UNIVERSIT Y M AGAZINE
W i n t e r 2018
Outside Looking In
Dr. Jonathan Rosen, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, has studied international crime, drug trafficking, and gangs for 10 years. He’s followed the president’s narrative on immigration, the southern border wall, and MS-13 closely, watching as members from the left and right fight ideologies, all in the name of national security.
Nursing’s Silent Struggle
Wassel and Rock Leave Their Marks
Table of Contents
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President’s Message
4 Spotlight: Carl Gregory
Carl Gregory and his wife established a charitable trust to benefit Holy Family University.
6 News
Short stories featuring people, events, and happenings from all facets of campus.
10 Spotlight: Chase Wassel
Senior Chase Wassel capped her playing career as one of the volleyball program’s most decorated athletes.
12 Outside Looking In
Dr. Jonathan Rosen examines the conversations about illegal immigration, the southern border wall, and MS-13.
19 Spotlight: Bree Rock
Senior Bree Rock left her legacy on the pitch and her name in the record books.
20 The Silent Struggle
Dr. Mary Wombwell talks about nursing stress and burnout, and ways to overcome those feelings.
25 Spotlight: A Golden Anniversary
Holy Family University's Library celebrated its 50th anniversary in December.
26 Athletics
The Tigers celebrate their stand-out moments from the soccer field to the basketball court, and everywhere in between.
28 Vision & Values
Relive some of the best events throughout the year and find out what your classmates are up to.
36 Pen to Paper
Faculty share their areas of expertise in this first-person column.
Photo: Ellen O'Brien
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The Holy Family University women's volleyball team can officially call themselves champions. After defeating Post University in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Finals, the women capped a historic, record-breaking season with their first banner in the program's history. "We are honored and blessed by the success and recognition that we have received this year," said Head Coach Jeff Rotondo. "As a program, we have worked tirelessly with our student-athletes to help them become the best versions of themselves. In the process, it has also aided us, the staff, in becoming the best versions of ourselves as well. As the head coach, it means so much to me that this collection of talented young women bought into our mission and standards; when you have that, it is a great foundation for success."
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Holy Family University’s yearbook, Familogue, is now digitized and available online! Free Alumni Benefit! Individual volumes of Familogue, Holy Family University’s yearbook, have been digitized for the benefit of alumni. Beginning with Holy Family’s first graduating class in 1958, Familogue was published for every class through the Class of 2013. Familogue provides a glimpse of life at Holy Family as presented by our students. As you view your class’ yearbook and others, we hope it brings back warm memories of your time at Holy Family! To view, search, and download Holy Family yearbooks, please visit
holyfamily.edu/yearbooks.
/HolyFamilyUniversity
Editor David Pavlak
President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, ’70, PhD
Art Director Jay Soda
Vice President for University Advancement James C. Garvey, EdD
Contributing Writers David Pavlak Greg Pellegrino @HolyFamilyU
Holy Family University
Contributing Feature Photographers Geoffrey Bolte Bruce Cramer Julia Lehman-McTigue John McKeith Stephen Pellegrino Jay Soda
Cover photo: iStock.com/Brad Greeff HolyFamilyU
HFU_Official
/holyfamilyuniversity
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All photos credited on page.
Interim Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Amy Beyer Holy Family University Magazine is published semiannually. Please address correspondence to: Editor, Holy Family University Magazine Marketing & Communications Department 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114 magazine@holyfamily.edu Letters to the Editor become property of the magazine. The opinions and views expressed in Holy Family University Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official policies of Holy Family University. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published information. Holy Family University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, gender, age (as defined in the relevant statutes), veteran status, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other classification protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy extends to all educational, employment, and service programs at the University and complies with applicable federal laws. Holy Family University is committed to providing all qualified applicants and employees equal employment opportunities, not only because it is the law, but also because of our belief that adherence is morally correct. Holy Family University complies with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in an institution's education programs and activities. For information regarding the University’s ADA/Section 504 for students and for Title IX information, contact Marianne Price at 267-341-3204, Campus Center Room 202. For inquiries regarding equal employment opportunity/non-discrimination, contact Human Resources at 267-341-3479.
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President's Message
Dear Holy Family University Community:
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Photo: Bob Scott
s the 2018-19 academic year began, one phrase from our Mission Statement repeatedly came to my mind, “the oneness of the human family.” My heightened consciousness tracked to many sources. The news media bombarded us daily with images of families being separated as they crossed our country’s borders. The plight of refugees leaving homelands, in which myriad forms of discrimination threatened survival, was shown worsening as more nations worldwide rejected the pleas of the fleeing for shelter and relief. At the same time, debate raged around legal questions, economic impact, and moral obligations. Labels of liberal and conservative, right and left, nationalism and patriotism, defined discourse. Civil debate commingled with rude assertion; rhetoric gave way to violence. At a single moment, nothing was acceptable and yet everything was tolerated. In a period of history that might be considered the “best of times”—for some—there appeared a festering sore that burst onto the world stage with a vehemence that provided clear insight into the antithesis of good and evil. Amid this cacophony, it became apparent that to achieve oneness of the human family, we must fully understand its members. To serve families, our decisions must be consistently based on fact and principle. It was in this context that the question, “who is my neighbor” emerged, and as a result, I asked the campus community to plumb the depths of this query from all perspectives and disciplines. To further reinforce this understanding, I also requested that service to families involve us all with immigrants or refugees, the “other” about whom we might know least. Hopefully, our Presidential Lecture Series and the myriad of service projects around this theme will be a beginning, a foundation for informed decision-making and understanding of peoples, which will guide us in the future. The Kingdom of God lives in each of us and must be acknowledged and supported if we are to be one. It is our responsibility, teneor votis!
Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD President
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Spotlight
A Way of Giving Back By David Pavlak
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arl Gregory, a former Holy Family University Board of Trustees member for more than 35 years, and his wife, Elizabeth, have established the Carl F. and Elizabeth M. Gregory Charitable Trust, naming Holy Family University as the sole beneficiary. At the end of the annuity period in 2028, all of the principal and income of the trust, more than $190,000, will be distributed to the University. As a result of the Gregory’s commitment to Holy Family’s future, they have been recognized as members of the Teneor Votis Society. Named after the University’s motto, “I am bound by my responsibilities,” the Society honors the generosity and foresight of Holy Family’s planned giving donors. “It’s a way of giving back to Holy Family what they offered me,” Mr. Gregory said. “I’m a firm believer in The Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Gregory’s are no strangers to giving to the University. Not only have they contributed as part of the Board of Trustees, but also as parents of two Holy Family University alumni, Stephen ’85 and Robert ’90, M’98. The family has supported the 1997 One MissionTwo Campuses Capital Campaign, the 2004 Education Building Capital Campaign, and they provide regular gifts to the Athletics Department, the 1954 Society, the Carl F. and Elizabeth M. Gregory Scholarship, and the University’s Scholarship Ball Gala. “The Gregory Family has been a consistent source of support to Holy Family and generations of students have benefited from their generosity. This recent planned gift,
once again, is a wonderful way of extending this legacy. As a campus community, we are grateful to the Gregorys for all they have done and continue to do to support our ministry to families,” said University President, Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD. “My family has been connected to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth for a long time,” Mr. Gregory said. “My father and I knew Sister Neomisia Rutkowska, CSFN. Sister Aloysius Sabacinska, CSFN, the second President of the University, was my eighth-grade teacher at Nazareth Academy. Sister Lillian Budny, CSFN, asked me to join the Board of Trustees in 1980. I also worked with Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, through all those years. At that time, the Board was only about six members, and has since grown to more than 25 participants.” As a simultaneous “wearer of three hats” during his 39-plus years of dedicated service at Third Federal Savings Bank, Mr. Gregory retired as President in 1993, retired as CEO in 1995, and retired as Chairman of the Board in 2001. He currently holds the title of Chairman Emeritus of Third Federal Bank. He is a graduate of Nazareth Academy Grade School and Northeast Catholic High School for Boys. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany from 1956-1958 and received an honorable discharge as a Specialist 6. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and the Drexel Institute of Technology. To further his career in banking he received certifications from the following savings and loan schools: the University of Georgia, Indiana University Graduate School, and the University of Southern California Post Graduate School.
