations. Most Saturdays, she volunteers at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at their food pantry. Married to her junior high school sweetheart in Carmel, Indiana, she enjoys making a difference in the lives of others, traveling, playing board games, decorating, gardening and anything international-related.
Fun fact: Beverly collects teapots.
Cheryl Erazmus Freeman ’74
Cheryl graduated from The Woods in 1974 with a BA degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. She taught 5th-12th grade students who were learning and emotionally disabled in Wisconsin for 35 years and is still a substitute teacher. Cheryl and her husband, Dave, have two sons and two grandchildren. From a very early age, service to others was instilled in Cheryl by her parents, who were volunteers for many veteran organizations. Cheryl is an active member of her church and has served on numerous committees. She and her husband love to travel. They have worked many hours volunteering at their local food pantry, and they also pick fruit (last year, her group picked 56 tons) that was donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank. Cheryl is currently a member of her community’s Safety and Security Committee and the Communications Committee. She leads several recreation groups for seniors and volunteers in various capacities in her community and school. Cheryl trained her dog to become a licensed Therapy dog, and together they would go to hospitals and nursing homes visiting and working with patients. Serving on the Alumni Board is a way to give back to the College that not only helped shape her future but gave her the opportunity to make lifelong friendships. She hopes to instill a love of service to the students and alumni
Fun Fact: Cheryl raises hundreds of monarch butterflies. Each summer, she hunts for eggs and caterpillars, feeds them milkweed and when they emerge from their chrysalis as a butterfly, she releases them. In the fall, she tags them to track their trek to Mexico. In the wild, a monarch has a 10% chance of survival going from an egg to a butterfly, but in captivity, the survival rate is 90%.
Anne Loken ’89
Anne graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. During her senior year, Anne was the class secretary of her class. Soon after graduation, she began working as a Mortgage Loan Officer for Wells Fargo in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her husband Steve, a Rose-Hulman graduate, then embarked on a 20-year journey with the United States Air Force. During those years, they traveled the world, living in Italy, Hawaii and various states throughout the country. While her two boys, Jake and Josh, were in school and playing sports, she spent time volunteering and served on many boards, including as President of the Aviano Air Base Spouses Club (Italy) and Keesler AFB Spouses Club (Mississippi), where she oversaw the fundraising activities and donations. After moving from Mississippi to Hawaii, she began her teaching career at Holy Family Catholic Academy. For the next 13 years, Anne continued to teach at the Middle School level and coach tennis at Saint Mary Catholic School in Florida. Along with now teaching 5th grade ELA and Social Studies, she is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker in Destin, Florida.
Fun Fact: I love football! College is my favorite level, but I enjoy watching the NFL as well. I’m a lifelong Ohio State University and Cleveland Browns fan.
Erin Pugh Lucas ’11
Erin graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and went on to earn her MBA from Indiana State University after graduation. Erin works as the Development Associate for the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County in South Bend, volunteers as a “Big Sister” through Big Brothers Big Sisters and is an active member of the Junior League of Indianapolis. New to the St. Joseph County area, Erin, her husband Tyler, daughter Norah, and dog Baxter like to explore all the area has to offer in the ways of food, community activities and they especially love venturing to beach towns in Michigan.
While at SMWC, Erin was on the Pomeroy soccer team that made it to the national championship tournament twice. She earned Academic All-American recognition three times and All-American recognition twice. She was inducted into the SMWC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.
Erin serves on the Alumni Board as a way to give back to the place that provided so much opportunity for her. She also serves to ensure the institution continues to thrive and offer those same opportunities to students for years to come.
Fun fact: When proposing to Erin, Tyler sent her on a scavenger hunt throughout Terre Haute, highlighting special places to them. His final stop was in front of Le Fer Hall in the Sunken Gardens, where he popped the question.
Anna Madden ’18, ’20G
Anna graduated from The Woods campus program in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and received her master’s degree in leadership development from The Woods in 2020. She currently works at Willow Marketing Agency in Indianapolis, Indiana as the account manager. She loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling to Europe, studying the French language and finding her Zen in yoga. Anna is excited to be a part of the Alumni Board of her alma mater because she finds The Woods community to be one of the most lovable communities in the world.
Fun Fact: Anna is one of seven children and loves traveling the Midwest to visit all of her siblings.
Jennifer Mathews ’20G
Jennifer graduated from SMWC with a Master of Leadership Development and earned her Graduate Certificate in Women’s Leadership in 2020. Jennifer double majored at Indiana University – Bloomington to receive her bachelor’s in biology and African American and African Diaspora. She also minored in chemistry and social science in medicine. She was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, but currently resides in San Antonio with her husband, Jason, son, Austin and daughter, Jordan.
Attending The Woods allowed her to follow in her mother’s footsteps, who attended Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, to continue the legacy in her family. Serving on the Alumni Board is a way to pay tribute to her mother, who dearly loved The Woods, and to give back to the institute that means so much to her family and the community.
Jenifer has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for almost 20 years. Jennifer is active in her church, serving on numerous committees, professional organizations and a fully paid life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Fun Fact: Jennifer has been a licensed Zumba instructor since 2020 and is a Starbucks Cup Collector.
