Not Business as Usual
Easy Living
Making a Splash
Under Dean Zhan Li, the Dolan School of Business is shaking things up.
The Barnyard Manor Townhouses — Fairfield’s Newest Student Residence
Colleen Young ’20 and Matthew Torres ’23 are among the top swimmers in the world.
Fairfieldmagazine UNIVERSITY
Learning From the World
WINTER 2019
Global Fairfield takes international learning to a whole new level.
StagFest 2019 Photo by Mike Budny From October 18-20, Fairfield University welcomed families and alumni back to campus for a funfilled Alumni and Family Weekend. Thank you to all those who attended this year! On the cover: Kaitlyn Aussenheimer ’20, a political science and international studies major, at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt.
Fairfield University Magazine Fairfield University Winter 2019 | Volume 42 | Number 3 a.m.d.g. Editor, Alistair Highet Assistant Editor, Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11 University News Editor, Susan Cipollaro Copy Editor, Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87 Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Jennifer Anderson ’97, MBA’02 Designer, Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91 Photography by: Joe Adams: pages 8, 31 Mike Budny: pages 5, 9, 30 Paul Burk: pages 18-21 Andrew Henderson: pages 2, 23-25 Cassidy Kristiansen: pages 2, 18, 27-29 Paola Kudacki: page 38 Michelle Lange Photography: page 38 Jennifer Prat: page 9, 12 Stockton Photo: page 10 Courtney Wood: page 11 Contributed photos: pages 10, 12, 14-17, 32-38 Fairfield University Magazine is published four times (November, March, June, September) during the year by Fairfield University. Editorial offices are located in: Bellarmine Hall, Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 06824-5195 (203) 254-4000, ext. 2526 e-mail: ahighet@fairfield.edu Printed at The Lane Press Burlington, Vermont
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Contents
“ Undergraduate education is not just to get a person ready for a career. It is also for life preparation and personal discovery.”
18
22
by Alan Bisbort
by John Torsiello
Under Dean Zhan Li, and with a new facility, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business is shaking things up.
Fairfield University’s Colleen Young ’20 and Matthew Torres ’23 are among the top swimmers in the world.
Dean Li shows off Fairfield Dolan’s new home and offers a fresh vision for the future of the business school. With new programs, a global outlook, and innovative, integrative curricula, the Dolan School is rising to meet the needs of today’s students.
In addition to representing Fairfield University at the Division I level of intercollegiate athletics, two members of the Stags swim team have triumphed over physical challenges to achieve international success at World Para Athletics and Parapan American competitions.
Not Business as Usual
Pictured above: Dolan School of Business Dean Zhan Li, DBA.
— Zhan Li, DBA, Dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business
Making a Splash
Pictured above: Matthew Torres ’23 and Colleen Young ’20 swimming laps in the RecPlex pool.
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Fairfieldmagazine UN IVE RSIT Y
4 6 8 14
WINTER 2019
let ter from the presiden t 2018-19 financial report universit y news academics
Learning From the World
by Sara Colabella ’08, MA’11
26
Easy Living by Nicole Funaro ’17
Introducing the Barnyard Manor Townhouses — Fairfield’s Newest Student Residence
Global Fairfield takes international learning to a whole new level.
30 32
gr an ts & gif ts alumni notes
Profiles: 33 Darren Foster ’96 Giving a Voice to the Voiceless 35 Samyukta Dawadi MA’17 Sharing Nepal With the World
38 40
campus even ts donor profile George S. Mihalik ’62
On the south side of campus, the new $175 million townhouse complex features three-story units with open-concept living and dining spaces, wellappointed kitchens and baths, in-unit laundry rooms, and up to eight single bedrooms. Pictured above: (l-r) Nicholas Rucco ’20 and Thomas Boutros ’20 are stirring things up in the kitchen of their new Barnyard Manor townhouse.
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Letter from the President
Dear Friends, We had a wonderful Alumni and Family Weekend in mid-October, with so many of you coming to campus to renew old friendships or to share with current Stags the warm bonds of affection and optimism that are distinctly characteristic of the Fairfield University family. Having seen many of you, I am pleased to know you enjoyed everything, from seeing our Stag athletes in action, to live music, to an assortment of local culinary delights, and I thank you all for coming. As I write, our students are at the height of their first semester studies, and we are all working to advance our mission as the modern, Jesuit Catholic university that the world needs at this time. This transformative mission that we have inherited from St. Ignatius is always in continuous evolution, but our vision is unwavering — to promote the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of people of all backgrounds, so that they will make the world a better place for their neighbors and communities. With this calendar year coming to an end, we can reflect on many accomplishments. Our value-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused approach to forming men and women for the future has resonated with potential students, and so we are enjoying more undergraduate applications than ever. Our continuing success in this area is an indication of how desirous young people are for an education that will inspire their deepest longings for meaningful engagement with their world. Earlier this
year, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Arturo Sosa, S.J., articulated four areas of apostolic preference intended to be points of reference for the whole Society, and to which we will pay special attention over the next ten years of our development. They are: to show the way to God through Ignatian spirituality; to walk in solidarity with the poor and with those who have been excluded in a mission of reconciliation and justice; to care for our common home for the protection and renewal of creation; and finally, to accompany our young people in the creation of a hope-filled future. These preferences inform all that we do — in the classroom, in our student mentoring, in our Global Fairfield initiative — which you will read more about inside, and in our other mission projects. As we go forward, these preferences and the programs we develop around them will come into sharper relief, and I look forward to sharing this work with you as it unfolds.
T
o live our mission to the fullest, we need to adapt to the needs of the students of the future, and must ensure that Fairfield University continues to grow so that many more may benefit from the gift of a Fairfield education. Though our enrollments have never been so healthy, the broader picture for higher education is less robust. A significant decline in the traditional college age population will
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soon be upon our sector. As a result, we can expect to see what some have called a “flight to quality” in higher education. As I have traveled and spoken with alumni, I have stressed that the future demands that we become more national in scope, more global in outlook, and more unbounded and innovative in approach to respond to this challenge. Thankfully, our efforts in this direction are well underway. We have developed — and continue to develop — new initiatives to help meet the world as it is and to draw ourselves more fully into the national conversation. Our facilities have also been significantly enhanced, with the new Charles F. Dolan School of Business building; a new Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies; a new Academic Commons; revamped classrooms, technology, and student dining areas; and a new, world-class townhouse complex that you will read about in this issue. Recently, we announced plans for a replacement to Alumni Hall; a new Convocation Center to host sporting contests like basketball and volleyball games as well as concerts and special events. To respond to the challenges of the 21st century and the call for modern excellence requires we focus not just on our facilities but on our academic programs as well. With this in mind, University leadership is innovating with an eye towards the advent of Big Data across all areas of inquiry, a commitment to forge deeper partnerships with industry, an exploration of new instructional modalities, and a push to
“ To live our mission to the fullest, we need to adapt to the needs of the students of the future, and must ensure that Fairfield University continues to grow so that many more may benefit from the gift of a Fairfield education.”
extend educational opportunities out into the broader world. I think we can justly anticipate that in many respects the Fairfield of the near future will have qualities, programs, and instructional approaches that we can’t imagine today, preparing students of all ages to succeed in our increasingly complex world. Having said that, our foundational principles will not change. Core to our identity as a Jesuit work is the call to be “contemplatives in action” — to be imbued with a spirit of compassion for all living things and persons, and to be drawn toward the service of the higher good, while simultaneously being inspired to go out into the world and make it a
better place. I’m happy to report that our dedication to this mission is unwavering, and our vision for the future of Fairfield University is clear. With my best wishes for you all,
Mark R. Nemec, PhD President
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Fairfield
FINANCIAL & STATISTIC AL HIGHLIGHTS
UNIVERSITY REVENUES 2018-19
$234.2M
13% Housing & Dining
74% Gross Tuition & Fees
4% Investment Return 6% Current Use Gifts & Grants 3% Other
UNIVERSITY EXPENSES 2018-19
$222.1M 26% Instruction & Research
20% Academic & Institutional Support 12% Student Services & Athletics
28% Student Financial Aid
1%
Public Service
13% Auxiliary Services
UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL TRENDS 2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
3,793
3,879
3,957
4,052
2019-20
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT ENROLLMENT (FALL) Undergraduate Graduate University Total
3,786
4,208
722 731 680 677 680 645 4,508
4,524
4,559
4,634
4,732
4,853
1,056
966
1,056
994
1,091
1,176
Combined SAT Average
1177
1183
1186
1245
1266
1279
High School GPA Average
3.45
3.41
3.48
3.49
3.65
3.64
ENTERING FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS (FALL) Headcount
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TOTAL NET ASSETS THROUGH FY 2018-19 $ in millions $600 $500 $400 $300 $200 $100 Fiscal Year:
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
15
16
17
18
19
TOTAL ENDOWMENT THROUGH FY 2018-19 $ in millions $400 $350 $300 $250 $200 Fiscal Year:
09
10
11
12
13
14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES (FALL) Faculty
245
266
271
270
283
295
Staff
532
530
548
555
542
542
University Total
777
796
819
825
825
837
Baccalaureates
880
939
930
991
947
Masters
367
481
393
383
389
18
16
28
15
27
DEGREES CONFERRED
Post-Master Certificates Doctorates University Total
21 28 36 39 31 1,286
1,464
1,387
1,428
1,394
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Universit y NEWS FAIRFIELD EARNS TOP MARKS IN 2020
New MS in Healthcare Administration Program Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies is launching a new Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA) program. Developed by the Egan School with the support of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the program offers students the knowledge and experience to pursue a wide range of healthcare-related careers. The MHA program complements various fields of study, from nursing to science to business. The versatile 42-credit program offers courses across a variety of curricular areas including economics, accounting, healthcare systems, healthcare policy, information technology, marketing, finance, management, and leadership. Fairfield is accepting MHA applications this fall and classes will begin in the summer of 2020. Admission to the program is open to students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. For more information and to apply, visit fairfield.edu/mha. lF
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Fairfield has once again been recognized in the annual U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2020 rankings, placing high up for Best Regional Universities in the North at No. 3. Other regional distinctions for Fairfield include a jump to the No. 1 spot in the Best Undergraduate Teaching list, and No. 2 Most Innovative School. Fairfield’s high placement on the regional lists follows an upward trend in its retention rate (90 percent) and graduation rate performance, and a rise in SAT scores for incoming students. Among notable national distinctions, Fairfield ranked No. 9 for Student SuccessService Learning, on U.S. News and World Report’s list of 2020 Academic Programs to Look For, tying with the University of Notre Dame. Fairfield jumped seven spots to No. 75 out of 210 on the list of Best Engineering Programs. Fairfield was also ranked No. 167 out of 504 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Business Programs. U.S. News & World Report additionally ranked Fairfield University among the top 30 schools nationally for
its Accounting, Finance, Marketing, and Information Systems programs, jumping six spots to No. 27 for Best Undergraduate Business Programs-Accounting, and four spots to No. 23 for Best Undergraduate Business Programs-Finance. Fairfield also received high national rankings again this year in College Factual’s annual Best Colleges Ranking, placing in the top 10 percent of all colleges and universities included in the national 2020 ranking. Overall, Fairfield received 52 distinctions that placed the University in the top 15 percent or better nationwide. These distinctions include a top 10 percent ranking as a best religiously affiliated university (No. 14 of 182), a top 5 percent ranking for Fairfield’s accounting program (No. 7 of 619), and a top 5 percent ranking for its nursing program (No. 7 of 519). With many accolades awarded to Fairfield in College Factual’s annual ranking, the University was also recognized for its high freshman retention rate (90%), low student loan default rate, and high return F on investment. l
GSEAP Launches Online Dyslexia Interventionist Certificate The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP) announced a new online graduate certificate program in multisensory structured literacy instruction in partnership with Wilson Language Training, and the first cohort of students has launched. Fairfield’s Online Dyslexia Interventionist Certificate program includes Level I Certification in The Wilson Reading System (WRS), which is based on the OrtonGillingham approach to reading instruction and is accredited by the International Dyslexia
Association (IDA). In addition, candidates who successfully complete the program are eligible for certification as a Structured Literacy/Dyslexia Interventionist with the IDA’s subsidiary, the Center for Effective Reading Instruction. As states continue to enact new dyslexia laws, this online 10-credit graduate certificate program expands opportunities for educators to effectively help students with dyslexia and other languagebased learning disabilities become fluent, independent readers. GSEAP is now accepting applicaF tions for spring 2020 cohorts. l
Spike Lee (center) met with students prior to his Sept. 19 lecture at the Quick Center.
