Impact: Profiles

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Southern New Hampshire University

PROFILES Volume 6 | Spring 2014

FIGHT LIKE

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President: Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc Impact: Profiles is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Vice President: Don Brezinski Managing Editor: Audrey Bourque Editor: Jerri Clayton ’10, ’12 Contributing Writer: Kristi Durette Graphic Designer: Karen Mayeu Print Production Manager: Jennifer Crossett Photography: Jeremy Mayhew, Earl Studios

Cathi McGrevey, Just Picture It! Michael Holahan, SNHU Department of Athletics Changes of address may be sent to alumni@snhu.edu or to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Southern New Hampshire University, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester, NH 03106 Visit alumni.snhu.edu/impact for bonus features and resources for each of the stories in this issue, including slideshows, behind the scenes videos, and much more!

Join the conversation on social media with #SNHUimpact. /SNHUalumni @SNHUalumni bit.ly/SNHUcommunity Cover Photo: Brian Francolini ’14 carries Ryan Menter after the Men’s Soccer NCAA Division II National Championship.

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Letter from the President Education is not a product, something that can be returned, stolen, taken away, or once consumed. It’s also not a privilege, whose value is in its exclusivity or its ability to divide those who have it and those who don’t.

Rather, education is a promise. By committing to pursue an education, by making sacrifices to learn, a student can change his or her entire life in a way that can never be reversed or stolen, regardless of any circumstance.

Our role as an academic team is to build a learning environment that will change lives, the very essence of who other human beings are, how they see themselves, and the world around them. Whether students are 18 or 81, learning online or in a traditional coming-of-age experience, the unifying aspect of education is this transformative power.

I am proud to lead a tremendously talented and dedicated community of faculty and staff who live for our students, and I am continually awed by the drive, grit, perseverance, tenacity, aspiration and curiosity of our students.

Because what really matters, in education as in life, are people. Here are just a few stories worth sharing from alumni, students, families and faculty of the Southern New Hampshire University community.

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The Definition of Penmen Pride The Southern New Hampshire University Men’s Soccer team captured the program’s second NCAA Division II National Championship in 2013. After a season-opening loss, the Penmen were unbeaten in their final 23 games en route to the national title, culminating with a heart-pounding 2-1 win over Carson-Newman University in the championship game on December 7, in Evans, Georgia.

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With the NCAA trophy now installed in the Athletics Complex, it’s easy to be starstruck by the dominating athletic force that led the Penmen to this title. But defining this team solely by athletic achievement would be an injustice to the young men who have committed to be so much more.

as a toddler and has soldiered through countless surgeries and treatments to keep the cancer at bay. By adopting Ryan through FOJ, the Penmen committed to improving his quality of life in any way possible, a promise they have not taken lightly.

Head coach Marc Hubbard has built a program culture that pushes his team to invest in classroom experiences and community involvement as well as athletic ambitions. “My players are working to be the best athletes they can be, of course, but also to be stronger men and better contributors to society.”

Ryan and his family attend as many SNHU games as possible. He often helps Hubbard with his pre-game speech in the locker room, and he even flew to Georgia for the national championship. The Penmen’s rally cry has been ‘Fight Like Ryan’ for the past five years, a chant that can be heard in the locker room, on the field, and across social media. #FightLikeRyan

Team captain and goalkeeper Dom DiMaggio says this philosophy has indeed been transformative, specifically in his relationship with ten-year-old Ryan Menter, whom the Penmen ‘adopted’ in 2009 through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.

Hubbard says ‘Fight Like Ryan’ is a reminder to the team that there is more to life than soccer. “It helps my guys put things in perspective when they learn what Ryan has been through, when they stand with him through his battles.”