Holy Family University appreciates Mr. Gregory's kindness and generosity throughout his many years of dedicated service to the University and its student body. Mr. Gregory is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, three sons: Carl, Stephen ̕ 85, and Robert ̕ 90, M̕ 98, and seven granddaughters: Mary Beth, Claire, Caroline, Jennifer, Lauren, Olivia, and Elizabeth. “When Carl Gregory visited us last summer and made a charitable trust available to the University, it was our last visit with this kind and generous benefactor whose good will, wise counsel, and philanthropic support benefitted the University and its students for more than three decades,” McGarrity said. “To say that Mr. Gregory will be sorely missed is an understatement, at best. We have been privileged to share in the life of this fine and gentle man. As we mourn his loss, we offer sincere prayers for the consolation of his wife, Elizabeth, and his family. We likewise promise them that we will be wise stewards of the many gifts made available to us through Mr. Gregory so that the Value of Family, which he so clearly embodied, may be extended to our campus community both now and for many years into our future.”
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Photo: John McKeith
EDITORS NOTE —On October 14, 2018, after the above article was published online, Mr. Gregory unexpectedly passed away.
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Photos: David Pavlak (top and bottom)
News
Anonymous Donor Reopens Marian Hall
Along with President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN and members of the Board of Trustees pose on the stairs of Marian Hall prior to their first board meeting inside the renovated building on October 23.
be occupied by the President’s Office, as well as the Office of University Advancement. To view photos from the Ribbon Cutting, please visit page 28.
Money Magazine Names HFU a Best College in 2018-19 Holy Family University was named the 174th Best College by Money® magazine in 2018-19, an increase of 22 spots from the previous year's rankings. Holy Family University was the third highest Philadelphia-based university, behind the University of Pennsylvania (14) and Temple University (167). “Holy Family University is committed to improving the student experience at all of our locations,” said President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD. “Moving up more than 20 points in the rankings from our previous designation underscores this commitment to continuously improve and augment the opportunities and experiences we provide for our students, faculty, and staff. I am grateful for the recognition of our ongoing work by Money Magazine.” According to Money, 727 schools met the requirements to be evaluated. The schools were then ranked on 26 factors in three categories: quality of education, affordability, and outcomes.
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New DNP Track On July 23, the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions was granted approval by the State Board of Nursing to introduce a new track to their Doctor of Nursing Practice program: Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner. The addition of the Family Nurse Practitioner track will allow future nurses to discover how to assess, diagnose, and treat routine medical conditions, and explore strategies for practicing preventive healthcare for individuals and families.
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Photo: Ricky Haldis
Holy Family University’s Marian Hall, located on the corner of Frankford and Grant Avenues, has recently gone through a transformative renovation courtesy of an anonymous donor. The restoration and expansion of Marian Hall was valued in excess of $2 million. The building was officially blessed and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 23. “Holy Family University is tremendously fortunate to have individuals who are always looking to give back to our proud University,” said President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD. “I am humbled by our generous donor and his team, who put countless hours of hard work into transforming Marian Hall into the beautiful building that stands here today. I want to sincerely thank all of those who contributed their time and energy to this project. Please know that Holy Family is forever appreciative for all that you’ve done.” Marian Hall’s original footprint encompassed 7,365 square feet. The renovations added an additional 5,100 square feet, bringing the structure to a total of more than 12,400 square feet. The building features a full eat-in kitchen, energy efficient windows and lighting, and will
$1.5 Million Granted for Campus Upgrades
GPS Adds Comm and Psychology
Holy Family University was awarded a $1.5 million grant for campus enhancement from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) on September 5. Plans for enhancement are still being developed but will include renovations to the Campus Center and Holy Family Hall, designed to bring all student services under one roof to improve student access and enhance their experience. RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. “Our University’s mission is to serve regional students in an accessible, affordable manner, and this grant will allow us to continue to meet students’ facility needs now and in the future,” said President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD.
Graduate and Professional Studies has announced two new accelerated Bachelor of Arts programs in Communications and Psychology. These programs teach the same curriculum as the traditional programs, but are offered in consecutive eight-week terms, and are a combination of online and in-person evening meetings.
Gurecki Completes Prestigious Internship with FBI
Photos: Michael Branscom (RACP); Bob Scott (Gurecki)
Amanda Gurecki, a senior criminal justice and psychology major, completed the 10-week Honors Internship Program with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during the summer at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She was assigned to the leadership training program for supervisors and executives. “I was given the opportunity to sit in on classes on leadership, agent trainee classes on firearms, an explosives demonstration, and briefings about various units in the Bureau,” Gurecki said. “I also completed support work for my unit, such as filling out
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program completion certificates and framing and boxing them, building and sending out a program evaluation survey, doing a cost analysis, and participating in murder boards to evaluate presentations for a new program.” Gurecki was also able to participate in a presentation skills course, as well as receive mentorship from a number of individuals throughout the FBI’s units. “All of the DC-area interns were at Headquarters for our two days of orientation, and we took the oath promising to support and defend the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “That was the moment that it all became real, where it really hit me that I made it. I passed all the background checks and interviews and applications, and I was really going to be spending the summer working for the agency that I'd applied to almost a year prior. There's really no words that could ever adequately describe the sheer happiness and pride that I felt knowing that I was chosen to participate in the Honors Internship Program.”
PsyD Cohort Presents at Conference Three students from the inaugural Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology program, led by Dr. Diane Menago, were accepted for their first conference presentation at the Pennsylvania Psychological Association’s annual conference on June 13 in King of Prussia, PA.
Alumna Published Dr. Jan Cook M’09, EdD’17 recently had a literature review published by the Marine Corps University Press Journal. Her work was entitled The Military-Civilian Bridge.
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News
School of Education Awarded $97,000 Grant for Blended-Learning Program formats to increase access for non-traditional students who are currently in the early childhood workforce and want to obtain their degree or certification. The William Penn Foundation approved the proposal submitted by the Public Health
Management Corporation for continuation funding of the "Early Childhood Education Teacher Preparation Collaborative.” “We are most grateful to the William Penn Foundation for their generous and visionary support,” said Dr. James C. Garvey, Vice
Students Present Work at IBC Foundation Event Reece Young (pictured below), Dayna Howitz (pictured below), and Alyssa Christiansen, senior nursing majors, presented research projects and accompanying posters during the Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s recognition event for its nursing internship program on August 3. According to the Foundation, more than 20 undergraduate nursing students from 10 colleges and universities participated in the 10-week internship throughout various Independence Blue Cross or community health centers that are supported by the Foundation’s Blue Safety Net grant program. The Foundation also partnered with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to create a Leadership Lab, where student interns were able to connect experiential learning with professional development from Philadelphia’s top healthcare professionals. Christiansen’s presentation was entitled “Barriers to Colon Cancer Screenings in Homeless Population." Howitz presented a poster entitled “Sickle Cell Crisis: Improving Pain Management to Prevent Frequent Emergency Room Visits.” Young’s presentation was entitled “Motivational Interviewing: Getting the Most Out of Patient Contact.”
