9 saint francis magazine | fall 2024 Photography by Jeffrey Crane (BA ’97) Forty years since her four years at Saint Francis, Joni (Smart) Schmalzried (BS ’84) still feels the impact of the university’s Catholic, Franciscan values resonating in her life. The people she encourages and inspires undoubtedly feel them, too. “Without my education and the influence of people when I was at Saint Francis, I probably wouldn’t be here doing this,” Schmalzried said. “What they taught me—respecting and valuing all people and all you can do through that—has continued to impact my life for the last 40 years.” Schmalzried today serves as chief program officer for AWS Foundation, overseeing grant-making activities to advance the foundation’s mission. It’s a natural spot for her in a career spent working with and for people with disabilities. Schmalzried’s impact as a teacher, administrator and advocate for people who are often underserved has been felt throughout Indiana. “As a senior at Huntington North High School, I was a park director. A person from Village Training Center, which is now Pathfinders Services, called up and said, ‘Can we bring a few adults with disabilities to your park for activities and sports?’ I said, ‘Sure,’ and that was life- altering for me. Partway through the summer, I thought, ‘This is what I want to do.’” Schmalzried put aside her dreams of being a journalist and set out to find the best special education program in Indiana. Her research led her to Saint Francis. “People gave me a lot of grief, saying I was too tenderhearted, too emotional for a career working with people with disabilities,” Schmalzried said. “What Saint Francis taught me was this: Heart is important, moral integrity is important, belief and respect for all individuals is important. I was raised in the Catholic Church, so I fit religiously and philosophically. I credit my education at Saint Francis with who I am.” Upon graduation, Schmalzried taught elementary children at Sarah Litch Learning Development Center (Litch served as special education program director at Saint Francis), then at Sacred Heart Elementary before moving on to Huntington North. Eventually, she worked in Huntington County Community Schools administration. Schmalzried returned to the classroom to teach high school students with various disabilities at Whitko High School—while also working as an adjunct at Saint Francis. Eventually, she spent “four great years” as a full-time professor at Saint Francis. Returning to her roots to teach the next generation of teachers was another life-changing experience. Always open to new opportunities to impact people with disabilities, Schmalzried became Director of Special Education for the Wabash-Miami Area Program for Exceptional Children for eight years. She then worked as an assistant professor of education at Huntington University. She started the university’s ABLE (Achieving Balance in Life through Education) Program, a college experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in 2014 before becoming research associate/ project coordinator with the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Along the way, Schmalzried earned a master’s degree and doctorate through Ball State University. WHEW. SCHMALZRIED’S ENERGY LEVEL AND DRIVE ARE HARD TO MATCH. Having worked to obtain a grant funding the ABLE program from AWS Foundation while she was at Huntington, Schmalzried was intrigued when the chief program officer position opened. “I interviewed with Patti (Hays, AWS Foundation CEO) and I was just so impressed with the foundation and the depth of what they do,” Schmalzried said. “I think this was God-divined, giving me an opportunity to look at the big picture of disability, but bring my background in education. “Coming here has broadened my understanding of community, of disability, of resources, of education, of employment. We look at all aspects of how being a person with a disability impacts your life from birth to death. This is a place where I can make an impact.” Schmalzried and her husband, Lee, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next year. They have a son Nate, two granddaughters and a grandson. She values all the experiences of her career, and still delights in encountering former students who are now thriving with careers and families of their own. Saint Francis holds a special place in her heart, and she recently reconnected with two college best friends. “It seemed like no time had passed,” she said. AND, OF COURSE, HER WORK KEEPS HER ENERGY HIGH. AWS Foundation, an independent, nonprofit entity supporting the disability community, has awarded grants totaling more than $48 million to more than 190 nonprofit organizations, including Saint Francis’ Jesters program. Schmalzried worked with the Jesters as a student during the program’s developmental years. “Working with the foundation is phenomenal,” Schmalzried said. “I leave every day feeling like we’ve made a difference.”
