Led by Mercy
As a member of Mercy Education, Mother McAuley proudly embraces a set of Mercy-inspired values. These values guide us as we empower mighty girls, turning them into young women who learn fairness and justice right alongside STEM and language arts. Macs are proud to be mighty - and we’re proud to be building the next generation of women called to lead.
We celebrate our alumnae, students, and members of our community who live their lives devoted to these Mercy values.
- Empowering Young Girls with Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
- A Global Impact with the Peace Corps
- Mental Health & Wellness Through a Creative Lens
- Infused with Mercy
- The Next Generation
Empowering Young Girls with Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Empowering Young Girls with Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Brenna Smith West ‘13 is the Chief Communications & Customer Experience Officer for the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. In her role, she guides the strategy for all internal and external communications for the organization, and oversees three departments: communications, customer experience, and the contact center, an outbound call center. Her organization is one of 110 Girl Scout Councils around the nation, serving 34 counties in the lower peninsula of Michigan, with approximately 16,000 members.
Brenna holds a bachelor of arts in communication, a bachelor of science in economics and a master of arts in communication from Western Illinois University.
What drew you to the Girl Scouts?
After grad school, I was really reflecting on what my path would be and where I wanted to go, because communications is such a broad degree and it’s such a broad field. I was drawn to the nonprofit sector because I really felt like I wanted to do whatever I could to spend my day-to-day making a difference in the lives of others, particularly girls and women. I definitely care about empowering girls and women. I view that as my life’s mission, and now I get to live it out every day.
Brenna (left) as a Girl Scout with fellow McAuley alumna, Brittany Konrath ‘13.
I was a Girl Scout for about 10 years while I was at Queen of Martyrs… It’s funny because when you’re preparing for an interview with an organization, you’re doing your research: who are they? What do they value? And it was when I was preparing for my first interview with Girl Scouts that I really reflected on what a transformative effect Girl Scouts had on me as a young girl. And then part of that story for me is that when I stopped Girl Scouts, which was in eighth grade, I went on to McAuley. So, yes, I didn’t have my Girl Scout troop, but I joined the sisterhood that carried me through my next four years. And then when I got to college, I joined a sorority. I really credit that presence of an all-girls environment throughout my life as one of the reasons I’m so passionate about girls having access to that same kind of environment, where they can build life skills and gain confidence and courage… they just get to have that safe space.
What stands out as you think about your role with the Girl Scouts?
I love that every day is different and that the work I do makes a real difference in the lives of girls, and in the lives of the volunteers that we get to work with. And it’s a really fun place to work. Girl Scouts is an incredible organization and the fact that we get to empower girls with incredible experiences that change their life and inspire them to change the world around them - there’s nothing better than that.
I do a couple different events per year that we call Media Girls, which is where we get a group of Girl Scouts together and teach them all about various aspects of media, including how to interview and how to be interviewed. We work with them on content creation and how you create content to match your marketing strategy. We train them on how to be in front of the camera if they were to be on TV or on the radio. That’s one of my favorite ways that I get to interact with girls - helping them sharpen their communications and media skills.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Mother McAuley, and how do you feel like it shaped you?
I was involved in Inscape through a journalism class, and we published a monthly paper… I always loved writing, but as part of the leadership for Inscape, you really got to craft what the narrative was... I absolutely loved it. I loved the rush of going to press and getting everything ready on time, meeting a deadline, doing interviews, all of that. When I was deciding what to study [in college,] that was one of the things that I thought about. I love storytelling, I love putting that message together, crafting the words so that it’s just right, and getting it out to people.
Brenna and her mom, Dorie Filpovich Smith ‘83, at Girl Scout camp.
Do you feel like you had any leaders who were mentors for you growing up that helped guide you?
My mom, Dorie Filpovich Smith ‘83, was a huge mentor to me, and she was my Girl Scout leader so she was always there. And I had a lot of teachers along the way who really made an impact on me… I recently read a published news article that was just riddled with so many grammatical errors and typos… I thought Mrs. Virginia Murphy, who was my freshman English teacher, and Sister Nancy Houlihan, who I had junior year, would have just ripped this paper to shreds… I think about those two phenomenal teachers in particular a lot when I’m writing and editing because of all they drilled into my brain.