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President for University Advancement. “Their commitment to improving the quality of life in the Philadelphia region, and especially their ongoing mission to improving education, places them among the elite of area foundations.”
IPL Collaborative Hosts First Conference The Involuntary Pregnancy Loss Collaborative, spearheaded by Drs. Kimberly Dasch-Yee, Jenai Grigg, and Stacy McDonald, faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences, hosted the 2018 Involuntary Pregnancy Loss (IPL) Conference on October 12 to bring together professionals from a variety of disciplines to share research and findings related to the psychosocial impact of prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal pregnancy loss. Since its creation in 2016, the IPL Collaborative has worked to open up the dialogue and research opportunities surrounding pregnancy loss. “A goal of the conference was to increase conversation surrounding pregnancy loss, as there are still cultural norms that limit dialog related to this topic,” Dasch-Yee said. The event was highlighted by a keynote address from Pamela Geller, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, OB/GYN, and Public Health at Drexel University.
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Photo: Bob Scott (grant), Independence Blue Cross (internship)
Holy Family University’s School of Education was awarded a two-year grant for $97,000 through the William Penn Foundation that will be used to convert the undergraduate PK-4 program to blended, online, evening, and on-site delivery
Exchange Agreements Signed with Two Universities On May 30, Holy Family University and International University of Catalonia signed a memorandum of understanding involving a student and faculty exchange program with the School of Education. The two sides are also exploring a similar agreement for the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. "Holy Family's agreement with UIC Barcelona will be extremely beneficial for both institutions, allowing for faculty collaborations, professional development and, eventually, student exchanges,” Dr. Michael Markowitz, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said. “This latter benefit will be of particular value to our Nursing students, providing a learning experience in a culture other than our own and expanding their understanding of the global nature of health care and patient needs." Holy Family University also signed a memorandum of understanding with Universidad de O'Higgins from Chile on August 20, involving a faculty, scholarly, and research exchange program with the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. "Holy Family University is delighted to partner with Universidad de O'Higgins regarding a faculty and professional development exchange with our School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions,” Markowitz continued. "Our nursing students and staff will benefit greatly, both personally and professionally, from this cultural experience. We are excited for our students to grow as they become aware of and comprehend the global nature of health care and patient needs.”
Photo: David Pavlak
Hoffner’s New Book Details Catholic Traditions Dr. Helen Hoffner, a professor in the School of Education, recently finished her latest book, Catholic Treasures and Traditions. The illustrated encyclopedia examines questions about the history of Catholic school and church practices, as well as dispels superstitions followed by Catholics. The book was published by Sophia Institute Press.
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“I wrote Catholic Treasures and Traditions to show the origins and purposes of religious articles and practices,” Hoffner said. “For example, it was St. Anthony himself who turned to prayer when his book of psalms was lost and couldn’t be found. Knowing the stories behind traditions dispels myths and leads to greater appreciation.”
Drs. McElwaine and Menago Present at Lilly Conference Dr. Patrick McElwaine and Dr. Diane Menago, faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences, presented at the Lilly Conference in Bethesda, Maryland. Their presentation was entitled “Creating a Community of Learners through Innovative Pedagogical Approaches.”
Nursing NCLEX Championship Senior nursing students took home the NCLEX Bowl Championship at the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania's Annual Conference in November.
Pair Volunteer with Local Migrant Soccer Program Working alongside Philadelphia Open Soccer, Dr. Nicole Stokes DuPass, Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Diversity, and Meghan Rakus, an early childhood education and special education major, have volunteered to work with local migrant youth to help develop their teamwork and athletic abilities.
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Spotlight
Killing It By Greg Pellegrino
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Photos:Geoffrey Photo: David Pavlak Bolte (Rosen); Julia Lehman-McTigue (commencement)
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t was a season for the ages for the Holy Family University women’s volleyball team. The Tigers won their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship, advanced to the NCAA Division II East Region Final, and along the way set a program record with 31 victories. It was also a season to remember for senior Chase Wassel, who capped her four-year playing career as one of the program’s most decorated players. She totaled a career-high 644 kills this season, second most in Division II. Wassel, a communications major, also recorded a career-high 74 service aces, tops among the national leaders. Not to mention, she also averaged 2.98 digs per set and totaled 57 blocks; one shy of her career-high. Throughout the season her success on the court was rewarded as she was named the CACC Player of the Week six times. At one point Wassel received the honor in four consecutive weeks. The postseason honors weren’t far behind. Wassel was named the program’s first American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and also received the honor from the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. She was selected the East Region Player of the Year by both associations. Wassel was also named the program’s first CACC Player of the Year and earned All-CACC honors for the third straight season. Not to be out done, Wassel was the Most Valuable Player at the CACC Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament team at the East Regional. “On behalf of my teammates, coaches, and myself, I would like to thank the entire Holy Family community, friends, and family for their continual support all season long,” Wassel said. "Nothing this team has accomplished this season could be done alone. I will forever be grateful for the memories, lessons, and blessing Holy Family has given me over the course of my career, and I look forward to seeing the success of this team in the future. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.” Wassel finished her career as the program’s all-time leader with 1,992 kills. She is also fifth all-time with 1,501 digs and third in aces with 202. She is one of three players in program history to record 1,000-plus kills and digs in a single career.
SAVE THE DATE! A Celebration of the 65th Anniversary of Holy Family University’s Founding
February 11, 2019 The day will include: • Tiger Talks (modeled on TED Talks, and presented by Holy Family faculty, staff, and alumni) • C elebrate Mass with Choir and HFU alumni clergy • Sto Lat Birthday Party • Keynote Address • Day of Giving Visit holyfamily.edu/greatday for more information!
C A LL F O R NOMINATION S
Alumni Achievement Award The Alumni Achievement Award is given to a graduate who displays great accomplishment(s) in one or more of the following areas: professional achievement, community volunteer service, and humanitarian efforts. Through these accomplishments, these alumni bring recognition to themselves and to Holy Family University. To view past winners and to nominate an alumnus or alumna for this Award, head to holyfamily.edu/alumniaward Nominations must be received or postmarked by January 15, 2019. In addition to being recognized on campus and in various other promotions, winner(s) will receive two complimentary tickets to the 2019 Alumni Reunion on April 27, 2019, where they will be formally recognized by their peers and the campus community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Alumni Office at 267-341-5017 or alumni@holyfamily.edu.
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OutsideLooking In By David Pavlak
As thousands of people continue to move toward the southern border of the United States, seeking to escape the increased violence in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, President Donald Trump has condemned the caravan as dangerous and infiltrated with members of MS-13, a violent street gang with origins in Central America and parts of the United States. The President’s solution has been a long-talked-about wall, constructed along the southern border. It’s an initiative he claims will stop the flow of dangerous criminals, violent gang members, and drugs, while providing added security in our most exposed regions.
But how much of what is happening is true?
Photo: iStock.com/AlxeyPnferov
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Photo: Jay Soda
Dr. Jonathan Rosen, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, has studied international crime, drug trafficking, and gangs for 10 years. He’s the author of 16 books on the topics and has followed the President’s narrative closely, watching as members from the left and right fight ideologies on the topic, all in the name of national security.
