Fairfield University Magazine - Summer 2021

Our Common Home

On the Mound

From Raj to Republic

Sustainability is an area of focus for the Society of Jesus. The Fairfield community heeds the call.

Pitcher John Signore ’19, M’21 helped lead the Stags to a record-breaking 37-3 regular season.

History Professor Sunil Purushotham’s new book explores the birth of the world’s largest democracy.

Fairfieldmagazine UNIVERSITY

SUMMER 2021

Fighting Back The School of Engineering’s new Cybersecurity Lab prepares graduates to stop cybercriminals.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 i

Quad Goals Photo by Andrew Henderson

Students enjoy springtime weather as they stroll through one of the main residential areas for underclassmen on campus.

On the cover: Fairfield University’s School of Engineering launched an MS in Cybersecurity program in the fall of 2020.

Fairfield University Magazine Fairfield University Summer 2021 | Volume 44 | Number 1 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 6, 11 Clay Goswick pages 2, 24-25 Andrew Henderson pages 10, 16, 20-23, 30-32 Cassidy Kristiansen page 41 Peter McLean pages 6-7, 13, 14-15 Fairfield University Media Center page 8 Contributed photos: page 6, 8,11-12, 18-19, 26-27, 33-39

Fairfield University Magazine is published four times (November, March, June, September) during the year by Fairfield University. Editorial offices are located in: Bellarmine Hall, Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 06824-5195 (203) 254-4000, ext. 2526 e-mail: ahighet@fairfield.edu Printed at The Lane Press Burlington, Vermont ii sum me r 2021 | Fairf ie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 1

Contents

“ Jesuit institutions, like Fairfield University, [need] to take actions towards sustainability and to connect those actions to our Catholic faith.”

— Cecilia Calvo, Jesuit Conference Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice

14

20

by John Torsiello

by Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11

Pitcher John Signore ’19, M’21 helped lead the Stags to a record-breaking 37-3 regular season.

Sustainability is an area of focus for the Society of Jesus. The Fairfield community heeds the call.

After an impressive 2016 rookie season and multiple MAAC accolades, Signore was named Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week in late March of 2018. The following two years, he was sidelined — first by an arm injury, then by the pandemic. He returned to the mound in 2021 and played a major role in this year’s unprecedented campaign.

As the Society of Jesus is called by their superior general to “collaborate in the care of our Common Home,” so too are members of the University community embracing the cause. Fairfield University Magazine checked in with three young entrepreneurs whose passion for sustainability drives their livelihood.

Pictured above: Following in the academic footsteps of his alumnus dad (Stephen R. Signore, A’02,’08) John Signore ’19, MA’21 proudly wore Fairfield Stags red #42.

Pictured above: Graziella Coffee Company beans are sustainably sourced through transparent supply chains by company founder Tony Ponte ’13.

On the Mound

2 sum me r 2021 | Fairf ie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Our Common Home

Fairfieldmagazine UN IVE RSIT Y

4 5 16

SUMMER 2021

let ter from the presiden t universit y news facult y

From Raj to Republic

by Alistair Highet

Associate professor of history Sunil Purushotham’s new book explores the birth of the world’s largest democracy.

18

communit y

#CapalboStrong

by Nicolette Massaro

28

Fighting Back

by Sara Colabella ’08, MA’11

Cybercriminals stole almost a trillion dollars last year; the School of Engineering’s new Cybersecurity Lab prepares graduates to stop them.

Stags rally to show support for Charlie Capalbo ’22 in a social media challenge.

33 34

gr an ts & gif ts alumni notes

Profiles:

35 Erica (Trombly) Harp ’14, RN – BSN, CPLC Caring for Families Who Are Facing the Unimaginable

36 Alexis Yannone ’20, RN Guiding Patients Through End-of-Life Transitions

40

donor profile Shannon (Barry) and Steve J. Siwinski ’92, P’16

The race is on to educate cybersecurity professionals who can beat hackers and cybercriminals at their own game. Fairfield’s state-of-the-art Cybersecurity Lab offers students the technical skills and business acumen to anticipate, solve, and prevent everevolving, real-world security threats.

Pictured above: The School of Engineering offers full- and part-time master’s programs in cybersecurity, with coursework geared toward achieving professional certifications.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 3

Letter from the President

“ I shared three sentiments in addressing the Classes of ’20 and ’21: Be Curious, Be Bold, and Be Kind.”

Send your letters to the editor of Fairfield University Magazine to Alistair Highet at ahighet@fairfield.edu.

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

Dear Friends, The week of May 16th could not have been more glorious. After a year where students have managed the changes associated with social distancing, the Class of 2021 gathered for a series of in-person Academic Celebrations with their families on Bellarmine Lawn, under clear skies with Long Island Sound sparkling in the distance. Commencement ceremonies were presented virtually and more than 1,400 undergraduate and post-graduate degrees and certificates were awarded.

On May 22, to everyone’s great joy, we held an in-person celebration for the undergraduate Class of 2020. More than 700 of last year’s class returned to campus to gather together as they were unable to last spring. It was my honor to address the Class of 2020 as Commencement speaker and share with them three sentiments that I also shared with the Class of ’21: Be Curious, Be Bold, and Be Kind. For those inclined to see the whole of my remarks, they can be found at fairfield.edu/president.

Needless to say, these have been challenging times; that Fairfield has come through this demanding period in our history with glorious celebrations is testament to the spirit of fellowship and the enduring values that distinguish our University.

It is fitting too, that our celebrations coincided with the start of this Ignatian Year, marking the 500th anniversary of the turning point in the life of St. Ignatius when he was wounded at the Battle of Pamplona. With this Jesuit, Catholic heritage in mind, we look to the future. We are blessed to be emerging from these challenges with tremendous momentum, and grateful in particular for our faculty’s unceasing dedication this past year — as always — to the teaching, formation, and development of young men and women of purpose.

4 sum me r 2021 | Fairf ie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Our innovation in service to the community also continues. The University has taken a leadership position in collaboration with the Connecticut Office of Higher Education to recruit and train 500 college students to provide summer educational programs for students whose K–12 school years were disrupted by the pandemic. We can all be proud of our Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions — soon to be renamed the School of Education and Human Development — and its social entrepreneurial proposal that is quickly meeting the needs of our community. This is only one example of Fairfield, in Ignatius’ words, “meeting the world as it is.” In keeping with our evolution to a doctoral professional university, we recently finalized a new Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership program, slated to start in fall 2021. It will be our third professional doctoral program and our first in education.

Not only in graduate programs does our future shine bright. Currently, we expect more than 1,250 new undergraduates in the Class of 2025 — the largest incoming class in our history.

They are excellent students with high academic standing and a host of talents.

Our national stature outside the classroom also continues to grow. Fairfield Baseball concluded its regular season with a remarkable 37-3 record. The team earned its first-ever national ranking and became the first MAAC baseball team ever to earn an at-large bid in the NCAA Championships. Meanwhile, for the third consecutive season, Fairfield Women’s Lacrosse was named MAAC Conference Champions.

So, as the Class of ’21 is launched and the Class of ’20 has been rightfully commemorated, we look ahead to what the future holds, a community inspired by our mission, brimming with fresh ideas, and filled with renewed optimism and faith in this special Ignatian Year.

With utmost gratitude and very best wishes to you all,

Mark R. Nemec, PhD President

Universit y NEWS DEMOLITION OF ALUMNI HALL MAKES WAY FOR NEW CONVOCATION CENTER

Fairfield Grad Programs Ranked Among Best

On April 26, Fairfield University and Prep community members, including one of Alumni Hall’s original engineers, met for a final walk-through of the building — a Stag Country landmark for over 60 years. John Phelan Sr., FP’50, helped construct Alumni Hall in 1959 as a field engineer alongside his father who was an architect on the project.

Alumni Hall has been home to the University’s threetime MAAC Champion men’s and women’s basketball teams, and the 11-time MAAC Champion volleyball team.

Construction began this spring on a new

85,000-square foot, 3,500seat arena and convocation center, that will feature a state-of-the-art broadcast and media center, luxury seating and lounge areas, and will revolutionize the Stags’ home game and campus event experience. Projected to open November 2022, the Convocation Center will be home to Fairfield’s Division I basketball and volleyball programs, Fairfield Prep basketball, and will host convocations, concerts, and gatherings for the University community and the neighboring community at F large. l

Fairfield Dolan’s master’s programs in Accounting, Business

Analytics, Finance, and Marketing were included among the Top 25 in the U.S., in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Grad Business Specialty Programs ranking.

The Accounting program jumped six spots to #14; the Business Analytics program tied with Harvard at #21, alongside UCLA, Wake Forest, University of San Francisco, University of Arizona and Georgia State; Fairfield’s Finance program leapt five spots to #20, tying with Arizona State, Creighton, and Loyola-Maryland; and the Marketing program landed at #18 again this year in a tie with the University of WisconsinMadison. Fairfield Dolan’s part-time MBA jumped 14 spots to place #2 in the state of Connecticut.

Among the Best Nursing Schools that offer Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees, Fairfield Egan ascended 16 spots to #53 nationally, tied with Indiana University-Purdue University, UNC-Greensboro, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Fairfield Egan also placed #3 in the state of Connecticut, on both the list of nursing schools that offer DNPs and those that offer Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees. lF

(l-r) Engineer John Phelan, Sr. with VP for Facilities David Frassinelli, moments before the demolition of Alumni Hall on April 26, 2021.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 5

Universit y NEWS AUTHOR AND PROFESSOR PHIL KLAY LEADS INSPIRED WRITERS SERIES EVENT “Broken and Invaluable Institutions,” the third panel discussion event of several in this year’s Inspired Writers Series, took place in a virtual format on May 6. Moderated

by MFA writing professor and author Phil Klay, the event featured writer-veterans Kirstin Valdez Quade and Ryan Leigh Dostie.

As a series of political, economic, and natural crises have exposed the weaknesses of American institutions, a number of writers have explored the complex ways those institutions shape our lives, for good and ill. Few do so in a more viscerally powerful way than featured authors Quade and Dostie.

A screen shot of NBA TV Host Chris Miles ’03.

Phil Klay

“NAVIGATING A CAREER IN SPORTS MEDIA IN A FASTEVOLVING INDUSTRY,” WITH NBA TV HOST CHRIS MILES ’03

Klay led the discussion about The Five Wounds, Quade’s highly anticipated debut novel, centered on the plight of one family in New Mexico; and Formation, Dostie’s memoir about her time in the service and the military’s horrific mishandling of her rape at the hands of a F fellow service member. l

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD, welcomed NBA TV Host Chris Miles ’03 on April 16 as part of his Virtual Dean’s Series. Miles has developed a vast knowledge of all sports through his 15+ years of experience as a sports anchor, reporter, and host, working all over the country. Miles prides himself especially on his NBA, NFL, and MLB expertise.

