MAGAZINE
UMASSD
Summer 2017
Innovation:
The Imperative for Success Introducing Chancellor Robert E. Johnson
UMASSD
UMASSD Magazine is produced for the alumni, students, employees, and partners of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The information contained in this publication is intended to engage readers in the mission of UMassD, which is critical to the social and economic development of the region.
reimagining itself
Nearly two years ago, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) faculty began efforts to update the college structures and curricula with the goal to better prepare CVPA students for a changing world. Through hard work and extensive collaboration, they have developed and adopted a new structure that brings greater flexibility to curricular choices and more interdisciplinary opportunities for students. Effective July 1, 2017, CVPA will be merging six departments into three newly identified departments:
The Departments of Design, Artisanry, & Fine Arts have merged to become the Department of Art & Design. The Departments of Art History & Art Education have merged to become the Department of Art Education, Art History & Media Studies. The Department of Music retains its name as the Department of Music.
This new structure also will improve the teacher licensure process for art/music education majors, enhance community engagement, and expand teaching and research opportunities for faculty, while streamlining administration. Newly formed committees are continuing this work to create a progressive vision for programs while exploring the potential of newly conceived courses and areas of study.
Watch the video of our new Chancellor! To get started:
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We welcome letters from our readers and encourage you to email your comments to editor@umassd.edu, or mail them to: UMASSD Magazine c/o University Marketing, LARTS 222 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Dartmouth, MA 02747 Chancellor Robert E. Johnson Vice Chancellor for Marketing Renee Buisson Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Joseph Medina Managing Editors Barbara LeBlanc Renee Buisson Cover design Kevin DeAquair ’92 Videographer Donald Burton ’97 Design and production University Marketing Contributing Writers Tricia Breton ’14, MA ’16 Renee Buisson John Hoey Jack Holleran Benjamin Jones Barbara LeBlanc Marissa Matton ’14, MA ’16 Steve Scallon, MA ’18 Nancy Tooley ’99 Adrienne N. Wartts Photographers Levante Anderson ’18 Tailyn Clark ’18 Deirdre Confar Nick Crettier Kate Cummings ’18 Artie Hopkins ’16 Eric Nordberg Lara Stone Hillary Sylvia Kenneth Swain ’17
The Red & The Black, 1978, duplex screen & resist print on cotton Procion dye, 46” x 75” by Barbara Goldberg (see story on page 16)
inside
features
Innovation is the mantra in every organization. UMass Dartmouth alumni, students, faculty, and staff exhibit the characteristics that drive innovation. We think you’ll enjoy reading about it.
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UMassD is creating better learning and living spaces
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Outside the Box at Avon
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Diverse Nurses for Diverse Communities
Diversity Nursing Scholars program helps meet community needs
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A Master of Illusion
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Brand New
departments 2 4 6 10 12 16 17
Meet the New Chancellor
Building a Better Future
Sheri McCoy '80 leads the reinvention of a brand
Michael Leone ’94 brings visual effects to life in L.A.
Elizabeth Talerman ’85 innovates digital and brand marketing
Commencement
alumni
News Around Ring Road
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UMass School of Law Research Art Seen Sports
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Welcome from the Alumni Association President Board Members and Events Class Notes UMASSD
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Robert E. Johnson, the new chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, believes higher education must become more “agile, nimble, and entrepreneurial.”
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he nation’s colleges and universities are preparing graduates who will hold, on average, 15 jobs in seven different fields before they retire according to Robert E. Johnson. Only about one quarter will work in their major. And, about half of all that students learn in school could be obsolete within five years. “It is predicted that by 2025, more than 50 percent of cars will be electric,” he said. “If I’m educating an engineer for the Chrysler and GM of 1990, I’m committing educational malpractice.” These concerns are at the top of Johnson's mind as he assumed the chancellorship of UMass Dartmouth on July 1. “I want to bring UMass Dartmouth into the future of work and ask what our educational paradigm has to look like so we can prepare for the world our students are going into,” he said. “The university has some unique DNA, and it already is playing an important role in economic development, job creation, and innovation. We can bring it to the next level for our students.” Technology and changing social norms have created opportunities, challenges, and demands that were unimaginable just a decade ago, he said. In that time, Uber became the largest provider of rides without owning a single vehicle. Instagram, the photo sharing application, earned a $1 billion market capitalization with no more than 15 employees—in just five years. At the same time, Polaroid, once the dominant film and camera producer, ceased to exist. And Airbnb came to offer more rooms than Hilton Hotels without owning any property. As he watched these head-spinning changes, Johnson understood that higher education had to change, too. He formulated a new approach called "The Agile Mind," which fosters the skills and characteristics needed to negotiate a fast-changing and uncertain world. Johnson developed “The Agile Mind” at Becker College, in Worcester, where he served as president for the past seven years. In establishing the program, he worked with faculty from a range of fields—including the humanities, business, and interactive media —to replace five traditional general education courses with the new interdisciplinary curriculum. The program’s five core classes teach empathy, which he calls a “hallmark of creativity and innovation;” how to “create something out of nothing” through divergent thinking; the entrepreneurial outlook, and social and emotional intelligence. Seniors complete the curriculum with a capstone project, undertaken in teams; to apply their learning to real-world problems.
“I want to bring UMass Dartmouth into the future of work and ask what our educational paradigm has to look like so we can prepare for the world our students are going into.”
“The Becker community recognized that preparing students for the workplace of the future would mean cultivating global learners with agile mindsets, capable of thriving in a world of growing ambiguity and unpredictability,” he wrote in a series on the project published by the Huffington Post. Johnson, 57, can trace his passion for education to his years growing up in Detroit, and particularly to his father, a Korean War veteran who worked as a cook and later a dietary expert with the Veterans Administration. His father continually stressed how education can transform a life, and Johnson finally chose higher education as his career while working as executive director of enrollment and marketing at Central State University in Ohio. The president at the time, Arthur Thomas, took Johnson under his wing, inviting him to cabinet meetings and explaining how he made decisions. “He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself,” Johnson said. “Eventually, I had this epiphany — ‘this is what I’d like to do to make a difference.’” He went on to earn his master’s in education administration from the University of Cincinnati and his doctorate in higher education administration from Touro University International. He served as vice provost of Oakland University, vice president of enrollment management at the University of Dayton, and senior vice president of Sinclair Community College before assuming the presidency of Becker College in 2010.
While at Becker, he raised the college’s enrollment and profile by focusing on its interactive media program, which has made it one of the top schools for digital game design in the country. He also has taken a lead role in economic development, serving on the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and as chair of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. “One of my fundamental philosophical paradigms is that an institution of higher learning must be a vital asset to the local community,” he said. “I like to use the assets of the institution in partnership with the assets of the region to create growth. It’s a win-win.” Johnson said he wasn’t looking to leave Becker when the opportunity at UMass Dartmouth arose, but he was drawn by the university’s size, its focus on both teaching and research, and its place in the community. “Elements of the “agile mindset” already exist in the university’s programs,” he said. “I want to develop the intended outcomes of that educational approach within the UMass Dartmouth culture, preparing students for the “future of work” and to quickly adapt in a hyperconnected world. “I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all,” he said. “My first job will be to listen and learn. In the end, it’s about making decisions that will benefit students and student success.”
by Barbara LeBlanc
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117 T H COM M ENCE M EN T 4
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Undergraduate and Graduate Ceremonies were held on Saturday, May 13, at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield. The UMass Law ceremony was held on Monday, May 15 on the UMass Dartmouth campus. The various ceremonies were attended by more than 10,000 students, family members, faculty, staff, and friends.
Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speakers Nina Totenberg Legal Affairs Correspondent for National Public Radio received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and delivered the undergraduate Commencement address. Cecilia Conrad Managing Director of the MacArthur Foundation received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and delivered the graduate Commencement address.
Morris Dees Founder and Chief Legal Counsel, Southern Poverty Law Center, received an Honorary Doctor of Law degree and delivered the Commencement address at UMass Law.
Chancellor’s Medals Undergraduate ceremony Pete Souza Chief White House photographer during the Obama presidency
Graduate ceremony Jennifer Finney Boylan Author, educator, and activist
commencement 2017 | news
THE CLASS OF 2017 1,529 Undergraduate degrees 535
Graduate degrees, including 34 PhDs, 11 DNPs, and 49 JDs
2,064 Total class size 90% Students performed community service
Sheyla Lors UMass Law Student Commencement Speaker was committed to serving disenfranchised communities locally and overseas.
Michael Savaria ’10, MS ’13, MA '15 Graduate Student Commencement Speaker received a PhD in educational leadership and policy studies, his fourth degree from UMassD.
