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Midwest BankCentre Contributes $10,000 to Center for Bosnian Studies

by Debbie Dugan on 05/29/2025

05/29/2025

Saint Louis University has received a $10,000 contribution from Midwest BankCentre to support the relocation of the Center for Bosnian Studies from Fontbonne University to SLU this summer. The gift was presented by Marsha Benney, chief financial officer of Midwest BankCentre, during a ceremony held at Fontbonne on May 27.

Following Fontbonne University’s announcement that it will close at the end of the 2024-2025 summer term, administrators from both universities collaborated to safeguard the center’s documentation of the experiences of Bosnian genocide survivors and their families. Starting this fall, the oral histories, rare collections, circulating materials and digital archives will be housed at SLU’s Pius XII Memorial Library.

A woman speaks into a microphone while seated at a table with several others.

Marsha Benney, CFO of Midwest BankCentre, speaks about the Center for Bosnian Studies and its impact on the community during a celebration held at Fontbonne University. Midwest BankCentre gifted $10,000 to support the center's relocation to Saint Louis University. 

“The center's move from Fontbonne to SLU is a natural fit, as both institutions share a commitment to social justice and care for the whole person,” said Jennifer Nutefall, dean of SLU’s libraries and museums. “It is incredibly important for the center to stay in St. Louis and continue to make the Bosnian refugees’ experiences accessible. I look forward to carrying on this essential work at SLU.”

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A man and woman smile while sitting at a table during an event.
Michael Lewis, Ph.D., Saint Louis University provost, and Adna Karamehic-Oates, Ph.D., director of the Center for Bosnian Studies, listen as others share their experience working with the Center for Bosnian Studies during a celebration held at Fontbonne University. 

Michael Lewis, Ph.D., Saint Louis University provost, thanked Midwest BankCentre for its continued generosity and Fontbonne for its partnership with SLU to carry out the center’s mission.

Benjamin Moore, Ph.D., the founder of the Bosnia Memory Project, along with Fontbonne administrators and members of the Bosnian community, highlighted the significant impact that the Center for Bosnian Studies has made locally and globally since it opened in 2022.

More than 60,000 Bosnian-Americans live in St. Louis, representing the largest community outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina.