Seton Hill University - Forward Magazine - Spring/Summer 2023

FORWARD

THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE of SETON HILL UNIVERSITY

Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Grant Verstandig Receives an Honorary Doctorate from Seton Hill

Freshman engineering and mathematics major Jalen Minter performs an experiment during the General Chemistry II lab in April.

A MESSAGE from THE PRESIDENT

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Another academic year has come to a close at Seton Hill – our 20th as a co-educational University – and we just bid farewell to the 105th graduating class at Commencement in May.

Joining the members of the Class of 2023 was Grant Verstandig – grandson of the late Seton Hill Distinguished Alumna and Immediate Past Board Chair Ruth OʼBlock Grant – who received an Honorary Doctorate from the University. Grant is an outstanding entrepreneur who

turned health struggles in his own life into a health solution for millions of Americans. He left the graduates of 2023 with a beautiful message about perseverance in spite of the obstacles that life might put in front of you.

“The best direction is always forward,” he told the graduates.

Indeed, the Class of 2023ʼs motto – a quote from C.S. Lewis – beautifully reflects Grant Verstandigʼs sentiment. It says, “There are far better things ahead, than any we leave behind.”

And that is at the heart of what we do at Seton Hill – prepare students for lifeʼs next chapter and for the world in which they are destined to live.

The Class of 2023 is going to make a difference. Seton Hillʼs inaugural class of the Daniel J. Wukich School of Nursing was among the graduates. Nearly 80 percent of the nursing graduates had jobs lined up at hospitals and healthcare systems in the Pittsburgh region before

graduation – directly impacting the health of our community. The rest of the graduates were focused on their licensing exams before searching for jobs.

Seton Hillʼs work in the health care sphere goes beyond the classroom. A recent grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation will allow the university to work with a number of community partners in establishing a health care-education corridor in the City of Greensburg. We hope this effort will create new jobs in the community and continue our work in leading economic growth and development.

NEW ENROLLMENT INITIATIVES

As we have built new academic programs that meet workforce needs and student interests, we recognize that affordability can be a barrier to many students who want to attend college.

We have recently introduced a few new initiatives to help students and their families make their education more affordable.

The first is a new effort that helps students in more than 20 programs

Outgoing Board Chair Karen Farmer White with alumna Dr. Paula Florez Salcedo, a native of Colombia, at the recent Women in Science Day on campus. Karen maintains connections with students even after graduation.

across all five schools at Seton Hill graduate in as little as three years through a highly-personalized academic plan. The students must enter Seton Hill with at least 12 college credits, which are available through programs such as Seton Hillʼs College in High School or Advanced Placement courses. Many students are already entering with credits as freshman, and this effort will allow them to map out their course load to graduate in six semesters – saving a year of expenses.

Weʼve also received a state grant that will cover the cost of tuition for online programs for Pennsylvania residents who have left higher education in the past two years and are close to completing a certificate or degree. Many students leave college for financial reasons, and this grant will allow them to complete their education and use their degree to advance their career.

TRUSTEES UPDATE

Seton Hill has been fortunate to have had a long line of Board of Trustees Chairs who have truly had the best interest of the university and its students at heart.

In June, we will bid farewell to longtime Trustee and Board Chair Karen Farmer White, a true champion of education who especially loved spending time with students. Karen never missed an opportunity to be on campus and to listen to students talk about their Seton Hill experiences. She has become a friend and mentor to many students – and remains in touch with them as they continue their lives.

During her time as Board Chair, she received the Women of Influence Award from the Pittsburgh Business Times and was honored by the University of Pittsburghʼs Institute of

Politics with the Coleman Award for Excellence in Community Service. Both awards reflect Karenʼs deep and lifelong commitment to education –particularly in outreach to underserved populations.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Karen for her outstanding leadership as Board Chair –especially during the turbulent days of the COVID-19 pandemic – and her unwavering devotion to Seton Hill students.

I also want to welcome incoming Board Chair Rebecca Cost Snyder. Becky, owner of Pittsburgh-based masonry company Franco Associates, has been a dedicated member of the Board who has provided expert analysis around construction projects. She also frequents many campus events, and I know she keeps the student experience front of mind.

While there has been much joy this spring, there was also sadness. Seton Hill lost two extraordinary champions with the deaths of Sister Lois Sculco and Arthur J. Boyle, Jr., the husband of the late President Emerita JoAnne Woodyard Boyle. Lois and Art – who were great friends in life – died just 10

days apart. We remain forever grateful for their contributions to Seton Hill. Sister Lois left a legacy of service to students and a profound commitment to mission – particularly around diversity efforts – that has had a continued impact on the university and the greater community. Art continued to be a cheerleader for Seton Hill in the decade after JoAnneʼs death – and I was grateful for his sage advice and friendship over the years.

The impact of individuals such as Karen, Becky, Sister Lois and Art on the Seton Hill experience is significant. Each of our alumni and friends are vital to the continuing success of the university and its mission to educate students to be critical and creative thinkers who will make a difference in their communities in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

For all that each of you do for Seton Hill, thank you. You are welcome back on the Hill anytime.

Hazard Yet Forward,

Mary C. Finger President

Karen Farmer White with graduating senior Ashawn Berry and President Finger at Grad Bash in May.

Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Grant Verstandig Invites Seton Hill Class of 2023 to Keep Moving Forward

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Grant Verstandig shared with the Seton Hill University Class of 2023 that they have the unique opportunity to make real change in the world as the author of their own story – they just need to take the first step.

“Embarking on a new chapter is intimidating – itʼs riddled with your expectations, the expectations of friends, family and even complete strangers on what they think should be written on your page. It takes an enormous amount of courage, creativity and determination just to start to write, then it takes hard work and perseverance to continue your story – day in and day out writing just a little more every day no matter the ups and downs that life has to offer. And remember there can be no joy without pain and there cannot be growth – and I know weʼre in Pittsburgh – without rain.”

Indeed, Verstandig – who received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Seton Hill during Commencement on May 6 – has faced his share of adversity.

After his 21st birthday, Verstandig – then a lacrosse player at Brown University – underwent his fifth knee operation. He has to date had a total of 18 operations on his right leg. He recognized at that time that patients were not at the center of the healthcare system as they should be, and he took that knowledge, left school, and founded

Honorary Degree Recipient Grant Verstandig (center) with President Mary Finger and Grant Scholar graduates (left to right) Mitchell Zembower, Mackenzie Longo, Desiree Saether and Shannon Mong at Commencement in May.

Makayla Morroco earned a degree in dance in May.

Rally Health, a consumer centric digital health company that was later acquired by UnitedHealth Group.

Since then, Verstandig has founded several more companies, including Epirus, an AI-enabled power management company focused on directed energy defense applications and Spycraft Entertainment, a production company focused on intelligence and military operations.

He is currently the co-founder and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Red Cell Partners, an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in national security and healthcare, as well as Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Zephyr AI, DEFCON AI, and TARA Mind, all Red Cell portfolio companies.

Seton Hill President Mary C. Finger conferred the Honorary Degree to Grant Verstandig and, in a citation issued at the ceremony, recounted his many entrepreneurial efforts.

She said, “Grant Verstandig, your tenacity as an informed risk taker, your personal story of resilience and your preeminent philanthropy are inspiring. Your endeavors have brought honor to your lifeʼs work, your family, this region, and our nation. You are a role model to the Seton Hill University students who share this recognition with you today; and along with them, I am proud to acknowledge your devotion to humanity and the passion you bring to your lifeʼs calling, by conferring on you the degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.”

Verstandig is the grandson of the late Ruth OʼBlock Grant, a Seton Hill alumna and the Immediate Past Chair of the Seton Hill Board of Trustees, who died last year. In 2018, as part of Seton Hillʼs Centennial Celebration, Verstandig, with his parents Toni and Lee Verstandig and through the Verstandig Family Foundation, made a seven-figure leadership commitment to Seton Hill to create The Ruth OʼBlock Grant Endowed Scholarship Program.

The Program's distinctive component is pairing Grant Scholars with mentors, chosen from alumni and community leaders, who have a deep interest in guiding Seton Hill students as they advance in their academic pursuits.

He is the second member of his immediate family to receive this honor from Seton Hill. His mother Toni received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in May 1999 during her service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

Grant Verstandig said he was humbled and honored to be recognized by Seton Hill with the Honorary Doctorate.

“Being recognized by an institution that has produced so many exemplary leaders is profoundly moving and deeply humbling for me,” he said. “As youʼve heard, itʼs also deeply personal. My grandmother Ruth, who just passed away a little over a year ago, was a 1954 graduate of Seton Hill. She went on to become an entrepreneur, a business leader, a community advocate, and at a time when many of her female peers did not even have the opportunity to go to college, she ran a steel company. Seton Hill gave my grandmother the same thing then that it presents to each of you today – a foundation to create your own path.”

Verstandig said the graduates will need help throughout their journey – and they must always keep moving. “The best direction is always forward,” he said.

He acknowledged that the graduates will experience adversity and

Top: Art therapy graduate Meg Ambrose hugs a classmate after the ceremony.

Middle: Alyson Taylor earned a degree in Business Administration.

Bottom: Grant Verstandig's mother, Toni Verstandig, celebrated the day with him. Toni is also a Seton Hill Honorary Degree recipient.

uncertainty throughout life, but they must not give in to fear.

“You must listen to your heart, rely on your faith, and trust in the foundation this great university has given to you,” he said. “The greatest failures in life come when we are paralyzed by fear – fear of taking the next step, paralyzed by what ifs, paralyzed by what others might think. …. As uncomfortable as it may be in the moment, the most successful people that Iʼve come across in life are the ones who holistically embrace the journey in all of its ups and downs.”

Verstandig said as he looks ahead, he sees a brighter future full of possibilities for the Class of 2023, and he firmly believes that entrepreneurship will be the key to transform the world.

“Todayʼs world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and we need leaders who will think creatively to innovate, to challenge, to push the status quo and solve some of the impossible problems that grip our future whether itʼs climate change, our nationʼs health crisis, inflation, the economy. ... We need leaders like you now more than ever,” he said.

He told the graduates to give themselves permission to dream; to embrace failures and learn from them; to ignore the critics; and to surround themselves with people who share their beliefs.

“The Class of 2023 – I am incredibly honored to be bound with you for the rest of our lives,” he said. “Seton Hill has equipped you with the knowledge, the skills and the values to succeed. Now itʼs up to you to go take those tools and make a difference. I know that each and every one of you has the potential to do incredible things, so please take that first step in faith. …. I look forward to seeing all you will contribute to this world.”

Top: Social work graduates (front to back) Samantha Pugner-Piper, Emmanuel Lebbie and Natalia Greco celebrate.

Middle: Cap decorations showcase studentsʼ majors and career goals.

Bottom: Men's and women's soccer players from around the world pose for a photo after the ceremony.

Seton Hill, Local Partners to Plan HealthcareEducation Corridor in City of Greensburg

Richard King Mellon Foundation Grant Will Fund Planning Process

Seton Hill has received a $200,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to work with community partners in developing a plan for a healthcare-education corridor in the City of Greensburg with a goal of increasing healthcare job opportunities and strengthening economic development.

The grant for the project, “Growing Greensburgʼs Economy: Healthcare/Education,” will allow Seton Hill and its partners to develop a 10-year implementation plan for the corridor in partnership with the City of Greensburg, Excela Health/Butler Health System (now Independence Health System), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Westmoreland County Economic Growth Connection, Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank, Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation, and GO Laurel Highlands. More community partners may be added during the planning process.

“Seton Hill is a leader in healthcare education in the Pittsburgh region with undergraduate and graduate programs in Physician Assistant, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Dietetics and Nutrition, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and a cooperative degree program with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), which has a medical school on our campus,” said Seton Hill President Mary Finger.

