Fairfield University Magazine, Spring 2023

Play Ball

Under Head Coach Bill Currier, Stags baseball has become a national force.

Fairfield’s social media accounts are growing fast and recruiting students.

What does “care for the whole student” look like online? Fairfield is showing the way.

Fairfieldmagazine

In Deep Waters Economics Professor William Fernando

Vásquez Mazariegos, PhD, recipient of the 2021-22 Wall Award, presents solutions to the impact of rising sea levels.

As the sun sets over campus, the new Mahoney arena stands tall and proud, ready to host a new generation of athletes and fans.

On the cover:

Strategies to protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities are the research focus of Wall Award recipient Dr. William Fernando Vásquez Mazariegos.

Fairfield University Magazine

Fairfield University

Spring 2023 | Volume 45 | Number 4 a.m.d.g.

Editor, Alistair Highet

Assistant Editor, Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11

University News Editor, Susan Cipollaro

Copy Editor, Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87

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

Designer, Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91

Photography by:

Joe Adams: pages 4, 10, 12,

Owen Bonaventure: pages 2, 14, 29

Kristie Kistner: page 30

Mike Majewski: page 7

Peter McLean: pages 2, 22-25

Ivey Speight: page 20

Steve Yingling: page 16

Media Center: page 16

Esto/Jeff Goldberg: page 16

Contributed photos: pages 2, 6-11, 18-21, 32-40

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

Fairfield, CT 06824-5195

(203) 254-4000, ext. 2526 e-mail: ahighet@fairfield.edu

Stagset

Photo by Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Contents

18 @fairfieldu

by n icolette M assaro

Fairfield’s social media accounts are growing fast and recruiting students.

Since first jumping into the world of social media with a Twitter account in 2008, the University’s online posts of short videos, alumni stories, student interviews, real-time news, and snippets of academic and student life have cultivated an evergrowing audience of loyal followers on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter.

22 Play Ball

by J ohn t orsiello

Under Head Coach Bill Currier, Stags baseball has become a national force.

Two years ago, the Stags were ranked 23rd in the nation by Baseball America. They earned a coveted at-large bid to the College World Series and went on to win two NCAA playoff games. Coach Currier’s program proved it can be a national force, and now fans and students are eager to see what the Stags will do in 2023.

Pictured above: Fairfield’s social media interns (l-r) Angeline Dortenzio ’23 and Bianca Sasso ’23 pose for a selfie with Lucas at the Mahoney Arena grand opening

Pictured above: Jake Noviello ’22, MAAC All-Academic Team, right-handed pitcher for the Stags

“The new additions to our facilities give a player all the advantages he could want.”

— bill cU rrier , Men’s Baseball Coach

Fairfieldmagazine

4 letter F ro M the president

5 U niversity news

12 acade M ics

Online Learning, Fairfield Style

by a U dra b o UFFard

What does “care for the whole student” look like online? Fairfield is showing the way.

14 U niversity

Grand Design

by J eannine ( c arolan ) g ra F ’87

26

In Deep Waters

by

t ess ( b rown ) l ong ’07, MFa’11

Economics Professor William Fernando

Vásquez Mazariegos, PhD, recipient of the 2021-22 Wall Award, presents solutions to the impact of rising sea levels.

Funded through the University’s Robert E. Wall Faculty Award Program, Professor Vásquez’s project is titled “In Deep Waters: Perceptions, Intentions, and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise and Related Impacts.”

David Frassinelli M’92 has shaped Fairfield’s North Benson campus. Now he is transforming a church built by his grandfather to create Bellarmine Campus.

32 al UM ni notes

p ro F iles :

33 Colleen (O’Donnell) Thorburn ’97 From English Major to Equity Sales

35 Meaghan Mooney ’05 Helping to Bring Fairfield’s Spirit to Austin Egan

38 ca M p U s events

40 donor pro F ile

Robert Dawe ’72, MD

Pictured above: Boats at sunset in San Cristóbal Island, Ecuador

Your news could be featured in an upcoming issue of Fairfield University Magazine! Submit your updates through Class Notes within the Online Community and don’t forget to include a photo! Go to fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity.

Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

While I write, the sun is shining on Bellarmine Hall, and the unmistakable notes of early spring are in the air. There is a quickening of energy as students dig in to their studies with renewed intensity. Seniors can feel the end of their time with us is on the horizon, and so this is a moment of poignant awareness for them — of how far they have come, and that they will soon be graduates of Fairfield University, with a lifetime of hope and opportunity ahead of them.

As an institution, we have much to be grateful for, particularly that our values-based, studentcentric, outcomes-focused approach to education continues to attract ever greater interest and engagement. Year over year, the number of young people applying for acceptance at Fairfield increases remarkably. This year, more than 10,000 applicants from 1,756 high schools from around the world sought early admission. We admitted less than half of that number, the lowest early acceptance rate in our history. Buoyed by our continued efforts to broaden our student body, this was also our most diverse pool of earlyapplicant admitted students, and amongst our strongest academically in terms of grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

This tells us we are succeeding in a most critical obligation: to be understood as an excellent investment at a time of deep tectonic shifts in the higher-education landscape. You may have heard me speak about the “flight to quality” in higher education. What we know is that the number of college-age students nationally is in a long-term decline, while at the same time, some policy makers and advocates are questioning the worth of a four-year, residential college education. Building upon our Ignatian pedagogical tradition, our model of holistic formation, and our unparalleled location in the Acela corridor, we have invested in our faculty, facilities,

technological resources, and student experience — including our residence and recreation facilities. Mindful of the increasing weight that families are placing on measurable value, we have endeavored to ensure that Fairfield’s unique quality remains resonant and relevant as these underlying economic and demographic shifts unfold. Thus, it is gratifying to see that our continued planning and foresight have been rewarded, and that — more than succeeding — we are thriving in this challenging environment.

As a Jesuit, Catholic university, the mission of the Society of Jesus is at the core of what we do. Answering the needs of the 21st century, we recognize that we are asked to reach ever broader student populations in ever more innovative ways. Thus, we are gratified that our Bellarmine Campus is on track to open in the fall of this year, having accepted our first students to our associate’s degree-granting program in Bridgeport, which we expect will be a pipeline to bring traditionally underserved students into our Fairfield community.

So too, our new Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies facility in Austin, Texas will enroll its first students this spring, addressing a critical need for nurses in that region. And finally, we welcome Don C. Sawyer III, PhD, to our team as our new vice president of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. He will chair the President’s Working Group on Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, and will lead ongoing efforts to foster institutional inclusion as we continue to advance our work in this area.

As always, we move into the future in the spirit of optimism and faith, encouraged that our careful strategic planning has met with success, and that we have remained centered in the truth of our mission, reminded again as we enter spring that as the early Jesuit Pedro de Ribadeneira explained to Philip II of Spain almost 500 years ago, “the proper education of our youth will mean improvement for the whole world.”

With very best wishes and utmost gratitude,

Mark R. Nemec, PhD President

“Answering the needs of the 21st century, we recognize that we are asked to reach ever broader student populations in ever more innovative ways.”

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FAIRFIELD RECEIVES RECORD NUMBER OF EARLY ACTION APPLICATIONS

On December 15 at 6 p.m., more than 10,000 high school students logged into their Fairfield University application portal hoping to discover they had secured a spot in Stag Country as a member of the Class of 2027.

Premier Lacrosse League Returning to Rafferty Stadium

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) has announced all 14 venue locations for the 2023 season, including a return to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on the campus of Fairfield University over the weekend of July 14-16, 2023.

The PLL made its debut at Rafferty Stadium in July of 2022, featuring two sold-out days of lacrosse action and three contests broadcast live on ESPN2.

“The Premier Lacrosse League had an exceptional debut at Rafferty Stadium in the summer of 2022, and we are thrilled to welcome them back to the Fairfield University campus,” said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. “We look forward to working with the PLL to bring a best-inclass fan experience as the league continues to grow across the country.”

For more information about the PLL, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com.

Of the record-breaking 10,153 early applicants, Fairfield offered admission to just over 46 percent, marking the lowest acceptance rate in the history of the University’s Early Action program, as well as its largest-ever early applicant pool.

A nonbinding option, early action allows students to apply and potentially gain admission to their top college choices much earlier than regular applicants. Early action programs like Fairfield’s normally send out decisions in December and give admitted students until May 1, the national response date, to formally reply to their offers.

The number of Fairfield early action applications increased more than 21 percent from the previous year, with applicants representing 1,756 high schools around the world. Among the students admitted, 410 currently attend a Jesuit or Cristo Rey High School, while the admitted pool, as a whole, represents more than 13 international countries and 36 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The academic strength and diversity of the University’s early action applicants also continued to grow this year. In addition to being Fairfield’s most diverse early action admitted pool, the average weighted GPA of the Class of 2027’s early action applicants was an impressive 3.89 with an average SAT score of 1329 among those who submitted. l F

Fairfield offered admission to just over 46 percent of early action applicants, marking the lowest acceptance rate in the history of the University’s Early Action program.

NEW NURSING STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM IN AUSTRALIA

Fairfield University’s Global Fairfield program has partnered with James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, to create a unique study abroad opportunity for nursing students. The new program, launched this fall, is designed to further develop aptitude in the nursing discipline, offer an international perspective on the subject matter, and provide an immersive 80-hour clinical placement experience. l F

FAIRFIELD EGAN AWARDED $2.45 MILLION GRANT

Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies has been awarded $2.45 million by the Connecticut Health Horizons Initiative, a three-year higher education grant program, launched by Governor Ned Lamont, to address the shortage of nursing and behavioral health providers in the state of Connecticut. The grant will deliver tuition assistance to Connecticut-based students enrolled in Fairfield’s BS in Nursing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, and Master’s in Social Work programs. l F

Don C. Sawyer III, PhD, Named Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Following a national search, Don C. Sawyer III, PhD, will join Fairfield University as the new vice president of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, beginning July 1, 2023. Dr. Sawyer will also be joining the faculty as an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

In his new role, Dr. Sawyer will serve as chair of the President’s Working Group on Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, and will be an advocate, mentor, and resource, developing and implementing diversity initiatives that support a learning and working environment where all community members have the opportunity to thrive and succeed, and where students are prepared to enter the global workforce.

Dr. Sawyer will build upon Fairfield’s ongoing work to advance racial justice and belonging, and will collaborate with executive leadership on learning and development needs related to cultural humility, gender identity, race and ethnicity, ability/accessibility, and other critical areas.

Most recently, Dr. Sawyer served as vice president for equity, inclusion, and leadership development at Quinnipiac University, and as an associate professor in Quinnipiac’s College of Arts and Sciences in the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Anthropology. l F

Fairfield Ranked No. 23 Best-Run College by Princeton Review

The Princeton Review has once again included Fairfield University among the nation’s best in its flagship guide, The Best 388 Colleges: 2023 Edition Additionally, the education services company placed Fairfield at #23 nationally on its list of “Best-Run Colleges.”

The Princeton Review

reported the top 25 schools (of the 388 ranked) in each of 50 category rankings. The category rankings are generated annually as a result of students’ reports about their schools and their college experiences.

Based on data from surveys of 160,000 students at the nation’s top-ranked 388 colleges,

each school is given a score.

