Mount Saint Mary College
magazine Newburgh, New York
FALL 2012
Heritage of St. Dominic thrives at the Mount Call to Excellence campaign | Handling the hurdles | From Newburgh to Red Square
DO CE ME
Dear alumni, students, parents and friends of Mount Saint Mary College,
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This busy fall semester, we have begun our new interdisciplinary major in technology and digital media, and our new sports management courses, and our plans for a new physician assistant master’s degree program are moving forward. Then came Hurricane Sandy. The Mount had a plan in place, including generators, food, and refrigeration for medicines. With thoughts and prayers for hard hit families along the East Coast, we reached out to help keep students on track. We collected donations for Catholic Charities and the American Red Cross. And we realized once again that family, and friends and community keep us all going. One of the most important things we do is to make education as affordable as possible. Mount Saint Mary College awards academic scholarships to more than 1,000 students each year. Our Center for Student Success and our Career Center are also valuable resources to give students and families a return on their investment. Also important are the skills of mind and habits of heart that come through awareness of our historic identity and strategic plan. The college motto “Doce Me Veritatem” (Teach Me The Truth) is a strategic and sacred trust. Through the Catholic and Dominican Institute, we share an intellectual tradition promoted by Saint Dominic nearly 800 years ago. Dominic chose principles of Saint
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A letter from the President
INT MARY C SA
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine Volume 34, No. 3
Augustine, extending back to early Christianity in Africa. Dominican leaders through the years including Thomas of Aquinas and Catherine of Siena (Italy), Rose of Lima (Peru), Vincent Ferrer (Spain), Albert the Great and Jordan of Saxony (Bavaria) and more, teach us that the Gospel must be preached in action, and to the ends of the earth. “A Call to Excellence: The Campaign for the Dominican Center” will further transform our campus as we focus on engaging students, with a vibrant community that is building on the past and building for the future. You’ll find a number of examples in this magazine. You can also read more about our people, programs, news and events at our website, www.msmc.edu God bless, and have a happy and holy Christmas season. Sincerely,
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM President
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
The Office of Community Relations prepares this magazine for alumni, students, parents and friends of the College. EDITOR Janet Gianopoulos ART DIRECTOR Dean DiMarzo CONTRIBUTORS Matt Frey ’05 MSE ’10 Joan Gambeski Michelle Iacuessa ’94 Justin Satkowski GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sten Miller PHOTOGRAPHY Lee Ferris Dean DiMarzo Joan Gambeski COPYEDITING Jane Hanley Mayde Pokorny CIRCULATION 8,000 ©2012 EMAIL magazine@msmc.edu MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-0800 ADMISSIONS 888-YES-MSMC (888-937-6762)
Contents
Handling the Hurdles
Center for Student Success offers programs and one-on-one coaching to help students navigate academic challenges.
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On the cover Members of the Catholic and Dominican Institute pose in front of the Dominican Center. From left, Sr. Peggy Murphy, OP; Fr. Francis Amodio, O. Carm; Judith Manza; Irene Nunnari; Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP; Charles Zola; and Robbie Bertola. See page 8. Photo by Lee Ferris/Mount Saint Mary College
Student Journal | Psychology major Ian Brink
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Psychology professions | Planning a career
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News from the Mount | New faculty, conferences and more
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From Newburgh to Red Square | Intercultural service
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Call to Excellence | The Campaign for the Dominican Center
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Catholic and Dominican | Institute enhances heritage on campus
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On the path of a saint | Students and faculty make pilgrimage
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Preaching in action | Mount students embrace Dominican charism
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Handling the hurdles | Students surmount many challenges
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Skyline champs! | Knights bring home victory
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Alumni and Family Weekend | Photos and awards
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Alumni Notes | The latest news from Mount graduates
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Family legacy | Mount Academy graduate donates memorabilia
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Community Service Award | Businessman Bach honored
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Brink in his favorite Mount spot.
Psychology degree teaches tools for helping others STUDENT JOURNAL By Ian Brink ’14 Major: Psychology Clintondale, New York
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came to Mount Saint Mary College to study biology and physical therapy, but after my first semester, I realized that psychology is my true passion. Psychology is something I always thought I’d be good at. It’s a way to help people. That’s what drove me to both psychology and physical therapy: my desire to help others. “Caring.” If I had to use one word to describe myself, that’s what it would be. One of the most influential teachers I’ve had at the Mount is Rae Fallon. She’s a very nice person and a great teacher. I took general psychology and child psychology with her, and I learned a lot of the basics of my field. Developmental psychology with my advisor Amanda Maynard was a good, interesting course. A quote she used in that class was “from womb to tomb,” which really shows how your whole life relates to psychology. I look up to Dr. Maynard. She’s truly been very helpful as my advisor. The transition from high school to college during my freshman year
was my biggest challenge so far at the Mount. A lot of people struggle with that; I was one of them. I’ve managed to overcome it with a lot of hard work, and now in my third year, I have a good handle on my studies. Spending time on the second floor of Curtin Memorial Library, in the quiet study room, is something that helped me adjust. When you’re a college student, any time that you’re able to get real-world experience is an opportunity worth taking. Looking to put my education to use in the community, I recently joined the board of directors of the Mental Health Association in Orange County, Inc., an agency that seeks to promote positive mental health, reduce the stigma of mental illness and provide support to victims of sexual assault. They were looking for a youth member — my aunt works there — so I applied. Being on that board will show me firsthand how psychology can be applied to a social work setting. I took an intro to social work class at the
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Psychology is “something I always thought I’d be good at. It’s a way to help people. That’s what drove me to both psychology and physical therapy: my desire to help others.
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Mount and really enjoyed it, so being on this board is a great fit for me, and something I could possibly choose as a career in the future. It’s definitely something I could see myself doing. I’m also considering becoming a psychologist. I might go on to get a master’s degree in psychology after I graduate. As a psychology student, I could work with all kinds of people, from children to married couples. Having so many possibilities for my future is really exciting. I really do like psychology and I’m looking forward to making a difference.
What to do with a degree in psychology
Left | Junior Sarah Mazzetti of Wallkill, N.Y. (left) and senior Nicole DeFont of Walden, N.Y. (right) consult professor Amanda Maynard in the Mount’s psychology lab. Above | Senior Anish John of Danbury, Conn., utilizes the Mount’s psychology lab.
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any positions don’t have the word psychology in the title,” notes Amanda Maynard, associate professor of psychology at Mount Saint Mary College.
