Assumption University | Summer 2021

ASSUMPTION THE MAGAZINE OF ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY

A Special Collaboration

SUMMER 2021

Inspired by three remarkable alumni, Assumption‘s relationship with Fidelity Investments paves the path for future business leaders.

SPRING SPORTS

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DUAL COMMENCEMENTS

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NATIONWIDE ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS

IN THIS ISSUE 6

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The breadth and depth of an ethical liberal arts education make Assumption grads a perfect fit for Fidelity.

Assumption honored the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020 with in-person Commencement ceremonies in May.

Assumption’s flourishing academic partnerships give students greater access to specialized programs, new majors, and more career options.

The Greyhounds are back in action, highlighted by the Baseball team playing the first official game at Polar Park in Worcester.

The Assumption– Fidelity Connection

FIELD OF DREAMS

Assumption’s Baseball team played the first official game at Polar Park, the new home of the Worcester Red Sox, on May 8. see story on page 36.

A Tale of Two Commencements

Opening Doors to New Career Pathways

Spring Sports Bloom Again

D E PA R T M E N T S 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT 16 CAMPUS NEWS 40 CLASS NOTES 48 LAST WORDS

ON THE COVER

(left to right) Assumption alumni Carolyn Clancy ’82, Jeff Lagarce ’76, and Candace McGovern Race ’78 in Boston, location of the Fidelity Investments corporate headquarters.

See story on page 6

FROM THE

president state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building, completed in November 2020. This impressive learning facility provides students enrolled in our nursing program with the tools and learning facilities required to become skilled, compassionate caregivers. This facility offers a learning environment that places our program at the forefront of nursing education.

Assumption also announced its new strategic plan, Ever Ancient, Ever New: Refounding Assumption, a bold and innovative guide that has already begun navigating the University into the future, allowing the institution the flexibility to traverse these uncertain times, including the disruption of the pandemic and declining demographics among high school graduates. The plan Assumption will aims to strengthen the continue to evolve integration and engagement and “refound” itself, of the mission across the institution, foster a culture continuously striving of student success, further to provide students innovation and excellence the premier liberal in academic and student programs, enhance arts education for enrollment, and ensure which the institution the financial sustainability is known. of the University.

The Enduring Catholic Liberal Tradition THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, ASSUMPTION HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AN EXEMPLARY CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION. DESPITE THE MYRIAD

challenges presented in pursuing this important goal, a collective esprit de corps and commitment of faculty and staff to our students enabled the University to yet again adapt during a moment of uncertainty. This adaptation, complemented by innovative thinking and investment in the latest technology, has been familiar to the University throughout its 117-year history. While much of the world paused, Assumption continued to operate with a number of safety protocols, such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and participating in a twice-per-week testing protocol.

Amid a global pandemic, the University community worked together to successfully offer students, who so desired, a residential experience and in-person learning on campus, while at the same time offering students, faculty, and staff remote learning, teaching, and work. We also opened the new

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Much like St. Augustine’s journey of self-reflection, which inspired this plan, Assumption will continue to evolve and “refound” itself, continuously striving to provide students the premier liberal arts education for which the institution is known. Our work is important and reaches far beyond 500 Salisbury Street, as you will read in this issue. Students who have taken advantage of the University’s articulation agreements with prestigious institutions across the country have availed themselves of unique opportunities to advance their educational pursuits and embark on meaningful careers, while Assumption alumni continue to impress in a variety of professional fields, in particular at Fidelity Investments, where a number of alumni thrive because the values they learned at Assumption equipped them with the tools needed to succeed.

Assumption was founded as a small institution filling a need to educate the sons of Franco-American families in Worcester and the surrounding communities; while much has changed both physically and academically, the University continues its mission to form thoughtful, compassionate graduates who fill unique needs in communities across the U.S. and even the world. And we will continue to adapt, endure, and thrive to ensure our mission continues, even amid a pandemic.

Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. PRESIDENT

THIS IS US Meals served to students from one of the 21 food trucks brought to campus throughout the year

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Students participating in the housing selection process for fall 2021

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When the pandemic forced the suspension of in-person operations in spring 2020, the University immediately began working on its plan to safely welcome students, faculty, and staff back to campus. The ambitious plan, which supported Assumption’s efforts to provide students with in-person classes and a residential experience for the fall and spring semesters, required an unprecedented collaborative effort of the Assumption community. A number of University departments — such as the offices of Student Activities, Recreation, and Residential Life — strived to provide students, both on campus and remote, with a variety of activities and events to ensure their Assumption experience was enriching and engaging, despite the unusual times. #HoundsStrongerTogether

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classrooms with enhanced technology to provide hybrid classes

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Grab-and-go events where students received DIY items such as stress kits, Zen gardens, string art, pottery painting, and more

Magazine Team SUMMER 2021 / VOL. 19 NO. 1 ISSN 1089-1296 Executive Director of Communications Michael K. Guilfoyle Director of Public Affairs Kimberly E. Ruscitti Art Direction/Design Keating Associates Worcester, MA

Contributing Writers Fr. Richard E. Lamoureux, A.A. ’64; Holly Robinson; Joel Rosario ’24; Kimberly Ruscitti; Caitlin Sze ’24, Photography Robert Carlin Photography; Kindra Clineff; Joe Jacobs, Worcester Red Sox; Schmuel Thaler; Office of Governor Daniel J. McKee Printing The Lane Press, Burlington, VT

We encourage your feedback.

Please address your letters, class notes, and story ideas to: Assumption Magazine 500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296

508.767.7173 acpa@assumption.edu www.assumption.edu/magazine

Assumption Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Communications.

Assumption Magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends of the institution, faculty, staff, administration, and parents of undergraduate students. Its purpose is to share stories and conversations that help alumni and friends stay meaningfully connected to the University.

STAY CONNECTED For web-exclusive content and links to our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, visit assumption.edu.

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LIVING THE MISSION

FR. RICHARD E. LAMOUREUX, A.A. ʼ64 VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION

Creating a Game Plan for Life AS A MATH MAJOR, NICHOLAS DiANTONIO ’12 WAS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK A HIGH-PAYING JOB IN THE FIELD OF ACTUARIAL MATH OR FINANCE. BUT DiANTONIO HAD HIS HEART SET ON BECOMING A TEACHER. “Sitting in an office crunching numbers, I’m not going to have as much of a positive impact on a lot of people,” he explained.

“As a teacher and a coach, I have the ability to have really positive relationships with kids that I wouldn’t have in many other professions. It’s a profession that allows you to impact others.”

DiAntonio, a math teacher at Natick High School since 2014 as well as the varsity football defensive coordinator and Unified track coach (an inclusive sports program that unites Special Olympics athletes and students as teammates for training and competition), said he didn’t choose his vocation to make money, but to make a difference. It’s something he learned at Assumption through the University’s motto —“Until Christ Be Formed in You” — and his relationship with Fr. Barry Bercier, A.A.

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After taking the class, The Problem of God, with Fr. Barry, the two formed a bond; Fr. Barry even officiated DiAntonio’s wedding to Nicole (Savi) ’13, G’14. The couple now has two children.

“We talked a lot about the importance of raising young men to be positive contributors to society and how now, more than ever, we need strong young men because there are so many challenges in this world,” he said. “Fr. Barry’s emphasis on the importance of developing young individuals is something I really value and bring to my everyday teaching and coaching – not just teaching them the X’s and O’s of football, but the importance of treating everyone with compassion and developing positive relationships.”

Treating others with compassion was instilled in DiAntonio at a young age. After losing his father – a firefighter and a pillar in the Milford community – to cancer at the age of 5, he and his older brother were committed to carrying on his legacy. “Going through that at such a young age, you have to grow up pretty quickly,” DiAntonio explained. “We learned that life is pretty fragile and

there is no time to spend looking down on others. There is only room for helping others and making a difference. That’s something we really tried to embrace growing up.”

DiAntonio began volunteering with Special Olympics Milford in eighth grade after falling in love with working with students with special needs when he accompanied his brother on a volunteer assignment. DiAntonio volunteered with the organization’s track and field team throughout high school and college, and after graduating from Assumption, he and a friend created a Special Olympics powerlifting team, as well as a Unified wrestling team he coached for three years. Since 2013, the powerlifting team has grown from eight to 20 kids, mirroring the program’s statewide growth.

Though DiAntonio was attracted to Assumption for the opportunity to play football, the University’s values and mission were of the utmost importance. In his valedictorian address, DiAntonio urged his fellow graduates to focus on their character rather than their reputation, a concept he embodies as a teacher.

“Yes, I need my kids to learn math, but I also need them to be useful, contributing, positive members of society,” DiAntonio shared. “If they leave my classes knowing the quadratic formula, that’s awesome. But if they leave my classroom a better person than when they came and understand the importance of caring for others, identifying ways to volunteer their time, and being an overall positive person, that’s the most important thing to me.”

For DiAntonio, it all comes back to the Assumption mission.

“Teaching is a profession in which you are trying to put the needs of others before your own; you’re trying to help build people,” he explained. “You don’t necessarily see the fruits of your labor tomorrow; you see them five or 10 years from now when these people are contributing members of society. That’s what I value most about teaching.”

Nicholas DiAntonio ’12 runs defensive drills during a Natick High School football practice.

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MENTORSHIP

Carolyn Clancy ’82 (LEFT) and Candace McGovern Race ’78 (RIGHT) are two Assumption alumni who mentor undergraduates like Elena DelloRusso ’21 (CENTER), both on campus and through internships at Fidelity Investments.

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LEA W EMP

ADING WITH PATHY

A PANDEMIC, SKYROCKETING UNEMPLOYMENT, AND CIVIL UNREST: POSED WITH UNIQUE CHALLENGES, LEADERS AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS, MANY OF THEM ASSUMPTION ALUMNI, STEPPED UP TO MEET THEM, HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE ROBUST INSTITUTIONS.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Fidelity reacted quickly.

Many of those leading and implementing the changes at Fidelity are Assumption graduates.

“Everyone’s lives are turned upside down,” Carolyn Clancy ’82, an executive vice president, said of the approximately 40,000 employees working from home. “It’s a whole new way of doing business. Luckily, Fidelity is an incredible firm that is technologically savvy enough to be able to pivot in that way and continue putting its clients first.”

An athletic scholarship led Clancy to choose Assumption, where she majored in business. “It was a great opportunity,” she said, “and set me on the path to where I am today.”

Clancy added that having a liberal arts degree is a definite asset in the financial services field, because “a foundation in the liberal arts teaches you how to learn. The world and how we do business keep changing. You have to be able to adapt.”

Despite her career responsibilities, Clancy has made time to serve on Assumption’s Board of Trustees for 10 years, giving her an opportunity to engage in the development of the University’s strategic plans. “It has been remarkable to see the physical enhancements on campus, the new curriculum, and the success of Assumption’s athletic program,” she said.

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Despite the changes, Assumption’s core values remain the same, she noted. “I see the same qualities in the students today that I saw among my classmates. Assumption’s faith-based liberal arts education continues to teach students the value of leading ethical lives.”

Anne Foley Ames ’88, a senior vice president and head of human resources for Fidelity Enterprise Technology and Global Services, says those shared core values like integrity, responsibility, and compassion make Fidelity a good fit for Assumption graduates.

Ames, who chose Assumption for its strong sense of community, majored in English before taking a detour into financial services through a leadership training program. She’s never looked back and calls her English degree a distinctive asset.

“Assumption prepared me to be a strong communicator, think critically, and solve problems,” she said. “Those skills cut across every profession.”

At Assumption, she added, “Nothing was handed to us. We had to work hard, and we learned to inspire through leadership, yet lead with humility. These are lifelong skills.”

BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES

Jeff Lagarce ’76 joined Fidelity in 1996 and retired in 2018 as the president of Fidelity Institutional, where he reported directly to Abigail Johnson, chairman and CEO of Fidelity. Lagarce spent most of his career running Fidelity businesses both in the U.S. and in Europe. Upon retiring, he was appointed as a trustee to Fidelity’s Equity Funds Board, which oversees a trillion dollars of equity funds that Fidelity manages for its shareholders. He was also recently appointed to the board of Colt Telecom, based in London, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity.

“I couldn’t go cold turkey when I retired,” he admitted. An economics major, Lagarce said the breadth and depth of his liberal arts education were key to his success at Fidelity.

“When we talk about hiring at Fidelity, we’re always looking for well-rounded people who are able to think beyond their own specific areas of expertise,” he said, adding that he can name at least 20 Assumption graduates who hold senior management positions at Fidelity. “Assumption graduates are seen at Fidelity as good leaders because we are dedicated to serving our clients and society, and to just being good people.”

These same values drew Christine Carter Cecil ’97 to Assumption and, later, to Fidelity. Now a senior vice president leading Fidelity’s healthcare implementation and migration organization, she is involved in the internship program, often hosting Assumption students.

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“Assumption set me up to work hard,” she said. “I can’t recall one professor who didn’t have the same expectation for everyone, which was that we should all compete to be at the top of our class.”