Brandi Bass Undergraduate Student Commencement Speaker was active in campus organizations. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business administration.
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Countries represented
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States represented
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Massachusetts communities represented and those with the most graduates: 142 121 87 55 53
New Bedford Fall River Dartmouth Boston Westport
48 41 39 24
Taunton Plymouth Brockton Attleboro
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around Ring Road
End of an era at WUMD-FM, but wumd.rocks rises After 42 years of broadcasting, station begins anew online
WUMD, the UMass Dartmouth radio station that has been broadcasting an eclectic mix of music and public affairs programming for 42 years, signed off its 89.3FM signal at noon on June 26, going totally online at WUMD.ROCKS. “We will come back out on the other side,” Station Manager Jennifer Mulcare-Sullivan told listeners as she officially signed off. Mulcare-Sullivan said nearly all of the current programming that listeners have enjoyed in recent years will be available online, including: Show Tunes in the Afternoon, State of the Queer Nation, Broadband Noise, Not Just Twinkies and HoHos, Braziliance, Jazz Flight, Citibeat, Roots Radical Connection, Music for Sunday, Celtic Stew, Blitzkrieg, and Rock N Roll High School. In the fall, when students return, WUMD also plans to air the following: Tech Talk, a show developed in collaboration with the university’s First Robotics team; a new sports show; and Torch Radio, a collaboration with the student newspaper. UMass Dartmouth transferred its FM license to Rhode Island Public Radio in return for $1.5 million in cash and $617,000 in underwriting on RIPR. Most of the proceeds will be used to support need-based financial aid for students. The university has committed to invest $25,000 in modernization of radio station equipment. UMass Dartmouth will have a seat on the RIPR Board of Directors, and will appoint three regional members to the RIPR Community Advisory Board. The university will also be partnering with RIPR on a series of academic and community engagement initiaitves, including journalism-related internships and public forums.
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around Ring Road | news
Bridging differences, confronting challenges Racism, sexism, religious diversity, social justice, power, and privilege— some of society’s toughest issues were up for discussion at a two-day event that joined the UMass Dartmouth community with leaders of the local community. Teach-In 2017: Bridging Differences and Creating Change was designed to promote civic engagement and open dialogue among faculty, staff, students and members of the larger community. It was sponsored by the UMass Dartmouth Council on Diversity and Inclusion and supported by the Faculty Senate. “Unlearning racism is a journey,” said New Bedford’s YWCA Executive Director Gail Fortes, who helped participants discover the conscious and unconscious ways that racism has affected their lives. “The climate is constantly changing and we must keep learning.” Anthropology Professor Lisa Maya Knauer and Labor Educator Camilo
Viveiros explored key moments and issues in social change organizing— from the early days of the labor movement here in Massachusetts to Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, and the current wave of protests. “UMass Dartmouth’s Teach-In 2017 was an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to come together as a community to learn from each other’s perspectives about important current issues,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Jeannette Riley. “We wanted to help our students learn the value of dialogue to bridge differences and create positive social change.” This event reaffirmed the university’s commitment to be an academic community that respects and encourages the dignity and potential of each of its members. “We hope to create courageous spaces where people aren't afraid to speak and listen,” said Cynthia Cummings, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs.
An uncommon speaker lifts the spirits of his audience Award-winning educator and poet Donovan Livingston brought his powerful message of commitment and opportunity to UMass Dartmouth as the keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. Livingston shot to national prominence with his 2016 convocation address to fellow graduates of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The powerful, spoken-word poem was recently published as the book, Lift Off. In his poem, Livingston speaks of the importance of education and its obligation to all children:
At the core, none of us were meant to be common.” —Donovan Livingston Excerpt from Lift Off
At the core, none of us were meant to be common. We were born to be comets, Darting across space and time — Leaving our mark as we crash into everything. In addition to his degree from Harvard, Livingston holds a second master’s degree from Columbia University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations at University of North Carolina Greensboro.
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news | around Ring Road
Black History 4 Seasons Council honors the contributions of Black Americans in politics, social justice, literature, theater, visual arts, and music throughout the year. Filmmaker Clennon L. King visited campus this spring.
The Black History 4 Seasons Council ensures that the political, cultural and many other contributions of Black Americans are recognized throughout the year. Formed last year from the former Black History Month Planning Committee, the Council responded to students by offering programs year round. “Part of the mission of the Council is to engage students and the broader community in deeper conversations, and foster ongoing dialogue about the contributions of Black Americans,” said Council Co-Chair Peggy Dias.
Photo: Delores Handy/WBUR
Students deliver supplies and hope to Haiti
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ive UMass Dartmouth students traveled to Haiti in January to deliver 2,096 pounds of donated items to school children and individuals living in impoverished circumstances. Before leaving for the Caribbean country, the students—who are members of Share Esperanza, a UMass Dartmouth student service organization—washed, sorted, and packed the donations, which included personal care packages, food, water, clothing, and school supplies. “The donations that we gathered reached the communities of Lilavois, Marre Roseau, Titanyen, and Canaan, as well as the Damabiah orphanage,” Christian Louis ’19, vice president of the group, said. “During our stay, we coordinated our donation distribution and made professional contacts with people of interest for possible future mission trips.” UMassD’s Campus Sustainability & Residential Initiatives supported the mission by diverting some food and clothing from its mid-year collection program, in which students donate items they might otherwise discard. Group members sorted through clothing to find seasonally appropriate items. Share Esperanza has been involved in helping communities in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and, locally, in New Bedford for the past three years. “The most important thing to do right now in 2017 is to inspire our youth, our children, so they can be great in whatever they want to do in the future,” said Nataki DeGraffenreid ’18, public relations chair, reflecting on Share Esperanza’s support of schools and school children. During the service mission, the group hosted its first soccer tournament for young children in Port-Au-Prince, in collaboration with RAW Haiti, a Westport-based nonprofit also committed to supporting the people of Haiti. Share Esperanza was founded by alumnus Ausubel Pichardo ’16 and current PhD student Gustavo Franco Reynoso ’16. Gustavo serves as president of Share Esperanza, and Memory Holloway, professor emeritus of art history, is faculty advisor.
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The Council collaborates with UMassD colleges and departments, and community partners, such as the New Bedford Historical Society, to offer faculty presentations, student forums, read-ins, and historical site visits related to history, politics, social justice, and the arts. This spring, the Council helped sponsor a visit by filmmaker Clennon L. King, whose award-winning film Passage at St. Augustine chronicles the movement that led to passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also helped bring Pedro Pires, president emeritus of Cape Verde, and Carlos Wahnon Veiga, ambassador to the U.S. from Cape Verde, to campus. “Introducing year-long programming is a great way to raise awareness, have necessary discussions, and work toward getting issues addressed,” said biology major Charlemya Erasme.
around Ring Road | news
Jacob Miller ’16 hops the pond
Continues his education in the UK as the first UMassD Marshall Scholar
A first-generation college graduate from Fairhaven, Jacob Miller ’16 is also the first UMass Dartmouth alumnus to win the prestigious Marshall Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. In 1953, the British Parliament created The Marshall Scholarship to “strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their
institutions.” It is awarded to “talented, independent, and wideranging” students. Marshall Scholars have gone on to become governors, Supreme Court justices, CEOs and Pulitzer Prize winners. Miller plans to use his scholarship to study management at Cambridge University for one year followed by a year of studying urban economic development at University College London. While at UMass Dartmouth, he was a dual political science and English major with minors in leadership/ civic engagement and urban studies. He intends to build a nonprofit organization focused on urban economic development and someday run for office.
“I’m honored, excited and humbled to receive this opportunity,” said Miller, who is currently working as the grassroots and coalition coordinator for Opportunity Nation, a bipartisan, national campaign to expand economic mobility and close the opportunity gap in America. It comprises more than 350 cross-sector organizations working together. The Marshall Scholarship is the latest in a series of national recognitions for Jacob, who in 2015 was named one of 58 nationwide recipients of the Truman Scholarship, which supports the next generation
“The most important thing to do right now in 2017 is to inspire our youth, our children, so they can be great in whatever they want to do in the future."
of public service leaders. In 2014, he earned the Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award, which recognizes a student's public involvement and motivation to create lasting change. “This door was opened for me only because I had outstanding teachers, mentors, and supporters at UMass Dartmouth and in the community who have encouraged me throughout my life,” he said. “I like coalition building. Every project I’ve ever worked on has involved people of varying skills and perspectives working together to accomplish a common goal.”
