Regis Today: Spring/Summer 2020

THE MAGAZINE OF REGIS COLLEGE Spring/Summer 2020

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: A Dedicated Life: Marshall M. Sloane [See page 22] Alumni on the Front Lines [See page 38]

Meet the

WE of Now We Fly

BE SOCIAL Regis College Alumni Regis College

Now We Fly scholarship donor Donald McCready meets scholarship recipient Karla Aramayo-Lopez ’20 for the first time.

Read more in Hearts & Minds on page 40.

@regis_ma @regiscollegealumni

@regiscollege_ma

regiscollegeweston

Regis College

regisma

Alexis Baum Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Donor Relations Editor | alexis.baum@regiscollege.edu

Board of Trustees 2020 Chair

Lee Hogan, CSJ, ’61, PhD Kristin Hokanson, SNDdeN

John J. Tegan Jr., MEd

Kristen L. Walsh Managing Editor | kmwcreative.com

Kathleen S. Jose ’87, ’94, MSN, RN (Vice Chair)

Members

Michael LaRhette, MEd

Ashley Starr Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Contributing Editor | ashley.starr@regiscollege.edu

Marian Batho, CSJ, ’70 (Secretary)

Judy M. Lauch ’68 (CSJ Liaison)

Anita Brennan-Sarmiento ’77

Mary Ann Walsh Lewis ’74

Rosemary Brennan, CSJ, ’70, MEd, MDiv (Interim Treasurer)

John Libertino, MD

Meyer Chambers, MLM

Peter N. Madras, MD

Hans Christensen, MBA Kevin C. Conroy, JD

Jacquelyn McCarthy, CSJ, MA, RN, LNHA

Joanne Crowley ’74, MS

Kathy McCluskey, CSJ, ’71, PhD

Camille Ferazzi ’69

Eileen Ng, MBA

Joe-Ann Fergus, PhD, RN

Thomas P. O’Neill III, MPA

John M. Gray, MBA, JD

Maylin S. Truesdell ’05, ’06, MS

Lilly Pereira Designer | aldeia.design Regis Today is published twice a year. © 2020, Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts. All rights reserved.

The opinions expressed in Regis Today are those of the authors and not necessarily of Regis College.

Please send address changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Regis College, 235 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA 02493-1571 or call 781.768.7220 or online at alumni.regiscollege.edu.

Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN

Paul A. Lonergan

regıs g inside

Features

22 A Dedicated Life

Celebrating and remembering the legacy of Regis supporter and champion Marshall M. Sloane, founder of Century Bank.

26 Meet the We

Photo: Holly Redmond

It’s time to “meet the we” of the Now We Fly Campaign. Read a handful of stories highlighting the campaign’s great impact on Regis students, faculty, and staff.

Departments

02 03

12

14

Dear Neighbor Impact of Now We Fly; higher education in the COVID-19 era; standing up against racial injustice and inequality.

Tower Views Now We Fly by the numbers; campaign snapshot by year; Regis honored as top business; nursing students join Century Bank; new trustee and cabinet members; Regis partnerships; and more.

Taking Action Regis public health students join the Department of Public Health to help in the fight against COVID-19.

16 18 20

After Class The Flatley Foundation funds internships so students can prepare for life after Regis.

In My Own Words Bernice Boateng ’20 reflects on finding her village at Regis and the importance of donor support.

34 36

Global Connections An empowering serviceimmersion trip breaks down barriers.

Gatherings and events keep alumni connected.

In Memoriam Remembering alumni who passed away.

38

Alumni Spotlight

40

Hearts & Minds

Looking Ahead Barbara Bagley ’70 joins the Catherine Burke Society to support future generations.

Alumni Together

Regis health care heroes are working on the front lines to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legacy of Carol M. Murphy ’60 will positively impact countless lives.

dear

2 REGIS TODAY

“ What is certain is the incredible strength of the Regis community— a community that has prevailed in times of crisis because of its strong network of supporters who believe in the mission of providing access and educating the whole person.”

I never thought I would be sitting here at Morrison House enjoying the warm summer air without any students, faculty, or staff on campus. The last several months have been eerily quiet as our community has been teaching, learning, and working remotely and will continue to do so through the summer. I very much look forward to the day our community can be back together again to enjoy this beautiful campus—but in the meantime, we will continue to connect virtually. I hope you and your loved ones are doing well and staying healthy as the world continues to navigate the coronavirus pandemic.

And to the 6,000 Regis nurses and other health professionals on the front lines treating patients: Thank you for your bravery as you work to keep us safe. Read more about some of our Regis health care heroes on page 38.

Embracing the values of our founding Sisters of St. Joseph—to love and serve our dear neighbors without distinction—is so important now more than ever. The unrest and anguish being experienced across the country as a result of racial injustice must translate into real, purposeful action to stop racism and inequality—at Regis and beyond. We must perpetuate change not just right now when these issues are at the forefront, but always. I am committed to taking action to ensure Regis is doing its part to enact that change. The country can do better and Regis College can do better. I am honored and privileged to lead a university that embodies the CSJ values, and now is the time to step up and prove it. Read my full statement and immediate action steps: regisma.me/commitment This spring/summer edition of Regis Today is a special Now We Fly issue. Inside you will find stories and information that show the significant impact of the most ambitious campaign in Regis history— a $40 million endeavor that we successfully completed in December thanks to your generosity. Because Now We Fly was comprehensive, every single person in our community benefited in one way or another from campaign gifts. I am so grateful to the thousands of campaign donors who supported this fundraising initiative over the past five years—the success of which will ensure that Regis can remain flexible and nimble in this time of adaptation and uncertainty.

As we prepare to reopen the campus for the fall semester, the reality is that the future remains uncertain—not just for Regis but for all higher education institutions as we re-envision what the college experience looks like in the COVID-19 era. But what is certain is the incredible strength of the Regis community—a community that has prevailed in times of crisis because of its strong network of supporters who believe in the mission of providing access and educating the whole person.

Regis has always been devoted to educating students who will use their hard-earned degrees to make a positive difference in the world. We must continue to support our incredible students—the next generation of compassionate, dedicated leaders and change makers.

Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN PRESIDENT

Photo: Brian Smith

neighbor

C A M PA I G N BY T H E N U M B E R S $3,574,609

71 4,968 COMMITMEN TS OF $100,000+

$5

M I LLI O N LARGEST COMMITMEN T TO CAMPAIGN

32%

ENDOWMENT INCREASE

TOTAL CAMPAIGN DONORS

1,797 NEW DONORS WHO HAD NEVER GIVEN TO REGIS BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN

TOTAL RAISED BY LET I T SHINE GALAS

$4,868,685 PLANNED GIFTS

$7,596,875 GRANTS

$11,030,325 TOTAL GIVEN BY REUNI ON CLASSES

62% 3,082 $14,689,504 OF CAMPAIGN DONORS WHO ARE ALUMNI

ALUMNI WHO GAVE TO THE CAMPAIGN

CUMULATIVE ANNUAL SUPPORT

$40,837,402 *Statistics are based on the campaign period starting in fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2020 (to December 2019), and amounts include pledges and cash received.

TOTAL RAISED DURING CA MPAIGN

C A M PA I G N T I M E L I N E

• The Class of 1966 makes an unprecedented, collective class commitment of $1,012,658 to the campaign in honor of their 50th Reunion. Their class participation was the highest of any 50th Reunion class at 82.14%.

• The silent phase of the campaign begins; a five-year, $40 million goal is set and is the largest campaign in Regis history.

• Board Chair John J. Tegan Jr. pledges $1 million to name the library the Lorraine Tegan Learning Commons in memory of his late wife, Lorraine DeStefano Tegan ’63.

• Kathleen Hickey Lennon ’63 names the Lennon Dance Studio within the Maria Hall Extension, which was still under construction.

• Theresa Audette Wood-Lavine ’53 joins the Catherine Burke Society with a $1.5 million bequest intention, the largest deferred planned gift during the campaign.

• The Carole Remick Charitable Foundation—named for Carole Bocasky Remick ’54—pledges $1 million to the campaign to endow a new position in Remick’s name. The Foundation made a gift of $250,000 to the campaign in 2014, bringing their campaign commitment to $1.25 million. Learn more: caroleremickfoundation.org/regis-college

2014

• Regis hosts its first Let It Shine Gala, honoring Virginia Pyne Kaneb ’57 and raising nearly $1 million for student scholarships. Special guests include Red Sox Hall of Fame member Jim Rice, Jack Connors, and Governor Charlie Baker.

2015

2016

• The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston pledge $1 million to the campaign.

• A substantial grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center adds much-needed equipment and funds a lab renovation within the Watson-Hubbard Science Center.

• Patricia Luben O’Hearn ’64 names the Luben Plaza in memory of her parents, Mary and Joseph Luben.

• Regis completes several components of its campus Master Plan and cuts the ribbon to open the new quad, the Lorraine Tegan Learning Commons, and Maria Hall Extension—changes that transformed the campus.

To see the entire list of campaign donors, please visit alumni.regiscollege. edu/honorroll.

Thank you for supporting Now We Fly $1 million + Carole Remick Charitable Foundation * Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston *

Julia Shen Fung ’67 and Victor Fung Virginia Pyne Kaneb ’57 (F) and John Kaneb * ◇ Donald E. McCready John J. Tegan Jr. (T) * ◇ U.S. Department of Education * Theresa Audette Wood-Lavine ’53 * ◇ Young Charitable Family Foundation

(T) Trustee (F) Former Trustee * Higgins Society

◇ Catherine Burke Society

(d) deceased

$500,000 to $999,999 Helene Fuld Health Trust Mary Ann Cushing Kidder ’61 and James Kidder * W.K. Kellogg Foundation * Wagner Foundation

$250,000–$499,999 Anonymous Century Bank * Hans Christensen (T) and Farrah Christensen * Cummings Foundation Estate of Mary Eileen Flaherty ’45 Estate of Marilyn Geoghegan Holzschuh ’65 Ruth Sanderson Kingsbury ’57 (F) and Robert Kingsbury * ◇

Eileen McCormick Langenus ’78 and Peter Langenus * (T) (d) ◇ Judy Murphy Lauch ’68 (T) ◇ and William Lauch * Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation John L. Marshall III Massachusetts Life Sciences Center * Dorothy Carr McCarthy ’66 and Edward McCarthy *

Elizabeth Driscoll Nace ’77 and Philip Nace National Institutes of Health * Kathleen O’Hare ’69 (F) * ◇ Partners In Health Jane Cronin Tedder ’66 (T) ◇ and Richard Tedder *

• Family of the late trustee emeritus and longtime supporter Richard “Dick” W. Young, PhD, and Sheila Young, make a $2 million gift to name the Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing—the first of Regis’ four schools to be named.

• Anne Finucane makes a campaign gift to name the Finucane and O’Sullivan Institute for Learning on the second floor of the Tegan Learning Commons in memory of Mary O’Sullivan Finucane ’41 and Katherine O'Sullivan ’40.

• Regis announces the largest gift to the campaign and in its history—$5 million from Julia Shen Fung ’67 through the Victor and William Fung Foundation in honor of her 50th Reunion. This gift establishes the prestigious Fung Scholars Program at Regis.

