ACCENT Summer 2016

a magazine for

Neumann University alumni, family and friends

Vol. 44, No. 2 • Summer 2016

agination im t n e d u t s h s ios unlea d u t s w e N d e vity Unchain

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Save the Date

Homecoming & Family Weekend

October 13 – 16 2016

s t n e d u t S r o f t s u J t ’ n s I e f i L ght

Kni

Let us help you arrange your reunion with your classmates or cohort.

Reserved VIP tables and reunion assistance available by calling 610-558-5544.

Featuring the Best Homecoming Picnic Ever

Saturday, October 15 12 noon – 2 p.m. (rain or shine)

All things Homecoming at www.neumann.edu/homecoming16  President’s Scholarship Reception  11th Annual King & Queen Pageant  Light the Knight Activities  Alumni Sports Games  Our Lady of Angels Breakfast  Class of 2016 Wine and Cheese Reception  Pastoral Counseling Reunion Breakfast & Lecture  Nursing Reunion Breakfast & Endowed Lecture  Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Reception  The Massey Breast Cancer 5K Run / 1K Fun walk

Watch the Alumni Online Community (www.alumni. neumann.edu) for more information on alumni events and networking opportunities.

There’s more than Homecoming in the fall.

Keep an eye out for these events, too: Alumni & Parents’ Wine Tasting President’s Thanksgiving Reception Knight 2 Knight Student and Alumni Dinner (limited seating) Painting with a Twist Knight at the Phillies Family Fun Day at Linvilla Orchards

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Accent a magazine for Neumann University alumni, family and friends

Vol. 44, No. 2 • Summer 2016

f e a ture s

Our 50th Commencement 4 Thirty-one first responders make history

President

Rosalie M. Mirenda, Ph.D. Vice President for Institutional Advancement and University Relations

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

Stephen T. Bell

Addition to 10 $the5 Million Bruder Life Center

Brand new TV and radio studios ready for the fall

ON THE COVER: Students are already using the new TV and radio studios.

Director of Publications

Carol DiAntonio Director, Alumni Relations and Special Programs

Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Contributors

Please Touch Museum Hosts 16 Scholarship Gala

Humanitarian awards to

Atkinson, Farrell, and Kirk

D e p a rt m ent s 3 From the President 4 Around Campus 24 Class Notes

Christina Farrell Carolyn Seagraves ’84 Jill Weigel Photography

Kelly & Massa, Hunter Martin David Jackson 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.

Tel: (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 5/30/16.

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.

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DO YOU? 36% of the Class of 2016 donated to Neumann University this year.

Did you?

Give today‌ Every gift counts!

One click: www.neumann.edu/onegift Or mail a check to: The Neumann Fund

One Neumann Drive

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Fro m the p re s ident

I

New studios prepare students to begin successful careers

t has taken a full year to make the addition to the Thomas A. Bruder Jr. Life Center a physical reality.

The construction ended just as we were making preparations for the University’s 50th commencement.

By the time furniture arrived, our students had headed home and to their summer activities. Now, our attention and anticipation turn to the fall semester when students return to campus and discover the professional facility that awaits them.

They will find two television studios, each larger than the one that they had available in the Bachmann Building, and a radio station with three studios to replace the one small space that they used previously.

Media professionals who visited the addition have been impressed, including our own Karen Thomas ’14, a faculty member who has anchored weather forecasts for Fox 29 and NBC 10 for more than 20 years.

Karen shared that she was “awestruck by just how professional the facility appears” and added that the new space “feels like a professional, working production house.”

These studios were built to do for our Communication and Digital Media majors (CDM) exactly what we try to do for all of our students — blend theory and practice to prepare them to begin successful careers after graduation and compete successfully in the marketplace.

The addition will also enhance campus life for other students who are not CDM majors but very involved with Neumann Media. They create shows for WNUW 98.5, broadcast games on Neumann Sports Network, produce videos for NeuTube, or write for The Joust. These new studios will integrate curricular and campus life (vocation and avocation) in the same way that academic programs combine theory and practice. Students’ learning benefits greatly when academics and co-curricular activity work in concert.

As we look forward to the blessing and dedication of this new facility on campus, we are mindful of the generosity of others who made it possible and the skill and safety of those who built it. God’s blessings surrounded the project from its beginning — for all of this, we are grateful.

Pace e Bene,

Rosalie M. Mirenda, Ph.D. President

Summer 2016 3

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Our 50th Commencement: 31 First

Honorary doctor of humanities degrees were awarded to Eustace and Susanne Mita

Students got creative with mortarboard messages.

Thirty-one first responders made history at Neumann’s 50th Commencement on May 14 as the first to complete the university’s online bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Administration (PSA), a program designed specifically for firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians. The 31 graduates included 14 members of the Philadelphia Fire Department, as well as Upper Darby and Philadelphia police officers, and even an Emergency Medical Services employee from Idaho.

According to Dr. Jilian Donnelly, dean of Continuing Adult and Professional Studies, Neumann is the only college in the region to offer this program online. In addition, she knows of no other college in the country that requires primary research as part of the capstone project for an online bachelor’s degree in this field and requires that the research include a connection to Franciscan values.

In all, Neumann awarded degrees to 674 students. Graduates received 34 doctoral degrees, 112 master degrees, 523 bachelor degrees, and five associate degrees. The University was founded as Our Lady of Angels College in 1965 with a total enrollment of 115 students. Two years later, at the first commencement, nine students

received degrees, all Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

“Neumann University has come a long way since its first commencement in 1967,” said Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Neumann’s president. “We are grateful for the vision and courage of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, who founded this university, and committed to help fulfill the educational goals of traditional and adult students across the Delaware Valley and beyond.” The 2016 commencement was Dr. Mirenda’s 20th as president.

Honorary doctor of humanities degrees were awarded to Susanne and Eustace Mita, who delivered the commencement address.

“My wish and hope is to leave you with a gift,” he told the graduates, “a gift I’ve spent a lifetime discovering. A gift of three incredibly strong tools that can literally change you from who you are today to who you WANT to become tomorrow.”

The three tools, he explained, are the books you read, the people you meet, and the goals you set and achieve.

As examples of books that influenced him, he cited How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino, and the Bible.

Some of the first responders who received bachelor degrees in Public Safety Administration gathered around Dr. Jilian Donnelly, their dean, before the ceremony.

4 Accent Magazine

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Responders Make History

Graduates were all smiles as they celebrated a milestone in their lives.

Regarding friends, his advice was straightforward. “Our time on this earth is short. We want to choose our friends wisely and prayerfully. People who will bring us up, and yes, hold us to a higher standard!”

On setting goals, he urged graduates to consider four areas: financial, physical, relational, and spiritual. He closed with career advice: “If you go to work on a job you’ll make a living, but if you go to work on yourself, you’ll make a difference in your life and the lives of everyone you have the privilege to meet. Congratulations, God bless, and go pursue your passion!”

Eustace Mita is chairman of Mita Management, a closely held company with interests in the automotive and real estate industries. He is also CEO of Achristavest, LLC, a developer of waterfront properties in New Jersey, Nantucket, Maryland, Utah and Pennsylvania. An ardent Roman Catholic, he serves as chairman of development on the Board of the Papal Foundation, whose grants to Pope Francis support the world’s poor, sick and infirm through the construction of shelters and hospitals as well as providing relief for victims of natural disasters.

Susanne Mita is a community, church and school volunteer. Her concern for God’s very needy led her to travel to Africa and help in establishing the Saint Mary Magdalen Oasis of Peace orphanage in Kisumu, Kenya, along with several other

Sr. Linda Sariego, OSF, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish, received the Charles R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching from Dr. Lawrence donors from the parish. She serves as DiPaolo, vice president for academic affairs. the fund raiser and liaison for the home.

In addition, Mrs. Mita travels to Africa twice each year to spend time with and attend to the needs of the 51 orphaned and abandoned children and the Franciscan Sisters who care for them.

Brandon Provenzano ’16, a Business Administration and Accounting double major from Sharon Hill, delivered the valedictory remarks on behalf of the Class of 2016.

“Several years ago my father passed away suddenly,” he told his classmates.

“In an instant everything changed. A few weeks ago my family and I suffered a devastating loss when a room of our home caught on fire and we were forced to evacuate. While devastating, these losses serve as a lesson; change is inevitable and at times comes without warning.

“I believe that one of the most damaging things to our success is the image we have in our minds of how things are supposed to be. To quote a Chinese proverb, ‘A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it.’”

He concluded with an exhortation to his classmates to face the change they will surely encounter. “Here we all are today in the presence of great change as we ready ourselves to transition into professionals

Valedictorian Brandon Provenzano ’16 urged graduates to embrace the challenges brought by change.

and the generation that will solve the world’s greatest issues . . . I implore all of you to take this thought with you in your careers and your lives. It is through embracing and adapting to change, with courage, that we are able to achieve the goals we dream about.”

Summer 2016 5

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Students March to Take Back the Night More than a hundred students marched across campus on April 19 in a Take Back the Night rally to generate awareness of dating violence and sexual abuse. The march started in St. John Neumann Circle on campus. From there, students marched silently along Convent Road to the Buoni Building and back again, crossed the street and circled the Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development, and ended in the Schmidt Multipurpose

Room in Living and Learning Center I. There, the group heard special guest speaker Bill Mitchell from Kristin’s Krusades and held a candlelight vigil.

