Rosemont Magazine, Spring 2021

Spring

2021

Rosemonsters & Ravens:

Meet Rosemont’s Mother & Daughter Legacies

Spring 2021 Dear Alumni & Friends, As I write this letter for the Spring issue of Rosemont Magazine, there are only 8 weeks separating us from the College’s Commencement ceremonies. It has been a year that will be long remembered around our world – and most definitely a year that will be remembered on Rosemont’s campus.

The challenges of COVID-19 were many, but our students, faculty, staff, and alumni did not shrink from those difficulties. Instead, they met them head on and found ways to find the silver lining, and even to find joy. There is a quote from Cornelia Connelly that I think says this best, “First to bear adversities with endurance—then with willingness— then with joy.” I am proud to be a part of a community that can do that, and do it so well.

I hope you’ll read the article on page 17 in this issue of Rosemont Magazine that recaps this historic year. I have no doubt that it will fill you with pride in your alma mater.

Our cover story this issue is another that makes me grateful to be leading Rosemont College. As you will read on page three, we’ve chronicled the stories of four alumnae of the 1990s who currently have daughters enrolled in the Undergraduate College. It will be as clear to you, as it was to me, that their loyalty to the College – and their gratitude for the many gifts that their Rosemont education has given them – has inspired a new generation to also love Rosemont College. It is so exciting to see Rosemont’s spirit so vibrantly alive in these families and on our campus!

There are many other examples of the vibrancy of the College in the pages of the Magazine, and I hope you enjoy them all. But, if you read nothing else, I hope that you will take a few moments to read the article on page nine about the work that our community is doing around Diversity and Belonging. This important work is what will transform Rosemont College and make it the community that truly lives our Holy Child values.

I will close by reiterating what I have shared at almost every one of the more than 70 alumni Zoom gatherings I’ve attended since joining you as President. I believe in the College’s mission and I see tremendous possibility and promise at Rosemont.

I am excited everyday to be in this role. And despite the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to our campus this past semester, I am confident that Rosemont College has a very successful future awaiting it.

There is no doubt that the College’s bright future will be made possible through the work of our leadership team, as well as our dedicated trustees, talented faculty, and loyal administrators and staff. But equally important is your support of your alma mater.

As I did in the Fall issue of Rosemont Magazine, I ask you – in the spirit of Cornelia Connelly’s mandate of “Actions, not words.” – to transform your affection for Rosemont College into action.

• Attend a Forum Non-Credit Class on Zoom.

• Tell your colleagues about our Graduate or Professional Studies programs.

• Encourage a high school student to visit our campus.

• Pray for our students, faculty, and staff.

• Give a donation that is a stretch for you. If you’ve never made a gift, make one today.

Rosemont College’s future will be better because of it.

Peace to you,

Jayson Boyers, EdD President

InDEPARTMENTS this issue...

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2020-2021 CHAIR OF THE BOARD Maria A. Feeley, Esq. ’93

SECRETARY Rosemont Magazine | volume 17 | numAnn D. Marshall ’66 TREASURER Sean FitzPatrick OFFICERS OF THE COLLEGE 2020-2021 PRESIDENT Jayson Boyers, EdD PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS Mika Nash, EdD VICE PRESIDENT FOR COLLEGE RELATIONS Christyn J. Moran ’94 VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Marty Mehringer CHIEF OF STAFF AND VICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY AND BELONGING Yoli Alovor, PhD VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT AND MARKETING Meghan Haley VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION Margaret Doyle, SHCJ ROSEMONT MAGAZINE STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kathleen Troy Smyser CO-EDITOR Kathleen DuBoff DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION Susan M. DiGironimo ’18 WRITERS Kathleen DuBoff Joe Darrah ’11 Christyn J. Moran ’94 CONTRIBUTORS Joanne Demetriou Helen Sciubba PHOTOGRAPHY Susan DiGironimo ’18 Jaci Downs Bryan Karl Lathrop

Rosemont Magazine is published by the Office of College Relations for alumni, parents, and friends of the College.

Articles contained in Rosemont Magazine and the opinions expressed within them do not necessarily represent the official policies of Rosemont College. Letters to the editor or other communications regarding the contents of the magazine, including address changes, may be sent to: Rosemont College, Office of College Relations, 1400 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010-1699 or emailed to: alum@rosemont.edu. © 2021

3 | Rosemonsters and Ravens: Meet Rosemont's Mother and Daughter Legacies 8 | Ricardo Vargas '21: The First In His Family 9 | Diversity & Belonging Campus Updates 13 | Welcome New Leaders 15 | Cathy Fennell to Retire 17 | Rosemont One Year Later 19 | Student Brings "the POWER of Small" To The Big Screen 20 | Class of 1968 Forges Friendship & Fellowship During The Pandemic 23 | Student Teaching During the Pandemic 27 | In Memoriam 31 | Class Notes 35 | Forum

Rosemonsters & Ravens: LeeAnn Piermont Camut ’92 and her daughter Carly

Meet Rosemont’s Mother & Daughter Legacies

By Joe Darrah ’11

For these four families, the experience of attending Rosemont College is tightening their bonds, even if they never planned to share an alma mater.

Stephanie Santoro ’93, DO and her daughter Marina

Kendra Palermo '94 and her daughter Gabby

T. Nicole Cirone ’94 UC, ’02 SGPS and her daughter Sabine

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LeeAnn Camut and her daughter, Carly, wearing the old and new versions of the Rosemont sweatshirt.

They note that they enjoy wearing them together as a proud Rosemont mother-daughter team!

It was only meant to be a favor to mom, really. When Gabrielle Godwin '22 decided to tour Rosemont College as a high school student, she did so with her heart already set on another small school that was not located close to home. At least, that’s what she thought at the time of her visit.

She had done her due diligence and was ready to pack her bags. But she didn’t want to hurt her mom’s feelings. And so, when Kendra Palermo '94 asked her daughter to visit the campus, her alma mater — that school she attended some 30 years earlier that had a “castle that looks like Hogwarts” — Gabby obliged.

Not reluctantly, and not to patronize her. She simply just felt bad to turn mom down for such a simple ask.

“I didn’t want to tell her no,” says Gabby, who will be able to call Rosemont her alma mater in about one year’s time.

“I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Rosemont that day. But when I got here, I said to myself, ‘Oh my, I’m home. This is exactly what I want.’”

Looking back on that visit today, she remembers the moment that changed everything for her while walking through Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library. “The library at the other school I was considering was basically nonexistent,” she said.

“There were no books. It was more like a room that you could study in that had computers so that you could go online to read. But at Kistler, it was wall-to-wall books and the architecture made it feel like it was an important part of the campus.

There was no comparison.”

The original academic building on campus at Rosemont, the library has a history of captivating people of all ages.

Sabine Westfahl ’24 has been climbing the front reading room’s spiral stairs for as long as she can remember. The daughter of T. Nicole Cirone ’94, ’02, Sabine, even as a five-year-old filled with imagination, could not even begin to see herself as a Rosemont student during the days that she made the library her personal playground during mom’s regular visit to campus. “I never thought that my mom would want me to go here, even though I spent so much time here growing up,” said Sabine, who as a Studio Art and Art

History major has had Rosemont in her life long before enrolling as a freshman this academic year. She’s previously attended events such as Oktoberfest and Christmas Mass, for instance. At five months old, she was at Commencement when Nicole received her master’s degree in English. At two years old, she joined mom at Reunion when the babysitter was unavailable. As it turned out, Rosemont was naturally an academic fit for her as well. “I always knew that I wanted to go to an arts school, but I really also liked the idea of a liberal arts education, and I felt that Rosemont offered me a more well-rounded education than I would have received somewhere else at a school that focuses on the skeletal part of the arts degree.”

These two mom-and-daughter pairs are among four current family legacies at Rosemont. The staff at Rosemont Magazine recently met with them to learn more about what led them individually and collectively to the College, and about how their shared experiences, as well as some differences, have created even stronger bonds than they already had.

The Power of a Small College Before the POWER of small Today, all members of the Rosemont community are familiar with the tag line the POWER of small. We’re reminded of it every day and we live it on campus in a variety of ways. However, the inherent impact of this small school has always been seen so much more vividly through the lives of our students and alumni, especially among those of legacy status.

Consider Stephanie Santoro ’93, DO, an alumna who, as a scholarship recipient in the late 1980s, was still not convinced that Rosemont was the right place for her when she enrolled into the College as a young Catholic girl from Philadelphia.

“I was not thrilled at first to attend a women's college, as I was coming from a Catholic girls’ school in South Philadelphia and my high school experience was not exactly a fun-filled time,” said Stephanie, who today can trace her roots as a physician back to starting Rosemont’s first pre-med club as a student. “But once I started at Rosemont, I knew that it was perfect for me. I loved the fact that I

never felt ‘lost in the crowd.’ My teachers were always accessible and quick to offer assistance, and my own experience being with intelligent, strong women every day helped me to learn to develop self-esteem and confidence.” Although the school is now co-educational, Stephanie says she sees the same opportunities being apparent for her daughter Marina Garagozzo ’24, a freshman who’s undecided on her major but, like her mother, a scholarship winner as one of the College’s most recent recipients of the Cornelian Scholarship, an award given to students who have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and have exemplified excellence in academics and a commitment to social justice. Named in honor of Cornelia Connelly, the founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, the scholarship covers full tuition and fees at Rosemont. Marina says that the interview process alone for the scholarship made her realize that she wanted to officially become part of the College’s lineage beyond the exposure she had to the school growing up. “Everyone who interviewed me made me feel very welcomed and enthusiastic about possibly being a student at Rosemont,” she said.

“I've always attended small schools, so I was happy to go here, where classes feel more comfortable, personal, and I can get to know my professors and classmates.”

Fellow freshman and Cornelian Scholarship awardee Carly Camut ’24, a Biology major and Biochemistry minor, says that she ultimately chose Rosemont when her degree choice became clear because of the connection the College has with other local institutions such as Salus University, which enables those who complete a bachelor’s degree at Rosemont to apply for a master’s degree and doctoral degree at the Elkins Park (PA)-based institution.

“For a while, I didn’t know where I wanted to go to school, because for a while I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my career,” Carly said. “But when I started to look at colleges and medical schools together, I became really interested in Rosemont. I liked the idea of the smaller student-to-teacher ratio and the connection that you can have with the professors here. And I began to take more of an interest in the campus when I came here as a visit for myself instead of for an event for my mom.”

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 4

A Parent’s Perspective The opportunity to walk the “silent paths” that mom once walked is a unique element among these legacy families, particularly because each mom alumna is certain that the approach to not pressure or sway their daughters into choosing Rosemont became an influential contributing factor to their enrollment. Letting the “natural” influence play out is a common theme for all.

“We’ve always raised our kids to be who they are and to do their own thing,” said LeeAnn Piermont Camut ’92, who studied Psychology. “So I really had trouble believing that Carly attending Rosemont could happen. But I’m back at Rosemont now, just in a different role.”

That role as parent sees each mom evaluating Rosemont on a new level, even though they enjoy the opportunity

Kendra Also determined to not persuade her daughter to choose Rosemont, Kendra instead decided to suggest the College when it became apparent that choosing a small school was all but inevitable for Gabby, who is double majoring in Criminology and Psychology.

“I had noticed that she was drawn to smaller schools, and so I said to her, ‘I’ve got a small school for you that you might like that’s closer to home,’” Kendra said. “And when we were getting that tour, I could just see in her face that she had felt the same way as me when I visited Rosemont as a student. I downplayed my excitement in

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to create shared experiences with their daughters while reminiscing about their school days.

