Seton Hall Magazine Fall 2021 by Seton Hall Publications Alumni Magazine

SETON HALL Fall 2021

An Advocate For Her People Shannon Holsey, M.A. ’14, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians TEACHING DURING A PANDEMIC

SETON HALL Fall 2021

Vol. 32 Issue 2

Seton Hall magazine is published by the Department of Public Relations and Marketing in the Division of University Relations.

feature

An Advocate for Her People

Teaching During a Pandemic

President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. Vice President for University Relations Matthew Borowick ’89/M.B.A. ’94 Director, Strategic Communications and Brand Pegeen Hopkins, M.S.J.

Shannon Holsey, M.A. ‘14, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians, tackles the challenges of leading during demanding times.

The daily routine of educating students has been turned upside-down since early 2020. What new practices will teachers keep?

Art Director Ann Antoshak

Copy Editors Kim de Bourbon Jessica C. Strom, M.A. News & Notes Editors Erika (Klinger) Thomas, M.A. ‘11 Stacy Albanese Fagioli, M.A. Feven B. Kebede Send your comments and suggestions by mail to: Seton Hall magazine, Department of Public Relations and Marketing, 519 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079; by email to shuwriter@shu.edu; or by phone at 973-378-9834. Cover: Shannon Holsey. Photo by

David E. Johnson Facing page: Fall on the South Orange campus. Photo by Bob Handelman

www.shu.edu

departments

Presidents Hall

4 HALLmarks 12

Possibilities

Roaming the Hall

Profile

Sports at the Hall

Alumni News & Notes

Last Word

Sophomore Kelly Tobin earned the prestigious Boren Award just a few years after her sister Emma ‘19.

Jorge López Cortina immersed himself in a program teaching how to write the Cham language using its traditional script.

Matthew Wright ‘89 endowed a scholarship for the MLK Leadership Program.

When disasters strike, Erin Magee, M.A. ’08, is often there, providing aid.

FROM P R E S ID EN T S H A L L |

J O S E P H E . N Y R E , P h . D.

An Extraordinary Year Begins

his fall, Seton Hall launched one of the most

and ready to do their best work. We are welcoming

highly anticipated years in our long history —

them more deeply into the bonds of our one University

a much-awaited period of restoration, renewal

community filled with 165 years of traditions. And

and reconnection. We returned to primarily

we are delivering on the Catholic educational mission

in-person experiences across three vibrant campuses

that provides the foundation upon which our students

and welcomed the largest and one of the most-qualified

can build their futures.

freshman classes in our history. A record-breaking 23,252 would-be Pirates completed applications for the

pandemic taught us that consummate planning paired

Class of 2025. Of those, 1,675 make up the incoming

with extraordinary flexibility are essential to success.

undergraduate class. The extraordinary number of

That is why we never stopped preparing for the future

applications to Seton Hall as well as the unprecedented

while we addressed the myriad concerns and issues of

size of the class continue a remarkable trend. The Class

the present. By balancing daily actions with long-range

of 2025 marks the sixth time in seven years Seton Hall

planning, we approved plans to reshape our academic

has reached new highs for applications, and the fourth

portfolio, elevated the ratio of instructional versus

time in five years it has done so for class size.

non-instructional expenses, initiated a comprehensive

Moreover, U.S. News & World Report’s guide to

visioning process for the South Orange and Newark

America’s Best Colleges for 2022 has again ranked us

campuses, doubled fundraising year over year; and

in the top tier of national universities and named us

took steps to anchor the University among the most

one of the “A-Plus Schools for B Students” and a “Top

affordable in our peer group. And we are continuing to

Performer for Social Mobility.” Even more impressive,

achieve the goals set forth in our strategic plan, Harvest

the University’s ranking rose six places — from 133

Our Treasures, while we engage numerous Setonians on

to 127 among the nation’s four-year public, private and

key academic and campus initiatives.

for-profit national universities. Last year the University

We appreciate the many ways our worldwide Seton

also climbed six places, marking a rise of 12 places in

Hall family has advanced our aspirations. I ask for

just two years.

your continued, steadfast support, and remain grateful

As we move through this extraordinary year, we are advancing efforts to make all students feel at home

The lessons we learned during the COVID-19

for your prayers that Seton Hall continues to realize a dynamic, safe and memorable year.

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Photo by Erin Patrice O’Brien

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

HA LL m a r k s

In Brief

l Minsun Lee, assistant professor of counseling psychology, was awarded a 2021 post-doctoral leadership fellowship with the Asian American Psychological Association. l Christopher Tienken, associate professor of education administration, was selected to evaluate Italian university faculty research papers in K-12 education by the L’Agenzia per la Valutazione del sistema Universitario e della Ricerca, the national agency for the evaluation of Italian university and research systems. l Cara Blue Adams, assistant professor of English, won the John Simmons Short Fiction Award in the Iowa Short Fiction Award Series for her debut collection of short stories, You Never Get It Back. l Patrick R. Manning, associate professor and chair of pastoral theology, was chosen for the Michael Pressly Award for a Promising Scholar in the Education Field by the Alliance for Catholic Education. l David Wood, professor of practice for diplomacy and international relations, was commissioned to help the United Nations Development Program create a new regional project strategy in conflict prevention for the Arab states’ region. l The College of Nursing launched an online M.S.N. program for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. The 49-credit program can be completed in three years and will prepare graduates to pursue ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing board certification. l Insider NJ: Policymakers named Matthew Hale, associate professor for the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, one of this year’s “Insider 100 Policymakers.”

l Alan Groveman, interim program director of the online school counseling and professional counseling program, was elected vice president of education for the Division of Couple and Family Psychology and appointed secretary of the Board of the American Academy of Couple and Family Psychology. l Seton Hall University was named a First-Gen Forward institution by the Center for First-Generation Student Success. l Brian B. Shulman, dean of the School of Health and Medical Sciences, became president-elect of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders. He will assume the presidency in August 2022 and will preside over the organization’s triennial 32nd World Congress in Auckland, New Zealand, the following year. l Michelle McWeeney, assistant professor in the Department of Physician Assistant, was honored by the Chabad Center of Passaic County for outstanding service during the COVID-19 pandemic. l Elizabeth McCrea, associate professor of management, won the Best Case Award at the 2021 Annual CASE Association meeting for her co-authored case, “May You Live in Interesting Times: The Case of BXL Zoute,” describing how a Manhattan restaurant owner adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. l President Joseph E. Nyre; Kathleen Boozang, dean of the School of Law; Joyce Strawser, dean of the Stillman School of Business and Bryan Price, executive director of the Buccino Leadership Institute, have all been named to the “2021 ROI Influencers: Higher Education” list by ROI-NJ, a digital and print outlet covering business and politics in New Jersey.

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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Seton Hall’s $1.6B Impact

new study shows what the University community

year, taking on such tasks as park beautification and

has long known: Seton Hall is good for New Jersey.

serving in food kitchens.

“Treasures We Harvest in Community and Service,”

It cites the University’s Upward Bound program,

an economic and social impact analysis prepared by

which exposes high school students from limited-income

Econsult Solutions, Inc., puts this into dollar figures

families to the campus experience, helping them become

and numbers:

the first generation in their families to attend college.

l Annual overall economic impact: $1.6 billion l Supported jobs: 9,700 l Tax revenue to the state: $64 million The study cites statistics about how annual opera-

The program has served 131 students this year. The report details Seton Hall’s support for the regional economy through initiatives such as the Market Research Center, which has more than 100 students running projects for local businesses, helping them

tions, capital investments, the impact of student and

contribute to the tax base and grow, and building a

visitor spending, and higher occupational wages earned

stronger labor market.

by alumni contribute to the economy. Yet it’s not just about the money. The study puts

“As a faith-based and values-led institution, Seton Hall benefits society through scholarship and service, acts as a national economic engine, and is a good

community, reporting more than 3,000 student and staff

neighbor to the community of which it is a part,” the

volunteers giving more than 50,000 hours of service each

report says.

Photography by Bob Handelman

into perspective how Seton Hall serves its neighboring

HA LL m a r k s

BY THE NUMBERS Record-Breaking Freshman Class

2025

Expected graduation date

23,252 Most application submissions to date

1,675

Largest incoming class yet

1,290

Highest average SAT score

Number of points the average SAT score rose in two years

Highest average ACT score

52.4%

Record percentage identifying as students of color

A Big Boost for Students

rojects to help first-generation college students succeed and to support student-faculty research have been funded by $1.5 million from

New Jersey’s Opportunity Meets Innovation challenge grants program. Both projects reflect the University’s “Harvest Our Treasures” strategic plan, which calls for students to have an “equitable and consistent” experience during their Seton Hall years while student support and retention is improved. The first newly funded project is a First-Generation Forward initiative to improve academic support to Pelleligible students who are the first in their families to attend college. The program includes increased and focused tutoring, advising and mentoring, plus supplemental instruction and financial support. This project will complement the University’s successful New Jersey Educational Opportunity Program and programs delivered through Upward Bound and Student Support Services, said Monica Burnette, Ph.D., interim vice president of student services, who drafted the First-Generation Forward proposal. The second project is a Cultivating Research, Innovation and Talent initiative to stimulate student-research engagement with faculty over the next two years as the University navigates the post-COVID-19 pandemic landscape. The goal is to create collaborative opportunities among faculty and students from different academic disciplines. This project will increase the number of students participating in faculty-mentored research. “It will expose students to expertise and resources they might not otherwise get in a conventional mentor-pupil interaction in a research environment that is siloed,” said Michael LaFountaine, Ed.D., director of the Office of Grants and Research.

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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CAMPUS REJUVENATION

major renovation of the University Center, improve-

onto a piazza space on the Green. Expanded areas for

ments to Boland Hall and enlargement of the

board dining and club activities are planned, along

Stillman School’s financial trading center are three

with a new prayer room.

campus construction projects aimed at enhancing the Seton Hall experience for years to come. The 59-year-old University Center will be remodeled inside and out to improve its social, dining, performance and recreational spaces. “At the heart of every great university stands a center that accommodates the entire community while anticipating the needs of coming generations,” said President

large new glass-enclosed entryway. Living quarters received new flooring and energyefficient lighting, with new furniture replacing old built-in closets and wardrobes. The common bathrooms were also overhauled with new fixtures and finishes. A 1,600-foot lobby addition will improve the building’s

Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “This project will create such

accessibility and provide space for an enhanced security

a center — one that acts as a vibrant hub of campus

desk that matches systems in other residence halls.

life and fosters a shared Seton Hall culture through leading-edge social, learning and student life spaces.”

Interior renovations began in the spring and were completed in time for the fall semester. Work on the lobby addition

The improvements include a new brown cast-stone

is starting soon and expected to be completed next fall.

façade to echo the architecture of other campus build-

The Stillman School of Business is expanding its

ings. New entryways will allow pedestrian traffic to flow

financial trading room in Jubilee Hall and relaunching

through the building, rather than around it as it does

it as the Center for Securities Trading and Business.

now. Two informal outdoor performance/activities areas, plus outdoor dining, will be added. The revamped interior will feature a broadcast stu-

Renderings by Clarke Caton Hintz. Trading Room photo by Kristine Foley

Boland Hall, the University’s largest freshman residence hall, was renovated inside and is getting a

This project is enlarging the trading room, which replicates a Wall Street experience, by 50 percent, with 14 dedicated terminals and additional tables for small

dio, new event space, renovated dining areas and a new

group work and instruction, with new video monitors

location for food vendor cafes, with glass panels opening

and an expanded capacity of 30 students.

Boland Hall

University Center

Trading Room

HA LL m a r k s

Test-Optional Admissions Remain

his spring Seton Hall decided to extend its new “testoptional” admissions policy for another five years,

the best indicator of student performance and we wanted

and so through Fall 2026 applications, will not require

to offer the many gifted, hard-working students the

students seeking undergraduate admission to submit

ability to access a Seton Hall education,” said Alyssa

standardized test scores.

