Manhattan College Alumni Magazine Spring 2017 by Manhattan College

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A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND BOOKS

M A N H AT TA N CO L L EG E S PR I N G 2 0 1 7 VO LUM E 4 3 • N UM B E R 1

ON CAMPUS A Fair Trade pop-up store opens, a

EDITOR Kristen Cuppek

new leadership program introduces students to public policy, Chemical Engineering receives part of a $70

DESIGNER Kat Lepak

million grant, the McNeil Courtyard is dedicated, and so much more.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Christine Loughran

SPORTS Meet some of the athletes that come

STAFF WRITERS Patrice Athanasidy Sarah R. Schwartz

to Manhattan College from all around the globe, plus news and recaps of the past winter and fall seasons.

CONTRIBUTORS Julie Achilles Joe Clifford Kelsey LaCour Pete McHugh Kevin Ross Amy Surak GRADUATE ASSISTANT Katherine Psaltakis PHOTOGRAPHERS Ben Asen Josh Cuppek (cover) Patrick Faccas Catalina Kulczar Chris Taggart Published by the office of Marketing and Communication Manhattan College Riverdale, NY 10471

28 A JOURNEY OF A 1,000 BOOKS An enterprising sophomore learns the art of book restoration and helps the College to establish a Special Collections Room for its old books.

36 FOREVER A JASPER Take a peek at the role that Manhattan plays in the defining moments of many Jaspers’ lives, from confirming their faith to starting families.

A new engineering scholarship is announced, De La Salle Dinner, and meet a student scholarship recipient.

ALUMNI Hall of Fame induction, alumnotes,

Lydia Gray Assistant Vice President, College Advancement and Executive Director, Marketing and Communication ON THE COVER A few old books from the Sir Thomas More Collection that, along with the DeCoursey Fales and Dante Collections, are now on display in the Special Collections Room of the O'Malley Library.

DEVELOPMENT

Jasper profiles, and more reminiscing about a long-lost tradition.

OBITUARIES In memoriam, Vincent DeSimone, Brother James Leahy, Maung Hla Pe, John Mahony, Brother John Loehr

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Fair Trade Store Fuels Entrepreneurship

AST SPRING, when students from Manhattan College’s School of Business were brainstorming potential group projects for the 2016-17 academic year, Dean Salwa Ammar, Ph.D., and associate professor Gwendolyn Tedeschi, Ph.D., brought up the idea of a student-run store focusing on selling fair trade products. A large group of students quickly embraced the idea, and Fair Trade Fuel has become a popular space for buying, selling and entrepreneurship in action. The idea utilized a logical partnership between the School of Business’ innovative culture and the leadership of Campus Ministry and Social Action in the fair trade movement. In February 2012, Manhattan College became the first officially designated Fair Trade College in New York City. As a fair trade college, the College is responsible for increasing awareness and availability of fair trade products across campus and ensuring that new students and staff are aware of the fair trade status. “We could’ve opened up a store and sold anything,” says Aileen Farrelly ’95, assistant professor of accounting, CIS and Law, and assistant dean in the School of Business. “Fair trade embodies our Lasallian values, is critical to the College’s mission, and using fair trade products to launch this project helped our students learn about all aspects of running a business.” This past September, 30 students began to put together a business plan for the fair trade store, and quickly zeroed in on the Christmas season to open, a prime time for students and employees to easily shop for gifts. The group decided to create a pop-up outfit named Fair Trade Fuel on the second floor of De La Salle Hall during the last three days of classes in December. To prepare for the store’s opening, the students had to define their

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organizational structure. One group of students took charge of the accounting and financing, to make sure that the store would offer reasonable prices yet would be sustainable enough to stay open. Another group put together a marketing and publicity plan, while others handled customer service at the store, ensuring that products were properly displayed and customers’ needs were met on site. “We talked about products to offer that would be most attractive to students, when students would drop by between classes, who would work in the store, how we would train the workers,” says marketing major Claudia Biddle ’19. “There were a lot of considerations to make.” The group consulted with a number of offices across campus, including Gourmet Dining, the College’s food provider, and gathered data from the Registrar’s office to determine the peak times between classes that would yield the most foot traffic outside the store. They also built up relationships with fair trade organizations Serrv, Divine and Ten Thousand Villages to sell chocolate, clothing and crafts. “It was nice to see the business start out as an idea and then develop into a real business where we could see everything being sold and the result of our hard work,” Biddle says. “That was the most rewarding part of it.” Fair Trade Fuel was so successful that a second pop-up sale was planned around Valentine’s Day in February. The store again opened for three days, and sold fair trade chocolates and flowers, with free fair trade coffee to entice sleepy students to stop by in the mornings. “It’s been great practical experience,” says marketing major Chloe Sweeney ’18. “We’ve learned how much all the products cost, how to price them, then advertise and put together promotional materials to spread the word.” The group planned another pop-up sale for Easter, and hopes to eventually include accepting Jasper Dollars and having the store open for longer periods during the academic year.

Fair Trade Fuel, a new student-run pop-up store, was born out of a School of Business brainstorming session for potential group projects. Combining the College’s commitment to fair trade, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Manhattan’s business students, Fair Trade Fuel opened for three days during the Christmas season, and before Valentine’s Day and Easter.

Examining Bronx Water to Aid Eco-Friendly Projects National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency, and began in December 2015. A year later, Abbatangelo estimated that more than 70 people — including volunteers from the Riverdale community, employees from the New York City Parks and Recreation Department, and students from nearby high schools in the Bronx — had been trained in how to safely and efficiently collect samples for water quality testing. Despite having been only approved for funding through 2016, the water assessment received an extension to continue until this June. According to Wilson, who has assisted Abbatangelo on various experiments, the results will lay the groundwork for a larger initiative proposed by FVCP: the daylighting of Tibbetts Brook. If approved, this reconstruction will expose parts of it to open air and prevent flooding during extreme wet weather. The amount of clean water that flows directly from the lake into the Harlem River will also increase, which will largely benefit the New York City water system as a whole. “Until now, there hasn’t been a baseline data set of what’s happening in these areas,” she explains. What they found in December, after testing water “If the proposal gets approved to daylight Tibbetts samples collected on a weekly basis for a period of 12 Brook, it’s not enough to take a couple of water samples over the course of the year because it’s not months, was that the lake is eutrophic (i.e., excessive representative of the overall water quality. You need nutrient concentrations that cause an overgrowth to be sure you know what would be flowing into the of plant life). By way of a multitude of tests in the Harlem River because you don’t want to negatively College’s civil engineering lab, both bodies of water affect any receiving water bodies.” were also shown to be substantially impaired by In the spring of 2017, the Wetland Stewardship phosphorus, an issue manifested in excessive sumstudy had begun testing for pollutants other than mer algal growth and caused largely by combined runoff from the entire watershed and discharge from phosphorus by incorporating ammonia, a solvent unregulated pipes. Additionally, Abbatangelo, Wilson, that helps detect nitrogen. In the future, Abbatangelo hopes to explore the possibility of conducting and John Butler, the ecological manager at FVCP, consediment studies in the lake, which would further cluded that the tested areas revealed a strong seainvestigate levels of phosphorus and metals, includsonal fluctuation in nitrate concentrate in the lake ing aluminum and iron. and brook due to de-icing efforts in the Bronx and “Personally, I would love to really push the Yonkers, and runoff and stormwater from I-87. These envelope on what is getting tested and where,” factors contributed to increased levels of salt. Abbatangelo says. “The Wetlands Stewardship Abbatangelo presented his team’s findings in Febproject has been tremendously successful ruary at the New York Water Environment Associaand has provided greater clarity on several tion’s 89th annual meeting and exhibition, where he issues affecting the third largest park in all described the methods they employed to carry out of New York. I cannot wait to train more people the project and general findings. and spread the word about the effort we are Research for the water monitoring study — making here in this neck of the Bronx.” entitled the Wetland Stewardship for a Healthier Bronx project — was funded by grants from the A WATER QUALITY STUDY that seeks to improve the overall health of New York City’s third largest park (and greater Bronx environment) evolved during the academic year through the combined efforts of civil engineering graduate student John Abbatangelo ’16 and assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, Jessica Wilson, Ph.D. For more than a year, the two have assisted the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (FVCP) on analyses to locate sources of pollution in the park’s two water bodies: Van Cortlandt Lake and its tributary, Tibbetts Brook.

... it’s not enough to take a couple of water samples over the course of the year because it’s not representative of the overall water quality ...”

Civil engineering graduate student John Abbatangelo ’16 tests for nitrate in a nutrient concentration assessment of the water in Tibbetts Brook in the College’s civil engineering laboratory, as part of an ongoing evaluation of Van Cortlandt Lake and its tributary, Tibbetts Brook.

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College Fed Challenge Changes Perspectives and Careers

STUDENT COMPETITIONS: they’re a great way to gain experience, boost the résumé and make friends, but are they life changing? Certainly, with the right person at the helm. The College Fed Challenge is the Mount Everest of national academic competitions, asking students to analyze the current state of the U.S. economy and make a recommendation for future monetary policy actions to a panel of judges who work at the Federal Reserve Bank. For six years running, Hany Guirguis, Ph.D., professor and chair of economics and finance, has single-handedly assembled and coached top-performing College Fed Challenge teams. This year’s competition posed an unusual challenge for Manhattan. With all of the past year’s participants graduating last May, a new team needed to be trained and vetted from scratch. These first-time contenders were mostly sophomores and juniors, hailing from diverse backgrounds and academic majors, including Caitlin Boyle ’17 (finance); Shaina Colombo ’18 (economics); Zoe McGreevy ’19 (undeclared); Daniel Molina ’18 (economics); Sumeru Sapkota ’18 (finance); Rebecca Taylor ’17 (computer information systems); and Nicholas Weyland ’17 (finance).

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The only requirement is total commitment. The hours are long, the material is dense, and as soon as the team reaches the New York Federal Reserve Bank in Lower Manhattan, the competition is fierce. The regional event, which involves both a presentation and a rapid-fire Q&A session with the judges, pits Manhattan College against the top-performing teams in the nation: Pace, Rutgers and Columbia universities, to name a few. Many have the advantage of 50-plus student teams to analyze the immense data sets and make recommendations in support of the presenters, whereas Manhattan’s team consists of just seven. This may be perceived as a disadvantage, but it’s never kept Manhattan down. In the past two years, the College’s team has progressed to the semifinals, and last year, earned a place in the finals. Manhattan always aspires for the top prize — they’re Jaspers, after all — so news that the team wouldn’t move on to the next stage this year was disappointing. However, Guirguis’ more auspicious goal of transforming students into thought leaders, colleagues and orators, was certainly met. Guirguis’ unique approach allows his students the freedom to make mistakes, learn from them, and develop well-informed opinions on the subject matter independently. “I give tasks and then I step back,” he says. “The only interference is to make sure they’re on the right track. They get comfortable with disagreeing with other members of their group, and they learn how to compromise, and make sure that the job is done by the end of the day. It makes them well-rounded and better prepared to work in a more competitive environment — it’s a big advantage in terms of preparing them for the job market.” Colombo’s experience is a compelling example of the profound changes that take place during this two-semester journey. As a junior and newly declared economics major, Colombo was asked to take on the topic of regulatory policy. Her initial apprehension gave way as she began reading the material. And after weeks of intense study, Guirguis asked for her opinions and recommendations for the future. “At first, I thought, ‘What do you mean? I am a junior in college. Everything that I could say would be inadequate,’” she says of her reaction. “But Dr. Guirguis instilled confidence by reminding me that I know a lot about this now. That was life-changing. I realized at that moment that this is what I need to do with the rest of my life.” The same student who found it difficult to declare a major now has plans to attend law school in the hopes of becoming a general counsel on federal reserve regulatory policy. “I’m pretty sure I can speak for everyone in the group, how much we respect [Dr. Guirguis] and how much he’s taught us both economically, and even just being such a role model for us in all aspects of life,” Colombo says. “He gives his all for this program, and seeing that, it’s impossible not to follow suit.”

Coalition Improves College Application MANHATTAN COLLEGE HAS JOINED A COALITION of more than 90 public and private colleges and universities to improve the college application process for all students, provide substantial support to lower-resourced and underrepresented students, offer responsible student financial aid support, and demonstrate a commitment to student graduation. The Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success has developed a free platform that affirms college admissions as part of the educational process that encourages long-range reflection and planning. The platform’s tools — a locker, a collaboration space for students and their mentors, and an application — seek to recast the process of applying to college as the culmination of a student’s development throughout the course of their high school career. The purpose is to reduce the fear of the application and level the playing field for all students. “This program is closely aligned with our mission as a Lasallian Catholic institution,” says William Bisset, vice president of enrollment management at Manhattan College. “We’re always looking for the best way to provide an affordable, accessible education to all students, and continue serving a large group of students who will be the first in their family to attend college.” The Coalition application to Manhattan College will be available beginning this summer at: www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org.

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College Earns Part of a $70 Million Energy Grant

HE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING department and, more specifically, one of its graduate students, have continued to earn national recognition and now an impressive grant for Manhattan. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that Manhattan College will receive part of a $70 million grant over five years to work on a system to reduce energy consumption and lower the country’s carbon footprint. Manhattan is one of 34 academic institutions, along with 75 companies, seven national laboratories, two additional government laboratories, and seven non-governmental organizations from all regions of the country, to receive the grant, which includes matching funds from the DOE for in-kind project support. Under the tutelage of Gennaro Maffia, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering, Olivia Mason ’15, ’17 (M.S.) was instrumental in securing the grant for Manhattan. During her time at the College, Mason has worked with Anne Gaffney, Ph.D., a fellow at the Idaho National Laboratory, to research inefficiencies in energy output and economically efficient ways to reduce waste and the country’s carbon footprint. “Olivia worked tirelessly and effectively on the research, has helped write journal articles, and has given several presentations about process intensification,” Maffia says. “She is a great role model for our chemical engineering students.” Manhattan College is part of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID) Manufacturing Institute, the newest member of the nation’s network of Manufacturing USA Institutes. In creating the institute, the DOE seeks to reduce energy usage and feedstock waste, and improve productivity. The goal is to integrate unit processes into single modular hardware elements that are cost effective, with high efficiency and scalability. RAPID will work closely with the other Manufacturing USA Institutes, which have common goals but distinct concentrations, to assure cooperation and share approaches to commercializing fast-moving innovations. The College’s Chemical Engineering department will collaborate with the RAPID Institute to incorporate proposals about increased energy efficiency and reduced waste, and combine resources with other academic institutions, industry leaders and national laboratories involved within the Institute. Manhattan also will be named as the home institution of the inventors on a select number of the Institute’s patents. Along with the University of Texas at Austin, the College is part of the technical node of the RAPID Institute, and will be identified as such on the Institute’s organizational chart. “Winning this grant is very rewarding for all of us at Manhattan College and those at the Idaho National Lab,” Maffia says. “This will be a great opportunity for our students and faculty to participate in such a monumental project.”

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Meet Brother Robert Bimonte

FTER SPENDING THREE YEARS AS THE PRESIDENT of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), Brother Robert Bimonte, FSC, has found a new home at Manhattan College. As the Lasallian Scholar in Residence — a newly created role — Br. Robert serves as a resource to the College community, sharing his background as a Catholic leader and educator with students and faculty. A Christian Brother for 40 years, Br. Robert offers a broad perspective of Catholic education. In addition to leading the NCEA, the largest Catholic education professional membership organization in the world, he has worked as an associate principal and assistant superintendent, taught pre-school through graduate school, and held a multitude of other leadership positions at both the diocesan and national levels. “A dynamic leader transforms the school and inspires others,” says Br. Robert, who views the Catholic education system as a community. “Everyone is a stakeholder.” Br. Robert’s work as the Lasallian Scholar in Residence will strengthen the connection between faculty and students, as well as enhance the College community’s knowledge and practice of Lasallian values — an ideal to which he is especially dedicated. He appreciates Manhattan’s emphasis on building relationships. As a new faculty member, Br. Robert has participated in the College Core Identity Seminars, which have been designed to offer faculty an opportunity for professional development and additional education about the College’s mission. Part of being an effective educational leader means upholding the principles that a school says it promotes, Br. Robert says. “Be who you say you are,” he explains. With a passion for education, he also has presented findings from his own work to the College’s faculty. Having done research in brain-

compatible learning, Br. Robert aims to share teaching approaches that appeal to students’ different learning styles, so they may absorb and understand instructional material more efficiently. The strategies are scientifically supported, as research has been done to see how the brain responds when they are used. In addition to collaborating with faculty, Br. Robert teaches one course each semester and is in the process of developing a course entitled Lasallian Heritage and Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Having taken on an array of responsibilities on campus, Br. Robert is excited to be a part of the Manhattan College community. He hopes to have an active presence on campus as a Lasallian expert and educator, and to continue inspiring students and faculty to be strong leaders and learners of the Catholic tradition.

Manhattan is a Major Economic Partner WHILE THE COLLEGE IS WIDELY KNOWN for raising the bar in higher education, what may be less familiar is that Manhattan is also a major contributor to the city’s bottom line. Manhattan College contributes $312 million to the local New York City economy, according to a recent study released by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) in New York and conducted by the Center for Government Research.

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The study shows that in 2015, the College’s spending translated to approximately $116 million in wages, was responsible for 2,160 jobs, and contributed $8.5 million to state income and sales tax revenue. Manhattan is one of 48 independent private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in the five boroughs that contribute as much as $50 billion to New York City’s economy. “Private, not-for-profit colleges and universities are one of New York’s strongest economic engines and are a strong and committed partner of the state,” says Laura L. Anglin, past president of CICU. “In addition to direct institutional spending and students’ discretionary spending, independent colleges and universities are destinations and attract thousands of visitors annually who further subsidize the towns and cities where these campuses are located.”

LASALLIANLOOK Exploring Research and Relations in the Holy Land

DMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY from the Schools of Business, Liberal Arts and Engineering traveled to the Holy Land this past winter to enhance a partnership with Bethlehem University that dates back more than 40 years. From Jan. 1-9, Manhattan’s Vice President for Mission, Brother Jack Curran, FSC, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Study Abroad Kevin Gschwend and six College professors — Gennaro Maffia, Ph.D., from Chemical Engineering, Kerri Mulqueen, Ph.D., from the English department, Cory Blad, Ph.D., and Jim Freeman, Ph.D., from Sociology, Aileen Lowry Farrelly, CPA, of Accounting, CIS & Law, and Marisa Lerer, Ph.D., from the Visual and Performing Arts department — spent a week immersed in the ancient Palestinian city. During that time, they gained a deeper understanding of its history, and also laid the foundation for summer research opportunities with students and faculty at the university, where several Manhattan College alumni have held leadership positions. A year after the institution’s founding in 1973, Brother Joseph Loewenstein ’50 became the second president, following his role as vice chancellor — a title that was also held by the 18th president of Manhattan, Brother Thomas Scanlan, FSC, Ph.D. Br. Jack also acted as Bethlehem’s vice president of development for a 10-year period ending in 2013. Currently, Brother Peter Iorlano ’79, FSC, serves as

an academic vice president, and Brother Henry Chaya ’72, FSC, is a faculty member in the Computer Information Systems department. Throughout their stay, the Manhattan group met with many prominent leaders and non-government organizations in Bethlehem, Hebron and Jerusalem. They sat down with Hilary Dubose, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Country Representative for Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank, as well as Vera Baboun, the current and first female mayor of Bethlehem. While in Bethlehem, the College faculty also marched in a parade on Orthodox Christmas Eve to welcome the Greek Orthodox Patriarch into Bethlehem. For everyone involved, the visit to Bethlehem lent insight into future classroom discussions, and has led to finalized research projects for the 2017 Bethlehem UniversityManhattan College Summer Research Scholars Program. Following their return to Riverdale, Farrelly and Mulqueen began preliminary talks to organize a Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience trip to the West Bank. Blad, who taught the course SOC 212: Migration, Globalization and Culture in the spring of 2017, returned to New York City excited to relive the experience but also looking forward to the future. Currently, he is working with Jamil Khader, Ph.D., dean of research at Bethlehem University, on future collaborations between the two institutions.

“To put it simply, my visit to Bethlehem did for me what it has done for many who visit — instilled a deep desire to return,” he said in a written reflection following the trip, which was co-funded by the Manhattan College CRS Faculty Task Force, the offices of Mission and Student and Faculty Development, and the Lasallian District of Eastern North America. “If you have the opportunity to visit Bethlehem, please do so and take your time,” Blad advises. “Stay in this incredibly safe town where shops are often ‘closed’ with a broomstick across an open door, and get to know some of the warmest, strongest and most capable people you’ll ever meet.”

