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We’re Back, We’re Building, And We’re Better Than Ever
Fairfield University’s Class of 2025 is making history as the University’s largest, with more than 1,250 incoming first-year students expected in its ranks. This class is also the academically strongest in Fairfield’s modern history.
The newly minted Stags were selected from among 12,673 applicants — Fairfield’s biggest application pool ever — and come to Fairfield with an average high school GPA of 3.74 and average SAT/ACT scores of 1312.
“The entire enrollment team is excited to welcome the Class of 2025,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Corry Unis. “This is a group that is equal part academically focused and community involved.”
Members of the Class of 2025 hail from 26 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and eight countries: New Zealand, Canada, Vietnam, China, Chile, the U.K., Argentina, and Denmark.
Fairfield’s continued high placement in national college rankings includes distinctions in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2021 as well as on research website Niche’s 2021 Best Colleges in America list. The Princeton Review’s annual college rankings in The Best 386 Colleges: 2021 Edition placed Fairfield on its list of Best Northeastern Colleges, among other distinctions.
Meanwhile, in June of this year, Fairfield became one of 300 “Vaccine Champion Colleges” by accepting the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge — an effort to end the pandemic, supported by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education. Participating colleges committed to taking three key actions to help get their campus communities vaccinated: engage every student, faculty, and staff member; organize their college communities; and deliver vaccine access for all.
As part of its ongoing efforts, nearly 1,500 vaccines were administered at Fairfield University’s on-campus clinics with Griffin Health this spring semester.
The University also continues to move forward on strategic priorities, including the new Arena and Convocation Center (ACC), which will replace Fairfield’s long-standing landmark Alumni Hall. Construction officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 28, 2021. The ceremony included remarks from President Mark R. Nemec, PhD.
“Our rise has been predicated on a commitment to our core values and this building is no different,” Dr. Nemec said during his speech. “For while new, this building will carry forward our commitment of campagna — companionship, our commitment to cura personalis — the whole person, and finally the fact that we do all of this with magis — excellence in all things.”
The new venue will be an approximately 85,000-square foot, 3,500-seat multi-use space for basketball and volleyball games, University events, and concerts. This project is 100 percent donorfunded and is estimated to cost $45 million. Construction of the ACC is currently scheduled for completion in the fall of 2022. l F
(left to right) Taj Benning ’21; Christopher C. Quick ’79; Stephen M. Lessing ’76; Claire M. Knopf, P’16; Shelagh Mahoney-McNamee ’87, P’25,’22,’18; Lisa M. Ferraro (Martino) ’85, P’22; Mary Ryan Cunningham ’76; Mark R. Nemec, PhD; Paul Schlickmann; Christine Siegel, PhD; Rev. Paul Rourke, S.J.; and Tyler Heffern ’22.
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2021 STAGiving Day Raises Record of Nearly $1.8M
Fairfield alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends came together for the 7th annual STAGiving Day on April 22, to support students’ most urgent needs in the areas of: financial aid, scholarship, health and wellness, academic resilience, and spiritual guidance, as well as to provide critical operational support for Fairfield Athletics’ 20 varsity teams.
This year, the Stag community — urged to “Be Inspired” by the resilience and strength of our students, faculty, and staff — far surpassed the 1,942-donor goal to unlock $1,000,000 in challenge funds, raising a record of nearly $1,800,000 from 2,400 donors. For Fairfield Athletics alone, more than 1,050 donors raised upwards of $793,000: the most dollars raised for student-athletes on STAGiving Day in the history of this annual tradition.
In addition to funding student priorities, every alumni gift on STAGiving Day helped boost Fairfield’s alumni participation rate, an important measurement that is factored into the University’s national and regional rankings among higher education institutions.
STAGiving Day was launched in 2015 as an opportunity for the Fairfield community from all over the world to come together for just 24 hours to celebrate and uplift the University by wearing red or spirit wear; sharing stories about their favorite Fairfield memories, classmates, professors, and current students; and making gifts to areas that mean the most to them.
For more information about STAGiving Day or how to support Fairfield University, please call 877-748-5123 or email stagsforstags@fairfield.edu. l F
Students and Lucas the Stag celebrated at a STAGiving Day event on April 22.
