a magazine for NEUMANN UNIVERSITY alumni, family and friends
Vol. 48, No. 1 • Winter 2020
Media students win national award
Save t hese Dates To view all event details, registration information and more upcoming events, visit the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.neumann.edu February 20 Sport Management Alumni Networking Event Stingers Waterfront , Ridley Park, PA
February 27 Knights of the Round Table Recognition Reception Neumann University Campus
February 29 Flower Show Discounted Tickets (Alumni Only) Pennsylvania Convention Center to March 8
March 17 Charter Day Celebrations Neumann University Campus • Eucharistic Liturgy • Rocco A. ’79 and Mary F. Abessinio Lecture in Management and Entrepreneurship • Alumni Awards
March 28 Black Alumni March Madness Event 6 – 9 p.m. • Gilbert’s Ballroom, Chester, PA April 4 21st Annual Scholarship Gala The Springfield Country Club May 7 Nursing Appreciation Alumni Event Neumann University Campus
May 16 Spring Commencement, 50th Anniversary Reunion, Celebrating the Class of 1970 The Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development
June TBD Phillies Game, Discounted Tickets (Alumni Only)
June 7 Baltimore Regional Reception at the Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards
July 19 Sunday Funday Goes to the Shore TBD
Stay Connected with us on social media for up-to-date event info and more!
Follow NU Alumni: Neumann University Alumni @neumannalum @neumannalum
Knight to Knight
Mentoring Events March 25 • April 7 • April 28 Neumann University Campus
Looking to become an alumni mentor and share your wisdom and experiences with Neumann University students? Email Colleen Graf ’15 at grafc@neumann.edu to learn more!
a magazine for Neumann University alumni, family and friends Vol. 48, No. 1 • Winter 2020
President
f e at u r e s
4 Stellar Speakers on Campus
12 Media Students Win National Award
14 Homecoming 2019
17 On the Cover: Neumann Media students Sean Spence, Jake Loburak, and Alexis Lomax hold their award for Best Feature News Reporting Video.
$1.4 Million from Former Professor
D e pa r t m e n t s
3 From the President
4 Around Campus
14 Alumni and Advancement
22 Class Notes
Dr. Chris Everett Domes Vice President for Advancement
Carrie A. Snyder Executive Director, Marketing and Communications
Stephen T. Bell Director of Publications
Carol DiAntonio Assistant Vice President of Development Operations and Alumni
Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Contributors
Danielle Friel ’09 Carolyn Seagraves ’84 ’19 Jill Weigel Photography
Tony Hoffer 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 12/31/19. Please send change-of-address correspondence to: Office of University Advancement Neumann University One Neumann Drive Aston, PA 19014-1298 or to alumni@neumann.edu.
Since 1965 our students have graduated with a singular sense of being prepared for the world and becoming a force for good. Fortified by an education grounded in a Franciscan Identity, our students find their way through a world in need of people who care and want to make an impact.
Where
Impact
B e g in s
When you invest in the Neumann Annual Fund, you directly create opportunities for our students to grow spiritually, morally and intellectually through campus ministry, financial aid, academics, and athletics. Support us today and help our students be the “good news� in the world.
For more information about
Neumann Annual giving visit www.neumann.edu/giving.
From rteshiedent P To our alumni and friends, On the cover of recent issues of Accent, we have featured the launch of the university’s new strategic plan and the naming of residence halls after our first three presidents, all Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. These are worthy cover stories, indeed. In this issue, however, we shift the focus to the real heart of our mission — our students. More than a year ago, a group of Neumann Media students raised money to buy an expensive set of corrective glasses for their friend, Jake Loburak, a freshman videographer who is colorblind. By itself, that act of kindness embodied the Franciscan values we all embrace. But these students did not stop there. They used the opportunity to produce a heartwarming educational video about colorblindness, sharing it with the entire Neumann community on their weekly news program. The pinnacle of the 90-second piece was Jake’s reaction when he doffed the glasses and saw color for the first time. At the urging of Sean McDonald, director of Neumann Media, the students submitted their work to a national contest, sponsored by College Broadcasters, Inc. Against competition from much larger schools, our students won the national award for Best Feature News Reporting. The full story is on pages 12-13 of this issue. There are stories of other events and accomplishments in this magazine but none that will make you feel more blessed to be part of the Neumann family than this one. Congratulations to our students who breathed life into our mission — that knowledge, while valuable in itself, is best used in service of others.
Dr. Chris Everett Domes President
Winter 2020 3
d n u r o A Adam Bryant
Defining Organizational “Culture” Adam Bryant, a best-selling author and former columnist with The New York Times, told a group of business students and faculty that high-performing teams have a culture that drives innovation and produces results. Among the characteristics of a positive culture, Bryant listed several components: a simple plan with a clear method of measuring success, understandable rules of the road (behavior that will be rewarded), basic respect for employees, and distinct accountability to the team (“do what you say you are going to do”). He delivered the advice at the fourth annual Rocco A. ’79 and Mary F. Abessinio Lecture in Management and Entrepreneurship on October 22. During his 30 years as a journalist, Bryant interviewed more than 500 CEOs and published a best-seller, The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed. A former business editor for Newsweek magazine, Bryant writes regularly for Forbes.com and conducts interviews on leadership for CNBC.com.
Bock Book Award Marks 20 Years The 20th Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature was presented to author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Stephanie Graegin for their book Super Manny Cleans Up! In the book, Super Manny and his pal Gertie team up to fight a serious threat to the environment — litterbugs. Soon their hard work inspires others to help clean up, too. Neumann University faculty and library staff have selected the winning entry since the award was established in 2000. According to Tiffany McGregor, director of the library, the selection committee receives up to 120 submissions a year for the award. The award acknowledges Franciscan values in children’s books. Each year’s winner receives $750, a plaque, and a gold emblem to use on printed copies. Criteria for the award include text that is values-oriented, interesting, and stimulating for ages 3-8 years and illustrations that instill reverence and compassion for creation. 4 Accent Magazine
Blessing of the Animals The Blessing of the Animals is held yearly to commemorate 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.
