Medaille Magazine Summer 2018

SUMMER 2018

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF MEDAILLE COLLEGE

The Latest From Goo Goo Dolls Star and Medaille Alum

ROBBY TAKAC

S U M M E R 2018

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Program of the Month

P H OTO B Y N A N C Y J . PA R I S I

Alumni Profile: Robby Takac ’86 The Goo Goo Dolls Co-founder Talks Medaille, Music, Family and Buffalo’s Resurgence

facultyspotlight

P H OTO B Y N A N C Y J . PA R I S I

campusnews

P H OTO B Y N A N C Y J . PA R I S I

coverfeature

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Sharing Medaille Stories

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Maverick Memories

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50 Years of Medaille College

50 Reasons to Celebrate Medaille and Memories From the College’s First Lay Student

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alumniupdates

P H OTO B Y C A R L A F. K E S T N E R

in this issue

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20

Saving Our Wildlife

The Efforts of Medaille’s Timothy O’Day and Dr. Bernadette Clabeaux ’05

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‘How I Started a Nonprofit Organization’

Dionne Williamson ’94 on Upward Design for Life

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Learning From the Best

Alumni Class Notes

Alumni Highlight Faculty Members

#MedailleCongrats

MedailleAthletics A Year of #HorsePower

events

Events listed here are held at Medaille’s Buffalo campus, unless otherwise indicated.

For a complete list of events and to register, visit medaille.edu/calendar.

AUG 22

Cycle Boat Party (downtown Buffalo)

SEP 5

College Colors Day and Medaille Pride Awards Social

DATE TBA

WRITE THING READING SERIES: Steven Canals, screenwriter and co-creator of FX’s Pose

NOV 8, FEB 21

Rochester Adult & Graduate Open House

NOV 9

WRITE THING READING SERIES: London Ladd, children’s book illustrator

NOV 12, FEB 18 Buffalo Adult & Graduate Open House FEB 21

WRITE THING READING SERIES: Ten Thousand (Marquis Burton), spoken word poet

online

Visit medaille.edu for more information about the programs, people and events at Medaille College. facebook.com/medaillecollege

youtube.com/medaillebuffalo

linkedin.com/school/medaille-college

twitter.com/medaillecollege

linkedin.com/groups/100304

instagram.com/medaillecollege

MAGAZINE Vice President for College Relations Managing Editor

Contributing Editor Graphic Designers

J O HN P. CR AWF O RD CHRISTO PHER SCHO B ERT PATRICIA J ET T Y ‘13 CA RLA F. KESTNER, HAN N AH TAYLOR

Contributing Writers JEFF B UCKI, JANA EISENBERG, JUDITH A. RUCKI Photography CARLA F. KESTNER, KNIGHT STUDIO PHOTOGR APHY, NANCY J. PARISI, ANDREA SEELOFF P R I N T E D I N B U F FA LO, N Y B Y K E L L E R B R O S . & M I L L E R I kbmpr i nt i ng. co m

2 Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018

From the President

Officers MICHAEL K. WALSH Chair MICHAEL J. MOLEY ’07 Vice Chair KENNETH D. TRBOVICH ’99 Treasurer HOWARD K. HITZEL, PSY.D., MPA Secretary

PHOTO BY NANCY J. PARISI

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-19

Greetings!

As always, it’s a great day to be a Maverick!

RICHARD SCHNEIDER ’10, ’12* President of the Alumni Association Board MICHELLE M. KREIB* Administrative Assistant William S. Cleary Kevin R. Connolly ’03 Nathan Daun-Barnett, Ph.D. David L. Edmunds, Jr. Horace A. Gioia, Esq. L. Nathan Hare ’82 Kenneth M. Macur, Ph.D. Martin G. Maynard James K. Morrell Darius G. Pridgen ’07 Jeffrey M. Shepard, Ph.D. ’04 Julie R. Snyder Dale Stephens ’99, ’06 Donald R. Tomasulo ’79 Gregory J. Urban *Non-voting Member

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-19 Officers RICHARD SCHNEIDER ’10, ’12 President BRYAN KREMPA ’00, ’06 Executive Vice President LEONARD HUBBARD ’09, ’12 Vice President KENNETH DUDEK ’03, ’17 Parliamentarian PAUL DUERINGER ’04 Immediate Past President Ashley Hirtzel ’12 Shawn Loos ’10, ’12 Tony Priore ’03 Philip Splawski ’06 Dale Stephens ’99, ’06 Adriana Viverette-Gamble ’12

*Updated June 2018

Welcome to our newest alums and those reading your first alumni magazine! Inside, you will see highlights from the last few months, read about fellow alums and Medaille faculty members, and discover just some of the things our students are up to.

One of our most recent events was commencement, and as you know, it’s a wonderful experience. This one stands out in College history, as we awarded our first doctoral degrees to seven, freshly minted clinical psychology graduates. Congratulations to all of our 2018 graduates, and a special shout-out to these history makers!

Here are some additional highlights from the 2017-18 academic year: • Professor Dan Kotzin, Ph.D., will be the principal investigator for a three-year National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant studying ethics and law enforcement. Students in our undergraduate criminal justice program will also participate.

• Our “3+3” program with University at Buffalo School of Law is up and running. Students can come to Medaille for their traditional undergraduate degree and in their fourth year, transfer to UB Law. The first year of law school will transfer back to the College to let them complete their undergraduate degree and will also count as their first year of law school.

• For the second year in a row, Medaille was recognized as one of Western New York’s Best Places to Work by Buffalo Business First.

• We have signed an agreement to be the master tenant for the downtown Buffalo sports complex on Elk Street. The initial build will have a soccer and lacrosse field, a field house with lockers, a training room and more. It should be ready for the fall.

• I am proud to salute the newest leaders of our Medaille College Board of Trustees — Chair Michael K. Walsh (Executive Vice President, Walsh Duffield Companies, Inc.); Vice Chair Michael J. Moley ’07 (Chief Human Resource Officer, Catholic Health System); Treasurer Kenneth D. Trbovich ’99 (President, Servotronics, Inc.); and Secretary Howard K. Hitzel, Psy.D. (President, BestSelf Behavioral Health, Inc.). I would also like to welcome our newest Trustees, L. Nathan Hare ’82 (President and CEO of the Community Action Organization of Western New York, Inc.) and William S. Cleary (Director of Human Resources for Dunn Tire). The College thanks all of our Trustees (listed at left) for their dedication and service within our community.

