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r s ity ma n n U n ive u e N r o f e a magazin s and friend y il m fa i, n m u al

1 Vol. 46, No. Winter 2o18

: n o o S Coming

s e c n e i c S h t l a e H Center

Save the Date View event details and register online at www.alumni.neumann.edu ● Saturday, January 27 Women’s Alumni Basketball Game • Mirenda Center ● Thursday, February 1 Alumni & Parent Reception • Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD ● Saturday, February 10 Men’s Alumni Basketball Game • Mirenda Center ● Wednesday, March 14 Charter/Sponsorship Day • Neumann University Campus ● T uesday, March 20 Knight-2-Knight Student & Alumni Dinner Bayada Atrium, Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development

● T hursday, April 5 Eleventh Annual Continuing Adult and Professional Studies Alumni & Student Appreciation Celebration • Lazaretto Ballroom, Essington, PA ● Friday, April 6 Resident Assistant Alumni Reunion • Barnaby’s, Aston, PA ● Saturday, April 7 Nineteenth Annual Scholarship Gala • Drexelbrook, Drexel Hill, PA ● Saturday, April 28 Parent Breakfast with the President • Bayada Atrium ● Friday, May 11 Baccalaureate Mass • Mirenda Center ● S aturday, May 12 Commencement Ceremonies • Mirenda Center 10:00 a.m. – Graduate and Adult and Professional Studies Commencement 3:00 p.m. – Undergraduate Commencement

● Monday,

June 4 Fourteenth Annual Brendan P. Kelly ’87 Celebrity Golf Classic Penn Oaks Golf Club, West Chester, PA

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a magazine for Neumann University alumni, family and friends

Vol. 46, No. 1

Winter 2O18

President

Dr. Chris Everett Domes Vice President for Institutional Advancement and University Relations

Henry A. Sumner, M.A., CFRE Executive Director, Marketing and Communications

Stephen T. Bell

C O V E R : Artist’s rendering of the Health Sciences Center

Director of Publications

Carol DiAntonio

FEATURES

12 New Health Sciences Center 16 Homecoming 2017

2o Rick Iannucci ’88:

Cowboy Up for Veterans

D E P A R T M E N T S

3 From the President 4 Around Campus 23

Class Notes

Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Contributors

Christina Farrell ’18 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 12/31/17.

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.

The Neumann Fund allows you to invest the amount you choose and support the area most meaningful to you.

YOUR GIFT. YOUR CHOICE.

Whether it’s funding student scholarships, supporting activities outside the classroom, or helping us meet our immediate needs, your gift impacts the transformative experiences that define a Neumann education.

WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE? The Annual Fund The Scholarship Fund The Athletic Fund Learn more at www.neumann.edu/giving

FROM THE PRESIDENT

To Our Alumni and Friends, It has been six months since I became part of the Neumann University family. In that brief time, my wife Mary and I have been welcomed with open arms by every segment of the University community.

At homecoming, we spoke with dozens of alumni, who offered their best wishes and who opened their hearts to tell us how much Neumann means to them. Their stories of intellectual inspiration, faculty encouragement, and Franciscan ideals were emotional and genuine. One alumnus, artist Alloyius McIlwaine ’04, even offered his talent to create a mural on campus. Of course, we accepted his generous gift and will share information on the project as it takes shape.

In a listening tour that I conducted with faculty in every division and staff in every department, I heard the joy that our professors find in teaching and the commitment to Neumann’s mission that is apparent in each campus office. A spirit of service to our students is strong and thriving.

As Mary and I continue to meet leaders in government, business, and civic organizations, we consistently hear opinions about how important Neumann is to the economic health of the region and the quality of life for its citizens. Our reputation has never been more robust.

Perhaps the best symbol of this widespread optimism is the new Health Sciences Center, currently under construction. Scheduled to open in September 2018, the Center will enhance our ability to prepare students for professional careers in nursing, athletic training and physical therapy, improving our already stellar image in the fields of health sciences. You can read more about this project on page 12 of this issue.

Mary and I are blessed to be here at this exciting time in Neumann’s journey. We hope to meet many of you in the coming months to hear your stories and share more good news about the University.

Dr. Chris Everett Domes President

Winter 2018 3

Service from the Start

d n u o r A

On August 25, more than 350 first-year students scattered across Delaware County to volunteer at 19 schools and nonprofit organizations.

The students worked at Drexel Neumann Academy, Tyler Arboretum, Providence Animal Shelter, Fair Acres, the Boys and Girls Club of Chester, Aston Fire Department, Newlin Grist Mill, and many other sites. The Day of Service is part of Welcome Weekend for both commuters and residents, an activity in keeping with the University’s Franciscan tradition, which emphasizes service to others.

Nurses Help in the Dominican In September, nine senior nursing majors traveled to the Dominican Republic with nursing professor Amy Luckowski, coordinator of the community health nursing course at Neumann. “It’s a mission trip that is one of our options for clinical training,” Luckowski explained. “The object is to open their eyes to a different culture and a different way of life.” Her team goes into the barrios (neighborhoods) to do medical clinics.

“We bring a general surgeon with us. The students observe the surgeries and take care of the patients before and after.”

Bock Book Award Neumann presented the 2017 Frances and Wesley Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature to Gerald Kelley, author and illustrator of Please Please the Bees, in October. The book tells the story of Benedict, a bear who has a pretty good deal going with the local bees, who leave a jar of honey on Benedict’s doorstep every morning. When the bees go on strike, however, Benedict has to listen to them and consider what he should be doing in return.

The moral of the story is that gratitude and kindness go hand in hand. After reading his story to an audience of youngsters, Kelley delivered a lecture about his work to students in Dr. Gail Corso’s English classes.

International Students

Wound Care for Haiti  Karen Albaugh ’07, associate professor of physical therapy, made her third medical trip to Haiti in the fall of 2017. The trip was her second volunteer mission to the country’s Hospital Albert Schweitzer since she began helping the Haitian people in 2011. “I was part of a two-person team providing instruction and hands-on teaching of wound care skills to the nursing staff there. I gave a short presentation of my trip to the DPT students . . . and it generated a lot of conversation about service and global outreach.”

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Seven new international students arrived on campus this fall: Roy Aharonovich, a Business Administration major from Israel; John Baptist, a graduate student in Pastoral Counseling from India; Erica D’Mello, a Communication and Digital Media major from Australia; Khash Eshaghi, a Nursing major from Iran; Xinyu Lin, a Computer Information Systems major from China; Kyle Vigar, a Sport Management major from Canada; and McKenzie Gray, a Liberal Arts major from Canada.

Meeting McDermott On October 23, students from Dr. Gail Corso’s humanities senior seminar class met acclaimed fiction writer Alice McDermott before her appearance at the Free Library of Philadelphia. McDermott, National Book Award recipient and three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee for her fiction, spoke to students and graciously responded to their questions about the nature of fiction writing and details from several of her stories. Later in the evening, Ms. McDermott read two chapters from her newly released eighth novel, The Ninth Hour.

s u p m ca

Catching the  Unabomber

Say the Wrong Thing

Dr. Amanda Kemp, author of Say the Wrong Thing, hosted two programs on campus in early November. Entitled “How to Have Difficult Conversations: Stories and Strategies for Racial Justice and Authentic Community,” the presentations were aimed at encouraging students to engage in conversations about awkward subjects like race in a civil and open manner. Kemp grew up in poverty in a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood and went on to graduate from Stanford University and earn a PhD from Northwestern University.

Police Academy Option Neumann and the Delaware County Community College Municipal Police Academy (DCCC-MPA) have agreed that, beginning in the fall of 2018, Criminal Justice (CJ) majors from Neumann will be eligible to attend DCCC-MPA while they are matriculated students at the University if they meet certain criteria, including a psychological evaluation, physical fitness test, criminal background check, and others.

