Assumption Assumption College Magazine • Volume 14, Number 2 • Summer 2016
Magazine
AcAdemic excellence
The honors ProgrAm Turns 10
PLUS
Q&A with the FBI’s Jim Trainor ’87
Alumni donate bone marrow to save lives
Commencement & Reunion
from The PresidenT
Transforming the campus and learning landscape
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he ever-fluid rhythm of life on campus ebbs and flows with each passing semester. Not unlike nature’s own circle of life, it reflects a vibrant and flourishing community of learning, where new students, new initiatives and new programs reinvigorate the College’s mission time and time again. This past spring marked a number of “firsts” for Assumption. For the first time, commencement was held off campus at the DCU Center. While commencement under the tent on campus was a long-standing tradition, the increase in the number of graduates and their guests, along with the uncertainties of the weather in early May, led to the decision to move commencement off campus for the comfort of the graduates and their guests. The DCU Center, spruced up in Assumption blue, became, for several hours, a home away from 500 Salisbury Street. As valedictorian Andrew Lampi ’16 eloquently stated, despite the fact that commencement was not physically on campus, at that moment, the DCU Center was Assumption, filled with the spirit of community that is so much a part of the campus experience. With the relocation of commencement, the celebration of the Baccalaureate Mass returned to campus, providing seniors with a final opportunity to gather as a class. Processing in academic robes to the Plourde Recreation Center, the graduates ended their days as Assumption students in the same way they began their undergraduate journey: gathering for the Eucharistic celebration in praise and thanksgiving to God for all the blessings they had received. The most significant campus change this spring was the groundbreaking for the new academic building on April 4, one of the coldest and snowiest days of the winter season! Located between the Hagan Campus Center and the Information Technology Center, this new 62,000-square-foot facility will serve as Assumption’s signature building,
The most significant campus change this spring was the groundbreaking for the new 62,000-square-foot academic building which will serve as Assumption’s signature building. where creative thinking, the sharing of ideas, cross-disciplinary collaboration and reflection upon the mission will take place. It will also serve as a tangible example of the education our students receive at Assumption – an education that forms the whole person. College buildings have the primary function of advancing the mission of learning, which takes place in a variety of ways and venues. The academic mission of a college flourishes in an environment where students and faculty are actively engaged in the learning process and where opportunities are provided to students to expand their minds and develop their full potential. This learning not only provides students
with the knowledge and skills they need to lead good and successful lives but, more importantly, contributes to the broader community. Housing the Business Studies department, the Honors Program, the newly conceived Foundations Program, the Center for Teaching Excellence, a new Center for the Study of Ethics, and a performance hall/auditorium with a seating capacity of 400, along with a rehearsal room, the new building will serve as the personification of the academic endeavor that is at the heart and soul of the College, manifested through a signature building that creates new possibilities of learning. This building will transform learning and the campus landscape. This is an exciting and ambitious project that will benefit and impact our students in meaningful ways. Thus far, we have raised more than $10 million for this project, which represents half of the total cost, through the support of trustees, alumni, foundations and friends of the College. We are grateful to those who have supported this project and invite all of our alumni to consider supporting this important initiative. The Venerable Father Emmanuel d’Alzon once stated regarding the education of young people, “We are working at this united effort; will it succeed? We need not worry about the future. Carry on in a spirit of faith, of hard work, of holiness and prayer. Be patient and prudent and then, with God’s help, we will grow and flourish.” The changes that we witnessed last spring indicate that Assumption is flourishing despite the challenges facing the field of higher education. Through alumni and community support, our students are acquiring the formation and knowledge required to venture into the world as leaders prepared to offer viable solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. President
4 contents summer 2016 We encourage your feedback.
Assumption College Magazine • Volume 14, Number 2 www.assumption.edu/magazine
Please address your letters, class notes and story ideas to: Assumption College Magazine 500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296 e-mail: twatkins@assumption.edu
features
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Assumption College Magazine Assumption College ISSN 1089-3903 Summer 2016 Editor Troy Watkins Executive Director of Communications Michael K. Guilfoyle Contributing Writers Maia Campbell ’19 Kimberly Dunbar Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A. ’69 Stephen Kostrzewa Katelyn Parente ’16 Art Direction/Design Centuria Inc., Cambridge, MA Printing The Lane Press, Burlington, VT Assumption College Magazine is published three times a year (spring, summer, fall) by the office of Communications, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1296. Tel.: 508-767-7175. Printed in the U.S.A., Assumption College Magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty, staff, administration and parents of undergraduate students. Visit us online at: www.assumption.edu/magazine
ON THE COVER: Honors Program member David Cifarelli ’19 interacts with Professor Molly Flynn, Ph.D.
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693 degrees awarded at 99th commencement Q&A with Jim Trainor ’87, assistant director of fbi’s cyber division Alumnus saves life of a stranger through marrow donation new academic center under construction honors Program celebrates a decade of academic excellence
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editor’s page campus news hounds watch Alumni news class notes in memoriam
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A golden pursuit s you read this just as another Olympic games are concluding, I’m reminded of my Olympic-like experience. “Go for the gold,” was the continual advice I heard from the Honors Program director as an undergraduate as I researched, wrote and publicly presented a thesis paper. I was quite fortunate to be among a select group to participate in the Program, which helped paved my way to graduate school, and ultimately started me on my career path in writing and communications. In this issue, we delve into Assumption’s rapidly-growing 10-year-old Honors Program, which has seen a rise in participants recently as gifted students challenge themselves to join a community of learners and tackle an original research project. You can also read about some outstanding alumni who embody the College’s mission in this issue. Jim Trainor ’87, a 20-year FBI veteran, is helping to thwart online adversaries, crime and terrorism through the Bureau’s Cyber Division. Meanwhile, Erich Grosse ’15 is one of three young alumni and former student-athletes who have donated bone marrow to save the life of a stranger. They are just a few of the legions of Greyhounds who are known for their critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship and compassionate service. Shaped by an Assumption education and experience, thousands of bright and caring alumni have continued to light the way to a well-lived life for themselves and, most importantly, for others.
Class Notes submissions guidelines Assumption College Magazine publishes Class Notes in all three issues. This section provides an opportunity for alumni (undergrad, graduate and Prep) to share their news. Engagement notices are not published. Please submit Class Notes via email (alumni@assumption.edu) or mail. Alumni news also may be reproduced from print and online clipping services. Class Notes may include photos small alumni gatherings. Group photos of Assumption graduates at a wedding reception are posted online at www.assumption.edu/ weddings. An icon will be placed by the wedding announcement in Class Notes indicating an online photo. The editorial staff makes every effort to print announcements accurately, but cannot always verify the accuracy of information submitted for publication. Additionally, the publication of information is undertaken as a service to our alumni and does not reflect any opinion or endorsement on the part of the editorial staff or the College.
Share your thoughts: Write to the editor at twatkins@assumption.edu
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I hope you enjoy this issue. Please email me at twatkins@ assumption.edu with any comments or suggestions for future issues of your alumni magazine.
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campus news
Augustine scholars (front, l-r): christina lambert ’17, veronica beaupre ’17, rachel Avard ’17, rafael hamawi ’18, derek Pettinelli ’17, kelsey Adkins ’17, Anna docurral ’17 and Alan harrington ’17. (back, l-r): michael hoye ’16 (graduating scholar), victoria russo ’17, Jedidiah scott ’18, kellie duquette ’18, Jessica ferronetti ’18, claudia Palencia ’17, caroline bercier ’17 and Jessica Wisniewski ’17. missing: meredith bercier ’17, Amber kelley ’17 and grace levesque ’18
Honors Convocation recognizes academic excellence At the annual Honors Convocation in April, the top student in each major received an academic award and departmental awards, prizes and scholarships were conferred upon the students who demonstrated outstanding scholarly performance. The Honorable Ed Neafsey ’72 served as guest speaker and addressed the value of a liberal arts education. A former lawyer, Judge Neafsey retired in 2011 after seven years on the New Jersey Superior Court. Eleven new Augustine Scholars were announced, joining the seven returning Scholars. Founded in 1996, the Augustine is the top scholarship annually awarded by the College, via faculty and administrator
recommendations based on high academic achievement and demonstrated initiative and creativity in academic and co-curricular endeavors. The Donec Formetur Christus Presidential Award was established to recognize a junior or senior who embodies the ideals of an Assumption education by both understanding and bridging the relationship between the intellectual and spiritual life. This year’s co-recipients were Kaitlin Henry ’16 and Michael Hoye ’16. Henry graduated cum laude with a B.A. in biology, while Hoye was a cum laude graduate with a double major of philosophy and theology and a recipient of an Honors Program certificate.
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Crown and Shield Award recipients seventeen members of the class of 2016 received crown and shield Award at a may ceremony. nominated by faculty and administration members, award recipients have furthered (crown) and protected (shield) the interests of the student body and college in various areas of leadership and community service. recipients pictured: (sitting, l-r) Patrick giroux, michael hoye, nicole reynolds, President francesco cesareo, Jessica damour, kayla higgins and heather ewell. (standing, l-r) korleen sheridan, kaitlyn riley, shanell cartagena nunez, Alaina short, marie black, mary Petterson, ralph cola, lauren mccarthy, michael blandon, Amy lydon and shannon Porter.
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carolyn Woo, Ph.d. hd’16
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693 degrees awarded at 99th Commencement Four receive honorary degress, including Fred Bayon ’65 and Mike Tsotsis ’71
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raduates of the Class of 2016 were reminded of what it means to live one’s faith through service to others when president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services Carolyn Woo, Ph.D., delivered her keynote address to the 693 graduates at the College’s 99th Commencement exercises on May 7, held for the first time at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. In her speech, Dr. Woo discussed how the basics students learned in their earliest school days build the foundation for a life of meaning, service and faith, highlighting the importance and value of being attentive, brave and compassionate throughout one’s life. Through
her work with one of the world’s largest providers of humanitarian assistance, Dr. Woo said that she has seen “unspeakable cruelty, violence, deprivation and exploitation, evil in action.” However, she has also seen goodness, generosity, and people giving of themselves, much like the students commissioned for service, ingenuity, and commitment. “Hold on to these as you begin your next journey,” she concluded. “Attend to and cherish people, be brave in order to live out your full potential and integrity, and be compassionate. You will meet God on the way.”
honorary degree recipients fred bayon, d.m.d. ’65; mike Tsotsis ’71; carolyn Woo, Ph.d.; President cesareo and James o’connell, m.d.
valedictorian Andrew lampi ’16
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senior members of the Assumption chorale sing the national Anthem.