For a list of donors who made gifts during our 2017-18 fiscal year, please visit medaille.edu/donorroll.

Dr. Kenneth M. Macur, President Let’s stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn (KenMacur) and Twitter (@KenMacur).

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 3

4 Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018

IT WAS SNOWING on the early April morning that saw Robby Takac ’86 return to Medaille’s Buffalo campus.

But the unseasonable (even for Buffalo) weather did not slow down the arrival of the bassist and co-founder of the most internationally successful band to come from the Queen City, the Goo Goo Dolls. In fact, nothing slows down this prolific, community-focused and wildly ambitious Medaille grad.

As Takac spoke to the Medaille magazine in April, the Goo Goo Dolls had recently finished a year of performances that included sets at the NHL Winter Classic and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He was working on the bill for the upcoming 16th annual Music is Art (MiA) festival, scheduled for September 8. As always, he was overseeing GCR Audio, the recording studio he owns in Buffalo’s Allentown district. And Takac was preparing for Japanese band the Molice, an artist on his Good Charamel record label, to perform at Buffalo’s Cherry Blossom Festival in May. If that wasn’t enough, he also spoke of learning to play a Japanese instrument called the shamisen.

The biggest news was still to come. Just a few days after his visit to Medaille, Takac and his Goo Goo Dolls’ co-founder, vocalist John Rzeznik, announced a fall 2018 tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the band’s highest-selling album, 1998’s Dizzy Up the Girl. Featuring international hits like “Iris” and “Slide,” the Goos’ sixth album ranks as one of the most enduring pop-rock releases of the 1990s. The anniversary tour includes shows at Shea’s Performing Arts Center on October 19 and 20, and both sold out within minutes.

Clearly, Takac wears many different hats — rock star, husband, parent, nonprofit executive, record label head, studio chief — and has a support system that makes it all possible. “You’ve got to have people around you,” he says. “I have great people in my studio, great people at Music is Art. They all know what’s happening, so they hold down the fort, and I jump in and out when I need to.”

Takac has been a multitasking pro for decades. As it is for most college students, juggling the demands of school, work and social life was essential to his days as a media communication major at Medaille.

The Goo Goo Dolls Co-founder Talks Medaille, Music, Family and Buffalo’s Resurgence B Y CH R ISTO P H E R S C HOBERT P H OTO S B Y NA NCY J . PA R ISI

ROBBY TAKAC

’86

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 5

“It was a time of artistic enlightenment for me.”

Born on September 30, 1964, Takac grew up in West Seneca and spent the majority of his time as a child and a teen in the Southtowns and South Buffalo. So the trip to Medaille’s campus brought him into contact with people outside his circle. They helped formulate who he wanted to be, and who he became.

“Within weeks of starting at Medaille, I met a whole new group of people,” Takac says. “It was a time of artistic enlightenment for me. I had things coming at me really quickly that I didn’t experience growing up in West Seneca.”

Music was always an interest; Takac chuckles as he describes a pirate radio station he set up as a child. (“I had a little radio station under my stairs, and I would broadcast to my friends outside.”) However, his interest jumped to the next level as a Medaille student. The intimacy and personal focus of his education — hallmarks of the Medaille experience — stand out.

“My education really crafted itself to what I needed it to be,” he says. “I was spending a good amount of time on practical experience, rather than something totally classroom-bound. That allowed me to meet a lot of the people who helped start my career. Some of the most influential people I met in my life, I met through Medaille. I still remember coming for orientation and thinking, ‘This feels better than the other schools I visited.’ It’s just a different experience.”

“My life’s been lucky in a lot of ways.”

The story of the next stage of Takac’s life has been well-told. In short, the Goo Goo Dolls were formed in Buffalo in 1985 and quickly developed a fervent local following. Debut album The Goo Goo Dolls arrived in 1987, followed by Jed in 1989 (named after artist Jed Jackson, a former Medaille professor) and college radio hit Hold Me Up in 1990. The 1993 album Superstar Car Wash was a commercial leap forward, but it was 1995’s A Boy Named Goo that brought the band worldwide success. The iconic song “Name” became a mainstream smash on radio and MTV. The boys from Buffalo achieved an even greater triumph with the 1998 song “Iris” — the single from the City of Angels soundtrack was the most played song on radio that year — and the aforementioned sixth album, Dizzy Up the Girl.

“SOME OF THE MOST

This tremendous level of achievement was impossible to predict. As Takac puts it, “You can’t even predict where it’s going to go when you’re doing it.

I never would’ve guessed in a million years, even at our most successful point, that 33 years later I’d still be doing this. My life’s been lucky in a lot of ways. The community of Buffalo has allowed me to do many things I probably would have missed out on in my life. I’ve had the chance to be part of a motivated group of people — people who want to see things happen in the community and want to work toward something that’s not always financially driven.”

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P HOTO BY N AN CY J. PA RI SI

In the years since, the Goo Goo Dolls have released five commercially successful, well-received albums. The group has toured the world repeatedly, and even opened up for the Rolling Stones. In total, the band has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide and earned three Grammy nominations.

influential peop I MET IN MY LIFE, I MET THROUGH MEDAILLE.”

ple

“You’re able to do things in Buffalo that you can’t do in a lot of other places.”

Wherever Takac and Rzeznik have gone, Buffalo has held a special place in their hearts. While Rzeznik currently lives in New Jersey, Takac resides in Buffalo with his wife, Miyoko, and six-year-old daughter. It was during the end of a 10-year stint in Los Angeles that the idea of moving home took root: “My wife and I were thinking about having a family, so it just seemed like time. It’s great to be around my folks, and for my daughter to be around her grandparents.”

Beyond family and friends, part of what keeps Takac in Western New York is the sense that anything is possible. “You’re able to do things in Buffalo that you can’t do in a lot of other places,” he says. “I don’t think I could walk out and say, ‘Hey, let’s close down this street and have 60 bands play’ in L.A.” Here, Takac is speaking about Music is Art, the not-for-profit he founded in 2003. Dedicated to exploring and reshaping music’s cultural, social and educational impact on the community, MiA is known for its annual music festival, its instrument donation program and a variety of other unique programs.

