Before Peggy Behm ’81 became chair of Immaculata University’s Board of Trustees, she was a prospective student looking for a college that would recognize her interests, support her ambitions and make room for her to grow. She found that place at Immaculata, where a personalized campus visit became the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the University.
While visiting colleges, Behm quickly realized that Immaculata offered something different: a personal approach that made her feel known before she ever enrolled.
“They prepared a special visit just for me, which showed me they cared enough to get to know me,” she said. “I did not experience this when visiting other campuses.”
That sense of individual attention continued after she became a student. Behm arrived at Immaculata with interests that crossed disciplines. Rather than asking her to fit into a narrow path, the University helped her shape an academic experience around those goals.
“I had an interest in textiles, fashion and business and accounting,” Behm said. “IU made it happen by crafting a curriculum that allowed me to pursue my interests.”
As a student, Behm became involved in Kappa Omicron Phi, a national home economics honor society that later merged with Omicron Nu to become Kappa Omicron Nu, an honor society focused on the human sciences. Through that experience, along with small classes and close relationships with faculty, she discovered the value of an education rooted in both academic preparation and personal encouragement.
“The professors had a true interest in ensuring that I understood and thrived,” Behm said. “The overall experience made you feel like you were an individual and that you could accomplish anything that you set your sight on.”
Those lessons followed Behm into a successful career spanning finance, strategic planning, banking, process engineering and consulting across the manufacturing, health care, energy, specialty chemicals and financial services industries. She is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, a credential for professionals who lead quality improvement initiatives and improve organizational performance.
Her professional accomplishments and continued commitment to service and leadership were recognized by Immaculata in 2014 when she was honored with the University’s Amethyst Award, given to alumni in recognition of outstanding contributions and achievements in church, community or professional activities, and who exemplify the goals and ideals of Immaculata, demonstrate the value of an Immaculata education and actively support the University’s mission.
Throughout her career, Behm says Immaculata helped shape the way she approaches complex challenges, leadership and change.
“IU prepared me to think of the whole picture, analyze and question,” she said. “IU afforded me the opportunity to think creatively and look for possibilities, a skill set that continues to add value every day.”
That perspective now informs her work as chair of Immaculata’s Board of Trustees, where she helps guide the University’s long-term vision and future growth. For Behm, serving on the Board is both a responsibility and an opportunity to give back to the institution that helped shape her.
“When asked to serve on the IU Board, it afforded me the opportunity to give back to help ensure that IU remains vital, thriving and providing educational and social opportunities that are relevant to students and society,” Behm said.
Drawing from her experience in strategic planning and process engineering, Behm approaches Board leadership with a focus on innovation, adaptability and long-term sustainability. She sees Immaculata as an institution that honors its mission while continuing to evolve for future generations of students.
“Much like the businesses I engage with professionally, IU is not satisfied with staying where it is,” she said. “It is looking for ways to be better and prepare our students for careers that may not exist today.”
One example of that future-focused work was the Board’s multi-year initiative launched in 2023 to evaluate the University’s course structure and offerings. The project concluded in 2026 with a revamped course structure designed to better prepare students for future careers while helping ensure the University’s continued vitality.
“This endeavor has created an ongoing process to ensure that we are best preparing our students for future careers, while keeping [Immaculata] vital for the future,” Behm said.
Even as higher education continues to change, Behm believes Immaculata’s mission and values of faith, community, knowledge, virtue and service remain central to its strength. She points to the University’s commitment to the whole student, its Catholic identity and the continued presence of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as essential parts of the Immaculata experience.
“These values are rooted in everything that I do,” she said. “IU helped fortify values that had already been instilled in me from my parents.”
As she reflects on her journey from student to trustee, Behm remains motivated by the opportunity to help shape the future of the institution that shaped her.
“I am proud to be an IU graduate…I am someone who leads with faith, pride and integrity and has not lost sight of my roots. I’m honored to be part of a board that is committed to ensuring that IU remains vital, affordable and committed to its mission,” she said.
For current students and recent graduates, Behm encourages them to embrace not only the academic opportunities Immaculata provides, but also the sense of belonging that can stay with them long after graduation.
“Remember where you came from, not only the academic accomplishments, but the feeling of home, the friends and belonging to a place that helped to ground you to be all that you are,” she said. “Come back to campus, share the experience and be mighty in everything that you do.”
