Issue 29
Summer 2018
Connecticut’s Public Liberal Arts University
Issue 29| Summer 2018
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Members of today’s Generation Z want to help make the world a better place in which to live, but they are also realistic, career-focused and “tech” savvy. They want a college education that is relevant, hands-on and a direct preparation for the modern work environment. At Eastern, we pride ourselves on giving students the experiences they need to learn skills sought by American employers — critical thinking, data analysis, effective communication and collaboration, among others. We often talk about the liberal arts core curriculum as the backbone of the University, and it is. In addition, our academic disciplines and majors provide the workplace relevance our students need to be competitive in today’s technology-driven, global economy. It has been inspiring for me to see the work our faculty has done in the past year to update our curriculum while also providing students with opportunities to excel. Not only can I report that what we teach is increasingly rigorous and relevant, I am pleased to share a few examples of exemplary student and faculty success with you. Our Mathematical Sciences faculty has reengineered their program to include new concentrations in data science, actuarial science and mathematics for teachers to prepare graduates for careers in high-demand occupations. The Computer Science faculty — in the form of new classes in artificial intelligence, big data and mobile computing — is doing the same. Faculty members in the Biology and Economics departments are using grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation to pursue research in areas ranging from antibiotic development to satellite study. Our students are also excelling, competing successfully on the national stage against students from elite private colleges and major research institutions. One of our students — biology major Jacob Dayton ’18 — was named Eastern’s first Goldwater scholar, the only student in Connecticut to receive this distinguished award in 2018. History major Adam Murphy ’18 received our second Fulbright Student award and will be attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin after studying this summer in Indonesia. Other recent graduates have been accepted directly into Ph.D. programs at prestigious institutions or have accepted employment at major corporations in Connecticut and beyond.
STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kenneth DeLisa EDITOR Edward Osborn ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michael Rouleau DESIGNERS Kevin Paquin | Leigh Balducci CONTRIBUTORS Dwight Bachman | Meghan Carden | Anne Pappalardo | Robert Molta Peter Dane PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Hurlbut EASTERN Magazine is published by the Division of Institutional Advancement for the benefit of alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Eastern Connecticut State University.
Shortly after I arrived at Eastern in 2006, the faculty, staff and administration embarked on our first strategic plan, creating a vision to be a “University of First Choice.” I believe the examples of institutional relevance, faculty initiatives and student success described above are proof that Eastern is well on its way to being a University of First Choice. We have more progress to make, but with the support and participation of engaged alumni, we will continue to excel. This is good news for current and future Eastern students, and it bodes well for alumni and the increasing value of their Eastern degree.
Elsa M. Núñez President
EASTERN Magazine is printed on coated paper that is certified by three environmental groups and manufactured with 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber.
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EASTERN STUDENTS COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY
ON THE WORLD STAGE EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO EXCEL, NOT ONLY ON CAMPUS AND IN CONNECTICUT CIRCLES, BUT ALSO IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS.
Eastern Biology Student wins Goldwater Scholarship This past April, Jacob Dayton ’18, an Honors student majoring in Biology, was awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for undergraduates in STEM fields who intend to pursue research careers. Dayton is Eastern’s first Goldwater recipient and the only student from a Connecticut institution to receive a Goldwater Scholarship this year. He intends to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology, with eventual plans to conduct research in molecular and evolutionary genomics and teach at the university level. “I am truly honored to be a recipient of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship,” said Dayton. “This recognition is a testament to the strength of Eastern’s biology program and the value of the research experiences I had in Dr. Patricia Szczys’ laboratory. Throughout my biology courses and research, I have learned how scholarship and experimental inquiry are engaging and never-ending. Receiving the 2 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
Goldwater Scholarship is affirmation that I am on the right track in pursuing a career in research. These experiences would not have been possible without the support of Eastern’s Summer Fellowship, the Marc Freeman Summer Scholarship and the ECSU-AAUP Jean H. Thoresen Grant.”
Education Student's Research Gains National Attention
During his time at Eastern, Dayton has studied genetic diversity in roseate terns; collaborated with scientists from France, Poland and Ukraine; published in the peer-reviewed journal “Waterbirds”; and presented at the International Annual Meeting of the Waterbird Society.
Dominguez’s thesis is one of the first to document social interactions of low English-proficient preschoolers, referred to as Dual Language Learners (DLLs), in classrooms.
He was recently accepted into a NSF-funded research program at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine for this summer, joining students from Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Hofstra University, Colorado State University and other institutions.
Early this year, Eastern student Stefanie Dominguez ’18, an Early Childhood Education and Communication double major, had her research thesis, “A Qualitative Study of the Play of Dual Language Learners in Preschool,” published in the Early Childhood Education Journal.
Last year Dominguez was asked to work on a research project with Early Childhood Education Professors Jeffrey Trawick-Smith and Sudha Swaminathan. “The DLLs were perfectly capable of playing with each other and having sustained play behaviors,” said Dominguez, “but they often needed a teacher to help them get the interaction started. Knowing this can change how teachers interact with their classes and students on individual levels.”
According to Trawick-Smith, “There are not many undergraduate students who can say they have produced a work that will have an international impact on the thinking in a whole field of study. Stefanie's work is the only investigation I know of that describes and analyzes the naturalistic interactions of DLLs in preschool. “Stefanie is already receiving national attention from this project — an invitation to present at a national research forum on children’s play in Atlanta and inquiries from around the country for information about her work.” Dominguez wants to become a teacher in a hospital for children who are unable to attend traditional school due to medical problems. Her favorite thing about Eastern? “The size — I was walking in the Student Center one day and the assistant dean came up to me and congratulated me. He knew my name and my accomplishments. That doesn’t happen at larger schools.” EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 3
EASTERN STUDENTS COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY
ON THE WORLD STAGE EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO EXCEL, NOT ONLY ON CAMPUS AND IN CONNECTICUT CIRCLES, BUT ALSO IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS.
Adam Murphy (right) and friends in Indonesia, Summer 2017
Fulbright student to study in Indonesia Adam Murphy ’18, a double major in Political Science and History with a minor in Asian Studies, has been awarded a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship to study the Indonesian language in Salatiga, Indonesia. The scholarship funds Murphy’s travel and educational expenses, and is sponsored by the Consortium of Teaching Indonesian through Cornell University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies. Salatiga is on Java, the most populated island in the world and one of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands. Murphy will be in Indonesia from June to August, living with a host family and taking language classes at a local university. This is not Murphy’s first trip to Indonesia. Last year he lived for the summer in Yogyakarta, studying in an immersive language program with funding through a fellowship from the U.S.-Indonesian Society.
“I am honored to have been selected for such an amazing program, honored to have been awarded this prestigious scholarship and excited to return to Indonesia. With this award I can continue to learn about Indonesia and its wonderful people.” “While completing a double major in history and political science and a minor in Asian Studies, Adam has produced compelling original scholarship on the role of U.S. agricultural development specialists in Indonesia during the Cold War,” said History Professor Bradley Davis, Murphy’s faculty mentor. This coming fall, Murphy will begin a master’s program in Southeast Asia Studies at the University of Wisconsin.
Psychology Alumnus Pursues Ph.D. in Oregon Eric Cerino graduated from Eastern in 2014 with a degree in Psychology. He is now a Ph.D. candidate in the Human Development and Family Studies program at Oregon State University studying associations between psychosocial factors and cognition in older adulthood.
How did Eastern prepare him for success? “I would not be pursuing a career in academia without the training, mentorship and opportunities provided to me by Eastern’s Department of Psychological Science. The faculty’s eagerness to invest in every student’s success and willingness to go above and beyond made it easy for me to develop a passion for research and apply Eastern’s training in psychology to aging populations. Dr. Lyndsey Lanagan-Leitzel supervised an internship where I spent my summer weeks at a local senior center instructing computer 4 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
Health Sciences Major attends Harvard internship Mariana Serrano ’18 received a $7,500 scholarship in her junior year through the Biomedical Science Careers Program (BSCP) at Harvard University’s School of Medicine. The scholarship, funded by Radius Health, a biopharmaceutical company in Waltham, MA, helped support Serrano’s senior year at Eastern. Serrano’s relationship with the BSCP began in summer 2016 with a summer internship at Harvard Medical School’s Summer Clinical and Translational Research Program, a 10-week mentored research program designed to increase the number of students from underrepresented populations who are exposed to clinical research. Serrano was one of only 10 students selected.
“I have been so fortunate to have this opportunity to be introduced to the biomedical profession at Harvard Medical School,” said Serrano. “The experiences I have had range from observing surgeries to hands-on training in biomedical research, from learning to give presentations to networking within a large intellectual community.” A Health Science major and Biology minor with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy, Serrano is interested in the intersectionality of medicine and anthropology. She conducted research with Mary Kenny, professor of anthropology, while at Eastern and has also researched therapeutic regimens related to aortic valve disease at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Roxbury, MA.
classes to senior center members. An independent study with Dr. Jennifer Leszczynski allowed me to return to the same senior center to conduct research examining subjective age and depressive symptoms among center members. “Dr. Leszczynski also supervised a research internship at the Alzheimer’s Association where I designed an early-stage social engagement program for persons with dementia and their care-partners. Dr. Carlos Escoto’s leadership as undergraduate research coordinator and his passion for scaffolding students helped identify regional and national conferences for presentation experience. “My Eastern education can best be defined as having the best of both worlds — an opportunity to research with experts in the field and the chance to learn in an intimate setting that promoted continued success in my career.”
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Right: The Class of 1968 celebrates 50 years! (front row, left to right) William Hankinson, Jeralyn (Jones) Hankinson, Barbara (Dynon) Lathrop, Sandra Cobb, Marilyn (McShane) Levine and Virginia (Sheldon) Meehan. (second row, left to right) Brien Ward, Joanne (Jacobsen) Singer, Norina (Conti) Truitt, Susan (Jacobson) Dutch and Jean (Marinelli) Slaney. (third row, left to right) Daniel Coughlin, Donna Valli, Margaret (Godfrey) Festi, Patricia (Meleski) Cosma, Richard Brown and Robert Brewster
“Alumni March” Back to Eastern!
