Geneseo Scene

Winter 2013

geneseo scene

A magazine for alumni, parents and friends of SUNY Geneseo

Sandy outreach

After the Storm

geneseo Winter 2013

scene CONTENTS

FEATURES 8

Sixty years of innovation Days of drab cafeteria food are long gone at Geneseo. Campus Auxiliary Services has evolved from simple meals for students to a well-oiled machine that makes campus life tick.

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Hope after the storm Despite heavy damage to her home during Superstorm Sandy, Alyssa Stefanese ’15 and members of the Geneseo family volunteered with relief efforts on Staten Island, and returned with inspiration from the field.

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Saving Geneseo history The distinctive stone wall at the historic Wadsworth Homestead was nearly lost to time, but a band of volunteers is united to rebuild the crumbling landmark.

DEPARTMENTS 3 20

One College Circle Athletics and Recreation: Student-athletes have made community service a tradition.

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Alumni News Class Notes

COLUMNS 2 7 18

President’s Message Letters to the Editor Perspectives: What if all alumni who treasure their Geneseo experience gave back to the college?

Jack Kramer ’76 considers how even a modest jump in giving can make a huge difference.

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Random Profile: One Cup

Cover: Chris Crocker ’14 looks at devastation of a Staten Island home. Volunteers from Geneseo helped homeowners affected

by Superstorm Sandy in January.

Table of contents: A view of the College Green from the top of the Integrated Science Center. Photography by Keith Walters ’11.

Postmaster: Please address changes to the Collins Alumni Center, McClellan House, SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454-1484.

Standard-class postage paid at Lebanon Junction, KY 40150

geneseo scene

Vol. 38, No. 3; Winter 2013

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

What’s in a Name? cronyms are all around us — and a college like Geneseo is no exception. They are useful and economical ways of naming things. Yet, they do more than merely spare us from entering more characters and pronouncing more words: They help identify a service, an organization, an initiative. Often, they have a life of their own. Take Campus Auxiliary Services, for example, known on campus as CAS. A useful acronym indeed, but it takes more than a few keystrokes to capture the full array of services and amenities offered

by CAS, all of them intended to enhance campus life.

Thinking about CAS reminds me of a popular advertising campaign in the 1990s by BASF, the giant chemical products company headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF, which originally stood for Badische Anilin-und Soda-Fabrik (English translation: The Baden Aniline and Soda Factory), aired television commercials with the memorable tagline: “We don’t make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.”

And so it is with CAS. CAS may not provide education in our classrooms and labs, per se, but it makes the Geneseo experience better in countless ways. From coffee to sushi, campus dining to late-night snacking, clothing to rental cars, scholarships to faculty grants and award receptions, CAS touches every student and college employee, whether they know it or not.

Simply put, CAS serves one mission: “to support but it makes the Geneseo the mission of the college — period,” as its executive experience better in director, Mark Scott, states. Editor Kris Dreessen countless ways. takes readers behind the scenes in a special feature (Page 8) to show how CAS enhances the quality of life not only on campus, but also in our community and world.

In that regard, service to society is one of Geneseo’s primary values, demonstrated yet again through the volunteer efforts of students and alumni in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. As is the case with the college’s ongoing support to Biloxi, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina, Geneseo students, faculty and staff are working with community members through Livingston County CARES on service trips to help displaced families in the New York City area recover. Photographer Keith Walters ’11 joined members of the first trip to Staten Island, Jan. 8-12. Their experiences are captured on Page 13.

As you can tell, these stories and others underscore the can-do spirit that prevails at Geneseo. However, Jack Kramer ’76 poses a question in the Perspectives column (Page 18), that should give us all pause: Just as athletic teams turn it up a notch to win the championship, are we doing all that we can to reach our goal of providing students with a transformational liberal arts education that truly shapes lives of purpose?

We ask ourselves that question every day at Geneseo. With your continued support, the answer can and will be “yes!”

A The Geneseo Scene is published

by SUNY Geneseo, Division of College Advancement, Office of College Communications.

Christopher C. Dahl, President William H. Brower III, Vice President for College Advancement Anthony T. Hoppa, Assistant Vice President for College Communications Kris Dreessen, Editor Carole Smith Volpe ’91, Creative Director Contributing writers: Meredith Drake Lisa M. Feinstein Lydia Fernandez Anthony T. Hoppa Jack Kramer ’76 Daniel O’Brien ’13 Kim Showalter ’13 Victoria Soto ’12

Contributing photographers: Jonathan Baek ’13 Keith Walters ’11 Alumni Relations Office Michelle Walton Worden ’92, Acting Director of Alumni Relations Tracy Young Gagnier ’93, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Megan Cheever ’03, Alumni Outreach Coordinator Alumni Relations Office at Collins Alumni Center McClellan House SUNY Geneseo 1 College Circle Geneseo, NY 14454-1484 Phone: (585) 245-5506 Fax: (585) 245-5505 alumni@geneseo.edu Contact the Scene at scene@geneseo.edu.

Visit the website at www.geneseo.edu/geneseo_scene Phone: (585) 245-5516

CAS may not provide education in our classrooms and labs, per se,

Yours truly,

Chris Dahl

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PHOTOS BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

One College Circle

Victory Rally

CAMPUS NEWS

When Geneseo cross-country runners prepared to compete in the NCAA Atlantic Regional event Nov. 10, a group of clearly dedicated fans was there to cheer on the team.

They were there to celebrate when Alex Brimstein ’13 (inset photo) won the individual title among the 297-runner field.

At the event, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams finished first and second, respectively, and advanced to represent Geneseo at the NCAA Championship at Terre Haute, Ind.

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Campus innovation Geneseo globetrotters Alumni Council Finding their muse News in brief Winter 2013

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ONE COLLEGE CIRCLE

CAMPUS NEWS

The new Monroe Hall features geothermal wells and rainwater collection as well as other environmentally conscious construction.

PHOTOS BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

Campus innovation

Sustainability in the new Monroe Hall hen Nick Komprare ’86 was living in a triple in Monroe Hall, microwaves were still a novelty. He laughs remembering how his girlfriend overheated a chicken nugget until the flaming, shriveled remains set off all the fire alarms and emptied the residence hall.

He also recalls the calmer moments — sunsets in the valley, Frisbee every evening, and the lifelong friends he made.

“It’s where you do a lot of your growing up and maturing,” he says. “You go through that process with your friends.

I formed some strong bonds there.”

His fondness for his time there hasn’t changed, but technology has.

In the new Monroe, students are flushing toilets with rainwater collected from the roof.

Heating and cooling are controlled by geothermal wells

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deep underground to reduce energy use. From a computerized screen in the lobby, students can track how much energy is used — and is being saved in Monroe — in comparison to other buildings on campus.

Prior to renovation, Monroe was the third-oldest residence hall on campus. Built in 1961, Monroe had not had any major changes to its infrastructure or furnishings. Monroe took a year and a half to gut and renovate. It was completed in December and opened in January to 160 transfer students and guaranteed-admission freshmen.

In keeping with Geneseo’s commitment to sustainable development, Monroe is built to a high level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development (LEED) standards.

The entire process — from design to construction — used environmentally friendly materi-

als. Even construction waste that accumulated during demolition was recycled, says David Norton, project manager. It is the second building on campus to utilize geothermal wells. The other is Seneca Hall.

Komprare and other alumni will find an entirely renovated residence hall, with small luxuries that make a huge difference.

There is an elevator, new-style rooms and suites — and no more running to the basement with a handful of quarters. Each floor has a laundry room and kitchenette. A computer program even alerts students when a washer is free.

The big open lobby has been replaced by a smaller lounge, and a new conference room, seminar room and media lab.

Celia Easton, dean of residential living, envisions Monroe will become a living-learning community, where students with similar academic classes can live

and learn simultaneously.

“I’m really excited for both aspects — how innovative it is for the environment and the students,” says Pat Langan ’13, a senior resident assistant in Monroe. “It’s exciting that this is a step forward for the campus in becoming eco-friendly.”

Geothermal wells and rainwater harvesting are excellent steps in reducing the college’s carbon footprint as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, says Lisa Johnson ’13, president of the Geneseo Environmental Organization. President Christopher C. Dahl signed the national agreement in 2007, vowing to reduce the college’s overall impact on the environment and integrate sustainability issues into education and the Geneseo culture.

— Daniel O’Brien ’13

Geneseo leads in international study higher percentage of Geneseo students study abroad during their college years than students on any other SUNY campus.

Although the percentage of students completing their humanities requirement, enrolling in courses or experiencing service-learning internationally varies by year, says Assistant Provost for International Programs Rebecca Lewis, approximately 38 percent of Geneseo’s 5,480 undergraduates do so at some time during their studies at Geneseo.

SUNY Oswego is the next highest, at 24 percent, according to SUNY data.

“We are living in a global society, and what students are seeking in a college experience includes comprehensive global education,” says Lewis. “More students are weighing international opportunities when choosing as well. Geneseo has many diverse programs, many led by faculty, and we are con-

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stantly evaluating and creating programs.”

Twenty years ago, studying and living in a foreign culture was more of a novelty. In 19901991, just 70 Geneseo students did so. By 2000, there were 130. Last year, 445 students packed a passport. Study abroad information sessions during Parents Weekend typically attract 400 parents.

A main reason so many Geneseo students study abroad is the support from administrators and professors who believe global education is integral to a comprehensive liberal arts education, says Lewis.

Geneseo students have 43 different programs on five continents available, directly through the college or a partnering institution. More than half of Geneseo’s programs are faculty-led. This summer, professors are leading students on first-time programs in Poland, Lithuania and China.

Such transformative experiences give students confidence,

skills and deeper understanding of global issues and cultures.

Allison Hoppe ’13 was among the first Geneseo students to participate in a new servicelearning program in Uganda last summer, led by Lecturer of Political Science and International Relations Jeremy Grace and the Foundation for Sustainable Development.

Hoppe was part of a small team of students that helped a savings and microfinance cooperative develop a sustainable program to generate more money to loan. The co-op focuses on serving single, widowed and HIV-positive women through low-interest loans.

“It has made a big difference for them,” she says. “The idea of going to another country and doing development work seems daunting and overwhelming …

Having done this, it’s possible and something I feel comfortable and excited doing. You can’t do something like that and not have it be a life-changing experience.”

— Kris Dreessen

Alumni Council holds first meeting PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

Global education

John Gleason ’87, left, Gary Grose ’87, Tracie Lopardi Brown ’95 and Bob Muller ’83.

From California to Florida to Massachusetts, alumni returned to campus Oct. 26 to attend the inaugural meeting of the Alumni Council. The council is focused on adding structure to alumni volunteer organizations across the country to capitalize on Geneseo’s growing momentum.

“Our goal is to merge the work among the many Geneseo organizations that exist today, and to create synergies that will connect students and alumni not only to each other but to opportunities beyond the campus,” said council Chair John Gleason ’87.

Vice Chairs Tracie Lopardi Brown ’95, Gary Grose ’87 and Bob Muller ’83 led sessions in the areas of events, communication and engagement, respectively.

The council is evaluating ideas and feedback shared during the event to develop engagement strategies for the coming year.

“We want to make sure our alumni feel as great about Geneseo now as they did when they went here,” said Lopardi Brown.

— Anthony T. Hoppa

PHOTO PROVIDED

Allison Hoppe ’13, left, helped residents with economic development in Uganda.

Winter 2013

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NEWS IN BRIEF Teams clinch SUNY titles The college added three more SUNY Athletic Conference championships last fall — women’s tennis and cross-country and men’s cross-country.

The women’s tennis team has won five SUNY titles. The women’s cross-country team won its 12th title in 13 years.

The men’s team won its fourth consecutive title.