McCloud, Ph.D., senior vice president of enrollment

This policy was adopted as a temporary accommodation

management. “The result was these great outcomes of

in August 2020 in recognition of the difficult circumstances

increased access and diversity while continuing to elevate

created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, a move made

our enrollment and academic profile.”

by about two-thirds of four-year colleges across the country. While the “test-optional” policy is in place, Seton Hall

The Class of 2025 broke Seton Hall records for the most applicants (23,252), largest class (1,675) and highest average GPA (3.64). It is also the most diverse, with

is using a holistic approach to admissions. It takes into

nearly one-third financially eligible for Pell grants,

consideration all aspects of an applicant’s record with

more than 35 percent the first in their families to attend

emphasis on the student’s high school academic history,

college, and more than 52 percent identifying as students

specifically looking at grades, academic rigor, and

of color.

class rank. Students still have the option to apply by submitting

“We recognize that standardized tests are not always

Research has shown that “test-optional” policies generally increase the number and diversity of applications for admis-

standardized test scores, or they can elect not to submit

sion, without compromising later retention and graduation

these scores, although some individual academic units

rates. The University will analyze how students who opted

and programs may continue to require them or implement

not to submit test scores perform in their studies through

separate admissions standards.

2026, and then re-evaluate the policy.

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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Two Professors Awarded Fulbrights

wo Seton Hall professors were named Fulbright scholars in the spring, and are taking part in the pretigious international exchange program sponsored by the State Deparment. Law professor Jonathan Hafetz, an expert on constitutional law, national security and international justice issues, is researching the use of emergency powers under the constitution of Japan. He has assumed the role of visiting professor at the College of Law and Politics at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, and hopes to create new opportunities for Seton Hall students and faculty to learn about law and legal education in Japan. Matthew Escobar, professor of French and Spanish and director of Latin American and Latino/a Studies at Seton Hall, is researching the history of Latinos who worked at the multilingual film studios built by Paramount in 1930 in France. Starting in January, Escobar will be a visiting professor at Carlos III University in Madrid, in the Department of Communication and Media Studies.

Brand Matters

he Office of the Provost kicked off its new “Impact

arts — educating the heart, mind and spirit, across any

Talks” speakers series in June with a discussion of

profession — and it is the essence of our Catholic and

design, and how important it is in creating a brand’s

value-based tradition. We will be looking for authors,

relationship with its customers. Mauro Porcini, senior vice president and chief design officer at PepsiCo, gave the presentation and engaged

leaders and change-makers who, like Mauro Porcini, will inspire us to continue to excel.” Porcini joined PepsiCo in 2012 as its first chief design

in discussion on the topic with Provost Katia Passerini

officer, infusing design thinking into the corporate

and members of the audience.

culture. Earlier this year, he released his first book,

“What drives you as a designer is to create something meaningful in the life of people, to create value in the life of people, for society, for the planet,” Porcini said. The Impact Talks series invites speakers to share their

The Age of Excellence: Innovation and Creativity to Build a Better World. He wrapped up his presentation observing that successful organizations have talented people driving

understanding of the human impact that specific trends,

creation and progress. He described these “unicorns”

disciplines or industries have.

as individuals with special entrepreneurial, social and

“The focus is on humans, humanity, or, following the

enabling skills, but who are also simply good humans

Latin word ‘humanitas,’ human nature and kindness,”

who celebrate the originality and diversity of opinion

said Passerini. “This series is consistent with the

that makes them each unique.

University’s emphasis on the humanities and liberal

HA LL m a r k s

CHARTING OUR FUTURE

eton Hall is on a new path to the future, a strategic plan called “Harvest Our Treasures” that encompasses the University’s historic commitments while looking to

meet five important goals in all aspects of campus life:

l Provide a distinctive and rigorous education in the liberal arts tradition that also informs curated professional and graduate programs;

and partnerships to ensure that Seton Hall can achieve its mission for current and future generations of students. Hundreds of people from all parts of the Seton Hall

community helped shape the plan in town halls, focus groups and surveys. Work on the plan began in 2019 and continued in 2020 at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as higher education

l Support faculty in strengthening academic quality, advancing research and scholarship, and enhancing interdisciplinarity, equity and inclusion;

l Create a premier student experience that is equitable

institutions everywhere faced stiff challenges. But since the plan is built on Seton Hall’s key strengths and service mission, it allowed the University to adapt and adjust to the changing circumstances. Before it was even completed, the plan’s principles

and consistent, enhances student support and retention,

guided fall 2020 reopening efforts and provided a

and prepares students to be impactful global citizens;

foundation for streamlining a combination of on-campus

l Further Cultivate and nurture a trusting and collaborative Seton Hall community that educates and empowers all its members to advance equity, inclusion and social justice on campus and in the wider world;

l Advance institutional sustainability by creating a nimble,

and online education. “‘Harvest Our Treasures’ fortifies our strengths and expresses our timeless values in innovative and exciting ways,” said University President Joseph E. Nyre. “Thanks to the unprecedented involvement of the Seton Hall community offering their thoughts and feedback, our strategic plan establishes

responsive and innovative operational infrastructure

a bold vision that honors our past and defines our future as

and by making strategic investments in people, programs

we stand ready to advance into a new era of achievement.”

Treasures HARVEST OUR

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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SHU IN THE NEWS “Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion on campus requires institutions to align efforts with strategic goals through communication, collaboration, and coordination.” Monica N. Burnette, Student Services, Education Technology Insights, discusses employing technology to coordinate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across campus.

“But precisely now is when Spirit-guided courage is so desperately needed in the Catholic Church.”   Monsignor Thomas G. Guarino, School of Theology, First Things, on the Dallas Charter and achieving principled consistency — according to the canons of natural justice and Catholic doctrine — concerning the priesthood.

“I would encourage educators to draw more connections between the lived experiences and everyday realities of students … and science.”

“They play a critical role in disease surveillance, Edmond Adjapong, College of Education and Human Services, Diverse, discusses disaster preparedness, wellness and chronic disease prevention interventions, immunizations, leveraging hip-hop as an equitable approach to teaching STEM and engaging more students in science, technology, engineering and math. mental health screening and asthma education. And they are a safety net for society’s most “They have decided to remain in Cuba and risk their lives vulnerable children.” Beth Jameson, College of Nursing, The Conversation, on the critical role of the school nurse.

“I don’t think we can just pull ethics and morality out of this, otherwise it’s too bureaucratic, the thinking is too robotic, and it can alleviate within leadership some important features of responsibility.” Bryan Pilkington, School of Health and Medical Sciences, “PBS State of Affairs with Steve Adubato,” discussing the role of ethics and morality when comes to the COVID-19 vaccine.

“In reading the judgment, the court did not leave guardrails as far as clarifying some safe space for expressing political opinions that are different from that of the Hong Kong government and Beijing.” Margaret Lewis, Law School, CNN World, on the first person sentenced under Hong Kong’s national security law.

demanding respect for their rights, including their right for democratically constructing a better future without foreign interference.”

Vicente Medina, College of Arts and Sciences, The Daily News, discusses why a new generation of Cuban citizens are rising up.

“I am dubious of the claim that the U.S. departure from Afghanistan has shaken our allies’ confidence about U.S. security guarantees elsewhere in the world.” Sara Bjerg Moller, School of Diplomacy, PolitiFact, looks at the geopolitical ramifications of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and puts the international response into context.

“For 25 years my job has been to help faculty transform teaching with the use of technology. The pandemic has accelerated that transformation tenfold.” Paul E. Fisher Jr., associate CIO and director of the Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, Toggle, on transforming teaching through technology for sustained innovation before the pandemic and beyond.

P OS S IB IL ITIE S |

JEN A. MILLER

FOLLOWING IN HER SISTER’S FOOTSTEPS Diplomacy student Kelly Tobin earned the prestigious Boren Award just a few years after her sister Emma ’19.

elly Tobin ’23 didn’t want to go to Seton Hall for a very important reason: Her sister Emma Tobin ’19 was already a student there. In typical little sister fashion — and being not just the younger sister but the youngest

Tobin initially planned to apply for the scholarship to study Russian in Kazakhstan, but instead opted to apply to go to Azerbaijan and study Turkish for two reasons. First, she wants to work in Eastern Europe relations

of four siblings — she wanted to do some-

in whatever government role she eventually takes after

thing different, but agreed to spend a day on

graduation and knew that speaking Turkish will help

campus. She went to an honors class and a

her there. Second, she has experience with the culture.

diplomacy class with her sister and spoke to the dean. “I fell in love with it. I fell in love with the class size

In middle school, she spent 10 days in Turkey with a host family and, when she took a gap year between high

and with the professors who already cared about me

school and college, she spent time living in the Kreuzberg

even though they didn’t know who I was,” she said. She

section of Berlin, Germany, which has a large Turkish

also realized that her sister was right — the school had

population. The father of the family who hosted her

an excellent diplomacy program and an ideal location

spoke Turkish, too. “All these things lead up to me asking

between New York City and Washington, D.C.

‘why haven’t I learned Turkish sooner,’” said Tobin, who

“I know it sounds silly, but it was a perfect match, even though it wasn’t what I originally expected.” Tobin was born in California and spent time growing

interests, including Arabic, Chinese and Russian.

also speaks German and, of course, Russian. She figured she’d try for the scholarship to study Turkish, and if she didn’t get it, she’d apply for Russian the following

up in the Netherlands and Switzerland due to her

year. As part of the Boren program, Tobin participated

father’s job in biotechnology, which required frequent

in the Turkish Flagship Language Initiative virtual

moving. She’s majoring in diplomacy and international

summer program in 2021. She was supposed to be study-

relations and may add a modern languages major.

ing in Azerbaijan this fall, but the program was post-

In 2021, she was also selected for a David L. Boren

poned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She expects to be

Scholarship, which is supported by the National Security

able to go next fall. For the time being, she’s returned to

Education Program and funds undergraduate overseas

her role as a resident assistant at Seton Hall for the fall

study of less commonly taught languages critical to U.S.

semester, continuing membership in the school’s Slavic

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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One condition of the Boren Award is that recipients work in the federal government for at least one year after graduation, which for Tobin isn’t a problem. A government job, possibly in intelligence, had already been her post-graduation goal.

Club, and is helping organize the University’s first

scholarship — even as a sophomore, when she might

mock trial tournament.

have thought she was too young — from associate

One condition of the Boren Award is that recipients work in the federal government for at least one year after

Photo by Michael Paras

graduation, which for Tobin isn’t a problem. A govern-

professor Matthew Escobar, the director of prestigious fellowships at Seton Hall. Escobar isn’t surprised Tobin has flourished at

ment job, possibly in intelligence, had already been her

Seton Hall, or that she won the Boren. She “immediately

post-graduation goal. “I’m not quite sure at what level

struck me as a serious young scholar with a wealth of

yet, but the Boren has given me a boost,” she said.

international experience,” he said. “I fully expect Kelly

Tobin learned about the Boren from her sister, who also won the award and is working toward a master’s

to take her place among the nation’s best informed, most committed public officials. n

degree in International Development at the University of Oxford. Tobin also had support in applying for the

Jen A. Miller is the author of Running: A Love Story.

ROA M IN G T H E H A L L |

CHRISTOPHER HANN

DEDICATED TO LANGUAGE Jorge López Cortina immersed himself in a program teaching how to write the Cham language using its traditional script.

14 14

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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rowing up on the northern coast of Spain, Jorge

of the written Cham language, and he asked López Cortina

López Cortina was forced to confront what he

to develop a training curriculum for teachers.

describes as “a complex linguistic situation.”

“He cares a lot about issues of language maintenance,

Although Spanish was the dominant tongue,

language preservation, language revitalization,” Pérez

many people spoke Asturian, a language that

Pereiro says, speaking from his home in Cambodia.

fellow Spaniards often derided.

“I knew this was the kind of thing he was going to dedicate

“In the time of my parents,” López Cortina recalls, “if

you spoke that language in class you would be punished. In

himself to.” López Cortina had extensive experience in the field,

my time, you were mocked if you spoke Asturian. I learned

including cowriting a Khmer textbook and writing or

very young not to talk about it unless you really want to

editing a dozen Spanish language textbooks for Berlitz

take sides.”

International. “At the very beginning, I said let’s take what

For López Cortina, an associate professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures,

they’re teaching and put it in a textbook format. We wanted the written version of the language to gain visibility.”

coming of age in such a fraught linguistic environment

Over the next four years, until the program concluded

inspired his own curiosity about language. Years later,

in 2017, López Cortina developed textbooks that were used

he found himself immersed in a program to teach how

to train 36 Cham language teachers, who in turn trained

to write the Cham language using its traditional script.

thousands of students. “This is what changed things in the

Cham is spoken, but rarely written, by Muslims in the

community,” López Cortina recalls.

overwhelmingly Buddhist country of Cambodia, and he

He credits the Cham Heritage Expansion Program with

could recall the very similar tensions over language that

helping to broaden the acceptance of the language — to

he had encountered as a boy in Spain.

normalize, in effect, its teaching and its study. “Before,”

The story of the Cham language owes much to the

he says, “there were people who insisted Cham had to be

diasporic history of the Cham people. Champa was

handwritten. Now they are discussing which fonts should

an Indochinese kingdom that reigned for 15 centuries.

be created for the next generation of textbooks. The

Spread across what is today central and southern

discussion is very different from what it used to be.”

