Fairfield University Magazine - Winter 2024-25

Fairfieldmagazine

Alumni and Family Weekend

Photo by Joe Buglewicz

The autumn leaves of Stag Country put on a colorful show for the record crowd of more than 2,500 alumni and family members who returned to campus for Alumni and Family Weekend, Oct. 18-20, 2024.

On the cover:

A vibrant hub of knowledge and discovery, the DiMenna-Nyselius Library plays a central role in nurturing scholarly engagement and advancing research initiatives on campus.

Photo by Joe Adams

Fairfield University Magazine

Fairfield University

Winter 2024-25 | Volume 47 | Number 3 a.m.d.g.

Editor, Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87

Assistant Editor, Erin Craw MA’19, PhD

University News Editor, Susan Cipollaro

Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Jennifer Anderson ’97, MBA’02

Designer, Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91

Photography by:

Joe Adams: pages 5, 11-13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 27, 32-7, 42, 43

Owen Bonaventura: page 25

Brio Photography: page 23

Joe Buglewicz: pages 10, 17

Contributed: pages 2, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47

Gael Della Valle: page 14

Olivia Frzop: pages 2, 13, 29-31, ASCO-Matt Herp: page 3

JetBlue Airways: page 39

Kristie Kistner: page 47

Blake Masi: page 13

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: page 18

Fairfield University Magazine is published four times (November, March, June, September) during the year by Fairfield University. Editorial offices are located at: Fairfield University

1720 Post Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824

(203) 254-4000

email: magazine@fairfield.edu

Printed at Allied Printing Services Manchester, Connecticut

Contents

20

Access

by b rad t ho M as

Talented, ambitious students hail from ever broader geographies and life experiences.

Meet Bryan Rivera ’25 and Christopher Mangram ’25, two Austin, Texas nursing students in Fairfield Egan’s Accelerated Second Degree Nursing (ASDNU) program; Aihua Hou MBA’24 and Hui Wang MBA’24, graduates of Fairfield Dolan’s Shanghai MBA program; and Company Scholar Kened Shilla ’28, a first-year student from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

above: Aihua Hou MBA’24 was among the Shanghai MBA graduates who received their degrees in person at Fairfield’s May 2024 Commencement Exercises.

“Fairfield is an exceedingly special place at a very special time. As a new year dawns, I want to not only celebrate our upward trajectory, but share gratitude for the community and family we have here.”

— Mark r ne M ec, Phd, President

28 Excellence

by d rew k ingsley ’07 & J ohn M endez ’07

Students and faculty members strive for greatness in athletic and academic collaborations.

A group of fifth-year student-athletes helped build and define the culture of the MAAC women’s soccer championship team; Max Limric ’25 and Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD, are working to overcome language barriers in the classroom; and Fulbright scholar and PhD candidate Houyame Hakmi’s interdisciplinary research with Alfred Babo, PhD, centers on conflict resolution and prevention.

above: (l-r) Class of ’24 teammates Caroline Kelly, Elle Scott, Sydney Corbett, and Allie Kirby celebrate the women’s soccer MAAC Championship

Pictured

Pictured

Fairfieldmagazine

4 letter F ro M the P resident

2023-24 F inancial re P ort 8 a year o F F irsts New & Noteworthy: 2023-24 44 donor P ro F ile Emily (Powell ’95) and Matt Kramer ’96, P’28 46 arts & M inds calendar 48 2024-25 tr U stees & ad M inistration

by e rin c raw M a’19, P h d , a lan b isbort & M eredith g U inness M’16

Fairfield alumni enter the workforce prepared to make a meaningful impact and drive positive change.

JetBlue CFO Ursula Hurley ’04 creates opportunities for the upcoming workforce; Kekoa Taparra ’12, MD, PhD, MPH, conducts research to improve the health of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community; and artist Missy Savard ’85 shares her talents with students and the world.

’12 received the inaugural Dr.

and Alan

Pictured above: Dr. Kekoa Taparra

Judith

Kaur Endowed Young Investigator Award through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, in 2023.

Letter from the President

“[W]e must be ever more committed to lifelong learning, holistic formation, and expansive partnership while being national in scope, global in outlook, and unbounded in approach, all as part of our ongoing efforts to serve broader populations in ever more innovative ways. ”

Dear Friends,

Writing on another of the beautiful, sunny days that have blessed us this fall, I am struck by the exceptional energy across the Fairfield University community. Our campuses have been buzzing with dynamic activity and interactions among our students, faculty, and staff. One particular highlight of this semester was our annual Alumni and Family Weekend in late October, during which more than 2,500 family members and alumni joined us for two days marked by academic ceremonies, community gatherings, athletic competitions, and a memorable afternoon StagFest celebration.

Fairfield has incredible momentum. Our Class of 2028, with just over 1,460 students, is our largest class in history. With an acceptance rate of 33 percent, it is also our most competitive class, aligning us with a whole new group of national peers and placing us among the top six most selective Catholic universities nationwide. We are appropriately recognized as one of the best investments in higher education as we continue our efforts to be the model for Jesuit, Catholic education in the 21st century.

While focusing on the current moment is essential, it is equally important to understand how we arrived here, the current context for higher education, and Fairfield’s way forward.

tradition was brought to southern New England by the Jesuits in 1942 at a time of massive upheaval. Our founding on March 17 was only a few months removed from the attacks on Pearl Harbor, but was animated by a long-term vision and a faith in the dignifying power of higher education.

The audacity of Fairfield’s founding is emblematic of not only our Jesuit, Catholic mission, but also the exceptionalism which characterizes American higher education. For as I share with my students in the first-year seminar I co-teach on the societal role of higher education, the diverse collection of American universities has been an integral factor in making our republic resilient and vibrant.

Higher education in the United States, though, is at a pivotal juncture. Our world has entered into a new period of unprecedented technological innovation and social disruption, and the benefits of a college education are under increased scrutiny. Despite this, the demand for a Fairfield education has never been higher: applicants are increasingly talented and employers are in need of our Jesuiteducated graduates more than ever.

above right: A professor in the Politics Department of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Nemec co-teaches a first-year seminar on the societal role of higher education, as part of the Honors Program.

Our University is grounded in a 500year Jesuit, Catholic tradition, inspired by St. Ignatius’s then unique practice of serving God and the Church not by retreating to a monastery but rather by getting amongst the world and educating individuals for the greater good. This

Even with this success in mind, we cannot take our position for granted. We are called to elevate the quality of every element of our student-centric, valuesbased, and outcomes-focused work, to ensure that our graduates are ready and able to shape the future for the betterment of our communities, our country, and our world.

We remain committed to our educational tradition and the liberal arts. At Fairfield, the liberal arts are the cornerstone of what we are and what we do. Our Magis Core Curriculum focuses

on ensuring that every undergraduate leaves Fairfield with the ability to communicate, a commitment to others through the lens of Catholic social and intellectual tradition, and the aptitude to think across fields of inquiry — no matter the major or career path.

At the same time, we also recognize that to answer our call we must always be evolving to ensure our impact and our relevance. During this year’s annual address to the community to start the academic year, I stressed that generational demographic shifts, urbanization, globalization, digital technology, and artificial intelligence and big data are reshaping the context for our work in dramatic ways. In response we must be

ever more committed to lifelong learning, holistic formation, and expansive partnership while being national in scope, global in outlook, and unbounded in approach, all as part of our ongoing efforts to serve broader populations in ever more innovative ways.

Fairfield is an exceedingly special place at a very special time. As a new year dawns, I want to not only celebrate our upward trajectory, but share gratitude for the community and family we have here.

To close on a personal note, in November I accompanied a group of Trustees, University leaders, and Jesuit colleagues on a pilgrimage to Ignatian Rome. Among many extraordinary moments, we attended Mass in the

Rooms of St. Ignatius, visited the Gesù and other Jesuit churches, and toured the Jesuit Archives. Perhaps the most profound encounter was our meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Being in the presence of the Holy Father’s warmth, simplicity, and deep sense of compassion was humbling and inspiring for all of us and a reminder of the promise of our collective endeavor.

With very best wishes and utmost gratitude,

M ark r n e M ec , P h d

President

UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL TRENDS

STUDENTS (FALL)

ADMIT RATE VS. FIRST-YEAR ENROLLMENT

Fairfield has been able to do what few schools have been able to accomplish. The University has significantly grown enrollment while at the same time becoming much more selective. The quality of our admitted student and enrolled student body has never been stronger.

Fairfield momentum

FAST FACTS

5,348

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

992

GRADUATE STUDENTS

OUR STUDENT BODY REPRESENTS:

44

43

91% STATES COUNTRIES (including D.C. and Puerto Rico)

STUDENT RETENTION RATE

From first to second year

TOP

75

PRIVATE NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

Fairfield is ranked #65 (T) among Private National Universities, following its elevation to National Professional Doctoral University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

2025 U.S. News & World Report

#6

MOST SELECTIVE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE NATION

#116

WSJ’S 2025 BEST U.S. COLLEGES

Up 8 spots from last year. The Wall Street Journal

TOP

LONG-TERM VALUE

Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce 1%

TOP

20

IN U.S. DOLAN SCHOOL’S FINANCE, MARKETING, ACCOUNTING & BUSINESS ANALYTICS PROGRAMS

2025 U.S. News & World Report

#89

BEST COLLEGES FOR VETERANS – NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

Making a college education more affordable for veterans and active-duty service members.

2025 U.S. News & World Report

Climbing an impressive 254 places from 2024.

The Wall Street Journal

2025 Best Colleges Region by Region. Princeton Review PRINCETON REVIEW:

Fairfield ranks No. 97 and in the top 20 percent in the Best Salaries category out of 500 colleges. The Best Salaries ranking evaluates schools based on their impact on graduates’ salaries in relation to the cost of attending the institution.