According to the Princeton Review, “Using these scores...we are able to tally our ranked lists. Schools that make it onto any of our 50 ‘Top 25’ lists are those at which the surveyed students (as a group) indicated a very high consensus of opinion about that topic.” l F

U.S. NEWS RANKS FAIRFIELD’S ONLINE GRAD BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AMONG NATION’S BEST

Fairfield University’s graduate business and graduate education programs have once again been ranked on U.S. News’ annual Best Online Program list. In the 2023 edition, Fairfield’s Dolan School of Business was ranked in the Top 100 at #75 (Tie) in the Best Online Master’s in Business Programs category, out of 211 schools. Fairfield’s School of Education and Human

Development (SEHD) also fared well and was ranked #124 (Tie) out of 329 schools in the Best Online Master’s in Education Programs category, for its Master’s in Educational Technology. The Ed Tech program is designed to equip and empower educators to transform learning and ensure success for schools in the digital age. l F

FAIRFIELD VOLLEYBALL WINS FOURTH STRAIGHT MAAC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP

An eight-match winning streak propelled Fairfield University Volleyball to its fourth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Regular Season Championship.

This winter, the MAAC announced that Fairfield University has been selected to host the 2023 MAAC Volleyball Championship at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. This coming fall will mark the first season for Fairfield Volleyball to play in the new, on-campus arena.

Fairfield previously hosted the championship tournament at Alumni Hall in 1991, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2019 — winning the trophy in each of the last four MAAC Championships they hosted.

Fairfield Athletics and INFLCR Launch the Fairfield Stags Exchange

FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER FRANCES HAUGEN AT THE QUICK CENTER

From the U.S. Congress to the U.K. and E.U. parliaments, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has engaged international lawmakers in dialogue on how best to address the perils of social media.

In November, Haugen brought the conversation to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts in an Open VISIONS Forum lecture titled “Ethics, the Public Good, and the Challenge of Social Media.” The event was made possible through the generous support of Patrick J. Waide ’59 and the Waide Center for Applied Ethics. Haugen holds a degree in electrical and computer engineering from Olin College, and an MBA from Harvard University. She is a specialist in algorithmic product management, having worked on ranking algorithms at Google, Pinterest, Yelp, and Facebook.

Fairfield University Athletics, in partnership with INFLCR (pronounced “influencer”), is excited to announce the launch of the Fairfield Stags Exchange, which will allow studentathletes to pursue Name, Image, & Likeness (NIL) business opportunities.

Companies can register for the Fairfield Stags Exchange via FairfieldStags.com/exchange. Examples of possible business deals include public appearances, autograph signings, social media promotion and endorsement, private lessons, and athletic camps.

“We are excited to announce the Fairfield Stags Exchange

as the first of a multi-layered approach to support our studentathletes’ NIL opportunities and efforts,” said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. “This venture aligns with our University pursuit of modern excellence and our departmental mission to provide a holistic educational experience for our student-athletes.”

In June of 2021 the NCAA approved an NIL policy that allows NCAA student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness. The Fairfield Stags Exchange will be the University’s primary site dedicated to NIL education, opportunities, and reporting.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING RECEIVES TWO GRANTS

Fairfield University’s School of Engineering received two significant grants this fall. AuresTech, Inc. awarded Djedjiga Belfadel, PhD, associate professor in electrical and computer engineering, a $10,000 grant for her contributions to their project, “A Novel Network Synchronization and Precision, Navigation, and Timing for Drones (NSPD) in GPSDenied and RF-Contested Environments.” This project is anticipated to revolutionize autonomous flying cars and UAVs for commercial and military applications.

Another engineer, Xiaoli Yang, PhD, professor and chair of Computer Science, transferred a National Science Foundation grant from Purdue University to Fairfield University in the amount of $58,089, titled “IntelEUI: Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality to Enhance Workforce Productivity for the Energy and Utilities Industry.” This project will integrate cutting-edge technologies in framework design and development, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Extended Reality (XR), to improve workforce productivity. l F

Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead Delivers 2023 MLK Jr. Convocation Lecture

Fairfield University hosted award-winning speaker Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead, PhD, to deliver the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 9. The theme for the University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance was “Social Justice Now.”

Dr. Whitehead is an associate professor of communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland, and the founding director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice. She hosts the awardwinning radio show “Today

with Dr. Kaye” on WEAA, 88.9 FM, and is the recent recipient of the Vernon Jarrett Medal for Journalistic Excellence for her outstanding reporting on the impact that racial reckoning has had in helping to close the social/racial wealth gap for Black people in America.

Her scholarship examines the ways race, class, and gender coalesce in American classrooms and political and social environments. Dr. Whitehead’s scholarship in activism, race, and African American history, and her work in journalism have garnered national attention and awards. l F

Dolan Grad Programs Globally Ranked Among Top 25 Best Value for Money

Fairfield Dolan was recently included in the 2023 QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) specialized master’s rankings for Best Value for Money. A first for the Dolan School, QS ranked Fairfield’s MS in Business Analytics program #22 Best Value for Money in the world, #17 Best Value for Money in the U.S., and #49 in the U.S. overall. Dolan’s MS in Management program ranked #17 Best Value for Money in the world, #10 Best Value for Money in the U.S., and #22 in the U.S. overall.

Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of analytics and insights into global higher education. Inaugurated in 2004, the QS World University

Rankings portfolio is considered the most popular source for comparative data about university performance globally.

According to QS, the business master’s rankings highlight the best graduate master’s programs in the world. Data was collected using three surveys including

the QS Global Employer Survey, the QS Global Academic Survey, and a survey completed by the institution. Schools were ranked on five key indicators including employability, alumni outcomes, return on investment, thought leadership, and faculty diversity.

Karsonya Wise Whitehead, PhD

Fairfield Dolan’s MS in Business Analytics and MS in Management programs were ranked at #22 and #17 for Best Value for Money, in QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Business Master’s Rankings 2023.

Fairfield University Tops Niche’s 2023 Best Colleges Rankings

Fairfield University placed in the top 15 percent of more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the Best Colleges in America ranking, and in the top 15 percent of Top Private Universities in America. Fairfield was also ranked in the top 10 percent of Best Value Colleges in America, and Best College Campuses in America.

In Niche’s review of Best

Catholic Colleges, Fairfield earned high marks among the top 10 percent, placing No. 13 out of 166 schools.

Additionally, on the list of Best Colleges for Nursing in America, Fairfield was ranked No. 29 out of 762 (in the top 5 percent), and in the top 5 percent of Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in America, at No. 46 out of 829. l F

FAIRFIELD DOLAN WELCOMES CONLISK SCHOLAR MÉABH HARTNEY

After graduating from Ireland’s University of Limerick last May, Méabh Hartney intended to use her dual undergraduate degree in law and accounting to pursue a career at an accounting firm. Then came the letter that changed those plans: Hartney found out in June that she had been chosen as the next Conlisk Scholar, enabling her to enroll in a graduate program at Fairfield Dolan.

The prestigious Rev. John M. Conlisk Scholarship was created more than 20 years ago to enhance job opportunities for business students from Ireland. It provides tuition, housing, books, and medical insurance for a year of study at the Dolan School of Business. Led by Kevin Conlisk ’66, a former Board

of Trustees member, many of the founding scholarship committee members are first- or second-generation Irish Americans.

Hartney, who was recognized for her academic achievements at her alma mater, is currently enrolled in Dolan’s MS in Business Analytics program. l F

GLADYS TRIANA: A PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT 1971-2021

The Fairfield University Art Museum and the art museum of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn., presented a two-venue survey exhibition featuring artwork by Gladys Triana, from September to December of 2022.

Gladys Triana is a Cuban-born, New York-based, multidisciplinary artist whose work rebels against authoritarian rule and the oppression of hegemonies. For decades her immersive installations, sculptures, drawings, and paintings reflected two axes around which her life turned and her art was nourished: her condition of having lived since 1969 in exile from her native island, and her continuous exploration of the ontology of women.

DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL NUTRITION PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH BRIDGEPORT RESCUE MISSION

Four Fairfield Egan clinical nutrition students completed their 60-hour community nutrition practicum at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, located in Bridgeport, Conn. This non-profit organization provides vital services to men, women, and children facing hunger, homelessness, and addiction.

Clinical nutrition doctoral students Connie Cholewczynski, Presley Richardson, Kalan Dunham, and Alexandra Matthews strategized on a variety of projects and initiatives. They created a food labeling system in the food pantry, trained volunteers, and provided educational programs on healthy meal planning. They worked collaboratively with farmer’s markets to ensure community

members have access to fresh food and an enhanced awareness of the markets. Additionally, they worked with nursing students in the Know Your Numbers program, taking blood pressure, blood sugars, and other data, and assisted community members with questions. l F

2022 Conlisk Scholar Méabh Hartney

Shipwreck, 1991, Acrylic on canvas, Triptych, Oil on linen; Left: 84 x 43 inches, Center: 84 x 50 inches, Right: 84 x 36 inches. Courtesy of the artist.

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FAIRFIELD DOLAN HOSTS “ETHICS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE” WEBINAR

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more commonplace, many activists and academics have raised concerns about the ethics of this rapidly evolving technology.

Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business addressed some of these growing concerns last September, with a timely virtual panel discussion on the ethics of AI applications in commerce, society, and technology.

Hosted via Zoom, the webinar was free and open to the public and featured expert panelists Jacob Alber, principal software engineer at Microsoft Research; Iosif M. Gershteyn, CEO at ImmuVia and chairman of the Ajax Biomedical Foundation; and Philip Maymin, PhD, associate professor of analytics and director of the online Master’s in Business Analytics program at Fairfield University. At the conclusion of the hour-long discussion, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an interactive Q&A with the panelists. l F

Board of Trustees Announces New Vice Chair and Trustees

In addition to the appointment of Sheila (Kearney) Davidson ’83 to the position of Chair of the Board of Trustees of Fairfield University, the following Vice Chair and Trustee appointments were made, effective July 1, 2022:

Brian P. Hull ’80, P’13 was appointed Vice Chair. Hull is a managing director and executive vice chairman of UBS Americas. He joined UBS in 2009. Hull earned his BS in accounting from Fairfield University and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005.

Newly appointed Trustee Maureen Errity Bujno ’90 is a managing director in Deloitte LLPs Center for Board Effectiveness. As the Audit & Assurance Governance leader, Bujno leads the governance offerings for many of Deloitte’s most significant and complex audit clients. In 2022, Bujno was awarded the Fairfield University Alumni Service Award. She earned a BS in accounting from Fairfield.

Hugh Davis ’95 also joined the Board of Trustees. Davis is an entrepreneur, investor, executive, and most recently the co-founder of Reimagine Holdings Group, a portfolio of innovative, technologyenabled consumer insights and marketing services companies. Davis earned his BA in economics from Fairfield.

The year prior, the following individuals were appointed to the Fairfield University Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2021:

Jorge A. Chiluisa ’89, MBA’06, P’21,’20,’19: Chiluisa’s 30-year career in corporate finance includes 23 years with GE Capital and five years at Siena Lending Group. Chiluisa served on Fairfield University’s advisory boards for the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences. He earned his BA and MBA from Fairfield University.