NURSING STUDENTS PUBLISH BOOK OF REFLECTIONS ON STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE
In mid-March of 2020, 28 Egan School nursing students had to quickly vacate their semester-long study abroad program in Galway, Ireland and return to the U.S. due to growing worries over the Covid-19 pandemic. The program’s academics were moved online for a seamless continuation of their coursework.
Rather than focus on the disappointment, the nursing students — all members of the Class of ’21 — turned their fond reflections into a self-published book, titled Our Journey Abroad: Through the Eyes of the Galway Girls.
The book is available for purchase at www.blurb.com/ bookstore. Proceeds from its sales will go to support students at the Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies.
FAIRFIELD AMONG TOP TEN 2021 BEST CATHOLIC COLLEGES IN U.S.
Fairfield University has once again been ranked at the top of the 2021 College Consensus list of Best Catholic Colleges & Universities. At #6, Fairfield placed in the top ten alongside the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Boston College.
Fairfield is one of only three New England colleges and universities to place atop the rankings, and is the only Connecticut school in the top ten.
To determine the list of Best Catholic Colleges & Universities, rankings website College Consensus averaged the results of reputable national college ranking publishers including The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report, to determine the “publisher rating.” Ratings were also gathered from reputable student review sites such as Cappex and Niche, to calculate an overall “student review rating.” A combined average, or college consensus score, was calculated from the publisher and student review scores. l F
School of Engineering Receives $623K Gift
Fairfield University and the School of Engineering announced that the estate of Bridgeport Engineering Institute alumnus Vincent Masi, BEI ’54 has gifted $623,000 to the School of Engineering.
The gift will honor the late alumnus’ legacy by ensuring the continued growth of the engineering program at Fairfield. It will be used to increase mission-driven engineering scholarships (aimed at increasing access to underserved populations), to fund an undergraduate summer research program, and to create and support student engagement initiatives, including a student ambassador program, and various engineering clubs and organizations.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Masi attended Bridgeport Engineering Institute where he became a skilled tool and die maker. Following his time at BEI and his service in the Korean War, Masi worked for more than 20 years at Pitney Bowes in Stamford, Connecticut.
Founded in 1924 with a mission to deliver quality engineering education to the citizens of southern Connecticut, the Bridgeport Engineering Institute (BEI) became the current School of Engineering after a merger in 1994.
Since its 1994 inception, the School of Engineering has grown from two original electrical and mechanical engineering programs to now include undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. l F
The generosity of Vincent Masi, BEI ’54 will help support and strengthen student initiatives such as the SAE Baja Buggy team of engineers.
The international honor society of Jesuit colleges and universities recognized Fairfield’s chapter with the 2020-21 Alpha Sigma Nu Chapter Innovation Award, in May. Alpha Sigma Nu’s (ASN) annual awards honor student chapters whose programming reflects the principles of scholarship, loyalty, and service. Winning chapters receive financial contributions to their chapter programming fund for the next academic year.
Fairfield was recognized for its innovative use of Instagram to encourage members to take part in the University’s 21-Day Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Racial Equity Challenge, a series of online drop-in sessions to provide social justice education grounded in Catholic social teaching. During Black History Month, Fairfield’s ASN chapter took part in the Challenge by inviting members to join discussions titled “A Culture of White Supremacy: Jesuit Institutions, Slavery, and Equity” and “Racism and the Environment.” Fairfield’s ASN executive board members Danielle Witty ’21, Dominique Trucchio ’21, Alaina Moger ’21, Peyton Olechna ’21, and Julie McGovern ’22 facilitated the conversations. l F
FAIRFIELD DOLAN CO-OP PROGRAMS CONNECT STUDENTS WITH TOP COMPANIES
Fairfield Dolan Master of Business Analytics (MSBA) students now have the chance to apply to participate in two new exciting co-op programs with The Hartford and Synchrony. The co-op programs are designed for students to assist in projects that require analytical support for strategic initiatives.
Under the co-operative education model, students gain practical hands-on work experience that aligns with their coursework, and develop marketable skills while also networking for potential employment opportunities.
“The co-op programs are a win-win,” said MSBA Program Director Philip Maymin, PhD. “Students use what they are learning in class to analyze data and solve typical business problems. They are part of a team, and ideally can use the research they’re doing at The Hartford and Synchrony as their capstone projects.”
