Spring 2019 Magazine

SPRING 2019

8 Updating the medical school curriculum 9 New approach to addressing absenteeism 22

Mission trips allow students to change the world

24 Three generations of Elms education alumni

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2 Global Health

Elms College has received a $750,000 grant to improve health outcomes in Haiti through a faculty development partnership with Episcopal University.

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Elms College Magazine

“Educating a diversity of students in a diversity of settings and providing them a holistic, experience-rich education is our goal; contributing to our region and the world is also our calling.”

— Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA Dear friends, In just a few weeks, more than 500 students will cross the stage at the MassMutual Center to receive their degrees from the College of Our Lady of the Elms. Cheering them on will be family members and friends, many of whom worked hard to ensure their child, relative, or friend would be the first in their family to obtain the transformative gift of a college education.

Also watching will be the faculty and staff who taught, mentored, and supported these graduates during their educational journey. On commencement day, the Elms College community witnesses the most visible manifestation of the noble mission that we inherited from our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph: educating for life and for a living, helping our graduates to better their own lives and the world around them.

As we continue to advance this mission, we have been encouraged by recent successes. The cover story describes one of them. For the past year, the college has been planning to launch a nursing continuing education program in Haiti. The program will address the unevenness in the level of preparation of nurses, who are the first line of defense in Haitian healthcare. A $750,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will allow our School of Nursing to partner with the Nursing School of Episcopal University in Haiti to reach a new population of students and raise the level of nursing education throughout the country.

Our second annual Executive Leadership Series event was quite well received by nearly 160 members of the Greater Springfield business, government, higher education, and philanthropic leadership communities. The head of the MassMutual Foundation, Dennis P. Duquette, gave important insights into the region’s economic future.

The second annual Black Issues Summit on February 16 was also a success, bringing four scholars and practitioners to campus to speak about equity, empowerment, and excellence. Elms College is happy to carry the social justice torch of the Sisters of St. Joseph by convening students, scholars, and the general public for this annual conversation on issues of inclusiveness and equity.

You will read these stories and more in this issue of Elms College Magazine.

Educating a diversity of students in a diversity of settings and providing them a holistic, experience-rich education is our goal; contributing to our region and the world is also our calling. Both of these objectives come together beautifully each time a student crosses the stage and receives a diploma.

Your support helps us to continue this legacy. Thank you for all that you do for Elms College.

Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA President

Innovation for Social Change

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS ELMS COLLEGE MAGAZINE

In February, the Business Division sponsored a 72-hour workshop in which approximately 30 students collaborated on innovative ways to solve the problem of bullying in schools.

Melinda Rose Director of Communications Laura Marshall Communications and Public Relations Coordinator

FEATURES

Wes DeShano Web Content Manager Katherine Cardinale, Cardinale Design Creative Director Don Forest, Cardinale Design Art Director

$750,000 Grant to Educate Haitian Nurses

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The School of Nursing has received a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant to improve health outcomes in Haiti through faculty development at Episcopal University beginning in summer 2019.

Contributing Writers Laura Marshall Wes DeShano Melinda Rose Photography Wes DeShano

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Updating the Med School Curriculum UMass medical student John-Marc Austin ’17 awarded grant to improve inclusivity in the training of medical students.

Cardinale Design Anika Goodhue

Innovation for Social Change

9 Elms College 291 Springfield Street Chicopee, MA 01013 We are a Catholic liberal arts college founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, Massachusetts.

The editors invite your comments and questions at 413-265-2589 or marketing@elms.edu.

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Alisha Cameron ’19, a senior in the off-campus social work program at STCC, has devised a practical, effective, compassionate approach to addressing middle-school absenteeism.

Campus Events Several recent events, including a Japanese Festival and Agape Latte, have inspired and informed the Elms community.

Alumni News

W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION GRANT

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Elms College Magazine

School of Nursing Receives $750,000 Grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Elms College School of Nursing has received a $750,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to improve health outcomes in Haiti through faculty development beginning in summer 2019.

In Haiti — where infant mortality rates are the highest in the Americas, and life expectancy is the lowest — most healthcare is provided by nurses, so educating nurses for the future workforce is critical to the health of the Haitian population.

Skill development for student nurses depends on competent and well-trained faculty, but nursing faculty in Haiti are reportedly unprepared for clinical teaching and need enhanced training.

The Elms program will prepare two cohorts of approximately 40 faculty from approved nursing schools across Haiti and clinical educators from multiple hospitals to be skilled nurse educators. The two cohorts will complete a graduate certificate transferable to a master’s program, providing a pathway for lifelong learning and increasing enrollment in MSN programs.

This sustainable and replicable continuing education program will use a ”train-the-trainer“ model to enhance the nurse educators’ abilities to deliver the content going forward. Content threaded throughout courses will include graduate-level study of the role and skills of the nurse educator, health and physical assessments, nursing leadership, maternal and child health, and other health disparities.

L-R: Br. Michael Duffy, DNP, ANP-BC, Associate Dean, Director of Undergraduate Programs; Kathleen Scoble, Ed.D., RN, dean of the Elms College School of Nursing; and Jeremy Kele ‘15, MSN, MBA, RN, DNP Advanced Practice Placement Coordinator.

Innovation for Social Change

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“We have an obligation to share our expertise and contribute to global nursing and healthcare.”

— Kathleen Scoble, Ed.D., RN, dean of the Elms College School of Nursing

Partnership Objectives • Advance the preparation of nurse educators through continuing education for faculty.

• Use a “train-the-trainer” approach to design continuing education programs.

• Expand the program to include faculty from approved schools of nursing across Haiti.

• Allow nurse educators to earn certificates transferable into master’s and bachelor’s degree-completion programs at Episcopal University.

“Because to many we in the U.S. represent the gold standard of nursing, I believe we have an obligation to share our expertise and contribute to global nursing and healthcare,” said Kathleen Scoble, Ed.D., RN, dean of the School of Nursing at Elms. “We are honored to have the opportunity to make a difference through nurse faculty development, which we hope will then become a program for replication. After all, in my international nursing experiences, nursing and the human condition are universal despite language and geographical differences. The Elms nursing faculty will gain as much or more than the Haitian nurse faculty they are teaching and mentoring as they learn this new culture and environment of practice.” 

L-R: Hilda Alcindor, BA, RN, FAAN, dean of the Episcopal University School of Nursing; Elms College President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA, Alix Cantave, Ph.D., program officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Kathleen Scoble, Ed.D., RN, dean of the Elms College School of Nursing.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST

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Elms College Magazine

Executive Leadership Event: Community Breakfast

‘Economic Forecast for Western Massachusetts’

More than 160 attendees including state and local legislators, presidents of area colleges, and CEOs and presidents from the banking, finance, and health industries attended the Elms College Executive Leadership Event: Community Breakfast on April 5.

More than 160 attendees including state and local legislators, presidents of area colleges, and CEOs and presidents from the banking, finance, and health industries attended the Elms College Executive Leadership Event: Community Breakfast on April 5. The keynote speaker was Dennis P. Duquette, head of community responsibility at MassMutual and president of the MassMutual Dennis P. Duquette Foundation, who spoke on topics of relevance for business and the economy of Western Massachusetts.

The Executive Leadership Series event was sponsored by Westfield Bank & Chicopee Savings Charitable Foundation, Baystate Health, WFF Facility Services, The O’Connell Companies Inc., Tech Roofing Service Inc., Collins Electric, Kuhn Riddle Architects, Marois Construction, Discount Office

Furniture, Hadley Printing Company, Total Communications Inc., Lorilil Jewelers, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, The Polish National Credit Union, WGBY, Aramark, Freedom Credit Union, and Mercy Medical.