Two win ‘Coaches of the Year’ Geneseo’s coaches for crosscountry and tennis were recently named Coach of the Year in the SUNY Athletic Conference.

Coach Mike Woods has led Geneseo runners to WOODS 23 SUNYwide championships in his 21 years at the college.

Woods again earned the distinction for men’s and women’s cross-country last fall. He has

been honored a total of 10 times for men’s cross-country. He has earned 11 Coach of the Year awards for women’s — the most of any SUNYAC crosscountry coach in both of those CHEN sports.

Tennis Coach James Chen has been Coach of the Year three out of the last four years.

College noted for physics graduates The sciences are the most popular disciplines among Geneseo students, and the physics department is booming. Geneseo is second among the nation’s more than 500 primarily undergraduate institutions for producing the largest number of students graduating with physics degrees from 2008-2010, according the American Institute of Physics. Geneseo is second to Annapolis, the U.S. Naval Academy.

Geneseo averaged 26 graduates per year from 2008-

2010. Professor of Physics and Chair Charles Freeman credits the opportunity for students to collaborate with faculty and conduct research projects in areas that pique their interest.

Milne creates new home for rare publications Milne Library has always been a home for scholarly pursuits.

It is also home to rare, historical and unique collections of publications for such diverse topics as college and regional history, international rare books, Henry David Thoreau and publications authored by faculty, staff and alumni.

They are all housed in the new College Archive and Special Collections area, which includes study rooms equipped as teaching and learning labs.

Intercultural cookbook released Geneseo’s MOSAIC Cultural Awareness Series has released an online cookbook featuring recipes for dishes that have been served at various cultural dinners on campus, as well as other ethnically diverse dishes.

Visit go.geneseo.edu/mosaiccookbook.

Spotlight on innovation

Finding their muse: Writers in residence Writers House residence hall opened in 2009 with a mission to be a home for writers of all kinds to cultivate and share their passion.

As such, it has been host to several “writers in residence,” who lend expertise and encourage students to pursue their interest and to explore different genres. They have included a poet, playwright, children’s author, filmmaker and recording industry executive Ruby Marchand from Rykodisc, a part of Warner Music Group.

For the first two months of the spring 2013 semester, playwright Elizabeth Wong, best known for “Letters to a Student Revolutionary,” a comedy and drama, and “Kimchee and Chitlins,” a satirical drama, is living in Writers House and working closely with students.

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Wong is directing a student production of Moliere’s “Tartuffe” for the Department of Theatre and Dance, and teaching an advanced playwriting course. Students submitted an original five-minute play to enroll.

Writers House students have been inspired by the writers and the opportunity to collaborate with them. After meeting at a songwriting workshop in Writers House, Marchand helped Angela Aida Carducci ’12 believe she had the talent to attend graduate school for vocal arts.

“She really encouraged me,” said Carducci, who is now studying at Bard College Conservatory of Music.

— Kim Showalter ’13

New leader directs college advancement The college welcomed a new leader of college advancement last fall.

Bill Brower has 24 years of experience in development and capital campaign experience at educational institutions, including 16 years at Hamilton College as executive director of major gifts and BROWER advancement services, and other positions during capital campaigns of more than $100 million.

At Geneseo, Brower directs a team of 28 professionals engaged in development, communications and alumni relations. Among his initiatives are boosting alumni giving and engagement and strengthening giving to The Fund for Geneseo.

Students help marketing strategy for historic homestead When Main Street and regional merchants want fresh ideas to enhance their businesses, they often seek students in Professor of Communication Mary Mohan’s public relations classes.

Last semester, students developed ideas to rejuvenate the historic Wadsworth Homestead in the village, which was recently reopened as an event facility. Fourteen teams of students engineered branding and strategies for marketing, collaborating with Will Wadsworth. The Wadsworth family members were pioneers in Geneseo.

The class is also examining how the homestead can effectively use social media and networking.

LETTERS

Letters to the Editor We want to hear from you! The Scene welcomes feedback and encourages discussion of higher-education issues, content and your thoughts about Geneseo. Send letters, which may be edited for space, to scene@geneseo.edu or to the Scene editor, SUNY Geneseo, Roemer House, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454.

Professor inspired alumnus I enjoy reading accounts of how Geneseo professors help shape the future of their students. I owe a lot of thanks to business Lecturer Paul Scipione.

I arrived for my senior year with no professional experience and very little idea of where I was headed. That fall, I took Dr. S.’s market research course and got involved with his projects at the Survey Research Center. Knowing I had found what I wanted to do, I interned at a research firm under a former student of Dr. S. With some experience and a reference from Dr. S., I got a job with a nationally recognized market research firm.

After a few years there, I called Dr. S. and told him I was applying to the master of marketing research program at the University of Georgia. Without my asking, he was on the phone the following morning with a professor there that he knew.

As I made the drive to Georgia to begin classes this June, I thought of where I might be if it were not for Dr. S. — Jason Hoskins ’09 Big Tree article is rooted in memories The article on the Big Tree Inn brought back old memories. I transferred to Geneseo in 1970 to finish my degree in business administration. I worked for Joe Vitale and his daughter at the Vital Spot and later for

John Lockhart at the Whale’s Tale. Shortly after arriving in town, I became fast friends with John, and his then wife, Sharon, who are both wonderful people. When the Big Tree Inn went bust in 1971, John bought at auction the contents of its wine cellar and we spent the next semester drinking our way through the cellar. The friends I made while at school are friends today.

— Mike Hanley ’72 I really enjoyed reading about the Big Tree Inn’s history, and Barry Kaplan’s letter about his 50-year reunion was a neat trip down memory lane. Next year will be my 50th year of living in paradise (Hawaii) and playing softball competitively. Lucky me. My Geneseo coaches — Mort Akers and Vic Rashi — would be proud. Fond memories and warm alohas.

— Jim “Sparky” Reed ’61 Life lessons at WGSU The “Dusk to Dawn” photo essay brought me back more than 35 years to closing up WGSU at 2 a.m. after the last show of the day. After starting my radio days as a freshman, I moved up to “supervisor” as a junior. That meant training new members, doing recording work and overseeing the station late at night. While I learned a lot from wonderful professors, my education outside the classroom was as valuable as any I received. WGSU

is one of the main reasons I am where I am today.

I am an associate professor of communication studies and coordinator of the master’s program at Morgan State. I helped create the FM radio station at my former college, College of Staten Island/CUNY. I was general manager of the station for 22 years. I was also a faculty advisor for the FM station at Richard Stockton College.

WGSU made me a strong adherent to experiential learning. I learned to work in groups, how to supervise people, and received the first inkling that I might want to teach. It opened up a whole world to me.

It is nice to see WGSU is an important part of the Geneseo community today.

— Gregory Adamo ’76 Discipline and ethics buoyed police chief I’m proud to say that many of the qualities that I learned as a Geneseo student have served me extremely well.

Upon graduating in 1995 as a poli sci major, I was hired as a police officer for the City of Oneonta (N.Y.) Police Department. In my 17-year career, I’ve served as a patrol officer, DARE officer, sergeant, detective and lieutenant, and now am chief of police. As a result of my work ethic, I’ve been sent to many amazing and advanced schools, including the FBI

National Academy.

I’ve been very fortunate to do all that I set out to do and I feel that the educational background and discipline that I learned at Geneseo played a huge part in my success.

— Dennis Nayor ’95 Sorority sister is an inspiration in the wake of Superstorm Sandy When my friend and sorority sister, Lauren Redmond Rafferty ’01, and her family evacuated her home in Breezy Point, Queens, she could have never predicted how Hurricane Sandy would forever change her. Hours later, Breezy Point was under 4 feet of water and a massive fire raged through the community.

Almost instantly, she utilized her leadership skills to support others, quickly providing information about how to help salvage photos, family heirlooms and how to file claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Her husband helped with clean-up efforts. Both helped their neighbors while, in their own lives, they endured profound devastation.

Her active and alumni sisters responded just as swiftly. More than $5,000 was raised for victims of Hurricane Sandy by more than 100 individuals with ties to Sigma Delta Tau’s Gamma Chi Chapter at Geneseo.

— Jill Bryson ’00 Winter 2013

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Now Serving: 60 years of innovation and a taste of home

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By Kris Dreessen ancy Davis ’64 was among the first students to work for Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) when dining halls first opened on campus, doing a semester in the dish

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room.

Back then, the menu was a decent, one-choice meal. She never liked ham, but she learned to eat it.

“Nothing too frisky or exciting,” laughs Davis. “You got a meal ticket, you went to the cafeteria and you ate what they gave you.”

What a difference 50 years can make.

Every Tuesday this semester, Mallory Shaffer ’15 is earning money toward next year’s tuition by stir-frying baby bok choy and fresh-cut vegetables in house-made lemongrass and teriyaki sauces at Fusion Market. The Student Union eatery features flavors inspired by world cuisine, and every dish is made to order.

There is always a line.

Like Davis and Shaffer, every Geneseo student of the last 60 years or so — more than 50,000 — has lived with CAS, the notfor-profit company that operates independently of the college and delivers dining and a host of other services on campus for students, faculty and staff. More than 10,000 students have worked for CAS for pocket money or to pay for their education over the years.

CAS has always been a vital — and often inconspicuous — partner at Geneseo, enhancing daily life on campus by helping to make it tick. CAS also supports the college’s mission to be an innovative and effective environmental steward. It even provides scholarships and undergraduate research fellowships.

CAS has evolved from offering simple cafeteria-style meals to an operation with more than 500 employees that touches faculty, students and others, often in surprising ways — many unrelated to traditional dining.

Even the meaning of dining on campus has changed. Davis was astonished to hear that students are ordering grilled cheese, burgers and warm, gooey chocolate-chip cookies from a new food truck — parked outside their residence hall and open ’til 1 a.m.

“That just blew my mind,” she says. “… I am absolutely amazed at what they have going on there now.”

••• What CAS does CAS Executive Director Mark Scott (read more about him on Page 12) and his staff are responsible for all eight campus restaurants and cafés, including Fusion and Starbucks, and the Chowhound food truck.

Overnight in the culinary support center at Red Jacket, employees prep and pack 1,500 salads and other “grab-n-go” items sold around campus. Impressions Catering provides snacks to full meals for more than 1,200 events each year, from studentclub culture nights to the President’s Recognition Dinner and Summer Reunion. CAS also runs the historic Big Tree Inn. Campus Auxiliary Services has evolved from providing simple meals to also operating and providing many campus services: catering, recycling, cable TV, laundry, the Big Tree Inn, vending, Starbucks and car rental.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLE SMITH VOLPE ’91 AND KEITH WALTERS ’11

Winter 2013

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FAST FACTS …

Waste not: What we save

14,400

— Pounds of food trimmings composted from the Culinary Support Center.

8.5

— Tons of paper products recycled each year.

6.4 million

— gallons of water saved since high-efficiency washing machines were installed in 2007 — enough to fill the campus pool 17 times!

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— Percent reduction in food discarded by each student per meal since trays were eliminated at buffets.

20,000 — Cans and bottles potentially saved each year by adding recycling receptacles at on-campus catered events.

1 million

— napkins saved by using dispensers that encourage less waste.

3,318

— Pounds of milk, produce, deli meats and other food donated to Foodlink for needy families in the region at the end of the spring 2012 semester.

