Thank you Incoming and Outgoing Board Directors!
As we embark on a new fiscal year on July 1, we'd like to recognize our incoming and outgoing Board Directors.
We have three incoming Board Directors beginning in the 2025-2026 year: We look forward to your contributions and thank you for your ongoing commitment to our school!
Christopher (Topher) Garcia ’97: Topher currently serves on the Alumni Board, is Assistant Coach of Girls and Boys Tennis, and provides film and editing support to the school. He will continue to serve on the Advancement Committee. Topher is an alumni parent of Thaia ’18 and future parent of two future Spartans at St. Michael School. He is Executive Director, Global Sales Operations, at Charles River Laboratories and has a bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Bridget Hannon ’09: Bridget will continue to serve on the Advancement Committee and provided consultative services to SFHS Advancement team. She is the Founder/Owner and Principal Consultant at Serenity Nonprofit Consulting Group and earned her bachelor’s in Science and Technology in Society from Butler University, Master’s in Nonprofit Management from DePaul University, and she is a CFRE Certified Fundraising Executive. She was also a member of the Northeastern DuPage Family and Youth Services Board of Directors.
Sister Barb Nelson ’62: Sr. Barb served as a Theology and Mathematics teacher at SFHS from 2000-2007 and is the United States Region Treasurer at Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). She earned her bachelor’s in Mathematics with minors in Physics and Chemistry from St. Procopius College; her Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Illinois, Urbana; and her Master’s of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union. She plans to serve on the Education Committee.
Board Chair Update: Debbie Falduto Novack will continue to serve one more year as a Board Director but reached her term limit as Board Chair this year. Debbie joined the Education Committee in 2016, the Board of Directors in 2018, and then served two terms (four years) as Board Chair and Chair of the Executive Committee. Debbie used her gifts to promote thorough, thoughtful discussion of important concerns in our Catholic community and her dedication, legal expertise, and leadership skills served as a guiding light that helped the Board work efficiently and effectively during her tenure. Thank you, Debbie!
Bridget Hannon ’09: Bridget will continue to serve on the Advancement Committee and provided consultative services to SFHS Advancement team. She is the Founder/Owner and Principal Consultant at Serenity Nonprofit Consulting Group and earned her bachelor’s in Science and Technology in Society from Butler University, Master’s in Nonprofit Management from DePaul University, and she is a CFRE Certified Fundraising Executive. She was also a member of the Northeastern DuPage Family and Youth Services Board of Directors.
Sister Barb Nelson ’62: Sr. Barb served as a Theology and Mathematics teacher at SFHS from 2000-2007 and is the United States Region Treasurer at Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). She earned her bachelor’s in Mathematics with minors in Physics and Chemistry from St. Procopius College; her Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Illinois, Urbana; and her Master’s of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union. She plans to serve on the Education Committee.
Board Chair Update: Debbie Falduto Novack will continue to serve one more year as a Board Director but reached her term limit as Board Chair this year. Debbie joined the Education Committee in 2016, the Board of Directors in 2018, and then served two terms (four years) as Board Chair and Chair of the Executive Committee. Debbie used her gifts to promote thorough, thoughtful discussion of important concerns in our Catholic community and her dedication, legal expertise, and leadership skills served as a guiding light that helped the Board work efficiently and effectively during her tenure. Thank you, Debbie!
Michael O’Connell will begin his first term as Board Chair this year. Mike is an alumni parent of Caitlin ‘06, Michael ‘09, Patrick ‘13, Jack ’16, and Kevin ’20. In addition to many years of service to the SFHS Board of Directors and its committees, Mike has held executive positions at various companies in the Chicagoland area including Molex Inc., AAR Corp., and Sterling Site Access Solutions LLC. He earned his bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University and has also held positions on the boards of Alexander Manufacturing and Sterling Site Access Solutions LLC.
Thank you to our Outgoing Board Directors: St. Francis High School extends its sincere gratitude to our outgoing Board Directors who have tirelessly volunteered their time for the benefit of our school and school community.
Maureen Finn, six years of Board service, Chair of the Education Committee. Maureen recently retired and plans to enjoy traveling with her husband. Maureen’s human resource skills and dedication to the Presidential Search Committee were deeply influential during her tenure.
Maureen Finn, six years of Board service, Chair of the Education Committee. Maureen recently retired and plans to enjoy traveling with her husband. Maureen’s human resource skills and dedication to the Presidential Search Committee were deeply influential during her tenure.
Fr. Jim Murphy, nine years of Board service. Fr. Jim recently retired after 47 years as a priest and has served SFHS since 1983. He has served on the Education Committee, Presidential Search Committee, and made a profound impact through his pastoral and supportive guidance to the Board.
Fr. Jim will continue to serve as School Chaplain, celebrating monthly All-School liturgies and weekly Tuesday morning Mass, as well as offering Thursday afternoon reconciliation. He will also continue to participate in Kairos.
St. Francis High School
2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893
Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893