A Global Impact with the Peace Corps
A Global Impact with the Peace Corps
Mariel Galvan ‘16 is a volunteer with the Peace Corps in their Youth in Development sector. Now a year into her service, she is currently based in a rural beach town in Costa Rica with a population of 500 people. She spends her days rotating between three institutions: a daycare, an elementary school, and a high school, facilitating workshops, teaching, coaching, and more.
She holds a bachelor degree in integrative biology, pre-medicine/ pre-medical studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What was your educational and work experience before joining the Peace Corps?
During undergrad, I was heavily involved in disability advocacy, collaborating with my friend and sister Analiz Magana ‘16, who also attended UIUC. I completed my research and senior thesis with reproductive health expert and bio-anthropologist Dr. Kate Clancy. With her lab, I investigated Imposter Phenomenon in women-of-color scientists and the health implications associated with the experience. Kate’s lab was my first exposure to practical wet lab work and qualitative methods; likewise my first window into research as a profession.
Post graduation, I was accepted to the Peace Corps to serve in Costa Rica in July of 2020. This plan was delayed due to the pandemic. In the meantime, I landed a job in Pediatric Clinical Research at the University of Chicago. There I had the pleasure of working under the management of Melissa Zeilner Marx ‘06, daughter of McAuley Spanish teacher Señora Laura Zeilner. In the clinical research coordinator role, I supported studies within the university’s infectious disease, hematology, and oncology departments. The majority of my time at the institution was devoted to Sickle Cell Disease research. As someone who grew up in a Black and Mexican household, working within this patient population felt like the best way to use my education to support my community. After three years with the department, the itch to pursue the Peace Corps persisted. With the blessing of my colleagues and friends, I began service in July of 2024.
What drew you to the Peace Corps?
I joke that I am a product of Peace Corps propaganda. I remember watching the commercials on television as a child and I knew it would be something I would do. At UIUC, I prepared my application with our campus’ Peace Corps Adviser. I worked for the Chicago Park District and the Muscular Dystrophy Association during my summers so I decided to pursue the ‘Youth in Development Sector.’ Costa Rica resonated due to the country’s communal values and ecological focus.
Another motivator for me was the immersive language learning opportunity provided in service. Prior to entering your service site, volunteers receive three months of language training. The opportunity to solidify my Spanish felt like a fair trade for the volunteer stipend. One year in, I can confirm that it was worth its weight in gold.
What is your role, and what does your day-to-day look like?
Every day I rotate between three institutions: a daycare, an elementary school, and a high school. All of my primary work from meetings, lesson planning, and facilitating workshops occurs in Spanish. At the high school, I coach boys and girls volleyball teams and co-lead our environmentalism service projects. At the elementary school, I facilitate art workshops that incorporate soft-skills such as managing conflict and emotions. At the day-care, I co-lead a mother’s group and teach English. Our first three months of service are dedicated to the completion of a community participatory assessment and every project that my community is facilitating now via the Peace Corps is a product of that collective brainstorming. The Peace Corps model requires the projects to be replicable and sustainable so collaboration and community investment is a non-negotiable.
External to my school-based work, I spend most of my free hours on various porches drinking ‘cafecito.’ The generosity of neighbors has expanded my paradigm of mutuality. Food exchange is the currency of the day. Individual problems come with group solutions. At my best and worst (food poisoning) and 3,000 miles from my home-base, I have rarely felt alone.
What are your future plans when your service with the Peace Corps comes to an end?
I have one more year left in service. I intend to work abroad for one more year before making my way back stateside for medical school.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Mother McAuley, and how do you feel like it shaped you?
Entering McAuley, I was swiftly humbled by the talent flooding the halls. I learned that women here refused reduction. The star athlete is also an AP student and an artist. The lead actress of the fall play is in student government and a champion of service. Seeing this role modeled altered the way I view work and academics. I’ve come to view nuance in passion as adaptive, advantageous, and more aligned with the reality of navigating fulfillment in career.
Beyond academics, McAuley gave me my chosen family. To this day the people with which I co-habitate, celebrate, grieve, and love are my McAuley sisters.