Vietnam, Champa was annexed by Vietnam in 1832.

López Cortina also edited “Rediscovering Cham Heritage

Some of the Cham population migrated to Cambodia,

in Cambodia,” which contains text, side by side on each

invited there, according to López Cortina, by the

page, in Khmer, Cham and English. It’s the first such book

Cambodian king.

to be published in Cambodia, Pérez Pereiro explains. That

By the time López Cortina arrived in Cambodia in 2013

these books can be found today in the National Library of

while on sabbatical from Seton Hall, several hundred

Cambodia, López Cortina says, might be the single biggest

thousand people still spoke Cham, but there was little

accomplishment of the Cham heritage program.

formal education in it because the official Cambodian

But López Cortina is careful — insistent, in fact —

language is Khmer. “Most people who can speak Cham

not to present himself as the savior of the Cham language.

cannot read and write Cham,” he says.

“It’s not about me,” he says. “It’s about helping people

López Cortina got involved with the Cham Heritage Photo by Michael Paras

to put their culture in a prominent place in a national

Expansion Program when a former doctoral classmate at

setting. We plant a seed to start a conversation, and

Georgetown University invited him to Cambodia. Alberto

then people will use the language in whatever way

Pérez Pereiro, a lecturer at the National University of

they want.” n

Singapore, had founded the program in 2011 using a U.S. State Department grant designed to promote the teaching

Christopher Hann is a freelance writer and editor in New Jersey.

P ROFIL E |

JEN A. MILLER

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

atthew Wright’s introduction to Seton Hall

scholarship, I know we need to do more to ensure the

seemed destined. He grew up in a suburb

scholarship’s legacy.”

of Philadelphia but could watch Yankees games on WPIX, a New York station whose

would know. Before starting his own advisory firm,

signal reached his house. He wanted to play

he immersed himself in an academic investing career.

baseball in college, and one night during

First he served as director of investments in Emory

a Yankees broadcast, he heard that catcher Rick Cerone

University’s endowment office, then as the vice chancellor

was a graduate of Seton Hall.

of investments at Vanderbilt University, where he became

Wright ’89 was good enough to make the University team (he wound up playing in the outfield for three years), but when he applied for financial aid, he was encouraged to submit his name for the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Program instead of an athletic scholarship. The scholarship part of the program, which at the

the first African American in that role at a university with more than a billion-dollar endowment. “Both experiences expanded my understanding and awareness of the power of an endowment,” he says. That broad view also planted the seed for starting his own firm, as he recognized there are many small institu-

time covered tuition and fees, made his college education

tions that don’t have the scale and scope to invest their

possible, even when he didn’t play baseball his senior

endowment portfolios the way the largest institutions do.

year. “If I hadn’t received the scholarship, I wouldn’t have

After helping Vanderbilt weather the 2008-09 financial

gone to college at the time,” says Wright, president and

crisis, he and his wife decided that it would be purpose-

chief investment officer of an investment advisory firm.

ful and more meaningful to launch a firm and work with

To make sure the MLK Leadership Program is available to future students and funded in perpetuity, he and his

smaller institutions. In 2013, Wright founded the Disciplina Group, which

wife Verna have endowed the scholarship, while Seton

acts as a chief investment officer for institutions that

Hall has launched a new fundraising initiative for the

typically have less than $500 million in assets. Disciplina

program in conjunction with new funding.

helps them build their endowments the same way larger

“This effort means that support for the program won’t fall solely on the budgetary capabilities of the University,” Wright says. “As a beneficiary of the MLK

Wright, a member of Seton Hall’s Board of Regents,

institutions do. And now, by endowing the scholarship part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Program at Seton Hall,

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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Matthew Wright ’89 endowed a scholarship for the MLK Leadership Program to ensure future students have access to the transformative program just as he did.

Wright hopes to do the same thing, on a more targeted

pact will be in the 20 to 30 years after graduation,” says

scale. “The scholarship had such an impact on my personal

Rev. Forrest Pritchett, director of the program. “Matthew

life, as I’m sure it had on other minority students,” he said.

Wright’s emergence as an entrepreneur follows that

Today, MLK scholarships of $6,500 to $8,500 are

to be a visionary servant leader by providing a founding

freshmen) who have outstanding academic records, have

gift to the program.”

overcome economic or educational hardship, and have

Wright hopes that the combination of the endowment

demonstrated a commitment to diversity and serving

and the University’s fundraising initiative can ensure that

or working with socioeconomically or educationally

the amount of money given to each scholar is preserved

underserved communities.

and make it possible to expand the number of students in

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and commit to the leadership program, which includes bi-weekly meetings,

Photo by Joe Howell

timeline, and he is adding to the model of what it means

given to incoming freshmen (including international

the program in the future. “Seton Hall has a high percentage of people with

25 hours of community service per semester, an MLK

diverse backgrounds, and first-generation college

Honors Seminar, and creating a “magnum opus” — a great

students. Philanthropic support for a school like this

work demonstrated by developing a community project

especially will help these students, and keep the

or a scholarly paper dedicated to the pursuit of a social

school competitive in the future,” he said. n

justice issue during the student’s college career. “We ask all MLK scholars to visualize what their im-

Jen A. Miller is the author of Running: A Love Story.

P ROFIL E |

ERIC BUTTERMAN

ON A MISSION When disasters strike, Erin Magee, M.A. ’08, is often there, providing aid.

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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rin Magee, M.A. ’08, regional adviser for the U.S.

ment in the areas of internships and know the difference

Agency for International Development (USAID),

they can make. Many times the ones you take help give

traces her humanitarian career back to her

you strong applicable experience, and this was clearly

master’s program in diplomacy and interna-

the case with Erin.”

tional relations at Seton Hall.

Magee learned about USAID and its work when

Through her studies, Magee was exposed

she was an intern with United Nations Office for the

to topics such as human rights, peacekeeping,

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United

and the responsibility to protect populations

States Mission to the United Nations’ Military Staff

after genocide. “Those are some of the same issues that I

Committee.

have to confront in my job now,” she says, which involves looking at these complex topics and complicated emergencies. One of her University classes studied a book written by Samantha Power, the administrator of USAID. Magee has served all over the world for her job, providing aid in Japan after a tsunami and helping in Haiti after an earthquake. She now makes her home in Costa Rica. She notes that although USAID is known for providing help after disasters, it offers aid in many

“The mission is really clear-cut for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and it’s to save lives, alleviate suffering and reduce the economic and social impact of disasters, and that really resonated with me,” she says.

areas, such as monitoring food security challenges and disease outbreaks. “The mission is really clear-cut for USAID’s Bureau

with the organization since, except for a brief stint

for Humanitarian Assistance and it’s to save lives,

with Vermont Emergency Management. She started as

alleviate suffering and reduce the economic and social

an information officer, and credits Seton Hall with

impact of disasters, and that really resonated with me,”

developing her communication skills and the ability to

she says.

write more concisely. She had the opportunity to cover

The tasks of a USAID regional adviser are many.

Asia and the Pacific during that time, and was deployed

Her deployment in Honduras during the Eta and

to Sri Lanka after floods to report on the situation there

Iota hurricanes involved talking with people in an

and how the U.S. government was helping. “Information

evacuation center to find out their needs and what help

is a huge part of disaster response,” she says.

they had already received, and included working with

For Magee, the rewarding part of the job now is

local government and the rest of the international

hearing from people USAID has been able to help get

aid community, triangulating information and

through disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic that

coordinating donations.

cause loss of jobs and income.

“A lot of what I’m doing when I go out is looking at the

“I think a lot of people think of humanitarian assis-

situation to find that strategy for how we’re going

tance as giving out food or other things like that, but

to respond,” she says.

we also provide psychosocial support for people who

Seton Hall professor Philip Moremen remembers Photo provided by USAID

She began working at USAID in 2008 and has been

have gone through really traumatic events. … It’s really

Magee as an outstanding student and feels rewarded

helping people in a holistic way to be able to get back

by her achievements. “When you see what she has

on their feet.” n

accomplished, this is what you hope our program can do,” he says. “You want to see students engaged in the future work. We pride ourselves also on our encourage-

Eric Butterman has written for more than 50 publications, including Glamour and Men’s Journal.

FE ATU R E |

KATHARINE GAMMON

AN ADVOCATE FOR HER PEOPLE Shannon Holsey, M.A. ’14, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians, tackles the challenges of leading during demanding times. By Katharine Gammon 20

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

s president of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians, Shannon Holsey, M.A. ’14 went on camera in January to talk

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tribe and negotiated with Congress to gain citizenship for its members. Holsey’s childhood hero was Ada Deer, an educated,

to her people about the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent

outspoken, and fierce advocate for Native American and

insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and the delayed rollout

human rights who helped her tribe (Menominee) regain

of vaccines on the reservation. Her calm demeanor

federal recognition after it had been terminated. Deer

and steady tone laid out the challenges at hand: in the

was appointed assistant secretary of the Interior by

fall, COVID-19 deaths had spiked among Native people

President Bill Clinton and served as the first woman to

in Wisconsin, tripling in October and dwarfing the

head the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

growth rate among other racial groups. “I just want to take a moment to continue to send you

Holsey also found inspiration from her mother, who was in the workforce holding nontraditional

well wishes and blessings and all our respects to the

management positions during a time when many women

relatives who have passed or are fighting the COVID-19

did not have those kinds of jobs.

pandemic,” she said. “We are sending you an abundance

“She led by example and was a person who utilized

of good medicine and prayers for your emotional

her personal strengths and knew the benefit of

continued balance and we’re holding dear to those

relationship building, by collaborating with others

memories of those that have passed.”

to take advantage of opportunities,” says Holsey. “My

Holsey’s desire to be a leader for her people had taken

parents continue to shape and inspire me every day.

her on a journey years earlier to Seton Hall, where she

My pathway was forged by their sense of duty — that

pursued a degree in strategic communication. She is now

came from being responsible and knowing what needed

putting those skills to work to tackle the next generation of

to be done, and getting things done, along with their

challenges for Native American people, including managing

passionate commitment to improving the lives of people.”

a tribal government and entities with a workforce of over 1,000 and an annual budget of more than $150 million. Holsey grew up on the Stockbridge-Munsee

Holsey attended Colorado Technical University and studied business administration, and then returned to Wisconsin to work with her tribe. “In my culture women

reservation in Bowler, Wisconsin. The tribe originated

have traditionally and historically always played a role

in upstate New York and was forced to move several

in shaping the way our community was organized and

times starting in the 1800s, forced to uproot again and

managed. Prior to European contact, Native women held

again. Its people traveled through Massachusetts and

positions of leadership, shared in decision making and

New Jersey and across the Ohio Valley. When the group

owned property,” she says.

arrived in Wisconsin, they numbered only about 500 people, Holsey says, and now the population is 1,700. Holsey had a deep sense of her group’s history and a

Photography by David E. Jackson

Holsey served on the board of directors of her tribe and worked as the hospitality director, managing about 150 employees. One of her biggest responsibilities was

desire to correct false information of the past. “There’s a

communicating across diverse populations. “It was

misconception about who we are as Mohicans,” she says.

getting to the point where I needed to step up or step

“People read about us in history books, but don’t realize

out,” she says. She was drawn to Seton Hall “because

we still exist. There’s no such thing as the ‘last of the

it was a Catholic school, had core tenets and aligned

Mohicans,’ because I am she.”

culturally with how I was going to proceed.”

The tribe has a history of leadership and activism.

But having a leadership background and training

In the early 1800s, a formally educated Mohican diplomat

doesn’t mean her journey has been without barriers. “As

named John Quinney drafted a constitution for the

a Native woman I often find myself living in two worlds

FE ATU R E |

and must navigate expectations

Holsey were a part of worked for

and responsibilities by switching

hours on developing a strategic

between mainstream American and tribal values,” Holsey says. She found her spiritual, cultural, educational and professional pathway — and a way to use her platform for the underrepresented — while at Seton Hall in the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership (MASCL) program “through the help of amazing

“As a Seton Hall alumna, I recognize that my strong cultural identity was central to my educational aspirations and success. My identity is the connectedness that I have to my tribal community, and the connections and teachings of my ancestors and the world at large.”

one had conceived of before. The group developed an idea to combine veterans and dogs in a companion program — something they thought was completely novel. In the middle of their presentation, the professor did an internet search, and found that their business concept already existed. Still, the group forged onward. “Shannon was a cheerleader,”

[program] cohorts and faculty.