SPIKE LEE CHAMPIONS EDUCATION, FILM TO SOLD-OUT CROWD AT QUICK CENTER Academy Award-winning film director, producer, writer, and actor Spike Lee launched the 23rd season of Fairfield University’s Open VISIONS Forum lecture series in front of a sold-out crowd at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. In the conversational style of Fairfield’s Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) public affairs lecture series, Lee was joined onstage by OVF Director Philip Eliasoph, PhD, professor of art history and visual culture, and Claudia Calhoun, PhD, assistant professor of F visual and performing arts. l
Athletics Celebrates Banner Year for Fundraising
ALUMNI AND FAMILY WEEKEND Nearly 2,000 gathered on campus in October for Fairfield’s Alumni and Family Weekend 2019. StagFest, RugbyFest, athletic games, a Stags Pep Rally, and a Glee Club concert all brought smiles to the students, alumni, and families in attendance. It was a weekend for honoring traditions, making memories, and celebrating the ongoing transformation of Fairfield.
Last year, the Friends of Fairfield Athletics family came together to raise more than $1.3 million in operational support for all 20 varsity teams — a 25 percent increase from the previous year. The community also gave approximately $6,500,000 in capital, planned, and endowed gifts to help repair, renovate, and construct facilities to improve players’ experiences, and to provide merit- and need-based scholarships for student-athletes.
The level of participation by alumni, parents, and friends reflects the community’s support of Stags Athletics. Fairfield received gifts from more than 2,200 donors, a 21 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2018, and upwards of 950 of those gifts came from dedicated alumni. Students, alumni, parents, and friends united on STAGiving Day, April 20, and raised more than $240,000 for Fairfield F Athletics in just 24 hours. l
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Universit y NEWS Engineers Take Top Prize at Techstars Startup Weekend Four Fairfield University graduate students in the Software Engineering program won first place for their Plant Wiki app during September’s Techstars Startup Weekend in Stamford, Conn., from September 20 to 22. The event immersed the graduate students in a startup environment to create a product, launch a business, and connect with experienced mentors and potential investors. Techstars Startup Weekends, in partnership with Google for Startups, are run by local organizers in more than 700 cities and 150 countries around the world.
The weekend began for Fairfield grad students Pawan Pillai, Serena Lo, Thuy Le, and Yanbei Xie with Friday night idea pitches, during which they met and joined forces with three additional weekend participants. The team’s prizewinning product, Plant Wiki, is a smartphone app that targets urban populations to assist with their gardening needs. The app combines the best features of all competitors’ apps, plus it is free. Revenue generated from a small commission on each sale within the app will help to keep the app F free for users. l
Landon Taliaferro ’20 races past the Iona defense in an Alumni Hall game.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACTION IN ALUMNI HALL Fairfield men’s basketball will play eight on-campus games on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall this season, in addition to five contests at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. Game times for every men’s and women’s basketball home game have now been announced. The eight Fairfield men’s games at Alumni Hall include seven MAAC contests — Manhattan, Saint Peter’s, Canisius, Niagara, Siena, Quinnipiac, and Rider — in addition to a Dec. 8 meeting with William & Mary of the CAA. The Stags will host Bucknell, UMass, Marist, Monmouth, and Iona at Webster Bank Arena. The Fairfield women’s home games include contests with Dartmouth, Navy, Hofstra, and Brown before MAAC showdowns with Saint Peter’s, Canisius, Manhattan, Iona, Quinnipiac, Rider, Siena, and Niagara. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX. All season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase a discounted F parking pass for the five men’s games at Webster Bank Arena. l
Egan School Ranked No. 7 Nationally
(l-r) Plant Wiki team members: Yanbei Xie, Pawan Pillai, Serena Lo, and Thuy Le.
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Fairfield University and the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies’ nursing program jumped four spots to a ranking of No. 7 out of 519 schools in the United States, placing the Egan School in the top 5 percent of programs in the country, in college research website College Factual’s annual ‘Best Colleges Ranking’ for 2020. The Egan school was also ranked No. 1 in Connecticut for its nursing program. Additionally, the school was recognized nationally for producing the top 5 percent highest paid graduates in the
health professions, placing No. 18 out of 687 schools included in the ranking. College Factual’s annual rankings weigh 11 different factors to score four-year undergraduate programs. The categories considered in the ranking include: average test scores, average faculty compensation, expenditures per student, student to faculty ratio, percent of full-time teachers, freshmen retention rate, six-year graduation rate, expected vs. actual graduation rate, student loan default rate, starting salary boost, and mid-career salary F boost. l
Fairfield University Celebrates Opening of Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab An enthusiastic crowd comprised of Fairfield University faculty, staff, and senior leadership gathered in the main lobby of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Friday, September 6, for a special dedication ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the College of Arts and Sciences’ new Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab. Established through the generosity of Scott and Susie (Martin) Fredrickson ’82, the state-of-the-art lab will provide College of Arts and Sciences students and faculty with a physical and digital gathering space for interdisciplinary research and instruction. Equipped with mobile workstations, HDTV screens, specialized computer
Pictured left to right: Scott Frederickson ’82, Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, Susie (Martin) Frederickson ’82, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD, and Senior Development Director Karen Kaiser.
software, and two sizable seminar rooms, the all-new facility offers ample space for hosting interdisciplinary workshops and classes, highlighting faculty and student digital research, and
facilitating the exploration of digital solutions to global issues — whether qualitative, quantitative, scientific, creative, or at the F intersection of diverse fields. l
MS IN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR NON-BUSINESS MAJORS Fairfield Dolan has launched a new Master of Science in Management (MSM) program for non-business majors. The one-year, 30-credit program has been added to the School’s roster of nationally-ranked graduate degree programs, in response to growing demand from College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering students who are seeking business skills and experience. There are two signature elements that distinguish the
MSM program from others: the capstone entrepreneurship course and the global immersion experience. The capstone entrepreneurship course challenges students to become well-rounded leaders and resourceful innovators with global awareness. The course emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship, whether students advance to run their own startup, or lead within a large corporation. The global immersion
experience emphasizes the importance of managing across cultures and the need to understand the historical and socio-political context of today’s economy. Students will have the opportunity to study for a week in South Korea or Japan, and experience cultural contrasts and the business practices of F international companies. l
FAIRFIELD DOLAN LAUNCHES PROFESSIONALIN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM New this year, students in the FairfieldDolan will have more opportunities for mentorship from one of six highly accomplished leaders as part of the new Professional-inResidence (PIR) program. Professionals who participate in the program will work with undergraduate and graduate students, conduct mock interviews, advise faculty on industry trends, foster career and professional development, and support the strategic direction of the School. Fairfield Dolan welcomes the following 2019-20 Dolan Career Development Center Professionals-in-Residence: Steve Crowley, CPA, MBA co-director, CFO Consulting Partners; Mary Kelly ’02, marketing strategy and consumer insights consultant; William Schloth ’85, CPA, MBA, co-founder and CEO of USA Business Strong; Roxanne Todisco, consultant - client solutions, Spruceview Capital Partners; Kim Tully ’89, MBA, senior vice president, Synchrony Financial; and Joe Von Ehr, CPA, MBA, co-director, CFO Consulting F Partners. l
The MSM will launch in May 2020 and Fairfield Dolan is currently accepting applications. To learn more, visit fairfield.edu/msm. Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 11
Universit y NEWS Samantha Power Opens Women and Leadership Series at the Quick One of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” and one of Foreign Policy’s “Top 100 Global Thinkers,” former U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power kicked off the Women and Leadership Series with her Open VISIONS Forum lecture on October 2 at the Quick. A leading voice for principled American engagement in the world, Power’s sold-out lecture was the first of a new inspirational Women and Leadership series presented by Bank of America.
Power spoke with the same honest and direct personal style that has been a trademark of her diplomacy work, including her role as the 28th U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017. The former journalist also worked for Senator Obama and later served in President Obama’s cabinet. She currently teaches global leadership and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, and human rights at Harvard Law F School. l
Claire Fitzgibbon
Fairfield Dolan Welcomes This Year’s Conlisk Scholar Claire Fitzgibbon has been selected as the 2019 Fairfield University Rev. John M. Conlisk Irish Scholar. The oldest of seven children, Fitzgibbon is a graduate of the University of Limerick where she studied economics and finance. She plans to complete her MBA at Fairfield University. The annual Conlisk
Scholarship was founded by Kevin Conlisk ’66, a former member of the Fairfield University Board of Trustees, in honor of his brother, the late Rev. John M. Conlisk. The scholarship includes all tuition, housing, and medical insurance expenses for a student earning a master’s degree from the Charles F F. Dolan School of Business. l
BREXIT: THE IRISH AND EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES
Samantha Power kicked off the Women and Leadership Series with her Open VISIONS Forum lecture on October 2 at the Quick.