“We are committed to educating healthcare professionals who will stay in the region and serve the community. We are grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its support of this year-long initiative, and we look forward to working with our community partners to develop plans for a healthcare-education corridor that will serve the residents of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, and surrounding counties.”

The plan, which is expected to be completed by December, will identify existing strengths among the core partners and will develop strategies to build off of those strengths toward increasing job opportunities, expanding educational offerings, increasing economic development, growing commercial and residential development, and improving healthcare opportunities.

U3 Advisors, which has worked on similar projects in Memphis and Detroit, has been hired as the project consultant. They will conduct market analysis and develop master building and financial sustainability strategies.

Top: George Smith of U3 Advisors gives an overview of the planning process to members of the Seton Hill and Greensburg communities. The team from U3 came into town for two days to take tours and meet with stakeholders.

Bottom: Antonina Simeti of U3 Advisors, who will serve as project manager, talks with Sr. Susan Yochum, Provost, at the meeting.

Seton Hill students will serve as interns during the planning project to gain real-world experience. Junior business major and Grant Scholar Sarah Gilliam is interning with the project this summer.

The project goals are: to develop a clear strategic vision for local economic development; to strengthen relationships among local stakeholders and institutions; to increase local capacity and attractiveness to residents, students, workers and visitors; to attract additional investments from public, private, and philanthropic sources; and to enhance the quality of life for the cityʼs residents.

Wukich School of Nursing Graduates Inaugural Class

Nurses will have immediate impact on local healthcare

When Seton Hillʼs first class of nursing students entered as freshmen in the Fall of 2019, they were a bit unsure of what to expect.

The universityʼs reputation of educating students in healthcare was strong, but the Bachelor of Science program in Nursing was brand new, and they would be the first students in The Daniel J. Wukich School of Nursing at Seton Hill.

And then in the spring of their freshman year, the COVID-19 pandemic began, sending them home to study for the remainder of that semester and bringing to light the importance of nurses around the world.

Diane Kondas, Director of the Wukich School of Nursing at Seton Hill, said the first graduating class has proven to be resilient through it all.

“It has been wonderful to experience the last four years with our first graduating class. Every student brings a unique perspective to our program that will leave long lasting impressions and memories,” Kondas said. “We experienced the pandemic together including having to quarantine in their first year at Seton Hill. The class was resilient and jumped right into the skills lab on our return to campus. This group of students has definitely felt the difficulties and stress in the healthcare system due to the pandemic, including staff shortages and general nurse burn out. They researched solutions to improve the mental health of nurses dealing with the stress of the pandemic in their junior year, and developed quality improvement projects in their senior year to improve work flow for the nurses. Their experiences with the pandemic as students made them very aware of how to choose future workplaces that are nursing centered. I am very proud of

the Class of 2023 and look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in nursing.”

Throughout all of the firsts – and the uncertainty of the pandemic – the inaugural class of the Wukich School of Nursing stuck together. Kondas said the students supported a classmate through the loss of a parent during the pandemic and celebrated birthdays and engagements in their final year together.

“There is such a strong feeling of community within the inaugural class here at Seton Hill,” said class member Adam Goodnack. And they have found success. By graduation, 80 percent of the inaugural class had secured jobs – all of which were in southwestern Pennsylvania. The rest of the graduating students plan to pursue job opportunities after taking their nursing licensing exams. They will be practicing in community hospitals in more rural areas as well as large hospital systems in and around Pittsburgh. Theyʼll be working in pediatrics, oncology, hospice, intensive care and more.

“Seton Hill launched the BSN program to address the nursing shortage in the Pittsburgh region and throughout the country – and that shortage has only been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said President Mary Finger. “The inaugural graduates of the Wukich School of Nursing at Seton Hill will go out into the world and immediately make a difference in the lives of residents of southwestern Pennsylvania.”

In their own words, four members of the first graduating class reflect on their time in the program and what lies ahead for them.

Megan Nestor

Forbes Hospital, Oncology/Hospice

“I love learning and there are endless chances to learn as a nurse and see something that you have not seen before. You are so involved in the care of patients.

Considering we are a new program, the experience has been smooth! Dr. Kondas has always ensured that we have great faculty to teach us and prepare us to be future nurses.

I found my job through my nurse extern experience that I did during the summer of 2022. I had applied for the nurse extern position through AHN in the fall of 2021 and was matched with a preceptor on the Oncology/Hospice unit at Forbes. I spent my summer working side-by-side with a nurse on this unit trying to learn as much as I possibly could. At the end of the summer, I was fortunate enough to be offered a Nursing Assistant position and then a Registered Nurse position after I graduated.”

Chloe Pohland

UPMC Mercy Medical Surgical ICU

“My classmates and I have gotten incredibly close over the years. The most important obstacle we overcame late freshman year was the notion that we were competing against each other. We quickly realized that success only could come if we worked together, studied together, and relied on each other. Nursing school is really hard. It was simultaneously the most challenging and most rewarding four years of my life. I went from being scared to talk to patients to being able to fully assess ICU patients by myself my senior year during my preceptorship.

I found my job after I got chosen to complete a summer internship at UPMC Mercy in their Trauma Burn ICU, where I fell in love with both the hospital and the ICU setting. Since we were part of the internship, we were given the chance to interview and accept job offers early. Going into my senior year of nursing school, I already had accepted my job in the Medical Surgical ICU. In the meantime, I have been working as an advanced patient care technician in the Emergency Department at Mercy, which also happens to be a Level One Trauma Center in the middle of the city. I am truly living my dream.”

Adam Goodnack

UPMC East, Emergency Department

“From my youth, I fondly remember encounters with nursing staff and various healthcare professionals as both sets of my now passed grandparents underwent care for various illnesses and treatments. Seeing my grandparents in a healthcare setting opened my eyes to the understanding that healthcare professionals can do so much good for individuals in their greatest time of need.

As a first generation college student, I was immediately drawn to what Seton Hill had to offer me: great student to teacher ratios, a liberal arts education, and the opportunity to become more in touch with my Catholic faith. Seton Hillʼs strong background in STEM programs led me to having complete confidence in the nursing program being successful as well. Internship opportunities in a local emergency department over the summer helped to further refine my skills and desire to start in this area. This led to a desire to apply to a few emergency departments with UPMC East being the best fit.”

Jared Bannon

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Orthopedic/Neurology/Trauma Department

“I found nursing by putting two things together that I felt would make me most fulfilled in life. I considered what I was most interested in during school, which was science and studying the human body. Then I thought about what I was most passionate about, which was helping people and making them feel good about themselves. I came to the conclusion of nursing because I felt that nurses are the closest to the patient out of all members of the healthcare team. I chose to join the nursing program because I believed in the faculty and staff from whom I would get my education. The educators in the program truly care about you as a student, but also as a person.

I found my job through the UPMC Student Nurse Internship program that I applied for during my junior year. The application process started in the fall of my junior year and I was able to complete the internship program at UPMC Childrenʼs Hospital of Pittsburgh that following summer. At the conclusion of the internship program I was able to obtain an interview for a graduate nursing position. From there I was hired onto the same floor on which I completed my internship.”

Student Learning Reaches Far Beyond the Hill

Classroom learning has been an essential part of a Seton Hill education for more than a century. And increasingly, professors are encouraging students to explore learning outside of the classroom walls through experiential learning opportunities.

Seton Hill places such importance on this type of learning that the university requires all undergraduates to participate in an internship, research project or study away trip in order to graduate.

Beyond these experiences, faculty are also embedding experiential learning into their classes by encouraging students to provide service to the community and helping them gain real-world experience across all majors.

From providing physical therapy services to the Sisters of Charity to reviving an education program in the community, Seton Hill students are learning beyond the classroom in a variety of ways. Here are some recent examples.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Students Learn Through Community Engagement

Though the program is just in its second year, service is a hallmark of Seton Hillʼs Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. When the program was being established, the vision was that students would be involved in service on three levels. In the first year, the focus is on service to the physical therapy profession with students being active in professional organizations. In the second year, students provide service to the program, including holding open labs for first year students. In the third year, which will be starting this fall, students focus on service to the community – though hands-on experience has been part of the program throughout their academic careers.

Over the past two years, Seton Hillʼs first doctoral students have engaged with the local community on a variety of projects, workshops, and screenings, such as working with Sisters of Charity at Caritas Christi, performing school screenings for children entering school, and holding fall prevention workshops for seniors. This summer and fall, students will be traveling to other countries to participate in service learning projects and medical mission trips abroad.

In addition to standard coursework, DPT students participate in five eight-week clinical education experiences. The first of these happens in their second term with first year students making weekly trips to their assigned outpatient clinics or inpatient facilities (such as hospitals). The second year students began their fourth clinical education experience in April, during which students are placed in an inpatient facility or outpatient clinic and work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist in the examination and treatment of physical therapy patients. The clinical education program gives the students the opportunity to practice and apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom to real-life patients and reinforces the importance of developing soft skills related to patient care.

“Being able to have the opportunity to apply everything we learned in class to real patients really helped drive home everything we learned,” said Tanner Froehlich, a first-year DPT student. “The staff has our best intentions in mind and has helped my love for the profession grow throughout my first year here.”

DPT students worked with the Sisters of Charity at Caritas Christi throughout the spring.

Students are First Undergraduates to Present at Cancer Research Conference

Dr. Elizabeth Repasky Subjeck, Vice Chair of the Department of Immunology at Roswell Park Cancer Center in New York, was scouring the internet looking for undergraduate science programs that were working in high schools when she came across an article about a place very familiar to her – Seton Hill.

In the article, she learned how Seton Hill students were preparing and teaching hands-on science lessons at a number of schools throughout the Pittsburgh region through the Future Scholars Program created by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Amalene-Cooper Morgan. Dr. Subjeck, a Seton Hill Distinguished Alumna, mentors doctoral students conducting cancer research, and has been concerned about the nationwide decline in applications to Ph.D. programs in health-related research. She immediately reached out to Dr. Cooper-Morgan about ways Seton Hill could partner with Roswell Park to encourage students to pursue graduate work in cancer research.

As a result, four Seton Hill students had the opportunity to present their research at a yearly meeting of cancer researchers – the Translational Research Cancer Centers Consortium – that takes place near Greensburg at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. At this yearʼs conference, nearly 230 graduate students, faculty and postdoctoral fellows from 13 cancer centers, including Roswell Park and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, attended. Seton Hill was the first institute to be invited to send undergraduates to present at the conference, which Drs. Subjeck and Cooper-Morgan hope to make an annual event.

“The Seton Hill students were remarkably professional, explaining their posters to many who stopped by, and I was very proud of – and impressed by – their professionalism,” Dr. Subjeck said.

The students - Allie Sheffler, Sarah Semekoski, Desiree Saether and Abby Zuder - presented posters on a variety of topics ranging from Alzheimerʼs Disease to the effects of nicotine on mouse lung cells.

“Dr. Cooper Morgan and her colleagues at Seton Hill have recently been awarded a very competitive NSF grant that will build increased numbers of undergraduates in STEM majors, including students who may come from non-traditional backgrounds,” Dr. Subjeck said. “We want to take advantage of this initiative and introduce these students to graduate degree programs leading to the Ph.D. in cancer research.”

Education majors gain experience working with local students

In March, Seton Hill education students took a group of Jeannette, Pa. youth on a journey around the world without having to leave their hometown.

The students presented a “Passports Around the World” experience at the Mosaic Community Development Center (MCDC) during its after-school program, where they have been volunteering since the fall, providing activities such as hands-on science experiments and literacy centers.

During the event, the Seton Hill students set up stations focusing on different countries offering up information and activities about that countryʼs food, customs, language and more.

In addition to the Education majors, Mosaic has been partnering with Seton Hill students in the Graduate Art Therapy, Criminal Justice and Social Work programs on a variety of projects this year.

