COURTNEY JOHNSON, Executive Director
Courtney Johnson assumed the role of Executive Director of the Pius X Foundation in June of 2017. Courtney is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight to the Pius X Foundation team. As a member of the Pius X Leadership team, Courtney works collaboratively with Pius X High School to secure transformational gifts to achieve the organization’s goals and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Courtney is primarily focused on major gifts, donor relations, planned giving, and overall institutional advancement.
A South Dakota native, she was born and raised in the beautiful Black Hills of Rapid City. Courtney graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish. During her undergraduate program she had the privilege of studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain which ignited her passion for international education. While at UNC, Courtney attended one of the first FOCUS National Conferences and was heavily involved with “Bear Catholic” as a student leader. After discerning God was not calling her to serve as a FOCUS missionary, she moved to Austin, TX where she worked as a Regional Director for International Studies Abroad (ISA) for 2 years. God certainly has a plan because she first became aware of Pius X High School during her time living in Austin, TX when she met her dear friend, Elizabeth Lange (Class of 2004).
Courtney moved to Lincoln, NE in 2013 to pursue her MBA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln while concurrently working full-time for the University as the Assistant Director of Recruitment (2013-2015) and then as a Education Abroad and Marketing Coordinator (2015-2017). Upon completing her MBA in 2016, God placed it on her heart to pursue opportunities outside of the University system where she could utilize her strengths. Courtney discovered an advertisement in the St. Joseph’s bulletin for her current position at Pius X while searching for fish fry times…and the rest they say is history!
Courtney and her husband, Brian, are active members of North American Martyrs Parish and have 3 beautiful young boys; Daniel, Dominic, and Theodore.
Emily Moore, Director of Advancement Operations
Emily joined the Pius X family in August 2017. Emily is responsible for the Pius X Foundation’s operational process efficiency, ensuring the day-to-day operations of the Foundation are running effectively. Emily is primarily responsible for stewardship strategies (Pius X Connections, donor recognition, etc.), grants, and ensuring the success of annual fundraising activities of the Pius X Foundation office; she works closely with the Executive Director to establish and develop all strategic fundraising initiatives which advance the mission of Pius X High School and the Pius X Foundation.
Prior to her current role as director of advancement operations, Emily served as assistant advancement director, and as director of advancement at Pius X. Before joining the Pius X family, Emily served as director of grants at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, as the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and as a program director for the College of Extended Studies at San Diego State University in Calif.
Emily earned an Advanced Certificate in Instructional Design (Educational Technology Graduate Certificate) (2013) and her M.A. in English, Young Adult and Children’s Literature (2009) from San Diego State University, a B.A. in English, Communications and Media Studies from National University (2006), and studied abroad at Lorenzo de’Medici Art Institute, Florence, Italy (2003).
Emily and her husband, Mike, moved to Lincoln seeking a faithful, high-value Catholic education for their children after finding Pius X listed on the Newman Guide’s Catholic High School Honor Roll. Emily and Mike’s five children (Anastasia, Isaac, Mariella, Thérèse, and Józef) look forward to becoming future Bolts. Their four oldest are blessed to attend St. Teresa Catholic School.
Jennie (Sayker) Kobza ’11, Director of Advancement
Jennie Kobza is a director of advancement for the Pius X Foundation and a proud 2011 alumna of Pius X High School. Jennie assists with the operations of the Pius X Foundation administrative office and works closely with the Executive Director to ensure both short and long-term financial stability of the school and Foundation. Jennie is primarily responsible for prospecting, cultivating, and soliciting gifts and Foundation engagement strategies; she works closely with the Executive Director to establish and develop all strategic fundraising initiatives which advance the mission of Pius X High School and the Pius X Foundation.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Midland University, where she was also a member of the softball team. Jennie began her professional journey as an academic advisor at Midland, serving in that role for five years before the Holy Spirit guided her back to Lincoln to serve as Director of Stewardship at a local parish. When the opportunity arose to return to her alma mater, Jennie was thrilled to bring her experience and passion back to Pius X. She is passionate about fostering meaningful connections and building up the mission of Pius X, which has profoundly shaped her life. Jennie is grateful to now serve the school that helped form her, working to ensure future generations experience the same transformative Catholic education.