Yet, a psychology degree from the Mount can give students “the skills and knowledge set they need” to prepare for a wide range of work in teaching, government, research and many other areas. Psychology graduates have a rich cache of abilities that employers seek, such as critical thinking and research skills. At the Mount, students receive a strong foundation in research techniques and analytical skills, using statistical software to complete quantitative research. In the psychology lab, located in Aquinas Hall, students gain that hands-on experience. Also, each academic year, a variety of co-curricular experiences engage Mount psychology students. For example, Nicole Michaels, a senior from Chester, N.Y., worked at the MonroeWoodbury School District’s middle school guidance office this fall. A psychology degree has many social work applications, as Mount junior Chelsea Lopez learned. In her hometown of Newburgh, N.Y., Lopez interned at Safe Homes of Orange County, an organization that works to
eliminate domestic violence through education, outreach and services. Rachel Vega, who graduated from the Mount in 2011 with a psychology degree, was an intern at Jacobowitz & Gubits, a full-service New York law firm. Vega learned much about the legal profession from meetings with clients, going on court trips and tracking a case of criminal law from beginning to end. Freshman Shanice Robe, a Knights soccer standout, may someday raise sports psychology to a new level. As part of their coursework, Mount students are able to access resources through the college’s Center on Aging and Policy, and the Center for Adolescent Research and Development (CARD). The centers provide psychology majors, as well as students of other disciplines who are interested in the field, with many opportunities to expand their knowledge. On behalf of CARD, Andrew O’Grady ’88, LCSW-R, director of Mental Health America of Dutchess County, trained Mount psychology students and staff members in suicide
prevention. The November session focused on resident assistants, coaches and other mentors. The Center on Aging and Policy was involved in two events this fall. The Caregiver Conference, funded through a grant from the New York State Office for the Aging, examined how health reform laws create new opportunities to better recognize and support family caregivers, among other topics at the on campus event. Psychology professor Lawrence Force, director of the Center on Aging and Policy and chair of the college’s social sciences division, also welcomed participants at the fifth annual Circles of Caring Family Caregivers’ Conference in Ulster County, which examined issues including Medicaid and the costs of growing older. The college’s Aging United club, sponsored by the Center on Aging and Policy, is yet another asset for students to actively explore opportunities in service, programming and research in the field of aging. The club engages in several service events throughout the semester. Force, who is also a licensed clinical social worker and gerontologist, observes that the conferences and Aging United give Mount students a leg up in “networking, seeing new material, increasing content knowledge, and discovering new career paths.” www.msmc.edu
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News from the Mount SURE! The Kaplan Family Mathematics, Science and Technology Center bustled with student-faculty teams at the 2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Symposium. Among dozens of participants, professors James Moran and Suparna Bhalla supervised biology major Kaeley Miller, who investigated the anticancer effects of both butein and cinnamaldehyde on HeLa cervical cancer cells and L6 rat myoblast cells. Jodie Wasacz and Joseph Henain, a biology student, researched a procedure to convert the active ingredients in over-the-counter pain relief creams to aspirin. Jessica Krawec teamed up with Zachary Kudlak, assistant professor, to investigate
Kaeley Miller systems of rational difference equations with periodic coefficients. Krawec also presented at the American Mathematical Society Eastern Sectional Meeting at Rochester Institute of Technology. Peter Witkowsky guided Amy Rice as she organized Writing Center data to evaluate volume and types of assignments for which students sought assistance. Stephanie Weaver, supervised by Daniel Shea, researched primary sources on the Irish Literary Revival.
Employment secrets revealed to students The Career Center gave students an advantage with Secrets Revealed, a program featuring employers from four local businesses. Mount alumni Shannon Morris ’06 of Independent Living, Inc. and Ryan Reeves ’09 of Northwest Mutual were joined by Brian Monahan of the Monroe-Woodbury school district and Kahli Pascal-Merick of NHS Human Services to address the interview process. The Career Center
provides lifelong tools including interest assessments, job search assistance, skill development, and opportunities for internships.
Business and education unite in conference Mount Saint Mary College hosted the second annual Hudson Valley Manufacturing Conference, Growing New York State Manufacturing: 2012 and Beyond, geared to leaders in manufacturing and education. “I believe our own mid Hudson Valley can become a booming ‘tech valley’ with manufacturing, educators and businesses collaborating,” said Mount president Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, in his welcome. Keynote speakers were Willard R. Daggett, founder and chairman of the International Center for Leadership in Education, and Joanne Wright, vice president of manufac-
turing for IBM. The conference was presented by the Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing (CGAM). Above | Fr. Mackin, left, greets CGAM founder Carl E. Meyer, president of The Solar Energy Consortium.
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Also presenting
Zachary Kudlak, mathematics, participated with 162 scholars from 38 countries at the International Conference on Difference Equations and Applications in Barcelona, Spain. Kudlak presented “On Rational Difference Equations with Periodic Coefficients.” Charles Zola, philosophy, spoke about ethical dimensions of elder care/late stage care to the Luzerne/ Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging of Pennsylvania, and the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter Education and Research Conference. At the Colloquium of Dominican Colleges and Universities, Charles Zola, philosophy, and Joan Miller, education, presented “First Impressions: A Neophyte’s Reflection on Beginning a Dominican Institute” and “Searching for ‘Truth’ in a Teacher Education Program,” respectively. iROC (Investigating Research on Campus) at the Mount featured Charles Zola, philosophy, on “The Values and Disvalues of Old Age: Implications for Elder Care Ethics,” and Colleen Kirk, business, on “Touching the Intangible: Interactivity and Psychological Ownership in Consumer Value Co-Creation.” Center for Aging and Policy director Lawrence Force, psychology, urged participants to “Age Like It Matters” at the Senior Forum presented by the Orange County Office for the Aging. (Pictured above) At a UPCEA conference, Lisa Gallina and Karen Ulrich presented “Advising Adults through Various Challenges.”
New faculty join the Mount family Education: Jane Gangi
Gangi
Jane M. Gangi, PhD, is an associate professor of education. Her research includes multicultural literature and arts-based literacy. She has written “Encountering Children’s Literature: An Arts Approach” (Allyn & Bacon, 2004), and with Mary Ann Reilly and Rob Cohen, “Deepening Literacy Learning: Art and Literature Engagements in K-8 Classrooms” (Information Age Publishing, 2010). Gangi was awarded the Children’s Literature Association Faculty Research Grant in 2011, did research in Bosnia, and her new book, “Genocide in Contemporary Children’s and Young Adult Literature: Cambodia to Darfur,” will be published soon. She is “excited to join the faculty at the Mount, especially at the beginning of the Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning (CELL).”
Information Technology: Barry Jones
Jones
Barry Jones, associate professor of information technology, holds a DPS in computing studies from Pace University. His research includes computer-assisted music composition, and style and genre replication: a combination of his diverse musical and technical backgrounds. Jones is also a professional pianist and arranger, who has performed on Broadway in the orchestra pit, and at The Showboat in Kingston. “My objective is to help students realize that there is more to the educational experience than simply earning grades,” said Jones. “We can’t ignore grades, but we need to transcend them and reach a point where we enjoy not only learning the material at hand, but the process of learning.”
Nursing: Patricia McQuade
McQUADE
Patricia McQuade, who holds an MS in nursing from the University of Phoenix, recently joined the Mount as an instructor of nursing. She is an EdD candidate at the University of Phoenix in the area of curriculum and instruction. Currently, McQuade teaches in the adult accelerated degree program, and also in the nursing skills lab. “I look forward to a wonderful career in service to our school,” she said, of the Mount. She has also taught at Dominican College and Seton Hall University, where her courses included adult nursing, physical assessment, community, leadership, nursing capstone and psychiatric nursing.
Philosophy: Robert Miller
MILLER
Robert Miller, assistant professor of religious studies, earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology at the University of Scranton, an MA at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, and a PhD in biblical studies at The Catholic University of America. His specialization is Johannine literature, and his interests include Mariology, inter-textual studies and biblical typology. He recently presented a talk titled “The New Queen Esther: Mary as Esther at the Wedding at Cana” at the 2012 national meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association. Miller said he is enjoying teaching at the Mount. “I find my colleagues, staff and administration to be extremely helpful and generous. The students are thoughtful, engaging and pleasant.”
English: Stephanie Pietros
PIETROS
Stephanie Pietros teaches introductory writing and early modern literature. “So far, I have found the small, tight-knit community of faculty, staff and students here at the Mount to be very welcoming, and I’m enjoying working with both upper level English majors and new freshmen,” she said. The assistant professor holds a PhD in English literature from Fordham University, and an advanced doctoral certificate in medieval studies, with specializations in manuscripts and medieval Latin. Her current research focuses on metaphors of children and childbirth in late 16th and 17th century lyric poetry. “I’m particularly interested in instances in which poets, often male ones, describe the writing process explicitly as childbirth,” said Pietros. www.msmc.edu
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From Newburgh to
Red Square
Red Square, Moscow, Russia
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ount Saint Mary College accounting professor Tracey Niemotko had just returned from a university intercultural conference in Russia when she was invited to visit with Nora Cronin Presentation Academy students. Niemotko addressed about 50 students at the Catholic middle school for girls from low-income families, located in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. She had a lot to tell. Niemotko spoke about being from an immigrant family, her years growing up at an inner-city school in Yonkers, N.Y., and the value and importance of an education. She shared that she’s an accountant, financial advisor, attorney, and professor at the Mount. Niemotko is the recipient of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants Dr. Emanuel Saxe Outstanding CPA in Education Award. This award is designed to recognize accounting educators for distinguished service and excellence in teaching, and for contributing to and promoting the accounting profession. In one such project, Niemotko collaborated on a summer program for high school juniors interested in accounting. In addition to
discussions on goal setting and financial aid, the high school students explored business law and ethics. Speaking of her recent trip to Russia, Niemotko explained that she presented an address at Volgograd State University on the occasion of the 20th year jubilee of the Volzhsky Institute of Humanities. She also spoke to Volgograd economic and law students on “American Businesses: The Challenge to Remain Competitive in the Global Economy.” “And it’s my privilege to be here with you today,” said Niemotko to the young students in Newburgh. Nora Cronin Presentation Academy offers a holistic environment, affirming the Gospel values of faith, hope, justice and dignity, and the dreams of future businesswomen and teachers. Tracey Niemotko had given them a taste of the stuff that such dreams are made of.