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The other things CAS does are less ient … It’s not a cookie-cutter experience.” known but equally impressive. Take a sinSuch continual innovation is more than gle student’s experience: luxury. Life on campus is a big part of the CAS runs the restaurant where Courtney Geneseo experience, and Scott is keenly Cataudella ’15 eats yogurt for breakfast aware that such amenities are increasingly and the meal plan program she uses to important for students choosing schools. buy it at Mary Jemison. CAS runs the iden“Today schools are much more competitification services where Courtney got her tive, and it’s not just about being more Geneseo ID used for purchasing meals competitive in the classroom,” says Scott. and accessing her residence hall. CAS “Students look at quality of life, too ... We manages the contract for the company carry a tremendous responsibility to help that runs the Geneseo University Geneseo be competitive and enrich the Bookstore — where she bought her politicollege experience.” cal science textbook — and the vending machine in the Union, where she gets her CAS evolution late-night hummus and chips. CAS rents CAS is midway through its five-year strategic her micro-fridge and provides the equipplan to elevate all dining facilities on camment she uses to watch her favorite TV pus. A revamped Corner Pocket and the shows and to do laundry.

Fusion Market opened last spring. At all Courtney’s daily restaurants, nearly everyStarbucks fix? It’s thing is house-made. open when she needs Homemade and cusit, ’til 2 a.m. She also tom-order meals will can rent a car through reach a new level in 2014 CAS. when Letchworth Dining New high-efficiency washers CAS handles refuse Hall reopens after a $13 and dryers are outfitted with for the dining operamillion renovation. tions and all campus The new Letchworth software so students can recycling, too. will feature a from-scratch check which machines are free “I knew a little bit bakery and diet-specific — and receive a text when about what they did, stations that cater to their clothes are done! but that’s surprising,” kosher, halal, gluten-free says Cataudella, who is and vegan diets, and a also a cashier in Fusion. “I usually just “Top Chef” area where students can eat think of CAS as providing food on campus while watching chefs’ cooking demonstrabut it’s enlightening to realize they protions. It will also double as an events venue. vide almost all of the residential services Another SUNY first: Geneseo’s “purple” that really make living here comfortable.” chefs.

It takes some 375 students and 150 comCAS trained chef assistants, managers munity members, working full or part and student supervisors in preparing food time, to make everything run smoothly. for those with food allergies and introThose include a certified executive chef, duced a special crew of employees who can four professional chefs and a registered make any meal for those who have food dietitian available to students. allergies, at any campus restaurant. They They all serve one mission, says Scott: wear checkered hats and carry a special “Support the mission of the college. That’s purple suitcase of kitchen tools. it. Period.”

Geneseo was the first SUNY campus to That increasingly means providing necintroduce the “purple suitcases” in dining essary services as conveniently and with as centers, says Scott. much customization as possible. Being a Change beyond the dining halls is not-for-profit company and being indeincreasingly quick — and geared toward pendent provides nimbleness, says Scott, convenience — as technology progresses. with the benefit of allowing CAS to run Students don’t even have to leave their resmore like a private entity. idence hall room to see which washing “We’re really creating more of an experi- machines and dryers are free. ence,” says Rebecca Stewart ’04, CAS mar“I couldn’t imagine that would happen, keting coordinator. “We want to provide but I certainly would have loved it,” says those extra services with those extra touch- Dan Bock ’76, who worked in the dish es to make it special, to make it convenroom while at Geneseo.

YOU CAN DO WHAT?

A leader in sustainability CAS has worked to make operations more efficient and help Geneseo reduce its impact on the environment; it’s one of a small group of SUNY auxiliary services organizations that examine sustainability at campuses statewide.

CAS’s introduction of high-efficiency washing machines, recycling and other programs has saved Geneseo more than 6.4 million gallons of water since 2007, and 8.5 tons of paper products from being dumped in landfills each year.

Composting food scraps from the packaged meals made at the culinary center converts more than 14,000 pounds of food into mulch in the campus compost pile, which is used in campus landscaping.

Those big and small changes add up.

(Read more about the impact CAS has on reducing environmental impact on Page 10.)

CAS also dedicates some of its operating budget to purchase goods and services from businesses in a 100-mile radius of Geneseo, and from minority- and womenowned businesses.

“We believe in our responsibility to be stewards for Geneseo,” says Scott. “We focus on the broader definition of sustainability — not just reduce, reuse, recycle around material resources. We also focus on how to sustain communities and their well-being.”

Student Impact CAS also plays a significant role in hundreds of students’ lives each year by easing their financial burden through employment. Along the way, they gain career skills, a new social circle and memories that resonate for a lifetime.

Gina Middleton ’14 waitresses at the Big Tree Inn and serves as a student supervisor for the campus catering service to pay for her car insurance, gasoline and rent while she’s earning her degree in English and adolescent education.

She needs the job but she racks up extra hours for something else — fun. She met her best friend working. Her boyfriend, too. Spreading butter onto plates for diners — and bantering with her buddies while doing it — feels as much like hanging out as work.

“I love my job, I really do. I couldn’t imagine school without it,” says Middleton.

“It’s my social life.”

Like Middleton, Shaffer is thankful she can work on campus. But it’s more than

PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

Scene editor Kris Dreessen, right, discovers what it's like to work for CAS in the new Chowhound food truck, with the patience of supervisor Maurizo Burroni.

Scene editor joins the front lines of CAS “One Walter with oink! One Scrappy Doo!” I’ve worked the Chowhound’s register for the past hour, cashing out students hungry for food served up in the new food truck. I am just comfy enough to find my food-truck voice. I slide receipts down the line like a pro, then look to my supervisor, Maurizo, to make sure I haven’t fouled up the works. I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

The truck is new, a novelty of sorts, and fun. There’s music playing and the close quarters requires teamwork — think four people making lunch in a pop-up trailer — and breeds a familiarity that fosters friendship.

As Scene editor, my philosophy has always been to get in the trenches to truly understand — and tell — the Geneseo story. To experience the flavor of working for CAS, I completed shifts at Chowhound and at Geneseo’s newest café, Share your memories of CAS! Fusion Market. email scene@geneseo.edu or visit our Geneseo Alumni Facebook page!

At Fusion, Chef Chris first has me make a simple and large batch of peanut sauce. Well, maybe it’s not so simple, because I promptly ruin the batch by adding too much soy sauce. Oops.

Lucky for me, Chris incorporates my error into a larger batch, doubling everything but the soy sauce, and we wind up with enough tasty peanut sauce to fill a kiddie pool.

The sauce will be put to good use at the stir-fry station, where Mallory Shaffer ’15 cooks up an entrée every three minutes or so. I watch Mallory make a beef teriyaki — once — then jump in. I later move to the sandwich station, where we work nonstop toasting bread, spreading spreads and layering meat.

At one point, I’m told I have a 42-second break while the toast is browning.

When I finally take off my apron, I’m exhausted. I’ve learned a few things, and one of the most important is how hard CAS employees work.

And, freshness counts. During my peanut-sauce adventure, someone next to me diced two cases of tomatoes for pico de gallo. Time and effort could be saved by buying these things, but CAS doesn’t. I appreciate what I order so much more.

It was also fun. It’s a unique atmosphere to have your work enjoyed by your peers.

There’s a real camaraderie and I was welcomed into it. Alumni are always telling me how much fun it was to get soaked in the dish room or how they met their best friends through CAS shifts. I can certainly see that.

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Winter 2013

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PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

CAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mark Scott Mark Scott’s college mentor taught him the importance of a clean white shirt and a conservative tie. Scott later adopted a more colorful style to match his personality, but he’s hung on to the lesson.

“He taught me the value of those first impressions,” says Scott.

Walk into the College Union for coffee at Starbucks or lemongrass curry stir-fry and you immediately see the new face of Geneseo dining. Modern. Customized entrees. It’s all part of Scott’s vision.

Scott, who earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and an MBA, came to Geneseo in 2007 with 20 years of experience leading teams in dining, plant operations and restaurant and facilities management. He led guest and restaurant services at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center, and also teams of 300 to 700 employees at industry giant Aramark Management Services. Always interested in college settings, he also provided career, financial and other counseling to minority and financially disadvantaged students as assistant director of the Canisius Opportunity Programs for Education at Canisius College.

Scott says he draws on all of his expertise to improve CAS services continually for more than 5,500 students as well as faculty and staff.

His single philosophy: Support Geneseo’s mission to be the premier public liberal arts college. He’s constantly examining what’s new, what’s sound business and what people want.

“I kept saying to myself that I love the service industry and being a business person, if I could do it in a place that I really appreciate and I was most fulfilled, I’d be in heaven,” says Scott. “People spend a lifetime looking for that opportunity. For me, this is that place.”

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that. Working at CAS is like “working within a community,” says Shaffer.

That community is one Middleton knows isn’t likely to happen again. She knows these four years will be among the ones she misses most. An English and education major, Middleton doesn’t plan on a career in hospitality, but has realized how important it is to feel good coming to work.

“I don’t want to leave!” says Middleton.

“CAS has integrated into every part of my life. Once I graduate, the most important thing to me will be being able to make a living and be happy doing it.”

Decades later, alumni like Kevin Gavagan ’75, a member of the Geneseo Foundation Board of Directors, know about such memories. Some of Gavagan’s best at Geneseo were at the Rathskellar, a bar in the basement of Letchworth that CAS operated.

It closed more than 30 years ago, but its closing is still mourned by many.

“I served the first drink ever served there,” says Gavagan, who bartended and was a student manager when the beer of choice, Genny Cream Ale, was a quarter and you could buy “subs and suds” with your meal plan.

“It was the hometown bar,” says Gavagan. “It was a happy, safe place to hang out.” After it closed when the drinking age was raised to 19 in 1982, Gavagan says “we shed a brief tear over the passing of an era.”

CAS also offers $1,000 scholarships to 10 student employees annually, and in part-

nership with Follett, the company contracted to run the bookstore, provides $6,000 per year for undergraduate research.

Follett also provides $5,000 in textbook grants for financially eligible students.

CAS has also made a $500,000 commitment to Shaping Lives of Purpose: The Campaign for Geneseo. This year, CAS provided a $20,000 research grant to two Geneseo education professors who are exploring how iPads and digital texts and tools are integrated into courses.

While many students who work at CAS ultimately choose careers outside hospitality, for others the entire CAS experience, in part, inspired them to join the field — some right at Geneseo.

Shayne Cook ’02 majored in studio art but worked in kitchens his whole life — including grilling burgers and doing the dishes at Geneseo. When he decided to move in a different direction, he chose food service. He has been assistant manager at Red Jacket for three years.

The philosophy at Geneseo, and the ability to make a home away from home, and have such impact, inspired Rebecca Stewart ’04 to build her career with CAS. “There were a lot of things I saw within the company while I was a student worker that interested me so much — and I could see so much change in those four years and so much excitement, I decided to make it my home,” says Stewart.

Geneseo chef develops sauce for all SUNY diners As more families seek meals with ingredients grown and produced close to home, Geneseo is doing its part to serve fresher foods and boost the regional economy.

In Geneseo kitchens, Chef Jonna Anne, certified executive chef and director of culinary operations, is stirring pots of freshly pureéd tomatoes and fragrant basil leaves and adding chopped garlic by the pinch to create a recipe that will become a base for pizza sauce that will available for use PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11 on all 64 SUNY campuses.

Jonna Anne The project is part of SUNY’s ongoing sustainability efforts. All ingredients will be grown, processed, manufactured and sold within New York state.

“I feel very honored they chose me for this project,” says Anne.

Story by Kris Dreessen • Photos by Keith Walters ’11

After the Storm The Geneseo community reaches out with relief efforts in Sandy’s wake.

:

View the entire Sandy relief trip gallery at go.geneseo.edu/sandyCARES

Chuck Reyes, Geneseo’s environmental health and safety director, looks on as Saif Ratul ’13, left, and Matt Bower ’13 remove a piece of a shed that was blown into a homeowner’s yard on Staten Island.

Winter 2013

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Volunteers were surprised at the devastation on Staten Island, where Stephen Kowalewski ’13 and others helped nine homeowners rebuild. A second Livingston County CARES work trip is planned for March.

