Iona College Magazine Winter 2016

LA CO RGE LLE ST GE GI H F P.2 IST T IN 7 OR Y WINTER 2016

Connecting with the

Common Good

FLASHBACK/FLASH FORWARD

Rendering (left) and construction of the North Avenue Residence Hall, opening in fall 2016.

Construction of Rice Hall (originally Edmund Hall), Iona’s first residence hall, in 1958.

IN THIS ISSUE

WINTER 2016

2 President's Message 4 Letters to the Editor & Iona in the News UNDER THE GINKGO TREE 6 On Campus

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16 Sports Report 19

Faculty Focus

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Feature: Connecting with the Common Good

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Alumni

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WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Find more stories, photos, video and other content online at www.iona.edu/magazine — just look for this symbol throughout the magazine.

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Connecting with the

Common Good

Few things about Iona College are as engrained in everyday campus life as the vision of serving the greater good. And at the heart of campus life, where students gather and in essence make that vision a reality, is the Ryan Library and the Lynch Pavilion that serves as its main entrance. This issue focuses on the first line of the College’s vision statement, the important and broad concept of “the common good.”

Appropriate, too, that the issue includes not only Iona voices considering what that means in the next decade, but also coverage of Pope Francis’ historic visit to the United States and the New York metro area – the pope has been an eloquent advocate for the common good.

WINTER 2016

Connecting with the

Common Good

This issue is printed on FSCR® certified Sterling Matte (R), which contains 10% post-consumer fiber.

From the President

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he last several months we have had much to celebrate – from the 75th anniversary of our founding, to Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States, the development of innovative academic programs, the launch of our largest-ever fundraising campaign – Iona Forever – and so much more. As we embark on the next era, it is an exciting time to be a Gael.

In his vision for the future, Pope Francis calls on all of us to take actions in pursuit of, and to benefit, the common good. This call is one that the Iona College community answers day in and day out in many different ways. Our students, alumni, faculty and staff are answering the call by engaging in service to the poor and marginalized domestically and internationally, participating in meetings with the United Nations combating social and environmental issues, researching cures to vexing medical issues, leading the world of business in ethical ways, serving as first responders, teaching tomorrow’s leaders, and advancing cybersecurity information technology worldwide – and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

This issue of the magazine highlights how the Iona College community is looking toward the next several

years and how we are contributing to the common good. One of these contributions is through the Iona Forever campaign, which focuses on bringing together our alumni and friends to invest in the College as we prepare students to make a positive impact on the world. By focusing on endowed scholarships, professors and programs, in addition to vital aspects of campus infrastructure, Iona Forever promises to be transformational in securing the future of generations of Iona scholars to come. Support from our alumni, including Mr. Robert LaPenta’s more than $15 million pledge in support of the business school, the largest gift in the College’s history, has started this next era of the College on a tremendous note. We look forward to witnessing the new heights that will come from Iona Forever – for the College and for the common good – over the next several years (see pg. 22).

As we reflect on the Papal visit in our 75th year, we remain inspired by our community and its dedication to continue living in the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice and making a positive impact for the common good. I wish you a happy new year and thank you for ensuring our 75th year was one to remember!

Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D.

President

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Winter 2016

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MAGAZINE

Suzanne Flood Editor Suzanne Augustyn Design and Creative Services Todd A. Wilson Senior Director of College Marketing & Communications Tsahai Amazan Gisela Barreiro ’17 Bianca De LeÓn ’11, ’13MA Dawn Insanalli ’99MS, ’15MS John W. Mahon, Ph.D. Danielle Orofino '15 Lisa Romano Athletic Communications Contributors Paul J. Sutera Senior Vice President for Advancement & External Affairs Elizabeth Faia Orgera ’10MBA Director of Alumni Relations Iona College Magazine is printed twice a year, and is distributed to alumni, faculty, staff and friends. © 2016 Iona College The magazine may be viewed online at iona.edu/magazine Address correspondence to: magazine@iona.edu or Suzanne Flood Iona College Joyce Advancement House/ DeSantis Alumni House 715 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801

NEXT ISSUE Iona College Magazine is planning its next issue already and we’re interested in the personal stories of Iona alumni.

We invite you to send a summary of your story, as soon as possible, preferably 50100 words, to magazine@iona.edu.

Please include your full name, Iona degree(s) and class year(s), and daytime phone number.

INVEST IN THE FUTURE By giving to The Fund for Iona College, you demonstrate your passion for our unique mission. At the same time, you also show that you understand how donor support is required to help cover the cost to educate each of our students.

Rarely does your generosity have the opportunity to impact so many. Your annual investment in Iona combined with those from parents, faculty, staff, and friends provides a daily versatile, vital resource for Iona College’s continued operation and growth. Dollars from The Fund for Iona College are flexible and immediately available for what matters most – student life and learning. Each year, we focus our efforts on those priority projects that are most urgently needed on campus, such as internships, faculty training, financial aid, or student programs.

Make your gift today! www.iona.edu/support (914) 633-2412 MOVING THE WORLD – ONE GAEL AT A TIME Every day, Iona community members are moving the world – through business, service, the arts, athletics and so much more.

Ian Thompson ’15 spent four years at Iona College as a marketing major building his entrepreneurial skills, and a water polo varsity athlete.

Before even graduating, Thompson launched his own company, Koobe, Inc., and released a social media app – using information he learned from his Iona professors.

Be a part of the movement to tell your powerful story of how you are moving the world in a meaningful way. Learn more at iona.edu/movetheworld.

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YOUR TURN To the Editor: I graduated in June 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and I was editor-in-chief of The Ionian newspaper my senior year.

I was also involved with crew and the Tara Knights Society. I eventually married the 1950 queen of the Tara Knights Ball, Marilyn Battista (see photo). We have been married for 62 years and have been blessed with five children.

Four are happily married and are raising our nine grandchildren.

Our fifth “child,” now age 60, is presently a seminarian at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers.

As for me, after serving two years in a M.A.S.H. unit in the Army Chemical Corps, I returned to civilian life, and worked for 40 years in exploratory drug research in the fields of cancer and asthma. I have fond memories of Iona, and have returned on occasion to tour campus. It has changed quite a bit since we attended classes in quonset huts!

Donald F. Colucci ’51 To all of the Class of ’58: Rudy Eckhardt, Joe McPartlin, Al Sattler, Ray Shotter and I got together annually. We still continue to after the deaths of Al and Rudy. Each of the four was an excellent student and a member of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

The ’58 ICANN missed listing Joe in that group. I was just content to at least get a BA. Each year I try to convince them that I reign as the smartest in the group because “moi” organized our get-togethers. Most of all, may God bless those, present and departed, whom we still refer to as the Irish Christian Brothers. Oremus Pro Invicem.

Raymond J. Bovich ’58

My brother, Robert McMullen, was in the entry class and his name appears on the Iona Celtic cross. After two years, he joined the Christian Brothers and, as a member of the order, taught at Iona for 13 years.

He taught me there for two semesters (two A’s and he threw me out of class once – I didn’t tell his mother). I’m the Class of 1961 and rode up in a carpool as a commuter with Joe Murphy, whose name is now on one of Iona’s buildings. My wife, Barbara, is presently an adjunct at Iona, and coincidentally the first building in which she taught at Iona was the Murphy building. When my brother was a student Brother, the Brothers attended Fordham for the last two years of college and his bachelor’s was from Fordham. In recognition of his service to Iona, Br. Liguori awarded him an honorary degree just as he was slipping into terminal Alzheimer’s.

John F. McMullen ’61

IONA IN THE NEWS

Alumnus Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H was featured in the Wall Street Journal for his more than $15 million donation to Iona – the largest gift to date in the College’s history.

Jeanne Zaino, Ph.D., professor of political science, has been featured on ABC7 NY numerous times speaking about the candidates vying to run in the upcoming presidential election.

News 12 covered Iona’s interfaith prayer vigil on campus following the Paris attacks in November.

The coverage also included reactions from several visiting graduate students from La Rochelle, France.

Read more about these and other Iona in the News stories.

WRITE TO US! We welcome your letters in response to the content of the magazine, and about all things relating to Iona College. Please address letters to: Iona Magazine, Joyce Advancement House/DeSantis Alumni House, Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, or to magazine@iona.edu. Please include your full name, Iona class year(s) and degree(s), address, email address, and daytime phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

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on campus | sports report | faculty focus

Winter 2016

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ON CAMPUS On September 19, 75 years to the day since Brother William B. Cornelia, Ph.D., addressed the first class, the College community came together to live the mission through an International Day of Service.

Service to others has remained at the core of Iona College since its founding and it was only fitting to commemorate this milestone anniversary in support of the values of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers.

l a n o i t a e n c i r v e r Int of Se y a D

In New Rochelle, Gaels kicked off the day in the campus quad under the ginkgo tree with a reflection and remarks from Thomas Severin ’16, president of the Student

Government Association; Carl ProcarioFoley, director of the Office of Mission and Ministry; and President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. A truly energized crowd then departed on foot, in cars and buses to tackle the many projects of the day.

In total, more than 400 students, faculty, staff and friends volunteered at one of 16 different sites in New Rochelle and beyond. Volunteer work included coastal and park cleanup, service at soup kitchens, home building with Habitat for Humanity and more. No matter the task, Gaels rolled up their sleeves and got to work assisting those in need and making a difference.

In areas, such as Washington, D.C., Gaels were already mid-service before the official kick-off. In D.C., alumni were in action early in the morning volunteering to serve breakfast to individuals in need at Central Union Mission. Additionally, in Connecticut, Iona community members donated their time at a fundraiser to benefit Operation Hope – a food pantry and shelter which provides more than 123,000 meals a year.

On Long Island, N.Y., community members volunteered with Wellspring Water, a non-profit founded by alumna Kimberleigh Costanzo ’14.

At Wellspring Water, volunteer work had an international impact – helping to provide clean water in Zambia and other parts of Africa. Students sorted and redeemed more than 2,250 plastic bottles during their time volunteering to help fund Wellspring Water’s service sites in Africa.

See photos, testimonials and news coverage from Day of Service.

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Many other Gaels took part in smaller-scale service projects and events in their hometowns and other areas. No matter where, on September 19, the Iona College community celebrated 75 years as an institution – and 75 years of serving others.

Leaving a Lasting Mark Through Art

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s the celebration of the College’s 75th anniversary continued during the fall 2015 semester, the Iona College community was invited to leave their mark on campus through art. The Mural Project was a hands-on, collaborative gallery exhibit that was created over the course of a week in mid-September and focused on student involvement, coalition building and leaving a legacy based on the mission and values of the College.

The mural, designed by artist Amy Bartell with the help of Iona College Arts Center’s artist-in-residence, Brother Kenneth Chapman, is unique to Iona College and includes depictions of the College’s High Cross statue, the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union and ginkgo leaves – among images

of the world, hands and more. The LaPenta Student Union is also celebrating its 10th anniversary on campus, which aligned well with the College’s anniversary and the Mural Project. More than 120 students, faculty, staff and friends took part in the painting of the mural – truly showcasing the unified community at Iona College.

After the week-long project, the finished mural was unveiled at a special reception at the Br. Kenneth Chapman Gallery in the Iona College Arts Center, then was permanently installed in the LaPenta Student Union for all to see. Similar to the High Cross statue, which was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the College, the Mural Project leaves a lasting mark and pays tribute to another milestone in Iona College history.

See the complete mural.

UPCOMING ARTS EVENTS Gallery Exhibition: The Visual Arts Faculty Show February 7 - March 31, 2016 Opening Reception: February 7, 1 - 3 p.m.

Br. Kenneth Chapman Gallery, Iona College Arts Center Iona College Dance Ensemble April 14 & 15, 2016 Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium The Government Inspector by the Iona College Theatre Ensemble April 21-24, 2016 Doorley Auditorium

For additional information on these events, please visit www.iona.edu/artscouncil.

