SXU to host "Franklin D. Roosevelt – A Fireside Chat" with living history actor RJ Lindsey

Experience the life of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt through Chicago actor RJ Lindsey's living history portrayal on Tues., Oct. 16 at Saint Xavier University's 2012 John T. Farrell, Sr. Fall Forum.

"Franklin D. Roosevelt - A Fireside Chat" is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. This event is free and open to the public.

Through extensive research, meticulous attention to detail, and documented speeches, letters, and anecdotes, Lindsey creates a vivid living portrait of America's 32nd President.

Lindsey as "FDR" will speak informally about his presidency, his wife Eleanor, and his relationship with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He also will share Depression-era letters from citizens and discuss the New Deal programs. Experience Roosevelt's great optimism as he asks us all to "move forward with strong and active faith."

Lindsey holds a master's degree from Illinois State University and is a member of Actor's Equity, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

This event is sponsored by SXU's Renaissance Academy. For more information, please contact Kathleen Fassl at (773) 233-3770 or kfkato@aol.com.

SXU's Chicago campus welcomes Cougars on Parade 2012

Saint Xavier University invites the community to view artistically decorated Cougar statues as part of the 2012 Homecoming celebration from Mon., Sept. 24 to Sun., Sept. 30.

In homage to Chicago's world-famous "Cows on Parade" exhibit, SXU staff, faculty, alumni, and student organizations "adopted" fiberglass cougar statues, created by Chicago Fiberglass Works, Inc., and decorated each with a unique theme. Cougars will be on display throughout the Homecoming Week at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103^rd St., or on the SXU website.

The event will culminate with the "March of the Cougars" at 4:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 29 as SXU cheerleaders, the Paw Prints Dance Team, the SXU Marching Band, and Champ the Cougar mascot lead a procession of Cougar statues around campus. The procession will end at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field, home of the 2011 NAIA National Champion Cougars football team. Statues will be on display until the Homecoming football game at 6 p.m. that evening.

Everyone is welcome to vote online for their favorite Cougar statue at www.sxu.edu, keyword: cougar vote. Voting begins Mon., Sept. 24 and will conclude at 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Sun., Sept. 30.  

This event is sponsored by SXU's Office of Alumni and Parent Relations. For more information about Homecoming Week and other alumni events, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (773) 298-3316 or alumni@sxu.edu.

ComEd President/CEO Anne R. Pramaggiore to speak at SXU's Breakfast with the Experts

ComEd President and Chief Executive Officer Anne R. Pramaggiore will be the next guest of honor for the 2012 Breakfast with the Experts speaker and networking series on Thurs., Oct. 18 at Saint Xavier University (SXU). Pramaggiore's lecture is titled "Transforming Customer Focus through Smart Grid."

The event, jointly sponsored by SXU and BAPA, begins at 7:30 a.m. with a networking breakfast followed by the 8 a.m. keynote address. It will be held in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. Registration is $20 for the public and $15 for BAPA Members. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to register, contact BAPA at (773) 233-3100 or www.bapa.org.

Pramaggiore was promoted to her current position in February 2012 after previously serving as ComEd's president and chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the $6.1 billion company that delivers electricity to more than 70 percent of Illinois' population. She joined ComEd's legal team in 1998 and eventually moved into regulatory affairs, where she worked on significant components of the Consumer Choice Law including a 2007 legislative agreement that ultimately placed power purchases on the market.

Pramaggiore serves as a member of Babcock & Wilcox Company's Board of Director, as well as the boards of the Art Institute of Chicago, DePaul University, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago Urban League, and Lincoln Park Zoo. She graduated from DePaul University's School of Law and served as editor-in-chief of the school's Law Review. She also has a bachelor's degree in communications and theater from Miami University. 

SXU’s Breakfast with the Experts speaker series brings notable business, community and civic leaders together to share insights, experience and industry knowledge with area business people. To suggest a speaker or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please call (773) 298-3748 or email specialevents@sxu.edu.

SXU to host the work of Chicago artist Jim Zimpel

Saint Xavier University will host an art exhibit featuring the work of Jim Zimpel from Wed., Sept. 26 to Fri., Oct. 19. The exhibit, titled "I is the Grandson," will be on display in the SXU Gallery, located in the Warde Academic Center at the Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103^rd St. The exhibit also includes an artist's lecture and reception at 3:30 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 3 in the Gallery.

The show's title comes from its main installation piece, "I is the Grandson." The sculpture is composed of a Sears Escargo car top carrier, recycled billboard material, skis, plywood, PVC pipe, threaded pipes, pink foam, pine, and a photograph of his grandfather's dog Trevor. The pieces explore Zimpel's memories, like a meaningful fishing experience, a trip to a natural wonder, and a project built together in the garage shop behind the house

"It is recollection and recognition, an interpretation of traditions, fiction and history; an exploration of the terms of patrilineal relationships as I understand them," Zimpel said.

Zimpel is an adjunct professor at Columbia College's Art and Design Department. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from Bard College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts for University of Illinois at Chicago. His work has been featured in exhibits in Chicago, New York City, N.Y., Sacramento, Calif., Miami, Fla., Minneapolis, Minn., Riverside, Calif., Berlin, Germany, and Reykjavik, Iceland.

The SXU Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, please contact the Gallery at (773) 298-3081.

Learn about theologian and mystic Hildegard of Bingen at SXU's Theology South series

Learn about theologian, mystic, musician, healer, and church reformer Hildegard of Bingen with Prof. Avis Clendenen, D.Min., Ph.D., on Thurs., Oct. 4 at the next lecture in Saint Xavier University's (SXU) Theology South series. The program will take place in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

The lecture, titled "Saint Hildegard, Doctor of the Church: Implications for Today," begins with coffee at 9 a.m., and the lecture and question-and-answer session are scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m. It is open to the public and costs $6.

The lecture will explore the momentous occasion taking place on Oct. 7 later this year in Rome when Pope Benedict XVI declares Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century Benedictine Abbess, the fourth female of 35 Doctors of the Church. 

Prof. Clendenen is a faculty member in SXU's Department of Religious Students. She is the author of "Experiencing Hildegard: Jungian Perspectives," with a revised and expanded edition to be released in October. She also will attend the Oct. 7 ceremony in Rome representing the Church of Chicago.

For more information, please contact Donatta Yates at (708) 638-1070.