a magazine for Neumann University alumni, family and friends
Vol. 42, No. 2 • Summer 2014
At the Top of Their Game! Students Show Their Stuff
Save the Date
Coming Up: Knights at the Phillies Saturday, September 27 • 7:05 p.m., Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves 5:00 p.m., McFadden’s Restaurant, Citizens Bank Park For more information and tickets, visit www.alumni.neumann.edu/phillies14 Seating will be located in the Terrace Deck (sections 430 – 431) at $16 each.
That’s a $4 discount off of the regular ticket price!
Tickets based on availability. Order by 8/27/14 at www.phillies.com/neumann Promo Code: Neumann
Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014
October 16 – 19 Saturday, October 18 • Homecoming & Family Picnic & Taste of Neumann (Rain or Shine) 12 noon – 2 p.m., Surrounding St. John Neumann Circle In the spirit of Oktoberfest, Neumann will celebrate Neumannfest with a lively picnic for students, alumni and parents. Live music, face painting, petting zoo, games, bounces and fun. Featuring: TASTE OF NEUMANN. Let local vendors share their specialties with you. Take a tour around the tent and taste Chick-fil-A, Cocco’s of Aston, Dairy Queen, Judy’s Homemade Ice Cream, Georgio’s, Ice Works Café, Taste Budz, Zac’s Hamburgers, Pappone’s & more! Let us help you arrange your reunion with your classmates or cohort. Reserved Reunion VIP tables available by calling 610-558-5544. Host a table of 6 or more alumni and get the red carpet treatment.
Look for more details in the Homecoming brochure about: Corporate Connections • President’s Scholarship Reception • Light the Knight Fireworks Neumann Nursing Lecture and Lab Tour • Pastoral Care & Counseling Reunion and Lecture • Homecoming Mass Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Reception • The Massey Breast Cancer 5K Run/ 1K Fun walk
www.neumann.edu/cms For more information on alumni events and networking opportunities
A series of professional presentations and interactive events for students, parents, alumni and community members brought to you by the offices of Alumni Relations, Career Development and the Division of Continuing Adult and Professional Studies. We bring active professionals to engage learning workshops on topics such as resume writing, interview techniques, personal branding, career transitions and presentational speaking. Now, take control of your future at your convenience. The CMS program is now online with great webinars and virtual networking events as well as on-campus events.
Watch the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.neumann. edu
Accent a magazine for Neumann University alumni, family and friends
Vol. 42, No. 2 • Summer 2014
f e a ture s
4 Knights Abroad
A glimpse of NU overseas
12 AFCU and Formative Education Franciscan colleges gather on campus
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 Director of Publications
Carol DiAntonio
18 At the Top of Their Game
Students shine in a variety of fields
ON THE COVER: Rosabeth Kays ’14 is one of just 13 young women in the country to receive a 2014 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship.
Mothers 27 Hofelping Premature Babies A lumna with twin preemies launches support organization
D e p a rt m ent s 3 From the President 4 Around Campus In Memoriam: Dr. Nan Hechenberger, president from 1989 to 1996, page 30.
28 Class Notes
Director, Alumni Relations and Special Programs
Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13 Contributors
Christina Farrell Stephanie Fortunato ’13 Scott Keller 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 6/30/14. 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.
Join the Neumann Fund on a journey of
50 WEEKS OF GIVING in celebrating Neumann University’s 50th Anniversary.
Our goal is simple. Honor our legacy, show our gratitude, and share the impact philanthropic support has on Neumann University students and the campus.
Please visit Neumann.edu/neumannfund to learn more about the 50 Weeks of Giving and to view the presidential message.
Fro m the p re s ident
“ It is students like Rosie . . . who make Neumann more than a university.”
A
s Neumann University enters its 50th year, there are many milestones upon which we can all reflect. Without question, the entire Neumann family is extraordinarily thankful for the courage and vision of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, who founded this ministry. We might remember 1980, the year in which we accepted men across the curriculum and changed our name to honor St. John Neumann. We can appreciate the foresight of Dr. Nan Hechenberger and the Board of Trustees in planning the transition to a residential campus in 1995. We are certainly grateful for the many people who helped Neumann achieve university status in 2009. These and many other benchmarks map the history of this beloved institution since 1965. The most memorable and significant milestones, however, come through our students and graduates. In the coming year, we will recognize many of them and others who have contributed to our legacy in a variety of ways. In this issue of Accent, we look back at the very recent past — the just completed spring semester — and find an amazing collection of students who have achieved excellence in academic research, creative expression, athletics, business, and social justice. Many others, who are not profiled in the pages ahead, are also worthy of recognition. The cover story (pages 18 – 21) is simply a taste of the determination, faith and intellect that we witness on campus every day.
I know many of the students about whom you will read in this issue. For instance, Rosabeth Kays, our “cover girl,” has been a Presidential Ambassador, representing the University and me at dozens of public functions. I have watched her play soccer and spoken with her about her potential for graduate school. I know, first-hand, her depth of character, intellect, and integrity. She is one of just 13 young women in the country to receive a 2014 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship. It is students like Rosie and others featured on these pages who make Neumann more than a university. They make it a place of hope and light and transcendence. We will continue to tell their stories in this magazine, on our website, and in our publications. They are our inspiration and our future. I pray that they are yours as well and that you will continue to support and affirm Neumann’s mission. Pace e Bene!
Rosalie M. Mirenda, Ph.D. President
Summer 2014 3
Around c a m p u s
d a o r b A s t h g i n K
by Scott Keller
Hilario Romero ’12 watched a soccer match in Spain. 4 Accent Magazine
Kimberly Cibroski ’13 studied Spanish in Cuenca, Ecuador, during the summer of 2012. Here, she is pictured at Machu Picchu in Peru.
“ Study abroad was an absolutely amazing experience and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Words cannot describe my five months here in London. I met so many sweet people, saw things and went to places that I never imagined I would get to see or go to.” Brittany Peters, Class of 2015
“ Words cannot even begin to describe how amazing these past four months have been. Before I came to Italy, I was so scared. Never in a million years would I have ever imagined that I would study abroad, no less completely fall in love with it. I’ve changed and grown so much these past four months. I am so upset that I have to leave this beautiful city today, but no matter what I’ll never forget all of the amazing times I’ve had here. Rome will forever and always be home.” Danielle Koyles, Class of 2016 Brittany and Danielle are certainly not alone. Few study abroad participants can find the words to adequately sum up their experience of living and studying overseas. Students often describe this experience as “life-changing” and I do not believe this to be an overstatement. From the friends they made, to the subjects they studied, from the weekend trips they planned to the new cuisines they tasted, each day abroad is rich in adventure and in lessons learned. During my time here at Neumann, I have had the great pleasure of accompanying our students through the study abroad process — from application through homecoming — seeing first-hand the lifechanging impact that study abroad has on them. It has been a remarkable experience.
Neumann University clearly recognizes the powerful impact of these international programs on the personal and intellectual development of our students. Six years ago the university took a bold step in making study abroad available to more undergraduates. In 2008, the Office of International Studies Education (ISE) was founded and charged with managing all aspects of study abroad at Neumann University. The menu of semester study abroad options was expanded to include sites in London, Limerick, Melbourne, Paris, Perugia, Rome, Seville, Shanghai, and the South of France. (To date, London has been the most popular destination for Neumann students, followed by Seville, Rome, and Limerick.) At the same time, the marketing and promotion of full semester study abroad programs began in earnest. Month-long
Danielle Koyles studied in Rome for the spring 2014 semester. Pictured here in Pisa.
summer study abroad programs were also added in Toledo, Assisi, and Lyon, where students can take immersive Spanish, Italian, or French classes for about the same cost as a summer course in Aston. The growth in the number of programs and the number of students participating owes much to the members of the Neumann faculty. They actively promote these unique opportunities in their classrooms and work diligently with their academic advisees to fit study abroad into a four-year graduation plan. Neumann’s Business Office, Registrar’s Office, and Financial Aid Office have (continues on page 6)
Michael Miller studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia in 2012.
Students Brooke Ashenfelter and Brooke Spagnolia in Assisi, Italy, where they took a four-week immersive course in Italian. (May – June 2014)
Summer 2014 5
Dr. Mehdi Hojjat took students to Istanbul in 2013
Kathleen Poliski ’14 studied abroad in London during the fall 2013 semester. Pictured below at the Louvre in Paris.