Executive Vice President of Client and Participant Services at Fidelity Investments Sharon Rothwell Brovelli ’85, who said her degree prepared her to “stand toe-to-toe with the competition,” said she’s never seen so many Assumption alumni in one place. “I think word of mouth travels. Everyone at Assumption knows that Fidelity is a fantastic firm,” she said, adding that the unique relationship between Fidelity and Assumption makes sense because both institutions have a strong sense of community.

“Fidelity is a company with solid values because of the corporate leadership. I would say the same thing about Assumption: the University has always been blessed with good leaders. Because of this top-quality leadership and their commitment to serve people to the best of their abilities at every level, Fidelity and Assumption attract really great people.”

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

TOP: Candace McGovern Race ’78 (center) often returns to Assumption’s

campus to speak to students like Hannah Fisher ’23 (left), and mentors undergrads in the Fidelity internship program, as she did with Colin McQuillan ’20 (right). BOTTOM: Former Fidelity intern Amy Rosebrooks ’20 in discussion with Jeff Lagarce ’76.

ASSUMPTION GRADUATES ARE SEEN AT FIDELITY AS GOOD LEADERS BECAUSE WE ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING OUR CLIENTS AND SOCIETY, AND TO JUST BEING GOOD PEOPLE. JEFF LAGARCE ’76

PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS

For the past 15 years, Candace McGovern Race ’78, an executive vice president of marketing at Fidelity Investments, has overseen a summer internship program at Fidelity that pairs up to a dozen undergraduates each year with mentor managers.

Many of those interns are from Assumption. “These are kids who know what it means to work hard, and they value the experience we offer,” she said.

Like others in upper management, Race appreciates the fact that Assumption graduates have a liberal arts background.

“Whether I'm looking for new employees or interns, I need people who know how to communicate, analyze problems, synthesize knowledge, and think creatively and strategically,” she said.

Race continues to bring this message to undergraduates on the Assumption campus through networking presentations and as an Alumni in Residence, during which she met with faculty, taught a class, and gave a keynote address on the value of a liberal arts education.

Colin McQuillan ’20 said that his experience as a marketing intern at Fidelity inspired him to apply for a full-time position.

McQuillan, a marketing major, was hired as an investment sales associate after graduation. “The culture of Fidelity reminds me so much of Assumption’s,” he said. “It’s the kind of place where people support each other, so it’s easy to grow professionally and personally.”

Colin Clancy ’16, a stock plan consultant at Fidelity, said his undergraduate years gave him the necessary people skills to connect with others. “Assumption is a school that's very collaborative from both academic and athletic standpoints,” said Clancy, who played baseball at Assumption.

In addition to serving as trustees and mentors, many alumni who are now Fidelity professionals also honor their Assumption connection with generous financial gifts to the University. Brovelli, Cecil, and Race each have conference rooms in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center named in their honor, while Ames and her husband sponsor a scholarship for Mount Alvernia Academy students in Newton. Lagarce and his wife, Sue (Daley) ’80, have been longstanding members of Assumption’s President’s Council, served on the Board of Trustees for six years, and financially supported Assumption’s capital campaigns; their recent donation created the Lagarce Trading Room in the University’s Grenon School of Business (story on page 10).

“I’m very proud of Assumption,” said Race, who served on Assumption’s Board of Trustees from 2001–19. “The University has opened up a whole new range of professional opportunities for undergraduates in a very competitive world. Fidelity and Assumption will both weather the challenges ahead, serving as leaders to other institutions.”

Fidelity Investments is an independent company, unaffiliated with Assumption University. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between Assumption University and Fidelity Investments, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information herein.

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WALL STREET TECHNOLOGY AT ASSUMPTION PROVIDES EDGE TO FINANCE STUDENTS Assumption students in the University’s new finance major now have access to a cutting-edge trading room. The Lagarce Trading Room features state-of-theart Bloomberg Terminal software, allowing students hands-on learning as part of their studies. The trading room, made possible by the generous donation of Jeffrey ’76 and Sue (Daly) Lagarce ’80 and supported by additional benefactors, is housed in the Grenon School of Business in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The room features a stock ticker and 12 computers equipped with Bloomberg Terminal technology, and hosted its first class during the spring semester. In the Lagarce Trading Room, students access up-to-the-minute financial data and utilize industry standard software and hardware.

“When Susan and I first toured the Grenon School of Business, the idea of a trading room emerged,” said Lagarce, who retired in 2018 as the president of Fidelity Institutional and spent most of his career running Fidelity businesses both in the U.S. and in Europe. “A trading room empowers Assumption students to benefit from a hands-on, real-life experience of global markets. It provides an atmosphere of excitement and knowledge that gives Assumption students a distinctive advantage when interviewing for careers in the financial

services industry. We are excited for Assumption students as they use the same tools as Wall Street traders to further their knowledge of the financial services industry in preparation for a successful and rewarding career.”

“We are grateful to Jeff and Sue Lagarce, and to the other generous donors who have made this trading room possible,” said Joseph Foley, dean of the Grenon School of Business. “A room equipped with cutting-edge industry technology provides our students access to real-world experience, rather than simply reading about trading and financial practices in a textbook. We will incorporate the Lagarce Trading Room into both curricular and extracurricular activities. Students may use the excellent lab facilities to achieve certification in Bloomberg Market Concepts, also known as Bloomberg Certification. This is one of multiple opportunities to set students up for success and assist them in the transition from University study to career development.”

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COMMENCEMENT 2021

George Will Delivers “Last Lecture” to Class of 2021 Pulitzer Prize-winning and nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist George F. Will, Ph.D., delivered what he called the “last Assumption lecture for which you will be a captive audience” to the Class of 2021 during the University’s 104th Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 9. During the ceremony, at which Assumption conferred 393 undergraduate degrees, Will urged the graduates to live in the present while also imagining the past.

In his address, Will prompted graduates to consider the political unrest in America and the “mudslinging” against “past Americans who played large roles in the creation and preservation of our nation,” whose statues are being toppled and names scrubbed from public buildings for what mudslingers deem moral and political failures.

“No one says our nation was, or those who passed it on to us were, without sin,” he shared. “I am here to warn against the sin of pride. This is the sin of those who today so much enjoy rendering harsh judgments against those who acted in earlier days. … In harshly judging those who produced our nation, today’s unforgiving critics are guilty of their own sin. It is the sin of presentism.”

Will explained that presentism is “the fallacy of judging by our standards the 12 ASSUMPTION ASSUMPTION Magazine Magazine

behavior of those who acted in circumstances very different than ours,” and that the cure is deep historical knowledge.

“Only such knowledge can give us the ability to imagine what it was like to have been America’s leaders trying to act morally, as we all must try, in situations not of their choosing or of their making,” he said.

“What I’m asking for, what I’m pleading for, is imagination. … What we urgently need now is retrospective imagination.

The ability to imagine the past.”

He asked the graduates to return in their imaginations to 167 years ago when the Kansas Nebraska Act became law, allowing popular majorities in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether to permit enslavement. “What would you have done?” he asked.

Will said that to understand such dilemmas that politicians confronted in the past requires more than just the grounding of facts in history. “Our nation today needs the empathy that can only come from imagination and the ability to imagine oneself in other people’s shoes.”

He concluded with his hope for the graduates: “You will go forth from here and live in the present. But you will, I hope and expect, leave the nation better, because you will avoid presentism. You

COMMENCEMENT 2021

Students from the Class of 2021 celebrate their graduation, the first class to graduate from Assumption University. Above, valedictorian Hannah White ’21 addresses her classmates.

will do so by appreciating the always crooked road we Americans are always traveling toward a more perfect Union.”

Assumption President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education. “The pandemic has made more evident the value of the Catholic liberal education you have received in the last four years,” he said.

“You have come to appreciate that enduring ideas matter and provide a framework for understanding our contemporary world. You have explored the deepest questions of the human heart, which transcend time and place.”

President Cesareo added that Assumption’s Catholic liberal education has prepared them to live out their vocations and to be lifelong learners.

“It has provided you with the wisdom and courage to confront the challenges we face during a time like this and that you will face throughout your life,” he said.

Valedictorian Hannah White ’21 spoke of the importance of Assumption’s emphasis on vocation as she and her classmates enter a pandemic-stricken workforce.

“Although we find it difficult to discern our future through the haze of uncertainty, remember this: our life purpose is not some far-off goal that will allow us to be happy forever,” she said. “Vocation is an ever ongoing process of self-discovery.

It is living magnanimously, striving for the greatest good, especially in the day to day. It is using what gifts we have to serve others who have nothing. It is living in authentic community with others, where we help each other bear our burdens.

Even if our futures are shrouded in darkness, in our vocations we have the light we need to see the next right step.”

During the ceremony, Will and Vincent Strully, Jr., founder and CEO of the New England Center for Children, received honorary degrees.

Marc Torres ’21 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during WPI’s ROTC ceremony two weeks after his graduation from Assumption. Torres (pictured with his parents and Assumption Trustee Major General [Retired] Robert G. Catalanotti ’80, P’11, HD’15) took advantage of the Assumption-WPI ROTC partnership and was one of 23 graduates commissioned from a very strong WPI Engineer Class. He will attend his Basic Officer Course at Fort Benning, GA, this fall.

“Our nation today needs the empathy that can only come from imagination and the ability to imagine oneself in other people’s shoes.” GEORGE F. WILL, PH.D. assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 13

COMMENCEMENT 2020

“Develop That Increment of Soul” Renowned Catholic Scholar Robert Royal Urges Class of 2020 to Embrace the Soul of Their Liberal Arts Education After a year of waiting due to gathering restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Assumption recognized the Class of 2020 during a combined Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremony on May 15 at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. The Class of 2020, who received their diplomas last year after a virtual Conferral of Degrees ceremony, was the last to graduate under the name Assumption College.

Robert Royal, Ph.D., founder and president of the Faith & Reason Institute and editor-in-chief of The Catholic Thing, urged the 270 graduates in attendance (of the 450 members of the Class of 2020) to embrace and share the soul of their liberal arts education.

“To become a student of the liberal arts has less to do with the subject matter that you study … and more to do with matters of character and even with matters, I would argue, of the soul,” he said.

Royal shared that to study the liberal arts means to try to understand what it means to be liber, which in Latin translates as “to be free.” “It may sound simple enough … but to be truly free is not a

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simple matter,” he explained. “It requires you to take into account the limitations of the world around you, the limitations of yourself, the different perspectives, and the different ways of understanding things that are presented to you.”

He explained that this is done with humility and wisdom, and it’s where the liberal arts come to our rescue. “All of our practical training, though intended to fit us for careers, for jobs, to be able to take care of ourselves, our families, our communities, all of those need to take their bearings from what it means to be liber,” he said. “In other words, we don’t simply do these things [for the sole sake of a job]; we do them because the things that we do matter. They matter if we care about what true liberty is and how to implement it and extend it to other people as well.”

Quoting the great St. John Henry Newman, Royal emphasized the importance of infusing soul into one’s work. “We focus a lot on skills and training these days … but we fail to pay sufficient attention to the formation of character, and even the soul, in order to be worthy of the term liber,” he said, sharing that Newman said

the match for the growing technical power in the world was an increment of soul.

“We need a spiritual power that is equal to the technical and economic power that we’re developing in the world. You are all now part of that effort to develop that increment of soul. And never lose sight of that because that means you will never lose sight of purpose in your life.”

Assumption President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., shared his hope that the Class of 2020 graduates were living meaningful, purpose-filled lives, living their vocations with passion, and contributing to the common good during the time since they completed their studies.

“I hope that you are living the motto of Assumption, ‘… until Christ be formed in you,’ every day of your life,” he shared.

“If we are able to celebrate these fruits of the education you received at Assumption, today and throughout the rest of your life, then we can be confident that we fulfilled our mission and that you were transformed in both subtle and profound ways while you were a student at Assumption.”

Valedictorian Lauren Robichaud ’20, G’21 also shared the hope that her fellow

COMMENCEMENT 2020

Commencement speaker Robert Royal, Ph.D., addresses the Class of 2020 (above); President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., greets Corey Soper ’20 (top right).

graduates were making use of their Assumption educations. During her address, she compared their Assumption education to a lighthouse, a navigational tool that provides refuge in the darkness, “sturdy and unwavering, the epitome of strength and an enduring symbol,” she explained. “As we continue the next stage of our lives amidst the uncertainty of the times, I ask that we not forget the foundation that Assumption helped us to forge. I ask that we begin by suspending our urge to look for a lighthouse on the horizon to provide guiding light, and instead challenge ourselves to become that light.”

Royal and James T. Brett, president and chief executive officer of The New England Council, received honorary degrees at the ceremony. Royal was recognized for his dedication to exploring and sharing the essential fundamentals of faith and reason, while Brett was honored for his meaningful contributions that have benefited millions of individuals throughout New England.

“We focus a lot on skills and training these days … but we fail to pay sufficient attention to the formation of character, and even the soul …”

ROBERT ROYAL, PH.D.

