a magazine for Neumann University alumni, family and friends
Vol. 47, No. 1 • Winter 2019
Building a Shared Vision for
2022
Save the Date View event details and register online at www.alumni.neumann.edu Friday, March 15 Charter/Sponsorship Day Thursday, March 28 Knight-2-Knight Student & Alumni Networking Dinner Student Multi-Purpose Hall in the John J. Mullen Communication Center
Saturday, April 6 Twentieth Annual Scholarship Gala Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, 7 p.m. www.neumann.edu/gala19
Saturday, May 11 Commencement www.neumann.edu/graduation
Monday, June 3 Neumann University Brendan P. Kelly ’87 Celebrity Golf Classic Penn Oaks Golf Club • www.neumann.edu/golf
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a magazine for NEUMANN UNIVERSITY alumni, family and friends Vol. 47, No. 1 • Winter 2019 President
Dr. Chris Everett Domes Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement
F E AT U R E S
Kevin Quinn, MA, CFRE Executive Director, Marketing and Communications
Building a Shared Vision for
2022
Birth of the Health 7 Sciences Center
Director of Publications
12 Four Pillars of the Strategic Plan
Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement
at Alumni Awards 18 41andHonored Hall of Fame
Alumna Helps Autism 21 Program Take Flight On the Cover: The four pillars of the strategic plan for 2022
Stephen T. Bell
D E P A R T M E N T S 3 From the President 4 Around Campus 23 Class Notes
Carol DiAntonio
Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Contributors
Danielle Friel ’09 Carolyn Seagraves ’84 Jill Weigel Photography
David Jackson Kelly & Massa Hunter Martin Jerry Millevoi Accent Magazine is published two times annually by Neumann University, Office of Public Relations and Marketing, One Neumann Drive, Aston, PA 19014-1298 (610) 558-5549 Copyright by Neumann University. Accent Magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of Neumann University and is printed on recycled paper. Information in this issue was received by 12/31/18. Please send change-of-address correspondence to: Office of Institutional Advancement Neumann University One Neumann Drive Aston, PA 19014-1298 or to alumni@neumann.edu.
“
We both believe in giving back to a place that supplied us with the knowledge that helped in preparing us for great careers. We both loved our college experience at Neumann and have made many lifelong friendships. We know that even a small gift can help a student afford the Neumann experience.
”
Alex ’12 and Jessica ‘12 Dickinson and son
Jessica first gave to the Class of 2012 Campaign. Having given every year since and for five consecutive years, she is now a member of The Knights of the Round Table.
Your gift to the Neumann Fund can help a student grow, learn and succeed by enriching the student experience with academic programs, scholarships, athletics, student activities and services.
Which area will you choose to support? The Annual Fund The Scholarship Fund The Athletic Fund
YOUR
GIFT. CHOICE. IMPACT.
Learn more at www.neumann.edu/Giving
FROM THE PRESIDENT
To Our Alumni and Friends, In this issue of Accent magazine, we are sharing with you a glimpse into Neumann University’s future. From early in 2018, the university community has been immersed in the challenging task of creating the next institutional strategic plan, one that will guide us through 2021-22. The overarching goal of the plan is that Neumann will graduate 750 men and women each year: Who are well prepared, positive role models, trustworthy citizens, and caring stewards of our world Who are prepared to serve as transformational leaders in the world W ho are successful professionals, ready to contribute to their fields in health care, business, social services, education, technology, government service Who will make a lifelong commitment to share their gifts and talents in service to others So, how do we get there? The blueprint to achieve this goal was the focus of University Management Team meetings, an Executive Team retreat, small-group discussions at Welcome Back Day, faculty-staff surveys and workshops, meetings of board committees, 24 guided conversations with faculty and staff, a Board of Trustees retreat, and a December 18 forum with the campus community. From all of these discussions, four major themes emerged: leadership, excellence, visibility, and resources. These concepts are the pillars of Neumann University’s next strategic plan, all built on the bedrock of Catholic Franciscan values. Some of the details about how these concepts will influence Neumann’s course during the next three years appear on pages 12 – 15 of this issue of Accent. During this spring semester, departments throughout campus will craft their own plans, all of which will focus on supporting the larger university plan and making it successful. The culmination of this planning process will occur in May, when we present the definitive version of the strategic plan to the Board of Trustees for approval. With the support of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and the prayers of our alumni and friends, we look confidently to the future.
Dr. Chris Everett Domes President
Winter 2019 3
Christmas Cards with a Personal Touch
d n u o r A
Neumann’s 2018 Christmas cards had a personal touch because students designed them. Mia Cimino, a sophomore Social Work major, created art that Dr. Chris Domes, university president, used as his official holiday greeting card. This card was sent to approximately 1,800 people, including faculty and staff, the board of trustees, major donors, and members of the Domes family. Mia’s art depicts an open manger scene with three kings bearing gifts for the Christ child beneath a golden sky and the star they followed to the birthplace. Stephanie Vogelman, a senior Social Work major, designed a card that the Office of Admission sent to all high school students who were admitted to Neumann for fall 2019. The estimated audience for this card was 1,000. Stephanie’s design shows St. Francis and St. Nicholas in the foreground with children playing in the snow behind them. St. Francis is surrounded by animals while St. Nicholas is distributing Christmas presents.
Art Inspired by Compassion Lauren Skurla, a Nursing major, has won second place in a national art contest sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network. She received a $250 prize, and her art was displayed at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C., in January. Submissions had to reflect a theme related to Saints Francis or Clare of Assisi and be no larger than 27 x 39 inches. “I created a mixed media piece that tells the story of St. Francis and the leper,” explained Lauren. “I think that the compassion St. Francis exhibited in caring for the leper is similar to the compassion that nurses show in caring for the sick. I see a real connection between the Franciscan tradition, the profession of nursing, and the values of Neumann University.”
4 Accent Magazine
Nursing Student Is Psychiatric Scholar
Ingrid Hausner, a Nursing major, was selected in the fall as a 2018 American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Board of Directors Student Scholar. Only 30 scholarships were awarded in the country: 15 for graduate students and 15 for undergraduate students. The scholarship included registration, travel expenses and lodging to attend the APNA 32nd Annual Conference in Ohio, and a one-year membership in APNA, which will provide the opportunity to network with others in the profession. Ingrid hadn’t considered psychiatric nursing until she took a course in mental health. She credits her professors for her interest in the field.
Breakfast with Santa The Knights for Education club hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa on December 1 in Community Hall. Admission was an unwrapped children’s toy. The hundreds of gifts collected every year are donated to the Sacred Heart of Camden parish for its Christmas shopping event at which parents can shop for gifts priced under $5, making Christmas shopping possible for needy families. Supervising the logistics for the event provides Education majors with practical experience: interacting with children as they meet Santa, organizing a complex activity that involves hundreds of people, and collaborating with a nonprofit to provide a community service.