“When MiA began, it united all these folks who were playing music together and in the same clubs, loosely functioning as a music community,” Takac says. “Everyone joined up to do this one event. We discovered that there was a willingness to help.

I remember one day I got a call from a school because we had been collecting instruments, and they asked, ‘Do you guys run any programs in schools?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure,’ hung up the phone, and thought, ‘What are we going to do?’ So we started partnering with different organizations focused on participation with kids, and that was what started the ball rolling. Now MiA is a legitimate 501(c)(3). Everyone is excited to be involved and to see the momentum.”

One new MiA program is called Nurs’N Blues. It is a collaboration between MiA and the Blues Society of Western New York on an innovative music therapy program created by Patti Parks, a local blues musician and nurse. The aim is to help adolescents and young adults suffering from chemical dependency by combining blues history with music interventions.

Concurrent to running MiA, Takac also runs Good Charamel Records, right down to updating the website every morning. “We work with one of my favorite bands of all time, Shonen Knife,” Takac says. “We’re lucky to have them as great friends. Everyone I deal with is a friend, and someone that I feel I can trust.”

“I feel like there’s still life in everything; nothing feels like it’s slowing down.”

As for the Goo Goo Dolls, the band followed its most recent album, 2016’s Boxes, with an EP titled You Should be Happy. Takac says the short-form EP concept is appealing to him and Rzeznik at the moment, given the band’s busy schedule. This summer sees the Goos embark on a six-week tour of Europe, with concerts in the U.K., Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Prague and Hungary.

In the fall, of course, is the eagerly-anticipated Dizzy Up the Girl tour.

“Then, hopefully we’ll have a record out soon,” Takac says. “We finished an incredibly long tour on our last album, and that lasted right into the EP. We took a little bit of time off and worked on a live record, mixing and going through shows. We also did a tour of Southeast Asia; we performed in the same place Muhammad Ali fought the ‘Thrilla in Manilla.’ So John and I are still at it, still trying to make it happen. I feel like there’s still life in everything; nothing feels like it’s slowing down.”

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campusnews facultyspotlight

P H OTO B Y C A R L A F. K E S T N E R

“I’ve seen things changing here.”

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As a parent raising a child in Buffalo and a longtime member of the community’s arts and music scene, Takac has watched closely as a spirit of resurgence and renewal has taken WNY to new heights. A recent, random encounter solidified his feeling that this is, indeed, a new Buffalo.

“I was walking down the street,” Takac says. “Someone points at me and says, ‘Hey, you’re that guy in the Goo Goo Dolls, right?’ I said, ‘Yeah!’ And he says, ‘I saw you play in Minneapolis in 1989.’ I shook his hand and asked what brought him to Buffalo. He said, ‘I just moved here. I started a furniture company and there’s so much opportunity in Buffalo right now.’ I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Tell me this again!’”

This concept — Buffalo as a destination for young entrepreneurs and artists — is something Takac has seen firsthand in his recording studio.

Yet the conversation was still an eye-opener. “Of course, I’ve seen things changing here,” he says. “But I was taken aback. I think you’re going to keep seeing more folks coming here from other places. They want to be creative, and not feel like they’re being drained financially.

There are some amazingly talented and motivated people in Buffalo.”

Robby Takac is one of these individuals, and Medaille is proud to have played a role in his success.

Takac, pictured at May’s Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival, is the founder of Music is Art and the organizer of the Music is Art Festival. The annual concert event featuring bands, DJs, dancers and artists will be held on September 8 at Buffalo RiverWorks. Visit musicisart.org for more info.

campusnews P RO G R A M O F T H E M O N T H

Sharing the Stories of Students, Alumni and Faculty Alumni, when you think back to your time at Medaille, there is a good chance that many of your memories are related to your program of study. This is why each month, Medaille’s Program of the Month (POTM) series explores what makes the College’s programs so special for current and former students. POTM showcases faculty expertise, relays the experiences and careers of current students and alumni, and demonstrates the value of each degree.

The series is predominantly housed on medaille.edu and the College’s social media accounts. Since its launch, highlighted programs have included English, clinical mental health counseling, homeland security, communication, biology and organizational leadership (MAOL). Follow Medaille College on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to view content as it is posted, or search the #MedaillePOTM tag.

And watch your email — Medaille’s Office of Communications might be contacting you next for your story!

CARLETTE BRADLEY ’13

Learning and Development Consultant at Univera Healthcare “The MAOL program changed my life. Personally and professionally, it’s one of the best decisions that I have ever made!”

MATTHEW BUCHEKER ’06

Seventh and Eighth Grade Science Teacher at Buffalo Public School 76 Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy “Not only did the biology program at Medaille grant me the scientific knowledge that I use to teach to my students on a daily basis, but it also gave me insight into effective methods of doing so. When I plan lessons for my classes, I always think back to my former teachers and remember the demonstrations, labs and stories they used to teach me.”

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campusnews

maverickmemories THE LATEST MEDAILLE NEWS & NOTES

It’s been a typically busy few months for Medaille students, alumni, faculty and staff. Here’s a rundown of recent news. For more, visit medaille.edu/news.

MAVstravaganza, Medaille’s signature event in support of student opportunities, was held at the Curtiss Hotel on June 7. Guests enjoyed food, drink and entertainment, while celebrating the history and achievements of the College in preparing students for a successful future. A follow-up party, MAVstrav 2, was held at Buffalo RiverWorks on June 22. P H OTO B Y K N I G H T S T U D I O P H OTO G R A P H Y > Students and faculty showcased their work at Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Day on May 4. The annual event features the work of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as members of Medaille’s distinguished faculty. P H OTO B Y C A R L A F. K E S T N E R > Recent Medaille Alumni Association networking and social events included a Buffalo Pedal Tour on May 31, and mixers at Lockport’s New York Beer Project (April 24) and at Hamburg Brewing Company (March 21).

The 2017-18 Write Thing Reading Series concluded on May 3 with an open mic and celebration of the student literary journal, Prelude. The annual series also featured an appearance from poet Ben Brindise on February 22.

