Teresa Hall Bartels, current interim president at Newman University, is a Wichita native who served on the Newman University Board of Trustees from 2011-2019. Two of those years, 2017-2019, she served as board chair. Bartels also served as officer in charge at Newman from July 2019 through the end of the year.
She attended Sacred Heart College in the 1970s, during which time she was active in student government and leadership. She transferred to Northern Arizona University, where she earned a degree in public relations in 1975. She then earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Dominican University in 2005. In 2010, Newman University bestowed upon Bartels an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Bartels has served as interim CEO four times during her career, including two nonprofit organizations that support higher education. She was the founding chair of the board for the University Center of Lake County, IL, a consortium of 18 colleges and universities offering degree completion and graduate level courses.
Bartels and her husband, Chuck, owned and operated two Manpower franchises in Northern Minnesota and Northern Illinois. She is the owner and principal of Hallbart Consulting, LLC, serving commercial and nonprofit organizations to increase their leadership effectiveness. As part of this work, she leads two Vistage peer groups, coaching high integrity leaders to make good decisions.
She has been president and CEO for both Gateway for Cancer Research and United Way International. During her time in those roles, she led fundraising initiatives and supported organizations in more than 45 countries and territories. She has worked in various leadership roles at United Way on the local, national and international levels.
Bartels is passionate about the Newman community and assisting in spurring growth for the university, ensuring a successful future.
BOARD AFFILIATIONS
- Midwestern Regional Medical Center – Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Board of Trustees (2004 to present)
- Newman University, Board of Trustees (2011 to present); Chair (2017-2019)
- State of Illinois Executive Ethics Commission, appointed by Governor (2015-2019) and reappointed by new Governor (2019-2023)
- United Way Worldwide, Donor Advised Giving Committee Member (2010-present)
- United Way International, Member and Vice Chair of the Board, (2000-2006), Co-chair for the World Assembly Program Committee in Cape Town, South Africa (May 2002), Presenter in Melbourne, Australia (2006), Puerto Rico (2004) and Hong Kong (2000)
- University Center of Lake County, Founding Board Chair (1998-2004)
- Workforce Investment Board of Lake County, Member (1999-2001)
- Zacharias Center (formerly Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault), Board Member (1984-1990) and Board Chair (1987-1989); Interim CEO (1987)
- United Way of Lake County, Board member (1989-1995), Board Chair (1990-1991), Campaign Chair (1989-1990), current member, Women’s Leadership Council
- Carmel Catholic High School, Board Member (2002-2007), Marketing Committee Chair (2006-2007), Development Committee Member (1999-2005), Auction Executive Committee (1999-2004), Capital Campaign Council (2001-2005)
- St. Francis de Sales Parish, Pastoral Council Board Member and Chair (1999-2002), School Board (1996-1999), Lector, Eucharistic Minister
- First Midwest Bank Community Advisory Board (1996-1999)
- Association of Manpower Franchise Owners, Board Member, Executive Committee (1996-1998)
COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
- Candidate for U.S. Congress for the Illinois 8th District (2005-2006)
- Legislative Breakfast Club, State Representative Andrea Moore, Chair (1996-2002)
- Lake County Coroner Barbara Richardson’s Re-election Campaign, Co-chair (1988 and 1992)
- Preserve Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Community Task Force Co-chair (1994-1995)
- Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Honorary Commander (1994-1995)
- YWCA of Lake County, Women of Achievement/Leader Luncheon Executive Committee (1981-1984), Event Chair
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
- Selected as a “Notable Woman in Healthcare,” Crain’s Chicago Business, (2018)
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Global Perspective, Newman University, Wichita, KS (2010)
- Outstanding Alumni Award, Dominican University (2008)
- Lifetime Achievement Award, YWCA of Lake County (2008)
- Chairman of the Board Award, United Way of Lake County (1995)
- Charles D. Rivera Award, County of Lake Economic Development Commission (1995)