An Inspiring Legacy
WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT ASSUMPTION, WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS AND WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR TIME HERE?
The first goal, per the Board of Trustees, was to enhance the academic programs and strengthen the academic profile, particularly the liberal arts focus. That meant shepherding the process of a new Core Curriculum that was more reflective of our mission and the centrality of the liberal arts, integrating the liberal arts within our professional programs, and ensuring that we encouraged faculty to increase their scholarly productivity. In having faculty publish regularly, their teaching and classroom experience is enhanced; faculty who are active scholars and researchers bring into the classroom the latest information and body of knowledge, from which our students benefit, and the academic experience is strengthened. It was always my belief that a university cannot distinguish itself if its faculty do not publish and contribute to the scholarship in their discipline.
Adding new academic programs that would meet market needs that were also mission driven would offer students greater opportunities. The articulation agreements we entered
2008
2012 DECEMBER
ASSUMPTION | Special Feature 2
ast spring, after 15 years of service, then President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., announced his retirement from his post as president of the University effective June 30. During his tenure, President Cesareo, or “Pres Chez” as students fondly called him, transformed Assumption from a small liberal arts college to a university boasting robust academic programs and vocational discernment opportunities.
Inauguration
Dr. Cesareo begins first term as 16th president of Assumption College on July 1, 2007.
Holy Name of Jesus Institute Established Assumption and the Diocese of Worcester establish the Holy Name of Jesus Institute, enabling men with an interest in the priesthood to receive a degree in philosophy from Assumption at a reduced cost. OCTOBER 2007 JULY
SOPHIA Introduced SOPHIA (SOPHomore Initiative at Assumption) is introduced to Assumption’s Class of 2016, and officially launched in fall 2013.
THE FOLLOWING INTERVIEW WITH DR. CESAREO WAS CONDUCTED BY KIMBERLY E. RUSCITTI PRIOR TO HIS RETIREMENT.
into with leading national universities, such as the University of Notre Dame, Duke University, and Washington University, and law schools also allow students access to academic programs while accelerating dual degree completion. These agreements strengthened us as an academic institution, thereby allowing us to attract academically stronger students.
The second goal of the Trustees at the time was to strengthen our mission and identity as a Catholic and Assumptionist institution. First and foremost, this meant following more explicitly the vision for Catholic universities as articulated by Pope St. John Paul II in Ex corde Ecclesiae, the apostolic constitution for Catholic universities. For me this meant ensuring that Catholicism was visibly present and operative in all aspects of the life of the University and faithful to the Magisterium. Secondly, it was important to integrate the Catholic intellectual tradition into the curriculum, offering course development and research grants to either develop new courses or revise others that would reflect the dialogue between Catholicism and culture in the search for truth.
The revision of the Core Curriculum was also guided by our Catholic and Assumptionist mission, especially highlighting the relationship between faith and reason. The development of the SOPHIA program was mission driven, focusing on guiding students in discerning what would give meaning and purpose to their life as they discovered their vocation. An important element in strengthening our commitment to the mission was a more robust hiring process that would be more attentive to the alignment of candidates with the mission and their willingness to nurture and contribute to the mission. Beyond the University itself, we also enhanced our mission by increased engagement with the Diocese of Worcester through our relationships with the local Catholic schools, the education of seminarians, the establishment of the Holy Name of Jesus Institute on campus, the education of religious from other parts of the world, and ongoing professional development opportunities for clergy on campus. We really made sure we contributed to the life of the local and universal Church as part of our mission and living out the responsibility of a Catholic university.
National Review Board
Dr. Cesareo is appointed chairman of the National Review Board, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops by Cardinal Dolan. 2013
Dr. Cesareo receives Catholic Campus Ministry Association Award for Outstanding Support of Catholic Campus Ministry.
2012 APRIL
Tinsley Campus Ministry Center Opens
2013 JANUARY
Rome, Italy, Campus Opens
JUNE
Catholic Campus Ministry Award
DECEMBER
2012
While faithful to the Catholic tradition of the Augustinians of the Assumption, President Cesareo’s leadership has given Assumption University a solid foundation and vision for the future, providing an education built on ‘solid reason and faith,’ to cite their mission statement. May we all join in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the blessings we have received from Francesco’s care and concern for the Assumption community, for the Greater Worcester residents, and for the local Diocesan Church.
assumption.edu | SPRING 2023 3
MOST REV. ROBERT JOSEPH MCMANUS, S.T.D.
Some of my personal goals, one of which I didn’t articulate when I arrived, was that we would become a university someday. It was something I really hoped we would achieve. It was an aspiration I had, and I waited for the right moment to explore that possibility.
Another goal was to increase the endowment. When I arrived, it was about $65 million, and I had a goal of breaking the $100 million mark because I knew it would be beneficial for the institution. Through the tireless work of many, we achieved that goal, providing a strong financial foundation from which to continue Assumption’s growth.