Kawamoto remembers. “She was

As [fellow MASCL student] Sister

always up for the challenge and she

Alice Kizita Otoo, M.A. ’14 so

wanted to make the projects fun.”

truthfully proclaimed ‘I didn’t go through the Seton Hall

In 2015, Holsey fulfilled her goal and became the fourth

MASCL program, it went through me,’” says Holsey. “As

woman to serve as president of the Mohican Nation and

a Seton Hall alumna, I recognize that my strong cultural

is now the longest serving. Native women leaders and

identity was central to my educational aspirations and

executives like her are reclaiming their decision-making

success. My identity is the connectedness that I have to my

authority today, she says.

tribal community, and the connections and teachings of my ancestors and the world at large.” Holsey was also shaped by working with diverse groups

As the leader of a sovereign nation, Holsey is tasked with the wellbeing of her constituents — from healthcare to education to employment and justice. Much of her time

from all over the world, understanding that people can be

is taken up with the day-to-day governance, but she has

diverse in thought while sharing common themes.

larger ideas in mind as well. The COVID-19 pandemic put

Katherine Kawamoto, M.A. ’14, who completed the MASCL

long-standing health disparities front and center, she says.

program with Holsey, vividly remembers when they met.

And the death of George Floyd crystallized racial equity

Holsey and Kawamoto were in the same small group and did

as a critical issue.

group projects together. Their first assignment was to give a three-minute speech, introducing themselves.

Native communities were hit hard by the pandemic and suffered losses as businesses were shut down and revenues

“She did a tremendous three minutes, bringing in her

shrank to about 30 percent of normal. But the tribe also

Native American culture, tapping on the table as she spoke,

proved resilient, Holsey told a Wisconsin radio station,

as if it were a drum,” says Kawamoto. “I knew right from the

noting that it used the past year to redevelop tourism

get-go that she was going to be one to watch.”

and redefine how to manage it as a sustainable business

Holsey remembers arriving at Seton Hall and being asked what she hoped to get out of the program. She answered that her goal was to be tribal president. The program asked students to listen to speeches, write

plan for starting a business that no

in the future. Holsey appeared this summer in Washington, D.C., to talk about the need for rural broadband internet access, introducing Vice President Kamala Harris onstage at an

speeches and critique each other — and it was rigorous,

event. She connected the links between infrastructure,

Kawamoto recalls. At one point, the small group she and

health and equality: “There are over 570 federally recognized

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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Native communities were hit hard by the pandemic and suffered losses as businesses were shut down and revenues shrank to about 30 percent of normal. But the tribe also proved resilient, Holsey told a Wisconsin radio station, noting that it used the past year to redevelop tourism and redefine how to manage it as a sustainable business in the future.

tribal nations within the United States that are rich in

backgrounds are still vastly underrepresented in

geographic, political and cultural diversity,” she said.

many areas. “Our racial, social, gender and economic

“Unfortunately for decades, the federal government has

disparities — that won’t disappear anytime soon. It

recognized that Indian country has had substandard

should go without saying, people of color and women

infrastructure in every sector.”

are not a monolith. It’s time for boldness. Collaboration.

She told the group that 70 percent of American

A big, audacious vision. We have real challenges, and

Indians and Alaskan Natives are homeless or live in

we’ve been saying for years we have what it takes to meet

homes needing repair, with 48 percent of households

those challenges. Time to prove it, unified in purpose.”

lacking access to clean water, and 40 percent lacking

Holsey sees herself as an extension of her tribal

high-speed internet. “This existing crisis has created

nation socially, emotionally, historically, and

disparities that have led American Indian and Alaskan

politically. For her, cultural identity is based on tribal

Native communities to have the highest per capita of

membership, extended family and community: The tribe

COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and the death rate in

is an interdependent system of people who perceive

the United States.”

themselves as parts of the greater whole rather than a

Connectivity of all kinds is key, she added. The Stockbridge-Munsee nation collaborated with the local

whole consisting of individual parts. “We still have much work to do, but I remain hopeful

telephone company to install 20 miles of fiber optics to

that a new generation of diverse, forward-thinking

help begin to stabilize the tribal nation.

humans will build upon and embrace equality, inclusion

Back in Wisconsin, Holsey says that women are

and opportunity for all.” n

challenging the status quo in many ways, but despite a commitment to equity, women and people of diverse

Katharine Gammon is a freelance writer based in Santa Monica.

KEVIN COYNE

Desiree Testa ’12/M.A. ’15

Photograph by Michael Paras

FE ATU R E |

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

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TEACHING DURING A PANDEMIC The daily routine of educating students has been turned upside-down since early 2020. What did teachers learn during the past year and a half? What new practices will they keep? By Kevin Coyne

Photography by John O’Boyle

irst-grade teacher Mrs. Cashin — Dina Cashin

COVID-19 pandemic’s social distancing restrictions,

‘08/M.A. ‘14 — misses her rug. It was blue,

and she doesn’t know when it will be back.

dotted with big colorful circles, and it covered a corner of her first-grade classroom in the

In March 2020, the activity at the heart of education — a cluster of people in a room, talking — suddenly

Aldene Elementary School in Roselle Park, the school

became perilous. School became computer screens,

where she was once a first-grader herself and where

video sessions, 6-foot tape measures, plastic shields and

she has taught for 13 years, alongside some of the

masks. “Distance” morphed from noun to adjective, as

same teachers who once taught her. The rug was where

“distance learning” became the new paradigm. “Hybrid”

students sat cross-legged around her, peppering her

and “cohorts” entered the daily vocabulary. What letter

with questions, asking “Mrs. Cashin, what about … ?”

does your last name start with? Let’s see, that means

during the 15-minute mini-lessons she liked to teach

Mondays and Thursdays for you. Please come pick up

about math or phonics or whatever else they were

your Chromebook. Do you need a hot spot for Wi-Fi?

learning that day.

Yes, Zoom again.

“It’s a lot to ask a first-grader or any elementary

Everything about teaching had to be reconceived,

school student to stay in their seat at their desk

re-engineered, redeployed in the pandemic. So how did

all day,” says Cashin ’08/M.A.’14. “They’re meant to

teachers manage? What did they do without their rugs?

move around.”

We talked to five of them, from different grade levels

Her rug is gone now, along with the shoulder-toshoulder sessions it enabled, a casualty of the

and different regions, and they had plenty to say. They are teachers, after all, and they have these lessons.

FE ATU R E |

Just Like Starting Over “I felt like a first-year teacher again,” says Ricky Harzula ’13, who has in fact been teaching for eight years in

know when.” Technology has long been in the classroom, but

Detroit, the last six at the Jalen Rose Leadership

teachers — guided by their own interests, philosophies

Academy, a public charter high school founded by the

and abilities — often had a choice about how much

city native who was a basketball star at the University

to use it. Now they had no choice — it was virtual or

of Michigan and in the NBA. “I felt like I didn’t know

nothing.

what I was doing at all.” “To be honest, I don’t think any of us really knew

“Breakout rooms, jam boards — some teachers were hesitant to try these with kids before,” says Desiree Testa

at all what we were doing,” Cashin says. “We were all

’12/M.A. ’15, who teaches world history to freshmen

first-year teachers again.”

at Bloomfield High School, which had started issuing

Everybody scrambled those first few months, although

first. “We knew it was eventually coming, we just didn’t

a Chromebook laptop to each student several years

it helped if you were at a tech-savvy private school in

before the pandemic. The second degree she earned —

Seattle with close ties to Microsoft, the local computer

a master’s in instructional design and technology, a

behemoth. “We had a lot of training prior to going remote

subject she also now teaches at Seton Hall — proved

— we were not only able to train ourselves but also to

especially apt this year. She turned her dining room into

train the boys,” says Megan Marenco ’12/M.S.’14 who

her classroom, with two screens open: one for the Google

teaches biology to sophomores at O’Dea High School, a

Meet sessions, and one for work on presentations.

Catholic boys’ school. A snow day before lockdown even

“I’m the type of person that jumps right in — if it

gave the school the chance for a dry-run virtual trial day

works, it works, and if it doesn’t, then we do something

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

new tomorrow,” she says. “I’ve adapted all my old lesson

mental health and screen time. The main goal was

plans for this abundance of technological resources.

reducing screen time.”

I think the hardest part for me is figuring out which

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Remote sessions were a necessary but not sufficient

activity to use and which not to use, because there’s only

condition for learning. “Some students excelled and

so much time.”

some students struggled, and that was just the reality of it across the board, and it’s just the different types of

Beyond Zoom

learners kids are,” Testa says. “Some are more disciplined

Everybody had to get used to conversing through a

being home and having the leeway of getting things done

screen. “We were nervous about confidentiality at first,”

on their own time and other students need that direct

said Brad Harris ’07/ Ed.S.’10, a school psychologist at

interaction. But instead of me tapping on their desk and

Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School in

saying, ‘Focus,’ they were busy playing a video game

East Brunswick. “But you kind of reach a point where

and I couldn’t stop that.”

they need this support, so how else are you going to give it to them?” But there also comes a point where … enough already.

So when Testa got to the Renaissance, she gave her students what she called the Renaissance Art Challenge: Pick a painting (Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” say, or

“I can’t sit in front of a computer doing one task for 80

Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna”) and re-create it with items

minutes, I don’t know how we expected 14- to 18-year-

found in your home. “I was tired of them just looking at

olds to do the same thing,” Marenco says. Her school

a slide show presentation,” she says.

ultimately cut its 80-minute classes to 55 minutes. “The main reason we truncated the school day was student

Megan Marenco had no biology lab, so she, too, asked her students to scavenge their homes, for items to show

Dina Cashin ‘08/M.A. ’14

FE ATU R E |

Thursdays were Desiree Testa’s favorite day last year — the days when, after her school went hybrid, the largest cohort of her students were in the classroom with her. “It felt a little bit back to normal,” she says.

how water molecules stick together: tennis balls, yarn,

“I was not able to cover as much of my curriculum as I

coins, AirPod earphones and computer wires. She also

normally would,” Megan Marenco says. “Evolution is my

had them make Flipgrid videos of an experiment with a

last unit, and I didn’t get to it.”

whole hardboiled egg, a small cube cut from one, water

“Their handwriting is way below where they should

and food dye: The small cube, they saw, absorbed more

be,” Cashin says. “If you weren’t in the classroom you

dye than the whole egg. “They could see that smaller

weren’t getting exposure to pencil-and-paper tasks.”

things that have a large surface-area-to-volume ratio can

“No, I didn’t get to everything, but I also had a

get more material into them faster than something super

chance to change my thinking on that a little bit,”

big, so they learned why we are made of trillions of tiny

Harzula says. “So when we think about what students

little cells versus a few big cells,” she says.

need to gather in a year, what the standards are they need to know, I think sometimes that can deprioritize

Slooooow Down Shorter days and limited in-person class time meant that

their physical and mental health, and going through

not everything got covered.

virtual teaching this year highlighted that so much

“It’s a lot of world history to cover in one school year

their other needs, their social and emotional health,

more to me. So there were moments when I could have

to begin with,” Testa says, and she had to hurry through

pushed content, said, ‘Hey we have to go over this thing,’

World War I and World War II. “I think they got the

but we were all suffering. I was miserable at home,

bigger concepts and themes. They do cover it again in

they were miserable at home, so my classes weren’t

junior year, so I wasn’t too worried.”

focused on content every day. A lot of it was just checking

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

in with kids, and being able to sometimes slow things

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Easing Back

down and not feel that pressure to always press on

Everybody in school, everything about school, changed

the gas. That was definitely so important this year, and

in ways that will take time to absorb and understand.

that has definitely changed my approach to how I’m going to run my classes.”