Take Back the Night is a nonprofit organization, the aim of which is to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and all other forms of sexual abuse.

Students also hosted a Clothesline Project, which originated on Cape Cod,

MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for women affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women.

Hundreds of colleges hold a Take Back the Night event in April, which is sexual assault awareness month.

Students carried homemade signs as they marched along Convent Road to generate awareness about the issue of sexual abuse.

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6 Accent Magazine

Around c a m p u s

Hinton Headlines Spring Speakers Larry Kirwan: Larry Kirwan, a rebellious Irish musician and writer, entranced a crowd of students and staff with songs, stories and poetry in the Neumann University library on February 18. His performance was broadcast live on WNUW, part of his visit to educate students about the Easter Rising (on the 100th anniversary of the insurrection to end British rule) before they traveled to Dublin on spring break. Kirwan is a punk legend, for 25 years the voice of Black 47, named for the worst year of the Irish potato famine (1847).

Fr. Anthony Ciorra: At a March 16 Charter Day celebration in honor of the 51st anniversary of the university’s founding, Father Anthony Ciorra explained that faculty and administrators at a Catholic university “should see ourselves as transforming the culture” by promoting a dialogue between faith and reason.

Delivering the Dorothy A.P. Leunissen Presidential Lecture, Father Ciorra told a crowd of about 70 people that “the role of a Catholic university is not evangelization” but showing students that “there is a connection between the library and the chapel.”

Ray Hinton: In a stunningly frank and emotionally gripping recollection of his horrific encounter with the Alabama criminal justice system, Anthony Ray Hinton mesmerized a crowd of 350 people who flocked to Community Hall on March 14 to hear his story. Hinton spent 30 years in prison, almost all of the time in a 5-foot by 7-foot cell on death row, for a crime he did not commit. Arrested in 1985, he was released in 2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that his constitutional right to a fair trial had been violated. After his presentation, Julianne Smith ’16, expressed her gratitude for his visit.

Jack Whelan: The Delaware County Partnership for Public Safety presented a program about planning and preparing for an active shooter on May 19 in the Bruder Life Center. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan joined representatives of Haverford and Radnor Township Police Departments, and Allied Barton in discussing preparation and prevention, situational awareness, and response. Participants learned about the resources available from local, county, state and federal partners.

Summer 2016 7

Around c a m p u s

Collaborative Projects from Delco to Africa For years, Neumann has been engaged in collaborative projects that stretch from the familiar landscape of Delaware County to the heart of Africa.

ASEC, the African Sisters Education Collaborative, is an organization dedicated to educational opportunities for women religious in Africa. Since the initiative began in 2002, hundreds of Catholic Sisters from Nigeria and Ghana to Kenya and Uganda have engaged in educational programs that focus on leadership, financial management, and technology.

Neumann, in partnership with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, has assisted by supporting the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program.

Inaugurated in 2013, HESA is providing education to sisters who are enrolled in degree programs at 23 colleges and universities — in both Africa and the United States.

Neumann graduates include Sister Helen Murage ’15 and Sister Rosa Mrukunga ’16.

The Chester Higher Education Council (CHEC) is a partnership of six colleges committed to improve access to and success in post-secondary education for young people in Delaware County with a particular focus on youth in the city of Chester. The six partners are Cheyney University, Delaware County Community College, Neumann University, Penn State Brandywine, Swarthmore College, and Widener University.

For its part, Neumann has provided leadership and volunteer help. Dr. Samuel Lemon, director of the Organizational and Strategic Leadership master’s degree program at Neumann, sits on the College Access Center of Delaware County's Community Advisory Board. In addition, Chadwick Johnson ’16, a Neumann student, volunteered at CHEC’s College Access Center during 2015 – 16.

SEPCHE, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education, is a group of eight colleges dedicated to collaboration rather than competition. The cooperation has led to enhanced faculty development opportunities, undergraduate student research, and outreach programs for teachers and students at the elementary and secondary levels. SEPCHE members are Arcadia University, Cabrini University, Chestnut Hill College, Gwynedd-Mercy University, Holy Family University, Immaculata University, Neumann University, and Rosemont College.

In April, 24 Neumann students under the mentorship of Honors Director Rick Sayers made academic presentations to peers across the eight SEPCHE universities and colleges during the annual Honors Conference.

8 Accent Magazine

Graduate Students Place Third in National Ethics Competition Elizabeth Barr, Laura Strubeck and Stephanie Fortunato ’13 signal that they placed third in a national ethics competition sponsored by the American Counseling Association.

A team of Neumann graduate students has won third place in a national ethics competition, sponsored by the American Counseling Association (ACA). Elizabeth Barr, Stephanie Fortunato ’13 and Laura Strubeck brought home the honor for their entry in the ACA Graduate Student Ethics Case Study Competition. All three are students in the master’s degree program in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

The competition involved submitting an essay in response to a mock ethical scenario presented by the ACA Ethics Committee. Submissions were judged by several criteria, including clearly identifying the ethical dilemma, proposing and justifying action, writing clearly and concisely, and citing appropriate scholarly literature.

The teams that finished first and second are from Northeastern Illinois University and the College of William and Mary. There were 76 submissions in the master’s level competition.

According to Sr. Suzanne Mayer, IHM, Ph.D., coordinator of the Pastoral Counseling program, “The area of ethics is, naturally, of great consequence to those in counselor education programs. The ACA promotes not only standards of best practice but the critical thinking necessary to apply them. I am so proud of these three excellent students.”

National Catholic Honor Society Scholarship Winner Matt Janicki, an Education major from Wilmington, Delaware, is one of 11 students in the country to receive a National Catholic Honor Society (Delta Epsilon Sigma) scholarship for 2016 – 17. Founded in 1939, the society awards Fitzgerald Scholarships to college juniors, based on academic accomplishment, service activities, and character traits.

Around c a m p u s

Nikolria Grant is one of six students accepted into a University of Pennsylvania nationwide summer research program.

Katrina Terry’s research was part of a published paper about mycobacteriophages. She is pictured here with Dr. Mac Given.

Solomon Kokolie is a research fellow at Temple this summer.

Students Excel at Scientific Research Neumann’s reputation has long been built on the success of its nursing program and the professional work of its alumni. Recently the biology program gained extraordinary recognition and broadened the university’s credibility in the field of health sciences.

Nikolria Grant, a junior biology major, was selected to pursue undergraduate research as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine’s Short-Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER) Program this summer. “I was amazed that I was selected,” confessed Nikolria. “There are only six people in the program this year.”

The West Philadelphia native and Chandler Scholar is interested in research regarding the effect of environment on children with developmental disorders (think of the lead crisis in Flint, Michigan) and wants to become a developmental pediatrician and pursue a master’s degree in public health.

In addition, Alexandria Martinez and Solomon Kokolie have received Materials Science and Engineering Summer Research Fellowships from Temple University. Both Alexandria, a resident of Reading, and

Alexandria Martinez, shown here with Dr. Brinda Govindaraju, will be a research fellow at Temple University this summer.

Solomon, who lives in Upper Darby, are biology majors. According to the Temple website, the fellowship “will engage students in research projects spanning materials chemistry, physics, and engineering in a nine-week residential experience.”

Students selected for the program receive a $4,500 stipend, on-campus housing, and a travel allowance. Housed in Temple’s College of Science and Technology, the summer research aims to support historically underserved students with limited opportunities.

“I was so excited when I heard I got the fellowship,” said Alexandria. “The different field (materials science) caught my eye, and I’ll have a chance to learn from a new group of mentors.”

Her long-term goals are high. “As I learned what I’m capable of at Neumann, I’ve opened my mind to the possibility of medical school.”

Solomon, too, admitted that he was happy when he got the news about his acceptance into the program. “The research has to do with physics, chemistry and engineering,” he smiled. “Those are all topics that interest me.”

Solomon’s primary goal is to enter the medical field, but scientific research has always fascinated him, too. It’s one of the reasons he’s looking forward to the Temple fellowship. “I can’t wait for the hands-on experience,” he said.

There’s also a biology major who contributed to published research. The American Society for Microbiology has published a paper that was co-authored by Katrina Terry, a junior.

The article provides notice to the scientific community that the mycobacteriophage genome called Cabrinians has been sequenced. It discusses the methods and protocols used to assemble the sequence, as well as initial findings about the functions of its genes.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that can infect mycobacterium tuberculosis.

“This latest article adds to Katrina’s developing body of published research that establishes her professional identity as a productive researcher,” explained Elizabeth Moy, executive director of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE). “Few students have the opportunity to publish as an undergraduate; Katrina’s continued productivity will distinguish her as a prospective candidate for graduate school.”

“Undergraduate research opportunities are critical for today’s science majors,” said Dr. Alfred Mueller, dean of the Division of Arts and Sciences. “Not only do students learn important critical thinking and problem-solving skills under the guidance of faculty mentors, but they also develop the experience necessary to be competitive in graduate and professional school applications and in the job market.”