I also wanted to enhance our study abroad program, which was not very robust when I arrived. I noticed early on that our students were hesitant to study abroad because they enjoyed the comfort of being on campus. That was the
genesis for starting the Rome Campus. My thinking was that if we established our own program with our own faculty, students would have a sense of comfort and connection to the institution, studying with their peers while opening a new world to them. We hoped that after the Rome Campus experience, they would feel adventurous enough to then study abroad at a non-Assumption-sponsored program, and we did find that happened.
Finally, I aimed to increase the diversity of the student body. In 2007, the entering class was about 7 percent underrepresented students; now the entering class is about 24 percent. That was important to me because I really believe the institution must reflect the world in which our students will be living, and if we don’t provide a campus that reflects that, then we haven’t prepared them for the world.
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Dr. Cesareo enjoyed working alongside students in the community, like during the annual Assumption Loves Worcester Day.
Dr. Cesareo speaks at the groundbreaking of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center on a snowy day in April 2016.
Boston Italian-American Heritage Committee Award
OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
Dr. Cesareo receives Leadership in Higher Education Award from the Boston Italian-American Heritage Committee.
2015
2014
Sr. Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation Dr. Cesareo is elected president of the Sr. Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation Board.
Emmanuel d'Alzon Medal
JUNE
Dr. Cesareo receives the prestigious Emmanuel d’Alzon Medal in recognition of his efforts to exemplify the vision and guiding principles of Assumption’s founder.
2014
DID YOU PLAN TO STAY FOR 15 YEARS?
I planned to stay for at least 10 because it takes about a decade to see the impact you can have on an institution. It takes time for initiatives and ideas to take root and develop. As I got beyond the 10 years, we started to talk about a nursing program, university status, and things of that nature, and as we got into a capital campaign, I wanted to see all of this through to completion. I needed to stay through the end of the campaign to ensure we were successful. Which we were, especially in terms of amount raised, significantly exceeding our goal.
WHAT IS THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF WHICH YOU ARE MOST PROUD?
The Rome Campus comes to mind because the setup and goals of the program are unique. I am also proud of achieving university status. It reflects an important manifestation of who we’ve become as an institution and signals a level of maturity the institution has achieved. The school structure has been beneficial from a philanthropic angle, but it also created undergraduate and graduate academic opportunities and faculty collaboration that provide students with options they didn’t have before.
Also, I am proud of the architectural changes I oversaw on campus. The new buildings introduced a different architectural beauty to the campus, giving it a collegiate look that has been transformative. The piazza is a focal point for what is now the heart of campus, and the commissioned sculptures – Fr. d’Alzon, St. Augustine, and the new Christ the Healer –help reflect our Catholic identity and remind us of the essence of our education.
Dr. Cesareo encouraged me the most in pursuing my vocation to the priesthood. My desire for the intellectual life, spiritual life, and service grew because of his faithful witness to Christ.
REV. MICHAEL HOYE
’16
2017 OCTOBER Tsotsis Family Academic Center Opens
Tsotsis Family Academic Center opens,
of
Catholic Relief Services Global Campus Assumption signs agreement to become a Catholic Relief Services Global Campus. 2016 MAY Elected Commissioner Dr. Cesareo is elected commissioner of the New England Commission of Higher Education. 2017 JUNE 2016 SEPTEMBER Core Curriculum Assumption implements new Core Curriculum. assumption.edu | SPRING 2023 5
Interacting with students on campus was one of Dr. Cesareo‘s favorite things to do. Above he is pictured with student-athletes assisting families during Move-In Day.
The
becoming the hub
academic life on campus.
FILOMENA PASCARELLA CESAREO
Assumption’s First Lady
For the last 15 years, Filomena Pascarella Cesareo, Esq., JD, was a supportive fixture on the Assumption campus and in the Worcester community. From sporting events and theatre performances to Chorale and other musical concerts (including every AU Band concert), Filomena enjoyed embedding herself in the Assumption community.
“It is the community that makes Assumption so special,” she shared. “I will miss the people I have come to know during my time here.”
While her husband elevated the academic profile of the institution, Filomena nurtured relationships with parents and students. In 2016, she founded the Assumption Parent and Family Association, where she and her fellow board members welcomed families at open houses and accepted student and move-in days. From 2014 to 2018, she hosted teas at her home for female students and friends of the University, where the women shared stories of the impact of their Assumption experiences. An accomplished trumpet player, she even played alongside students in the University Band for two years prior to the pandemic.
Accompanying SOPHIA students to the Rome Campus is among her fondest memories. “It was wonderful to get to know many students on a personal level during the 10 days we spent together in Rome,” she said. “We laughed and learned together as we were immersed in the culture and enjoyed enriching conversation during meals. I’m still in touch with many of them today.”
For more than 10 years, Filomena has been a member of the Financial Literacy Committee of the Women’s Initiative of the United Way, helping to organize the Dollar Scholar conferences and developing the curriculum; served on the boards of Pernet Family Health Service and the Catholic School Board for the Diocese of Worcester; and volunteered at St. Bernadette’s School and St. John’s High School. In 2008, she helped found the Worcester Children’s Choir, which is still in residence at Assumption.