The agreement allows CJ students at Neumann to save time and money if they want to graduate from both institutions. Under this plan, students would spend two and a half years at Neumann (earning 77 credits), study for one semester and a summer at the MPA (paying DCCC tuition for 30 credits), and then return to Neumann for their final year.

American Chestnuts Dr. Mac Given’s two ecology laboratory sections returned to Tyler Arboretum to assist in the 2017 American Chestnut harvest. Since 1997, the arboretum has been supporting The American Chestnut Foundation’s program to restore a blight-resistant American chestnut to the natural landscape. By visiting the arboretum’s chestnut orchard, the students became familiar with the native chestnut, the blight that threatened to destroy it, and the efforts that are being made to recover the tree most people no longer know. The students harvested more than 750 seeds.



James Fitzgerald, the FBI profiler whose strategy led directly to the capture of the Unabomber, told his story to a crowd of 200 in the Meagher Theatre on November 8. Fitzgerald was already an FBI agent when he received the Unabomber case as his first assignment as a young criminal profiler. The Unabomber had sent 16 bombs during a 17-year period (1978-95) and had just mailed a 35,000-word, anti-technology manifesto to the Washington Post and New York Times, threatening to blow up a plane if they didn’t publish it.

Fitzgerald convinced the FBI and attorney general — despite vehement objections to negotiating with a terrorist — to let both newspapers publish the document because he believed some of the language would be easily identifiable. Soon afterward, the police got a tip that resulted in the arrest of Theodore Kaczynski, a hermit living in a Montana cabin that had no running water or electricity.

Coexist Dr. Leanne Havis believes that the first step to acceptance is understanding. In an effort to promote the concept of coexisting, the Criminal Justice professor hosted a student-led panel to explore various faith-based and spiritual traditions in November. The goal of the event, “Exploring a Diversity of Traditions,” was to expose students to other religions. Before the panel, Havis organized trips to various places of worship: the Islamic Center of Chester County, Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park, and a mosque in Upper Darby.

In the spring of 2018, she is planning trips to a Buddhist Temple and African American churches A previous event, “Arabic and Muslim Culture,” focused on what students need to know in order to engage in intercultural interactions with competence and sensitivity. Mutaz Al Mudaris, who works with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the U.S. Department of State as an interpreter, spoke about what it means to be an Arab, with reference to religion, family, history, music, food, and art.

Hola In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, two Spanish classes collaborated with WNUW to air La Hora Hispana during October.

Students in Intermediate Spanish, taught by Dr. Maria de Gordon, and Global Spain, taught by Sr. Linda Sariego, worked in teams to create 20-minute radio scripts in Spanish that include segments on current events, Spanish music, and Latin culture. After the teams recorded their segments in the WNUW radio studios, Sean McDonald ’08 ’11, director of Neumann Media, edited the combined work into a onehour show that aired every Wednesday.

Winter 2018 5

s u p m a c d n u o Ar Best Kept Secret

At a time when college students worry incessantly about building a resume, landing an internship, and developing interview skills — all in search of the elusive job after graduation — there’s a major that’s the best kept secret in the region: Biology/Clinical Laboratory Science The program is small. Forty-four students have graduated with a Bio/CLS degree in the last nine years according to Dr. Sandra Weiss, program director. All 44, however, have landed a job within two months of graduation, and 25 of the 44 (56.8%) had job offers before they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, Students in the CLS track are trained in medical laboratories to search for clues in the diagnosis of disease through examination of body fluids and blood analysis. Workplaces include medical centers, clinical laboratories, blood banks, and research laboratories.

Graduates get good jobs, help save lives, and make good money.

Guaranteed Admission Neumann and Saint Joseph’s High School (SJHS) in Hammonton, NJ, have agreed that St. Joseph’s students will be guaranteed admission into Neumann University as full-time matriculated students as long as they graduate from SJHS; earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better; score 900 or better on the SAT; and satisfy all admission requirements.

As part of this guaranteed admissions agreement, Neumann will provide on-site personal admissions counseling and financial aid workshops for prospective students and their parents during the fall and spring recruitment cycles, and award competitive merit scholarships to qualified St. Joseph’s students.

Breakfast with Santa The Knights for Education club collected almost 300 unwrapped toys at its annual Breakfast with Santa on December 9. The gifts were donated to the Sacred Heart of Camden parish for its Christmas shopping event. Parents in the parish can shop for gifts priced from $0.25 to $5.00, making Christmas shopping possible for needy families.

Running 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.

Career Exploration The Admissions Department has hosted a series of Career Exploration Days for high school students who are interested in specific majors. The Saturday programs have focused on careers in STEM, Communications, Nursing and Health Sciences, Sport Management, Criminal Justice, Business, Education, and Liberal Arts.

The events provide high school students with information about careers in their areas of interest and introduce them to professors and young alumni who have launched successful careers.

 Live Nativity On December 3, students, faculty and staff re-enacted Greccio, the Franciscan tradition of the crib, performing the Live Nativity scene and the scripture narration.

The program also featured the sounds of sacred Christmas music, performed by the Holy Family Regional School Children’s Choir, and a petting zoo with manger animals.

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, in Greccio and around the world.

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The Inauguration

A Call for Connection, Compassion On October 6, 2017, for the first time in 21 years, the Neumann University community gathered to inaugurate a president. In a ceremony awash in academic regalia and medieval symbolism, Dr. Chris Everett Domes accepted the presidential medallion and looked to the future, declaring that “It is our destiny as a Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition to respond to the needs of this generation with compassionate hearts. Then, in turn, we will ask our students and our alumni to respond with a compassionate heart to those they encounter in their lives.”

In an inspirational, 18-minute address, Dr. Domes called for connection and compassion.

“Our students are looking for engagement and purpose,” he said. “In a time when one can find daily examples of deep-rooted anger, high levels of mistrust and division, institutions with strong purpose-driven missions are places of healing, hope, peace, and renewal.”

He acknowledged that the mission is daunting.

“Our Franciscan intellectual traditional tells us that education alone does not instill care for creation, compassion for others, or a commitment to speak the truth. We must remain committed to helping our students understand the RISES values of Reverence, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship. We must also show them how to integrate those values into their lives. We have to find creative ways to collaborate, to provide access for students, and we must be willing to be bold.”

He also drew a clear parallel between the chivalrous knights at the time of St. Francis,

people of faith who “fight for the poor and marginalized, for the oppressed and the forgotten” and the modern Neumann Knight, who embodies Franciscan values. “Our Franciscan educational tradition teaches us that we must prepare our students to embrace the hurt, problems, and challenges of the world, and not to retreat from them.”

“I might suggest that our world needs more true Knights,” concluded Dr. Domes. “People who have an authentic belief, a passion in a mission, a fearless and faithful understanding of who they are in the world.”

More than 1,000 people filled the floor of the Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development to witness the transition in leadership and welcome Dr. Domes as the University’s sixth president. Among the wellwishers who spoke before the presidential address were Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Aston Commissioner Carol Graham, Pennsylvania Representative Leanne Krueger-Braneky, Pennsylvania Senator Tom Killion, and U.S. Congressman Patrick Meehan. University Board Chair James Delaney, Neumann President Emeritus Dr. Rosalie Mirenda and many members of the Board of Trustees were also on hand for the ceremony and inaugural address.

Delegates from more than 30 universities also attended, bringing congratulations from Neumann’s sister institutions.

To read the full address by Dr. Domes, visit www.neumann.edu/inauguration.

