Holy Cross College proudly announces the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Trustees: Mary Pat Christie, Elizabeth Naquin Borger, Pamela S. Veldman, and Matthew Sheldon. Each brings unique expertise, deep community engagement, and a shared commitment to advancing the College’s mission of educating hearts and minds in the Catholic tradition.
“We are blessed to welcome Mary Pat, Liz, Pam, and Matthew to our Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Marco Clark, President of Holy Cross College. “Each of them brings a deep love for Holy Cross College, a passion for its growth, and a steadfast commitment to advancing our Catholic mission. Their leadership and dedication will help ensure the College continues to flourish and form graduates who serve with competence, courage, and compassion.”
Elizabeth Naquin Borger
Elizabeth “Liz” Borger, MBA, is Senior Vice President/Investments at STIFEL with more than three decades of experience advising closely held businesses on investment, retirement, estate, and charitable giving strategies. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Liz received an honorary doctorate from Holy Cross College in 2023. She has been recognized on Forbes’ America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors and Best-in-State Wealth lists (2020–2024). Liz’s extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Women’s Care Center, enFocus, the Elkhart Park Foundation, and numerous arts and civic organizations. Her service reflects a lifelong dedication to education, philanthropy, and community growth.
Mary Pat Christie
Mary Pat Christie is a respected leader in the high-yield and distressed debt capital markets industry, with deep experience in structuring and placing debt for highly leveraged businesses across sectors including healthcare, energy, telecommunications, and manufacturing. She currently serves as a partner in the Hampshire/Christie Opportunity Zone Fund and at Christie 55 Solutions, providing strategic advice in crisis management, public policy, and regulatory affairs. As former First Lady of New Jersey, she championed workforce reentry programs, the autism community, and disaster relief—raising over $41 million as chair of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. Mary Pat served as a Regent at Seton Hall University and on the board of Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic. She holds an MBA from Seton Hall and a finance degree from the University of Delaware.
Matthew Sheldon
Matthew Sheldon is a visionary entrepreneur, community builder, and Holy Cross College graduate. He is Managing Partner of Gameday Your Way, a premier hospitality company serving major venues and universities, and owner of Irish Management, the largest short-term rental management company in South Bend. As co-founder of Connect 574, Matthew fosters professional networking and talent retention in the region. His leadership emphasizes strategic growth, relationship building, and community engagement. During his time at Holy Cross, he served as a Student Ambassador and Public Relations Chair, reflecting a long-standing commitment to the College’s mission.
Pamela S. Veldman
Pamela Veldman is the co-founder of Surestep and Transcend Orthotics & Prosthetics, a business that grew from a four-person operation to more than 200 employees and a dozen locations, transforming pediatric orthotics through innovative products. After selling the companies to Hanger Inc., she continued in leadership roles to support the transition. A Holy Cross College alumna, Pam’s work is grounded in Catholic values, service, and community care. She is president of the South Bend-Elkhart Chapter of Legatus and serves on the board of the Beacon Health Foundation. She received an honorary degree from the College in 2024.
Pam and her husband Bernie have been married for 40 years and cherish their growing family of children and grandchildren.