The 13th Annual “Eastern Celebrates” Reunion Weekend kicked off on Friday, May 11, at Blarney’s with young alumni from the past 10 years getting together for pizza, wings and liquid refreshments at the “Bash for the Past” Reunion. On Saturday, May 12, the Class of 1968’s 50th Reunion was the highlight of a day that included reunion classes from 1953 to 2003. President Elsa Núñez hosted a special reception in the Fine Arts Instructional Center, which was followed by campus tours and even a trip down Main Street to see the old Hooker Hotel! As has been Eastern’s tradition for nearly two decades, each returning member of the Class of ’68 was presented with a special “golden diploma” from President Núñez to mark the occasion. This year’s Alumni March was led by the enthusiastic members of the Class of 1968, and was greeted by a cheering crowd of more than 400 Eastern seniors from the class of 2018 and their families at the Big Tent Barbeque. The Eastern Celebrates weekend wrapped up back at Blarney’s for the “Back In the Day Reunion” for alumni from the ’80s, ’90s and early ’00s. Other events taking place on Saturday included a reception for alumni, students and faculty in the Master of Science in Organizational Management program; a hooding ceremony for graduate degree recipients; receptions for the Honors and Social Work programs; the annual “Nevers Classic” Golf Scramble; and the inaugural “Andrej 5K” to honor the memory of Andrej Cavarkapa ’09 and support the scholarship fund established in his name.
Below: The Class of 1963 is still a very close group, even after 55 years. (front row, left to right) Eleanor (Burton) Sutton, Angela Sposito and Sheridan (King) Medeiros; (second row, left to right) Robert Strouse, William Lafleur and George Parker
Below: It was a mini-reunion for members of the Class of 1957 (left to right) Jean (Banas) Fishbone, Morris Fishbone and Marilyn Barnes McFarland
Above: Another special moment was the presentation of a copy of the 1949 “Janus” to Patricia Howard ’49. Through an unusual series of events, Ms. Howard never received her own yearbook, even though she served as editor 69 years ago! Left: Graduates of the Master of Science in Organizational Management pose prior to donning their caps and gowns for the Graduate Hooding Ceremony.
Center left: Larry Colvin ’64, Carol (Weber) Colvin ’65 and Ruth Swift ’64 attend Eastern Celebrates every year. Above: (left to right) Dorothy (Blozie) Morrill, Hilario Huertas and Norma-Jean (Bailey) Posocco from the Class of ’73
Plan now to return to campus for the 14th Edition of Eastern Celebrates on May 18-19, 2019! Mame Fatou Diop ’18 (in cap and gown) with family and friends
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Above: (left to right) James Grieco, Carol (Bateson) Nolin and Douglas Bonoff share memories from 1978. Right: Paula (Tillinghast) Coughlin ’69 and Cynthia Parker at the President’s Alumni Reception
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Above: (second from left) Heath Ringrose ’18 and (middle) Brendan Shannon ’18 with family
Above: Jonathan Ayala ’18 (in mortarboard) with family and friends
Below: (left to right) Friends from Back in the Day Donnalynn Noturo ’87, Nancy (D'Alessio) Ercolani ‘83, Lori (Young) Skelton ’83 and Cindy (Pray) Powden ’83
Right: (left to right) Taylor Hammond ’13, M’17, Edward Adu-Gyamfi ’12, Samantha Landry ’16, Sierra Colon ’17, Raena Beetham ’13, Rick Odonnell ’14 and Ryan Franklin ’13 at the Young Alumni Bash
Above: Sean Puckett ’18 (second from left) and Olivia Puckett ’11 (far right) with their grandfather Russell Inzinga and mother Carol Puckett ’79
Above: Claudia Richards-Meade ’18 and Olivia Roman ’18 Left: (from right) Jayson Hidalgo ’18 and Joe Maulucci ’18 with family
Above left: (left to right) Diana Rice ’98, Leslie Caplan ’98 and Jennifer (Mueller) Tigeleiro ’93 enjoying the “Back in the Day” Reunion Above: Robert Brewster ’68 and Virginia (Sheldon) Meehan ’68 lead the Alumni March into the Big Tent Barbeque Left: (left to right) Ylaizah Boukhanty, Daniella Pappalarado ’17 and David DiNino
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Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Elinore McCance-Katz, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told the graduates and their families at Eastern’s 128th Commencement exercises that the current opioid crisis
facing the United States is “the nation’s greatest medical challenge since the AIDS epidemic of the 1990s. It is a tragedy of major proportions, and we need to work together to help those addicted get treatment and recover from this disease.”
The commencement speaker also received an honorary doctor of science degree from Eastern in a special hooding ceremony during the graduation exercises. She graduated magna cum laude from Eastern in 1978 with a degree in biology. Describing how her professional journey had taken her from treating AIDS patients in the 1990s to her current national leadership role in treating substance abuse and mental illness, McCance-Katz said, “we will turn the tide on this epidemic,” urging graduates to get involved as medical professionals, nurses, counselors and social workers. Elinore McCance-Katz ’78 addresses the graduates
Eastern’s annual graduation ceremony was held at the XL Center in Hartford on May 15 when 1,105 undergraduates and 85 graduate students received their diplomas. McCance-Katz told the audience that Eastern had grown from a small college when she attended Eastern Connecticut State College in the 1970s to become “a comprehensive university that has flourished.”
! 8 1 0 2 f o s The Clas
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Eastern President Elsa Núñez told the graduates their liberal arts education at Eastern was highly prized by American employers. “In five separate surveys conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities over the past decade, the vast majority of employers — over 90 percent — say they are less interested in specialized job proficiencies, favoring instead analytical thinking, teamwork and communication skills — the wide-ranging academic and social competencies available through a liberal arts education.”
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Núñez urged the graduates to give back to their communities, saying, “I know that the majority of our seniors have found ways to donate their time and good will to making our community a better place to live. Wherever you end up — in Connecticut or beyond — make sure you continue to give a portion of your time to make a difference in your community.” Charlotte MacDonald, president of the Senior Class, thanked friends and faculty for supporting the senior class in its
journey, and shared three wishes with her classmates. “My first wish is that you go confidently in the direction of your passions . . . the education you have received at Eastern has prepared you for this. My second wish is for you not only to better yourself but others around you. Contribute to your community, offer things you no longer use to those in need, volunteer your time . . . My last wish is that you find a path to happiness. . . your willingness to conquer challenges is what will separate you from the majority.”
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Back in the Day Jean and Marilyn sailing on May 10, 2018
Marilyn and Jean attend an International Reading Conference
student teaching. She worked as a lifeguard, taught swimming and dance, and started a dramatics club. “It gave me practical experience,” she said. “I was less afraid to get in front of class.”
there were three girls available for a blind date. With Sue home for the weekend, Marilyn volunteered herself, Jean and their fourth roommate, Linda Lee.
When they weren’t focused on classes, the women remember weeknight curfews of 10 p.m. and staying out until 11 p.m. on the weekend. Guests were announced and gentlemen were not allowed in their rooms. There was one phone for the entire floor. One time a young man from the University of Connecticut called and asked if
Mates forever
With a box of mementos spread out in front of them, former roommates Susan (Jacobson) Dutch ’68, Marilyn (McShane) Levine ’68 and Jean (Marinelli) Slaney ’68 concluded their 50th class reunion by reminiscing about their time at Eastern Connecticut State College — when curfews were the norm and all the women aspired to be Betty Tipton, dean of students. Randomly placed together as freshmen, the three women met for the first time in fall 1965, although Marilyn arrived a day late. “I got there and all the bunks were taken.”
Marilyn, Jean and roommate Linda Lee at graduation
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Remembered for her busy schedule and messy side of the room, Marilyn was the opposite of Jean, who finished her assignments weeks ahead of time, went to bed around 8 p.m. every night and slept through everything.
“These two got me on my feet,” said Sue, who described herself as a late bloomer. “They were so focused. Going to the library, studying. I would follow them to the library.” “We’d get in trouble in the library for talking,” said Jean. The three women, each of whom enjoyed fulfilling careers as teachers, have fond memories of their education. As early childhood education majors, Sue and Jean participated in a pilot program that took them into Hartford’s inner city for six weeks. They met with the housing authority, taught for three weeks, visited a state facility for the mentally disabled, and gained a valuable lesson in how home influences each student. “We had been so sheltered,” said Sue. “It taught us empathy.” “It prepared me,” said Jean. For Marilyn, an elementary education major, her job at the local YMCA complemented her education and
“I went with Barry Charles,” said Marilyn. “I told him I couldn’t stay out late because I had a paper due and it would take me forever to type it.” Barry said he would type it for her if she stayed out and the next day showed up at Burr Hall, typewriter in hand. “One time I showed up engaged!” said Jean. “I said, ‘Engaged? You weren’t even dating him last I knew!’” said Marilyn. The couple is still together. “He’s a gem,” added Marilyn. The jubilee class reunion marks the first time the trio has been together since 1968. They decided to kick off the weekend early with a trip to the Norwich Inn and Spa. “We picked up like we were sophomores in college,” said Sue. As they reminisce, more and more memories come back. From classes in archery, golf, tennis and folk dancing, to French literature, to a shared passion for teaching, it’s clear that the years spent at Eastern were good ones.
Three chums at the Norwich Inn and Spa: Marilyn, Jean and Sue
After Eastern, Jean earned her master’s degree from Worcester State College and worked for 12 years in Oxford, MA, as a teacher and Title I administrator before moving to Tucson, AZ. She has been a teacher, reading specialist, administrator and college teacher, and currently works with student teachers for the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.
“I remember the boys standing outside and serenading us with Beatles songs late at night,” said Marilyn. Sue agreed. “I didn’t hear them!” said Jean. “You were sleeping.”
Marilyn received her master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and enjoyed a career that included classroom teaching as well as roles as a reading specialist, a Title I director and a literacy director. Sue spent 35 wonderful years teaching for the Board of Education in Portland, CT. “I never felt like it was a job,” said Sue. “No two days were ever alike and I always enjoyed it.”
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Eastern Graduates Help Provide New Beginnings in Willimantic By Dwight Bachman
There is much healing needed in the world today. When Willimantic-based Project Genesis, Inc. hires skilled people to carry out its mission of serving people throughout Connecticut who have a range of disabilities, it begins its search at Eastern. The agency is dedicated to providing support that empowers people with disabilities to successfully participate in their community.