^ Medaille’s 2018 graduates walked the stage and accepted their diplomas at the College’s 143rd graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies on May 18.

Cheryl Perry Colvin, M.D., an emergency medicine physician, was the keynote speaker at the undergraduate ceremony, while Nicholas Sinatra, CEO of Sinatra & Company Real Estate, spoke to the graduate students. An honorary degree was presented to Victoria Ross ’18, executive director of the WNY Peace Center. P H OTO B Y N A N C Y J . PA R I S I

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^ A large crowd of students, faculty, staff, alumni, family and friends enjoyed MavFest 2018 at the Buffalo campus on May 2. The annual College tradition featured carnival rides, food, games and a “build-a-Maverick” station. P H OTO B Y C A R L A F. K E S T N E R

campusnews

maverickmemories Keep up with the latest Medaille College news at medaille.edu.

^ The College celebrated the opening of its new, donor-funded Laboratory and Science Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 24. In addition to enhancing College courses, the lab enables Medaille to expand its Science in Bloom program, a partnership with the Valley Community Association that offers science activities to Buffalo Public Schools students. Pictured, from left: Trustee and Chair of the

Comprehensive Campaign (which funded the lab) Michael Walsh; Medaille President Dr. Ken Macur; M&T Bank Western New York Regional President Shelley Drake; Dr. Vochita Mihai, Chair of Medaille’s Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology; Mark Boyd, Chief of Staff to New York State Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes; and a Science in Bloom student. P HOTO BY N AN CY J. PAR ISI < Students, faculty and staff marched through campus to support the mission of ending sexual violence in all forms at Take Back the Night on April 23. The event featured speakers from the New York State Troopers and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, as well as Medaille Director of Public Safety Earl Wells and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Kenya Hobbs. P H OTO B Y C A R L A F. K E S T N E R Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and Wendel Director of Sustainability Aliesa Adelman discussed corporate sustainability at a Buffalo’s Future series event on April 19, while Steve MacMartin ’13, director of Medaille’s homeland security program, moderated a discussion of disaster preparedness on February 8. < Medaille’s newly created Minority Professionals Networking Group launched its formation at the College with a kickoff event on March 29. The evening featured a keynote speech from Medaille Director of Diversity and Inclusion Kenya Hobbs (pictured), who highlighted the value and importance of diversity in today’s culture and in the workplace.

P HOTO BY N AN CY J. PAR ISI

< The Medaille Music and Drama Club staged Avenue Q on April 6, 7 and 8. The musicalcomedy featuring some very memorable puppets tells the story of a recent college grad who moves into a shabby New York apartment filled with colorful characters. P H OTO B Y A N D R E A S E E LO F F The 13th Annual Medaille College Communication Program Media Awards Luncheon on March 19 celebrated well-known individuals from local television, radio, professional sports, public relations, marketing and advertising, and law enforcement.

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 11

2. The Academic Success Center, offering tutoring and other support services

9. The “It’s a great day to be a Maverick” slogan, coined by Medaille President Dr. Ken Macur

24. All the dogs on campus

It was established as a co-educational college for laypeople in 1968, after

Did you know that Medaille College turns 50 in 2018?

23. The student-run newspaper (now called Perspective)

20. Professors who know your name and are willing to provide you with individualized help

11. The Medaille College Alumni Association

6. Flexible scheduling and campus options that meet the needs of busy adult students

ille #Meda

ats r g n o C

19. #MaverickFriday, #MedaillePride and #MedailleCongrats on social media

18. Weeks of Welcome, filled with fun activities at the beginning of each semester

To celebrate Medaille’s 50th anniversary, we asked students, alumni and staff to share some of their favorite things about Medaille. This is just a small sampling, so let us know your reasons on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #Medaille50!

17. WMCB – the studentrun campus radio station (now called “The Fuze”)

25. The annual College Colors Day celebration and Medaille Pride Awards Social

22. The Communication program’s annual Media Awards Luncheon

21. The Wellness Center, which offers counseling and health services

16. Fro-yo, crepes, smoothies and rice bowls from Freshens

13. The Sister Alice Huber Giving Society

7. Beautiful campus in the heart of Buffalo, just footsteps away from Delaware Park

5. Small class sizes (average student-tofaculty ratio of 16:1)

12. The Write Thing Reading Series, which brings published authors to campus for literary readings

10. Helpful and caring academic advisors

4. The coaches and student athletes in the Mavericks men’s and women’s NCAA Division III sports programs

14. The wide variety of student clubs 15. Annual MavFest carnival and organizations

8. Internship programs that provide field experience

3. The new, state-of-the-art Laboratory and Science Center

1. Father Jean Pierre Médaille, founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the College’s namesake

38. Full-time and adjunct faculty with real-world experience

43. The Commons Café, a student-run café on the fourth floor of the Main Building

42. Medaille’s Day of Service, featuring faculty and staff community service throughout WNY

45. The library resources on campus and online, and the knowledgeable librarians

46. Enclosed walkways between the main buildings, especially on cold winter days

44. The Career Planning Center, which runs job fairs on campus and offers resume and interview assistance to alumni and students

39. Winning AMCC championships — 18 as of spring 2018

35. Medaille’s Instagram page

34. The First-Year Experience (FYE) Program, which provides support and activities to help freshmen succeed in their first year

37. Christmas lights on campus in the winter

TE A R EB

28. The TRiO program, which provides support and services to firstgeneration students

33. The Kevin I. Sullivan Campus Center (the “Sully”), named after former Medaille President Kevin I. Sullivan

27. Smart classrooms and computer labs

50

L NS TO CE O S REA

30. Prelude, Medaille’s 31. Safe and diverse student- campus community The sea of blue and gold run literary 32. on Mavericks Athletics magazine game days

26. Residence Life activities

transitioning from Mount Saint Joseph Teachers College, which only granted baccalaureate degrees in education to women in religious orders.