Left to right: Assistant Professor Dr. Amalene Cooper-Morgan, students Abby Zuder, Desiree Saether, Sarah Semekoski, Allie Sheffler, and alumna Dr. Elizabeth Repasky Subjeck pose for a photo at the conference.

Seton Hill education majors created activities for each country, including making a stained glass window at the Italy station.

“Having the support of Seton Hill University and its students allows us to meet a variety of our childrenʼs needs,” said Kelly Bender, Executive Director of Mosaic Community Development Center. “I have been impressed with the way Seton Hill students jump in to help our students, their professionalism and their desire to learn and adapt to different challenges they face. I am looking forward to our continued partnership with the University to provide multiple layers of support for our students.”

The goal of experiential learning in Seton Hillʼs education program is to get students into the classrooms where they will be working as early as possible in their academic careers. Students are involved in various special programs at local schools throughout each semester as part of their classwork.

School of Education Helping Young Children ʻBee Kindʼ to Others

Shelby Ilich remembers the Bee Kind program from her early years as a student at West Newton Elementary near Greensburg. The program, which began in 1995, sent volunteers into early childhood classrooms to read stories and share lessons in kindness, empathy, and more.

Now a graduate student studying education at Seton Hill, Ilich was among four students who helped to transition the Bee Kind program from Wesley Family Servicesʼ ParentWise program to its new home in the Seton Hill School of Education and Applied Social Sciences.

“I was really excited to be a part of it because I remember experiencing Bee Kind as a kid, and to be able to bring this program to another generation of students is wonderful,” Ilich said.

Bee Kind is a literacy-based curriculum for day care centers, pre-schools and elementary schools that teaches children the act of kindness and has reached thousands of young people. The COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to the program when volunteers were not able to enter schools. When Wesley Family Services tried to restart the program, many of the volunteers who were senior citizens decided not to return. Thatʼs when the organization turned to Education Dean Kathy Harris and Seton Hill. Harris organized a group of graduate students – Ilich, Sara Shadwick, Gia Sunseri and Erica Amoroso – who could pilot the program in the spring at Seton Hillʼs Child Development Center as well as Aquinas Academy, a school in the Greensburg Diocese.

“These four students needed to have an independent study in language development for graduation, so having them pilot Bee Kind made sense because of its strong literacy component,” Harris said. “It also gave them invaluable experience in building curriculum and executing it in classroom settings.”

The goal is to roll out the program to other early education schools in the fall with cohorts of Seton Hill education students leading the lessons.

Sunseri believes the experience gained from the Bee Kind program is invaluable to the future teachers as well as the young students benefiting from the lessons.

“Especially after COVID, you can definitely see the need for teaching friendship building skills and social skills,” she said.

Graduate students Gia Sunseri and Shelby Ilich read a story to students at the CDC.

Art Therapy Internship Allows Student to Experience Deaf Culture

Hannah Ahearn had never lived away from her family before she decided to take a leap of faith and spend the Fall 2022 semester interning at an Alabama psychiatric hospital.

When Hannahʼs mother, an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, heard about an internship working with deaf and hard-of-hearing patients at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Ala., an inpatient psychiatric hospital for adults, she encouraged her daughter to apply.

She was also encouraged by her art therapy faculty, including her advisor, Assistant Professor of Art Therapy Patricia Ghubril, as well as Kimberley Bassi-Cook, Seton Hillʼs Director of Disability Services.

The opportunity allowed her to not only get hands-on experience in her field but to immerse herself in deaf culture in a way she never had before.

Hannah, a graduate of Greensburg Salem High School, is deaf and has been active in teaching ASL throughout the Greensburg community, including at her parish, Our Lady of Grace, and at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. She had always been fascinated with art and initially thought she would major in art education at Seton Hill. But in her senior year of high school, she discovered art therapy and realized that was a better fit.

She spent the fall semester at her internship in Alabama guiding art therapy activities for patients in the deaf unit. At the same time, she took a full-load of Seton Hill classes online.

“One of the things that Iʼm so proud of with Hannah is she just took it upon herself to find a site where she could work with an exclusively or primarily deaf population because she felt like that would give her some experience in an area she wants to pursue when she becomes an art therapist,” Ghubril said. “Iʼm so proud of her willingness to go way outside her comfort zone and take on this big challenge.”

Hannah graduated from Seton Hill in May. She is starting a full-time job in Massachusetts and plans to pursue a masterʼs degree in art therapy.

Shakespeare Festival Internship Shows Student Her Path Forward in Theatre

When college students from the Seton Arts Service Corps came to visit Sister Thea Bowman Roman Catholic Academy in Wilkinsburg, Pa., Devon Young knew that she had found a place where she could pursue her love of theater.

“Iʼve been in love with theater since I was four years old – I loved the music and the costumes in the movie ʻDreamgirls,ʼ she said. “Iʼve been writing since I could hold a pencil and I wrote my first play when I was eight.”

Now Devon is pursuing a double major in theater arts and creative writing, and is a part of the Seton Hill Arts Corps that first inspired her.

“I started working in the scene shop my first semester of college. I was 18 years old. I had never cut wood, I had never built anything really in my life,” she said. “I was very nervous, but I knew that I really needed a job.”

With encouragement from her scene shop boss, Caila Yates, Technical Director and Production Manager at Seton Hill, Devon gained confidence in her building skills and applied for summer work as a carpenter with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, hosted annually at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa. She assisted on four productions – only one of which was Shakespearean – including a stint as a dresser helping backstage with costumes during the performance.

While she enjoyed the fast-paced environment and learned a lot about what it takes to put on shows professionally, her experience ultimately led her back to her initial interest in theater. Devon returned to acting in the spring of 2023 on the Seton Hill stage, in addition to directing a short film she had written during her summer at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and working on her novel.

“After working at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, I have a more solidified idea of what I want to do after I graduate: writing, directing and acting,” Devon said. “The program here at Seton Hill has definitely eased my mind and my anxiousness in the sense of wondering if I can actually do this as a profession and really pursue this as a career.”

Hannah Ahearn with her art at the Seton Hill Arts Center.

Photo credit: Rachel Dietsch '23

Devon Young backstage at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.

Sister Lois Sculco Remembered for Dedication to Seton Hill Students

The late Seton Hill President Emerita JoAnne Woodyard Boyle once called Sister Lois Sculco “the conscience” of Seton Hill University.

Sister Loisʼ deep commitment to Seton Hillʼs mission, her care and concern for students, and her work to improve the lives of the underserved carried forth the legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

Lois Sculco, SC, Ph.D. – an alumna of Seton Hill who served the university in a variety of capacities over more than 50 years – died April 5, 2023 at Caritas Christi, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

“Sister Lois truly lived the mission of Seton Hill University in every aspect of her life,” said President Mary Finger. “She related to students in a profound way, and generations of Seton Hill alumni were impacted by not only the lessons she taught, but the way she was always working in service to others.”

A native of New Kensington, Pa., Sister Lois graduated from Seton Hill with bachelorʼs degrees in psychology and English in 1960 and then entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. She celebrated her 60-year Jubilee in 2020.

In her early years with the Sisters, she taught English and Religion at Holy Innocents High School in the Sheraden neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In 1968, Sister Lois joined the English faculty at Seton Hill. In her classes, she taught students about experiences of minoritized people through literature. Sister Lois served in a variety of roles during her tenure at the University, including Assistant Dean of Women, Dean of Students, Mission Officer, Vice President for Mission Identity and Student Life, Administrator of the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education, and most recently as Executive Director to the President for Alumni Engagement and Mission, the role from which she retired in 2019.

Her work in Student Life at Seton Hill served as a national model of appreciation and respect for students. She was one of 17 professionals selected to serve on the Wye River Writersʼ Group to develop the Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities. The groupʼs two-year process resulted in a document that provides a framework for reflection and conversation, planning, staff development, and assessment for student affairs professionals at Catholic colleges and universities. For her work on behalf of all students, Sr. Lois received a national award from the University of South Carolina. A central part of her lifeʼs work was teaching about the Holocaust and creating opportunities for faculty at other Catholic colleges and universities to do the same. Sister Lois was an integral force – with Sister Gemma Del Duca and the late Sister Mary Noël Kernan – in building and sustaining The National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education (NCCHE) at Seton Hill. She helped to recruit hundreds of faculty from Catholic universities and seminaries to study at the Centerʼs summer program at Yad Vashem. Sister Lois contributed to the building of the program for The Ethel LeFrak Holocaust Education Conference, a triennial Conference that enhances Catholic-Jewish understanding by “educating the educators.” In May 2001, she led a group of Seton Hill students and traveled to Poland to join more than 500 individuals from around the world on the “March of Remembrance and Hope: A Student Leadership Mission.”

Sister Lois Sculco (standing right) with the late President Emerita JoAnne Boyle (standing left), Sister Gemma Del Duca, and the late Ethel LeFrak (seated), a major benefactor of the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education. Sister Lois contributed to building the program for The Ethel LeFrak Holocaust Education Conference at Seton Hill.

Sister Gemma Del Duca delivered a remembrance of Sister Lois at her Funeral Mass in April.

She recalled how Sister Lois talked about her love of travel because it afforded her the opportunity to meet new people and learn about new cultures.

“And this led to her commitments on the homefront – to the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP and affirmative action, the YWCA, the Blackburn Center, Westmoreland County Community College, Project Forward, Holocaust education on the local and national level,” Sister Gemma said. “She advocated for students if they needed financial aid or had other personal needs; she paid special attention to those who were first generation students in college, those who were different for whatever reason. She took students to Poland to the camps, and she arranged that all in her classes would meet survivors Bob Mendler, Shulamit Bastacky and Solange Leibowitz, so that they might understand the Holocaust and commit to the work of ending antisemitism, genocide, racism, bigotry.”

Indeed, her commitment to the underserved led Sister Lois to service on a number of community boards, including Westmoreland County Community College, The Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Unity Coalition of Westmoreland County, the Greensburg Jeannette NAACP Executive Board, and the YWCA Task Force on Racial Justice.

In recognition of her humanitarianism, Sister Lois received the John E. McGrady Award; the YWCA Westmoreland County Racial Justice Award; and the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACPʼs Community Service Award.

A Distinguished Alumna of Seton Hill, Sister Lois earned a Ph.D. in human and organization development from Fielding Graduate Institute, an M.A. in human resource development from Azuza Pacific University, and an M.A. in English from Duquesne University.

On the occasion of her Golden Jubilee as a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, Sister Lois said, “Life as a Sister of Charity has given me a great opportunity to serve the Church and the people of God in so many ways, particularly to spend so many years in the ministry to students at Seton Hill.”

Student Affairs Award Named for Sister Lois Sculco

Seton Hillʼs Office of Student Affairs has renamed one of its Spotlight Awards in honor of Sister Lois Sculco.

The Sister Lois Sculco Award for Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion recognizes an individual that is a champion of such initiatives, programs, and innovative practices within the Seton Hill community. The recipient will have a demonstrated record of furthering topics and conversations in an effort to make our campus community a more inclusive place for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Kiara Rockymore ʼ24, pictured with Director of Student Leadership and Involvement Evan Ditty, is the inaugural recipient of the award. Kiara, a sociology major, is also a member of the Project H.O.M.E. cohort.

Left photo: Sister Lois Sculco took students to Poland to learn more about the Holocaust. Right photo: Sister Lois (center) with Wilda Kaylor and the late Sister Mary Noël Kernan in the offices of the NCCHE.

Alumni Recognized for Career Accomplishments

Christian Carter ʼ16 Receives National Recognition from Sports Illustrated

When an old family friend called Christian Carter in February to ask if that was him who had been featured in Sports Illustrated, the 2016 Seton Hill graduate had to ask for a link to the article to understand what was happening.

