Iona College Magazine Summer 2017

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SUMMER 2017

MAGAZINE

The New Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Builds on a Legacy of Successful Alumni


Iona College Magazine/iona.edu


SUMMER 2017

• MAGAZINE

Editor Suzanne Flood Kaminkow Director of Creative Services Elyse Carter Senior Director of College Marketing & Communications Todd A. Wilson Contributors Brian Beyrer ’01 Bianca De Leon ’11, ’13MA Monika Graff Darya Khritankova ’17 Matt Lester John W. Mahon, Ph.D. Rick Palladino ’76, ’89MS Joann Smith ’80, ’85MS Senior Vice President for Advancement & External Affairs Paul J. Sutera Director of Alumni Relations Elizabeth Faia Orgera ’10MBA

in this issue 2

From the President

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Iona in the News

3

Letters to the Editor

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On Campus

14

Faculty Focus

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FEATURE:

Entrepreneurs at Iona

24 Athletics 28

Class Notes

Iona College Magazine is printed twice a year, and is distributed to alumni, faculty, staff and friends. © 2017 Iona College The magazine may be viewed online at iona.edu/magazine. Address correspondence to: magazine@iona.edu or Suzanne Flood Kaminkow Iona College Joyce Advancement House/ DeSantis Alumni House 715 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801 (914) 633-2412

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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 50-100 words, to magazine@iona.edu. Please include your full name, Iona degree(s) and class year(s), and daytime phone number. Find online extras at iona.edu/magazine.

Summer 2017

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

IONA IN THE NEWS Jeffrey W. Alstete, Ed.D., professor of management and business administration, was featured in an article by 914INC. on millennials in the workplace. He focused on his perspective as an educator of millennials preparing to enter the workforce.

This is an exciting time for Iona and it is reflected in the theme of entrepreneurship in this issue of Iona College Magazine. Building on our legacy of graduating leaders known for their entrepreneurial thinking, creativity and problem-solving abilities, Iona launched the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation this past spring thanks to a $15 million gift from James ’69, ’01H, and Anne Marie Hynes. The institute will fortify Iona’s future while preparing our students to be the next generation of big thinkers and global leaders. As our graduating seniors of 2017 embark on their careers, they take with them their Iona education and values. Wherever they go, they will be recognized for their ethics and their independent and adaptable thinking. Their joy in lifelong learning, devotion to integrity, and openness to change, innovation and entrepreneurship will guide them. Their commitment to service will not allow them to look the other way. The world will be changed in small ways and large by our graduates, as it has been by our alumni. It is these values that the College is building on as we move more purposefully into entrepreneurial studies. It is these values that make us shine.

Christina Andruk, Ph.D., (below left) clinical lecturer of biology & environmental studies, was featured in a story in The Journal News on her work with the Bronx River Parkway Reservation Conservancy to control the spread of the invasive plant species, Incised Fumewort.

Now as young alumni, the Class of 2017 joins our ranks of more than 40,000 graduates who have used their Iona educations to enhance their lives, their communities and the world. I look forward to the successes of the Class of 2017 and to seeing our newest alumni back on campus soon to share their stories. I also look forward to meeting our incoming class. While our graduates are transitioning away from the undergraduate experience, our admitted students are transitioning toward their lives as Gaels. This is a time of great expectation for them. They have much to look forward to including an introduction to our values through the new Core curriculum and the launch of programming for the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, which will be integrated into their Iona experience from their first day on campus. I believe these students will be well-prepared to contribute to the Iona community because those who are drawn to Iona are young people who feel the need to make positive change and to help others. They come to campus with a belief that they can move the world, and this is the heart of entrepreneurship and the heart of the Iona spirit. Thank for all you have done, as alumni and friends, and all you continue to do to make Iona and the world a better place.

Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. President

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Iona College Magazine/iona.edu

Several news outlets, including FiOS1 and CBS News, featured stories on the free college tuition plan by New York State and included quotes from Iona President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. Read these and other news stories at iona.edu/inthenews.

This issue is printed on Opus Matte, which contains at least 10 percent recycled fiber. The paper is FSC and SFI certified and is manufactured with 100 percent electricity that is Green-e certified renewable energy.


YOUR TURN To the Editor: Brother Thomas G. Bullen, Ph.D., was a hero of mine and changed the whole course of my life. I dropped out of school when I was 17 to join the Navy and served for the last two years of World War II, including combat duty with an elite commando unit in the Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters of war. One of my comrades was Bill Glennon, whose older brother, Br. John Glennon, was registrar of Iona at the time. At the beginning of the fall term in 1947, Br. Glennon gave me a high school equivalency test, which I passed and became a physics major under Br. Bullen, who took me under his wing. Were it not for him and the other good brothers at Iona, I would have continued working with my father as a gravedigger at the Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn. After graduating from Iona, I worked as a research physicist at the U.S. Army Signal Corps Laboratory and as a research physicist at Princeton University on a project in controlled thermonuclear fusion. During those nine years, I also did graduate studies at NYU, from which I received a Ph.D. in physics in 1960. I then accepted a position as professor in Istanbul, Turkey, at Robert College, now Bosphorus University, where I continued teaching until 2015, with intervals in Athens, Boston, Princeton, New York, Oxford, London and Venice.

Along the way I have published more than 60 books, including works in travel, history, architecture, biography and the history of science. Some years ago, I learned of the existence of the Math-Science Genealogy website, through which, if you’ve had a distinguished teacher, you can trace your scientific ancestry back to the 13th century. In my case, I was fortunate to have had three distinguished teachers: Br. Bullen at Iona, and Richard Courant and Fritz Reiche at NYU. I reckon that I have taught more than 5,000 students, and in every course that I’ve given, I’ve paid tribute to Br. Bullen for what he did for me. The last time I saw Br. Bullen was in the spring of 1967, at the end of my year at Oxford. We were living in London at the time. He and his younger brother came in from the country and I met them at Victoria Station. We spent the most delightful afternoon talking about everything under the sun, and it was then that I first came to know him as a friend and not just as a teacher. Either way, I will never forget him.

— John Freely, Ph.D., ’51

Editor’s Note: Iona College was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Freely passed away on April 20. See page 34 for announcement of Dr. Freely’s latest book. For more on Br. Bullen, see iona.edu/bullen. Below: John Freely, ICANN 1951

Summer 2017

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ON CAMPUS

Iona at Night 4

Iona College Magazine/iona.edu


Iona College’s 45-acre campus is known for its picturesque appearance — iconic buildings, well-tended landscape, statues, and open spaces where generations of Ionians have come together formally and informally since 1940. While the College’s beauty is usually showcased during the daytime, those who don’t reside on campus or take evening classes may not get to see the equally scenic and distinctive atmosphere of the campus at night. Here, we showcase campus as seen in the evening hours. See additional views of Iona’s campus.

Winter 2017

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ON CAMPUS

Iona Student is Youngest Elected Official in N.Y. State

The term “elected official” is usually associated with high-status government officials, such as the president of the United States, the governor of New York, or the mayor of a town. However, there are many more elected official positions out there, such as board of education trustee. In fact, the youngest person to hold office in New York State was recently elected to his local board of education. John C. Curzio II ’19 was elected on May 17, 2016, as a Board of Education trustee in the Carmel (N.Y.) Central School District. He is a 2015 graduate of Carmel High School and, within a year, went from being a high school senior to making decisions about the district and working with his former principals and teachers. Curzio was sworn into office on July 1, 2016, and is serving a three-year term as one of seven trustees on the Carmel Board of Education. Along with his colleagues, he is responsible for “overseeing the school district, which in part includes setting education policy, voting upon monetary requests, and presenting the annual budget to the voters in order for it to be voted upon,” according to Curzio. To run for the position, Curzio had to submit a nominating petition with signatures of registered voters in the Carmel Central School District. Including Curzio, four candidates ran for this position, competing for three seats. Each of the three other candidates were incumbents running for re-election. “I purchased yard signs and palm cards in order to run an aggressive grassroots and door-to-door campaign,” Curzio said. “By the end of the campaign, I had visited approximately 1,000 houses. In addition, I stood in front of a polling location on Election Day for the duration of time that

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Iona College Magazine/iona.edu

By Joseph Barbella ’17MA, used with permission from The Ionian

polls were open, which was from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., minus one break for lunch, in order to greet voters, ask for their vote, and answer any questions that they may have had.” Due to his campaigning and drive, Curzio was elected. Not only was he declared one of the three winners, he received the highest number of votes of any of the four candidates and unseated one of the incumbents. Curzio made his election platform clear for voters: “Fiscal Responsibility. Fight Common Core. Stand with Students.”

“Young people are the future of our great country and should absolutely be involved in the decisions and policy-making decisions that will shape our future.” Curzio decided that he wanted to run for a seat on the Carmel Central School District Board of Education for two main reasons. “I believe in Carmel Schools and want all of our students to succeed in all of their academic endeavors,” Curzio said. “I recognize that the current tax situation is a burden for the taxpayer. This is a deterrent to young people who would like to raise a family in the Carmel Central School District, and a challenge for seniors who want to enjoy their golden years in a place they love. A crushing tax burden only serves to drive people out of the community, while simultaneously further increasing taxes on those that remain.”

In addition, Curzio is opposed to the Common Core Standards that have been a topic of debate and controversy in education since they were developed in 2009. Curzio believes “that curriculum and education policy are best left to the states and local school boards, which know their students best.” Once he took office, Curzio was appointed by the board president to the Education and Assessment Committee, where he and another trustee review district policies. While making curriculum and policy decisions, all board trustees vote based on “what’s best for kids,” according to the motto of the Carmel Central School District Board of Education. Curzio has an advantageous perspective given that he was recently in the position of the students that he now serves. In being the youngest elected official in New York State, Curzio has set an example for other young people to participate in our political system and he strongly encourages young people to be involved in the political system. “In addition to running for office, there are countless ways to get involved, including attending your local county, town, city, village or school board meetings, contacting your elected officials to express your opinions, volunteering your time for candidates and causes you believe in and feel passionate about, joining your local political club, [and] voting in every election from the federal level down to the local level,” Curzio said. “Young people are the future of our great country and should absolutely be involved in the decisions and policy-making decisions that will shape our future,” Curzio said.


