Former Alderman Takes Position With Saint Xavier University

Former longtime 19th Ward Alderman Virginia Rugai is taking on a new role at Saint Xavier Univeristy. 

Rugai, who retired in 2011, has been named the school's first appointee in their new Senior Fellows program. In her new role she will be teaching several classes to Saint Xavier students. The school released the details in a press release:

Rugai will teach three five-week seminars in Political Science, each worth one credit hour, during the 2013 spring semester.

• "Women, Government, and Politics" – a seminar that explores the historical and contemporary experiences of women in the U.S. political system with particular emphasis on Chicago and Illinois governments; it focuses on the reasons why women have increased their participation within the political arena.
• "Making Public Policy" – a seminar that will investigate the process necessary to create public policies within the context of contemporary issues.
• "Politics and Urban Education" – a seminar that will examine the crisis in urban education; the course will analyze the root causes, noteworthy reforms and controversial issues related to public, private, and charter schools.

Rugai also will serve other constituencies as Senior Fellow, spending campus time organizing a public lecture covering issues within her expertise, mentoring and guiding students about careers in public service and politics, and being available to faculty as a guest speaker or docent for urban field trips within the political sphere.

Rugai acknowledged, “I am deeply honored by this appointment and anticipate lively discussions with SXU students, our future leaders in building a better community, a better city, and, ultimately, a better America.”

"Virginia Rugai's experience as a Chicago City Council member and her decades of public service involvement will enable her to provide valuable insights about life in the public sector at many levels for our students; we are excited to welcome a woman of her experience to the Saint Xavier University educational community," said President Christine M. Wiseman, J.D.

Rugai was 19th Ward Alderman on the Chicago City Council from 1990 to 2011. She served as Chairman for the Energy, Environmental Protection, and Public Utilities Committee, as Vice Chairman of the Police and Fire Committee, and on numerous other committees including Finance, Budget and Government Operations, and Transportation and Public Way. She also was appointed to the Task Force on Women's Health and the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues.

Rugai also served as president of the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization and as a member of other organizations, including: the Little Company of Mary Hospital Foundation Board; Saint Xavier University's President's Advisory Council; the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago; Brother Rice High School's Board of Directors; and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Leader Council. 

Rugai's appointment as Saint Xavier University's first Senior Fellow is being funded through an endowment provided to Saint Xavier's Office for University Mission and Heritage. It seeks to bring scholars and leading practitioners from the arts, sciences, politics, religion, business, humanities, social sciences, or other disciplines germane to Saint Xavier’s educational programs. Senior Fellows are appointed by the President in consultation with the Office for University Ministry. The Senior Fellow’s role is to advance student learning, create academic synergy, exhibit thought leadership, and enhance the University's reputation and resources.