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The Caravan
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cross most major news networks throughout October, there has been a focus on the migrant caravan making its way toward the United States. President Trump has tweeted for its disbursement and signed an order to send members of the military and National Guard to join border patrol officers across parts of Texas, Arizona, and California. This isn’t the first time migrant caravans have attempted to cross into the United States. Former President Barack Obama faced the child migrant crisis in 2014 and former President George W. Bush worked to reform the Guest Worker Program during his time in the White House. Today’s caravan, however, has a variety of reasons for its move toward the United States, with one in particular that rises above the rest, according to Rosen. “You see some kids who are trying to reunite with family members who are here legally or illegally,” he said. “You also see some individuals who are going to apply for asylum because they’re refugees. But I think you’re seeing violence today as the biggest issue. Violence really leads people to flee, and you’re seeing young men, women, and children, the vast majority of whom are not criminals.”
iStock.com/Eblis
"Someone's willing to risk their life, walk across a border, and pray they are accepted or can ask for refugee status." El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, collectively named The Northern Triangle, is a hotbed of gang violence in Central America. MS-13 has strongholds in all three countries, forcing individuals to leave their homes and seek safety in another country. The journey from the Northern Triangle, through Mexico, and to the United States is extremely difficult and dangerous. Studies and investigative journalism have uncovered women being raped, individuals being murdered, and extortion tactics by local gangs who loiter in the area.
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“Today, what you’re seeing particularly with the caravan, is people saying that their situation is so bad that they’re going to take the chance and roll the dice. Someone’s willing to risk their life, walk across a border, and pray they are accepted or can ask for refugee status.” Rosen acknowledges that concrete laws are needed to create real change. Estimates for the number of unauthorized immigrants already in the United States hover around 12 million, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s January 2014 population estimate. “You have to reform the immigration system. We’ve been debating this with Republican presidents and Democratic presidents. The question is what do you do to reform it? What Obama did was pass various executive orders, like DACA, because Congress couldn’t agree on something to pass. The problem with an executive order is that the next president can remove it. They need a law. They need Congress to agree on something. People who are fleeing violence have to wait for papers, you might need a lawyer, and you need money. It takes a lot of time.”
The Gang
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llegedly mixed in to the caravan heading toward the southern border are members of MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha, a dangerous street gang that has evolved over the years and is now known for its high levels of violence. Though the group has a large following in El Salvador, the gang was originally formed in the United States. “Most people forget that the gang started in the 1980s in Los Angeles,” Rosen said. “MS-13 consists of individuals who fled the Salvadoran Civil War, which last-
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they’re a national security threat for the United States. In 2012, they were labeled by the Treasury Department as a transnational criminal organization. They are mainly involved in extortion and drug transportation, but they’re not major drug traffickers.” Other street gangs like the Bloods and the Crips have roughly three times as many members in the United
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States and are just as violent. So why has MS-13 caught the ire of the U.S. Administration? “They’ve been elevated on the security agenda to make it look like every single person that crosses the border is an MS-13 member,” Rosen admitted. “Two percent of people that cross the border are affiliated with MS-13. A majority of the people that are in MS-13 today are born in the United States and have been here. They’ve been put on the radar because of the violence they’re involved in. You never hear the Administration talk about the 18th Street Gang, which is the arch-enemy of MS-13. There are more members of the 18th Street Gang in the United States than there are MS-13.”
The Wall
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ne of the first promises made by thenRepublican Nominee Trump was for a wall to be constructed along the southern border, an initiative he deemed pivotal to stop the flow of unauthorized immigrants, dangerous criminals, and drugs into the United States. Originally said to be paid for by Mexico, the proposed wall’s costs have been erratic, with the President himself asking for $25 billion in January, and Democratic and watch-dog agencies claiming it would be much more expensive. Border security in the United States has always been a hot-button issue, dating back to the September 11 attacks, where the United States responded by creating the Department of Homeland Security. However, Rosen is skeptical that a wall is a viable solution because of the United States’ global economy. “We live in a globalized world. There is so much legal commerce between the United States and Mexico. Border security in every country is an issue but I don’t think a wall in terms of the investment is an effective way to stop everything. To me, a wall reminds me of a gated neighborhood; people feel really safe, but in reality, there’s still loopholes. You can still get around it.” Even if the proposed wall was put into place, Rosen doesn’t see it as a deterrent for those who still wish to enter or smuggle goods in. “Should you build a wall between the seaports? How many drugs go through the ports of Miami or Long Beach or Baltimore? Where does it end if you build this wall? You have organized criminal groups who are crafty and creative and will figure out ways to do it. It’s about meeting demand—this issue of supply and demand and criminal groups working together and diversifying their activities to include drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking—you find ways to do it.”
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Photo: David Pavlak
ed from 1979-1992. So you had youth fleeing violence. They moved to Los Angeles, which is primarily Mexican. In addition, they spoke Spanish differently in terms of their accent and the conjugation of certain verbs. There was a lot of discrimination among youth who didn’t fit in; so they’d hang out in MacArthur Park and they formed a gang.” The origins of the group were much tamer at the onset, but over time, have gradually turned more deadly. “MS-13 consisted of kids who hung out, listened to rock and roll music, and their gang sign is based on rock and roll music. The gang has evolved over time and become much more violent. Now just to be considered for the privilege to join MS-13, you have to kill.” In the 1990s, the United States began deporting many of these individuals back to Central America, where the ideology expanded, and eventually blossomed in the Northern Triangle. “There are only 10,000 members of MS-13 in the United States. MS-13 is a violent, ruthless, brutal gang. There are around 100,000 gang members in the Northern Triangle. Yet some estimates place the number of gangs in El Salvador alone at 100,000. The reality is, I don’t think
The Research
Photo: Jay Soda
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osen’s interest peaked for international criminality when he was an undergraduate at the University of Miami. He and his colleagues and co-authors have interviewed more than 2,000 individuals across six different gangs in El Salvador. His research has focused on drugs, violence, and gangs in Central and Latin America, ex-gang member discrimination, international violence and criminality, and trends and challenges in the prison systems in the Americas. “In the 1,200-person study that we did, the most interesting thing that I found was that in El Salvador, with MS-13 members and the 18th Street Gang and various peripheral smaller gangs, 91% had never been to the United States.” Rosen says that for the most part, former gang members will tell you whatever you want to know about their former affiliations because they often hate the gang after they’ve successfully left—a challenge in and of itself. “If the gang respects one thing, it is a higher power. If you’re playing around saying, ‘Oh I had this intense religious conversion’ and you’re doing it as a joke, they’ll beat you up the first time and probably kill you the second.”
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His work throughout the years has made an impact on the students who take his classes. Being able to reinforce discussions with real-world examples has created an engaging learning environment. “I think I can tell them a lot of stories through firsthand experience. I also try to broaden their vision beyond issues in the United States as there are challenges in other countries around the globe. I try to connect the dots, particularly when you look at immigration and drugs.” The solutions to the problems aren’t easy. Reform is needed across all institutions and various countries to fix the immigration crisis, the criminal justice system, and how the US deals with gangs and violence. “Criminal justice reform is fundamental,” Rosen said. “That would also require what I would argue, and a lot of my colleagues argue, is the need for a holistic approach. You can’t just reform one system. Reform the police in Central America, reform the institutions, the judicial system. There’s people on the left and right who think they should cut off all aid to Central America. People on the left because of human rights abuses and some on the right think it’s a waste of money; it hasn’t improved anything. Reforms can happen but they don’t happen quickly. It’s a decades long process.”