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Above | Tracey Niemotko (second from right), presented Michael Guzev (second from left), president of Volzhsky Institute of Humanities, of Volgograd State University, with a congratulatory certificate. With them, from left, are Olga Penkova, vice president for academic affairs; Olga Lomakina, head of the foreign languages department; and Maxim Sevostaynov, dean of the law department. Left | Tracey Niemotko (center) speaks with students at Nora Cronin Presentation Academy (left to right) Jennifer Sandoval, Skylar Martinez and Jennie Beavo, as Sr. Yliana Hernandez, PBVM, principal, looks on.
Call to Excellence Campaign launched for Dominican Center
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ount Saint Mary College announced a new, ambitious capital campaign and revealed that it’s almost two-thirds of the way toward its goal.
The college kicked off the public phase of “A Call to Excellence: The Campaign for the Dominican Center” during Alumni and Family Weekend, with more than 500 trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students and other invitees present. The goal is to raise $10 million to aid in the transformation of the 100,000-square-foot building, which will boast a 21st century library/learning commons with state-of-the-art technologies and resources, modernized residential spaces for students, and a dining facility. College president Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM said the Dominican Center will enrich students in “habits of heart and skills of mind.” “It is time for Mount Saint Mary College to take another step forward,” said Fr. Kevin. “Our work is a strategic investment in the future of this community, region and country. I am truly grateful for your generosity and participation in ‘A Call to Excellence,’ the campaign to transform the Dominican Center into a cathedral of learning.” Campaign co-chairs Sr. Ann Sakac, OP, president emerita of the college, and James P. Smith, Jr., president of Advance Testing Company, Inc., introduced “A Call to Excellence” to the public. James W. Taylor, Jr., CEO of Taylor Biomass Energy, LLC., also chairs the campaign. Nicholas and Susan Valentine were acknowledged for the efforts of the local business campaign committee. “For those of us who have a lifelong
Opening the public campaign are (left to right): Sr. Ann Sakac, OP, president emerita of the college and campaign co-chair; major donor William Kaplan; college president Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM; James P. Smith, Jr., president of Advance Testing Company, Inc. and co-chair of the campaign; and Dr. Albert J. Gruner, chairman of the Board of Trustees. commitment to the mission of Mount Saint Mary College,” explained Sr. Ann, “the Dominican Center is more than a building and it is more than a piece of property. It is a symbol of the community that created and sustains the mission, the educational mission, of the Mount.” Smith added, “I’ve often been told that a job well begun is half done. Our good friends have taken us well beyond the halfway mark. I know that we have even more good friends in this amazing community who will take us well beyond our $10 million goal.” “Let’s make this happen,” he said with confidence. In its quiet phase, the campaign raised more than $6.4 million, including a $2.5 million donation from William Kaplan and his Kaplan Family Foundations. Further leadership gifts came from the Dyson Foundation, Dominican Sisters of Hope, Mount Saint Mary College Board of Trustees, alumni, and other close friends of the
Mount. Campus Community Campaign co-chairs Barbara Petruzzelli and Lawrence Force have also encouraged early support. The Dominican Center was first constructed in 1927. The Chapel of the Holy Rosary was added and dedicated in 1928. The chapel will be preserved and will serve as the college’s main house of worship and gathering place for special celebrations. Mount Saint Mary College opened in 1960. “In 1963, the college had a full liberal arts program that included a large department of education and nursing,” said James Finn Cotter, professor of English. “This established a foundation for students pursuing careers.” Today the Mount is ranked a Top-Tier Regional University by U.S. News & World Report, with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. For more information about the campaign for the Dominican Center, visit www.msmc.edu/excellence or call 845-569-3215. www.msmc.edu
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Sr. Nancy Murray, OP, portrays Catherine of Siena.
Fr. Robert Christian, OP
Catholic and Dominican: to study and to celebrate
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very year, hundreds of new people begin their Mount journeys, bringing more opportunities for learning about the life of the Order of Preachers, a worldwide Catholic family that’s been around for nearly eight centuries, and lives on at the college. In its strategic plan, Mount Saint Mary College included the development of the Catholic and Dominican Institute to better clarify and celebrate the meaning of the Catholic and Dominican intellectual traditions in the life of the college. The Institute’s mission, rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, is to advance the Dominican charism of study and service; to provide a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues; and to enhance Catholic and Jewish dialogue. “Speakers and programs sponsored by the institute, and co-sponsored by academic departments and others, provide additional forums for deeper discussion of issues in the curricula,” explained Charles Zola, director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute. Topics range from the making of an
For more information about the Catholic and Dominican Institute, or to view a slideshow about Mount Saint Mary College’s heritage, visit www.msmc.edu/cdi
ethical executive, to Dominican spirituality in health care, to healing at the end of life, to science and God. Zola and the advisory board, currently Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP; Sr. Peggy Murphy, OP; Irene Nunnari, professor emeriti; Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm.; and Robbie Bertola, Mount staff member, are also developing annual and recurring events. During the Mount’s 50th anniversary academic year, the Catholic and Dominican Institute inaugurated its first programs, with two lectures on business ethics by Fr. William J. Byron, SJ. Further lectures, collaborating with faculty leaders in varied academic fields, have increased student interest, and drawn in-depth notes and insightful questions from audiences.
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It’s a great fit for Zola, who has taught philosophy, ethics, business ethics and medical ethics. Many presenters share something about vocation pathways. Fr. Robert Christian, OP, who gave a talk this fall about the Second Vatican Council, spent his junior year in college in Italy, where he lived in a Dominican parish. “During that year I realized that God was calling me to priesthood in a contemplative and active religious order that prays the choral office and shares all things, even decisions, in common,” he said. After graduation, he entered the Dominican novitiate. Fr. Christian is now vice dean of theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, has educated students from around the world, and serves as Consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity. The institute also brought Sr. Nancy Murray, OP (actor Bill Murray’s sister) back to campus to present her colorful play, “Catherine of Siena: A Woman for Our Times.” She congratulated the Mount’s Ralph and Aquinas Scholars during Founders Week, and said that
From left, auxiliary bishop Dominick Lagonegro; Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP, director of the Thomistic Institute, Washington, D.C.; Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM; Cardinal Dolan; Bishop Charles Morerod, OP, of Lausanne, Fribourg and Geneva, Switzerland; and Charles Zola, director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute.