Summer 2016 9

d e n i a h c n U y t i v Creati n o i t a n i g a m i t n ude t s h s a e l n u s o i New stud

The halls are broad and long, the ceilings high.

The studios are spacious and bright with immense windows that make the views of Bachmann Main Building and Morgan Circle seem like 3-D murals. The video and radio technology fills all 10,000 square feet and invites the imagination to take flight.

After a year of construction, the addition to the Thomas A. Bruder, Jr. Life Center is complete.

It was worth the wait. Students in the new Communication and Digital Media (CDM) major will hone their professional skills in these studios and those who join Neumann Media just for fun will find no limits to their creativity.

The largest of three radio studios can accommodate four on-air personalities.

10  Accent Magazine

T

he new structure stretches from the McNichol Room toward Morgan Circle and wraps around the building, extending across the entire length of the Life Center behind Meagher Theatre. It includes:  T wo TV studios with brand new cameras, teleprompters, lights, intercom, news desks, and furniture for informal interviews. An IP-based workflow allows for communication between both studio control rooms and the one in the Mirenda Center, enabling students to produce three independent, live shows that can interact with each other. CDM classes like audio, advanced TV, and documentary production will be held here.  A radio station with three studios, each capable of live broadcasting, recording and editing. The equipment, according to Casey Boy of The Preston and Steve Show after he visited campus in June, is comparable to WMMR’s.  Wenger rooms, which allow sound isolation recording and editing. Virtual acoustics let students hear how their recordings will sound in various environments.

The control rooms are situated between the “learning lab” studio (seen here) and the larger studio that’s at the corner of the addition closest to Bachmann.

 A meeting room for students. This space could be available for a class to plan a project or for Neumann Media students to prepare a Neumann Sports Network show or WNUW program.  A green room for radio, TV or theater guests. This small area offers university guests a private space to prepare for an interview or performance with easy transportation access to Morgan Circle.  A multipurpose room with theater-in-the-round capability for musical and dramatic presentations. It contains two projectors with giant screens, two smart board TVs, two robotic cameras, wireless microphones, and video hookups for projection of student laptops or gaming consoles. It accommodates up to 140 people but day-to-day operations call for lounge furniture to provide students with a hangout space.

Yet, none of the impressive features above is what makes Neumann Media General Manager Sean McDonald ’08 ’11 smile most. “While I absolutely love how shiny and cool everything looks in the new spaces, my favorite part of the new equipment is the backbone system we put in,” he says.

“You don’t really see it while you walk through, but it’s there in plain sight, making possible things we never imagined doing in our old spaces. Being able to broadcast video and radio signals from any room in the space to any room (including the Meagher Theatre and Mirenda Center) and over the air truly lets the students use their imagination and use every inch of the 10,000 square feet.”

Karen Thomas ’14, a faculty member and NBC 10 meteorologist, agrees. “I am confident the new studios will enhance our brand new CDM curriculum because the facilities will serve as the perfect accompaniment to the ‘theory’ part of their learning,” she says. “In communications, Continued on page 12

The Wenger room allows sound-isolation recording, a perfect rehearsal space.

Maureen Breslin and Tara DiCarlo try out the new cameras in one of the TV studios.

Summer 2016 11

ined a h c n U y t i v i t Crea agination ash student im le n u s io d u st New

media and production, hands-on learning is so important, and our new studios are the most professional backdrop anywhere.

The CDM major is bound to grow as more students get excited about the possibilities that the new studio offer them in preparation for their career paths in the industry.”

The Communication and Digital Media major, a modernized version of the Communications and Media Arts program, offers students the option to select one of six tracks or areas of emphasis: Production and Digital Broadcasting, Journalism, Strategic Communication, Graphic Design/Visual Communication, New and Social Media, or Sports Communication.

Even before the construction of the new studios and curriculum upgrade, graduates had launched careers with ABC7 New York, CBS Radio, Comcast Spectacor, Greater Media Philadelphia, iHeart Media,

12 Accent Magazine

Matt Popo rehearses in front of a green screen with help from Kristian Deluzio, Michael DiPierro, and Michael Yarabinee.

Continued from

page 11

the Philadelphia Union, the Rachel Ray Show, and Saatchi & Saatchi.

For Dr. Joe Glass, another member of the CDM faculty, the blending of theory and practice is the perfect college combination. “We’re inviting students to employment and success,” he says.

“At Neumann, we believe you’re not a successful CDM professional if you just pile-up theory. Our students learn to use the latest tools in media; they also learn to craft critical, cogent content. They understand the medium and the message, and that gives them an edge in today’s marketplace.”

He also believes that this approach to learning is fully in concert with Neumann’s vision. “The new facilities grow out of the university’s mission to serve others,” he says. “Neumann constantly calls us beyond theory to practice: in learning, in life and in love.”

McDonald is eager for students to arrive in the fall and test the potential of

the spaces. “The new studios allow for more students and more classes to use our state of the art gear,” he explains. “By having these extra spaces, we can fully accommodate academic and co-curricular work. We also now have places where students are able to shoot, record, and edit all in the same area, and stay as late as they need. Our editing suites used to be on the opposite side of the building in a computer lab that was closed after 9 p.m. Even then, the students couldn’t edit properly because of how paper thin the walls were while classes were happening right next to them.

We addressed these issues, and I think the students will really reap the benefits.”

This $5-million expansion project was funded, in part, by a $1.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, awarded through the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority, and by the generous donation of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Mullen.

ARTS

Theater Upgrades Modify Spring Schedule

Yukiko Ishida performs with The Gutz, a brass quintet, in Sacred Heart Chapel.

The Delaware County Symphony closed its season with pieces by Borodin, Mozart and Dvorak on May 1.

Audrey Emata, winner of the Youth Concerto Competition, lets the applause wash over her after her performance.

The Fred P. Meagher Theatre was the beneficiary of some major improvements this spring. A new, professional black floor was installed, and a high-tech lighting system is now in place. The ripple effect of these upgrades was that several performances had to be relocated.

The Cultural Arts Forum, Jazz Band, Concert Chorale, and Delaware County Symphony made the most of abbreviated theater availability with Center Stage Productions eager to launch its summer camp and performance slate.

Dr. Yukiko Ishida, Neumann’s own coloratura soprano, moved her Japan-U.S. Friendship Concert to Sacred Heart Chapel in Bachmann Main Building. She sang there with The Gutz, a brass quintet, performing a diverse program that ranged from Schubert’s Ave Maria and Handel’s Messiah to Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Londonderry Air, a traditional Irish melody.

In its final concert of the 2015-16 season, the Delaware County Symphony performed Alexander Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G Major. Nestled between those pieces, Youth Concerto Competition winner Audrey Emata dazzled the audience with her mastery of the flute in Concerto No. 2 for Flute and Orchestra in D Major by Wolfgang Mozart.

Audrey is currently enrolled in the Pre-College division of the Juilliard School in New York City. She has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and has been a soloist with the Allentown, Lansdowne, Ambler, Warminster, and Old York Road symphony orchestras.

In the popular music scene, the Student Activities Board scored a major coup when it booked hip hop performer and producer T-Pain for an April 9 concert in the Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development. More than 700 students filled the floor of the main gymnasium to hear the rapper, who is known for his albums Rappa Ternt Sanga, Epiphany and others.

Hundreds of students filled the Mirenda Center to enjoy the music of T-Pain.

Summer 2016 13

a th l etic s

Softball Dominates CSAC, Wins Title Softball The softball team won its second straight 2016 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship by a 9-4 score over Cabrini. Lauren Wilkie ’16 was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.

The Knights finished 26-16 overall and 21-1 in conference action to be the No. 1 seed in the postseason, their 13th straight appearance.

Julia Cox and Danielle Grayson ’16 were both named to the CSAC First Team All-Conference. Wilkie, Melissa Rozumalski and Sarah Murray all received second team honors. Haley Broomell, Becky Guinto and

Jackie Schneider received honorable mention accolades.

Grayson and Rozumalski also received National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region honors.

Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field The men’s and women’s outdoor track & field teams completed the inaugural season in the CSAC. The men’s team won the CSAC 3-D award, which honors the teams from each sport that best exemplified the NCAA Division

III principles of “Discover, Develop, and Dedicate.”

At the Penn Relays, the team of Takeem Ford, Kasib Darden, Stephen Battle and T-Ben Donnie set the program record in the 43x400 relays, finishing in a time of 3:42.30.

Lorenzo Williams set the school record in the Javelin with a throw of 152'-9".

Deborah Spruance ’16 won the long jump at the first CSAC Championship, jumping a distance of 16'-9.75". The senior also placed second in the 100-meter with a time of 12.81.

Nafisa Saunders came in second in the high jump with a height of 4'-11". Earlier in the season, Saunders set the program record in the high jump, with a jump of 4'-11.5".

Men’s Golf The men’s golf team finished second at the CSAC Championship for the 2016 season with a two-day total of 617 (302-315).

Brandon Gagne ’16 won the individual medal, finishing the two day tournament with a 145 (73-72), just a +1 over 72 stroke par.

He also earned first team All-Conference honors. Joe Mitchell finished sixth overall to be named second team All-Conference with a two day total of 154 (74-80). Mike Basileo ’16 also earned second team All-Conference honors, finishing ninth overall with a total of 157 (79-78).