Memories of the Virginia Tech Shooting Fr. James Arsenault, a parish priest near Virginia Tech University in 2007, spoke on November 19 about the aftermath of the deadliest killing spree on an American college campus. Fr. Arsenault was on hand to help mourners after the April 16, 2007, mass shooting by a Fr. James Arsenault Virginia Tech student who killed 32 people (27 students and five faculty members) on campus. Seventeen others were injured in the assault on the university’s campus in Blacksburg. He recalls having to tell parents that their child had been killed, conversations that shook him deeply. During his talk, Fr. Arsenault shared his personal story, which includes the haunting memory of the constant ringing of victims’ cell phones — calls from family members trying to reach daughters and sons who had been killed. His way of coping with the horror is to remember that “We’re called to be part of something greater than ourselves — the common good.”
s u p a m c The Benefit of Green Amendments
“We already have regulations to protect the environment, so why do we need more laws?” Maya van Rossum asked a crowd of 50 students and faculty on December 3. Her answer was quick: “Because current laws accept pollution and environmental degradation.” “Despite the benefits of clean energy, fossil fuel companies and the people who profit from them are incredibly powerful, both politically and financially. As a result, our laws are written to advance dirty energy and impede clean energy solutions,” she says. An outspoken environmental activist and attorney, van Rossum was on campus to speak about the national Green Amendment Movement, which she founded. It focuses on state-level legal efforts to guarantee Americans clean air, water and food. Existing legislation suffers from gaps and poor implementation, she argues. Some regulations have even been rolled back. As a result, there is drinking water contamination in 33 states. The impact, she believes, is that people feel powerless when it comes to preserving the quality of their water, air, public parks, and natural spaces. Her solution for achieving better protection of our environment is to turn to the ultimate authority — our state and federal constitutions. “When government officials get it wrong,” she concludes, “a constitutional amendment gives us immediate access to the courts.” Responding to a student question about the impact of environmental regulations on families who depend upon the oil and gas industries, van Rossum said that the role of a democratic government is to protect the common good and “to provide other pathways to economic vitality.” When asked her preference in presidential politics, van Rossum declined to offer a name. Instead, she offered a litmus test for political candidates at any level: clear and unequivocal opposition to fracking.
Maya van Rossum
Students Jump into Community Service One day after they moved into residence halls, more than 400 Neumann University first-year students flooded local organizations, schools and charities to provide a day of service to the community. Students packed the Mirenda Center at 8:30 a.m. to learn their destinations, meet their faculty/staff facilitators, and load buses and vans for a day of helping worthy causes. 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 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 Honors Fran Dunphy Legendary basketball coach Fran Dunphy received the 2019-20 Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development award in a special Advent Evening of Reflection on December 11. The event was designed for Neumann coaches and chaplains to meet the coach and hear his insights in an intimate setting. Dunphy coached at Penn and Temple for a combined 30 years, amassing 580 wins (310 at Penn, 270 at Temple). Fran Dunphy
Out with Divisions, in with Schools It’s official. The days of academic divisions at Neumann are a thing of the past. The Board of Trustees recently approved the university’s 2019-2022 strategic plan, which includes renaming the divisions as schools. Academic units are now the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education and Human Services, and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “The move from divisions to schools was actually part of the 20152019 Strategic Plan carried over to our current strategic plan,” says Lawrence DiPaolo, vice president for academic affairs. “The change was suggested with the hope of raising the visibility of Neumann University and in keeping with best practices at similar schools.” According to Carrie Snyder, vice president for university advancement, this change will also provide possibilities for naming opportunities. Winter 2020 5
d u e n ti n c o s u p m a c d Aroun No Malarkey: Sr. Marguerite is Irish The Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame’s 2019 inductees included our own Sister Marguerite O’Beirne, OSF ’70. The Hall honors individuals in the Irish Community who play a role in preserving, maintaining or continuing Irish traditions through Sr. Marguerite a variety of avenues — art, poetry, sport, O’Beirne, OSF ’70 music, dance, history, and business. Sr. Marguerite was selected in recognition of her life-long dedication to Catholic education and ministry and her service to the Irish community. She has been the Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Neumann since 1997. She has also taught in various Catholic elementary, junior high and high schools, as well as working as a principal and coordinator of education.
A HUB for Academic Support Renovations on the ground floor of Bachmann (directly below the library) have created the HUB, a centralized location for students to access learning support services. These include the John C. Ford Academic Resource Center, advising center, disability services, tutoring, the writing center, and career and personal development. Funding for the HUB renovations came from a $2.1 million Title III grant. Along with physical renovations, the grant provides funding for additional staff positions at the HUB, including a writing center coordinator and academic coaches. “We’re looking for substantial increases in first-year retention rates and four-year graduation rates,” says Mike Mullen, dean of academic support services. Campus Chaplain Fr. Suresh Raj blessed the HUB during its official opening in October.
Winter Graduation Returns
1892 Home to Become Student Residence An 1892 Victorian home in Aston, which morphed into a bed and breakfast and then an apartment house, is now owned by Neumann and is being restored as a residence hall. The home, located at 601A Convent Road, boasts wood floors, high ceilings, an impressive wooden staircase, a vintage oval window, and a pair of sliding pocket doors. Some of the rooms on the second and third floors have unique designs that provide the “character” that is so appealing in homes of that era. According to Dr. Christopher Haug, vice president for student affairs, the university plans to convert it into a residence hall for approximately 17 students and one graduate assistant. There are spaces for two bedrooms on the first floor and four each on the second and third floors of the home. Because the restoration work will take months, Haug hopes that the property will be available for students in fall 2020. The selection criteria for residents of the home have not yet been determined. 6 Accent Magazine
It worked so well last year that Neumann held another Winter Commencement on December 18, just the second time that the university has hosted such an event. Students who had degrees conferred in August or December were invited to attend the ceremony. The Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, D.D., the ninth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, delivered the Commencement address and received the honorary degree of humane letters. Bishop Malooly has been Bishop of Wilmington since 2008. He celebrated his 75th birthday in 2019, and — as required by canon law — submitted his resignation to Pope Francis.
Bishop W. Francis Malooly, D.D.
Kamal Gray Shares His Roots Kamal Gray was smooth as one of his keyboard riffs during a visit to campus on October 18, charming students with stories about his life’s journey in an interview conducted by Neumann Media students Jake Loburak and Alexis Lomax. Gray is the keyboard player for The Roots, a Grammy Awardwinning hip-hop group and house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He came to campus as one of three donors to present a check for $25,000. The funds will be used for scholarships to support current Neumann students who need financial assistance to continue their pursuit of a degree. The other donors are Michael Harris, president and CEO of Best Sports Consultants, and Jahri Evans, a former NFL player and Super Bowl winner with the New Orleans Saints. The three selected Neumann University to receive their gift because it is one of five American colleges participating in the launch of SponsoredScholar, a program that empowers college students to initiate personalized fundraising campaigns to help pay for tuition.