New School of Business Dean Earlier this summer, Iona College announced the appointment of William B. Lamb, Ph.D., as its new dean of the School of Business, following an international search and review of more than 60 potential candidates to lead the burgeoning school. Dr. Lamb, the Murata Dean of the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, and a leading professor of entrepreneurship, begins his tenure at Iona on August 1. Lamb’s areas of expertise include knowledge management, technology management, and the birth and growth of higher technology industries. His research also has focused on the link between financial performance and corporate social performance. Dr. Lamb has served Babson College since 2014. Previously, he spent 13 years at Ohio University in a variety of administrative roles, including associate dean and

department chair. In addition to considerable experience with online learning, he helped launch two new centers: The Walter Center for Strategic Leadership and the Center for Entrepreneurship. “Will Lamb is a deeply accomplished academic and administrator, and an ideal choice to lead our business school to even higher levels of excellence and innovation,” said Iona College President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “The entire Iona community, from trustees and senior leadership to faculty, students and alumni, is excited to welcome Dr. Lamb to our beautiful campus and work with him in building upon Iona’s proud, 77-year tradition of scholarship and career preparation. This is a very good day for Iona.” Learn more about Dean Lamb.

Celebrating Black History Month on campus Throughout the spring semester, Iona College continued its efforts to support and promote diversity on-campus and in the community. As evidenced with the launch of the Unity Over Division project team last year, the College remains committed to embracing events and organizations that celebrate multi-culturalism. During the month of February, the Iona College community commemorated Black History Month, an annual event on campus. The month-long celebration exposed students, administrators and faculty to more than 20 events — faculty teach-ins, lecture discussions, community service opportunities, and more — hosted by different campus organizations and departments.

The opening ceremony featured a lecture by Father Bryan Massingale, a professor of theology from Fordham University, on “The Catholic Church and the Movements for Black Lives.” Massingale’s lecture focused on the state of Catholic engagement in the Black Lives Matter movement and questioned if the Catholic Church will be an effective ally for the movement. The College continued honoring the month with a discussion and book-signing with The New York Times best-selling author and award-winning historian, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi presented his second book, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the 2016 National Book Award for Nonfiction. His book and lecture review the

history of racism in America – how and why it originated and what is the current state of racism in our country. Kendi shared his personal experience with racism, as well as debated on race and policing between the Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter movements. According to Kendi, each position has a different point of view on racism; nevertheless, they all share similar purpose: to promote nonviolence against each of these groups. “What it means to be an anti-racist is to truly believe that the racial groups are equal,” said Kendi. “When we truly believe that the racial groups are equal, when we see racial inequities, we don’t see what’s wrong with black people. We see what’s wrong with the society’s structures and policies.”

Summer 2017

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ON CAMPUS

Trustees Scholarship Award Gala On April 7, the 2017 Iona College Trustees Scholarship Award Gala celebration honored outstanding alumni, along with Catholic Charities of New York, while also raising more than $600,000 for student scholarships. The Board of Trustees presented the Legacy Award to two outstanding alumni: Albert J. Mellina ’63, ’68MBA and Eugene P. Conese Sr. ’51, ’01H posthumously, as well as the Conese family. The 2017 Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award, named to honor the founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, was presented to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. See more about the gala and its honorees at iona.edu/gala. 8

Iona College Magazine/iona.edu


#InspirationalWomen Every year, March marks the celebration of Women’s History Month — a time to honor the contributions of women while recognizing challenges and triumphs throughout history. Iona College recognizes the month with a full schedule of events, lectures and more sponsored by several organizations and departments on campus. Included in the month is #InternationalWomensDay, designated as March 8. In honor of the day, Iona College’s Snapchat account asked followers to share an Iona woman role model or mentor that has inspired them. Below are some of the resulting posts.

Olivia Fargiano aka best RA and mom is my inspiration because she’s always there for our suite and is the kindest person ever!

Dr. Catherine Stratton is my role model. She is so dedicated and passionate about history! She inspires me so much!

My mom is my role model for the positivity and love she brings to my life.

Amanda Martins is a role model for being an awesome tour guide and one of the nicest people I know!

Dr. FerreroPaluzzi is my role model. She’s inspiring and an amazing teacher/ adviser. She’s always positive and strong even when she’s going through hard times. All of the women club presidents at Iona (for this year and next) are my role models.

Snapchat is a mobile application-based social media platform. You can follow Iona on the Snapchat app using this snapcode.

Erin Kutch is my role model because not only is she incredibly involved on campus but she really cares about the Iona community and everyone in it. My role model is Prof. Nadine Cosby. She has helped me and many others so much throughout my time at Iona.

Kayla Edwards is my role model! She’s an amazing RA and friend who loves to support everyone in what they are passionate about and are involved in!

a

Professor Palmer is my role model! She is kind and strong and knows how to make everyone laugh and feel important.

Dr. Kathleen Kristian is my role model. Her passion for chemistry, well-thought-out lessons, and constant selfless dedication to her students is inspiring.

Ailish McGovern is a perfect example of an amazing leader and friend! She is so helpful to all of her residents and passionate about everything she does without ever seeking recognition!

Summer 2017

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ON CAMPUS

The Power of Sports Documentaries An April campus event, “The Power of Sports Documentaries,” featured a screening of the film “Perfect in ’76” by Iona Executivein-Residence Ross Greenburg. After the documentary, attendees participated in a discussion with Greenburg and George Bodenheimer, former ESPN chairman and Iona’s newest executive-in-residence. “Perfect in ’76” is a documentary airing and streaming on Showtime that revisits the 1976 Hoosiers and renowned coach Bob Knight, who led his Indiana team to a perfect 32-0 season (the last in men’s Division I basketball to present) and a national championship. The event was the first in the Charles F. O’Donnell, Ph.D., ’60 Lecture Series, supported through the generosity of Richard ’67 and Ngaire ’78MBA Cuneo. As a student, Ngaire was taught by Dr. O’Donnell and she always

revered him as an inspiring educator who provided her with helpful career guidance. “The lecture series was chosen when we considered the gift because it both honored him [O’Donnell] and would benefit Iona,” said Richard Cuneo. “Having a lecture series with his name associated with it will ensure that well into the future he will be remembered by the Iona community, adding to the educational benefits the College offers.” Ngaire and Richard knew that it was important to give back because they believe that so much of who they are as individuals, as well as professionals, is directly related to their experience at Iona. The Cuneos wanted to assist others in having that same opportunity. The College is planning additional lectures in the series for the coming semesters.

Showcasing Students’ Scholarly Achievements

This spring, the College hosted its Eighth Annual Iona Scholars Day, which celebrated the scholastic achievements of more than 130 students through research, artistic expression and more. In the area of research, students presented posters of their findings for discussion during two poster sessions throughout the day. There were more than 60 distinct research posters, with several being the work of multiple students across many areas of study. Additional scholarly works were showcased during oral presentation sessions and panel discussions. This year’s Scholars Day featured a keynote speech by Professor Geraldine Richmond from the University of Oregon. Richmond is a National Medal of Science Laureate, immediate past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and current chair of the AAAS Board of Directors. Her presentation, part of the Jean Dreyfus Lectureship Series at Iona, was on the topic “Empowering Global Scientific Engagement,” which covered the importance of food security, one of the major challenges in ensuring a sustainable world in the face of climate change. A fine arts component to Scholars Day, new in 2016, was expanded this year and included music and dance performances, and even painting. A group of students, mentored by Professor Thomas Ruggio, showcased techniques in painting in the campus quad — creating works of art as crowds gathered to watch.

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Iona College Magazine/iona.edu


Artistic (Student) Creations As the spring semester was winding down, Iona’s Br. Kenneth Chapman Gallery featured the Visual Arts Student Exhibition to showcase the academic-year achievements of the College’s young student-artists. A total of 34 students participated, exhibiting nearly 50 different works of art, including drawings, paintings and sculptures, all of various mediums. In order to have pieces considered, the artwork had to be new, from the fall 2016 or spring 2017 semesters, and only the very best work was selected. This was a change from student exhibitions in previous years. “I’m happy to say that the new format resulted in an excellent student exhibition that is sure to motivate and inspire, and put a spotlight on the talents of our visual arts students,” said Thomas Ruggio, assistant professor in the Fine and Performing Arts Department. Ruggio oversaw the student exhibition and its installation with assistance from Professor Ryan Seslow as well as students Kristina Martinez, Carmine Corica and Kim Mulder. This year’s exhibition was the first exhibition that Ruggio has curated at Iona and he already has his eye on strong work for the next exhibit in 2018. For more information on the Br. Kenneth Chapman Gallery and future exhibits and events, visit iona.edu/artscouncil. Background sculpture by Shannon Suppa. Sculpture at right by Kelly Farrell.

Summer 2017

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Commencement 2017

“ Whatever direction life takes you, you can be confident that your diploma from Iona will give you both the educational tools to unlock your potential and the values so desperately needed in our world today. These are values of integrity, collaboration, compassion and, yes, faith. While a solid education is a great foundation, it is your values that will guide you when the road gets rough.” – Laurence M. Downes ’79, ’81MBA, ’17H, 2017 graduate commencement speaker (above left)

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Iona College Magazine/iona.edu

See more photos and videos from Commencement.