49. Medaille’s three unique campus options — Buffalo, Rochester and online

47. The fireplaces in the Sully and on the fourth floor of Main

40. The Student Government Association (SGA) and its annual Awards Banquet

50. 2018 announcement and formation of the Medaille College Athletic Hall of Fame

48. CASTL, the College’s Center for the Advancement of Scholarship, Teaching and Learning

41. The Downey Science Building, opened in 1987 and named after former Medaille President Dr. Leo R. Downey

36. Flag football and other games on the Quad

29. MAVstravaganza, an annual event where the WNY community comes together to support student opportunities

*The celebration of 50 Years of Medaille continues on College Colors Day 2018 on September 5. Visit medaille.edu/ collegecolorsday for details and ways to participate in festivities at the Buffalo campus, the Rochester campus and online.

campusnews

Memories From Medaille’s First Lay Student

BY JUDITH A. RUCKI

IT HAS BEEN 50 years since Mount Saint Joseph Teachers College officially became Medaille College.

Alum Mary Therese (Kuzniarek) Ketterer ’72 was there on day one.

Ketterer’s story begins in September 1965 when she started working as secretary to President Alice Huber, SSJ, Ph.D. Other than part-time faculty and the maintenance staff, Ketterer was the only layperson employed by the institute, which was originally designed to give baccalaureate degrees in education to women in religious orders.

“As enrollment increased, other personnel and support staff were hired,” she says.

The College eventually purchased the property at 24 Agassiz Circle (which now houses Undergraduate Admissions). Before then, Ketterer says, “the entire school was contained on the third floor of 18 Agassiz.”

In 1968, New York State approved Medaille’s petition to admit laypeople, and Ketterer became Medaille’s first lay student. Although she was not interested in teaching, Ketterer enrolled in the only curriculum offered to lay students, education for children from kindergarten to sixth grade, and received her B.A. in 1972.

Ketterer was working as the assistant to the president when she went on maternity leave. When she unexpectedly gave birth to twins, she decided to leave her position. “It was one of the saddest decisions I ever had to make,” she says. Ketterer continued to work on the preparation of annual student loan reports on an on-call basis, and was also involved with the College’s Alumni Association.

Her favorite memory of Medaille is attending the Senior Ball with her late husband, Paul Ketterer. (The couple is pictured at left.) She thinks back fondly to her time as an employee and student: “So many things have changed in the last 50 years, but I’m proud to say that my alma mater is still going strong.”

SUPPOR F O T $50 In Honor of 50 Years of Medaille

One gift of $50

12 gifts of $50

18 gifts of $50

29 gifts of $50

Your gifts of $50

Hoof trimmer for the vet tech department

Yearly test materials for the Doctor of Psychology program

An annual academic journal subscription for the library

Prestigious case study competition for MBA students

Provide teams with the tools needed to compete for championships

Visit medaille.edu/give today.

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MEDAILLE ATHLETICS: A Year of #HorsePower Medaille College athletics continued its tremendous run of success in 2017-18. Check out some highlights from winter and spring.

MAVERICKS CL AIM SECOND STRAIGHT BUFFALO CUP TITLE For the second straight year, Medaille claimed the Buffalo Cup, a competition with Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) rivals Hilbert College and D’Youville College, by winning the most games among the three institutions.

KRATZKE NAMED AMCC SOFTBALL PL AYER OF THE YEAR Sophomore Laura Kratzke was named the AMCC Softball Player of the Year after a dominant season as a pitcher and at the plate. In addition, she was named to the AMCC All-Conference First Team twice, as a pitcher and as a designated player.

WOMEN’S L ACROSSE TEAM EARNS AMCC TITLE The Medaille women’s lacrosse team earned its second straight AMCC Championship with a 23-7 victory over the D’Youville Spartans. The 2018 campaign saw the Mavericks win more single season games than in any other year in program history, and finished with a trip to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship Opening Round.

HOLLENBECK HITS C AREER MILESTONE WITH 1,000TH POINT Mike Hollenbeck ’18 scored his 1,000th point in a men’s basketball victory over Pitt-Bradford.

In addition, he was one of 104 Medaille student athletes to receive AMCC Academic AllConference honors.

WOMEN’S BOWLING TAKES SECOND CONSECUTIVE AMCC TITLE, SCORES NATIONAL RANKING The Mavericks women’s bowling team followed its second consecutive AMCC title victory in March with a national ranking in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Division II/Division III Final Poll.

Medaille nabbed the No. 14 spot after a season that saw the Mavs finish with a 60-36 record.

MEDAILLE COACHES HONORED WITH COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS After leading their teams to AMCC titles, Laura Edholm ‘07 (women’s bowling) and Russell Allen ‘08 (women’s lacrosse) were each named Coach of the Year by their peers. It is the second straight year in which Edholm received the award, while former women’s lacrosse coach Allen was also named the 2018 North Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW RECENT MEDAILLE ATHLETICS SUCCESSES. FOR MORE, AND THE LATEST MAVERICKS’ NEWS, VISIT medaillesports.com.

REINWALD SWEEPS AMCC P O S T S E A S O N AW A R D S

Dani

REINWALD ’18

P H OTO B Y C A R L A F. K E S T N E R

Mavericks women’s basketball captain Dani Reinwald ’18 capped off a record-setting career by sweeping the AMCC postseason awards. She was named AMCC Player of the Year and AMCC Defensive Player of the Year — the first Maverick in program history to win both awards — and was selected for the AMCC All-Conference First Team.

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 15

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The environment is telling us stories, and we need to be

listening,” says Dr. Clabeaux. “We have to look carefully at

16 Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018

what the environmental indicators are saying.

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From the Classroom to the Wild, Medaille’s Timothy O’Day and Dr. Bernadette Clabeaux ’05 Are Sharing Their Passion for Saving Wildlife

BY JEFF BUCKI PHOTOS BY NANCY J. PARISI

A MEDAILLE COLLEGE education isn’t limited to the physical or online classroom. It extends to and within surrounding communities, thanks to the efforts of educators like adjunct faculty member Timothy O’Day and clinical assistant professor Bernadette Clabeaux ’05, Ph.D. Their passion for helping animals and the natural environment is showcased in their work on campus, and far beyond.

O’Day founded the Campbell Environmental Center in Boston, NY, in 1977. He serves as the director of the site, which cares for and rehabilitates injured or sick animals. These include raptors, like hawks and owls, and songbirds such as robins.