In fact, Carter was featured in an article that highlighted the 20 most influential Black figures in college football among names like former NFL star and Colorado Coach Deion Sanders and Penn State Head Coach James Franklin.

Carter knew a Sports Illustrated reporter was going to feature him in some way in the magazine, but he had no idea it was going to be at that level.

“Itʼs nice to be recognized especially when youʼre not thinking about that type of stuff and when youʼre just trying to do a good job,” Carter said. “Itʼs a healthy validation to where you feel youʼre on the right path and youʼre doing the right thing.”

The Sports Illustrated article said, “Carter is a young agent for the firm Coaches Inc. and is carving out a name for himself representing players and coaches including Baylor running backs coach AJ Steward, Arizona State receivers coach RaʼShaad Samples and former college coach Thomas Brown, who interviewed for multiple NFL head coaching jobs while an assistant for the Los Angeles Rams. The college coaching agency landscape is dominated by a small number of firms, but Carter is carving a niche for himself in particular representing Black coaches who are often under-represented with skills that are under-leveraged as many Black assistants, especially on offense, donʼt get coveted roles as QB coaches or play calling offensive coordinators that are seen as the most direct pipelines to a head coaching job.”

Giovanna Genard ʼ94 Named Leading Latina by Hispanic Executive

Hispanic Executiveʼs annual Leading Latinas issue spotlights exemplary Latinas who are breaking barriers and paving the way for the next generation. Seton Hill Distinguished Alumna Giovanna Genard ʼ94 was one of thirteen high-profile women featured.

In the article, titled “Giovanna Genard Continues a Career of Giving at PRA Group,” Giovanna talks about how her career in marketing and communications working for higher education institutions led to her current role at PRA Group, a global financial services company. In July 2022, she started her role as Vice President of External Affairs & Marketing Leader at PRA Group, where she develops and oversees their global external communication, public relations and brand strategy to advance PRA Groupʼs international reputation.

The article said, “The eldest of eight says her calling card is not backing down from a challenge. Being offered the chance to tell the story of PRA Groupʼs giving activities on a global scale was just too great of an opportunity to pass up. But Genard urges those earlier in their careers to consider that she didnʼt seek out leadership roles or feel naturally comfortable speaking up.

In short, she built up the courage to lead out of a desire to give back or when there was a need for someone to step up and take action.”

Giovanna said, “It has been an honor to share my story – and the story of PRA Groupʼs philanthropic giving and volunteerism – alongside those of the incredible women executives and innovators selected for the 2023 Leading Latinas list. Hispanic Executive does critical work to highlight Latino and Latina voices across the nation, and I am grateful for any part I can play in advancing their mission.”

Prior to her role at PRA Group, she served as Assistant Vice President for Public Relations and as Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communication and Chief Marketing Officer at Old Dominion University.

An inclusive leader and mentor, Giovanna co-founded the Remote Experience for Young Engineers and Scientists (REYES) global virtual STEM program, which serves to increase science literacy and to diversify science fields with statistically underrepresented students, including women. She also serves on the nonprofit executive board of the YWCA South Hampton Roads.

by National, Regional Publications

Carterʼs path to carving a niche representing coaches actually began when he was a student at Seton Hill studying Sports Management and playing football.

Carterʼs coaches asked him if he wanted to be a coach someday, but he let them know he wanted to be an agent. One of them set up a meeting with his agent in Lowe Dining Hall, and he eventually landed an internship with an agent who focused on representing college coaches.

But it would take him a few years to refocus his work in that area.

After graduating from Seton Hill, Carter earned an MBA in 2018 in marketing and entrepreneurship from William & Mary College.

In his day job, Carter serves as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, which helps companies with analytics, digital solutions, engineering and cybersecurity, serving a range of industries. But over the last few years, he began dipping his toes into the waters of being a sports agent and became a certified contract advisor for the NFL Players Association.

“I started working with coaches two years ago,” Carter said. “It was a necessary pivot as I hadnʼt had a ton of success representing traditional players.”

Through a contact at William & Mary who owned an agency, he had the opportunity to represent a former Seton Hill coach. From that first coach, his client roster has grown to about 30 coaches, including five of his former Seton Hill coaches.

“Some of the coaches I work with now – their next step is the head coach of a place like Penn State or Pitt or their next step is a head coaching job in the NFL,” he said. “Most of that growth has happened in the last 12 to 14 months. I canʼt believe how itʼs come together.”

“It literally sparked from one conversation at Seton Hill in Lowe Dining Hall,” he added. “Without Seton Hill I wouldnʼt be an agent, I wouldnʼt be on that (Sports Illustrated) list, and I wouldnʼt be successful.”

Kaleigh Muko ʼ20 Named to Pittsburghʼs 30 under 30 by Pittsburgh Business Times

Kaleigh Muko ʼ20, an intelligence analyst at the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA), was named one of Pittsburghʼs 30 under 30 by the PIttsburgh Business Times in March.

“Even as a kid I always wanted to help people,” Kaleigh said. “I was drawn to the criminal justice system. For a long time I thought about going to be a police officer and hopefully moving towards a detective position.”

Kaleigh was drawn to a career in cybersecurity after a conversation with a teacher in high school.

“I said, ʻI donʼt know if I can really do that… I donʼt know how to code, Iʼm not familiar with a lot of that technical stuff.ʼ They said itʼs not as technical as you think, you can be more of an investigator. Thatʼs when the door opened, and I thought this is something that I want to do,” she said. “I love technology and I want to help people and this is the best way for me to do that.”

“Thatʼs the beauty of cybersecurity – you can be super technical and you can focus on the code and the nuts and bolts, or you can be on the investigative side.”

Kaleigh enjoys working with her team at the NCFTA, which is headed by Stacy Moore, a cybersecurity instructor at Seton Hill, and includes another Seton Hill alum, Justin Timothy ʼ20, who focuses on more of the scripting and coding side of cybersecurity.

“Thereʼs always something different, thereʼs always something new and itʼs really helpful to have people across all skillsets working together,” she said.

She attributes much of her success to her teammates, many of whom are around the same age and joined the NCFTA directly from college.

“They are a huge part of the reason as to why I got the award – because of the support and countless hours that weʼve put in together to do this work.”

Biology Professor Brett Aiello Co-Authors

Study Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

It took longer than the blink of an eye, but a research study led by Seton Hill University Assistant Professor of Biology Brett Aiello and his former graduate school colleague Thomas Stewart, assistant professor of biology at Penn State University, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in April.

The study reveals clues as to how the ancestors of humans and other tetrapods – the group of animals that includes mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians – evolved an adaptation for life on land.

Aielloʼs research has gained international attention – with articles written in National Geographic and Nature – and he has conducted countless interviews with journalists in the United States, Canada and Germany.

The researchers looked at the mudskipper, a blinking fish that has independently evolved an amphibious lifestyle – much like the earliest tetrapods – and spends much of its time out of the water. They show that these fish have also evolved a blinking behavior that serves many of the purposes of human blinking and, as such, provides clues into the traits that evolved to allow tetrapods to transition from water to life on land some 375 million years ago.

While Aielloʼs work being published is important, itʼs the process that he finds the most rewarding.

“When you go back and reflect on a career, there are definitely those moments you will find where you were able to break through and make a difference, and I feel as though this is going to be one of those moments,” Aiello said. “But what Iʼm going to remember the most about this experience is the relationships developed with colleagues and, I hope, the impactful work with students. Intellectual curiosity and discovering new things with incredible colleagues and students continues to sustain me in this work.”

Aiello joined Seton Hillʼs faculty in Fall 2022. While his mudskipper research was conducted elsewhere, his writing occurred while at Seton Hill – and he has already begun working with Seton Hill undergraduates on research projects.

“All of us at Seton Hill congratulate Dr. Aiello on being published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and this achievement reflects on the caliber of faculty we have at the university,” said Provost Susan Yochum, SC, Ph.D. “Brett is a hands-on educator who engages undergraduates with his natural curiosity and his enthusiasm for scientific research, and I know our students are already benefiting from his ongoing research.”

Aiello, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, earned his undergraduate degree in zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; his

Photograph of a mudskipper resting at the water’s edge in Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong. Credit: Daniel J. Field

masterʼs degree in biological sciences from Youngstown State University; and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, where, he said, he began to recognize the importance of major transitions in the history of animals.

Aiello conducted post-doctoral work in a physics lab at Georgia Tech where he brought techniques from that discipline – which is heavy in math – in order to apply them to uncover new and creative ways to answer biological questions.

behavior. You donʼt need to evolve a lot of new stuff to evolve this new behavior – mudskippers just started using what they already had in a different way.”

Aiello and Stewart, with their research groups at Georgia Tech and the University of Chicago, found that mudskippers blink for the same reasons that humans do – to keep their eye wet, protect from debris, and to clean their eyes.

It was also through this research project that Aiello developed

“Interdisciplinary collaborations will play a major role in the future of big, impactful science,” he said.

While at Georgia Tech, Aiello was texting with Thomas Stewart, a colleague he met in graduate school at the University of Chicago. They share a profound interest in how and why animals are the way they are and especially on the adaptations necessary to bring vertebrates from water to land.

They began to discuss ways they could collaborate on research together, and they landed on the behavior of blinking.

“We started noticing this diversity of an under-studied behavior,” he said, noting that animals blink in a variety of ways. Some raise a lower eyelid, others use their upper eyelid. Some species have a third, clear eyelid they use to blink.

“What we found in initial investigations is that itʼs a really complicated behavior,” Aiello said. “Then we came across this incredibly charismatic fish – the mudskipper.”

“Blinking in mudskippers appears to have evolved through a rearrangement of existing muscles that changed their line of action and also by the evolution of a novel tissue, the dermal cup,” said Aiello. “This is a very interesting result because it shows that a very rudimentary, or basic, system can be used to conduct a complex

his interest in teaching at the undergraduate level.

At Georgia Tech, Aiello taught an authentic research course for undergraduate students that included interdisciplinary teams of students conducting long term sustained research projects. Students were able to keep enrolling in the course semester after semester. These undergraduate students were heavily involved in the mudskipper research project.

“We were pushing the envelope of science and learning how to build that research skill,” he said. “It made me want to be a professor at a primarily undergraduate liberal arts institution so I could continue to have that amazing interaction with budding scientists. It was the most rewarding aspect of the scientific process for me. I want to bring that same kind of experience and hopefully life-changing moments of discovery to our students here at Seton Hill.”

In addition to Aiello and Stewart, the research team includes M. Saad Bhamla, Jeff Gau, Kenji Bomar, Shashwati da Cunha, Harrison Fu, Julia Laws, Hajime Minoguchi, Manognya Sripathi, Kendra Washington, Gabriella Wong and Simon Sponberg at the Georgia Institute of Technology; John G.L. Morris at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia; and Neil H. Shubin at the University of Chicago.

Brett Aiello (center) helps students Chloe Elliot (left) and Zahir Reed during a Vertebrate Anatomy lab in April.

Margaret Heagarty, 88, Champion for Childrenʼs Health in Harlem, Dies

The first white woman to head the

pediatrics unit at Harlem Hospital, she was challenged by the epidemics of crack cocaine and H.I.V.

By Sam Roberts

Dr. Margaret Heagarty was familiar enough with poverty and disease when she went to work in Harlem in 1978. She had grown up in the hardscrabble coal fields of West Virginia, where her father was a physician to miners and their families. She had also been separated from her parents, like many children in Harlem, and placed in an orphanage.

But for all the similarities, the contrasts were striking: She was the first white doctor and the first woman appointed director of pediatrics at Harlem Hospital Center.

Dr. Heagarty, who died on Dec. 23 at her home in the Bronx at 88, won Harlem over. Her death was confirmed by William Burgan, her brother-in-law.

