FALL 2016
Magazine
When Women
Changed Saint Peter’s 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of women entering the Day Session of Saint Peter’s University. These pioneering women— together with their sisters in the Evening Division—changed the campus forever.
I N S I D E : MEET THE NEW DEANS
PRESIDENT’S
Message
The Journey Begins
perfectly in character that at their 50th
What’s it like to be a Saint Peter’s University student? Members of the Class of 2020 found out at Peacock Prep, a daylong orientation for incoming freshmen. The new students learned the ropes from more experienced Peacocks, who led icebreakers and provided useful information about campus life. The annual event sets the stage for freshmen to begin creating their own Saint Peter’s experience.
tion to today’s Saint Peter’s students.
reunion, they presented a very generous class gift of more than $211,000. I’d like to thank them for their continuing dedica-
“My message to alumni is this: through your leadership, you have enriched Saint Peter’s and the generations of students who have followed you.”
Welcome Home From the day students first arrive on campus, they feel a strong connection to Saint Peter’s University. There’s something about the welcoming atmosphere that very quickly transforms newcomers into valued members of the Saint Peter’s community. This feeling, cultivated through cura personalis, infuses every aspect of their University experience. They graduate knowing they are always welcome to come home to Saint Peter’s. It’s heartwarming to see so many alumni return to campus—many after several decades—showing genuine affection for the University that helped them to grow into successful professionals. That was evident this year, as we celebrated some very special anniversaries. It’s been 50 years since the Class of 1966 set forth from Montgomery and the Boulevard, ready to take on the world. Since then, many members of that accomplished class assumed leadership roles in business, healthcare, government and a host of other fields. They emerged
As that class prepared to graduate in spring 1966, the University took what was, for that era, a stunning step: admitting women to the Saint Peter’s Day Session. Joining a small group of women already enrolled in the Evening Division, the 100 incredibly bright women accepted to the Class of 1970 may not have realized that they were catalysts for change. They opened doors for the women who have followed them as Saint Peter’s students, faculty members and administrators. Fifty years later, the University is a better place for their presence here. This fall, they returned to campus to share their remarkable stories featured in this issue. Wonderful celebrations like these demonstrate the enduring connection alumni feel for Saint Peter’s. Alumni often say the University enriched their lives. While that’s true, my message to alumni is this: through your leadership, you have enriched Saint Peter’s and the generations of students who have followed you. Sincerely,
as alumni leaders, as well, providing an extraordinary level of support for Saint Peter’s through the years. So, it was Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President
Saint Peter’s University
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IN THIS
Issue
HOW TO REACH US Alumni News & Notes E-mail: alumni@saintpeters.edu Office of Alumni Engagement 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Letter to the Editor E-mail: agervasio@saintpeters.edu Editor, Saint Peter’s University 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 761-6240 Fax: (201) 761-6241 On the cover: Fifty years ago, women entered the Day Session at Saint Peter’s University. Together with the women of the Evening Division, they changed Saint Peter’s forever.
FEATURES 10. 12. 16. 18. 20.
Meet the New Deans The Women Who Changed Saint Peter’s 10 Minutes with...Kathleen Monahan, Ph.D. ’70 Beyond Biotechnology Sharing a Passion for Chemistry
CONNECT
DEPARTMENTS 3. 22. 24. 32.
University News Peacock U Class News & Notes Ad Finem
ADMINISTRATION Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President Virginia Bender, Ph.D. ’78 Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J. Vice President for Mission and Ministry Jeffrey Handler, M.A. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing
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Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05 Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Gerard O’Sullivan, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Eileen Poiani, Ph.D. Special Assistant to the President Denton Stargel Vice President for Finance and Business Miloš Topić Vice President for Information Technology and Operations
FALL 2016 SAINT PETER’S UNIVERSITY Volume 36, Number 1 Mary Kinahan-Ockay Editor Sarah Lacz, M.B.A. ’11 Sarah Malinowski Ferrary Executive Director of University Photography Communications Michael Marmora Catherine Mernar Editorial & Design Services National Urban League Erbach Communications Group Saint Peter’s University Archives Contributors & Editorial Assistance Angeline Boyer Ana Cravo Saint Peter’s University is printed on FSC AnnMarie Gervasio
certified paper containing 10% post-consumer waste and was manufactured using 100% Green-e certified renewable energy.
UNIVERSITY
News
B.S.N.: Celebrating a Decade of Excellence
Ten years after Saint Peter’s University launched the generic B.S.N. on the Jersey City campus, the nursing program has achieved its initial goals, and then some.
lot, because we are getting better and better each year.” Dr.
The program was established in 2006 to offer undergradu-
committed to the students. It is really with their dedication
ates a professional career opportunity and alleviate the shortage of B.S.N. graduates in New Jersey, who are sought out for their skills in critical thinking, leadership and care. Since the first class graduated in 2010, the School of Nursing has sent more than 200 highly qualified nurses into the profession, and the majority are employed at hospitals and
O’Hare, who joined Saint Peter’s in 2015, added that School of Nursing faculty have been instrumental to the program’s success. “Our faculty are extremely experienced and to the program that we have done so well.”
Since the first class graduated in 2010, the School of Nursing has sent more than 200 highly qualified nurses into the profession.
medical facilities throughout the metropolitan area. The program’s most recent pass rate for the registered nurse
The B.S.N. program enrolls approximately 120 students,
licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) for first time candidates was 90
with 30 freshmen joining the program each year. Admission
percent in 2015, well above the state average of 74 percent,
is selective and successful completion of the pre-nursing
according to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
program is required for entry into the nursing major at the
Dean of the School of Nursing Lauren O’Hare, Ed.D., R.N., said the milestone anniversary is significant. “It means a
end of freshman year. You can find Saint Peter’s B.S.N. graduates at institutions such as Hackensack University Continued on next page
Saint Peter’s University
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UNIVERSITY
News
Continued from previous page Medical Center and Holy Name Medical Center in
students and alumni
New Jersey and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
came together for
and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in
the first Dr. Ma-
New York.
rylou Yam Distin-
Some have found their dream job far away
CELEBRATING SCHOLARSHIP “Live a life of academic achievement, but also live a life of service to others.” That was the message Marc H. Morial, president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans (above), delivered to academic award recipients at the 2016 Michaelmas Convocation on September 28. The annual ceremony, which follows the medieval tradition of convening the faculty and students to start the term, recognizes Saint Peter’s University students for achievement in all academic areas, including the sciences, arts and business. Ten Saint Peter’s seniors were inducted into the Most Noble Order of the Peacock (MNOP), the University’s oldest and most distinguished scholarship society. MNOP recognizes the seniors who have attained the highest scholastic average in all courses through their first three years of study at the University.
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Fall 2016
guished Nursing
from New Jersey. Jaime McHale ’16 sought a
Lecture Series, held
pediatric specialization with acute care and was
on September 29.
accepted into a highly competitive pediatric nurse
Named in honor
residency program at Vanderbilt University Medi-
of the University’s
cal Center in Tennessee. “Prospects are great for
former Provost and
our graduates,” Dr.
Vice President for
O’Hare said, noting
Academic Affairs
that most employ-
Marylou Yam, Ph.D.,
ers now require the
currently president of Notre Dame of Maryland
B.S.N. as the entry
University, the series was made possible by the
level qualification for
generous support of the McKeen Fund and former
professional nurses.
trustee James J. Daly, Esq. ’59. Diane J. Skiba, Ph.D.,
“They are ahead of
FACMI, ANEF, FAAN, a professor at the University
the game and they are
of Colorado College of Nursing and nationally
very hirable.”
recognized expert on healthcare informatics,
To mark the 10th
Lauren O’Hare, Ed.D., R.N.
anniversary, B.S.N.
Marylou Yam, Ph.D.
spoke about the practice of connected care in technology-rich medical environments.
Focus on Finance What does it take to launch a
executive officer, president and chief
start-up? An exchange on that
operating officer, said of competitors
topic by Thomas Coughlin ’81,
that charge fees, “We get their
founder of BCB Community
customers all day long.” Joseph J. Kollar Jr. ’74 called
Bank, and Robert Fehn, managing director of FinPro, Inc., highlighted the latest
Coughlin’s start-up “an incredible adventure.”
gathering of the Saint Peter’s University Alumni
He added, “It took a lot of courage.”
in Finance Network. The event’s unique format, presented as
Noting the diversity of ages in alumni attendants, Chris Economides ’91 valued the
a conversation between the two financial
experience as a way to reconnect with friends and
professionals, took center stage at the gathering
make new contacts. “There is a great mix between
at Battello on the Jersey City waterfront.
young alumni and established alumni, and that’s
When Coughlin founded BCB Community
important.”
Bank in 2000, he needed $6 million in capital:
The Alumni in Finance Network provides Saint
$2 million from founders and $4 million from
Peter’s graduates with the opportunity to exchange
the Bayonne public. Fehn estimated that today, an
ideas and explore professional relationships while
entrepreneur needs $25 million in start-up capital.
connecting and engaging with the University.
BCB Community Bank has grown to $1.7 billion
The next Alumni in Finance event, featuring
in assets. Coughlin credits that success with
Peter S. Kenny, senior market strategist with
building strong roots in the community by not
Global Markets Advisory Group, will be held on
charging banking fees. Coughlin, the bank’s chief
December 6 at Batello in Jersey City.
Snapshot: Class of 2020 The Class of 2020 arrived at Saint Peter’s this fall and has already made their mark on campus. This year’s freshman class numbers 640, with 94 transfers—the highest number in 20 years. These academically talented, first-year students posted an average high school GPA of 3.24. Freshmen hail from
18 states
41% are from Hudson County
They represent
38% live on campus
245 high schools
The top four most popular majors are
biology, criminal justice, psychology and business management FOR THE CLASS OF 2020: X-rays have always been digital Airline tickets have always been purchased online Snowboarding has always been an Olympic sport
FIVE ELECTED AS NEW TRUSTEES AND REGENTS A noted cardiac surgeon and a Jesuit have been elected
served the University as an assistant professor. Most
to three-year terms on the Saint Peter’s University
recently, he was a faculty member at Fordham and
Board of Trustees.
