The St. Çï¿ûÊÓƵ Alumni Awards shine a spotlight on six exceptional graduates who represent the best of our three academic colleges: the College of Health and Human Services, College of Arts and Sciences, and Patricia VanBruwaene College of Business. One Emerging Leader and one Distinguished Alumni are selected from each college to recognize their achievements, leadership, and service. These award recipients exemplify the impact of a St. Ambrose education and the power of Ambrosian values carried into communities near and far.
St Ambrose is pleased to honor the following six alumni at the Celebration of Generosity on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Emerging Leaders
Matthew Thole ‘19, Patricia VanBruwaene College of Business, Emerging Leader
The Patricia VanBruwaene College of Business honors Matthew Thole ’19. Thole, who holds a degree in sales, finance, and marketing, and earned a minor in economic, immersed himself in a wide range of campus experiences, including Residence Life, Dance Marathon, Sales Club, intramural sports, and the Honors Program.
These experiences helped shape his leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Competing in national sales competitions sparked his passion for the sales profession, while his time as a resident advisor and assistant hall director strengthened his abilities in conflict resolution and team support.
After graduation, Thole joined Kunkel & Associates in Dubuque, Iowa, where he serves as an employee benefits and commercial insurance consultant. Over the last six years, he has helped business leaders across the Midwest manage risk and deliver strong employee benefits. He also mentors new consultants and interns, promoting professional growth and ethical leadership.
Thole remains deeply engaged in his community. He chairs the Dubuque Young Professionals Committee, serves on the St. Ambrose Alumni Association Board, and volunteers his time speaking to college students. Guided by his faith and his family, Thole strives to live the Ambrosian mission by leading with compassion, integrity, and service in both his personal and professional life.
Brita Ossian ‘22, College of Arts and Sciences, Emerging Leader
The College of Arts and Sciences honors Brita Ossian ’22. During her time at St. Ambrose, the forensic psychology major explored the intersection of psychology and the civil and criminal justice systems, drawing inspiration from faculty mentors including Julie Kettmann, PhD, and Andrew Kaiser, PhD.
With their support, and funding from the Student Government Association, she presented multiple research papers at World Social Science Association conferences on topics such as state responses to abuse, rural crime, and educational inequality. Ossian was also an active member of the St. Ambrose community, serving as outreach chair of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and volunteering with One Eighty, a faith-based organization supporting individuals in recovery and reentry, and QC Harm Reduction, a public health initiative focused on overdose prevention and safer drug use education.
Her experiences at SAU laid the foundation for a career devoted to public service. Ossian began her professional journey as a Domestic Abuse Survivor Advocate at Family Resources and currently serves as a paralegal and case manager with Iowa Legal Aid. She helped establish the Scott County Domestic Abuse Response Team and led Iowa Legal Aid’s first “Access to IDs” legal clinic, which assists individuals in obtaining essential identification documents needed for housing, employment, healthcare, and other vital services. Ossian began law school at the University of St. Thomas in August, where she continues a career in public interest law guided by her Ambrosian values.
Lydia Amissah-Harris ‘22, College of Health and Human Services, Emerging Leader
The College of Health and Human Services honors Lydia Amissah-Harris ‘22 MPH for her outstanding contributions to community health and maternal wellness. Amissah-Harris embodies the university’s mission of enriching lives through service, justice, and compassion.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, along with certifications as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and Community Health Worker. Amissah-Harris’ passion for maternal health deepened during her graduate studies at SAU, where she explored health disparities and developed a strong commitment to advocacy and equity. That foundation inspired her to pursue doula training with the Iowa Black Doula Collective and engage more deeply in hands-on community health work. Today, she serves as the family health coordinator for the Maternal Program at the Scott County Health Department, where she advocates for equitable care and supports families during pregnancy and postpartum. She is also the founder of The Bloom Project, a nonprofit that provides free postpartum care packages to BIPOC—Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—birthing families, ensuring they feel seen, supported, and nurtured during a critical life transition.
Amissah-Harris’ leadership and advocacy have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2024 40 Under 40 recognition from the Quad City Business Journal. In 2023, she was named Health Chair of the local NAACP chapter, where she leads initiatives that promote health equity. Grounded in faith, Amissah-Harris serves in worship ministries at two churches and seeks divine guidance in all aspects of her life. Her work exemplifies the spirit of a St. Ambrose education, one that empowers graduates to lead with purpose, compassion, and unwavering commitment.
Distinguished Alumni
Paul Thompson ‘02, Patricia VanBruwaene College of Business, Distinguished Alumni
The Patricia VanBruwaene College of Business honors Paul Thompson ’02 for his deep engagement and leadership at St. Çï¿ûÊÓƵ.