PUBLISHED AND PRESENTED Marcus Aldredge, Ph.D. (Criminal Justice

College at the TedxWCC conference in

Authority: Leading Teams from Within”

and Sociology), published a new paperback

March. Her talk, titled “Why the Butterfly

at the annual American Council on

edition of his book, Singer-Songwriters

Weed Plant Matters,” focused on the but-

Education (ACE) Carol Russett Awards

and Musical Open Mics, with the publisher Routledge.

terfly weed plant and the connections that

Luncheon in April.

Jack Breslin, Ph.D. (Mass Communica-

Robert Lacey, Ph.D. (Political Science),

her work, “Developing Methods Courses

tion), presented his paper, “Publicity Stunt

recently published his second book,

to Increase Teacher Self-Efficacy,” at

or Legitimate News?: Press Coverage of

Pragmatic Conservatism: Edmund Burke and His American Heirs. He also published a chapter, “Elihu Root: Balancing Constitutionalism and Democracy,” in In Defense of the Founders Republic: Critics of Direct Democracy in the Progressive Era, as well as an article titled “Why Middlebury Protestors Were Right About Charles Murray” on ZNet, the website administered by Z Magazine.

the Association of Teacher Educators

How Semi-finished and Finished Product

Cathryn Lavery, Ph.D., and David Mulcahy,

on leadership and gender and presented

Imports Yield Gains When Sold,” which

MA (Criminal Justice, Sociology), pre-

won a Best Paper Award at the Spring

sented at The American Association of

2017 Academy of Business Research

Behavioral & Social Sciences International

Conference in March.

Conference in January. Dr. Lavery and

Nelly Bly’s Race Around the World,” at the Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War and Free Expression, his 13th paper presented at this prestigious annual national journalism history conference. George L. DeFeis, DPS (Management, Healthcare Management and Business Administration), presented his work, “When a Trade Deficit Provides a Surplus:

Benjamin Gaines, Ph.D. (Mathematics), presented a paper on “The Practicality of Writing Prompts in Freshman-Level Math

living beings have with one another.

Professor Mulcahy were accepted for their upcoming article, “The Resocialization of Radicalization of Fundamental Terrorists: Key Highlights & Concerns for Law

Kara Naidoo, Ph.D. (Education), presented

Conference in Orlando, Fla., in February. Robert Novak, CFC, Ph.D., ’72 (Physics), presented a talk, titled “Telescopic Search for the Molecular Origins of Life in the Solar System,” at the first meeting of the Society of Catholic Scientists in April. George V. Priovolos, Ph.D. (Marketing & International Business), chaired a session the paper “Developing an Integrated Analytical Framework for Nation Branding: Targeting International Tourists vs. International Investors” at the 10th Annual International Conference on Global Studies in Athens, Greece. Dr. Priovolos also chaired a session on marketing and management information systems and presented a

Enforcement Practitioners.”

paper titled “Successful Nation Branding:

session on “How to Successfully Enhance

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. (Chemistry), pub-

at the Fall 2016 Conference of the Academy

Cultural Diversity in the Mathematics

lished a paper titled “Enthalpic Effects of

of Business Research.

Classroom and Beyond.” Additionally, his

Chain Length and Unsaturation on Water

article “(0,2)-Deformations and the G-Hilbert

Permeability Across Droplet Bilayers of

Scheme” was published in Advances in

Homologous Monoglycerides” in Langmuir,

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics.

a publication of the American Chemical

Courses” at the annual Joint Mathematics Meeting in Atlanta. He also co-organized a

Christine Hardigree, Ph.D. (Education), co-authored “Using Evidence in L2 Argumentative Writing: A Longitudinal

Society. The paper is co-authored by three Iona undergraduates, Maria Lopez ’17, Sue Ellen Evanglista ’17 and Melissa Morales ’16.

Case Study Across High School and

Josh Leon, Ph.D. (Political Science and

University,” recently published in

International Studies), published “Global

Language Learning.

Cities at Any Cost: Resisting Municipal

Amanda Howerton-Fox, Ph.D. (Education), presented on “The Role of Comparative Linguistics in the Preparation of Teachers

Mercantilism” in an issue of City earlier this year. He also published a cover story, “Sanctuary Cities in an Age of Resistance,” in the March issue of The Progressive

Know Who You Are and What You Want”

Lily Rubino (Scientific and Technological Literacy) had her abstract, “Indicator Efficacy: Anthropological Approaches to Evaluating Household Water Access in the Colombian Amazon,” accepted by the Society for Applied Anthropology Conference in March. Carol Shansky, DMA, and Hannah Park, Ph.D. (Fine and Performing Arts), presented a lecture recital, titled “Tools and Long-Term Benefits from a Collaboration Between Music and Dance,” at the College Music Society, Northeast Region

magazine.

Conference. Shansky was also an invited

Hearing Conference in San Antonio, Texas,

Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D. (Political Science

and the recital hour.

in February.

& International Studies; associate provost

of the Deaf in Sweden” at the Association of College Educators-Deaf and Hard of

Yourha Kang, Ph.D. (Biology), presented a Tedx talk at Westchester Community

for Strategic Academic Initiatives), provided the keynote address “Leadership Without

performer in both the composer’s concert

See more accomplishments from the Iona faculty members.

Summer 2017

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FACULTY FOCUS

Helping Students Predict the Future of Marketing Through Data Analysis Chrissy Mitakakis Martins, Ph.D. As a member of Iona’s Marketing Department faculty since 2012, Chrissy Mitakakis Martins, Ph.D., brings a unique background of research in consumer behavior, advertising, health communication, persuasion and more. As the marketing industry is ever-evolving, Dr. Martins helps prepare Iona’s business students to stay ahead and have a competitive edge in their business careers. Earlier in your career you worked in research for the New York City Department of Health. Tell us about your experience there. Right after I graduated college, I started a master’s graduate program in psychology and that was partly because I was interested in the field, but also because I didn’t know what I was going to do with my psychology and economics double major from college. I was in school for a few months and I met a colleague of mine who worked at the New York City Department of Health, and he told me they had a researcher position for a particular division which was quality of care for New York City mental health services and providers. It was an entry-level position but, nevertheless, it opened up my eyes to consumers’ perceptions of the care that they were getting from these facilities. I was on a team that did a lot of surveys and research with people who were receiving these services. I knew then that I was probably more interested in the whole consumer behavior aspect of things, still in the health domain, but not in the mental health domain. I was there for about two years, and it was a very interesting experience. Those types of jobs are good because they get you in the door, but they also teach you these other things you can take and use. How do use your prior experiences in the classroom in your teachings? I always advise my students to go into job opportunities with an open mind because that was the case with my experience. I went into it thinking one thing and it ended up allowing me to actually use that job as a foundation to go elsewhere. For example, another thing that I often did at my Department of Health job was to teach various service providers from these different mental health clinics how to assess measures of quality, not just for the city mandates but also so that they can better their own facilities.

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I volunteered to teach, and I absolutely loved it, so I knew I wanted to go into teaching and make people learn about something that I’m passionate about. The other thing I tell my students is to really pay attention to the things that we teach them in the classroom. I can’t tell you how many times I was doing something like data analysis with the surveys from these various mental health clinics, and utilizing even very theoretical knowledge from my statistics classes. The good news was that I was taking classes during my master’s program, so it was still fresh to me. I remember thinking “Wow, this is very useful.” Furthermore, we would visit clinics occasionally, and in the clinical psychology world in particular, you learn about all these disorders and then you see them right in front of you. Tell us about the progression you have seen in your department and the School of Business since you started at Iona in 2012. When I started in fall 2012, I was the first hire in the Marketing Department in 25 years, if I am not mistaken. So I was definitely coming in from the new marketing world, so to speak – the much more recent, in terms of my connections with what is going on with research in the marketing world, consumer behavior in particular. The department was very open to learning about all these new things that had gone on in the field since they had finished school, and they had been where I was only a few years ago. Each year it seems as though there have been more hires which has been good for the school. It makes for a good experience when that hiring concerns people who are more diverse. I definitely think the business school is moving in the direction of trying to grow with the LaPenta gift that we received for the new building, and with a lot of plans for growing programs that we have. I have talked with colleagues at different schools in the area, and across the country, and they don’t seem as positive or optimistic about their changes. So I think it’s justified to say that there is certainty in terms of the business school moving in the right direction at Iona. What sets Iona College, and the Marketing Department, apart from other colleges? The College itself is different. What makes it different here is the emphasis on the students that Iona places. The other colleges I was at, they are not necessarily teaching-focused schools, so it was a lot harder to get any guidance on how you should be teaching these students. But here, you have guidance and you have a lot of faculty who are very willing to help out if you ever


need any help — how to improve your classroom style or other things. That’s also very true of the Marketing Department in and of itself. The collegiality is just outstanding, there and as well as across the school. We joke that nobody can retire because they will break our little group apart. It has been a very easy experience as a junior faculty member, especially, to not have to have any pressure in that sense. It just has been an extremely easy and happy experience. In terms of the class structure, there is a lot of talk in terms of trying to build classes that would make Iona’s Marketing Department unique. We do have the biggest department – the largest number of majors – across the business school. I think that is attributed to the fact that all of the faculty in the Marketing Department are very good at what they do. They have various experiences and that makes for a very interesting classroom experience for the students. Can you talk to us about any accomplishments of graduates from the department? What success can students in the department/ program look forward to after graduation? The first one that comes to mind is a marketing major who was also my student for two years – he stayed on after he took my second higher-level class as a research assistant for me. He is now working for a really cool, creative, marketing start-up firm, basically doing his dream job. He wanted to go into this particular field since I had him in class and when I touched base with him, he said, “This is a dream. I can’t believe I am going to work.” To hear that, I think, is really eye-opening. Another who comes to mind is a student who I actually never had myself, but I encountered him through my dealings with the Marketing Club. He worked his way up at Indeed and then went to Google. He had to put in a lot of hours with his first job when he graduated, but it paid off because he got to do what he really wanted to do, as well. It’s a very nice situation. What insights do you think are important for students to know about the marketing industry, now and in the future? The industry is changing — that is the biggest, and most important, thing I think I can say about it. It’s rapidly changing because of things like technology, and more companies utilizing the latest trends in technology, such as social media and more. However, we are getting all this information, in general, in the world — not just the technological world, the world in general. So there have to be people to do something with that information. What I’ve seen in the marketing world has been a lot of companies that really want people who can work with all this information in the sense of data analysis or coming up with consumer insights. That is great, because of the knowledge that hopefully we, as educators, are giving these students today as they go through their college experience. By providing the right courses for them — digital marketing types of courses — they can be prepared to get into the real world, and do so successfully. Some of my students who have graduated in the last year or two have had jobs that consisted of analytics or data analysis — something that they didn’t think would pay off as much. That is, again, because the industry is changing.