Ryan was diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor when he was just 20 months old, marking the beginning of his ferocious seven-year battle with cancer. He lost his vision

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My players are working to be the best athletes they can be, of course, but also to be stronger men and better contributors to society. |3|

Parent Profiles Alison Logan Mom to Kyle Logan ’15 Hometown: Shelburne, Vermont

Irene Pereira Mom to Chris Pereira ’15 Hometown: Ludlow, Massachusetts

“I believe that athletics and academics are a great combination.

You learn time management and organizational skills. These are the types of things that stand out to employers – they know that a student-athlete has had more structure to his or her college experience.

“I certainly appreciate how SNHU brings parents right into the community. From the moment we set foot on campus in an Admissions tour, we were given opportunities to connect with the school and other families. I felt confident that Chris was in good hands, getting ‘big school’ opportunities in athletics and academics, but with a personalized, ‘small school’ feel.

We’ve always tried to encourage Kyle to push himself in his studies and in sports, and that message is reinforced in the Men’s Soccer program. The philosophy of the coaching staff is that the athletes are most focused on the field when their classwork is prioritized and under control. You can’t play your best if there’s an assignment looming in the back of your mind.

In our experience, the connection between the coaches, parents and student-athletes in the Men’s Soccer program is unique to SNHU. Marc Hubbard and the rest of the coaching staff set that tone from the top down, and I think the team’s relationship with Ryan Menter has really facilitated this sense of community. You can feel it in the families’ experience, as well – parents are committed Kyle’s college experience is richer for his involvement with the to every young man on the team, not just their own child. soccer team. He is truly committed to his studies in the Sport Management program, and his teammates and coaches are like My kids are my life. Their dad and I want to let them know that family now. The tailgates after each soccer game are an extension we’re behind them 100%, in everything they do. It’s a joy for me to help organize family tailgates and build a place for the whole of that family experience. community to celebrate together.

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According to DiMaggio, the team’s relationship with Ryan has developed into a deep and lasting bond. “A lot of the guys, myself included, make sure to speak with Ryan on holidays. We call just to talk. We’re family now.”

Ryan’s mother, Missie Menter, is grateful for the team’s influence on her son. She says the time Ryan spends with the Penmen gives him strength. “These are outstanding, kind, thoughtful, compassionate men who inspire my son.

They never lose sight of their dreams, and it has been a gift to know them.”

In December of 2013, less than a month after winning the national title, Hubbard, DiMaggio, and the entire team received the most joyful news they could imagine, when they learned that Ryan’s latest MRI came back clear – the tumor was gone.

DiMaggio says it was the best gift possible. “We like to think that some of Ryan’s recovery can be attributed to the encouragement we give him, but actually, our success, both on and off the field, is generated from the inspiration we find in him. It’s something that stays with you throughout your lifetime, not just your few years here at SNHU.”

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/soccer

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I want to instill in students that an entrepreneurial mindset can mean so much more than coming up with an idea for a new business.

Craig Ahlquist ’80

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Entrepreneur Development Program Craig Ahlquist ’80 is the first Entrepreneur-in-Residence in the School of Business, a position created to give SNHU students direct access to a successful entrepreneur. And if anyone can speak to transforming an idea into a real business, it’s Ahlquist.

In his 25-year career, he has been through the entire business cycle, from formation and operation, through the eventual sale of his fundraising software company in 2006. After assisting in the transition of his company and 65 employees to new management, Ahlquist focused his considerable energies on volunteer work and building community in his hometown of Hooksett, NH. He accepted the position at SNHU to give back to his alma mater and offer guidance to students with an entrepreneurial mindset.

This macro-level goal is grounded in the Entrepreneur Development Program, a series of experiential learning components such as business challenges and networking events. Integral to this experience are alumni and business leaders who are willing to guide students through the process of pursuing a business idea. “Ultimately,” says Ahlquist, “my goal is to create opportunities for entrepreneurs to be part of students’ education and opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in entrepreneurship.”

Dean Bill Gillett says Ahlquist’s business experience and service to the university made his appointment an easy decision. “Craig is a dynamic leader in fostering a culture of entrepreneurship at SNHU. He is deeply committed to both the entrepreneurial agenda and SNHU students, and can communicate the importance of adopting this way of thinking in all endeavors, not just in starting a business.”

