Alumnae News

In August 2021, SHA Alumnae Director (Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95) had the pleasure of visiting with Sister Martha Buser, OSU at her home in Louisville. Sister Martha recently celebrated her 2020 Jubilee as an Ursuline Sister, marking 70 years (now 71 years) in the Ursuline community. She kindly shares a bit about her path in life, her love of God and St. Angela Merici, and leaves us with a powerful message that I know I will work to keep close to my heart each day. We thank you, Sister Martha, for your commitment to the Ursulines, the Church, God, and St. Angela.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Mrs. Mary Lee McCoy’s passing. We celebrate and honor, with gratitude, the life of Mrs. McCoy who dedicated herself to the education of young women for more than 35 years.

To kick off the new year, we are proud to feature Susan Hanley Duncan, Class of 1984 as this month’s Alumna Spotlight. Susan and I spoke from her office in Oxford, Mississippi, where she serves as the first female Dean of the University of Mississippi Law School. Susan comes from a family of Valkyries, and raised three Valkyries of her own – Emily, Catherine and Maria. She shares her thoughts on our precious core values, lends brilliant advice to aspiring law students, and reminisces about some of her favorite memories of Dear Sacred Heart. Thank you, Susan!

Donna Bender Moir, SHA Class of 1979, is a wonderful example of a Valkyrie who embodies so many characteristics that are valued here at Sacred Heart Academy. Throughout her 30+ years as SHA’s Athletic Director, and head basketball coach, Donna has accumulated four state championships – 1 as a player (’76) and 3 as a coach (’02, ’03 and ’04) – and she has successfully led our SHA Athletic Department coaches and players as they have racked up 94 state tournament championship titles. A fierce competitor, Donna also embodies the characteristics of patience, kindness and perhaps most importantly, community, in her time at Sacred Heart. As a player during Donna’s tenure as AD, and now her colleague at Sacred Heart, it was a great honor to interview Donna for this spotlight. Read on, to learn more about this beloved Valkyrie!

We are happy to feature Pam Willinger Stallings ’82 and her daughter Samantha Stallings ’11, as they share their thoughts on our Dear Sacred Heart, and why they choose to give back to our community in ways that are truly “all heart."

Autumn Walker, SHA Class of 2006, spent some time with me on the phone recently, from her home near Dover, Delaware. We discussed her time at Sacred Heart, her role as an Officer in Charge (OIC), Unit Support Analyst with the United States Air Force, and what our Ursuline core value of “leadership” means to her.

Maribeth Kapilla Sandford is the founder and CEO of Union, Illinois-based BAG MAKERS, Inc. and a 1960 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy. Maribeth is also a horse owner, with thoroughbred racehorses who compete at various tracks around the country. She was recently back in Louisville when their horse, Eloquent Lady, ran at Churchill Downs.

Nancy is a graduate of the SHA class of 1963 and the owner and executive designer of Events LLC, in Louisville, KY. Events LLC produces a myriad of events throughout Louisville and beyond.

Nina Leigh attended college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and went on to earn her Masters of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Since joining Purina (now Nestlé Purina) in 1993, Nina Leigh has served in a variety of marketing roles and shortly after being named the Chief Marketing Officer in 2015, she was promoted to President of Nestlé Purina U.S. in April of 2016.