The Wall Street Journal / College Pulse

Up 9 spots in 2025 national rankings from last year.

Out of 154 institutions. College Factual 2025

A YEAR OF FIRSTS: 2023-24

FIRST PERMANENT SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

Part of a $1.1 million donation from the Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Private Charitable Foundation will be used to establish the School of Engineering and Computing’s first-ever permanent scholarship for women in engineering. This initiative underscores the University’s commitment to empowering women in STEM fields.

This generous funding from the Brinkman Foundation comes in honor of the late Earl Brinkman, father of Fairfield alumna and foundation trustee Ellie Hawthorne ’85, MA’88. The donation will also be used to enhance the University’s Mechanical Engineering Department by upgrading equipment and will directly support the Baja Racing Team — the engineering school’s largest and most dynamic student club.

ANCA MICU, PHD, JOINS HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW ADVISORY COUNCIL

Anca Micu, PhD, senior associate dean of the Dolan School of Business, has been appointed to the Harvard Business Review (HBR) Advisory Council. Harvard Business Review is a leading publication that provides insights and research on business and management.

As a member of the invitation-only HBR Advisory Council, Dr. Micu will contribute her valuable expertise to help shape the future of the business industry. “It is exciting to be at the forefront of new relevant content and to be able to provide input on it,” she said.

#1 PROGRAM

The School of Education and Human Development boasts the top master’s degree program in Connecticut in the “Best Teaching: English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor” category, according to College Factual 2024 rankings.

ForwardThinking

33% ACCEPTANCE RATE

With an unprecedented acceptance rate of 33 percent, Fairfield’s Class of 2028 came through the most competitive admission cycle in University history.

Just over 1,460 students strong, the newest Stags were selected from a record-breaking pool of 18,505 applicants, boasting an average weighted GPA of 3.76. Among them, 128 first-year students are Magis Scholars who have been invited to join the Honors Program.

The Class of 2028 represents 30 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 12 countries. This year’s class marks a significant increase in national representation, with twice as many students from the Midwest and D.C. compared to two years ago.

Also included in this class are 98 students from Jesuit and Cristo Rey high schools, with 26 of them joining the third cohort of Company Scholars, a unique program offering fouryear, full-tuition scholarships and robust academic and career mentorship to first-generation college students.

above : New Student Leaders greeted the Class of 2028 with record levels of enthusiasm and Stag spirit.

FIRST HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

An October book launch for Success on the Sound: A History of Fairfield University, featured a panel discussion with the co-authors: University Archivist Elise Bochinski, Professor Emeritus Paul Lakeland, PhD, and Professor Emeritus Kurt Schlichting ’70, PhD.

The authors — each with deep ties to the University — described how they brought their unique perspectives to this historical narrative, which recounts the stories of the Fairfield community, offers insights into the evolving nature of the University’s Jesuit mission and identity, and highlights the school’s role within the larger landscape of Catholic higher education in the U.S.

Purchase the book online at: www.fairfield.bncollege.edu

RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE

This spring, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Northeast Conference was hosted at Fairfield University by the School of Engineering and Computing. The two-day event drew record-breaking attendance of more than 300 faculty, staff, and students from over 25 universities across the region.

“It was impressive to witness the thriving engineering research community of the Northeast in action and get exposed to the latest and greatest technological and scientific advances taking place in our region – all right here at Fairfield,” said Dean Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD.

FIRST PLACE IN ETHICS CASE COMPETITION

Professor of accounting Joan Lee, PhD, led a team of Dolan undergraduates to a first-place finish in the Providence College Michael Smith Ethics Case Competition in February. This year’s case challenged students to evaluate the ethical implications associated with AI chatbots.

TOP HONORS AT INTERNATIONAL ZOO CONFERENCE

College of Arts and Sciences students in the Research, Internships, and Zoo Education (RIZE) program recently earned top honors for their conservation research at the International Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) conference in Calgary, Canada. Ashley Byun, PhD, associate professor of biology, leads RIZE students in behavioral observation studies at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. “Our students understand that science is not only about discovery but also about improving the lives of all living things,” said Dr. Byun.

FIRST DNP CAPPING CEREMONY

The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies held its firstever capping ceremony for 25 doctoral students in the DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program in August. The ceremony came nearly 15 months into the 36-month doctoral program and marked the transition from classroom to clinical training, in which the residents will manage approximately 800 anesthesia cases and clock 2,800 clinical hours.

“Today is an important occasion, a day that marks the culmination of rigorous study, sleepless nights, and unwavering dedication,” said Steven Belmont, DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA, director of the DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program.

above : A student conducts observational research at Beardsley Zoo.

left: DNP students proudly don their new surgical caps for the first time, ready to enter clinical training.

CAREER READINESS AT FAIRFIELD BELLARMINE

As lead philanthropic partner to the Fairfield Bellarmine two-year associate’s degree program, Bank of America colleagues engaged students in a series of innovative career readiness programs. Through mock interviews, career fairs, and immersive visits to Bank of America and Merrill Wealth Management financial centers and offices, Bellarmine students gained insights from industry professionals and Fairfield alumni on a range of career paths.

This fall, Fairfield Bellarmine welcomed back 37 students in its inaugural Class of 2025, an 84 percent retention rate. Enrollment in the second cohort grew by more than 60 percent, with 77 students joining the Class of 2026. More than half of the new class hails from Bridgeport, with the remaining students representing 13 other cities and towns in the region. Among these students, 66 percent are first-generation; more than 10 different native languages are spoken at home.

Faith & Formation

ALUMNI HOUSE NAMED FOR REV. CHARLES ALLEN, S.J.

Fairfield University honored the memory of former alumni chaplain Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., with the naming of the Alumni House. An integral part of the life and spirit of the University and Fairfield Prep community for more than 40 years, Fr. Allen passed away in January of 2024.

“Fr. Charlie Allen was a much-loved figure on our campus, and in our broader community, and a great friend to so very many of us,” said President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “If there was anyone who could be said to have embodied the spirit of our University — who knew and loved the town of Fairfield and understood the role that our University and Fairfield Prep play in the life of our region and beyond — it was Fr. Allen.”

EXCELLENCE IN ACCOUNTING ETHICS EDUCATION

Joan Lee, PhD, in her 27th year as a professor of accounting at Fairfield, is a national leader in ethics education and president of Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education. Dr. Lee and Dawn Massey, PhD, professor of accounting, received Excellence in Accounting Ethics Education Awards from the American Accounting Association for their outstanding contributions and their innovative approaches to integrating ethics into accounting education.

“BROKEN BRAINS AND BREAKING BARRIERS”

In a September lecture sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, titled “Broken Brains and Breaking Barriers: Lessons from the Hippocampal Formation and Life,” alumnus Dr. Julio Ramirez ’77, PhD, discussed the remarkable adaptability of the human brain and the significant challenges neuroscientists face when trying to understand the ways in which the central nervous system recovers from injury. Dr. Ramirez has received numerous awards and recognition for his work including the 2024 Association for Psychological Science Lifetime Achievement Award for Mentoring. As a child growing up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Dr. Ramirez’s interest in learning — and particularly in science — was supported by not only family, but by teachers and community mentors. In September, Dr. Ramirez paid that mentorship forward, visiting Bellarmine Campus and sharing his personal experiences as both a scholar and a social justice advocate.

FIELD HOCKEY HEAD COACH JACKIE KANE ’87 RETIRES

Fairfield University Field Hockey Head Coach Jackie Kane ’87 retired at the end of the 2024 season, her 30th as the leader of the program. “It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Fairfield Field Hockey for 30 years,” said Coach Kane, who was a four-year member of the Fairfield field hockey team as a student-athlete from 198386. Kane graduated in 1987 with a BA in communication.

Coach Kane is the longest-tenured varsity head coach in Fairfield Athletics history. She has led the Stags to six NCAA postseason appearances, including her final 2024 season.

MURPHY CENTER CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

On Oct. 6, the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality celebrated its tenth anniversary with a standingroom only crowd at the 11 a.m. Mass at Egan Chapel and a special luncheon for more than 200 guests in the Oak Room of the Barone Campus Center. Ten founders of the center were presented with the James M. Bowler, S.J. Award, in recognition of their embodiment of the spirit of St. Ignatius: Donna M. Andrade, EdD, M’82; Patricia P. Brennan ’73 (posthumously); Francis J. Connolly Jr.; Michael G. Considine; George E. Diffley, P’97, ’96; Traugott F. Keller; Robert Kretzman; Joan L. Lee; Stephen M. Ryan Jr.; Deacon Patrick A. Toole Jr.; and former Fairfield President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

above : (l-r) Dr. Dawn Massey and Dr. Joan Lee were presented awards from the American Accounting Association.

STAGS VOTE: ELECTION 2024

Ahead of the November elections, Fairfield’s Stags Vote initiative kicked off a semester of what Philip Eliasoph, PhD, special assistant to the President for Arts and Culture, described as “thoughtful, civil, student-focused conversations about the choices they can make in charting their destinies in American life.” Encouraged to embrace civic engagement on the national, state, and local levels, students attended lectures, held a campus-wide election simulation, and participated in workshops and voter registration events. The North Benson campus served as an Early Voting site, enabling students and faculty to cast their ballots on campus.

John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, led a conversation about the voting power of young adults at the 2024 Annual Student Forum, titled “How Will Gen Z Vote? Taking the Pulse of Today’s Youth.”

Alyssa Farah Griffin and Molly JongFast headlined the Open VISIONS Forum “Info, Insights, and Inquiring Questions: The Presidential Election 2024” at the Quick Center for the Arts. Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist Mark Sudol and associate professor of politics Gayle Alberda, PhD, presented “Election 2024: Key Insights and Analysis” at the downtown Fairfield University Store.