One of my favorite memories is that Les Miserables was big my senior year. Unprovoked, our AP Literature class with Ms. Mary McCormick would break into ‘I Dreamed a Dream.’ It was this inexplicable domino effect; girls standing on desks and turning the room upside down for four minutes. It was just as ridiculous as it sounds and cemented the importance of whimsy. That class was abundant in star students but in those moments, everyone was reminded not to take themselves too seriously.
Mental Health & Wellness Through a Creative Lens
Mental Health & Wellness Through a Creative Lens
Karen Spears ‘13 is the founder of Kareracter, a creative and strategic marketing firm that helps brands find their voice and express it visually through thoughtful logo design and brand identity work. Since its inception eight years ago, Karen has worked with a diverse range of clients, including the Poetry Foundation, Thales, Therapy for Black Girls, the Tory Burch Foundation, and Arts Alliance Illinois, as well as numerous small businesses. She also works as Creative Director for Therapy for Black Girls, a digital platform and community dedicated to the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
Karen attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she majored in communications and minored in business.
What has been your experience as an entrepreneur?
My first company, which I founded during my time at McAuley, was called The Korean Pears. It was a playful spin on my name, Karen Spears (and no, I didn’t sell Korean Pears). I got my start creating fun hand-lettered quotes on small painted canvases. Some of my first patrons were [my 2013 McAuley classmates] Leah Roethle, Brenna Smith, Emily Reynolds, Katherine Kezon, Mary Joan Evans, Mairead Zigulich, Avyaunce Anderson, and more. Their early support helped jumpstart my creative entrepreneurial journey most expansively. From there, I began selling my work on Etsy and through my university’s consignment shop.
In 2015, I was deeply inspired by the Girl Boss era, as women collectively chased their dreams and passions lit a fire within me. I founded Let’s Vibe in partnership with my sister friend, Diamond Greer. We created it to extend the fantastic relationships we built at McAuley. Our goal was to build a community of women uplifting one another.
Through Let’s Vibe, we hosted events and created spaces where women could hone their leadership skills, access career opportunities, and receive support. Although we eventually decided to dissolve the organization, the connections we made still stand. We’re still connected with many women we met along the way.
I naturally evolved into building my creative firm, Kareracter. At this stage in my creative career, I’ve successfully pivoted from graphic design into creative and strategic marketing. My internship in New Business at advertising agency Leo Burnett laid the foundation; it taught me how to develop and sell my big ideas. With that experience, I merged my passions for community building and design to help businesses craft compelling brand and visual identities.
Learn more about Karen’s work on her website, kareracter.com.
I launched Kareracter during my junior year of college. At Kareracter, we’re building a world where everyday dreamers can design their lives and the world around them, and we start with a tool called mind-mapping.
Can you share more about Therapy for Black Girls?
Therapy for Black Girls is a digital platform and community dedicated to the mental wellness of Black women and girls. Founded by licensed psychologist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, the brand has grown into a trusted voice in mental health through its award-winning podcast, robust therapist directory, and impactful events. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Joy on building her brand and serving as her Creative Director since 2021. In my role, we champion the wellness of Black women and girls worldwide. Our goal is to make these topics accessible through pop culture and destigmatize seeking professional support as part of one’s mental wellness journey.
As Creative Director, I bring visions to life in a way that visually resonates with our audience segments. From ideating at an organizational level with our CEO on big picture vision, we determine creative initiatives that drive revenue and impact. From there, we activate those campaigns through digital marketing campaigns and in-person events. Day-to-day, I manage a team of creative designers and freelancers to bring those concepts to life. I draw on my lived experience to create mood board concepts, allowing our team to work their magic!
Why does this work feel important?
The World Health Organization has reported that one in six people worldwide experience loneliness, which can have profound effects on health and well-being. In today’s society, we need safe spaces that foster connection and community. The work done by Therapy for Black Girls offers numerous free resources to help individuals embark on their journeys toward education, encouragement, and support. As women, it’s our responsibility to support and uplift one another, and I’m happy that my creative leadership can encourage others to prioritize their health to become their best selves.
How do you feel your time at Mother McAuley shaped you?