Loyola Marymount universities. Fr. Burgaleta holds a
Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Allan S. Stewart,
doctoral degree in historical and systemic theology
M.D. ’91 is director of aortic surgery and co-director of
from Boston College, a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit
the Valve Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital and an
School of Theology of Santa Clara University and an
associate professor at the hospital’s Icahn School of Med-
undergraduate degree in philosophy and Spanish from
icine. Dr. Stewart has pioneered several cardiac surgical
Fordham University.
procedures and has been listed by Castle Connolly, Ltd. as
The Board of Trustees also elected Michelle Perez ’16
one of America’s Top DoctorsTM and “Top Doctors: New York
to a one-year term. As a student, Perez represented the
Metro Area,” as well as one of New York Magazine’s Best
University in its non-governmental organization status
Doctors. Dr. Stewart received his medical degree from
at the United Nations.
the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseyRobert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. Rev. Claudio M. Burgaleta, S.J., Ph.D., is rector of the Saint Peter’s Jesuit community. Fr. Burgaleta previously
In July, the Board of Regents elected John A. Cannon ’89, managing director of the Equity Sales Trading Group at Mizuho Financial Group, and James N. Conti ’93, managing director at Goldman Sachs, to three-year terms.
Below (L to R): Allan Stewart, M.D. ’91, Rev. Claudio Burgaleta, S.J., Ph.D., Michelle Perez ’16, John Cannon ’89 and James Conti ’93
Saint Peter’s University
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UNIVERSITY
News
FACULTY NOTEBOOK
GOLD AWARD FOR #JESUITEDUCATED Saint Peter’s University’s Office of Advancement and External Affairs was recognized with a first place gold award at the 2016 Jesuit Advancement Administrators conference held at Marquette University. The award recognized a University campaign that connected the hashtag #JesuitEducated with Pope Francis’ 2015 visit to the United States to promote Saint Peter’s and Jesuit education. On hand to receive the award for Saint Peter’s were Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05, vice president for advancement and external affairs, Angeline Boyer, M.B.A. ’15, assistant director of media relations (pictured above on right), and Claudia Pope-Bayne, M.A. ’16, associate director of alumni engagement. Pope-Bayne also participated in a panel discussion sharing best practices about the wrap up celebration for Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s University.
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Fall 2016
Leila Sadeghi, Ph.D. ’05
EAST MEETS WEST FOR GUARINI INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Leila Sadeghi, Ph.D. ’05 was one of four rising leaders from the United States who traveled to Hawaii, Cambodia and Myanmar to strengthen East-West relations through the 26th New Generation Seminar. Dr. Sadeghi, the executive director of the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership at Saint Peter’s University, was selected to participate in the prestigious conference by the East-West Center, a respected organization that promotes better understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia and the Pacific. As part of this year’s theme, “Cultural Heritage and Identity in a Globalizing, Urbanizing World,” participants met with local leaders, policymakers, private sector representatives, civil society organizations and academic experts to explore the relationship between economic development and cultural heritage. “This was an opportunity to learn from a cadre of thought leaders from around the world who are interested in strengthening their leadership qualities while developing a stronger lens for international relations and politics,” Dr. Sadeghi said.
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR IS EXPERT SOURCE ON ELECTION Associate Professor of Political Science Alain Sanders, J.D., served as an expert source in local and national media in the months leading up to the presidential election. He was interviewed by a variety of media outlets including NJTV News, WABC-AM, FiOS1 News, The Jersey Journal, The Jim Bohannon Show and New Jersey Jewish News. Professor Sanders provided commentary on a number of topics related to the election, including campaign controversies, the health of the candidates Alain Sanders, J.D. and the impact of primary elections. He also shared his reflections on each of the debates. FiOS1 News covered a presidential debate viewing party that Professor Sanders arranged on campus on September 26. The segment highlighted Saint Peter’s students’ mixed opinions about the election. Three students with diverse views were interviewed before and after the debate to determine if the conversation swayed their perspective. EXHIBITIONS FEATURE WORKS OF FINE ARTS PROFESSOR Two exhibitions this fall featured the work of Department of Fine Arts Professor Beatrice Mady, M.F.A. Six of Professor Mady’s watercolors were included in a month-long exhibit at Jersey City’s The Beatrice Mady, M.F.A. Art Project at the Art House. In addition, four digital prints based on her travel and research in Egypt appeared in the ...like an Egyptian! exhibit at the Pierro Gallery in South Orange. She is coordinator of the University’s graphic arts program.
Two Elected to Lead Faculty Senate The Faculty Senate has elected Jeanette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00
ENGLISH PROFESSOR PUBLISHES SECOND BOOK Michael Walonen, Ph.D., recently had his second book, Contemporary World Narrative Fiction and the Spaces of Neoliberalism, published by Palgrave Macmillan. The assistant professor of English specializes in transatlantic modern and contemporary cultural studies, postcolonial studies and world literature. NEW BOOK PROMOTES LIFELONG LEARNING IN MATHEMATICS The Troika of Adult Learners, Lifelong Learning and Mathematics: Learning from Research, Current Paradoxes, Tensions and Promotional Strategies is the latest book published by Katherine SaffordRamus, Ph.D., professor of mathematics. Released earlier this year by Springer Publishing Company, the book focuses on six emerging themes in adult mathematics education and offers strategies to promote lifelong learning of mathematics among adult learners.
as president and WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D., as vice president for the current academic year. Dr. Wilmanski succeeds Maryellen Hamilton, Ph.D., who served as Faculty Senate president from 2006–2008 and again from 2014–2016. Dr. Hamilton also served as vice president from 2013–2014, and is currently serving as Faculty Senate secretary. An assistant professor of biology, Dr. Wilmanski earned her doctorate in biomedical sciences from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University. She joined the Saint Peter’s University faculty in 2007.
Jeanette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00 Dr. Zhu has also taught at Saint Peter’s since 2007. He chairs the Department of Applied Science and Technology and is director of the Center for Microplasma Science and Technology. Dr. Zhu holds his bachelor’s and master’s
BUSINESS INSTRUCTOR NAMED TOP WEALTH MANAGER New Jersey Monthly and Five Star Professional have recognized Gerry Bifulco, M.B.A., CPA, with the prestigious Five Star Wealth Manager award. An adjunct professor in the School of Business, Professor Bifulco is a financial advisor and associate vice president at Ameriprise Financial, Inc. This is the third time he has been selected for the award.
degrees from Soochow University and his doctorate in physics and material science and engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.
WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D.
SAINT PETER’S OFFERS PRE-K CERTIFICATION More pre-schools are requiring their teachers to become certified. To meet that growing market need, Saint Peter’s University has begun offering a certification program that spans grades pre-K3 through three. The University received state approval to offer the certification on the undergraduate and master’s levels last summer. Joseph V. Doria Jr., Ed.D. ’68, dean of the Caulfield School of Education, noted that the new certification complements the grade K–6 certification already offered. “A lot of students have requested this,” Dr. Doria said. “It’s important in school districts, especially the former Abbott Districts, and there’s also a need for certification of teachers at pre-schools.”
Saint Peter’s University
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UNIVERSITY
News
SMART SPORTS $100,000 NCAA grant to boost study skills The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is making a smart investment in Saint Peter’s student-athletes, awarding the University a $100,000 grant to boost academic support on
Under Construction Capital projects are slated for four academic buildings thanks to $1 million in state bond funding recently awarded to Saint Peter’s University. The West Campus Improvement Project will include infrastructure enhancements to Dinneen Hall, Gannon Hall, Pope Hall and The Theresa and Edward O’Toole Library, as well as technological upgrades for the University’s data center. A key focus of the project will be interior expansion to support the School of Business located in Dinneen Hall. Other renovations planned are replacement of roofs, the installation of energy efficient windows and façade restoration.
campus and on the road. The University was one of only seven in the nation this year to receive a grant through the NCAA’s Accelerating Academic Success Program. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Saint Peter’s,” said Olga Ndhlovu, M.S., the University’s academic athletic coordinator. “It’s amazing.” Word of the grant arrived in July, and the University got to work immediately renovating a heavily-used study hall in The Rev. Victor R.
tunities to do their work.” Ndhlovu has also hired
Yanitelli, S.J., Recreational Life Center (RLC) that
peer tutors to staff the study hall in the evenings,
serves student-athletes. The space wasn’t con-
providing help for immediate questions in math
ducive to building strong study skills, with long
and English.
tables and older-style chairs and computers. Ongoing upgrades including fresh paint,
demic support at the RLC study hall each fall. It
ers create a more productive environment, while
is also a resource for returning student-athletes.
new iPads allow student-athletes to stay con-
In addition to the NCAA grant, Saint Peter’s is
nected with their studies while on the road.
providing an additional $20,000 to spruce up the
“Some of our student-athletes can’t afford to
space. Saint Peter’s has a strong commitment to
buy their own devices, so they’re at a disadvan-
the academic performance of its student-ath-
tage when they’re traveling for a game,” Ndhlovu
letes. Last year, student-athletes earned a GPA of
explained. “Now, they won’t miss out on oppor-
3.187 and have a 90 percent graduation rate.
HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT WILL ENHANCE CAMPUS SAFETY Saint Peter’s University will upgrade its
University. Saint Peter’s has already installed
on-campus security system with a $75,000
intruder resistant locks on classroom doors,
Security. The University will use the funds to install an additional 80 to 100 cameras in academic buildings and student residence halls, supplementing its existing closed circuit
new Code Blue emergency call boxes and a state-of-the-art emergency notification system. “Campus safety is a top priority,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s. “Our goal is to keep our students safe and to protect
security system. The Hudson County
this vibrant, urban campus.”
Office of Emergency Management and
Dr. Cornacchia lauded the efforts of
the Jersey City Police Department will have
Sen. Robert Menendez ’76 in helping to secure
direct access to live camera feeds in the event of
the grant for the University, one of 58 New Jersey
an emergency.
nonprofits to receive funding. The grants are
The cameras are the latest phase in a comprehensive security initiative underway at the Fall 2016
freshmen and transfer students, receive aca-
comfortable furniture and new desktop comput-
grant from the Department of Homeland
8
Approximately 120 student-athletes, including
aimed at preventing and protecting against acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.