Jeannette Walls’ Mesmerizing Story Jeannette Walls, author of the best-selling memoir, The Glass Castle, captivated a crowd of more than 100 on December 7, with her insight, wit and honesty. Her talk, entitled Facing Your Jeannette Walls Fears and Other Life Lessons, recounted her experiences growing up and her later struggles with how to capture her story in writing. “I wrote the book in six weeks and then spent five years editing it,” she admitted. In The Glass Castle, published in 2005, Walls shares her moving story — growing up in extreme poverty with dysfunctional parents and overcoming her circumstances. “My father was an alcoholic, and my mother is just loopy,” she says. She set out on her own and rose to become part of New York’s media elite, writing for New York and Esquire magazines. As her career blossomed, she kept her background secret — that she had lived in extreme poverty as a child and that her parents had followed her to New York and had become members of the city’s homeless population. In her presentation, she shared bittersweet stories from her past that often exemplify grander truths about courage. Her mother, for instance, was thrilled to have fallen off a horse because “anyone can ride, but it takes real skill to fall.” Named by Amazon as one of the top 10 books of the decade, her inspiring story was brought to the big screen in 2017, starring Woody Harrelson, Naomi Watts and Brie Larson as Jeannette. The book has sold more than four million copies and has been translated into 31 languages.
Alumna Shows Her Film about Baltimore Teens My Baltimore is a 54-minute film which gives teenagers in the city a platform to speak about the experiences that interfere with their academic success and healthy family relationships. It is the brainchild of teacher Shannon Singletary ’10 and coach Donovan Adams, both educators in Baltimore City schools. Singletary showed the film on campus on November 21. She describes the film as a series of interviews with four students, 15-17 years old, and their parents. The youngsters, all students at Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy, identify fatherlessness, gun violence, neglect, and domestic violence as their adverse childhood experiences. According to Singletary, “These traumas serve as barriers to their success in school as well as building family relationships; however, talking about their traumas serves as a healing process where students become self-aware of triggers and learn coping skills to manage them.”
Greccio: 1223 to 2019 Neumann students, faculty and staff re-enacted the Franciscan tradition of the crib, first celebrated in Greccio, Italy, by performing the Live Nativity scene and the scripture narration on December 8. St. Francis of Assisi organized the first such celebration in Greccio, Italy, in 1223. Winter 2020 7
evening in
Brings the City of Lights to Campus With Sun East Federal Credit Union as the lead sponsor for Evening in Paris, the annual fundraiser for the arts was a success, generating support for the arts on campus and entertaining more than 200 people in stirring fashion. Members of the Delaware County Symphony, led by pianist Jennifer Nicole Campbell, performed three pieces by French composers, including Campbell’s arrangement of La Marseillais, the French national anthem that was composed during the French Revolution by Claude Joseph de Lisle. Faculty member and coloratura soprano Yukiko Ishida performed “Je Verux Vivre” from Romeo and Juliet by Charles Gounod, and the University Jazz Band played Four by Miles Davis and They Can’t Take That Away from Me by George and Ira Gershwin. Center Stage Productions closed the show with a rousing medley from Walt Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Members of The Arts Guild at Neumann University include Center Stage Productions, the Cultural Arts Forum, Delaware County Symphony, International Ballet Classique, University Art Gallery, University Concert Chorale, University Jazz Band, and University Players. Following the performance, audience members were treated to a champagne and dessert reception, dancing, and casino gaming. This was the 20th year of the “Evening In” series, which has brought to local audiences the culture of Vienna, St. Petersburg, Venice, Rome, Dublin, America (New York, Las Vegas and New Orleans), and Paris. Nick DiMarino, the coordinator of cultural programming and mastermind of all 20 events, was honored for his two decades at the helm of this critical program to support the arts on campus.
Dr. Chris and Mary Domes honored Diane and Nick DiMarino before the show. Nick has coordinated all 20 “Evening In” events.
8 Accent Magazine
Michael Kaczenski ’89, president and CEO of Sun East Federal Credit Union, greeted the crowd on behalf of his company, which was the lead sponsor for Evening in Paris.
Center Stage Productions performing a medley from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Jennifer Nicole Campbell played her arrangement of La Marseillais.
Faculty member Yukiko Ishida performed a selection from Romeo and Juliet. Dr. Chris and Mary Domes join Ann and Mark Baiada, rolling the dice at a craps table at Evening in Paris.
Winter 2020 9
Ainsley Reid (#9) was an Atlantic East first-team selection in men’s soccer.
Morgan Ryan made the Atlantic East second team in women’s soccer.
Bri Lagroteria was a second-team Atlantic East selection in field hockey.
10 Accent Magazine Magazine
FALL SPORTS Wrap-Up Men’s Soccer
Women’s Volleyball
Cross Country
4-13-1, 2-4 Atlantic East Atlantic East First Round First Team: Ainsley Reid
19-13, 5-1 Atlantic East Atlantic East Runner-Up ECAC Tournament Bid First Team: Melanie Malseed Second Team: Rachel Cray, Ariana Pena AVCA Division III Honorable Mention: Melanie Malseed
Men Placed fourth out of five teams at the Atlantic East Championship First Team: Edwin Brooks Second Team: Tommy Andrusko
Women’s Soccer 5-11-2, 1-4-1 Atlantic East Atlantic East First Round Second Team: Morgan Ryan
Women Did not place at Championships
Field Hockey 5-13, 1-4 Atlantic East Atlantic East First Round Second Team: Sam Picker, Bri Lagroteria
Another first teamer was Edwin Brooks in men’s cross country. Melanie Malseed (#1) made the first team in women’s volleyball. The team finished 19-13 and was the runner-up in the Atlantic East.
Winter 2020 11
Color Blind: Student Video Captures Life-Changing Moment
Wins national award for Best Feature News Reporting A simple act of kindness, captured on camera in December 2018 on Neumann’s campus, is the pivotal moment in a student-produced video that won a national award from College Broadcasters, Inc. at the 2019 National Student Electronic Media Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. “Jake Loburak: The Colorblind Videographer,” a 90-second video produced by communications and digital media (CDM) majors Sean Spence and Jake Loburak, placed first in the country in the Best Feature News Reporting category. Other finalists in the category were from Oregon State University, Pittsburg State University, and the University
Jake Loburak, wearing his colorblind glasses, and Sean Spence, who produced the award-winning video about his friend.
Neumann’s video was judged Best Feature News Reporting Video in the country.
Students went to the national convention in St. Louis reaching for the stars and came home with the prize.