Dr. Woo was one of four honorary degree recipients, along with James O’Connell, M.D., president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program; Fred Bayon, D.M.D. ’65, chair emeritus of the Assumption Board of Trustees; and Michael Tsotsis ’71, trustee emeritus, in recognition of their dedicated work to community service and living the Assumption mission. Salutatorian Brenden Knight ’16 introduced the speaker. During the ceremony, 463 Bachelor of Arts degrees; 187 graduate studies degrees (Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration) and certificates; and 43 Continuing and Career Education degrees were awarded. Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., president of Assumption College, congratulated the graduates and reminded them that the values they have had instilled in them over the last four years are ones that will continue to shape their lives and guide them as they serve their purpose in the world.
In his valedictory address, Andrew Lampi ’16 shared that his time at Assumption had laid the foundation upon which he will build the rest of his life. “Assumption has given us a home where we had many chances to explore our identities, our vocations, and our passions,” he said. “In finding ourselves, we have been able to build a foundation for the rest of our lives as we go out into the world to build new homes in new places. By giving us the freedom to find what inspires us, and by letting us do it with the people who accept and care about us, Assumption has given us a great gift. You can’t build a home without a solid foundation, and it is the people at the College who are the true foundation of that place we call home. We need to remember what makes our foundation so strong as we begin to build our lives on top of it.”
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u.s. Attorney general loretta lynch speaks with the fbi’s Jim Trainor ’87
Q & A with Jim Trainor ’87 Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division
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ver the course of his 20-year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jim Trainor ’87 has served his country in a variety of capacities. He has been a member of the Foreign Counterintelligence squad, held an espionage investigations post in Washington, DC, and served as assistant special agent in charge in Boston and special agent in charge in New York. Trainor is currently the assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, which heads the national effort to investigate and prosecute internet crimes, including “cyber-based terrorism, espionage, computer intrusions, and major cyber fraud.” Trainor returned to campus last fall, where he gave a talk about his
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experiences with the FBI and how it works to curtail cyber adversaries. During the visit, he was interviewed by Assumption Magazine. Q: How did Assumption prepare you for life and your career? A: The liberal arts education prepared me to communicate in written and oral forms, to critically think and analyze problems efficiently and to multi-task. I really learned how to write here, which has been so helpful in my career. Q: How did you pursue a position with the FBI? A: I was in the Army ROTC at WPI and when I was commissioned after graduating I went into Army active duty as an intelligence officer. I talked with fellow military members who were interested in the
Bureau and it peaked my interest. I left the Army after four years, and earned an advanced degree (a master’s in public administration from UConn) while there was a hiring freeze at the FBI. Once that was lifted, I sent in a résumé and was hired about a year later. Q: What drew you to the Cyber Division? A: My experience is rather atypical, since my background is in signals intelligence rather than technological, I’m more of a manager. I’ve always had an interest in technology. My first assignment in counterintelligence was similar to cyber in the strategy used to pursue individuals. The means by which they acquire information are different – one technical, one human – but the strategies used to put together an operation are similar. My diverse background and training, and an intellectual curiosity about technology and cyber, drew me to the Cyber Division in 2013 to help fill a growing area of the Bureau and I’ve since gone through courses and training to increase my technical knowledge and experience. I equate it to a foreign language, you can learn it and while I may never be a native speaker, I can be highly proficient.
Q: Do you think the United States is properly preparing itself to thwart cyberattacks? A: Yes, the FBI is heavily involved in investigations. We’ve created policy to better position the government to help the private sector. There is legislation being considered on Capitol Hill to combat this issue, which will be evolving over the next few years.
Q: How different are these issues in comparison to your previous position? A: The content of the crimes is different, but the strategies and the legal processes we use to acquire information are similar. The way these crimes are perpetrated online is very complex so you need to understand how it works. Other programs can be learned faster than cyber. The learning curve is much steeper. Q: How does the Cyber Division operate, and what are its goals? A: Our mission is to identify, pursue and defeat cyber adversaries. We’re focusing on three core themes: people, process and technology. We recruit and retain talented individuals to develop and mature the FBI’s cyber program. It’s a very dynamic, highly sought-after work force that we’re competing for with the private sector and government agencies, so people are an important factor. The process segment is about how we handle investigations: establishing and maintaining domestic and international partnerships, sharing information, and cooperating with local, state and federal law enforcement. Technology is about how we use big data and the technical tools needed to pursue these cyber activists. Those are the themes and there are several initiatives within each one we are working on to improve the program. Q: How much progress has the nation made in defending itself against cyberattacks? A: It depends on the sector. There are 16 critical infrastructure sectors, such as Financial Services, which has done a good job due to the resources put into that effort. Other sectors have a lot of room for improvement and deal with many issues to identify the threats and devote resources to curtail them. There is a much greater awareness now than there was a few years ago, but there is still much room for improvement.
Jim Trainor ’87 visited the campus last fall to speak about his fbi experiences.
Q: What advice would you give a student interested in pursuing a career with the FBI? A: Technical (computer science or math) and language skills are important, and being a good person and knowing how to write is key, in this field or almost any other. The biggest challenge I have is finding individuals who can write and communicate well. Students interested in a career with the FBI can apply for internships and jobs online at www.usajobs.gov. Q: What does it say about the value of an Assumption College education that both you and retired FBI special agent Rick DesLauriers ’82 (lead investigator in the Boston Marathon bombing) are/can be counted among its alumni? A: What students learn here, and the type of people attracted to the College, are both impressive. The values and ethics that Assumption tries to instill in its students prepare them well. Assumption graduates have a wide range of skills and their broad breadth of experience and desire to continually enhance their skill set over time says much about the College. It can’t be just a coincidence. Assumption should take a lot of credit. I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t be where I am in the FBI if I didn’t go to Assumption.
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catholic relief services assists the poor and vulnerable around the world.
College partners with Catholic Relief Services to serve those in need First among New England colleges and ninth in nation The College signed a partnership agreement with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in May to make Assumption the first college in New England – and ninth in the nation – to become an official CRS Global Campus. The partnership follows a number of on-campus efforts to educate the Assumption community about pressing humanitarian crises throughout the world. As outlined in the agreement, the arrangement seeks to promote global solidarity through an institutional partnership between the College and CRS that engages the three core constituencies of the College: administrators, faculty and students. Assumption students can participate as CRS student ambassadors on campus and the CRS Faculty Learning Commons program will provide numerous educational resources for faculty and student
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engagement. An interdisciplinary CRS advisory group is also tasked with sustaining the partnership and supporting broad engagement with CRS on campus, including during major global emergencies, such as disaster relief. “As a Catholic Relief Services Global Campus, Assumption College joins a worldwide effort to call attention to, and serve, those in the greatest of need,” said President Francesco Cesareo, Ph.D., “Through this new opportunity, students and faculty will have access to significant resources such as experts who are addressing pressing humanitarian matters throughout the developed and underdeveloped world. Assumption students are challenged to discover their gifts and talents and use what they have learned in the classroom to make
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a difference. I am hopeful that many students will be inspired by the work of CRS and use their knowledge in service to the least among us.” “We are so pleased that Assumption has become a CRS Global Campus,” said CRS President and Chief Executive Officer Carolyn Woo, Ph.D. HD’16, who served as Commencement speaker and received an honorary degree from the College in May. “Just as we hope that the Assumption community will gain from this interaction with the work that CRS does with the poor around the world, we know that we will benefit from the energy, the expertise and the idealism that Assumption students, faculty and administrators bring to this partnership.” Prior to signing the agreement, the College had collaborated with CRS on a number of initiatives. Following the earthquake that devastated Nepal, the Assumption community united to raise funds to support CRS relief efforts. On campus, the CRS Advisory Board – comprised of students, faculty and staff – hosted information sessions on climate change, fair trade and sponsored a Hounds4CRS event that raised awareness as well as $6,700 for CRS. Faculty have also engaged with CRS in a professional capacity, participating in CRS trainings in Boston and Baltimore. In June, Cary LeBlanc, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing and management, traveled to Ghana to participate in an academically rigorous program addressing the need for sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene practices. According to CRS, the Global Campus designation provides faculty, students and administrators with the opportunity to integrate the practice of global solidarity into the life of the institution. The designation also provides an opportunity to enrich academic programs through interaction with CRS experts working on the front lines of global issues. At least three faculty members per year from each CRS Global Campus participate in the CRS Faculty Learning Commons (FLC), an online learning community and curricular resource that highlights the latest strategies for global relief and development with special emphasis on the application of CRS’ commitment to social justice opportunities for building global solidarity.
Professor Jim Lang awarded Fulbright Grant
Faculty authors Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons From the Science of Learning
Will create STEM teaching resource for college faculty in South America
By James M. Lang, Ph.D., associate professor of English
In April, English Professor and Director of the College’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Jim Lang, Ph.D., was awarded a Fulbright Grant to collaborate as a Fulbright Specialist with three Colombian universities to create a free, public resource for higher education faculty. Working as a Fulbright Specialist, Prof. Lang will help faculty at these Spanish-speaking colleges and universities to implement best practices in undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teaching. Despite growing awareness of the need for educational reform in STEM courses, many STEM faculty throughout the world still use traditional teaching methods, relying upon lectures and high-stakes assessments to impart knowledge upon students. Research, however, has shown that these methods are especially ineffective when applied to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “What attracted me about this project was the desire of these institutions to create a free, open resource on teaching and learning that could reach Spanish-speaking faculty throughout the world,” explained Prof. Lang. “I love their sense of purpose and mission in that commitment. I want to do everything I can to help them create an accessible resource that is firmly grounded in the research on teaching and learning in higher education, and that appeals to a broad range of faculty, both new and experienced.” Prof. Lang will advise Universidad del Norte, Universidad Javeriana and Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano as they create and implement a massive, online open course (MOOC) on STEM undergraduate teaching. This process allows Dr. Lang to work with the faculty on learning about teaching in context; as well as planning, developing materials for and piloting the MOOC. The goal is to pilot the course in late fall 2016 and to officially
The author of several books and a monthly columnist for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Lang suggests using cognitive theory to facilitate better student learning in Small Teaching (2016, Jossey-Bass). Each chapter introduces a basic concept in cognitive theory, explains when and how it should be employed, and provides firm examples of how the intervention has been or could be used in a variety of disciplines.
i want to do everything i can to help them create an accessible resource that is firmly grounded in the research on teaching and learning in higher education.” –Professor Jim lang offer it to faculty at the host institutions in spring 2017. Assumption’s CTE strives to advance the quality of teaching in higher education. The Center sponsors programs and events related to teaching and learning in higher education; consults and collaborates with individuals, offices, departments, and programs that impact teaching and learning; gathers and disseminates resources on teaching and learning in higher education to all teaching faculty; and produces, supports, and promotes the scholarship of teaching and learning on campus and in the broader higher education community. As director, Prof. Lang provides faculty with resources to enhance the rich tradition of teaching excellence at the College and to introduce new strategies to build upon that tradition.