“It’s not the exact same school as when I attended,” said Nicole. “Yeah, there are connections to my traditions, but at the same time I had to think about whether or not I thought Rosemont was the right place for my daughter. Is the program competitive enough? Will Sabine get the skills to go on to the next level? Does the school fit her personally, academically, and in terms of what she wants to do with her life? Was there someplace better?

I had to help her to weigh all of these things. And we found other places that we liked, but there was still always that ‘but’ everywhere else. In the end, Rosemont has a fabulous Art History and Studio Art program, and it always has.”

Nicole said that she never purposefully exposed Sabine to Rosemont, but the

Gabby the beginning, but I was rooting for this the whole time.”

Stephanie goes as far as to say that it may have occurred to her that Marina could attend Rosemont some day, but that there was never a sense of certainty that this reality would unfold. “I have raised her to be a free-thinker and I wanted her to be happy with her choice of school, no matter what,” Stephanie said. “I knew that she was seriously considering Rosemont when she was invited to apply for the Cornelian Scholarship, which included an essay on social justice, because she was eager to share her thoughts on that. When

College has always held such an important place in her life, and so Sabine gained an appreciation at a very early age about the experience Rosemont could offer.

“She’s met all of my friends from Rosemont and she’s heard all of the stories,” Nicole said.

Similarly, Gabby had experienced the likes of Oktoberfest and Founders’ Day well before the time came to choose her school. She was even familiar with campus landmarks such as “A Quiet Morning” because one of Kendra’s favorite College pictures, a shot of her hugging the statute as a sophomore, is a prized possession in their home. “So when I decided that Rosemont was where I wanted to go to school, we re-created the picture during an open house,” Gabby said. Below is a photo of mom and daughter at the statue present day.

Gabby and Kendra she told me that she had chosen Rosemont I was absolutely overjoyed and cried. I knew it was her decision and, as always, I felt so proud of her.”

Scholarship Commonality The shared campus experiences are not the only commonality of these alumna-s tudent legacies. In addition to Marina and Carly being awarded Cornelian Scholarships, LeeAnn was a Josephine C. Connelly Scholarship awardee as a student, as was Stephanie. Additionally, Sabine received the Rita Valencia Rizzo and Mary Fowler Wilson Scholarships, and Gabby received

Pandemic Parameters

the Mary Stuart Williams Seidel Scholarship, which specifically is intended for daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of Rosemont alumnae.

“When Carly won the scholarship, it felt like things had come full circle,” LeeAnn said. “It’s amazing that we have this experience. It’s all very familiar, but things have changed since my school days, too. Carly’s experiences are going to be different than mine.”

Sabine says that being a legacy has provided her with a deeper meaningful experience that goes beyond the sentiment of once playing hide-andseek under a library desk that she now studies at, as Nicole did as a student. “When you’re a legacy student, you get a different appreciation for the school,” said Sabine, whose grandmother attended St. Leonard’s Academy and great-aunt was a Holy Child Sister. “It’s a push to be involved in more things, not so much because of the influence of my mom, but because it means something to me to be involved. I feel like I’m being guided by my mom, but not in a pushy way. I’m getting the chance to continue the path that she started from a different track.”

Stephanie Santoro and her daughter, Marina, walk by Main Building in early March 2021.

Of course, the coronavirus pandemic will forever mark today’s student experience as (hopefully) unique within the confines of legacy status. Still, mothers and daughters alike say they appreciate the attempts that the College’s administration has taken to help Rosemont to be as welcoming and safe as can realistically be expected, including the community’s focus on social justice.

“The change I am proud of most for Rosemont is the commitment to social justice and to diversity and representation in the student population,” Stephanie said. “It was very refreshing for me to realize that Rosemont had moved in the right direction.”

Despite the “distancing” guidelines in place on campus per COVID protocols, the feeling of closeness and community has prevailed.

“I have become really close with my friends and with my roommate, and with a small group of people, so I have had a lot of good times when I’m on campus,” said Marina. “I especially like how Rosemont tries to bring people together for events during the week, such as trivia nights, paint parties, bingo, and more.”

“My chance to interact on campus with others has been limited because of covid, but I’ve already met some great people,” Carly said. “I’ve made friends and I know that my professors care for us as students.”

When the College reopens fully, the families will be eager to recreate and explore the new ties that will continue to bind them all at once.

“I’m already looking forward to Sabine’s graduation,” Nicole said. “It will be a moment that would not happen for us had she gone to any other school. And I can see all of the wonderful things that she has in front of her, and she’s able to take advantage of all of the great things that I loved about Rosemont. I’m still waiting on my ‘Rosemont Mom’ t-shirt’ though.”

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 6

Rosemont was cited as a Top Performing College for Social Mobility by US News and World Report in September. Ranked #15, Rosemont is the only college in the Philadelphia region in the Top 25 for Top Performers on Social Mobility - Regional Universities North.

According to the report, "Economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college, even when controlling for other characteristics. But some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants." We are proud to share the stories of students who have experienced advancements in social mobility by attending Rosemont.

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Ricardo Vargas ’21: First in His Family Katie DuBoff

At first it was lacrosse that brought Ricardo Vargas ’21 to Rosemont.

“My high school lacrosse coach was the one who opened my eyes to see if Rosemont would be a fit,” he said.

So, Ricardo, who is from North Philadelphia, scheduled a visit to campus.

“My first visit on campus was one of the most memorable experiences I had,” he said. “My mom and I both came for the first time together. I was so nervous and anxious yet so excited because I wanted to experience what the next chapter of my life would be like.”

While Ricardo decided Rosemont would be a good fit – he liked the small community and opportunity to play lacrosse – he had to wait to hear from Admissions.

“I was raised by a single mom, and I am the first person in my family to go to college,” he said. “The day I was accepted to Rosemont was one of the happiest days of my life that I got to share with my mom.”

Ricardo joined the lacrosse team as a midfielder. During his freshman year, he was able to play with some teammates from his former high school who had also come to Rosemont, which helped him get to know other students and learn about the other organizations on campus.

Before long, he had joined clubs such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America, Business Networking Society, and Black Student Union. He also has an interest in communications and has produced videos for the College and worked as an intern in the Office of College Relations.

“What brought me to Rosemont was the one-on-one dynamic with staff, professors, coaches and pretty much everyone who could help me secure my future,” he said. “I knew the Power of a small atmosphere would definitely allow me to go farther than I thought since I have the chance to develop meaningful relationships with my professors. I want to impact the youth, especially from my neighborhood. I want them to believe college can be in their future too.”

Like many students, Ricardo had not decided on a major right away. He credits Andrew Lubin, Adjunct Professor in the Business Department, for helping him

choose a major in International Business.

“I was not familiar with International Business until Professor Lubin sparked my interest in my Intro to Finance course,” he said. “He has helped me think about the world with a larger perspective.”

A business background will be an asset to Ricardo, who is also an entrepreneur himself. He founded NOHA Apparel in May 2017, which includes a collection of T-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, sweatpants, face masks, and more to come in the future, according to Vargas.

“The company I run is an apparel lifestyle brand that represents having a hustler mentality,” he said. “I truly believe going after what we want is possible if we want it bad enough, and I’m a prime example of that. I find the best way to express what NOHA represents is by fashion, which is one of my passions.

Coming from nothing, I want to show others that it’s possible to build something from the ground up while building others up as well.”

He is also an account manager at STC Direct Philly, a sales and marketing firm focused on the telecommunication, fiber-optic, entertainment, and cable/satellite industries, in Philadelphia.

“Currently I work as an account manager dealing with new customer acquisitions,” he said. “All sales are face to face which teaches us how to work with new and existing customers. Professional and personal growth are what we value because it’s those skills that develop us into our true potential as entrepreneurs.”

After graduation, Ricardo hopes to continue growing his apparel company and has his sights set on real estate as well.

“I plan on still pushing my company NOHA apparel to new heights and creating more brand awareness,” he said.

“I’m in the process of getting together my first real estate property, so I intend on owning multiple properties domestically and internationally. I’m also enjoying my experience at STC Direct Philly. I was given such a great opportunity. One day I would like to open my own office and have a Fortune 500 client to represent while being able to help others accomplish their dreams.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month Celebration Contest Winners Announced The Office of Diversity and Belonging and the Office of Mission and Ministry held a six-week celebration in which students were invited to submit works of artistic or academic expression that relate to the theme: “Sharing our Voices, Telling our Stories: Contemplating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and our Nation’s Struggle for Racial Justice.”

The celebration and contest kicked off with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day prayer service on January 18 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and livestreamed on Campus Ministry’s Facebook page. Beginning on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and extending through the end of Black History Month, students were invited to submit essays, short stories, poems, songs, visual art, or a performance piece.

Three submissions were selected on February 26 to receive 1st, 2nd, 3rd place cash prizes ($250; $100; and $75 respectively). The three winners presented their submissions at the concluding prayer service on February 27 at the Hirsh Community Center and were awarded their certificates and prizes on March 19.

1st Place: Jacqueline Jewell, SGPS – Collection of Poems (“Say Her name,” “Black & Blue,” “Little Mike”) 2nd Place: Joseph Richards, UC Class of ’24 – Poem (“Why I Hate Rabbit’s Foot”) 3rd Place: Isabel Acosta, UC Class of ’22 – Collection of Poems (“There Are So Many More,” “Do You Want to Save the World”) Honorable Mention: Talaya Martin Smith, UC Class of ‘21 (Video & essay), Mason Dennis, UC Class of ‘22 (Essay), Abigail Brooks, UC Class of ’22 – Poem (“My Moment of Indignation”)

All of the submissions can be viewed by clicking here.

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Diversity and Belonging Campus Updates Dr. Yoli Alovor, PhD, Rosemont's Chief of Staff And Vice President Of Diversity And Belonging said, “Belonging is about ensuring that we pay attention to all voices on campus. When voices are silenced or not heard, it is often translated into poor retention for both students and the employee population. They don't feel like they belong, so they leave.”

Dr. Alovor’s platform of Diversity and Belonging is centered around the power of voices.

Dr. Alovor hosted a virtual fireside chat to review Rosemont’s 2021 Diversity and Belonging Highlights and discuss how the College plans to build lasting effects of belonging, social justice, and racial equity on campus.

In October of 2020, Dr. Alovor held a series of campus conversations called Real Talk to explore factors that promote a strong sense of belonging. The individual and focus groups allowed the panelists to share their lived experiences of belonging and discuss their experiences on campus.

The individual and focus groups were explicitly designed to give a voice to historically underrepresented populations on campus, conducted over three weeks, included representatives from all departments across Rosemont.

The panels were comprised of 17 students, 25 staff, and 13 faculty members.

Dr. Alovor and her team engaged each of these participants in a panel session which resulted in 20 hours of discussions.

The data has served as a foundation for phase 1 of strategic planning specific to creating an environment where all students, faculty, and staff feel visible.

Creating an inclusive environment for all is central to Jayson Boyers’ priorities as President of Rosemont.

“When I brought Dr. Alovor on board as Rosemont’s first Chief of Staff and Vice President of Diversity and Belonging, I knew she would have the ability to motivate others while creating and

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each person. implementing practices that champion staff development and diversity,” said Dr. Boyers. “We are one community here. Our students, faculty, staff, Parkhurst employees, and Aramark employees need to all feel welcome here. Dr. Alovor shares my enthusiasm for Rosemont, particularly for our mission and our spirit of community.

She is excited to build on both to create a more well-run, diverse, and inclusive College that will drive innovation.”

