Rosemontsters Reunite Through Real Astate

Eve Romanowski and her mother Linda with Professor Emeritus, Paul Mojzes the day of Eve's graduation from Rosemont.

A Story of Legacy: Linda ’75 & Eve ’15 Romanowski By Joe Darrah ’11

Staring in awe at Rathalla for the first time as she made her way up the “silent path” off of Wendover Road in the fall of 1970, Linda Romanowski ’75 had no way of knowing that the landmark mansion of this “small Catholic college” that she chose to attend would one day become, essentially, commonplace and familiar in her life. But as she strolls by what today we all know as Main Building so regularly week to week in 2020, Romanowski, again an enrolled student in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS), hardly bats an eye.

That’s not to say that she’s grown bored or unimpressed by the historic architecture or its aura — no, she’s just become too intimately connected to its appeal and become so ingrained within the community that it’s perched over to feel as lost for words as she did that day — her first as a “day hop.” Such is the reality for someone who’s now the matriarch of what has evolved into a true Rosemont College family.

When Linda graduates in 2021, she’ll do so not only as a Rosemonster turned Raven, but as the acting president of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, the wife of a current faculty member (husband Ken teaches business in SGPS), and, perhaps most significantly of all, as a Rosemont mom.

It’s now nearly 10 years since her daughter, Eve Romanowski ’15, decided to follow in her footsteps (sort of), but when Eve hands Linda her degree as part of this coming spring’s commencement, they’ll bring to full circle one of the more intriguing legacy stories that any Rosemont alumna could fathom to tell.

To listen to the legacy story for Linda and Eve Romanowski, click here.

Rosemont College Students Participate in America250 Pennsylvania Direct Effect Innovation Challenge

Alex Arriola ’23 and Emily Jeanne Frohner ’22 have advanced to the final round of the America250PA Direct Effect Innovation Challenge (the DEIC). Rosemont is one of just 13 colleges participating in the challenge across the state.

The America250PA Commission, in partnership with the Direct Effect Innovation Team and the United States Postal Service (USPS), has launched the 2020 America250PA Direct Effect Innovation Challenge, featuring a theme of “BUY PA,” or buying into Pennsylvania businesses.

Arriola, a Marketing student, met with a panel of judges via Zoom on October 6 for the “Campus Challenge” to pitch his and Frohner’s campaign ideas. Their team was selected to move on to the Regional Rounds and compete against other Pennsylvania colleges.

The Regional Round was held via Zoom on October 23. Arriola and Frohner will present their campaign to the judges during the Final Round on November 18.

“My favorite experience was talking to the judges and getting their suggestions on how to improve the presentation,” said Arriola. “With their help, I feel ready for the next round and moving onto the final.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for our Business and Communications students to work with a live client, and with the state of Pennsylvania, on developing ideas for an integrated marketing campaign,” said Dr. Christine Hagedorn, Assistant Professor and Discipline Coordinator, Business Department. “Our students are being guided by Professor Brittney Nix-Crawford and myself to use a design thinking approach to develop an innovative idea for how to engage Pennsylvania businesses as we prepare to celebrate America's 250th birthday in 2026.”

The goals of the Challenge are to promote Pennsylvania’s economy by developing integrated marketing campaigns that: • Promote Pennsylvania businesses present and future • Promote growth opportunities for new and existing Pennsylvania businesses • Encourage Pennsylvanians to support local businesses • Connect student marketers and innovators with Pennsylvania businesses

By Joe Darrah ’11

Susan Mellet Blumenthal, Tish Mack Grosek, and Marilyn Hurley Whiteman, alumnae from the 1980s, have reconnected as real estate

agents and are helping people to find new homes in an

unprecedented marketplace.

As office space orientations go, it started out as a typical first day on the job for Marilyn Hurley Whiteman ’80. She received the standard introduction during that morning sales meeting at the Devon, PA, office of Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors, followed by the obligatory company-wide email sent to all employees that encouraged colleagues to visit her desk to say “hello.” A few casual meet-and-greets ensued, but just as she began to feel like she was settling in to an otherwise ordinary day one employee in particular was planning a “hello” that would be like none other.