Jennie and her husband, Eric, are members of St. Teresa Parish and stay busy keeping up with their two boys, Ezra and Leo.
Alec Miller ’19, Director of Alumni Engagement
Alec is responsible for leading the development and execution of strategies to foster impactful connections between alumni and friends of Pius X, encompassing events, fundraising, communications, and volunteer programs.
“I am thrilled to return to Pius X as the director of alumni engagement! Since I graduated in 2019, I have earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As an undergraduate, I was involved in research labs and student government. I taught a first-year writing class and researched Catholic writers during my Master’s program. I am excited to connect with the extraordinary community of alumni that was formed by Pius X. I am grateful for this opportunity to give back to Pius X and participate in driving its mission of providing an excellent education ordered toward the love of God.”
Meghan Straub ’15, Special Events and Volunteer Director
Meghan is responsible for executing one of the largest fundraisers for Pius X, BOLT. Additionally, she is responsible for the logistics of various Pius X Foundation and High School events throughout the year as well as coordinating the volunteers necessary to execute each event.
“Returning to Pius and giving back to the community that provided so much for me is exciting and was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” Meghan said.
A 2015 graduate of Lincoln Pius X, Meghan Straub was previously employed in the Nebraska Athletic Department from 2021 to 2025 as an assistant communications director, working directly with the soccer, wrestling, tennis and track and field programs. She handled website and social media management, facilitated press conferences, managed student workers and served as a national and regional media facilitator.
Prior to her time with the Huskers, Straub worked as a paraprofessional at Cathedral Elementary School during the 2020-21 school year. Meghan graduated from Nebraska in 2020 with degrees in Journalism and Secondary English Education. She received her master’s degree in athletic administration from Nebraska in 2021.
Sophia Werning, Advancement Coordinator
Sophia provides comprehensive and collaborative support to the Pius X Foundation team and is the main contact for families regarding Pius X Foundation scholarships.
Sophia Werning is a native of Washington, D.C. but has proudly called Lincoln home for the past 16 years. She has worked in fundraising/advancement and communication for educational and healthcare nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years, including having served the Pius X Foundation from 2010-2014. She and her husband Joe have four children, a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, five of whom are Pius X alumni. They are also blessed with two darling grandsons and a pup named Jazzie. Sophia is of Greek descent, so she enjoys all things Greek, including traveling to her homeland and sharing her love for Greek cooking with all.
Tessa Contreras ’10, Data and Services Coordinator
Tessa Contreras started on the Pius X Foundation team in 2025 in the role of database coordinator. Tessa provides comprehensive support to the Pius X Foundation team by managing and maintaining the Foundation’s complex donor database system.
A 2010 Pius X graduate, she grew up in Lincoln and graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Child, Youth, and Family Studies and Philosophy. She is a member of St. Teresa parish.
Tricia (Poland) Benes ’02, Accounting Specialist
Tricia Benes serves as the accounting specialist for Pius X High School and the Pius X Foundation. Tricia serves as the liaison to the Pius X High School business office and ensures all Foundation gifts are tracked, receipted, and properly accounted for.
A Pius X graduate of the Class of 2002, Tricia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bellevue University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Management. Her professional experience in the finance and education sectors has given her a strong foundation in fiscal management and organizational operations.
Tricia’s journey has come full circle— she met her husband, Doug, while attending Pius X, and together they have two children— Kingston, a current Pius X student, and Cambria. Tricia and her family are active parishioners of St. Peter’s Church. She’s grateful to serve the school that has played such an important role in her life, both spiritually and professionally. As a Pius X alum, parent, and staff member, she is proud to be a Bolt!