Students in the EDP have benefited from project critiques, networking dinners, and some rather unique opportunities, such as the first Business Idea Slam, a cross between a poetry slam and the popular TV show Shark Tank. Ahlquist helped several aspiring entrepreneurs prepare a 30-second pitch, which was then assessed by a room full of seasoned executives.

This broader definition of entrepreneurship is an out-ofthe-box idea about which both Ahlquist and Gillett speak passionately. While an entrepreneur is generally accepted to be a business owner, Ahlquist hopes to cultivate a more inclusive understanding of entrepreneurship that encourages innovation and fresh perspectives in a current position or an existing company.

“In the end, it’s all about providing students with the resources they need to go boldly into the world of business,” says Ahlquist. And under his guidance, SNHU graduates will be armed with both a practical education and a strong connection to a community of entrepreneurs.

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/edp

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Guiding Emerging Leaders Wayne Robinson ’81 fell in love with New Hampshire College as soon as he set foot on campus. The first in his immediate family to attend college, Robinson had always visualized an ivy-covered New England school, small and friendly, with opportunities in athletics and leadership development. His experience at NHC fit that bill and set the stage for a lifetime of involvement.

Robinson fondly recalls key faculty members who inspired him and supported his success as a student: Dr. Allan McCauslind in economics, the late Dr. Jeannette A. Ritzenthaler in business writing, and the late Mary Pillsbury Brown in public speaking. Each of these professors influenced his development as a person and a professional, equipping him with skills he still uses in his work as an internal auditor at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

Complementing his commitment to his studies was Robinson’s passion for sports, especially golf, baseball and college basketball. During his tenure on campus, he spent as much time on the courts as a member of the tennis program as he did in the stands as an avid fan of Penmen basketball. More than 30 years later, he still attends most of the home games for the SNHU Men’s Basketball team, as well as the DeBlasi Cup Golf Tournament each year at Homecoming.

While his affinity for athletics has remained consistent, Robinson realized that, as he progressed through his

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professional career, there were other ways to stay connected to his alma mater. He says that he has always been fulfilled by community involvement with organizations serving youth: “Interacting with today’s students educates me about experiences, opinions, and upbringings that are completely different from my own.” So, he focuses his work with the university on promoting the value of the SNHU network. By helping students to feel invested in their education and the SNHU community, he hopes to inspire them to give back of their time, efforts and expertise in the future.

As a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Robinson is particularly excited about a leadership role in exploring the evolving needs of a growing and increasingly diversified alumni community, with emphasis on tying alumni engagement back to students. “The opportunities for alumni to mentor students in their development as leaders and emerging professionals are both fulfilling and motivating.”

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/leaders

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Follow your dream; along the path you might have opportunities that are totally outside your thought process. Take the fork the in the road – be open to it.

Wayne Robinson ’81 and John Wescott ’15

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When I was getting out of the military and transitioning to civilian life, my first class at SNHU changed my entire outlook on what I could accomplish.

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” Jessica Higgins ’11, ’14

Armed with Education: Student-Veterans at SNHU U.S. Army veteran Jessica Higgins ’11, ’14 has dedicated her civilian career to helping veteran and active-duty students pursue their academic goals at SNHU. With her service to her country and the university, Higgins is in a unique position to understand both the challenges facing these students and the potential they have.

Higgins was a sophomore in high school when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred. Although she had toured SNHU and planned to study photography at the university, the events on that day had a profound effect on her. She enlisted in the Army at 17, with her parents’ permission, and was deployed to Iraq the same year she graduated.

After completing her service, Higgins returned to New Hampshire and enrolled in a class at SNHU, six years after she had originally planned. Initially, she found herself doubting her ability to perform in the classroom, with feelings of anxiety and other symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. “I had to tap into those same skills that helped me to be successful in the military – being flexible, paying attention to detail, keeping the long-term goals in mind.”