Learning English Just Got Easier INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WILL SOON HAVE some additional assistance mastering the English language and adjusting to college life in the United States. Beginning this summer, Manhattan’s new Intensive English Language Program (IELP) will offer six courses of intensive English language study for pre-college English language proficiency. The program consists of two beginner, two intermediate, and two advanced levels. “This is a good stepping stone to the Manhattan College experience,” says Jeffrey Vanderwerf, director of IELP. “Central to

our mission is ensuring that international students have the English proficiency needed to have a successful academic experience at Manhattan College.” Courses are held Monday through Friday for 22 hours per week, and emphasize reading comprehension, writing for academic settings, listening comprehension and presentation skills, and speaking for conversation and class. The program also focuses on life in the U.S., American culture, living in New York City, the arts and music. Each level takes one semester to complete, and a certificate is awarded for successful completion of each level. MANHATTAN.EDU N 7

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Student Engagement Series Offers Inspiring Lineup

MANHATTAN’S FIFTH ANNUAL STUDENT ENGAGEMENT LECTURE SERIES featured a diverse panel of speakers — each one demonstrating philanthropic, military, athletic or scholastic prowess — who were similarly inspirational in the messages they delivered. The series began with a talk by Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, the actor who protrayed Superman. Reeve spoke on behalf of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and shared the foundation’s mission — to improve the lives of people with paralysis and to discover cures for spinal cord injuries. After an accident in 1995 left his father paralyzed until his death in 2004, Reeve set out to find a cure. “My dad was an arbiter of hope,” Reeve said. “He dreamed of a world of empty wheelchairs.” The Reeve Foundation’s treatment plans and dedicated patient care provide a continuum of hope for individuals living with paralysis worldwide. Reeve’s latest quest is to raise funds for Adaptoys, a new venture to create modified toys allowing paralyzed people to enjoy more active time with their families. “No one should have a disadvantage just because they happen to be in a wheelchair,” he said. The series continued with an inspiring talk from Lieutenant General Maryanne Miller, chief of Air Force Reserve, U.S. Air Force, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and commander, Air Force Reserve Command, at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Her résumé was built on experiences with servant leadership — the belief that leaders should maintain their level of authority but they should work with, not against, less-experienced team members. One of Miller’s key philosophies is that people are meant to serve selflessly. “Love for others is what we are to live by, and it doesn’t make you weak. It makes you strong,” she said. Her words resonated strongly with members of the Manhattan College Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, who were all present at the lecture, and she encouraged everyone in the audi8 N spring 2017

ence to remember that leadership is truly about helping others better themselves and achieving common goals. Next in the lineup was former NBA basketball player, Jason Collins. Aside from an impressive 13-year career with six teams and two NBA Finals appearances, Collins is known for being the first openly gay athlete to play in a major American team sport. He shared his personal journey to find openness and self-acceptance with the Manhattan College community. After briefly detailing his early life in California and his time in the NBA, Collins told listeners about the struggle he’d had with his sexuality for years, which he’d masked in fear that the sports community would view him differently. “I just wanted to play my sport and not acknowledge my true self,” Collins remembers. The 2011 NBA lockout finally prevented him from using basketball as a distraction. In 2013, Collins went public. His actions freed him, and he became a model for others who have remained silent about their struggles. “Adversity is a challenge — a challenge that is meant to be overcome,” Collins said. The series concluded with a philosophical talk led by Martin O’Malley, Ph.D., coordinator of the Hearts of Flesh-Not Stone Project at the Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies. His conversation was framed around the question, “Are we ‘guilty,’ and do we have debt or responsibility for past injustices?” He cited the Holocaust and the U.S. Civil War as examples of widespread injustices, and asked the audience if they were responsible for making amends for the crimes committed in the past, even though they did not actively participate in these events. To answer this, O’Malley pointed to the difference between the traditional definition of justice, and what can actually be done to make amends. He redefined justice as actions that give practical results for the good of society, and made it clear that there are always multiple perspectives when it comes to thinking about major conflicts. A solution may not always be clear-cut, but it should always keep in mind the best interest of the people. Together, Reeve, Miller, Collins and O’Malley inspired the Manhattan College community to help those in need, work as a team, stand up to adversity, and look for a solution to every problem. Former NBA basketball player Jason Collins and Lieutenant General Maryanne Milller, chief of Air Force Reserve, U.S. Air Force, were just two luminaries in an all-star speaker lineup that also included Will Reeve, son of the late actor Christopher Reeve, and Martin O’Malley, coordinator of the Hearts of Flesh-Not Stone Project at the Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies, at the Student Engagement Lecture Series.

New Leadership Program Probes Public Policy

INE MANHATTAN COLLEGE students recently had the unique opportunity to study New York City from the inside out. LeadWeek 2017, a new program spearheaded by the Multicultural Center in conjunction with Campus Ministry and Social Action, introduced students to public policy and the way the city works through different systems. “New York City has so many different facets to it,” says Hayden Greene, director of the Multicultural Center and the LeadWeek program. “When you look at any aspect of city governance, you also have to look at the difference in demographics — wealth, race, immigration status.” Held in January, the five-day program kicked off with government day, which included a tour of City Hall, and visits to the New York Comptroller’s and Manhattan Borough President’s offices. Having students meet their elected leaders on Monday puts the rest of the week in perspective, says Greene, as they learn about governance in motion through education, health care, the judicial system and community service. On Tuesday, the group visited three schools in the Bronx — a charter school, a private school and a public school. Similarly, the next day, they had the opportunity to tour a local private hospital, a public hospital and a clinic. With each visit, the students were encouraged to question who has access to these different systems, what kind of

resources are available, and what impact public policy might have on the lives of the people at each facility. With this same concept in mind, the group examined the judicial system on Thursday from two different perspectives with visits to the District Attorney’s office, followed by the Legal Aid Society. Each evening back on campus, a guest speaker helped to dissect the day’s events. On health care day, Jeff Cherubini, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the kinesiology department, led a discussion on the health of society, asking who or what is responsible for society’s health. “As future leaders in a variety of professions, we decided that one of the most effective ways to view health behavior change is through an ecological lens — looking both at the factors that influence behaviors and at the choices individuals make,” Cherubini says. On the final day of the program, Greene wanted to expand the students’ understanding of what community service can encompass by visiting Her Justice, an organization that operates solely on the goodwill of lawyers who provide pro bono work to women in battered relationships. That afternoon, they served meals to the homeless at Part of the Solution (POTS) soup kitchen in the Bronx. “Community service day had the biggest impact on me,” says Hannah Rome ’19, an urban studies major and student coordinator of the LeadWeek program. “Throughout the week, we learned about services that are

offered around the city to all kinds of people, especially those who are lowincome, without health care, in unhealthy relationships or homeless. Our time at POTS was a great way to tie everything that we had been doing that week together and give back to the community.” At a closing night dinner, participants had the opportunity to share their thoughts with members of the Manhattan College community. “As the only senior, I reflected upon what’s really important to me after graduation, and further realized how I want to make a difference in people’s lives, especially in the health care field,” says Cloe Savino ’17, an allied health major. “It also brought a lot of governmental issues to light, and allowed me to gain a passion for political issues.”

Second Oldest Honor Society Celebrates 50 Years on Campus MANHATTAN COLLEGE’S NEW YORK XI CHAPTER OF TAU BETA PI is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Since the chapter’s founding on March 18, 1967, more than 2,000 Jaspers have been initiated into Tau Beta Pi. Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi is the nation’s second-oldest honor society and the only engineering honor society representing the entire engineering profession. It recognizes students of superior scholarship and exemplary character, and seeks to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges. MANHATTAN.EDU N 9

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Representing the U.S. at the Model U.N.

HE NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS (NMUN) Conference in Washington, D.C., is a marathon, not a sprint, and the necessary preparation is no less grueling. Endless research. Writing a position paper, or several. Crafting an opening speech. There’s no such thing as being too prepared. From Nov. 11-13, Manhattan College’s delegation represented the United States, which is often considered one of the most difficult countries to represent — with the expectations being so high — and during a particularly politically contentious moment in history. A grand scale simulation, it’s a perfect opportunity to interact with and learn from the best and brightest students from around the world, with more than 130 colleges and universities participating in the event.

With Gabrielle Cervone ’16 serving as head delegate, Manhattan College’s team emerged with a distinguished delegation award (second highest category), as well as two position paper awards, and an outstanding delegation in committee peer award. “As the U.S., we’ve worked with countries like North Korea, Iraq and Iran — countries you would not think have any commonalities whatsoever,” Cervone says. “But there are commonalities, and if you can find them, you can create something that is substantial and worth it. The conference really encourages that. It’s definitely a good learning tool and a lot of fun.” After three NMUN experiences, Cervone has gone from novice to leader to veteran. She admits to feeling unsure of herself in the beginning, but throughout the years, has gained confidence through firsthand experiences, as well as guidance from Pamela Chasek, Ph.D., professor of government, who advises the group. “Even if you’re not a government major or politically inclined or internationally focused — it’s a great way to see the world’s problems and come at it with your own knowledge and with your own experiences, and how you can play a part.” Manhattan College represented Turkey at the New York City NMUN in April.

First Christian Brother Martyr Becomes Saint On Oct. 16, 2016, Pope Francis canonized Blessed Brother Solomon Le Clercq, FSC, in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City along with four others. He was the first Christian Brother to be martyred, and the first to be beatified. Saint Solomon was born GuillaumeNicolas-Louis in Boulogne, France, in 1745, the son of a wealthy wine merchant. In 1767, he entered the Novitiate of the Lasallian Brothers of the Christian Schools, and took the religious name Solomon. During his time in the community, he served as a teacher, a director of novices, a bursar for a school, and eventually as secretary to Brother Agathon, the Superior General of the order. Saint Solomon was known for his great love of people and his hard work. When the monarchy was overthrown early in the French Revolution, the next 10 N spring 2017

target was the Church. In 1790, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy gave the state complete control over the Church in France. In order to continue to function, priests and religious were forced to take an oath to support the constitution. Most of the Brothers refused and were gradually forced to abandon their schools and communities. Refusing to take an oath, Saint Solomon lived alone in Paris in secrecy. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Carmelite monastery, together with several bishops and priests. On Sept. 2, almost all of the prisoners were killed by sword in the monastery garden. He was beatified on Oct. 17, 1926, along with 188 of his fellow martyrs. His feast is celebrated on Sept. 2 with the other Brother martyrs of the hulks of Rochefort, who died two or three years later.

Poetry and Novels Orbit M.A.R.S.

his past fall, two award-winning poets and an acclaimed novelist visited the College for its biannual Major Author Reading Series (M.A.R.S.), a series of talks intended to engage students with present-day literature. The first of three speakers, Megan Sexton, arrived in September to read selections from her poetry collective, Swift Hour. Sexton dedicated each of the selections she shared to her family and childhood friends, which made the reading experience more personal. Intertwining her own life and the surreal aspects of her poetry emphasized her belief in connecting myth and memory to make sense of painful past events. Going with the book’s theme of peering through the cracks to extract light from dark situations, Sexton shared with students the challenges of writing from personal experience and developing voices that aren’t your own. In addition to Swift Hour, Sexton has written a chapbook (a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction)

titled Insects & Mystics, which was awarded the Redbone Press Prize. She also serves as a co-editor of Five Points: A Journal of Literature & Art. Currently teaching in the English department at Georgia State University, Sexton hopes to inspire others to find positivity. Next in the series was Nicole DennisBenn, an author who shared her debut novel, Here Comes the Sun. The novel, which she described as a “love letter to Jamaica,” comments on post-colonial life in her native country, where members of the working class face racial, sexual and economic oppression. “These are issues that mean a lot to me as a storyteller,” said Dennis-Benn, who wrote the novel to spark dialogue about what really goes on in Jamaica, as most people primarily know it as a popular travel destination. As Dennis-Benn read from her work, it became clear that though the book is fictional, it reflects much of what she has been through. The story describes how women are expected to marry for money — not love — and how a woman’s physical appearance is

more valuable than her education. Dennis-Benn’s work has appeared in The New York Times, ELLE and Electric Literature, among others. Dennis-Benn has an M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and previously served as an adjunct professor at Manhattan College. As a former faculty, the students welcomed her back to campus with excitement to hear her story. The third and final speaker, Christine Poreba, shared her love for poetry with students as she discussed her debut collection of poems, Rough Knowledge. The work communicates Poreba’s belief that even the most ordinary events hold a special significance. She also invited the audience to celebrate simplicity. In one particular poem, “The Turn,” Poreba draws a metaphor from the humble act of planting a seed in a garden’s soil by comparing it to “dropping stars into the sky.” Her descriptive language moved the audience to reflect on the small events they’ve experienced. In addition, Poreba reminded the audience to embrace the unknown when embarking on a journey. This was an all too appropriate discussion for students and faculty navigating their way through college and, in general, life. Rough Knowledge received the 2014 Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, and Poreba’s work has been featured in The Sun, Subtropics and Alimentum, as well as other journals. Sexton’s, Dennis-Benn’s and Poreba’s enlightening talks with the Manhattan College community illuminated the idea of embracing adversity and the unknown. The speakers’ authorial and poetic wisdom encouraged the audience and their readers to search for the light in times of darkness, appreciate the little things, and let their voices be heard. Megan Sexton, one of three acclaimed writers to participate in the College’s Major Author Reading Series, read selections from her poetry collective, Swift Hour, and shared her challenges of writing from personal experience and developing voices other than her own with the students gathered at the September event.

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Manhattan’s First Mitchell Scholar FOR THE FIRST TIME, MANHATTAN COLLEGE CAN INCLUDE a prestigious Mitchell Scholarship among its honors and fellowships. Kathleen White ’14 was selected as one of 12 members of the 2018 class of George J. Mitchell Scholars, which will fund her master’s degree in sociology at University College Cork in Ireland. At University College Cork, White will study Ireland’s juvenile justice system to gain an international perspective on criminal justice reform and juvenile justice issues. The spring she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and peace studies, White was awarded the Gunn Medal, Manhattan’s highest undergraduate honor, for her work on a variety of human rights issues. After graduation, White joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and served as outreach coordinator for the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, where she worked on abolishing juvenile life in prison without parole. “My experiences at Manhattan College laid the foundation for my interests in human rights, social justice and criminal justice reform,” White says. “I recognized the urgency for studying how other countries with similar legal systems, such as Ireland, approach incarceration.” White’s devotion to criminal justice reform began at Manhattan when she participated in a criminal justice ethics program on Rikers Island, and studied criminal justice theories alongside inmates and debated possible reforms. She served as president of JustPeace, Manhattan College’s human rights and social action organization, and most recently worked as a job coach and case manager in Jersey City, where she helped residents returning home from prison to reintegrate into their communities. The Mitchell Scholarship program was created nearly 20 years ago by Trina Vargo, founder of the U.S.-Ireland Alliance. The 12 scholarships are named in honor of the former Maine senator’s contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic distinction, leadership and service, and spend a year of postgraduate study at institutions of higher learning in Ireland.

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A Dive into History

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY of the Christian Brothers’ most unique historical acquisition, the famous Holland Submarine. In 1917, a few months before the United States entered World War I, the Brothers inherited a legendary relic of maritime history, the U.S. Navy’s first modern submarine. Invented by John P. Holland, a former Irish Christian Brother, the famed “Fenian Ram” became the archetype for the submersible craft. Built in 1881 and identified with the Fenians, an antiBritish Irish group that originally financed Holland, as it sought to challenge the British Navy, the sub never saw combat. By 1917, it was exhibited at the old Madison Square Garden to raise funds for the Irish Republican Army after the Irish Easter Monday Rebellion (1916). When the exhibit closed, the submarine was presented to Manhattan. Holland and the Brothers had several points of contact, so being presented with a submarine wasn’t completely off base. After immigrating to America in 1873, Holland settled in Paterson, N.J., and taught at St. John’s, the Brothers’ school there. He earned an honorary master’s degree in science at Manhattan in 1905, and his son, Joseph, graduated from the College in 1919. But the College, already tight on space at its 131st Street location, could not accommodate the large submarine. So, the Christian Brothers at Clason Point Military Academy, in the Soundview section of the Bronx, agreed to house it. The Fenian Ram left on a flatbed trailer — two trucks pulled while one dragged behind to stabilize it on hills. Authorities tried to stop the 19-ton sub from crossing the bridge, but the truckers persisted, and it crossed while 100 cadets marched aside the transport as a guard of honor. The Holland submarine occupied the academy grounds until the school relocated to Long Island in 1926. Today the boat is on display at the Paterson Museum.

Celebrating Fall Honors TO THE NEARLY 150 SENIORS recognized at this year’s Fall Honors Convocation, Angela Grotto, Ph.D., posed a question that compelled them to envision the future. “The first time someone asks you [after college] ‘what do you do?’ what will you say?” the assistant marketing and management professor asked during her faculty address at the convocation, an annual event that celebrates the induction of students into Epsilon Sigma Pi, the oldest collegewide honor society on campus. Addressing the soon-to-be-graduates in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers, she encouraged them to adopt a career they can view as a calling or vocation, rather than a way to make ends meet. That, combined with a well-nourished personal life, is the definition of postgraduate success, Grotto said. The students who attended Fall Honors had already demonstrated a positive work ethic — all of those in the chapel that day had earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during their first six semesters at the College. Showcasing their accomplishments, the deans of the Schools of Liberal Arts, Science, Education and Health, Engineering and Business

then presented their candidates for Epsilon Sigma Pi. “Being inducted into Epsilon Sigma Pi helped me to realize that my dedication to a well-rounded undergraduate education, which has included two internships, several cocurricular activities, and a multitude of community service events, was worth the effort,” says Maxwell Pietrzak ’17, a marketing and management major who, during his undergraduate years, interned at prominent companies such as KPMG and Aetna. On campus, he’s participated in numerous service endeavors and served as a resident assistant. “Surrounded by a group of my high-achieving peers, I understood that the work we have put forth during our time here will benefit us throughout the course of our careers,” Pietrzak adds. President Brennan O’Donnell closed the Fall Honors Convocation with congratulatory remarks, and highlighted the class of 2017’s Lasallian obligation to better the world around them. “You have been taught, by precept and by example, to think of yourselves not simply as someone with a career ladder to climb, but as someone with a vocation, a calling to work in some way to make the lives of others better, fuller, more meaningful,” he said.

McNeil Courtyard Dedication ON A CHILLY DAY IN OCTOBER, the family, friends and former classmates of Kate Anne McNeil ’11 gathered in the green space outside of Memorial Hall to pay their respects to a departed Jasper. During a ceremony preceding the Fall Honors Convocation, the College dedicated the McNeil Courtyard — formerly known as Memorial Courtyard— to preserve the memory of a young alumna who tragically died in 2010. A marketing major at the College and member of the class of 2011, McNeil was crossing an intersection in her hometown of Baldwin, N.Y., when she, her younger brother Bryan, and friend Samantha Koch ’11, were struck by a car. Kate lost her life in the accident, while Bryan and Koch sustained serious injuries. In the presence of Kate’s parents, Anne and Tom McNeil ’74, the courtyard dedication preserved her memory for future generations.

The event began with an invocation prayer and included a few words from Tom Moran ’74, chairman and former CEO of Mutual of America. In addition to his longstanding devotion to the College, he had an important reason for speaking at the dedication ceremony — his relationship with the McNeil family, which spans more than 40 years. Moran and Kate’s father, also named Tom, were roommates at Manhattan. To this day, he remembers their excitement upon learning that she was to enroll at their alma mater. “I knew she had a spirit that would represent everything I think is great about the College. The Kate McNeil Memorial Courtyard will remind everyone that life lived well will always be a full and rich life,” Moran said. President Brennan O’Donnell echoed these sentiments in his remarks at the gathering, which included several of Moran’s

colleagues at Mutual of America. On behalf of the College community, the president expressed his gratitude to Moran for his generosity and to the attendees of the dedication ceremony. “Everyone I’ve ever spoken to who knew Katie mentions her kindness, her capacity for friendship, and especially her ability to encourage others around her. These are precisely the virtues that have always been at the core of what we mean when we talk about the Jasper community,” he said, before calling attention to the legacy of the McNeil Courtyard. “You are the first to remember Katie in this lovely space, but you will not be the last,” he told the group.

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Computer Science Hosts Storied Collegiate Programming Contest

NLY FIVE YEARS AFTER ITS INCEPTION, the College’s Computer Science department was catapulted onto the national stage when it hosted the 2016 Greater New York Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) Collegiate Programming Contest. Nearly 150 top programmers from 19 colleges and universities in the area, including Columbia, Cornell, NYU and Princeton, gathered in November to compete for first prize and a place at the World Finals this summer. The contest is a storied event of epic proportions, co-sponsored by ACM and IBM. This past year, worldwide participation included 40,266 of the finest students and faculty in computing disciplines from 2,736 universities in 102 countries on six continents. The regional events typically take place at large universities to accommodate the number of participants with the correct technical equipment and space, so it was a rare honor for Manhattan to host this year. “It was a great honor for us to host the regional contest, and it has brought public recognition to the College,” said Tina Tian, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science. “The judges all agreed it was the smoothest running competition they’ve ever had.” The contest pits teams of three students against eight or more complex, real-world problems, with a grueling five-hour deadline. Huddled around a single computer, competitors race against the clock in a battle of logic, strategy and mental endurance. The environment is surprisingly animated. Each team seems to have a different collaborative style, some using whiteboards to map out solutions, others furiously scribbling on scrap paper and intermittently erupting in a shuffling frenzy, passing off code to a teammate for transcription. This year, Manhattan College entered three teams, comprised of computer science majors Tim Hamling ’18, Ryan McPartlan ’18, Patrick Mulvihill ’16, Paul Revelo ’18, Mitchell Rifkind ’18, Steven Romero ’18, John Stone ’18 and John Tomici ’17, and computer engineering major Christopher Dusovic ’17. For contestants, it’s more than just an opportunity to win a trophy. It’s a chance to learn new tricks, to rub elbows with fellow elite student programmers, and to push limits and make breakthroughs. “I typically program in a language called Java, but my teammate Chris, who is in computer engineering and is the president of IEEE [Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers] here on campus, uses Python primarily,” explains Mulvihill. “During the first problem, he suggested we use Python because it was faster. He solved it in 15 minutes. And from there on out, we used Python, even though my other teammate and I didn’t have experience with that language. Chris led the way, and we learned the syntax, how it worked, and some of the perks of the language during the competition.” This year, Princeton took the top prize with 10 correct solutions, followed by Cornell and NYU with nine and eight solutions, respectively. However, no team goes away empty-handed. Unlike many col-

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The contest pits teams of three students against eight or more complex, real-world problems, with a grueling five-hour deadline.

legiate competitions, there are lasting benefits to participation. After the competition, ACM posts the solutions, so that each student has an opportunity to study the material in preparation for next year. It’s also great practical experience as preparation for the job market, as most tech companies give applicants similar questions in interviews. “When you go to programming competitions, you learn how to deal with different scenarios and how to formulate your thoughts,” Hamling says. “Let’s say you’re interning for somewhere like Google, and you went in for an interview, they would give you a question similar to the ones that are in the programming competitions. You would work through it with the interviewer, kind of like how you would work through a problem with your team. Getting more experience with this helps you become a better programmer.”