In her 22 years at Harlem Hospital, a public institution run by New York Cityʼs Health and Hospitals Corporation and affiliated with Columbia Universityʼs College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Heagarty made a name for herself as an eloquent and effective champion for childrenʼs health. She fought for causes like reducing teenage pregnancies and playground injuries.

Thanks in part to her efforts and other community programs, the infant mortality rate in Central Harlem dropped dramatically during her tenure. From 1990 to 2008, the number of babies born there who died before their first birthday plunged from about 28 a year to fewer than seven.

She also enlisted Diana, Princess of Wales; Barbara Bush, the first lady; and Dr. C. Everett Koop, the surgeon general, to rally public support nationally for combating two of the newest scourges her department faced: cocaine-exposed babies abandoned by drugaddicted parents, and H.I.V.-infected infants and young people.

“She was a mountain of an Irishwoman, a mother superior in disguise,” said Dr. Stephen W. Nicholas, who succeeded Dr. Heagarty as the director of pediatrics at Harlem Hospital and who is now president of the Childrenʼs Global Health Fund. “In her no-nonsense way, she captured the imagination of many, including a princess, a first lady and a surgeon general, to address the plight of children in

Harlem during the ravages of AIDS and crack during the 1980s.”

Hundreds of miles divided West Virginia from Harlem. But Dr. Heagarty discovered that the common cause of helping the next generation survive trumped any disparities in distance, race or gender.

Margaret Caroline Heagarty was born on Sept. 8, 1934, in Charleston, W.Va., the oldest of three children of Dr. John Patrick Heagarty, who practiced in Ward, a tiny company-owned coal town, and Margaret Caroline (Walsh) Heagarty, a nurse. The household was racked by alcohol abuse and addiction, Mr. Burgan said, and she and her sister were placed in an orphanage when they were teenagers.

After earning a bachelorʼs degree from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pa. (formerly a Roman Catholic womenʼs college and now Seton Hill University), she became one of two women attending West Virginia Universityʼs two-year School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1961.

Dr. Heagarty completed a pediatric residency at Temple University with St. Christopherʼs Hospital for Children in Philadelphia in 1964. She then accepted a fellowship in child health at Harvard University and served as director of pediatric ambulatory care services of what is now NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital before joining Harlem Hospital.

There, Dr. Heagarty inherited a department with an infant mortality rate more than three times the national average, a demoralized faculty, decrepit facilities and new challenges posed by the epidemics of crack cocaine and AIDS.

“Itʼs one thing to preach from the ivory tower whatʼs good for the poor,” said Dr. Janet Stewart Claman, associate professor emerita of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who met Dr. Heagarty when they were both residents. “Itʼs another to go into

The New York Times

Credit: Columbia University Department of Pediatrics Archives

one of the poorest hospitals in America in one of the most afflicted neighborhoods and try to accomplish something.”

“Maggie was a doer,” Dr. Claman said by email. “She believed it was better to err by commission than omission. She was often underestimated; she could play the role of a country girl from West Virginia to the hilt, and she physically reminded one of a maiden aunt. But Maggie had a mind like a steel trap, and she always knew her facts.”

Not long after Dr. Heagarty arrived, as many as 15 percent of the babies born at Harlem Hospital were testing positive for cocaine, ingested by their mothers, and as many as 4 percent of the pregnant women were infected with H.I.V. Babies languished for months

problem with the drugs, how on earth do you deal with AIDS as well?”

Her response, Dr. Nicholas recalled, was: “It is bad enough to have a fatal disease, but with poverty and drugs, you have a very bad problem indeed. It is easy to say that these mothers are irresponsible, but still, I have seen them grieving over their dying children. These mothers love their children the same as you love your little princes.”

In 1993, Dr. Heagarty, who was also a professor of pediatrics at Columbia University, received a Ronald McDonald House Charities award of $100,000. She donated it to the Harlem Hospital pediatrics unit.

because foster parents feared contagion, stigma and behavioral issues related to addiction. In her early years at the hospital, Dr. Nicholas said, admissions for gunshots and stabbings quadrupled.

“There are times when my wards look more like a battlefield than a pediatric unit,” Dr. Heagarty once wrote.

But if caring for Harlemʼs children was a battle, she was an unrelenting fighter.

She helped reduce the hospitalʼs infant mortality rate to the New York City norm. To care for children with AIDS, she, along with Msgr. Tom Leonard, Sister Una McCormack and the real estate developer and philanthropist Jack Rudin, founded Incarnation Childrenʼs Center. She also established a network of five neighborhood satellite health clinics in Harlem and a group home for H.I.V.-infected children.

In 1989, she escorted Princess Diana on a tour of the hospitalʼs pediatric AIDS unit, an event depicted in the Netflix series “The Crown.” The princess was quoted as asking, “When you have a

Dr. Heagarty never married. In addition to Mr. Burgan, her survivors include several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Heagartyʼs strategy could be unorthodox, her manner blunt. Dr. Nicholas recalled that when Dr. Heagarty was president of the hospitalʼs medical board from 1992 to 1995, she strongly disagreed with a new department director, who was Black.

The director turned to a Columbia dean, Dr. Nicholas recalled, and asked, “Is Dr. Heagarty racist?”

“Oh, no,” the dean replied. “Dr. Heagartyʼs not racist. She treats everyone that way.”

Sam Roberts, an obituaries reporter, was previously The Timesʼs urban affairs correspondent and is the host of “The New York Times Close Up,” a weekly news and interview program on CUNY-TV. Article reprinted with permission of The New York Times.

Dr. Heagarty, on the left, is speaking. Listening to her are Princess Diana and two other hospital officials. Dr. Heagarty enlisted Princess Diana, center, who visited the hospital in 1989, to help bring attention to the struggles it faced.

Credit: John Sotomayor/The New York Times

Setonian Mission Formation Program Brings First Visiting Faculty Member to Campus

Father James L. Heft, S.M., a leader for more than 30 years in Catholic higher education, was the first visiting faculty member in residence brought to Seton Hill by the Setonian Mission Formation Program, which aims to help the university to maintain and strengthen its Catholic, Setonian tradition for current and future students, faculty and staff.

The Program began last year thanks to a six-figure leadership commitment from anonymous benefactors and is allowing Seton Hill to expand Mission-focused activities that will build a foundation of leaders who will preserve the heritage and the charism of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill; continue to foster Catholic intellectual life across campus; and help students explore the liberal arts in a distinctive and enriching Catholic framework.

Heft spent four days in February visiting with various groups on campus, including faculty, staff, administration and members of the Board of Trustees to discuss the future of Catholic higher education. On Ash Wednesday, Father Heft joined with the Most Rev. Larry J. Kulick, Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, and Seton Hill Chaplain Msgr. Roger Statnick to celebrate Mass, which was followed by a dinner with students. He was also able to serve as a guest lecturer in some classes and met with participants in the Setonian Formation Program's Leadership Seminar, during which the group discussed

Father James Heft spoke with several classes during his time on campus.

Father James Heft and Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg Larry J. Kulick enjoy a meal with Seton Hill students following Ash Wednesday Mass.

Heft's book, "The Future of Catholic Higher Education: The Open Circle."

Heftʼs time on campus was capped off by a public lecture on the topic, “Why are young people leaving the Church? What can be done about it?” in Cecilian Hall.

He said Seton Hill is not the only Catholic higher education institution facing having lay individuals take on a greater role in Mission as numbers in religious orders decline.

“More and more lay people are taking over these institutions (of Catholic higher education),” Heft said during a session with faculty and staff. “I think of it as a great opportunity to think of Catholic education in a new model where lay people and religious recreate this in a new context.”

Father Heft is a priest in the Society of Mary. He spent many years at the University of Dayton before leaving in 2006 to found the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he now serves as the Alton Brooks Professor of Religion and the Founder and President Emeritus of the Institute. He has written and edited 14 books and published more than 200 articles and book chapters and was awarded the Theodore M. Hesburgh award for his long and distinguished service to Catholic higher education by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in 2011.

Beloved Seton Hill Friend, Benefactor and Husband of President Emerita JoAnne Boyle, Arthur J. Boyle, Jr., Remembered

Arthur J. Boyle, Jr., of Laughlintown, died March 26, 2023, at the age 90. Art was the husband of the late Seton Hill University President Emerita JoAnne Woodyard Boyle and the father of Seton Hill Trustee Elizabeth Boyle McDonald.

“Art was a tremendous ambassador for Seton Hill and a supporter of all of our endeavors, whether they were athletic or academic. He was also a dear friend to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill as well and valued their resourcefulness and their company,” President Mary Finger said in welcoming the nearly 200 people in attendance at a Funeral Mass held for Art in Saint Joseph Chapel on April 1. “He was always interested in the life of this extraordinary university and presented thought-provoking questions. He sustained a level of engagement that allowed him to continue his role as one of Seton Hillʼs greatest cheerleaders.”

Arthur attended Villanova University and Saint Vincent College, graduating with a degree in economics. While at St. Vincent he met the love of his life, JoAnne Woodyard, and moved to Greensburg where they raised seven children.

Early in his career, Art served as the Director of Economic Development for Westmoreland County where he created the blueprint for a number of industrial parks in the region. Art was at heart, though, an entrepreneur. Armed with no more than a small nest egg from his mother and an outsized appetite for risk, he formed Boyle Land and Fuel, a successful surface mining company located not far from where he was born in Grayʼs Landing. He was sensitive to the hardships of others, and gave generously to the southwestern Pennsylvania communities where he made his living.

In his obituary, his children wrote: “He was proud of (JoAnneʼs) achievements and championed her rise from college professor to university president every step of the way. He often referred to himself as Prince Philip and was happy to play a supporting role as her star rose.”

Art is survived by seven children: Arthur III, Elizabeth (Sean), B. Patrick, John (Sheri), Terence (Shari), Teig (Patricia), Morgan, thirteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.

Father Heft spoke to faculty, staff, students and Trustees during his visit.

Seton Hill Tackling College Affordability with Three-Year Degree Efforts

Seton Hill University has formalized efforts to allow qualified students in certain majors to complete their bachelorʼs degree in as little as three years instead of the standard four.

As of the Fall of 2023, incoming first-year students who have at least 12 college credits earned in high school will be able to complete their degree early through a highly personalized academic plan.

NEW!

“All of us at Seton Hill recognize that affordability is a key factor for many students and their families when they are choosing where to go to college,” said President Mary C. Finger. “Seton Hill has long worked to keep education costs attainable for students regardless of their financial circumstances through increased private scholarship funding and institutional financial aid as well as pre-college programs such as College in High School. An increasing number of students are entering Seton Hill with 12 or more college credits, and this new effort will provide these students with a personalized

road map that will allow them to graduate early, saving them time and money, and allowing them to enter their career field or graduate school at an accelerated rate.”

“We have noticed an increase in the number of students graduating early as a result of entering Seton Hill with college credits,” said Susan Yochum, SC, Ph.D., Provost. “Through this new effort, Seton Hill is formalizing a process that many students have undertaken on their own by providing additional guidance and support. Students will continue to take all of the classes required for their major as well as Seton Hillʼs robust Liberal Arts curriculum.”

The accelerated degree pathway will be available in 21 programs across all five of Seton Hillʼs schools. Students will be required to take 18 credits per semester but summer classes are not required. For more information about the program, visit setonhill.edu/ fasterdegree.

Brent Jackson Appointed as Seton Hillʼs Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO

Brent Jackson was named the Universityʼs Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in February 2023. Jackson has served in the role on an interim basis since April 2022.

“We are pleased to have Brent Jackson continue the excellent work he has been doing for Seton Hill during his time as both the universityʼs Controller and Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO,” President Mary Finger said. “Brentʼs extensive experience in finance both in education and industry are a tremendous asset as Seton Hill continues to look for ways to grow its academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as expand campus facilities to meet the needs of students of today and the future.”