“It just kind of turned the volume up on everything,” says Brad Harris, the school psychologist, who also teaches at Seton Hall. “If someone had a minor problem

What’s Your Dog’s Name?

it became a bigger problem, because you don’t have your

And peering into your students’ homes, as they peer into

usual coping strategies of just talking with friends about

yours, can open some doors that a classroom cannot.

it, or being around people, or getting out of the house

“I got to individually get to know them rather than know

and having a routine. So in a way it seemed like there

them as a group or know them as a table,” Marenco says

were more issues, but I think those were issues that were

— not just their personalities but the ways they learned,

here but were being managed.”

and whether their progress was better measured by tests

Just to be around other people again, more and

or by an alternate assessment method, like a video. “They

different people than the ones they spent their lockdown

would write a script and then they would try to do it and

days around, will help turn that volume down. “I think

then start over and do it again and again and then tell me,

we’ve gained an appreciation for what we’ve lost and

‘I actually know more about this topic after taking my

missed out on,” he says. “Those kids who weren’t in

assessment than had I just taken a test.’”

school and used to hate school and then could not

Harzula often stayed online with students after class

wait to get back — there’s a surprising number of kids

to play a game called Among Us. “That sounds like it’s

who are just, ‘I can’t wait to get back.’ You saw their

really not consequential, but I think it was,” he says.

recognition that they didn’t realize they missed school,

“It was not related to school, but we could play it as a

and I think that’s true for a lot of people. They didn’t

class and it was something we could do together. Those

realize what they were missing.”

ways of keeping connections going were the biggest thing I took away from last year.” Cashin took her students on a virtual tour of her

And when they do get back to school, those students will find teachers who are different from the teachers they were before. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve

house and introduced them to her two children. They

ever had to do, but I definitely think that it has not only

introduced her to their dogs. “I feel like my relationships

made me a better teacher but forced me to examine

with my students were just stronger this year, I feel

everything,” Harzula says. “I had to really examine not

like I talked to each individual student more and got

only the things I was doing but I had to say, ‘Is this

more insight into their lives,” she says. “I definitely

something I want to keep doing? Is it really necessary

think it’s taught me to slow things down. Just because

that I do this?’ It’s definitely made me go back and throw

you meet all these data points and everyone’s reading

some things out and add some things back in that I will

at grade level, sometimes you look back and you

take with me moving forward.”

might have been a great teacher and you taught them

Thursdays were Desiree Testa’s favorite day last

everything and they got 100s on their tests, but have

year — the days when, after her school went hybrid, the

you really gotten to know your students? I feel if we

largest cohort of her students were in the classroom with

go back in and rush rush rush, and we don’t take time

her. “It felt a little bit back to normal,” she says. Soon, she

to learn our students and make them feel comfortable

hopes, every day will once again feel like Thursday. n

and welcome, we’re going to have more mental health issues than anticipated.”

Kevin Coyne is a freelance writer based in New Jersey.

S P OR T S |

SHAWN FURY

Big East Champs A first for men’s soccer since 1991.

f the world had been completely normal, the Seton

player talked about sharing a “big embrace with Jimmy,

Hall men’s soccer team’s 2021 spring season would

and Jimmy was crying and it’s like that’s when we

have still qualified as a historic success. The Pirates

realized how big this was — not just for the players

captured memorable regular season victories like

on the team but everybody on campus. It was a really

their two wins over St. John’s. They won the school’s

beautiful moment. We’re a small community and having

first BIG EAST title since 1991 with a heart-stopping 2-1

everybody cheer for each other and everyone supporting

triumph over No. 2-ranked Georgetown. They defeated Air

us, it was a really cool experience.”

Force and Virginia Tech in dramatic fashion in the NCAA

Seton Hall star CJ Tibbling added, “It’s been a tough,

Tournament to advance to the national quarterfinals for

tough period for everyone, and to be able to bring some

the first time since 1988.

form of joy to the school, we were happy we could do that

Of course, nothing was normal about the season, starting with the fact it was supposed to take place

role in Seton Hall’s ascension, although he experienced

in the fall of 2020 instead of the spring of 2021. The

some of the challenges that confronted many of his

COVID-19 pandemic forced that change, like it altered

teammates. He contracted COVID-19 and then struggled

everything. Several players came down with the

getting back to the States from Sweden before the

coronavirus, and due to travel restrictions, many Pirates

scheduled kick-off in February. But once the team got

struggled to get from their homes overseas back to the

settled, Tibbling excelled in the biggest moments. He

United States before the season began. Put it all together,

scored the game-winning goal against Georgetown in the

and it’s no wonder Seton Hall’s title-winning campaign

BIG EAST title game and followed that up by notching

proved life-altering for the players and coaches who

the game winner against Air Force in the Pirates’ first

made it happen and unforgettable for everyone who

game in the NCAA Tournament. One game later, he

followed along.

added a successful penalty kick as the Pirates outlasted

A few months following the season, Seton Hall coach

Virginia Tech, a victory sealed by goalie Andreas Nota,

Andreas Lindberg reflected on why it meant so much

who delivered the clinching penalty kick just moments

to so many. He mentioned Jimmy O’Donnell, the senior

after successfully stopping two of them in net.

associate athletics director for team operations at Seton

and make that contribution.” Tibbling played a central

Tibbling sensed early on that the season could prove

Hall and the sport administrator for the soccer team,

special, believing the team “came closer together” over

who’s been with the school for more than 30 years.

the fall semester, even though the season got postponed.

Lindberg remembered O’Donnell being “extremely

“We felt pretty confident once the season started, but

emotional after the BIG EAST final” and how one Pirate

there was still a lot of uncertainty, so many factors in

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

FA L L 2 0 2 1

play, like if we had a COVID-19 case, you’re not going

wasn’t winning games with a penalty kick, Nota proved

to play and you’re going to get out of rhythm. ...

stellar in goal with 42 saves while going 9-2-3.

And there were a few new additions going straight

The Pirates’ magical ride ended with a 2-0 loss in the

into the lineup and it felt like they would be the

national quarterfinals to Indiana. “Playoff games and

finishing touch for us.”

the game of soccer, there’s a small margin for error,”

The 10-2-4 Pirates received contributions from

Photo courtesy of Seton Hall Athletics

Lindberg said. “We were a bit disappointed, but I think

everyone. Tibbling, a second-team All-America selection,

we can use that going forward and try to continue to play

led the Pirates with seven goals while JP Marin had

at that level. … I’ll back my guys up against anybody.”

three goals and five assists. Maurice Williams chipped

Tibbling, a senior, echoed those sentiments. “I think

in four goals and was named BIG EAST Championship

we will come back even stronger this year. Last season

Most Outstanding Defensive Player. With five points

it literally felt like the stars aligned for us. We had those

in the tournament, Mattias Sundell was named Most

50-50 moments going our way. So you never know what

Outstanding Offensive Player. In the first game against

might happen, but I have a good feeling going into this

St. John’s, a crucial game cited by both Lindberg and

last season of mine.”

Tibbling, Paavo Riihijarvi provided the winning goal in the 1-0 triumph. Centerback Luca Dahn was the anchor

And if it’s anything like the spring of 2021, all of Seton Hall will experience a thrilling ride. n

for a defense that allowed only 11 goals all season long and was named second-team All-America. And when he

Shawn Fury is an author in New York City.

S P OR T S |

SHAWN FURY

A Fifth Year

Amanda Rachwal ’21 comes back for an additional year to cement her volleyball legacy.

S E TSOENT OHNA LHLA LMLA G MAAZGI ANZEI N |E

manda Rachwal ’21 has come a long way in the

days. Emotionally she missed her teammates and coaches,

four years since she arrived on the Seton Hall

especially since she was the only senior on the club and

campus as a standout middle blocker from

the team depended on her for guidance.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A self-described “drill

The experience convinced her she had made the right

killer” in her first year with the Pirates’ volleyball team,

choice months earlier when she decided to come back for

by her senior season she served as the team’s captain —

that fifth season, taking advantage of the extra year the

a true leader on a young squad, someone who could help

NCAA granted student-athletes because of the pandemic.

run the drills and guide the underclassmen in practice and

“We have all the right parts, and I’m really excited to see

excel during matches.

what kind of team we’ll have,” Rachwal says. “There’s so

“I’ve always been told I’m coachable, and I’ve always taken a lot of pride in that because I always want to get

much potential for this year.” Although she may extend her time with the sport a bit

better,” Rachwal says. “I’m always soaking up a little bit

more by playing NCAA beach volleyball after her time at

from what each coach and even other players have taught

Seton Hall concludes, Rachwal’s playing career will end at

me, so I definitely see an improvement with myself.”

some point and the next phase of her life will begin. That

And because COVID-19 forced the world to experience

may include a career using the skills learned while earning

a year unlike any other, Rachwal will get a fifth year on

her degree in graphic design and advertising. When she

the court with Seton Hall. It’s impossible to know who’s

entered college, Rachwal dreamed of going to medical

more thrilled about that development: Rachwal or Pirates

school to become a pediatrician. Her focus shifted to

coach Allison Yaeger, who had the perfect seat to watch

graphic design and she earned an internship with Factory

Rachwal’s transformation. “I’m so happy that we’re able

LLC in her hometown, where she worked on everything

to have her for as long as we’re going to,” Yaeger says. “She

from social media ads to products found on store shelves.

wants to leave a legacy for this program. She doesn’t want

She also talks about creating billboards and ads in

to leave and I don’t blame her because I think that we’re

magazines, and how “I just love seeing things and being

going to be really good. And she will be a huge part of that

able to organize and create patterns.” At Seton Hall,

coming up this fall.”

Rachwal served as president of the school’s Creative Types,

Rachwal has been a major part of the Pirates’ program

Photo courtesy of Seton Hall Athletics

S| P RF IANLGL 2 0 2 11 8

a group affiliated with the American Institute for Graphic

from the start, a 6-foot-2 stalwart who “is one of the best

Arts that, among other projects, helped a library design a

middles in the BIG EAST,” according to Yaeger. “She’s very

new logo.

tall, she’s very physical and she does a really good job of

She keeps her options open, though, talking about

connecting with our setters. ... She has an opportunity to

possibly becoming a professor, citing the inspiration

break some records, get into the top five, top 10 in all-time

provided by Seton Hall instructors such as Christine

kills, all-time blocks for Seton Hall. She works her butt

Krus and Christine Lhowe. Or she could become a coach,

off, and when she has good games and we’re on as a team,

remembering the influences of leaders like Coach Yaeger

I think she’s unstoppable.”

or the fun she had coaching a group of about 60 kids

This spring, however, everything stopped for Rachwal. As the Pirates competed in an abbreviated season after the

this summer. Wherever she winds up and in whatever field she

fall campaign had been called off because of the pandemic,

chooses, she wants to make an impact. But only after she

Rachwal missed many matches when she tested positive

gets one more year as one of the all-time best difference-

for COVID-19 and dealt with the effects and isolation that

makers for Seton Hall volleyball. n

followed. Physically she battled a fever and congestion and ended up “wiped out and bed-ridden” for about eight

Shawn Fury is an author in New York City.

NE W S & N OT E S

alumni

50s

Edmund Schiavoni ’51 joined Pearson Media Group for his novel Pathway to Glory. … Vincent Parrillo ’59 published the book Vincent N. Parrillo: A Collection of His Work.

60s

Caroll Mrowicki ’62 was included in the Marquis Who’s Who, celebrating a career serving others. … Edward Wendol ’63 retired and relocated to Florida. … Donald Yost ’67 published two books titled Blessings: Transforming My Vietnam Experience and Henry: A Sequel to Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage. … Joseph Abruzzese ’69 was announced as an official judge of the Immokalee Foundation’s Third Annual Shark Tank-style competition at Florida Gulf Coast University. … Carol Weis ’69 released her third book and memoir, Stumbling Home: Life Before and After That Last Drink, in April 2021.

70s

Michael D’Anton, Ph.D., ’71/M.A. ’75, a psychologist and attorney, published Paid Friendship: An Unorthodox Guide to Achieving Mental Health. … Richard Garibell ’71/M.A. ’75 retired after serving 50 years in education, completing his career as president and principal of Hudson Catholic Regional High in Jersey City, N.J. … George Carman, M.S. ’74, the Board of Governors Professor of Food Science and founding director of the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, was named a fellow in the inaugural class of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. … Ernest Gargas ’75 continued to serve as grand knight of Knights of Columbus John N. Neumann Council 6965, while working as a technical risk analyst in supplier trust remediation for Apple. … Pat Keefe, J.D. ’75 joined the board of trustees for Imagine, a center for coping with loss. … Philip Fraulino,

M.A. ’77 was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, recognizing his work in the telecommunication industry. … Jeffrey Christakos ’78 was named to the NJBIZ Accounting Power 50 list for a second consecutive year. … Dr. John McKinney ’78 retired from practicing internal medicine in 2020 and now serves as the medical director at the Wake Forest University Health System in the business health department, supervising 18 medical and occupational medicine clinics.

