Patrick Carey, Math
Working from his home office in rural Dane county, Patrick has written over 20 college
textbooks on topics ranging from statistics to computer programming to Web page design. He
has also given workshops and presentations across the country and at national conferences.
Patrick graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1988 with a MS in Statistics and
Mathematics and spent several years working on the design and analysis of clinical cancer
studies before becoming a full-time author. When not writing, Patrick tries to keep up with the
activities of his 6 children and follow the fortunes of his beloved Packers.
Bridget Yallaly, Coordinator of Development
Bridget Yallaly moved to Madison a year ago after working four years for FOCUS (Fellowship
of Catholic University Students). She served as an on-campus missionary at the University of
Colorado for three years leading college students in Scripture and Catechesis studies. She spent
her last year with FOCUS as their Public Relations Program Manager, where she developed
marketing materials, recruitment tools, and support systems for the missionaries. She will
continue to split her time between St. Ambrose and St. Thomas Aquinas as Coordinator of
Stewardship and Evangelization & Young Adult Outreach. Ms. Yallaly has a B.S. in Psychology
from the University of Illinois-Champaign and was recently married in September of 2008.
Katie Haun, Administrative Assistant, Math
Katie Haun is a recent graduate from UW-Madison with degrees in Rehabilitation Psychology
and Psychology.During her senior year she spearheaded a research initiative for the Madison area
Head Start program. Here, she grew in her love for education. During her college years, she was
very active at the St. Paul's University Catholic Center where she was both a peer mentor and
discipleship group leader. St. Paul's was also where she met and married (June '07) her husband,
Nick. The Hauns were blessed with a baby girl in September of 2008.
Constance Nielsen, Religion, English
Dr. Constance Nielsen received her B.A. in English Literature and Classical Humanities from the
University of Wisconsin, and M.A. and Ph.D. In Religious Studies from Marquette University.
Specializing in the area of Ethics and the Church's social teaching, she has taught theology
at Marquette University, her Madison at Saint Ambrose Academy, and worked in the Respect Life
Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. She has also given many talks around the Madison and
Milwaukee area on social teaching, including a class for the Madison Diocesan Lay Institute.
Lisa Pantano, Music/Drama
Lisa Pantano graduated Salutatorian from the prestigious Eastman School of Music and received
the Adelaide Lyndsay Scholarship for Excellence in Voice. She has performed and taught
throughout the U.S., Canada, and Italy.
Beth Ptak, Art
Beth received an Associate in Technology Degree with a major in Graphic Design from The
American Academy of Art, Chicago, Ill. Her career has taken her through advertising studio
design, illustration, portraiture, Madison's “Art Fair Off the Square,” custom artwork for
commercial/home furniture and interiors, and art education. Beth is currently on the Board for an
“Outsider Art” site called Grandview in Hollandale, Wis. Beth assists with St. Ambrose’s annual
yearbook and the spring musical set designs.
John Ruplinger, English, Latin
John Ruplinger has worked at several Catholic, classical schools over the last ten years, and has
studied and been interested in such for longer. He has taught every level of middle and high
school in mathematics and Latin, as well as courses on Scripture and history. His background is
as a generalist in the liberal arts tradition, having received a B.A. and M.A. from Marquette. His
perennial interest is in literature and philosophy, as well as education. He and his wife have five
young children. Among other activities he enjoys reading alone or with friends or with children,
writing, constructing, camping, fishing, canoeing, sailing, as well as drinking and
digging ditches in accord with the excellent advice of Hilaire Belloc on these matters: "...hunt,
drink, sing, dance, sail, and dig; and those that would not should be compelled by force." (John
needs improvement in dancing.)
Scott Schmiesing, Principal, Math
Before joining St. Ambrose Academy last year, Scott was the principal at St. Francis Xavier
School in Cross Plains. Previous to that, he spent six years at the Parkview School District as an
assistant principal, athletic director, and teacher. Scott also taught business, was the Athletic
Director, and coached basketball and volleyball at Juda for eleven years. He has a BS in Business
Education from St. Cloud State University and a MS in Education Administration from
Edgewood College. In his spare time he likes to play golf and play ball with his children. Scott
and his wife Barb have six children.
Carrie Skinner, History, Latin, Religion
In her tenure at St. Ambrose Academy, Carrie Skinner has taught every major academic
discipline. Carrie brings the fruit of this experience into Socratic discussions with students in her
classroom, acutely aware that all truth has both its origin and goal in the Lord Himself, and as
such, compels an individual to action. Her background is in science and theology, having
received an M.A. in Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, and a
B.S. in Biology with a certificate in Education from UW-Stevens Point. Carrie's primary
academic interest is the confluence of faith and science, though she also pursues the study of
classical philosophy and Thomistic theology. In addition, Carrie enjoys hiking, cooking, and
irony, especially while wearing heels and searching for the perfect cup of coffee.
Megan Sprague, Science, Math
Before coming to Wisconsin, Megan Sprague taught high school chemistry and mathematics at
Currey Ingram Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. Megan has a B.S. in mathematics from the
University of Notre Dame. She has an M.S. in chemistry from UW-Madison. Megan has led
Bible study at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Madison and is a member of their graduate and
young professional group. Megan is a member of Blessed Sacrament parish. Megan will be
teaching chemistry, earth science and math.
Board of Directors
David R. J. Stiennon, Esq., President and Secretary, is a patent attorney and partner in the
Madison law firm of Stiennon & Stiennon. He is president of the Technical Club of Madison and
producer of the Madison Serra Club Audio Lending Library, which makes available recordings
of Bishop Robert C. Morlino. He serves on the Board of Our Lady of Hope Clinic.
Grant Emmel, Vice President, is Vice Chancellor for the Diocese of Madison, involved with
strategic planning and information technology and is a registered professional engineer in the
state of Wisconsin. He is Vice President for Vocations of the Madison chapter of Serra
International and a member of the Knights of Columbus. In addition to St. Ambrose Academy he
helped found Safe Place for Newborns - Wisconsin to protect infants from abandonment. He and
his wife, Nancy, are parents of five children, including two graduates and one current student at
St. Ambrose. Their eldest son is a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison, studying at
Seton Hall University.
Joseph Leone, Esq., Treasurer, is a chemist by training and a patent lawyer by profession. He
received an A.B. degree in chemistry from Kenyon College, and masters (chemistry) and law degrees
from Marquette University. He and his wife Elizabeth are homeschooling parents of five children.
Joan Carey, Director, received her M.A. degree in English from the University of Wisconsin
and then completed four years in the Ph.D. medieval literature program, during which she taught
multiple literature and composition courses. She left the program to give birth to twins. She and
her husband Patrick own Carey Associates, Inc., a technical documentation company, and are
parents of six children, two of whom are homeschooled, two of whom attend St. Ambrose, and
two of whom graduated in 2008 and now attend the University of Wisconsin.
Rob Marsland, Ph.D., Director, received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State
University. He then received his Masters and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford
University. He helped found New Focus, Inc. and Focused Research, Inc., two optical
technology companies, and is now working on a new start-up company. Rob is also a Lecturer
in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UW-Madison. He and his wife
Diane are homeschooling parents of seven children, including two current students and two
graduates of St. Ambrose Academy who currently study at Princeton and Boston College.
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