“Sports Media has matured into a major sector of business,” Dr. Greenwald said. “So many College of Arts and Sciences alumni are in media, and a growing number are in sports media.

Chris Miles puts his liberal arts education to use every day, F usually on air.” l

Fairfield Dolan Admits Second Cohort of MBA Students in Shanghai Last September, Fairfield Dolan launched its new MBA program in Shanghai with 35 students.

In partnership with Golden Education, one of the largest management training companies in China, Dolan implemented the same high-quality MBA program for Chinese students as it has become renowned for domestically. Led by Fairfield professors, the Chinese program allows students to continue in their professional careers while pursuing the degree in the evenings and on weekends. This spring, Dolan admitted 35 new

students to the second cohort.

On average, students enrolled in the Shanghai MBA program have 14 years of work experience.

Four executives from a leading mining machinery manufacturer — including the GM, CEO, CFO, and the legal representative — have joined the latest cohort of student-professionals. Students come from many industries including pharmaceuticals, accounting, fashion, engineering, economics, and finance. Many students pursue the program because they are preparing to take F over their family businesses. l

6 sum me r 2021 | Fairf ie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

UNDEFEATED STAGS GARNER FIRST-EVER NATIONAL RANKING

With a to 27-0 start to the season, Fairfield University Baseball garnered the program’s first-ever national ranking, slotted at #23 by Baseball America in April.

On-Campus Vaccine Clinics Offered by Fairfield and Griffin Health

Fairfield nursing students helped administer more than 1,500 vaccines in on-campus clinics.

Fairfield University and Griffin Health partnered to offer onsite clinics to administer Pfizer vaccinations to University and eligible Fairfield Prep students, and all employees.

The first of two clinics was held on April 21 for individuals to receive either their first or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine; the second clinic was held on May 13. In total, more than 1,500 vaccinations were administered by Marion

Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies students and faculty, Fairfield’s Student Health Center staff, and Griffin Health staff. At each clinic, 20 stations were set up in the University’s Field House in the Recreational Complex (RecPlex).

Griffin Health has been partnering with the state of Connecticut to efficiently administer Covid-19 vaccines according to recommendations

from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The vaccination clinic for Fairfield University students and staff is part of a larger effort to provide lifesaving Covid-19 vaccination to individuals across Connecticut with particular focus on our state’s most vulnerable populations,” said Pat Charmel, president and CEO of Griffin F Health. l

MPA SUMMIT PROBES IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON RURAL AMERICA Fairfield University’s 2021 MPA Summit took place in virtual format on April 20. At this year’s online forum, titled “Covid-19 and its Impacts in Rural America,” Dr. Olugbenga Ajilore, senior advisor for Rural Development at the USDA, examined the myths that are prevalent in many discussions about rural America.

He suggested a potential reframing of the subject as a way to help direct policies and programs, to ensure that these rural communities survive and thrive in a post-Covid world.

Currently a member of the Biden administration, Dr. Ajilore’s expertise includes regional economic development, macroeconomic policy, and issues in diversity and inclusion.

He has been invited to testify before Congress and has been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He holds a doctorate in economics from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Fairfield University’s annual MPA Summit is a yearly public forum that brings public administration students and members of the community together with thought leaders, to participate in a constructive dialogue about important public administration challenges directly affecting the state of Connecticut and our local comF munities. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 7

Universit y NEWS Focus on Research at Fairfield Dolan’s Business Analytics Showcase Fairfield Dolan professors Christopher Huntley, PhD, and Philip Maymin, PhD, hosted a virtual Business Analytics Showcase on March 25, to highlight the work of two distinguished Department of Analytics faculty members: Jie Tao, PhD, and Xin James He, PhD, both instructors in the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program.

Dr. Tao’s research, “Making Sense of the Black-Boxes,” examines what he calls the biggest problem in the field of artificial intelligence (AI): the interpretation of the deep neural network models, commonly called black boxes due to their opacity, that are by nature extremely complex.

As an example of his approach, Dr. Tao outlined a

way to integrate black boxes and evaluate them, while removing features that cause errors in data interpretation and result in misclassification.

Dr. He’s research is focused on “The Challenges of Time Series Forecasting,” which has particular relevancy to the financial, marketing, and insurance sectors. Consider, for example, the difficulty in predicting stock and oil prices, consumer behavior, employment rates, and life expectancy.

Using the financial markets as his example and culling data from Yahoo Finance, Dr. He used a decomposition technique model to look at S&P 500 performance over the last 40 years, using the first 20 of those years to predict F performance in the second 20. l

Since opening in fall of 2019, the 80,500-square-foot Dolan School facility has been a hub of principled and innovative business education.

8 sum mer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

DAVID AXELROD, AMERICAN POLITICAL STRATEGIST DELIVERS 2021 BENNETT LECTURE IN JUDAIC STUDIES

On April 26, David Axelrod — American political consultant, strategist, CNN political commentator, and former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama — delivered the Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies. Entitled “State of Play: The Political Future of the American Jewish Community,” the event was delivered as a Zoom webinar.

Students Recognized for Achievement, Service, and Leadership Each year, Fairfield University recognizes a select number of seniors with Student Achievement Awards for both academic and service-related accomplishments. This year’s Student Achievement Awards Ceremony on April 28 featured a limited in-person celebration and was also livestreamed for remote audiences.

Jessica Castillo ’21 and Seamus Digan ’21 were announced as this year’s corecipients of the prestigious undergraduate St. Ignatius Loyola Medal, for committing themselves over the last four years to the Jesuit educational ideals of maintaining high academic standards and substantial involvement in community service and extracurricular activities.

The William J. Kramer ’60 Humanitarian Award was presented to Luckario Alcide ’21 for his “commitment to volunteerism and service to an external community

activity that best exemplifies the Ignatian tradition of being men and women for and with others.”

Three students received the Student Achievement Award for exceptional dedication to, enhancement of, and/or creation of a specific Fairfield University program, activity, organization, or project which has had a significant and positive impact on the larger Fairfield University campus community.

They are: Erin Curtis ’21, a psychology and behavioral neuroscience major, selected for her contributions to the Psychology Club and other activities; Phuc Nguyen ’21, a mechanical engineering major, selected for his work co-founding the 3D Printing Club and Innovators Club; and Holly McGarrigle ’21, a marketing major, selected for the founding of Students Helping Students Tutoring and Mentorship Club, F where she served as president. l

Success for Fairfield Engineering Students at ASEE Mid-Atlantic Conference This past April, engineering students from Fairfield University’s School of Engineering attended the virtual ASEE Mid-Atlantic Spring 2021 Conference. Jenna Madigan ’22, Jack Devlin ’22, and Chizimuzo Chibuko ’22, alongside assistant professor of biomedical engineering Isaac Macwan, PhD, presented original research to an audience of engineering students, faculty, and leaders from across the country.

The research posters they presented at the conference were based on two ongoing projects with Dr. Macwan.

Madigan and Devlin presented “Understanding the Interactions Between a Human Mismatch Repair Protein, MutSbeta, and a mismatched DNA,” which addressed the interactions between DNA and mismatch repair protein.

When the mismatch repair protein MutSbeta is absent, errors in DNA replication go unresolved and can lead to Lynch syndrome, which is

Human Mismatch Repair Protein, MutSbeta and Mismatched DNA (Illustration by Ella Maru Studio).

a form of colorectal cancer.

Chibuko presented her project “Computational Approach for Understanding the Interactions Between Gabapentin and LAT1 – 35434,” on the permeation of drug molecules through the bloodbrain barrier. Her research aimed to illustrate how interactive forces help carry substrates through

LAT1, which delivers amino acids and drugs through the blood-brain barrier. This research provides additional insight into the treatment of neurological diseases. Chibuko plans to submit her study for publication and will also present her research at the Biomedical Engineering Society F Conference in October. l

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING VIRTUAL DEAN’S SERIES: “CYBERSECURITY AND THE FBI” Focusing on the pervasive nature of cybercrime, Engineering Dean Andres L. Carrano, PhD, hosted an online discussion with FBI Supervisory Special Agent Conor Phoenix in a Virtual Dean’s Series event on April 14. During the lunchtime webinar, Dr. Carrano and Agent Phoenix discussed trends being observed worldwide relative to security breaches, the “bad actors” involved, and measures people can take to protect themselves. They also talked about the skills needed for a career in cybersecurity and the associated forecast for employment, specifically as related to Fairfield University’s Cybersecurity program and the recently F opened Cybersecurity Lab on campus. l

ACADEMIC COMPUTING’S MARY KLEPS NAMED 2021 LUCY KATZ AWARD PERSON OF THE YEAR Since 1994, the Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program has annually recognized a woman on campus who has made an outstanding contribution to women’s issues. Founding directors Johanna Garvey, PhD, associate professor of English, and Lucy Katz, PhD, professor emeritus for whom the award was renamed in 2007, believe such recognition advances the understanding and promotion of women’s issues on campus.

Honoree Mary Kleps came to Fairfield University in 1995 and has been the instructional support manager for academic computing in the Information Technology Services (ITS) Department since 2000. Klep’s role in this capacity is to support online teaching and learning.

She was recognized for the role she played in sponsoring workshops, mobilizing staff and technology resources, and making sure instructors and students were equipped with the tools they needed to teach and learn during the Covid-19 F pandemic. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 9

Universit y NEWS INTEGRATING SPIRITUALITY INTO THE NURSING CURRICULUM Last summer, when Maggie Breitenbach ’22 saw an email about a new nursing course, “Integrating Spirituality Into Nursing,” being offered to juniors and seniors, she didn’t hesitate to sign up.

“I knew the course would be important since nurses give spiritual care as well as physical,” she said. “I learned assessment tools to determine whether a patient wanted to talk about spirituality, and what wording to use.

Sometimes, it’s just enough to give them space to talk.”

The new class is the result of collaboration between Tracey Robert, PhD, LPC professor of counselor education in GSEAP; Eileen O’Shea, DNP, APRN, director of the Kanarek Center for Palliative Care; and the Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J., director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality. An interdisciplinary course that pulls on tools and resources from multiple sources, classes were co-taught by Fr. Denis and Dr. Robert. An essential part of the course: one-onone sessions with a spiritual advisor every other week.

The curriculum included readings and lectures on mindfulness, meditation, grief, and cross-cultural sensitivity.

Students also spent time discussing self-care and its importance, especially in times of crisis such as the pandemic. The course will be F offered again in September. l

Fairfield Among Top Ten 2021 Best Catholic Colleges and Universities in U.S. Fairfield University has once again been ranked at the top of the 2021 College Consensus list of Best Catholic Colleges & Universities. At #6, Fairfield placed in the Top Ten alongside the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Boston College.