Lisa M. Ferraro (Martino) ’85, P’22: Ferraro graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English from Fairfield University, and earned her JD from Duke Law School. Working primarily in private law firms, she practiced law for more than a decade as a civil litigator in state and federal court. Ferraro serves as the chairperson of the advisory council for the University’s Pre-Law Society and works as an ambassador with the Parents Leadership Council.

Dagan T. Kasavana ’99: Kasavana is founder and CEO of Phoenix Tower International,

one of the fastest-growing wireless infrastructure businesses in the world. Kasavana holds a BS in accounting from Fairfield University and lives in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife Lori and their two daughters.

Clinton A. Lewis Jr. ’88: Lewis currently serves as the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors for AgroFresh, an agribusiness leader in the post-harvest fresh fruit and produce sector. Lewis earned a BS from Fairfield University, and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Rev. Mario M. Powell, S.J.: Fr. Powell is the third president of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep. A 2003 graduate of Boston College, he entered the Society of Jesus in 2005. Fr. Powell currently serves as vice chair of the board for Xavier High School in New York, and is a member of the boards of Fordham Prep, Le Moyne College, and the Boston College Alumni Association. l F

FAIRFIELD EGAN: A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

The National League for Nursing (NLN) has selected the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies to be a NLN Center of Excellence, for the second time.

“I am beyond grateful for our Egan faculty and staff, whose expertise and hard work earned this designation,” said Egan School Dean Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN. “I’m grateful to our nursing students who embrace our Fairfield education and use it to make the world a better place, and grateful to the NLN for recognizing the Egan School with this honor.”

The Egan School was specifically selected for its

sustained efforts in “creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty.” Egan’s programs use the latest in medical equipment and feature small classroom settings to provide a practical and engaging education for students. This is achieved while offering students a strong liberal arts education paired with the theory-based knowledge and skills that will allow them to work in the expanding fields of nursing and health studies. Students grow both personally and professionally to become committed and compassionate nurses, capable of providing professional care to people in any setting. l F

Wilton Cardinal Gregory Presents Inaugural “Faith Leaders for Racial Justice”

Presented by the Office for Mission & Ministry, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C., presented the inaugural “Faith Leaders for Racial Justice” lecture Oct. 13.

Pope Francis named Archbishop Gregory one of 13 new cardinals from around the world on October 25, 2020. He serves as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, on the board of trustees for the Papal Foundation, and as the Catholic

Lecture

Wilton Cardinal Gregory

co-chair of the National Council of Synagogues Consultation for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). l F

PAINTING THE BORDER EXHIBIT AND OPENING LECTURE

Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact and the DiMennaNyselius Library presented the opening of Painting the Border: A Child’s Voice, on Thursday, September 29 in the Library Multimedia Room. During the opening celebration, Diana Barnes, PhD, senior teaching professor of Spanish at Skidmore College presented her work with migrant children at the U.S.Mexico border.

The 32 featured young artists were among the 71,000 asylum seekers stranded in Mexican border cities between January 2019 and January 2021. Mainly from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatamela, their artwork was created through a 2019 event organized by Dr. Barnes in collaboration with World Organization for Peace. The library exhibit ran through the end of the fall semester.

ALUMNUS MAKES $1M LEADERSHIP GIFT TO FAIRFIELD BELLARMINE

Alumnus Kevin Conlisk ’66 and his wife, Mary Beth, have made a $1 million leadership gift to the University’s new Fairfield Bellarmine program. Conlisk served on the University’s Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2016, and is the former principal and CFO of Alinabal Holdings, a global company with operations in Milford and Kensington, Conn. The gift will benefit the ongoing development of the Fairfield Bellarmine initiative, which includes renovation plans at Bellarmine Campus, located on the property of

the former St. Ambrose parish in Bridgeport, Conn.

Building upon Fairfield’s liberal arts tradition, Bellarmine program students will study toward a two-year associate’s degree, choosing from among four academic tracks: liberal arts, business, computer science, or pre-nursing & health studies. Graduates will be prepared to either continue their studies toward a four-year bachelor’s degree or embark on a professional career. l F

A portion of “Ciudad Juárez y El Paso” (2019), painted by Victoria de Alba.

Online Learning, Fairfield Style

What does “care for the whole student” look like online? Fairfield is showing the way.

by a U dra b o UFFard

Ro U ghly 6.3 M illion U.S. students were enrolled in at least one online college course last year, a trend that is expected to rise as the North American e-learning market reaches a predicted $76 billion by 2030. Fairfield has been taking strides to meet this growth in demand, as well as to offer learners a uniquely personal and engaging online experience

In short, the University is on the forefront of developing what cura personalis looks and feels like in an online environment.

“In the early days of online learning, the appeal to learners was convenience and accessibility, but today’s student is looking for more — more support, more interaction, and more personalization,” explained Robert Schnieders, vice president of online strategy and innovation. “Students in Fairfield’s online programs find they have the best of both worlds — the access and convenience afforded by online learning, without sacrificing the interaction and rigor that are hallmarks of a great education.”

Taught by the same expert faculty behind the University’s graduate programs, Fairfield’s online curriculum is designed to address the latest industry needs and trends. Classes are designed to be smaller in size, not only to provide students with a strong sense of community, but to guarantee individualized attention and personal connection with faculty and peers. In a landscape in which many online providers utilize a high-volume, transactional approach to instruction, Fairfield’s engaged style of learning and cutting-edge curriculum are what Schnieders believes sets the University apart.

“Our students interact extensively with faculty and fellow learners, and since many of their classmates have varied backgrounds, students find our programs have a diversity of thought and experience that allow for developing robust professional networks,” he said.

s ince 2019, F air F ield has la U nched 11 fully online master’s degree programs, two low-residency online doctoral programs, and 12 stackable online graduate certificate programs that can be completed on their own or applied toward a full master’s degree.

The University’s online enrollment has more than doubled year after year.

“Our online graduate students are a diverse group. They are career switchers, as well as those looking to move up within their chosen profession,” Schnieders said. “Many live throughout the U.S. and are drawn to the level of faculty and peer interaction that is consistent throughout our offerings.”

To ensure remote learners have the tools they need to succeed both professionally and academically, Fairfield has prioritized the development of its online support services. Students are given access to an array of intuitive digital learning platforms, 24/7 online technical support, a student success coach, mental health initiatives like teletherapy, and the University’s Career Center, which offers professional development and recruitment opportunities.

Many of the University’s current online programs have already begun receiving national recognition. In its 2023 Best Online Programs rankings, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Charles F. Dolan School of Business #75 in the country for Best Online Master’s in Business Programs, while the School of Education and Human Development’s Education Technology program ranked #124 in the Best Online Master’s in Education Programs category.

Outlined below are five of the many examples of current graduate programs making a name for Fairfield University in the online higher education landscape:

Business Analytics (MSBA)

Ranked #21 Graduate Business Analytics Program in the country by U.S. News and World Report in 2023, Fairfield Dolan’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program took gold in the 2022 Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards’ Best Online Program category for outstanding pedagogical innovation

worldwide. Available in both online and oncampus formats, the MSBA program teaches students the latest and best practices for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to drive strategic business decisions. The 36-credit program can be completed in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

Business Administration (MBA)

Ranked among the top 25 in the nation for MBA specializations by U.S. News and World Report, Fairfield Dolan’s highly customizable MBA program gives students the ultimate flexibility to design a unique course of study tailored to their professional background, learning style, and career aspirations. Available in both an online and hybrid format, the 36-credit program can be completed in one year (fulltime) or two years (part-time).

Cybersecurity (MS)

The School of Engineering’s fully online, 30-credit Master of Science in Cybersecurity program equips students with the technical competencies to identify system vulnerabilities and outsmart hackers. Students participate in real-life simulations using the University’s fully remote Cybersecurity Lab — a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility created in partnership with Pulse Secure. The program can be completed in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

Interior Design (MA)

The first and only degree of its kind in Connecticut, the College of Arts and Sciences’ fully online Master of Arts in Interior Design is a part-time, four-year program designed for educated adults seeking a career change. The program gives students the opportunity to develop a robust design portfolio while preparing them to achieve National Council of Interior Design Qualification certification. Courses are taught synchronously so that students receive project feedback in real time.

Public Health (MPH)

The newest addition to the University’s online portfolio, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies’ 45-credit Master of Public Health program offers a customizable curriculum. Students participate in fieldwork experience, as well as a two-term independent research project. The program can be completed in 15 months (full-time) or 28 months (part-time). l F

To learn more about Fairfield’s online graduate programs, visit www.fairfield.edu/online.

Taught by the same expert faculty behind the University’s graduate programs, Fairfield’s online curriculum is designed to address the latest industry needs and trends.

Left: Mousumi Bose Godbole, PhD, associate professor of marketing and MBA program director at Fairfield Dolan conducts an online class.

Grand Design

d avid F rassinelli M’92 has shaped Fairfield’s North Benson campus. Now he is transforming a church built by his grandfather to create Bellarmine Campus.

by J eannine ( c arolan ) g ra F ’87

In 1939, local b ridgeport , Conn., newspapers announced the opening of a new church, “on the brow of Boston Ave., one of the choicest locations in the city.” Built by E&F Construction, founded by Italian immigrants Philip Epifano and Ferdinand Frassinelli, the St. Ambrose Catholic church and rectory were described as “designed in the Lombard style, taken from several of the prominent medieval cathedrals in Northern Italy.”

When the parish closed in 2012, St. Ambrose’s distinctive buildings fell into disuse.

Now, a decade later, the property is undergoing a renovation and will re-open its doors in fall 2023 as Bellarmine Campus, home of the University’s new two-year Fairfield Bellarmine associate’s degree program, offering educational access to underserved students in the Greater Bridgeport area.

Leading the transformation of Bellarmine Campus is the grandson of one of St. Ambrose parish’s original builders: David Frassinelli M’92, Fairfield University’s vice president of facilities, campus and auxiliary services.

“We are making this property useful again,” Frassinelli said, while noting the challenges of a modernization project of this scale. “The buildings have been sitting vacant, and we are giving them a new purpose.”

s ince J oining the U niversity administration in 2008, Frassinelli has overseen the design and construction of every building and renovation project on the North Benson campus with one goal in mind: to build world-class facilities for the academic and personal growth of Fairfield’s students.

“In the past 15 years,” he noted recently, “I’ve added 35 percent to the total square footage of buildings on this campus.”

How much actual footage does that translate to? At 85,000 square feet, the brand-new Leo D. Mahoney Arena (2022) is Frassinelli’s largest – and newest – showstopper on campus, followed by the 80,500-square foot Charles F. Dolan School of Business (2019) and the 70,000-square foot Marion Peckham Eagan School of Nursing and Health Studies (2017).

Factor in every new residence hall and townhouse unit, the Tully Dining Commons, the Kelley Parking Garage, and the 3,500-capacity Rafferty Stadium, and a reasonable estimate is that he has managed the construction of nearly three-quarters of a million square feet of new space at Fairfield.