The softball team won its second straight CSAC championship and finished with a 21-1 conference record.

Women’s Golf The women’s golf team competed in its first season as a varsity squad during 2015 – 16 under head coach Tracey DiSerafino.

Lauren Cusack ’16 paced the Knights in each invitational and won the Ursinus Invitational. Neumann had a great kick-off season.

Men’s Tennis

Cody MacNair was CSAC Player of the Year in baseball. Here he tags out a runner on a close play at home.

14 Accent Magazine

The men’s tennis team qualified for the CSAC postseason for the fifth straight season in 2016 and finished 4-6 overall and 4-3 in CSAC play. Jordan Collins picked up four wins in singles play to lead the Knights. Jake Davidson, Zac Lazzaro and Shane Galante each had three wins in singles action.

Roller Hockey The Neumann Knights brought home a second consecutive national championship in roller hockey on April 9. The club defeated the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4-1, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to capture the crown. During the last two seasons, Neumann is 69-2 (a winning percentage of .971), playing against much larger colleges from across the country.

Baseball The baseball team went 20-19 overall and 11-7 in CSAC action to qualify for the postseason for the eighth straight season.

Sophomore Cody MacNair is CSAC Player of the Year as well as being named to the first team AllConference and D3baseball.com’s All-Mid-Atlantic Region team. Curt Yenchik and Kye Williams ’16 were also named to the CSAC first team. Eric Bergman received second team honors while Kristian DeLuzio ’16 and Chuck Trentler received honorable mention accolades.

Women’s Lacrosse The women’s lacrosse team went 13-6 overall, 8-1 in conference play and finished as the CSAC runnerup. The Knights received their sixth straight ECAC Tournament bid.

Jordan Hopkins, Nicole Barbieri, Alexa McIntyre ’16 and Becca Wallace were all named first team AllConference. Rebecca Dolenti received second team All-Conference accolades. Shae Risley and Diana Caicedo were named Honorable Mention.

Women’s lacrosse was the CSAC runner-up. Four players were named first team all-conference.

DeShawn Lowman (center) is the CSAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The basketball player from Wilmington, Delaware, averaged 17.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in 2015 – 16.

Men’s Lacrosse The men’s lacrosse team wrapped up its first season under head coach Kyle Gardner ’11. Connor Betts and Xavier Glanzel received honorable mention accolades in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) postseason awards.

Summer 2016 15

Gala

Guests Were Riding High at Please Touch

More than 300 guests at Scholarship Gala XVII, held at Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum, helped Neumann raise over $140,000 for student scholarships on April 2.

The museum generated a fun-loving atmosphere for the evening, especially at its historic carousel, where ladies in evening gowns and gentlemen in tuxedos lost the inhibitions of adulthood as they whirled in circles and recaptured the magic of distant summer nights.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of Presidential Humanitarian Awards to Donna Crilley Farrell, Sister Betty Kirk, OSF, and posthumously to Father Bill Atkinson.

Donna Crilley Farrell Donna Crilley Farrell served as executive director of the World Meeting of Families 2015, the global event that brought Pope Francis and millions of visitors to Philadelphia in September 2015. Before her World Meeting of Families position, Farrell worked for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the Office for Communications, serving as director of communications from 2005 – 2012. In May 2013, she received the papal honor, Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, (Cross for the Church and Pontiff) for her service to the church. Donna has recently been named vice president, corporate communications, for Independence

Tony Mirenda, Donna Crilley Farrell, Sr. Betty Kirk, OSF, Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Mary Moody, Joan Mullen, Karen Thomas ’14, and Richard Heron pose after the award ceremony. Mary, Joan and Richard represented Fr. Bill Atkinson, OSA, who received the award posthumously.

Blue Cross, the largest health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Donna’s dedication to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and her Catholic faith was consistently evident through her efforts to highlight the good works of the Church, Neumann University and Catholic values and teachings. Over the course of nearly 14 years, she devoted countless hours to managing internal communications and media relations surrounding the many opportunities and challenges the Archdiocese faced.

Sister Betty Kirk, OSF Sister Betty Kirk, OSF, was born in Philadelphia, the oldest of five children. She attended St. Stephen Elementary School and Little Flower High School for Girls. Inspired by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, she joined the order in 1956 and professed her final vows in 1959.

After teaching for two years at St. Anthony School in Trenton, Sr. Betty (Sr. James Marian) taught at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lenni, PA, from 1961 – 1963. She was then transferred to St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls where she spent 13 years.

While teaching there, she earned a B.A. in English from Villanova University and an M.A. in Education from St. Joseph University.

Following her ministry at St. Hubert High School she served in leadership positions within her congregation for 16 years. In 1991, she returned to St. Francis de Sales Parish as a parish services director.

In describing her ministry Sister Betty says, “I am involved with religious education for our CCD students, sacramental preparation for our parish school children and our students enrolled in CCD and the RCIA Program. Social services in the form of food drives, providing food certificates, and drives for newborn infants often begin in my office.”

“Her love for and commitment to Neumann University has been inspirational,” says Dr. Rosalie Mirenda.

Students who serve as Presidential Ambassadors gather with Dr. Rosalie and Tony Mirenda at the carousel.

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D E V E L O PM E N T

Museum

Guests enjoyed riding the carousel at Please Touch Museum.

Rev. William Edward Atkinson, OSA Father Bill Atkinson may be on the path to sainthood.

As Patti Mengers wrote in a November 2015 article in the Delaware County Daily Times, “On Sept. 15, nine years to the day the Rev. William Atkinson died at St. Thomas Monastery on Villanova University campus in Radnor, [Archbishop Charles] Chaput officially agreed to support the Augustinian Fathers’ cause to make their fellow cleric a saint. As a result, Atkinson earned the title ‘Servant of God.’ “A candidate for canonization must first be designated ‘Servant of God,’ then ‘Venerable’ and finally ‘Blessed’ before reaching the rank of ‘Saint.’ . . . It is now up to the Augustinian priests and brothers to gather the necessary information through witness interviews and documentation to establish that Atkinson was a person of heroic virtue and therefore worthy of the next step towards sainthood, that is,

Deborah Mantegna ’85 and her daughter Natalie

to be deemed ‘Venerable’ by the Vatican.”

Father Bill was born in 1946 in Philadelphia, PA. He attended St. Alice’s Elementary School and then Monsignor Bonner High School. He spent a year as a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, NY, and entered the Order as a novice at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, in 1964. There, a tobogganing accident on February 22, 1965, changed the rest of his life.

The accident left him almost completely paralyzed from the neck down, with limited movement of his head, neck, shoulders and arms, but he expressed his wish to continue as an Augustinian. John Cardinal Krol, with a special dispensation from Pope Paul VI, ordained Bill to the priesthood at his hometown parish on February 2, 1974, almost nine years after the accident that left him a quadriplegic. His first Mass was celebrated at the Fieldhouse at Villanova University.

Annette Frawley ’92 and her son Jarrod.

From 1975 until 2004, Father Bill was stationed at St. Joseph’s Friary, Monsignor Bonner High School. While there, he taught theology, mostly to the senior class.

He was assistant school chaplain, senior class retreat coordinator, moderator of the football team, and the director of the after-school and Saturday detention program. He was known to be an excellent teacher, encouraging moderator, and compassionate confessor.

“Accepting the Humanitarian Award for Fr. Bill Atkinson, OSA, from Neumann University was an honor and a privilege for our family and the Augustinian Community,” said Joan Mullen, Father Bill’s sister. “Bill’s physical inabilities were overshadowed by his gifts of patience and courage, which inspired and encouraged all who met him to overcome adversities by using their God-given gifts to the best of their ability.”

Jim Delaney, chairperson of the University Board of Trustees, makes a toast to launch the Gala XVII program.

Summer 2016 17

AL U M N I N E W S

President’s Distinguished Alumni Award Sr. Christopher Wagner, Osf ’69

2016 Alumni Awardees John Neumann Award

Melissa Maginnis, Ph.D. ’01

Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award Patricia DiNicola ’79

Alumni Recognition Award Michael Hawley ’89

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Kathrina Rose (Teo) Chesser ’04

Honorary Alumnus Ann Giunta

2016 Distinguished Alumni by Academic Division

Planting a Scholarship Seed In 2005, Regina Black Lennox ’77 decided to honor her aunt, Sr. Corda Marie Bergbauer, OSF, who was about to receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Neumann. Regina hosted a luncheon for the family and friends of Sr. Corda and asked the guests for a donation to establish a scholarship in Sister’s name.

To Sr. Corda’s surprise, the gifts from that one event totaled close to $10,000. Since that time, friends and relatives have sent birthday, feast day and Christmas gifts to the scholarship fund, growing it to more than $65,000. That amount is well more than the $25,000 level needed to endow a scholarship and begin awarding grants from the interest it generates.

To date, 11 students have received grants from the Sr. Corda Marie Bergbauer, OSF, Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to deserving students entering or enrolled in Neumann University.

Sr. Corda Marie, a member of the University Board of Trustees since 1993, is so pleased with the result that she is urging others to consider doing what her niece did for her 12 years ago.