Christmas Video Everyone has heard the Bing Crosby-David Bowie version of Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy, a Christmas favorite. Forty-one years after the debut of this tune, Neumann used it as inspiration for a holiday video. In a three-minute production, Dr. Chris Domes, university president, falls asleep while watching the Crosby-Bowie duet and dreams of Neumann’s version of the classic song, performed by students as a Christmas gift to all of the university’s friends and neighbors. Behind the scenes, Neumann students handled all elements of production, from videography to lighting and sound. An interesting note about the original duet is that it almost never occurred. According to a 2006 article in The Washington Post, “Bowie, who was 30 at the time, and Crosby, then 73, recorded the duet Sept. 11, 1977, for Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas TV special. A month later, Crosby was dead of a heart attack. The special was broadcast on CBS about a month after his death.”
s p u m a c En Espanol
Two Neumann voices were heard hundreds of times on La Mega, the #1 radio station among Hispanics in the Philadelphia market, in the four weeks before the university’s November 17 undergraduate open house. Gabriela Pena, a Liberal Arts major, and Barbara Guardiola, the administrative assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences, recorded 30-second promotional spots in Spanish that aired on La Mega more than 200 times. La Mega, 105.7 FM, broadcasts Spanish music, nationally syndicated programs, and Philadelphia Eagles games. The music mix includes Salsa, Latin Pop, Merengue, Bachata and Reggaeton. The Hispanic population in Philadelphia and South Jersey is approximately 400,000.
Delco DA Addresses Opioid Crisis The opioid crisis is a national phenomenon that has serious local repercussions. Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun “Kat” Copeland spoke about the county’s response to the opioid crisis on November 20 in a program that was open to all students. In her remarks, she addressed drug enforcement investigations and prosecutions, and discussed how the county is continuing to respond to the opioid crisis. Her campus visit was arranged by faculty in the Criminal Justice program, which is based on the concept of restorative justice — a philosophy that is built on the goals of justice, forgiveness and rehabilitation.
Freshman Enrollment Soars 17% Maintaining student enrollment has been difficult for colleges in many parts of America during the last several years. Overall college enrollment in the U.S. declined for the sixth straight year in 2017 with institutions in the Midwest and Northeast being hit the hardest. Private colleges and universities are feeling the most pressure with more than two-thirds not meeting their enrollment or revenue goals in 2016. Despite the national trend of declining enrollment, Neumann enrolled 420 first-year students this fall, an increase of 17% over its 2017 class of 360 first-year students. Dr. Chris Domes, Neumann’s president who arrived on campus just one year ago in July 2017, has a background in higher education enrollment management and admissions.
Students Stage Greccio Campus Ministry hosted the university’s annual Greccio Live Nativity Celebration on December 2 in front of the Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development. Students and faculty re-enacted the Franciscan tradition of the crib, first celebrated in Greccio, Italy, performing the Live Nativity scene and the scripture narration. The program also featured Christmas music, performed by the Holy Family Regional School Children’s Choir. The Live Nativity was first staged in 1223 when a group of friars, organized by St. Francis of Assisi, led a singing throng of local residents to Greccio, a simple monastery in the heart of Italy. The villagers witnessed a primitive crib, surrounded by farm animals and peasants who re-enacted the birth of Christ. This ritual has been celebrated ever since that year, in Greccio and around the world.
Saving the American Chestnut During the fall, biology professor Mac Given and 11 students helped harvest American chestnuts at Tyler Arboretum in Media. These nuts did not find their way to the roasting pit, however. The harvest is done in an attempt to save the American chestnut tree from disease and extinction by restoring a blight-resistant American chestnut tree to the natural landscape. A fungus, which was brought to the United States more than 100 years ago from China, is killing the tree. To preserve the species, Tyler harvests nuts each fall to support breeding at other locations around the state. The harvesting program is now providing advanced hybrids that are seven generations into the process of capturing resistance to the chestnut blight.
Winter 2019 5
s u p m a c d n u o Ar
Data Analytics Lab A brand new Data Analytics Lab opened for the spring 2019 semester, and the space was christened during a grand opening celebration on January 24. Located on the third floor of the Rocco Abessinio Building, the lab features glass classroom walls, a stock market ticker, mounted TVs with stock information, three 75" instructional monitors, rise-display monitors at each desk, and a server lab for hacking simulations. The lab provides the cutting-edge technology for two new undergraduate majors: Cybersecurity and Data Science Analytics.
New MS in Athletic Training
Day of Service One day after they moved into residence halls, more than 400 first-year students flooded local organizations, schools and charities to provide a day of service to the community. They tackled projects like cleaning, painting and yard work for the Aston Fire Company, the Boys and Girls Club of Chester, Drexel Neumann Academy, Fair Acres, Media Food Bank, Providence Animal Center, and 20 other area organizations from Philadelphia to Wilmington. The Day of Service is part of Welcome Weekend for both commuters and residents at Neumann. The activity is in keeping with the university’s Franciscan tradition, which emphasizes that “knowledge is a gift to be used in the service of others.”
ISSCD Celebrates 20th Anniversary Neumann’s Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development (ISSCD) celebrated its 20th anniversary by presenting its annual award to Kevin Reilly, a former National Football League player whose athletic career was cut short by a desmoid tumor which, three years later, resulted in the loss of his left arm. Reilly battled through this adversity to become a marketing executive and motivational speaker. The ISSCD was founded in 1999 and has presented awards since 2011. Previous recipients include Ron Meyer (2016-2017), Haley Scott DeMaria (2015-2016), Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (2014-2015), Ann Donovan (2013-2014), Coaches vs Cancer of Philadelphia (2012-2013), and Keith Primeau ’11 (2011-2012). The ISSCD seeks to create inspirational programming and offer motivational content that transforms perspectives, inspires behavior and deepens awareness of self, others and God. 6 Accent Magazine
In the summer of 2019, Neumann will launch a master’s degree in athletic training. The new program is designed to be completed in a minimum of four semesters for a total of 43 credits. All courses are offered in a hybrid format and include classroom learning and clinical rotations. Originally, Neumann offered an undergraduate degree in athletic training; however, CAATE, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, no longer recognizes undergraduate degree programs in athletic training. “Our program had a great reputation as an undergraduate program and we plan to have the same for our new master’s program as we transition,” explained Hubert Lee, director of the Athletic Training program.
Blessing of the Animals Campus Ministry held its annual Blessing of the Animals on September 30 in St. John Neumann Circle. This celebration commemorates St. Francis of Assisi’s love for creation and for all of God’s creatures. The event kicked off a week-long campus celebration of the legacy of St. Francis, who is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Father Stephen D. Thorne, university chaplain, blessed animals of all kinds: hamsters, rabbits, dogs and cats. The feast of St. Francis is officially celebrated on October 4.