Accumulation 2016: The Student Exhibition April 18 - May 5, 2016 Gala Reception: April 28, Noon - 4 p.m.

Br. Kenneth Chapman Gallery, Iona College Arts Center Heritage Fest Saturday, April 23, 3 p.m.

Robert V. LaPenta Student Union Parking Lot Spring is in the Air: Iona College Instrumental and Vocal Ensembles April 29, 2016 Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium

The Symphony of Westchester April 30, 2016 Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium Sound Shore Chorale: All-Schubert Program May 1, 2016 Arrigoni Center Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival May 3, 2016 Campus Quad

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ON CAMPUS

WELCOME, POPE FRANCIS! In late September, the talk all over the campus, the New York area and the country was about Pope Francis’ historic first visit to the U.S. With so many activities taking place during and around this visit, it’s no surprise that many Iona College community members were participating at various levels.

In fact, Iona’s connection to the pope’s visit began early on in the planning stages as alumnus Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’80, ’81MBA was appointed by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan '14H as the chief layman overseeing the pope’s New York visit. Kelly spent several months planning the many events that took place during the pope’s short but meaningful visit.

As Pope Francis celebrated Mass on September 25 at Madison Square Garden, approximately 40 members of the Iona community were in attendance. Additionally, some members were also able to attend the pope’s Multireligious Gathering at the September 11 National Memorial and Museum and others were part of smaller local events and broadcasts dedicated to the pope.

Megan Nicolaro ’16 was one of the students who was selected to attend the Papal Mass, and she noted it was one of the most memorable experiences of her life. “Listening to Pope Francis speak left my emotions torn: I was so soothed, yet ecstatic,” said Nicolaro. “My favorite part of the MSG mass, was being a participant in the two-minute standing ovation for the pope; it was a unifying moment for everybody in the 20,000 person arena, and on a larger scale, a uniting moment for every Christian.”

Deacon John W. Mahon, Ph.D., professor emeritus of English, was also fortunate enough to have been selected to attend the Mass and fondly remembered seeing Pope Paul VI when he was a junior in college 50 years ago. “Receiving Eucharist at a Mass presided over by Pope Francis helped me to see that, indeed, this very special Holy Father embodies the faith, hope, and love at the center of Catholic faith,” said Mahon.

Elena Procario-Foley, Ph.D., associate professor of Religious Studies, director of the Core Curriculum, and Brother John G. Driscoll Professor of Jewish-Catholic Studies, participated in several activities during the pope’s visit. She was a panelist on FiOS1/RNN TV in Westchester during live coverage of the pope’s address to Congress, attended the Papal Mass and was in attendance at the Multireligious Gathering.

“To come together as practitioners of interreligious dialogue across the faith spectrum in the sacred space of the September 11 National Memorial and Museum was a profound experience of prayer and unity,” said Procario-Foley. “It was a true blessing to participate in the multireligious service and to be in the presence of the pope. Pope Francis is an awe-inspiring example of the Gospel message.”

Additionally, Iona community members Sr. Kathleen Deignan, CND, Ph.D., and Carl Procario-Foley, Ph.D., were invited to participate as panelists on several news programs and other events during the course of the pope’s visit. Deignan was a part of a vigil at the United Nations and a guest on NBC’s evening news with Chuck Scarborough. Procario-Foley was a panelist on News12 Westchester during a live coverage segment.

While Pope Francis’ New York visit lasted less than 48 hours, Iona College community members were involved in some way every step of the way.

Read more community member reflections and news stories on Pope Francis’ visit.

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FROM GAEL NATION TO UNITED NATIONS

JESSE BROWN ’15, ’16MBA As an international business undergraduate major, Jesse Brown ’15, ’16MBA filled his time at Iona participating in many activities – mission trips to Peru and India, Model UN club, and working with the Office of Mission and Ministry. Brown had the opportunity to participate in the Harvard National Model United Nations Conference where he represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ views on drug trafficking. That opportunity impacted him greatly. “From that point on, I decided that I would look for any opportunity possible to find international experiences,” said Brown.

Recently, Brown interned for the Senior Leadership Appointments Section at the United Nations Secretariat in New York City. His team was responsible for identifying individuals qualified to fill high-level leadership positions in UN peacekeeping operations throughout the world. Brown filled a research role for the department, tracking leadership data and comparing the information against reports. He even had the chance to sit in on the General Assembly and listen to various Heads of State speak on the world’s most important issues.

“I think my experience at the UN is beneficial because at least one more American person will have a better perspective on what is going on throughout the world,” said Brown. “I think we need to start one person at a time.”

After graduation, Brown hopes to be able to work for the United Nations again someday, but he is also looking into opportunities with the Peace Corp and United States Foreign Service. As he navigates toward his next career move, he only has one criteria that is mandatory – he must enjoy what he does.

ASHLEY HUBAYKAH ’16 Through an internship opportunity with Edmund Rice International (ERI), Ashley Hubaykah ’16 saw firsthand the work that the United Nations is doing on environment action, global citizenship and interfaith dialogues. Her involvement with ERI is due in part to her long relationship with the Christian Brothers, having attended a Christian Brother high school and then coming to Iona College. She credits Brother Kevin Cawley, ERI’s UN representative, and the Christian Brothers for making her internship possible.

During her internship, Hubaykah had the opportunity to discuss worldly issues with the Brothers, including poverty eradication and indigenous issues, and attend weekly meetings at the UN on these topics. Growing up she always had passionate thoughts on many issues and wondered if others thought the same way she did. “The issues like the eradication for poverty, and rights for the LGBTQ community persecuted by ISIS are being talked about, and others are passionate about ending it too,” said Hubaykah.

Serving others on a global scale is nothing new to Hubaykah. At Iona she is immersed in many programs through the Office of Mission and Ministry, and even participated in a mission trip to Peru.

After graduating, she hopes to enter into a service program where she can teach in the Catholic schools while receiving her master’s degree. Then, she wants to apply to and serve with, the Peace Corps in Latin America because she feels most called to serve those in that community.

THOMAS SEVERIN ’16 Currently serving as Iona’s Student Government Association (SGA) President, Thomas Severin ’16 has been on a mission to help others since he started at Iona. His involvement on campus spans the gamut from orientation leader and peer advisor to planning dance marathons for charity and serving his classmates on SGA. This summer was no different as Severin had the opportunity to expand his reach of assistance by interning with Edmund Rice International (ERI) at their office in Geneva, Switzerland.

The opportunity came about through a connection Severin had with his Iona advisor, Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., who had arranged for other students to intern with ERI in the past. ERI has a special consultant status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and they focus on the rights of a child with a special focus on education, the rights of persons with disabilities, and issues of the environment and sustainability.

“This internship provided me not just with a real-life education on the workings of the United Nations, but it allowed me to advocate for those who didn’t have a voice at the UN,” said Severin. One highlight of Severin’s time interning with ERI – being tasked to present a speech in front of the UN Human Rights Council. “I was initially just set to help write a draft version of the oral statement,” said Severin. “But then all of the Brothers who worked for ERI ended up having a meeting with their Province Leader, so I was the only person around to offer the statement.”

Severin is set to graduate in May, and has started a list of 15 things he could see himself doing and he hopes to take advantage of as many opportunities that the world has to offer. “While I can’t tell you where I’ll be a year from now, I can tell you that wherever I end up, Iona’s left me with the skills, knowledge and connections I need not just to succeed, but to Move the World.”

Photo by Tom Page via Commons

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ON CAMPUS ETHICAL AND MORAL LEADERSHIP LECTURE SERIES LAUNCHES Earlier this fall, Iona College announced a new lecture series, “Advancing Ethical and Moral Leadership,” sponsored by the School of Business, which will offer practical examples of ethical leadership for young people and those in the working world. The lecture series will keep with the mission, vision and values of Iona College as the College commits to the development of graduates who are recognized for their ethics.

“Every person, every family, and the people in every business, institution, municipality or government agency will eventually have their moral and ethical compass shaken and tested,” said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “The measure of leadership, or one’s life for that matter, is not the tally of problems or their severity but rather how we respond.”

The inaugural lecture took place on October 17, during Homecoming & Family Weekend, and featured William McGurn, Wall Street Journal columnist, vice president of News Corporation and former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush. McGurn spent more than a decade overseas – in Brussels for The Wall Street Journal/Europe and in Hong Kong with both the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. In the mid-1990s, McGurn was Washington Bureau Chief for National Review.

During his lecture, McGurn told an audience of Iona business students and community members that despite the proliferation of business ethics courses, “strong business ethics cannot be had without strong personal character.” He also said an increase in courses “doesn’t seem to be producing more ethical business leaders.” One of the main reasons for the problem is “relativism” and an inability to distinguish right from wrong, McGurn said.

He added that he is suspicious of “profession-based ethics,” whether in business, law, journalism or medicine because too often they are im-

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plemented as sort of a “regulatory code separate from character,” and professionals are led to believe that if they check off appropriate boxes, they have fulfilled ethical requirements. “You cannot have business ethics without ethical businessmen,” McGurn said. “The more we try to substitute regulation for character, the further we get from the goal.”

McGurn also told the students, “What you do in your business life will affect many around you. And when the hard decisions come – for example, firing a person who just isn’t up to the job – those whose lives are most affected by your decisions are not going to ask how many business ethics courses you took. They will want to know whether you are an honest person who treats others fairly and does not hide behind evasions.”

View a video of McGurn’s lecture at Iona and learn more about upcoming lectures in the series.

IONA + Iona College has announced a partnership with ESPN to produce and broadcast its athletics events live on the ESPN3 and WatchESPN platforms. Iona will begin producing its men’s and women’s basketball games later this winter and women’s lacrosse contests in the spring, with plans to expand to additional sports next fall.

The broadcasts will feature ESPN-branded graphics and fullreplay capability, and be hosted by a combination of professionals and Iona College students. In addition to live coverage, students will be responsible for pregame, halftime, and postgame content production including feature pieces, commercials, highlight packages and interviews.

“The project provides Iona College with cutting-edge technology to broadcast our athletic events on the ESPN platform,” said Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. “We look forward to expanding our direct relationship with the ESPN brand through the longstanding partnership between the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’.”

“This is great news for our students, our student-athletes, our athletics program and for the entire Iona College community,” said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “It will complement our academic programs in Mass Communication and our Center for Sports, Entertainment and Media Business.”

Learn more about Iona's endeavor with ESPN.

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Iona College Magazine/iona.edu

Homecoming & FAMILY WEEKEND

2015

Read more about Homecoming and view photos from the event.

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ON CAMPUS

FALL AROUND CAMPUS Homeless for a Night

Homeless for a Night was an event that took place during Make a Difference Week in October, where students slept on the steps of Spellman Hall. Its purpose was to create awareness about homelessness by giving students an experience of how it feels to be homeless. “It’s good to get awareness for it and try to picture ourselves in their shoes because it’s something that even if we walk past it, we don’t experience it,” said Sean Campbell, a student who participated in this event.

The event was sponsored by the Office of Mission and Ministry and had several activities that took place throughout the night, including a former homeless individual talking about his experience on the streets. He showed Iona students that we all can connect on a level of humanity with a homeless person.

9/11 Interfaith Memorial Service

On September 11, the Iona community gathered to remember and honor those members of the Iona College family who were lost on September 11, 2001, or as a result of the actions of that day.

Veterans Day Memorial Service

In observance of Veterans Day, students, faculty and staff gathered to honor Iona veterans who made the supreme sacrifice for peace in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Paint it Pink

The Iona community joined the fight against breast cancer by raising awareness and donations for research through a fun painting event sponsored by the Edmund Rice Society, Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and Colleges Against Cancer.