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Show your pride in Holy Family University with a gift to the Blue & White Fund! Donors to the Blue & White Fund, Holy Family University’s Annual Fund, help to foster the growth of well-rounded world citizens and make it possible for our students to realize their dream of being a teacher, scientist, entrepreneur, nurse, artist, or attorney. The Blue & White Fund is the primary source of individual support for Holy Family University with unrestricted gifts providing immediate impact on student success. Alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students demonstrate their belief in The Value of Family every year through their participation in the Blue & White Fund.
For more information or to make your gift to the Blue & White Fund, please visit holyfamily.edu/give or contact Christina Bender, Director of Annual Giving, at 267-341-3017 or cbender@holyfamily.edu. Did you know the impact of your generosity may be doubled or possibly tripled by your employer? Some companies even match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. Please visit holyfamily.edu/match or check with your HR department to find out if your gift to Holy Family can be matched!
How to Make
Your Permanent Mark on the Future
Now is the time to make a mark on the future. More and more alumni and friends of Holy Family University are choosing to leave a lasting legacy by making a gift through their will or estate. You can give (“bequeath”) many different kinds of assets—in whole or in part—in your will, including: • A paid-up life insurance policy • CDs • Cash • U.S. Savings Bonds • Securities • Artwork • Real estate • A percentage of your estate’s value • The remainder after all debts are paid and your loved ones are cared for If you believe in Holy Family University’s mission and want to help carry it forward to the future, please contact us. We would be honored to work with you and your advisor(s) to determine the gift that best suits your situation and interests. We will be pleased to welcome you into our Teneor Votis Society, which recognizes and honors the generosity and foresight of Holy Family’s planned giving donors. You will receive invitations to special events and other exclusive benefits as a Teneor Votis Society member. For more information or to let us know you have included Holy Family University in your will, please visit holyfamily.edu/bequest or contact Joshua E. Liss, Assistant Vice President for Development, at 267-341-3100 or jliss@holyfamily.edu.
Spotlight
Goal Oriented By Greg Pellegrino
Photo credit herePhoto: Stephen Pellegrino
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hen you talk about Holy Family University women’s soccer, one of the first names to stand out is Bree Rock. The senior midfielder/ forward has been one of the best players not only in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) but also in the East Region and Division II for the past four years. The former standout from nearby Bensalem High School first stepped foot on the Holy Family campus in August of 2015. In her freshman season, the nursing major started 15 of 17 games and finished with a modest four goals and two assists. Little did everyone know the best was yet to come. Rock came out firing in her sophomore season. She finished with 13 goals and three assists for 29 points. As a result, Rock was named the CACC Player of the Year and was selected to the All-CACC first team. She also received Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-East Region first team recognition. Rock continued to impress and at the same time get better. In her junior season she had another standout campaign with 16 goals, nine assists, and 41 points. She was once again voted CACC Player of the Year and would go on to earn CCA All-America First Team honors. To put it into perspective, Rock was just the second student-athlete at Holy Family to ever repeat as conference Player of the Year and was just the second women’s soccer player to earn All-America honors. Rock saved the best for last. This past fall, her final season of collegiate play, Rock finished the year with 19 goals, six assists, and 44 points, setting new career-highs. She finished her career as the program’s third highest scorer with 124 points and is ranked third with 52 career goals. In the program’s Division II era (2003-present) she’s tops in both categories. Holy Family qualified for the CACC Tournament all four years of Rock’s career and had an overall win-loss record of 40-24-6 (34-10-4 CACC). The team advanced to the semifinals three straight seasons and went all the way to the CACC Championship game this past fall for the 12th time in program history. After the postseason, Rock was named to the CCA All-East Region first team for the third straight year and as a result was later selected to the CCA All-America second team making her a two-time All-American, the first in the program’s Division II era.
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Silent Struggle
The
By David pavlak Photography by Julia lehman-MCTIGUE
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he scene in a busy Philadelphia hospital is enough to send anyone into a state of panic. Sirens blare from the tops of ambulances as paramedic crews rush in new patients. Heart monitors beep with each rise of the chest. Hospital staff in their off-white shoes scurry across the sterile tile floors. Keyboards click, equipment is transported with a rumble, and quiet, huddled conversations are held. Doctors and nurses move about the crowded rooms—talking, listening, prescribing, and hopefully, releasing each person they come in contact with. Some may not be so lucky.
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Nursing-related stress is on the rise, but it’s a problem rarely talked about, hardly studied, and difficult to understand. Though mental health issues are receiving more awareness, occupational stress still seems to be sort of an outlier. Students enroll in colleges across the United States and abroad with aspirations to enter a specific field. Yet, some have difficulty coping with its numerous rigors. Nurses are in the room as a new life enters the world, but also stand diligently bedside as another one leaves. The emotional element leaves scars. “Most of the time, the stressors come from the ratio of nurses to patients, the acuity levels, the amount of hours you have to work, and then, in addition, you have that human factor with how you’re dealing with individuals that are so sick and not getting better,” said Dr. Mary Wombwell, Professor & Coordinator of the RN-BSN Program in Holy Family University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. Wombwell is well accustomed to the struggles new nurses face. She has worked at the now-closed St. Agnes Medical Center in South Philadelphia, Frankford Hospital (now Jefferson Frankford Hospital), Episcopal Hospital (now Temple University Hospital - Episcopal Campus), and Holy Redeemer Hospital in perioperative services, home care, and in the community health sector for 15 years. “When I first graduated, you had eight to 10 patients to deal with and you didn’t have the confidence as a new graduate to say, ‘No, this isn’t safe; I can’t do this.’ You went along with it. There were individuals that stood up, and lots of times they got fired because they identified something that was not safe. You’re not seeing that
as much, and a lot of that has to do with educational advancement, accreditation, satisfaction rates that hospitals get back from patients, and nursing retention rates.” Nursing burnout rates are on the rise and the stress has led to increases in leaving the hospital setting, leaving the profession altogether, and suicide rates. A study by the Office for National Studies in the United Kingdom found that from 2011-2015, “the risk of suicide among health professionals was 24% higher than the national average. This finding is largely explained by the higher risk of suicide among nurses, which was 23% above the national average.” In-depth research on nursing suicide rates are difficult to find. Data on nursing burnout rates are more prevalent. There is also an abundance of articles, op-eds, and blogs by current and former nurses calling for more attention to this silent problem. “People are dealing with a number of things and if they don’t have some balance in their life, that suicide rate is going to increase,” Wombwell said. “Sometimes you can just go on automatic pilot and that’s what happens when one patient dies and you go into the next patient’s room. It’s still there though. When will you deal with it? That part is really hard. You try and bury it almost so people or other patients can’t see that you’re sad. We know its ok to show people that you’re sad. It just really comes down to making sure you’re attending to your own self-care.” Today, most hospitals implement a nursing residency program, designed to give new nurses a mentor, receive the support and guidance needed to refine skills, and increase confidence. “Hospitals that have nurse residency programs retain Dr. Mary Wombwell worked in perioperative services, home care, and in the community health sector for 15 years prior to joining Holy Family.