“Consider starting a scholarship in your name or for a relative or friend,” she says. “You will be amazed how soon the fund will grow, and your name will live on at Neumann University.”

Start Your Scholarship To learn how easy it is to begin a scholarship fund at Neumann University, contact Henry Sumner, vice president for institutional advancement and university relations, at hsumner@neumann.edu or 610-558-5513.

You may also fill out this form and return it to: Office of Institutional Advancement Neumann University One Neumann Drive Aston, PA 19014

Name________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________ City, State_____________________________________________________ Phone________________________________________________________ Email_________________________________________________________

Business

Stephanie Ellis ’04

Education & Human Services Sr. Deborah Krist ’87

Health Sciences

Dr. Darren Rodia ’07 ’05

Art and Sciences

Curtis Crowther ’90

Continuing Adult & Professional Studies Brenda Wilson ’15

2016 Hall of Fame Inductees Robyn L. Armstrong ’09 Robert J. Hornibrook, Jr. ’04 Kevin J. Sloan Brittany N. Whetts-Robinson ’10

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Students Launch Philanthropy Awareness Campaign The I HEART NU logo appeared across campus this year in an effort to foster lasting awareness of and appreciation for philanthropy at Neumann as part of a newly formed Student Philanthropy group.

Philanthropy, the desire to promote welfare to others, directly relates to the mission of the university and alumni giving; however, it is not a word commonly used on campus.

The I HEART NU logo starting popping up across campus in the fall of 2015. From t-shirts and a library display to red hearts and tags, the I HEART NU Student Philanthropy group reached out to the student body to increase awareness of how alumni donations make a difference to the Neumann community. The goal for the The I HEART NU graphic first year of the Student Philanthropy group was to recruit student began appearing on members, spread awareness of donor support, and create a buzz with campus this year. the I HEART NU logo. In the initial year, members organized eight different events where students could get a free I HEART NU t-shirt while learning more about philanthropy and how it relates to the university’s mission. Events such as Donuts and Donors were special because students had the opportunity to write thank-you notes to some of our current donors. Over 400 students joined one of the Student Philanthropy events this year.

AL U M N I N E W S

Class of 2016 Campaign Surpasses Goal, Increases Participation The class campaign is rich in tradition. Each year, the graduating class campaign committee reaches out to fellow classmates to raise awareness about the importance of giving back to Neumann to continue in the footsteps of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia. By participating in the class campaign, students become active and engaged alumni before even walking across the stage at Commencement.

The Class of 2016 class campaign set a goal of $10,000. If the class reached the goal, they would be recognized on the 50th Anniversary Campaign Plaque, which will be displayed in the new addition of the Thomas A. Bruder, Jr. Life Center this fall.

“I was proud to work on the class campaign because I believe it to be a very important cause and a great opportunity for soonto-be alumni to begin giving back to the institution,” shares one committee member, Tiffany Martorana ’16. “Neumann has given me so much, I was more than happy to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Class Campaign, and show my pride in giving back at graduation by wearing my philanthropy cord. Having worked closely with many different fund raising efforts for Neumann throughout my undergraduate career, I was well aware of the importance and need of giving back, as well as, the pride in philanthropy one can often feel when doing so. It has been a pleasure working on the class campaign and I hope our efforts have helped educate our new alumni of the importance of giving back to one’s institution, now and for many years to come.”

Donors of $50 or more earn the Neumann University Philanthropy Cord, which is a tradition that was begun by the Class of 2012. The Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord worn at Commencement as a symbol of philanthropic pride.

It demonstrates support for Neumann University and the reciprocal commitment between the university and its alumni, and gratitude for one’s educational journey.

Clare Beatty ’16 (center) and Tiffany Martorana ’16 (right) present the class gift to Dr. Rosalie Mirenda.

Giving represents paying it forward to future generations of Neumann students who will enjoy the resources made possible by the support of groups like donors to the class campaign. “Giving back to school is extremely important,” shares committee member Clare Beatty ’16. “I had the ability to continue my education at Neumann because of all the generous alumni who give back. Giving back means showing pride in where you spent the last four or five years. I could not wait for my opportunity to give back to Neumann.”

During commencement, committee members presented Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, president, with a check for $11,850, exceeding their goal of $10,000. In addition, the class surpassed last year’s participation rate and finished with the support of 36% of the class. Both the amount and participation rate are the highest in the history of the class campaign.

Celebrity Golf Classic Playing at the Brendan P. Kelly ’87 Celebrity Golf Classic were Matt Tendler ’12, University men’s ice hockey coach; Karen Thomas ’14, Neumann CDM professor and meteorologist for NBC10; Honorable Wendy Roberts, Esq, district justice; and Lauren Cusack ’16, former member of the women’s ice hockey and golf teams.

Summer 2016 19

Meet the D onor

Kristen Gallagher ’03 ’05

Pays It Forward

Kristen Gallagher ’03 ’05 with her husband John and children Charles and Angelina.

Kristen Gallagher connected with Neumann University from the moment she first stepped foot on campus. Her allegiance to Neumann runs deep and she has been giving back to the University for the past 12 years.

Gallagher graduated in 2003 with a degree in English. She continued on at Neumann University receiving her master’s degree in Education in 2005.

Today she is the executive director of development at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

“I’m entering my twelfth year of a career in higher education. My experience at Neumann inspired in me a passion for higher education. I’ve committed my life to serving students because of Neumann,” she said.

It was a struggle for Gallagher’s family to put her through college. The scholarships that she received while 20 Accent Magazine

attending Neumann were an enormous help financially. These funds inspired Gallagher to pay it forward and contribute annually to the University.

“I give because I’m a child of a single parent who worked two jobs to put me through college. If it wasn’t for scholarship support, I don’t think I could have afforded college. I hope that by giving to Neumann I can help support our students to continue their college career and make a change in the world,” she explained.

Something clicked for Gallagher when she first walked onto Neumann’s campus. Like most high school students looking for a college, Gallagher started with scheduling several campus tours.

Neumann was her first . . . and her last.

“When I was in high school I set up several tours at area colleges. Neumann was my first tour. From the time I stepped onto campus it felt right, I felt at home.

That day I went home and cancelled all of the other tours and chose Neumann,” Gallagher recalled.

While at Neumann, Gallagher became involved and particularly enjoyed her experience with service activities. The University shared with her the meaning of community service, something that has stayed with her. A sense of service is something that she felt was part of Neumann’s culture, not just an obligation.

After graduating, she continued volunteering at a Ronald McDonald house.

“I credit Neumann for setting the foundation for who I am today. Neumann has a strong Franciscan tradition for service by helping its students realize that we are the catalyst for change,” said Gallagher.

During her four years as an undergraduate and additional time spent working on her master’s, Gallagher had numerous experiences that she will never forget. Many of those experiences were life changing.

“I was a student at Neumann when 9/11 happened. Like many of my friends, I was in disbelief and the world became a much bigger and scarier place. I credit Neumann, specifically campus ministry for creating a safe space to process and to grieve,” she said.

Soon after graduating in 2003, Gallagher began supporting her alma mater and knew she would continue to do so each year.

Neumann University gave her so much that it seemed only fair to give back.

“I gave my first gift in 2004. I continue to support Neumann today because to me it will always be home,” she said.

Gallagher encourages other alums — young and old — to become Neumann University annual donors.

“You have an opportunity to own a piece of change in the world. Supporting Neumann no matter the size of the gift, helps to support the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and policy makers,” Gallagher said. “You are investing in a sure thing because Neumann students are amongst the brightest and most adaptable students I’ve ever known.”

Make History: Endow a Special Fund at Neumann Wesley Bock was co-owner of Kilner’s, a store in north central Philadelphia that provided equipment, clothing, and supplies to religious institutions. As a sales representative to the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, he grew to be quite fond of the Sisters and began making contributions to the order. When Wesley passed away, his wife Frances continued the contributions until her passing. After her death, the estate was left to their nephew, Bill Gagliardi, who in consultation with the director of Neumann’s library established a book award in children’s literature.

As a librarian, Bill fulfilled his lifelong passion for learning through his professional positions at the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute and the Balch Institute. After his employment at the libraries, he began working part-time for Neumann in the liberal studies division as an academic advisor at St. Agnes Medical Center extension site and then full-time

in the Continuing Adult and Professional Studies division. He also worked in the Registrar’s Office as verification specialist and veterans’ education coordinator until he retired in June 2011.

“It has truly been my privilege to establish this fund in memory of my aunt and uncle, preserving the Franciscan values that they so cherished.” Over the years, the Bock Book Award has become an annual tradition at Neumann; the first award was $500 and today the award has grown to $1,500. In December 2015, Bill decided to make his commitment to the Bock Book Award permanent by naming Neumann University in his will and designating $25,000 from his estate to endow this Award in perpetuity.

According to Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Neumann University president, “We are grateful to Bill for establishing the Bock Book Award in 2000, and for his faithful support over the years to fund this annual

Frances and Wesley Bock

award. Neumann University is honored to acknowledge authors who write and illustrate children’s books with Franciscan values that promote moral attitudes and actions.”

The award acknowledges Franciscan values in children’s books and gives the author and illustrator of each year’s winner a prize of $750, a plaque, and a gold emblazoned emblem for the book. Criteria for the award includes text that is valuesoriented, interesting and stimulating for ages 3 – 8 years, and pleasing and aesthetic.