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Ice Bucket Challenge

Gaels, including President Nyre (above), rallied around fellow Ionian Pat Quinn to complete the 2015 Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness and funds for ALS. Quinn has been a driving force in the ice bucket challenge phenomena.

Giving Back

Through Internship Op portun ities

Last year, Iona’s School of Arts & Science founded a Dean's Advisory Board, comprised of alumni and friends who are interested in making a difference within the school. One subcommittee of the Advisory Board is the Faculty Guided Student Research Committee, chaired by Rohan Samarakoon, Ph.D., ’93, which encourages highly motivated Iona students to take part in cutting-edge scientific research under the direction of a faculty member at the level of graduate and medical schools or industry. This past summer, two Iona students were given opportunities to conduct research with John Willis, Ph.D., ’69 at Ultradian Diagnostics and Rohan Samarakoon, Ph.D., ’93 at Albany Medical College – both members of the Dean’s Advisory Board.

“It is important we encourage and if possible provide highly motivated and bright Iona students with opportunities in medical or scientific research so that they become attractive candidates for graduate and medical schools,” said Samarakoon.

San dybell Anorga '16, Albany Medical College

As a faculty member at Albany Medical Center, Rohan Samarakoon, Ph.D., ’93 understands the competitive landscape of getting into graduate and medical colleges and how research experience can help a candidate stand out. As an Iona alumnus, he wanted to help and offered an internship opportunity in his laboratory working on uncovering the novel mechanisms involved in renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease progression. This summer, Sandybell Anorga ’16 joined Dr. Samarakoon’s team and worked tirelessly implicating Rac1 in TGF-beta signaling pathways, and investigating the involvement of Rac1 proteins in the failing kidneys.

“Since the beginning, Dr. Samarakoon has trained and treated me at the graduate level. This opportunity has given me a broader fundamental understanding of teamwork, encouragement and feeling more prepared in future challenges, specifically finishing my undergraduate degree with enhanced focus.”

Sandybell Anorga '16 “We are pleased with Sandybell’s performance this summer,” said Samarakoon. “I encouraged her to return to the lab next summer to generate additional data necessary to submit a manuscript to a high-quality peer-reviewed scientific publication.” Samarakoon noted that Sandybell will also be co-author on a scientific abstract his team is putting together for the American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting.

Ricar do Ol ivier a '16, Ultr a di an Di agnostics

As owner of Ultradian Diagnostics, John Willis, Ph.D., ’69 was in a great position to offer an internship to a college student looking to gain research experience. “It’s important to give something back to society and the institution where I began my scientific career,” said Willis. “I enjoy working with students and passing on knowledge gained over a long career in the medical device industry.”

Ricardo Oliviera ’16, a chemistry major, was given the opportunity to intern at Ultradian Diagnostics and study glucose metabolic oscillations in yeast cells immobilized on a glucose biosensor, which was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease. The internship gave Oliveira a greater sense of independence in his research as he was responsible for setting up his own experiments and developing his own interpretations of data – an important educational opportunity for a student.

The opportunities for research as an undergraduate are what solidified Oliviera’s decision to attend Iona. “It is rare to find institutions that do cutting-edge research at the undergraduate level,” said Oliveira. “I felt that the opportunity through [Iona professor and advisor] Dr. Sunghee Lee’s mentorship would be the most useful in my future education and career.” Having the opportunity to further his research experience through the Ultradian internship has only strengthened Oliveira as a future graduate student or employee.

Willis notes that Oliveira’s research contributions throughout his internship will help the team at Ultradian Diagnostics in the next phases of their research as they move into clinical trials. “A large reason I had success at Ultradian was because I had a lot of experience in labs, in the form of class and additional summer lab experiences with Dr. Lee,” said Oliveria.

As Ultradian Diagnostics continues to grow as a company, Willis hopes to provide even more internship opportunities to Iona students.

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ON CAMPUS STRATEGIC PLAN The College is now more than halfway through its five-year strategic plan, Advancing Our Legacy and Defining Our Future, as the third year concluded with continued success. The College began its fourth year of the plan, well-positioned to continue advancing the goals set forth.

Improving the Educational Experience

In 2014-15, Iona saw the new core curriculum approved by all levels of the College’s governance and the Board of Trustees. The new core was designed to allow students more flexibility to pursue areas of interest, but also to further emphasize critical thinking and literacy. Early this academic year, the College received word that that core curriculum was approved by New York State. It will be ready for implementation in fall 2016.

"Year Three of the Strategic Plan saw not only growing enthusiasm and energy, but also a strong sense of accomplishment in what the Iona community has and will achieve."

President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D.

Three science labs were renovated during the strategic plan year, which will benefit students taking courses in biology, chemistry or physics.

With state-of-the-art equipment at their fingertips, students will continue to research cures for diseases, advance planetary science discoveries, investigate cell membranes and more.

Students in the Mass Communication Department will now gain an advantage from a collaboration partnership with Iona Athletics and ESPN, which offers professional live television production experience on campus. Using a new mobile production trailer, students will produce live broadcasts of the men’s and women’s basketball games, which will be streamed on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. Among other accomplishments, the School of Business was recognized as one of the Top 50 Graduate Schools based on salary potential by PayScale.com. This ranked the school 46th out of 605 schools for early- and mid-career salaries. Also, Iona’s Sociology program was ranked No. 2 nationally in the Social Work Degree Guide, “20 High-value BSW Degrees in Metro Area with Top Salaries for Social Workers 2014.”

Growing Campus All Around

Campus continues to evolve and grow to meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff. Fall 2015 enrollment saw an increased number of freshman enrolled over last year, which exceeded goals. Additionally, the diversity in the student body continues to increase with 33 percent of students self-identifying in an underrepresented group. The faculty also continues to grow with seven members being awarded tenure and 16 tenure-track individuals being hired. The College’s endowment continues its positive growth trend, having now doubled in size since the start of the strategic plan efforts. Additionally, the Office of Conference Services continues working to build auxiliary revenue for the College in order to decrease tuition dependence, and launched a new online presence, meetationa.com.

AVAILABLE NOW

Advancing the Legacy The Story of Iona College

In commemoration of Iona’s diamond anniversary, a special 75th anniversary history book, Advancing the Legacy: The Story of Iona College, 1940-2015, has been compiled. Utilizing Iona College: The First Fifty Years written by Brother Quinn for Iona’s 50th anniversary, Brother Harry Dunkak, Ph.D., ’51, emeritus professor of history, provided more than a year’s worth of research and writing for the 75th book. With assistance from Rick Palladino ’76, ’89MS, director of libraries, the Advancement & External Affairs division, and many others, this book is now a reality and celebrates our 75 years of excellence.

In his foreword within the book, Brother Dunkak shares: “I have been more than honored to work at this College for virtually all of my adult life – I have truly been blessed. Iona College has done more for me than anybody can ever know, and my love and appreciation for it runs deep. I am immensely pleased to have been able to work on this history (following the excellent example set by Brother Charles B. Quinn in his Iona College: The First Fifty Years), but my efforts were simply to capture on paper the events of the past. The real work was done by the many others who came before me and will continue with the many others who come later as the College continues to be shaped and polished, more brilliant by the day.”

The 75th anniversary book is currently on sale through the Iona College Bookstore. For information on pricing, and to order a copy, contact the bookstore at (914) 633-2356.

See more about other recent celebrations commemorating the 75th anniversary: · Homecoming & Family Weekend, pg. 11 · The Mural Project, pg. 7

Learn more about this book and the recent book on Iona Athletics, Maroon & Gold Legacy.

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One Brick at a Time It’s no surprise that Iona’s campus continues to evolve and advance every year to keep up with the needs of our

students and being able to provide them with a top-notch educational experience. The last few months have proved to be no different with several campus projects undertaken.

One highly anticipated addition to campus was a full-service Starbucks store in the lower level of the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union. Construction of the store took place during the summer months and it opened just in time for move-in day and the return of students to campus for the new academic year.

Additional updates in the LaPenta Student Union were made to the Game Room, Student Government Association office, Club Hub and LaPenta Marketplace food court. Vitanza Commons food court in Spellman Hall was also renovated. These updates were made to upgrade and enhance the student life experience on campus.

Technology upgrades continue to be made across campus to classrooms and laboratories to advance the student learning experience. Part of the upgrades included the installation of a video conferencing system in a classroom in Hagan Hall. This system allows students to call in to a class and participate through voice and video, and is the first of its kind on campus.

Campus improvements to athletics facilities included a relocation and renewal of campus weight room facilities in Hynes Athletics Center, new paint and scoreboard in the pool area, renovation of the men’s varsity locker room, as well as other maintenance and facilities improvements.

Other projects included renovations to the parking garage, updates to the campus energy management system, a new generator in Loftus Hall, painting in all other residence halls, new carpet and painting in the Apartments at Eastchester, and exterior work on entrances of the Celtic offices and McSpedon Hall.

Construction of the new North Avenue Residence Hall also continues with anticipated completion in August 2016 to open for the 2016-2017 academic year. To stay up-to-date on the progress of the residence hall, visit iona.edu/NorthAveResHall.

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SPORTS REPORT

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS MEN’S BASKETBALL Recent graduate David Laury ’15 was selected in the first round of the 2015 NBA Development League Draft by the Delaware 87ers. As the eighth selection overall, Laury is one of seven players who will join the 87ers, which are affiliated with the Philadelphia 76ers. He is the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 20.1 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Gaels during the 2014-15 season. Way to go, David!

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Women’s cross country graduate student Tara Jameson earned an individual Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship in leading the Gaels to a second place performance this year. Jameson was nearly eight seconds faster than the second runner to cross the line. She also extended Iona’s individual title streak to 10 straight years following back-to-back first-place finishes by former teammate Kate Avery. At the 2015 ECAC Championship, she also finished third overall and led the Gaels to a third place team finish. Jameson completed her stellar Iona career with the bronze medal, completing the 5k course in 17:52.4.

MEN’S SOCCER The 2015 season ended with a 10-7-3 overall mark when Iona, No. 5 seed, fell to No. 1 Monmouth, 2-1 in the semifinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s soccer championship. Iona was 5-3-2 in MAAC regular season play and tied for third place in the standings. The 10 victories this season mark the fifth season of double-digit wins for Coach Fernando Barboto’s Gaels in the last eight seasons.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Volleyball freshmen, Claire Archibald and Jessica Paolucci, were named to the MAAC All-Rookie team for their performance during the fall season. Archibald set a school rookie record with 378 kills. She averaged a MAAC freshman best of 3.32 kills per set which ranked fourth overall. Paolucci was one of the top rookie defensive players recording 538 digs, and her 4.72 digs per set ranked No. 1 among MAAC freshmen and fourth overall. Her dig total was the second highest rookie total in school history. The team ended their season 10-20 overall, and 7-11 in the conference.

COACHES HIGHLIGHTS

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LACROSSE

SOCCER

Women’s lacrosse head coach Michelle Mason announced that Lindsey Kovar will be joining the team's coaching staff for the upcoming season. Kovar comes from Drexel University where she most recently served as a graduate assistant coach. She also spent time as co-head coach of the Long Island Liberty from 2008-2012 and then moved abroad, serving as head coach for the English Lacrosse Association’s U13 and U14 team.

Welcome, Coach Kovar!

Sarah Brady has been appointed as the head coach of Iona’s women’s soccer program. Brady comes to Iona after spending the last two seasons as assistant coach for Manhattan College. She is a graduate of Leeds Metropolitan University, and played 10 seasons in the Football Association Women’s Premier League with both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs.

Brady carries a USSF B license, an NSCAA premier diploma, an NSCAA advanced national diploma and NSCAA national diploma among her coaching qualifications.