Manhattan College’s Computer Science department played host to the 2016 Greater New York ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, which drew nearly 150 programmers from 19 colleges and universities to compete for first prize and a spot at the World Finals this summer.

COURSE SPOTLIGHT

Migration, Globalization, and Culture (SOC 212) Course Description: WITH NEW YORK CITY, ONE OF THE OLDEST and most active immigration hubs in the U.S., as a backdrop, the Sociology department’s new Migration, Globalization, and Culture (SOC 212) course focuses on topics that are both relevant and timely in today’s world, in which immigration is a frequent topic on the news and in political discourse. Among other principles, SOC 212 explores the different circumstances that cause groups to migrate from one region to another, and how their movements impact society and the economy. Taught by Cory Blad, Ph.D., department chairperson and associate professor of sociology, the course helps students to better understand the effects of globalization, and how current global economic integration impacts trends in human migration. They learn how local cultures react to these trends, and the ways in which governments attempt to tackle issues of cultural diversification resulting from migration. Additionally, SOC 212 focuses on how national and local governments handle the pressures of economic immigration and cultural reaction. Inspiration for the curriculum of Migration, Globalization, and Culture is drawn from Blad’s ongoing relationship with Bethlehem University in Palestine, which he visited for academic and research purposes in January of 2017 (see story on page 7). Texts: John Bowe, Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy (New York: Random House) Khalid Koser, International Migration: A Very Short Introduction (New York: Oxford University Press) Lui Hebron and John F. Stack, Globalization (Boston: Longman, 2nd edition) Lectures: Monday and Thursday, 12-1:15 p.m. Professor: Cory Blad, Ph.D. About the Professor: Since joining the Manhattan College community in 2009, Blad has taught a wide range of courses on migration, global political economy, research methodology, social power and conflict, and socioeconomic inequality. His research centers on the role of economic policies and conditions on political trends, specifically, efforts to understand the social and economic roots of nationalist political resurgence in the past 20 years. Currently serving as chair of the Sociology department, Blad received an M.A. in world history from Northeastern University and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Tennessee.

JustPeace Raises Awareness of Poverty and Other World Issues

URING A TIME WHEN THE COLLEGE community is typically preparing to finish up the fall semester, the social action student group, JustPeace shifted its focus this year to an issue that plagues many women on a monthly basis, but can be especially debilitating for the impoverished. From Nov. 18-Dec. 6, the student organization collected tampons, pads and other feminine products on campus to benefit the South Bronx women’s shelter, Siena House, and Concourse House, a shelter offering transitional housing for women and children. Through an initiative they dubbed the Period Project, donation boxes were stationed in Manhattan’s Social Action Suite and in prominent areas of all five residence halls. In a matter of weeks, 4,192 items — 1,607 tampons and 2,628 pads and liners — were received. To add some perspective, that’s not only double the number of female students at Manhattan College but it’s also greater than the total number of seniors in the class of 2017. In recognizing the need for these donations, JustPeace plans to continue the mission in the fall, and has already begun working on ways to help it grow to assist more women in New York City. During the 2016-17 academic year, JustPeace took part in numerous social issues, in addition to poverty. In the spring, the group hosted events centered around the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the clean water crisis in Flint, Mich., and spearheaded Pieces for Peace, a one-day event that distributed puzzle pieces of an American map to members of the campus community as an expression of solidarity. The organization, which meets on a weekly basis to discuss the various causes in today’s world, and the ways in which Manhattan College can contribute to them, also regularly sponsors training sessions for the violence prevention program, Green Dot.

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50 Years of Peace: A Pacem in Terris Retrospective

N A LETTER FROM THE VATICAN dated April 5, 1967, Blessed (Pope) Paul VI praises Manhattan College for its official launch of the Pacem in Terris Institute, a peace education program inspired by a historic papal encyclical of the same name. Two weeks later, its contents would be relayed to some 400 scholars, educators, world leaders and members of the campus community. According to an article published that month by The New York Times, the pontiff’s message was read numerous times at the Institute’s inaugural convocation, held on April 14, 15 and 26. The now-landmark doctrine, Pacem in Terris, was issued in April 1963 by Pope Saint John XXIII. In the letter issued by His Holiness four years later, which called for peace education in every sphere of society, he included a poignant reminder. “Peace is not something that is won and achieved once for all time. It is a state that has to be nourished constantly with works of peace,” Pope Paul VI wrote to constituents of the convocation, which featured many notable speakers, including United Nations Secretary General U Thant, a vocal Buddhist diplomat who presented Roads to Peace, a talk that focused on religious intolerance. Many ideologies of the now-defunct Pacem in Terris Institute predate Manhattan’s current Peace Studies program, which was formally

established in 1971. Through class discussions, lectures, workshops and other programs, peace education at the College has helped students to develop the skills to reach peaceful solutions to problems in their personal and professional lives and has instilled a deepened understanding of war, genocide and injustice.

Then Provost Brother Stephen Sullivan, FSC, Brother President Gregory Nugent, FSC, and the Rev. John Courtney Murray, S.J., who delivered the keynote address at the inaugural convocation for the Pacem in Terris Institute in April 1967, take a break on campus in between sessions of the historic three-day event.

The College’s Peace Process: MAY 13, 1966: After formulating initial plans to launch a peace education program of the same name, the Pacem in Terris Institute holds a consultative assembly on campus to strategize goals for the next year.

APRIL 11, 1963: Pope Saint John XXIII issues Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), a papal encyclical calling for peace and harmony through truth, justice, charity and liberty.

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APRIL 5, 1967: Pope Paul VI issues a congratulatory letter to Manhattan College that commends leaders of the Pacem in Terris Institute on its official start.

FALL 1966: The Anatomy of Peace, a course that took an interdisciplinary approach to peace, is introduced by the Institute, and includes lectures that focus on different theories of peace from the perspective of various academic departments.

APRIL 14, 15, 26, 1967: The Institute hosts Education for Peace: the Inaugural Convocation of Pacem in Terris, a conference that gathered renowned world leaders, figures from the Catholic Church and esteemed educators.

MAY 19, 1975: Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement and an internationally celebrated social activist, is awarded the Saint La Salle Medal in 1974 by Manhattan College.

FALL 1971: Peace Studies is established as an interdisciplinary major at the College.

New Curriculum in Construction Management MANHATTAN’S SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING now offers an accredited Master of Science program in construction management. The program focuses on management, rather than design, and prepares graduates to participate in the supervision of engineering work for all types of construction projects. It is open to all students who are majoring in or have degrees in engineering, science or business, and have work experience in construction and construction management, as well as to professionals of all experience levels.

The graduate courses in structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering provide the practical component of the new master’s program, and faculty also will create a custom curriculum to prepare students to play leading roles in the private and public engineering sectors. A special concentration on green engineering and sustainability is a major component of the program, as well.

LECTURE CIRCUIT

Harry Enten Breaks Down the 2016 Election

ARRY ENTEN, A SENIOR WRITER AND ANALYST AT FiveThirtyEight.com, a blog devoted to the analysis of politics, polling, public affairs, sports, science and culture, largely through statistical means, was the guest of the Government and Politics Club a week after Donald J. Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States. At FiveThirtyEight, Enten has gained a following for being a self-proclaimed “election nerd,” studying polling data and election results for national congressional and presidential elections throughout history. Due to the level of interest in the 2016 presidential campaign between Trump and Hillary Clinton, a standing-room-only crowd came out to listen to Enten, who also grew up five minutes from the Manhattan campus, and to discuss the election results on Nov. 16. “This was a very close election. In the four states that decided the Electoral College — Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — Trump’s margin of victory was less than one percent. A small tilt the other way could have meant a very different election,” Enten said, describing how Trump won in counties that Barack Obama had won in 2008 and 2012. Although FiveThirtyEight gave Hillary Clinton approximately a 70 percent chance of emerging victorious heading into Election Day, Enten, site founder Nate Silver and others on the site’s staff increasingly wrote about the chance for a Trump electoral victory despite Clinton winning the national popular vote. “We had Donald Trump with about a 30 percent chance of winning,” Enten said. “If a baseball player gets on base 30 percent of the time or hits .300, that’s pretty good. That’s essentially what happened. Donald Trump got the hit that he needed and was able to win across the states that were necessary to win.” While Clinton won the state of California by 4 million votes and the national popular vote by 2.8 million votes, Trump earned his Electoral College victory by winning states with a smaller vote total and larger

Harry Enten, a senior writer and analyst at FiveThirtyEight.com, a blog devoted to the analysis of politics, polling, public affairs, sports, science and culture, visited campus to discuss the results of the 2016 presidential election.

swing states, such as Florida (29 electoral votes) and Pennsylvania (20). Enten’s main takeaway was that while national polls were generally on target, predicting a three to four percent Clinton victory in the popular vote, polls in the states that determined the Electoral College outcome were not as accurate. It was not an anomaly, Enten explained, citing the 2000, 1996 and 1980 presidential elections, in which polls were off by percentage points in different states. While average polling did not match the exact end results, Enten did make note of polling trends that forecasted a Trump victory. In the weeks leading up to the election, Trump had closed within the margin of error in several national polls and some polls in states he eventually won. For Enten, it showed “there is a reason we hold elections and cast votes and not just hold elections by polls. Polls can be wrong.”

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LECTURE CIRCUIT

The Mirror Has Two Faces WHAT DO A SAINT AND A HERETIC HAVE IN COMMON? Plenty, according to Sean Field, Ph.D., an expert in medieval Europe, who has discovered some surprising connections while finishing his forthcoming book, Holy Women and the Capetian Court. His most recent study traces the French Royal Court in the 13th and 14th centuries, beginning with Isabelle of France, a holy woman and princess to the court, and ends with Marguerite Porete, a middleclass beguine who some consider holy but in the end was burned at the stake as a heretic. It is often said that history is written by the victors. And, as Field suggested at the 15th annual Costello Lecture at Manhattan College in September, neither of these women were satisfying or convenient to the narrative of France. “What I want to suggest is that in some points, Isabelle of France and Marguerite Porete were much more similar than [history’s] little thumbnail comparison would suggest. That in a sense, we might see them not as two totally different women but as distorted reflections of each other as two sides of the same mirror.” During his talk, Field artfully revealed several distinct similarities between Isabelle and Marguerite, including their level of education, commitment to chastity without taking nun’s vows, and their roles as spiritual teachers and authors. And perhaps most notably, both women also refused to yield in the face of adversity: For Isabelle, as she set forth to found a community of Franciscan women, and for Marguerite, as she contributed her own spiritual literature. Indeed, Field’s main point of connection is through the spiritual books that Isabelle and Marguerite read and authored, particularly The Mirror of Souls, a non-scintillating volume owned by Isabelle and originally written for her mother, Blanche of Castile, and The Mirror of Simple Souls, a highly-complex and engaging work written by Marguerite herself — the book that eventually led to her death sentence. The former detailed an ascendant journey to finding God, and the latter, a descent into a spiritual abyss so empty that only God could fill the void. “In these two mirrors, we have two paths to salvation: mirrors that mirror each other,” Field said. “The positive road to stern morality, what God is and how to rise to heaven, to be in his divine glory, and the negative road of what God is not and how to sink into divine nothing.” Throughout the centuries, history has transformed these two holy women in another mirror image. Isabelle was quite popular among her contemporaries, but her celebrity faded. Scholars largely ignored Isabelle’s most notable textual contribution, The Rules of Isabelle of France, until recently. Marguerite’s book, which was considered a work of heresy and resulted in her death, is now recognized as a

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cornerstone of medieval spirituality. It is available in print today. “My central point is actually a pretty simple one: that in a number of ways in terms of reading and writing and spiritual authority and determination of these two women — both of them I’ve studied for long years — seem oddly similar.” Before the discussion, Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies, was presented with the annual Brother Casimir Gabriel Costello, FSC, Award for Excellence in Teaching. Skotnicki was nominated by a group of his former students and selected for the award by his fellow faculty members in the School of Liberal Arts. Skotnicki specializes in Christian social ethics and the sociology of religion. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University, his master’s degree from Washington Theological Union, and his Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union. Supported by the generosity of Patricia and Jack Stack, the Costello Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes a faculty member in the School of Liberal Arts who exemplifies the excellence in teaching that characterizes Manhattan College and is central to its mission and the mission of the Lasallian Christian Brothers.

At this past fall’s Costello Lecture, Sean Field, Ph.D., an expert in medieval Europe, discussed some surprising connections he discovered regarding Isabelle of France and Marguerite Porete while working on his forthcoming book, Holy Women and the Capetian Court.

LECTURE CIRCUIT

Hashing out Hamilton

F YOU’RE AN AFICIONADO OF THE BROADWAY SHOW, you may think you know everything about Hamilton: founding father superhero. Selfless abolitionist immigrant. Even a “bastard orphan son of a whore and a Scotsman.” Of course, there lies some truth behind the labels and lyrics, but at the 2017 Christen Lecture on Feb. 15, Yale University professor Joanne Freeman, Ph.D., challenged a room full of faithful Hamilton fans to dig a bit further into Alexander Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, The Musical. Freeman, a preeminent Hamilton scholar, is the author of the award-winning Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic. She edited Alexander Hamilton: Writings for the Library of America, and worked with the National Park Service to restore the Alexander Hamilton Grange National Memorial. She also earned a nod from Lin-Manuel Miranda himself, calling her advice on dueling and the culture of honor “indispensable” in creating the musical. However, Freeman’s deep knowledge of Hamilton requires no introduction. It’s evident in her uncanny ability to reference his annoyances, marvel at his conviction, even tease him about his lack of graphic sense. All essentially the result of what she calls “hanging out with Hamilton” for the last 30 years, well before the founding father became a household name. Achieving this level of rapport requires looking past the opinions of his detractors (he had many), to figure out his perspective and motivation. This is no easy task. Although Hamilton left behind more than 10,000 letters, he didn’t keep a journal and penned few self-reflective musings. Free-

Yale University professor and Alexander Hamilton scholar, Joanne Freeman, Ph.D., offered an inside scoop into one of history’s most famous figures in her lecture, Alexander Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, The Musical.

man overcomes these obstacles by looking for patterns in his thoughts and actions, and reading between the lines of his letters. Freeman suggests Hamilton’s patterns of behavior when he first arrived in North America — desperate to make something of himself — reveal something crucial about his character. At first glance, Hamilton’s pursuits at King’s College (now Columbia University) seem to lack focus: He studied anatomy, joined the debate club and a group of students doing military training, and according to friends, was interested in religion. However, these choices tell you a lot if you look for a pattern. Each area points to the gentlemanly career paths of the day: anatomy (doctor), debate (lawyer), military training (military officer), religion (clergyman). He was literally filling in the gaps and covering every base. “That’s how Hamilton thought — he was a man of systems and plans who was constructing a future for himself based on little to nothing,” she said. “He had no great family, no money, no reputation yet. He was essentially operating without a safety net. So, that’s one example of how patterns of behavior can really tell you something about how Hamilton saw himself and his path in life.” It’s this sort of systematic thought that made him perfect for his role as the first secretary of treasury, setting up the federal banking system, but it seems incongruous with Hamilton’s panache for drama, both in politics and personality. Hamilton had particular dramatic flair when it came to use of military force. He was quick to send an army to stop any public protest of national government, like responding

to the Whiskey Rebellion with a 13,000-man army. By the time troops arrived in Western Pennsylvania, they found little else but a few men and a flag. Events such as this have caused most biographers and even Hamilton’s contemporaries to peg him as a power-happy political extremist. And perhaps he was. But Freeman suggests that fear was the root of Hamilton’s politics. In fact, Freeman points to a project Hamilton took upon himself to craft the new nation’s seal. He envisioned the figure of a tiny American being crushed by a French Revolutionary colossus — an odd and perhaps ridiculous choice for a national symbol. But with monarchies controlling most of the rest of the world, Hamilton feared the position of president wasn’t powerful enough to sustain a nation. Peering at events retroactively, it’s easy to see the founding as an abstract debate, but to fully understand Hamilton, Freeman says we must consider his feeling of contingency and crisis. So, she closed with his own words, an excerpt from the First Federalist Essay: “It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force ... the crisis at which we are arrived may with propriety be regarded as the era in which that decision is to be made ...” This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Robert J. Christen Program in Early American History and Culture. MANHATTAN.EDU N 19

SPORTS

All Roads Lead to Riverdale

ANHATTAN COLLEGE SPORTS FANS can be found in all corners of the United States and even the world. In fact, many students, alumni and staff can attest to the likelihood of being greeted with a, “Go, Jaspers!” when wearing an article of Manhattan-branded clothing, wherever they may travel. The College draws student-athletes to its Riverdale campus for a variety of reasons. Primarily, prospective Jaspers are enticed by their future teams and coaches, as well as the academic community. The New York City location isn’t a hard sell either. While the College does boast many Jaspers from the tri-state area, approximately 10 percent of Manhattan’s 398 student-athletes are international, and 44 of them come from either the West Coast, Midwest or South. The following Jasper examples are only a few of the renowned student-athletes that have trekked from faraway places to lend their talents to Manhattan, before going on to excel on and off the field all across the U.S. and the globe.

ALLIE YAMASHIRO ’17 Allie Yamashiro ’17, a senior volleyball player, came to Riverdale from Kapolei, Hawaii. During the fall of 2016 — her final season as a Jasper — Yamashiro set the record for career digs with 2,264, snapping the previous record of 1,812. While she filled up the stat sheet on the court, what she has done off the court in her local community is equally as impressive. Yamashiro is vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She is in charge of creating the committee’s weekly 20 N spring 2017

newsletter and organizing community sports. She is also on the executive committee of Student Government, and is the editorial director for the College’s Spoon University chapter. While Yamashiro has made the most of her time at Manhattan, why she would want to leave Hawaii is the big question. “There was no doubt in my mind that I would be leaving the islands to go to college,” Yamashiro explains. “My parents always made it a point to me that Hawaii is so small and that there is so much more opportunity to see and explore elsewhere, but that no matter what, the state will always be home.” The athletic opportunity was what attracted Yamashiro to the school originally. However, after meeting with Shawn Ladda, Ed.D., professor of kinesiology, on a visit to the school, Yamashiro knew she found her place at Manhattan. An exercise science major, Yamashiro serves as the president of Phi Epsilon Kappa, Alpha Eta Chapter, the honor society for kinesiology. ZANE WATERMAN ’18 Junior basketball forward Zane Waterman ’18 arrived at the College from Kernersville, N.C. Waterman spent the first 16 years of his life in a small town on the outskirts of Winston-Salem, before moving across the state to finish up his high school career in Fayetteville, N.C. Moving to New York from the South was a big transition for him, but the program and coaching style of head basketball coach Steve Masiello is what made the decision an easy one. “I really liked the coaches, and they showed a lot of effort in recruiting me,” he says. “I also really liked the team when I visited. I

like being in New York City because it’s a lot different than what I’m used to in North Carolina.” From an athletics standpoint, Manhattan College has been a good fit for Waterman, a psychology major and business minor, who earned a spot on the Third Team All-MAAC. JENNY BITZER ’17 Senior soccer player Jenny Bitzer ’17 has lived in the U.S. and abroad but found a home at Manhattan College. Bitzer was born and raised in Meßstetten, Germany, but her love for soccer and desire to go to new places brought her to the United States. She played at Louisiana Tech for two seasons, and then transferred to Manhattan College for the big city and a better soccer experience. “After living in a rural area for two years, I wanted to experience life in a big American city,” she says. “I love the school for its close-knit community and its great support system. I love the location for its unlimited possibilities, its diversity and its culture.” Bitzer has flourished on and off the field as a Jasper, earning 2015 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and landing a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team following both her junior and senior seasons, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA as a management major. LINA BENGSTON ’17 For Lina Bengston ’17, who hails from Malmo, Sweden, the unique balance of school work and athletics that the U.S. had to offer is what made her venture across the ocean to become a Jasper. “I came here to be able to do track and field and study at the same time. Back home, you usually have longer school days, especially if you are studying engineering, and it would be harder to combine both school and track,” she says. “So when I got the offer to come to America and go to a D-1 school that has a good engineering program, I thought I would give it a try.” A thrower on the women’s track team, Bengston has had a great Jasper career. She won the silver medal in the discus (156’5”) at the MAAC Outdoor Championships, and qualified for the ECAC Outdoor Championships in the discus for the second year in a row, earning 18th place in 2015. Her 3.91 GPA in electrical engineering earned her a spot on the 2015 Capital One Academic All-District Team, and a position in Manhattan’s oldest honor society, Epsilon Sigma Pi, as well as Tau Beta Pi, which recognizes all engineering disciplines, and Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical and electronics engineering honor society. When she is not in the gym or the classroom, Bengston tutors and does research with a professor in her department. She also makes time to venture into New York City, one of her favorite perks of attending Manhattan.

JOSÉ CARRERA ’17 Senior baseball player José Carrera ’17 came to the College from a slightly shorter distance. Carrera was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Miami, where he was raised. The decision to move to a completely different city (and climate) from his adopted hometown was driven by Manhattan’s ability to provide him with the best of both worlds. “I wanted to go to a school where I was going to be given the chance to play baseball, and do my studies in a great school, such as Manhattan College.” Although dedicating his time to baseball and his major in finance and minor in mathematics leaves time for little else, Carrera loves just about everything that has come with being a Jasper. “What I love about this school is the kids that come here,” he says. “They’re genuine and always involved in sports activities. Most importantly, I love my teammates and coaches.” Carrera had a fantastic junior year on the diamond, hitting .314 and being ranked among MAAC leaders in doubles (22-1st), runs scored (48-4th), triples (4-t-2nd), total bases (107-4th), stolen bases (22-t-2nd) and at bats (236-1st). In early March, the NCAA named Carrera one of the top-five stolen base threats in Division I.

