Prepared for Life
Alumna Jennifer Piepszak ’92 was recently appointed chief operating officer of JPMorgan Chase.
Building a Legacy of Mentorship
Egan School Supports Next Generation of Nurse Anesthetists
Programmed to Succeed
Michael P. Zabinski, PhD, professor of engineering, inspired “literally thousands” of students over his 55-year career at Fairfield.
Community Embraces Ignatian Spirituality
Through Programs at the Murphy Center
Image courtesy of ESPNU, used with permission.
Fans and players at Mahoney Arena celebrate after Deon Perry’s incredible 70-foot swisher seals a thrilling 59-56 men’s basketball victory over Manhattan on Feb. 6.
On the cover:
Home to the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality, the David J. Dolan House was built in 1929 in the French Norman style, featuring a steeply pitched roof and rounded tower.
Photo by Casey Timmeny ’99
Fairfield University Magazine
Fairfield University
Spring 2025 | Volume 47 | Number 4 a.m.d.g.
Editor, Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87, MFA’25
Assistant Editor, Erin Craw MA’19, PhD
University News Editor, Susan Cipollaro Vice President for Marketing and Communications,
Jennifer Anderson ’97, MBA’02
Designer, Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91
Magazine Photographer, Joe Adams
Photography by:
Joe Adams: 4, 19, 25, 33
Joe Buglewicz: 28, 29
Giuliana Darcangelo: 29
Fairfield Now (2007): 21
Olivia Frzop: 13
Graypeak Images: 31
Kristie Kirstner: 14
Nick Mancusi: 12
The Manor Yearbook (1980): 21
Ronald A. Spatafore: 23, 24
Stockton: 16
Contributed: 11, 13, 20, 26, 32, 34-40
Fairfield University Magazine is published four times (November, March, June, September) during the year by Fairfield University. Editorial offices are located in: Fairfield University
1720 Post Road, Fairfield CT 06824 (203) 254-4000
Email: magazine@fairfield.edu
Printed at Allied Printing Services Manchester, Connecticut
by
s ara C olabella ’08, M a’11
Michael P. Zabinski, PhD, professor of engineering, inspired “literally thousands” of students over his 55-year career.
More than half a century ago, Dr. Michael Zabinski embarked on a career at Fairfield that has been defined by innovation, mentorship, and a passion for teaching. Upon his retirement in the fall of 2024, the Mechanical Engineering Department was named in his honor, testament to the indelible mark he has left on his students and colleagues.
“…Fairfield remains an institution that embraces a duality: rooted in tradition while also continuously thinking about how we meet the needs of the 21st century.”
— Mark r ne M e C, phd , University President
by b rad t ho M as
Stephen Sanchez DNP’22 benefited from the support of a mentor when he was applying to doctoral programs. Now an adjunct professor in Egan’s highly competitive DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program — boasting an anticipated seven percent acceptance rate — Dr. Sanchez is a proud alumnus determined to pay that mentorship forward.
Community members — particularly women — are embracing Ignatian Spirituality through programs at the Murphy Center.
athleti C s Leading the Pack by d rew k ingsley ’07 Hannah Snayd ’27 is the first individual MAAC Cross Country Champion in Fairfield history.
e rin C raw M a’19, p h d
Jennifer Piepszak ’92 was recently appointed chief operating officer (COO) of JPMorgan Chase. She spoke with Fairfield University Magazine about the value of her Jesuit education.
An on-campus interview with a top accounting firm was Jennifer Piepszak’s entry point into the business world in 1992. More than three decades later, Piepszak offers a unique perspective on what it takes to truly excel in business.
Steve Ciardiello ’80 and Peter Ciardiello ’81 Brothers in Business 35 Jon Thomas ’02, MBA’07 An Entrepreneur Grapples for a Cure
arts & M inds C alendar
donor pro F ile Judge Albert (Allie) Emanuelli ’59 From the Diamond to Forever: Baseball Alumnus Makes Legacy Gift
“Our Magis Core Curriculum equips students with a broad, comprehensive understanding of the world and the ability to think critically, communicate thoughtfully, and carry out their social responsibility.”
Dear Friends,
In the midst of a dynamic spring semester, I am reminded that this season is both a time of renewal and reflection. Today, I am particularly mindful of how Fairfield remains an institution that embraces a duality: rooted in tradition while also continuously thinking about how we meet the needs of the 21st century. Our Magis Core Curriculum equips students with a broad, comprehensive understanding of the world and the ability to think critically, communicate thoughtfully, and carry out their social responsibility. We are more committed than ever to supporting the enduring relevance of our University’s rigorous liberal arts tradition in preparing students with a breadth and depth of knowledge across disciplines, while instilling a devotion to lifelong learning.
Send your letters to the editor of Fairfield University Magazine to Jeannine Graf at jeannine.graf@fairfield.edu.
Your news could be featured in an upcoming issue of Fairfield University Magazine! Submit your updates through Class Notes within the Online Community and don’t forget to include a photo! Go to fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity.
This year, on March 17, as we commemorated Fairfield’s founding in 1942, we also celebrated the extraordinary generosity of John C. Meditz ’70, whose magnanimous $50 million gift will leave a lasting impact and advance the University’s mission to expand student learning and continuously enhance the quality of our Jesuit liberal arts education.
In recognition of not just this gift, but also his exceptional commitment to the liberal arts, Fairfield University’s College of Arts and Sciences will be renamed John C. Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1. Meditz College — my academic home — will continue to serve as a constant reminder of our dedication as stewards of the Jesuit Catholic tradition to amplify our impact on the world by elevating our educational approaches and resources. This remarkable gift comes at an opportune time, as the transformational value of our liberal arts education is especially critical in addressing the significant need to prepare students to be thoughtful, compassionate, valuesdriven leaders in an ever more complex world.
I am honored to be serving as a board member of the National Association of Independent Colleges
and Universities, working with esteemed colleagues to articulate the immeasurable value of higher education to society. Building upon this work, I am thrilled to have also recently joined the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness consortium, partnering with other institutional leaders to identify what is needed to ensure we effectively prepare the next generation of graduates for civic engagement. Such collaboration is a natural extension of my academic research that focused on the integral role of higher education and its wide variety of institutions in advancing the American republic and the greater good.
One measure of Fairfield’s role in this effort is the exceptional and growing interest we see from prospective students. This year, we received 21,250 applications, marking a nearly 70 percent increase over the past five years. Such growth is a testament to Fairfield’s values-based, studentcentric, outcomes-focused approach to developing the whole person and providing a foundation from which students build a purposeful life. We are both heartened and humbled by the enthusiastic interest. Earlier this semester, we hosted more than 300 local leaders at the governor’s annual regional economic development breakfast. There, I spoke of our Tocquevillian civic commitment and how we are mindful of its centrality in how we educate students and engage our broader community. Events such as this remind us of our fundamental role as a Jesuit Catholic institution in cultivating a more just and connected society for all.
Through all of these efforts we move forward in our shared endeavor to advance the quality and scale of Fairfield and with great appreciation for our collective work in accompanying our students on a hope-filled future. Mindful of this and grateful to be steward of such a special place, I would echo the sentiments I offered during my Lenten reflection as part of a series for the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality, asking us in this season to be generous of spirit, grateful for community, and emboldened by a fierceness of love.
With utmost gratitude and very best wishes,
Mark r. ne M eC, phd President
In November, members of Fairfield’s Jesuit Community, Board of Trustees, and University leadership joined President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, on a pilgrimage to significant sites connected to the Jesuit mission and to St. Ignatius in Rome. Among many extraordinary moments, the group of 14 celebrated Mass in the Rooms of St. Ignatius and at the Chapel at La Storta, explored the Jesuit Archives, and visited a trio of Jesuit churches: the Gesù, Sant’Ignazio, and Sant’Andrea Al Quirinale.
A brief but powerful encounter with Pope Francis during an audience in St. Peter’s Square was a high point of the pilgrimage according to Rev. Paul Rourke, S.J., vice president of mission and ministry. Fr. Rourke introduced Dr. Nemec and the group to Pope Francis, who asked for their prayers, shook a few hands, and posed for photos. “He radiates serenity and joy, and you share in it when with him,” said Fr. Rourke of the pope. The group from Fairfield also had the honor of meeting with the Superior General of the Society of Jesus Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., a scholar with a background in political science, and representatives from the Dicastery for Education and Culture. l F
Sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies, the annual Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture honors the legacy of Fr. Mooney, a former academic vice president at Fairfield University who passed away in 1993.
In the 2024 Mooney Lecture on Nov. 13, Hosffman Ospino, PhD, associate professor of Hispanic ministry and religious education at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry explored the political landscape, ecclesial issues, and cultural transformations that have uniquely tested American Catholics over the past year. He discussed how these tensions are inspiring new ways of living out Catholic identity and how they are amplifying the Church’s voice in the public square.
In partnership with America Media, Fairfield hosted a lecture by the Rev. John F. Baldovin, S.J., professor of historical and liturgical theology at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry, on Feb. 27.
In “Where is God in the Liturgy? The Way Forward for Liturgical Reform,” the former Fairfield University Trustee addressed timely questions about Catholic liturgical practice.
The ongoing America Media and College of Arts and Sciences collaboration is rooted in the Ignatian charism shared by both institutions.
Renowned novelist Edwidge Danticat was Fairfield University’s keynote speaker at the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation on Feb. 12. The theme for this year’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance was “Beloved Community: Forging Justice, Peace, and Freedom.” Programming to celebrate the life and influence of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was scheduled from Feb. 10 to 13.
The Paul S. Timpanelli Leadership Award was presented to Fairfield Bellarmine by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council at a gala event on Dec. 4. Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., executive director and vice provost of Fairfield Bellarmine, accepted the award on behalf of Bellarmine’s faculty, staff, and students.
The Timpanelli Award recognizes the impact that Fairfield Bellarmine — located on Bellarmine Campus at 460 Mill Hill Ave. in Bridgeport — is having in the East End neighborhood. Further, it celebrates Fairfield University’s shared vision to strengthen community through sustained partnerships in the Greater Bridgeport region and create intergenerational prosperity through a transformative, values-based education.
The two-year Fairfield Bellarmine associate’s degree program features a core curriculum in the humanities and sciences and major tracks in business, computer science, health studies, and liberal arts. Upon graduation, many Bellarmine students plan to transition into bachelor’s degree programs while others will seek meaningful employment.
Charles F. Dolan P’86, ’85, GP’16, Trustee Emeritus of Fairfield University and visionary benefactor, passed away on Dec. 28, 2024, at the age of 98. He leaves behind a legacy as an innovator and leader.
Through his 25 years of dedicated service on Fairfield University’s Board of Trustees and his pioneering leadership in the telecommunications industry, Charles Dolan’s enduring impact will continue to inspire and empower future generations.
The Charles F. Dolan School of Business was officially named in 2000. “[Charles Dolan’s] generosity and vision elevated the school to national prominence, establishing it as one of the best business schools in the country. Charles’ enduring legacy is not only evident in the excellence of our business programs, but also in the many scholarships that have made a Fairfield education accessible to students from around the world,” said President Mark R. Nemec, PhD.
Dolan’s commitment to Fairfield University remained steadfast throughout his life. After serving on the Board of Trustees from 1981 to 2006, he was named a Trustee Emeritus by the Board and remained deeply involved with Fairfield University. In 2016, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his exceptional contributions to both the telecommunications industry and Fairfield University.
The 80,500-square-foot Dolan School of Business, situated in the heart of campus, has become a business and technology hub, garnering national business school rankings, an academically impressive student body, and prestigious faculty. Additionally, the 1989 acquisition and renovation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur property were made possible through Dolan and his family’s support, further cementing their transformative
impact on the University.