Duquette’s talk, titled “Economic Forecast for Western Massachusetts,” emphasized ways for the business and education sectors to collaborate to ensure a successful financial future for the region.

Duquette and his team are responsible for setting corporate community relations strategy development, driving community investments, philanthropy, and community impact program management for MassMutual nationally. Throughout his 35+year career in financial services, Duquette has held a variety of marketing, management, communications, and sales support positions.

The master of ceremonies was Richard Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts and a trustee of Elms College. 

Elms President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA, with (l-r) Westfield State University President Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D., Greenfield Community College President Yves Salomon-Fernández, Ph.D., Springfield College President Mary-Beth A. Cooper, Ph.D., DM, and Springfield Technical Community College President John B. Cook, Ph.D.

Elms President Harry E. Dumay with keynote speaker Dennis P. Duquette, head of community responsibility at MassMutual and president of the MassMutual Foundation.

Innovation for Social Change

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ACADEMIC RECOGNITION

Nursing Students Recognized by NAHN “Their continual support and mentorship have encouraged me to develop into roles of leadership, advocacy, and education.”

Three nursing students from Elms College recently received scholarships from the Western Massachusetts chapter of NAHN (the National Association of Hispanic Nurses).

Annabel Maldonado ‘19, Luceida Cintron ‘21, and Katherine Casado ‘19 (pictured at left) each received $1,000 scholarships, plus a yearlong sponsored membership in NAHN. Every year since the founding of the Western Massachusetts Chapter of NAHN, five years ago, scholarships have been given to nursing students throughout the region. Applicants are required to submit a transcript, a resume, and a personal essay, and are chosen based on academics, commitment to NAHN’s mission, and leadership abilities.

Casado and Maldonado currently serve as student ambassadors for the chapter.

“I really believe in what they stand for,” said Casado, who has been a member of NAHN since her first year in the nursing program. “I believe there should be some diversity in the workforce. It’s really amazing to be part of this organization.”

“Knowing that there is support through NAHN for upcoming nurses like myself is encouraging and helpful,” said Maldonado.

“Their continual support and mentorship have encouraged me to develop into roles of leadership, advocacy, and education. I know I will incorporate many of the things I have learned in NAHN in my practice as a nurse.”

The scholarships were awarded during the annual NAHN gala in the fall at Chez Josef in Agawam, MA. “I’m immensely proud of these ladies,” said Deana Nunes, MSN, RN, assistant clinical professor, Elms College liaison for NAHN, and secretary of the local chapter. “They have participated in several community events and are making a very positive impact.” 

CJ Majors Earn St. Thomas More Scholarship Hannah Pichardo ’21 and Manuel Savalza ’21 are each one step closer to a career in criminal justice after earning the Hon. Kent B. Smith scholarship from the St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Springfield.

The two sophomores each received a $1,000 award after submitting personal essays explaining how the funds would advance their academic and professional development. Offered annually by the diocese, the scholarship is granted to students demonstrating moral integrity and financial need. The award acknowledges the ethical stance of Thomas More, a 15th-century martyr who prioritized having a clean conscience above all else.

Hannah, a native of Saratoga Springs, NY, is majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology. With her sights set on working as a homicide detective one day, she’s focused on learning the procedural side of policing in conjunction with theories of decision-making.

“You have to understand how people’s brains work, why they do the things that they do,” she said. “The hardest part about crime is that the people in the community are really affected by it, more than some people might realize.”

Courtesy of Sharon Roulier and iObserve

Manuel, a native of Riverside, CA, is majoring in criminal justice and double minoring in Spanish and biology. Like Hannah, he was influenced to pursue a career in public service after taking classes on forensic analysis and crime scene investigations. Instead of becoming a cop, however, Manuel intends to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and cousin to become a

corrections officer.

“I’m really big on rehabilitation,” he said. “Everyone has a better path, no matter what their background.” 

SOCIAL JUSTICE

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Elms College Magazine

Black Issues Summit Explores Important Themes The Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted its second annual Black Issues Summit in celebration of Black History Month on February 15 in the Alumnae Library. The theme was “Equity, Empowerment, Community, and Excellence.”

More than 100 people gathered to hear from this year’s speakers, who offered nuanced perspectives on issues of racial identity and experience in the United States.

Focusing on the socioeconomic, cultural, educational, and political inequities faced by African Americans, the panel addressed issues of self-perception, cultural relevance in education, incarceration and voting rights, and critical dialogue about systematic racism.

BLACK ISSUES SU IT

“A black issues summit is important because of the rich academic landscape it invites us to explore,” said President Harry Dumay, Ph.D., MBA. “Our role as an academic institution offers a more constructive path. We can do what Elms College does best — lift one another up by educating one another and expanding each other’s horizons.”

“The summit is filling a need in this region by discussing the issues that permeate our communities and

Innovation for Social Change

The event was livestreamed; to watch the video playback, visit https://youtu.be/j4khoSmCkpI.

often go unanswered,” said Alaina Macaulay, director of diversity and inclusion. “It’s an annual event that brings light to the issues with high caliber conversation as a way to educate and uncover solutions.”

Several students acted as moderators for the summit, introducing each speaker to the audience.

“It’s important to have dialogue about issues regarding race,” said Usman Safeer ’20, a graphic design major. “I think awareness is a key factor.”

“This event came out of a genuine desire to bring the community around a real issue that we all need to solve together,” said Marie-Claire Charles ’20, a student in the MBA program. “By seeing all the different people who attended, and from the speakers’ speeches, I understand that many people are willing and ready to take steps towards real social justice.” 

Photo at left, L-R: Djanna Hill, MAT ’93, Ed.D.; Walter Breau, Ph.D., VP of academic affairs; Shirley Edgerton, M.Ed.; President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA; Toussaint Losier, Ph.D.; Richard Haynes, MFA; Alaina Macaulay, director of diversity and inclusion; and Joyce Hampton, Ed.D., dean for student success and strategic initiatives.

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Shirley Edgerton, M.Ed., serves as cultural proficiency coach for Pittsfield Public Schools. She is the founder of the Women of Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires, as well as the Rites of Passage and Empowerment program, which is a holistic mentoring program for girls that includes college tours and international service learning projects. Edgerton also serves as a board member for the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.

Richard Haynes, MFA, is the associate director of admissions for diversity at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Haynes worked for CBS Publishing from 1979 to 1986. His own company, Haynes Images, was established in 1986 and operated until 2005. He previously served as an adjunct professor at McIntosh College, a faculty mentor at UNH for their McNair Graduate Opportunity Program, an art instructor at the Currier Museum, an art teacher at East Side House Settlement, a videography instructor at the South Bronx Community Action Theater, and a visual illiteracy teaching assistant at PS6/Model Cities Program in New York.

Djanna Hill, MAT ’93, Ed.D., is an Elms alumna and a tenured professor in the department of secondary and middle school education at William Paterson University. She holds a doctorate in urban and multicultural education, and specializes in teacher preparation for urban contexts, womanist and black feminist theoretical frameworks, and multicultural science education. Her work on multicultural teaching, STEM education, and portraiture methodology has garnered several major grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the Taub Foundation, and the New Jersey Department of Education. Hill is also a widely published author and editor. She earned her master of arts in teaching (MAT) from Elms in 1993, specializing in secondary education and biology.

Toussaint Losier, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Losier holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago, and his research focuses on grassroots responses to the postwar emergence of mass incarceration in Chicago. At UMass Amherst, he teaches courses on African-American history, Black politics, criminal justice policy, and transnational social movements.

His writing has been published in Souls, Radical History Review, The Journal of Urban History, Against the Current, and Left Turn Magazine. He is co-author of Rethinking the American Prison Movement with Dan Berger, and is preparing a book manuscript titled War for the City: Black Chicago and the Rise of the Carceral State.

