jwufamily connection
PROVIDENCE CAMPUS
Winter 2016
FAMILY WEEKEND Spirited events and athletic competitions
FEATURES Student leadership; Equine Science program debut
CAMPUS NEWS Pay It Forward Fridays; campus dining; Cultural Life Series; athletics
RECIPE A JWU faculty chef shares a favorite recipe
This is a publication of Johnson & Wales University specifically created for families and designated contacts of JWU students.
WELCOME GREETINGS, Nobel Peace Prize theologian and philosopher Albert Schweitzer once said that “each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” That poignant quote reminds me of the sense of place we have created at Johnson & Wales University. It is our classrooms and labs where faculty bring to life the knowledge found in textbooks. It is the residence halls which become our students’ home away from home. And it is the Wildcat Center, libraries, Starbucks, and all the other student service facilities staffed by our capable employees that connect us as the JWU community. We have a spirit of community that empowers Johnson & Wales University to be a transformative place where our students can explore and experience their future now. During their time at Johnson & Wales, our students learn the value of living and learning in a community that is respectful of one another and understands that we have a responsibility to contribute to the larger environment in which we live. Thank you for being a member of the JWU community. May your holidays be happy and your New Year be filled with peace, opportunities and joy. Sincerely, Mim L. Runey, LPD Campus President
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
FAMILY WEEKEND
Rain and wind did not deter 500 JWU families from embracing the Wildcat spirit during the 29th annual Family Weekend, October 21–23. Hypnotist Chuck Milligan kicked off the festivities on Friday evening and entertained the crowd by hypnotizing students and family members, and a Wildcat Chat with Senior Vice President of Administration Marie BernardoSousa, LPD, started the day off on Saturday. The weekend continued with the always popular student parade, family luncheon, fall festival, culinary demonstrations and athletics contests. For the first time, students and families “painted the town” and later enjoyed dueling pianos. To wrap up the weekend, on a brisk but sunny morning, 75 students and family members ran Willie’s Family 3K Fun Run across campus. Be sure to save the date for next year’s Family Weekend: October 13–15, 2017. JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
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FAMILY WEEKEND
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
STUDENT LEADERSHIP SHAPING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE Representing the voice of students on campus? Engaging campus administration to address student concerns? Demonstrating leadership skills? The Student Government Association (SGA) meets each of these needs at JWU. With five executive officers and 23 senators, SGA works to preserve an atmosphere of open communication and relationship between students and administrators, encourage community involvement, express and respond to student concerns, and ensure the personal freedom and general welfare of the student body.
According to Scott Lyons, director of student involvement & leadership and SGA co-advisor, “SGA members are the quintessential example of student engagement; they are shaping the student experience as they sit at the table with campus administration.” In fact, representatives are on several university committees as administration regularly seeks their input. The unique perspective they bring as students living within the community impacts their annual initiatives and reflects an understanding of constituent needs. The #oneJWU campaign seeks to unify students as one community regardless of major, campus location or background. By reaching more than 3,000
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
people online and gaining one million impressions on Facebook and Twitter, SGA successfully engages students and works with them to actively embrace JWU’s culture and community. Student leadership is thriving at JWU, due in large part to the dedication of the SGA executives and senators. As SGA President Lexy Parsons told new students at September’s Convocation, “It’s okay to not follow the plan you’ve always had in your head; college is about discovering who you will become. Use your years at JWU to take hold of every opportunity that comes your way because there is nothing worse than looking back and wondering, ‘What if...’.”
ERIN CARDEA BRINGS PASSION TO NEW EQUINE SCIENCE PROGRAM Erin Cardea joined the College of Arts & Sciences faculty as an assistant professor this fall to teach and train JWU students in one of the college’s newest programs: Equine Science. This program combines biology, chemistry and other science-oriented courses with curriculum from the university’s esteemed Equine Business Management degree program, which is approaching its 40th year at JWU. Cardea is one of three equine science faculty members, all of whom bring a vast amount of experience to the classroom and the Center for Equine Studies, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Students are exposed to a variety of experiential learning opportunities, allowing them to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom back at the center. “There are jobs in a variety of areas for students graduating with this degree, including breeding, farm management, equine nutrition, research, or vet technology, and it can put the student on track for pre-vet,” says Cardea. “This degree is becoming more prevalent in the industry, and employers are looking for new hires with these credentials.” Horses started out as a phase for Cardea that she never outgrew. She worked on a farm and began riding lessons at an early age. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Equine Science and
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discovered her passion in teaching and training. After owning her own stables and teaching riding in Saudi Arabia for a few years, she earned her master’s degree in Equine Science so that she could teach at a university. Cardea joins JWU from Randolph College in Virginia where she was a professor and riding instructor. “Our students are really bright and motivated, and a strong group of equine professionals,” she says. “It’s clear this is what they want to do.”
