H, University of Hartford Magazine, Winter 2019

U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

H AR T F OR D

M AGAZINE

/

W I NTER

2 01 9

201 9 WI N T ER / M AGA ZI N E H ART F O RD O F UNI V E RS I T Y facebook.com/ UniversityofHartford

twitter.com/ UofHartford

instagram.com/ UniversityofHartford

University of Hartford Magazine is published twice each year for alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends.

Vice President for Marketing and Communication M O L LY P O LK Editor J O N ATHAN E AST ERBROOK ’87, M’90 Design L I L LY P E RE IRA ’02 aldeia.design Art Direction PAUL A RI B E I RO Contributing Writers M E AG AN FAZ IO M ’16 KAT Y HENCHY ’18 KA RE N HUNTER M A RY INGARRA P ’2 0 JI M K EE NE R P ’16 , P ’2 1 D O N N A LARCEN M I L D R ED M C NE ILL JE SE LE PARAGO NE JO E L SAM BERG Photography G E O RGE BRAINARD R O G ER CASTONGUAY ’08 ST E P HEN DUNN A N TO NIO ES P OS ITO N AS R KAM AR ’2 0 DANIEL LABELLE JU ST IN LIBE RM AN ST E V E MCLAUGHLIN C H R I STO P H E R M YE RS JO N ATH AN O LS O N H . R O BERT TH IE S FIELD

HA R TF O R D. E D U CONTACT US: H, UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE Office of Marketing and Communication, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117 editor@hartford.edu O N T HE COVER: Fifty years of LP records in the Gray Center studios of WWUH.

youtube.com/ UofHartfordNews

COVER PHOTO BY NASR KAMAR ’20

Kate McGraw ’85

P. 20

CONTENTS / VOL. 01 / ISSUE 02

F E ATU R E S

“If in the course of our work, we help one person feel better after they’ve served their country, then we did our job, and it was entirely worth the effort.”

16

You’re Hired

Recent graduates thrive after graduation.

20

A Life in Balance

Kate McGraw ’85 weaves military and civilian life.

24

Curtain Call

Alumni make their mark on Broadway.

Orin Wolf ’01

28

P. 24

Radio Days

Campus station WWUH celebrates 50 years.

32

Soul of the City

Ariel Palitz ’94 is NYC’s first nightlife mayor.

34

No Harping on the Norm Brandee Younger ’06 pushes musical boundaries.

Terrel Davis ’20

P. 37

DE PA R TM E N TS 0 2 O B S E R VA T I O N S Message from President Woodward

3 6 H AW K N AT I O N Inside Athletics

04 SEEN & HEARD Views and posts

40 MIXED MEDIA Books, movies, and music

05 UNOTES News from campus

41 WORDS OF WISDOM Expert advice

1 2 H AW K ’ S E Y E V I E W The big picture

42 ALUMNI NOTES News for and about alumni

14 FIRST CLASS Spotlight on faculty

56 EXPRESSIONS Getting poetic

0 2 / O B S E R VAT I O N S / M E S S AG E

FROM

THE

PRESIDENT

Believing in the UHart Story Excerpts from President Gregory Woodward’s inauguration speech delivered on October 20, 2018.

Gregory S. Woodward

“I believe in the story, and I believe in the message and mission behind that story.”

We are here today to celebrate this wonderful place, this University of Hartford.

I am here, in this life, and with this identity, in the hopes that I “may contribute a verse” to this “powerful play.”

You are here, so all of you also have roles in this drama; I am extremely fortunate, mine happens to be the role of the president. (I am glad I got the part!)

My part in the play, I will admit, is a tough one. It is complex and multifaceted, requiring strength and delicacy at the same time, it interacts with a host of other characters, it is often exhausting because of the time on stage, there are a lot of costume changes, and it is always stressful because of the immense responsibility to the other players not to screw up. And the critics can be harsh and are eager to pounce!

You might ask, why take this part when there are so many others? The answer is that I believe in the story, and I believe in the message and mission behind that story. And yes, I believe that I can play my part in this play, and in this place.

The University of Hartford is a powerful force for good; what we do is important, perhaps as much as any other human endeavor. Learning and education are our strongest tools, the most critical factors for the positive future of humans, our planet, and, for all we know, perhaps much more. Education is the essential endeavor from which we cannot waiver.

The University is a perfect shape for the modern world, a strong core of learning in Hillyer College and the College of Arts and Sciences, surrounded by five professional schools offering advanced and often interdisciplinary training.

The University is a diverse community of about 7,000 student and 1,500 faculty and staff learners. For this community and regional friends and partners, it is a

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

vast and magnificent universe of learning options and opportunities.

Let me say something simple but magical: the transformative journey of our students is as broad, deep, and inspiring as at any other higher educational institution in America. The University of Hartford is bettering lives, families, communities, and the world through an educational experience that is second to none in the growth and development of our students from Convocation through Commencement.

As many of you have heard me say, “The true value of education is to ensure that the inside of your head is an interesting place to spend the rest of your life.” We help to shape and mold thoughtful and curious humans, provide them with the tools and means for personal and communal success, while also advancing knowledge and the human condition.

I have asked the University to embrace a re-energized vision that compels us to utilize every possible resource of the University in the success of our students.

I want every single student to graduate.

I want every student to choose a considered and wise path forward. I want every student to know more about who they are and how they interface with this diverse world when they walk across the stage with their diploma. I am ethically and morally bound to help every student we enroll to succeed.

We educate students, in and out of the classroom. Let’s do that exceptionally well. And let’s do it in a way that is contagious and compelling, and that is to educate them with love and respect and joy.

I pledge to contribute in whatever way I can, with whatever strength I have, to this magical mission, to this inspiring story, to this wonderful place, this University of Hartford. H

Feb. 20, 2019 | For UHart’s annual day of giving!

Mark your calendars!

We’re celebrating the University’s birthday, Feb. 21, a day early this year with the Founders Day Challenge on Wednesday, Feb. 20!

Join our community by making a gift to support UHart students! hartford.edu/FoundersDayChallenge

FOUNDERS DAY CHALLENGE

04 / SEEN & HEARD / VIEWS

AND

POSTS

We Want to Hear from You! H welcomes comments and thoughts from readers and alumni, and while we can’t print or personally respond to each letter or email, we promise that we do read and appreciate them.

Comments published on this page express the views of the writers and not the University of Hartford or staff of H. Letters and emails are edited for clarity, space, and UHart style.

MAIL : H Editor, Office of Marketing and Communication,

200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117

EMAIL: editor@hartford.edu

I have just read the University of Hartford magazine from cover to cover and had to write to let you know how splendid it is. At last there is a publication that presents the University in a way that reflects all that makes it exceptional. As a longstanding member of the University Presidents’ College lifelong learning program and chair for 12 years of its volunteers, I have come to know the University as “an unknown jewel.” At last, a publication that may change that.

—Nancy Mather (Presidents’ College) I just received my Spring 2018 copy of H, and was fascinated by the article on Angela Davis under the “Words of Wisdom/Expert Advice” section. I think you forgot a couple of vital pieces of information when describing her background.

For example, I recall that in August 1970, she was the one who purchased and provided firearms to the Soledad brothers, whose attempted escape from a Marin County courthouse resulted in the kidnapping and death of the presiding judge and several others. She supported

the Black Panthers, who financed their “free breakfast” programs through extortion and robbery. I recall her membership in the Che-Lumumba branch of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), Che Guevara being one of the most bloodthirsty murderers in the ’50s and ’60s (he actually bragged about loving the smell of blood while executing prisoners without trial in Cuba). In 1980 and 1984, she was the vice presidential candidate on the CPUSA ticket. I also seem to recall her calling for the overthrow of the United States government and its replacement by a communist state—what she now refers to in this article as “structural change.”

It would be nice if your piece told the full story of this radical anti-American revolutionary, instead of just the parts that make her look good.—Michael F. Wirz ’69 (CETA) Just got my “UHA” magazine. Some things don’t change—with both undergrad (Hartt) and grad (Barney) degrees, “UHA” is just one of those things that is ingrained—but, okay, I’ll try to change! After seeing the very sad news that one of

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

my Hartt colleagues (Sharon Flagg—fabulous pianist) had passed away, I was delighted to read of Greg Woodward’s appointment as president. I know I knew the name, just wasn’t immediately placing it—until I read further into the article. I, too, am a graduate of Hall High School and played in the jazz band.

I played bassoon in the extended woodwind section.

We were not able to go on “Eurotour,” but we did play in the “Pops” and “All That Jazz” concerts. Please pass along my sincerest congratulations—local kid makes it to the top. So awesome!

—Liz Glater ’78 (Hartt), M’90 (Barney) A quick note to let you know UHart’s new magazine is awesome—so awesome I didn’t even recognize it at first! As a Barney school alum and former Alumni Board member, I am glad to see the content and design now reflective of what I have long felt to be an incredibly special and contemporary university. My only feedback is to please increase the font size just a titch so I can continue to enjoy this wonderful publication as I age.—Maureen Leathers ’05 (Barney)

twitter.com/UofHartford

The sun came this afternoon just as the #UHart community gathered to remember the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims and to stand for unity and inclusion.

instagram.com/ UniversityofHartford

Midnight Breakfast was a blast! As part of our annual tradition, #UHart students ate breakfast Sunday night before finals week.

/

CIVIL

ENGAGEMENT

/

NEW

BSN

/DIVERSITY

UN S R/ ENN EC WE S C OONT FE E

UNOTES

Nearly three dozen students spent their spring break last year helping survivors of Hurricane Harvey, which left a trail of destruction across southeastern Texas. The University’s Center for Community Service organized the trip.

Pictured here are Anthony DiMascio ’21 (left) and Tanaya Williams ’19.

F/R O M

CAMPUS

/ 05

06 / UNOTES / NEWS

FROM

CAMPUS

Cinema major Brett Rotatori ’20 recorded ambient sound for use in both TV spots.

Résumé Builder Cinema students, alumni, and faculty collaborate on the set of TV spot “My teaching philosophy is to get students on set and working as soon as possible,” says Justin Liberman, associate professor of cinema in the University’s College of Arts and Sciences’ School of Communication. That is why Liberman hired cinema students to work last summer as production assistants for the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s “See Something, Say Something” ad campaign.

Liberman served as the producer for the full-day TV shoot at the West Haven, Conn., train station.

To watch films created by UHart “In the classroom, I’m able to teach cinema students them emotionally and intellectually how and faculty, visit vimeo.com/ film works. But it’s only on set that they get hartfordcinema. to learn the physical demand of film,” says Liberman. As a producer, he likens his role to that of a sports team manager who hires the right people to win a championship, or in this case, who can work well together.

Cinema major Jade Baker ’20 of Danbury, Conn., who worked as a wardrobe assistant, is planning to be a film director and credits Liberman for pushing her beyond her comfort zone.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

“I always had a camera in my hand growing up and made music videos. He made me realize that I could still use music in my films, but that I need to think more about the visuals.” Last semester, Baker studied film directing at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic, and credits her experience with the DOT ad campaign in giving her confidence during her study-abroad experience. “Without a doubt, I wouldn’t have been as relaxed or prepared,” she says.

Like Baker, cinema major Brett Rotatori ’20, of Naugatuck, Conn., made movies in high school. He helped record the ambient sounds of the train station. With plans to be a film editor, Rotatori says he appreciated the chance to work on a professional set. “The connections you make are so important in cinema,” he says. He recently completed an internship at Charter Communications and placed third at a film festival for When You’re Gone, a film he co-wrote and directed with a classmate.