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SPORTSSHORTS JOIN THE JASPERS IN BELFAST The men’s basketball team will participate in the first-ever Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, next season. The two-day tournament will take place on Dec. 1-2, 2017, at the SSE Arena in Belfast. Manhattan takes on Holy Cross, and La Salle faces Towson on the first day of the event, with consolation and championship games being held on the second day. All four teams also will participate in community relations events and initiatives throughout the Belfast area. For more information on travel packages, contact the Manhattan College Alumni office at (718) 862-7432 or alumni@manhattan.edu. NCAA REPRESENTATIVE Maddie Arndt ’18, a pole vaulter on the women’s track and field team, began a two-year term on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on June 1, 2016. Arndt is the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) representative, and works with conference representatives from each of the other 31 Division I leagues to provide a voice to student-athletes at the national level. She is also the president of both the Manhattan and MAAC SAACs. COMMUNITY SERVICE LEADERS Manhattan student-athletes were recognized by the NCAA as the national leaders in community service hours for the month of November 2016. The Jaspers’ ranking was based on the number of hours logged on the NCAA’s Helper Helper app, which coordinates and tracks community service activity among Division I institutions. Some of the programs in which the student-athletes participated included the St. Baldrick’s Brave A Shave For Kids With Cancer fundraiser, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides for a Cure 5K walk in Central Park, a Thanksgiving food drive, and the Cards For a Cause program. In addition, the women’s lacrosse team received the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s Team Community Awareness Award, which recognizes one Division I team each year for its outstanding contributions on campus and in the community. MAAC HONOR ROLL Stacey Jack Edwards ’87 and Bill Campion ’75 were Manhattan’s 2016 inductees into the MAAC Honor Roll at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They were honored during a dinner at the Hall of Fame on Oct. 15. Edwards led the women’s team to its first-ever MAAC title in 1987, scoring 21 points against Holy Cross in the championship game. She was a three-time Second Team All-MAAC selection and earned Academic All-America honors as a senior. Edwards graduated as the second-leading scorer in program history, and currently ranks fourth with 1,665 career points. She is also fourth on the Jaspers’ all-time

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rebounding chart (823), and her .829 career free-throw percentage is the third-best mark in school history. Campion was the “giant in the middle” for Manhattan teams that made three consecutive NIT appearances in the mid-70s. He holds the Jaspers’ all-time rebounding records for a game (30), season (419) and career (1,070), and he’s one of just two players in program history with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Campion scored 1,223 points during his career and won the Haggerty Award as the best player in the Metropolitan area in 1972-73. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth round of the 1975 NBA Draft but chose to play professionally in Italy instead. NATIONAL CHAMPION Former Manhattan track and field star Malin Marmbrandt ’11 finished first in the triple jump and third in the long jump at the 2016 Swedish Athletics Championships. She had the three best efforts of the competition in the triple jump, setting a personal-best of 13.11 meters (43’10¼) to clinch the title. In the long jump, Marmbrandt got out to 6.13 meters (20’1½), which placed her third behind two Rio Olympians. She also represented Sweden at the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam and tied for 19th place in the long jump. BEST IN CLASS Jenny Bitzer ’17 of the women’s soccer team was one of 30 candidates nominated for the NCAA Senior CLASS Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award celebrates accomplishments in the areas of community, classroom, character and competition. Bitzer was the 2015 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time Second Team AllMAAC selection. She has a perfect 4.0 GPA in business management. IN MEMORIAM A number of Manhattan’s varsity programs wore memorial patches on their uniforms in honor of the late Rev. George Hill throughout the 2016-17 academic year. Fr. Hill, the College’s longtime chaplain who passed away in September, was an avid supporter of the entire athletics program. In addition, men’s basketball coach Steve Masiello left an empty chair on the bench for Fr. Hill at every game this season, and the men’s golf team renamed its annual fall tournament the Fr. George Hill Collegiate Invitational. NEW FACES Manhattan hired Kerri Gallagher as head coach of the cross country, mid-distance and distance teams this past summer. Gallagher came to Riverdale after five years as an assistant coach at American University. An elite distance runner, she represented the United States at the 2015 World Championships and made the semifinals of the 1,500 meters at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A 2011 Fordham graduate,

she was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame member John Lovett ’73 returned to the cross country and track and field program as an assistant coach. Lovett ran on the Jaspers’ world record-setting distance medley relay squad at the 1973 NCAA Indoor Championships, when Manhattan won its only national title. A 1997 Hall of Fame inductee, he spent 16 years as the head coach at Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn. Katie McConnell became the new head women’s lacrosse coach in August. She was named the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014, as Lock Haven University made its first of back-to-back appearances in the Division II National Championship Game. A 2012 Lock Haven graduate, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater before serving as an assistant at Coastal Carolina University in 2016. McConnell brought in Emily Considine as an assistant coach. She graduated from Hofstra in 2015 and was selected to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) AllRookie Team in 2013. Prior to her arrival at Manhattan, Considine worked with the LI Top Guns, one of the premier club teams on Long Island. Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly introduced Lora Sarich as Manhattan’s new head volleyball coach in February. Sarich comes to Manhattan from the University of Northwestern Ohio, where she won 79 matches in four seasons as head coach. A 2007 graduate of the University of Toledo, Sarich also made previous coaching stops at the University of West Georgia, University of Georgia, University of Mississippi, Austin Peay State University and Point University. Patrick Dolan joined the Athletics staff as head strength and conditioning coach. Dolan is responsible for all facets of strength and conditioning and sports performance for all 19 varsity athletic teams. He graduated from DeSales University in 2012 and previously worked at both Lindenwood University and Santa Clara University. William Aloia Jr. was appointed as assistant athletic director for compliance and life skills in January, and oversees the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Aloia spent two-plus years as the associate director of athletics/compliance officer at the College of Saint Rose. He also worked as a graduate assistant at the University of New Haven after graduating from the University of Connecticut in 2012. Jaclyn Rettig was promoted to assistant director of sports medicine in March 2017. A 2016 graduate of Towson University, she started at Manhattan in August, and worked with the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams. In her new role, Rettig will be the primary athletic trainer for the men’s basketball program.

FUNFACTS

31 4

anniversary of the men’s lacrosse team’s undefeated 2002 MAAC Championship season.

consecutive seasons in which the men’s track and field team has had at least one IC4A champion. Hayden Clarke ’17 kept the streak alive when he won the long jump at the IC4A indoor meet in March. years since the women’s track and field team had an ECAC champion prior to this year. Paige Chapman ’18 became Manhattan’s first since 2013, when she won the 60 meters at the 2017 ECAC Indoor Championships.

194

total points scored by the women’s swimming and diving team at the MAAC Championships, the most in program history.

2001

the last time the men’s cross country squad won the team title at the Metropolitan Championships prior to this season.

2,264

career digs by volleyball player Allie Yamashiro ’17, an all-time program record.

men’s basketball coaches in school history with 100 career wins after Steve Masiello earned his 100th victory at Niagara on Jan. 26.

c areer-high points for women’s basketball player Kayla Grimme ’18, tying this season’s MAAC single-game high at Marist on Feb. 26.

s chool records broken by the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at the MAAC Championships.

women’s tennis player in the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame. Jasmine (Whu) Donato ’01 became the first when she was inducted as part of the class of 2016. MANHATTAN.EDU N 23

SPORTS

Cross Country

Nick Matson ’19

IN THE FIRST SEASON under head coach Kerri Gallagher, the men’s and women’s cross country teams enjoyed highly successful 2016 campaigns. The men’s team won the Metropolitan Championship for the first time since 2001,and had its highest finish at the MAAC Championships in nearly a decade. The women’s team, meanwhile, had its best showing at the MAAC Championships since 2008. After opening the season with solid performances at the Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial, Iona Meet of Champions and Fr. Victor Leeber Invitational, the Jaspers had their best showing at the Metropolitan Championships in 15 years. The women’s team finished second overall, while Manhattan put four runners in the top 10, led by sophomore Amir Khaghani’s third-place showing, to win the men’s title. The Jaspers then headed to Walt Disney World for the MAAC Championships, where the men took fourth, and the women had a fifth-place finish. Sophomore Lisa Fajardo placed 12th overall to become the first female athlete with consecutive top-15 finishes at the MAAC Championships since 2007-08. At the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, the men achieved their highest finish since 2002 with a 13th-place showing. Manhattan then capped the season by taking fifth in both the men’s and women’s races at the ECAC/IC4A Championships. Fajardo finished third in the women’s race, the best showing by a Manhattan runner since 2001. Manhattan’s success was recognized by the MAAC, as well. The Jaspers took home four MAAC Performer of the Week awards during the season. On the men’s side, sophomore Nick Matson was selected on Sept. 14, while Khaghani earned back-to-back nods on Oct. 12-19. Junior Kaitlyn Smith received Women’s Performer of the Week accolades on Sept. 28. It was also a strong year in the classroom for the Jaspers. Ten members of the women’s squad were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team along with seven men.

Women’s Soccer ONE YEAR AFTER REACHING THE MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME for the first time in program history, the women’s soccer team came up just short of returning to the postseason in 2016. The Jaspers ended up one win shy of the sixth and final berth in the MAAC Tournament after posting a 4-5-1 record in conference play. Freshman Olivia Printy received a pair of MAAC weekly awards during the season. She was selected MAAC Defensive Player of the Week after making eight saves in the season-ending 1-0 win over Fairfield at Gaelic Park on Oct. 26. Printy also took home MAAC Rookie of the Week honors for her seven-save performance in a 1-0 victory over NJIT on Sept. 11. In addition to earning Second Team All-MAAC honors, senior Jenny Bitzer was one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. She was joined on the All-MAAC Second Team by junior Erica Modena, who tallied a team-high four goals, including two game-winners. Modena also led the Jaspers with 10 points, while Printy registered five wins in goal, two of which were shutouts. Senior Lauren Barton, meanwhile, finished her career having started 63 games during her four years in Riverdale.

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Erica Modena ’18

Manhattan also placed 12 student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team. Bitzer was recognized for her efforts in the classroom along with Barton; juniors Nicole Aylmer, Dylan Burns, Emily Center and Maria Clemente; and sophomores Nicole Copping, Kelly DiGregorio, Annie Doerr, Sara Naessig, Victoria Reis and Emma Saul.

Volleyball THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM SAW ITS STREAK OF THREE STRAIGHT MAAC Tournament appearances come to an end in 2016. The Jaspers finished seventh in the MAAC, and missed out on a playoff spot by one place in the standings. However, despite having been already eliminated entering the final weekend, Manhattan ended the season with impressive home wins over Niagara and Canisius. After opening the season in California, the Jaspers also took part in early-season tournaments at Hartford and Columbia before opening their MAAC schedule with a four-set win over rival Iona on Sept. 14. That started a four-match winning streak for the Jaspers, as they notched victories over St. Francis Brooklyn, Lafayette and NJIT to claim the tournament title at the Lafayette Invitational. Manhattan also nabbed an exciting five-set victory over eventual MAAC finalist Quinnipiac at Draddy Gymnasium on Oct. 22, and won the fifth set by a 15-13 count. The Jaspers then won at Marist for the fourth consecutive year, knocking off the Red Foxes in straight sets on Nov. 3. It was a record-setting season for senior Allie Yamashiro. She entered the season in second place on the Jaspers’ career digs list, and became the all-time leader against Central Connecticut on Sept. 2. Yamashiro registered her 2,000th dig at Quinnipiac on Sept. 25 and ended her career with 2,264 digs. She also finished as Manhattan’s all-time leader in both matches (133) and sets (502) played. Fellow senior Milena Janjusevic achieved a personal milestone of her own at Quinnipiac on Sept. 25, when she slammed her 1,000th collegiate kill.

Ryan Shields ’20

Ivana Kostic ’17

Meanwhile, senior Ivana Kostic was selected to the All-MAAC Second Team. She ranked fifth in the MAAC with a .306 hitting percentage while averaging 2.26 kills and a team-high 0.73 blocks per set. In addition, Manhattan placed eight players on the MAAC All-Academic Team, the second-most in the conference. Kostic and Yamashiro were recognized for their efforts in the classroom along with senior Kelsey LaCour; juniors Marissa Behrens and Mary Donnelly; and sophomores Olyvia Chaltas, Emilia Dronkert and Alyssa Rehrer.

Men’s Soccer DESPITE A 2-12-3 RECORD, the men’s soccer team made great strides during the 2016 season. The Jaspers earned ties against the Fordham and Rider squads, which both qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Manhattan team also secured a 1-0 victory over rival Iona on Senior Night that knocked the Gaels out of MAAC Tournament contention. Senior Niels Kirch scored the game-winner against Iona and led the Jaspers with five points. Junior Joe Hulme also tallied five points on the season, notching a pair of goals while also recording an assist. Freshman Ryan Shields contributed two goals of his own en route to a MAAC

All-Rookie Team selection. Senior Deljan Bregasi and sophomore Connor Hayes, meanwhile, each had a shutout in goal. The Jaspers snapped a 10-match losing streak in the Battle of the Bronx with their 0-0 draw against eventual Atlantic 10 champion Fordham on Sept. 14. Manhattan also played MAAC champion Rider to a 1-1 deadlock at Gaelic Park on Oct. 12 and played Fairfield to a 3-3 deadlock in Connecticut on Oct. 26. In addition, the Jaspers recorded a 2-1 home victory over Saint Peter’s on Oct. 8, with junior Troy Carrington notching the game-winning tally. Manhattan also enjoyed success in the classroom, earning a league-high 13 MAAC All-Academic Team selections. Hayes, Hulme, Kirch and Shields were recognized for their academic accomplishments along with seniors Brian DeLaurentis and Andrew Melitsanopoulos; juniors Greg Bohn, Tom DiGiglio, Luke Greaves and Jose Meza; and sophomores Michael Bringard, Grant Elgin and Tomas Espinal.

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SPORTS

Swimming and Diving IT WAS A RECORD-SETTING SEASON for both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams in 2016-17. The women’s team broke nine school records en route to its best-ever showing at the MAAC Championships, while the men took third at the ECAC Winter Championships for the second straight year. Freshman Timothy Valentine became Manhattan’s first-ever winner at a championship meet when he finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke at the ECAC Winter Championships. He also placed second in both the 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley to help the Jaspers earn their second consecutive thirdplace team finish. Valentine would go on to break both the 50- and 100-yard school records while finishing fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the MAAC Championships. Also at the MAAC Championships, freshman Tyler Dalton established a new mark in the 400-yard individual medley. Senior Dylan Cooney, meanwhile, set a program record in 1-meter diving during a December dual meet against Fordham. On the women’s side, junior Alexandra Hutzler had an outstanding MAAC Championships, setting an individual school record for points at the meet and helping the Jaspers to collect 194 points as a team — the most in program history. Hutzler broke five school records at the MAAC Championships, four in the 100-yard butterfly alone. She finished fifth in that event, as well as the 200-yard individual medley, to go along with a fourth-place showing in the 100-

Alexandra Hutzler ’18

yard breaststroke, where she also bettered the previous school record. Hutzler was joined in the 100 breaststroke final by sophomore Klaudia Nagrabska, marking the first time in program history that two Jaspers qualified for the final in the same event at the MAAC Championships. Freshman Kali Nembach, meanwhile, broke her own school marks in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle at the MAAC Championships. Manhattan also had a pair of swimmers earn MAAC weekly honors during the season. Nembach became the first Jasper woman ever selected when she was recognized on Nov. 9, while junior Neil Perry was chosen as the MAAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 23. Both teams were once again named Scholar All-America squads by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. In addition, nine men and five women earned places on the MAAC AllAcademic Team. Paige Chapman ’18

Indoor Track and Field SENIOR HAYDEN CLARKE DEFENDED his title in the long jump at the 2017 IC4A Indoor Championships, marking the 31st consecutive year in which the men’s track and field team has had at least one IC4A champion. Junior Paige Chapman then finished first in the 60 meters at the ECAC Championships the next day, and became the first Jasper woman to claim an ECAC title since 2011. Manhattan also had a pair of second-place finishes at the ECAC/IC4A Indoor Championships. Junior Love Litzell led the men’s weight throw until his final attempt before settling for second, while sophomore Ellinor Persson took second in the women’s long jump. Sophomore Ryan Addlesberger added a thirdplace showing in the shot put, as the men finished ninth as a team. The women ended up 13th in the ECAC team standings. At the MAAC Indoor Championships, Chapman set a meet record of 7.57 seconds to win 26 N spring 2017

the 60. She added a second-place showing in the 200 meters, while junior Kelly Gorman finished second in the 800 meters. Senior Marisa Robbins took second in the pole vault, and Persson grabbed second in the long jump to go along with third place in the triple jump. Overall, the women’s team placed third at the MAAC Indoor Championships. On the men’s side, Manhattan claimed a pair of MAAC titles, as Litzell won the weight throw and Addlesberger took first in the shot put. In addition, senior Anthony Hall placed second in the 60 and third in the 200, while Clarke captured second place in the long jump and third in the triple jump. As a team, the men ended up fourth in the MAAC. The Jaspers also took second (men) and third (women) at the annual Metropolitan Indoor Championships. Clarke (long jump), Litzell (weight throw) and senior Stefan Hoeller (heptathlon) claimed Metropolitan

titles for the men’s team, while the women’s squad secured five Metropolitan Championships. In addition to Chapman (60) and Robbins (pole vault), Gorman (mile), sophomore Lisa Fajardo (5,000 meters) and freshman Kathleen Cibuls (pentathlon) captured gold medals at Mets. Litzell took bronze in the weight throw at the Millrose Games, where the Jaspers took part in the Metropolitan 4x400-meter relays, which returned to the program this year. It was also a successful season in the classroom for both squads. Manhattan placed a total of 34 student-athletes (18 men, 16 women) on the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Men’s Basketball MANHATTAN HEAD COACH STEVE MASIELLO became the fifth coach in school history to notch 100 wins in his career, and junior Zane Waterman earned All-MAAC Third Team honors after averaging 14.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Junior Zavier Turner paced seven newcomers with a team-leading 14.9 ppg and 3.3 apg, while going over 1,000 points for his career. Playing an arduous schedule that included 14 games against teams that qualified for the postseason, including six vs. NCAA Tournament teams, Manhattan posted impressive wins over Fordham and Rider. In the annual Battle of the Bronx, Turner was named the Doc Johnson Most Outstanding Performer after scoring 15 points in leading the Jaspers to a hard-fought 60-53 victory. Manhattan also defeated Rider before a nationally televised audience thanks to a monster performance from Waterman, who scored a career-high 35 points while becoming the first Jasper to hit the 35-point standard since George Beamon ’13 did so in 2011. Waterman would later clinch Masiello’s 100th win against Niagara by hitting the game-winning free throws before drawing the gameclinching charge. The North Carolina native also provided the gamewinning shot in a narrow one-point victory over Marist. The Jaspers celebrated Tyler Wilson’s Senior Night with a rousing 21-point victory over Quinnipiac. Wilson graduates having won two MAAC Championships and finishing up sixth in school history with 364 assists.

Zavier Turner ’18

In the MAAC Tournament, Manhattan dropped a heart-breaking one-point decision at the buzzer despite a game-high 18 points from freshman Aaron Walker Jr. The Brooklyn native earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors in November and is one of seven returning players who started at least eight games in 2016-2017. At the conclusion of the year, the Jaspers were announced as one of four teams to take part in the inaugural Belfast Invitational in December 2017 in Northern Ireland.

Women’s Basketball THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM began the Heather Vulin Era with a thrilling 60-56 victory over Holy Cross at Draddy Gymnasium on Nov. 11. The Jaspers then defeated Yale on Nov. 15 to move to 2-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 season. After a loss at Buffalo, Manhattan improved to 3-1 when junior Nyasha Irizarry drained a pair of free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining to clinch a 58-57 win at Brown on Nov. 22. There were a number of other thrilling victories during Vulin’s first season at the helm. Freshman Gabby Cajou sank the game-winning three-pointer with 18 seconds left in a 55-52 triumph at St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 7, and Manhattan’s first MAAC win of the season was a 68-66 victory over Siena at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 30. The Jaspers also notched a 69-65 win at Saint Peter’s on Jan. 22 before beating the Peacocks 57-44 eight days later in their annual Kids’ Day Out game. Junior Kayla Grimme became Manhattan’s all-time blocks leader at Rider on Jan. 26, and was named MAAC Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 34 points (including 30 in the second half) at Marist on Feb. 26. Grimme averaged 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while leading the MAAC with 2.0 blocks per contest. In conference play, she registered league-highs in scoring (17.7 ppg), blocks (1.8 bpg) and three-point percentage (.477). She also was chosen to both the

Kayla Grimme ’18

All-MAAC and AllMetropolitan Third Teams. Grimme wasn’t the only Jasper to achieve a career milestone in 2016-17. Irizarry and senior Maeve Parahus both sank their 100th career three-pointers during the season, and became just the 11th and 12th players in program history to reach that mark. In addition, Parahus was honored for her efforts in the classroom with a selection to the MAAC All-Academic Team. It marked the third straight year in which she was recognized.

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A JOUR NEY of a

THOUSA ND BOOKS Story by Kristen Cuppek

YOU WOULDN’T THINK THAT SPENDING A SUMMER CLEANING out dusty volumes in an underlit room in the bowels of the O’Malley Library would spark one’s interest in learning an uncommon, book-restoration craft, or even spark any ideas of what a future career path could look like — but it did for Tim Gress ’19. When Gress signed on to help the library staff tackle the disorderly stacks in what pretty much is the library’s basement, he didn’t know what he’d find down there, hiding under overgrown piles of publications and concealed in the darker corners of the room. What he found can be described as both a call to duty and a new ambition.

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Photos by Josh Cuppek

Tim Gress â&#x20AC;&#x2122;19, an enterprising sophomore who made it his mission to repair the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old books, helped to bring about the debut of the new Special Collections Room.

