News and features about and for the Dominican community
Rooted Narratives: Dominican Alumnae Unveil the First-Gen Journey page 7
Archbishop Alemany Library Construction (Exterior), November 1962, Dominican University of California Archives
The Torch
The Torch is a publication presenting the news, people and progress of Dominican University of California. The symbol of the flaming torch, representing truth, is rooted in the history of St. Dominic. The University’s motto is “Truth is a flaming torch.” The torch is carried by one of the “hounds of the Lord,” or, in Latin, “Domini canes.”
President
Nicola Pitchford, PhD
Lead Editor
Victoria Grajeda
Art Direction/
Production
Logan Palmer
Editors
Sarah Gardner
Jessica Jordan
Yvette Koth
Writers
Sarah Gardner
Victoria Grajeda
Louis Knecht
Tricia Lacy
Jaime Libby
Dakota Navrkal
Holly Werly
Photographers
Dave Albee
Jim Block
Martin Klimek
Stuart Lirette
Logan Palmer
Dia Rao
Victoria Grajeda
By
Dominican University of California
50 Acacia Ave.
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 257-1396 dominican.edu
Dear alumni and friends,
Higher education, established in more or less its current form in this country since the middle of the last century, has changed so rapidly in the last couple of decades that it almost defies belief.
College enrollment across the country is at unprecedented lows. Schools are closing, and the shadow of COVID persists.
To put it simply, we’re seeing a sea change across the spectrum of American colleges and universities. Between a declining number of traditional-age, college-bound youth, a shrinking middle class, and more public skepticism than ever about the value of a degree, institutions like Dominican University of California are in the eye of a storm.
Thankfully, Dominican demonstrated proactive, strategic initiative in preparing for this transition. We’re privileged to serve a student population that looks like the future — one that’s more than 70% BIPOC, and comprised of nearly one-quarter first-generation college students. We’re exceedingly proud that our students are achieving remarkable outcomes, with a graduation rate 30 points ahead of the national average and double that of the CSU system.
Dominican already excels at supporting the students who will increasingly constitute the national college-bound population.
Growth in our graduate program offerings — including an international online MBA — and revenue gains from campus facilities rentals and philanthropy strengthen our confidence in the future. We continue to be fortified by the generosity of our alumni and donor community, whose faithful giving to Dominican ensures that our story continues. That support is more crucial now than at any previous moment.
We know this is an extraordinarily challenging time for small universities without billion-dollar endowments to rely on. But we’re building Dominican’s future around the things we know we are uniquely equipped to do well — things our society, nation and region desperately need. We’re sailing full tilt into open water, and the wind in our sails is 133-year-old wisdom: study, reflection, community and service.
Forever Penguins. Forever thriving.
My warm best, Nicola
Pitchford, President
Dominican's Department of Education Grant Paves the Way for Latinx Graduate Student Support
Dominican University of California has been awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase the enrollment and success of Latinx graduate students. La Vida Dominican Postbaccalaureate (LVDP) program is funded through a five-year grant from the Department of Education’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) program.
This is the second HSI grant awarded to Dominican since the University was designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) in 2022. Later that year, the University was awarded a five-year, $3 million grant to support the La Vida Dominican undergraduate program to increase first-year and transfer enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates for undergraduate Latinx students.
Launched this month, the LVDP program will offer graduate-level integrative coaching, scholarships and financial aid for assistantships and clinicals, a graduate resource center, and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. Dominican will provide student services and programs focused on access, connection, success and completion, including:
• Building more access points connecting prospective students to graduate education and providing more opportunities for Latinx and historically underserved students to attend Dominican. This includes expanding both hybrid and online offerings.
• Increasing support for students during their time at Dominican. This includes providing direct financial support to students through scholarships and assistantships.
• Improving student experiences and educational outcomes.
“Dominican seeks to increase the sense of belonging for Latinx and historically underserved graduate students by creating a welcoming space and preparing faculty and staff on how to best serve a diverse student body,” said Dr. Mojgan Behmand, Dominican’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty.
Meanwhile, this summer, the La Vida Dominican undergraduate program hosted the inaugural cohort of 11 Avanza Summer Bridge students. These incoming first-year students gained a head start on their academic journey with a series of virtual and on-campus programming designed to enhance academic skill sets and strengthen the sense of belonging at Dominican. Three continuing students served as Avanza peer mentors.
“The Avanza Summer Bridge program was developed to provide accompaniment, a community of belonging, and direct access to campus resources for students who are entering their first year at Dominican,” said Dr. Lindsey Dean, director of La Vida Dominican. “Its curriculum and programming centers the interests and cultural wealth of those who identify as Latinx, Black, Indigenous, first-generation and students of color.”
The student participants spent their first week on campus attending classes and meeting with faculty, staff and peer mentors to explore the many aspects of the University’s signature program, the Dominican Experience, while also understanding how to navigate the higher education landscape as a student of color and/or a first-generation college student.
“What sets the Avanza apart from other summer bridges is that we are not only incorporating the opportunity for students to network with peers but also with key individuals around campus,” Castillo said. “Avanza provided students with some of the basic skills they need to have before they start their university career, along with the opportunity to understand some of the challenges and experiences that may come with being a first-generation student.”
The students also participated in a two-unit course titled “La Lucha Sigue: Educated, Proud, Powerful.” It was designed and taught by La Vida Program Chair and Faculty Lead Dr. Lucia León, assistant professor of Latino studies and social justice, to introduce students to Latinx, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) scholars and provide tools to expand their understanding of BIPOC students and communities in the United States.
When asked about the future of La Vida, Dean said, “As we continue to build La Vida, our assessment efforts will expand to include direct outreach to family members to see how they, in addition to our students, can feel more connected to our campus community and what systems of support we can establish to aid them as they navigate the journey of being a parent or caregiver of a college student.”
Building Dreams: 4th Grader Project Inspired by Campus Visit
During the spring 2023 semester, San Rafael’s Laurel Dell Elementary School students visited the Dominican campus as part of a youth engagement program with the University’s Center for Community Engagement.
Designed to bolster college and civic readiness in partnership with UC Berkeley’s Y-PLAN and San Rafael’s Youth in Arts, the collaboration challenged the fourth-grade students to create art and construction projects around the theme of “Bridges, Gateways and Pathways to College and Community.” Through the study of symbolic and real bridges, the program encourages kids to explore and expand the links between themselves, their school, their neighborhood, college, and the City of San Rafael.
The campus visit provided the Laurel Dell students with an opportunity to explore the Dominican campus and engage with students, staff and faculty. The children met with University faculty and administrators, including Dr. Mojgan Behmand, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty.
Dr. Behmand shared her personal story with the Laurel Dell students and then issued the Y-PLAN/Youth in Arts project challenge: “What are the pathways, gateways, and bridges that will lead you from your home and school to college and beyond — and how can the people at Dominican University help?”
Alyssa de la Cruz and Isaiah Amaranto, students in Emily Wu’s Service-Learning Program, hosted visits to Dominican’s science and nursing labs, while Lynn Sondag, professor of art and Dominican’s honors program director, led the fourth graders through the campus art studios.
Alyssa and Isaiah are assisting Y-Plan with the project, working with the fourth graders in their classroom at Laurel Dell and supporting Shirl Buss, Youth in Arts instructor and creative director of the Center for Cities + Schools.
This collaboration isn’t only a benefit to the Laurel Dell students; it reflects and enriches Dominican’s long-time partnerships with schools and nonprofit organizations serving the San Rafael immigrant communities. Likewise, it contributes valuable community knowledge to increase access and a sense of belonging for BIPOC students.
Penguin Powerhouse: President Pitchford in Conversation with Men’s Soccer
It's been a record-setting couple of years for Dominican’s NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer team. Our Penguin powerhouse clinched the Pacific West Conference championship trophy (tied with Biola University) in 2022, thanks to a dynamite defense, stealthy offense, and a coaching ethos that emphasizes community, support, and integrity.
With David Frank named PacWest Coach of the Year in 2022, and Dominican earning the PacWest Conference Academic Achievement Award 11 of the last 14 years, there’s a lot that makes us proud of these exceptional student-athletes.
Now off-season, President Pitchford sat down with Coach Frank, Louie Galdamez BA ’23 MBA ‘24, and Chris Barrios BA ’23 MSBA ‘24 to reflect on the players’ experience of Dominican and their sport. Louie and Chris are of the first generation in their families to attend college. Now, both are pursuing their master’s degrees at Dominican.
President Nicola Pitchford (NP): Coach Frank, I’ll start with you. Tell me about how you met Louie and Chris.
Coach Frank (CF) - I’ve known Chris since he was 14, because I coached him in our local soccer club. Both he and Louie were among the first players I recruited to Dominican, so there’s a really strong connection.
Since I came to Dominican in 2018, we’ve all come so far. I knew we would, but I didn’t know on what timeline, given the COVID pandemic throwing us all off course. The most remarkable development has been the culture of our team. We all come together because we love soccer, but years from now, our memories will be of everything else — traveling together, wth flight delays, hotel breakfasts and funny stories; seeing each other grow; and building resilience when times were tough.
NP: Louie and Chris, how has being on this team prepared you for life?
Chris Barrios (CB) - The team’s values go beyond soccer, to home, to internships (being prompt, proactive, communicative, leaderly, problem-solving-oriented) and work. All of those skills were developed in soccer, drilled into us from day one.
Louie Galdamez (LG) - I didn’t know much about Dominican before I visited campus the first time. I loved it, and I had this feeling that I wanted to build something here. My mentality was, “I’m an athlete and I want to play soccer and win games.” Now, thanks to the culture and the team growing together, I realize I’m more than a player. I’m prepared for life, I’m responsible. I focus on strength, honor and integrity. I feel I can take on whatever obstacle is ahead of me because of playing soccer at Dominican.
NP: As first-generation college students, do you feel that your experience of college has been distinctive? Does Dominican effectively acknowledge and support first-generation students?
”My mom is from Mexico and my dad is from Guatemala. They raised me and my siblings in a very disciplined way, and there was a lot of pressure on me to play soccer in college. Needing to cross the finish line of graduation has always been top priority. But when I’m on campus, that pressure melts away, because I have all the support I need, between my friends, coaches and professors. I’ve had friends at other schools drop out, but all I want to do is go back and relive the last few years.”
— Louie Galdamez (LG)
CB - Exactly. Being a first-generation college student comes with a lot of pressure. My first two years at Dominican, I lived at home. My parents speak very little English; I was helping them with email and paying bills, driving my little brother to school. Between those responsibilities and my studies and soccer, I was exhausted. But that exhaustion built my character.
One day, my little brother got sick, but my mom had to stay at work, so I had to leave a class early. My professor was really accommodating and offered to send me notes from the lecture afterwards. So yes, it’s been hard, but I know I can always rely on my team, my coach and my professors for support. I’ve found Dominican to be very sensitive to the challenges I face as a first-generation student.
NP: Louie, I hear you have an interesting story to share about your sister.
LG - Yes! It’s been amazing how my brother and sister and I have encouraged each other through college. In fact, over my first year at Dominican, my little sister was always coming to see my games, and she really liked Dominican. I said something to Coach Frank, and he said something to the women’s soccer coach, who’d seen me play. A day later, my sister, who’s a really strong soccer player, too, was offered a scholarship. I thought to myself, “I already love this place, and now I can bring my family
here?” It’s true I kind of wanted to have this college to myself, but now I can see it was meant to be. My sister — Krystal Galdamez BA ’24 — and I are closer than ever now.
NP: Now I’d like to ask you all to share a story, an “aha moment” from your journey at Dominican.