Cinema major Gavin Mealey ’20, of Franklin, Mass., worked as an assistant to director Pedro Bermudez ’07, an award-winning filmmaker who also taught cinema courses in the School of Communication. “This is the first time I’ve worked on a professional set,” says Mealey, who is preparing for a career in film directing.

Recent cinema alumnus James “Alex” Michel ’18 of Bloomfield, Conn., reached out to Bermudez, his former instructor, to let him know he was available for work. He was tasked as the second assistant director. “I want to work in television and film and highlight aspects of society that have gone unnoticed,” says Michel. This year, he is attending the California Institute of the Arts to study film directing.

UNOTES / NEWS

W E A LT H OF I D EAS

UHart hosts conference on diversity, equity, inclusion, and action This past June, the University of Hartford partnered with the Center for Higher Education Retention Excellence (CHERE) to bring to campus “Being Diverse Isn’t Enough: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Action!”

The College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP), College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and Hillyer College co-hosted the conference, which brought together over 70 higher education professionals and students from across the Northeast to discuss important topics in higher education, including campus diversity, institutional practices regarding inclusion and access, and first-year retention efforts. More than 15 higher education institutions and school districts were represented.

CHERE is a subsidiary of the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education (HCHE), a 25-year-old not-for-profit agency that is focused on college accesses for students.

CHERE was created in 2013 to expand on HCHE’s focus on success in higher education.

“It was such a pleasure to plan and execute this type of event on campus,” says Michael Goemans ’11, M’13, collegiate director of student success for ENHP and a member of the conference’s planning team. “The conference was unlike any I have attended before, as a blend of higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students all contributed to the day’s successes. Too often, we as higher education institutions meet to discuss the significant and relevant issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion without the presence of the students we are discussing. To have such a diverse student population contribute so meaningfully to our conversations throughout the day was simply fantastic and helped to bring new life to our initiatives.”

The day included student and professional panels, working sessions focusing on topics such as increasing retention, high school to college transition, economic support, and inclusion. The morning’s keynote speaker was recent UHart graduate Bo-Edward Lawrence ’17, who performed his own spoken word piece titled “Secret Society of Success,” which brought to life the topics discussed at the conference. The piece touched on his experience as a first-generation college student and being a part of an underrepresented group.

Lawrence shared his reluctance to ask what a syllabus was, his parents refusing to give him tax information when they didn’t know what a FAFSA was, and writing down questions so he wouldn’t have to ask them in class—but then running out of time or being too overwhelmed to look them up.

FROM

CAMPUS

/ 07

Standout Students Colloquium showcases top work The Undergraduate Colloquium on Creativity and Research is the second event of Honors Week each April. Last spring, a record 80 students, ranging from seniors in the honors program to first-year students, presented their honors theses, academic essays, scientific experiments, business plans, artworks, teaching internships, musical talents, and engineering projects.

“It’s easy to get lost in the daily efforts of classes and assignments, and then to overlook the ultimate goal of great achievement,” says Donald Jones, associate professor of English and director of the honors program.

“Many of our students do reach those levels, and this University-wide day celebrates their excellence.”

Among students participating in the 2018 colloquium were Seana Jean ’18 (pictured, top right) of the College of Arts and Sciences, who spoke on “The Invisibility and Suppression of Black Women in America,” and Jack Case ’19 (pictured, bottom right), who partnered with College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture classmate Jill Farrell ’19 in presenting “Computer Modeling of a Piano Action Mechanism.”

The 2019 colloquium is scheduled for Thursday, April 18.

Bo-Edward Lawrence ’17 shares his experiences as a first-generation college student.

“He was so articulate and thoughtful in his expression about his experience,” recalls Molly Polk, vice president for marketing and communication.

“What this conference really afforded us was the chance to talk with other professionals and students from other area colleges and universities,” says Fran Altvater, associate dean for student academic services at Hillyer College and another member of the team that planned the conference. “These issues of diversity and equity are critical across our nation and we all have different ways to address the problems on our campuses. It was tremendously productive and encouraging to dig into some concrete approaches.”

WINTER 2019

08 / UNOTES / NEWS

FROM

CAMPUS

BRIE FS

Five architecture students recently won an urban sustainability competition sponsored by the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation and hosted by the City of Hartford Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. The Dream Green, Hartford EcoDesign competition requested proposals to improve the city through “pop-up” projects that transform underused city spaces while highlighting green infrastructure and sustainable design. The students’ winning design proposes a new “5 Corners” pocket park that contains interactive structures to promote learning, socializing, and playing on an underused lot in North Hartford. The winning team members are second-year Master of Architecture students Nabila Ahmed, Brian Gonzalez ’15, Alexis Hoff, Katie Scanlon, and Patrick Spichal.

Their project was generated as part of a graduate design studio course taught by Seth Holmes, associate professor of architecture.

The University of Hartford is well represented in the state of Connecticut’s 2018–19 Artist Fellowship Program.

Among the 39 Connecticut artists receiving grants are Benjamin Grossberg, professor of English and director of the creative writing program in the College of Arts and Sciences; Leslie Johnson, instructor of English in Hillyer College; Robert Calafiore ’87, assistant dean of the Hartford Art School; and Mari Skarp-Bogli ’04, C’07, adjunct professor of art history in the Hartford Art School. The Artist Fellowship program recognizes the artistic excellence of Connecticut artists in a variety of disciplines.

New Path for Nurses UHart to launch BSN program later this year The University of Hartford’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP) will launch a new entry-level Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in the fall of 2019 and is now accepting applications for the first class. This program will build on ENHP’s long-standing reputation of excellence in the greater Hartford community for its nationally accredited RN to BSN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.

The new BSN program is designed for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have not earned a previous nursing degree. In the four-year

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

BSN program, students will work closely with expert nurse educators in small classes, strengthen their leadership skills by working with teams across disciplines to improve patient care outcomes, and complete clinical training at leading hospitals and medical centers in the region.

Cesarina Thompson, dean of ENHP, says the University will launch the BSN program to respond to workforce demands for more baccalaureate-level nurses. “Research has shown strong links between nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level and lower patient mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and more positive outcomes. Employers

UNOTES / NEWS

Students entering UHart’s new BSN program will build critical thinking skills and confidence prior to entering real-world settings.

recognize that education makes a difference and are now requiring or strongly preferring nurses with a BSN degree.”

Demand for nurses continues to grow.

The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that by 2022 there will be far more RN jobs available than in any other profession. With more than 500,000 RNs anticipated to retire by 2022, the BLS projects a need for 1.1 million new RNs for expansion and replacement of retirees and to avoid a nursing shortage.

In Connecticut, there is ample capacity for an additional nursing education program. Nursing programs in Connecticut annually have thousands of applicants for a limited number of places. In 2016, nearly 8,000 candidates applied for a total of 2,220 program openings statewide, according to a report from the state Board of Examiners in Nursing.

FROM

CAMPUS

/ 09

>> From left: Donald Allan Jr. ’86 (event emcee), John Byrnes (co-chair), Greg Barats (honoree), and Richard Booth ’69, M’77, Hon.’05 (co-chair).

“Our BSN program will differ from others in the state because it provides nursing students with a unique opportunity to learn alongside other ENHP students in a range of health professions that provide direct patient care, including respiratory therapy, radiology, and physical therapy,” Thompson says. “This inter-professional program will meet employers’ needs for nurses who can be active participants of a health care team, communicate with other team members, and develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills to improve patient care quality and safety.” ENHP nursing students will also benefit from the opportunity to work with education students and faculty to develop strong teaching skills that they can apply to patient education.

Thompson said the University’s proximity to a wide range of hospitals and health-care facilities will provide students with outstanding clinical opportunities.

To date, the University of Hartford BSN program has clinical commitments from Hartford Hospital, Hartford Healthcare Rehabilitation, Hartford Healthcare Behavioral Health, Eastern Connecticut Health Network/Manchester Memorial Hospital, Gaylord Specialty Care/ Gaylord Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut’s New Britain General Campus, McLean Care, Middlesex Hospital, Midstate Medical Center, and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

University of Hartford nursing graduates are Learn more at hartford.edu/ employed throughout nursing-bsn Connecticut in professional leadership, practice, and education positions. While maintaining the high standards that health-care professionals in Connecticut have come to trust, the new BSN program will now expand the University’s reach to include high school students from diverse backgrounds who want to pursue a career in nursing.

Representatives of more than 60 Greater Hartford companies and organizations came together on Sept. 20 to honor Greg M. Barats, president and CEO of HSB Group Inc., parent company of The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, and raised over $400,000 to benefit students in the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business. Barats received the inaugural F.I.R.M. Executive Leader of the Year Award, which acknowledges and celebrates an industry leader in the finance, insurance, risk management, and manufacturing (F.I.R.M) business sectors. The proceeds will provide scholarships, career development, and programming for students in the Barney School of Business, which has a legacy of programs focused on finance, insurance, and risk management.

A portion of Bloomfield Avenue has been named for the University of Hartford’s first director of athletics, A. Peter LoMaglio, who passed away in June 2015.

Two signs denoting the “A. Peter LoMaglio Memorial Highway” are now located on Bloomfield Avenue (Route 189) near the UHart campus on the Hartford-West Hartford line, one in each direction.

The request was submitted in 2017 by State Senator Douglas McCrory ’88, M’95, and became law as Public Act 17-230. “I knew this was the least we could do in honor of a man who dedicated his life not only to his country, but towards educating and helping others,” McCrory said.

LoMaglio is widely considered the “father of University of Hartford athletics.”

WINTER 2019

10 / UNOTES / NEWS

FROM

CAMPUS

WORLDVIEWS

Inspiring Civil Engagement UHart among a select group of U.S. universities involved in PAYCE program

Taylor Zitkus ’19 wanted to gain new experiences in college but she wouldn’t have dared to imagine when she arrived on campus that she would be interacting with students across the globe, producing podcasts worthy of inclusion on iTunes and Spotify, and mentoring other UHart undergraduates looking to create their own podcasts on political participation or the changing American dream.

Zitkus, from South Windsor, Connecticut, is one of several students involved with the Palestinian American Youth Civic Engagement (PAYCE) fellowship program.

Through a grant from the Stevens Initiative, PAYCE brings American and Palestinian students together through technology, such as video chat, for “virtual exchanges.” The purpose is for American and Palestinian students to share a curriculum that will inspire civic engagement.

UHart is one of only four universities in the United States to participate in the PAYCE program. The others are Drake University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and the University of New Hampshire.

“There is a big issue with engagement in politics, and people thinking what they do doesn’t matter,” says Politics and Government Associate Professor Katharine Owens, who initiated the University’s involvement with PAYCE.

Zitkus, a politics and government major enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, attended a PAYCE podcasting workshop at Iowa’s Drake University last winter with fellow student Juli Dajci ’21.

They took the knowledge and skills acquired there back to the UHart campus last spring, where they worked extensively with their peers—in a politics course taught

by Owens—to help them develop their own podcasts.

One of the students, Megan Samojla ’18 of New Britain, Connecticut, says the course helped her realize how she can get involved in her local community. “Now I’m more interested in finding out what’s going on locally, and not just voting in an election. I wouldn’t feel that way if I didn’t take this class,” she says.

A third PAYCE fellow, Genesis Guzman ’19 of Fort Lee, New Jersey, attended an intense two-and-ahalf-week podcasting workshop at Princess Sumaya University in Amman, Jordan, this past summer.