Valedictorian Lauren Robichaud ’20, G’21

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CAMPUS NEWS Scholarship in Memory of the Late Prof. Ranasinghe to Benefit First-Generation Students

BY JOEL ROSARIO ’24

Last spring, Assumption Philosophy Professor Nalin Ranasinghe, Ph.D., unexpectedly passed away while returning home to Boston from India.

His 19 years of teaching at Assumption left an indelible impact on his faculty peers and students. To ensure his legacy will continue to inspire and impact the University community, Prof. Ranasinghe’s wife, Gudrun, established the Prof. Nalin Ranasinghe Scholarship to provide financial aid to a student majoring in philosophy, with a preference for first-generation students.

“Nalin left an impressive body of scholarship – focusing on topics at the intersection of philosophy, politics, theology, and literature – and he will always be remembered for the Socratic passion with which he cared for the souls of his students, urging

them to live up to their humanity,” said Christian Göbel, Ph.D., philosophy professor and d’Alzon Chair. “He was able to connect with many of his students on a deeply personal level and forever changed their lives.”

The highlight of his scholarly work was an impressive trilogy on Plato’s Socrates and Platonic thought more broadly, and, at the time of his passing, he was completing books on Homer and Shakespeare, who, along with Plato, were his great sources of inspiration.

His book on Homer was published posthumously by St. Augustine’s Press this spring.

Profits earned from the sale of Prof.

Ranasinghe’s immense book collection became the foundation for this scholarship fund. The fund will rely on donations in pursuit of full endowment.

Presidential Awardees Recognized for Excellence In recognition of their dedication and commitment to the University’s mission and its students, three individuals were honored with 2020 Presidential Awards. Those recognized for achieving a level of excellence that merits this special recognition include the following:

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Michele Lemons, Ph.D., professor of biology, received the Paul Ziegler Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship.

Esteban Loustaunau, Ph.D., professor of Spanish and director of the Center for Purpose and Vocation, received the Kathleen Murphy Presidential Award for Excellence in Contribution to the Mission.

Christine Lowthert, Ed.D., director of Athletics, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service.

CAMPUS NEWS

Students, Alumni Engage in Lifelong Learning through CTEQ Symposium A cornerstone of Assumption’s Catholic liberal education is imparting upon students and alumni the tools and opportunities for lifelong learning.

The University’s Core Texts & Enduring Questions (CTEQ) program – a unique and intellectually rich interdisciplinary Great Books experience – launched an Alumni Symposium in which Assumption alumni and undergraduate CTEQ students collaborate and explore perennial questions.

“The seeds of a liberal education need to be cultivated over the course of a lifetime,” said Marc Guerra, Ph.D., ’90, G’94, director of the CTEQ program. “Bringing students and alumni together to discuss enduring human questions and themes is not only a natural fit for the CTEQ program; it also reflects Assumption’s commitment to cultivating an appreciation of lifelong learning in its students.”

The CTEQ program held its first Alumni Symposium in spring 2020 and two additional symposia during the 2020–21 academic year. Each participant invited to the Alumni Symposium receives a copy of the chosen book to read independently and then discuss with the group during 75-minute sessions throughout the day of the event.

“The aim of the CTEQ Alumni Symposium is twofold,” said Prof. Guerra. “We want to institutionalize a concrete venue at Assumption where students can continue to pursue the timeless goals of a Catholic liberal arts education, even after they graduate. And second, to show current CTEQ students that they really can place a Catholic liberal education at the center of their time at Assumption and still become a doctor or lawyer or businessperson.”

Paul C. Verderese ’72, G’74, who believes an education shouldn’t conclude at commencement, hopes more faculty consider undertaking programs similar to the CTEQ Symposium.

The seeds of a liberal education need to be cultivated over the course of a lifetime.

MARC GUERRA, PH.D., ’90, G’94, DIRECTOR OF THE CORE TEXTS & ENDURING QUESTIONS PROGRAM

“Professor Guerra’s design of the program accomplishes many important elements. Among them, he brings together several generations of alumni to study a particular topic or writer,” said Verderese, adding that the group dynamic encourages participants to diligently prepare for the event.

“Participants challenge each other to think through the topics more deeply as differing viewpoints are examined during the discussions. The event provides a holiday from the workaday world, allowing for the continued cultivation of the vocation to be a lifelong learner.”

The CTEQ program – established with a donation from Donald AP’60, AU’64, HD’10 and Michele D’Amour HD’10 and supported by subsequent gifts from alumni and friends of the program – provides students the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with fellow students and faculty and to attend national lectures, participate in intercollegiate student research and essay contests, and travel throughout the U.S. and Europe on CTEQsponsored trips.

15 assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 17

CAMPUS NEWS

FROM ASSUMPTION TO SUPER BOWL CHAMPION One year after achieving his dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL), Zach Triner ’15, long snapper for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is a Super Bowl Champion.

“It feels like a rollercoaster; I know that sounds kind of cliché,” said Triner, explaining that the weeks leading up to the game were stressful, that there was peace during the game, and that the parties, celebrations, and formalities after were surreal. “To finally get home and take a breath, I feel like I have some time to look back at what just happened.”

For Triner, the most memorable aspect of the victory was sharing it with his wife, Carissa, who was able to join him for the victory boat parade. “Being able to share that with her was awesome,” he said.

Triner’s wife has been one of his steadfast supporters through his five-year journey of NFL camps and tryouts (and a stint working for Fidelity Investments) before finally landing with the Bucs. Just as his faith helped him pursue his NFL dream, it also provided him the support he needed to succeed during an unusual season that ended with the ultimate prize.

Zach Triner ’15 and his wife, Carissa, hold the coveted Lombardi Trophy after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV in February.

16 ASSUMPTION Magazine 18

“I think probably one thread that ties a lot of my journey together is the faith aspect of it,” said Triner.

“Faith in this context simply means that when you take one step forward, into that darkness or into that unknown, you have no idea what’s about to come, but if you think of the positive outcome that will come from that one step and just believe there is a step there and there is solid ground, if you can understand that one concept, you’re going to be able to do a lot of things in life. Assumption did a really good job of instilling in us that you might not be able to see where that step is, but there is solid ground there, and you just have to keep moving forward. Whether it’s the Super Bowl or making it into the NFL, whether you’re going for your first job or making that one phone call for a deal for your company, none of that action comes from not believing there is solid ground on that next step.

To be able to have that mindset is invaluable.”

Triner, who prays before his games, said there were three particular moments during this season when his faith helped him the most: the first game of the season against the New Orleans Saints (“You didn’t really

CAMPUS NEWS know what that situation was going to be like without fans; there’s just a lot of added variables,” he said); the team’s first playoff game, also Triner’s first, in which the team played in colder weather in Washington, DC (“With that weather, there are certain nuances and adjustments you have to make in order to be on point, so when it gets really cold and you can’t feel your fingers, faith is important for me,” he explained); and, of course, the Super Bowl.

Triner also shared his experiences playing against “the best returner in the League,” fellow former Greyhound and member of the Saints, Deonte Harris. The image of him chasing down Harris during a return in the NFC Division Championship went viral and will prompt Triner to “switch up my angles next year” in hopes of catching his fast friend.

“It’s just really fun to be able to have another Hound, not only in the NFL but in the same division, that you get to see twice a year," he said, adding that he and Harris spoke after the games and even swapped jerseys.

“One thing from my own journey that I would hope people realize is that you can honestly do whatever you want, but it is up to you to put the work in and get there.” ZACH TRINER ’15 In April, Triner signed a new contract with the Buccaneers, extending his stay in Tampa Bay, but in the meantime, he’s enjoying the off season with his family, including his new daughter, Indy.

Though he plans to play for as long as he can, Triner is also preparing for the next stage of his career. Last off season, Triner completed a Harvard Business School program and did an externship with a startup in Boston, and he will continue to work on the finance side of the venture while keeping his full attention on football.

Triner noted the similarities between the NFL and the finance industry. “They’re looking for that Ivy League grad, but you just need to articulate the values that Assumption gave you and what you're willing to bring to a company, and you’ll never be out of the race,” he said, comparing his unlikely success in the NFL to that of a finance major’s dream job. “You may not realize this now, but [being from a small school] is an asset because you had to work for it; you’re a step ahead of the game.

The journey is just a little bit different. One thing from my own journey that I would hope people realize is that you can honestly do whatever you want, but it is up to you to put the work in and get there.”

Faculty News Accounting Professor Paul Piwko, MBA, and Alexandra Orlandi ’19 incorporated their National Museum of Mental Health Project (NMMHP), a “museum without walls.” The Museum’s purpose is to form new perspectives and understanding of mental health issues. Initially launched in 2019 after completing a research fellowship at Assumption about mental health exhibitions, Prof. Piwko and Orlandi created the NMMHP to share information and research regarding exhibitions about mental health in the U.S. While their initial mission was to showcase the exhibits developed by others, mainly through op-eds about the benefits of mental health exhibitions, the NMMHP now has an expanded mission that also includes the development of its own virtual exhibitions.

James M. Lang, Ph.D., professor of English and director of the D’Amour Center for Teaching Excellence, published a book about combating distracted learning environments. Prof. Lang’s book, Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It, concentrates on ways educators can modify their teaching methods and structure their classroom to be a more focused environment for their easily distracted, technologyobsessed students.

Assumption Professors Cinzia Pica-Smith, Ed.D., and Carl Robert Keyes, Ph.D., presented lectures as part of a series on social justice for the Shrewsbury and Tewksbury public libraries, presented in collaboration with Libraries Working Towards Social Justice. Prof. Pica-Smith, associate professor of human services and rehabilitation studies and director of the University’s women’s studies program, delivered a talk titled “The Importance of Interracial Friendships” and discussed her research on cross-race friendships among youth and, in particular, why they are so rare in both children and adults. Prof. Keyes, professor in and chair of the Department of History, presented “Advertising, Enslaved People, and the Role of the Press in Maintaining Slavery in the Era of the American Revolution,” in which he examined what modern audiences can learn about the experiences of enslaved people from advertisements published in newspapers from New England to Georgia during the era of the American Revolution.

Bonnie Catto, Ph.D., who has been a professor of classics at Assumption for more than 30 years, retired at the end of the 2020–21 academic year.

During her time at the University, she taught courses in Latin, Greek, classics in translation, and Roman history.

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 19

CAMPUS NEWS

ASSUMPTION STUDENTS TRAIN AS CONTACT TRACERS SUPPORTING PANDEMIC RESPONSE When Associate Professor of Biology Aisling Dugan, Ph.D., was developing her special topics course for the spring semester, she sought to create linkages to the global pandemic and its impact on the local community.

“We’re living through a pandemic, which is a pretty remarkable experience and something that is affecting us all so much, including many of my students personally, so I decided to add a community service-learning element to the course to get the students involved in the city’s pandemic response,” Prof. Dugan explained, adding that she reached out to partner with the City of Worcester Division of Public Health’s (WDPH) Academic Health Collaborative to train students to become contact tracers. “This unique way of learning about pandemics provides students with relevant opportunities to become contact tracing volunteers or pursue additional roles in the City of Worcester’s coronavirus response.”

The upper-level biology course, Infectious and Epidemic Disease, explored the history, epidemiology, and clinical and biological elements of significant epidemics such as smallpox, cholera, the plague, tuberculosis, coronaviruses, and the current global health crisis. In addition to the coursework, staff from the WDPH Academic Health Collaborative mentored students as they completed the Johns Hopkins University contact tracing program and the Massachusetts training program, MAVEN, then deployed the students to serve as contact tracers late in the semester and as summer interns.

“Through this innovative collaboration, Assumption students engaged in actual projects and research related to the COVID-19 20 ASSUMPTION Magazine

pandemic, rather than conducting hypothetical research and coursework,” said Kelsey Hopkins, coordinator of the city’s Academic Health Collaborative. “We’re grateful for the partnership with the University and the willingness of the students to help the Health Department in its fight to defeat COVID-19.”

Hopkins explained that the WDPH team of 25 individuals focuses on a range of issues relative to public health and the pandemic, and requires additional resources to adequately administer a comprehensive contact tracing program. The city relies on the generosity of trained volunteers and community partners, including college students.

“It’s about helping our students make that connection from the classroom to the community.”

AISLING DUGAN, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY

Patrick Travaglio-Romeo ’21 is one of those students – he volunteered to register individuals at the Worcester Mercantile Center COVID-19 testing site during the spring semester – and appreciated the opportunity the course offered him to engage in and support the community. “The community service-learning aspect allowed me to step out of the classroom and into something that actually helped people. It is definitely meaningful and something that Assumption is really good at,” he said.

CAMPUS NEWS

The AU Mobile App When Assumption welcomed students back to campus last fall for in-person learning and a residential experience, a comprehensive safety protocol and the new AU Mobile App made it possible. First used to provide students a means to make reservations for the Chapel, library, and Taylor Dining Hall to comply with Commonwealth de-densification measures, the app has been extensively developed to serve a broader purpose: a centralized location for students, faculty, staff, parents, families, and alumni to obtain vital information. Since its launch, it has become a valuable resource for the entire Assumption community.

Allison Collins ’22 takes notes during one of the hybrid class meetings.