80s

Joseph A. Dickson, J.D. ’81 rejoined Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC as a member in its litigation group after serving for more than a decade as a federal magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. ... Thomas Duch, J.D. ’81 was appointed by Bergen County, N.J., executives to fill the positions of county administrator and county counsel. … Darrell Gunter ’81 published Transforming Scholarship Publishing with Blockchain Technologies and AI. … Patrick Higgins, M.B.A. ’81 was appointed to the Antios Therapeutics, Inc. board of directors. … John Sarno, M.A. ’81/J.D. ’88 was named to the board of trustees of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. … Michael Kuchar ’82 received an honorary doctor of human letters degree presented by Felician University in June. … Michael Festa ’83 was named global chief financial officer at VXI Global Solutions in Los Angeles. … Unity Bank President and CEO James Hughes, M.B.A. ’83 was appointed to the Independent Community Bankers of America’s Large Community Bank Council. … Ellen Harris, J.D. ’84 was elected to the board of trustees of Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity. … Retired Navy Capt. William Pinamont Jr. ’84/J.D. ’88 commissioned his son, William J. Pinamont III, an ensign in the Navy Medical Corps at the Union League of Philadelphia in June. … Phillipsburg, N.J., Mayor Todd Tersigni ’84 has been appointed to the New

Jersey Conference of Mayors representing Warren County. … Anthony Santangelo, M.B.A. ’85 published his first book, a short fantasy story titled The Monkey King of the Tranquil Mountains. … Glenn Schuck ’85 was named the first professional-in-residence for the Montclair State University radio station, WMSC-FM. … Dana Martinotti ’86 was nominated by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners. … Tim McGoughran, J.D. ’86, of Monmouth County was sworn in as first vice president of the New Jersey State Bar Association. … Christine Candarella ’88 earned the New Jersey Education Association’s Teacher Leader Endorsement, part of the first group to complete this new program. She is now a teacher leader consultant for NJEA. … Linda Caldwell Epps, M.A. ’88 received an honorary degree from Princeton University during commencement exercises in May. … Rupert Hayles ’88 defended his dissertation, The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Christian Virtues in Organizational Leadership, to receive his Ph.D. from Regent University. … Steven Fusco ’89 was named a “Leader in Finance” by NJBIZ.

90s

Dr. Akua Agyeman ’90 joined The Rolling Hills Clinic in Red Bluff, Calif., as its new medical director. … Norberto Garcia ’90 was sworn in as secretary of the New Jersey State Bar Association during the group’s 2021 annual meeting. … Peter Gasparro ’90/M.A. ’01 was named chief development officer at Barclays US Consumer Bank. … Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, M.A.E. ’90 served as keynote speaker for the “Being Men of Hope” retreat held at St. Bartholomew Church in East Brunswick, N.J. … John Maloney, J.D. ’90 joined the law firm of Stark & Stark as a shareholder and a member of the firm’s Business & Corporate and Business Succession Planning groups. … Anthony Tatulli, J.D. ’90 was named head of executive and professional lines for C ONTI NU ED ON PAGE 3 8

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

PROFILE Pioneer in the E.R.

n 2020, hospital emergency rooms were the front line

FA L L 2 0 2 1

Farmer attributes his servant leadership commitment

of the COVID-19 battlefield. But Dr. Charles Farmer

to his time at Seton Hall. “You are always surrounded by

’12, a leader in the field of social emergency medicine,

students and then also amazing faculty that help mold

can tell you that ERs, where healthcare teams fight for

you into a leader and help you realize your full potential.

people’s lives, are also where the effects of society’s ills

So I definitely credit my experience at Seton Hall for

can be seen.

helping me become the physician and advocate that

Farmer’s passion for advocacy grew during his

residency at NYU Bellevue Hospital. He worked with

I am today.” As to the future of social emergency medicine, Farmer

pioneers in the field that considers the social context

says, “I feel like healthcare really should be a right, not

of underserved populations. As a resident, he created

really a privilege, so I hope that we can do a better job

a curriculum where students discussed the societal

as a society of making sure that that’s not an issue for

factors that contributed to ER visits. Today, Farmer

people.” | JESSICA STROM

is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and works at University Hospital in Newark, where he fine-tunes the critical mindsets of his students. He notes that some people go to the

ER for regular care because of insurance issues, lack of food, or housing problems. Better access to public housing could save trips made to the ER for shelter and health conditions like hypothermia. COVID-19 has brought to light

the lapses in the healthcare system, Farmer says, and he hopes to see improvements in how information is shared with people of color and other marginalized communities hit hardest by the pandemic. But he notes that the pandemic also showed the enormous strength of nurses, doctors and custodial staff in the healthcare system. Farmer says he was excited and a bit nervous to be the fifth person to get a COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey, leveraging his position as an African American doctor to show other people moment he received the shot, Farmer recalls thinking, “Man, maybe we’re finally reaching the end of the line with this — there’s a light at the end.”

Photo by Kristine Foley

of color that the vaccine is safe. The

NE W S & N OT E S

Pirate Babies 1. Lauren (Schleunig) DaSilva ’12 and Brian DaSilva ’11, a boy, Lucas Nicholas, in February 2021. 2. Sofia (Iqbal) Rizvi ’10/J.D. ‘16 and Haider Rizvi ‘06/D.P.T. ‘09, a girl, Aliya Hazel, on January 4, 2021. 3. Victoria (Caruso) Silva ’05 and Justin Silva ’05, a boy, James Michael, on June 23, 2021. 4. Leonard Altamirano ’14, a girl, Janelle, on July 22, 2020.

SHARE YOUR JOY WITH THE PIRATE COMMUNITY Please send us your wedding or baby photos to alumni@shu.edu or shuwriter@shu.edu. We may run your submission in a future issue of the magazine or on social media.

Tying the knot 1. Christina Richardson ’14 and Ben Derda ’15 married on campus on September 11, 2020. 2. Nicole Guido ’15/M.S. ’17 and Thomas Flynn ’15/M.S. ’16 married on May 22, 2021.

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

FA L L 2 0 2 1

Pirate Pride Tag us in your Pirate Pride photos @setonhallalumni or email us alumni@shu.edu Noha Zeitoun ’14 and Paul Lacy ’14 married on May 22, 2021, at Lake Anna, Va., eight years after meeting in Pirate’s Cove.

Don’t have a Pirate bandana yet? Visit www.shu.edu/alumni to request yours.

Share your news... Have you been promoted? Earned an advanced degree? Been honored for professional or personal achievements? Recently married? Added a baby Pirate to the ranks? We want to know! Visit us at www.shu.edu/alumni and share your success. Your news may be published in an upcoming issue of Seton Hall magazine. If you can’t log on, fill out the form below with your news and send it to: Department of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy Alumni News and Notes 457 Centre St., South Orange, NJ 07079 Fax: 973-378-2640

PRIDE IN ACTION 1) Ericka Hursey, Ed.D. ’17 delivers a graduation speech to her students at Richland County School District One in Hopkins, S.C. Hursey graduated from the school 30 years ago and has been principal for three and a half years. 2) Steve Vaglio ’78 and Diane Vaglio ’81, both Stillman School of Business alumni, displaying Pirate Pride at Cabo Da Roca in Sintra, Portugal.

Name

Class Year(s) and Degree(s) from Seton Hall

Home Address

Phone

Email Address

News to Share:

alumni

NE W S & N OT E S North America at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. … The California Public Employees’ Retirement System has appointed Marlene Timberlake D’Adamo ’91 as its first chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. … Timothy Markey, J.D. ’91 was promoted to division vice president within the Fidelity/Crime Division of Great American Insurance Group. … Vincenzo Paparo, J.D. ’91 joined Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt as part of its lending and debt finance practice group. … Mark Plinio, J.D. ’91 was appointed chief commercial officer at Evelo Biosciences Inc. in Cambridge, Mass. … Chris Tedesco ’91 joined Inter-lux as a market manager in June. … Matthew Banko ’92 was named vice president of finance and administrative services at Carteret Community College in Morehead City, N.C. … Armando Bonilla, J.D. ’92 was announced as a candidate for the federal bench in the fifth round of judicial nominees by President Biden. … Bryan DeNovellis ’92 was named Holmdel High School’s Teacher of the Year for 202021. … Thomas Snyder, J.D. ’92 was named co-chair of the Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost & Botwinick, PC firm’s family/ matrimonial practice group. … Jeffrey Wanamaker, M.A. ’92 was named chief of the Clarkstown Police Department in New City, N.Y. … Frank P. DiCesare, M.A. ’93 launched a website to promote his independent films, including his award-winning documentary short “Blacksmith.”… Keri Orange-Jones ’93 was named an Exemplary Educator by the New Jersey Department of Education. … Ross Smith, J.D. ’93 joined FXSpotStream, a streaming aggregation service provider, as a legal consultant. … John Zebrowski, J.D. ’93, chief of the Sayreville, N.J., Police Department, was elected president of the New Jersey Police Chiefs Association. … Patricia O’Keefe-Siker, M.S.N. ’94/Ph.D. ’14 will serve as immediate past chair of the 2021 Morris County Chamber of Commerce board of directors. … Vincent Auteri ’95/M.P.A. ’99 was promoted to detective lieutenant with the Lyndhurst, N.J., Police Department. … Eric Brickman, M.B.A. ’95 joined FutureFule. io, a student loan repayment platform, as chief operating officer. … Narda Zuniga-

Alvarez, J.D. ’95 became executive vice president and chief legal officer at AAA Club Alliance Inc. … Verne Pedro ’95/J.D. ’01 was promoted to partner at Fullerton Beck LLP, a White Plains-based law firm. … Javier Robles, J.D. ’95 was appointed to the United Spinal Association board of directors for a three-year term. … Monica CoffeyMurray, J.D. ’96 was named sales manager of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty Rockville Centre and Long Beach sales offices. … Felipe Pedroso, J.D. ’96 was elected president of the Bridgewater Township, N.J., Council. … Michele Van Volkom ’96 was the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Teaching Award at Monmouth University, where she has been teaching since 2003. … Jeanana Lloyd ’97/M.A. ’17 was appointed to the board of trustees for the Delaware Art Museum. … Linda McClung, M.S.N. ’97 published a young adult novel titled Seven Minutes in April. … Paul Phan ’97 was hired as a regional sales consultant for The Retirement Advantage Inc. … Karen Tooley, M.B.A. ’97 was named a strategic advisory board member at Notion Consulting. … Naelys Luna ’98 was announced as the founding dean of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University. ... Jason E. Marx, J.D. ’98 joined Curcio Mirzaian Sirot LLC as a partner, and chairs the taxation and estate planning and elder care and special needs planning areas. ... Neil Mody ’98/J.D. ’01 was named one of New Jersey’s most influential diversity, equity and inclusion leaders in 2021 by ROI-NJ. … Fruqan Mouzon, J.D. ’98 is an adviser and specialist in cannabis law for the Cannonau Corporation in Skaneateles, N.Y. … Chris Patricca, J.D. ’98, vice chair of the Lee County, Fla., School Board, was the guest speaker at the SanibelCaptiva Republican Caucus in Sanibel, Fla. … Paul Podesla ’98 was appointed vice president of recruiting at Clinical Trial Technology Solutions in Whitehouse Station, N.J. … Elaine Rocha, J.D. ’98 was promoted to global chief operating officer of reinsurance at AIG. … Jeffrey Wasserman, J.D. ’98 joined Pyramid Biosciences Inc. in Boston as general counsel. … Tamara T. Williams, M.B.A.

’98 joined the Amistad Center for Art & Culture as board president. … Bill Arnold, M.H.A. ’99 was appointed president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. … Greg Dadika, J.D. ’99 was named a shareholder in the pharmaceutical, medical device and health care litigation and products liability and mass torts practices at Greenberg Traurig LLP. … Daniel LaFrance, J.D. ’99 was appointed as vice president and chief compliance officer at Balfour Beatty, a construction contractor based in the United Kingdom. … Ken McGill, M.A.E. ’95/Ed.S. ’99 was hired as senior scientist at Opeeka, a health and human services technology company. … Joseph Wenzel, J.D. ’99 was appointed the attorney for the Troy Hills, N.J., Planning Board.