• Virginia Pyne Kaneb ’57 makes a $1 million bequest intention to the campaign, adding to previous campaign gifts to bring her total commitment to $1.24 million. Kaneb Grants fund student scholarships, faculty research, and myriad projects including the creation of the Regis Zebrafish Facility. Read more on page 9.

• Regis reaches 60% of its goal and publicly launches the campaign in April 2017 with $24 million committed.

• Regis hosts its second Let It Shine Gala, honoring Century Bank founder Marshall M. Sloane (read more about Sloane on page 22) and raising another $1 million for student scholarships and the campaign.

$100,000–$249,999 Anonymous Kathleen Bailey ’66 * Diane Walden Brierley ’75 (F) and Harold Brierley Eileen and John Connors Estate of Barbara A. Sullivan ’48 Estate of Pauline Doyle Powell ’50 Jeanne McGovern Curtis ’50 and Gerald Curtis *

Davis Educational Foundation Leigh Alogna Duff ’69 * ◇ Camille Gattineri Ferazzi ’69 (T) ◇ and Paul Ferazzi * Anne Finucane and Michael Barnicle * The Flatley Foundation Nancy Brine Fredrickson ’68 * ◇ George I. Alden Trust Antoinette M. Hays (T) and John Przybylski *

• Donald McCready commits $1 million to establish the Carol M. Murphy ’60 and Donald E. McCready Endowed Scholarship in memory of Carol M. Murphy ’60. Read more in Hearts & Minds on page 40.

2018 • The Helene Fuld Health Trust awards Regis a grant to establish an endowment to support students in the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program. The trust awards grants to leading nursing schools that undertake innovative programs designed to develop and expand the professional and leadership skills of nursing students, faculty, and administration.

• An anonymous donor makes a leadership gift to transform Regis Health Services, renovating existing space and creating a new Counseling Center to better serve students.

Donna Nealon Hoffman ’66 and Christian Hoffman * The Kaneb Family Mary Reynolds Kennedy ’58 (d) ◇ and Thomas Kennedy Kathleen Hickey Lennon ’63 * Mary Ann Walsh Lewis ’74 (T) and David Lewis * S. Louise F. Macchia D.C.

2019 • Regis surpasses its $40 million campaign goal two months ahead of schedule at the fourth Let It Shine Gala, which honored Patricia A. D’Amore ’73, PhD, MBA. • Regis names the Marshall M. Sloane School of Business and Communication in memory of longtime Regis supporter and friend Marshall M. Sloane.

Read more on page 22.

• The Wagner Foundation awards a grant to further the Regis In Haiti program—providing funding that will enable Regis to continue its work training nurse educators and strengthening clinical skills among student and novice nurses to bolster Haiti’s health care system.

Carole Groncki McCarthy ’65 ◇ and Kenneth McCarthy * Brenda Coogan Moran ’58 (F) * Glenn Morris (T) * William and Jane Mosakowski * Joyce Sullivan Mucci ’77 and Paul Mucci * Multilateral Investment Fund Barbara Murphy ’68 ◇ Mary F. Norton Revocable Trust

Ellen O’Connor ’67 (F) * Patricia Luben O’Hearn ’64 * Thomas P. O’Neill III (T) and Shelly O’Neill * Public Consulting Group, Inc. Rhode Island Hospital * Ali Shajii and Haleh Azar Jane McCarthy Smith ’66 and Michael Smith * Suffolk Construction Company * John J. Tegan III *

William E. Schrafft Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust * Yawkey Foundations * Shirley Lee Zao ’68

5 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

2017

• Regis hosts its third Let It Shine Gala for student scholarships, honoring William S. Mosakowski and bringing the Let It Shine total funding to the campaign to nearly $3 million.

6 REGIS TODAY

Though Regis’ Commencement ceremony was postponed due to COVID-19 public health guidelines, Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN, and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kara Kolomitz, EdD, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni virtually congratulated graduates through several short videos.

One video, which celebrated the university’s beloved “Commencement clap-out” tradition, featured singing, handmade signs, family shout-outs, and of course, plenty of applause. There was also a special message from former Regis student and 2018 honorary degree recipient Diane Guerrero, an award-winning actress, author, and activist.

“Congratulations Class of 2020, I too was a proud student of Regis College and I am very familiar with a lot of the sacrifices that it takes to be where you are today,” Guerrero said. “I know many of you will continue your lives in service. Thank you for your commitment to yourselves and your community. I know these are difficult times, but this too shall pass and you will go on to do many, many, many great things.

Let’s uplift each other and protect each other always.”

Regis is currently exploring options for rescheduling its 90th Commencement to celebrate the Class of 2020 when health guidelines are lifted and it is deemed safe.

Virtual Exhibit Fine Arts Center virtual exhibit featuring student projects that bridge the arts and sciences The Fine Arts Center (FAC) presented a student-created virtual exhibit this spring to celebrate and highlight both the important work Regis students are doing across disciplines and the intersection between the Pictured above: “A Mind that Thrives: The Limbic arts and sciences at the university.

Cacti” by Mary Rose Bulger “Interdisciplinary education, as opposed ’21. “Succulents—plants that can thrive in harsh condito curriculums rooted in a single discition—are placed to portray pline, allows for the application of knowlthe limbic system of the brain, which is involved in edge in new and varying contexts,” says the functioning of our emoFAC Assistant Technical Director Kelly tions. Our brain must often thrive in harsh conditions Blasberg, who curated the exhibit entitled due to the world around us “Convergence: Storytelling Through the and how we interact with one another.”

Arts and Sciences.”

“Through learning from the perspectives of these interdisciplinary relationships, people gain a greater level of understanding of the individual subjects involved,” Blasberg adds. “We were looking to display projects that are rooted in experimentation that integrates both art and science as a means to discovery.”

The exhibit showcased student projects from classes that took place during the fall 2019 semester as well as contributions from the Regis Children’s Center.

“For the Children’s Center, we wanted these projects to show how approaching education, specifically early childhood education, in an interdisciplinary way could strengthen a student’s involvement with and understanding of the material,” Blasberg says. One engineering-focused project used a variety of natural and manmade materials to build structures and environments. Another project included researching the tallest peaks on each continent.

GIVE A SMILE DAY

In February, the Regis College Dental Center hosted Give Kids a Smile Day. Local children received free cleanings, exams, and x-rays from students in the university’s dental hygiene program.

The dental center is an educational facility that provides affordable dental care services to Waltham and the surrounding community.

The dental hygiene program offers both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees for students who are passionate about helping patients improve and maintain good oral health.

Mary Erina Driscoll, PhD, is vice president of academic affairs, overseeing the Office of Academic Affairs to provide a vision for the university’s academic programs and facilities, enhancing teaching, research, and the student experience. She has nearly 40 years of higher education experience and a track record of leading through collaboration.

“It’s a privilege to serve an institution that is rooted in the values I share, is characterized by excellence in the professional fields as well as the liberal arts, and is poised facing forward,” Driscoll says. “Its foundational principles of service to others helps to position its graduates to thrive as global citizens in the 21st century.”

Before joining Regis, Driscoll served as dean of the School of Education at The City College of New York, where she also held the Harold Kobliner Chair in Education and was a professor of educational leadership. As interim provost and senior academic vice president, she led strategic planning for eight schools and divisions, enrolling over 15,000 students.

Audrey Grace, JD, is chief diversity officer and associate vice president for inclusive excellence.

She has a history of advocating for underserved populations, including as a criminal justice attorney and an executive in the field of higher education, most recently at Northeastern University.

Grace leads the Center for Inclusive Excellence at Regis. Partnering with departments including Academic Affairs, Global Connections, and Ministry and Service, the center develops training for equity literacy and sponsors events that promote open, constructive dialogue within the community.

“Similar to the Regis mission, I have a deep and unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion for all,” Grace says. “I look forward to building coalitions and fostering strategic partnerships to help Regis be a leader in inclusive excellence.”

Her experience includes diversity-related workshops focusing on unconscious bias, microaggressions, intercultural communication, and other topics. She has also focused on programming for women of color and LGBTQA+, black, and Latinx populations, as well as compliance issues ranging from the Americans with Disabilities Act to the Equal Employment Opportunity regulations.

7 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

Nikolette Papadopoulos ’21 and Maria Ventouris ’20 created “Transformation Under the Sea: A Coral Reef Then and Now” to bring awareness to problems found within our coral reefs today.

Meet the Cabinet

Leading the Way Regis Named “Top 100 Women-Led Business” for Second Straight Year; President Hays’ Term Extended

REGIS TODAY

Photo: Michael Quiet

8

For the second year in a row, Regis College has been named one of the Top 100 WomenLed Businesses by The Boston Globe and The Commonwealth Institute thanks to the great leadership of President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. Under her leadership, the university has experienced tremendous financial growth, particularly with the success of the $40 million comprehensive campaign and a strategic decision to diversify enrollment among undergraduate, graduate, and online students.

In January, the Regis College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend the term of President Hays to 2023. “Her strategic vision combined with her tireless energy and commitment to the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston has enhanced the student experience in myriad ways,” says Board Chair John J. Tegan Jr.

IN MEMORY CLOTILDE ZANNETOS

Clotilde Zannetos—a generous Regis supporter and long-serving vice president at Regis College from 1979 to 1992, and again from 2003 to 2008— passed away in April 2020. She enjoyed friendships with the Sisters of St. Joseph, close collaborations with faculty, and mentoring of staff and students. For the betterment of Regis, she worked with alumni and trustees; and with each invited speaker, program, and special event, she strengthened the community she called home.

LORI LAMBERT ’81

Lori Lambert ’81 passed away in May 2020. Lori was on the cover of the spring 2011 issue of Regis Today, featured for her work with the Bridge Fund, a nonprofit that helps prevent homelessness. In recognition of her work, she was a recipient of the Angel award from Oprah Winfrey in 2011.

PETER LANGENUS, JD

Trustee Peter Langenus (second from right) passed away in January 2020. He and his wife, Eileen McCormick Langenus ’78, are longtime donors and friends of Regis, supporting Regis students in myriad ways, and also giving generously to restore the beloved Grotto on campus.

For more on this wonderful man and benefactor: alumni.regiscollege. edu/langenus

1,000 POINTS Ademola Afonja ’19 concludes stellar collegiate basketball career

G RA N T W I N N E R S

Congratulations to the following faculty who have been awarded a Virginia Kaneb Faculty Grant. These grants for research and development are thanks to the generosity of longtime supporter and former trustee Virginia Pyne Kaneb ’57, who received the inaugural Shining Example Award from Regis in 2016.

Heather Maietta, Associate Professor of Higher Education Doctorate Program.

Project: The Forced Transfer: An Emerging Transfer Event

Top photos: Regis College Athletics

Elizabeth Seidler, Associate Professor of Economics. Project: Current Health Economics Teaching Capacity and Outputs in Latin American Countries Karen Crowley, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Online Graduate Nursing and Cassandra Godzik, Assistant Dean of Online Nursing. Project: The Lived Experience of U.S. Nurses Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic Danqing Xiao, Associate Professor of Biology.