IN THE COMMUNITY
MUSIC IS IN THE AIR Music takes center stage through Arts on Bergen, a series of free concerts presented by Saint Peter’s University. The programming seeks to engage the local community with a broad range of musical styles. Arts on Bergen kicked off this fall with the Patriot Brass Ensemble in “Saint Peter’s Goes to the Movies” and a noon concert featuring Manhattan session guitarist Francis Varrichio. The series includes monthly midday concerts in Saint Peter Chapel and evening presentations at St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church. On November 16, soprano Julie Fristensky ’73 entertained concertgoers at a midday event. For a complete schedule of Arts on Bergen events, check out the Arts on Bergen Facebook page.
BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY
Fun and community focus were at the heart of Saint Peter’s University’s participation in Build
area near the eastern border of campus. The University takes an active role in other
a Better Block, a city-sponsored event that aims to
community initiatives such as the Historic
energize and drive revitalization of McGinley Square.
Downtown Jersey City Farmers’ Market at the Grove
Saint Peter’s students and staff helped to pick
Street PATH station, where they staff a table to
up litter, plant flowers and paint murals, as well
spread the word about Jesuit higher education in
as participating in other activities to beautify the
Jersey City.
Saint Peter’s University
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FEATURE
Story
Meet the New Deans Since Bruce B. Rosenthal, M.B.A., Ph.D., KPMG founding dean of the School of Business, and Scott F. Stoddart, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, arrived in July, the dynamic leaders have been intent on moving their respective schools, and the University, to the next level of excellence.
Building the School of Business Brand Long before he entered academia, Bruce B. Rosenthal, M.B.A., Ph.D., KPMG founding dean of the School of Business, was a business executive with Dow Jones/ Telerate Japan, Merrill Lynch headquarters on Wall Street and Arlington Medical Research, Inc. “I vowed as I went through my career that if I could be in a position of changing higher education in terms of business, I would,” said Dr. Rosenthal, who revised the M.B.A. program at Chatham University and innovated the business curriculum as director of the School of Business at Alfred University. As an academic, he also helped shape business programs to meet the real world demands of industry. “Companies want graduates who are creative, who can effectively communicate, work in teams as leaders and members and are culturally astute,” said Dr. Rosenthal. “Our job is to not only prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need, but provide them with realistically grounded experiences.” Certainly Saint Peter’s students already have a leg up, given the University’s emphasis on critical thinking as a Jesuit institution of higher learning, the diversity of its student body and proximity to opportunities in Jersey City and New York. “To a large degree, we’re there,” 10
Fall 2016
Dr. Rosenthal noted. “I want to brand the School of Business and make it understood that this is what we stand for, so that when a student is swiping through the websites of various universities, we stand out.” A native of New Jersey, the new dean was the keynote speaker at the Regents Business Symposium, “Business Sustainability: Securing the Triple Bottom Line,” on November 4. “Sustainability is the great movement of 21st century business,” Dr. Rosenthal said. “Corporations need all of their stakeholders to know that they are concerned with their impact on the
“Our job is to not only prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need, but provide them with realistically grounded experiences.” environment, social justice and long-term growth.” He envisions an interdisciplinary symposium on sustainability for faculty and students next spring that would involve multiple academic departments. “[Sustainability] is a big part of the Jesuit tradition,” he noted. “Saint Peter’s is a great place to get this going.”
Turning a Passion into a Profession Last winter, Scott F. Stoddart, Ph.D., first became acquainted with Saint Peter’s University in a Skype interview, but the esprit de corps he witnessed from the other side of his computer screen made a big impression. The feeling was confirmed on subsequent visits to campus. “I saw a real camaraderie here and a spirit of faculty and administration being on the same page to build a better University,” said the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Stoddart brings a decade of administrative leadership to Saint Peter’s; he was associate professor of English and cinema at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, where he also served as associate provost and dean of the undergraduate college, and prior to that was dean of the School of Liberal Arts at the Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY and provost at Manhattanville College. In each administrative post, he continued to write, teach and publish on the intersection of history and cinema and popular culture. Two of his books, The 1980s: American Popular Culture Through History and Analyzing Mad Men: Critical Essays on the Television Series, garnered the attention of SundanceTV producers. Dr. Stoddart appeared in multiple episodes of Love Lust, a documentary series that
looks at the back stories of iconic products like the little black dress, and he recently provided commentary for an advertising documentary for the Smithsonian Channel. Dr. Stoddart is currently working on a book about the HBO series True Detective. In his new role at Saint Peter’s, Dr. Stoddart sees growth of existing liberal arts majors as a real
Above (Left): Bruce Rosenthal, M.B.A., Ph.D., KPMG founding dean of the School of Business; (Right): Scott Stoddart, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
opportunity. “How do we turn the passion students have for the arts and sciences into actual career options?” he asked rhetorically. Building upper division courses and more co-curricular programming, he explained, are ways to provide a path for freshmen and sophomores who discover an interest in English, math
“I saw a real camaraderie here and a spirit of faculty and administration being on the same page to build a better University.” or history via the core curriculum to pursue the topic as their chosen major. “That’s really central to what the College of Arts and Sciences should be,” said Dr. Stoddart. “A place where students can come and start a career that is tied to their passion.”
Saint Peter’s University
11
THE WOMEN WHO
Changed SAINT PETER’S Women attending Saint Peter’s in the ’50s and ’60s were the best and brightest of their generation. Despite some initial resistance from men on campus, the women emerged as trailblazers for generations of female students at Saint Peter’s. Today—50 years after their admission to the Day Session—we celebrate their accomplishments.
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Fall 2016
COVER
Story
Ann-Marie Nazzaro, Ph.D. ’70 Growing up in Jersey City, Ann-Marie Nazzaro, Ph.D. ’70 remembers looking out the window of her family doctor’s waiting room on Montgomery Street and asking her mother about the robed men entering a building across the street. The men were attending classes at Saint Peter’s University. That image stuck in her mind as the definition of college life. “In high school, I heard Saint Peter’s was accepting women. I thought, ‘I’d like to go there.’” She did, as one of the 100 women admitted to the Day Session in 1966. This year, she served as chairperson of the 50th Anniversary Alumnae Celebration Committee.
Karen Gutch ’68 While working as a secretary by day, Karen Gutch ’68 attended the Evening Session at Saint Peter’s University in the mid-1960s, inching her way toward earning a Bachelor of Arts in English. Saint Peter’s decision to admit women to the Day Session accelerated her educational journey. Gutch quit her job to become a full-time day student. “I soaked everything in,” she recalled, noting that she now had more time to delve into learning. “When you go to school at night, you’re tired, you’re not there to socialize,” Gutch said. “I remember one of my day professors doing a Shakespeare course. I was so entranced, I ran down after class to the library and started to look up information.”
“Being exposed to everything Saint Peter’s was offering is part of what made me who I am today.” Attending the Day Session opened her up to other ideologies, as well. Her philosophy about the war in Vietnam changed after she witnessed protest marches at Saint Peter’s and engaged in class discussions. “I didn’t think about that before. It wasn’t part of my life.”
After Saint Peter’s, Dr. Nazzaro earned master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania, where she later added a Ph.D. in health communications. The Jesuits’ motto of “men and women for others” is a lesson that has stayed with Dr. Nazzaro. “The theology and philosophy gave me perspective. It gave me insights and the base to be a person for others.” Now executive director of the Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders, she said Saint Peter’s shaped her life’s direction. Of her Jesuit education, she explained, “It was exquisite because of the quality of the teachers. Our English professor took us to plays in Manhattan. He opened our eyes to what Manhattan had to offer and the proximity of it and what culture and literature vividly and palpably could teach you.” Dr. Nazzaro considered working internationally, but those plans changed after her toddler son was diagnosed with severe hemophilia. She specialized in women’s and seniors’ health, serving as vice president of education for the National Hemophilia Foundation before assuming her current leadership role. Looking back, Dr. Nazzaro is grateful to Saint Peter’s. “It’s about the things that literature and philosophy can teach you and professors who have insight. It’s not just textbook reading and spewing back the facts. It is sharing a way to think and look at and navigate the world to make it better.”
Another experience was participating in a service project that led her to volunteer in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky. Working there exposed her to a whole different way of life. Gutch eventually earned a master’s degree in counseling and went on to a 30-year career with the City of Jersey City. Looking back, Gutch credits Saint Peter’s with shaping the direction of her life. “Being exposed to everything Saint Peter’s was offering is part of what made me who I am today. I laugh and say that I went to an all-girls [high] school where I was told that women can’t do anything. Then, I went to a Jesuit college and it was certainly liberating. They said I could do whatever I want.”
Saint Peter’s University
13
their alma mater, providing scholarship support for many Saint Peter’s students to gain the same strong foundation that helped to shape their lives. After her husband’s death, she funded the Dr. James V. Bastek ’67 Honors House on campus in his memory. “This has been my way to pay it forward,” she explained. “The University has always had a vision. They had a vision for a 50-yearold man who needed to finish his degree, and they had a vision for the women in my class. We were pioneers. I have always liked to partner with people who have vision, because that’s what the future is all about.”
Carol Potyrala Bastek, Ed.D. ’70
Michele Cahill ’70
Carol Bastek, Ed.D. ’70 recognizes that vision
Saint Peter’s Jesuit mission and the energy
has always driven Saint Peter’s University. It
of the late ’60s helped to shape the social
helped to shape her own life, as well as those of
consciousness that has guided the career of
her father, husband and countless other Saint
Michele Cahill ’70. As an undergraduate, the
Peter’s graduates.
urban studies major worked with needy fami-
Her father, Walter Potyrala ’62, came to the
lies through the Appalachian Project and as a
United States from Poland with three years of
community organizer. “My time at Saint Peter’s
college credits. Saint Peter’s recognized those credits, allowing
was very much driven by social justice issues. My class was there
him to finish his degree.
during the most volatile years of the University, and the country.”
Dr. Bastek followed in her father’s footsteps, enrolling in the first
A Jersey City native, Cahill recalls opposition from some stu-
class of women to study at Saint Peter’s full-time. A math major,
dents and faculty during her freshman year. “But then it was over,”
she admits to being shy and a bit intimidated in her first semester.
she said. “By the time the second class [of full-time women] came
Those feelings were soon dispelled with the encouragement of
in, it was nothing. For my class, it was an opportunity because of
Saint Peter’s faculty members. After graduation, Dr. Bastek went on
what a Jesuit education does for students. Everything was driven by
to earn two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree from Columbia
the intellectual life on campus and a commitment to social justice.”
