Chris McCarville is a 1997 Regis High School alumnus and former Xavier High School teacher and administrator who brings a wealth of successful Catholic development and school-oriented experience to his role as President.
Chris was named Xavier's President in 2019. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa in Des Moines, where he has served since 2016. While there, McCarville led the organization through a comprehensive strategic planning process and helped grow the Foundation’s total assets under management. He also cultivated positive relationships with pastors and school leaders within the Diocese of Des Moines.
Prior to his time in Des Moines, Chris served as the Director of Institutional Development at Holy Family Catholic Schools in Dubuque, Iowa. During his time there, he was responsible for all aspects of a major capital campaign to renovate Wahlert Catholic High School. Before his time at Holy Family, Chris served as the Director of Constituent Relations at Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas in Dallas, Texas, where he organized various events and helped to raise significant funds in a major capital campaign for the school.
Chris also served in various capacities at Xavier High School from 2002-2008, including serving as a theology teacher in all of those years and Associate Dean of Students during the 2007-2008 school year.
He is a 2001 graduate of Mount Mercy College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in History. In 2008, he earned his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership/Principalship from the University of Northern Iowa.
Email: chris.mccarville@xaviersaints.org | Phone: 319-378-4571
Mary came to Xavier in 2017 after serving with Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, where she served for more than six years as Director of Investor Relations. Prior to moving back to her home state of Iowa, she spearheaded marketing efforts for adult degree programs on behalf of private universities nationally as Associate Vice-President for Marketing Services at the Institute for Professional Development in Phoenix, AZ. She brings nearly two decades of leadership, nonprofit, development, and marketing expertise to her role here at Xavier.
Email: mharken@xavierfoundation.org | Phone: 319-378-4571
Amy Thuente joined the Xavier Foundation as our Campaign and Marketing Manager for in 2020. After serving as the Assistant to the President and Principal in her prior role at Xavier, Amy now uses her wide variety of skills and expertise to advance the mission of the Xavier Foundation and its many initiatives and events throughout the year.
She currently is the President of the St. Matthew Board of Education and a member of the St. Matthew Pastoral Council. Amy is past chair of the parish's Mardi Gras fundraiser; classroom volunteer and a member of the St. Matthew Parent Association.
Amy serves our greater community as a board member of the Mission of Hope. Professionally, Amy has extensive experience with community engagement, marketing, events management and fundraising. She enjoyed 5 years of being a stay-at-home mom; being employed by KCRG-TV9 and The Gazette as their Marketing and Community Outreach Director prior to her arrival at Xavier.
Amy truly enjoys using her talents in bettering the community as a volunteer and advocate for children and education.
Email: athuente@xavierfoundation.org | Phone: 319-378-4571
Nick Ireland is a 2001 graduate of Xavier High School and serves as the Communications Director for Xavier High School and the Xavier Foundation. In his role, he oversees many of Xavier's external/internal communication and evangelization efforts (including some K-12 Xavier Catholic Schools initiatives). Nick brings a dynamic range of technical skills to Xavier in the arenas of media, publication, graphic design, marketing, branding, public relations, production, public speaking, web design, entertainment, event coordination, creativity and vision. Nick is happy to be able to blend his skills with his passion for Xavier and Catholic education.
Prior to his arrival at Xavier in 2013, Nick served as the Communications/Marketing Director for Premier Media in Marion, Iowa from 2008-2013. Before that, he worked for the marketing department at Transamerica Life Insurance Company in Cedar Rapids as a graphic designer/artist and copywriter, serving multiple marketing organizations and brands within the umbrella company. Nick earned is B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Northern Iowa in 2005 where he also attended graduate school, focusing on Political Communication.
In addition to his roles at Xavier, Nick also works part time as a DJ for various area events and weddings. He also enjoys serving as a volunteer coach for youth sports his children are involved in.
Email: nick.ireland@xaviersaints.org | Phone: 319-378-4571
Shari O'Rourke joined the Xavier Foundation team in 2020 as its Part-Time Database Manager. In her role, Shari assists the Foundation with the many critical daily tasks of the Xavier Foundation. Shari is a Xavier parent and a longtime volunteer and supporter of Xavier and its mission, including serving in a leadership role for Xavier Parents for Xcellence (XPX).
Email: sorourke@xaviersaints.org | Phone: 319-378-4571