CF - Around the middle of the 2022 season, [Assistant Coach] Ricardo Martin and I were watching the team train, and we looked at each other, and I said, “You know, we might actually win the conference this year.” Then we looked out at the field, and we realized our players had an edge over other teams; our players have something to prove, they have heart. That was a pivotal moment.
LG - For me, it was the championship season, too. Those trainings were so tough, and I’d get so frustrated. My body was aching all over, and I thought, “Can I do this?” Coach Frank said we had to train harder so that the games were easier. That’s when it all clicked for me. This is purposeful. I’ll give just a little bit more tomorrow, and a little more after that. We were a championship team without even realizing it. Because that’s what a championship team looks like — a team that’s always pushing.
CB - My mom got very sick with COVID early in the pandemic. I looked in the mirror and asked myself what I was doing with my life, how I was supporting my family. I love soccer, and I’m at Dominican to play soccer, but it’s so much more than that because the next day isn’t a promise. Thankfully, my mom fully recovered, but I learned a lot during that time. Now I show up for my family with more clarity.
Then there was the championship year, the hardest mentally and physically I’ve ever played soccer. I was so tired, but I still had homework, and I had to train harder the next day. Then I saw how, as a team, we were stringing together little successes through the season and that the championship was bigger than any of us on our own. It was exhilarating. I learned to love life that year.
Archivist Corner Getting Acquainted with Antiquated Books
During the Spring and Fall 2023 semesters, student interns undertook the inventory of the Rare Book Collection housed within the University archives, revealing unexpected historical connections within its pages. Originating from the era of the Dominican Sisters' stewardship of Dominican College, the Rare Book Collection encompasses acquisitions procured through purchases, donations and the diligent efforts of librarians. The collection, accumulated over decades, showcases books of a unique nature, often produced in limited original prints of just a few hundred copies. Embedded within these volumes lies a narrative that unveils intricate relationships between authors and book donors or purchasers.
Notably, Marshall Dill, professor of history at Dominican College from 1956 to 1984, stands as a significant contributor to this archive. Dr. Dill's contributions constitute a diverse array of exceptional books and illuminate the inherent connections between specific items and their authors. Nestled within the depths of the library's basement is a selection of books authored and autographed by prominent figures such as A.A. Milne, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jack London, Ansel Adams, and Gertrude Atherton. Among these esteemed names, Atherton stands out as a globally recognized writer, poet, historian and feminist. Within the collection of more than 800 rare books, 13 bear the authorship and signature of this turn-of-the-century novelist, who was deeply intertwined with the city of San Francisco and the state of California. A few among these 13 works feature correspondence delicately folded within their pages,
offering glimpses into exchanges between the author and various acquaintances. One even includes a letter from Atherton addressed to Dill at Dominican.
The diligent efforts of interns within the archives have brought these literary treasures to light, rescuing them from the obscurity of a library basement. Through their tireless work, a comprehensive inventory documenting the Rare Book Collection is complete. This meticulous inventory promises increased public visibility for these invaluable literary pieces, unveiling new, previously untold stories that link our University to renowned authors of great distinction.
Have questions about or want to access the Rare Books Collection? Contact the University Archives at archives@dominican.edu.
At your service, Louis Knecht University Archivist
Rooted Narratives Dominican Alumnae Unveil the First-Gen Journey
Within our tightly knit Dominican University of California alumni community, an exceptional group stands out: those who are the first in their families to attend college. These first-generation students are pioneers entering the daunting and complex world of higher education without the advantage of family experience. Their stories are not just tales of personal achievement but powerful lessons that teach colleges how to better support and empower their most vulnerable student populations.
The stories of Alejandra Aroni Buiza '23 and Bridgett Hernández ’18 compose a compelling symphony of resilience and self-discovery, demonstrating the unwavering spirit of those who navigate uncharted territories. Their experiences as first-generation alumni, enriched by insightful research into the distinctive challenges and opportunities faced by first-gen students, not only underscore their personal odysseys but also serve as a guiding light for those embarking on similar journeys.
Getting Started: Navigating College Admission
Alejandra Aroni Buiza ’23, a psychology major with a clinical counseling psychology and Spanish minor, initially aimed for a career in counseling. After changing her major from occupational therapy to psychology, she discovered her passion for social work through various internships, setting her on her current path.
Her educational journey began at a large public high school shortly after immigrating to the United States. Despite connecting with the English as a Second Language (ESL) department, she was met with challenges. Many of her peers spoke Spanish, leading her to choose familiarity over learning English. However, her uncle recognized the need for a change, and Alejandra's ap -
plication to Summit Prep, a charter school in Redwood City, marked a pivotal turning point. The smaller class sizes — although without ESL support — proved instrumental in her language development.
After graduating from Dominican as a first-generation Latina student, Bridgett Hernández ’18 earned her master's in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco, specializing in school counseling. While attending Dominican, Bridgett created significant bonds with her peers and professors, became the psychology club president, studied abroad, and graduated with honors.
”I definitely felt impostor syndrome while navigating college, but I learned to accept that I deserved everything happening for me.”
— Alejandra Aroni Buiza
Now, as a school counselor with South San Francisco High, Bridgett dedicates herself to instilling confidence in her students as they navigate the college application process and prepare for higher education.
Bridgett values the support she received from Dominican, recognizing that each first-gen student's path varies despite the commonality of their first-generation status.
Likewise, Alejandra recognizes that incoming first-generation students' challenges are not uniform; each student may grapple with different obstacles. In her case, learning the English language significantly impacted her confidence in her academic abilities. When examining the first-generation experience, various factors such as language proficiency, financial constraints, immigration status and educational aspirations can collectively influence the ease with which first-generation students navigate their college journey.
Through her role as a high school counselor, Bridgett encountered a sensitive situation that sheds light on the college application process for some first-gen students. A student needed help finding a college that publicly demonstrated a solid commitment to those with an undocumented status.
“This student of mine could only see themselves attending a school that was clearly passionate about supporting Dreamers,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘What a beautiful thing. This student is advocating for their needs and knows they can’t waste their time applying to schools that don’t have the resources they need to succeed.’”
Alejandra’s four years at Dominican transformed her into a more confident individual through the connections she made and the opportunities she was presented with. “At first, I felt pretty shy and embarrassed about my accent,” Alejandra said. “I felt so discouraged, and I entered Dominican feeling so small. After spending four years here, I am now confident and empowered. Dominican was really good for me.”
Finding Your Footing: Discovering Your Place on Campus
Based on her senior research findings, Alejandra discussed the challenges faced by first-gen students in navigating the complexities of college life, expressing ambiguity regarding class schedules and structure. For her, the early days of college mirrored this sense of uncertainty. However, she made fast friends with a small group of students involved in the Dominican Torch program.
The Torch Student Success Program draws on the strengths and resiliency of first-generation college students and students of color to foster college readiness. The program cultivates leaders, instills community consciousness, and promotes academic and co-curricular engagement.
Jessica Frazier, the director of Torch, takes pride in the program's overall success and accomplishments. When asked about her perspective, she said, “Working the Torch first-gen program at Dominican has been an incredible experience. One of the program's defining elements is supporting first-generation college students using a strengths-based approach. Watching them map their dynamic gifts, skills and power into their college experience is at the heart of our work.
“They are the authors of their own experience here; we simply foster opportunities for them to use the unique capabilities they already possess. They get involved, thrive academically and support one another. This pipeline creates a sustainable way for first-gen students to get connected and succeed at Dominican.”
ROOTED NARRATIVES
In 2022, Dominican earned a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) designation from the U.S. Department of Education. Since achieving MSI status, Dominican has been awarded two U.S. Department of Education grants supporting La Vida Dominican, a program dedicated to empowering academic success, cultivating a strong sense of belonging, and supporting personal and professional growth within the University’s Latinx and BIPOC community (page 2). La Vida Dominican has since signed on a strong team of staff and faculty committed to culturally inclusive and holistic programming, integrative coaches who embrace their multicultural identity, and peer mentors who identify as students of color, first-generation, and bilingual.
The uniqueness of the first-gen experience lies in the fact that they are navigating uncharted territory, often without the guidance others may take for granted. Dominican — through the Dominican Experience — has established support systems to ease the path for first-gen students, making their academic journey more manageable and fostering a stronger sense of community and belonging.
Naomi Elvove, the Student Success Center's (SSC) executive director, recalls working with both Bridgett and Alejandra as an integrative coach. “I feel such pride in their accomplishments,” Naomi said. “Bridgett was a peer mentor and worked as a student worker for the SSC, and Alejandra discovered her pathway to her eventual major after much exploration. Students who are the first in their families to attend college can find a supportive and welcoming environment at Dominican when they connect with the mentoring offered by integrative coaches.”
For Alejandra, Dominican’s “Navigating College” course helped the pieces fall into place. She learned how to organize her schedule and map out all the classes she would need to take to fulfill the requirements of her major. The course also helped her with the research aspect of the Dominican Experience, which would come in handy during her senior year.
Alejandra also received valuable assistance from Ian Madfes,
ROOTED NARRATIVES
the dedicated psychology faculty member who supervised her senior thesis. “The meetings would always start with Ian asking us, ‘How are you feeling? Are you stressed? Are you okay?’ It was validating and felt good to have a professor treat us like real people balancing more than just our coursework,” Alejandra said.
Looking Forward: Recommendations for Advanced Support & Resources
Alejandra began her thesis research driven by personal experiences and meaningful discussions with friends and family. Her motivation stemmed from the challenges she faced navigating paperwork and financing college independently, which was intimidating and required her to expand beyond her comfort zone.
Her thesis outlined the impact of the first-generation experience in navigating college:
• First-gen students show higher levels of stress than continuing-gen students and have a harder time managing college.
• First-gen students tend to have a more challenging environment than their continuing-gen peers. Factors include meeting parental expectations, paying for college, college guidance and more.
• When college students have more difficulty managing their college environment, this is perceived as added feelings of general stress.
“They don't realize that these responsibilities transform into valuable life skills,” Bridgett said.
According to Alejandra, immigrant youths are particularly receptive to the guidance teachers and mentors offer, as they may lack the experience and knowledge required to make significant life decisions independently. When they are told by a trusted source, “This is what you must do,“ they may unquestioningly follow, often at the cost of their dreams. “Some of my friends were told attending a junior college was their only path forward. As a result, they chose not to pursue other options because they felt overwhelmed and intimidated,” she recalled.
Alejandra aspires to become a case manager for an organization like Canal Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding immigrants facing challenges stemming from limited resources and the unfamiliarity of their new environment. "I'm presently in the process of applying for positions within nonprofit organizations,” she said. “However, my educational journey is far from complete. Once I've settled into my role as a case manager, I intend to apply to a graduate program and pursue a Master of Social Work." She is contemplating San Jose State University as her future graduate school, and her overarching goal is to assist individuals in realizing their full potential — just as Dominican did for her.
Bridgett’s goal as a school counselor has been to instill confidence in her students as they navigate the college application process and prepare for higher education. She firmly believes in paying it forward by ensuring that the opportunities and pathways she encountered at Dominican remain accessible to future students. Bridgett's commitment is resolute; if necessary, she is prepared to advocate for equal opportunities forcefully, declaring, “There needs to be a seat for everyone at the table.“
As we navigate the complex landscapes of higher education, stories like Alejandra's and Bridgett's are powerful reminders of our institution’s role in nurturing the potential of first-generation students. The challenges they've faced and the triumphs they've celebrated are emblematic of the enduring spirit that permeates our Dominican community. The torch they carry lights the way for future generations, reminding us to embrace inclusivity and leave no dream unrealized.