12 Accent Magazine
of North Florida. The judges for the contest are professionals in the field and journalism/mass communications faculty and staff members. Loburak, a sophomore from Lansdale, PA, was diagnosed with Strong Deutan Color Blindness as a young child. This type of color blindness makes red, yellow, green and brown appear similar, but his visual challenges have not stopped him from being a talented videographer on the Neumann Media production team. “To me, it wasn’t a big difference in my life. Obviously, I would see things differently, but you just adapt to it,” he explained. Spence, a senior from Lansdowne, PA, became friends with Loburak through Neumann Media. Loburak is very open about his color blindness and would often joke about it with his classmates. It soon became fodder for good-natured humor among his fellow CDM students while they
were working on projects together. Curious to know more about his friend’s condition, Spence — with help from Neumann Media Director Sean McDonald ’09 ’12 — researched the affliction and learned about EnChroma Color Blind glasses, which look like regular sunglasses but enable people with color blindness to see colors. The Neumann Media club quickly decided that their friend had to have these glasses. “As a staff, we collected money for the colorblind glasses. We all came together and pitched in. Even people not involved with Neumann Media donated,” said Spence. Last December, Loburak was producing “Neumann Update,” a weekly university news show in the television studio. Unexpectedly, the anchors started to read a story about color blindness. They called him to the anchor
Alexis Lomax, the news director for Neumann Media, with Jake and Sean.
desk and presented him with the glasses. “I went up to the set and put them on. It was pretty cool,” Loburak explained. His actual on-camera reaction was to flash a smile and utter one word: “Whoa!” Of course, this revelation was captured on video and became the key moment in the production about color blindness that was submitted for the national competition. In addition to Loburak’s reaction to seeing colors, the video also illustrates the stark difference in how people with color blindness see everyday items, using rainbows and traffic lights to demonstrate the disparity. Red, yellow and green all appear as different shades of brown. “It’s good to get our stuff out there and to let others see that we’re doing good things here,” Spence said. “And now I’m a nationally recognized producer, which is pretty cool.”
Media Students Get Media Attention The heartwarming tale of “Jake Loburak: The Colorblind Videographer” garnered much media attention back home in the Delaware Valley. The story was covered by . . . The Philadelphia Inquirer WHYY (the local affiliate for National Public Radio)
T he Delaware County Daily Times City Suburban News T he Lansdale Times Chronicle Delaware County Today
Winter 2020 13
Young alums enjoyed the fireworks above St. John Neumann Circle.
Black alumni celebrated a night of networking and reconnecting.
Re-discover the
NU YOU
Frank ’08 and Ashley ’08 Bruno came back to campus with the newest addition to their family, Lucas.
Alumni got together for friendly baseball, lacrosse, softball, and soccer games.
Rev. Wally Fletcher (center) with the Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling faculty: Sr. Suzanne Mayer, IHM, Diane Walsh, Sophia Park, and Tim Hanna. Dr. Chris and Mary Domes enjoy a moment on one of the swings that they donated to campus.
14 Accent Magazine
Alumnae of Our Lady of Angels (1967-1980) were decked out in light blue t-shirts.
HOMECOMING 2019 Homecoming activities were non-stop on Saturday, October 12, a full slate of entertainment from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Homecoming and Family Weekend is a campus staple, and it was a memorable weekend for all. Over 1,000 students, parents, alumni, and friends came together for a fun-filled day. Saturday morning kicked off with two great lectures from accomplished speakers: ■ Rev. Wally Fletcher, a certified psychotherapist, discussed new resources in pastoral care, counseling and psychotherapy for graduates of the Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. ■ Cheryl Barrett ’86 presented a program entitled Good Grief: A Hero’s Journey through Grief and Loss, at the 14th annual Philadelphia General Hospital Endowed Lecture for graduates of Neumann’s nursing programs.
Our annual BBQ kicked off at noon and was extended for an hour to let all enjoy more time on campus. All guests enjoyed a BBQ lunch and cupcake dessert, as well as face painting, caricatures, a DJ, and many more activities. Our Lady of Angels alumni returned to campus for a special reunion where they caught up with past classmates under a special reserved tent. New this year was Knight Under the Stars, an All Year Reunion. Open to all alumni and parents, the event gave alumni the chance to reconnect with fellow Knights and meet new ones. All in attendance enjoyed music, food, beer and wine, and celebrating with friends. To add to the excitement of the day, fireworks ended the evening and brought homecoming weekend to a close.
Philadelphia General Hospital alumni gathered for their 14th annual endowed lecture, joined by Dr. Chris Domes (left) as well as Mary Domes and Dr. Kathleen Hoover (right).
Families had plenty of fun during the Homecoming BBQ.
Winter 2020 15
a l a G p i h s r a l Scho t w enty-first Annual Neumann University
Saturday, April 4, 2020 7:00 – 11:00 PM
Springfield Country Club 400 W. Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064
More than 98 percent of Neumann students receive financial assistance, and 75 percent of the 2019 freshman class consists of first-generation college students.
Join us in helping outstanding young men and women achieve their dreams. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.neumann.edu/gala.
Scholarships change lives
16  Accent Magazine
$1.4 Million for the Library, Nursing Scholarships When Dr. Janet Farahmand taught Neumann University nursing students from 1990-2003, she often met with them and faculty colleagues in the library, one of her favorite campus locations. Because of a generous bequest of $1.4 million from Ahmad (Alex) Farahmand, her husband, the entryway to the university library will soon bear their name — The Ahmad and Janet Farahmand Memorial Atrium — and two nursing scholarships will be endowed. One million dollars will support library operations during the next three years, and approximately $200,000 will be designated for each scholarship. The Farahmand and Hatter Family Memorial Scholarship will support an incoming freshman who is interested in the undergraduate nursing program. The Dr. Janet M. Farahmand Memorial Scholarship will be designated for a student in a graduate nursing program at Neumann University.
A native of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Dr. Farahmand earned a BS in nursing from Villanova University, and an MS in nursing and doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. She held several administrative positions at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) before joining the faculties at HUP, Widener University and Neumann University as a medical/surgical nursing educator. After Dr. Farahmand’s death in April 2008, her husband visited Neumann often and recalled his wife’s impact on nursing students. Mr. Farahmand was an engineer who spent his career working for the federal government. Neumann is the sole beneficiary of the Farahmand estate.
Winter 2020 17
Celebrating Neumann scholars are Jerry Francesco, Eileen Mielcarek ’80, and Michael and Janet McManus.
Dr. Chris and Mary Domes with students, Michael Racek, Andrea McBryde and Zachary Anusky.
Senior nursing student Chrissy Donohue shares a heartfelt message with the president’s guests regarding the impact of her scholarship.
18 Accent Magazine
Generous Meets Grateful
Philanthropists connect with the students they support
Janice Mancuso, president of the Cultural Arts Forum and chief fundraiser for the Dr. Margaret Mary Kearney Scholarship, with student recipient, Madeleine Dunbar.