Health Sciences Center Opens The new Health Sciences Center, built during 2017-18, opened in January. An extension of the Rocco Abessinio Building, the Center adds approximately 17,000 square feet of instruction and lab space to accommodate projected growth in the doctoral program in Physical Therapy, the new master’s degree in Athletic Training, and undergraduate programs in Nursing and the Health Sciences. Key components of the project are: • six physical therapy/athletic training labs • a state-of-the-art nursing instruction auditorium with 300 seats • a two-story atrium with a fireplace At the grand opening and blessing of the building on December 11, the nursing lecture hall was named the Bayada Teaching Auditorium in recognition of a generous gift made by Ann and Mark Baiada to support the new building. The Baiadas are longtime friends of the university. Ann currently serves as chair of the board of trustees, and Mark is the founder of Bayada Home Health Care. The teaching auditorium marks the second campus space carrying the Bayada name. The face of the Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development, a towering space illuminated by five pillars and used for many campus events, is the Bayada Atrium. “With one out of every four jobs that were created last year coming from the healthcare sector, Neumann University is positioning itself to be a center for healthcare careers at both the undergraduate and graduate level,” said Dr. Lawrence DiPaolo, vice president for academic affairs. The additional space provided by the Center facilitates the education of nurses, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise and nutrition specialists, preparing young men and women to serve in the health care professions in the Tri-State area.
The grand opening of the Health Sciences Center was on December 11 with music and refreshments in the atrium.
Dr. Chris and Mary Domes joined Ann and Mark Baiada at the naming of the Bayada Teaching Auditorium. The Health Sciences Center includes six labs, faculty offices, and a 300-seat auditorium.
Winter 2019 7
: s t r A The
From Jazz Band to Banned Books
Fashion Show
Jazz Band
Children always steal the spotlight at the Cultural Arts Forum Fashion Show, and this year was no different.
Sophomore Carly Petitdemange provided vocals for the Jazz Band’s holiday concert.
University Players In the fall production of Pericles, Hayden Brown and Michael Stellabotte played Boult and Lysimachus.
8 Accent Magazine
Art
Samantha Locklear, a senior English major, presented an original artwork entitled “Haecceity” at a National Undergraduate Conference on Body Image at Cabrini University in September.
Concert Chorale One singer expressed her holiday spirit for all to see during the Concert Chorale’s Christmas performance.
Banned Books Week Banned Books Week is an annual event, sponsored by the American Library Association, celebrating the freedom to read and highlighting the value of free and open access to information. The English department marked the event with an evening of reading selections from banned books, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in the Mullen Multipurpose Hall. The readings were also broadcast on 98.5 WNUW.
Ballet International Ballet Classique’s lavish production of The Nutcracker once again played to packed houses in early December.
Winter 2019 9
Mary and Dr. Chris Domes congratulate Gavin Ford, the MVP of the men’s soccer team. Gavin was also named to the Atlantic East First Team and won the conference Rookie of the Year award.
The men’s cross country team placed fourth at the Atlantic East Championship.
SPORTS WRAP-UP Kaitlin Thomas made the Atlantic East First Team and was named Rookie of the Year in women’s soccer.
10 Accent Magazine
Melanie Malseed brought home a ton of honors in women’s volleyball: American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-America, AVCA All East Region, Atlantic East First Team, and Atlantic East Defensive Player of the Year.
FALL Men’s Soccer
Field Hockey
Cross Country
11-5-2, 5-0-1 Atlantic East First Atlantic East Champion No. 1 seed in Atlantic East postseason ECAC Tournament Bid
9-8, 3-2 Atlantic East Atlantic East Semifinals
Men Placed fourth out of seven teams at the Atlantic East Championship
Atlantic East Rookie of the Year: Gavin Ford Atlantic East First Team: Gavin Ford, Marlon Trejo, Andrew Kelly Atlantic East Second Team: Brady Simon, Daniel Rival United Soccer Coaches All Mid-Atlantic Third Team: Gavin Ford
Women’s Soccer 8-8-1, 3-2-1 Atlantic East Atlantic East First Round Atlantic East Rookie of the Year: Kaitlin Thomas Atlantic East First Team: Kaitlin Thomas, Carissa Britton Atlantic East Second Team: Taylor Garman, Anna Attardi
Atlantic East Player of the Year: Chelsea Kulesza Atlantic East First Team: Chelsea Kulesza
Women’s Volleyball 17-17, 4-2 Atlantic East Atlantic East Semifinals Atlantic East Defensive Player of the Year: Melanie Malseed Atlantic East First Team: Melanie Malseed, Rachael Hoffman Atlantic East Second Team: Rachel Cray AVCA All-East Region: Melanie Malseed AVCA Honorable Mention All-America: Melanie Malseed
Atlantic East Second Team: Tommy Andruszko Women Did not place at Championships
Chelsea Kulesza was the Atlantic East Player of the Year and a First Team selection in field hockey.
Winter 2019 11
Building a Shared Vision for
2022
For more than a year, Dr. Chris Domes has been orchestrating the construction of a new strategic plan for Neumann University. He has listened to constituents, researched best practices, tested ideas, and invited feedback. With the three-year plan close to its final form, university departments will spend the spring semester creating their own plans to support the broad, institutional vision before the new plan launches in July 2019. From the moment Dr. Domes arrived on campus and began his listening tours in the summer of 2017, he was collecting data with a new strategic plan in mind. The process accelerated in 2018 with an analysis of the 2015-19 plan by University Management Team, an Executive Team retreat, small-group discussions at Welcome Back Day, faculty-staff surveys and workshops, meetings of board committees, 24 guided conversations with faculty and staff, a board of trustees retreat, and a president’s forum with the campus community.
The result is a clear strategic goal for Neumann in 2022.
12  Accent Magazine
Faculty and staff packed the Meagher Theatre on Welcome Back Day to report on discussions held during lunch.
STRATEGIC GOAL: Neumann will graduate 750 men and women each year . . .
. . . who are . . . who are well-prepared, prepared to serve as positive role-models, transformational trustworthy citizens, leaders in and caring the world. stewards of Catholic our world.
Education in the Franciscan Tradition
. . . who are successful professionals ready to contribute to their fields in health care, business, social services, education, technology, and government service.
. . . who will make a life-long commitment to share their gifts and talents in service to others.
From lunch table discussions and guided conversations to surveys and workshops, the campus community engaged with the strategic planning process.