This spring, Rosemont will administer a Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey to students, faculty, and staff, which will run for four weeks. Rosemont has partnered with The Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS), which will collect and analyze the data regarding perceptions of Rosemont’s climate, how the College supports diversity and belonging, and experiences with discrimination harassment. The data gathered

in the survey will serve as a baseline on guidance for the Diversity and Belonging infrastructure.

“Each one of us has stories on how the disease of injustice has affected our lives,” said Dr. Alovor. “If we truly want to achieve the effects of equity, racial and social justice, let us begin by seeing our commonalities and strive to understand how we collectively can strive to create a sense of belonging on our campus. I understand the power of your voice. I care about your lived experiences. I am here to make the connections needed to create an environment where all Rosemont Ravens, staff, and faculty truly feel empowered, valued, and a sense of belonging.”

Erin Entrada Kelly ’16

We Dream of Space Named 2021 Newbery Honor Book Erin Entrada Kelly ’16 came inside after walking her dogs on a cold winter evening when she noticed several missed calls on her phone. Her cell phone – equipped with a spam blocker – had declined the call from an unknown number on January 24 notifying her that her book, We Dream of Space, would be named a 2021 Newbery Honor Book.

After a text from her editor instructed her to answer an incoming call, Kelly set to work trying to get around the spam blocker.

“At that moment, my partner, Dan, arrived with Chinese take-out,” she said.

“We both stood there screaming and saying ‘something’s happening!’ I was completely shocked. It wasn't expected. At all.”

We Dream of Space, which tells the story of three siblings experiencing the ups and downs of adolescence, is set in January 1986 as the nation prepares for the launch of the space shuttle Challenger.

“The Challenger disaster was the first major news event of my lifetime,” said Kelly. “I remember the national excitement leading to the launch. I remember the images of the astronauts waving and smiling as they boarded the shuttle at Cape Canaveral. And I distinctly remember the collective horror when it broke apart. I’ve wanted to write about it for a long time.”

The book – Kelly’s sixth – is her first work of historical fiction.

“To be honest, I’m still wrapping my brain around the concept that the 80s are historical.”

This was not the first time the New York Times best-selling author has received a phone call from the American Library Association, the organization that awards the Newbery and Caldecott honors for children’s literature. Kelly was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2018 for her book, Hello, Universe.

In 2018, Hello, Universe was acquired by Netflix for adaptation. Kelly is currently working with producers as the project gets underway.

“It will be a feature film, produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker, with a screenplay written by Michael Golamco,” said Kelly. “It hasn't gone into production yet because they’re still finalizing the script. Once they have a script they’re happy with, the project will move to the next phase. It’s been thrilling and surreal to watch the process evolve.”

Writing has been an integral part of Kelly’s life since childhood. She still enjoys writing on loose leaf paper and in notebooks to outline her book chapters and to write her first drafts. Her favorite place to write is in a library.

“I've known since second grade that I wanted to be a writer,” she said. “I wrote my first book when I was eight years old, and I haven't stopped writing since.”

Kelly also has a passion for teaching about writing. She earned her MFA from Rosemont and is an adjunct faculty member in the Creative Writing Program.

“I really enjoy teaching,” she said. “It’s difficult to pick just one thing, because I love so much about it. The relationship with my students would be at the top of my list, though.”

As for her genre, writing children’s literature was a natural fit for Kelly.

“One day I realized that most of my short stories had main characters between the ages of eight and twelve,” she said. “Almost all of them were coming of age stories.

It occurred to me: Maybe that's the age I should be writing about. I started devouring books for young readers and found my true calling. All writers have a voice. When you find it, you don't let it go.”

Learn more by listening to Kelly’s POWER of small podcast episode about what motivated her to pursue her MFA as an already-published author; her upcoming Netflix book adaptation for Hello, Universe; and how one of the most shocking disasters caught on live TV planted the seeds for her new book, We Dream of Space.

Click Here to listen to Erin's Podcast with Rosemont

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Love of

Language NPR Paris Correspondent Speaks at Language and Culture Event

NPR Paris Correspondent Eleanor Beardsley spoke at the 2nd annual Love of Languages event “Language and Culture: Opening Doors to Your Future Career,” on Thursday, February 11 via Zoom.

During the Love of Languages program, Ms. Beardsley spoke with Claudia Brown, Rosemont College Adjunct Professor, French, about the role of language in her work. The Love of Languages series is intended to explore the importance of language and culture diversity as students embark on their career journeys. This year’s theme focused on French business and culture and drew students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

“You never know where learning a language will take you,” said Beardsley. “I didn’t start out wanting to be a journalist.

I first visited France at the age of 12 and knew I wanted to learn French and everything about the French culture. I would read the French comic book, Asterix, with my father. In college, I majored in European history and French. Even though I was not formally trained in journalism, my knowledge of the French language and

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culture helped open doors to an international career that has been an adventure and very fulfilling.”

Eleanor Beardsley began reporting from France for NPR in 2004 as a freelance journalist, following all aspects of French society, politics, economics, culture, and gastronomy. Since then, she has steadily worked her way to becoming an integral part of the NPR Europe reporting team.

“We started this program last year with a desire to share with students how knowledge of other languages can open doors to career opportunities that students may never have even dreamed of for their futures,” said Christine Hagedorn, Assistant Professor and Discipline Coordinator of the Business Department.

“For example, when I was first hired as an Economic Analyst by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea at the start of my professional career, I knew nothing about the Korean language and culture, but my supervisors saw that I had studied abroad and had learned a few different languages,” continued Hagedorn. “Seeing that I was open to learning about other languages and cultures, I think, improved my candidacy for the job in their view.”

“I tell young people, ‘don’t be afraid of failing,’” said Beardsley. “Take chances and pursue your passion. You never know where it will take you.”

This program was hosted by the Rosemont College Department of Languages, Rosemont College Business Department, the Rosemont College Office of Post Graduate Success, and the Rosemont College Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America. Funded by The Conwell Grant for Foreign Languages.

On February 16, the Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility held a panel discussion via Zoom on the documentary film A Dangerous Idea: Eugenics, Genetics and the American Dream.

Scholars and activists associated with the film, including the co-writer and producer, offered their reflections followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees. Participants were invited to screen the film at their leisure prior to the discussion.

“While we had intended to gather in person for this event in March 2020, like many others we shifted to a virtual format due to the pandemic,” said Alan Preti, PhD, Director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility. “I was very pleased with the lively discussion and dialogue about race, cultural identity, biology, and so much more. The issues are particularly timely, and I highly recommend the film to those who have not seen it.”

The panelists were: Stephanie Welch, Paragon Media Director, Producer, and Co-Writer of A Dangerous Idea William H. Tucker, PhD Professor Emeritus, Psychology Rutgers University Milton Reynolds San Francisco Bay Area-based Career Educator, Author, Equity and Inclusion Consultant and Activist Agustín Fuentes, PhD Professor, Anthropology Princeton University During the 2020-21 academic year, the Institute sponsored a colloquium series exploring pressing issues in ethics and leadership. The colloquia, led by experts in their respective fields, served as a platform for dialogue and discussion on topics including digital privacy, pandemic ethics and other COVID-19-related problems, media ethics and fake news, and systemic racism.

Christine Hagedorn The two 2020-2021 Fellows of the Margaret M. Healy Fund for Faculty Research in Ethics and Leadership are Christine Hagedorn, Assistant Professor and Discipline Coordinator of the Business Department, and Jay Kolick, Director, Criminal Justice Program for SGPS. The Margaret M. Healy Fund for supports faculty or faculty/student team projects examining the intersection of ethics, leadership, and social responsibility.

Christine Hagedorn is leading a research project about the demand for moral leadership in business. Through her research, her goal is to discover how Rosemont’s current Business curricula, in each of the six Business majors, addresses the idea of moral leadership in that field.

Upon completion of her research, Hagedorn will then make recommendations

about moral leadership content in the curriculum.

“My logical concern is this: we are a College with a mission focused on the ‘the ability to make reasoned moral decisions’ and with our very own Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility,” said Hagedorn. “Therefore, as Business Discipline Coordinator, I have a duty to ensure that our program aligns with our mission and values. Our vision is that our students develop their own toolbox of skill sets with strategies to effect ethical outcomes for life’s complex dilemmas.”

Jay Kolick is leading a project for the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security program focusing on the concept that “law enforcement in the 21st century requires a new model of ethics and morals to guide justice practitioners and their leadership in preserving our constitu-

Jay Kolick tional rights and civil liberties.” Kolick’s research will examine many topics such as exploring the ethics, morals, and values of criminal justice professionals; eliminating racial injustice and disparities in the criminal justice system; addressing mental health issues in the community criminal justice system; and employing diversity in the hiring and recruitment of employees.

“Using a Cornelian lens, the program will evaluate the past and present models of professional ethics morals and create a newer model for the 21st century,” said Kolick. “Our goal is that our findings will foster better judgement in decision and policy making for justice practitioners that becomes a new golden standard for ethical behavior and decision-making within the justice system.”

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 12

Welcome New Leaders In November, Jennifer Barry joined Rosemont as Dean of the School of Graduate

and Professional Studies. In February, Meghan Haley assumed the new role of Vice President, Enrollment and Marketing. As we did in the last issue, let’s get to know these newest members of the leadership team and what brought them to Rosemont. from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire, and is expected to complete her Doctorate in Education in 2021.

Jennifer Barry Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies

Barry comes to Rosemont from American International College (AIC) in Springfield, Massachusetts. With expertise in adult education, online course delivery, educational operations, and micro-emerging markets, Barry will focus her efforts on growing enrollment and developing new programs for adult students.

Prior to her roles at AIC, Barry served the community of Bay Path University as the Director of Admissions for the Longmeadow Campus and Online Programs, the Senior Director of Admissions for Online Recruitment Initiatives, and the Campus Director for the American Women’s College (Online), taking on additional responsibility and oversight with each new role.

Barry has many years of teaching experience, including courses such as: Social Environments of Business, Elements of Organization, Learning Across the Lifespan, Women Empowered as Learners and Leaders, and Leadership in Practice.

Barry earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and her Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership

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Why Rosemont? What excites you about the College?

I am passionate about helping students achieve their goals. I have spent the past 15 years committed to creating access and equity for non-traditional students by improving policies to be inclusive of adult learners, promoting the use of andragogy in course development. It is my belief that implementing holistic approaches to student engagement, and taking the time to listen to student feedback and the challenges that they face while working toward their degree is critical to the success of every student.

Rosemont’s mission states that we are “a community of lifelong learners dedicated to academic excellence and fostering joy in the pursuit of knowledge.”

This resonates with me for two reasons.

The first reason is that by recognizing that we are “lifelong learners;” it removes the expectation that a student’s college years are tied to a specific age-bracket. As a passionate advocate for non-traditional students, I really appreciate that Rosemont recognizes the value of learning at every age. The only limitation to our ability to learn is the limitation that we place on ourselves. If a student wants to pursue an education, I want to help them succeed in achieving it. The second piece of this statement that I connected with is “fostering joy.” Students have many institutions to choose from when pursuing their degree, but I want to work at an institution that believes that learning should bring you joy. Rosemont embodies its mission and values, and it is important for me to work at an institution where my personal beliefs align with my institution’s values.

"What excites me about being at Rosemont is having the opportunity to ensure that we are living the mission in

our conversations with students, in the creation of our coursework, and in the way that we are creating new opportunities to engage our students as we develop new programs."

The Program Directors in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies are passionate about their areas of expertise, and I am excited to be working with them and hearing about how they are working with our students. I am looking forward to attending events with students and providing each of them with opportunities to share their stories.