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Eimear Friel, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Ireland, offered insider knowledge and professional insights into the ongoing Brexit crisis during a free public lecture that was held in Fairfield University’s Kelley Center Presentation Room on Thursday, October 3. Friel, who has previously worked on Brexit with the
Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, focused on the prospect of a “hard border” between the North and South of Ireland and its implications for North-South relations, among other aspects. After her presentation, she participated in an audience Q&A led by Irish Studies program codirector and history professor F William Abbott, PhD. l
NEW ACADEMIC COMMONS WELCOMES FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY This past summer, the DiMenna-Nyselius Library underwent a series of renovations to accommodate Fairfield’s new Academic Commons. The Academic Commons includes the following support services: Academic Support and Retention: Center for Academic Excellence; DiMenna-Nyselius Library; Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab; ITS Help Desk; Math Center; Office of Accessibility; and the Writing Center. “The Academic Commons represents the next step in the University’s efforts to
accommodate the changing needs of our students,” said associate vice provost for pedagogical innovation and effectiveness, Jay Rozgonyi. “Just as we responded to the demand for more collaborative spaces in the new Egan and Dolan Schools, we’ve consolidated a number of key student-centric services on the main floor of the DiMennaNyselius Library to form the Academic Commons. By doing so, we’ve streamlined academic support services for the campus community, from computer support, to math tuF toring, to academic advising. l
Philosophy and Humanities Institute Host Ethics Symposium The Fairfield University Philosophy Department, in partnership with the Humanities Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences, brought a panel of more than a dozen national scholars, community activists, and Fairfield faculty members to campus on Friday, October 4, to participate in a rich and timely conversation addressing some of the most pressing ethics issues in today’s global landscape. The daylong symposium, titled Ethics Here and Now: Racial Justice, Reproductive Justice, Climate Justice, set out to identify and amplify the calls to justice embedded within scholarly and activist approaches to climate change, reproductive politics, and racial injustice. Each of the event’s featured panels
highlighted both global and local expressions of the three issues and included participation from faculty, students, and members of the community, as well as a collection of invited scholars engaged in groundbreaking work on the intersection of the issues. Among the ethics symposium’s list of expert panelists was Unmute podcast host, author, and University of California, Riverside philosophy professor Mysiha Cherry, PhD, who was joined by Ashwini Tambe, PhD, associate professor of women’s studies at the University of Maryland, and Kyle White, PhD, professor of philosophy and Timnick Chair in the Humanities at Michigan State, as F the event’s keynote speakers. l
Mabel Poblet Pujol, Reflected
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES ARCHIVES OF CONSCIOUSNESS: 6 CUBAN ARTISTS Fairfield University Art Museum announces the upcoming exhibition Archives of Consciousness: 6 Cuban Artists, open January 24 to May 15, 2020. Featuring recent works by internationally renowned artists of Cuba’s post-Soviet era, this exhibit invites us to witness the struggles and experiences of life in Cuba’s revolutionary society.
Chris Pilkerton ’95 Headlines Fairfield Dolan Dean’s Executive Forum On Tuesday, October 1, Fairfield Dolan welcomed Chris Pilkerton ’95, acting administrator and general counsel of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), as the first Dean’s Executive Forum guest of the academic year.
The topic of conversation was “Entrepreneurship in the Modern Economy: Leveraging Innovation and Workforce Development.” Dean Zhan Li, DBA, and Chris Huntley, PhD, associate professor and program director of Fairfield F StartUp, led an audience Q&A. l
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Learning From the World
Global Fairfield takes international learning to a whole new level.
W
by Sara Colabella ’08, MA’11
hen president mark
R. Nemec, PhD came to Fairfield University, he brought a clear vision of the University as a global, national, and unbounded institution of the future. Nowhere is this global approach more evident than in the newly designed Global Fairfield office — formerly known as the Office of Study Abroad. Designed to offer students an exceptional academic approach to international study, Stags now have opportunities for scholarly pursuits never before offered in the international setting. Over the past few years, Global Fairfield has launched an impressive array of international study tracks in business, nursing, arts and sciences, and engineering. Fairfield has also introduced tailored visual and performing arts programs, field and laboratory-based science research options, and summer programs. Global Fairfield’s full portfolio of programs is designed specifically to challenge in
Student photos from the Study Abroad Photo Contest (clockwise from top left): Haley Paetzoid ’18 (Morocco), Kaitlyn Aussenheimer ’20 (Jordan), Rebecca Wise ’18 (Slovenia), Marguerite McGuire ’20 (Australia), Olivia Battino ’18 (Turks and Caicos), Octalyana Thaib ’20 (South Korea).
the classroom and beyond, with learning opportunities that optimize the international setting and bring an elevated, global understanding to students’ undergraduate experiences. Forty-five percent of the Class of 2019 participated in some form of educational opportunity in another country — a number
“As the modern, Jesuit Catholic University, our focus at Fairfield is to support the development of globally competent students.” Jennifer Ewald, Vice Provost for Global Strategy
that is expected to grow each year. Providing students with a Jesuit education in the international context, Global Fairfield offers students more options than ever before, with more than 80 different programs in over 100 cities in 40 countries. Students may study at any of six established centers — Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; Aix-en-Provence, France; Galway, Ireland; Florence, Italy; London, England; Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, as well as through partnerships with University and provider programs in Puerto Rico, Greece, China, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and more.
Committed to preparing Fairfield undergraduates for an increasingly competitive global market, this new breadth of opportunity allows students to develop the “work-related skills in a global context” that a 2017 study from the Institute of International Education reports is highly valued by employers. New areas of focus include a hospitality concentration for management majors in Florence; a bespoke theater and literature program with theater internships in London’s West End; a customized psychology program in London; business programs in Florence, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona; and public health, nursing, education, and social work programs in Puerto Rico. Students are not just taking classes abroad, they are getting highly tailored academic experiences designed to elevate all aspects of their learning. “As the modern, Jesuit Catholic University, our focus at Fairfield is to support the development of globally competent students,” said Jennifer Ewald, associate vice provost for global strategy. “The intent is to strengthen our students’ academic experience while at the same time providing them opportunities for professional development in their chosen fields.” Kaitlyn Aussenheimer ’20, a political science and international studies major, chose to study abroad in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, a center of Islamic culture. Located on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the city is widely known for its museums, traditional souks, landmarks, and
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“I was able to grasp a whole new perspective on life. The old buildings and diverse culture really change how you think and feel about the world around you.” Nicholas Calabrese ’21
close proximity to Dubai. Aussenheimer, who also spent a semester at Queen Mary University in London, completed her research on Islamic banking and finance through an independent research scholarship while abroad. She also interned at Nikulsan Technologies, a digital marketing company. “I was given the opportunity to travel to Dubai and market the company to investors and companies,” said Aussenheimer. Living in the picturesque South Bank precinct of Brisbane, nursing major Juliana DiMirco ’20 continued her studies at Australian Catholic University and completed her clinical rotations at the Prince Charles Hospital. “Every place I went,” said DiMirco, “I was in awe of my surroundings. Whether I was driving down the Great Ocean Road or holding a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, I always had to stop and reflect on how grateful I was for this extraordinary experience.” Short-term options such as faculty-led intersession and summer programs are ideal for students who are unable to study abroad for an entire semester. Division I soccer player and marketing major Nicholas Calabrese ’21 worked around his athletics schedule by choosing a summer program in Florence. Looking to gain more Clockwise from top: Overlooking the Renaissance architecture of Florence (Nicholas Calabrese ’21); Rebecca Wise ’18 at the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia; a mountain hike in New Zealand (Natalie Bisson ’18); Juliana DiMirco ’20 at the Green-Elephant Sanctuary Park in Phuket, Thailand; Blarney House on the grounds of Blarney Castle in County Cork, Ireland (Emma Antoine-Portinari ’20).
insight into the creative side of marketing, he took the “iPhoneograpy” course at Florence University of Arts, using what he learned in the classroom on class trips to places like the medieval town San Gimignano, known as the City of Beautiful Towers. “I was able to grasp a whole new perspective on life,” said Calabrese. “The old buildings and diverse culture really change how you think and feel about the world around you.” While abroad, Fairfield students are also encouraged to explore service learning opportunities and internships. In Sydney, Australia, marketing major Marie Lacke ’20 served as a marketing intern for So They Can, a non-profit organization that empowers children and families in East Africa through education, and provides necessities such as medical care, shelter, clothing, and food. Lacke’s work centered on increasing student sponsorships through marketing and fundraising channels. “This internship allowed me to not only apply what I’ve learned at Fairfield, but also enabled me to touch on ethical and philosophical principles that I have learned,” said Lacke. After Fairfield, she hopes to continue working for a non-profit organization. “Even though being that far away from home for so long was a little hard, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I think everyone should take,” Lacke said. “I learned so much about myself, what I am capable of, and how much fun life can be if you just put things into perspective, let go, and take F chances.” l
Danielle Sondgeroth ‘22 captures the Feast of the Epiphany celebration outside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.
GLOBAL FAIRFIELD Global Fairfield is designed to bring quality and distinction to the undergraduate experience at Fairfield University through intentional international learning experiences co-created between Fairfield University and our innovative partners around the world, that complement and supplement our degree offerings. Students can progress through their major fields of study by attending some of the world’s most renowned institutions of higher learning and engaging in authentic work-life experiences bound to the specific culture of the country. In these ways, Global Fairfield prepares Fairfield University students to be authentic citizens of the world. Global Fairfield aims to • Expand opportunities, perspectives, and horizons • Engage students in exceptional academic experiences abroad • Enhance students’ professional competencies through applied global experiences
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Not Business
as Usual
Under Dean Zhan Li, and with a new facility, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business is shaking things up. by Alan Bisbort
above:
The curved northwestfacing facade of the new Dolan School of Business. right:
Dean Zhan Li, in one of the new building’s collaborative gathering spaces.
As the fall semester opened at Fairfield University, so did the new building for the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. And, like the students and members of his staff, the business school’s dean, Zhan Li, DBA, was still learning his way around the place. As he strolled the sunlit corridors of the handsome 85,000-square-foot, $40 million facility, Dean Li raved about everything he passed — the color scheme of the furniture and carpets, the floor-to-ceiling windows, the frosted glass walls, the upbeat signage (“Modern Excellence,” “We Are A Talent Incubator”), and the new school logo. Oh, he loves that new school logo, the one that boldly and unmistakably fuses the two words: Fairfield DOLAN.