Catholic and Dominican Institute Highlights Business Ethics, and Social Justice, lectures by Fr. William Byron, SJ Dominican Charism in Health Care, and Healing at the End of Life, by Br. Ignatius Perkins, OP, PhD The Messiah Lecture, by Patrick Doering, PhD, and David Berger, PhD Thomas Aquinas and Contemporary Philosophy, Inaugural Philosophy Workshop
The Mount’s Ralph and Aquinas Scholars. Front row: Laura Lamica, Amy Goldstein, Alana DeTone, Allison Hasse, Sr. Nancy Murray, Alexis Coronato, Allison Cowan, Nicole Havrilla, Kellie Stevens, Stephanie Weaver, Christina Hartlett and Lauren Vilbig. Back row: Catherine Davidson, Sandra Wamsley, Alyssa Watkins, Jane Farino, Jessica Wood, Stephanie Morey, Charles Zola, Fr. Mackin, Jeremias Ramos, Nicole Zazzero, Emily Blew, Sarah Favata, Megan Green and Lindsey Oro.
their black and white cords, the same colors as the Dominican cross, serve as a reminder of the Mount’s motto, “Doce Me Veritatem” (Teach Me the Truth). “Looking for truth is not just black and white. It is always a melding. That will be your task as you continue to study in your field and succeed,” she said. Sr. Nancy visited theater and playwriting courses. Several students danced with her in a lively tarantella as part of the performance. “If you believe how much God loves you,” said Sr. Nancy, as St. Catherine, “you can change many things.” Author Nancy Marie Brown visited to speak about her book, “The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of Science to the Dark Ages.” Pope Sylvester II was the leading mathematician and astronomer of his day and the first Christian known to teach math using the nine Arabic numerals and zero. It is food for thought for math and science students. Zola is now planning the third annual Thomas Aquinas Philosophy Workshop, “Free Will and Moral Virtue,” to take place June 13-16, 2013 at
Mount Saint Mary College. Thomas Aquinas, an Italian priest in the Dominican Order of Preachers, was a very influential philosopher. His interest in the relationship between faith and reason, and how they work together to reveal truth, is as relevant today as in the 13th century. Scheduled workshop speakers include Fr. James Brent, OP, The Catholic University of America; Alfred Freddoso, University of Notre Dame; Michael Gorman, The Catholic University of America; John O’Callaghan, University of Notre Dame; Candace Vogler, University of Chicago; Fr. Michael Sherwin, OP, University of Fribourg; Jennifer Frey, University of Chicago; and Russell Hittinger, University of Tulsa. The workshop, co-sponsored by the Thomistic Institute, Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C., “features a distinctive opportunity for participants to hear thought-provoking presentations and to meet informally with world-class Aquinas scholars,” said Zola. “And everyone loves our campus. Mount Saint Mary College is a beautiful place to learn.”
Has Science Eliminated the Need for a Creator?, a lecture by William Carroll, PhD “My So-Called Enemy,” a film screening with Emmy awardwinning director Lisa Gossels Spirituality in Patient Care, a lecture by Jo Ann Middleton, PhD, Drew University The Second Annual Messiah Lecture: The Messianic Idea in the Dead Sea Scrolls, by Lawrence Schiffman, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Yeshiva University Thomas Aquinas & the Mind/ Body Problem, Second Annual Philosophy Workshop The Church of the Second Vatican Council: A Work Complete, Yet Always in Progress, a lecture by theologian Fr. Robert Christian, OP “Catherine of Siena: A Woman for Our Times,” by Sr. Nancy Murray, OP “The Abacus and the Cross,” by author Nancy Marie Brown
www.msmc.edu
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At Église de L’Assomption in Fanjeaux, France, left to right, Robbie Bertola, Kieran O’Keefe, Dante Cantú and Sara Baloga.
On the path of
a saint Journey explores Dominican heritage
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group of students and administrators from Mount Saint Mary College recently made a pilgrimage in the footsteps of 13th century saint Dominic de Guzman. Following Dominic’s missionary trail in France were history majors Sara Baloga and Kieran O’Keefe, along with Dante Cantú, director of the Center for Student Success, and Robbie Bertola, secretary for the mathematics and information technology division. They focused on the very places Dominic lived and preached. Baloga and O’Keefe earned credit in a course about France in the Middle Ages, where Dominic debated the Cathars, a radical movement of his time, in Fanjeaux. The group also visited the nearby basilica and monastery of Sainte Marie de Prouilhe, where Dominic established his first community of nuns in 1206. “It was an outstanding, outstanding thing that we did,” said Bertola, “to
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Kieran O’Keefe near an abbey in Lagrasse, France. walk where St. Dominic walked and to see the countryside that he saw.” They explored Toulouse, where Dominic founded the Order of Preachers in 1215, and where early follower Thomas Aquinas is buried. The Mount holds an annual conference exploring Thomistic philosophy. Dominic educated a community that would serve the Church in its affirma-
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
tion of the world as the place where Christ is discovered. Having walked and prayed along some of the same paths as Dominic, all four travelers from the Mount agreed that the sojourn enhanced their Catholic beliefs. “When you’re in the location where so much happened to St. Dominic, where everything started for such an
Sara Baloga reads from scripture during Mass in Toulouse, France, at the house where St. Dominic created the first community of friars in his Order of Preachers. important branch of the Catholic Church, it adds something to your faith,” O’Keefe explained. “It inspired an interest in me. I went home and I did a lot of research on St. Dominic.” Baloga echoed the effect: “You feel more connected to it once you’re there.” The Order of Preachers, founded to praise, to bless and to preach, embraces four pillars of life: prayer, study, community and service. The Fanjeaux trip, Cantú said, was the perfect opportunity to be immersed in the four Dominican pillars. “It’s always good to get grounded in what really underpins our foundation here at Mount Saint Mary College,” Cantú said. “It’s a real privilege…to focus on the Dominican charism, to be able to learn through the experience, and to have time for prayer.” Bertola shared her inspirations during a Founders Week celebration in October, and with students of Sr. Peggy Murphy. “If I can be an example of service to others,” said Bertola, “or if I can go the extra step when students come to me with a problem and take care of it…or if I can sit there and listen — whatever I need to be for the service of students, that’s what I’ll be.” Funding for the pilgrimage was provided by the Dominican Sisters of Hope. “We’re so grateful to the Dominican Sisters who provided this trip for us,” said Bertola. “This is a true blessing.”
Back at Mount Saint Mary College, the pilgrims share their reflections.
Mount students embrace preaching in action
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iana Pagan, a human services/ sociology major, and Jonathan Torres, a sociology major, were selected to join more than 30 students from Catholic and Dominican colleges and universities at a Preaching in Action conference in River Forest, Ill. They learned how they can incorporate St. Dominic’s charism into their lives, and pass it on to others. Through the weeklong conference, “We renewed our spiritual relationship with Christ,” said Torres. “It was the experience of a lifetime.” Students put their preaching into action in Illinois by ministering to children at San Miguel Schools in Chicago, volunteering at a soup kitchen and caring for the earth at Urban Habitat. Pagan observed that she learned many ways of preaching and how to serve. “We did a lot of spiritual learning during the day, if we weren’t out in the community doing service work,” said Pagan. She added, “I learned more about the Dominican culture. Being there made me feel closer to God, and when I came back, I wanted to keep that feeling.” The spirit stayed with the students. Torres applied his preaching in action at the Newburgh Ministry (N.Y.), an overnight shelter. “At first it was kind of intimidating,” said Torres. But as he continued to
Tiana Pagan and Jonathan Torres in front of Newburgh Ministry, an overnight shelter. serve, he realized: “The people, you know, they’re human beings. They’re just like us. They’re just in need of help.” Pagan’s dedication led her to Braeside Camp in Middletown, N.Y. She spent night and day volunteering as a counselor to economically disadvantaged children between the ages of 6 and 12. “Coming from a similar background, I was happy to do that,” she said. Torres and Pagan were selected for Preaching in Action by Fr. Francis Amodio, O. Carm., college chaplain, and by Sr. Peggy Murphy, OP, professor of religious studies. “I thank Fr. Francis for presenting this opportunity,” said Torres, who added it was truly a transformational experience. www.msmc.edu
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Hanna Sheppard, makes herself at home at Mount Saint Mary College. She’s a pre-med student.
Nursing student Ronald Lawyer, from Ghana, with Benjamin and Barbara Kotzker, who invited him to America.
