Holy Family University Magazine - Spring 2023

This semester the sculpture

and the Students was relocated from Stevenson Lane Residence to the Sister Francesca Onley

Do YOU Know the Impact that You Can Make?

Do YOU Know the Impact that You Can Make?

Do you know that YOU have the ability to give the gift of a Holy Family University education?

Do you know that YOU have the ability to give the gift of a Holy Family University education?

Donors to the Blue & White Fund, Holy Family’s Annual Fund, make a significant impact in the lives of today’s students by supporting financial aid. Your generosity will help them, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college, realize their dream of earning a degree.

Donors to the Blue & White Fund, Holy Family’s Annual Fund, make a significant impact in the lives of today’s students by supporting financial aid. Your generosity will help them, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college, realize their dream of earning a degree.

For more information or to make your gift today, please visit, holyfamily.edu/give or call the Office of University Advancement at 267-341-5005.

For more information or to make your gift today, please visit, holyfamily.edu/give or call the Office of University Advancement at 267-341-5005.

“In addition to the impact my Holy Family education has had on my career success, I am grateful to be a part of a caring community that helped to shape me into the woman I am today. For these reasons and so many more, I give back to Holy Family by volunteering my time and donating regularly in support of the students following in our footsteps.”

-Sara Szymendera ’13 President, Alumni Association

“In addition to the impact my Holy Family education has had on my career success, I am grateful to be a part of a caring community that helped to shape me into the woman I am today. For these reasons and so many more, I give back to Holy Family by volunteering my time and donating regularly in support of the students following in our footsteps.”

-Sara Szymendera ’13 President, Alumni Association

MAGAZINE

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY BY:

Holy Family Marketing & Communications

EDITOR

Christopher McKittrick

DESIGN

Glenna Stocks, Stocks Creative

CONTRIBUTORS

Zachary Durham

Sarah Merrill

Zachary Nolter

Julie Rempfer ‘10

ADMINISTRATION

Anne Prisco, Ph.D., President

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D., Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Wendy K. Parsons, CFRE, Vice President for University Advancement

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE SENT TO: Editor, Holy Family University Magazine, Marketing & Communications, Marian Hall, 9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114 or via email to: magazine@holyfamily.edu

CLASS NOTES AND CHANGES OF ADDRESS MAY BE SENT TO: Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Holy Family University, Marian Hall, 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114 or via email to: alumni@holyfamily.edu

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Holy Family University is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Spring is always an exciting time because it enables us to celebrate our students as they transition into alumni at commencement. But the process of producing tomorrow’s leaders begins with careful and intentional planning.

For example, this Fall we will launch a new core curriculum that is truly unique in its flexibility and responsiveness to students’ needs. The new core features four tiers: Foundations, Breadth, Integration, and a Capstone, enabling students to build a core based on their passions and their intellectual curiosity.

Within the scope of the core, we have created a plan called BLUEprint, designed to enhance retention and keep students on track so they’ll graduate on time. I would like to thank the faculty and staff who worked so diligently on this new core curriculum and BLUEprint–which are as visionary as they are thoughtfully crafted for the benefit of our students.

This type of innovation enables our students to grow into leadership roles in local businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and more, and to follow their own career paths as entrepreneurs.

As you will see from just some of the stories of our alumni business owners, their impact is pervasive in the communities they serve. These impressive outcomes speak to our philosophy of preparing our students not only for today’s workforce but also for employment opportunities that have not yet been created. In short, our goal is to prepare our students for life.

Holy Family is distinctly positioned as an anchor institution in Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County – a regional comprehensive university producing a talented, well-trained workforce where students and graduates bring their knowledge back into their communities and advance to productive and meaningful careers throughout Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, and beyond.

As our students develop their skills in the classroom, they are also educated by their internships and mentorships in building the workforce skills that prepare them for their careers. As alumni who have been where our current students are today, we look to you to contribute your time and talent – as mentors, employers, and volunteers willing to share your experiences with the next generation of leaders.

I am immensely proud of our alumni and the leadership they bring to their chosen fields. You serve as vital role models for the next generation and exemplify the mission of Holy Family University in all that you do.

Onward & upward together in faith & family,

Anne Prisco, Ph.D. President

“

I am immensely proud of our alumni and the leadership they bring to their chosen fields. You serve as vital role models for the next generation and exemplify the mission of Holy Family University in all that you do.”

Holy Family Enters Educational Agreement with Archbishop Ryan High School

Students and administrators of Archbishop Ryan High School, the largest Catholic secondary school in Philadelphia, visited Holy Family University to sign an agreement offering Archbishop Ryan students the opportunity to take courses at Holy Family. These courses, taken under the tutelage of Holy Family’s renowned faculty, will be applied to collegiate academic programs and shorten students’ time to degree completion. The partnership also allows for a pathway for students of Archbishop Ryan to enroll at Holy Family to build upon the shared missions of the institutions to educate and develop the next generation of leaders in Philadelphia.

“We are proud to announce a partnership between Holy Family University and Archbishop Ryan High School to expand Holy Family’s vital role as an anchor institution in Philadelphia and Bucks County,” said Anne Prisco, Ph.D., President of Holy Family University. “Archbishop Ryan students can earn their undergraduate and master’s degrees faster because of their dual enrollment credits and make

meaningful contributions to our communities as young professionals.”

“We have always been proud of our partnership with Holy Family and this enhanced partnership provides amazing opportunities for our current students to take dual enrollment courses and to be able to continue their education at Holy Family,” said Archbishop Ryan Principal Joseph McFadden, M’01, MSEd, a graduate of both Archbishop Ryan (1997) and Holy Family (2001). “As a graduate of both schools, I am thrilled about the work we are able to do together in Northeast Philadelphia.”

At the signing, Dr. Prisco and McFadden were joined by Joseph Sanginiti, president and chair of the Archbishop Ryan Board of Limited Jurisdiction, and four current Archbishop Ryan students who will be attending Holy Family in Fall 2023.

As part of the partnership program, Archbishop Ryan students will be engaged with Holy Family faculty and current students who will assist them in the transition to college life by fostering a college-going mindset for Archbishop Ryan students.

RIGHT: Anne Prisco, Ph.D., president of Holy Family University, and Joseph Sanginiti, president and chair of the Archbishop Ryan Board of Limited Jurisdiction, sign the educational agreement.

Holy Family University Awarded It’s On Us PA Grant from Governor’s Office

For the sixth consecutive year, Holy Family University has been awarded the It’s On Us PA grant. The Pennsylvania Governor’s Office announced that Holy Family University is among the 39 Pennsylvania institutions of higher education that will receive grants to combat sexual violence on campus. The University will be awarded $40,000 that will provide funding to implement strategies on campuses to address the goals of the Governor’s It’s On Us PA campaign and to continue to support campus safety.

“We are grateful to the Governor’s office for awarding Holy Family University an It’s On Us PA grant for the sixth consecutive year,” said President Anne Prisco. “This funding is crucial to supporting our programs that help our students learn about protecting themselves and others from sex- and

gender-based violence. Through these vital resources and conversations, our students, faculty, and staff are better prepared to protect our community.”

Since 2018, Holy Family University has been able to host more than 30 education-based programs and workshops, engaging new and returning campus community members in each new academic year. Through this support, the institution has also been able to provide annual training to its employees and students since 2019 through robust online modules, equipping the entire campus community with the tools to recognize, respond to, and report instances of sex- and gender-based violence. With this grant, Holy Family has received more than $200,000 from It’s On Us PA over six years to support initiatives to combat sexual violence on campus.

Holy Family Rated Safest College in Philadelphia

Recent headlines about crime and violence in the Philadelphia region and colleges have made safety on campus an increasingly significant factor in students’ college decisions in the city. According to a study published in June 2022 from the School Survey on Crime and Safety by the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 27,300 crimes on postsecondary education campuses throughout the United States in 2019-2020.

This year, Niche, an online resource that ranks

schools and colleges, named Holy Family University as the Safest College in Philadelphia, and among the top 10 safest college campuses in Pennsylvania as well as the 100 safest college campuses in the United States, reflecting the University’s commitment to the safety of its campus community.

Holy Family University continues to keep the security of the community at the forefront of its commitment to fostering a safe and supportive educational environment.