Frassinelli grew U p in the black rock section of Bridgeport. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth, a master’s degree in finance from Fairfield, and a certificate in construction management from Stanford. His work experience began at E&F Construction and continued at Gilbane Building Company.

As a project manager at Gilbane in the early 2000s, he oversaw the Arrupe Hall addition to Fairfield Prep, which connects Prep’s two original buildings, Xavier Hall and Berchman’s Hall, both constructed in 1947 by his grandfather. He also worked on the renovation of Fairfield’s Nyselius library, originally built by E&F in 1968, after his father, Fred, had taken over the family business.

These multigenerational family construction collaborations continued when he was hired by Fairfield. In fact, more than half of Fairfield’s earliest buildings were built by E&F Construction between the 1940s and early ’70s — including Alumni Hall, the original Campus Center, the first Quad residence halls, and Dolan Hall, where the facilities management offices are located. In the past decade and a half, Frassinelli has maintained, renovated, and modernized them all.

on a recent M orning in his dolan hall office, Frassinelli opened a 100-year-old E&F Construction scrapbook filled with yellowed newspaper clippings from the 1920s and ’30s, and shared the story of his grandfather, Ferdinand.

“[He] was an orphan, and there was a local priest in his village in Italy who took an interest in him,” Frassinelli said. “After working all day as a stonemason, he would visit the priest, who taught him how to write and do math.”

A skilled craftsman, Ferdinand later immigrated to America, settled in Bridgeport, and co-founded E&F with his friend Philip Epifano in 1922. While making a new life for himself, the young entrepreneur never forgot the kindness of the priest who’d instructed him. Once E&F was up and running, Ferdinand began sending money back to the Italian village.

Leading the transformation of Bellarmine Campus is the grandson of one of St. Ambrose parish’s original builders: David Frassinelli M’92, Fairfield University’s vice president of facilities, campus and auxiliary services.

Left: David Frassinelli stands outside of Fairfield Prep’s Xavier Hall, built by his grandfather’s company, E&F Construction, in 1947.

Above: A photograph of the interior of St. Ambrose Church as it looked in 1939, designed by Brooklyn architect Anthony J. DePace.

MODERNIZATION

Since joining the University administration in 2008, David Frassinelli has overseen the modernization of Fairfield’s campus with innovative design, technology upgrades, and a commitment to sustainability. A sampling of projects over the past 15 years:

WELCOMING/LEARNING:

• Early Learning Center (Renovation: 2008)

• Bellarmine Galleries of the Fairfield University Art Museum (New: 2010)

• Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Welcome Center & Parking Garage (Renovation/New: 2017)

• Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies (New: 2017)

• Charles F. Dolan School of Business (New: 2019)

• College of Arts & Sciences Media Center (Renovation: 2020)

• School of Engineering Innovation Annex (Renovation: 2021)

• Bellarmine Campus (Renovation: Projected Fall 2023)

COMMUNITY LIVING:

• St. Ignatius Hall – Jesuit Community Center (New: 2009)

• Faber Hall (Renovated: 2009)

• Meditz Hall (New: 2011)

• 47 Mahan Road (New: 2011)

• 70 McCormick (New: 2011)

• Dolan Hall (Renovated: 2011)

• 42 Langguth Hall (New: 2018)

• Barnyard Manor Townhouses (New: 2019)

• Townhouse Complex (Additional Units: 2022)

• Regis West (New: Projected Fall 2023)

DINING/ATHLETICS/WELLNESS:

• Leslie C. Quick Recreation Complex (Renovation/Addition: 2016)

• Rafferty Stadium (New: 2015)

• Tully Dining Commons (Renovation/Addition: 2017)

• Student Wellness Center (New: 2020)

• Leo D. Mahoney Arena (New: 2022)

Eventually, Frassinelli noted, “a church was built in my grandfather’s hometown from the donations he’d sent over.”

Gingerly turning the fragile pages of the antique E&F scrapbook, Frassinelli pointed out the many churches, schools, hospitals, and municipal buildings throughout the Greater Bridgeport area that his grandfather built.

“Of course, the construction business in those days was something very different than it is today,” he said. “Whereas a modern construction company manages the project but

SUSTAINABILITY

A modern campus isn’t only about innovation and technology, it’s about sustainability. As chair of Fairfield’s Campus Sustainability Committee, David Frassinelli is committed to environmentally responsible building practices and energy resources.

Whenever possible, Fairfield’s facilities are constructed using renewable building materials with low-carbon footprints. The North Benson campus is equipped with energy-efficient lighting, waterconserving bathroom fixtures, and 100-percent green cleaning products. Several buildings boast green screens and vegetative roofs, the nursing school features passive solar components, and the on-campus Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant produces nearly 95 percent of the University’s electricity and up to two-thirds of the school’s hot water heating and cooling supply.

Over the years, this commitment to sustainability has earned the University high marks from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the EPA’s Energy Star combined heat and power award; and even a place on the Sierra Club’s list of “cool schools” when it comes to green efforts.

subcontracts the labor, back then, my grandfather’s company did it all — they dug the hole, made the concrete, laid the brick, and did the carpentry. In 1930, they had a workforce of more than 1,000 people.”

Given the volume of projects built by E&F Construction, Frassinelli can be forgiven for not realizing at first that St. Ambrose Church and rectory in Bridgeport was built by his grandfather.

“When I started working on plans for St. Ambrose,” he admitted, “I honestly didn’t know he had built it.”

The significance of the St. Ambrose property’s history is not lost on Frassinelli. “Think about it,” he said, “there was a priest who invested in and educated my grandfather, which enabled him to come and build these church buildings, and now we are paying it forward with our investment to turn St. Ambrose into a place where people can make a new start and get an education.”

“There was a priest who invested in and educated my grandfather, which enabled him to come and build these church buildings, and now we are paying it forward with our investment to turn St. Ambrose into a place where people can make a new start and get an education.”

d avid F rassinelli

Left: Frassinelli’s campus building projects include the Charles F. Dolan School of Business (top), Langguth Hall (center), and the Leo D. Mahoney Arena (bottom).

Above: A 1939 front-page story in the Bridgeport Post shares news of the construction of St. Ambrose Church and rectory.

@fairfieldu

Fairfield’s social media accounts are growing fast and recruiting students.

by n icolette M assaro

Now that waking up each day and ricocheting between social media platforms is as commonplace as a morning cup of coffee, it’s no wonder the social media ecosystem has become a critical environment for universities as they present themselves to prospective students, many of whom live morning, noon, and night in this digital space.

According to a recent finding by the Pew Research Center, around seven in ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, and it is a communication technology that has gained popularity rather quickly. In 2005, just five percent of Americans used social media; today more than 72 percent of Americans of all ages are logging on to at least one social media network.

The average social media user spends roughly two hours every day scrolling, posting, exchanging media, and connecting with friends, family, colleagues — even strangers — on their preferred platforms. It is estimated that millennials spend 3.8 hours on social media each day, while Gen Z logs 4.5 hours a day; both demographics devote a large portion of their time to creating and consuming content online.

What that has meant for Fairfield in recent years is the continued development of a suite of channels designed to engage with that huge audience, bringing the University’s message to the world. Short videos, alumni stories, student interviews, real-time news, and general snippets of academic and student life are continually curated and shared through Fairfield’s social media platforms. The channels — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok — are used to capture cherished moments, to mark special milestones in the University’s history, and to inspire followers to become lifelong brand advocates.

above : Classmates from the Class of 2022 pose for a beachside photo-op on Lantern Point. Their photo was featured on @fairfieldu channels for #NationalSelfieDay on June 21, 2022. left: Outside the Barone Campus Center, students celebrated First Fairfield Friday on Sept. 9, 2022, posing with Fairfield-branded props and stickers in a photo booth equipped with printing and digitalsharing capabilities.

According to Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Corry Unis, the social media landscape is particularly important when it comes to engaging with prospective students.

“Our surveys of admitted students leave no doubt that social media plays an important role in the college search and selection process. We hear that our students want to get an authentic understanding of the Fairfield community, and the most accessible channels for prospective students to use are on social media,” he said.

Want to be featured on our channels?

1. Email photos and stories to social@fairfield.edu

2. Tag @fairfieldu

3. Tag #fairfieldu

Senior Admission fellow Angie Dortenzio ’23 cited three students to illustrate the importance of social media in attracting applicants and encouraging them to enroll — one from New York, one from New Jersey, and one from Vietnam. These three applicants appeared to have very little in common. Their connection? Each of them said their first introduction to Fairfield University was through Instagram.

Since Fairfield launched the first of its flagship social media accounts (@fairfieldu) with Twitter in 2008, the University has accumulated a combined loyal following of more than 124,700 people on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter. Twenty-seven thousand of those are new followers who’ve joined since 2020, marking a period of explosive three-year growth, both institutionally and online.

Most of that growth came sharply in the past year, with Fairfield follower counts from 2021 to 2022 charted at a 72 percent increase cumulatively across all platforms, making it the single-largest year of growth on social in more than 10 years.

These 124,700 followers are students, parents, alumni, community members, and friends of Stag Country who yearn to stay in touch with Fairfield from various corners of the world. The spike in growth, particularly in the last two years, indicates that the University’s audience is invested in the Fairfield brand now more than ever.

Moreover, Fairfield is commanding the attention of those outside its first-degree network and receiving national and global recognition. Every time @fairfieldu posts on Instagram, the individual post reaches tens of thousands of people, and an average

of 1,900 of them fall into the non-follower category, meaning that nearly 2,000 people who have no traceable connection to Fairfield are getting the message.

Often, growth is achieved through big stories and striking images. Top posts about trending topics — ones more inclined to ‘go viral’— have high-reach potential and increase viewership by new people. (See examples in sidebar on right.)

The University has found that, in general, posts emphasizing the beauty and vitality of campus have the best reach. In 2022, photos of Bellarmine Hall, the Leo D. Mahoney Arena, the Quad, and other quintessential campus locations stopped Instagram scrollers in their tracks — enough to convince them to follow Fairfield’s account instantly. In that year, @fairfieldu gained 500+ new Instagram followers this way — directly from campus photos — equating to 12 percent of the University’s total growth on the platform in 2022.

To capture the attention of high school students in their mid- to late-teens, TikTok — a relative newcomer in the social space — plays an important role in painting a vivid picture of Fairfield online. Launched in 2016,

TikTok has evolved to currently host almost 850 million global users. The company’s higher education team recently reported that one in four students visits a university’s TikTok account first to learn about an institution and gain insight directly from students about what their college is like.

Fairfield launched its TikTok account in 2020, and now has just over 3,300 followers. The bulk of @fairfieldu TikTok content produced by the University nods to academics or extracurricular activities, addresses frequently asked questions, or aims to make the audience aware of unique opportunities available to admitted students. In many cases, the University hands the channel over to current students to help produce content under guidance.

The importance of social media connectivity doesn’t just apply to the

new student funnel, but extends beyond, to alumni, for years after graduation. As Fairfield’s fastest-growing platform, the University’s LinkedIn account is home to 56,000 followers — 47,500 of whom are alumni working in education, healthcare, sales, finance, human resources, engineering, marketing, and other leading industries — in hundreds of cities across the globe.