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Front: Cindy Dupointe ’10, ABI program director; Aaron Hogue ’13, ABI program director. Back: Lisa O’Neill ’10, HR specialist; Daryl Brown ’93, controller
At least 14 Eastern Connecticut State University alumni work with the Project Genesis' Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) program, Special Education Support Services program and Adults with Disabilities Jobs Program. The agency’s different services offer a comprehensive range of in-school, academic, transitional and community-based services that support people with special needs and help survivors of brain injury attain an independent and productive life. Eastern alumni bring a range of skills to Project Genesis, ranging from social work to business administration, accounting and child psychology. Sociology major Cindy Dupointe ’10 joined Project Genesis in 2012 as an ABI program manager and was recently promoted to program director. She received her Certified Brain Injury Specialist certification in 2014, and recently earned her MSW from Springfield College.
Cindy Dupointe '10 with "RJ," an ABI survivor
To meet its mission to help people with brain injuries, Project Genesis seeks a wide range of talented employees. Aaron Hogue ’13, a child psychology major, joined Project Genesis as an ABI program manager and was recently promoted to program director. He received his Certified Brain Injury Specialist certification in 2014 and graduated from the Leadership Development Roundtable in 2017. Hogue tells the story of Katie Ellis, who sustained a severe brain injury more than 10 years ago; her doctors didn’t think she would live. “During her time in our ABI program, Katie worked tirelessly to beat the odds, fighting her way out of the hospital and back into the community,” said Hogue. “Her courage, perseverance and personal progress are inspiring on their own, but she didn’t stop there. Katie has turned tragedy into triumph by using her
experience to transform the lives of others.” In her free time, Ellis meets with other survivors of brain injury to share her story and empower them to get involved in the ABI community. “She can honestly tell survivors that she has been where they are, and inspire in them the hope and strength to fight as tenaciously as she did.” Hogue fondly recalls his Eastern education, especially Psychology Professor Luis Cordon for his energy and teaching style. “He was able to explain complex concepts in a way that made sense, and I always appreciated his sense of humor. The education I received at Eastern, from basic writing to advanced psychology, has prepared me to do my best in supporting those we serve to reach their goals.”
“Working in the ABI field is a reminder that there are many unforeseen things that can occur in life,” said Dupointe. “I have personally grown and learned so many valuable lessons from all the people I support. The resiliency that each survivor displays on a daily basis teaches me every day to be humble and not take any day for granted.” Over the years, Dupointe has had many success stories at Project Genesis, but her most rewarding experience involves a 29-year-old young man she works with. “When we first started working together, he was 24 years old. In the beginning of our journey, he was confined to an electric wheelchair, unable to do activities of daily living independently and he had 24/7 staffing. After several years, he now uses a walker, is transitioning to a cane and only needs staff services from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. He cooks for his family, attends the gym five days a week and continues to fight for his recovery. It is beautiful and heart-warming to see his resiliency, dedication, passion and desire as he continues to make amazing strides to regain his highest quality of life.”
Lisa O’Neill ’10, HR Specialist, Kathy Rathan, CEO and Daryl Brown ’93, controller, reviewing a Project Genesis informational brochure
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Leadership Donors & Alumni Honored at President’s Luncheon A festive and generous spirit was in the air at Eastern’s annual President’s Leadership Awards Luncheon on March 16 to honor the University’s leadership level supporters. The luncheon is Eastern’s premier donor appreciation event of the year and also recognizes the University’s most distinguished Eastern alumni. Ken DeLisa, vice president for institutional advancement, opened the luncheon by speaking to the University’s fundraising achievements of the past year. Total giving to the ECSU Foundation, Inc., exceeded $2 million for the seventh straight year, with student scholarship awards totaling $2.1 million over the past four years. In her remarks, Eastern President Elsa Núñez told the audience that their generosity was contributing to Eastern’s improved reputation, indicating the University had entered the ranks of the top 25 universities in the North Region for the first time in last fall’s U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” rankings. Elinore McCance-Katz ’78 was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. A graduate of Eastern’s Biology program, McCance-Katz was appointed as the assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., in August 2017.
Briana Agosta Lawes '17, and ABI survivor Katie Ellis participate in a social event
While the nature of the work at Project Genesis has attracted students from Eastern disciplines in the social sciences, that didn’t stop Daryl Brown ’93, an accounting and business management major, from signing on in 2012. Brown, who has more than 24 years of accounting experience, serves as controller at the agency. She said her passion has always been working for nonprofits. “I enjoy feeling like I am making a difference in someone’s life, giving back to the community. Project Genesis excels at this so I am thrilled to be part of this family. While I don’t work directly with clients, having a hand in their success, I feel like I contribute to their success by making sure the agency is fiscally stable, which allows us to provide the best level of services to our clients and provide an amazing working environment for our staff. When I see someone being able to walk for the first time, participate in a 5K run or graduate from college, I am proud to be involved with an agency that enriches their lives.” Lisa O’Neill ’10 majored in sociology at Eastern and works behind the scenes at Project Genesis as a recruiting and retention specialist. She is always on the lookout for good employees to help support the Project Genesis mission of
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Katie Ellis and Aaron Hogue '13
helping individuals with disabilities to achieve their goals and become more independent. “Eastern graduates excite me as potential employees,” said O’Neill. “They usually come to us first of all with a commitment to help those in need. Equally important is their core set of values. Do they value the human, legal and civil rights of people? Do they respect the worth and diversity of people? Those values, along with the equality, individual privacy and dignity of people are key.” O’Neill said the best lesson Eastern taught her was to finish a task and meet deadlines. “Eastern allows students to be very independent to complete their rigorous school schedule. That independence has enabled me to better manage my time when working on tasks and assignments.” “Project Genesis is so impressed with Eastern graduates,” said Kathy Rathan, chief executive officer. “We have greatly benefitted from the outstanding education all the academic departments provide their graduates. Eastern creates high impact leaders who passionately make a difference, as they courageously confront the pressing social justice issues we face in our nonprofit community.”
Michael Scanlon ’75 received the Distinguished Service Award. Scanlon has had a distinguished management career in the chemical engineering industry and also served Eastern as a member and later as president of the ECSU Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. The Hermann Beckert “Friend of the University” Award was given to Rheo Brouillard, recently retired President and CEO of the SI Financial Group, Inc. Local philanthropist Eileen Ossen and the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation received the Foundation’s Board of Director’s Award. Eileen has created endowed scholarships at Eastern with a cumulative balance of $240,000, providing students with scholarships ranging from $1,500–$3,000 each. Pawcatuck, CT, resident Geri (Shea) Spillane, Class of 1957, her brother-inlaw Jack Spillane, and his son, Sean Spillane, were honored with the ECSU Foundation’s Distinguished Donor Award. Geri Spillane’s late husband, Robert “Buddy” Spillane ’56, served as superintendent of schools in Boston. Following his passing in 2015, Buddy’s brother Jack and nephew Sean joined Geri Spillane to create an endowed scholarship in Buddy’s honor, and have funded it with gifts in excess of $150,000.
Top: 2018 Leadership Awardees (front row) Elaine Ossen, Patricia McGrath (Geraldine Spillane’s daughter), Geraldine Spillane, Eastern President Elsa Núñez, Jack Spillane, Sean Spillane. (back row) Lorraine Scanlon, Mike Scanlon, and Debra Spillane Above left: Elaine Ossen Bottom left: Jack Spillane
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wo hundred runners turned out on May 12 at Mansfield Hollow State Park for the “Andrej 5K” honoring Andrej Cavarkapa ’09, son of Eastern Business Professor Branko Cavarkapa. Andrej lost his life in 2017 while jogging near his home. The event raised $12,000 — $6,000 from the participants and another $6,000 in a matching gift from Professor Cavarkapa and his wife Aleksandra. Proceeds from the event support the Andrej Cavarkapa ’09 Memorial Endowed Scholarship. At more than $50,000 raised in its first year, the scholarship is one of the fastest growing endowed funds managed by the ECSU Foundation. “This result speaks to the number of people Andrej touched during his remarkable life,” said Branko. “Aleksandra and I were moved to see so many friends turn out on a day when the weather didn’t cooperate. We are hoping that this is the start of a wonderful tradition. Special thanks to the committee — Emma Bounty, Jackie Fedor, Hannah Lawrie and Heather Lepper — for their efforts initiating this trail run. Andrej’s friends and relatives came from all over the country to participate (California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Ohio) — even from New Zealand.” A science teacher at RHAM High School where he was known simply as “Mr. C.,” Andrej’s love for science was infectious. He was able to make difficult subjects like physics and chemistry enjoyable and meaningful for his students.
ANDREJ 5K RAISES SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
The New Virginia & Charles Prewitt Office of Peace & Human Rights
Jeffrey & Nancy Tr awick-Smith Early Childhood Undergr aduate Research Fund
Professor Emeritus Charlie Prewitt recently visited campus to view the new Virginia and Charles Prewitt Office of Peace and Human Rights, located on the first floor of the J. Eugene Smith Library. “We thank Dr. Prewitt for his commitment to peace and the rights of all human beings, and we are delighted to be able to dedicate this prominent space in honor of him and in memory of his wife, Virginia,” said President Elsa Núñez.
Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Trawick-Smith and his wife Nancy have established a fund to support undergraduate student research in early childhood education and development. The fund will assist students who are conducting scientific, empirical studies with young children in the Center for Early Childhood Education. Studies supported by the fund will yield practical knowledge in early education and development and promote the well-being of young children and their families.
In 2002, Prewitt and his wife had established the Virginia and Charles Prewitt Peace and Human Rights Studies Endowment to support students who are active in the community and demonstrate an interest in peace and human rights. Prewitt began teaching the sciences at Eastern in 1952 until he retired in 1979. He continues to teach peace and human rights courses part time, bringing state and national dignitaries to campus to explore how to pursue world peace and basic human rights for all human beings. Charlie’s quote seen on the plaque next to the office door reads, “If you don’t have a dream, how can your dream come true?”
Jeff, who retired from Eastern this year after 36 years of service to the University and the international early childhood education community, was Eastern’s inaugural Phyllis Waite Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education. He also is a CSU Professor, a former Distinguished Professor of the Year and recipient of a Research Mentor Award. An enthusiastic supporter of student researchers, Jeff has mentored dozens of student researchers since 2005, taking them to national conferences to co-present their research, as well as co-authoring articles in peer-reviewed journals.
GOLFERS SCORE AN ‘ACE’ FOR EASTERN STUDENTS Eastern Connecticut State University held its annual golf tournament under sunny skies on June 20 at Lake of Isles in North Stonington, with more than 100 golfers supporting Eastern students in the process. The tournament raised upwards of $65,000, with funds planned for scholarships, the Annual Fund and support for the Department of Athletics. This was the 13th consecutive year the tournament has been held at Lake of Isles; proceeds during that time have now crossed the $1 million mark. At the tournament’s closing ceremony, President Elsa Núñez recognized event lead sponsors Chartwells Food Service, KeyBank, Presidio, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Kell-Strom Tools and Windham Pepsi, and said, “Each of our golfers, as well as our sponsors, should be pleased to know that your generosity is helping hundreds of students this coming year. I thank everyone present for your dedication to our students and this impressive financial support.”