Dolan, the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is remembered as an innovative leader in the telecommunications space. He was not only a businessman but someone who consistently gave back to the business community. His philanthropy cultivated opportunities for business students, established a platform for the nationally ranked business school’s programs to flourish, and helped Fairfield Dolan’s robust alumni network to continue its growth. Dolan’s legacy continues through his children and grandchildren, who remain deeply connected to the Fairfield University community.
Marianne Dolan Weber P’16, daughter of Charles Dolan, served on Fairfield’s Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2018 and was appointed Trustee Emerita by the Board in 2018. Her daughter, Marianne Rose Driscoll ’16, a graduate of the Dolan School of Business, remains actively engaged in the University community.
In the words of Dean Zhan Li, “The current and future generations of Fairfield Dolan’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni will forever be indebted to Chuck Dolan and the Dolan family.” l F
On Nov. 1, the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) hosted more than 60 educators on the North Benson campus for an Educational Technology Forum.
Focused on digital tools that enhance learning, the forum featured multiple presentations on how ed tech is being integrated into classrooms, including a detailed overview from Apple Education on the new artificial intelligence (AI) features in software updates. Dawn La Valle, director of library development for the State of Connecticut and librarians from DiMenna-Nyselius Library led sessions that provided valuable insights into how libraries are leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning.
Fairfield University Art Museum’s Dawn & Dusk: Tonalism in Connecticut exhibition features Tonalist paintings on view through April 12 in the Bellarmine Hall Galleries. The idea for this exhibition was sparked by University Trustee Rosellen (Walsh) Schnurr ’74 and her husband, Dr. Robert Schnurr ’74, and was made possible thanks to their generous support.
Ranging from 1878 to 1917, 60 works by 22 different artists explore the evolution of the Tonalist movement in landscape paintings. Guest-curated by Mary Ann Hollihan, paintings on loan from major private and public collections include works by George Inness and James McNeill Whistler.
Out of 57 participating universities, Fairfield Dolan’s Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program was ranked #23 in the U.S. by Poets & Quants, a leading source for news on business education. The ranking places Fairfield among strong programs at Wake Forest University (#25), Villanova University (#28), and the University of Connecticut (#33).
“This recognition highlights the exceptional caliber of students our STEM-designated MBA attracts, both domestically and internationally. It reflects the cutting-edge, flexible curriculum and the outstanding experience of our online MBA students, leading to professional and personal fulfillment for our graduates,” said senior associate dean of Fairfield Dolan, Anca Micu, PhD.
Poets & Quants’ ranking methodology of online MBA programs is based on three equally weighted categories: admission standards, academic experience, and career outcomes.
On Sept. 9, Jim Mollica, P’27, Bose Corporation’s chief marketing officer (CMO) spoke at Fairfield Dolan on “Using Culture to Modernize an Iconic Brand.”
On Oct. 23, Rockefeller Capital Management’s Chief Financial Officer Alison Schachter joined alumni Chuck Burke Jr. ‘01 and Courtney Chmiol ‘15 to discuss the firm’s rich 140-year history and capacity to adapt to the changing financial services industry.
Rob Stevenson ’92, a partner at 300 Entertainment, returned to campus to share his impressive career in the music industry with students.
Following a nationwide search, Evelyn Bilias Lolis M’02, PhD, was named dean of Fairfield University’s School of Education and Human Development (SEHD), effective January 1, 2025.
Dr. Bilias Lolis holds a PhD in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut, with a research emphasis on positive psychological interventions, resilience science, and connectedness. She was also educated in the Jesuit tradition, earning a master’s degree in school psychology from Fairfield University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University. She continues to maintain a professional licensure in school psychology and serves as a consultant to districts and corporations nationally and internationally, offering seminars on psychological well-being, organizational reform, and compassionate parenting.
Dr. Bilias Lolis joined the Department of Psychological & Educational Consultation at Fairfield University in 2010. She earned tenure in 2018 and most recently served as SEHD’s interim dean. Prior to her time at Fairfield, Dr. Bilias Lolis worked as a school psychologist in Stamford Public Schools, ultimately becoming district chair of School Psychological Services in 2008.
At Fairfield University, Dr. Bilias Lolis has served as certification officer, assessment coordinator, chair of the SEHD faculty, and associate dean. In 2015, she was named the Alpha Sigma Nu Graduate Teacher of the Year. While serving as interim dean, she partnered with the SEHD faculty to articulate a forward-thinking mission statement, recruited and hired new talented faculty members, and developed a set of strategic initiatives to guide SEHD to a successful future. Under her leadership, the school has experienced growth in enrollment, national program recognition, and the development of intentional partnerships to secure the school’s position within the University and expand SEHD’s reach in the community. l F
Fairfield University has announced a leadership transition in its Advancement division, with Wally Halas stepping down as vice president for University Advancement to take on the role of executive director, principal gifts. Geri Derbyshire MPA’24 succeeds him as vice president, effective January 1, 2025.
Halas served as vice president for a decade, driving significant philanthropic growth, including the successful Fairfield Rising campaign, which raised nearly $218 million — well above its $160 million goal. Under his leadership, nearly 20,000 individuals contributed to the campaign, funding key initiatives such as the expansion of the Dolan School of Business, the Egan School of Nursing, Rafferty
Stadium, and Tully Dining Commons. In his new position, Halas will focus on cultivating principal gifts and strengthening key relationships.
Derbyshire, who has been at Fairfield for 15 years, most recently as senior associate vice president for Advancement, takes on her new role with extensive experience in leadership, fundraising, and campaign management. She was integral to the success of Fairfield Rising and the $50 million effort for the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Derbyshire’s background includes roles at Save the Children, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the American Red Cross.
below : Bellarmine Hall is home to offices of senior leadership as well as the Fairfield University Art Museum. This historic building stands at the heart of the University’s continued growth and commitment to excellence.
Students and faculty from the School of Engineering and Computing showcased their innovative research at the 2024 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD. The conference provided a platform for undergraduate and high school researchers to present their work alongside professionals and network with leaders in the field. Among the presenters were Associate Professor Isaac Macwan, PhD, Assistant Professor John Drazan, PhD; students Elia Haghbin ’26, Leslie Abbott ’25, Ryan Jaworski ’25, Zuzanna Janusz ’27, and Luke Bornstein ’25; and three students from Central High School in Bridgeport who had participated in a 2024 summer research project with Dr. Drazan.
Biomedical engineering majors Bornstein, Janusz, and Jaworski, mentored by Dr. Drazan, presented their research on the use of synthetic data sets to streamline research methodologies before transitioning to studies involving human subjects. Dr. Haghbin, Dr. Macwan, and Abbott presented their findings on bacteriorhodopsin, a bacterial protein in a purple membrane. Central High students Titus Graham, Gabrial Verges, Zi’Ayanna Mason, and G-brown Gervil, presented a poster titled “A Novel Approach to Enhancing Efficacy in Biomedical Engineering Research Prior to Access to Human Subject Data” at the High School Research Poster Expo.
above : Among the presenters were (l-r) Zuzanna Janusz ’27, Elia Haghbin ’26, and Associate Professor Isaac Macwan, PhD.
2025 COLLEGE FACTUAL BEST MAJORS RANKINGS
#9
BEST MARKETING BACHELOR’S DEGREE SCHOOLS
#14
2025 BEST COLLEGES
#18
BEST ACCOUNTING BACHELOR’S DEGREE SCHOOLS
#19
BEST FINANCE & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BACHELOR’S DEGREE SCHOOLS
#21
BEST NURSING BACHELOR’S DEGREE SCHOOLS
#23
BEST HEALTH PROFESSIONS BACHELOR’S DEGREE SCHOOLS
College Factual analyzed 18 institutions in the 2025 Best Colleges in Connecticut ranking category, emphasizing overall quality to guide prospective students. Fairfield placed No. 2, behind Yale.
Fairfield University is No. 50 among the nation’s top colleges, according to College Factual’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings. This prestigious ranking positions Fairfield in the top 5 percent of colleges nationwide.
Using data-driven insights, the online ranking website analyzed 2,152 institutions across the U.S., taking into consideration more than 20 objective factors including graduation rates, post-graduate earnings, and average expenditure per student.
On the New England Region list, Fairfield ranked No. 14 out of 154 institutions. This ranking is based on objective criteria including freshman retention rates, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratios, and post-graduate earnings, among other metrics. In the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges category, Fairfield ranked No. 51 out of 1,398 schools, also among the top 5 percent in the nation.
In addition to Charles F. Dolan School of Business programs in marketing, management, accounting, and finance, and Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies programs, Fairfield’s College of Arts & Sciences was recognized by College Factual at the national level for its excellent programs in English, public relations, communication, journalism, media studies, political science, psychology, social sciences, mathematics, economics, and biology. l F
For a group of Fairfield University students, turning a faucet and having immediate access to clean, potable water is not something to be taken for granted.
These undergraduates are part of the Center for Social Impact’s Humanitarian Action Club and for the past four years they have worked with the nonprofit organization Wine to Water to raise money to purchase and assemble water filtration kits at an annual water filter build as part of campus Earth Day celebrations. This year’s event will take place on April 27, 2025.
Working with the Wine to Water nonprofit has instilled in these students an appreciation for the transformative power of clean water — not only its ability to save lives and uphold human dignity but also the far-reaching implications for communities in the U.S. and around the world.
Recent Fairfield graduate Evan Keiser ’24 was a first-year student when he pitched the idea of partnering with Wine to Water at a meeting of the Humanitarian Action Club. During his four years at Fairfield, he and his fellow club members raised more than $20,000 and assembled over 350 water filters – each of which can provide a family with clean water for up to ten years.
Although Keiser has graduated, the Humanitarian Action Club’s work to bring potable water to communities around the world continues. Last year, nearly a third of the 90 water filtration kits built by Fairfield students were deployed to towns including Boone and Asheville in North Carolina as part of Wine to Water’s disaster response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
below : Evan Keiser ’24 (front left) and fellow members of the Humanitarian Action Club built water filters outside the Barone Campus Center during Earth Day celebrations last April.
Physician, epidemiologist, and author Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, one of the most cited social scientists in the world, spoke to an audience of more than 500 students, alumni, and faculty at an Open VISIONS Forum this past fall. His lecture, “Our Shared Health: Aspiring Toward Better Health for All in the Coming Decades,” highlighted our collective responsibility as a society to create the conditions for people to be healthy.
Dr. Galea is the Margaret C. Ryan Dean of Washington University’s School of Public Health. He is a nationally recognized expert on the health consequences of mass trauma and has published more than 1,000 journal articles and 24 books.
Archana Tedone, PhD, assistant professor of management in the Dolan School of Business, is actively working on a project with the United States Army that focuses on improving the Army Talent Alignment Process. In a collaboration with the Army Research Institute that will span through 2025, Dr. Tedone leads a team that is developing tools to help officers make more informed choices about their next assignments.
The largest Leo D. Mahoney Arena crowd in the history of Fairfield Women’s Basketball was on hand Thursday, Jan. 23 as the Stags hosted their annual Kids’ Day Out game. The boisterous crowd of 3,573 fans –including more than 3,000 local school children – witnessed Fairfield racing to a 69-44 victory over Manhattan.
In addition to the game, the crowd was treated to a “Mascots vs. Teachers” halftime game featuring Lucas the Stag, Blaze from the Connecticut Sun, Storm from the Bridgeport Islanders, Dillon from the Hartford Athletic, and the Chick-fil-A cow.
“What an amazing atmosphere to play in front of 3,500 fans. I think we created some new Stags fans today,” said Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis. “I’m really proud of how our women carry themselves – to be an example and good role models for young boys and girls, to see them be great teammates and celebrate one another.”
Dr. Kim Oliver, PhD, assistant professor of the practice and director of the Egan School’s undergraduate Social Work program, integrated support of the Start With Hello 5K event into her “Introduction to Social Work” course. The class helped raise more than $1,600 to support local school communities in building cultures of empathy and inclusivity.