Holy Family University Students Participate in Synod on Synodality with Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez

Holy Family University students and Sister Rita Fanning, CSFN, ’89 , vice president of Mission and Diversity, Jill Snyder, director of Campus Ministry, and Father Timothy Tarnacki, OSPPE, campus chaplain, joined representatives from several Philadelphia colleges and universities for the second Synod on Synodality with Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez at Neumann University in January.

The Holy Family University student body was represented by Esha Dean, Maya Myers, Kawish Sadaqat, Mehwish Sadaqat, and Julian Stewart.

Throughout the world, Pope Francis has invited people to gather together in conversation, sharing their hopes and dreams for the Catholic Church today and in the future. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the only Archdiocese to have a Synod presence on college campuses to hear from the “future of the church.” Last April, Archbishop Pérez highlighted contributions by college students in his report about Philadelphia to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which were included in the USCCB’s national report to the Vatican. The comments made by the college students from these Synods made their way directly to Pope Francis.

This second Synod on Synodality focused on moving forward with all that the students had shared in the previous session and included a question and answer session with Archbishop Pérez. Members of the Archdiocesan offices of Eucharistic Revival, Young Adult Ministry, Synod Initiatives, Youth Ministry, and a member of the USCCB advisory committee for higher education were also present.

ABOVE (TOP TO BOTTOM): Sister Rita Fanning, CSFN, ‘89, vice president of Mission and Diversity (far left), Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez (center), and Jill Snyder, director of Campus Ministry (far right), with Holy Family University students; Holy Family students Kawish Sadaqat and Mehwish Sadaqat speak with Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez.

President Prisco Elected to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Board of Directors

At its 2023 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) elected President Anne Prisco as one of three new board members.

Dr. Prisco’s term is effective immediately and runs through 2025.

The ACCU, founded in 1899, serves as the collective voice of U.S. Catholic higher education. Through programs and services, the Association strengthens and promotes the Catholic identity and mission of its member institutions so that all associated with Catholic higher education can contribute to the greater good of the world and the Church.

Holy Family University Part of Initial Supporters of Coalition to Reduce Gun Violence

Holy Family University is proud to be one of the initial supporters of Civic Coalition to Save Lives, a new coalition established by The Philadelphia Foundation and the William Penn Foundation, in partnership with Urban Affairs Coalition, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Philadelphia Equity Alliance, to work toward solutions to support and sustain the reduction in gun violence and deaths in Philadelphia.

The Coalition to Save Lives is a non-partisan, non-profit, collective of 70 civic, philanthropic, faithbased, and community organizations and business leaders. The goal of the Coalition “is to bring together city, civic, and business leaders to support and amplify the important work of the many community and faithbased organizations that have been focused on and committed to this issue for decades” with the purpose of reducing gun violence in our community.

The Coalition’s announcement references Indianapolis, IN as an example of a city that has reduced gun violence by more than 17 percent over the last year after creating a strategic coalition amongst city government, law enforcement, and community organizations.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about the Civic Coalition to Save Lives, please visit savephillylives.org.

School of Education Seniors Teach Sophomores About Supporting Inclusive Environments in Special Education

To prepare for their student teaching assignments during the Spring 2023 semester, senior students in Holy Family University’s School of Education Pre-K/4 General Education and K-12 Special Education dual-certification program participated in a unique learning experience for their senior-level special education courses.

School of Education faculty Roseanna Wright, Ph.D. , and Claire Sullivan, Ph.D. , co-taught the three courses (EDSP 407 Assessment and Instructional Design in Special Education, EDSP 409 Including Students with Significant Support Needs, and EDSP 410 Secondary School Transition: Process and Issues) as one learning experience, Senior Experience in Special Education, with an emphasis on connections between the content of each course. At the end of the semester, the students created projects that demonstrated support for inclusive environments for special education students.

Senior students shared their final integrated projects with School of Education sophomores in EDSP 203 Foundations of Inclusive Education, taught by Brian Berry, Ph.D., professor of Education. Dr. Berry’s students heard short presentations from the seniors, completed a focused observation, and took part in a follow-up discussion. The presentations and discussions offered seniors the opportunity to share course outcomes, while sophomores were able to gain an understanding of the type of learning experiences that they would have in their future courses.

“The senior presentation event was a fullcircle moment for me because I was able to put all my knowledge and learning of teaching strategies, resources, research, and effective skills into a presentation to share with my fellow undergraduate peers,” shared Ciannie Rodriguez ’23. “I loved sharing my knowledge, experiences, and encouragement with the sophomores to continue to follow our calling for the education field!”

ABOVE: Senior students share their final integrated projects with School of Education sophomores.

Nursing Student Adama Jawara ’23 Awarded 2023 Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women

School of Nursing & Health Sciences student

Adama Jawara ’23 was one of just 21 women presented with the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

The Chamber awards scholarships annually to women who are earning undergraduate degrees while working full-time for Chamber member companies. Jawara currently works for KenCrest, an organization that provides educational services to children and families throughout Philadelphia and beyond, including individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities and their families.

Jawara is the recipient of the Amoore Scholarship, named in honor of Renee Amoore RN, the founder and president of The Amoore Group, Inc. She was awarded the scholarship at the 2023 Paradigm Award Luncheon, held on March 9 at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia. Jawara also previously received a 2020 Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women.

In her scholarship statement, Jawara shared, “As a first-generation college student in this country, I am determined to complete what I have started…My goal in applying for this scholarship is to relieve this stress this semester…I want to focus my attention back on becoming the great nurse I know I can be.”

ABOVE: Adama Jawara ‘23 with Dr. Margaret Harkins, dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, at the 2023 Paradigm Award Luncheon.

Huddle Room Study Spaces Open in Campus Library

During finals week of the Fall 2022 semester, students had the opportunity to collaborate on their end-ofsemester projects in the University’s new “huddle” room study spaces on the lower level of the Campus Library. These eight huddle spaces allow students to meet in groups to experience team-based work and develop interpersonal skills as preparation for the workforce. Each room is equipped with a large monitor screen to assist students in working with one another on projects either in-person in the huddle room or remotely.

BE THE HELP THAT OTHERS NEED

Master of Science in Counseling Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Spiritual Growth in Campus Ministry

To promote spiritual growth and faith exploration among the Holy Family University community, in Fall 2022 Campus Ministry welcomed Jill Snyder as director and Father Timothy Tarnacki, OSPPE , as chaplain.

Since joining Holy Family, Snyder has led numerous Campus Ministry initiatives that serve the diverse religious and spiritual needs of the community including group prayer sessions and creating a “busy person’s retreat” during Lent as well as service opportunities like packaging food for those experiencing food insecurity and organizing a campus clean-up.

Snyder came to Holy Family after serving in several ministry roles. “It’s funny how God works,” Snyder says. “I certainly didn’t plan my life to be this way, but I am so completely happy to where it has come to.” She graduated from LaSalle

University with a degree in Marketing, but after several jobs in the business field as well as working in the Advancement Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia raising money for Catholic schools Snyder felt that her path toward youth ministry became more evident. For several years she ran a high school youth ministry program in Medford, New Jersey.

Snyder then served for 10 years at Francis House of Prayer in Allentown, New Jersey, where she received her spiritual director certification. “It was there that I believe my understanding of my relationship with God completely changed and deepened,” shares Snyder. “I then had the opportunity to come to Holy Family and I thought, ‘This is where God is leading me next.’”

At Holy Family, Snyder sees Campus Ministry as a way to develop connections through the campus community. “My hope for Campus Ministry is to

Jill Snyder, Director of Campus Ministry

minister to students, staff, faculty, and alumni to foster a relationship with God. We are a beautiful mix of various faiths. I hope that with Father Timothy we can help to keep it simple. We have our prayers that we’ve learned as we’ve grown up, but we can also learn that we can sit in the stillness and quiet of prayer and allow God’s gentleness and quiet voice to become more apparent. We hope to help people become more aware of the movements of God’s Spirit. I also aspire to build the ministries and connect them with the Mass, including creating a music ministry, training lectors and altar servers, and helping anyone interested in RCIA. Connecting faith formation with Holy Family’s Mission is a significant part of the plan, too.”

