dr. joseph burke

Jason Fabaz

I am originally from East Lansing, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University with a business degree in 2002.  After graduation I spent some time in seminary and in a great new religious order: the Society of St. John Cantius in Chicago, IL.  Following seminary I taught at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, IL and coached basketball and tennis there as well.

I had long been an admirer of Ave Maria University dating back to its inception; so in 2008 I was very excited and grateful to start working for the University as an admissions counselor.  That same excitement and gratitude has stayed with me and grown over the years.  It is a tremendous blessing to be a part of such a great institution of higher education and I continually look forward to bringing many students to discover all that Ave Maria University has to offer. 

Ave Maria is a classical liberal arts university in the Catholic tradition, situated in beautiful southwest Florida.  Our average class size is 17 students, the student to faculty ratio is 10:1 and 92% of our faculty has earned a Ph.D. or terminal degree.  Our students come from 49 states and 29 countries, they are serious about their spiritual life and their academics, all the while making sure to enjoy life to the fullest through a vast array of social and athletic events always going on throughout the campus. 

 We are blessed to have 10 priests living on campus, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered three times daily.  The Sacrament of Confession is available every afternoon, Monday-Friday, and Saturday mornings.  We have a beautiful Perpetual Adoration Chapel on campus, open 24/7!, where Our Lord is exposed in the holy Monstrance.  Also very popular with many of our students is a Rosary walk every evening at 9pm.

 Ave Maria University offers 10 majors in the classical liberal arts: Math, Biology, Philosophy, Theology, History, Politics, Economics, Classics, Literature, and Music.  In addition to our majors we also have three great pre-profession programs: pre-med, pre-law and a certificate of business.  Our athletic teams compete or will compete in the NAIA as a member of the Sun Conference in the following sports: football, baseball, softball, men and women's basketball, soccer, golf, tennis and cross country, track and field and women's volleyball, swimming and rowing.  In addition to our Inter-Collegiate teams we have over 60 student clubs and organizations.

 Please let me know if you have any questions about the university or beautiful southwest Florida or anything in the application process.  Our number one goal as an admissions department is to help you find the best college fit whether it be Ave Maria University or not, so please call or email me anytime and I'll be happy to tell you more about the university and answer any questions you may have.

Rosemary Bell

Born in Brooklyn NY and raised in Garden City, LI, Rosemary Bell graduated Manhattanville College of The Sacred Heart with a Bachelor of Music Degree and was a member of Manhattanville's Pius X Choir, dedicated to Sacred Music. Rosemary married Jim Bell, a native of Scranton, PA and corporate lawyer whose career path called for frequent relocations, which served to enhance Rosemary's inherent adaptability. She spent the next few years teaching every aspect of elementary school music across all grades from K through 8 in Lindenhurst, NY and Edgewater Park, NJ before settling down to raise their six children. In each community in which she lived she volunteered for church and community public service work and also did substitute music teaching. Some of her volunteer work involved reading to the blind both in person and through a radio news show she hosted; working in St. Francis of Assisi soup kitchen, PTA activities, Meals on Wheels, and serving on the Auxiliary Board of a local Philharmonic.  Wherever she lived, Rosemary always sang -  in a church choir, a Schola Cantorum, a barbershop quartet, or a large choral society.  She continues to sing at Ave Maria University  having been a member of the Choir here since it began in 2004.   Rosemary joined the Ave Maria University family in March of 2003 and has worked in and with almost every department of the University during that time.

philip kempf

mary reed

rich scanlon

STEPHANIE SMITH

I was born and raised in Fresno, California with my three siblings. I attended Ave Maria University for all four years of my undergraduate studies, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology in May 2008. I have been working for Ave Maria's Admissions Department as the Visitor Coordinator since graduation. The opportunity to study at Ave Maria University has been life changing for me, both intellectually and spiritually. When I was deciding where to go to college, I had three things very clear in my mind - that it must be a school where I will receive formation in my Catholic Faith, the tools to grow in my relationship with God, and the opportunities to serve others. The Professors, Priests, Religious and students of Ave Maria have inspired me and challenged me by their examples- they have helped me discover who I am and what I was made for and they helped me to realize my gifts and talents and taught me how to use them for the glory of God. Ave Maria has far exceeded my expectations and hopes - I have, and always will, consider it one of the biggest blessings I've received.

miranda whalen