“I have woven Start With Hello into the curriculum so that students can learn about political advocacy, community organizing, and overall macro practice, as well as important social work values such as service and social justice,” said Dr. Oliver.
Fairfield University Athletics got off to a hot start to the 2024-25 academic year with the Stags’ fall teams turning in successful campaigns, highlighted by a trio of conference championships: the field hockey team won the Northeast Conference Championship for the third time, and the women’s soccer and volleyball teams each hoisted the MAAC Championship trophy.
Field hockey’s championship campaign was a fitting send-off for Head Coach Jackie Kane ’87, the longest-tenured head coach in any sport in Fairfield varsity athletics history, who retired after 30 years leading the Stags. On the heels of winning the Northeast Conference for the third time, the Stags made their sixth appearance in the NCAA postseason. Fairfield went toe-to-toe with Delaware in the opening round before falling in overtime, 2-1, to complete the season with a record of 12-9.
Women’s soccer turned in a landmark season in 2024, winning the MAAC Championship for the first time since 2008 – the seventh tournament title in Fairfield history. Fairfield also won the MAAC Regular Season Championship for the ninth time and made its sixth appearance in the NCAA postseason. Head Coach David Barrett, who earned his 300th career win during the season, was recognized for his efforts as the MAAC Coach of the Year and ECAC Coach of the Year. Individually, Maddy Theriault ’26 earned the MAAC’s Golden Boot as Player of the Year and went on to claim All-Region honors alongside midfielder Reagan Klarmann ’25. The Stags tied the program record for wins, finishing at 18-3-1.
above : Fairfield Volleyball won the 14th MAAC Championship in program history with a 3-1 win over Quinnipiac on Nov. 24.
Volleyball continued to set a standard for MAAC programs, winning its 14th MAAC Championship – also its second straight and seventh in the last nine seasons. The Stags also won their sixth consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship to run their total to a remarkable 23 in the last 29 campaigns. Head Coach Nancy Somera was honored as MAAC Coach of the Year, while six student-athletes merited All-MAAC recognition. Allie Elliott ’26, Mamie Krubally ’27 and Maya Walker ’26 were all selected to the All-MAAC First Team, the duo of Mikayla Haut ’25 and Blakely Montgomery ’25 landed on the Second Team, and Harlan Wyche ’28 was tabbed for the MAAC All-Rookie Team. The Stags challenged #7 Wisconsin in Madison in the NCAA Championship First Round, wrapping up the season at 21-12 overall.
The fall also saw two Stags make individual history. Hannah Snayd ’27 became Fairfield’s first cross country runner to win the individual MAAC Championship and was named the MAAC Most Outstanding Runner and Rookie of the Year for her performance (full story on page 16).
On the tennis courts, Anna Neyestani ’27 won the inaugural MAAC Masters Tournament to advance to the ITA Conference Masters. After a three-set win over Niagara’s Saloni Tamang in the first round, Neyestani swept her way through the next three MAAC opponents. She ultimately topped reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Caterina Assi – 6-1, 6-3 – in the final round. At the national ITA Conference Masters Championship, Neyestani earned a victory over Chloe Routier of Western Illinois before falling in the Round of 16 to Old Dominion’s Sofia Johnson – the eventual winner of the tournament. l F
A Campus Connect event in January featured an interactive panel discussion about cell phone use among today’s youth. The panel of experts included Fairfield Public Schools Superintendent Michael Testani, Fairfield University Associate Professor Joseph DeLuca, PhD, and Fairfield University Associate Dean Joshua Elliott, EdD.
Dr. DeLuca specializes in clinical psychology, with an emphasis on mental health in youth, and Dr. Elliott is director of the School of Education and Human Development’s educational technology program.
Panelists shared their perspectives on the challenges presented by cell phone usage among students in school districts such as Fairfield and offered insights on ways that parents can prepare their children for life with cell phones and social media — both inside and outside the classroom.
— particularly women — are embracing
by J eannine (C arolan ) g ra F ’87, MFa’25
On C e a spiritUal treas U re known primarily to the Jesuiteducated, St. Ignatius of Loyola’s simple yet profound concept of “finding God in all things” is finding its way into the hearts and minds of community members from all faith backgrounds and walks of life.
“Our doors open wide” is how Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J., director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality, describes the center’s unbounded hospitality. Founded in 2014 with a mission to serve campus and spread Ignatian charism throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport, Fr. Donoghue noted that the Murphy Center’s retreats and programs are increasingly popular among women. “Word of mouth is driving the growth,” he said. “It’s like that old shampoo commercial: you tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on...”
Indeed, more than 550 women from Connecticut and the tri-state area have participated in Murphy Center programs in the past year, including 368 in one-on-one monthly spiritual direction. According to Associate Director Marcy Haley, “Women have found something they didn’t even know they were looking for – a place to share their faith journey – and they want others to find it too.”
“i don’t think so” was what Jen harding, P’26 thought when a friend suggested she try spiritual direction. “I thought I would have imposter syndrome and that the people at the Murphy Center would think I wasn’t ‘religious enough’ for it,” admitted the mother of five who lives in town. “I didn’t really understand what it was.”
at the Murphy Center.
“Our doors open wide.”
r ev d enis d onogh U e , s .J., Director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality
Eventually, Harding’s curiosity won out and she decided to give it a shot. From the moment she entered the quiet, soothing atmosphere of the Murphy Center for her first oneon-one session with a spiritual director, she knew she’d found something special. “It’s like a slice of heaven over there,” she said. Years of spiritual direction later, “Jen is our troubadour,” said Fr. Donoghue.
“I’m a lifer,” agreed Harding with a smile. “Ignatian Spirituality has changed me in so many ways. My spiritual director describes herself as ‘a mirror for you to help you look at yourself,’ and that’s what she is for me: a person to help me be a better me. I’m grateful to everyone who told me about the Murphy Center — they gave me a gift, and now it’s my gift to other people. If I am friends with you, or even just friendly with you, I’m going to talk to you about the Murphy Center. It’s just such a beautiful place and if I’ve contributed even a tiny bit by spreading the word, lucky me.”
C hrissa v entrelle and her Fa M ily relocated from Las Vegas, Nev., to Fairfield County a little over two years ago. “We moved on short notice, and I was really worried about everybody settling into this new place with no friends or family nearby,” said the mother of three whose professional background is in nonprofit management and philanthropy. “Before we arrived, I felt I needed an anchor — a place to look forward to that had some sort of spiritual programming, where I could maybe meet some people.”
An online search introduced Ventrelle to the
Murphy Center. “The first thing I participated in was an Advent Retreat for Women — my heart was so filled that night because there was such warmth in the room,” she said.
Shortly thereafter, Ventrelle began one-on-one spiritual direction despite only a cursory awareness of Ignatian teachings. She quickly found that there was no minimum level of knowledge or beliefs required. “What’s happening through the Murphy Center is that women are being given the gift to talk with another person about whatever is going on in their lives,” she said, “and that person is helping them to see the threads of God in those everyday experiences.”
“Before spiritual direction, my faith felt like just one item on the plate of my day,” Ventrelle explained. “But now, faith has become the plate itself — everything else rests upon it and is supported by what was once just a part of the whole.”
Her experience as a directee has been so profound that Ventrelle, who was recently appointed chief philanthropy officer of Catholic Charities of Connecticut, is training to become a spiritual director herself. She’s halfway through the Murphy Center’s two-year Spiritual Director Formation certificate program and will graduate with her cohort of 16 aspiring directors next December.
It is particularly satisfying for Fr. Donoghue and Haley to see the Murphy Center experience come full circle for women like Harding and Ventrelle. “We think that we are doing something new here, but really, the vibrancy and the life of the Church has always rested on women in one way or another,” said Haley. “At the Murphy Center, women are just continuing to say yes to the invitation to come together and let God’s love and light break through in a world where there’s a lot of darkness.” l F For information about the Murphy Center’s programs for men and women, please visit Fairfield.edu/mcis
hannah snayd ’27 is the first individual MAAC Cross Country Champion in Fairfield history.
by d rew k ingsley ’07
Hannah snayd ’27 was not a college athlete prior to transferring to Fairfield as a sophomore, but her competitive spirit was ignited in an unlikely place.
“As I was going through the process of transferring to Fairfield, it was very stressful,” Snayd recalled. “One of the things that helped me get through that stress was running, and I really fell in love with it, so I reached out to Coach Jayworth and asked about joining the cross country team.”
One problem? Snayd had never actually run cross country before, although the Newtown, Conn. native had played soccer and run shorter distances for her high school’s track and field squad.
“At first I didn’t know what to make of her email,” said Fairfield Cross Country Head Coach Jake Jayworth. “Her 400m and 800m times suggested that she had some level of speed, but it was unclear how that would translate to a 6K.” As he does for any athlete who shows interest, the Fairfield coach told Snayd she was welcome to try out.
Taking the initiative over the summer, Snayd participated in a few local 5K races and the Fairfield Half Marathon and emailed Coach Jayworth with her times. After learning of her impressive showings, Jayworth decided to forego the tryout and offered her a spot on the Stags’ roster for the fall of 2024.
t he preseason F or C ross C o U ntry is a short one, and less than two weeks stood
“We have student-athletes on both the women’s and men’s teams who can be All-MAAC runners in their careers, and they’re setting loftier goals for themselves… Hannah has shown them what’s possible for a Fairfield cross country runner.”
Jake Jayworth, Cross Country Head Coach
between the official start of training and the first competition of the fall slate. While Snayd demonstrated the ability to contribute to the team scoring during early training runs in the August heat, expectations remained as silent optimism until the first race of the year: the Marist Season Opener on August 31, 2024.
“We met in my office the day before that race,” Coach Jayworth said, “and Hannah’s question to me was ‘Coach, what do I do?’ I told her to just have fun – rely on your teammates and we’ll see what happens.”
What happened was, Snayd won her first race by more than 21 seconds. Three weeks later, she placed second at the annual Ted Owen Invitational, hosted by Central Connecticut State University. A month after that, she won the 2024 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) individual championship with a time of 20:41.9 in the 6k race.
To top it all off, on Nov. 2, 2024, Snayd became the first individual MAAC Champion – men’s or women’s – in Fairfield Cross Country history. Crossing the finish line with a time of 20:36.3 on the Montgomery, N.Y. course, more than nine seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. She was named both the MAAC Most Outstanding Runner and Rookie of the Year.
Snayd’s reaction to her championship victory was the same as it had been after every race. She headed to the sidelines and cheered for her teammates as they crossed
the finish line. “I didn’t really think about it. One of my first thoughts was that I knew my teammate Mia [Strazzella ’27] was running a really strong race, and I wanted to see her finish.”
While Snayd was the leader of the pack, she was not the only Fairfield harrier driving the team’s success. Fairfield Women’s Cross Country capped the 2024 season with its best showing at the NCAA Northeast Regionals since 2012. On the men’s side, the Stags matched their best MAAC Championship finish of the past decade.
“As our team is growing into a more competitive program, having a runner like Hannah makes a huge difference. She’s setting the bar for her teammates,” Coach Jayworth said. “We have student-athletes on both the women’s and men’s teams who can be All-MAAC runners in their careers, and they’re setting loftier goals for themselves. I think part of the reason for that is that Hannah has shown them what’s possible for a Fairfield cross country runner.”
And for Snayd herself, it remains to be seen just how high the bar can go.
“That’s the fun part about this sport,” summed up Coach Jayworth. “Every day, you throw yourself into it fully, you give your best effort, and you find out what your limit is. And the limit is very high for Hannah. We’re not sure what it is yet, but we’re finding out and it’s exciting for all of us.” l F
MICHAEL P. ZABINSKI, PhD, PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING,
“LITERALLY THOUSANDS” OF STUDENTS OVER HIS 55-YEAR CAREER AT FAIRFIELD.