University. “Saint Peter’s provided me with such a solid academic
After graduation, Cahill went on to earn a master’s degree in urban affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was a
“I have always liked to partner with people who have vision, because that’s what the future is all about.”
Revson Fellow in social policy and planning at Columbia University. Later, as a Saint Peter’s faculty member, Cahill was director of the Urban Studies Department and co-founded the University’s Public Policy Program. Throughout her career, Cahill has been an influential architect
background. We worked hard and concentrated on our studies, and
in high school reform and design, first at the Carnegie Education
there were always people who took a special interest in us.”
Corporation of New York and then in the administration of former
When her husband, the late James V. Bastek, M.D. ’67, opened
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Her efforts won the
his ophthalmology office, she put her academic skills to good use
attention of President Barack Obama and she met with him in the
managing the thriving practice. They also decided to give back to
Oval Office.
Time Capsule: Women at Saint Peter’s 1930s The first alumnae of Saint Peter’s University were enrolled in Hudson College of Commerce and Finance, an evening school and division of the University that opened in 1932.
14
Fall 2016
1944 In the midst of World War II, Saint Peter’s admitted 35 women to pursue pre-clinical nursing courses and to assist with keeping the University financially solvent during the war.
1950s In the post-war era, a small, but determined group of women earned their college degrees from Saint Peter’s by enrolling in the Evening Division.
1965 On May 3, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution to, “Take in 100 girls who would be the same quality as the best in the Arts and Sciences,” for the 1966–1967 academic year.
COVER
Story
Golden went on to double major in history and business at Saint Peter’s, later adding teacher certification credits and a master’s degree in counseling from Kean University. Widowed with a son, she enjoyed a teaching career in the Middletown school system spanning more than 30 years.
Today, as a distinguished fellow in education and youth development with the National Center for Civic Innovation, Cahill is a leading advocate shaping the future of high school education in the United States. The effort is the largest crowdsourcing of ideas in American education history. “Today’s young people are going through an unknown,” Cahill explained. “There’s tremendous opportunity, but they also need support. It’s the greatest change since the industrial revolution.”
“When I meet other people, even Ivy Leaguers, I have always felt like I could hold my own. The Jesuits teach that we should try to do something for humanity.” Today, she credits the strong academic and ethical education she received at Saint Peter’s with shaping her life. Now retired from teaching, she is organizing volunteer drivers to provide rides for senior citizens lacking transportation. “I received an excellent education. When I meet other people, even Ivy Leaguers, I have always felt like I could hold my own. The Jesuits teach that we should make the world a better place. We’re all in this together.”
Julianne Walsh Golden ’66 Saint Peter’s Evening Session began enrolling women students in 1932, but by the time Julianne Golden ’66 graduated, she was one of just three women in the Class of 1966. Yet, she never felt out of place. Male students welcomed her into study groups and loaned her textbooks. “People were very congenial,” she said of her classmates and professors. “We all used to study together in the stacks of the old library. It was a very collegial atmosphere, and I didn’t feel intimidated or uncomfortable at all.” Golden—whose three brothers, Pete Walsh ’50, James Walsh ’57 and John Walsh ’58, were all Saint Peter’s graduates—juggled a fulltime job in the insurance industry with 12 credits per semester at night. Despite her hard work, she encountered a professional roadblock: training programs at her company weren’t open to women. Discouraged, she accepted a teaching job at a Catholic elementary school. The decision launched a successful career in education.
1966 One hundred women matriculated to the Day Session in September, making Saint Peter’s the first co-educational Catholic college in New Jersey.
1967 Eileen Poiani, Ph.D., became the first female professor to join the mathematics department. By 1973, women, including Eugenia Palmegiano, Ph.D., J.D., accounted Eugenia for 10 percent of Palmegiano, the faculty. Ph.D., J.D.
Eileen Poiani, Ph.D.
Today, women at Saint Peter’s are: • 50+ percent of the student body • 46.9 percent of faculty • 1/3 of the President’s Cabinet
10 MINUTES
with...
Kathleen Monahan, Ph.D. ’70
From Pioneer to Professor Former English Department Chair Kathleen Monahan, Ph.D. ’70 reflects on the remarkable legacy of the women in the Class of 1970 and her 30-year career at Saint Peter’s University. The women in the Class of 1970 opened doors for
At the time, did you know there would be opposition to
generations of women students and faculty members.
women in the Day Session?
Did you view yourselves as pioneers at the time?
There were a few instances of people wearing buttons
No, not at all. The fact that Saint Peter’s was going
saying, “This is a man’s school,” but I don’t recall ever
coed made applying here somewhat of an adventure,
being intimidated or upset by it. We didn’t look at our-
but it wasn’t a huge factor. For my female classmates,
selves as if we were victims. We wondered what
there was a sense that, “We’re in this adventure
on earth was wrong with these guys. We saw it as a
together.” We were happy to be here, and people were
reflection of them, not us. And it was a minority voice.
open, friendly and supportive. 16
Fall 2016
The women in your class have often been described as
appealing to students. But, we’re unwilling to
“the cream of the crop.” How did that shape
send students out there who haven’t read Chaucer
their futures?
or Shakespeare. The benefits of that background
The talent pool in that class was very deep. The Most
are long range and subtle. You don’t realize how
Noble Order of the Peacock, which usually recognizes
these things creep into your conversation. I don’t
the top 10 members of the class academically, had
mean in terms of quotes: the elegance of the
11 inductees my senior year; seven of them were
language affects you and gives you an appreciation
women. When you think that we were just a fraction
for so many things. So, we have to keep evolving
of the Class of 1970, then it’s even more impressive.
to ensure that our students have the kind of back-
There are some very accomplished women in that
ground that an English major should, but keep our
class who have gone on to wonderful careers.
classes relevant.
At what point did you decide that you wanted to teach
Last year you received the George F. Johnson,
at Saint Peter’s?
S.J., Faculty Award and the English Department
I went directly to graduate school for my master’s, and
established the Dr. Kathleen Monahan Sigma Tau
then I taught at Bloomfield High School for eight years
Delta Membership Award through a very successful
while getting my doctorate. When my son was born, I
crowdfunding effort. How does that make you feel?
taught at Saint Peter’s part-time, and when a full-time
The Johnson Award meant a great deal to me because
position was open, I applied.
it came from my colleagues. It was wonderful. Dr. Paul
How had Saint Peter’s changed by the time you joined the faculty full time in 1987? Well, it was 20 years later. From the time I entered in 1966 to the time I graduated was a period of tremendous change, cosmetically and otherwise. By 1970, male students weren’t wearing jackets or academic gowns, although some faculty members still wore them. I think in terms of society, the ’80s were a
FAMILY PRIDE Beloved education professor, the late James S. Nolan, Ph.D. ’47, was so proud of his daughter, Kathleen Monahan, Ph.D. ’70, that he read the citation when she was honored with her Bene Merenti. Dr. Nolan joined the Saint Peter’s faculty after a career in public education that included serving as principal of North Bergen High School and later, as the city’s superintendent of schools. He passed away in 2013. When the opportunity arose for his daughter to attend his alma mater, Dr. Nolan guided her choice. “He didn’t push it at all, but he considered it a possibility, with others I was looking at. He knew Saint Peter’s was a good school,” said Dr. Monahan.
Almonte, the current chair of the English Department, was instrumental in setting up the Sigma Tau Delta campaign. It was very nice because I was the moderator for many, many years. They met their goal very quickly, but I think that says more about the people who contribute and their desire to give back than it does about the person being recognized. It’s a good cause and they’re sharing their success.
quieter time. Students were anxious to do well and
You recently stopped teaching full-time. What’s next?
find a place for themselves in the world.
I’m on phased retirement, which means I teach two courses per term instead of four. It’s an excellent
“The talent pool in that class was very deep... There are some very accomplished women in that class who have gone on to wonderful careers.” How has the University changed over the years? The most obvious change is the percentage of resident students, so you have a campus life that extends into the evening. There are many, many more academic paths to choose. I’m surprised when I looked at the yearbook how many English majors there were when I was a student. As a longtime member of the English Department and
option, because I wasn’t ready to retire. I’d miss my colleagues and the experience of being in front of a class and students. Saint Peter’s is a really nice place to work. There’s a sense of community; I felt it as a student with the community of women we had. Now to be on the other end of that as a faculty member, to see how everybody works together and helps, is wonderful. Kathleen Monahan, Ph.D. ’70 chaired the Saint Peter’s Department of English for 13 years. A noted scholar, her research interests span the 19th and 20th century American literary landscape. She has published numerous works on writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and William Kennedy, and the poet William Carlos Williams.
department chair for more than a decade, were there changes to the approach or any of the courses offered? We’ve been discussing that question for a long time, and we have made changes to be relevant and
Saint Peter’s University
17
FEATURE
Story
Beyond Biotechnology Graduates of the University’s biotechnology program, first introduced in 2007, are an ambitious group. Jesuit education, undergraduate research experience and plenty of cura personalis have propelled these alumni to doctoral programs at top research universities, medical schools and into specialized health professions. Rezma Shrestha ’10 received some exciting news in 2007.
from cardiovascular perfusion to genetic counseling and
A Presidential Scholar from Nepal, Shrestha learned that
public health.
an innovative new major—biotechnology—would be
“They have big ambitions,” said Dr. Sciorra, who remains
available to Saint Peter’s University students. “I decided
in close touch with former students. “They weren’t born
to do it,” recalled Shrestha, who is now a fully-funded
on third base and thought they hit a triple. These students
Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Molecular Biology
knew they had to work hard and were not afraid to do it.”
at Princeton University. Alisha Chitrakar ’10 was an undecided major when she
A distinctive component of the undergraduate program, housed within the Department of Applied Science
began the biotechnology program. “I took a few classes
and Technology, is the yearlong rotation at The Genomics
and it was amazing. I knew it was for me,” said Chitrakar,
Center, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The intern-
who is also from Nepal and attended Saint Peter’s on a
ship exposes students to DNA sequencing in the labora-
Presidential Scholarship. Like her classmate and good
tory, as well as clinical practice, and they interact with
friend, Shrestha (both women attended high school at
technicians, researchers and faculty. The Schuh Schol-
St. Xavier’s College in Maitighar), Chitrakar is pursuing
arship, established by the late John Connolly, M.D. ’57,
a Ph.D. in molecular biology at Princeton. Saint Peter’s
provides stipends for students to conduct internships
biotechnology graduates are also represented in doctoral
and research in their proposed field of study.