Jackson joined Seton Hill in July 2019 as Controller where he has been responsible for accounting and financial reporting, audit oversight, strategic planning and budgeting, capital planning and new program financial analysis. Since last April, he has overseen financial operations of the University including fiscal policy development, long-range financial planning, budget planning and reporting and business affairs, and has overseen facilities, plant operations, and auxiliary operations as part of the Presidentʼs Council.

Moreover, Jackson has managed the completion of Seton Hillʼs audit and has developed strong working relationships with members of the Board of Trustees to ensure Trustees have the information they need to make well-informed decisions regarding the implementation of new academic programs, capital projects, and financial strategies and objectives. He has been deeply engaged in ongoing and upcoming construction and renovation projects at Seton Hill.

Jackson has 24 years of experience in accounting and finance, including in education and industry. Prior to joining Seton Hill, Brent served as accounting manager for Sewickley Academy, where he led efforts on budgeting, auditing, and payroll. He also served in accounting, finance and analyst roles with Mon Valley Petroleum, Kings Restaurants, Rapidigm, Inc., and General Nutrition Centers.

Earn your bachelor’s in as little as 3 years. Learn more at www.setonhill.edu/ fasterdegree

Near Completer Program Announced

Seton Hill and Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board Receive Grant to Help Pennsylvanians Complete Education Programs

Seton Hill University and the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board (WFWIB) will work together on a project that will support students who have left higher education in the past two years and want to complete their degree. The program is made possible through a $475,182 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

The Near Completer grant program is designed for Pennsylvanians who have started post-secondary education in high-priority, in-demand fields but stopped without completing their degrees or certificates. Under the guidance of LWDBs, participants will gain the skills and job training needed to obtain quality

employment with family-sustaining wages, according to the department.

The grant received by Seton Hill and the WFWIB will support 18 to 20 students through Seton Hillʼs Online Degree Program. These students will be dislocated, incumbent, or unemployed Pennsylvania workers who have left a higher education institution in the last two years. Degree options available to students include accounting, allied health leadership, healthcare administration, behavioral health, business administration, human resource management, marketing, and the RN to BSN pathway, aligning with local high-priority occupation needs.

For more information about the Near Completer program at Seton Hill, please call the Office of Graduate and Online Studies at 724-838-4208, email jwarnick@setonhill.edu or visit setonhill.edu/completeyourdegree. For federal funding information, please visit westfaywib.org/resources/.

Seton Hill Community Participates in Diversity Conference

When the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce hosted its Economic Development through Diversity & Inclusion Conference, Seton Hill faculty members, alumni and students were all featured participants in the event. Debasish Chakraborty, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business, was the eventʼs keynote speaker. Lyzona Marshall, M.B.A., assistant professor of business and director of the Wukich Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunities, was a participant on the local business panel along with alumna Ellen Katter ʼ73, M.S. Ed., director of volunteer services for Excela Health. On the youth panel, current student Steryling Lang talked about his experiences while Samantha Pugner-Piper ʼ23, who just graduated with her degree in social work, served as the panelʼs facilitator.

Top: Debasish Chakraborty, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business speaks about the business case for diversity and inclusion. Bottom: Lyzona Marshall (left) and Ellen Katter (fourth from left) speak on the local business panel at the conference.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Honored With Community Service, Events in February

In keeping with Dr. Kingʼs commitment to service and as part of the National Day of Service in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Seton Hill volunteers participated in a morning of giving back to the community.

The Universityʼs annual Take the Day On service event brought together around 120 students, faculty, staff and alumni to assist in projects for a variety of local organizations on February 4, 2023. The day began with a program and blessing in Lowe Dining Hall before the volunteers headed out and concluded with a post-service reflection back on campus.

Volunteers worked with the YMCA, YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, St. Emmaʼs Monastery, The Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Heal Animal Rescue, Hempfield Township Parks and Recreation, Rewind Reuse Center, the Delmont Library, Faith Forward, Caritas Christi and in the SHU Greenhouse.

Seton Hillʼs Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Task Force also held its annual educational program in commemoration of Dr. Kingʼs birthday with a speech by Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker II of Cabrini University about Dr. Kingʼs life and legacy on February 15.

Speaking on the topic "Can this sickness be cured?," based on a quote from Dr. Kingʼs final public speech the day before his assassination in Memphis in which he stated “The nation is sick…” Dr. Whitaker gave context to what had happened in Kingʼs life and in the nation in the years before.

"(Dr. King) expected America to rise to a higher standard," Dr. Whitaker said, as he discussed how King gave his life for the cause of Civil Rights. "Dr. King realized if youʼre really going to do social justice work, youʼve got to be all in. Youʼve got to be all in because it may cost you your life, it may cost you your profession, it may cost you your personal relationships."

Because Seton Hill students do not arrive on campus for the spring semester until after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Universityʼs celebration activities are held annually in February.

Members of Seton Hillʼs Black Student Union pose for a photo with guest speaker Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker II (center) in Cecilian Hall.

Kim Banak (left) and Lyniece Jones volunteer at the Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanityʼs ReStore in Greensburg during the Take the Day On community service event February 4.

Henriette Delilleʼs “Uncommon Faithfulness”

Subject of Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture

Henriette Delille, a free woman of color born in Louisiana in 1812, chose a path in life that demonstrated what it means to live a life of faith in service to others.

She was – in many ways – a martyr, but not one killed for her commitment to her faith, said Dr. M. Shawn Copeland, Professor Emerita in the Department of Theology at Boston College.

“Rather hers was a kind of bloodless martyrdom of living daily under the auspices of a slaveholding society and Church,” Copeland said during the 2023 Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture held in April at Seton Hill.

Dr. Copeland, an internationally recognized, award winning writer and scholar, spoke about Delille, who in 1837 founded the Sisters of the Holy Family, a congregation of Black women religious in New Orleans. The Sisters of the Holy Family have a long-standing connection to the The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill spanning more than 100 years.

In 2004, Copeland was appointed to serve on the Theological Commission established to evaluate the writings of Venerable Henriette Delille. Her book “The Subversive Power of Love: The Vision of Henriette Delille” was published in 2009.

Copeland said Delille established the Sisters of the Holy Family at a time when individual Catholics and religious congregations owned enslaved people.

“With conspicuous exceptions, the hierarchy failed to challenge the culture and systems that legitimized, sustained and benefited from slavery,” she said. “Despite Papal condemnation, southern Bishops and priests tell that slavery was a social and economic and legal institution and was totally legitimate as long as the slaveholdersʼ title of ownership was valid and the slave cared for materially and spiritually.”

Delille founded the Sisters of the Holy Family to catechize enslaved people and free people of color, to teach them basic literacy, to care for orphans and nurse the sick and to provide food and clothing for the destitute, all at a time when it was forbidden to teach enslaved people to read and write and when the Fugitive Slave Act made all Black children, women and men vulnerable to re-enslavement – even if they were free.

“In the midst of a slaveholding society and a complicit and indifferent Church, Henriette Delille did something remarkable, something uncommon,” Copeland said. “She faced hazard, yet went forward.”

“The significance of her vision and action cannot be overstated,” Copeland said. “Sheʼs kind of a liminal figure – one whose light allows us to glimpse what God is like and what we are called to be.”

The Sisters of the Holy Family continue to serve their community in education, healthcare, social service, and pastoral ministry, among other causes. In 1921, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill volunteered to provide a teaching school for the Sisters of the Holy Family when Jim Crow laws prevented the sisters from continuing vital educational ministries for children of color throughout the South. This relationship blossomed into a friendship of mutual respect and collaboration that included members of the Sisters of the Holy Family coming to Seton Hill to be educated.

The Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series, sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill and Seton Hill University, is presented in partnership with the Alumni College. Sister Mary Schmidt, SC, served as president of Seton Hill from 1971 through 1977. She also taught in the English Department at the University for more than 20 years and served as executive vice president and the director of alumnae relations.

Vice President for Mission and Identity Sister Maureen OʼBrien, Dr. M. Shawn Copeland, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Sister Mary Norbert Long and President Mary Finger at the Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture.

Greenhouse Renovated, Named for Sister M. Muriel Flamman

The greenhouse at Seton Hill has been known, used and loved by Setonians for decades. A renovation last summer brought the greenhouse up to date for future generations.

An anonymous donor gave the funds to complete the update and asked that the greenhouse be named for Sr. M. Muriel Flamman, SC, to honor her love of plants and her decades of service to Seton Hill. Sr. Muriel was an associate professor of biology specializing in botany from 1935 to 1952, academic dean from 1952 to 1968 and dean of administration from 1968 until her death in 1982.

Upon Sr. Murielʼs death, Seton Hill College President Eileen Farrell said, “There is no way one can estimate her influence on the manners and customs of Seton Hill. If there is a special quality of warmth and welcome that pervades Seton Hill, it is there in large measure because of Sr. Muriel.”

The late Bernadette R. Fondy, Ph.D., who served Seton Hill as professor of biology, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Natural and Health Sciences among other roles during her 40-year career at the institution, spearheaded the design of the greenhouse renovations prior to her death in 2020.

Assistant Professor of Biology Renee Rosier, who manages the greenhouse, shares both Sr. Murielʼs passion for plants and welcoming spirit.

“My vision for the greenhouse is that it will become a place where people can escape the hustle and bustle to reconnect with nature – a true campus gem. We will be focusing a lot of our efforts on growing native species and more of our distinctive Seton Hill Drive London Plane trees,” Renee said.

The renovation of the greenhouse added new functionality to the space. An updated concrete floor allows for easy configuration for different uses and systems to control temperature and air circulation allow for two distinct habitats and growing conditions.

The greenhouse contains plants used in biology labs, student and faculty research projects, and starter plants from heirloom seeds for Seton Hill gardens. The nutrition and dietetics program also makes use of the area.

In addition to the leafy residents, the greenhouse also has a full-time four-legged friend.

A webcam is in the works for resident box turtle, Suzie, so that the community can interact with the greenhouse from anywhere.

“This greenhouse has been beloved by many and our hope is that even more people will come to cherish the peace and healing offered by plants and soil,” Rosier added. “This is just the beginning for this beautiful space, and its limit is only set by our imagination.”

Art major Jenna Neri '22 works on a mural of the Hill in the greenhouse entryway as part of her Honors Capstone project in the fall of 2022.

Members of the football team build shelving units as they volunteer in the greenhouse during Take the Day On in February.

Sr. M. Muriel Flamman, SC, worked at Seton Hill for nearly 50 years as a dean and biology professor.

Students Lobby State Lawmakers on Importance of PHEAA GRANTS

A group of Seton Hill students traveled to Harrisburg in April to speak to legislators about the importance of state grants and scholarships as part of an advocacy day sponsored by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP).

The students – all Pennsylvania residents – met with representatives and senators or staff members from their hometown districts as well as those representing Seton Hillʼs district to talk about the importance of PHEAA Grants and Ready to Succeed Scholarships in helping to fund their education.

They also talked about what independent colleges and universities such as Seton Hill mean to Pennsylvaniaʼs economy and how these institutions serve a vital role in educating students in fields that are critically important, including healthcare, education and cybersecurity.

The students also toured the Pennsylvania Capitol Building and participated in an AICUP press conference.

Hadara Katarski Honored for Efforts in Mental Health

Mental Health America of Southwestern PA honored Hadara Katarski, Seton Hill adjunct professor and Coordinator of StudentAthlete Well-Being, with the Prevention Award at its annual Innovations Awards Dinner. The awards go to people who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of those affected by behavioral health issues. Katarski has been instrumental in leading programs at Seton Hill – including the introduction of The Zone App – that help student-athletes better deal with their mental health.

Joining Katarski (center) at the Innovations Award event are Seton Hill community members Rosalie Carpenter, Stephanie Lowry, Donavin Meriweather, Carolyn Leazer, Stephanie Hamilton-El and Jessica Maga.