For 55 years, Michael P. Zabinski, PhD, professor of mechanical engineering, prepared countless students for successful careers in engineering and computer science. His own career — defined by innovation, mentorship, and a passion for teaching — has left an indelible mark on Fairfield’s School of Engineering and Computing, and beyond.
Dr. Zabinski’s journey to Fairfield is as remarkable as his legacy. When entering college in 1958, he was initially uncertain about his future career. “I wasn’t quite ready to decide what I wanted to major in,” he said. “My father was an engineer, so I became an engineer.”
Armed with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut, in 1963 he went to work at Olin Corporation, where he excelled in metals research and development.
While at Olin, the young engineer pursued a doctorate at Yale University. Upon earning his PhD in engineering and applied science in 1969, Dr. Zabinski was
recruited by Fairfield University to direct the newly launched 3+2 Engineering Program, an initiative he quickly embraced. The program allowed students to study at Fairfield for three years before transferring to engineering institutions such as University of Connecticut and Columbia University for two years, ultimately earning both a BA in a liberal arts discipline from Fairfield and a BS in engineering from the partner school.
Even back then, Dr. Zabinski’s influence extended beyond the classroom, and in at least one instance, into homes across the country. During the oil embargo of the 1970s, as American families were being encouraged to set their thermostats to 65°F (18°C) during the day and as low as 55°F (13°C) at night to save energy, he collaborated with Fairfield students on research into thermostat setback and energy consumption.
Their findings made national news. “We proved that lowering your thermostat overnight doesn’t always save energy,” he said. “It caused quite a stir.”
“HIS POSITIVE NATURE WAS CONTAGIOUS AND HIS GENUINE PASSION FOR THE ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE AND FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF MADE US
FEEL THAT WE WERE DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT AND PRODUCTIVE WITH OUR EDUCATION AND LIVES.”
— g ene s hi M sho C k ’78
Recognizing early that computers were beginning to change the way people were working, playing, and even thinking, Dr. Zabinski founded National Computer Camps, Inc. (NCC) in 1977; it was the first summer camp program of its kind. Over the past 48 years, NCC has conducted camps from coast to coast, introducing thousands of students ages 8 to 18 to coding, robotics, and computer science.
Many former campers remain in contact with NCC’s visionary founder and president. “Just the other day,” Dr. Zabinski shared recently, “I heard from a physician specializing in robotic surgery. He told me that after attending camp, he went to Dartmouth, majored in computer science, and found a way to merge his interests, using computers to perform cutting-edge surgeries.”
Decades after the launch of NCC, Dr. Zabinski was dismayed that the percentage of girls participating in his computer camps averaged only around 10 percent. Taking the best practices from his NCC experiences, in the summer of 2005 he organized a Computer Technology Day Camp for Girls at Fairfield University, which aimed to close
the gender gap in the technology field. “The feedback from parents was incredible. It was one of the highlights of my career,” he said of the program.
Fairfield engineering alumni recall Dr. Zabinski’s enthusiasm for engineering and often remark that his passion for the field left a deep impression. “What I remember fondly about my classroom experience was that he always had a smile on his face and seemed genuinely excited about teaching the material,” Gene Shimshock ’78 said. “His positive nature was contagious and his genuine passion for the engineering discipline and for the program itself made us feel that we were doing something important and productive with our education and lives.”
This ability to engage students with the material has defined Dr. Zabinski’s 55-year career, although he humbly deflects praise. “What I’ve done is teach,” he said. “I measure success by my students’ engagement and the impact of what I taught them.”
When he first arrived at Fairfield, Steven Bartlett ’90 was an undeclared major. “I
realized I wanted to pursue engineering,” he said, “so I visited Dr. Zabinski and he had unbelievable energy around his relatively young 3+2 program. He helped me map out the path and succeed the entire way.”
Bartlett noted three key elements of Dr. Zabinski’s teaching style that stood apart from other faculty: “He had a love for the field of engineering, a true desire to educate and develop young adults in the field, and an ability to make it exciting and put it in context for the students.”
“To be honest, I would likely not be an engineer today if it were not for Dr. Zabinski,” said Bartlett, a director of engineering at Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology.
The 3+2 program in which Bartlett participated ended in 1994 when Fairfield University opened its own engineering school. The result of a merger with the Bridgeport Engineering Institute (BEI), the early BEI School of Engineering at Fairfield University, with two original electrical and mechanical engineering programs, was a forerunner of what we know today as Fairfield’s School of Engineering and Computing, which boasts six undergraduate and seven graduate programs.
Karim Kharbouch ’17 described how Dr. Zabinski’s structured teaching style pushed him and his classmates to master the fundamentals of engineering. “His class instruction mirrored the way he wanted you to study and analyze engineering problems at hand. He drilled his method of analysis during class until everyone was proficient,” he said. “This style pushed many students, including myself, to get very organized and perform well under pressure.”
Through his decades of teaching at Fairfield, Dr. Zabinski’s ability to inspire students and stay connected with them after they graduate has led to alumni collaborations that benefit current students in the School of Engineering and Computing. Bartlett, a member of Fairfield’s mechanical engineering industry advisory board, reflected on the fullcircle nature of their connection. “I was always grateful to Dr. Zabinski for his guidance and support as I found my path forward in college,” he said. “As I moved into industry, I found it exciting to reconnect with him and enable his continued work to educate students through industry tours and internship opportunities.” Kharbouch, a mechanical engineer at
Northeast Laser and Electropolish – a leading provider of industrial marking machinery solutions, credits his collaboration with Dr. Zabinski on his senior design project with helping him develop leadership skills. “I learned quite a bit about how to manage young engineers and challenge them to learn through project work,” he said.
After a 55-year teaching career at Fairfield, Dr. Zabinski retired in fall 2024. At a special ceremony in November, the University officially named the Mechanical Engineering Department in his honor. At the sign unveiling, Dr. Zabinski expressed gratitude. “I’ve had the privilege of working with brilliant colleagues and exceptional students,” he said. “Their curiosity and excellence have been the driving force behind my passion for teaching.”
For alumni like Bartlett, Kharbouch, and Shimshock, Dr. Zabinski’s legacy is defined by his passion, innovation, and his belief in the potential of Fairfield engineering students. “Dr. Z is a cornerstone to the success of the engineering school at Fairfield,” Bartlett said. “There are literally thousands of mechanical engineers who owe their path and some of their success to him. I personally can attest to that and feel fortunate to have had Dr. Zabinski as part of my journey.” l F
left: In the late ’70s, Dr. Zabinski taught students on a Wang desktop computer that ran the programming language BASIC and used cassette tape storage. below : Dr. Zabinski (seated, front right) in a Bannow Science Center classroom photo from the 1980 Manor yearbook.
by b rad t ho M as
When Stephen Sanchez DNP’22 accepted his teaching position at Fairfield University, he brought with him a passion for mentoring sparked by his experience as a mentee in the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program (DNAMP). The nonprofit organization provides students from underserved socio-economic backgrounds with information and workshops to prepare them for certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) careers. Dr. Sanchez’s involvement in the program was so inspiring that it led the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies to host a DNAMP information session and airway simulation lab workshop. The October 2024 conference attracted more than 150 aspiring nurse anesthetists to the North Benson campus.
“Hosting the event was a particularly special moment,” said Dr. Sanchez, “as it marked the realization of a long-held goal to bring the conference to the institution where I graduated and now work as an adjunct faculty member.”
“INTUBATING A MANNEQUIN IS A FUN EXPERIENCE FOR THE UNINITIATED, BUT THE INFORMATION SESSION IS THE CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE EVENT BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE APPLICANTS LEARN WHAT THEY’RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO.”
— s tephen s an C hez dnp ’22
Dr. Sanchez first learned about DNAMP in 2018 as he was preparing to apply to doctoral programs in nurse anesthesia. After exploring the organization’s website and reviewing an agenda for an upcoming event, Dr. Sanchez, then an ICU nurse in the Bronx, registered for an information session and airway management workshop. He thought the workshop was the top priority, as it might provide him an advantage over other applicants in the DNP (doctor of nursing practice) admission process.
He holds a slightly different view today. “Intubating a mannequin is a fun experience for the uninitiated, but the information session is the central component of the event because that’s where applicants learn what they’re getting themselves into,” said Dr. Sanchez. “The session imparts valuable knowledge about the profession and helps prospective students make informed decisions about their futures.”
In addition to workshops and information sessions, DNAMP events also offer ample opportunities for aspiring nurse anesthetists to network with and seek mentorship from experienced CRNAs. In fact, these opportunities are what motivate Dr. Sanchez to remain involved with the organization today. Having benefited from the support of a mentor himself, he is eager to pay the experience forward to the next generation of nurse anesthetists.
Since completing his DNP degree in nurse anesthesia at Fairfield, Dr. Sanchez has mentored several applicants. He has a passion for it. “I like helping and giving back,” he said. “I want others to have the same experience I had, if not better.”
AJ Stewart, a third-year doctoral student in the Egan School’s DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program, is one of Dr. Sanchez’s current mentees. The two were connected through the DNAMP network.
“The first memory I have of Dr. Sanchez is a phone conversation where he asked mock interview questions and critiqued my responses,” Stewart said. “He gave me very actionable items to work on, like highlighting specific experiences and limiting each of my responses to a minute and a half. That’s the first time I felt like I was improving my candidacy for admission.”
His phone call with Dr. Sanchez was just the beginning. Once Stewart began the Nurse Anesthesia program at Egan, his new mentor periodically checked in to ask how his courses were going and to answer questions. He also shared information and wisdom earned through his own experiences as a student in the program and offered encouragement to his new mentee.
“He was really good about reaching out,” Stewart said. “Sometimes, it can be hard for students to know what questions they need to be asking. Dr. Sanchez provided — and continues to provide — a space for me to figure that out.”
When he heard that the three-day DNAMP info session and workshop was coming to Fairfield, Stewart volunteered to help with the event. As a current DNP student, his experience at the event was very different from his first as a potential applicant. Instead of learning about ultrasound guidance, he managed a station during the workshop. And instead of seeking insights from others, he offered information and guidance to aspiring
inset: Fairfield DNP-Nurse Anesthesia student Julie Luna served as program delegate and spokesperson for the conference.
right: Classmates AJ Stewart and Julie Luna are both mentored by Dr. Sanchez and acting as mentors themselves.
CRNAs. In fact, Stewart now mentors a potential applicant who attended the event.
To be sure, good mentoring has that sort of rippling effect. Those who have received strong support and guidance often feel compelled to pass on their insights to others. Over time, the impact grows and reaches wider and farther.
Second-year Fairfield doctoral student Julie Luna attended her first DNAMP event the same year that Stewart attended his. She registered for the event after a friend introduced her to the organization’s website. Prior to that, she had wavered on the idea of pursuing a career as a nurse anesthetist because she simply did not know any CRNAs.
“Lo and behold!” she recalled. “When I looked at the website, I saw people who looked like me. My interest in the profession rose quickly and steeply from there.”
Luna eventually connected with Dr. Sanchez through the DNAMP network. She identified with him because they were both from the Bronx and had worked at the same hospital. Luna shared with Dr. Sanchez her plans of becoming a nurse anesthetist, and he has been mentoring her ever since.
Because DNAMP was so instrumental to
her journey and because she wholeheartedly supports the organization’s mission to inform and empower underrepresented populations in the field, Luna was eager to participate in the event at Fairfield. “I remember being in the same position as many potential applicants, feeling like I was reaching big and not knowing anyone in the profession,” she said. “If I can help just one person who feels like I felt at the start of my journey, then I’m all for it.”
Several potential applicants connected with Luna at the event and have since reached out to her. After having offered to review their personal statements and résumés, she now finds herself mentoring aspiring CRNAs. The entire experience has her feeling fulfilled and grateful.