Winter 2019  13 
Neumann University will be known as a distinctive national leader in developing, educating, and forming compassionate transformational leaders. ●N eumann University will be nationally recognized for the transformational leaders for critical roles in health care, education, social service, and business through the vibrant living out of the Catholic and Franciscan values of Neumann University. ● E stablish a culture of leadership threaded throughout curricular and co-curricular programs so that every student, employee, and faculty member will gain valuable leadership tools within their specific discipline or role on the campus.
● Create a centralized collaborative leadership program to coordinate, promote, and measure student participation in all areas of campus leadership — athletics, ministry, student government, residential life, volunteer service work, etc. ● S trengthen leadership by committing to a comprehensive leadership program focused on respecting diversity, striving for excellence, and embracing integrity.
● I mplement a leadership assessment strategy for the university by adopting a common leadership assessment tool; creating a common language of leadership; determining institutional leadership benchmarks; implementing bestin class programs to promote leadership development; and establishing common teambuilding practices.
● The Franciscan values of Neumann University (Reverence, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship) RISES will be evident in our graduates and foundational to their professional and personal lives.
The pat goal is bu
FOUR
concepts leadership, visibili resou
Strengthen Neumann University’s stakeholder communication both internally and externally. ●D evelop communication and messages for secondary school leaders, community college students, church and community leaders, and corporate leaders. ●D evelop a communication plan to provide more intentional and regular information and updates to all internal stakeholder groups, including board of trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and friends of the university.
14 Accent Magazine
●D evelop a new brand message to attract prospective students and their families. Important measures of effective brand messaging are enrollment and a growing residential population.
Although the text above is the most current iteration of the new university blueprint The timeline calls for the final version to be prese
Continue to advance the academic quality of Neumann University to the top of the group of our peer institutions. ●M aintain a high level of satisfaction among Neumann students and alumni. ● S trengthen retention rate from freshmen to sophomore year. ● I mprove graduation rates. ●C ontinue to strengthen and enhance the graduate student learning experience. ●A cknowledge Neumann University’s strengths — emphasizing both the diversity of the student population and post-graduation outcomes.
● I nvest in technology that supports current learning trends and state of the art services that align with best practices. ●C ontinue to expand, grow, adapt, and strength undergraduate programs. ●C ontinue to respond to graduate students and working adult students by expanding and adapting programs that are attractive to future academic and professional pathways.
●M easure test results, professional exam results, job placement, and graduate/professional school acceptance rates to ensure high learning outcomes across all academic programs and levels. ●M easure alumni participation in the Church, support of nonprofit organizations, and specific volunteer work to lift up the marginalized and vulnerable.
th to this uilt around
R KEY
s or pillars: , excellence, ity and urces.
Secure the financial resources needed to increase our current net assets to fully achieve the aggressively aspirational vision and goals of Neumann University’s Strategic Plan 2022.
●P rovide the facilities required to serve the university’s vision and mission and accommodate enrollment growth, particularly in the health sciences and business.
●C ontinue to improve and enhance instructional spaces, technology, and facilities for collaborative learning.
● I nvest in instructional technology to increase access and grow capacity for on-line and blended delivery of academic programs.
●B uild Neumann University’s Welcome Center to meet the needs of current and prospective students.
●P rovide the facilities to support student life programming, leadership development, and mission-centered extracurricular activities.
● E nhance athletic facilities to continue to attract and retain quality student athletes.
t, Dr. Domes is still revising the exact language describing the four pillars of the plan. ented to the board of trustees in May of this year.
● I ncrease scholarship funds to provide access to students and to sustain a commitment to affordability for all students and their families.
Winter 2019 15
Gala 2012
Gala 2009
Starting in 2002, Neumann has presented Presidential Humanitarian Awards at every gala. In 2009, the recipients were Father John McNamee and Sister Leslie Birks, OSF ’72.
The Fabulous Greaseband entertains the crowd with music that draws people to the dance floor.
s e i r o m e Gala M2000 – 2018 Since its launch in 2000, the University Scholarship Gala has raised millions to help students experience Catholic education in the Franciscan tradition. The gala is known for the presence of Presidential Ambassadors, the presentation of Presidential Humanitarian Awards, and most especially, for the venues of the event through the years. Neumann has held its signature event at Longwood Gardens, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Constitution Center, the Franklin Institute, and many other unique locations throughout the Delaware Valley.
Gala 2018 Dr. Chris Everett Domes congratulates Vince Cipollone ’04, who accepted the Presidential Humanitarian Award on behalf of Wawa, Inc.
Gala 2015
16 Accent Magazine
On the 50th anniversary of the university, The Priests entertained the largest crowd ever to attend a Neumann Scholarship Gala.
2019 Presidential Humanitarian Award Recipients Jay Devine President and CEO, Devine + Partners
e t a D e h Save t
Bridget Guiney Devine Devoted advocate for Catholic education
Philip P. Jaurigue Chairman and CEO, Sabre Systems, Inc.
Past Recipients 2018
Wawa, Inc.
2017
Mario Civera, Jr. Eileen McDonnell Sister Clare Christi Schiefer, OSF
2016
Donna Crilley Farrell Sister Betty Kirk, OSF Father Bill Atkinson
2015
Sister Mary Kathryn Dougherty John Ford and Sandra Sollod Poster Frank and Marie Janton ’13
2014
The Honorable Stephen Barrrar Jack and Faith Holefelder
2013
Edward and Ellen Hanway
2012
The Ministry of Caring Kerry Fraser
2011
The Honorable Dominic Pileggi
2010
Sister Theodore Klingseisen, OSF Bill Baldini
2009
Sister Leslie Birks, OSF ’72 Father John McNamee
2008
Brian Tierney
2007
Daniel Kennedy
2006
Pierce and Mary Kathleen Keating
2005
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia Drs. Gino and Mary Longo Papola
2004
Pat Ciarrocchi
2003
Jim Murray
2002
Patrick Meehan, Esq.
20th Anniversary
p i h s r a l o h c S a l a G
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
For ticket and sponsorship information, visit www.neumann.edu/gala.
First Scholarship Gala March 25, 2000 at Longwood Gardens
Winter 2019 17
OCTOBER 12 –13, 2018
HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS
Alumni Awards FRONT: Ashley Dabb ’10 (Business and Information Management Distinguished Alumni Award), Noelle Stack ’09 (Alumni Association Volunteer of the Year), Kerry Ronan ’09 (Nursing and Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award), Maria Sotomayor-Giacomucci ’13 (Young Alumni Achievement Award). BACK: Regina Haney ’72 (President’s Distinguished Alumni Award), Diane Holefelder ’10 ’12 (John Neumann Award), Mary Domes, Dr. Chris Domes, Ethelind Baylor ’14 (Continuing Adult and Professional Studies Distinguished Alumni Award), Annmarie Kelly ’01 (Alumni Association Recognition Award), and MaryAnn Wallen ’04 (Education and Human Services Distinguished Alumni Award). NOT PICTURED: William V. Gagliardi (Honorary Alumni Award), and Roberta D. Pichini, Esq. ’77 (Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award).