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above:
Light-filled spaces to meet and study, and case-based classrooms outfitted with broadcast technology are just a couple of the new building’s many features.
“P
eople ask me, ‘Okay, you have a new building, now what are you going to do?’,” said Dean Li, who came to Fairfield from St. Mary’s College in California last year. “And before I answer that question, I ask them to tell me the top U.S. business schools. They always name NYU Stern, Berkeley Haas, Northwestern Kellogg, Chicago Booth. My response is ‘What about Fairfield Dolan? Why not Fairfield Dolan?’” A fresh new vision, to match the new building and the University’s new administration, is paramount to Dean Li. “Without that vision you are just wandering around, you don’t know where you are going, do you?” said Dean Li with a smile. “We need to communicate that newness and freshness. It’s awesome.” Yes, Dean Li uses words like “awesome” when speaking about and showing off the building’s many unique features, such as the new Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Lab, the Entrepreneurship Center and Ideation Lab (complete with a Future Tech Emperor Chair), the case-based classrooms, and the sleek Finance Lab with its S&P 500 stock ticker. In the Ideation Lab around the corner from his second-floor office suite, Dean Li excitedly described the Fairfield Startup 2020 program, a ‘shark tank’-style entrepreneurial
competition among students that culminates in the spring with a pitch to investors in front of a live audience for real seed money. “This is where the ideas are being generated,” he said, sweeping his arms around the high-tech lab space. Downstairs, in the first-floor Finance Lab, he enthuses as he wanders among the desks, “I’ve been in many finance labs, and this is the finest I have ever seen.” It’s clear, right off the bat, that Dean Li knows marketing. As dean and longtime professor of marketing at the University of San Francisco and St. Mary’s College, and as a guest professor at UCal-Berkeley, Boston University, and elsewhere, he has a proven track record. When he was appointed Fairfield Dolan’s dean last year, University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, said, “During his tenure as dean at St. Mary’s, Dr. Li developed innovative and integrative curricula…that resulted in the highest enrollments and revenues in the college’s history, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.” Among Dean Li’s greatest successes is his ability to increase graduate school enrollment. This will be crucial at a time when graduate student enrollment at business schools is declining nationwide. Right now, the business school has the highest enrollment of all the schools at Fairfield, with 1,800 undergraduates and 180 graduate students. In order to meet the challenges of today’s educational marketplace and expand graduate school enrollment, Dr. Li has set forth a clear and dynamic agenda. He is particularly keen on developing a more global outlook, to prepare students economically, academically, and politically
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to compete on the world stage. “We need more courses on global topics, and we need to host international delegations and launch programs in other countries,” he said. “We’ve already established connections and partnerships overseas since I’ve been here.” Among the new graduate programs Dr. Li has implemented is a Master of Science in Management (MSM), which targets nonbusiness undergraduates like arts, humanities, and science majors. “This one-year program is probably the first in this area,” he explained. “It teaches students how to manage a museum, say, or start a studio or a research lab, or run a nonprofit. You may not be a business major, but you still need to know the basics of running a business, the regulatory laws, the marketing, accounting, and human resources skills, plus how to bring ideas to market.” Another new offering is a master’s in hospitality and tourism management. In this collaboration with Florence University of the Arts, most classwork will be conducted at Fairfield but the hospitality courses will be taught in Italy — the latter likely an extra enticement. Additionally, “in the final approval stage,” is an MBA/MS nursing degree track “to earn two degrees in three years,” said Dean Li. “In nursing, you reach a ceiling and can’t go any higher. This degree allows you to go into management.” Dean Li sees this degree as a “double-power connection,” as it brings together two of Fairfield’s high-profile schools and their top graduate programs: the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and Fairfield Dolan.
“As a first-generation immigrant and firstgeneration college graduate, I gravitated to the Jesuit ideal of social responsibility — helping the disadvantaged and teaching the ‘whole’ person.”
T
Zhan Li, DBA, Dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business
he undergraduate business school education at Fairfield is, of course, still the vital core for building future business leaders and socially responsible
human beings. “Undergraduate education is not just to get a person ready for a career. It is also for life preparation and personal discovery,” said Dean Li, who admits that when he went away to college, he wasn’t clear on what he wanted to do with his life. “Like most students I was happy to graduate high school, be far away from my parents,” he said with a laugh. “The university environment is the perfect place to discover what you love, or to pursue what you already know you are passionate about.” The Jesuit educational mission is never far from his thoughts. “As part of the Jesuit mission, we give students a grounding in everything, including a required course in applied ethics for all business majors,” he said. “Once you learn that, you will have it for life. We all experience ethical dilemmas in everyday life, and we teach students how to face these things.” The first school where Dean Li taught, the University of San Francisco, is also Jesuit. “I learned to appreciate Jesuit values and traditions during the 16 years I was there,” he said. “As a first-generation immigrant and first-generation college graduate, I gravitated to the Jesuit ideal of social responsibility — helping the disadvantaged and teaching the ‘whole’ person. That really resonated with F me from the start.” l right from top:
The Ideation Lab boasts a Future Tech Emperor Chair computer workstation; and a view of the southeastfacing building exterior. Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 21
Making
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a Splash Fairfield University’s Colleen Young ’20 and Matthew Torres ’23 are among the top swimmers in the world, attaining international success at World Para Athletics and Parapan American competitions.
F
by John Torsiello
airfield University is a place where dreams are nurtured and goals are achieved; nowhere is this more true than on Coach Anthony Bruno’s swim team, where two athletes have realized success beyond their wildest dreams. This past September, Colleen Young ’20 captured a silver medal at the 2019 World Para Swimming Allianz Championships in London, taking second in one of several 100-meter backstroke events (race classes are based upon athletes’ disabilities), and bringing her total number of World Para Swimming medals to nine. Young, who was born albino and is legally blind, began swimming in 2005 at age seven. Her passion for going fast in the water developed after she realized that she could focus
on herself instead of on a ball, unlike when she played soccer and softball. A communications major, Young became the U.S. Paralympic Team’s youngest member (at age 14) to compete in the 2012 London games. Matthew Torres ’23, a first-year student from Ansonia, Conn. and a 2019 graduate of Fairfield Prep, announced himself to the world by winning two gold medals for Team USA during the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru in late August 2019. Torres was born with amniotic band syndrome; he is missing half of his right leg, and his hands are affected by the congenital condition. Head Coach Bruno talked about the two swimmers. “Colleen was here when I took over and she was already competing on the world level in the Paras. She’s an amazing swimmer and has just gotten better.”
left:
Colleen Young ’20 is a six-time MAAC champion.
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Mindful of the physical challenges Young and Torres have triumphed over, and also very aware of how their courageous spirits contribute to the team as a whole, Bruno said, “The other swimmers see what these two have to deal with and overcome, and it impresses them.”
“I knew about Matt and wanted him to come to Fairfield,” Bruno continued. “He has just begun to understand his potential, and I told him that if he puts the work in and handles the hard practices, he will continue to improve and become the great swimmer he wants to be.” Mindful of the physical challenges Young and Torres have triumphed over, and also very aware of how their courageous spirits contribute to the team as a whole, Bruno said, “The other swimmers see what these two have to deal with and overcome, and it impresses them.”
Y
oung chose to attend Fairfield University after visiting the school and having it “feel good” to her. She met members of the swim team and felt accepted, which only strengthened her desire to cross half the country from St. Louis, Mo., and become a Stag. She showed signs of brilliance at the Division I level early on in her career at Fairfield. As a first-year student, Young set the University record in the 200-meter breaststroke during a meet against Siena, with a time of 2:43.25. At the 2017 MAAC Championships, she set three 24 wi n te r 2 019 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
ADDI TI ONAL H ONORS
personal bests. As a sophomore, the swimmer helped the women’s team win its first MAAC Championship in program history, with individual first place finishes in the 100y breaststroke and 200y breaststroke, and another as part of the winning 400y medley relay. “If you had asked me, when I was 10, if I thought I would be where I am and if I would be someone that other people looked up to, I would never have said that. I guess what I have done is a message to albino and visually impaired people, and that makes me proud,” Young said. She called competing internationally “an honor” and has high hopes for her chances of success the 2020 Summer Paralympics, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan. Young has already locked in a spot on the U.S. Team to compete in Tokyo. Her lack of total sight (she has between five and 10 percent sight) of course makes it a bit difficult to compete, but Young, tall (5feet, 8-inches) and lean, has not been deterred. “The biggest struggle I have is seeing the flags on the backstroke and seeing the wall when doing a turn. I also have some trouble swimming in a straight line, but I try and use the black line at the bottom of the pool to keep me straight.”
Y
At the 2016 Paralympic Trials in Charlotte, N.C., Young set an American and Pan American record in the 100-meter breaststroke. She won a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. Team at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While clinching gold in a men’s 400-meter freestyle, Torres also set a new Parapan American record. His second gold medal came in a men’s 100-meter breaststroke, and he took home a bronze medal as part of a men’s 4-by-100-meter medley relay.
oung’s champion status and her influence among teammates has helped to make the transition to college swimming — and to college life in general — easier for Torres. “She has been very supportive, and there was a security level for me knowing that she was here and I could talk to her about things,” said Torres, who also began swimming at a young age. He found his ability to overcoming his physical challenges in the pool inspiring and encouraging. Torres swam competitively on a club team, the Westport Water Rats, for five years. “Swimming has made me adapt to my challenges and reach for higher levels in the sport. I missed making the U.S. World Para swim team by one spot. It became evident that if I train hard – and with the coaching – I will get there and make the U.S. Paralympic team at the trials in Minneapolis in June of 2020,” he said. Torres, a finance major with a minor in sports leadership and management, talked about his decision to attend Fairfield University. “I was recruited by some schools but most told me that I would have to try out to make the team. If I did that, it would have placed me in limbo. Coach Tony gave me the
chance that the other schools wouldn’t, so I made the decision to come to Fairfield.” One of his goals while swimming for Fairfield? “I want to prove all the doubters wrong.” On being a role model, Torres, a diminutive but strong athlete, said, “I’m grateful that I have the chance to swim at a Division I level. It’s a good thing, if I can be the reason someone else tries to do what I’m doing.” Young and Torres have proven to be solid students, and in keeping with the school’s philosophy of community involvement and “giving back,” they, along with their teammates, teach youngsters on a weekly basis how to swim. Both said coaching is something they might be interested in down the road. In the eyes of Bruno and their teammates, Colleen Young and Matt Torres are members of “the team,” unexceptional for anything other than the fact that they are accomplished swimmers and good people. In the end, that’s all F that really matters. l left:
Stag teammates Colleen Young ’20 and Matthew Torres’23 at practice in the RecPlex pool. above: Torres began his Division 1 swimming career this fall.