HEALTHCARE INNOVATION

Making Medicine More Inclusive

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Elms College Magazine

John-Marc Austin ’17, now a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, has received a $2,000 LGBTQ+ health disparities grant from the Massachusetts Medical Society to develop curriculum materials supporting comprehensive, accurate, nonbiased information about

LGBTQ+ health and healthcare.

“In order for a medical school curriculum to be inclusive and properly address the health disparities facing a marginalized community, members of that community need to be involved in the creation of the curriculum,” said John-Marc, who graduated from Elms with a biology and psychology double major and a bioethics minor, in an interview with UMass Med Now. For this project, John-Marc and fellow med student Anthony Foscolos gathered a diverse group of people and used their feedback to devise updates to the curriculum for taking a sexual health history in a doctoring and clinical skills class.

John-Marc and Anthony plan to publish data from surveys of the medical school’s Class of 2022, all of whom took the updated class.

John-Marc credits his Elms education with preparing him for medical school projects like this. “The strong liberal arts education I obtained at Elms College was instrumental in developing my personal philosophy of healthcare,” he said.

John-Marc Austin ’17

“In particular, Dr. Jason Murphy’s classes, which I took for my bioethics minor, were foundational experiences that helped shape my worldview and expand my frame of mind.

“These experiences directly prepared me to be an advocate for positive change when I entered medical school, and I plan to continue doing what I can to correct the injustices within our healthcare system.” 

Pre-Med Major Accepted to Summer Scholars Program Shayla Burge ’20, a pre-medicine major from Springfield, has earned a 10week internship that will introduce her to different aspects of the healthcare industry this summer.

The Baystate Health Summer Scholars Program gives interns the opportunity to shadow their mentors in clinical settings, learn about medicine, public health, and population health, and gain familiarity with applied research projects.

“You apply to these programs that thousands of other people apply to, and you never expect to really get accepted,” Shayla said. “It’s nice to know that my career decision, and the Shayla Burge ’20 sacrifices I’m making right now, are justified.”

Prior to coming to Elms, Shayla spent six years in New York working for off-Broadway productions as a musician and singer.

While she still thinks of art and medicine as her twin passions, she ultimately decided that becoming an MD was her calling in life.

“You have to be creative as a doctor because you’re in high stakes situations,” said Shayla, who wants to work in emergency medicine one day. “There’s art in medicine, which makes me happy. It has multiple sides, both the ethical and medicinal.”

While embarking on the path to becoming a doctor will have its challenges, Shayla feels like Elms is the touchstone of her success.

“This school — the energy here, I can’t put it into words,” she said. “It’s so encouraging. It makes me emotional, because I know I’m going to be successful.” 

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Innovation for Social Change

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IMPACT CARES PROGRAM

“Our students see, on social media and reality TV, the idea that what you have is who you are. I want them to see that that doesn’t define them.”

A Compassionate Approach to Addressing Absenteeism At Impact Prep at Chestnut — a middle school in Springfield’s North End — having access to clean clothes isn’t a given. Many students struggle to keep their uniforms clean every week, lacking either the time, money, or supervision to do laundry regularly. When they can’t meet the school’s dress code, they often skip class, rather than risk being bullied for their appearance.

For Alisha Cameron ’19, a social work major from Springfield, this barrier to learning was unacceptable. So, along with her colleagues at Impact Prep, she created the Impact Cares Program, an in-house laundry service for students. Every Tuesday and Thursday, middle schoolers can drop off their clothes at the beginning of the day, and pick them up after their final class. No questions asked.

For Impact Prep’s chronically absent students, the laundry program is a game changer.

“Their absences have completely turned around — a complete 180,” Alisha said. “We knew we had to put in a structure for prevention, rather than just covering the issue with a Band-Aid.” Impact Cares sparked a culture shift at the school. From January to March 2019, over 100 loads of laundry were processed. Because the service is anonymous — students simply drop their clothes off in a backpack — they can focus more on learning and less on whether or not their uniform will draw unwanted attention.

The local community is behind the program, too. All of the detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are donated, Alisha said.

As a student in the Elms/Springfield “It’s no secret that the society we Technical Community College offlive in is very materialistic — the Social work major Alisha Cameron ’19 has created a new campus program for social work, haves and the have-nots,” said approach to school hygiene to reduce absenteeism.

Alisha appreciated the emphasis Alisha, who works at Impact Prep as on empathetic communication and the school’s family and engagement applied research.

These skills helped her learn how to engage coordinator. “Our students see, on social media and reality TV, with her community in a productive, culturally-sensitive way, the idea that what you have is who you are. I want them to see she said.  that that doesn’t define them.”

COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT 2019

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Elms College Magazine

Commencement: May 18, 2019

William Lyons III

Lyons and his brothers founded Blackstone Medical Inc. in 1996, and built it into a true Pioneer Valley success story; the company was even named a “model business” by the Romney administration for creating local jobs in the high-tech arena.

By the time Blackstone Medical was acquired by Orthofix International in 2006, it was the world’s largest privately held spinal implant company, and had introduced more than 20 instrument and implant systems throughout the U.S. and in over 30 countries.

Lyons majored in in mechanical and materials engineering at the University of Connecticut and earned his master of science in biomechanical engineering from the Hartford Graduate Center, in affiliation with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A highly trained engineer, Lyons used his degrees to perfect product development as well as manufacturing processes, and earned several U.S. patents.

Prior to forming Blackstone Medical Inc., Lyons served as chairman, president, and CEO of Brimfield Precision Inc., a medical device contract manufacturing business. During his manufacturing career, he became a founding partner in an orthopedic development company that later merged into the Orthopedic Products Group of Johnson & Johnson. He also was a founding member of the board of directors of Exactech Inc., a public company specializing in orthopedic products. Locally, he was a founder of Mechtech of Western Massachusetts, a nonprofit machining apprenticeship training company.

Lyons continues to serve as a consultant to the medical device manufacturing industry and as an investor in medical device startup companies.

As philanthropists, Lyons and his wife, Cynthia, who is the chair of the board of trustees at Elms, are focused on supporting local educational projects, medical research and cancer care

Elms College will hold its 88th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, at the MassMutual Center, Springfield. The commencement speaker this year will be healthcare entrepreneur and philanthropist William Lyons III. projects, and programs that benefit military families. They have donated to many important causes in the Pioneer Valley area, including the Town of Wilbraham tornado relief fund, Mercy Medical Center’s Sister Caritas Cancer Center, and Elms College.

Lyons will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony.

Honorary degrees will also be awarded to Savina Martin, MBA, co-chair of the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign, and Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, MAAT ’07, executive director of Catholic Charities Agency in the Diocese of Springfield, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the world.

As a national activist on homelessness and issues affecting women who has spoken around the country on systemic racism and poverty issues, Martin has challenged politicians and policy makers to build sustainable low-income housing and support for urban areas. A veteran and a woman of color, today she works particularly among homeless women veterans in Boston.

Martin holds a bachelor of applied science in human services and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from Springfield College.

Buckley-Brawner has worked with Catholic Charities since 2004, and has been at the forefront of the agency’s effort to provide services and assistance to the victims of the 2011 tornado, Tropical Storm Irene, and other events. As a Refugee Reception & Placement Agency subcontracted through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the agency has helped to resettle dozens of refugees into Western Massachusetts.

Buckley-Brawner holds a B.A. in political science and government from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a master of arts in applied theology from Elms College. 

Innovation for Social Change

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CLASS OF 2019

Bridging the Gap Between Past and Present For Kevin Corcoran ’19, rural Western Massachusetts is an open book, full of stories waiting to be told about colonial history. As an intern at Historic Deerfield, Kevin spent the first half of his senior year bringing the agricultural customs of the region to life for visiting tourists.