Hall of Fame
1999 Baseball Team — FRONT: Don Conaway ’02 ’05, Jason Jordan ’99, Chris Vanni ’99, Coach Leonard Schuler ’85 ’08, Brian Schuler ’99, Shaun Donahue ’02, Eric Rosen ’02. BACK: Bob Cook ’02, Nick Rowe ’02, Aaron Brooks ’00, Chuck Smith ’99, Chris Neskie ’01, Bill Mahan ’01, Vince DeFrank ’01, Joe Lafferty ’01, David Deal ’02. 18 Accent Magazine
Alumni Games Alumni games drew dozens of graduates back to campus to test their skills, sometimes against current student-athletes.
Picnic
Fireworks No picnic is complete without lots of delicious food, and Homecoming 2018 did not disappoint.
PGH Lecture
Gretchen Key delivered the annual Philadelphia General Hospital Endowed Lecture on Saturday morning. Her topic was “Adverse Childhood Experiences: Greatest Public Health Issue of our Times.”
After the President’s Reception on Friday evening, students gathered outside the Mirenda Center to enjoy the traditional fireworks display.
Follies
Professors John Mizzoni and Terry Gleeson were one of the stellar acts at Faculty and Alumni Follies.
Winter 2019 19
Title III Grant to Provide Academic Support Neumann University recently received a Title III Grant from the US Department of Education. This $2.1 million grant will be spread over the next five years and will be used primarily to enhance and expand academic support services and to improve writing proficiency among the students. According to the Department of Education website, the grant helps eligible institutions of higher education to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students. Funds may be used for planning, faculty development, the development and improvement of academic programs, and student service programs designed to improve academic success. The accepted grant proposal is titled Building a Culture of Engagement, Retention and Completion. It was designed to raise both retention and graduation rates by 2022. As a result of this grant, Neumann hopes to establish a one stop shop for advising, tutoring and beyond by establishing a student success center on the ground floor of the Bachmann Building.
Melissa Thorpe, director of institutional research; Dr. Lawrence DiPaolo, vice president for academic affairs; Kimberly McDermott ’97, director of institutional gifts and donor relations; Dr. Al Mueller, dean of arts and sciences; Marcia Finch, senior research analyst; Michael Mullen, dean of academic support services; Joy Crawford, academic advising specialist; and Dr. Chris Domes, university president were part of the team that created the successful Title III grant proposal. Not Pictured are Bridget Haines-Frank, dean of students, and Theresa Huke, director of the Academic Resource Center.
“Part of the proposal allotted funds to be spent on creating an appropriate environment which allows for efficient collaboration amongst academic support offices in support of student success,” said Mike Mullen, Dean of Academic Support Services.
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Neumann has a history with the Title III Grant dating back to 2007, the first time the institution applied for and received the grant. The funds were used to establish the Academic Advising Center, centralize development education and to re-design the freshman seminar course, INT 101.
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20 Accent Magazine
e l i f o r P i n m u l A
A True Champion for Autism Awareness Ryan Hammond ’00 has had a long history with the Philadelphia Eagles. As a student at Neumann University in the late 1990s, she worked as an intern for the team. That internship led to a full-time job with the Eagles organization. Hammond left the organization in 2008 but returned last year as the executive director of the Eagles Autism Challenge. Along the way, she always kept autism awareness front and center in her professional life. Hammond, who graduated in 2000 with a degree in sport management, began her Eagles relationship as a premium services coordinator and later promoted to premium services manager. She loved being a part of the Eagles organization for eight years; however, at that point, she had a family and it was growing. Trying to balance her work with two young daughters and a third on the way caused Hammond to look for a more manageable work situation. Her next stop would be Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia which housed The Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support. The center, which was founded in 2009, provides multidisciplinary education and research opportunities for students, teachers, professionals, and parents who seek to improve and extend opportunities, outcomes, quality of life and best practices in treatment for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). While Hammond was at St. Joseph’s University, she earned her executive MBA degree. “I was continually inspired to create change for this community. I made a huge commitment to start an adult program because you’re an adult longer than you are a child,” said Hammond. Hammond worked to craft various programs for The Kinney Center in addition to launching numerous successful fundraising campaigns. She was also instrumental in securing waiver services so that families with children with autism could pay for these programs. “We also started a college support program for college students with autism,” she explained. As the executive director of The Kinney Center, Hammond saw the growth of programs that trained St. Joe’s college students to work with children and adults with autism. Families were offered one-onone support and summer camp programs were established. She even had her own daughters attend the camps and serve as peer mentors. Throughout her journey with The Kinney Center and her deep devotion to the autistic community, Hammond remained in contact with Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. Lurie has a brother who has autism. “I would keep him informed about what we were doing at The Kinney Center and he was involved with donations,” Hammond said. According to Hammond, the Eagles organization always had an interest in promoting and supporting people with autism. While still
at St. Joe’s, Hammond had a meeting with Eagles management and gave them feedback about starting an autism awareness program. Lurie told her that his number one goal was to win a Super Bowl and his number two goal was to get an autism awareness program started. Hammond believed that Lurie is a visionary who is committed to autism awareness and research. “It became personal and about really changing people’s lives. It brought me back,” she explained. “We have this really great representation of people across the organization to support us.” The first day Hammond started back with the Eagles she launched an aggressive $25,000 campaign for the Eagles Autism Challenge. This year, with the help of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University and Thomas Jefferson Hospital, Hammond was able to raise $2.5 million dollars which was used for autism research and care. Hammond’s job responsibilities as executive director of the Eagles Autism Challenge are far reaching. In addition to fundraising and planning events, she has also sought to improve the NFL experience for fans who have autism. “We have designated quiet spaces that families can utilize during the games and we are looking to build a sensory room in our stadium next year,” she said. On May 18, 2019, Hammond and the team will host the Eagles Autism Challenge which is a 15-mile bike ride, and family-friendly 5K run/walk as well as a sensory walk. All of the participant-raised funds will go toward autism research and programs at beneficiary institutions along with other area institutions advancing autism research. Hammond and Lurie plan to continue to build the Eagles Autism Challenge in numerous ways. Perhaps the most important aspect is to increase acceptance of people with autism, and Hammond is already starting to see these changes. “We are giving families that positive reinforcement around autism. People are now embracing autism because the Eagles do,” she said. Winter 2019 21
Acevedo Steals the Show at
P
resident’s Thanksgiving Reception
Dr. Chris and Mary Domes with Elise Acevedo
More than 120 friends of the university gathered at the Springhaven Club in mid-November for Neumann’s annual expression of gratitude to donors and supporters. Seated at every table during the meal were two students, first-hand examples of the hard-working recipients of the scholarship support that is critical to their continued college success. One of these students, Elise Acevedo, had the opportunity to address the crowd, and she stole the show. A senior majoring in Education, Elise recalled the day when one of her high school teachers told her that college was not for her and that she should not pursue higher education. At Neumann, Elise is a Presidential Ambassador, the president of Knights for Education, a residence life coordinator, a Neumann Navigator, and recipient of the Matthew R. Hallinan ’08 Memorial Scholarship. “I felt so honored to be a speaker at the President’s Thanksgiving Reception,” she said. “While I was rehearsing my speech, I was able to see all of the opportunities that Neumann University provides for all of their students. I continue to replay that evening in my head, and rethink of all the positive feedback that I received from the attendees. Their recognition
22 Accent Magazine
and support was overwhelming. My journey at Neumann will not cease when I graduate. The reception has validated the importance of giving back and the need for contributions for students like me.” Another student, Gabraelle McCauley, had the opportunity to meet the person after
whom her scholarship is named — Sr. Margaret M. Lewis, OSF. This scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing (GPA 3.0 or higher) and who majors in clinical laboratory science or biology.