The Newton Secret By Eric Howe, Ph.D., assistant professor of education Based on historical documents, The Newton Secret (2015, CreateSpace) is an historical fiction novel about Sir Isaac Newton and the efforts of two researchers to follow clues to the contemporary location of a secret, monumental discovery made by Newton and hidden by his descendants. The novel bridges science, faith and life.
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claudia Palencia ’17 and kaelin Jenkins-brown ’15
Assumption students teach, and learn, important lessons in Argentina claudia Palencia (top, middle) spent six weeks with students in buenos Aires.
B Y F RANK B RUNO ’17 Taking advantage of a new international summer internship program offered by Assumption College, Claudia Palencia ’17 and Kaelin Jenkins-Brown ’15 traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina this summer, to teach and observe English, Spanish and literature courses at two Assumptionist schools, Instituto San Román and Instituto Nuestra Señora de Lourdes. The result of an international collaboration between Associate Professor of Spanish Esteban Loustaunau, Ph.D., and Celeste Trotta, the coordinator of international exchange programs at San Román, the internship enables students to earn three academic credits for six weeks of language-teaching experience. Offered primarily to undergraduates -- specifically students who are studying Spanish and have an interest or specialty in education – graduating seniors may also apply for the program during the summer after they receive their degree from Assumption. The internship aims to provide aspiring teachers an immersive experience, where the interns can put their Spanish and teaching methods into practice while assisting a fellow Assumptionist school and gaining insight to an educational system outside the United States. During the six-week experience, Palencia and Jenkins-Brown, both Spanish and education double majors, met with school
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administrators to learn about different teaching strategies and elementary school management. In addition to learning about the Argentinian education system, they both also taught English and Spanish to students in Buenos Aires. “Through this internship, I have noticed how much I love teaching a subject I’m passionate about,” said Palencia. “I’ve learned new Spanish vocabulary, practiced different aspects of classroom management and have improved my ‘teacher voice,’” she said. My Assumption education has allowed me to grow academically and personally. It has given me the confidence and knowledge to travel to another country and practice everything I have learned.” Upon returning to the United States and reflecting on the transformative experience, the pair noted that their internship experience has uniquely complemented their choices of both degree and career paths. For Jenkins-Brown, a Spanish teacher at Plymouth (MA) North High School, the internship has provided reassurance that she is heading down the right career path. “This trip reminded me how much I like to be in the classroom making a difference in students’ lives,” she said. “This opportunity has reaffirmed why I want to be a teacher.” Palencia agreed.
First-year perspective (First published in Le Provocateur, 2/24/16 issue) B Y M AIA C AMPBELL ’19 From very early on in my senior year of high school, I was prepared to go to college. I remember trying to pick a college, and narrowed it to the three schools that I could afford to attend. Assumption was one of them. Ultimately, the decision came down to where I would feel happiest, though availability of academic programs had something to do with the decision as well. When I was at Assumption, I felt at home, and no other college gave me that feeling. So I decided to officially call it my home. I have not regretted one moment of my decision to be here at Assumption. In the first year of college, people often are still figuring out who they are, what they want to do with their lives and what their beliefs are. At Assumption, I have found that it is okay for me not to know what to do, and I know that I am not figuring things out alone. I have the help of faculty, administrators and friends who truly care about me. They truly care about every student, making Assumption one of the most caring places I have ever been. I love learning and am open to growing as a person, and I feel that Assumption has provided an environment that fosters growth. But you cannot grow without challenges, and I am thankful for those as well. One category of challenges I faced is that of academics. My most challenging courses
have been Introduction to Theology and Public History. I took Intro last semester, and it really revealed just how stubborn I was. Even though learning was important to me, I would not hear out other people’s perspectives. Because of that theology class, I have become more understanding of what I believe and what others believe, as well. It is good to be knowledgeable about other people’s ways of life so we can have constructive, unhostile conversations. Through theology, I learned much more about what it means to be a human being. I have also been challenged in my Public History course. This course deals with professional options in history besides teaching. I’m starting to think that maybe working in a museum is not the only profession for me. Also, there have been some challenging social situations. Through all of these stressful situations I learned that I need to balance my life. I found that I cannot always completely invest myself into my friends. I learned that I need to care for them but still care for myself. I’ve also learned much from my club involvement, as well. Through writing for Le Provocateur, I continue to enjoy it, and I am enthused to share it with the world. Through the Campus Activities Board (CAB) I have learned a lot about planning events and
maia campbell ’19
being a student leader. I love getting student leadership experience, as I am hoping to become a resident assistant, an orientation leader and possibly a CAB executive. Through these student leadership opportunities, I am learning that perhaps a career in student affairs is in my future, which I want to explore. Most of all, I have grown in my understanding of what it means to be an adult. I work at the community desk, and I am slowly learning the ropes of managing finances. Thankfully, my parents are there to help me. They have supported me through my endeavors here, and I cannot thank them enough for all they have done. My Assumption experience, in sum, has been nothing less than spectacular. I have no doubt that this is where I was meant to be. Yes, I know that wherever I go in life, whether it be to the Smithsonian or to help mentor future college students, Assumption will always be a part of me. Once a Hound, always a Hound.
Chorale tours and performs in Central Europe Twenty-eight members of the College’s Chorale ensemble toured, learned and performed in Central Europe on a week-long trip in May. Accompanied by an alumnus and three chaperones, including Professor of Music and Chorale Director Michelle Graveline, D.M.A., the group traveled to Prague, Vienna and Salzburg, where they performed in historic churches and cathedrals and learned about the history of European politics and art. “As a liturgical music major, I was able to see when Mozart was born and to understand
the struggles he went through as a musician at a young age,” said Chris Cuzzupe ’17. “Seeing the cathedral where he played and walking the streets he walked was an amazing opportunity. It has shaped the way I think about music and history.” Every other year over the last 30 years, the Chorale’s international concert tours have taken them to Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Russia. They have sung in some of the great cathedrals of Europe,
including Notre Dame in Paris, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and have twice had the distinction of singing for His Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.
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Pirates of Penzance staged at The Hanover Theatre For the eighth consecutive year, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Worcester served as the venue for Assumption’s annual spring theatre production. The Pirates of Penzance, set during the reign of Queen Victoria, tells the story of Frederic, played by Brian Belleville ’18, who was mistakenly indentured as an apprentice to a pirate. On a journey to discover his destiny, Frederic and his band of pirates find adventure, love, comedy and music. Other starring roles were portrayed by Kelse Merrill ’17 as the Pirate King, Sarah Mombourquette ’17 as Mabel and Shant Eghian’18 as Major General Stanley. Directed by Richard Monroe ’85, the cast and crew included 25 students, along with alumni and local actors. Since opening in New York City and London in 1879, Pirates has become W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s most popular comic opera.
kelse merrill ’17 as the Pirate king
Three new trustees bring expertise to board The president and chief executive officer of one of the region’s largest health care providers, a local philanthropist and the president of an upscale kitchen and bath appliance store were appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees in May. Richard Burke ’80 is president and chief executive officer of Fallon Health, a nationally recognized richard burke ’80 not-for- profit health care organization, which he joined in 1998. Burke has served on numerous boards including the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, Fitchburg State University, the Worcester Economic Club and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. Currently a board member of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, he holds a B.A. in politics from Assumption, a master’s degree in political science from Boston College and a MBA from Cornell University. Burke and wife Mary reside in Worcester. Alison Kenary, a long-time neighbor and friend of Assumption is an active volunteer and philanthropist in the Worcester community. She has served on the boards of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Junior League of Worcester, Old Sturbridge Village, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Worcester Garden Club, Worcester Historical Museum and the Worcester Wellesley Club. A volunteer with the Diocese of Worcester vocations office, Kenary is an active
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Alison kenary
lilliam Alonso miller ’89
member of the Assumption community, regularly attending campus events and Mass. A Wellesley College graduate, she and her late husband, James, a former Assumption Prep student, are the parents of five children. Lilliam Alonso Miller ’89 is president and co-owner (with husband Arland) of Remodela, Inc., an upscale kitchen and bath appliance store for residential and commercial enterprises, and vice president of Maderas Alfa, Inc., a distributor of construction materials. Both businesses are based in Puerto Rico, where they reside with their three sons. Miller earned a B.B.A. in management from Assumption. She is president of the Drug Enforcement Association Caribbean Citizen’s Academy, an outreach program which teaches and spreads awareness to make a positive impact on drug trafficking. As devoted friends of the College, the Millers have graciously hosted several Assumption alumni receptions at their home.