UMassD students in Haiti are (back row L-R) Christian Louis ’19, Jemila DeGraffenreid ’18, Nataki DeGraffenreid ’18, relaxing with Michel Alain Louis and his wife Hermoine Risselin Louis. (front row) Daina Ricketts ’18 and Ausubel Pichardo ’16.
—Nataki DeGraffenreid ’18 UMASSD
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UMass Law earns full ABA accreditation
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he University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth achieved a major milestone – earning full accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) in December 2016. Established in 2010, UMass Law earned provisional ABA accreditation in 2012. Full accreditation— the final step in the process— means that the school has met or exceeded all ABA quality standards. “This achievement recognizes the dedicated work of our faculty and staff, and the accomplishments of our students and graduates,” said Law School Interim Dean Eric Mitnick. “We will continue to enhance our excellent academic programs. We will further develop the clinical and Justice Bridge programs that give our students and graduates invaluable learning experiences while benefiting those desperately in need of legal services. Most importantly, we will maintain our unyielding commitment to affordability, diversity, and justice.”
The only public law school in Massachusetts, UMass Law is committed to providing an excellent, affordable, and accessible legal education with an emphasis on public service. The law school is among the most diverse law schools in the Northeast. On the February 2017 Massachusetts Bar Exam, the law school’s first-time pass rate was fourth among the eight Massachusetts ABA-accredited law schools. The law school recently ranked third in the nation for the percentage of 2016 graduates in full-time, long-term public service jobs. “From the moment it entered the UMass system, UMass Law has had an essential focus on social justice, public service, and helping the most vulnerable members of our society,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “For those of us concerned about protecting the rights of all residents of the Commonwealth, UMass Law will play a key role in that effort moving forward.”
Rappaport Fellow prepares for public office Megan Beyer, JD ’16 (pictured left) graduated from UMass Law with plans to run for office in five to 10 years. But after the presidential election, she accelerated her timeline. She applied and was accepted to Emerge Massachusetts, a six-month training program for women who want to pursue public office. Emerge Massachusetts is an affiliate of Emerge America, a national organization working in 17 states. The organization teaches women about campaign planning, effective fundraising, and ethical leadership. "Watching Megan's career unfold is edifying and inspirational for everyone at the law school,” said Interim Dean Eric Mitnick. “I look forward to Megan representing UMass Law in her journey to public office. Her passion for justice and commitment to making a positive difference is a perfect reflection of our mission." As UMass Law’s first Rappaport Fellow, Beyer interned in the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement where one of her projects involved gender equality in Boston and closing the wage gap between men and women. Beyer applied for the prestigious fellowship because of its public interest mission, which also prompted her to attend UMass Law. She currently works at the Massachusetts Land Court in Boston as a sessions clerk. “I always wanted to be a lawyer so I could help people,” she said. “I truly believe that UMass Law has that mission.”
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UMass School of Law | news
Marks of distinction UMass Law and its students have distinguished themselves this year with publications and awards. Noteworthy milestones include: • UMass Law was awarded the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Public Service Award. • Mary Chaffee, JD ’17 received a Library of Congress Burton Award for writing one of the top 10 student law review articles in the nation. • Shayla Mombeleur, JD ’17 received the prestigious Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Scholarship for public service. • Erica Souza, JD ’17 had her article “‘For His Eyes Only’: Why Federal Legislation is Needed to Combat Revenge Porn” published by The UCLA Women’s Law Journal. • Stephanie Rodriguez-Ruiz, JD candidate ’19, was selected for the highly respected Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy Summer Fellowship and will be a Summer Law Fellow with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. • Quay Parks, JD candidate ’18, received the Massachusetts Black Judges Conference’s Annual Book Award. • Professor Margaret Drew received the 2017 National Association of Women Lawyers Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award.
UMass Law focuses on human rights at home
Addressing the opioid epidemic
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he summer issue of Harvard Journal on Legislation will feature an article co-written by UMass Law’s Professor Jeremiah Ho (pictured above) and Alexander Rovzar, JD ’16, former editor-in-chief of the UMass Law Review. The pair were inspired to write the article by the UMass Law Review’s symposium in spring 2016, which focused on the nation’s opioid epidemic. “Preventing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome within the Opioid Crisis: A Uniform Facilitative Policy” examines the rise of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a cluster of health complications that can occur in newborns who were exposed to addictive opiates during pregnancy. “The opioid epidemic requires swift, assertive, and proactive response by the Legislature in light of the epidemic’s severity,” Ho said. In their article, Ho and Rovzar propose a statewide standard to identify NAS before an expectant mother gives birth. Voluntary screening would begin at a patient’s first prenatal visit, and the results would be used only for medical purposes, protected from law enforcement for the patient’s confidentiality. “In our examination of NAS, we wanted to analyze the problem but also propose a proactive solution that can be reviewed by state legislators and implemented across Massachusetts,” Rovzar said. In addition to the devastating effects on newborns, NAS places a burden on state taxpayers. The average cost per treatment stay is $93,400. “This bold proposal, based on sound research, demonstrates UMass Law’s focus on public service and the pursuit of justice,” Law School Interim Dean Eric Mitnick said.
UMass Law opened its fifth law clinic—the Human Rights at Home Clinic in January. The clinic is dedicated to improving the lives of those in the United States with limited means and who have been marginalized in society. Led by Professor Margaret Drew (pictured above), the clinic provides first-hand, practical experience to UMass Law students as they serve individuals and the community through advocacy. “Human rights are considered by many to be a foreign concern, but over the past several years, advocates have increasingly raised awareness of human rights needs within U.S. borders,” Drew said. “The deprivation of health, security, housing, and other basic needs that comes with being a target of abuse are human rights concerns. “The students learn to bring a human rights framework in their service to clients and the local communities with a focus on restoring and maintaining individual dignity.” Students in the clinic represent survivors of gender violence and transgender individuals who wish to petition the courts for name changes. The clinic also focuses, in part, on those in the area living with HIV, whose needs were revealed in a study that Drew led in partnership with the College of Nursing. “Professor Drew is a highly respected leader in the field of domestic human rights, and this clinic can serve as a model for others across the United States,” said Interim Dean Eric Mitnick. “The clinic will provide muchneeded legal assistance for the most vulnerable in our society and provide our students with an excellent, reallife learning experience at the same time.”
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research
Powerful promise, tiny package Waveguide lasers Phase⁄density modulators High-power⁄high-speed photodetectors Photonic integrated circuits
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iny, but tremendously powerful devices are being designed at UMass Dartmouth’s Radio Frequency (RF) Photonics Lab, directed by Dr. Yifei Li, of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. The Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, RI, and other government agencies have shown interest in the technologies developed by the lab, which could help spawn a new, high-tech economy in the SouthCoast region, Li said. “Our unique strength is in our rare capability for seamless technology integration between radio frequency electronics, photonics, and advanced nanofabrications,” he said. “Very few research labs, even among those at top-ranked national universities, possess such technological know-how.” The lab’s devices range in size from 0.5 mm to 5 mm long —as small as a pen point and as large as the diameter of a pencil eraser —and they harness the power of light and electromagnetic waves to work in fields such as telecommunications and defense. The RF Photonics Lab has designed and fabricated high-performance devices for radar front end and microwave signal processing applications. “Some of these devices and integrated circuits hold the current records for performance,” Li said. That has helped draw attention and funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Naval Research Laboratory, the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. In all, the lab has garnered more than $2.8 million in highly competitive federal funding since its founding in 2007. NUWC is considering introducing the devices into its new generation of fiber-optic-fed submarine radar systems. Through an educational partnership agreement between NUWC and UMassD, NUWC has provided state-of-the-art RF photonic instruments to the lab. The plan is to establish a new center of excellence for radio frequency photonic devices and integrated systems. The proposed center would address the urgent needs of the Navy in the area of RF photonics research and development, and be instrumental in
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Dr. Li (above right) and his graduate students work in a technologically sophisticated Photonics Lab that most research universities can not match.
training Navy engineers and scientists in this critical field. The technologies could help attract funding and high-tech jobs to the SouthCoast region. It has the potential to become a high-tech niche, and there is an absence of competition from nearby regions, Li said. The center could also help push RF photonic technologies closer to commercialization for the booming telecom industry. Global Internet provider traffic is expected to triple from 2014 to 2019, and solutions developed by the lab could help the backbone optical communication links meet the demand. Startup companies focused around RF photonics technologies would then be able to create a sustainable high-tech ecosystem, encompassing UMass Dartmouth, defense agencies, and private industries. “We believe RF photonics could be the pivot of a regional high-tech economy,” Li said.
news | research
Unlocking the key to bone fractures in diabetics
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amya Karim (above), assistant professor of bioengineering, received the largest-ever
single grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to a UMass Dartmouth researcher, and the first NIH Mentored
Research Scientist Career Development Award to a UMassD principal investigator. Backed by the $616,170 grant, Karim will work to determine the underlying causes of diabetic skeletal fragility in diabetes patients and improve understanding of how bones become weak. This could aid in assessing risk and treating diabetic patients susceptible to fractures, she said. “Skeletal fragility in patients with type 2 diabetes is a rapidly growing public health risk,” Karim said. “The causes of diabetic skeletal fragility are largely unknown, which makes it difficult for clinicians to make decisions regarding fracture prevention and medical care in this population.” Type 2 diabetics are about
three times more likely than non-diabetics to break a bone, including fractures with high mortality rates such as hip fractures. Type 2 diabetes results in up to $245 billion in health care costs annually in the United States, and diabetes rates in the U.S. are predicted to increase by up to five times by 2050. In Massachusetts, about 18 percent of adults over 65 have type 2 diabetes, and about 50 percent are pre-diabetic. Bristol County, home to UMass Dartmouth, has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the state. The NIH Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award is designed, in part, to enhance career development opportunities for researchers.