Winter 2018 7

ARTS

Music, Dance and The Arts Guild had an extraordinarily busy fall semester, drawing thousands of community members to campus to experience music, dance, lecture and drama. The Cultural Arts Forum kicked off the season on September 7 with a program entitled Great Songwriters of the Early 20th Century, featuring the works of Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, George Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers. The group also hosted programs on two popular historical topics: the Civil War and President John F. Kennedy. From the realm of literature, the Forum staged a oneactor show about Edgar Allen Poe with dramatic performances from The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, and other classic stories. In addition, the group hosted its annual Luncheon and Fashion Show (proceeds to the Dr. Margaret Mary Kearney Scholarship) and a December selection of favorite Christmas songs.

The Delaware County Symphony presented two orchestral and two chamber concerts, featuring the works of Sibelius, Rimsky-Korsakov, Beethoven, Bach, Debussy, Chopin, Brahms, and composers who are orchestra members.

The University Players and University Jazz Band also took center stage with their fall play and concert. The players performed one-act plays

by Susan Glaspell, including her groundbreaking feminist work, Trifles, a snapshot of the psychology of an American household in 1916. The jazz band presented a mix of traditional, popular, and rockinfluenced Christmas tunes.

International Ballet Classique mesmerized audiences with its staging of The Nutcracker.

The Delaware County Symphony performed five times during the fall semester, including a special concert for the inauguration of Dr. Chris Domes.

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ARTS

Drama Draw Thousands to Campus

Students and faculty joined the Concert Chorale for its Christmas concert, Sing with the Angels.

The University Concert Chorale presented Sing with the Angels, a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs in early December before International Ballet Classique closed the month with its annual performance of The Nutcracker, capturing the holiday magic that always delight standing-room-only crowds.

Special fall programs included Memories of the Great War, a biographical film of stories from World War I; Se Dio Vuole (If God is Willing), part of the Neumann-Widener Italian Film Festival; and Russian Romance, a concert by Neumann’s Dr. Yukiko Ishida.

Center Stage Productions, International Ballet Classique and the Delaware County Symphony closed the semester by combining their talents at Evening in New Orleans, the annual benefit for arts at the University. Framed by a Cajun-flavored reception and a champagne-inspired dance party, the theatrical production included Crazy ’Bout Ya Baby from Forever Plaid and One Day More from Les Miserables; A Blues Walk and La Petite Fille; and Brass Jambalaya.

Deanna Stellabotte and Carly Pettitdemange played Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles.

Winter 2018 9

AT H L E T I C S

Men’s Soccer 8-9-1, 5-3-1 CSAC CSAC Semifinals, ECAC Tournament Bid CSAC First Team: Billy Swontek, Jake McDevitt CSAC Second Team: Christian Cortese CSAC Honorable Mention: Jack Norwood, Perry Corsetti, Marlon Trejo CSAC Sportsmanship: Mitchel Yeakley United Soccer Coaches All Mid-Atlantic Third Team: Jake McDevitt

Women’s Soccer 7-9-1, 6-4-1 CSAC Jake McDevitt battles for the ball in a match against Penn State-Harrisburg.

CSAC First Round CSAC Second Team: Anna Attardi CSAC Honorable Mention: Morgan Ryan, Taylor Garman

FALL SPORTS

p u p a r W

Melanie Malseed, CSAC Defensive Player of the Year, serves in a match against Rosemont.

CSAC Sportsmanship: Kristen Montgomery

Field Hockey 3-13, 2-5 CSAC CSAC Second Team: Ashley Parker CSAC Honorable Mention: Alexis Damask CSAC Sportsmanship: Kyra Washington

Women’s Volleyball CSAC Runner-Up 16-22, 9-2 CSAC CSAC Defensive Player of the Year: Melanie Malseed CSAC First Team: Melanie Malseed, Rachael Hoffman CSAC Second Team: Shayne Sullivan CSAC Honorable Mention: Bianca Harbold CSAC Sportsmanship: Carlee Herrin AVCA All-America Honorable Mention: Melanie Malseed AVCA Mid-Atlantic Region: Melanie Malseed AVCA Honorable Mention: Rachael Hoffman CoSIDA Academic All-District: Melanie Malseed Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area: Melanie Malseed

Cross Country Men — CSAC Sportsmanship: Stephen Battle 10 Accent Magazine

Women — CSAC Sportsmanship: Julia Howell

Julia Fair (center) at the World Ringette Championship.

Fair Helps USA to Silver Medal in Ringette To say Julia Fair is active at Neumann University is an understatement. The senior, a double major in accounting and business administration from Meadville, PA, is a presidential ambassador, president of a student club, and a member of the women’s ice hockey team, to name just some of her involvement on campus. But when she was invited to try out for the USA National Ringette Team, the goalie thought, “Sure, why not?”

Ringette, like hockey, is played on ice with skates and sticks with six players per team on the ice at once. The objective is to score goals by shooting a rubber ring into the opposing team’s net at either end of the rink during periods of play.

Even though she was unable to attend the first round of try-outs, Team USA was still interested in her after she sent a highlight tape. She was invited to the second round of try-outs.

“I have never been so exhausted,” recalls Fair after 10 minutes of a scrimmage, “the game moves so fast.” Her exhaustion was worth it. Four weeks later, she was offered a position on the Team USA Ringette.

The practice before championship play was held in October.

It was fast and furious. Fair spend over eight hours on the ice in a 26-hour period. Team USA scrimmaged against highly competitive Canadian teams, and Fair held her own.

After training camp, Fair switched her focus back to ice hockey. The team was preparing for the start of its season. In fact, she was so preoccupied with ice hockey that she did not play any ringette from mid-October until November 25, which was the first practice for the World Ringette Championship in Mississauga, ON, Canada. It turned out to be a big adjustment to go from ice hockey to ringette. “I had to learn to be more patient, the moves were unbelievable,” adds Fair.

Before tournament play started, Team USA played an exhibition game against a highly experienced Finland team.

Although the 22 – 0 loss may not reflect it, Fair played better

than she expected. She started the game and did not let in a goal until half way through the first period. During halftime, she received a pat on the back from the Finland coach. Fair looks back on that game as a learning experience. “The Finnish do not give up. But, I can compete at international level,” she learned.

Team USA was part of the President’s Pool that also included Sweden and the Czech Republic. The three teams would play a round robin tournament with a semi-final and final game. Team USA recorded its first tournament win against the Czech Republic. Fair played the second half and recorded a shutout. She felt comfortable and confident on the ice.

The next game resulted in a hard-fought loss to Sweden.

Fair started the second half and let in only two goals. She later learned her performance in this game earned her the starting position in the final game. With this win, Sweden advanced to the final game and Team USA would match up once again against the Czech Republic in semi-final play.

Team USA breezed past the Czech Republic in the semifinal with a 15 – 1 victory to advance to the final game.

The championship game was played against an undefeated Sweden. This was the first start for Fair in actual tournament play. And unlike previous games, she played the whole game.

Team USA and Sweden battled back and forth for four periods, and Sweden won the game by a point.

Even though Team USA was so close to winning a gold medal, Fair was still pleased with a silver medal in a world championship for a sport she had picked up seven months prior. “I’ve found new passion, something else to do besides playing hockey,” Fair said as she looks ahead to the 2019 Ringette World Championship.

Winter 2018 11

Health Sciences Center Is on the Way

THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER will add 17,000 square feet to the Abessinio Building.

Top Three Benefits According to Dr. Chris Domes, Neumann’s president, there are three clear and significant benefits that the new Health Sciences Center will bring.

• It enhances the reputation of our strongest academic area, illustrating a firm commitment to remain among the region’s best universities for nursing, physical therapy, athletic training, biology and other health sciences fields.

• It allows the University to slowly increase enrollment in health sciences programs, solidifying our already healthy fiscal situation and cultivating academic excellence in other programs.

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• It brings together graduate students in one building and makes it easier for the University to address their needs in a central location.

Construction of a brand new Health Sciences Center is underway.