CRT Team (left to right: Edna Jordan, Linda Kelly, Yvette Melendez and Lena Rodriguez (CRT President)
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The winning foursome was Emerald Consulting with a score of 56, led by Brian Sullivan ’08, a member of the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors, and his six-year old son, Neil. Another highlight of the day was when Barry Ryan of Ryan Business Systems scored a hole-in-one on the second hole.
Kell-Strom Tools team (left to right): Frank Kelly (President), Bob Cardello, Ken Munson and Mike Kamercia
KeyBank team (left to right): Pamela Minish, Kasim Razvi, Mark Zigmont and Luciano Verdura
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On civic and personal pursuits
Wendy Ernst ’93 graduated with a biology degree and subsequently graduated from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She now operates the Kirby Veterinary Hospital in Mansfield. Wendy has served on Eastern’s Alumni Board of Directors, and now the ECSU Foundation Board for six years.
Catching Up with
Wendy Ernst
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On life as a veterinarian with her own practice
One of the things that I enjoy most about practicing veterinary medicine is that there is so much variety in what we do. Our weeks are typically split between surgery and office appointments and each day brings a new variety of things to us. This week I performed a splenectomy to take out a potentially cancerous spleen from a dog. The next surgery that morning was a more typical cat spay. Office appointments range from healthy wellness visits and vaccinations to sick patients that need bloodwork and radiographs. In veterinary medicine we do everything right in our own hospital — exams, bloodwork, radiographs and ultrasound, surgery and medical treatments. Our practice also offers reproduction medicine and so we see dogs for breeding and whelping experience, c-sections and pediatric care. This is something that not every practice takes on, but for myself and our staff it is exciting and enjoyable.
Some days everything runs right on schedule. Then other days it’s not quite as smooth and nothing seems to go as planned, but at the end of the day we get it all done.
Her work now compared to when she was an associate at another practice
When I was an associate working for somebody else, the veterinary side was the same as it is now. But as an owner I am also responsible for managing the hospital, clients and staff. This week, for example, we had computer problems, and I had to step in and try to solve them in an IT capacity. I have to manage the practice, people and situations that come up, all while being a doctor. But I love it and I have no regrets. Starting my own practice from the ground up is definitely one of the best things I’ve done.
We do volunteer days and guest speaking at some of the local schools. We have students come in and shadow us for a day. We have had scout troops come in to see what we do at the veterinary office along the same lines. I also volunteer at a rabies vaccination clinic with the Town of Coventry each year. In general I try to be available for the community to represent what we do in veterinary medicine. Thanks to our first dog, Kirby, we (Wendy and her husband Daniel Fowler) breed and train Labrador retrievers. I train and compete with the dogs in a variety of venues, including conformation shows, obedience trials and hunt tests. Our showing and competing takes us around New England and the East Coast for shows and trials.
Where she sees herself in five or ten years
I have been in my own practice for about six years now, and I still feel like I have just started out. We are currently a two-doctor practice, although ultimately I think a three- or four-doctor practice is a nice goal.
On her loyalty to Eastern, and her career choice
Having the opportunity to attend not only Eastern, but also UConn (for a master’s degree in pathology) and Tufts for veterinary school, I would say my time at Eastern was the most important to me. The solid education and training in critical thinking in biology and the sciences served me well for the academic opportunities that followed. As both of my parents were Ph.D.s (her mother Shirley Ernst is an Emerita Eastern professor who taught undergraduate and graduate students for many years in the Education Department), the academic life was normal to me. I wanted to be a veterinarian but also thought research and academia were appealing. The master’s degree gave me the opportunity to explore those options and ultimately I decided to continue on with veterinary school. That was definitely the right choice for me.
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Katrina (Engblom) ’86 & Steve Bousquet ’88
It all started on Feb. 20, 1985, in Shafer Hall, after the Ash Wednesday service. Steve and I attended separately but noticed each other as we waited to have a word with Father Larry. My first thought was “Wow, he’s so cute. but he would never talk to me.” So I didn’t give him a second thought. We were neighbors in High Rise but somehow had not run into each other. Over the next few weeks, Steve introduced himself. He pronounced his name “Buskit.” I thought if I ever married him, it would have to be pronounced properly, the French way. We would run into each other in the hall, at parties and on retreat at Ender’s Island. One day he came to our apartment door and asked for popcorn.
Then he asked for oil, and when the next knock came, he needed to borrow a pan. Then he asked me if I knew how to cook popcorn on a stove. I thought, “Geez, he’s cute but not very organized — why didn’t he ask for all it at once?” I was just not getting the message! A few weeks later, Apartment 675 had a party and Steve and his roommates showed up. The rest as they say, is history. We got married on Oct. 26, 1991, in Guilford, CT, and Father Larry officiated. In 1993 we welcomed our first child — Alexandra. In 1996 Max was born. They are now 25 and 22. This fall we will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary.
Albert ’60 & Judith (Bloch) Vertefeuille ’62 Al and Judy first met in Shafer Hall in 1959. Al was a returning veteran, having been stationed in Germany, and was finishing his senior year; Judy was a freshman. They married in June 1961 and Al began teaching third grade in Lebanon while Judy finished her senior year. Al eventually became principal in Union, CT, and then Lebanon, CT, where he later became the superintendent. Judy became a reading and instructional consultant in the Windham Public School system, receiving the Teacher of the Year Award from North Windham in 2001. Al is the former chair of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State Technical Colleges and the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education. He is also past president of the CT Elementary/Middle School Principals Association, ECSU Alumni Association and the UConn Neag School of Education Alumni Society. Al received the Distinguished Service Award from the Eastern Alumni Association in 2011 and is currently serving on the Board of Education in Lebanon. Judy is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Jonathan Trumbull Library. They have been married 58 years and have four children and 17 grandchildren. Al says, “Thank you Eastern, for giving us a place where students and faculty become friends and learning becomes a lifelong adventure.” 22 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
Darienne (Flattery) & Nick Moncada ‘12 Nick and I met in freshman year through mutual friends and developed a strong friendship. During the summer before our senior year, I was working on Cape Cod at the same time that Nick and his family were spending their annual two-week vacation in a nearby town. Nick asked me to come spend the day with them, and looking back, that was when our friendship started to change for both of us. When we returned to Eastern for our senior year, we began to hang out daily and our friendship slowly turned into a relationship. We graduated in 2012 and began the next steps of our lives together as we started our careers — Nick was at a physical therapy clinic and I was in a social work agency. After a year, we both decided to go back to school. Nick went back to get his degree as a physical therapy assistant, and I went back to get my master’s degree in social work. We were very busy, and the support we gave each other was truly the only thing that kept us going. Nick now works as a physical therapy assistant for Orthopedic Associates of Hartford, and I am a clinician for The Village for Families and Children’s Extended Day Treatment program. In August 2016, Nick proposed on the beach that I visited him at that summer going into senior year! We were married on Nov. 11, 2017, and recently purchased our first home in Middletown. We are both thankful for our experience at Eastern, the opportunities we were given, the lifelong friends we made and the memories we have. Eastern will always have a special place in our hearts. EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 23
HISTORICALLY 1902 FACULTY
CROSS-COUNTRY The 1977
This small group of talented, hardworking faculty members poses in 1902. They were highly dedicated to providing Connecticut with well-prepared school teachers.
ORIGINAL SITE The Willimantic Savings Institute on Main Street was the normal school’s first home. The building still stands today and is the bank’s main location. One can see from the sign that it was called Windham National Bank at the time.
men’s cross-country team is shown here with coach John Kelleher
HAWAIIAN DANCE
WSTC looks like the Copacabana, with these students and their dates “dressed to the nines” for the Hawaiian Dance formal in 1943.
STUDY BY BUS Shown here in 1952,
the Willimantic State Teachers College study tour bus went to many destinations along the eastern seaboard, including locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
GEORGE SHAFER AND FACULTY
MR. SCIENCE One of the stalwarts of
George Shafer poses with the faculty in 1924. Of note: Mrs. (Grace) Shafer (bottom row, far left); Miriam Skidmore (second row, third from left); and Frederick R. Noble (top row, third from right).
the Eastern faculty, Robert K. Wickware was known affectionately as “Mr. Science.” He served the University from 1941 to 1974, as a faculty member and later dean of academic affairs. The Wickware Planetarium, dedicated in 1974, keeps his name alive.
DR. SMITH AND DR. BURSTERMANN President J. Eugene Smith with Juliette Burstermann at an event in the 1990s. She was the first African American professor in New England when she joined Willimantic Teachers College in 1948.
MODEL SCHOOL The Windham Street Model School opened in 1910 to provide a laboratory experience for WNS students. It had its own principal and served Windhamarea children. It was destroyed by fire in January 1924 and rebuilt in 1928.
THE WHOLE GANG In 1930, “Keep off the grass” was the extent of the environmental movement on campus, with hillside fields and trout streams dominating the landscape up the hill from the Normal School.
MEN'S HOOPS The Willimantic State Teachers
College 1942 men’s basketball team was division champion that year. The N.E.T.C. on the ball stands for New England Teachers Conference.
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CHAMPIONS! The Eastern Warriors baseball team celebrates its 1990 national NCAA District III Championship
JOHN ZULICK
While J. Eugene Smith led WSTC’s progress to a broader, liberal arts curriculum, the school was still primarily a teachers college, preparing student teachers such as John Zulick, seen here in 1961 conducting a science-training class for young students in the F. R. Noble School.
80s EDUCATION FACULTY Recognize anyone?
SPEAKING MT. WASHINGTON Students
taking this Ecology of New England course stand with faculty member Barry Wulff (center) on Mount Washington in New Hampshire, circa 1970s.
