CSM Alumna Walking Tall as Nebraska Inspector General for Child Welfare

The CSM alumna and Spirit of Saint Mary awardee didn’t intend on following her parents’ academic and career choices. Her mother is a CSM alumna, and her father chose to practice law. But her serendipitous pursuit of a degree from CSM and a legal profession put Julie Rogers '95 on the path to making a huge difference to the most vulnerable in our society – children.

In 2012, after a successful career as a juvenile justice expert and former legal counsel for the Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, Rogers was named Nebraska’s first Inspector General for Child Welfare. She recently had the opportunity to return to CSM and speak to members of the Walk Tall Honors Society.

Rogers spoke to the 33 honors students about the impact of personal decisions, how to make decisions and the importance of engaging others in the decision-making process.

Walk Tall Honors Program Director Dr. Molly Mahoney, says the importance of visits by accomplished alumnae like Rogers can’t be underestimated. “Hearing an alumna tell her story is extremely inspiring,” she says.

“Alumnae provide strong role models for CSM students.”

The honors students wrote reflection papers on Rogers’ presentation, and included the importance of her words in their own lives.

Junior nursing student Gertrude Majani is taking to heart Rogers’ advice on making personal decisions.

“In the near future,” she writes, “I am required to make a decision about making my final vows.” Majani is nearing the end of her six-year temporary vows as a nun in the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus order. She admits that she is “truly in a state of quagmire” about the decision.

“I learned from Julie that indecision is the worst harm one can do to oneself,” she says. In making the decision that will set her future, Majani will seek the engagement of others and apply the critical thinking skills she’s acquired through the honors program and her nursing studies.

Ultimately, Majani will make her own decision on which road is right for her. As Rogers told her and the other honors students, “you have to be you. Whoever you are, be you.”