“It’s such a great feeling to help people in this way,” she said.
Dr. Sanchez, Stewart, and Luna are but three former Nurse Anesthesia program applicants who found support and encouragement through DNAMP, yet the positive impact of their continued engagement with the organization and their propensity to help others is significant. It enhances the experiences of the aspiring nurse anesthetists they mentor and fosters a legacy of mentorship at Fairfield. Ultimately, their actions enrich the Egan School’s DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program and the broader CRNA profession. l F
Fairfield Egan’s DNP-Nurse
Anesthesia program is a 36-month doctoral program that prepares students to expertly deliver anesthesia services in a variety of healthcare settings and situations. Candidates for the program must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have a minimum of one year experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting.
The program enrolls new students once a year at two campus locations: Austin, Texas and Fairfield, Conn. With an anticipated 7 percent admit rate across both locations in 2025, it is the University’s most competitive graduate program. Current enrollment is 94 students.
Known for its rigor, the curriculum includes a mixture of didactic, simulation, and clinical learning. Students gain hands-on experience with regional, general, and monitored anesthesia care techniques and log more than 2,000 clinical hours and 650 cases by graduation.
Peer mentoring nurtures student success in the classroom and clinical environment. Upon entering the program, first-year students are assigned second-year mentors. During their second year, those students become mentors to new first-year students. The system fosters supportive relationships across cohorts and builds community within the program.
The DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited through May 2031 by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
Fairfield Egan is ranked #58 among graduate nursing schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program is ranked #29. l F
JENNIFER PIEPSZAK ’92 WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO) OF JPMORGAN CHASE. SHE SPOKE WITH FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE ABOUT THE VALUE OF HER JESUIT EDUCATION.
by e rin C raw M a’19, p h d
Newly appointed COO of JPMorgan Chase Jennifer Piepszak ’92 kick-started her remarkable career with an on-campus interview that landed her a job at a top accounting firm. Fairfield University’s ability to attract recruiters from premier organizations was “a notable advantage,” she said. From that entry point into the business world, she moved to JPMorgan Chase in 1994 and has since built an impressive career at the firm, rising to positions as co-chief executive officer (CEO) of the Commercial and Investment Bank and co-CEO of Consumer and Community Banking, before being named COO in January 2025. In 2024, she was ranked number 31 on Forbes’ annual list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women and number 3 on the list of Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker.
With more than three decades of industry experience, including time in top leadership roles, Piepszak offers a unique perspective on what it takes to truly excel in business. “I think we come out of college and end up surrounded by these extraordinarily talented people, regardless of what industry we go into. And so, it’s really easy to get caught up in being the smartest person in the room, and you think that the smartest person in the room wins. And that’s not true,” she said. “You want to be the person that people want
in the room. So, you have to be smart, yes. But you have to work hard. You have to be a great partner. You have to be trusted. You have to be a good problem solver, and you have to be the whole package. It is about so much more than just being the smartest person in the room.”
Piepszak recalled the significant impact of her Fairfield education on her career, which involved the combined influence of a valuesbased curriculum and experiential learning. “What I attribute to Fairfield is not only the
rigorous academic standards but also the culture. A lot of that probably goes back to the fact that it’s a Jesuit education, and so humility is built into the culture,” she said.
The experiential learning approach at Fairfield’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business fosters humility in students through exposure to real-world uncertainties, challenges, and failures that classroom lectures cannot replicate. Active learning experiences promote a breadth and depth of understanding by extending classroom learning to in-the-moment critical thinking.
In harmony with the University’s Magis Core Curriculum, experiential learning further demonstrates to Fairfield Dolan students the importance of being able to work as part of a team and the benefits of being exposed
below : Dolan students engage in an on-campus networking event.
to varied perspectives. Such experiences allow undergraduates to gain a stronger sense of self-awareness and confidence, which Piepszak notes as keys to success.
“The idea of being humble but confident is something I see in the Fairfield students I have met,” she said. “The humility will make sure that you’re very well prepared — you want to be authentic and you want to be curious. Nothing can ever replace hard work. All of those things differentiate young people today, and when you come into something with a lot of humility, you’re more likely to be better prepared and invest in preparing.”
“And when you come into something with a lot of confidence, you’re more likely to be authentic,” Piepszak continued. “Building confidence is also really important because sometimes people come into a situation thinking: I’m either confident or not. But confidence is actually built, and it’s built in preparation.”
Consistent with Fairfield’s Jesuit liberal
arts education, experiential learning enables students to assess situations, synthesize experiences, and find meaning in them. Students are encouraged by their professors to consider the challenges faced, evaluate what went well or failed, and reflect on how their perspective changed and how they might apply that toward their future experiences. “We are a Jesuit school, which means it’s not only that students ‘do things,’ but they also take that pause to write about it or go through that reflection process,” said Anca Micu, PhD, senior associate dean of the Dolan School of Business.
Fairfield Dolan students have the opportunity to engage in experiential learning in a variety of ways, including: (1) internships, (2) the annual StartUp Showcase, which helps students to develop their entrepreneurial skills by developing their unique business ideas, (3) client-based learning projects
that involve collaborating with organizations and applying classroom knowledge to solve problems and gain feedback, (4) collegiate competitions that require teamwork and critical thinking to solve case studies, present research, and demonstrate businessrelated skills, (5) immersion programs such as study abroad or Silicon Valley Immersion in which students visit organizations and experience different perspectives, cultures, and professional practices, and (6) volunteering and student leadership in a campus club or project.
Dolan faculty members support experiential learning through course recommendations, connections to the Dolan Career Development Center, advisory roles in student clubs, and simply by encouraging students to try new things. “Students need to feel like they have stepped outside their comfort zone,” said Dr. Micu. “If the first time they do is post-graduation, then it’s almost a disservice versus really preparing them to feel that sense of angst and uncertainty.”
Alumni play a critical mentorship role by attending campus events, speaking on panels, and facilitating connections with various organizations through networking, job shadowing, and internships. Additionally, Fairfield Dolan graduates provide invaluable
industry insights that help to inform ways for the business school to best prepare students for the ever-evolving workforce. Piepszak has returned to campus to speak with students on several occasions, including at Dean’s Executive Forums hosted by Fairfield Dolan.
Dolan students embrace experiential learning by participating in several career-related activities throughout their four years and completing more than one internship on average. This year, the faculty began requiring a Career Readiness Seminar to help prepare students for the business world through résumé writing, interviewing skills, and professional development. Plans are underway to create a more structured framework to ensure some form of experiential learning is fulfilled by every Fairfield Dolan student, in addition to simulations and other classroombased activities.
The goal, at the end of the day, is to help students feel empowered in their career readiness and send them into the workforce with that blend of humility and confidence that Piepszak has seen and admired in the Fairfield Dolan students she has met. “Coming into the workplace with humility and a strong work ethic is incredibly important,” she said, “in addition to the obvious academic credentials that you need.” l F
“You want to be the person that people want in the room… It is about so much more than just being the smartest person in the room.”
— Jenni F er piepszak ’92 Chief Operating Officer of JPMorgan Chase
top: Sisters Paige Governale ’27 and Madison Governale ’26 were presented a seed funding award by Chris Huntley, PhD, associate professor and StartUp program director (left) and Zhan Li, DBA, professor and dean of the Dolan School of Business (right), after making their business pitch at the 2024 Fairfield StartUp Showcase.
above : Dolan students visited Salesforce, Inc. as part of the Silicon Valley Immersion trip in 2024.
A $249,397 grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to Zhanar Berikkyzy, PhD, associate professor of mathematics. The award is a Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPSMPS) grant. Dr. Berikkyzy will mentor at least 10 graduate and undergraduate students over two years, offering them hands-on research experience and the chance to gain skills in mathematical theory, research methodology, and academic writing.
Ashley Byun, PhD, associate professor of biology, received a $22,347 subaward from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden as part of a $693,669 grant funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for the project, “Advancing Felid Reproduction: Integrating Health Biomarkers and Assisted Techniques” with Lindsey Vansandt, DVM, PhD, crew scientist and director of the Imperiled Cat Signature Conservation Project at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Pearson Clinical awarded $15,632 (including materials) to Dr. DeLuca for his research project “Evaluating the Clinical Validity of the BASC-3 Atypicality Scale as an Early Psychosis Screening Tool for Acute Psychiatric Settings.”
Dr. Peloso also received a $15,000 award from the F.M. Kirby Foundation to continue programming for the Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project at Hall Neighborhood House in Bridgeport, Conn., alongside Amanda Haber, PhD, assistant professor in the Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
A generous contribution of $10,000 from The Smith Richardson Foundation is giving students hands-on experience in financial markets through real-time stock trading simulations and advanced technology used on Wall Street.
A grant of $7,500 from the Grace Jones Richardson Trust is supporting Dolan’s Silicon Valley Immersion program, which provides an innovative experiential learning opportunity for 12 to 15 students to travel to San Francisco over spring break.
Bank of America Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to support its Professional Development Series (PDS) and Social Impact Summer Internship Program, both aimed at preparing students from underserved and underrepresented communities for successful careers.
A $1.1 million donation from the Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Foundation will enhance the Michael P. Zabinski, PhD, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering by upgrading lab equipment, support the Baja Racing Team, and establish the University’s first permanent scholarship for women in engineering.
Sidike Paheding, PhD, assistant professor of computer science was awarded $17,288 from Michigan Technological University as part of a $399,797 grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC) program for the “SaTC-EDU: Case Analysis for Security Education (CASE)” project. This project aims to develop a new framework for security
education by creating adaptable case study modules and an online case repository. The SEC had three professors and four students receive funding from the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium in the fall 2024 cycle:
• Naser Haghbin, PhD, assistant professor of mechanical engineering was awarded $10,000 for his project “Dynamic Object Tracking and Handling in a Vision-Guided Robotic Arm.”
• Sidike Paheding, PhD, assistant professor of computer science was awarded $10,000 for his project “Transferring Knowledge Across Planets: Domain Adaptation for Martian Surface Mapping.”
• Djedjiga (Gigi) Belfadel, PhD, associate professor of electrical & bioengineering was awarded $1,560 for travel to SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing Conference to present “Accelerometer Bias Estimation for UAVs Using EKF-Based Vision-Aided Navigation.”
• Eric Dillner ’25 secured a student travel grant in the amount of $1,467 to present his research on thermal management systems and optimizing heat transfer using advanced 3D-printed materials at the Materials Research Society’s spring 2025 meeting.
• Joseph Borges ’25 received an undergraduate scholarship of $3,000 for his academic achievements and alignment with NASA’s strategic goals.
• Graduate student Gabriel Grant ’24 received $10,000 in funding for advancing autonomous UAV technology to address challenges in GPS-denied environments, a critical need for future deep-space missions.
• Graduate student Gerald Malloy ’24 received $10,000 to advance manufacturing precision through a robotic system designed to detect and sort defects, ensuring the quality of space exploration equipment. The Gene Haas Foundation awarded $12,000 to Shahrokh Etemad, PhD, professor of mechanical engineering, to provide scholarships for mechanical engineering students, with a focus on developing skills
in computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining.
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s William Hawkins Fund continued its general support funding with a $1,165 award to Andres Carrano, PhD, professor and dean of the School of Engineering.
Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD, director of the Connecticut Writing Project and associate professor of educational studies and teacher preparation, was awarded $47,625 from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Funding from this award will go toward supporting the Young Adult Literacy Labs and Summer Leadership Institute for Teaching Writing.
The Bridgeport Rotary Club Foundation contributed $10,000 towards Dr. Crandall’s initiatives in support of “Engineering Ubuntu with the Connecticut Writing Project.” In coordination with assistant professor of biomedical engineering John Drazan, the two-week summer program will provide writing workshops and exposure to engineering concepts through hands-on STEM projects that build problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Fairfield Bellarmine received a $100,000 grant from Pacific Star Charitable Trust This award will provide important operating support for Fairfield Bellarmine.