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127 17
249
4
39
134
64
288 13
10
9
45
1,231
802
56
532
56
24
249
26,640
242
22
97
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265 205
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13
371
31
18 34
390 88
519
11 177
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260 19
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224 4
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42 1,300 11
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EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 33
22 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 27 33
E astern Faculty Share Their Expertise in Print by Anne Pappalardo While Eastern’s faculty has a wellearned reputation for teaching, professors also continue to share their research and
Recently published works include History Professor David Frye’s “Walls: A History of Civilization in Blood and Brick,” published by Scribner. The book has been chosen as a main selection by the History Book Club. “The topic — border walls — is obviously important, but also broadly misunderstood. I explored something deeper than the simple question ‘do walls work?’” Kirkus Reviews calls Frye’s book, “Provocative, well-written, and, with walls rising everywhere on the planet, timely.”
students in developing critical literacy skills,” said Fabrizi. “Authors included literary scholars, historians, educators and philosophers who explored relevant traditional books, stories, films and video games.” A culmination of 13 years of research, Anthropology Professor Mary Kenny’s new book, “Deeply Rooted in the Present: Heritage, Memory and Identity in Brazilian Quilombos,” explores the social, cultural and political experiences of traditional black communities and descendants of enslaved Africans, referred to as Quilombolas, in northeast Brazil. Published by Willow Books, English Professor Reginald Flood’s recent “Refugeed: Exodus Poems” is a collection based on the stories of “refugeed” slaves who were conveyed away from the advance of federal forces in the South during the Civil War. “My inspiration was the desire to have more people hear the voices of these formerly enslaved men and women so that in this contemporary moment we can better understand the connection between labor and racial difference,” said Flood.
Education Professor Mark Fabrizi enjoyed editing and writing a chapter and introduction for the recent “Horror Literature and Dark Fantasy: Challenging Genres.” Published by Brill, the book “illustrates the value of horror literature in the classroom to assist
creative work by authoring a variety of publications.
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EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 29
Communication Professor Terri Toles-Patkin wrote the chapter, “Social Media and Knowledge Management in a Crisis Context: Barriers and Opportunities,” after her experiences during a challenging New England winter storm. Her contribution to “Harnessing Social Media as a Knowledge Management Tool” was inspired by the blizzard of 2013 when she and other residents of Hamden, CT, turned to the town’s Facebook page for storm recovery news. “I recognized the situation as a textbook case study of the role of social media in managing organizational information.” Published by University of Washington Press, History Professor Bradley Davis’ “Imperial Bandits: Outlaws and Rebels in the China-Vietnam Borderlands,” is the culmination of more than a decade of travel and research. Davis discusses the culture of violence and banditry rampant in the challenging terrain between Vietnam and China during the mid-19th and early-20th centuries, when bandits from southern China infiltrated northern Vietnam seeking control of the opium trade and other commerce. Davis describes the resulting political power and control gained in the borderlands between the two countries, and what transpired after Vietnam fell under the authority of the French Empire. English Professor Rita Malenczyk was co-editor and co-author for “Composition, Rhetoric and Disciplinarity,” published by Utah State University Press. “A timely book that offers a thorough and useful exploration of debates surrounding whether or not Writing Studies is (and should be) a discipline,” said Dan Melzer of California State University in Sacramento. “A major strength is the care it takes in defining what a discipline is.”
Education Professor Jeffrey Trawick-Smith’s book “Early Childhood Development: A Multicultural Perspective (Seventh Edition),” published by Pearson, details numerous challenges faced by children. “The book’s message is that not all children grow up the same. It also challenges long-held beliefs about how children develop from a multicultural perspective,” said Trawick-Smith. “The textbook is one of the few that truly focuses on the early development years… and is one of the only texts that has (a) multicultural emphasis,” said reviewer Keri Maxwell of West Virginia University. History Professor Jamel Ostwald contributed a chapter titled “Louis XIV Aimait-il Trop La Bataille?” (“Did Louis XIV Love Battles Too Much?”) to “Les Dernieres Guerres de Louis XIV:1688-1715” (“The Last Wars of Louis XIV: 1688-1715”). Published by Presses Universitaires de Rennes, the chapter discusses “conflicting views held by the cautious monarch who frequently avoided field battle, yet loved his fortresses so much that he was willing to risk a much larger battlefield defeat in order to preserve them,” said Ostwald. “Building New Banjos for an Old-Time World” is the name of a book published recently by Professor Emeritus Richard Jones-Bamman. Art Professor Andy Jones contributed penand-ink illustrations to the book, which focuses on banjo builders “who are connected to the ‘old-time musical community,’” said Jones-Bamman. “These individuals play an active role maintaining that community by designing and constructing instruments that reference the late-19th and early-20th centuries, from which the music originates.” “Somerset,” a poetry collection by English Professor Daniel Donaghy published by NYQ Books, is an elegy for Kensington, the area of Philadelphia in which he was raised. “The book is a study of how our past continually informs our present, how we never fully leave those places in which our younger selves were formed,” says Donaghy. America Book Award Winner Maria Mazziotti Gillan writes, “These are beautiful, tender, painful, unforgettable poems. I love them because they make me remember what it means to be human.”
Other recent faculty-authored books include Paul Centore’s “The Geometry of Color,” Sarah Baires’ “Land of Water, City of the Dead: Religion and Cahokia’s Emergence” and "Double Standard: Social Policy in Europe and the United States," by Professor Emeritus James Russell. Faculty members who contributed chapters to various books include Elizabeth Cowles (“The Ultimate Guide to Teaching with Biochemistry”); Garrett Dancik (“Bladder Cancer”); Anita Lee (“Assessment in Applied Sport Psychology”); Ana Funes-Maderey (“History of Indian Philosophy”); Jonathan Hulvey (“Fungicide Resistance in North America”); and Alita Cousins (“The Oxford Handbook of Women and Competition.”)
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Athletics
New Men’s Lacrosse Coach Announced Marc Graham has been selected as the sixth head coach of Eastern’s men’s lacrosse program; he will officially begin his new duties on July 6. Graham earned his B.S. degree in recreation management from Springfield College in 1994. “I’m very happy to welcome Marc to Eastern,” said Athletic Director Lori Runksmeier. “He has Connecticut lacrosse roots; he understands the proud tradition of Warriors’ lacrosse, and I’m confident that he is going to take our program to great places.” Graham spent the past seven years as head coach at Division III Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Prior to that position, he coached lacrosse in Connecticut for 16 years — five at Trinity College and 11 at South Windsor High School, where his team won the 1999 state championship. He takes over an Eastern team that finished 10-7 in 2018 — 5-2 in the Little East — and advanced to the LEC playoff championship game.
A Caring Hand, a Watchful Eye Liah Sinquefield ’18 graduated in May with honors. Maurice Johnson ’18, who graduated in December, is employed by The Hartford as a junior IT developer. Kolin Ebron ’12 is in his second year of a doctorate program at the University of Connecticut. Michelle Scinto ’16 received her master’s degree and works as a teacher in Naugatuck. What contributed to the success of each of these graduates was the mentorship of Mark Bradley ’90. As a proud alumnus and member of the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors, Bradley regularly promotes Eastern. Blessed with an outgoing personality, he found himself introducing high school students — some relatives and others the children of close friends — to Eastern. “I’m thankful for what Eastern afforded me, so I’m happy to promote it,” he says, and 32 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
cites the diversity, student to faculty ratio, and visibility of President Núñez as some of the reasons students should consider Eastern. Bradley assists students during the application process, and once they matriculate, keeps in touch. He uses his network within the university to provide guidance, make introductions and ensure the students become engaged on campus. Sinquefield, the most recent mentee to receive her diploma, met Bradley through her mother when Liah was a sophomore in high school. She visited Eastern and loved it, but had her sights set on a larger university. Mark guided her back to Eastern. “He told me ‘when you get there, it will feel like family.’” An early childhood education major, Sinquefeld says Bradley consistently checked in with her and was happy to help whenever he could. “He opened doors for me.”
One of those doors led to a research position with the Center for Early Childhood Education, where she worked as a researcher, presented at conferences and participated in research work that is now being published. “That wouldn’t happen at a larger school,” says Sinquefield. For four years, she knew that Bradley “had my back.” He showed her what Eastern had to offer, helped her discover scholarship opportunities and was someone she knew she could fall back on. “He’s still helping me,” says Sinquefield, noting Bradley now provides feedback on her resume and tips on applying for jobs, mentoring her through the next stage of her life. Above: Don Fleming, Selene Fleming, Liah Sinquefield ’18, Vaughn Sinquefield, Fiona Sinquefield and Mark Bradley at the 2018 Eastern Celebrates Barbeque
Michele D’Agata (fifth from left) and Kayla Labrecque (sixth from left) were recognized on Feb. 17 as the 42nd and 43rd recipients of the Holly E. Zimmerman Memorial Award. The award was instituted in 1994 in memory of the late Holly Zimmerman, an Andover native and Physical Education major who attended Eastern from 1989–93 and was a member of the women’s basketball program and student athletic training staff. After a four-year soccer career, D’Agata graduated this past May with a B.S. in Sport & Leisure Management and plans to continue her education at the University of Delaware, while Labrecque, a three-year member of the soccer program, will graduate in May 2019 with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education.
National
Baseball Champions Celebrate with Reunion
The 1998 national championship baseball team – the third of four under former Hall of Fame head coach Bill Holowaty – celebrated its 20th anniversary with a reunion May 26 at Nuchie’s Restaurant in Bristol. Twenty-six individuals associated with the team and their families were in attendance at the banquet. During the 40-11 championship season, Eastern swept through the Little East Conference and New England Regional tournaments at the newly-opened Eastern Baseball Stadium, and was threatened in only one game – a 4-3 win over Aurora – at the national tournament at Salem Memorial Stadium at Salem, VA.
Front: Dan Krot (bat boy); kneeling (from left): Scott Smith (assistant coach), Bunty Ray, Bob McKee, Glenn Lungarini, Jon Gersz (co-captain), Anthony Formato, Chris D’Amato (co-captain), Lee Walter (assistant coach); standing (from left) Bill Holowaty (head coach), Keith Millen, Jason Wolfradt, Derek Karcich, Nick Tempesta, Bill Cook, Steve Stonoha, Steven Rembisz, Scott Chiasson, George Davis, Scott Czerwinski, Jon Krot, Jay Wetherell, David Yaconiello, Chuck Carey (scorekeeper), Paul Winiarski (assistant coach). In attendance but missing from photo: Ron Jones (assistant coach)
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53 student-athletes received scholar-athlete awards at the annual awards banquet on April 8
Brown, Geitner Recognized for Basketball on Regional Level
Goslin Named Academic All-District Senior Cooper Goslin of South Windsor became the third Eastern athlete in the past four years named to the CoSIDA Division III Academic AllDistrict Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country Team, announced in May. A four-year member of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field teams, Goslin was one of 10 selections to the District 2 team, made up of institutions located in seven states in the Northeast, along with the District of Columbia. Goslin was one of only three individuals named from New England and the only individual from the Little East Conference selected to an all-district team.