The New Core Lights the Way BY FR. DENNIS GALLAGHER, A.A.’69, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION
hen asked to prioritize the numerous ways the College realizes its mission, I normally place two things at the top of the list. First, that all of our students are required to take courses which not only help them to read, write, and analyze more carefully, but which also engage them in the consideration of the permanent questions that pose themselves to thoughtful human beings. That they do so within the context of a broad and rich tradition of learning, which we call the Catholic intellectual tradition, serves to enhance the quality of this kind of education. The second priority is “hiring for mission,” the selection of faculty, in particular, who, in addition to a competence proper to their own disciplines, also have familiarity with this tradition of learning and who are equipped to make a contribution to it at Assumption. The launching of a new core curriculum is an event of signal importance in the life of an educational institution. Assumption’s new core, to be introduced this fall, replaces the general education requirements that have been on the books, with a few variations over the years, since the late 1960s. The distinctiveness of a core is the decision in favor of a common educational experience for our students, one that represents the informed judgment of our faculty about what constitutes a truly humanizing course of studies. At the heart of the new curriculum are the six core seminars, all reading and writing intensive, in which learning communities are formed from the beginning of the first semester and which are capped
W
The mission
at 22 students. In the words of a pre-launch brochure, these seminars allow students “to encounter literary and theological texts while developing competencies in reading, writing and speaking. In this way, the core seminar experience builds expertise valuable to
all major programs of study.” Encouraged to complete all the core seminar courses by the end of their sophomore year, students take up to 12 other courses in four additional areas of study: Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning; Culture and Expression; Person and Society; and The Great Conversation. The general education requirements, which served generations of Assumption students well, tended to favor a “cafeteria” approach to learning, allowing students to choose from an array of courses in certain required areas of study. While some of that still remains, the perceived advantage of the new core is two-fold: it provides a common educational experience within the new learning communities, and it aims at a more integrated and coherent account of what an Assumption student, carried on the wings of both faith and reason, should come to know. According to the program’s mission statement, the Core deepens and broadens the foundations of student learning in their major and minor fields of study, and “cultivates the habits of mind, learning practices and skills, passion for truth and love of wisdom that are hallmarks of an Assumption education.”
HSRS Prof. Pica-Smith receives Early Career Award
B Y K ATELYN PARENTE ’16
In recognition of her research, numerous publications, contributions to her field and accomplishments in service and teaching, Assistant Professor of Education Cinzia Pica-Smith, Ed.D., was honored with the 2016 Kim Fries Early Career Award in April. The award recognizes the work of New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO) members who demonstrate academic distinction in the early part of their professional careers. Pica-Smith was recognized for her dedication to investigating, analyzing and promoting issues of social justice through the study of perceptions of race and interracial friendships.
Outside of the classroom, Pica-Smith, who joined Assumption in 2008 after receiving her Ed.D. in child and family studies from UMass Amherst, is active in multiple areas of the College. A member of Assumption’s Presidential Task Force on Race, she has coordinated and participated in a series of College-wide dialogues about race. Pica-Smith’s has written several peer-reviewed publications and presented at national conferences, both in the United States and abroad. In 2012 she collected an honorable mention for the Distinguished Education Research Article Award from the Journal of Research in Childhood Education and the Rubovits Award for Best Paper from NEERO. In 2013 she presented a distinguished paper at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting.
During her career, Pica-Smith’s research has centered on the social and emotional development of young children and the adults that are involved in their lives. Her work focuses on social and cultural identity, racial attitudes and prejudice, and interethnic interracial friendships of children and, as the principal investigator in research that explores how students perceive interracial friendship in the United States and Italy, her studies often explore areas of race and culture. Pica-Smith, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (HSRS), often integrates her research into her undergraduate and graduate courses, which are popular among students. She received an Assumption College Faculty Development Grant for her work in both 2010 and 2013.
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cAmPus neWs
Sustaining life Selfless alumnus saves life of a stranger B Y T ROY WATKINS
L
ate for a class in April 2015, Erich Grosse ’15 originally let what would be a life-changing call go to voice mail. But later, as he listened to the message, he got goosebumps when a representative from Delete Blood Cancer (now known as DKMS) shared that a bone marrow transplant match had been found for a 20-year-old male with acute myeloid leukemia, a potentially fatal disease. His match had been found at 11,000-to-1 odds – and that match was Grosse.
A representative from delete blood cancer shared that a bone marrow transplant match had been found for a 20-year-old male with acute myeloid leukemia, a potentially fatal disease. his match had been found at 11,000-to-1 odds.
to find transplant candidates for individuals diagnosed with blood cancer. “Volunteers got their cheeks swabbed, and, from that, their DNA was stored in a bank waiting to see if their bone marrow would match up with a patient in need,” explained Grosse, who was one among nearly 400 potential donors that day. “It was a great event,” he said, “but since less than 1 percent of people are a match for someone, I wasn’t expecting to get a call anytime soon.” On May 10, 2015, Grosse had the marrow extraction procedure performed at a hospital close to his home in Bayport, NY. The five-and-a-half hour donation process involved the extraction and separation of the marrow from his blood (Grosse’s body gradually replaced the removed marrow on its own). For confidentiality reasons, Grosse was not allowed to seek the identity of the patient until a year after the donation, but he feels like he already knows a lot about him. “This kid, who is my age, gender, and nationality,
By the numbers ™ THE NEED • • • •
Every four minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer. 148 people die each day from a blood cancer. More children die of leukemia than any other cancer. 70% of patients in need of a marrow transplant do not have a matching donor in their family.
™ THE CURE Though the call about a match came as a surprise, Grosse had been instrumental in organizing the event that made it happen. The captain of the Greyhounds cross country team and a member of the College’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), he had helped oversee the SAAC’s bone-marrow drive on campus, which was organized
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• A donation of either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells can cure a patient. • 13.5 million people are listed in the national donor registry, which is far short of patients’ needs. • One in 430 on the registry become donors. • Donors typically return to work or normal activities in 1 to 7 days. SOURCES: IJ.ORG AND BETHEMATCH.ORG
Summer 2016
grosse is a former greyhounds cross country captain.
More Greyhound heroes As a result of the bone marrow drives that Assumption has hosted, at least two other alumni have been matched with someone in need and have made a life-saving donation. dave d’Amico ’12
Dave D’Amico ’12 was paired with a 60-year old male diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer that leads to leukemia. The medical procedure took place in May 2013. Although D’Amico, an account executive with Trip Advisor, has never met the recipient of his bone marrow, he speaks highly of the process. “I would do it again, many times, if I could because there are many people in need and it could help someone survive,” he recently said. matt Wrenn ’13
was not out partying and having fun these last few years, but instead battling cancer, waiting for a bone marrow match—to give his body a chance,” said Grosse, sharing his story on campus, just three days after the procedure. “He is the definition of brave. He is the definition of inspiration. And, although I do not know this patient, he is my hero.” Though the recipient has remained anonymous, Grosse has received periodic updates about his health and was told in early May that the patient is doing well. He hopes to someday have the opportunity to meet him. “It would be an inspiration to meet someone my age who has gone through everything that he has,” said Grosse. “But even if I do not get to meet my bone marrow recipient, I hope that he has a future that is longer than mine.” Though the donation process was
difficult, Grosse credits his parents and family for supporting him, both before and after the procedure. “Words can’t describe how much my family supported me throughout this process,” he said, happily sharing that his brother, Jonathan, and cousin, Chris, have both since been swabbed and entered into the bone marrow registry. A marketing and history major at Assumption, Grosse is currently pursuing a MAT in social studies as a full-time student at SUNY-Stony Brook and working parttime at a local credit union. He hopes to teach social studies at the middle or high school level—and he hopes that others follow his example and get tested. “The more people that get swabbed,” he says, “the more opportunities there will be to find matches for patients.”
Matt Wrenn ’13 was matched to a 19-year-old male with aplastic anemia and had his donation procedure conducted in February 2016 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Wrenn is an operations financial analyst with Stonyfield Farm. DKMS (formerly known as Delete Blood Cancer) helps fight blood cancer and blood disorders with offices in the U.S., Germany, Poland, Spain and the U.K. For more information, visit www.dkms.org.
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cAmPus neWs
New academic center under construction Fall 2017 opening planned Construction of a new academic center, a significant project identified in the Assumption 2020 Light the Way: Building on Foundations of Excellence Strategic Plan, is underway. Approved by the Board of Trustees in March, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in early April. Targeted for a fall 2017 opening, the 62,000-square-foot building is under construction between Hagan Campus Center, Information Technology Center/Fuller Hall and the Switzer Building. Thirteen high-tech, flexible classrooms of varying sizes, seminar rooms, common study spaces, a 400-seat performance hall, a rehearsal room, and a multi-function space with a capacity of 400 will be housed in the new building as well as faculty offices for the Business Studies Department, the Honors Program, the Assumption Core Texts Program (which will replace The Fortin/Gonthier Foundations Program next year), the Center for Teaching Excellence, and a new Center for the Study of Ethics. As the signature building on campus, this building will reflect the College’s mission of integrating the liberal arts with professional formation.
A steady snowfall didn’t stop the April 4 groundbreaking ceremony. l–r: President francesco cesareo, fr. Peter Precourt, A.A. ’70; Trustee chair francis bedard ’81 and Provost louise carroll keeley
Students tour New York City businesses with alumni
eleven Assumption students, accompanied by Professors dan Jones hA’12 and cary leblanc and Advancement officer linda rosenlund ’82, spent spring break in new york city where they toured businesses, attended alumni receptions and gained career advice from alumni, friends and parents at area businesses. here, the students visited bill harten P’19 at the bank of new york mellon. other visits included bryan dockett ’91 at disney Theatrical Productions, Patrick folan ’85 at JP morgan, nick veltri ’07 at morgan stanley, don morrison ’77 at brand Programming network, and matt howard ’90 of icAP-Tullet Prebons and matt bagley ’91 of guggenheim Partners llc.
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Providing
for
Assumption’s future Phil and Sarah Thomas Tracy ’80
PhoTo: dAn vAillAncourT
Profoundly influenced by excellent professors and mentors, shaped in spirit by the Assumptionists and glad to have partnered with dear classmates and friends to grow, Sarah Thomas Tracy ’80 remains devoted to the College’s mission. Sarah’s career took her from youth minister to banking officer to high school teacher, where she realized all the gifts that Assumption gave her. “A wise man once counseled me in saying ‘The gift you have received, give as a gift,’" Sarah shared. Now, driven by a desire to assist those who yearn to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, Sarah and husband Phil have made a planned gift to support Campus Ministry programming and provide future students with an educational opportunity like the one Sarah had. Sarah and Phil are members of The 1904 Society, a group which has made a deferred gift or provided for Assumption in their estate plans or wills. For more information, contact Melanie Demarais, executive director for Institutional Advancement, at 508-767-7332.