and postdoctoral fellowships at NYU, Columbia and Yale
Chitrakar completed a summer internship at Michigan
universities, medical schools and graduate programs for
State University that she said, “helped me tremendously
specialized health professions.
in terms of self-confidence and learning how to work in a
The trajectory of these graduates comes as no surprise
lab.” She was a research associate at Columbia University
to the founder of the biotechnology major, Rev. Joseph
for two years before being accepted to the doctoral pro-
E. Schuh, S.J., Professor of the Health and Natural Sci-
gram at Princeton, where she conducts research as part
ences Leonard Sciorra, Ph.D. While the program certainly
of the Korennykh Lab. Shrestha was one of several un-
prepares undergraduates for entry level positions in
dergraduates who worked with Dr. Sciorra as a research
biotechnology, most have continued onto medical school,
assistant, and then technician, on a patent that identified
doctoral programs or graduate training in fields ranging
a method for starting multipotent stem cells on the
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Aileen Arriola, M.D. ’07 is a pathologist and Surgical Pathology Fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Her post-graduate training will also include a Cytopathology Fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center next year. Biotechnology was not a major when Dr. Arriola was an undergraduate; she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and was a technologist for the stem cell research conducted at Saint Peter’s. 18
Fall 2016
Biotechnology graduate Binod Aryal, Ph.D. ’10 earned a doctoral degree in cell and molecular biology at NYU. In 2015, he began a post-doctoral fellowship at Yale University.
lineage toward becoming differentiated cells. Further research is needed to propagate stem cells to maturity; if this was accomplished, it would be a significant breakthrough in the development of cell therapies to treat disease. Shrestha and biotechnology program alumnus Justin Lo Re, D.O. ’11 even co-authored a chapter with Dr. Sciorra in Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Science, Regulation and Business Strategies (Wiley-Blackwell, 2015). “Saint Peter’s was where my love for science started,” said Shrestha, who conducts research on how protein organization in skin cells is conserved when they divide as a member of the Devenport Lab at Princeton. “Dr. Sciorra was my mentor and a mentor to so many other students.”
“They have big ambitions... These students knew they had to work hard and were not afraid to do it.” “I would not be where I am today without Dr. Sciorra,” said Dr. Lo Re, who graduated from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in May and is now in his first year of a neurology residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “As Saint Peter’s is primarily a teaching institution, the focus really is on students,” he added, noting that learning alongside biology professors E. Regina Giuliani, Ph.D., Laura Twersky, Ph.D., Jeanette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00 and Katherine Wydner, Ph.D., as well as WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D., director of the Center for Microplasma Science and Technology and chair of the Department of Applied Science and Technology, prepared him well for medical school. A philosophy minor at a Jesuit university “strengthened my reasoning skills, which are vital to any physician who has to solve puzzles and find patterns on a daily basis.” Dr. Sciorra expressed pride in his former students’ many accomplishments, and also gratitude for their contributions to stem cell research at Saint Peter’s. “All of these students have helped. They are the ones who keep pushing me. That motivates me a lot.”
Biotechnology graduate Anu Joshi ’12 worked as a research assistant for Nanoprobes Inc., and was a clinical research coordinator for Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts. This fall, she became a graduate research assistant at Columbia University, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in biostatistics, statistical genetics.
Stay tuned. These biotechnology undergraduates will soon be making their mark in research, medicine and health professions.
Saint Peter’s University
19
Sharing a Passion for Chemistry From the moment he received a chemistry set
her 14 years at the University. He contributes
at age 11, Charles J. Vickers ’47 knew he had
to wide-ranging University priorities, having
found his calling.
provided support for the University’s organic
That instant began a lifelong journey of scientific exploration that eventually led Vickers to Saint Peter’s University, where he majored in chemistry, and later worked for various chemical companies before starting his own pharmaceutical chemical distribution company, Orbichem Inc. “I can say that I greatly appreciated
“Saint Peter’s is a worthy institution and I’m happy to contribute to its stature as an alumnus,” Vickers said of his support. Saint Peter’s recognized Vickers with a Loyalty to Alma Mater award two years ago at Hearts & Minds: The Saint Peter’s University Scholarship Celebration. “He told me he derives much pleasure
a lot by going there,” Vickers said.
in giving. That’s one of the most wonderful things
“That enabled me to enjoy a very
you can hear as a fundraiser,” Leto said. “We’re
interesting and profitable career
extremely grateful for Charlie Vickers.”
His dedication to the sciences continues today, with a recent $40,000 gift to the Saint Peter’s Chemistry Department
Leto said the Vickers Organic Chemistry Lab and The Charles J. Vickers and Anne B. Vickers Tissue Culture Facility at Saint Peter’s have been the training grounds for future scientists and
to purchase a benchtop NMR and several sets of
medical professionals (see article on previous
Vernier probe kits. Vickers also contributed an
page). In addition, faculty use the facilities for
additional $10,000 to the Vickers and Viskovich
research. Recently, Leonard Sciorra, Ph.D., Rev.
Endowed Scholarship.
Joseph E. Schuh, S.J., Professor of the Health and
A benchtop NMR allows students to determine
Natural Sciences, along with student researchers,
the carbon framework and structure of mol-
conducted groundbreaking research that led to
ecules. Students synthesize different molecules
the University’s first-ever patent.
from aspirin to banana oil. NMR is a way to confirm the identity of what they have made. The new Vernier probe kits will replace outdated equipment and enable students to
“Chemistry, like most sciences, matters. It’s growing all the time. There are usually very exciting things that come along,” Vickers said. Leto said Saint Peter’s is always happy to work
perform classic experiments on the gas laws,
with donors to find meaningful ways for them to
calorimetry, spectroscopy, acids/bases, buffers
support the University.
and electrochemistry.
Those interested in making a gift can visit
Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05, vice president for advance-
saintpeters.edu/advancement, or contact Scott
ment and external affairs at Saint Peter’s,
Donovan, assistant director of annual giving, at
said Vickers has been one of the most loyal donors she has worked with in
Above: Charles Vickers ’47 and Saint Peter’s University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D. Fall 2016
Mac Mahon Student Center, among other projects.
my time at Saint Peter’s and gained
in chemistry.”
20
chemistry lab, tissue culture facility and the
(201) 761-6109 or sdonovan@saintpeters.edu.
ADVANCEMENT
CAREER COLLABORATIVE: GOLDMAN SACHS PROMOTES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Goldman Sachs’ presence on the Jersey City
institutions dedicated to preparing students to
waterfront is translating into a golden opportunity
be competitive candidates in the job market,”
for 10 Saint Peter’s University students participating
said Anthony Cammarata Jr., managing director,
in a semester-long leadership training program.
corporate services and real estate at Goldman Sachs.
The firm has partnered with four educational
“The collaborative is designed to engage local stu-
institutions in the area, including Saint Peter’s, to
dents in a leadership program to raise awareness of
create the Goldman Sachs College Collaborative, a
career possibilities, enhance career readiness and
unique experiential learning program under the tu-
create better connectivity between the firm and the
telage of Goldman Sachs professionals. As part of the
local community.” Goldman Sachs has also supported Saint Peter’s
collaborative, four teams of 10 students from each school are challenged to work on real-world case
and its students in a number of other ways, includ-
studies drawing on teamwork, communications and
ing sponsoring a career workshop on campus last
advanced problem-solving skills.
spring, which employee volunteers helped to host. Laura Pakhmanov, MHRM, executive director of
As a final project, each school team will present their solutions to a mock board of directors com-
the Saint Peter’s Center for Career Engagement and
prised of Goldman Sachs employees. Participants
Experiential Learning, said Saint Peter’s has adopted
attend special seminars hosted at each of the school
a rigorous application process for this program tar-
campuses, allowing students to experience different
geting sophomores and juniors. “This is a very accelerated, very intense type of
academic environments, connect with their peers across various majors and hear from Goldman Sachs
boot camp,” Pakhmanov explained, adding that the
professionals on themes like networking, profession-
candidate pool includes students from non-tradi-
alism and career exploration. Students who success-
tional majors that are not usually associated with
fully complete the program receive a stipend and
financial services. “We’re very excited about this. It
course credits toward graduation.
very much aligns with the University’s mission.”
“The Jersey City area has wonderful academic
President’s Reception Gratitude was the theme at the President’s Reception, which was held on October 13 at the Pleasantdale Château in West Orange, N.J. Speeches from Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University, and Veramarie Jimenez ’18, president of the Student Government Association, as well as a video highlighting the University’s strategic plan, emphasized the impact of donors on Saint Peter’s students.
1.
2.
1. Gabriele Bandelli ’18, Veramarie Jiminez ’18, Reese Quinones ’19, Nicholas Brown ’18 and Anica Bustamante ’18 with University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D.; 2. SCHOLA, the Saint Peter’s University Liturgical Choir; 3. Cocktail hour
3.
Saint Peter’s University
21
The Hoop Scoop Saint Peter’s University has revved up the rosters of its men’s and women’s basketball teams with some talented newcomers, adding to the depth of both squads. Women’s Head Coach Pat Coyle has watched a strong chemistry develop on the court in preseason practices. “We are still fairly young, but we do have several players who gained valuable experience over the past few seasons. Our team had chemistry from the spring through the summer, and fall has been wonderful. That should serve us well as we get into conference play.” The men’s team returns all but two of last year’s players and has added three skilled transfers who red-shirted last season. Head Coach John Dunne will also look to several top freshman recruits to make their mark on the court. Both teams have upped the ante on their pre-conference play, with the women’s schedule including perennial Big 10 standouts Penn State and the University of Maryland, and the men facing national powerhouses University of Notre Dame and the University of Maryland. The women also represented the MAAC at the prestigious Hall of Fame tournament. “I’m really excited about those challenges. We’ll see where our mental toughness is,” said Coach Dunne. “It’s a challenging schedule, one we’re looking forward to. I believe it will get us ready for a demanding MAAC season.”