STAG S

Focus on Arts & Minds

CIRQUE KICKASSE TAKES OUTDOOR

CIRCUS ACT TO NEW HEIGHTS

Acrobats on a circus food truck? The Quick Center presented the one-of-a-kind performance of Sante! by Quebec’s Cirque Kikasse at Elicit Brewing Company in Fairfield and the Farmers’ Market in Black Rock in Bridgeport this fall.

An extraordinary mobile circus featuring trampoline acrobatics and juggling, Cirque Kikasse’s Sante! served up thrills and treats in two family-friendly, open-air local performances on top of a food truck, with snacks and local beer served from the truck.

“What better way to spend an early fall day than with a cold drink, delicious food, and a performance that leaves you wowed,” said Lori Jones, director of programming and operations at the Quick.

above : Local partnerships enabled the Quick Center to share outdoor Cirque Kikasse performances with the Fairfield and Bridgeport community.

INK AND TIME: EUROPEAN PRINTS FROM THE WETMORE COLLECTION

Curated by Michelle DiMarzo ’17, PhD, assistant professor of art history & visual culture, a Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM) exhibition presented a group of woodcuts, engravings, and etchings from the late 15th through late 18th centuries, including works by Albrecht Durer, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Canaletto. Ink and Time is the second exhibition in FUAM’s history to have been co-curated with Fairfield University students, and was supported by generous funding from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

CENTER FOR CLIMATE, COASTAL, AND MARINE STUDIES OPENS

Guided by the University’s core mission and Jesuit commitment to social justice, the new Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies opened this fall. Designed to support research through interdisciplinary scholarship and to promote the engagement of faculty and students with the community, the center’s research will serve as a resource for local and regional stakeholders.

below : The Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies is headquartered in Donnarumma Hall.

FAIRFIELD HOSTS SACRED SPACE EXHIBITION

Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM) hosted a fall semester exhibition titled Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archive Print Exhibition, organized by guest curator Juanita Sunday, which drew on the rich history of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives, founded in Philadelphia in 1972 by artist Allan Edmunds. As of 2023, FUAM is home to a Brandywine “satellite collection”—the only such collection in Connecticut, and one of only 18 in the United States, including the Harvard Art Museums and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The exhibition featured works from FUAM’s own collection as well as loans from Brandywine itself.

In addition to the prominent works from the Brandywine Collection, the exhibition also included local artists, invited by curator Juanita Sunday, whose works are responding to the themes in Sacred Space: Aisha Nailah, Iyaba Ibo Mandigo, Arvia Walker, and Rebecca Fowke.

above : Martin Payton, Portal, 1990, offset lithograph. Partial gift of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives and Museum Purchase with funds from the Black Art Fund, 2024 (2024.0601) © Martin Payton

TEAM USA ALUMNI MEDAL AT 2024 PARIS PARALYMPIC GAMES

Three Fairfield University alumni went to the Paris Paralympics as part of Team USA and returned home with medals: Swimmer Colleen Young ’20 earned bronze in her 100-meter breaststroke event and Matthew Torres ’23 won bronze as a swimmer in the mixed 4x100 freestyle competition. Tom Siddall ’15 was on the coaching staff of U.S. Paralympic Rowing; his team’s mixed coxed four-boat took home a silver medal. Siddall is currently on the coaching staff at Harvard University.

CHEERS TO

’42

BREW: ELICIT BREWING COMPANY DEBUTS ALUMNI-INSPIRED BEER

A new collaboration between Fairfield University and alumni-owned Elicit Brewing Company debuted on campus at Alumni Family Weekend this past October: ’42 Brew, an alumni-inspired craft beer. The special lager will be sold at sporting events on campus this year and is available for purchase at Elicit Brewing Company’s newest brew pub location, 111 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, and downtown at Harry’s Wine & Liquor Shop.

Brothers Steve Ciardiello ’80 and Peter Ciardiello ’81 credit their Fairfield education with igniting their entrepreneurial passion for business and community. After decades-long careers in law, insurance, and the restaurant business, Elicit Brewing Company is their latest venture.

Fellowship & Community

ENGINEERING PROFESSOR CONNECTS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WITH SPORTS SCIENCE

Acollaboration between the School of Engineering and Computing and alumnus William King MA’15, a teacher and coach at Central High School in Bridgeport, enabled four high school seniors to work as paid summer research assistants at the lab of John Drazan, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, on the North Benson campus.

The Central students worked with Fairfield undergraduates on a study using loadsol technology — a thin sensor insole that measures the force between a foot and a shoe — to collect data on Achilles tendon loading during recreational basketball activities. They processed the data with Microsoft Excel and MATLAB’s coding software and presented their work in a research poster alongside undergraduates at a Summer Research Symposium.

above : Central High School students worked with Fairfield engineering students to collect data on Achilles tendon loading, using loadsol.

DOLAN’S 30 UNDER 30 PROGRAM

At an April awards ceremony, an inaugural group of 30 Fairfield Dolan graduate and undergraduate students were recognized as exceptional business students for academic, professional development, community engagement, social responsibility, and “whole–person” achievements.

“Fairfield Dolan’s 30 Under 30 Program was established to recognize and celebrate the excellence and accomplishments of our students,” said Dean Zhan Li, DBA. “It does not just look at academic and professional achievements but also emphasizes the community impact and ‘whole person’ development of our students. This new program illustrates another innovative way of how Fairfield Dolan strives to develop impactful citizens for and with others.”

RED SEA COFFEE

Silvermine Coffee Roasters of Norwalk Connecticut, owned by 2004 Fairfield College Preparatory School graduate Thomas Marsanutto, announced the release of Red Sea Coffee in partnership with Fairfield University.

The Red Sea student fan section at Fairfield University — a long-standing campus athletics tradition — embodies the enthusiasm, energy, and pride of our Stags. Inspired by this tradition, Red Sea Coffee is crafted from responsibly sourced beans and will be served at campus events to fuel the academic, athletic, and social life of Fairfield University students, faculty, and staff.

below : Fairfield Dolan Dean Zhan Li, DBA, recognized the inaugural 30 Under 30 cohort at a Dolan awards ceremony in April.

ALUMNI & FAMILY WEEKEND 2024

Alumni and Family Weekend (AFW) is an annual Fairfield fall tradition that offers a variety of athletic, arts, and academic events, as well as the ever-popular StagFest community gathering.

This past October, a recordbreaking 2,500+ alumni and family members returned to campus for AFW. Alumni enjoyed mini-reunions with friends and classmates while families got to catch up with their students and experience the energy and excitement of Stag Country for themselves.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: 2023-24

EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM

3.53

2023-24 AVG STUDENT-ATHLETE GPA

62% OF STUDENT-ATHLETES ON DEAN’S LIST IN ONE OR BOTH SEMESTERS

115 STUDENT-ATHLETES WITH 4.0 GPA IN ONE OR BOTH SEMESTERS

10 TEAMS WITH 1000 APR

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY FIELD HOCKEY

MEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S SOCCER SOFTBALL

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

WOMEN’S TENNIS

20 ALL 20 VARSITY TEAMS EARNED A 2023-24 GPA OF 3.0 OR HIGHER

Fan Favorites: Stag Athletics

NATIONALLY RANKED

The Fairfield women’s basketball team and Fairfield women’s lacrosse team both achieved national rankings during their respective seasons. Women’s basketball earned its first AP national ranking in program history at #25, culminating in a MAAC Championship and a 29-game winning streak. Women’s lacrosse earned a place in the IWLCA rankings for the first time since 2009, climbing as high as #22 on the national ledger. The Stags’ résumé merited the first-ever NCAA postseason at-large berth in postseason in Fairfield and MAAC women’s lacrosse history.

above : Golfer Maria Beltran ’24 received her MAAC Champion Award from MAAC Commissioner Travis Telitocci.

STAGS WIN OVERALL MAAC COMMISSIONER’S CUP

For the first time since 2011-12, Fairfield University Athletics won the MAAC Richard J. Ensor, Esq. Commissioner’s Cup. The Stags also earned the MAAC Women’s Commissioner’s Cup for the third straight season and placed second in the Men’s Commissioner’s Cup standings.

The Richard J. Ensor, Esq. MAAC Commissioner’s Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of overall excellence in athletics in the 23 championships conducted within the MAAC. Only the scores from men’s and women’s basketball, plus the top six men’s and top six women’s scores are used to determine an institution’s total points.

Fairfield scored a total of 161.50 points in the Commissioner’s Cup standings to mark the most in program history and the second highest total in conference history, trailing only Monmouth’s 167.25 points in 2015-16.

The Stags won MAAC Championships in volleyball, women’s basketball, and women’s tennis, also earning the regular season crown in all three of those sports in addition to men’s tennis, women’s lacrosse, and baseball.

Fairfield teams participated in the NCAA postseason in volleyball, women’s tennis, and lacrosse — with the latter earning the first NCAA at-large bid in Fairfield and MAAC women’s lacrosse history. Maria Beltran ’24 became the first student-athlete to represent the Fairfield Women’s Golf program at an NCAA Regional and posted the best-ever performance at a regional by a MAAC women’s golfer.

Fairfield also won a Northeast Conference Regular Season Championship in field hockey, and men’s lacrosse posted a thirdplace finish in the Coastal Athletic Association and qualified for the CAA postseason for the first time since 2016.