STUDENTS AND FACULTY/STAFF •

Through the Wellness module of the AU Mobile App, faculty, staff, and students are able to complete a daily symptom tracker, which allows them access to campus, as well as check in for their twice-per-week COVID-19 test appointments. It also provides information regarding the reopening plan, campus entry, travel forms, and the University’s COVID-19 dashboard.

• An Events section, combining the academic calendar and social, academic, and campus ministry events, keeps students, faculty, and staff informed of what is happening virtually as well as on campus.

• AU Reserve, a unique online reservation system, allowed students to reserve space in the dining hall, library, gym, and Chapel ahead of time, eliminating the need to stand in line outside upon arrival, as the University complied with the de-densification guidelines of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Temi Falayi ’21 said the course provided relevant skills that would be useful in her future nursing career. “I feel like what we learned was very practical, was something I can use at any time,” she said. “A class like this keeps you interested because you’re able to practice what you learn in the classroom in real life.”

Falayi, who will begin the nursing program at Emory University in Atlanta after graduation, has become inspired through the pandemic to pursue a career in healthcare. She learned valuable information about coronavirus through the course. “I feel like we just need more education and more people learning about contact tracing to enhance understanding of how to thwart the transmission of infectious diseases like coronavirus.”

Prof. Dugan said she has many students like Falayi who are interested in pursuing graduate work in health professions, and that this course allowed them to make connections between academic work and real life. “I think showing them that their work can improve the health of people in their community is not only meaningful but really important. It’s about helping our students make that connection from the classroom to the community.”

• The My Success module provides students with available academic and student life resources at their disposal, whether living on or off campus.

• An Academics module features a complete list of all majors and minors, as well as information pertaining to graduate programs and study abroad and experiential learning opportunities.

• A Student Clubs module features the University’s clubs and organizations and information on how students can get involved.

PARENTS/FAMILIES

Through the app, parents and families have access to all the important information that is offered to students, with the added feature of sending meals from local restaurants to their sons or daughters living on campus.

ALUMNI

Through the AU Mobile App, alumni can update their contact information, as well as view digital content from Assumption Magazine, old Heights yearbooks, and alumni videos.

The AU Mobile App is available for download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. When setting up the app, be sure to allow for push notifications to receive important University news and information. assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 21

CAMPUS NEWS

Professors Pivot, Create Virtual Showcase of Students’ Artwork

BY CAITLIN SZE ’24

The ingenuity of Assumption’s faculty in the Department of Art & Music ensured that students’ artwork would be exhibited despite the limitations of the pandemic. In an effort to showcase students’ creativity, which traditionally occurs during the annual fall Student Art & Design Show on campus, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Design Lynn Simmons, MFA, created a website to share the creativity of 150 students who contributed more than 300 pieces of art.

Julia Gaudette ’21 Elizabeth Cormier ’24

“Our annual exhibition demonstrates the depth and breadth of Assumption's programs and puts the accomplishments of our students on display,” said Prof. Simmons. “The exhibition is normally held in the d’Alzon Library, but this year, those interested in viewing the creativity of Assumption students may visit our online show to see works in painting, drawing, collage and assemblage, sculpture, photography, graphic design, typography, web design, and motion graphic design.”

Brevin Easton ’23

Though untraditional, Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of the Department of Art & Music Toby Norris, Ph.D., commented that the virtual showcase is an opportunity to share the artistic talent of Assumption students with new audiences. “The pandemic is actually giving us an opportunity to reach a much wider audience than would be physically able to come to campus,” he said, adding that students featured in the show now have the ability to share their work with their extended family and friends.

Brett Tibbetts ’22 Julia Gaudette ’21

For Nick Sposato ’22, a graphic design major from Shrewsbury, remote learning has helped him become more comfortable with collaborating virtually. “A good amount of the media and art that we access day to day is virtual, and I think it’s important to be able to share our work that way,” he said.

The body of work presented in the online showcase is most impressive and can be viewed at austudentartdesignshowfall2020.wordpress.com.

Richard Phan ’22 22 ASSUMPTION Magazine

Emma Sullivan ’21

FA C U LT Y

profile

Elizabeth O’Hara, Ed.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING; COORDINATOR OF THE SPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Education Ed.D., Johnson & Wales, 2018 MBA, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1999 B.A., Elms College, 1988

Classes Taught at Assumption Undergraduate Sport Management; Sport Marketing; Sport Media & Communications; Sport Ethics; Introduction to Marketing; Introduction to Management; Introduction to Organizational Behavior MBA Business Ethics; Corporate Social Responsibility; Strategic Marketing

How did you get into teaching?

I worked in the corporate world for many years and am someone who is always looking for my next challenge. During my last corporate role, I asked myself, “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?” The quest for my next adventure led me to the University classroom, where I realized that teaching is more than textbooks. It’s about the students, who need someone who cares about their learning in and outside of the classroom.

I have never regretted leaving the corporate world.

Not for a minute.

How does your professional experience impact your students?

I am a storyteller by nature, and stories help students learn. In an academic setting, the students are able to read or hear about “concepts” and “terms,” but being able to relate these to a real-world scenario adds credibility and a deeper understanding of what we are trying to teach. By sharing stories and real-world situations, the concepts become more than words on a page. I’m also fortunate to maintain many of my contacts from my previous business roles, and I’m able to connect students to internships, help build their network, and get a step ahead before graduation.

Most rewarding aspect of teaching?

That’s easy: the students. I love watching students as they forge ahead in their careers, find success professionally and personally, and find happiness.

How have you continued to engage students during the pandemic?

FaceTime, Zoom, it’s all about the face-to-face interaction and letting the students know I’m here. Students need to know we care, have their backs, and understand their struggles. Faculty need to be present, empathetic, and do our best to help each other.

Why is sport management a popular subject?

Sport is a great source of entertainment.

Few areas of industry or business create such passion. So many students would love a career in the sport industry, but so few understand the skills and tools necessary to get the job. Taking classes in sport provides students with a unique perspective and can perhaps leverage them in a very competitive field.

What does Assumption’s partnership with the Worcester Red Sox mean for the students?

The Sox partnership is a big deal on so many levels. The relationships that have developed and the opportunities that have been provided for and will continue to be offered to our students transcend what I ever could have hoped for this partnership.

You are a mentor for inner-city scholarship students from The BASE. Why is it important for you to connect with them?

The BASE students mean a great deal to me. They are young people who have limitless potential who deserve opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve and people who believe in them. It is my job to support and encourage them. The BASE founder, Robert Lewis, Jr., is one of the most influential people in my life.

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CAMPUS NEWS

LEARNING BY DOING (above) Ashley Kuropatkin ’24 with Danielle Hebert, DNP, APN, RN, professor of practice of nursing; (left) Dean of the Froelich School of Nursing Caitlin Stover, Ph.D., RN, with Arianna DeSousa ‘24; (below) John Paul Marino ‘24 and Sophia Noel ’24; Kathryn Tilak ‘24; Prof. Hebert runs a nursing simulation with DeSousa and Noel.

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CAMPUS NEWS

New Health Sciences Building Offers Students State-of-the-Art, Hands-on Learning In November 2020, Assumption completed construction of the 41,000-square-foot Health Sciences Building, a three-story building with a number of state-of-the-art teaching facilities equipped with the latest training tools to benefit those in the Froelich School of Nursing, School of Health Professions, and a number of other departments and majors.

The nursing floor (pictured) features a large nursing skills lab with seven full-sized hospital beds for teaching

patient care, as well as four simulation labs with high-fidelity mannequins that simulate actual patient conditions that can be controlled remotely by a simulation lab technician (bottom right).

Four state-of-the-art classrooms were designed for active learning in a realistic clinical environment, and a number of spacious study areas, conference rooms, and lounges located throughout the building encourage collaboration.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Ever Ancient, Ever New: Refounding Assumption A Bold, Innovative Strategic Plan Will Guide the University into the Future at a Landmark Moment Since being founded by the Augustinians of the Assumption in 1904, Assumption University has been “refounded” many times, evolving to meet the changing needs of students and the world beyond its campus while remaining true to its Catholic mission.

For instance, on June 14, 1918, the institution, originally conceived as a high school for young French-speaking immigrants, conferred its first baccalaureate degrees. President Francesco Cesareo, Ph.D., sees a certain symmetry in this.

“Assumption was authorized to confer baccalaureate degrees by the governor of Massachusetts in February 1917. During the 1917–18 academic year, Assumption offered a four-year college curriculum for the first time in the midst of the Spanish flu pandemic,” he noted, “and became a University in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

When women were admitted in 1969, “that was an especially important moment of refounding,” President Cesareo said.

In the early 1970s, Assumption began expanding its offerings beyond the liberal arts to explore the possibility of more professionally oriented programs like business, while striving to maintain “the essence” of an Assumption education as one grounded in the tradition of Catholic liberal education.

On June 10, 2020, Assumption College officially became Assumption University – a landmark moment in the institution’s then-116-year history that sparked another refounding. University status reflects the evolution and growth of Assumption after the institution was restructured into five separate schools, expanded its graduate degree offerings, established a campus in Rome, and significantly broadened the undergraduate academic catalog.

Though much has changed educationally, physically, and structurally at Assumption, the fundamental principles of Assumption’s mission remain the same. The University’s newest strategic plan, Ever Ancient, Ever New: Refounding Assumption, reflects the collective ideas of the University’s community as Assumption charts a courageous, innovative path forward that is true to the institution’s soul and identity, while taking full advantage of new opportunities as a University.

A lot has happened since Assumption first opened its doors, requiring the institution to both meet new challenges and remain true to the original vision of its founders. The new strategic plan was created to reflect St. Augustine of Hippo’s journey of selfPRESIDENT FRANCESCO CESAREO, PH.D. discovery, a rich inspiration for Assumption ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY in its mission to educate in the tradition of Catholic liberal education. Upon completing

his journey of restless reflection, Augustine discovered what he was seeking all along: “Late have I loved Though the strategic plan has clearly defined goals, President you, beauty ever ancient, ever new!” (Confessions, Book X) Cesareo described it as “a living document,” one that is never

The strategic plan is a “living document … never static.”

Like Augustine, Assumption has embarked upon its own journey of exploration since its founding and has had the foresight and courage to “refound” itself at critical junctures. During the two world wars, for example, the school had to manage severely curtailed enrollment and operate on a shoestring budget, given that Assumption was then an institution for only male students.

Many of the faculty members were French-speaking priests who returned to France to minister to troops, posing an additional challenge. Assumption refounded itself yet again in the 1950s, this time from being an institution where all classes were taught in French to offering bilingual education. Not long after that, the curriculum switched completely to English.

A decade later, Assumption faced another crossroads in deciding whether to become a coeducational institution.

26 ASSUMPTION Magazine

static. He pointed out that the newest strategic plan had already outlined ways in which the institution might deliver education in creative ways by using the most current technologies. While nobody could have anticipated the unprecedented challenges posed by a global pandemic, the University had already begun to consider how to implement remote teaching and learning in a way that would be distinctively Assumption.

“Now we can step back and reflect once again on the essence of an Assumption education, and think about how we can continue integrating technology with in-person instruction to benefit teaching and learning as we move into the future,” he said. “The strategic plan was created with the understanding that Assumption will always be responsive as an institution, constantly adapting to changing times and the needs of our community.”

CAMPUS NEWS

A statue of St. Augustine welcomes students like Lily O'Conor ’21 and Taylor Poland ’22 as they enter the Tsotsis Family Academic Center, a reminder of their pursuit of knowledge and a Catholic liberal education.

Strategic Plan Focus Areas

Ever Ancient, Ever New: Refounding Assumption articulates an ambitious vision for Assumption University with five main focus areas:

❶

MISSION Strengthen the articulation, integration, and engagement of the shared educational mission across every area of the University.

❷

❸

❹

STUDENT SUCCESS & ENGAGEMENT

PROGRAM INNOVATION

ENHANCE ENROLLMENT

Foster a culture of student success to promote student satisfaction and engagement.

Foster innovation and excellence in academic and student programs.

Enhance enrollment through strategic recruitment reflective of mission and market conditions.

For more information on the Universityʼs strategic plan, visit assumption.edu/refounding-assumption.

❺

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY & CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP Ensure the financial sustainability of the institution through careful stewardship of assets and the growth/diversification of revenue streams.

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 27

YES! WE HAVE THAT. Booming Academic Partnerships Offer a Broad Spectrum of Exciting Majors and Career Pathways

28 ASSUMPTION Magazine

David Kenney ’19, who earned a B.S. in chemical engineering through the University’s articulation agreement with Washington University in St. Louis, MO, is now a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering at WPI.

Over 20 articulation agreements with colleges and universities across the nation enable Assumption students to earn dual degrees, pursue technical careers, and step on the fast track to accelerated professional and graduate degrees.

Flip on any news channel, and it’s clear that one of the biggest problems we face is how to make better use of our natural resources without harming the environment. That’s why David Kenney ’19, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), is researching how to convert waste products into biodiesel fuel.