Assessing and designing sustainable fishing gear Dr. Pingguo He (right), professor of fisheries oceanography at the School for Marine Science & Technology earned the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Service Award in recognition of his work. The Denmark-based, global organization develops science and advice to support the sustainable use of oceans. Over the last three years, He has served as chair of the ICES Food and Agriculture Organization Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour. The Group initiates and reviews investigations of scientists and technologists concerned with all aspects of the design, planning, and testing of fishing gears for bycatch and discard reduction, as well as environmentally benign fishing gears and methods. “Pingguo He, as chair of the Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour and his team members have been extremely proactive in addressing the Terms of Reference, and we greatly appreciate their work,” said Anne Christine Brusendorff, General Secretary of ICES. In addition to working with the ICES, He collaborates with researchers in Germany,
Norway, Sweden, and throughout Europe to understand principles centered on the behavior of different fish species and design unique tools for fishermen to catch fish based on different circumstances. He is also a recent recipient of a $124,276 NOAA research award to study the swimming
capabilities and behaviors of yellowtail and windowpane flounders in a new seawater tank facility. He and his team will evaluate various aspects of swimming physiology, including speed and endurance, in an attempt to inform potential bycatch mitigation strategies and conservation engineering designs.
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Kevin Stokesbury is helping take stock of Atlantic cod For years, governmental agencies have been searching for sustainable solutions in response to the Atlantic cod crisis. Once regarded as one of the world’s largest fisheries, the Atlantic cod population has become increasingly susceptible to extinction due to the effects of climate change and decades of fishing. Kevin Stokesbury (left), professor of fisheries oceanography at the School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST), has responded to this dramatic decline by developing a new video survey system that may provide a more accurate assessment of Atlantic cod stocks and help regulators manage the fishery. Capturing data involves placing highresolution video cameras in an open-ended commercial trawl net to capture images of Atlantic cod as they pass through it. Periodically the net is closed to collect
Professor Nora Barnes works closely with students to develop essential skills.
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ora Ganim Barnes, (right) chancellor professor of marketing in the Charlton College of Business and director of the school’s Center for Marketing Research, is the 2017 recipient of the Manning
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Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Established in 2015 by UMass Lowell alumni Robert and Donna Manning, the $10,000 prize honors outstanding UMass faculty who hold the distinction of implementing innovative
teaching methods that deepen student learning. Barnes’ unique teaching practices evolved as she taught undergraduate marketing courses. She wanted to offer her students more experiential learning
biological samples, such as length and weight measurements. “This allows researchers to estimate the abundance, density, size distribution, and the impacts of commercial fishing,” said Stokesbury. The video survey system identifies the species in every image. The surveyed cod are kept alive in wells and returned to the sea alive and in good condition. SMAST graduate students Travis Lowery and Nick Calabrese and fishermen collaborated with Stokesbury on the design of the system, which was successfully deployed on Stellwagen Bank—a fishing ground located in the Gulf of Maine and one of the world’s most dynamic marine environments. “The goal is to provide all stakeholders in this issue with trustworthy science that reduces uncertainty for the Gulf of Maine cod fishery,” said Stokesbury.
opportunities, so in June 2000, she opened the Center for Marketing Research. The Center provides marketing research, as well as training and consulting services. To date, the student-run marketing agency has worked with more than 400 organizations, national and international companies, nonprofits, and campus groups. Approximately 1,600 undergraduate students have conducted research. “This is a win-win for our students and our clients,” said Barnes. Research projects conducted at the Center have also benefited the UMassD community at large. In 2016, the Center developed a UMassD alumni survey that involved more than 1,100 alumni. The feedback
provided the Office of Alumni Relations with valuable insight. Alumni asked for improvements to the website, social media, and overall communications. Actions are being taken to address all those suggestions. The Center also organizes a Celebrity Scholarship Dinner to raise money to support student scholarships. The dinner also raises the university's profile in the region, and provides students with muchneeded financial support. In April of this year, Barnes was able to bring David Ortiz, “Big Papi,” to Venus de Milo Restaurant for the event (see page 19). “The main focus is always on our students,” said Barnes. “I’m very proud to encourage them and support them in any way that I can.”
news | research
Professor Shakhnoza Kayumova is helping teachers teach math and science to diverse students.
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earning science and math is challenging enough for many grade school and high school students. But imagine trying to understand algebra, biology, chemistry, and physics while also struggling to speak and read English. Associate Professor
Shakhnoza Kayumova (above middle) received a $778,770 National Science Foundation (NFS) grant to address this problem. It will support her research into the best ways to teach English-language learners the language of science—while they are still learning the
language of instruction. Kayumova is a researcher at the Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education. She received her grant through the NSF’s prestigious CAREER Award for Faculty Early Career Development. She expects the results of
her work to help educators, policymakers, and researchers design instructional programs that support long-term achievement among students who are diverse in race, ethnicity, culture, and language. “Through this grant we hope to develop strategies for Englishlanguage learners to succeed in science, math, and related subjects,” Kayumova said. “This is a big challenge in communities such as New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton. The success of these students in developing the knowledge and skills for 21st century jobs will lead to economic success for these communities.” The NSF CAREER Program is designed to support early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances. “I am proud to support Professor Kayumova’s STEM education efforts, and I am confident students will reap life-changing benefits from this deserved award,” said Congressman William Keating, whose district includes UMass Dartmouth.
Awaking curiosity with STEM Walter Stroup, associate professor of STEM Education and Teacher Development, was awarded a $457,755 National Science Foundation grant to develop new strategies to help middle school and high school teachers get their students excited about science, technology, engineering, and math careers. Stroup and his colleagues envision classrooms where students work collaboratively on projects, using math and
science to solve such problems as untangling traffic jams or mapping the potential spread of the Zika virus. “Young people are curious, creative, and social beings so it only makes sense to get them into a hands-on, problemsolving endeavor with their peers,’’ Stroup said. “They will be motivated to learn the math and science needed to succeed in their mission.” The project, based at UMass
Walter Stroup, associate professor of STEM Education and Teacher Development
Dartmouth’s Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education, focuses on collaborative, interactive, cloudbased instruction and learning. The full award is also in collaboration with scholars from Northwestern and Vanderbilt universities. Stroup, who earned his EdD in Teaching Curriculum and Learning Environments from Harvard University, joined the UMass Dartmouth faculty in September 2016.
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news from CVPA
The textures of a life Celebrating CVPA Professor Barbara Goldberg, 1931-2016
“Normally, life is full of pain and loss, senseless and needless human suffering, yet joy in the creative process and love for family and friends mitigate the frightful aspects of life and make it worthwhile.” — Barbara Goldberg
On June 10, nearly 100 friends, former students, and family members gathered to celebrate former CVPA Textile and Fiber Arts Professor Barbara Goldberg’s life and art at UMass Dartmouth’s Star Store Gallery in downtown New Bedford. A display of her work reminded those in attendance of Goldberg’s skill and passion. Goldberg’s decades of teaching imprinted generations of students— from teaching at the Massachusetts College of Art & Design and Boston University, to establishing a textile and fiber arts program at the former Swain School of Design, to assisting in Swain’s transition to UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. She also created a body of work that combined her artist’s soul with a scientific sensibility, always expanding the boundaries of possibility with textile and dyes, consistently growing and sharing her own knowledge, and pushing her fellow artists and students to do the same. Goldberg is missed, but she leaves a legacy woven into the lives and art of the hundreds of artists she influenced. By Benjamin Jones
Clockwise from the top: The Red & The Black, 1978, duplex screen & resist print on cotton Procion dye, 46” x 75” Shibori I, 1980, shibori on indigo-dyed cotton, 31” x 9” Self-portrait I, 1992, shibori on indigo-dyed linen, 100” x 52” The Goldberg family gathers in front of Barbara’s Self-portrait I and Self-portrait II. A shibori work in process, demonstrating the intricate threadwork involved.