Congratulations, Coach Brady!

Iona College Magazine/iona.edu

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS Ten Iona student-athletes and one student-manager were among 47 students inducted into the Delta Epsilon Sigma National Scholastic Honor Society in November. Delta Epsilon Sigma is the national honor society for colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition. Iona College’s chapter, Delta Epsilon, was chartered in 1971. Only the top 10 percent of the graduating class are eligible for membership, and normally only five percent of graduating students in any one discipline may be admitted to membership.

The student-athletes who earned this achievement were: Jon-Luke Ferrandino (junior, men’s soccer), Sean Kassouf (senior, men’s soccer manager), Cassandra Gill (junior, women’s cross country/track), Hannah Fasano (senior, lacrosse), Mary Kate McCormick (senior, lacrosse), Caitlin McGurran (senior, women’s rowing), Jourdan Courage (senior, softball), Sarah Schutz (senior, softball), MaryEllen Mangione (senior, women’s swimming), Natalie Ziskin (senior, volleyball) and Dana Andrea (senior, women’s water polo).

Quadruple the Fun The men’s and women’s water polo teams at Iona expanded in a big way this fall, each getting a double dose of Guerra. The Guerra quadruplets – Alexander, Alexandra, Andres and Andrea – joined the Maroon & Gold this fall as freshmen. This group of siblings consists of two pair of identical twins –Alexander and Andres, and Alexandra and Andrea.

In addition to sharing the obvious biological connections, the siblings also share a love for water polo. Their interest in the sport stemmed from their time spent on the swim team as children. After being asked to try water polo by a coach, they were hooked.

Hailing from Miami, the siblings remained open-minded about the possibility of being separated while exploring college options. But as luck would have it, Iona College ended up as the perfect place that all four could call home, and continue their water polo careers over the next few years while advancing their education.

Coach Brian Kelly notes that the Guerra siblings have been great additions to both teams with their speed, fundamental skills and savvy playing. He claims it took him about a month to be able to tell the siblings apart – on the field that is. Fortunately, Alexandra and Andrea play different positions on the field, and Alexander and Andres use different dominant hands. But, off the field can be a bit more difficult to decipher.

The men’s season has wrapped up, with Alexander and Andres in rotation during the season, and now spring brings the women’s season and the time for Alexandra and Andrea to make their debut as Gaels. We look forward to seeing the Guerras take on the waters over the next four years!

REIGNING MAAC CHAMPS FOR 25 YEARS, TOP 10 FINISHER IN NATIONALS Iona College’s men’s cross country team has truly hit a milestone – winning their 25th straight MAAC title this fall. The Gaels swept the title with a perfect score of 15 for the third straight year and the win also extended NCAA Division I’s longest active conference championship streak.

Graduate student Michael O’Dowd crossed the finish line first – a fitting tribute as it was his final MAAC Cross Country Championship event after five years as a Gael. Six other Ionians followed suit, finishing within a second and a half of each other and securing the second through seventh, and ninth through 12th spots.

O’Dowd became the 14th straight Gael to win the individual title and 20th all-time. An Iona student-athlete has won the race 30 times in the 35-year history of the race. It was the Gaels ninth perfect score of 15 during their current stretch of 25 straight championships.

The Maroon & Gold have swept the top five positions eight times prior to this in 1992, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

The team went on to place fifth overall at the 2015 NCAA Division Championship which took place in Louisville. It was the Gaels 13th Top 10 finish at the national championship in the last 14 years and their highest finish since a second place performance in 2008.

Sophomore Gilbert Kirui was the Maroon & Gold’s top performer, crossing the line in 20th place with a time of 30:11.3. Kirui finished the 10,000-meter event with a time of 30:11.3.

By virtue of his finish, he becomes Iona’s 16th cross country All-American as the program has earned the honor 22 times since 1988.

See more news items on the Guerra quadruplets.

Winter 2016

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SPORTS REPORT

ATHLETES RALLY FOR THE COMMON GOOD Community service and giving to others is a significant part of the culture at Iona College. It’s no surprise that our student-athletes embrace this culture and find time between classes, practice, games and matches, to volunteer their time and talents for so many worthy causes.

Iona’s rowing teams participated in several community service activities this last semester including participating in a cleanup at Glen Island Park as part of the College’s Day of Service in September. This cleanup had special significance to the teams as their boathouse is located in the park and they are grateful for the opportunity to utilize the location.

In addition, the men’s rowing team joined another on-campus activity where they hand-wrote individual cards for children at a local children’s hospital while supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The rowing team chose to participate in this particular event because it gave them the chance to motivate children, regardless of the circumstances.

The women’s softball team at Iona joined together to help out at the 25th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in New York City earlier in the semester. Iona student-athletes set up and manned a water station along the three-mile journey as runners raced to raise money for breast cancer research. Later that month, the team also dedicated time at a “Hounds on the Sound” pet adoption event hosted by the Humane Society of Westchester at New Rochelle and Pet Rescue. The team helped provide entertainment to event attendees while promoting the mission of finding suitable forever homes for many dogs and cats awaiting adoption.

Early in the 2015-16 season, the Iona College women’s soccer team committed itself to the organization, Friends of Jaclyn. Friends of Jaclyn is a foundation that pairs children with brain tumors and other childhood cancers with high school and college sports teams. This year, the Gaels were paired with 16-yearold Faith Lunde, a New Rochelle native who has been cancer free since 2008 and became an integral part of the Maroon & Gold’s team and family this season. The team was even fortunate enough to be invited to Faith’s 16th birthday party and had a great time celebrating such a remarkable young woman. The women’s soccer team is proud to have Faith as a continued member of the Iona family.

Keep up-to-date on all the latest happenings in Iona Athletics on our official website ICGaels.com Watch live and on-demand features and events on IonaInsider.com.

Follow us on Facebook (Iona College Athletics), Twitter (@ICGaels) and Instagram (ICGaels).

Get your official Iona Gear on ICGaelsGear.com.

Search “Iona Gaels” in the App Store or Google Play Store to find Iona Athletics official mobile apps.

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FACULTY FOCUS Mitchell Bard, JD, (Mass Communication) had his article, “Propaganda, Persuasion or Journalism?

Fox News’ Prime-Time Coverage of Health Care Reform in 2009 and 2014,” accepted for publication by Electronic News, the scholarly publication of the Electronic News division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Nadine Barnett Crosby ’96MS and Natalie Redcross, Ph.D., ’91, ‘96MS, (Mass Communication) successfully launched a speaker Series at the College. Each Friday, a new industry professional shares their experience and stories about previous and current roles in various Mass Communication industries, including public relations, radio, television, media production and more.

Nicholas J. Beutell, Ph.D., and Jeffrey W. Alstete, Ed.D., ‘87MBA, ‘90MS, (Management/Business Administration) co-authored a scholarly research journal article with a colleague from Rider University. The article, “Comparing Self-employment Aspirants with the Presently Self-employed,” was published in the Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship.

George Bournoutian, Ph.D., (History) has been appointed as chief editor of a new series, The Iranian Heritage in the Caucasus and Central Asia, at Mazda Academic Publishers.

The first volume, The 1819 Russian Survey of the Khanate of Sheki, will be published in January 2016.

The second volume, The 1828-1832 Russian Surveys of the Khanate of Nakhichevan, will appear in March 2016. The third volume, The 1820 Russian Survey of the Khanate of Shirvan, will be published in summer 2016. Additional volumes dealing with the Caucasus and Central Asia in the 17th-19th centuries will be part of the series.

Jack Breslin, Ph.D., (Mass Communication) was a moderator for two panels, “New Horizons in Media Ethics” and “Hot Topics: When the Tap Runs Dry: Covering the California Drought,” which he helped organize at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 98th Annual Conference, in San Francisco, Calif.

PUBLISHED AND PRESENTED David Carlyon, Ph.D., (Fine & Performing Arts) recently had his second book, The Education of a Circus Clown: Mentors, Audiences, Mistakes, published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book combines a memoir of his experience as a Ringling/Barnum clown and a scholarly exploration of learning the craft of live comedy.

Paolina Centonze, Ph.D., (Computer Science) presented a peer-reviewed full-day Research Profession Tutorial at the 2015 Annual Computer Security Applications Conference in December. The Professional Research Tutorial was titled “Security and Privacy Analysis for Next Generation Malware.” Centonze also led a group of students to present Cyber Security awareness talks at Iona Preparatory High School, New Rochelle High School, The Ursuline School and more.

Teresa Delgado, Ph.D., (Religious Studies) served as faculty for the Forum for Theological Exploration at the 2015 Christian Leadership Forum Doctoral Cohort in Dallas, Texas, and as faculty for the Hispanic Summer Program, teaching “Christian Social Ethics and Contemporary Movements for Justice,” at Emory University in June. Additionally, she served on the faculty for the Hispanic Theological Initiative Consortium Summer Workshop, facilitating three workshops for doctoral students and faculty, at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Delgado also had an article, “Metaphor for Teaching: Good Teaching is Like Good Sex,” published in Teaching Theology & Religion, and a commentary, “Wading into Dangerous Waters,” in Power For: Feminism and Christ’s Self-Giving.

Anthony Kelso, Ph.D., (Mass Communication) had his article “Still Trapped in the U.S. Media’s Closet: Representations of Gender-Variant, Pre-Adolescent Youth” published in the August 2015 edition of the Journal of Homosexuality.

Kathleen Kristian, Ph.D., (Chemistry) published a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Chemical Education, titled “A Wiki-based Group Project in an Inorganic

Chemistry Foundation Course.” The project received support from a 2012 Iona College CELTIC Excellence in Teaching award.

Cathryn F. Lavery, Ph.D., and David T. Mulcahy, (Criminal Justice) presented at the 3rd Annual Consortium for Critical Reading, Writing & Thinking at Berkeley College in New York on October 23. Their presentation was titled “The Fusion Model: A Team Teaching Approach that Combines the Academic & Pracademic in the Criminal Justice Classroom.”

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D., (Chemistry) delivered an invited talk at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Future Chemistry Faculty Program, on the topic of “Project Symphony: Bringing Undergraduate Research to a Crescendo.” She also accompanied 14 of her mentees who presented their research at the 250th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

Joshua K. Leon, Ph.D., (Political Science/International Relations) published an article in Metropolis, titled “What We Really Mean When We Talk About Urban Crowding.”

Jeanne Matich-Maroney, Ph.D., (Social Work) was appointed to the CSWE National Council on Disability and Persons with Disabilities.

She was also juried to co-present the webinar, “Promoting Equality & Social Justice for Social Work Students with Psychiatric Disabilities through the use of Universal Instructional Design,” for CSWE’s new Learning Academy series, Teaching for Social Justice.

Robert Novak, CFC, Ph.D., ’72, (Physics) presented a paper at the 2015 Astrobiology Science Conference in Chicago titled “Diurnal Mapping of the O2 singlet-Delta Emission near Mars’ Aphelion using Ground Based High-Resolution Spectroscopy.”

The paper was co-authored by Drs. Michael Mumma and Geronimo Villanueva from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Br. Novak was also a co-author on the published papers “Detections and Sensitive Upper Limits for Methane and Related Trace Gases on Mars During 2003-2014” by Mumma, and “The Evolution of the Water Reservoirs

on Mars Revealed via D/H Isotopic Mapping” by Villanueva. Additionally, he co-authored an article, “Unique Spectroscopy and Imaging of Mars with JWST,” as an e-article through Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

George V. Priovolos, Ph.D., (Marketing/International Business) chaired a session on education and marketing at the Academy of Business Research (ABR) Fall Conference November 10-12 in Boca Raton, Fla. The session was sponsored by Cabell’s Publishing. Additionally, he presented his paper, “Inside the Mind of VW’s Martin Winterkorn – A Case Study of Damage Control Gone Wrong,” at the conference.