The new structure, an extension of the Rocco Abessinio Building, will add approximately 17,000 square feet of instruction and lab space to accommodate projected growth in the doctoral program in Physical Therapy, as well as in undergraduate programs in Nursing and the Health Sciences. It will also provide space for a proposed master’s degree program in Athletic Training.

The construction schedule calls for the Center to be open in November 2018.

Key components of the project are six physical therapy/athletic training labs, a state-of-the-art nursing instruction auditorium that can accommodate upwards of 300 students as well as a two-story atrium with green space and a reflection area.

“Neumann University has decided to undertake this project in anticipation of the dramatic growth that is predicted in the health care industry over the course of the next decade,” said Dr. Lawrence DiPaolo, vice president for academic affairs. “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.”

The additional space provided by the Center will facilitate 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.

Faculty Expectations Robert Post Director, Physical Therapy

“Being able to showcase our program with state-of-the-art space and facilities and equipment within it will help us currently and in the long run as we would need to have that in place to get the best qualified students as well as faculty.”

“Neumann has a stellar reputation in the health sciences,” said DiPaolo. Nearly 40% of Neumann’s first-year students in 2017 have enrolled in just four majors: Nursing, Athletic Training, Biology, and Clinical Laboratory Science.

In the last three years, the pass rate for Neumann nursing graduates on the NCLEX, the exam that determines licensure, has been 95.4%, 90.7% and 91.8%. These pass rates are higher than the national and Pennsylvania rates.

The PHYSICAL THERAPY LAB will allow enrollment growth in the University’s most popular graduate program.

continued on page 14 Winter 2018 13

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Funding from the State The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has approved $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding to assist the University in the construction of this building. The Center is designed to increase the University’s undergraduate and graduate enrollment in the health sciences and to better serve the community.

In a statement to the Delaware County Daily Times, State Representative Leanne Krueger-Braneky said, “Neumann University is a valuable resource in our community, and this project will allow the University to continue and enhance its good work. I’m pleased that the state saw fit to provide funding to support this project.”

The need for the project stems from market demand. Over the course of the last five years, undergraduate interest in the field of nursing, as well as graduate interest in the field of physical therapy, has increased significantly. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts these two fields to grow at 16% to 34%, respectively, over the next decade. With new, auditorium-style teaching classrooms and labs, as well as equipment rooms and spaces for physical therapy instruction, the University will be better able to meet the market demand. The total cost of the project is approximately $11 million.

RACP funding is intended to provide needed economic stimulus to the Pennsylvania economy and assist in the immediate creation of family-sustaining jobs for Pennsylvanians. This funding is awarded through the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority, the host county agency.

Private Support Forward with Faith is a special campaign to honor the legacy of Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, president emeritus of Neumann University, and her husband, Tony, for their years of leadership, vision, and commitment to students and to the University’s Catholic Franciscan mission. The campaign has three components, one of which is the Health Sciences Center. The professionals educated in this Center will address market demands in health care, the career that brought Dr. Mirenda to Neumann University more than 40 years ago.

The campaign will also raise money for two campus institutes. Enhancement of the endowment for the Institute for Franciscan Studies, already established with a gift from the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, will ensure Neumann University’s Catholic Franciscan character and identity through consistent, systematic education, and research/writing focused on the continual deepening of the integration of mission into the University’s academic instruction.

The Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development was founded in 1999 and has already been established with multiple gifts from individual donors. Enhancement of this endowment will ensure this unique and distinctive ministry — dedicated to the practical application of the role of sport in the spiritual, faith, character and leadership development of student athletes and coaches — continues to transform perspectives, inspire behavior, and deepen awareness of self, others and God in a manner reflective of Neumann’s Catholic Franciscan identity.

The new LECTURE HALL will seat more than 300 Nursing students.

Faculty Expectations Theresa Pietsch Associate Dean, Undergraduate Nursing

“ The reality for nursing is that we’re a practice profession.

What that means is not only do we have to learn through the books but we have to learn through touching. We can take students to hospitals but we need space in the University to teach students how to care for people before they actually touch someone, live.”

Hubert Lee

Health Sciences Majors

Director, Athletic Training

“ Our applications go up every year, our enrollment goes up every year, and with the new Health Sciences Center our enrollment should increase greatly based on projections from our market survey.”

Biology Biology/Clinical Laboratory Science Health Sciences

● Exercise Physiology ● Strength and Conditioning Nursing Physical Therapy (doctoral program) Pre-Athletic Training Pre-Chiropractic Pre-Medicine Pre-Pharmacy (2+4 with Duquesne University) Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Podiatry

The STUDENT LOUNGE will be in a two-story atrium.

Winter 2018 15

Hundreds of alumni flocked back to campus in mid-October for Homecoming 2017, a three-day event that gave graduates an opportunity to stay connected with their alma mater. From the 12th Annual Nursing Reunion and PGH Lecture to the family picnic and Alumni Awards Dinner, there were programs to attract alumni and their families to campus.

Homecoming Queen and King crowns went to Kyhawnia Pinckney and Luke Falkenberg.

The highlight of the weekend was the annual Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Recognition Dinner, which honored a group of outstanding alumni.

Fr. Joseph Corley ’89 was named the Distinguished Education and Human Services Alumnus. Alloyius McIlwaine ’04 received the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

Rose Morris ’79 received the Alumni Association Recognition Award for dedication and devoted service. Jude O’Shea received the Honorary Alumni Award for embodying the standards of the University.

Alumni Awards

Jason Peterson ’03 ’12 received, in absentia, the Volunteer of the Year Award for his service to Neumann. Jacqueline Powers ’14 ’16 was named Distinguished Continuing Adult and Professional Studies Alumna.

Chad Rolston ’01 was honored as Distinguished Business and Information Management Alumnus. Angel Smedley ’90 received the John Neumann Award for professional development and community service.

Kelly Stenger ’90 received the President’s Distinguished Alumni Award for leadership and commitment to the University. Michele Szkolnicki ’86 was named Distinguished Nursing and Health Sciences Alumna.

Front: Kimberly Wilson, Esq. ’96, Jude O’Shea, Kelly Stenger ’90 and Michele Szkolnicki ’86.

Back: Fr. Joseph Corley ’89, Angel Smedley ’90, Rose Morris ’79, Dr. Chris Domes, University president, Mary Domes, Alloyius McIlwaine ’04, and Chad Rolston ’01.

The picnic was a family event that got everyone into a festive mood.

16 Accent Magazine

DR AWS HUNDREDS TO C AMPUS Kimberly Wilson ’96 was named Distinguished Arts and Sciences Alumna.

Five alumni were inducted into the University Hall of Fame: Sr. Linda DeCero, OSF ’01, Kevin Flanigan ’13, Michael Hedden ’09, Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne, OSF ’70, and Angela Sebasto ’10.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday was the President’s Scholarship Reception, which provides scholarship recipients a chance to meet and thank the donors who support their education. The program was followed by a display of fireworks, which has become a staple of Homecoming weekend.

Leading up to the Saturday awards dinner were lectures for Pastoral Counseling, Spiritual Direction and Nursing alumni; a picnic that featured delicious food, zipline and bounces for children of all ages, a live band, and beer tasting; varsity and alumni athletic contests, and Faculty Follies.

The celebration concluded on Sunday with the Massey Breast Cancer 5k/1k Run and a concert by the Delaware County Symphony.

Students unleashed their energy and hospitality to make alumni feel welcome.

Children loved the bounce and zipline rides at the picnic.

Hall of Fame In front of Athletic Director Charles Sack are Sr. Linda DeCero, OSF ’01, Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne, OSF ’70, Angela Sebasto ’10, and Kevin Flanigan ’13.