Kierra Stewart ’13 studied abroad in the South of France in 2011. Above she is pictured in Barcelona, Spain where she traveled on a weekend trip.
also been instrumental to the growth of these exciting programs, facilitating the billing process and transfer of credit for our intrepid students. Administratively, it is quite an undertaking to manage study abroad programs, but the benefits definitely outweigh the challenges. There are a number of reasons why students choose to study abroad. When drafting their personal statement, which is an important part of the study abroad application process, students often mention a desire to experience another culture, to travel, to meet new people, to visit the homeland of their ancestors, to experience life outside of the tri-state area, and, sometimes, to learn a new language. Most participants meet all of these expectations and more. There are many more intangible benefits from studying abroad that hint at the life-changing quality of this intense international experience. Returning students often report feeling more mature, more self-confident, less afraid to take risks, more curious, more independent, more engaged on campus, more comfortable communicating with people from other cultures, more flexible, more appreciative of diversity, and even closer to their family. These students have taken bold steps far outside their comfort zones and then have learned that they have the strength to thrive in these 6 Accent Magazine
new, foreign environments. Study abroad offers a powerful lesson in learning to take calculated risks; students learn not to underestimate themselves or their abilities. It also greatly expands their sphere of concern, not to mention their Facebook friend list. An exciting new development on campus is the growing popularity of short-term, faculty-led international programs, especially over spring break. These international programs are part of unique courses offered during the normal spring semester. While Dr. Mehdi Hojjat has organized a biannual International Business (IB) program to Europe for the last decade, 2013 and 2014 have seen six innovative, new faculty-led courses to London, Edinburgh, and Cuenca, Ecuador. A wide range of academic departments are now sponsoring these programs, including Athletic Training (ATR), Elementary Education (EDU), English (ENG), Nursing (NUR), and Sport & Entertainment Management (SEM). These programs bring course material to life in unforgettable ways, such as when the ATR and SEM students learned to play cricket in London, and when the EDU majors taught English to local schoolchildren in Cuenca. It is no surprise that a week-long trip is not as impactful as a semester-long study abroad program. However, these facultyled programs represent an important first step abroad for many of our students.
Bill Kuhar studied abroad in Shanghai, China, in fall 2013.
Additionally, a full semester of study abroad is challenging for many of our academic majors on a four-year plan, such as EDU, NUR, BIO, BIO-CLS, and ATR. A short-term program is likely the only international opportunity these students will be able to have and still graduate on time. It has been an honor to be a part of Neumann University’s bold efforts to grow international programming over the past several years. Even though I do not travel as much as my students now do, this experience in Neumann’s ISE office has been life-changing for me, too. And like my students, I feel that words cannot describe how much this experience and the people I have met along the way have meant to me. Scott Keller is the university director of International Studies Education.
Commencement 2014
Around c a m p u s
From “Selfies” to Self-Reflection for 621 New Graduates
O
n a perfect spring day, under an azure sky, Neumann University awarded degrees to 621 students at its 48th commencement exercises. The May 17 ceremony filled the South Lawn of campus with more than 3,000 friends and families of the graduates, there to cheer the students and celebrate a significant milestone with them. There were 36 doctoral degrees presented, 111 master’s degrees, 468 bachelor’s degrees, and six associate degrees. The ceremony began on a lighthearted note with Dr. Gerard O’Sullivan, vice president for academic affairs, turning his back to the crowd and taking a selfie with hundreds of graduates in the background. He urged them to share photos of the day at #NUgrad2014. Honorary degrees were presented to three people, each of whom addressed the graduates: Rocco Abessinio ’79, a former Neumann University trustee and graduate, who is president and CEO of Applied Bank; Mary Abessinio, director of the Abessinio
Rocco A. Abessinio ’79 passed along advice which he learned from his grandfather, who came to America at 14 years of age, penniless and uneducated.
Vice President Gerard O’Sullivan took a selfie with hundreds of graduates in the background.
Family Foundation; and Deacon Daniel DeLucca, president emeritus of Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, and former trustee of Neumann University. Mr. Abessinio shared with the graduates the three significant events in his life. “First and foremost was meeting and marrying my wife Mary,” he said. “Until that time, I was floundering, enrolling and subsequently dropping
Mary Abessinio told the graduates that “the strength and principles of Neumann . . . will take you far.”
out of school (several times), having no absolute goals or focus. . . . Through my wife, I had an added sense of responsibility, accountability, and a determination to provide a good education and future for my children.” The second event was earning a degree from Neumann University, then Our Lady of Angels College. “I was 39 at the (continues on page 8)
“Your challenge is to develop a career for yourself that will contribute your special talents to the well-being of others,” advised Deacon Daniel DeLucca.
Summer 2014 7
time. . . . Obtaining my degree gave me the credentials to seek better employment opportunities.” At age 47, he started with his wife Mary a credit card servicing company. “So basically, in eight years, I went from a nobody to a high executive position. Thank you, Our Lady of Angels!” The third significant event was his funding and building St. Rocco’s Church in Avondale, Pennsylvania, to meet the religious needs of 12,000 Hispanic families. “Through the entire process of getting this project completed, I became much closer to my Catholic faith and understood the true value of prayer.” His advice to the Class of 2014, learned from his grandfather Rocco, included several nuggets of wisdom: have faith in God, always do what’s right, earn respect, work hard and save your money, work through adversity, and stand up for your rights. Abessinio began his banking career in the early 1970s. In 1987, he founded Consumer Credit Services Corporation (later Applied Card Systems), whose sole purpose was to provide services, such as credit, collections, customer service, and security, for small- to mid-sized banks. He started Cross Country Bank (now Applied Bank) in 1996. Applied Bank, with its sister company, Applied Card Systems, grew to more than five million accounts serviced by some five thousand employees. Today, Applied Bank is rated among the top banks in the country focusing primarily on commercial banking, providing loans to businesses throughout the Northeast. Mary Abessinio echoed the gratitude of her husband. “Much of what Rocco and our family have achieved is thanks to the education he received here. Our Lady Top: “Neumann University’s core values are the great gifts we leave this campus with today and the values which will guide us as we pursue our dreams and careers,” said Valedictorian Lauren Kilday. Middle: Students, especially longtime friends, erupted with joy at the realization that they had achieved a milestone. Bottom: Graduates were creative with mortarboard messages. 8 Accent Accent Magazine Magazine
Commencement 2014
Around c a m p u s
of Angels accommodated my husband, allowing him to attain his degree while working full-time to support our growing family.” She, too, concluded with advice to the graduates: “Take the strength and principles of Neumann with you wherever you go; they will take you far.” After raising four children, Mrs. Abessinio reestablished her career when Rocco started Consumer Credit Service Corporation (CCSC, now Applied Card Systems) where she held the title of Corporate Secretary. She helped establish the new company, working with her husband at the kitchen table, outlining the business and marketing plans. At present, she is the CEO of the Abessinio Family Foundation, while also doing volunteer work. She attended Interboro High School and is a graduate of the Goldey Beacom Business School. She and Rocco have been married for 47 years. Deacon DeLucca extolled the virtues of Neumann, calling it a “special jewel of Catholic Franciscan education.” He then offered a seven-part prescription for a full, joyful and happy life: pray, laugh, embrace relationships, reach for self-fulfillment, be positive, serve others, and continue to learn. “On your journey of life,” he urged, “periodically ask yourself two questions: ‘Is there joy in my life?’ and ‘Do I bring joy to the lives of others?’ If you can answer yes to these two questions, then you are on the right road to a joyful, successful life.” DeLucca has served on the Neumann University board of trustees for twelve years, and he continues to serve as a member of the trustee committee. He is president-emeritus of Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he served for seven years. Prior to his presidency at Alvernia, he was president of Spring
Garden College for 13 years and served at St. Joseph’s University for 22 years as a faculty member, department chairman and assistant to the president and vice president. Ordained a permanent deacon in 1986, he serves at St. Andrew the Apostle parish in Drexel Hill. He holds a BBA and a Pd.D. in pedagogy from St. Bonaventure University and an MBA from New York University. Lauren Kilday, valedictorian for the Neumann University class of 2014, asked her classmates to reflect on what Neumann has meant to them: the friendships, the special professors, the values, the career preparation, and the opportunities for service. “And now we stand here proudly and ready to take the final step in our college
careers,” she said. “Our hard work, long hours of study, and seemingly unceasing stress finally paid off as our dreams today become a reality. We will leave Neumann with many accomplishments of which we should be proud, new and lasting knowledge, unforgettable experiences, and friendships which will last a lifetime. The memory of our time here at Neumann University will be forever etched upon our hearts.” The Charles R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Dr. Kurt Wallen, professor of psychology. When his name was announced, the many graduates stood and cheered one of their favorite professors.
Dr. Kurt Wallen received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Summer 2014 9
AROUND CAMPUS
Burgee to Lead Business and Information Management Dr. Lawrence Burgee will begin his new role as dean of the Division of Business and Information Management on August 1, 2014. Currently Dr. Burgee serves as department chair and associate professor in the Department of Information Systems of The Brown School of Business and Leadership at Stevenson University. He holds the Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Loyola University, Maryland, with a concentration in international marketing. He has also directed study abroad programs in Paris, Milan, Prague, Panama and at many other overseas sites. Burgee led his department at Stevenson in the development and approval of five new business-focused BIS/CIS courses and a new Business Information Systems E-Commerce Technology Track. He also led the inaugural and highly successful Stevenson University May Term 2010 International Marketing European Study Tour, during which time Stevenson
majors visited the campuses of twelve highly regarded European companies. In 2010, he completed the prestigious year-long Stevenson University President’s Leadership Series. In 2011, he won the Brown School of Business and Leadership Dean’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Student Leadership. Previous to his appointment at Stevenson, Burgee served as assistant professor of e-Business and Technology Management at Towson University from 2003 to 2009 where he developed and taught cutting-edge courses in e-business, internet technology and information technology. He also played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of Towson University’s first Mobile Technology Classroom. Additionally, Dr. Burgee was a member of several University-level and Collegelevel technology-focused committees and task forces. While at Towson, he taught in the Executive MBA program at the University of Lodz in Lodz, Poland.