Carol Shansky, DMA, (Fine & Performing Arts) authored a study score preface to “Concerto in G Major for Flute and Orchestra” by Antonio Rosetti. Dr. Shansky’s preface is included in all print publications of the score, both in English and German, and is available online as well.

Joseph Stabile, Ph.D., (Biology) gave a presentation titled “Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Population Structuring of Phragmites Australis Along the Hudson River Estuary using Microsatellite DNA Analysis” at the Society of Wetland Scientists annual meeting. Alumni, Daniel Lipus ’12 and Michele Maltz ’04, were co-authors on the presentation.

Rachana Rao Umashankar, Ph.D., (Religious Studies) delivered an invited presentation titled “Qawwali – The Soundtrack to Indian Pluralism” at the Institute for Religion, Culture, & Public Life at Columbia University.

The presentation was part of the conference, “Sufism in India and Pakistan: Rethinking Islam, Democracy, and Identity.”

Ronald R. Yager, Ph.D., (Information Systems/Machine Intelligence Institute) published a journal article titled “Firing Fuzzy Rules with Measure Type Inputs” in the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems 23.

An additional article, co-authored with Radko Mesiar, Slovak University of Technology, “On the Transformation of Fuzzy Measures to the Power Set and its Role in Determining the Measure of a Measure,” was published in the same transactions.

Winter 2016

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FACULTY FOCUS

Paolina Centonze, Ph.D., has been a professor in the Computer Science Depar tment at Iona since 2011.

While at Iona, Centonze has been responsible for advancing the computer science curriculum into the field of Cyber Security – a fast-growing industry and career path. Her research interests include language-based security and mobile computing, and her work has been published extensively in industry journals, conferences and in books. Additionally, she is the inventor on 10 patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Centonze earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science from St. John’s University, and both her master’s degree in computer science and Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University, Tandon School of Engineering.

Prior to Iona you worked as a researcher at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center. What made you come to work at Iona?

My greatest dream since I was a little girl was to become a teacher like my mother, who had a positive influence on the lives of many children through her inspiration, enthusiasm, motivation and passion. I pursued a Ph.D. in mathematics with the specific objective to become a professor, because I wanted to inspire, prepare and guide young students in their future job careers. However, in 2004, while I was still pursuing my master’s degree at NYU, I started to collaborate with researchers from the IBM Thomas. J. Watson Research Center, as part of a joint study agreement between the two institutions. During that time, I learned a lot from the researchers of IBM, and it

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Iona College Magazine/iona.edu

was with great joy that I accepted a job offer from the Center in May 2005. Nevertheless, I did not want to abandon my studies and so I continued my Ph.D. while working full-time for IBM. I completed my Ph.D. in May 2008.

Although I was in one of the top research institutions worldwide, something in me was not completely satisfied because I was not pursuing the dream of my life — to become a teacher.

Therefore, in 2010, I made one of the hardest decisions in my life and decided to quit IBM and pursue an academic career as an adjunct professor at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering — the same school from which I had obtained my MS and Ph.D. degrees. Then, in 2011, I applied for a faculty position at Iona College and I was honored to be hired in the Computer Science Department — a growing community that I knew would encourage me to pursue my research and teaching aspirations. Although IBM Research was a great place to work, teaching at Iona College has given me immense satisfaction, and I have no doubt that joining Iona was the best choice I could ever make. Iona College also gave me the opportunity to continue the collaboration with my former colleagues at IBM Research on areas of interest to the College, such as cyber security and program analysis. Working with students, advising them in their theses and research projects, guiding them in submitting their research work to top conferences, and creating the cyber security concentrations for the computer science programs have all been rewarding and fulfilling experiences. I do not regret any of the choices I have made.

Having worked at Iona since 2011, what do you think makes Iona stand out from the other institutions?

Iona College is an open academic community that encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration. It is easy to know almost everyone and feel like part of this vibrant community. The environment is safe and friendly, and I feel excited to attend any type of community event here.

Classes have small sizes, especially in the Computer Science Department, which gives a unique opportunity for students and faculty to work closer with each other, and in particular enables students to receive direct faculty attention. The president of Iona College, Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., is always available to talk to students and faculty members. He is a true role model. Also, unlike other institutions, where different departments are often isolated from each other, Iona College encourages interdisciplinary, cross-department collaboration.

Joint research work with other research institutions is also highly appreciated.

What changes have you seen in the Computer Science Department during your time at Iona?

Iona College is a very dynamic environment. For example, when I became a faculty member in 2011, the Computer Science Department did not even offer a cyber security course.

Now students can obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science with concentrations in cyber security. Also, the department has created new concentrations in game development, which are very popular among new students. The choice of courses has also become very rich.

Some of the new courses I am proud to have introduced as part of the concentrations in cyber security include web application security, mobile application security, networking programming, networking security, software security, cryptography, program analysis for security, and cloud security and privacy. Furthermore, we are in the process of applying for the National Security Alliance (NSA) Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations accreditation. Another positive change that I have witnessed is that an increasing number of students are now presenting research work at top security conferences. Additionally, numerous students have been hired as interns at prestigious industrial and academic organizations.

You are a part of many research initiatives in your field.

How do you bring your research into your teachings in the classroom?

There are different ways and approaches that I use to bring theoretical and hands-on learning experiences into my classes. When I teach graduate students, I have them read and present to the rest of the class on the latest scientific papers and publications that are relevant to the subject of the class. Also, as part of my research, I have had the opportunity to develop new technologies for software security. Whenever possible, I ask students to use these technologies for homework, projects and research thesis

topics. I have also invited external researchers working in cyber security to give a talk or present a seminar during a class. Additionally, I always encourage students to participate in projects that I am working on.

Iona students are charged to Move the World and make an impact. How do you think Iona’s computer science students are moving the world?

We have excellent students in the Computer Science Department, and I have helped many of them submit their work to top conferences, such as the Annual Computer Security Applications Conference (ACSAC 2015). Students who are pursuing a degree with a concentration in cyber security are also helping the department in reaching out to high school communities, which is one of the requirements that needs to be met in order for our cyber security concentration programs to be NSA-accredited.

Our students are distinguishing themselves because they are also receiving very competitive awards, such as an ACSAC student conferenceship award, the National Security Foundation (NSF) funded summer internships, and the Upsilon Pi Epsilon scholarship award. Many of our students, after graduation, are hired by top IT organizations or open successful startups. Iona College students and alumni are definitely making an impact.

What do you like most about being a part of the Iona College community?

I very much enjoy teaching and advising students. It is rewarding to see the positive influence that an encouraging and motivating teacher can have on a student. When one of my students obtains a strong research result, has a paper accepted at an important conference, receives an award or finds a good job, it is a great satisfaction for me.

What do you believe is the future of the Computer Science Department, and Iona College?

The Computer Science Department at Iona College is an excellent department. I envision more competitive programs in the future. For example, I imagine that there will be even more courses in cyber security, and the programs will be National Security Alliance (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accredited. This is crucial, not only for the department but also for the whole school, since nowadays both the students and their parents are looking at competitive programs that lead to strong job positions in the future. Furthermore, the department is growing in numerous directions, such as game development, which is attracting many new students. In addition to cyber security and game development, the department has faculty members with unique specializations, such as data mining, databases and image processing, so I am sure that there will be even more courses in these areas. I see a great potential for the Computer Science Department, and I am proud to be part of it.

Winter 2016

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Connecting with the

Common Good The first line of Iona’s Vision Statement reads:

Iona College will be a college of choice for motivated students seeking to better their lives and the lives of others, using their education for the common good.

Many stories in this issue share a common thread – focusing on how Iona College, its students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are contributing to the common good in different ways. For more than 75 years, Iona community members have given of their knowledge, time and talents to Move the World and have an impact on the greater global community.

As the College looks toward the next chapter in its history, Iona College Magazine asked members of the Iona community for their insight – “How do you see Iona contributing to the common good in the next decade?”

SIBDAS GHOSH, PH.D.

Dean, School of Arts & Science

Iona College is a school of choice because of its profound mission of making education accessible while accommodating students’ different learning styles. We educate lifelong learners in the world to make a difference as responsible and productive citizens.

Iona continues to challenge our students to keep up with the changing world providing them with opportunities for internships in a variety of disciplines giving our students the added advantage of developing a resume of experience while learning outside the classroom. Service-learning opportunities, both nationally and internationally, help broaden our students’ perspectives of the real world while embracing the Iona mission of opportunity, justice, and the liberating power of education.

KAYLA KOSACK ’17 Criminal Justice Major

We already do. Each day Iona College students go out into the world and look at ways that we as individuals contribute to it as well as seek justice in this world to benefit the common good. We send students to Ireland, India, Peru, Chicago, New Orleans – all over the world, because this is the culture of students at Iona College today.

We have grown as an institution since we opened our doors in 1940 and within the next decade we will only find new means to make more contributions to the world that we live in. They say history repeats itself, and in a way that's what we see at Iona. Edmund Rice looked to contribute to the common good and educate those who weren't privileged to receive an education. His impact made a worldwide statement and when we look at Iona I see that history repeating itself: individuals looking for the best way to benefit others and to make their imprint on the world as they continue to move it.

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FRANK A. COLUCCI ’83 Iona has always been a place that has stressed education in conjunction with service. Iona community members not only lead major corporations, but also give back to the community in many ways. It is through this service that we grow as individuals and truly fulfill our dreams to make the world a better place. With the future of Iona looking bright, more students will look to be part of this legacy, and help grow Iona's vision for the future.

JASON M. FORD, CFC, ’01

Assistant Director of Admissions, Transfer Coordinator

The most direct way that Iona College will contribute to the common good is through our graduates and students. With Iona’s new core curriculum and a focus on the life of Blessed Edmund Rice, the heritage of St. Columba, and the values that Iona has instilled in graduates over the last 75 years, I envision a stronger focus in activities that are rooted in these traditions. Therefore, an Iona graduate will be a person who is called to “open their heart to those marginalized by poverty and injustice” in everything that they do. So whether our graduates go out directly as social workers, teachers, lawyers, doctors; or indirectly as philanthropists, advocates, educated consumers, or simply compassionate human beings, they will continue to “fight the good fight.”

ALICK LETANG

Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management The Catholic tradition defines the common good as: "the sum of those conditions of social life which allow social groups and their individual members’ relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment." As stated in our foundation and mission, Iona College’s charge is to “foster intellectual inquiry, community engagement and an appreciation for diversity,” while it “commits its energies and resources to the development of graduates recognized for their ethics, creativity and problem-solving abilities; their independent and adaptable thinking; their joy in lifelong learning; and their enduring integration of mind, body and spirit.” To me, it is very visible to see that Iona College continues to help promote the participation of every person, with whom we engage, which is so monumental for humanity as a whole in the years to come. Through our campus events, classroom lectures, forums and initiatives, Iona College will bring together future leaders, innovators, and trend setters in business, criminal justice, politics, culture and so much more. Given that many have stated that “our children face a future that may be bleaker than our own,” it is my view that we, here at Iona College, continue to develop new ideas, challenge our students, and engage public interest on the hot issues. At the same time we empower and inspire our community to make a difference, come together and “Move the World” forward.

FLORY N. HIATRIDES ’83, ’86MBA

For me, common good means using your individual strengths and talents to enhance the strength and talent of the community. When I was at Iona, the promotional theme, and so much more, was "The Proof is in the People at Iona."

I think that going into the next decade, this concept is even more relevant.

Technology has made business more cutting-edge, but ironically that implies that the most successful people will be those who can employ the technology differently and more creatively than others. In addition, another key to success that will be even more important is building interpersonal relationships that far exceed any other need or demand. Iona graduates not only have the competency to uniquely apply technology but also the compassion to genuinely foster connections between individuals thus building community.