Handling the hurdles
M
ount Saint Mary College students face many challenges: becoming adults, taking on careers and upholding values in their daily lives.
Some overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. When Hanna Sheppard decided to go swimming four summers ago, she had no idea her life was about to drastically change. At home in Brookhaven, N.Y., Sheppard dove into her pool from the middle, expecting to coast along the slanted floor to the deep end. Instead she hit the concrete head-on and cracked her C5 vertebra in half. Sheppard’s younger brother rescued her and she was airlifted to the hospital. For months, it seemed her autonomy was left in the depths. Today, the freshman biology student walks to class on her own, assisted by crutches. Her right hand and much of her right leg remain paralyzed, but it doesn’t bother the spunky student. “Everyone always asks me, ‘Why are you smiling? Why aren’t you depressed?’” Sheppard explained. “It’s my
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new normal. It’s fine now.” Part of establishing that “new normal” was relearning movement that once came easily. Sheppard credits her father with giving her the push she needed; about a year ago, he suggested that she stop relying on her wheelchair. She also feels that God saved her life. When doctors saw the first x-rays, they thought her accident would have more grim consequences. “God helped get me to where I am today. I know that for a fact,” she said. “If God brings you to it, He can bring you through it.” It was a long road to recovery, but Sheppard wouldn’t change a thing. The accident gave purpose to her life, she said, and led to her taking the premedical track. “Doctors helped me, so I want to help people too,” she explained. Sheppard chose Mount Saint Mary College for the personal attention from
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
professors. She describes her biology courses as “excellent.” And the intimate, walkable campus helps her to remain independent. “I know that this school is the best choice for me,” she said, adding, “I love the view and I love the dorms.”
From a village in Ghana to the City of Newburgh Nursing major Ronald Lawyer recently received a Transfer Honors Scholarship to attend Mount Saint Mary College — but the fact that he is in the United States is an amazing story in itself. Born in Ghana, Lawyer lived in the small village of Eremon. With no electricity or running water, his home was a far cry from the conveniences most Americans enjoy. His father passed away when Lawyer was a young child. Later, his mother fell ill. Caring for his sisters fell squarely on his shoulders. But, said Lawyer, “Opportunity changes everything.” Retired plumber Benjamin Kotzker, a parishioner from St. Gregory’s Church in Rockland County, met Law-
Front row: Center for Student Success academic coaches Kristy O’Brien, Megan Morrissey and Racheal Shertzer. Back row: Mount students Matthew Dalmeto, nursing major, Staten Island, N.Y.; Jennifer Giordano, psychology major, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Joseph Mando, history and secondary education, Valley Stream, N.Y. yer while on a service trip to Africa. Impressed with the young man’s intelligence, Kotzker invited Lawyer to live with him and his wife, Barbara. “Our family is his family,” said Kotzker. Lawyer agreed to complete nursing school. He’s making good on the promise, having attended Rockland Community College for two years before heading to the Mount. “It feels great,” said Lawyer, of receiving the scholarship. “There will be a lot of work ahead, but I feel honored.” Lawyer said he was driven to a career in health professions by his spiritual desire to serve others. “I like people and I want to help sick people,” he said. “There’s a joy in seeing someone come to you very sick and you give them your attention, give them the cure…Helping somebody feel better brings so much joy and peace.” At the Mount, 40 percent of freshmen aim for health professions. Lawyer enjoys the personal attention afforded to him by his professors. “I can always contact them anytime I want to address problems that I might have,” he said. He’s already succeeding in his stud-
ies, and said assistant professor Jeffrey Kahana’s history class has been very informative and enjoyable. But he was quick to point out that “pretty much all classes” have been a great learning experience. Academic advisor Frank Davis is amazed with the way Lawyer has handled the diverse challenges that life has dealt him, both in Africa and in America. “He’s a very impressive man,” said Davis. “He’s persevering.”
Helping with the hurdles: Center for Student Success Any student can hit some speed bumps on the road to achievement. In fact, students cite academic progress as a crucial factor for their perseverance. The Mount’s Center for Student Success can help, with academic and personal support services to ensure that students have the resources to flourish. Support is targeted based on attendance, motivation, class preparation, or the need for improved study skills. The transition to college can come with unexpected challenges, explained Dante Cantú, director.
“Much like a coach in sports, that’s the way our academic coaches behave here,” said Cantú. “It’s not about doing the work for them, it’s about showing students how to use the tools, and how to navigate a different environment so that they can apply their best and develop who they are.” Megan Morrissey, an academic coach and 2006 Mount graduate, said that she and fellow coaches are working with residence life staff to reach out to as many first-year students as possible. “It’s very important to be out there and be visible,” said Morrissey. “We can work on study skills. We can work on making a schedule. We can help you succeed.” Succeeding is exactly what Fishkill, N.Y. resident Anthony Junjules is doing. “This helped me a lot,” said the freshman, of his time with coach Kristy O’Brien. “I’m just happy to have it, because without it, I’d be lost.” In addition to helping Junjules select a major, the center teaches time management and study techniques. “If I need any help, I know I’m welcome,” Junjules said. “It’s a great program.” www.msmc.edu
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Sports events
Skyline M
ount Saint Mary College claimed its fourth consecutive Skyline Championship in women’s tennis. The top-seeded Knights defeated St. Joseph’s College in the semifinals and Farmingdale State College in the championship match on their way to the title. The team closed out the fall season with a perfect record of 12-0 and will compete at the NCAA Division III Tournament in May.
right | Freshman Morgan Holbrook of Montgomery, N.Y. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Skyline Conference Tournament. She accepts the plaque from Skyline Conference assistant commissioner Steve Haug.
Keep up with the Knights Read about Mount Saint Mary College sports, find stats and rosters all online at www.msmcknights.com
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
champs! I
n women’s volleyball, Mount Saint Mary College capped a perfect run through the Skyline Conference regular season with the program’s first-ever championship. The top-seeded Knights swept away St. Joseph’s College in the semifinals and ousted defending champion NYU-Poly in the title match. The team’s 23 wins are a new school record and the Knights will compete at the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history.
Below | From left to right, seniors Katharine Tischer of Port Jefferson, N.Y.; Lauren Halverson of Patchogue, N.Y.; and Mary Ann Raftery of Atlantic Beach, N.Y. accept the trophy from Skyline Conference commissioner Linda Bruno (middle-right). Raftery was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
www.msmc.edu
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Sports events Get to know our record breakers Men’s Soccer
Name: Matt Darling Hometown: Staatsburg, N.Y. Major: Mathematics (seeking certification in childhood education) Record-breaking moment: Darling broke the school record for goalkeeper career shutouts on September 19, 2012. The junior made one save in the team’s 6-0 win to earn his 11th career shutout, surpassing the old record of 10 (Chris Morra ’03). About that game: “My dad told me at the beginning of the year that the record was 10, so I had my eye on it. I got a shutout to tie the record in our first game of the season, so each game after that, I was thinking about it.” Favorite thing about the Mount: “I like being on the men’s soccer team because of the camaraderie. Outside of soccer, the education program is great and I really enjoy all of my professors.” Plans for the future: “I’m only a junior, so I’ll be student-teaching in the fall of next year. Ideally, I’d like to be a sixth grade teacher somewhere in the area.”
Women’s Volleyball
Name: Lauren Halverson Hometown: Patchogue, N.Y. Major: Mathematics (seeking certification in adolescent and special education) Minor: Psychology Record-breaking moment: Halverson took over the school record for career assists on September 15, 2012. The senior totaled 31 assists in the match, pushing her career total past the previous record of 2,032 (held by Katie Toole ‘10), as the Knights defeated Old Westbury in straight sets. About that match: “I didn’t even know that I broke the record. I had an idea that I was close, but when I found out after the match, I was thrilled and somewhat surprised.” Favorite thing about the Mount: “I love how close everyone is on campus; I’ve gained such great friends. It’s been a tremendous experience being a part of a successful team, and it’s motivated me to be just as successful in my future career in education.” Plans for the future: “Hopefully, I can become a teacher somewhere on Long Island.”