STAY IN TOUCH!
In 2008 and 2009, he taught Principles of e-Business at the Quality Leadership University, Towson’s affiliate in Panama City, Panama. From 1988 to 1998, Burgee was employed by the Baltimore Gas & Electric Company. From 1995 to 1998, he was an information technology analyst and was responsible for Oracle financials technical support. He performed extensive project management work for the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system and became very knowledgeable in supplychain management technology. He was also responsible for the company’s business information system intranet web site and authored more than 200 web pages. From 1992 to 1995, Dr. Burgee was BGE’s disaster recovery coordinator, responsible for the recovery activities of Information Systems, Telecommunications, Customer Service, and Nuclear Support Services. From 1988 to 1992, he was a Systems Programmer and maintained large-scale mainframe operating systems (IBM-MVS).
Connect with Alumni and the Alumni Association Facebook: www.facebook.com/neumannalumni Twitter: @neumannalum LinkedIn: N eumann University Alumni Group and Friends of Neumann Flickr: neumannuniversity Alumni Online: www.alumni.neumann.edu
Connect with Neumann University Facebook: www.facebook.com/neumannuniversity Twitter: @NeumannUniv LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ neumann-university YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/NeumannUniversity Flickr: neumannuniversity Website: www.neumann.edu
10 Accent Magazine
Gargano Launches
Soul of Youth Sport Conference Sports radio personality Anthony Gargano got the 2014 Soul of Youth Sport conference off to a rousing start on the evening of Father’s Day. Addressing a group of approximately 50 secondary school administrators, coaches, and parents, Gargano spoke of the importance of teaching youngsters teamwork and ethics — the combination provided by sports and Catholic education. A veteran of 14 years at WIP and author of four books, he captured the crowd from the outset with the story of how he was awakened on Father’s Day morning. His younger son, Massimo, hit him on the forehead with a hockey stick. Gargano’s reaction: “I loved it! He’s gonna be a player.” The graduate of St. Monica’s and Paul VI High School then turned serious. “As a teacher or a coach, you’re an extended parent” to young men and women, he said, emphasizing the responsibility that educators have to teach life lessons. “A strong circle (team or family) is a rising circle,” he explained. As an example, he used a current championship series, the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Miami Heat. “The story of this series isn’t LeBron James, the best player of his generation,” Gargano said. “It’s the Spurs team. In the last game, they ran a fast break and made five
Anthony Gargano emphasized the importance of teaching youngsters teamwork and ethics.
passes. The ball never touched the floor. It wasn’t sexy enough to make Sports Center, but it was beautiful teamwork.” (Note: Later that night, the Spurs beat the Heat 104-87 in game five to capture the title, 4-1.) Sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the biannual conference approaches secondary school athletics with a focus on how to maintain an excellent athletic program while supporting and enhancing the mission of the school. With a focus on spiritual formation and respect, experts from around the country provide guidance on how to build programs that are examples of ethical and athletic excellence. The conference ran for three days in June and included sessions on Legal Issues and Sports, Concussion Management, Sport and Spirituality, College Recruiting, Responsible Social Networking, and Top 10 Student Athlete Risks.
Science Olympiad 2014 Hundreds of young scientists presented their inventions in dozens of events at the 2014 Southeastern Pennsylvania Science Olympiad Regional Competition on campus in March. More than 1,000 students from 36 high schools and 27 middle schools throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties participated.
Summer 2014 11
AFCU: Formative Education
Catholic in the Franciscan Tradition: Formation, Integration and Assessment
More than 300 people involved in Catholic Franciscan higher education gathered on campus on June 3 for the three-day 2014 Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU) Symposium. Approximately 180 representatives of colleges from Iowa and Wisconsin to Louisiana and New York were joined by 120 administrators and faculty from Neumann to make this year’s conference the largest to date. The symposium began with a keynote address by Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, director of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives and professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton. Sister Angela spoke of the Pilgrim’s Rule, an ancient rule for pilgrims adopted by St. Ignatius: A person accompanying a pilgrim must walk at the same pace as the pilgrim, not ahead and not lagging behind. She characterized the Pilgrim’s Rule as a metaphor for Catholic educators in a digital culture. The pilgrimage is a symbol of life, and the Church (and its educators) must walk with the women and men who make up its ranks. The rule is especially true with educators in a world of social media and digital communication. “We are bombarded with so much information that we do not have time for silence,” she explained. “We are immersed in a culture of distraction” in which adults and students alike suffer from vibration reflex syndrome — the irresistible urge to respond to a smart phone’s vibration regardless of what we are doing. The Pilgrim’s Rule calls upon Catholic educators to embrace and understand the digital culture. The pilgrim does not stand still, she advised, but goes “into new territory.”
Embrace the Challenge Brother F. Edward Coughlin kicked off the second day of AFCU 2014 with a call to “embrace the challenge of formative education.” In a keynote address entitled “that in all . . . character may be formed,” Brother Ed urged representatives of almost two dozen Catholic Franciscan colleges to redefine and expand their understanding of education. “You’re called to form the imagination of your students,” he told the crowd.
Featured speakers Brother F. Edward Coughlin, Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, and Brother William Short are joined by Sr. Patricia Hutchison, OSF ’70, who led Neumann’s yearlong planning process to prepare for AFCU 2014. 12 Accent Magazine
Around c a m p u s
on Display Formative education, he explained, ought to address three questions: Where did I come from? Where am I going? and What am I doing here? He believes that the Franciscan tradition in a liberal arts environment is the perfect setting for wrestling with these questions because of the Franciscan commitment to the knowledge of truth and the practice of virtue. In guiding students through their reflection upon the three key questions in formative education, Brother Ed advised, “Don’t tell students what to choose but ask them questions about what they’ve chosen.”
Smile — You’re Franciscan Chuckles, guffaws, and outright belly laughs filled Meagher Theatre on the last day of the conference as Brother Bill Short brought his stand-up comedy act to AFCU 2014. His presentation, “From the Birdbath to the Cookie Jar: Franciscan Images and Popular Culture,” entertained 200 symposium attendees and hammered home a lesson for colleges in harnessing the power of the Franciscan brand. Brother Bill launched his lecture with a nod to high art. With the expertise of an art historian, he explained how an illuminated missal from the time of St. Francis found its way to the art collection of Henry Walters in Baltimore and deftly deconstructed Giovanni Bellini’s painting “St. Francis in Ecstasy.” This latter work of art, he explained, cast Francis as “the new image of Christ” in western culture. After a nod to Franciscan images in twentieth century film (including Brother Sun, Sister Moon and The Name of the Rose), Brother Bill turned to evolving artistic concepts by Giotta, Swanson and Watanabe that began to connect Francis indelibly with animals and nature. From later sculpture and stained glass, pop culture quickly co-opted St. Francis for salt and pepper shakers, thermometers, birdbaths and clip art. His slides and dry commentary had the audience howling. “St. Francis doesn’t quite fit the mold of the saints,” explained Brother Bill. His
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. visited campus to lead Mass for conference attendees.
love for animals, especially birds, and their comfort with him portrays him as someone who is accessible. A persona like this appeals to the Jungian longing in all of us to reconnect with nature and the very American tendency to identify with the underdog and outcast. The lesson for Franciscan colleges is to embrace the image of St. Francis as genuine, real and approachable — a notion which is already etched deeply into the western psyche. In addition to the featured speakers, the conference included sessions on incorporating Franciscan values into various aspects of campus life: academics, athletics, study abroad, orientation activities, professional development, and online learning.
and Ministry; bowed in admiration to Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Neumann’s president; and planted a kiss firmly on the head of Sr. Pat Hutchison, OSF ’70, director of the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies, who worked for months to organize AFCU 2014. No one escaped his antics. He bumped, hugged, and mugged for cameras with anyone in his path.
A Taste of Philly On the first evening of the conference, attendees were treated to a “Taste of Philly” reception in the Bayada Atrium where they were entertained by a seven-foot tall, furry, green creature known to baseball fans as the Phillie Phanatic. The Phanatic danced, clowned and kissed his way into the hearts of the crowd, showing folks from around the country that Philadelphia has its own unique brand of hospitality and joy. He pulled his shirt over the head of Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne, OSF ’70, Neumann’s vice president for Mission
The Phillie Phanatic hugs Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne, OSF ’70, vice president for Mission and Ministry, at the Taste of Philly reception.
Summer 2014 13
a round c a m p u s Comic karma rules the day in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Desdemona and Othello, before the Iago-fueled jealousy
A Menu of
Masterpieces on Stage
The University Concert Chorale packs the Meagher Theatre for every performance.
