Saint Peter's College Magazine

FALL 2008

Saint Peter’s College

T H E M AG A Z I N E O F THE JESUIT COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY

COMMUNICATION TAKES OFF

LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD

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M E N A N D WO M E N F O R OT H E R S

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P E AC O C K B L U E

FROM THE PRESIDENT

FALL 2008

Saint Peter’s College A YEAR OF INNOVATION If I could sum up my first year as president of Saint Peter’s College in one word, it would be — innovation. It’s a powerful concept if you think about it. Our nation’s history is the story of those who have moved society forward by taking initiative and finding better ways to do things.

Here at Saint Peter’s College, we’re certainly moving forward. The College has responded, and responded well, to the needs of the evolving global marketplace with many new initiatives. In particular, we have expanded academic programs in science, communication, nursing and business.

Pay a visit to Gannon Hall and you’ll find undergraduates learning cutting-edge practices in biotechnology or conducting immunological research with faculty members in the new department of applied science and technology.

WSPC Radio is back on the air and the television studio has been updated with new technology. As a result, our communication majors are gaining relevant experience supported by a strong liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition.

This year we’ve joined many colleges and universities across the nation by adopting the “College and University Presidents Climate Commitment” — challenging the entire Saint Peter’s community to reduce its carbon footprint. And we’ve made significant investments in the people of our College community, as well as $5 million in capital improvements throughout the campus to bring The Jesuit College of New Jersey to its fullest potential. Even Saint Peter’s College Magazine has been redesigned and, in keeping with our commitment to sustainability, is now printed on chlorine-free recycled paper.

Furthermore, to reflect the College’s innovative spirit, we’ve updated our Web site and introduced an electronic newsletter, Magis.

All of this progress has generated excitement among prospective students. This year, we received a record number of inquiries and applications for our largest freshman class in eight years, with the highest selectivity at any time in the last decade.

As I begin my second year as president, I’m proud of the way our college community has embraced

ADMINISTRATION

Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President Virginia Bender, Ph.D. ’78 Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J. Vice President for Mission and Ministry

Kenneth Payne, M.P.A. Vice President for Finance and Business Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Affairs Marylou Yam, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs FALL 2008 SAINT PETER’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE Volume 28, Number 1

Media Matters Hispanic College Quiz Show Q&A Men and Women for Others Leaders in Their Field

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DEPARTMENTS 2.

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On the Boulevard Peacock Blue Alumni News and Notes Ad Finem

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Editor Lorraine McConnell Executive Director of Public Relations and Publications Editorial & Design Services Erbach Communications Group Contributors & Editorial Assistance Jamie Bredehoft Ana M. Cravo Daniel Drutz Barbara Genese Leah Leto ’05 Frances Salvo ’02 Rosemary Servidio Photography Gene Shaw Catherine Mernar

pursuing new levels of excellence.

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Michael A. Fazio, M.B.A. Vice President for Advancement

innovation. Moving forward, Saint Peter’s will continue to reinvent itself as an educational leader

Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President

FEATURES

Saint Peter’s College Magazine is printed on an elemental chlorine-free paper containing 50 percent recycled content with 25 percent post-consumer waste. This is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.

HOW TO REACH US Alumni News and Notes Submit a note online at http://alumni.spc.edu or send it to: Office of Alumni Relations Cushing Alumni House 2641 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Letter to the Editor E-mail: lmcconnell@spc.edu Editor, Saint Peter’s College Magazine 2641 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 761-6240 Fax: (201) 761-6241

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On the cover: Amanda Borger, a communication student on the air at WSPC Radio.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 1

ON THE BOULEVARD

ON THE BOULEVARD

$5 MILLION IN CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

HIGH STANDARDS MARYLOU YAM, Ph.D., APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Since joining Saint Peter’s College as a nursing instructor nearly two decades ago, Marylou Yam, Ph.D., has emerged as a tireless advocate of high academic standards.

Recently appointed as the College’s vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Yam views her new position as an opportunity to play a major role in expanding the College’s programs to meet the changing needs of students and the global market.

Marylou Yam, Ph.D. “I think that many educational goals related to critical thinking and life-long learning are the same for Saint Peter’s students today as they were in the past,” explained Dr. Yam. “Our graduates today also have to be able to apply technology in ways that are very different than in the past.

In addition, we need to prepare them for a diverse workforce.”

During her tenure at Saint Peter’s, Dr. Yam has spearheaded several major initiatives to develop new academic programs. As director of the department of nursing, she led the expansion of the department to include a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree.

Later, as associate dean of nursing, Dr. Yam led the development of the Registered Nurse (R.N.) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Bridge Program, as well as the B.S.N. to M.S.N. option.

Named academic dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business Administration two years ago, Dr. Yam was instrumental in establishing the common reading program, the major in biotechnology, the minor in journalism and a concentration in e-commerce within the department of computer science. Dr. Yam, along with faculty members, played a major role in the launch of the department of applied sciences and technology in July and a new Africana studies minor in September.

“Faculty are working on new programs on both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” she explained. “And we are in the midst of developing a strategic plan, which will guide all new initiatives. It’s an exciting time to be working with our faculty and administration on implementing new academic programs for our students.”

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Members of the Class of 2008 at the Commencement Exercises at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

CLASS OF 2008 OFF AND RUNNING The Class of 2008 has taken the words of Commencement Speaker Thomas D. Carver, Esq. ’58 to heart. “Over and over you will have the opportunity to make a difference,” Carver, the executive director of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, told graduates at the College’s 117th Commencement in May. “Seize the day! You are so prepared,” he said.

Saint Peter’s graduates are utilizing their Jesuit, liberal arts education to begin careers in a variety of fields such as business, media and education. Many are also advancing their educations at prestigious graduate programs throughout the country.

Class Valedictorian Aleksander Nikolov entered a Ph.D. program in computer science at Rutgers University. An international student from Bulgaria, Nikolov says Saint Peter’s introduced him to a world of ideas. “Had I stayed in Bulgaria,” he noted, “I would not have had the opportunity to study other subjects. I feel much richer for having studied topics so far away from my field of expertise.”

“Saint Peter’s taught me to think outside of the box,” said Dwayne Paul, a theology major who is now attending Divinity School at Yale University in pursuit of a master’s degree in religion.

Sarah Anfora, an art history major and star of several Argus Eyes productions, is now studying at the Actors Studio of Pace University, where she’s pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. “My goal is not to be famous, because you can’t think that way in this wacky field of acting. But I’d be happy to teach — maybe someday at Saint Peter’s College.”

Kelliann Coleman weighed several options before deciding to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. “I’m excited and a little nervous,” the recent graduate confessed, days before leaving for San Antonio, Tex., where she’ll spend the next year working for Catholic Charities as a caseworker. “This is a big leap into the unknown.”

The College is getting a fresh new look, Center (RLC), and repaving of the thanks to $5 million in improvements Armory parking lot. underway all around campus.

Other structural projects include The projects range from structural upgrading energy efficiency through new, repairs in campus buildings and parking zoned heating and cooling controls in facilities to spiffy additions like new several residence halls and McDermott campus signage, fresh paint and Hall. Power upgrades have also new entrance doors and been completed at the RLC. ‘Well-maintained windows.

In addition, the College is facilities go The goal is to make the safeguarding facades by watercampus more comfortable for proofing and sealing Murray hand in hand current students and more attracHall and Whelan Hall, as well as with enhancing tive to prospective students and re-pointing the brickwork on the learning their families.

Guarini House and Lee House, “All of these projects enwhich will also have the front environment.’ hance the attractiveness of the porch replaced.

College,” explained Saint Peter’s “The difference is unbelievCollege President Eugene J. Cornacchia, able,” said Manager of College Services Ph.D. “Well-maintained facilities go hand Anna DePaula. “This is an ongoing major in hand with enhancing the learning envirenovation of public spaces.” ronment and the overall atmosphere of the Students are also benefiting from an College.” extension of the east side of the quadA major portion of the work involves rangle, as well as the renovation of the the restoration of the parking deck adjafountain area next to McDermott Hall for cent to the Yanitelli Recreational Life a more comfortable seating area.

A LIFESAVING GRANT SAINT PETER’S AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION Saint Peter’s College Center for Personal Development received funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the implementation of suicide prevention programs. Saint Peter’s is the only institution of higher learning in New Jersey to receive the grant.

“We feel very privileged,” remarked Ron Becker, LCSW, director of the center for personal development.

“There were a number of applications, and we were selected based on the strong proposal we’d submitted and the cultural sensitivity of our program.”

Because of the diverse student population at Saint Peter’s, he explained, “We emphasize cultural awareness: How people from different backgrounds present symptoms, and how we can best provide them with support. Not everyone deals with life the same way.”

This grant will help fund programs to assist students, their families, faculty and staff to recognize a variety of behaviors displayed by “at-risk” young people. The center’s motto for this year is “SPC Cares. Be a lifesaver.”

Becker and project coordinators Jessica Disla and Marni Brand will communicate these ideas to the Saint Peter’s community at campus wellness fairs and through electronic media, including e-mail, the Internet and podcasts.

Above all, Becker emphasized, “Talking to someone about how you feel is important. Nobody has to be alone. There are people here who want to help.”

The grant is administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Students congregate in the renovated fountain area.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 3

ON THE BOULEVARD

PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION

POST OFFICE DEDICATED TO HONOR GUARINI It’s official. The Main Post Office in Jersey City is now the Frank J. Guarini Post Office following a dedication on June 16 that honored the local statesman, scholar, World War II hero and longtime friend and supporter of Saint Peter’s College.

Two Saint Peter’s alumni, Rep. Albio Sires ’74 and Sen. Robert Menendez ’76, introduced the bill to rename the turn-of-the-century building for Guarini, a former U.S. Congressman and New Jersey State Senator. Attendees — including former New Jersey Governors Brendan Byrne and James Florio — made heartfelt tributes to their friend and former colleague.

College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., also spoke, calling Guarini an active supporter of the College’s mission and a generous friend. As a member of Saint Peter’s Board of Trustees and Board of Regents, Guarini donated the president’s residence known as Guarini House and established the Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs, which hosts lectures and forums for the purpose of providing a nonpartisan forum for discussion and analysis of key public policy issues.