The illustrations provide support for interpreting the story, instill a reverence for and compassion for all creation, and depict creation in all of its diversity. Both the text and illustrations promote a moral attitude and/or action.

Neumann University selected Winter Is Coming, written by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Jim LaMarche as the recipient of the 2015 Frances and Wesley Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature.

The Library and the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies annually sponsor the Frances and Wesley Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature. The award ceremony takes place on or close to October 4 (St. Francis Day) every year and includes educational activities related to the winning story for young guests to the campus. Submissions are accepted between January and April 30 of each calendar year and winners are selected by committee each August.

To submit a book for consideration, publishers should send one copy of the title to: Frances and Wesley Bock Book Award Neumann University One Neumann Drive, Aston, PA 19014 Dr. Rosalie Mirenda presents Bill Gagliardi with a certificate to recognize his contributions to the university library.

Summer 2016 21

AL U M N I N E W S

Dear Alumni,

Greetings fellow alumni and friends,

With appreciation and on behalf of all Neumann graduates, I would like to thank Annette Pierdomenico, RNC-OB, MSN, ’87 ’09 for her service as President of the Alumni Association Executive Board for the past two years and announce the new President, Michele Szkolnicki, RN, BSN, MS, FACHE, class of 1986.

I am honored to serve as the Neumann University Alumni Executive Board President for both the 2016 – 17 and 2017 – 18 academic years. Our Neumann alumni family is growing fast, with more than 13,000 alumni living and working in all 50 states and in 14 countries. Additionally, the 2015 – 16 academic year saw 44 legacy students (students whose parent(s) have also attended Neumann) enrolled, which is the highest number yet. It’s clear that people are continuing to see the value of a Neumann education in the Catholic Franciscan tradition.

Under Annette’s leadership the executive board continued the building of affinity chapters and pursued the goal of creating programming relevant to all alumni. Annette’s passion and pride in Neumann was evident in each and every thing that she did for our University.

Annette will be instrumental in a new role as she partners with other nursing graduates to foster a successful Nursing Alumni Chapter.

Michele Szkolnicki brings to the board extensive board leadership and has served on Angel Flight East Board, Pennsylvania Education Program Advisory Board — Strayer University, Advisory Board — Nurse.com, Neumann Nursing Advisory Board, and Leapfrog Group Partner Advisory Committee to name a few. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, Pediatric Associates at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Please join me in a moment of gratitude that two prestigious women such as Annette and Michele love Neumann enough to share their talents in service to the board.

Sincerely,

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

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As we think back on our student days on that holy hill, whether we attended when it was called Our Lady of Angels College, Neumann College, or Neumann University, I’m sure we can all think of fond memories. Our current students are making their own memories right now. Our goal this year is to think even bigger than ever before regarding professional networks. Let’s work to foster the student-alumni connection and further increase the reputation and status of our alma mater. Hire Neumann grads and open internship opportunities to our current students, giving them real-world opportunities through which to cultivate their skills. Consider being a table host at one of the Knight-2-Knight Student and Alumni Dinners to provide mentorship. Start an alumni chapter or join an existing one to re-connect with one another.

You are a vital part of an ever-growing, thriving network — a family that is over 13,000 members strong. Your connection to Neumann lasts a lifetime.

We hope to see you this year, whether it’s at a campus event, a Phillies game, or just a stroll on campus.

Please join me in making these next two years engaging and fulfilling for all of us.

Michele Szkolnicki ’86 President, Neumann University Alumni Association Executive Board

Announcing New Nursing Alumni Chapter The Neumann University Alumni Association officially announced the formation of the Nursing Alumni Chapter (NAC) this spring. With over 50 members already, the NAC is in the process of creating an executive board to oversee chapter initiatives. Plans are underway for the creation of an Alumni Student Government Chapter, a STEM chapter, and others. Chapters create opportunities for alumni with common interests, geographical location or academic similarities to unite for the greater good of Neumann University. Follow this chapter on its Neumann Nursing alumni Facebook. For more information or to assist in the formation of a new chapter, please visit www.alumni.neumann.edu/chapter

AL U M N I N E W S

Changing the World, One Patient at a Time Margie Sullivan-Rogowski, ’90 recently wrote a reflection for Trinity Health’s Global Health Ministry on her experience on a Peru Mission as a recruiting piece for new volunteers. These are her thoughts.

I recently had the amazing privilege of participating in a surgical mission trip to Chulucanas, Peru, as an OR/PACU nurse volunteer with Trinity Health’s Global Health Ministry. My personal experience was both rewarding and challenging, but mostly importantly, it opened my eyes, my heart and my faith that a small group of people can truly make a difference in this world. Our GHM team spent 15 days working side-by-side with local Peruvian medical professionals and volunteers from the community of Chulucanas, providing health care surgical services to the poor and underserved, performing 118 surgeries and seeing 782 primary care patients.

That’s some long days and sore feet but a blessing in more ways than I can express.

I came away with new relationships and friendships with people I may never cross paths with again but will never forget, always linked by our brief time together.

Many asked about my experience but I found myself at a loss to capture the true experience in words but a parable came to mind and I think it best captures the lifechanging impact on my life. The parable is about a young boy walking along the beach, who happens upon hundreds of starfish that have been washed up and are in danger of dying if left on the sand. The boy begins to take one starfish at a time and throws each one back into the ocean.

A man walks by and suggests that the boy is wasting his time because there are too many starfish to save; with all the other starfish in the world, he asks if what the boy is doing “really matters.” The young boy holds up one of the starfish and says, “It matters to this one.” I now believe we can make a positive and lasting impact on the world, one patient at a time. The care given to that one individual patient does make a difference. We cared for each individual at that moment, and for that patient, we have touched their lives and made it better. For me, that concept defined the purpose of our mission.

Margie Sullivan-Rogowski ’90 with a patient in Peru.

The language and cultural barriers were very much a part of the mission experience as well, and although at times it was a challenging and frustrating experience to communicate, amazingly, a healing touch of the hand or a warm embrace broke down all barriers. I brought home with me the warmth of the Peruvian people who taught me communication isn’t only about words and sentences.

I also returned home with a greater appreciation for all we have in the United States, including access to healthcare when we need it, without hardship or sacrifice.

Despite the difficult life and poverty, the Peruvian people are happy for what they have, as little as it is. A child will joyfully kick around a tin can as a soccer ball. Patients travel by foot, donkey cart, bus or moto-taxi (and in many cases, a combination) without a complaint to get their children treated or for their own surgery that would otherwise not have been

available to them. For those coming from the remote areas of the Andes Mountains, this journey could take several days, one way! Contrary to our practice in the U.S., discharge is based on the hardship and comfort considerations of the patient to return to their home, not on the complexity of the procedure. The surgical teams used what supplies were available, knowing “if we didn’t bring it, we don’t have it.” Surgeons modify techniques to minimize post-op risk and follow up care, recognizing that once the team returned home, for the most part, the patients were on their own.

In reflecting back and in summary, it was an honor to have served the people of Chulucanas and if you asked me if I would do it again, the answer is yes, without hesitation. I hope to re-join the GHM Peru team again in 2017.

Margie Sullivan-Rogowski ’90 is manager of Meditech Clinical Applications in Newtown Square.

Summer 2016 23

c l a s s note s

EDUCATION: William Addison ’06, B.A., received his

Ed.D. from Wilmington University. His dissertation was “Embedding Sexual Assault Bystander Awareness Education and Awards in a Criminal Justice Course.”

(master’s and doctoral level) in critically analyzing a potential ethical case and creating an appropriate ethical decision making plan to respond to the ethical situation. The winners will be recognized in the ACA journal, Counseling Today.

See article on page 8.

Jennifer Passero ’06, B.A., and husband, Nick, welcomed their son, Nicklas Troy, on November 5, 2015 in Annapolis, MD. Troy weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and was 18.5 inches. He is named after his parents two favorite NHL players, Nicklas Backstrom and Troy Brouwer.

Barbara Rose ’14, CERT, was accepted

to the Pope Paul VI Institute and will be practicing NaPro technology.

Brandon Rovito ’15, B.A., was accepted

into the Philadelphia Police Academy.

WEDDINGS: Katie Angelucci ’15, DPT, Mirko Bajlovic ’15, DPT, Erica Boegly ’15, DPT, Nicole Seick ’15, DPT, presented at the Combined

Sections Meeting of American Physical Therapy Association held in Anaheim, CA, February 2016.

Angela Smedley ’90, B.A., married

Glen Sharbaugh at the Springfield Country Club, Springfield, PA, on November 20, 2015. The couple honeymooned on a Caribbean cruise.

IN THE NEWS:

Chantel Briggs ’16, B.S., will attend Penn

State Dickinson Law School this fall.

Jillian DeFina ’15, B.A., has been accepted

into the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Stephanie Fortunato ’13, M.S., was a member of a team of three students in the Master’s in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Neumann University who placed third in the American Counseling Association’s Graduate Student Ethics Competition.