Project: Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease from the Connection Point of View

ATHLETICS SERVICE AWARD Regis Pride honored for community service Regis received a National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators Community Service Award, which recognizes impressive community service projects performed by student-athletes. During a January 25 reception at the NCAA Convention in Anaheim, California, Regis was presented with the On-Going Project or Activity Award for the Pride spring teams raising one million Yards for Yeardley, a national campaign with a mission to end relationship abuse by educating young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Regis began banking Yards for Yeardley in spring 2017 and culminated on April 11, 2019, when the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) invited all members of the campus community to walk a lap, a mile, or their own preferred distance to collect yards and raise awareness for the One Love campaign.

NEW TRUSTEE Sister Kristin Hokanson, SNDdeN, is a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. She is the founder and principal of the Notre Dame Virtual School, which uses technology to network the schools and ministries of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur on five continents. She has worked in education and administration for more than 25 years in Catholic schools in Massachusetts and is certified as an instructional technology specialist. Hokanson is also a program supervisor at Emmanuel College and a supervisor in the Educational Leadership Program at Bridgewater State University. She has served on the governing boards of Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, and Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the United Nations and promotes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the virtual school. She has a bachelor’s degree from Salem State University and advanced degrees from Boston University and University of Massachusetts.

9 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

Ademola Afonja ’19 was added to the men’s basketball 1,000-point banner at a halftime ceremony on January 25. During the 20182019 season, he broke the Regis all-time rebounding record with the 651st rebound and became the second player in Pride men’s basketball history to reach 400 points in a single season, finishing with 416 points. In April 2019, Afonja received the Regis-Casserly Award— the highest honor presented to a graduating student-athlete by the athletics department—recognized not only for his exemplary play on the basketball court, but also for community service projects that included mentoring peers and children.

“Ademola’s growth and ability to put others before himself have been very impressive,” says men’s basketball head coach Nate Hager.

10 REGIS TODAY

Regis partners with nearly 60 educational, health sciences, and nonprofit organizations across the country to bring affordable educational opportunities to students and employees through a tuition discount and other cost-saving benefits.

Among the recent partnerships in health sciences: Shields Health Care Group, Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (MCNP), and Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. Employees of Spectrum, a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment throughout Massachusetts, for example, can access discounted graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs available in addiction-adjacent subjects including psychology and social work. Regis is offering $2,500 scholarships to two MCNP members for the master of science to doctor of nursing practice program.

Nonprofit Justice Resource Institute partnered with Regis in March to offer its employees a discount on master’s degrees in education, public health, and nursing.

In December 2019, Regis announced an agreement with Framingham Public Schools (FPS) to offer FPS employees tuition discounts for certain graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs. The expansion of an existing employee discount for Boston Public Schools (BPS) employees includes an onsite bachelor completion program in education for BPS paraprofessionals—in addition to a tuition discount on graduate programs for BPS employees and a full-tuition scholarship for a BPS high school student interested in pursuing a major in education.

For a complete list of partnerships or to explore a partnership for your organization, go to regisma.me/partnerships.

REGIS GIVING DAY

On February 12, the Regis community came together to support athletics, the Dear Neighbor Fund, service projects, scholarships, and the Regis Fund. In 24 hours, 359 donors collectively raised more than $37,000 for these important causes and programs that support Regis students and further the university’s mission. Thanks to all alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students who showed some love for Regis. Read more and watch a video: alumni.regiscollege.edu/givingday

Photo: Kathleen Dooher

PARTNERSHIPS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES

Supporting Veterans Regis honored as veteran-friendly university Regis has been designated a military-friendly institution in the 2020–2021 Military Friendly® Schools list. Regis received a silver award designation for the opportunities it provides to veterans and their families.

“Veterans are an important part of our community and they deserve the very best. At Regis they find an encouraging, closeknit community to help further their education,” says Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. “From our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program and work with the GI Bill to our new Veterans Center, we are dedicated to providing veterans with every opportunity to succeed.”

Admission counselors at Regis offer one-on-one guidance and the Veterans Program Office helps veterans apply their benefits to their education. A newly established Veterans Center on campus provides students a dedicated space to study or meet up with fellow veterans.

Regis participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows veterans to receive funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their unmet tuition and fees. The university also accepts the GI Bill and military credits through the Joint Services Transcript program, and offers discounted tuition for the spouses of activeduty service members and veterans.

+ Focus on Health

Safety First Regis nursing students join Century Bank to tackle COVID-19 pandemic

11 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

When Century Bank Chairman, President, and CEO Barry R. Sloane made the strategic decision to hire nurses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he reached out to Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. “I certainly never thought I would have a bank calling me to recruit nurses,” says Hays. “But this pandemic is setting a new precedent. I applaud Century’s innovative and strategic move that will help keep people safe as we reopen. And I am humbled that Barry called on Regis nursing students for this important work.”

Sloane is enlisting Regis nursing students to help keep their employees safe as the bank joins other Massachusetts businesses to reopen. The position includes screening employees, visitors, and vendors who enter the company’s headquarters in Medford, Massachusetts.

Nursing major Karina Gomes ’21 began working at Century Bank in May. “I was interested in applying because although I worked as a nursing assistant in a pediatric hospital before, I wanted to expand my experience and be more on the front lines of the pandemic. I am a nursing student during one of the most unprecedented times and I feel this is a learning opportunity, albeit during a difficult and scary time.”

Gomes first heard about the program from Donna Glynn, PhD, RN, ANP, associate dean of pre-licensure nursing in Regis’ Young School of Nursing.

“I saw this unique program as an important opportunity for our nursing students to contribute during the pandemic,” Glynn says. “The students have been trained in patient assessment and will provide a valuable resource in the community.”

Nursing major Karina Gomes ’21

In addition to providing health screenings, Gomes looks forward to the teaching aspect of the position.

“Century Bank employees can express any concerns or ask any questions they have during the COVID19 crisis. There is a lot of false information surrounding the virus, so people can get overwhelmed with information overload. I want to be someone these employees can trust.”

When she started nursing school, Gomes never imagined she would be providing these kinds of services at a bank headquarters. “I was shocked to see the words ‘Century Bank’ and ‘nursing assistant’ together. But this could be the future of nursing amid the pandemic: Businesses unrelated to health care may be needing nurses on the front lines for our new normal.” —Kristen Walsh

action

taking

Answering the Call Regis public health students step up to help trace COVID-19 in Massachusetts

BY KR IS T E N WA L S H

12 REGIS TODAY

When Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker called on local public health college students to assist the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in tracing COVID-19 cases to help contain the virus spread, 40 Regis College students were among those who quickly volunteered.

The global pandemic and the partnership—a first-of-its-kind in the nation, according to the governor—provide an unexpected opportunity to learn and serve.

“This is the epitome of public health: having these institutions come together to work for a common goal,” said Laura Burke, ScD, dean of the School of Health Sciences at Regis.

Regis Program Director of Public Health Leslie Mandel, PhD, initially proposed the idea of partnering with DPH to Regis faculty and staff. When public health major Markina Ako-Brew ’21 heard about the opportunity to volunteer for the COVID-Regis initiative from a professor during class, she at first wondered if she was qualified. But once she signed up she felt a sense of relief and excitement.

“COVID-19 is something that is going to change our world and I was excited to help the public health department to contain the spread of it,” says Ako-Brew, who has completed rigorous training and is now helping trace the spread of coronavirus cases. She is serving on the Academic Public Health Volunteer Corps (Volunteer Corps), an initiative of approximately 1,800 public health students and professionals who have volunteered to help “flatten the curve” by partnering with local health departments across Massachusetts.

Ako-Brew is working remotely by phone to contact patients who tested positive for the virus to gather data on symptoms, help identify those who may have

had exposure to the virus through close contact, and to share information on how to quarantine.

Angie Colon ’20 knew right away that she wanted to join the hundreds of other college students for the initiative. “I was nervous because I wasn’t sure of the task I was volunteering for, but I just wanted to be able to help during the COVID-19 pandemic; I didn’t hesitate to sign up.”

Colon will focus on tracing with patients in Chelsea, an area with the highest infection rate in Massachusetts. Though not specifically assigned as a translator, Colon will be a critical resource for Spanish-speaking patients on the contact list. It’s something she is particularly interested in, having seen the effect of language barriers in her own community of Methuen.

“A lot of family and friends have been asking me questions about COVID-19 that can easily be seen on the news but they just want to hear it from someone they know and trust,” says Colon, who is holding a full-time job as a community health worker at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center while completing a public health bachelor’s degree at the Regis North satellite campus located at Northern Essex Community College (NECC). “Many don’t know who to contact because they don’t speak English, or they are just afraid to call and ask for a translator.”

Even before she joined the Volunteer Corps, Colon was raising awareness of COVID-19 resources by sharing information she received at work. It’s not so different from what she did as a little girl, translating for her mother and helping fill out medical paperwork.

Ako-Brew, who works on the front lines as a certified nursing assistant at an assisted living facility, is also drawing from personal experiences as she

“Public health has often been somewhat hidden because when it works, no one notices. This crisis is likely to raise awareness and hopefully resources for public health efforts globally, nationally, and locally.”

LE SLI E MANDEL, PhD REGIS PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

navigates the pandemic and her career path. Her first memory of being in Louisiana as a young girl, for example, was in a hospital visiting her grandmother who had cancer.

“I would watch the nurses come in and out of the room to try to ease my grandma’s pain,” Ako-Brew recalls. “I knew right then and there I wanted to be a nurse, the person who could hold a patient’s hand when the family couldn’t be there.”

A public health degree is helping her get there— and is also providing new perspective that is critical in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In nursing school you learn how to treat the problem that the patient has already developed,” Ako-Brew says. “In public health you get to learn preventive skills and how to solve the problem before it becomes a bigger problem.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic is providing meaningful ways to bring Regis public health and other related health science disciplines to the fore,” says Mandel. “It will potentially translate into new job opportunities for college graduates.”

A case in point is Partners In Health. The organization—which has a longstanding relationship with Regis and is supporting the state’s efforts to trace contacts of COVID-19 patients—is recruiting new

Angie Colon ’20 (left) and Markina Ako-Brew ’21 are volunteering with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to help trace COVID-19 cases.

employees, including a Regis student, for coronavirus-related positions.

“Despite the tremendous challenges posed by COVID-19, the opportunities to dynamically engage Regis students in public health are unprecedented,” says Mandel, who is working with DPH to evaluate the Volunteer Corps model to help establish best practices. “Public health has often been somewhat hidden because when it works, no one notices. This crisis is likely to raise awareness and hopefully resources for public health efforts globally, nationally, and locally.”

Ako-Brew—who knows people with COVID-19 and one person who passed away from it—was eager to put her preventive skills to work in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. “This virus has impacted so many people so far and I wanted to help out in some way. Right now, this is the way I can do that.”

class after

Flatley Scholars in the Field Campaign grant provides internship opportunities

BY A S H LE Y S TA R R

14 REGIS TODAY

Funded by a Now We Fly campaign gift from The Flatley Foundation, the Flatley Scholars Program is designed to promote career development for undergraduate students, providing stipends to students who have secured unpaid, off-campus internships. The scholarship is available to undergraduates who have demonstrated financial need, allowing them to focus on their professional development and create a bridge between their academics and the working world.