STAGS COMPETE

2023-24 TEAM RESULTS

BASEBALL

34-24, MAAC Regular Season

Champions

MAAC Championship Finalist

MEN’S BASKETBALL

24-13, MAAC Championship Finalist CBI Semifinals

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 31-2, MAAC Champions

MAAC Regular Season Champions

NCAA First Round

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 10th of 11 at MAAC Championship

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 8th of 11 at MAAC Championship

FIELD HOCKEY 14-4, NEC Regular Season Champions

MEN’S GOLF 2nd of 9 at MAAC Championship

WOMEN’S GOLF 2nd of 9 at MAAC Championship Maria Beltran wins McLeod Trophy

MEN’S LACROSSE 8-7, CAA Championship Semifinals

WOMEN’S LACROSSE 16-3, MAAC Regular Season Champions

MAAC Championship Finalist

NCAA First Round (at-large bid)

MEN’S ROWING Pair, 2V4 and 2V8 qualify for second final at Dad Vail Regatta

WOMEN’S ROWING 3rd of 7 at MAAC Championship

MEN’S SOCCER 6-9-1

WOMEN’S SOCCER 10-6-4, MAAC Championship Finalist

SOFTBALL 14-33

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING 4-2, 4th of 9 at MAAC Championship

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING 5-2, 2nd of 10 at MAAC Championship

MEN’S TENNIS 14-9, MAAC Regular Season Champions MAAC Championship Finalist

WOMEN’S TENNIS 12-9, MAAC Champions MAAC Regular Season Championship

NCAA First Round

VOLLEYBALL 22-7, MAAC Champions MAAC Regular Season Champions

NCAA First Round

2023-24 COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS

CARLY THIBAULT-DUDONIS BASKETBALL

2024 Kay Yow National Coach of the Year

2024 All-Met Coach of the Year

2024 MAAC Coach of the Year

2024 ECAC Coach of the Year

DEVON O’NALTY SWIMMING & DIVING

2024 MAAC Diving Coach of the Year

JACY DYER

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

2024 MAAC Coach of the Year

JEFF BRICKER

TENNIS

2024 MAAC Women’s Coach of the Year

LAURA FIELD

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

2024 MAAC Coach of the Year

ACCESS

Demand for a Fairfield education is stronger than ever. Talented, ambitious graduate and undergraduate students hail from ever broader geographies and life experiences. They diversify the University’s makeup and strengthen its role as a leader in providing an impactful, outcomes-focused education.

right: (l-r) Center for Social Impact Director Melissa Quan, EdD, chats with Class of 2028 Company Scholar Kened Shilla, a graduate of Loyola High School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

ACCESS POINT: AUSTIN, TEXAS

Filling a Texas-Sized Shortage of Nurses

Bryan Rivera ’25 was not born in Texas. But as the saying goes, he got there as fast as he could. It was a circuitous route, to be sure, as Rivera was born in Spain, raised in the Philippines, and schooled in Alaska. Today, he resides in Austin, Texas, and is a nursing major in Fairfield University’s Accelerated Second Degree Nursing (ASDNU) program.

More than halfway through his bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree studies in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, Rivera takes classes at Fairfield Egan’s state-of-the-art Austin, Texas campus. With graduation on the horizon, he looks forward to improving the lives of his fellow Texans.

“I enrolled in nursing school because I want to have an impact on my community,” said Rivera. “Fairfield’s nursing program, with its emphasis on compassionate care, will help me achieve that goal and become a competent and caring nurse who makes a difference.”

Fairfield Egan opened its Austin campus and launched its ASDNU program there in the summer of 2023. The 15-month program is designed for non-nursing baccalaureate degree holders who wish to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in nursing. The University led with that program because it provides the quickest means of sending BSN-prepared nurses into the workforce.

The ASDNU program was perfect for Rivera, who holds a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing and worked as an advocate for higher education for nearly a decade. After completing a few additional science prerequisites, he entered the program as a junior.

“The program is a great opportunity for people like me who are interested in nursing but pursued a different path with their initial degree” he said. “It also fills an important gap in nursing education in the area.”

Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Its unprecedented growth has transformed the once laid-back college town into a major

metropolis. As with any city, population growth can strain resources. Such has been the case in Austin and the state of Texas, where the impact of domestic migration on the healthcare system has become especially obvious in recent years.

The demand for nurses in Texas is driven largely by the same factors as in other areas —aging populations, educational bottlenecks, occupational burnout, and workforce retirement — but is further amplified by regional growth. The year-over-year increase in new residents has caused and continues to cause a Texas-sized shortage of nurses. In fact, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projects a statewide deficit of more than 56,000 registered nurses by 2036.

For Fairfield, the nursing shortage in Texas provided the impetus for an Austin campus. There was an urgent need for qualified nurses in the state, and the Egan School is nationally recognized for its expertise in nursing education. Geographical expansion into the Southwest offered an extraordinary opportunity for the mission-driven Jesuit

far left: A view of downtown Austin and Congress Avenue Bridge from across Lady Bird Lake.

left: Fairfield Austin nursing students

Bryan Rivera, left, and Chris Mangram, both Class of 2025, at the campus’s 21-bed clinical learning laboratory.

university to reach a wider audience and to impact the health of a community and its residents.

Christopher Mangram ’25, a classmate of Rivera’s, is a native of Houston who traveled the world as a Navy corpsman. His experiences in the military compelled him to pursue a career in nursing. He discovered Fairfield Egan’s ASDNU program upon his return to Texas and immediately enrolled.

“I realized my calling during a Navy deployment to Southeast Asia, where I was sent for humanitarian purposes,” Mangram said. “I mostly conducted health screenings but also delivered a baby in Timor-Leste and taught neonatal resuscitation to midwives in Malaysia.”

Neither Mangram nor Rivera are typical nursing students. Both are male and have considerable life experience — two points that are not unrelated in nursing school. Greater life experience often means increased exposure to medical situations and awareness of the value of care providers. It can also make people less susceptible to stereotypical thinking about nurses and nursing.

It is therefore not surprising that Mangram, Rivera, and their fellow male nursing students represent 19 percent of their Austin cohort. That impressive figure well exceeds the national average of 12.8 percent for men in undergraduate nursing programs.

Because the ASDNU program is designed for non-traditional students, it tends to attract more diverse populations than traditional BSN programs. As such, it was the right program with which to launch the new Austin campus and to extend the University’s reach and impact.

Fairfield University was not founded in Texas, but it got there as fast as it could. l F

ACCESS POINT: SHANGHAI, CHINA

Exposure to Diverse Perspectives

Fairfield Dolan alumna Aihua Hou MBA’24 is the national retail manager for one of the largest condiment producers in China. Her company is thriving and she wants to be on the team to take it public. Anticipating its future bid, Hou sought a graduate degree program in business whose professors have Wall Street knowledge and global experience. She found that and so much more at Fairfield University. A recent graduate of the University’s Shanghai MBA program, a partnership between the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and Golden Education, Hou is now ready to lead.

Hou first learned about Fairfield Dolan’s Shanghai MBA program two years ago. She was then enrolled in a financial digitalization training course offered through Golden Education, a worldwide leader in technology-driven vocational education. The instructor of the course recommended Fairfield’s program to her and she immediately recognized it as a good match.

“The Shanghai MBA program was very appealing to me because of Fairfield’s unique location,” said Hou. “Given the school’s proximity to New York, I knew its professors would have valuable insights on Wall Street.”

Fairfield launched its MBA program in Shanghai in 2020. Part of a larger mission to expand the University’s footprint and to offer a high-quality Jesuit education on a global scale, the Shanghai MBA is designed for business professionals who want to pursue an advanced business degree while continuing their professional careers.

The curriculum for the Shanghai MBA program is finance focused but offers the same core courses in marketing, management, and leadership as taken by students in Fairfield Dolan’s domestic MBA program. Shanghai students take one class per month for 12 months and typically complete their coursework during evenings and weekends.

left: The Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and Jin Mao Tower light up the skyline of Shanghai. above right: Aihua Hou and fellow Shanghai MBA graduates at Commencement in May.

Because courses are taught primarily online, Hou found the program flexible and manageable. Articles, case studies, and other materials were available in advance of class, so she could review them prior to live sessions with professors and classmates. Active participation was the norm, she said.

An unexpected highlight of the program was exposure to diverse perspectives, Hou noted, especially those influenced by cultural differences between the United States and China. She believes those perspectives will serve her well in her current position because her company is foreign invested. She is poised and ready to serve as a strategic bridge between its corporate executives in China and its stakeholders in America and, more broadly, the Western world.

Many valuable and varied viewpoints were provided by David P. Schmidt, PhD, associate professor of management at the Dolan School, who taught Hou’s course in business law and ethics. Hou appreciated that Dr. Schmidt challenged students by posing difficult ethical questions and scenarios for discussion.

“In one memorable exchange, our professor shared that some American business schools teach a distorted version of

the Chinese proverb that teaching someone to fish is better than giving them a fish,” said Hou. “The variant says if you teach a man to fish, you lose your influence.” Though Hou would like to believe the distortion represents a cultural difference between East and West, she acknowledged it is prevalent across the entire business world, even in China.

Dr. Schmidt recalled with pride the lively discussion around that session’s ethical question. “Ultimately,” he said, “our students in Shanghai concluded that there is no limit to doing good deeds.”

Hou’s classmate, Hui Wang MBA’24, appreciated the format and structure of the courses in the Shanghai MBA program because they provided ample opportunity to grasp material before submitting assignments and engaging in class discussions and group work. Her favorite course was her most challenging, and she was glad she could absorb its lectures at her own pace. “In my investment analysis class, I spent a lot of time watching course videos over and over again to understand them before handing in assignments,” she said.

Wang, who is self-employed, said that studying at Fairfield Dolan offered her

a chance to broaden her horizons, grow her network, master essential business knowledge, and accomplish something worthwhile. “All that,” she said, “made the MBA a meaningful journey.”