“What we’re tackling here is both how to reduce our waste problem and how to create national energy independence,” he said. “It’s going to be an interesting and educational ride. I’m very excited to see where this research goes.”

Kenney has already enjoyed an interesting educational ride and not one he ever anticipated when one of Assumption’s former football coaches visited Kenney’s Long Island high school and invited him to attend Assumption’s football camp.

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 29

Krystin Albano ’20 took advantage of Assumption's 3:2 program with the University of Notre Dame, and is in her second year studying chemical engineering in South Bend, IN.

When I arrived at Assumption and was greeted by students at the front gate wearing blue sweatshirts, I immediately felt that sense of community everyone talks about and felt right at home.

KRYSTIN ALBANO ’20

“I’d toyed with the idea of playing football in college,” Kenney said, “but at that point I already knew I wanted to be an engineer, so I didn’t even think of applying to a liberal arts college like Assumption.”

A couple of weeks later, however, his father pointed out that Assumption does, indeed, have an engineering degree: the University offers 3:2 programs in engineering leading to dual B.A./B.S. degrees through both the University of Notre Dame and the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.

Qualified Assumption students can earn a B.A. in mathematics, computer science, or one of the natural sciences from Assumption in three years; then at Notre Dame, they spend two years taking courses toward a B.S. in aerospace, chemical, biomolecular, civil, computer, electrical, or environmental engineering. At Washington University, Assumption students either earn a single undergraduate engineering degree in two years or a combination of an undergraduate and master’s degree in three.

Assumption’s articulation agreements are part of the University’s commitment to affordable education and opening doors to more career pathways. Through academic 30 ASSUMPTION Magazine

partnerships with affiliated colleges and universities, Assumption students have the opportunity to earn degrees in specialized topics or areas Assumption doesn’t offer. A handful of these agreements provide guaranteed scholarship money and preferred admission, too.

Ironically, Kenney decided against playing college football, but chose Assumption anyway, “knowing that the opportunities a dual degree would present me in the future would outweigh anything football could give me.”

Engineering isn’t done in a vacuum, noted Kenney, who earned his B.S. in chemical engineering at Washington University, where he did research that involved looking at atmospheric conditions from satellite data.

“My department head was conducting studies on everything from cancer to solar cells,” Kenney said. “There aren’t any boundaries to what you can do as a chemical engineer. Having a foundation in the liberal arts helps you think about the impact of the engineering you do at every level and to communicate better,” he said. “It’s a broader perspective than what I could have gotten if I’d only studied engineering.”

A Broader Perspective and Greater Career Options That broader perspective is one distinct advantage of the dual-degree programs offered through Assumption’s more than 20 articulation agreements with different institutions around the country, said President Francesco Cesareo, Ph.D. “By combining a liberal arts undergraduate experience with a more specialized program or an advanced degree, our students have the best of both worlds. They’re getting the framework they need for a career while benefiting from the breadth and depth of a liberal arts education,” he said.

These academic partnerships also give students access to more majors. In addition to engineering, Assumption offers articulation agreements with other universities leading to dual degrees, professional degrees, or graduate degrees in fields as wide ranging as chiropractic medicine and law, marine science, and biotechnology (see page 32).

For instance, Assumption is one of 35 institutions that participate in Duke University’s Marine Science Education Consortium, and Assumption students are eligible to study at Duke’s state-of-the-art Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC.

These academic partnerships also benefit the University, allowing Assumption to attract students who might not otherwise choose to matriculate here. One of those students is Krystin Albano ’20 of Hawaii, who is currently a second-year student at Notre Dame in chemical engineering after spending three years at Assumption as a chemistry major.

“Notre Dame was always a dream school for me,” said Albano, who learned about Assumption’s 3:2 engineering program from her high school counselor. “When I arrived at Assumption and was greeted by students at the front gate wearing blue sweatshirts, I immediately felt that sense of community everyone talks about and felt right at home,” said Albano, who knew she wanted to attend a smaller college where she could be assured of small class sizes and getting to know her professors personally.

She was also attracted to the idea of a liberal arts education. “My dad is an electrical engineer. We’ve talked a lot about how technical schools are great, but give you a very narrow focus, whereas at a liberal arts school you can explore lots of different things.”

Although she majored in chemistry, some of her favorite classes at Assumption were theology, philosophy, music, and business.

In addition, at Assumption she learned a key skill: writing. “I always thought I was a decent writer, but then I came to Assumption and realized that I needed to work on that,” she said. “Writing an essay about the history of Europe, for instance, is a lot different from writing a lab report for chemistry class. It gives you a whole new skill set.”

A True Quality Undergraduate Education For Veronica Johnson ’21, who is currently applying to engineering programs at both Notre Dame and Washington University, the idea of learning so-called “soft” skills like writing and critical thinking was precisely what attracted her to Assumption, even though she’d already made up her mind to pursue an engineering career.

“A true quality undergraduate education gives you opportunities for intellectual, social, and personal growth,” she said.

“As a small liberal arts university, I knew

that Assumption would allow me to become a part of campus life and know my professors on a personal level.”

For instance, as a vocal scholar, Johnson sings in various campus groups and even traveled to Ireland with the Assumption University Chorale to perform concerts in different churches and cathedrals and experience Irish culture firsthand. She also works as a math and chemistry tutor at Assumption’s Academic Support Center. “It’s been a way for me to give back to this wonderful community,” she said.

Johnson was inspired to study engineering after a family friend was partially paralyzed in a tragic accident. “I’d always loved science and math, but when I saw how this friend was able to walk again through the help of biomedical engineers who developed an exoskeleton, I knew that engineering was the right field for me.”

Now that she has completed her courses for a chemistry major at Assumption, she’s looking forward to continuing her studies in chemical engineering. “Assumption has prepared me to succeed because the classes here are academically challenging, and the personal experiences have given me a lot more confidence,” she said.

Having a liberal arts degree from Assumption in addition to an engineering degree from another institution will open doors to countless opportunities.

VERONICA JOHNSON ’21

Her liberal arts background will allow her to be a better chemical engineer one day, Johnson believes. “I hope to design products that will have a positive impact on society,” she said. “Having a liberal arts degree from Assumption in addition to an engineering degree from another institution will open doors to countless opportunities.

I think that it is beneficial for engineers to have both technical degrees and a solid foundation in the humanities.”

The number of articulation agreements with other institutions will likely continue to increase over time, said President Cesareo.

“We’re always assessing what our students and prospective students have an interest in studying, and we want to be ready to take advantage of opportunities that will meet those interests and be beneficial both to our students and Assumption University.”

Veronica Johnson ’21 had the opportunity to travel to Ireland with the Assumption University Chorale, and is looking to take advantage of one of the University’s articulation agreements.

31 assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 29 31

ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS AND ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS

Having a foundation in the liberal arts helps you think about the impact of the engineering you do at every level and to communicate better.”

DAVID KENNEY ’19

Assumption University has developed agreements with universities that offer students wide-ranging options in undergraduate majors and accelerated graduate degrees at the following institutions: BIOTECHNOLOGY B.A./Master of Science in Biotechnology (M.S.B.) Northeastern University Graduate School Program B.A./Professional Science Master's Degree in Biotechnology (P.S.M.) Framingham State University CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE B.A./Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) New York Chiropractic College COMMUNICATIONS B.A./M.S. Organizational and Professional Communication Regis College ENGINEERING B.A./B.S. Engineering University of Notre Dame B.A./B.S./Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) The McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis 32 ASSUMPTION Magazine

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE B.A./Master of Environmental Science Management (M.E.M.) B.A./Master of Forestry Management (M.F.) Duke University Nicholas School

MEDICINE B.A./Master of Exercise Science, Concentration in Strength and Conditioning/Doctor of Medicine American University of Antigua Medical School

PHYSICAL THERAPY B.A./Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCHPS)

LAW J.D./Juris Doctor Duquesne University University of Massachusetts School of Law University of St. Thomas School of Law Vermont Law School Western New England College School of Law

B.A./M.S. Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics Regis College

PODIATRY B.A./Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Barry University

MARINE SCIENCE Duke University Marine Science Education Consortium (semester of study)

OPTOMETRY B.A./Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences New England College of Optometry PHARMACY B.A./Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCHPS) University of St. Joseph

Karen Stoyanoff ’99 When Karen Stoyanoff ’99 applied to Assumption as an undergraduate, little did she know that she would eventually return and spend 17 years (and counting) as part of the University’s administration. Assumption is a significant part of her life (her father also is an alumnus), which made it an easy decision to include the University in her estate plans.

Stoyanoff, who currently works as the director of recruitment and graduate admissions, was an accounting major and theology minor.

She embraced the liberal arts aspect of an Assumption education, seeking out opportunities like a month-long summer archaeological dig in Israel, a Harvard-sponsored program she participated in at the encouragement of her anthropology professor, Prof. Linda Ammons, Ph.D. “It was an enriching experience that I will forever be grateful for,” she shared. “My experiences with Prof. Ammons and the many business faculty were the highlights of my Assumption education and one of the reasons I enjoy working closely with graduate faculty today. I would not have had the same Assumption experience without the dedication and passion of my professors.”

Stoyanoff, a mother of two, said including Assumption in her estate plan is an easy way of giving back and thanking the institution that gave her so much: an excellent education and now a wonderful work experience.

For more information on how you can support Assumption with a legacy gift, contact Melanie Demarais at 508.767.7332 or visit www.assumption.edu/plannedgiving.

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 33

HOUNDS WATCH  The Women’s Lacrosse team finished the 2020-21 season with an 8-3 overall record. The Greyhounds defeated Southern New Hampshire University 17-3 in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Divisional Championship before their season ended at Bentley University in the NE10 Semifinal game. Five student-athletes earned NE10 All-Conference recognition: Jenna Joseph ‘23 was named the NE10 Northeast Division Rookie of the Year and earned placements on the All-Conference Third Team and All-Rookie Team; Allison Foley ‘21 and Marran Oakman ’21 were named to the AllConference Second Team; Allison Collins ‘22 was named to the All-Conference Third Team; and Olivia Catanzarite ‘24 earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

Collins was also named the NE10 Goalkeeper of the Week and the IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week while Catanzarite earned NE10 Rookie of the Week honors twice during the season.

Spring 2021 Sports Highlights

Alison Foley ’21 Olivia Angelo ‘21

 After placing second at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship, the Men’s Golf team finished the 2021 season with an appearance in the NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Regional Tournament in North East, PA. The Greyhounds placed 11th at the regional tournament.

Samuel Maciel ‘24

 The Men’s Lacrosse team defeated Saint Michael’s College 10-7 in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Divisional Championship. They went on to compete at Saint Anselm College, dropping the NE10 Championship Quarterfinal game.

34 ASSUMPTION Magazine

 Women’s Golf competed in three tournaments this spring. They earned second place at the College of Saint Rose Invitational and second place at the Assumption University Invitational before finishing the season placing third at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

Ryan Fillebrown ‘21

Logan Frame ‘24

Julia Chappell ‘21

 The Women’s Track & Field team placed eighth at

the Northeast-10 Championship. Peri Lynn Snow ’23 earned second place and set a new Assumption school record in the women’s 800-meter run with a time of 2:15.84. The team finished 21st overall at the NEICAAA Championships, where Victoria Steffon ’22 earned first place in the100-meter dash.

Abigail McKeown ‘22

 Women’s Tennis picked up a 6-1 victory over American International

College in the Northeast-10 Conference Divisional Championship First Round game before falling to Adelphi University in the NE10 Quarterfinal game. The Greyhounds earned victories over Bentley University, Saint Michael’s College, Saint Anselm College, and AIC this season. Caitlin Sze ‘24 was named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team.

Joseph Santos ‘21

 The Men’s Track & Field team placed sixth at the

Northeast-10 Conference Championship held at American International College. Cameron Donoghue ‘21 led the Greyhounds with six first-place finishes at the meet. The team finished 10th overall at the NEICAAA Championships, with Donoghue breaking a school record in the men‘s decathlon event.

 The Women’s Rowing team competed in two races on Lake Quinsigamond this season. They placed second behind Connecticut College on April 10, and the Greyhounds’ Varsity 8 boat earned first place over Mass Maritime and Johnson & Wales on April 17.

 Softball finished the spring season with a 16-10 overall record.

They defeated Saint Michael’s College 1-0 in the Northeast-10 Championship First Round game before falling in the Conference Semifinal game at Franklin Pierce University.

Three student-athletes earned NE10 All-Conference recognition: Alyssa Beaton ’21 was named First Team AllConference; Corin Mahan ‘24 earned a spot on the Second Team All-Conference and was joined by Jordan Dwyer ’23 on the All-Rookie Team.

Mia Nowicki ‘21

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 35

36 ASSUMPTION ASSUMPTION Magazine 36 Magazine

sports spotlight Hounds Host First Official Game at Polar Park The Assumption University Baseball team, in partnership with the Worcester Red Sox, played the first official baseball game at Polar Park on Saturday, May 8, three days before the Woo Sox’s first-ever Opening Day. In what was recognized as the 5-0-8 game (taking place on 5/8 in the 508, Worcester’s area code), the Greyhounds defeated Southern New Hampshire University 10-5, recording Polar Park’s inaugural victory. Graduate student Matt Schneider ‘20 and R.J. Libby ‘21 hit Polar Park’s first home runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively.