Rather than treating social media as a one-way megaphone, using social as a communication tool provides daily opportunities to create shareable content that encourages people to respond, start a conversation, ask questions, and share their own experiences. For Fairfield specifically, social has become the place where alumni stories live on and inspire the next generation of Stags. l F

PLAY BALL

UNDER HEAD COACH BILL CURRIER, STAGS BASEBALL HAS BECOME A NATIONAL FORCE.

by J ohn t orsiello

On a warm spring afternoon, you may see several hundred students behind the outfield fence at the Alumni Baseball Diamond. They are there to watch their beloved Stags, who have, as they say, been trending in popularity in recent years.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Bill Currier, Fairfield’s baseball team has been enjoying life in rarified air.

Two years ago, the Stags were ranked 23rd in the nation by Baseball America, a feat never before accomplished by a Fairfield team. They went on to win a coveted at-large bid to the NCAA (College World Series) playoffs and won two games, against Southern University of Louisiana and powerhouse Arizona State in the regional, before being eliminated by Super Regional victors, the Texas Longhorns.

Fairfield baseball proved it can be a national force; now fans and students are really paying attention, eager to see what the Stags will do in 2023.

left: Infielder Griffin Watson ’22 in a focused stance at home plate, ready to take on any pitch that comes his way.

“It’s really great to see the students at our games,” said post-grad pitcher Jake Noviello ’23, who is serving a third year as captain for the team this spring. His season last year was highlighted by hurling the program’s firstever perfect game in a seven-inning victory over Saint Peter’s. “They do a callout to the players on the field, and it definitely makes the games more exciting and fires us up.”

Paul Schlickmann, vice president for athletics, credits Coach Currier with leading the baseball program to unprecedented levels of consistent competitive success.

“The winning seasons, championships, and NCAA appearances are testament to that,” said Schlickmann. Coach Currier has instilled high expectations for work ethic, accountability, and continued player development — with a relentless team-first approach.”

Schlickmann said the coach and his staff recruit and mentor young men of character, and demand that they respect the game and conduct themselves as good campus citizens. “Coach Currier embraces our core values and has been a vital sounding board for me as we continue to set and reset our department bar in the quest for comprehensive excellence.”

Coach Currier has been on the bench for 11 seasons heading into this year. Prior to his arrival, the Stags had not won more than 26 games in a season.

But during Currier’s tenure, the Stags have won at least 27 games eight times, including a program record of 39 wins in that magical 2021 season when the coach guided the Stags to the best regular season winning percentage in NCAA Division I history at .971, with a 33-1 season record. The Stags secured the number one spot in New England in the final 2021 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) poll, marking the first time in program history they were voted the top team in New England. After securing the NCAA Tournament at-large bid, they clinched a spot in the Austin (Texas) Regional Finals against Texas.

That’s pretty heady stuff. The Stags also set a MAAC conference record with 28 straight wins to open up their season that year, and finished 39-5. Last year, Fairfield posted a 31-21 mark.

The team has been a beast during recent MAAC regular seasons, securing the top seed in the MAAC Tournament and winning MAAC regular season championships in

2016, 2017, 2021, and 2022. The 2016 Stags were the first MAAC team to ever attain an NCAA Regional bid by winning the MAAC Championship.

The growth of the baseball program on the field and off has been aided immensely by the Friends of Fairfield Baseball and the school’s administration. Recent additions to the baseball complex include an indoor batting facility and an enhanced and modernized weight room. Alumni Baseball Diamond received new seating and a press box in 2016.

“The new additions to our facilities give a player all the advantages he could want,” said Coach Currier. Combined with the regional and, indeed, national attention the team has received, they send a strong message to student-athletes considering college, as well as those looking to transfer from another university or college.

Currier’s arrival on campus was serendipitous for Fairfield. He had been a longtime coach of the University of Vermont’s baseball team but became available when Vermont ended its baseball program. (He spent a year as a volunteer coach at the University of Tennessee before arriving in Connecticut.)

“When I was hired at Fairfield,” he said, “I knew the school would be attractive

above : Head Coach Currier keeps a watchful eye on the field as he signals to his players.

right from top: Jake Noviello ’22 brings his A-game to the mound; excitement fills the air as the Stags celebrate a thrilling walk-off win.

“COACH CURRIER HAS INSTILLED HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR WORK ETHIC, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CONTINUED PLAYER DEVELOPMENT — WITH A RELENTLESS TEAM-FIRST APPROACH.”

to student-athletes. Fairfield now checks all the boxes when it comes to having the infrastructure in place. It has a high level of academics and that is crucial. Plus we’ve built up a trust and increased contact with AAU coaches and other influencers that guide a student’s career before they go to college.”

Coach Currier is assisted by Brian Fay, David Swanson, Dan Celluci, and Mike Caruso.

With success comes higher expectations. Currier says he and his coaching staff and players don’t shy away from the glare of the spotlight. “The goals each season are to win the conference and go to the regionals. Our 2021 season really put us on the map and that is something we want to have happen every year. We have toughened up our schedule as well, knowing that good competition will make us better by the end of the season.”

The Stags started their spring 2023 pre-conference play against Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by

games against Middle Tennessee, George Washington, William & Mary, and Fordham, among others.

Third-year captain Noviello said, “Two years ago, being ranked and winning our first 28 games got us into the national spotlight and was very cool. We should be really good this year; we had a great fall and we have a solid lineup.”

As with all student-athletes at Fairfield, baseball team members have a strong sense of community service. “We partner with an organization to provide meals for families in need,” said Coach Currier. “It’s two weekends a year and the entire team takes part. We have great kids who are wellrounded and socially conscious.”

Superior coaching, talented players, and support from the highest levels — as well as an energetic student fan base — are a formula that will likely produce continued success on the diamond. l F

Studies show that by the year 2100, in a high greenhouse gas emission scenario, the sea level is expected to rise more than three feet, and extreme weather events are projected to occur more frequently.

Those in coastal areas will be threatened with flooding, beach erosion, and changes in ecosystems. What will they lose? How will people adapt? How will economically strained coastal communities find the resources they need to survive?

Professor of economics William Fernando Vásquez Mazariegos, PhD, has charted a course to find potential solutions in his project, “In Deep Waters: Perceptions, Intentions, and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise and Related Impacts,” which he conducted as a recipient of the Wall Award, through the University’s Robert E. Wall Faculty Award Program.

A giant tortoise swims offshore near the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing, the region will be highly impacted by climate change.

ECONOMICS PROFESSOR WILLIAM

FERNANDO VÁSQUEZ MAZARIEGOS, PHD, RECIPIENT OF THE 2021-22 WALL AWARD, PRESENTS SOLUTIONS TO THE IMPACT OF RISING SEA LEVELS.

Specializing in the sustainable development of Latin America, Dr. Vásquez’s research has taken him across the globe and most recently, for this Sea Level Rise (SLR) project, to meet the people of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Andres Island, Colombia; and the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador.

“When you are talking about economics,” Dr. Vásquez said in his public Wall Award Lecture this past November, his wide, easy smile on display, “you are always talking about people.”

Dr. Vásquez explained that sea level rise is “a more complex hazard than other natural disasters. It is not easy for families to decide on measures to adapt to SLR due to the uncertainty of the timing, scope, and intensity of future SLR effects. In this context of uncertainty, it is crucial to improve our understanding of how households perceive SLR and how they plan to respond to it.”

Dr. Vásquez, a voluble man with a shock of

dark curls, begins each study on the ground by collecting qualitative data. Which, for him and his research team, means talking. Lots of talking. It starts with his taxi driver from the airport and includes everyone from tourists, to shop owners, to public officials. Scores of people each day.

“One of the things that I want to do in my research,” Dr. Vásquez said, “is to show the preferences people have for better policies, better services, and proactive measures against climate change.”

Dr. Vásquez, whose academic credentials include four master’s degrees and a PhD in economics from the University of New Mexico, asks households and individuals questions: about their experiences with water quality, about potential interruptions to their water services, about the effects of tourism on their communities, about whether they’d be willing to pay to protect their homes or engage in volunteer efforts. He’s found that

far left: A young sea lion in La Loberia beach, San Cristóbal Island, the easternmost island in the Galápagos archipelago.

left: A water taxi in the town of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, used for inter-island travel. Dr. Vásquez and his team are currently studying preferences of water taxi owners for transitioning to electric engines, to facilitate the Galapagos Islands’ aim to decarbonize the archipelago by 2030

“people are willing to talk” and he uses their comments to design more official instruments for study.

“People want changes. In the political arena, they want to tackle these problems,” he said. “But, they don’t trust the authorities and I think that that is the main problem. I think that our social contract is broken.”

Originally from southern Guatemala near the Pacific coast, Dr. Vásquez grew up in a sugarcane farming community where the cane reeds were burned each harvest then slashed for the next. His family was middle-income and still Dr. Vásquez remembers regular water shortages. As a boy playing basketball with his friends, he would suck an empty spigot for any drop of drink,

Dr. Vásquez teaching “World Economic Development” at the Dolan School.

and his family would shower in rainwater that fell from gutters.

In his Wall Award research, Dr. Vásquez uncovered similar water inequities, the worst being in San Andres, Colombia, where water is consistently piped to tourists, but is only available to locals on a monthly basis or less. When sea levels rise over the next few decades and saltwater infiltrates fresh water resources, communities like San Andres will be decimated.

The second stage of Dr. Vásquez’s research — which is supported by the work and expertise of more than 15 interdisciplinary researchers around the world — utilizes other measures of mining and recording majority preferences for mitigating climate change.

Dr. Vásquez and his team offer “choice experiments,” or more formal surveys that give distinct options to respondents, in which they might express their preferences for how they would take on the climate change challenge.

All of this to assess the public’s willingness to pay for services that might alleviate the effects of climate change on their communities and to determine the services that would elicit broad support.

While everyone concedes that there needs to be large-scale, global, international efforts to mitigate climate change, Dr. Vásquez stresses that there’s much that can be done on the local level.

“In my opinion, mitigation and adaptation to climate change needs both approaches, bottom-up and top-down. My research intends to learn what locals are willing to do, pay for, give to, in order to address different events related to climate change and sea level rise.”

For instance, in Brazil, Dr. Vásquez’ research showed that households in the state of Rio de Janeiro are not willing to pay additional taxes to cope with sea level rise, presumably because perceived corruption of the government. Alternatively, his project detailed that people are willing to give monetary donations and volunteer time to NGOs that aim to raise awareness and implement projects to adapt to sea level rise.

above : Dr. Vásquez presenting his Wall Award lecture this past fall.

right from top: Aerial view of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos; and an iguana suns itself on the rocky shore of the Galapagos.

In the Galápagos, one of the premiere eco-tourism destinations in the world, where leathery iguanas sprawl on street corners, and where Dr. Vásquez has found himself “face-to-face with a giant tortoise,” his research was focused on boat owners and tourists.

Dr. Vásquez and his research team spoke to hundreds of people about the potential switch from fossil-fueled boats to electric ones, as a way to assess the economic viability of electric aquatic vehicles in that area. His formal survey showed that the tourists he questioned were actually willing to pay double the asking fee to ride in an electric boat, because of the lessened environmental implications.