Hon. Frank J. Guarini H ’94 4 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

EVENT HONORS THE COLLEGE’S LOYAL ALUMNI The lights that glistened on the river outside Liberty House Restaurant could not compare with the glow of pride that emanated from the attendees at the Saint Peter’s College President’s Reception on September 17.

Freshmen take a pizza break after moving into their residence hall.

MEET THE CLASS OF 2012 NEARLY 600 FRESHMEN JOIN THE SAINT PETER’S COMMUNITY Approximately 600 freshmen, selected from from Lawrence, Mass., Urena plans on majorone of the largest applicant pools in more ing in biology. “I feel right at home here,” she than a decade, began classes at Saint Peter’s said, a few days after moving into Millennium College on August 27. The College received Hall. “What I’m most looking forward to is a record number of applications totaling new friends and the great education I will renearly 6,000, and is experiencing the highest ceive. Hopefully, Saint Peter’s will help me get selectivity than at any closer to my goal of betime in the last 10 years. coming a doctor.”

With nearly 55 perNilufar Ernazarova, cent of freshmen residing who grew up in Uzbekon campus, the first-year istan and moved to class represents more than Hillsborough, N.J., several 17 states throughout the years ago, appreciates the nation and countries from small college environment. around the world, includ“College is definitely a ing Australia, Bulgaria, transition, but I like my China, Croatia, France, new classmates,” she said.

Ghana, Israel, Italy, Nepal, Saint Peter’s is also Sierra Leone and South attracting more studentKorea. athletes, including sevProximity to New eral volleyball players Peter’s welcomed freshmen studentYork City factored promi- Saint from California and a athletes to campus. Left to right: Director of nently in Jinelly Urena’s Athletics Patrick Elliott, Tyler Pang, a freshman group of freshmen golfers decision to attend The member of the golf team, College President expected to take the Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., and Tyler’s dad, Jesuit College of New Darren Pang, a color commentator for ESPN team to a more competJersey. An Ignatian Scholar and former Chicago Blackhawks goalie. itive level.

Rabia Sattaur ’06 and Ayesha Sattaur (left) and Presidential Scholar Francis DeMichele ’11.

President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., welcomed guests to the reception that recognizes those who gave their time, support and dedication to advance the College’s development. It further offered attendees the opportunity to bear witness to the exemplary achievements of Saint Peter’s College, its programs and students.

The 217 guests listened as 2007 Presidential Scholar, Francis DeMichele

’11, thanked the group for “the most treasured award that I will receive in my life.”

The biotechnology and business administration major called the scholarship “a miracle,” as he described that without it, his parents could not have sent him to college.

DeMichele told his benefactors that he prays for them every Sunday with eternal gratitude. Moreover, he hopes that one day he will be able to emulate the generosity shown him and “support the young and ambitious students of my alma mater.”

The newly appointed chair of the board of trustees, Kathleen McKenna ’75, echoed DeMichele’s sentiments as she spoke about her experience as a member of a large family who also needed financial support to complete her education at Saint Peter’s College.

McKenna said, “I am proud of SPC and the education it gave me. Furthermore, I enjoy having the opportunity to give back as chair of the board of trustees and as an alumna.”

One of the College’s oldest organizations, the Aidan C. McMullen Chorale, directed by Kevin Cummines, entertained its appreciative audience with four songs. It was its finale – Io Pavo, the Peacock fight song – that had many alumni singing along.

NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND BUSINESS Kenneth Payne, appointed vice president for finance and business at Saint Peter’s College in August, is quickly adjusting to life on campus. “So far, I like Saint Peter’s a great deal,” he remarked.

Kenneth Payne “Everyone I’ve met has been warm, welcoming and supportive.”

Payne, a graduate of Ohio State University and Governors State University of Illinois’ College of Commerce and Public Administration, brings to Saint Peter’s extensive financial experience and leadership in the academic and nonprofit fields.

He has served as chief investment officer for CARE International, Inc., the world’s largest private relief and economic development organization and as associate vice president of business and finance at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He also worked in finance at Illinois State University.

BUZZ ON SAINT PETER’S The 4 million viewers who tuned into Good Morning America on June 10 learned there are different ways to look at autism. In a segment on neurodiversity, featuring Assistant Professor of Classics Kristina Chew, Ph.D., ABC News Correspondent Deborah Roberts interviewed the Saint Peter’s professor, who is among a growing number of parents of special-needs children who believe that a cure for autism is the wrong approach. Dr. Chew believes that autistic children like her 11-year-old son, Charlie, would benefit more from greater support services and education.

“We’re really trying to understand [Charlie] on his own terms,” she told Roberts.

“Acceptance to me is the beginning of hope.”

Dr. Chew also serves as co-director of the honors program and as advisor for special scholarships at the center for graduate, professional and foreign study at Saint Peter’s. She posts a daily weblog about Charlie, as well as news and issues affecting the autism community, at www.autismvox.com.

ABC News Correspondent Deborah Roberts with Saint Peter’s Professor Kristina Chew, Ph.D. Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 5

MEDIA MATTERS With new courses, the rebirth of WSPC Radio and a major media market nearby, communication careers are taking off at Saint Peter’s College.

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isten to WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York sometime and chances are you’ll hear Joseph Galbo’s work. You’ll also see his influence on the station’s Web site, where the 2008 Saint Peter’s graduate — a desk assistant for the station — selects which stories will make it online.

Or perhaps you caught Mesfin Fekadu’s Associated Press (AP) interview with the rapper Ludacris that appeared in newspapers and on Web sites around the country. Also a 2008 Saint Peter’s graduate, Fekadu now works as a production coordinator for the entertainment division of the AP, where he also produces video packages for the Internet.

Galbo and Fekadu are just two of the many students benefiting from the tremendous growth the depar tment of communication has experienced at Saint Peter’s. The strength of the academic program, as well as internships and handson experiences such as WSPC, the College’s streaming radio station, is helping graduates hone professional skills needed to land jobs in a very competitive business.

“There definitely is a sort of ‘radio renaissance’ going on at Saint Peter’s,” said Galbo, who hosted a news program, the 411@4, for WSPC earlier this year. “It’s a great time to be a communication student at Saint Peter’s and I’m really excited for everyone there right now.”

The growth of the College’s communication program began more than a decade ago, when the major was still a part of the English department. The number of undergraduates grew steadily, and in 2005, the program became the department of

communication. Just three years later, communication is one of the fastest growing majors at the College, attracting students to its program of mass media studies including writing and publishing, journalism, media business, TV and radio production, film theory and history.

This spring, the department marked the rebirth of the journalism minor, an addition that recent graduates like Fekadu say will enhance an already strong program.

“Saint Peter’s definitely has the resources,” the young reporter said. “I’m a good example of the fact that you can get a really good job. With the journalism minor, the College is going to draw more students.”

News writing, public speaking and advanced journalism courses with faculty members such as Fatima Shaik, M.A., and Cynthia Walker, Ph.D., were a great foundation for a career that demands people who can think on their feet. A staff writer at the student newspaper, The Pauw Wow, during his undergraduate years, Fekadu also took advantage of the College’s proximity to New York, landing internships at MTV News, Showtime and MSNBC. Professor Shaik has seen the department expand tremendously since she began teaching at Saint Peter’s in 1991.

She attributes the expansion to a greater awareness of the influence of media and technology in today’s culture.

“We’re starting to become aware of the impact technology and media have on our lives,” said Professor Shaik, the author of four trade books who is writing a fifth on free people of color in 19th century New Orleans. “Students today need to be media literate in the same way they must be

writing literate. We need to teach people how to read media and understand that you can’t believe everything an ad says. I think a lot of people don’t know that.”

Depar tment of Communication Chairman Barna W. Donovan, Ph.D., estimates that enrollment hovers between 100 and 110 students, most of whom have an interest in electronic media — radio, television and the Web. To accommodate those interests, the College revived WSPC radio, transforming it into a streaming Internet station with regularly scheduled student-led programming.

Professor Joseph Lamachia, an adjunct professor who serves as WSPC’s station manager, has guided students in establishing regular news, commentary and music programming, as well as beefing up the studios with updated technology for both radio and TV. Last semester more than 40 students participated in producing 17 different programs regularly, ranging from current pop music to heavy metal, Euro top 10, news, sports and commentary including Rants of Reason, which provides “proactive political discourse.” The show’s hosts, Chris DePizzo ’10 and Gary Young ’10, are respectively the president and vice president of the Gannon Debating Society at Saint Peter’s.

RADIO REINCARNATED A radio, television and ad agency professional with extensive industry experience, Professor Lamachia guides the students toward producing professional programming.

“My job is to work with students and

Communication students with Professor Joseph Lamachia (center). Pictured clockwise from bottom left are: Chris DePizzo ’10, Daniel Adams ’12, Stephanie Danis ’11, Chris Hetherington ’12, Chris Gonzalez ’10 and Gary Young ’10.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 7

COVER STORY

give guidance similar to the classroom situation, but it happens in a hands-on environment,” explained Professor Lamachia, who has an active career in voiceovers.

“We’re looking at a very vital medium, not only here at Saint Peter’s, but around the country and the globe.”

In addition to radio, the department is updating the campus TV studio with the goal of starting a Saint Peter’s television station. The Pauw Wow, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is now online at www.spc.edu/pauwwow.

The Jesuit, liberal arts education offered at Saint Peter’s is a natural for students going into media, with courses in political science, art and history dovetailing with media studies, Dr. Donovan pointed out.

Alumni like Paul Colford ’75, a former Daily News and Newsday columnist who now directs media relations for The Associated Press, agree.

A classics major, Colford points to his nonfiction writing electives taught by Herald News editor Eugene Murphy in the 1970s as “humbling, yet highly instructive.” “[Murphy] marked up and edited our

assignments in such detail that you could barely make out the original transcript,” remembered Colford. “The experience suggests to me that in order for students to succeed in news, all the department structure and enhancement in the world must still be coupled with a desire and a need to raise one’s game under toughminded instructors.”

At Saint Peter’s today, Dr. Walker is one of those instructors who has extensive professional experience in journalism, screenwriting, advertising and marketing – all of which are covered by the College’s communication major.

“All of us have very different strengths and expertise in different areas,” Dr. Walker said of the department’s faculty. “It gives our department a nice broad perspective.”

A published author and noted expert on the Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dr. Walker believes the department’s emphasis on writing gives Saint Peter’s graduates an edge in navigating the many professions offered to writers today.