A big part of the program, Zitkus explains, is keeping in connection with the Palestinian students through both asynchronous exchanges such as online discussion boards and synchronous methods like video communication that allow full classes of American and Palestinian students to converse in real time.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

“It’s not every day that you can get together for two weeks with people from across the world and learn about their lives—and have them learn about yours,” Zitkus says.

To be able to learn both a specific skill such as podcasting and more general ones like teamwork and communication have been invaluable.

I feel like the skills I have learned as a PAYCE fellow will definitely transfer over and help me in whatever career I choose to pursue.”

UNOTES / NEWS

FROM

CAMPUS

/ 11

OVERHEA RD

“The young men drowned while courageously attempting to save children in distress. Their heroism represents the very best of the international students who enrich communities across the United States.”

Statement from the U.S. Department of State after THEEB ALYAMI, a senior at the University of Hartford studying civil engineering, and his cousin JASER ALRAKAH, a student at Western New England University who attended UHart from 2015 to 2017, died last June while jumping into dangerous waters to rescue children in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. All of the children made it safely back to shore.

SHOW & TELL

Ellen Carey, associate professor of photography, was named one of the top five must-see artists at last November’s Paris Photo exhibition, the world’s largest international arts fair dedicated to photography. Carey’s “Crush & Pull” series was included in the Galleries of Elles curated sector, which highlights the world’s best women in the photography field.

“Love this place and it will love you back. … And know that your predecessors are pulling for you.”

President Emeritus HUMPHREY TONKIN, speaking at the Oct. 20 inauguration of current President Gregory Woodward.

“I am thrilled to be a part of a university that is taking bold steps to enhance the overall student experience. In a polarizing time in society, it is inspiring to work at a place such as the University of Hartford that is willing to embrace its rich diversity, to rethink how it delivers comprehensive supports, and to clearly define pathways toward meaningful degrees and student success.”

AARON ISAACS, upon being named UHart’s dean of students last fall

Finding Matilda Kyle Conti ’20 (left) and Taylor Ugrinow ’18 filmed hours of footage in Lithuania last July so they can tell the story of college student and writer Matilda Olkin, who was murdered with her family by Nazi collaborators in 1941. An eyewitness account led people to believe the victims were buried near a local farmhouse. But the exact location of their remains was unknown until a research team led by archaeologist and UHart Professor of Jewish History Richard Freund located the burial site using ground-penetrating radar, a noninvasive technique. The documentary that Conti and Ugrinow are working on, under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Communication Susan Cardillo, is titled Finding Matilda and is scheduled for completion this spring.

WINTER 2019

12 / H UN AW O TK E’ S E / YNEE W V ISE W F R /O M T H CE A BMI PG U P SI C T U R E

Sold-out jazz brunch

Class of 1978 at Reunion Row

Inauguration—President Woodward receives the academic mace

First-ever campus fireworks spectacular

Alumni of Color Reunion: Finding Your Political Voice

Inauguration—the four living UHart presidents

“Laugh a lot and care a lot.

Believe in Hartford and Hartford will believe in you.”

President Emeritus Humphrey Tonkin

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

UNOTES / NEWS

FROM

CAMPUS

/ 13

Athletics BBQ

Inauguration—President Woodward’s family and friends

Howie’s Kids Zone

Physical Therapy 20th Anniversary Reunion Celebration

Hawktober

Beautiful weather, the inauguration of University of Hartford President Gregory Woodward, and a record-setting 60 events made Hawktober Weekend 2018 this past Oct. 19–21 extra special for the more than 3,000 alumni, parents, students, and guests who attended. Mark your calendars for Hawktober Weekend 2019, coming Oct. 18–20.

Reception Honoring Professor Renwick “Wick” Griswold

BSU Reception and Dinner Honoring DeLois Lindsey

WINTER 2019

14 / FIRST CLASS / SPOTLIGHT

ON

FAC U LT Y

Ivana Milanovic Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Engineering Student Success For CETA’s Ivana Milanovic, seeing successful student outcomes is what it’s all about

Computer-based simulations have become integral to the development of everything from engines to heart valves, minimizing development time and costs, and optimizing design.

At the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA), simulations have enhanced learning at the graduate level for some time, helping students to visualize difficult theoretical concepts and giving them a competitive edge in the job market. Now, Ivana Milanovic, professor of mechanical engineering, is pioneering the use of simulations and apps at the undergraduate level.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

Students in her junior-level fluid and heat transfer classes are running realistic engineering simulations, analyzing complex systems and processes, and building apps for potential nonengineering customers. For example, students simulate a blood flow influenced by the presence of a blockage within an arterial wall, and design apps for users in the medical field.

The courses contain increasingly complex simulation-based assignments designed to help students achieve a better understanding of thermo-fluid concepts.

They also facilitate development of modeling, app building, and technical report writing competencies.

Milanovic, whose expertise is in thermo fluids, has been committed to introducing real-life engineering problems to her students since she first arrived at UHart in 2001.

Over the past 17 years, she has enriched her teaching through no fewer than six NASA Faculty Fellowships and numerous

FIRST CLASS / SPOTLIGHT

grants. Her honors include the University’s Bent Award for Scholarly Creativity, the Award for Innovations in Teaching and Learning, NYU’s Graduate Fellowship, and the Zonta International Foundation Amelia Earhart Fellowship Award. She is a contributing author of more than 90 journal articles, NASA reports, conference papers, and software releases. Her ongoing research is in vortical flows, computational fluid dynamics, multiphysics modeling, and collaborative learning strategies.

Last spring, Milanovic’s grants funded three undergraduate students investigating computational aeroacoustics of dual-stream nozzle flows. Students were able to perform NASA-related research due to their simulation skills obtained in thermofluids courses. One of them, Jeffrey Severino ’19, was a student intern at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, last summer.

“This intern position allowed me to work with the same professionals Dr. (Paul) Slaboch (assistant professor of mechanical engineering) and Dr. Milanovic worked with,” Severino says.

“At the same time, I was learning how to be good at what I love—research.

An example of an app that Jeffrey Severino ’19 and others built last spring

As a student in Milanovic’s heat transfer course in his junior year, Dave Drakes ’15 was selected to participate in a NASA-funded team tasked with building CETA’s Turbomachinery Research Laboratory. Because of the experience, he says, “I was able to stand

“I’m invested in my students with my heart and soul. I give them my all.” out and show an application of some of the hands-on experience that I possessed along with an understanding of our lessons on thermofluids fundamentals.”

Drakes currently works at HarleyDavidson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as an engineer specializing in vehicle dynamics. Originally from Enfield, Connecticut, he says CETA “provided me with the tools I needed to get where I am and allowed me to work with professors like Dr. Milanovic, who had a real passion for not only engineering, but also for all of her students’ success.”

For Milanovic, who was raised in Yugoslavia, seeing her students, like Drakes, have successful outcomes is what it’s all about. She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Belgrade, Serbia.

When she was tapped to go to a foreign country to get her PhD, she decided on New York University Tandon School of Engineering.

“My dad was a mechanical engineer,” Milanovic says. “My mother was a professor. I was always good at math.

I decided to study engineering to please them. No other reason. I was a creative type. I wrote poetry. I am a published poet in Serbia. I like math, but I would have never imagined that I would end up where I am.

“Life could have taken me on a different route but instead it gave me a trampoline. And I hope to spread my blessings to my students. I’m invested in my students with my heart and soul.

I give them my all.” H

ON

FAC U LT Y

/ 15

OF NOTE

Engaged Learning Five University of Hartford faculty were recently awarded a three-year $192,780 grant entitled Building Faculty Capacity to Deliver High Impact Practices, Develop Essential Learning Outcomes, and Share Results through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

The grant was received from the Davis Educational Foundation, established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Stanton Davis’s retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. Jean McGivney-Burelle ’91, professor of mathematics; James Shattuck, associate professor of chemistry; Donna Menhart M’89, P’16, P’18, associate professor of ear training; Beth Richards, assistant professor of English; and Lisa Zawilinski, associate professor of elementary education, will lead this project, which seeks to build upon and sustain the University’s strategic-planning efforts to ensure that all University of Hartford undergraduates receive a high-quality academic experience marked by consistent exposure to nationally recognized, evidence-based teaching practices that support the development of 21st-century skills.

Trustees of the Davis Educational Foundation applauded the “project’s inclusion of faculty from across the University and the commitment to active pedagogy.”

Through December 2021, 30 faculty members each year will have the opportunity to participate in one of three faculty learning communities (FLC) that will help to elevate and formalize conversations about engaged teaching and learning and serve as a supportive network as participants implement coursebased projects. Faculty who participate in each FLC will have the opportunity to develop a scholarship of teaching and learning project, to illuminate practical strategies for assessing the effectiveness of their pedagogical innovations, and to disseminate these findings across UHart and beyond.

“As an institution that embraces the teacher-scholar model for faculty, we are especially pleased to have this grant,” Provost H. Frederick Sweitzer says. “I hope it will continue to build a community of teachers whose work is informed by theory, the wisdom of practice, and research.”

WINTER 2019

1 6 / F E AT U R E

UHart helps turn passions into professions for the Class of 2018

YOU’RE

HIRED “Take the joy of accomplishment you feel today and keep it for the next 80 years,” University of Hartford President Gregory Woodward advised nearly 900 graduates during the University of Hartford’s undergraduate Commencement last May. Members of the Class of 2018 came from 31 states and Puerto Rico, represented 17 countries, and entered the next stage of their lives with diverse career aspirations— many had already secured jobs prior to graduation.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

F E AT U R E / 1 7

Andrea Barros ’18, Mikaela Nelson ’18, and Aaron Shea ’18 are three members of that class who couldn’t be further apart in the fields in which they are forging careers. Yet, regardless of major, each says being prepared for the future is about more than job-related coursework, internships, or part-time jobs—it’s the complete campus experience that prepares students for success.

Andrea Barros ’18

began working as sponsorship coordinator for the live entertainment company Live Nation in March 2018, two months before she graduated. In her position, if a company or organization purchases a sponsorship deal at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut, or Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut, she manages their accounts, finances, signage, tickets, or anything they need.

Barros, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts Management, completed two internships at Live Nation before she began working there. The first, in sponsorship, was in the summer between her sophomore and junior years and she commuted from her Norwalk, Connecticut, hometown. The second internship, in special events, was in the fall of her senior year. That winter, when her first internship supervisor was promoted to New York City, she was asked if she wanted the job. She said yes and “they were kind enough to let me work part time until graduation,” she says.

“My first internship was thanks to a networking project assignment in my Arts Management Practicum class,” Barros said. “I was paired with a graduating senior who found out I needed an internship and gave me his email contact at Live Nation. That was my first experience working in sponsorship and I fell in love with it.”

Barros says although her major was in The Hartt School, many of her classes were in the Barney School of Business and that was beneficial. “Hartt classes taught me about the lifestyle you have to expect in entertainment,” she recalls. “Barney classes taught me about marketing and financial accounting; subjects that I utilized in the internship and now in my job.”

Barros was a resident assistant (RA) for three years and a member of Phi Mu fraternity, where she was on the executive board as the

provisional membership director. “I was very introverted and reserved before coming to UHart, and becoming an RA taught me a lot. I use the skills I learned through that experience today in my career.”