Filomena, who has practiced law with a firm in Cleveland for the last 20 years, continues to work remotely part time since Francesco's retirement. Though the Cesareos will relocate to the Philadelphia area, Assumption will never be far from Filomena’s thoughts.
“I will miss serving at midnight breakfast, attending Mass at the Chapel, alumni events, watching the students perform both on stage and on the field, and walking on the beautiful campus and talking to students,” she said. “I will also miss attending commencement and feeling so proud of the many students I knew receiving their diplomas.”
Assumption College officially becomes Assumption University after reorganizing into five schools: the Grenon School of Business, D’Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Graduate Studies, Froelich School of Nursing, and School of Health Professions
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“It is the community that makes Assumption so special.”
2021 APRIL
2018 OCTOBER
BASE partnership Assumption and The BASE announce formal partnership to provide scholarships for inner-city students.
2020
Worcester Red Sox Assumption announces it is one of 21 founding partners of the Worcester Red Sox.
JUNE
Assumption University
WHAT WILL YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT ASSUMPTION AND/OR WORKING IN HIGHER EDUCATION?
I will especially miss the interaction with students. My entire career in higher education has been student-centered. Getting to know students on a personal level, interacting with them in various ways – whether walking around campus, during my annual visits to the residence halls, or attending events – has defined my presidency. These interactions were what energized my work as a president. They were reminders of why we were here and who we were serving, and that our goal and responsibility were to ensure the student experience was the best it could be and impact their lives.
I think the most endearing thing for me is the fact that the students address me as “Pres Chez.” For me, that reflects the genuine relationship that I have had with students for these 15 years.
HOW DO YOU HOPE YOU ARE REMEMBERED?
I hope that I will be remembered as someone who poured his heart and soul into making the institution a better place by building upon the strengths of the past and bringing the institution to the next level of growth. As someone who always made decisions with the good of the institution and the students in mind, even if they weren’t always accepted by everyone. As someone who led with integrity and did not compromise my values or the mission but stayed firmly rooted in them for the good of the institution.
And finally, that anything I have done concretely, from the buildings to innovative programs to fundraising, was geared toward improving the student experience and supporting the faculty to do what they do best, which is educate our students in a way that enables them to not only become competent in their fields but also to be transformed – mind, heart, and soul – so that they become the persons God intends them to be, or as St. Augustine states, “to become what they are not yet.”
YOU TOOK ON SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN THE WORCESTER COMMUNITY, BOTH AS A LEADER AND A UNIVERSITY PARTNER. WHY WAS THIS IMPORTANT?
It’s important for an academic institution to see itself as part of the community. We have a responsibility to contribute our resources – not just financial, but our human capital, whether through faculty and staff expertise or through volunteerism. It was important that we were players in the community, that we contributed to the renaissance of Worcester and initiatives that impacted the lives of citizens, especially those in need. Whether that was partnering with The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Worcester Railers, or Worcester Red Sox and nonprofit agencies, supporting the cultural revitalization of the community benefited everyone, including our students, and opened doors for them through internships, jobs, and volunteer and networking opportunities.
Worcester Business Journal
Dr. Cesareo is named to the Worcester Business Journal’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to Assumption and the city of Worcester.
Health Sciences Center Dedication
Assumption officially dedicates the Richard J. and Sophia Catrambone Health Sciences Center, which was completed in November 2020.
Light the Way Light the Way capital campaign ends, raising more than $50 million, 45 percent over the $35 million goal.
2022 MAY
2022 MARCH
2022 MAY
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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN RETIREMENT?
I’m looking forward to a less stressful, less hectic 24/7 pace. Spending more time with my wife and children and future grandchild, as well as my elderly mother, and being able to be more a part of their lives than I have been these last 15 years.
WHAT IS YOUR PARTING MESSAGE TO THE ASSUMPTION COMMUNITY?
Remain true to the mission, to an authentic Catholic identity, and Catholic liberal education to ensure the Assumption experience is one that is concerned with the formation of the whole person. Continue to foster an environment that allows for the discernment of vocation, purpose, and meaning of life, and, once discovered, help students find ways to live that out after graduation. As faculty and staff, continue to focus on that goal, and don’t be lured into simply preparing students for a career, but rather for life. That is what gives students the flexibility they will need once they graduate to take advantage of opportunities that will come their way.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
One of the things I’m very pleased about is the number of students who have entered the priesthood and religious life or are studying in seminaries and in formation. The responsibilities of a Catholic institution include fostering and supporting these vocations, and we created an environment where students received that support and encouragement.
I would also like to thank the faculty and staff for all they have done to advance my vision for Assumption, to make us a better and stronger institution, for their dedication to our students. This is not the work of one person, but the work of the campus community. What we have accomplished could not have been accomplished without their involvement and willingness to take the risks that we’ve taken, to do what we’ve had to do to strengthen Assumption. The analogy I like to use is that I am like a conductor of an orchestra. The conductor’s role is to ensure that the many instruments come together in harmony. I hope I’ve done that by acknowledging and utilizing the gifts and talents of those in this community who will remain once I leave, who will continue to build the next layer of Assumption’s foundation.