Two degrees later, Higgins is a military academic advisor in the College of Online and Continuing Education (COCE) and has been proud to watch her team grow. In just five years, military student enrollment has increased sevenfold, and now comprises about 9% of COCE students.

Steve Hodownes, CEO of COCE, says the university’s longstanding commitment to serving military students is a small gesture. “These men and women have given so much to their country – to all of us – that providing this support is our way of saying thank you.”

SNHU is a G.I. Jobs Military Friendly School, with services such as flexible learning programs; the DeColfmacker Veterans Lounge and Resource Center on campus; dedicated career advisors who help translate military experience to a résumé; and the military academic advising team.

Higgins says that student-veterans are often unaware of how to best utilize benefits available to them, such as tuition and housing allowance. Her mission is to go beyond academic advising and zoom out to the bigger picture about how to assimilate to – and excel in – civilian life. “We help military students navigate these life issues so they can actually concentrate on their studies and achieve their long term goals.”

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/veterans

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Scholarship: A Star in the Dark Sky Saad Baradei is the 2013 recipient of the Biesek/Smith Scholarship. This fund was established by John and Catherine-Ann (Smith) Day in memory of Catherine-Ann’s mother, Mildred K. Smith, and Helder Biesek, a former student of Catherine-Ann’s at the Institute for Language Education (ILE) who was killed in a tragic accident before completing his education.

Before her death, Mildred Smith earnestly desired that this scholarship be established in Helder’s memory to enable future students at the ILE to continue their education at Southern New Hampshire University. The scholarship supports international students enrolled in the University’s English as a Second Language program, based on academic potential and financial need.

Baradei is from Syria and currently an MBA student in Health Care Management. After graduating from the Aleppo University Faculty of Pharmacy, Baradei worked in his own pharmacy located in one of the poorest areas of Aleppo. “I was giving people who live in the neighborhood suitable medicine, especially those who could not see a doctor because of the expense. I was able to help a lot of people.

But unfortunately, the civil war ignited and the rockets and the air forces attacked the street, and I was forced to close the pharmacy.”

This caused Baradei to think about how he could help this community during the crisis in Syria, and it was during this time he chose to attend SNHU. He came to New Hampshire with his pregnant wife and 3-year-old daughter, with no financial help from his family.

“I hope that when my degree is finished, the war in Syria will have ended and I can be a successful manager of a medicine factory and help rebuild the Syrian pharmaceutical market.

The local people cannot afford foreign medicine, so I want to enter into the local industry of affordable cancer medicine for the people.”

According to Baradei, “This scholarship is a lifeboat for me that will save not only me, but my family, from drowning in financial trouble. It will help me to achieve my goals and to help the innocent people who suffered from the disaster of the civil war.”

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/saad

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Sometimes, when you are lost in the dark night, you find a star that guides you and ends your desperation. That is what happened to me when I heard about this scholarship.

Saad Baradei ’15

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May believed in giving back and building a vibrant community that weaves together a seamless fabric of business, arts, education and opportunity.

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On a High Note: Music at SNHU When Director of Music Rick Cook arrived at the university in 2008, there was just one course – Music Appreciation – and a single performing ensemble. In the past six years, Cook has guided the Music Program through dramatic growth, and now boasts 15 ensembles, more than 20 courses, a minor in Music, a major in Music Education, and a Professional Concert Series that brings performance arts to audiences on campus and across the state.

Many of the new ensembles, including the rock bands and full symphonic orchestra, have formed as a grassroots effort – a clear indication that students and faculty alike are committed to ensuring the performing arts are an integral part of the SNHU experience. And as the talent and ensembles continue to grow, the greater community is benefiting, as well.

Most performances hosted by the Music Program are free and open to the public, and, according to Cook, many local organizations are also embracing the opportunity to have student ensembles at their events. “This is the first time the Manchester area has had a major in music, and there are many requests to perform, including playing for the Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Industry Association.”