“One of my favorite things was working on my own exhibit,” said the Waterbury, CT, local. “You get to learn about people’s daily lives, who they were.”

A double major in history and secondary education, Kevin put his academic training to the test with the Creative Cart, a mobile exhibit on wheels. After researching how the original Deerfield residents lived off the land, Kevin designed an interactive display to teach visitors about the importance of crops and animal husbandry to colonial life. He added to his teaching experience by supporting the organization’s public outreach programs for kids, too.

Kevin Corcoran ’19

“You learn so much more about people, language, and culture by studying history,” he said.

After graduating, Kevin intends to bridge the gap between past and present by finding a job as a museum curator. 

Passion for Portraiture Inspires Future Teacher Every artist goes through a period of self-discovery when they define their signature style. For Sarah Nicoliello ’19, this transformation took place at Elms, where she linked her passion for portraiture with teaching.

“I want my future students to see artwork as not only another learning tool, but as a way of expressing themselves and working well with others,” said the Ware, MA, resident.

A double major in early childhood education and fine arts, Sarah regularly exhibited her work in the Borgia Gallery and Berchmans Hall. She even organized a solo art show the spring of her junior year. After graduating, she plans on using her artistic talents to create fun, engaging teaching materials for use in her classroom.

Even though she sees herself as an artist, one of Sarah’s favorite education classes was, of all things, based in science.

“The class was Inquiry-Based Science Methods, and we did STEM lessons,” she said. “We’d get random objects to work with like popsicles, straws, paper clips — and we were told to build something out of that.”

“I really want to do that with kids as their teacher,” she added. “I thought that was really creative.” 

Photo courtesy of Sarah Nicoliello

Sarah with a self-portrait featured in her 2018 solo art show, and a painting of a lion, featured in the spring 2018 student art show.

FUTURE OF MEDICINE

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Elms College Magazine

NEW GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES EDUCATION

Elms Prepares Students for Medical, PA Schools Aspiring doctors, physician assistants (PAs), and scientists come to Elms from around the world. What draws them here?

For one, our program is incredibly successful in helping students matriculate to medical school and PA school (we have a 94% success rate for both). Going beyond the numbers, though, our postbaccalaureate premedical studies (PPS) and master of science in biomedical sciences (BMS) programs offer resources that students can’t find elsewhere.

“Elms understood what my goals were,” said Macklin Iliff, PPS ’17, BMS ’18. “I knew coming out of undergrad that I wanted to have more clinical experience, more classes, and something to boost my GPA to make me a better overall candidate for medical school.”

After initially coming to Elms for the premedical program, Macklin chose to stay on campus an extra year after Janet Williams, Ph.D., asked for his input in shaping the BMS curriculum. That collaborative environment motivated Macklin to continue building his expertise while at Elms.

Students often need additional prerequisite classes to help themselves stand out in the ultracompetitive medical school application pool. Greenfield, MA, resident Fallon Guin, PPS ’18, chose the Elms pre-PA program for its academic comprehensiveness.

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DOCTOR

“I wanted more medically related classes,” said Fallon, who PHYSICI majored in psychology at Smith College. “There are AN specific NTS that ISTA requirements for PA school, like anatomy and ASSphysiology, I didn’t get previously.”

SCIENTISTS

“Anytime I wanted to add something to my applications, Dr. Williams had a solution for me,” said Macklin, a native of Sacramento, CA. “Completing both programs gave me an advantage by showing that I can handle the basic sciences as well as advanced courses that first-year med students take.

Schools know I can handle the curriculum.”

“I think it definitely prepared me for PA school,” she said of the Elms pre-PA program. “It was very challenging, but very rewarding. I learned so much about medicine that I didn’t learn in undergrad.”

Focusing on clinical knowledge and lab research paid off big for Macklin: He was accepted to Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, CO, this year.

Joining Macklin and Fallon in this year’s cohort success stories is Andrea Boraski, BMS ’18, who was accepted to the Tufts University College of Dental Medicine. 

Andrea Boraski, BMS ’18

Fallon has been accepted to the Johnson & Wales University physician assistant program.

Fallon Guin, PPS ’18

Macklin Iliff, PPS ’17, BMS ’18

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INNOVATION CHALLENGE

Inaugural Innovation Challenge Combats Bullying In February, Elms hosted a three-day workshop in which students collaborated on innovative ways to tackle a pervasive social problem. The 72-hour event, titled “Elms Innovation Challenge,” was sponsored by the college’s Business Division.

About 30 Elms students from a variety of majors conducted field research and then used the Lean LaunchPad method to test the feasibility of their ideas. Lean LaunchPad is a business methodology that gives startup owners immediate feedback from customers in the marketplace during the business launch, allowing them to react to market demands and learn as they grow their businesses.

“I learned that, with innovative thinking, you can tackle a lot of things,” said Christian Pavlakis ’21, a double major in accounting and management. “It’s cool to think of something that you think nobody’s ever thought of before, and try to revolutionize that idea.”

Video: https://youtu.be/Gzooab8di6A

Community partners, including Elms alumni, service organizations, and local educators, visited campus on Monday, Feb. 18, for the students’ presentations of potential solutions and for an awards dinner where the top pitches were recognized.

Christian’s team won the award for top innovative idea after pitching a concept for a mobile app that allows students to report instances of bullying to their school administration anonymously. The award for top design thinking chart went to the team that developed a one-day step-up program to partner with local community organizations. Other team solutions included an education program on defining self-worth and value, and a youth mentorship program.

“The product my group designed is something that I want to go into: logo design, working with businesses,” said Sam Kolodziej

’22, a graphic design major. “This will fit right into my portfolio and really give me a boost in the job world.”

“Talking to teachers to see what they already try to do to input a ‘peace area’ within their schools, within their classrooms — I feel like I’ll be able to take a lot of that into my future classroom,” said Samantha O’Grady ’20, an elementary education major. 

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ELMS COMMUNITY

Elms College Magazine

Around Campus A The campus community and Sisters of St. Joseph gathered for the Feast of St. Joseph Mass during National Catholic Sisters Week.

B President Harry Dumay welcomed the Earl of St. Andrews (left), a senior member of the House of Windsor, the reigning royal house of the United Kingdom, to Elms.

The earl was on his way through Springfield to attend a conference co-sponsored by the Next Century Foundation, where he serves as a trustee with retired diplomat Mark G. Hambley (right), who is also an Elms College trustee.

C Students celebrated the opening of COVE, a space for Culture, Openness, Values & Education, on the second floor of Alumnae Library.

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D Students made sushi under the guidance of Japanese Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant Akiko Takata.

E First Year Seminar students learn about their Common Read book, Walking to Listen, 4,000 Miles Across America, One Story at a Time, from author Andrew Forsthoefel.

F Hailey Gudrian ’22 created origami art during a Japanese Festival in the cafeteria.

G Agape Latte speaker Sr. Melinda Pellerin, SSJ, told students about transformative moments during her teaching career during National Catholic Sisters Week.

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H Winning students from schools around Massachusetts gathered in Veritas Auditorium for the finale of the Massachusetts Geography Bee. I The Campus Ministry Club gave out peace cranes and batteryoperated candles for a celebration of the International Day of Peace.

J Pie in the Face Challenge participants raised awareness of gastroparesis.

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REV. HUGH CREAN LECTURE

Elms College Magazine

Inaugural Rev. Hugh Crean Lecture Draws a Crowd A large crowd of Elms students, staff, faculty, and trustees, as well as Sisters of St. Joseph and members of the general public, gathered in Veritas Auditorium on the sunny afternoon of Wednesday, April 24, to hear Sr. Mary Johnson, SNDdeN, Ph.D., give the inaugural address of the Rev. Hugh Crean Distinguished Lecture series.