On November 23, Neumann University expressed its gratitude to over one hundred alumni and friends at the annual President’s Thanksgiving Reception. This event celebrates the generosity of our philanthropic leaders who sustain the mission of Neumann through leadership gifts of one thousand dollars or more or who support restricted scholarships. It also recognizes members of our Guardian Angels Society. During the evening, attendees had opportunity to connect with students, learning the true impact of their support. Perhaps most impactful and best articulated expression of thanks were the remarks given by senior nursing student, Christine Donahue. Christine relayed that only through the support of our alumni and friends was she able to attend Neumann and thrive academically, socially and spiritually. Christine shared that the scholarship she received and her subsequent experiences at Neumann allowed her to grow in faith through retreats and immersion trips, engage and develop as a person through student leadership positions, and succeed in the classroom. Upon graduation she intends to practice nursing in a pediatric hospital. Michael Webster ’11, director of annual giving, expressed “many thanks to our philanthropic leaders who make Christine’s story possible and best wishes for a bright 2020 for Christine and all our alumni and friends.”
President ’s Thanksgiving Reception Trustee Teresa Vandiver Coffey ’83 ’96, Mike Webster ’12 and Bonnie Stufflett ’73 gather for a photo in between mingling with other donors and students.
Winter 2020 19
Michael Webster ’11 Named Director of Annual Giving and Leadership Gifts The office of University Advancement is happy to announce the return of Mike Webster MS ’11 in a new role. Mike rejoined the Neumann family in October 2019 as the director of annual giving and leadership gifts. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in theology with a minor in chemistry at the University of Scranton. After Scranton, he joined Neumann University by serving in the student housing program for over 10 years, achieving the role of director of housing and residence life. Mike transitioned to a successful career in advancement at Salesianum School, a Catholic high school in Wilmington, Delaware, and returns to Neumann, a place he considers home. With a strong understanding and commitment to Neumann’s mission and vision, Mike will lead the team effort to share outcomes and the impact of gifts to Neumann as well as build avenues of participation for Neumann supporters. Mike and his wife Jessica Sherman Webster ’06 live in Wilmington with their three children — two alumni of the child development center (CDC) and one hopeful alumnus in 2021. His contact information is websterm@neumann.edu
Lauren Howard, New Administrative Coordinator in Advancement The office of University Advancement welcomes Lauren Howard, a current Neumann student in the Organizational and Strategic Leadership master’s degree program. Lauren, a graduate of Immaculata, joins our team as the Administrative Coordinator for University Advancement, supporting development operations and alumni relations. Lauren joins us from Drexel Neumann Academy — an elementary school that Neumann sponsors in Chester, Pennsylvania. As a born-and-raised West Philadelphian, Lauren is excited to work in Aston and to grow her professional network. “I am thrilled to join the Advancement team at Neumann and look forward to working with my colleagues to bring about support and additional resources to Neumann University.” Her contact information is howardl@neumann.edu 20 Accent Magazine
Wawa-Neumann Connection On November 15, members of the University Advancement office visited alumni who are employed at the Wawa Corporate Office. Vince Cipollone ’04, who is the director of Retail Fuel, hosted the morning and welcomed alumni for breakfast and conversation. Neumann University president, Dr. Chris Domes, shared with all in attendance an overview of the university strategic plan and opportunities for the future. Colleen Graf ’15, Neumann’s assistant director of alumni relations and special programs, expressed gratitude to all alumni who attended and appreciation for the collaboration between Wawa and Neumann University. Do you have a large group of alumni at your place of employment? Email alumni@neumann.edu to schedule a visit and learn about Neumann’s strategic plan.
Day of Giving Tops $170,000 Thanks to a social media campaign organized by Allison Purcell ’03 and a lead gift of $25,000 by a group of three donors, Neumann’s October 18 Day of Giving was a huge success, raising $172,138 from 426 donors. Graf created a series of challenges, which Evan Zielinski, the university’s social media director, brought to life. Promotions includes a Kick-Off Challenge, Knight Owl Challenge, Young Alumni Challenge, Rush Hour Challenge, Lunchtime Crunchtime, and more. Kamal Gray, the keyboard player for The Roots, Michael Harris, president and CEO of Best Sports Consultants, and Jahri Evans, a former NFL player with the New Orleans Saints, joined forces to donate $25,000. The funds will be used for scholarships to support current Neumann students who need financial assistance to continue their pursuit of a degree.
Fran Walmsley ’06 ’09 Named Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving Fran Walmsley ’06 ’09 has joined the University Advancement team as the director of major gifts and planned giving. Fran returned to his alma mater after 12 years in various roles with the Philadelphia Flyers Organization. With the Flyers, he rose from fan development coordinator to client development executive to manager of client development. In this most recent role, he supervised a staff of six people who handled the renewal and cultivation of the Flyers $60 million season-ticket base and monitored sales metrics to identify areas of improvement and seasonal trends. For 10 consecutive years, he was the top sales representative in the client development department. With University Advancement, he will strengthen relationships with Neumann’s friends and donors to assist the university in reaching its strategic goals. He will also guide the growth of planned giving opportunities and the Guardian Angel Society. Contact Fran at walmslef@neumann.edu.
e l i f o r P i n m u l A
Warren Anders ’13, Master of the Double French Braid Have you ever wanted to learn how to do a double French braid? Well, we’ve got a guy! Warren Anders ’13 can do a double French braid, a sock bun, a fancy updo, and just about any other hair style a girl could ask for. No, he’s not a professional hair stylist but rather a volunteer with Daddy Daughter Hair Factory (DDHF). DDHF is a non-profit organization started by Philippe Morgese and his daughter Emma. DDHF offers free classes to fathers, teaching the tools and skills needed to do their daughters’ hair. DDHF has developed a network of fathers/ teachers across the United States. In addition to teaching hair styling skills, the classes are also structured to encourage a healthy father/daughter bond. Anders and his daughter Evelyn are part of a dad/daughter group who teach the basics of hair care and braiding within their respective communities. They are supported by DDHF staff, and they teach classes that cover brushing hair,
detangling, maintenance, basic braids, and numerous hair styles. Anders, executive director of facilities for the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, is a single dad with two children: Evelyn (11) and Kaiser (8). A few years ago, he was struggling doing Evelyn’s hair and was frustrated with his lack of hair styling skills. He recalled the tipping point when he realized that he needed help. “I hadn’t done my daughter’s hair and quite frankly, her hair was a mess. Her teacher said, ‘It looks like it’s a daddy weekend?’ and that was it. I said to myself that wasn’t going to happen again,” he recalls. Anders turned to Google and YouTube to try and teach himself how to do his daughter’s hair. He started to improve and, while searching new hairstyles, he came across Morgese and DDHF. A light bulb went off, and he knew he had found exactly what he was searching for. He contacted Morgese and asked him how to do a double French braid. Morgese laughed and told
Anders he was way beyond being a student and suggested that he become a teacher. Anders reached out to the YMCA in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and asked if he could start offering classes there. The YMCA was very willing to host the DDHF classes and so was the Phoenixville Library. Anders has had grandfathers and a couple of mothers come to his classes all wanting to learn different hair styles for their granddaughters/daughters. Teaching comes naturally for Anders. He graduated in 2000 from the Williamson College of the Trades with a degree in horticulture and turf management. For 12 years, Anders taught landscaping construction at the Delaware County Technical High School in Aston, Pennsylvania. It was on his daily commute to the high school that Anders found Neumann University. He met with Jil Donnelly, executive director of adult and continuing education, and enrolled in the professional studies program. He graduated with his BA in 2013. “I was so happy with that program. It was a very pleasant experience and the level of support from the school made getting my degree possible,” Anders said. While Anders was juggling his professional and his personal lives, he was looking for opportunities to spend quality time with his children. That is the reason why he embraced the DDHF program. The DDHF classes are free. Participants need to bring only their “model” and their own hairbrushes. The supplies are donated by various businesses. As it turned out, Anders had quite the knack for hair styling. He has been teaching the DDHF classes for four years. “The greatest part of this is that my daughter and I get to spend time together. We practice, we rehearse, and I’m pretty good!” Anders said. Warren Anders ’13 with his daughter Evelyn and son Kaiser.