IAN SACKS ’16

Mass Communication Major Iona has afforded me so many great opportunities that will enable me to be successful in the future. The work of everyone on campus is inspiring because it gives me a sense of hope. Being a part of the College community in which everyone truly cares about one another reminds me of all the good in the world.

I know that Iona will continue to foster a spirit of benevolence.

TRICIA MULLIGAN, PH.D. Associate Provost for Strategic Academic Initiatives

Associate Professor, Political Science & International Studies Through the new Iona College core curriculum, students will have a common introduction to and academic reinforcement of our mission, core values of service, civic engagement, justice, and diversity. This will provide students with the intellectual tools to identify problems in the local and global communities and to begin to provide and implement solutions.

Additionally, through the College’s commitment to experiential learning, student and faculty participation in service and international immersion programs, community outreach, and advocacy programs will continue to grow and effect change in a number of areas, truly moving the world.

GLENN HORINE ’84, ’91MBA Executive Director and Adjunct Professor, Center for Sports, Entertainment, and Media Business

John F. Kennedy's expression "a rising tide lifts all boats" was authored with economic prosperity in mind, but it shares a fundamental principle of governance with the pursuit of the common good. Iona College has the continuing opportunity to raise the tide of public service with a lean-forward group of alumni, administrators, faculty and students that value discernment and action for a higher ground of common good.

CHRISSY MITAKAKIS MARTINS, PH.D.

Assistant Professor, Marketing & International Business Iona is a place that's constantly evolving through its students, faculty, and longterm goals. In a world that's constantly changing, the College is always adapting. Whether it's from classroom conversations that connect knowledge from centuries ago to today's issues, or faculty who push the envelope with research that aims to better society, the College is most definitely on a quest to gift the real world with some of the most capable and passionate individuals looking to be the best citizens they can. Iona's goal to "move the world" isn't merely a motto: it's a reality that is evidenced in its superior students, alumni, friends, family, and anyone connected to the College, who have truly taken steps to make this world a better place.

ERIN KUTCH ’18

Mass Communication Major An Iona education empowers students with a broad spectrum of skills. Iona graduates enter the world with leadership skills, a social conscience, and an appreciation for service and responsibility which are all tools that will be critical in moving the world over the next decade.

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GISELA BARREIRO ’17

Mass Communication – Broadcast Media Major I’ve been at Iona for three years and I’ve seen so much improvement from the moment I first saw the campus to now. In the next decade, I see Iona growing even more and helping more students than ever before.

I know Iona tries to help students through scholarships as much as they can, so I am sure that they will be able to help even more students for years to come.

DON J. MARTELLO ’76

It's been quite a while since I have been on campus, 40 years to be exact. I believe the College has shown exceptional growth since I graduated in 1976, obviously for all the resources Iona provides to our students.

Three years ago I met a young man at a coffee shop in Stamford wearing an Iona sweatshirt and asked him what he thought of our College. He mentioned he transferred and should have gone directly to Iona instead. He made my day – I was very much impressed with his assessment. I come in contact with young people every day here in South Carolina. I always preach education – of course I always talk about our beloved Iona and all the benefits it provides to further one's education, our strong faculty, administration and alumni. In this very competitive world, a college education does not guarantee employment; one has to be passionate, motivated and exceptional in their field of choice. I believe our College provides all the above. I also believe in giving back and helping those less fortunate; that's why I chose to leave my legacy to Iona.

Hopefully those I help will do the same.

RICHARD PALLADINO ’76, ’89MS

CJ FUNARO ’15

There is no better time than now and no better place than Iona College to focus on working for the common good. I envision that mission as an integral part of Iona’s story over the next 10 years. It’s bigger than just our campus itself: it’s about students taking our Iona values and bringing them to life each and every day.

Through state-of-the-art infrastructure enhancements, increased involvement and service opportunities and evolutionary academic approaches to the classroom, students will not only have the resources needed to lead the next generation of doers and thinkers but the heart and soul required to understand that when we all do well, we are truly able to Move the World.

BIANCA DE LEÓN ’11, ’13MA Digital and Social Media Manager

Iona will contribute to the common good in the next decade through its commitment to the student experience.

As a double alumna of the College, I have seen the College transform itself in many aspects —building new residence halls, creating a new core curriculum, increasing the College’s international student body and hiring distinctive faculty members. Iona has provided many first-generation students, like myself, the tools to broaden our horizons and move the world through our experiences on and off campus. As Catherine Pulsifer said, “our ability to achieve success depends on the strength of our wings gained through knowledge and experience. The greater our knowledge and experience, the higher we can fly.”

Director of Libraries Inspired by challenging classes, exceptional faculty, and the distinctive Iona experience, our students appreciate the importance of service and leading by example. They understand that they can make a difference to those they encounter. If they choose to live the motto, Certa bonum certamen, and ethically fight the good fight, Iona College men and women will find their calling to do their part to help Move the World, be it in many small ways or in a focused, major endeavor.

Perhaps they will embrace John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian notion of doing the greatest good for the greatest number in their work. Each of us has been blessed with various talents, but these must be cultivated. It takes hard work, and these talents must be put to good use. What better way than for the common good of all?

See more responses from Iona community members.

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WILLIAM CELLA ’73

Iona is a transformational environment.

Students attending Iona come from various backgrounds and transform themselves into hardworking and aspirational individuals. Iona provides them an understanding of what a good work-study effort can produce. They learn about the commitment it takes to succeed, graduate and move into a preferred field of study. The Iona badge of honor replicates a sense of fairness and good will, and the means to become a success in life. Iona directs students to participate in internships that provides hands-on experience prior to becoming a full-time employee at a corporation of their choosing. Iona means positive results in life, career and the ability to make good things happen. As a graduate of Iona, I can only reinforce the leadership qualities that the very involved faculty instill into this institution. It is the key to a learning experience that results in continued success.

ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS Iona College will partner with the software firm Syncsort Incorporated in collaboration with START-UP NY at its Rockland campus location.

The College’s participation in the START-UP NY initiative was approved in March 2015, after reviewing over a dozen potential applicants to ensure a proper fit between the type of business and Iona’s academic mission, as required by New York State.

Described by Governor Cuomo as "the most ambitious economic development program in New York's recent history," START-UP NY provides major incentives for businesses to relocate, start up, or significantly expand in New York State through affiliations with public and private universities, colleges and community colleges. Eligible businesses have the opportunity to operate tax-free and their employees pay no state or local personal income taxes for up to 10 years, while partnering with higher education institutions.

In terms of jobs, it will be the largest single project at a private college within the network of the START-UP NY consortium, enabling the creation of 144 new jobs along with an investment of $2,895,000 from Syncsort and increased professional and academic opportunities for Iona students and the local community.

“We are pleased to build on the long history of achievement and partnership of the School of Business by expanding our positive community impact by facilitating the creation of jobs and educational

$2,895,000 INVESTMENT

ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. LOCATION

opportunities in the region,” said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “The partnership with Syncsort will have a positive impact on our students and faculty, creating resources of business expertise and internship possibilities for our students, both at Rockland and at our main campus in New Rochelle. This is a partnership that we believe will be a model for others in New York and the nation.”

Syncsort is a global software company that provides powerful, secure, enterprise-grade software that spans “Big Iron to Big Data,” including fast-growing analytical platforms such as Apache Hadoop, Splunk, Apache Spark, and the cloud, as well as mature, business critical platforms such as the IBM z Systems mainframe. Syncsort's products are deployed in top Fortune 500 companies across industries such as financial services, healthcare, telecommunications and other data intensive domains. The company, currently headquartered in New Jersey, will be located in 50,000 square feet of space adjacent to Iona’s Rockland campus in Pearl River. Syncsort is expected to be operational in Rockland by spring 2016.

“It is a tremendous privilege for Syncsort to have been selected for the START-UP NY program, and we are looking forward to the exciting partnership with Iona College that we expect to both inspire the next generation of computer scientists and provide our team with the world-class talent it needs to continue our ambitious growth strategy,” said Lonne Jaffe, CEO of Syncsort.

144 NEW JOBS

50,000 SQUARE FT.

Winter 2016 25

IONA FOREVER

True to Our Past, Committed to Our Future

On September 19, under the beloved ginkgo tree in the campus quad, Iona College announced its largest-ever fundraising initiative – Iona Forever. The announcement of this campaign came on a monumental date in the College’s history – 75 years, to the day, when Brother Cornelia stood on the steps of what is now Cornelia Hall and officially opened Iona College.

Iona Forever is a comprehensive and ambitious campaign that invites the Iona community to invest in the future of the College through increased endowed scholarships and faculty chairs, enhanced academic centers and institutes, and advanced campus infrastructure and learning environments.

Led by campaign co-chairs Michael Hegarty ’66 and David McCabe ’80, the campaign boasts a milestone $150 million goal, and to date, Iona’s Board of Trustees, campaign cabinet, alumni and friends have raised more than $67 million toward that goal. With its ambitious goals, Iona Forever will prove to be a transformational initiative that will secure educational opportunities for Iona students of today, and future generations.

At the launch event, President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., evoked the past and described the College’s strategic vision for the future, which will be possible through the success of the Iona Forever campaign. “Together we can reach new heights of academic excellence, secure educational opportunities for future generations of students, and create a lasting legacy for Iona’s next 75 years,” said Nyre.

Learn more about the Iona Forever campaign, its goals and ways to participate at iona.edu/IonaForever.

MEET THE CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS MICHAEL HEGARTY ’66

At Iona, Michael Hegarty ’66 majored in history and was a member of the crew team and Boarders Club. He then served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, including 13 months as an infantry officer in Vietnam. Returning to New York, Hegarty entered a management training program at Chase Manhattan Bank that set him on a 27-year course culminating in the position of vice chairman. In 1998, Hegarty joined AXA Financial, serving as senior vice chairman and chief operating officer, then president and COO of its subsidiary Equitable Life Assurance Society, until 2001.

Hegarty’s dedication to Iona College led him to serve on the Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2002 and from 2011 to present. As an Iona Forever campaign co-chair, Hegarty chose to make a leadership gift to establish the Hegarty Family Endowed Scholarship Fund. “I feel strongly about providing an affordable Iona education for first-generation students,” he said. “I am honored to do my part toward creating opportunities for these students to join our next generation of leaders.”

Professionally, Hegarty remains involved in investment management, real estate and corporate leadership as a trustee of MFS Funds and a director of Rouse Properties and Capmark Financial. He is also involved with numerous charitable organizations including the Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Community Preservation Corporation, Historic Hudson Valley, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, and Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center. He and his wife, Anita, live in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

DAVID MCCABE ’80

Earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from Iona in 1980, David McCabe was continuing a family tradition: his father, the late Hugh J. McCabe Jr. ’49, served as Iona’s registrar for more than 20 years starting in the 1950s; his mother, Catherine H. McCabe ’71MA, taught religious studies for more than 30 years and earned a master’s in pastoral counseling; his brother, Hugh McCabe ’71, ’75MBA, recently retired from the School of Business faculty; and his five other siblings — Thomas ’73, Mary Walsh ’76 (d. 2012), Mark ’79, Lawrence ’84 and Catherine ’85 — all graduated from Iona. In 2003, David led a family effort to establish the Catherine H. ’71MA and Hugh J. McCabe ’49 Endowed Scholarship to honor his parents.

As a student at Iona, McCabe held leadership positions in the Student Government Association and played on the rugby team. He continued his involvement on the Alumni Board and then joined the Board of Trustees in 2006. “I have witnessed firsthand Iona’s accomplishments over the past several years, and the College’s vision for the future is incredibly compelling,” he said. “I can see that my leadership investment in Iona will truly make a difference.”