Fr. Hugh Crean Photo: Catholic Communications, Diocese of Springfield.

Fr. Hugh Crean, who passed away in 2015, was a respected pastor and theologian who devoted his life to the pastoral care, spiritual leadership, and education in the Diocese of Springfield. His wisdom and depth as a theologian made him an extraordinary professor of religious studies at Elms.

Sr. Mary Johnson discussed “Catholic Women in the United States: Values and Vision.” She is a distinguished professor of sociology and religious studies at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in sociology from the University of MassachusettsAmherst, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Emmanuel College. She has co-authored three books, Young Adult Catholics: Religion in the Culture of Choice, New Generations of Catholic Sisters: The Challenge of Diversity, and Migration for Mission: International Catholic Sisters in the United States.

Dr. Harry Dumay with inaugural Rev. Hugh Crean Distinguished Lecture speaker Sr. Mary Johnson and her childhood friend, Rev. Mark S. Stelzer, college chaplain.

The annual Rev. Hugh Crean Distinguished Lecture Series honors Fr. Hugh Crean’s legacy and was established through the generosity of B. John “Jack” Dill, CRE, FRICS, president and CEO of Colebrook Realty Services Inc. Each year, a national leader in theology, ethics, or philosophy will be invited to lecture on a topic within the Catholic intellectual tradition. 

HONORS PROGRAM Elms is committed to student support, student success, and educating our students, both for life and for a living. One of our goals is to provide transformative experiences — in and out of the classroom — for every student. The innovative new Elms College Honors Scholar Program, which will begin this fall, has been designed by faculty from a foundation of academic excellence, experiential learning, ethical leadership, and a diversity of individuals and ideas, to provide a personalized learning experience within a tightknit community of peer scholars and faculty and staff mentors.

Specialized curricular and co-curricular educational opportunities will empower students to effect positive change, both locally and globally. Honors coursework will start with the Honors First Year Seminar, which will discuss the works of great world leaders

in multiple disciplines: leaders who have changed the world through their intellect, innovation, and courage. Additional coursework culminates in a senior honors project.

But the Honors Scholar Program will be much more than just coursework. The program will provide holistic learning experiences outside the classroom, including distinctive undergraduate research, service and study abroad experiences, evening seminars, field trips, guest speakers, and other cocurricular learning, allowing students to expand their breadth of knowledge, as well as their critical and creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Honors students will also be able to participate in opportunities such as paid internships, teaching assistantships, independent research, international study, peer mentoring, and other campus leadership roles.

Laura McNeil, Ph.D., associate professor of history, is program director.

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GLOBAL LEARNING

Kochi Students Experience an American Education Nine undergraduate students from the University of Kochi in Japan visited campus for a week at the end of February, and 30+ Elms students served as Friendship Partners to make them feel at home.

The Kochi students lived in the residence halls, attended classes, visited social work community sites, worked on a class project at a local elementary school, and enjoyed time building relationships and learning about American culture.

Taking the lead on this year’s exchange program at Elms were Alaina Macaulay, director of diversity and inclusion; Kristina Davignon ’19; Akiko Takata, this year’s Japanese Fulbright language teaching assistant; and Tina Savoie, administrative assistant in the Center for Student Success.

As part of our reciprocal exchange program, nine Elms College students are preparing to travel to Japan in May/June. 

Irish, Japanese FLTAs Inspire Global Learning Elms welcomed two Fulbright language teaching assistants (FLTAs) for the 2018-2019 academic year: Akiko Takata of Kyoto, Japan, who taught Japanese language and culture, and Jill McMahon of Dublin, Ireland, who taught Irish (Gaelic) language and culture.

Takata most recently worked as a teacher at Doshisha Junior High School in Japan. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in linguistics at Tokushima University and her master’s degree in teaching Japanese at Kobe University. She also worked as an assistant language teacher in Dublin from July 2016 to February 2017, teaching Japanese to students at Dublin City University and four secondary schools.

One of Takata’s future goals is to set up a support system in Japanese public schools for foreign students who lack Japanese language skills. “Teachers should make school a place where students who have different backgrounds and mother tongues can get along,” she said.

McMahon, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in Irish and journalism at Dublin City University and a master of philosophy degree in digital humanities and culture at Trinity College, most recently served as a government administrator with Gaeloideachas, an Irish organization that supports Irishlanguage immersion schools in Ireland.

She plans to incorporate extracurricular activities into her FLTA duties, to give students opportunities to learn Irish in less formal contexts.

The Irish FLTA position is co-sponsored by the Irish Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts.

“Thanks to the Fulbright FLTA program, we are able to broaden the range of languages that we offer in support of our academic programs,” said Joyce Hampton, Ed.D., the director of student success and strategic initiatives at Elms. “Learning a language develops a global perspective and sparks an interest in study abroad.” 

ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP

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Elms College Magazine

Elms Athletics Welcomes New Leadership The Elms campus welcomed Michael Theulen, DPE, as its new director of athletics in January.

Sean Milbier, head women’s soccer coach, was promoted to assistant athletic director for communications as well.

Theulen is a familiar face in Division III sports in western Massachusetts, having coached men’s basketball at Springfield College for 14 years before taking over as director of athletics at Western New England University for the next 19. Now, he’s excited to help Elms embark upon a new era of excellence in athletics.

“When you look at an athletic department, you can handle things as a business or a family,” Theulen said. “We do it the family way. I was the son of a coach, and I saw firsthand the effect that my father had on his team. Not by the wins and losses, but the life impact he had.”

Michael Theulen, DPE

Sean Milbier, head coach of the women’s soccer team for the past six years, will be supporting Theulen’s plans as the new assistant athletic director for communications. Responsible for promoting the achievements of the department, Milbier is eager to bring his coach’s perspective into the mix.

“As coaches we love winning, and we hate losing, but having pride when one of our athletes does something amazing, and earns a 4.0 GPA or Player of the Week, that’s what is important,” he said. “I want to put a spotlight on the incredible things they’re doing.” 

“Of course we want to be highly successful on the field,” he added. “But we also want to challenge our athletes to be the very best students at this institution, and to be great leaders and ambassadors.”

One of Theulen’s top priorities is to bring more visibility to the core values of Elms athletics — excellence in Education, Leadership, Mentoring, and Service. He wants student athletes to be more involved in decisions that affect their experience on campus, like joining the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) to help rewrite the student athlete handbook. For Theulen, connection is key.

“This campus is small enough that you can make unique connections, and network for success, before you leave,” he said. “I challenge our student athletes to get to know me, because, after four years, I’d love to pick up the phone for them.”

Sean Milbier

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2018-2019 Athletic Milestones

37 fall sport student athletes earned All-Academic NECC recognition.

Men’s and women’s swimming earned College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Award.

Women’s cross country won the NECC

Championship.

Men’s volleyball was ranked #5 nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Cross country coach Jill Bigos was named NECC

Coach of the Year.

Field hockey player Madison Messier ’19 broke two all-time records (all-time goals, all-time points). She now holds four school records and is the first to reach 100 points.

In softball, Madison Messier ’19 attained 100

career hits.

Men’s Volleyball Nets Records, Recognition The Elms College men’s volleyball team had an historic season, with their awesome achievements including being ranked No. 3 in the East Region and No. 5 nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The Blazers also smashed their previous single-season win total of 20 with an overall season record of 285, and 13-1 in their conference.

Although the 2018 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Champion Blazers fell just short of winning the conference for a second consecutive year, they did receive significant recognition: Jeremy Torres ’21 of Juncos, PR, was voted the 2019 NECC Player of the Year, and head coach Sheila Gisbrecht was named Coach of the Year, both for the second consecutive season.