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96% of new graduates that they hire. It’s not uncommon for a new graduate to last a year or less in those hospitals that do not have nurse residency programs, and say ‘I can’t do this.’” Being proactive, the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions requires a class for senior students: Transition to Professional Role, a course designed to discuss a variety of issues new nurses face as they prepare to enter practice. “Transition to Professional Role provides discussions, role play, and simulations related to safe practice issues, incivility, and caring. As students explore issues, they discover the tools for safe practice and are better prepared for nursing practice.” The training has proved beneficial. Kelly Hardiman, a 2018 graduate who is completing her first year as a Medical-Surgery and Telemetry Nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center has used tactics from the class to speak up and help close gaps in the care patients receive. “Sometimes it’s best to just think of it as ‘What can I do to produce better patient outcomes?’” Hardiman said. “Maybe it’s splitting a heavy assignment or advocating for a patient’s family when they are upset a physician has not spoken with them. Just always remember to be professional and take issues to the right person.” Wombwell admits that a lot of new students experience self-doubt early in the process, overwhelmed with the coursework, materials to study, clinical and laboratory experiences, and the at-times hectic schedule. “Lots of times, students will come and say ‘I tried it. I don’t like it. I’m out. I want to change my major.’ That’s a hard decision to come to. You’re disappointing yourself, you think you’re disappointing your family. I usually say to them have you talked about this to anybody. It’s that ability to talk whether you’re a student or a practicing nurse to share this is what happened and this is how I feel. Sometimes practicing nurses don’t have that time.” Hardiman used her experience during her undergraduate years to make the transition to her full-time profession more seamless. “I was nervous my first day on my unit, but I was
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paired with an amazing preceptor who had me shadow her so I got a feel for the unit,” Hardiman said. “I would say the most stressful transition was being alone my first day on the unit. I remember not being able to sleep the night before my first shift thinking I was all alone and what if I couldn’t juggle multiple patients at once. However, you’re never actually alone in the hospital.” Wombwell and her colleagues have also created a Mindfulness course that has been offered during the University’s August Weekend Intensive in 2014 and 2018. The course examines theories related to stress, the outcomes of stress, and the response of the body physically, mentally, and emotionally. In addition to the theory, students also participate in yoga, tai-chi, and various breathing and meditating exercises that they can use in the field. “Stress levels increase cortisol and adrenaline levels, the fight-or-flight hormone,” Wombwell said. “When released at high levels, these chemicals effect metabolic balance, visual acuity, and problem-solving abilities. Quality of care and safety are at risk. Professional nursing practice requires you to be in the moment, to be mindful, and to critically think to support safe and healthy outcomes.” The stress in high-performing occupations is a lot, including those new to the profession and seasoned veterans. However, the advice to overcome these difficult situations tends to be the same. “Breathe,” Hardiman said. “Everyone has been a new graduate at some point. You will make a mistake, it’s ok. You will have a physician talk down to you, it’s ok. You will need help, it’s ok. Just remember why you are there: to take care of your patients. Some days will be stressful. Some days you will barely get a lunch, but you will be coordinating care for so many people and it’s a rewarding job. Practice to the best of your knowledge, ask questions, and practice with heart.”
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Athletics Hall of Fame Returns Fall 2019 Nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2019 will be accepted until March 1, 2019. Visit athletics.holyfamily.edu to make a nomination.
Questions: Contact Greg Pellegrino Sports Information Director gpellegrino@holyfamily.edu
Spotlight
A Golden Anniversary By David Pavlak
Photo: Bruce Cramer
T
hrough the stacks of books and rows of computer screens, Holy Family University’s Library is a hub of productivity. For all the Library is and represents, Holy Family’s informational hub is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this December. “This place has gone through a considerable change since I started working here,” said Shannon Brown, the Library’s Executive Director since 2015. “The building itself has great bones—terrific natural light with big windows and clean, modern lines—so it has stood the proverbial test of time.” Working with University Advancement, Brown secured a grant for $20,000 from the Nazareth Family Foundation to modernize the inside, buying new furniture and enhancing the student experience. “The Library itself creates good feelings but mostly it’s the people who work here. I know I speak for the entire staff when I say that the best part of the job is helping our students.
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We want them to know that we’re here for them. We want them to feel at home here and use the Library however they need. That could mean a place to host your club meeting or a group study session; sometimes it’s a coffee and a quiet seat by the window; and sometimes it’s the place to run to when you don’t know where you’re supposed to meet your class in five minutes.” The Library has taken steps to become more than just the place to print your homework through her staff’s creative programs and philanthropic opportunities, including a monthly book club, annual POEtry Slam, finals week activities, and a book drive in conjunction with the Athletic Department. “In the future, we’ll add more collaborative space with technology such as touch screens and webcams and additional conference/meeting space for use by the entire campus community. I’ve also been studying what other colleges are doing. We just need to raise funding but I feel very optimistic because of all the exciting updates happening throughout the University.”
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Athletics
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
It was a season to remember for the Holy Family University women’s volleyball team. The Tigers’ historic run started in preseason workouts back in mid-August and extended all the way through the NCAA Division II East Region Finals. The regular season was capped with winning 18-straight matches, resulting in the team claiming the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South Division Title and earning the top overall seed in the conference tournament. Holy Family made its way through the CACC tournament and when it was all said and done, captured the program’s first CACC Championship. The team officially qualified for the NCAA Tournament, another program first. The Tigers were awarded the fifth-seed in the East Region and faced fourth-seeded Molloy in the regional quarterfinals, cruising to a 3-0 victory. The Tigers then faced top-seed and host University of New Haven in the semifinals. The Chargers won the East Region in 2017 and are a perennial NCAA Tournament team. The Tigers dropped the first set to the Chargers, but bounced back and eliminated the defending region champions in four sets, 3-1. The win marked the first time a team from the CACC won beyond the quarterfinals. In fact, the Tigers were just the second team in the CACC to register a win in women’s volleyball in the NCAA Tournament. The last time was a decade ago when the 2008 Georgian Court University squad defeated Merrimack College, 3-0, in the regional quarterfinals. Holy Family’s historic season though came to an end in the East Region finals with a 3-0 defeat against sixth-seeded American
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International College. The Yellow Jackets were appearing in their third straight regional final and won the region in 2016. Holy Family finished the year with a program record 31 victories and had a program-best 23-match winning streak entering the regional final. “This season was historic, and one that our players and staff will never forget,” said Head Coach Jeff Rotondo. “Besides the individual and team awards and recognition, the relationships built will last forever. The impact your program has on your athletes is usually not measured until years after, when you see the type of people they become post graduation. We have no doubt they will be excelling in their respective fields, and be genuinely good people to those they come in contact with daily.” The Tigers’ success from the regular season earned individuals postseason accolades, highlighted by senior Chase Wassel who was named the CACC Player of the Year as well as a selection onto the All-CACC first team. Freshman Morgan Silks was tabbed the CACC Setter of the Year, CACC Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the All-CACC first team. Juniors Jillian Boyle and Gianna Pesognelli were both selected to the All-CACC second team. Furthermore, Wassel went on to be named the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association East Region Player of the Year and earn a spot on the All-East Region first team along with Silks. Recently the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its Division II region awards with Wassel highlighting the East Region as Player of the Year and All-East Region team recognition. In addition, Pesognelli and Silks were named All-East Region Honorable Mention.
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Compiled by Greg Pellegrino, Sports Information Director; Photo: Ellen O’Brien
Tigers Win CACC Championship!
CROSS COUNTRY
Watts Earns All-CACC Honors at CACC Championship Holy Family University graduate student De Havalan Watts earned All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) honors for the second straight season after finishing fifth overall at the annual CACC Championship back in October at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. Watts became just the third runner in program history to repeat as an AllCACC honoree, joining former standouts Melissa Hale (2005 and 2006) and Ces Coleman (2015 and 2016). Watts finished this year’s race in a time of 20:34.5 over the 5k-course, setting a new season-best time.