Winter 2020 21
s e t o N ss a Cl
BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS Christine (Kelly) Corrigan ’08 BA and her
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
husband welcomed their first baby, Daniel Charles Corrigan III, into the world on February 9, 2019.
Melanie Ferrell ’18 BS welcomed
daughter Addison Rae Adkins on November 4, 2019.
Melissa Gohn ’11 BS and her husband,
Joseph, recently welcomed their first child, Cecilia, in August 2019. Scott Hammell ’12 BA, ’15 MS was married
to wife, Kate, on October 18, 2019 in Collingswood, NJ.
Sarah Hineman ’18 BS and James Loftus ’18 BA
had a beautiful baby girl, Scarlett, in February 2019. Maureen ’86 BS and her husband Paul MacCrory ’86 BS became grandparents to
Maeve Maureen on July 12, 2019.
Sean McDonald ’08 B.S, ’11 MS and his
wife, Janine, welcomed their second son, Andrew Bennett, into the world in July 2019.
Kevin Oleszewski ’12 BS and his wife,
Gabby, welcomed John Thomas (JT) Oleszweski into the world on May 22, 2019.
22 Accent Magazine
CAREERS Dr. Antija Allen ’02 BA
launched her consulting service, Allen Ivy Prep Consulting, specializes in providing career prep and professional development for those wishing to become faculty in higher education, in July 2018. Ryan Anastasiadis ’16 BS has been hired as the Supervisor of Customer Reporting Analytics position at Comcast.
Kristen Bilotta ’12 BA, ’18 MS was recently featured in Main Line Parent as a 2019 A+ Educator. Chantel Briggs ’16 BA completed her JD
at PSU Dickinson Law School, passed the GA Bar, and is now employed in the area of family law.
Tykisha Church Brown ’92 BS was promoted
to clinical manager at Bayada Pediatrics.
John Carey ’18 BS has acquired an Account
Executive position with the New Jersey Devils and HBSE.
Ronald Cobert ’10 BS recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a Masters of Business Administration. He also accepted a position at Conduent Inc. as a Junior Program Manager. Lisa Cross-Williams ’09 BA recently became a
new employee of Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. Joanmarie Curtis ’09 BA has been named the Executive Communications Assistant in the Garnet Valley School District. Kemba Daniels ’16 BA has returned home to Neumann as the Head Coach of the Neumann University Dance Team.
Social Work Graduates Keisha Deeds ’18 BA is taking it a step further in education by beginning her masters program at Cabrini University, studying Education with a Teacher Certification of Early Elementary Education for Grades PreK to 4th. Bruce Egan ’03 BS has been named the Chief
of EMS at Crozer Chester Medical Center.
Christina Farrell ’18 MS has been promoted to Chief Advancement Operations Officer of the West Chester University Foundation. Lauren Fisher ’15 BA
recently hit 1,000 events personally managed at the Museum of the American Revolution. James Gallo ’13 MS has been named the
Vice President for Mission Integration at Gwynedd Mercy University.
Meredith Harrison ’17 BA has been
promoted to a Certified Trainer at Olive Garden in Talleyville, Delaware.
Kirstyn Heller ’16 BA is now a 6th Grade English Teacher in the Shamong Township School District.
Zachary Lazzaro ’17 BS has joined POV Sports Marketing as account coordinator supporting account teams on both brand strategy and activation, as well as Sponsorship Edge. Patrick McCann ’17 BA accepted a position at Deloitte Consulting LLP as a Business Analyst. Amanda Miller ’19 BSW. has acquired the position of Billing Specialist/Administrative Assistant at Family and Community Service of Delaware County.
Carla D’Angelo ’18 BSW completed her undergraduate field placement at Chester Community Charter School. Where she was hired full-time after graduation. Currently, Carla is working as an Emotional Support Teacher working with scholars to complete their academic tasks and re-directing scholars to ensure their behaviors match the school’s expectations. Adjani Jenkins ’19 BSW is currently attending Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work & Social Research as an Advanced Standing Clinical Concentration student. She will graduate in May 2020 with a Master’s of Social Service (MSS) and will take the licensure exam to become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) with the goal of working in a medical setting as a medical social worker. Bridget Lozier ’18 BSW is completing a service year
with the Augustinian Volunteers. She is serving as a Case Manager at the only social service agency in the Ojai Valley located in California. Currently, Bridget is planning and implementing two holiday events for clients: a Thanksgiving food box program and a Christmas gift program. After this year, Bridget intends on getting certified as an animal-assisted therapist and wants to work with veterans who suffer from mental illness.
Emma Ross ’17 BSW went on to complete her MSW
via Advanced Standing at West Chester University, and recently passed the Licensure exam making her a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).
Eric Urgiles ’19 BSW is working as a Family Service
Specialist with the State of Delaware. This position includes investigating referrals from schools, medical offices, and other mandated reporters to ensure that children are being appropriately cared for by their families and caregivers and providing assistance to help families improve their situations.
Stephanie Vogelman ’19 BSW is completing a year-long Franciscan service program through FrancisCorps and volunteers at Cathedral Emergency Services. She performs many tasks at her work site including working in the food pantry as well as working with individuals who are at risk of being homeless. After this experience, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in Social Work.
Continued 0n page 24 Winter 2020 23
d e u n i t n o c s e t o N Class Angela Pesce ’16 BA has recently
returned home to Neumann as an adjunct instructor.
Dr. Cassandra Pistorius ’18 PhD. received the Lillian Parks Thomas Award, the highest prestigious award bestowed upon a member of the Continental Societies, Inc. Scott Sheridan ’99 MS is Major
League Baseball’s new director of sports medicine and performance for umpires. Scott was the Phillies head athletic trainer from October 2006 to October 2019.