Alejandra's unwavering commitment to immigrant youth and Bridgett's dedication to her students are testaments to the transformative power of education. Their truth inspires us to continue striving for excellence, equity and stability for every student embarking on the path to their promising future.
“Translating and interpreting? That’s something they will use for the rest of their lives. Caring for younger siblings and elderly family members? That shows maturity and responsibility. Shifting our perspective as recruiters and employers can boost first-gen confidence and sense of belonging.”
— Bridgett Hernández
Aroni Buiza, Alejandra, “Stress Levels in First Generation and Continuing Generation College Students” (2023). Psychology | Senior Theses. 1.
Hernández, Bridgett, "Self Efficacy, Sense of Belonging, and Sense of Obligation in First Generation College Students" (2018). Psychology | Senior Theses. 1.
Empowering Tomorrow The First-Gen Legacy of Erika Rosales-Shelfo and Maria Alvarez Pineda
For Erika Rosales-Shelfo ’17 and Maria Alvarez Pineda ’20, their undergraduate years at Dominican University of California were transformative. So much so that the alumnae, who met through Dominican’s Latinos Unidos club and now are colleagues at an immigration consultancy, were inspired to establish a scholarship for first-generation students.
Maria’s experiences studying abroad and working on research alongside faculty mentors prepared her for the rigors of graduate school at UC Berkeley, where she recently earned her Master of Public Health in Global Health and Environment.
Erika’s numerous leadership roles in student organizations and honor societies, as well as the insight and experiences gained while traveling with faculty and staff to Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom and El Salvador, helped inspire her career goals and her strong focus on community.
Today, Erika is the owner of E.R.S. Immigration Services, which focuses on guiding clients through services such as family petitions, work permits, asylum packages and naturalization. Maria recently joined the expanding company. The idea for a scholarship grew when Erika and Maria reminisced about their time at Dominican.
“When I joined the team, Erika told me how she wanted to give back to her community by helping students,” Maria said. “We discussed different ideas and decided it would be great to give back to students who are at the institution we both attended. I told Erika about my experience as a first-gen student and all the hardships that came with that, and she thought it would be a great idea to cater this scholarship to first-gen students.”
“The First-Generation Scholarship Fund will help those striving to get an education but fear that money is an obstacle,” Erika added. “We want students to be in school and not have to worry too much about the financial aspect. I want them to enjoy their college years as much as possible.”
— Erika Rosales-Shelfo
Maria said that navigating the college process became challenging back when she was still a student at Vintage High School in Napa. “I did not know how to go about applying to colleges and scholarships,” she said. “I remember moving to college was difficult because, even though I was close to home, it was hard leaving my family since we were not used to this. It was an emotional roller coaster. I did not know what to expect. I felt lost. I did not know where to go or what to do. I was especially worried about finances.”
Maria, a double major in global public health and psychology, was fortunate to receive financial support from several scholarships and grants, including the Sandy Peeple Scholarship.
“Having these scholarships helped me enjoy my DU experience because I did not have to worry about not having enough money for housing and food.”
— Maria Alvarez Pineda
Maria excelled in the Dominican Global Public Health program and she remains in contact with her faculty mentors. She worked as a teaching assistant for Dr. Michaela George’s Applied Biostatistics and Research Methods classes. Dr. Brett Bayles invited her to join him in conducting research on vector-borne diseases in Costa Rica. Maria co-presented the team’s work at the American Geophysical Union and co-authored published research.
“Dr. Bayles gave me the opportunity to be a co-author on the paper for the research,” she recalled. “It felt amazing graduating from Dominican with a publication as a co-author.”
Now, Maria is excited to be paying it forward.
“I hope current first-gen students are able to feel less stressed about finances with this scholarship opportunity,” she said. “As a college alum, I know every dollar greatly contributed to both my physical and mental health. I hope this scholarship helps first-gen students have a more pleasant college experience as much as scholarships that I had helped me.”
—
Maria Alvarez Pineda
Erika transferred to Dominican from College of Marin to study for dual majors in political science and history with a pre-law minor.
“I was drawn to Dominican for its ratio of teacher to students,” Erika said. “I personally needed a university that had small classes and a small campus, and that was local.”
The personalized attention began her first day on campus when Erika’s history advisor, Sr. Patricia Dougherty, walked Erika to her first class. Meanwhile, Political Science Advisor Alison Howard would frequently check in with Erika.
Erika quickly became a central figure in the Dominican community, serving as vice president of Latinos Unidos and embracing other leadership roles on campus. Her senior year, Erika was an ASDU Senior Class Senator, Latinos Unidos President, and a member of the Siena Leadership Team, the Dominican Political Science Association, and the Dominican History Association. She also worked as a Model United Nations of the Far West delegate and was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society.
“My advice to students at the initiation of a new school year/ semester is to explore and get involved with extracurricular activities on campus,” Erika said. “The people you meet at any given event, club, etcetera become your friends during your academic tenure and post-graduation. Let the networking begin early on.
“Dominican allowed me to grow not only as a student but also professionally through internships related to my future career goals. I did not know how beneficial this would be in the long run. Today, five years after having done my internship with New Beginnings Law Center, I am the chair for the Immigration Post Conviction Relief Project.”
Erika says that immigration became a passion after writing her senior thesis on the mass repatriation of Mexican and Mexican-Americans in the early 1930s.
“Even though years have passed, the abundance of people that were affected by the events that occurred due to the lack of immigration laws set in place at the time made me want to help immigrants today,” she said. “After working for three local immigration law firms, I decided that I wanted to venture out on my own as an immigration consultant, and E.R.S. Immigration Services was developed.”
Just as she was at Dominican, Erika remains passionate about helping her community in Marin County, serving on the board for the San Rafael Evening Rotary Club — she was Rotarian of the Year for 2019/2020 — while also serving on the board for Latinas in Power and working as the chair of New Beginnings Law Centers Immigration Post-Conviction Relief Project.
Maria was also heavily involved with campus clubs, including serving on the Siena Leadership Team for seven semesters and as president of LU for one year. She echoes Erika’s advice about networking while reminding students to make sure they take care of themselves at the same time.
“It is so important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally, so make sure to carve some time to do something that rejuvenates you at least once a week,” Maria said. “Take advantage of the resources provided to you. There are many resources DU provides, like tutoring and counseling). Find out about resources by asking your peers or inquiring about them to staff members, and take advantage of those resources that are available to you.”
Global Public Health Major Illuminates Change Through Latino Nonprofit
When Stephanie Manieri ’17 was looking for graduate programs in public health, she quickly eliminated a Master of Public Health (MPH) from her list. She felt there would be too much repetition from her undergraduate courses in Dominican University of California’s Global Public Health (GPH) program.
“Dominican’s public health program is really comprehensive, and I feel like I walked away ready to be employed at any organization where I would need experience in program planning, evaluation, or public health knowledge in general,” she explained. “I realized that if I went to get an MPH, I would be relearning everything I learned at Dominican.”
Today, Stephanie is the executive director of Latino Service Providers, a nonprofit founded in 1989 to help the Latinx community in Sonoma County obtain knowledge and access to resources. The organization, which now comprises more than 1,400 members, works to improve access to healthcare, mental health services, education, legal support and other social services.
Stephanie joined as a program manager for a youth participatory research program and rapidly moved up through the ranks over the years.
“It all started at Dominican,” she said. “I would not be where I am today if not for the education I got here, the internships I had while an undergraduate, and my professors who were so supportive.”
Stephanie enrolled as a biology major but turned to public health as a junior after completing an eye-opening internship in Santa Rosa. “I realized that I do not want to work in a lab forever,” she
said. “I also was not on the medical school or dental school track that a lot of my peers in biology were on, so I changed my major to public health. It was the best thing I have ever done!”
Not long after declaring the major, Stephanie came to realize that Dominican’s undergraduate public health program in the School of Health and Natural Sciences was a unique option.
“I was so lucky to have this program literally in my backyard,” she said. “The professors had really high expectations, and this was really good preparation for grad school and for my career. The small class size gave us great access to professors, and I learned so much while working on papers and projects that I often refer to them when I am making decisions.”
— Stephanie Manieri
As a junior, Stephanie started working for the Sonoma County Rape Crisis Center, first as the crisis line coordinator and in her senior year as a bilingual sexual assault advocate housed at the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County, working with victims of crimes. Her bilingual and multicultural background was a huge asset.
This was the beginning of her career in nonprofits.
“My mom is from Mexico, and my dad is from Venezuela. So, I was often assigned to bilingual cases, including working with children who could not speak English,” she said. “I gained a lot of experience working with diverse populations.”
The summer before her senior year, Stephanie traveled with Dr. Patti Culross, chair of the Global Public Health Department, and a group of Dominican nursing and occupational therapy students to conduct research in Mexico as Dominican Global Health Fellows. Their research, which examined osteoporosis risk factors among residents of two semi-rural communities in the Yucatan peninsula, was presented the following spring at the Congreso de Investigación en Salud Pública in Cuernavaca, Mexico, which Stephanie attended as a representative of the research group.
Stephanie became interested in health policy after taking a class with Dr. Culross. This interest inspired her to apply for the masters program in health policy and law at the University of California San Francisco.
“Policy was something I became really interested in at Domini-
can,” she said. “I chose UCSF because I also wanted to stay local. I figure that if you are going to change the world, then why not start at home? This is the community that raised me, and this is the community I want to invest my time in.”
Stephanie completed the intensive one-year program while also working for the Sonoma County Department of Public Health in their Health Policy, Planning, and Evaluation Division. She was also involved with a special project funded by FEMA, serving as a crisis counselor and helping residents impacted by natural disasters to access resources.
She recently told a class of undergraduate GPH students at Dominican that the work-school balancing act was “One of the hardest things I have ever done.” But all that hard work paid off.
And, because Stephanie is not one to shy away from hard work, she is also a member of the Santa Rosa City Schools Board. She was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022.
Stephanie’s public health background increased her desire to serve on the board when, in 2018, the Santa Rosa School District expanded its trustee areas and her community qualified — for the first time — to have an elected representative. The district is the largest in Sonoma County and one of the largest in Northern California, serving more than 16,000 staff and students.
Among her accomplishments on the school board is advocating for all students to take A-G required courses. She also helped pass an ethnic studies graduation requirement for all high school graduates in the district and worked on a policy to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by removing police officers from campuses.
“From my perspective, we had to do this for the sake of public health and to not continue causing harm to students of color,” she said.
Stephanie remains a huge fan of Dominican. When two of her colleagues were looking for a masters’s program, she recommended the University.
“I’m pushing Dominican so much,” she said. “We need people of all skill sets in public health. Two of my colleagues are about to graduate from Dominican with an MBA, and both will be doing two very different things in our organization while working toward the same mission and vision.”
“I come from an underserved community but did not realize that a lot of things we were talking about in public health actually applied to where I live. So, I took advantage of an important opportunity to jump in and serve my community,” she said. “It has always been one of my values to be of service, which is another reason why I love Dominican. I had opportunities to learn how to best serve my community.”
—
Stephanie Manieri
Lubna Mulla ’22 — Four Presentations, Two Published Papers, One Stanford Summer Fellowship
Like many first-year college students, Lubna Mulla ’22 felt overwhelmed as a new undergraduate when she started her college journey.
“My first year, I was really shy. I was an introvert,” Lubna recalled. “I did not like to raise my hand in class even though I knew the answer, and I did not know how to approach my professors.” But, over the course of that first year, Lubna gained the courage to speak up in class, ask questions, attend office hours and network with faculty.