“Regis is committed to our students’ career readiness and this funding will ensure all of our students have access to opportunities that will make them competitive in today’s marketplace,” says Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. “I’m very grateful to The Flatley Foundation for their support to fund this program.”

Read on to learn more about a few of the students who benefited from the Flatley Scholars Program.

Elisabeth Cooke ’20 The countdown to graduating can be a frightening time for seniors as they prepare to venture into the unknown, but not for psychology major Elisabeth Cooke ’20. After completing an internship as a teacher at the New England Center for Children (NECC), Cooke is confident that she is on the right career path.

At NECC, Cooke worked oneon-one with children who had different backgrounds and goals.

“Each student required a customized plan to teach new concepts or manage behavior,” she explains. “One of my students was working on occupational therapy goals, such as taking the lid off a screw-top container.

Another was non-verbal and was working on improving eye

contact. Communicating effectively with the students can prevent frustration for them and help them understand the process and the goal. My internship was so helpful because this is the kind of thing you can really only learn by doing.”

Cooke is quick to admit it could be taxing and often emotional work, but she is thankful for the opportunity to challenge herself and help others. “Despite the hard days—those filled with difficult behaviors that required protective holds or students backtracking progress—all that mattered at the end of the day was the positive differences made in my students’ lives and knowing I was a part of that.”

Cooke plans to pursue a master’s in applied behavior analysis

at Regis. “Thanks to my internship, I have more confidence in my own abilities and look forward to the next chapter.”

John Cole Anderson ’21 First-generation student-athlete John Cole Anderson ’21 was thrilled to attend Regis after learning he could major in sport management and turn his passion for sports into a career.

“I’ve always loved working with people, and sport management allows me to create a strong foundation of relationships that reach beyond the athletic setting,” says Anderson.

He credits Regis professors— such as Program Director and Assistant Professor of Sport Management Elizabeth Conant, EdD ’18—for always going the extra mile to help him succeed, including helping prepare him for his internship as a marketing and promotion assistant in the UMass Lowell athletics office.

“Leading up to my internship, I researched UMass Lowell’s athletic events and all of their past promotions—including emails, flyers, and social media—to study their branding and key messaging to learn how I could incorporate that into promotions that I would create,” explains Anderson.

“Professor Conant believes that if you show up prepared and have a

Left to right: Elisabeth Cooke ’20, John Cole Anderson ’21, Ryan Moran ’20

Ryan Moran ’20 If you had told public health major Ryan Moran ’20 when she first stepped onto the Regis campus that she would become co-captain of the swim team or that she would be taking courses

toward her master’s degree before even finishing her junior year, she would not have believed you.

“Regis helped me find a confidence in myself that I didn’t have before,” Moran says. Combining her desire to help people with her love for research and data has led her to specialize in policy and health management. “I have learned to not just dream about the things I want. I have to go and get them myself, and Regis taught me ways to do that.”

With her Flatley Scholarship, Moran secured an internship for spring 2020 at the Wellesley Health Department in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she was part of a team focusing on food waste and food insecurity.

“I created surveys and collected data to identify food waste in commercial kitchens,” explains Moran. “I also researched local food insecurity issues so I could create an action plan that would optimize food waste diversion and food donation practices.”

Moran’s internship took a drastic shift with the development of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was surreal to be working in a health department amid a major health care crisis and to witness how quickly everyone’s priorities shifted to focus on the virus,” recalls Moran. “It was truly an all-hands-on-deck situation, and it was motivating to see the team coming together for one common goal.”

Moran was given a new set of projects to help gather information that could help protect and improve quality of life for the Wellesley community. This included tracking and reporting on testing locations in Massachusetts and updating contact information in case of an emergency.

“I am honored to have been part of this effort during such an important time in our history; it has given me a firsthand look at dealing with a crisis from a public health stance,” says Moran. “It was an amazing experience that has given me more confidence in my work—especially my communication and organizational skills. Now that I have graduated, I will continue at Regis to earn a master’s degree in public health.

The skills I learned as part of this internship will serve me well as I pursue a career in policy and health management.”

15 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

key understanding of their operations, you can really help yourself stand out to your employer.”

Anderson’s primary responsibility was developing marketing promotions to support UMass Lowell athletics events. “I am most proud of assisting with the Touch-A-Truck event, a free community program for fans to enjoy prior to attending a hockey game.

It was a great experience working directly with the local fire departments, police departments, and construction companies to ensure that the event was a success and ran smoothly.”

Anderson plans to further explore the sporting events industry this summer working at Fishers Island Golf Club in New York.

“I am grateful for the Flatley Scholars Program for investing in me and my future,” says Anderson. “It has shown me that I am deserving of success—and more importantly, helped put me in the right position to attain it.”

words

in my own

The Village Behind Me

BY B E R N IC E B OAT E N G ’2 0

REGIS TODAY Boateng was one of the first studentathletes in Regis history to win a GNAC conference championship with the track and field team in 2018.

My parents both immigrated to the United States from Ghana, determined to make sure that my siblings and I live a successful life. As a firstgeneration college student, I quickly learned that it was important for me to take advantage of every opportunity that came my way. At Regis, I had countless opportunities to expand my knowledge, serve the underserved, and have fun.

I remember touring college campuses in 2016 as a high school senior, confused about what I wanted to study in college. Little did I know, visiting Regis would help me discover that nursing was the career choice for me. After leaving my home in Connecticut to spend time on campus, I felt that the tight-knit community that was deeply rooted in helping underserved communities was the best place for me to grow as an individual and pursue my nursing degree.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to apply the skills I learned both in the classroom and in our simulation labs through clinical rotations at outstanding health care facilities. I was able to serve women in the Wellness Center at Rosie’s Place in Boston, help expectant parents usher their newborns into the world at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, and care for critically ill children and their families at Boston Children’s Hospital, a nationally ranked pediatric hospital.

I have also had the opportunity to travel to California with the Center for Ministry and Service, where I was exposed to the reality of poverty and homelessness in the urban inner city of Los Angeles.

That trip left me inspired; in March 2020 I served as a student leader on a service trip to Puerto Rico.

Now that I’ve graduated, I hope to begin my nursing journey gaining experience in an acute care setting before pursuing a graduate degree.

It is my goal to provide care throughout the U.S. and beyond.

A well-known African proverb says: “It takes a village to raise a child.” My village includes parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, professors, and friends. But it also includes some people I have never met before. The village behind our Regis community and me is the donors—the people who have been so generous and have given bountifully to ensure that students like me do not face barriers that hinder them from taking advantage of opportunities that come their way.

When we achieve, we usually do so because others have helped. Both of my generous scholarships helped ease my financial burden, allowing me to focus on furthering my career and growing as an individual so I can serve the underserved. The scholarship I received in the name of [former Regis president] Dr. Mary Jane England reminded me of the important role that powerful, diverse, and inspiring women have on the community, and that has motivated me to carry out her mission in alignment with my own. For all of this, I am forever grateful.

At Regis, I have learned that you can serve God by serving others, and I appreciate that Regis donors serve others through their generosity. My parents always say to my sisters and me, “Little drops of water make a mighty ocean.” Donor support— whether big or small—contributes to the extraordinary students that graduate from Regis to make an impact on their community and beyond.

Photos: Anna Webster (right); Regis College Athletics (left)

16

Recent graduate Bernice Boateng ’20 was a nursing major, first-generation college student, and the recipient of the Sister Jeanne D’Arc O’Hare Merit Scholarship and the Mary Jane England ’59, MD President Emerita Scholarship. She was a Pride Guide (tour guide), orientation leader, resident assistant, and a member of the Student Nursing Association. In spring 2020, she received the Lynn Tripp Coleman Grace and Dedication Distinction Award, one of the highest leadership honors awarded at Regis.

Nursing major Bernice Boateng ’20 working with a manikin in one of the Regis nursing labs in College Hall.

ahead looking

A Gift for Generations IN TE RV IE W B Y A L E XIS B A U M

18 REGIS TODAY Barbara Bagley ’70 and her Regis mentor, Sister Marie deSales Dinneen, CSJ, ’51.

Barbara Bagley ’70 describes Regis as “near and dear” to her heart, saying that it played an integral role in her life and career. That’s why she is a member of the Higgins Society and the Catherine Burke Society— she gives to Regis annually and included the university in her will to ensure future generations have the same opportunities to excel.

Here, Bagley takes us back 50-plus years to her days at Regis. She shares what it was like on campus in the 1960s, how she went from a political science major to a magazine editor in New York City, and words of wisdom for current students.

Tell me about your family growing up. My parents

were both the children of immigrants—all of my grandparents came into the United States through Ellis Island in 1910, three of them from Ukraine and one from Poland. My father barely finished grade school and my mother went to work in a dress factory (“sweat shop”) at the age of 14 and then earned her high school diploma in night school.

I grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, and went to a Catholic girls’ high school in which all the students were encouraged (if you were not going to enter the convent) to attend college— preferably a women’s college, and definitely a Catholic one.

How did you end up at Regis? I visited Regis with a

high school friend and her parents during my senior year. I decided that I wanted to major in political science and Regis was one of the few Catholic girls’ colleges I applied to that offered that major in 1966.

My parents never even saw the campus until they moved me in for my first year. As we drove up the beautiful tree-lined drive toward College Hall, my dad commented, “Well, you really know how to pick ’em!” This from the man who thought I needed to attend only a two-year college because, after all, “You’re only going to get married.” Boy, did he change his mind!

So just like many of Regis’ current students, you were a first-generation college student. Yes, I was the first

generation in my family to attend college and I felt a responsibility to do my best. The cost was a tremendous burden to my parents, considering their very modest blue-collar incomes and they had already paid for four years of private high school for me, plus put my older brother through college. They were very proud when I graduated from Regis four years later in 1970.

What was it like at Regis from 1966 to 1970? Regis

went through so many changes during my four years. As freshmen we had Saturday morning classes, 7:00 p.m. curfews, and were not allowed to wear pants on campus unless we had a trench coat on and were headed to or from the athletic field. The nuns all wore habits. By senior year we were wearing denim mini-skirts, pants, and could have guys in our dorm rooms (door open, of course) until midnight on weekends! Some of the nuns were in modified habits, some in street clothes.

These changes were a reflection of the times and changes in mindset. Discussions became much more diverse as we were exposed to not only new ideas in the classroom but also the changing world around us, especially with the Vietnam War, Kent State shooting, Bobby Kennedy’s death, and other shocking, previously unheard-of happenings in the world.

Did you have any mentors at Regis? Sister Marie deSales had great faith in me and was the main reason I chose to make publishing my career—noth-

And 50 years later you were ready to celebrate your Reunion and now it has been postponed! What are you looking forward to most when your class ultimately comes together for its 50th Reunion? My Regis roommate,

Margot, and I had been planning for months. I was looking forward to seeing the changes in the campus, hearing about all the new offerings in a coed environment, and visiting with my classmates. The Class of 1970 produced some truly amazing women who achieved so much in many areas. I’m proud to be a part of the class.

And you joined the Catherine Burke Society by adding Regis to your will. Why did you choose to make such an impactful gift in honor of your 50th? Regis is near and dear

ing to do with political science! Sister saw something in me and appointed me editor-in-chief of Mt. Regis, the 1970 yearbook. I felt a bit overwhelmed, but she guided me every step of the way.