Both Snyder and Father Timothy are trained as spiritual directors and offer opportunities to meet with members of the campus community. “When we meet with people, we can walk with them as

companions to help them look for where God’s guidance is in the every day,” explains Snyder. “I hope we can help students, faculty, and staff to recognize the sacredness of each moment and to live in that sacredness. We can create a presence of God’s love and non-violence with Campus Ministry by creating opportunities for us to know our true selves deep within, which are centered on God and love. Students are making big decisions about their future right now, and it would help them make those decisions out of that center.”

For more information on Campus Ministry, contact Jill Snyder at 267-341-3261 or jsnyder3@holyfamily.edu

ABOVE: Father Timothy Tarnacki, OSPPE, Chaplain

“

My hope for Campus Ministry is to minister to students, staff, faculty, and alumni to foster a relationship with God.

We are a beautiful mix of various faiths. I hope that with Father Timothy we can help to keep it simple.

STUDY ABROAD

Holy Family’s Study

Abroad group in Costa Rica learned how to press sugar cane.

HOLY FAMILY IN COSTA RICA

In March, Holy Family students experienced the latest of the University’s Study Abroad trips when they visited Costa Rica. The nine-day experience was led by Shelley Robbins, vice president for Academic Affairs. The excursion included visits to Tortuguero - a village only accessible by boat or plane - rainforest tours, whitewater rafting, and a hike to La Fortuna Waterfall, a 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs.

Holy Family’s next Study Abroad trip will be to Italy in May and is open to the University community. For more information, visit holyfamily.edu/studyabroad

ADVANCING HOLY FAMILY: WENDY K. PARSONS, CFRE

IN JANUARY, HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WELCOMED THE ARRIVAL OF WENDY

K. PARSONS, CFRE as the University’s vice president for Advancement. Wendy brings extensive experience in institutional advancement to Holy Family and is charged with leading the University’s fundraising efforts in support of its ambitious strategic plan.

HFU: Some readers may be unfamiliar with the role of institutional advancement. What is your philosophy on the role that advancement plays in a University and how do you envision its role at Holy Family?

WP: First, I want to share how excited I am to join President Anne Prisco and my colleagues in this leadership role and to serve the alumni community of Holy Family University.

I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a very rewarding career as an advancement professional — a professional, by the way, that I champion and always mentor students and alumni to consider pursuing. It is a mission-driven profession. Everything we do in Advancement is done to engage with our alumni, friends, parents, leaders of business, and our wider community to advance the mission and good work of our institution. And the mission of higher education is especially inspiring and compelling — we are all familiar

with the data that shows how a college education has a transformative and positive effect on people’s lives — enabling them to build careers and contribute to their families, communities, and society. It is a social good of the highest order.

For me, joining Holy Family is an incredible privilege — to serve our alumni and to work on behalf of Holy Family’s mission as a leading Catholic institution in our region, one that provides a values-based, high-quality, and affordable education that matters — an education that prepares people for success in their careers and lives.

The focus of our work in University Advancement is to build rewarding and mutually-enriching relationships with our alumni, parents, and friends and to increase understanding, appreciation, and philanthropic support for the mission of the University.

HFU: What were some of your first impressions of Holy Family University?

WP: When I first moved to Philadelphia 30 years ago, my husband and I lived in the Fox Chase section of Northeast Philadelphia, and I remember meeting graduates of Holy Family and learning how much they valued their Holy Family education and how highly they spoke about their experience — something I found again and again over the years, whenever I met a Holy Family graduate. When I was working at Saint Joseph’s University in the 1990s, my impressions of Holy Family were informed by the high regard so many held for Sister Francesca Onley, who was such an inspiring leader and powerful advocate for Catholic higher education

Wendy K. Parsons, CFRE

in our region and country as president of Holy Family. Another first impression relates to my own roots in Chicago. When the Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Frances Siedliska, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, came to America in the late 1890s, with her small, dedicated band of sisters, they first settled in Chicago. Over the years, they established and grew thriving ministries in education and healthcare, not only in Chicago but around the country. I smile now remembering my early years growing up very near the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, Ill.

HFU: The Charism of Family has been central to the University. Can you talk about the value of family and how you envision this playing a role in your work as VP for Advancement?

WP: For me, charism means gift. Everything we do at Holy Family is informed by this charism of Family which is the gift of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth to our community. And this gift continues to enliven our community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. Our Holy Family community thrives because we do strive to create an experience of family here, to create spaces where people feel accepted, where the diverse voices that make up the rich tapestry of our university can be heard, and where people can experience a connection with each other and a sense of belonging.

For our Holy Family alumni community, we strive to bring this Charism of Family into all of our programs. In working with our Alumni Association and other alumni groups, I hope that

we will create even greater opportunities for alumni to engage with fellow alumni, current students, and the Holy Family community in ways that are mutually beneficial and that deepen the connection our alumni feel with their alma mater.

HFU: How will your efforts help the University to realize its strategic plan?

WP: This is a very exciting time for Holy Family University. Dr. Prisco has a dynamic vision for moving the University forward. To fulfill that vision, the Strategic Plan outlines pillars of excellence and distinction that enable us to undertake initiatives that will touch every aspect of the Holy Family educational experience for our students.

In Advancement, we are working now with University leadership to build a case for support that identifies the funding initiatives that will help fuel President Prisco’s vision and the University’s Strategic Plan. We intend to share this case for support with our alumni and friends and to invite our entire community to partner with us in creating a robust and vibrant future for Holy Family.

HFU: Do you have a message to share as you begin your new role at Holy Family?

WP: We are really blessed to have such amazing and loyal alumni at Holy Family. I’m looking forward to meeting many more of our alumni, getting to know them, and learning how they are living out the values of their Holy Family education in their lives and careers and helping new generations of students to thrive and serve.

RECENT GRANTS OF NOTE

$127,033 NURSES FOR TOMORROW SCHOLARSHIP GRANT INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS FOUNDATION

$40,000

HOLY FAMILY'S TITLE IX OFFICE AND INITIATIVES IT'S ON US , OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA

$30,000

HEALTHCARE SCHOLARS PROGRAM INDEPENDENCE BLUE CRO SS FOUNDATION

$20,000 SMOKE AND VAPE FREE CAMPUS TRUTH INITIATIVE

$5,000 ACADEMIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

$4,000 LINDBACK DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD

CHOOSING M AYOR Next

PHILADELPHIA’S

Anne Prisco, Ph.D., president of Holy Family University, and Vince Giannini, senior vice president and general manager of WPHL-TV, opened the event with welcoming remarks and the rules for the Mayoral Forum.

In April, Holy Family University hosted a 2023 Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates Forum, sponsored by AARP and the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. The event aired live on PHL17 on Tuesday, April 18, and was livestreamed on phl17.com.

Holy Family welcomed eight candidates seeking to become the 100th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia: Amen Brown, Jeff Brown, James DeLeon, Allan Domb, Helen Gym, David Oh, Cherelle Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart. The candidates shared their visions for crucial issues faced by Philadelphians, including gun violence, curfews, the opioid crisis, illegal dumping, SEPTA expansions, and school safety.

The forum was expertly moderated by Jennifer Lewis-Hall, WPHL-TV, Tom Waring, Editor of Northeast Times, and Daniel McElhatton, Esq., of the Law Offices of Daniel P. McElhatton, PC, and member of the Greater Northeast

Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. This extraordinary night presented by Holy Family University required weeks of coordination and logistical planning. Preparing for the Mayoral Forum required the efforts of many University departments, including University Advancement, Information Technology, Maintenance & Facilities, Marketing & Communications, Public Safety, and Student Life, among other contributors. University staff and production crews spent nearly 20 hours transforming the Campus Center Gymnasium into a venue for the Mayoral Forum that would allow for the seamless presentation required for a live television broadcast. As an anchor institution in Northeast Philadelphia, events like the Philadelphia Mayoral Forum solidify Holy Family University’s commitment to civic engagement and outreach to the community.

ABOVE: University staff and production crews spent nearly 20 hours transforming the Campus Center Gymnasium into a venue for a live television broadcast.

The forum was moderated by (from left to right)

Daniel McElhatton, Esq., of the Law Offices of Daniel P. McElhatton, PC and member of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Lewis-Hall, WPHL-TV, and Tom Waring, Editor of Northeast Times.