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chapter 1

DOW N IN THE DEPTHS “I STARTED WITH EVERYONE ELSE, just putting books back on the shelf,” Gress says about his initial work in the library. “During the summer, we emptied out the whole bottom of the library — moving 100,000 books. I noticed that a lot of the books were broken and needed repair — they were rotting and falling apart.” So Gress, who is majoring in philosophy and religious studies, learned how to fix them. He watched tutorials online and consulted long-time library assistant, Joyce Gormally. From there, he began to build momentum. “I learned a couple of basic things, and then I learned a lot on my own — reading things, watching things, and obviously doing it,” he explains. “I developed some shorthand that makes it quicker and easier.” Gress then discovered that many of the books in the DeCoursey Fales Collection, which includes the complete works of many famous authors published from 1715 to 1966, were just sitting on a shelf and mixed in with the library’s main collection — and even available for checking out of the library. He had to take action. Thus, began another project and, more precisely, a new mission. “This stuff was just sitting out there,” he says. He went to the library director, William Walters, and expressed an interest in researching these books, the results of which confirmed that they were, indeed, quite valuable, as some were even signed by the authors. “Tim noticed that the Fales books were in need of physical repair, and that the collection was being under-utilized in its old location in the main book stacks,” Walters says. “Then he worked with Susanne Markgren (assistant director of the library for technical services) and I to determine where those books ought to be shelved, to specify the kinds of repair that would be undertaken, and to determine how they could be best presented to our patrons.” Gress had to do some sleuthing around the library to find all of the items in the Fales Collection. “We knew generally where they were, but we didn’t know exactly where each one was,” he says. “I was looking through old stuff. There were some old memos, so I went to the shelves and checked them out, and I found them all and put them back together.” Gress then set out to inventory every single book. He found which books were missing, which weren’t exactly missing, and assessed what condition they were in. There are more than 3,000 books in the Fales Collection alone, and 1,000 of them needed some sort of repair.

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When Gress realized that many of the Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historically valuable books from the DeCoursey Fales Collection were just sitting on the shelves in the Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley Library and mixed in with the circulating main collection, he knew he had to take action to give these books the attention and care they deserve. He taught himself how to restore these old books, and started repairing the more than 1,000 items in need of varying levels of mending. Many of the books need new hinges, which Gress fixes with some book tape and glue, folded paper and wax paper. But sometimes he has to make a new spine, which requires cutting off and putting the original spine in some warm water, until it peels off and can be applied to a new cardboard base.

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chapter 2

THE R EPA IR PROCESS MANY OF THESE OLD BOOKS need repairs to their hinges, and some even need new spines, which makes sense after centuries of being opened and closed. Gress demonstrates the hinge-repairing process using several tools of the trade: folded-over paper, cardstock, book cloth, a bone tool, special book glue and hinge tape, and some common wax paper. The work is precise, and it’s quite easy to confuse the steps. After all of the repairs are made, the book needs to dry overnight before making its way back to its shelf. Making a new spine, he jokes, looks like a science experiment gone wrong. “You cut that off, and you can stick the spine back onto the cardboard when it’s dry,” he explains. “You put it in warm water, and after a couple hours, the cardboard peels off the cloth, and then you just glue it back on the book when it dries.” Gress picks up an old electric stylus, as well, which draws all of those white numbers on the books’ spines. He takes white contact tape, writes on the tape, and it bleeds through onto the book, giving it that hand-written look that is not quite penned or penciled in — a sort of pre-cursor to labels. “It’s kind of like writing with a pencil, but not really because it moves,” he explains. “I’ll just write the call number, the title of the book, and then the author.” If the repairer is not very meticulous with mending, the spine could easily look like a Band-Aid job rather than a new binding meant to keep the integrity of the original book jacket. “There are horror stories,” Gress says. “Some people took Scotch tape. Some of them took duct tape. People have even used medical tape.” Gress sees it all, as he not only works on the special collections but also on the library’s main collection. “My main job is the repair,” he says. “Not just the special collection, but the regular circulating books, too, because a lot of them get beaten up. They go through a lot, especially the ones that people take out for English class.”

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chapter 3

BACK TO THE BOOKS THE FALES COLLECTION IS A LITERARY FEAST to behold. There are first editions by James Fenimore Cooper, Samuel Johnson, Washington Irving and Agatha Christie, just to name a few. There are remarkable details, such as illustrations from wood carvings and beautiful leather covers. One can gaze upon the signature of T.S. Eliot. There is a first issue of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped from 1886 that even has a giant treasure map that pulls out of the book. The oldest item is a satirical analysis of Virgil’s Aeneid from 1715. Fales was a lawyer, banker, collector, bibliophile and yachtsman. His collection of books and manuscripts included approximately 50,000 items pertaining to various British and American authors spanning the 18th and 20th centuries. Prior to his death in 1966, he donated the bulk of his collections to New York University (NYU), the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library and Manhattan College. “The majority of his collection — and presumably the most valuable and rare items — were donated to NYU,” Markgren explains. “Unlike Manhattan College, they have the facility and the personnel to maintain a large special collection. However, we can appreciate, house and deem special our own items in our own way, and by doing so, hopefully generate interest in and respect for the importance of libraries in providing access to information (old and new).” Gress goes over the books swiftly and with the same wonder that an English lit major or devoted collector might display for the collection. “So, this is Sir Walter Scott … this is the letter addressed to Charles Dickens … this is Samuel L. Johnson’s dictionary [A Dictionary of the English Language]. It was printed in 1756. Just be careful with the cover. Washington Irving wrote a whole thing on Christopher Columbus; it’s this like fourvolume biography on Christopher Columbus. That’s 1828. These are all first editions, first printing,” he says and gestures toward. Gress can point out all kinds of interesting tidbits, and clearly enjoys showing people around the collections, as well as the library as a whole. “Do you know Rockwell Kent?” Gress asks, while holding an edition of Beowulf. “He’s an artist, so he illustrated this book. Really cool. Instead of signing it with a signature, he put his thumbprint on it.”

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chapter 4

BR INGING THE BOOKS TO LIGHT AFTER DECIDING TO TAKE THEM OUT OF CIRCULATION, the library staff set about dedicating a room to these books, room 206, which also serves as a computer lab. “This room was one of the original reading rooms in the Cardinal Hayes Library,” Markgren says. “It seemed fitting to fill this room with old books and bring it to life again.” The library hosted a special reception in February to debut the collections in their new space. The Fales Collection basically fills up the back wall of the room, and the Dante and Sir Thomas More Collections take up several shelves on the other side. The Dante Collection consists of more than 400 titles, including Dante’s complete works and works about his life, and date back to 1802. The More Collection is comprised of 150 titles and close to 200 volumes chronicling his life, works and times. There’s also a collection of Encyclopedia Britannica, ninth and eleventh editions (the first modern English-language encyclopedia), which was formerly housed in the Chancellors Room. With more than 4,000 books on display, what’s the oldest? Jack Sheppard by William Ainsworth, 1839. It’s basically the starting point for all the books in the room. The older books are up in an office, for an extra measure of security. But members of the Manhattan community and visiting scholars are welcome to read them within the library.

epilogue

THE NEXT CH A PTER GRESS STARTED WORKING IN THE LIBRARY AS A FRESHMAN. He had been looking for an on-campus job when his father suggested the library. The Huntington, Long Island-native thought it was a good idea, and shortly after, started working in the O’Malley Library about four hours a week. Now he is there every day. It’s practically a full-time job, but it’s a labor of love. “Now it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he says. “I want to become a librarian and do the graduate library science program because you can get a special degree in library book conservation, which is what I’m doing.” His work preserving and protecting the College’s old books has changed more than just his career outlook. “It’s changed my life outlook, really,” Gress explains. “I didn’t even know this was a thing. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I stumbled upon this after realizing the things that people overlooked over the years. I wanted to do something about it.” And with the support of the library staff, he accomplished just that.

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Forever a Jasper Story by Christine Loughran

ROM THEIR FIRST DAYS ON CAMPUS UNTIL GRADUATION, many Manhattan College students come to regard our leafy Bronx neighborhood as a second home where they learn the skills necessary to reach their professional goals, develop industry connections and lifelong friendships, gain a deeper understanding of their faith, and possibly even meet their future spouses. Years later, many come back to visit with their own children. For these students, Manhattan is much more than just the institution at which they earned an academic degree — it’s the place where they drew connections that may differ in nature but are rooted in the same Lasallian Catholic values that are woven through the fabric of the College community. It only makes sense that the campus would play a key role in the personal moments that define the rest of their lives. To illustrate the bond between our recent graduates and the College, we tell the stories of a Confirmation, an engagement and a wedding that took place in Riverdale, and an alumnus who now lives with his family outside of the United States but gave his son the middle name Jasper as a not-so-subtle reminder of his heritage.

“I looked forward to every class that led up to receiving Confirmation.” Frank Merrill ’17 and Alex Merrill ’17 Confirmed on April 10, 2016

Growing up, Alex and Frank attended church every Sunday. Both were baptized, and received their First Holy Communion. When they were in third grade, though, a family move to Florida caused an admitted lapse from their church-going routine, a change that neither of the Merrill brothers thought too much about prior to enrolling at Manhattan College. But after arriving on campus and becoming acquainted with the religious community that thrives in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers, Frank and Alex viewed it as a great opportunity to reaffirm their relationship with God. Eventually, this led to their receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Frank, a civil engineering major, was close to the late Rev. George Hill, chaplain at Manhattan College, and originally came up with the idea to enroll in the weekly classes the priest administered to campus community members seeking Confirmation. He pitched it to Alex, a business major, who immediately accepted, and soon found himself looking forward to each session because they offered a reprieve from his daily grind. But maybe that was just Fr. Hill’s calming presence.

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“He was a great person whom I looked up to with great passion,” says Alex, about the beloved chaplain. Alex’s Confirmation sponsor was John Atwell ’15, and Frank’s sponsor was Matthew Garvey ’17, who are close friends and attend Mass regularly. The choice to have them as their sponsors was simple, the brothers say, because of their active participation in the Catholic faith. Overall, the brothers consider the April ceremony to be memorable for several reasons, but most notably because they experienced it together. The two were inseparable during childhood, and their Confirmation day will likely be the first of many momentous occasions they will experience with their family that will remain significant throughout their lives. “I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else standing by my side for it except Frank. In my college career, this was a great experience that I’ll always remember,” Alex says.

“We got engaged on the Quadrangle.” Jennifer Player ’12 and Matthew Freih ’12 Got engaged during Reunion Weekend on June 4, 2016

On Oct. 28, 2009, Manhattan College held the student inaugural ball for then incoming president, Brennan O’Donnell. When they decided to attend the event, Jennifer and Matthew didn’t know each other, but, just moments after their arrival in Smith Auditorium, spotted each other from afar and felt a connection they hadn’t experienced before with anyone else. Matthew, who majored in math, was persistent in finding a way to introduce himself to Jennifer, an accounting major, throughout the evening. Once he did, the realization was swift: he knew he wanted to ask Jennifer to marry him at Manhattan, in the same spot where they’d met. In the years that followed, the how, where and when to propose became the questions to be answered. That was until 2016, when Matthew learned of the College’s upcoming Reunion Weekend, and realized it would be the perfect opportunity to bring Jennifer back to Riverdale. After weeks of hesitation, she finally agreed to join him on campus with his brother and sister-in-law. From there, the plan was underway, and on the afternoon of June 4, Matthew got down on one knee on the Quadrangle, in front of Smith, where they’d met seven years earlier. He reached into his pocket and, after what felt like hours, asked for Jennifer’s hand in marriage. Without a moment’s notice, she said “yes!” with a smile like no other. The couple is planning to get married on Aug. 26, 2017, in Shrewsbury, N.J.

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“The College played a key role in our lives.” Sara Maggio ’09 and Thomas Connelly ’09 Married on July 30, 2016

Sara and Thomas met and began dating their freshman year at Manhattan. They chose the College as their wedding venue because of the key role it played in their love story. Not only was it where they began dating but also it was where the couple made some of their closest friends, and from which family members on both sides graduated. For Tom, the connection to Manhattan began early — he fondly remembers attending basketball games with his family in Draddy. Reminiscing about their days together as Jaspers, sailing on the Hudson at Spring Fling during senior year was particularly special for Sara and Tom, as was donning caps and gowns together at Commencement. These and other memories from Riverdale, plus the beauty of the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers, confirmed the location of the next milestone experience they’d share: she in a wedding gown and

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he in a tuxedo, surrounded by the same people who have come to embody their lifelong relationship with Manhattan College. “Having the ceremony here was one of the first decisions we made about our wedding, and it was probably the easiest,” Sara says. There were so many great moments from that summer day. The ceremony was celebrated by the priest from the bride’s home parish in Flushing, Queens. Although it did rain in the afternoon, Sara and Tom were still able to snap some outdoor photos in the chapel doorway. And the wet weather did make the trek back to the limousines fairly unforgettable: as the couple began their last stroll down Senior Walk as newlyweds, they were covered from all sides by umbrellas held by members of their bridal party. It was truly a day and a moment that neither would ever forget.

“I’m a big Jasper sports fan.” Gavin Cosgrove ’03, Whitney Cosgrove and Thomas Jasper Cosgrove Born on April 10, 2016

Gavin Cosgrove is a bona fide sports junkie, so when he realized that his wife, Whitney, wouldn’t consent to his naming their first born after a New York Knicks basketball player, the Canadian native chose his second favorite sports team: the Manhattan College Jaspers. Cosgrove isn’t just a fan, though. As a teenager growing up in Ontario, the main reason he opted to leave the country for college is because he was recruited to join the track and field team by longtime head coach Dan Mecca, who, along with assistant coach Joe Ryan, became more like mentors during the four years he ran cross country. As an 18-year-old leaving home for the first time, the bonds Cosgrove forged with his coaches, teammates and friends on campus — many of whom he has remained in touch with — were made that much more special. After graduation, Cosgrove returned to Canada but kept his Bronx roots intact for the significant moments of his adult life. For instance, the night before he married Whitney, he experienced a moment of panic because he hadn’t gone to confession. Rather than phoning the local Catholic priest for a last-minute absolution of his sins, he instead dialed religious studies professor, Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D., who ensured him that as long as he visited the confessional as soon as possible after his wedding day, he’d be fine. This is just one of the connections Cosgrove has had with Manhattan faculty and alumni in his years away from the College. It only makes sense that his love and appreciation for Manhattan would carry into the next generation. But will Thomas Jasper follow in the predestined path of his (middle) namesake? “If my son has a college experience like I did, I’ll be more than happy. I would love it if he went to Manhattan, but I suppose that would be up to him,” Cosgrove says.

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DEVELOPMENT

Annual De La Salle Dinner Raises $2 Million SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND FAMILY were the overarching themes of this year’s De La Salle Medal Dinner, which raised $2 million toward student scholarships, financial aid and programming — a record high in the fundraiser’s history. Stephen J. Squeri ’81, ’86 (MBA), dedicated alumnus and vice chairman of American Express Company, who was awarded the De La Salle Medal for his excellence in corporate leadership, described both themes in remarks that highlighted the greatest accomplishments of his life. First and foremost, this includes his two daughters, Monica and Marissa, who spoke about their father at the February dinner. Standing before more than 650 guests in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, Squeri also noted the significance of his years as a student at Manhattan, which his late father Joseph Squeri ’54 also attended. “I believe Manhattan College did more than give me an education. It shaped my perspective,” said Squeri, who leads many of American Express’ key businesses, including global commercial services, prepaid and alternative payments, and its shared services organization. In presenting Squeri with the De La Salle Medal, President Brennan O’Donnell expounded on the honoree’s accomplishments, both in his career and in his service to others, as an excellent role model for students. “We spend a lot of time in the northwest Bronx telling our students that they have an obligation to use their God given gifts not only for their own gain but also to lift up others, and to make their lives a gift to those around them. In honoring you and your distinguished record of achievement and service, we provide our community with a powerful example of excellence in that lifelong task,” O’Donnell said. Max Pietrzak ’17, a marketing major at the College and the dinner’s student speaker, also touched on the feeling of community and sense of purpose on campus. “Throughout my time at Manhattan, it has been my experience that all of the faculty, staff and alumni demonstrate a genuine desire to help others. This heartfelt reciprocity is infectious; it can be witnessed in the variety of ways in which Manhattan students give back,” said Pietrzak, who, in addition to his role as president of the Management Club, has completed internships at companies such as Aetna and KPMG. He was also a member of the Mentor Program, which partners current students with alumni in their intended fields. Among the many esteemed alumni and prominent business leaders who attended the event, the College also was honored to host many of the industry’s biggest names, including Kenneth Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer at American Express, James McCann, founder and executive chairman of 1-800 Flowers, 40 N spring 2017

and Millard Drexler, chairman and chief executive officer of J. Crew since 2002. In parting, O’Donnell extended his gratitude to all of the attendees who helped to make this dinner one of the most successful in the College’s history. “We simply could not be doing this good work without your generosity and support. So, on behalf of our 3,400 terrific undergraduates and our 500 wonderful graduate students — thank you,” O’Donnell said.

(Top) With his daughters Monica and Marissa by his side, Stephen J. Squeri ’81, ’86 (MBA), vice chairman of American Express Company, was awarded the De La Salle Medal for his excellence in corporate leadership. (Bottom left). Max Pietrzak ’17, a marketing major, served as the dinner’s student speaker. A crowd of Jaspers and friends of the College gathered to honor an esteemed leader and alumnus at the De La Salle Dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria in February.

Patterson Scholarships on Best-Sellers List for Five Years THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: JUNIORS Mia Bertolli, biology (Leonia, N.J.) Lorraine Bishop, radiation therapy technology (Bronx, N.Y.) Carly Corbett-Frank, international studies (Winthrop, Mass.) Kathia Coronado, mechanical engineering (Bronx, N.Y.) Shane Duggan, finance (Pearl River, N.Y.) Alessandra Eraifez, English (Yonkers, N.Y.) Maria Mazo, biology (Yonkers, N.Y.) Yulemmy Mendez, physical education (Bronx, N.Y.) Shimul Miah, international studies (Bronx, N.Y.)

or the fifth consecutive year, a group of Manhattan College students will receive scholarships to continue their education, thanks to the generosity of best-selling author James Patterson ’69. Ten juniors and 10 seniors from the Schools of Liberal Arts, Business, Education and Health, Engineering, and Science have received scholarships totalling $110,000 for the 2016-17 academic year. Patterson started the scholarship program to recognize and reward the academic achievement and leadership potential of Manhattan College students, especially those interested in pursuing a career in education. The 20 students received the scholarships based on merit, need and involvement in activities related to the College’s mission. “This is a great group of Jaspers who exemplify what it means to be a Manhattan College student,” Patterson says. “My family and I are delighted to see their hard work pay off in the classroom and in the surrounding New York City community.” The scholarship program will give $5,000 to each of the 20 recipients. All seniors are eligible to apply to receive one of four additional $2,500 awards based on essay submissions. “Through his generosity toward our students, James Patterson is making an investment not only in their future but in the future of the fields they will enter after graduation,” says Brennan O’Donnell, president of Manhattan College. “His support of future teachers is especially important, and also very much in the spirit of Manhattan’s Lasallian educational tradition.” Patterson holds the Guinness record for the most consecutive No. 1 novels on The New York Times Best Sellers List, and is most famous for his best-selling Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club and

Lisa Marie Nilaj, civil engineering (Scarsdale, N.Y.) SENIORS Rachel Gerard, philosophy (Carmel, N.Y.) Cathleen Giordano, civil engineering (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Goldie Gunawan, civil engineering (Endicott, N.Y.) Megan Heaney, special education/elementary education (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) Christopher Hoey, electrical engineering (Las Vegas, Nev.) Adriana Irizarry, biology (Bronx, N.Y.) Roman Kuzmiak, electrical engineering (Yonkers, N.Y.) Jenifer Martin, English (Bronx, N.Y.) Klaudia Maslowska, special education/elementary education (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) Amy Oliva, elementary education (Flushing, N.Y.)

Michael Bennett series. In 2015, Patterson was awarded the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. That year, he also donated $1.75 million to public school libraries and $1 million to independent bookstores throughout the United States.

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DEVELOPMENT

New Engineering Scholarship Named for Notable Alum A NEWLY ESTABLISHED SCHOLARSHIP AT THE COLLEGE was received in its first year by two members of the class of 2017, whose career goals are similar to those of a Manhattan alumnus credited with helping to construct many of the world’s superstructures — George Tamaro ’59. Alexa Raffaniello ’17 and Felipe Demelo ’17, who both graduated this year with bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering, each received an award from the George J. Tamaro ’59 Manhattan College Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund. The annual scholarship is funded by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust, and distributes a total of $10,000 to undergraduate civil engineering students preparing for careers in the deep foundations industry. Tamaro, a consultant at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, has built a highly notable career in foundational design that spans 50 years. In that time, he has established himself as an expert in slurry wall construction, a technology that refers to the development of reinforced concrete walls in areas that may be exposed to open groundwater or might have a high groundwater table. Slurry walls were a key component of the original World Trade Center’s foundational design, which, in large part, was administered by Tamaro.

The annual scholarship is funded by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust, and distributes a total of $10,000 to undergraduate civil engineering students preparing for careers in the deep foundations industry. After 9/11, the engineering alum was at Ground Zero with a team of first responders assigned to protect the complex infrastructure. Tamaro helped to create 7 World Trade Center and the Freedom Tower (1 World Trade Center) in the months and years that followed. His many achievements, which include but are not limited to the John F. Kennedy Light Rail Project in Queens, N.Y., the Times Square Tower in Manhattan, and the Goldman Sachs Tower in New Jersey, have earned him notable acclaim. Recently, he was honored with the DFI’s first-ever Legends-Engineer Award.