Class of 2024 Holds Annual Tree Blessing

The Class of 2024 chose to dedicate their tree to the resilience & strength the Seton Hill community gained from the COVID-19 pandemic. The junior class tree blessing, which has been an annual tradition since 1920, was held April 21 on the front lawn outside of Admin.

Left: Junior class officer Lindsey Turner shovels mulch onto the base of the tree at the ceremonyʼs conclusion. The tree was later planted in the second row of trees being added along Seton Hill Drive. Right: Junior class president Amal Thalody (right) talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the Class of 2024.

Left: Students (left to right) biochemistry major Abby Zuder, political science/pre-law major Jarred Spellman, business administration major Sarah Gilliam, history major Max Yonko, cybersecurity and computer science major Kendall McCluskey, sociology major Kiara Rockymore and education/biology major Mackenzie Longo at the Pennsylvania Capitol Building.

Women's Basketball Team Celebrates 100 th Anniversary of Hoops on the Hill

opportunity to play basketball at their high schools and wanted to continue to pursue athletics.

The Seton Hill Athletics Association was formed on campus in 1923 and drove the future of athletics, including the need for an Activities Building that would become Sullivan Hall. In the meantime, the outdoor court on campus was used and the Armory was rented in downtown Greensburg for practice and inter-class games.

The first varsity womenʼs team grew from these inter-class games. Katherine “Kit” Roehn, a student and member of the basketball team at the University of Pittsburgh, took the train into Greensburg and served as a coach for several years. The 12 women selected as charter players competed in bloomers, wool stockings, silk blouses and high-top basketball shoes.

The growth of womenʼs athletics in the last 100 years has had stops and starts, yet athletics has remained a staple at Seton Hill. The first womenʼs basketball team co-existed with other athletic activities such as golf, swimming, equestrian and ice skating. Basketball stayed on as an intramural club after the varsity team was disbanded in 1926, a similar issue at many other schools with collegiate womenʼs sports as changes in leadership, interest levels, and challenges in scheduling, transportation and distance – and the existence of other womenʼs colleges and their athletic programs.

Nearly 50 years after the varsity team disbanded, Coach John Fogle brought varsity athletics back to the Hill where it has remained and grown since. Today nearly one-third of the student body at Seton Hill are involved in Griffin athletics.

The women who played on Seton Hillʼs first varsity team in 1923 would have been in awe if they were present in the Katherine Mabis McKenna Recreation Center Feb. 1, and they certainly would have enjoyed the celebration.

Decades of female student-athletes came together to celebrate the milestone and be recognized at halftime when the Griffins took on Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a match-up that first took place 100 years ago. An exciting 65-50 win capped off the celebration, with a pre-game reception and a post-game celebration with Seton Hill womenʼs head basketball coach Mark Katarski and the members of the 2022-23 womenʼs basketball team.

In the early 1920s, Seton Hill was experiencing a period of very rapid growth. The College was established in 1918, Lowe Hall was under construction by 1922, and Canevin and St. Joseph Halls were built in 1923. Though academics for younger students had existed on the Hill for years, a culture of student life and activities was developing on campus in response to demand by the collegeage students.

As society was beginning to embrace the importance of physical activity, sports were gaining a lot of popularity. Students of St. Josephʼs Academy, a high school for young women, enjoyed playing basketball on their outside court in a field of grass and dirt near the current location of the McKenna Center, which served dual duty as a tennis court even before the College was founded. Many of the young women who came to Seton Hill as college students had the

As President Mary Finger said in her remarks at the centennial celebration, “100 years later, athletics programs at Seton Hill – including the womenʼs basketball team – are competing at a national level both athletically and academically.”

This photo of the 1924-25 Seton Hill College basketball team includes team guard/captain Florence Wilson (front row, holding ball) and head coach Katherine “Kit” Roehn (right, on stool).

Alumnae of the Seton Hill Womenʼs Basketball program were invited to attend the Centennial game and be recognized at halftime. From left, Jennifer Sokol Hague ʼ94, Marcy Davis Powers ʼ92, Jody Sobota Havrila ʼ93, Angela Mennow Kozlowski ʼ93, Paige Alviani ʼ14, Kimberly McDowell ʼ89, Marybeth Miller, Tiara Stossel ʼ14, Carol Gelet ʼ85, Marlene Garrett Bransom ʼ75, Charlie Westhoven Deer ʼ75, Terri Campbell Murphy ʼ75, Bridget Widdowson ʼ82, Rena Enterline ʼ22 and Mary Jo Ruefle Brecht ʼ77.

Mark Katarski has been at the helm for the last decade of womenʼs basketball on the Hill and felt strongly about creating a celebration around this 100th anniversary season.

"The Centennial celebration has been a transformational

process for all involved. It underscores the forward thinking history of our University, especially amongst women, and shows the long-term way that athletics has been part of the fabric of Seton Hill," Katarski said.

Suitcase Discovery Sparks Centennial Celebration

When Marybeth Miller found photos and a varsity letter from her grandmother Florence Wilson Scott, Class of 1926, under a bed in a suitcase, she reached out to the University to share what she had found. This discovery revealed that her grandmother was one of the members of Seton Hillʼs first varsity basketball team and began a conversation about the approaching 100year anniversary of womenʼs basketball at Seton Hill. Since bringing the photos to light, Marybeth has been an integral part of the planning of the centennial celebrations, serving as centennial committee chair and researching the history of the program along with Seton Hill archivist Casey Bowser. Her connection to Seton Hill has grown over this time, with the team recognizing her at the centennial game with a basketball signed by all the players. Her closeness and dedication also led to her making a gift to Seton Hill in honor of her grandmother. A lunch and learn with Marybeth in March capped off a year of celebrations for the womenʼs basketball centennial. Alumni and friends also gathered in October for a homecoming tailgate and alumni game and celebrated Seton Hillʼs Day of Giving in November by establishing a Centennial Scholarship.

Team Chaplain Offers “Prayer, Support and Love”

Sister Victoria Marie Gribschaw has been a constant for many years of Seton Hill womenʼs basketball. She joined the team around 2010 at the request of former head coach Ferne Labati, who asked her to pray with the team before and after games and for safe travels during away matches. Since then, Sister Victoria Marie has watched the team flourish in NCAA Division II and find a home in the PSAC. In the mid-2010s, she was formally named team chaplain. Throughout the journey, Sister Victoria Marie has been there to provide “prayer, support and love.”

"Having Sister Victoria involved with our team is a critical part of our program,” said Mark Katarski, Seton Hill womenʼs basketball head coach. “Not only does she help to give us spiritual guidance, but her presence as a Sister of Charity, as well as a Seton Hill alum, is a great reminder of the history that precedes all of us."

“Over the years, my association with the team has given me opportunities to know students beyond classroom experiences. I celebrate with them when they win and commiserate with them when the opposing team wins,” Sister Victoria Marie said. “I have developed long term relationships with former players and thoroughly enjoy welcoming them back to campus for alumni games – especially when they come with their spouses and children.”

Sister Victoria Marie Gribschaw and other members of the team high five the starting line up as they run on to the court before the centennial game. Sister Victoria has served as the teamʼs chaplain since 2010.

Mark Katarski presents a commemorative basketball to Marybeth Miller for her contributions to the womenʼs basketball centennial events.

Christiane Frye Ties School Record with 39 Points

Junior guard Christiane Frye scored a career-high 39 points in a double-overtime loss against Edinboro in February, tying the school record for most points in a game since Seton Hill joined the PSAC. The record was previously set by Kelly Brennan in 2014-15. Christiane made 15 field goals while playing the Scots – the most by a Griffin since joining the NCAA. In the 2022-23 season, Christiane led the Griffins in scoring, averaging 16 points per game. Christiane also led the Griffins with 89 assists and averaged 3.5 rebounds per game, earning first team All PSAC West honors for the 2022-23 season after being named the leagueʼs Rookie of the Year in 2021-22.

Christiane and three other Griffins – senior guard Maddy Moore, senior forward Courtney Tomas, and graduate forward Alie Seto – were selected for the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Teams. To qualify, student-athletes must have a GPA of at least 3.50 and have played in at least 50 percent of the teamʼs games.

Martin, McConville Win PSAC Championships

The Griffin menʼs track and field team closed out the PSAC Indoor Championships at Bucknell University in February with two individual conference championships. Gabriel McConville won the PSAC title in the mile with a time of 4:13.85. Just 10 minutes later, Hunter Martin won the PSAC title in the 60 meter hurdles with a Division II Provisional time of 8.16 seconds.

Six members of the Griffin program were selected as All-Region honorees by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced for the 2022-23 indoor track and field season. Hunter Martin (60m hurdles), Gabriel McConville (mile), Darby Roth (distance medley relay/DMR & 800m run), Haley Brenny (DMR), Kate Pipilo (DMR) and Alexis Cunningham (DMR). To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must be one of the top five individuals in their event in their respective region. For the relay teams, each member of a regionʼs top three teams were selected.

Meyers Earns Trip to Wrestling Nationals with Regional Title

Junior heavyweight John Meyers earned a trip to the 2023 NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a first place finish at 285 pounds at the NCAA Super Regional held at East Stroudsburg University. He is the first regional champion for the Griffins since Damon Greenwald won a regional title at 174 pounds in 2018. Meyers came up just one win short of All American honors at the national tournament, finishing the season with a 15-3 record and a first team All-PSAC honor.

Esports Arena Opens for Competition

Seton Hillʼs new state-of-the-art Esports arena, which opened for competition during the spring semester in Canevin Hall, contains 14 high-end gaming PCs, four large screen monitors for game review, two Xbox consoles and custom L.E.D. lighting throughout.

“This allows our students, many of whom are pursuing degrees through the School of Business with several enrolled in the cybersecurity major, to compete, practice and socialize in their own dedicated space, giving them an advantage over programs without such a space,” said Rob Obetts, Seton Hillʼs Esports director and head coach.

Top left: Austin Choi, left, and Quan Truong compete on the League of Legends team. Top right: Logan Lindenmuth, captain of the League of Legends team, talks to his team during competition.

Bottom: Anthony Panko and Jack Wagner, compete on the Rocket League team, with Jack serving as the team captain. The room's setup can accomodate multiple teams for practice and competition simultaneously.

Spring Sports Earn Four “Coach of the Year” Awards

Head coaches from four spring sports were named Coach of the Year with the leaders of the baseball, softball, womenʼs lacrosse and menʼs lacrosse programs all taking home the award.

Marc Marizzaldi, who has headed the Seton Hill baseball program since its inception in 2004, earned his seventh PSAC West Coach of the Year award.

First-year softball coach Cassie Moore was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year. Moore came to Seton Hill after four years as the head softball coach at Bethany College.

Womenʼs lacrosse coach Courtney Grove picked up the PSAC West Coach of the Year Award in her 14th season with the Griffins, adding to her previous titles in 2014, 2019 and 2021.

Menʼs lacrosse coach Brian Novotny, in his 17th season with the team, was named the G-MAC Coach of the Year. He previously won the award in 2018 and 2019.

Left to right: Marc Marizzaldi, Cassie Moore, Courtney Grove and Brian Novotny.

Spring Teams Win Regular Season Titles

Softball Wins Third Straight PSAC Western Division Title

The Griffins won their third straight PSAC Western Division title, with junior Lauren Dellett being named the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year. Dellett led the Griffin pitching staff, finishing the regular season with an 18-6 record, two saves and a 1.52 ERA. She pitched complete games in 21 of her 22 starts. Dellett pitched 165.1 innings and allowed just 36 earned runs on 136 hits. Lauren struck out 138 hitters with just 37 walks and led the Griffins at the plate with a .361 batting average. She scored 17 runs while adding five doubles, three homers and 17 RBI.

After a 15-10 loss to Shippensburg, California (PA) eliminated the Griffins from the PSAC Tournament with a walk-off 5-4 win in the eighth inning. SHU finished the season with a 29-17 record.