Bill Geitner, New England Coach-of-the-Year
“Cooper was a terrific student, and is just a terrific person to be around,” said head cross country and track & field coach Kathy Manizza. “You couldn’t ask for a better athlete to coach.”
Tarchee Brown, New England Player-of-the-Year
Eastern senior forward Tarchee Brown of Rockville was selected as the program’s first National Association of Basketball Coaches Northeast District Player-of-the-Year. He was also selected as Eastern’s 143rd national All-American. Head basketball coach Bill Geitner was honored as District Coach-of-the-Year for the second time in eight years after leading Eastern to a record 26-4 season and into the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. “It is a great honor for Tarchee and the program,” says Geitner. “Tarchee has worked tirelessly on his game, and to see his hard work recognized in this manner is very rewarding.”
The top-seeded Warriors posted their second straight Little East Conference men’s basketball championship this past February, defeating Keene State College for the second straight year, 79-62, at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
Goslin graduated in May with a 3.93 grade-point average as a Business Administration and Accounting double major. In January he will join New England-based CPA firm BlumShapiro, the region’s largest business advisory firm.
Lasto Sisters Excel in the Pool For two seasons, opponents had to reckon with Mollee Lasto of Orange, who immediately made a name for herself as a freshman in 2015-16 as one of the top all-around swimmers in Eastern history. This past year, other schools had to contend with a triple dose of Lasto, with freshmen twin sisters Maggie and Megan joining Mollee to give the Warriors a lethal 1-2-3 punch that is unrivaled in New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) circles. At this past February’s NEISDA Championships, Mollee, Maggie and Megan teamed with senior Bridgett Furlong of Mansfield to shatter the program’s 800-freestyle relay record. Mollee also broke her own program records at all three backstroke distances at the NEISDA meet, and Megan broke the eight-year-old 200-individual medley record.
Displaying the team championship award are (from left) Brenden Young, Tarchee Brown, Collin Jordan, Kendall Marquez and Jacob Collins.
Junior Mollee Lasto (left) with freshman twin sisters Megan (center) and Maggie (right)
1
4
8
ALL-AMERICAN
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
MAJOR LEC AWARDS (PLAYER OF YEAR, ROOKIE OF YEAR, COACH OF YEAR)
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14
98
ALL-NEW ENGLAND LEC ALL-ACADEMIC ATHLETES AWARDEES EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 35
class notes In Memoriam 1921-2018
Luva Mead Hoar ’42 was a career elementary school teacher and speech therapist, as well as one of Eastern’s most generous and involved alumni. She passed away on April 13, 2018, at the age of 96. Growing up during the Great Depression in the 1930s, she was determined “to make an impact” by becoming a teacher. She graduated from Willimantic State Teachers College in 1942. Luva taught in the Middle Haddam and Portland, CT, school systems for three decades until her retirement in 1977, shortly after her marriage with Col. John L. Hoar. In her retirement, Luva led an active civic life, serving on many boards and committees in Middlesex County. Luva’s public service extended to Eastern as well. She was a member of the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors for more than three decades as well as the Alumni Association Board from 1955-80, with stints as president of both boards. Luva was also a 20-year member of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) Board of Trustees. She received the ECSU Presidential Medal for Service to the University in 1989 as well as the first ECSU Foundation Distinguished Donor Award in 2009. In 2001, Eastern thanked Luva for her years of service and support by naming one of its newest residence halls “Luva Mead Hall.” Her legacy continues as well through the Luva Mead Hoar Endowed Scholarship, established in 1986 for juniors and seniors who demonstrate a commitment to the community and Eastern. 36 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
43 Gussie (Paster) Sitkin is still working with clients in the mental health field and feels a sense of accomplishment. She lives with her husband in Studio City, CA, surrounded by citrus trees, flowers and plants.
is enjoying retirement and his hobbies of golfing and going to the beach. Doris (Chapman) White and her husband Earl are doing well. They play golf and enjoy the great weather in Florida. Jean (Browne) Wolfe finished writing a cookbook for young adults on how to cook, herbs and spices, super foods, temperatures of meat, easy recipes and anything else she could think of. The book is now with her publisher.
47
58
Madelyn (Plouffe) Briggs writes that she was disappointed that she and other members of her class were unable to attend their 70th reunion last year. She took some of her classes in the original Willimantic State Normal School building that burned in 1943, and still remembers all of her classmates. After graduation, she taught in a one-room school that had 14 students, seven of whom were from the same family. She taught for seven years and then married. Her husband was a superintendent of schools. She would love to hear from her classmates, and may be reached by contacting the Office of Alumni Affairs.
51 George Tedeschi served in the Marines, first on active duty in Korea, and then in the Reserves. He taught elementary school for 34 years in Connecticut and then California. During that time, he worked with a dentist to develop the Dental Service Program, which provided dental care to local schools and senior centers free of charge. George served as the program’s executive director until his retirement.
53 Jane (Macmillan) and Lewis Lamb ’54 celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in August 2017. They have 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Lew turned 91 in May and Jane turned 86 this past February. Though saddened by the loss of his wife Jeannette three years ago, Edward Volle
Geraldine (Hohn) Hanna and her husband Arnold Hanna ’77 spend their time playing golf. Their granddaughter, Sydney, is a current student at Eastern. Andrew Maneggia and his wife Jeanne will celebrate 60 years of marriage in June. They were married one week after his graduation from Eastern.
63 James Forrest retired after 42 years of working as the town treasurer for Lebanon, CT. Sheridan (King) Medeiros retired from teaching elementary school in New Bedford, MA, and moved to the countryside in Rochester, MA. She has two daughters and three grandsons.
64 Lawrence and Carol (Weber) Colvin ’65 enjoy their time together living part of the year in Connecticut and part in Florida.
65 Harry Mantzaris recently took a 28-day guided tour of Egypt and Jordan and a self-guided tour of Greece, visiting ancient and contemporary sites and meeting many wonderful people.
In Memoriam 1921-2018
66 Elaine Dugas Shea has published a second book, “Sky Songs North-Alaska Bush Poetry,” reflecting her experience flying to remote native villages in arctic Alaska to review Head Start programs. Elaine is retired and lives with her husband Bill and family in Missoula, MT.
68 Margaret “Peg” Toner ’42 was an educational leader and a longtime friend of Eastern. She passed away on February 26, 2018, at the age of 96. Peg graduated from Willimantic State Teacher’s College in 1942 and went on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees at Columbia University. Peg’s entire career in education was in Stamford, CT, where she held several teaching and principal positions, ultimately becoming assistant superintendent of Stamford Public Schools — only the second woman to hold the position at the time. She also taught adult education for 18 years and was an adjunct professor at Fairfield University, retiring in 1977. During her time as principal of Riverbank School in the 1960s, Peg was approached by NBC executives in New York to develop one of the first television programs for secondary education — a highlight in her career along with other programs like Project Explore, a program for gifted children. Among her many community involvements, Peg was president of the Young Democrats, the Shippan Point Garden Club, the Stamford Catholic Library, Stamford Girls Club and others. In 2007, she also received Eastern’s Distinguished Service Award. Peg enjoyed traveling with her friends and was proud of the number of countries she had visited in her lifetime. Her greatest joy was her Cape Cod home where she spent her summers with friends and family relaxing on the beach and volunteering at the local library and historical society.
Sandra Cobb taught at Gallup Hill School in Ledyard for 36 years before retiring in 2004. Since then she has been volunteering at the Mystic Aquarium. Daniel Coughlin is a retired middle school social studies teacher, currently serving as past president of the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and for the Windham/Tolland Retired Teachers Association. Ruth (Wood) Johnson taught high school math for 30 years and has been retired for 10. She has been happily married for 45 years. After being a teacher for many years, Barbara Lathrop left the classroom to watch her grandchildren. She has since returned as a substitute teacher. Brien Ward taught grades 2-8 in Windsor Locks for 32 years before retiring. His son Dan is an American history teacher in East Windsor.
73 Stanley Bebyn is retired from teaching for the Manchester Public School System. In 2008, he was named Manchester’s Teacher of the Year, and in 2015 was inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame. Mark Holowesko coached youth soccer and organized educational tours to Greece, Bermuda, Holland, Belgium and Canada while coaching in Wethersfield. He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011. John Huhtala is an ordained priest in the Madonna Ministry International. He also volunteers at the Westerly Hospital and serves as chaplain for Franklyn Masonic Lodge in Westerly, RI.
Elaine Dugas Shea '66
Dorothy (Blozie) Morrill was named to the South Windsor High School Hall of Fame for contributions to Connecticut interscholastic sports and public education. Norma-Jean (Bailey) Posocco retired after 37 years of teaching middle school English. She and her husband have three children, one of whom is also an Eastern graduate. All three of her children have followed Norma-Jean into the field of education. She also has six lovable grandchildren. Edward Zeiser served in the U.S. Air Force and traveled around the world. He taught young children in Head Start and the American School of The Hague, and later taught computer classes at Webster University in the Netherlands, St. Joseph College and Manchester Community College. He now lives offgrid in northeast Washington. Last year he took a 7,500-mile motorcycle trip and will do another one this year.
80 Thomas Connors is retired from ColgatePalmolive Company and is serving his community as the most senior member of the Piscataway, NJ, Township Board of Education.
83 Kevin Krieger retired honorably after more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He has been married for almost 12 years and is currently working and living in Massachusetts. EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 37
In Memoriam 1926-2018
Francis A. Perrotti ’51 spent his entire career as an educator and remained an active member of the Eastern family throughout his life. He passed away on April 3, 2018, at the age of 91. Born Oct. 30, 1926, in Waterbury, Frank was a Word War II Navy veteran and 1951 graduate of Willimantic State Teacher’s College. After starting as a middle school social studies teacher, Frank became principal of schools in Enfield, Coventry and Mansfield. His career culminated in 1981 when he was named superintendent of Mansfield Public Schools. Frank was known for his outgoing personality and hosting the “Perrotti Picnic,” an annual tradition in which many Eastern alumni socialized in his backyard and played bocce ball. His civic involvements included being cemetery sexton at the Storrs Cemetery for 15 years, serving as a lifelong member of the Lions Club, as well as a member of the ECSU Foundation Board and Alumni Board. Frank received Eastern's Distinguished Service Award in 2009. In a final message to Eastern, Frank wrote: “As I reflect on my 91 years of life I realize one of my biggest decisions was to attend Willimantic State Teachers College. It gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams of becoming an educator. Through this dream I was able to change many young lives. I would like to thank those who helped me to attain this goal.”
