Speakers / 2025
Vice President for Student Affairs & Mission Integration at Madonna University
Dr. Chris Benson
Dr. Chris Benson has served Madonna University for over 20 years and is now Vice President for Student Affairs and Mission Integration. The first in her family to attend college, she values supporting students in surpassing self-imposed limits. A proud alum of Ladywood and Madonna, she advocates for strong female leadership in higher education as an executive board member of the MI-ACE Women’s Network.
Felician Sister, Provincial Councilor
Sr. Suzanne Marie Kush
A native of western New York, Sr. Suzanne has served on the Felician Sisters' provincial council since 2015. Previously, she served on the faculty and board of trustees at both Villa Maria College and Felician University, as well as St. Bonaventure University, where she directed the Franciscan Center for Social Concern. She is president of the Franciscan Federation. On the provincial council, Sr. Suzanne oversees Seeds of Hope, Volunteers in Mission, and Felician Associates.
President and CEO, Angela Hospice
Jamie LaLonde
Prior to joining Angela Hospice in 2021, Jamie LaLonde spent the previous 15 years working with the geriatric population in residential and healthcare settings. Jamie is a licensed Clinical Master of Social Work and earned a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology through Eastern Michigan University. She is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and holds instructor status for several different modalities of dementia care education and programming. She has history volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association, Arbor Hospice, and the University of Michigan Turner Senior Resource Center.
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Felician Sister, Co-Director of Jericho House
Sr. Mary Jacqueline Keefe
Sr. Mary Jacqueline Keefe, Co-Director of Jericho House, extensive experience includes facilitating retreats globally and locally, co-authoring programs that foster "right relationships" with God, oneself, all people, and the Earth. She is recognized as a graduate of the Green Faith Fellowship and has received the Franciscan Federation Award, highlighting her commitment to environmental stewardship and spiritual formation.
CEO/President, St. Joseph Academy
Tabia Jones, Ed.D.
Dr. Tabia N. Jones, with 29 years in education, is CEO/President of St. Joseph Academy, Milwaukee. Formerly Chief of Schools for Universal Companies, she held leadership roles in districts like Shorewood, Waukesha, and Menomonee Falls. She earned her degrees from Lincoln University and Alverno College, and a Doctorate from Nova Southwestern University. Committed to excellence, she advocates for children's diverse needs.
Grief Counselor, Angela Hospice
Jasmine Kendrick
Drawing from nearly a decade of grief counseling, Ms. Kendrick supports children and adolescents, sharing her personal journey of growing up with grief. Holding degrees in psychology and social work from Wayne State University, she's a certified group psychotherapist dedicated to restoring mental health for grieving youth, instilling hope and healing along the way.
Area Vice President, Heartland Home Health Services
Jennifer Kirkland
Jennifer Kirkland has worked in hospice services for over 20 years and is an adjunct assistant professor in the Aging Studies Department at Madonna University. With degrees in gerontology, long-term care administration and education, she also serves as an Area Vice President for Heartland Home Health Services.
Felician Sister, Felician Mission: Haiti
Sr. Marilyn Marie Minter
Sr. Marilyn's journey from New Jersey to becoming a Felician Sister began with her education at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Felician College. Embracing her passion for music, she formed a rock band before answering her call to faith. In 2010, she and Sr. Mary Inga Borko founded a mission in Haiti, providing essential services and programs to uplift the community without fostering dependency, showcasing the transformative power of faith-guided service.
Felician Sister, EVP Mission Integration
Sr. Jeremy Marie Midura
Sr. Jeremy Marie Midura, Executive Vice President of Mission Integration, Felician Services, Inc., oversees mission integration policy for all sponsored ministries and leading the Mission Integration Team. She brings over 20 years of pastoral ministry experience where she facilitated spiritual ministry, social awareness, and community involvement activities and programs. Formerly a science teacher and elementary principal, she holds degrees in biology, chemistry, and pastoral studies.