Christina Summa ’12 BS was named in the Delaware Business Times 40 Class of 2019. DBT40 pays tribute to ambitious professionals who are making a name for themselves through professional excellence and community involvement. Marianne Marchlik Virgilio ’74 BA
was recently promoted to Senior Director of Gift Planning at the University of Rochester, where she has worked for 15 years. Stephen Washkalavitch ’03 BA joined Marsh USA in June 2019 as a Senior Vice President for the Corporate Risk Team. Michael Webster ’12 MS has returned
home to Neumann as the Director of Annual Giving and Leadership Gifts.
Andrew Wilbraham ’19 BSW. accepted
a position at Immaculata University as an Admissions Counselor.
24 Accent Magazine
EDUCATION Lisa Riley ’14, BA, was selected as a Judge
William M. Marutani Fellow. She is a third year law student at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.
Gabrielle Bannon ’18 BA was recently
admitted to Immaculata University Doctorate of Clinical Psychology beginning in the fall of 2020.
Emilee Gruse ’10 BS earned her Masters of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies in December 2018.
Andrea Luz Dela Cruz ’17 BS and Brandon Provenzano ’16 BS were engaged on January 1, 2018! They got married on September 21, 2019, surrounded by close friends and family.
Stephanie Harrington ’15 BA recently
received a Masters of Divinity in May 2019.
Demi Moore ’11 BA, BS graduated
in May 2019 with a Masters of Science in the Administration of Justice with a concentration in criminal behavior. She will be beginning her doctorate in September 2019.
ENGAGEMENTS AND WEDDINGS Michael Chewning ’16 BS and Alyssa Brown ’17 BS, ’18 MS were engaged on
August 26th, 2018. Michael and Alyssa met at Neumann University in 2013. They look forward to their wedding, planned for August 22, 2020!
Morgan Bowen ’15 BA got married to high school sweetheart, Nicholas DiLorenzo, on November 9, 2019! Ryan O’Driscoll ’17 MS married Samantha Kiger on March 23, 2019. Dianna Ortiz ’16 BS was married in
August 2019.
Jillian DeFina ’15 BA became engaged to Richard Tutak ’15 BA on August 31, 2019
surrounded by their families at City Hall in Philadelphia.
Kyle Rotan ’15 BA and Teresa Smith ’15 BA
got engaged at William Heritage Winery on August 3, 2019.
In Memoriam
Elisa Zaccone ’14 BA, and Brian Rutherford ’14 BS, ’18 DPT got married on April 27th, 2019! Elisa and Brian are looking forward to building their life together as Mr. & Mrs. Rutherford!
IN THE NEWS Marian Moskowitz ’91 BA was elected
County Commissioner for Chester County in November 2019 and then elected chair of the County Board of Commissioners in January 2020.
James Lentz ’18 BS had an article
published in Fire Rescue magazine.
Francesca Altamuro ’12 Vincent L. DiPaul Rocco Gaspari Sr. Jordan Marie Goeke, OSF Fr. Gerald Gordon, TOR Ronald A. Goryl Charles T. Grasty ’16 Janet Johnson ’06 Eunice R. Kent ’95 Lorraine F. McCabe Barbara A. McDonnell Maureen P. Simpson ’95 Sr. Kathleen Tobin, OSF ’74
Alloyius McIlwaine ’04 painted this mural in Philadelphia to encourage voting, and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf shared it on social media on election day.
Winter 2020 25
Faculty Publications, Conferences and Awards Lee Mirenda DelleMonache ’09, director of the Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development, is Neumann University’s representative in Cohort 2 of the Padua Program, a program sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities and co-sponsored by St. Bonaventure University’s Franciscan Institute. The Padua Program helps Franciscan institutions and ministries transmit the values of Saints Francis and Clare to new generations of leaders. She also presented “Bringing Catholic values to life in the college athletic experience through a unique sport lay ministry” at the Second Global Congress on Sport and Christianity in October 2019.
William Hamilton, associate professor of English, presented as part of a roundtable session, “The Radical Potential of Young Adult Literature,” at the MidAtlantic Popular and American Culture Association annual conference in Pittsburgh, PA in November 2019. Nathan Hardy, assistant professor of
marketing, published the article, “Writer’s Toolbox: Marketing — 6 Phases of Personal Selling” in the Penn Writer.
mathematics, gave a peer-reviewed presentation of a manuscript titled “Statistics Races and Jeopardy Games” at the American Statistical Association National 2019 Joint Statistical Meetings in Denver, Colorado as well as gave a peerreviewed presentation of a manuscript titled “Using Single-Elimination Tournaments as a Voting Method” at the Mathematical Association of America, New Jersey Section — Spring 2019 Conference at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ.
Leanne Havis, professor of criminal justice, co-authored a chapter with Dr. Andrew Owen, called “The Hannibalization of America: The cannibal gourmet as Promethean gift giver,” in Becoming: Genre, queerness, and transformation in NBC’s Hannibal, published the article, “Promoting intercultural competence among criminal justice students using interview-based signature assignments,” in Transformative Dialogues: Teaching and Learning Journal and contributed three entries, “Arts programs,” “Sentencing of mothers and parental rights,” and “Sentencing disparities and discrimination in sentencing,” in R. M. Worley & V. B. Worley (Eds.), American prisons and jails: An encyclopedia of controversies and trends.
Marcia Finch, senior research analyst, gave
Glen Holmstrom, professor of art,
David DiMarco, professor of mathematics, along with Ryan Savitz, professor of
a lightning talk and presented a poster called “From Creating the Bridge to Riding the Waves of Change: Feedback from the 45th Annual NEAIR Conference” at the 2019 NEAIR (North East Association for Institutional Research) Conference in Newport, RI in November 2019. She is also acting as the Conference Evaluation Coordinator.
Joseph Glass, associate professor of
communication and digital media, presented: “Panning for Gold (The Journey to Wisdom)” at the annual Neumann University Faculty Convivium in October 2019.
26 Accent Magazine
hosted and produced four podcasts for the College Art Association: “Teaching Failure,” “How Politics and Family Impact the Artist,” “Teaching Failure,” and “Educating the Future Filmaker: Theory and Practice.”
James Jordan, assistant professor of theology, met with His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, SecretaryGeneral of the World Muslim League (based in Saudi Arabia) to present questions to His Excellency about the ongoing faith-awareness between Christians and Muslims at the Global Inter-Faith Dialogue Meeting in Washington, DC in October 2019.