“As a journalist myself, I know you have to be prepared for all possibilities,” she explained. “Every communication program is different. At Saint Peter’s, our emphasis is on writing. If you have strong

Donisha Roberts ’09 (left) with communication faculty members Professor Fatima Shaik (center) and Cynthia Walker, Ph.D. (right).

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writing skills and a good understanding of how media works, you can go anywhere.”

Access to a major media market is also a key factor in the department’s rising profile.

Director of Cooperative Education Sondra Riley reports that both number and scope of media internships continue to expand, with students gaining hands-on experience at VH1, Atlantic Music, EMI Music, ABC Radio Group and Comedy Central.

“I’m glad I came to Saint Peter’s because I’ve had opportunities that I wouldn’t have had at another school,” said senior Donisha Roberts ’09, who interned at VH1 last semester and began another internship at BET (Black Entertainment Television) this fall.

On campus experiences are also instrumental in developing well-rounded journalists. Last spring, the communication and history departments co-hosted a media conference focusing on the history of the free press and censorship issues.

The department is also looking to bring alumni — several of whom are accomplished journalists — to share their professional experiences. James F. McGlinchy, Jr. ’73, the deputy bureau chief at the CBS News Washington, D.C., bureau, can recall his days as a “one-man news department” at WSPC Radio and working on The Weekly Report, a half-hour news program produced entirely by students. Like many in the industry, he believes that future journalists benefit from a liberal arts education.

“I worry about communications majors that show people just how to operate equipment,” he said. “It’s knowing how to treat a story, how to write a lead. It’s knowing how to find your sources and knowing what you can use and what you can’t use.”

As for Galbo, now in his first job after graduation, he appreciates how his Jesuit education helps him to approach ethical challenges with integrity.

“Ethics and reasoning have become increasingly more important to me as my time at WCBS goes on,” he explained. “A day doesn't go by that I don’t find myself pausing to consider the consequences of my professional actions, however small those actions may be.

THE MISUNDERSTOOD ACTION HERO RESEARCH BY DEPARTMENT CHAIR DEBUNKS MYTH ABOUT VIOLENT FILMS

Communication Department Chairman Barna Donovan, Ph.D.

Calling Barna Donovan, Ph.D., an action film enthusiast is an understatement. The chairman of the Saint Peter’s department of communication is a noted expert with three books on the topic.

This fall, Dr. Donovan’s first book, The Asian Influence on Hollywood Action Films, will hit the market. The book, which is available through Amazon.com and other outlets, traces how Hong Kong and Japanese filmmaking has influenced Hollywood styles for decades.

Two other books, Conspiracy Theory Films: The Dark Side of American Popular Culture and Blood, Guns and Testosterone: Action Film Violence and Audiences will be out within the next two years.

A self-described skeptic, Dr. Donovan argues that violent films don’t translate

into increased violence in society. As proof, he points to the relatively low crime rates in Asian countries.

“Watching violent films does not have a negative impact on society,” said Dr. Donovan, who holds his doctorate in Communication Information and Library Studies from Rutgers University. “This is an unfounded fear and it worries me that people will be more tolerant of censorship.

The crime rates of Asian countries are minuscule compared to what’s happening in the U.S.” Instead, the Saint Peter’s professor points to the moral undertones of violent films, in which good usually conquers evil.

“There’s a clear good and evil. You can choose to do right or wrong,” he added.

“It’s a good message for young people.”

A WELCOME ADDITION GOOD DAY NEW YORK REPORTER JOINS SAINT PETER’S Ask veteran news reporter Ernabel Demillo the story she is most proud of and the answer might surprise you. After all, the broadcast journalist, who joined the department of communication this fall, has covered some major stories: the Northridge Earthquake, former President Richard Nixon’s funeral, the O.J. Simpson car chase up the 405 Freeway, the Unabomber and Polly Klaas trials.

In 1996, the new reporter for Fox5’s Good Day New York discovered that an Asian-American lawmaker had yet to be elected to city or state office in New York.

No one in the newsroom believed her, but it led to a three-part series on AsianAmericans in politics, which she says, “really showed the Asian-American community in a different light.” The series also inspired her to do more stories of substance on other New York communities.

Professor DeMillo, who also taught at her alma mater, the University of Southern

California, hopes to inspire the next generation of journalists at Saint Peter’s.

Her teaching load includes classes in sportswriting, video journalism and grammar for writers. She will also work one on one with students enrolled in an investigative journalism tutorial. The professor notes with a bit of excitement in her voice, “We can work on two really good investigative stories.”

In addition to honing writing and reporting skills, there’s another ability Professor Demillo hopes to see students develop. “The most important thing is story ideas,” stressed the journalist, who has a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. “A lot of times people think they’ll come in and write for a program or publication, but what your editors and news directors are looking for is story ideas. That’s the value you bring as a journalist.”

Former Good Day New York anchor Ernabel Demillo.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 9

Game On! Saint Peter’s students reach semifinals in Hispanic College Quiz Show

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After taping concluded for

Hispanic College Quiz Show, the Saint Peter’s College team appeared on the cover of The Voice, a magazine of Hispanic Higher Education. The program is airing on stations throughout the country during Hispanic Heritage Month.

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ive students from Saint Peter’s College made history this fall as part of the premiere of Know Your Heritage: Hispanic College Quiz Show, a game show produced by the Chicago-based Central City Productions (CCP) in conjunction with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) to foster greater knowledge and appreciation of Hispanic culture. Team members — Noel Borges ’10; Stephanie Galvis ’09; Alex Rivero ’09; Daisy Vargas ’11; and Daniela Villacres ’11; and their advisor Alex Trillo, Ph.D., associate professor of Latin American and Latino studies — flew to Chicago on April 5 to film four half-hour segments of the show. Its multiple choice questions were based on Juan Gonzalez’s Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America.

Competing teams came from East Los Angeles College, New Mexico State University, Our Lady of the Lake University, Whittier College, the City Colleges of Chicago, University of Houston-Victoria and San Diego State University. The series is hosted by NBC news anchor Zoraida Sambolin, and aired on stations across the country during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15.

Borges, president of the Latin American Service Organization (LASO) at Saint Peter’s, was in the process of planning a reading circle that would focus on Harvest of Empire when he learned about the opportunity to participate in the quiz show. “I saw this as an innovative way to

encourage students to read the book,” he explained. “I feel it should be required reading for everyone.” Because they were accepted only one week before filming began, the Jersey City native, a double major in political science and sociology, worked diligently with his teammates to prepare for the quiz show. “I was excited by the diversity of our group,” he commented.

“Between the five of us, we represented Puerto Rican, Cuban, Colombian, Mexican and Ecuadorian backgrounds.

And I was even more proud of our commitment to studying Harvest of Empire.

We had a number of other obligations on our plate — intense class schedules, work and serving on executive boards — but we knew one another’s work ethics and were confident that we would do well.”

“These students really rose to the occasion,” remarked Dr. Trillo who serves with Jennifer Ayala, Ph.D., of the Education Department as advisors for LASO. “The timing was challenging, as they were in the crunch of the semester while they were preparing. They worked early in the morning, late at night — whenever they had free time,” Dr. Trillo added.

The five team members read Harvest of Empire from cover to cover and divided the individual chapters among themselves. “We each understood that it was really important to represent Saint Peter’s,” said Galvis, an international business trade major from Reading, Pa. “It was pretty hectic because we really didn’t have a lot of time to prepare, but we worked as a group and individually to get ready, often texting or calling one another to quiz each other on questions.”

When Dr. Trillo and the team arrived at Newark Liberty Airport for their flight

to Chicago, they learned it had been delayed until the following morning.

“We were determined to find a way to get there,” said Borges. “We desperately went from airline to airline, explaining our situation.” Thankfully, a sympathetic desk attendant found six seats on a flight to Chicago that landed a half-hour before filming began.

“We only allowed ourselves 15-minute naps on the flight,” Borges explained, “so that we could continue quizzing one another.”

The Saint Peter’s team arrived in time to film their segments, scoring high enough to make the semifinals. “We were impressed by how much we knew,” Borges remarked, “especially since it was our first time on TV, and we were a little nervous.”

After their elimination from the game, the team spent the remainder of their time in Chicago exploring the city.

“Dr. Trillo taught us a great deal about Latino culture in Chicago,” said Galvis.

“He showed us some great sites and we were also able to bond with students from the other schools. It was definitely a oncein-a-lifetime experience.”

Months later, the quiz show continues to have an effect on the Saint Peter’s participants. “Now students are at my door all the time, talking about what book they’ve read or what conference they want to attend,” said Dr. Trillo. “This experience was a wonderful example of students really being students — taking matters into their own hands, learning the material, understanding their own history and representing Saint Peter’s in the best possible way.”

Borges concurs with Dr. Trillo about the impression the show has had, “I was excited that we had so many intellectual conversations about Latino history and culture. We experienced a sense of self-discovery. I’m eager to educate others about our heritage, and Hispanic College Quiz Show was the perfect opportunity for me to do so. I hope it encourages viewers across the nation to learn more about their histories and to have some of the same discoveries that we did.”

Above: The Saint Peter’s team explores Chicago with advisor Alex Trillo, Ph.D. (center).

Middle: The team on the set with NBC news anchor Zoraida Sambolin.

Below: Competing on “Hispanic College Quiz Show.”

Hello

Bonjour Shalom Ciào

Ave

Hola

Hallo

YiaSou

FEATURE QUESTION

AND ANSWER

Olá

D

epartment of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Chairman Rev. Mark DeStephano, S.J., talks about the innovative language course he created, the Jesuit mission at Saint Peter’s and what it’s like to speak 13 different languages.

You speak 13 different languages. Which ones? Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, German, Greek, Biblical Greek — koine and classical — Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and English. I love the romance languages.

The latest additions have been the Asian languages, with the hope that I can be fluent one day — especially in Chinese. I’ve been working on my Mandarin Chinese as of late.

Speaking in Tongues

When did you begin speaking multiple languages at once?

It began back in high school. As a freshman I liked languages so I started taking five at once — Latin, Spanish, German, French and Italian. And I carried them all throughout high school. The experience led me to see and hear the similarities in all five languages.

Is that what inspired you to begin the Romance Language Synthesis Course at Saint Peter’s in which three languages — Spanish, French and Italian — are spoken at once?