The case study competition serves as an opportunity to engage graduate students

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Matthew Biffen ’04, B.S., started volunteering with the National Fallen Fighters Foundation as a state advocate for the Everyone Goes Home program. The goal of the Everyone Goes Home Program is to reduce the number of preventable firefighter line-of-duty injuries and deaths.

Jason Peterson ’12, M.S., and his wife Erin, welcomed a son, Austin Joseph, on January 19, 2016.

Cecily Ridgeway ’13, B.A., was crowned Miss New Jersey US Supranational 2016 on April 9, 2016 at the finale of the New Jersey US Supranational Pageant. The pageant is the official state preliminary to the National Miss US Supranational pageant. She will represent the State of New Jersey at the national pageant this summer in Orlando, Florida.

Kenneth Smith ’99, B.S., joined Neumann University Business Advisory Council.

Erika Stahl ’10, B.S., and Justin Stahl ’12, B.S., welcomed

daughter, Lyla Rose, on November 19, 2015.

c l a s s note s

PROFESSIONAL:

Scott Keller ’13, M.S., is now the director of the Center for Global Learning at Saint Peter’s University.

Judith Arentzen ’99, B.S., has been

appointed Director of Infection Prevention and Employee Health at Cape Regional Health System in Cape May Court House, NJ.

Danielle Kwapisz ’15, B.A., accepted a

position as a third- and fourth-grade learning support teacher at Hilltop Elementary School in Boothwyn, PA. She is also an assistant coach of the Neumann University Volleyball Team.

Angela Brooks ’11, M.S., and Georgette Hall-Peterson ’07, M.S., founders of

Strength for the Journey Ministries, are preparing for their seventh Marriage Conference and their third Women Retreat that focus on improving African-American Christian marriages.

James Elgin ’15, B.A., signed a professional contract in the Frontier League, an independent baseball league located in Evansville, IN. Cynthia Fabritz ’13, B.S., was recently

hired as the Assistant Athletic Trainer at Pemberton Township High School in New Jersey.

She was also hired as the Reserve Athletic Trainer at Ocean County College in Toms River, NJ.

Mitchell Farrell ’00, M.S., was promoted to

district leader for Primerica Corporation.

Renee Martin ’83, B.S., is a new partner with Dilworth Paxson in Philadelphia.

Renee received her BSN from Neumann, her MSN from Villanova College of Nursing and her JD from Villanova. She is a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She resides in Chester Springs, PA with her husband, Jim. She enjoys golf, running, and her pro bono work for Community Volunteers in Medicine, West Chester, PA. Lisa McDonough ’00, B.A., recently attended an educator training program offered by the Ron Clark Academy, a nonprofit, private middle school in Atlanta that features innovative teaching techniques.

Shannon Mortimer ’08, M.S., ’00, B.A.,

was recently nominated for the HR Person of the Year Award for the Delaware Valley area. Shannon has been working in the human resource field for 16 years with an emphasis on benefits, immigration, employee relations, training and development.

Patrick O’Connell ’05, B.A., was appointed

by Delaware County Council as the new Director of the Department of Regional Emergency Medical Services.

Keith Richartz ’09. B.S., is working at the Borgata Hotel Casino Spa as a VIP Specialist and also works as a Special Events Lead Representative.

Jasmine Salgado ’10, B.S., was promoted to Director of Business Operations at Genomind, Inc. in King of Prussia, a personalized medicine company bringing innovation to mental healthcare through genetic testing.

Jessica Schreppel ’15, DPT, is serving as clinical coordinator at Central Pennsylvania Rehab Services, Quarryville, PA. Robert Vandegrift ’15, M.S., was named Athletics Compliance Assistant at Princeton University.

Mary Theresa Vautrinot ’81, B.A., was

appointed Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Human Services and Executive Director of Catholic Social Services by The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

George Williams ’09, B.S., accepted a position as Vice President of Business Development and Commercial Lending at Wells Fargo.

Rafiq Williams ’15, B.S., has been named

Athlete Coordinator at Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Philadelphia.

Melissa Woolley ’05, M.S., obtained a position as the Customer Support Manager at Personnel Data Systems, Inc. in Blue Bell, PA. The company is a leading software company providing software to over 160 customers.

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

Summer 2016 25

In Memoriam Sr. Eleanor Augustine Beckman, OSF Sr. Rosa Carmichael, OSF Joseph A. Coffey, Jr. Margaret M. DeLucca Brian K. Hudecheck, Jr. ’10 Marie E. Janton ’13 Nichole R. (Miles) Scallan ’09 ’00 Sr. Eleanor Augustine Beckman, OSF, Aston, PA passed away on May 26, 2016. Sr. Eleanor Augustine ministered for 41 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She taught at Little Flower High School, St. Maria Goretti High School, and West Catholic High School. In 1965 she began teaching at Neumann University and continued her ministry here for 28 years.

Sr. Rosa Carmichael, OSF, Aston, PA passed away on March 19, 2016. During her 18 years in the Diocese of Wilmington, she ministered at St. Francis Hospital, and later as an instructor in the School of Nursing. She also worked as a nursing instructor at Neumann University and served as the College Nurse.

Joseph A. Coffey, Jr., Radnor, PA passed away on January 22, 2016. Benefactor and beloved husband of graduate Teresa S. Vandiver Coffey ’83 ’96, Joseph served as an honorary member of the Scholarship Gala Committee.

Margaret Mary (Peg) Quinn DeLucca, Drexel Hill, PA, benefactor and beloved wife of University Trustee Deacon Daniel N. DeLucca, passed away on January 29, 2016.

Brian K. Hudecheck, Jr. ’10, Collingdale, PA, passed away on February 11, 2016. Brian graduated from Neumann University in 2010 with his master’s degree in education. He was a teacher at the St. Katherine Day School in Wynnewood.

Marie Ethel Mutter Janton ’13, Kennett Square, PA passed away on March 31, 2016.

An alumna, benefactor, dedicated volunteer, advocate, and benefactor of Neumann University, Marie also served as a member of the Scholarship Gala Committee, and as a volunteer model for the Cultural Arts Forum Annual Fashion Show. Beloved wife of University Trustee Frank J. Janton, she could always be found on the campus during Homecoming, Scholarship Reception, and Charter Day or at the many events in support of Neumann. Marie will be missed and remembered. For the past 25 years, she was a cellist with the Delaware County Symphony (a member organization of the Arts Guild at Neumann) with countless performances in the Fred P. Meagher Theatre. Most recently, Marie and her husband were the 2015 Presidential Humanitarian Award recipients, honored for their dedication to the arts and to education. Memorial gifts can be made to The Janton Fund c/o The Office of Institutional Advancement and University Relations.

Nichole R. (Miles) Scallan ’09 ’00, Aston, PA, passed away on April 6, 2016. Born in Aston, she was a highly regarded special education teacher, earning degrees from Neumann in 2000 and 2009.

26 Accent Magazine

D E V E L O PM E N T

Scholarship Grant Support 

Maguire Foundation

The Maguire Foundation awarded Neumann $75,000 to support the Maguire Foundation Scholars Program, which was established at the University in 2013.

The Foundation has agreed to assist as many as five qualified students per year who enroll at Neumann University from the fall of 2013 to the fall of 2016, a total of 20 students. The Foundation's full donation of scholarship aid to Neumann students could reach $400,000 through the spring of 2020.

Each student receives $5,000 per year for four years provided that the student pays at least $5,000 per year for tuition or other education-related expenses. To be selected, students must come from a list of eligible high schools and have at least a 3.0 high school GPA. Students may borrow the $5,000 that they contribute toward tuition with the expectation that any amount borrowed will be repaid from subsequent employment.

To be eligible for continuation of the scholarship funding from year to year, the recipient must be in good academic standing, participate in school or community volunteer/extra-curricular activities, and receive a recommendation from the University.

The Maguire Foundation was established in 2000. Mr. and Mrs. James J. Maguire are co-principals of the Foundation, a philanthropic enterprise that focuses its resources primarily on education.



Independence Blue Cross Foundation

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation awarded Neumann a grant of $17,424 to fund nursing scholarships in 2015 – 16 as part of the foundation’s Nurses for Tomorrow Scholarship Program. The goal of the Nurses for Tomorrow Program is to bolster the nursing workforce by increasing the number of nurses pursuing faculty roles or clinical practice.

The funds were used to support undergraduate and graduate nursing students who are in good academic standing. Recipients must be residents of specific counties in Delaware (New Castle), New Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem), or Pennsylvania (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia).

According to the IBC Foundation website, “Nurses for Tomorrow awards grants to 22 select nursing schools in southeastern Pennsylvania, to fund scholarships for undergraduate and graduate nursing students and doctoral of nursing practice candidates.”



TD Charitable Foundation

TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, awarded Neumann a $7,500 grant to provide tutoring stipends to five students in 2016 – 17. The Neumann students will tutor youngsters at Drexel Neumann Academy (DNA), a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Neumann University is one of four organizations that established DNA in 2005 to preserve Catholic education in Chester. Other founders are the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, and the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

For years, Neumann University has supported DNA with tutors, student teachers, service learning courses, and physical activities organized by university athletic teams.

The TD Charitable Foundation grant will allow five additional Neumann students, with the support of a stipend ($1,500 each for the year), to tutor instead of seeking extensive part-time work to generate income for living expenses.