“I’ve appreciated animals and the natural world since I was a young boy growing up in Ontario’s Georgian Bay,” O’Day says. “We essentially have a hospital for animals here. It’s very time-consuming work.”

When O’Day isn’t teaching biology and other courses at Medaille, he’s out in the field, volunteering to care for injured animals and observing environmental conditions. Or he might be working on valuable research papers in order to help threatened local species like the wood frog and blue spotted salamander.

“The effects of climate change are plain to see in Western New York,” explains O’Day. “Look at this past winter. We had times when the temperature would fluctuate more than 40 degrees in a day. That throws off an animal’s natural rhythms. Is it a time to hibernate or migrate or not? Climate change is wreaking havoc with those instincts.”

O’Day feels that this type of research is of growing importance.

“I’ve seen tremendous changes here in WNY, and not changes for the better,” says O’Day. “We’ve experienced a great deal of environmental loss. ‘Carnage’ is not too strong a word to use to describe it. I don’t think the current generation of civic leaders has done nearly enough to stem this. I think the answer will lie in the next generation, including the students I currently teach at Medaille.

They’re very enthusiastic and eager to help. That gives me hope.”

A faculty member in the College’s Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology and an alumna of Medaille’s biology program herself, Dr. Clabeaux is there with O’Day on the frontlines, echoing his advocacy and work ethic.

“The environment is telling us stories, and we need to be listening,” she explains. “We have to look carefully at what the environmental indicators are saying. That’s how we learned that DDT [a synthetic organic compound used as an insecticide] was affecting eagles and other birds of prey.”

One of her recent volunteer rehabilitation success stories involves a great horned owl infected with West Nile Virus.

“This owl had a droopy head, which is a telltale sign of West Nile,” shares Dr. Clabeaux. “I worked with him daily for two months, and he gradually started to recover. He became very active, so we moved him to a larger enclosure. He was picking up on the calls of other owls, which indicated he’d be ready to go home in the spring.”

The teacher of a wildlife rehabilitation course at Medaille, Dr. Clabeaux believes the best possible outcome is when an animal is healthy enough to be released back into the wild.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to rehab an injured animal, and it’s an unpaid job,” she explains. “But it’s something I love to do.”

Dr. Clabeaux also teaches courses on vertebrate sciences — including ornithology, mammalogy and herpetology — which aren’t offered at every school. These classes give Medaille students the skills they’ll not only need to complete their biology degree but also to succeed in the field.

Dr. Clabeaux believes it’s important to tell young people that there are plenty of good jobs available in the sciences.

“There are occupations available in this area of study that are very rewarding — environmental sciences, wildlife biology, health sciences, molecular biology and many others. Students should be aware this is a great field that can lead to a number of fulfilling careers.”

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 17

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LEARNING FROM

Best

THE

Alumni Highlight the Faculty Members Who Changed Their Lives PHOTOS BY CARLA F. KESTNER

Illana R. Lane, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“The best thing about Dr. Lane was that even though she was the head of the department at the time, she would always make time for us. She showed me the importance of investing in my own future students.”

Sarah (Gleason) Rizzo ’12, ’13 (NYS Certified Elementary Teacher)

Robert H. Johnson, Ph.D.

PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS & TECHNOLOGY

“The professors at Medaille are some of the brightest and most caring educators I ever had the privilege to learn from. Dr. Johnson helped me hone my writing while I conducted my research, and always gave me constructive criticism. I continue to utilize those skills today.”

Matthew Bucheker ’06 (Seventh and Eighth Grade Science Teacher at P.S. 76 Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy)

Melva D. Visher, M.A., RHIA

CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

“Professor Visher encouraged me to believe in myself at an especially challenging time in my life. She recognized the potential in me that I didn’t even see at the time and inspired me to help a new generation of students reach for the stars.”

Liz Wilson ’18 (Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer at Endeavor Health Services; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Business, Management & Leadership at Medaille)

If you are a student or alum of Medaille College and would like to share how a faculty member inspired you or impacted your life, email alumni@medaille.edu. Your testimony could be printed in the next Medaille magazine!

To view recent faculty news, visit medaille.edu/news.

18 Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018

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Donald E. Nowak, Jr., Ph.D., CRC

CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING & CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Louis J. Pozantides ’86, M.S.Ed. CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION & SPORT STUDIES

“I owe a debt of gratitude to professor Pozantides for continuing to fight for me, so I would get the best internship opportunities possible.

He does this for all of his students.”

“Dr. Nowak taught me Ashley (Hassett) Hirtzel ’12 that our body language (Communications Coordinator at when sitting with a client says more than our words. To Cantalician Center for Learning) this day and with every client, I remember those words of wisdom. It makes all the difference in creating the bond that is necessary between client and therapist.”

Terri K. Borchers, Ph.D., J.D.

Lynn Lauria ’16, LMHC-P (Mental Health Counselor)

Kim E. Carr, J.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

“Professor Carr made law interesting and fun to learn about. She gave real-time examples of world events that related to every topic. She is a caring, engaging, motivating and personable person.”

Nicole Rua ’12 (Safety Manager at LeChase Construction)

Patrick M. Johnson, MBA, CPA

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

“Professor Johnson helped me become prepared for a career in accounting. He provided a baseline of knowledge to prepare us for life after school, as well as for the CPA exam.”

Sam Bloomberg ’17, ’18 (Staff Accountant at Amato, Fox & Company, PC)

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

Nancy L. Pugh, D.V.M. CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY

“Dr. Pugh served as a mentor to me. She advised me that a bachelor’s degree in biology would give me a background in science and enhance the technical skills I was learning in my vet tech classes. She was right.”

Marissa Brockway ’17, ’18 (Accepted into Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine)

Lisa M. Marsherall, M.A. CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION & SPORT STUDIES

“Professor Marsherall was a huge contributor to my success and made the four years I spent at Medaille truly worthwhile.”

Brigethia Guins-Jamison ’16 (Public Relations Coordinator at Urbanity Communications)

“I learned from all of the English faculty at Medaille, as they all have unique backgrounds and specialties. I received especially good advice and encouragement about my poetry writing from Dr. Borchers. That meant a lot to me.”