“Never underestimate the effort of one person or a group. You make a huge difference to the person you are helping.”

— Alyssa Stefanese ’15

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Learn more about Livingston County CARES at communitycare.geneseo.edu

geneseo scene

he water is coming. I have to go. I love you.”

Those were the final words Alyssa Stefanese ’15 heard before her mother hung up the phone.

“I just started crying. I could hear in her voice that something was wrong,” she says.

It would be 18 hours before Alyssa knew her parents were safe from Superstorm Sandy, when her uncle texted her a photo taken from her own bedroom window in their Staten Island home. She saw her entire neighborhood flooded with water as high as the stop sign below.

Her parents had found refuge upstairs, where they had stayed up all night. As their own couch floated against the ceiling, they reassured the family huddled on their roof next door that it would be all right. Rescuers evacuated them by boat the next day.

Staten Island was especially hard hit, accounting for half the deaths from Sandy in the New York City area.

“I never thought it would happen,” says Alyssa.

Despite the challenges her own family faces — and the repairs their home needs

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— Alyssa volunteered with a 19-member Livingston County CARES crew of students, alumni, college staff and community members to help alleviate other families’ heartache.

The group spent a week in a Staten Island community minutes away from Alyssa’s home, clearing debris and gutting homes. It is one of several ways members of the Geneseo family, including students and alumni, have assisted those affected by the storm.

••• Chuck Reyes, Geneseo’s environmental health and safety director, didn’t expect the devastation the volunteers encountered. The New Dorp area where they worked is close to the shore. Debris was everywhere. Walls ripped off houses.

Basements caved in. Signs of warning on unsafe homes. One woman he saw was sorting through waterlogged photos pulled from her home.

“That was her life. That was what was left,” says Chuck. “… It was horrendous. It wasn’t one or two houses. It was streets and streets of houses. It was gut-wrenching.”

(Below) Alyssa Stefanese ’15 waited 18 hours before she knew her family was safe after Superstorm Sandy. Despite repairs her family’s home needs, she volunteered to help others with the Livingston CARES crew. The bonds she made with volunteers during clean-up were extraordinary, she says.

Chuck Reyes, Geneseo’s environmental health and safety director, and Diana Castro ’14 carry insulation and ceiling material from a home as a fellow volunteer kicks down the ceiling above.

Volunteers helped clear debris from yards and gut nine homes in the week, working with homeowners arranged through Bethel United Methodist Church of Staten Island. They bunked on sleeping pads at a Jewish Community Center, arranged by Alyssa.

Alyssa worked with Associate Dean of Leadership and Service Tom Matthews, who is also a board member of Livingston County CARES, to arrange the trip quickly.

Livingston CARES has a long tradition of helping families rebuild in the Biloxi, Miss., area after Hurricane Katrina. A day after the Staten Island crew returned to Geneseo in January, another group left for Biloxi for a week. More than 700 volunteers have participated in 26 trips since 2005. Livingston CARES wanted to help New York now, says Matthews. Because of Alyssa’s interest, Staten Island was the right area to work, he says.

There is a lot of interest for the next Sandy work group in March. “It just speaks volumes about people’s interest in community service,” says Matthews.

“Experiences like these are an integral part of the liberal education we value at Geneseo,” says President Christopher C. Dahl, who has volunteered in Biloxi. “The Katrina and Sandy work trips are meaningful examples of how our college strives to make a difference. Alumni efforts carry on that tradition.”

Sandy relief crew members are proud Geneseo so often demonstrates that concern.

Trevor Ramsey-Macomber ’09 always had an intrinsic desire to help others.

Livingston CARES and Geneseo gave him

the outlets to do so. He participated in four Biloxi relief trips, which helped him decide to join the Peace Corps working in Micronesia.

Alumni identified their own niches to provide relief as well. Mary Kate Tischler ’96 co-founded the Sandy Can’t Steal Christmas group to provide gifts for families on Long Island. Lauren Redmond Rafferty ’01 and her family suffered heavy damage to their own Breezy Point home, but Sigma Delta Tau alumnae and active sisters raised more than $5,000 for victims.

Bronx firefighter Brian Malone ’05 responded in the storm with his crew.

Through his creation of Yummy Relief, New York City chef and caterer Joseph Yoon ’97 cooked or organized thousands of hot meals that he and volunteers served in hard-hit and under-served areas.

Before break, students also hosted a wing-eating contest and other fundraisers on campus.

Such dedication to community service and opportunities for leadership are “extremely important,” says Alyssa. “That’s something that attracted me to Geneseo.”

••• During the Staten Island trip, volunteers met and often worked with homeowners, like Rocco, who left his home in Pennyslvania to help his mother with hers, which had completely flooded. The storm had swept chest-high piles of debris, a shed and someone else’s roof into the yard.

Chuck and the volunteers worked to clean and to remove the shed.

“Rocco’s phone never stopped ringing,” remembers Chuck. “He was helping so many different people. There’s a hero right there.”

Volunteers say it is not the devastation that will stay with them, but the connections thay made with homeowners they helped — and the remarkable bonds they found with each other.

“The things you build or deconstruct are nothing at the end of the day without the people behind them,” says Trevor. “That is the eternal part of the work we do.”

Here lies the heart of their — and anyone’s — efforts to assist others, say Alyssa and others.

Sandy caused some $33 billion in physical and economic loss. No one person or group is going to fix Staten Island or even the entire block. But one person or group can and does make a huge difference in helping people.

With many hands, Livingston CARES volunteers completed work in two days what Rocco thought would take him two weeks, says Alyssa.

She knows how much such support and caring acts — large and small — mean.

Immediately after the storm, rescuers searched for her parents. Her aunt and uncle took in their dogs. Her cousins invited them to stay in their home.

“Never underestimate the effort of one person or a group,” says Alyssa. “You make a huge difference to the person you are helping.”

Winter 2013

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Visit the Save the Wall Facebook group — facebook.com/groups/Geneseosavethewall

Preserving a Geneseo landmark one stone at a time 16

geneseo scene

Faculty, students, alumni and community members are uniting to restore a historic wall.

By Lisa M. Feinstein

PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

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The wall — and the Wadsworths — have been an integral part of Geneseo history since 1790, when brothers James and William Wadsworth traveled to western New York to care for their aging uncle’s land claim. In 1804, James built the homestead. In the 1840s, his son William inherited the property and married Emmeline Austin. Years later, William’s sons would erect the bronze bear fountain on Main Street as a memorial to their beloved mother.

PHOTOS BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

ordering the historic Wadsworth Homestead on South Street, the mile-long stone wall has greeted visitors to Geneseo for more than a century.

The distinctive wall, however, has suffered recently from the erosive effects of overgrowth and weathering. Fallen stones lie on the ground and entire sections have collapsed into the landscape.

But help has arrived.

The Save the Wall effort, led by Associate Professor Kurt Cylke, chair of the sociology department and an Association for the Preservation of Geneseo board member, has brought together community, faculty, student and alumni volunteers.

Wielding chain saws, Weedwhackers and wire brushes, volunteers gathered every Saturday from June to September to chip away old cement, clean each stone and sort the stones by size.

John White, a mason from nearby Dansville, has begun piecing the wall back together.

While restoration will probably take three years, Cylke is already impressed with the desire of volunteers to unite and preserve a piece of Geneseo history.

“This is a delightful reminder of what a special place Geneseo is,” says Cylke. “We have this historic district, which is like a living museum. It is constantly changing and dynamic — and what makes it work is people willing to volunteer and care.”

Over the summer, more than 100 volunteers booked nearly 700 hours of work on the wall. Patty Fennell ’65 delivered ice pops and water to the workers. Eddie Caruso, owner of Mama Mia’s, provided pizza. Village Mayor Dick Hatheway, professor emeritus of geology, pitched in.

Professor Emerita Myrt Merritt sat on a flipped-over bucket cleaning stones. And when students returned to campus, they joined in, clearing brush and piling rocks.

In October, 20 members of the men’s ice hockey team volunteered in the efforts.

“I knew it was something that we, as a team, could assist with,” said Head Coach Chris Schultz ’97. “It is very important for us to be involved with the community.”

Top: Ice Hockey Head Coach Chris Shultz ’97, left, and Colin DeJersey ’13.

Bottom: Associate Professor of Sociology Kurt Cylke.

The stone wall that borders the homestead property has long been a welcoming landmark to Geneseo. When rehabilitated, it will again serve as a distinctive entrance to the historic village, says Cylke.

The wall is a bit of an anomaly in western New York.

“In New England, there are stone walls everywhere,” says Cylke. “Stones were just bubbling up from the ground, and farmers

had to get rid of them. So it was natural to build these very casual, dry-stacked walls.

They’re all over New England, but not so much in western New York.”

The uniqueness of the wall and a lack of historical documentation have led to many questions. Where did the 750,000 or so stones in the wall come from? When was it built? Why did the Wadsworths craft a stone wall around the homestead when most homes from that period feature fences made from other materials?

That’s the second part of the Save the Wall project. Cylke says he and other volunteers are on a quest to answer those questions. They are just starting to search through archives and the Wadsworth letters.

Louise and Will Wadsworth, current owners of the homestead, are also active in the restoration. As the wall was slowly unearthed from the shrubbery and weeds, Will was amazed.

“It was unbelievable,” he said. “The wall is a village icon … We are committed to working to this end and hope that the community continues to be a valued partner in this project.”

Today, Will and Louise have restored and reopened the homestead as an event venue and centerpiece for the community. (Read how students are assisting with marketing strategies on Page 6).

While there is still much more work to be done on the wall, Cylke is confident that the project is well on its way. After clearing several decades worth of overgrowth and debris from the section between Elm Street and the top of the hill, he feels that some of the toughest work is complete.

“I’m optimistic that we’ve made progress on the worst of it,” he says.

When Robert Frost wrote, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, that sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, and spills the upper boulders in the sun,” he could have been describing Geneseo’s weathered wall.

And while one might argue that fences and walls do not make good neighbors, in Geneseo, this one is bringing neighbors, students, faculty and alumni together.

(Left) Ice hockey teammates Blake O’Connor ’13, left, and Brandon Angotti ’13 remove fallen stones.

Winter 2013

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PERSPECTIVES

:

What do you think? Share your thoughts with Jack and Geneseo at: go.geneseo.edu/whereiam

WHAT IF?...

An alumnus envisions what’s possible for Geneseo if more alumni gave.

By Jack Kramer ’76

Every day, Jack Kramer ’76 sees the love alumni from all eras have for Geneseo.

He hears it from alumni when he meets them across the country as chair of The Geneseo Foundation Board of Directors and in his position as senior vice president of customer perspective for Ellucian, a higher-education software and services firm. He also sees it in social media on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. At the end of the day, he is puzzled by a question that is difficult to answer. Why are so few alumni giving to the college? Kramer examines this quandary — and envisions what Geneseo could accomplish if alumni rallied behind their alma mater.

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“Let’s dispel the most common misconception that Geneseo doesn’t need our support because it is funded by New York taxpayers as part of SUNY. That used to be the case, but no longer. State funding has been in a steady decline, and more recently it is in a free-fall.”

— Jack Kramer ’76

he first part of this story is the passion we share for our alma mater.

As the chair of The Geneseo Foundation Board of Directors, I have the distinct pleasure of interacting with hundreds of fellow Geneseo alumni each year. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the most rewarding part of the position. It’s what energizes me to do it on top of my full-time job.

It’s quite fun to watch alums from vastly differKRAMER ent decades share stories about what makes Geneseo so special.

We all have our own story, whether it’s great memories of playing on a team, friends made, a special professor, or hanging at the IB. It’s even more enjoyable when one or two iconic, long-serving faculty members, like Bill Cook or Ron Herzman, join the fray.