You received the Junior Faculty Award at Convocation in fall 2016 — tell us about that. I was nominated by Dr. [Susan] Rozensher, as well as Dr. [Fredrica] Rudell, who wrote a supporting letter. They told me they were going to nominate me because they thought I was doing great things, and I told them that saying that alone was good enough. I believe during my selection process there were a few of us [in the running] — I don’t remember exactly who it was, I just remember one other colleague who was very qualified. Just to know that I was in this pool with him was such an honor. But then also to have been selected! It was quite an honor for me. They told me about it over the summer and I had just had my son in July. It was also very good for me to feel as though, coming back in the fall when the baby was so young, that although I had this life-changing moment, at the same time I am always going to be this person [that is, being honored]. Not that it was necessary for me to think that, but it was very special, and a good way to start the new year.

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The United States was founded and settled by innovators and risk-takers who were willing to sacrifice old certainties for new opportunities. Entrepreneurialism, deeply rooted in the country’s history, is the engine that drives the American economy.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that in 2015 there were more than 679,000 businesses that were less than one year old, evidence of the ongoing entrepreneurial spirit. In a 2016 State of Entrepreneurship address, Wendy Guillies, CEO and president of the Kauffman Foundation, whose areas of operation focus on education and entrepreneurship, noted that with millennials entering the labor market and coming into their peak age of business creation, the country could be on the verge of a boom in start-up activity or entrepreneurship. 16

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As an institute of higher education, Iona College values an openness to change, innovation and entrepreneurship. This value, among others, is a core of Iona’s teachings. Earlier this year, Iona College announced the launch of the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (see more on page 22), which will provide students of all majors with the resources and knowledge to pursue entrepreneurial paths during and after their Iona years. It is no surprise that Iona alumni, across the U.S. and abroad, from all majors and walks of life, have ventured on entrepreneurial career paths. Here we share stories of just a few who have found success as entrepreneurs.

The Speed of Business For Bill Parisi ’90, what started as one athletic speed training business, has expanded to more than 90 locations in the U.S. and abroad. “Whenever you want to start a business, you have to look at the need,” said Parisi. “What are the needs? What are the problems people have?” As a track & field athlete at Iona and beyond, Parisi was on a quest to compete at a high level. He wanted to excel as a javelin thrower, which he knew required both speed and agility. While on a trip to Finland his sophomore year, he noticed training methodologies there were different – athletes really worked on fundamental skills and movement techniques. With the most fundamental component of athletics being speed, the problem he saw: no one was teaching speed at a high level. Recalling how he, as a track & field athlete, would break down the biomechanics of speed, he realized no one was doing that for movement for general team sports. continues on next page

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Having worked with athletes on strength conditioning with the NY Giants while in college, and at the University of Florida immediately after graduating, Parisi realized he wanted to help athletes of all ages reach their goals. He had a product that he knew could change lives. His solution: Parisi Speed School. Beginning in 1992, he started giving free clinics and seminars on speed training and motivation at local high schools and youth recreation departments. By the fall of 1993, Parisi opened his first facility, a 3,000-square-foot training location, which specialized in youth sports performance speed development. Since then, the Parisi Speed School system has been making a difference in the lives of young athletes and boasts several alumni who have gone on to achieve great success – including NFL players Chris Simms and Wayne Chrebet, and Olympic Bobsled medalists Valerie Fleming and Shauna Rohbock.

“Really stay focused on a core product that solves a problem and specialize in something that the market needs.” – Bill Parisi

“The Parisi Speed School is really about empowering kids with confidence. That’s our underlying product,” said Parisi. “Speed is the product that ultimately delivers the outcome. We want to get kids faster, and we get kids faster, but the outcome is greater confidence.” Parisi continued to grow his business and by 2005, he began franchising Parisi Speed School and his methodology. In addition to the Speed Schools, Parisi has had ventures in creating a DVD series focusing on athletic speed improvements, working with nutritional supplement companies on a line for athletes, as well as launching a customized online training platform for coaches, Gamespeed.com. When looking toward the future of his business, Parisi sees himself continuing to push the threshold as technology evolves – finding new ways to deliver the product and content to consumers.

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As a finance major at Iona, Parisi got his first experience at building a gym when he helped reconfigure the College’s weight room. To Parisi, having a business degree gives him a leg up in his industry, as he is one of few that do. As a student, he interned on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange getting practical knowledge of the business world. At an Iona Career Day, he crossed paths with a recruiter for Northwestern Mutual Life — where he ended up working for about a year after graduating, while also moonlighting as a personal trainer. That connection was invaluable, and he recalls gaining practical experience about running a small business from the individual who recruited him. “I think without that fundamental knowledge of business, without that roadmap and experience at Northwestern, my experience at Iona, and my experience that led me to Finland – it’s all interconnected – none of this would have happened,” Parisi said. “There would be no Speed School.” Parisi attributes his success to several things, but the main one is his underlying passion and belief in wanting to help people. That passion has helped him stay true to his core product. He advises others to follow suit. “Really stay focused on a core product that solves a problem and specialize in something that the market needs. But more importantly, don’t deviate too far from your core. Stay laser-focused.” See more of Bill Parisi’s story and Parisi Speed Schools.


“I loved my work the way I loved Iona.” – Flory Netsch Hiatrides

Building a Business Using Technology Flory Netsch Hiatrides ’83, ’86MBA, was a dynamic force on Iona College’s campus, not only during her four years of baccalaureate study and then study for the MBA, but for some years afterward as she directed Iona’s Institute for Computer Studies, which started on campus. Hiatrides made what ultimately became an independent company into an outstanding example of entrepreneurship at its best. Her first business venture: Executive Education Institute, which gained its start at Iona College. As an Iona student, one of Hiatrides’ first classes every day was in computing, with Antony Halaris, the force largely responsible for creating IT at Iona. Impressed by Hiatrides’ talents in his classroom, Tony Halaris asked her to run the first Iona College Computer Day Camp, in the summer of 1980, between her freshman and sophomore years. The Computer Day Camp was the first example of Hiatrides’ talent for seeing trends as they began to develop and exploiting them in her technology training by incorporating those trends into computer education well beyond the summer day camp. At the time, she noticed that the parents of the children in the computer day camp needed to learn about computers themselves, so she started including parents in the sessions. Soon, even adults who did not have children in the day camp sought to learn about computers. Flory met with Br. John Driscoll, Iona’s president at the time, and explained the need to develop an educational tool for adults that extended beyond the day camp. From there, the Iona Institute for Computer Studies was born. The institute offered seminars for adults in such areas as Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect, and then Hiatrides targeted specific groups with seminars in Lotus for medical doctors or financial managers. With an uncanny feel for the trends, Flory moved into customized training and then into corporate consulting, offering the institute’s services to specific corporations. By 1990, the Iona Institute for Computer Studies had grown so large that it needed to move off campus. With Br. Driscoll’s approval and blessing, Flory created the Executive Education Institute as an independent organization. continues on next page

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Running a Business Across the Globe As a young professional, Meral Kathwari ’16 is already busy juggling not one, but two careers. Kathwari splits her time freelancing for several online news sites as a budding communications professional and running Kathwari of Kashmir, an international textile business specializing in high-quality handmade rugs based in India.

From the beginning, Hiatrides says, “I loved my work the way I loved Iona.” The most successful business people know that what matters most for success is the people you hire to work for you: they have to be talented and they have to be treated as colleagues, not hired help. The best workplaces nurture those who work for them. Leaders must be mindful of, and pay attention to, employees’ lives and needs. After taking some years away from the business world, Hiatrides is again using her entrepreneurial talents to organize a new entity, TreeHouse Consulting Inc., designed to offer more solutions. TreeHouse Consulting will provide a wide range of consulting services to corporations, schools and various branches of the government with a focus on people and profitability. EEI flourished because Hiatrides recruited staff members whose talents and work satisfaction mattered to her. She now plans to continue building TreeHouse Consulting with the same foundation. This new venture has already reached out to men and women in the Air Force and will provide workshops to nurture para-rescue professionals already expert at their jobs to become even stronger leaders. Hiatrides is also using her ability to see trends in learning styles by offering workshops for teachers and students in order to increase classroom effectiveness. She has already offered these sessions to several schools in her town of Brookfield, Conn. Through her success in the business world, Hiatrides created the Charles E. Netsch Endowed Scholarship at Iona as a memorial to her dad, and to thank the College for all it has meant in her life. When asked what advice she would give to today’s Iona undergraduates who might be considering careers as entrepreneurs, Hiatrides said to be “courageous, creative and caring.” These three traits have worked for her and can work for budding entrepreneurs, she added.