Co-op programs like this are just one example of what makes the Fairfield Dolan MSBA program unique, and the rankings reinforce this. Dolan’s MSBA program ranks #21 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of 2022 Best Graduate
Business Specialty Programs. l F
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FAIRFIELD BASEBALL DUO DRAFTED BY THE NEW YORK METS
Fairfield University Baseball standouts Trey McLoughlin ’21 and Justin Guerrera ’22 were both selected by the New York Mets in the 2021 MLB Collegiate Draft. The duo are the 19th and 20th Stags, respectively, ever to be chosen in an MLB draft.
The hard throwing righthanded pitcher McLoughlin was tabbed by the Mets in the 16th round. He missed most of the 2021 season due to injury, but returned to make a key start in the MAAC Championship, firing 6.1 innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts to win an elimination game over Canisius.
McLoughlin also took the ball in the Stags’ NCAA Championship opener against Arizona State, striking out three Sun Devils over 6.1 frames in a no-decision. He graduated from Fairfield this past May with a degree in management from the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.
Guerrera came off the board in the 20th round, as the Mets selected the power-hitting shortstop with their final pick of the draft. An All-MAAC First Team honoree, Guerrera tied Fairfield’s single-season record with 13 home runs this spring, capped off by a mammoth three-run blast against Arizona State in the NCAA Regionals that stood up as the winning runs for the Stags. Guerrera led the MAAC in homers as well as RBIs (45), runs scored (45), and slugging percentage (.685).
The 2021 Fairfield Stags won a program-record 39 games en route to the MAAC Regular Season Championship and the conference’s first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Championship. Fairfield went on to win two games at the Austin (Texas) Regional, upending Southern University and Arizona State University for the first two NCAA wins in
program history. l F
THREE MEN’S TEAM ROWERS PLACED ON IRCA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM
Three Fairfield University student-athletes earned berths to the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) ScholarAthlete Team, the organization announced in June. Brady Stergion ’23, Ryan Borsy ’22, and Michael Pagliaro ’22 collected the honors for their achievements in the classroom.
Student-athletes qualify for the award when they compete in at least their second year of eligibility, compete in the program’s top three boats during the season, or race in the 2021 IRA Championships, and achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better through the fall semester. Stergion and Pagliaro both competed at the IRA Championship in the spring as members of the varsity 4, a crew which finished 13th in the nation. Borsy also competed with the varsity 4 during the spring season.
Scholarship Recognizes Students from Diverse Backgrounds
In alignment with its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, the School of Education and Human Development relaunched its Opportunity Scholarship earlier this year. The scholarship serves to support a more diverse student population at Fairfield and provides financial support and recognition of academic success to prospective and current graduate students pursuing a master’s degree.
The scholarship is intended to support students’ progress toward their professional degrees to help ensure the future impact and contributions to their field, and to the populations they will serve. In an effort to make the scholarship more accessible, eligible students are now permitted to self-nominate and to apply to be considered, in addition to students who may be nominated by a faculty member.
This past semester, ten students received the Opportunity Scholarship: Jason Blake, Alexa Chalas, Lyssete Cordova, Jacquella Forgey-Carpenter, Susana Olivo, Maritza Poindexter-Brown, Yuly Rios, Donna Rogers-Jones, Yolanda Russell, and Brianna Stewart.
The Opportunity Scholarship is one of several key initiatives led by the School of Education and Human Development’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. The goal of the committee is to create a more inclusive climate in all dimensions of diversity, with a specific focus on examining current policies and practices surrounding curricula, hiring, programming, and tenure. l F
Stefania Vendrella ’20, MEd’21 has wanted to become a teacher ever since she was a fifth-grader growing up in West Haven, Conn. When it came time to choosing a college, the deciding factor for her was Fairfield’s fifthyear program in education, which allows students the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in just five years.
“I liked that the program allowed me to take so many graduate credits during my undergraduate years. It not only exposed me to teaching early on, it made the master’s workload more manageable,” said Vendrella, who did a field placement at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Conn., and will work there as a fully certified teacher this year.