It did. Through the years, I was amazed that [Romance Language Synthesis] wasn’t in any school or part of a standard curriculum. And I thought this is a great idea. The benefit of doing it here at Saint Peter’s is that we don’t have the massive administrative structure or barriers that large colleges do. Being chairman of the language department made it easier to implement, though it took some convincing from the Faculty Senate to be accepted as a core requirement. It’s been very successful.

Do the students generally have a background in all three languages? Most of them would have a background in at least one of the languages. Those who have a background in two, that’s a little rare. The students are excellent and very engaged. They are taking double the language requirement by choice, so they want to be there. When you have good students who want to be there, that’s a perfect combination.

“Romance Language Synthesis is an extremely challenging and demanding course. Yet every class was exciting and full of laughter and learning.“ — Christopher Zullo ’09 12 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

The department of modern and classical languages and literatures has a rich history at Saint Peter’s. How would you say the department has evolved? Not only do we have the offerings that have always been at the College, we’ve been expanding into other languages. My particular rule is to help the department grow in preparation for the global economy. And I feel like we need to take this seriously by offering Chinese, Japanese and Korean. It is something we are introducing shortly. We now offer Tagalog, one of the major languages spoken in the

Philippines, because for years, we’ve had a very large community in Jersey City. I’ve also brought in Arabic and am hoping to offer a course in standard Hindi or one of the Indian languages.

Since you speak 13 languages, what language do you pray in? That’s interesting. I was telling my class the other day that I pray in English, although I do a lot of work in Puerto Rico so I try to pray in the language of the country I’m in. So in Spain or Puerto Rico, I’ll pray or say the Mass in Spanish. Same thing in France, I will pray in French.

]

‘THE STUDENTS ARE EXCELLENT AND VERY ENGAGED. THEY ARE TAKING DOUBLE

THE LANGUAGE

REQUIREMENT BY CHOICE, SO THEY WANT TO BE THERE.’ I understand you’re researching a literary criticism on the life of 19th century Spanish author Luis de Coloma, S.J. How’s it coming? Very well, thank you. I have just completed another round of research in the Jesuit archives at Alcalá de Henares. I will also make a trip to St. Louis University in October, to consult the microfiche collection of the Vatican Library regarding some issues in Coloma’s life and ministry.

This study is an analysis of the author’s works in the light of new discoveries I’ve made regarding Coloma’s life both before and after his entrance into the Society of Jesus.

As a faculty member and Jesuit at Saint Peter’s for more than 15 years, how would you characterize the Jesuit mission and identity at the College today? Jersey City has to be the most diverse city in the nation and Saint Peter’s for quite a number of years has been the most diverse Jesuit college. Our role is critical, because when we talk about diversity at Saint Peter’s, we are really talking about students living, working and being friends together across religious, linguistic and racial lines. The students here speak 70 languages, come from so many different countries and yet they all come together. They all seem to enjoy one another and it is not just tolerance. It’s savoring and enjoying the differences we have while, at the same time, recognizing that so much more unites us than divides us.

Father DeStephano has been chairman of the department of modern and classical languages and literatures at Saint Peter’s since 1998. He received the George F. Johnson, S.J. Faculty Award in 2008, which recognizes a member of the faculty whose excellence in teaching results in successfully leading students to greater knowledge and understanding of their subject matter.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 13

Man with a Mission Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J., may be new to Jersey City and The Jesuit College of New Jersey, but the vice president for mission and ministry loves a challenge.

MEN AND WOMEN

FOR OTHERS

A

few things you should know about Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J. He was born in Butte, Mont., spent four years in Taiwan and China studying the languages and researching the cross-cultural transfer of media technology.

Father Braden prefers Macs to PCs and finds his new surroundings at The Jesuit College of New Jersey simply fascinating.

“I love how diverse it is,” remarked the Jesuit, who became the vice president for mission and ministry at Saint Peter’s College in August.

“You can walk down the street and hear four or five different languages just going to Journal Square.”

The job of vice president for mission and ministry is a relatively new position, created in 2007 to ensure that Saint Peter’s continues to provide a full college experience in the Jesuit tradition.

“It’s a new role at the College, and everyone has said, ‘figure it out,’” Father Braden said with a laugh.

“I kind of thrive on that. I like the challenge of developing something new.”

That shouldn’t be a problem for this Jesuit who has a strong track record in creating things from scratch. As a faculty member and general manager of WLOY-TV at Loyola College in Baltimore, he established that college’s first television and radio facilities and introduced new programming and coursework in digital media.

Prior to that, Father Braden spent nine years at Loyola University in New Orleans where, in addition to teaching, he directed and produced documentary films and worked with the alumni chaplain to establish Christian Living Communities among the students.

Another passion project was Provoke Radio (www.provokeradio.com), a national series of 30-minute radio programs underwritten by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus that covers social justice issues from the point of Catholic social teaching and spirituality.

Father Braden served on the committee that established the program, and later, worked as an editor and advisor on the project. With topics ranging from the mortgage crisis to Middle Eastern relations, the powerful series is one he envisions on WSPC Radio in the near future.

“I don’t really come with a specific agenda,” said Father Braden, who holds a doctorate in international mass communications from the University of Illinois. “My philosophy of all this is that this is a service job. Part of my

job the first semester or even the first year is just to get to know the community and what people’s needs are. So if I had an agenda for the first year, it’s just to find out how this job fits in here and how I can service this community.”

“We are so pleased to welcome Father Braden to the Saint Peter’s community,” said College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. “In addition to a well-rounded background in university teaching and intercultural issues, he brings to his role a strong commitment to Jesuit identity and the power of Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius as the foundation of all Jesuit ministries.”

At Loyola College, Father Braden directed Ignatian Retreat Programs for faculty, staff and students and, as Saint Ignatius once suggested, adapted the Spiritual Exercises to meet the scheduling needs of various college constituencies.

“If the Jesuits offer anything distinct to society, it is

]

‘IF THE JESUITS OFFER ANYTHING DISTINCT TO SOCIETY IT IS

IGNATIUS’ SPIRITUAL EXERCISES.’ Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises,” he said. “It’s perfectly suited spirituality for busy people because it will allow you to go as deeply as you can to get into your prayer, but it will also give you the tools to gradually become what Ignatius calls, contemplative in action. Which means that basically, you become aware of God’s presence all day.”

He would also like to introduce students to a prayer called Examination of Consciousness. “Basically, it’s a 10-minute prayer, twice a day, that simply looks back over the day and takes stock. Where was God present?

Where wasn’t I paying attention? And that’s what leads to reverential, contemplative action, it really does.”

The irony of being a Jesuit, savvy in the ways of new media, in an age when college students regularly communicate via instant messaging and Facebook isn’t lost on the new vice president for mission and ministry, either. Father Braden acknowledges the challenge, but he’s not about to wring his hands about it.

“The dilemma is that, of course, when you’re trying to talk about faith, you can’t do that electronically,” he said. “The only way I can convince you that a religious experience is real and worth looking at, is for you to look me in the eye and see that I’m telling you the truth. The media’s role might be to ask questions to get you thinking in those terms, but it’s not a magic bullet. Because what you need is someone saying, ‘This is my experience.’”

Father Braden amidst the bustle of Journal Square.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 15

MEN AND WOMEN FOR OTHERS

Campus W Ministers

Clockwise from top left are: Conrad Habijan ’10, Peaches Dela Paz ’10, Director of Campus Ministry Mary Sue Callan-Farley, Deirdre Power ’09 and Kelly Rose Lynch ’10.

16 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

here better to discuss spiritual development and campus ministry than the City of Brotherly Love?

Last spring, four Saint Peter’s College students and one recent graduate attended the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute (CMLI), now in its 10th year, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and held at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. For six days, participants Peaches Dela Paz ’10, Conrad Habijan ’10, Kelly Rose Lynch ’10, Deirdre Power ’09 and Milton Bravo ’07, guided by Mary Sue CallanFarley, director of campus ministry at Saint Peter’s, met with more than 100 other students and campus ministers from around the country to discuss and explore leadership roles within the Church and the development of a strong Catholic community on campus.

The Saint Peter’s team gave a presentation on two of the six aspects of campus ministry identified in Empowered by the Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces the Future, a treatise issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Forming the Faith Community” and “Facilitating Personal Development,” which included a video, PowerPoint presentation and group activity. “The idea of talking about my faith in front of 300 people was daunting,” remarked Dela Paz, a junior who hails from East Windsor, N.J. “I learned how much effort it takes to lead a national conference. We had to prepare presentations, act as role models and, most importantly, work as a team and with other student leaders.”

Their hard work and dedication paid off. “The response we received was enthusiastic and engaged,” said junior and West Hartford, Conn., native Power.

“I couldn’t have been happier that we’d made the information accessible and entertaining.” Power, an English major who has been performing on stage for most of her life, added, “It seemed only natural to integrate acting into our presentation. We acted out scenes from our own lives: taking on too many activities and dealing with the pressures of college. That made our presentation real — and funny — to the students to whom we spoke.”

The Saint Peter’s participants also involved their audience by breaking them into smaller groups for an educational game. “We put headbands on everyone that read ‘Frat Boy,’ ‘Princess,’ ‘Shy Guy’ and other stereotypes,” explained Power. “We even had a few ‘Campus Ministers.’ Nobody knew what was written on his or her own headband and had to figure it out based on the others’ reactions.” The activity, she said, “helped the

students and campus ministers understand, from a firsthand perspective, the isolation that stereotypes create.”

Callan-Farley complimented the Saint Peter’s team members on their achievement. “They had to work really hard,” she commented. “Our students took everything very seriously and did really well. I was very proud of the generosity with which our students served other campus ministries, and of the way they represented Saint Peter’s core values.”

In addition to giving and attending presentations, participants spent part of each day working in teams to form concrete ministry plans to implement on their campuses. “It was inspiring to see how many students from colleges around the nation — big or small, private or public — love their faith so much that they want others to become involved in their campus ministry,” said Dela Paz. “Everyone was supportive of one another. By the end of the week, students went home with a sense of belonging and accomplishment, confident in their ability to lead their peers back home.”

Power is grateful for the opportunity to explore her faith openly at school. “CMLI was a culmination of what I had been growing toward over the past three years,” she remarked. “When I came to Saint Peter’s,

‘HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MY

FAITH

OPENLY AND ACT AS A LEADER FOR OTHERS FILLED A GAP THAT I’D BEEN FEELING.’

having the opportunity to discuss my faith openly and act as a leader for others filled a gap that I’d been feeling. Participating as a student conference leader was a great opportunity to put it all together.”