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Following in his path are this year’s beneficiaries of the Tamaro Scholarship. Throughout their time at Manhattan, both have demonstrated academic excellence and great motivation to succeed. For example, Demelo, a first-generation student from Brazil, conducted research involving the creation of self-healing concrete. In the future, he plans to obtain a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) certification in building design and construction, and eventually become employed at an organization that prioritizes the environment. Raffaniello, meanwhile, is pursuing a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering. Her long-term goal is to become a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). But in the short-term, she is spearheading efforts to launch a student chapter of DFI at the College in the hopes that it will connect students with industry professionals, and allow for organized visits to geotechnical construction sites. In the future, the Tamaro Scholarship will have a two-pronged effect, according to Tim Ward, Ph.D., P.E., dean of the School of Engineering and professor of civil engineering at the College. Not only will the fund assist aspiring engineers but it will also provide deserving recognition to an accomplished Manhattan alumnus who once stood in their shoes. “The School of Engineering is extremely pleased that the Tamaro Scholarship has been established to honor George and all he has contributed to the engineering profession,” Ward says. “We know this scholarship will help support students who have the passion for geotechnical engineering that George has demonstrated his entire career.”

Education Student is Grateful for Scholarship Support

fter learning about the College from her high school English teacher, who is a Manhattan alumna, Kaiyun Chen ’19 knew it was the place for her. She embarked on a journey to become the first in her family to attend college with the help of the James Smith Scholarship — a financial aid award created to assist minority undergraduate students. Since immigrating to the United States from her home in Guangdong, China, at the age of 9, Chen has developed an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward her schooling, family life and future. Pursuing a major in secondary education with a concentration in English, as well as a minor in religious studies, Chen attributes much of her determination to the strength of her mother — a woman, she says, has singlehandedly raised her, guided her to face the world, and given her a happy and healthy environment in which to grow. “Knowing that I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college makes me feel proud,” she says. “However, what makes me even happier is the fact that I know this makes my mom and the people I love around me feel proud.” Mirroring her mother’s drive to improve the lives of others, Chen wishes to teach English after graduation. Having been inspired by her teachers at Park East High School in Manhattan, Chen says teaching English will afford her the opportunity to challenge her students’ minds and to give back to the community that has helped her to grow both as a student and an individual. Chen maintains an active philanthropic presence at Manhattan. She is involved in organizations such as Agape Latte, JustPeace, the Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (L.O.V.E.) program, and Motivational Outreach, to name a few. She also volunteers with local New York City organizations like the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, City Harvest and the Ronald McDonald House. Chen hopes to continue to work with volunteer programs after she graduates, and also aims to return to Manhattan College to attend graduate school before she has a classroom of her own. “Every day, I wake up to realize how fortunate I am to be able to love and appreciate those around me. Thank you all so much for celebrating every day along with me with compassion, care and kindness. Thank you to my donor, Mr. Smith, for providing me with a sense of hope and support to continue celebrating,” she says, grateful for all of the experiences her scholarship and the Manhattan College community have provided to her. Founded in 2007, the James Smith Scholarship was created with the intention of increasing minority student enrollment at the College. During the past 10 years, Smith’s generosity has proven to be more than fruitful, as students like Chen have had opportunities to receive a well-rounded education and participate in the many activities Manhattan College has to offer.

Kaiyun Chen ’19, a secondary education major with a concentration in English, knew Manhattan was the college for her when she learned about it from her high school English teacher, who is also an alumna. Thanks to the James Smith Scholarship, her dream of becoming a teacher will soon be a reality.

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Hall of Fame Inducts New Stars

HE NEWEST CLASS OF SUPERSTARS inducted into Manhattan College’s Athletic Hall of Fame includes eight former studentathletes, spanning five decades of Jasper athletics, and two championship teams — the 1995-96 women’s basketball MAAC Champions and the 2006 baseball MAAC Champions, which defeated top-seeded Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament. Luis Custodio ’82 (men’s soccer) holds the Manhattan records for goals in a game (5) and a season (16), while ranking second all-time with 29 career goals. He was named All-Conference twice (1979-80) and All-New York State in 1980. Lisa Daley ’93 (track and field) set 10 school records (three individual, seven relay) during her time in Riverdale, four of which still stand. She was a member of Manhattan’s distance medley relay squad that ran a school-record time of 11:50.73, while winning the gold medal at the 1992 ECAC Indoor Championships. Individually, Daley still holds the school record in the 300 meters (40.30), and was also the record holder in the 400 meters (both indoors and outdoors) at the time of her graduation. Mark Hurst ’79 (track and field) twice competed at the NCAA Championships in the 400-meter hurdles. He also qualified for both the 1976 and 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials in the event. Hurst ran a personal-best time of 50.7 seconds at the 1979 IC4A Championships and earned AllEast honors three times. He won multiple Metropolitan titles in the 400 meters, 120-yard hurdles and 4x400-meter relay, as well as the 400 hurdles. Jillian Medea ’06 (softball) established program records for career (514) and single-season strikeouts (187). Her 13 career shutouts are the most in MAAC history, and she ranks second on Manhattan’s all-time list with 43 wins. Medea is also the Jaspers’ career leader in appearances and complete games. She was named Second Team 44 N spring 2017

All-MAAC in 2004, as the Jaspers made the first of back-to-back MAAC Tournament appearances. Robert O’Brien ’61 (track and field) scored points in 10 different events during his career on the track and field team and received the Manhattan College Spiked Shoe Club Most Valuable Athlete Trophy in 1961. He set a school record of 24 feet to win the long jump at the 1961 IC4A Indoor Championships. O’Brien was also an IC4A medalist in the triple jump and one-mile relay. Eugene Tanner ’05 (men’s lacrosse) is the Jaspers’ all-time leader in assists (89) and points (186). A three-time First Team All-MAAC selection, he was named MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2002, when Manhattan went undefeated in conference play and won the MAAC Championship. Tanner scored 51 goals that season, and his average of 3.19 goals per game is still the MAAC single-season record. He also set a single-season program record with 74 points in 2002. Jasmine Whu ’01 (women’s tennis) is the first women’s tennis player elected to the Hall of Fame. She is Manhattan’s all-time leader with 124 wins, including 64 singles victories. Whu posted a 10-3 doubles record as a senior in 2001, and the Jaspers finished second as a team at the MAAC Championships that season. Michael Williams ’96 (track and field) won the 800 meters at the 1995 NCAA Indoor Championships, running a school-record time (that still stands) of 1:48.12. He also finished second in the 500 meters at the 1995 IC4A Championships and was a member of Manhattan’s 1992 IC4A championship team, scoring in both the 800 and 4x400-meter relay. In addition, Williams earned Metropolitan titles in the 500, 800, 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay. 1995-96 women’s basketball team: In 1995-96, the Jaspers achieved a 19-11 record, scored an average of 78.5 points per game and broke the 100-point barrier three times, including a 115-point effort in a win over Canisius. Manhattan also established a program record with seven consecutive wins from Jan. 28 through Feb. 18. 2006 baseball team: Led by MAAC and Northeast Regional Coach of the Year Kevin Leighton, the 2006 Jasper baseball team achieved a 34-23 record — the most wins in program history — and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly 50 years, as well as advanced to the regional final. Manhattan also set records for runs scored (354), doubles (96), home runs (44), stolen bases (100), ERA (4.03) and strikeouts (406). The team won two NCAA tournament games, including a win over No. 6 Nebraska.

The Athletic Hall of Fame’s 2o16 inductees span five decades and seven sports. One of these accomplished athletes, champion hurdler and relay racer Mark Hurst ’79, graduated the same year that Manhattan College achieved a significant milestone: its establishment of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Since then, some 250 former student-athletes have gained membership into the prestigious society.

FROM THE COLLEGE’S ARCHIVES

Whatever Happened to … West Hill?

UCH DISCUSSION TODAY SURROUNDS the exciting development of Manhattan’s south campus. But not long ago, the College’s West Hill campus drew our attention. Located at 252nd Street and Fieldston Road, about a half a mile north of the Manhattan’s main campus, West Hill added seven and a half acres to the College’s property. As part of its long-range planning initiative to enhance its residential population, Manhattan purchased the West Hill Sanitarium in August 1963. Originally a private psychiatric treatment and recovery center for wealthy individuals, the West Hill Sanitarium, founded in 1908, was built on the former Guggenheim estate. Also called the Riverdale Sanitarium, West Hill was infamously known for treating alcohol and drug cases and using electroshock therapy treatments. Situated on a woodsy, bucolic campus with duck ponds, rolling hills, recreation areas and 15 mostly Tudor-style buildings and cottages, it played host to several famous artists, writers and actors. (Supposedly, William Faulkner received electroshock treatments there for depression, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland for alcoholism, and Peter Lorre spent time for his morphine addiction.) Many of them named for prominent figures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the first five buildings in use in 1963 included: Lloyd Hall, named for the former owner of West Hill, the late Dr. Henry W. Lloyd; Broderick Hall, named for David C. Broderick ’07, former justice, prominent trial lawyer and trustee; Donahue Hall, for the Rev. Joseph P. Donahue ’90, former vicar general of the New York Archdiocese; Benilde Hall for Blessed Brother Benilde; and St. Joseph’s Hall. Four additional buildings were utilized the next year and included Mitty Hall, named for the Rev. John Mitty ’01, Archbishop of San Francisco; Mundelein Hall, for George Cardinal Mundelein ’89; Dowling House, for the Rev. Dowling ’87, Archbishop of St. Paul; and Ives Hall, for Silliman Ives, Manhattan College charter member and chairman of the first board of trustees. In 1963 and 1964, West Hill provided housing for 73 students and several Christian Brothers. Throughout the years, the cottages (Birches, Bluff, Rockledge, Cliff and Bungalow) were added to the housing stock, though they only supported two or three students each, and all of the buildings underwent renovations to accommodate more students. But supply could not keep up with demand. Beginning in the early 1980s, the College experienced unprecedented numbers of prospective students applying for residency, and Manhattan needed new housing to meet the increasing demand. The majority of West Hill housing, which was built in the 1920s, was substandard, in disrepair and difficult to maintain. In 1980, three of the oldest buildings, Ives, Benilde and Mundelein Halls, were torn down to make way for a new three-story dormitory that provided residence for about 100 students. Granville Dorm, named for Maurice “Butch” Granville, a former member of Manhat-

tan’s Council on Engineering Affairs and a De La Salle Medal recipient, was dedicated in 1981. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, West Hill was the scene of many social gatherings and recreational activities. The Brothers often held picnics on the lawn while the students devoted several hours to Frisbee and pickup football. By the late 1980s, West Hill housed the Christian Brothers Lloyd Community and about 230 student residents. In 1988, as part of campus planning, the decision was made to sell the West Hill campus. Complex zoning issues and the distance from the main campus were considered disadvantages of the property. It took several years, however, for a sale to go through. In the interim, students of Manhattan College, the College of Mount St. Vincent, and the Christian Brothers continued to occupy some buildings. The College also leased space to Mercy College. In early 1997, Manhattan sold the West Hill campus to the Riverdale Country School.

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ALUMNOTES 1948

Joseph Vitagliano retired on Sep. 9, 2016, at the age of 91, after 67 years in the workforce.

1950

Mario Scolaro spent three days in Lourdes with his two daughters after a Paris river cruise in August, which included a tour to the Normandy beaches. As a family, they celebrated an outdoor Mass at the Grotto in memory of his son’s 37th anniversary in heaven.

1952

Gerard Vier and wife Ann will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with their entire family of 28 at Disney World in July 2017.

1954

Eugene Kirk writes: “Looking forward to February 2017, my 65th wedding anniversary with Joan. Also expecting our third greatgrandchild about the same time.” Louis Mirando notes: “After many years of service as an officer and member of the Rockville Center Fire Department, I was made an honorary chief of the department.”

1955

John Paluszek featured Carolyn Predmore, Ph.D., professor of marketing and management, on Business & Society, his web program. The topic of their discussion was “Fighting Global Corruption: A Multi-Trillion Dollar Global Mission.” Frederic Salerno was elected to the Associated Capital Group’s board of directors. The former VP of Verizon Communications Inc. is currently a member of the board of directors of Akamai Technologies, FCB Financial Holdings, and the Intercontinental Exchange.

1958

John Clegg writes: “Hard to believe I have hundreds of classmates who have hit the big 8-0! I now have 21 grandchildren; six out of college, seven in college, five in high school, three in grad school. Everyone is moving along.” Michael Rossi also writes, “Just reached my 80th birthday — my family gave me a surprise party at my home.”

46 N spring 2017

1961

Albert Derivan writes: “After graduating as a chemical engineer, I went on to medical school and became a physician. Recently, I retired from my position at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where I was a clinical professor of psychiatry and human behavior. Now I’m encouraging my grandson, Kevin, to pursue a career in engineering, starting at Manhattan.”

1963

Raymond Kelly was appointed to the Strategic Advisory Board of Applied DNA Sciences, a provider of DNA-based supply-chain, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and product authentication solutions.

1964

John Sullivan is still coaching tennis, officiating college and high school swimming meets, and swimming at Rockaway Beach.

1965

Thomas Schnatz is a longtime resident of New Orleans but is currently living in Ormond Beach, Fla., with wife Darlene. Eugene De Joannis writes: “After six years of post-retirement part-time work, I have completely retired this year. Still interested in net-zero-energy buildings, especially retrofits. Will again volunteer to do tax returns for AARP next February.”

1966

William Camp, Ph.D., director emeritus at Sandia National Laboratories, has been named the recipient of the 2016 IEEE Computer Society Seymour Cray Computer Engineering Award for his visionary leadership of the Red Storm project, and for decades of leadership of the high-performance computing community. Camp has had a distinguished and prolific career of scientific and high performance leadership achievements in computational science and high performance computing spanning efforts as a user of computing, a leader of computational research, an

advocate for computation as a major pillar of science and engineering, and for specific contributions to massively parallel computational methods and massively parallel hardware/software architectures. Jack Tyniec writes: “Celebrated 50 years of marriage with Maureen in June and also attended our 50th reunion at Manhattan, where we connected with several old friends. Also relocated to Center Valley, Pa., to be close to our son Michael, Janine and grandchildren, Ryan, Olivia and Jack.”

1967

John Cioffi retired in August 2015. He is now living in Tucson, Ariz., and recently met with Joe Calabretta, who also was an Air Force ROTC graduate. Rhoderick Holliday writes: “My wife Patricia retired from the South Brunswick, N.J., Board of Education. She had 38 years of service, the last 22 was that of an elementary principal. I’m finally retired from everything. I’m a retired USAF (Lt. Col.), retired investigator, and 14 years an adjunct of Montclair State University. Most important, we are expecting our sixth grandchild. We are blessed.”

1969

Joseph Tucci, former chairman and chief officer of EMC Corporation, was named chairman of Bridge Growth Partners, LLC, a growthoriented private equity firm. “Joe is a global business leader and technology pioneer,” said Alok Singh, managing principal of Bridge Growth Partners, in a press release. “Since joining EMC in 2000, he led a remarkable transformation that turned a data storage company into one of the world’s greatest technology enterprises, culminating in EMC’s recent sale to Dell in the largest technology acquisition in history. Over the course of a business and personal friendship with Joe spanning more than 20 years, I have seen firsthand the power of his strategic vision in navigating the forces of a rapidly changing technology industry. His reputation for creativity, commitment to people, and business-building acumen are well-earned and widely recognized. We

JASPER BOOKSHELF Matthew Curcio ’15 self published his first novel 1 Train (iUniverse, 2016). The story centers on 19-year-old college student Cameron, who is caught between the crossroads of money, love, alcohol and drugs in NYC’s Upper West Side. When his self-made grandfather passes away unexpectedly, Cameron is shocked to find that some of his grandfather’s personal items have been passed down to him. Following strict orders, he heads uptown on the 1 Train to sort things out. His life will never be the same again. Curcio works in client engagement and security for NFC Amenity Management. Richard Curtin ’61 published Death Saint (Monticello Press, 2016), the sixth book of the Manny Rivera Mystery Series. This newest edition picks up with new clues in an old, unsolved murder case, which leads Deputy Sheriff Manny Rivera from Moab, Utah, to a small, remote village in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Curtain is a retired executive vice president of Southwest Research Institute, and enjoys hiking, rafting and camping out in the backcountry of the Four Corners area. Christopher Keaveney ’85 published Your Eureka Not Mined (Broadstone Books, 2017), his debut collection of poetry. Described as a litany of the almost, Keaveney often writes of arriving late, of stopping just short, of ideals nearly believed in, or songs learned save for a single chord. He currently teaches Japanese language and East Asian literature and film courses at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., and is the author of three books about Japanese culture and Sino-Japanese literary relations.

are very much looking forward to having Joe work with us as we build out our firm and our portfolio of investments.”

1970

Ben Binniger joined the technical advisory board for the Millennial Lithium Corp. As an adviser, he will provide insights based on his deep knowledge of lithium brine processing and extensive global expertise in mineral and chemical processing. Most recently, Binniger was a director and served as chief executive officer for ASX-listed Potash Minerals. He is a principal in IMEx Minerals, LLC and K2O Resources, LLC and was a principal in AMT II Corporation, a private investment management company focusing on advanced materials and aerospace. Rocco Marotta, M.D., Ph.D., received the 2016 Visionary Award for his outstanding work as a psychiatrist in Silver Hill Hospital’s Transitional Living Program at Silver Hill Hospital’s seventh annual fall gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. John McEvoy writes: “My son-in-law, Marc Caiafa ’94, earned his eighth Emmy Award with the MLB Network as a producer. My wife and I are traveling throughout the U.S.A., and

happily retired. Every day is Saturday and still having a round of golf in the 70s.” Anthony Veteri, who recently retired, was featured as the No. 1 line judge in Gazette Review’s Top 10 Highest Paid NFL Referees article. As a line judge, Veteri coordinated with two other judges to make official calls and decisions before eventually going to the referee. He was a part of Clete Blakeman’s refereeing squadron.

1971

Albert Pacione Jr., Esq., is retired and writes that he has “more time to spend with two granddaughters!”

1972

Thomas DiChiara was among nine men and women from the Trenton Diocese to be invested as Knights and Dames in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem’s Eastern Lieutenancy of the United States in November. “Next to my wedding day and the birth of the sons and grandchildren, I can’t think of anything else that has had a more profound impact on me,” DiChiara said in an interview with the Monitor. Thomas McGowan is president and founder

of TMTS Associates Inc., a firm that specializes in thermal systems and air-pollution control in Atlanta. He recently published an article, “Air-Pollution Control: Assessing the Options” in Chemical Engineering Essentials for the CPI Professional. Christopher Urchin was elected a fellow to the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is the director of the bioenvironmental engineering graduate program at Rutgers University.

1973

Carlo Calvi, Esq., P.E., and Julie Sabini Calvi celebrated 35 years of marriage. Julie attended the College from 1980-81, but took a leave to be a full-time mother to their four children, three of whom are Jaspers — George ’09, a civil engineer now serving as director of development in Seaside, Fla.; Matthew ’09, a civil engineer and successful attorney at law in private practice; and Noelle ’12, with dual master’s degrees from Iona College is an elementary school teacher in Yonkers, N.Y. Their oldest daughter, Cristin, Fordham ’04, is also an attorney at law. Carlo’s older brother Michael ’72 is a licensed New York State professional engineer in private practice of consulting engineering. Stephen Christie writes: “After 42 years as a high school teacher and administrator, I retired on June 30, 2016. The last 19 years of my career, I was principal at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota, Fla. Francis Ryan writes, “Retired as vice president for New York Power Authority. Served 32 years in various capacities for New York State.”

1974

Thomas Blackburne writes: “All is good! Two daughters married. The youngest graduated and is a TV reporter. Still keep up with swimming — compete in U.S. Master’s Swimming. Semi-retired. Best to all!” Timothy Coon joined the law firm Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC as a partner at the White Plains office. He has tried cases involving employment matters in both state MANHATTAN.EDU N 47

ALUMNI and federal courts, as well as before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He also handles claims involving professional liability, financial markets, civil rights, medical and complex commercial matters. Kevin Fitzpatrick ran and completed his first half marathon — the SoNo Half Marathon — in Norwalk, Conn., in October. Sr. Peggy Scarano, O.P., was awarded the prestigious Founders Award by St. Thomas Aquinas College. Sr. Peggy has been a Dominican Sister of Sparkill for 52 years, and is a regional representative for SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious), a national organization whose mission is to raise and provide funds for Catholic religious congregations of women and men to meet the immediate needs of their retired and infirm members. The Founders Award recognizes Sr. Peggy’s tireless dedication to the ideals and values of the College’s founders, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. She is recognized as an exemplar of the College’s motto, “Enlighten the mind through truth.”

1975

Thomas Driscoll was appointed to Christ the King Retreat and Conference Center’s board of directors. He is a retired business executive with extensive experience in the packaging industry. He worked as a senior account executive for Norampac Corp., a division of Cascades, responsible for introducing and marketing litho-laminated capabilities to the U.S. market. Christ the King Retreat House and Conference Center is a retreat and meeting center in the heart of Syracuse, N.Y. Paul Fedirka retired after 32 years as a clinical psychologist with the Department of Veteran Affairs. His new role is fulltime grandpa to six grandchildren. Daniel McCarthy, Ph.D., gave a public lecture at the College of New Rochelle called The Political Psychology of the 2016 Election. It focused on the ways both presidential candidates have attempted to communicate sincerity, understanding and competence to the voters, while trying to undermine each other’s messages. McCarthy is an associate professor of political science in the school of arts and sciences at the College of New Rochelle. Christopher Ross writes, “Jaspers drink Green Flash! Drop by our brewery in Virginia Beach or San Diego for a tasty IPA. Tell ’em Chris Ross (COO) sent ya. First pint is on me!” John Reilly, executive director of Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, and

48 N spring 2017

Fr. Thomas Lynch ’88, pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church, were given awards by The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, a community organization of which the College is an affiliate member. David Scarpino, the president and CEO of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley is leading a $133.6 million plan to revamp the health care facilities in Kingston, N.Y., capping a 47-year career.

of public affairs, he oversaw branding and communications support for Pitt’s recordbreaking billion-dollar fundraising campaign; crafted a communications plan for the university’s 225th anniversary; and launched an advertising presence at Pittsburgh International Airport. His staff won national and international honors for their work.