Like the senior who helped her, Barros continues to network with UHart students. She emails her former advisor with information about internships and jobs that should be passed on to students. “There’s one intern here (at Live Nation) now from Hartt,” Barros says. “She was in one of my classes when I was hired. She messaged me this summer asking about positions and when they are posted and now she’s here.

We definitely have a network.”

“I was very introverted and reserved before coming to UHart, and becoming an RA taught me a lot.

I use the skills I learned through that experience today in my career.”

WINTER 2019

1 8 / F E AT U R E

CLASS OF

Mikaela Nelson ’18,

who received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, came to UHart specifically for the prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) program.

“A creative, crafty person” as she puts it who likes math, science, and art, Nelson made the decision to pursue the P&O field in high school after shadowing a prosthetist (one who designs, fabricates, and fits artificial limbs).

Nelson is currently enrolled in the 3-plus-2 combined BS/MSPO program and will receive her Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics this May. After interning at a pediatric clinic in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, during the summer of 2017, Nelson says she knows she will be well prepared for her profession after graduation. “Our program is very cutting edge,” she says. “Interns from other schools didn’t have the technical skills or the fabrication knowledge we learn. A large portion of our program is actually working in the lab.”

Despite her decidedly rigorous coursework, Nelson immersed herself in student life at UHart. She was a resident assistant (RA) and president of the women’s Ultimate Frisbee team. On top of it all, in 2016 she started the “Mickey’s Mission” project through which she creates custom dolls for children with prostheses, orthoses, burn scars, or other differences.

“At first, I was altering dolls and creating small prostheses for them, but now I use a 3-D printer and program the computer to make a bunch of parts that I can snap together,” Nelson explains. “I can print a head with a specific eye color and make hearing aids,

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

glasses, wheelchairs, braces, everything I need. The prosthetics industry is experimenting with 3-D printing and I’m learning to do it on a smaller scale.”

While her classwork and project provide excellent career-related experience for the future, Nelson points to an additional experience as being equally important to her current and future success. “When I came to UHart, I was very shy and not very confident,” she admits. “As an RA, I had to put myself out there and help other students. That helped boost my confidence. Now I can speak confidently with all types of people.”

Nelson is currently applying for residency at various medical facilities across the country. Eventually, she hopes to open her own practice or join an existing one where children can come in for her orthotics and prosthetics services and also have the opportunity to leave with dolls that not only help them learn to take care of their prostheses or other medical apparatus, but also help them to feel better about themselves.

“interns from other schools didn’t have the technical skills or the fabrication knowledge we learn.

A large portion of our program is actually working in the lab.”

BREAKING

At press time, Mikaela Nelson had been invited to Target headquarters in Minneapolis to participate in the application process for the Target Incubator program for young entrepreneurs with businesses that are making things better for people or the planet. If accepted, she will attend a summer program that will provide mentorship, learning sessions, and access to industry experts.

’18 “My advice to those looking is ‘don’t let it (rejection) stop you. someone out there will recognize what you have to offer.’”

Aaron Shea ’18

earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science last May and began his job as a software engineer at Geomagical Labs, a computer software startup near San Francisco, in June.

Interested in computer programming since he was just 10 years old, Shea enrolled at the University of Hartford specifically because of the small class sizes and personal attention.

While touring campus, he met Professor Carolyn Pe Rosiene, who is now chair of the computer science department. “She emphasized that small classes mean students receive more attention and gain a better understanding of the material,” Shea says. “Then she asked about what I was already doing in computing. That personal touch got me.”

F E AT U R E / 1 9

In addition to knowledge gained in his courses at UHart, Shea worked in the computer science department for three years as a systems administrator, maintaining classroom computers. He was also a member of the computer club.

Shea also had plenty of off-campus job experience by the end of his four years at UHart. In his sophomore year, he won a $7,000 development grant from Epic Games to further develop a plug-in he created that allows players to use a web browser with their games. In his junior and senior years, he lived at his home in North Haven, Connecticut, and commuted to campus for classes because he also was working as a software developer for Digital Surgeons in New Haven, Connecticut.

Even with his degree, work experience, and accolades, Shea says he doesn’t want anyone to think he didn’t have to put a great deal of effort into securing his job. “I searched on tech hubs, job sites, redid my résumé, and applied for positions in different parts of the country including New York, Texas, Colorado, and Silicon Valley. I had many rejections. My advice to those looking is ‘don’t let it (rejection) stop you. Someone out there will recognize what you have to offer.’”

Shea and Nelson developed their passions prior to college; Barros discovered hers through an internship while studying at UHart.

Yet all three were able to gain the experience, confidence, skills, and opportunities they needed to quickly set out on their chosen career paths. This is commonplace with University of Hartford graduates. According to the latest available National Association of Colleges and Employers’ First-Destination Survey, which captures information regarding how new college graduates fare in their careers within six months of graduation, 90 percent of UHart graduates are either employed, in graduate school, volunteering, or in the military.

And in the case of Andrea Barros, Mikaela Nelson, and Aaron Shea—doing what they love. H WINTER 2019

2 0 / F E AT U R E

Through military and civilian life, Kate McGraw ’85 has maintained an appreciation for the arts

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

If you’re interested in finding out how Kate McGraw ’85 has spent her career, don’t bother visiting her home in rural Maryland’s historic Kent Country. That may turn out to be an exercise in frustration.

There’s a cornfield behind her house, but McGraw was never a farmer. There’s also a vineyard, and while she does produce a sauvignon blanc, winemaking is really just a hobby. Her baby grand piano, a venerable old friend that her parents rescued and restored when she was a teenager, has a place of prominence in her living room, but McGraw does not earn any income from music, either.

F E AT U R E / 2 1

WINTER 2019

2 2 / F E AT U R E

“Actually, I think there are clues all around,” she says, “You can make a lot of guesses.”

True. But you’d probably be wrong.

Sure, there are books on psychology all around the place and commendations here and there from the government. But there are also her own framed pieces of artwork on the walls, photos of her grandchildren, and plenty of music books.

Bottom line?

You’d have to be quite the sleuth to figure out that McGraw is the deputy director of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Psychological Health Center of Excellence, where she works vigorously to help enhance the psychological well-being of our nation’s service members and their families.

McGraw has spent 30 years in a variety of military positions devoted to mental health research and treatment, mostly on behalf of the Department of Defense.

These roles have included serving as one of the first female intercontinental ballistic launch officers for the Air Force; aerospace psychologist for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot training program; leadership of the team deployed to provide mental health support for the department’s mortuary affairs operations following the September 11 terrorist attacks and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia; and many other parallel tasks and responsibilities.

McGraw has served both in the uniformed and civilian sectors, the latter of which has included adjunct professor at Washington College, management consultant at a psychiatric hospital, and co-developer of Delaware’s first suicideprevention program.

Some may speculate that a career of such momentous consequence is precisely why her home can be considered somewhat of a refuge—what with the watercolors, the ivories, and the grapevines. But there’s more to it than that. The fact is that McGraw has always had more interests than can typically be

explored in a single career, from music and mental health to art and poetry, from landscape architecture and astronomy to athletics and biology. Perhaps McGraw’s sole problem is that there are only seven days in a week and 52 weeks in a year.

“I have so many ways to explore my creativity that I often find myself working on one kind of project to the exclusion of everything else—at least for a while,” she admits. “The world is full of interesting things.”

McGraw grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and was drawn to music, particularly the piano, from the age of five. As a preteen,

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

she attended the Cleveland Institute of Music. She also loved to paint, look up at the stars, run cross-country, play basketball, and survey a dozen other endeavors having to do with the arts, science, and physical endurance. As college age approached, she decided it would be wise to see more of the world before setting her sights on a specific professional course.

“So I went to the Netherlands as an exchange student and tutored with a concert pianist,” McGraw explains.

While there, she also studied art, Dutch literature, English, geography, biology, and history.

F E AT U R E / 2 3

In 1981, she applied to the University’s The Hartt School, and soon after, joined the student ranks on Bloomfield Avenue.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in piano in 1985, went on to get her master’s in human services from the University of Great Falls (Montana), and later her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

How does a student life immersed in music and art develop into a career as a psychiatric expert for the U.S. military?

The answers come to light once you can travel back in time and discern McGraw’s innermost perspectives. “I didn’t think

that being a performing musician would be the healthiest thing for me,” she shares. “It may not have been the best life for me. When you decide on a career after you invest so many years in perfecting an art, it’s a tough decision. But it doesn’t mean that music is over. It just ceases being the primary focus.”

It was McGraw’s brother who may actually have planted the seed that grew into a psychiatric career in the military.

Early on, he reminded her how interested she had always been in affairs of the mind, how patriotic she was in spirit, and how she always had a robust sense of adventure.

To some, it may sound as if McGraw led two lives—one devoted to music and art throughout her years of schooling, and another devoted to mental health once her career got underway. But what makes her such a distinctive personality is the fact that there are plenty of virtually seamless connections between the two.

“Throughout my military career, I’ve been asked to play piano for distinguished visitors quite a number of times,” McGraw says, acknowledging just one of those seamless and very advantageous connections. “The Department of Defense also works with the National Endowment for the Arts to see how music and art can be healing for traumatic brain injuries or psychological health problems.”

Yet another connection is her support of a program with the Naval Academy and George Mason University called Coming Home Dialogue, in which facilitators and groups of veterans look at wartime literature, poetry, short stories, and narratives to find common psychological threads and inner experiences that can be shared as a way to promote healing and healthfulness.

McGraw’s devotion to the arts has never diminished. Despite her hectic work schedule, she finds time to work with a local arts council, donate her time to musical theater groups, give an occasional recital, and much more. “I hang out with a lot of actors, musicians, and poets,” she states proudly.

To be sure, McGraw’s memories of classmates and instructors from her

UHart days are never far behind. In particular, she remembers with great fondness both piano professor Margreet Pfeifer Francis and the late Moshe Paranov, a co-founder of the school who spent five decades inspiring students.

“In addition to teaching the craft,” McGraw says of Francis, “she really cared about us as humans. She was awesome.”

McGraw also highly valued the assemblies for which Paranov was responsible, at which Hartt graduates talked to students about the realities of life as a professional musician. “It wasn’t to dissuade us,” she recalls, “but to make sure we were prepared for how competitive it is.” McGraw appreciated how Paranov and his graduate guests confirmed that a life with music is always a life with skills that can be used and experiences that can be shared and enjoyed.

That’s precisely the kind of practicality she offers to young people today who may face similar decisions. “If you don’t follow your heart, you might live a life of regrets. But if you don’t balance it out with pragmatism, you might also have regrets.”

McGraw’s life in Kent County, which she shares with two dogs, a cat, and visits from her three grown children and five grandchildren, is fulfilling. Also gratifying is the quality of the teamwork that has helped her make such a positive impact. “I really appreciate the professionals I’ve worked with throughout my career,” McGraw notes. “We’ve always been focused on such important missions. If, in the course of our work, we help one person feel better after they’ve served their county, then we did our job, and it was entirely worth the effort.

That’s why I continue to commute the long distance to Washington, D.C. The work is invaluable.”

McGraw makes that 85-mile journey from Maryland’s eastern shore to the nation’s capital several times a week. As everyone knows, it’s not exactly easy to sit in a car for two straight hours unless you have some good music playing for company, inner peace, and motivation.

Without a doubt, Kate McGraw’s commute is filled with music each and every mile. H

WINTER 2019

24 / F E AT U R E

CURTAIN CALL UHart alumni front and center on Broadway stage

John Clancy

F E AT U R E / 2 5

If you attended the first Tony Awards ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1947, you shelled out $7 for a ticket.