AROUND THE ACADEMY

Five Holy Family University professors are recipients of the 2023 Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards to fund four important research initiatives.

The award program was established through an endowment created by Carol Taylor H’22, RN, Ph.D., a former University faculty member who served from 1979-1987 and 19951997 in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. Taylor and her family created the award to honor her parents: Ray and Mildred Taylor. Carol was honored by the School of Nursing & Health Sciences in October 2012 with its highest award, the Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award. Taylor was honored by the University with a doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, at Holy Family's 2022 Commencement.

The Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards provide funding to faculty who have completed at least two years of full-time teaching at Holy

Family. Requests are made in the form of formal proposals to the Ray and Mildred Taylor Committee, with priority given to those projects that advance faculty research and scholarship.

The 2023 Taylor Awards were awarded for the following proposals:

MAPPING THE PHILADELPHIA ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM

Donald Goeltz, DPS (School of Business & Professional Studies)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AT THE QCOUNTY-LEVEL: PROCESS AND OUTCOMES FINDINGS OF THE BUCKS COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES

CO-RESPONDER PROGRAM AND EXAMINING REENTRY

‘UPSTREAM’ FOLLOWING THE NORDIC PENAL MODEL

Patricia Griffin, Ph.D. (School of Arts & Sciences)

QUALITY MEDIATION COUNSELING AND ITS IMPACT ON HIGH CONFLICT DIVORCE

Jenai Grigg, Ph.D. (School of Arts & Sciences)

CAMPUS GREENHOUSE TO FACILITATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL WELFARE RESEARCH

Elizabeth Carroll, Ph.D. and Edward Waddell, Ph.D. (School of Arts & Sciences)

The members of the 2023 Taylor Grant Award Committee are Melissa Rampelli, Ph.D., Chair (School of Arts & Sciences); Beth Jones, Ph.D. (School of Education); Jaclyn Myers, Ph.D. (School of Arts & Sciences); Karl Malaszczyk, J.D., LLM (School of Business & Professional Studies); and Michelle MurphyRozanski, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CRNP (School of Nursing & Health Sciences).

ABOVE: President Anne Prisco, Ph.D. (center) with the 2023 Taylor Award Recipients (Not pictured: Jenai Grigg, Ph.D.)

2023 TAYLOR AWARDS TO FUND FOUR FACULTY RESEARCH INITIATIVES

DRS. WRIGHT, AGNEW, AND SULLIVAN PRESENT STRATEGIC PLANNING RESEARCH AT 2022 ONLINE LEARNING CONSORTIUM ACCELERATE CONFERENCE

School of Education faculty Roseanna Wright, Ph.D.; Maria Agnew, Ph.D.; and Claire Sullivan, Ph.D. presented at the 2022 Online Learning Consortium Accelerate Conference in Orlando, FL, which presents the most innovative and impactful research and effective practices in the field of online, blended, and digital learning.

The presentation by Drs. Agnew, Sullivan, and Wright, “Implementing a HyFlex Course Delivery Format Through Collaborative Planning and Co-

Teaching: Creating a Unique Capstone Senior Learning Experience,” demonstrated the HyFlex course delivery format pilot for online education. The pilot program uses a three-pronged model of collaborative course planning, collaborative IT planning, and collaborative instruction and takes a step toward making it a viable model that will benefit students. The information presented resulted in several requests for the School of Education faculty to share the University’s model with other institutions.

PSY.D. PROGRAM HOSTS 6TH ANNUAL ETHICS FORUM

Holy Family University’s Psy.D. program hosted its 6th Annual Ethics Forum with a program focus on Ethical Considerations for Media and Professional Identity. Led by Diane Menago, Psy.D., program and clinical training director of the program, this year's doctoral cohort presented the challenges facing

mental health professionals with the misconceptions and ethically questionable information circulating about mental health. This yearly event allows the newest cohort of students to shine while sharing the latest research and scholarship on a topic of their choice regarding the field of ethics in psychology.

LEFT: Students in the Psy.D. program presented their research at the 6th Annual Ethics Forum

NEW AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE COURSES AND PROGRAMS

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, over 1 million Pennsylvanians have hearing loss. Holy Family students have been developing new language skills to help communicate with that population in the American Sign Language I and American Sign Language II courses, which launched in Fall 2022 in the School of Arts & Sciences. Both courses are taught by Larisa Yanez , who graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Master of Arts degree in Teaching, Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. For her first several years as an educator, Yanez worked exclusively with Deaf children. She later became ASL Teaching Certified.

Yanez points out that learning ASL yields immediate practical usage. “There are many reasons why students should consider taking an ASL course,” says Yanez. “Philadelphia has a large Deaf population. I’ve had students tell me while taking my course that they’ve encountered Deaf individuals at their jobs, like one of my students who worked at Wawa. People with other disabilities also use sign language to communicate. For example, my mother, who is a speech therapist, uses sign language to help communicate with children with autism. It is also important for accessibility, equity, and raising awareness for different issues involving the Deaf community.”

While ASL is used widely in education, Yanez notes that her students in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences have also found that learning ASL

could offer an important professional advantage. “I love how many nursing students are currently in my class. Many people don’t realize that there are different perspectives on hearing loss. There is the medical model that says, ‘We need to fix this,’ that assists individuals with cochlear implants, hearing aids, and other devices as well as speech therapy. However, hearing loss is not looked at as a disability in many situations and instead is seen as more of a cultural difference. Having that cultural perspective and understanding as well as interpreters within the medical setting is important and can help bridge barriers, especially in high-stress situations in hospitals.”

“There are a lot of reasons why students should consider taking an ASL course. Philadelphia has a large Deaf population. I’ve had students tell me while taking my course that they’ve encountered Deaf individuals at their jobs.

Yanez also shares that many of her students have found that learning ASL is a valuable life skill even outside of professional settings. “My students have said that outside of class when they see each other at a distance or through a window they’ve been able to communicate, or they have used ASL to communicate from a distance at a concert or a loud party,” she explains. “Even the ASL that they learned in a short amount of time has been useful to them in situations that you might not think of. You don’t need to travel to use this particular language skill – you can use ASL in one setting or another every day.”

ABOVE: Kentrell Martin, author of the Shelly’s Adventures book series for families and educators interested in learning ASL, reads to Alpha House students.

In addition to the new ASL courses, Holy Family has recently featured programming including ASL. On March 28, the University hosted a Distinguished Writers Series featuring Sara Nović, author of The New York Times Bestseller True Biz Nović is an author and Deaf rights activist, and True Bi z features a Deaf protagonist and other characters who have hearing loss.

On April 17, Kentrell Martin, the creator and author of the Shelly’s Adventures book series, Shelly’s Adventure Network videos, and other materials for families and educators interested in learning ASL, visited the Campus Library and read to students in the Alpha House Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten program.

FACULTY BRIEFS

Academic Grants

Jill Swirsky, Ph.D. was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Association for Psychological Science for her proposal “Assessing Student and Faculty Outcomes of Themed Courses.”

Publications

Roger Gee, Ph.D. published the chapter “Searching for frequent words for pronunciation activities” in Teaching English with Corpora

(Routledge) and coauthored the paper Estudiantes chilenos y norteamericanos en un proyecto de entrevistas en el idioma inglés /Chilean and American students in an interview project in English in DUCERE.

Other Maria Agnew, Ph.D., and the School of Education collaborated with students from Nazareth Academy High School who are interested in careers in education to host

a holiday event, a simulated sensory trip to the North Pole, for Alpha House students. The event was funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Brian Berry, Ph.D., and Tiffany Watson, D’17 were honored by the Journal of Special Education Technology for “Using Classroom Clickers to Increase Academic Engagement for Elementary School–Aged Students with

Disabilities,” which was selected by the publication as its Research Article of the Year for 2022.

Gerry FitzpatrickDoria ’85, Ed.D. presented on ways to enact the Culturally Relevant & Sustaining Education Competencies

(CRSE) at the 8th Annual National Field Experience Conference (NFEC) at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO (April 2023).