1980

Paul Boscia is the new undersheriff of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. His appointment caps a 28-year career in the sheriff’s office. Boscia expressed confidence that his long experience in the sheriff’s office will enable him to serve the county well in his new role. “The sheriff is an outstanding leader, and I am prepared, together with the very capable command staff of the sheriff’s office, to assist him in fulfilling our mission to serve and protect the community with professionalism and dedication,” he said.

Gary Walker was appointed senior managing director for the wealth management division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank. Operating out of the bank’s Morristown location, Walker is a lead point of contact for the bank’s new and existing individual client relationships in the development and coordination of comprehensive wealth management plans, offering a full array of customized, private banking services. In working with individuals and families, he is responsible for implementing and monitoring comprehensive estate, tax and financial planning while providing the bank’s one-touch client service.

1977

1981

1976

Lillian Borrone was one of 30 elected to the National Academy of Construction’s 2016 class at the annual meeting in Napa at the Silverado Resort and Spa. Borrone is past chair of the Eno Center of Transportation. She retired from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as assistant executive director, where she advised the Port Authority on international trade and development, real estate for maritime, aviation and mixed-use development projects, and transportation capital management. Ferdinand Spucci stepped down as a director of the U.S. Alliance Federal Credit Union, a $1.1 billion financial institution located in Rye, N.Y., and was elected director emeritus in May.

1979

Cesare DeRose Sr., F.ASCE, an AECOM vice president and manager of its Capital Cost Group (program and construction management practice, East and Metro Regions), has been named a fellow by the ASCE board of directors. Robert Hill, former University of Pittsburgh vice chancellor, was honored by the Pitt Alumni Association African American Alumni Council for his unique talents in public relations, marketing and advertising for the university. During his tenure at Pitt as vice chancellor

Jeffrey Babka joined nCino as the company’s chief financial officer. nCino is the worldwide leader in cloud banking. Prior to joining nCino, Babka was a venture partner at Insight Venture Partners, a global private equity firm. In this role, he worked with Insight’s portfolio company executives to drive operating efficiency and process improvement in their business and maximize returns for their investors in both public market and private liquidity events. Ralph Caputo earned an M.S. in educational administration from the University of Scranton in May 2016, his second master’s degree. Robert Rogers, CPA, has been an associate information officer in the financial systems area of a major financial services firm for the past 10-plus years. He still referees soccer on Staten Island. He and his wife, Mary Pat (Walsh), CMSV ’82, have three children, Kate (24, who was married last year), Kevin (22), and Kerry Anne (19).

1982

Colette McCarrick Geary, Ph.D., was inaugurated as the new president of The College of St. Scholastica this past summer. In addition to her tenure as dean of students at Manhattan College, her previous experience as a clinician and professor enables her to bring to

the presidency considerable knowledge and a variety of skills in higher education. Richard O’Leary, current senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company. His career spans more than 30 years in key finance leadership roles. Most recently, since July 2015, O’Leary has served as senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, where he led a diverse global team overseeing all accounting functions.

1983

Jeanne and Paul ’84 Knudsen write: “We had two weddings this year. Our son Thomas Knudsen ’10 married Lindsay Farrell; our son James Knudsen married Elizabeth Moulder. The celebrations were wonderful!” Robert Leonetti has been named general manager of AECOM’s civil construction & mining (CCM) business unit. In this role,

Leonetti is responsible for the strategic advancement of CCM’s financial growth expectations and implementation of integrated solutions while maintaining operational excellence.

1984

Manuel Silva, P.E., vice president, director of construction services, M&J Engineering, P.C., was profiled in New York Real Estate Journal. He says his rules to live by in business are to: “Develop strong leadership qualities and communication skills, the ability to interact with experts, willingness to listen, flexibility, fairness, treat others with respect, and emphasize collaboration and teamwork.”

1985

Salvatore Capitano, P.E., president and owner of Construction By Design, Corp., will be celebrating the family owned construction company’s 50th anniversary this year. William Guerci, co-founder and area president

of Solid Benefit Guidance, a division of Arthur J. Gallagher, a pharmacy benefit management and employee benefit consulting firm, has been named to the board of directors of Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State. Michael Collins, of Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys, was selected to the Best Lawyers in America 2017 list. Collins represents management in all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation, trials and appeals in federal and state courts, charges and hearings before federal and state agencies and at arbitration.

1986

Kathy Campbell, P.E., LSP, LEED AP, was elected president and chief executive officer at CDW Consultants, Inc. After joining the firm in 1993, she rose through the ranks and has become the majority shareholder, responsible for growing the 22-person firm by serving existing clients and developing new business relationships.

Alum Introduces Scouts to Engineering FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, Manhattan College has opened its doors to Engineering Day, an event launched by civil engineering alum and current adjunct professor, Tony Canale ’94. Since then, the Cub Scouts of Pack 6 Crestwood and the Boy Scouts of Troop 1 Crestwood of Yonkers, N.Y., have enjoyed a fun and exciting opportunity to learn about engineering. The idea for Engineering Day stemmed from Canale’s desire to introduce engineering to the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, as his children participate in the programs. The day includes short presentations by the chairs of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, Anirban De, Ph.D., and Moujalli Hourani, D.Sci., and an engineering student, as well as tours of engineering laboratories and demonstrations of student activities, such as the steel bridge and concrete canoe building competitions, and robotics. In past years, the scouts had the chance to construct bridges made of Popsicle sticks to see how much weight they could support. This year, though, the students were resourceful and used old copies of The Quadrangle newspaper to build an arch

bridge made entirely of paper. Scouts and students alike were excited to walk across their final product and learn how arch bridges work. “Scouting opens doors to great learning experiences like this and connects the boys with others in the community,” says Celeste Hughes, cubmaster of Pack 6 Crestwood and a scout leader with Troop 1 Crestwood. “We are grateful to Manhattan College for being so welcoming.” On average, between 40-60 scouts typically attend the event, and about 25 Manhattan College engineering student volunteers accompany them. The students are members of the College’s chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Chi Epsilon, the civil engineering honor society. They play an integral role in helping the scouts by leading tours, giving presentations, and providing expertise in building the bridge. Canale, who is also an associate partner at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, is currently working with the Girl Scouts, as well, so they also can have an Engineering Day experience. Collaboration between the scouts and

the Manhattan students on Engineering Day embodies the core Lasallian values of education and service. Additionally, the enthusiastic participation from both groups at this event, which highlights the importance of engineering in everyday life, creates an interactive experience for all involved.

Scouts and students walk across the arch bridge they constructed entirely out of old copies of The Quadrangle on Engineering Day. The day, run by Tony Canale ’94, is an exciting opportunity for the scouts to learn about the field of engineering.

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1987

Louis Uffer was recently reelected as corporate treasurer and firematic 2nd Lt. of the Toms River Fire Company No. 1.

1989

Vincent Kopicki was named commissioner of Public Works and Transportation by Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino. He comes to county government from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where he was a senior manager. “It’s an honor to serve the community where I grew up and where my wife and I raised our three sons,” Kopicki said in a recent press release. “Having built my reputation on delivering capital projects on time and on budget, I look forward to working with County Executive Astorino, managing a five-year capital plan that invests $1 billion into our infrastructure and creates nearly 11,000 construction jobs.” MaryAnn McCarra-Fitzpatrick was one of the

featured artists at the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art’s seventh word/image reading of art-inspired poetry in December. Additionally she had a collage on display in Word on the Street, a powerful art and poetry exhibition where art meets activism, at Robeson Gallery in Peekskill, N.Y.

1992

Debra McCarron is the assistant treasurer, branch operations manager, for the first Lakeland Bank branch in New York State. The facility, located in Highland Mills, N.Y., features the latest banking technology including modern teller pod stations, an ATM machine with automated deposit capability, and up-tothe-minute communications through digital signage. McCarron joins Lakeland with more than 30 years of experience. She was most recently assistant vice president, client service manager, with Sterling National Bank. Maung Min is the director of business programs at Penn State Lehigh Valley. He is currently developing a new course with Karen Kackley Dutt, instructor of biology, and Ana Serrano, instructor of Spanish, called Sustainability 200. The course will have a holistic

focus on sustainable business. Kathleen O’Keefe and husband Michael were both named to the Irish Education Top 100 honorees for 2016. She serves as associate director of Mount St. Mary College’s Career Center, and Michael serves as the executive director of operations and risk management, also at the college.

1993

Curt Zegler was promoted to vice president/ construction executive for Turner Construction Company in September. He will continue to pursue and lead work in New York, as he expands his role into company-wide initiatives. Diana Zita was named the interim CEO of the YMCA in Hamilton, N.J. Under the board’s direction, Diana will continue to foster the Hamilton Area YMCA’s mission through vital programs and services that promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, many of which are offered at low or no cost. “It is a privilege and honor for me to lead an organization that is deeply committed to improving lives of those in the community we live in,” she says. “This organization has touched the lives of so many, including

And the Award Goes to ... TWO MANHATTAN COLLEGE ALUMNAE — LAURA RICCIARDI ’92 AND KATIE KERBSTAT ’11 — ARE EMMY AWARD WINNERS. For their widely popular Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer, Ricciardi and co-writer and co-director Moira Demos swept the top three nonfiction categories at the Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in September. The duo won for best documentary or nonfiction series, best writing and best directing for a nonfiction program. Making a Murderer also took home best picture editing for a nonfiction program. Filmed during a 10-year period, the real-life thriller follows a DNA exoneree who, while exposing police corruption, becomes a suspect in a new crime. An English and government major at Manhattan College, Ricciardi earned her law degree from New York Law School and a master’s in fine arts from Columbia University. At the Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards in September, 60 Minutes earned five awards, including one for outstanding editing – news and outstanding writing for an April 2015 60 Minutes report on the 2013 gas attack in Syria that U.S. intelligence estimates killed more than 1,400 civilians. Kerbstat was one of three writers on the story, along

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Laura Ricciardi ’92 and co-director Moira Demos win big at the annual Primetime Emmy Awards for their documentary, Making a Murderer.

with 60 Minutes producer Nicole Young and correspondent Scott Pelley. Kerbstat currently serves as an associate producer at 60 Minutes and with CBS Evening News. Kerbstat was a communication major at Manhattan College, where she wrote for The Quadrangle and interned at WCBS 2, The Daily Show and 60 Minutes, a place she eventually joined full time after graduation.

my own children. For me, the Hamilton Area Y is an extended family.”

1996

Kamran Hashim was published in The American Conservative in reaction to The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher. In his published letter, he discusses his experiences as a Muslim at Manhattan College, and writes, “It just so happened that my first religion class was ... taught by Brother Robert Berger (who is still a good friend two decades later). And he began all his classes (as I came to learn over the years) with a simple prayer — ‘Let us remember that we are in the presence of God.’ When I look back on my awesome college experience, I am struck by how the most important truth I learned during that time was communicated to me in that prayer in the opening moments of my first class at the school.”

1999

Michael Pizzingrillo recently completed a term as superintendent of the Albany Diocesan Schools.

2000

Vanessa Diaz won a sports Emmy Award as an associate producer for ESPN Films 30 for 30: Of Miracles and Men, which won Long Sports Documentary, the series’ all-time Sports Emmy.

2001

Peter Michael Mangubat, M.D., is an assistant professor at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. Alberto Vazquez, Ed.D., Hillsborough County Public Schools’ chief of staff, was honored as the recipient of the 2016 Latino Excellence in Education Award. The Florida Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents celebrated Alberto with the Wings of Inspiration Award for his commitment and work with Latino students and the Latino community. He joined Hillsborough County Public Schools in July 2015.

2002

Winston Peters, Kwasi Gyasi ’04 and Jey Van-Sharp ’06 are at the helm of MyUberLife Consulting Group, a brand-building company specializing in cultural insights. Peters and Van-Sharp became friends at Manhattan College, where they both studied engineering and bonded over New York City nightlife. They

met Gyasi at a party in 2005. He’d recently left a job as a product development analyst and had been helping artist friends monetize their creative pursuits. As Van-Sharp explains it, they “wanted to help creative people be more business-minded, and vice versa.” During the past decade, MyÜberLife has worked for large brands like Pepsi and Uniqlo, as well as entrepreneurs, including gallery owners and fashion designers. The company offers a range of services such as drafting business plans, conducting market research, developing branding strategies and advertising campaigns and, of course, providing the elusive “cultural insights.”

2003

Larry White was named vice president of finance at Rocketrip, a technology platform for reducing corporate travel costs. He will build the infrastructure, systems, and financial strategy the company requires to sustain aggressive growth. Prior to joining Rocketrip, White served as vice president of finance at Peloton Cycle. He was instrumental in securing a $30 million Series C and a $75 million Series D for the company. He also took ownership over systems, staffing, budgeting, financial reporting, investor presentations, and Peloton Cycle’s first official audit. John Bennett, Manhattan College’s director of student engagement, completed an Ironman this past fall. “As the tagline goes, swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles and brag for the rest of your life,” he says. “As such, I’m really proud of this accomplishment and the yearlong training that it involved.”

2004

Stephanie Goldman is the new assistant principal at Parsons Memorial Elementary School in Harrison, N.Y. She was promoted to this leadership role following her highly successful tenure as a classroom teacher at the school. Goldman was nominated by the Superintendent of Schools to enroll in the prestigious Future School Leaders Academy at Bank Street College, where she completed graduate coursework in school leadership.

2006

Dennis Feery was sworn in as a new officer of the Greenwich Connecticut Police Department. He recently retired as a lieutenant with the New Rochelle Police Department, but a desire to stay on the front lines of law

BIRTHS

2006

Heather (Kennedy) and Kevin Sheehan, daughter, Kennedy Jane, 12/8/16

MARRIAGES

2007

Antoine Douglas Samuda & Bethany Ann Heitman, 10/8/16

2010

Thomas Knudsen & Lindsay Farrell, 4/16/16

2012

Megan Horgan & Jonathan Pierroz, 5/29/16

ADVANCED DEGREES

1981

Ralph J. Caputo earned an M.S. in educational administration from the University of Scranton in May 2016.

enforcement led him to apply to Greenwich Police Department to work as a patrol officer. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve and took part in Operation Desert Storm.

2007

Diana Hoyt writes, “I had my first child, Emily Hoyt, on 2/10/15, and I am now expecting my second child any day now!” Nicole Lent was recently featured in a Chalkbeat article, “It’s not just about getting the right answer: How a fifth-grade teacher pushes her students in math class.” Lent is one of a team of teachers at P.S. 294, The Walton Avenue School, who focus only on math instruction. The Department of Education has encouraged elementary schools across the city to take the same approach, called “departmentalization,” as part of its Algebra for All initiative. By placing the most capable teachers in charge of math instruction in fifth grade, the city hopes that all students will be able to pass algebra by their first year of high school. Antoine Douglas Samuda married Bethany Ann Heitman on Oct. 8, 2016. Samuda does customer research and analysis at Springer Nature, a life sciences publishing company in New York City. MANHATTAN.EDU N 51

ALUMNI

2009

Stephen Papageorge accepted a new position as an environmental manager for PSEG Power. He recently obtained a professional engineer license.

2011

Tara Convery ’13 (M.A.) became the newest member of the Putnam Stephen Driscoll Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police in Carmel, N.Y., in January. She graduated from the Police Academy in 2015.

2015

Kathleen White published a three-part op-ed in the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange about her experiences in religious studies professor Andrew Skotnicki’s Criminal Justice Ethics course, where students work with inmates at Rikers Island. This spring, she began instructing ESL conversation classes for inmates on Rikers Island before graduate school at the University College Cork in Ireland as a George J. Mitchell Scholar. At UCC, she will study sociology while researching Ireland’s juvenile justice system. Doreen Horschig published an article in the Kennedy School Review, a Harvard Kennedy School student publication, titled “Global Nuclear Zero: An idealistic Goal, but Inefficient Security Concept” in September. She is pursuing her master’s degree in international relations at New York University as a German Academic Exchange (DAAD) Fellow. Her areas of research include international security and economic development/conflict. Previously, she was a research assistant for the Organization for International Cooperation.

2016

Deanne Griswa is the PR coordinator for foster advocacy nonprofit, One Simple Wish. She writes, “Love waking up to go to work — who would have thought?”

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Helping in Haiti REUNITED APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES AWAY from their alma mater in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Steve Smith ’89 and Stephanie (George) Minister ’91 have been serving on the board of directors of the United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti (USFCH) since 2013. The organization works to improve the lives of underprivileged and disabled children in Haiti by providing medical care, housing and education. The two Jaspers reconnected through Facebook when Smith’s wife, Katharine (Capshaw) Smith ’90, saw that Minister had shared a post regarding her first trip to Haiti in 2013. “This was a really wild coincidence,” Smith says, as it had been years since his wife and Minister had lived in the same dorm at Manhattan. Smith manages grant applications, and Minister supports USFCH’s social media outlets. The board meets in Haiti once a year to discuss business, visit the hospital and children’s village, and check on the organization’s newest project: the Christian Institute for Technical Training (C-Tech). C-Tech will offer programs in trades where there is a need for the technical skills in order to help graduates find employment when they complete their schooling. “In the beginning, USFCH was a single orphanage. Today, USFCH has more than 500 children attending our schools, and we employ over 150 Haitian citizens,” Smith says of the organization’s growth. “I do my small part to learn and help, and hopefully make some children’s lives a little better.” Actively involved in their church communities, both Smith and Minister are grateful for their Catholic background and the opportunities the College has afforded them to give back to the community. “We are all God’s children, and we do what we can to help our neighbors,” Minister says. “I’ve held fundraisers, I’ve spoken at churches, I’ve run a marathon to raise money — any small, little effort I can think to do.” Smith earned a B.S. in electrical engineering, and resides in Vernon, Conn., with his wife and four children, two of which have been adopted from USFCH. Minister received a B.S. in computer information systems and finance, and lives in Hingham, Mass., with her husband and daughter. Both Smith and Minister see their work in Haiti as an extension of their Lasallian education and experiences at Manhattan, and they encourage others to make any effort they can to help those in need.

Partnering with the NYPD To Help Struggling Teens

HEN DANA RACHLIN ’08 graduated from Manhattan College, New York City’s job market was in distress, having incurred the damaging effects of the global financial crisis. Prospects for landing a full-time position were slim that summer and in the months afterward, so she began volunteering. Culminating a serendipitous near-decade of work in the social advocacy and criminal justice realms, the alumna founded NYC Together, an alternative-to-suspension program for adolescent students facing school disciplinary action. Two years after its launch in March 2015, the nonprofit serves approximately 50 teens per week in the Brownsville, BedfordStuyvesant, Crown Heights and Williamsburg neighborhoods of Brooklyn, where an unlikely bond has been forged between the local police in New York City’s outer boroughs and young adults facing challenges in the areas they protect and serve. The mission of NYC Together is to steer 14–18-year-olds away from trouble by helping them to develop positive relations with local law enforcement. To do that, they are paired with NYPD officers for weekly discussion groups that focus on decision-making, conflict resolution, goal-setting, healthy relationships, social-emotional literacy, and other healthy practices. Rachlin has raised private funding for an array of experiential learning opportunities, which in the past have included a study abroad trip to India, and New York City-wide excursions to Broadway, Carnegie Hall and art museums. This summer, three students even will be venturing to Italy. The police-youth groups have also worked together to improve the physical appearance of the local police precincts (NYC Together

currently is established in the 73rd, 77th, 79th and 90th), by growing community gardens and installing artwork on the walls outside. At the 90th Precinct in Williamsburg, a mural outside the building now proudly depicts a colorful rendering of the Brooklyn Bridge. These and other activities allow participants of the program to see the officers as peers, collaborators and mentors, who, in turn, have attended parent-teacher conferences at school, and shown their support from the sidelines of basketball games and boxing matches. Although NYC Together is technically geared toward bettering the futures of its youth participants, its efforts benefit the entire community. “I always refer to the teens we serve as change agents. They’re changing the lives of officers, and educating them on the challenges they are personally facing. As a result, this affects the approach officers take to young people they interact with in the neighborhoods,” says Rachlin, who began her career working as a New York State-certified rape

survivor advocate for Safe Horizon, a victimservices nonprofit. Knowing her educational and professional backgrounds, it’s easy to understand how NYC Together came to exist. She was a double major in peace studies and government at the College, where she adopted a powerful mindset she recently shared with current Manhattan students. In February, Rachlin gave a talk at the on-campus induction ceremony of Pi Sigma Alpha and Sigma Iota Rho, the honor societies for government and politics and international studies majors. “School isn’t here only to teach you something; it’s here to inspire you to learn. I think that’s how I view a lot of my interactions in the world. Every event, every person, every experience, I am inspired to learn and grow,” she told the students. Rachlin’s passion has allowed her to carry out various grassroots initiatives to support local businesses. She previously acted as director of development for the Greenpoint Chamber of Commerce in Brooklyn, for instance, and worked in various communitybuilding capacities for the Center for Court Innovation (CCI), which works to strategize new ideas and programming to improve and reform the justice system in New York City. Along with these experiences and those within the areas already positively affected by NYC Together, Rachlin hopes to eventually expand the nonprofit’s reach to all of the city’s boroughs. But that’s not to say she isn’t content with the success already achieved by her “change agents.” “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world sometimes. The resources I’ve obtained are beyond my wildest dreams,” she says. “Our organization has become a part of achieving slow-motion miracles.” MANHATTAN.EDU N 53

ALUMNI

Baseball Expert on Deck for Major League Documentary “DID YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE TEAMS in Hot Springs baseball history had a pitcher, George Chalmers, who played for Manhattan College?” asks Tim Reid ’77, excitedly filing through his mental database of baseball trivia. A leading expert on the classic American pastime, Reid is full of fun facts about baseball’s early days and bygone stars. Many of these tidbits are now memorialized in The First Boys of Spring, an acclaimed documentary on the origins of Major League Baseball spring training in Hot Springs, Ark., for which Reid served as a primary historical researcher and adviser. The documentary, directed by the University of Arkansas’ Larry Foley and narrated by Billy Bob Thornton, has garnered the attention of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and has won numerous awards, including two 2016 mid-America Emmys for Best Cultural Film and Best Writing. “This history was lost, but we’re helping to dig it out,” Reid says. “Most people think Major League Baseball started around the time of Babe Ruth — maybe 10 years earlier with Ty Cobb. In reality, it was played from just after the Civil War onward. It’s a fascinating piece of Americana.” Reid was born in Brooklyn but moved to Florida as a 9-year-old when his father took a job as an engineer for the space program. His father had planned to attend Manhattan College before World War II but never had the opportunity to — so Tim did, instead. “It was wonderful for me,” he remembers, returning to the city following high school. “It was like a door to the world because New York was there. You jumped on the train, and you were in Manhattan.” A multi-sport athlete in high school, Reid joined the Jaspers track and field team and enrolled in engineering classes. Settling into his new home borough, he became an avid Yankees fan, often jogging by the Riverdale

54 N spring 2017

home where Lou Gehrig lived his final years. During summers home in Florida, Reid and his cousin, Bob Ward, worked as engineering aides for the City of St. Petersburg, a historical spring training hub for the Yankees and Cardinals. It was there in St. Pete that Reid says they first became baseball historians, exploring the city’s past and hearing stories about the game’s greats, most notably, Babe Ruth. One story, in particular, stood out — Ruth’s 1934, 611-foot homer — the longest home run in any major league game ever. Together, Reid and Ward became experts on this piece of history, co-founding the Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth. They were contacted by baseball historians around the country, as well as members of Ruth’s family, and have run many charity events on their behalf over the last decade. Their notoriety would eventually lead them to Hot Springs — the birthplace of spring training. An iconic resort town in the mid-1800s, Hot Springs represented both the wonderful and the wild of that era — lush mountain trails and natural springs boasting health benefits, mixed with gambling and drinking. Baseball’s burgeoning teams arrived for spring training starting in 1886, and more than 100 hall-of-famers trained in town throughout the next 40 or so years. Passionate about sharing these stories with the public, Reid, along with his friend and noted baseball historian Bill Jenkinson, created the Hot Springs Baseball Trail, a selfguided tour of the area and its history. Foley saw storytelling potential in the Hot Springs Trail, and developed The First Boys of Spring project, asking Reid and Jenkinson to head the research. The year-and-a-half project included daily advising by phone, as well as trips to Cooperstown, local universities, the Library of Congress, and of course, Hot Springs. For Reid, who continues to work as an electron-

Tim Reid ’77, standing in front of the Babe Ruth statue in Florida, served as historical adviser and researcher for a new documentary about the origins of Major League Baseball spring training. One of his mementos, a photo of former Manhattan College pitcher George Chalmers’ team at the Hot Springs training camp in 1917.

ics engineer for the government, the project was daunting — but it was also a dream come true for the baseball buff. “I always try to use my energy and abilities to save history,” Reid says. “Manhattan College really taught me that there’s a way to do what you want in a successful way. And you knew that because you saw so many go before you who did it, too.”