That’s how much producer Orin Wolf ’01, orchestrator John Clancy ’96, and actress Riza Takahashi ’14 would have to shell out today to buy a couple of salty pretzels on the sidewalks of New York City.

Chances are they may indeed sneak a pretzel or two, for all three Hartt School graduates are busy Broadway professionals, each involved in a production honored at the 2018 Tony Awards held last June at Radio City Music Hall.

ORIN WOLF

Wolf produced the musical The Band’s Visit that won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical of the Year. Clancy was nominated for Best Orchestration for his work on the musical Mean Girls. And Takahashi is a member of the lively Mean Girls ensemble.

While things may have changed in Manhattan since 1947, many of the everlasting realities of The Hartt School remain the same.

The number of successful theater, television, film, and music professionals who have trained on campus remains impressively high.

In fact, each year, multiple students are signed to professional contracts prior to their graduation. It all starts with the faculty—Hartt instructors continue to be praised for their willingness and flexibility to help students explore individual artistic visions—even if it’s not part of the regular curriculum.

RIZA TAKAHASHI

2 6 / F E AT U R E

I

n fact, that’s how Orin Wolf got his start as a producer.

Wolf, who was studying acting as an undergraduate, asked if he could produce a night of one-act plays. When given the go-ahead, he handled everything from fundraising to crew selection. Hartt allowed an entrepreneurial environment to blossom where other schools, Wolf speculates, might not have been so accommodating. He recalled another experience when, during a play rehearsal, the air conditioning broke and he spent hours in a frantic search for portable fans. When he was through, the director smirked at the exhausted student and said, “That’s what a producer does!” To Wolf, it wasn’t a cheeky comment; it was a call to action. He liked to make things happen. Between the night of one-acts and being a rehearsal savior, he found his calling.

After graduating, he started his own off-Broadway booking company, and was also selected for a new program at Columbia University in which participants learn the business from legendary producer Hal Prince, a program for which Wolf eventually assumed directorship.

Wolf soon met a fellow Hartt grad at Hartford Stage, where there was a reading for a straight play called The Band’s Visit. He had seen the independent movie on which it was based and liked it a lot. The story concerns an Egyptian policemen’s band that inadvertently gets stranded in a Jewish town in Israel.

“I like the notion of strangers stuck in a place,” Wolf says. It’s a literary device he remembers from his Hartt days studying the plays of Ibsen, Chekov, O’Neill, and Mamet. When the decision was made to turn The Band’s Visit into a musical, it was knocked off Hartford Stage’s radar and firmly into Wolf’s hands. He took it to off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company, where it premiered in November 2016, and then to Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2017.

“I bring an understanding of what the actor needs,” Wolf says about his role as producer—a nod to his acting days at the University.

Raised in Cleveland, Wolf credits Hartt with fostering in him the spirit of independence and creative adventure.

“We learned that you have to make do with what you’ve got. It was a place to explore and tap into your passions.”

Wolf worked on The Band’s Visit for almost a decade before Bernadette Peters announced his name on the Radio City stage to accept a Tony for Best Musical of the Year. He had invited the entire cast, co-producers, and investors—another echo from his undergraduate experience, where collaboration and camaraderie were essential ingredients.

John Clancy was also at the Tony Awards that same evening, as a nominee for his Mean Girls orchestration. Though he didn’t win, Clancy was honored by the nomination. He understands the role of an orchestrator is unfamiliar to many people, different than the best actor that everyone understands. The orchestrator—what Clancy does—takes tunes that

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

“

I danced, sang, and in the last round read for the part of Janis.

Tina laughed.

That’s all I needed. I made Tina Fey laugh!

—Riza takahashi

someone else wrote and assigns instruments and notes to those tunes to achieve a certain emotional effect. It’s a skill and talent that he has mastered over his professional career.

Clancy studied music composition and theory at Hartt, and credits his professors with opening up his mind and his ears. They eagerly let a selfdescribed, uncompromising hard-rock drummer study genres such as classical, jazz, and chamber music. “I was even turned on to the harp,” he notes merrily.

“I didn’t think too much about harps before then!”

The Connecticut native subsequently worked on Shrek, The Musical in 2009 (and was nominated for a Tony), Fun Home in 2015 (another nomination), and Tuck Everlasting in 2016.

A big part of anyone’s success—even those who are extremely talented—is finding the right place and getting there at the right time. Making yourself known is essential. Clancy made sure that happened. While playing in the pit for a show in development at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., he was introduced to a music director who hired him to work at the Public Theater in New York City. It was while performing at Joe’s Pub (part of the Public Theater) that he was seen by Jeanine

F E AT U R E / 2 7

Tesori, the composer of Thoroughly Modern Millie, who was writing a new musical, Caroline, Or Change. He made an impression and she asked him to work with her.

It was during the Caroline workshop that Clancy helped develop a percussion style that duplicated the sounds of washing machines and pots and pans, which, as it turned out, was an important element for the show. “Jeanine pushed me to do things I didn’t think I could do,” Clancy says proudly. As a result, she later hired him as an associate orchestrator on Shrek.

One of Clancy’s greatest joys is when he sees individual instrumentalists enjoy what he wrote for them. Recently, a short piece from his Mean Girls orchestration played at Radio City, confirming for him that musicians appreciate what he is able to do for them.

So do audiences—even if they don’t completely understand the elements of orchestration Clancy has mastered.

But everybody knows what ensemble players do. They sing, dance, and add to a show’s overall comic hijinks. That’s Riza Takahashi’s job eight times a week in Mean Girls.

There may be just 120 miles between Hartford and Broadway, but Takahashi traveled much farther than Wolf or Clancy to get there. She grew up in a small town outside of Osaka, Japan.

With a lifelong love of theater, Takahashi decided to go to a performing arts high school in Vancouver, where she lived with a host family. She was determined to make swift progress on her

English, and with her strong academic performance, she was confident enough to apply to American colleges. After being accepted to UHart, she decided Connecticut would be the next stop on her journey.

Takahashi credits her Hartt professors with helping her focus on her goal. They listened to any concerns and helped in any way they could, she recalls. She immersed herself in studies and performance, and was eventually cast in the regional productions of Spamalot and Mamma Mia! When an opportunity came along to audition for Mean Girls, based on the Tina Fey screenplay, Takahashi found herself in a real-life version of A Chorus Line, in an open audition call with dozens of hopefuls, which was culled to 30, then to five.

“Tina was in the room,” she recalls. “I danced, sang, and in the last round read for the part of Janis. Tina laughed. That’s all I needed. I made Tina Fey laugh!”

Two days later, Takahashi was told she had a part in the ensemble and would understudy the role of Janis.

Landing on the Great White Way on Broadway at such a young age is inspiring in its own right, but what makes it extra special for Takahashi is how the show speaks directly to teens—an age from which she’s not that far removed.

When thinking about current and future Hartt students, Takahashi reiterates that when you have talent, professors who care, and a can-do attitude, anything is possible.

That’s the way it’s been throughout the years for graduates of The Hartt School.

Riza Takahaski, John Clancy, and Orin Wolf represent countless other students who took advantage of Hartt’s hundreds of annual performances, inspiring master classes, and passionate faculty to hone their craft and to unleash their individual artistic expression. H

TH E LIST GOES O N More UHart alumni who have won or been nominated for the entertainment world’s top honors…

Philip Boykin ’95 • 2018 Tony Winner—Best Revival of a Musical, Once on This Island (Principal Cast Member) Peter Castellano ’99 • 2016 Emmy Winner— Outstanding Live Graphic Design, World Cup of Hockey Mike Dobson ’05 • 2018 Tony Nominee—Best Sound Design, Sponge Bob Square Pants Jimmy Greene ’94 • 2015 Grammy Nominee—Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals, When I Come Home (Arranger with Javier Colon) • 2015 Grammy Nominee—Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Beautiful Life Christropher Jahnke ’96 • 2012 Tony Nominee—The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (Orchestration) Joey LaBrasca ’17 • 2018 Tony Winner—Best Play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Cast Member) David Pritikin ’94 • 2014 and 2015 Emmy Winner— Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program, Deadliest Catch (Executive Producer) • 2013 Emmy Nominee— Outstanding Reality Program, Deadliest Catch • 2005 and 2006 Emmy Nominee—Outstanding Reality Competition Program, Survivor (Producer ’05, Supervising Producer ’06) Shane Shanahan M’98 • 2018 Tony Nominee—Mean Girls (Orchestra) • 2016 Grammy Winner—Silk Road Ensemble’s album Sing Me Home (Percussionist)

WINTER 2019

Campus radio station celebrates 50 Y E A R S with an unwavering mission and a passionate leader

RADI

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

F E AT U R E / 2 9

DAYS For someone involved in a medium that historically depends on being heard and not seen, John Ramsey, general manager of the University of Hartford’s public alternative radio station, WWUH, has the kind of background that is full of episodes ideal for visual capture. In fact, if a film student at the University of Hartford ever decides to make a docudrama of Ramsey’s life and career in radio, there’s plenty of material ripe for audience appeal. Indispensable, you might say.

3 0 / F E AT U R E

a million listeners from New Haven, Conn., to Springfield, Mass., and the range of its programming would be • The timeless scene where 14-year-old difficult for any other broadcast outlet John is taken by his father to see the to top. From Morning Jazz and Polka WWUH studio for the first time, where Time to rock ’n’ roll and gospel, from his eyes open wider than a 12-inch Social & Cultural Change and Gay Spirit long-playing album and his face takes to programs geared toward Hispanic, on a wistful gaze; Lithuanian, Polish, and Indian communities, the list is simply too • Or the frenzied scene where 15-year-old long for a single discussion.

John, now a volunteer at the station, Adding to the station’s is unexpectedly asked by the program place of distinction is its director on Dec. 24 to stick around and extensive music library of host a Christmas show because he can’t close to 140,000 LPs and find anyone else to do it; CDs—one of the largest collections in the country.

• Or the madcap scene where 60-yearAnd it may not have happened old John receives a phone call informwithout Ramsey’s insistence. Over ing him he’s to be inducted into the the years, there had been suggestions to Connecticut Broadcasters Hall of Fame, purge the library, but Ramsey resisted, only to realize it’s April Fool’s Day and asserting both the practicality and histhat the call could possibly be a practical torical significance of keeping one copy joke. (It wasn’t.) of everything the station receives. His victory is the station’s reward.