Gabraelle McCauley (second from the right) met Sr. Margaret Lewis, OSF, PhD (far right), the namesake of the scholarship that Gabraelle receives. Also pictured are Tyler Cox (Sr. Margaret’s grand-nephew), Rita Lewis, and Tom Lewis II, Sr. Margaret’s nephew who endowed the scholarship.
s e t o N Class BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS
Sarah Kurpel ‘02, B.A., ‘10, M.S., recently acquired the Director of Athletics & Extra Curricular Programs position at Mastery Charter Schools.
Laura ’12, B.A., ’15, B.S. and Ben Curley ’15, B.S., welcomed
Erica Johnson ‘03, B.S., recently
earned the position of Guest Services Coordinator at QVC.
son Lincoln Alexander on June 12, 2018.
Noelle Stack ‘09, B.S., recently earned
her MSN in Nursing Leadership from Drexel University and earned the Nurse Manager position for the Care Management Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Katelin ’14, B.A., and Tyler Drinkard ’14, B.A., welcomed
son Luca Robert Drinkard on June 27, 2018.
Michael Van Sant ’12, B.S., recently
started a new position at Ametek as a state tax specialist.
Brooke Nugent ’17, B.A. welcomed
sweet baby girl, Stella Grace into the world in July 2018.
CAREERS Paul Valcukas ‘93, B.S., now works part-time as a production crew member for Blue Ridge Cable TV. Keep a watch out for BRCTV13 trucks at high school and East Stroudsburg University football and basketball games in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Shannon Mortimer ’00, B.A., ’08, M.S.,
went through extensive training over the past year to prepare for the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) that became effective in Europe on May 25, 2018.
Lindsay Hochman ‘14, B.S., started a job at Cento Fine Foods as Assistant Product Developer in June 2017. Jillian DeFina ’15, B.A., started
a new position at Archmere Academy as their Campus Minister, Theology Teacher, and Head Coach of the JV Field Hockey team. JoHanna Metzger ‘16, B.S., was recently hired as a Special Education Teacher at Seneca High School in Tabernacle, New Jersey. Francisco Welde ’16, B.S., joins Pennsylvania Institute of Technology as a Public Relations and Admissions Representative. Casey Kilduff ‘16, B.S., was awarded
the 2018 Jim Britt “A Game” Award from Snider Hockey for serving as an exemplary employee whose performance clearly demonstrates the company’s values of teamwork, effort, and integrity.
James Boyda ‘16, B.A., was hired by
the Philadelphia Police Department in his junior year at Neumann. After completing the police academy, he finished his degree at Neumann and served his total number of years with the Philadelphia PD. He has since been hired by the Delaware State Police assigned to Troop 4 Barracks in Georgetown, DE.
Shaelynn Risley ’17, B.S., is the new
Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Rosemont College.
Christina Criniti ‘17, B.A., has acquired the position of Administrative Assistant to the Chief Doctor of Gastroenterology at Drexel University College of Medicine. Kianna Caiby ‘18, B.A., has acquired the
Coordinator of Operations Processing position in the Enrollment Management Operations Department at Drexel University. Continued 0n page 24 Winter 2019 23
d e u n i t n o c s e t o N Class EDUCATION
ENGAGEMENTS AND WEDDINGS
Antija Allen (Moore) ’02, B.A., received her docorate in Adult Learning and Leadership.
Kerry Ronan ‘09, B.S., married Shane Howey ‘10, B.S., on September 8, 2018.
Shannon Evans ’16, B.A., recently graduated from St. Joseph’s University with her M.S in Education and a Reading Specialist certification. She will be teaching third grade at Hudson Arts and Science Charter School in Kearny, NJ.
Meghan Thomas (Long) ’14, B.A., and Marc Thomas ’14, B.A., were married on July 6,
2018.
Terrance (TJ) Monaghan ’15, B.S., and Chelsea Wegfahrt ’15, B.A., got engaged at
Rittenhouse Square on June 28, 2018.
Cathy Stanowski ’10, B.A.,
married Joe Stanowski on June 10, 2017.
Lindsay Hochman ’14, B.S., got engaged to Mark Falconi in October 2017.
Brittany Peters ’16, B.A., got
engaged on June 24, 2018 to Matthew Sheneman.
Leila Weiss ’14, B.S., got Alicia Epps (Higginson) ’13, B.A., married Joshua Epps ’16, M.S. on May 27, 2018.
engaged to Jeff Evans on the beach on September 1, 2018. Martria Hamilton ’16, B.A., got engaged to Dante Henry and will be getting married in April 2019!
IN THE NEWS In 2016, after battling Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,
Stephanie Barlow ’10, B.S.,
joined the volunteer team with the Delaware Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She campaigned for their Man and Woman of the year campaign and raised $34,000 towards the eradication of blood cancers. She then received the Touching Lives Award.
Kristin Heritage (Ambrose) ’13, B.A., and Erik Heritage ’14, B.S., were married on
July 7, 2018 at William Heritage Winery.
Andrew Scannella ’15, B.S., and Mary Kay (Helm) Scannella ‘16, B.S. were
married on May 5, 2018.
Jose Jimenez ’16, B.S., got
engaged to Morgan Carper in Lancaster, PA on September 1, 2018.
Gary Loesch ’16, B.S., has been
named Sacramento’s new Fire Chief. Chief Loesch spent over 30 years with the Philadelphia Fire Department.
WHERE are you and WHAT are you doing?