Now, with two published research papers (and a third under review), four conference presentations, and one undergraduate summer fellowship at Stanford University behind her, Lubna has advice for students beginning their college journey: Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors.
“These professors helped me gain confidence, especially once I began working in their labs,” she said. “I went from being shy to not hesitating to raise my hand and answer the questions. I also started to feel more comfortable talking with my peers. I would share my ideas, offer critiques if I understood something, and ask them questions if I did not understand.”
Lubna excelled at science while attending Mill Valley’s Tamalpais High School, and when it came time to select a college, she looked for two things: a strong science program and the opportunity to work alongside faculty researchers. Dominican and the School of Health and Natural Sciences checked both boxes.
While she had plenty of college options, including several UC campuses, her mentor from 10,000 Degrees, a nonprofit organization that works directly with local students to support them on their way to college, suggested that Dominican would be the best fit. “My mentor felt that Dominican would be a great place for me because it had a good science program, it was close to home — I wanted to stay close to my family — and I would get a lot of attention and support from professors,” Lubna said.
”Because Dominican is a small school, you really get to make connections with the faculty, and I suggest all students take time to make those connections.”
— Lubna Mulla ’22
“Find people who can be your mentors and who can guide you even after you graduate. If you are interested in someone’s research, just ask them questions and ask if you can work in their lab. Getting involved with research really helps make it clear what you want to do in the future.”
Lubna credits her Dominican professors in the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, particularly Dr. Meredith Protas and Dr. Obed Hernández-Gómez, for encouraging and supporting her throughout her undergraduate years.
All Dominican biology and chemistry undergraduates participate in the department’s signature Research Methodology Course Series early in their academic journey. Seven units of hands-on laboratory or field-based research are integrated into the majors, with pathways for scientific writing and research.
In her sophomore year, Lubna selected Dr. Protas' lab in order to gain experience working on genetics research. The Protas lab works on an aquatic crustacean species that has both surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling populations with extreme differences in eye size, pigmentation and appendage length. The lab investigates the genetics and developmental biology behind these differences to understand how and why these characteristics evolved. Working in the lab gave Lubna valuable experience working at the molecular level, including
becoming a co-author of a peer-reviewed article.
Dr. Protas also encouraged Lubna to apply to an undergraduate research summer fellowship at Stanford. “I never imagined before coming to Dominican that I would work at Stanford,” she said. “It was a big deal for me, a dream school because of its research program.” While her summer fellowship was cut short due to illness, Lubna’s goal is to return to Stanford for her Ph.D.
As a junior, Lubna also had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant in Dr. Hernández-Gómez’s advanced genetics course. However, the COVID pandemic and the sudden pivot to online learning interrupted this work.
Dr. Hernández-Gómez’s lab specializes in studying the microbial symbionts and genetics of turtles and amphibians. On a global scale, amphibian and reptile populations are declining because of habitat loss, pollution and disease. The lab applies molecular tools such as DNA sequencing on microbial and host samples to better understand the effects of environmental change on disease susceptibility in North American salamanders, frogs and turtles.
During her senior year, Lubna became closely involved with two major lab projects: one involving the impact of wildfires on salamanders and the other determining the distribution of bacterial symbionts on freshwater turtles. She became so involved with the research that she continued her lab work after graduating in 2022 while also coordinating the lengthy backand-forth process involved with submitting papers to scientific journals. In addition, she presented at a number of academic conferences, including the Bay Area Infectious Disease Conference and the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference.
This past year, in addition to working in the OHG lab, Lubna worked as a trainee pharmacy technician.
”Before enrolling at Dominican, I did not expect the opportunity to attend conferences, let alone present,” Lubna said. “I had no idea how any of this worked because no one in my family was involved in the scientific field, so I did not know what to expect. Now, I can say that I have presented at four conferences, and I have had two professors always there for me along the way.”
— Lubna Mulla ’22
In the hallowed halls of academia, pursuing a college degree becomes a beacon of inspiration, igniting the paths of current students and alumni who were the first in their families to embark on the journey of higher education. In this issue of The Torch, we celebrate the triumphs and transformative experiences of our trailblazing alumni, reflecting on the impact they have made and continue to make on the Dominican legacy.
Within these pages, you will read about two notable alumni, Erika Rosales-Shelfo ’17 and Maria Alvarez Pineda ’20. Driven by their own unique challenges as first-generation college students, each embarked on an exceptional journey to pay forward the opportunities they found at Dominican. They envisioned a way to extend a helping hand to students like themselves and thus materialized the First Generation Scholarship, an initiative aimed at paving the way for others to achieve their academic aspirations.
We also delve deeper into the first-generation experience through the insightful perspective of Bridgett Hernández ’18, a dedicated high school counselor in South San Francisco. As she illuminates the path for future generations, her time at Dominican serves as a template, showcasing both the triumphs and tribulations inherent in the first-generation college experience. Bridgett aims to continue her tireless work in advocating for first-generation students and further enhancing their experience navigating college. Her story is a testament to the vibrant spirit of our remarkable alumni community.
As we reflect on the achievements of alumni like Erika, Maria and Bridgett, we must remember that their story underscores a broader truth about the strength of our Dominican community. The most powerful aspect of being Dominican alumni lies in our collective commitment to ensuring the prosperity and vitality of our alma mater.
Time and again, our alumni have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the betterment of our University, coming together to contribute not only financially but also through their time, expertise and passion. It is the shared spirit of rallying for our school that breathes life into our campus and community. Our alumni continue to show up for our current and future students, creating a legacy that extends far beyond graduation.
Your support is crucial in ensuring Dominican continues to provide an exceptional student experience for another 130+ years. As we strive for sustainability, your involvement and generosity will play a pivotal role in achieving this shared vision.
To make a gift, visit dominican.edu/makeagift
It has been my pleasure serving as your alumni association president for the past two years. Just as our Dominican campus and community evolve to embrace new visions and leaders, Sal Chavez '16, MSOT '17, will assume the role of president for the Dominican Alumni Board of Directors starting July 1, 2024. Please join me in welcoming Sal to this new chapter and prestigious role as an outstanding alumni representative.
Go Penguins!
Brian Moore ’05
Alumni Board President Dominican University
of California
2023-2024 Alumni Board of Directors
Sr. Patricia Dougherty O.P. ’67
Sr. Maureen McInerney O.P. ’68
Stewart McRae ’77
Jennifer Morrissey ’88
Christian Lorentz ’02, MBA ’12
Anne Torok ’04
Lianni Castro-Teets ’04
Crystal Nasir ’04
Brian Moore (President) ’05
Gigi Gillard ’06, MBA ’07
Felicia Bell ’06
Nicole Cash ’10
Casey Lee Thorne ’10
Cynthia Roldan-Frias, MBA ’14
Kim Harris (Secretary) ’15, MS ’16
Sal Chavez (President-elect) ’16, MSOT ’17
Stephanie Manieri, ’17, MS ’18
Robert Daley ’18, MA ’19
IDEALS OF FANJEAUX
The Fanjeaux Summer Seminar
The Fanjeaux Summer Seminar draws individuals from Dominican colleges and universities across the United States to medieval France, the birthplace of St. Dominic's vision to establish an order dedicated to truth in 1216. Study sessions typically fill the mornings, while afternoons are dedicated to exploring historical sites linked to the Order of Preachers' early history. The program invites faculty, staff and students from various Dominican institutions to contemplate the teachings of St. Dominic by exploring topics of history, geography, theology and culture.
At 2 p.m. on June 2, a group of strangers convened at Toulouse–Blagnac Airport. Twenty-two participants and six organizers arrived from across the country, sharing stories of challenging layovers and misplaced baggage. Among them was Sister Patricia Dougherty ’67, a familiar face from San Rafael’s Saint Margaret Convent, a guiding force in organizing this pilgrimage. Sr. Patty and the leaders' meticulous planning, commitment and cultural fluency were pivotal, setting the stage for a packed itinerary of enriching experiences ahead. With 12 intense days looming, adept leadership became indispensable.
Alongside eight Dominican-affiliated schools, our California contingent, comprising Alanna Smith ’24, Vanessa Alejandra Smith ’24, Kelly Newhouse (Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies), Sister Patty, and myself, Victoria Grajeda ’15, MS ’19, (Associate Director, Advancement & Alumni Communications), headed to Carcassonne in anticipation. Our residence, Notre Dame de l'Abbaye, a former monastery mere steps away from the medieval castle, welcomed us with its centuries-old tranquility. Cozy and picturesque, this became our home for the next fortnight, bonding us through shared dorms and intimate spaces.
Standing at Notre Dame De L'Abbaye, witnessing Carcassonne's silhouette against the setting sun, I stood on the brink of an extraordinary journey. The renowned Fanjeaux Summer Seminar, nestled in the heart of this enchanting French region, had long been an inspiration for many. Now, my turn had arrived to partake in this revered pilgrimage — a voyage steeped in tales of intellectual growth, cultural immersion and personal transformation that had captivated countless before me. This is my story.
Participating Universities:
Dominican University of California
Dominican University Illinois
Edgewood College
Molloy University
Mount Saint Mary’s College
Ohio Dominican University
Siena Heights University
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Dominican Ideal Number One: Community
E”I met so many great people who I made many cherished memories with. I loved the trip as a whole; there wasn’t just one thing that made it special. The culture, the community we made with each other, the art, the different places we traveled to, and learning about how Dominican came to be were all amazing aspects that I will cherish forever.”
— Alanna Smith ’24, Participant 2023
mbarking on this adventure invoked a mix of excitement and unease. Traveling abroad after the pandemic's confines — social distancing, mask mandates — felt like a leap into the past, thrusting me into the complexities of crowded foreign spaces. Yet, despite this uncertainty, I was met with unexpected warmth and understanding from the region and my fellow pilgrims, a comforting embrace amid the unknown.
Our community began digitally with an extensive group chat organized upon my arrival at the Toulouse airport. Sister Patty sought my aid in establishing the official
Fanjeaux Summer Seminar 2023 WhatsApp group, which instantly united us. This lifeline kept us connected throughout our travels and is still vibrant today with personal anecdotes, plans and book club gatherings.
Student Jill Marty from Edgewood College painted our group photo in front of the medieval castle in the old cité
Group dinner at Notre Dame de l'Abbaye (photo taken by Kelly Newhouse)
Dinners became a cherished routine, offering delightful surprises from the abbey kitchen, always accompanied by ample wine. Our inaugural meal featured tabbouleh, roasted chicken and a delectable fiadone-style cheesecake — a feast complemented by evening strolls in the old cité, fostering a shared excitement for the weeks ahead.
In the face of unfamiliarity, our diverse group united, extending support and camaraderie. We bridged gaps by providing essentials for those with lost luggage and stood resilient through a COVID-19 outbreak, delivering meals and nurturing a sense of togetherness in adversity. The impeccable “College Night” emerged as a lively exchange where our schools sparkled through presentations, fostering connections that linger in branded mementos.
”Today, my memories of my Fanjeaux experience in 2019 serve as a haven. I can return to those memories to gain spiritual solace and pleasure from all the visual memories of the French countryside and seashore, and feel supported by the memory of the community of pilgrims who shared the experience.”