But a docudrama may be a moot point, Currently, Ramsey supervises approxfor John Ramsey is a modest guy who is imately 80 student, faculty, and comconvinced he’s simply doing his job— munity volunteers. WWUH, which is albeit an exceedingly important one rebroadcast elsewhere in Connecticut for the UHart community, the greater on WWEB in Wallingford, WAPJ in Hartford region, and hundreds of alumni Torrington, and WDJW in Somers, and volunteers who have kept the station is officially called “a non-commercial operating around the clock through the radio station operated as a commupast half century. nity service of the University of The benefits of college radio Hartford.” Leave it to Ramsey cannot be overstated, nor to encapsulate that in a less can Ramsey’s contribution officious, more evocative to WWUH, which is celeListen to WWUH worldwide around way: “We fill a need that isn’t brating its 50th anniverthe clock at filled anywhere else.” sary with a series of special www.wwuh.org Commercial stations, events throughout this he explains, are business academic year. enterprises that have to per“I love the University’s form financially for their owners vision for WWUH and the station’s or shareholders. “For them, there are vision for what it does on behalf of the marketplace pressures that dictate what community. It’s my vision, too,” says they put on the air. We don’t have those Ramsey, who became its first general pressures. We can put on programming manager in 1986. “Why do people listen not because it sells, but because our listo radio? For companionship, and teners think it’s worthwhile. That’s what because they want to know what’s hapI love about it.” pening in their neighborhood. WWUH is A lifelong resident of West Hartford, live and local. We tell you what’s happenRamsey, who comes from a musical faming on campus, at Bushnell Park, in New ily and has a considerable love for music Haven, and all around the state.” himself, was attracted to the technical With a tower atop Avon Mountain, side of things early on. That’s why his the station has a potential audience of For example:

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

father felt compelled to take him to the local university radio station when he was a boy. He began volunteering there in 1970 as a technician, was asked to sub for on-air personalities, and had his own rock ’n’ roll show. But he took time off from radio to work the sound boards for rock bands for a while, only to return to his first passion in 1977, which is also when he received his FCC first-class license. Ramsey then embarked on a series of chief engineer positions for Hartford-area stations such as WCCC, WDRC, WKSS and WJMJ. He became volunteer chief engineer at WWUH in 1978 and was offered the general manager’s spot eight years later. He’s never wanted to do anything else.

Yet, he does! Ramsey works tirelessly to promote and preserve the history and heritage of radio in Connecticut.

Toward, that end he authored a book called Hartford Radio, released in 2012

by Arcadia, one of the nation’s premier independent publishers of books on iconic cities, events, and institutions.

It is a front-row seat into the history of the region’s radio stations, the people who helped build them, and the forward thinkers who provided the ides and voices behind all the diverse programming.

Ramsey also built and oversees the comprehensive website on the history of Hartford radio—packed with information and archival audio—and he facilitated the creation of a 10-part documentary called “Connecticut Radio Memories” that aired on WWUH and is archived on its website, wwuh.org.

Because of his tenure and extensive contacts, Ramsey was able to connect the documentarians with dozens of current and former volunteers who gave—and continue to give—WWUH its heart and soul.

Ramsey, a married father of two and grandfather of three, devoted his entire career to radio. Would he advise others to do so? “In truth,” he explains, “there are fewer jobs in radio today because so much of it is automated. Plus, the

“

F E AT U R E / 3 1

John Ramsey has been part of WWUH for most of its 50 years on the air.

“

FOR [COMMERCIAL STATIONS], THERE ARE MARKETPLACE PRESSURES THAT DICTATE WHAT THEY PUT ON THE AIR. WE DON’T HAVE THOSE PRESSURES. WE CAN PUT ON PROGRAMMING NOT BECAUSE IT SELLS, BUT BECAUSE OUR LISTENERS THINK IT’S WORTHWHILE. THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT.” corporate consolidations that have taken place have resulted in four or five radio stations being run by a single group of people. However,” he is quick to add, “many of the things we need to know to run this station translate enormously well into dozens of other professions, such as multimedia production capabilities, knowledge of music history, social media marketing and promotion, sound engineering, recording skills, fundraising, and nonprofit organization management.” In short, WWUH is still an enormously valuable training ground, which is another reason why its 50th anniversary is of such great consequence to the University.

WWUH was also the first radio station in Connecticut to broadcast on the

Internet. For millions of people, the Internet provides all the information and entertainment they used to get on the radio. That’s why some students may initially fail to see the value of radio today as a community resource. But once again, Ramsey has the knowledge, confidence, and passion to put a positive and rational spin on such criticism. “Having the Internet available simply makes us work that much harder to do what we do best,” he says. “If you go back 20 or 30 years, we were one of the only stations in the region that had a bluegrass show, a Native American show, and a gay and lesbian show. Sure, through the Internet

today anyone can find those kinds of programs no matter where they are or no matter what time of day. So what do we do? We make sure our programming is even better, even more relevant.”

That’s why WWUH, through Ramsey’s efforts, remains such a valuable asset to the greater Hartford region. It’s also why he was tapped by the Connecticut Broadcasters Hall of Fame for induction.

At the ceremony in October 2015, Ramsey was part of the inaugural group of a dozen honorees, which included local luminaries from radio, television, and broadcast management such as Denise D’Ascenzo, Gerry Brooks, Brad Davis, and Al Terzi. Quite impressive company for a kid from West Hartford who was left alone one Christmas Eve. Despite the conglomerations and automation of radio today, the importance of the medium remains strong.

Thanks to his lifelong devotion to the art and science of radio broadcasting, the value that John Ramsey brings to one of the best college radio stations around is equally undiminished. In short, Ramsey is to WWUH what WWUH is to the Connecticut radio landscape. In a word, indispensable. If that sounds like a tagline to some future docudrama, so be it. That’s what happens when your passion and your job have been one and the same for more than 30 years. H

WINTER 2019

3 2 / F E AT U R E

Ariel Palitz ’94 is the Big Apple’s first nightlife mayor

SOUL OF THE

CITY

W

hen New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tapped University of Hartford grad Ariel Palitz ’94 to run the city’s first ever Office of Nightlife, Palitz joined a handful of ambassadors from the likes of London, Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam charged with bridging the relationship between nightlife businesses, residents, and government.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

F E AT U R E / 3 3

“Nightlife is part of the soul of our city.

The musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs that make up this community are crucial not only to our culture, but our economy,” de Blasio said as he signed the legislation creating the liaison to an industry that supports 300,000 jobs and generates billions of dollars in economic activity in New York City.

Officially the senior executive director of the Office of Nightlife within the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Palitz brings to the job deep experience in nightlife and community building. She owned and operated Sutra Lounge, a successful nightclub in the East Village, for 10 years; served on one of the city’s community boards for more than six years; and spent the past three years running a hospitality consulting company.

To really understand how the native New Yorker and sociology major—whose studies focused on cultural anthropology and comparative religious philosophy with a concentration in ceramics— ended up as New York City’s first “night mayor,” one has to go back to the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

“The LA riots and the Rodney King incident really sparked a conversation nationwide about diversity and about how people interact with others,” she says. “At that time at the University of Hartford and at universities all over the country, students became activated.

They marched on campus. They came and spoke in groups in the quads and in the common areas. They were a major source of conversation about how to bring unity into the University.

That incident inspired Palitz and fellow students to create a group called Minds over Matter, where she organized a monthly jam session called The Solution and formed a house band composed of Hartt School students. That initiative was soon renamed The Soulution, and for two years at The Hawk’s Nest, people from across campus came to do poetry, sing, jam, read stories that they had written, or just hang out.

“This was really the catalyst for everything I have done after I graduated,”

PORT RA IT BY ELIAS W ILLIAMS/THE NEW YO RK TIMES

“ It encompassed my cultural anthropology interest, philosophy, art—all of that. I also I think we really did bring unity to the University at that time in a very creative way.”

Palitz says. “It encompassed my cultural anthropology interest, philosophy, art— all of that. I also I think we really did bring unity to the University at that time in a very creative way.”

She continues, “After I graduated in ’94, a lot of my University friends from New York owned or were running bars, clubs, and restaurants in the city. One friend of mine who came to see The Soulution on campus said, ‘Why don’t you do it at my bar?’ So I continued to do The Soulution: A Common Ground for Diverse Expression for almost five years in New York—at the Tunnel, S.O.B.’s, REBAR, a lot of venues. … It was a party for hip hop, reggae, rock ’n’ roll, gospel, and drag. … Ultimately, I was a promoter for many years, which led me to buy my own venue in 2004 in the East Village called Sutra Lounge.”

Sutra and some noise complaints it inspired led Palitz to become politically active. She joined the local Community Board 3 and served on the liquor licensing committee for six years. “I was very deep in the trenches,” she recalls. “It was very rough and tumble, but it was real life local activism at its best and I loved it.”

Palitz sold Sutra in 2014. After taking a year off, she started the consulting company Venue Advisors, helping entrepreneurs with their businesses and helping them and the community to coexist.

“I think that ultimately I was chosen [for the Nightlife Office] because I don’t see problems. I see solutions,” she says. “There’s too much competition,

over-regulation, and also the way that [nightlife] runs up against residential accommodations so we have to deal with quality of life and all of that. That’s what we’re working on, the solutions to these problems.”

In October, Palitz launched a “Five Borough Listening Tour” in Brooklyn.

With representatives from city agencies and elected officials joining her on stage, she pledged to listen to club owners, employees, patrons, promoters, and residents to inform the office on not just what their grievances and concerns are— but what their solutions are.

“After you’ve run a night club in New York for 10 years, there’s not much that could be more challenging,” she says.

“The new job has different challenges, but it’s great. I’m able to use all of my skills. And I’ve learned new skills to navigate these new waters. But it’s an extraordinary opportunity. It’s a dream job. I couldn’t be happier and couldn’t feel luckier.” H ADVICE TO STUDENTS

“You’re so lucky to be on a campus that offers you an intro to everything in life. When I went to University of Hartford, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I took ‘intro to everything’ and was able to find what spoke to me. Take advantage of all that diversity of experience that UHart has to offer. Go outside your box or even if you don’t have a box, go into all the boxes.”

WINTER

2019

3 4 / F E AT U R E

No Harpıng on the Norm Composer and harpist Brandee Younger ’06 pushes the creative envelope H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

J

F E AT U R E / 3 5

azz melodies crystalize in midair in one moment, and then in the next, melt into a provocative tangle, like conversations overheard in a café. As with life, the story always resolves, but it’s often difficult to predict when and where that will happen. For harpist Brandee Younger ’06, who studied harp performance and music business at The Hartt School, it was in January 2007 at the funeral for her musical hero, jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer Alice Coltrane.

Coltrane’s son, Ravi, invited Younger to play at his mother’s memorial service.

“It was bizarre, because I was this little girl who walked around playing her CD for so many years,” Younger says. “I never met [Alice Coltrane], but I used to write her letters and never send them because I didn’t think they were good enough.”

Younger was attending graduate school at New York University when Ravi Coltrane called, and even with years of practice and performance behind her, the invitation caught her off guard.

“The way it happened made me think that if I was still unsure about what I wanted to do, then the universe was answering the question for me,” she says.

Up until that point, Younger played every style of gig she could in order to define her tastes. She had recorded background tracks for Bad Boy Records, and enjoyed the freedom of being able to stitch together the best measures of multiple takes. Her Myspace profile attracted a cult following among the jazz and indie scene, but this was different.

This memorial service was personal.

Nearly every living musician who had played with Alice or John Coltrane

performed at the memorial service, and Ravi Coltrane was a renowned saxophonist in his own right. After playing to an audience of that caliber, Younger felt the universe had granted her permission to pursue an unconventional direction for a harpist, so she picked up the torch of Alice Coltrane herself.

“No harpist thus far has been more capable of combining all of the modern harp traditions—from Salzedo, through Dorothy Ashby, through Alice Coltrane—with such strength, grace, and commitment,” Ravi Coltrane told The New York Times.

Younger’s original compositions embrace qualities of jazz with bendy funk rhythms and ethereal phrases that reverberate so effortlessly in the air, it’s as though she’s an alchemist sculpting pure joy from airwaves. Don’t call her a jazz musician, though—her musical formulas are too intricate for a single genre.

“I stripped myself of labels and got over the idea of throwing myself into a mental box,” she explains. “People will categorize you to make themselves feel better, but that’s on them. Those labels aren’t mine.”