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“I remember standing with him and watching him do his work and I realized, ‘Wow, this is an incredible passion, he is so hard-working.’ He put everything that he had into this business and he loved it.” In 2014, after Tariq’s unexpected passing, Kathwari stepped in to continue his legacy. At the time, she was a full-time student at Iona, juggling classes, internships, working for Iona College TV (ICTV), being president of the men’s rugby team, having a social life – and taking on a business on the other side of the world. Having grown up watching her father master his business, Kathwari had not given much thought to taking on the business, but in the moment she knew what she had to do. Within two days of receiving the news, Kathwari arrived in Kashmir to re-open her father’s showroom and ensure that everything was still running properly. “He taught me, without even realizing, about all these carpets,” she said. “I felt like he was doing it for me, and I just didn’t realize that I had been mirroring him so much. So I knew what to do.”

Photos of Meral by Doug Schneider Photography

In teaching corporate employees about technology, she saw that she could also help corporations make their day-to-day operations and procedures more efficient. She realized that most employees needed not just technology training but also management training. If the corporation upgraded technology skills, but didn’t develop management skills, it had good technicians, perhaps, but not people with the skills to use the technology efficiently. The Executive Education Institute integrated technology and management.

Her father, Tariq Kathwari, started the business more than 30 years ago, having learned the trade from his grandfather as a teenager. As a child, Kathwari accompanied her father on several trips across the United States as he tried to build a name here and expand the international reach of his product.


Her step into the role was an automatic one – but one of her biggest barriers was language. She admits she does not speak Kashmiri well, though it is her mother tongue. But with the help of her father’s loyal workers, and Google translate, she would piece together enough phrases to get the job done. “If it wasn’t for them, honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this,” she said of these loyal workers. Kathwari notes that most people did not know that she took on the responsibilities of an international business, especially not many of her professors. It was important to her not to make her new position well-known because she didn’t want to be underestimated by anyone. “So many people said there was no way I could be president of a rugby team, live overseas, do ICTV and make time for this [the business]. But somehow I did it,” she said. “You have to sacrifice going out on a Saturday night, but it’s going to be worth it. You still make time to have fun when you can, but if something means a lot to you and you are passionate about something, you just put your whole heart into it. It’s possible to do it.”

“Be fearless. Work hard. Just keep going and don’t get discouraged.” – Meral Kathwari

Since taking over, Kathwari has continued to propel the business forward, opening up a new showroom location in New Delhi to make the products more accessible to the business’ large clientele in that area. As a mass communication graduate, Kathwari took the skills she learned in videography, photography, and communication to launch a new website to better showcase her products and provide necessary information to potential customers. She also uses her public relations skills to do her own personal marketing of the product within the United States and India. “It was really important for me to market internationally, because my father did that throughout his career. His rugs were seen all over Europe, displayed in museums and at shows. It was really important for me to put my part in and get more clients as well.” Kathwari has managed to balance her aspirations in communications with the business, and plans to continue to do both side-by-side as long as life allows. “I hope I will never have to choose. As long as I am taking control of things, I don’t think I will ever have to do that,” she said. “If I am doing it now already, why not in 20 or 30 years?” Her advice to other young entrepreneurs starting, or running, their own business: “Be fearless. Work hard. Just keep going and don’t get discouraged.” See recent articles on Meral in Westchester Magazine and more.

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IONA FOREVER

Iona Launches Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation On March 22, President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., announced a gift of $15 million from the James ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes family to the Iona Forever campaign. The investment will support the founding of the visionary Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The institute will establish an interdisciplinary curricular focus for students in any major, create new minors and majors in entrepreneurship, and appoint new endowed faculty fellows. It also will create a community incubator and ensure students develop the knowledge, skills and experience required to create, innovate and lead in a global economy empowered by exciting technological advances. “Building on a legacy that has long produced leaders who are known for their entrepreneurship and innovation, the Hynes Institute will fortify Iona’s future while preparing our students to be the next generation of big thinkers and global leaders,” said President Joseph E. Nyre,

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Ph.D. “The Hynes Institute will ensure that our students are not only receiving the education they’ll need to be leaders among their peers in this country, but throughout the world. We are grateful for the Hynes family, their generous gift and their continued support.” Mr. and Mrs. Hynes are well known in the Iona community for their presence on campus, leadership and philanthropy. Mr. Hynes has been active in the Iona College community since his graduation in 1969, and has served on the College’s Board of Trustees since 1995, as chairman since 2008. In 2006, the Hynes Athletics Center on the Iona campus was dedicated in

recognition of his leadership and philanthropic support. With the gift for the institute, the Hynes family became Iona College’s leading lifetime donors. “We wanted to do something for Iona College that would have lasting and far-reaching benefits for all the students, present and future,” said Mr. Hynes. “We are underwriting academic innovation and transformation. We believe the entrepreneurial mindset is not only necessary in starting businesses, but it is invaluable in any career or vocation.” The gift comes after a yearlong planning process that included touring leading centers and institutes across the country.


The Newest (Named) Building on Campus:

Hales Hall In late April, the campus residence hall previously known as South Hall was renamed Hales Hall in recognition of Alice Marie and Thomas E. Hales ’58, ’04H for their leadership commitment to the Iona Forever campaign and a lifetime of generous support to the College. Hales Hall, which opened in 2003, is a six-floor, on-campus residence that houses 190 Iona students. “Mr. Hales is not only a successful business professional but a compassionate philanthropist who has contributed his time and wisdom to many organizations,” said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “It gives me great pleasure that everyone on campus will now be familiar with the Hales name and will associate it, as I do, with the Iona spirit of service and generosity.”

DREAM CREATE LEAD The process transitioned from planning to action with the support of the Hynes family. Hynes Fellows are being actively recruited, Christoph Winkler, Ph.D., endowed professor and director of the Hynes Institute, has been hired, and campus and community locations for the institute have been identified. “Students from any major will benefit from learning and elevating their creativity, their innovation, and leadership skills into an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Mrs. Hynes, who was also a member of the Hynes Institute design team. “Whether building water filtration systems in Africa, enriching young minds in classrooms around the country, developing public policy or scientific solutions to life’s great questions, or founding and leading businesses large and small, we all need to cultivate the essential skills supported by the Hynes Institute.”

A member of Iona’s Board of Trustees since 1995, Mr. Hales holds a BBA in accounting from Iona and was awarded an honorary degree in 2004. He began his career as a staff member of Price Waterhouse and Company and subsequently operated his own accounting firm for 17 years. He joined Union State Bank as its chairman, president and CEO in 1982 and served in that capacity until 2007. Mr. and Mrs. Hales helped establish the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and Trauma Center at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, provided major support for the Thomas E. and Alice M. Hales Endoscopy Unit and the Alice Marie and Thomas E. Hales Pediatric Treatment Area of the Emergency Department at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center. Mr. and Mrs. Hales established in perpetuity the Thomas E. and Alice Marie Hales Distinguished Professor in Transplant Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which is held by Bartley P. Griffith, MD. They continue to lend their support widely, and are ardent activists and supporters for organ donation. In 1991, Mr. Hales was the recipient of Iona College’s Brother Arthur A. Loftus Award for Outstanding Achievement and in 1998, he was awarded the Cornelia Award for outstanding service to the College. In 2000, he was honored with Iona’s Legacy Award, which recognizes the lifetime achievements of alumni who have lived the College’s values of peace, justice and service.

More information about the Hynes Institute, including an introduction of Dr. Winkler, is available at iona.edu/HynesInstitute.

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ATHLETICS

HIGHLIGHTS Swimming & Diving Iona women’s swimming & diving held the best grade point average among NCAA Division I programs for the fall 2016 semester as recognized by the College Swimming and Diving Association of America. The CSCAA named a record 638 teams that achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the preceding semester. The Iona women’s program boasted a 3.69 team GPA in the fall. The men’s swimming & diving program also earned CSCAA accolades for its 3.34 team GPA last fall. Both the men & women have the highest ranked GPA among all MAAC schools.

Cross Country Both cross country teams at Iona saw MAAC Championship success this year – the men’s team earned its 26th straight championship, while the women’s team saw its 11th championship in the last 12 years.

Championship Gaels The Iona College men’s basketball program continues to shine brightly under the leadership of head coach Tim Cluess, recording an unprecedented eighth straight 20+ win season and a seventh straight national postseason tournament appearance. The Gaels became back-to-back MAAC Champions in early March following a thrilling overtime win over Siena at the Times Union Center in Albany. The program’s league-record 10th tournament title was followed by an NCAA Tournament appearance against eventual Final Four participant Oregon in Sacramento. Under Cluess, the Gaels have posted a 162-78 (.675 winning percentage) and appeared in four NCAA tournaments, two NITs, and a CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament championship game in seven seasons. The seven-year win total matches the best stretch in program history, equaling the team’s final season under Jim Valvano and the six-year tenure of Pat Kennedy. Only one other coach at Iona has recorded more wins than Coach Cluess and it took 26 years (1947-73) for Jim McDermott to amass his 319 victories. Cluess is on pace to eclipse the mark in just over half that time. Iona is the winningest program in the New York metropolitan area during the Cluess era. Its win total and winning percentage are the best among the 14 schools located within 30 miles of Madison Square Garden. The selection of Jordan Washington ’17 to the All-Met First Team this year was the Gaels’ 11th honoree in seven seasons, three more than Seton Hall and four more than St. John’s over the time frame. Extending the Maroon & Gold’s success over New York State, Iona’s win total and percentage is second-highest among the 22 NCAA Division I programs. Only the ACC’s Syracuse University has been better. Gaels leaving the program have also had success in the professional ranks. Not including this year’s exiting class of four seniors and grad students, 18 student-athletes who have played for Cluess and associate head coach Jared Grasso have seen action in pro leagues across the globe. Most notably, Scott Machado ’12 saw action in the NBA with the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors during the 2012-13 season. The 2017-18 campaign should see continued success with four returning starters from last year’s MAAC Championship squad. With the MAAC regular season schedule reduced to 18 games for next season, Iona will play a 12-game non-conference slate to be announced this summer on ICGaels.com.