Rodshaleek Pino ’18 (Recent English Program Graduate)

Claudia T. Conway, M.S.Ed. CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

“Professor Conway is a faculty member I’ll never forget. She takes the time to really get to know her students, and goes the extra mile to make sure they are performing to the best of their abilities.”

Daniel Brawn ’08, ’10 (Special Education Teacher in the Lancaster Central School District)

Gerald J. Erion, Ph.D.

PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

“Dr. Erion supported me throughout my Medaille journey. He goes above and beyond to help his students, even after graduation. He encourages them to get involved not only in the College community but also in the greater Buffalo community.”

Stephanie Appenheimer ’17 (Information Specialist at Medaille College)

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 19

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I only have fear or get uneasy if I don’t try something.

I don’t want to have regrets.

If I fail, it’s okay because at least I tried.

20 Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018

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‘H O W I S TA R T E D A N O N P R O F I T O R G A N I Z AT I O N ’:

Dionne Williamson ’94 on Designing the Right Nonprofit for Herself and Her Community

BY JANA EISENBERG PHOTOS BY CARLA F. KESTNER

STARTING A NONPROFIT is neither for the faint of heart nor the low of energy. Consider Medaille alumna Dionne (McQuiller) Williamson ’94. In late 2016, on top of her demanding full-time job and parenting two children, she decided the time was right to launch a nonprofit organization.

That nonprofit, Upward Design for Life, was born out of Williamson’s dual passions for helping others and for interior design. The company provides people in need with the essentials to make their residence a safe, comfortable and functional home. The services she provides clients — whom she gets through referrals from other agencies with which they’re already working — include everything from interior design to the donation and installation of furniture, housewares, toys for kids and more.

Williamson is most interested in helping individuals and families transitioning from homeless shelters, foster care or a domestic violence situation, as well as refugees and veterans. She calls the service a “hand up, rather than a handout.”

By day, Williamson is national sales director for Buffalo’s tourism agency, Visit Buffalo Niagara. In that role, her focus is promoting the region and attracting corporate and national associations to hold events in Western New York.

She has also worked as an entrepreneur, a salesperson and an Army Reserve personnel records specialist, and holds certifications in both diversity-focused meeting planning and interior design consultation.

“What I do in my day job helps the city’s economic development,” she explains. “The people we bring in [tourists and convention attendees] come and go.

My nonprofit is focused on those who live here and need assistance.”

The idea for the nonprofit company was percolating in Williamson’s mind for a while, and a few years ago, she realized she needed to “go for it.” She says that similar to starting any kind of business, there is a fine line between market research to determine one’s niche, and actually leaping in and getting started.

It took a year for Williamson to file articles of incorporation, submit paperwork for her 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, put together a business plan, launch a website

(upwarddesignforlife.org) and hone how she would make the organization work. It’s still, she says, “a work in progress.”

And “work” is the operative word; Williamson says it can be tricky carving out time to accomplish her goals.

“It is challenging balancing my job, my family and running the nonprofit; there are many late nights,” she says. “During the day, I strictly focus on my job. On my lunch hour, I can follow up on some nonprofit things. And many meetings, furniture pickups and client installations take place on evenings and weekends.

“I also have to take care of myself. I don’t want to burn out,” she says. “When my alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m., I have to get up, work out and get to work on time. My husband [Andre Williamson] is supportive, and since my kids are a bit older, they are both busy with their own things and can also help sometimes.”

“Help” is another operative notion.

Williamson states that without mentors, relationships and her network, she couldn’t have gotten Upward Design for Life running.

“Good relationships can last a lifetime, and people do business with people they like. Through my day job and other endeavors, I’ve made many connections,” she says. “It has been awesome to see those who have stepped up to help.”

Williamson’s Medaille education and additional experiences continue to serve her. “At Medaille, where I was very busy in addition to my studies, I learned how to prioritize,” she says. “And some courses stretched me to develop skills I didn’t have or didn’t think I could do well, like public speaking. After obtaining my business administration degree, I felt much more prepared for what was to come.”

She also credits some of her personality traits, acknowledging that even failure can be part of the journey.

“I only have fear or get uneasy if I don’t try something,” she says. “I don’t want to have regrets. If I fail, it’s okay because at least I tried.”

Williamson adds that a sense of integrity has been crucial to her success: “Life can throw a lot at you. I try to throw good things back out, so that good things can come back.

Nobody is perfect, and we all define success differently. But however you define it, remain humble. We all need others to help us.”

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 21

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Congrats

#Medaille

Medaille College is so proud of all of our alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends! We send our #MedailleCongrats to recognize the life achievements of these empowered individuals who embody Medaille’s mission of academic achievement, career success and civic engagement.

Visit medaille.edu/congrats to learn more and submit your own class note.

The graduates highlighted here are just a small sample of recent alumni successes. Follow Medaille College on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to catch all #MedailleCongrats updates and to join the celebration of our Maverick community.

1980s

#MedailleCongrats Cathy Oddo ’82 on being appointed executive director for the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas. #MedailleCongrats Tim Kwiatkowski ’86 on receiving the Friend of the Chamber Award from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce. #MedailleCongrats Michael Seifert ’87 on being named campus president of the Professional Skills Institute, a nationally accredited private university in Maumee, OH. #MedailleCongrats Mary Jean (Rumpl) Jakubowski ’88 on being named to Buffalo Business First’s 2018 “Power 250” list. She is the director of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

1990s

#MedailleCongrats Gabrielle (Calandra) Barone ’90 on her induction into Medina High School’s Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame. Barone serves as VP of business development for the Orleans Economic Development Agency. #MedailleCongrats Melissa Braun ’92 on completing her international MBA degree, with a concentration in forensic accounting, from Southern New Hampshire University. #MedailleCongrats liberal studies and MBA alumna Paulette Riederer ’95, ’99 on joining the firm of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP as human resources manager.

Alumni, 22 Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018

1990s

(cont.) #MedailleCongrats MBA alum Bob Holliday ’99 on his new position as senior director of learning and development at PTC Therapeutics, Inc.

2000s

#MedailleCongrats Bryan Krempa ’00, ’06, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, on his new position as VP, commercial lending officer at Upstate National Bank.