The 1904 Society
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The Honors Program celebrates
10 years of
ACADEMIC
excellence B Y S TEPHEN KOSTR zEWA
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PhoTos: dAn vAillAncourT
engaged in a discussion are honors students and alumni gabrielle Jasmin ’19, michael hoye ’16, Prof. molly flynn, Andrew lampi ’16 and meghan dwyer ’16.
That mentality has inspired the Assumption College Honors Program for the past 10 years. By combining rigorous academic study with in-depth original research and a strong sense of community, the Program works to ensure that Honors students reach their full potential, prepare for life after college and consider the big questions in life—questions of purpose, meaning and identity.
FORMATION The Honors experience begins in the fall of a student’s first year at a ceremony where all new members are formally inducted into the Program and given a flower to remind them of their achievement. This celebration signifies they have become part of a larger community, a fellowship of students who share a similar desire to make the most of their educations. “It’s not just a program, it’s actually an ethos of thinking and talking and learning together about important things,” said Flynn. “It’s a community of people who are intelligent and motivated and want to think and talk and learn together.” The emphasis on shared study dates back to the Program’s founding in 2006, when a diverse group of faculty, administrators and students came together to launch the program. “A good Honors Program encourages students to think deeply about issues and to dare to jump into uncharted territory,” said Paula Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, who was a member of that initial committee and the Program’s first director. “We wanted our students to become independent thinkers that can critically evaluate and understand what has come before them, but also to have their own insights and intuitions—to ask new questions and to question what they read.” “We had free-reign to design a program that we thought would be effective and would mesh with our mission,” she continued. “It was from those initial meetings many of the key elements of the Honors Program, the foundational elements that you can still see in the program today, developed.”
THE HONORS COMMUNITY
“H
oNoRS STUDENTS SHoULD BE DoING MoRE THAN oTHER STUDENTS,” PRoFESSoR MoLLY FLYNN, PH.D., DIRECToR oF ASSUMPTIoN
CoLLEGE’S HoNoRS PRoGRAM, DECLARED.
“They need to be fundamentally honest in the way in which they approach the truth” said Flynn. “They should puzzle when something doesn’t quite make sense and work even harder when they discover they might have made a mistake. They’re more than clever, they’re really interested and driven to put in the extra work.”
More than just a course of study, the Honors Program was always envisioned as an institution that inspired camaraderie. “We wanted a community of Honors students with a sense of connection with like-minded students,” Fitzpatrck said. To further that goal, a conscious effort was made to build that sense of kinship into nearly every aspect of the Program. It was important to the committee that the program embraced students from all disciplines and was a fully-immersive experience. Assumption’s Program, unlike many of its counterparts at other colleges, was designed to begin in the first year, encouraging bonding, shared study and high-level learning from the start. Incoming students were encouraged to live together in the College’s Hanrahan Hall, Assumption’s first effort to tie a living space to a specific academic program. Cathryn Corteza ’10, a member of the first cohort of Honors students who is now finishing her doctorate in developmental psychology at the University of Nebraska, remembers moving into the Honors dorm that first year. “The community was really supportive, it was a fun environment with a highy motivated group of students,” she reminisced. “It pushed
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me and brought me out of my comfort zone.” “Hanrahan was a unique experience,” noted Mike Doyle ’17. “It was a way to quickly meet and build in-depth friendships. I met one of my best friends there and the friendships I made in Hanrahan have all lasted.” The goal of encouraging fellowship also led to the creation of an “Honors Lounge” which, in many ways, embodies the heart of the program. Located in Kennedy Hall, the lounge incorporates a classroom, a computer room, the director’s office and a large open area for Honors students to study together, work on projects and relax.
nicole corbo ’17
COURSE OF STUDY “Honors students should have a really rich liberal arts experience,” Flynn said. “As educated human beings they should know more than merely what they’re fascinated by.” By nature an interdisciplinary program, the Honors Program’s broad focus also aids students in better understanding their chosen fields, Flynn believes. “In order for that one thing they’re fascinated by to be meaningful, and in order for them to make any sense of it, they need an education that helps them think through deep questions,” she suggested. The Program’s watchwords, therefore, are context and depth. First-year students take foundational courses on art, history, literature, philosophy, theology and politics, allowing them to develop a base of knowledge that serves them well throughout their college careers. “I like challenges and excelling wherever I can. I’m intellectually ambitious and the program added a challenge that was intriguing,” noted Colleen Glidden ’19, who just finished her first year with the program. “Being part of the Honors program has offered a lot for me and my studies.” They’ve also helped her reconnect with a favorite discipline. “The foundational courses I’ve taken have led me to rediscover my love for art history and build connections with the Art History department,” she says. During their sophomore year, every Honors student takes “Life Stories,” a discussion-intensive course that uses personal narratives and biographies to explore complex topics like vocation, purpose, morality and what it means to lead a good life. Each professor brings a unique perspective to the course and materials have ranged over the years from Tolstoy’s A Confession to Life of Pi and Into the Wild. For Associate Professor of Italian Richard Bonanno, Ph.D., who taught the course in 2012, that focus on exploration is key. “Students have very different academic interests but that course brings them together and asks some important questions about what it means to lead a meaningful life,” he said. “It’s a gateway for them to come together and find common ground.” “Life Stories helps you take a look at the world around you, open your mind and explore different opinions,” said Doyle. “My professor reminded us ‘You’re a human being before you’re a citizen or a professional or anything else for that matter.” It also helps students engage with ideas that might have previously been beyond their horizons. “Life Stories gets students off their feet,” Bonanno said. “It allows them to reflect a little bit on themselves, to think about their own space, their own privilege—and to go beyond the very relative sphere that is themselves and their own experience. The course asks ‘What would you do?’”
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DOING THE WORK The culmination of the Honors Program curriculum comes in the form of a capstone thesis, which allows students to take what they have learned and use it to perform original research in an area of their choosing. Projects run the full gamut, ranging from scientific experiments to the analysis of literature, history, sociology and politics; to the creation of original works of art. “When we were devising the program we thought that it was very important for students to be doing the work of their discipline,” said Fitzpatrick. “The capstone experience of immersing yourself very deeply in a topic prepares students for graduate school as well as for the world of work.” Dan Anastas ’10 explored the Book of Job and cycles of destruction and rebirth in the Bible for his project. “Writing a thesis is a process,” he explained. “Not only are you building an original thought paper, you have to manage priorities and deadlines and create a framework and schedule for doing the work. Then you have to stick to it – that last part is the hardest.” It’s a crucial one as well. “I’ve learned that being able to plan your work out and follow through is one of the most valuable professional skills you can have,” he said. The process begins junior year with the Honors thesis seminar, wherein the students identify a faculty mentor and develop a project topic. Assumption’s junior honors seminar is unusual among its peers in its focus on developing the thesis, which allows students to take the time they need to establish the foundations of their research – and bounce ideas off one another. “We all became very interested and invested in each other's projects,” said Diane Waterman ’17. “It was enormously gratifying to see my own
honors Program students and faculty visited greece last summer. Pictured are colleen glidden ’19, Prof. molly flynn, nicole corbo ’19, Amber Welch ’18 and michael hoye ’16.
for their capstone thesis, students perform original research in an area of their choosing. progress at the end of the semester, and knowing that I contributed to the success and progress of my classmates made me very proud to be part of this program.” Once a topic is chosen and a mentor selected, the intensive investigation begins as the Honors students spend their senior year delving in-depth into their subject matter. “It was my first experience independently working through the research process, which was incredibly valuable for my future career,” Corteza, who researched how stressful stimuli affects skin conductance, remembered. “I learned how research is done: everything from project design, to analysis, to presenting the results.”
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Though known for its intellectual rigor, the Honors Program works
hard to offer co-curricular and extracurricular events as well. Throughout the year students engage in fun activities like apple-picking, rock climbing, travel and other functions that offer a chance to relax and better understand each other. “They need to have fun together,” explained Flynn. “The more comfortable they get with each other the more likely they’ll want to talk about Shakespeare together. They should enjoy each other’s friendships because it’s in those friendships they’ll have good conversations and learn from each other.” “It’s amazing,” enthused Glidden, who recently traveled with the program to Greece. “There are people who are just as passionate about academics as I am and love the challenge of the program. The community becomes more like a family you can lean on when you need help and we all eventually become great friends with one another.” One new initiative in that vein is the bi-annual Book Summit, which allows students to study a particular work in-depth and outside of the classroom. The inaugural event, held in January, saw Honors students devote a Friday night and Saturday to examining, considering and debating Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. A second summit, focusing on Macbeth, is planned for October and will include a showing of Akira Kurosawa’s acclaimed adaptation Throne of Blood. Though it may be new to the Honors Program, an event like the book summit aligns perfectly with the program’s founding goals. “There should be a buzz for the program, said Flynn. “‘What does the Honors program do?’ Is it just that they get good grades and write a senior thesis? I want the buzz about the program to be that they read important books and have important discussions about them together and they love it.” So far, 10 years in, it seems to be working. “I’m looking forward to returning this fall,” Glidden affirmed.
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hounds WATch
Six members of the men’s and women’s track and field teams earned United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region honors for their performances during the 2016 outdoor season. Graduate student Eddy Frazier ’15 set the Assumption record in the triple jump with a leap of 46'6". Antonia Pagliuca ’18 earned All-Region kudos in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, with College marks in both events, including a win in the 10K at the Northeast-10 Championships with a time of 36:19.66. Rachel Avard ’17 made All-Region in the 3,000-meter steeplechase while Gwen Sawyer ’17 was a top shot put thrower. Avard posted a Greyhounds-record time of 11:26.07, while Sawyer tallied All-Region accolades for the third time by winning her second career NE-10 title with an Assumption-record toss of 43' ½". Megan Perrin ’18 was named All-Region for the second straight season in the javelin, while Abby Jones ’19 earned All-Region honors in the heptathlon. Perrin, the College’s first female to earn a spot at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championship, claimed her second straight New England Division II Championship with a school-record throw of 157'5". Jones totaled 4,361 points at the NE-10 heptathlon, while setting the school record in the long jump at 17'7".
eddy frazier ’15
PhoTos: gil TAlboT
Six track and field stars earn
Antonia Pagliuca ’18
Ashley Abad ’17 Tim carroll ’16
Softball’s Ashley Abad named to All-Region team again Second baseman Ashley Abad ’17 was named to the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (CCA) Softball All-East Region Second Team for the second time after leading the Hounds to their second straight NE-10 Conference playoff berth with a .411 batting average, 46 hits and 34 runs. Nationally ranked in five statistical categories, Abad also earned her third selection to the NE-10 All-Conference Team, as her team advanced to the second round of the NE-10 playoffs for the second consecutive season.
