Mary is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She has worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital and the U of I Hospitals and Clinics. With a life-long love of cooking, she is currently pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts. Mary and her husband, Dr. Craig Hovda, are the proud parents of five children who have graduated from the Xavier Catholic School System: Allyson (X09), Eric (X11), John (X15), Matthew (X16), and Kristen (X19). Mary and her family and have felt blessed to have been a part of the Xavier community for the past 14 years. She has thoroughly enjoyed being able to volunteer and watch their children as they participated in athletics, theater, and vocal music activities. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and looks forward to new adventures!
Markus began dancing, singing and performing on stage in musical theater in high school and continued in the theater at Theatre Cedar Rapids for several years. He was introduced to the world of ballroom through a local dance studio and then broke out on his own to open his studios and forge a new path in the dance world. Markus continues his growth by continually being coached by nationally recognized judges and dance champions from around the world. The combination of his fun personality, attention to detail, and his competitive nature has driven Markus and his students to win top honors at several dance competitions around the country which include: Wisconsin State Dancesport Challenge, Heritage Classic, Heart of America Dance Competition, Twin Cities Open, Empire State Dance Classic, Holiday Dance Classic, the Snow Ball, the Dallas Invitational, the Nebraska Invitational, the Emerald Ball, and the Ohio Star Ball. His approach to dancing and the education of his students has made him one of the most sought after instructors in the midwest.