Erin Kaplan, specialist for student
conduct and community standards, presented at the Higher Educational Case Managers Association (HECMA) Annual/National Conference on “Bridging the Gap Between Student Conduct and Case Management,” published the article, “Building Rapport to Promote Ongoing Education and Tough Conversations” in the Reflections Journal organized through the Association of Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) and presented at the annual Chestnut Hill College Student Life Symposium on “Bridging the Gap Between Student Conduct and Case Management.”
Bong Kim, associate professor of mathematics, presented “Predictors of Student Performance in Math Courses” in poster and roundtable discussion at Neumann University’s Faculty Convivium in October 2019. Julie Lanzillo, associate professor and
program director of sport management and sport business, published Exploring the process & procedures of adding a sport to NCAA Division I programs in the Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics.
Christina LaVecchia, director of writing
across the curriculum, published the book chapter, “Ruthless, Fussy, Alert: A Quick Guide to Copyediting” in the book Explanation Points: Publishing in Rhetoric and Composition, the article, “Reflecting on Shared Decision Making: A Reflection-Quantification Study”in Health Expectations, the article, “A Problem-Based Approach to Caring for Patients with Shared Decision Making: A Narrative Review” in Patient Education and Counseling, and the article, “Editing as Inclusion Activism” in Scholarly Editing: History, Performance, Future, special issue of College English. She gave the presentations “Writing Groups for Faculty Scholarly and Pedagogical
Kudos Professionalization” at Neumann University’s Faculty Convivium in October 2019, “Inclusion Activism for Editing and Publishing in Field Journals” at the 12th Biennial Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference, Harrisonburg, VA in November 2019, and “Locating Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Health and Medical Contexts” at the Annual Meeting of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication, West Chester, PA, October 2019. Amy Luckowski, assistant professor of nursing, published the chapter “Diagnostic procedures” in the book Nursing interventions and clinical skills ebook, gave the presentation, “Managing Clinical Challenges” at Neumann University’s Adjunct Faculty Development Day in August 2019, and gave the poster presentation, “The Medical Mission Trip: Community Health Course Clinical Option” at Neumann University’s Faculty Convivium in October 2019. Jacqueline Martin, senior academic advisor, presented “Branching Out: Rooted in Serving our Students” at NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) Delaware State Drive in conference in September 2019. Robert McMonagle, professor of political science, published “The use of content analysis to explore news articles and congressional hearings in energy and environmental policy” with SAGE Publications. Jason Mensinger, instructor of
athletic training, gave the presentation, “Neuromuscular & Speed Training Concepts in the Rehabilitation of Hamstring Strains” at the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society Annual Symposium in June 2019.
Andrew Miller, assistant professor of
history, gave the presentation, “The Battle of Iwo Jima” at Riddle Village in Media, PA in August 2019 and gave the presentation, “The Pacific War, 19411945” at Wesley Enhanced Living in Media, PA in November 2019.
John Mizzoni, professor of philosophy,
had his book, Evolution and the Foundations of Ethics: Evolutionary Perspectives on Contemporary Normative and Metaethical Theories (2017), published in paperback. He also published the article, “Evolution and (Aristotelian) virtue ethics,” in the journal, Human Affairs.
Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne, OSF ’70, vice
1700) con “The Conundrum of Language in Spanish Golden Age Literature” and gave a presentation on her paper “Deceptive truth and truthful deception in Los siete libros de la Diana by Jorge de Montemayor” at the Southeast Atlantic Modern Languages Association Conference (SAMLA 91) in Atlanta, GA in November 2019. Ryan Savitz, professor of mathematics,
gave a presentation titled “An evaluation of weak goals in ice hockey” at the American Statistical Assocation National 2019 Joint Statistical Meetings in Denver, CO. The presentation was co-authored with students, Helen Cooney and Mya McQueen.
Marco Sifoni, coordinator of
president for mission and ministry, was inducted into the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame on November 17, 2019, at the Commodore Barry Arts & Culture Center in Philadelphia.
programming for the Institute for Sport, Spirituality & Character Development, attended a Collegiate Working Group on Sport at the Service of Humanity held at Villanova University in October 2019.
Theresa Pietsch, associate professor of nursing, and Lisa Bjorkelo, instructor
Mary Beth Yount, associate professor of
of nursing, presented at the ExamSoft Assessment Conference in Montreal in June 2019. Pietsch also co-presented with her colleague Susan Fowler, from Orlando Health System, at the national REACH conference of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses in Columbus, OH in November 2019.
Sr. Linda Sariego, OSF, presented “La
Maternidad en la vocación cristiana y la vida de la Virgen María” (Motherhood in the Christian vocation and the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary) to the Cursillo Group, St. Martin of Tours Parish, Philadelphia, PA in May 2019. She presented with Janis Chakars, professor of communications and digital media, “Students and Notes: Considering the Three P’s” at Neumann University’s Faculty Convivium in October 2019, chaired two panels, Sessions A and B, Spanish I Peninsular: (Renaissance to
theological studies and program director of the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with Spiritual and Pastoral Integration, presented a paper entitled “Privilege, Power Dynamics, and Radical Particularity” at The College Theology Society’s Sixty-Fifth Annual Convention in South Bend, IN in May 2019; it was subsequently accepted for publication in the Society’s annual volume. She also delivered a paper, “Another World: Repositioning the Laity,” at the 74th Annual Convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) in June 2019. She was recently appointed to the Applied Religious Studies Committee of the American Academy of Religion and the Advisory Committee for the John Cardinal Foley Chair of Homiletics and Social Communications at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary here in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Winter 2020 27
One Gift. Many Benefits.
Friends of Neumann are taking advantage of the Charitable IRA Rollover provision, which allows you to reduce your taxable income, achieve charitable giving goals, and satisfy your required minimum distribution— all in one transaction. Contact us or your advisor for the terms and conditions of qualified charitable distributions. 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.
neumannguardianangels.org
Let’s discuss the gift that best meets your charitable, family, and financial goals. or contact me at any time Fran B. Walmsley ’06 ’09 Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving 610-579-6288 | walmslef@neumann.edu
Sora Luna Lounge The Schmidt Multipurpose Room in Flynn Hall has been transformed into the Sora Luna Lounge, a late-night coffeehouse for students. The space was completely overhauled to include an outside patio, kitchen, acoustic panels, student artwork on the walls, and random furniture throughout the room to create an eclectic atmosphere. The name has Franciscan roots. Sora is Italian for sister in the Umbrian dialect, the region of Italy where St. Francis lived. Luna is moon in Italian. Sister Moon and Brother Sun are key figures in the Canticle of Creation prayer of St. Francis.
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a l a G p i h s r a l o Sch S c h o l ars h i ps c h a n g e l i v e s
twenty-first Annual Neumann University
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For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.neumann.edu/gala.