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Golfer Tim Carroll named Academic All-District Golf team co-captain Tim Carroll ’16 was honored as a College Sports Information Directors of America At-Large Academic All-District selection for his performance athletically and in the classroom during the 2015–16 season. Carroll graduated cum laude with a B.A. in economics and a 3.70 grade point average. Leading his team to the NCAA Regional, he posted a team-best 78.2 stroke average.
All-Region honors
rachel Avard ’17
gwen sawyer ’17
megan Perrin ’18
Abby Jones ’19
Lacrosse captains earn New England accolades
Women’s golf becomes 24th varsity program Women’s golf is the first Greyhounds varsity sport added since women’s swimming and diving was established in 2007. The number of women’s teams at Assumption is the second highest among Northeast-10 Conference institutions and Assumption is the sixth NE-10 college to offer women’s golf. The team competed in five tournaments last season, including the NE-10 Tourney, where Alyssa Ruggieri ’18 carded her first hole-in-one.
Midfielder/captain Nick Guarino ’16 was named to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Academic All-New England Team. One of just six student-athletes among all NCAA Division II colleges to earn the accolade, Guarino won 657 faceoffs and collected 279 ground balls in 58 career games for the Hounds. In 2016, he finished 14th in the nation in face-off winning percentage (0.61) and 12th in ground balls per game (6.79). He earned a B.A. in organizational communication. Midfielder/captain Connor Munisteri ’16 was named to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-New England Second Team after leading the Greyhounds with 33 points on 17 goals and 16 assists. He ranked nationally in four categories including points per game (2.36), goals per game (1.21), assists per game (1.14) and shot percentage (0.283). Munisteri earned a B.A. in history.
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nick guarino ’16
connor munisteri ’16
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Alumni news From the Alumni Association President Bob Knittle ’85
T
imeless and precious are our connections with the world around us. Friends gather together and smiles are created, hugs are shared, tears escape and accomplishments grow. We are Assumption alumni and we are proud to reveal our stories of success and challenges – not only with each other, but with our current students, faculty and religious. The Alumni Board recently met with the Faculty Senate to facilitate better connections between students, faculty and alumni. The Class Agent program is re-emerging in a new form, and the alumni-student relationship is continually being cultivated through
events
various opportunities, including a memorable fall Homecoming last year. Our Alumni have been involved in on-campus events and have sponsored off-campus events for current students to demonstrate that we are only as strong as the fibers that unite us. While in the DCU Center at commencement, I clapped by myself in the expansive auditorium. No one heard my one clap. Yet, when the crowd gathered and clapped in unison, the power of the applause was stimulating. We, as alumni, sometimes feel we are only one clap and no one hears us. Please know that all claps are heard, but the strength of our Association is when we clap together. All alumni are welcome to participate in any event. If interested, please email me at rdknittle@gmail.com. I look forward to continuing to build bridges of diverse support. Thank you to all alumni for helping fellow Greyhounds demonstrate the pride of the pack.
Watch for Alumni e-Newsletters and check the Alumni Events website at www.assumption.edu/alumni/events for frequent updates and a new online registration feature. Please join fellow alumni at any regional event.
Prep campus
SEPTEMBER 19
SEPTEMBER 25
FBI Golf Tournament
Charlotte, NC reception
Worcester Country Club
SEPTEMBER 27
SEPTEMBER 21
Raleigh, NC reception
OCTOBER 1
Prep Reunion
New York City reception
SEPTEMBER 23
St. James, NC reception
500 Salisbury St.
OCTOBER 22
fbi golf Tournament
President’s Council dinner
Mechanics Hall
NOVEMBER 4
Hall of Fame induction dinner
Visit www.assumptiongreyhounds.com for details • Jeff Blanchard ’81 (football) • Caitlyn Clark ’06 (cross country) • Coach Ralph DeLucia (softball) • Sandy Norton ’74 (ice hockey) • Ryan Richert ’03 (tennis)
President’s council dinner
NOVEMBER 5
DECEMBER 4
On campus with alumni games, a tailgate and Mass, including a blessing for alumni couples. Visit www.assumption.edu/alumni for details.
DECEMBER 1
Homecoming
Breakfast with Santa Boston Young Alumni reception Cask ’n Flagon
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PhoTo: michAel doyle ’17
Pictured: neil castronovo, Ph.d., michela d’eramo mesa ’06, President cesareo and bryan dockett ’91
Four honored for their dedication to the College
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hree alumni and a long-time Assumption administrator received awards from the Alumni Association for their devotion to the College during Reunion weekend in June. Neil Castronovo, Ph.D. received the Honorary Alumnus Award in recognition of his outstanding service and generosity to the College. He served the College through its Counseling Center for 30 years before retiring last December as dean of student development and director of counseling. During his tenure, he developed and implemented a wide range of outreach programs on mental health issues, established a network of support and referral services and counseled students, faculty and staff. A resident of Worcester, Castronovo and wife Virginia have two daughters and one grandchild, Will, for whom he serves as a full-time child care provider. Michela D’Eramo Mesa ’06 was honored with the Young Alumna Award in recognition of her demonstrated leadership and support of the Alumni Association and contributions to her profession. Involved with the Alumni Board since 2008, Mesa currently serves as its vice president and previously held the position of secretary. A loyal supporter of the College, she has attended various alumni events on and off campus and served on the committees for her fifth and tenth reunions. Mesa is the senior associate director of annual giving for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, where she has worked since graduating from Assumption with a B.A. in social and rehabilitation services. She and husband Juan reside in Waltham. Bryan Dockett ’91 was presented with the Jack L. Bresciani ’72 Outstanding Alumnus Award in recognition of continued service and devotion to the College; and for distinguished achievement. Dockett joined Live Nation Entertainment in New York City as its senior vice president for premium seat sales in March after 19 years as
an executive for Disney Theatrical Productions. A former class agent and a member of several Reunion planning committees, Dockett has hosted numerous alumni events in Florida and New York City, has donated Disney products for Assumption fundraisers and generously hosted groups of Assumption students during spring break trips to NYC. Dockett and wife Kerry (Haughey) ’92 are members of the College’s President’s Council and reside in Valhalla, NY, with their two daughters. Jeffrey Lagarce ’76 received the Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement Award for exceptional achievement in his field. Promoted to president of Fidelity Institutional in April, Jeff most recently led Fidelity Institutional Asset Management, a business managing $500 billion in assets, and has been a senior leader in several Fidelity businesses. He also led distribution efforts with intermediaries Jeffrey lagarce ’76 during two different stints for Fidelity in Europe. He joined Fidelity in 1996 as senior vice president of institutional sales and client services at Fidelity Management Trust Company after holding a similar position with Allmerica Financial Institutional Services. A former Assumption trustee, Lagarce served as chair of Assumption’s Annual Fund for several years, and he and wife Sue (Daley) ’80 have generously hosted alumni receptions in their home. The Lagarces have three sons and reside in Sudbury.
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Reunion weekend a festive celebration Donation of $523,000 from Class of ’66 highlights event
class of ’06 members with dan micari ’71
A crowd of more than 700 alumni, family and friends gathered on campus for reunion weekend June 3–5. On Friday night, members of the Class of ’66 joined the Golden Greyhounds, a society of alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more. The Class of ’66 donated $523,000, a record for a reunion class. The Class of ’71 reunited for a special 45th reunion dinner on campus, while the Class of ’76 toasted its 40th anniversary with a wine tasting event at Nashoba Valley Winery, owned by Rich Pelletier ’76; and the Class of 2006 celebrated at Park Ave. establishments. Saturday’s events included a leadership brunch for Golden Greyhounds, President’s Council members and The 1904 Society members. Following the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony (see p.25), “HoundFest” included tasty options from several local food trucks, as well as yard games, and live music by Jay LaCroix ’00 and Joe Parillo ’99 (aka the Jay ’n Joe Band). In the evening, attendees gathered under a tent on the baseball field for class gift presentations followed by a dazzling fireworks display and music with D.J. Dan Marshall ’96. Check out video and photos from the event at www.assumption.edu/reunion.
PhoTos: michAel doy le ’17
class of ’86
Jay lacroix ’00 and Joe Parillo ’99
amp, m.d. ’55; david beauch and ’55 roger Trahan 4 Paul Thomas ’5
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class notes AssumPTion college:
’59 Fr. Claude Grenache, A.A. celebrated 50 years as an Assumptionist priest during a May ceremony at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Among the guests were several of his classmates from the College and Assumption Prep. Fr. Claude serves as superior and director of the residence program at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton.
The deadline for the fall issue is September 2.
’70 Michael Kelly was named the 2016 University of Ottawa Alumnus of the Year for his contribution to business education in Canada. He is the first business school dean in Canada to be responsible for the naming of two business schools including Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, where he was dean for 10 years, and the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier University where he is currently dean. He was also recently named national spokesperson on Innovation for Canada’s high-tech industry association CATA Alliance.
’71 Coworkers of the late Jim Hanley, former dean of the College of Dental Medicine at the University of New England (UNE), have named an endowed scholarship fund in his honor. e James B. Hanley’s Dean Scholarship for Emerging
’66 Stephen Trimby regrets he was unable to attend the 50th reunion in June, as he had committed to accompanying a friend to the Sanctuary of Lourdes in France, where he offered prayers and lit a candle in the Grotto for all members the Class of ’66.