The Greyhounds defeated Stonehill College 10-4 in the Northeast-10 Championship First Round game before falling to Southern New Hampshire in the Semifinal game. Three players were named to the 2021 Northeast-10 All-Conference Teams: Cole Chudoba ‘21, NE10 All-Conference Second Team; graduate student Derek Adamson, All-Conference Third Team; and Jared Berardino ‘24, All-Conference Third Team and All-Rookie Team.

37 assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 37

ALUMNI NEWS Hello, Greyhounds!

Fellow Alumni Ambassador leaders Bob ’86 and Chris (Ayers) Martin ’86, Artie Rogan ’04, Kevin Peterssen ’08, Christina Graziano, Esq. ’10, and I would like to congratulate the Class of 2021 on becoming the newest members of the Assumption alumni community.

Building upon what we accomplished in 2020, the Alumni Ambassador program has continued to offer wonderfully engaging virtual programming so far in 2021. This has included a number of events in partnership with the Career Development & Internship Center (CDIC) to provide opportunities for alumni to share their expertise during Career Networking Nights, a major-specific webinar series, and the annual Career and Internship Fair. We engaged with the Admissions Office to explore new and innovative ways to recruit future Hounds to the University. The Alumni Office has also been hosting virtual programming featuring alumni speakers, giving the alumni community a chance to engage, participate, and reconnect.

Alumni from all over the country have attended these events; it’s truly been inspiring to witness, and we hope to continue this type of programming in the future, as it’s a great way to reach alumni both near and far. Please continue to check your email and monitor the social media channels for announcements about future virtual programming.

I wish everyone a wonderful second half of 2021, and I hope to see you at another Assumption event very soon!

Remember, we’re always welcoming new Alumni Ambassadors. If interested, please visit www.assumption.edu/alumni or email us at alumni@assumption.edu to sign up.

ALUMNI CONNECT AND SHARE VIRTUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY The Office of Alumni Relations continues to connect with alumni all over the country through a variety of virtual programming. Alumni had the opportunity to start off the New Year relaxed and refreshed with a yoga session led

by Lauren D’Angelo ’99, learned how to network during a pandemic through the Professional Development Series, and much more.

Have an idea for programming? Please send an email to alumni@assumption.edu. Visit assumption.edu/alumni/events for a list of virtual events and programs.

Elaine Ingalls ’17

Elaine Ingalls ’17, a disaster service worker for the County of Santa Cruz, CA, shared her firsthand experiences with the California wildfires, in particular the California CZU Lightning Complex fire, during a virtual conversation with fellow alumni.

Thomas E. Wales, Ph.D. ’98 For more information on the Assumption Alumni Ambassador program, please contact: Amy Logue Gontarz ’01, G’08 Director of Alumni Relations alogue@assumption.edu / 508.767.7011

38 ASSUMPTION Magazine

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHMUEL THALER

ALUMNI NEWS Megan Evangelista ’13

Lise Keeney ’10

Jon Weaver ’06, G'17

Caroline Rufo, Ph.D. ’11

Through the Alumni Office’s Professional Development Series, several alumni shared advice

on career development, such as how to improve networking skills and how to overcome the challenges of searching for a job during a pandemic. The series featured presentations by Megan Evangelista ’13, diversity team lead for university relations at Dell Technologies; Lise Keeney ’10, a communications consultant; Caroline Rufo, Ph.D. ’11, senior manager of investment relations for Relay Therapeutics; and Jon Weaver ’06, G’17, president and CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives and a current member of the Assumption Board of Trustees.

For years, alumni have shared their expertise and knowledge with students through the annual Career Networking Night (CNN) and Alumni Networking Series. This year’s CNN keynote speaker, Megan Evangelista ’13, provided insightful information on how to define one’s personal brand and how to set oneself apart from others during a virtual presentation to students.

Tom Leary ’75, a Foreign Service officer with over 30 years of U.S. State Department public affairs experience in eight countries, including nine years in Russia, shared his reflections in the lecture “Russian Society, Government, and Relations with the United States.”

Tom Leary ’75

Stephen Knott, Ph.D.’79, HD’13

Christina Graziano, Esq.’10

Stephen Knott, Ph.D. ’79, HD’13, shared insights on his book, The Lost Soul of the American Presidency, during a lecture moderated by Washington, DC-based lawyer Christina Graziano, Esq. ‘10. During the lecture, Knott, who is a professor in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College, discussed the idea of the American presidency and how it no longer resembles the institution it was meant to be. assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 39

CLASS NOTES Submit your news online at assumption.edu/classnotes.

Fall 2021 issue deadline is August 1.

Weʼd love to hear from you!

1963

Jim Prevet, a lecturer at the University of Southern Maine’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, gave a talk entitled “Moral Influences on Jane Austen.” During the lecture, Jim discussed how Austen’s characters, through their lives and actions, either exemplified or failed to live up to the principles outlined in Aristotle’s Ethics.

1968

Joseph Bialy is an educational service specialist for the Department of Defense in Boston and program manager for the department’s career exploration program.

In this position, he works with high school guidance counselors to help students explore career options. Joe was recently honored by Southbridge High School where he served as principal for 20 years.

Lionel Lamoureux and his son, Marc P’11, owners of Lamoureux Ford in East Brookfield, were awarded the Ford Motor Company’s 2020 President’s Award for providing exceptional customer sales and service satisfaction. Lamoureux Ford has won the President's Award 24 years in a row and 27 times overall.

40 ASSUMPTION Magazine

1969

1972

Jack DuBois, a veteran athletic director and longtime assistant director for the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), New Jersey’s governing body for high school sports, will retire from his post at the end of the 2020–21 school year. After graduating from Assumption, Jack was hired as the athletic director at St. John Vianney and held the same role at Manchester Township and Morris Hills before serving at the NJSIAA beginning in the early 2000s.

1974

Paul A. Migliozzi, Jr., D.D.S., published his first book, We’re No Angels (Page Publishing), a children’s adventure story that takes place in Acadia National Park.

1970

Terrence William Macy, Ph.D., AP’66, ’70, HD’15 was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles. Terrence, a leader in the field of nonprofit management during his 53-year career, retired from the Delaware Division of Developmental Services after four years as the director of community services in 2019. He was recognized for his professional achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he accrued in his field.

50TH REUNION

Paul Verderese '72, G'74, was named to the Forbes’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for 2021. Paul is the owner of Verderese Financial in Auburn.

Kevin McQuillan recently retired from a career as a safety management professional.

Throughout his career, Kevin served as director of institutional safety programs in environmental health and safety management for Mount Sinai Medical Center/School of Medicine; director of safety and emergency management for St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City; and global safety director for North and South America for Deutsche Bank in New York City.

1975

Paul Lynskey recently retired from a career dedicated to increasing access to higher education. Paul, a resident of Hampton, NH, continues to be an avid reader and student of history, spending time in Myrtle Beach, SC.

1979

Madonna (McGahan) Oftring has been named residential mortgage loan officer for the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.

he was also named Mass Golf’s George M. Cohen Senior Player of the Year, becoming just the third player ever to win the award for four consecutive years.

1980

Kenneth Cabral was named president and CEO of Harc, a Hartford, CT-based nonprofit that empowers those with intellectual disabilities. Kenneth worked in the state’s Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Children and Families for 22 years, in addition to holding several posts with private providers of residential services for those with intellectual disabilities.

Kevin Carey is the coordinator of creative writing at Salem State University. His third book of poems, Set in Stone (CavanKerry Press), was published in May 2020, and his crime novel, Murder in the Marsh (darkstroke), was released in October 2020.

Kevin currently resides in Manchester-bythe-Sea.

1982

40TH REUNION

State Senator Kevin Kelly has been elected Senate Republican Leader by the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus.

Senator Kelly is an elder law attorney who previously worked as an investigator for the Department of Social Services for over 13 years. He has served in the State Senate since 2011 and is currently the ranking member of the Aging Committee, the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, and the Committee on Children. He also serves as a member of the Regulation Review Committee. Sen. Kelly has been an advocate for healthcare affordability and accessibility, supporting the needs of senior citizens, growing jobs, improving women’s healthcare, and advancing “aging in place” initiatives. He resides in Stratford, CT.

1985

1988

Fr. Michael J. Dolan, a native of Waterbury, CT, and parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford, was appointed president of Northwest Catholic High School. Fr. Dolan was named interim president in November 2020.

Chris Pelosi has been nominated to a seat on the Connecticut Supreme Court. He is currently a senior assistant state’s attorney assigned to the Judicial District of Hartford, where he has served since 1999.

1990

Katie (Schwartz) Bloom recently wrote a children’s book called The Thank-You Game, which is based on the teachings of Brother David Steindl-Rast, OSB, who said, “It is not happiness that makes us grateful; it is gratefulness that makes us happy.”

Katie, who has been a psychotherapist for 20 years, believes in the power of living a grateful life and shares this principle with her clients.

Dennis House, a veteran television news journalist, returned to the Connecticut airwaves in January as WTNH-TV’s chief political anchor. Dennis also hosts a Sunday morning public affairs show and fills in as an anchor. In addition, he is a visiting fellow at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford where he teaches digital media.

1987

35TH REUNION

Frank Vana, Jr., won his first ever New England Golf Association event, the New England Senior Amateur Championship, in September 2020. Frank, who is a member of the Marlborough Country Club, has had an illustrious amateur golf career, which included a victory at the Lowery (Senior) Division of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament earlier in 2020. In December 2020,

Katie (Schwartz) Bloom ’90

Michael Broderick has been named president and CEO of Monro, Inc., the nation's third-largest independent tire dealership. Michael has more than 25 years of experience in the aftermarket parts and tire service industry, most recently serving as executive vice president of merchandising and store operations support at Advance Auto Parts.

1991

Todd Tallman has been appointed CEO of Cornerstone Bank. Todd previously held the title of president and treasurer of the bank and is a banking veteran with over 20 years of experience. With a passion for supporting communities and enriching the lives of others, Todd serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and is past president of the United Way of Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Charlton.

ASSUMPTION CLASS NOTES

Tom Bartholomew was named to the Forbes’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for 2021. He is president and CEO of Bartholomew & Company, which is headquartered in Worcester and has branches in Bedford, Chatham, and Framingham.

1993

Demitri Beekman recently authored Teaching in the Wilderness, a book that brings to light the challenges and struggles teachers and school leaders face, but reminds them they are never alone, using biblical principles connected with teaching strategies and leadership techniques. Demitri is an experienced school leader with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry.

Dina J. (Solitro) Rassias has been hired as a full-time faculty member at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as assistant teaching professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Dina has taught at WPI since 1994 and has broad project-based research and teaching experience. She earned a B.A. in mathematics at Assumption and has M.S. degrees in applied mathematics and mechanical engineering, and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from WPI. Tracie Cascio Snow began her new position as the 19th president of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in November 2020. In her 26 years with the school, she has held many roles, including special needs teacher, second grade teacher, reading specialist, and director of curriculum and staff development assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 41

ASSUMPTION CLASS NOTES

within instructional services. She received her bachelor’s degree in social and rehabilitation services and elementary education from Assumption and has master’s degrees in education from Gallaudet University and in educational leadership from the University of North Florida.

1994

Jen (Harbour) Grivers has been named the residential mortgage loan officer for the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. She is active with the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce and Habitat for Humanity, and networks with business owners to help customers achieve a full-circle trusted financial relationship.

1999

Matthew Ray has joined Murtha Cullina LLP as an attorney in the firm’s Business and Finance Department and Real Estate Practice Group. Matthew is a member of the Real Estate Finance Association, the New England Chapter of the Commercial Finance Association, and the USA 500 organization. After graduating from Assumption, he received both his MBA and J.D. from Suffolk University.

2007

Geoffrey Kromer ’95, G’97 was elected to a second three-year term on the board of directors of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is the third oldest in the world, founded in 1733, and has lodges throughout Massachusetts; in Panama, Chili, and Japan; and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Shaughnessy Rice has been named vice president of mortgage lending for Guaranteed Rate. Shaughnessy, who is based in Champaign, IL, has 24 years of mortgage lending experience.

1997

25TH REUNION

Mike Ferraresso was appointed chief commercial officer of AVEO Oncology.

Mike joined AVEO in December 2017 and most recently served as senior vice president of business analytics and commercial operations. His wife, Ginger (Mroczkowski), is a principal for Fairwinds Consulting.

1998

Carl Cafaro and Derek Mohamed were named to the Forbes’s Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for 2021. Carl, who serves on the Assumption University Board of Trustees, is the managing director of The Cafaro Group at Merrill Lynch, a financial services firm with locations in Newton, Chicago, and New York City.

Derek is managing director and wealth management advisor of Mohamed-Merola Wealth Management, based in Wellesley.