— Debbie Daunt, Participant 2019
One cherished memory emerged from an impromptu foray into sword fighting within the ancient cité. Initially a whimsical invitation, it transformed into an exhilarating experience as our group of seven eagerly participated in a class meant for children (which we didn’t know upon registering). Our guide graciously adapted the lesson to be more suited for adults, delving into specific terminology and mechanics that captivated our interest. In an unforeseen turn, our enthusiastic spirit resulted in an amus
Dominican Ideal Number Two: Study
In the early mornings, between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., our sleepy group awaited a delectable assortment of croissants, bread, fruit, cereal and a generously sized bowl of coffee. This nourishing start rejuvenated our minds and bodies for the next few hours of study. For students, these were dedicated to Professor Gail Ryder’s three-unit course from Siena Heights University. At the same time, faculty and staff delved into the seminar program led by S. Colleen Mallon, O.P., and her team of dedicated educators.
Our academic pursuits took us into the realms of spirituality, inviting introspection into life’s core and the threads that interweave our existence. Diverse topics probed the essence of Dominican ideals,
propelling us to adopt the pilgrim’s creed — a call to relinquish control, embrace faith and hope, and foster peace within. Reflective questions pushed us to contemplate our passions and how to kindle purpose in our lives, echoing the very spirit of St. Dominic's teachings.
The exploration of St. Dominic's legacy was an immersive journey. We walked upon the very streets where the Order of Preachers originated, guided by the knowledgeable Father Renaud Silly, O.P. Our paths traced the life and teachings of St. Dominic through sacred sites, notably the Monastère de Prouilhe, the cradle of the Dominican Order. Father Renaud even hiked the 2.5 miles with us to the Prouilhe monastery, where St. Dominic and his followers started.
In Prouilhe, the resonance of the vespers — ethereal French hymns — stirred profound emotions, moving some of us to tears. This rarity, an immersion into sacred traditions, left an indelible mark. The significance of stepping into these treasured places, rich with Dominican traditions and lore, felt like an exceptional privilege.
ing knighting ceremony, each of us earning official "Chevaleresse" certificates — a nod to embracing the unexpected.
As strangers evolved into friends, a sense of belonging blossomed, forging a community where strengths compensated for weaknesses. Shared laughter, collaborative solutions and moments of vulnerability fortified our bond, infusing solace and encouragement into every challenge. This interconnection became integral to our collective memories, enriching our journey beyond measure.
As our days in Carcassonne drew to a close, the students took center stage, sharing thought-provoking presentations that peeled further layers from the narratives we had encountered. These weren’t just sessions to absorb knowledge; they were gateways to becoming part of a historical continuum. The diversity of topics, ranging from the medieval castle's role in safeguarding inhabitants to the influence of Persian, Islamic, and North African art on French medieval art, fostered connections beyond mere learning. Through our lessons and exploration of sacred religious sites, our pilgrimage ceased to be merely educational—it was an opportunity to become an integral part of a historical narrative.
A small group joined a sword fighting lesson in the old cité
St. Dominic’s chapel in Fanjeaux
St. Dominic’s chapel in Fanjeaux
Student Presentation Topics:
Education in the Middle Ages - Alanna Smith, Dominican University of California
Medieval Mix: Persian, Islamic, and North African Influence on Medieval French Art - Willow Chamblin, Molloy University Romance in the Middle Ages - Vanessa Alejandra Smith, Dominican University of California
The Development of Carcassonne’s Medieval Castle and its Role in Safeguarding its Inhabitants - Michael Maher, St. Thomas Aquinas
The History of the Carcassonne Wall - Jill Marty, Edgewood College
Wealth Inequality During the Time of St. Dominic in Languedoc - Cole Sherburne, Ohio Dominican
Women Troubadours of the Middle Ages - Allie Sarff, Ohio Dominican
Monastère de Prouilhe chapel for vespers
Dominican Ideal Number Three: Reflection/Prayer
Amid ample opportunities for reflection and prayer, we immersed ourselves in the teachings of St. Dominic. During our visit to Fanjeaux, we were ushered into a humble chapel housing an altar believed to have been personally used by St. Dominic during his residence in Fanjeaux from 1206 to 1216. The unassuming architecture mirrored St. Dominic's commitment to a modest, austere existence, detached from material possessions. Father Renaud presided over the mass, inviting all, regardless of their religious beliefs, to join in song and prayer. We were surrounded by magic, the echoing walls and melodious hymns immersing us in something ancient and extraordinary.
Our exploration of prayer deepened with the introduction to Taizé prayer, a serene ritual open to Christians of varied denominations. This candle-lit prayer method incorporated mantra chants, songs, moments of prayerful silence, and meaningful readings. The Notre Dame De L’Abbaye chapel, bathed in the soft hues of purplish-blue stained glass, was adorned with flickering tea-light candles, each participant entrusted with one to eventually place on the altar. We harmonized as best we could (many of us being novice choristers), and in the cool, crypt-like chamber, we sang enchanting melodies. Before we ended Taizé, we were invited to offer a short prayer — encompassing personal reflections and broader desires for the world — each concluding with reciting the Lord’s Prayer. I left the chapel feeling blessed and grateful for another glimpse into a breathtaking Dominican practice that would likely have remained unknown. It was truly a priceless gift.
Throughout our journey, daily rituals guided us in mindfulness. Some practices encouraged creativity (such as passing around a prayer cube before group meals),
while others grounded us in the divine presence, urging us to discover profundity within ourselves and each other.
“The trip finds you in the moments you need it most.”
- Veronica Fruiht, Participant 2018
”The Fanjeaux experience is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that pivoted my life in such an impactful way; I’m forever grateful to have had such an intimate and life-changing experience.”
- Vanessa Alejandra Smith ’24, Participant 2023
We would begin each bus ride with the Prayer for Travelers: Lend Your ear to our supplications, O Lord. Guide, prosper, and protect the journeyings of Your servants so that amidst all changes, their paths and their lives may at all times be safeguarded by Your helping hand through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Renaud preparing for mass in
Altar in Notre Dame de l'Abbaye chapel
Taizé prayer at Notre Dame de l'Abbaye
St. Dominic’s chapel
IDEALS OF FANJEAUX
Dominican Ideal Number Four: Service
In concluding my memories of the Fanjeaux Seminar, service emerges as a cornerstone — a selfless dedication that embodies generosity and compassion. Pilgrims return home with invaluable perspectives gained from a deep education and spiritual enlightenment, enriching their lives forever.
My time in southern France taught me lessons that forever changed the way I will navigate life's pathways:
1) Approach challenges with curiosity and openness — an approach that offers a gentler, more harmonious way of navigating our existence. Rather than hastily leaping to conclusions or reacting with negativity, take a moment to pause and breathe. Look inward, recognizing the limited extent of our control, and wholeheartedly surrender to that realization.
2) Regardless of your religious beliefs, embrace the mission of truth and love — a principle at the core of the Dominican Sisters' values. It's a vital message to impart within your community. The Dominican Sisters embody openness and acceptance toward all, setting a wise example. Every
interaction presents an opportunity for learning; through kindness and grace towards our fellow beings, we unravel more about the intricacies of the world around us.
3) St. Dominic lives on through our Dominican education. He believed that education was a means of intellectual growth and a pathway to spiritual enlightenment. For St. Dominic, higher education meant equipping his followers with the knowledge and skills to effectively spread the message of love, truth and compassion. This holistic approach encompassed both intellectual and spiritual growth in service to others. It’s clear that St. Dominic epitomized the ideal of service through his unwavering commitment to teaching and aiding others.
Ultimately, the Fanjeaux Summer Seminar united us as a community and left a lasting impression on each participant. As we departed, the camaraderie formed in the shadow of medieval history remained vivid — the shared laughter over unexpected adventures, the soul-nourishing discussions, and the unspoken understanding that our journey didn’t end with our return to the U.S. The spirit of St. Dominic’s vi-
sion, the echoes of centuries past, and the profound impact of this pilgrimage will continue to resonate within us, compelling us to carry forth the Dominican ideals of study, reflection, community and service as we step back into our respective worlds, forever transformed by the shared light of this journey.
thank
& Ryan
to Christopher
from Dominican University in Illinois for their exceptional photographs capturing the essence of the Fanjeaux Seminar, several of which have been featured in this article.
A special
you
Allison, PhD
Pagelow
Walking from Fanjeaux to the Prouilhe monastery with Fr. Renaud
Albi Cathedral
Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea in Collioure
1960s
Phyllis McMullen ’60 and her Dominican pals are still traveling together because they can. The 1960 grad “talk-a-lots” Judy (Bridgewater) Hopcroft ’60 from New York, Louise (Pitta) Polsky ’60 from California, and Phyllis (McMullen) Duris ’60 from Oregon joined Dee (Arnold) Sullivan ’60 at her home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After a lovely dinner in her home, she surprised her friends with the iconic Blum’s coffee crunch cake, a favorite of their Dominican days! The itinerary included a lunch cruise on the Mississippi, an evening symphony, a visit to the Hoover Library, posing in the home of Grant Wood and his famous “American Gothic” painting, and a breakfast of Iowa’s best-ever corn on the cob!
When Sue Keeney ’64 graduated, Dominican College was a small, conservative women’s school. She had more freedom at home than at school. It warms her heart to see that DU has become a well-diversified and inclusive place. She wishes to thank all those who participated in this process. WELL DONE!
Pat Whitmore ’67 retired after 46 years of teaching in Catholic schools. During her retirement, she started porcelain painting with several clubs in Orange County. She was elected president of the Society of Porcelain Artists and Teachers of California.
Barbara (Carpenter) McDonald ’68 continues to be busy in Asheville, N.C., with pickleball, Newcomers Club, choir, mahjong, and, most importantly, with family. Her grandson Mac is a fifth grader and avid soccer player.
1970s
Denise (Cronin) Park ’70 describes her last few years as “full.” On a sad note, last October, she lost one of her seven brothers and her mother (who was 97). On a much happier note, her son and his family finally “escaped” Austin and now live 10 miles away in Novato. Her two grandchildren are “growing like weeds!” Denise retired from the Technology Risk Office at Kaiser Permanente on Sept. 15.
After meeting at Dominican, Sandra Medina-Haberman ’76 and her husband John celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary in August. (They have Laura Lahm, class of ’75, to thank for the introduction.) She retired in 2015 but keeps busy by helping to care for her parents (both 92 years young) and her three grandchildren. She says, “Although life is challenging, it’s also very rewarding!”
Stewart McRae ’77 joined the Dominican Alumni Board of Directors in January 2020. It has been one of the most satisfying volunteer positions and he highly recommends it for any interested alum.
1980s
Maria Hetherton ’81 enjoys weekly writing sessions with Theresa Padden ’83. Her recent story about our beloved Sister Nicholas appears online at Dappled Things. She and her husband and two black cats love living in New Mexico, where they retired in 2019. That same year Maria was thrilled to meet up with Dominican classmates Anne (McLain) Taft and Jane (Smith) Savage in Tulelake, Calif.
Bernard Zylberberg ’85 has been living in Chiang Mai and Koh Phangan, Thailand for the past six years. He finds immense satisfaction and fulfillment in making a difference in people's lives through teaching Conscious Communication for Growth, Healing and Inner Freedom, and offering couples counseling and mediation. His philosophy is that the more we can take responsibility for our reactions, the freer we become. You can visit him on his island for fun or for in-person sessions, or you can find him online: The Wizard of Love @ thewizoflove on Facebook.
Rosemarie Tarantino ’86 has been a teacher with Vallejo Unified for the last 37 years. Together with her husband Don she has three grown children.
Julianne Beach ’87, MSCP ’96 has been teaching for 37 years. She is currently the assistant principal and a Teacher of the Year honoree at a
Phyllis (McMullen) Duris ’60 Dee (Arnold) Sullivan ’60
Stewart McRae ’77
Bernard Zylberberg ’85
middle school in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she has resided for the past six years. She teaches an interdisciplinary history and language arts course to students in grades six through eight. Previously, she taught for over 20 years in private schools in Marin County and in San Francisco, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Herbst Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.