The Professional Concert Series, made possible by the Frederick Smyth Trust and the efforts of the Music Program faculty and staff, features four concerts a year by world class performers that, thus far, have included Fred Moyer, Gregg Hopkins, Steven Drury, and the Symphony NH Chamber Players.

As the Music Program thrives, so does the support from alumni and donors. May Gruber, a well-known Manchester philanthropist, passed away last March at the age of 100, but continued to support the Music Program with a legacy gift. Gruber’s circa-1922 grand piano is now located in Robert Frost Hall’s Walker Auditorium, a testament to her commitment to strengthen the community through art and music.

“May believed that she could, and should, make a difference,” says Donald Cox, Visiting Professor of Arts and Humanities. “She awakened everyone who was paying attention to the idea of giving back and building a vibrant community that weaves together a seamless fabric of business, arts, education and opportunity.”

Legacy gifts like Gruber’s allow donors to make an important investment in the university and ensure that SNHU will continue to provide a quality education for future generations of students.

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/music

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Exponential Growth: Math at SNHU Recently, a National Security Agency cryptanalyst, a New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice, a financial services consultant at Fidelity Investments, a data storage architect for a global medical informatics corporation and a public high school teacher gathered for a career panel at SNHU. The common denominator? They all majored in math as undergraduates.

The panel addressed an enthusiastic audience, helping to demonstrate that math majors can pursue a wide variety of career paths. According to Dr. Susan D’Agostino, Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Math Major Program Coordinator, the panel inspired a number of undeclared students to consider a major in math, after their generaleducation math course professors encouraged them to attend.

Three years ago, D’Agostino designed the BA in Mathematics degree as a student-centered program that paid particular attention to recruitment and retention, including the many first-generation college students already in attendance at SNHU. She says that first-generation students “represent an untapped pool with potential to increase the quantity and quality of highly educated workers in the areas of national need, including science, technology, engineering and math.”

Nevertheless, students often ask why math is important.

Dr. Megan Sawyer, an Assistant Professor of Mathematics who joined SNHU in 2013, is helping to develop curricula that emphasize real-world experience. She teaches newly designed courses such as Cryptology, which shows students

how codes and cyphers work. Sawyer is enthusiastic about these new offerings, and clearly the students are as well.

“This is the first semester we have offered this class, and it filled up in one day.”

An Assistant Professor of Mathematics at SNHU since 2009, Dr. Megan Paddack is also the Middle School Mathematics Education Program Coordinator. Paddack stressed the importance of interaction with students and staff. “We get students involved in the Math Club, explain the potential for tutoring jobs, visit general education math classes, meet with the admissions team; we encourage students to use our office hours for conversations, and we host social functions. All of this makes the math department visible and accessible for students.”

D’Agostino explains that shedding light on the math major is critical. “We are passionate about promoting advanced quantitative literacy. No matter what career path a student intends to pursue, the skills gained while pursuing a BA in Mathematics enhance logical thinking and foster fearlessness in facing a wide range of complex problems.”

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/math

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A degree in mathematics enhances logical thinking and fosters fearlessness in facing complex problems.

(from left) Dr. Megan Sawyer, Dr. Megan Paddack, and Dr. Susan D’Agostino

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To say my scholarships are a blessing is an understatement. I am grateful beyond words for the help.

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Shanice Drysdale ’16

Fighting for her Education “Before I left Jamaica, my mother looked into my eyes and said to me, ‘I see you doing something big.’ Earning my degree is part of that plan.”

Shanice Drysdale is a first-generation college student who has known since middle school that a college degree was in her future. “I’ve always dreamt of going to college. My parents helped me realize the importance of education by showing their support emotionally. Whenever I do well in school, I can just feel how proud they are. Going to college is important to me because I refuse to waste my entire life working somewhere I’m not happy.”