Dela Paz added that the student leaders’ experience will help them strengthen the Catholic presence and Jesuit identity on campus this fall. “I will continue to help the faith community, and I know my fellow team members will do the same,“ she said. “We have all learned a great deal about campus ministry — how to get others involved and how not to get discouraged.”

Callan-Farley is confident that the student leaders she guided will meet their goals this year. “CMLI exposed them to the great imagination, passion and giftedness that exist within the Catholic Church today,” she said. “Endowed with this experience, I believe our students will work hard to celebrate our identity, build our diverse campus community and encourage prayer and creative programs on campus.”

Plan Your

Legacy

]

You can change lives by making a planned gift to Saint Peter’s College. The estate of Agnes Troiano established the Louis V. and Agnes P. Troiano Memorial Scholarship, which makes higher education possible for needy students who’ve demonstrated academic achievement. Walter Hanley ’60, and his wife, Ann Marie, presented the gift to Saint Peter’s in September.

For more information about bequests, gift annuities, life insurance, charitable trusts or other opportunities for planned giving, please visit www.spc.edu/giftplanning.

If you prefer, contact: Ana M. Cravo, CFRE Director of Advancement and Gift Planning 201.761.6104 / acravo@spc.edu

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 17

LEADERS

IN THEIR FIELD Tony Terracciano ’60 takes on a new challenge as Sallie Mae’s Chairman of the Board. The company manages more than $169 billion in education loans and serves 10 million student and parent customers.

A MAN YOU CAN BANK ON T

In up markets and down, Terracciano has always stuck to a simple principle that’s served him well: Make people explain their ideas. Clearly.

ony Terracciano ’60 has never shied away from a challenge. During his 21-year career at JPMorgan Chase (then Chase Manhattan), he rose from credit officer to vice chairman, overseeing the growth of the New York-based bank’s capital markets group. In the 1980s, he began a streak of bank rescues beginning at Mellon Bank where, as president and chief operating officer, he helped restore the troubled institution to profitability. As chairman, president and CEO of First Fidelity, Terracciano engineered what many consider one of the most successful bank turnarounds in U.S. financial history. And as chairman of Dime Bancorp, Terracciano defended the bank from a hostile takeover, re-established credibility with institutional investors and eventually sold Dime to Washington Mutual. He also helped banking regulators, as chairman, stabilize the Riggs Bank in Washington, D.C. Now the banking veteran is taking on a new challenge as chairman of the board of Sallie Mae (SLM Corp.), the nation’s leading provider of student loans.

Sallie Mae tapped Terracciano to assume the role of a non-executive chairman and help revive the ailing company earlier this year after a failed $25 billion buyout

and losses stemming from recent legislation that reduced subsidies to student lenders.

Terracciano seems up to the task. A key challenge, he says, is resolving the public’s misconception that Sallie Mae and mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are all in the same heap of trouble. They’re not, he insists.

“People link them in their minds because they were all quasi-governmental agencies at one time, but they’re not really connected,” said Terracciano. “There were one or two areas of Sallie Mae’s business that didn’t make any sense and they’ve been stopped, but in order of magnitude, they didn’t have the type of asset quality problems the mortgage lenders are having.”

As one of the featured speakers for Saint Peter’s 37th Annual Regents Business Symposium on November 7, Terracciano will provide students, alumni and friends with the opportunity to hear more of his insights on the banking industry and the current predicament many financial institutions face in an uncertain market. Given his ability to fix troubled companies, the theme of this year’s symposium, “Leadership and Accountability in Challenging Times,” is tailor-made to Terracciano’s nearly five decades of experience. “We are delighted that Mr. Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 19

LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD

Sallie Mae is the nation’s leading provider of student loans, helping millions of Americans achieve their dream of a higher education.

[

20 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

Terracciano is participating in the Business Symposium,” said Jack Hampton, D.B.A., the KPMG professor of business and director of graduate business programs at Saint Peter’s College. Recalling a visit the Saint Peter’s alumnus paid to a graduate business class last year as part of the Executive-in-Residence series, Dr. Hampton added: “Mr. Terracciano shared with M.B.A. students his philosophy of life and business. He blended a desire to succeed, a quest for understanding how things really work, and a belief that integrity and energy improve our lives and society.”

In financial circles, Terracciano is something of an anomaly. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Saint Peter’s, the future banker didn’t pursue an M.B.A. — he took an unconventional route and studied philosophy at Fordham University. “Part of that was purposeful and part of that was an accident,” explained the Sallie Mae chairman, who taught high school while completing a master’s degree. Although he always assumed he’d go into teaching, circumstances changed after he finished his service as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

“When I went into the Army, I was single.

‘THERE’S MORE OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

BANKING AND PHILOSOPHY THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE.’ When I came out, I was married with one child and a second on the way and I thought, ‘I’m going to have to support a family.’”

The leap from philosophy to the business world isn’t the stretch that some might imagine. As Terracciano sees it, understanding the fundamental nature of core principles is an essential tool in business, whether you’re responsible for approving a $500 million corporate loan or restoring credibility at a major financial institution.

“There’s more of a relationship between banking and philosophy than most people realize,” said Terracciano, who often utilizes the classics to understand a business problem or issue. “An awful lot of

people have difficulty when it comes to evaluating the quality of decisions. If you read Oedipus Rex you can see people making decisions based on what they knew at the time. Of course, the outcome is disastrous. But what you have to get at this: In what part of the outcome does quality control play a role, and what part doesn’t? If you train yourself to make quality decisions over a reasonable period of time — and if you look at the portfolio of decisions that you’ve made — you’ll have a better-than-average quality than the person who doesn’t spend the time.”

Terracciano can certainly point to a stellar portfolio of good decisions. In leading turnarounds at financial institutions over the years, he’s built a reputation as an uncanny deal maker and a decisive leader who can put finances and operations in order. Faced with tough choices, he’s garnered the respect of the investment community by doing what is right for shareholders, sometimes at the expense of senior management and the board of directors.

In up markets and down, Terracciano has always stuck to a simple principle that’s served him well: Make people explain their ideas. Clearly.

“If a guy can’t explain a deal or a complicated financial instrument to me in 15 to 30 minutes so that I can understand what it is, I’m not going to approve it,” he said. “If you’re not willing to spend the time to analyze the nature of the risk of what you’re being asked to approve, then you shouldn’t be in the job.”

That kind of resolve may be one reason the financial press dubbed Terracciano “Tony the Tiger,” a nickname the erudite banker says he never quite understood. “To me, it evidenced a real lack of imagination,” he noted with a laugh. “But I think it started because I tend to be maniacal about pace. To me, the most frustrating thing in the world is to know what the right thing to do is and then to do it too slowly so that you wind up failing. Very often it determines whether you’re successful or not.”

LOVE POEMS ABOUT LIFE ACCLAIMED JOURNALIST JUDITH VALENTE ’76 FOLLOWS HER PASSION FOR JOURNALISM AND POETRY On the surface, Judith Valente’s two vocaI had never given myself the opportunity tions — journalism and poetry — seem at to see if I could really write poetry that odds. Objectivity vs. emotion. Deadlines makes a difference to other people.” vs. reflection. Secularism vs. spirituality.

Taking a leap of faith, Valente enrolled Not so, points out Valente ’76, a notin a master’s program in creative writing at ed poet and on-air correspondent for the the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, PBS-TV program Religion & Ethics not knowing if her career would hold up NewsWeekly, as well as a frequent contributor to Chicago Public Radio and National Public Radio.

“One informs the other for me,” she explained. “Journalists are basically trained to observe, listen and use language. Poets use the same skills. Through poetry, I can tell the stories behind the stories. It’s a much more emotional and effective way to communicate.”

The recipient of numerous awards for both reporting and poetry, Valente’s deep spirituality has guided her on a path Poet and PBS correspondent Judith Valente ’76 of self-discovery that helped to reveal her tremendous potential to create as she pursued her passion. Soon after, an verse that connects with others. opportunity came along to create her own In her more than 30-year career, schedule as a contract employee for PBS. Valente initially earned acclaim as a jourThe newfound professional flexibility nalist with leading news organizations inallowing her to juggle the demands in her cluding The Washington Post and The Wall life was no accident, she believes.

Street Journal. Along the way, she picked “When you turn your life over to the up two nods as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Holy Spirit, things begin to happen,” she team reporting on airline safety while at said. “But it has to be a surrendering. I said The Dallas Times Herald. in prayer, ‘This is what I think I was meant Yet sometime around her 40th birthto do. Please guide me to make it happen.’” day, she realized that journalism had overThat submission has enabled Valente to shadowed the lifelong love of poetry she blossom as a poet, opening her soul to the had set aside as her career became more sacred in everyday life. Her collection of demanding. poems, Inventing An Alphabet, won the “Poetry was always my first love,” renational Aldrich Poetry Prize in 2004. The called the Chicago-area resident. “I decidcollection focuses on seemingly ordinary ed that I wasn’t going to regret on my things with extraordinary potential. Valente deathbed that I didn’t interview this or aptly describes her verse as “love poems that person. But I was going to regret it if about life.”

Today, she and her husband, Illinois Circuit Court Judge Charles G. Reynard, who is also a poet, tour the country to present workshops on finding the sacred through poetry. They have presented at book stores, churches, retreat houses, community centers, schools and even juvenile detention centers. Their goal: to encourage people from all walks of life to use poetry as a means to slow down and uncover the sacred in their daily existence.

“We consider it a ministry,” Valente explained, adding that she and her husband charge only enough to cover the costs of presenting the workshops. “It’s something we give back in thanks for the blessings we’ve received. We don’t consider it a business.”

Several years ago, she and her husband published their first book, Twenty Poems to Nourish Your Soul, in which they present some of their favorite poems by other authors alongside their personal reflections on the significance the verses hold in their own lives.

Her Saint Peter’s education and the example of Saint Ignatius, who urged that we find God in all things, helped to cultivate the spirituality that continues to guide Valente today.

“There was always a sense at Saint Peter’s that your work is tied to something larger than personal achievement,” she pointed out. “Your work is a way of giving back to society and our work lives should intertwine with our spiritual lives.”