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Corsair roundup
sports
Historic run for women’s basketball art seen
Swimming sets school records
Corsair qualifies for Zone 1 Championships
Sophomore Olivia van der Meer booked her ticket to the IHSA Zone 1 Finals, the fourth consecutive rider from the equestrian program to qualify for the Zone 1 Championships.
Men’s and women’s swimming combined to establish six program records at the 2017 New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships. Freshman David Adamski set four freestyle records (200, 500, 1000, and 1650) during the three-day championship. Classmate Sarah Murphy also etched her name into the record books with a fifth-place performance in the 200 breaststroke. The women’s 200-freestyle relay quartet of Brienna Harrison, Yulyssa Diaz, Kaya Flanagan, and Chrissy Deveaux captured the consolation finals heat.
The Corsairs earned their first-ever appearance in the national 2017 NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament, and reached the quarterfinals. The impressive showing capped a year of firsts for the program under the leadership of Head Coach Matt Ducharme ’00. The team posted a new single-season standard for victories (25) and marked their first win over a nationally ranked opponent, Montclair State University. That 71-63 tournament victory advanced the Corsairs to the sectional semifinals, where they beat SUNY New Paltz before dropping to top-ranked Amherst College, the eventual Division III Champion.
Papoulis makes championship runs
Freshman George Papoulis competed in the 800-meter run at the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Championship, becoming the first Corsair freshman to race at the national championship since Phito Gondre in 2012. Papoulis, who raced out of Lane 1, placed seventh in his preliminary heat and 12th overall with a time of 1:55.79. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in his final race of the indoor season, posting a personal best time of 1:53.72 at the Tufts Last Chance Qualifier.
Baptiste hits a 600win milestone
Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brian Baptiste earned another milestone in his legendary career this past winter with his 600 th career victory. The 77-71 win over Bridgewater State in December made him just the sixth active Division III coach to reach the 600-win milestone. In 34 seasons on the UMass Dartmouth bench, Baptiste has compiled an overall record of 614-317.
Giving is easy Athletics and University Advancement have partnered to create a crowdfunding platform to support an equipment drive for the baseball and softball programs. text HIT to 71777 to contribute to the softball team or Text CATCH to 71777 to donate to the baseball program.
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sports | Corsair roundup
Ice hockey boasts most single-season wins since 2011
First-year head coach Erik Noack led the ice hockey team to an overall record of 17-9-0, the most single-season victories since 2011 and a 10-win improvement from the previous season. The Corsairs earned the third seed in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship tournament with a 12-6 mark, including a four-game conference winning streak to close the regular season. The team captured the Manchester PAL Cup with a 4-3 victory over Johnson & Wales this past November.
Top 10 moment– ESPN SportsCenter
The men’s basketball team was featured on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 for its exciting win over MIT last December. Senior guard Chris Mendes received an in-bound pass with 4.3 seconds left, raced past half court, and drained the game-winning threepointer as time expired to edge past the Engineers, 72-70.
LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE championship appearances
Baseball and men’s tennis reached the finals of their respective Little East Conference tournaments this past spring. The Corsairs baseball team faced a challenging draw as the third seed, facing five regionally-ranked opponents. Bob Prince and his squad defeated Eastern Connecticut and UMass Boston before dropping
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a rematch with the UMB Beacons. They advanced in the double-elimination tournament by edging topseed and host Southern Maine, 6-3.
Softball All-New England First Team
Senior Marissa Spinuzzi was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association of America AllNew England, first team. The second baseman from Fair Lawn, N.J., is the first Corsair on the top team since Jen Pfister in 1995. In 40 games this season, Spinuzzi led the club in nearly all hitting categories.
The Corsairs posted an overall record of 22-19, marking the fourth most single-season wins in program history and second consecutive with 20-plus victories.
from Bridgewater qualified for the honor based on a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and earning All-Little East Conference, first-team accolades.
Corsairs men’s tennis
2017 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Under the watchful eye of Karsten Rathlev, the men’s tennis team made its second championship appearance in three years. This time, the team earned the No. 2 seed and a firstround bye. The Corsairs advanced to the finals with a 5-1 victory over third-seeded Rhode Island College, but the UMass Boston Beacons captured the championship.
Lacrosse player is Academic AllNew England
Senior Matt LaFond was named to the 2017 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Academic All-New England Division III team for his performance in the classroom and on the field. The senior goalie
Junior Jared Louf-Woods and sophomore Steven Tencati qualified for the 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. Louf-Woods, making his first appearance, qualified with a personalbest throw of 189-02 (57.67m). Tencati earned his second consecutive berth by shattering the UMass Dartmouth javelin record with a toss of 211-10 (64.56m) at the Corsair Classic.
Track and Field All-Region
4 members of the men’s track and field team were selected for the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches
Association All-New England teams. Joao Baptista, Jared Louf-Woods, George Papoulis, and Steve Tencati earned regional distinction. Louf-Woods and Tencati advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships, while Papoulis was named the Little East Conference Rookie Track Athlete of the Year. Baptista placed in the New England Open Championships in the high jump with a leap of 6-5 (1.96m).
Corsair roundup | sports
Amanda Van Voorhis, UMassD Athletic Director, presents Big Papi with a Corsairs baseball shirt and hat at the April Celebrity Scholarship Dinner organized by the Center for Marketing Research.
LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE award winners Nakira Examond ’19 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year Jared Louf-Woods ’18 Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year Cathy Motta ’91 Women’s Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year Kendra Hebert ’17 Women’s Diver of the Year Erik Noak Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Ice Hockey Coach of the Year
Scholar-Athletes 190 54 136
Scholar-Athletes earned academic distinction this past spring. Chancellor’s List, most since 1999 Dean’s List
Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Seniors Greg Betsold and Kira Hallberg were named the 2017 Scholar-Athletes of the Year at the annual Athletics Banquet in May. Betsold, a four-year member of the track and field program, is a civil engineering major who earned academic distinction in six of his past seven semesters, making the Dean’s List five times and the Chancellor’s List once. Hallberg, a four-year letter winner on the equestrian team, has made an unprecedented seven consecutive appearances on the Chancellor’s List with four semesters boasting a perfect 4.0. She majored in graphic design.
Cacciola earns All-New England honors
Senior Taylor Cacciola represented the baseball program on a pair of All-New England teams this past spring. The RI native was voted to the American Baseball Coaches Association and New England Intercollegiate Baseball All-New England, second-teams. Cacciola was impressive at the plate, posting a .380 batting average in 44 games and leading the Corsairs in hits (60), home runs (6), RBI (35) and other categories. Cacciola joined classmate Ezequiel Sanchez at the NEIBA Joe Walsh All-Star Game on June 2 at McCoy Stadium.
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campus | Renovations
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Renovations | campus
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The Technology Center in the Charlton
Learning Pavilion provides finance and business
students with the latest technology.
2 & 3 The Game Room in the MacLean Campus
Center is a hub of activity for students
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The Hall-Hildreth IDEAStudio provides technology
that inspires students to innovate across disciplines.
5 & 6 The award-winning Claire T. Carney Library
is a lively learning center with state-of-the-art
resources.
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Birch Grill is a very popular spot for students,
even late night.
Building a better future Paul Rudolph had a vision for the UMass Dartmouth campus more than 50 years ago. As with all visions, it must be updated, reinvented, and renovated to remain relevant. Consider UMass Dartmouth’s Claire T. Carney Library. It has won numerous architectural awards for taking an outdated structure and reimagining a campus intellectual hub that attracts students, faculty, staff, and the community. And there’s more happening on this campus. The new Charlton Learning Pavilion Technology Center and atrium draw in people and keep them engaged. Student life areas like the new game room in the Campus Center or the Birch Grill in the Woodland residence complex are gathering spots that help build community. The Hall-Hildreth IDEAStudio continues to evolve as technologies and student needs are identified and met. Innovation can also be the result of thoughtful renovation.
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INNOVATION The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is an institution that has reinvented itself for more than 120 years. Two textile schools adapted and grew into an institution that innovated its way to become a Tier 1 National Research University that is an integral part of the UMass system. Our faculty are teachers, mentors, and renowned researchers. Our students are ambitious, hardworking individuals who are pursuing their dreams. Our alumni are successful people who contribute to their families, communities, employers employees, and UMassD. The following stories offer compelling examples of a proud history and a bright future.