In May, Hou and Wang traveled with 12 of their fellow classmates to Connecticut to participate in Fairfield University’s 74th Graduate Commencement Exercises. They were the first student representatives of the Shanghai MBA program to ever do so. Hou said she was “honored to attend the ceremony and to be an equal among graduates from so many different backgrounds.” Because of the Fairfield Dolan’s expansion to Shanghai, she now proudly counts herself among more than 200 Fairfield alumni in China. l F

ACCESS POINT: DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Finding a Home Away From Home

Kened Shilla ’28 dreamed of attending a university in the United States like his older siblings. But until last year, that dream did not include Fairfield University. Now, the graduate of Loyola High School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, says there is no place he would rather be.

Arriving at Fairfield from the Swahili coast of East Africa with only two suitcases and two carry-on bags, Shilla wasted no time making the University his home away from home. For him, that meant building connections and community through common experiences. Mere weeks into his college career, he had already joined several student organizations – including the Black Student Union and the Ping Pong Club – and had attended his very first live music concert.

A first-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, Shilla learned about Fairfield after a group of schoolmates and teachers from his Jesuit high school visited the Connecticut campus in the summer of 2023. During their visit, students attended

workshops in computer science, math, writing, and educational technology, while teachers engaged in professional development and discussions about potential future academic collaborations.

“Upon their return, the students who traveled to Fairfield praised the University,” said Shilla. “They shared such wonderful things about their experiences that I was compelled to learn more about the school.”

The Fairfield visit that indirectly piqued Shilla’s interest was coordinated by the Center for Social Impact (CSI) and supported with generous funding from the Switzerland-based Benina Foundation.

According to CSI Director Melissa Quan, EdD, the partnership goes back nearly 12 years and focuses on cultural exchange and support of shared mission. In recent years, academic technology and infrastructure development have been a priority.

“Because power outages are an enduring fact of life in Dar es Salaam, learning is frequently interrupted at schools that are dependent on the electrical grid,” Dr.

Quan explained. “Through grant support, the Center for Social Impact has enabled Loyola to install solar panels and generate its own electricity. Learning and instruction now persist during blackouts.”

Having a reliable infrastructure in place encouraged teachers at Loyola to learn and use instructional technology in the classroom and permitted synchronous virtual connections between the two partner schools for workshops, planning, and professional development.

According to Shilla, it also improved student engagement in extracurriculars.

A former member of Loyola’s Computer Science Club, he described how power outages used to hinder the club’s use of the school’s computer lab. “Members had to bring laptops with power banks from home,” he said. “This impacted club participation because not everyone owned a laptop.”

Shilla had the opportunity to meet students, faculty, and staff from Fairfield this summer, when Dr. Quan led a delegation to Dar es Salaam. The goal of the visit was to

far left: A picturesque view of the harbor and waterfront in Dar es Salaam, one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

left: Company Scholar and political science major Kened Shilla ’28 traveled from the East Africa coast to attend Fairfield.

enhance and extend Fairfield’s partnership with Loyola High School and to see the results of their previous collaborations.

Having already been admitted to the University, Shilla was more eager than ever to speak with the visitors from Connecticut. “I had lots of questions about Fairfield,” he recalled. Fortunately, Dr. Quan proved an excellent resource.

Today, Shilla is one of 26 Company Scholars in the Class of 2028. The prestigious cohort-based scholarship program for which he was selected provides four years of full tuition and room and board. The Fairfield program, now in its third year, is aimed at high-achieving and traditionally underrepresented students from Jesuit and Cristo Rey schools.

“The Company Scholars program is very intentional to our Jesuit mission and identity,” said Karen Donoghue ’03, EdD, vice president of student life. “It not only upholds Fairfield’s sincere commitment to diverse populations and accessible education but also enriches our community by embracing exemplary students with unique gifts, talents, and perspectives.”

Since he arrived on campus, Shilla has met students from all over the globe, including Spain, China, and Mexico. He credits the Company Scholars program and the Office of Global Fairfield for shaping his experiences in this distinctive way and he deeply appreciates their respective roles in fostering a diverse community at the University.

Because the Company Scholars program aims to provide well-rounded experiences that inspire leadership and service among its participants, it also includes study abroad opportunities and mentorships with esteemed faculty and campus leaders. Shilla was thrilled to have Dr. Quan appointed as his mentor. l F

EXCELLENCE

The pursuit of excellence is ingrained in all that we do. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or in the campus community and the world beyond, our students and faculty strive for greatness, continually seeking out new experiences and new knowledge to share with others for the benefit of our world.

right: (l-r) Class of ’24 fifth-year teammates Caroline Kelly, Elle Scott, Sydney Corbett, and Allie Kirby culminated their careers in the Fairfield Women’s Soccer program as members of the 2024 MAAC Championship team.

EXCELLENCE: ON AND OFF THE FIELD

The Five-Year Plan

by d rew k ingsley ’07

They finished high school with no fanfare — no prom, no graduation, and no last big summer with longtime friends. Six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, they arrived at Fairfield in August 2020 with more questions than answers – their fall season had been canceled and future plans were yet to be announced. But at a time when many firstyear college students felt lost, the Class of 2024 women’s soccer players were focused on what they had found.

“Starting at Fairfield when we did in 2020 allowed us to come together as a team really quickly. We weren’t allowed to do much, other than be with each other, and that helped us bond,” recalled Caroline Kelly ’24, one of eight rookie Stags to join the Women’s Soccer program that year.

Today, four of those Class of 2024 former rookies remain: Kelly, Sydney Corbett ’24, Allie Kirby ’24, and Elle Scott ’24. Together, they’ve helped build and define the culture of their team. Between them, they’ve got four undergraduate degrees earned and four master’s degrees in progress, nearly 50 victories on the pitch, and a legacy of

stewardship and leadership. All capped off with the 2024 MAAC Championship and NCAA postseason appearance — the program’s first since 2008.

“The Class of 2024 was my first full recruiting class at Fairfield; we knew we wanted a class of impactful athletes and personalities that could help us turn a corner,” said Head Coach David Barrett, who recently completed his seventh season with the Stags and his 24th as a collegiate head coach. “We put a lot of burden on them early, sometimes with mixed results, because we needed them to be ready to drive the bus when the time came. And they have been the ones who have helped get more of their teammates on the bus every year. They changed the culture and made it more competitive. Every class of newcomers since has bought into that and continues to build on it.”

“Our mentality has always been centered on giving it our all, no matter what,” said Kirby. “When we started at Fairfield, we never knew if a game, or a whole week, or the entire season was going to be taken away from us. And we never lost that mindset during these five years.”

This group stayed the course in terms of their focus and maturity, whether it was soccer or academics or just being that fifth-year presence in the locker room that our younger players came to rely on.

— david barrett, Head Coach

Throughout their undergraduate careers, the four Stags piled up accolades and honors on their individual résumés. Corbett completed her management degree as a multitime MAAC All-Academic selection. Kelly earned a pair of First Team All-MAAC nods, an All-New England Third Team honor, and was tabbed as a Scholar All-American while earning her psychology degree. Also a twotime All-MAAC honoree, Kirby graduated with honors with a degree in marketing. Scott earned three All-MAAC nods throughout her undergraduate tenure and etched her name

far left: (l-r): Sydney Corbett (27), Caroline Kelly (8), Elle Scott (19), and and Allie Kirby (29) are pursuing master’s degrees at Fairfield.

left: The Stags defeated Quinnipiac on Nov. 10 on Lessing Field to win their first MAAC Championship since 2008.

in the record books as one of the top scorers in program history, all while completing her marketing degree and being named Fairfield University’s Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2023-24.

In the current collegiate athletics landscape, any or all of the four could have completed their Fairfield degrees last May and taken their fifth year of eligibility — granted by the NCAA after a 2020-21 season truncated by the Covid-19 pandemic — elsewhere. But this quartet had a different calling: to write their final chapter back on Lessing Field.

“I never thought for a second about going somewhere else for a fifth year,” Corbett said. “We wouldn’t have had our teammates or our culture. It just wouldn’t be our team.”

“I think I took for granted how hard it can be for a fifth-year,” noted Coach Barrett. “Your first thought is that they’ve been around and they know the lay of the land and have everything down. But then you think about how they just graduated and most of their friends have moved on to fulltime jobs; meanwhile they’re moving back into dorms for preseason practice.”

“This group,” he continued, “stayed the course in terms of their focus and maturity, whether it was soccer or academics or just being that fifth-year presence in the locker room that our younger players came to rely on.”

Today, their college soccer careers have come to a close and they are on their way to becoming two-time Fairfield University graduates. The fifth-year Stags who came to campus during a time of unprecedented uncertainty leave Lessing Field as MAAC Champions and leave and the Fairfield Women’s Soccer program with a renewed sense of direction and stability. Their legacy will be the standard — of competitive fire, of academic excellence, and of all that it means to be a Fairfield Stag. l F

— Max li M ric ’25 “ ”

This is about more than just assisting students. It’s about promoting their language and culture in the classroom.

EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM

Collaboration Across Schools

by J ohn M endez ’07

Senior Max Limric ’25 has carved out a unique educational experience for himself at Fairfield, guided by the mentorship of Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD, who teaches in the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD). Their work together is a testament to the University’s commitment to fostering collaboration across schools and disciplines.

Limric, an English and Spanish doublemajor in the College of Arts and Sciences, has a minor in educational studies. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of The Fairfield Mirror, the school’s independent student newspaper. Dr. Crandall is an associate professor of literacy at SEHD. They share a commitment to social justice and to teaching, which has led to projects that tackle important crosscultural challenges while equipping Limric with a transformative education.

As a student in Dr. Crandall’s young adult literature course, Limric participated

in observational studies at public schools in Bridgeport, Conn. During his visits, he noticed an area of need that eventually became the basis for his research: the majority of the students in the classrooms he observed were Spanish-speakers, but most of the teachers did not have Spanish language skills. “I kept asking myself, how are these students being taught if their teachers can’t communicate with them,” he said.