A year from now, what do you want to say you have accomplished at Rosemont?

What about three years from now?

There are many small movements that I would like to see in the next year in a variety of areas of my work. However, if I were to wake up a year from now, I would like to see that I have fostered the development of new programs, new partnerships, and increased enrollment in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies by 50%. Rosemont College’s commitment to the POWER of small gives us the opportunity to provide students with the support and engagement they need to be successful that larger institutions simply cannot provide. I want to focus on how we can continue to refine and improve our courses and opportunities for student engagement in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies to help achieve this goal. Three years from now, I would expect that the School of Graduate and Professional Studies will not only be more than double in enrollment, but the major offerings will look different than they do today. I expect that there will be more professional studies majors, new graduate programs, and additional certificate options. I would like to see Professional Studies and Graduate Students taking advantage of community spaces on campus (because in three years, I hope that COVID-19 is far behind us) and that we have found new and exciting ways to engage our adult students outside of the classroom.

What book are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Nobody: Casualties of America’s War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond by Marc Lamont Hill, for the second time. If you haven’t read this book, I strongly encourage you to pick it up.

Where can we find you when you're not at work?

If I am not at work, I am either at home with my husband and my cat, visiting my family and friends, or at the movie theater. I recently moved to the area, and I have not yet found a running route, but I also enjoy running outside.

What is your favorite hobby?

My favorite hobbies are going to the movies, traveling, and going to concerts.

I usually attend at least 5-10 concerts a year. In 2020, I made it to three before the pandemic in March. I am hopeful that I will make it to a few this year if it is safe.

My favorite places to travel to are London and Aruba.

What excites you about coming to the Philly area?

I have never visited Philadelphia, and I am excited about getting into the city and exploring. I look forward to the warmer months so I can wander around and soak in the culture, the food, and listen to the sounds of the city. I want to see the Liberty Bell and try my best to run all the way up the “Rocky steps.”

Haley had a successful career in advertising, working to advise organizations across varying sectors on business and marketing strategy. This experience with diverse industries, combined with an innate and learned understanding of human behavior, uniquely positions Haley to develop and execute distinctive and innovative higher education enrollment plans.

Haley earned her bachelor of science degree in Marketing and Management Information Systems from the University of Vermont. She completed the Excellence in Executive Leadership (ExcEL) Seminar Series, as well as Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training at Champlain College.

Why Rosemont? What excites you about the College?

I joined Rosemont because I believe we have a special opportunity to graduate students who will support positive change in the world. This could be said about every small, liberal arts college, but Rosemont is positioned to do this in a unique, essential way. Rosemont’s small, diverse community is a place where people from all backgrounds can find their voice and gain the awareness, confidence, and access needed to use it to make a difference. Often the positive impact is very personal, but it is through these collective individual experiences that true systemic societal change will happen.

A year from now, what do you want to say you have accomplished at Rosemont? What about three years from now?

Meghan Haley Vice President, Enrollment and Marketing

Haley comes to Rosemont from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont where she served for eight years on the Enrollment Leadership Team as the Assistant Vice President of Marketing. During her tenure, she played an integral role in the College’s growth, including enrolling the largest class in its history.

Prior to joining Champlain College,

In a year I hope that we have crafted a unique and compelling story about the unique position Rosemont holds in higher education. With this we can further clarify who the ideal students are for the College, how we can best engage with them, and invite them to join our community. This will be accomplished by creating strong partnerships with faculty, staff, and students. It’s through this that we’ll be able to best understand what makes a Rosemont education unique, what students are successful here, and why.

In three years, I hope that we are realizing the benefit of having a compelling and differentiated position in the market, supported by a strategic enrollment and marketing strategy. What this looks like is an engaged and thriving student body that fuels our College community.

Enrollment and Marketing’s job is often seen as to bring students in the door...but that is just the beginning of our important work. It’s our job to bring in students who will not only come—but ones that will stay and thrive.

What book are you currently reading?

I want to be able to say I am reading something deeply intellectual, but I tend to keep my book reading light—nice, easy beach reads! For more thought provoking, educational content I turn to podcasts. Some of my current favorites are the Brene Brown “Dare to Lead” podcast, “The Happiness Lab” with Dr. Laurie Santos, and “Nice White Parents.” All of these are helping me to look at things in new and different ways by exposing me to different experiences and perspectives.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work?

Right now, like many, you would find me at home! My family and I spend a lot of time outside playing and adventuring.

What is your favorite hobby?

I enjoy anything that moves my body.

Right now, that is cross-country skiing, but I am also looking forward to spring running. I have a side passion project called Small Acts of Kindness (www.smallactsofkindnessvt.com) that aims to support myself and others in being more intentional about being kind.

It is a simple concept, but one that I hope has impact.

What excites you about coming to the Philly area?

I will be splitting time working remotely from my family home in Vermont and on campus. In addition to just being thrilled to join the campus community, I am fortunate to have family and friends in the Philly area. Right now, we are having to be creative in how we connect to respect interstate travel guidelines, but even visiting outside with masks is amazing after a year of not seeing them.

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 14

Cathy Fennell to Retire After 40 Years at Rosemont

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Founded 1921 Cathy Fennell has been a familiar presence at the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library for the last four decades. While much has changed on campus during this time, her priority has remained the same: to create a warm and supportive environment for students to thrive in their academic journeys.

“We continue to strive to provide the latest in library services as well as using technology to its best advantage,” she said. “I constantly look for ways to make the library better and to establish it as the center or heart, if you will, of the College.”

For the last ten years she has served as Executive Director of Library Services.

“I oversee the overall planning, management, and operation of the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library which includes the College and President’s archives,” she said. “I also work collaboratively with Sr. Roseanne McDougall at the Society of the Holy Child Jesus Archives. Just like when I started at Rosemont, I do a little of everything but mostly oversee a wonderful library staff who are dedicated to assisting our students to achieve their best.”

Cathy Fennell first began working at Rosemont in 1977 after completing her undergraduate degree in Education, with a concentration in School Librarianship.

“Sr. Mary Dennis Lynch hired me, and she told me she was not sure about hiring me as I looked too young even though I was twenty-two,” said Fennell. “I started as Circulation Coordinator. It was a great opportunity for me as not only did I learn about Circulation but learned how to do most of everything in the library.”

She left Rosemont in 1979 to attend graduate school at Drexel University but returned to Rosemont in 1984 to work on a part-time basis and has been here ever since. From 1995-1997, she was the Systems and Reference Librarian and led the establishment of Rosemont’s Integrated Library System (SIRSI). By 1997, she was the Acting Library Director and in 1998 was named Director of Library Services.

Fennell has also been a part-time faculty member and taught the children’s literature course for many years.

“I loved teaching children’s literature and one of my favorite places in the library is the children’s room,” she said. “My love for children’s books and

literature was why I considered being a children’s or school librarian. I tried to make the children’s room into the school library I might have liked to oversee, one that my Children’s Lit. students as well as all the Rosemont students would enjoy using.”

The Kistler Library certainly holds a special place in Fennell’s heart. It is the place where she met her husband nearly 40 years ago.

“Who would ever think that one would meet their husband at a women’s college, but Jay was hired to work in the library the same year as me,” she said. “He worked evenings, and I worked days but somehow we met and the rest is history.

We have been married 38 years.”

Rosemont has continued to be a significant part of her family’s lives as two of her three children attended the College.

When she’s not at the Kistler Library, Fennell enjoys reading, quilting, and spending time with her family.

“For the past eight or so years, I have made a Rosemont T-shirt quilt that I give to Campus Ministry to raffle to help with their service needs,” she said. “I’m truly honored that they like the quilts and am very happy when one of our students wins it as it will be a lasting memory of Rosemont. Also, I enjoy spending time with my family especially my two grandchildren, Billy and Caylee.”

Even as she prepares for retirement, Fennell plans to continue her passion of librarianship.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with my family as well as endeavoring to become a quilt historian as well as a better quilter,” she said. “I have not given up on libraries, as I do work at a small library a few hours a week, just as I told Sr. Dennis many years ago, to keep my foot in the door and to see how librarianship continues to develop into the future.”

Fennell treasures the memories and friendships she has made at Rosemont.

“This place has a feeling, I can’t exactly explain what it is, but I guess it’s what’s kept me here all this time.”

Centennial Plans to be Announced in May The first full meeting of the Centennial Committee of 2021 was held at the end of January by Zoom for members to brainstorm how to celebrate this milestone year. Three subcommittees focused on Social/Celebration, Education, Service/ Spiritual will continue to meet regularly during the semester to plan events for the Centennial.

The Centennial Committee is comprised of more than 50 alumni and friends of the College. The group is led by chairpersons Pat Ciarrocchi ’74, former Rosemont Trustee and Cresset Award recipient, and Dianne Rotwitt ’98, Rosemont benefactor and former employee of the College.

“The members of the committees have been bringing wonderful ideas to the table about how we can celebrate Rosemont for this significant milestone,” said Ciarrocchi. “We’re all looking forward to debuting the lineup of activities and events this spring so that everyone in the Rosemont family can make plans to join us.”

The committee includes alumni from 1952 to 2018, Rosemont’s former Presidents, members of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, former Trustees, current Trustees, faculty/academic program directors, staff, students, and friends of the College.

The next full Committee meeting will take place on April 22 to finalize plans from each subcommittee and work toward the Centennial Year to be held September 2021 – June 2022.

“It’s a remarkable time to be celebrating Rosemont,” said Rotwitt. “There will be multiple ways to be involved in the celebrations and truly something for everyone to enjoy.”

Stay tuned for plans to be unveiled in May!

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 16

Rosemont One Year Later Katie DuBoff

It’s been a year of Zoom, masks, and social distancing. Through it all, Rosemont has maintained a low positivity rate and kept students engaged.

Let’s take a look back at the last year.

It all began on March 12, 2020 when the first communication came from then-Rosemont President Sharon L. Hirsh notifying the Rosemont community that campus would be on lockdown for two weeks in accordance with Governor Wolf’s statewide mandate. All courses quickly shifted to virtual. Students left their dorms. Campus was closed.

Two weeks turned to two months, and now, 12 months later, Rosemont has remained a vibrant institution that has kept pace with the quickly changing circumstances.

“It was a covid year, but it wasn’t a lost year,” said President Jayson Boyers.

Everything changed, but little was eliminated last spring and summer.

Commencement was postponed to Spring 2021, and in its place last May was a virtual tribute to the graduates. Reunion became virtual, Accepted Students Days were produced as Zoom events. Dozens

17 | RO S EM O N T C O L L E GE

of alumni and college events were hosted on Zoom and brought members of the College and alumni community together.

The Class of 2024 was still welcomed into the Rosemont community in a socially distanced Cap and Gown ceremony.

People helped each other. Faith Byrne, Juliann Ewing and other essential workers came to campus throughout the spring to perform functions that could not be completed from home. Dan Mason and Public Safety officers met students at the campus gate to provide laptops to those who did not have technology at home available to complete their coursework.

Faculty members helped each other adapt courses for virtual platforms and even found creative ways to do it. The senior art show was transformed into an online format, for example.

President Boyers had to navigate the complexities of reopening the College while relocating to the Philadelphia area from

Michigan in the middle of the pandemic.

When schools around the country were faced with the uncertainty of reopening in the fall, President Boyers and his Taskforce for Reopening had confidence that if any small college could successfully reopen, it was Rosemont.