14 Accent Magazine
The performing arts were on display in all their splendor this spring. From Celtic folk to Mozart and from children’s theater to Othello, the arts took center stage on campus. Music lovers had a rich menu from which to choose. The Delaware County Symphony staged two chamber and two full orchestral concerts that included Ginastera’s Dances from Estancia, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Strauss’ Serenade for Winds in E-flat Major, Op. 7, and Dvorak’s Serenade in D Minor for Winds, Cello and Bass, Op. 44. Celtic Connections helped celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a program of traditional Irish music, and the University Jazz Band offered an evening of big band classics and a variety of contemporary arrangements. On stage, the University Players brought to life Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a play based on the popular 1988 film about two con men living on the French Riviera. The two crooks compete to see which one could first extract $50,000 from a young female target. A hilarious battle ensues with comic karma ensuring a just and surprising resolution. In March, the American Shakespeare Center staged Othello, one of William Shakespeare’s classic works, in the Meagher Theatre. Because of its immutable themes of jealousy, racism, manipulation and betrayal, Othello has remained one of Shakespeare’s most frequently performed works for centuries. In a complex study of
Save the Date
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 extremes, Shakespeare pairs his most loving and trusting leading man with his most conniving and ruthless villain in a dangerous dance of deceit and revenge. Sincere love transforms into mad obsession through jealousy, fear and rage — a process that seems as credible today as when it was written more than 400 years ago. Vocal performances drew large crowds, too. In May, the University Concert Chorale, under the direction of coloratura soprano Yukiko Ishida, filled the house with a stirring collection of favorites by Mozart. Dr. Ishida also performed a faculty concert, the Story Behind the Song, in February. The duo of bass-baritone Rand Shupp and pianist Don Kawash entertained with a performance of popular American music, including songs by Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers. The Greater South Jersey Chorus was the second renowned group to visit campus in the spring. They performed Brahms’ Requiem, the composer’s universal statement of comfort and hope to an appreciative crowd in April. Other stellar performances on campus were by International Ballet Classique. The group’s spring festival included a one-act ballet, followed by excerpts of classical and contemporary works. The Theater of Transformation brought Sister Friend to the Life Center, and the Cultural Arts Forum held its annual High Tea in high style.
Left: Yukiko Ishida and Galeano Salas sang excerpts from Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia and Puccini’s La boheme in 2014. Right: Joe Soprani, rock star of the accordion, wowed the crowd last year.
Summer 2014 15
a th l etic s
Tennis Takes Title, Reinhart Shines Men’s Basketball The men’s basketball team finished the 2013-2014 season with a 20-10 record and qualified for the postseason for the fifth consecutive year. The Knights were runners-up in the CSAC Championship and the ECAC South Championship. DeShawn Lowman was named the CSAC Rookie of the Year. Mark Blount was named to the First Team and the Sportsmanship Team, and Reggie Coleman received a second team award. Blount led the Knights with 15.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He scored his 1,000th point to round out the season. Coleman led the Knights with 142 assists.
Women’s Basketball The women’s basketball team qualified for the postseason for the 12th consecutive season as the No. 2 seed, going 12-4 in CSAC action. Neumann received a bid to the ECAC Tournament and finished the season 15-11 overall. Erica Marvel and JoHanna Metzger received First Team All-Conference honors; Jessica Schlesman was named Honorable Mention; and Sarah Roberts received a spot on the CSAC Sportsmanship Team. Marvel led the Knights by scoring 15.8 points per game while sinking 71 threepoint field goals. She reached the 1,000 point plateau. Metzger averaged 12.5 points per game while grabbing 10.4 boards per
game and led the team with 31 blocks. Schlesman led the team with 148 assists.
Men’s Ice Hockey The men’s ice hockey team finished 9-12-5 overall (4-8-3 in ECAC West action) and made the postseason for the seventh straight season. Braely Torris was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year and second team All-Conference. Shayne Morrissey was named the Co-Rookie of the Year. Morrissey and Sam House were also named to the All-Rookie Team. Torris played in 15 games this season and had a 2.84 goals-against-average and a .922 save percentage. He notched one shutout while going 3-8-3 overall. Morrissey led Neumann in points with 23 as well as goals with 14. He also dished out a total of nine assists. Of his 14 total goals, five came on the power play, two were game-winners, one was shorthanded, and one was a game-tying score.
Women’s Ice Hockey The women’s ice hockey team went 6-17-2 overall and 2-12-2 in conference action. Meghan Power was named to the AllRookie Team. She led the Knights with six goals and eight assists for 14 points this season. She netted two shorthanded goals and a game-winning goal. Megan Russelo and Edie Brenning each found the back of the net six times.
Brenning and Ang Gilmour each handed out seven assists. Justina Mayr started 18 contests in between the pipes. Mayr and Julia Fair each picked up three wins in net.
Men’s Lacrosse The men’s lacrosse team finished the 2014 season 6-10 overall and 3-3 in conference action to qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 2002 season. Ryan Eber was named Second Team AllConference. Kevin Fonio, Bob Markunas and Rob Foster all received CSAC Honorable Mention. Alex Becker was named to the AllSportsmanship Team. Eber led the Knights with 38 goals and two assists for 40 points, and picked up 51 ground balls. Fonio came in second in goals with 27 while adding 13 assists for 40 points. He picked up 36 ground balls while starting in all 16 games. Chris Scott led all players with 42 points (22g, 20a) and Patrick Rose led the Knights in assists with 27 while adding 13 goals for 40 points. Goalie Becker started all 16 games and made 249 saves.
Women’s Lacrosse The women’s lacrosse team finished the season 12-6 overall and 7-1 in conference action. The Knights were the CSAC RunnerUp and hosted an ECAC Mid-Atlantic first round game. Lex McIntyre was named to the First Team; Jordan Hopkins and Shae Risley
Stephen Moran returns a shot for the 2014 CSAC Championship Men’s Tennis Team.
Rich Whitten (11), Reggie Coleman (22), and Rafiq Williams (14) listen to Coach Jim Rullo during a courtside huddle in a game against Keystone. 16 Accent Magazine
Lex McIntyre (27) helped the women’s lacrosse team finish 7-1 in conference play (12-6 overall).
The softball team finished the season 19-3 in conference action (24-12 overall), and Becca Reinhart was named CSAC Player of the Year.
a th l etic s
Men’s Tennis
were named to the Second Team; Mandy Fedak, Nicole Barbieri, Emily Sanders and Christina Hughes received Honorable Mention. Taylor Klever was named to the All-Sportsmanship team. Hopkins led the Knights with 47 goals. She added 16 assists for a team high 63 points. Fedak added 44 goals and three assists for 47 goals. Four of her goals were game-winners. McIntyre led the team with 83 ground balls while starting in all 18 games. Sam Kotowski started 10 games in net and picked up six wins. Hughes started eight games and picked up five wins.
Baseball The baseball team finished the season 17-21 overall and 10-8 in conference action. The Knights qualified for the postseason for the sixth straight time, this year as the No. 4 seed. Buddy Elgin and Matt Sheneman made the All-Conference First Team. Elgin led the Knights with 55 hits while Sheneman added 53 of his own. Elgin was named to the D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic second team. Sheneman was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer All-Area Academic team. Trevor Wilkins was named to the CSAC All-Sportsmanship team, appearing in 22 games with a total 21 hits including four doubles, and 18 RBI.
Softball The softball team finished the season 24-12 overall and 19-3 in conference action. Becca Reinhart was named the Colonial States
Athletic Conference (CSAC) Player of the Year. She was also named to the First Team All-Conference along with teammates Lauren Wilkie, Danielle Grayson and Allie White. Kristin Beaty received Second Team honors and was named to the AllSportsmanship Team. Reinhart, White and Grayson were also named to the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Region teams. Reinhart garnered many postseason awards, being named to the ECAC South Region All-Stars and the Philadelphia Inquirer All-Area Academic Team, as well as being named the Philadelphia Inquirer Softball Performer of the Year. Reinhart led the Knights with 53 hits. She finished her three year career second all-time with 208 hits. Grayson led the Knights with 5 homeruns and 53 RBI. Wilkie was 11-4 in circle. The Knights qualified for postseason play for the 11th straight season, this year as the No. 2 Seed. After falling in the semifinals, Neumann received an ECAC South Region Tournament bid as the No. 4 Seed.
Golf The golf team finished the season in fourth place in the CSAC Championships, an improvement from last season when Neumann finished in sixth place. Brandon Gagne was named to the AllConference First Team, finishing fifth in the overall standings and leading the Knights. Ryan Dreger received the All-Sportsmanship Award.
The men’s tennis team claimed the 2014 Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship. The Knights finished 11-5 overall and 7-0 in conference action for the No. 1 postseason seed. After securing the CSAC Title with a 5-2 win against Marywood, the Knights represented the conference in the NCAA Tournament Five Knights were recognized with CSAC Awards. Todd Del Sordo and Stephen Moran were named to the All-Conference First Team; and Dustin Broom and Joel Maynard were both named Second Team. On the doubles side, Del Sordo and Moran were named to the First Team in the third doubles slot while the duo of Bryan Bodine and Maynard received Second Team honors. Maynard was also named to the All-Sportsmanship Team. Head Coach, Kayla Chamberlain, was named the CSAC Coach of the Year.