In addition to three record releases, Younger has shared stages with jazz leaders and R&B titans including Common, John Legend, and Lauryn Hill. She embarked on her second world tour in autumn 2018 and met swarms of fans seeking autographs on the other side of the world. Last September, she joined Ravi Coltrane once again to play with him at Chicago’s Hyde Park Jazz Festival, where she gave a lecture on the legacy of Alice Coltrane.

Nat Reeves, associate in music at The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division, met Younger during her first-year orientation on campus and kept in touch with her through the years. He attends her shows as often as his schedule permits, and speaks of her without an ounce of surprise regarding her success.

“She’s not just playing the music, she’s making history,” Reeves explains.

“She’s a young black woman in a demanding musical world, and she’s taken to it in very impressive ways.”

Today, Younger cultivates a balance between financial security and souldeep fulfillment by maintaining a busy work schedule. In a typical week, she spends two days per week recording for herself or for other artists, two days gigging in New York or traveling for concerts around the country, and two days teaching. During festival season, she may zigzag across the country a few times in a week, but she also makes time for her students.

The most important lessons she teaches are about interpretation and flexibility. Many students come to her only able to play the notes on a page; and she aims to expand their comfort zones.

“Whatever formula you had, forget it,” she advises. She urges students to be willing to play in any setting, because music mirrors life—a day will come when you have to improvise your own song. H

“Whatever formula you had, forget it.”

WINTER 2019

/

NEW

HEIGHTS

/

BASEBALL

REFELCTIONS

/

HEAD

H AW K

/

HAWK NATION

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

H AW K N AT I O N / I N S I D E

UP FRONT

Jumping to New Heights When Terrel Davis ’20 stepped onto the University of Hartford campus for the first time, he had no idea the impact he would be making on the Hawks’ indoor and outdoor track and field teams. In just two years, Davis has shattered records and is hoping to continue that trend this winter and spring.

His passion for the sport started when he was in middle school watching his older brother compete in the high jump. “I used to watch him high jump, so that was the first event I always wanted to be good at,” Davis says. “I started off with just the high jump, then there was the whole height issue—I was only about 5 feet 6 inches so they told me to try long and triple jump and it kind of just stuck from there.”

And good thing it did, because Davis has done nothing but excel in those two events since he started. In his rookie season in 2016–17, Davis became Hartford’s first men’s champion, the first freshman champion in program history, and was named the Most Outstanding Rookie at the America East Indoor Championship meet. He then went on to break Hartford’s outdoor men’s long jump record.

He saw similar trends in his sophomore season, breaking his own triple jump record and bringing home gold in that event as well as in the long jump at the 2018 America East Indoor Championship. Davis was named Most Outstanding Male Field Athlete at this competition, thus becoming the first Hartford athlete to receive this award. Records continued to fall during the 2018 outdoor season, as Davis broke his own mark in the team’s first meet of the season in the long jump at the Weems Baskins Relays in South Carolina, and then went on to win his first outdoor America East Championship in May. Davis won the conference title despite getting injured two weeks before the championship meet. “Even when Terrel was injured during the spring season and still working his way back to peak form,” recalls Stacie Wentz, head track and field and cross country coach, “he still wanted to help the team by defending his America East Conference long jump title to score important team points in the championship meet. His heart is in the team and he wants to push his teammates to do their best.”

Even though Davis was working through the injury, his season-opening performance qualified him for the NCAA East Regional in Tampa, Florida, where he continued to make program history as the first male athlete to compete in an NCAA regional event. Davis ended the halfway point in his career with another personal best, placing 18th of 48 competitors. In the process, he shattered his old program record with a 7.48-meter jump.

“There is definitely still work to be done,” Davis says, “but I’m definitely happy with what I’ve done so far. I hope to just keep it moving and keep breaking records.”

AT H L E T I C S

/ 37

America East Player of the Year Jenna Bridges ’20, a native of Exeter, Rhode Island, is the first player in volleyball program history to be named America East Player of the Year. She led the conference in four different statistical categories, including hitting percentage and points per set. “Our success this season is a step towards redefining our legacy,” Bridges says. “It is the first time in 22 years that a team from Hartford has made the America East Tournament and we will not take it for granted. I am humbled and beyond thankful for the award.”

Head Hawk Mary Ellen Gillespie is in her second full season at the helm of Hartford athletics.

The seventh director of athletics in University of Hartford history, she was selected this past summer to serve as president of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, whose mission is to enhance initiatives common to Division I institutions that do not sponsor football.

Gillespie shares with H what brought her to campus, the importance of community connections, and her clearly defined goals for Hartford athletics moving forward (see page 39 for the Q + A).

WINTER 2019

3 8 / H AW K N AT I O N / I N S I D E

AT H L E T I C S

Batter Up Hawks Reflect on Historic 2018 Season

Hartford Baseball set many milestones last spring, winning its first-ever America East regular-season and tournament championship and making its first NCAA postseason appearance. Two Hawks who were part of this record-breaking season share their memories and experiences.

Jackson Olson ’20 of New Milford, Connecticut, a shortstop, recalls winning the America East Conference championship in Orono, Maine, last May: Coming into our last week of the regular season, the whole team was clicking. From the coaching staff to the players, and even the parents, it was working on all cylinders. We had to stay in Maine for a week because we had our last regular-season games there right before the tournament, so we had a chance to unwind and hang out with our teammates for a while. To say that it wasn’t a struggle to be crammed into a hotel room for a week would be a lie. But we overcame that and focused on getting ready for the tournament.

It was just a really exciting time to be a Hawk. The level of confidence every player had, regardless of their role on the team, was unmatched by any other team.

We had won the regular-season championship a week before, but that wasn’t enough for us. We didn’t feel accomplished yet. Everyone was nervous for the first game, but once the first pitch was thrown, it all went away and we were playing as if it were the first game of the regular season. Our starting pitchers—Nate Florence, Nick Dombkowski, and Billy Devito—were lights out. And because of that, our defense felt confident and played with swagger. We won the first game, 2-0, against Stony Brook behind Florence, and in the second game, we won on a walk-off single that really put us in the driver’s seat going into the championship game.

We knew what we had to do in that last game. The University of

Hartford had never won a baseball championship, we were picked last in every America East poll at the beginning of the season, and overlooked by everyone. We had a chip on our shoulders that carried us through that championship game.

Holding that trophy was something none of us will ever forget. Tears were shed, hugs were shared, and the most important part was that we accomplished this together. Everyone contributed. Every single player, coach, and parent.

We received big, shiny rings for winning the championship, but big and shiny aren’t all that they are. The rings exemplify and stand for all we accomplished last season. On the inside of the ring, it says “Expect More.” Expect more out of your teammates, coaches, and most importantly, yourself. That is our team motto and we live by it every single day. Especially the day of the championship.

America East champions. It has a nice ring to it.

Drew Holtgrieve ’19 of St. Charles, Missouri, a catcher, recounts his inaugural year as a Hawk, culminating with the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in the Deland, Florida, regional.

Coming in as a junior college transfer, I was just looking to get better and do whatever I could to help the team and turn things around. We had one of the toughest non-conference schedules, and I was excited about getting a shot at those bigger Division I schools—which we held our own against. I thought it was a very good experience for all of us, which led to a great conference season and a regular-season championship. Winning our first America East tournament and getting that first bid to the NCAA tournament were special. I was so proud of all my teammates and how we came together down the stretch, and just picked one another

SPORTS golfer Evans four finishes last fall. / Women’s Soccer won its fourth regular-season title in five years.

H / U NTIIC V KE E RR: S IMen’s TY O F H Eric ART F O R’21 D recorded MAGAZ I Ntop-20 E

/ Lindsay Abed (WBB)

H AW K N AT I O N / I N S I D E

up when we needed to. It was so fun to be part of the team.

The NCAA tournament was something I always watched on TV as a kid, and you dream of playing in it. As I grew up, it was always my goal to give myself a chance to do that, and for that to come true was just unbelievable. That being said, neither I nor my team was content with just making the tournament. We had played some tough teams early on in the year that prepared us for that moment. We felt ready, and we felt like we could challenge and beat anybody. So, as exciting an experience the trip to DeLand, Florida, was, it was a business trip.

All year long, Coach talked about staying on an even keel, and never being too high or too low with our emotions. We were thinking one game, one inning, and one pitch at a time, and let’s compete with Stetson first. We definitely showed signs of inexperience, never having played in a regional, but we competed well— even holding the lead at one point. We didn’t get the win, but we did a nice job bouncing back against a very good South Florida team and a really good pitcher. Again, we accepted the challenge and competed all the way to the end. We came from behind in the last inning to send it into extra innings, which was awesome to be a part of. I was so proud of the way our guys fought and never gave up. That really speaks to our team and our resilience.

It was a remarkable season and one I will never forget. Now, returning as a senior, my goal, as well as our team goal, is to use that valuable experience and bring it to this year’s team in hopes to repeat as America East champs, and this time, win some games in the NCAA Tournament—and see just how far we can go.

The Hawks will begin their 2019 regular season at UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 22, the first of 54 scheduled games.

AT H L E T I C S

/ 39

Q + A

Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie

BY THE BOOKS

3.37 GPA for Hawks’ student-athletes in 2017–18, highest ever for an America East school

7

Number of times Hawks’ studentathletes have won the America East Academic Cup.

6

Teams recognized for academic excellence with an Academic Progress Recognition Award from the NCAA

94% Graduation success rate, an all-time high for the Hawks

8

Hawks named to America East All-Academic teams last fall, three also earning Google Cloud Academic All-District honors

and John Carroll (MBB) joined the 1,000-point club on the same night (Nov. 24). /

What first attracted you to the University of Hartford? The first thing that drew me to this position was the opportunity to be part of a new leadership team with a bold vision for elevating an athletics department and an overall university. The commitment to the overall student-athlete experience, and the coaches and staff, were also very attractive to me. I’m a native Long Islander, so the opportunity to be closer to home was important. Losing my dad recently put a great deal in perspective—the chance to “come home” was significant.

When did your passion for sports first start to develop? Sports have always been a part of my life. I was active in sports growing up. From playing kickball and stickball as a young kid and then little league softball grew into volleyball, tennis, softball, and basketball in junior high and high school. I was not good enough to be recruited, so I stuck to intramurals in college. I started running when I lived in Indianapolis and got hooked on half marathons. When I first entered the college athletics world as a professional, I knew I needed to learn how to golf, so I started with lessons and now today, I can hold my own in a scramble.

What areas of opportunity do you see for Hartford Hawks athletics in the greater Hartford community? Simply put, we are the capital city’s team. We are the Division I university in the capital city and our program has a significant economic impact on the area and helps elevate its visibility. I believe we can be more visible and active in the community. Our student-athletes are amazing people who contribute to the community now and will make even greater contributions upon graduation with the skills and experiences they have developed at Hartford. Our coaches teach leadership every day—they would be great speakers at business and service organizations. They know firsthand how to build strong teams and build and work towards a vision.

How do you see alumni playing a role in UHart athletics? All Hartford alumni can be proud of the 364 student-athletes who wear the scarlet and white. The Hawk spirit doesn’t end the day you receive your diploma—you’re a Hawk whether you were an athlete or not. Alumni play an enormous role in growing the University. Telling their Hartford story, showing their success, wearing Hartford apparel (walking human billboards!) all help elevate the brand of their alma mater, which strengthens the University. We hope alumni will come to our games, mentor student-athletes, bring their kids to our events, watch us on ESPN, and cheer us on from near and far.