Men's Lacrosse Wins Fourth G-MAC Regular Season Title

After winning their fourth Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season title, the Griffins had thirteen players earn All Conference honors.

Addtionally, graduate student Josh Miller was named the G-MAC Goalkeeper of the Year. Miller finished the regular season with a 11-4 record and an 8.48 goals against average. He finished the season with 125 saves.

For the sixth consecutive time, Seton Hill and Mercyhurst met in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship Match. Top-seeded Seton Hill was defeated by the Lakers 11-9, ending their season.

Women's Lacrosse Wins Third Straight PSAC West Title

After winning their third straight PSAC Western Division title with a perfect 12-0 record, the Griffin womenʼs lacrosse team earned several conference honors. Senior Makayla Kintner was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year and Mila Udovicic was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year.

For the fourth straight postseason, the Seton Hill womenʼs lacrosse team played in the NCAA Tournament. The Griffins entered as the fourth seed in the Atlantic Region and were eliminated in the first round with a loss to top-seeded West Chester. The Griffins also lost to West Chester in the PSAC Championship final.

McConville Earns PSAC Title by .01 Second in 1500 Meter Race

The Griffin track and field team concluded competition in the 2023 PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Slippery Rock University. Sophomore Gabriel McConville earned a PSAC title in the highly competitive 1500 meter race, winning the event by just .01 seconds with a time of 3:50.78.

The SHU men went 2-3 in the 110 meter hurdles. Junior Ben Hartmanʼs time of 14.69 seconds earned him second place. Senior Hunter Martin was third in the event in a time of 14.71 seconds and also placed third in the 400 hurdles in a time of 54.40 seconds.

For the women, senior Darby Roth had two top-three finishes. Roth was third in the 800 (2:16.07) and 1500 meter (4:41.51) races.

Baseball Makes History in 20 th Year with Record-Sett ing Season of Firsts

The Seton Hill baseball team celebrated its 20th season by playing in their first ever NCAA Atlantic Super Regional contest. The Griffins had to win two of three games to advance to the Division II Baseball Championships, but first-seeded Millersville won 9-4 and 11-6 at home.

Earlier in the season, Seton Hillʼs baseball team took home their third PSAC Championship with a 4-0 run in the tournament, ending with a 10-0 win over West Chester. Senior Vincenzo Rauso was named the Tournament MVP and freshman Jack Whalen, the PSAC West Freshman of the Year, had two steals in the championship game, tying the PSAC record for single season steals.

The championship earned the Griffins the PSACʼs automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional II, with Seton Hill being named the tournamentʼs second seed and a regional host for the first time in school history.

Seton Hill opened play with Shippensburg, scoring 14 runs in their first four at bats and handily defeating the Raiders 14-6. Later that day, Mercyhurst used a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to stun the Griffins and send SHU to an elimination

game with an 8-6 loss. The loss sparked a determination in the Griffins as they took on East Stroudsburg the following day and stayed in the tournament with a 10-4 victory over the Warriors.

On the third day of the tournament, Seton Hill cemented a place in the Super Regionals with a pair of wins over Mercyhurst. In the first game, a dominating pitching performance from Andino Vecchiolla contributed to the 4-0 win and forced a deciding winnertake-all game. In the final game of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional II, the Griffins scored eleven times in the first three innings as they eliminated the Lakers with a 12-5 win.

In March, the Griffins celebrated 20 years of baseball at Seton Hill by recognizing members of SHU baseballʼs first two championship teams, the 2006 NAIA World Series and 2010 WVIAC Championship teams, on the field. Seton Hill also played its 1,000th regular season game in March, winning on the road against California University of Pennsylvania.

Seton Hill finished the season with a 48-13 record. The Griffins set a new school record with their 48 wins, besting the previous high of 46 in 2012.

Above: The Seton Hill baseball team celebrates with their third PSAC championship trophy after a shutout victory. Left: The team included the late Maclean Maundʼs jersey in their team photo. Maund was a member of the Class of 2023 who died during his freshman year.

New Off ice of Gift Planning Helps Donors Create a Legacy at Seton Hill

Seton Hill Universityʼs newly-created Office of Gift Planning, led by the inaugural Director of Gift Planning Cecilia Hughes, is ready to assist donors who are interested in creating a gift through their estate planning.

Cecilia is a certified paralegal who has worked at law firms around the Pittsburgh region in estate planning and administration. She has more than 17 years of direct experience in higher education gift planning and administration and is knowledgeable about the many vehicles and assets that can be used to fund these types of gifts.

Cecilia keeps abreast of current tax laws and how they can impact planned giving, and she looks forward to meeting with alumni and friends who have an interest in creating a legacy gift for Seton Hill. Here Cecilia answers some commonly asked questions about planned giving.

What is Gift Planning?

Gift Planning (also referred to as planned giving or legacy giving) is the integration of personal, financial, and estate planning goals with a personʼs goals for lifetime or testamentary charitable giving. It enables philanthropic individuals to make more significant gifts to charitable organizations than they could make from ordinary income. The right plan balances what you wish to accomplish for yourself, your family, and your charitable interests in your overall estate and financial plans. It also helps sustain the University and our students for years to come.

Some examples of planned gifts include:

• A bequest in your will

• A beneficiary designation on a retirement account or life insurance policy

• Charitable gift annuities funded with cash or appreciated stock

• Charitable rollover from an individual retirement account

• Charitable remainder trusts

• Distributions from donor advised funds

Why has Seton Hill University established an Office of Gift Planning?

Seton Hill created the Office of Gift Planning to serve as a central resource for alumni, donors and friends of the University. If you have questions about establishing a planned gift or want to know more about what assets might be used to fund a planned gift or how a particular gift vehicle can be used, our office can assist in educating you about your options, which you can take to your financial advisor to see what is the best fit for your personal circumstances. The Office also serves as a resource for Institutional Advancement staff who may not have a background in these types of gifts.

Why does Seton Hill want to know if I have a planned gift in place for the University?

Documenting your planned gift is a simple process and ensures that your gifts are used in the way in which you intended them to be used. Although you may have discussed your planned gift with a current staff member at Seton Hill, if that gift is not recorded in our files and the staff member retires before your gift comes to fruition we have no way to ensure your gift is used as you wish. When we are aware of your intention to make a planned gift, it allows us to thank you personally for your generosity and the impact your future gift will have on the University and our students. Recording your intended donation also allows us to count your gift in our fundraising totals.

For more information on gift planning at Seton Hill, please contact Cecilia Hughes at 724-830-4636 or cahughes@setonhill.edu or visit www.setonhill.giftplans.org.

Seton Hill University

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022–2023

Bishop Larry J. Kulick, J.C.L. Honorary Chair

Karen Farmer White Chair

Mary Norbert Long, SC ʼ67 Vice Chair

Rebecca Cost Snyder Chair Elect

Louise Grundish, SC Secretary

Carmen Rivera Bauza ʼ83

Robin Heffernan Beck ʼ64

Rachel Blais, SC

Todd D. Brice

Robert A. DeMichiei

Margaret DiVirgilio ʼ80

Barbara Einloth, SC ʼ71

Christine Delegram Farrell ʼ79

Mary C. Finger, ex officio

Linda Fiorelli ʼ74

Matthew J. Galando ʼ04

Grace Hartzog, SC ʼ71

Donna Marie Leiden, SC ʼ66

Moshood B. Martins M.S. ʼ14

Elizabeth Boyle McDonald

Miriam Arroyo Murray ʼ84

Mary Jo Mutschler, SC ʼ69

Patricia OʼDonoghue

Kathleen Sarniak-Tanzola ʼ78

Mary Elizabeth Schrei, SC ʼ65

Frank P. Simpkins

James C. Stalder

Kym K. Stout

Bridget Widdowson ʼ82

Jessica Ybanez-Morano ʼ84

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Jean Augustine, SC ʼ63

James Breisinger

Laurie Ann Carroll ʼ81

Mary Lou OʼNeil Costello ʼ55

Sara Gill Cutting ʼ62

Rosemary Donley, SC

John R. Echement

Gertrude Foley, SC ʼ59

Brigid Marie Grandey, SC ʼ63

Maureen Halloran, SC

Donald M. Henderson

Richard Hendricks

Mary Ellen Lawrie Cooney Higgins ʼ64

Patrice Hughes, SC ʼ62

A. Richard Kacin

Arthur H. Meehan

Donald I. Moritz

Barbara Nakles ʼ76

Maureen OʼBrien, SC ʼ67

Maureen Sheedy OʼBrien

M. Ellenita OʼConnor, SC ʼ58

Paul M. Pohl

Michele Moore Ridge ʼ69

Marc B. Robertshaw

Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.

Ralph A. Scalise

Anita Schulte, SC ʼ57

Daniel J. Wukich

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Mary C. Finger, Ed.D.

President Melissa Alsing, M.B.A.

Chief Information Officer

Rosalie Carpenter, Ed.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics

Imogene L. Cathey, J.D.

Vice President and General Counsel

Brett Freshour

Vice President for Enrollment Management

The

Seton

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Molly Robb Shimko

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

724.830.4620 shimko@setonhill.edu

Lisa Carino

Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement 724.838.2409 carino@setonhill.edu

Mira Funari

Associate Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director for the Campaign 724.830.1993 mfunari@setonhill.edu

Erica Adams Advancement Services Manager 724.830.1137 eadams@setonhill.edu

Jessica Delio

Development and Communications Associate 724.552.4329 jdelio@setonhill.edu

Sarah Dudik

Senior Writer for Advancement 724.838.4200 sdudik@setonhill.edu

Cynthia Ferrari Title III Coordinator 724.830.4639 ferrari@setonhill.edu

Shana Holzer

Assistant Director of Alumni Relations 724.552.1310 sholzer@setonhill.edu

Cecilia Hughes Director of Gift Planning 724.830.4636 cahughes@setonhill.edu

Amy Lankey

Donor Stewardship Manager 724.552.4303 alankey@setonhill.edu

Linda Morlacci

Director of Foundation, Government and Corporate Relations 724.838.4232 lmorlacci@setonhill.edu

Jimmy Pirlo

Major Gifts Officer 724.552.4371 jpirlo@setonhill.edu

Jennifer Reeger Director of Communications and Media Relations 724.830.1069 jreeger@setonhill.edu

Breanna Salvio Graphic Designer 724.552.4397 bsalvio@setonhill.edu

Lisa Seremet Development and Events Manager 724.552.4366 lseremet@setonhill.edu

Brett Smith

Maureen OʼBrien, SC, M.A.

Vice President for Mission and Identity

Brent Jackson

Vice President for Finance and Administration, CFO

Molly Robb Shimko, M.B.A.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Susan Yochum, SC, Ph.D. Provost

Major Gifts Officer 724.838.4244 bmsmith@setonhill.edu

Annie Urban

Executive Director of Principal Gifts and Community Engagement 724.552.4323 aurban@setonhill.edu

Ashley Zwierzelewski

Director of Alumni Relations 724.830.1005 akunkle@setonhill.edu

FORWARD & CLASS NEWS DESIGNS: Breanna Salvio

WRITING: Sarah Dudik and Jennifer Reeger

PHOTOGRAPHY: Barry Reeger, and SHU staff and students

PRINTER: Freeport Press

Forward magazine is published by Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA 15601, setonhill.edu, (724-830-1005), for the alumni and friends of the University. Postage paid at Greensburg, PA.

Hill University, as a matter of tradition and principle does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, age disability, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other university-administered programs. Seton Hill University adheres to the non-discrimination legislation of both the federal government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, but not necessarily limited to, the Civil Rights Act or 1964, Title VI, Title IX, 1972 Handicap Provision, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Ashley Shields celebrates on Sullivan Lawn after earning her bachelor's degree in Medical Studies.