This is Gisbrecht’s fourth NECC Coach of the Year accolade on the men’s side, having previously received the honor in 2009, 2012, and 2018. In her 11th season leading the Blazers, Gisbrecht guided Elms to enter the 2019 postseason as the top seed. The Blazers also consistently appeared in the AVCA rankings during the season, achieving the program’s highest-ever ranking of No. 5. The team also led the NECC state sheet in many categories, including overall kills (1,312), conference kills (576), overall assists (1,224), conference assists (530), and overall digs (1.218).

Sheila Gisbrecht

Torres also received First Team All-NECC honors, as did his teammate, Jovanny Torres ’22 (no relation), also of Juncos, PR. Second Team All-NECC honors went to three Blazers: John Dunphy ’19 of Farmington, CT, Carlos Mercado ’22 of Barranquitas, PR — the two of whom combined for 1,071 assists during the year — and Jake Johnson ’19 of Warwick, RI, who landed 145 kills this season. 

Jeremy Torres ’21

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

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Elms College Magazine

Bernadette Nowakowski ’89, MALA ’08, Named VPIA Elms College has appointed Bernadette Nowakowski ’89, MALA ‘08, as the college’s new vice president of institutional advancement (VPIA), effective Feb. 1.

“After a national search, it became clear to me and the search committee that Bernadette was our most qualified candidate,” said President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA. “With more than 22 years of professional experience in higher education advancement, Bernadette also has a deep knowledge of Elms College’s history and mission as well as our current vision. She earned her B.A. in international studies with a minor in modern languages here at Elms in 1989, and her master of arts of liberal arts in 2008.”

intense fundraising planning. She also has provided leadership and strategic direction in IA through exploration of new fundraising options while overseeing major gifts, annual giving, and endowed scholarship and planned giving programs.

Nowakowski is a current member of the Planned Giving Group of New England (PGGNE), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She also served on Elms College’s presidential search committee (2016-2017) and strategic planning (fiscal stability) committee (2016).

As VPIA, Nowakowski is tasked with providing strategic leadership and direction for all institutional advancement programs within the context of the mission and values of the college. She will be responsible for the planning, management, and execution of a comprehensive advancement program, including oversight of all fundraising initiatives.

Nowakowski has served in various roles in our institutional advancement office since 1996. Her collaborative and collegial style embraces shared Bernadette Nowakowski ’89, MALA ‘08 responsibility and accountability in creating a positive, team-oriented environment to achieve The search committee included the president’s cabinet and results. Her proven ability to engage and develop effective four trustees — Cindy Lyons, Paul Stelzer, Tony Cignoli, and relationships with key constituency groups, including Kathy Tobin — who all participated in the interviews and individuals, corporations, and foundations has built a solid track selection process. record in major gifts solicitation and strategic fundraising.

The search was staffed by Mark Whittaker, the college’s interim Most recently, she has served as the assistant vice president VPIA, who is also president of the fundraising consulting firm of institutional advancement since 2017. She has been Whittaker & Associates.  responsible for co-creating, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive development plan, as well as participating in

Elms Leadership Team Expands The president’s cabinet has grown in recent months.

In addition to Bernadette Nowakowski ’89, MALA ’08, vice president for institutional advancement, new members joining Vice President of Academic Affairs Walter C. Breau, Ph.D., and Dean of Students Teresa Winters are: Carol Allan, SSJ, MAAT, special assistant to the president for mission and charism, and director of Campus Ministry Katie Longley, CPA, vice president of finance and administration Jonathan Scully, MBA, vice president of enrollment management and marketing Rev. Mark S. Stelzer, S.Th.D., special assistant to the president for Catholic identity, and college chaplain President Dumay with his cabinet and Executive Assistant Kimberly Hannah.

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President Harry Dumay, Ph.D., MBA, participated in the Coalition to Advance Nursing in Haiti Summit at Regis College in December. In January, he attended the Council of Independent Colleges’ Presidents Institute in Scottsdale, AZ, and was a panelist for the Cultivating the Leadership Pipeline program. Also in January, Dr. Dumay appeared on Connecting Point, a program produced by Springfield, MA, public television station WGBY; joining him in a discussion of diversity in college leadership were Christina Royal, Ph.D., president of Holyoke Community College, and Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D., president of Westfield State University.

In March, Dr. Dumay served as a panelist for “The Role of Higher Education in Fostering Inclusive Urban Ecosystems,” a fundraiser in New York City hosted by the Siegel Family Endowment. In April, Dr. Dumay and Springfield Technical Community College President John B. Cook, Ph.D., formally signed an agreement to collaborate on two completely online and accelerated bachelor’s degrees in computer science and computer information technology and security.

Communication sciences and disorders Brittney Carlson, Au.D/Ph.D., assistant professor and program director, and alumna Silvana Tellerico ‘18 presented their research poster, “Noise vs. warble stimuli in obtaining aided thresholds in cochlear implant users,” at the 2018 American Speech Language Hearing (ASHA) Convention Nov. 16 in Boston. Jennifer Roy ‘19 (not pictured) also contributed to the research project and the poster.

Janice A. Fedor, Ed.D., MBA, chair of the Division of Business, published a report titled “Can We Talk? SemiStructured Interviews with Members of an All-Female Cohort from a Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program” in SAGE Research Methods in January 2019.

The report, part of her dissertation for her doctoral program in educational leadership and supervision through American International College, explored aspects of the cohort educational model used by a bachelor’s degree completion program offered by Elms in partnership with a local community college.

John Lambdin, Ed.D., chair of the Social Sciences Department and professor of psychology, is retiring at the end of the spring 2019 semester.

He is a licensed psychologist who was in private practice providing psychotherapy for adults and families for more than 38 years. He has taught psychology in graduate and

undergraduate schools, and served as a consulting psychologist in public and private elementary and secondary schools. His professional interests include the practical application of psychology to all areas of human behavior, the role of humor in learning and mental health, and psychology in the media. He has been a professor at the Elms since January 2000. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lynchburg College and a doctor of education degree from Boston University.

Martin Pion, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Theology and Pastoral Studies, is retiring at the end of the spring 2019 semester. He is versed in the fields of ethics, scripture, lay ministry, ecumenism, Jewish-Christian dialogue, and sacramental theology. In addition to teaching at Elms, he has taught, presented workshops and lectures, and served on ethics committees and boards of medical organizations. He is also president of the Interfaith Council of Western Massachusetts. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at St. Michael’s College, and his Ph.D. at Andover Newton Theological School.

School of Nursing Sharing Knowledge: Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and RN Studies Andrew Storer, Ph.D., DNP, FNP-C, ACNP-BC, ENP-C; Dean Kathleen Scoble, Ed.D., RN; and DNP Program Director Teresa Kuta Reske, DNP, MPA, RN, delivered presentations on DNP education at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 45th Annual Conference April 4-7 in Atlanta.

Reske, Scoble, and Storer had poster presentations on DNP scholarly projects accepted to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Doctoral Conference in March 2019.

SERVICE MISSION TO TRIPS OTHERS

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Elms College Magazine

Mission Trips 2019 Every year, Elms students get hands-on opportunities to help build a better world through mission and service trips. These trips allow students to put their education into action, and to bring the mission of the college and the Sisters of St. Joseph to life. They instill the social teachings that form the base of a Catholic education. They also demonstrate the importance of cultural sensitivity and service to others.

This year’s mission trips visited New Orleans and Jamaica in January, and Texas, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica in March.