42 ASSUMPTION Magazine

Charlie Rizzio joined Missouri Western State University as a linebackers’ coach in the spring of 2020. Prior to Missouri Western, Charlie worked at the University of Nevada as a defensive analyst, specifically with the inside linebackers, and has experience working with coaching administrations at Eastern New Mexico University, Southern Connecticut State University, Southern Illinois University, West Texas A&M University, Yale University, and Oxford High School in his home state of Connecticut.

Nicole (Romer) Triola ’06, G’08 has been a probation officer in the Dudley District Court since November 2019. Nicole has two daughters, ages 17 and 6.

1995

1996

2006

15TH REUNION

birth: Jillian (Cordiner) Alberti welcomed daughter Giuliana Idelous on July 3, 2020.

Matthew Ray ’99

2000

Marianne (Tacito) Pasqual and her sister, Maureen Tacito, recently started a children’s book series based on a funloving seashell named Juno. Juno’s Island Adventure, Juno’s Day at Home, and Juno’s Merry Christmas are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.

2005

Elizabeth (Olds) Berthelette was one of 10 Boston women to receive Connect Media’s 2020 Women in Real Estate Award. This is the second consecutive year Elizabeth has been selected for this prestigious award. She is the research director for Newmark, where she has demonstrated her leadership, creative thinking, and adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is actively involved in fundraising for CREW Boston’s Education Foundation and also volunteers for the Bellingham Planning Board, reviewing projects and developments that will better her community.

Brian Burlas wed Alanna Richard on December 31, 2019. Alumni in attendance included: Jen (Favulli) Arguello ’06, Mike Burlas ’76, Dave ’77 and Ann (Warner) Carboneau ’77, Tim Clapes ’06, Don Collins ’75, Marc Dupuis ’85, Claire (Collins) Flynn ’79, Kyle ’06 and Katelyn (Gallagher) Fontaine, Bill Hatten ’77, Casey Hatten ’06, Dan Hickey ’08, Neil Hennessey, Tim Hussey, Jon Kinhan, Jeff ’76 and Sue (Daley) Lagarce ’80, Sean Lubin ’08, Jeremy Madow, Paul Phillips ’76, Denis Richard ’75, John Richard ’08, Paul Ruane ’77, Jonathan and Lisa (Bordage) Sparling G’09, Eric ’08 and Jen (Paglio) Thanas ’09, George Tyburski ’77, Dr. Anthony Ursoleo ’70, Joe Ursoleo ’76, Mike Ursoleo ’08, and Nick Veltri.

2008

Kristyn (Perron) Chevalier ’08, G’10 adopted two children, Emma and Sophie, in September 2020. Kristyn has been working as a school adjustment counselor in the Marlborough Public Schools for the past five years, during which time she earned a second master’s degree in special education administration from Bay Path University in 2019.

Ryan Collins is the founder of My Fishing Cape Cod, a website he created in 2011 stemming from his passion for fishing.

Through his website, Ryan has built a community of thousands of fishing enthusiasts whom he teaches about fishing on Cape Cod by providing information, advice, and fishing reports.

2009

Melissa (Bowman) Geraci has been working in the medical sales field since 2010. She is currently the regional sales manager for Tactile Medical in Minneapolis, where she covers a region between New York and Maine and coaches over 40 people. The company’s mission is to take care of lymphedema and wound care patients with at-home devices. Melissa has two children: Isabella, 3, and Gino, 10 months.

Julia Kilgore has joined the staff of the Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan, privately funded research and policy organization dedicated to empowering Worcester Public School graduates. birth: Shannon (Plasski) Perkins welcomed Benjamin Thomas Perkins, Jr., on May 19, 2020, in New Bedford.

Benjamin was welcomed with love by his parents and big sister, Madelyn, 2.

2010

birth: Jeff Alderson welcomed his first child, Travis Declan Alderson, on August 6, 2020. Jeff recently celebrated two years working as a project manager at Cold Chain Technologies in Franklin, which is a temperature-sensitive packaging company supporting the global COVID-19 vaccine response and deployment.

2011

Nathan Kuffrey was sworn in as a police officer for the City of Marlborough in December 2020. Nathan has been a small business owner in Marlborough since 2015 and has experience in marketing, fitness, and business management.

Bianca Ravida celebrated five years of work at Bynder, a digital asset management company, where she was recently promoted to senior finance administrator in their Boston office.

2012

10TH REUNION

birth: Elaine (Bowman) Mancini welcomed son Cole into the world on December 15, 2020.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Social Entrepreneur Michael Agbortoko ’14 Helping Others Strive for Success Growing up in Cameroon, Michael B. Agbortoko, Jr. ’14 was surrounded by individuals who always found ways to overcome hardship on a daily basis. “An environment like that fuels creativity and forces you to create or find solutions to problems that are often taken for granted in first-world countries,” he said.

Now, 20 years after his family immigrated to the United States – a country Agbortoko says provides abundant opportunities – he has created, founded, and nurtured his own American Dream. After graduating in 2014, touring the country as a brand ambassador, spokesman, and tour manager, he found himself unfulfilled by building someone else’s dream. In April 2019, he returned to Worcester to launch his own company, founding Soxcessful, a company he describes as an “immersive retail incubator backing curated global visionaries.”

Agbortoko noted that his Assumption liberal arts education, coupled with the University’s emphasis on service and citizenship, inspired him to create and find a greater sense of purpose on campus and in life. “During my time at Assumption, playing soccer on the men’s team and my curiosity led me to many different experiences campus had to offer,” he said. “By trying different things, it served as a foundation to listen to and learn from one another while doing our part to help the community and ourselves to succeed.”

Last spring, he spoke to Professor Bridget Leonard, Ph.D., and her advertising class and collaborated with students to create an advertising strategy for the Soxcessful brand.

The experience was mutually beneficial; the students were able to gain hands-on, real-world experience, while their unique liberal arts education and broad perspective allowed them to provide Agbortoko productive insight for his company.

Through Soxcessful, Agbortoko hopes to support local aspirations and/or social mobility for future generations. “People first, profit next,” Agbortoko said. He emphasized a desire to enact positive change that enables communities and individuals to thrive.

“By nurturing big ideas for visionaries like artists, brand designers, innovators, institutions, makers, thinkers, etc. and helping them #BESOXCESSFUL, it empowers and encourages others to take the first step toward dreaming, doing, creating, and achieving the impossible,” he said.

43 assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 43

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

en route to the mayor’s office. As mayor, he created Blackstone Valley Prep, Rhode Island’s first mayoral charter school, which has since become a national model for education. He became the state’s lieutenant governor in 2015 and will serve out the remaining 22 months of former Governor Gina Raimondo's term after she was called to serve in the Biden administration.

“It’s about your roots in your community,” Gov. McKee said of his shift from business to a career in politics. “You want your town to be a good place.”

Daniel J. McKee ’73 Sworn in as Rhode Island’s Governor When Daniel J. McKee ‘73 was sworn in as Rhode Island's 76th governor this spring, his decades of public service and liberal arts education had him well prepared for the task.

Lauren Milka married James Thibeault ’10 on October 24, 2020. Alumni in attendance included Alison (Marinelli) Cetin, Corey ’10 and Theresa (Taylor) Flanagan ’11, Jared Manteuffel ’09, Jeremy Rathbun ’10, and Erin Sullivan.

Andrea Moniz married Dr. Zachary DeLoughery on December 27, 2019.

The ceremony was held at St. Francis Xavier Church in East Providence, RI, followed by a reception at the Atlantic Resort Newport.

Alumni in attendance included: Cristina DeFabritiis, Dr. Meaghan Farnam, Jonathan Howley, Elizabeth Johnson, Emily Marino, Crismel (Calderon) Monigan, Marcus Nichols ’11, Gregory O’Rourke, Justin Pugliese, Dr. Abby Raposo, Andrew Smith, Jeffrey Starr, and Anna Veytser-Hunt.

2014

Athena Garbarino was recently hired as an assistant instructor at Michigan State University’s College of Nursing. Athena also works as a registered nurse in the 44 ASSUMPTION Magazine

“I’ve been able to use skills I’ve developed over the years, including from my time at Assumption, to understand the priorities of keeping people safe,” said Governor McKee, who majored in education and political science, adding that “both degrees played a major role in the fact that I am in public service. The basic principles of Assumption, which teaches you to take good care of people and be a good person, are engrained in the fiber of the Assumption community.”

After graduating from Assumption, Gov. McKee opened his own businesses and immersed himself in the community, becoming president of the Boys & Girls Club and starting its endowment fund, and serving on the Cumberland, RI, town council

labor and delivery unit of McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital.

Stephanie (Plotkin) Murin married John Murin on August 15, 2020, at the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland. Alumni in attendance included: Alysa Chiarolanza, David ’12 and Meaghan (Kearney) Jennison ’12, John McVey, Jenna (Wilson) Packard, and Katie (Reynolds) Weed ’12. Other alumni attending the wedding in spirit due to the COVID-19 pandemic were: Lauren Johnson Batchelder ’15, Marisa Berti ’15, Andrea (Kolodziej) Spano ’15, and Rick Turvey.

2015

Tracy Baldelli began teaching a course entitled Youth in Philanthropy through the Foundation for MetroWest, an organization that connects philanthropic opportunities in the MetroWest area, in the fall of 2020.

The semester-long course, focused on nonprofit education, allowed students to serve as a board of directors, receiving

Gov. McKee is a firm believer in the importance of education and has set it as one of three priorities as governor. He’s also committed to small business development and the economy, as well as the issue of equity and justice.

And he’s using his Assumption education to guide him.

“At Assumption, you weren’t just talking about politics and political science; you were really talking about important questions,” he said, adding that then Professor Patrick Powers, Ph.D., shared important philosophical lessons. “He would ask the question, ‘Is it good for the community or for the good of the individual?’

It’s something I still think about today.”

grants, conducting site visits, fundraising, and ultimately awarding grants to nonprofits in the MetroWest area.

Lauren Pepi completed her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Georgia in December 2020 and started a new position as a postdoctoral research associate at the university’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center.

Eduardo Rivas ’15, G’17 has started a new position as assistant professor of accounting at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester.

Patrick Tyler ’15, G’16 has been promoted to vice president of USI Insurance Services New England. USI is one of the largest privately held insurance brokerage firms in the nation. As AVP of USI New England, Patrick spent the last three years growing the small commercial book of property and casualty clientele and looks forward to continuing to build the company while helping businesses reduce total cost of risk.

2016

Julianne Armstrong married Eric Kneeland on June 27, 2020, at the Stage Neck Inn in York Harbor, ME. Eric is the director of programs and operations for the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, an organization for which he interned as a student and was hired shortly after graduation; and Julianne is a speech-language pathologist in a local school district.

Shanell Cartagena ’16, G’17 married Dylan Dopson ’17, G’19 on August 8, 2020, at Zuka’s Hilltop Barn in Spencer.

Alumni in attendance included: Erik Abramson ’14, G’18, Nicole Bongiovanni, Arianny Diaz ’15, Dan Donovan ’15, Rachel Duncan, Kathryn Graydon, Billy Griffin ’15, Sherliz Henriquez ’15, Ciara Lambkin, Kayley Millard ’18, G’20, Beatriz Patino G’07, Robert Ravenelle ’86, G’02, Peter Serencsics ’17, Kiara Serret ’17, Mario Silva-Rosa G’96, Tyron Thompson ’18, Tyshawn Thompson ’18, and Nathalie Vega.

John “Seamus” Kennedy of Reading has joined Classified Realty Group as a residential real estate agent. He joins a network of more than 40 real estate colleagues serving home buyers and sellers in communities throughout Greater Boston, Merrimack Valley, and southern New Hampshire.

2017

5TH REUNION

George Battle has been promoted to district sales manager for the US-West Region at Dell Technologies in Austin, TX.

2018

Rebecca Galib and Zachary Sneeringer ’19 were engaged in February 2019. The couple plan to marry in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in spring 2022. Rebecca is an associate brand writer for Hasbro in Pawtucket, RI, and Zachary is a graduate assistant hall director at Providence College.

Makana K. Gionet has been appointed assistant national bank examiner at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, an independent bureau of the U.S. Treasury.

‘who I was meant to be to make a difference in the world.’ This has been a mantra as I focus on changing healthcare and making it easy for patients to live their best life,” she said.

“GIVING BACK IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP OTHERS LEARN AND GROW.” CHRISTINE (PICARD) SAWICKI ’89, P’21, P’25

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Mentoring the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals After nearly three decades in the pharmaceuticals field for CVS Health, Christine (Picard) Sawicki ’89, P’21, P’25 believes her Assumption education laid the groundwork for her successful career.

“A strong foundation in science and philosophy prepared me for my career in pharmacy,” said Sawicki. “Developing a strong network and lifelong friendships as a part of campus ministry, the volleyball team, and the music program has been a critical component that keeps me centered. Academic excellence and support from faculty who believed in me even when I questioned myself helped me stay focused and accelerate the completion of a pharmacy degree within two years after graduating from Assumption.”