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EASY LIVING
26 wi n ter 2019 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
INTRODUCING THE BARNYARD MANOR TOWNHOUSES — FAIRFIELD’S NEWEST STUDENT RESIDENCE
J
by Nicole Funaro ’17
ust before the sun comes up, Seamus O’Brien ’20 is awake and ready to begin his day. His alarm sounds at 5:15 a.m. and by 5:45, the captain of the Fairfield University men’s rowing team is off to Norwalk to lead his team in an early morning practice on the river.
He returns to campus around 9 a.m., and has just enough time to make himself breakfast before he leaves again, this time for his internship at the Revelry Group — a food, beverage, and hospitality marketing agency in the center of Fairfield. O’Brien finishes his workday around 3 p.m., makes one more trip back to campus, studies before his 5 p.m. class in the Charles F. Dolan School of
left:
(l-r) Between classes, Barnyard Manor residents Domenick Laperuta ’20 and Seamus O’Brien ’20 toss a football in the courtyard. above left to right:
Darting off to internships (Seamus O’Brien ’20); preparing meals together (l-r: Katerina Valente ’21 and Cindy Louis ’20); and enjoying time with friends (l-r: Audra Connolly ’20 and Marianna Poccia ’21) are all part of life at Barnyard Manor.
Business, and walks out the door at 4:55 to arrive on time to class. His swift 5-minute commute to class and his easy access to off-campus destinations are made possible by the convenience of his living quarters — the new Barnyard Manor townhouse complex. Nestled on the south side of campus just across the street from the new home of the Dolan School, the just recently completed townhouses are a new option this year for Fairfield’s junior and senior students. The approximately $17.5 million project designed by EYP Architects and built by Consigli Construction added an additional 128 beds to campus, and did so in style. Walk into any unit, and visitors will immediately notice the rustic wood-style floors that span the entirety of the first floor. Large windows allow for ample natural light to flow through the space, and highlight the spacious
L-shaped kitchen at the back of the unit. The three-story units offer additional amenities typical of luxury townhouse complexes: open-concept living and dining areas, kitchens adorned with subway tile backsplashes and breakfast bar seating, two full bathrooms, and in-unit laundry rooms complete with ample counter and storage space. To accommodate eight residents per unit, each townhouse offers a shared living space at the ground level, which includes the living room, dining area, and kitchen, as well as the laundry room, a walk-in closet, and backdoor access to a shared courtyard. Up a flight of stairs is a second floor with four single bedrooms. A communal bathroom is centrally located off the hallway, featuring dual sinks, a water closet, and separate shower. The third floor of the unit offers the same accommodations for another four residents. While this layout is typical of most units at Barnyard Manor, there are also four accessible units that provide single-level, ranch-style living for four residents. In total, 91 seniors and 36 juniors are among the first group of residents to call the new complex home, and by early accounts, the Barnyard Manor is a hit.
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“BARNYARD MANOR IS THE PERFECT SPACE FOR [UPPER-LEVEL] STUDENTS TO LIVE PURPOSEFUL LIVES OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.” — Karen Donoghue, Vice President for Student Life
“I absolutely love the kitchen,” said Marianna Poccia ’21. “The fridge is huge, the appliances were never touched before, the colors are all complimentary. I also love the wood-looking laminate flooring and the black cabinets are soft closing. You walk into the townhouses and it feels like you’re on HGTV.” The new space has become something of a hot topic both on campus and off, thanks to its lush finishes and idyllic location with proximity to not just the new Dolan School and its popular Dunkin Donuts storefront, but also to a couple of convenient campus exits, onto Barlow Road and Round Hill Road. “For someone who’s as busy as I am between running to practice or getting to work, it’s the quickest way off campus,” said O’Brien. “It’s also the closest you can be to the beach without being on the beach.” Friends of Senior Resident Assistant Domenick Laperuta ’20 would agree that the Barnyard Manor has quickly become a
coveted living option. “I made a huge meal the other night for all of my roommates and friends,” Laperuta said. “I had all of our beach friends come over to see the new house because they all wanted to visit. This is taking housing at Fairfield to a whole other level.” Taking students’ residential experiences at Fairfield to new heights is something that is always on the minds of those who interact directly with the student body, especially Vice President for Student Life Karen Donoghue ’03. For her, the addition of the Barnyard Manor complex represents a move to ensure students are getting a holistic, wellrounded Fairfield experience. “Barnyard Manor is the perfect space for [upper-level] students to live purposeful lives outside of the classroom,” she said. “The beautiful common/kitchen space, single bedrooms, and private laundry facilities provide state-of-the-art living for our upperclass students and their busy schedules.”
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above left:
(l-r) Audra Connolly ’20 and Thomas Boutros ’20 prepare a healthy meal in a spacious, well-appointed Barnyard Manor kitchen. above :
Friends gather at the large table to share a family-style meal. right:
Shea McGuire ’21 jogs past the welcoming front porches of the Barnyard Manor complex.
S
enior Audra Connolly made up her mind to live on campus this year, and having a brand-new living space to call home made her decision all the better. “With the Barnyard Manor being new and having single [rooms], it was the best way to get to live in a townhouse while getting your own room,” she said. “It’s really nice to have the opportunity to live in a new building before I graduate.” “Most of my friends who are seniors and
on campus live in Barnyard Manor as well, so I can just walk next door to see them,” Connolly said. That’s what Nick Rucco ’20 finds most convenient about his Barnyard Manor experience — seeing his friends is as easy as gathering on the back porch. “I see them just about every day coming back from class, and just the other day, we were all out in the courtyard playing spike ball and volleyball together,” he said. “We’re basically sharing the same house in a sense.” “One of the big reasons I wanted to live here was to have a sense of community,” said Rucco. “I would definitely say that I’ve felt the sense of community among the people living in Barnyard Manor that I was F searching for, prior to moving here.” l
below:
In addition to a washer and dryer, each unit’s laundry room has storage space and counters for sorting and folding.
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Grants&Gifts
A Selection of Grants and Gifts Received From Private and Public Foundations, and Corporations
The Arts The Connecticut Arts Council of the Department of Economic and Community Development Connecticut Office of the Arts awarded the Regina A. Quick Center for Arts $12,000 for an FY20 Arts Project grant. The Robert & Mercedes Eichholz Foundation has renewed its support of
the Fairfield University Art Museum with a $10,000 grant towards the museum’s 2019-20 exhibition programming and arts education initiatives for children and youth. George J. and Jessica Harris Foundation has awarded $10,000 to
the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts for support of its diverse performing arts programming. The Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM) has been awarded a second Preservation Assistance Grant (PAG) in the amount of $8,312 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
These grants support the care of humanities
collections and help build capacity among small and mid-sized cultural institutions. The museum’s first NEH PAG supported a conservation assessment of the James Reed Print Collection. This second grant will allow FUAM to purchase archival boxes to house this important collection. These works were a recent major gift to the museum, consisting of more than 1,000 prints from master printer James Reed, owner of Milestone Graphics in Bridgeport, Conn.
General University Support & Scholarships The Alice Lawrence Foundation gave $10,000 to the Barbara M. Bercham Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students from single-parent households who are the first generation in their family to attend college, and $50,000 to the Fairfield Fund earmarked for The Lawrence Scholars Initiative to enhance
academic offerings and student programming.
Center for Faith & Public Life The Center for Catholic Faith and Culture at Duquesne University, in affiliation with the Henry Luce Foundation, funded the Catholicism and the Common Good project with $3,000 to Melissa Quan as a subgrantee of the Critical Conversation initiative, to contibute to the multi-year project which fosters original scholarship on issues of wellbeing and imagines the future of Catholic higher education. People’s United Community Foundation has given $2,500 toward the
Fairfield University/Cesar Batalla JonesZimmermann Academic Mentoring Program ( J-Z AMP) to help provide after-school tutoring and mentoring by Fairfield faculty for elementary students from Cesar Batalla School in Bridgeport, Conn.
Charles F. Dolan School of Business PricewaterhouseCoopers’ INQuires grant program awarded $10,000 to the
Dolan School of Business to further develop the master’s level accounting curriculum to increase inclusion of analytics and to emphasize students’ business writing and communication skills. The Smith Richardson Foundation
Patrons enjoy the exhibition The Artist Collects: Highlights from the James Reed Collection at the Fairfield University Art Museum’s Walsh Gallery this past spring. Assembled over several decades by artist, collector and Master Printer James Reed, the collection comprises more than 1,500 prints spanning the 16th through the early 21st centuries. 30 wi n ter 2019 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
has awarded $20,000 to support technology within the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Financial Laboratory and Trading Floor, enabling students to stay current in the finance area. Future Tech Enterprise, Inc. has donated The Future Tech Emperor Chair, housed in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Ideation Lab, to enhance the modern workspace environment, allowing
The Brinkman Foundation’s ongoing support of the School of Engineering furthers cutting-edge research, provides lab equipment, and funds the Baja Buggy team, Stags Racing. students to take advantage of evolving technology scenarios such as artificial intelligence, data science solutions and/or financial modeling. Symmetry Partners, LLC has awarded $10,000 to Fairfield University to support finance programming within the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.
School of Engineering The Earl W. & Hildagunda A. Brinkman Private Charitable Foundation has
renewed its generous support of the School of Engineering with a $75,000 grant that will: further the cutting-edge research of assistant professor of mechanical engineering Sriharsha Sundarram, PhD; support a New Heat Transfer Experiment of Shahrokh Etemad, PhD, professor and chair of the Mechanical Engineering department and his students; guarantee student involvement in the Baja Buggy design competition; and provide necessary equipment for the school’s machine shop and product manufacturing laboratory.
Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has continued its support
through its initial grant of $2.6M to Joyce Shea, PhD, director of Graduate Studies, and her work with the Advanced Nursing Education Workshop’s Telehealth and Inter-Professional Practice (TIPP) program. The purpose of the program is to support more than 300 current and future Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) students at the
Members of the Society of Automotive Engineers add wheels to the latest racer in the Baja Buggy workshop.