McCabe is senior partner and chair of the Private Clients Group at the New York-based law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where he focuses on estate planning and administration for high-net-worth individuals and their families. He has also volunteered with non-profit organizations such as the Central Park Conservancy, Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, City Harvest, Ursuline School, and Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. He and his wife, Evelyn, live in New York City.

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A RECORD GIFT Alumnus and trustee, Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H, known for his continued generosity to the College, is now recognized for contributing the largest gift in Iona College history. LaPenta has committed to give more than $15 million to the Iona Forever campaign to transform the home of the College’s School of Business – Hagan Hall. The transformation will include a new 42,000 square-foot structure connected to the existing building to house state-of-the-art classrooms, meeting spaces, a lecture hall, expanded trading floor and more.

“During Iona’s 75th anniversary year, I am fortunate to be in a position to make such an important gift to my alma mater. I believe this gift will enhance Iona’s strong business school performance and reputation well into the 21st century. I am honored to be a part of this exciting new era in the College’s history.”

Read the full news release about the LaPenta gift to the campaign.

SUPPORTING IONA THROUGH A PLANNED GIFT MARLENE PITURRO, PH.D., ’82MBA Why did you include a gift to Iona College in your estate plans?

I enjoyed my time at Iona getting my MBA in 1982. I got a quality education that I felt was a good value, which is important to me. What made Iona stand out from other charities and institutions seeking financial gifts is that there was always someone from the College contacting me to invite me to an event and keeping me informed on new developments on campus. I was always impressed that Iona’s projects were completed on time and under budget, which indicates that Iona isn’t wasting alumni money.

What is your favorite Iona memory?

Undoubtedly, it’s marching in the big St. Patrick’s Day parade every year. As an alumna, the Iona contingent lets me carry the alumni banner, which is so much fun. In recent years the planners have added a pre-parade breakfast that is a good time to network and meet new Iona friends.

What impact has your Iona education made on you?

It made a huge impact on my career. Before enrolling in the MBA program, I received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Fordham University. Since I had started writing business articles I needed a background in finance, organizational dynamics, accounting and technology. My MBA knowledge helped both in writing and in entrepreneurship.

What is your definition of success?

Doing what I love and getting paid for it. That always involved putting myself in God’s hands and letting Him do the rest.

What have been the secrets to your success?

Whenever I do a work, or charitable project, and even a big dinner party I use the PEE formula: Plan, Execute, and Evaluate. I am organized and disciplined and stay focused on the tasks that need to get done. Once a project is finished, I take notes on what went well and what could be improved, so that my next project will be even better.

What has been your best career move?

Giving up my clinical practice for journalism was a much better fit with my family life. Once I was established as a journalist, I also took on major projects as an editor and even developed a publication concept or two. Helping other journalists develop story ideas and writing the most difficult assignments myself was challenging but worthwhile.

What has been your life philosophy?

I consider myself a deeply spiritual person and being part of my church family is important to me. I love doing charitable projects for local causes, ‘hands-on’ efforts where I can truly see the results.

Winter 2016 27

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IONA, TENNIS & THE DUNKAK CONNECTION

By John W. Mahon, Professor Emeritus of English On November 1, 2015, in Surprise, Ariz., Kevin Kavanah ’79 played a championship doubles tennis match against George Loesch ’75, ’84MBA – though at the time, neither man realized that they had Iona in common. When introduced by the referee, they exchanged only first names before playing the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Doubles Championship in the age 55+ category. Kavanah and his partner won the match, clinching the overall USTA 55+ National Championship for their team, Inter-Mountain (Denver). Loesch was a member of the Middle States/New Jersey team. Only a few days later did Kavanah review the names of his opponents and recognize George’s last name. “I have no idea what prompted me to look online at the opponents’ names, but I am grateful I did. Otherwise, this reconnection to George and Iona may have never occurred,” he said.

In retrospect, Kavanah says it was just as well that he Kavanah (left) with his doubles partner, Mike Pennell, after winning in Surprise, Ariz. didn’t then make the connection between his opponent in Arizona and the Iona player he had met only once 40 years He went on to play tennis at Iona for four years – and graduated, as ago. During warm-up, Loesch noticed how similar his and Kavanah’s himself, the “winningest” player. games were – they were “almost a mirror-image.” Kavanah must have Loesch recalls, “Br. Dunkak coached and inspired his players to be made the same assessment of Loesch, because he told his partner to student-athletes, respect the game and their opponents. To compete play to Loesch as little as possible. Loesch goes on to say that Kavafor each point. To love the competition more than the love of winning, nah “had the right level of competitiveness, intensity and character and to accept whatever the outcome with dignity and class. He wantof sportsmanship. That on-court combination should have signaled ed all of his players to be winners on and off the court.” to me he was an Iona Gael, coached by Brother Harry Dunkak. It was a very competitive match – like a chess match between two great strategists.”

When Kavanah made the connection, he first contacted Br. Dunkak ’51 who reconnected the two. After a long and enjoyable conversation, Kavanah and Loesch decided they would compete together as a doubles team in the 60+ category at a USTA National Doubles Tournament in 2017. “I can’t wait to play on the same side of the net with George in 2017,” said Kavanah.

Kavanah and Loesch met for the first and last time before 2015 in 1975 when Kavanah was a senior on the tennis team at Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers and Loesch was a senior on the tennis team at Iona.

Br. Dunkak scouted Kavanah by inviting him to practice with the Iona team – both Loesch and Kavanah remember practicing against each other that day. Kavanah enjoyed competing with the Gael who graduated from Iona as the “winningest” player in Iona’s tennis history.

When recruiting players, Br. Dunkak noted that he looked for three qualities: a good person, a good student and a good tennis player, “in that order.” When he recruited Loesch, he found that Loesch was a good prospect as a player, but not quite good enough for financial aid.

Loesch came to Iona anyway and, as Dunkak notes, he became a great player over time. “In [his] fourth year, George was #1 on the team and was the best player in the metropolitan area, in the very extended metropolitan area,” said Dunkak.

Dunkak also says that, when he recruited Kavanah, “I saw him play and knew he was a good youngster, a good student, and a good player.

So, we offered him financial aid and he came to Iona College.” The rest is history. As Br. Dunkak notes, “George and Kevin were typical of the players I recruited – you could always depend upon them to do their best.”

Both men have continued to play tournaments over the years, and play at the national level. The week after losing to Kavanah in Arizona, Loesch won the final in a Pro/Am tournament in Palm Beach, Fla. Loesch is the 2014 USTA 60+ National Grass Court Singles Champion, and Kavanah has been ranked three times in the top 10 nationally in USTA singles and doubles categories.

Kevin Kavanah and George Loesch agree that Br. Dunkak was not only their main Iona connection but also their inspiration to achieve championships for Iona and championships for themselves in all the years since.

Loesch after winning an earlier tournament.

Loesch and Coach Br. Dunkak from ICANN 1975.

Winter 2016 29

ALUMNI

(Years in red indicate a reunion year)

1958

Gerard T. Brooker, Ed.D., ’00H is proud to announce that last July he spoke to the Military Academy in Kosovo about leading a balanced personal and professional life, and was invited again to Jordan by the Human Doctor Project to give talks to medical students at two universities about “Bedside Manners From the Point of View of a Patient” and “The Journey from Ordinary to Extraordinary.”

1961

John P. Cleary has been elected by the Knights of Columbus to be the chapter president for the Diocese of Orange County, Calif.

The chapter includes almost 50 councils with 7,000 Brother Knights. Major charitable activities of the chapter include programs to aid the mentally and physically challenged, seminarian support, and a military veterans’ wheelchair distribution program.

Deacon William R. Smith was recently awarded his doctorate of ministry in preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. Bill is a deacon with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is assigned to the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative as the chief of staff.

1963 Kevin T. McAdam was presented with the Community Quarterback for Volunteer Leadership award by Mark Murphy, president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers, for his leadership with the 2617 Recovery Club in Stevens Point, Wis. The citation mentions Kevin’s 950 volunteer hours per year at the Club and his work as a board member for six years and president from 2011-2015.

1968

Honorable Robert P. Green, former mayor of Jefferson, Pa., and York County Controller, reached a milestone recently – he has officiated 3,000 weddings. The “Marrying Mayor” began officiating weddings about 20 years ago, and hopes to continue doing so as long as he’s able. Robert was quoted as saying, “I like the concept of creating families…to me, it’s the perfect thing to do.”

1973 Linda M. Livornese Wilkie, motivated by her desire to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate, has dedicated her time to volunteer work with Catholic Charities since her retirement from New York Life Investment.

Investing her time in the lives of New Yorkers in a different sort of way, Linda is also vice president and on the board of directors of What About the Children Inc., an organization dedicated to helping the youth in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn realize their potential and opportunities for a better life.

1980

Kelly Johnson, the long-serving executive director of the New Rochelle Youth Bureau since 1992, was selected as the Grand Marshall of the 52nd Annual New Rochelle Valenti Family Thanksgiving Parade.

Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’80 ’81MBA, former president and CEO of Super Bowl XLVIII, was entrusted by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan with overseeing Pope Francis’ recent high-profile visit to New York. With 20,000 tickets distributed for the pope’s visit to Madison Square Garden, Al put in many months of preparation. The Iona community congratulates him for a well-executed visit!

1978

Milagros Peña, a sociologist and women’s studies scholar who has advocated for the internationalization of women’s studies programs, has been named dean of the UCR College of Humanities, Arts and Social Studies.

Prior to joining UCR, Milagros was associate dean of the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

1979 Classmates Stephen M. Dowicz and Brian K. Kerrigan had their own mini-reunion at the U.S. Open that took place at Chambers Bay in Washington State last June. Steve and Brian had a great time attending the golf tournament, playing golf and reminiscing about their four great years at Iona.

Lucy A. (Pustola) Sohanchyk was the recipient of the Sacred Heart High School Heart to Heart award. The award, also presented to six others, is a proclamation from the office of the Mayor of the City of Yonkers, a citation from the office of the City Council President of Yonkers and was presented with the title of Honorarium by the office of the City Council of Yonkers. Lucy has been a history teacher at Sacred Heart High School since 1981. Lucy resides in Harrison, N.Y., with her husband, Richard, and their son, Gregory, who is a junior at Yale University.

1981 Jeffrey R. Macri has recently accepted a position as controller of the Greenwich County Day School in Greenwich, Conn. Jeff currently resides in White Plains, N.Y.

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1982

Gregory T. Maroni is happy to announce that he and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of their first child, Christopher Donald. The couple welcomed the new addition on July 9, 2015.

Nicholas P. Chrysanthem, Esq., was recently named shareholder at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin in their professional liability department. Previously, he was a member in the Manhattan office of McManus & Richter, P.C. Nicholas is a member of the American Bar Association and the Law Practice Committee of New York State Bar Association. He also participates as a guest lecturer for Brooklyn Law School, where he teaches legal malpractice and ethics.

1983 Gerard H. Walsh was recently named CFO of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, N.Y. Prior to joining St. John’s, Gerard was CEO of Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown, Md.

1986 Leo A. Beliveau III has been named vice president of development and corporate affairs for Comprehensive Community Action Program of Rhode Island. Leo will oversee the fundraising, marketing, community and corporate outreach activities.

1988 Patrick C. Dunican Jr., Esq., is chairman and managing director at Gibbons, P.C. Patrick recently was awarded the 2015 Saint Thomas More Medal from The Seton Hall University School of Law. President and Mrs. Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., and Paul Sutera, senior vice president for Advancement & External Affairs at Iona, attended the beautiful award ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J. In addition to being a proud Iona alumnus, Patrick also serves on the Iona College Board of Trustees.