Fairfield is one of only three New England colleges and universities to place atop the rankings, and is the only Connecticut school in the Top Ten. To determine the list of Best Catholic Colleges & Universities, rankings website College Consensus averaged the results of reputable national college ranking publishers including The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report, to determine the “publisher rating.” Ratings were also gathered from reputable student review sites such as Cappex and Niche, to calculate an overall “student review rating.” A combined average, or college consensus score, was calculated from the publisher and student review scores.

Fairfield University’s continued high placement in national college rankings include distinctions in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2021 ranking, as well as on research website Niche’s 2021 Best Colleges in America list.

The Princeton Review’s annual college rankings in The Best 386 Colleges: 2021 Edition granted

10 sum me r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Ranked #6 nationally, Fairfield is the only Connecticut school in College Consensus’ Top Ten. Fairfield several national and regional distinctions, including placement on its lists of Best Northeastern Colleges, Best Value Colleges, and Green Colleges. Fairfield has also

received high praise from student survey responses for professor quality and professor accessibility F outside the classroom. l

Fairfield Dolan Launches New MBA/MSBA Dual Degree To prepare business professionals with both broad strategic perspectives and the analytical capacity to make decisions based on data, Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business has launched the new dual Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) degree program.

The program combines foundational business skills with specialized knowledge for data management and analytics.

Depending on prior background and knowledge, students can complete the dual degree program with as few as 48 credits up to a maximum of 60 credits.

The MBA/MSBA dual degree prepares professionals with data analytics and strategic

management skills so graduates stand out in today’s highly demanding and competitive job market. The MBA degree develops students with skills in accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, and operations, while the MSBA degree develops students with specialized knowledge and skills for data management and analytics.

“The MBA/MSBA Dual Degree program offers students the benefit of earning two degrees in one streamlined and efficient program,” said Fairfield Dolan Dean Zhan Li, DBA. “This dual degree provides students with the well-rounded business curriculum of an MBA paired with the robust, technical curriculum of F business analytics.” l

The dual-degree program provides both technology-driven skills and broad, strategic perspectives.

Nicholas Jensen ’20 at the Kennedy Space Center.

REACHING FOR THE STARS: ENGINEERING STUDENT NICHOLAS JENSEN ’20 INTERNS FOR NASA When Nicholas Jensen ’20 signed up for his core religious studies course focusing on Ignatian spirituality, he had no idea it would change his life.

Inspired to consider his calling, the School of Engineering undergraduate thought about his childhood bedroom with its photos of astronauts on the walls, his dream of working in space, and stories shared by an uncle who worked at an aerospace firm.

Encouraged by engineering faculty members, Jensen went on to land three internship projects with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), over a 12-month period spanning from January 2020 to ’21.

Working remotely from home for the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research

Center on Edwards Air Force Base in California, Jensen’s first assignment as a software engineer was to write advanced algorithms.

For his next assignment, Jensen worked on a magnetic separation project that expanded his computer and mechanical engineering skills.

His diligent efforts led to a third project, for which he joined a subgroup within the magnetic separation project, to develop new robotics systems and work on his own patents.

Jensen’s endeavors will help to inform work on future spacecraft missions in NASA’s Artemis program. “It’s cool to be one of the first Stags to kind of leave a footprint on F Mars or the moon,” he said. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 11

Universit y NEWS FAIRFIELD LEADS CONNECTICUT COLLEGE CORPS TRAINING EFFORTS In collaboration with the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Connecticut’s State Department of Education, and public and private higher education institutions across the state, Fairfield University was commissioned to recruit and train 500 college students to provide operational support for K-12 educational programs this summer.

The Connecticut College Corps Program is the collaboration of a statewide working group of higher education institutions, seeking to support K-12 summer enrichment. It was created in response to Governor Ned Lamont’s plan to provide engaging educational experiences for K-12 students who have had their school years significantly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The program was developed by the AccelerateCT Education Task Force. The

Connecticut College Corps initiative is being funded by $1.5 million of Connecticut’s Coronavirus Relief Funds, and was expected to include another $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds under a proposal that the governor submitted to the state legislature.

As part of Fairfield’s recruitment and training efforts — led by the University’s Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions — the 500 Corps members were expected to receive one week of specialized training on topics including social-emotional health and equity, diversity, and inclusion, prior to being matched with summer enrichment programs throughout the state. All Corps members who complete the program requirements will F receive a $4,500 stipend. l

12 sum me r 2021 | Fairf ie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Members of Pilobolus performing Branches. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

INNOVATIVE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CULMINATES WITH PERFORMANCE BY PILOBOLUS

This year, April 22 marked several important events at Fairfield: the Innovative Research Symposium, STAGiving Day, and also Earth Day — a day to honor the earth and raise awareness about environmental issues. To culminate this year’s Innovative Research Symposium with a celebration of creativity, innovation, and nature, Pilobolus Dance Company performed Branches, their choreographed piece scored with natural sounds that explores the competition and struggle between animals.

MPA Students Raise an Estimated $200K in Grants for Area Non-Profits The coursework for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program’s “Proposal Writing and Fund Development” class, taught since 2015 by Thomas Sobocinski ’72, MA’78, sharpens skills by requiring that students engage in collaborative projects with actual non-profit organizations or local government agencies. Since the course’s inception, Sobocinski estimates that over the years his students’ efforts have raised a collective $200,000 in grant funds.

“For the grant writing portion,” said Sobocinski, “the class serves as a consulting group to advise their classmates. I guide the discussions and assist each writer with their work.”

In addition winning grants for non-profits and government agencies, class participants have been

able to take the real-world experience acquired from the course and parlay that into internships and job opportunities.

“The class was great,” said Megan Zboray, who took the course and now works as a proposal writer for Coordinated Transportation Solutions, Inc., in Trumbull, Conn. “It taught me how to write grants and letters of inquiry, plan ahead and break things down into steps, and learn how the development process works.”

Fairfield University’s stateaccredited MPA program is designed for professionals interested in working in the public and nonprofit sectors. It equips students with essential skills to address pressing public issues including fiscal management, grant writing, F and data analysis. l

THEATRE FAIRFIELD’S VIRTUAL LIVESTREAM MUSICAL, [TITLE OF SHOW]

The 2021 MAAC Champion Stags celebrate their win on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.

STAGS WIN 2021 MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP For the third consecutive season and the sixth time in program history, Fairfield University Women’s Lacrosse is the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion. The top-seeded Stags shut down visiting second-seed Siena on Sunday by a score of 12-8 to

hoist the trophy on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.

Laura Field claimed her third MAAC Championship as head coach of the Stags and her fifth as a member of the Fairfield coaching staff.

Caroline Mangan ’22 was named the Championship MVP

as the anchor of the Fairfield defense. Mangan totaled eight caused turnovers in Fairfield’s three postseason games en route to MVP honors. She was joined on the All-Championship Team by Diana DeVita ’21, Kelly Horning ’21, Maggie Reynolds F ’21 and Libby Rowe ’23. l

Inaugural Vincent J. Rosivach Lecture: “Sickness and Health in Ancient Greece” What happened if you fell sick in ancient Greece? What healthcare options were available to an enslaved person, for example, or a woman experiencing complications during childbirth?

The virtual Inaugural Vincent J. Rosivach Lecture in Ancient Mediterranean Studies on April 12, led by Jessica Lamont, PhD, explored these questions and

others, illuminating the complex landscape of healing in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. An assistant professor of classics and history at Yale University, Dr. Lamont completed her doctorate in classics in 2016 at Johns Hopkins University. Her research and teaching interests revolve around Greek medicine and magic,

especially healing cults and curse tablets.

This Classical Studies Endowed Lecture was the first in a new series named for the late Professor Vincent J. Rosivach, PhD, whose career at Fairfield University was devoted to the enduring presence and F importance of classical studies. l

Theatre Fairfield, Fairfield University’s resident production company, closed its 2020-21 season with six performances of [title of show], a musical with a book

by Hunter Bell and music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen. In 90 minutes, [title of show] tells the entire creative journey of four talented singeractor-writers, from off-off Broadway to Broadway. It celebrates their friendship and the creative process in all its fun, frustrations, and glory. [title of show] was performed April 14 through April 18. The play was rehearsed and performed live and in-person with a virtual audience. Actors sang, danced, and acted unmasked in “pods” — Covid-safe, plastic-walled structures the company created, allowing actors to safely create live theatre while in the same F space. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 13

On the Mound

Pitcher John Signore ’19, M’21 helped lead the Stags to a record-breaking 37-3 regular season.

by John Torsiello

14 sum mer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

J

ohn Signore’s pitching career at Fairfield has been one of ups and downs — excellent performances, a significant injury, rehab, and then back to the mound.

Kind of like his team’s wildly swinging fortune over the past two seasons, as the Stags had their 2020 season canceled entirely because of Covid-19, only to follow with a magical 27-0 start to the 2021 campaign — leading them to the school’s first Top 25 national ranking.

Signore ’19, M’21 and the Stags are testaments to perseverance: the comeback kid was a major factor in his team’s stellar start to the 2021 campaign. In his first six outings he was 4-0 with a 3.64 earned run average in 29 innings of work, striking out 27 batters. That included a three-hit shutout against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Iona.

Thanks in part to Signore, Fairfield Baseball remained the only unbeaten Division I baseball team in the country with a perfect record through April, ranked #23 nationally by Baseball America and #2 in the national RPI (rating percentage index) — a formula used to help determine at-large bids for the NCAA postseason. Finishing the regular season in May at 37-3, the Stags were propelled to the MAAC Regular Season Championship for the eighth time in program history and the third under Head Coach Bill Currier, and earned the first at-large bid to the NCAA Championship in MAAC baseball history.

Needless to say, Signore, a Wallingford, Connecticut native and sixth-year grad student, was thrilled to be back throwing this spring, especially after last year’s Covid-19related season cancellation.

“It was difficult when we had to stop playing,” said Signore. “We found out on the bus after one of the games we did manage to play.

No one could put it into perspective what it meant. It wasn’t a happy time. We knew it would be safer for everyone but it didn’t make it any easier.”

Signore said that out of the “mess” was forged the spirit of a team that would roar through the first 27 contests of the 2021 season.

“We had to do our best to keep in shape Left: Coming back from an arm injury, Signore learned not to rely solely on his fastball pitch, adding changeups and curveballs to the mix.

“I wanted to wear the Fairfield Stags red. I knew the opportunities I would have here; they wanted me, and it gave me a chance to continue playing a sport I love.”

John Signore ’19, M’21, Pitcher

even though we weren’t getting reps on the field. Our coaches did an amazing job meeting with us face-to-face virtually and giving us workout schedules. When this spring season began, we felt ready to go.”