Bob Biale ’87 & Wendy Lann Biale ’90 live in Napa where they raised their two children. They have owned and operated the acclaimed Robert Biale Vineyards (“part winemakers, part historic preservation society”) since 1991. They are active members of various community and professional organizations and charities. Wendy also teaches graduate-level scripture and theology for several Catholics dioceses.
Susan Ferry Gutierrez ’87, MSCP ’92 earned a teaching credential after earning her bachelor’s degree at Dominican. She taught grades K-4 for several years until having children of her own. Susan discovered that she loved teaching pre-school, and did so for 11 years. She currently is a caregiver for an artist.
Ann Marie (Màlaga) Kadie ’87 spent 10 years as a buyer in the retail industry and designed clothing for Sesame Street (one of her designs appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine). She switched gears
when her children were born, serving in various volunteer positions in local school districts, including serving as chair of health and safety, and working on campaigns for school board members. She currently volunteers as a baby holder in the NICU at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Ann lives in Orinda, Calif., with her husband. She has a son who is in law school and a daughter who just completed graduate work at Stanford.
Robert Merenda ’87 graduated from Dominican and then became a five-time champion on a classic concentration game show. He went on to earn a second degree from Cantata College. Robert worked in banking for a decade, then shifted gears to work as a QA engineer for Sun Microsystems and EAGames. He retired at 50 and now spends his time singing at weddings and traveling with his partner of 30 years. It’s been a good life! Much love to his fellow Penguins!
Lucy (Bendezu) Barry ’88 and her husband recently stepped into a new career as restaurateurs. They are the owners and “head pigs” at the Flying Pig Burger Co. in Littleton, Colo., serving up burgers, comfort food and local craft beers against a backdrop of sports and live music. They have two children. Lucy would love to connect Penguins with the Pigs, and invites Dominican alumni to receive a special bonus if they visit the Flying Pig.
Jaime Cid ’88 teaches first grade at
Dianne Feinstein Elementary School in San Francisco, where he has worked for over 27 years. He also has a popular YouTube channel, “Mr. Cid Reads,” which features over 120 children’s stories. When school is not in session, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling (over 30 countries and counting!) with his spouse of 32 years.
Celac Colvert ’88 returned to Dominican to complete his bachelor’s in English in 2003. Celac is a story scientist and communications professional. He has spent his career working, teaching and producing in the field of video and photographic arts and media. Presently, he works for FedEx Services as in-house support for data and technology. Celac lives in the Bay Area with his wife. They have one daughter, who is currently studying in western Washington state.
Michelle Desilets ’88 is the executive director of the Orangutan Land Trust and founder of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK, the world’s largest primate rescue center. The organization has successfully rehabilitated hundreds of orangutans and reintroduced them to the wild. In addition to being an international spokesperson for the long-term survival of the orangutan, she is a key player in the campaign for sustainable palm oil production and sustainability in supply chains associated with deforestation. Michelle speaks at
Rosemarie Tarantino ’86
Allen Stansbury ’89
Jim Koblick ’96
CLASS NOTES
global conferences and is widely recognized as the “Jane Goodall” of orangutan conservation.
Ryan (Mary) Dunne ’88 recently transferred to Florida with their wife after many years at the Medical University of South Carolina. Ryan currently works as an RN in oncology research in Orlando.
Eileen Grady ’88 is the executive director and artistic producer of the Mountain Play Association in Mill Valley. Eileen was deeply involved with the drama department during her years at Dominican, both on the performance and production sides. She worked at an insurance company for many years but continued performing and producing, eventually turning it into her full-time career. Under Eileen’s leadership, the century-old Mountain Play tradition atop Mount Tamalpais has expanded to include indoor winter-season productions, opportunities for youth engagement in advocacy, nonprofit management and governance and accessibility to the arts for all demographics. The Mountain Play also arranges “Dominican on the Mountain” events, offering special packages for Dominican alumni to attend productions.
Jennifer Morrissey ’88 completed a master’s degree in linguistics on a Fulbright scholarship in France following her graduation from Dominican. She went on to complete addi-
tional degrees in international economics at Johns Hopkins, and a JD at Georgetown. Prior to settling in Maryland, where she currently lives with her husband and two children, she worked for a European Court of First Instance judge in Italy, and for the World Trade Organization in Geneva. She now works as an energy and natural resources attorney with a global law firm in Washington D.C. Jennifer also leads her firm’s Smart & Connected Communities Think Tank and has received numerous awards as an innovator and rising star in her field. In her spare time, she does pro bono work for a variety of organizations, including the Innocence Project. She also directs and produces shows for a youth theater company and designs costumes for a half-dozen community theaters in her area.
Cindy (O’Rourke) Parks-Landis ’88, BSN ’89 went on to complete her MSN and spent more than 25 years as an ICU and ER nurse before returning to school to complete her FNP at Gonzaga. Currently, she is a family nurse practitioner and managing partner of Ashland Family Practice in Oregon. She enjoys a holistic approach to protecting and improving her patients’ health.
Bernadette Vielbig ’88 earned her MFA in studio arts at LSU and is an artist and visual storyteller in Eureka, Calif. In her own words, she has spent her life making art and giving it an
audience. She spent several years teaching at LSU, the University of South Carolina, Central Michigan University, and Spokane Falls Community College before returning to her California roots. Bernadette also enjoys working with animals and talking to strangers.
Christine Woods ’88 earned a master’s in toxicology after graduation and has spent her career working with pharmaceutical companies to develop and obtain FDA approvals for cancer therapies and other branded and generic drug products. She currently resides in San Diego.
Colleen Kniffin Toumayan ’88, MA ’91 has spent over two decades managing public relations and strategic communications teams. Formerly the VP of public relations at Condusiv, she embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, founding Toumayan Group and Marketing Peer in Southern California, specializing in aiding small businesses with comprehensive PR and marketing programs. In 2020, she pivoted to a more educational focus in grassroots organizations, including contributing to a presidential primary campaign and working as the national communications director for Rideshare2Vote — an organization dedicated to overcoming voter suppression and barriers by providing safe, reliable transportation to the polls. Currently, she is an elected official serving on
Nikola Hobbel ’95, MS ’98
Suzanne (Goodwin Oldham) Wang ’00
Lindsay (Crumbliss) Aranha ’98
the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council and an assembly district delegate to the California Democratic Party.
Russell Wooldridge ’88 is an internationally known, award-winning photographer. He has been the senior director of business development at the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) for more than 15 years, where he and his team work to enhance resilience and emergency management in an increasingly turbulent and disruptive world. In addition, Russell occasionally can be spotted on the stages of local community theaters, where he has continued to hone his exceptional talents as an actor. He recently relocated from Maryland to South Dakota with his wife of 30 years. Russell has two accomplished daughters.
Jerome Baraquio ’89 received his executive MBA degree on July 5, 2023 from Quantic School of Business and Technology. The following week he started his new role as regional clinical liaison with Elevance Health.
After several adventure-filled years around the U.S. and Europe — including time in the merchant marines, transpacific sailboat racing, bike racing, and working with high profile lawyers — Chris Gibbs ’89 ran a clothing shop/bike shop/café in Germany for many years before returning to the United States. He ran
a similar shop in the Sierra Nevada mountains for several years, where he served customers from local car enthusiasts to illustrious bikers such as Peter Fonda, who stopped in for a few hours. He now divides his time between Florida and California, making the transcontinental drive twice a year with his wife and two labs. He is always chasing faster cars, faster boats and bigger fish. And try as he might, he STILL hates Willa Cather.
Rosella Giuliani ’89, MA ’90 lived in Italy and Japan for several years before settling in Venice Beach, where she worked in the fashion industry at the executive level for several apparel brands in merchandising, design and product development. Post-pandemic, she transitioned to consulting and divides her time between Venice Beach and Napa Valley, where she helps her family tend a small vineyard and chickens. Rosella has kept in touch with a number of fellow Penguins over the years and would love to reconnect with more.
Tessa McAniff Ramsey ’89 began her career in social work as a prosecutorial based victim advocate, assisting victims of violent crimes through the criminal justice system. Currently, she supports victims of domestic violence. Tessa and her husband live in Louisville, Ky., and have three adult children. She is looking forward to retirement soon and moving to Savannah, GA.
Albert Sears BA ’89 is an assistant teaching professor at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, where he teaches writing foundations and English. Previously, he was a professor of English at Silverlake College. He earned his master’s in English at Sonoma State and his PhD at Lehigh University. He enjoys traveling, especially to France. Albert is married to Dominican alumna Paulette Pritchard Sears ’88, who worked for over two decades as a counseling psychologist.
Dawn Sillapere ’89 is a science teacher at Shanghai Community International School. She has lived and taught high school math, biology, chemistry and physics in Oregon, Albania and China. After studying art and drama at Dominican, she earned a bachelor’s degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz, and a master’s in education at the University of Oregon. Dawn has one daughter ,who is currently attending college in the United States.
Allen Stansbury ’89 graduated with a master’s in Pacific basin studies and began working overseas in 1997 as a consultant in public finance for local governments in Central and Eastern Europe and the former states of the USSR. He worked off and on for nearly 20 years, and his final posting was in Central Asia. He facilitated the development of the local decision-making process where previously
Hamaseh Kianfar ’00
Sabrena McCarley ’04, MBA-SL ’09
Manny Juarez ’03
CLASS NOTES
the process was centralized at the national level. Another challenge was to facilitate transparency and accountability at the local level to avoid corruption. Most of his work in Central Asia was to assist in the development of municipal services such as water delivery and solid waste management.
1990s
Tiffany Cesarin ’90 went on to earn a master’s in nursing education. While obtaining her master’s in nursing, she worked as an RN case manager at Hospice of Santa Cruz County. She is now a nursing instructor at Cabrillo College as well as an aesthetics nurse at Harbor Health Center in Capitola. As a side hustle, Tiffany has taught tap and jazz at Dancenter in Capitola and has choreographed for local theater companies. She is also an actor and has performed in various productions by the Actor’s Theater in Santa Cruz and Cabrillo Stage in Aptos.
Ramil Cueto ’90 is the executive director for the Institute of Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Renewable Energy (IAFERE) in Batangas City, in the Philippines. He also is the managing director at the Positive Change Practitioners Center and the co-founder and business manager of One Family Farm, as well as president of the One Family Farmers Association, a sustainable community focused on productive agriculture in a clean
and safe environment. In addition, Ramil is a poet and author.
Kathie Ann Eaton ’90, MA ’91 lived overseas for eight years after graduation to experience the people and cultures she had only known academically. She currently lives in San Rafael. She is retired and enjoys working on her old house and spending time with family and friends.
Josephina Fregoso-Ramirez ’90 applied her degree in international business and with an emphasis in Latin America to a career working with Spanish-speaking teams in a variety of companies and industries, ranging from wine to hospitality to construction to migrant education and day-labor support. She recently relocated from Santa Rosa to the Fresno area. She and her husband have one college-age son, and they enjoy hiking with friends and family and spending time at the lake or river.
Amy BjorkIund Reeder ’90 moved to South Carolina in 2022 for the birth of her first grandson. Grandson No. 2 is due in January. Also in 2024, her book, “Inheritance,” the first in a trilogy, will be published. The novel encourages the reader to consider what we really inherit from our parents. Themes explored include faith, adoption, COVID-19, and using fiction to promote Catholic apologetics. She sends her fellow Penguins all her best wishes.