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Historic Season for Iona Baseball The 2017 season for the Iona College baseball team was a historic and potentially pivotal one. Picked to finish 10th in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference by the league’s coaches in its preseason poll, the Gaels placed fourth in the regular season and were in the mix for a regular-season championship entering the final weekend of play. The Maroon & Gold was the runner-up in this season’s MAAC tournament, climbing back from a day-one loss to advance to the championship contest. It was the program’s first appearance in the MAAC Championship tournament in 17 years. This historic season aided in the selection of Coach Pat Carey as a MAAC Coach of the Year. The Gaels earned 25 wins in the regular season, the most since 2000. Iona finished 14-10 in conference play, marking its highest win total since 2003. The trio Bill Maier ‘17, Joe DeRosa ‘18 and Patrick Ryan ‘18 solidified the team’s starting pitching rotation and combined for 15 wins, a 3.05 ERA and a .262 batting average against. Maier was named All-MAAC Second Team and was 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA. His eight victories tied a single-season program record set in 2000 by John Barone ‘00 and John Novinsky ‘01. Jared Finkel ‘18 (right) was named MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year, appearing in 24 games, tying for second most in school history and earning a program-record 11 saves. He broke the 13-year-old Iona mark of nine set by Brian Parish ‘04. In June, Finkel was drafted by MLB’s Minnesota Twins. Iona’s offense was led by outfielder Fran Kinsey ‘19 and his .319 batting average. Kinsey posted a team-best 58 hits to become just the 61st player to record 50 or more hits in a season. He also led the Gaels with 10 extra base hits and 38 runs batted in. Matt Byrne ‘17 completed his Iona career with career-highs in batting average (.296), extra base hits (10) and stolen bases (22). His 59 career stolen bases rank No. 3 all-time in Maroon & Gold history. The Gaels capped a historic 2017 season by competing in six of the 10 MAAC Championship contests played. The program’s four wins in the tournament set a new school record.

Softball Sees Major Success Iona’s softball program earned its first MAAC Regular Season Championship since 2011 and earned the right to host the tournament on its home diamond, Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval. The Maroon & Gold hosted the six-team event for the first time in program history. For the first time in tournament history, all 10 contests were available to watch with the final eight games produced by Iona and its students and alumni on ESPN3 and WatchESPN.com. By virtue of its first-place finish, Iona earned a bid into the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship, a postseason tournament similar to basketball’s NIT and WNIT. The program earned its first-ever national postseason tournament victory with a 3-2 win over Campbell in the first game of the Lynchburg regional. Additionally, two student-athletes earned major postseason awards. Pitcher Alana

Evans ’19 was named the MAAC Pitcher of the Year, posting a 17-7 record with a 2.73 ERA with 160 strikeouts in 160.1 innings pitched. Among her season highlights, Evans tossed Iona’s first no-hitter since 2010, striking out 10 Monmouth Hawks. Tori Danner ’18 was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. As the Gaels’ primary catcher, Danner allowed a league-low six passed balls while committing just two errors and threw out 12 potential base stealers, the second most in the league. Evans was joined by teammates Kristen Turner ’17 and Marisa Gergel ’19 on the All-MAAC First Team. Danner was named to the Second Team while Jasmine Temple ’20 and Marnie Skinner ’20 earned All-Rookie honors. In addition to the players’ success, Coach Melissa Inouye was selected as a MAAC Coach of the Year for the program’s performance this season.

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Gaels Selected for

Academic & Athletic Success Two Iona student-athletes were recognized nationally for their efforts in the classroom along with their athletic ability in their selection to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District team. The team includes student-athletes across eight geographic districts in the U.S. and Canada. Cassandra Gill ’16, ’17MBA (below) represented the women’s track/cross country team and defender Gabriella DiDomizio ’18 represented lacrosse on the at-large team. Gill earned her undergraduate degree in marketing in May 2016, holding a grade point average of 3.99 and a graduate degree in information systems this May with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She earned two gold medals in the 5k and 10k events at the 2017 MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and finished 15th overall in the 2016 MAAC Cross Country Championship to help lead the Gaels to the team title. DiDomizio was the Gaels lone All-MAAC selection in 2017 after winning Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. A chemistry major, she maintained a 4.0 GPA through her first six academic semesters at Iona.

Senior Athletic Awards

Men’s cross country/track standout Chartt Miller ’17 and softball star Kristen Turner ’17 headlined the 2017 Senior Awards Banquet as the school’s Joseph E. O’Connell Award Winners (below). The Gael pair was named Iona’s most outstanding senior student-athletes as 62 seniors were honored at the Larchmont Shore Club on May 4. In addition to the O’Connell Awards, one member of Iona’s administration was honored with the Br. John G. Driscoll Appreciation Award for her contributions to the athletic department. Laurie Wenchell, assistant dean for student academic services in Iona’s School of Arts & Science, was honored for her support of Iona’s student-athletes. Sixteen seniors also earned the Merit Award for maintaining a 3.5 or above cumulative grade point average during their time at Iona College.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS

Iona College Athletics hosted the 37th Annual Goal Club Hall of Fame Golf Outing on June 5 at the Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle. The 2017 Goal Club Hall of Fame Inductees included: swimmer/water polo standout Thomas C. Dolan ’91, hockey star Thomas K. McCarren ’89, women’s lacrosse first-ever inductee Jaclyn D. O’Leary ’08, and women’s rowing member Eileen M. O’Rourke, Esq., ’79, ’96MBA. In addition to this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, Iona honored 2017 Donald E. Walsh ’66 Award winner Br. Robert E. Novak, Ph.D., ’72. The award is given each year to a person who has demonstrated loyal support and service to Iona College Athletics through exceptional volunteerism. For more information on the Iona Goal Club, visit ICGaels.com/goalclub, email goalclub@iona.edu, or call Matt Glovaski, deputy athletic director, at (914) 633-2627.

Get Social with the Gaels

Follow Iona College athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Periscope or any of your favorite social media sites at @ICGaels. ICGaels.com is the official home of Iona College athletics where you can keep up-to-date on all the latest happenings. Watch live and on-demand features and events on IonaInsider.com and look for our upcoming live productions on ESPN3 and WatchESPN.com. You can get all your official athletics gear on ICGaelsGear.com.

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GAEL RUNNER MAKES HISTORY With his time of 3:58.19 in the indoor mile on February 26 at Boston University, Liam Dee ’18 (below, #3) ran the second fastest indoor mile time in Iona history. The run also produced a bit of world history, as Dee joined his father, Billy, to become just the ninth father-son combination to both break the four-minute-mile barrier.

MLS Gains Another Gael

Billy Dee ran his sub-four-minute mile on July 14, 1991, in Croydon, England, clocking a 3:59.87 for the Shaftesbury Barnet Club. The Dees are the lone English natives on the father-son list. Kenyan running legends Kip and Martin Keino were the first combination to break four minutes for the mile with the father’s time coming in 1965 and the son in 1994. The American duo of John Gregorek Jr. and Sr. were the most recent to accomplish the feat in February 2015.

Jordan Scarlett ’17 became the second-ever Iona College men’s soccer player to be selected in the Major League Soccer Super Draft this past January with the New York Red Bulls selecting him as the 61st overall pick in the third round. In March, Scarlett signed a contract with the franchise’s USL affiliate New York Red Bulls II and looks to make his first professional appearance this summer. At Iona, Scarlett was named to the 2016 All-MAAC First Team, following an All-MAAC Second Team selection in his junior year in 2015. Off the field, he was a three-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection and earned his degree in marketing from Iona this May. Scarlett follows former teammate Ignacio Maganto as Major League Soccer draft picks, as the latter was selected with the final pick of the first round by the LA Galaxy in 2015. Summer 2017 27


CLASS NOTES 1970

1983

Edward A. Silver was appointed to the MiSTEM Advisory Council by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. The 11-member council advises the governor, legislature, Department of Talent and Economic Development, and Department of Education with recommendations for improving and promoting innovation and collaboration in STEM education to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Kenneth J. Maranian has joined the Stratfor, the world’s leading geopolitical intelligence platform, as chief product officer. Maranian’s experience leading corporate innovation with a focus on user-centered design and new ideas will guide Stratfor’s digital transformation to support subscribers and clients as they better leverage the firm’s 20 years of geopolitical insight.

1974 1

Rita C. Mabli ’76MBA was honored by 914INC. with the 2016 Women in Business award.

1976 Jean B. Kennedy was recently named vice president of business development at College Select.

1977 2

Frank Marino, CEO of Marino, a communications firm in New York, has been selected by New Rochelle city officials to help promote economic development in New Rochelle.

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1978

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Thomas J. Baldwin ’84MBA was named chief executive officer and president of Benihana Inc. Baldwin previously served on the Board of Directors of Benihana and was an advisor to Angelo, Gordon & Co., Benihana’s principal investor. He will be responsible for Benihana’s 100 Benihana, RA Sushi and Haru Sushi restaurants as well as the 10 Benihana franchised restaurants.

1980 Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’81MBA was recently appointed chief executive officer for Visa Inc. Madeline Nava has been appointed as CEO of Plantation General Hospital in Florida.

1981 Anthony P. Russo and his wife, Anita, recently announced a partnership with BNC Insurance Agency. The Russos are veteran insurance brokers local to the Rye Brook, N.Y., area.

