University of San Diego Magazine 75th Anniversary 2024

TOREROS MAKING WAVES

truly love and for which I have served as a volunteer for many years,” Wells writes. Tom Kruza (JD) has served as senior counsel for The Boeing Company Defense, Space & Security in Hunts ville, Alabama, for the past 12 years, leading in critical Boeing initiatives. Prior to Boeing, he worked as a government contracts attorney in Southern California where he received a pro bono award for work with disabled veterans and natural disaster victims. Tom and his wife Jeanne have fond memories of their time together at USD, where she completed her MEd in counseling. They attended The Immaculata Church, where they baptized their first daughter. Tom has been an active community volunteer coaching Little League and American Legion Baseball while also serving on various boards in Huntsville where their family resides. Erik Molina (BBA) recently retired from the Navy after 25 years of service and has transitioned to law school at the Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Katelyn Nichol (BA) lives in Spokane, Washington, and celebrated 12 years of marriage last fall with her husband, Christian Nichol, a San Diego native. They have three young boys and a daughter in heaven whom they can’t wait to join one day. Elizabeth Spangenberg (BA), ’16 (MA) was stationed on two U.S. Navy ships out of San Diego and is now working at the Pentagon. Carolyn Straub (BA) writes, “I can’t believe it’s been 15 years since I graduated. What I learned at USD I use every day — critical thinking, empathy, writing — even though my ethnic studies and English lit BA degrees seem very different from my job today as a director of

The Dynamic Trio

LAUREN RADACK

CALCAP Advisors, Led by USD Alumni, Makes Million-Dollar Investment in Knauss School of Business R eal estate investment firm CALCAP Advisors has Center for Business Education — along with a significant By Russell Yost

it is also an opportunity to give back to the university in a way that honors their success in business. “With the building of the Knauss Center for Business Education, it seems like a good time to make this investment,” says Aloe. “We didn’t want to wait until later in life to make a gift … and this was a rare opportunity to make a bigger gift from the three of us.” “What an extraordinary example of our alumni thought leaders paying it forward,” says Tim Keane, PhD, dean of the Knauss School of Business. “Our students, faculty, staff and alumni will benefit from the generosity of Ed, Pat and Mark for years to come.” USD completed construction of a new complex — the Knauss

renovation of Olin Hall in the fall of 2022. The gift comes full circle for the business partners and friends who were business majors at USD and part of one of the earliest cohorts of students in what was then known as the USD School of Business Administration. Last year, the university hosted a special event dedicating the suite. Aloe, Wakeman and Mozilo were joined by business partners, friends and several of their 1986 classmates for the celebration. “It speaks volumes when alumni give back to their university,” says Aloe. “The most important thing a university can have are fervent alums who love and support it.” •

pledged $1 million to USD’s Knauss School of Business. Ed Aloe (BBA), CALCAP founder and president, and Pat Wakeman (BBA) and Mark Mozilo (BA), co-founders and principals, are all USD graduates from the Class of 1986. The seven-figure gift is among the largest alumni gifts in USD history and has named the school’s Business Advisory Suite in commemoration of the firm the trio co-founded. The space, now known as the CALCAP Advisors Business Advisory Suite, is intended as a hub of collaboration between students and business leaders and a designated spot for alumni to host events and meetings. For Aloe, Wakeman and Mozilo,

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