“We are small and nimble,” said President Boyers. “I’m very grateful for the contributions of each member of the Taskforce, and I am proud that our work together this year has been focused on one goal: delivering a high-quality Rosemont College experience to each student, no matter what the coronavirus may bring our way. Our plan for reopening was carefully designed to safeguard the health and safety of every member of our community.”

According to a Chronicle of Higher Education study in October 2020, out of nearly 3,000 colleges, 21% offered a hybrid model for students. Rosemont was

able to do just that, and created a new model to divide the semester into two, seven-week terms called Two Terms, One Focus as part of Rosemont 2020, the plan to reopen the College in the fall.

“Multiple initiatives were put into place including air filtration upgrades in all the buildings, enhancements in dining services, rearranging furniture to be six feet apart, temperature checks at the entrance to campus, a tent for socially distanced gatherings on Connelly Green, signage in all spaces on campus, and “Protect the Nest” face masks,” he said.

In addition, the Raven Safe app was created, with which all students, faculty and staff, daily report any COVID symptoms to allow them access to campus and classrooms, and the cafeteria.

In August, Rosemont formed a partnership with Main Line Health to help administrators plan, then test, and then reimagine the College’s Health Services

delivery. All students, faculty, and staff were required to have negative PCR COVID tests at the beginning of each s\ emester. Quarantine rooms, set aside in Mayfield Hall, helped staff prepare to manage the few small COVID outbreaks on campus.

“Our plan to reopen campus first in fall 2020 and then spring semester 2021 was developed to reopen campus safely and bring our undergraduate students back on campus, because that is where learning and student engagement is best,” said Boyers.

“Adjusting to campus life during the pandemic was different, it was safe but it was different,” said Talaya Martin-Smith ’22. “I now have a collection of masks that pretty much match anything I put on and I carry sanitizer and wipes everywhere I go.”

Boyers said, “Throughout the year, we have tracked Rosemont College’s positivity rate, and it has been consistently much lower that rates in Montgomery County,

and the state of Pennsylvania.”

In fact, Rosemont ended the Fall semester with a cumulative PCR positivity rate of 3.3%. The PCR positivity rate in Montgomery County, according to the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Dashboard, had at that time increased to 12.1% and the PCR positivity rate in the Commonwealth had increased to 16.2%.

When it came time to reopen in the spring semester, President Boyers didn’t hesitate. With safety measures in place from the fall, the College community would be able to continue moving forward, as it always has.

“We’ve learned to adapt and continue to build relationships,” he said. “Our students have been resilient through all the challenges. We can reaffirm that we haven’t stood still. We have found new ways to do things. I’m proud of everything we have done, and I’m excited about what the future holds.”

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 18

Student Brings The POWER Of small To The Big Screen For Talaya Martin-Smith ’21, the pandemic hits close to home. Her mother was diagnosed with COVID-19 in September.

The senior majoring in Communications with a minor in Marketing from North Philadelphia had just started an internship with Big Picture Alliance, an organization that empowers young people to define their own narrative through filmmaking.

“Due to COVID-19, the theme for student films was resiliency, and I thought there was no better way to showcase resilience other than filming my journey of going to school during a pandemic,” said Martin-Smith. “I found out my mother contracted the virus one month after I started interning and it wasn’t until then that I knew my film was meant to be created, seen, and heard.”

Martin-Smith created and produced her own film The POWER of small, a short documentary that chronicles life on Rosemont’s campus during the Fall 2020 semester of the pandemic.

Martin-Smith’s mother has recovered, but Talaya is quick to acknowledge that others continue to suffer from the devastating virus.

“I want my film to not only encourage and inspire everyone that things will get better, but I also want to inform them,”

19 | RO S EM O N T C O L L EGE

she said. “I want it to reach all those who have been and still are impacted by COVID-19. When watching my film, you should feel a sense of hope into the future while also remembering the panic and heartache because there are still people out there fighting for their lives and my mother was one of them.”

As Martin-Smith’s film depicts, Rosemont faculty, staff, and students have embodied the theme of resilience as members of the College community look back on the last year.

Click Here to View Talaya Martin-Smith's short film chronicling the life of Rosemont's campus during the pandemic.

On March 16, President Boyers held a Zoom event entitled A Look Back & A Way Forward: One Year of COVID-19, a roundtable discussion focused on how the Rosemont College community has adapted, pivoted, and changed since the Spring 2020 shutdown due to the coronavirus.

“COVID-19 brought us challenges,” said President Boyers. “But, in the face of this challenge, Rosemont College did what it always does: approach the challenge with endurance, willingness and joy. The Rosemont community rose to the challenge, through the heroic efforts on our talented faculty, staff, students, and alumni, each doing their part and I want to say ‘thank you for all that you’ve done.’”

Faculty and staff members shared many lessons they have learned over the past year and how collectively the Rosemont College community will embrace the future post-pandemic.

Class of 1968 Forges Friendship and Fellowship During Pandemic What began as annual gatherings for members from the Class of 1968 has now turned into bimonthly Zoom events.

Dee Rachel Nann remembers move-in day like it was yesterday.

“In the fall of 1964, the class of 1968 arrived on the beautiful Rosemont campus, I was nervous and excited as the first in my family to attend college,” said Nann.

“I was assigned to 2nd floor Connelly Hall and soon met my roommate and fellow students. Many of us have remained close for these past 56 years.”

The group of friends has not only remained close, but committed to maintaining the bond of friendship over five decades.

In the years immediately following their Commencement, friends from the Class of 1968 continued to see each other regularly at each other’s weddings, bridal and baby showers, but by the early 1970s the visits were less frequent.

“1971 was the first year that we had no weddings or showers in our group,” said Kathie Donnelly Solomon. “I called everyone to see if they were interested in getting together at my parents’ home in Baltimore and the response was very positive, so we chose a date in July for our first annual ‘reunion.’”

Her idea gained momentum and grew into an annual tradition. The group has reunited every year for what they call their “unofficial reunions” with different members from the Class of 1968 taking turns to host. If it’s their Reunion year, they meet at Rosemont. Over the years,

their gatherings have included their husbands and children who have also formed their own friendships from seeing each other every year.

“The gatherings have followed the timeline of our lives through marriage and parenthood all the way to one of our reunions on the grounds of the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC where our college graduate children in the area gathered with us,” said Deidre Lamplugh Schipani, a regular attendee of the reunions.

Rather than delay their gatherings during the pandemic, the group has been able to meet more frequently, thanks to Zoom. Nann has been instrumental in organizing the Friday evening gatherings every two weeks among alumnae who have been friends for more than 50 years.

“I think the spirit of Rosemont and the community and growth that developed among us is the reason for these lasting friendships,” said Nann. “The Zoom gatherings allow us to see each other more often than our previous once a year get-together.”

Every other Friday they can enjoy a cocktail together virtually, discuss books they’re reading during the pandemic, share stories about their grandchildren, and more.

On March 12, President Boyers joined their Zoom reunion. The Class of 1968 wanted to learn more about what students are facing in 2021, so two current students also joined to talk about what life on campus has been like during the pandemic.

By Katie DuBoff Prior to the pandemic, Solomon took the lead on planning the in-person trips, just as she did the first time in 1971.

“The amazing thing about our group is that regardless of our diverse paths in life, our time together is precious each year,” said Solomon. “We support each other in good times and in sad times and have never felt alone in our trials and tribulations through the years. Each year when I plan the trip I wonder if the next year that no one will show up. Until then, I will happily look into destinations and pray that everyone shows up.”

Each year, a large group does show up and about 20 attend on a regular basis.

The reunions have taken them to cities around the country where classmates live for weekends that have included golf, tennis, tourist attractions, historical tours, potlucks, Sunday Mass, farewell brunch, and more. In 2018, they returned to campus for their 50th Reunion. And in 2019, they gathered in Cape May, New Jersey, for another weekend of friendship and fellowship.

Solomon adds that when it’s safe to meet in person again, she hopes they will be headed to Boca Raton, Florida, which is where we had decided to go in 2020 but had to cancel because of the pandemic.

“When we gather it is as if we never left that beautiful campus and Rosemont experience that brought us all together,” said Schipani. “The laughter flows. The conversations are engaged. The topics have changed but the vitality and sincerity remain intact.”

ROSE MONT MAGA Z I N E | 20

Lenten Remembrance: "Turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy."

Ashes were distributed on Ash Wednesday, February 17, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

Nelson Perez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, chats with Rosemont students in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

On March 1, Rosemont College was honored with a visit from Archbishop Perez, who met with student leaders and campus administration.

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Save the Date!

Commencement Ceremonies to be Held on May 15 and 16

Plans are underway to hold in-person Commencement Ceremonies for the 2020 and 2021 Graduates of Rosemont College!

Multiple small ceremonies organized by degree and/ or program will be held on campus on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16.

The Ceremonies will be held outside under a tent on Connelly Green. Tent capacity will be limited to 250 individuals, including graduates, faculty, members of the platform party, and guests.

Social distancing will be observed, and all participants and guests must wear masks. Social distancing also requires that each graduate observe the ticket limit for their guests.

Students will receive specific information about the date and time of the Ceremony for their degree by email no later than April 1. The organization of the ceremonies, as well as the number of guest tickets assigned to each graduate, will be determined by the number of graduates who plan to attend Commencement.

Sharon Woods Clark ’74 and Ben McGinty, Jr. ’00 will also receive honorary degrees.

Sr. Veronica Openibo, Society Leader of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, will deliver a virtual address and receive an honorary degree at the Ceremony.

► For more information on Commencement Click Here

Sharon Clark has served Rosemont as an alumna and Honorary Trustee and distinguished herself in her career and her community. Sharon was elected to the Rosemont College Board of Trustees in June 2007, following two years as an ex-officio member of the Board in her capacity as president of the Alumni Association.

A 1979 graduate of St. Joseph’s University, Ben McGinty earned his MSM in Organizational Management from Rosemont College in 2000. Almost immediately, Ben became an advocate and active volunteer for the College. He was elected to the Alumni Board of Directors in 2011 and has continued his service to the Board and the alumni community, also serving as an active volunteer for Reflect | Renew | Rejoice: The Campaign for Rosemont College.

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Student Teaching During a Pandemic

By Katie DuBoff

“Although most colleges and universities had issues with placing candidates for student teaching during the pandemic, Rosemont College Education Division was fortunate to arrange placements for all 13 students,” said Denise Falconi, EdD, Director of Teacher Education. “All competencies and regulations are being met and exceeded by our students to prepare them for certification in a few short months.”

For Rosemont education students, the spring semester is often known for gaining hands-on experience through student teaching. This spring is no different; however, student teaching is certainly altered during the ongoing pandemic.

The 13 student teaching placements are split with approximately half teaching in person and half virtual or a hybrid model.

Holly Brady is teaching at Community Partnership School, a charter school in North Philadelphia. She worked at the school during the fall semester as an aid helping students with their virtual classes.

“CPS, although fully virtual, brings some of the students into the school to complete their classes as some of the kids do not have Wi-Fi or childcare at home,” said Brady. “I loved my experience working here so much last semester that I requested to do my student teaching with the same first grade class. The school is still fully virtual, but I'm lucky enough to get to come into the school every day and help with the five first graders who are in person.”

The School District of Philadelphia announced on January 27 that some students in pre-K through grade 2 would return to in-person learning twice a week starting on Feb. 22.

For Lauren Skinner, she has been able to teach in a kindergarten class at Gladwyne Elementary School in Lower Merion School District. Kindergarten in the district is divided into a morning and

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afternoon cohort, and Skinner has been able to teach both groups in person.