An E. Gerald Corrigan Scholar, Limric was granted the opportunity to pursue faculty-mentored research. He chose to work with Dr. Crandall, whose expertise in literacy and educational equity made him an ideal collaborator. Together, they developed a project that sought to integrate Spanish literature into classrooms and investigate new ways to support multilingual students.

Dr. Crandall reflected with pride on his mentee’s dedication to exploring Spanishfocused literature and improving the school experience and outcomes of bilingual

above : Max Limric ’25 explores early literacy development through his research with Dr. Crandall.

above right: Limric, editor-in-chief of The Fairfield Mirror, in the newsroom.

students. “It’s rare to see such passion at this stage,” he said of Limric.

Under Dr. Crandall’s guidance, Limric applied his research in real-world settings at local public schools and the Ubuntu Academy, a two-week summer program at Fairfield University that supports refugee and immigrant youths through writing. “When we offered books written in their language, their eyes lit up,” said Limric. “It completely transformed how they engaged with learning.”

Blending his passions for teaching, Spanish, and literature, Limric’s research has helped him better understand the issue of language barriers in classrooms and has encouraged him to look for solutions to the systemic challenges Spanish-speaking students face in American classrooms. His work has allowed him to engage with national scholars and present at prestigious

conferences, including the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE).

Over the past several years, Dr. Crandall has been a constant supporter of Limric’s scholarly activities. From guiding his research and securing public presentation opportunities, to helping him develop practical writing and publishing skills, their mentor-student relationship has been both rewarding and impactful. “Why not invest in somebody who’s already brilliant and encourage them to continue doing brilliant things?” said Dr. Crandall, noting Limric’s collaboration as an editor of Power of Words, an anthology published annually through the Connecticut Writing Project.

As Limric completes his senior thesis, he recognizes that his studies have provided him with the tools and inspiration to make a lasting impact in the field of education. After his undergraduate Commencement

in May, he plans to stay involved with the Connecticut Writing Project and study toward his master’s degree at Fairfield’s SEHD. Additionally, he aspires to pursue a Fulbright and continue his advocacy for bilingual students in the U.S. and abroad.

Limric’s journey at Fairfield exemplifies how interdisciplinary collaboration and strong mentorship can drive both academic success and social change. “This is about more than just assisting students,” he said. “It’s about promoting their language and culture in the classroom.” l F

below : Max Limric ’25 and mentor Dr. Bryan Ripley Crandall collaborate on a research project focused on literacy in multilingual classrooms.

EXCELLENCE IN FACULTY RESEARCH “The Perfect Mentor”

by J ohn M endez ’07

Fulbright scholar and PhD candidate Houyame Hakmi is studying at Fairfield for a six-month period under the mentorship of Alfred Babo, PhD, associate professor of sociology and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Hakmi is a passionate advocate for change and the founder of two NGOs dedicated to youth development and advancing the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals in her homeland of Morocco.

Her research, titled “The Effectiveness of the African Union in Managing IntraState Conflicts: A Case Study of Mali,” focuses on the West African nation as it grapples with ongoing conflict. Through her exploration of African conflict prevention mechanisms, diplomatic efforts, and strategic frameworks, Hakmi aims to uncover insights that could help Mali and other African countries develop more effective approaches to conflict resolution

and prevention.

Passionate about her project and the need for change, she said, “Even if my research leads to just 0.001 percent progress in discussions or actions, I would do it.”

Growing up in Morocco, Hakmi frequently engaged in discussions with her father about the political conflicts and socio-economic challenges facing the West African region. These conversations, combined with her history classes, sparked a profound interest in the socio-political climate of the continent and set her on a path of exploration.

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Mohammed IV Polytechnic University in Morocco, Hakmi began her PhD studies. She was introduced to Fairfield University and Dr. Babo while seeking partnership opportunities with American universities as part of Fulbright’s joint-supervision program. After

exploring various options across the U.S., she determined that her focus on conflict prevention aligned with Dr. Babo’s expertise and life experiences, making him what she describes as “the perfect mentor.”

Dr. Babo grew up in the Ivory Coast, in the same West African region as Hakmi. A sociologist by training, his interdisciplinary areas of expertise span political anthropology, policy anthropology, and African studies. Having lived in the U.S. for twelve years, Dr. Babo brings valuable insights from his firsthand experiences of conflict in Africa, making him a key voice in conflict prevention research in the U.S., especially through his involvement with

left: Fulbright scholar and PhD candidate Houyame Hakmi is on a six-month research grant at Fairfield University.

the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Regarding the complex political dynamics of the situation in Mali, Dr. Babo emphasized the importance of local voices. “Many countries are trying to fix the problem,” he said. “Who is listening to the Malians themselves?”

A collaborative environment with diverse experiences and backgrounds not only fosters intellectual growth but also sparks innovative thinking. As Hakmi delves into her research at Fairfield from the perspective of a political scientist, she has found Dr. Babo’s expertise as a sociologist and anthropologist instrumental in deepening her understanding of the issues at hand, allowing her to grasp complexities that extend beyond a purely political science lens. “It helps me look at my work from different angles,” she noted.

Dr. Babo reflected on the nature of their partnership, highlighting the significance of building relationships and interdisciplinary connections to expand one’s perspective. He noted that his decision to work at Fairfield was influenced by the collaborative environment. “At lunch, I can walk with someone from the English department,” he said, contrasting it with his experiences at other universities where departments tend to operate in silos.

Appreciative of the opportunity for open collaboration, Dr. Babo sees it as a significant asset for Hakmi’s time at Fairfield. “I encourage her to utilize all the resources available to her here,” he said. “We are grateful to Fairfield University for providing more than what other Fulbright awardees receive. Not everyone has the same opportunities she has here.” l F

We are grateful to Fairfield University for providing more than what other Fulbright awardees receive.

Not everyone has the same opportunities she has here.

— alF red babo, Phd, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology

above : Houyame Hakmi discusses her project on African conflict resolution and prevention with mentor Alfred Babo, PhD, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

ACHIEVEMENT

Fairfield’s holistic approach to education nurtures both personal growth and professional readiness, equipping graduates to thrive and lead in all areas of life. No matter where our career paths may lead — from business to healthcare to the arts and beyond — Stag alumni enter the workforce ready to make a meaningful impact in their communities and drive positive change.

right: Having exhibited her work extensively at art centers across the U.S., Missy Savard ’85 recently showed her paintings at the George Billis Gallery on Post Road in downtown Fairfield.

ACHIEVING IN BUSINESS: Ursula Hurley ’04

by e rin c raw M a’19, P h d

From intern to chief financial officer, Ursula Hurley ’04 has advanced into a pivotal role in accounting, strategic initiatives, planning, and investor relationships at JetBlue over the past two decades.

Fairfield University has been both a critical starting point and a guiding force throughout Hurley’s professional trajectory. She began her career in aviation after returning from a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Eager to secure a summer internship before her senior year, she went on Fairfield University’s job board and found a posting for a position with JetBlue. Her summer of 2003 internship was the start of an impeccable professional journey. In addition to the valuable experience, free flights were another notable benefit. Given her passion for travel, from that point on, she was “hooked.”

Hurley was hired full-time after she graduated and was appointed chief financial officer (CFO) of JetBlue in 2021, following positions as the head of treasury and investor relations and as treasurer, overseeing the corporation’s $13 billion balance sheet. She was instrumental in supporting the organization through the inevitable financial turbulence caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Drawing on her Fairfield education, Hurley’s professional impact spans well beyond the noteworthy progression of her roles and responsibilities. She is committed to ongoing professional development, maintaining consistency, and embracing continuous learning as she relentlessly pursues excellence in her industry.

Hurley appreciates the many ways in which Fairfield prepared her for success, including fostering essential relationships and providing a well-rounded, relevant curriculum, which she finds to be an

authentic, perpetual focus of the University. She views the emphasis on “connection” as a core contributing factor in developing the whole person, which she described as “critical to success in the business world.”

As an alumna, she takes pride in expanding her alumni network and continuously recognizes the impact of Jesuit values among fellow Stags. Today, some of her closest friends are those she met through Fairfield.

“Fairfield helped instill the balance between a professional career, giving back to the community, and building a family,” she said. “I think that sets students up for success post-graduation as they navigate the real world.”

With an increasingly competitive workforce, Hurley appreciates the importance of early engagement and student involvement, which is something she sees among Fairfield students. She recalled recently attending a networking

event on campus in which first-years were actively participating, just a few weeks into their fall semester.

When asked to reflect on her accomplishments, Hurley explained that achievement is not about singular endeavors but “a constant journey of learning” rather than a destination. “I worked really hard to get to where I am, and I will continue to work very hard to

left: Ursula Hurley ’04 was appointed chief financial officer of JetBlue in 2021. above : JetBlue Airways Corporation is the sixth largest airline in the U.S., operating more than 1,000 flights daily and serving 100 destinations in the Americas and Europe.

grow and learn,” she said. “I think Fairfield instilled that in me. That’s what keeps me motivated day in and day out.”

As CFO, there is a natural inclination to focus on growth. However, Hurley’s commitment to fostering progress stretches beyond her organization’s growth to identify ways she can contribute to the overarching advancement of the industry and future workforce. Her passion for education is exemplified by her personal drive for continued learning as well as her commitment to further developing aviationrelated education for future generations. As a member of the Dolan School of Business Advisory Board, she leverages her experience and insight to help inform innovative curriculum updates, ensuring content and instructional methods remain pertinent to effectively prepare students for

the business industry’s ever-evolving needs.

Hurley promotes ongoing dialogue with students, provides mentorship, and fosters connections, especially for underrepresented populations in STEM. Through both her role on the advisory board and as president of the JetBlue Foundation, she is determined to help promote increased diversity in the upcoming workforce.

