Saint Xavier University announces co-chairs for President’s Scholarship Ball to be held April 12

Left to right: Ellen Mulaney and Joseph Balasa

Chicago (Feb. 21, 2008) – Saint Xavier University has announced that Joseph and Nicolette Balasa and Charles and Ellen Mulaney will serve as co-chairs for the 23rd Annual President’s Scholarship Ball on Saturday, April 12 at the Hilton Chicago.

“The co-chairs provide significant visibility and help garner valuable sponsorship support for the President’s Scholarship Ball,” said Saint Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D. “We are very grateful for their ongoing support and personal commitment to the University.”

Joseph Balasa, a Saint Xavier University Board of Trustees member, was named chief operating officer of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce in July 1998. Balasa’s previous experience includes 13 years in property management and exposition operations for The Merchandise Mart and director of Special Events for the City of Chicago for Mayors Richard J. Daley and Michael Bilandic. He earned a bachelor of science degree from DePaul University.

Ellen Mulaney also serves on the SXU Board of Trustees. She teaches common law reasoning and communication and legal reasoning at Northwestern University’s School of Law. She previously was coordinator of a joint initiative between the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that established an ethics code and ethics training protocol for child welfare professionals. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and her juris doctor degree from Yale Law School.

As part of the Ball ceremonies, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley will receive the Shield of Saint Xavier. Daley became the head of JPMorgan Chase’s Office of Corporate Social Responsibility in June 2007, overseeing and coordinating the firm’s global strategy and efforts in government affairs, public policy, charitable giving, and environmental and community affairs. He also continues his roles as the firm's Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Midwest Region and as Chairman of JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

Daley served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton from 1997 to 2000, overseeing a department of more than 40,000 people. As Special Counsel to President Clinton in 1993, Daley coordinated the successful campaign to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The President’s Scholarship Ball has raised millions of dollars for the President’s Scholarship Program, which provides financial support to Saint Xavier’s most deserving students. The black-tie event is open to the public. For information or ticket reservations please contact (773) 298-3311 or specialevents@sxu.edu with “President’s Scholarship Ball” in the subject line. For media inquiries, please contact Joe Moore, director of media relations, at (773) 298-3937 or

jmoore@sxu.edu.

-SXU-