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Women’s Volleyball
Name: Mary Ann Raftery Hometown: Atlantic Beach, N.Y. Major: Public relations and media studies — journalism Record-breaking moment: Raftery claimed the school record for career kills on October 23, 2012. The senior racked up 11 kills in the match, pushing her career total past the previous mark of 839 (held by Nikomi Thompson ‘03), as the Mount defeated Bard in straight sets. About that match: “I was extremely nervous knowing that I was close, so I was a little tentative with my first few swings. My whole family was in the crowd and it was a very proud moment for me.” Favorite thing about the Mount: “I love that our team is close and that we work hard every day. Outside of volleyball, the Career Center has helped me land three great internships.” Plans for the future: “Get a job, ideally something in sports.”
Knights in the
community
Rising soccer star
Shanice Robe T W
hen freshman women’s soccer player Shanice Robe arrived on campus in August, no one could have predicted her eventual impact. But with a record-setting season on the field and her easygoing personality off the field, Robe is already making her mark at the Mount. Born and raised in Jamaica, Robe grew up playing soccer on concrete, often in her bare feet. “The majority of the time, I would play with the boys,” says Robe of her youth soccer in Jamaica. “They wouldn’t worry about marking me until I touched the ball and saw what I could do.” Robe moved to the United States when she was 15 to live with her aunt in Valley Stream, N.Y. She attended Valley Stream High School and was named second team all-state for soccer as a senior. When it came time to choose a college, Robe picked Mount Saint Mary College after meeting women’s soccer head coach Frank Martini and the HEOP staff. “I fell in love with the campus because of its size, the academics, and the chance to play soccer,” said Robe. As a member of the Knights, Robe’s 2012 campaign was nothing short of spectacular. Through the end of the season for Mount Saint Mary College, Robe led the entire NCAA, in-
Men’s baseball team helps out at local fundraising event he MSMC baseball team volunteered at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night event in Goshen on October 20. The Knights provided assistance before the event, unloading trucks full of supplies and setting up a large tent. Here, senior Mark Soevyn of Elmont, N.Y.; senior Tim Stauder of East Meadow, N.Y.; and freshman Kevin Riveiro of Malverne, N.Y. fold t-shirts to be handed out to event participants.
Robe was highlighted in the October 29, 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated.
cluding Divisions I, II, and III, with 35 goals and 74 points. The rookie scored in 18 of the team’s 22 games, tallied multiple goals in 11 different contests, and recorded the game-winning goal 12 times, also an NCAA-best. Robe closed out the regular season with two goals in her team’s 2-0 victory over NYU, a prominent national program, on October 23. She then opened the postseason with two goals in a Skyline Tournament semifinal win over Old Westbury on November 2, advancing the Knights to their third consecutive championship game. “Words can’t even explain it,” responded Robe when asked about her personal success and the success of the team. “I’m excited and proud and grateful, all at the same time.”
Mount cross country teams cheer at River View Run
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he men’s and women’s cross country teams lent many hands at the River View Run for Parkinson’s Research in Cornwall-on-Hudson on October 7. The Knights lined the course to provide encouragement and support for the runners. Proceeds from the event support Team Fox, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. www.msmc.edu
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Mount Alumni
2012
Alumni, friends and family gathered this fall to catch up, reminisce and celebrate being a part of the Mount community.
Alumni & Family Weekend
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
Alumni awards
Alumni honored for service to the community
M
ount Saint Mary College’s Alumni Association recognized a pair of exceptional alumni recently.
Christopher X. Dougherty ’95 was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Ludwig H. Bach ’82 received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College. Dougherty is a social worker and guidance counselor at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, Queens, and was appointed chair of the guidance department this year. He said that his Mount psychology degree was a “portal” that led him into his current profession. Like many Mount students, Dougherty embraced service. He volunteered in cleanup efforts after Hurricane Andrew in Homestead, Fla., in 1993, and helped at a soup kitchen and homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 1995. Inspired by those experiences, Dougherty worked with Habitat for Humanity International in 1997, in Buluba, Uganda. The experience, he said, “gave me the fire and drive to co-found an international and domestic service society at my high school alma mater, Archbishop Molloy High School,” referring to the Saint Marcellin Champagnat Society. “The Mount left an indelible mark on me. Today, as a counselor to hundreds of teens a year and dozens of young adults who get to volunteer abroad every summer, I can continue to influence them with incredible lessons I learned there,” said Dougherty. Psychology professor Paul Schwartz fondly remembers Dougherty for his charming personality and top-notch academic performance.
Ludwig H. Bach was presented with the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College.
“Chris was one of the brightest, most motivated, talented and enthusiastic students I have had in my 30-plus years teaching here,” said Schwartz. “It was wonderful to see him at our last reunion.” Bach, founder and president of Spectrum Pension and Compensation, Inc. in Newburgh, was honored for his devoted service to the college and the greater Newburgh community. “The Mount, the faculty and staff helped shape me as an individual both personally and professionally,” said Bach, a former vice chair of Mount Saint Mary College’s board of trustees. Bach attended St. Fidelis in College Point, N.Y., an elementary school run by the Dominican Sisters. He then attended Holy Cross High School in Bayside run by the Brothers of Notre Dame, before attending the Mount.
Christopher X. Dougherty
recently received the Mount’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
A sour economy at the time of Bach’s graduation was not enough to discourage him. With his business degree, top academic standings and a referral from Ernie Mills, the Mount’s Dean of Students at the time, he was able to secure an entry-level position with an employee benefits consulting firm. Bach used his experience at the firm to help him found Spectrum Pension and Compensation, Inc. in 1994. He started Summit Actuarial Services, LLC eight years later. Both businesses provide consulting, administrative and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans. In addition, Bach is a registered representative with the New York Life Insurance Company. His offices are located in Newburgh. “I am forever grateful to the Mount and all that it has done for me,” said Bach. www.msmc.edu
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Mount Alumni Alumni Notes 1967
Ann Marie Boyle retired from teaching in 2007, and then volunteered at De La Salle School in Freeport, N.Y., in the Ignatian Volunteer Corps with Kevin Rall ‘05, dean of students. She moved to Florida in 2008, and is volunteering for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in St. Timothy Parish. Ann Marie said, “Hope all at the Mount are well. I loved teaching thanks to Sr. Agnes Boyle and the staff of the Mount.” Joan (Kennedy) Tolley is chair of Friends of Our Cabaña, a group that supports the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
1968
Donna (Krause) Flynn is working at Arnold Worldwide in Boston as a functions manager.
1969
Geralyn (Long) Peterkin has been married for 57 years to Roger Peterkin, Jr. They have two sons, two daughters, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Geralyn, a retired educator, is now teaching a course on Shakespeare in Falmouth, Mass.
1971
Natalie (DiDomenico) Karl, a retired teacher, is a student teaching supervisor at the Mount and an adjunct at SUNY New Paltz. Natalie has been married for 32 years, is mother to one, step-mother to four, and grandmother to eight.
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Nancy (Travis) Sanford and husband, Brian, say, “We are richly blessed to be spending our retirement in The Villages, Florida. We love spending time with our 1-year-old granddaughters who live in Tampa and Davenport. We are otherwise occupied with volunteer work.”
1972
Bonnie (Bandos) Templer is enjoying her grandsons, 5-year-old Spencer and 2-yearold Owen, and is anticipating a granddaughter in February.
1974
Jill (Ford), Roy Reams, Kathy (O’Keefe) Stanley, Carol (Parker) Shufelt, Kathy (Hirschy) Mayer, Kathy (Burzenski) Sendewicz, Kathy (Murphy) Spangler and Patricia Cavanagh celebrated turning 60 together in the Bahamas.