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Robert Zarnetske was appointed to the position of town manager by the Town Council of South Kingstown, RI. Louis Ziegler was named Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut. Louis has served as chair of the Chamber Foundation’s board since 2010. He is the executive director of housing for the Mohegan Tribal Housing Authority, sits on the Montville Commission on the Aging, is a board member for Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities and coaches Montville Little League.
Edwin Muenzner was honored by the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA) as the recipient of the 2018 “Jack Brooks Leadership Award,” created in 2011 to memorialize the inspiration, dedication and drive for accomplishment that defined the late CTCPA Executive Director Jack Brooks. Edwin is the president/managing member of Edwin R. Muenzner, CPA, LLC in Franklin and a professor of accounting and program coordinator for accounting at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich. Edwin was the keynote speaker at the 24th Annual Accounting Banquet hosted by the Eastern Accounting Society.
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In Memoriam 1951-2018
Stephen Emt had his dream come true when he participated in the wheelchair curling competition at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. “My experience in South Korea at the Paralympics was unbelievable,” said Emt, who was co-captain of Team USA.
Barbara Candales ’74 was a social worker, university professor and member of the Eastern family who passed away on March 29, 2018. She was born on June 10, 1951, in Staten Island, NY, but spent much of her childhood in Puerto Rico where her father was stationed with the Coast Guard.
Sherilyn (Wilson) Chase has seen five of her six daughters graduate from Eastern. The most recent graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in social work.
89 Melissa Bonsall is the chief operating officer of Generations Family Health Center. She returned to Eastern in March to speak about her career in an event sponsored by the Women in Business student club.
93 Michelle Puhlick serves as the director of strategic initiatives at the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. Her primary areas of focus are planning and management of strategic projects, cultivation and stewardship of donor relations, and development and execution of the Foundation’s communications strategy. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Michelle served for more than 20 years in public education as a district leader, school level administrator, and classroom teacher.
Edwin Muenzner '95 (right)
99 Jennifer Karcich, a physical education teacher at William J. Johnston Middle School in Colchester for 18 years, was named the district’s teacher of the year. She also was selected as a 2017 Fund for Teachers Fellow, which allowed her to tour iconic geographic sites across the United States.
00 Birgit Girshick was appointed corporate executive vice president, discovery and safety assessment for Charles River Laboratories, Inc. She joined Charles River in 1989 and held positions of increasing responsibility in the company’s RMS Germany and RMS Avian Vaccine Services businesses.
03
Her family moved to New London in the 1960s and she graduated from Eastern in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in applied social relations. Barbara headed the social service program at Tunxis Community College and then served as chair and professor of the social work department at Central Connecticut State University, before retiring in 2007. Barbara received the 2005 Teaching Excellence Award from Central, was named Social Worker of the Year in 2006 by the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Eastern in 2009. In her retirement, Barbara served as a personal and executive coach and held advanced certification in emotional intelligence. She also enjoyed cooking and traveling with family and friends. Barbara was serving as a member of the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors at the time of her passing. Her Eastern legacy will live on through the endowed scholarship she and her brothers established to honor their parents, which is awarded to underrepresented social work majors with unmet financial need.
Stephen Emt '03 (right)
“Everything that you could imagine how the Paralympics would be, multiply that times 10 and that was what it was like.” For Emt, a life-changing accident in college forced him to end his basketball career. Five years ago he discovered curling while on a trip to Cape Cod and immediately set his sights on the Paralympics. In between his time as a teacher in Hebron, he will continue training and work toward a new set of goals he has set for his curling career.
Joshua Clark, who works for the Willimantic Police Department, was recognized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with a community policing award. Joshua is a member of the Willimantic Policemen’s Benevolent Association, a nonprofit organization that gives back to the community. He is also a member of the Path Academy board and the Windham PRIDE (Partnership to Reduce the Influence of Drugs for Everyone) Coalition. Paul Giansanti was named the new principal of Ansonia High School. He previously taught high school history in Bridgeport and Norwalk and has been working as the assistant principal of Hamden High School since September 2014. Paul received his Master of Education degree from the University of New Haven, a Master’s in Special Education from Fairfield University, and his Intermediate Administrator Certification from Sacred Heart University. Paul is married with one child.
07 Tessa Jordan was named a partner with the Glastonbury accounting firm Nicola Yester & Company, P.C. Tessa joined the company in 2011. She focuses her practice on accounting and auditing services for privately held businesses.
04 Dagmar Noll was elected to the Windham Town Council as a member of the Green Party of Connecticut.
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Tessa Jordan '07
Brandon Blais is the director of development for Pulse8 in Annapolis, MD, where he has worked for almost three years. The company’s mission is to help people live longer, healthier lives with the help of predictive analytics. EASTERN • Summer 2018 • 39
08 Kristin Brierly earned her Juris Doctor degree from Western New England University School of Law. She works for the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management as a labor relations specialist. She returned to campus in February to speak at the English at Work event. Philip Moroch is the vice president, private client group at GoodWorks Insurance. Philip Trostler is the drama teacher and director at Norwich Free Academy. He trained in London and New York, and auditioned and performed theater live in Los Angeles.
Brian Sullivan ’08 and his six-year old son, Neil, shown at the annual ECSU Foundation, Inc. Golf Tournament at Lake of Isles golf course. The Sullivan team had the low score in the tournament.
A double major in mathematics and economics, Brian Sullivan ’08 founded Emerald Consulting, LLC in 2016, after a three-year stint as the Manager of Commercial Lending Administration at Capital For Change, Inc. Sullivan is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School and a member of the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors. His company specializes in the design and implementation of financial products for lending institutions and government entities, with a focus on energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations. In its first full year of operations, Emerald Consulting helped its clients secure more than $4 million in capital and supported the origination of $4.2 million in loans for affordable multifamily housing retrofits. Those projects — which benefited low-income tenants in 505 units across the state — created about 70 green jobs in Connecticut, in addition to reducing energy costs for property owners by roughly $450,000 per year. Sullivan was also selected as an expert consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar in Your Community program, which pairs experts with community-based teams looking to install solar power systems across the country.
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09 Cody Guarnieri is a criminal defense lawyer with a Hartford-based firm. He recently wrote an article for the May issue of “Catholic Transcript” where he shared his positive experience with Eastern’s Office of Campus Ministry, Father Larry LaPointe and the weekly Thursday night pasta dinners. Father Larry officiated Cody’s marriage and baptized his first child. Jennifer Paradis was named an executive director by Beth-El Center’s Board of Directors. Jennifer has committed her career to the non-profit sector, serving in a variety of roles for several community non-profits. She has served as Beth-El Center's Director of Programs and Facilities since June 2015.
10 Kelly Meakem has been promoted to business banking supervisor and assistant secretary at Chelsea Groton Bank. Kelly joined the bank in 2008 as a teller. She became a deposit services representative in 2014, cash management specialist in 2015 and business banking specialist in 2017. She graduated from the Connecticut School of Finance and Management in 2016. Ana Valentin-Jackson was honored by the Minority Inclusion Project as a community leader. She was celebrated
as an advocate for diversity, inclusion, philanthropy, innovation and community leadership.
11 Andrew Dawson works as a product manager with HubSpot. Jonathan Myette is a social worker at East Hartford High School. He earned his MSW from New York University.
12 Michelle Churma graduated from the St. Vincent’s College nursing program in May 2018. Christina Frugale is the assistant director of student activities and leadership development at Dean College. Adam Geriak is an ecological entrepreneur working for Blue Earth Compost. Stephanie Liebscher works as an optometrist for Eye Doctors in Old Saybrook. Jessica Morrissette is a certified veterinary technician in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and works as a parasitology technician at IDEXX Laboratories. A graduate of Eastern’s theatre program, Hilary Osborn received her M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University this May. She has accepted a position with Willdan Group, Inc., an engineering consulting firm with more than 40 offices in a dozen states. Willdan serves private sector, municipal and other clients with eco-friendly, energy efficient solutions. Erika Profenno was named the new field hockey coach by the Keuka College Department of Athletics. Previously, Erika spent five seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Eastern’s field hockey team.
13 Susan Brunell has written and published a book titled “The Dragonfly Spirit” about the grief she experienced since losing her daughter in 2007.
Alexander Cavacas M’16 is a field teacher/ naturalist at the W. Alton Jones Campus of the University of Rhode Island. In this role he leads small groups of middle school students hiking in the woods while teaching a wide range of environmental science lessons. Allison Ceplenski is earning her medical technologist certification at the University of Connecticut. Arielle Cooper is a new assistant coach at the Coast Guard Academy. She previously coached the Fitch High School softball team, leading them to two state championships in her three seasons as head coach. Samuel Lisi earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Law degrees from the University of Connecticut Law School. He works as a TMB product manager with the Beazley Group. In February, Samuel returned to campus to speak at the English at Work event. Rachel Murad is a project manager at Droga5.
Parker Stevens works for Access Community Action Agency in Willimantic as finance director. Stephanie Timek is a third-grade teacher at John Barry School in Meriden. Her school held a College and Career Day, where she displayed her Eastern pride and encouraged students to think about college.
14 Elizabeth Allen is a Ph.D. candidate with the University of Massachusetts Medical School in the molecular, cell and cancer biology department. Analia Bertucci works as a project coordinator and conservationist with the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District in California.
2018 Education Award recipients: (from left) Nicole Green ’18, Anne Vernier M’16, Alexandra Facchini ’16, Christopher Sandford ’97, Ryan Parker ’03, Jennifer Ann Karcich ’99, Kathryn Firth ’05 and Connor Hill ’19
EASTERN HONORS ALUMNI EDUCATORS
Eastern’s Education and Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) departments came together to honor six outstanding alumni for their ongoing work in the field at the Fifth Annual Education Awards on April 21 in the Student Center Café.
Kathryn (Balkan) Firth ’05 and Christopher Sandford ’97 were recognized as Outstanding Leaders in Education. Firth is a teacher performance evaluation specialist in Windham Public Schools, while Sandford is head of school at Woodstock Academy in Woodstock.