ROBERT E. WALL FACULTY AWARD PROGRAM

THE ROBERT E. WALL FACULTY AWARD Program, initiated during spring 1994, fosters faculty scholarly research or artistic creativity at Fairfield and celebrates the outcome of these efforts within the University community. All tenured faculty are invited to submit a research proposal for consideration by the provost, the academic deans, and the chair of the faculty research committee. The awardee is granted a semester-long sabbatical to pursue their research project.

“Unique to Fairfield, the Wall Award has allowed nearly 30 expert faculty members to pursue important research from their diverse fields,” said Walter Rankin, PhD, vice provost for graduate, continuing, and professional studies. “The potential impact of this research to improve the lives of those in marginalized communities reflects Fairfield’s mission as well as Professor Vásquez’s deep academic expertise.” l F

Once his data is gathered, Dr. Vásquez ties it into economic feasibility proposals and presents it to local elected officials, paving the way to a plan for the future of these coastal communities.

“We are already speaking with cooperatives in the Galápagos to see what they think about it and how [electric boats] might effect green mobility on the islands,” Dr. Vásquez said, holding a cup of black Guatemalan coffee, sitting at his desk in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. “This is one of those examples in which we can experience human beings and nature living together. If we care more about our world, beyond just ourselves, it humbles us. We are all just part of something greater.” l F

“THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES IN WHICH WE CAN EXPERIENCE HUMAN BEINGS AND NATURE LIVING TOGETHER.

IF WE CARE MORE ABOUT OUR WORLD, BEYOND JUST OURSELVES, IT HUMBLES US. WE ARE ALL JUST PART OF SOMETHING GREATER.”

— w illia M F ernando

azariegos , p

AlumniNOTES

1960

’62 | Robert Larson continues to sculpt every day and welcomes guests to his 115-acre Shoal Sanctuary Nature Preserve in the Florida panhandle, with more than seven miles of hiking and sculpture trails, open to the public by reservation.

’69 | Peter Hearn retired in June from his position as the executive director of Connecticut’s Council on Environmental Quality for which he believes his politics major — and many, many term papers — provided more than adequate preparation.

1970

’79 | Mike Timoney has written and directed the short film Hope, which has been accepted into a number of 2023 film festivals.

1980

’84 | Ronald Roman’s book Of Ashes and Dust was published by Addison & Highsmith Publishers. Roman is a retired associate professor of English, ESL, and Humanities at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGCAsia). He has written extensive travel, academic, and political articles for regional and national publications. Currently, he resides in South Korea, where he writes and has acted in numerous Korean TV dramas and motion pictures. Of Ashes and Dust is his debut novel.

StagMates aU ra cristina ag U delo rivera ’18 and k’ron si MM ons ’18 tied the knot on Aug. 2, 2022.

Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

’87 | Amani (Hefzallah) Zabski proudly published a children’s book, Always My Baby, based on conversations with her father, retired Fairfield University Professor Ibrahim Hefzallah, PhD. She was able to give the book to him on his 92nd birthday!

1990

’91 | Christian Conte was recently promoted to SVP, creative services, and became a new partner at Dalton, an international awardwinning brand and communications agency operating in Atlanta, Ga., Jacksonville, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn.

’94 | Vincent Pace, an assistant general counsel with Eversource Energy, was featured in the Summer 2022 edition of the legal magazine Vanguard, which described his team’s work implementing state energy policies and his efforts to help train the next generation of energy attorneys at UConn Law School. The article is available at: vanguardlawmag.com.

Brendan Walsh has started physical therapy school at Creighton University, and is part of the class of 2025 DPT.

’96 | Kevin Ahern was hired to direct the legal operations at the Connecticut Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services after 15 years in law enforcement with the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission.

’04 | Christopher DeWitt has joined Schaeffler Aerospace as the new director of business development and strategy, effective July 2022. Schaeffler manufactures highprecision components and systems for aerospace, powertrain, and chassis applications, as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for industrial applications.

’06 | Damien DiGiovanni, a Morgan, Brown & Joy attorney, was recognized by 2022 Massachusetts Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

’08 | Jennifer Ioli Connelly, an attorney at Sherin and Lodgen in Boston, Mass., was named a 2022 Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Jake Pelletier earned an invitation to the Schneider Electric President’s Club as the top performing sales manager in the West. Jake and his wife Danielle reside in Denver, Colo., along with their rescue pup, Carl.

’09 | Ryan Callahan, VP of marketing at RallyPoint, graduated from George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. Callahan joined a group of 50 rising leaders — both veterans and non-veterans — from a wide range of sectors who are working to improve veteran outcomes. The Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program is aimed at individuals serving our nation’s veterans who are motivated to broaden their skillsets, knowledge, and influence across the country.

c olleen (o’ d onnell) thorbU rn ’97

From English Major to Equity Sales

by J ohn t orsiello

While an U ndergraduate student at Fairfield, Colleen (O’Donnell)

Thorburn ’97, now head of international equity sales at Deutsche Bank (DB), had intentions of going on to law school. That changed quickly when, as a senior, she witnessed friends accepting jobs on Wall Street. “I was drawn to the idea of a couple of years of hands-on client-facing work experience where I could make an immediate impact. With the help of the Career Center, I narrowed down my search to New Yorkbased investment banks and accepted a position as a desk assistant on the institutional European equity sales desk at NatWest.”

She quickly “fell in love” with dealing with international markets and “thrived in a fast-paced environment where I continued to learn something new each day,” she

selling and monetizing DB’s international equity, thematic and macro research product, and capital markets to U.S.based institutional investor clients (hedge funds, asset managers, etc). In addition to being a salesperson, she is “highly focused” on the bank’s diversity efforts, co-leads a recruiting committee for DB’s Women on Wall Street organization, and sits on the DB Americas ESG (environmental, social, governance) Council.

Thorburn calls herself a “people person.” “I absolutely love engaging and building relationships with my clients, who are incredibly smart, challenge-seeking, and ambitious individuals,” she said. “Some of my deepest client relationships are with those that I have known for well over a decade, and it has been exciting to grow with them into more senior roles over the years. I also love utilizing my entrepreneurial spirit to drive revenue growth in my business.”

develop my communication skills. As a stockbroker, I benefited from the ability to quickly read a detailed research report and then summarize it clearly and persuasively to a client with a limited amount of bandwidth. My English degree allowed me to feel confident in my reading and comprehension skills, and allowed me to tackle complex information about the markets, economy, and geopolitics.”

said. “While I did not end up attending law school, I have never looked back on my decision to go to Wall Street and have thoroughly enjoyed every step of the way that got me to my current role.”

Thorburn has spent the bulk of her 25-year career at Deutsche Bank, based in New York City. Her responsibilities include

Fairfield University, Thorburn said, taught her to be a person for others, which has allowed her to put the needs of her clients first, and to be a strong teammate with colleagues as a leader, a mentor, and a peer. “I learned that integrity, respect, and the ability to listen to critical factors will help me achieve personal and professional success. Fairfield’s culture and investment in its students taught me that being kind, having a strong work ethic, and giving back to the community are equally — if not more — important than my degree. I hold myself to a very high standard that Fairfield, along with my parents, helped instill in me.”

Thorburn majored in English and minored in economics — not the kind of education one would think might lead a student directly to Wall Street. But Thorburn said her Fairfield experience has helped her immensely at Deutsche Bank.

“Being an English major helped me

To further her education after high school, Thorburn wanted a college with a strong Jesuit liberal arts education. When she first visited the Fairfield campus, she knew she had the right place. “I felt safe, at home, and excited to embark on my college career on campus and in Fairfield. I loved the proximity to the beach, to New York City, and to my hometown in New Jersey.”

Thorburn has “too many fond memories” of Fairfield to list. “The most special things about Fairfield were the friendships I made during my four years there. The Fairfield network is like no other and when I see friends or meet fellow alumni from Fairfield, we have an instant connection and so many wonderful, shared experiences.”

Thorburn met her husband, Rob (also a member of the Class of ’97), at Fairfield. They have two sons: Harrison (14) and Brennan (12), and enjoy traveling as a family and spending time at the New Jersey shore, when not on the sidelines of the boys’ sporting events. The family lives in Westfield, New Jersey. l F

The Thorburn Family (l-r): Colleen ’97, Brennan, Harrison, and Rob ’97.

“Fairfield’s culture and investment in its students taught me that being kind, having a strong work ethic, and giving back to the community are equally — if not more — important than my degree.”

AlumniNOTES

Allison “Allie” Ford ’13 and Eric Thuotte — Sept. 3, 2022.

’15 | Rick Dowling earned his second consecutive Connecticut MidAmateur title at the Country Club of New Canaan in August 2022. The Connecticut Mid-Amateur is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. This year’s tournament featured a field of 312 international competitors and Dowling was honored to have three former Fairfield teammates there for support.

’17 | Colleen Fitzgerald, a senior public relations associate at Benchmark Strategies, was named to The Irish Echo newspaper’s 16th annual “Top 40 Under 40” for 2023, spotlighting the up-and-coming leaders of Irish America from around the nation who work in a variety of fields and occupations.

Bria Degirmencioglu ’14 and Michael Raymond ’14 — May 20, 2022.

Allison (Romeo) and Stephen Boundy ’14 — March 26, 2022.

Megan Forbes ’14 Esq. and Robert Goger ’14 — Nov. 5, 2022.

Victoria “Tori” Ready ’14 and William D’Arbanville — Oct. 29, 2022.

Elizabeth Sauvigne ’14 and Steven Liguori ’09 — Aug. 14, 2021.

Allison Sheridan ’14 and Jake Shemtob ’15 — June 3, 2022.

Meaghan Winn ’14 and Liam Gearney ’14 — Oct. 1, 2022.

MaryKate Callahan ’15 and Bradley Chleboski ’14 — Oct. 8, 2022.

Niki Cohen ’15 and Salvatore “Sal” Ariganello ’15 — Sept. 24, 2022.

Margaret Mary DeMark ’15 and Andrew Mahon — Oct. 23, 2022.

d iane ( h ol M es ’10, M s ’20) and v ince p orpora ’10 are the proud parents of son, Charlie, born on June 13, 2021.

Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

’20 | Derek Conlon started a business alongside his father and sister after graduating from Fairfield. Called Anchor Works Enterprises LLC, the company offers a patented beach umbrella anchor that promotes a safer beach environment.

Marriages

Catherine Zonsky ’96 and Michael Connolly — April 30, 2022.

Nicole Fogliano ’12, MA’19 and Misha Kulin — Oct. 22, 2022.

Mikaela Tierney ’12 and Christopher Nigro — Sept. 16, 2022.

Kaitlyn Pasco and Richard Wolf ’12 — June 24, 2022.

Jessica Estrada ’15 and Gabe Solorzano — June 18, 2022.

Mackenzie Galvin ’15 and Carl Russo Jr. ’15 — Oct. 1, 2022.

Victoria Mule ’15 and Brendan Mulholland ’15 — Dec. 10, 2022.

Monica Sciacca ’16 and Kerri McPhail ’16 — Oct. 1, 2022.

Christie Camarda ’16, MBA’17 and William Gribbell ’16 — Aug. 27, 2022.

Marissa Cipollone ’16, MS’17 and Joseph Black ’16 — Sept. 25, 2022.