“There needs to be a future CFO of JetBlue. Helping young women at the University create opportunities and being a thought partner to help them grow brings a lot of pride to me,” Hurley said. “That’s the best part about my job — seeing others excel, grow, and be challenged. I want to be there to help people craft those next steps.” l F

I worked really hard to get to where I am, and I will continue to work very hard to grow and learn,” she said. “I think Fairfield instilled that in me. That’s what keeps me motivated day in and day out.

ACHIEVING IN HEALTHCARE: Kekoa Taparra ’12

by a lan b isbort

Ohana is a Hawaiian word for family, but to Kekoa Taparra ’12, MD, PhD, MPH, a native Hawaiian from a small mountain town on Oahu, the word means more than family in the traditional sense.

“In Hawaiian culture, ’ohana speaks to the interconnectedness of all people, like the ’oha [corm] of the taro plant,” he explained. “No matter how many offshoots emerge, they all come from the same root.”

When he arrived at Fairfield in 2008, thousands of miles from home, Dr. Taparra set about acquiring a surrogate ’ohana with the same enthusiasm he brought to his studies. There was roommate Kevin Grondin ’12, who later served as a groomsman at his wedding, and Aly Criscuolo ’12, who invited him to his very

left: Each step in the educational journey of Kekoa Taparra ’12, MD, PhD, MPH, has been driven by a commitment to improving cancer care and outcomes for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community and others.

first Thanksgiving on the continent and made him feel at home despite being so far away from his own family, and many others.

“Essentially the entire Biology department” was also part of his Fairfield family, he said, including Professor Shelley Phelan, PhD; his mentor, Associate Professor Anita Fernandez, PhD, whom he credits with teaching him “how to think critically about scientific questions;” and his academic advisor, Professor Brian Walker, PhD.

Dr. Taparra likens Fairfield’s academic offerings to a candy shop that allowed him to “sample bits of everything to discover what I truly wanted out of my academic career.” His sweet tooth for studies resulted in double majors in biology and psychology, and triple minors in mathematics, Asian studies, and philosophy. All this after starting out as a computer science major.

The turning point in Dr. Taparra’s Fairfield career, he believes, occurred in Dr. Phelan’s lab. “She was talking to a fellow classmate about the MD-PhD path,” he recalled. “Up until then, I had no idea that it was something that could be done

Health Care. “The resilience that Fairfield instilled in me has been a cornerstone of my journey,” said the former D1 Stags swimmer.

Despite his many achievements, Dr. Taparra has never lost sight of his ultimate goal of improving the health of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community that is dispersed across thousands of miles of ocean. His research focuses on an array of issues negatively impacting health outcomes among all indigenous islanders, including climate change, faulty land management, and shared histories of colonization.

“ ”I hope to push the boundaries of science to uncover and illuminate the hidden truths in health data that have been omitted from public health discourses for decades.

— kekoa taParra ’12

— to become a physician-scientist. It truly planted the seed of possibility in my young mind.”

The drive to achieve, nurtured during his time at Fairfield, has continued to fuel Dr. Taparra over the dozen years since he graduated as valedictorian of his Class of 2012. Not only does he have a PhD in cellular and molecular medicine from Johns Hopkins, but he also earned an MD at the Mayo Clinic’s Alix School of Medicine and is currently finishing his residency in radiation oncology at Stanford (University)

This is a deeply personal mission for Dr. Taparra, as he has lost nearly a dozen members of his Native Hawaiian ’ohana to cancer in the past few years. In addition to providing much-needed healthcare back home, he said, “I hope to push the boundaries of science to uncover and illuminate the hidden truths in health data that have been omitted from public health discourses for decades.”

To that end, he created Taparra Lab, a virtual community of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander undergraduate, graduate, and medical students and allies who have an interest in health disparities research, particularly among underserved NHPI communities. Together, they work on interdisciplinary research projects with the goals of better understanding the unique health disparities of Pacific Islanders and improving health outcomes for their future patients.

Eager to pay forward the guidance and support Fairfield gave to him, the idea for the lab came to Dr. Taparra when his more than 60 publications started circulating among NHPI students, who then reached out to him, hoping he might mentor them on their own academic journeys.

“While I’ve acquired a few random letters after my name, my goal remains clear,” he said, “to make a difference within my underserved community.” l F

left: The northern shores of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, home to Dr. Taparra and his family.

— Missy savard ’85 “ ”

I look at my paintings as meditations; hoping that when people see them, they are transported to a place that is familiar and easy for them. We can all learn from art by participating in it.

ACHIEVING

IN THE ART

WORLD: Missy Savard ’85

by M eredith g U inness M’16

Missy Savard ’85 followed the footsteps of her brother, Rev. John Savard, S.J.,’78, to Fairfield University and graduated as the first fine arts major to ever win a Student Achievement Award from the College of Arts and Sciences. Nearly four decades later, her lifelong love affair with art continues.

director of American Art at Sotheby’s, hailed her monotypes as “reminiscent of Whistler – with excellent use of color and textures.”

above : Savard‘s works portray architectural studies and landscapes painted from locations along the East Coast and in New England and Europe.

Entranced by the dance of light on salt marsh waters or the afternoon sun beckoning long shadows down the front steps of a Maine cottage, Savard is a respected artist who has shown her luminous paintings and monotypes across the United States. A member of both Connecticut’s Silvermine Guild of Artists in New Canaan and Wilson Avenue Loft Artists in Norwalk, her paintings have garnered numerous accolades, including from renowned artists Robert Cottingham and Paul Cadmus. Peter Rathbone, a former senior vice president and

Perhaps more importantly, Savard has spent recent years administering Silvermine Arts Center’s Art Partners Outreach, which provides curriculum-based studio art classes taught by visiting professional artists to an estimated 2,000 children in under-resourced urban schools in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford each year. As an outreach coordinator and a teacher, Savard strives to foster creative thinking and self-esteem through transformative programs that build community while promoting education. Art Partners Outreach classes provide muchneeded life skills while aiming to capture students’ imaginations and inspire the next generation of artists and innovators.

“For many students, art can be an entry point to learning,” said Savard. “They become engaged in subjects through

creative problem-solving while exploring new knowledge. Art offers an outlet where children can discover unique ways to look at the world.”

While an undergraduate at Fairfield, a host of luminaries in the University’s arts community nurtured Savard’s talent — from art instructors Jane Sutherland, Peter Michael Gish, and Palko Lukacs, to professor of art history and visual culture Philip Eliasoph, PhD, who currently serves as special assistant to the president for arts and culture.

Dr. Eliasoph praised the variety in Savard’s impressive portfolio. “In her own manner, she tips her brush into Sargent’s bravura, Hopper’s sobriety, and even de Kooning’s surging melodies,” he said. “The delicacy of her plein air tonalities and atmospheric luminosity, bring us to a wonderful sense of meditative oneness. We sense her gentle

manner through the heartbeats of her stroking brush.”

The Savard family’s roots in art—and service—run deep. Missy and Fr. John’s father, Harold Savard FP’44, was a lifelong artist who served as Fairfield Prep’s “yearbook cartoonist” during his high school years and created acclaimed largescale steel sculptures in his retirement years. Their mother, Marilyn, was a social worker with the city of Bridgeport before raising her family, and their brother Tom is a local artist. Fr. John Savard, S.J., who currently serves as University chaplain and interim director of Campus Ministry at Fairfield, is a painter. “There was a sense of freedom to sit down and draw and paint,” he said of their upbringing.

While she enjoys exploring other media “because everything you do adds to the next,” Missy Savard said she’s most at home

with the two-dimensional possibilities of paper, stretched canvas, and wood panel. Having recently shown her work at George Billis Galleries in downtown Fairfield and in New York City, Savard considers herself lucky to be able to make a career of sharing art with students and others.

“I feel it is a privilege to paint. With my art, I strive to share a silence that invites reflective contemplation. I look at my paintings as meditations; hoping that when people see them, they are transported to a place that is familiar and easy for them. We can all learn from art by participating in it.”

below : Inlet, a 30x40” oil painting on linen by Missy Savard, was painted en plein air of a scene in Stonington, Maine.

Donor PROFILE

e M ily (P owell ’95) and M att k ra M er ’96, P’28

When StagMates Emily (Powell ’95) and Matt Kramer ’96, P’28, look back on their time as students at Fairfield, they appreciate all of the enriching experiences, valuable connections, treasured memories, and deep friendships that it brought them. As StagMates, the most meaningful product of this chapter in their lives is the bond they created with each other.

Today, the Kramers live in Malverne, N.Y. and have two children, Lila ’28 and Conrad. Matt is the president & CEO of Ascot U.S. Insurance and Emily is dedicated to philanthropic work for their family’s parish, their children’s schools, and their local community.

While the Kramers have remained closely involved with the University over the years, this year holds special significance because their daughter Lila has started her Fairfield experience as a first-year student. Matt and Emily have enjoyed visiting Lila on campus this year and making new Fairfield memories with their children.

The Kramers’ pride as Fairfield alumni, excitement as new Fairfield parents, and their commitment to giving back all intertwine and enhance their enthusiasm for their connections to Fairfield.

Matt has engaged at the University through collaboration

“When you support Fairfield, you can see the impact of your contributions right away; it is tangible and meaningful. With continued investments and support from the University community, we cannot wait to see where Fairfield will be in the years to come.”

Matt k raM er ’96, P’28

—

with the Charles F. Dolan School of Business to help expose more students to career possibilities in insurance. “The insurance industry plays an important role in global economics and it is often overlooked by those entering the workforce,” said Matt. “For me, it’s important to provide insights and perspective about the industry and that’s why I am collaborating with Dolan.” He also takes opportunities to hire Stags, as he has seen a promising trend in the caliber of candidates from Fairfield. “These students’ ability to ask questions, seek different perspectives, think broadly, and write and speak intelligently gives them a distinct advantage over other candidates.”