Newly formed alumni regional committees enable us to stay connected all over the country. Homecoming and Summer Reunion attendance are at an all- time high, up 50 percent in the past two years.

More than 11,000 of us took time to attend some type of Geneseo alumni function over the past 18 months.

The affection also carries over into social media. I’m on Facebook every day and I see what we write about Geneseo. The Geneseo Facebook page has more than 13,000 fans.

Just recently, College Photographer Keith Walters’ stunning photo of a starlit Sturges Quad and Genesee Valley garnered more than 1,000 likes — within 24 hours!

Simply put, we love the darned place!

Okay, so here’s the confusing part of this story. That passion does not translate into financial support for our beloved Geneseo.

Astonishingly, only 8.5 percent of us donated to Geneseo last year.

Let me put this into perspective. The pri-

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vate colleges we consider to be peers typically post numbers in the 30 to 50 percent range. That’s four to six times our participation rate!

I don’t get it. These schools are no better than Geneseo, their alumni are no more successful than we are, and they can’t match our passion for our school. So, what’s up? I can’t believe it’s because we don’t care.

The only answer I can think of is that those schools have done a better job of communicating their need and have established a culture of giving back. If that’s the case, it’s time to get started!

First, let’s dispel the most common misconception that Geneseo doesn’t need our support because it is funded by New York taxpayers as part of SUNY. That used to be the case, but no longer. State funding has been in a steady decline, and more recently it is in a free-fall. A mere 18 percent of Geneseo’s total campus operating budget comes from state funding these days. That means that Geneseo must rely upon the same revenue sources that private schools do — tuition, fees, and private support from donations — for 82 percent of its budget.

One might ask, why not increase tuition given the difference in the cost of a Geneseo education versus that of a private institution?

The answer is straightforward. Geneseo can’t raise tuition. SUNY tuition is set by the New York Legislature and it is identical for every SUNY institution in the state.

A more nuanced answer is that raising tuition significantly would directly contradict Geneseo’s mission to provide a quality education at an affordable price. I know I benefited from that mission.

There was no way my family could have afforded any other academically equivalent alternative. I suspect many of you are nodding your head at that last sentence.

So, netting it out, we want to keep Geneseo affordable and we can’t count on additional funding from New York. That

leaves one source of revenue we can impact: the money we collectively donate.

What if we were able to jump to the participation rate of our private school peers in the long run? Let’s be conservative and use 35 percent. There are some 56,000 of us alumni still kicking around. As I said earlier, 8.5 percent give annually today, translating to 4,760 annual donors. If 35 percent of our alumni donated, that would be a whopping 14,840 incremental annual donors.

As the average gift is $225, Geneseo would have an additional $3.3 million available for student programs each year! (Can you tell that I was a math major?)

That would be incredible!

But that’s a long-term goal. What would happen if we were to start by doubling our participation, and 17 percent of alumni gave? That is an achievable goal in the short-run. Assuming the average gift amount of $225 stayed constant, we would net an additional $1 million annually!

Think of how many more students could afford a study abroad experience, conduct undergraduate research, accept an unpaid summer internship, travel on a field expedition with a faculty mentor, or benefit from upgraded athletic or science equipment!

Geneseo changed my life in so many ways. Yes, I got a great education. But that was just one part of the equation. I also grew up as a person, discovered hidden leadership skills, developed amazing lifetime friendships, and met Carol, my soul mate for more than 35 years. We have always included Geneseo in our charitable contributions, and I can tell you, there’s nothing better than getting a thank-you note from a student whose life we’ve impacted.

I can’t help but imagine what we could do, and what Geneseo can continue to be and become, if we all gave what we can.

Together, we can make a huge difference.

Winter 2013

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ATHLETICS AND RECREATION

CHAMPS

Community service is part of student-athletes’ winning record

on and off the field

By Meredith Drake ach fall, Geneseo student-athletes fan out across the village to help senior citizens rid their yards of fallen leaves. It’s a simple tradition that makes a big difference.

Last year, basketball guard Thomas Decker ’14 and 350 other players representing 19 varsity teams raked leaves at 53 homes. Decker also took time to run ballhandling drills at a local Family Fun Night.

“When we look out in the crowd at a game, we see families, alumni, older people,” he says. “They’re out there supporting us, and volunteering is a way we can support them back.”

Decker says volunteering allows him to connect with the community. He recalls a time when he wore his team shirt shopping.

“Someone came up to me and said we raked at his house last year and he really appreciated it,” says Decker. “That meant a lot to me.”

Senior citizen Norma Byar says that help is indispensable. “I’m not sure what I’d do without them.”

DECKER Geneseo student-athletes try to stand out in competition and in civic engagement. Those efforts have helped earn Geneseo a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since it was launched in 2006, twice with distinction.

From 2006 to 2009, the athletic department received the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators/Jostens Community Service Award.

“Our mantra, if you will, is ‘Classroom Champions, Conference Champions, Community Champions,’” says Assistant Athletic Director George Gagnier ’88. “It’s an expectation that our student-athletes will be civic-minded and engaged.”

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geneseo scene

Bear Toss. During a designated game, Ice Knights hockey fans throw stuffed animals onto the rink to celebrate Geneseo’s first goal. Hundreds are tossed and distributed by local charities to kids.

Last fall, student-athletes also worked with community members who are saving the stone wall at the historic Wadsworth homestead (see story on Page 16).

The philosophy is ingrained from the very experiences students have with athletics at Geneseo.

Swimming and diving Coach Paul Dotterweich makes that commitment to volunteering clear when he recruits new swimmers.

“I’m trying to help them develop as people, not just athletes,” he says, “and it helps me find the right type of athlete for our program. When I hear alums are still doing breast-cancer walks, that’s really rewarding.”

Swimming alumnus Phil Szrama ’07 took the lessons to heart. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, with his wife, Sadie Mueller ’06, to raise PHOTO BY JONATHAN BAEK ’13 money for the American Cancer Annual yard clean-up for senior citizens is one way Society.

Geneseo student-athletes serve the community.

A regular at relay events, he says One of the ways many athletes do so is to athletes’ competitive nature makes them raise money for charitable causes each year particularly good volunteers.

— including more than $6,600 raised in Doing so means organizing schoolwork, September at the annual Making Strides teamwork and community service, but it’s Against Breast Cancer Walk in Rochester. worth it, says Karlee McCorry ’15, a varsity Also, 50 student-athletes participated in the soccer player who volunteers for the Teddy Comfort Care Walk to benefit Teresa Bear Toss and the Colleges Against Cancer House, a hospice in Livingston County.

Club and participates in Relay for Life.

Another popular tradition: The Teddy Making a difference for others makes her time at Geneseo more valuable. “It makes going to school a happier experience.”

Watch the 2012 Teddy Bear Toss —

:

go.geneseo.edu/tedddytoss2012

A Knight’s Challenge The Geneseo Knights are always up for a challenge.

Bob Avallone ’76 and Dan Loughran ’86 are confident that alumni-athletes are ready to step up for Geneseo once again.

Bob and Dan have contributed $40,000 to challenge alumni-athletes to support The Fund for Geneseo by participating in A Knight’s Challenge.

A Knight’s Challenge guarantees that the men’s and women’s teams with the highest alumni participation rates will receive grand prizes of $6,000 each! Second-place teams receive $4,500, third-place teams receive $3,500, and all teams reaching a benchmark of 15% participation will receive $1,000.

Have you participated? Make a qualifying gift* to The Fund for Geneseo and help your team win the challenge! So far, men’s and women’s basketball are winning. Help your team catch up! *To qualify as a participant and help your team win, an alumni-athlete needs to make a $20 gift to The Fund for Geneseo OR match the gift you made to The Fund last year — whichever is greater.

Go to www.geneseo.edu/fund/aknightschallenge to make your gift.

Winter 2013

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RANDOM PROFILE

One Cup Jessica Hilton Roising Class of 2005

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ONE CUP Inspired by the idea that everyone has a story to share, we offer the “random profile.”

Each issue, we don a blindfold and throw a dart at a map of the United States to choose our state, then take aim again to choose a lucky alum. We catch up, relive memories and share life insight, like we are talking over coffee.

Up next ... Nebraska Could it be you?

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QUICK FACTS Home: Park City, Utah Graduation year: 2005 Degree: Art history Family: Husband, Aleks, and our dogs, Giotto and Nallah The biggest risk I’ve taken: Moving to Utah without having been there. It paid off!

How you describe Geneseo: An idyllic college town with a storybook campus. Hard work, fun times and close friends.

Favorite campus hangout: Our awesome apartment and our downstairs bar, the Vital.

Best Geneseo memory: Running on trails around campus in the fall, with the bright-colored leaves while it was misting rain.

Favorite professor or class: Professor Lynette BoschBurroughs. Listening to her vivid descriptions of the history of art kept me interested and made what we were learning real, not information out of a textbook.

How Geneseo has shaped your life: Geneseo taught me to work hard, play hard and enjoy the view!

Most important life lesson learned at Geneseo: Never regret the time or relationships built in the past.

Rather, embrace them because change is inevitable and will help make the future you stronger.

ILLUSTRATION AMANDA LINDLEY

fter her Geneseo graduation, Jessica Hilton Roising ’05 thought she wanted a master’s degree and career in art restoration. But first, she needed adventure.

Her uncle invited her to Park City, Utah, with sweeping vistas, mountains and a lot of opportunity.

“I really felt that I needed to explore,” says Roising. “He said, ‘Get your feet on the ground, and if you don’t like it, go back. If you do, stay.’ I got here and never looked back.”

Park City is a hidden treasure, she says — an outdoor mecca with residents who are green-minded and forward thinking. A national forest is literally outside her door.

Nature feeds her adventurous spirit, and she has found a way to combine all of her interests and skills in her career. Along the way, she found her niche, her family and her future.

“I was excited, scared and ready to face whatever it was I was heading towards,” says Roising. “It was change and that was what I needed. It felt like a spark was lit and I immediately had to do something about it.”

Soon after moving to Park City, Roising began teaching photography, horseback riding and other subjects at a residential treatment high school that specializes in providing experiential learning for students before they return to traditional classrooms.

Using her passion for art, horses and creative pursuits to help others was a good fit. Ultimately, Roising found her way to the National Ability Center, a nonprofit organization that assists people with physical and developmental disabilities to acquire lifetime skills and enjoyment through sports and outdoor activities.

A lifelong equestrian, Roising spent two years as the lead instructor for the center’s equestrian program. She saw the amazing bond clients make with horses and shared in the joy when clients had breakthroughs. One senior-aged woman had been working for more than a year to fine tune her balance and adapt the sport to her disability.

“She was working on proper body position on a horse and all of a sudden she goes, ‘Aha!’” says Roising. “Something just clicked …

As much as you are an instructor, they are the ones who have to discover it themselves.”

Recently, Roising became the competitive sports manager at the center. She works with athletes and develops teams for Special Olympic and competitions, in all sports.

Her other role? Newlywed.

She and her husband, Aleks, live with their two dogs in supersmall Kamas, outside of Park City. The close-knit feel reminds her of Geneseo.

“We just love it,” says Roising of the life she found in Utah.

“Sports have always been important to me … Now, I can create more opportunities for people.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

By Kris Dreessen

PHOTO BY TOM DOOLEY ’05

Alumni News ABOUT THE ARTIST: Thomas Dooley ’05 was in China to curate and exhibit images through his organization, Environmental Images, for the 2010 Changsha International Photo Festival when he captured the view from the other side of the lens.

“During the opening ceremony of the festival, some of the Chinese photographers considered the international visitors a news event and spent considerable time photographing us,” says Dooley. “There’s nothing quite like a photographer shooting another photographer.”