Egan School over the next four years, and to provide didactic and clinical education experiences that prepare students in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), PsychiatricMental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and Nurse Midwifery (NM) programs to work effectively in inter-professional teams. In addition to being prepared to meet the documented needs for primary care and women’s healthcare services among medically underserved populations, all FNP, PMHNP, and NM students will be exposed to models of effective inter-professional practice and cutting-edge approaches to telehealth for patients across the lifespan, throughout their didactic coursework beginning in Spring 2019. Gladys Brooks Foundation awarded the Egan School $150,000 to endow an annual lecture series focused on cutting-edge topics in the field of nursing. Jonas Philanthropies gave $20,000 to Fairfield University Egan School toward tuition and professional networking for two students to study in the Family Nurse Practitioner DNP program as Jonas-Flynn Scholars.
College of Arts & Sciences The National Science Foundation
has awarded $175,350 to Anita Fernandez, PhD, associate professor of biology, for the acquisition of a fully-motorized research microscope. The microscope’s versatility allows researchers to pursue wide-ranging and advanced research projects. The microscope will be used to study agents that break up microbial biofilms, to characterize and quantify lipid rafts in cancer cell lines and immune cells, to develop and track small-molecule labeling of therapeutically important enzymes, to analyze human cancer cell behavior, and to study genetic interactions that affect animal development. These projects traverse the disciplines of biochemistry, physiology, genetics, and cancer biology, and include interdisciplinary collaborations and undergraduate F researchers. l
Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 31
Alumni NOTES 1970
S H A R E YO U R N E W S
’06 | Jennifer Santorello received her doctoral degree (EdD) in school policy and leadership from Hofstra University in May 2019. She is currently the coordinator of student affairs at Commack High School on Long Island.
’71 | John Skoyles has published his 10th book, Driven. Portions of this book have appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Visit www.madhat-press.com/products/ driven-by-john-skoyles for details. ’74 | Robert A. Smith Jr., a minister in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., has recently published a new book entitled Thank you Mama. The theme of the work is an analysis of the struggles of Women of Color — their triumphs over gender inequality, sexism, financial challenges, and domestic anxieties, as well as the social and political forces lined up to abort their self-actualization. ’78 | Robert Ficalora, MD moved to Indiana to direct Graduate Medical Education for Indiana University School of Medicine. He is the program director for internal medicine, the site director for the Evansville campus, and a professor of medicine. Dr. Ficalora moved to Indiana after many years at Mayo Clinic.
1980
’80 | Gregory Eichorn has joined the University of New Haven as vice president of operations and student success. Eichorn was previously vice president for admissions and financial aid at Quinnipiac University. ’88 | Craig Maloney was named chief executive officer at Maestro Health. Maloney most recently served as president of Aon Voluntary Benefits and Enrollments Solutions Division.
represents designers, sellers, and renters of construction equipment and products.
Meghanne (Malinowski) ’06 and Jon Fireman welcomed daughter, Cora Adeleine, Aug. 3, 2019. Congratulations and welcome Baby Stag! Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
1990
’91 | Meaghan Tuohey, after practicing law for 25 years, has obtained her N.J. Real Estate License, and is working with Keller Williams Village Square Realty in Ridgewood, N.J. ’97 | Ronald L. Jelinek has been promoted to the rank of full professor of marketing at Providence College. During his time at Providence, Jelinek has developed the marketing department’s sales program and continues to teach two course offerings in sales, while publishing and consulting on matters related to business-to-business selling. ’98 | Dan Padernacht has been named to the 2019 City and State Bronx Power 100, which identifies the borough’s political “movers and
32 wi n ter 2019 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
2000 shakers,” and evaluates how they stack up against one another.
2010
’11 | Christopher Hoeler was named the video coach of the Hartford Wolfpack (AHL) by the New York Rangers. Hoeler joins the Rangers organization after spending last season as the director of hockey operations for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Prior to working with the Steel, he worked one season as video and analytics coordinator for the Harvard University women’s hockey team. Hoeler has also worked with the Danbury Titans in the Federal Hockey League.
’01 | Annabelle Moseley MFA’11 is one of five artists featured in a new documentary film entitled Masterpieces: An Exploration of the Vocational Call to Artisanship, which premiered in Manhattan at the Sheen Center in October 2019.
’12 | Alexandra Criscuolo recently graduated with her MBA in sustainability from Bard College and was honored as one of GreenBiz’s “30 Under 30”: global leaders who are accelerating sustainability within their industry. She recently began a new job as the environmental sustainability manager for New York Road Runners.
’05 | Stephen Troiano was elected as a new partner with Morrison Mahoney LLP (Boston). Troiano focuses his practice on the defense of claims involving construction, trucking and transportation, product liability, employment litigation, and a wide range of general liability and commercial litigation. He also
’18 | Nicole Wroblewski studied desert and marine landscapes through ecological and social field methods in Baja this past summer. Wroblewski, an associate of donor services at Wildlife Conservation Society, lives in Stamford, Conn., and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field program.
Darren Foster ’96 Giving a Voice to the Voiceless
M
by Meredith Guinness aking films was not the career he envisioned when Darren Foster ’96 set foot on campus. He came to Fairfield spurred by stellar reviews from his older cousin, former Fairfield men’s basketball coach Tim O’Toole ’87, and with dreams of becoming a doctor. But Fairfield’s liberal arts core opened other worlds to the biology major — particularly through the lens of the burgeoning Film, Television, and Media program. “I was exposed to the idea of storytelling,” said the Island Park, New York native. Soon after graduating from Fairfield, Foster was off to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, where he
“ While it’s a far cry from his initial professional goal of becoming a physician, Foster believes his film career has some similarities in that he advocates for respect, compassion, and dignity by giving a voice to the voiceless.” earned his master’s degree and met his wife, Mariana van Zeller, with whom he later created the production company, MUCK Media. “She was into documentaries and she needed a cameraman, and I became that person,” said Foster, now father to nine-yearold son, Vasco.
Living in New York City during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the pair found themselves drawn to a lot of highly topical “dark stories” and conflict reporting. Their short film The Oxycontin Express, which traced the ‘pill pipeline’ from Ft. Lauderdale to the rolling hills of Appalachia, won a Peabody Award in 2010. Foster was a series director for the critically acclaimed 2014 Borderland documentary series chronicling an investigation into the journey of three migrants who died crossing the border from Mexico to the U.S. He later produced the DuPont Award-winning Death by Fentanyl (2015), an explosive look at one of the deadliest drug epidemics in American history. All told, Foster’s work – both with his wife and with other collaborators – has appeared on PBS, CNN, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel, as well as other national and international media outlets. Now, one of his most recent works — a buoyantly quirky departure from his grim earlier films — is becoming one of his most acclaimed. Foster teamed with co-director Cristina Costantini to create Science Fair for National Geographic Documentary Films. An insider’s look at the renowned annual high school competition, The International Science and Engineering Fair, it won the coveted Audience Award at both the Sundance and SXSW film festivals before taking home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary this past September. Three years in the making, Science Fair follows nine high school students from around the world as they “navigate rivalries, setbacks, and of course, hormones” (National Geographic) on the competition trail. This was a new kind of challenge for Foster and Costantini; the team held a casting call for potential competitors, meeting and Skyping with hundreds of would-be stars from high schools around the country. They later had
Darren Foster ’96
to plot the logistics of sending three barebones camera crews to follow about a dozen finalists through the actual 2017 contest in Los Angeles, where a whopping 1,700 teens from 78 countries squared off. Along the way, the co-directors uncovered vital secondary themes of STEM and environmental issues, immigration, gender equality, and class within the compelling competition storyline. Tracking down past winners of the prize offered an intriguing perspective on the state and status of science in America. Streaming now on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Google Play, Science Fair has been hailed as “unfailingly charming” (The New York Times) and “so funny and so moving, it almost seems too good to be true” (USA Today). “Utterly winning. Like Hoop Dreams for test tubes and genomes,” raved Entertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt. Optioned by Elizabeth Banks’ production company, the story is set to have a narrative film treatment in the future. Foster, who said he’s both excited and humbled by the glowing reception, will consult. While it’s a far cry from his initial professional goal of becoming a physician, Foster believes his film career has some similarities in that he advocates for respect, compassion, and dignity by giving a voice to the voiceless. “I always wanted to help people,” he said. “In another world, I’m a doctor F somewhere.” l
Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 33
Alumni NOTES Marriages Priscilla Barragan and Kevin Bayona ’05 — May 18, 2018. Dana Harencak and Kurt Heinold ’05 — Aug. 29, 2019. Alison Goldberg ’11 and Mark Turczak — Sept. 21, 2019. Carolyn Greene ’11 and Joseph Mauro ’11 — Aug. 3, 2019. Lauren Keilich ’11 and James Guinaw ’11 — July 27, 2019. Kerri MacKay ’11 and Matthew McDonagh ’11 — July 13, 2019. Kathleen McKenna ’11 and Christopher Hurley ’11 — July 26, 2019. Samantha Doherty and Devin O’Rourke ’12 — Sept. 17, 2019. McKenzie Naylor ’12 and Michael Moulton ’12, MBA’16 — July 20, 2019. Jennifer Dierkens ’13 and John Rosito ’13 — Aug. 17, 2019.
Alexandria McGovern ’13 and Matthew Nardella ’13 — June 29, 2019. Courtney Reilly ’13 and Michael Bennett ’13 — June 15, 2019. Alexandra Shaner ’13 and Anthony Corso ’12 — Sept. 7, 2019. Nicole Battaglia ’14, MA’14 and Matthew McNeill ’13, MA’15 — June 29, 2019.
S H A R E YO U R N E W S
Nicole Battaglia ’14, MA’14 and Matthew McNeill ’13, MA’15 were married on June 29, 2019 with many fellow Stags in attendance. Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
Amanda LaMattina ’14 and Piotr Kostyk ’12 — June 21, 2019.
In Memoriam
Maura Calamari ’14 and Jack Penzi ’14 — Aug. 24, 2019.
Sarah Barnabei ’15 and Cameron Bowen ’15, MS’16 — June 23, 2019.
Richard E. Blank ’51, MA’59 (GSEAP) – March 19, 2019
Chelsea Geremia ’14, MA’18 and Andrew Prince — Aug. 3, 2019.
Melanie Reis ’15 and Storm Miller ’15 — Aug. 17, 2019.
Mary Briggs ’14 and George Dubisar — June 15, 2019.
Kelly Herdman ’14 and Robert Everts ’13 — June 15, 2019. Ann Hughto ’14 and Alex Peras ’14 — July 13, 2019. Molly Knox ’14 and Robert Garrone ’14, MS’15 — July 20, 2019.
Multiply your Impact! Hundreds of companies match the charitable contributions made by their employees, their spouses, and retirees. Check with your company’s human resource office to see if they participate in a matching gift program or visit matchinggifts.com/fairfield.