Through the Fifth-Year Accelerated Teacher Preparation Program, Fairfield offers seven five-year program tracks in education: elementary ed, special ed, and an additional five secondary education subjects (science, math, English, social studies, and world languages). Those interested in a fifth-year education program may pursue an undergraduate minor in either regular or special education, which serves as a launchpad toward the various five-year teacher preparation tracks. “The fifth year program empowers students to earn their master’s in education and initial teacher certification through a rigorous but efficient plan of study, and it prepares students to head into the field as educational leaders, following the Jesuit mission of becoming men and women for others,” said Ryan Colwell, PhD, associate professor of elementary education and chair of Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation. l F
Stefania Vendrella ’20, MEd’21 Torff’s composition is an almost five-minute track that swells with dreamy, electronic strings and smooth horns.
Prof. Brian Torff and Jazz Ensemble Students Record Original Song, “Truth”
Brian Q. Torff, professor of music in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, and renowned bassist, composer, and author, is “constantly” at work on his craft — and this has been especially true in the wake of Covid-19, as he’s spent extra time in his recording studio.
“The pandemic forced me to look inward and try to create something I could share with my students,” Torff said about his new piece of music, aptly titled “Truth.”
While working on the song, an almost five-minute track that swells with dreamy, electronic strings and smooth horns, Torff introduced the jazz ensemble students to new digital recording equipment and software, which he believes is important exposure for young musicians.
“Working with a composer firsthand brings a fresh experience,” said Torff, who is a featured bass soloist at jazz festivals throughout the U.S., and musical director of the Django Reinhardt New York Festival.
Fairfield University’s music program, housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, offers the intimacy of a tight-knit arts community embedded within a broad liberal arts education. l F
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Science Institute Faculty-Student Research Paves Career Paths
The Science Institute at Fairfield University is an endowed program in the College of Arts and Sciences. It supports activities and programs in the areas of science and mathematics, including: innovative teaching, curriculum development, lectures, seed grants for research, and projects that promote the cultivation of an appreciation for scientific teaching and inquiry in the University, and the community at large.
This past summer, five faculty and student duos had their innovative research projects funded through the Science Institute. From investigating potential environmental risks to animals and humans, to using worms to study gene function, students and faculty broke new ground as they engaged in fieldwork and collaborated in laboratories.
Biology major Gabriel Rodrigues ’22 and professor of biology Brian G. Walker, PhD worked on setting up the analysis protocols (i.e., technical lab activities) for analysis of microplastics in biological samples, initially focusing on penguin feces. Dr. Walker and Rodrigues conducted their research through partnerships with Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn. and the Central Park Zoo in New York City.
In another area of study, S. Ashley Byun, PhD, associate professor of biology, and undergraduate student Cristian Navarro-Martinez ’22 worked with Murray Patterson, PhD, of Georgia State University, on the ancestral reconstruction of “the first cat call,” or ancestral feline vocalizations.
Additional faculty-student research collaborations included: Chelsie Counsell, PhD, assistant professor of biology, and Rebecca Buonopane ’22 on reef habitats; Anita Fernandez, associate professor of biology, and Julia Stobierska ’23 on gene function in worms; and David Winn, professor of physics, and Andrew Maresca ’23 on highspeed photodetectors. l F
The Howard Hughes award will advance science education and biomedical research for STEM students at Fairfield.
HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE COMMITS $30K TO FAIRFIELD FOR STEM INITIATIVES
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a science philanthropy whose mission is to advance basic biomedical research and science education for the benefit of humanity. Their Inclusive Excellence initiative (IE3) grant program, challenges colleges and universities to work with faculty to examine and change campus cultures, so that a diverse group of students feels included in the sciences.
Fairfield’s $30,000 award is one of several stages in the overall competition, and will support the University’s participation in an HHMI Learning Community Cluster, a diverse grouping of approximately 15 institutions selected for the IE3 grant. Spearheading this effort for the College of Arts and Sciences is a faculty group that comprises the HHMI Leadership Team at Fairfield: Shelley Phelan, PhD, (biology), Jillian Smith-Carpenter, PhD, (chemistry), Laura McSweeney, PhD, (mathematics) and Angela Biselli (physics).