#MedailleCongrats MBA alum Thomas Fitzgibbon ’04 on his promotion to the position of collections and recovery division manager at KeyBank. #MedailleCongrats criminal justice alum Ronald Lux ’06 on cofounding the law firm of Herbert & Lux PLLC in Nashville, TN. #MedailleCongrats MBA alum Jonathan Gill ’07 on his new position as vice president of MDS Associates.

#MedailleCongrats BBA alum Donna McKinney ’07 on her new position as a manager at Freed Maxick CPAs.

2000s (cont.)

2010s (cont.)

#MedailleCongrats MBA alum and former Maverick athlete Craig Yanni ’07, ’09 on being named head coach of the women’s soccer program at Alfred University.

#MedailleCongrats Michael Hughes ’12 on being named to Buffalo Business First’s 2018 “Power 250” list. He is chief of staff and senior vice president at Kaleida Health.

#MedailleCongrats Rev. Darius Pridgen ’07 on being named to Buffalo Business First’s 2018 “Power 250” list. He is the president of the Buffalo Common Council and a member of Medaille’s Board of Trustees.

2010s

#MedailleCongrats John LeViness, IV ’10 on opening a lawn maintenance company, Yard Magicians, with business partner Matt Santiago.

#MedailleCongrats Ryan DiVita ’11 on being named Williamsville East High School girls basketball coach. #MedailleCongrats psychology alumna Joelle (Del Monte) Donius ’11 on being recognized

by Buffalo Business First as one of this year’s “30 Under 30” honorees. She currently works as an academic coordinator for the University at Buffalo.

#MedailleCongrats business administration and MAOL alum Jeffrey Gramlich ’11, ’12 on his new position as veterans claims examiner at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Gramlich formerly served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

#MedailleCongrats CMHC alum Nicole Hynes, LMHC ’12 on being named supervisor in the Clinical Services Department for Catholic Charities of Buffalo at its Monsignor Carr Clinic. #MedailleCongrats MBA alum Justin Badura ’13 on his promotion to vice president and business & planning manager III of the Business Controls Initiatives team within M&T Securities, Inc. #MedailleCongrats business administration alumna Mary Booth ’13 on her new position as loan coordinator at Kirkland Financial LLC in Goodlettsville, TN.

CO N TAC T DI R E C TO R OF ALU M NI E NG AG E ME NT NICK KOZIOL AT (716) 880-2207 OR njk52@medaille.edu W I T H AN Y QU E S T I O N S OR TO FIND OUT H OW YOU C AN G E T INV OLV E D.

alumniupdates alumniupdates

Congrats

#Medaille 2010s (cont.)

#MedailleCongrats vet tech and bio alumna Lauren ( Jemiolo) Shamkhalov ’13 on passing the NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Examination) and accepting a position as an associate veterinarian at a small animal general practice in Las Vegas. #MedailleCongrats BBA and MAOL alumna Jennifer Graesser ’14, ’15 on being hired as director of finance for WKBW-TV. #MedailleCongrats communication alumna Meghan Hinton ’14 on her new position as social media manager and marketing coordinator at Bartercard Buffalo. #MedailleCongrats MAOL alum Omar Parra ’14 on being hired by the Food Bank of WNY as the organization’s food sourcing coordinator. #MedailleCongrats Reverend Craig D. Pridgen, Jr. ’14, senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church in Niagara Falls and a senior business and planning analyst at M&T Bank, on his election to the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors. #MedailleCongrats communication alumna Katarina Schmieder ’14 on being hired as the communications director for the Minority Caucus of the Erie County Legislature.

2010s (cont.)

#MedailleCongrats CMHC alumna Margery Stanton ’14 on her promotion to the position of vice president of intensive mental health treatment and rehabilitation services at BestSelf Behavioral Health. #MedailleCongrats CMHC alumna Shannon Brandes ’15 on earning her license as a mental health counselor in Florida and New York State, and on opening a counseling practice, Balance Becomes You. #MedailleCongrats business administration alum Patrick Brown ’15 on his hiring as a senior business analyst, technology at DigitasLBi North America, a global marketing and technology agency. #MedailleCongrats business administration alum Brian Cleary ’15 on his new position as manager of Martin Sport at the Martin Group, a communications firm headquartered in downtown Buffalo. #MedailleCongrats sport management alum Brock Levick ’15 on being named to the coaching staff for the West Durham Ironheads Jr. B lacrosse club for the 2018 season. #MedailleCongrats biology alum Matthew Marek ’15 on his hiring as a cytogenetic technologist at LabCorp in North Carolina. #MedailleCongrats MAOL alum Martin Siminski ’15 on his promotion to the position of postmaster in Rochester, NY.

#MedailleCongrats accounting alum Rachel Meier ’15, ’16 on her promotion to the position of senior accountant at Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP. #MedailleCongrats MBA alumna Haley Bolton ’16 on her new position as assistant controller on the finance team for Lactalis American Group. #MedailleCongrats vet tech alum Simone Rose ’16 on her hiring as a neurology technician at BluePearl Veterinary Partners, a specialty and emergency pet hospital in Brooklyn.

2000s

#MedailleCongrats Medaille College Assistant Director of Academic Support Services Laura (Comstock) Horton ’06, ’11 and her husband, Steve Horton, on the birth of their son. Jack Arthur Horton was born on May 21, 2018, and joins an older brother and sister.

#MedailleCongrats accounting alum Sam Bloomberg ’17, ’18 on his new position as a staff accountant at Amato, Fox & Company, PC.

#MedailleCongrats business administration alumna Petrina Sciandra ’17 on her new position as a human resources assistant at Empower, an organization that serves individuals with disabilities in the WNY community.

#MedailleCongrats education alumna Margaret (Wilcox) Bristol ’06 and her husband, Jeremy, on the birth of their first child. Their son, Jack Tabor (pictured, at left), was born on June 28, 2017. #MedailleCongrats business administration alum Valentino Shine, Jr. ’08 and his wife Natasia on the birth of their daughter.

Araiyà Sun Shine was born on May 20, 2018.

2010s

#MedailleCongrats MAOL alum Mark Kosowski ’17 and his wife, Medaille College Assistant to the Vice President for Student Development Katie Kosowski, on the birth of their son, Carter Evan Kosowski.

Medaille Magazine I Summer 2018 23

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