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(above) Sheri McCoy poses with an Avon representative. (below) McCoy at an Avon event in Turkey.
e h t e d i s t u O n o v A t a x o b t h at d n a r b a g n i v i v e R
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Sheri McCoy ’80, chief executive officer and director of Avon Products, Inc., is leading the reinvention of a global brand. As one of only 32 females at the helm of a
o to g o t able g n th i ou m “Be t r Da ss a eton c n i r UM n to P e th and
Fortune 500 company, she is a leading role model for women worldwide.
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hen she joined the workforce as a researcher at Johnson & Johnson 30 years ago, McCoy recognized that there weren’t nearly as many women as men in the field of science and technology. In fact, there were very few women role models for McCoy to look to for guidance — a situation that she says has improved since she entered the field, but which continues to exist. “As women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), we need to act as role models and make sure there are enough of us,” she said. “By having more role models, I believe we will attract women to enter the field and stay.” To help address the gender disparity in STEM, McCoy and her husband Terry started the McCoy Family Scholarship at UMass Dartmouth to help entice women into science and engineering, and provide them with appropriate financial support. She believes in the power of education and its power to transform women with the confidence they need to recognize all of the possibilities and their own potential. “Education is very powerful, and it played a major role in my life,” she said. “Being able to go to UMass Dartmouth and then to Princeton led me to the successful career I have now.” McCoy earned her bachelor of science in textile chemistry from UMass Dartmouth when it was still Southeastern Massachusetts University. She went on to earn a master’s degree in chemical engineering at Princeton University and then an MBA from Rutgers University. At UMass Dartmouth, she gained her technical skills as a scientist, but she also learned something even more valuable. “We had to work as a team in our labs, and that teamwork component is so important when people enter the business field,” McCoy said. “It’s not good enough to just have the technical skills. You have to be able to work as part of a team to solve problems.” McCoy’s career is a testament to the value and benefit of blending science and business skills. Featured repeatedly as one of Fortune
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Magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business,” McCoy has led a transformation of the Avon brand, making bold decisions that have served Avon’s representatives and their customers well. As part of the transformation journey, she recently separated the North American business from the international arm of the company and relocated the company’s headquarters to London. “We wanted to make sure that we were better aligning our strategic leadership nearer to our 57 markets. It is essential to develop a strong relationship between the corporate headquarters and the local markets,” McCoy said. McCoy is responsible for driving new, long-term growth initiatives, advancing Avon as the world’s leading social beauty company, by developing earnings opportunities for women. She believes that a great company begins with passionate and empowered people, and she has consistently promoted employee engagement, leadership development, and diversity of thought. Empowering women is embedded in Avon’s business model. The company was founded in 1886 with a goal to help women sell products, earn money for themselves and their families, and raise funds for their communities. That mission still drives the company today, and aligns perfectly with McCoy’s passion for the issue. “The representatives see themselves as a network, and are very committed to the causes around them,” McCoy said. “Globally we’ve raised more than $1 billion through the Avon Foundation for Women to support causes most important to women and their families, primarily breast cancer and domestic violence.” As her company continues to invigorate and empower women around the world, McCoy has also had to adapt and change in her pursuit to the top. She joined Avon in 2012, after a distinguished career at Johnson & Johnson, where she ultimately served as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, responsible for the Pharmaceutical and Consumer divisions that represented more than 60 percent of the company’s revenues. “The move to Avon enabled me to run a company that focuses on the world’s largest network of 6 million women who are the representatives for our beauty business,” McCoy said. “I have the opportunity to meet with women who have changed their lives because of the friendships they create and the economic opportunity we provide, and I find that rewarding each and every day.”
led me to the successful career I have now.”
By Tricia Breton ’14, MA’16
Encouraging women in STEM As an engineer in business, Danielle Czarnowski ’15 recognizes that she is following a path that Sheri McCoy helped blaze. In turn, she follows McCoy’s lead in nurturing younger women in science. Czarnowski was in the first graduating class in bioengineering, a program that McCoy helped UMass Dartmouth develop from the textile chemistry program. In addition to hands-on technical skills, Czarnowski said her studies taught her other vital lessons. “I learned that my relentless curiosity was an asset, and a core quality as a scientist and engineer,” she said. The younger woman’s journey recently landed her at Johnson & Johnson, where McCoy began her career more than 30 years before. Czarnowski is a Supplier Quality Engineer with the company’s Depuy Synthes Spine group. “Sheri’s successful career is so inspiring,” Czarnowski said. “We need more talented, intelligent, powerful female role models like her to emulate.” Although Czarnowski joins the STEM industry 35 years after McCoy, the young engineer still encounters gender disparity, something that took her by surprise. “I never expected to encounter it in the 21st century,” Czarnowski said. Like McCoy, Czarnowski believes that women in STEM must advocate for themselves and for each other, and show through example that they are capable of excelling and changing the world.
good t o n ’s t I “ t have s u j o t h enoug ills. k s l a c i n be o the tech t ave as h You o work t e l am b e t a a f s.” o m t e r l ob pa r p lve o s to
Danielle Czarnowski ’15 mentors Gina Tigano ’17, a UMassD bioengineering student. Danielle enjoys giving back to her alma mater and helping women succeed.
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DIVE
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ERSE NURSES for DIVERSE communities Dealing with the healthcare system, whether it is in a medical office, hospital or emergency room, can be a daunting experience for anyone. But language and cultural differences can make seeking medical attention even more difficult.
The College of Nursing has initiated a new program to recruit a more diverse population to become nurses, and to provide more culturally sensitive care to patients, and to address service challenges in the medical field. UMASSD
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T “We wanted to address the diversity of our student body, both admitted and graduating.” — Barbara Weatherford PhD, RN Program Director of Diversity, Nursing Scholars Program
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he Diversity Nursing Scholars (DNS) Program* , funded by a federal nursing workforce diversity grant from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), has several components. One aspect provides selected first-year UMassD nursing students with additional academic, financial, and social support to help them successfully transition from high school into the highly demanding nursing curriculum. “We wanted to increase the diversity of our entering class and the number of diverse students successfully completing of the program,” said Professor Barbara Weatherford, the DNS program director. She stressed that persistence rates— the percentage of students who return for another year of education—are an important sign of success. In order to create a pipeline of future nursing students, DNS also reaches out to middle and high school students in the region, and works with adults who demonstrate an interest in becoming nurses. Workshops at local schools teach students about pursuing a degree in
nursing, and students come to campus for tours and activities. The program has been so successful that Weatherford recently received notification of having won another HRSA award for more than $450,000. “We facilitate a summer school-to-career internship opportunity for Upward Bound high school students interested in nursing,” Program Manager Shelby Shaw said. “They participate in summer coursework on campus while shadowing nurses at St. Luke’s hospital two days a week.” Through partnerships with area organizations and businesses, including St. Luke’s Hospital and LifeWorks, DNS works with employees interested in nursing to help them achieve their career aspirations. DNS has also partnered with Bristol Community College (BCC) to help students complete the prerequisite courses necessary to enter BCC’s nursing program. Upon completion of the BCC program, students can receive credit for all of their courses and continue their education with UMassD’s online RN-BS degree program. At the end of her first year in the DNS program at UMass Dartmouth, Danielle
* This project is supported by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number D19HP28490.
Dr. LaDonna Christian When LaDonna Christian, MSN ’07, PhD decided to pursue a career in higher education, she chose to earn her master’s degree at UMass Dartmouth because it was one of only a few colleges offering a focus in her specialty, community health nursing. Today, she takes the lessons she learned from her professors—caring about students while challenging them to excel, and guiding them to be innovative—into her own classroom. An associate professor at Simmons College, Christian has achieved more than her dream of teaching nursing. She is the director of the Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program, Simmons’ diversity nursing program, and she recently earned her doctorate at Simmons. Christian is pleased that Professor Barbara Weatherford reached out to her when UMassD was planning to initiate its own Nursing Diversity Program. “I was able to give back in a small way some of the knowledge I learned as a student, and in my current position. I was very well prepared by UMass Dartmouth’s College of Nursing Community Health Master’s program,” said Christian. “The Diversity Nursing Scholars Program demonstrates a renewed commitment the College of Nursing has made to all students by increasing diversity in the healthcare system, thereby improving population health,” she said. “The strategies they use to achieve this goal are both innovative and creative.”