Winter 2018 17

ALUMNI NEWS

Dear Alumni, When you visit campus, we love to hear your stories about what campus was like when you attended, whether you attended when it was called Our Lady of Angels College, Neumann College, or Neumann University. We love to hear about the times when students played basketball in the cafeteria of Our Lady of Angels Convent, when the tunnels were used for sneaking around, stories about the Living and Learning Centers, the “trailers,” and life in the Annex. These stories are priceless and they make up what this school has meant to each of you.

These stories remind us that the campus is constantly evolving and programs are always improving to continue to enrich the student experience. At our core, however, we will always adhere to the same mission, vision, and values.

Make this the year that you re-engage with Neumann by attending an event or getting a private tour of campus. We would love to add your story to our rich collection!

President’s Thanksgiving Reception

Dr. Chris and Mary Domes (center) recognized leadership gifts to the Forward with Faith campaign

by Mark and Ann Baiada (left) and James and Jacqueline Delaney (right) at the President’s Thanksgiving Reception.

All the best,

Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

18 Accent Magazine

Members of Neumann University’s Guardian Angel Society that were in attendance at the President’s Thanksgiving Reception on November 17, 2017. Dr. Chris and Mary Domes (standing center) with members of the Guardian Angel Society. Sitting are Elizabeth Mullen, Dr. Sandra Weiss and Jacqueline Delaney. Standing are Bonnie C. Stufflet ’73, Donald Homer, Susan Cotterall Homer ’87, Carolyn A. Stankiewicz ’77, and James Delaney.

ALUMNI NEWS

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Winter 2018 19

ALUMNI PROFILE

Helping to Heal Others Using the Magic of the Horse Rick Iannucci may have been born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, but he has always had cowboy blood pulsing through his veins. This former Green Beret, U.S. Marshall and Neumann University graduate, class of 1988, has found a way to combine his passions by doing service to others using the magic of the horse.

Iannucci founded a non-profit organization called Horses for Heroes Cowboys Up!, a unique horsemanship, wellness and Skill-set Restructuring™ program based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The program is free to all post 9/11 veterans and active military personnel, especially those who have sustained post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical injuries, or have experienced combat trauma during their time serving our country. It is the first non-clinical program in the country based on post-traumatic growth.

“We’re veterans helping veterans and we are a national program.

We fly men and women in from all over the country both veterans and active military. We ask them to give us at least 10 days at a time, which allows them to acclimatize not only physically but in mind and spirit. This is a totally free program. Veterans and active military have already paid their commitment forward so they don’t have to pay anything to come out here,” explained Iannucci.

Iannucci is no stranger to the saddle. He has ridden and owned horses since he was 12 years old. Developing Horses for Heroes was a natural fit for him.

Iannucci combines a lifetime of horsemanship training with his military and police special operations experience into this one-of-a-kind program. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Neumann University and is a graduate of Baylor University — Truett Theological Seminary. He is also certified in pastoral crisis intervention through the University of Maryland, and the International Crisis Intervention Stress Foundation.

Horses for Heroes is tailored to each individual veteran who participates. It begins with connecting with a horse before even getting in the saddle. Once they progress past that point, they start participating in other aspects of ranch life such as working cattle and helping out at program partner ranches.

The mission for the veterans in the program, which Iannucci started 10 years ago, is to reconnect, re-create, and reintegrate.

“Most of our veterans have been blown up once or twice or had some other traumatic experience. Today the military is way more intense than any war we have ever had, and the multiple deployments take a toll not only with the veteran, but with the family as well,” said Iannucci.

20 Accent Magazine

Veterans bond with horses

The range of issues that these veterans are dealing with is wide and complex.

“It’s that spiritual dissonance, that disconnect, that has plagued them since they’ve been deployed and since they’ve returned home. We deal with all of that stuff by meeting the veterans where they are and the horse is the perfect partner,” Iannucci said.

The program acknowledges the value of the military skills that each participant possesses. And, the horsemanship and ranch skills are the perfect template to restructure those skills. Many of the vets have never been around horses before.

However no previous horse or ranch experience is necessary to participate.

“The first thing we want to do is to give them a new mission. We want to make sure that they can re-adapt to a new skill set,” said Iannucci. “This program is self-paced with no drama. It’s much easier for them to trust the four-legged companion and the horse’s trust is reciprocal.”

When a vet finally makes that connection with their horse it can be magical for all those around. Iannucci has experienced that bond numerous times and it is always a touching moment.

Rick Iannucci ’88, founder of Horses for Heroes

ALUMNI PROFILE

Crossed Arrows Ranch

“It’s that horse whisperer moment and then you see big smiles break out all around,” said Iannucci.

The ranch provides even more instructional opportunities outside of the corral and away from the horses. Participants take grief and trauma, nutrition, centering prayer and yoga classes.

“We treat ‘Post Traumatic Spiritual Distance,’ which is a soul wound. We like to say that we treat the other side of PTSD. We never forget that true healing is beyond secular and has to occur on all levels,” Iannucci said.

Iannucci works closely with his wife Nancy to keep the program and the ranch up and running.

“There are a lot of moving parts here,” Iannucci said.

Nancy oversees the program administration duties and development for Horses for Heroes. She is a certified Equine Gestalt Coach and the Founder of Wisdom Way for Warriors, a life coaching program available at the ranch. She is also a certified riding instructor and Reiki Master.

The ranch, known as the Crossed Arrows Ranch which sits on what many years ago was part of the San Marcos Indian Pueblo, currently has six horses. The program runs on donations. Neither Iannucci nor his wife take a salary. They live off of his pension and keep administration costs low by doing most of the work themselves.

“I’m the head cook and fundraiser too,” he said with a laugh.

Iannucci often references his Catholic education, and in particular Neumann University, when he speaks of the values that Horses for Heroes was built upon.

Long before he established his ranch, Iannucci was looking for a college after serving many years in the army. He was drawn to Neumann University’s (then Neumann College) mission, particularly the emphasis on service to others.

Horses for Heroes participants

“I liked the Franciscan bent on education and the flavor of it,” he noted. “They were great because I was allowed and encouraged to take the skills I had as a U.S. Marshal and military reservist and apply them to my program of study. Neumann offered a very creative and innovated program to do just that.”

In addition, Iannucci is also a graduate of St. James High School in Chester, Pennsylvania.

“I had a wonderful Catholic education that gave me a spiritual education and foundation,” he recalled.

He worked as a U.S. Marshal for 21 years and that is what led him to the western part of the country. In 1989 he accepted a promotion to open an office in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Prior to moving to New Mexico, Iannucci had served all over the United States and spent several years in Columbia, South America, setting up an anti-kidnapping initiative for the U.S. Government.

Iannucci built an interfaith-interdenominational chapel on the ranch which houses a large wooden statue of St. Francis, a constant reminder of the compassionate values he built the ranch upon.

The ranch is dedicated to its mission and its work is the witness.

Horses for Heroes gives each veteran a chance to recalibrate and assess life’s challenges with the goal of overcoming them.

“When they leave here they get a virtual leatherman tool for the body, mind and spirit that they can use whenever needed and wherever they might be,” Iannucci said. “We provide hope here.

There is a future for our vets and there is a good and gracious God to help them along.”

Visit www.horsesforheroes.org to learn more about this program.

Winter 2018 21

Abessinio Lecture: Culture Trumps Strategy at Wawa Brian Schaller told a crowd of approximately 130 Neumann students, faculty and guests that, at Wawa, culture trumps strategy. The company mission is to create “happier and stronger communities by building lasting relationships” with people who visit their stores. The hoagies, coffee and candy bars are simply the means to a larger end.

Schaller was speaking on October 5, delivering the second annual Rocco A. ’79 and Mary F. Abessinio Division of Business Endowed Chair in Management and Entrepreneurship Lecture in the John J. Mullen Communication Center. Schaller is the chief fuel and real estate officer for Wawa, Inc. The core values of the Quaker-based company include delighting customers, embracing change, and doing the right thing. It is these values, said Schaller, that build the close relationships and fulfill the mission. He also pointed out that the friendly and supportive Wawa reputation must be built over a long period of time because the length of an average visit to

a Wawa store is just three minutes and 47 seconds.