Margaret Harkins, DNP, MBE, MSN, GNP-BC, RN-BC, dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, and Michelle Murphy-Rozanski, Ph.D., CRNP-FNP, RN, vice dean for Health Sciences, are serving on the advisory committee for Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation for the Nurse Residency Program at Jefferson Health NE and Mercy Home Health (Trinity Health at Home System).

LEFT: Sara Nović, author of True Biz

ENTREPRENEURS IN

THE FAMILY

ALUMNI SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FUEL THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

The University makes an estimated economic contribution of $115 million to the local communities in Philadelphia and Bucks County. Holy Family play essential roles in some of the largest businesses, medical facilities, educational institutions, and cultural landmarks in the region, though many have also engaged in entrepreneurship and established or operated their own businesses in the community.

Four of the many alumni whose thriving businesses help to power local communities share the stories behind their businesses and how a Holy Family education contributed to their success.

CYCLING TO SUCCESS

DANA DOBROWOLSKI ’10 OPENED NORTHEAST CYCLE

(9910 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia) in June 2019 just a quarter mile away from Holy Family’s Northeast Philadelphia campus. Dobrowolski, who enjoyed fitness cycling long before she opened the business, saw a market for her studio in the heart of her alma mater’s community.

“I felt we didn’t have any boutique, tight-knit fitness classes in Northeast Philadelphia,” explains Dobrowolski. “It was mostly big-box gyms. I saw an opportunity there for something that I am passionate about doing – and I was sick of driving 30 or 40 minutes and paying an outrageous price to take a class!”

Dobrowolski graduated from Holy Family with a degree in Accounting, and she also works as an investment accountant for a real estate fund in addition to owning and operating Northeast Cycle. “In some ways, the jobs merge together,” Dobrowolski says. “Other times they are as far apart as they can be – some days I am talking to wealthy investors who want to invest in our real estate fund, and other days I’m on my hands and knees tightening bolts in a bike. But a lot of

the managerial and financial aspects come together and I can apply my skills in both positions.”

While Dobrowolski was able to open the business quickly – “I had the idea, and within eight months we had opened our doors,” she explains –Northeast Cycle was open for less than a year before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in its temporary closure by public order. Since the business reopened, Dobrowolski notes that Northeast Cycle is seeing a resurgence in interest. “During the pandemic, a lot of people bought their own bikes and now they feel they can’t justify spending money on in-person classes,” she points out. “While we lost some business there, we are definitely growing and seeing new faces all the time. We had a lot of people who bought bikes tell us that it just wasn’t the same and that they sold their bikes and they’re now back.”

Dobrowolski credits her instructors with keeping the business vibrant. “They create an environment where each class we have can be completely different. You’re never getting the same experience twice. They are just as passionate about the business as I am. That’s extremely helpful because it wouldn’t be what it is if it had to be just me.”

Dana Dobrowolski ’10, owner of Northeast Cycle

Cynthia Benton M’10 (left) and Keshia Davis, owners of Denise’s Delicacies

AN INSTITUTION IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA FOR DECADES,

Denise’s Delicacies (2916 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia) was founded by Denise Gause and is now owned and operated by her nieces, Cynthia Benton M’10 and Keshia Davis. Benton and Davis continue their aunt’s work at her full-service bakery, creating baked goods like cakes, doughnuts, pies, and cookies for special events – or just an everyday sweet treat – throughout the region.

“My aunt started the business out of a passion that she had for baking,” shares Benton. “She was working full-time and baking for her friends and family on the side, and she then started baking out of a commercial kitchen. When the opportunity presented itself to her to buy a building, she purchased the building on North 22nd Street, which was the neighborhood she grew up in.”

Gause decided to retire after fully rebuilding the bakery after a devastating fire that shuttered her beloved business for over a year. After the rebuild, Benton and Davis came on board to prepare to take over the bakery and took full ownership in 2018.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the University of Delaware, Benton completed her Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance at Holy Family in 2010 and served in several financial services roles before taking over her aunt’s business.

While Denise’s Delicacies was already a successful business, that posed a different approach for the new ownership than if they had started a new business.

“Acquiring an already-existing business has its challenges, just like how starting a business has its challenges,” Benton points out. “One of the things that happened when we took over the business is that the train had already left the station – we had to keep up with demand and trends that were already going on.”

Just over a year after taking over the ownership of Denise’s Delicacies, the business, like many others, was

closed again for an extended period because of COVID-19 restrictions. Like Benton, Davis also has a background in business and finance, and the two were able to navigate the challenges of the pandemic by utilizing their business knowledge to apply for available aid to support the business and their employees – and also received help from the Philadelphia Flyers.

“We were one of the first five recipients of the Flyers’ Hometown Assist Award, which is a $100,000 advertising campaign,” says Benton. “We were also selected as the Featured Winner, which meant we also received press coverage on all the local news channels. It was the first year that the Flyers did this program, and I understand that they are continuing with it, and the Philadelphia 76ers are now doing something similar.”

With the doors reopened, Benton is now looking forward to sharing delicious baked goods of Denise’s Delicacies with the community and beyond. “We’re expanding in wholesale, big box stores,” Benton says. “We have a partnership with Brown’s Family ShopRite. We are currently in three stores and are looking to expand into all 14. We’re also looking to get into more e-commerce and utilize technology to get our products even further.”

Benton is proud of the growth of Denise’s Delicacies since she and Davis acquired the business, and has a belief that other aspiring entrepreneurs can follow the same path if they have the passion to do it. “If you can see it, you can do it,” Benton shares. “It will take hard work because I believe that the business environment that we’re in now is considerably different than we were in just a few years ago. I believe that it allows aspiring and current entrepreneurs to tap into their creativity. There are lots of resources that don’t necessarily cost a lot of money. There will certainly be challenges along the way, but keep your head down, keep working at it, and if it’s something that you truly feel passionate about, I believe that it will happen.”

GROWING A FITNESS COMMUNITY

ALSO PART OF THE LOCAL FITNESS COMMUNITY IS

CROSSFIT RAID (309 Camer Drive #6, Bensalem), owned and operated by Justin Rementer ’11. Rementer began the process of opening CrossFit Raid in 2013, just two years after graduating from Holy Family with a degree in Management-Marketing.

A few years earlier, he had become a member of a CrossFit gym – a popular fitness program focusing on high-intensity functional movements. “I’ve always been a gym rat, so I got hooked on the training part of it,” recalls Rementer. “I really have a passion for helping people – even at Holy Family’s gym I would train a few of my friends on the soccer team – and I eventually decided to open my own gym.”

His classes in the Management-Marketing program served as helpful starting points for when Rementer began the process of opening CrossFit Raid. He remembers, “Actively running the business taught me a lot about business, but there were many things I was able to pull from my undergraduate education to get myself going, like writing the business plans and sales forecasts.”

After a successful launch, Rementer faced a significant challenge just after his first year in business – he had to move the gym from its original location

in Northeast Philadelphia to its current location in Bensalem. He had 60 days to find a new location for CrossFit Raid. “We ended up able to open our doors in the new location on the fifty-seventh day,” he explains. “At the time, that was quite the challenge and a very stressful time in my life!”

The Bensalem location is a larger facility than the original location, which has allowed CrossFit Raid more room to grow. Since opening the business as a sole proprietor, Rementer brought on a partner who originally started as a member of the gym. “I was lucky that I had someone who was already involved in the gym that wanted to get involved in the business end as well,” he says. “It helped take some of the load off my shoulders and allowed me to delegate some of the responsibilities.”

The gym has grown to feature more than a halfdozen coaches and operates seven days a week, with classes Monday through Saturday and open gym on Sundays. Regarding what his business offers the Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County communities, Rementer says, “CrossFit Raid gives people the opportunity to improve their health and fitness. It’s a communal place where people can come and develop relationships. We also do charity fundraisers to give back to the community.”

Justin Rementer ’11 is the founder of CrossFit Raid and a coach as well.

Dana Russikoff ’92, owner of SureShade.

FROM SURESHADE AND BEYOND

IN 2007, DANA RUSSIKOFF ’92 AND HER HUSBAND, RON, FOUNDED

SURESHADE, a designer and manufacturer of patented retractable sunshade systems for the marine industry. From an initial idea to solve a common problem for boaters to an international business, SureShade played a vital role in the local community.