When she went into work that day, the last thing that Susan Mellet Blumenthal ’81 was expecting was an impromptu Rosemont College reunion. But here she was reading an email about the branch’s new office administrator — a dear friend from her college days who she hadn’t seen since the early 1990s. It was 2013, and Susan couldn’t believe what she was reading. “I open up the email and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s Marilyn,’” remembers Blumenthal, who had been working in the Devon office for about three years at the time. She knew that the morning’s sales meeting would not do justice to the personal reaction that she would get by greeting Marilyn unannounced at her desk. And just like that, all the Rosemont memories came rushing back.

Fast forward five years later, and Tish Mack Grosek ’84 was actually about to experience a similarly serendipitous surprise as a new agent at the company. It was now 2018, and Grosek had recently earned her real estate license after many years of being interested in becoming an agent, an inkling that stemmed from a previous involvement in the construction business. A sociology major and communications minor during her undergrad years at Rosemont, Grosek had moved to New York City after graduation when a sales job presented itself and offered the opportunity to earn more money than her non-paying internship in Philadelphia did at the time.

“I had a great run and really learned how to sell and market products,” said Grosek, who eventually moved to New Jersey, started a family, and ultimately relocated to Puerto Rico in 1997 to help her husband launch a construction company.

“And that’s where I got the bite for real estate,” she said. “I was around it a lot because we were rebuilding luxury homes, developments, and high-rises – and it was all very interesting to me.”

Although it would take nearly 20 years to come to fruition, the individual personal experiences and career paths that all three of these Rosemont College alumnae would take have resulted in a bond that none of them could have expected upon leaving the “silent paths” they once walked. Their individual and collective circumstances have at the same time produced a reunion that somehow To read more, click here.

Colloquium Series 2020 Tuesday, December 1 7:30 p.m. BIOETHICS AND The Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social The Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social COVID-19 Responsibility hosts a monthly colloquium series which explores pressing issues in ethics and leadership. The colloquia, led by experts in their respective fields, serves as a Responsibility hosts a monthly colloquium series which explores pressing issues in ethics and leadership. The colloquia, led by experts in their respective fields, serves as a platform for dialogue and discussion on topics ranging from systemic Arthur L. Caplan, PhD New York University Registration platform for dialogue and discussion on topics racism, digital privacy, pandemic ethics and other The series takes place via Zoom ranging from systemic racism, digital privacy, pandemic ethics and other Covid-19-related COVID-19-related problems, to fake news, sports ethics, and civility in political discourse. and is free and open to the public. The Zoom link will be emailed to participants in advance of each date. problems, to fake news, sports ethics, and civility in political discourse. Past topics included: Privacy and Accountability with Anita L. Allen, University of Pennsylvania on October 6 Media Ethics and Fake News with Joyce Evans, FOX 29 News Philadelphia Tuesday, October 6 (ret.) and Shawnette Wilson, FOX 29 News Philadelphia on November 10 6:00 p.m. PRIVACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Anita L. Allen, the Henry R. Silverman Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at the University Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rosemont was unable of Pennsylvania. to hold a traditional Commencement ceremony this year. On Saturday, May 16, the College held virtual tributes to the 2020 degree recipients via Zoom and streamed on Facebook Live. Graduates even received a surprise cap and tassel delivRegistration ered to their homes to wear for the virtual celebrations! Members of the Class of 2020 also connected during a The series takes place via Zoom virtual Homecoming on Thursday, November 5. and is free and open to the public. The College is making plans for in-person outdoor ComThe Zoom link will be emailed to mencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 15 – one for the participants in advance of each date.2020 & 2021 graduates of the Undergraduate College and one for 2020 & 2021 graduates of the School of Graduate & Professional Studies. We hope you will join us! Specific plans and information about guests attending will be announced on April 15 to reflect the most current guidance from the CDC and the Commonwealth of PennsylvaFuture Topics:nia. If large crowds are prohibitive, the College is committed to hosting small in-person outdoor recognition events by academic division or program during the week of May 9. Tuesday, November 10, 6:00 p.m. A call for student speakers representing the Classes of 2020 and 2021 will be made this spring. Speech submissions MEDIA ETHICS AND FAKE NEWS will be due in March 2021.