1975
Mary (Politi) Thomas retired from teaching after 32 years. Mary was also a student teacher supervisor for the Mount and SUNY New Paltz. She married Ken Thomas in 2001 and was widowed in 2010. She has three children and three grandchildren. Mary is also co-partner and owner of An Amariken Soy Candle Co. LLC.
1977
Patrice (Ford) Fogarty said, “Celebrating our 35 year reunion were Lynne Ejercito, Lori Chudzik, Rosie Blank, Karen Marinelli and I. It was a blast.” Joan (Fenton) Henry and her husband became grandparents on March 13, 2012 with the birth of Corinne Elisabeth Henry. “After raising two boys,
it is such a joy to have a little girl,” said Joan.
1980
Doris Hettinger-Mackey is on a quest to find colleges for her children, twins Charles and Julia, both 17, and the Mount is on their list.
1982
Linda (Dobias) Dombroski is a nurse manager of a medicalsurgical unit at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, and an adjunct professor at the Mount. She will celebrate her 29th anniversary with her husband, Greg, in January. Michele (Laporta) Freeman’s daughter, Danielle, graduated from the Mount in 2012 with a bachelor’s in history and certification in education.
Births 1997
1992
Sean Creighton and wife, Ayanna, welcomed their second child on August 6, 2012. Sean Timothy Creighton II weighed 9 lbs., 9 oz. and was 22 inches long. Shannon Kelsey Griffin welcomed a daughter, Maggie, to her family on April 13, 2012.
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
Angela Brust-Balogun and her husband, Tunde, welcomed their first child, Delancey Oluwadamilare Balogun, born July 20, 2012 at the Burdett Care Center. He weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. and was 20.5 inches long.
1998
Jaime Weingartner welcomed a daughter, Isabella Marie, on February 4, 2012. She was 6 lbs., 1 oz. and 18.5 inches long.
2000
Matt DeGuire and Jami (Jordan) DeGuire ‘99 welcomed their son, Zachary Jordan, on February 18, 2012. Matt graduated with his master’s in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut in May 2012. He is a school counselor at Wethersfield High School, also in Connecticut.
2003
Jenny-Ann (Harris) Lally and husband, Richard, had their second child, William “Liam” Richard, on August 6, 2012.
Second annual Alumni Gathering at Saratoga Race Course Joy Bento ‘68 and friends
Carol Shufelt, Kathy and Bob Mayer
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ount alumni headed to the Saratoga Race Course on opening weekend for a fun-filled day at the races. After brunch at the Inn at Saratoga, the alumni hit the track and enjoyed some high-octane camaraderie. We will be gathering next year during opening weekend. More details to follow. We hope you will be able to join us.
Stay connected! “Like” us on Facebook at www.msmc.edu/facebook
Paula (Parisi) Peaden practices estate planning and elder law in Richmond, Va. She was named Super Lawyer, Preeminent Woman Attorney, and Five Star Professional, and has an AV rating from MartindaleHubbell. She serves as chair of the VBA elder law section.
1984
Colleen (Keating) Stevens’ daughter Emily graduated from St. Louis University in May. Son Matt is at the University of North Carolina. Colleen and Larry celebrated their 25th anniversary Oct. 10. Colleen added, “Emily interned in Uganda, where she fell in love with a lonely, mistreated
girl. We have spent the better part of a year going through the adoption process, and as I write this, we are in Kampala, Uganda nervously anticipating our final court date.”
1985
Susan (Hausermann) Kleinke has been teaching in Saugerties Central School District for 14 years. Her son, Christian, begins Navy basic training in March. Her daughter, Joyce, will graduate with an English degree from the Mount.
1987
Larry Dauer and his wife, Lisa, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have two boys
in college. Larry serves on the staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He was also elected a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the International Commission on Radiological Protection Committee on Protection in Medicine, and the International Organization of Medical Physics Science Council.
1988
Lina (Scaramellino) Amisson’s oldest son married last year. Her daughter, a teachercounselor in Connecticut, is engaged. Lina’s youngest son graduated last spring and has a 2-year-old daughter.
1990
Rhonda (Keenan) Altonen and her husband Brian moved back to New York from Denver, Colo. In July, Rhonda accepted the position of assistant director of the library at the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown, N.Y. Bonnie Patterson retired and moved to Yarmouth Port, Mass., in 2012.
1991
Teri (Kane) Rennia lives in Binghamton, N.Y. with her three children and husband of 22 years, Jeff. They own Enviren Services, Inc., which www.msmc.edu
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Mount Alumni Marriages 2003
Jeanne Yaskovic married John Coleman, Jr. on May 26, 2012 at Le Chambord, Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Nicole (Rizzo) Martin ’03 was the matron of honor. Alicia (Hock) Plevritis ’03 was a bridesmaid.
services environmental test equipment. They also founded Enviren Calibrations and will soon unveil their newest venture, Enviren Test Labs. Teri is a second term councilwoman for the City of Binghamton.
1994
In Memoriam William Bauman, spouse of Margaret Bauman ’70, passed away January 31, 2012. Michael S. Hamilton ’94 passed away September 13, 2012. Cheryl (Sholes) Martin ’79 passed away January 20, 2005. Donna McGuire, sister of Constance Deho ’84, passed away August 12, 2012. Dan Parisi, father of Paula Parisi ’82 passed away December 14, 2011. Richard Peckham, father of Elizabeth Jane (Peckham) Potts ‘84, passed away September 7, 2012. James E. Stevens ’92 passed away August 22, 2012.
Joy (Orzechowski) Gould competed in the 2012 Shape Diva Dash in Boston, Mass. a three-mile road and trail, women-only obstacle race. Joy completed the course in 46:18:03. Beth (Hoffman) Lohmeyer received a master’s in library and information science with a concentration in school media from Syracuse University.
1996
Loryn (Miller) Lind is director of public relations for the Department of Defense, Program Executive Office Ammunition.
1998
Joseph Palamara, a veterinarian for nearly a decade, completed a three-year residency in small animal surgery at the Animal Specialty
Center in Yonkers, N.Y. He trained in soft-tissue, neurologic, orthopedic surgery, and interventional vascular and non-vascular surgical procedures. Joseph works as a staff surgeon at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, N.Y.
1999
Michelle Bond was recently promoted to vice president of Campaign Consultation, Inc., a Baltimore-based firm that creates and executes social change campaigns. This summer she managed their first virtual conference for 1,500 attendees across the country.
2000
Mary Fattal is currently a teacher at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Wallington, N.J.
2001
Joseph Polvere is in his 12th year as a teacher in the Tenafly, N.J. school district, and his fourth year as vice president of his union. He resides in Emerson, N.J. with his wife and son.
2003
Laura (Caserta) Torchia, married for seven years, has a 3-year-old son and a 6-month-old daughter. Laura is in her 10th year of teaching high school special education.
Share your news! Alumni Notes are a wonderful way of letting your classmates know about your professional and personal achievements. Just visit the website at www.msmc.edu/notes
22 Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
2005
Norman Pedersen has been working for Project Excel with Easter Seals for four years. He is a co-teacher in an integrated classroom, teaching numbers, shapes, colors and letters to young students, including special needs children. It’s been “an interesting learning experience,” he said.
2006
Sean Glander received the 2012 Orange County Rising Star Award, given to those who live, work or volunteer in Orange County and have displayed outstanding leadership skills. He was recently promoted to senior accountant at Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell, LLP.
2011
Urszula Wyluda is teaching sixth grade writing and social studies at E.B. Kennelly School in Hartford, Conn. She and her class celebrated College Day, a way to get kids excited about attending college, on October 10, 2012. They proudly displayed Mount memorabilia.
2012
Meghan Darcy landed a job as a production/account coordinator with Ellenbogen Creative Media’s Seven21 media center in Kingston, N.Y.