Fr. Andre Dargis, A.A., AP’58, AU’60, who mentored Sawicki during her undergraduate studies, left an indelible impression upon her. “He often reminded me to discern my purpose to become

Sawicki said that while she holds advanced degrees and certificates such as an MBA from Anna Maria College, a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Villanova University (a professional skills leadership program), and a pharmacoeconomics certificate from the University of South Carolina, it’s her Assumption education that has “helped instill transportable skills and an invaluable growth mindset. It allows me to approach challenges with curiosity and reimagine success when opportunities do not work out as planned,” she explained.

These skills learned at Assumption inspired Sawicki to turn to her alma mater for interns.

Last summer, three students interned for CVS Health, developing innovative digital solutions for rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, building plans on how CVS Health can support solutions for systemic racism and ending the HIV epidemic, as well as contributing to COVID-19 testing and research.

“Assumption students demonstrated curiosity, interest in healthcare, critical thinking, and motivation to serve,” she said. “They brought diverse ideas, multidimensional critical thinking, and passion to learn and make a difference.”

Sawicki also teaches in the health advocacy program at Assumption as a way of mentoring and sharing her expertise and experiences with the next generation of healthcare professionals. “Giving back is essential to help others learn and grow,” she said. “It is also fulfilling because so many have invested in me.”

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 45

ASSUMPTION CLASS NOTES

Alexis Levine was recently awarded the Rare Champion of Hope Rising Star Award

by Global Genes, a global nonprofit advocacy organization for those fighting rare and genetic diseases. Alexis is a clinical research coordinator in the Neuromuscular Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, working on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) clinical trials. SMA is a rare and devastating genetic disorder, characterized by global and degenerative muscle loss.

Alexandra Orlandi, a mental health specialist at McLean Hospital, continues her collaboration with Assumption Professor Paul Piwko, a professor in the Grenon School of Business at the University, educating others and shining a light on mental health issues in the U.S. Alexandra and Prof. Piwko founded the National Museum of Mental Health Project, Inc. (NMMHP) in 2019. Initially focused on researching and publishing the benefits of mental health exhibitions, the NMMHP was recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization with an expanded mission to develop virtual exhibits that transform society’s understanding of mental health (SEE STORY ON PAGE 19).

2020

Hayden Butler is working as the marketing and public relations coordinator for Lowell Catholic High School.

Tess Haller has been hired by U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine to serve as a staff assistant in her Washington, DC, office.

Tess, a political science major from Cape Elizabeth, ME, previously served as an intern in Sen. Collins’ DC and Portland offices in 2019 and 2020.

Alie Schreck is working as an operations assistant and social media marketing manager for the Laboratory Safety Institute in Natick, a nonprofit educational organization for safety in science, education, and industry. She graduated with her MBA from Assumption’s Grenon School of Business in May.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CE’12

Ana Clara (Carpi) Blesso is the new MBA program manager for the Toigo Foundation. In this role, she supports diverse business students entering and thriving in the world of finance.

GRADUATE STUDIES G’91

Kathleen Randall retired in 2015 after working as a psychotherapist, both clinically and in a private practice, for 24 years. She and her family reside in Hudson.

G’20

Natalya Fater has joined Pet Food Experts in Warwick, RI, where she is focused on building strategic, people-first human resource strategies.

CLASS NOTES SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Assumption Magazine publishes Class Notes in each issue. Submissions can be made at alumni@assumption.edu or by mailing us your information. An icon may be placed by a wedding announcement, indicating a photo is posted online. The Magazineʼs editorial staff makes every effort to accurately print announcements, but cannot always verify the accuracy of information submitted for publication.

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH A GRADUATE DEGREE When you pursue a graduate degree at Assumption University, you are investing in

your future. Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned professional, your Assumption experience will position you for success.

School of Graduate Studies • Applied Behavior Analysis

• Clinical Counseling Psychology • Health Advocacy

Grenon School of Business

• Business Administration (MBA), including Accelerated & CPA Track • Healthcare Management MBA

• Rehabilitation Counseling • Resiliency in the Helping Professions • School Counseling • Special Education • Special Ops: Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) • Transition Specialist C.A.G.S. (with Endorsement)

46 ASSUMPTION Magazine

Help Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Reach Their Full Potential Assumption now offers a

Special Education: Autism

Spectrum Disorders (ASD) C.A.G.S. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMS, please email

graduate@assumption.edu or call 508.767.7387.

Visit us online at

www.assumption.edu/graduate

(with Endorsement) to prepare

teachers to provide appropriate services and advocate for

students with ASD. Schedule a conversation to learn more at www.assumption.edu/ gradconversation.

IN MEMORIAM

Leonard R. Sorenson, Ph.D. 1945–2021

Leonard “Rick” Sorenson, 75, a longtime political science professor, passed away on March 1, 2021.

Prof. Sorenson began his 29-year teaching career at Assumption in 1982, where he taught political theory and American political thought while also serving as a mentor for students until his retirement in 2011. During his time at Assumption, he helped organize the “symposiette” series, an informal group of faculty who gathered to discuss one another’s work, a longstanding tradition that still endures at the University.

He was the author of several books and articles on political theory, notably on Jean-Jacques Rousseau and James Madison, including Madison on the “General Welfare“ of America: His Consistent Constitutional Vision.

† Maureen Persons Coulter HA’94, P’79

Former University Advancement employee November 17, 2019

† John V. D’Apollo ’08 January 8, 2020

† Joseph J. Callahan, III ’71 March 3, 2020

† Gaston B. Charbonneau AP’47, AU’51 May 11, 2020

† Ulysses “Henry” Howell ’83 September 17, 2020

† Robert Joly AP’56, AU’60 September 22, 2020

† John Dirr ’76

September 27, 2020

† Rev. C. Romeo Lamothe AP’40, AU’44 October 13, 2020

† Deborah Foley

Former Admissions Office employee October 18, 2020

† Diane N. Irwin CE ’88

† Augustine F. “Gus” Gonsalves G’86

† Robert A. L’Homme ’63

† Cecilia E. (Davitt) Thurlow CE’91

November 22, 2020 November 24, 2020

† Nancy E. Gallo G’79 November 25, 2020

† Mary Pat (Delaney) True G’74 November 26, 2020

† Arthur “Paul” Guertin AP’58

January 11, 2021 January 14, 2021

† John Lawrence Moylan AP’50, AU’54 January 15, 2021

† Denis Chocka ’77 January 21, 2021

† Sister Eleanor Dooley, SSJ G’60

November 27, 2020

January 21, 2021

November 29, 2020

January 21, 2021

† Jack “The Shot” Foley AP’58 † Michael P. Flynn ’99 December 9, 2020

† Thomas Keating G’79 December 11, 2020

† Lucille A. (DesRochers) Dufault G’81, P’81 December 15, 2020

† John L. Morris G’74

† Paul M. Jourcin ’69, G’71

December 15, 2020

† Thomas P. Roughan ’71

December 21, 2020

† Harvey H. Hartleb G’69

December 31, 2020

† Brian Feeney ’82, P’08

January 3, 2021

† Nina Clough Andersen ’81, G’95

January 3, 2021

† John Bebas G’74

January 4, 2021

† Rev. Adrien R. Longchamps, Jr. ’71

January 5, 2021

October 26, 2020

† Ann M. (Chauvin) Reynolds ’74

November 5, 2020

† Sister M. Laure Therese G’78

November 9, 2020

† Jeanine (Copeland) Deranian G’93

November 12, 2020

† Paul Vincent O’Neil CE’65

November 13, 2020

† Sandra (Nelson) Roberts G’81

November 16, 2020

† Beverly Jean Cropper-Cousin G’07

November 17, 2020

† Father Patrick Brown, O.C.S.O. G’73

† Dr. Roger Adolph Poirier AP’41 † Gordon T. Helme G’81 January 23, 2021

† Toni (DuBrino) Irsfeld ’88 January 24, 2021

† Joann D. Eldridge G’72 January 26, 2021

† Alphonse U. Marcotte AP’50 February 4, 2021

† Marie F. Cafferty G’76 February 8, 2021

† John “Jack” Raymond Bellenoit ’70 February 11, 2021

† Jeffrey Adams Michalski ’94 February 16, 2021

† Gary A. Ensor, Esq. ’78 February 19, 2021

† Tobias “Toby” Brooks Stover ’96 February 28, 2021

† Richard P. Talbot, Ph.D. Former professor March 12, 2021

January 8, 2021

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021 47

LAST WORDS

What’s Your Why? From Mission to Impact

BY PAUL PIWKO, MBA PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING, SOPHIA PROGRAM FACULTY-MENTOR

THINK OF THE WHY AS A MISSION OR PURPOSE. WHAT IS YOURS? THINK OF THE HOW AS THE SOMETIMES MUNDANE, BUT SOMETIMES JOYFUL OR PAINFUL, CARRYING ON OF everyday life. How often do your why and your how meet? As COVID-19 mercilessly reorders how our lives are lived, we have a unique opportunity to reexamine our why.

There is a sparkle in the eye of those who bring their why and how together. Ask a Greenhounds club member about environmental sustainability and their commitment to local agriculture. Ask Professor Jennifer Niece, CPA, MBA, about her Community Tax Assistance course and the help her students provide to low-income Worcester residents. You will immediately see the spark of mission alighting impact.

In the work I conduct with Alexandra Orlandi ’19 related to exhibitions about mental health, we encounter innovators who are inspired by a deep sense of mission. Their creativity is advancing conversations about mental health and wellness via exhibitions that educate multidimensionally.

These exhibitions are a nascent trend. Artists, health professionals, curators, photographers, and those with lived experience are designing or lending their faces, names, and stories (their how) to exhibitions that develop mental health literacy, remove stigma, and reshape attitudes about emotional health.

While this trend started at the grassroots and is moving from local to regional, no trend champion exists. Discerning a mission to fill this gap, Alex and I initially developed the National Museum of Mental Health Project as a clearinghouse for the sharing of research, exhibitions, and know-how between trend innovators and those who might host or develop an exhibition. We have found

48 ASSUMPTION Magazine

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

collaborators who share our why at Assumption and elsewhere, like Kate Kruzick ’20, whose design talent brought our website to life, and Sydney Tappan ’21, social media marketing intern.

In the 1980s, with AIDS shrouded in misunderstanding and judgment, real names, faces, and stories were placed next to this illness and its stigma in a powerful way. Like exhibitions about mental health, the AIDS Quilt fostered social belonging for those impacted and increased empathy among the public. Cleve Jones, the Quilt’s visionary, wrote about his why and how: “This [the Quilt] is my life – it’s the one thing I’ve ever felt good at and right in doing.”

Where does one’s purpose come from? Philosophers and theologians have long spoken of a spiritual source. Neuroscientists report electricity powers us. Even as COVID-19 disrupts our plans, families, and all we have taken for granted, isn’t the operative question still: “What causes the light to go on within me?”

There is a dialectic here. By searching for our purpose we become bigger versions of ourselves, and humbled to the reality that compared to the task at hand we are small, but scrappy. When we find our meaning – even if just for a moment – we can make a difference for others. So … what’s your why?

For more about the National Museum of Mental Health Project, visit www.nmmhproject.org. The project is now incorporated as a nonprofit organization and curating its first virtual exhibition, I Get It.

WILL YOU HELP LIGHT THE WAY TO ASSUMPTION’S FUTURE?

With over $41 million raised as of April 7, 2021, Light the Way: The Campaign for Assumption has been the University’s most successful campaign ever, and has transformed the campus and student experience.

Let’s build on the momentum – join alumni, parents, and friends who have made gifts in support of this campaign! Every donation helps, and no gift is too small.

Please use the envelope enclosed, or make your gift online at assumption.edu/donate (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo accepted).

THANK YOU! Tsotsis Family Academic Center

The Assumption Fund

$41.6 M+

Questions? Please contact Tim Martin, Director, The Assumption Fund, at timartin@assumption.edu or 508.767.7373.

LIGHT THE WAY: THE CAMPAIGN FOR ASSUMPTION Tsotsis Family Academic Center

$17.6 MILLION +

Scholarship / Financial Aid

Froelich School of Nursing

Grenon School of Business Health Sciences Building Athletics

D’Amour College of Liberal Arts

Scholarship / Financial Aid

Froelich School of Nursing

Athletics

Health Sciences Building

$7.9 MILLION + $2.2 MILLION +

Campus Ministry

$1.3 MILLION +

The Assumption Fund

$8.6 MILLION + D'Amour College of Liberal Arts

Campus Ministry

Grenon School of Business

$1.8 MILLION +

$1.2 MILLION + $1 MILLION + $165,000

assumption.edu | SUMMER 2021

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #389 BURLINGTON, VT 05401

500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296

Assumption Has Launched a Mobile App! The free AU Mobile App is an easy and convenient way for alumni, students, parents and families, and faculty and staff to stay connected, receive timely information, and learn about Assumption-sponsored events and programs.

See story on page 21 for more details. To access:

1. Download the Assumption University Mobile App

from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Open the app and choose the appropriate persona

(Alumni, Students, Parents & Families, Faculty & Staff).

3. Enable push notifications.

4. Explore and enjoy!

Questions? Contact the Alumni Office at alumni@assumption.edu or 508.767.7223.