In addition to her poetry workshops, Valente is working on a short profile for PBS to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of writer and Trappist monk Thomas Merton. Due out next year is “Discovering Moons,” the first full-length collection of her poetry published by Virtual Artists Collective of Chicago.

“I’ve always felt I had something to say through poetry,” she said. “I’m following my bliss.”

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 21

SAINT PETER’S ATHLETICS

PEACOCK

BLUE

Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott (center) speaks to Saint Peter’s student-athletes.

IT’S GOOD TO BE A PEACOCK PATRICK ELLIOTT NAMED SAINT PETER’S NEW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Patrick Elliott says it feels good to be a Peacock. A senior administrator with a reputation in Big East circles for taking college athletic programs to the next level, Elliott became the sixth director of athletics at Saint Peter’s College in July.

“It’s really great coming to an institution where I feel there’s a lot of support from the administration and board of trustees in moving the Department of Athletics forward,” said Elliott. “Saint Peter’s College has always been about integrity, excellence and trying to do

22 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

things the right way.”

Elliott brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served most recently as the senior associate athletic director for finance, planning and operations at St. John’s University, where he was responsible for administering the annual budget,

[

facility improvements and multimillion dollar agreements with Nike, Inc. and Madison Square Garden. He was also instrumental in the development of the master plan for the athletic capital campaign and the five-year department strategic plan.

Prior to that, he served as associate athletic director for planning and internal operations at St. John’s.

Elliott came up through the ranks at Seton Hall University, graduating in 1989 and working as an assistant men’s basketball coach under P.J. Carlesimo for five years. When Carlesimo became head coach of the Portland Trailblazers in 1994, Elliott took a position with a commercial finance firm in New York.

Eight months later, an offer from his alma mater brought him back to New Jersey, and Elliott spent the next seven years directing facilities and operations for the Athletics Department at Seton Hall.

“I enjoyed my time in the city, but there’s nothing better than the energy and enthusiasm of a college campus where you really can have an impact on young people’s lives,” recalled Elliott. “I took that opportunity and ran with it.”

Those who have worked closely with Elliott say he has a talent for seizing the day.

“Pat has the ability to see the big picture, which is invaluable for an athletics department from a strategic planning standpoint,” said Director of Athletics at St. John’s University Chris Monasch. “He cares first and foremost about the student-athlete. His experience as an administrator and former coach, along with his concern and understanding for the experience of the student-athlete, is a great foundation for an athletics director.”

“For every student-athlete, team and coach, each game is a new opportunity to

‘THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN THE ENERGY

AND ENTHUSIASM OF A COLLEGE CAMPUS WHERE YOU REALLY CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE’S LIVES.’

excel,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Eileen Poiani, Ph.D., who also chaired the Athletic Director Search Committee. “Patrick Elliott exerts creative leadership to channel these opportunities into shaping competitive Division I teams, into building a fan base and into stimulating spirit for Peacock athletics.”

Elliott says a major priority for the department will be a continued focus on balancing academics and competitive athletics. “Only a portion of a studentathletes’ college experience happens between the lines on the playing field,” he said. “Academics, developing a career, serving the community, all of these things are critical. My two biggest goals are the academic success of our students and their personal development. If we don’t have those things in place, we’re not living up to our potential.”

Another goal is to make athletics more competitive at the College. “Right now we’re completing a thorough analysis of where we are and where we need to get to,” said Elliott. “I’m going to work very closely with members of the administration and board of trustees in identifying our gaps and how we’re going to move ahead.

Realistically, we’re not going to do everything overnight, but the thought is to have a multiyear plan in place that gets us moving forward.”

Despite knowing all the challenges a NCAA Division I program faces in a dense, urban area, Elliott can’t help but see the opportunities.

“New York City is right down the street and we need to continue to build on that,” he said. “We’re recruiting nationally, we’re bringing students in nationally. What we’d like to do is get out and have more people see us, reinforce that message and continue to build the brand of Saint Peter’s College athletics.”

IN THE FAST LANE WOMEN’S BOWLING TEAM RANKED 17TH IN THE NATION Six years ago, the NCAA granted official recognition to women’s collegiate bowling teams, and already, the ladies of Saint Peter’s College, competing in Division I, are ranked 17th in the nation.

“I am really proud of our team,” said Head Coach Bud Whitman, now entering his third year as bowling coach at Saint Peter’s. “These young women are workers. They come here willing to listen and learn, and they are very determined and feisty — that’s what I love about them.”

Senior captain Maggie King ’09, a double major in mathematics and psychology from Upper Darby, Pa., commented, “The most rewarding part of competing on the team has been watching our program grow. I am really excited about the upcoming year.” Kristin Thompson ’10, an elementary education major and the team’s junior captain, who hails from Old Bridge, N.J., added, “Our team’s combination of athletic ability and spirit is what makes us successful.”

In 2008–09, the Saint Peter’s team will expand from seven members to eight members, including Stacy Parsons of Delran, N.J., the state’s top-ranked high school singles bowler this year. “I am extremely excited,” remarked Whitman.

“I think this will be our best season ever because of these talented and dedicated women.” King also anticipates a triumphant year: “With our strong returning athletes and talented recruits, I think we will be able to move up in the national ranking and bring home more wins.”

Bowling is gaining momentum as a legitimate college sport, with varsity teams in 19 states. “We are in the growth stage. We’re working on some issues with the NCAA, but being a part of it is working out extremely well,” said Whitman. “When all is said and done, the game is still the game.”

King, a three-year veteran of the team, remarked that bowling at Saint Peter’s has meant a great deal to her over the years.

“My proudest moment on the team was when we placed second at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in 2007,” she said. “We bowled together as a team and came from behind to finish second.” She added that she “would strongly encourage a senior bowler in high school to consider Saint Peter’s. The team has been steadily growing in strength, and I’m sure there are many more victories in store.”

Thompson also counts the team’s second-place win at the ECAC championship among her proudest moments.

“The experience of bowling for Saint Peter’s has already been more than I could ask for,” she commented. “Coach Whitman is a great teacher who makes everyone’s game better. I am so lucky to be involved with a talented team at a school that I love.”

Members of Saint Peter’s women’s bowling team.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 23

SAINT PETER’S ATHLETICS

FROM PEACOCK BLUE TO CARDINAL RED

JAROSCHAK FIELD GETS A MAKEOVER

Shortly after graduating from Saint Peter’s last spring, 22-year-old baseball player Santo Maertz traded his Peacock uniform for a Redbirds cap and jersey. Maertz, a right-handed pitcher who played for Saint Peter’s for four years, was drafted in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June. He began his professional career in Tennessee with the Johnson City Cardinals, an A-level minor league team affiliated with the Saint Louis Cardinals. “This is a very exciting time in my life,” said Maertz, a native of Clark, N.J. “I am especially looking forward to spring training with the major league players.”

“Santo is very talented — strong, with a great throwing arm, and a very good hitter,” commented Derek England, head baseball coach at Saint Peter’s, of the 6’2”, 215-pound pitcher, whose specialty pitch is the fastball. “When he was a freshman,” England remembered, “he was talented, but a little shy and quiet. He opened up during his sophomore year, and by junior

Santo Maertz ’08 at bat for Saint Peter’s in 2008 (above) and on the mound for the Johnson City Cardinals (left).

year, he was one of the most popular guys on the team. As a senior, Santo was very much a team leader.”

“Going to Saint Peter’s really helped me, not just with baseball, but with life,”

[ Photo courtesy of Johnson City Cardinals

24 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

COMING SOON

‘GOING TO SAINT PETER’S REALLY

HELPED ME, NOT JUST WITH BASEBALL BUT WITH LIFE.’

said Maertz. “Derek is a teacher to everyone on the team and he provides a good perspective on the game. Playing for him helped me to become a good pitcher.

I also loved my professors and I made great friends at college.” While he’s thrilled to be living his childhood dream, Maertz, who finished his first season in professional baseball with a 4–0 record and an ERA of 3.15, added that his future goals also include “returning to Saint Peter’s for a graduate degree in business.”

When Peacock and Peahen teams resumed practices this fall, they discovered a significant improvement to Joseph J. Jaroschak Field: permanent outfield fencing installed around the athletic facility that now separates the baseball, softball and soccer fields, giving each team a more defined area to play. Head Women’s Soccer Coach Shawn Tarquino said that the new fencing is a welcome addition, providing each sport its own identity and field.

“A lot of what catches potential student-athletes’ eyes are the facilities,” explained Tarquino. “As Jaroschak Field is apportioned to our needs, it becomes a better facility to operate the team in-season, out-of-season and share with potential student-athletes.”

Located in Lincoln Park, Jaroschak Field has served the College’s soccer, baseball and softball programs for the last 18 years. It is also used by local high schools and recreation programs. Funds raised from the Annual Golf Outing, sponsored by the department of athletics, made the improvements possible.

According to recently retired Director of Athletics Bill Stein, a new field house for Jaroschak Field is in the planning stages.

Plans for the new facility include locker rooms, a training area and storage for the teams that practice and host games at the field. “These are all good improvements to help us and the program at Saint Peter’s,” said Stein.

DOUBLEHEADER!

Saint Peter’s College vs.

Seton Hall University Saturday, December 13 Jersey City Armory See Saint Peter’s take on Seton Hall in a historic men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader at the newly renovated Jersey City Armory on Hall of Fame Day. The women’s teams face off at noon, the men’s teams play at 2 p.m. For advance tickets and further information, call (201) 761-7304.

Also on Game Day: Meet Saint Peter’s new Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott.

Visit alumni.spc.edu for more information.

The Saint Peter’s College Hall of Fame inductions will take place following the game.

Cocktail Reception is at 4:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6:00 p.m.

Please call Connie Lorenzo at (201) 761-7300 for more information.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 25

NEWS AND NOTES

NEWS AND NOTES

JERSEY CITY’S BRAVE SON REUNION 2008

MARTIN J. HIGGINS ’39 INDUCTED INTO MILITARY HALL OF HONOR

Saint Peter’s alumni returned to campus in June for Reunion 2008 to reminisce, reconnect with classmates and see the many changes at The Jesuit College of New Jersey.

Clockwise from top: Members of the Class of 1958, including a few spouses who represented their deceased husbands, returned for the 50th anniversary reunion; Rita Cullimore and family members represented the late Robert Cullimore ’58; Barbara Duchnowski ’88 and her children at the Reunion BBQ. Next page, clockwise from top: Elizabeth Ciarla ’88 and her husband, Louis Ciarla ’87; Ashling Lyons ’98 at the Reunion Mass; Rev. Joseph Kelly, S.J., at the dinner.