Signore’s decision to attend Fairfield after starring in the classroom and on the baseball diamond for Xavier High School was a no-brainer, he said. “My dad (Stephen Signore A’02,’08) went here and I wanted to wear the Fairfield Stags red. I knew the opportunities I would have here; they wanted me, and it gave me a chance to continue playing a sport I love.

“I was a little sheltered in high school and when I came here it was so helpful to have a team around me right away. The coaching staff pushes you to take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and do what you have to do to get the job done.”

Last season’s cancellation was just one challenge Signore has had to deal with, even

though his baseball career at Fairfield began with a flourish.

He had an impressive first-year campaign in 2016, and in 2017 he made the MAAC All-Tournament Team and won all four of his decisions. In the MAAC Championship opening round against Iona that year, he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and struck out a career-high nine batters. In 2018, he blossomed into an All-MAAC First Team and was Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week in late March.

Then, just when the needle was moving into the red, Signore was hit with an injury.

He was a 2019 Preseason All-MAAC honoree, but arm problems forced him to the sideline and he did not appear in a game that year. He battled back and started the 2020 season, before the plug was pulled on the campaign.

“Because of my arm problems I had to become a different pitcher and I learned not to rely on any one pitch — my fastball. I’ve got a curveball and changeup that I use more now.

I think about how to work hitters, not just try and throw it by them.”

His arm feels “fine” in 2021 and he credits his “regular” catcher Mike Caruso ’21 with helping him develop into a complete hurler.

As for the team, Signore, a grad student pursuing an MS in accounting and mulling a career as a research analyst, said it is, “well yeah, like a band of brothers.

“We have each other’s backs and it’s been a ‘next guy up’ attitude. We have probably 15 leaders on this team.”

“John is a great teammate,” said Fairfield head coach Bill Currier. “He’s always there to help the younger pitchers and he’s got a tremendous baseball mind. Most of the time we let him call his own game because of that.

Even if his arm is not up to full strength the day he pitches, he finds ways to win. He’s a warrior out there and he finds ways to get the job done. He has great insight on hitters and where he can pitch to them and how he can get them out.”

For John Signore and his teammates, the Stags’ formula of personal accountability, a commitment to leadership, and being a family on and off the baseball diamond worked F out magnificently in 2021. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | s u mmer 2021 15

“ There are many reasons to be concerned today, but I also think that India has defied expectations before and has always had the capacity to surprise us.”

— Sunil Purushotham, PhD

16 sum me r 2021 | Fairf ie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

From Raj to Republic Associate professor of history Sunil Purushotham’s new book explores the birth of the world’s largest democracy.

B

by Alistair Highet

etween 1946 and 1952,

the British Raj, the world’s largest colony, was transformed into the Republic of India, the world’s largest democracy.

The path to democracy in India was violent and complex; there were more than 500 princely states that remained when the British left, some seeking their own independence. In the northwest region of Punjab, the question of who belonged in Pakistan and who in India led to violent confrontations. And there were also those who wanted a more sweepingly transformed post-colonial society.

Dr. Sunil Purushotham’s new book, From Raj to Republic: Sovereignty, Violence, and Democracy in India (Stanford University Press), examines this complex and vexed period in India’s history.

Fairfield University Magazine: As the Raj came to an end, it was not inevitable that India would become a centralized democracy. There were other political entities that had a claim to sovereignty of their own, the princely states?

Dr. Purushotham: That’s right. The book takes the princely states, using the example of Hyderabad, as a starting point for rethinking the history of sovereignty in late colonial India.

We tend to think of the end of the Raj in terms of division: British India was divided into the two new nation-states of India and Pakistan.

But Britain’s Indian Empire was not a single thing to be divided. There were more than 500 princely states within India that occupied twofifths of the subcontinent. The princely states were quasi-sovereign entities controlled by rulers who had pledged loyalty to the British, and whose dynastic rights and privileges had been recognized in return.

From Raj to Republic suggests that the princely states were central to the major constitutional and political developments within India in the

decades leading up to independence in 1947. I focus on Hyderabad, a major princely state that occupied the lion’s share of the Deccan Plateau in the center of peninsular India.

It was larger than the territory of Britain and had 17 million inhabitants, so it was certainly large enough to make a claim to stand on its own.

When the Partition was announced in June 1947, its ruler, the Nizam of Hyderabad, announced that his state would not join either India or Pakistan. Instead, he sought recognition of Hyderabad as a sovereign entity on the world stage. The standoff between Hyderabad and India went on for over a year until the forceful annexation of the state by the Indian Army in September 1948, an event known as the Police Action.

The issue was also complex in Punjab; how was the Partition managed in that province?

On the one hand, you have this process by which the princely states are absorbed, at times violently, into the Indian nation-state. On the other, you have this process of division. Punjab, a vast and populous province in India’s northwest, was transformed into an international border between India and Pakistan. And this was a border forged in blood. Civil war, ethnic cleansing, and a refugee crisis marked the moment of independence. The two chapters on Punjab focus on efforts by the Indian government to “evacuate” and “recover” those people in Pakistani territory whom they had deemed “Indian subjects.” I discuss the power dynamics involved in this fixing of national subjects to national territory, and in particular the way in which caste and gender hierarchies were inscribed into the processes of “refugee relief and rehabilitation.”

Telangana in Hyderabad was also a complicated area. What was the nature of the communist movement there?

From 1946 until 1951, peasant revolutionaries in the Telangana districts of Hyderabad State battled landlords, the Nizam’s government, and the Indian Union, in that order. They fought for praja rajyam, or people’s rule. This entailed a total refashioning of rural social relations: landlords and village officials were chased away and land was redistributed under the slogan of “land to the tiller.” The movement spread to thousands of villages.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of India, the Telangana peasantry put forth a radical vision of a just and democratic agrarian society at the very moment of decolonization and independence.

We talk about India as the world’s largest democracy; what are your thoughts about how it will continue to evolve?

It has become cliché to speak of India as the world’s largest democracy. But it is also accurate. In the book, I understand the 1940s to be a time of transformational change and departure. We should take Indian democracy seriously and I think have a lot to learn from India, in terms of writing global histories of democracy. There are many reasons to be concerned today, but I also think that India has defied expectations before and has always had the capacity to surprise us. India is currently being hit hard by Covid, so my hope for the immediate future is that the pandemic can be brought under control and people can get the F care they need. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 17

#CapalboStrong

Stags rally to show support for Charlie Capalbo ’22 in a social media challenge.

by Nicolette Massaro

18 summer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

A

town of Fairfield native, Charlie Capalbo ’22 grew up with Stag Country right in his own backyard. In March 2017, just as he was finishing his high school senior varsity hockey season as goaltender, Capalbo was diagnosed with a rare case of T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (TLL).

After months of treatment in the hospital, he regained enough strength to enroll at Fairfield University and began his college career in the 2018 fall semester. With clear eyes and a full heart, Capalbo moved into Campion Hall and continued to receive routine chemotherapy treatment locally. But just four weeks into the semester, his doctors discovered new leukemia cancer cells, spurring a relocation to Boston for more hospital treatment. This included a bone marrow transplant; his then 18-year-old brother Will courageously stepped in as his donor.

In January 2020, Capalbo was able to resume his studies at Fairfield, finishing the semester via Zoom amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Academically thriving, the following semester he was named to the Dean’s List of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. But shortly thereafter, in January 2021, Capalbo received a third diagnosis and needed more treatment.

Immediately, Stags on campus began brainstorming ways to jump into action and join the ongoing community-wide show of support for their fellow student.

Since his first diagnosis in 2017, friends and family have banded together in a “Capalbo Strong” campaign. Local businesses have organized fundraisers for the family. Fairfield town residents leave hockey sticks on their doorsteps to stand in solidarity. Capalbo has received support via personalized #CapalboStrong social media shout-out messages from hockey players at both the collegiate and professional levels. Noteworthy players like Adam Fox from the New York Rangers and Nick Foligno, captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, continue to send him video messages with words of encouragement. It’s evident that Capalbo has an incredible support system at his back.

Friends in Stag Country joined this “Capalbo Strong” movement with a social media campaign called the #CapalboStrong Challenge.

Left: A proud member of Fairfield’s Class of 2022, Charlie Capalbo is battling cancer for the third time since 2017.

In its first month, the campaign garnered more than 120,000 impressions online, reaching the newsfeeds of many within the Fairfield community and beyond.

The Challenge requires the completion of 22 push-ups in Capalbo’s honor — to commemorate his place in the Fairfield University Class of 2022 — and the upload of a video of the feat to a social media platform, with #CapalboStrong and #FairfieldU written in the caption of the post.

Within the video, participants typically state their name, accept the challenge, offer a statement of support, and tag two new nominees to keep the #CapalboStrong Challenge going. In its first month, the campaign garnered more than 120,000 impressions online, reaching the newsfeeds of many within the Fairfield community and beyond.

The 22-push-up challenge kicked off in early March with Fairfield’s club hockey team — a nod to Capalbo’s passion for the sport. Since then, hundreds of Fairfield students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends have answered the call in more than 50 videos. The #CapalboStrong Challenge even caught the attention of Town of Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, many of Capalbo’s doctors and nurses, and various members of the University’s senior leadership team, including University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, and his wife Suzy.

“I nearly cried when I saw the President of Fairfield U and his wife doing the challenge,” Capalbo said. “I have seen photos with ‘Capalbo Strong’ lawn signs, and a profile in The Fairfield Mirror. Groups of students have shaved their heads in solidarity — there was even a hot dog eating challenge! All of it reminds me on a daily basis that I have a whole Stag family in my corner, even though from afar.”

“This is my third battle, but I intend to get better and come back to Fairfield U to rejoin my Stag family,” added Capalbo. “I want everyone to know that they are a big part of F my recovery-in-progress.” l

Completing the #CapalboStrong Challenge (above, from top) are: Club Baseball, University President Mark R. Nemec and his wife Suzy, and Club Hockey.

Show your support and join our #CapalboStrong Challenge on social media: 1. Accept the challenge.

2. Take a video of yourself completing 22 pushups. The video should include your name, who challenged you, your statement of acceptance, and a mention of two new nominees.

3. Upload your video to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok. 4. Include hashtags #CapalboStrong and #FairfieldU in your post.

5. Tag @FairfieldU and your two nominees in your post.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | s u mmer 2021 19

Home OUR COMMON

Sustainability is an area of focus for the Society of Jesus. The Fairfield community heeds the call.

20 summe r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

I

by Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11

n 2019, Arturo Sosa, S.J., the superior general of the Society of Jesus announced four “universal apostolic preferences” to guide the work of the Jesuits for the following 10 years. They include: to show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises, to “walk with the poor and the outcasts of the world,” “to accompany young people,” and lastly, to “collaborate in the care of our Common Home.”