An anthropology major at Geneseo, Dooley earned his master’s in international photojournalism and documentary photography. Prior to moving to Costa Rica with his wife, Erika Widmaier Dooley ’06, he worked as a senior media specialist for the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., shooting assignments in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Dooley has been on assignment for the Associated Press, Frommer’s Travel Guides and for smaller clients and now focuses his work on projects for non-governmental organizations and newspapers based in Costa Rica.

See more of Tom’s work at: www.dooleyphotography.com or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dooleyphoto Share your artwork with us! Send a short bio and a link or examples of your work to scene@geneseo.edu.

ALUMNI NEWS

26 30 31 32

Alumni event photos Card shark Broadway stars Class Notes Winter 2013

23

Upcoming

Alumni Events

Geneseo — coming soon, to a city near you!

The Office of Alumni Relations is always looking for regional event ideas. Contact the office at alumni@geneseo.edu if you would like to work with us to plan an event in your area.

Events being planned as of press deadline: May 2013 March 2013 Long Island: Educators’ reception Florida: Baseball event and Campus: gathering at The Villages May 2-5 — Spring Weekend Albany: Reception at City Tavern Rochester: Amerks game and (ZBXi 20th reunion, Zeta Phi reception Beta reunion, men’s and women’s Long Island: Alumni broomball rugby) and family skating event May 10-12 — Chamber Singers Washington, D.C.: 55th reunion Student externship reception New Jersey: Reception June 2013 (Morristown) New York City: New alumni New York City: Alumni reception welcome reception at Corkbuzz July 2013 April 2013 Campus: Chicago: Alumni reception July 12-14 — Summer Reunion Rochester: Alumni reception at (3’s and 8’s class reunions, Memorial Art Gallery Sig Tau fraternity 50th reunion, San Francisco: San Jose Giants RLK reunion and WGSU 50th game and reception anniversary celebration) Campus: Siena, Italy: April 18-21 — Dance program July 29-Aug. 9, Italy Alumni Trip Anniversary/45th reunion April 26 — President’s Recognition Dinner

FUTURE PLANNING September 27-29, 2013 HOMECOMING 2013 July 11-13, 2014 SUMMER REUNION 2014 Celebrating reunion class years ending in 4 or 9.

GENESEO ALUMNI REGIONS July 10-12, 2015 SUMMER REUNION 2015 Celebrating reunion class years ending in 5 or 0. * Exclusive in 2015: Inter-Greek Council will celebrate its 100th anniversary; an ALL Greek reunion is being planned. Please contact alumni@geneseo.edu if you are interested in helping or serving as a representative from your Greek organization.

It is very important that you keep Geneseo informed of your current mailing address. You will receive event invitations and notifications based on the address we have on file, the address where this issue of the Scene was mailed. If the address on the back of this magazine isn’t up to date, you might be missing out!

Geneseo alumni homepage: alumni.geneseo.edu

Friday Knight 5K Jeff and Josh Matthews participate in the Homecoming event.

24

geneseo scene

The Office of Alumni Relations is constantly planning events on campus and throughout the 18 regions identified below. In an effort to reduce cost and preserve resources, invitations to most of our events will be sent by email (not print). To best stay informed of alumni gatherings occurring in Geneseo or in a region near you, please check the Alumni website: www.geneseo.edu/ alumni and make sure Geneseo has your most up to date email address.

Men’s Lacrosse Men’s Lacrosse Annual Alumni Game.

• Albany Region • Buffalo Region • Chicago Region • Colorado Region • Florida — East Coast Region • Florida — West Coast Region • Long Island Region • New England Region • New Jersey — Northern Region • New York City Region • North Carolina Region • Philadelphia/New Jersey — Southern Region • Rochester Region • San Francisco Region • Southern California Region • Syracuse Region • Washington, D.C. Region • Westchester/Connecticut Region

Homecoming Weekend Greek Hall of Fame (Left) Members and alumni of Alpha Delta Epsilon Sorority gather at the Greek Hall of Fame to honor sister Tara Nieves Alexander ’91 as she was inducted for her contributions to Greek life. Angie Bottini Sayles ’90 (not pictured) of the Clio Sorority was also inducted.

Sports Hall of Fame Stan Janas ’72 (men’s basketball), left, Amy Cleary ’97 (swimming), Richard “Deacon” Woodward ’71 (men’s basketball) and Griffin Coles ’00 (men’s basketball).

Women’s Lacrosse Women’s Lacrosse Annual Alumni Game.

CLIO 140th Anniversary

Political Science 50th anniversary

More than 200 members returned for the milestone celebration.

President Christopher C. Dahl, left, Professor Emeritus of Political Science Edward Janosik and Michael Tantillo ’74 .

Winter 2013

25

Alumni Events

Rochester Region Red Wings game and pre-game reception.

Geneseo Mudcats Reunion Alumni (Mudcat) baseball game and gathering.

Long Island Region Family picnic hosted by Chris ’95 and Lauren Ryan ’96 Cierski.

Albany Region Alumni Barbecue hosted with support from Val Scott ’83 Julia Gill Pyzik ’05, left, Daniel Gill ’03, Katie Meislahn ’02 and Jeffrey Thomson ’10.

New England Region Boston Red Sox Game and pre-game reception.

Buffallo Bills Alumni Tailgate and Game 26

geneseo scene

Philadelphia Region — Buffalo Bills Viewing Party Robert Cooper ’11, left, Britney Talty ’12 and Haley Kelitz Nelson ’03.

Long Island Region Alumni wine tour hosted by Kevin Bozza ’95 and Dan Gangi.

Philadelphia Longwood Gardens Event hosted by Jack ’76 and Carol Patterson ’76 Kramer Marti and Ken ’81 Hartman, left, and Cindy Gordon Hartson ’82.

Syracuse Region Alumni tailgate party and Syracuse Orange football game.

Washington, D.C., Region Alumni and student dessert reception hosted by Kristin Graham Koehler ’91.

Winter 2013

27

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI PROFILE

Poker shark with a World Series ring arah Dygert ’10 may be staring at a royal flush or she may be bluffing, but she’ll never let on at the table.

In Texas Hold’em, reading your opponents’ behavior, remembering their game history and profiling their play is just as important as running probabilities of hands through your head and adapting strategy.

Her fearlessness — and her winning professional record — earned her the nickname “Honey Badger” during a championship last year.

“It stuck with me,” says Dygert, laughing. “I like it.”

In just a few years, Dygert has gone from playing online as an enthusiast to poker shark dominating tables at prestigious $50,000-purse tournaments. Sponsors invest in her, paying entry fees and banking on her skills to earn a cut of her winnings.

At 24, she is the envy of many of the game’s aficionados: She earned a coveted World Series of Poker gold championship ring last March, outplaying nearly 900 competitors at the Atlantic City Circuit Event.

“It was a huge accomplishment,” she says.

Poker writers covering the tournament lauded her for commanding the game, even after 16 hours of play.

“The difference between second and first was $12,000, so every decision I was making was a $12,000 decision,” she says. “I don’t think about that at all at the time. I just play the best poker I can play … You’re constantly thinking about so many aspects of the game and it really is mentally exhausting.”

Poker is simple to learn but

S

very hard to master, says Dygert, who majored in computer science. There’s a lot of math in sorting through the probabili-

“It is difficult being a female,” she says. “Most people assume I am not going to play a lot of hands, I’m going to

“Every decision I was making was a $12,000 decision. I don’t think about that at all at the time. I just play the best poker I can play.”

— Sarah Dygert ’10 ties of hands. Strategies are ever-changing.

At the table, Dygert stands out for another reason. The majority of pro poker players are men.

play passively and that I am probably not going to be very good … I try to use it to my advantage. I play a bunch more aggressively than they think I’m going to and I bluff more

:

class of ’10 Sarah Dygert PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

28

geneseo scene

frequently because they think I won’t.”

Dygert taught herself poker growing up, watching games on TV. She was a natural, taking her brothers’ pennies during family games. At Geneseo, she got better with her boyfriend, Michael Perrone ’11, who also competes.

“I wouldn’t be as good a player without him,” she says.

She made enough money playing poker online to pay her rent and living expenses: “After getting my homework done, of course,” says Dygert.

Despite her winning streak, Dygert works full time as a computer game developer. She loves using practical applications of math to solve problems and creating something people use. In November, she moved to Seattle to be a senior software developer at Jawfish Games, creating real-time, tournament-style games.

“It’s my dream job,” she says.

In December, Dygert was back at the tables to defend her title as top dog of the 2011 Royal Caribbean Championship, hosted by the Royal Caribbean cruise line. Other tournaments are in her future, and she’s aiming for more championships.

“It is pretty exciting,” says Dygert. “I am pretty shy and introverted so I get kind of nervous with all of the attention, but now I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t think about any place in a tournament but first.”

Read Sarah Dygert’s crucial tips to play better poker go.geneseo.edu/pokershark

Shining in the bright lights of Broadway “The odds of two people at Geneseo at the same time to end up in a show like this, you can’t even compute it.”

— Lucas Papaelias ’98 he last time Lucas Papaelias ’98 and J. Michael Zygo ’01 shared a stage, they’d seen each other naked in “Hair.”

For Papaelias, then a senior studying theater and communications at Geneseo, it was his first actor-musician role.

For Zygo, then a freshman, it was the beginning of a shift from studying biology to embracing his love of music.

They credit that production and other opportunities to perform at Geneseo with ultimately leading them to their current roles in the Broadway hit “Once.”

The bittersweet romantic musical about an Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant has been a huge success.

Based on the 2006 movie of the same name, “Once” opened on Broadway in February 2012 and won eight Tony Awards last June, including Best Musical.

“The odds of two people at Geneseo at the same time to end up in a show like this, you can’t even compute it,” says Papaelias, who plays a musician named Svec.

Zygo has the role of Emcee and has gone on as the understudy for the male lead, Guy. He is also the show’s dance captain and an understudy for a character named Billy.

It is Zygo’s first time performing on Broadway. He never imagined what the show has become — attracting sellout crowds, signing auto-

T

graphs after shows and performing on a Grammy-winning soundtrack recorded by the cast. Performing at the Tonys was “beyond exciting,” he says.

“I’m down center the whole time and there’s Hugh Jackman,” he recalls. “I kept trying to keep my energy and focus where it needed to be.”

There are no big Broadway ensembles or orchestras to back the “Once” actors in the intimate production. Zygo and Papaelias are part of a 13-member cast who not only act, but also sing, dance and play instruments — often simultaneously. They also get up close with the audience. The cast has a pre-show jam session with the crowd and the large, semi-circular bar that serves as the set becomes an actual bar for patrons during intermission.

“We’re always playing in character,” Papaelias says. “It’s a really fun way to go through a show, to always be in your role, even when you’re not in a scene.”

It’s also a physically demanding way to perform, but the show has been worth it, says Papaelias, whose career has included the Broadway production of “Cyrano de Bergerac” with Kevin Kline and roles in the movie “School of Rock” and in TV shows such as “Law & Order.”

“I’m already a lucky man,” he says.

For Zygo, whose career has included touring productions

class of ’98

class of ’01

Lucas Papaelias

J. Michael Zygo PHOTO PROVIDED

of “Rock of Ages,” “Oklahoma!,” and “Annie,” “Once” has also been a nice change of pace.

“Once” is scheduled at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre through October, though it’s not clear how long the original cast will be with the production. Whatever happens, Zygo says, he’s going to enjoy the ride.

“If I have to do this show for the rest of my life, I’d be happy.”

— By Lydia Fernandez

: Watch Papaelias and Zygo perform with the cast of “Once” at the 2012 Tonys www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8RebiKimpx4

Winter 2013

29

ALUMNI NEWS

Class Notes 1940s Betty Schroeder Larkin ’45 and

Richard Larkin are happy to announce their marriage on Jan. 28, 2012.