The John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation awarded $75,000 to support the education and career development of Fairfield Bellarmine students through scholarships to computer science majors.
The Open VISIONS Forum/Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies featuring Bari Weiss on Oct. 28, 2024 was supported by several foundation grants.
The Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, under the guidance of Glenn Dynner, PhD, Carl & Dorothy Bennett Chair and professor of religious studies, received several foundation grants to support the fall 2024 Bari Weiss and Mark Ludwig lectures, and other significant programming. Awarded grants include:
• $26,000 from the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County
• $25,000 from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven County
• $10,000 from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
The Marie and John Zimmerman Fund continued its support of Fairfield University’s community programming with a $30,000 grant for J-Z AMP, which provides middle school students from Cesar Batalla School in Bridgeport with academic support, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities.
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Carlson Fund continued its funding with $7,648 awarded to Lori Jones, director of programming and audience development, to support programs at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. An additional $3,304 from the fund is providing scholarship support for students at the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies.
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling gave $5,000 to support the 2024-25 College Campus Gambling Prevention Initiative overseen by Counseling & Psychological Services.
Swipe Out Hunger awarded $3,000 to Kathleen Byrnes, campus minister for community engagement, to support the campus food pantry.
The Delaney Foundation continued its critical scholarship funding to the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies with a $2,000 award to the Delaney Memorial Foundation Nursing Scholarship.
’65 | Jim Lombard MA’69, former assistant dean at Kenyon College and business entrepreneur, was recently elected to the board of trustees at the Hartt School of Performing Arts at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. A member of the Selig Legacy Society of the Los Angeles Zoo, he was also recently appointed to the dean’s advisory board at the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Los Angeles, where he earned his MBA before embarking on his career at the accounting firm now known as Deloitte.
Lombard actively supported the arts in Tampa, Florida for years, serving on the development committee for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, a singing group of more than 160 voices that performs with the Florida Orchestra at the Performing Arts Center in Tampa. He currently resides in Guilford, Connecticut, after having been a resident of Tampa for 26 years.
1970
’74 | Matt Merkl enjoys writing in retirement. His short stories have received awards in Writer’s Digest and Lorian Hemingway competitions. Four stories have been featured in the Mensa Bulletin. Two of Merkl’s screenplays, Draft Bait and Bitter Wisdom, have advanced to the second round of the Austin Film Festival. His e-novels, Hot Cure and Summer’s Lease, are widely available.
StagMates adriana Carino ’17 and david deleo ’17, M s’18 tied the knot on September 29, 2024 with many fellow Stags in attendance… even Lucas!
Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
’86 | Patricia Dykes PhD, MA, RN, was among 40 women academics named to the National Academy of Medicine in November 2024. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. Dr. Dykes is the research program director for the Center for Patient Safety, Research, and Practice at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is an internationally recognized nurse scientist and biomedical informatician who has developed, integrated into practice, and broadly disseminated innovative, cost-effective health
information technology tools that engage patients and families in fall prevention, markedly reducing patient falls — the leading cause of injury-related death for those 65 and older.
’91 | Nancy Barrett-Fajardo DNP, earned her doctorate in nurse practice (DNP) degree in executive leadership at Post University’s American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences in Waterbury, Conn. She is currently the director of nursing at Valley Health System in Paramus, New Jersey, overseeing care for the Medical Surgical and Critical Care inpatient units.
Mary Didiuk PhD, received the 2023 Beacon Award, which honors those who fulfill the Connecticut
Shoreline community’s promise of opportunity, well-being, and safety for all, and the 2024 SHEro Award, given to women who make a difference in the communities they serve. Her nonprofit, Traveling Toys, Inc., has made a positive impact on children, teens, and families in Connecticut.
’92 | Jennifer Piepszak was named chief operating officer of JPMorgan Chase in January 2025. Piepszak has been with the company for 30 years. She most recently served as co-chief executive officer of the Commercial & Investment bank, having previously held positions of co-chief executive officer Consumer and Community Banking from 2021 to 2024, and chief financial officer of the firm from 2019 to 2021.
Tracy Ryan began her new role as president and CEO of NCCI (the National Council on Compensation Insurance) on January 6, 2025. NCCI is an insurance rating and data collection bureau for workers’ compensation. Ryan most recently served as president and CEO of Allianz Commercial, North America & Latin America.
’93 | Peter J. Bonitatibus Jr. PhD associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was honored with the Anders Gustaf Ekeberg Tantalum Prize for excellence in tantalum research and innovation by the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (T.I.C.) of Belgium.
The Anders Gustaf Ekeberg Tantalum Prize is part of a long tradition of awards for excellence in metals, chemistry, and related disciplines. Bonitatibus received the award in recognition of his work toward the clinical translation of a tantalum oxide nanoparticlebased contrast agent for improved diagnostic CT imaging capabilities. This body of work involved extensive process chemistry
Continued on page 34
by s U san C ipollaro
For s teve C iardiello ’80 and Peter Ciardiello ’81, Fairfield University was not just the place where they earned their degrees — it was the launchpad for a lifetime of professional achievements, the foundation for their values-based education, and the proving ground where their entrepreneurial spirit was forged.
Today, as co-founders of Elicit Brewing Company and proud owners of a growing network of restaurants and businesses, the Ciardiello brothers often reflect on how their time at Fairfield helped shape both their personal and professional journeys.
Steve, a biology pre-med major, was drawn to Fairfield for its rigorous academic environment and the values instilled by its Jesuit tradition. “I developed a tremendous appreciation for the Jesuit core curriculum,” he said, reflecting on his undergraduate days.
“The ability to look at both sides — or three sides — of every issue is instilled in you when you’re at Fairfield.”
— steve Ciardiello ’80
“We had a broad-based knowledge of a lot of different subjects. We were well-rounded, educated grads.”
He spoke about his close relationships with professors who became trusted advisors. “Carmen Donnarumma was a larger-than-life man; Fairfield was lucky to have him,” Steve said. “And Professor Rick DeAngelis…I took whatever he taught, and we would go talk to him for hours. He just grounded you, no matter what was going on in your life or in
school — good, bad, indifferent.”
After graduating in 1980, Steve went on to earn a law degree in 1983 and open his own law office in Hamden, Conn., in 1988.
He credits his time at Fairfield with giving him the skills and confidence he needed to succeed.
“The ability to look at both sides — or three sides — of every issue,” he said, “is instilled in you when you’re at Fairfield. The analytical skills and the willingness to listen and assess a situation — I think that’s what I learned the most.”
His younger brother Peter, who was a student-athlete and graduated in 1981 with a degree in business, added that Fairfield taught him how to structure his time and kept him motivated. “Between the commitment of playing on the baseball team and [earning a] Jesuit education, which is demanding,” he said, “time management was the biggest thing I walked away with.”
Peter fondly remembered Father Richard Costello, his Western Civilization professor, who became a mentor to him and helped him with the rigorous curriculum.
Both Steve and Peter emphasized how their Fairfield education not only shaped their intellect, but also their sense of responsibility to the broader community. For Peter, playing college baseball underscored the importance of teamwork and perseverance, traits that have been essential as he built his insurance agency and restaurant businesses. Steve noted that after succeeding in such a demanding academic environment, he felt he could accomplish anything — a lesson in confidence he later applied to his professional endeavors.
While Fairfield University laid the intellectual foundation for the Ciardiellos career pursuits, it was their strong family bond that formed the bedrock of their entrepreneurial success. Their brew pub venture, Elicit Brewing Company, is part of Eli’s Restaurant Group — a true family business in which collaboration, mutual
respect, and shared values have helped the Ciardiellos thrive in the competitive world of restaurants and beyond.
Opened in a revitalized industrial space almost 30 years ago, the flagship Elicit Brewing Company location in Manchester, Conn., includes a brewery, beer hall, cocktail bar, lounge, arcade, and restaurant. Coowned by Steve, Peter, their brother Richard, sister Paula, and longtime friend Rich Riccitelli, the owners’ ability to work together harmoniously has played a crucial role in the business’s continued growth. “We’re a cohesive group,” Steve said. “We seem to have the formula, and that’s probably the achievement I’m most proud of. We do what we need to do, in a very nice way.”
The journey that began in Fairfield University’s classrooms recently culminated in a 2024 return to Stag Country: after searching 10 to 15 years for the perfect spot in Fairfield, the Ciardiello brothers and their partners opened a second Elicit Brewing Company location on Black Rock Turnpike. And last September, they collaborated with Fairfield University to launch ’42 Brew, a special craft lager that celebrates Fairfield’s rich history and vibrant alumni community.
The newest Elicit location serves food and features a microbrewery, a 100-tap taproom, a cocktail-focused speakeasy, and a large covered back patio — providing the Ciardiello brothers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow alumni and the broader Fairfield community. “We enjoy doing it,” Steve said. We’re very happy that we’re in Fairfield. It feels like we’ve come full circle.” l F
development and preclinical good laboratory practice (GLP) and non-GLP safety and efficacy testing. Together with Benjamin Yeh, MD, at University of California San Francisco, Bonitatibus is targeting human trials for 2025.
’98 | Darice Corey MBA’02 was promoted to the position of senior director of web and IT planning, Yale College Dean’s Office at Yale University in January 2024. As the leader of Yale College’s IT division, Corey oversees critical information systems, particularly within Student Affairs and Student Engagement. Her role entails managing the annual technology budget, aligning plans with priorities and financial constraints, and representing Yale College on university-wide IT initiatives. Corey is also the host of the Yale College Voices Podcast, which spotlights the kaleidoscope of talent that shapes the Yale College experience, and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Soundcloud.
’00 | Michael Hojnacki was recently appointed principal of the New York Harbor School, located on Governors Island in New York City. Founded in 2003, the one-of-a-kind NYC public high school offers an array of career pathways — from professional diving, vessel operations, and marine biology research, among others — to an amazing group of diverse learners. Working hand in hand with the Billion Oyster Project, which has been based at the school since its inception and is the nucleus of what is now the region’s largest marine restoration program, the New York Harbor School serves as a worldwide model for engaging youth in urban marine ecosystem restoration.
’08 | Marko Pavela is a practicing attorney, having served more than 10 years with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. A current volunteer instructor and trip leader for climbing courses in Olympia, Washington, Pavela was a contributor to the 10th edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, a master guide to mountains and climbing, released by Mountaineer Books on September 1, 2024.
’10 | Julia (Schuble) Raatz recently accepted a new position at the U.S. Department of State. Formerly a treaty analyst, she is now a senior economic and commercial advisor and the team lead for government coordination in the Office of Commercial and Business Affairs.
Proud
StagMate parents Colleen (wilson) ’11 and daniel horstMann ’16 welcomed daughter, Lilly Eileen on June 29, 2024.
Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
Mark your calendars today and make plans to join us for a very special celebration weekend with your class.
REGISTER, CONNECT, AND CHECK IN ON YOUR CLASS GOALS TODAY: Classes of 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020: visit fairfield.edu/reunion 50th Reunion Class of 1975, visit fairfield.edu/classof1975
by r obby p iazzaroli
Jon t ho M as ’02, M ba’07 has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) — a martial art that emphasizes ground fighting and grappling techniques — since 2008; he earned his black belt in the sport in 2018.
In 2010, Thomas began thinking of ways to introduce a philanthropic presence in the BJJ community. Two years later, he hosted his first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament to raise money for nonprofit organizations dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. According to his website, the inaugural Tap Cancer Out BJJ Open in Stratford, Conn., was “thrown together with borrowed wrestling mats, painter’s tape, homemade scoreboards, and lots of help from friends and family.”