Let us know of any changes in your life that you would like to share at www.alumni.neumann.edu/classnotes 24 Accent Magazine
Dear Alumni, Neumann Knights have an abundance of Neumann Pride and it shows in both supportive gifts and supportive actions! Consider these twelve activities in 2019 that can lead to transformational changes at Neumann.
JANUARY Join us on Facebook or Instagram! FEBRUARY Write 10-15 Pride postcards to newly admitted students, www.alumni.neumann.edu/countmein MARCH Nominate yourself or another for Alumni Awards, www.alumni.neumann.edu/awards
APRIL Make an online gift in honor of the scholarship you received, www.alumni.neumann.edu/neumannfund MAY Submit a class note online,
www.alumni.neumann.edu/classnotes
JUNE Save the date and plan to come to
Homecoming with your Neumann crew, www.alumni.neumann.edu/homecoming
JULY Join the Neumann alumni LinkedIn Group AUGUST Share an alumni event or news story with a fellow Knight, www.neumann.edu
SEPTEMBER Consider volunteering
at Neumann. Big or small! www.alumni.neumann.edu/countmein
OCTOBER Tour campus and see what’s new either online or in person!
In Memoriam
Sr. Rita Marie Burian, O. S. F. ’72 Joann Louise (Smith) Chedeville ’86 Sr. Kathleen Cronin, O.S.F. Steven R. Derby Amy Karman ’87 Leon J. Kazmierczak Helen S. Markwardt Sr. Kathleen McMullin, O.S.F. ’81 Pauline B. Neeser
NOVEMBER Tell at least one college-seeking
student about Neumann and share the website, www.neumann.edu
DECEMBER Accept a gift from Neumann. Check out your benefits including free undergraduate classes, details on webpage www.alumni.neumann.edu/benefits
Patricia L. Saggese ’90 Christine Sorton ’03
Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement Winter 2019 25
Faculty Publications, Conferences and Awards Jenelle Abnett, assistant professor education, along with Megan Scranton,
associate professor, education, presented “Literacy Assessment Tools for SLPs: Usability and Value of Quick Diagnostic Screening Tools within the RTI Framework” at the American Speech — Language — Hearing Association (ASHA) Conference in Boston, MA in October 2018. Gail Shanley Corso, professor English
and humanities, presented two lectures at Neumann University sponsored by the graduate program in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling in November 2018. She also presented on William Carlos Williams’s poetry in his collection, Journey to Love at the New Directions in the Humanities Conference held at the University of Pennsylvania and published the article Journey to Love: William Carlos Williams’s Introspective Journey and His Testament to the ‘Other’ and Sacredness in the Thisness of Life” in Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice in July 2018. David DiMarco, professor mathematics, along with Ryan Savitz, professor
mathematics, created a series of math colloquia that were hosted at Neumann University. Marcia Finch, senior research analyst,
served on the North East Association for Institutional Research (NEAIR) Nominations Committee, as well as the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee and was recently elected to the Nominations Committee. She organized a panel for the November 2018 NEAIR conference titled “Dig Deeper! Multivariate Analyses on Surveys”. Finch also led the effort to create a poster titled “Your Feedback from the 44th Annual NEAIR Conference” detailing the feedback provided from last year’s NEAIR conference.
26 Accent Magazine
Timothy Hanna, assistant professor
pastoral clinical mental health counseling, presented the following presentations: Teaching and learning empathy, interpathy and communiopathy for social transformation in times of cultural trauma at the Society for Pastoral Theology (SPT) Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA in June 2018, A spirit of advocacy: Exploring the narrative intersectionality of religion/spirituality and social justice in counselor formation at the Maryland Counseling Association (MCA) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD in November 2018, and An essential thread in counseling practice: Addressing the role of religion and spirituality in clients’ emotional health at the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA in November 2018. He also gave the poster presentations titled The integrated advocate: Exploring the intersection of religion/spirituality and social justice in counselor formation at the PCA Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA in November 2018. Nathan Hardy, assistant professor
marketing, published the article, “Writer’s Toolbox: Marketing—Avoid Hard Selling” in the Penn Writer. He presented at the annual Neumann University Convivium to the faculty on the marketing research findings from 641 surveys of high school juniors and seniors in the tri-state Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Chris Haug, vice president for student
affairs, presented Serving at a Catholic College or University: A Primer for New Professionals Considering a Career in Catholic Higher Education at the NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Region II Careers in Student Affairs Drive-In Conference at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, October 2018.
Leanne Havis, professor criminal
justice, published three entries, “Prison Arts Programs,” “Sentencing Disparities and Discrimination in Sentencing,” and “The Sentencing of Mothers and Parental Rights” in American Prisons and Jails: An Encyclopedia of Controversies and Trends, December 2018. She also published the article, “The Exam Autopsy: An Integrated Post-Exam Assessment Model,” in the January 2019 issue of the International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and presented a session on this same project in a session called “Using an ‘Exam Autopsy’ Approach to Promote Self-Regulated Learning” at the Teaching Professor Conference in June 2018. James Houck, professor pastoral
counseling, published the book “When Ancestors Weep: Healing the Soul From Intergenerational Trauma.” Julie Lanzillo, assistant professor
sport management/sport business, co-authored the article “An Interdisciplinary Perspective of Incorporating Social Media into Teaching Practice,” in the International Journal of Digital Literacy and Digital Competence.
The Philadelphia Inquirer and Delaware County Daily Times published articles about research by Samuel Lemon, who has spent more than 30 years collecting evidence he hopes will fully exonerate Alexander McClay Williams, a 16-yearold African American boy who was executed for allegedly killing a white woman in October 1930.
Kudos Andrea M Lobacz, assistant professor
athletic training, presented Proprioceptive Function is Impaired and Associated with Poor Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Hamstring Strain Injury and Negative Emotional Stimuli Increase Neurocognitive Processing in the Brain at the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in New Orleans, LA in June 2018. She also published “Neuroplastic changes in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patients from neuromechanical decoupling” in the Scan J Sports Med. Amy M. Luckowski, assistant professor
nursing, presented “Suicide and Trauma Assessment” at the Forensic Nursing Across the Lifespan Conference of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, Pennsylvania Chapter in June 2018.