Then after graduation you launched a career in publishing? My first job was as secretary to the editor/publisher

to me and has been in my will for many years—and providing documentation to officially join the Catherine Burke Society during this milestone year was simple. There is nothing more important, in my mind, than supporting higher education so that all the potential and talent that exists in young people today can be explored and encouraged and realized to its fullest extent.

Over time, reading in Regis Today about students and alumni and about the changes and expansion at the school, it confirmed my belief that Regis is relevant and making a huge difference in so many lives—as it did for me. Regis is thriving at a time in which many smaller schools are not viable. It has great leaders who are fostering the school’s growth, encouraging a diverse student population, and offering the opportunity to all to excel and find their place in this everchanging world.

The Catherine Burke Society celebrates alumni and friends who demonstrate their deep commitment to Regis by including the university in their estate plans or as the beneficiary of a planned gift, including: • Making a provision for Regis College in a will or revocable trust.

• Establishing a charitable remainder trust or a charitable gift annuity to benefit Regis College.

• Designating Regis College as the beneficiary of an IRA, Keogh, or other qualified retirement plan assets.

of a trade magazine in New York City and my boss was terrific—he taught me so much, encouraged me to spread my wings, and gave me many opportunities to travel and write stories about diverse topics. I rose through the ranks there and was senior editor when I left to become editor-inchief of another trade magazine. Following that I became the top editor of a magazine published in New Jersey, then eventually executive editor at a small publishing company in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

ing, challenging, and encouraging. (Sorry, that’s four!)

That’s an impressive career. You must be happy Sister Marie deSales appointed you the Regis yearbook editor!

Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for current students or new graduates?

Absolutely. And we stayed close; I would update Sister on my progress and moves, always sending her copies of the feature stories I wrote. She was always generous with her praise, encouraging me to achieve the best I could—a true mentor. When my husband, Patrick, and I visited her she never missed saying, “The 1970 Mt. Regis was THE BEST yearbook ever produced at the college!”

Be true to yourself. Don’t close any doors, remain open-minded, and take opinions and advice into consideration; but in the end, pursue your dreams. If there are detours along the way, see them as opportunities that will help to shape you. And always maintain your faith as a foundation for your life and in your relationships with others.

If you had to describe Regis in three words, what would they be? Nurturing, broaden-

• Naming Regis College as the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Learn more about the Catherine Burke Society and how you can make an impact: alumni.regiscollege. edu/burkesociety

connections

global

We Serve with Love A service-immersion trip empowers students to make an impact

BY A LLYS ON MA NC H E S T E R

20 REGIS TODAY

A service-immersion trip to Puerto Rico during spring break included many profound experiences, including an educational walk through Old San Juan and an afternoon digging mud trenches for trail maintenance in El Yunque National Rainforest.

But the 14 students, faculty, and staff members who traveled there agree that the most impactful moments were spent with an elderly Puerto Rican woman named Ramona.

“Back in 2017, Hurricane Maria caused severe damage to Ramona’s small cement home,” explains counseling psychology graduate student Chanelle Garcia ’18, ’21, a graduate assistant in the Center for Ministry and Service (CMS), which organized the trip. “In the years that followed, Ramona sought help from city hall and the mayor’s office—all to no avail. It wasn’t until the social service organization Endeavors found out about Ramona’s case that we were able to step in to help on site.”

For three days, Regis students divided and conquered to restore Ramona’s home. They scraped old paint off of her walls and fence, cleared hundreds of pounds of debris from her backyard, powerwashed her roof, and deep-cleaned the inside of her house.

“We got into a routine of waking up early, packing a lunch, and working all day in the heat,” says Garcia.

“As we cleaned up the home, we were able to ask for Ramona’s consent before making changes,” adds Claudia Díaz ’21, a native of Puerto Rico and a therapeutic recreation major at Regis. “We gave Ramona a mask and a brush and got her involved in the work.

Through our service, we were able to contribute to her emotional shift and help empower her. Ramona is the embodiment of resiliency.”

Bridging Cultures Each year, dozens of Regis students sign up to spend their winter or spring breaks on service-immersion trips through the Center for Ministry and Service, which has a longstanding tradition of bringing students to learn in areas such as South Dakota, Kenya, and the Los Angeles/Mexico border. In spring 2020, the office launched the trip to Puerto Rico, a site with unique flavor and close ties to the Regis community.

“Puerto Rico was an ideal location for a service trip because there is still a lot of need on the island in light of Hurricane Maria,” Garcia says. “But we also wanted our students to know the history behind the U.S. colony and realize how that history impacts the people who live there. With a growing population of students from Puerto Rico at Regis, it’s important for our whole community to cultivate a connection with the place.”

Prior to the trip, students viewed documentaries on Hurricane Maria, discussed the cultural differences between Puerto Rican immigrants and Puerto Ricans who still live on the island, and participated in team building exercises. “It was key to establish a family dynamic early on,” Garcia says.

That dynamic was solidified when the group attended a welcome dinner—a traditional Puerto Rican meal of chicken, rice with pigeon peas, and homemade flan and tres leches (milk cake)—at Díaz’s family home. The ability to have the gathering was something that Díaz never expected when she enrolled at Regis.

“Sometimes when you’re part of two different cultures, you tend to keep them separate,” Díaz says.

“My family does not speak English, so I was afraid

21 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

that communication would be a challenge. Then, once everyone came to my house, I was amazed to see people laughing, sharing photos, and connecting in spite of the language barrier. Everything flowed so well.”

The service in Puerto Rico, especially the work at Ramona’s house, aligns with the “person-first” approach that students learn in their academic majors at Regis. Alexa Cuellar ’21 (above left) and Sean Toomey ’20, two other participants on the Puerto Rico service trip, are intimately familiar with this concept—and passionate about putting it into action. Cuellar, a social work major with a minor in Spanish and Latin American studies, served as one of the group’s student leaders.

“In the social work major at Regis, we learn how to practice a high level of compassion and understanding when serving our clients,” Cuellar says. “The humanitarian principles that we learn in class tied in directly with the service in Puerto Rico. We were not in Puerto Rico to be ‘saviors,’ but instead to learn and serve with humility, responsibility, and love.”

Toomey, a political science major, says that his coursework helped him to understand the deeply rooted and often invisible power structures that have contributed to poverty in Puerto Rico.

“Residents on the island have no one in the mainland U.S. to advocate for them,” Toomey says.

“It has been shocking to acknowledge the disparity between what actually happens in Puerto Rico and the story that the media in the continental U.S. portrays, specifically when it comes to the Hurricane Maria aftermath.”

Garcia sees service as the most effective pathway to empowering the people of Puerto Rico and overcoming the barriers that exist between the island and the continental U.S. “Our work with Ramona proved to me that connection is always possible.

Even language is not a barrier when there is service and clear love being shown.”

APRIL 1926 — APRIL 2019

A

[Dedicated]

Life Marshall M. Sloane was a business and banking entrepreneur, husband,

father and grandfather, good neighbor, developer of Greater Boston communities, veteran, philanthropist, and Regis supporter and champion.

B Y K R I S T E N WA L S H

REGIS TODAY Marshall M. Sloane (center) with his children, Barry R. Sloane and Linda Sloane Kay, at the Let It Shine Regis Gala where he was honored in 2017.

Photos: (left) Bill Brett; (right) Paige Brown

24

entury Bank Founder and Chairman Marshall M. Sloane always credited his parents for helping set his moral compass—a virtue he successfully passed on to future generations as well. Among the many lessons he learned: “how service to others goes into an honest day’s work, and how much a sound business deal can improve the lives of everyone involved.” These fundamental values not only shaped the success of Century Bank and its customers, they helped the many organizations—including Regis—that Marshall supported philanthropically.

“Marshall and Century Bank helped Regis at a crucial time, and set the university on the path to a bright future,” Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN, says of the longtime Regis supporter who passed away on April 6, 2019. “He was a true gem who dedicated his life to helping others and building stronger communities. Regis is very fortunate that one of those communities he helped was our very own.”

The first-generation son of an immigrant, C H A R AC T E R C O U N T S Marshall recognized diverse forms of the Century Bank Founder and Chairman Marshall M. Sloane entrepreneurial spirit in Irish, Italian, had a simple motto: Character Jewish, Portuguese, French, Hispanic, Counts. His daughter Linda and African American communities comSloane Kay and son Barry R. mitted to finding a foothold in the United Sloane share valuable lessons States—educating their children, taking they learned working alongside risks, and transforming the American their father—Linda as vice chair dream into reality. and Barry as chairman, president, For his dedicated support of organizations and CEO of the bank. in Greater Boston, Marshall was recognized • Maintain a strong moral comby Regis with a Shining Example Award in pass: Do what is right; always be truthful and loyal.

2017 and an honorary Doctor of Law degree 50th-anniversary commemorative • Give back to the community. in 2014. In October 2019, Regis named the book, published in 2019. “Those val• Bring people together—espeMarshall M. Sloane School of Business and ues were an important part of my cially those of diverse identities Communication in his faith and my family. I was fortunate and beliefs. honor (see sidebar). to be able to extend a helping hand • Leverage education and hard “Higher education to my community and neighbors work to gain success. meant so much to my when they needed it.”

• Be on the lookout for new father,” says Marshall’s opportunities or ways of son Barry R. Sloane, MAN ON A MISSION doing things.

Century Bank chairman, Marshall was born and raised in • Give people a break, especially when others turn them away. president, and CEO. “He Somerville, Massachusetts. He • Be open and respectful of difwas particularly proud served in the U.S. Navy during ferent perspectives. of Regis and its mission World War II and founded Century • Value relationships. to provide a level of pro proBank and Trust Company in 1969.

• Treat everyone as you would ductive and challenging Today, Century Bank is New like to be treated yourself. education for a diverse England’s largest family-run bank.

• Remain humble, even after community of students.”

Barry recalls childhood dinner achieving great success.

“Dad was always impressed by the way table conversations consumed that Regis transitioned itself over the largely by the family business. decades and the fact that the university “My father would talk about how offers so many areas of study to take students to the next the bank is growing, what makes for a strong client level,” adds Marshall’s daughter Linda Sloane Kay, who is and dependable partner, how to lead a moral and successvice chair of Century Bank. “He always wanted people to ful personal and professional life, and where that might get ahead and be successful.” take you.”

Providing opportunities for others came naturally At its founding, the full-service commercial bank to Marshall. “I was taught to think of others first and focused on improving the community and providing finanhelp when you could,” he wrote in Century Bank’s cial services to small- and medium-sized businesses. Of

Left: Regis recognized Marshall M. Sloane with an honorary Doctor of Law degree at Commencement in 2014. Below: Marshall with family members at the Let It Shine Regis Gala in 2017, where he was the recipient of the Shining Example Award.

M A R S H A L L M . S L OA N E S C H O O L O F B U S I N E S S A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N

BA RRY R . S LOA NE

the bank’s mission, Marshall said, “It would support the work of honest men and women, lending to the businesses they ran and supporting the causes they held dear.”