“My husband was a boater on the Delaware River his whole life” Russikoff shares. “Something we noticed while we were out on the boat all day long is that protection from the sun is not always readily available. We saw an opportunity for a way to provide better sun protection on boats. My husband’s background is in manufacturing and production, and he had already started a side business repairing boat canvases.”

After several prototypes, Ron invented an automated awning system for boats. “I was selling other people’s products, and I said, ‘Well, maybe we can sell this,’” remembers Russikoff. Together the Russikoffs founded a company, SureShade, in Philadelphia in 2007.

The Russikoffs launched their product with an exhibit booth at the 2007 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX). “By noon of the first day of the show, we had a meeting scheduled with one of the biggest boatbuilders in the world who was a high-priority target client for us,” recalls Russikoff.

Through the years that the Russikoffs owned and operated SureShade, Russikoff learned a lot of lessons about business. “One of the biggest lessons I learned in my business experience is to never accept a ‘No’ from someone who doesn’t have the power to say ‘Yes,’” says Russikoff, particularly noting a challenging period when they were seeking a loan to expand their business.

In addition to getting to know local chambers of commerce and trade associations for support, Russikoff also points out the importance of community engagement. “Get to know your community and local elected officials and let them know what you are doing,” she says. “We established a manufacturing start-up and created more than 20 jobs in our 10 years of existence. We wanted people to know our success story, and we sponsored community events and supported

non-profits that were doing wonderful things for the community.” Russikoff is also currently an executive committee member of the Riverfront North Partnership, an organization supporting the development of the greenway along the Delaware River.

The Russikoffs always had the intention of eventually selling SureShade, though they did not have a timeline in mind. “Around our 10-year mark, there was a lot of consolidation going on in the industry,” recalls Russikoff. In October 2019, Lippert Components, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of products for the RV, marine, automotive, commercial vehicle, and building products industries, acquired SureShade. “Marketing ourselves for sale was a long process that took several years, but the decision to sell our business at the time that we did and to the company that we did was something we felt very good about. We never wanted to be in a position where we felt like we had to sell, so we remain quite proud of our decision.”

Through Rodan Enterprises – the original parent entity of SureShade – Dana and Ron Russikoff continue to develop product concepts. “We want to carry the same mindset behind SureShade into other products,” says Russikoff. “For example, we’ve developed a new type of PPE that we think will revolutionize the market.”

At Holy Family, Russikoff – a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School – majored in International Business. “It worked out for me that a college that had an International Business major was a bus ride away from my house as opposed to me having to pack up and move to another state.”

Russikoff’s education in International Business was helpful when she was preparing to graduate. “In my senior year, I received a co-op opportunity to work for a manufacturing company in Kingsbury. Right out of the gate, I was doing exactly what I went to school for. While a lot of students have trouble finding jobs right after graduation, the company offered me a position in October of my senior year, so I knew that I had a job lined up upon graduation. I credit Holy Family for not just what I learned, but for the opportunities it provided.”

STUDENT VOICES

DURING THE SPRING AND FALL SEMESTERS, nearly 300 students call Holy Family University’s three residence halls home. Whether living in Stevenson Lane Residence, St. Joseph Hall, or the Garden Residence, the experience can be transformational.

Below are the reflections of two residential students –one first-year and one senior – whose experiences living in the heart of campus showcase the important lessons of residential life.

Edward Earley ’26

Living on campus at Holy Family University as a first-year student has been such a fun and enjoyable time. As a first-year student, having a dorm made the adjustment from high school to college easier for me. Coming out of high school, I thought I would struggle to find my footing in a whole new environment, but living here has been nothing short of a great experience.

Being on campus has allowed me to meet so many new people and form friendships that I know will last a lifetime. One of the best things about living on campus has to be the residence hall programs and student engagement events. Whether it be giveaways and raffles, baking cookies, or playing Mario Kart, there is always something to do.

Had I not lived on campus, I would have never made the amazing bonds with my friends here. I’ve had the most amazing college experiences ranging from big things like my residence trip to Peddler’s Village in Bucks County, to small things like hanging out with my best friends. There is just something special about living on campus.

Kyana Zayas ’23

When it came time for me to leave for college four years ago, I knew that I wanted to stay at any university I decided to attend and live on campus. Over the past four years, I have been a resident in the Stevenson Lane Resident dormitory, and I could not be happier that I made that decision.

If I had stayed home during my years here I would not have had the same experiences or opportunities that came my way. Being on campus has allowed me to experience time away from my family and become more independent when it comes to my everyday life with tasks like shopping for groceries for the first time, having a set schedule for laundry, or being mindful of all the cleaning I have to keep up with. It has also had the effect of melding me more into the community at Holy Family.

I have made numerous friends here that will extend beyond these walls from being in the same environment with one another by attending programs, events, classes, and clubs. My favorite nights are spent hanging out with one of my friends in the lounge and hooking up my laptop to have movie or game nights while cooking food in the kitchen provided on each floor, or hunkering down in my dorm room to have a study session for exams with snacks and take-out.

It is a different experience entirely to exist outside of what would ordinarily be your comfort zone back home and thrive in a new place and community, meeting new people and participating in things you would never have done. I am naturally an introvert and I tend to keep to myself but being on campus has made me open up to people, and encouraged me to engage with others more. An example is that I have been a Community Assistant for several years now, which is something that I would have not considered during my first year when I first moved in.

Living on campus has been at times different or difficult, having to learn to move to my own beat and routine and coexisting with others, but it has been a great experience that has enriched and changed my time here for the better. Living on campus is definitely a decision I would make again.

It is a different experience entirely to exist outside of what would ordinarily be your comfort zone back home and thrive in a new place and community, meeting new people and participating in things you would never have done.”

“

ABOVE AND RIGHT: The men’s and women’s track & field teams were honored for their ECC Championship victories during halftime of the women’s basketball CACC Tournament Quarterfinal Game in the Campus Center on February 28.

Women’s Track & Field Repeats as ECC Indoor Track & Field Champions, Men’s Track & Field Shares First ECC Indoor Track & Field Title

COACH DWIGHT BRANDON AND NISHORN PIERRE ’25 RECEIVE MAJOR ECC HONORS

The Holy Family University women’s track & field team repeated as the 2023 East Coast Conference (ECC) indoor track & field champions.

Ahead by 4.33 points entering the final event of the evening, the 4x400m relay, the women’s team left little doubt in defending its title as Nyoki Jones

’23, Ariel Salkey ’24, Kenisha Greenwood ’24, and Shania Le Maitre ’23 set a new meet record, 3:54.68, to defeat the next closest quartet by over 10 and a half seconds.

That left the Tigers with 10.33 more points than second-place Georgian Court, 119-108.67.

At the same meet, the Holy Family University

men’s track & field team tied Georgian Court University for the 2023 East Coast Conference (ECC) Championship, the first in program history.

Trailing Georgian Court by two points entering the final event of the evening, the 4x400m relay, the quartet of Kouto Anyika ’26, Nafis Zollicoffer ’24, Jade Acevedo ’23 and Tyler Wesley ’25 defeated the Lions by over five seconds with a season-best time of 3:22.12 to capture the 10 points and therefore tie the score at 143.

Dwight Brandon, coach of the men’s and women’s track & field teams, earned the ECC’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year Award, while Nishorn Pierre ’25 was voted both the Indoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year and the Men’s Most Outstanding Athlete of the ECC Championship. Pierre currently ranks fifth in all of Division II in the high jump after clearing a school record 2.18m at the Spartan Invitational on January 13.

Pierre marked 14.97m to win silver at the ECC Championships on February 19. That was one of three medals for Pierre at the event, as he won gold in both the high jump (2.03m) and long jump (6.94m) to accumulate a meet-high total of 28 points.

Pierre was one of 24 Tigers to earn All-ECC honors at the championship. First and second place individual finishers, as well as members of winning relay teams, earn First Team honors, while third and fourth place individual finishers, as well as members of second place relay teams, earn Second Team honors.

Pierre competed in the high jump at the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in Virginia Beach, VA on March 11. Competing against 16 other entries, he placed in the top half of the field after clearing his first attempt at 2.04m and his second attempt at 2.09m and earned All-America honors.