22
Fall 2016
PEACOCK
U
Big Time: Randy Holmes ’96 and Juanita Michelle Foreman ’89 enshrined in basketball hall of fame A pair of Saint Peter’s
A two-time selection to the second team All-
University alumni basketball
MAAC, Foreman ended her career with 1,439 points
standouts have taken their
and was the third all-time leading scorer when
place in “The MAAC Experi-
she graduated. She grabbed 338 career rebounds,
ence” video exhibit at the
dished out 246 assists and had 154 steals in her
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Randy Holmes ’96 and Juanita Michelle Foreman
HEAD OF THE CLASS Peacock pride abounds for two Saint Peter’s teams that have been recognized with academic achievement awards from the NCAA. The men’s golf and women’s bowling teams earned impressive team GPAs for the 2014–15 academic year, the latest year for which statistics are available. Each received the NCAA’s Public Recognition Award, bestowed on teams with an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. This is the third consecutive year Peacock golfers have merited the honor.
four-year career at Saint Peter’s. A member of the University’s 1995 Hall of Fame
’89 were inducted into the MAAC Honor Roll this fall
class, Foreman has served as a police officer in
and were enshrined in the exhibit at the national
Maryland for 26 years.
hall of fame in Springfield, Mass. They will also be profiled in the game program for the 2017 MAAC basketball championships. Holmes finished his career with 1,022 points in three seasons with the Peacocks, holding the school record with 35 consecutive made free throws and tying the season record with a .853 free throw percentage in the 1994–95 season. He led the Peacocks to their second NCAA Tournament berth with 24 points over Manhattan, earning 1995 MAAC Tournament MVP honors. A 2002 inductee to the Saint Peter’s Athletics Hall of Fame, he is a teacher in Lakewood, N.J., where he is a head varsity basketball coach.
MAAC honorees Randy Holmes ’96 and Juanita Michelle Foreman ’89
2016 William J. Murray All-Sports Golf Outing Saint Peter’s University held its annual William J. Murray All-Sports Golf Outing on September 27 at Montclair Golf Club at Rock Spring in West Orange, N.J.
Above: John Lynch ’51, Rob Goldstein, Bob Goldstein ’60 and Francis Ziegler ’63; Right: James Watson, assistant women’s soccer coach, Pat Coyle, head women’s basketball coach, and Mary Kliger
Saint Peter’s University
23
Alumni Weekend 2016
Honoring the Class of 1966 Celebrating 50 Years Above: William Costigan Jr., Esq. ’66 presents the class gift to University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D.; Left: the Class of 1966 celebrates in The Duncan Family Sky Room
They came from as far away as California and around the corner in
The 10-member 50th Anniversary Committee spent months
New Jersey. Members of the Class of 1966 reunited for an unforget-
contacting classmates in preparation for the event. Assistance and
table anniversary celebration on September 17–18 at the Jersey City
support provided by alumni engagement staff and other members of
campus. “It was a blast,” said William D. Costigan Jr., Esq. ’66, who
the Office of Advancement and External Affairs proved invaluable. “It
chaired the 50th anniversary event committee.
was a flawless weekend,” said Costigan. “I know everyone in our group
Amid the many weekend events—tours of the campus and Jersey City, the Alumni Memorial Mass and cocktail hour and dinner dance
was tremendously impressed by the professionalism of the staff.” To mark the 50th anniversary, the Class of 1966 presented a
in The Duncan Family Sky Room of the Mac Mahon Student Center,
check of $211,357 to University President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D.
Golden Peacocks reminisced about the political and social change
The gift will support the Class of ’66 Endowed Scholarship, The Saint
that defined their college years—the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil
Peter Fund, the General Scholarship Fund, the President’s Priority
Rights Act of 1964 and the historic address given by Dr. Martin Luther
Fund and many more.
King Jr. H ’65 at the Michaelmas Convocation in 1965. Time and distance also underscored the central role Jesuit education played in their lives. “Those years did shape us and we took those lessons with us for the rest of our lives,” said Costigan in a reflection prepared for the reunion. “I think we walked away not thinking how smart we were, but rather how much we had to learn each day and to always be thinking, examining, probing and focusing on the Jesuit lessons we learned in those four years.”
CLASS OF 1966 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE William D. Costigan Jr., Esq. ’66 Wellington J. Davis Jr. ’66 James H. Freis, Esq. ’66 Jerome J. Gillen, Ph.D. ’66 James E. Greaves ’66
John E. McGill Jr. ’66 John (Jake) F. O’Halloran ’66 Ronald J. Palmieri, M.D. ’66 Joseph A. Panepinto, Esq. ’66 Stanley M. Zaborowski, M.D. ’66
CLASS NEWS
& Notes
Have you… • Landed your first job?
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• Retired from your last job? • Met the love of your life? • Celebrated a milestone anniversary? • Welcomed a child? • Welcomed a grandchild? • Reminisced with friends from Saint Peter’s? • Received a promotion or honor? Saint Peter’s University welcomes any and all news about your career, education, family life and reconnecting with other alumni. Submit a note via e-mail to alumni@ saintpeters.edu or send to: Office of Alumni Engagement, 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306.
1951 Al Jago and his wife, Helen, became great-grandparents on July 24 with the birth of Logan James Jago, the son of Daniel and Christie Jago.
1956 John P. Maher, M.D., is retired from medicine and from formal teaching, but still tutors his grandson, a seventh grader, in math. He is active in the VFW and the American Legion and is president of the Major Louis Guillermin Memorial Chapter 436 of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Chester County, Pa. He led the chapter’s Honor Guard at The Wall That Heals in July, where he laid a wreath in memoriam at the center of the wall replica. He also recently had the pleasure of walking one of his daughters down the aisle for her wedding in Wilmington, Del.
1959 Robert Stanley, M.D., will be awarded the Gold Medal, the Radio-
logical Society of North America’s highest honor, on November 26 at the annual meeting in Chicago.
1960 On August 18, Col. Robert John Finnerty, U.S. Army, retired, was interred in Arlington National Cemetery. Fellow alumni from the Class of 1960 attended the ceremony to remember their classmate. Charlie Burke recently shot 100 percent in a basketball free throw shooting competition at Pasadena City College (Senior Olympics), winning first place by getting 25 out of 25 shots. He then won the threepoint shooting contest by getting 14 out of 18 20-foot shots. He says it was by far his best shooting since his college days.
1961 Rev. John Gildea celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. He is now retired and living at St. Bartholomew in Elmhurst, N.Y.
1962
1967
Harold “Hal” Kurfehs was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for Excellence in Real Estate. He is currently vice president of Coldwell Banker Commercial Scalzo Group.
Hubert “Hap” Moran finished the Kessler Foundation 10K held in Ridgewood, N.J., in May in 1:19.07. He’s participated in the 10K since its inception in 1976. Over the years, he’s competed in the Boston and New York marathons, and other major long distance races. He ran cross country at Saint Peter’s in the mid-1960s.
1964 Robert Dolan, M.D., recently published Death to Death through Amazon. The book, a study of American capital punishment, illuminates the multiple areas of dysfunction in the system and argues for the abolition of the death penalty. Daniel Toomey, Esq., left his partnership at Duane Morris, LLP to join the Washington, D.C. construction boutique McManus & Felsen, LLP. He was recognized in the 23rd edition of The Best Lawyers in America and included in Who’s Who Legal. Toomey is scheduled to be on the faculty of the Belfast, Northern Ireland, Advanced Advocacy for Solicitors and will co-direct his 13th DC NITA Advanced Trial Advocacy course at the federal court in Washington, D.C.
1965 James Donohue, M.D., former division chief and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, wrote an editorial for the June 9 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine titled “Another Choice for Prevention of COPD Exacerbations.” Dr. Donohue is emeritus chairman of the Foundation of the American Thoracic Society.
1966 Thomas Harvey is enjoying semi-retirement after serving as headmaster of five different private schools.
Bill Lorenzo established the World War II and Holocaust Research Center at Warren County Community College in Washington, N.J. The center was formally recognized by the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education as an official Holocaust/genocide resource center on April 15. He is a senior adjunct professor of history at the College and is the director of its center, whose mission is to promote public awareness of World War II, the Holocaust and other genocides. He was a 2014 Belfer Scholarship recipient and attended a three-day workshop for teachers and professors who teach Holocaust studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. After serving for 19 years, Joe O’Dowd was recently re-elected to the board of directors of Lakeland Bank.
1969 Ellen (Mopper) Droshe and her husband, Bernie, welcomed their sixth grandchild, Cooper Samuel Droshe. Both of their children and all of their grandchildren reside in Raleigh, N.C. The couple, having spent 40 years in California, relocated to Leland, N.C., to be close to family.
1970 Peter Santanello received Letters of Affiliation to the De La Salle Christian Brothers on April 23.
Saint Peter’s University
25
CLASS NEWS
& Notes
This highest and rarest honor was awarded for many years of service to the students, families, faculty and staff of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J. He retired last year after 41 years and had served as teacher, dean of academics and the school’s first lay principal.
1971 Victor Studna recently retired as vice president of financial reporting at Hudson City Savings Bank, after serving 45 years as a CPA.
1972 Clyde Hart, Esq., was elected to the board of directors for the Rockbridge Area Health Center in Virginia.
1973 Roger Gengaro was elected New Jersey state commander of the American Legion at the annual convention on June 10 in Wildwood. He will lead the state’s largest wartime veteran’s organization, with a membership of approximately
SAINT PETER’S UNIVERSITY TAKES A CARIBBEAN VACATION The Saint Peter’s swag bag has been delivered! In the last issue of Saint Peter’s University, we asked alumni to snap a vacation selfie with the magazine. Adael Acosta ’91 and his daughter, Ariana Acosta ’19, submitted this photo showing their peacock pride in the Bahamas.
26
Fall 2016
45,000, for the next year. The Vietnam-era veteran served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967.
1975 Kathleen Brennan, mathematics department chair at Mount Saint Mary Academy, was named one of the 2016 Outstanding Educators of the Year during a recent ceremony sponsored by the New York City Department of Education. Kathleen (Davis) Sidoti announced her retirement from education after 41 years of service. She looks forward to spending time with her children and grandson.