“Our school is in-person, although the classroom environment is different now due COVID-19, and the students have truly adapted to learning 6-feet apart, as well as the teachers,” said Skinner. “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to interact with students in person during these trying times the world is facing. I go to bed excited for the next school day and wake up excited to teach my smart and resilient students. Student teaching so far has been more amazing than I already knew it would be.”

A few of the other districts where Rosemont students are student teaching are: Haverford, Interboro, Norristown, Rose Tree Media, and Upper Darby across several grades from kindergarten through high school.

Breyana Grant is also student teaching in a kindergarten class – in Upper Darby School District. While she is gaining in-person teaching experience, she has also learned a lot about teaching virtually when the district has had to transition between virtual and in-person models.

“The experience is great,” said Grant.

“I love the students. All the teachers are very nice and even the principal sees me and speaks to me every day. It’s definitely a challenge teaching kindergarteners online. It’s really not the most ideal developmentally for them, in my opinion.

It can be hard getting them to focus, but we work with the situation we were given the best we can. It can be even more of a challenge doing both virtual and in person together to make sure all the kinks are knocked out and find the balance between the two, but I’m glad I do get to be in person with even just a few students because it is great to see and interact with them.”

While student teachers adapt to new health and safety school guidelines, learn to teach in a virtual format, and gain

experience developing virtual and in-person lesson plans, they remain excited about their future teaching careers.

“The pandemic put a lot of things in perspective for me as an educator as you realize how many students really rely on their schools as a safe place for them to learn, eat, and be taken care of,” said Brady. “I think often it’s easy to take school for granted. The kids here, even at the age of six, have taught me how much a welcoming and caring school environment means to them.”

Grant, who notes that she has always wanted to teach second grade but now may be changing her mind to focus on kindergarten, has found inspiration through the pandemic.

“I’ve found and seen so many new and amazing programs online that the children can use and enjoy,” she said. “It’s really quite amazing how the teachers of the world have come together to share and create all these new things for the students so they can try to thrive in such a difficult time for learning.”

Skinner, who will graduate with a degree in Elementary Education with a certification in PK-4 and Special Education grades PK-8, agrees.

“The pandemic has affected my view of becoming a teacher by driving me to be the best teacher I can be,” said Skinner.

“Students have lost opportunities of making connections with friends, losing the routine of school, and the chance that their needs are not being completely met in the classroom or online virtually.

Students now need teachers the most, and I am excited for the challenges that the pandemic has brought to us and may continue to bring us in education. It is a learning opportunity that I am not afraid to take on. I am ready for the challenges I may face, if that means my students are going to enjoy school and that their needs are going to be met.”

Lauren Skinner is completing her student teaching in a kindergarten class at Gladwyne Elementary School in Lower Merion School District.

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Spring Sports to Return Rosemont Athletic Director Joe Pavlow announced last month that a limited spring sports season will begin this semester.

“While this will be a truncated schedule, we are very excited to give our athletics an opportunity to play this spring while following all necessary pandemic safety procedures,” said Pavlow.

This announcement follows an update from the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) affirming its intent to move forward with a formal competitive season and conference championships for all spring sports in the spring 2021 semester. Member institutions were given the autonomy to engage in non-conference competition in the sports of baseball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field and men’s volleyball at their discretion with the condition that the expectations outlined in the CSAC Return to Play plan are reviewed and met by the opponent.

The CSAC Board of Directors, athletic administrators, and conference office staff continue to actively monitor the changing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the semester and will make adjustments as necessary to adhere to local, state, and federal health requirements and maintain the health and well-being of student athletes.

“I'm excited to get back out on the field with everybody.

Our season was cut short last year, and it was a downer for a lot of us. But it's my senior season this year, so I'm hoping to go out with a bang.”

-M ark Porter '21 men's lacrosse goaltender

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Rosemont's Men's Lacrosse Team during a practice on a sunny, snowy day.

Baseball Comes to Rosemont in 2022

Ross Trachtenberg Hired as Coach

The first season of men’s Rosemont baseball will begin in the spring of 2022.

Ross Trachtenberg has been named the head baseball coach.

“Rosemont Baseball presents a unique opportunity to ball players looking to be an immediate and integral member of a college baseball team,” said Trachtenberg. “Rosemont College is designed to give each student individual attention and support to be successful. My goal in building a baseball program is to mirror that philosophy. I could not be more excited and optimistic about the future of Rosemont College Baseball,” he said.

Trachtenberg arrives at Rosemont after five seasons at West Chester University as an assistant coach. In his time at West Chester, he helped the team win a PSAC Championship, NCAA Atlantic Regional title and a national championship.

“We are extremely excited to have Ross lead our baseball program,” said Joe Pavlow, Rosemont Athletic Director. “His diverse experience on the baseball diamond, as a recruiter, and as an educator in higher education was something that we highly valued during our search. When building a new program, instilling the right culture is critical, and Ross has great experience with this. Being a part of a program with a national championship pedigree at West Chester is something that will help Ross build the foundation of our program here at Rosemont,” he said.

Trachtenberg is already focused on recruiting efforts and building a foundation for the new team. “I am extremely pleased with the level of interest in

Rosemont College and the new Baseball Program during these first few months of recruiting,” said Trachtenberg. “I have been impressed with the high level of ball players that are considering or have committed to Rosemont. These recruits are also excellent fits academically for the College and are of the highest character.

My focus initially has been on the 2021 high school graduates, but will shift my attention to include junior college and four-year college transfers as well.”

Trachtenberg spent one season with Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Baseball in Claremont, CA. As the team’s lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, Trachtenberg helped guide the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens to a 28-win season and a berth in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoffs before returning to the Philadelphia area.

Before coaching collegiately, Trachtenberg was the head varsity coach at Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood, PA, for 10 seasons. Trachtenberg has also been an associate scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2011. He helps to identify and evaluate the top high school and college players in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Trachtenberg received his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University in 2002 and his Master of Science in Sport Management degree from Drexel University in 2015. Trachtenberg lives in King of Prussia, PA, with his wife, Lori, and their daughter, Claire, and son, Casey.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me professionally, and I am grateful to Athletic Director Joe Pavlow,” said Trachtenberg. “Rosemont College is a special place where I have felt welcomed since I first stepped on campus in the fall to speak about this new program. I believe recruits have felt that same sense of belonging and comfort during their campus visits as well.”

Welcome a new Head Men's Soccer Coach John Loiodice has been named the head men’s soccer coach at Rosemont College.

“The men’s soccer team will be one of the favorites in the CSAC this fall, so it was important to bring in a coach that will be able to hit the ground running and provide the leadership necessary to compete right away while still building for the future,” said Joe Pavlow, Athletic Director.

“John’s passion and attention to detail really stood out to me and the members of the search committee.”

Loiodice arrives at Rosemont after serving as the assistant coach for his alma mater the Rowan University men’s soccer team for seven seasons. While at Rowan, Loiodice served as the head of recruiting and directed all social media and game day operations.

Loiodice currently serves as the head boys’ coach for New Jersey Olympic Development Program. Loiodice was also the head soccer coach at Bishop Eustace and Triton Regional High School where he led both programs to conference championships. He has had successful stints at the PDL level with Ocean City Nor Easters as head coach of the U23’s. He was a twoyear starter at Rowan (2009-10) and an All-American at Brookdale Community College in 2008.

“I want to thank Mr. Pavlow and the entire search committee for entrusting me with leading the men’s soccer program here at Rosemont,” said Loiodice. “I am excited and passionate to work with a great group of student athletes and continuing to build a winning culture. I look forward to working with an outstanding athletic department whose goals and aspirations align with my coaching philosophy.”

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In memoriam Alumni…

Mary Bernadine ’39 Judith Hennessey Beavers ’61 Kathleen Pinto Bilotta ’46 Elizabeth “Bette” Murray Blum ’61 Betty Regosch Bobrownicki '48 Jean Troy Brantley ’48 Regina Culin Brennan ’46 Kathleen Casey Buckley ’46 Lucille Carnevalino Byrne ’70 Margaret Carroll Mullen Carney ’54 Sarah “Sally” Strife Cashel ’53 Elaine deProphetis Chermol ’58 Winifred Turner Claffey ’46 Barbara Connolly ’70 Martha Castaldi Cushwa ’50 Eileen O’Neill Davola ’42 Ann Kimnach Doley ’47 Marie "ReRe" O'Donnell Dooner ’57 Peggy Johann Dougherty ’50 Julia McGuire Dowdle ’45 Noreen O'Brian Drukker ’60 Sheri Oden Dylewski ’70 Mary Macdonald Eastman ’44 Shirley Keiss Fielding ’47 Carol Cunningham Foley ’52 Marjorie Fogarty Furrey ’34 Emma Maher Gaines ’47 Carol Cunningham Gallagher ’57 Mary McElduff Garrahan ’49 Mary O'Conor Goodwillie ’38 Mary Williamson Gurren ’31 Mary Reynolds Haas ’35 Carol Ryan Heron ’48 Marjorie Santa Maria Holt ’42 Helen Schroth Hughes ’51 Frances Kernan Hutchinson ’29 Anna Jane Moser Jones ’45 Sister Marie Joseph, OP ’45 Helen Ford Joyce ’45 Nell Caver Keim ’43 Elizabeth Kelley ’43

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Erin Miriam King ’03 Miriam Carroll Kirk ’35 Anne Lanigan ’42 Anne "Nancy" Dougherty Lavin ’60 Jean Mitchell Leverte ’53 Mary Pfeffer Long ’32 Susan Probst Loughlin ’61 Ann Grady Lucas ’61 Joan Downing Lutz ’43 Virginia "Ginny" Breese Lyon ’47 Genevieve Croker Maloney ’53 Sister Helen McDonald ’62 Mary Patricia Ziminsky McNulty ’52 Elizabeth Young McTamney ’51 Eleanor Eccles Mercer ’52 Rita Maggio Miserendino ’47 Fernanda C. Molino ’62 Mary R. Moran ’52 Elaine Kelleher Murphy ’45 Catherine "Kay" O'Brien ’54 Grace “Gay” E. Ungers Pedersen ’65 Ann Marie Pelot, PhD ’62 Judith Schlick Pryor ’56 Denise Ryan Quinn ’51 Patricia Callow Reardon ’54 Adelaide Breslin Ritter '43 Marie "Mibs" Becker Kelly Robertson ’51 Barbara Columbia Ross ’53 Mary Fogarty Ryan ’52 Sue Oppenheimer Schwartz ’43 Margaret Mary Keating Sherry ’41 Pamela Burlington Somers ’65 Elizabeth Burke Szeghy ’66 Barbara Heimerle Stewart ’78 Bessie Bellinger Thomas ’47 Judy Santarsiero Torello '61 Catherine Mary Coll Villani ’93 Edith "Edie" Steele Walsh ’67 Eleanor Ring White ’47 Ruth Dwyer Young ’43 Suzanne Sheen Zegers ’53 Marjorie Hanhauser Zeliff ’65

Husband of…

Denise Maher Dunne '58 Susan Eddy Cruickshank ’68 Jane Matricciani Shaab ’66 Catherine Poggi Sur ’62

Mother of…

Nancy Dreiss '78 Maria Louise Genetti '94

Father of…

Jane A. Federowicz ’15 Kimberly Ann Green ’97 LeNee T. Wolfe ’04

Son of…

Alice McLaughlin ’04 Debbie Rucci ’65

Sister of…

Margaret “Peggy” Cassady Burns ’54

Sisters of …

Catherine "Kay" O'Brien ’54 Grandfather of …

Kimberly J. Federowicz ’13 Former Members of Faculty & Staff …

Marilyn J. Conwell, PhD Ann S. Donaldson John G. Kuhn III, PhD Josephine “Jo” M. Randazzo

Friends of Rosemont…

Charles Bentz John Bogle Peter Y. Bryan Malvina Cherry Bernice Paul

Ann Donaldson, Former Longtime Director of Athletics, Passes Away The Rosemont athletic community is saddened to learn that Rosemont's former longtime Director of Athletics, Ann Donaldson, has passed away.