–––———–—

1940s –——–—–——

1940 Arthur Monteverde and his wife, Jean, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Monteverde also celebrated his 89th birthday recently. He retired from teaching in 1980 and now lives in Palm Coast, Fla. 1948 Edward J. Grant, former editor of the Catholic Advocate, completed the New Jersey Track and Field Compilation Guide.

–––———–—

1950s

–——–—–——

1955 Joseph A. Kelly, M.D., was recently published in Georgetown Medicine Magazine. The article, 26 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

“Operation Deep Freeze,” recounts his adventures as a physician in Antarctica in 1960–61 with the U.S. Navy.

1956 Walter F. Skerrett, Jr., was recently awarded a Certificate of Recognition for his Cold War service in West Germany from 1957 to 1960.

1957 At the invitation of the Free University of Berlin, Ronald W. Tobin, Ph.D., gave a lecture on French literature to inaugurate the new french center at the University of Berlin. He remained in Berlin for the opening of the new American

Embassy at the Brandenburg Gate on July 4.

daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren.

Ted Dachowski’s wife, Barbara, has been designated a “Master Pastelist” by the Pastel Society of America. Her work has been shown in many exhibits at, for example, the Butler Institute of Art, the National Arts Club, The Salmagundi Club, the Philadelphia Water Color Club, The Polish Consulate in New York and The Renee Foosaner Gallery.

Walt Jankowski and his wife, Maryanne, flew to Prague for a week in June. While there, they visited Saint Clementine’s Church, where the Jesuits have been for hundreds of years. Walt said “I could not help but think of Saint Peter’s and the wonderful men who dedicated their lives to trying to educate us.”

Andy George and wife, Kathleen, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, in the company of their four

Gene Kray has discovered the way to eliminate all the tensions of a career in academe: cruising — on boats, that is. He and his wife have now done 50 cruises and counting.

After a wonderful vacation in Lake Tahoe, Don Nowacki is back to his exciting volunteer work as a member of the Board of Catholic Charities and the Sonoma Task Force for the Homeless.

1958 James E. McKearney, Jr. and his wife, Mary, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 21.

McKearney also attended his 50th college reunion earlier that month and caught up with several classmates and friends.

–––———–—

1960s –——–—–——

1963 Neil A. Fiore, Ph.D., conducted a teleseminar titled, “Using Your

Strongest Self to Reverse Chronic Pain.” Fiore is the author of two recent books, Awaken Your Strongest Self and The Now Habit.

1964 Daniel E. Toomey, Esq., joined the Washington, D.C., law office of Duane Morris, LLP as a partner in the Construction Law Group.

1969 Michael J. Marose completed 36 years of teaching in New Jersey at Pascack Hills, Emerson and New Brunswick High Schools. He was also the recipient of the Ten Year Award from the Hudson County Track Coaches Association.

When Michael Higgins goes to a reunion of World War II veterans, he often hears the comment, “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your father.”

He heard it again at the ceremony for the 36th Infantry Division’s Military Hall of Honor, where his father, Martin J. Higgins ’39, became a posthumous inductee in April.

Awarded the Silver Star and numerous other decorations for his service, veterans recognize the elder Higgins with good reason. During World War II, the Saint Peter’s alumnus, who originally enlisted with the Calvary shortly after completing an economics degree as an evening student, commanded Company A, 141st Infantry Regiment of the Fighting 36th. He made world headlines in October 1944, during the American advance into the Vosges Mountains of France. That is when the 1st Battalion of the 141st was cut off behind German lines for five days. Elected acting commander of the battalion by his fellow company commanders, Higgins directed the historic stand of what later came to be called the “Lost Battalion,” staving off German attacks until a unit comprised mostly of Japanese Americans broke through.

Company A moved on to other offensive campaigns in France, but Higgins and his command were eventually captured by German forces and even interrogated by SS Commander Heinrich Himmler.

According to the younger Higgins, Himmler was surprised and furious to discover that citizen soldiers, including an accountant from Jersey City, had inflicted so much damage on German troops.

Lt. Martin J. Higgins ’39 (far left) shortly after commanding the Lost Battalion in October 1944.

Higgins was sent to a POW camp in Poland and then forced on a 350mile winter death march in subzero temperatures. Six weeks after arriving at Stalag III-A in Germany, Higgins and several POWs escaped and reached American lines.

Like many members of the Greatest Generation, Higgins returned to civilian life with little fanfare. “He rarely spoke about being a POW,” recalled his son, who ultimately learned the details of his father’s service through military papers and the Battalion journal Higgins shared near the end of his life. “And it’s amazing for me to recall the man who was my father,” he added. “This was the man who helped me learn how to play baseball. Dad was intensely modest and all the things he did during his military career — well, you would never know. He was just an exemplary soldier and a consummate leader.”

Higgins passed away at 91 in February 2007. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 27

NEWS AND NOTES

RUNNING HIS OWN SHOW QUINCY BALLON ’94 OPENS GALLERY qb

Clockwise from top: Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., and AnnMarie Cornacchia hosted a President’s Reception at Guarini House for alumni; two members of the Class of 1958 Bill Schirger and Tom Carey, and their wives Carolyn and Mary Jane at the Reunion BBQ; Linda Gumina-King and family members represented the late Thomas J. Gumina ’58 at the 50th anniversary reunion. Next page: the Reunion BBQ was a real family affair with children of alumni of all ages.

–––———–—

1970s –——–—–——

1971 Ellen Lanese Spaldo, Ph.D., was the recipient of the 2008 Steven J. Rosen Mentor Award from the New Jersey College English Association. Spaldo is assistant professor of English and director of writing at the Metropolitan Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

She is also a professional actor (and alumna of Argus Eyes). She recently appeared in New York City in The Hand That Feeds You, a new play by Greg Turner, and directed Story Theater and Other Tales with the University Players, the student theatre group of FDU's Metropolitan Campus.

1974 James A. Charles, M.D., FAAN was promoted to clinical associate professor of neurology-New Jersey Medical School-UMDNJ. He maintains private practices in Bayonne and North Bergen.

28 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

Vincent L. D’Elia was named president and chief executive officer of Family and Children's Services.

William M. Einreinhofer’s most recent video project was Beyond Beijing, a four-part documentary series keyed to the 2008 Olympics seen in 39 countries by an estimated audience of 250 million viewers.

1975 The contract of Commissioner Richard J. Ensor of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has been extended through June 30, 2011. Ensor, who has held the post since 1988, has been instrumental in the conference’s expansion in the last 20 years. During his tenure, the MAAC has nearly doubled its number of sponsored sports, from 13 to 25.

Louis Stancampiano was named vice president of The Jersey Journal. He has also served as vice president of Advertising for The Record of Bergen County, Morning Call in Allentown, Pa., and, most recently, the Orlando Sentinel.

1976 Virginia C. Buczkowski was elected to a one-year term as president of the Hudson chapter of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA). Buczkowski, a sole practitioner in Bayonne, joined the New Jersey Society of CPAs in 1992. In the Hudson chapter, she has served as vice president and treasurer.

Edward A. Hogan, a member of the Somerville law firm Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., spoke at a Rutgers University seminar titled, “Underground Storage Tanks: NJDEP’s Regulatory Training” last spring at the Cook Campus in New Brunswick.

Michael P. Londrigan was named chairperson of the merchandising department at LIM - The College for the Business of Fashion. Most recently, he was a full-time instructor in the fashion merchandising department at Berkeley College and an adjunct professor in Westchester Community College’s business department.

1977 Peter L. DeSciscio, D.M.D. serves on the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry and was elected president in 2007-2008.

He also has a faculty appointment as clinical associate professor at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School in the department of restorative dentistry. Dr. DeSciscio proudly celebrated the 20th anniversary of his dental practice, which is located in the historic waterfront section of Perth Amboy, N.J.

–––———–—

1980s –——–—–——

1984 Mark Smith announced his candidacy for mayor of Bayonne.

1986 Donna M. Graziano received a master’s degree from Mercy College in Childhood Education with additional certification in special education. She graduated with distinction, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and is a member of Phi Delta Kappa.

Curt J. Philipczak was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA). Philipczak was also appointed secretary of NJ-CPA Political Action Committee (NJCPA-PAC).

–––———–—

1990s –——–—–——

1998 Frederick D. Johnson, Ed.D. was recently awarded a doctorate degree from Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.

–––———–—

2000s –——–—–——

2000 Joshua A. Schrier, Ph.D., has joined the faculty of Haverford College as assistant professor of chemistry.

2002 Steven Llanes joined KPMG LLP as manager of corporate communications. Llanes previously served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Since opening Gallery qb, a gallery showcasing contemporary furniture and design work by emerging artists in Brooklyn’s historic DUMBO neighborhood one year ago, Quincy Ballon ’94 has been featured in both New York Magazine’s “Best of New York” issue and TimeOut New York. The alumnus credits Saint Peter’s College with preparing him for life as a small business owner of one of Brooklyn’s hippest and hottest galleries.

“Saint Peter’s has certainly contributed to what I do today,” commented Ballon, a native of Jersey City who pursued graduate work in interior design at the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C., before transferring to New York’s Pratt Institute. “I would be at a disadvantage if I didn’t have this degree. On the first day of grad school, they’ll tell you that 80 percent of what you do as an interior designer is business management.”

Ballon also appreciated the

small college environment at The Jesuit College of New Jersey. “For me, high school was just about the classes,” he said, “but college was a total 180. The small campus encouraged me to be involved in a number of activities — the track team, the student government and the resident assistant program, among others.” One of his undergraduate classes provided his earliest exposure to fine art. “It was really eye-opening,” he commented.

“Little did I know that it was my foundation for a career in art.”

Today, Ballon is pleased with his new role as gallery owner. “I wear many hats — curator, accountant and maintenance man, to name a few,” he explained. “What’s rewarding is that I do work that I really enjoy. This is something that I’m doing for myself. When I walk into the space, I identify strongly with it. It’s my vision.” Gallery qb is located at 163 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. For further information visit www.galleryqb.com.

2007 Denise Williams recently established Ten Buks Enterprise, LLC. The company’s mission is to give its customers a competitive advantage in the service industry using the know-how and intellectual property of many well-educated professionals.