Track & Field The track & field teams had a successful two seasons, with multiple athletes qualifying for postseason action. During the outdoor season, Kyree Willis-Lear qualified for the NCAA Championship in the triple jump. He also qualified for the ECAC Championship in the triple jump and the long jump. Teammate Deborah Spruance competed at the ECAC Championship’s in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. The 4 x 100 relay team of Bianca Brown, Gabrielle Francois, Amirah Guerrero and Spruance competed as well. In the Indoor Championship, Deborah Spruance finished fourth overall in the 200-meter, Gabrielle Francois finished 30th in the 400-meter, and Kyree Willis-Lear placed seventh in the triple jump. In the indoor season, Spruance, Willis-Lear and Francois all competed in the ECAC Championship.
Summer 2014 17
At the
Top of
Through the 49 years of Neumann history, students have always excelled in a variety of ways: in the classroom, in athletics, in professional life, and in public service. In the spring of 2014, however, student achievement manifested itself in numbers rarely seen before. Individuals and groups earned recognition for academic accomplishment and intellectual potential, athletic prowess and visual creativity, social justice and business acumen. Like never before, our students are at the top of their game.
Top 1% in Business Strategy Game Four teams of Neumann University business students cracked the top 100 in an international Business Strategy Game that involved more than 9,400 teams from more than 400 colleges. The performance of the teams, based on Return on Equity (ROE) of fictitious footwear companies that they operated, placed them in the top one percent of all teams that entered the competition. The Business Strategy Game (BSG) casts students in the role of company managers, who are responsible for decisions regarding production operations, shipping and inventory management, corporate social responsibility, pricing and marketing, financing, worker compensation, and other aspect of business management. Teams from Canada, Europe, Mexico and the United States entered the 2014 competition. “Having students run a company in head-to-head competition with companies managed by other students provides a truly powerful learning experience that places students in active, hands-on managerial roles,” explained Dr. Robert Till, associate professor of business, whose Strategic Management class produced all four top-100 teams. The four Neumann teams achieved Return on Equity results that ranged from 41.5% to 48.3%. Only two universities in the global competition placed more teams in the top 100 than Neumann University: Universidad Technologica de Mexico (10) and the University of Alabama (7). Neumann and four other colleges placed four teams in the top group.
The Neumann teams, with final rankings, are: Fun Footwear (41st) Rich Harrington, Alex Lacko, Tim McCrane, and Corey Smith Best Footwear (tied for 48th) Justin Brydges, Shaunagh Devlin, Kimberly Hyland, and Matt Mazzarolo Global Athletics (51st) John Clifford, Danielle Donahue, Kenny Hall, and Eric Meshirer A Company (95th) Rosie Kays, Briana King, and Rene Springer
Students in Dr. Robert Till’s Strategic Management class finished in the top 1% in a global Business Strategy Game.
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Their Game! A “Rosie” Future
Rosabeth “Rosie” Kays is in very rare company. She is one of just 13 young women in the country to receive a 2014 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarship is a $7,500 award for the 2014-15 academic year. Recipients must be enrolled in a sports-related program as a full-time graduate student. Rosie has already been accepted to qualified programs at Barry University, Drexel University, Temple University, the University of Connecticut, and Virginia Commonwealth University. She’s weighing her options and negotiating for graduate assistantships. “I was ecstatic when I found out about the scholarship,” admits the sport and entertainment management major from Palmyra, PA. “I want to be an athletic director at a small college or university, so a graduate degree in this field fits my career plans perfectly.” Rosie was also selected as the Colonial States Athletic Conference’s nominee for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award as voted on by the conference's athletic directors. The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes for their collegiate achievements not only athletically, but also in service, leadership and academics. During her years at Neumann, Rosie played soccer and served as a Presidential Ambassador, Resident Assistant, and Orientation Leader. She also excelled in the classroom, gaining membership to the Delta Pi Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society as well as the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. In addition, she completed internships with the Middle Atlantic Conference, West Chester University and Neumann University. Rosie Kays is one of just 13 young women in the country to receive a 2014 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship.
Zombie Video Wins $10,000 Senior Kathleen Poliski, a Communication and Media Arts major and member of Neumann Media, won the Grand Prize in the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) 90 Second Video Contest, designed to raise awareness among millennials about the need for health insurance. As Grand Prize winner, Kathleen received $10,000 from IBX. Her humorous 90-second video focused on the need for health care coverage in case of a spontaneous zombie attack. The giant health insurance company launched the “IBX: 90 Seconds” competition to show that everyone can benefit from having health insurance — no matter their age or health status. The company asked for video submissions of up to 90 seconds in one of three categories. The contest began on February 7 with a call for entries, which were posted and open to a popular vote on March 6. Kathleen’s video won the Grand Prize, and Temple University won the contest for most student and alumni votes.
Kathleen Poliski won $10,000 for her 90-second video about why millennials need health insurance.
Summer 2014 19
At the
Top of
Their Game! Krista McAndress was picked for a summer undergraduate research program at the Rowan University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Summer NSF Internship Fatim Sannoh, a biology major, has been accepted as an NSF/ REU Intern at Rutgers University, Camden, for study in the Center of Computational and Integrative Biology (CCIB) for the 2014 summer semester. This internship includes room and board, as well as a stipend of $5,000 upon successful completion of the program. The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Students are associated with a specific research project, where they work closely with the faculty and other researchers. The work of the CCIB emphasizes the development of mathematical models for biological systems, application of the models to data from laboratory and field investigations, the adjustment of the model based on its fit to and predictive value for experimental results, and the subsequent modification of the experimental design based on the predictions of the model.
Fatim Sannoh will be an NSF/REU intern this summer at the Center for Computational and Integrative Biology of Rutgers University. 20 Accent Magazine
I Love the Lab Krista McAndress, a Clinical Laboratory Science major, has been selected for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) at the Rowan University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Stratford, NJ. The SURE program provides hands-on research experience for undergraduate students who are considering graduate education in the biomedical sciences. Each student in the program learns the basic skills necessary to contribute to a research effort while working with a member of the Rowan graduate faculty. From May 27 to August 1, students learn techniques such as cell-culturing, electrophoresis, chromatography, immunochemistry, and fluorescence imaging. They attend scientific seminars and present their results at the end of the program. “When I heard that I was accepted into this program, I was studying for a hematology exam,” explained Krista. “I threw my books in the air and couldn’t wait to tell someone. This is research, and I love the lab!” This summer, she wants to “explore research opportunities and graduate school connections.” She envisions a graduate degree and an eventual career in science. Krista was selected based on her application, transcript, and two letters of recommendation. All students receive a stipend of $3,500 to help offset housing and travel expenses.
David 5 – Goliath 1
The Neumann roller hockey club finished second in the country in Division I.
The Knights roller hockey club finished second in the Collegiate Roller Hockey Division One national playoffs. In the tournament, Neumann beat clubs from much larger colleges to reach the title match: the University of Colorado, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, California Polytechnic State University, and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Lindenwood University, which has an enrollment of 17,000, won the title game, 2-1.
We’re Now a Fair Trade Campus Neumann University has been recognized as a Fair Trade campus by Fair Trade Colleges and Universities. Fair Trade is a global marketplace model that advocates for the purchase and sale of goods that were produced in an ethical, fair, and just manner. Neumann is the 24th college in the United States and the 5th in Pennsylvania to be awarded Fair Trade status. Earning Fair Trade status formally acknowledges that Neumann completed five steps to embed fair trade principles and practices into the university’s policies and the social and intellectual life of campus. These steps included offering Fair Trade products through the university food service, holding educational events on campus, and obtaining an institutional commitment to the concept of Fair Trade. Campus interest in Fair Trade began eight years ago, when a campus ministry team began discussions with Sodexo food services about Fair Trade coffee and tea being offered in all of the food outlets on campus. From 2006 to 2012, student volunteers staffed Fair Trade tables across campus to raise awareness about the movement. In 2012, twenty-one students, affiliated with campus ministry and student government, decided to focus on gaining Fair Trade status for the university.
Summer 2014 21
deve l o p m ent
15th Annual
Gala Raises
Amidst a distinguished collection of art and artifacts chronicling Philadelphia’s unique imprint upon the American landscape from the 19th century to today, about 300 friends of Neumann gathered at The Union League of Philadelphia for the Fifteenth Annual Neumann University Scholarship Gala on Saturday, April 5. Their generosity generated more than $150,000 for student scholarships to help deserving students afford “A Uniquely Personal Experience” at Neumann University. To date, this annual event has raised in excess of $1.5 million for scholarships awarded to more than 90 percent of Neumann students who rely on some form of financial aid to realize their college degree. At the event, President Rosalie M. Mirenda presented the Presidential Humanitarian Award to Stephen E. Barrar, Pennsylvania State Representative, 160th Legislative District and Jack and Faith Holefelder. Board chair of Iron Worker’s Bank, Jack Holefelder is also president emeritus of the Delware County Chamber of Commerce while his wife, Faith, is former ad manager for the Chamber and Delaware County Today Almanac. The Award was established anonymously in 2002 in honor of Neumann’s president Dr. Rosalie M. Mirenda, and her husband Tony, Neumann’s ambassador-at-large. It is given to those whose lives reflect the special qualities that the Mirendas embody: commitment to serve humanity and empower the underserved; devotion to religious and family values; appreciation for philanthropy and giving back; willingness to take risks in the pursuit of vision; and a demonstrated respect for education and positive intellectual life.