Of course, the company does not ignore strategy.

Its plans include investigating delivery options and expanding into the Washington, D.C., market.

Wawa was founded in 1964 (one year before Neumann) and now has approximately 760 locations and more than 29,000 employees. Schaller noted that there are 96 Neumann University alumni or current students who are Wawa employees or interns.

Rocco Abessinio and his wife Mary funded the Abessinio Lecture through their family foundation with the intention of bringing to campus each year a recognized professional with expertise in management and entrepreneurship.

In addition to funding the lecture, the Abessinio family foundation also established an annual scholarship for a Division of Business student who has exemplified excellence in management and entrepreneurial understanding and application.

Rocco Abessinio ’79 chats with Wawa’s Brian Schaller, who delivered the second Abessinio Lecture in October.

22 Accent Magazine

s e t o n ss a Cl

Linda Schiavone, ’14, M.S., graduated

EDUCATION

Tara Holcombe, ’09, B.S., was accepted

into the Communication Master’s Degree Program at Drexel University.

Jesse Urquhart, ’10, B.S., earned a Master’s

of Education with a concentration in Coaching.

Kimberly Masterson, ’12, B.A., recently

received her MBA in Hospitality from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island.

Christine Perrino, ’12, B.A., graduated

from Western Governors University in May of 2017 with a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Jamie Willis, ’13, B.A., has been accepted

into Wilmington University’s Doctor of Education program in Educational Leadership and Innovation, Teacher Leadership Concentration.

Alexandria Maurizzio, ’14, B.A., graduated

from Shippensburg University with a Master’s of Science in Counseling/College Student Personnel.

Lisa Riley, ’14, B.A., has been accepted into

Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law and is a recipient of the Dean’s Merit Scholarship.

James Conner, ’14, B.S., has just recently

started the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Neumann. He is also currently entering his 4th year as an Athletic Trainer for NovaCare Rehabilitation.

Where are you and what are you doing?

from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) degree and plans to integrate the tenets of positive psychology into her profession as a therapist.

Eric Bowman, ’15, B.A., will be attending

Howard University College of Medicine starting in the Fall of 2017.

Richard Tutak, ’15, B.A., graduated with

Master’s in Public Administration from Widener University in August 2017.

WEDDINGS AND ENGAGEMENTS Ryan Carl, ’09, B.A., married

Laura Hilton on October 14, 2017.

Jasmine Salgado, ’10, B.S., married Ryan

Losinno on September 23, 2017 at Fleisher Art Memorial in South Philadelphia. The couple honeymooned in New Zealand and Fiji and have settled in Philadelphia, PA.

Clarissa Hayes, ’15, B.S., recently began

studying at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Matthew Sheneman, ’15, B.S., began

studies at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. Matthew has also been commissioned into the United States Air Force as Second Lieutenant.

Allysa Ketrick, ’16, B.A., completed

her Foundation Year at West Chester University’s Master of Social Work program with a GPA of 3.67 and internship at Chester County Adult Probation and Parole’s WRAP (Women’s Re-Entry Assessment Programming Initiative) program to reduce recidivism.

Brittany Broomall, ’16, B.S., earned her

Master’s Degree in Accounting from Villanova University in May of 2017 and recently accepted a position as an Audit Associate with KPMG. Jonathan Low, ’16, B.S., recently began

studying at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Let us know of any changes in your life that you would like to share at

Francis Farrell, ’17, B.A., was accepted to the

www.alumni.neumann. edu/classnotes

Robyn Berenato, ’17, B.S., has been

online Master of Arts in History Program at Arizona State University. accepted to Rowan University for graduate studies.

Kristina Marshall-Barnes, ’16, B.S., became

engaged on June 15, 2017 to her high school sweetheart.

BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS Stephen Pizzi, ’01, B.S., and his family

welcomed Giorgio Christian into the world on May 12, 2017.

Nina Truehart, ’04, B.A., and fellow alumni Scott Truehart, ’03, B.A., welcomed

Connor Nicholas into their family on August 12, 2017.

Heather Hastings, ’07, M.S., ’01, B.A., and

her husband, Scott, welcomed their first child, Scott Hastings, Jr., into the world on May 2, 2017.

Continued 0n page 24 Winter 2018 23

d e u n i t n o c s e t o Class n

Jeffrey Vermeulen, ’07, M.S., was named

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Mary Ann McLane, ’76, B.S., was named

the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science at its annual meeting on August 3, 2017 in San Diego.

Assistant Vice President for External Relations by York College of Pennsylvania. Prior to being named AVP, Vermeulen had served the College in a number of administrative posts.

Joseph Crawford, ’09, B.S., along with

Evan Zielinski, ’14, B.A., has recently

returned to Neumann University by acquiring the Coordinator for New Media, Communications and Events position in the Institute for Sport, Spirituality, and Character Development.

Rosie Kays, ’14, B.S., was named Head

Women’s Soccer Coach/Director of Campus Recreation at SUNY-Cobleskill.

his brother Jerry Crawford, was recently inducted to the Delaware County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, after officiating over 2,500 NBA Games and appearing in 50 NBA Finals.

position as Rosemont College’s Women’s Lacrosse Assistant Coach.

to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ Procedure Manual for High Acuity, Progressive, and Critical Care, 7th Edition, Procedure 52- Intraaortic Balloon Pump Management, 2017.

Keith Richardz, ’09, B.S., was promoted to

Cierra Strickland, ’15, B.A., has recently

Fly Borgata Coordinator at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, he also assists in the Special Events Department as a Lead Supervisor.

returned to Neumann University by acquiring the Assistant Student Systems Administrator Position in the Registrar’s Office.

Eileen Mielcarek, ’80, B.S., founder of

Danielle Friel, ’09, M.S., has accepted

Alexa D’Alessandro, ’15, B.S., has accepted

the Editorial Assistant Position in the Public Relations Department at Neumann University.

a position as a Registered Nurse at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper with Cooper University Health Care.

Kevin Oleszewski, ’12, B.S., accepted the

Bethany Lang, ’15, B.S., accepted a position as

position of Vice President, Wealth Strategist for PNC.

Athletic Academic Specialist at Prairie View University in Prairie View, Texas.

Maria Sotomayor, ’13, B.A., was promoted

Allysa Ketrick, ’16, B.A., has joined a non-

John Harper, ’77, B.S., was a contributor

Media Eye Works, celebrates 25 years of service to the communities of Media and Delaware County. Along with this celebration, Eileen Mielcarek congratulates her daughter, Lacey Mielcarek, ’13, M.S., who has recently assumed leadership of the company.

Kimberly McDermott, ’97, B.A., has

acquired the position of Director of Institutional Gifts and Donor Relations at Neumann University.

Denise LePera, ’06, M.S., ’03, B.S., was

named the first President of Nazareth Academy High School. Mrs. LePera is active on several boards including the Board of Limited Jurisdiction at St. Martha School in Northeast Philadelphia serving on the Enrollment Management Committee and the Northeast Branch YMCA. In 2016, she was the recipient of the SmartCEO Brava Award presented to Executive Directors of Nonprofits on the basis of organizational growth, community impact, and mentoring.

Kendra Leffler, ’07, M.S., ’03, B.S., was

named Regional Director of Rehabilitation for Phoebe Ministries.

John Mancinelli, ’07, M.S., recently opened

“Manbroso’s ToGo,” pizza shop in Aston, PA. Visit their website at manbrosos.com to learn more.

24 Accent Magazine

to the position of Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition.