Lori Spencer ’90 is a business leader guiding high growth and disruptive brands through development and launch in the marketplace. Her favorite clients are women entrepreneurs navigating start-up waters. Those who knew Lori back in the community gathering rooms of the Dominican dorms remember a delicious beverage she would prepare for friends, which she eventually developed into the widely-known Oregon chai brand. Lori lives in Oregon with her three college-age children.
Annalisa Bastiani ’91 works as an actor singer and voice-over artist. After her time at Dominican, she earned an MFA at the prestigious San Diego State University theater program and a certificate in Shakespeare, improv, stage combat, and singing at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Her extensive resume includes two years in the cast of the long-running “Tony and Tina’s Wedding,” the one-woman show “An Evening With Cass Elliot,” features on a popular Japanese soap opera, and the voice of certain Say Grace cosmetic products on “Grace and Frankie.”
Frank Estermann ’91, MBA ’93 is a Freelance Creative Producer in Zurich, Switzerland, working in digital marketing, advertising and online advertising for film, TV and social
Kelly Bonbright ’05
Holly Doudiet ’07 Guzman Hall
media platforms. He is deeply grateful for his Dominican experience and liberal arts education which has had a profound influence on his personal and professional journeys, and endowed him with the capacity to comprehend the intricacies of existence. He has a 13-year-old son whom he describes as his “mini-me.”
Atisa Payvarpour-Hatam ’91 has enjoyed a wonderful career in the financial services sector at various Wall Street firms. She credits Dominican with helping her adjust from what she describes as a sheltered life in Iran, and she is deeply grateful for the enduring friendships she developed during her time on Dominican’s beautiful campus.
Shiva Tavakoli ’91 attended law school at Golden Gate University after Dominican, and worked as a civil litigation attorney in the Bay Area for approximately 20 years. She now lives in North Carolina with her spouse and twin teenaged daughters.
Karina Walsh ’91 went on to qualify as a clinical psychologist and has worked in both the public and private sectors with children and families as well as couples and adults. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand, has two adult children and is a committed practicing Buddhist.
Jodie Hawley ’92 taught English as a foreign language in Osaka, Japan after graduating from Dominical. She then
completed a teaching credential and taught social studies and French for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Jodie now lives in Marin, where she has worked in commercial real estate and in personal fitness. She and her husband are owners at the Mt Tam Racquet club. She enjoys spending time with her high-school-aged daughter, especially cooking and translating French cookbooks together! She would love to reconnect with her Dominican classmates.
After graduation, Cindy (Pace) Dorfmann ’93 got her master’s in film and television production at Emerson College, then moved to Los Angeles where she started her career as a television and film producer. She got married in 2005 and moved to Europe where she worked in Paris and London as a broadcast journalist. She and her husband started Strong Island Films, their own documentary television and film production company, and they currently produce documentary films and TV shows specializing in true crime. They produced a film in 2018 called “Making an Exoneree,” which helped release three wrongfully convicted individuals from prison after serving time for crimes they did not commit. The film won eight international Best Documentary awards. They also host a weekly true crime podcast called “Partners in True Crime.” Cindy and her husband live in Los Angeles where Cindy is the mother of two amazing stepchildren. She and her
husband love to travel and hope to retire in Italy!
Joy Phoenix ’93 has been very busy of late. She is on the executive committee for Dominican’s Women Leadership and Philanthropy Council and is on several other committees. For 24 years, Joy has been a program officer for the Fenwick Foundation, which gives grants in five Bay Area counties. She is also an ambassador for FOREVER, a company that provides cloud storage for photos (new and old), digitization, photo gifts, and more. She has a studio at Art Works Downtown and still volunteers a lot in the community, the longest-term group being Side by Side (formerly Sunny Hills), for which she has volunteered for 52 years. Joy and her husband Jim look forward to seeing their granddaughter over the holidays. Now a sophomore at the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University in Alabama, Kylie enjoyed time at Dominican when she was younger at summer camps and volleyball camp. Joy would like to encourage members of the Class of ’93 to return to Dominican for a visit. A lot of events are happening on the campus, and the newly renovated Alemany Library/Center for the Dominican Experience is worth a visit. It would be great to reconnect at Reunion 2024!
Tomoko Okada Sato ’94 works as a visa coordinator at the Japan Campus of Temple University. She also tutors
Dr. Denise Fillipucci ’08
Dr. Benjamin Colteaux ’10
Marcia Barahona '10, MBA '15
CLASS NOTES
students in math. Tomoko lives in Tokyo with her husband and son.
Nikola Hobbel ’95, MS ’98 published the second edition of her book for prospective teachers: "Social Justice Pedagogy Across the Curriculum: The Practice of Freedom" (Routledge, 2022) with co-editor Thandeka K. Chapman.
Kristina Podnar ’95, MBA ’96 is a digital policy expert who has spent more than 20 years guiding global companies, governments, and NGOs (including the UN High Commission for Human Rights) through the legal, regulatory and business risks associated with privacy, security, social media, artificial intelligence, consumer protection, brand safety, content rights and online speech, among other rapidly evolving areas. She is the author of “The Power of Digital Policy.”
Jim Koblick ’96, one of the first graduates from the Pathways Business program (now called Adult Degree Completion), went on to work in accounting. After 10 years he started his own business. Jim is married with one child and he enjoys playing the drums, traveling, golfing and attending Warriors games.
Michael Wornick ’97 and his wife Salma divide their time between their homes in Sonoma and Hawaii. He continues to make real estate investments. Micheal’s collection of Jose Clemente Orozco drawings was
donated to the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York, and was presented in an exhibition in the fall of 2023.
Lindsay (Crumbliss) Aranha ’98 recently accepted a promotion within SoFi Technologies and SoFi Bank, N.A. Her team leads two of SoFi’s busiest business units: Issue Management for Operations and Risk Management. Lindsay's team also supports exam management responsibilities for the internal audit, regulatory and governance exams. In addition to her primary responsibilities, she is a community member of OneSoFi, a group dedicated to evangelizing SoFi values and cultural ideals. In addition, she is an ambassador for SoFi Unidos, the multi-cultural group celebrating Hispanics/Latinx, Women @ SoFi, and Good Grief, an enterprise resource group for SoFi employees who support one another through losses, healing and grief recovery. Dr. Aranha is also excited to share that she is an adjunct professor for Trevecca Nazarene University, fulfilling her objectives of helping other working professionals on their lifelong learning journey.
Joleen Lonigan ’99 will be graduating May 2, 2024 from Old Dominion University in Virginia with her doctorate in nursing practice in executive leadership.
2000s
Hamaseh Kianfar ’00 is a licensed marriage and family therapist who currently works as a licensed behavioral practitioner at the County of Marin, as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, and as a committee member with the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT).
Glenn Sullivan '00 is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lexington, Vir., and a professor of psychology at the Virginia Military Institute, where he has been teaching for 18 years. He was recently awarded a two-year grant from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to study the relationship between physical disability, unemployment and veteran suicide.
Suzanne (Goodwin Oldham) Wang ’00 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dominican University, eventually continuing in her education to earn a doctorate in nursing practice from Touro University California. She is now practicing as a nurse practitioner in internal medicine, in the San Jose area.
Hailing from the Bay Area, Manny Juarez ’03’s heart beats with a fervor for weaving together design, social consciousness and environmental impact. With a bachelor’s in international business management and a
Chalena-Isali Rahotep ’11
Renee (Houston) Pearson ’12
Gabe Guevara ’11 and Daniel Tapia ’11
master’s in sustainable enterprise from Dominican, Manny's academic journey was just the beginning of his extraordinary career. Over 15 years, Manny's star has risen through various roles, from sales to project management and client relations. His knack for business has cultivated meaningful partnerships with like-minded clients, united in their pursuit of a better world. Manny has proven that profitability and sustainability are not at odds; they can flourish hand in hand. He tackles complexity with the flair of an artist and the unwavering integrity of a leader. Manny's commitment to sustainable business practices has made him a sought-after collaborator, and his reputation as a visionary is well-deserved. But Manny's story doesn't stop there. He's embarked on a new adventure with RSVE Capital Partners, a private real estate firm. His mission? To uplift overlooked communities and transform lives through the power of housing.
Each year in honor of George Olsen, the National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies (NARA) honors a member who exemplifies the passion and drive to bring positive change for rehabilitation providers and the patients we serve. This year, they presented this award to Sabrena McCarley ’04, MBA-SL ’09, OTR/L, CLIPP, RAC-CT, QCP, FAOTA, RACCTA. Sabrena has worked tirelessly over the past year and previous years to bring attention to the key issues of
the rehab industry.
Crystal Nasir ’04 is happy to share the great news that she will now serve as the founding executive director for Freedom Pep Schools, Alabama.
Kelly Bonbright ’05 was officially "car-ified" into a Mattel diecast toy car as "Kelly Beambright" for her work on Disney/Pixar's “Cars On The Road” animated TV series, now streaming on Disney+. Kelly Beambright cars are popular with toy collectors and currently selling worldwide and in the USA at Target, Walmart and eBay.
Holly Doudiet ’07 has been serving in the San Francisco Fire Department for the past 10 years. She recently celebrated a promotion to the rank of lieutenant, in which she supervises a truck crew of firefighters every day. During the COVID-19 pandemic she served on the front lines by assisting with life-threatening medical emergencies in people’s homes and on the streets of San Francisco. She was also a participant in administering vaccine shots during that time. On her days away from the firehouse she is an active real estate broker and manages her team of professionals, the Doudiet Real Estate Group. Together, they have helped their clients buy, sell and invest millions of dollars in Bay Area real estate each year. Holly and her wife Jennifer were recently married in the fall of 2022. They happily reside in San Francisco.
Since graduation, Dr. Denise Fillipucci ’08 completed her PhD in education, became a resident scholar at a Veterans Affairs flagship, retired after more than 50 years of nursing, and started her own business as an author of fiction under the name Adele Leurini. Her “Ordinary Man Series Book 1, Andrew and Olivia,” is now sold on Amazon in Kindle and paperback form and it is receiving five-star ratings. She continues to consult with new and experienced nurses, has her own social media page, and networks across the country and globally with nurse educators.
Cameron Sawyer ’08 recently celebrated his daughter’s first birthday, received his master’s in healthcare administration from Capella University, and was promoted within his organization. It was a busy year!
2010s
Dr. Benjamin Colteaux ’10 (PhD, integrative life sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017) is a senior wildlife biologist with Tetra Tech. His work has focused on the management of wildlife species under commercial harvest pressure and those impacted by renewable energy infrastructure. He currently resides in Forest Grove, Ore., with his wife and son. In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys beekeeping, traveling and maintaining his historic 1876 home. He is also a board member of the local historic
Magnolia House Joel Elliott Parker ’14
Shelley Shepherd Klaner ’12
CLASS NOTES
society and an aspiring mead maker.
In addition to carrying out her corporate job, business, and philanthropic work, Marcia Barahona '10, MBA '15 became a bilingual reporter for Jonroneros and Contacto Beisbolistico at the end of the 2023 MLB season. She interviewed over 20 players from the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers franchises on the playing field, in the halls, and in the clubhouses. Some of the most notable interviews were of triple-crowned Miguel “Miggy” Cabrera just a few days before his retirement, Thairo Estrada after winning the Willie McCovey Award, and Brandon Crawford on the day of his ceremonial sendoff. Marcia also interviewed Oakland Athletics Manager Mark Kotsay and San Francisco Giants Interim Manager Kai Correa on the weekend of his appointment to the new role. Early in her career, Marcia hosted community radio and television shows and wrote for several publications, all in English and Spanish. This Penguin looks forward to bringing more sports and other news to viewers everywhere!