Mother McAuley was my window to the world. I still remember my first visit, which was during an 8th-grade shadow day. The young women and faculty I met left a lasting impression; they carried themselves with such confidence and ease. I immediately connected with that energy.
At McAuley, I finally felt seen. For the first time, my creativity was celebrated by both my teachers and peers. I will never forget McAuley as being one of the first places where my creativity took root and began to flourish. I credit McAuley’s uplifting and empowering culture for helping me grow into the artist and person I am today.
Karen Spears ‘13 (seated, second from right) joined (from left) Megan McKenna ‘99 (member of the Board of Trustees), Kate Bewley ‘17, and Grace Turcich ‘16 for an Alumnae Insights Panel in 2024. The alumnae shared more about their specialized career field in the visual/digital arts, graphic design, and marketing with our students.
What is one of your favorite memories from McAuley, and what were you involved in?
During my time at McAuley, I was voted Homeroom Rep and Kairos leader (shoutout to K106, live the fourth!). I was also deeply involved in the arts department, but my most significant anchor of involvement was through the Daniel Murphy Scholarship. This scholarship not only supported my education but also allowed me to attend McAuley.
My favorite memory at McAuley was Kairos! It is one of my earliest memories of understanding Christianity. The lessons I learned helped me connect with my classmates on a deeper level. McAuley does a remarkable job of creating safe spaces where students can excel not just academically, but spiritually and emotionally.
Infused with Mercy
Infused with Mercy
We have a renewed focus on infusing Mercy into all we do at Mother McAuley - including our interactions and offerings for our greater school community. With this in mind, we launched a new initiative at the start of the 2024-2025 school year to provide a deeper understanding of how our Mercy charism and mission relate to our Catholic identity for all adults in our community - faculty, staff, parents, alumnae, Board of Trustees, benefactors, and friends. Led by Sr. Nancy Houlihan, RSM as the new Assistant Director of Mission Integration, we have worked to bring our Mercy values into every aspect of our school. This spring, Sr. Nancy celebrated her jubilee, honoring 50 years of service as a Sister of Mercy.
The Next Generation
The Next Generation
This summer, six of our Mighty Macs attended the Conference of Mercy Student Leaders at St. Xavier University. They stayed on campus for a week, joining Mercy education students from around the world as they deepened their leadership skills and shared how they embody the spirit of Mercy and practice the critical concerns within their communities. Sr. Nancy Houlihan, RSM, brought her expertise to the conference, sharing a keynote with the students addressing Mercy charism and ministry in today’s world.
Some of our students reflected on their powerful experiences.
“The Conference of Mercy Student Leaders gave me the amazing opportunity to meet young women from many different schools within and outside the United States. Meeting young women from Belize, Honduras, and Jamaica and learning about their lifestyles in these countries and their schools was an unforgettable experience. It was surprising that although we live in different places, there were many things we had in common and it was interesting to learn about our differences.”
- Gianna Cislo ‘26
“The Mercy Leader Conference was one of the most eye opening experiences. We met so many girls from so many different backgrounds, and it was so interesting getting to know each other. We could talk for hours with these girls! I loved getting to know their cultures, home life, and Mercy values. This is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
- Nora Guardi ‘27
“Having the opportunity to meet girls from all over the world that prioritized works of Mercy in their schools was very inspirational. Just because we were from different backgrounds and cultures didn’t change the fact that we shared many of the same values. After everyone shared the way their school includes Mercy, our team created our own vision of what works of Mercy can be brought back to McAuley. My biggest takeaway from the conference was realizing the impact works of Mercy can make in peoples’ lives. Meeting real people that are seeking refuge reminded me that I don’t have to go far to help others. I hope to carry what I learned from my experience at the conference with immigrant families into my understanding of Mercy in my daily life.”
- Lucy Lakawitch ‘26
“It was such an exciting experience to meet students from other Mercy schools around the world. You hear about other Mercy schools but it’s so cool to actually see that there’s other schools around the world with the same morals as you. All the students connected really well, it was like we all knew each other for years. I’m so blessed I got the opportunity to experience it because it was honestly so amazing. I came out refreshed and with many new friends and memories.”
- Kennedi White ‘26
You can read more about the conference in the Chicago Tribune’s Daily Southtown!