Quincy Ballon ’94 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 29

NEWS AND NOTES

Nicholas and Amanda as the newest member of the DePinto family.

Saint Peter’s alumni turned out to see the Staten Island Yankees

Anna M. Neves ’92 and Jose M. Neves welcomed their son Tiago Manuel Neves, born August 6, 2007. Tiago weighed 8 lbs., 10 oz.

take on the Vermont Lake Monsters on August 17 during an SPC Family Baseball Game at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Marriages

the Baby Bombers completed a

John R. Hack ’04 was married to Katie Bruno on July 8, 2007. The couple reside in Somerville, NJ.

three-game sweep of the Lake Monsters with a 2–1 win.

Clockwise from top: Rosemary Servidio, director of Alumni Relations (left) and (right) Carmel Galasso ’79, president of the Alumni Association; (left to right) Joan Shields ’75, Ana Cravo, director of Advancement and Planned Giving, Carmel Galasso ’79, and Ann Marie Gillespie ’84; Saint Peter’s alumni root for the SI Yankees.

In Memoriam Saint Peter’s College wishes to extend its prayers and condolences to the families of alumni, members of the College community and friends who have passed away.

James B. Behan ’58 James F. Boylan ’72 Louis J. Di Bella ’40 Robert D. Fenton ’52 Robert Giroux H ’01 William Grady ’50

Rev. John J. King, S.J. ’43 Judge Joseph R. Letcher ’52 Joseph Letteri ’54 Joseph H. Mack ’99 Robert J. Makowski ’75 John J. Markey ’55 Francis Mastro ’51

Steven Llanes ’02 and Katrina Fleitas

The afternoon didn’t disappoint;

James O. McGovern ’75 Lawrence Meehan ’38 Francis G. Monahan Robert Moran ’55 Marybeth Nolan Thomas J. O’Neill

Valerie Petro ’96 Frank T. Pinto ’59 Arthur F. Readdy, Jr. ’49 Christina Scott David J. Semienick ’99 William Sexton Edward J. Shinnick

Attention Saint Peter’s College Alumni

Do you have news to share with your classmates?

Complete this form and return to: Office of Alumni Relations, Cushing Alumni House, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306.

Steven Llanes ’02 was married to Katrina Fleitas on Saturday, July 19, 2008. Saint Peter’s College alumni Michael Keenaghan ’02 and Luis Mendez ’02 were among the groomsmen. The couple resides in New Jersey.

Births Lou DePinto ’86 and Carole DePinto welcomed their new son Christopher Anthony, born January 10, 2008. Christopher joins older brother and sister

Elise Renee McHugh

Debra (Jurusz) McHugh ’94 and Rory McHugh welcomed their daughter Elise Renee McHugh, born July 8, 2008. Elise weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz. and measured 20.5 inches at birth.

Tracy V. Craven ’98 and Joseph Kociolek welcomed their son Arist Jude, born March 31, 2008.

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM

NAME _________________________________________________________________________________________________ YEAR _________________________ ADDRESS (Check if this is a new address)

STREET __________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY _____________________________________________________________________________________ STATE _________ ZIP _________________________ TELEPHONE _______________________________________________________ E-MAIL ____________________________________________________________

FALL 1933/SPRING 1934 TO FALL 2008/SPRING 2009

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF (Marriage, birth, career, honors, etc.) __________________________________________________________________________________

Now available online at www.spc.edu/pauwwow

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ News and Notes may be edited for clarity and space. Due to limited space, Saint Peter’s College Magazine cannot guarantee the publication of all items.

30 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE MICHAEL GARVEY ’08 RESCUES FOUR SWIMMERS IN DISTRESS It was a perilous summer for rip currents on the Jersey Shore.

Fortunately for four swimmers caught in a riptide off Seaside Park on June 10, Michael Garvey ’08 was nearby.

A Seaside Park seasonal patrol officer, Garvey was investigating a traffic dispute that evening when a woman ran up the beach and said that four swimmers were in trouble.

In a flash, Garvey grabbed the rescue torpedo (float) from his patrol car and dove in to help the two men and two women, who were caught in a riptide.

As one of the men swam to shore, Garvey swam out to the women and told them to hold Michael Garvey ’08 onto the torpedo. With the remaining man beginning to “I can’t thank them enough for panic and swallow water, Garvey that opportunity,” Garvey said of Dr. called for him to relax and swim over.

Hank J. Brightman, then-chairperson To Garvey’s relief, an off-duty lifeof the criminal justice program, and guard home from school in Florida Professor Raymond R. Rainville. swam out to help. A scuba team in The two professors speak with its rescue boat was also not far pride of their former student. behind. Together, they loaded the Professor Rainville, who recently took swimmers into the boat and brought the reins of the department from Dr. them to safety.

Brightman, called Garvey “a special A Toms River native who now young man.” Dr. Brightman said his resides in Seaside Park, Garvey former student is “a true example of received a commendation from the Saint Peter’s developing men and town in August for his quick action women for others.” and unflinching bravery. He credits The young officer, who was vice two Saint Peter’s professors for president of the Delta Alpha supporting his studies in Criminal Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma Justice at the College and his attenNational Criminal Justice Honor dance at the Ocean County Police Society last year, is pursuing a Academy. Garvey logged 800 hours master’s of Public Administration of instruction, 14 credits and realwith a criminal justice option at life experience attending the Kean University. academy.

For information about activities planned to celebrate the student newspaper, please contact: alumni@spc.edu.

Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008 31

Saint Peter’s College

AD FINEM

37TH ANNUAL REGENTS BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Leadership and Accountability in Challenging Times

by Louis Stancampiano ’75

F

riends, family and colleagues keep asking me how it feels to be back in Jersey City. After more than 30 years working for newspapers in Atlantic City, Allentown, Pa., and most recently Orlando, I have to admit, it feels pretty great.

I grew up with The Jersey Journal. As a kid playing Little League, one of the first things we did after a game was to get a hold of the paper to look for the game re-cap, and, more importantly, to check to see if our names were published in it. The paper really was the Bible for local news, but I never thought about a career in newspapers.

[

‘I’VE FOUND A TREMENDOUS ENERGY IN NEWSROOMS. THEY SERVE A CRITICAL

MISSION IN THAT THEY’RE THE ONLY SOURCE OF LOCAL NEWS IN MANY AREAS...’

That changed after I finished my business degree from Saint Peter’s in 1975. Like many of the College’s graduates at the time, I was going into New York for job interviews, but decided the city wasn’t where I wanted to be. So I went the other way and moved to South Jersey — where it was much quieter, rural even — and worked for the Press of Atlantic City selling advertising. It was my first job out of college and I’ve been in the newspaper business ever since.

There’s a lot of freedom if you’re on the business side of newspapers. You can be creative in terms of marketing programs and there’s a certain amount of gratification in helping people grow their businesses.

Plus, newsrooms make for a fascinating work environment. Wherever I’ve worked — The Record, Morning Call, Orlando Sentinel — I’ve found a tremendous

energy in newsrooms. They serve a critical mission in that they’re really the only source of local news in many areas and are the only ones keeping an eye on local government.

Orlando was a big change from the Northeast, but I loved it. And some aspects of your lifestyle you just don’t want to change — like Peacock basketball. I’ve been a big fan from the time I played CYO ball, and can remember watching games from the Armory floor. I became friends with another Saint Peter’s alum that I met through the business, who’s also a big fan. Once a year, we have dinner and go to a Peacock game, no matter what. Even when I was in Florida, I continued that tradition.

So now I’m back working in the city where I grew up and went to college. A lot has changed in that time. During my time at Saint Peter’s, the Vietnam War and the draft lottery were a big backdrop to everyday life.

We were a commuter school. Most of us were local and it wasn’t uncommon to find students working 25 to 30 hours a week and going to school full time.

That was the reality for me and for a lot of us.

Jersey City stood still for a long time, but now that is changing, too. The waterfront is just booming and it’s spreading beyond that, into other parts of Jersey City, like Journal Square. We are in the midst of a tremendous renaissance. Given our location, our proximity to New York, this city (and Hudson County, too) holds great promise. That’s why I’m so optimistic, because things are only going to get better.

Louis Stancampiano ’75 became vice president of The Jersey Journal in August. Prior to that he was vice president of advertising at the Orlando Sentinel.

He resides in Springfield, N.J., with his wife, JoAnne.

With financial markets and other economic sectors facing widespread change and uncertainty, Saint Peter’s College’s 37th Annual Regents Business Symposium provides a timely forum for some of the nation’s preeminent business leaders to address Leadership and Accountability in Challenging

SPEAKERS MICHAEL BESCHLOSS (KEYNOTE) Best-Selling Author and NBC’s Presidential Historian

Times. The oldest continuous symposium of its kind in New Jersey, this annual event attracts approximately 350 of the area’s top business and political leaders, and provides Saint Peter’s students the opportunity to network with the business ANTHONY R. COSCIA, ESQ. Chairman Board of Commissioners Port Authority of NY/NJ

community.

Friday, November 7, 2008 Hyatt Regency Jersey City 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

TICKETS:

$75 general public $60 alumni $25 young alumni (graduates of 1998–2008) PRESENTING SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

SHERI S. MCCOY Worldwide Chairman Surgical Care Johnson & Johnson

MEDIA SPONSOR

ANTHONY P. TERRACCIANO ’60 Chairman Sallie Mae BREAKFAST SPONSORS

Go to www.spc.edu/businesssymposium for a full listing of sponsors.

32 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2008

For more information and registration, call (201) 761-6112 or e-mail jcampbell1@spc.edu.

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #314 Dover, NJ

I’m invested “Because I was a scholarship recipient, I feel indebted to the alumni and donors who gave me my opportunity. In that same spirit, I want to ensure the next generation has the chance to attend and

THE JESUIT COLLEGE OF NE W JERSE Y

enrich Saint Peter’s.”

Bill Price, Class of 1991 Member, Saint Peter’s College Board of Regents Director of Corporate Communications, Johnson & Johnson Annual Fund Donor: 15 years running

To join Bill in investing in the Annual Fund, please contact Kevin Brennan, manager of annual giving, at (201) 761-6111 or kbrennan1@spc.edu or log onto alumni.spc.edu/donations.

Saint

Peter’s

College

ANNUAL FUND Investing in Students, Inspiring leaders