Matt and Emily also attend and support the Fairfield Awards Dinner (FAD). Matt’s father, William Kramer ’60, P’96,’85,’83, was once Chairman of Fairfield’s Board of Trustees and he was a big proponent of the scholarship

dinners when they first originated. Knowing this, Matt felt a pull to get involved in FAD and has served on the FAD Committee for nearly a decade. This year, he has taken on the role of co-chair for the 2025 Fairfield Awards Dinner.

Supporting FAD has been a tradition of the Kramers for nearly two decades. “As life got busier, attending the dinner became even more important — to connect with new alumni and reconnect with classmates and friends, but also to learn more about the recipients of these scholarship funds and the profound impact on their lives,” Matt said. Both he and Emily recognize FAD as a way to uplift the University and to provide prospective students with the opportunity to enjoy the Fairfield experience that meant so much to them. “We feel it’s important to contribute in a small way to the evolution of Fairfield,

especially by enabling and investing in scholarships.”

With their new beginning as Fairfield parents and their long association with the University as alumni, the Kramers have a unique perspective on Fairfield’s transformation and trajectory. “We remain very proud of the continuing investments in infrastructure, facilities, faculty, scholarships, and the steadily advancing caliber of applicants and attendees,” Matt said, noting their excitement about the impressive progress that the University has made in a relatively short time. “When you support Fairfield, you can see the impact of your contributions right away; it is tangible and meaningful. With continued investments and support from the University community, we cannot wait to see where Fairfield will be in the years to come.”

The Fairfield Awards Dinner is the University’s premier fundraising event, offering vital scholarship support to students. Since 1988, the Fairfield Awards Dinner has raised more than $22 million for scholarships to help students realize their full potential through a Fairfield education, regardless of economic or social barriers. The Awards Dinner also honors the achievements and volunteer service of alumni, parents, faculty, and staff.

Learn more about the Fairfield Awards Dinner and how you can impact students’ lives at fairfield.edu/awardsdinner or by scanning the QR code.

For table sponsorships or ticket information, contact Carolyn Garibaldi at 203-254-4000, ext. 2174 or cgaribaldi@fairfield.edu

Dawn & Dusk: Tonalism in Connecticut

Golden Tree, Emil Carlsen

Fairfield University

Alumni Association

fairfield.edu/alumni | 203-254-4280

Email us at alumni@fairfield.edu

Fairfield Awards Dinner

Cipriani 42nd Street

WED., APRIL 2 | 6 - 10 P.M.

Fairfield University Glee Club

“Future of Futures” Concert SAT., APRIL 5 | 7 P.M.

Quick Center for the Arts

quickcenter.com | 203-254-4010

Follow us! @FairfieldQuick

Global Theatre Series

Sing, Sing WED., JAN. 29 | 7 P.M.

Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra of Moravia THURS., FEB. 6 | 7:30 P.M.

elephant JANE dance untitled sad piece SAT., FEB. 8 | 8 P.M.

Krakauer & Tagg’s Good Vibes Explosion THURS., FEB. 20 | 7:30 P.M.

Lila Downs

SUN., MARCH 23 | 7 P.M.

Orin Grossman PhD SUN., MARCH 30 | 3 P.M.

The Met: Live in HD

Aida (Verdi)

SAT., JAN. 25 | 12:30 P.M. (LIVE), 11:30 A.M. PRE-SCREENING TALK

Fidelio (Beethoven) SAT., MARCH 15 | 1 P.M. (LIVE), 12 P.M. PRE-SCREENING TALK

Theatre Fairfield

Independent Play Project

THURS., FEB. 6 & FRI., FEB. 7 | 7:30 P.M.

SAT., FEB. 8 | 2 P.M. & 7:30 P.M

Open VISIONS Forum: Espresso

Jonathan Santlofer

TUES., FEB. 4 | 7:30 P.M.

Michael Davis, PhD WED., FEB. 26 | 7:30 P.M.

Janet Wallach TUES., MARCH 4 | 7:30 P.M.

Open VISIONS Forum

Walter Kirn WED., MARCH 19 | 7:30 P.M.

Stuart Weitzman TUES., MARCH 25 | 7:30 P.M.

Center for Catholic Studies

fairfield.edu/cs

The 2025 Bellarmine Lecture

Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos WED., JAN. 29 | 7 P.M.

Bennett Center for Judaic Studies

fairfield.edu/bennett

The 19th Annual Lecture in Jewish and Christian Engagement

Massimo Faggioli

WED., MARCH 19 | 7 P.M.

Co-Sponsored with the Center for Catholic Studies

Fairfield University

Art Museum

fairfield.edu/museum | 203-254-4046

Email us at museum@fairfield.edu

Dawn and Dusk: Tonalism in Connecticut

Bellarmine Hall Galleries

JAN. 17 – APRIL 12

To See This Place: Awakening to Our Common Home

Walsh Gallery JAN. 24 – MARCH 29

Walter Kirn

Fairfield University Glee Club

Fairfield

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2024-2025

Chair

Sheila Kearney Davidson ’83 Chief Legal & Administrative Officer Retired

New York Life Insurance Company

Vice Chair

Brian P. Hull ’80, P’13 Executive Vice Chairman, Americas UBS

Rev. Gerald Blaszczak, S.J. Eastern Point Retreat House

Maureen Errity Bujno ’90 Managing Director

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Kevin P. Cannon ’80, P’20 CEO

Zweig-DiMenna Associates LLC

Jorge A. Chiluisa ’89, MBA’06, P’21,’20,’19

Financial Services Executive, Retired

Mary Ryan Cunningham ’76

Hugh Davis ’95

Co-founder & Managing Partner

ACKWEST Group

Christopher C. Desmarais ’93

Managing Director

Gabelli Asset Management Inc.

Rev. Christopher J. Devron, S.J. President

Regis High School

Mark P. Egan ’99, P’28

Founder & Managing Partner

Marion Equity Partners

Thomas J. Fanning Sr. ’78, P’10,’06 Founder & Managing Partner

Heritage Strategies, LLC

Co-Founder and Co-Managing Member

TriState Q.S.R. LLC

Lisa M. Ferraro (Martino) ’85, P’22 Attorney, Retired

Patricia E. Glassford ’85

Vice President and CFO, Retired

GE

Rev. Gregory M. Goethals, S.J.

President Loyola High School of Los Angeles

Trustees & Administration

2024-2025

Douglas W. Hammond ’86 Chairman and CEO

NFP

Kathleen Rafferty Hay ’03

President & CFO

Blue Trail Properties, LLC

Rev. Gregory A. Kalscheur, S.J.

Dean, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences

Boston College

Dagan T. Kasavana ’99

Founder & CEO

Phoenix Tower International

Stephen M. Lessing ’76

Managing Director & Chairman of Senior Relationship Management Barclays

Clinton A. Lewis Jr. ’88 CEO

AgroFresh Solutions

Shelagh Mahoney-McNamee ’87, P’26,’25,’22,’18

President and CEO Eastern Salt Company

Andrew J. McMahon ’89, P’19,’13 Chief Executive Officer and President The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

John C. Meditz ’70

Managing Director & Co-Founder Horizon-Kinetics, LLC

Elner L. Morrell ’81, MFA’18, P’03 Director, Enterprise Clinical Architecture Optum Technology UnitedHealth Group

Robert J. Murphy Jr. ’71 Vice President

ABC News

Mark R. Nemec, PhD President

Fairfield University

Phillip J. Neugebauer ‘91 Executive Vice President PIMCO

Rev. Mario M. Powell, S.J. Provincial Assistant for Secondary and Pre-Secondary Education USA East Province of the Society of Jesus

Christopher C. Quick ’79 Vice Chairman, Retired Bank of America

Rosellen Walsh Schnurr ’74 Educator, Retired

Trustees Emeriti

Charles F. Dolan, P’86,’85

Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. President Emeritus

Roger M. Lynch ’63, P’95

Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. President Emeritus

Marianne Dolan Weber, P’16

SENIOR LEADERSHIP 2024-2025

Jenn Anderson ’97, MBA’02 Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Evelyn Bilias Lolis Dean, School of Education and Human Development

Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD, P’24

Dean, School of Engineering and Computing

Christian J. Cashman President, Fairfield College Preparatory School

Karen A. Donoghue ’03, EdD Vice President, Student Life

Philip I. Eliasoph, PhD

Special Assistant to the President for Arts and Culture

Paul C. Fama Vice President, Human Resources

David W. Frassinelli MS’92 Vice President, Facilities, Campus and Auxiliary Services

Richard A. Greenwald, PhD Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Steven Gstalder, EdD Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Services

Wally Halas Vice President, University Advancement

William H. Johnson, PhD

Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Life

Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, MFA’15, P’17,’15

Dean, Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

Zhan Li, DBA

Dean, Charles F. Dolan School of Business

Mark Ligas, PhD, P’26,’24,’21 Vice Provost, Undergraduate Excellence

Christina S. McGowan

Dean of Library, and University Librarian

Mark R. Nemec, PhD President

Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J.

Vice Provost & Executive Director, Fairfield Bellarmine

Walter P. Rankin, PhD

Vice Provost for Graduate, Continuing and Professional Studies

Rev. Paul Rourke, S.J.

Vice President, Mission and Ministry

Don C. Sawyer III, PhD

Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Paul Schlickmann

Vice President, Athletics

Rob Schnieders

Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Rachel Schwartzman, JD University Counsel

Christine Siegel, PhD Provost

Michael Trafecante MBA’01, P’22,’21,’19

Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Corry D. Unis

Vice President, Strategic Enrollment Management

JoAnne P. Williams, JD

Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration

Fairfieldmagazine