Fairfield’s HHMI Leadership Team has already engaged in intensive workshops and plans to continue learning throughout this phase of the grant, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as they consider the STEM experience of first-year students at Fairfield. The group will also be conducting focus groups with Fairfield students to obtain
“true student voices on DEI.” l F
STAGS END SEASON AT #4 BOSTON COLLEGE IN NCAA LAX CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
Fairfield University Women’s Lacrosse closed out a historic 2021 season in the NCAA Championship First Round at #4 Boston College this past spring. The Stags got three points apiece from grad student Meaghan Graham and Diana DeVita ‘21, but the host Eagles, who have reached the National Championship game in each of the last three NCAA tournaments, ran away with a 19-6 decision.
The Stags completed their third consecutive MAAC Championship campaign with a record of 13-2. The first-round game against BC marked the fifth NCAA postseason appearance in program history.
Fairfield Dolan Launches New MBA/MSBA Dual Degree
To prepare business professionals with both broad strategic perspectives and the analytical capacity to make decisions based on data, Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business has launched the new dual Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) degree program. Depending on prior background and knowledge, students can complete the dual degree program with as few as 48 credits, up to a maximum of 60 credits.
The MBA/MSBA dual degree prepares professionals with data analytics and strategic management skills, so graduates stand out in today’s highly demanding and competitive job market. The MBA degree develops students with skills in accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, and operations, while the MSBA degree develops students with specialized knowledge and skills for data management and analytics.
“The MBA/MSBA Dual Degree program offers students the benefit of earning two degrees in one streamlined and efficient program,” said Fairfield Dolan Dean Zhan Li, DBA. “This dual degree provides students with the well-rounded business curriculum of an MBA paired with the robust, technical curriculum of business analytics.” l F
New Graduate Certificate in Health Communication
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine (2016), “analyzing medical death rate data over an eight-year period, Johns Hopkins patient safety experts have calculated that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical error in the U.S.” These tragedies are in large part due to dysfunctional or ineffective health communication. Consequently, the College of Arts and Sciences developed a program to enhance healthcare professionals’ communication skills.
This fully online, asynchronous Health Communication for Healthcare Professionals Certificate program will use a variety of computer-mediated educational opportunities to create an interactive, discussion-based, virtual seminar for each of the courses. Specifically, Zoom-based lectures posted online each week with assigned readings from health communicationrelated texts will serve as the foundation for the interaction-based questions in the
online discussion board. l F The project of Katharine Creamer ’23, featured an ancient and a current view of the site of a major volcanic eruption during the Permian era.
MEDIA STUDENTS CREATE WORK FOR VIRTUAL VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Throughout the “New Media Workshop” (FTMA 2235), taught last semester by assistant professor of visual and performing arts Patrick Brooks, students developed innovative projects “from the ground up” in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
To kick off the course, students utilized new technologies to create Instagram face filter “masks.” Next, they built interactive virtual rooms that users could enter using VR headsets, and used 360-degree and 3D cameras to create a number of liveaction VR films.
For their final projects, students had the option to create a digital experience for inclusion in Brooks’ work, which was installed this summer as a part of the New York Virtual Volcano Observatory (NYVVO) in Nolan Park on New York City’s Governor’s Island. The NYVVO is open to visitors through October 2021.
The project is a collaboration that also includes NYU, Columbia, Queens College, and others. The virtual volcano observatory exhibition will feature interviews, talks, and content filmed by volcanologists across the world, as well as home-grown projects like the ones contributed by Brooks and his
Fairfield students. l F
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70th and 71st Commencements Celebrated at Fairfield
More than 700 graduates from the Class of 2020 returned to campus on May 22 to make the traditional walk across Bellarmine Terrace at two separate in-person academic celebrations. College of Arts & Sciences and Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies graduates were honored in the morning, and the celebration for the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and the School of Engineering took place in the afternoon.
The class had been unable to hold in-person celebrations in May of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Student Commencement speaker Teresa Ann Sauer ’20 addressed her classmates about persevering through adversity. Commencement speaker President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, acknowledged the resilience and fortitude of the Class of 2020, especially in the face of the pandemic, and officially congratulated them: “We have waited a year to say it, but allow me to formally announce that you are, now and forever, Stags.”