’68 Lionel Lamoureux and Marc Lamoureux, owners of Lamoureux Ford of East Brookfield, have been awarded Ford Motor Company’s 2015 President’s Award. e award honors dealerships that have excelled in automotive retailing in 2015 by providing exceptional customer sales and service satisfaction.
Leaders will provide scholarship support for dental students in perpetuity at UNE. Frank McNulty has retired aer nearly 40 years of working for the federal government in Washington, DC, and in the San Francisco area. He has relocated from California to the Boston area.
’72
45th
Reunion
e Honorable Edward M. Neafsey, a retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge, gave the address at Assumption’s Honors Convocation in April.
’75 omas Leary is the United States Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Russia. A Worcester native, he has served in foreign affairs positions in Ankara, Copenhagen, Freetown, Islamabad, Lima, London, Madrid, Moscow, and Sierra Leone. omas earned master’s degrees from Indiana University and Johns Hopkins University. He and wife Rachel Norniella have two children, Sarah and Tom.
christine cannon marcks ’77 lillywhite Award recipient Prudential retirement President Christine Cannon Marcks ’77 has received the 2015 Lillywhite Award, which honors people for extraordinary lifetime contributions to Americans’ economic security. Marcks “has been an active party to improving the state of knowledge” of retirement planning and financial literacy, said dallas Salisbury, president emeritus of the Employee Benefit research institute (EBri), in Washington, dC, which sponsors the award. She joined Prudential in 2007 after executive roles at ing group and Aetna inc., as well as a stint as an international economist with the U.S. Treasury department. during her tenure, Prudential “has been an extra innovator in the nature of financial education efforts” both for participants and the general public, Salisbury said. Prudential “has helped people readily understand the impact of building savings over time.” in addition to her role with Prudential, Marcks is a member of the board of trustees of both EBri and the greater Hartford YMCA. Established by EBri in 1992, the Lillywhite Award is named for ray Lillywhite, a pioneer in the pension investment field who spent more than 55 years in the industry. Previous recipients include pioneers and pillars of the financial services and investments industries.
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’76 Jeff Lagarce was promoted to president of Fidelity Institutional, a top leadership position of Fidelity Investments, the second largest mutual fund and financial services group in the world. He joined the company in 1996 and most recently led Fidelity Institutional Asset Management. Paul Phillips, Clark University men’s basketball coach, was awarded the Worcester Area College Basketball Association’s Paul N. Johnson Award for his contributions to Worcester-area basketball. Paul recently completed his 17th season at Clark, aer 10 years at Anna Maria. His Clark teams have made five NCAA Tournament berths, including two Elite Eight appearances.
’78
Paul Dries is the 2015 recipient of Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International’s Margaret Elliott Knox Excellence Award. is annual award recognizes RTI’s most outstanding staff member for contributions to activities in support of RTI programs. Paul is a senior director, business analytics, risks and standards with RTI in Durham, NC. Susan Smith, head of children’s services at Beaman Memorial Public Library in West Boylston, received a Community Leadership Award from the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Susan was honored for her strong commitment to inclusion and for supporting children with special needs and their families. Several members of the Class of ’79 were reunited at fall Homecoming. Pictured, L-R: Jay Sweeney, Joe Picard, John Hackett, Steve Scavo, Tom Connelly and Frank Horohoe. In attendance, but missing from photo: Mike Blanchard, Kevin Daly and Mike Labrie.
Jim Mullen retired in May aer 19 years of service to the Assumption Athletics Department, which included two terms of service, interrupted by 19 years of employment at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. He served the College from 1978 to 1985, and later from 2004 until his retirement as assistant director of athletics and recreation. e Department of Athletics established the Jim Mullen ’78 Spirit Award, and made Jim its first recipient, to be awarded annually to the individual that embodies the spirit of Assumption and demonstrates unwavering commitment to the College.
Jeffery Cosgrove has retired aer 25 years of service to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), where he was a senior forensic auditor. Jeff earned several awards during his tenure, including a distinguished service medal. Prior to ATF, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years, achieving the rank of captain.
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’81 Peg Inglis is vice president of sales and customer service for Bob Moore Auto Group in Oklahoma City.
’83 Sandra Merlini had her watercolor, “Valentino Rossi, Motorcycle Rider,” displayed at the Post Road Art Center Gallery in Marlborough earlier this year. She is a greeter at the new Marlborough Senior Center. Rosa Ponky Perez was named director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for Plainville Public Schools in February. Rosa previously served as assistant principal at Plainville High School.
’86
’80
’79
Gerry Martin is president and CEO of Al’s Beverages in East Windsor, CT. He previously worked at Polar Corporation for 18 years. His daughter, Jessica, is a 2006 alumna.
Richard Burke was named president and CEO of Fallon Health in March. Richard had served as interim president since September 2015. He joined Fallon in 1998 and holds a master’s degree from Boston College and an MBA from Cornell University. Robert Catalanotti HD’15 was inducted into the Worcester Polytechnic Institute ROTC Hall of Honor in May, recognizing his distinguished career of more than 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, during which he rose to the rank of Major General.
Summer 2016
Jennifer Conley Davis was named the 2015-16 Arnall Middle School Teacher of the Year. Arnall is located in Newnan, GA. Gina Chirchigno Lehner was featured in a Worcester Telegram & Gazette article in January. She and two siblings own and operate Bonardi’s Formalwear with multiple locations in the Worcester area. Frank Vana, Jr. has been selected for induction to the Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame. Honored as Mass. Golf Association Player of the Year a record nine times, Frank has won a record 14 MGA events. e ceremony will take place on October 13 at Andover Country Club, where Frank is a member. He was inducted to Assumption’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
’87
30th
Reunion
Michelle Loranger, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, was featured in the Taunton Daily Gazette in March, as part of its celebration of Women’s History Month.
Submit your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes
’89 Mark Brown is a program consultant for inclusion and diversity in the human resources department at John Hancock, a division of Manulife, where he has been working for 10 years. Kevin Hogan was named senior vice president and chief operating officer of W.R. Berkley Corporation’s newly created high net worth personal lines business. Based in Greenwich, CT, W.R. Berkley is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States. Gathering for a reception in April at the Puerto Rico home Lilliam Alonso Miller ’89 were (L-R) Aileen Blasini '89, Linda Burlingame Rosenlund ’82, Maria Gonzales '89, Igda Vazquez '90, Merilina Vazquez '91, Ivette Jurgensen '90, President Francesco Cesareo, Beatriz Fierres '87, Luis Brau-Cebrian '66, Lilliam Alonso Miller '89, John Hambleton '90, Hon. Jay Garcia-Gregory '66, Arnaldo Santa-Cruz '91 and Ana Casas ’89.
Acton Toyota in Littleton, one of just 12 dealerships nationwide to receive Toyota’s President’s Cabinet Award.
’92
25th
Reunion
Sean McInerney and Jim Morris ’93, co-owners of e Banner Bar & Grille in Worcester since 2007, sold the establishment in February. Sean plans to spend some time in Florida and more time with his family, while Jim is headed back into the field of finance.
’93 Mike Myers, Worcester Pro Hockey’s senior director of community development, was named president of the Worcester Railers, a new East Coast Hockey League team that will begin play in 2017 and call the DCU Center its home arena. Mike previously spent nine years as director of business and community development for the Worcester Sharks, which moved to San Jose, CA, last year. Justin o’Leary is a social studies teacher at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton and the head lacrosse coach at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury.
’94 ’90
Gregory Keil was named one of the top 1,200 financial advisors in 2015 by Barron’s. Greg works for e Monument Group, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, in Washington, DC.
Jane Shivick has been appointed a concert soloist at Arts on the Green in Shrewsbury.
’91 Erin Gobeil Gilbert was named chief advancement officer of Unitio, Inc., a nonprofit organization which unites those affected by disease with those dedicated to accelerating better care and improved treatments. Glenn Hoffman serves as general manager of
News to share?
sean savage ’85 indiefAb book of the year Award winner The author of The Senator from New England: The Rise of JFK, Sean J. Savage ’85 is the recipient of the 2015 Foreward Reviews’ indiEfAB Book of the Year gold winner in the political science category. The book includes some images from Assumption College’s archives, at Kennedy received an honorary degree from and gave the commencement address at the College in 1955. Published by SUnY Press, Sean used numerous sources to provide an unrivaled glimpse into Kennedy’s eight-year United States Senate career and early presidential campaign strategy. Honoring the best books from independent publishers, indiEfAB Book Awards are judged by a select group of librarians and booksellers from around the U.S. A political science professor at St. Mary’s College in notre dame, in, Sean has authored four books, including JFK, LBJ, and the Democratic Party.
E-mail alumni@assumption.edu. include photos with names and graduation years of alumni pictured.
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’95 Rev. Deacon William Ladroga CE’95 is the director of diaconate foundation for the Diocese of Venice, FL. He recently celebrated 56 years of marriage and has five children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
’97
20th
15th
Reunion
Sarah Strout, Ph.D. was appointed associate director of academic assessment at Radford (VA) University, serving more than 10,000 students. BIRTH: Liz o’Donnell Anderson and husband Jason welcomed a baby boy, Gabriel MacDermott Anderson, on 9/28/15.
’03 Nick Bernier was named principal of Robinson Park School, an elementary school serving nearly 400 students in Agawam. Rebecca Koczan married Edward Angell on 4/23/16 in Newport, RI. Alumni in attendance included classmates Gabriela Galvez Crosse, Jenna Dessinger Eromin, Julie Depasse Mueller and Melissa Rowe Solowinski. Keith Pfeifer and Brittany Steadman were married on 11/14/15 in Hingham. Alumni in attendance included groomsmen Michael Scott
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BIRTH: Rowena Cowie Pouliot and husband Jeffrey welcomed their first child, zoe Grace, on 2/8/16.
Alex Popp, head coach of the Vermont Academy men’s basketball team, guided the squad to a 27-5 record and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AA Championship. In his second season at the helm, Alex was named NEPSAC Coach of the Year. Danielle Perron Sikonski received an award from the Worcester Rotary Club, recognizing individuals who embody Rotary International’s credo of “Service Above Self,” which indicates a deep commitment to improving others’ lives while demonstrating integrity and ethical standards. Danielle is director of family services at Why Me and Sherry’s House, a local non-profit that provides comfort and services to families and their children who are battling cancer. Danielle interned at Why Me as a student. BIRTH: Mike Foti and wife Erin announced the birth of their first child, Amelia Gail, on 7/10/15. Mike is the lead North America credit & collections manager for EMC Corporation in Franklin.