Mission and service trips tend to involve projects such as light manual labor, visiting with the elderly or the sick, working with children, and serving in soup kitchens and food pantries. Each mission trip offers real-world experience for the participants, while simultaneously encouraging theological reflection and social analysis with shared reflection and prayer. ď ?

El Paso, Texas - March 2019 A group from Elms volunteered with the Columban Fathers in their Alternative Service Break program of helping to educate people on issues related to poverty, migration, and human rights.

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New Orleans - January 2019 Eight students and two chaperones traveled to New Orleans for a week of volunteering with Opportunity Housing of SBP Inc. to lay flooring and paint a new home. While in New Orleans, the group also took a walking tour of the city, and visited the WWII Museum, the Katrina Museum, and the Lower Ninth Ward Museum.

Jamaica - January 2019

Mandeville, Jamaica - March 2019

A number of accelerated second-degree nursing students visited Jamaica, the sixth annual such trip Elms students have taken. The students provided care in bush clinics to Jamaicans who have very little healthcare access. “It has been an amazing trip — we’ve cared for over 400 patients in multiple bush clinics, and cared for residents at the Bosco Boys’ Home,” said Deana Nunes, MSN, RN, assistant clinical professor, who led the trip with Br. Michael Duffy, DNP, ANP-BC, conventual Franciscan friar, associate dean of the School of Nursing.

Elms students served with Passionist Volunteers International in nursing homes, infirmaries, and schools, and participated in home visits. Elms has partnered with PVI on mission trips for 15 years.

San Juan, Puerto Rico - March 2019 Students and chaperones volunteered with local Sisters of St. Joseph at a school, and helped a family rebuild and recover after Hurricane Maria. The group also engaged in home visits with local residents.

ALUMNI NEWS

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Elms College Magazine

Keeping Education All in the Family For three generations, the Denaults have attended Elms to pursue a passion for teaching.

Growing up in Chicopee, MA, Shannon Denault ’19 spent many family get-togethers in the basement of her grandmother’s house, along with 14 cousins. Walking into the cellar, most people would expect to find a TV, a video game console, or maybe a well-worn Ping-Pong table. What Shannon had, instead, was a bona fide classroom setup, complete with neat rows of school desks and a blackboard.

“I was always the teacher, and they were the students,” Shannon said. “It made me feel so special when my cousins would ask me to be their teacher, even at a young age.”

While playing school might sound like good-natured makebelieve, becoming a teacher is more like a rite of passage for the Denaults. Along with her mother, Tara Denault, M.Ed. ’96, and her grandmother, Joyce Denault ’60, Shannon represents the third generation of women in her family to attend Elms and pursue a career in education.

and emotional needs of her fifth grade students, Tara has transformed her classroom into a space of empowerment and security. Teaching science is her opportunity to introduce young adults to experiences they never knew existed.

“Especially in the inner city, making a connection with students and infusing the classroom with a family feel is important,” she said.

After graduating this spring, Shannon will inherit the family torch and embark on her first teaching job. An elementary education major and coaching minor, she is eager to bring out the best in her students both academically and athletically.

Shannon has plenty of experience doing both: In addition to substitute teaching for her mother’s class at Brunton, she also coaches the junior varsity softball team at Longmeadow High School. When she has time, she volunteers as a coach for the girls basketball team at Chicopee High School.

If the Denault family legacy is defined by educational excellence, it also owes much to the socio-spiritual side of campus life as well. In Joyce’s case, Elms represents the origin of abiding friendships.

“The best thing of all was the friendships that I made,” she recalled. “When I graduated, three or four of us girls decided that we would meet every two weeks. To this day, we still do.”

“This is a very warm-hearted school still,” she added. “Shannon has friends who stand by her and help her through bad times and good times — that’s how it was years ago, too.”

For Tara, Elms is a place where spirituality unfolds and intersects with intellectual inquiry.

“Elms is a reminder of our faith,” she said. “We are all blessed to share this together.”

Shannon couldn’t agree more. For her, Elms is synonymous with home, a place where she connects with her family’s roots. 

Student Legacy Program

Tara Denault, M.Ed. ’96 (left), Shannon Denault ’19, and Joyce Denault ’60. All three women studied elementary education during college to make a positive impact on young learners.

As a “Day Hop” commuter in the late 1950s, Joyce majored in elementary education. She went on to teach at Peppermint Nursery School in Chicopee for 13 years. Her attention to educating the whole person — or in this case, toddler — echoes the college’s tradition of developing mind, body, and spirit together.

At Brunton Elementary School in Chicopee, Tara has carried on her mother-in-law’s commitment to holistic education for 31 years and counting. Keenly aware of the complex intellectual

Caroline Cristoforo ’20 and Lauren DeRose ’20

The Alumni Board has sponsored a new legacy student program to fund employment in the Alumni Relations office for students with legacy connections to the college. Funding for this program comes from the board’s partnership with Liberty Mutual Insurance: Every time an alumna/us renews their policy or purchases a new policy, they are funding student employment.

This year’s funding recipients are management major Lauren DeRose ’20 and education major Caroline Cristoforo ’20.

ACADEMIC PODCAST SUCCESS

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Elms College Magazine

Self-Help Via Soundwaves

Dimitri Tessier ’17 (left), Isaiah Odunlami ’14, MBA ’16, and Kenny Lockett ’15.

The Live For You podcast is available at isaiahodunlami.com.

Isaiah credits his time at Elms with giving him the foundation for resonating with people from all walks of life.

Podcasts are all the rage these days. With thousands of productions covering every topic imaginable, audio shows captivate listeners every day. When Isaiah Odunlami ’14, MBA ’16, felt the need for a creative outlet, he decided to contribute something more personal to the audiosphere.

“Talking to my wife and some friends, I ended up coming up with a podcast – the Live For You podcast,” he said.

Live For You is a self-help philosophy, but with a twist: By fulfilling your own potential, your self-confidence ripples outward, lifting up friends, family, and coworkers, inspiring social change. Each episode of the show examines this idea from a different angle, exploring the mindsets, decisions, and daily practices that lead to personal success.

“You’re doing the best for yourself, to live out your purpose, to eventually help someone else out,” Isaiah explained. “Whether you’re doing it for your significant other, your kids, or whomever, you’re living your best life for them.”

They’re Regular Guys, Not Gurus Isaiah co-hosts the podcast with fellow Elms alumni and former Blazer basketball teammates Dimitri Tessier ’17 and Kenny Lockett ’15. Each host brings a unique perspective to the table, Isaiah said, which makes the show more accessible to a range of listeners. The group’s first show unpacked the racial, cultural, and financial implications of the phrase “I’m going to make it.” In later installments, the trio reflected on everything from the morality of social media to the influence of basketball on their lives.

Isaiah credits his time at Elms with giving him the foundation for resonating with people from all walks of life.

“Being able to be confident, to understand how to talk to people, to be a leader – studying business at Elms helped me with those competencies,” he said.

An accountant by trade, Isaiah began learning everything he could about audio and video production to make his vision a reality.

For the moment, Isaiah, Kenny, and Dimitri are focused on building their brand. They treat Live For You like a startup, tapping into their entrepreneurial energy to stay ahead of the content production curve. No matter where the podcast ends up, they want their listeners to realize that everyone has the potential to overcome struggles on the way to achieving success. 

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ENGAGING ALUMNI

EVENTS

Reunion Weekend June 7-9, Elms College It’s time to come home. We are celebrating 4s and 9s this year, with the Class of 1969 celebrating their 50th Reunion! All alumni are invited to help us celebrate — and take part in fun activities such as the Blazer Bar Crawl, class dinners, and a Discover Your Purpose workshop. Prices vary; for rates, contact Jess Colson ’15, director of alumni relations, at alumni@elms.edu or (413) 265-2454.