Over the next few years, what are your top three goals for Hartford athletics? First, we need to increase our resources and that will come primarily though working tirelessly to generate revenue. It will be sponsorships, fundraising, ticket sales, rentals, and the like. My dream is we give our coaches everything they need and a lot of what they want. We are not there yet, but we will continue to chip away at it every day so that our coaches and student-athletes can be successful.

When our resources increase, that helps us achieve goal number two and that is we compete for championships, which elevates the visibility of the University and grows our brand. When you win, you become relevant.

Finally, we will play a role in the University’s agenda for growth.

Athletics is the most visible aspect of the University and is the largest student engagement opportunity on campus. Over 75 percent of the University’s national and regional media attention comes through the athletics vehicle. As the front porch, we are an integral team player in President Woodward’s bold vision.

43rd annual Roger Poe Golf Classic raised a record $84,000 in support of student-athletes.

WINTER 2019

40 / MIXED MEDIA / BOOKS,

MOVIES,

AND

MUSIC

JUST RELEASED

FOUND IN TRANSLATION Michael Robinson, professor of history in Hillyer College, is reaching a new audience with his 2016 book The Lost White Tribe: Explorers, Scientists, and the Theory that Changed a Continent.

The work has been translated into Chinese.

Maxwell Bauman ’11 (A&S) of Arlington, Mass., had his first book, The Anarchist Kosher Cookbook, published in December. The book is a collection of fun, Jewish-themed horror stories. Bauman is editorin-chief of Door Is a Jar literary magazine.

Dan Blanchard M’95 (ENHP) of Storrs Mansfield, Conn., has published a new book, Success and Social Skills Secrets for Kids.

In the book, he offers advice on how to improve student performance and social learning through only 150 words a day and in a 30-day time period.

Blanchard is an award-winning author, speaker, and educator.

Hayley Foster ’94 (Barney) of Port Washington, N.Y., has authored the book, Foster Your Passion, A guide to finding your passion and the tools you need

to foster it. She is founder of Foster Inc., where she shares her life and business experiences through consulting, workshops, masterminds, speaking engagements, and networking events.

to focus on the entire internship experience with the fifth edition of The Successful Internship: Personal, Professional, and Civic Development in Experiential Learning.

Scott MacGregor ’91 (A&S) of Madison, Wis., recently published his first book, Standing O!, a powerful read focused on living a life of gratitude and sharing what you’ve learned with others. The book is an anthology with some of the country’s most prominent individuals as contributors.

Marya Triandafellos ’81 (HAS) of New York, N.Y., has published her first book, Career X: Expert Advice on How to Cultivate Your Career. The book is a “Wikipedia” on how to own your career, from macro global considerations to the step-bystep process of landing a job.

Matt Margolis ’02 (Ward) of Silver Creek, N.Y., has published a new book titled The Scandalous Presidency of Barack Obama.

H. Frederick Sweitzer, University of Hartford provost, has teamed with Mary A. King

Andy Anders and the Rebel Spies is the first novel for Joe Wocoski M’75 (Barney) of Gaithersburg, Md. Published under the pen name Allen Alright, the book is a teen and young adult Civil War novel set in the fictional town of Mercyville, Conn., at the start of the Civil War in 1861.

Wholly Broken, a faith-based musical television series by Thomas Anthony Humbert ’95 (Hartt) of Garden City, N.Y., made its world premiere at the SoHo International Film Festival.

The accomplished recording artist and composer has had lead roles in more than 50 musical theater productions and tours across the United States.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

Share your newly released book, CD, or film with the UHart community.

Email editor@ hartford.edu.

LISTEN UP

Singer Joanne Tatham ’82 (A&S) of Beverly Hills, Calif., has released a new CD, The Rings of Saturn. The CD, her fourth, comprises lesserdone jazz tunes and original compositions. Tatham and the CD release were featured on allaboutjazz.com.

WORDS OF WISDOM / EXPERT

ADVICE

/ 41

Healthy Travels Tips for healthy eating on the road from Mary F. Lawrence M’95

Mary Lawrence is executive chef and wellness educator with Well on Wheels, a vegan personal chef service that offers private cooking lessons, vegan culinary tours, corporate workshops, wellness retreats, and group classes.

Ready for an adventure? When it comes to expanding our horizons, a visit to historic landmarks or immersion in new cultures can be exhilarating. But what happens if you’re a globetrotter with dietary restrictions or one who just wants to eat healthier?

1

The #1 rule. Live by the Boy Scout motto: “Always be prepared.” I make it a habit to carry snacks like nuts and dried fruit or trail mix in my backpack or pocketbook wherever I go, as well as various packaged health bars to keep myself satisfied in a pinch. Hydrating is also essential, so carry a water bottle with you at all times as well.

4

Shop the perimeter. Produce aisles at most grocery stores, local markets, and bodegas have ample options for healthy eating. Baby carrots are perfect for dipping into a container of hummus; apples and peanut butter make a satisfying sweet snack; and tortillas folded into a wrap with hummus, lettuce, and roasted red pepper make a quick and easy meal for the weary traveler.

5

Make friends with the microwave. Most hotels have a handy microwave for heating dinner leftovers or a frozen meal. You can even use the coffee maker to heat water to pour into a mug of instant soup mix or oatmeal for breakfast.

Following these five guidelines while traveling will help you make healthy eating decisions that give you energy and stamina for endless adventures ahead.

2

Know your apps. Dietary regimes are endless, and it can become a burden to accommodate all of their idiosyncrasies. Fortunately, there are apps for that! For the vegan traveler, happycow.net has links to vegan-friendly restaurants and health food stores around the globe. For folks who are gluten free, the Allergy Guard app can determine if ingredients in restaurant foods are safe to eat. The Fooducate app allows you to scan the barcode of a product to find out its nutrition content and “score” a food for healthfulness. For health-conscious diners, the HealthyOut app lets you search for restaurants and meals that meet your nutrition needs, like gluten free, heart healthy, and more.

3

Fast-food friendly. Surprisingly, if you can make it past the temptation of French fries and Blizzards, you can often find healthy options at major fast-food chains. TGI Fridays, A&W, and White Castle all offer veggie burgers (which you can accompany with a side of steamed broccoli at Friendly’s), and for a healthy graband-go snack, 7-Eleven has organic, fresh-pressed juice and bagged roasted nuts.

You can learn more about Mary and her road to a healthy lifestyle at wellonwheels.com.

WINTER 2019

/CLASS

NOTES

/

WEDDINGS

/

BIRTHS

/

EVENTS

/

ALUMNI NOTES

James O’Brien M’08 (HAS) www.obrien.art

ALUMNI NOTES / NEWS

ALUMNI EVENTS Seven alums were recognized at the annual Anchor Awards ceremony and dinner during Hawktober Weekend 2018. They were (from left): Michael Gargano Jr. ’78; Donald H. Shaw, Jr. M’77; Joseph Battaglia ’04; Adrianne Der Sarkissian Brown ’67; Glynda Carr ’96; and Bernard Kavaler ’79, M’88. Ryan Speedo Green ’08 provided a video acceptance.

FROM

ALUMS

/ 55

Alumni events at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium are annual traditions in Boston and New York. Pictured here at a Red Sox game last spring are Karen Botcheller ’03 and Lauren Dunne Richard ’03.

Shown here at an alumni event this past year at the Thomas Hooker Brewery in Hartford are Ian Maloney, Daniel Neal ’18, Paul Moreno, Margaret Krokulski ’93, Christine Chappel, and Olumuyiwa Olapinsin ’10, D’13.

JOIN US!

A record number of alumni attended 50th reunion celebrations in 2018. The Hartford College for Women Class of 1968 gathered in front of Butterworth Hall.

February 19 Founders Day Launch Parties (NYC and Boston)

May 18–19 Class of 1969 Golden Hawks 50th Reunion

March 8 Alumni Social at Alvarium Beer Co.

May 21 Alumni Night at Hartford Yard Goats

March 10 Florida Presidential Reception

June 8 Hartford College for Women 85th Anniversary March 29–30 Celebration and Theta Chi and Beta HCW Class of Sigma Gamma 1969 Reunion 50th Anniversary June 22 April 5–6 Alumni Social Helping Hawks at Back East Brewing Company April 6 SGA Reunion Stephanie Johnson ’89 and Kevin Hayutin ’90 returned to the spot of their first kiss 30 years ago during Hawktober Weekend last October.

Approximately 125 first-year students have a UHart Legacy connection—a family member who graduated from the University. Many of them attended an ice cream social during this past fall’s move-in weekend.

Pictured is the Wojtowicz family, Dave ’19, Liz, Matt ’22, and David ’82, P’19, P’22.

PROUD TO BE A HAWK I’m ing grow a to be

HAWK

Jacqueline Longo ’13, M’15 and Charmaine MitchellRobinson A’12, ’14 attended the annual UHart alumni event at the Hartford Yard Goats, along with their pal Chew Chew.

Planning an alumni event? Getting married?

Having a baby? Show your UHart pride by requesting a banner (hartford.edu/banner) or onesie (hartford.edu/onesie) today.

We’ll help you celebrate by sharing your news as a Class Note—online and in a future issue of H.

BE A CAREER MENTOR

April 25 Presidential Reception in Boston

To register and learn more, log on to hartford.edu/ alumni-events.

The Golden Hawks marched with the Class of 2018 at Commencement

The UHart Career Mentoring program gives students the opportunity to learn from accomplished professionals who provide support and valuable guidance. As a mentor, you can inspire a UHart student who is striving to succeed. To learn more or sign up, go to hartford.edu/career-mentor.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Our vast and diverse alumni network has an imapct on the world in meaningful and interesting ways. Our spotlight features share these stories via social media and online at hartford.edu/alumni. Have a story to tell?

Let us know by filling out the online form or by e-mailing us at alumni@hartford.edu.

WINTER 2019

56 / EXPRESSIONS / GETTING

POETIC

City Lights Chandon Phulbas ’20 Skyscraper Illuminated cloud breaker Trees built from concrete, crowd the city’s sleepless acres Sidewalks guide you, bright lights blind you, shadows hide you, but towers still find you Concrete columns complete the skyline stairway Constructed Colorado Mountain High

Look, But Don’t Touch

Tumor

James Fagan ’19

Jared Bergantino ’19

I walk outside

Leachate

coagulates

seeing a cherry blossom slowly bloom.

filling the basin—

I have never observed a flower

passing through

unwind before; I must savor her fluttering charm.

Barbies

limbless

Batteries

eroded

beach umbrellas

crushed

I lock my gaze with her red pupil surrounded by creamy, petalled eyelashes.

A gentle gust brushes past us; a cue

Leachate coagulates

for my farewell— her sisters disperse

Under the grassy

green hilltop

where we pick

dandelions.

their coronas into quivering spring fireworks.

H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE

HAWK D R E SS

LI K E

A

Show off your UHart pride with gifts and apparel from the Campus Store or Hartford Hawks Pro Shop.

Visit hartford.edu/uhartgear or hartford.edu/hawkpride to order!

SPRING 2018

375,000

200 Bloomfield Avenue West Hartford,CT 06117 Change Service Requested

HOURS of live programming produced by volunteers since 1968

Only college station in Connecticut that is LIVE

24/7 140,000

LPs and CDs in the WWUH collection

5

WWUH @

CELEBRATING

LISTEN VOLUNTEER REMINISCE DONATE wwuh.org See story, page 28

First station in the state to STREAM online, since

1995