SXU Alum Named President of National Alumni Board
Saint Xavier University (SXU) alum Terry Cornell Jr. '97 has been named president of the SXU National Alumni Board. In his new role, he looks forward to invigorating the board and getting more alumni involved to give back to students.
Cornell, a lobbyist who is dedicating to serving the veteran students and alumni of the University, served as a firefighter in the United States Navy and Air Force for over 20 years. In 1980, he was honorably discharged served in the reserves for over 20 years. He went on to pursue his education, earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Xavier; a master's degree in business law from the Loyola School of Law; and a certificate in federal policy from the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. He was working on an associate's degree in tribal administration from Southwest Oklahoma State University’s Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal College before transferring to Bacone College in Oklahoma, where he is majoring in American Indian studies. Cornell, who is part Indigenous American (Arapaho), spent most of his summers on the family farm on tribal land and is very invested in Indigenous studies.
In addition to his studies, he works full-time as the chief interaction officer with Preferred Rate Mortgage.
Cornell thought he was going to make a career in law enforcement, as several of his immediate family members were police officers, so he began his studies at SXU in criminal justice. He is the first person in his family to get a college degree. At Saint Xavier, he met Sister Denis O'Grady, who guided him and taught him the value of an education.
"I was a high school dropout. I consider myself very successful today, but I wouldn't be as successful as I am without my education and Sister Denis. I used to tell her, 'I'm stupid and can't learn this,' and she would sit there patiently and talk me through it and she was wonderful. They all were. I have fond memories of taking the Saint Xavier nuns out to my box at a Chicago White Sox game or over to my home for Christmas dinner to sing," said Cornell.
Cornell finds that the faculty at SXU really helped him to flourish, and that the liberal arts education he received gave him a well-rounded view of the world as a whole. Though his undergraduate experience was tough, he enjoyed the challenge and believes his time at Saint Xavier made him a better person.
As a veteran himself, Cornell is especially committed to serving the veteran student community at SXU.
"I know how hard it is to be a veteran student and transition back into civilian life. As a veteran, I have a moral duty to assist these students and make life easier for them. I enjoy the camaraderie and meeting new people, and I am there to help these students with anything. I want them to know people care about them," said Cornell.
Cornell looks forward to watching SXU continue to grow and changing the direction of the National Alumni Board so that alumni are more involved with events and student support.
"I'm planning to do some great things with the board so that we carry on the Sisters of Mercy legacy and then some," said Cornell.