Jonathan Hamilton, ’13, B.S., has accepted

a position of charge nurse on nightshift in a 50+ bed medical-surgical unit at Jefferson Stratford Hospital.

Nadine Lindsay, ’13, B.S., successfully

passed her Family Nurse Practioner Boards.

Lacey Mielcarek, ’13, M.S., has recently

Emily DiGuglielmo, ’15, B.A., accepted a

profit as a full-time Volunteer Services Advocate for victims of sexual abuse. Allysa has also completed her Foundation Year at West Chester University’s MSW Program.

Kenneth Waters, ’16, Ed.D., ’08 M.S., has

acquired the position of Researcher and English Teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

assumed leadership of Media Eye Works, founded in 1992 by her mother, Eileen Mielcarek, ’80, B.S. Media Eye Works also recently celebrated 25 years of service to the Communities of Media and Delaware County.

Connor Betts, ’17, B.A., has recently acquired

Adrian LaRowe, ’14, B.A., was officially

position as a teacher at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit Head Start.

sworn in as a Police Officer with the Lebanon Township Police Department on October 18, 2017.

Alexandria Maurizzio, ’14, B.A., has

recently returned to Neumann University by accepting the position of Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life.

the position of Assistant Producer/Production Assistant for the Preston and Steve Morning Show on WMMR 93.3 after serving as an intern during his time as a student.

Johanna Keehn, ’17, B.A., has accepted a

Nicholas Koller ’17, B.A., begins his duty for

Homeland Security in January 2018.

Brandon Hopper, ’17, B.S., was promoted to

Fan Services by the Philadelphia Union in under three months.

Grace Klienbach, ’17, B.S., signed a contract

to play with the Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).

Ryan Lee, ’17, B.S., accepted the position of

Membership Development with the Miami Dolphins.

Shayne Morrissey, ’17, B.S., signed a contract

to play with Danville Dashers of the Federal Hockey League (FHL).

Jordan Mullin, ’17, B.S., signed a contract to

play with the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

Emma Phillips, ’17, B.S., has acquired a position

as a Registered Nurse at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Elizabeth Barr, ’17, M.S., has accepted the

Harley Garrioch, ’13, B.S., recently

finished his first major tournament as a high-level softball assistant coach for the Manitoba men’s softball team at this year’s Canada Games. Formerly, Garrioch played for the Flin Flon Bombers hockey team from 2007 to 2009, serving as team captain in his final season. Currently Garrioch works at the Ochapowace Nation Sports Academy as head hockey instructor and liaison and plays on the Ochapowace Thunder senior hockey team.

Association (NCEA) for his dedication and commitment to excellence. He is one of 42 educators in the country chosen to receive the award.

Katrina Terry, ’17, B.S., (pictured center)

was named the Philadelphia Mary of Dungloe on November 25th, 2017 at the Philadelphia Donegal Association Ball.

Reverend Stephen Thorne, ’15, M.S.,

Neumann University Chaplain, received the 2017 Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award from the National Catholic Education

Counselor Position in the Counseling Center for Wellness at Neumann University.

Kirsten Fenton, ’17, M.S., ’14, B.A., has

accepted a position as an Outpatient Therapist at Family Behavioral Resources.

Laura Strubeck, ’17, M.S., has accepted the

position of Program Manager with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Santa Clara, CA. Chase Fraser was drafted by the Buffalo

Bandits of the National Lacrosse League.

IN THE NEWS Mozghan Hines, ’07, DPT, ’04, B.A., was

featured in a Faces of TBI Podcast by Amy Zellmer, discussing regaining independence after incurring a traumatic brain injury.

IN MEMORIAM  Regina T. Black Dr. Joanne D. Clemens ’04 ’10 Sr. Rose M. Eichner, O.S.F. ’75

Christopher Vandenberg, ’10, B.A., was

named 2016 Burlington County Times Emerging Leader. Vandenberg wants to serve the public and improve the environment and has found an organization that helps him do both. Vandenberg is the Communications Coordinator and Environmental Steward at Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority.

Joan T. Fitzpatrick ’03 Marianne K. Gold ’89 Marguerite A. Gotshall ’69 Sr. Ellen Mary M. Meskill, O.S.F. Roslyn R. Poole ’13

Winter 2018 25

KUDOS

Faculty Publications, Conferences and Awards Karen Albaugh ’07, associate professor of physical therapy,

published the editorial “5 Ways to Spot a Wound Infection”, in USA Today, May 2017. She also presented on wound debridement and usage of negative pressure wound therapy while volunteering medical care and training in Deschapelles, Haiti, September 2017.

Neil Belles, DataTel analyst, Russ Bilotta, director of administrative computing, Michael Burbo, data analyst and James Williams, administrative analyst, presented “If We Only Knew” and Joel Natale, University Registrar, and Bilotta

presented “Registration Priorities using SLCR and SLED” at the Pennsylvania DataTel Users Group Conference (PADUG) on SQL in September 2017.

Amanda Breen, assistant professor of psychology, was selected

as a 2017-2018 Asian American Psychological Associate (AAPA) Leadership Fellow.

David DiMarco, professor of mathematics, along with Ryan Savitz, professor of mathematics, created a series of math

colloquia that were hosted at Neumann University. They also gave a peer-reviewed presentation of a manuscript at the Mathematical Association of America Mathfest national conference in Chicago, Ill, July 2017. The talk was titled “The m-tile means: an instructional tool for teaching introductory statistics”. In addition, Dr. DiMarco serves as the liaison between Neumann University and the EPaDel (Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware) section of the Mathematical Association of America.

Mac Given, professor of biology, performed jazz clarinet as

an invited guest to the Edinburgh (Scotland) Festival Fringe, the world’s largest art and music festival in August 2017. He performed with jazz guitarist and singer, Andrea Carlson, and had 22 performances over a ten-day period. More locally, he was a featured artist in Media, Pennsylvania’s Jazz by Night celebration in November 2017.

Leanne Havis, professor of criminal justice, published

“Maximizing completion and comprehension of reading assignments” in the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching; 28(3), 89-118, August 2017 and “Student perceptions of relevance in a research methods course” in the Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education; 9(3), 394-406, June 2017.

James A. Houck, professor and director of the Ph.D. program in

Pastoral Counseling, traveled to India to research attitudes and prejudices that still exist from the Partition between Pakistan and India of 1947.

26 Accent Magazine

Geoffrey Karabin, assistant professor of philosophy, presented

“Doxastic Involuntarism and Evidentialism: A Curious Modern Conjunction” at the American Catholic Philosophical Association, Dallas, TX, November 2017 and “ISIS in the Afterlife?” at The North American Society for Social Philosophy – Justice: Social, Criminal, & Juvenile in Chicago, IL, July 2017.

Claudia Kovach, professor of English and French, presented

“Polidori, Stoker, Rice: The scapegoat as self and other” at the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival Conference, Sighisoara, Transylvania, Romania, May 2017, as well as “Alterity and Tristan as Secular Saint” at the International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities in London, England July 2017.

In addition, she also presented along with colleagues Gail Corso, professor of English and humanities, and Sandra Weiss, professor and coordinator of biology/clinical laboratory sciences, “Uniquely personal: Including the excluded in undergraduate and graduate programs in literature, language, and science” at the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association in Paisley, Scotland, June 2017.

Julie D. Lanzillo, program director and assistant professor sport,

along with colleague Margaret C. Stewart Ph.D. of the University of North Florida, published “Engaging fans on social media in US minor league soccer: A content analysis of consumer promotion on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram” in the Journal of Digital & Social Media Marketing, 5, 1, 96-109.