1960s John Hayden ’68 lives in Towson,

Md., and is a partner engaged in corporate and estate planning law matters at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP. He has been with the firm for 39 years. Kathy Winter ’68 completed a new novel about Mark Twain entitled “Lost Wain: A Novel of Hawaii.”

1970s Class of 1973 — celebrating their 40th reunion and Class of 1978 — celebrating their 35th reunion July 12-13, 2013.

Dale Hartnett ’70 lives in Geneseo and teaches communication courses at SUNY Brockport and Monroe Community College.

He also organizes Brockport’s annual Constitution Day celebration on campus and a service-learning trip to Memphis, Tenn., during which students work in an abandoned black cemetery founded by former slaves in 1876. Kathe Folts Hartnett ’70 is the retreat house manager at The Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard, N.Y. Daniel Neverett ’70 is a vice president for finance and administrative services at Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nev., and was pleasantly surprised to discover that two of his colleagues are Geneseo alumni, including Michael Malay ’71, nursing faculty member, and Linda Devon ’86. Mark Rosenzweig ’71 is an assistant New York state attorney in the New York City Litigation Bureau. He is proud that his younger daughter followed in his wife’s footsteps and became an educator, and is now teaching in South Korea. Roger Brown ’71, a veteran, worked for 20 years at Dun & Bradstreet, ultimately as vice president before retiring.

During his career, he worked with 30

geneseo scene

mid-market and Fortune 500 companies that were going through change. He is now CEO of a YMCA, helping it turn around the financial difficulty it has been experiencing. Michael Benton ’74, a faculty member at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, recently received The Fr. John McGrail Award, which is given to outstanding faculty and staff members who excel at living the Walsh Jesuit mission and who demonstrate dedication to the mission of Walsh Jesuit. The award is given in honor of McGrail, the founder of Walsh Jesuit. Joan Nichols ’79 completed her Ph.D. at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She is a professor of internal medicine,

California state capital. Jon Mellor ’83 accepted a position at Automatic Data Processing in Roseland, N.J., as senior director of corporate communications.

Michael Lemke ’84 appeared on “Neil Lehrer” and in the “CSNY Déjà Vu” film at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. The film was directed and written by Neil Young. Michael Saffran ’85 is a lecturer in the Department of Communication at SUNY Geneseo and is the faculty director of WGSU-FM. Linda Devon ’86, a college grant manager at Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nev., was pleasantly surprised to discover that she works with two Geneseo alumni — nursing faculty member

Submit your class note or notice at

go.geneseo.edu/classnote infectious diseases. She also is the associate director for research and operations of Galveston National Laboratory. Frederick Schneider ’79 recently accepted a position at Preferred Mutual Insurance Company in New Berlin, N.Y., as director of field agency marketing.

1980s Class of 1983 — celebrating their 30th reunion and Class of 1988 — celebrating their 25th reunion July 12-13, 2013.

Mark D. Kimberly ’82, of Doylestown, Pa., is a market development manager for KimberlyClark Corp. in Philadelphia. Jay S. Ovsiovitch ’82 is a research and writing attorney with the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Western District of New York. James Teahan ’82 was elected vice president of the Association of California State Supervisors, Chapter 503 Sacramento, representing more than 2,200 managers at the

Michael Malay ’71 and Daniel Neverett ’70, vice president for finance and administrative services. Carol Hunter Engels ’87 and Jay Engels ’88 own Angel Tree Farm Alpacas in Groton, N.Y. She is also a kindergarten teacher.

Denise LaDue ’89, a cartographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Louisville, Ky., met with other professionals from 10 countries in the Amazon rainforest port city of Iquitos, Peru, at the Riverine Operations School to discuss development of international standards for inland electronic navigational charts. LaDue is responsible for production of inland electronic navigational charts for inland waterways in the United States.

1990

1991 Chuck DeWeese lives in Burnt Hills, N.Y., and is an assistant commissioner for the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

1993 Celebrating their 20th reunion July 12-13, 2013.

Sarah Sobieraj ’93, an associate professor of sociology at Tufts University, returned to the Geneseo campus last April to conduct a lecture for students on “Covered: Activists, Journalists and News in a Shifting Media Landscape,” and to talk about her career with students. She also recently published the book “Soundbitten: The Perils of MediaCentered Political Activism.”

1994 Yvonne Marciano Hennessey

recently accepted a position at Hiscock & Barclay in Albany, N.Y., as a partner in the Energy and Environmental Areas. John T. McManus is a lawyer at Harris Beach LLP, practicing in the firm’s Albany, N.Y., office as part of the energy and telecommunications industry teams, advising clients on legal and regulatory issues. He has also authored several articles for legal journals and lectured.

Jefferson Pagett, a faculty member at Southwestern Senior High School, was selected as a 2010 Teacher of Merit by Business First magazine in Buffalo, N.Y.

1995 Jean Bajorek Chetney and Edwin

Barbara are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Ella Grace Barbara, born on Oct. 13, 2011, in New Jersey. Jean recently started a law practice as Jean S. Chetney, Attorney at Law, in Woodstown, N.J.

Martin Williams and Sarah

O’Brien Williams ’04 are proud to announce the birth of twin daughters Hannah Elise and Mallory Grace, born on Dec. 16, 2011.

1996 Jennifer Allen and Terence Allen ’97 are proud to announce the birth

Explore Siena, Italy

of a baby boy, Derek Miles Allen, born on Sept. 10, 2012. Christie Cruse received a doctorate in education with a specialization in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Aug. 31, 2012.

Lisa Fernandes Garza was recently promoted to director of the Career Center at The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas.

July 29 – Aug. 9, 2013

1997 Terence Allen ’97 and Jennifer Allen ’96 are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Derek Miles Allen, born on Sept. 10, 2012.

Michael Harrington ’97 and Julianna Lee are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Serena Ada Harrington, born on March 16, 2012.

Michael was promoted to director, content development, for the Professional Promotion group at WebMD/Medscape in New York City.

Reservations are underway.

There are limited spaces for this exclusive trip.

For information on the itinerary, cost and deposit schedule, visit go.geneseo.edu/italy2013

Contact Alumni Relations at (585) 245-5506 or alumni@geneseo.edu

1998 Celebrating their 15th reunion July 12-13, 2013.

Jennifer O’Leary Griffin and Jim Griffin are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, James Martin, born on June 2, 2010. Katrina Schoenemann-Torrey recently graduated with a master of science in human resources development from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., and is an adjunct instructor there.

1999 Darcy Kullmann Lawyer and James

Lawyer are happy to announce their marriage on Sept. 1, 2012. They live in Richmond, Va. Melisa Denny Meyer and Todd Meyer are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Nolan Denny Meyer, born on Oct. 15, 2012. Felipe Oltramari was appointed director of the Genesee County Department of Planning by the Genesee County Legislature, effective June 18, 2012. Lisa Rodriguez Sette and Michael Sette are happy to announce their marriage on Oct. 6, 2012, on Long Island. The bridal party consisted of her best friends from Geneseo. She recently accepted a position at

Citigroup in Long Island City, N.Y., as a senior vice president in global cost management.

2000 Matthew Hartmann and Maria

Hartmann are proud to announce the birth of their second son, Thomas Paul, born on Aug. 2, 2011.

Edward Puerta and Margot Puerta are proud to announce the birth of twins Nathaniel and Evelyn, born on June 23, 2012, in Huntington, N.Y.

2002 Jacob Clements received a Ph.D.

in imaging science from Rochester Institute of Technology on May 25, 2012. Katie Gage Meislahn and Christopher Meislahn are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Harper Meredith, born on May 2, 2012, in Albany, N.Y. Jenny Nuber has been working in Washington, D.C., for five years, most recently managing the public affairs of Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. She left Her Majesty earli-

er this year to accept a position as the vice president of Grassroots at kglobal, a public affairs and strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. Emily Lawlor Sweeney and Adam Sweeney are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Thomas Charles, born on April 14, 2012 in Rochester, N.Y. Jennifer Sackett Turner and Ted Turner ’05 are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Julia Sloane, born on Dec. 19, 2011.

2003 Celebrating their 10th reunion July 12-13, 2013.

Eric Blask recently accepted a position at Webster (N.Y.) Central School District as director of mathematics and business. He was previously employed at Greece (N.Y.) Central School District as director of mathematics. Christopher Kirklin and Caitlin Gansfuss are happy to announce their marriage on Sept.

15, 2012, at the Coveleigh Club in Rye, N.Y. They reside in White Plains, N.Y. Many Geneseo alumni attended.

2004 Catherine Meissner Guglielmo

and Steve Guglielmo ’05 are happy to announce their marriage on Aug. 9, 2008, in Saranac Lake, N.Y. They reside in New Haven, Conn. Schiller Christopher Joseph is a master in social work field placement coordinator at 2U, an education technology company based in Landover, Md. He is a resident of the District of Columbia.

Christopher Kirwan and Jessica Guzman ’07 are happy to announce their marriage on Oct. 9, 2011. Lora Baker Thomas and Matthew Thomas are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Noah Richard, born on July 26, 2012. Sarah O’Brien Williams and Martin Williams ’90 are proud to announce the birth of twin daughters Hannah Elise and Mallory Grace, born on Dec. 16, 2011.

Winter 2013

31

ALUMNI NEWS

Scene around the world Submit your images to scene@geneseo.edu with a subject line of “Scene Around the World.” See the complete photo gallery at go.geneseo.edu/goworld.

1st Lt. Brendan Quinn ’08 during a recent deployment to the Middle East.

Tony Scardino ’88, at an outdoor market in Tokyo, Japan.

2005 Steve Guglielmo and Catherine Meissner Guglielmo ’04 are happy to announce their marriage on Aug. 9, 2008, in Saranac Lake, N.Y. They reside in New Haven, Conn.

Tom Dooley and Erika Widmaier Dooley ’06 are happy to announce their marriage in May 2011. Tom left his job as an official photographer for the International Monetary Fund and Erika left her job teaching second grade in Washington, D.C., public schools to move to Costa Rica in August 2012.

She is teaching at a U.S. Embassy elementary school and he is doing freelance photography. Ed McGrogan and Danielle Wander are happy to announce their marriage on Aug. 3, 2012 in Garrison, N.Y. They reside in Danbury, Conn.

Susan Turner Stein recently accepted a position as a remedial reading teacher in West Seneca, N.Y. Ted Turner and Jennifer Sackett Turner ’02 are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Julia Sloane, born on Dec. 19, 2011.

2006 Erika Widmaier Dooley and Tom

Laurie Baker Oltramari ’99, left, and her sister Jenny Baker Arbelo ’96 at Kylemore Abbey in Ireland.

Denise LaDue ’89 at the Riverine Operations School in Iquitos, Peru, in the Amazon.

32

geneseo scene

Adam Tabelski ’01 at the Persian Gulf in Kuwait, where he was deployed with Alpha Company, 2/108 Infantry, the Army National Guard unit based in Geneseo.

Pauline Cantatore Minunni ’07 and Nick Minunni ’07 at Wimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii, the wettest place on Earth.

Dooley ’05 are happy to announce their marriage in May 2011. Tom left his job as an official photographer for the International Monetary Fund and Erika left her job teaching second grade in Washington, D.C., public schools to move to Costa Rica in August 2012.

