Peggy Garvey, Executive Director
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Garvey is currently the director of Elms University Center whose programs strive to enrich the lives of women by focusing on human, professional, cultural, and faith development www.elmsuniversitycenter.org
She comes to the Elms with many years of educational experience at high school and college level. She has a PhD in Literature from the University of Notre Dame. Her interdisciplinary dissertation integrates the fields of theatre performance, educational philosophy, and Greek tragedy and focuses on a philosophical analysis of the actor training invented by Jacques Copeau (1879-1949) and its foundation in the educational approaches of Maria Montessori.
Dr. Garvey has published “A New Context for Constructing Aristotelian Catharsis” in the Journal of Dramatic Criticism and Theory (Fall 2002) and “Jacques Copeau’s Theatre and Masks: Actor Training as Formation in Open-Mindedness” - a chapter in an Oxford series on virtues edited by the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Human Flourishing (forthcoming, fall 2021). She organized a major international conference in October 2013, The Actor as Person, Theatre as Communion–the 100th Anniversary of the Vieux Colombier Theatre and Theatre School (October 1913), (www.actorasperson.weebly.com) at the University of Notre Dame.
She was a professor at Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, teaching courses in World Literature, British and Irish Literature. She has also dedicated many years to centers like the Elms in Ireland, California, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York.
Anne Grosklaus
As Director of the House of the Good Shepherd/Madonna Campus, Anne manages a large campus housing families who have experienced Domestic Violence. Oversees all clinical programming and engages with donors to create long-term support, reducing reliance on government funding, bringing energy and experience from 25 years of service at Catholic Charities.
Anne previously worked in the Office of Program Development as the Project Manager for a successful Integrated Health Home Pilot. She also facilitated the Archdiocesan Office for Persons with Disabilities. Anne served as Director of the Department of Board Relations and Mission Engagement from 2009 to 2016. After joining Catholic Charities as a Case Manager for the Continuum of Care Program, she was promoted to Director and then the Associate Division Manager of Residential Care Services.
Anne has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Illinois Wesleyan University, a master of social work degree from Loyola University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Anne currently serves on the Board of the Maryville Crisis Nursery and served as a Board of Director at Aid for Women.
Natalie Jakucyn
Natalie Jakucyn is a retired mathematics educator who continues to do consulting work for the UChicago STEM Center at the University of Chicago and also serves as the office manager for the Corporation for Social and Educational Development.
Natalie Jakucyn received her B.S. in mathematics from DePaul University in Chicago and her M.S.T. in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She taught mathematics and physical sciences for 30 years to students in grades 6-12 in both the private and public sectors in urban and suburban communities. For three years while teaching high school, Natalie was also the director of the Metro Achievement Center. Ms. Jakucyn took a multi-year leave from teaching to work as the managing editor of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. She went on to work as the national mathematics consultant and a product manager for ScottForesman publishers, providing professional development to thousands of teachers in 47 states and 13 foreign countries. Ms. Jakucyn is also a contributing author of the University of Chicago series of mathematics textbooks for grades 6-12, now in its third edition.
Natalie is a member of the Mathematical Association of America, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Presidential Council of Awardees in Mathematics, Mathematics Educators Exploring Computer Algebra Systems, the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Metropolitan Mathematics Club of Chicago. Additionally, she has held offices on the Boards of several of those organizations as well as spoken at and coordinated their conferences.
Natalie Jakucyn has received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching from President George W. Bush, the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics outstanding high school teaching award, the Illinois Board of Education Certificate of Appreciation for high school teaching, the Northfield School District 225 Letter of Recognition for outstanding teaching, and the Metro Achievement Center Women of Character award.
Heide Kenny, Board Chair
As President of a local manufacturing company for 20 years, Heide Kenny brings to the Elms University Board her managerial experience. Excellence in education has been important to Heide as she has served on several primary and secondary school boards, as well as community service through her involvement with Catholic Charities of Chicago. Heide and her husband, Gerry, founded Mary’s Closet – a program to assist men and women in need dress for success as they seek employment. Living in the city, Heide supports the Elms University Center’s aim to enrich the lives of women and girls living and working in the city with its programs and activities.
Susan Mangels
Susan Mangels, PhD is Senior Vice President, Consulting Services at AC Fitzgerald a fundraising consulting firm headquartered in Washington DC . She holds a B.A. from Furman University, a Master’s in education from Harvard University, and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.
Mangels has been Chief Development Officer at the Independent Institute, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Lindenwood University, President of Lexington College, and on the administrative leadership team of both Oakcrest School and Montrose School.
She has served or serves as a trustee of Morgan Park Academy in Chicago, Montrose School, and Kingswood Academy. Other board experience includes- Catholic Charities in St. Louis, the Women’s Board of the United Way STL, and Focus STL. She speaks frequently on fundraising, university center building, executive leadership, and work-life balance.
Susan lives in Chicago.
Pila Racca
Pila studied Education in Argentina and Business Management, in the USA.
She worked for 35 years as Executive Director of Hospitality Services at conference centers and residences for women and/or men in Massachusetts and New York.
For 10 years she created, promoted, and implemented educational programs for women on the East Coast.
She is currently living in Chicago and works for the Corporation for Social and Educational Development (CSED) as a Project Manager. She leads several Midwest nonprofit foundations dedicated to the Christian development of women who wish to understand their feminine identity, the meaning and purpose of their lives of service to others through work, a deeper and professional understanding of the home and homemaking, and who strive to build a culture of strong and happy families.
Pila is passionate about creating homes and family environments where people can experience belonging, affection, and comprehensive care.