Amy Luckowski, assistant professor of nursing, led senior nursing

students on a medical mission trip for the care of the poor in the Dominican Republic. Students in the Community Health clinical course (Nurs440CL) had the option of going on the trip at an additional expense. There were two learning opportunities, mobile medical clinics and surgery. Students had the chance to assist with triage or pharmacy in the medical clinics and observe the Dominican physician or the American Nurse Practitioner assess patients. They also were assigned to the surgical area where they assisted in the preoperative care, observed surgery, and helped in patient care in the post anesthesia recovery area and patient discharge to home.

Andrew Miller, instructor of history, organized and hosted a

Vietnam Veterans’ panel discussion at Neumann University in October 2017.

Wendy Ostendorf, professor of nursing, presented on the results

of the research study on Nursing Image with colleague Nancy Laplante at the American Holistic Nurses Association, Palm Springs, CA, June 2017 and at Sigma Theta Tau International, Dublin, Ireland, July 2017. She also co-authored Clinical nursing skills & techniques (9th ed.) 2017.

Marisa Rauscher, associate professor of education, published the

article “Mentoring and modeling: Providing support and promoting agency in student teachers” in the Pennsylvania Educational Leadership, June, 2017.

Ryan Savitz, professor of mathematics, along with Math major Helen

Cooney, was awarded a Clare Boothe Luce grant to conduct research on the history of the definite integral, summer 2017. He also, with colleague, Christopher Mehallo, co-presented the poster “Hamstring flexibility and running injuries in high school runners” at The American Osteopathic Association’s annual conference in Philadelphia, PA, October 2017.

Laura Taddei, associate professor of education, along with colleague, Stephanie Budhai, associate professor and director of graduate

education, published the book Nurturing young innovators: Cultivating creativity in the classroom, home, and community in September 2017. Together, they also presented “Working with Families and their Communities to Cultivate Creativity and Innovation in Young Leaders” at the Family Involvement Conference, in Harrisburg, PA, October 2017, “Developing Reflective Teachers through VoiceRecorded Reflections” at the PAC-TE Teacher Education Assembly in Harrisburg, PA, October 2017, which was also published in the PAC-TE Journal, as well as presented, “Developing Students’ Critical-Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity Skills through Purposeful Technology Use” at the Southern Regional Education Board HSTW Staff Development Conference. Nashville, TN in July, 2017.

Rev. Stephen D. Thorne ’15, University chaplain and adjunct faculty

member, moderated the Gesu School’s 20th Annual Symposium on Transforming Inner-City Education entitled Our Kids are Not Broken: Empowering Traumatized Youth in Philadelphia, PA, November 2017.

Maria Traub, associate professor of French and Italian, presented a

paper covering an African author of French expression to the African Studies Association at Yale University June 2017. She also held the first showing for the Neumann Widener Italian Film Festival in September 2017.

Mary Beth Yount, associate professor of theological studies, presented

a response to “Curing the ‘Fever’ in Corporatized Higher Education: Prescriptions from the Catholic Social Tradition” at the inaugural meeting of the Theological Ethicists of Philadelphia, Radnor, PA, May 2017, and co-presented “Competencies and Identities: Ecumenism, Pluralism, and Interfaith Engagement” at the 63nd Annual Convention of the College Theology Society, June 2017.

Martin Receives National ACHE Award Jackie Martin, senior academic advisor in the Division of Continuing Adult and Professional Studies, received the Non-Credit Program Creative Use of Technology Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE).

Martin’s program titled “Orientation On-Demand: Focused Mini-Guides in Video Format for Adult Students” was the national winner in this category. This annual award recognizes ACHE members for their innovative uses of instructional and distance learning technologies in lifelong learning. Martin received this award at the ACHE annual conference in October 2017.

Martin developed an online program that allows students to virtually attend an orientation session. She saw program this as a win-win for the University and the students.

“If they can’t attend orientation, I wanted to make sure that they are getting the information they need without going to campus,” she explained.

While Martin was the recipient of this award, she is quick to give credit to others at Neumann University who have supported this type of online programming.

“The reason why I’ve been here for 10 years is because this environment allows me to do things. I get to be creative and I have a dean who supports my ideas,” Martin said.

Winter 2018 27

Become a Member of The Guardian Angel Society

Members of The Guardian Angel Society that were in attendance at the President's Thanksgiving Reception on November 17, 2017. Dr. Chris and Mary Domes (standing center) with members of the Guardian Angel Society.

Sitting are Elizabeth Mullen, Dr. Sandra Weiss, and Jacqueline Delaney. Standing are Bonnie C. Stufflet ’73, Donald Homer, Susan Cotterall Homer ’87, Carolyn A. Stankiewicz ’77, and James Delaney.

INVEST TODAY! Members have made a commitment to Neumann’s future through bequests, charitable trusts, gifts annuities, and other planned giving opportunities.

For more information on planned giving visit www.neumann.plannedgiving.org or call The Office of Institutional Advancement and University Relations at 610-558-5513.

Meet Three Internship Superstars Most colleges require their students to participate in one internship in order to graduate. Neumann University isn’t most colleges. In fact, at Neumann, multiple internships are commonplace and even encouraged.

Samantha Butler, Courtney Curcio and Abigail Yusella, three Sport Management majors, have had 10 internships collectively, which by far surpasses the major’s requirement of two internships.

Internship superstars, from left to right, Abigail Yusella, Samantha Butler and Courtney Curcio.

Abigail Yusella Abby, a junior from Summit Hill, PA, has had three internships since she started at Neumann. Her first was with the minor league baseball team, The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, running game day operations. Feeling the pressure to secure two internships before she graduated, she held this position during the summer between her freshman and sophomore year.

The baseball experience opened the door for her next internship in the partnership sales department at the Pocono Raceway, the site of several NASCAR races, which she completed the summer between her sophomore and junior year. Here, her responsibilities increased as she was invited to attend sales meetings and logistics phone calls and even became the contact person for Fan Fair events such as Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

This fall, she is currently a marketing intern with NBC Sports Philadelphia where she is assisting with the recent name change (NBC Sports Philadelphia was formerly known as Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia), and the authentic fan program. Yusella credits Neumann’s faculty connections with NBC Sports Philadelphia as well as the classroom experience in helping her secure internships.

Samantha Butler Samantha, a junior from West Chester, PA, began her first internship the summer after her freshman year as a game day intern with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, a minor league baseball team based out of Wilmington, DE. The fall semester of her sophomore year, she interned in the community relations/programming department for Access Sports Experiences, a notfor-profit organization that provides inclusive multidimensional sporting opportunities to at-risk and special needs populations in the Philadelphia area. She is currently working for the Philadelphia Flyers as a community relations/fan development intern.

With the wide variety of experiences Samantha has been exposed to, she has been able to determine what aspects of the industry she enjoys, i.e. community relations, as well as what she doesn’t.

She believes that Neumann University is now a marquee name in the region for sport management.

Thanks to Dr. Julie Lanzillo, assistant professor for sport management, and Caleb Mezzy, industry relations and media specialist, Neumann has become a brand name in the industry.

For instance, because of faculty connections, students jumped at the opportunity to volunteer at the 2017 NFL Draft held in Philadelphia in April.

Courtney Curcio Courtney, a senior from Vineland, NJ, is currently in the middle of her fourth internship as a marketing intern at NBC Sports Philadelphia along with Abby. Her first internship was with the Philadelphia Union, a professional soccer team based in Chester, PA, working in event operations during her sophomore year at Neumann. During her junior year, she interned as a marketing coordinator at the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. The summer after her junior year, Curcio worked in community/player development with the PGA Philadelphia Section.

With all the experience Courtney has gained through the internships, she is able to create a personalized position description to help her identify what type of job she would be interested to pursue upon graduation. All three agree that it is important to have a variety of experiences on your resume. “Having a big name on your resume is huge. It gets you the interview, but the other experiences get you the job,” she said.

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NINETEENTH ANNUAL NEUMANN UNIVERSITY

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