34 wi n ter 2019 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
John P. Fray Jr. ’52 – July 3, 2019 Gerard A. Mohyde ’52, MA’55 (GSEAP) – June 4, 2019
Births
Albert R. Annunziata ’53 — June 10, 2019
Robyn (Glaser) ’04 and Tom Suminski — twin sons, Tyler Robert and Henry Thomas, June 26, 2019.
Charles E. Sova ’53 – July 2, 2019
Melissa and Michael Barber ’05 — daughter, Reese Ellen, May 19, 2019. Lindsay (Carothers) ’05 and Brad Menking — daughter, Eleanor Marie, June 25, 2019.
Stanley A. Bartus ’54 – June 21, 2019 Philip I. Brennan ’54 – Aug. 1, 2019 Edward G. Klim ’54 – June 18, 2019
Meghanne (Malinowski) ’06 and Jon Fireman — daughter, Cora Adeleine, Aug. 3, 2019.
Douglas J. Smith ’54 – June 2, 2019
Lauren (O’Hara) ’09 and Josh Jasinski ’09 — twin sons, Jack Taylor and Ryan Murphy, April 23, 2019.
Leo J. Waters ’58 – July 29, 2019
Danielle (Cristina) ’10 and Kevin Fitzpatrick ’10 — daughter, Mia Cristina, April 26, 2019. Caitlin (Scully) ’10 and Douglas Ciallella ’09 — daughter, Mackenzie Grace, March 26, 2019. Kelly (Young) ’10 and Eric Falcone ’08 — daughter, Ciandra James, May 17, 2019.
Harold J. Barnhart ’55 – June 13, 2019 Francis H. Michaud Jr. ’59 – July 19, 2019 Massoud G. Mowad ’59 – June 1, 2019 Ernest B. Garrity III ’60 – July 30, 2019 Joseph P. Attenello ’63 – June 11, 2019 Gilbert A. Holt Jr. ’64 – Dec. 27, 2018
Samyukta Dawadi MA’17 Sharing Nepal With the World
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by Meredith Guinness epal is roughly the size of New York state, but Samyukta Dawadi MA’17 is finding a world of difference and diversity there, as a travel writer in the small Asian country tucked in the shadow of the Himalayas. Writing for an airline company in her native Kathmandu, Dawadi spends busy days traipsing about the country’s mountains, plains, and cities, unearthing the sumptuous foods and spectacular culture of its many varied regions. “Each city has its own uniqueness. No two cities are the same in terms of food, culture, ethnicity, and overall lifestyle,” said Dawadi, who studied business administration at Ace Institute of Management in Nepal before
“ The education here has not only prepared me to thrive in my personal and professional life, but it has compelled me to create a brighter tomorrow and lead passionately with others.” setting her sights on Fairfield’s Master of Arts in Communication program. “The only thing in common between these cities is the nature of people. No matter what city you explore, people in Nepal are extremely kind, hospitable, and friendly. That’s basically what keeps me going.” Since few Nepalese universities offer a specialized graduate degree in communication, Dawadi looked at U.S. options with a modest wish list: she wanted to go to a well-ranked university with
favorable financial aid options, preferably close to New York City, where she knew she could find career experiences. Fairfield’s great rankings, low studentteacher ratio, and attractive campus and town amenities didn’t hurt, either, she said. “I felt that this University was the right fit for me, so I applied and, fortunately, got in,” she said. Upon receiving her master’s degree, Dawadi’s combined business and communications acumen proved highly desirable to employers; in addition to her travel-writing job, she is the director of communication at Adguru, an advertising company in Nepal, and she teaches research techniques as an adjunct professor at her alma mater in Kathmandu. Dawadi, who lived near the beach in Milford, Conn. while studying at Fairfield, said she frequently applies lessons learned in class to work situations in all three of her positions. “Classes on negotiation, organizational development, and relationship communication have been very impactful and effective in my career,” she said. “Also, I can confidently say that had it not been for the two rigorous classes I took on research and thesis, I would have never landed in a teaching position.” The University’s Jesuit tradition was not lost on her, either. Her thoughts on the matter are included in the International Studies pages of the University website, encouraging others to consider studying at Fairfield: “The education here has not only prepared me to thrive in my personal and professional life, but it has compelled me to create a brighter tomorrow and lead passionately with others.” Two of Dawadi’s jobs are part-time, leaving her ample time to travel and write for the airline, which publishes her work every three months. Each issue finds her in another city, detailing what makes it unique and worth a trip for the savvy traveler. Her descriptions make it tough to choose
Samyukta Dawadi MA’17 dressed in a traditional Kurta admires Buddhist prayer flags as she walks in the Thamel neighborhood of her native Kathmandu, Nepal.
just one region of the country. Kathmandu and Lumbini – birthplace of Gautama Buddha – are steeped in history and home to many significant temples, while nature lovers and wildlife watchers would have a field day in Chitwan or Sauraha. Climbers are challenged by Mount Everest, as well as Annapurna and Kanchanjunga, and not far from Kathmandu, Bhotekoshi is home to the world’s second largest bungee jump. While she loves delving into the history and culture of her homeland, Dawadi has wonderful memories of her time at Fairfield. Aside from making friends in classes, she worked in the campus bookstore and was also a graduate assistant in both the Graduate Admission and Marketing and Communications departments, meeting a variety of people along the way. “Although I was the only Nepali student there, I never felt out of place,” she said. “This has taught me to be kinder and more compassionate. I am more open to new things, new people, and new experience, F and I look at life in a different way.” l
Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 35
Alumni NOTES Fairfield University Alumni App!
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S H A R E YO U R N E W S
James M. Abrams ’66 – Aug. 8, 2019
Michael P. Collopy ’81 – Aug. 5, 2019
Joseph A. Chrzanowski ’66 – June 8, 2019
Frost W. Tilt ’82, MS’92 (DSB) – June 5, 2019
Robert P. Dohn ’70 – June 19, 2019
Douglas M. Noble ’83 – July 28, 2019
Wayne L. Gibbons ’70 – July 24, 2019
Matthew F. Martin ’89 – June 21, 2019
Robert S. Plucinski ’71 – July 18, 2019
Thomas A. Skarzynski ’92 – June 30, 2019
Michael J. Lampadarios ’75 – Aug. 27, 2019
Michael H. McHugh ’02 – July 4, 2019
James S. Moran III ’75 – June 4, 2019
Miriam R. (Conneely) Meier ’06 – Aug. 8, 2019
Mary E. (Giuliano) McEttrick ’77 – June 26, 2019
Lyn Ann (Spadaccini) Raymond ’09 – June 5, 2019
Josephine (Grasso) Sandness ’78, MA’81 (GSEAP) – July 13, 2019
Donald A. Carrelli ’10 – May 25, 2019
Patrick E. Mayernik ’79 – Aug. 22, 2019
Stags Up & Be Counted Proud parents Francesca (D’Souza) ’09 and Connor Nugent welcomed daughter Molly O’Hare into the world on May 1, 2019. Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.
36 wi n te r 2 019 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
Your gift, of any size, to the Fairfield Fund will enhance the student experience and give current and future Stags the tools they need to better our world. Make a gift today at Fairfield.edu/give or call 877-748-5123.
G R A D U AT E S C H O O L S
The University is proud of our legacy tradition. Our legacy families consist of students and alumni whose family members — including parents, grandparents, and/or siblings — attended or currently attend Fairfield University.
MFA’11 | Annabelle Moseley ’01 is one of five artists featured in a new documentary film entitled Masterpieces: An Exploration of the Vocational Call to Artisanship, which premiered in Manhattan at the Sheen Center in October 2019.
Marriages McKenzie Naylor ’12 and Michael Moulton ’12, MBA’16 — July 20, 2019. Nicole Battaglia ’14, MA’14 and Matthew McNeill ’13, MA’15 — June 29, 2019. Chelsea Geremia ’14, MA’18 and Andrew Prince — Aug. 3, 2019.
Mike ’59 and Ann Marie Mullen pose with their family, including 19 grandchildren. Five of their children, and two sons-in-law, are also Stags: Matthew Mullen ’86, Maura (Mullen) Semprevivo ’88, Philip Semprevivo ’89, Margaret (Mullen) Chmiel ’89, Paul Chmiel ’89, Mary Catherine Mullen-Most ’92, Mark Mullen ’99.
“Thanks to the Jesuit education, each one of us has our own way of thinking and of making sense of the world. The Fairfield connection allows us to read each other without even trying. We connect on a deeper level. Despite differences, relationships work well that connect well. We are a big group, so that is really important!” — Maura (Mullen) Semprevivo ’88 Submit your Fairfield family tree at fairfield.edu/legacystory.
Sarah Barnabei ’15 and Cameron Bowen ’15, MS’16 — June 23, 2019.
Sister Mavis Jewell MA’73 (GSEAP) – Aug. 13, 2019 Robert E. Vitale Sr. CT’73 (GSEAP) – Aug. 4, 2019 Edward F. Walsh CT’74 (GSEAP) – May 21, 2019 Joyce E. Harris MA’76, CT’78 (GSEAP) – Aug. 13, 2019 Althea (Miller) Lewis MA’76 (GSEAP) – Aug. 3, 2019 Joan (Smith) Meric MA’76 (GSEAP) – June 27, 2019 Linda P. Giorella MA’77 (GSC&PC) – June 23, 2019 Margaret J. Harper MA’77 (GSEAP) – July 12, 2019 Mary E. (Keyte) Moore MA’78 (GSEAP) – June 26, 2019 Joan (Miller) Burman MA’79 (GSEAP) – June 2, 2019
In Memoriam
Gabriel Biafore MA’81 (GSEAP) – Aug. 13, 2019
Gerard A. Mohyde ’52, MA’55 (GSEAP) – June 4, 2019
Josephine (Grasso) Sandness ’78, MA’81 (GSEAP) – July 13, 2019
Richard E. Blank ’51, MA’59 (GSEAP) – March 19, 2019 Lawrence A. Menta Sr. MA’59 (GSEAP) – June 16, 2019 Gloria J. Mirante MA’67 (GSEAP) – Aug. 10, 2019
Lillian (Prakelt) Goss MA’82 (GSEAP) – Aug. 10, 2019 Frost W. Tilt ’82, MS’92 (DSB) – June 5, 2019
Sister Lillian Belcher MA’68 (GSEAP) – June 12, 2019 Alphonse R. Ruocco MA’69 (GSEAP) – June 29, 2019 Kathleen R. (McCullough) Akey CT’71 (GSEAP) – July 12, 2019 Donald P. Hines MA’71 (GSEAP) – July 20, 2019 Joan E. Bailey MA’72 (GSEAP) – July 30, 2019 Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 37
ALUMNI CONNECTION
#StagMates Maura (Calamari) ’14 and Jack Penzi ’14 first caught eyes during an orientation at Claver Hall during the first few days of their sophomore year. From across a room, they both feigned attentiveness to the resident assistant’s overview of guidelines for the year, but they couldn’t ignore the electricity they felt inside. Mental notes were logged. Comments to friends exchanged. They had to find one another afterwards. Later that night, students gathered for a meet and greet and Maura and Jack learned they lived directly across the hall from each other. “From that night forward, Jack won me over and I quickly fell in love,” Maura said of that first meeting. And Jack recollected, “I was hooked and the rest was history. I immediately fell in love with the amazing person before me and knew it would be something forever.” On August 24, 2019, Jack and Maura officially said “I do” on the same grounds where their love story began, Fairfield University.