Ann died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at age 90. Rosemont athletics was lucky to have known Ann and she has left a lasting legacy at Rosemont College.

Ann was hired by Rosemont College as a Physical Education teacher and coach. Over the years, she coached Tennis and Basketball. She was named Coach of the Year several times and served as the Athletic Director. Ann retired in 1994 after 43 years with the college.

She went on to Temple. At Temple University, , where she received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, she was a three-sport athlete, playing field hockey, basketball, and softball. Ann was a loyal Phillies fan, through thick and thin, and had season tickets for 45 years. Ann was an accomplished athlete who skied worldwide and was the doubles Tennis champion at Germantown Cricket Club for 15 years.

In retirement, Ann played Golf at

Sandy Run three times a week until she was 88 years old. She played with the ladies' golf group at Pinecrest Country Club, where she had a Hole-in-One and bowled with the same group in the off-season. Ann was a graduate of Ambler High School, class of 1947, where she was a member of the Honor Society and voted Most Athletic in her class.

A Tribute Letter to Coach, Ann Donaldson

By Lenee D. Woodson '92

Ann Donaldson was the lady in the gym. Our coach, our leader, a kind spirit with just enough moxy to give you tough love when you needed it, a laugh when you least expected it and a lesson when you thought you knew it all.

She took time to introduce coaches and let you know that she had hand picked them to lead us to victory. I played four sports a year at Rosemont for Mrs. D. That's how I always looked at it. Especially since she was the one that elevated the great sport of badminton to its rightful place in athletics. As a graduate of the

class of '92 when badminton took it's proper position in the Barcelona games at the Olympics, I just knew Mrs. D was onto something huge.

As the badminton coach, she literally taught me the game all the while dropping little gems about practice makes perfect, honing your skills, respecting the game, knowing your opponents game as a strategy and the importance of staying in the game because it is not over until the whistle blows.

What a powerful yet delicate dance she led us in; all the visual leadership traits in humility, confidence, and service to others rolled into one woman. She was a role model, a constant, and a friend.

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Dr. Conwell assisting a student in the former Conwell Language Lab, which she and her mother generously gifted to the College.

Marilyn J. Conwell, PhD, Professor Emerita, passed away peacefully on Jan. 13 at the age of 87. Marilyn was a beloved member of the Rosemont community for 50 years.

Born in 1933 in the East Falls section of Philadelphia, Marilyn graduated from Philadelphia Girls High School and continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania, earning her bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees before becoming a professor of linguistics at Pennsylvania State University.

Conwell joined the faculty at Rosemont in 1963. In 1979, she became the Chair of Foreign Languages before eventually being named Chair of Modern and Foreign Languages in 2004 until retiring in 2013.

Conwell designed, installed, and directed the Conwell Learning Center at Rosemont and was instrumental in establishing the only full-credit American Sign Language (ASL) course in the Philadelphia area. She prepared and presented an ASL workshop at the Northeast Conference in New York City, a first that a foreign language organization sponsored an ASL program.

In 1980, during a sabbatical, she studied computer programming and wrote programs for Rosemont Foreign Language

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students. Conwell's doctoral thesis on French Louisiana Dialect was internationally published and remains the only fully published study on the dialect.

She enjoyed painting, traveling especially to France - and was an expert seamstress. Conwell also taught courses in Radiological Technology at Thomas Jefferson University and served on the advisory board for Radiological Technology with the College of Allied Health Sciences.

My Tribute to Marilyn J. Conwell, Ph.D

By Linda Romanowski ’75, ‘21

It was a bittersweet gathering of Rosemont College alumni, faculty, and other community members at St. Denis Church in January, as we celebrated the life of Dr. Marilyn Conwell, Professor Emerita at the College.

Overwhelming sadness possessed me learning of her passing on Jan. 13. Immediate images come to mind when I think of Dr. Conwell: a strong, smiling Force of Language, and her laugh as she walked across campus. Seeing her swirling skirt, the high-heeled shoes, the beret (often red), the red lipstick — in the minds of the students of the 1970s, Dr. Conwell

was a walking homage to the 1940s.

A class act.

Never her student, I learned about her vicariously. A unique act, my classmates said in describing her. She could have unraveled the Tower of Babel. Dr. Conwell perpetually captivated her students; her love for them was as profound as her love of the spoken word. So much so that she employed a legendary tactic that today’s students might deem archaic: She scheduled classes during TV soap opera hours. Her students had no choice but to focus on the drama of syntax. They knew of her scheme and made the sacrifice. No student of hers would fall prey to such foolery, if she could help it.

It’s amazing to think that such memories could be held about a teacher whose class I never sat in. But that’s also the beauty of Dr. Conwell’s legacy to Rosemont College. She remains a guiding hand, who continues to teach us with the eternal gift of her devotion and of her dedication.

Dr. Conwell joins her deceased, beloved professors who live forever in the classrooms of our minds of our beloved school. We remain so fortunate as recipients of her brilliance and for the brilliance of her colleagues that shines within us always. Well done, Faithful Servant, well done! Dr. Marilyn Conwell, may you rest in the Lord’s peace and in our gratitude.

Rosemont Mourns Loss of John Kuhn, PhD,

Professor Emeritus John G. (Jack) Kuhn, III, PhD, died peacefully at his home in Ocean City, NJ, on Jan. 22, 2021, after a long illness.

He taught English, writing, poetry, and theater at Rosemont for 30 years.

Kuhn was born in West Philadelphia, June 2, 1935, to John G. II and Helen (Wright) Kuhn. After graduating from West Catholic High School in 1953, he earned his BA in English from St. Joseph's College (1957) and his MA in English from Purdue University (1959), where he also met the love of his life, Janice Rose McFadden, a math student there. The two married in 1960 and lived in Las Cruces, NM, where he taught at New Mexico State University before returning to the Philadelphia area to complete his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania and begin a 30-year teaching career at Rosemont College.

He taught English, writing, and poetry and developed the Rosemont theater program, directing an annual student theater production before retiring in 2002, becoming Professor Emeritus. He was a dedicated writer and throughout his career published poems, plays, and scholarly papers on Greek theater, Walt Whitman, and Eugene O'Neill. Everything - his family, nature, politics, world crises - became fodder for his writing.

In particular, his year-long sabbatical in Montalcino, Italy, inspired a volume of poetry, Some Stolen Pavingstones.

Kuhn home office, overlooking the Pennock Woods in Lansdowne, PA, served as his writing haven. Most days, when not at Rosemont, he would be found working at his old typewriter and smoking his pipe in his office, a den too small to move about and overloaded with hundreds of books he had collected (and read) and sorted into wooden boxes alongside scores of playbills, notes, clipped articles and class outlines all stuffed into its proper book.

Kuhn loved teaching and for 37 years relished introducing students to the joys and mysteries of literature, poetry, and theater. He was highly regarded by colleagues and by students who, decades later, spoke lovingly of his influence and inspiration.

Love, John Lessons learned from an English Teacher

By Tara Cuddihy McFadden ’91 How does one write about a writer?

This quandary would have fascinated our friend, Dr. John G. Kuhn III. I wonder will he begin this task by uncapping one of the myriad red pens that nestled so snuggly in the pocket of his tweed blazer?

Once I’ve submitted my work, will he take points off for not citing my sources? Will my thesis be evident and effective? Or, will he tell me to dig deeper? . . . because “You can do better, Tara.”

Once tasked with this project, I made haste to the basement as I knew exactly where my Rosemont files were located. I had saved all of my English papers on the off chance that someone would ask me for “A Critical Analysis of Oedipus Rex.” Before I delved into that dilapidated, dusty box, I was quite certain that John Kuhn gave me an A in every course over our four years together at Rosemont. Well, I was wrong--(unreliable narrator)! Many of my papers were a minefield of red ink, cross outs and suggestions. On one paper, I actually received an A/D+. How is that even possible? Is it an A, John? Or a D+?

And if it’s a D+, I may need to choose another advisor.

As a poet, a writer and a director, John Kuhn loved the written word. He embraced it, he labored over it, he loved to talk about word choice. As the longtime director of Jest and Gesture Theater, it was, “Call me John.” Well, that was a word choice. It meant: I am your friend and I care about you. John Kuhn cared enough to push me to be better. To not be satisfied (split infinitive and sentence fragment) with my first draft. He loved the theater and encouraged his students to trust and to take risks. Through his rich life, John impacted scores of thespians with his knowledge, his wit and his care.

He saw his students as the best version of

Tara with Professor Kuhn themselves and pushed them to take risks to achieve this.

Here’s what I learned: The difference between its and it’s. Finally! I wrote it on the inside of my folder and think about that once or twice each day. And I thank him because not a lot of people know that one. I promise. Look for that error in your daily life and you will find it. A good writer will “Show it, and not say it.” Because if you show it correctly, your reader will understand. Here was his example: I know my son loves me when he wants to introduce me to his friends. He doesn’t have to say it, he doesn’t have to hit me over the head with it. I know it’s there because of his gesture. (Notice the correct use of it’s.)

And I know that scores of thespians (remember them from paragraph 3?) knew it too. He invited them back to Rosemont to be a part of J&G long after graduation. He kept them as a part of Rosemont Theater as audience, as judges. An ever-evolving group of dedicated and loyal players who kept coming back because of the caring world that John created with his co-director, Meg Walters.

All of the papers that I wrote for John were lovingly critiqued. Perhaps John Kuhn put more effort into the critique than I actually put into writing some of those early papers. Probably, yes. As I read over his comments, I realize that he was showing me his care and friendship even if I didn’t always like the grade. And that minefield of cross outs were always signed “Love, John.”

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Class Notes

Linda M. Romanowski '75 recently became a prime contributor of The City Key online magazine, with five submissions published since 2018.

Her recent writings “Christian Street Caruso” and “The Election that Changed the World” were published this winter. “The Charge of the Night Brigade” was also published on the magazine’s Facebook page. “Christian Street Caruso” was also published on the Mario Lanza Institute website in January. Since 2017, Romanowski has served as a CNF submission reviewer for Rosemont's Rathalla magazine. In 2020, she became a poetry submission reviewer for Philadelphia Stories and participated as a reviewer for the Sandy Crimmins National Poetry Prize.

Barbara Amar McGoldrick ’77 recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Silver Spoon, her store based in Bronxville, NY, that sells baby and children’s clothing.

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Nicole Schanne Maloney ’92 has recently published the eighth installment of her nostalgic children's book series The Peppermints.

The Peppermints: Country Mouse, Suburban Mouse continues to explore this one-of-a kind family. Taking place in the 1950s, The Peppermints is a heartfelt remembrance of the past. Visit www.thepeppermints.org for all things Minty!

In addition to her work as an author, Maloney is a Literacy Specialist who works at the AIM Institute for Learning & Research in Conshohocken, PA. She is also an instructional developer, coach, and trainer, and facilitates educators worldwide in the Science of Reading and implementing of evidence-based strategies into the classroom.

Lisa Maria Tartaglia Carlin ’96 has been selected as a 2020 Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, an organization for professionals specializing in hospice and palliative medicine based in Chicago, IL. Carlin has been named a Fellow based on her demonstrating significant commitment to the field of hospice and palliative medicine.