Gabe Guevara ’11 (music) and Daniel Tapia ’11 (poli-sci), roommates in Meadowlands and Edgehill, celebrated the births of their children earlier this year. May they grow up with Penguin pride! Baby Shalom Guevara and baby Daniela Tapia.
Chalena-Isali Rahotep ’11 RN BSN BC-NC, has gained over 10 years of experience as a registered nurse in various fields, including MedSurg, United Cerebral Palsy, Home Health, Telehealth Triaging, and more. She also reconnected with her high school track teammate, Jabari Rahotep, and they married in 2021. Throughout her career, she grew concerned with the current healthcare model, symptom-focused and with minimal attention to root causes. She strongly values prevention and sustainable changes to lifestyle, nutrition and exercise. This led her to pursue a specialty in nurse coaching. She founded I Affirm Holistic Health.com, LLC, where she serves as a keynote speaker for nonprofits, community events and more, spreading life-changing holistic health educational information. She guides her divine community, transforms their lives, and helps them actualize and sustain holistic health through group and individual nurse health coaching. Isali is also a kemetic reiki practitioner, Level 2. Her services have been life-changing for her clients and community, evidenced by their testimonials.
After graduating from Dominican, Mary-KayTemple ’12 attended UC San Diego earning a certificate to teach adult learners. She is now an educator in the special education department at Archie Williams High School (formerly Sir Francis Drake High School) in San Anselmo.
Since graduating with his BSN, Joel Elliott Parker ’14 has primarily worked in nursing roles serving people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. He is now working in the leadership role of nurse manager, overseeing all of the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Street Medicine Outreach programs. He has enjoyed facilitating student nurse preceptees from Bay Area nursing programs, including Dominican nursing students! Joel has also established a pathway for Mahoney REIGNS nursing students, supporting underrepresented demographics in nursing, to extern with Street Medicine.
Shelley Shepherd Klaner ’12 attended the Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes Summer School at Lumb Bank in the UK. Teachers included Pulitzer Prize nominee Heather Clark, author of “Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath,” and Peter Steinberg, editor of the two volumes of “The Letters of Sylvia Plath.” Shelley lived in Hughes’ log shed. Guest professors also taught several courses. There were visits to Plath’s grave, as well as a day to visit the Brontë sisters’ home and to experience Wuthering Heights. Classes included poetry, history and more. This school was one of the highlights of Shelley’s life. She discovered Plath while researching her for a paper for her master’s degree at Dominican. She was told she was
Meadowlands
Allison Kustic ’20 (she/her) and Lorena Paredes '20
Catharine Clark-Sayles ’19
channeling Plath in her writing. At school the headmistress said not only did Shelley sound like Plath, but acted like her and reminded her of the famous writer more than anyone who ever attended school there. Shelley described the summer as “wonderful,” including visiting where Plath lived with Hughes in Primrose Hill, London, and where Plath died.
Renee (Houston) Pearson ’12 and her family welcomed their third child, Savannah, on July 16, 2023. Her two older brothers are delighted to have a baby sister to love. Renee and her family are doing well.
Catharine Clark-Sayles ’19 has published her fourth book, “The Telling, The Listening,” through Saint Julian Press on October 6, 2023. It is a collection of narrative poems drawn from 45 years of medical training and practice.
2020s
Nina Caton ’20 has concurrently received her Master of Arts in Psychology and is one year away from graduating with her PhD in clinical psychology. She just received her date
to propose her dissertation. Nina is very excited but also acknowledges that her journey would have not been possible without the knowledge and skills she learned at Dominican. She is always proud to share with her colleagues where she received her undergraduate education.
Allison Kustic ’20 (she/her) and Lorena Paredes '20 (she/her) started their second year of their public policy and administration master’s degree at California State University, Sacramento. Allison and Lorena both earned their bachelor’s in political science at Dominican. Allison (left) graduated in December 2020 and now works as a senior legislative aide with the California State Assembly. Lorena (right) graduated in May 2020 and now works as an associate governmental program analyst with the California Department of Social Services.
Jordan Nicole Aceves ’22 passed her NCLEX exam in August 2023. After getting her first job working with transgender surgical patients, she has since been working within the San Francisco County jail system to provide care to inmates. She also adopted a
dog and has enjoyed living in San Francisco!
Hannah Roitman ’22 was accepted to the New Graduate Nurse Residency Program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She just celebrated her one-year work anniversary and continues to love working in high risk obstetrics, taking care of families and their precious newborns.
After graduating from the Applied Computer Science program (ACS) at Dominican, Alisher Begmatov ’22, MBA ’23 received an offer to become a software engineer at Microsoft Corporation. Since graduating with his master’s in business administration to pursue his goal of becoming a project manager at Microsoft, he continues to use the Conlan Center pool and great equipment, which helps him to stay healthy and in good shape. Since he was 4 years old, Alisher has been passionate about F1 racing and currently, he is pursuing his dream of obtaining an FIA license (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) to be able to race and compete on an international level.
Want your class note included in the next Torch? Visit dominican.edu/alumni/news-and-notes for the submission form!
Hannah Roitman ’22
Alisher Begmatov ’22, MBA ’23
Jordan Nicole Aceves ’22
IN SYMPATHY
ALUMNI
Suzanne Crane '45
Elizabeth Hall Malarin '45
Mary Folger Barrett '47
Sr. Karen Marie Franks, OP '49
Catherine Chrones Bukes '50
Cecile Osborne Cutter '50
Lois Scampini '50
Leora Crosetti '52
Joan Leonetti Gallagher '52
Mary Jean Lynch O'Donnell '53
Mildred Radonich High '55
Joan Reed McClellan '55
Eileen Mellon Shea '55
Blanid Doyle Molloy '56
Patricia Paynter Watson '56
Winifred Turner Coleman '57
Antonia Parente Flitner '57
Janet M. Brennan ’58
Anne Van Lahr Doud '60
Sharon "Smitty" Smith Campodonico '61
Lynne Carlton Bigelow '62
Catherine Marx Schwartz '62
Linda Morbello Heilmann '63
Jean O'Meara '63
Sr. Sharon Cross, OP '64
Jackie Skinner Bugler '65
Brenda Bowles Switzer '66
Donald Van Etten '66
Pamela Mache Castillo '67
Carol Hakala '67
Dave Farson CRED '68 MA '69
Maureen O'Callahan de Martino '69
Virginia Cravens Vater '70
Laurence Mersereau '71
Leilani Gibbons '72
Jean Lea Taylor '72
Patricia Dumbadse '73
Earl Couey '75
DebbieLynne Simmons Kespert '77
Elizabeth McKee Filmer '78
Patricia Thomson '78
William Iriarte '80
Gale Walker Melton '80
Merilee Leftwich Unsworth '81
Kathryn Cooney Blystone '85
Susan Hodgson '85
William Shedrick '85
Anne Pelfini Greco '88
Mark Alburger '91
Reed Fromer '91
Rinda Hooper Simi '93
Emily Navarre '95
Scott Thompson '96
Pamela Thompson Hopkins '98
Gerald Dion '08
Kaylene Dela Torre '14
Sam Winterhalder '15
Will Fluke '17
TRUSTEE
Peter Jacobi
SYMPATHY TO
Patricia Donovan Jelley '60 on the passing of her husband, Philip Jelley
Anne Hicks Kimball '60 on the passing of her husband, Peter Kimball
Cecile Boom Kiser '60 on the passing of her husband, William Kiser
Sally Marr Cornelison '62 on the passing of her husband, Bert Cornelison
Mary Van Lahr Hester '62 on the passing of her sister, Anne Van Lahr Doud ’60
Wendy White Virga '63 on the passing of her husband, John Virga
Molly Marx Wilkinson '64 on the passing of her sister, Catherine Marx Schwartz '62
Mary Kathleen Ryan Mersereau '66 on the passing of her husband, and Katie Mersereau Walden '99 and Kristie Mersereau Isaacson '00 on the passing of their father, Laurence Mersereau ’71
Theodora “Teddi” Spargo Morris '67 on the passing of her husband, Jerrold Morris
June Farson '68 on the passing of her husband, Dave Farson CRED '68 MA '69
Rev. Christine Malarin Holcomb ’69 on the passing of her mother, Elizabeth Hall Malarin '45
Eileen O’Callahan ’70 on the passing of her sister, Maureen O'Callahan de Martino
'69
Stephanie Bulich ’72 on the passing of her sister, Maryann Bulich Schnitter
Katie Buxton Benouar '76 on the passing of her aunt, Mildred Radonich High '55
Cindy Benko Highshoe '77 on the passing of her husband, Thomas Highshoe Jr.
Susan Pelfini Bucchianeri '77 and Michael Pelfini '84 on the passing of their sister, Anne Pelfini Greco '88
LeeAnn Bartolini '79 on the passing of her father, and Nicholas Bartolini-Volk '09 and Dylan Bartolini-Volk ’11 on the passing of their grandfather, Louis Bartolini
Paul Salazar '80 on the passing of his father, Macedonio Salazar
Kathleen Shea Haley '81 on the passing of her mother, Eileen Mellon Shea '55
Lucia Aversa Della Santina '81 and Costantino "Tino" Aversa ’84 on the passing of their mother, and Paolo Della Santina '12 on the passing of his grandmother, Maria Aversa
Ann Heilmann Jaime '87 on the passing of her mother, and Emma Jaime '24 on the passing of her grandmother, Linda Morbello Heilmann ’63
Lestine Shedrick ’88 on the passing of her husband, William Shedrick '85
Jane Liston '92 on the passing of her daughter, and Barbara "Bobbi" Liston Fitzgerald '69 and Yvonne Grosulak '76 on the passing of their niece, Molly Liston Bernard
Joanna Lindley Samija '94 and John Lindley '00 on the passing of their father, and David Samija '93 and Lesley Baladjay Lindley '00 on the passing of their father-in-law, Joseph Lindley
Jonathan Jacobi '04 on the passing of his father, Peter Jacobi
Gina Fromer ’05 on the passing of her husband, Reed Fromer '91
Joe Maloney '06 on the passing of his mother, and Haley Anderson '18 on the passing of her grandmother, Winifred Turner Coleman '57
Carolyn Matthews '10 on the passing of her son, Jonathan Matthews
Corey Whelan '12 on the passing of his mother, Toni Whelan
Paula McKinney '18 on the passing of her parents, Betty Coles and Calvin McKinney
Joy Dyeson '25 on the passing of her father, Timothy Dyeson
Your Gift to Dominican Changes Lives
Arturo Flores, a junior History and Psychology double major from Stockton, CA, is interested in exploring the intersection between past human experience and future mental health. After graduating, he hopes to return to his community and help younger generations cope with mental health challenges. Arturo is very involved on the Dominican campus, from being a student ambassador and peer mentor to leading the rec basketball club.
There are many ways to support Dominican: (415) 257-1396
Return the envelope dominican.edu/makeagift
Include Dominican in your estate plan.
Get started today: contact Jessica Jordan at (415) 257-1396 or jessica.jordan@dominican.edu
"Receiving extra support from the Teresa Bannan Malley Memorial Scholarship has allowed me to follow my dream of helping others directly. The additional funding makes it easier for me and my family to support my ongoing journey as a first-generation college student. Attending Dominican allowed me to create new relationships and opportunities that will benefit my life after college. None of this could have happened if it were not for my scholarships!"