1992 David L. Stanghellini led a mission team of 20 to an orphanage in Qingyang, China, October 15-25, 2015. Dave and his wife are the parents of three daughters adopted from China. The trip was coordinated by America World Adoption Association (AWAA), a nondenominational Christian Adoption Agency which helps place children from China with forever families. Dave, a registered nurse by profession, was part of a medical team that helped perform physical assessments on the children. He will be leading another trip October 12-23, 2016, and is looking to recruit a team. If interested, please contact him at DLStango@aol.com for more information.

1994 Kyle R. Jordan participated in the NYC Marathon on November 1, running for Team for Kids. Kyle is vice president of sales execution & distributor engagement for Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated. He and his wife, Lina, have two daughters, Olivia and Sophia.

1995 Sharyne A. Smith ’95MS has been named University of North Carolina Wilmington associate vice chancellor for information technology services/chief information officer.

Sharyne will oversee the central office of information technology services, providing leadership over technology services that support academic research, classroom activities, distance education, application support and development, infrastructure and information security.

1997 Silvio T. Rugani, Ph.D., recently marked the 10th year of his chiropractic practice in Clifton Park, N.Y., receiving a nice write-up of the occasion in the local newspaper. Dr. Rugani credited his success to his patients and was happy to be able to give back to them with a Patient Appreciation Day. The Iona community extends its congratulations to Dr. Rugani and best wishes for continued success!

2000 Patrick Kavanagh ’01MA was appointed director of graduate studies at Brooklyn College (CUNY) on July 1, 2015.

Gerald C. McKinstry Jr. ’02MS was recently named as managing director of The November Team, a leading New York political and corporate communications firm. Jerry lives in Ridgefield, Conn., with his wife, Amy, and their two children, Will and Chloe.

Winter 2016

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ALUMNI 2002

2012

Brian Schroeder is executive director of operation at Vanguard Medical Group. As executive director, Brian oversees operations across the medical group and leads operational enhancements necessary to organize and streamline processes to optimize efficiency and efficacy.

Robert P. Baldino is happy to announce that he is having much success after launching a sock company, Balitello.com. According to Rob, the company provides performance dress socks unparalleled to anything in the industry.

Alicia (Burton) Leach is happy to announce her marriage to Isaiah Leach. The happy couple exchanged vows in beautiful Turks and Caicos on September 26, 2015.

2004

Abraham A. Almanza is proud to report that he recently celebrated his eight-year anniversary at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hudson Valley, N.Y.

2014 Matthew R. Donlon was recently offered a freelance opportunity to join Cablevision’s News 12 Connecticut team as an associate producer.

2005

Michaela E. (Seccareccia) Johnson is proud to announce her marriage to Gil Johnson on August 7, 2015. The couple were married in Newport, R.I.

2007

ToniAnne Horvath-Killeen was recently named to the 2015-2016 MAAC Honor Roll Class. Toni is one of the top playmakers in Iona College’s women's basketball history, and helped turned the program around in the mid-2000s. She was three-time team captain and a two-time all MAAC honoree, earning selection to the third team in both her junior and senior seasons.

2015 Cody A. Albrecht is a supporting actor in the movie “Mi America,” which premiered in October 2015.

Sade E. Amazan is an exchange market data coordinator at Bloomberg LP, the leading global provider of data, news and analytics.

2008 Taran R. Cardone was recently named director of strengths-based-learning at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Taran was director of student life curriculum and residential staff development at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE! Your classmates and fellow alumni want to know what you are doing (not everyone is on Facebook or Twitter)! Send us baby photos, marriage announcements and job updates.

Please submit your text, as well as any photos, to alumni@iona.edu or the Office of Alumni Relations, Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801.

Please note: Class Note submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style.

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Kyle Byrne is currently an assistant English teacher and executive producer of “Lincoln News” at Colegio Lincoln, a private school in La Plata, Argentina.

Do you know of a job or internship opportunity?

Please think of Iona’s alumni and students by helping us grow these opportunities and the Gael Network. Send your posting to alumni@iona.edu today.

NEW DEGREE PROGRAMS Beginning in the fall of 2016, Iona College will be offering six new undergraduate and graduate programs which have been approved by the State of New York. The School of Arts & Science will offer undergraduate BA and BS and graduate BA/MS, BS/MS, MS programs in computer science with a concentration in game development, and the School of Business will offer an MS in project management.

The game development concentration at both the undergraduate and graduate levels will provide students with the opportunity to acquire strong skills in general software development and also prepare them for careers in the game development industry.

“These concentrations are designed to appeal to students interested in the modern age of technology including mobile as well as console applications,” said Vincent J. Calluzzo, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Courses provided will ensure Iona students are well prepared for this job market.”

The Master of Science in project management will prepare professionals of any function or discipline with the wherewithal to plan, execute and manage projects of any type or size in any industry. It will also prepare students for the certification examination as a project management professional of the Project Management Institute (PMP Certificate). The MS in project management has been designed to provide today’s project managers with the tools to balance the complexities of modern project management which include identifying business value, risk, quality, safety, cost, finance and technology.

SAVE DATE THE

REUNION WEEKEND MAY 13 - 14, 2016

Read more about the new programs online in the News.

INTERESTED IN JOINING YOUR REUNION COMMITTEE? The following classes will be celebrating their anniversaries:

1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 Class committees are currently being formed. We invite you to volunteer with your class Reunion Committee to assist with outreach to classmates, planning class-specific events, and encouraging participation in your reunion class gift.

If you are interested in joining your Reunion Committee, please contact Kara Brennan '00MS at kbrennan@iona.edu or (914) 633-2410.

WWW.IONACONNECTION.COM/REUNIONCENTRAL

Preview Reunion 2016.

Winter 2016 33

SHELF LIFE

Gerard T. Brooker, Ed.D., ’58, ’00H, has published another novel, Waiting for the Red Cow, What Will Happen When The Red Cow Comes to Jerusalem? This is the last installation in his trilogy about Tyszka and Sarah.

Christopher J. O’Connor ’89, ’92MBA recently authored a book on healthcare supply chains titled Healthcare Supply Chain at the Intersection of Cost, Quality, and Outcomes.

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Tom Glover ’85MBA recently published The Letter Box: Sgt Glover’s World War II Letters Home, based on real letters sent from his father, a U.S. soldier in Europe during the war.

An alumna (’78, ’79MS) recently published the book Born to Destroy under the pseudonym Winifred Rule. The book was accepted into the collection of the Leninka Library, Russia’s Library of Congress.

Thabo W. Nkomo ’04MA is proud to announce the publication of his new book, How You Can Write A Successful Master’s Thesis in 8 Steps.

John S. Strange ’70 is happy to announce that his book, Debits and Credits made Easy: A Survival Guide for Your First Week in Introductory Accounting, is now in its fifth year on the market.

IONA NETWORK MEETS NETWORK TV GAELS IN CBS NETWORK SALES Over the years, CBS Network has become a career home to many Ionians. Currently, several young alumni are making their mark in CBS Network Sales and credit the educational and networking opportunities they gained at Iona for getting them this far.

L-R: Colleen Przekota ’11; Rachel Chow ’14; Sharodd Cook ’09, ’10MBA; and Anagabriella Cinquemani ’14.

IONA COLLEGE & THE LATE SHOW Br. Jason Ford ’01 and several current Iona students, who are all alumni of All Hallows High School, attended a taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in November. The group was hosted by alumnus Marty Daly ’74, senior vice president and director of News and Late Night Sales at CBS Network.

Winter 2016 35

ALUMNI

AN IONA LIFE

James L. Coyle (1941-2015)

James “Larry” Coyle ’63, who entered Iona on a cross-country scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in English, passed away August 1, 2015, at the age of 74. He was a respected teacher and cross-country coach at Ridgewood High School in New Jersey for 29 years.

Coyle was a Bronx native who began his teaching career at a Catholic high school in Harlem. He was then hired by Louis D. Brandeis High School on the Upper West Side, but after a citywide teacher strike, Coyle ended up working at a bottling plant for Coca-Cola.

Then, in 1968, Coyle got the job opportunity teaching English at Ridgewood High School through a job placement agency. He commuted from New York City for a few years before eventually relocating his family to Midland Park. Coyle remained at Ridgewood High School until his retirement.

Coyle’s love of running stayed with him and he began coaching at the high school his very first year. Throughout his coaching career, his team won many championships, including the state Group 4 Championships in 1991 and 1992, Bergen Group 4 Championships, Bergen Meet of Champions and many others.

Upon Coyle’s retirement, he was succeeded as cross-country coach by Michael Glynn ’66, a teammate of his from Iona – proof that even after graduating, the Gael connection remains strong.

UPCOMING EVENTS March 17, 2016

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & PRE-PARADE RECEPTION 9 a.m. – Reception at the Long Room, NYC 11:45 a.m. – Parade Show your Iona pride and join us as we march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade!

April 15, 2016

2016 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD GALA Join us for an evening at the Waldorf Astoria New York, celebrating Iona and distinguished honorees.

May 13-14, 2016

REUNION WEEKEND All alumni are invited to return to campus for a weekend of festivities.

Special celebrations will take place for those class years ending in “1” and “6.”

May 21, 2016

COMMENCEMENT The Theatre at Madison Square Garden

We remember our recently deceased alumni and friends.

Alumni Barry D. Ahearn ’69 Donald P. Arnavas, Esq., ’58 James B. Brennan ’58 Paul J. Brezovsky Jr. ’80 Peter J. Brogan ’71 Joseph J. Bruno ’52 James L. Coyle ’63 Eugene J. Crowley ’49 Timothy V. Curtin ’64 Jordan A. DeFrancesco ’87 Guy P. Delhery ’52 Joseph A. DeSanto, Ph.D., ’66 Donna J. DiMaggio ’89 William M. Fallon ’73MBA Peter G. Fegers ’70 John M. Foley ’62 Kathryn K. Frank ’75

George J. Gatins ’62 Charles T. Gebbia ’64 Gerard T. Gilligan ’67 Claude D. Grant ’98MS John L. Grogan ’50 Daniel L. Grosso, MD, ‘69 John F. Hessenius ’58 Luis Inoa ’15 Alice A. Jacob ’96 Joseph Landau ’71 August A. Lanzetta ’70, ’73MS Stanley A. Larson ’49 Michael D. Lucas, CFC, ’65 Thomas G. Martin ’93 Judith L. McDonald ’81 James J. McGarr ’57 Thomas D. McGinnity ’58 Walter P. Molony ’50

James G. O’Grady ’56 Patrick B. O’Keefe ’68 John J. O'Meara ’86 Eugene H. Oeschger Jr. ’60 John F. Russo ’84 Paul H. Pilgrim ’51 Jeanne M. Smith ’83 Christopher J. Southard ’13MST Gerald J. Tietjen ’58 James W. Winn ’76 James H. Wynne ’57 Faculty and Staff Rev. Joseph A. DeSanto, Ph.D., ’66MS (Emeritus) Barbara Conte Lavery Friends Laurence J. Baldassari Jr. (student circa 1966)

List as of December 31, 2015 36

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LEAVE YOUR LEGACY AND BUILD ON OURS History tells us that Saint Columba left his legacy through the education of monks on the Isle of Iona.

By naming Iona College as beneficiary of a planned gift, such as a bequest, charitable gift annuity, or charitable trust, you will benefit the College through your foresight, and you will be eligible for membership in the Saint Columba Legacy Society.

Planned gifts can be structured to: • minimize your tax burden; • provide income to you during your lifetime if you need it; and • ultimately benefit Iona College at some point in the future.

To learn more about planned gifts, please contact:

Greg Teeter, JD Associate Vice President for Major & Planned Giving (914) 637-7749 gteeter@iona.edu

715 North Avenue

Photos by Bianca De LeÓn & Danielle Orofino '15