Friends of the Mount 19th century medals of commendation from Mount Saint Mary Academy
Karen Fogarty Schwingel; Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM; and William Schwingel Beanies from Bishop Dunn Memorial School and Mount Saint Mary Academy
Left | Fine ceramics by Sr. Eusebio Guala, OP
Academy grad gives 19th and 20th century memorabilia to the Mount
Fogarty family legacy W
hen Karen Fogarty Schwingel of Randolph, N.J. returned to campus in October to celebrate the 50th reunion of her graduation from Mount Saint Mary Academy, she brought four medals of commendation from the school, which had been inscribed and presented to her great-aunts Katie and Anne Fogarty by the Dominican Sisters in the early 1890s. “I wanted to share them with my classmates and then give them to the college so that they may be preserved in the academy archives,” said Schwingel of the class of 1962. The awards included those for ladylike deportment, general excellence and arithmetic. “I grew up in Newburgh,” Schwingel shared. “When I was a little girl, my mother would walk my younger brothers and me to the gate on Liberty Street and then we would walk up the steps to the campus.” She attended the Casa San Jose for kindergarten and Bishop Dunn Memorial School before enrolling at the academy. Her brothers, Mike and twins Jack and Bill, were altar servers and participated in processions and celebrations. “We grew very fond of the Dominican sisters, especially Sr. Julianna, who taught at Bishop
The late Martha Brennan Fogarty and John Fogarty, former Mount trustee
Dunn for many years, and Sr. Yvonne, who was a gifted French teacher,” she said. Schwingel’s paternal cousins, Ann and Mary Ellen McKneally, also attended the academy. Their father, George McNeally, was a former mayor of Newburgh. Schwingel’s father, the late John Fogarty, was an engineer and building contractor who served as a trustee of Mount Saint Mary College in the 1960s and 1970s. “As my brother Mike recalled, Dad helped the sisters with building projects and finances. He would be so proud to see the campus today, and if he were here, would be the ‘superintendent’ in back of the builders at all times. He expected the highest quality in all work done for the Mount,” Schwingel relayed. Sr. Ann Sakac, OP, college president
emerita, echoed Schwingel’s thoughts. “John Fogarty was a gem,” said Sr. Sakac. “When I became interim president, he gave me a tour of the City and Town of Newburgh so I could become more familiar with the area. He and his wife, Martha Brennan Fogarty, a teacher in Newburgh, were such gracious and giving people. We were so fortunate to have them involved in the development of the college at such a pivotal time.”
Annual “Lawn Party” remembered The Fogarty family also helped the sisters with their annual “Lawn Party” on the fields between the Dominican Center and Bishop Dunn. Busloads of students, nuns and family members would travel from Dominican missions in the tri-state area to spend a day in Newburgh. The carnival-like tradition included games and kiosks where the sisters would sell handmade goods, including freshbaked bread, religious items and special ceramic pieces crafted by Sr. Eusebio Guala, OP, and her students. Schwingel donated several pieces of Sr. Eusebio’s work, noted for its luster and gold accents, to the archives as well, so that future generations of students can appreciate the talents and legacies of those from decades past. www.msmc.edu
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Friends of the Mount Businessman Bach honored by MSMC Speaker tells students, “A life guided by the Ten Commandments is an honorable life”
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udwig “Lou” H. Bach ‘82, founder and president of Spectrum Pension and Compensation, Inc. in Newburgh, was presented with the Mount Saint Mary College Community Service Award and students were recognized for their achievements at an academic convocation this fall. Bach was praised for his dedicated service to the Mount and the greater Newburgh community. Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president of the college, cited proclamations from the New York State Senate, and certificates of recognition from Orange County and the U.S. Congress, which saluted Bach for his accomplishments. Fr. Mackin also applauded Bach’s traits including character, honor, consistency and enthusiasm. A Mount Saint Mary College trustee for nine years, Bach has also been active on the board of Newburgh Teacher Center, Orange County Chamber of Commerce and local fundraisers for Parkinson’s disease research. An avid runner and golfer, he has served as chair for the Mount’s annual invitational golf tournaments. “Tom DeBenedictus invited me to join the golf committee and a couple of years later I was asked to join the Board of Trustees,” said Bach. “I was honored to serve my alma mater and help to uphold its mission.” Bach, a son of German-speaking immigrants who emphasized a strong work ethic coupled with Catholic values, began his education in Queens,
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Pictured left to right: Iris J. Turkenkopf, vice president for academic affairs; Ludwig H. Bach and his wife Maureen Flotard Bach; Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president of the college. N.Y., at St. Fidelis run by the Dominican Sisters, and then Holy Cross High School with the Brothers of Notre Dame. In 1978, his family moved to Warwick, where rural areas of Orange County reminded his parents of their homeland. After graduating summa cum laude from Mount Saint Mary College with a business degree in 1982, and gaining job experience, Bach founded Spectrum Pension and Compensation, Inc. in 1994. Eight years later, he started Summit Actuarial Services, LLC. He is also a registered representative with the New York Life Insurance Company. Bach’s sister, Susan Bach, also graduated from the Mount in 1982 and is the senior vice president at Summit Actuarial. She encouraged her brother to transfer from Syracuse and join her at the Mount. “I am who I am because of the foundation that I got right here,” he told
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | FALL 2012
the audience, referring to his experience as a Mount student. In recognition of his many contributions as an alumnus, Bach was also awarded the Alumni Association’s President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College this fall. Bach advised the students that their lives would be full of many choices. “I can also assure you that your choice of Mount Saint Mary College was a great one. What you will learn here will give you the tools you will need to succeed in life,” he said. “The values and the ethics that you learn here will give you the ability to avoid being driven by greed, or a personal agenda that may harm other people,” he added. “As gold medalist Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin said, when asked what she attributed her success to, she said, ‘It was the advice that I got from my parents. What they told me was work hard, love with all your heart, and be kind.’ ”
2 View more photos from Mount events!
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3 1. Susan Bach ’82; Sr. Ann Stankiewicz, OP; Sr. Patricia Sullivan, OP, ‘64; Lou Bach ‘82
3. Ludwig Bach, Jr.; Adam Bach; Meagan Bach; Lauren Doyle ‘11
2. Lynn Frank; Anthony Costa; Dr. Scott Hayworth; Charles Frank
4. David Sager; Charles Tallardy; Andrea Karnavezous
Visit www.msmc.edu/flickr to see the Mount’s latest photos.
4 5. Susan Maloney; Richard Mainey; Joseph Maloney 6. Michael Kelly; Thomas Weddell; Michael Turturro
5 7. Sr. Ann Sakac, OP; Susan Najork; James Beard; Lou Bach ‘82 8. Susan Pretak; Jack Pretak; Barbara Petruzzelli
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8 www.msmc.edu
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Air Force, National Guard fly flags overseas for Mount
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aj. Bruno Gaita MBA ’08, of the U.S. Air Force, recently presented Mount Saint Mary College president Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM with an American flag that had been flown in Afghanistan. Gaita spent seven months as a logistics squadron commander at Camp Bastion. The flag flew over the camp. “I present it to the college as a small token of appreciation for everything the school has done for me,” Gaita said. The Mount grad teaches on campus and in the adult accelerated courses at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Gaita has been stationed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh for 20 years, and returned from Afghanistan in September 2012. This was not the first time a Mount instructor flew an American flag overseas for the college. Senior Master Sgt. Mark Cozzupoli MBA ’07, of the New York Air National Guard, recently served on a combat mission in Afghanistan and raised the red, white and blue. Cozzupoli also teaches for the Mount at West Point. He said that he was proud to be part of the Mount Saint Mary College community. Fr. Mackin is impressed with the qualities of these instructors. “They serve the United States well, and they serve our students well, especially those at West Point,” he said.
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM receives the American flag that U.S. Air Force Maj. Bruno Gaita, who teaches business classes, donated to the college.
Senior Master Sgt. Mark Cozzupoli, of the New York Air National Guard, flew a flag in the name of Mount Saint Mary College. He’s receiving an award from his commander overseas.