The Details Are in the Data

YNN MARTIN ’98 DOESN’T DO BROAD STROKES. It may seem like an impractical leadership strategy for a c-suite executive, however, Martin is the president and chief operating officer of ICE Data Services. She knows better than anyone that information is the key to managing risk and growing businesses. “I really like getting into the details with any business I run. I think it’s important to operate at five feet before you run a business at 30,000 feet,” she says. “Having the details are the key to making informed strategic and long-range decisions and setting the strategy for where the business needs to go.” It’s this hard-working approach, combined with her thirst for new challenges that catapulted her to the very top of the data services industry before she even celebrated her 40th birthday. In fact, Martin was named to MarketVoice’s 2016 list of nine people who are expected to have an “outsize influence” on the financial services industry. More companies rely on financial data and analytics than ever before, and it’s her role to oversee the market data that is generated from ICE’s 11 global exchanges. She is also responsible for SuperDerivatives, which includes forward pricing curves and complex over-thecounter derivative valuations, and Interactive Data, which provides high-quality fixed income data and connectivity solutions. In growing the company’s product offerings, Martin takes the needs of traders, as well as back-office personnel, into consideration. “We take many user profiles into account, and we just try to deliver as many types of outputs as possible to encompass the variety of trading strategies and risk management strategies in the market,” she says. The financial services industry has changed a lot throughout the course of her career. Markets have become more transparent, and they produce more data as a result of the changing face of the trader. “When I started in the industry, it was heavily reliant on floor brokered markets — a bunch of guys at the NYSE shouting bids and offers at each other,” she notes. “Whereas today, markets are largely electronic. The amount of data that has been generated by that market has exponentially increased over that time as a result of the evolution of market structure.” Martin joined ICE as part of the company’s acquisition of NYSE Euronext, where she was CEO of NYSE Liffe U.S. In this role, Martin oversaw the successful introduction of several new fixed income and equity index futures, and after the merger with ICE, oversaw the integration of its contracts onto ICE’s trading platform. When that was completed, she was named COO of ICE Clear U.S., a position she held until being promoted to lead ICE Data Services in July 2015. Martin started out as a project manager in financial services practices at IBM Global Services organization, while earning her master’s in mathematical finance from Columbia University. In 2001, she was

hired by NYSE Euronext. In each of her positions, one thing is for certain: she’s always up for the challenge. “In my career, I’ve just accepted new challenges,” she says. “I’ve had that happen multiple times, where I’ve been offered positions, and I’ve accepted them without knowing an awful lot about a position going in — just knowing that it’s an area for me to apply knowledge I had and continue to learn from.” Martin took a similar approach to her time at Manhattan College. As a computer science major, math minor and eventual finance minor, Martin thrived under the tutelage of mathematics professors Rosemary Farley, Ph.D., and Kathryn Weld, Ph.D., and associate professor of computer science, Patrice Tiffany, Ph.D. She even conducted an independent study with Marvin Bishop, Ph.D., whom Martin notes had a reputation for being the toughest professor in what was then the Mathematics and Computer Science department. But one class sticks in her mind as particularly impactful: Foundations of Higher Mathematics, taught by Weld. “It taught me more of the mindset about thinking through a problem and about having to defend your thesis of the solution, which I think is just a really useful skill for anyone to have irrespective of their major,” she says. “It really left me with a lot of valuable skills that I still refer back to.” Intent on giving back to the College community, Martin gave a data and analytics lecture in 2016 and recently joined the School of Science Advisory Board. She says it’s important to give back to the communities you come from. “I’m very grateful to Manhattan for the education I received there,” she says. “It was very real-world focused, and the education and the lessons that I learned have stuck with me long beyond my tenure there. And I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to give something back to an institution that I think set me up for the success I have achieved.” MANHATTAN.EDU N 55

OBITUARIES

INMEMORIAM

Manhattan College records with sorrow the deaths of the following alumni: 1937 Raymond H. Blank, 11/7/16

1941

H. Roy McArdle, 9/13/16

1942

Frederic W. Grannis, 1/4/17 Fred C. Leone, 7/14/16 Warren W. Schlickenrieder, 12/3/16

1943

Edward R. Averill, 12/31/16 Anthony R. De Minco, 9/30/16

1946

William M. Quigley, 11/5/16 John J. Shea, 4/14/16

1947

Theodore J. Lakoski, 1/25/17

1948

Ralph A. Cuomo, 1/25/17

1949

James W. Cooley, 6/29/16 Thomas J. Massar, 1/2/17

1950

William B. Bennett, 2/9/17 Eugene J. Martin, 11/25/16 Charles H. Norchi, 9/27/16 Walter J. Polestak, 10/30/16 Walter T. Zagar, 9/24/16

1951

Dominic A. Cervoni, 2/11/17 Robert M. Donahue, 9/28/16 William G. Farrell, 12/10/16 John E. Fitzgibbons, 2/7/17 William A. Hartigan, 12/16/16 Charles V. Kovac, 12/11/16 John P. Murray, 11/14/16

1952

Leo F. Battaglia, 1/13/17

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Emile R. Phelisse, 11/2/15 Harry P. Smith, 8/22/16 Edwin J. Suchicki, 11/21/16

1953

Louis F. Farley, 10/21/16 Br. James J. Leahy, FSC 10/26/16 Joseph S. Myers, 12/15/16

1954

Donald P. Bilyeu, 2/27/17 John V. Cleary, 10/27/16 Anthony P. McBride, 1/29/17 John J. O’Reilly, 1/17/17 Lawrence A. Wall, 1/29/17

1959 Donald D. Conroy, 10/22/16 Vincent J. DeSimone, 11/16/16 John L. Madden, 4/9/16 William C. McElligott, 1/16/17 Thomas M. McShane, 8/27/16 Richard C. Schneider, 10/27/16 Jerome J. Tuccille, 2/16/17

1960

Raymond W. Regan, 2/28/17 Dennis C. Rydstrom, 10/18/16 Philip F. Smith, 10/16/16

1966

James A. Bussman, 2/29/16 Edward J. Whiteside, 10/4/16

1967

Thomas Purcell, 12/30/16 Salvatore V. Riina, 1/1/16

1968

Richard J. Barton, 10/4/16 Thomas J. Petit, 9/25/16 Edward J. Picco, 11/23/16

1955

Frank J. Calandra, 12/23/16 Thomas W. Carpenter, 3/20/16 Edward D. Mullen, 11/2/16 Daniel A. O’Connell, 11/18/16 Joseph P. Raftery, 10/9/16

Lawrence V. Gallacher, 1/11/17 Germain F. Germann, 1/20/17 Michael F. Giacomantonio, 2/5/17 Sr. Marie P. Murphy, OSF, 11/29/16 Martin J. Rowland, 2/16/17 Hugh P. Sheridan, 11/14/15

George R. Amrhein, 3/5/17 James J. Dwyer, 1/7/17 William F. Gavin, 2/13/17 John Halvey, 2/16/17 Michael J. Hegarty, 1/30/17 Br. Patrick A. Higgins, FSC, 3/8/17 Thomas J. Quinn, 9/28/16

Edward C. Bennett, 11/5/16 Richard T. Billies, 11/23/16 Karl T. Lippek, 10/22/16

1956

Joseph C. Dougherty, 1/1/17

1957

Louis A. Armanini, 9/27/16 John J. D’Alessandro, 12/31/16 George J. Delaney, 11/8/16 Charles M. Gundersheim, 2/10/16 James H. Puleo, 12/4/16 Thomas F. Shortell, 12/20/16

1958

Walter P. Fitzgerald, 12/10/16 Carmelo J. Sbezzi, 10/28/16

1961

1962

Stephen J. Kosar, 2/10/17 James F. Reilly, 10/1/16 Donald W. Rowe, 1/17/17

1963

Robert M. Suarez, 11/1/16 James D. Welch, 11/16/16 John H. Yamamoto, 2/14/17

1964

1969

David E. Nagle, 2/18/17

1970

1971

Kenneth P. Del Percio, 11/12/16 Sr. Rosemary McSorley, SHCJ, 12/5/16 Salvatore Tenaglia, 1/18/17

1972

William A. Borrelli, 10/23/16 Paul D. Hogan, 11/12/16 Paul A. Moccio, 10/6/16

1973

William R. Jones, 1/8/16

1974

William A. Foy, 11/10/16 Raymond J. Malus, 2/5/17

Lawrence R. Abbatangelo, 2/4/17 John J. Agostini, 10/29/16

William R. Bensch, 1/14/17 John H. Browne, 2/5/17

Br. Robert B. McGovern, CFC, 10/12/16

1965

1975

Vincent DeSimone ’59 1976 Michael Bohane, 7/12/15

1977

Eleanor D. Duhnkrack, 2/20/17 Joseph A. Rocca, 11/8/16

1978

Miriam K. Miller, 9/29/16

1979

Kevin J. McCormack, 11/11/16

1980

Stephen A. Antaki, 2/11/16 Jan T. Kraska, 8/13/15

1981

Robert L. McAllister, 1/7/17

1982

Kirk R. Haner, 12/16/16

1985

Lawrence Bentman, 12/5/15

1987

Louis G. Menchise, 1/14/17

1989

Heng T. Zheng, 6/30/16

1990

Charles J. Robbins, 11/22/16

1992

Rose P. Labate, 8/18/15

2000

Brian P. Fagan, 12/3/16 Tanya L. Jacobs, 3/6/17

2003

Diana Nastu, 11/7/16

2012

Johnathan L. Jarvis, 4/6/17

2015

Angela E. Berger, 1/30/17

VINCENT J. DESIMONE ’59, founder and chief executive of DeSimone Consulting and a dedicated alumnus of Manhattan College, died on Nov. 16, 2016. He was 78. DeSimone earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering from the College in 2009. “Manhattan gave me the key that unlocked the door to the world,” he told the graduates at Commencement, when he received his doctorate. He was known throughout the industry as a creative problem-solver. DeSimone Consulting, a structural engineering firm, has numerous offices around the country and the world with its main offices in Brickell, Fla., and New York City. In charge of design for his firm for decades, DeSimone headed numerous projects in the United States and abroad, including the Four Seasons Miami (the tallest building in Miami at the time of construction); Westin Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Fla. (the largest oceanfront convention hotel in the southeast); Atlantis in the Bahamas; Sofitel Hotel in New York; and Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. “The School of Engineering was saddened to hear of the death of Dr. DeSimone,” says Tim Ward, Ph.D., P.E., dean of the School of Engineering. “The School was honored to have him as one of its illustrious alumni and will miss his dedication, friendship and support.” DeSimone and members of his firm joined with hundreds of engineers in the days following the 9/11 attacks to help keep rescue workers safe. At the time, he wrote a reflective piece for Manhattan. In it, DeSimone said: “On the last day I was at the site, we were debriefing the structural teams in all sectors, and the FEMA structural representative asked to have a few words with us … He pointed out to us that, with our custodial care, not one rescuer was killed or impaired — a totally wonderful thing to hear.” DeSimone was also an innovator in the development of manufactured concrete housing and created the first concrete module for low-cost housing for New York City. His design for pre-cast concrete townhomes was used in more than 120 apartments in the Bronx. Licensed in more than 20 states, DeSimone was a lifetime member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a member and past president of the Concrete Industry Board of New York City. A fellow of the American Concrete Institute, he was a professor of structures at Princeton University’s School of Architecture. Most recently a resident of Coconut Grove, Fla., DeSimone was formerly from New York. He is survived by his fiancé, Stefany Koo; his children, Claudia DeSimone Lucey (Michael), Lisa DeSimone Haywood (Robert), Stephen V. DeSimone (Katherine), Edward DeSimone (Gianine), Christopher DeSimone (Elizabeth), and Michael DeSimone; and 15 grandchildren.

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Maung Hla Pe MAUNG HLA PE, PH.D., an associate professor emeritus of physics who served at the College for 30 years before retiring in 1991, died on Jan. 17, 2017. He was 96. During his tenure at Manhattan, Pe served as the pre-med adviser and a member of several campus committees, including the premedical and research committees. In 1990, he was made an honorary member of the Pen & Sword Society. Pe came to Manhattan as an assistant professor of physics after teaching for several years at the City College of New York. He was a member of a number of professional organizations, including Sigma Xi, Plasma Physics Section, the American Physical Society, and The New York Academy of Sciences.

He also was a member of the Tensor Society, the American Association for Advancement of Science, and an associate member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Rangoon University in his native Burma. Afterward, he came to the United States and earned master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Lehigh University, applied math from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, and nuclear engineering from New York University. Pe was awarded a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Lehigh University in 1957. He is survived by his brother, Maung Thein, who lives in Burma.

Br. James Leahy ’53, FSC

BROTHER JAMES LEAHY ’53, ’58, FSC, a De La Salle Christian Brother for 70 years, who served as an educator for much of his career in the United States, Italy and Africa, died on Oct. 26, 2016, after being struck by a car while crossing the road near the entrance to the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J. He was 88. An assistant professor of theology at Man-

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hattan College from 1966 to 1970, Br. James studied Scripture in its native languages of Greek, Latin and Hebrew. “From teaching grammar school to graduate school, from serving novices to elderly Brothers in need of medical care, from assignments on either coast of the USA to faraway places in Rome and Africa, Br. James gave his all to God, his brothers and his students,” recalls Brother Robert Berger, FSC, associate professor of religious studies. “His energy level was rarely matched, his inquisitive look made you wonder if he was reading your mind, and his zest for life was contagious. He was a Christian Brother through and through.” Br. James began his teaching career at Sacred Heart School in Manhattan in 1950. He also taught at St. Peter’s High School for Boys on Staten Island and Jesu Magister in Rome, before serving as sub-director of St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Barrytown, N.Y. He returned to Italy after teaching at Manhattan College to teach at Lateran University in Rome. He served as sub-director and director of Sangre de Cristo in Santa Fe, N.M., during the early 1970s, and then as sub-director and

director of the Christian Brothers Novitiate in Skaneateles, N.Y., through 1980. From 1980 to 1993, Br. James was a professor at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. He served as a De La Salle delegate in Nairobi, Kenya, and as sub-director of the Novitiate in Asmara, Eritrea from 1999-2007. Returning to the U.S., Br. James was the sub-director and pastoral care director at De La Salle Hall in Lincroft, N.J., until he retired in 2014. He also was a fixture at the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, where he resided. Br. James entered the Novitiate at Barrytown in 1946 and received the religious habit that same year. He pronounced his perpetual vows at Hillside Hall in 1953. He attended The Catholic University of America and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the School of Arts and Science at Manhattan College in 1953. Br. James also earned a master’s degree in French from Manhattan College in 1958 and later studied at Jesu Magister in Rome, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in religious science before receiving a doctorate in sacred theology in 1964. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Christian Brothers Academy.

John Mahony JOHN MAHONY, PH.D., who retired from Manhattan College after nearly 50 years of teaching in a variety of science and engineering positions and most recently served as professor of environmental engineering, died on Nov. 14, 2016, at the age of 84. Retiring only a year before his death, Mahony had served in the chemistry and environmental engineering departments during his tenure. A specialist in the study of toxic impacts of metals on water and sediment quality, he was among the scientists and engineers responsible for developing the AVS-SEM (acid volatile sulfide and simultaneously extracted metals) method for assessing water and sediment quality criteria for toxic heavy metals. While at Manhattan, Mahony mentored more than 100 students in scientific research. He created a foundation at the College to support undergraduate research in the environmental engineering field. He also supported student research by establishing the John V. and Mildred G. Mahony Medal, which is awarded to graduating seniors for excellence in research, in memory of his parents. “John was an outspoken advocate for the Chemistry department for many years and was instrumental in bringing an environmental chemistry component into several chemistry courses,” says Suzanne Rudnick, professor of chemistry and biochemistry. A prolific writer, Mahony covered a variety of topics in more than 40 published papers. He was known for his collaboration with professors both on the Manhattan campus and with nuclear and radiochemists at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He also worked abroad with environmental engineers and scientists at the New University of Lisbon, Portugal, and Direccao-Geral do Ambiente, also in Lisbon. Throughout his career, Mahony served as a consultant for a number of firms. In 2010, he became senior associate at Mutch Associates, LLC, while still teaching part-time at the College. A native of the Bronx, he grew up in Queens and earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at St. John’s University. Mahony received his master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Connecticut and his doctorate in nuclear chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He is survived by his wife, Susan Matthews; brothers, Brian Mahony (Florence) and Kevin Mahony (Mary); nieces, TeriAnn Mahony-Miller (Nick) and Erin Mahony (Mark); nephews, Breen Mahony (Katie) and Colin Mahony (Katherine); and great-nieces, Ella and Charlotte Mahony and Zoe Swarz.

Br. John Loehr, FSC BROTHER JOHN LOEHR, FSC, a former director of physical plant at Manhattan College, died on Oct. 30, 2016. He was 89. He served in this post from 1987-1990, during a time of change and growth at the College with the construction of Horan Hall, in addition to a series of campus renovations. Br. John began his career as a teacher at De La Salle Collegiate in Warren, Mich. He also taught at Lincoln Hall in Lincolndale, N.Y. He soon began splitting his service between teaching and working in the physical plant, serving as a teacher and as a member of the physical plant department at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J. Br. John was manager of the Butchery Trade School in Jamaica from 1981 to 1987. He served for a short time as manager of grounds at De La Salle Hall in Lincroft, N.J., before his assignment at Manhattan College. He returned to Lincroft in 1990 to work in maintenance at the La Salle Provincialate. “Brother John never disliked a job that had to be done,” says Brother Robert Berger, FSC, associate professor of religious studies. “Whether it was teaching physical education in one of our Lasallian schools, fixing a major repair job with his good friend Brother Basilian O’Connell, FSC, or supervising students on the grounds crew of a high school, Br. John had a keen eye to making campuses better. His time at Manhattan College as director of physical plant was marked by care for his fellow employees and a desire to make this Riverdale property the best that it could be for students and staff. He was tireless.” Br. John traveled abroad again in 1992, and served as facilities manager of Bethlehem University. He returned to the United States to work with the poor in Albuquerque, N.M., at Villa Matthias. Br. John continued working in facilities and grounds at a number of locations until his retirement in 2012, including Highbridge Community Life Center in the Bronx; Roosevelt Hall Novitiate and Christian Brothers Academy, and Christian Brothers Academy, both in Syracuse, N.Y. He entered the Novitiate in 1968 and received the religious habit that same year. He pronounced his perpetual vows at De La Salle Hall in 1974. He studied at Morrisville Agricultural & Technology College for several months before attending Hudson Valley Community College. After entering the Christian Brothers, Br. John earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church in Syracuse, N.Y. Interment followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Syracuse.

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PHOTO BY CATALINA KULCZAR

PA R TING SHOT

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Assume the position (or pose!): Manhattan College students reach for the stars during a sunset yoga session in April that was held in conjunction with Make Moves Manhattan, a week-long activity series that promotes wellness and the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.

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Chemical engineering major Michael Dutsar ’19 (running) demonstrates a Marine Corps fireman’s carry on U.S. Army veteran Michael Estrella ’18 during an Ironman and Woman Competition that was hosted by the Manhattan College Student Veterans Organization in April.