Many of those “honest men and women,” according to Marshall, didn’t fit the ethnic makeup of most people working in downtown Boston banks during a time of tension between Catholic and Jewish communities. So he asked them to sit on Century Bank’s board of directors. This kind of commitment to diversity and inclusion has remained embedded in the company’s culture. It also informed Marshall’s philanthropic contributions: He invested in faith groups and organizations in education, medicine, and society.

“Dad treated everyone as one,” Linda says. “It was always about bringing everyone together, not judging people by their religion or race. He was ahead of his time in many regards.”

While Marshall’s extensive work and accomplishments in banking and in community affairs have been widely recognized, he remained humble throughout his life. He once said, “Sooner or later we all realize that the example we have set is the ultimate measure of our lives.” And for Marshall, those words could not be truer.

25 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

“Higher education meant so much to my father. He was particularly proud of Regis and its mission to provide a level of productive and challenging education for a diverse community of students.”

Regis College named the university’s School of Business and Communication after Marshall M. Sloane, founder of Century Bank, in 2019. Marshall, who passed away in April 2019, was a dedicated supporter of Regis. He received an honorary degree in 2014 and the Shining Example Award at the university’s Let It Shine Gala in 2017 in recognition of his tireless philanthropic efforts in Greater Boston and his dedication to supporting Regis.

Marshall’s son Barry R. Sloane and his daughter Linda Sloane Kay, along with other family members, accepted the honor on behalf of their family at the gala on October 23, 2019.

“Regis had no greater champion in the university’s mission to improve lives through education than Marshall Sloane,” said Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN, at the gala. “By honoring him in this way, the university is able to ensure that his tremendous legacy will forever inspire Regis students.”

In February 2020, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners awarded Regis College accreditation of its global business management program.

Students in the Marshall M. Sloane School of Business and Communication represent the future leaders of regional, national, and global industry and graduate with advanced skills prepared to lead in business, entrepreneurship, marketing, communication, and more. They participate in cutting-edge seminars and focused, high-level internships at investment firms, hospitals, federal government offices, and other prestigious organizations.

“Linda and I are so humbled by the honor of naming the School of Business and Communication in honor of our dad,” Barry said at the gala. “He was such a booster of the mission and success of Regis, to have a school named for him would have brought tears to his eyes. He would be justifiably proud.”

Meet the

26

WE of Now We Fly

REGIS TODAY

President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN, has called the Now We Fly Campaign “revolutionary,” not only because of its ambitious $40 million goal, but because of the opportunities that the campaign would provide for the collective “we.”

Behind every scholarship and financial aid award, behind every new building, lab, and campus gathering space, are the faces of those who were given the resources to soar to new heights thanks to incredible donor support.

On the heels of a successful campaign, it’s time to “meet the we” of Now We Fly. Because the campaign was fully comprehensive, every single member of the Regis community reaped the benefits of the campaign’s success.

Read on for a glimpse into just a handful of the stories that represent the great impact of Now We Fly.

B Y K R I S T E N WA L S H

CASSAND RA GO DZ I K BS N ’15, M S N ’16

Hometown: Rutland, Vermont Scholarship: Mary Jane England ’59, MD President Emerita Scholarship

Cassandra Godzik, BSN ’15, MSN ’16, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, was the first in her family to earn a master’s degree and a doctoral degree. And the Mary Jane England ’59, MD President Emerita Scholarship helped her achieve that.

“My family and I felt supported by Regis,” Godzik recalls. “As a Mary Jane England scholar, it was nice to be recognized as a strong and involved student from the perspective of the scholarship selection committee and administration.”

Now she sees the impact of scholarships through a different lens. As assistant dean of online nursing at Regis, Godzik works with graduate students participating in the graduate assistantship program, which provides tuition assistance but also opens up opportunities for students to work alongside Regis faculty members.

She also had the opportunity to travel to Argentina with students in 2019 through an exchange program, which she says was a great experience outside of the classroom that built perspective and helped students be more open-minded.

“My most important goal as an educator is to help encourage students to learn about all that is possible,” Godzik says. “There are no limits for nursing students and I’m hoping that I can continue to be a mentor for my students.”

She recalls her own Regis mentor: Young School of Nursing Dean Diane Welsh, DNP, APRN, CNE. The pair met while Godzik was completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and working as a graduate assistant. “Diane encouraged me to pursue a PhD in nursing, which I completed in 2020. Without her mentorship, I’m not certain I would have gotten to where I am today as a nurse educator and nurse scientist.”

Godzik has also found inspiration from her scholarship donor, former Regis President Mary Jane England ’59, MD. “Dr. England practiced as a psychiatrist all while continuing to pursue higher education administration and teaching. She proved it is possible not only to do both patient care practice and administration and education, but that it can be done while excelling in those roles.”

Godzik aims to do the same for her students. “A lot of times we imagine practicing as nurses at the bedside or in a health care provider office; whereas in reality, there are so many different avenues to pursue—nurse educator, nurse leader, or researcher, for example. I like helping students recognize the possibilities.”

Photo: Holly Redmond

ASSISTANT DEAN OF ONLINE NU RSING

GRACIE JAREST ’21

28 REGIS TODAY

Gracie Jarest ’21 was in and out of hospitals as a child after she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age three. And she was 13 years old when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. But those challenges served as inspiration: The compassion of caregivers prompted her to pursue a nursing degree. Financial support from Regis allowed her to do that.

“I chose Regis to pursue my education because of the great clinical placements and future job opportunities,” says Jarest, who worked in the oncology unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “I love being able to experience hands-on learning and seeing how many different hospitals and different specialties there are. But my favorite thing about the nursing program is the ability to help others and make a difference.”

The latter is strongly rooted in the university’s mission. “The Regis community has had a big impact on my evolution as a student. I have learned a lot about kindness and giving back.

There are so many people who are so positive and uplifting, and they always look on the bright side.”

And it is not something she forgets once she leaves campus. A first-generation college student, Jarest aims to make her family proud and be a strong role model for her younger brother.

“When I am home or at work I often try to give back to others and help out with anything I can,” says Jarest. Her mother’s cancer is currently in remission. “Treating others with value and respect is something that will always serve me well. I just hope to make a difference in my patients’ lives as well as anyone else’s life.”

Major: Nursing Hometown: Wrentham, Massachusetts

Jonathan D. Fitzgerald, PhD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES Jonathan Fitzgerald, PhD, remembers his days as an undergraduate student—sitting down every semester to write thank you notes to people he would never meet, but who made his college education possible. “I was a first-generation college student and I benefited from the generous gifts of alumni and friends of the college that I attended.”

Today, the assistant professor of humanities at Regis sees students just like him. “While I don’t always know about the specific funding that my students receive, I understand the massive support system that makes it possible for them to succeed. From the scholarships that help with their tuition, to the opportunities they have to participate in internships and study abroad programs, I know my students are well supported.”

It may be one reason that this unofficial learning outcome—not listed on the syllabus—is paramount over all others: “To build better humans.” Though he says it “always evokes a nervous chuckle from the class,” it is not something he takes lightly.

Meet the

I believe that by sharing stories with my students— whether in history, religious studies, ethics, or literature and writing courses—I can help them become critical thinkers who are better informed and more empathetic.

That’s what I’m about: building better humans.”

JO N ATHA N D. F I TZGERALD

“I believe that by sharing stories with my students—whether in history, religious studies, ethics, or literature and writing courses—I can help them become critical thinkers who are better informed and more empathetic. That’s what I’m about: building better humans.”

He does that by helping students find ways to apply what they learn in humanities courses to their own disciplines and majors. It is strongly tied in to the Regis mission as well.

“Even as Regis evolves, it is a place rooted in Catholic intellectual tradition and liberal arts, and I love to see students majoring in nursing or business or criminal justice come to understand how a grounding in the humanities will make them better at their future careers.”

KAMISHA COLEMANHOFFMAN, RN, DNP ’21

WE

Kamisha Coleman-Hoffman, RN, DNP ’21 sets high standards for herself both personally and professionally. “I love the challenge of exceeding expectations, especially my own. I consider myself a lifelong student in the game of life.”

That philosophy is one reason she decided to enroll in the online doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program at Regis amid a successful 20-year nursing career. Leadership opportunities came early in her career, and she is now patient-flow manager in the operating room at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey.

But Coleman-Hoffman’s successful “game of life” hasn’t come easily.

“When I initially chose nursing, I was facing a very challenging time in my life—personal tragedy in the loss of my grandmother and baby sister, as well as financial difficulties and contemplating how to best support my family as a primary provider,” she recalls.

A nursing job was the answer; but it turned out to be much more than what she intended. “After becoming a nurse, I found it far more rewarding in terms of making a difference in people’s lives compared to what was offered in dollars and cents.”

Today, she is still pushing herself to exceed expectations. An advanced graduate degree in nursing, she says, will give her more credibility and flexibility to explore her options to become “a transformational figure” in whatever she does. And she thanks the transformational figures who are helping her get there.

“Receiving the DNP Scholarship has inspired me to continue to work hard, strive for excellence, and operate on an increasingly higher level. It also taught me that perProgram: sistence is a key to success, and that there is tremendous Doctor of Nursing value in seeking opportunity, even when the odds are Practice, Nurse against you.”

Practitioner Family Her experience with the online DNP degree has pushed Track her farther than she imagined. “During the course of my time at Regis, I have evolved from the survival mode of ‘just getting through these classes and obtaining a degree’ to a genuine hunger and thirst for lifelong learning, and maximizing what I can extract from all of my life experiences to be able to make a difference in someone else’s life.”

Hometown: Swedesboro, New Jersey Scholarship: DNP Nursing Scholarship

Receiving the DNP Scholarship has inspired me to continue to work hard, strive for excellence, and operate on an increasingly higher level.”

KAMIS H A COL E MAN- H OF F MAN

Major: Biology Hometown: Wakefield, Massachusetts Scholarship: Tower Scholarship

30

L AU R A KU N Z ’ 2 2

REGIS TODAY

Laura Kunz ’22 is not one to wait for things to happen—and that includes something as significant as researching cancer treatments and potentially discovering a cure.

“When I found out my friend was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, it was like a punch in the stomach,” she recalls of the devastating news she received in October 2018. “Nothing was working for her; she was about to start a new type of treatment when it went downhill and never came up.

She died less than a year after her diagnosis.”

Kunz, who had discovered a passion for genetics and microbiology in high school, became focused on oncology genetics. She is a biology major at Regis and is excited about the independent study program and internship and job placement rate. But the chance to work in the university’s zebrafish lab—an on-campus facility that opened in 2018 thanks to support from Now We Fly campaign donors—quickly became an added bonus: Zebrafish is a species commonly used for cancer research.

“I don’t think I would have the same opportunities at a different school,” Kunz says. “The Tower Scholarship means everything to me and my family, and I truly appreciate the ability to go to my top school.”

The independent study during her first year exceeded expectations. In addition to hands-on teamwork in the lab, she was able to work closely with Assistant Professor of STEM Shannon Hogan, PhD, who also encouraged Kunz to present at several industry conferences.

“I presented three times by the end of my sophomore year, including once at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on virology curriculum development. This is so important to my future in the industry or when I apply to graduate school,” says Kunz, who is set to graduate early from Regis and eventu eventually plans to complete a PhD in genetics.

“Regis has allowed me to become more confident as a student and as a person, knowing that I can do anything that I set my mind to.”