A graduate and professional studies ceremony for the Class of 2020 was held virtually on May 15 to honor advanced degree recipients. The exercises were led by Fairfield University
Provost Christine Siegel, PhD. The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, opened the ceremony with an invocation. Graduate student
Nicole J. Phillips ’20
DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, delivered the Commencement address. Commencement speaker President Mark R. Nemec, PhD encouraged the graduate Class of 2020 to “never stop asking questions. Never lose sight of the power of inquiry... and never forget, that no matter what profession or what further study you choose to pursue, you are called to be stewards. You are called to leave all you touch, better than when you found it.” l F
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Persevering through adversity was a theme of Class of 2020 Student Commencement Speaker Teresa Ann Sauer’s speech.
Lucas the Stag congratulated Class of 2020 graduates as they wound their way toward Bellarmine Hall. One year later, classmates and families were finally able to celebrate graduation in person.
The academic celebration for students from the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and the School of Engineering took place in the afternoon.
Marc R. Nemec, PhD, University President
More than 700 graduates from the Class of 2020 returned to campus to make the traditional walk across Bellarmine Terrace on Saturday, May 22.
Dolan School graduates Michelle Izzo, Courtney Dye, and Kevin Johnson pose for cameras following the afternoon ceremony. The sky is the limit for these Stags!
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An in-person academic celebration for the Class of 2021 graduate and professional studies students, held Sunday, May 16 on Bellarmine Lawn, was presided over by School of Education and Human Development Dean Laurie Grupp, PhD, Provost Siegel, and the Reverend Paul Rourke, S.J., who led the opening prayer.
On Monday, May 17, Fairfield’s series of in-person academic celebrations kicked off with Class of 2021 undergraduates from the College of Arts and Sciences in two separate ceremonies. Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD, offered welcoming remarks and Fr. Rourke led the invocation prayer.
In-person academic celebrations for undergraduates in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business took place on Tuesday, May 18, in the morning and afternoon. Dean Zhan Li, DBA welcomed the graduates and their families and Rev. Gregory Konz, S.J., assistant to the dean, offered the opening prayer. Following Provost Siegel’s address and the celebration of degrees, President Nemec offered concluding remarks.
Undergraduates in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies were honored on Wednesday morning, May 19, and the School of Engineering’s academic celebration took place that afternoon. Egan School Dean
Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD,
APRN, FAAN, and School of Engineering Dean Andres L. Carrano, PhD, presided at the respective academic celebrations. Rev. Michael Tunney, S.J., provided a prayer for both celebrations, inspiring graduates to use their skills and talents “...to heal and lift up our human community.”
Virtual Commencement ceremonies to confer all Class of 2021 undergraduate and graduate degrees took place on Sunday, May 23. Student Commencement speaker Michelle Jasko ’21 of the Dolan School of Business addressed her classmates at the undergraduate ceremony. This year’s Commencement speaker for both the undergraduate and graduate virtual ceremonies, Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Woodruff shared some practical wisdom with graduates on the “difference between those who succeed at their goals and those who don’t,” saying, “Those who keep going — who learn that lesson: that things won’t always go your way, but that can’t stop you — those are the ones who end up making a difference.”
The number of degrees conferred upon the Class of 2021 totaled: 952 bachelor’s, 414 master’s, 23 sixth-year certificates, and 41 doctorates. l F
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Provost Christine Siegel, PhD reflected upon the resiliency of the Class of 2021 amid the challenges of the pandemic, at the College of Arts & Sciences academic celebration.
Jessica Scanlon, Lauren Beaulieu, and Kelsey Kacsmar pose with Lucas the Stag prior to the Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies’ May 19 academic celebration.
An in-person academic celebration for 2021 undergraduates in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business took place on Tuesday, May 18.
Greeted by their favorite Stag, School of Engineering graduates (from left to right) Frantz Calixte, Morgan Connell, Ferris Makhlouf, Todd Richards, and Meghan Stevens were all smiles en route to their academic celebration on Wednesday, May 19.
Judy Woodruff, Anchor and Managing Editor of PBS NewsHour
Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD offered concluding remarks at the Dolan School of Business Class of 2021 academic celebration.
An in-person academic celebration for Class of 2021 graduate and professional studies students was held on Bellarmine Lawn, Sunday, May 16.
Monday, May 17 kicked off Fairfield’s series of in-person academic celebrations for Class of 2021 undergraduates.