Of the fourth preference, inspired by Pope Francis’ second encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si’, Sosa wrote that “all human beings share responsibility for care of creation” and that the mission of the Society would be “to collaborate with others in the construction of alternative models of life that are based on respect for creation and on a sustainable development capable of producing goods that, when justly distributed, ensure a decent life for all human beings on our planet.” Over the last few years, based on their alarm at climate change, the Jesuits created the Office of Justice and Ecology, located in Washington, D.C.,

with legislators, public officials, corporations, and the Jesuit network on issues including immigration and environmental justice.

“The Jesuits really want to focus on bringing together care for our common home [and] care for one another, particularly those who are most vulnerable, those who are most impacted by environmental harm and degradation,” said Cecilia Calvo, the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States’ Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice.

“Jesuit institutions, like Fairfield University, [need] to take actions towards sustainability and to connect those actions to our Catholic faith,” she continued.

Fairfield as an institution and community has taken this call to action seriously. The University is currently at work on an updated comprehensive Campus Sustainability Plan and a host of sustainability efforts are underway.

The greater University community has embraced sustainability as well. Here is a look at how three young entrepreneurs are effecting change for both people and

which works to increase awareness and engagement

planet with their inspired company missions.

left:

Brittany Conover, a lab supervisor in the Biology Department at Fairfield, at her 150-acre, sustainable dairy farm in Easton, Connecticut.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 21

BRITTANY CONOVER

Shaggy Coos Farm

A

typical morning for Brittany Conover at Shaggy Coos Farm in Easton, Connecticut, starts with a milking at about 5:30 a.m.

Conover can be found inside her barn, kneeling beneath her dairy cows, dipping their udders with an iodinebased cleanser, wiping them all down, hand massaging out milk and attaching an electric pump to each teat. As the cows milk, Conover sips her coffee and eases into the day.

Then she hauls the steamy, 22-gallon stainless steel jug over to her milk room and creamery — a refashioned shipping container steps from her barn. A few days a week, she also serves as a microbiology and organismal lab supervisor in the Biology Department at Fairfield where she has taught for the last three years.

Conover is part of a new generation of farmers — fresh blood, at age 29, in a male-dominated industry that has always been a struggle. On her own she manages the 15-acre farm she lives on with her husband Jake.

22 summer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Conover, who has an MS in environmental science from the University of New Haven, has a calmness to her, which obscures her shrewd business sense. She’s diversified the products at her farm, producing dairy, meat, and eggs. She also boards horses and sells her products at a market on the premises.

At the top of her mind and at the heart of her farm — and her teaching — is the notion of sustainability. For Conover that means keeping her dairy and meat livestock small scale and manageable, staying constantly vigilant about ways to

reduce waste, and treating her animals with respect. She brings her knowledge of agriculture back with her to the Fairfield bio lab.

Conover founded Shaggy Coos on the principles of raising livestock humanely and without the use of any artificial aids. All of her animals are given a high-quality diet of grass, hay, and grain which are antibiotic- and hormone-free, and her livestock is harvested under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“We treat our animals the way we

above from left:

Conover holding a Rhode Island Red Hen; Conover milking one of of her eight cows at dawn. left:

The Shaggy Coos Farm store operates on the honor system and offers fresh dairy, meat, and eggs.

would want to be treated,” Conover said, her boots breaded with manure and pine shavings. “From pasture management to their overall environment, health, and feed, we consider all of that very carefully.”

Learn more at shaggycoos.farm

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 23

TONY PONTE ’13

Graziella Coffee Company

T

ony Ponte ’13 starts his workday by fulfilling his Graziella Coffee Company orders. He scoops the rich, roasted fair-trade beans into 60-percent compostable paper bags, packages them for shipping, slings a giant sack of them over his shoulder, and rides his bike one-handed to the post office. To Ponte, every little bit that he can do to support the environment helps and is part of an important cycle of change.

“I see my role not only as supporting sustainable agriculture and production,” Ponte said, “but as offering consumers a choice they can feel good about.”

Ponte grew up in northwestern Connecticut, in a tight-knit ItalianAmerican family where he and his sisters

often passed the time in the nearby backyard garden of their grandparents.

Farmers by trade in southern Italy before they immigrated to America, Ponte’s grandparents instilled in him a passion for the growing process — whether it was planting seedlings, birdwatching, or skinning and eating freshly picked carrots. Ponte absorbed their reverence for the land and their simpler way of life.

Coffee was also a part of his culture growing up. Ponte’s father and uncles owned a coffee shop and at most family functions small cups of espresso were passed around. Some drank it with sugar, while others poured in Sambuca.

“These memories make up the foundation of why I got into coffee in the first place,” Ponte said. “Coffee creates community.”

24 summer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

About two years ago, after having worked at a few jobs that weren’t quite the right fit, Ponte enrolled in a coffee-tasting course and soon founded Graziella Coffee Company — named for his grandmother — a coffee roasting and retail sales business with a focus on sustainable, transparent supply chains and sound farming practices that yield a premium product.

A marketing major while at Fairfield, Ponte purchases organic, raw, bulk coffee only from importers who are committed to fair-trade practices and sustainable agriculture; or he works directly with farmers

who invest in their communities through education, initiatives for women’s rights, and health efforts. Then, Ponte roasts the beans in a shared commercial kitchen and sells the final product, in his online shop, to specialty stores and cafes.

Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, Ponte hopes to continue to build community by opening up a storefront where he can host events.

“As long as the mission continues to stay the focus,” Ponte said, “your impact, the business, and the brand grow — the possibilities are kind of endless.”

above from left:

Tony Ponte ’13 holding a bag of his Graziella Coffee; Ponte purchases from fourth-generation coffee farmer Adelmo Lopez and director of coffee Marcial Riveria, seen here riding through pasture at Finca Terrerito in Copan, Honduras. left:

Shade-grown, dark roast coffee from Finca Terrerito in Ponte’s 60-percent compostable bag.

Learn more at graziellacoffee.com

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 25

JENNIFER STUCKO ’09

Prota Fiori

A

finance and marketing double major at Fairfield, Jennifer Stucko ’09 studied abroad in Florence, Italy, where her dorm abutted the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, a Mecca for shoe-lovers like herself, which houses a collection of more than 10,000 shoes dating from the 1920s. That’s where she developed a taste for luxury fashion and became a bonafide Italophile.

After building a career in fashion and working for companies like Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, and A. Testoni, Stucko was in search of something more.

“I learned that the fashion industry is the second most toxic in the world and is contributing to the climate crisis at catastrophic levels. I wanted to make a difference,” Stucko said.

Inspired by purpose-driven brands and her love of Italian craftsmanship, Stucko merged her passions and launched Prota Fiori ( “protect the flowers”) in 2020, the first luxury shoe brand that is completely constructed by artisans with sustainable

materials.

“I’ll never forget when I arrived in Le Marche, (on Italy’s eastern seaboard) for the first time to meet my secondgeneration footwear manufacturer,” Stucko said. “It was my first time in the region — there were rolling hills, vineyards, and sweeping views of the Adriatic Sea. I felt like I was home. I was in the right place. I could trust them and they could trust me.”

Stucko’s “old Hollywood, ladylike European stylish flare” shoes are made from sustainable components like upcycled grape and apple skins, chrome-free metal, vegetable-tanned and regenerated leather, and they’re packaged in Forest Stewardship Council Certified paper and recycled organic cotton.

How does a grape skin become part of a shoe? Stucko collaborates with Italian wineries to capture grape marc discarded during wine production (grape marc is composed of grape skins, stalks, and seeds discarded during wine production.) While most raw materials for leather alternatives are made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride),

26 summe r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

far left:

flat.

Prota Fiori’s “Magnolia Latte”

left:

Jennifer Stucko ’09, founder and CEO of Prota Fiori, poses with a citrus tree to highlight her company’s garden initiative for which they planted 100 trees to honor their first 100 customers.

Prota Fiori uses a more environmentally friendly water-based PU (polyurethane), which has no chemical solvents. For the shoes’ coloring, Stucko uses only REACH compliant (a European Union environmental certification) dyes, and their production facility is powered by clean, solar energy.

Prota Fiori is now a Pending Certified B Corporation, which means it will soon achieve the certification with the highest standard of accountability for doing “business for good,” putting Stucko’s company in the class of others like Patagonia and Allbirds.

“No one’s ever made a shoe like this F before,” she said with a smile. l Learn more at protafiori.com

The multi-generational Prota Fiori factory in Le Marche, Italy.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 27

FIGHTING BACK CYBERCRIMINALS STOLE ALMOST A TRILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR; THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING’S NEW CYBERSECURITY LAB PREPARES GRADUATES TO STOP THEM.

by Sara Colabella ’08, MA’11

This past year was a painful one for millions around the world — but a great year for cybercriminals.

The estimated global losses from cybercrime in 2020 were projected at almost $1 trillion — as the coronavirus pandemic — with everyone working from home, doing everything on their phones and computers — opened up new vulnerabilities for cybercriminals to exploit. That figure is according to a recent report in The Washington Post, citing data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and computer security company McAfee. It is almost double the monetary loss from cybercrime in 2018.

All of us are more vulnerable to these cybercriminals than we ever have been, as more of our daily lives are mediated through the internet. We work remotely, shop from online apps, bank on our phones, and undertake dozens of other transactions on digital platforms that are susceptible to hackers.

28 summer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 29

And those hackers are becoming more sophisticated in their methods, finding new ways to breach security, stealing information like social security numbers or credit card data, taking cash directly from credit card or bank accounts, and even shutting down entire computer networks, then demanding ransom. The battle between hackers and security professionals is constantly escalating, with cybersecurity experts continually having to upgrade their skill set to stay atop the advances made by cybercriminals.

To address the demand for cybersecurity professionals across industries both nationally and internationally — from the public to the private sector — Fairfield University’s School of Engineering launched an MS in Cybersecurity Program in the fall of 2020.

“The main goal of the master’s program is to prepare professionals for the cybersecurity space with both technical hands-on experience and a broad understanding of the policies required by security governance for all companies,” said Dean of the School of Engineering Andres L. Carrano, PhD. “The students who graduate from this program will be able to assess and remediate threats, but also monitor risks and adopt the appropriate security compliance regulations.”

T

he scale of the dem and for cybersecurity professionals is staggering. According to The New York Times, citing a report by leading research company Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be as many as 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally this year, as cybercrime damages climb into the trillions of dollars. Wrote Steve Morgan, editor-in-chief of Cybercrime Magazine, “If it were measured as a country, then cybercrime… would be the world’s thirdlargest economy after the U.S. and China.”

With such staggering anticipated demand, Fairfield’s Cybersecurity Program has much to offer, and with its location in the middle of a thriving Northeast life-science corridor, cybersecurity graduates are well-positioned to gain full-time employment in the field after graduation.