Damarys Martinez, RN, CNL ’19 When Damarys Martinez, RN, CNL ’19 heard that her employer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, had partnered with Regis for an online clinical nurse leader graduate program, she says she was among the first to apply.

“I was so excited that Regis was offering a program that would allow me to pursue my passion for leadership and enhance my clinical skills to become a better teacher, mentor, and preceptor to build a safer and more advanced practice.”

But that degree would pose a challenge for Martinez, a single mother of two who was juggling studies with a rigorous work schedule that included overnight shifts as a charge nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and part-time days as a visiting nurse at Ethos.

The Mary Jane England ’59, MD President Emerita Scholarship changed that.

“The scholarship was life-changing for me and my family,” Martinez says. “I was able to work fewer hours and spend more time focusing on my studies and raising my kids.”

Martinez was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, one of five daughters whose mother emigrated from the Dominican Republic and worked hard to provide her family with the resources and education to be successful. It’s a lesson that Martinez has not forgotten.

“Education plays a vital role in shaping successful people because we learn how to meet and overcome challenges through education,” she says. “As a registered nurse I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I’m able to use my educational background to assist and advocate for my patients in the hospital and in the community.”

She hopes to someday start her own scholarship. “I strive to become a role model to single mothers who have given up on their dreams. I want to show them by example that anything is possible with hard work, diligence, and motivation.”

Meet the

WE Program: Clinical Nurse Leader Online Master’s Program Hometown: Bronx, New York Scholarship: Mary Jane England ’59, MD President Emerita Scholarship

Photo: cottontailphoto

As a registered nurse I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I’m able to use my educational background to assist and advocate for my patients in the hospital and in the community.”

DA M A RYS MA RTI NEZ

NICHOLAS SAHAGIAN ’20 As a global business management major, Nicholas Sahagian ’20 knows about the power of a handshake. And shaking the hands of donors who helped fund his education is something he will never forget.

“It felt so nice to personally thank and shake hands with LLARC [Lifelong Learning at Regis College] members,” Sahagian says of attending a reception for the LLARC Sharing Opportunities Scholarship he received. “Their generous scholarship meant so much to me and my family. I was able to complete my junior year because of it.”

Born and raised in Coral Springs, Florida, Sahagian grew up with a set of values instilled by his parents: respect, common sense, and giving back. He says that Regis Professor of Accounting and Finance Christopher Kubik, DBA—who is also director of both the master’s in accounting program and certified financial planner program—reminds him of his parents.

“Professor Kubik’s teaching style is very real and sets you up for the real world,” Sahagian says. “He will not sugarcoat things when you are wrong; he will say you are wrong and help you figure out the correct answer. He has helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

Susan Kennedy ’81, director of the Regis Center for Internships and Career Development, helped him land an internship at Northwestern Mutual in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a licensed financial representative. For Sahagian, support from mentors, family, and friends, including girlfriend Desiree Jones, is what keeps him grounded and allows him to take flight. And he is committed to doing the same for others.

“I try to pay it forward, whether it’s helping my friends with schoolwork or teaching my younger teammates tactics to improve,” says Sahagian, who was captain of the Regis cross country and track teams. “If it was not for my high school and Regis, I would not be where I am today. In the future, I plan to give back to the scholarship fund and open up opportunities for someone else.”

Major: Global Business Management Hometown: Coral Springs, Florida Scholarships: LLARC Sharing Opportunities Scholarship, Tower Scholarship

WA LT HORNER

DEAN OF STUDENTS

32

Photo: Kathleen Dooher

REGIS TODAY

Walt Horner grew up in the rust-belt city of Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of a social worker and a health educator. Though he says college wasn’t necessarily an option for many of his friends and extended family mem members, it was an expectation in his immediate family of six.

“My mother and father were first-generation college students, and from an early age they instilled in us that continuing our education was a privilege—an investment in our future—and that we needed to be equal contributors. That said, I was a Pell-grant kid and worked my way through college.”

Horner’s educational journey informs his current role as dean of students at Regis. Part of his job involves the Dear Neighbor Fund, created in 2010 in memory of longtime Vice President of Student Affairs Lynn Tripp Coleman ’77. The fund provides support for students in need and in financial or personal crisis, including the Hospitality Center, Emergency Assistance Program, and the Housing Program. And because the Now We Fly Campaign was fully comprehensive, any gifts to the Dear Neighbor Fund contributed to the success of the campaign.

“We rely on the Dear Neighbor Fund when all other options have been exhausted for students— whether it helps fund a new pair of eyeglasses, transportation to their first internship, books for the semester, or a winter coat—so they can focus on what’s most important, their Regis education,” Horner says. “In many cases, Regis is their home, their safe haven. It matters more to students than you can imagine.”

What also matters is the way that Horner works in partnership with students, faculty, and staff to “create a community that holds close the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph.”

Horner, for example, has accompanied students on service-immersion trips to Peru and Puerto Rico and has seen the transformative effects. “Regis is not any university; it is one that asks us to move to the margins and serve the underserved, the dear neighbor. It compels us to welcome all, without distinction; and it requires that we focus on the formation of the whole person—the social, the intellectual, and the spiritual.”

Jacquelyn MacDonald PhD, BCBA-D, LABA ASSISTANT DEAN OF BEH AVIOR AND BRAIN SCIENCES PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE ABA MASTER’S PROGRAM ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DIRECTOR OF THE AUTISM CENTER

Jacquelyn MacDonald, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, considers herself fortunate to see the Regis mission in action as she teaches students in the applied behavior analysis (ABA) master’s program and watches them apply their skills in the Autism Center at the Regis Children’s Center.

“Our mission aligns very closely to that of the Sisters of St. Joseph because as a field we teach our students to serve without distinction and to treat everyone with compassion,” says MacDonald, assistant dean of behavior and brain sciences, program director of the ABA master’s program, assistant professor, and director of the Autism Center.

For some of those students, putting the mission into action is made possible by tuition assistance: a research assistantship through the ABA program or a graduate assistantship working at the on-campus Autism Center.

“Research assistantships help students who may be interested in pursuing a doctorate in ABA and need to gain relevant research experience outside of their required thesis project,” MacDonald says.

“The Autism Center graduate assistantship allows students to gain experience working with young children and implementing highquality behavior analytic services. Both of these opportunities really set us apart from other competing programs in the area.”

MacDonald knows firsthand how impactful scholarship support is: She received funding for faculty research through The Virginia Pyne Kaneb ’57 Scholars Program for research on parent training skills for preschoolers. She and other faculty members bring their experiences back to the classroom.

“Our program not only helps our graduate students pass the Behavior Analyst Certification Board exam, but we help them to become thoughtful science practitioners,” MacDonald says. “I love that my job is a mixture of teaching, research, and clinical experience. It is an honor to be one of the first people to teach them about ABA and to lead them through their future careers.”

Meet the

WE Our mission aligns very closely to that of the Sisters of St. Joseph because as a field we teach our students to serve without distinction and to treat everyone with compassion.”

JACQ UE LY N M AC DON A LD

TAISHA JACKSON ’20

Program: Dental Hygiene Hometown: Dorchester, Massachusetts Scholarship: LLARC Sharing Opportunities Scholarship

33 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

When Taisha Jackson ’20 endured health problems that almost ended her life, she made a promise to herself: “When I recover, I will dedicate my life to furthering my life and fulfilling God’s mission for me to help others.”

She was 33 years old with four children when she enrolled in the dental hygiene program at Mount Ida College that was later adopted by Regis when the school closed. In November 2019, the Regis program received the Presidential Choice Award for outstanding contributions to dental hygiene education by the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association.

“I told my kids even when they were very little, ‘Mommy is going to college one day.’ I tried a few times, taking a course here or there. Then a good friend recommended dental hygiene, which I had considered back when I was 17. At that moment, I knew I was going to give it everything I had.”

But a few years into the program, financial strains turned her life upside down. After falling behind on bills and rent, she reached out to Regis’ student affairs team for advice—specifically Dean of Students Walt Horner.

“Walt was able to direct me to many different avenues to ensure my success, including the Lifelong Learning at Regis College (LLARC) Scholarship.

Without direction on how to rearrange my circumstances, I most likely would have struggled intensely my last semester. The support helped me soar to the next level.”

She also has mentors who have encouraged her along the way: Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene Karen Hallisey-Pesa, DMD; Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene Maryse Rodger; and Associate Professor and Program Director of Dental Hygiene Denise Tetreault, MEd. “All three of these women have shaped me into the student I am today.

The program is rigorous, and sometimes I lost confidence in myself; but knew I couldn’t let them down.”

Jackson says that her Regis support complements what she receives from her family and friends.

“I am grateful for people who have sacrificed to help keep me afloat, especially my fiancé Shakir Wilson, who put his livelihood on hold to support mine. Now I have a future; I have advanced my career and I will have a professional title. I am the second person in my family to obtain a degree. I feel like there are infinite possibilities. I feel empowered to do more and be more.”

together alumni

1 4

34 REGIS TODAY

1 Alumnae from the Class of 1970 visited campus for lunch with students to hear about their Regis experiences—campus life, studies, and their plans for after college.

2

2 Students and alumni came together at the inaugural Regis Career Conference (RC2) in January. Students learned key career development skills and how to prepare for internships and interviews, and alumni offered advice on adjusting to life after graduation.

5 Ellie Ryan Devlin ’70 (left) and her family celebrated the holiday season at the Brunch with Santa event co-hosted by Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations and the Regis Children’s Center.

3 GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) alumni met up at Beerworks Brewing Co. in Boston for a fun pub night in February.

6 The Regis College Alumni Chorus and Regis Glee Singers traveled to New York City in February for performances at Ellis Island and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

4 Hall of Famers Julie Rando Ranucci ’94 and Jen Erickson Baker ’95 (center) were joined

7 President Hays connected with alumni in the D.C. area at a virtual cocktail reception in April.

5

3

by fellow alumni when they were honored at the Women’s Basketball Tribute Ceremony last November. New banners signifying their retired numbers were unveiled.

Class Notes Class Notes is published in fall issues of Regis Today. Notes for the fall 2020 issue are due on August 3, 2020. Each class is limited to 750 words. News may be submitted to your class reporter or directly to Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations.

Email: classnotes@regiscollege.edu Mail: 235 Wellesley Street, Box 30, Weston, MA 02493

Upcoming Events We hope you can join us at our upcoming virtual events for alumni and friends so we can stay connected even while we are physically distanced.

Please visit our event website to find the latest list of upcoming virtual events: alumni.regiscollege.edu/events

6

Be Social with Regis Regis Today is published twice a year, but you can stay informed about what’s happening at the university all year long.

7

Regis College Alumni Regis College

REGINA CAINES DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR AWARD Congratulations to Regina Seales Caines ’54 (left), who was honored in February at the Mass Partnership for Diverse Educators (MPDE) event where Chair of the Regis Education Department Priscilla A. Boerger, EdD (right), announced the creation of the Regina Caines Distinguished Educator Award. The annual award will be presented at Reunion Weekend to an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to and achieved excellence in the field of education.

@regiscollege_ma

regiscollegeweston @regis_ma @regiscollegealumni Regis College regisma

memoriam in

Regis has been notified of the following alumni and friends who passed away.* May they rest in God’s eternal peace.