An online video presentation can be viewed by clicking here.

Dr. Beatrice Ann Cary Majka ’00 completed her Doctorate of Business Administration at Drexel University in December 2020, summa cum laude, with a concentration on Virtual Reality and training to develop employees. She holds her bachelor’s in Management from Rosemont College, and an MBA in International Management from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Majka has been employed at GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals in Human Resources as a Global Learning Advisor for 19 years and has been an adjunct faculty member at Rosemont in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies for more than 15 years.

Lori Klement, CCS ’04 recently passed the exam for Certified Customs Specialist certification. As an Operations Specialist - Trade Compliance at Lutron Electronics Company in Coopersburg, PA, Klement works in the Trade Compliance department and has a primary focus is U.S. Customs import audit, valuation, and broker management.

She spends most of her free time with eight-year-old son Mason and husband Mike at the ice rink five days per week.

(Mason plays for two hockey teams - the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth Mite Minors and Parkland Youth teams). “I am very excited for my son to receive his Reconciliation and First Holy Communion sacraments this year from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic School,” Lori said.

Don Yost '05 SGPS has signed a book contract with Covenant Publishing for publication of his second book Henry: A Sequel to Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage. The book casts light on the impact of the Vietnam War on the young soldiers who throughout history have been its casualties. Since the war, many studies have been conducted on post-traumatic stress disorder, which is now recognized as one of the most prevalent results of combat experience.

Travis Staples '15 is employed as the chief operating officer at ESC Marketing Group, a digital marketing agency based in Philadelphia, PA, that specializes in growing businesses by increasing their digital presence.

James Hughes '17 is a clinical data manager at Merck.

Asia Lewis '18 has received The CALI Excellence for the Future Award by Widener Law School.

The award is given to the highest-scoring student in each law school class at many law schools. Asia is being honored for her work in the Trial Methods course.

Christopher Cortes '19 is a sales representative for Epocrates at AthenaHealth Inc.

Jeffy Mathew '13 is starting a Fellowship at Westchester Medical Center in New York for pulmonary and critical care in June 2021. He will be working in the ICU with COVID-19 patients.

Sarah Hussain '14 will be starting her Fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Kyah Hawkins '18 has received a fully funded Fellowship to attend Temple University in the Master’s of Public History program. After commencement, Kyah served as the National History Day Philly Education Fellow 2020 at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and is currently working as an Archives Assistant at Drexel University College of Medicine Legacy Center Archives & Special Collections.

Benjamin Koszelak '19 is a field chemist at Tradebe Environmental Services in Dunellen, NJ.

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Challenge Accepted 2020 Grads are Moving Ahead Despite the Pandemic

The final months of our Class of 2020’s college journey was anything but ordinary. Students adapted to online instruction, parted with friends, and packed up their belongings, uncertain when, or if, they’d return. But as graduation neared, they learned to thrive in the new environment, acing coursework and building an active virtual community with peers.

While students quickly adjusted to this so-called “new normal,” launching a career in the midst of a pandemic remained uncharted territory. The circumstances were daunting: In April 2020, the unemployment rate hit 14.7 percent – the highest since the Great Depression. In a time when more jobs were dissolved than created, many felt nervous about their prospects.

Our grads’ response to the adversity: Challenge accepted. Despite the odds, many members of Rosemont’s Class of 2020 successfully landed jobs or are furthering their education during the pandemic. Cheers to the beginning of your careers, Ravens!

According to Travis Marshall, Director, Office of Experiential Opportunities and Post Graduate Success, 93% of the Class of 2020 had a self-reported post graduate destination of full-time employment, full-time graduate school, or service program (including military), despite the pandemic.

Kinga Robuta '20 has been accepted into the ACE Nursing Program at Drexel University.

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Mary Grace Murray ’20 has been accepted in the MD/PhD program at Loyola University (Chicago) School of Medicine. She was one of two students accepted in this program this year.

Kahleel Henry ’20 is employed at Kavo Kerr, a dental equipment manufacturer group based in Brea, CA, as a Helpdesk IT Specialist.

Yemurai Mberi '20 is an associate scientist at Eurofins Laboratories in Lancaster, PA.

Denine Semcheski '20 has been accepted into the Accelerated Nursing Program at Jefferson University in Philadelphia and will begin in May 2021.

Ameer Payton '20 is a medical technologist at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Mount Holly, NJ.

David Kleiner '20 is a medical lab technician at BioReference Laboratories in Elmwood Park, NJ, and is conducting COVID-19 testing.

Moriah Kirk '20 Veterinary Technician Assistant at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic.

Daniella Jordan '20 is an Analyst at Goldman Sachs.

In the last year, the Office of Alumni Relations has organized, or assisted in the planning of, approximately 50 virtual events that have brought hundreds of Rosemont alumni, from the Classes of the 1950s through the Class of 2020, together during the pandemic. The events have included reunions, gatherings with President Boyers and College administration, lectures, book clubs, movie clubs, spiritual retreats, trivia and game nights, bingo nights, happy hours, and more.

Madrid, Spain Dublin, Ireland Hong Kong, China Ikoyi, Nigeria Kirchzarten, Germany

Alumni Events Tuesday, April 13 Founders’ Week Happy Hour & Lecture 7 p.m. ET on Zoom

Registration Opening Soon, for questions about this event please email joe.darrah@rosemont.edu

Wednesday, April 14 Phillies Game Watch & Trivia 7 p.m. ET on Zoom

Registration Opening Soon, for questions about this event please email joe.darrah@rosemont.edu

Thursday, April 15 Founders’ Week Bingo & Happy Hour 7 p.m. ET on Zoom Tune in to the latest POWER of small podcast for the latest conversations with individuals who impact the College every day. From the return to spring sports to alumni authors, episodes explore education and academia, religion and faith, healthcare, and social issues.

Registration Opening Soon, for questions about this event please email joe.darrah@rosemont.edu

Ongoing Book Club & Movie Club

If you are interested in joining the Book Club and/or Movie Club, please email Joe Darrah '11, Director of Alumni Relations

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SPRING 2021 THREE-COURSE LECTURES Polio in 20th Century America Presenter: Katherine Fischer Thursdays, April 1st, 8th, 15th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The US had to reckon with polio long before COVID-19. This course will investigate how Americans overcame the epidemic through the lens of history and literature, while contextualizing those efforts in today’s pandemic.

Intro to Interior Design & Decorating Presenter: Jessica O’Brien, MA Fridays, April 2nd, 9th, 16th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Are you a creative person with a flair for design? Or maybe the thought of redecorating your living room is stressing you out! Take this class to tackle the basics of designing and decorating a space from floor to ceiling. A Pinterest account will be needed to participate in the class.

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History of Hollywood Movie Musicals: Part One Presenter: Jessica O’Brien, MA Wednesdays, April 7th, 9th, 16th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Do you miss Broadway? While the industry is on pause, learn about the emergence of the American Broadway musical, its collective impact on pop culture, and how this multi-million-dollar theatrical genre continues to evolve. Part Two to be offered in Fall 2021.

Week One: Late 1800’s – 1930’s Week Two: 1940’s – 1950’s Week Three: 1960’s – 1970’s

Choices. The Tough Decisions that Defined American Presidencies Presenter: Diana Rodgers, MA, EdD Wednesdays, April 7th, 9th, 16th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Journalist John Dickerson describes the presidency as “the hardest job in the world,” and it is easy to understand why.

The 46 men who have served our country in this role have been required to make agonizing, often lose-lose, decisions.

However, it is through these choices that seem so bleak at the outset that presidencies are made. In 3 sessions, we will examine 6 of the most consequential presidential choices. Topics will likely include FDR and the Lend Lease Act, JFK and the Bay of Pigs, Woodrow Wilson’s WWI legacy, and George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq.

The Symbolic and Historical Significance of Gothic Cathedrals Presenter: Helen McDevitt-Smith, MS, MA, MA Thursdays, April 15th, 22nd, 29th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Two years ago on April 15, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire, resulting in extensive damage to the structure celebrated for its Gothic architecture and place in the history of France. As a result, there has been a renewed interest in Gothic cathedrals. In this course, we will examine several French and English Gothic cathedrals that are architecturally and historically significant.

SINGLE LECTURES Take Control of Your Time – Time Management Presenter: Anne Weisbord Monday, March 29th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Do you feel overwhelmed and stressed because you are juggling so many things at once? In this one-hour workshop, you will learn some practical methods to help you take control of your time. You will discover ways to be more effective and efficient by aligning your priorities, eliminating time wasters, and organizing your workspace. Become more productive, manage your activities, and decrease your stress.

Garden School: Adventures in Ecological Gardening Part 1 & 2 Presenter: Neeti Bathala, PhD Session I: Tuesday, April 6th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join us as we learn basic plant terminology - knowledge that will help you better understand your home garden. Learn the difference between a simple and compound leaf; how to tell a deciduous plant from a conifer; and basic plant reproduction strategies. Apply a combination of plant types to create a visually and ecologically appealing greenspace.

This lecture will teach you how to find your growing zone and introduce you to a selection of native and pollinator friendly plants appropriate for our region.

Session II: Tuesday, April 13th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Learn the basics for encouraging wildlife in your own backyard and contributing to scientific data right from your garden.

Questions answered include ‘what is a habitat’, and what makes a ‘wildlife-friendly garden’. We will explore the concept of citizen science and how the general public, even the novice gardener, can contribute to scientific research. Our course will culminate with the opportunity to contribute to a citizen science project monitoring birds that visit our green spaces.

Stretch and Strengthen with Sinatra Presenter: Jessica O’Brien, MA Tuesday, April 20th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Get your workout in while listening to one of the greatest singers of all time, Frank Sinatra! A stretching and strengthening class using the fundamentals of ballet to increase flexibility, and tone and elongate muscles. Class can be completed seated or standing.

Quarantined with a King: Celebrating Shakespeare's King Lear Presenter: Katherine Fischer Thursday, April 29th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Shakespeare wrote King Lear, a meditation on age and power, during an outbreak of plague in London. Considering that King Lear remains to be one Shakespeare’s haunting characters it prompts the question—did the constraint of quarantine push his writing to explore even more aspects of the human condition? In

this course, we will explore that very question and how Shakespeare and the rest of 17th century England coped during quarantine.

Detention! Free Speech in American Schools Presenter: Diana Rodgers, MA, EdD Friday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

What can you say in an American public school? Or perhaps more important, what can’t you say? This course will examine four student freedom of speech cases that appeared before the Supreme Court. They are: Tinker v. Des Moines, Bethel v. Fraser, Hazelwood Sch. V. Kuhlmeier, and BONG HiTs 4 JESUS (Morse v. Frederick). We will also examine how the growth of WiFi and internet speech may impact these rulings in the future.

Her Holiness and Mine: Female Saints & the English Reformation Presenter: Katherine Fischer Thursday, April 22nd from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The absence of female bodies in Protestant churches following the Reformation in England caused a seismic shift for pious women in rural towns.

Some of the saints discussed may be found in Rosemont College’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception! Learn about their stories as we consider how iconography impacted daily life for women in this tumultuous period.

Click Here to Register for Classes

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Please make a gift today to support the students of Rosemont College

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The Spring Splendor of Rosemont The coming of spring brings signs of life back to campus and, with it a renewed hope that the challenges of the pandemic will soon be behind us and we will be able to gather together once more. Until then, we are grateful for spring beauty all around us.

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Trust in and reverence for the dignity of each person. Diversity with a commitment to building an intercultural community. Persistence and courage in promoting justice with compassion. Care for the Earth as our common home.