Dean Carrano said, “We offer a master’s degree in cybersecurity that can be completed entirely online with the flexibility to choose between two concentrations: a technical and a managerial track. We aim to become a steady and reliable source of cybersecurity experts to a wide array of companies.”

The School of Engineering program

30 summe r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

is based out of a new state-of-the-art cybersecurity lab, designed in partnership with Pulse Secure, the leading provider of Zero Trust Secure Access solutions. The lab supports the cybersecurity curriculum both in-person and online, and provides students with a realistic simulation to solve sophisticated, real-world security threats.

The cybersecurity program can be completed in as little as one year full-time, or two years part-time. Students can choose between a variety of core and elective coursework, from network security to ethical hacking, to network routing and switching, to software engineering methods.

Admission to the program is open to students who hold a bachelor’s degree and come from a broad array of professional or academic backgrounds such as — but not limited to — information technology, business, engineering, science, and law.

Companies often encourage employees within the cybersecurity field to continue their education with additional professional certifications such as digital forensics and security management. Fairfield’s coursework is geared toward these professional certifications and provides an in-depth understanding

“THE MAIN GOAL OF THE MASTER’S PROGRAM IS TO PREPARE PROFESSIONALS FOR THE CYBERSECURITY SPACE WITH BOTH TECHNICAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICIES REQUIRED BY SECURITY GOVERNANCE FOR ALL COMPANIES.” — Andres L. Carrano, PhD, Dean of the School of Engineering

above :

Students in the Cybersecurity Program gain both technical hands-on experience and a broad understanding of security policies. right:

Dean Carrano believes that a Jesuit education uniquely prepares Fairfield’s School of Engineering graduates for careers in cybersecurity.

of these concepts. Through the School of Engineering program, students are equipped with the knowledge they need to obtain these certifications.

Explained Adrian Rusu, PhD, professor and chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Fairfield, “The program’s content was designed at a deep, rigorous level of understanding of cybersecurity material, but at the same time it is closely aligned with professional certifications. In addition to getting a fundamental understanding of cybersecurity, students are also well prepared to pursue some of the most sought-after professional certifications, such as Certified Hacker 10, Certified Information Systems Security Manager, and Certified Digital Forensic Examiner.”

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 31

left:

Designed in partnership with Pulse Secure, Fairfield’s Cybersecurity Lab supports both in-person and online curricula.

Similar to other graduate-level engineering programs at the School of Engineering, the Cybersecurity Program requires a twosemester capstone experience. During the capstone, students work in teams with local businesses or non-profits and perform a technical study and design software systems.

F “THE PROGRAM’S CONTENT WAS DESIGNED AT A DEEP, RIGOROUS LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF CYBERSECURITY MATERIAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS.” — Adrian Rusu, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department

a i r f i e l d ’s s c h o o l o f Engineering is considered to be a pipeline for workforce development for the state of Connecticut, as noted by the recent visit of U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D., Conn., 4th District). Congressman Himes was welcomed to campus by the Engineering Department, where he explored initiatives underway by student engineers and toured engineering labs with University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “The visit by Congressman Himes highlights the School of Engineering as an engine of economic development for the state of Connecticut,” said Dean Carrano. “Given his involvement in the National Security Committee, Congressman Himes showed a strong interest in our cybersecurity facilities and initiatives.”

As part of the tour, Rep. Himes visited the Cybersecurity Lab with Mirco Speretta, PhD, professor of the practice in computer science and engineering, and system administrator Joseph Wilson. During the tour, they discussed how the lab was built and customized to provide a unique handson, experiential learning environment for cybersecurity students.

Dr. Carrano noted that a Jesuit education and its mission to develop “men and women for others” uniquely prepares our graduates for a career in cybersecurity, and sets Fairfield F University engineering graduates apart. l Learn more at Fairfield.edu/cybersecurity.

32 summe r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Grants&Gifts

A Selection of Grants and Gifts Received From Private and Public Foundations, and Corporations

College of Arts and Sciences The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

awarded a $300,000 grant to dancer, choreographer, and Fairfield University College of Arts and Sciences Senior Fellow nora chipaumire. Through this generous grant, the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts was able to host nora and her collaborators for a “bubble” residency which took place over 12 weeks during the spring of 2021. Stringent safety protocols protected the artists and community members, and ensured safe studio and theater space for nora and her company to work as artists-inresidence at the Quick Center.

(Ed. Note: The artist nora chipaumire’s name is intentionally presented above in lowercase, by request.)

The H.W. Wilson Foundation has renewed its support with a generous $80,000 gift towards The H.W. Wilson Foundation Veterans Scholarship Fund, which will provide scholarship support for eight veteran students in the College of Arts and Sciences graduate programs and enhance each Veteran’s Yellow Ribbon Scholarship.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has approved a $30,000

Learning Grant as part of the HHMI Inclusive Excellence IE3 competition which aims to encourage universities to build their capacity for inclusion of all students, especially those who have been historically excluded from the sciences. This award is one of several stages in the overall competition, and will support Fairfield University’s participation in HHMI’s Learning Community Clusters.

The Mathematical Association of America has approved a $27,500 grant

to host a National Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program at Fairfield University during the summer of 2021. This initiative seeks to support the participation of mathematics undergraduates from

The Quick Center stage was set this semester for the 12-week “bubble” residency of artist nora chipaumire (inset) and her dance troupe.

underrepresented groups in focused and challenging research experiences, to increase their interest in advanced degrees and careers in mathematics.

The Herman Goldman Foundation

has approved a $3,000 grant in support of the Arts for All initiative at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, which provides more than 3,000 pre-K-to-12 students from local schools with high-quality arts education programming and live theater experiences.

Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies Jonas Philanthropies has approved a

$30,000 grant to the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies to be earmarked for the tuition of two students to study in the Family Nurse Practitioner DNP program, as Jonas-Flynn Scholars.

Charles F. Dolan School of Business Future Tech Enterprise, Inc. continues

its strong support of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Entrepreneurship Program with an additional $25,000 grant to strengthen Fairfield StartUp and inspire our students’ innovative talents.

General University Support/Scholarship The Weller Foundation, Inc. has renewed

its support with a $1,000 grant towards the 2021 Weller Collegiate Scholarship, which provides annual support to a student with demonstrated financial need from Monroe, Newtown, Shelton, Easton, or Trumbull.

The Lavelle Fund for the Blind has renewed its support of the Brother Kearney Scholarship Program with a $6,676 grant.

Gifts from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind are used to provide financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students who are legally blind F and demonstrate financial need. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 33

Alumni NOTES 1960

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

’62 | Paul Magnarella has authored the book Black Panther in Exile: The Pete O’Neal Story, which received the silver medal in the 2020 Florida Book Awards General Nonfiction category.

The Florida Book Awards exists to identify, honor, and profile Florida’s best books and their authors.

1970

’78 | Gene Rossi, a Washington, D.C., attorney, was elected to shareholder at Carlton Fields. He is a member of the firm’s white collar and government investigations practice.

Rossi leverages the skills he honed in nearly three decades as a federal prosecutor to concentrate on matters related to white collar criminal defense and government investigations. ’79 | Deirdre (O’Connor) Rea graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in December of 2019.

She is currently employed as director of emergency psychiatry at the Intensive Ambulatory Continuum within the Department of Psychiatry at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia.

StagMates Jennifer Amdur ’09 and Ted Swiderski ’09 welcomed son, Devin Joseph born Feb. 16, 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.

’86 | Rich McCarty MBA’00, is vice president for Advancement at Goodwin University and the University of Bridgeport, as the two schools are in the process of finalizing their unique partnership.

In addition to heading up the Advancement teams, McCarty works on community partnerships and strategic planning.

1980 1990 ’82 | Mario Dell’Olio MA’88, published his third book, New Men. A window into the soul of the church, New Men is a true-to-life saga within the halls of power and mystery within Vatican City.

’90 | Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, editor of The Christian Citizen, a digital-first publication of American Baptist Home Mission Societies. His book #InThisTogether: Ministry in Times

34 summe r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

of Crisis was recently published by Judson Press. ’91 | Stephen Silich has had his second book of collected poems, tonight will be the longest night of them all, published by Brooklyn Writers Press.

This follows the publication of Silich’s first collection, the silence between what I think and what I say. All proceeds from book sales are donated back to Brooklyn Writers Press in an effort to support their mission of publishing unknown and independent authors.

Books are available at all online retailers and stores in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. ’92 | Frank J. Chesky III has recently been promoted to vice president and deputy general counsel at Hard Rock International.

’96 | James P. Carlon recently published a new book, Conversation With a Desperate Man: A book for any man on the brink; and anyone who loves him.

The book details Carlon’s struggles with mental illness and hospitalization in two renowned psychiatric hospitals.

Carlon is the founder and chairman of the Fairfield County Bar Association’s Wellness Committee, and is a frequent speaker on the topic of mental health in the legal workplace. He lives in Weston, Conn. with his son and a very spoiled wheaten terrier.

John Guszkowski and a colleague founded Tyche Planning & Policy Group, LLC, a Connecticutbased consulting firm focused on sustainable community planning and development. He has also been serving as the government relations officer for the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association for the last five years and has helped draft some recent housing legislation at the CT General Assembly.

2000 ’07 | Brian Clarke has been promoted to partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth. Clarke advises issuers, investors, and other stakeholders in Chapter 11 reorganizations, out-of-court restructurings, and other distressed situations. In addition, he advises clients in the negotiation and execution of complex business transactions, including financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and control investments.

’08 | Patrick Dunleavey, CPA, was announced by CironeFriedberg, LLP as audit principal providing services for not-for-profit, manufacturing Continued on page 37.

A L U M N I I N PA L L I AT I V E C A R E

Erica (Trombly) Harp ’14, RN – BSN, CPLC Caring for Families Who Are Facing the Unimaginable

E

by Meredith Guinness MA ’16 rica Harp ’14 has always loved being around children.

For many, such an interest might lead to a career as a librarian, educator, or orthodontist. For Harp, it’s evolved into a profession that is both wrenching and deeply rewarding: she works nights in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), leading end-of-life and bereavement care for families facing the unimaginable.

As a pediatric palliative care nurse at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., Harp helps coordinate teams of skilled nurses, professional “palliative care champions,” and family members to care for newborns facing life-limiting conditions and end-of-life situations. Many of these babies were born significantly premature, some barely past the halfway point of a typical 40week gestation, and as tiny as 15 ounces.

“We have hard conversations,” said Harp, who keeps each family’s unique circumstances in mind. “I know this is a horrible scenario. But, in this moment, I need to do what this family needs.”

Harp herself was a premature baby, born at just 31 weeks and weighing three pounds, five ounces. Throughout her own childhood, she remembers her parents speaking highly of the compassionate advice and care they received from nurses when she was born.

The profession seemed a natural fit.

A graduate of Holy Name Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School in Worcester, Mass., Harp wanted to attend a Jesuit college. At Fairfield Egan, the evolving focus on palliative care that led to the creation of the five-year-old Kanarek Center for Palliative Care Nursing Education resonated with her — and is now the focus her work.

Harp has spent the last four years reinventing the end-of-life and bereavement

policies and procedures followed by Baystate Medical Center’s NICU. She is planning conference presentations this fall on her work, which influences overarching hospital standards and provides precise directions for nurses who find themselves dealing with such morally and ethically difficult situations every day.

Palliative care encourages nurses to openly discuss the beliefs and wishes of a patient’s family. Do they place importance in extending the time they have with a loved one through medical means, or in ensuring the waning time is spent in comfort? What cultural and religious issues are involved in their decisions?

“I really feel that my Jesuit education helped me learn about and appreciate caring for the whole patient and their family, not just their physical symptoms,” she wrote not long ago to Kanarek Center Director Eileen O’Shea, DNP, APRN, PCN-BS, CHPPN. “I am working to re-educate our staff on the importance of palliative care and knowing that it is not a form of giving up or abandoning medical care; this education is crucial before students start being exposed to it in their clinical lives after graduation.”

While some might find Harp’s work too draining or depressing, she said she has always been interested in how people — and different cultures — address death. As a veterinary technician in high school, she took to heart the fleeting nature of life and the concept that death can be a release from suffering for any mortal being.

“Death is just as much a part of life as birth or anything else,” she said. “Sometimes it is a peaceful end to a struggle.”

Harp strives to make sure her workplace culture welcomes honesty among its members, and offers time off to relax and recharge. Occasionally she finds that a dark sense of humor or the ability to compartmentalize in the moment is necessary

“I really feel that my Jesuit education helped me learn about and appreciate caring for the whole patient and their family, not just their physical symptoms.’” to balance the emotional toll she and her nurses experience in the 55-bed NICU. “We have seen a lot of death, especially during Covid,” she said. “Every nurse has. You need to know your limits.”

In addition to presenting on the palliative care policies she’s written for her hospital, Harp will spend some of 2021 learning to train others through the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium, an international initiative to improve palliative care. She first learned of the group while at Fairfield’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies.

Harp especially appreciates lighter moments when she runs into families she’s helped in the past — sometimes celebrating the birth of a new child.

“You see that and it’s extremely joyful,” she said. “They’re so grateful for the care we F provided in the worst days of their lives.” l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | s u mmer 2021 35

A L U M N I I N PA L L I AT I V E C A R E

Alexis Yannone ’20, RN Guiding Patients Through End-of-Life Transitions

S

by Meredith Guinness MA ’16 ome nurses will tell you they got into the profession because they were inspired by a favorite aunt or they survived a childhood illness because of the skilled and steadfast care of a modern-day Florence Nightingale.

Alexis Yannone ’20 is not one of those people.

“It’s not one of those unique stories,” the Massachusetts native said. “I wanted to be a nurse because I liked anatomy and physiology. There is a lot of variety and I liked the idea of lifelong learning.”

It’s probably Yannone’s clear-eyed, selfpossessed nature that made her such a good fit for nursing school and, in particular, Fairfield’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. At Fairfield, she completed a comprehensive nursing program in a state-of-the-art setting where she found herself inspired by the School’s emphasis on palliative, or end-of-life, care.

Marking its fifth anniversary in 2021, Fairfield Egan’s Kanarek Center for Palliative Care Nursing Education influences the entire curriculum, integrating an evidence-based, quality-of-life focus in every nursing course Yannone ever took.

“I just figured that’s how every nursing program was, but it’s not,” she said.

Yannone truly appreciated the palliative care-infused curriculum in August 2020, when she started her first “real” job on an 18-patient medical/surgical unit at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital. At the end of orientation, her nursing director encouraged her to set some short- and long-term goals for her career. Yannone began a discussion about end-of-life care and least-tomost invasive methods for helping patients through transitions.

Yannone’s supervisor, who has become a trusted mentor, asked if she’d like to organize the unit’s Comfort Care Bag program.

Designed for patients at the end of life,

each bag includes a blanket, fuzzy socks, lip balm, hard candy, and soothing lotion that is not the industrial kind you might find in a hospital.

Yannone collects the donated items from friends she has reached out to on Facebook.

She also includes a poem for the family and a poster to enter information about the patient’s life and career, as well as favorite foods, colors, and movies, to help make connections with his or her caregivers.

“It opens up something you can talk about with the families and the patients,” she said.

“People often want to pass at home, but it’s not always feasible. This gives the family members something they can do, some way they can help make the patient more comfortable.”

Yannone thinks the project also helped her deal with the reality of not having a traditional commencement at the end of her University experience because of Covid-19 restrictions. “I needed some sense of closure and using what they had taught me has helped,” she said.

In addition to her work with the Comfort Care Bag program, Yannone will soon be involved in the hospital’s Messenger team, a community outreach program to address health disparities. She explained that the all-volunteer group disseminates Covid-19 information in targeted communities and distributes hygiene bags to the homeless.

Volunteering and service to others are second nature to Yannone. In fact, that’s why she chose Fairfield. Back when they were visiting prospective colleges, her mom insisted her daughter go eat at each campus’s cafeteria and strike up conversations with current students about the school’s distinct atmosphere.

As an adult, she can find the wisdom in her mom’s tactics that eluded her as a teen.

At the time, “I was mortified!” she said with a laugh. “But it really paid off.”

In the Tully at Fairfield, everyone she met mentioned his or her extracurricular

36 summer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

“If we lose a patient, we go through all the feelings, too. But it feels more rewarding to know that I did everything I could to help them be comfortable.’” involvement on campus, something that was very important to her. Once enrolled, Yannone augmented a busy nursing school schedule with stints as a University tour ambassador, spin instructor, and teaching assistant at the School of Nursing. She was co-president of Play Like a Girl, a club promoting fitness and health.

Approaching her one-year anniversary at Mass General, Yannone enjoys tackling “a little bit of everything” with her tight-knit team of co-workers. She’s currently looking forward to shadowing a nurse practitioner who specializes in palliative care, an experience that might lead to graduate school.

Some might think such work would be depressing. Not Yannone.

“I’m pretty good at separating work and life,” she said. “If we lose a patient, we go through all the feelings, too. But it feels more rewarding to know that I did everything I F could to help them be comfortable.” l

Alumni NOTES and distribution, arts and cultural organizations, independent schools, and human service agencies.

Prior to joining CironeFriedberg, Dunleavey served as a principal at a regional CPA firm. Dunleavey is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants.

2010

’14 | Loan Le MFA’17 was promoted to editor at Atria Books, a Simon & Schuster adult imprint.

Her young adult debut novel, A Pho Love Story, also came out in Feb. 2021 and is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. NPR called it “a sweet romance,” Buzzfeed said it was a “sparkling debut.” Le’s novel was named an Amazon Editors’ Pick.

Eric Lynch won the 2019 Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition. His Article,

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

“Going, Gutted, Gone?: Why Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is in Danger, and What States Can Do About It,” was recently published in Volume 21 of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law. ’16 | Claudia (Wasilewski) Baggiano is the vice president of Tri-Power Electrical, LLC. Baggiano started the company in 2019 along with her partner Leo Cortizo just in time for the 5G revolution.

Marriages Sarah (Iannarone) ’11 and John Jarrod DePrado ’12 — Aug. 8, 2020.

Michelle (Rodowicz) ’13, MA’14 and Patrick Deere 13 — Sept. 25, 2020.

Madeline “Mimi” (Smith) ’14 and Robert “Rob” Spina ’14 — Aug. 22, 2020.

Victoria (Carlucci) ’15 and Tyson Tortora ’08 — Nov. 21, 2020.

P A L L I AT I V E C A R E AT FA I R F I E L D

TRANSFORMING NURSING EDUCATION Kanarek Center for Palliative Care Nursing Education, which is housed in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. This Center of Education officially opened fall of 2017 and offers a comprehensive, integrated curriculum that provides students and nursing professionals the education needed to be leaders in palliative care. The aim of the Kanarek Center is to facilitate high quality, evidence-based, quality-of-life focused services for patients with serious illnesses or injuries and their families.

The Center is made possible by the generous leadership gift from Fairfield University trustee and alumna, Robin F Kanarek ’96 RN, BSN, of the Kanarek Family Foundation. l

Sarah (Iannarone) ’11 and John Jarrod DePrado ’12 tied the knot on Aug. 8, 2020.

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.

Jamie Hodnett ’15 and Conor Kelly ’15 — April 4, 2020.

Claudia (Wasilewski) ’16 and Anthony Baggiano — Sept. 19, 2020.

Births Caera and Jonathan Monahan ’05 — daughter, Wren, Nov. 2, 2020.

Jennifer Amdur ’09 and Ted Swiderski ’09 — son, Devin Joseph, Feb. 16, 2021.

Meaghan McKeon ’09 and Colin Sheckart ’09 — son, Owen Lee, Sept. 25, 2020.

Kailee (O’Neil) ’09 and Michael D’Angelo — daughter, Ella, Oct. 21, 2020.

Danielle (Cristina) ’10 and Kevin Fitzpatrick ’10 — son, Jack Robert, March 22, 2021.

Danielle (Mania) ’10 and Gregory Nero ’10 — son, Michael Anthony, Nov. 3, 2020.

Colleen (Banks) ’11 and Stephen McManus ’11 — daughter, Brynn Reagan, Nov. 7, 2020.

Sasha Campbell ’11 and Bryan Houlihan ’11 — daughter, Lucy Campbell, Oct. 27, 2020.

Kerri (MacKay) ’11 and Matthew McDonagh ’11 — daughter, Kayla Grace, Oct. 5, 2020.

Elizabeth (Garvey) ’13 and Matthew Fitzgerald ’11 — son, Avery Francis, Sept. 10, 2020.

Elizabeth and Thomas Ponte ’13, MS’14 — daughter, Ava Marie, Dec. 10, 2020.

Jen and Michael Tafuto ’14 — daughter, Layla Morgan, March 28, 2020.