Attracting more than 150 competitors and raising more than triple their original goal of $5,000, Thomas realized they had created something truly special. Thirteen years later, the Tap Cancer Out (TCO) nonprofit has hosted more than 100 events and raised $7.75 million for its beneficiary partners and organizations.
“I think my time in the Dolan School of Business helped me get used to being pushed out of my comfort zone, which is the only place where you can find growth,” said Thomas, who earned his MBA at Fairfield Dolan in 2007. “I would have never started TCO if I had waited until the ‘perfect’ time. I just had to start, no matter how unready I felt or how much imposter syndrome I had. I knew that I had the tools to make it work, and so many years later I think that’s true.”
Thomas explored collaborating with other grappling groups, but his strong personal connection to BJJ compelled him to remain focused on that one discipline. “We had to find our niche — the connective tissue between our mission and community. That was to focus specifically on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because that’s what was authentic to us,” he said.
“The only way TCO was going to take off was if we built the airplane ourselves and raced down the runway, so to speak,”
Thomas continued. “The first two years were tough, but after that first event in 2012 where we raised nearly $20,000, I knew we had finally cracked the code.”
Tournaments and fundraising efforts steadily grew over the years, allowing Thomas to leave his job at a global commerce and communications agency and commit full-time to Tap Cancer Out in 2018.
As founder and executive director of TCO, he has truly found fulfillment, working alongside his wife, Becky, TCO’s VP of marketing and operations. Together, they are able to support their family and be present for their two children – all while raising millions of dollars to fight cancer.
“July 1, 2018, was my first full-time day at Tap Cancer Out,” Thomas said, “and it was a surreal feeling — to build something that was not only meaningful and impactful, but that could actually be my profession.”
That same year, TCO launched its Grappling for Good Tour, traveling city-tocity each weekend with a truck and trailer to host tournaments up and down the East Coast from Boston to New Orleans and as far inland as Chicago. Looking to the future, TCO hopes to expand its reach to communities on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest, offering every grappler the opportunity “to fight for those in the fight of their lives.”
With only five full-time employees and five board members, TCO is achieving incredible results. An impressive $4.5 million of their total $7.75 million collected for cancer research has been raised in just the last three years. In addition to 10 beneficiary partners — such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Little Pink Houses of Hope, and Camp Sunshine — TCO has funded grants to more than 20 cancer research institutions and has provided additional contributions to organizations including Head for the Cure and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Thomas is excited about TCO’s future and the impact it continues to make. He takes pride in receiving firsthand feedback
“I think my time in the Dolan School of Business helped me get used to being pushed out of my comfort zone, which is the only place where you can find growth.”
on how both large and small donations have positively affected their partner organizations.
“Our beneficiaries do a great job in making sure that we see, hear, and feel the effects of our giving. We’ve joined First Descents on a kayaking trip in North Carolina alongside a dozen young adult cancer warriors,” he said. “We receive letters all the time from families at Camp Sunshine. Christopher’s Haven in Boston has named one of their apartments after Tap Cancer Out, and the Isabella Santos Foundation was able to get a children’s oncology outpatient room, in the wing that they’re funding, named after us. We get reports from the doctors whose research we’re funding and try to visit hospitals like Johns Hopkins when we’re in the area. Obviously, we’re fighting a battle that will last lifetimes, but it’s still great to watch the journey with our beneficiaries.” l F
To learn more about Tap Cancer Out and for a schedule of upcoming nationwide tournaments in 2025, visit tapcancerout.org
Lauren (Bruce) ’10 and Dan Weinman — July 13, 2024.
Shannon McDermott ’15, MS’16 and Kyle Scherer ’15, MS’16 — Oct. 18, 2024.
Samantha Romilly ’15 and Daniel Prigge — Oct. 14, 2023.
Hattie Briggs ’16, MPA’23 and Benjamin Bayers ’17 — Sept. 21, 2024.
Molly (Gregory) ’16 and John Domenico ’16 — June 22, 2024.
Cara Batelli ’17 and Patrick Gannon ’17 — Aug. 23, 2024.
Victoria Bee ’17, MA’18 and Troy Scocca ’17 — Aug. 2, 2024.
Adriana Carino ’17 and David DeLeo ’17, MS’18 — Sept. 29, 2024.
Cassidy Boegel ’17 and Tyler Blind ’17 — Sept. 13, 2024.
Barbara Goger ’17, MS’18 and Ryan McGuire ’17 — June 15, 2024.
Kelly Villacres ’22 and Daniel Lopez ’17 — May 7, 2022
Shane Miller ’18, MBA’19 and Rachel Paris — May 19, 2024.
Elizabeth (Marrero) ’19 and James Calderini ’19 — Sept. 14, 2024.
Allison Carason ’20 and Colten Roberts — Sept. 7, 2024.
Mary (Fischer) & Austin Kenyon ’20 — Dec. 2023.
Tracy and Anthony Catino ’04 — daughter, Madison, March 15, 2024.
Laura Williams and Kevin Donohue ’07, MBA’12 — daughter, Ella Jeannette, June 30, 2024.
Colleen (Wilson) ’11 and Daniel Horstmann ’16 — daughter, Lilly Eileen, June 29, 2024.
Brittany and Mark Illustrato ’13 — daughter, Lola, Nov. 23, 2024.
Caitlin (Townsend) ’13, MS’14 and Matthew Rubertone ’13 — son, Cooper James, Feb. 5, 2024.
Angelika (Zbikowski) ’14 and Andrew Bromstedt ’13 — daughter, Violet Kathleen, Aug. 13, 2024.
William and Tori (Ready) D’Arbanville ’14 — son, Leon Bouton, Sept. 21, 2024.
Casey (Miller) ’14 and Lucas Sagar — son, Weston George, Sept. 19, 2024.
Allison (Sheridan) ’14 and Jake Shemtob ’15 — son, Oliver Francis, Dec. 31, 2024.
Kaitlin (Buckley) and Joseph Wik ’15 — twins, Annmarie and George, Jan. 2024.
Kaitlin (Mitacek) ’16 and Conor McLaughlin — daughter, Maisy, May 3, 2024.
Mary (Fischer) and Austin Kenyon ’20 — daughter, Everly Kate, Oct. 10, 2024.
T. Emmet Murray ’51, MA’53 — Dec. 21, 2024
Dominick M. Lonardo ’52, MA’54, CT’58 — Dec. 9, 2024
Carl A. Vitale Jr. ’54 — Aug. 9, 2023
Alton J. Lenoce ALND’55 — Nov. 5, 2024
Arthur G. Basdekian Sr. ’56 — Dec. 5, 2024
Gerald T. Garvey ’56 — Nov. 14, 2024
John J. Lengen ’56 — Nov. 25, 2024
John H. Stevens ’56 — June 3, 2024
Anthony J. Colavita ’57 — Oct. 13, 2024
StagMates viCtoria bee ’17, Ma’18 and troy sCo CCa ’17 were married on August 2, 2024.
Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
Consider making your gift to Fairfield a monthly affair! Recurring giving provides immediate impact for students and the Fairfield community. Set it and forget it at fairfield.edu/give.
George W. Grom ’57 — Sept. 28, 2024
Eugene G. Michael ’57 — Sept. 11, 2024
Thomas J. Dowie ’58 — Sept. 16, 2024
Edward F. Brimo ’59 — July 28, 2024
William J. Lavery ’59 — Nov. 14, 2024
Dieter H. Wilkins ’60 — Nov. 19, 2024
Thomas J. Kmetzo ’61 — July 31, 2024
John T. Reilly ’61 — July 9, 2024
Alexander W. Samor ’61 — Oct. 7, 2024
Ronald L. Cappelletti ’62 — July 6, 2024
William E. Colombell ’62 — Sept. 23, 2024
Robert J. Crean ’62 — July 10, 2024
John P. Lynch III ’62 — Oct. 3, 2024
Ralph G. Olsen II ’62 — Oct. 24, 2024
Michael G. Petro ’62 — July 11, 2024
Richard P. Picardi ’62 — March 24, 2023
Harry W. Voccola ’62 — Oct. 7, 2024
Joseph J. Cirasuolo ’63 — Oct. 25, 2024
Vincent A. Iosso ’63 — Sept. 3, 2024
John W. Fontaine ’64 — July 31, 2024
Joseph E. Fraccascia ’64 — Aug. 5, 2024
Joseph Szaszfai ’64 — Nov. 24, 2024
Richard J. Wailionis ’64 (BEI) — Aug. 19, 2024
William H. Martineau ’65 — Aug. 25, 2024
Edward S. Boulos III ’66 — July 22, 2024
Gary J. Kwiatkowski ’66 — Aug. 10, 2024
Francis X. Quinn ’66, MA’67 — July 15, 2024
John W. Ruffini ’67 — Dec. 10, 2024
Robert J. Semanchik ’67 (BEI) — Jan. 1, 2024
Joseph A. Massaro Jr. ’68 — Aug. 5, 2024
Joseph M. Dias ’69 — Aug. 16, 2024
Albert B. Fisher III ’69 — July 9, 2024
Paul C. Glinski ’69 — Nov. 12, 2024
Thomas V. Zingarelli ’69 — Sept. 13, 2024
Peter J. Belz ’70 — Sept. 13, 2023
Richard W. Hardisty ’70 — Nov. 25, 2024
Thomas F. O’Brien III ’70, MA’75 — Feb. 2, 2024
Bruce R. Klastow ’71 — Dec. 9, 2024
Francis C. Boyle Jr. ’72 — Sept. 21, 2024
Paul J. Dodd ’72 — Nov. 6, 2024
James P. Ginocchio ’72 — Dec. 6, 2024
Gary S. Bowen ’73 — Dec. 9, 2024
Frank N. Sardo ’74 — Nov. 22, 2024
Rev. Robert A. Smith Jr. ’74 — Sept. 15, 2024
Russell C. Rowan III ALND’75 — Aug. 23, 2024
Brenda M. Lee ’76 — July 19, 2024
John C. McDonnell ’76 — Aug. 28, 2024
Brian P. Cunningham ’77 — July 29, 2024
Vincent G. Slowey ’77 — Aug. 2, 2024
Jill A. Bartkovich ’78 — July 20, 2024
As proud senior parents, you can celebrate your student’s achievements by making an Honor Your Graduate or Capstone Scholarship Gift in recognition of your student or someone who has made an impact on their time at Fairfield These gifts recognize the lasting influence Fairfield has had on your student and ensure that a life-changing Fairfield education is available for — and accessible to — future Stags. To learn more, visit Fairfield.edu/honoryourgraduate or contact the Office of Parent Engagement & Philanthropy at parents@fairfield.edu or 203-254-4000 ext.3276
Daniel J. Marshall ’78 — Oct. 7, 2022
Brian D. Gregory ’79 — July 9, 2024
Gregory L. Bock ’81 — Dec. 9, 2024
Michael F. Money ’82 — Jan. 1, 2025
Nicholas J. Montano Sr. ’83, MA’89 — Sept. 29, 2024
Stephen S. McInerney ’85 — June 15, 2024
Francis X. Howley ’87 — Oct. 23, 2024
John A. Coratola ’89 — Nov. 9, 2024
Mary E. (O’Shea) Callow ’92 — Dec. 21, 2024
Doreen M. (Boutote) O’Sullivan ’93 — Dec. 19, 2024
Kathleen A. Czarniak ALUC’94 — Sept. 22, 2024
John M. Bambino ’95 — Dec. 27, 2024
Kevin R. Simmons ’02 — Nov. 18, 2022
John R. Donovan ’05 –Nov. 26, 2024
Ceylan L. Conger ’08 — Dec. 17, 2024
Lucille (Aitchison) O’Grady ’08 — Sept. 29, 2024
Dale H. Cavalero ’09 — Oct. 31, 2024
Eamonn J. Grant ’13 — Sept. 21, 2024
Dominic L. Colon ’20 — Dec. 12, 2024
Ian J. Austin ’24 — Nov. 1, 2024
Lauren Cotton, DNP’22, PMHNP- BC was named track director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice program and associate professor at the University of St. Francis in December of 2024.