00s

Former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Craig Carpenito, J.D. ’00 joined the international law firm, King & Spalding. … Angela Kariotis ’00 was appointed the first diversity and inclusion director at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J. … Jason Quintero, J.D. ’00 was named the Tampa, Fla., office managing shareholder of the Carlton Fields law firm. … Mary Beth Russell, Ph.D. ’00 was named vice president, professional development, innovation and research at RWJBarnabas Health. … Neil Spidaletto, M.A.E. ’00 was named acting township manager in Sparta, N.J. … Thomas Castellano ’01/M.B.A. ’06 was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer at Catalent Inc. in June. … Ramy Eid, J.D. ’01 was appointed chief municipal judge in Jersey City, N.J. … Garret Hoover, M.H.A. ’01 completed his first year as president and chief operating officer at Carroll Hospital and senior vice president at LifeBridge Health in Westminster, Md. … Peter Sibilia ’01 joined Senlac Ridge Partners as partner, head of investments. … Mach Johnson, M.A.E. ’02 was named chief of detectives for the Cumberland County, N.J., prosecutor’s office. … Karina Lucid, J.D. ’02, founder and president of Lucid C ONTI NU ED ON PAGE 4 0

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

FA L L 2 0 2 1

Congratulations, Classes of 2020 and 2021

Pirate’s Eye

As the University officially recognized the classes of 2020 and 2021 through commencement ceremonies in May 2021, the department held two virtual champagne toasts in celebration. Nearly 200 attendees joined these programs as they learned about the alumni engagement program and how to transition into their next journey as alumni. Welcome to the Seton Hall Alumni family!

ALUMNI PODCAST

SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

Pirate’s Eye Podcast Seton Hall boasts more than 100,000 alumni. On the Pirate’s Eye Alumni Podcast, we interview some of those proud Pirates on their latest accomplishments and career paths. Visit www.shu.edu/ pirateseye or subscribe through your favorite podcast app.

Hall Hub There are many ways for alumni to stay connected to Seton Hall. Stay updated with a variety of online engagement opportunities, including a book club and past event recordings online. Visit www.shu.edu/ hallhub to learn more.

• VIRTUAL • On June 17, the 35th Annual Many Are One Virtual Celebration took place honoring fellow Setonians, including a special tribute to frontline heroes who have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The University also was proud to honor Sampson Davis ’95 as its 2021 Most Distinguished Alumnus. An emergency room physician, motivational speaker, best-selling author and philanthropist, Davis epitomizes the Seton Hall tagline: What great minds can do. If you missed the online celebration, you can visit www.shu.edu/manyareone to view the event.

alumni

NE W S & N OT E S Law, moved the firm’s headquarters to Bridgewater, N.J. … Lori Gordon, J.D. ’03 joined Perkins Coie’s intellectual property practice as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office. … Mary Spring, M.A. ’03 was named principal of Lourdes High School, Rochester, Minn. … Michelle Suralik-Horwath ’03/J.D. ’06 joined the firm, Hall Booth Smith P.C., as an associate specializing in binding arbitration for personal injury protection benefits claims. … Diana M. Braga ’04 joined Magyar Bank as assistant manager, community relations and marketing. … Weston Cronkite ’04/M.B.A. ’06 was named chief innovation officer of CPSI, a healthcare technology company, in Mobile, Ala. … Robert M. Kane Jr. ’04/M.S. ’05 was appointed to the board of trustees for Wellan Montessori School in Newton Centre, Mass. … Alyson Kest, J.D. ’04 joined Spearhead, a financial management firm, as chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel. … Ana Sousa, M.S.J. ’04 joined Aspen Neuroscience Inc. as senior vice president of regulatory affairs and quality in July. … Robert Zeglarski ’04 joined Frost Brown Todd’s Nashville office as a member of the firm’s securities and corporate governance practice group. … Chris Ciaccia ’05, was hired as the science and technology editor at the Daily Mail. … Craig McGraw ’05 was inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who in June. … Russell Petrocelli, M.A. ’05 was elected state advocate of the New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus. … Yeurys Pujols, M.A. ’05 was appointed vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at Hudson County Community College. … Liliana M. Esposito, J.D. ’06 is chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at The Wendy’s Company. … Andrew Bae, M.S. ’06 was hired as senior director of underwriting and portfolio management at Haversine Funding. … Christine GaribellBertollo ’06/M.A. ’11 completed eight years as vice principal of Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Clifton, N.J. … P. Erik Gundersen, Ed.S. ’06/Ed.D. ’19 was appointed superintendent of Pascack Valley Regional High School District, N.J. … Former Seton Hall

swimming star Michael LaRosa ’06 was named press secretary to first lady Jill Biden. … Oscar N. Pinkas, J.D. ’06 has joined global law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP as chair of the firm’s New York restructuring and bankruptcy practice. ... Giulianna K. Ruiz, J.D ’06 was promoted to partner at Trilantic North America, a private equity firm. … Christopher LoSapio ’07/M.B.A. ’08 was appointed principal at Federal Capital Partners. … John J. Oberdorf, M.B.A. ’07/J.D. ’07 joined Dentons as partner in the global law firm’s venture technology and emerging growth companies and banking and finance practices in New York. ... Jason De Jesus ’08, with his brother and father, created the Orfilia De Jesus Scholarship Fund to honor his mother and her work and service to her community, supporting students from Dover High School. … Monique Perry-Graves, M.A. ’08 was named executive director of Teach for America in North Carolina as it merged with the Eastern North Carolina and Charlotte-Piedmont Triad regions. … Laura Maxwell ’09, a real-estate law attorney, joined Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero P.A. … Maria Poidomani, Ed.D. ’09 was appointed superintendent of Dumont High School, N.J.

10s

John Bertollo, M.A. ’10 completed his first year as principal of Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell, N.J. … Nicola Bocour, J.D. ’10 was appointed to the Personalized Handgun Authorization Commission by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. … Eric Bronnenkant, M.S. ’10 was featured in Finder’s “Tax Tips for the 2020 Filing Season.” … Frank Chmiel, M.A. ’10 was appointed principal of Princeton, N.J., High School. … David De Jesus ’10, with his brother and father, created the Orfilia De Jesus Scholarship Fund to honor his mother and her work and service to her community, supporting students from Dover High School. … Priscilla Garces ’10 was honored by InsiderNJ for Women’s History Month. ... Nazly M. Shariati, M.S.J. ’10, M.D. was appointed medical director of thoracic surgery and surgical director of the Lung Cancer Screening/

Lung Nodule Program at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center. … Clay Shorrock, J.D. ’10 was appointed chief legal officer and executive director of business development at Applied DNA Sciences Inc. in Stonybrook, N.Y. … Jack Tracy, J.D. ’10 was appointed chief product officer for New Generation Research Inc. in Boston in the company’s Bankruptcy Data service. … Alycia L. Banks, M.A. ’11 was promoted to senior vice president, learning and diversity officer, at Columbia Bank in Fair Lawn, N.J. … Samuel Gardner III, M.A. ’11 is content manager/assistant news director at KTVT-TV in Dallas – Fort Worth. … Sarah Goodling, M.A. ’11 was promoted to director of social media at Crosby Marketing Communications. … Richard Hornby, M.B.A. ’11 was appointed regional product lead for financial institutions for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. … Nicole Licciardi ’11 was presented with the Elinor J. Ferdon Young Woman of Promise award by the Girls Scouts of Northern New Jersey. … Nicholas Solomon, Ed.S. ’11/ Ed.D. ’19 has returned to his alma mater, Franklin High School, as principal. … Kathryn Forman, J.D. ’12 was promoted to counsel at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC. … John Kelly III, J.D. ’12 is a new associate to the firm of Norris McLaughlin P.A. … Len Luciano, Ed.S. ’12 began his fourth term as a member of the Essex County Board of County Commissioners. … Sharon McLennonWier, Ph.D. ’12 was appointed executive director for the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York. … Eric Alvarez, J.D. ’13 was named chair of the Norris McLaughlin Cannabis Law Industry Group. … Patrick W. Beyea, Ed.S. ’14 joined TILT Holdings Inc. as director of compliance. … Michael De Turo, Ed.D. ’14 was named superintendent of schools for the Mahwah, N.J., School District. … Shannon Holsey, M.A. ’14 was named as one of the 32 Most Influential People of Color by Midwest Power Brokers 2020. … Kenneth McPherson ’14/J.D. ’18 was welcomed as a new associate at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C. to the real-estate group. … Carla Panzella, Ph.D. ’14 was named dean of students for the University of Pittsburgh in August. … The Rev. C ONTI NU ED ON PAGE 4 2

SETON HALL MAGAZINE

PROFILE Representing the U.S.

FA L L 2 0 2 1

atherine Lass ’13 traveled to Hungary this

assistant and then senior athletic trainer. She also

summer as an athletic trainer with the USA

taught graduate-level courses as an associate professor,

Basketball program, taking part in the experience

and now is active on the athletic training lecture

as the Under 19 women’s team defended its title and

circuit. She hopes to return to the classroom someday,

took home the 2021 FIBA World Cup.

noting that “Teaching makes you great at what you

Lass, associate athletic trainer for women’s basketball

at Duke University, is a former senior athletic trainer for the Seton Hall Pirates. “I took great pride and passion representing the USA,”

Lass says. As the governing body for basketball in the United

States, USA Basketball fields national teams to compete

do as a clinician.” During her time in the master’s program for athletic training in Seton Hall’s School of Health and Medical Sciences, Lass trained at Roxbury High School and Princeton University, and credits those clinical rotations with her success. “The classroom is only going to take you so far,” says

in international competitions sponsored by FIBA, the

Lass. “The more time you put your hands on people and

International Basketball Federation. Lass was asked to

the more time you find yourself in a clinic, that’s how

join the 2021 games held in August after she worked with

you’re going to be great.”

professional athletes during two week-long camps. “Spending a great deal of time building relationships

To students pursuing a career in athletic training, Lass stresses the importance of networking, working

with phenomenal people surrounding me is priceless

hard and taking advantage of the opportunities

within itself,” she says. “Experiencing different cultures

presented.

during my travel was a joy as well. Ending the adventure

Emphasizing the importance of working beyond

with a gold medal and finalizing the trip with such amazing

expectations, she says: “Be hungry, be humble

people really made the entire experience worth it.”

and know that your clinical experience is going to set you up for what your first job is going to be.” | NIYALA SHAW

Photo courtesy of Seton Hall Athletics

Before joining the athletic medicine staff at Duke

in 2019, Lass spent eight years at Seton Hall as an

NE W S & N OT E S Michael Anthony Preston ’14 was ordained to the priesthood in May by the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, apostolic administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. … Andrew Danilack ’15 opened a new franchise of Spaulding Decon in Montville, N.J. … Maria Del Cid ’15 was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. … Lindsay M. Rittenhouse ’15 joined Business Insider as a senior reporter on its advertising and media team. … Angela Adams, M.A. ’16 was promoted to chief communications and diversity officer at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago. … Jeff Berenholtz, M.H.A. ’16 was named to the Maryland Daily Record’s “VIP List” recognizing leaders who are 40 or younger based on their professional accomplishments, community service and a commitment to inspiring change. … William Bonura, M.A. ’16/Ed.D. ’18, North Brunswick police officer and Marine veteran, was honored for his wartime military services by North Brunswick in its Veteran Street Sign Program. … Ronita Mathias, M.S. ’16 was elected to serve a three-year term as trustee of P.G. Chambers School in Cedar Knolls, N.J. … Rev. Thomas Barry, M.A.T./M.D.M. ’17 is parochial vicar at Our Lady of Perpetual St. Agnes Parish in Atlantic Highlands, N.J. … Cornelia Szymanski, J.D. ’18 joined Davis Graham & Stubbs as an associate in its finance and acquisitions department. … David Chesney, M.S.J. ’19 presented a seminar titled “Data Integrity: FDA/ EMA Requirements and Implementation” hosted by ComplianceOnline.

20s

Hannah Kostic ’21 joined Revolutionary Media LLC, an interactive marketing company founded by Robert Ricafort ’99, serving as a media manager.

Baby Pirates Elizabeth (Rathbun) Schmidt ’09/M.A. ’12 and James Schmidt ’08, a girl, Emma James, on August 8, 2019. Sofia (Iqbal) Rizvi ’10/J.D. ’16 and Haider Rizvi ’06/D.P.T. ’09, a girl, Aliya Hazel, 42

on January 4, 2021. Loydes (Vazquez) Nieves ’11 and Victor Nieves ’10, a girl, Victoria Luna, on February 15, 2021. Vanessa (Sisk) Cunningham ’03 and DJ Cunningham ’07, a girl, Kinsley Renee, on October 10, 2020. Bridget (Dries) Georgiana ’11 and Bryan Georgiana ’08/M.S. ’11, a girl, Charlotte Colleen, on January 27, 2021. Leonard Altamirano ’14, a girl, Janelle, on July 22, 2020. Stacy (Narine) Sorensen ’13/M.A. ’16 and Joseph Sorensen ’13, a boy, Joseph Jr., on March 25, 2021. Kristen (Rusterholz) Ernst ’12, a girl, Emily Elisabeth, on November 23, 2020. Victoria (Caruso) Silva ’05 and Justin Silva ’05, a boy, James Michael, on June 23, 2021. Lauren (Schleunig) DaSilva ’12 and Brian DaSilva ’11, a boy, Lucas Nicholas, in February 2021.