Christy Pearison ’19, ’20G
Christy is a serial entrepreneur who has a continual love for learning, teaching and giving back to her community and those around her. As a 2019 graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, she earned her undergrad degree in human services with a minor in business administration. She continued her education at The Woods with a Master’s in Leadership and Development and earned her Women’s Global Leadership Certificate in 2020. Christy and her husband own two businesses and a nonprofit organization in Sullivan, Indiana, where they focus on community development and educational services. She sits on multiple boards, with her favorite being the SMWC Alumni Board. Christy cherishes the opportunity The Woods provided her and embraces all that Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College stands for. She sits on the Alumni Board because she wants to give back to those who gave so much to her.
Fun Fact: Christy has a big, beautiful family that is blended and blessed beyond measure. Between six children, three grandchildren, four dogs and one horse, there is never a dull moment in their lives!
Audra Simel ’01
Audra Simel graduated from The Woods in 2001 with a degree in history/political science/pre-law and a minor in marketing. She has seen SMWC through the eyes of a camper, daughter, sister, student, alum and now Alumni Board member. In her 30+ years of being a part of The Woods community, Audra has formed a strong understanding of and commitment to the greater mission of the College and Sisters of Providence. Audra was a dynamic student leader, serving as freshman class president, head of the Student Activities Committee, a Student Senator and INLaw member, among many other roles on campus. She is a passionate Pomeroys fan and even danced at basketball games with the Orchesis spirit team (although sorely lacking the rhythm and technique required). She enjoyed spending numerous hours volunteering at the Sisters of Providence Archives, capping her experience by authoring an article chronicling the history of the Sisters in the Indiana Journal of History – a noted publication for historians and researchers.
Audra is currently the director of marketing operations and systems at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, one of the world’s largest and most successful law firms, and she has played a key role in numerous marketing and business development initiatives since 2003, working alongside the CMO, CAO and Chairman. She is a “culture carrier” with a keen understanding of how strong organizations honor their heritage to ensure future success. Last year, she launched a very popular video interview series profiling unique lawyers and staff and their extraordinary gifts, which has taken her all over the United States to film. Next stop: Europe. She has been recognized as an influential leader, a pragmatic problem solver and creative thinker, and is eager to apply her talents in service of the mission of the Alumni Board.
Audra and her husband Mark Bachara live in Oak Park, Illinois, with their rather anxious terrier Billy, where she enjoys entertaining friends, experimenting with decorating projects around her historic home, practicing reformer Pilates and has recently gotten back into her first love: tennis. Since graduation, she has been an advocate for the College, an active volunteer/leader in the Chicago, greater suburban SMWC and nationwide Alumni Club programming and always loves to join the fun at Reunion, Homecoming, special events — rarely turning down an opportunity to come to campus and recharge her spirit with the power of Providence!
Fun Fact: Audra serves as her law firm’s historian and wrote a comprehensive 100-year retrospective of Kirkland’s history in 2009 that has been distributed to over 300,000 people. The very first copy she obtained was quickly dispatched to her mentor, trusted adviser, and friend SMWC professor Dr. Paul Salstrom—thus assuring both author and teacher that all those hours in the classroom were worth it! Audra’s latest project involved curating a 17-panel heritage installation in Kirkland’s new Chicago office.
Shannon Sonderman ’18
Shannon attended Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as an on-campus student graduating with a degree in Elementary Education mild intervention in 2018. During her time at The Woods, she was a class officer, sang in the Madrigals and played soccer. After graduation, she became the class agent. Shannon obtained her first job at Central Elementary in Clinton. There she taught for three years as a 4th-grade math and science teacher. She started a master’s in Educational Leadership in fall 2021. From 2018 to 2021, she volunteered with the Franciscan Young Adult Ministry in Terre Haute to plan events and retreats. Shannon is happy to be joining the Alumni Board of Directors so she can find ways to help other young alumni stay involved in our amazing Woods!
Fun Fact: Shannon is the seventh member of her family to attend Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Jacob Turner ’22
Jacob graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. He currently works at Terre Haute Regional Hospital in the NICU and Pediatrics unit. During his time at The Woods, Jacob ran cross country and track. He was the first male recruit to commit for the inaugural season in 2017. He loves being social and spends his free time hanging out with his friends and family or playing with his dog, Remy.
Fun fact: Jacob followed in his mother’s footsteps as she graduated from SMWC. His younger sister, Emily, also graduated from SMWC.
Tia Wilkinson, Ph.D., ’08, ’13G
Tia Wilkinson, Ph.D., is a proud alumna of The Woods. She was a non-traditional student with a busy family and a full-time job co-managing a building supply and construction company. Once she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2008, she changed careers and became the Director of Programs for a large church campus and the Dean of the ESL school, serving students from 32 different countries. Tia continued her education, earning two master’s degrees and a doctorate degree. She was employed by the Michaels Organization, where she created educational curricula and programs for multi-housing communities. As one of the top 2% of leaders for Michaels, she participated in their leadership summit. From there, she studied for her MLD at The Woods. Her programs working with children and families were recognized and filmed by the city of Houston. She also mentored programs, started a High School and created training workshops.
Tia’s career continued to evolve, and she became an educational consultant and teacher. She introduced coding and robotics as emerging literacies and conducted qualitative research on learner acceptance of mobile learning environments, providing data for educational apps during the Bush Literacy X Prize competition.
Fun Fact: Tia is a member of Board Game Geeks; she plays board games several times a week. She is also a member of the Lake Houston YMCA Mermaids.