CAMPUS NEWS WHAT PILLAR OF THE WILDCAT WAY DO YOU MOST RELATE TO? The pillar of the Wildcat Way that I connect with most is COMMUNITY. I am from a small town in Connecticut that was not very diverse. When I came to Johnson & Wales University, the first thing I noticed about this school was how diverse the student body and faculty were. Although JWU has students from 78 countries, you can really see that every person on campus shares one thing in common: we are all Wildcats! The students at JWU are a united community in the sense that we are always there to help one another, and faculty truly try their best to help all students succeed. — Alyssa Pearce ’17, Criminal Justice The pillar of the Wildcat Way that I connect with the most is COURAGE. During these last couple of months, I’ve had to display courage in different ways. From walking away from a job in order to grow more as a person, to going through minor health issues while away from home and still staying on top of school and work. Having to overcome challenges is an everyday thing for people. As an orientation leader this past summer, I got the chance to show students that even though things get hard, you get stronger by overcoming them. — Anthony Poon ’19, Hotel & Lodging Management I connect most with the PRIDE pillar of the Wildcat Way. Since my freshman year, I’ve seen the great accomplishments JWU has had, along with the achievements of individual students. I am very proud of my university and how it continues to grow every single day. I’m proud to be a Wildcat. — David Karson ’16, Sports/Entertainment/Event Management
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
CAMPUS NEWS CAMPUS DINING: WHAT YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT IT JWU’s Campus Dining offers a wide range of options, from comfort food to vegan and veggie choices, thanks to the array of dining centers, coffee shops and convenience stores on both the Downcity and Harborside campuses. From 6am to midnight, at least one location is always open — and quality is never sacrificed.
PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAYS Pay It Forward Fridays (PIFF), sponsored by Student Involvement & Leadership, is a new way for students to get involved this academic year. PIFF coordinates monthly service projects at local, off-campus service sites. “The purpose of PIFF service projects is to remove the barriers that often prevent students from serving in the local community, such as unfamiliarity with Providence, inexperience with the many nonprofits and community-based organizations that are within miles of campus, or lack of transportation,” says Meagan Pepper, assistant director of student involvement & leadership. PIFF is open to all students, staff and faculty, regardless of major, class year and past experience in community service or volunteer roles. Past service sites include the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, a community garden managed by the Southside Community Land Trust in Pawtucket, and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
All food served in the dining centers is cooked from scratch. Amanda Rotondi, associate director of campus dining, asserts, “We know JWU is a student’s home away from home; we want the dining centers to be their kitchen away from home.” Whether accommodating a student’s personal, cultural or religious dietary needs, hosting seasonal events, or providing a convenient space to study or see friends between classes, JWU’s dining center staff are dedicated to meeting student needs.
CAMPUS NEWS SHERRY TURKLE HEADLINES CULTURAL LIFE SERIES “I think it’s particularly important to write a love letter to conversation at this point in time,” Sherry Turkle, founder and director of MIT’s Initiative of Technology and Self and author of “Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in the Digital Age,” told students in November. In addition to being the author of this year’s freshman summer reads book, Turkle was the second College of Arts & Sciences’ Cultural Life Series speaker to visit the Providence Campus this year. In her book, Turkle “discusses how in multiple aspects of everyday life, we avoid conversation with one another, distracted and tempted by digital interactions like texts and emails, in which we don’t need to reveal true selves,” says Media & Communications student Abby Bora ’17.
pro-conversation. For example, she noted a decline in the number of students attending her office hours. Instead, they are reaching out to her via email.
JWU will welcome three more distinguished guests to campus as part of the Cultural By sharing several instances from both her Life Series this winter and spring including a research and personal experience, Turkle clarified journalist, author and professor. that she’s in no way anti-technology, but rather
SAVE THE DATE: ICE HOCKEY AT THE DUNK A winter highlight for the JWU and Providence communities is the Wildcats’ annual hockey games at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The JWU men’s and women’s teams will take to the ice on Thursday, January 19. Learn more.
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
CAMPUS NEWS
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CAPS UNDEFEATED SEASON WITH GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP WIN Fans packed the Wildcat Center on October 22 to watch the Providence women’s volleyball team extend its winning streak to 33 matches, defeating Rivier 3-1, to claim its second straight GNAC Championship. This win secured the team an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. This is the Wildcats’ seventh conference championship, the most of any volleyball program in the GNAC. “[The team] worked hard all year to continue to improve and get better and ... coming in undefeated is a lot of pressure, and I think they handled it really well,” Head Coach Nancy Somera told ABC 6 in a post-game interview.
JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
Three JWU players also made the GNAC Volleyball All-Tournament Team: sophomore middle hitter Emily Kalmink, freshman middle blocker Kate Walker and freshman setter and tournament MVP Brylee Frank. The Wildcats took on UMass Boston on November 11 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but didn’t leave with a win. Congratulations to the women’s volleyball team for an incredible season, as well as to the women’s tennis team for also securing the GNAC Championship — the team’s first title since 2002.
JWU COLLEGE OF CULINARY ARTS
RECIPE
Sweet Potato, Kale and Shrimp Sauté Chef Jonathan Poyourow, RD, LD, assistant professor, Providence Campus WHAT YOU’LL NEED 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup onion, diced Red pepper flakes, to taste 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups sweet potatoes, diced 2 cups fresh shrimp 3 cups kale leaves, trimmed and thinly cut Salt and black pepper, to taste Toasted pine nuts for garnish Yield: 3–4 servings
METHOD OF PREPARATION
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JWU Family Connection | Winter 2016
1. In cast iron skillet heat oil over medium heat. 2. Add onions and red pepper flakes. Cook until onions are soft and golden. 3. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. 4. Add sweet potato and cook until soft, about 10–15 minutes. If needed, add a few tablespoons of water to help steam the sweet potato.
5. Add shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes, or until they turn pink. 6. Turn heat to low and add kale, stirring until wilted. 7. Season to taste. Add toasted pine nuts and serve.