W.W. Smith Charitable Trust

The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust awarded Neumann a one-year grant of $73,000 to fund undergraduate student scholarships in 2015 – 16.

The grant is specifically targeted to benefit full-time undergraduates, in good academic standing, with a GPA of at least 2.5 and whose financial needs cannot be met by other aid programs. In addition, students must have a permanent home residency in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties, or in the city of Camden, New Jersey.

Because the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust stipulates a minimum award of $2,000 and a maximum of $7,000 per year, the grant assisted between 11 and 36 Neumann undergraduate students in 2015 – 16.

In the last 37 years, the Trust has assisted more than 1,000 Philadelphia area students annually, including scholarship grants of $1,386,000 for Neumann students.

 Charlotte W. Newcombe

Foundation The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation awarded a grant of $28,000 to Neumann to support scholarships for adult students.

The funding was awarded during 2015 – 16, on the basis of need, to students 25 years of age or older, who are enrolled full-time or part-time in baccalaureate degree programs.

To be eligible, a student must have completed 60 credits required for a degree.

The Foundation’s Scholarships for Mature Women Students currently assists thirty-two universities and four-year colleges. Newcombe guidelines stipulate that institutions selected for the program “welcome enrollment by adult women students and are committed to their success.” At Neumann, both women and men are eligible for Newcombe Scholarships.

Since 1985, the Newcombe Foundation has granted $475,000 to Neumann University to assist adult students.

Summer 2016 27

KUDOS

Faculty Publications, Conferences and Awards Heather Anderson, assistant professor physical therapy, published “Outcome Measures for Persons with Acute Stroke.

A Survey of Physical Therapists Practicing in Acute Care and Acute Rehabilitation Settings” in the Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy; Vol 7(2):76-83.

Ireland. It was the first time a team from Neumann University competed in Europe. In addition, he presented “An Ode to Tom, Conversations about Living Existentialism: A Panel Discussion in Honor of Dr. Thomas W. Busch,” Villanova University, April 2016.

Russell Bilotta, director of administrative systems, was

Julie D. Lanzillo, program coordinator and assistant professor sport and entertainment management, presented “The Senior Seminar Experience: Incorporating Leadership in Sport Management Education” at the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation Annual Conference, Tampa, FL, February 2016.

elected to the board of directors of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit as a representative for the School District of Haverford Township. In addition, he was a panelist for the Delaware Valley Region of the Pennsylvania Association for Curriculum and Supervision Development at Cabrini College, April 2016.

Stephanie Smith Budhai, assistant professor and director

of graduate education, presented “Leveraging Technology to Actively Engage Students in Online Courses” at the On Course Conference in Anahiem, CA, April 2016.

David DiMarco, associate professor of mathematics, along with Ryan Savitz, associate professor of mathematics, created

a series of math colloquia that were hosted at Neumann University.

Glenn Holmstrom, associate professor art, received an

honorable mention in the 2016 Delaware Individual Artist Fellows. Sixteen artists were recognized by the Delaware Division of the Arts for the high quality of their artwork.

In addition, his painting entitled Distillation v1: Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring is included in 80x80, An Art Show, Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, NC.

Mehdi Hojjat, professor of finance and international business, presented the papers titled “2020 Projection of the U.S. Current Account and Capital Account” and “Determinants of International Competitiveness” at the International Management Development Association annual conference in London, June 2016.

James P. Kain, assistant professor of English, presented a workshop “Becoming your own hero: Campbell’s Hero’s Journey as a model for successful students” at the 2016 On Course National Conference in Anaheim, CA, April 2016.

Geoffrey Karabin, assistant professor of philosophy, assisted

by a donor, led a study abroad tour to Ireland over the spring semester. The tour involved the University’s women’s rugby team traveling to, training in, and playing against teams in

28 Accent Magazine

Samuel Lemon, director of the M.S. program in Organizational and Strategic Leadership, received the Dorothy James Community Service Award from the Media Fellowship House (Media, PA) for his work in trying to get an exoneration for the late Alexander McClay Williams, a 16 year old African American youth who was wrongly executed by the State of Pennsylvania in 1931. (The late Dorothy James, local Quaker, was one of the cofounders of Media Fellowship House.)

Elizabeth Loeper, assistant professor of nursing, presented the

workshop entitled, “Developing Your Superpowers: Forgiveness and Gratitude” at the national conference for the American Holistic Nurses Association, May 2016 in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Jacqueline Martin, senior academic advisor in the CAPS division, along with colleague Ann M. Solan, Ph.D. of Stevenson University, facilitated a workshop on the “Key Competencies and Career Development of the Continuing Higher Education Professional” at the annual conference of the MidAtlantic region of the Association for Continuing Higher Education, April 2016.

Sr. Suzanne Mayer, IHM, coordinator pastoral counseling,

organized a group of pastoral counselors to receive training as follow-up counselors for Project Rachel for Archdiocese of Philadelphia post-abortion care, May 26, 2016. She is also the newly elected secretary of Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association, elected May, 2016. Sr. Suzanne was awarded third place in the national contest as faculty advisor, held by the American Counseling Association Ethics Competition, Master’s Level category, presented at ACA-CCPA Awards Ceremony on April 2, 2016, in Montreal, Canada.

Tiffany J. McGregor, director of library services, presented at the Tri-State College Library Cooperative Annual Spring Program “Warm Spaces and Happy Faces: Library Ideas to Promote Student Emotional Well-Being” April 2016.

KUDOS

Andrew Miller, history instructor, organized and hosted a

Sr. Linda Marie Sariego, OSF, assistant professor of Spanish, received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching at Neumann University on May 2016.

John Mizzoni, professor of philosophy, had his online course, Exploring Ethics, certified by a Quality Matters external review team on February 16, 2016. In addition, he was a commentator at a Metaethics Colloquium, at the Eastern Division meeting of the American Philosophical Association, Washington, DC, January 9, 2016.

Laura Taddei, assistant professor of education, presented at the

World War II ceremony at Neumann University in April 2016.

Approximately 15 World War II veterans attended, as did 75 audience members.

Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne ’70, OSF, vice president for mission

and ministry, presented “A Conversation with Mission Officers: Hiring for Mission and Formation of Faculty and Staff” at the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC, February 2016.

Theresa Pietsch, associate professor of nursing, was appointed to the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses Certification Role Delineation Project to evaluate the national certification exam blueprint for its content validity to current rehabilitation nursing practice. The project meeting was held in Chicago, IL in April 2016. Currently, there are over 13,000 registered nurses who are certified in this nursing specialty.

Robert E. Post, professor and director of physical therapy program, presented “Muscle Fatigue during Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Delivered at Various Pulse Frequencies to the Wrist Extensor Muscles of Normal Subjects” at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Anaheim, CA, February 2016.

Anne Ramirez, associate professor of English, presented

“Ebenezer Scrooge, Sir Launfal, and Phil Connors: Recipients of Amazing Grace” at the Midwest Regional Conference on Christianity & Literature in Spring Arbor, Michigan, February 2016.

Marisa A. Rauscher, associate professor of education,

presented “High school students, preparing teachers, and a university professor: Day jobs lived and imagined” at the Eastern Sociological Society’s 86th Annual Meeting in Boston, MA, March 2016. In addition, she also presented “Promoting successful transitions: Current high school students and preparing secondary educators advocate for one another” at the National BRIDGES 2016 Conference sponsored by P4CE in Cape May, NJ, May 2016.

National Association of Elementary School Principals conference regarding the book Teaching 21st century skills with Emerging Learning Technologies at the Best Practices for Better Schools Conference in National Harbor, MD, July 2016. She and Stephanie Budhai, assistant professor of education, co-wrote the book that was published in October 2015.

Sr. Diane Tomkinson, OSF, associate professor of theological

studies, organized and presided at a session of papers titled “Medieval Franciscan Women as Theologians” sponsored by WIFIT/Women in the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, at the 51st International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May, 2016. As one of the three coordinators on WIFIT’s executive committee, she also facilitated WIFIT’s annual business meeting during the Medieval Congress and represented WIFIT at various planning meetings related to next year’s congress.

Sandra Weiss, Professor Biology/Clinical Laboratory Science Coordinator, presented “Caffeine and Nicotine Effects on Individuals’ Heart Rates and Electrocardiograms” at the 14th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education in January 2016. She was also a volunteer site visitor for The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. She visited for continuing accreditation the MLS program and the initial accreditation of the master degree in molecular diagnostics (MDS) program for University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Hasan Yonten, assistant professor of political science, presented

the paper titled “Elements of Continuity and Discontinuity in the Post-Cold War Turkish Foreign Policy: An Empirical Comparison between the pre-AKP and AKP Eras” at International Studies Association’s convention in Atlanta, GA, March 2016.

Mary Beth Yount, assistant professor of pastoral and theological

studies, participated in a radio interview with More2Life Radio with Greg and Lisa Popcak, about her introduction to the new book by Liguori Publications, The Family, the Church, and the Real World, which aired January 25, 2016. She also presented “Theology as Resistance: Countering the Exclusion of the Marginalized from Church Leadership” at the Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic American Academy of Religion in New Brunswick, NJ, March 2016.

Summer 2016 29

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