Hamill Named Interim Athletic Director Holy Family University announced that Tim Hamill has been elevated to Interim Athletic Director of its 14-sport, NCAA Division II program as announced by University President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD. Hamill has been part of the Holy Family ‘family’ for the past 18 years when he started as an undergraduate in 2000 to his most recent role as Associate Athletic Director. In his prior roles, Hamill gained experience in handling the program’s budgets, managing staffs as well as important relationships, including those with alumni, donors, and sponsors. “I’m very honored to assume the role of Interim Athletic Director,” said Hamill. “I want to thank Sister Maureen and the Tiger community for their trust in me. This is a wonderful opportunity as Holy Family has been a huge part of my life for nearly two decades. I’m looking forward to continuing the excellence that the department has established as well as uphold the high standards for academic success and the mission of the University.” A Holy Family alumnus, Hamill has served his alma mater since 2005. He graduated from Holy Family in 2004 and went on to earn his master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University in 2008. Hamill was a member of the men’s soccer team (2000-2003) and earned All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) first team honors in 2003. That same year Hamill led Division II in assists becoming the first student-athlete to earn a statistical leader award in the University’s Division II era.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Photos: Stephen Pellegrino (Watts); Ellen O’Brien (CACC)
Boyle Earns CACC Women’s Volleyball Top XVI Award Junior Jillian Boyle was named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Top XVI Award recipient for women’s volleyball as announced by the conference office at the championship awards banquet on November 9. Boyle, a first-time recipient of the Top XVI Award, is the second student-athlete on the volleyball team to be honored. Junior Gianna Pesognelli was last year’s honoree. Boyle, a general education and special education major, boasts a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Boyle recently earned All-CACC honors for the second straight season. She earned second team recognition after receiving third team accolades last year, averaging 4.16 digs per set that ranks fifth in the CACC this season. Her 516 total digs are second most in the conference, which also set a new career-high. She joins Jenna Richards (2013), Taurai Augustin (2016 and 2017), Sienna Smith (2016 and 2017), and Pesognelli as previous winners.
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Vision & Values
Marian Hall Ribbon Cutting On October 23, Holy Family University’s Marian Hall was officially reopened after a ribbon cutting and blessing ceremony. Almost doubled in size, the work was the culmination of a gift from an anonymous donor.
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1 / A lbert Tantala, Jr., Al Chadwick, Anthony Szuszczewicz, and Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, cut the ceremonial ribbon. 2 / W illiam Strecker, Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, and Dr. Jim Garvey smile for the camera. 3 /S ister Rosemarie F. Griffin, CSFN, ’63, and Anne Marie Pettit ’69 share a meal prior to the board meeting. 4 / S ister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, and Beth Ann Swan ’80 pose outside the building.
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5 / An aerial view of Marian Hall. 6 / Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, takes her first steps into the newly renovated Marian Hall.
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Photos: Ricky Haldis and Jay Soda
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Nativity and Tree Lighting Holy Family University’s Third Annual Nativity and Christmas Tree Lighting was held on November 28 in front of Holy Family Hall and featured photo opportunities with Santa Tiger, hot cocoa, and holiday music from Nazareth Academy High School and Nazareth Academy Grade School. 1 / H oly Family University’s Alumni Board braved the cold to help ring in the holiday season. 2 / N azareth Academy Grade School’s Joyful Ringers played some of the Christmastime favorites.
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3 / S ister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, welcomes the crowd to the Third Annual Nativity and Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. 4 / F ather Jim MacNew, OSFS, gave an opening prayer for good health and good fortunes in the new year.
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5 / S anta Tiger is a big hit with humans and animals alike.
Photos: David Pavlak
6 / T he Nazareth Academy High School Chorale charmed the crowd with a medley of Christmas classics.
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Vision & Values
President’s Club Holiday Party On December 6, Holy Family held its President’s Club Holiday Party at The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. The President’s Club honors those alumni and friends who demonstrate leadership through philanthropy at Holy Family. We are grateful for their leadership giving in support of student success! 1 / B oard of Trustees members Daniel Kilcoyne ’04, William Strecker, Matthew Topley ’94, and William Mandia share a drink and some stories. 2 / S ister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, welcomes everyone to the second annual President’s Club Holiday Party. 3 / T he Class of 1968 take the opportunity to catch up with each other. 4 / K evin Zook, PhD, Dean of the School of Education, Christina Bender, Director of Annual Giving, and Bill McCollum, parent of a Holy Family alumna, enjoyed the food and conversations throughout the night.
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5 / Margaret and Salvatore Faia, parents of Holy Family alumni, get the chance to catch up with members from University Advancement.
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Photos: Ricky Haldis
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Save the Date
2019 le
dĂŽner en bleu
gala
Saturday, April 27, 2019 4:00 - 10:00pm
Mass, Cocktail Reception, Dinner and Dancing!
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale Providing ďŹ nancial support to Holy Family University students
To be a sponsor or for information, please contact Christina Bender, Director of Annual Giving, at 267-341-3017 or cbender@holyfamily.edu.
Class Notes
What you do is news to your fellow alumni and your alma mater! Tell us if you have moved, changed your phone number, updated your e-mail address, become engaged, gotten married, had or adopted a baby, reunited with a group of classmates, received an award or promotion, or changed jobs— or if you just want to say “hello!” Please forward details to the Office of Alumni & Parents, Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114-2009. You can e-mail us at alumni@holyfamily.edu.
60s Marianne (Pikus) Dodge ’61 and her husband, Russell, celebrated 56 years of marriage. They have nine children and 15 grandchildren and live in Woodstown, NJ. Marianne is a retired elementary school teacher. Linda (Tinelli) Sheive ’62 moved from Bronxville, NY to her lake house in Middlesex, NY. Eleanor (Connor) LeGates ’63 and her husband, Jim, have moved to Topton, PA, after spending 15 years in Ocean View, DE.
70s Linda (Thatcher) Raichle ’70 has earned designations as a Fellow and a Distinguished Member of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, recognizing her long-standing commitment, service, and dedication to medical education. She recently retired from the pharmaceutical industry and her global responsibilities educating physicians and other health care professionals on effective and safe use of medicines for cancer patients.
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Kathy (Papst) Meyers ’73 volunteers with the Family & Friends Organization of Holy Family. She and her husband, Bill, live in Philadelphia.
80s Patricia (Bernstein) Fedak ’83 has retired after 40 years as a nurse, the last 14 of which were in hospice, and is now working at Trader Joe’s.
Sandra Castro ’89 got engaged March 13, 2017 to Miguel Castañeda and held their wedding in October 2018.
Bridget (Keyes) Kelly ’83 and her husband, Walter, live in Trevose, PA. She continues to work as a nurse. Sam Tancredi ’89 went back to his roots in the classroom and teaches business at Archbishop Wood in Warminster, PA.
90s Valerie (Angjelo) Delman ’94 is the President of Ashton Business Services. She and her husband, Joshua, live in Warminster, PA.
Lisa Minniti-Soska ’94 received the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs’ 2018 Women to Watch award at PICPA’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference on June 28, 2018. Annmarie (Batty) Chavarria ’98 has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Abington - Jefferson Health. Timothy J. McKenna M’98, President of Central High School of Philadelphia, was recognized as an outstanding school administrator by the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia, a professional educational organization, and
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received the Martin L. Glassman Commitment to Education Award at a ceremony in December 2018. Dennis Feltwell ’99 was recently appointed as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management for PascoHernando State College’s East Campus in Dade City, FL.