1982

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Years in maroon indicate an upcoming reunion year. Years in gold indicate immediate past reunion year.

Darcy M. Katris, Esq., was recently named to the 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state receive the “Rising Stars” distinction.

1984 Stephen D. Burtt was inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame for his performance during his scholastic, collegiate and professional career. An Iona College Goal Club Hall of Famer, Burtt remains the Gaels’ all-time leading scorer with 2,534 points. Iona Preparatory School has named Kieran G. Daly as its next Upper School principal. He will become principal effective July 1, 2017. Maria Valente, Esq., was honored by 914INC. with the 2016 Women in Business award.

1986 Louis Pate has been busy with several radio appearances. He recently hosted a radio talk show as an interim host on KOGO San Diego for several weeks, hosted several episodes of Michael Savage’s nationally syndicated radio show as well as a spot on News Radio 106.7 Atlanta. Pate began his career screening calls in San Diego and moved up to producer at WABC NY. Later, he became a talk show host in San Diego, Seattle, Denver and on nationally syndicated shows including “The Savage Nation” for Michael Savage and “Overnight America.” He has also made several television appearances, including CNN, NWCN (Northwest Cable News) and Newsmax TV.

1987 Raul S. Banasco was recently sworn into the position of Tarrant County executive chief deputy in the third largest sheriff’s office in Texas.

1988 Iona Trustee Patrick C. Dunican Jr., chairman and managing director of Gibbons P.C., was named by NJBIZ to its annual “Power 100” list of the most influential people in New Jersey business.

1989 Michael Zanga ’94MBA has joined Deutsche Bank as the chief technology officer for infrastructure services. He will be leading a transformation of the bank’s infrastructure offerings and leading the IT service management consolidation onto Service Now.


ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 1991 Acacio “Cass” Marques recently celebrated his 1,500th game as equipment manager with the New York Rangers. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., recently appointed Jennifer A. Moreland to its board of directors.

1992 Raymond F. Kerins Jr. ’94MS, senior vice president and head of communications, government relations and policy for Bayer, has won PRWeek’s 2017 “Outstanding In-House Professional Award,” the communications industry’s highest honor for personal achievement. Bryon D. Womack was recognized earlier this year with the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee Humanitarian Award at a celebration of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

1993 Thomas Richer has joined Capgemini as a principal overseeing cloud market development in Capgemini’s industry sectors.

1994 Michael A. Baston, Esq., was recently named president of Rockland Community College in New York.

1996 Angela Ciminello ’02MA was recently promoted to vice president of development and marketing at Wartburg. She also received one of 914INC. magazine’s annual Women in Business Awards for 2016, honoring “Westchester’s most powerful executives, entrepreneurs, and government and nonprofit leaders.” She is featured in an issue along with 17 other winners from the Westchester County region. Ted Marino has recently joined the YES Network as vice president of finance. Marino boasts more than 15 years of finance experience in the media industry.

1997 Jackson D. Robert was named onsite manager and builder loan officer with Prospect Mortgage, serving New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

2001 Scott E. Morgan received the 2016-17 Professor of the Year award during the commencement ceremonies at Warner University, his employer. Morgan is an English instructor and has taught at Warner since January 2014. Photos on facing page: (1) Mabli ’74, (2) Kelly ’80, (3) Katris ’82, (4) Dunican ’88, (5) Marques ’91

Michael J. Dennehy ’02 CEO and Founder Catch 21 Consulting LLC

Creating a Career I founded Catch 21 Consulting, LLC, in 2007, so we are approaching our 10-year anniversary. We specialize in the importation, sales, marketing, compliance and trade communications of alcohol and wines from around the world into the U.S., with our flagship brands Don Q rums and Vesica vodka. I named my company Catch 21 as a play on Catch 22. Additionally, the repeal of prohibition is the 21st amendment, so it seemed unique to our industry and a catchy name. I am also involved in the management of distribution of Vesica vodka, Corbello wines, Tutidi wines and Dieselscato wines, to name a few, through LNJ Brands in New York. Previously, I held senior marketing and branding positions with Maker’s Mark bourbon, Laphroaig single malt whiskey, Russian Diamond vodka, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Luksusowa vodka, Tito’s vodka, TYKU Asian spirits, Egan’s Irish Whiskey and many others. Making Moves My best career move has been creating my own business. For me, it’s the biggest learning experience of my career and ultimately, the most rewarding. Everything that I’ve put into it has been rewarded, and being able to know you own something gives a great feeling for working hard on multiple projects as they all flow together for one common goal. Being an entrepreneur is something I cherish deeply. Pursuing Connections I pursued a career in beverage alcohol sales and marketing because I like people and how the interaction between different people, businesses, ethnicities and cultures play together. I call this industry the “great social connector,” which brings all parties together in good times and bad, and this fosters business and development of brands and products. Sound Advice Nothing comes easy in business. There will be setbacks and great moments. You have to stay level-headed. Set goals, per quarter or per year. Structure what you do with work to always work toward achieving those goals. In addition, develop professional relationships with industry leaders who can give you insights and help you rapidly escalate your career. Favorite TV Show It’s so hard to pick one, but I will go with “Cheers.” This TV show symbolized everyday life, with its drama, twists and turns, centered on the perfect social connector – a bar. You always have a friend there no matter what. It’s what life should be about.

Summer 2017 29


ALUMNI

2004 Ahmed M. Artola was recently promoted to detective in the Orange County, N.Y., Police Department. Trinette K. Gooding-Carruthers has been named girls basketball head coach at Teaneck High School in Teaneck, N.J.

2005 N6A, a New York-based public relations firm founded by Matthew C. Rizzetta, was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Public Relations Firms in America, by Observer.com.

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2006 Evita Robinson was selected to attend President Barack Obama’s historical South by South Lawn event at the White House in the fall of 2016.

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2007

6

Eric M. Traugott ’07MBA has been elected to the Board of Directors for Child Guidance Resource Centers, a non-profit located outside of Philadelphia, providing support services for children and families with mental health, developmental disability, and residential needs.

2008 Gabrielle Simpson ’10MA contributed an article to Huffington Post in March, “Women’s History Month Lessons From Seven Sheroes.”

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2010 Thomas P. Gaynor and Mary M. Cullen ’11 are happy to announce their marriage on August 13, 2016. 7 3

Elizabeth Faia Orgera ’10MBA and husband, Dean, are happy to announce the birth of their first child, Henry John Orgera. The couple welcomed the new addition on November 6, 2016.

2012 Stephen Crociata has assumed the newly created position of digital content specialist at the Hudson Valley Design Group in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. Crociata will be in charge of managing clients’ digital media accounts, digital media training, and assisting in marketing strategy creation and social media implementation. 8

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Kyle Daly and Chrisanne (Karcich) ’13 are happy to announce their marriage on October 15, 2016. Photos on these pages: (1) Karcich ’13, (2) Ciminello ’96, (3) Simpson ’08, (4) Cullen ’11, (5) Giacovas ’13, (6) Orgera ’10, (7) Marino ’96, (8) Velasco ’14, (9) Pesco ’16


ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 2013 Richard A. Giacovas has worked his way up to producer and on-air reporter at News 12 Westchester in less than three years. He was also recently recognized as one of several “Wunderkinds” by 914INC. A wunderkind is a person who succeeds, especially in business, at a comparatively young age.

2014 Jessica A. Velasco was recently awarded Success Academy Charter Schools’ Academic Achievement Award. The award recognizes teachers who inspired their scholars to perform at the highest academic level across all 41 Success Academy schools in New York.

2015 Former Iona College Women’s Basketball standout Damika J. Martinez played with Atenienses de Manatí in Puerto Rico’s pro league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino League. The team took her as the No. 2 player in the league draft in summer 2016.

Geraldine O’Leary Mercer, MD, ’78 Physician – Pathologist Morristown Pathology Associates

2016 Christina Nassayan Pesco ’16MA was recently recognized as one of several “Wunderkinds” by 914INC. A wunderkind is a person who succeeds, especially in business, at a comparatively young age.

Iona Impact I was always interested in healthcare. Following my degree in medical technology/biology from Iona, I worked as a medical technologist in a hospital microbiology lab for five years. I then decided to pursue a career in medicine and entered medical school. My Iona education gave me a strong foundation in the sciences, which provided a solid foundation for the MCAT examination and medical school curriculum. Finding Solutions The best part of my work day is solving difficult cases and giving patients and their doctors the answers they have been seeking so they can move on to the next phase of their treatment. Future Insights The future of medicine, and pathology in particular, is good. The key to remaining successful is to be adaptable and to stay abreast of new technologies. Always follow your dream, and don’t give up when you have a setback. I was told not to pursue a career in pathology because there were no jobs, but everywhere I looked I found pathologists who were approaching retirement age. When I finished my residency, I was offered multiple jobs. Under the Tree My favorite memory from Iona is sitting around the ginkgo tree with my friends in between classes.

9

Life Philosophy Family, friends and faith are more important than a successful career. I try to live everyday by the Golden Rule — my strong Catholic faith helps me overcome any hardships.

Summer 2017

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ALUMNI

Alumni Moving the World In January, the first-ever Iona in Mission trip exclusively developed for alumni, departed for Cape Town, South Africa.