Morgan Conlon ’16 and Mitchell (Mitch) Gagnon ’16, MS’17 — July 9, 2022.

The Importance of the Match

Find

1+1 = 2 (or even 3)!

Company matching gifts are one of the easiest ways to double or triple your impact to Fairfield University. Each year an estimated $4-7 billion dollars in company matching gifts go unclaimed.

M eaghan M ooney ’05

Helping to Bring Fairfield’s Spirit to Austin Egan

by r obert p iazzaroli

Ret U rning ho M e to Texas after graduating from Fairfield’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, Meaghan Mooney ’05 has continued to represent her fellow Stags from halfway across the country. As a new member of the Fairfield Egan Advisory Board, Mooney will play an essential role in cultivating and growing the relationship between Fairfield Egan and its new Austin, Texas branch, slated to open in May 2023.

According to Mooney, this is a great time for Fairfield to establish a presence in Austin. While there’s a nursing shortage around the country, the problem is especially magnified in the Austin area, which has been one of the fastest-growing metro regions in the country for more than a decade. The new Texas program will address the region’s need for healthcare professionals by focusing on educating second-degree students in an accelerated, 15-month nursing program.

“Austin has always been known as a college town, and it just has a certain vibe that differentiates it from the rest of Texas,” said Mooney. “It is a hub for many different arenas — music, tech, education, politics, and healthcare. With the population growth in Austin and Central Texas, there has also been growth in healthcare and the need for expanded services in the area. This has created a large opportunity for nursing professionals in the Austin metropolitan area.”

M ooney initially chose to attend Fairfield University back in 2001 because she wanted to study nursing in the Northeast, at a school with a study abroad option for nursing students. That rare combination, coupled with a cousin who had attended Fairfield, made the decision to become a Stag an easy one. “The education

I received at Egan built a solid foundation for my nursing career. I am excited to be able to give back to the school that gave so much to me,” said Mooney.

In her current professional role as a patient navigator for clinical placements at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin Hospital, Mooney acts as a liaison between insurance groups and Ascension’s staff to ensure good patient care. While her own path has been in oncology, Mooney explained that there are myriad career opportunities within the field of nursing — both in terms of specialties and types of nurses — and she’s excited for Fairfield’s Texas students to explore the field, try new experiences, and find their right fit within the profession.

Mooney brings her healthcare industry knowledge and a deep appreciation of Fairfield’s exceptional nursing reputation to her role on the Fairfield Egan Advisory Board, and has become a valuable resource in planning for a successful program launch in Austin.

Before committing to building a new nursing school in Texas, Fairfield administration and Egan Dean Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, APRN, FAAN, reached out to local alumni, including Mooney, as part of their market research into potential sites for a satellite campus. Dean Kazer has acknowledged that her former student has already been a tremendous asset by facilitating the affiliation between Fairfield and the Ascension healthcare network.

“I was able to give them a little extra insight about healthcare in the region, and I’m very happy that I was able to connect Dr. Kazer with the nursing leadership at Ascension,” said Mooney. “The Ascension healthcare organization has hospitals throughout the Austin area, as well as outpatient clinics and a mental behavioral health facility.”

i nitially interested in M aternity or pediatric nursing while a student at Fairfield, Mooney was placed in surgical clinicals and ended up in oncology units, an experience that altered the course of her career and presented new opportunities for growth.

“My career in oncology led me to become involved with a non-profit organization called Wonders and Worries,” she said. “They provide free professional support for children who have a parent experiencing serious illness. I serve on their board of directors and their development and outreach committee, as well as on their fundraising event committees.”

“I think it’s wonderful that Fairfield will have a presence here in Texas,” Mooney affirmed. “Fairfield Egan offers such a highquality healthcare education; establishing this Austin branch of the University’s nursing program is fantastic to see. To have nurses in the local area receive a Fairfield education ensures that there will be highly trained nurses entering the local workforce.” l F

“Fairfield Egan offers such a high-quality healthcare education; establishing this Austin branch of the University’s nursing program is fantastic to see.”

AlumniNOTES

Emily McCauley ’16 and Christopher Tortolani ’15 — Nov. 12, 2022.

Giana Postiglione ’16 and Alexander Cucchi ’15 — Oct. 22, 2022.

Alexandra Soltis ’17 and Brandon Cortazar ’17 — Aug. 13, 2022.

Anne Stahley ’17 and John Longo ’17 — Oct. 22, 2022.

Rachel Carlowicz ’18 and Marc Lee ’17, MFA’19 — Nov. 5, 2022.

Jennifer Egan ’18 and Nicholas DeBiase ’18, MS’19 — Sept. 17, 2022.

Grace McNulty ’18 and John Berardino — Nov. 5, 2022.

Aura Cristina Agudelo Rivera ’18 and K’Ron Simmons ’18 — Aug. 2, 2022.

Births

Ashley and Rich Juliano ’05 — daughter, Josephine Cameron, Dec. 14, 2022.

Erica (Stankard) and Brendan Colgan ’08 — son, Liam Gerard, April 28, 2022.

Tessa and Thomas Vitlo ’09 — son, Ty Ernie, Oct. 9, 2022.

Diane (Holmes ’10, MS’20) and Vince Porpora ’10 — son, Charlie, June 13, 2021.

Kristen (Cordola) and Johnny Messina ’12 — son, Johnny Messina III, Nov. 29, 2022.

Hannah (Tanguay) and Sean Dunphy ’14 — daughter, Katherine Waverly, Aug. 19, 2022.

Jamie (Hodnett) and Conor Kelly ’15 — daughter, Harper James, Dec. 16, 2022.

Rosie (Fodera ’16) and Gabriel Carino ’14, MS’15 — daughter, Viviana Belle, Dec. 2, 2022.

In Memoriam

John C. Merry Jr. ’51 –Sept. 8, 2022

John J. Sacco ’51 – Nov. 6, 2022

Ciro Veneruso ’51 – Sept. 9, 2022

Edward J. Capasse ’52 –Aug. 4, 2022

William J. McGrath ’52 –Dec. 15, 2022

John H. “Jack” Sauntry ’52 –Dec. 21, 2022

Edward D. Kenny ’53 –

Jan. 3, 2023

Edmond F. Kiely ’53 –Dec. 15, 2022

Lawrence V. Schaefer ’53, MA’54 (GSEAP) – Sept. 29, 2022

John J. Ronan ’54 –Nov. 17, 2022

Andrew S. Bertola ’56 –Nov. 6, 2022

Kurt A. Brackert ’56 –

Sept. 29, 2022

Frederick E. Grether ’57 –

Dec. 23, 2022

Robert L. Farrington ’58 –

Jan. 5, 2023

Stephen J. Zelle ’58 –

Nov. 21, 2022

Antony E. Champ ’59 –

June 30, 2022

Nicholas DePaola ’59 –

Dec. 1, 2022

Paul J. Kane ’59 – Sept. 3, 2022

Albert A. Curt Jr. ’60 –

June 20, 2021

Robert A. Eisel ’60 –

July 21, 2022

John H. Meagher ’60 –

Sept. 26, 2022

Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy at fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

Jenni F er egan ’18 and nicholas debiase ’18, M s ’19 were married on Sept. 17, 2022.

StagMates rosie (Fodera ’16) and gabriel carino ’14, M s’15 welcomed daughter, Viviana Belle, on Dec. 2, 2022.

REGISTRATION FOR REUNION WEEKEND IS NOW OPEN!

June 9 - 11, 2023

Class of 1973, visit fairfield.edu/classof1973

Classes of 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018, visit fairfield.edu/reunion

Walter E. Blake Jr. ’61 –

Dec. 13, 2022

Thomas E. Hintelmann ’61 –Dec. 2, 2022

Robert W. Ritter ’61 –

Aug. 17, 2022

Robert B. Cagnassola ’62 –Aug. 16, 2022

Edward T. “Ned” Coll ’62 –Dec. 17, 2022

Richard R. Geier ’62 –July 28, 2022

Thomas E. Holland ’62 –Dec. 5, 2022

Walter C. Schuster Jr. ’62 –

June 27, 2022

James M. Kickham ’63 –Oct. 31, 2022

Joseph A. Campise Jr. ’64 –Nov. 9, 2022

Joseph R. “Ron” Clisham ’64 –July 22, 2022

Daniel J. Diana ’64 –Nov. 15, 2022

Thomas P. Kearney ’64 –Aug. 13, 2022

Joseph L. Pagano ’64 –July 1, 2022

Angelo R. Framularo ’65 –Nov. 5, 2022

Frederick Victor “Fritz”

Hess ’65 – Nov. 12, 2022

James R. Jackson ’65 –Nov. 14, 2022

Richard B. Murphy Jr. ’65 –Dec. 20, 2022

Thomas H. Pritchard ’65 –

July 14, 2022

Wilson D. Flynn Jr. ’66 –Dec. 8, 2022

Michael J. Mulligan ’66 –

July 20, 2022

Stephen M. Kudzy ’68 –

Sept. 27, 2022

John (TJ) Legowski Jr. ’70 –

Dec. 1, 2022

John W. Strauch ’70 –

Sept. 2022

William D. Haberman ’71 –

Dec. 27, 2022

Christine (Callinan)

Powers ’73 – Feb. 14, 2022

Susan A. (Harper)

Fitzgerald ’74 – Sept. 6, 2022

Therese (Keenen) Pressley ’74

– Dec. 12, 2022

James K. Sullivan ’74 –Dec. 25, 2022

Theresa C. DeFrancis ’76 –Oct. 28, 2022

Robin (Kammritz)

Seymour ’77 – Dec. 8, 2022

Irene M. (Farrell) Conlon ’78, MA’80 (GSEAP) – Sept. 23, 2022

James H. Anderson ’79 –July 11, 2022

Christopher R. Dann ’79 –Aug. 4, 2022

Barbara A. (Sinnott) Shea ’80 – Sept. 23, 2022

Sharon (Pellegrino) Stone ’82 – Oct. 26, 2022

Richard E. Pellegrino ’83 –Sept. 13, 2022

Anthony J. Caruso ’85 –Oct. 23, 2022

Helen (Rogers) Baptist Lull ’85 – Dec. 9, 2022

Gregory D. Schultz ’85 –Oct. 2022

Frederick T. McGuire Jr. ’86 –Aug. 20, 2022

Angelo Pegnidopoulous ’86 –Oct. 14, 2022

Catherine ‘Kay’ (Morrison) Doyle ’88 – Oct. 20, 2022

Deanne (Jason) Dunne ’88 –Nov. 29, 2022

Father Nicholas A. Cirillo ’90 –Aug. 28, 2022

Robert J. Brennan, III ’93 –Nov. 10, 2022

Eric B. Manahan ’94 –Oct. 12, 2022

Robert M. Gallagher ’98 –

Nov. 26, 2022

Eddie Sprangle Jr. ’00 –Nov. 23, 2022

Leanne (Maccario)

Harriss ’03 – Nov. 22, 2022

Michael Patella ’04 –

Aug. 20, 2022

Jocelyn M. (Gignac)

Pronovost ’05 – Oct. 2, 2022

Gary E. Heussler ’09 –

Aug. 22, 2022

AlumniNOTES AlumniNOTES

SPRING 2023

GRADUATE SCHOOLS

Juliette Brisman-Zuckerman

MFT’18 has a new book, entitled A Heart Returned, which is available on Amazon and at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in N.Y.C. Brisman is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in private practice in Connecticut. She accompanies her clients on their unique journeys with loss and brings empathy and understanding to every client relationship. Visit juliettebrisman.com.