Students are the reason for the Scholarship Gala. Neumann’s Presidential Ambassadors assisted at the event, and dined with the donors whose generosity helps young men and women like them attend Neumann.
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deve l o p m ent
$150,000 for Student Scholarships
Chairperson of the board development committee and Union League member, Frank Janton, welcomed the crowd to The Philadelphia Union League. It was the second time the Committee selected the historical venue for the Scholarship Gala.
Again this year, a special highlight of the evening was a live auction that supplemented the annual silent auction. The auctioneer fielded a round of lively bidding on a Philadelphia Phillies Suite, a week’s stay at the Vacation Village at Parkway in Orlando, Florida, and a week at the Wyndham Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Under the leadership of Gala Chair Jacqueline Delaney, the Gala committee chose to return to The Philadelphia Union League, also used for the Ninth Annual Scholarship Gala in 2008, since it had been a popular venue. “The Scholarship Gala is the premier social event for Neumann University bringing benefactors, trustees, alumni, parents and friends together to celebrate Neumann’s advancement and to remember and acknowledge that being able to educate deserving students is a goal for our efforts,” said Henry Sumner, vice president of Institutional Advancement and University Relations. “We are very grateful for the great generosity of our sponsors and guests and look forward to a very special 16th Scholarship Gala next year, when Neumann celebrates its 50th Anniversary with some unique surprises on Saturday, March 28, 2015.” Mark your calendars!
State Senator Dominic F. Pileggi, Pennsylvania 9th District, and his wife Diana (left) and Congressman Patrick Meehan, Pennsylvania 7th District, in attendance at this year’s 15th Annual Scholarship Gala, pause for a photo with Dr. Rosalie and Mr. Tony Mirenda.
Gala Committee Chairperson Jacqueline Delaney and her husband James Delaney, chairman of the Board (far left), and Dr. Rosalie and Mr. Tony Mirenda (far right) congratulate the 2014 Presidential Humanitarian Awardees (center, left to right) Stephen E. Barrar, accompanied by his wife Elena, and Jack and Faith Holefelder.
Summer 2014 23
Parents’ Breakfast with the President
Share Your Story
In May, parents of current Neumann University students were given the opportunity to share breakfast with Dr. Rosalie M. Mirenda, president, in the Bayada Atrium of the Mirenda Center for Sport Spirituality and Character Development. More than 140 parents, students, faculty, and administration gathered for breakfast followed by a tour of Our Lady of Angels (OLA) Convent, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia. In addition to learning about the history of the sisters and OLA Convent, guests were treated by Sr. Corda Bergbauer, OSF, to a tour that included a stop on the famous fifth floor under the iconic red dome that overlooks Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Wilmington.
Dear Alumni, As we prepare for the fiftieth anniversary of Neumann in 2015, we call to mind all the unique ways that you, the lifeblood of the University, have contributed to Neumann’s success. This celebration isn’t just about Neumann. It’s about you! We are looking forward to hearing stories and reminiscing about “the way it was” such as when the women’s basketball team practiced in the Our Lady of Angels Convent cafeteria, the time when adult students paid six dollars a week for their child to attend the Child Development Center (CDC), or the time the Sisters of St. Francis made a human chain to transport books from the Convent to the Library in Bachmann Main Building. Just like you, these stories are priceless. To share your story, please email me at alumni@Neumann.edu. Selected stories will be featured on a future memory wall for everyone’s enjoyment. So what’s your story?
Kevin Fitzpatrick, a sophomore from Somerdale, NJ, Nancy Fitzpatrick, Anthony Mirenda, Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Paul Fitzpatrick
Celebrity Golf Classic Penn Oaks Golf Club hosted the Neumann University Brendan P. Kelly ’87 Celebrity Golf Classic on June 9, 2014. Golfers enjoyed a rain-free day on the course and a 19th hole networking dinner. Every dollar raised from this event goes directly to student scholarships and helps students achieve their educational goals.
All the best and more, Judi Stanaitis ’07 ’13
P.S. Please continue to follow the 50th anniversary details on www.neumann.edu and be a part of this time in Neumann’s history. P.P.S. Keep an eye out for the 50th Anniversary Alumni Directory coming in January 2015. 24 Accent Magazine
Pictured are Dominick Dawes ’10, NU men’s ice hockey coach, Andrew Raimundo ’12, Sal Anzelmo ’11, and Joe Avvento ’11.
A l u m ni ne w s
25th Memorial for Kelly The 25th Annual Brendan P. Kelly ’87 Memorial Event was held on March 28, 2014, at the Springfield Country Club with a performance by The Fabulous Greaseband. The event honored Brendan Kelly, who played basketball for Neumann University. His teammates created a scholarship in Brendan’s name and have raised more than $240,000 in the past 25 years. Pictured are Kevin Kelly (Brendan’s brother), Rick Kern ’86, Paul MacCrory ’86, Joe Dugan ’88, Fran Truax ’86, Tom Tague ’87, and Jim Kern ’87.
Charter/Sponsorship Day After liturgy in Our Lady of Angels Chapel and lunch in Community Hall, Sister Esther Anderson, OSF, congregational minister and president of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, delivered the Dr. Dorothy A.P. Leunissen Presidential Lecture, “Educating in the Franciscan Tradition: A Journey of Celebration” at the 2014 Charter Day celebration. Sr. Esther spoke of the history of Neumann University, explaining to an audience of more than 100 the relationship between the institution and the congregation. “We believe that sponsorship provides an opportunity for us to express and extend the mission and values of our congregation; enables us to impact public policy with gospel values that promote peace, justice, and reconciliation; provides a base from which to network with other congregations and various dioceses concerning the promotion of Gospel values; facilitates presence and service with our brothers and sisters who are economically poor, marginal, and oppressed; and provides a means to collaborate in partnership with our brothers and sisters in promoting the mission of the Catholic Church.” The Sisters have solidified this notion of sponsorship in inspirational and concrete ways. The Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies, Sr. Esther noted, was endowed by the Sisters
“to ensure that the vision and values of St. Francis, St. Clare and the early Franciscans permeate the campus community and that the Franciscan tradition which emphasizes respect for individuals, concern for the environment, and social responsibility is appropriately integrated into the curriculum.” Summer 2014 25
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University Launches 50th Anniversary Celebration Neumann University will officially mark its 50th anniversary on Charter Day in March of 2015, but celebrating a milestone of this magnitude can’t be contained to one day. In fact, the University’s 50th birthday won’t be limited to one year. The celebration will run from July 1, 2014, through December 31, 2015.
Among the many 50th-related special events and activities planned for the next 18 months are: m 5 0 Memorable Personalities — A collection of 50 memorable NU personalities will be published in the upcoming Alumni Directory, slated for release in December 2014. m A “Living 50” Photo — Students and faculty will gather on the lawn behind the Rocco Abessinio Building and form the shape of a 50. A photo will be taken from the roof of RAB. m 50-Second Videos — Students will create 50-second (or less) videos for a chance to win prizes and have their work appear on the Neumann website. m 50 Great Moments — A collection of 50 great moments in Neumann history will be published in the January 2015 issue of Accent. m 50 Weeks of Giving — The Neumann Fund gets creative with unique weekly ways to share the impact of philanthropy on students and the campus. m 50 Years in Photos — An exhibit of photos from 1965 to 2015 will open in 2015. m D ress Like It’s 1965 — Throwback Thursday goes wild. Students and faculty will be urged to dress like it’s 1965 on or around Earth Day 2015. Does anyone still have tie-dye shirts, peasant dresses and bellbottoms?
The 50th anniversary logo, above, has been added as an option for University letterhead. This special stationery is now available for departments and offices to order.
m Scholarship Gala on Campus — The Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development will be transformed for a surprise-filled Gala Sixteen. Of course, other events throughout the year will have a 50th anniversary flavor. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you stay up to date.
Career Management Series Adds New Programs Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an intrapreneur, new to the world of work, or a seasoned professional, there’s something in the Career Management Series toolbox to help you thrive where you already exist or to inspire you to move onward and upward. A part of Alumni Career Resources, the series offers a variety of events, including on-campus workshops and live webinars.
m Networking Cocktail Reception
Brand new to our lineup this year is virtual networking.
This year, the more Career Management Series events you participate in, the more you’ll win — literally! See how you can participate to succeed while snagging exclusive prizes along the way at www.alumni.neumann.edu/participate.
What is that you ask? It’s like speed networking, except on your computer, tablet, or phone!