’06
’11
Kevin Cusack is a special education teacher for the Fall River Public Schools. Kristina Hedden is vice president of marketing for BNE Real Estate Group in Livingston, NJ. Kerry Sullivan Moore works in external communications at e Boeing Company’s Arlington, VA, location. Mike Rodier was promoted to director of campus recreation at Assumption aer serving for a year as coordinator. He has worked in the Athletics Department for several years. Caroline Maher Skowyra is a sixth grade teacher at Doherty Middle School in Andover. She holds a master’s degree in reading and language from UMass-Lowell. Chris Zoto is in his third year as a postdoctoral research chemist. He works at the U.S. Army Soldier, Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick. Chris recently placed two peer-reviewed publications in the Journal of Molecular Structure for his Ph.D. dissertation work done at WPI and will begin teaching chemistry part-time at Worcester State University this fall.
Corey Blackwood is an operations manager for Kinder Morgan, the largest energy infrastructure company, in Philadelphia. James Costa was appointed as head coach of the Haverhill High School boys’ varsity lacrosse team in March. He previously served as an assistant lacrosse coach at Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, NH. Kylie LaPlante was promoted to branch manager of the Ware office of Monson Savings Bank (MSB), a community bank with four local branches, in March. She started at MSB in 2011 and has worked her way up in the business.
’04
Reunion
Jared Bouzan is chief development officer of e New England Center for Children, a nonprofit research and education center in Southborough dedicated to transforming the lives of children with autism. Dr. Jennifer Stockford Denaro leads the six-member Dialectical Behavior erapy team at Children’s Friend, which includes four other alumni: Nevila Taylor G’02, Kristen Diverdi Jacobson G’07, Carryne Clements ’10, G’12; and Katherine Gapinski G’13. Worcester-based Children’s Friend provides services of mental health, adoption and foster care management, training and education, grief support and childcare for local youth and families. Donelle Gomes-Talley was appointed chief probation officer at Fall River District Court.
’02
and Andrew Walsh as well as Tim Anger ’02, Rebecka Decost Beatrice, Carrie Sharron Capell, Matthew Cotto, Kristin Fisher Dozois, Jen Francini ’06, Jonathon Legnon, Laurie Shemansky Pare and Kelly Senior Scott ’04. BIRTH: Jessica McElaney and husband Colin Steele welcomed their first child, Alice Kathleen, on 7/29/15.
Seth Lopes was promoted to senior vice president, business banking, at Belmont Savings Bank, a greater Boston area community bank. A business banking relationship manager, Seth specializes in nonprofit and lawyer banking. He lives in Attleboro.
’05
Summer 2016
’12
5th
Reunion
Robert DiGiammarino earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College, a Newton-based independent graduate college of psychology, in June. He will begin work as a postdoctoral fellow at MassGeneral Hospital for Children at the North Shore Medical Center in the fall. He returned to campus during the spring semester as the keynote speaker for the annual
Submit your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes Modern and Classical Languages Department banquet. Alan Martineau, a seminarian in the Diocese of Worcester, was instituted as an acolyte at an event held in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome, in March. Alejandro Ruiz is a fixed income trade support representative with MarketAxess, a leading e-trading platform and technology solutions provider, in New York City.
’14
’13 Tom Carroll is an athletic trainer with the New York Red Bulls II, a United Soccer League team. Tom earned an M.S. in athletic training from Seton Hall University in 2015 and earned his Athletic Training Certification from the National Athletic Trainers Association. Mark Forster was promoted to regional manager with East Commerce Solutions Inc., a provider of credit card and online processing, in Providence, RI. Becca Holmes earned a master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 2015 and is a speech-language pathologist for AllStar erapy, a provider of physical, occupational and speech-language therapists, in Avon, CT.
Bethany Sampson and Katie Wilbur have partnered on a blog titled “Rosie & Bean.” Check it out at rosiebean.com.
their legacy of giving and service to the Center. Carol is a former interim director of the Center and guided its partnership with Worcester State, where she is a professor of education. Jim is a partner with Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP, of Worcester.
’15
grAduATe sTudies
Matt Beauregard is a broker with Aon Benfield Fac Inc., the world’s leading facultative intermediary providing clients with transactional services and risk advice, in New York City. Amanda Chavez is starting a two-year program this fall at Springfield College, where she will pursue a master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in school counseling. Michael o’Keefe is a business analyst for SinglePlatform, which provides a connection to top search engines, travel and review sites, online listing directories and mobile apps, in New York City. Zach Triner, a two-year starter and defensive end for the Greyhounds, earned a tryout with the NFL’s Houston Texans at its mini-camp in May, vying for a spot as a long snapper.
Sister Mary John Bosco Lyons G’79 was one of three Sisters of Providence to mark 70 years with the congregation in 2016. Sister Mary spent several decades at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester and its former School of Nursing, serving in numerous capacities as a supervisor, surgical nurse, clinical nurse specialist, instructor and director of student health. She retired in 2011 and is a recipient of the Worcester Diocese’s retired religious award. Bill Perkins G’93 is CEO of People, Inc., a human services agency providing services for children and adults, based in Fall River. Donelle Gomes-Talley G’97 was appointed as chief probation officer at Fall River District Court. She became a probation officer in 1998 and previously served as FRDC’s assistant chief probation officer. Michael Gaffney G’98, owner of the Law Office of Michael T. Gaffney in Worcester and vice chair of the Worcester City Council, had a guest column titled “Four proposals to avoid tax hike,” published in the May 1 issue of the Worcester
AssumPTion PreP Jim Donnelly AP’64 and wife Carol were honored by the Worcester Center for Cras for
Austin Potter ’10 assists collin smith ’16 Alumni helping students for the past 14 years, Assumption has hosted a Career networking dinner (Cnd), where alumni and parents offer career advice and provide connections to internships and employment. Last fall, Collin Smith ’16 spoke with Jon Weaver ’06 at the Cnd. noting Smith’s interest in healthcare management, Weaver put him in touch with Austin Potter ’10 at Berkeley research group (Brg). “Brg’s summer associate program is a highly competitive interview process,” said Potter, “but Collin impressed the senior level director, who indicated that Collin had a quality that set him apart from the competition, which included many candidates from ivy League institutions.” “There was more than just academics behind him,” the director said of Smith, “he was the easiest candidate to hold a conversation with.” Ultimately, Smith landed an internship position working with Potter at Brg, where he developed business skills through data analyzation and interacting with hospital executives. Smith feels this experience has expanded his education and helped prepare him for a future career. “The Cnd helped me meet, interact and engage with professionals beyond the field of education” he explained. Smith graduated with a B.A. in biology in May and is currently pursuing an MBA in Assumption’s Early Career Track program. After completing his MBA, he will seek out a management level position in the medical field, potentially in consulting. next year, Assumption’s Career development and internship Center plans to host two Cnd events, one during each semester, to assist students with making vital connections and building their careers.
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clAss noTes Telegram & Gazette. William McKeever G’04 was appointed executive director of both Vincent House, located in Pinellas Park, FL; and Vincent Academy, a facility under construction in Sarasota. Both facilities will help those recovering from serious mental illnesses and attempting to reintegrate into society. Mary Connaughton G’10 is the director of
government transparency and the director of finance and administration for the Pioneer Institute, an independent, nonpartisan, privately funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts. Samantha Leeman G’11 is a public school counselor at Spurwink, a behavioral health and education services provider based in Portland, ME. Jim Centola G’12 was named executive
director of Linden Ponds, a continuing care retirement community in Hingham. Sara Jenike G’12 was promoted to therapeutic mentoring supervisor at Children’s Friend and Family Services (CFFS) in Salem. She previously served as an outpatient clinician at CFFS and clinician at Clean and Sober Teens Living Empowered at Highpoint Treatment Center.
in memoriAm Edouard L. Paradis AP’46 February 16, 2016 Gerald E. Vermette, D.D.S. AP’48, ’52 February 27, 2016 Bernard W. Tremblay AP’53 June 25, 2016 Philip J. Power AP’60 April 13, 2016 Sr. Mary Louis Auger, R.S.M. G’63 October 31, 2015 Terrance R. D’Emilio AP’65 April 10, 2016 James P.L. Kenney AP’65 June 18, 2016 John F. “Jack” Bouffard AP’66 February 23, 2016 James A. Romano ’66 October 4, 2015 Sister Grace Belforti, S.S.J. G’68 March 20, 2016
Frederick G. Murphy, M.D. ’68 March 21, 2016 Dwight L. Pierce Jr. ’70 January 29, 2016 Edward T. McGettigan, Jr. ’75 July 6, 2016 Mary McGillivray ’76 January 20, 2016 omas G. Boyle G’77 March 2, 2016 Joan Golas Cole ’77 May 21, 2016 Winifred Pierce CE’81 April 8, 2016 Elizabeth E. Bowler G’84 April 25, 2016 Brian T. Moriarty ’90 May 5, 2016 Patricia Williams Boisvert CE’91, G’98 June 3, 2016
James Power G’93 March 31, 2016 Michael D. Schramm CE’94 June 10, 2016 Joan E. Pabley G’96 May 1, 2016 Marisa D. Federico ’00 March 26, 2016 Lisa Gentilotti Kaplan ’03 November 23, 2015 Robert J. “Bob” Siemaszko Jr. ’03 March 23, 2016 Rich Graham ’05 March 24, 2016 Christopher “Geno” Genovese ’09 May 28, 2016 For a regularly updated list of dearly departed AC alumni, faculty and staff, with links to online obituaries, visit www.assumption.edu/obituaries.
Assumption College offers Master’s degrees and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study for the following programs: • Rehabilitation Counseling • Applied Behavior Analysis • Clinical Counseling Psychology • School Counseling • Special Education • Health Advocacy • MBA
Application fee is waived for all Assumption College alumni. Visit or apply online at:
assumption.edu/graduate
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