Marriages

Nicole Fogliano ’12, MA’19 and Misha Kulin — Oct. 22, 2022.

Births

Rosie (Fodera ’16) and Gabriel Carino ’14, MS’15 — daughter, Viviana Belle, Dec. 2, 2022.

Diane (Holmes ’10, MS’20) and Vince Porpora ’10 — son, Charlie, June 13, 2021.

In Memoriam

Lawrence V. Schaefer ’53, MA’54 (GSEAP) – Sept. 29, 2022

Joan M. (Dolan) DeLuca MA’57 (GSEAP) – Dec. 24, 2022

Robert F. Sullivan MA’60 (GSEAP) – Nov. 15, 2022

Gerald G. DePolo MA’63 (GSEAP) – July 19, 2022

Charles F. Miller MA’64, CT’72 (GSEAP) – Aug. 21, 2022

Sister M. Bernadine Gutacker MA’68 (GSEAP) – Dec. 27, 2022

Patrick F. Marsan MA’68 (GSEAP) – Sept. 12, 2022

Lois V. Gardner MA ’69 (GSEAP) – Oct. 10, 2022

Patrick D. Morris Sr. MA’69 (GSEAP) – Nov. 5, 2022

Pasquale A. Elia MA’70 (GSEAP) – Oct. 25, 2022

Ronald L. Bucari MA’72 (GSEAP) – Nov. 28, 2022

Sister Marie Barbara Szot MA’75 (GSEAP) – Dec. 10, 2022

Sister Catherine G. Kirchner MA’77 (GSEAP) – Dec. 17, 2022

Eileen M. Fredericks MA’78 (GSEAP) – Dec. 9, 2022

Joan C. Jahnige MA’78 (GSEAP) – Nov. 19, 2022

Irene M. (Farrell) Conlon ’78, MA’80 (GSEAP) – Sept. 23, 2022

Alan M. Jacobs MA’80 (GSEAP) – Aug. 2, 2022

Reverend Philip L. Pitya MA’81 (GSEAP) – Sept. 10, 2022

Lillian (Miranda) Wright MA’81 (GSEAP) – Dec. 10, 2022

Marjorie A. Hackett MA’83 (GSEAP) – Oct. 21, 2022

Marie K. (Barnhardt) Hopkins MA’85 (GSEAP) – Jan. 3, 2023

Thomas Winston MA’95 (GSEAP) – July 24, 2022

Claire (Hill) Carter MA’09 (Egan) – Nov. 8, 2022

Myra (Boccardi) Desroches CAS’19 (GSEAP) – July 27, 2022

Fairfield University Alumni Association

fairfield.edu/alumni | 203-254-4280 Email us at alumni@fairfield.edu

Fairfield University

Glee Club

75th Diamond

Jubilee Concert

SAT., APRIL 1 | 7:30 P.M.

Quick Center for the Arts

quickcenter.com | 203-254-4010 Follow us! @FairfieldQuick

Emily Coates and Emmanuèle Phuon We

THURS., APRIL 13 –

FRI., APRIL 14 | 7 P.M.

Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour

Celebrating 65 Years

SUN., APRIL 16 | 7 P.M.

Cirque Alfonse

Animal: A Farm Story

SUN., APRIL 23 | 7 P.M.

GLOBAL THEATRE: PERFORMANCE SERIES

Surviving Troubled Waters: From Prison to Freedom Through Music

TUES., MARCH 21 | 7 P.M.

Fairfield Awards Dinner

Cipriani 42nd Street

WED., APRIL 12 | 6 - 10 P.M.

73rd Commencement

SAT., MAY 20 | 9:30 A.M.

GRADUATE EXERCISES

SUN., MAY 21 | 9:30 A.M.

UNDERGRADUATE EXERCISES

Reunion 2023

Class years ending in 3 and 8

Including 50th: Class of 1973

FRI., JUNE 9 – SUN., JUNE 11

OPEN VISIONS FORUM

Jacoby-Lunin

Humanitarian Lecture: Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu

MON., APRIL 3 | 7:30 P.M.

Bank of America Women and Leadership Series: Judy Woodruff

WED., APRIL 26 | 8 P.M.

Judy Woodruff

Glee Club

INSPIRED WRITERS SERIES

Vauhini Vara

THURS., APRIL 20 | 12 P.M. FREE VIRTUAL EVENT

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE Othello

THURS., MAY 4 | 2 P.M. AND 7 P.M. Best of Enemies

THURS., JUNE 8 | 2 P.M. AND 7 P.M.

Good

SUN., JULY 16 | 3 P.M.

Center for Catholic Studies

fairfield.edu/cs

The 16th Annual Commonweal Lecture

Paul Lakeland, PhD

THE MET: LIVE IN HD

Lohengrin (Wagner)

SUN., MARCH 26 | 1 P.M. (ENCORE)

Falstaff (Verdi)

SUN., APRIL 2 | 1 P.M. AND 6 P.M. (ENCORES) Champion (Blanchard)

SAT., APR. 29 | 1 P.M. (LIVE) AND 6 P.M. (ENCORE)

Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss)

SAT., MAY 6 | 12 P.M. AND 6 P.M. (ENCORES)

Don Giovanni (Mozart)

TUES., MAY 23 | 1 P.M. AND 6 P.M. (ENCORES)

Die Zauberflöte (Mozart)

TUES., JUNE 6 | 1 P.M. AND 6 P.M. (ENCORES)

THEATRE FAIRFIELD Eurydice

WED., APRIL 19 –

SAT., APRIL 22 | 7:30 P.M.

SAT., APRIL 22 –

SUN., APRIL 23 | 2 P.M.

WED., APRIL 19 | 7:30 P.M.

Living Theology Workshop

WED., APRIL 11 | 5 P.M.

Bennett Center for Judaic Studies

fairfield.edu/bennett

The 17th Annual Jewish/ Christian Engagement Lecture

Rev. Daniel JoslynSiemiatkoski, PhD

WED., MARCH 22 | 7:30 P.M.

Adolph and Ruth

Schnurmacher Scholarin-Residence Lecture

Allison Schacter, PhD

THURS., APRIL 20 | 7:30 P.M.

Women’s Rights Are Human Rights

Fairfield University Art Museum

fairfield.edu/museum | 203-254-4046 Email us at museum@fairfield.edu

Women’s Rights Are Human Rights

WALSH GALLERY

NOW THROUGH APRIL 6

Norma Minkowitz: Body to Soul

BELLARMINE HALL GALLERIES

NOW THROUGH APRIL 6

In Their Element(s): Women

Artists Across Media

BELLARMINE HALL GALLERIES

APRIL 20 – JULY 15

Peter Anton: Just Desserts

WALSH GALLERY

APRIL 28 – JULY 15

Vauhini Vara

Donor PROFILE

r obert d awe ’72, M d , Honors Wife Jean Dawe Through Gift to the Egan School

When Robert Dawe ’72, MD, began his pre-med studies more than 50 years ago, Fairfield did not yet have a nursing program.

At that time, most nurses trained at hospitalbased nursing schools and the traditional practice of nursing was evolving. It was an evolution Dr. Dawe saw embodied in the nurse who would become his wife.

Jean Dawe, RN, began her undergraduate studies at the College of New Rochelle, but soon transferred to the nursing school at St. Clare’s Hospital in New York City. She excelled there, finishing first in her class, and by the time she was 26 she was one of the youngest head nurses ever at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

It was in the ICU at St. Clare’s that Dr. Dawe, then a medical student at New York College of Medicine, met Jean. He immediately noticed her radiant smile and positive attitude. He also came to understand that she was a nurse ahead of her time and that she had an intuitive sense of nursing as the profession it would become — requiring a holistic view of patient needs, teamwork, and sensitivity to the “human side” of patient care.

Dr. Dawe invited Jean to coffee, only to find his pockets

As healthcare evolves over the next 25 years, Dr. Dawe sees supporting student education at the Egan School as a way to both strengthen the foundation of the nursing profession for future generations and honor his wife’s memory.

were empty and he had to ask her to pick up the tab. They married two years later, in 1977. Dr. Dawe completed his residency in orthopedic surgery and pediatric orthopedics, and in 1980 they moved to Fairfield where he was one of the founders of the Orthopaedic Specialty Group (OSG). Over the years, they raised two daughters. Jean served as president of the Bridgeport Hospital Auxiliary, and later was a well-loved nurse at the Southport School.

The Dawes were active in the Fairfield University community as members of The President’s Circle — a giving society comprised of the University’s leaders in philanthropy. At times, Dr. Dawe provided his professional services for the Fairfield men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Jean became ill in 2017 and, having learned from her the value of strong nursing care,

Dr. Dawe retired from his practice in order to care for her.

Dr. Dawe wanted to recognize his wife for her lifetime commitment to nursing while also providing income over his retirement years. A charitable gift annuity benefitting the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies offered a perfect opportunity to do both, and paved the way for Dr. Dawe to become a member of the Bellarmine Society for donors who make planned gifts to the University.

Having just passed the milestone of his 50th Reunion, a lot has changed since Dr. Dawe graduated; the Egan School has risen to the top ranks, and Dr. Dawe is impressed by how the school combines cutting edge clinical teaching with a full vision of the “human side” of healthcare that exemplified Jean’s vision of nursing.

After consulting family members and friends, including Special Assistant to the President George Diffley — who once taught Jean theology at the College of New Rochelle — Dr. Dawe decided to dedicate a large classroom to Jean. Foreseeing more changes in healthcare in the next 25 years, Dr. Dawe sees supporting student education at the Egan School as a way to strengthen the foundation of the nursing profession for future generations and to honor his wife’s memory. Jean passed away on December 14, 2022. Her memory will live on through her family, friends, and patients, and through the future generations of nursing students who will be greeted and inspired as they enter Jean’s classroom for decades to come.

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

As you look ahead to life’s milestones— whether it be a birthday, retiring, a major class reunion, or remembering a loved one— and look back on your Fairfield days, you may wish to think about how you can help ensure future Fairfield students have an education that is just as exceptional and life-changing as yours.

Through a planned gift, you may be able to make more of a difference than you ever thought possible. Here are a few gift types to consider:

⊲ Bequest — name Fairfield University as a percent or dollar amount remainder beneficiary in your will or trust.

⊲ IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution — give directly from your IRA if you are 70½ or older.

⊲ Beneficiary Designation — name Fairfield as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts, bank and brokerage accounts, or paid-up life insurance policies.

⊲ Charitable Gift Annuity — in exchange for a gift to Fairfield University, you will receive guaranteed fixed payments for life; for a 70 year-old, the current annuity rate is 5.9%.

If you would like to learn more about a planned gift to Fairfield, or if you’ve already named Fairfield in your estate plan and haven’t yet informed Fairfield, please contact: