Winter 2005

Winter 2005 Magazine

Piecing Together Jordan’s Past

Editor’sInklings I began working in this position a week before Christmas Eve, in the midst of the Gannon Community preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ. The season called for humility, but the addition of a job to my life, particularly one in which I would be following in Deb Bartle’s footsteps, humbled me more than the season did alone. I knew that I had big shoes to fill. I soon found out, though, that I was not alone in feeling the wonder of humility. As I began to read, write, and edit the stories found in this issue, I was introduced to the humility that our community expresses all year round and in a variety of ways.

The Gannon Community has expressed humility, and its undeniable connection to our interest in humanity, throughout the past fall and winter season most noticeably in the form of scholarship. Learning and passing our knowledge on with the understanding that we still have much to learn is at the heart of true scholarship, the type of scholarship that we celebrated during the acknowledgement of our faculty at the Third Annual Faculty Scholarship and Research Celebration, and that we saw in the accomplishments of many of our students, faculty, and alumni. Among our students, for example, Christopher Soult participated as a Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency where he presented a research paper before the leaders of our country (page 7). Graduate Physical Therapy majors Joni Lindberg, Liz Rupert, and Kaia Willekes connected scholarship with its crucial component of human interest and caring through their work with war veterans in El Salvador (page 12), while Ross Miceli, Drew Saxton, and Veronica Ostrosky investigated the very foundations of our Judeo-Christian past under the guidance of Dr. Suzanne Richard ’71 (page 8).

Among our faculty, Dr. Catherine Marsters was honored with an invitation to the Modern Language Association’s 2005 National Conference and Professor Berwyn Moore’s “Glass” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in poetry (page 6). Professor Karen Lumia, was awarded the honor of being the Alpha Tau Delta National Nursing Sorority Advisor of the Year for her service to the scholarly organization (page 6).

Alumni also shared in the experience of scholarly accomplishment through creative venues and teaching awards. Bert Copple ’01 created his narrative drugstore jesus after his humbling experience of re-finding God in his otherwise successful life (page 16). Last but not least, Jason Harding ’02 was presented the DisneyHand Teaching Award for his work in the North Allegheny School District in Pittsburgh (page 27). He is continuing his scholarship by pursuing his superintendent’s certification and a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Whether we view scholarship through the understanding that we still have much to learn or we enjoy the awards of scholarly accomplishment, scholarship is undoubtedly a key to living out Gannon’s mission. I’m honored to join the community—one that is engaged in such admirable activities—as the new Editor, and I want to thank Deb and all those involved with the production of this magazine for making this transition one that is a beginning to what promises to be a happy and interesting time in my life.

Catherine Carlson, Editor carlson010@gannon.edu 814.871.5817

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Piecing Together Jordan’s Past

After returning from the Khirbet Iskander excavation, students work to rebuild artifacts.

12 Student Hands Offer Health and Healing Physical Therapy Students travel to war-torn El Salvador to offer treatment and training.

16 A Spiritual Journey Back to God

contents

Features

Gannon grad faithfully reunites with his long-lost best friend.

Departments 2 18 19 20 22 29

NewsNotes AlumniFocus FacultyFocus SportsScan AlumNotes EndNotes

Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. President David R. Fabian ’63 Director of Public Affairs Catherine E. Carlson ’05M Publications Officer and Editor Maggie M. Irvine ’05 Editorial Assistant

Contributors: Jana Hunt Jeannie Kloecker Julie Groenendaal ’98 Nick Pronko Renae Pryjmak ’06

On the Cover: Veronica Ostrosky, Drew Saxton, and Ross Miceli assemble excavated pottery in Gannon’s Institute for Archeological Research.

Photography: Ed Bernik Tim Rohrbach

Photo right: Fresh snow decorates one of Frederick Franck’s sculptures in A.J.’s Way.

Design: Tungsten Creative Group

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Winter Ceremony Gannon Awarded $1.824 Honors 278 Graduates Million Federal Grant Gannon University awarded 278 degrees during its Winter Gannon University has been awarded a $1.824 million Commencement ceremony. The graduates included four doctoral degree recipients, 173 master’s, 99 bachelor’s, and two associate’s. Four students graduated summa cum laude, five magna cum laude, eleven cum laude, and two received academic honors.

Wilbert Bryant, deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs with the United States Department of Education, gave the keynote address.

grant—the largest in University history—from the U.S. Department of Education (DEA) to help strengthen facultystaff development initiatives and enhance student learning over five years.

Gannon was one of only 53 institutions nationwide to receive a grant from the competitive Strengthening Institutions Program, also known as “Title III.” The University will receive $365,000 per year for each of the next four years and $364,296 in the fifth year. DEA will fund 64 percent of the total project cost. Gannon’s matching portion is $1,016,388, bringing the total value of the project to $2,840,684.

Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., initiated the process to pursue the grant, which will also be used to increase student retention rates. “The University’s ability to secure this grant is a tribute to a dedicated team of staff and their work in putting together a proposal that was assigned a near-perfect score by the Department of Education,” he said.

Brandie M. Atkins ’04, one of the graduates, performed “America the Beautiful” as the opening song.

The goals of the grant program complement the key goals of The Gannon University Strategic Plan: 2002-2007, currently in its third year. Richard E. Sukitsch, Special Assistant to the President and Director of Institutional Research, will serve as the grant’s project director.

LeapFrog! Bidders Hop To Support Scholarships and Art

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The LeapFrog! Auction in October 2004 marked the end of summer in Gannon’s Yehl Room with miniature and full-sized frogs available for more than 200 guests to bid upon as well as the debut of LeapFrog! The Ribbitting Tale, a 112-page coffee table book detailing the official story of the fundraiser that first began with the Fish Commish. LeapFrog raised over $100,000, which has been divided evenly between Gannon University’s Scholarship Fund and the Erie Art Museum.

Through the grant, Gannon will establish a Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to help faculty and staff integrate the latest technological and pedagogical techniques into their courses, increase student retention by strengthening academic advising, enhance student learning through the faculty’s use of instructional technology in the classroom, and add $200,000 to the endowment over the five years.

Festivities Celebrate Scholarship in Style Gannon hosted its annual Scholarship Celebration in October 2004. Alumnus and former professor, Dr. David R. Frew ’64, ’67M and James W. Keim, Jr. and members of the Keim family were honored with the Archbishop Gannon Medal of Distinction, which is presented to individuals who have been instrumental in promoting the cause of Catholic higher education.

The Scholarship Celebration honorees donned formal apparel for the black-tie fundraiser. Pictured from left to right: Attorney Joseph T. Messina, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Mr. James W. Keim, Jr. and his mother Mrs. Patricia Keim; Dr. David Frew’64,’67M; and President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

Michael White Quartet Jazzes Up Martin Luther King Week Dr. Michael White, a Professor of Spanish and Instructor of African American music at Xavier University of Louisiana, and his quartet offered performances of New Orleans Jazz and its history in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Lectures and presentations were part of a themed program entitled New Orleans Jazz—A Blend of Social Protest and Celebration.

Villa Maria School of Nursing Accredited for Full Ten Years Gannon University’s Villa Maria School of Nursing, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2005, has been approved for a full 10-year accreditation, the maximum possible, by the Board of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

CCNE’s review team confirmed that the school met or exceeded standards and complimented the internal support provided to the programs, students, and faculty. The team also lauded the support given the program by the University overall, by its College of Sciences, Engineering and Health Sciences—under which the School of Nursing falls—and by local and regional community agencies and health care facilities, including Hamot Medical Center and Saint Vincent Health Center.

Gannon Receives $55K Grant To Upgrade CAD Lab Gannon has received a $55,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust that helped the University upgrade its Mechanical Engineering Department’s Computer Aided Design (CAD) labs. The grant funded the department’s purchase of thirty Dell workstations that were purchased last summer. The workstations will allow students to use the latest CAD and mechanical engineering software. The George I. Alden Trust supports non-profit and educational organizations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the New England states.

Dr. Ludwik A. Medeksza, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, encourages students to learn and use the latest design software on Gannon’s new workstations.

NewsNotes

Bioinformatics Program Faculty/Staff News To Debut Fall 2005 Gannon will offer a Bioinformatics major beginning in fall of 2005. Significant advancements in molecular biology, coupled with a number of key breakthroughs in the mapping of the human genome, have led to strong growth in the biological information generated by governmental organizations and research institutes as well as established drug manufacturers and early-stage biotech companies. Wook-Sung Yoo, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Computer and Information Science and Director of the new program, said the 136-credit program’s interdisciplinary curriculum will combine mathematics, computer science, chemistry, engineering, biology, and biochemistry. Graduates will be qualified for positions such as bioinformatics analyst, research programmer, lab director, or senior scientist, or to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school.

Erie Technology Incubator Receives Federal Funds The Gannon University Technology Incubator has received $150,000 from the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2005. The Incubator employs a model of private, public, and University partnerships to support start-up companies in the Erie Area in efforts to encourage economic growth. This year’s federal funding was secured by Congressman Phil English in addition to the $405,000 that English secured in 2003.

Gannon Science Program Awarded Hirtzel Grant Gannon’s Radiological Sciences program has received $75,000 from the Orris C. Hirtzel and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation to upgrade the laboratory technology used by the program’s students. Cynthia L. Liotta, Director of Gannon’s Radiologic Sciences Program, said the grant will be used to purchase a Kodak computed radiography image capture and display system.

“This technology is radically different in terms of how anatomical images historically have been produced,” Liotta said.

She added that Gannon was fortunate to secure the grant.

“Because of the cost of the technology, many radiologic sciences programs at the college and university level don’t have it in their labs. Some programs also don’t have access to it through local hospitals and facilities,” she commented.

“So we’re very grateful to the Hirtzel Foundation for this opportunity.”

Gannon Purchases Gitnik Manse and Courthouse Commons

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Gitnik Manse—a three-story, eighteen-room house that was built in 1885 by Erie lawyer Francis F. Marshall—now serves as Gannon’s front door for perspective students.

Gannon University recently purchased the Gitnik Manse and Courthouse Commons, neighboring mansions located in the area known as the West Sixth Street Historical District. The Gitnik Manse, rejuvenated to its original beauty by Attorney Paul Gitnik in 2000, has become the new home of the Office of Admissions, the Office of Graduate Studies, and the Center for Adult Learning.

Next door, the Courthouse Commons now houses the University’s Cashier, Registrar, and Financial Aid offices.

NewsNotes

Founder of L’Arche Honored On July 24, 2004, the University presented the Ut Diligatis Invicem award to Dr. Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche and of Faith and Light. The award, which takes its name from founder Archbishop John Mark Gannon’s motto: “That You May Love One Another,” is given annually to individuals who show commitment to their faith, exemplify Judeo-Christian ideals of love and respect for human dignity, and whose life’s work enriches their professions, societies, and world.

Past recipients include Archbishop Desmund Tutu, renowned Catholic artist Frederick Franck, and author Sister Helen Prejean.

In 1964, Jean Vanier founded the first L’Arche community when he invited two developmentally challenged men to join him in communal living in a small home he purchased north of Paris, hoping to promote a higher level of dignity and independence than institutions then supported. Today, Dr. Vanier’s message of inclusion and compassion has sown more than 120 L’Arche communities in 30 countries around the world, including the oldest in the United States, founded in Erie by current Gannon Chaplain Father George Strohmeyer in 1971.

Dr. Vanier, who is deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition, is close to Pope John Paul II and periodically meets with Vatican officials to further the mission of L’Arche throughout the world.

Bernadette Hattjar

Susan Carnes

Maria Gerase, Ph.D.

Laura Rutland, Ph.D.

Supawadee Lee, Ph.D.

Julie M. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

Johnson Olanrewaju, Ph.D.

Kathleen M. Kingston, Ed.D.

Margaret T. Clark, Ph.D.

New Professors Welcomed Gannon welcomes the following new faculty members: Susan Carnes, Assistant Professor of Nursing; Margaret T. Clark, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Education, Julie M. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Business; Maria Gerase, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Services and Criminal Justice, Bernadette Hattjar; Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Carol Hayes; Instructor of English, Perry Hilburn; Instructor of Physics; Sr. Claire Hudert, OSB, Instructor of Theology; Lamont Johnson, Instructor of Philosophy; Kathleen M. Kingston, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Education; Suzanne Kitts, Instructor of Sport and Exercise Science; Supawadee Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy; Johnon Olanrewaju, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences and Engineering; Laura Rutland, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English.

Consortium Dietetics Program Reaccredited The Pennsylvania Consortium Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CCP), sponsored by Gannon University, Mercyhurst College, and Edinboro University, has been approved for continued accreditation. Program Director Dawna T. Mughal, Ph.D., received notice of the continued accreditation, made for the maximum period of 10 years, from the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association.

The CCP is the only program of its kind nationally and one of only 50 four-year coordinated programs accredited

by CADE. As an accelerated program, the CCP includes at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice or internship spread across the student enrollment. The consortium model allows students at Gannon to share faculty and resources with dietetics students from Edinboro and Mercyhurst, widening the perspectives from which they can learn.

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NewsNotes

Faculty and Staff News Professor Karen Lumia of the Villa Maria School of Nursing was selected as the 2004 recipient of the Alpha Tau Delta National Nursing Sorority Advisor of the Year award. The prestigious national award recognizes Lumia’s hours of hard work and support of Gannon’s Alpha Tau Delta chapter.

President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., served as a moderator at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in November 2004. Dr. Garibaldi, who for the last several years has served as a member of a research team commissioned by the USCCB Secretariat for African American Catholics, moderated a panel discussion on the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of their 1979 Pastoral Statement on Racism, “Brothers and Sisters to Us.” Gannon Registrar Marilyn Dombrowski was elected to a four-year term as a faculty advisor on the national executive committee of Phi Eta Sigma national honor society at its national convention in Savannah, Georgia. The society’s goal is to encourage and reward academic excellence among college freshmen.

Penelope Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English, was one of a select group of women in higher education leadership positions statewide invited to participate in the Fall 2004 Pennsylvania American Council on Education Network Forum: “Women Leaders of the 21st Century: Pathways to Presidency.” The forum was designed to provide support and strategies to help participants enhance their leadership skills.

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Kate Marsters, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English, has been invited to participate in a panel discussion at the 120th annual convention of the Modern Language Association of America. Marster’s presentation for the panel, entitled “Human Nature, Nurture and the Nursery: Early Illustrations of Mungo Park’s Travels,” is related to her dissertation and previous publications.

Berwyn Moore, Associate Professor of English, had her poem “Glass” nominated for the Pushcart Prize in poetry. According to English Department Chairperson John Young, The New York Times Book Review called this prize the “single best measure of the state of affairs in American literature today.” It is a prestigious award which will be presented next spring.

Bonita K. Booker, Director of the Commonwealth Academic Achievement program/Act 101 (CAAP) and Multicultural Affairs, was named a 2004 Black Opinion magazine Black Achiever and honored at a Black Achiever Luncheon in Pittsburgh on October 28.

Deacon Shawn J. Clerkin ’86, Assistant Professor in Theatre, was ordained to the Holy Order of Deacons in the Episcopal Church.

Shawn will be assisting at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie.

Assistant Professor David Tobin, Ph.D. of Gannon’s Counseling Psychology and Community Counseling programs, was selected for the 2004 Outstanding Administrator Award from the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA). He received the award, which represents the highest honor a counselor/educator in Pennsylvania can receive, at the PCA’s annual conference in State College.

The “Sounding Out” program aired each week by Ireland’s Christian Media Trust, a consortium of Irish Catholic radio stations, featured Gannon History Professor Michael DeSanctis, Ph.D., reviewed his book, Building from Belief, and delved into his work throughout the U.S. as a liturgical design consultant. A two-part article in the New York Review of Books; the Protestant ecumenical publication Christian Century; Pacifica, the Journal of Australian Theological Studies; and the official communiqué of the Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand, also featured the book.

Student News Michelle Allgier, Joshua Beatty, Mary Bentley, Angela Chapman, Anthony Ferrese, Darren Gose, Linda Hauck, Laura Park, David Price, and Jeff Wilt, all graduates of the Villa Maria School of Nursing master’s program in Nurse Anesthesiology, are now nationally certified to practice anesthesia.

The Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists requires nurses to earn a master’s degree and pass the National Certification Exam in order to be fully qualified. The exam measures the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of entry-level nurse anesthesia practitioners.

Graduate students in Gannon’s program must complete 28 months of full-time study in cooperation with the Hamot Medical Center School of Anesthesia.

Christopher Soult served as the 2004-2005 Center for the Study of the Presidency (CSP) Fellow from Gannon University.

During his fellowship, Chris presented an original research paper during a panel on domestic and foreign politics, which also featured Allan Murray of CNBC, Carl Cannon of The National Journal, and Michele Flournoy of CSIS. Christopher succeeded previous fellow Susan Pennock ’04, who’s abstract was published by the CSP. Sophomore Pre-Law major Jessica Cocchetto spent the summer assembling 2,000 Files of Life for senior citizens in Steuben County, New York and earned the Gold Award—the Girl Scouts’ highest achievement—for her leadership, community service, and personal development. The files contain medical information for emergency responders and hospitals in case patients are unable to speak or respond when they are contacted.

Gannon students logged 27,746 hours of community service during the 2003-04 academic year, according to Sister Anne McCarthy, Director of Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns. The volunteer efforts included more than 3,600 hours of campus club and organization participation and more than 2,600 service hours recorded by Gannon’s Greeks. Many students volunteered for multiple projects and events.

Amy Antczak, Lynn Rieman, and Colleen Bohonek dressed in their burgundy Ambassador blazers for Winter Commencement.

NewsNotes

2004 Totem Awarded for Ninth Consecutive Year Totem, Gannon’s student-produced literary magazine that includes works of poetry, fiction, short stories, art, photography, and graphic design, was awarded first-place in the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual magazine competition. This was the ninth consecutive year that Totem has won the award, making the magazine a continuously outstanding publication. Gannon Students Sean Hilliard ’04 and Emily Perilla ’04 served as the editors for the 2004 edition.

2004-05 Ambassadors The following junior and senior students have been selected to serve on Gannon’s 2004-05 team of student Ambassadors: Charles Kenawell, Amy Antczak, International Business Physician Assistant Megan Klass, Kayla Beary, Nursing Elementary/Special Ed Rebecca Blackett, Natalie Marshall, Biology/ Elementary/Special Ed Pre-Physical Therapy Colleen Bohonek, Erin McKeown, Elementary/Special Ed Secondary Education/English Lauren Bolender, Ross Miceli, Liberal Arts Elementary/ Stephanie Neider, Early Childhood Ed Physician Assistant Zachary Flock, Renae Pryjmak, English Theater/ Lynn Rieman, Communication Arts Physician Assistant Nicole Freebourn, Semaj Vanzant, Political Science Accounting Jessica Voich, Mary Gelnett, Pre-Med/Chemistry LECOM 3+4 Alicia Winters, Erin Hart, Physician Assistant Elementary/ Early Childhood Ed

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Piecing Together

Jordan’s Past

Gannon University students Ross Miceli and Drew Saxton spent their summer waist-deep

by Maggie M. Irvine ’05 in dirt—but not the common sort of dirt. They dug through layers of ash, soil, and rubble to uncover facilitator, and Susan Pennock ’04—assistant artifacts from over 1,500 years of computer pottery registrar. They oversaw a staff including 15 continuous occupation of Khirbet Americans from other universities, five Jordanian uniIskander, located south of Amman versity students, and several local Jordanian laborers. (the capital city of Jordan) and Touching History east of the Dead Sea. The students received more than the three-credit field From May to June 2004, Gannon History and Theology professor, Suzanne Richard ’71, Ph.D. and five others from Gannon participated in the archaeological dig. Through nine seasons of The Expedition to Khirbet Iskander and Its Environs, Richard has been excavating the only site known to be urban following the general upheaval throughout the region around 2350 BCE (Before Common Era). Gannon faculty, staff, students, and alumni who participated in the study-abroad experience included Dr. Delayne Shah of the School of Education— dig artist, student Drew Saxton—dig surveyor/ architect, student Ross Miceli—photographer/

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work requirement to complete their minor in archaeology; they participated in a real hands-on experience, making connections between classroom theories and actual fieldwork.

“The dig was the beginning of something for me,” said Ross, a junior Liberal Studies major who decided to go on the dig because of his interest in travel, language, world cultures, and world religions. “It offered me a hands-on method of learning archaeology, a chance to do some world traveling,” he added.

“The actual dig is only one part of an entire process. Every single piece needs to be drawn, labeled, and catalogued afterwards for further studies....”

As a Liberal Studies major, Ross appreciated the various avenues of academic experience the dig offered him. “Going on the dig really tied everything together for me,” he said. “It included photography, art, architecture, language, history, religion, culture, and travel. The Middle East is really where it all began.”

Visiting the Middle East has been one of Drew’s passions for as long as he can remember. Drew, a senior Psychology major, had taken several of Dr. Richard’s archaeology classes and realized that all he needed to wrap up a minor in archaeology was the required field experience. Participating in the dig seemed like a perfect fit between a lifelong dream and an academic opportunity.

Drew was in charge of drawing vertical profiles and architectural top plans for each designated square on the excavation site. His drawings recorded and activities during the dig.

Susan Pennock ’04 organizes pieces after a long day of digging.

The crew worked six days a week on location from 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then returned to their villa for lunch and siesta. Beginning at 4 p.m. the crew reassembled to clean the artifacts, take more photos, and pack each piece safely for the trip home to Gannon’s Archaeology Lab. Beyond the work, this was also a study-abroad opportunity that allowed the students to experience life and culture in the Middle East.

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Unexpected Welcome

Drew and Ross both admitted that they and their families were a little worried for their safety on the trip to the Middle East in fear of terrorism.

“Going to a country that is so vastly different—Jordan is over 90 percent Muslim—and being next door to Iraq made us a little nervous. When we left, it was only three or four weeks after the first kidnappings began to happen in Iraq,” Drew said.

To their surprise, the Jordanians were very proAmerican, and the crew established good friendships with the local communities. The study-abroad opportunity allowed the students to experience life in the Middle Eastern town of Madaba, which included being among the people in the community while worshiping and shopping for food, practicing Arabic, and learning local customs and traditions.

On weekends, the students were able to travel to locations such as Petra, Jerash, Mt. Nebo, Machareus, Amman, and the Dead Sea. They also had the opportunity to spend the sixth and final week touring Egypt and visiting the Pyramids.

Six weeks, several hundred photographs, a million memories, and over 772 pounds of excavation materials later, the crew returned to the United States and to Gannon with a lot to do, and thousands of pieces to put back together.

Piecing the Puzzle Together

Since the start of classes in late August, Drew and intern Veronica Ostrosky have spent countless hours in the Gannon University Institute for Archaeological Research in the A.J. Palumbo Academic Center restoring and cataloging the excavated pieces, as well as entering Drew’s architectural drawings from the site into the lab’s computer system.

Veronica, a senior History and Secondary Education major, was unable to attend the dig; however, she is fulfilling the field experience required for the

Ross Miceli reviews and organizes slides from the excavation site.

Archaeology minor by cataloging and organizing artifacts that were brought back from the dig.

“The actual dig is only one part of an entire process,” Veronica said. “Every single piece needs to be drawn, labeled, and catalogued afterwards for further studies, and I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of that step of the process.”

Drew was able to obtain a work/study position spending approximately ten hours per week on restoration processes in the lab. With the help of Veronica, Drew, and others, Dr. Richard has been able to finalize a publication about the dig and its findings entitled Archaeological Expedition to Khirbet Iskander and its Environs, Volume One: Final Report on the Early Bronze IV Area C Gateway.

“I like to introduce students to the wonders of research and, in particular, to involve them in my own research by working on the publications of the dig,” Dr. Richard said. “Archaeology is such an interdisciplinary field that it’s relatively easy to integrate research and teaching.”

Dr. Richard’s archaeology classes each have a lab component, where students learn how to study, record, restore, analyze, and draw the pieces that were brought back from Jordan. “The dig provides the material remains of extinct peoples of a different culture from another time.

Students find the remains to be fascinating—the actual

cooking vessels the people used, the 5,000 year old finger prints in the clay, the tools and weapons, cultic paraphernalia, and the stuff of every day life,” Richard said.

Veronica was able to take some of the pottery samples from Khirbet Iskander to North East High School during her student teaching practicum in the spring of 2004. She taught her students about the process of archaeology and how it relates to different aspects of history and culture. “Many of the students told me it was their favorite lesson,” Veronica said. “It really provided them with an entirely different perspective than the average history lesson.”

The archaeology minor is an experience that Veronica suggests that all students consider, regardless of their major. “It complements the liberal studies course load really well,” she said. “Even though Dr. Richard’s specialty is in the Middle East, the program still provides the core ideas that can later be applied to anywhere in the world.” Dr. Richard is currently working on expanding the program to include classes that will look at ancient civilizations from a global perspective as well as studies of other specific areas, such as Mesoamerica.

One piece at a time, the students and faculty of Gannon’s archaeology program will continue to put the pieces of the artifacts together, rebuilding the ancient world and culture of Jordan—here on campus in Gannon’s Institute for Archeological Research.

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student hands offer

health and

healing

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Providing physical therapy, like any type of therapy, takes more than just a degree–it takes a caring heart, an extended hand, and a willingness to teach. Showing that a degree comes from more than just books and classroom lectures, three physical therapy students in their final year of school planned, organized, and supported an extensive trip to El Salvador.

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ccompanied and supervised by Dr. Pamela Reynolds, students Joni Lindberg, Kaia Willekes, and Liz Rupert traveled to El Salvador to provide both care and training to the underprivileged. In return, they received a wealth of knowledge and experience, not only in regards to physical therapy, but also with the feeling of international friendship and caring.

They worked with Voices on the Border, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that supports community-based development in El Salvador; the Salvadorian Association for the Promotion of Health; and the Association of War Wounded. Project objectives included enhancing the students’ knowledge of the health care system, culture, and history of El Salvador; providing rehabilitation training in an area of need as defined by the community health promoters; and guiding implementation of the trainees’ newly acquired skills through treatment of community members in two rural communities, Morazan and Baja Lempa. In preparation for the project, the students solicited medical supplies, assistive devices, and financial donations and interacted with many organizations in El Salvador to increase awareness of current socioeconomic and political issues that affected health care access. Liz Rupert explained, “forty-percent of the Salvadorian population is in poverty, and approximately eighty percent of the population does not have a regular job, which means that health care costs must be paid directly out of pocket.” After listening to and understanding the needs of these organizations, they treated patients and developed a training program that included practice applications with the tools available.

promoters. The students designed the training sessions in response to meetings with local health organizations, and had to adapt to the minimal equipment available.

Although they had access to crutches, canes, and walkers that were donated to the local health organization equipment mainly consisted of a few wooden tables and foam mattresses. Joni and Liz stated, “developing a plan for an audience with minimal health knowledge and minimal medical supplies was quite a challenge…. We had to rely heavily on our education, our hearts, and each other.”

They offered training on how to strengthen the organizational structure of the associations through community participation in the training, and how to begin a continuing relationship to build community solidarity.

The lessons were primarily targeted at chronic pain in the back, neck, and joints, but the El Salvadorian trainees also learned about the types of pain and stages of healing. Joni, Kaia and Liz taught them how to use the available crutches and canes and how to oversee basic exercise, stretching, relaxation, and massage techniques to help their patients recover from painful injuries.

The majority of individuals who received physical therapy were treated for chronic pain, joint pain, and insomnia, secondary to war wounds and associated emotional trauma.

Joni, Liz, and Kaia’s patients consisted of many of the wounded veterans from the civil war that ended in 1992, and their trainees included rural community leaders and health Joni Lindberg and Liz Rupert treat a patient for shoulder pain while an El Salvador citizen assists.

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Later in their visit, the crew offered guidance to trainees as El Salvador’s newest providers of physical therapy practiced their skills at a community physical therapy clinic. During the evaluation session on the last day, the University of San Salvador Physical Therapy Program offered to partner with Salvadorian Association for the Promotion of Health to continue providing these types of community training with their students. An exchange between physical therapy students at University of San Salvador and students in the United States was also discussed.

Although Joni, Kaia, and Liz experienced much success on their adventure, they found the cultural differences to be quite shocking, especially coming from a country that is blessed with wealth. As the students recount, “In the rural parts of El Salvador, we had to become acclimated to such things as cold showers, outhouses, and tropical heat. Most of the houses in the rural areas were small, one-room cement block structures covered with tin roofs. Yet, with so little, the people were community-centered and content within their families. The generosity and genuine appreciation these people expressed after just a few minutes of meeting us was truly astonishing. Despite having few possessions, they were willing to share anything with their neighbors (compreneros) and with us. The connections we made with these people superceded any language barrier. Their positive outlook made us even more conscious of our own society’s value of materialism and often times, selfishness. It was hard to say goodbye to such wonderful people. We came as strangers and left as true compreneras.”

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ince returning to Gannon, the students have made a great effort to share their experiences with others. They’ve given several community lectures in Erie and outside of Pittsburgh, two class presentations, and they were asked to speak at a monthly Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) sectional meeting. In February, they will be traveling to New Orleans to present their abstract entitled El Salvador Physical Therapy Student Developed and Faculty Facili-

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The facilities available to the students and citizens were often barren, tated Cross-Cultural Experience along sometimes housing only with a poster presentation of the trip a wooden table. for a national conference of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

During their presentations, they are often asked the question: why are you advocating for the people of El Salvador when there is so much need in our own backyard? According to the students, this question is very hard to answer simply because there is no denying that there is a great service need in our country. They stated, “in Erie, alone, there are many missions and service opportunities. We recognize this need; however, we also feel that there is a greater need for the people of El Salvador. Social services such as social security, unemployment, welfare, and WIC that are available in the US are not available in El Salvador, and socio-economic growth there is nearly impossible.”

Liz and Joni added, “one of the greatest blessings we have in our country is the ability to make a better life for ourselves. It is not an easy task. Rather, it demands determination and perseverance, yet one’s dreams can become a reality here in the United States. The current political and economical situation of El Salvador does not facilitate such possibilities for its citizens.”

The experience provided encouragement and a working format for international community-based experiences through service-learning and gave the students an opportunity to enhance their skills as educators and clinicians in a developing country. It also facilitated transformational personal, professional, and scholarly development. Joni, Kaia, and Liz hope to carry with them what they have learned through the experience and apply it to their work in the future. In looking forward, the students commented, “whether it is half way around the world, or in your own local community, we hope to make an effort to serve others in any way possible. It is surprising how much you receive from giving to others. The rewards and benefits are immeasurable.”

An El Salvadorian woman smiles as she successfully uses crutches as Dr. Pamela Reynolds oversees her progress.

Gannon Introduces Second Doctoral Program Gannon began offering the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in fall 2004. Professor Charles Meacci, Ed.D., chairperson of physical therapy, said more than thirty students are enrolled in the clinical program leading to the new doctoral degree. “The doctoral program will provide a higher level of training that will more thoroughly prepare Gannon University graduates to enter into the profession,” he added.

The new program represents a modification and enhancement of the University’s former master’s-level program in physical therapy. While the fifty-plus students who were already enrolled in the master’s program will be able to finish their degrees, Gannon will no longer accept new master’s-level physical therapy students. According to Meacci, all of the current master’slevel students are expected to graduate by December 2005. Once they have earned the master’s degree, those students will have the option to continue and pursue the doctoral degree.

The doctoral program requires students to earn 105 credits over the course of eight consecutive semesters, but the first class of doctoral students will graduate in May of 2007. (Previous master’s students who opt to continue on for their doctorate do not have to earn the full 105 credits, as would Professor Thomas Hudson other new students entering the doctoral program.) In addition to the increase monitors a student while in academic semesters for incoming students, the program also added clinical she exercises on a stationeducation, research credit hours, and a five-credit community health initiative to ary bike. the previous master’s program. Dr. Pamela Reynolds designed it as such to improve students’ skills in health promotion and wellness, and to develop their “professional role” as health educators, advocates, and consultants. Elective credits in disciplines such as business, dietetics, nursing, education, psychology/counseling, foreign languages, exercise science and others, including independent study, will allow students to customize their educations.

Meacci also explained that doctoral programs in physical therapy are becoming the norm in higher education. In a proposal to elevate the University’s master’s program to the doctoral level, Meacci and other Gannon faculty members detailed the trend based on a statement issued in 2000 by the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The Gannon proposal reads, “The APTA adopted a vision … that by 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health.” This new Dr. Charles Meacci instructs doctoral program allows Gannon to be among the up students on how to operate and coming providers of academic programs in the field equipment that they will use in of Physical Therapy. their profession.

15

A Spiritual Journey to

Back God

For many of us, God’s presence in life is one that is f luid, rising and falling as our perception changes through varied experiences.

Sometimes we become cynical, and at other times, we can be full of faith. Regardless of the level of interaction with Him, though, we all experience some sort of spiritual journey.

16

Bert Copple ’01 began his spiritual journey as a child, when God was his best friend. His parents

him spinning into a life-changing experience where he rediscovered his long-lost best friend, God, and consequently met and married his wife, Stephanie.

This change also led Bert to enlist in the United States Army as a Bert Copple, accompanied by his wife Stephanie, were divorced, and often times he chaplain’s assistant and to record his was juggled between two families— finishes signing a new copy of his drugstore jesus. journey back to God in a book enand two churches. Although he didn’t titled drugstore jesus. “When I looked fully understand then why different denominations existed, back,” he said, “I realized that all of my success had been created the contrast between the two gave him his definition of true by a drive to fill an empty void within me. God was the missing faith—a combination of the freedom expressed in the Penpiece of the puzzle, and I came to realize that tecostal Church and the deep tradition practiced by Catholic He wanted me to make of myself what I was best set out to Church. Before he fully discovered this, though, he trusted do, not what made the most money and gave me the highest God and knew that God was with him during either of the social renown.” services and everywhere he went—including his grandmother’s Looking back on his success, both material and spiritual, Bert bathroom where he often read a saying that hung on the wall: “What you are is God’s gift to you. What you make of yourself appreciated his education at Gannon—an experience he believed helped him to discover both the sweet and sour tastes of success, is your gift to God.” the sour coming only when he lacked in his relationship with As Bert grew older, he always remembered this quotation, and God. He believed (and still believes) deeply in faith-based educait made him want to be the very best he could be in terms of tion, and sees it as one of the guiding lights that has helped him success. During his time at Gannon, he served in many orgato reach the point in life he is at now. His minor in journalism nizations related to his interest in media, including the business here at Gannon helped him to realize his talents as a writer, and end of the newspaper, The Gannon Knight, and the profeshis education and experience with all of media has helped him sional drama society, Alpha Psi Omega. He was most known, to develop his skills as a speaker, a leader, and overall success in though, for his personality, which he broadcasted out to the the media industry. Subsequently, the background of faith that city of Erie as the radio manager and disc jockey for Gannon’s he built helped him to find his way back to God after he had radio station, WERG FM. Of all his experiences, Bert remem- become materially successful. bered and valued his experience at the radio station the most.

His fondest memories of Gannon include practicing the art of He said, “the radio station was where I grew the most as a public speaking with Professor Mary Carol Gensheimer, learning person and as a manager, in terms of talent. I learned so much about argument with Dr. Michael Latzer, and working in the during my time there.” theater with Professor Shawn Clerkin. “My experiences in the He was also known for running for the Erie School Board Communication Arts Department taught me so much inside when he was but a young 19-year old college student—a race and outside the classroom,” he added. “I was never told ‘no’ or he lost by a mere fifty-two votes—and for starting his own ‘that’s a bad idea.’ I was allowed to learn hands-on with the right business, known as Noise Music Magazine, an insert that was people providing the kind of guidance I needed. They gave me bought by all the local college’s newspapers—Ganhonest feedback and helped me to shape my ideas into ones that non’s, Mercyhurst’s, Penn State Berhend’s, would work.” and Edinboro’s. These activities were all in Since Bert’s left school, he’s gone even further to understand addition to working full time at Damon’s varied types of media, including book publishing with drugrestaurant and as a full-time student. store jesus and web publishing with a site by the same name, Needless to say, his hard work and busy www.drugstorejesus.com. The site will soon be the doorway for schedule paid off when he landed a wellinterested parties to participate in a program entitled “Operation paying job in the field of media sales that Desert Angel,” which he will oversee from his deployment in Iraq. transplanted him in Chicago. He conThe program offers the opportunity to sponsor one soldier deployed tinued his success, made lots of money, in the Iraq war per month through prayer and communication. and enjoyed the metropolitan life—but “Operation Desert Angel” is only one of the few ways he something was missing. He wasn’t sure what until one of his friends invited him to hopes to support spirituality and love to our soldiers in Iraq. a dance and told him to bring a date. Then As a chaplain’s assistant, Bert hopes to carry his belief in true faith with him and offer spiritual guidance to those around him, it hit him—he didn’t have any love in his helping them to let God be a presence in their lives. life, for God, or a human companion. It sent

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AlumniFocus Francis J. Lunger ’68

Francis Lunger became interested in a career in finance when he was an undergraduate at Gannon and Mr. Ernie Wright proposed the idea to him. Since then, the list of his accomplishments has grown to be long and dignified. The places of employment on Lunger’s resume might cause a few raised eyebrows in our post-Enron era, but only by those who don’t know the details of his career. His long list of positions held include CEO, CFO, President, COO, and Chairman in industries that range from Finance to Telecommunications to Health Care Research – the cutting-edge industries of today’s global economy. Lunger’s inspiration, though, comes from ethics.

“Lunger’s role model was one of the most ethical, honest business leaders he had encountered in his entire career.”

Name

Francis J. Lunger

Current Position

CEO and President of Millipore Corporation, a multinational bioscience company that provides technologies, tools and services for the discovery, development, and production of new therapeutic drugs to world-wide biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life science research industries.

Family

Wife, Joey, of 31 years; Sons, Adam and Nicholas; and Daughter, Kristen

Best Advice to Students

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“The twenty first century is truly becoming a global economy which will redefine the skills of those people who populate corporations, academia, government and scientific institutions.

The new millennium requires individuals regardless of their job description to have an understanding of economics, science, government and geopolitics. Additionally, communication skills both written and oral will be key success factors. Every student should listen carefully, learn, and value the opportunities offered by the Liberal Studies Core.”

Lunger’s role model, Bill Graham – founder and CEO of Baxter International for 20 years – was one of the most ethical, honest business leaders that he had encountered in his entire career. “He was a great team builder and team leader who always gave credit to the team and sought none for himself,” Lunger said. He added that Bill “treated everyone equally regardless of their status in the organization, and he sought opinions that differed from his own. He set high expectations for his people and held them accountable, and he was just in his dealings. He had a great business mind and was a great tutor to all the young professionals at Baxter (of whom more than forty ultimately became CEOs of public companies). He was a living example of the values of integrity, openness, and transparency.”

These values have carried over into Lunger’s career without doubt.

Lunger began his career in Chicago in 1968 at Arthur Anderson & Co., where he stayed until 1976. Two years of his time there included 15 months with the military in Viet Nam. After Arthur Anderson, he moved onto serve as a Corporate Controller, Vice President of International Finance and Administration, and Vice President of Home Health Care at Baxter International, a multi-billion dollar medical products company in Chicago. In 1983, Lunger joined Raychem Corporation in Menlo Park, California, as Vice President of Finance and ultimately became Vice President and General Group Manager. His next stop was Nashua Corporation, a New Hampshire-based conglomerate focused on office supplies, as part of a turn-around team in the role of Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration. He eventually became CEO and President, but moved on to join Oak Industries, a developer, manufacturer, and seller of telecommunications equipment in Waltham, Massachusetts, as Senior Vice President and CFO. Lunger plans to retire from Millipore in March of 2005, at which time he can enjoy the company of his wife, Joey, of 31 years, and spend spare time in his favorite ways: golfing, running, reading, traveling and spending time with his friends and family.

FacultyFocus Dr. Patrick O’Connell and Dr. Suzanne O’Connell ’90M

The acceptance of interdisciplinary studies is relatively new to higher education, so Dr. Patrick O’Connell was ahead of the game when he successfully studied and taught within two discourses in 1986 at Villa Maria College prior to the GannonVilla merge. His specialties were (and still are) in English and Theology, a combination inspired in him when a college professor of his gave him a copy of Thomas Merton’s Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. His interest has since led him to become a founding member of the International Merton Society and the Editor of The Merton Seasonal.

“Merton was able to put together social concern with spiritual depth, and he had a holistic view of what Christian life is about and how it intersects with secular life,” O’Connell explained.

His wife, Dr. Suzanne O’Connell, has had similar interests and passions in her life, hers inspired by Dorothy Day. In regards to Suzanne’s interest in social justice, she commented that what she learned most from Dorothy Day was “that love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing. It’s easy to say that you love, but to practice love in a real way can be harsh and dangerous.” With such passionate interests, both individuals create a harmony of scholarship, spirituality, and social concern within themselves, their work, and their relationship as husband and wife.

The balance of love and spirituality that they share in their personal life also carries over to their excellence in teaching when they’re in the classroom. Patrick’s goal in teaching is to have his students take away “enthusiasm for what they’re learning,” whether it be his course in Catholic Tradition or World Religions or one in a range of literary topics. Suzanne’s goal is to help her students learn the importance of working with the spirit as much as the body. “Sometimes sitting and holding someone’s hand is just as important as giving an IV,” she says, and that is one of the main concepts she teaches her students.

Name

Dr. Patrick O’Connell, Associate Professor of English and Theology

Education

Ph.D. in Theology from Fordham University, Ph.D. in English from Yale University, MA in Theology from Fordham University, MA in English from Yale University, BA from College of the Holy Cross (Summa cum Laude)

Organizations Memberships

College Theology Society, Conference on Christianity and Literature, Founding Member of the International Thomas Merton Society, Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, The Thoreau Society

“Both individuals create a harmony of scholarship, spirituality, and social concern within themselves, their work, and their relationship as husband and wife.”

Name

Dr. Suzanne O’Connell, Assistant Professor of Nursing in Gannon’s Villa Maria School of Nursing

Education

Ph.D. in Nursing from Duquesne University, MSN from Gannon University, BSN from St. Anselm College (Magna cum Laude), Diploma from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing

Awards:

National Advisor of the Year Award: National Professional Nursing Fraternity of Alpha Tau Delta, 1997 & 2003, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Graduate Scholarship, Eta Xi Chapter, Spring 1998

In regards to her thoughts about working in the Nursing department, Suzanne comments that, most importantly, “the spirit of Villa Nursing School has carried through. Most of the faculty is Villa faculty and we teach our students the importance of openness to the spiritual needs of patients.” The spiritual connections in all of Patrick and Suzanne’s activities have made them humble scholars who, by their wide accomplishments, are true gems of Gannon’s faculty.

19

by Dan Teliski, Gannon Sports Information Director

Even the most successful programs have to rebuild from time to time. The Gannon intercollegiate athletic program was faced with that task during the 2004 fall season. One year after four of the five programs that compiled won-loss records finished with winning seasons, the majority of the fall programs were faced with new challenges and in need of replacing quality seniors in 2004. As a result, the winning percentages may not have been the highest, but the ground work for future success is now in place.

Football

The Gannon football team finished 4-7 during its initial campaign in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2004 season. Gannon opened the season with a thrilling 43-37 overtime victory against arch rival Mercyhurst. The local opponents renewed their football rivalry for the first time since 1997 and provided arguably the best atmosphere ever between the two schools on the football field. The Golden Knights overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half, scoring 10 points in the final 4:15 of regulation to force overtime. Junior Ron Bailey’s six-yard touchdown run with one minute left tied the game at 37. Senior quarterback Darmel Whitfield scored the game-winner in overtime with a one-yard touchdown run.

Throughout the season, Gannon dispelled all rumors that it would not be ready for one of Division II’s best conferences. The Golden Darmel Whitfield Knights were involved in three overtime games, six games that were decided on the last play, and they lost in a close game to top-ranked Michigan Tech.

20

Whitfield concluded one of the best football careers ever at Gannon. The senior quarterback was one of 26 finalists for the Harlon Hill trophy, the top national award in Division II. He was also named to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-Northwest Region third team. He led the GLIAC and ranked seventh in Division II with 322.8 yards of total offense per game.

Junior Sam Culberth and senior Eugene Padgett were named to All-GLIAC teams. Sophomore Joe Dipre, Whitfield, and Padgett also earned All-ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) accolades.

Volleyball

The Gannon volleyball team began a rebuilding process in 2004 following the loss of three graduating seniors (Jess Deemer, Mandi Altomari, LeAnn Byer). The Lady Knights finished 14-18 overall and 4-13 in the GLIAC. Head coach Michele Mason concluded the season with a 95-73 career record, moving into second place in Gannon history in coaching victories. Her .565 career winning percentage also ranks second all-time.

Katie Flower

Katie Flower was named to the All-GLIAC second team while senior Megan Heisler earned honorable-mention accolades. The sophomore shattered Gannon’s single-season dig record by 48 and produced the 15th-highest single-season kill total in school history. Flower also performed well in the classroom, being named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic College Division All-District II volleyball second team.

The entire team showed brilliance in the classroom, producing a 3.61 team grade point average during the fall semester.

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team followed its second GLIAC regularseason title in 2003 with a 6-12 record in 2004. The Golden Knights finished 1-4 in conference play.

The biggest disappointment came in the knowledge that Khashayar Azizollahi would not play another match in a Gannon uniform. The senior concluded one of the best career seasons in school history as both a midfielder and defender. He was named GLIAC Defender of the Year and selected to the All-GLIAC first team. He was also named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II All-Great Lakes region third team, landing a spot on the all-region team for the second consecutive season.

AthleteFocus As a bright up-and-coming defender, Gareth KolkenbeckRuh landed a spot on the All-GLIAC second team during his first collegiate season. The team members also excelled in the classroom as six Golden Knights were named to the GLIAC All-Academic team.

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer program completed its season at 5-12-1 overall and 0-7-1 in the GLIAC. Gannon increased its victory total from the previous season by three and recorded the most victories in a season since 2000.

Despite being out of the playoff race, Gannon showed its true character down the stretch with a “never-say-die” attitude. The Lady Knights posted a 1-0 victory at West Virginia Wesleyan, battled Northwood to a 0-0 tie, and suffered three one-goal losses in the final six matches of the season.

It was another banner year for the women’s soccer program in the classroom. Eight Lady Knights were named to the GLIAC All-Academic team, and the team produced a combined 3.35 grade point average during the fall semester.

Men’s Water Polo

The men’s water polo team continued its success under head coach Don Sherman with its third consecutive winning season. Gannon finished 14-10 during its fourth year on the varsity level. The Golden Knights finished third at the Division II Eastern Championships and 10th at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division Championships.

Sixteen Golden Knights scored goals throughout the season, including five players with at least 20 tallies. Gannon remained perfect against its local rivals. The Golden Knights were 3-0 against Penn State Behrend in 2004, moving to 15-0 all-time against the Lions. The squad went 2-for-2 against Mercyhurst and is perfect in 11 all-time contests against the Lakers.

Women and Men’s Cross Country

Both Gannon cross country teams concluded their seasons with 12th-place finishes at the GLIAC championships at Grand Valley State University.

The men’s team finished 12th out of 12 teams with 357 points. Joe Covell was Gannon’s top male runner, finishing 64th with a time of 28:52.

The women’s squad finished 12th out of 13 teams with 363 points; Shayna Weir was Gannon’s top female runner.

Six female runners and five male runners were named to the GLIAC All-Academic team.

Emily Thornbury ’05

Starting guard began her senior season on the Women’s Basketball team with a shoulder injury that kept her off the court for three weeks. After a quick and determined recovery, though, Thornbury was back on the court to continue her hard work and commitment to being the best player she could be.

“Being a senior, you really appreciate every moment,” Emily said. “Every game you miss as a senior is hard.”

When she was a sophomore, Emily made her first career start in a game against Wayne State in the GLIAC quarterfinals in which she posted five points and five rebounds in 30 minutes. She continued with determination throughout the season and earned a spot on the Avalon Classic All-Tournament Team after recording 22 points, nine rebounds, and two steals during the tournament’s two games. Emily was also awarded a spot on the GLIAC All-Academic Team during her sophomore year, showing her strengths on the court and in the classroom.

She continued to excel both athletically and academically in her junior year by again earning GLIAC All-Academic accolades as well as spots on the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Honor Roll and the AllGLIAC Second Team. On the court during the ’03-’04 season, Emily scored 125 field goals, and she reached several career highs including 22 points, 8 field goals, and 5 three-point field goals during various games.

She feels confident about the ’04-’05 season, despite her injury early on. “We’ve worked really hard in the pre-season, and I think its going to show,” she commented from her position as team co-captain.

“Improvements Emily has made over the years shows what kind of work ethic she has and what kind of vision she has for herself and for the team. She’s a true born leader,” said Head Coach Cleve Wright.

Assistant Coach Andrea Bloodworth added that Emily, “is the team storyteller. She has an outgoing nature that makes her very easy to be around and helps to build team morale.”

Coach Bloodworth also commented on Emily’s phenomenal work ethic stating that it, “has determined her success so far and is going to carry throughout all of her work in whatever career she chooses.”

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1965

SISTER JOANNE CRAWFORD, SSJ (VMC) SISTER MARY H. FORNEY, SSJ (VMC)

celebrated their 50th Jubilees on October 2, 2004, at St. Jude Church.

1966

DAVID C. KOZAK, PH.D.

was among four Bishop Timon High School alumni inducted into the John Timon Society, the highest honor given to graduates of the school.

Dr. Kozak is a professor of public policy and director of the Institute for Policy and Leadership Studies at Gannon University.

JOSEPH F. HEAVEY,

Diplomate, American College of Healthcare Executives, is the CEO of The Children’s Medical Group, a large Pediatric practice with offices in Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Rhinebeck, Modena and Newburgh, New York.

Joseph has recently been elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of MVP Health Care, a full-service employee health benefits company, consistently rated among the best health care organizations in the nation.

1969

DANIEL B. KUJAWINSKI, PH.D.

is the adjunct assistant

professor for the Graduate School of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and is also Department Chair/Science Teacher for the North Collins Central Schools.

1971

GIANNI DEVINCENTHAYES, PH.D. (VMC)

was the guest speaker at Gannon University during Women’s History Month; she gave a lecture on J. THOMAS SIMMONS, JR. globalism and its effects. is Gannon University’s LT. GEN. JAMES M. head men’s and women’s DUBIK, USA golf coach. was nominated by President George W. Bush for appointment and confirmed to the grade of lieutenant JOSEPH A. VATER, JR., general and assignment as ESQ. commanding general, I was recently reelected Corps and Fort Lewis, Fort to his fourth term as Lewis, Washington. General Treasurer of the Board of Dubik currently serves Directors of the Animal as the U.S. Joint Forces Rescue League. Joe is a partner in the Employment Command director for joint Law & Employee Benefits experimentation (J-9).

Group at Meyer, Unkovic ALBERT J. ISACKS ’78M & Scott LLP. has been promoted to

1970

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend Phil Zimmerly and Megan Hogan were named this year’s Homecoming King and Queen.

22

Madelyn (Bruder) Chaffee ’42 VMC speaks at the Heritage Society Celebration.

Villa Maria alumnae and Gannon University alumni celebrated at the fourth annual Homecoming/Reunion Weekend in October 2004. Landmark reunion classes of ‘54, ‘64, ‘79 and ’94 along with other alumni took part in Alumni College; campus tours; the National Alumni Association Board Meeting; the Heritage Society Celebration; Open Houses for SGA, African American, and ROTC alumni; the homecoming parade and football game; a renewal of marriage vows mass; and countless gatherings on and off campus.

Patricia Colegrove ’54 VMC (left) and Mary (Ehrman) Malloy ’54 VMC (right) peruse photo albums during the Villa Marie Alumnae High Tea.

AlumNotes director of estate services for Malin, Bergquist & Company. He is a certified public accountant with the Erie office.

9, 2004, to accept the position of provost and vice president of academic affairs at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.

JOHN L. PETT

1974

Retired in July of 2004, as executive vice president and chief credit officer of M&T Bank. John had been with M&T since 1977 and had been the bank’s chief credit officer since 1983.

1973

CONSUELO (BECK) BECK-SAGUE, M.D.

has retired from the U.S. Public Health Services after more than 20 years, the last 19 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

She and her husband will be moving to the Dominican Republic where they will work in providing specialized care to Dominicans and Haitians living with HIV. EDWARD C. LAWRENCE, PH.D.

received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, an award given to faculty who have made outstanding accomplishments in teaching, research or community service. Dr. Lawrence is a professor of finance at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

DAVID SZCZERBACKI, PH.D. ‘77M

will be resigning from his post as provost and vice president of academic and statutory affairs for Alfred University, effective August

MICHAEL B. BLUEY

has become the head boys’ basketball coach at Grandfield High School in Oklahoma.

1975 DAVID M. HALL

was promoted to assistant vice president/assistant manager at the First National Bank office in Franklin. In his new position, he will assist in the overall operations of the office and in consumer/ mortgage lending.

ROBERT L. MAXA, D.O.

retired from private practice in October of 2004.

1977

RAYMOND J. SOBINA

was selected as the superintendent for the new State Correctional Institution at Forest.

Raymond also serves as acting supervising superintendent for the western region of the Department of Corrections.

1980

DANIEL J. DURISHAN

joined the credit department of Buchanan Ingersoll, PC, Attorneys in Pittsburgh.

Learn About the Gannon of Today.

by Russ Forquer ’71, Alumni Association President When I became involved with the Gannon University Alumni Association in 2001, I was intrigued by the many regional alumni events coordinated through the Alumni Office. These events are designed to unite alumni in a given region, providing the opportunity to make new friends, network with other professionals, and to learn more about the Gannon of today.

Alumni networking can be beneficial in multiple ways, both personally and professionally. Let me share one example of a networking success story. Dan Durishan ’80 has made every effort to attend Pittsburgh alumni activities since he moved back to the area in July 2000.

In January 2002, when the University hosted a reception at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Club, Dan was fortunate to meet Jim Freytag ’69 who shared a similar career in credit management. They stayed in touch following the event and over the years Jim was an invaluable resource to Dan. Dan secured a position this past July, thanks to Jim’s help in his job search.

There are many such success stories, whether the encounter takes place during a happy hour, theatre outing, golf tournament, or community service activity in Erie, Tampa, New York City, San Diego, or beyond.

I encourage you to attend a regional gathering and experience first-hand the camaraderie of such an event. If you have an idea for an event or want to get involved in the planning process, we welcome your ideas and participation. It is often events hosted by alumni that are the most successful events of the year.

Over the past several years, we have been fortunate to have alumni host gatherings in their area of residence.

Mark Zagorski ’90 hosted in New York City, Rich Hudic, Jr., ’91 in Harrisburg, Jim Scozzie, Ph.D., ’65 in Cleveland, Tom Power, Brian Jackman, and Chris Cooney, all of ’63, in Chicago, Jim Weber ’62 in Southern California, Sally Reddig Schulze ’77M in Cleveland, Karim ’78 ’80M and Randa ’77M Quttina in Orlando, and Joe Bione ’73 ’75M in Detroit. These are just a few of the alumni who have generously supported our events.

As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts, and feedback. You can reach me at sales@forquer.com or at (814) 453-3366, extension 23. I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming event.

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AlumNotes

alumcal 2005 March 5 National Alumni Association Board Meeting Gannon University

March 6

Pittsburgh Alumni Brunch Sunnyledge Hotel

March 16

Buffalo Alumni Theater Studio Arena Theatre Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner Gannon University

April 30

Southern California Alumni Barbecue with President Garibaldi Hosted by Jim Weber ‘62

May 23

10th Annual Pittsburgh Alumni Scholarship Golf Outing Sewickley Heights Golf Club Sewickley, Pennsylvania

May 26

October 7-9

Jim Scozzie ’65

Gannon University and Villa Maria College Alumni/Alumnae Homecoming/Reunion Weekend Gannon University For more information on any of the above events, contact Michele Potter in the Alumni Services Office, 1-877-GU-Alums ext.1, or potter006@gannon.edu

24

is the coordinator of bereavement and volunteer services for the Visiting Nurse Association of Erie.

Adrianne is responsible for developing, implementing and supervising the overall activities of the VNA Hospice bereavement program. She will also coordinate the volunteer services program.

JOHN A. WELLS

April 16

18th Annual Erie Scholarship Golf Tournament Lake Shore Country Club, Erie, Pennsylvania

ADRIANNE (RUSH) JAMES, M.DIV. (VMC)

has been named as the new town manager for Leesburg, Virginia.

EWTN based on his book, Catholicism For Dummies.

1985

STEVE A. CHIZEWICK

is the principal in the Linesville School District.

He was recently honored

by Crawford County Conservation District as Conservation Educator of the Year for 2003.

1986

ELIZABETH “LISA” M. HANNOLD, PH.D. ‘96M

1982

NEAL R. CARBAUGH, USAF

received her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Florida in May of 2004.

was promoted to Colonel in the US Air Force in July of 2004.

JEROME M. JURENOVICH

1987

EDMUND W. SCHUSTER ‘87M

has accepted a new job at Altitude Sports, the new cable sports operation in Denver. Jerome is the host of the Nuggets and Avalanche pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows.

1983

REV. FR. JOHN P. TRIGILIO, JR., PH.D, TH.D.

is the pastor of Pennsylvania’s Our Lady of Good Counsel (Marysville) and Saint Bernadette (Duncannon), president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, and co-host of two weekly television series on EWTN. He also will be hosting a third weekly series on

was among the four individuals who received the Council of Logistics Management’s (CLM’s) 2004 E. Grosvenor Plowman prize paper award. The group presented their paper entitled “An Introduction to Semantic Modeling for Logistical Systems” to colleagues at the 34th annual Logistics Educators’ Conference held October of 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1988 MARY (KIPPLEY) JOHNSON, M.D.

has joined the Foxboro (MA) medical practice of John Adams, M.D., and Michael Higgins, M.D.

AlumNotes at Carlynton JuniorSenior High School in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

Ryan was an assistant at Washington High School for the past five years, serving as defensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

1995

ELENA (MURRAY) RADKOWSKI

Jeremy Ballaro ’02 greets Teresa Nash ’74 VMC at the Buffalo Happy Hour.

Horry County Children All three physicians are with Disabilities and on the medical staff at Caritas Norwood Hospital. Special Needs.

Dr. Johnson has a special interest in treatments for diabetes and obesity.

JAMES F. SEMPLE, D.O.

has been selected to be chairman of the department of anesthesiology at Allegheny General Hospital, North Side. He previously served as the department’s vice chairman and director of clinical operations since 2002.

JEFFREY A. WISNIEWSKI

has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association.

Jeffrey is the assistant director of golf at Arcadian Shores Golf Club at Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, SC. He is also the co-founder and executive director of “The Golfing Festival of the South”—Hector’s Hack Attach Golf Tournament, an annual event benefiting

1992

ANDREW J. PHILLIPS

is currently on military leave from the Pennsylvania State Police due to being called up for service. He is assigned to teach ROTC at University of Richmond.

1993

REV. KEVIN M. GUALANO, M.A., M.DIV. S.T.B.

was ordained a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Allentown, PA, in June of 2004. Father Gualano is the parochial vicar at St. Catharine of Siena.

1994

RYAN D. GEVAUDAN

was recently hired as the new head football coach

entered the US Air Force as a second lieutenant and is stationed in Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Elena had graduated from Tufts

births

University with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 1997, and in 2003, she had earned a second bachelor’s degree in nursing from Russell Sage College.

1996

DAVID S. TYLER ‘96M

is a project manager for BuffLink in Buffalo, New York.

1997

ANTHONY M. LETIZIO II

has completed his first year of medical school at Lake Erie College of

Radkowski ’95 and her husband, Lou.

a daughter, Autumn Marie a daughter, Lyric Caro(November 8, 2004) to line (December 8, 2003) Pam (Bergstrom) ’00 and to Scott ’95M and Heidi Keith Liccardi ’99.

Bonfanti-Carte MacDona son, Braedon (July 20, ald ’93.

2004) to Jeffrey J. ’00 and a son, Karthik Nair (AuAmy L. Grguric Weaver gust 18, 2004) to Sridevi ’00 Nair Taranath ’94 and her a son, Cole Dyer (July husband, Dheeraj.

13, 2004) to Britt E. Dyer a daughter, Laura Katelynn Daehnke ’98 and her hus(July 31, 2004) to Brenda band, Kevin.

Stout Holcomb PA-C ’94 a daughter, Emily Elise and her husband, Chris(March 14, 2004) to Kris- topher. ten Miller Edmonds ’98 a daughter, Abigail Patricia and her husband, Robert.

(April 1, 2004) to Christoa son, Ryan William (June pher P. Meehan ’92 ’94M 13, 2004) to Jennifer L. and his wife, Joanne.

Studnicki Wells ’95 and a son, Peter Andrew her husband, William.

(May 2, 2004) to Andrew a son, Sean Murray (July “Drew” J. Phillips ’92 and 10, 2004) to Elena Murray his wife, Regina.

25

AlumNotes Osteopathic Medicine in the top 10% of LECOM’s Class of 2007.

MICHAEL J.E. WALSH

recently became a Diplomate, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties when he passed the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Exam.

1998

AMBER M. STOLEC

lives in Manhattan and was recently hired at U.S. News and World Report.

1999

MATTHEW J. SHORT ‘02M

is a physical therapist for the U.S. Army at Fort

Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina.

KIMBERLY (JABLONSKI) SPENCE

is an Employee Representative at Wegmans in Jamestown, New York.

2000 ROBERT V. GLENTZER, J.D.

joined Buchanan Ingersoll in 2003 as an associate, practicing in the Financial Services Group. He concentrates on a wide range of legal matters affecting financial institutions.

JANET (NOWAK) MAY

is a physician assistant at

marriages Monica (Dean) Marendo ’03M married Edward M. Erdos on March 12, 2004.

Chelsea G. Fairbanks ’99 married Steven Mamie ’00 on May 26, 2004.

Melanie A. Guy ’98 married David R. (Mathieson) Moyer, Jr. ’98 on June 8, 2002.

26

Sarah Elizabeth Leri ’00 married U.S. Army LT Matthew Joseph Short ’99 ’02 on July 10, 2004.

Janet Marie Nowak ’00 married Daniel Christopher May on July 17, 2004.

Jennifer M. Pieczonka ’01 ’02M married Richard L. Reese III on April 24, 2004.

Kelli M. Herman ’98 married Corey M. Prince on February 14, 2004.

Janice J. Seiber ’00 married Christopher M. Payne on June 19, 2004.

Kimberly A. Jablonski ’99 married Mark A. Spence ’98 ’02M on September 18, 2004.

Laura Steinke ’00 ’02M married Kevin McCullough on October 10, 2004.

Nicole C. Kuss ’02 married Jeffrey Halladay on June 12, 2004.

David Scott Tyler ’96M married Kelly Ann Burns on May 1, 2004.

Pratt Medical Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

LAURA (STEINKE) MCCULLOUGH ‘02M

is a physical therapist at HealthSouth, Fort Worth, Texas.

JACQUELYN M. WINDON

has been named as the new head women’s basketball coach for Case Western Reserve University.

MARK E. PALERMO, D.O.

2002

JANICE (SIEBER) PAYNE

was recently awarded the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree during the 88th Commencement of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He plans to practice in Erie.

was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in June of 2004. is a laboratory assistant at Associated Clinical Lab in Erie.

ROBERT P. SENKO, O.D.

was recently awarded the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree during the 88th Commencement of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

He plans to practice in San Diego, California.

SARAH (LERI) SHORT

is an online advertising sales executive at The State Newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina.

2001

DANA M. ACCORDINO

is a member of the New York City Police Department.

JENNIFER (PIECZONKA) REESE ‘02M

is an occupational therapist with Genesee Valley Board of Cooperative Educational Services in the Warsaw Central School District.

DAVID J. CAGE, O.D.

LOGAN W. DERNOSHEK

was the driver of the No. 10 Pontiac team in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series and also drove in the Miller Lite 250 at the 3/8mile Lake Erie Speedway in June of 2004.

PAUL R. GRADL ‘04M

is employed at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, currently working as a propulsion engineer in liquid engine rocket systems. He completed his MBA at Gannon in May of 2004, and has started another master’s degree in systems engineering at the University of Alabama, Huntsville.

REBEKAH L. HOLDSWORTH

is attending Millersville University and is employed

by Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster as a medical assistant.

ALEX G. KNIGHT

recently accepted a position with the advertising agency Kirshenbaum Bond and Partners in New York City.

Alex is an assistant video

AlumNotes editor and will be working with account executive and producers on pitches.

MICHAEL MARKIW III

has been hired by Tier1, Inc. as an Oracle technology consultant.

JOHN V. TEDESCO, D.O.

was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in June of 2004.

2003

MONICA (DEAN) ERDOS ‘03M

teaches graduate classes for Gannon University and teaches fifth grade at Conneaut Valley Elementary School.

JUSTIN L. CEVETTE

has joined Citizens & Northern Bank’s Elkland Branch office as loan officer.

ERIC S. DART

has joined the staff at Our Lady of Peace School in Erie as the Youth/Pastoral Minister.

NICOLE L. MARTIN

is a math teacher at Community College of Beaver County’s Prevention Project: Class Academy.

2004

REGINA (SCHNEIDER) MERRITT ‘04M

has been named as the new principal at Seton Catholic School, a private Christian school in the Diocese of Erie.

Regina was a kindergarten teacher at the school for five years before becoming the new principal.

Gannon Grad Recognized by Disney for Helping Dreams Come True Jason R. Harding ‘02M, a 1st-5th grade Learning Support teacher at Peebles Elementary School in North Allegheny School District in Pittsburgh, was selected from more than 150,000 nominees to receive a 2004 DisneyHand Teacher Award. Disney awarded $10,000 to each of the 39 honorees, and their respective schools received $5,000.

The DisneyHand’s Teacher Award is part of the worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company, whose mission is dedicated to making the dreams of families and children a reality through public service initiatives, community outreach and volunteerism in areas of learning, compassion, the arts, and the environment.

“These teachers personify excellence in the classroom, and we are pleased to recognize and reward their creativity, commitment and dedication to their profession, students and communities, and provide them an opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices,” said Michael D. Eisner, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

Harding and his guest will be flown to Southern California on July 22, where they will join other outstanding teachers in the nation to participate in an Awards Gala July 25; attend unique professional development programs that focus on innovative approaches to teaching, learning and leadership; participate in exclusive VIP events/parties; be honored by Mickey Mouse at a ceremony at Disneyland Park; appear in a parade down Main Street; and receive a new look from “costume designer to the stars” Ret Turner.

Harding’s creative, fun, multi-modal approach to his 1st-5th grade Learning Support classes in only his third year of teaching in North Allegheny School District, combined with his passion for education, has earned him the DisneyHand Teacher Award. Harding is working on his Superintendents Certification in conjunction with being a current Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership at Gannon University. He was also the recipient of a two thousand dollar grant from Teaching Tolerance Magazine and the North Allegheny Distinguished Leadership Award during the 2003-2004 school year.

Harding is also employed by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 as an Adjunct Special Education Consultant for PA-Learners Online.

27

AlumNotes

in memoriam Alumni

Nevis Morton Brown ’76 Anne M. Causgrove ’44 William T. Causgrove ’50 Sister Marcus M. Clougherty, SSJ ’46 Rev. August P. Coccarelli ’78 Kathryn Boag Colgrove ’55 Tammie L. Coverdale ’93 Leonard J. Cyterski ’55 Amalia Cappabianca DiLoreto ’47 Rebecca Paske Dieterle ’78 Jason Dowd ’95 Anthony C. Gallagher ’82 Edgar G. Goddard ’50 Ada Terrizzi Grande ’37 Ben F. Guanciale ’55 Harold B. Henderson ’73 Julie Groszkiewicz Higgins ’92 Mary J. Hurley ’42 Rita Bole Kaczmarek ’46 Richard T. Lipnichan ’90 Frances M. Major ’47 Jeanette Chase Massing ’41 Louis W. Matz ’61 Francis P. Millis, Esq. ’78 Robert L. Nelson, Sr. ’48 Philip F. Palmer ’56 Joseph A. Rastatter ’58 John A. Scalise ’51 Carolyn Stuart Scantlebury ’82 Helene Flatley Schember ’55 Edward A. Seyboldt ’68 Catherine A. Sitterle ’62 Larry A. Stanquist ’99 Cynthia D. Treiber ’65 Frederich R. Ulrich ’51 Thomas C. Voskuhl ’63 Sister Regina M. Wagener, SSJ ’55 Patricia A. Walker ’99 Walter W. Weber ’76 Leigh A. Whitcher ’63 Arthur W. Wilderotter, Jr. ’71 Robert B. Wiley ’67 James J. Wingerter ’65 Richard M. Wolfram ’64 Carl J. Zysk ’49

Friends

Joseph F. Allison Marjorie J. Krebs, Ph.D.

28

Remember that feeling?

Recapture it now! Be a part of our upcoming Alumni Directory.

Reconnect with memories and catch up with old friends and former classmates with the upcoming alumni directory. This exciting and invaluable resource will include personal, academic and business information about our graduates.

The book is being researched and compiled by Harris Publishing, the leading publisher of alumni directories in the U.S. When you receive your directory questionnaire, don't miss your opportunity to be part of this important project.

Take a few minutes to update and return your information—and be sure you’re included so old friends can find you.

EndNotes

Teaching: The Heart of Gannon’s Scholarship “Teaching, at its best, means not only transmitting knowledge, but transforming and extending it as well.” —Dr. Ernest Boyer

I

n November, we recognized the scholarly accomplishments of our faculty at the Third Annual Faculty Scholarship and Research Celebration. Gannon is very fortunate to have a diverse, gifted, and loyal faculty who actively engage in a variety of scholarly pursuits that include making presentations at state, regional, and national conferences; publishing in academic journals and books; and developing a variety of creative expressions of art. All of their activities, along with their consistent commitment to teaching, have worked to reinforce Gannon’s mission; they have applied scholarship in every aspect of their instructional work.

I had the good fortune of getting to know the late and highly regarded Ernest Boyer in 1977-78 when he was Assistant Secretary of Education in the then-Office of Education in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and I was an Educational Policy Fellow in that same federal agency. In his widely discussed Scholarship Reconsidered (1990), he very accurately identifies the acts of discovery, application, integration, and teaching “all as models of scholarship.” Thus, the role of the professor becomes more than the mere dissemination of knowledge; it brings with it a responsibility to focus on the transmission of learning as it is supported by these four interrelated and interdependent acts. The “scholarship of teaching,” a phrase coined by Boyer, is and always has been at the heart of Gannon’s mission.

A

s noted in the Preamble of The Gannon University Strategic Plan 2002-2007, the University is now at a pivotal point in its history—a time when it must be transformed in order to serve its students as a national center of excellence in higher education with an emphasis on scholarship. Gannon is first and foremost a teaching University with a fundamental focus on our students. However, it is also important that more public recognition is given to the scholarly production and accomplishments of our faculty who are training our students to be future scholars in their respective disciplines, which we did at the Faculty Scholarship and Research Celebration. As I have stated often throughout my own career in higher education: teaching fortifies scholarship, and scholarship strengthens teaching.

Teaching, therefore, will be further recognized as a scholarly activity that is integrated with other scholarly activities. Professor of English and Interim Provost Philip Kelly, DA, noted at this year’s Scholarship and Research Celebration that we are known for our commitment and dedication to teaching. He added, “excellent teachers are also scholars who are actively engaged in their academic disciplines.” This active engagement has been a long-standing characteristic of our faculty, as many of our past faculty members are remembered by alumni for their commitment to scholarship and for the expertise that they passed on to their students. While I was visiting with alumni in Chicago recently, many mentioned favorite professors who had taught them with intellectual vigor and passionate enthusiasm for their subjects, a true sign of scholarship in a professor. History with Father Barr, economics with Father Susa, theology with Monsignor (and current Board Trustee) Sullivan, and philosophy with Father Dipre were mentioned with fond recollection and testimony to what their students learned in and out of the classroom.

Alumnus Larry Beeman ’65 told one of our Alumni Services’ staff members this past summer that he had worked alongside graduates of Ivy League schools and had seen no difference between the quality of their education and his own. His recognition of the same impact present for today’s Gannon students spurred him to pledge a $100,000 gift to the University that will be used over the next ten years to enhance faculty development. His generosity will help fortify our faculty’s scholarship and, in turn, their continued excellence in teaching.

T

he University’s recent and historic five-year $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education has a primary focus on enhancing the quality of our instruction through the use of technology and multi-media. Our Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning that will be established as a result of that grant will, therefore, give our faculty more innovative tools to deliver instruction to our students. With this combined emphasis on recognizing excellence in scholarship and teaching, our graduates will be major beneficiaries as they enter professions and careers with the requisite knowledge and expertise to be successful like so many other alumni who preceded them. Their success truly will be the result of Gannon’s talented and scholarly faculty.

29

Gannon University 109 University Square Erie, PA 16541-0001 www.gannon.edu

FPO

The Final Touch

Suzanne Richard ’71, Associate Professor of Theology and History, and Librarian Marian Gallivan add Richard’s new book, Near Eastern Archeology: A Reader, to the shelves of Nash Library. The book, one of Richard’s many publications, has recently received recognition from The American Library Association in its Choice journal as one of the “The Best of the Best in Published Scholarship.”