Drysdale’s tenacity is evident in her efforts to attend SNHU. She has supported herself since coming to New Hampshire in 2011 at the age of sixteen. “I was born in Bronx, New York, and spent my childhood traveling back and forth from Jamaica, where my family still lives. I was the first person in my family to complete high school, and I will be the first to finish college.”

Through her diligent studies and with the help of scholarships, Drysdale has flourished at SNHU. She maintains a 4.0 GPA in the rigorous 3Year Honors Program

in Business Administration and is active on campus as a member of the Beloved Community, a student organization devoted to promoting diversity and acceptance on campus.

Drysdale also works for the SNHU Telefund, making calls to alumni, parents, and friends of the university, helping to build community and asking for financial support. “I love working for Telefund because it connects how and why I am here. If it were not for the scholarships and financial aid I receive, I would not be attending SNHU.” SNHU awarded $32 million in need-based aid in the 2012-13 academic year. With more than 90% of students receiving some form of financial aid, scholarship support is critical to students like Drysdale, who is making the most of her college experience.

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/shanice

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Robots with Heart As the current Papoutsy Distinguished Chair in Ethics and Social Responsibility, Dr. Lundy Lewis is exploring the possibilities and ethical implications of addressing social concerns using robots, intelligent avatars, and even video games.

In his research, Lewis has paired four cutting-edge technologies with populations in need of assistance: socially assistive robots that improve quality of life for the elderly; tele-presence robots that empower disabled persons to fully participate in daily life from the confines of a remote location; neuro-feedback technology (NFT) that assists in therapy for post-traumatic stress and other mental problems; and, finally, humanoid robots that build relationships with children suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

“There is no boilerplate solution when you’re working with ASD children,” says Lewis. “You must take a systemic approach to each case, and consider each child’s personality, past experiences in therapy, and the wishes of his or her therapist and parents.”

Another hurdle to the widespread implementation of robot therapy is a common enough problem when any new technology is first introduced: people must be comfortable with the idea itself of robots as a therapeutic tool. Lewis says a large part of this is ensuring the robots are userfriendly and nearly foolproof in operation, so therapists can incorporate them into their work without the daily assistance of a programmer.

Thus, it has been vital that Lewis form interdisciplinary partnerships with contacts in the fields of computer science, robotics, neuroscience, psychology, and education. Here at SNHU, he has enlisted the expertise of colleagues in the Psychology Department and the School of Education to provide a well-rounded picture of working with ASD children. Together, they are identifying field trials, pairing ASD children with Lewis’ humanoid robot to work on the most fundamental challenges faced by autistic children, beginning with making eye contact and working up to playing with others.

Christos Papoutsy ’91 and his wife, Mary, established the Chair to educate people about social and ethical issues in today’s global environment. Lewis’ work, therefore, does not end with his research; he is planning a series of provocative discussions in the coming year to explore ethical dilemmas and encourage people to think beyond their comfort zones.

“Innovative concepts such as privacy vs. security are germane and immensely important to students, faculty, and the greater community,” says Lewis. By inviting wellrespected thought leaders to guide conversations, Lewis hopes to capture imaginations and encourage critical dialogue among the SNHU community.

alumni.snhu.edu/impact/robots

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My lifelong work of getting computers to think began with an undergraduate course in logic, learning how people think. It was like catnip to me. | 21 |

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO. 6025

Office of Institutional Advancement 2500 North River Road Manchester, NH 03106-1045 Address Service Requested

Challenge Ouellette Help the Penmen score $50,000 for our 50th Anniversary Mark Ouellette ’77, a former member of the men’s basketball team, the 2011 Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the Board of Trustees since 1997, will match all new and increased gifts to the Penmen Fund up to $50,000, in celebration of 50 years of varsity athletics at SNHU. Gifts to the Penmen Fund will work to enhance athletic facilities and help recruit, coach and educate our talented student-athletes.

Learn more at alumni.snhu.edu/Penmen