She is teaching at a U.S. Embassy elementary school and he is a freelance photographer. Nikki Green and Tom Karpen are happy to announce their marriage on Aug. 11, 2012, in Avon, N.Y. They reside in East Rochester, N.Y. Janet Lisanto and Jeff Listano are happy to announce their marriage on July 7, 2012. Jennifer Charney Rockwell and Erik Rockwell are happy to announce their marriage on July 28, 2012. They reside in Rochester, N.Y. Lara Ebert Romine and Paul Romine are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Evelyn Claire, born on March 13, 2012 in Madison, Wis. Kristi Ruggiero received a master of science in physician assistant studies

from Mercy College in August 2012. Robert Shoemaker recently accepted a position as an assistant district attorney at the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office in Rochester, N.Y. Catherine Pratico Stockton and Timothy Stockton are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Nathaniel James, born on Aug. 30, 2012, in Albany, N.Y.

2007

r u o y s Sendu otos h p e g e l l co

, college s from o t , o h w p o esh s rite ion slid ur favo n o u y e s r a u e in it nd ed Send ni webs m e featur b lu a y a e h m t which project. chures, ted bro arbook e in y r p ic , n s il o tr ema an elec possibly

Amy Williams Di Bari and Jeremy Di Bari are proud to announce the

May 31, 2012 Lena Bennett Young ’37, June

18, 2012 Hazel Marshall Cottrell ’39,

March 8, 2011 Dorothy Onderdonk Patrick ’39,

Oct. 9, 2011 Catherine Mairs Ryan ’39, Oct.

23, 2011 Nancy Nims Holliday ’39, April

19, 2012 Robert Redden ’39, May 20, 2012 Winifred Ellison Potter ’39, May

28, 2012 Mary Thacher Hammond ’40,

Dec. 23, 2008

birth of a baby boy, Jonah Eric Di Bari, born on April 29, 2012, in Cortland, N.Y. Jessica Guzman and Christopher Kirwan ’04 are happy to announce their marriage on Oct. 9, 2011. Kathleen O’Connell received a master’s degree in anthropology from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del Peru in October 2012 and accepted a position as a placement specialist at LASPAU: Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas in Cambridge, Mass.

Virginia Holmgren Russell ’40,

Sept. 4, 2011 Phyllis Fox Higgins ’40, April 21,

2012 Faith Slack Kipers ’42, July 1,

2010 Robert Spencer ’42, Jan. 14, 2012 Evelyn Mosel Burlew ’43, Feb.

29, 2012 Kathryn Lawton Arters ’43, June

1, 2012 Helen Lippold ’44, March 17,

2012 Eugenia McCormick Vance ’45,

2008 Celebrating their 5th reunion July 12-13, 2013.

Katie Nicandri and Alexander Cazzolli are happy to announce their marriage on Sept. 1, 2012, in Syracuse, N.Y. Eight fellow Geneseo alumni were present.

Emily Rustin Sewnauth and Andrew Sewnauth are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, David, born in March 2012 in Rochester, N.Y.

2009 Jessica Belknap graduated with a master’s degree in library science from SUNY at Buffalo. Nicole Postell received a master of science in public relations management from SUNY Buffalo State on May 12, 2012. She also received a graduate certificate in public administration from SUNY Buffalo State on Aug. 14, 2012.

2010 Amy Breimaier earned a master’s

of arts in history from the

April 4, 2011

From the 19 93 yearboo k.

Elizabeth Latimer Clark ’45,

April 18, 2012

Submit your snapshots to

go.geneseo.edu/alumnipix.

Janice Cook Tunningley ’46,

Feb. 27, 2011 Camilla Dewitt ’50, March 3,

2012 Dorothy Fletcher Mulherin ’51,

Feb. 7, 2011 University of Houston and is a Ph.D. student of history at the University at Amherst.

2011 Fiona Harvey is a public health associate for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has worked in the field of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. Currently, her program assignment is in immunizations and refugee health. She is also a member of the Public Health Associate Program Steering Committee, and serves as the news reporter. Stephanie Medina is the Geneseo Late Knight coordinator at Geneseo and was recently awarded the ACUI Outstanding Graduate Student Employee at the ACUI Region 2 Conference. She attends

the college student personnel administration program at Canisius College. The award recognized her as being a diligent graduate student employee who embodies a dedicated work ethic in the student union and student activities field. Angela Snook recently joined Partners + Napier, an advertising agency in Rochester, N.Y., as an account executive for their shopper marketing team. She was previously an assistant account executive at Antithesis Advertising.

Marian Sardinia ’51, March 31,

2012 Molly Wamp ’51, May 4, 2012 Kenneth Comstock ’51, June 28,

2012 Phyllis Wells ’52, Jan. 23, 2012 James Conlon ’52, Aug. 24, 2012 Lois Klehamer Evraiff ’53, Sept.

18, 2011 Doris Reckner Mortimer ’54,

Nov. 11, 2011 Raublyn Werth Hopkins ’54,

April 27, 2012 Donna White Boshart ’55, Nov.

28, 2011

IN MEMORIAM

Bonita Losey Reisdorf ’58, May

ALUMNI Gwendolyn Roth Mantel ’36,

Elizabeth Corcoran Stefan ’59,

June 20, 2012 1, 2011

Gerald Miller ’59, March 22, 2012 Shelden King ’59, June 16, 2012 Marian Gardner O’Hara ’59, June

Carolyn Ruhland Raesler ’37,

29, 2012

Adelma Didas Abraham ’37, Nov.

1, 2011 Aug. 30, 2003

Winter 2013 33

CLASS NOTES

Donald Litzelman ’82, May 24, 2012 Steve Beekman ’84, April 26,

2012

Mark Limerick ’69, Aug. 8, 2012 Alexander Capo ’70, Oct. 7, 2011 Charles Zicari ’70, April 13, 2012 Susan Bradt Palmer ’71, Jan. 1,

Susan McAllister Kurz ’62, Sept.

2012

2012

6, 2012

12, 2012

Ellen Heckelman Finlayson ’71, March 14, 2012 Tad Taylor ’72, Sept. 12, 2006 Lynette Wright Jenkins ’72, Feb. 1, 2011 Dorothy Holmes Oakes ’74, Aug. 14, 2010

Andrea Pille Pasco ’66, April 4,

Constance Budynski Mace ’74,

Patrick Kelly ’96, Aug. 20, 2012 Jennifer Napuli Fraidstern ’99,

2012

April 30, 2011

April 8, 2012

Diane Marquardt LeClair ’66,

Alice Pomponio ’74, June 19,

Casey Farrell ’03, April 15, 2012

June 12, 2012

2012

David Sisson ’67, Dec. 20, 2011 Dorothy Harris-Jardin ’68, June

Paul Villinski ’74, June 24, 2012 Phyllis Barna Anderson ’77,

FACULTY William Gohlman, professor emer-

21, 2008

April 8, 2012

Carolyn Callear ’69, July 29, 2012

John Kerr ’77, Nov. 10, 2012

itus of history, who was an expert in Islamic history and served on the

Ruth Warrell Roskoz ’60, July 30,

Mary Weckerle Tiede ’63, May

25, 2012 Agnes Larsen Mazzola ’64, Aug.

6, 2012 Jeanne Sherman Jolley ’65, Oct.

faculty from 1974 to 2010, died on Aug. 15, 2012.

2012 Gregory Wright ’84, June 19, Elizabeth O’Donnell-Sullivan ’87,

July 13, 2012 Charlene Baxendale ’88, Feb. 27,

2012 Cathryn Wong Nevin ’92, June

19, 2012

Tom Conlon ’52, a 31-year faculty member at Geneseo in education, died Aug. 24, 2012. He began his career in 1960 an assistant professor in the Holcomb School of Practice and also served as coordinator of student teaching, teaching faculty in the School of Education, and coordinator of secondary and special education field experiences.

Duncan P. “Dunc” Hinckley, a

longtime Geneseo varsity swim and diving coach who led teams to SUNY championship titles, and Geneseo Sports Hall of Fame inductee, died July 29, 2012.

SUMMER REUNION IS COMING! JULY 12-14, 2013

Celebrating milestones this year are class years ending in 3 or 8, the Sigma Tau Psi Fraternity 50th Anniversary and the Royal Lady Knights.

You can help!

Interested volunteers, please contact Alumni Relations to get involved at (585) 245- 5506 or alumni@geneseo.edu.

34

geneseo scene

Scene around the world

Korie Kasper Bukovelo ’09 at the Sea of Azov in the Ukraine.

Pat Young Bergquist ’74 on the Spanish steps in Rome, Italy.

Dave ’72 and Beth Dunn ’73 Herendeen celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at the 124th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

Jacqueline Ballard Fisher ’91 and Rob Fisher ’91 on the alpine tundra of the Rocky Mountains.

Zachary Nichols ’09, who lives in Japan, in front of the Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto.

Jason Chevrier ’97 and Carrie Nyc-Chevrier ’97 at the top of the Gros Piton in St. Lucia, West Indies.

Winter 2013

35

AHA MOMENT

Ian Szalinski ’10 Healthy entrepreneur president and founder of Muesli Fusion MY AHA MOMENT AT GENESEO: I took a course in entrepreneurship in my senior year. It opened my eyes to what goes on in starting a business — and helped me understand all of the pieces, from marketing to finances and production. It made me realize it was something I was passionate about. That it was something I could do, and something I wanted to do.

HOW IT CHANGED MY LIFE I have a passion for eating healthy. I love muesli cereal because it is simple. It is unprocessed and has no ingredients you can’t see. I saw a lack of variety for organic products in that category and saw opportunity. I started selling Muesli Fusion’s Pure muesli in February 2011.

TASTE OF SUCCESS My muesli is sold in 300 stores in 15 states, including Whole Foods, Wegmans and Geneseo’s Student Union. My wide skill set has gotten me where I am, from willingness to tackle challenges to web programming and accounting. I have been up for 48 hours making and packing 400 cases of muesli to fill an order.

It’s very emotional, there’s a lot of stress and there’s a lot challenges, but there’s also a lot of excitement and opportunities. Being able to create something — something that promotes healthy living — is inspiring.

LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP AT GENESEO: The Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) program was as valuable as any class I took, and successful alumni gave me insight.

Competing in a business plan competition also gave me hands-on experience.

GIVING BACK Through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy in Rochester, N.Y., I mentor high school students about starting their own businesses and thinking big. I also donate a portion of Muesli Fusion sales to environmental causes.

—Victoria Soto ’12 PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

36

geneseo scene

PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

All geography faculty members, front, have contributed to the Shaping Lives of Purpose campaign to support students and their opportunities.

Faculty

We support our students E very geography major takes a field course like GEOG 275, a four-day excursion in which students use classroom knowledge to conduct their own research and present their work.

Last spring, 17 geography students dug into the Thousand Islands, studying such diverse topics as the economic geography of the commercial bullhead fishery, the growth and distribution of shoreline mobile home parks, and the rise of sustainable agriculture and agritourism. Others explored the ecological and economic impacts of zebra mussels in the region.

“Field experience and research lie at the core of our disciplinary mission and the preparation of our majors,” says Professor Darrell Norris.

For that reason, field experiences are a requirement for all geography majors. Students who participate in GEOG 275 do so at no extra cost, thanks to gifts made to The Fund For Geneseo. Contributions from alumni, parents and others are also critical for geography faculty members and students who present research at conferences.

Without private funding, the department could not provide such opportunities for all of its students, says Associate Professor of Geography and Chair David Robertson.

Belief in hands-on learning — and in their students — is fundamental among geography faculty. They have all made gifts to Shaping Lives of Purpose: The Campaign for Geneseo to help meet the $22 million goal for the college.

:

Make a difference ... visit campaign.geneseo.edu

“The geography department is a closely knit community where faculty and students spend a lot of time together in the classroom and in the field,” says Robertson. “In geography, faculty and students learn to really believe in each other. And that is why we came together as a group to contribute to the campaign — to support a field experience tradition that is not only central to our curriculum, but also our community.”

Winter 2013

28

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