Alumni Campus NOTES EVENTS WINTER 2019
Fairfield University Alumni Association fairfield.edu/alumni | 203-254-4280 Email us at alumni@fairfield.edu Save the Date: Fairfield Awards Dinner THURS., MARCH 26 For more information, visit fairfield.edu/awardsdinner
Vuyani Dance Theatre CION: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero FRI., JAN. 31 | 8 P.M.
The Met: Live in HD Porgy & Bess (The Gershwins) SAT., FEB. 1 | 1 P.M. (LIVE) & 6 P.M. (ENCORE) | 12:15 P.M. PRE-TALK
Quick Center for the Arts quickcenter.com | 203-254-4010 Follow us! @FairfieldQuick NT Live: Present Laughter By Noël Coward MON., DEC. 2 | 2 P.M. & 7 P.M.
Maura (Calamari) ’14 and Jack Penzi ’14 strike an elegant pose in front of Bellarmine Hall.
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas THURS., DEC. 5 | 8 P.M.
The Met: Live in HD Akhnaten (Philip Glass) SUN., DEC. 8 | 1 P.M. (ENCORE) & 6 P.M. (ENCORE)
The newlyweds kiss on the chapel plaza.
Open VISIONS Forum: Lynsey Addario “Eyewitness Through My Camera Lens: Worlds in Conflict” MON., DEC. 9 | 8 P.M.
The Met: Live in HD Wozzeck (Alban Berg)
The bride and groom share a joyful moment during the Egan Chapel nuptials.
More than 20 festive Stags celebrate the happy alumni couple.
Are you a Stagmate? Share your story at fairfield.edu/lovestories
Save the date for the 6th Annual StagMates Event on Sunday, March 1, 2020! For more information, visit Fairfield.edu/stagmates. 38 wi n te r 2 019 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
SAT., JAN. 11 | 1 P.M. (LIVE) & 6 P.M. (ENCORE) | 12:15 P.M. PRE-TALK
NT Live: All My Sons Written by Arthur Miller, Directed by Jeremy Herrin WED., JAN. 22 | 2 P.M. & 7 P.M.
Porgy & Bess MAYDAY / Melanie Demers Animal Triste THURS. & FRI., FEB. 6 & 7 | 8 P.M.
Sakiko Ohashi & Anna Stoytcheva The French Connection SUN., FEB. 9 | 3 P.M.
Open VISIONS Forum: Gayle Jessup White & Andrew M. Davenport “A Report From Monticello: Restoring African American Narratives to Thomas Jefferson’s Plantation” WED., FEB. 12 | 7:30 P.M.
India Ink Theatre Company Mrs. Krishnan’s Party THURS. & FRI., FEB. 20 – 21 | 7 P.M. SAT., FEB. 22 | 2 P.M. & 7 P.M.
The Siberian Symphony Orchestra SUN. FEB. 23 | 3 P.M.
Open VISIONS Forum Espresso: Richard Wiese “Kick the Bucket List: An Explorer’s Notebook” TUES., FEB. 25 | 7:30 P.M.
The Met: Live in HD Agrippina (George Frideric Handel) SUN., MARCH 1 | 12 P.M. (ENCORE) & 5:30 P.M. (ENCORE) | 11:15 P.M. PRE-TALK
Open VISIONS Forum Espresso: Randall Griffey “The Met @ 50 — Looking Back/Looking Forward” TUES., MARCH 3 | 7:30 P.M.
Orin Grossman, Michael Haber & Sheryl Staples: Beethoven at 250 SUN., MARCH 8 | 3 P.M.
Pablo Ziegler Trio FRI., MARCH 13 | 8 P.M.
The Fairfield University Art Museum fairfield.edu/museum | 203-254-4046 Email us at museum@fairfield.edu
Prints from the Age of Rodin NOW THROUGH DEC. 21
Bellarmine Hall Galleries Sculptured Adornment: The Jewelry of David Hayes NOW THROUGH DEC. 21 Bellarmine Hall Galleries
Archives of Consciousness: Six Cuban Artists JAN. 24 – MAY 16 Walsh Gallery, Quick Center for the Arts
David Hayes, Pendant n. 31, n.d. Brass. Collections of the artist
Rodin: Truth, Form, Life Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections NOW THROUGH DEC. 21 Walsh Gallery, Quick Center for the Arts
LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR YOUR STAG?
SHOP
Go to fairfield.edu/shop • • • • • •
Championship Gear Collectibles Duffles, Totes & Backpacks Golf Items Hats & Scarves Children’s Clothes, and more!
Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | win ter 2019 39
Donor PROFILE George S. Mihalik ’62
A
fter graduating with an accounting degree in 1962, George Mihalik joined Deloitte & Touche (then Haskins and Sells), became a certified public accountant, and audited companies in a wide range of industries, including construction, shipping, food service, and banking. In 1977, Mihalik joined the internal audit department of a mining company called Texasgulf, Inc. His assignments required frequent travel throughout the southern and western U.S., the province of Ontario, and France. He eventually advanced to become vice president and controller of the holding company of Texasgulf’s successor until his retirement in 2000. “I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of technical accounting problems, but also the opportunity to work with and visit my peers in company locations throughout the U.S. and France. My time at Fairfield not only gave me a solid foundation in accounting and business studies, but also in writing — a vital but often overlooked skill for an accountant. My education also reinforced the ethical standards necessary in dealings with audit clients and executive management,” said Mihalik. A history buff with interests that include military history, classical music, theater, and films, Mihalik is a member of groups devoted to the study of the U.S. Civil War and World War I. He
has traveled extensively within the U.S. and Europe to visit battlefields, museums, and other historical sites. His European tours have ranged from Portugal to Turkey, and have covered conflicts from the War of Spanish Succession to World War II. Mihalik has fond memories of his professors at Fairfield. “Accounting Professor Thomas J. Fitzpatrick taught me how to approach and solve accounting problems, and professor of history Walter M. Petry Jr. reinforced my deep interest in history,” he said. To pay the many benefits of his Fairfield education forward, Mihalik made his first gift to the University in 1982, in the amount of $50. Since that time, for 38 years, he has continued to support The Fairfield Fund annually, gradually increasing his gifts to become a member of The President’s Circle. Mihalik’s annual gifts provide the University with funds that are vital to sustaining current operations. Mihalik also wanted to support the future of the University so that the next generations of students could benefit from a Fairfield
40 wi n ter 2019 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e
George Mihalik ’62 has established multiple Charitable Gift Annuities — nine in total — and plans to set up another before the end of 2019. education in the same way he has. As an accountant, he gave considerable thought as to what type of gift would work best for both himself and the University. He ultimately chose to establish a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) using the funds he had to take from his IRA as a required minimum distribution that year. He set up his first Charitable Gift Annuity in 2010. This gift provided Mihalik with an immediate tax deduction, income for life — most of which is tax-free — and the satisfaction of augmenting Fairfield’s endowment. Mihalik liked this arrangement because it will help assure Fairfield’s future while also allowing him financial security during his retirement. In fact, Mihalik liked the arrangement so much that he set up a new Charitable Gift Annuity each year from 2010 to 2018, and plans to set up another before the end of 2019. He funds his Charitable Gift Annuity
each year using the money he is required to take out of his IRA as a required minimum distribution. What’s more, Mihalik has named Fairfield as the beneficiary of his IRA. Therefore, upon his passing, the University will receive all of the funds remaining in the IRA as well as any remaining funds related to his multiple gift annuities. Mihalik recommends a Charitable Gift Annuity to donors who are interested in a fixed income. “The returns are very good and secure compared with what is available commercially, and the gift also benefits Fairfield’s future,” he says. George Mihalik is an excellent example of what Fairfield strives to teach its students through its Catholic and Jesuit traditions. He has led a life of service and has given back much to society through his gifts to Fairfield, the ethics he demonstrated throughout his career, and his kindness to others.
Income for Life and a
Now is the perfect time to support Fairfield University and supplement your retirement income with guaranteed, fixed payments for life.
Legacy for the Future
With a charitable gift annuity, you can receive a fixed income for life and benefit future generations of Fairfield University students. Your gift annuity rate will be determined by the age(s) of your annuitant(s) and the timing of the gift annuity payments, as illustrated below.
Here’s how it works: You give us a gift of cash or appreciated securities. In return, we give you: • Fixed payments that won’t fluctuate with the market •A charitable income tax deduction if you itemize •P artially tax-free payments to you and/or someone else • Capital gains tax savings for gifts of appreciated securities •A n even higher annuity rate if you defer your payments •T he chance to create a meaningful legacy at Fairfield
Single Life Annuities — Sample Rates
Two Life Annuities — Sample Rates
SAMPLE AGE
SAMPLE AGES
IMMEDIATE PAYMENTS
PAYMENTS DEFERRED FIVE YEARS
IMMEDIATE PAYMENTS
PAYMENTS DEFERRED FIVE YEARS
60
4.7%
6.1%
60 / 65
4.3%
5.6%
65
5.1%
6.7%
65 / 70
4.7%
6.2%
70
5.6%
7.4%
70 / 75
5.2%
6.8%
75
6.2%
8.8%
75 / 80
5.7%
7.9%
80
7.3%
10.0%
80 / 85
6.6%
9.6%
85
8.3%
11.4%
85 / 90
8.0%
11.2%
90+
9.5%
11.4%
90 / 90+
9.3%
11.2%
For a customized gift annuity illustration based on your date of birth and gift amount, or to learn about other ways to create your legacy at Fairfield, please contact Stacie Kelly, Senior Director of Planned Giving, at skelly1@fairfield.edu or 203-254-4020.
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