Tiffany McGregor, director of library services, along with Maureen Williams, coordinator of information literacy and reference, and Jessica Zappasodi ’13, library systems technician, presented a poster entitled: LibEats: One Library’s First Steps to Addressing Food Insecurity and Nutritional Literacy at the ACRL/ NY 2018 Symposium, Libraries in Direct Action in December 2018. Andrew Miller, assistant professor
history, gave the following presentations: “The Battle of Gettysburg” at the Wesley Enhanced Living, Media, PA, “Delaware County in the First World War” at the Springfield Historical Society, Springfield, PA, “The Declaration of Independence” at the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, Ridley Creek State Park, Edgmont, PA, “Antietam” at the Wesley Enhanced Living, Media, PA, and “Antietam” at Riddle Village, Media, PA. He organized a ceremony at Neuman a Japanese World War II flag and accepted the flag on behalf of the
Marine Corps League and hosted seven students at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, Marine Corps League, Delaware County Detachment. Sophia Park, assistant professor pastoral clinical mental health counseling, along with Sr. Suzanne Mayer, IHM ’90, professor and director pastoral clinical mental health counseling, published “Theological Reflection: A Franciscan Perspective” in Journal of Pastoral Theology. She presented along with colleague Karin Craven, “In-between Cultures: Navigating Adolescent Years in Immigrant Families,” at the Minnesota Association of Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) Conference, Duluth, MN in April 2018. Park also translated Case Formulation in Emotion-Focused Therapy: Co-creating Clinical Maps for Change, Goldman, Rhonda N. and Leslie Greenberg, (American Psychological Association, 2015) into the Korean language. Mary Powell, associate professor nursing, has been selected to be the Senior Fellow at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania. Sr. Linda Sariego, OSF, assistant
professor Spanish, presented the presentation “Shepherds Never Forget: Memory and Activism in Los siete libros de la Diana by Jorge de Montemayor” at the SAMLA 90 Conference (South Atlantic Modern Languages Association) in Birmingham, AL in November 2018.
Ryan Savitz, professor mathematics,
presented a paper “Sabermetrics in Ice Hockey” at the Midwest Sports Analytics Meeting in Pella, Iowa in November 2018 that was co-authored with students Helen Cooney and Mya McQueen. He published a paper “Good and bad news: Climate science affirmation and cable news coverage” in volume 18 of the
journal “Environmental Practice” that was co-authored with Neumann alumna Jessica Cadorette and Kristan Cockerill of Appalachian State University. He co-presented poster “Math races an Jeopardy games” at Mathfest (the annual meeting of the Mathematics Association of America) in Denver, Colorado, August 2018 with David DiMarco, professor mathematics. Savitz also received a Clare Boothe-Luce grant to conduct summer 2018 research with students Helen Cooney and Mya McQueen. The research involved the statistical analysis of ice hockey data. Lisa Selby Silverstein, professor physical
therapy, is getting recognized for her re-certification as a Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialites, ABPTS) at the upcoming American Physical Therapy Combined Sections Meeting, Washington DC, January 23, 2019. She has also spear-headed the presentation, “Fostering Better Patient Decisions: The Third Pillar of Evidence Based Practice” that will be given at the same meeting. Maria G. Traub, associate professor
French and Italian, presented the paper, “La représentation des femmes dans la peinture du dix-huitième siècle,” (The Representation of Women in Eighteenth Century Art) at the annual Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association, at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
Hasan Yonten, associate professor political science co-authored the manuscript, Diplomacy and Controversies in Global Security Studies: The Sea Power Anomaly and Soft Balancing in the Journal of Global Security Studies.
Winter 2019 27
A Fresh Start. A Lasting Legacy. EACH YEAR, JANUARY OFFERS A FRESH START. IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO REVIEW THE ESTATE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE, AND MAKE UPDATES ACCORDINGLY. As you update beneficiaries or adjust designations, consider including Neumann University in your will or name Neumann as the full or partial beneficiary of a retirement, brokerage, or bank account. There are so many easy and powerful ways to leave a lasting legacy at Neumann University — and we can help you develop a plan that integrates your charitable, family, and financial goals. If you’ve already included Neumann in your charitable plans, be sure to let us know so that we can include you in The Guardian Angels Society honoring those who have made a special commitment, through a planned gift, to the advancement of Neumann University.
Let’s discuss the gift that best meets your charitable, family, and financial goals.
neumannguardianangels.org or contact KIMBERLY L. MCDERMOTT ’97 Director of Institutional Gifts and Donor Relations 610-558-5548 | mcdermok@neumann.edu
Biology major Nafees Norris (left) connects with Ren Capocasale after the lecture.
Capocasale Shares an Entrepreneur’s Wisdom Renold “Ren” Capocasale opened his mind and his heart to students at the third annual Rocco Abessinio Lecture in Management and Entrepreneurship on October 30. In an address entitled “Reading the Signs: An Entrepreneur’s Journey,” Capocasale shared the story of his rise to become a wildly successful bio-tech entrepreneur without pulling any punches. He detailed the setbacks he experienced: a cancer diagnosis that made him give up his plan to attend medical school and a 2009 layoff by Johnson & Johnson that caused him to re-examine his career path. He overcame both hurdles to become the highly successful CEO of FlowMetric, a firm that provides flow cytometry (identifying cells and their components) and cell sorting services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as to hospitals and academic institutions. He peppered his presentation with sage advice that he had learned in his lifetime: • Numquam cede (Latin for “never give up”). • Listen to the signs. • Appreciate the tiny, little victories. • Ask yourself what brings you great joy. • A visionary only lies to himself. A liar lies to everyone else. • Networks really do matter. • The momentum that you create to get from one point to another is of vital importance. • Believe in yourself. • Get others to believe in you. • Create legitimacy. • You’ve got to be willing to break things. • Don’t mistake benevolence for stupidity.
His final message to students in the crowd of 60 people was “I’m an average guy, but I believe anything is possible.” Capocasale has authored more than 30 peer reviewed scientific manuscripts and publications. He is co-author of one US Patent and has been invited to speak at international conferences. He serves on the university board of trustees. The first inaugural annual lecture in Management and Entrepreneurship was delivered by Rocco Abessinio himself on October 4, 2016. He and his wife Mary funded the Abessinio Lecture in Management and Entrepreneurship through their family foundation with the intention of bringing to campus each year a recognized professional with expertise in management and entrepreneurship. Mr. Abessinio, a 1979 alumnus and longtime friend of Neumann, is chief executive officer of Roch Capital, Inc., a privately owned capital management firm focused on making investments in assets that will be he held for the long term. He is also the founder of Applied Bank and Applied Card System, which grew to be the 10th largest issuer of Visa and MasterCard credit cards in the country. In addition to funding an annual lecture, the Abessinio Family Foundation also established the Business Division Visiting Professorship in Management and Entrepreneurship in 2015. This professorship is designed to bring faculty to campus to teach in the proposed Entrepreneurship Minor starting in the fall of 2019. The Abessinio Family Foundation additionally funds an annual scholarship for a Division of Business student who has exemplified excellence in management and entrepreneurial understanding and application.
Nonprofit Org U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 215 West Chester, PA One Neumann Drive, Aston, PA 19014-1298
www.neumann.edu CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
20th Anniversary
Save the Date SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.neumann.edu/gala.