Shannon McDermott ’15, MS’16 and Kyle Scherer ’15, MS’16 — Oct. 18, 2024.
Victoria Bee ’17, MA’18 and Troy Scocca ’17 — Aug. 2, 2024.
Adriana Carino ’17 and David DeLeo ’17, MS’18 — Sept. 29, 2024.
Barbara Goger ’17, MS’18 and Ryan McGuire ’17 — June 15, 2024.
Shane Miller ’18, MBA’19 and Rachel Paris — May 19, 2024.
Hattie Briggs ’16, MPA’23 and Benjamin Bayers ’17 — Sept. 21, 2024.
Laura Williams and Kevin Donohue ’07, MBA’12 — daughter, Ella Jeannette, June 30, 2024.
Caitlin (Townsend) ’13, MS’14 and Matthew Rubertone ’13 — son, Cooper James, Feb. 5, 2024.
Erin Craw MA’19 and Jason Timko — son, Luca Robert, Nov. 11, 2024.
T. Emmet Murray ’51, MA’53 — Dec. 21, 2024
Dominick M. Lonardo ’52, MA’54, CT’58 — Dec. 9, 2024
Vincent C. Cibbarelli MA’58 — Sept. 23, 2024
Patricia A. (DeMaria)
Fitzgerald MA’59 — July 31, 2024
Charles J. Conte MA’60, CT’65 — Aug. 15, 2024
Frederick A. Barbieri CT’62 — Nov. 18, 2024
Ann (Lutz) Vickers MA’64 — Sept. 29, 2024
Rita M. (Dellaca) Lapati MA’65 — Oct. 29, 2024
Francis X. Quinn ’66, MA’67 — July 15, 2024
Sr. Agnes M. Barry, SND, MA’68 — July 15, 2024
Nicholas A. DelRosso Jr. MA’68 — Nov. 17, 2024
Sr. Julie E. Tucker, SND, MA’69 — July 9, 2024
Sr. Joanne S. Bonville, OP, MA’71 — Sept. 12, 2024
Sr. Irene M. Hughes, SSND, MA’71 — Sept. 20, 2024
Mary T. (Shea) Pitt MA’71 — Sept. 19, 2024
Sr. Mary Fallon, SC, MA’73 — Aug. 9, 2024
Charlene (Nixon) Carter CT’74 — Nov. 1, 2024
Daniel J. Mocarski MA’74, CT’78 — July 15, 2024
Barbara A. (Griffith) Boehm MA’75 — July 5, 2024
Robert A. Jevarjian MA’75 — Nov. 17, 2024
Parents Laura Williams and kevin donoh U e ’07, M ba’12 welcomed daughter Ella Jeannette on June 30, 2024; Dad’s been trying to “sleep when the baby sleeps” ever since!
Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
Dolores (Ogden) Morse MA’75, CT’76 — Aug. 27, 2024
Thomas F. O’Brien III ’70, MA’75 — Feb. 21, 2024
Francis J. Steponaitis MA’75, CT’81 — Nov. 20, 2024
Virginia G. (Knowlton) King MA’78 — May 29, 2024
Katherine (DeMayo) Rydelek MA’79 — Oct. 28, 2024
Martha L. (Watts) Strange MA’79 — Oct. 8, 2024
Jean A. (Arthur) Hoey MA’81 — Nov. 15, 2024
Virginia A. (Cordasco) Zellner MA’81 — Oct. 25, 2024
Doris J. (Franey) Stan MA’82 — July 20, 2024
Raechelle A. (Dinan) Freeman MA’83 — July 21, 2024
Maureen C. (Dailey) Fama MA’84 — Nov. 8, 2024
Constance C. Winschel
MA’86 — Oct. 13, 2024
Sr. Nancy J. Ahern, CSJ, MA’88 — Oct. 2, 2024
Carol (Moeller) Holland MA’88 — Oct. 21, 2024
John H. Donovan III MS’89 — Oct. 19, 2024
Nicholas J. Montano Sr. ’83, MA’89 — Sept. 29, 2024
Nancy (LaMonica) Reece MA’89 — Aug. 18, 2024
Christine (Garden) Sutherland MA’89 — Oct. 24, 2024
Allison P. (Tucker) Gruder MA’95 — Sept. 11, 2024
William J. Lyons Jr. MA’97 — Oct. 12, 2024
Anne P. (Keiran) Manton
CT’03 — Dec. 27, 2024
Mary C. (Schlesier) Altieri
MA’05 — Dec. 28, 2024
John R. Ross MS’14 — Oct. 6, 2024
fairfield.edu/alumni | 203-254-4280
Email us at alumni@fairfield.edu
Fairfield Awards Dinner
Cipriani 42nd Street
WED., APRIL 2 | 6 - 10 P.M.
Fairfield University
Glee Club
“Future of Futures” Concert
SAT., APRIL 5 | 7:30 P.M.
Fairfield University
Glee Club
“British Invasion: Music of the British Isles” Concert MON., APRIL 28 | 7:30 P.M.
75TH COMMENCEMENT
THURS., MAY 15 | 4 P.M.
Associate’s Degree Exercises
SAT., MAY 17 | 9:30 A.M. Graduate Exercises
SUN., MAY 17 | 9:30 A.M.
Bachelor’s Degree Exercises
Reunion 2025
Class years ending in 0 and 5
Including 50th: Class of 1975
FRI., JUNE 6 – SUN., JUNE 8
quickcenter.com | 203-254-4010
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Lila Downs
SUN., MARCH 23 | 7 P.M.
Orin Grossman, PhD SUN., MARCH 30 | 3 P.M.
Spring Soiree
Michael Feinstein
SUN., APRIL 6 | 7 P.M.
THE MET: LIVE IN HD Fidelio (Beethoven)
SAT., MARCH 15 | 1 P.M. (LIVE), 12 P.M. PRE-SCREENING TALK
Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) SAT., APRIL 26 | 1 P.M. (LIVE), 12 P.M. PRE-SCREENING TALK )
THEATRE FAIRFIELD
Steel Magnolias
WED., APRIL 9 - SUN., APRIL 13
OPEN VISIONS FORUM
Walter Kirn
WED., MARCH 19 | 7:30 P.M.
Stuart Weitzman
TUES., MARCH 25 | 7:30 P.M.
Sally Jenkins
TUES., APRIL 1 | 7:30 P.M.
fairfield.edu/cs
The 19th Annual Lecture in Jewish/Christian Engagement
Massimo Faggioli
WED., MARCH 19 | 7 P.M.
Co-Sponsored with the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies
Catholicism and Gender | Commonweal in Conversation
Brianne Jacobs
WED., MARCH 26 | 5 P.M.
The 18th Annual Commonweal Lecture
Vincent Miller
WED., APRIL 9 | 7 P.M.
MISSION & MINISTRY
Rev. Marcel Uwineza, S.J.
MON. APRIL 7 | 7 P.M.
fairfield.edu/cs
Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Scholar-inResidence Lecture
Joseph Angel
THURS., APRIL 3 | 5 P.M.
The Bettie and Samuel Roberts Jewish Art Lectureship
Tobi Kahn
TUES., APRIL 8 | 7:30 P.M.
The Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies
Anne Applebaum
TUES., APRIL 22 | 7:30 P.M.
fairfield.edu/museum | 203-254-4046
Email us at museum@fairfield.edu
Dawn and Dusk: Tonalism in Connecticut
BELLARMINE HALL GALLERIES
NOW THROUGH APRIL 12
To See This Place: Awakening to Our Common Home
WALSH GALLERY
NOW THROUGH MARCH 29
An Gorta Mór: Selections from Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum
WALSH GALLERY
APRIL 11 – AUG. 16
Famous & Family: Through the Lens of Trude Fleischmann
BELLARMINE HALL GALLERIES
MAY 2 – JULY 26
Acasual conversation with a friend led Judge Albert Emanuelli ’59 to Fairfield University. Reflecting on that moment, he is still amazed that such a brief exchange would ultimately guide him toward one of the most impactful experiences of his life: becoming a Stag.
Emanuelli began his journey at Fairfield as a member of the first class with an option to live on campus — Loyola Hall opened in 1955. Comparing the regional men’s college of 70 years ago to the nationally recognized Fairfield of today, Emanuelli — familiarly known as Judge Al or Allie — noted the remarkable growth and development of the University, even as Fairfield’s enduring values and singular experiences remain unchanged.
After graduating, Emanuelli served in the military before attending law school to become a trial lawyer. He was elected in 1990 to the New York Supreme Court where he served for 14 years. His career provided him with extraordinary opportunities and lifelong friendships; he attributes much of his professional
“When you give back, there is a satisfaction that you’ll make an impact for other students to enjoy the experience that meant so much to you.”
success to the well-rounded education and personal development he experienced at Fairfield.
“I treasure the memories, especially the camaraderie with my fellow students and the Jesuit faculty. In particular, Father Donahue became a dear friend and was an important part of my Fairfield experience,” said Emanuelli. “Fairfield provided me with a wonderful education, discipline, and the opportunity to grow as a person.”
“I especially enjoyed my three years on the baseball team,” he continued. “I was fast and a switch hitter. I played left field, wore #27, and the team often called me ‘Rocket’ because of my speed.”
For Emanuelli, there are countless cherished memories from his time as a student-athlete, making it hard to pick a favorite. J U dge a lbert ( a
However, one standout moment was when, after making several impressive steals over the years, his coach asked him to share his sliding techniques with the team. Many of his other fond memories come from quality time spent on the team bus. “I’ll always remember the camaraderie and good-natured ribbing among players on the way to away games,” he said. Today, Emanuelli and his wife Mary Ann live in Hilton Head, where they enjoy the beach, tennis, golf, and, of course, continuing to support Fairfield despite the distance. Though living in South Carolina makes it difficult for him to visit as often as he would like, Emanuelli still feels deeply connected to the community and is inspired to support Fairfield and make a difference for students and student-athletes. “When you give back,” he said, “there is a satisfaction that you’ll make an impact for other students to enjoy the experience that meant so much to you.”
Emanuelli has supported the University in many ways, including annual contributions to the Friends of Fairfield Baseball Gift Fund. “When I was preparing my estate plans, I knew I wanted to include Fairfield,” he shared, describing how he made a conscious decision to create a lasting legacy by including both Fairfield University and the Fairfield Baseball program as beneficiaries.
He sees giving back to Fairfield as a natural way to embody the spirit of “Once A Stag, Always a Stag.” While much has changed for today’s students, he believes the core Fairfield experience — along with the ambition and potential of its students — remains unchanged. Emanuelli encourages both current students and alumni to fully embrace the community and maximize their involvement. “Treasure the memories and don’t take the experience for granted,” he advised. “You get out of it what you put into it.”
Agift to Fairfield University
Athletics leaves a lasting legacy by supporting scholarships, facilities, and programs that empower student athletes to excel — in the classroom and in their sport. Your generosity ensures future generations can pursue their dreams while fostering values of leadership, teamwork, and perseverance.
Make an unrestricted gift to the area of greatest need, or support your favorite sport with one of these giving options:
Appreciated Securities: Avoid capital gains tax while making an impactful gift.
IRA Charitable Rollover: If you are 70½ or older, give directly from your IRA with no income tax payable.
Bequest: Name Fairfield University in your will or trust.
Beneficiary Designation: Name Fairfield U. as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts or life insurance policies.
Charitable Gift Annuity: Receive guaranteed payments for life in exchange for your gift, or fund a gift annuity through your IRA (restrictions apply).
For more information on how you can use complex assets or planned gifts to impact Fairfield students, or to let us know that Fairfield is in your estate plans, please contact the Advancement representative below.