Bostick ’19 (right) looked up to us. By the end of helped create the DNS the day, they were comfortable ambassador program. asking us questions, and The student ambassadors many of them wanted to come plan, host, and promote to UMass Dartmouth for our programs and events to nursing program,” she said. benefit potential nursing The College of Nursing students. believes these initiatives will “After immersing have a significant impact myself in the DNS on the local community program, I like to think and beyond. The goal is to that I’ve become a leader. have nurses with a greater I’ve become extremely understanding of different involved in other clubs cultures, races, and socioand events on campus as economic backgrounds to well,” Danielle said. “The enhance medical access. DNS program has helped “Research has linked me build the confidence I health inequities to the lack need to be a self-sufficient of diversity and cultural student and, hopefully, a competence of the healthcare great nurse one day.” workforce,” Shaw said. Danielle has grown “UMass Dartmouth has an —Danielle Bostick to see herself as a role obligation to the public model through her involvement in the DNS to produce a culturally competent, diverse program. She first recognized it when students workforce of future nurses.” from New Bedford High School attended a workshop the ambassadors organized. by Marissa Matton ’14, MA ’17 “What really stood out was how the students
“I was able to give back in a small way some of the knowledge I learned as a student and in my current position.” — LaDonna Christian MSN ’07, PhD Associate Professor of Nursing Simmons College
“After immersing myself in the DNS program, I like to think that I’ve become a leader.”
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Visual effects appeared in Dollhouse on the Fox network.
MICHAEL LEONE ’94
The series of stills above were pulled from a video of work on Dollhouse on the Fox network.
you caught FOX’s premiere season of the high-tech cop show, APB, chances are your adrenaline rushed. Maybe you thrilled as drones tracked down the bad guys. Or you felt empathy for the police dog walking with a prosthetic leg. That is how Michael Leone ’94 plays with your mind and your heart in the fast-evolving field of visual effects.
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As the VFX supervisor for APB, he’s on the set from dusk to dawn guiding directors, cameramen, and producers. As VFX producer, he manages multiple visual effects vendors and also uses the latest computer technology himself to create virtual car crashes, to darken skies for a sense of foreboding, to make a physical set look bigger with virtual elements—and even to travel inside a wristwatch. His dazzling mélange of effects, including explosion enhancements and computer-generated (CG) face replacement is on display in 30+ TV shows and movies, including Homeland, Marvel’s Most Wanted, Max Steel and The Wind in the Willows. “It’s about figuring out the pieces of the puzzle so every shot looks great and everyone’s happy at the end,” he said.
Leone’s interest in special effects started as a child growing up in Framingham. He was fascinated with sci-fi films such as Star Wars and action heroes like Indiana Jones. By his senior year at Framingham North High School, he knew he wanted to pursue computer graphics, and the box-office smash hit, Jurassic Park, inspired him to follow his dream of working in the VFX industry. “It was all those larger-than-life creatures in a world that looked so believable,” said Leone, whose work has earned him an Emmy nomination.
Gaining the inside track
He enrolled in UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual & Performing Arts (CVPA), where he earned his BFA in electronic imaging and illustration. Animation Career Review ranks CVPA as first in Massachusetts, second in New England, and 40th in the country among public schools and colleges that offer animation programs. “UMassD set up my whole life,” he said. “I credit Professors Harvey Goldman and the late Robert Barry, who gave me the tools of the trade using the latest computer-animation program.” He saw his future really take shape at a career day in his junior year, where industry professionals discussed the fast-growing job market. “I remember telling my [now] wife Roxanne, ‘I’m moving to LA one day,’ ” he said. After graduation, Leone joined Viewpoint Studios, a broadcast design and animation company in Boston, working as an artist on projects for ESPN and the Discovery Channel. In the summer of 2002, Hollywood beckoned. “I got a call on a Monday, left for LA on Wednesday, and started working on Thursday,” he said. He landed a position at Radium as a VFX artist on network television programs such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and eventually moved to Zoic Studios where he worked his way up to VFX supervisor. But his ultimate goal was to start a boutique-sized company with a few fellow visionaries to work on high-profile projects. In 2008, he launched LION VFX, and immediately got work on Criminal Minds, Dollhouse, Gossip Girl, and Torchwood. The firm has gained clients such as Disney, Showtime, and Sony, and recently opened a second office in Massachusetts.
Believing is seeing
To create a post-apocalyptic street scene for an episode of Dollhouse, a science-fiction series that aired on FOX in 2009 and 2010, the show’s production crew produced a corner block of devastation on the FOX Studios backlot. The physical set included pit fires, debris, broken windows, and burned vehicles. “We [then] created a CG city environment consistent with the practical set, including buildings, streets, trash barrels, vehicles, lamp posts, fire pits, dirt, debris, and smoke,” he said. The CG elements were then textured, lit, and 3D-tracked into place— achieving the goal of disguising the point at which the practical set ends and the imaginary set begins. “There are moments in everyone’s career when they feel like they’ve achieved success,” he said. “For me that was moving from Boston to LA, working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and seeing my shots on TV for the first time. My work was being broadcast to millions of people, and my name was in the credits as the supervisor responsible for the body of work. It’s all those milestones you hoped you’d hit, and you do hit.” by Adrienne N. Wartts
Success runs in the family Roxanne Leone ’94 knows the art of sealing a deal. When long-time beau Michael Leone announced his plans to move to Los Angeles to pursue his career in visual effects, she said, “I’m not going with you unless you marry me.” The Massachusetts couple met at then Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1991, married in 2001, and relocated to the Pacific Coast where they both have built successful careers. Roxanne, who earned her BS in marketing from Charlton College of Business, is a business leader whose accomplishments include winning the 40 Under 40 Leader Award from Dealerscope Magazine. As a marketing manager with California-based Consumer Electronics and Gaming Company, Leone realized the company needed a brand identity to position itself as a national distributor. She led the project, building both the brand and a diverse marketing team. The company was acquired by a Fortune 300 global technology company in 2008, and in the succeeding three years Leone increased annual vendor marketing sales by nearly 400 percent. After 12 years, Leone resigned her position in June 2016. Today, she is a consultant in content and digital marketing, enjoying her exposure to multiple industries, including education and finance. Leone said she chose marketing because of her passion for writing and creative direction. UMass Dartmouth helped her develop that passion with academic work enhanced by internships with market research companies. As for collaborating with her husband, Leone said, “Mike may bounce ideas off of me, and I may partner with him on communication proposals. He’ll get my opinion on his ideas, but he runs his own show.” The couple and their children, ages 9, 5 and 4, divide their time between Los Angeles and Boston.
40 under 40
LEADER AWARD
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A recipe for innovation Talerman has formulated her approach to innovation into a step, a stretch, and a leap. “A step is what we want to accomplish in the next three to six months,” she said. “A stretch envisions where we want to be in two years, and mapping the path to that. And a leap may be five to 10 years out, something quite ambitious, or possibly disruptive. I begin with defining the leap and then make a plan so that each step and stretch support the ultimate goal or vision.”