1976 Philip Obiedzinski, D.P.M., was a speaker at the annual national meeting of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants. He presented an overview of his 23 years serving as an expert witness to review potential podiatric malpractice cases. He has been a podiatrist in Rutherford for more than 33 years.
Judith Valente (Reynard) was honored by her community YWCA with a 2016 Women of Distinction award. She was also a featured speaker at the national convention of the American Benedictine Academy and a featured poet in 2015 of the Valente-Blihar Families Poetry Series at Saint Peter’s.
1977 For the past five years, Rich Sartori, M.D., has traveled to Kisumu, Kenya, with the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation. He is the first American physician to travel with Richard Brodsky and his wife, Jodi. He tends to children who have lost their parents to AIDS and live with family members. William Clarke became a grandfather for the first time. His son and daughter-in-law welcomed a boy on July 21.
1978 Matthew McGrath, Hoboken Catholic Academy principal, was chosen as one of three honorees at the Catholic Community of Saints Peter & Paul 2016 Gratitude Gala on April 28.
1979 Terence Blackwell was chosen by the Chimes board of directors to serve as president and CEO of the nonprofit Chimes International Ltd. based in Baltimore. Guy Natelli has published his first short story, “No Beach to Walk On,” in the anthology Shoreline. He also has poetry scheduled to be published in 2017 and is working on a future fiction novel, a children’s series and a fantasy series.
1980 Rev. Gerardo Santos is a priest of the Archdiocese of Manila and a pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Makati City. He was also ordained as a deacon in 1984 at St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church. He holds a master’s degree from St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore and a licentiate degree in moral theology from the Angelicum University in Rome.
1981 Marjorie (Collier) Shanks received a M.S. as a physician assistant from Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y. She will practice in Louisiana. Jay Stearns, M.D., settled in Vermont nine years ago. He has been working as a hospitalist in internal medicine. He spends his summers in Quebec City and Mexico with his wife, Pilar, and their three children.
1984 Joseph Luppino was appointed to the board of directors for Bitauto Holdings Limited in May. The company is a leading provider of internet content and marketing services for China’s fast-growing automotive industry.
1986 The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey announced in May that Diane (Moniello) Papaianni, who has risen through the ranks of the agency’s Aviation Department over the course of a 36-year career, has been named the new general manager of New Jersey airports, which includes Newark Liberty International Airport.
1990
2000
John Lanza works as a tax service coordinator for corporate and partnership clients of RSM’s Metro Park New Jersey office and is lead tax partner for several major public clients. He focuses on large, multinational consolidated corporate and partnership business entities in the industrial products, technology and life sciences industries.
Jose Aviles received the Jefferson Foundation Inc. Community Service Award of Outstanding Excellence on May 14.
1994
2001
Following graduation from Saint Peter’s, Rusbaldo Reyes started his own personal fitness training business in New York City. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 as a combat medic and became a special operations combat medic for the 75th Ranger Regiment. To date, he has been deployed seven times all over the world and is currently training for his eighth deployment to South America with a civil affairs unit.
Alexander Anemone, Ed.D., was named superintendent of schools in West Milford, N.J.
1997
Thomas Tufaro, Ed.D., was hired by the Kinnelon, N.J., school district as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment in July.
Ryan Harrison was inducted into the Mater Dei Prep Hall of Fame in Middletown, N.J., for both cross country and track in 2016. Harrison was a four-year letter recipient, captain of both teams and a key member of the 1991 and 1992 division-winning championship teams for his high school. He later went on to run cross country and track at Saint Peter’s.
1998 Alex Drummond held the New Jersey premiere of his horrorcomedy feature, Killer Party, in The Duncan Family Sky Room at Saint Peter’s, with many alumni and professors in attendance. The film now plays at festivals, has won numerous accolades and is available on video on-demand platforms.
In the Footsteps of Saint Ignatius Left: Saint Peter’s alumni, family and friends visited historic sights in Rome; Below: Pope Francis as photographed by Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D.
Lisa Rollins, Ed.D., earned a doctoral degree in teacher leadership from Walden University in 2007. She accepted a vice principal position in the Sayreville, N.J., school district.
Kristi Allegretta was promoted to detective sergeant of investigations in the Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit, the Megan’s Law Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. She is in her 14th year in law enforcement.
Alumni, family and friends joined University President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., and AnnMarie Cornacchia on a June trip following the tracks of Saint Ignatius and the early Jesuits in Rome.
2003
2004 Donald J. Bernhardt completed the required coursework for the Georgetown Law and Securities Exchange Commission certification in securities and financial regulation.
2007 Nikki Mederos ’07, ’10 was honored by the Gold Coast Regional Chamber of Commerce as one of the organization’s Inspirational Women in Business on October 20.
Become a GSBF Mentor Saint Peter’s University is proud to be a recipient of a $1 million gift from the Give Something Back Foundation (GSBF) that will allow 50 New Jersey students to attend the University at no cost for tuition, fees, room and board. Mentors are needed to support these future Saint Peter’s students through high school. Please consider giving your time to help promising students be successful in college before they get there. Apply at www.givesomethingbackfoundation.org.
Saint Peter’s University
27
CLASS NEWS
& Notes
All in the Family When Bandelli returned to Italy for summer break, he left instructions for Hartnett’s medication schedule taped to the kitchen cabinets. Hartnett started his studies at Saint Peter’s in the fall of 1947, part of the first influx of college students who were not drafted for World War II. That year, the draft expired without further extension by Congress. That bit of history still strikes Hartnett, a retired attorney, because it was during his tenure at Saint Peter’s that many students were able to earn a degree because of the GI Bill. Hartnett recalls professors who had a tremendous influence on him, including Rev. George Johnson, S.J., and Rev. Donald Monan, S.J., a classics scholar. The third Jesuit who influenced Hartnett, Rev. Gerard Murphy, S.J., had a keen interest in the labor movement. It was he who got Hartnett interested in becoming a Before Bernard Hartnett, Esq. ’51 ever met his grandnephew,
labor lawyer. In 1955, Hartnett received his J.D. from Seton
Gabriele Bandelli ’18, he had already agreed that the young
Hall University School of Law.
man from Florence, Italy, would come to live with him in Jersey City while attending Saint Peter’s University. When touring Europe three summers ago, Hartnett finally met Bandelli in Florence, and the two instantly hit it off. Bandelli had his sights set on Saint Peter’s because of its strong academic programs and classification as a Division I school for soccer, a sport Bandelli has played since childhood. The fact that his mother’s brother, as well as Hartnett, both graduated from the University cemented the idea in his mind.
Trustees before serving as a regent emeritus. Today, through his grandnephew, his connection to the University continues.
“A person who never met me before was willing to give me a room to stay. It’s not something everyone does.”
“Through them, I got to know about the faculty members
As for Bandelli, he hopes to continue his studies in
and the school’s methods,” said Bandelli, who is majoring in
graduate school, where he aspires to earn a degree in
health and physical education.
physical therapy. “Since I was little, I’ve been fascinated with
For Hartnett, the arrangement has been a blessing. He is touched by his grandnephew’s thoughtfulness and for the companionship he offers. “He’s a terrific person. He gets
28
Hartnett spent the decades that followed devoted to Saint Peter’s, chairing both the Board of Regents and the Board of
how the human body works. I’ve been injured a lot playing soccer, and I’m fascinated with the rehab process.” The ambitious student is grateful to Hartnett for helping
up very early every morning. When I get up, everything is
him on his journey. “It’s kind of cool the way things have
laid out for me for breakfast. He comes home and the first
gone. A person who never met me before was willing to give
thing he does is hit the books. He leaves me notes every day
me a room to stay. It’s not something everyone does. A lot of
reminding me to take my medicine.”
people probably would have said ‘No, I never met him.’”
Fall 2016
C AT C H I N G U P W I T H . . .
2008 Ann Marie Contorno is a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors in Forked River, N.J., serving Monmouth and Ocean counties. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Ocean County Board of Realtors and Monmouth-Ocean Association of Realtors. Steven Ferreira studied abroad and lived in London, obtaining his master’s degree in international relations from Queen Mary University of London. Upon completion of his master’s degree, he joined the New York City Police Department.
2012 Frank Bernard Bobadilla was designated a neurovascular- and stroke-certified registered nurse in July. He also became a member of the Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey, Inc.
2013 On August 19, Sharon Morrissey ran in the Anchor Down Ultra in Bristol, R.I., completing the race in 11:16:00.
2014 Anthony Robak was promoted to AD-PC&S network operations for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey in June.
2015 Nathalie Staiger worked at Mad Science of San Diego, teaching classes ranging from 20 to 400. She also volunteered as a research assistant at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif. Along with research and working with Mad Science, she was an aquarist assistant at the Birch Aquarium. In August,
she headed back east to begin her master’s degree in marine science and technology at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
2016 Christine Ross, Ed.D., was named principal of St. Patrick School after serving as interim principal since January. Dr. Ross was previously an undergraduate instructor in the Felician University School of Education. She began her career in Catholic education as a middle school teacher in the Diocese of Paterson before advancing to the role of principal at St. Paul School in Clifton, N.J. Her school was awarded the diocesan Best Practices Award for the fine arts program during her tenure. Dr. Ross recently earned her doctorate in K–12 educational leadership from Saint Peter’s.
Engagements Michelle Wheeler ’10 is engaged to be married. A September 2017 wedding is planned.
Marriages
Technology Entrepreneur Gary Young ’09 When Saint Peter’s University spoke with Gary Young ’09 in 2008, he was a senior radio host with the campus radio station, WSPC, vice president of the Gannon Debating Society and editorin-chief of the Pauw Wow. Today, Young has parlayed his
Gary Young ’09
communications skills into a career in technology in Denver, Colo.
When he was still in high school, Young visited the Saint Peter’s campus and observed an experimental class in which Spanish, French and Italian were taught simultaneously by emphasizing similarities between the languages. It piqued his interest. “I thought that was fascinating,” he said. Young, who entered Saint Peter’s as a Presidential Scholar, was also drawn to the University because of its “small school vibe” and was impressed with the Honors Program. Its proximity to New York City was a big draw, as well. During his time at Saint Peter’s, Young co-hosted “Rants of Reason,” a political discourse talk show, for
Erin Fitzgerald ’97 married Kevin Doorly in August 2015.