Alumni Benefits Program

For more information visit HFU.MeyerAndAssoc.com or contact Meyer and Associates, the Program Administrator, at 800-635-7801.

ABOVE (TOP-BOTTOM): Coach Dwight Brandon, Nishorn Pierre ’25

Women’s Soccer Alumna Melissa Murphy ’03 Part of CACC Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Women’s soccer alumna Melissa Murphy ’03 was one of four honorees inducted into the CACC Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

Murphy became Holy Family’s fourth CACC Hall of Fame inductee, joining former women’s basketball coach Mike McLaughlin, the 2007-08 women’s basketball team, and Catherine Carr ’11. Murphy was honored during halftime of the January 25 women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader.

Murphy had a sensational career on the pitch as she starred from 1999-02.

She is the only goalkeeper in program history to hold a career goals against average under 1.00 (0.99), and she also is the program’s all-time leader with 426 career saves.

Murphy was a three-time All-CACC selection and went on to earn the league’s player of the year award in 2002 when she was also named all-region and NAIA All-America Honorable Mention.

The program thrived under her stellar play as Holy Family won three consecutive CACC Championships from 1999-2001 while earning a bid to the NAIA regional tournament in each of her four seasons.

Volleyball Leads League with Five All-CACC Honorees

The

Holy Family Tied for 21st in Division II’s ASR for Most Recent Cohort

Holy Family University ranked in a tie for 21st in the NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate (ASR) for the most recent cohort, which considered student-athletes who entered college from 2012 through 2015.

The ASR is the percentage of studentathletes who graduate within six years of initial college enrollment and includes virtually all Division II student-athletes, including transfers and those not receiving athletics scholarships.

The Division II ASR also captures about 50 percent more college athletes than Division I’s Federal Graduation Rate (FGR). Unlike the FGR, the ASR also counts student-athletes who transfer to a school after initial enrollment elsewhere and removes the student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible.

Holy Family’s ASR was 92 percent, compared to the national average of 76.

In addition to tying for 21st in Division II, Holy Family ranked third amongst the 22 DII institutions in Pennsylvania and fourth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).

Holy Family had three teams – women’s basketball, women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball – achieve a perfect ASR.

Also

All-CACC

Meanwhile, men’s soccer (96 ASR), women’s lacrosse (94), softball (94), men’s basketball (83) and women’s cross country/track & field (77) were all higher than the national averages for their respective sport.

Melissa Murphy ’03 (center) with President Anne Prisco, Ph.D. and Director of Athletics Tim Hamill ’04, M’08.

Holy Family University volleyball team led the CACC with five All-League honorees. Allyssa Hartney ’23 earned All-CACC accolades for the third season in a row as she was joined on the second team by Faith Zehnder ’24, who received AllConference laurels for the first time.

voted

for the first time were Skylar Osenkarski ’23, sophomore Morgan Steck ’25, and freshman Isabella Mosquera ’26, as the trio landed on the third team.

Women’s Basketball Advances to the CACC Tournament Semifinal

The women’s basketball team defeated Felician University 71-62 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament Quarterfinal matchup in the Campus Center but were unsuccessful in a semifinal match-up against Post University later that week.

The women’s basketball team finished sixth in the East Region in the third and final installment of the NCAA Regional Rankings.

Celebrating

50 years of Holy family University nUrsing

Featuring a year-long celebration recognizing and honoring nursing professionals.

s ignatUre e vents

November 17

On-Campus Celebration for Students, Faculty, Alumni Nursing Leadership Lecture followed by a Reception

NomiNate a Nurse

Are you a Holy Family University Nurse? Do you know a Holy Family University Nurse? We’d love to hear from you! Send in your nomination (self-nominations welcome!) to be included in our “Decades of Nursing Excellence” Special Feature

LEFT: Skyler Searfoss ’26

Joseph Amiable ’24

Montag Voted CACC Coach of the Year; Soccer Student-Athletes Garner Further Postseason Recognition

Head men’s soccer coach Georg Montag picked up his first career CACC Coach of the Year award, highlighting the league offices releasing postseason honors that saw four Tigers earn their first career All-CACC accolades. Montag led Holy Family to one of its most successful ever seasons as the Tigers set a program record with nine CACC victories, while their 12 overall wins are their most since 2007.

Voted fifth in the preseason poll, Holy Family exceeded expectations to place second in the regular season standings, matching the program record set in 2003.

Other Holy Family University soccer honors include:

MEN’S SOCCER

Joel Richmond ’22 and Sean Touey ’23 were both named All-CACC First Team and United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-East Region Team.

Dakota Taylor ’23 and Nicolloyd Dinham ’25 were both named All-CACC Second Team.

Sean Touey ’23 was voted both USC All-East Region and Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association (PhillySIDA) Academic All-Area.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Brianna Pudlo ’21 was voted both United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-East Region and Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association (PhillySIDA)

Academic All-Area. Pudlo also was honored as Holy Family’s third consecutive CACC Goalkeeper of the Year Award and was named All-CAAC Second Team.

Jacqueline Ziegler ’22 was voted on the PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Team. Ziegler also was named All-CAAC Second Team.

Maura Kilkenny ’24 was named All-CAAC Second Team

COMING SOON: Athletics Fieldhouse

The University will soon begin construction on the Athletics Fieldhouse, located adjacent to Tiger Field, which will feature locker rooms, changing areas, spaces for trainers, restrooms, and concessions for the public.

USC All-Region Teams are voted on by the 35 head coaches in the region, while the PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Teams are voted on by the 30 sports information offices in the Philadelphia area.

To be eligible for the 11-member PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Team, nominated student-athletes must be in at least their second year at their current institution and carry at least a 3.30 grade point average.

Two Newest Tiger Teams Debut

In Spring 2023, Holy Family’s newest athletics programs – women’s bowling and Esports – began competitive play.

The newest sports will be joined by acrobatics & tumbling and men’s lacrosse in 2023-2024 as Holy Family Athletics continues expanding its programs.

ABOVE: Holy Family University’s Esports team.

RIGHT: Holy Family University’s women’s bowling team

1960s

Sister Eileen Przybylowski ’61, CSFN, retired in 2019 from chaplaincy after thirty years of ministry. Prior to her chaplaincy, Sister Eileen spent thirty-five years teaching in every grade from first grade to college (including classes at Holy Family).

Mary K. Dobbs ’62 retired from a long career in academic libraries (including 16 years at Holy Family) and now lives in Palisade, CO. She enjoys hiking and traveling and recently visited Monument Valley, AZ, Mesa Verde, CO and Arches National Park, UT.

1970s

Margery (McAneney) Walsh ’73 retired after a long career in elementary education.

She and her husband, Thomas, have two children and two grandchildren. They love traveling around the country together.

Nancy (Larovere) Matteo ’79 recently retired after 31 years at Saint Andrew Catholic School in Newtown, PA. Prior to her retirement, Nancy served as President of the school.

1980s

Richard O'Neill ’81 is a Federal Contractor, currently working as an acquisitions analyst supporting the Army, Department of Defense, National Command Authority, and international partners. He resides in Fort Belvoir, VA.

Terri Bohr ’84, Ed.D. has retired after 40 years of teaching in three different school districts. Terri resides in Camden, DE.

Nancy (Herrmann) Bradley ’88 is the office manager and assistant to the director of the Historic Rock Ford Museum in Lancaster, PA. She is also the owner and creator behind Nancy Bradley Designs, a mixedmedia jewelry business, founded in 2012.

Julie BambergerHerrmann ’83 was inducted into Maternity BVM’s Alumni Hall of Honor in March 2023. Julie is a manager for the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and a member of the Maternity BVM, Archbishop Ryan, and Holy Family University alumni boards. Julie is also a 1992 recipient of the Holy Family Alumni Service Award.

Margaret “Peg” (Bigely) O’Grady ’84, RN, MSN, OCN, FAAMA is the vice chair of the Pennsylvania Cancer Advisory board, having been appointed by the Governor. Peg is the administrative director of the oncology service line at Abington-Jefferson Health. She manages the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion in Willow Grove, PA.

Donna (Nieckoski) Pancoast ’87 is a compliance manager at Baxter Credit Union. She and her husband William R. Pancoast II live in Bensalem, PA.