Red Sox Game 7:10 p.m. June 21, Fenway Park, Boston Watch the Boston Red Sox take on the Toronto Blue Jays at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark with fellow Elms College alumni and friends. Our seats in Grandstand Section 21 are behind home plate. Ticket prices are as follows: $65 for BOLD (Blazers of the Last Decade, which includes graduates from 2009-2019), $75 for alumni, and $85 for friends of Elms College.

Optional round-trip transportation is available from Elms College at $35 per person.

Broadway in Boston July 13 (lunch at 12 p.m.; show at 2 p.m.), Boston Opera House This event is for theater lovers! Alumni and friends are invited to join us for an afternoon at the theater. The Tony award-winning best musical, Dear Evan Hansen, is “the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it.” Ticket prices are $165 per person, and include lunch in Boston, a ticket to the show, and round-trip transportation from Elms College. Space is limited!

Cape Cod Luncheon 12-3 p.m. August 7, Eastward Ho! Country Club This alumni-favorite event is back for another summer!

Enjoy a delicious 3 course lunch, hear college updates from President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA, and rekindle your love of Elms College on beautiful Cape Cod. $45 for alumni, $55 for friends. Add on round-trip transportation from Elms College for $35 per person.

Wine & Jazz Night 4:30-7:30 p.m. August 22, Elms College Unwind after work and join us for a casual evening of wine tasting and live jazz on the Keating Quadrangle. Light refreshments will be served. $5 for BOLD alumni, $10 for alumni, $15 for friends of Elms College.

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Elms College Magazine

IN MEMORIAM 2018-2019 Alumni:

Dorothy Heffernan Watterson ’43 Doris Gobeille Fisk ’44 Mary Dooling Molloy ’44 M. Esther Dillon ’46 Mary Jane Flood Pignatelli ’46 Mary Jane O’Malley LaRocque ’48 Marion Hoar ’49 Maureen Keating Pooler ’49 Clare Ryan ’49 Patricia Tierney Campbell ’50 Margaret Lively Schultz ’50 Dorothea Anetzberger Zanetti ’53 Eleanor McFadden Fournier ’54 Eleanor Bissonette Cunningham ‘55 Mary Fitzgerald De Marco ’56 James Bernard Laughnane ’56, SSJ Mary Crowley Pikiell ’56 Patricia Sharron ’57, SSJ Mary Lou Lacey ’58, SSJ Elizabeth Sadowski Beuchert ’60 Loretta Scarlett ’60, SSJ Madeline Hayes ’61 Jeanne Archey ’63 Rosemary Kelly Marczewski ’63 Mary Borselli Cullen ‘64 Patricia Fitzgibbon Morin ’64 Judith Blackmer Collins ’65 Mary-Ellen Nichols Gretler ’65 Anne Marie Donohue Russo ‘65 Patricia Krzelest ’66 Rosetta Fish Grimm ’68 Kathleen Martin Hitas ’68 Jo-Ann McGahan ’68 Suzanne Noponen ’68 Lynda Thomson Hague ’69 Dorothy Goggins Lecours ‘69 Marie Bailey ’70 Donna Beggs DiBernado ‘77 Elsine Haddad Sadak ’86 Suzanne Germain O’Donnell ’91 Sandra Martinelli Reissour ’91 Diane Meador Dube ‘94 Judy Desgres-Cote ’96 Tammy Jacobson-Landon ’98

Mother of: Diane Trela ’78 Heidi Morin ’97 Walter Breau, Ph.D. Mother-in-Law of: Lynn Daigle Korza ’88 Father of: Michele Plourde Barker ’81 Doreen O’Brien ‘83 Martha Ryan Ross ’87 Walter Breau, Ph.D. James Forhan

Daughter of: Marianne Carney McCauley ’77 Friends of the College: Mona Evans – Former Trustee Gretchen Fox – Former Faculty Bartley MacPhaidin, C.S.C. – Former Trustee Dorothy Molnar – Faculty Mary Garde Richard O’Connor Sr. Joseph Pikiell Nancy Underwood Anna Mae Wesloski

Father-In-Law of: Darlene Czapla Dewhurst ‘76 Paula Signet Fitzgerald ’83 Sister of: Kathleen Keating ’52, SSJ Dorothy Chekas ’59 Brother of: Joan Donnelly Butler ’69 Kathleen Keough ’69 Doreen O’Brien ‘83 Destinee Meeker ’11 Husband of: Anne Haran Powers ’55 Marilyn Deignan Shepardson ’58 Ruth Owens Zaniboni ’63 Anne Conlee Cronin ’64 Sandra Hodge Turban ’64

Education professor Dorothy Molnar, Ed.D., passed away Feb. 28 in Boston at age 71. Dr. Molnar earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Calvin College in Michigan and her doctorate in education at the University of Massachusetts. She taught at Elms for three decades and enjoyed educating the next generation of teachers. Earlier in her career, she served as associate superintendent of schools in Northampton and developed the Side by Side program with her colleagues in Montague. The college held memorial Masses for Dr. Molnar on March 20 and March 23.

Innovation for Social Change

29

It was divine intervention.

In July 1948, 17-year-old Connie McCarthy of Springfield, MA, had just gotten her driver’s license, but only one of her friends was willing to ride with the brand-new driver.

They stopped in to see Marguerite Slattery, whom Connie had never met. Marguerite wasn’t afraid to ride with a new driver; she asked if they could take a drive to the College of Our Lady of the Elms. “That’s where I’m going to school in September,” Marguerite told her.

She showed Connie, who was planning to go to another college in the fall, around the Elms campus. “I said, ‘Oh, it’s so beautiful! I’d love to come here,’ ” Connie recalled in a recent interview. “And she said, ‘Well, come back to my house — ­ I’ve got an extra application.’ Talk about fate!” She was accepted to Elms a week later, and started classes in September.

Constance McCarthy ’52

“That was divine intervention,” she said. “Marguerite became one of my best friends. And the students were so welcoming, and the sisters were so welcoming. I think God’s hand was in it all the way.”

Connie chose to major in history. “History is all about people,” she said recently. “I was very interested in studying people, the human condition.”

She credits her Elms education with preparing her for a career as a teacher and counselor in the Springfield schools. She taught kindergarten, second and third grade at Hooker School until the school came down in 1967, after which she became an adjustment counselor through a federal training grant for Special Social and Psychological Services.

Throughout her career, she worked with people from disadvantaged backgrounds. “I always worked with the underprivileged kids, and the kids who had academic or emotional problems,” she said. “We went into the different schools to share information about the culture of poverty with the teachers and administrators, because of course poverty affects the learning process of the student. It was always a reaching out, working with a student or with a family, and bringing the community into the school.”

“It was important work, and very gratifying, and I was so lucky to have had the foundation of the Elms.”

Connie hopes her legacy gift will help future generations to carry on her work with disadvantaged children; she hopes a portion will “go to students who are interested in helping the underprivileged, working with kids who have problems, or helping children overcome poverty,” she said.

Join the Living Legacy Society If you would like more information about joining the Living Legacy Society, contact Bernadette Nowakowski ’89, ’08, vice president of institutional advancement, at 413-265-2214 or nowakowskib@elms.edu.

291 Springfield Street Chicopee, Massachusetts 01013-2839

The Annual Fund Your Gift Changes Lives

Your financial support helps Elms College empower students to effect positive change in the community and in the world. Gifts paid before June 30, the close of the college’s fiscal year, allow Elms to put your gift to use quickly in a way that has the biggest impact on our students, programs, and faculty.

Join alumni and friends of the college by making a tax-deductible gift today.

Learn more at www.elms.edu/give or contact Annual Fund Director William Dziura ’11 at dziuraw@elms.edu or 413-265-2213.