As a student, Thompson was heavily involved in various campus organizations. He held leadership roles, such as Campus Activities Board secretary and treasurer, Senior Class president, and president of Club IMPACT, Individuals Motivating Positive Actions and Choices Together. He played a pivotal role in launching the Spring Olympic Marathon Day to raise money for Special Olympics and establishing “The Swarm,” a student-led initiative to strengthen school spirit that is seeing a resurgence this year. These experiences, along with his degrees in accounting and political science, developed his skills in collaboration, leadership, influence, and innovation, shaping the foundation of his professional career.
Thompson joined Caterpillar as an intern in 2001 and began his full-time career in 2002. Over the past two decades, he’s served in leadership roles in accounting, finance, and product development, including serving as CFO of the Earthmoving Division and Director of Finance for the Industrial Power Systems Division. Notable milestones include leading Caterpillar through Brexit preparation and implementation, and directing the accounting integration of Bucyrus, the largest acquisition in company history.
Today, Thompson serves as vice president of Product Development and Aftermarket for the Earthmoving Division, where he continues to lead with vision and integrity. Beyond his corporate leadership, Paul has dedicated himself to service through the Galesburg Community Foundation where he established endowed scholarships honoring his most influential mentors, including his teacher Becky Carlson, his high school football coach, and his father. Thompson and his wife Bre, a 2005 St. Ambrose graduate, juggle busy careers and the joys of raising four children, all while devoting their time and talents to serving the university as members of the Board of Trustees. Thompson credits his Ambrosian experience with instilling the courage and justice that guides his work and community service.
John Mondanaro ‘84, College of Arts and Sciences, Distinguished Alumni
The College of Arts and Sciences honors John Mondanaro ’84. He began as a pre-med major, adding an art minor, before ultimately shifting his focus to art while adding a business minor. Mentored by Rev. Edmond Dunn, Tom Chouteau, Leslie Bell, Paul Herrera, and Lois Larrabee, Mondanaro developed the confidence to forge a meaningful and values-centered path.
He credits SAU with teaching him the importance of self-advocacy, a skill that has guided both his education and career. Following his undergraduate studies, Mondanaro earned a Master of Arts in Music Therapy and a PhD in Music Education from New York University. He currently serves as assistant professor and director of Expressive Arts Therapy for the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. With more than 25 years of experience, Mondanaro has worked across the lifespan, from neonatal intensive care to end-of-life care. He is licensed as a creative arts therapist in New York and holds dual certifications in music therapy and child life practice. His clinical approach, rooted in humanism, emphasizes the integration of mind, body, and spirit.
He has presented widely on the role of the arts in healthcare and co-edited two books. Mondanaro's contributions have been recognized with Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s Care and Compassion Award and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine’s Humanities Award. His creative and spiritual life remains central. During his time at SAU, he performed in musical theater and later went on to form vocal groups and record two original albums, with tracks from his first album airing on KALA. Today, Mondanaro draws daily inspiration from his wife Maurita and their son Adrian, and credits his parents for instilling the values that guide his work and relationships. Through a career grounded in service, advocacy, and the expressive arts, Mondanaro lives out the mission of St. Ambrose to enrich the lives of others with compassion, courage, and purpose.
Michelle Sarb ‘07, College of Health and Human Services, Distinguished Alumni
The College of Health and Human Services honors Michelle Sarb ’07 DPT. Though she did not begin her academic journey at St. Ambrose, Sarb quickly found her place within the close-knit physical therapy cohort and came to appreciate the mentorship and rigor offered by her faculty.
Initially drawn to pediatrics, Sarb discovered new passions through the program’s broad clinical exposure and ultimately pursued a different path that continues to fulfill her nearly two decades later. Since graduating, Sarb has served patients through her work with Rock Valley Physical Therapy. She began in orthopedic and sports medicine and now leads care in a neurologically-focused clinic with specialties in vestibular therapy, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), dry needling, and general orthopedics. In addition to her clinical work, Sarb led Rock Valley’s philanthropy committee for over 15 years. Under her guidance, the organization donated nearly $200,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities and Make-A-Wish and currently focuses on supporting veterans' organizations throughout the region.
Sarb’s commitment to service extends far beyond the clinic. She’s active on committees for the Quad City Business Journal and the Quad Cities Community Foundation and serves as a parent advisor for NKH Crusaders. This nonprofit advances care for children with nonketotic hyperglycinemia, a rare genetic disorder that affects her son. She is also a devoted dance mom to her daughter, celebrating both milestones and moments along the way.
For Sarb, physical therapy is a calling rooted in compassion. But it is her advocacy, as a professional, a leader, and a mother, that exemplifies the values of service and courage. Through her voice, her work, and her heart, she lives the Ambrosian mission each day.