SERVICE AWARD
Deborah Rubbelke O’Halloran, Bus Ad ’80
Saint Paul, Minn.
Deb O’Halloran co-founded Second Stork in 2009, shifting gears from a long career in finance to helping more than 3,000 families each year. Second Stork, an all-volunteer service organization, partners with hospitals in Minnesota and the upper Midwest to provide essentials to new parents in need, giving babies a safer and healthier start in life.
A Saint Paul native whose parents were a firefighter and a homemaker, Deb was raised with a strong work ethic and Catholic faith. She chose Marquette based on its Catholic identity, strong business school and driving distance from Saint Paul. Deb credits her Jesuit education with showing her that success is not measured in possessions or titles but equates to giving back to your community and other people selflessly.
Deb now lives Marquette’s mission every day, exercising leadership and service while putting key business principles into practice in ways that positively impact people’s lives. She sees examples of her Catholic faith regularly. “There are so many days at Second Stork when unexpected, fabulous things happen; I close my eyes and I realize thankfully that we are not alone in this mission at all – there’s a special hand helping from above.” Deb is also surrounded by fellow Marquette alumni who work in her organization and serve on the board of Second Stork.
Deb hopes her story can inspire others to use their education, time, and skills in similar ways to help those in need. “There’s so much this world can use in terms of creativity and innovation to help people that need a boost from others.”
Name someone (past or present) with whom you’d like to have dinner.
My oldest sister, Pauline Maier, who passed away suddenly in 2013. She was an American historian, author, and professor at M.I.T. She was a mentor who encouraged me to strive for higher education and learning, and yet was intrigued at the level of community service that inspired me after being educated at Marquette. She could be very intellectual, but she never forgot her Midwestern, working-class roots. She had a great sense of humor and wit. Her laugh was infectious.
Name a Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on you, and how.
My advisor, Dr. Richard Robinson, had a major impact on me. He encouraged me to pursue graduate school and helped with my letters of recommendation. My senior year, I organized a book exchange to help students sell and buy used textbooks, much to the chagrin of local bookstores that were NOT taking used books or gave pennies on the dollar. This was no small issue when most of us worked summers and during school to make ends meet. When the book exchange was wildly successful and I got in some trouble for it, Dr. Robinson and the staff in Business Administration stood up in a gallant way for the concept and my efforts. I remember how wonderful they made me feel about doing what was right to help others.
Leave a congratulatory message for Deb!