Michele (Kryszczak) Hyde ’89 is a provider success manager with Regard, a healthcare technology company.

1990s

Regenna (Babcock) Jalon ’93 is the supervisor of Student Services at Dorchester County Public School in Dorchester, MD.

Stephen Krawczyk ’93 is the director of Instructional Technology, MTSS, and ESOL in Spartanburg County School District Six. He and his wife, Susan, live in Fountain Inn, SC.

Lisa Dudek-Mayberry ’94 is a business manager with Genesis Healthcare. She lives in Langhorne, PA.

Chris Somers ’94 has started a new position as sales manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City, Philadelphia.

Paul Lukert ’97 is an operations manager for Holt Logistics Corporation.

Alan Goldberg M’98 was featured in Marquis Who’s Who Industry Leader list in December 2022. Alan is a professional photographer and President of Minds Eye Photos, LLC. located in Boca Raton, FL.

Bobby Gass ’98 is the owner of Bob Gass Service Center in Feasterville, PA.

Rita (Orsino) Whalen ’99, M’13 has been named principal of Hatfield Elementary School within North Penn School District.

2000s

Lauren (Mergenthaler) Kusznir ’00, CRNP is an oncology nurse practitioner with Capital Health.

Nicole Ciasullo '05, MSN, CRNP, a certified nurse aesthetic specialist, has started a new position at Novique Medical Aesthetics in Doylestown, PA.

Michael Papalini M’06 is a table games dealer at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, PA.

Lisa (Casey) McLaughlin ’11 is a special education teacher within Bensalem Township School District.

hired to the secondranked leadership development program in the country, Danaher’s General Manager Development Program.

Chaudron Carter Short ’00, Ph.D., Ed.D., RN, NEA-BC, has been appointed as the chief nursing executive for Temple University Health System and Temple University Hospital Inc.

Patti Leupold M’01 retired in September 2022. She had worked for over 25 years at Woods Services in Langhorne, PA.

Jennifer Hoey ’02, MLS is a reference librarian for the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library.

Donna Gross ’08 is a registered nurse working within Temple University Health System.

Michael Matalavage ’09, Pharm.D. is a market health and wellness director for Walmart, Inc.

2010s

Linda (McHugh) DiGennaro M’11 is the director of university events at Rowan University. Linda previously worked for Holy Family as director of Special Events (and director of Special Services) from 1999 to 2014.

Nicholas Weaver ’12 has been appointed Deputy Fire Chief of Newtown Township, PA.

Linda Higginbotham ’13 is a manager of U.S. Charitable Investments at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Regina Dunn ’14 is a retired elementary school teacher, having taught for over 25 years at St. Anselm School within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Katie Matarazzo ’14 is an executive assistant and project manager for the United Way of Bucks County.

Ernest Ransom ’14, M’17, a 28-year veteran of the police force, was recently named the new head of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit.

Andrew Tamm ’13 was married in June 2020. He graduated with an MBA from a top ten business school, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business in June 2022 and was

Cindy Brong ’15 has retired after a successful career in higher education. Cynthia worked in Holy Family University’s Student Services Office from 2004 to 2015.

TIGER MATES

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Alumni Office celebrated Holy Family “Tiger Mates” including those of: Jamie (Keba) Hower ’18 and Ian Hower ’17, JD; Lena Namnun M’03, M’08 and Juan Namnun M’04, M’08; Shaikha BuAli M’12, Ed.D. and David Brown M’12; and Michael Devlin ’20 and Emy Lustica ’20

Vimal “Melvin” Koruth ’15 was promoted to facility operations coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mark Michaluk ’16 is a lead merchandise replenishment analyst with Snipes USA, a footwear company. He has been working in the footwear industry for over twelve years.

animal practice in Pennsylvania. She graduated from veterinary school in 2022 and was a 2017 recipient of Holy Family’s Sister Neomisia Award.

Thomas Alne M’17, CRNP and Brianna Alne ’22, MS, CTRS, RN celebrated the birth of their daughter, Veronica, in December 2022. Thomas proudly serves on Holy Family’s Alumni Board and Brianna completed Holy Family’s Second Degree BSN program in June 2022, receiving the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.

Sienna Smith ’17 is a practicing veterinarian at VetCor, a companion

Courtney Craig ’18, a special education teacher with New Jersey Education Association, would like to announce the arrival of her daughter, Piper, in September.

Ashley Beam ’19 is the campus life coordinator at Arcadia University. Ashley serves on the Holy Family University Alumni Board.

Sara Marie Nelson ’19 is a clinical nurse manager at Grace Hospice in Minneapolis, MN.

2020s

Daniel Ortiz ’20 is a communications specialist at The Philadelphia Protestant Home.

Patricia Palmer DNP ’21 is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences at Holy Family University.

Emily Davis M’22 is working as a hospice marketing manager for Bayada Home Healthcare.

In Memoriam

Laverne (Wegenek) Mullen ’60

Sister M. Jeanette Lawlor, CSFN, ’63 (Former Trustee)

Julie Ann (Smoliga) Kritzler ‘63

Barbara (Annunziata) Cipriano ’64

Kathy (Ruehmling) Robinson ’70

Alexis Watkins ’22 is a paralegal within the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Amanda Wisler ’22 is a special education teacher at MaST Community Charter School III in Philadelphia, PA.

Rose Mary “Cristen Lee” Farabella ’75

Sharon (Seal) Keen '88

Beth (Chitwood) Scannell ’89

John Weir M’93

Most Reverend Robert Maginnis H’97

Robert Wombwell M’15

Dr. Audrey Evans, MD, H’18

All graduates of Holy Family University and Holy Family College are members of the Alumni Association. No member dues required!

Membership includes access to a number of Alumni discounts and benefits, including (but not limited to) discounts to the Franklin Institute, Career Center resources, University publication archives, and waived fees to apply to Holy Family’s graduate programs. View

BUILDING HOMES, BUILDING COMMUNITY

In March, members of Holy Family University’s Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter spent their Spring Break volunteering for the service organization. Since 2007, the University’s Campus Chapter has traveled to build homes for those experiencing poverty. This year, students traveled to High Point, NC.

“Doing God’s work with good people, it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Andrew Friedman ’23, president of Holy Family’s Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter. “Seeing the faces of children looking at their soon-to-be new home moved and motivated us to get as much work done as possible. Not only were homes for these families being built, but lifelong relationships between the members of our campus chapter were solidified. It was an experience that was difficult to leave and impossible to forget.”

BLESSING BAGS ON MLK JR. DAY

Holy Family University students continued their tradition of spending the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a day of service.

The University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) created nearly 1000 blessing bags for The Grace Project, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization that serves adults impacted by sickness, poverty, or addiction.

“The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is such an amazing way to get all the athletes from different teams together to really fulfill Holy Family University’s mission of service and family,” said Megan Kennedy ’23, vice president of SAAC. “It is a great way to bond while helping out our friends in neighboring communities. SAAC service and events make me proud to be a Holy Family student.”

Readers who answer the puzzle correctly will be entered into a drawing to receive Holy Family University fun gear.

Please email your answers to magazine@holyfamily.edu. Please include your name, address, email, and phone number along with your responses.

1. Sport that the Tigers won the ECC Championship in February 2023.

2. Holy Family’s next Study Abroad trip will travel to _____ in May 2023.

3. Niche ranked Holy Family University as the ______ college in Philadelphia.

4. The Taylor Awards program was established by _____ Taylor H’22, RN, Ph.D., a former University faculty member.

5. This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project was organized by Holy Family’s Student-Athlete _______ Committee.

6. Holy Family’s School of Business & Professional Studies offers a Master of Science in Organizational ________ degree.

SCHOOL OF NURSING BEGINS YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Groundbreaking for Holy Family University’s Nurse Education Building took place on November 21, 1975, and the building was dedicated on April 15, 1977. Over the years, the building has undergone numerous renovations to continue to remain at the forefront of advanced nursing practices and procedures, including the addition of a Nursing Simulation and Practice Laboratory. This year, the School of Nursing & Health Sciences will celebrate its 50th anniversary and honor the achievements of the more than 6000 alumni of Holy Family’s nursing programs.