To learn more please visit Fairfield.edu/kanarek.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | s u mmer 2021 37

Alumni NOTES In Memoriam

William J. Luddy Jr. ’69 — Feb. 12, 2021

Robert P. Whealn ’53 — March 2, 2021

Rev. Calvin M. Goodwin, S.J. ’71 — Jan. 22, 2021

Robert J. Foley ’54 — March 2, 2021

Richard Schaller II ’71 — March 4, 2021

John P. Sansone ’54 — March 26, 2021

Andrew C. Soltys ’71 — Jan. 2, 2021

Richard G. Forbes ’55 — March 21, 2021

Vincent C. LeRoy Jr. ’72 — March 15, 2021

Wesley S. Gregory ’57, MA’63 (GSEAP) — Feb. 15, 2021

Kevin P. Regan ’72 — Jan. 26, 2021

Eugene Vitelli ’57, MA’61 (GSEAP) — Jan. 28, 2021

James S. Shukie ’72, MA’78, CT’85 (GSEAP) — Jan. 13, 2021

Vincent T. Martin ’58 — March 19, 2021

Paul L. Gallois ’73 — Feb. 15, 2021

Joseph A. McGee Jr. ’60 — March 1, 2021 Richard D. Lorenzo ’61 — Jan. 13, 2021 Francis J. Costello ’62 — March 11, 2021 Thaddeus S. Stephanak ’62 — March 9, 2021 Edward A. Onofrio ’63 — June 25, 2020 David Aurandt ’65 — June 4, 2020 Armand Basmajian ’65 — March 12, 2021 Robert L. Dolan ’66 — March 9, 2021

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Glenn L. Phillips ’73, MS’83 (DSB) — March 14, 2021 Michele (Vittori) Casandra ’75 — March 14, 2021 Jonathan D. Duguid BEI ’76 — Feb. 10, 2021 Alan F. Berdan ’77 – May 23, 2020 Deborah (Davis) Roche ’78 — Feb. 10, 2021

Michelle (Rodowicz) ’13, MA’14 and Patrick Deere ’13 were married Sept. 25, 2020 in the Egan Chapel of Saint Ignatius of Loyola on campus.

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.

Paula (Neville) Graham ’80, MA’84 (GSEAP) — March 14, 2021 Mary Eng-Doyle ’83 — Jan. 8, 2021 Mark Anthony Mutuc ’05 — March 15, 2020

Thomas R. Schlueter ’66 — March 23, 2021 William (Bill) M. Suhy ’67 — Feb. 13, 2021 Michael A. Pizzo ’68 — Feb. 13, 2021 Charles B. Angelo ’69 — July 26, 2020 William (Bill) H. Connolly Jr. ’69 – Feb. 26, 2021

38 summer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Fairfield EVENTS AT T E N D F R O M H O M E !

Virtual events are wonderful opportunities to have fun, to learn, and to connect with the Fairfield community.

Find lectures, livestreams, webinars, and more at: Fairfield.edu/museum Fairfield.edu/quick Fairfield.edu/alumnievents

G R A D U AT E S C H O O L S Mario Dell’Olio ’82, MA’88 published his third book, New Men. A window into the soul of the church, New Men is a true-to-life saga from within the halls of power and mystery within Vatican City.

Rich McCarty ’86, MBA’00 is vice president for Advancement at Goodwin University and the University of Bridgeport, as the two schools are in the process of finalizing their unique partnership. In addition to heading up the Advancement teams, McCarty works on community partnerships and strategic planning.

Loan Le ’14, MFA’17 was promoted to editor at Atria Books, a Simon & Schuster adult imprint.

Her young adult debut novel, A Pho Love Story, also came out in Feb. 2021 and is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. NPR called it “a sweet romance,” Buzzfeed said it was a “sparkling debut.” Le’s novel was named an Amazon Editors’ Pick.

Marriages Michelle (Rodowicz) ’13, MA’14 and Patrick Deere ’13 — Sept. 25, 2020.

Births Elizabeth and Thomas Ponte ’13, MS’14 — daughter, Ava Marie, Dec. 10, 2020.

In Memoriam Joseph T. Connolly MA’58 (GSEAP) – Feb. 26, 2021 Eugene Edwards MA’60 (GSEAP) – March 27, 2021 Margaret A. Kuharec MA’60 (GSEAP) – March 9, 2021

Joan (Rebo) Bulkley MA’67 (GSEAP) – Jan. 4, 2021 Paul Dolson MA’69 (GSEAP) – Jan. 22, 2021 John A. Cochran MA’71 (GSEAP) – Jan. 21, 2021 Joseph E. McSparran Jr. MA’71 (GSEAP) – March 9, 2021 Glenn L. Phillips ’73, MS’83 (DSB) – March 14, 2021 Susanne M. Duffy CAS’75 (GSEAP) – Jan. 16, 2021 Patricia (Wood) Dietrich MA’76 (GSEAP) – Jan. 14, 2021 Frances L. Judson CAS’76 (GSEAP) – Feb. 22, 2021 James S. Shukie ’72, MA’78, CT’85 (GSEAP) – Jan. 13, 2021

Did you know?

Hundreds of companies match the charitable contributions made by their employees, employees’ spouses, or retirees.

You may double or even triple the impact of your gift! Please visit matchinggifts.com/fairfield to find out if your employer matches. If they do, complete your company’s matching gift form as you make your gift to Fairfield.

Make your gift today at fairfield.edu/give

Patricia A. (McGregor) Crown MA’79 (GSEAP) – Jan. 14, 2021 Sr. Joan Spingler MA’79 (GSEAP) – Jan. 21, 2021

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Nancy (Bellmeyer) Everett MA’80 (GSEAP) – Feb. 12, 2021 Paula (Neville) Graham ’80, MA’84 (GSEAP) – March 14, 2021 John E. Zick CAS’85 (GSEAP) – Jan. 18, 2021 John R. Moore MA’86 (GSC&PC) – Jan. 20, 2021 Pamela A. (Mills) Nowak MA’87 (GSC&PC) – Dec. 23, 2020 Phyllis (Leiter) Mankowitz CAS’89 (GSEAP) – Jan. 13, 2021 Barbara (Morris) Louria MA’98 (GSEAP) – Feb. 23, 2021 Janice Phelan MA’07 (CAS) – Jan. 16, 2021 Stephanie Nelson Avalos MA’09 (GSEAP) – Jan. 30, 2021

Wesley S. Gregory ’57, MA’63 (GSEAP) – Feb. 15, 2021

StagMates Danielle (Mania) and Gregory Nero ’10 are the proud parents of son, Michael Anthony, born Nov. 3, 2020.

Anthony J. Persutti MA’64 (GSEAP) – Feb. 7, 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.

Eugene Vitelli ’57, MA’61 (GSEAP) – Jan. 28, 2021

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 39

Donor

PROFILE Shannon (Barry) and Steve J. Siwinski ’92, P’16

N

“

o essay required.”

When asked why they chose to apply to Fairfield as high school students, this was one reason StagMates Shannon (Barry) and Steve J. Siwinski ’92, P’16 jokingly shared. While it may have been a factor that prompted them both to consider Stag Country, it is not what ultimately compelled each of them to stay.

“For me, it was the feeling of being at home when I came to visit the campus,” said Steve, who grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. “I was accepted into other great Jesuit and Catholic schools, but the familial connection I felt at Fairfield was something I appreciated at the time and was very important to me.”

The charming campus and strong sense of community solidified Shannon’s decision.

“I enrolled with the intention of only staying a semester and then transferring to Notre Dame,” the Chelmsford, Mass. native admitted, “but I made amazing friends and fell in love with the mystique and grandeur of Bellarmine Hall and the view of the Long Island Sound.

More than 25 years later, Shannon and Steve have no regrets about choosing Fairfield — especially because it is where they met — and they are filled with gratitude for every academic, social, and spiritual

experience they encountered while students.

As an operating partner at High Road Capital Partners who majored in accounting and finance and received his MBA from New York University, Steve attributes a lot of his career advancement to the well-rounded education he received at Fairfield. “The University provided me not only with accounting and finance training,” he said, “but also critical thinking and communication skills that enabled me to succeed at Ernst & Young for 17-plus years, before moving into my current role.”

The Siwinskis also appreciated Fairfield’s networking opportunities, which were integral to Shannon’s career. “I majored in biology, but while an undergraduate working at a pension fund in Boston for the summer, I met alumnus Bill Boyd ’67, who was working at Lehman Brothers.

He thought I would excel in the sales and trading world.” Boyd’s advice inspired Shannon to take

40 summe r 2021 | Fair fie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

“All alumni, no matter how their career or life has progressed, have an opportunity to inspire students by just taking a phone call, responding to an email, or sharing stories of their own failures and successes.” a leap that led her into a 26-year career at J.P. Morgan Securities, before accepting her current position in 2018 as director and senior trader on the short-term fixed income trading desk at Bank of America Securities.

The doors that Fairfield opened for them, as well as the memories and lifelong friendships they made while students, are why the Siwinskis volunteer their time and give back to the University. Shannon became a member of the University’s Trustee Advisory Council in 2004, before joining the Alumni Association Board in 2009. She served as Alumni President from 2014 to 2016 and continues to mentor young alumni today.

Steve has been on the advisory board of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business for more than 14 years.

For nearly three decades, the Siwinskis have also supported University priorities and students’ needs. Both were members of

the Parents Leadership Council while their daughter Sarah ’16 was an undergraduate student, and Shannon this year became a member of the Women’s Leadership Council in honor of the 50th anniversary of women at Fairfield.

Steve and Shannon encourage fellow alumni to stay involved with Fairfield by supporting the University and volunteering their time as mentors. “All alumni, no matter how their career or life has progressed, have an opportunity to inspire students by just taking a phone call, responding to an email, or sharing stories of their own failures and successes,” Shannon noted.

Currently residing in Montclair, N.J., the Siwinskis are a Fairfield legacy family. Their daughter Sarah graduated in 2016 with a double major in finance and marketing; she works at BlackRock in New York City. Steve’s brother, Jamie Siwinski ’96, received his BA in English from the College of Arts and Sciences.

THE FAIRFIELD FUND

Why Giving Matters

With a gift to the Fairfield Fund, you strengthen the University’s ability to provide a life-changing, high quality, Jesuit education that inspires students to be resilient, critical thinkers who always strive to better our world. Your support today ensures that we are able to invest in scholarships, financial aid, technology, and other initiatives that will help students thrive in any career they pursue.

Thank you for being men and women for others, and for your continued support.

Like Shannon (Barry) and Steve J. Siwinski ’92, P’16, you believe in Fairfield and our Jesuit traditions.

Make your gift today at fairfield.edu/give.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | su mmer 2021 iii

Fairfieldmagazine UNIVERSITY

SUMMER 2021

1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, Connecticut 06824-5195

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Burlington, VT 05401 Permit No. 229

Address Service Requested

CALLING ALL ALUMNI: BE COUNTED BY JUNE 30 Fairfield University’s continued growth and reputation are reinforced by the generosity of our alumni. Every graduate who makes a gift each fiscal year (which ends June 30) helps increase the University’s participation rate, strengthening our national rankings in many reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, and helping us attract talented prospective students.

More critically, a gift from you of any size by June 30 allows us to advance our mission of nurturing our students’ growth as women and men for others and preparing them for successful, fulfilling futures.

Be counted today by visiting fairfield.edu/give.

iv sum mer 2 0 21 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e