Alexandra Facchini ’16, a physical education teacher at Sweeney Elementary School in Windham, was recognized as Outstanding Early Career Educator, while Anne Vernier M’16, a preschool special education teacher at Windermere School in Ellington received the Outstanding Early Career KPE Educator Award.
Two current Eastern students were also recognized for their work as undergraduates. Nicole Green ’18 was named Outstanding Education Candidate while Connor Hill ’19 was named Outstanding KPE Candidate.
The award for Outstanding Educator was presented to Ryan Parker ’03, a language arts teacher at Illing Middle School in Manchester, while Jennifer Ann Karcich ’99, a physical education and health teacher at William Johnston Middle School in Colchester, received the Outstanding KPE Educator Award.
The Education Awards were created to recognize Eastern alumni for their outstanding work in the field of education, and are sponsored by the faculty of the Education and Kinesiology and Physical Education departments, with generous philanthropic support of Raymond and Theresa Kalber ’70. Coordination and support is also provided by Eastern’s offices of Alumni Affairs and Institutional Advancement, and the ECSU Foundation, Inc. To submit a nomination for the 2019 Education Awards, contact alumni@easternct.edu.
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Eastern Pays Tribute to Dr. David Carter
More than 200 people filled the Betty R. Tipton Room in Eastern’s Student Center on April 12 to pay tribute to David Carter, the University’s fifth president, who passed away on March 17, 2018. During his 18 years as president — from 1988 to 2006 — Carter oversaw a dramatic increase in Eastern’s enrollments, while also doubling the campus footprint. Among the many other accomplishments that took place during his tenure was Eastern’s admission to the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, the launching of a number of new academic programs, the creation of several endowed chairs and the establishment of the Institute for Sustainable Energy. In 2006, Carter left Eastern to become chancellor of the Connecticut State University System, which he led until his retirement in 2011. Eastern President Elsa Núñez opened the program, saying “We are here not to mourn or grieve but to honor and celebrate the life of this special man. And he was special. We call the northeast part of Connecticut ‘the Quiet Corner,’ but when Dr. Carter arrived on this campus in 1988, the campus wasn’t quiet for long.” Núñez described a number of Carter’s accomplishments, including several that required boldness and flair. “That’s what visionaries do. They dare to lead. They dare to stretch out — to see how far they can reach and what they can touch. David Carter reached far and touched many lives. For that, we are truly fortunate.” Michael Pernal, retired executive vice president, fondly recalled early morning meetings with Carter, while Kim Crone, admissions director during Carter’s tenure, described his interest in attracting international students and her recruiting trips to Dubai and Sri Lanka. Pedro Johnson, retired member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, described his personal relationship with Carter. “I called him ‘Doc,’ said Johnson, who told of an overnight visit to the Carter home and how he had to graciously decline Carter’s invitation to join him in rising at 4 o’clock in the morning. “The man never slept,” chuckled Johnson.
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Annelise Blanchette earned her master’s degree in biology from John Carroll University and will begin work on her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at Tulane University this fall. She works as a guest engagement specialist at the Great Lakes Science Center, where she engages the public in informal demonstrations and discussions of science, technology, engineering and math to make science more fun. Amanda DeGennaro is an emergency room registered nurse at Hartford Hospital. Lindsay (Witkoski) Gallo comes from a family of Eastern graduates, including her sister Ashley ’09 and her husband Westly Dutton ’10, her sister Jacqueline ’10 and her husband Ryan Strout ’08, and most recently her youngest sister Rebecca ’18. She says that they enjoyed every minute of their time at Eastern, and have all found personal and professional success since graduating. Rachel Junga is the assistant director for alumni engagement and development at the Webb School in Knoxville, TN. Jeffrey Perkins has been promoted to vice president of operations at Farmington’s Motorlease Corp., which provides fleet management services to small and mid-sized businesses. He joined Motorlease in 2002 in an administrative capacity and advanced to leadership roles, eventually becoming general manager, fleet operations in 2015. In his new role, Jeffrey will focus on strategic planning and analysis, relationship management, process development and implementation, and developing tools for growth.
15 Christopher Gardella is working for KPMG LLP as a senior associate, focusing on state and local taxes. Heather Hudak is the IT CRM project manager at Pratt & Whitney. In this position, she focuses on solutions in support of the Pratt & Whitney growth strategy related to the Commercial Geared Turbo Fan and the Military F135 engine fleet. She recently graduated from the UTC Digital Technology Leadership Program.
16 Michael Chapman is a student at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic. Charles Vogt is a police officer in Vernon.
Alexis Lyonnais '17
17 Roman Andreychenko is an auditor with the Defense Contract Audit Agency. Lexis Foster coached the junior varsity girls’ basketball team at Griswold High School this season while interning in the Griswold Public School system. Alexis Lyonnais accepted a full-time social work trainee position with the Department of Children and Families. She is currently at the DCF Training Academy taking pre-service training courses that will help guide her work in the field. She will then continue to attend trainings while working with her own caseload.
Call for Nominations– President’s Leadership Awards Do you know an alumnus or special friend of Eastern who deserves recognition for their achievements? Since 1969, Eastern has proudly honored alumni, faculty, administrators, staff and friends of the University for distinguished achievement and service through the President’s Leadership Awards. Nominations are being accepted for the following awards for the 2018-19 Academic Year: The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes outstanding achievement by Eastern graduates who have demonstrated leadership or have achieved professional success or distinction. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to graduates or former students who have rendered meaningful service to Eastern and/or the local community and who have a demonstrated record of involvement with the University. The Hermann Beckert “Friend of the University” Award is given to non-alumni friends of the University who have rendered service to Eastern and to the nation, state or local community. Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 1, 2018, and the awards will be presented at the annual President’s Leadership Awards Luncheon in spring 2019. For more information or to nominate someone, visit www.easternct.edu/alumni/awards or contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at alumni@easternct.edu or (860) 465-5302.
Jennifer Portella is the success program advisor at Higher Edge, an organization that guides low-income and firstgeneration students through college enrollment, retention and graduation. Claire Tensa is the new director of the Discovery Center in Ridgefield. She started her career last summer as an AmeriCorps intern at Weir Farm.
In Memoriam Silas Bunnell ’21 (student) Barbara Candales ’74 Barbara Chase ’91 Mary Dillon ’15 Stanley Dixon ’77 Jeffrey Donahue ’76 Kyle Emmerthal ’16 Virginia Ereshena ’71 M ’77 Dianne Fitzgerald ’84 Ruth (Proctor) Hodgson ’41 Evelyn (Ladd) Kuck ’39 Shannon (Solomon) Labonte ’04 William Lopez ’73 Thomas Madden ’18 (student) R. H. McDonald ’59 Luva Mead Hoar ’42 Annette (Marino) Murphy ’57 Ingrid Peach ’93 Francis Perrotti ’51 Brian Raulukaitis ’91 Dorothy Snider, Lecturer Business Administration Department Merrill Thoresen Jr. ’78 Margaret Toner ’42 Clyde Wahburne, softball coach Justin Wilkie ’10 Maria (D'Appollonio) Zappulla ’73 We want to extend our deepest apologies to Jennifer (Falkowich) Raulukaitis '05 as well as her friends, family and classmates. Jennifer was erroneously listed as deceased in our last issue of the magazine. We are pleased to report that Jennifer is alive and doing quite well. We also extend our apologies to Raymond Stone '72, who was reported as deceased in our last issue. Raymond is also alive and doing well.
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Final Thoughts The latest group of students enrolling at Eastern is being labeled “Generation Z.” This new generation are “tech natives,” which means they are driving — not following — today’s technology trends. They have strong ideals, reflecting their parents’ values, at the same time that they are fundamentally pragmatic. The latter should be no surprise; amidst the harsh realities of the 21st century is a global workplace where good-paying jobs are highly competitive. While our students embrace the value of their liberal arts degree, they also expect us to prepare them to compete in today’s job market.
es is a R N O H rT io rr a W n er st a E
This generation is inheriting a challenging world from their elders, and they deserve an opportunity to succeed, to realize their dreams and to make their own imprint on the future. Eastern has long been committed to exposing our students to workplace opportunities. To help our latest generation of students succeed in the job market, the University is ramping up its workplace focus with a new initiative to increase students’ employability. Employers tell us our students cannot always articulate the skills they have acquired at Eastern. We are expanding efforts to assist our students in doing a better job of documenting their learning and how they present this information — verbally and in writing — to prospective employers. We also will be reaching out to Connecticut employers, in particular those who hire Eastern graduates, to further strengthen internship and employment opportunities for our students. In addition, we are working to improve how we hire, train and evaluate the more than 700 students who work on campus each year, so that they can leverage this real-world work experience after graduation. Documenting student skills acquisition in community service and student club experiences is also an element of our employability initiative.
All of these efforts come at a time when the State of Connecticut is experiencing declining tax revenues and tightening budgets. Every dollar generously donated to the ECSU Foundation for student scholarships, or to support University programs such as the new employability initiative, will improve our students’ chances of success and make Eastern stronger. That is why I am so pleased to share with you that the ECSU Foundation will exceed the $2 million mark in total dollars raised for the seventh consecutive fiscal year. Our alumni participation rate is also at an all-time high. As a result, we are projecting we will award the highest amount of scholarship funds in our history this fall. We cannot do our work without this support. Because we do have such a faithful and generous group of alumni and other donors, I am confident that our students — Generation Z! — have a bright future. Thank you as always for supporting Eastern!
Kenneth J. DeLisa Vice President for Institutional Advancement 44 • Summer 2018 • EASTERN
for Connecticut Children’s Hospital
Eastern Connecticut State University’s first-ever dance marathon — WarriorTHON — was held on April 7 and raised $11,613 for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. More than 200 students danced, as they raised the most funds of any firstyear Miracle Network Dance Marathon in Connecticut. Eastern was among the top 15 universities nationwide for best first-year fundraising programs in 2017-18.
The chief organizer of WarriorTHON was Eastern student Lauren Landry, a sophomore psychology major from Rumford, RI. “I understand firsthand the impact that these donations have on patients of children’s hospitals, as I was a child in a hospital bed many years ago,” said Landry, who has had three open-heart surgeries. “I want to make an impact on every child’s hospital stay, and help them understand that we support them.”
In affiliation with Miracle Network Dance Marathon, all proceeds benefitted the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. In addition to a night of dancing, WarriorTHON included food, games, raffles, guest speakers and student performances. Since its inception, Miracle Network Dance Marathon has raised more than $200 million for children across North America who are fighting pediatric illness and injury.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Willimantic, CT Permit No. 12