In May, 2015 The Career Management Series will host an end of year networking cocktail reception. More details will be released in early 2015.
m Participate to Succeed Program
The full list of events and their times/dates can be found at www.alumni.neumann.edu/careerprograms 26 Accent Magazine
Summer 2014 26
A l u m ni ne w s
Alumna Founds Nonprofit Organization for Mothers of Premature Babies Keri (Silvestrini) Heickert ’07 was 20 weeks pregnant with twin girls and went on bed rest with these words from the maternal fetal medicine specialist, “If you’re still pregnant at 24 weeks, we will do everything we can for the babies. I’ll say a prayer for you tonight.” After that appointment, her life changed. “It was so difficult to stay positive while on my 8 weeks of bed rest, not knowing if my children would survive,” Keri recalls. On November 7, 2012, her girls were born at 28 weeks and 1 day. One day after returning from a long stay at the hospital, there was a package on her front step. When she opened the box there were
diapers, formula, and another box. In the second box were the tiniest clothes she had ever seen. Katie L., mother of a 33 weeker, brought joy to Keri’s day by sending a seemingly simple care package. However, it meant so much more. From that day on, Keri promised herself that she would pay it forward to another mother. The list of mothers to whom she has sent her own self-made care packages continues to grow daily. Keri notes that, “There are so many people for whom I am thankful in my life because they gave me the tools I needed to dedicate my service to others in this manner and I am happy to be a steward of resources, hope,
Ryan ’09 ’10 and Keri ’07 Heickert with their twin girls, Delaney and Brooklyn.
and love for others. I hope my giving back brings joy into other mothers’ lives.” Keri is a 2007 athletic training graduate. She chose Neumann “because of its strong mission and values. Respect, integrity, service, excellence and stewardship (RISES) were values that were always part of me, but I just had to be at a place that encouraged me to find them.” Opportunities she engaged in while at Neumann allowed her to develop her leadership skills and understand the profound effects of living those values. Keri is married to Ryan Heickert, a 2009 athletic training graduate and a 2010 graduate of the master’s in sport and entertainment management program. She received her master’s in education from Alvernia University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in education at St. Joseph University. Aside from serving as the head athletic trainer at The Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools in Bryn Athyn, she serves as adjunct faculty here at Neumann. Sending Love and Hope is Keri’s organization and is in the process of becoming a 501c3. The care packages that Keri puts together include several items: preemie-sized, NICU-friendly onesies that have “made with love, sent with hope” printed on them; matching hats; and for the mothers on bed rest she includes a journal to document daily routines and thoughts, nail polish, dry shampoo, fresh wipes, face cloths, and hand lotion. These items were extremely useful and comforting to Keri while she was on bed rest, and she hopes to send the same comfort to other mothers. More information, including how to send a care package to a mother, can be found on the website at www. sendingloveandhope.com. All donations will help Keri continue Sending Love and Hope to mothers. A portion of all donations and money raised at an event sponsored by Sending Love and Hope will be donated to the Pennsylvania Hospital NICU.
Summer 2014 27
c l a s s note s
1970 John P. Harper, B.S., ’77, presented a
poster on his research study, “Cardiac Monitor Leads in Critical Care Units — Potential Source of Healthcare-Associated Infections,” at the research dinner meeting of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), SePA chapter in April, 2013.
Roberta Pichini, B.A., ’77, lists among the Top 100 attorneys in Pennsylvania and Top 100 in Philadelphia. Roberta is also listed among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania and has been named to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for 10 years in a row.
to improve nursing care for all students within the district. A “High Needs” school is defined as a school with a large number of students as well as a school that has students with high acuity medical needs. Ruth Zimmerman, B.S., ’85, was recently featured in a News of Delaware County article. She has been teaching at Blessed Virgin Mary School in Darby for the past 27 years. Ruth teaches mostly math and science and said she loves it when she sees the light bulb go on and the student finally get something that can be applied over the years. To read more, go to www. delconewsnetwork.com and search for “Familiar Face: Ruth Zimmerman.”
1980
Leonard Balestrieri, B.S., ’93, has been appointed to the Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority Board of Directors.
Regional Physicians Associates in their Seaville, NJ, office.
2000 Sr. Deborah Krist, B.A., ’87, was featured in a recent article of the Delaware County News Network. The article focused on her calling to become an educator. Sister said she found her calling while attending Neumann University. She is one of 500 Sisters of St. Francis who minister around the globe. Sister Deborah graduated from Little Flower High School in 1978. To read more, go to www.delconewsnetwork.com and search “Familiar Face: Sister Deborah Krist.”
Susan Cotterall, B.A., ’88, married Donald Homer of West Chester on February 14, 2014.
28 Accent Magazine
Kathleen Richio, B.S., ’92, and her husband, Anthony, a Richmond police officer, are living in Richmond, Virginia. Kathy completed her master’s degree in 2011. She is an acute care nurse practitioner for the department of trauma surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and an adjunct professor at the VCU School of Nursing, teaching graduate level nursing courses. She had an abstract accepted to the Pan American Conference in Santiago, Chile, titled “Distracted Driving in American Teens.”
Margaret Moloney, B.S., ’96, will join Cape
Karen A. Kleinschmidt, B.S., ’81, lead
nurse for the Christina School District and school nurse at Oberle Elementary School, has been named the 2014 Delaware School Nurse of the Year by the Delaware School Nurse Association. Karen serves as a legislative representative for the Delaware School Nurse Association and has served as the lead nurse in the Christina School District for several years. She has worked with all grade levels, from preschool through high school, including special needs schools such as the Delaware Autism Program and Delaware School for the Deaf. At Oberle, she participates on the Emergency Management Team, Response to Intervention Team, and IEP meetings, and has helped raise more than $5,000 in clothing grants for two elementary schools. She researched and developed The High Needs Nursing Model for Christina School District, a plan designed
1990
David Hancox, B.S., ’00, has been promoted to senior director of inpatient nursing at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Sarah Kurpel, B.A., M.S.,’02 ’10, and Stephanie Fortunato, M.S., ’13, Neumann
University staff members, got youngsters interested in yoga at the Neumann University Child Development Center by volunteering to teach a weekly class.
Jennifer Plale, B.A., ’04, married Richard Boulay, B.S., ’04, in May 2014. Keith Mushinski, B.S., ’04, was married on
March 8, 2014.
c l a s s note s Meaghan O’Gara, B.A., ’05, and her
husband Ryan welcomed their first baby, Ronan James, on December 16, 2013. Jennifer Hardesty, B.A., ’06, was married
on September 21, 2013 to Nick Passero. She met her maid of honor her freshman year of college at Neumann. William Brannick, M.S., ’07, accepted the
position of director of technology at the Philadelphia Archdiocese Office of Education effective July 1. Bill leaves Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School where he has served as principal since 2007.
2010
Kevin Oleszewski, B.S., ’12, has accepted Jamie Sabetta, B.S., ’10, received the Barbara
and Jack Tarditi Family Excellence in Nursing Mentorship Award and also the 2014 Nurse of the Year Award at Cooper University Hospital where Jamie has been employed since October 2010. Christine Niblock, B.A., ’10, is engaged to Patrick Coyle, B.A., ’11. Bill Keenan, B.S., ’11, and his wife Sarah
welcomed their first baby, Joseph Jay Keenan, on February 25, 2014.
Michelle Coderre, B.S., ’07, gave birth to
her daughter, Autumn, on January 24, 2014.
Elena D’Andrea, B.S., ’11, accepted a position of assistant marketing manager at the Wells Fargo Center.
Lisa Barycki, B.S., ’07, married Michael Barycki Jr. in 2012 and they are expecting their first child in September 2014.
Matthew Ward, B.S., ’11, was named head coach of the Brockville Braves, a Tier 1 Junior “A” hockey team.
David Berkeyheiser, B.A., ’08, was
Heather Perri, B.A., ’11, gave birth to a son,
recognized for 25 years of dedicated service to Aston Township. In 1989, he began his law enforcement career with the Aston Township Police Department, serving in the patrol division for 10 years. In 1999, he was assigned to the detective division and served in that capacity until his retirement.
Carolyn Genery, B.A., ’09,
had a future Neumann alum, Roman, who was born on November 26, 2013.
Cookie (Maratea) Magee, Spiritual Direction Certificate ’09, received her
doctor of ministry degree in church renewal and leadership from Eastern University in May 2013. Also in October of 2013, she published her first book, Shopping for a Lighter Cross, IUniverse publishers. This book shares the message of how God throws us curve balls, not negative things, but rather the positive blessings and graces as seen through people and events that see us through the traumatic events in life. It shares the message of God’s unconditional love and mercy for each person and how this is witnessed through personal healing, wholeness and reconciliation.
a position as financial advisor with Wells Fargo in the company’s private client group. He is based in Vineland, NJ.
Stephanie Fortunato, M.S., ’13, volunteered
to co-lead the student summer immersion trip to Wyoming along with Melissa Hickey, director of campus ministry, in June 2013. Together with five students, they painted and landscaped at various churches in Ethete, Saint Stephens, and Fort Washakie, Wyoming. They also performed various tasks to support the ministry work being done on the reservation by Sr. Teresa Frawley, OSF. In addition, the participants visited a nursing home in Fort Washakie, offering a vocal performance for the residents, and painted and landscaped at a Head Start program in Fort Washakie. Stephanie also completed her Master of Science degree in Organizational and Strategic Leadership at Neumann in June 2012.
Ryan Joseph Marino, on August 4, 2013.
Melissa Mullin, B.S., ’11, is now a national certified counselor. Peter Balzano, M.S., ’12, has been appointed principal of Cardinal O’Hara High School in Marple, PA. Trisha Glenn, B.S., M.S., ’12 ’14, accepted a
position at Reliance Standard as an agency/ licensing analyst.