1940 Geraldine Burke Morrill March 7, 2020

1951 Elizabeth Cullen January 23, 2020

1941 Mildred Hehir January 13, 2020

Barbara Watson Halpin January 25, 2020

1943 Mary Louise Gallen Kearns July 8, 2016

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1945 Gilda Sateriale Aufiero February 26, 2020

Florence Kelly McKenna January 17, 2020 Mary Mecagni Quinton December 29, 2019 Elizabeth Dougherty Roque January 15, 2020

Gloria Murphy Rocks February 17, 2020 Marie Kenney Stevens February 9, 2020 1955 Helen Mezzanotti Duff December 17, 2019 1956 Jane Murphy Burger October 19, 2019 Lorraine Talamona Celi January 15, 2020

REGIS TODAY

Jean Feeley Tryhubczak April 23, 2020

Thea McCabe, CSJ December 7, 2019

Anne Steffens Linnehan April 6, 2020

1952 Patricia Hogan March 31, 2020

Dolores Gargaro Wilson April 15, 2020

1947 Alice Noonan Cote January 15, 2020

Anne Givren Kavanaugh December 6, 2019

1957 Marguerite Lunny Dolan April 15, 2015

Jean Madden April 25, 2019

Marion Feeney April 20, 2020

Nancy Smith March 10, 2020

Gloria Ricker Gramaglia April 5, 2020

1953 Marcelline Cassen McManus March 21, 2020

Rosemary Weidner Mahoney December 31, 2019

Marguerite Carell Grimes April 19, 2020

Catherine Gately McGunigle June 2, 2020 1948 Jane McGrath May 10, 2020 1949 Shirley Hession Hendrickson January 11, 2020

Marilyn Hall Mora April 27, 2020

Mary Carmel Elbery O’Neil May 20, 2020

Margaret Loughman Wittick January 29, 2020

Mary O’Brien Pratt December 2, 2019

1954 Margaret Ferrick Demott April 9, 2015

Elizabeth McCarty Reggio February 4, 2020 Mary Prasinos Wyshak May 4, 2020 1950 Catherine Conway Callahan March 11, 2020 Elinor Shinnick Fraser June 9, 2020

Margaret Rowe Dreger February 3, 2020 Helen Anne Murphy Maichle September 17, 2016 Maureen McCaughey O’Brien January 25, 2020 Ann O’Brien O’Connor May 9, 2020 Carol Murdoch Power January 31, 2020

*As of June 16, 2020, print deadline.

Patricia McCarron Pettersen January 6, 2020 1958 Mary Frances McKnight Davis January 1, 2020 Patricia Salmon Hillmer March 5, 2020 Mary Ellen Reynolds Kennedy March 27, 2020 1960 Claire Archambault, CSJ May 8, 2020 1961 Mary Loud Meehan February 25, 2020 1962 Nancy Clemons Dennis March 23, 2020

1963 Kathleen McNally Cushing May 30, 2020 Margaret Meckel Eakin February 4, 2020 Joan Osgood Lawrence December 12, 2019 Rosanne Belz Withington March 15, 2019 1964 Gertrude Diskin May 22, 2020 Louise Brennan Murray May 28, 2020 1965 Earlene McInnis January 20, 2019 Catherine Alexander Nief September 15, 2019 1966 Frances Aversa December 22, 2017 M. Sherrin O’Brien Langeler February 8, 2020 1968 Francine Leary Anderson April 8, 2020 Elaine Blumberg Jones November 30, 2019 1970 Patricia Riley Barry February 9, 2020 1971 Kathleen Cornyn February 16, 2020 Karen Smith Lord December 23, 2019 1972 Carolyn LaMarre April 11, 2020 1973 Cheryl Ferguson McLean March 13, 2020

1974 Marjorie Locke Noonan June 6, 2020 1978 Lizanne Surette Beaudoin May 29, 2020 1981 Lori Lambert May 8, 2020 1989 Phyllis Schmidt Cormier April 12, 2020 1991 Joan Goldhammer O’Neil December 31, 2019 2002 Sara Eaton-White November 28, 2019 2019 Francesca Cedrone December 13, 2019 Master’s Charlotte B. Edgar December 1, 2019 Former Trustees Ernest Bartell, C.S.C April 16, 2020 Peter Langenus, JD January 17, 2020 Friends Clotilde Zannetos April 24, 2020 Lifelong Learning at Regis College William Brady May 22, 2020 Irene Dhosi March 23, 2020 Shirley Crandall Pollitt April 6, 2020

Regis has always been devoted to providing access to students of all backgrounds so they can make a positive difference in the world—and that is evident with thousands of alumni on the front lines during the pandemic serving their dear neighbors without distinction.

Now more than ever, undergraduate and graduate students need scholarship and financial aid to ensure their educational dreams remain a reality during the COVID-19 crisis.

Thank you for supporting the next generation of Regis students. Please make a gift today to the Regis Fund or the Emergency Assistance Fund.

WAYS TO GIV E O N LIN E alumni.regiscollege.edu/ regisfund PHO N E 781.768.7240

Photo: Kathleen Dooher

MAIL 235 Wellesley St., Box 30 Weston, MA 02493

spotlight alumni

Regis salutes and thanks its alumni health care heroes for their bravery and dedication to keep our communities safe.

Read more stories from Regis health care heroes: alumni.regiscollege.edu/hch

38 REGIS TODAY

<< KAITLYN COWDEN, RN, BSN ’18

I became a nurse because I wanted to give back and care for patients in the same way that I was cared for when I was young. I grew up watching my parents in the medical field and was drawn to wanting to do my part in caring for people. I fell in love with the profession and am so thankful I have the opportunity to do it each day. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

I am doing my best to face each day with positivity in hopes of keeping myself, my coworkers, and family and friends going through this uncertain time. I am fighting alongside my parents who are also working the front lines, and I’m so very proud of them. My coworkers motivate me each day to get through this—it takes a team to take on a pandemic such as this and I’m honored to be a part of that team.”

JOH N CORRACCIO, RN, BSN ’17 >>

Times are definitely unique as a nurse right now, but I could not be prouder to be a nurse at the same time. Regis did an excellent job preparing us for something like this, whether we knew it at the time or not. I am currently working as a CVICU (Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit) nurse, and right now instead of being a cardiovascular unit, it is a coronavirus ICU. I don’t think the severity of the pandemic resonated with me deeply until I had my first COVID-19 patient under the age of 60—a 33-year-old who ultimately lost her battle and passed away. This patient affected me more than any other patient I have cared for since graduating from Regis. These times are trying, but we continue to move forward and we will all come out stronger and better. Regis has blessed me with the ability to be able to go to work as a registered nurse every day in order to make a difference and to do my part, and for that I am forever grateful.”

39 SPRING/SUMMER 2020

<< KENDRA KEEFE, RN, BSN ’09

I am motivated by the kindness that has been taking place around the world during these difficult and unprecedented times. Seeing all the random acts of kindness—the meals we have received on the front lines, the signs outside of the hospitals, my family and friends sending money for a coffee—helps make it just a little bit easier. I think it is so important to try to stay positive and calm and let our patients know they are the number one priority. We are trying to keep them as safe as possible because we genuinely care!

I am so grateful to have had several important women in my life who helped solidify my love for nursing. During high school, I shadowed my aunt who was a nurse in a geriatric office. She was so kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable with her patients, and I knew I wanted to make her proud and follow in her footsteps. In my junior and senior year of high school, I also watched my boyfriend’s mother (he is now my husband!) take care of her husband who was diagnosed with ALS. She was an emergency room nurse who put her career on hold in order to take care of him. I am so thankful for them both—for inspiring me and helping me become the nurse I am today.”

mınds hearts &

Legacy in Action Alumna’s legacy will positively impact countless lives

40 REGIS TODAY Carol M. Murphy Class of 1960

When scholarship donor Donald McCready met recipient Karla Aramayo-Lopez ’20 in February, he reached out to shake her hand. Aramayo-Lopez smiled and went in for a hug.

“This scholarship is such a blessing to me,” says Aramayo-Lopez, fighting back tears of joy. “I have prayed for something like this to come along.”

There is an overwhelming sense of gratitude from Aramayo-Lopez, a first-generation Regis undergraduate nursing student who was forced to take a leave of absence from Regis due to her financial circumstances. She admits that trying to juggle her full-time nursing course and clinical load while also working as a nursing tech—including overnight shifts—was impossible.

“Growing up, my family faced financial struggles,” says Aramayo-Lopez. “From a young age I was determined to pursue higher education, so when I had to take time off from Regis to work, I was worried I wouldn’t have the resources to go back and finish my nursing degree. It was a devastating thought.”

Thanks to the Carol M. Murphy ’60 and Donald E. McCready Endowed Scholarship—a scholarship that McCready established in memory of his beloved life partner, Carol M. Murphy ’60—that’s not something that Aramayo-Lopez has to worry about anymore.

Murphy and McCready met in 2000 and shared a passion for world travel—visiting more than 20 countries together. And while they met long after Murphy’s days at Regis, McCready joined her on campus for her 50th Reunion in 2010. A selfproclaimed introvert, McCready admired Murphy’s ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. That skill was integral in Murphy’s success throughout her 50-year career as a social worker and psychotherapist.

“Carol was the best friend I ever had at MGH and I miss her immensely,” says Edel Kruger, a coworker at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Charlestown HealthCare Center, where Murphy

worked as a clinician. “She is unforgettable and anybody who met her smiles when I bring up her name.”

Another coworker at MGH, Deborah Wanzer, remembers Murphy’s “infectious laugh, strong sense of social justice, and gift for working with the underserved.”

This is a common theme as colleagues and friends remember Murphy’s unwavering commitment— to her patients, friends, family, and of course, to McCready.

Several months before Murphy passed away in June 2017, McCready shared his plan to endow a Regis scholarship in her name—a commitment he planned to make to the Now We Fly Campaign in her honor.

“Her one wish was that the scholarship go to a nursing student,” says McCready. “I always thought of Carol as a ‘mental health nurse’—she wanted to support students who would ultimately carry on that legacy of serving and helping others. My preference was to help a first-generation student and in Karla we got both.”

As it turns out, Murphy had quite a bit in common with Aramayo-Lopez. Both shared a love for traveling and talking to people. (Aramayo-Lopez’s “favorite part of nursing”—connecting with patients.) Most importantly, both shared a passion for bettering the lives of others.

“I’m so happy that Karla was chosen for the scholarship,” says McCready, who enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school and then went on to attend the University of Michigan thanks to the GI Bill. “As a first-generation student myself, my college degree made a real difference in my life. I’m an advocate for providing higher education opportunities because that opportunity was given to me.”

McCready’s generous gift to the campaign means that Murphy’s legacy will live on at Regis for decades to come—supporting generations of students like Aramayo-Lopez in perpetuity.

Photo: Holly Redmond

BY A L E XIS B A U M

Scholarship donor Donald McCready and recipient Karla AramayoLopez ’20 met on campus in February.

“From a young age I was determined to pursue higher education ... this scholarship is such a blessing to me.

I have prayed for something like this to come along.”

—KARLA ARAMAYO-LOPEZ ’20

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