WSPC, which is now streaming Internet station WSPR.
Births
having a great impact on his career, particularly his
Deirdre (Power) Van Deursen ’09 and her husband, Matthew Van Deursen ’09, welcomed their first child, Isaac Anthony, in June.
worked as an advertising copywriter, then built a software
Looking back, Young credits his Jesuit education with writing skills. After graduation, the philosophy major application to help small business owners track the return on investment (ROI) of their online advertising. His latest venture is working as a partner in Royalty Exchange, a tech company that serves as a marketplace for buying and selling intellectual property. “Most of the staff is now working with people in the music industry who have written hit songs and are getting paid royalties. We connect them with investors interested in buying future income from their copyrights.” Young also volunteers as marketing advisor for Code for Denver, which builds apps and websites for nonprofits, local government and community organizations.
Saint Peter’s University
29
CLASS NEWS
& Notes
A Reunion to Remember Women from the Class of 1970—as well as their counterparts from the era’s Evening Division—converged on the Saint Peter’s University campus at several September events celebrating the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the Day Session. During a September 7 panel discussion in The Theresa and Edward O’Toole Library, former students, as well as longtime faculty members, shared their experiences as part of the small, but tight-knit group of women who opened up opportunities on campus for generations of women to come. The event also highlighted the library’s exhibit, 1966–1970: When Women Changed Saint Peter’s Forever, marking the special
1. Alumnae browse through old yearbooks; 2. Women who entered Saint Peter’s Day Session in fall of 1966; 3. Catherine (Cohen) Dondero ’70; 4. Rev. Thomas Sheridan, S.J. and Br. Jerome Menkhaus, S.J. ’70
anniversary. Later in the month, an alumnae reunion on September 24 provided another chance for the women to tour the campus and swap stories about their unique experiences as college undergraduates.
1.
2.
3.
Great Food, Great Cause Generosity was the main course at the fifth annual fundraiser at Amanda’s, the Hoboken restaurant owned by Eugene Flinn ’80 and his wife, Joyce. The couple donated a five-course dinner with wine pairings for Saint Peter’s alumni and friends. The event raised $20,000 to benefit St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church, as well as campus ministry projects such as SCHOLA and The Campus Kitchen. Since its inception, the dinner has raised more than $100,000.
30
Fall 2016
Above: Carmel Galasso ’79, Eugene Flinn ’80, Joseph Napoli ’78, Eileen Poiani, Ph.D., and Capt. Anthony Romano Jr. ’77; Above right: Stephen Ellerman ’74 and Donna Orr; Right: Carol Bastek, Ed.D. ’70 and friends
4.
Requiescant in Pace Saint Peter’s University wishes to extend its prayers and condolences to the families of alumni, members of the University community and friends who have passed away.
John J. Bergin ’54 Joseph P. Blauvelt ’80 Thomas J. Botti Jr. ’48 Nancy P. Campbell ’72 Nino D. Caridi, Esq. ’46 William F. Carroll ’71 Jean M. Chryst John J. Conn ’56 David F. Curtin ’00 John H. Harnett ’56 Barbara E. Hebron ’84 Theodore J. Heiart ’61 William F. Heitmann ’54 Thomas J. Hertz ’59 Dorothy Kaminski Isabel J. Kennedy Bernadette Kmec ’84 John D. Koenig III, Esq. ’51 Sotero Lalin Joseph L. Lamanna ’43 Florence V. LaRosa ’67
Peter A. Loughlin ’50 Ralph J. Lucarello Jr. ’83, ’11 William H. Magee Jr. ’67 Donald C. March ’57 Edward Meagher III ’70 John F. Miller ’43 Henry Orzepowski ’55 John Pasquali ’53 Philip Pestrichello ’66 Joseph P. Pizzurro, M.D. ’59 Robert F. Rodihan ’68 John M. Santoro ’55 Ernest X. Scerbo ’53 Robert F. Sharples ’59 Agnes Sparrow ’14, ’16 Hon. Reginald Stanton ’56, H ’03 James R. Sullivan, Esq. ’60 Eugene C. Tolomeo, D.D.S. ’43 Elnora Watson ’72 Florence J. Wiegartner
REQUIRED NCAA DISCLOSURE On February 2, 2016, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions (“COI”) released a Public Infractions Report regarding violations of NCAA rules in Saint Peter’s University’s men’s and women’s swimming programs. This infractions case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort that did not necessitate a COI hearing. Saint Peter’s and the COI agreed that Level II violations of NCAA rules occurred in the University’s swimming programs, primarily during one academic year. Specifically: (1) In the 2013–14 academic year, four student-athletes received participation expenses while ineligible, and two of those student-athletes practiced or competed while ineligible. (2) During the 2011–12 through 2013–14 academic years, at least three student-athletes practiced with nonuniversity teams coached by the then head swimming coach. (3) In the 2013–14 academic year, the then head swimming coach arranged for seven student-athletes to submit lifeguard work-study hours at the University’s aquatics center for which there were no records of the student-athletes actually working. Additionally, the COI found that the then head swimming coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules by intentionally committing some of the above-listed violations and by failing to fully cooperate in the investigation of the case. This is the first instance of significant violations of NCAA rules at Saint Peter’s, and the University regrets that
Stay Connected
the violations occurred. It is important to note that the violations were limited to one program during primarily one academic year. The University discovered the issues, reported them to the NCAA, and then worked closely with
The Office of Alumni Engagement knows how much you like to reconnect with old friends and find new contacts. The new Saint Peter’s Alumni Directory can help you do just that. To be sure that the new directory is accurate, check your mailbox for a postcard from Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) with instructions on how to update your information. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at (201) 761-6122 or alumni@saintpeters.edu.
the NCAA to conduct the follow-up investigation. The COI and the NCAA staff stated their appreciation for Saint Peter’s cooperation throughout the process. As a result of the above-listed violations, the COI and the University agreed to penalties that include public reprimand and censure for the university, two years of probation beginning February 2, 2016, vacation of records in which student-athletes participated while ineligible, and a $5,000 fine. Additionally, the then head swimming coach received a five-year “show-cause order” from the COI. A complete copy of the COI’s Public Infractions Report can be found at the following link: saintpeterspeacocks. com/general/2015-16/NCAAPublicInfractionsReport.
Saint Peter’s University
31
CLASS NEWS AD
&Finem Notes
Season of Change by Rev. Thomas Sheridan, S.J.
Soon other, more important matters, like the Vietnam War and the struggle for civil rights, took center stage and were em-
I arrived at Saint Peter’s University in summer 1966, just as
braced by both genders. We Jesuits watched proudly as female
the turbulence of the 1960s was beginning to make its way to
students worked side-by-side with their male counterparts to
the campus. The unlikely cause: 100 women students, the first
advance the ideals that are central to Jesuit higher education.
admitted to the Day Session. The impending turmoil that greeted me was a complete
Campus life thrived during that era, as well. A women’s glee club was formed, complementing the men’s glee club, both
surprise. When I set out across the Hudson River from Fordham
belting out the University’s fight song, “Io Pavo,” with heart. On
University to Jersey City, I knew only that Rev. Robert O’Brien,
the basketball court, Carol “The Shot” Cardiello ’70 (now Carol
S.J., chairman of the Saint Peter’s Theology Department, had
Faillace) led the women’s basketball team, which in those days
persuaded the provincial to send him two Jesuits with doctor-
was still playing according to rules that differed from men’s
ates. So off I went to Saint Peter’s and the teaching position I would hold for 33 years, 17 of which I would serve as departmental chairman
basketball teams. That was soon to be changed for a game with more spectator attraction, and spectators there were.
at one time or other.
The arrival of female students to the Day
Women in the classroom may
Session opened other doors, as well. A
have been a novel idea to some
year later, Saint Peter’s welcomed its
at Saint Peter’s, but not to me. I
first woman professor in the Math-
had already taught women in
ematics Department, Eileen L. Poiani,
Fordham’s School of Education
Ph.D. Well qualified, with a doctoral
at 302 Broadway in Manhat-
degree in math from Rutgers Uni-
tan and in graduate classes on
versity’s Douglass College, Dr. Poiani
the Bronx campus. Admittedly,
set a precedent at Saint Peter’s, and
I had panicked a bit before
a precedent like that is not easily set.
facing my first co-ed class at
Other women blazed trails of their
Fordham. The last time I had
own in Saint Peter’s classrooms: Luisa
shared a class with a female was
de la Torre, Ph.D., in the Modern and
in the eighth grade! The adjustment
Classical Languages and Literatures De-
lasted about 10 minutes, as I realized
partment, Eugenia M. Palmegiano, Ph.D., J.D.,
that teaching women was no more challenging than teaching men. So, by the time Saint Peter’s classes began that September, women in the classroom didn’t faze me at all. I’m
in the History Department and Patricia Ann Redden, Ph.D., in the Chemistry Department were just a few of those dedicated and highly-qualified women. Through the years, women have also made their mark at
not sure what my fellow professors thought of the situation;
Saint Peter’s as administrators. Barbara Chryst HA ’99 in the
as the new guy on campus, I didn’t know many of them very
Dean of Students Office comes to mind for her whole-hearted
well. And while some male students were very accepting, oth-
dedication, as well as Carmel Galasso ’79 in campus ministry,
ers were angry. Signs and buttons declaring, “This is a man’s
who is currently on the Board of Regents, and Joan Shields ’75,
school” began to appear.
’83, who was an excellent registrar for many years.
Things settled down pretty quickly; however, as students
I’m not sure when, but sometime after 1966 Saint Peter’s qui-
and faculty got down to the serious business of academe. The
etly adapted the Jesuit mandate to educate “men for others” to
protests never spilled over into my classroom, and in short
“men and women for others.” The world is a better place for it.
order, they disappeared. The men were beginning to realize that women were a great addition to Saint Peter’s. The women
Rev. Thomas Sheridan, S.J., is professor emeritus of theology at
in that first class were the cream of the crop. They enriched
Saint Peter’s University. He is an active spiritual director and assists
discussions by providing their own unique perspective on the
in community ministry at Murray-Weigel Hall, the Jesuit retirement
issues debated in my classroom.
residence in the Bronx.
32 32 Fall Fall2015 2016
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