Jack Monari ’13 and Brittnee (Reed) Monari ’14 were married at St. Katherine of Siena Church on August 18, 2018.
Brian Minster ’99, M’07, was promoted to Assistant VicePresident of Academic and Transfer Services at Holy Family University.
00s Carrie Lynn Shingleton ’02 works as a Realtor for Coldwell Banker Preferred in Moorestown, NJ.
Julie (Ivers) Rempfer ’10, and her husband, Mike, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Zoe, on August 13, 2018. Julie is the Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Relations at Holy Family.
Gina Harlan ’03 was named Chief Financial Officer of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc. Tim Hamill ‘04, M’08 was named Interim Athletic Director of Holy Family’s 14-sport, NCAA Division II program. He lives in Feasterville with his wife, Courtney ’08, and sons Dillon (4) and Finley (2). Jayda Pugliese ’09, M’14 was one of eight internationally selected educators to become a part of an international training series provided by the organization, STEM Revolution and travelled to the United Arab Emirates in June 2018 to train teachers. She is currently enrolled in the Doctorate Program at Holy Family and works as the Principal of St. Mary Interparochial School in Philadelphia. Sean Bowers ’07 works for the Philadelphia Phillies as a Home Clubhouse Assistant. He and his wife, Christine, live in Dresher, PA. They have a son, Liam Anthony, who was born May 9, 2017.
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10s Edward Gallagher ’10 recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and Organization after successfully defending his dissertation. Meg (Meyers) Regan ’11 is the owner of Bad Wolf Girl Studios and the creator of Bad Wolf Girl Sits & Knits Podcast and YouTube Channel. She and her husband, Patrick, live in Frederick, MD. Sara (Ginty) Manning ’12 works as a Critical Care Nurse at Cooper University Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. She and her husband, Craig, have a four-yearold girl and one-year-old boy. Adam Roth ’12 works as a Business & Special Education Teacher at Moorestown High School in Moorestown, NJ. He also serves as a board member and Special Needs Coordinator at Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, NJ.
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Class Notes
Angela Smith ’18 has been named the Events Manager at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, PA.
Michael Ulrich ’12, M’16 and Nicole (Keller) Ulrich, ’12 M’14 were married at St. Joseph’s Church, part of Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish, in Beverly, NJ.
Tom Hair ’15 and Mike Richey ’15 received promotions from the Philadelphia Fire Department in June 2018. Mike is now a Deputy Chief and Tom is a Captain and Station Manager of Engine 27 on Oxford St. Ryan Keller ’17 was recently promoted to Outreach Director or Councilman Bobby Henon in Philadelphia’s 6th District. He now assists in the supervision of all the Councilman’s Civic Associations, Business Associations, School Advisory Committees, along with reaching
Daniel Wrinn ’18 was selected as a Delta Mu Delta scholarship recipient. Daniel graduated from the Fire Science and Public Safety program this past May.
out to members of diverse, underserved communities in the Councilman’s district. Ryan also serves on Holy Family’s President’s Advisory Council. Sienna Smith ’17 was accepted to her dream veterinary school, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, TN.
Chelsea Garner ‘14 is a high school Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology Teacher at Fostoria Junior Senior High School in Ohio. Since graduating from Holy Family, she married the love of her life, continued her education, and welcomed her first son, Murrel, into the world!
Caitlin Coughlin ’18 is currently the Social Media/Digital Marketing Specialist for DLP Property Management. Kathryn McCarty ’18 has been named the Advancement Director at Christ the King Grade School.
James Moratti ’16 was hired as a Philadelphia Police Officer and is currently attending the Philadelphia Police Academy.
Samantha Melvin ’18 has been named the Marketing Comms/ Channel Specialist at Merck & Co. Alyssa Reyes ’18 is now the Digital Marketing Coordinator for The Accent Shop, Inc. Labriyah Ryles ’18 is now a Management Trainee at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
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In Memoriam
Acknowledging alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Holy Family University
John Magosin ’60 Mary (Green) DiNubile ’61 Elizabeth (Loftus) Reilly ’67 Edward Bader Carl Gregory Norbert McGettigan Monica Pezzano Dorothy Troisi
10/27/2018 7/19/2018 9/12/2017 9/19/2018 10/14/2018 7/31/2018 10/24/2018 7/4/2018
WINTER / 2018
Tigers on the Loose
Museum of the American Revolution April 10, 2019 Join us at Philadelphia’s newest museum for a scholarship celebration to raise critical funds for student financial aid! Look for your invitation in early 2019. holyfamily.edu/tigersloose To be a sponsor or for more information, please contact Joshua Liss, Assistant Vice President for Development, at 267-341-3100 or jliss@holyfamily.edu. 2 - alt color version
Pen to Paper
Combating Fake News By Barry Dickinson, PhD Dean, School of Business Administration
Ohlin, J. (2017). Did Russian cyber interference in the 2016 election violate international law? Texas Law Review, 95(7), 1579-1598. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/ oct/30/facebook-russia-fake-accounts-126-million
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WINTER / 2018
Photo: David Pavlak
W
e have access to more information today than at any other time in history. The information is instantaneously accessible through a device that we carry in our hand. We are bombarded with news notifications, emails, texts, and trending stories. When we notice something that is of interest, we pass it along to others or discuss it with our colleagues without much thought. Do we take the time to evaluate the credibility of the message or the news? How do we discern information from “fake news” or “alternative truth?” Unbeknownst to many of us, non-commercial entities are utilizing powerful marketing techniques to sway public opinion. For example, Russian nationals deployed a purposeful strategy to sway voter sentiment during the 2016 United States presidential election. They created fictitious news stories and posted them to covert Facebook and Twitter accounts and timelines. These stories were unwittingly shared throughout these platforms, by those who saw them, as real accounts. These operatives purchased over $100,000 in advertising on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to serve manipulative advertisements that supported their political interests (Ohlin, 2017). These advertisements reached over 126 million Facebook users in the United States (The Guardian, 2017). Users had no way of knowing if these stories and advertisements were accurate, unless they took the time to verify the facts. Of course, this evaluation of information does take some time and effort on our part. Some of us are trained in research practices and doing this is second nature. For others, it is not so simple. However, we all play a role the proliferation of socalled “fake news.” If we take the time to consider the source, and fact-check data, we will be less likely to share information that is of questionable validity. In the age of “fake news” and “alternative truth,” we must be more vigilant than ever.
Then & Now
Photos: HFU Archives (top); Bob Scott (bottom)
Holy Family University's biology offerings have continually evolved throughout the years, adding special courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Microbiology, and Molecular Genetics. One thing that's remained the same is the department's trusty skeleton, a key resource for faculty and students alike that helps identify any of the possible 206 bones found in the human body.
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Mark Your
CALENDAR January 2019
7 Spring Semester Classes Begin
10 Alumni Board Open Meeting
May 2019 14 Commencement
June 2019
February 2019
5 30th Annual Golf Classic
11 Great Day to be a Tiger
8 Holy Family Day at Franklin Institute
March 2019
October 2019
7 Northeast Philadelphia Happy Hour
April 2019
5 Homecoming
27 Family and Friends Annual Bingo
10 Tigers on the Loose
November 2019
11 Class of 2019 Senior Class Legacy Campaign Pinning Ceremony and Reception
27 Alumni Reunion
* Dates subject to change.
8 Alumni Quizzo Night