Eleven alumni members, along with Jack Breslin, Ph.D., of the Mass Communication Department, participated in the immersion trip, which lasted 10 days. The goal of the trip was to continue fostering the commitment to the vision and work of Edmund Rice with Iona’s alumni community. A continued interest by alumni in immersion trips and the transformative impact that participating in them has is what helped this trip come to fruition. “Dr. Breslin and I have been thinking of this alumni immersion for a long time, while many alumni have been asking for this type of offering for several years,” said Stephen Hill of the Office of Mission and Ministry, who helped coordinate the trip. “I’m glad that we had such a great response in terms of applicants and of the tremendous immersion experience.” The experience was hosted by The Edmund Rice Justice Desk, which is based in Cape Town and affiliated with Edmund Rice International. During the immersion experience, the group visited and assisted five Cape Town non-governmental organizations involved in health care, human trafficking, refugees and education. There was also time for trips to historic sites, such as Robben Island and Nelson Mandela’s prison cell; national parks such as Cape of Good Hope, Boulders National Park and others. With each organization, the alumni group received a briefing on the organization’s mission, then shadowed the workers, which involved meeting those they helped – refugees seeking status, health care patients, students and more. During the trip, the group was hosted at a Christian Brother retreat house in Stellenbosch and the Scalabrini Centre in Cape Town, which provided additional opportunities for reflections, prayer and a debrief.

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“This group was an all-star team, full of motivation, wanting to learn, and willing to share with everyone we met,” said Dr. Breslin. “Our hosts certainly challenged us to become justice advocates and find ways to continue our mission back home.” The trip not only had a personal impact on the alumni members who attended, but several have plans to use their experience to impact others, including in the classroom. Alumna Gabrielle Witt ’13, an Education major during her time at Iona, returned from the trip inspired to teach her students all that she learned about justice in regard to human rights – a topic she is working with them on currently. Team leader Tina Closius ’11 found that participating in the trip as an alumna, rather than a student, gave her a different perspective – one that she is grateful for. “I learned so much from the Edmund Rice Social Justice Desk, people of South Africa and my fellow group members which has sparked a fire not only in my personal and spiritual life, but professional life as well,” she said. The alumni immersion trip was so successful and well-received that Iona in Mission plans to continue a similar offering to allow more alumni the opportunity to be involved. For more information about future alumni immersion trips and how to get involved, contact Stephen Hill, coordinator of the Iona in Mission Immersion Program, at (914) 633-2340 or shill@iona.edu. By Jack Breslin, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate program director, Mass Communication Department


Group photo, from left: Rina Colamarino ’13, ’15MBA; Roselynne Mackay ’14; Kirsten Knott ’13; Jessica Scaparro ’13, ’15MA; Benny Rivera ’15; Ashley Smith ’09; Gabrielle Witt ’13; Caroline Zepeda ’16, Christina Closius ’11; Roger Rojas ’16; John Petrullo ’12; Jack Breslin, Ph.D. Photos by John M. Petrullo ’12 and Roger Rojas ’16 (pictured above)

Summer 2017 33


SHELF LIFE

Chris Capelle ’02MS announces the publication of his book, 128 Commonly Asked Macintosh Computer Questions. Valentine Cardinale ’56 has added another novel to his credits with the recent publication of Breakaway.

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Anthony V. Cervone, Ph.D., ’60 published his memoir, Indelible Roots: An Italian’s Journey in America.

Steven E. Formaro ’08MS co-authored a children’s book, Niko And His Magical Ear Muffs.

Ann Marie Gilligan ’98 proudly announces the publication of her children’s book, Jim Rat.

John J. Doherty ’58 had the third edition of his guide, The Ultimate Job Guide: Edition 2016 & Beyond, published recently.

John Freely, Ph.D., ’51 had his memoir, The House of Memory: Reflections on Youth and War, published recently. He has authored more than 40 books during his career (see page 3 for more).

Carol Harblin ’97 recently published Live Life Now (Not Later) The Life Recipe. George R. Hopkins ’62 published his sixth mystery/ thriller, Chasing The Devil’s Breath.


“Rope,” a production by the Iona College Theatre Ensemble, was just one of nearly 30 arts events that took place on campus during the 2016-17 academic year. Iona College arts events are open to the public and range from gallery exhibitions, dance recitals, musical performances, theatre productions and more. To learn more about upcoming arts events for the 2017-18 academic year, visit iona.edu/artscouncil.

Brian McManus ’69 had his novel The Lambs of War published in fall 2016. Roger Steffens ’64 recently published his second book, So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley. His first book, The Family Acid Jamaica, was published earlier this year.

Congratulations to the newly elected and re-elected members of the Iona College Alumni Association Board of Directors!

Mark A. Andrews ’98, ’00MS Alberto F. Araya ’99 Kyle Byrne ’15 Kevin R. Callahan ’84 Tyler Cardinal ’06, ’09MBA Matthew P. Cipriano ’06, ’09MBA Tashica S. (Clarke) Crawford, NCSP, ’07, ’10MA* Timothy J. Horohoe ’91 Darcy M. Katris, Esq., ’82 Thomas R. Leto, CFC, ’74* Claire L. Mungiguerra ’75, ’78MBA* Don E. Murphy ’82 Angela A. Pearson ’90, ’96MBA Gabrielle N. Simpson ’08, ’10MA Cameron Woods ’14 *Re-elected

Summer 2017 35


We remember our recently deceased alumni and friends.

ALUMNI Robert J. Collins, Ph.D., ’48 Arthur J. Kiriacon ’48 Walter P. Rozett ’48 Clarence J. Christe ’49 James T. Degnan ’49 Eric J. Flood ’50 Joseph W. Kelly ’50 Francis J. Lupica ’50 John P. Rush ’50 Peter V. DeMarco ’51 John B. Freely, Ph.D., ’51 John M. Greany ’51 James B. McNamee ’51 Robert J. Pallone, Esq., ’51 James J. Devlin ’52 Edward J. Reynolds ’52 Thomas E. Collins ’53 Jordan N. Issackedes ’53 James A. Passabet Sr. ’53 Matthew E. Robinson ’53 George F. Tuoti ’53 Frank T. Blainey ’54 Donald J. Guarnieri ’54 J. Lawrence Heathwood, CFC, ’54 John P. Joyce ’54 Bernard J. Kane ’54 Michael J. Bruno ’55 Michael J. Kearney ’55 John P. Quinn ’55 Joseph A. DiGiacomo ’56 Howard R. Webb ’56 Lawrence C. Aitken ’57 John J. Doddy ’57 Gerald J. Fitzgerald ’57 Peter J. O’Callaghan ’57, ’92MS Thomas W. Vila ’57 Thomas G. Washington ’57 Donald P. Harrington ’58 Richard H. Johnson, CLU, ’58 Jerry P. Bisceglia ’59, ’91MS Joseph A. Cestone ’59 Salvator V. DeLuca ’59

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Henry J. Gavan, Esq., ’59 John J. Cronin, CPA, ’60 Peter Fornaby Jr. ’60, ’85MS Peter R. Spino ’60 James W. Farmer ’62 John E. Smith ’62 Robert J. Canavan ’63 Ralph S. Mozilo ’63 Thomas W. Bray ’64 James J. Powers, Esq., ’64 N. John Spada ’64 William S. McKinney ’66, ’73MSEd James W. Glackin ’67 John W. Dempewolf Jr. ’68 James J. Dwyer Jr. ’71MBA Pasquale J. Latina ’71MA Marita Keane ’72MA James P. Kenyon ’72, ’81MBA Vincent C. Martines ’73MBA Sr. Stephanie Wilson ’74MBA Larry C. Lange ’75MBA Kenneth M. Weinberg ’75MBA William C. Longua Jr. ’77 John R. Hughes ’78 Sr. Virginia G. Waters ’79 Martin J. Rowland ’83MBA Catherine A. Senno ’87 Clifton Brinson ’88MS John Wojciechowski ’88 Peter S. Marshall ’89MBA James A. Brophy ’90 William M. Petty ’90MS William M. Casey ’93 Annmarie M. Rondeau ’94 Michael O. Foley ’01 Ryan C. McCarthy ’12MA

FACULTY & STAFF

Theodore “Ted” Schwartz, Ph.D.

(faculty, Management, Business Administration & Health Care Management)

List as of June 7, 2017

Spotlight on Entrepreneurs On April 19, the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation presented the first Spotlight on Entrepreneurs. The event featured successful entrepreneurs across various fields including: n

Jim Fosina ’90, founder & CEO of Fosina Marketing Group and Amora Coffee

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Anthony Graffeo, founder and president of FlipRocks

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Howard Horowitz, founder and president of Horowitz and Associates

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Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Allegedly

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Daniel F. Levin, playwright, composer, lyricist and producer

See page 22 for more on the Hynes family gift to establish the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

REUNION WEEKEND MAY 12-13, 2017


UPCOMING EVENTS August 15, 2017

ALUMNI METS VS. YANKEES GAME

Watch the Mets and Yankees battle it out in a Subway Series game!

September 11, 2017

9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICE

Remember and honor members of the Iona College community who lost their lives as a result of September 11, 2001.

Mass Communication students from Adjunct Professor Chris Farley’s journalism class had the opportunity to meet Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman during a recent visit to the Wall Street Journal offices.

October 13-15, 2017

HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND 2017

Come home to Iona! All are invited for a fun activity-filled weekend on the College campus, with events for the whole family.

October 16, 2017

44TH ANNUAL IONA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES GOLF INVITATIONAL

Support student scholarships while playing golf on one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world.

November 10, 2017

VETERANS DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE

Salute Iona College’s veterans for their service to our beloved nation.

December 3, 2017

CHRISTMAS MASS AND SANTA BREAKFAST

Enjoy Mass and breakfast with fellow alumni, family and friends.

GOING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD

See more about Reunion Weekend 2017.

Summer 2017 37


Iona College Magazine 715 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

See page 12 for more on Commencement 2017.

“If faced with an ethical challenge, immediately recognize there is no challenge — you do the ethical thing. I’ll leave you with a thought to ponder regardless of the field in which you may endeavor: If you don’t look up, you’ll always think you’re at the highest point.” – James P. Hynes ’69, ’01H 2017 undergraduate commencement speaker


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