Katie Orr, B.A., ’12, is the new executive
assistant to the president of Hotwire Communications in Bala Cynwyd, PA, which is a telecommunications company that provides fiber optic TV, internet, phone and security services to high-end multifamily communities from New York to Florida and the mid-west.
Waynia Flowers, B.A., ’13, is currently attending Wilmington University for her master’s in administration of justice. She is also expecting her second child in May 2014. Joseph Zappy, B.S., ’13, has recently opened The Wellness Center of Chester County. He is a chiropractor in Eagle, PA, providing chiropractic services, nutritional services, and performance enhancement training. Matthew Rankin, B.A., ’13, has been
working as a promotions assistant for CBS radio and was recently offered a position as a news/production assistant at the CBS3 TV.
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 2014 29
In Memoriam: Alumni and Friends Sr. Anne M. Gallagher, O.S.F. ’74 Dr. Nan B. Hechenberger Adam D. Jackson ’09 Mr. Stephen E. Markowitz Doris R. McDaniels ’87 Dr. Benedict Paparella Carol A. Roop Dr. Nan B. Hechenberger served as the first lay president of Neumann University (then College) from 1989 to 1996. Dr. Hechenberger is best remembered for her leadership in developing graduate programs in nursing, physical therapy and education, and for initiating the process that led Neumann to become a residential campus in 1997. As president, she and the Board led a major study to initiate a residential program that became a major success factor for Neumann from the mid- nineties onward. Other achievements during Dr. Hechenberger’s presidency include the implementation of a strategic planning process; an increase in the number of faculty members with doctoral degrees; the development of a college-wide outreach and service learning program; the launch of a values-based freshman seminar; the creation of advisory councils for academic departments; and the creation of a campus master plan. In 2012, the Dr. Nan B. and Mr. Aloysius Hechenberger Endowed Scholarship Award was established in honor of the couple’s commitment to the University and its mission over the years. This scholarship recognizes an academically excellent student who demonstrates, in quality and quantity, service to others in keeping with the Franciscan spirit. Stephen E. Markowitz was a dedicated and faithful member of the Business Advisory Council for many years. His commitment to education and life-long learning was evident in his active service to the University and his sincere belief in its mission. Through the generosity of The Administrators, Inc. / Midlantic Business Alliance, an endowed scholarship is being established. Carol A. Roop, known and loved as Miss Carol the cook, dedicated 30 years to the Child Development Center serving the children food and hugs with love and a genuine Franciscan spirit. A bench will be named in her memory overlooking the Center’s playground. For more information on any of the memorial funds or to learn how you can memorialize a loved one at Neumann University, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement and University Relations at 610-558-5513. 30 Accent Magazine
Faculty Publications, Scott Biely, associate professor of
physical therapy, had the article “Clinical Observation of Standing Trunk Movements: What do the Aberrant Movement Patterns Tell Us?” published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) April 2014. JOSPT is the official journal of the Orthopaedic Section and the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Stephanie Budhai, assistant professor
of education, presented at the national conference of the Council for Exceptional Children on April 11, 2014, in Philadelphia. The presentation was titled “Ubiquitous Learning Tools: Utilizing Everyday Mediums to Teacha Assistive Technology Courses.”
Leonard DiPaul, assistant dean of
education and human services, was the recipient of the Malvern Retreat House Outstanding Service Award. The award was given in recognition of his outstanding efforts on behalf of the apostolate for men and women in transition at the Malvern Retreat House. Eileen Flanagan, professor of pastoral studies, presented “Model, Mirror, Figurehead? Clare of Assisi’s Role in the Tradition that Bears Her Name” at the International Medieval Congress at Western Michigan University in May 2014. Terence Gleeson, adjunct professor, joined Actors’ Equity Association and played roles in several spring productions: Mr. Kraler in The Diary of Anne Frank for the Media Theatre; Seth Beckwith in Mourning Becomes Electra for Quintessence Theatre Group; Abraham Lincoln in Better Angels: The Nation’s Wounds for the Delaware Humanities Forum. Joseph Gosseaux, instructor of criminal
justice, spoke at Richard Stockton College of NJ on June 23, 2014, to approximately
KUDOS
Conferences and Awards 200 high school seniors at the Rotary Youth Outstanding Students Conference on careers in the FBI. Elaine Hills, arts and sciences faculty
secretary, received the Francis Clare Award at the May 20, 2014, Neumann University Personnel Day.
Mehdi Hojjat, professor of finance
and international business, had his article “Determinants of International Competitiveness” published in International Journal of Economics by MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, May 2014. Scott Keller, coordinator of international
studies, presented at the Association of International Educators conference in May 2014. The topic of his presentation was “Education Abroad Visa Updates: Critical Considerations for Students Studying Abroad.”
Suzanne Mayer, IHM, associate professor
of pastoral counseling, presented “Choose Life: Resilience as a Process for Healing & Helping” at the national conference for the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) meeting in St. Louis, April 3 – 5, 2014.
Tiffany McGregor, director of library
services, was elected to the 2014 – 16 executive council position of vicepresident/president-elect for the Tri-State College Library Cooperative (TCLC).
Andrew Miller, history instructor,
organized and led a University trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, in February 2014.
Alfred Mueller, dean of arts and sciences, and Lusine Mueller, adjunct professor, were appointed honorary co-chairs of a symposium commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, to be held at St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Church in Wynnewood in April 2015.
Gerard O’Sullivan, vice president for academic affairs, participated in the ACCU (Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities) Catholic Identity and Mission Assessment (CIMA) Project at Notre Dame University (June 13 – 17) as a member of the national core group gathered to create mission integration and assessment strategies for Catholic Higher Education. Andrea Pent, associate professor of
sport management, presented the paper “Creating Service Learning Experiences in Sport Management” at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Sport Management, Pittsburgh, PA. Jonathan Peri, vice president and general counsel, was interviewed by WPHT 1210, CBS Philadelphia radio show host Rick Grimaldi. He discussed the intersection of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Title IX, the Cleary Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the context of the contemporary student and perhaps government driven social movement to raise awareness on college campuses concerning sexual discrimination and institutional treatment of victims of sexual crimes (July 2013). Robert Post, associate professor and director of the physical therapy program, presented “Light Therapy Update: Laser and Light-Emitting Diode Use in Physical Therapy” at the Combined Sections Meeting of American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in Las Vegas, NV, February 6, 2014. Mary Powell, associate professor
of nursing, presented the poster “Mentoring Diverse Students Using a Facilitated FaceTime® Study Group” at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Institute for Educators in Nursing and Health Professions on June 13, 2014.
Linda Marie Sariego, OSF, assistant professor of Spanish, had the paper “La autoría del humor en los espacios de Los siete libros de la Diana” published on www.humorsapiens.com in November 2013. Ryan Savitz, associate professor of
mathematics, presented the paper, “The Relationship between Internet Usage and Newspaper Circulation,” with Stephen Moran at The International Academy of Business and Economics Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, October 2013.
Laura Taddei, assistant professor of
English, presented at the Teaching Professor Conference in Boston, May 2014. The topic of her presentation was “Encouraging Innovation and Creativity.”
Stephen Thomas, assistant professor of
nursing, presented “New Paradigms in Management of the Thrower’s Shoulder” at the Arthroscopy Association of North America Annual Meeting, Hollywood, Florida, May 2014.
Beth Toler, assistant professor of
pastoral and theological studies, presented “Recovery, Hope and Healing: New, Integrative Models for Understanding and Engaging Schizophrenia and Religiously Oriented Psychosis” at the national meeting of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, St. Louis, MO, April 2014.
Kurt Wallen, professor of psychology, received the Lindback Award during Neumann University’s commencement exercises, May 17, 2014. Mary Beth Yount, assistant professor
of pastoral studies, has been named the director of content and programming for the 2015 World Meeting of Families (WMOF).
Summer 2014 31
50th Anniversary Alumni & Friends Trip to Central Europe
Join us as we celebrate Neumann University’s 50th Anniversary by visiting the birthplaces of St. John Neumann (Czech Republic) and Mother Bachmann (Germany) as well as beautiful Old World gems:
Prague, Czech Republic Salzburg, Austria Munich and Wurzburg, Germany
Travel Dates: May 31 – June 10, 2015 For more information, please call 610-558-5626
32 Accent Magazine
Whether you’d like to shout it out and inspire others, or whisper it to us and remain anonymous, if you have included
Neumann University
in your estate plans, please let us know.
By letting us know, you’ll be assured your legacy gift will be used as you intend and serve as an inspiration for others to do the same! Members of the Guardian Angels Society have expressed their commitments to Neumann University through a very special and important form of financial support. Such gifts might include a bequest, appreciated securities, gifts of life insurance, or charitable income gifts.
Please contact: Office of Institutional Advancement and University Relations 610-558-5513 www.neumann.plannedgiving.org
Nonprofit Org U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 215 West Chester, PA
One Neumann Drive, Aston, PA 19014-1298
www.neumann.edu Change Service Requested
Homecoming & Family Weekend
2014
A weekend of celebrations
October 16 – 19
Reunions and Memorable Moments for Alumni, Parents and Students
Organizing your class reunion? Big or small, let the Alumni Office help! Call Judi Stanaitis at 610-558-5544.
All things Homecoming on www.neumann.edu/Homecoming