Weddings Christina Richardson ’14 and Ben Derda ’15 on September 11, 2020. Robyn Neri ’12/D.P.T. ’15 and Joseph Kunze on April 24, 2021. Nicole Guido ’15/M.S. ’17 and Thomas Flynn ’15/M.S. ’16 on May 22, 2021. Noha Zeitoun ’14 and Paul Lacy ’14 on May 22, 2021. Lauren Masini ’12/M.S. ’14 and Craig Cognetti ’12 on July 13, 2019.

In Memoriam Father Thaddeus F. Zuber ’46/ M.D.M. ’50 Louise E. Gili ’47 Albert E. Bracuti ’48 Joseph D. Haggerty ’48 Theodore A. Gaskin ’49 Natale A. Lisacchi ’49 Joseph F. Tropeano ’49 Alfonso M. DeCicco ’50 Siegfried H. Mueller ’50 Lawrence A. Brattlof ’51 Edward J. Culleton ’51 George J. Krozser ’51 Charles E. Sutter ’51 Dominick A. Rubino, M.D. ’51/’60 Father William D. Driscoll ’51/ M.D.M. ’55 James A. Cicalese ’52 David J. Evans ’52 Jerry S. Lacker ’52 John F. Glennon ’53

Walter E. Graney ’53 Joseph P. Lynch ’53 Floyd Q. Roy ’53 Monsignor Thomas A. Kleissler ’53/ M.D.M. ’78 Richard B. Delnevo ’54 William G. Demaio ’54 Ralph A. Dougan ’54 Frederick J. Frerichs ’54 Donald R. Geddis ’54 John F. Boyle ’55 Rhoda C. Gelberg ’55 Thomas P. Hunt ’56 Joseph G. Morano ’56 George J. Walls Jr. ’56 Donald D. Davis ’57 Victor J. DeMayo ’57 Philip V. Destasio ’57 Robert C. Foley ’57 Michael M. McDonnell ’57 George H. Noke ’57 Mary E. Wagner ’57 Charles M. Calcagno ’57/M.B.A. ’65 Josephine M. Kodis ’58 Thomas J. Naiman ’58 Raymond M. Sexton Jr. ’58 James H. Temple ’58 Thomas E. Cross ’59 Henry J. Foerst ’59 George J. Boorujy ’60 Leo Brady ’60 James P. Cleary ’60 Loren A. Greco ’60 Thomas F. Kelaher ’60 Sister Cecilia King ’60 Richard P. Stahl ’60 Barbara Cella Thomas ’60 Allen T. Mcquarrie Jr. ’61 Robert C. Miller ’61 Joy Waara Vavrek ’61 Carmencita Pia Crocenzi ’62 Joseph N. Damico ’62 Peter Demosthenes Gevas, M.D. ’62 Monsignor Charles W. Gusmer ’62 Matthew F. Mark ’62 Joseph Peterson ’62 John D. Pricken ’62 Philip G. Labasi ’62/J.D. ’72 Michael A. Citrano Jr. ’63 Judith M. Donahoe ’63 Mildred J. Harcar ’63 Janet L. Jones ’63 Sister Mary Carmelita Orzechowski ’63 Donald Walter Samson, M.D. ’63 Anthony P. Scapicchio, M.D. ’63

SETON HALL MAGAZINE Linda A. Westra ’63 Edward J. Borrone ’64 Norman A. Lunde ’64 Joseph Pedota ’64 Carol A. Perry ’64 Sister M. Anita Saffran ’64 Father William Francis Drobach Jr. ’65 John P. Mackey ’65 Joseph D. Marcus ’65 Louis E. Nargi ’65 James F. Russell ’65 Dominic L. Verillo ’65 Alfred F. Russo ’65/J.D. ’71 Edward F. Butler ’66 Thomas E. Fedor Jr. ’66 Elaine M. Feehan ’66 Edward J. Yalicki Jr. ’66 Arthur M. Coakley ’67 Herbert F. Rosenberg Jr. ’67 John W. Scott III ’67 Dominick G. DeLuca ’68 James E. Tracey ’68 Eileen M. Cornell-Bonadonna ’69 Leonidas P. Doumas ’69 Lawrence R. Dziubek ’69 Syman N. Hirsch ’69 Margaret K. Kelly ’69 Joseph McCann III ’69 Jerome Rosenstock ’69 Albert J. Soltis ’69 Vincent P. Tavormina ’69 Peter E. Rhatican ’69/J.D. ’73 Louis Richard Barcay ’70 John Vincent Felicetti ’70 Janet Dryden Nevius ’70 William J. Treger Jr. ’70 Gerald J. Walsh ’70 James F. Avigliano ’71 James B. Donnelly ’71 Dennis Patrick Kennedy ’71 Joseph M. Krisak ’71 Roy Stephen Markowski ’71 Blanquita B. Valenti ’71 Raymond M. Arszulowicz ’72 Harry J. Doherty ’72 Maryann Fougere ’72 Alfred W. Glauner ’72 Ronald B. Grunstra ’72 Rose Marie Merritt ’72 Valentine G. Miele ’72 Allen M. Adler ’73 Hilma Drolette Hensler ’73 William C. Kennedy ’73 Richard Nedohon ’73 Barbara Ellen Protasenia ’73

Kevin Tennant ’73 Nicholas Toomer ’73 Sheila M. White ’73 David Cedrone ’74 James Michael Ewing ’74 Elizabeth Nixon Hearne ’74 The Honorable Joel A. Pisano ’74 Gertrude Verchot ’74/M.S.N. ’79 Joan Brevard ’75 Elaine L. Lieb ’75 Michael Richard Malone ’75 Francis J. Tansey Jr. ’75 Patricia A. Hassert ’76 Kearn C. Schemm ’76 David Carl Swanson ’76 Joan Friedman ’77 Geraldine Hagan ’77 Paula A. Mullaly ’77 Michael Profita ’77 Father Raymond Joseph Dolan ’77/ Ed.S. ’79/Ed.D. ’92 Patricia J. Raburn ’78 Lawrence Whitehaus ’80 Mary Flood ’81 Lorraine K. Rak ’81 Steven Bence ’82 Thomas G. Gannon ’82 Marianne C. Hall ’83 Frances C. Holland ’83 Maryanne E. Wood ’83 Stuart Santiago ’83/J.D. ’86 James Thomas Hill Jr. ’88 Laura K. Bass ’90 Harry Neugold III ’90 Mary Beth Oria ’90 Joseph P. Pagliuca ’90 Elizabeth Sokalski ’90/ M.A. ’93/Ed.D. ’96 John Peter Monaghan ’91 Elizabeth A. Longbothum ’91/ M.S.N. ’93 Benn Meistrich ’92 Catherine A. Auriemma ’93 Alfred Dalton Johnson ’93 Maria S. Agnone ’95 Matthew E. Marra ’96 Matthew Thomas Rose ’96 Martha L. Hatch ’97 Kimberly A. Browner ’00 Sandra Howze Bryan ’00 Peter Edward Scavo ’00 Jerrold K. Barry ’00/M.A. ’02 William Francis Herkert ’01 Lorraine S. Tatarsky ’01 Sarah Jean Borrello-Pedrero ’02

FA L L 2 0 2 1

Eugene F. Gaughan ’04 Ruth King ’05 Jonathan Perez ’07 Eric G. Guglielmotti ’09 Thomas S. Fano ’10 Erin A. Lee Shane ’10 Nicholas M. Moquete ’17/M.S. ’18 Kristen McCartney ’24 Nidhi Rana ’25 Friends Jeanne Ade John M. Alati Priscilla Chenoweth Brien J. Comey James S. Gardner Daniel S. Goldberg Vartan Gregorian Mary Higgins Clark Jacob J. Katz Larry C. Keating Jr. Angela Malgeri Walter A. Mattheiss Jr. Andrew J. Molish Father Laurence T. Murphy Judy Naples J. Albert Nitche Patrick O’Brien Gaetano Re Therese M. Saulnier Eva M. Shea Michael J. Silvestri Patricia Ann Stalker Ambassador William Vanden Heuvel John P. Walsh Christine M. Yanuzzi

Giving Day 2021 breaks record in total support received On April 20-21, Pirates around the world joined together for Seton Hall’s fourth annual Giving Day. The initiative resulted in 1,700 donors, a significant increase over last year, and a record-breaking total of more than $422,000, raising more than any other year since Seton Hall started its Giving Day tradition. Thank you to our generous donors!

LAS T WO R D |

PEGEEN HOPKINS

What Makes the Leaders of Tomorrow Tick? The Buccino Leadership Institute at Seton Hall University

What insights did the survey reveal about young leaders?

has a distinct perspective about the nature of future

For one thing, they embrace diversity. Much historical

leaders. The University launched an undergraduate

literature correlates physical traits with a leader —

leadership development program in 1995 for its business

with having a deep voice, being tall or being physically

students. And then, based on the program’s success,

fit. This generation does not put that much emphasis

expanded its reach in 2018 to students from all Seton

on genetic traits. However, they do want leaders

Hall’s schools and colleges, making the experience more

to be properly attired and healthy, things that can

comprehensive and interdisciplinary.

be controlled.

In 2021, the institute conducted the first part of a

There’s also clear insight that leaders can be developed,

multi-year research study to more fully understand

and what this generation wants to see in leaders are

how young people view what makes a good leader and

traits such as collaboration, adaptiveness and commu-

the critical challenges leaders must face. To learn more,

nication. Aspiring leaders can cultivate these specific

Seton Hall magazine editor Pegeen Hopkins spoke with

values and competencies.

Ruchin Kansal, the institute’s associate director and a co-author of the survey.

Interestingly, despite the recent move to virtual work models, when it comes to leadership development, young people see it as a high-touch contact sport. They want

What is Vector Leadership?

on-the-job training programs, to shadow people, to have

Vector Leadership is how we define the future of lead-

grad level and undergrad level leadership education.

ership. A vector has two attributes: magnitude and

Companies will need to consider how this dichotomy

direction. Direction is where something is pointing, and

will be handled.

magnitude is how fast it is moving. Leadership itself

In addition, future leaders are looking for a workplace

is changing and evolving. Also, each aspiring leader

that engages them and provides them with meaningful

has his or her own magnitude and direction, or values

work. They are sending a clear message that employee

and competencies.

engagement is as important to organizations now as shareholder engagement.

What was the genesis of The Future of Leadership Survey?

And since the average lifespan of companies is

Most leadership literature provides insight from the per-

decreasing — one study found it is now less than

spective of current leaders, the people who report directly to

18 years — this presents a challenge companies will

them, or others with significant work experience. There isn’t

have to grapple with: How do they continue to invest

much insight from the perspective of future leaders —

in leadership development, despite the fact that these

people under 25 who are just beginning their career journeys.

leaders and these companies may not be around for

That presents two challenges: One, if you don’t have

the long term?

future leaders’ insights, how can organizations respond

to their aspirations and expectations? And two, how can

What’s next?

organizations develop these leaders if they don’t really

For the next edition of the survey, we will be expanding

understand their perspective? The Future of Leadership

our reach to a broader sample of survey respondents,

Survey was developed to address this knowledge gap and

either through partnerships with other universities or

begin to provide guidance.

by using alternative recruiting methods. n

We Can’t Thank You Enough We want to express our appreciation for your planned gift to Seton Hall University. But we may not know about it. Please tell us if you have included the University in your will or trust, or as the beneficiary of your IRA, retirement account, bank account or insurance policy. Your gift makes you a member of our Benjamin Savage Society — alumni and friends who are helping to make the Seton Hall experience possible for future generations. For more information, visit www.shu.edu/plannedgiving or contact: Nora Nasif Rahaim 973-378-9878 nora.rahaim@shu.edu

Department of Public Relations and Marketing 519 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079

ROCK YOUR SOCKS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE As a thank you to all Pirate donors who make a gift of $30 or more by December 31, we are sending a pair — or two — of these exclusive Pirate socks. Donors who make a gift of $100 or more will also receive the 2021 Seton Hall Christmas ornament. Learn more and make a gift at shu.edu/rockthesocks.

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