hen Nucleus Strategy founder Elizabeth Talerman ’85 was three years old, her family moved from New York to Medfield, MA. She paid her way through the Charlton College of Business, built a marketing career as a pioneer in digital marketing, and ultimately became a successful entrepreneur in her native city. Talerman, who earned her BS in marketing, was marketing director at Harvard Business School in the mid-1990s when she got excited by Gopher, the precursor to the World Wide Web, and decided to put all of the school’s Executive Education programs on the Internet platform that was only starting to reveal its potential. Her early adoption of digital technology caught the eye of Ogilvy and Mather, the iconic global advertising agency, and she relocated to the Big Apple to help create a digital marketing strategy for Big Blue, as IBM was known. She had reached a pinnacle as a marketing professional, working at one of the world’s leading agencies, yet it didn’t take long before she realized that she needed an inventive approach to achieve her ultimate career goal. Rather than make a slow, long climb up the corporate ladder, she decided to strike out on her own. “I felt confined and constrained in traditional hierarchical organizations, so it felt natural for me to start my own company,” she said. She left Ogilvy to start a digital agency where she worked with clients including some of the world’s most recognized brands, including Gillette, NBC, Credit Suisse, and the New York Knicks. That work led her to focus on how binding relationships form between people and brands. So five years after arriving in New York, her practice evolved into a brand consultancy that in 2008 became Nucleus, reflecting the collaborative spirit of her business. With her two strategy partners, she assembles teams of anthropologists, historians, futurists, ethicists, psychologists, designers, and writers to solve clients’ toughest challenges. “Our job as strategists is to look at relationships between people, concepts, products, or ideas, and gain an understanding of the emotional triggers and language that creates connections, and the ways in which this informs or inspires behavior,” she said. The Nucleus roster of clients includes organizations such as Martha Stewart and Fisher-Price. For Johnson & Johnson, Nucleus “helped them understand the ambitions of a new generation of parents and evolve their product portfolio and communications away from the fear and uncertainty of ‘no more tears’ toward the ambition of making progress every day,” she said. A current client is N Square, an initiative to stimulate innovation in the fields of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. “We created a messaging tool kit that provides them with better methods for reaching people born after the Cold War who have little understanding of nuclear threat,” she said. Talerman said her firm uses an evidenced-based approach to strategy, working with professionals from a variety of age groups, as well as disciplines. “It’s not just about coming up with new ideas,” she said. “Clients rely on our methodology to gain a better understanding of the people they serve and how those people think, react, and behave.” Her interest in innovation is not new. As a student, she recognized an innovative spirit in the work of architect Paul Rudolph when she was applying to what was then Southeastern Massachusetts University. “I chose SMU because of the architecture. As I walked across campus on my first day of orientation, I wondered why all the steps were so wide, and short in height. I later learned the architect designed them that way so it would take us more time, give us time to think about our learning here.” Today, she is widely recognized as an innovator and was recently named to the board of directors of PopTech, an organization that encourages global collaborations between innovators in fields as varied as public health, computer science, and art. One of its initiatives with Microsoft examines “The Changing World of Work.” “Innovation might be quite incremental,” she said, “but I think the important part is that we imagine the future that we want to see for ourselves, our organizations, and for the world, and we carefully consider the steps it will take to get there.” by Adrienne N. Wartts
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Expanding our Reach, Connecting our Network
Daniel B. DeOliveira President, Alumni Association
The best way to know what’s happening at UMassD or with your fellow Corsairs is to stay connected.
UMass Dartmouth Alumni
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Dear Alumni and Friends, I would like to congratulate the Class of 2017 and welcome them to the ranks of the UMass Dartmouth Alumni family. The goal of the Alumni Association is to help alumni, both locally as well as across the globe, whether you are a recent graduate or an established alumnus, to stay connected to each other and to the University. We work closely with the UMassD Alumni Relations Office to develop and deliver networking opportunities and informative programs, as well as a variety of events and benefits. Here’s what we did in 2016-2017 We held our Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony and proudly recognized four distinguished alumni for their commitment, service, and contributions in their respective fields. We hosted the UMassD Homecoming last fall, as well many alumni events throughout southern New England. The Alumni Association donated more than $36K in academic scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students. We sponsored the Senior Toast, the Graduate Senate Student Gala, and a Student Career Fair. Alumni Association Vice President Greg McCarthy moderated a panel session on “Eliminating Student Debt & Personal Finance” on campus for both students and alumni. Thanks to the fiscal management of our departing treasurer, Samantha Bailey, we made a generous donation to the Engineering/CVPA IDEAStudio & Lab to purchase a new 3D printer. By participating, you can reconnect with your former classmates, meet fascinating and accomplished alumni, and cultivate your career. You can mentor and support UMassD students and other alumni, and make an impact in our community.
Here’s how you can get more involved yourself and help us out in our mission: • Offer to speak to a class. Register to attend an event like Homecoming. Volunteer to help on the Board. Just contact the Alumni Relations office at umassd.edu/alumni to discuss how to become involved. • Mentoring students can make a huge difference in helping UMassD students obtain internship and employment opportunities. • Give back generously to support our students. Go to giving.umassd.edu and make a gift today. Update your contact information to stay connected with the University and to keep current on all events. Thank you We want to thank Interim Chancellor Peyton R. Helm for his leadership during the last and a half year in fortifying the bonds that are UMass Dartmouth, and we look forward to the leadership that our new Chancellor Robert E. Johnson will bring to the University. Yours truly,
Daniel B. DeOliveira, PhD, PMP Class of 1993 Chemistry/Biochemistry President, Alumni Association
| alumni
Greg Vickowski ’83 and Deborah Vickowski
Heather English, William Bolinder ’65, Laurie Carlson Steger ’98 and Ron Steger
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL
2017 Alumni Awards Ceremony
(l-r) Gregory McCarthy '13, Master of Ceremonies, Rosemary Heath received a postumous award for her husband George A. Heath '83, Dr. Daniel M. Asquino '69, Edward Hill Jr. '77, Michael Savaria '10, MS'13, MA'15, PhD'17 and former Interim Chancellor Peyton R. Helm.
Vincent Murphy '93 and Rachel Murphy ’77
117th Commencement Alumni Marchers
Fenway South, Fort Myers, FL James '62 and Angie Amarantes
Helen and Jim Lafrancois
Edwin Rogers '60 and Patricia Moccia
St Paddy’s Day Parade, Naples, FL UMASSD
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alumni | class notes THE 1960s Jean E. Staiti ’66, CVPA, of Albuquerque, NM, has been living in New Mexico for almost nine years and is planning to move back east. Robert D. Machado ’68, CAS, of Tustin, CA, is the president of the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts, responsible for putting on a theatrical production in a park, which attracts more than 5,000 people over five days. He is also a member of the board of the Tustin Public Schools Foundation, which raises funds for the schools in Tustin. Mary Ann Boyce ’69, CAS, Cape Coral, FL. retired as a senior software engineer from the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, which is one of the nation’s premier aviation research, development, test and evaluation facilities. She relocated to Florida from her home of 30 years in North Cape May, NJ.
THE 1970s Margaret L. Call-Conley ’72, CVPA, of Dartmouth, exhibited her coastal landscapes at the Marion Art Center in the fall of 2016, and she won the 2016 David Aldrich Award for Excellence in the Little Compton Community Center Summer Art Show. Jennifer Cipriano ’72, CVPA, of Marion, retired from Ocean Spray Cranberries, where she was customer service coordinator. She previously worked in the textile industry, retail advertising, and was a freelance scrimshander for
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nine years, with her works being sold nationwide. Jennifer is a member of the Marion Art Center. Paula B. Kelley ’72, CAS, of Fall River, taught mathematics at Somerset High School for 37 years. She continued to teach five additional years at Bishop Connolly High School before retiring in 2014. Catherine N. McLaughlin ’72, CAS, of Dartmouth, is a retired English professor at Framingham State University and a well-known writer and essayist. She also sells her acrylic paintings and note cards at the Dartmouth Farmers Market. Kathy Miraglia ’77, CVPA, of South Dartmouth, received the Kathy Connors Teaching Award from The National Art Education Association Women’s Caucus. The award honors an outstanding art teacher who is recognized by students, colleagues, and supervisors as someone who inspires and mentors students. Charles F. Boulay ’78, COE, of Swansea, retired from Fall River Sewer Commission in August 2014 after more than 34 years working for the city. Richard W. Neal ’78, CVPA, of Centerville, is a painter and sculptor working at Chalkboard Studio in Barnstable. His work is on display at the Cape Cod Museum of Art and in recent years he has exhibited in New York, Boston, Washington, DC and elsewhere. A set designer, he most recently worked at the Cotuit Center for the Arts on the production One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Karen A. O’Brien ’78, CVPA, of Dedham, works as director of sales and marketing for Fox Hill Village, a Westwood toprated co-op retirement community for seniors over 62 years. She also paints and displays her work on www.Vangoart.com.
THE 1980s Michael Anthony Rodrigues ’80, COE, of Cranston, RI, acquired Swan Dyeing and Printing in Fall River in 2004 after working there as vice president of manufacturing since 1999. Rodrigues conceived a strategy to revive the ailing business, which was still doing larger run production printing of 1,250,000 yards per week. Peter Brunette ’81, COE, of Walnut Creek, CA, retired as an auditor for a defense contract audit agency in San Francisco, and is now a stay-at-home dad. Priscilla R. Louro-Fonseca ’82, CAS, of New Bedford, was named Veteran of the Year by the Southeastern Massachusetts Veterans Housing Program. Fonseca became a member of the Disabled American Veterans and The American Legion, becoming a commander for District 9 and chaplain. Richard L. Pepin ’83, CVPA, of Maynard, has been an Exhibition Designer at the Peabody Essex Museum since 2012, and is the designer of the Lunar Attraction exhibit currently on display. Dr. Cynthia M. Alves ’84, CAS, of Bristol, RI, was honored by the Medical Staff Association of Roger Williams Medical Center for
distinguished service to the institution, for being on staff more than 20 years. David Cabral ’85, COE, of Acushnet, announced that Five Star Surgical and Five Star Manufacturing have recently rebranded as Five Star Companies. Cabral started the business in 1998, creating a leading medical device company that employs about 85 associates in the New Bedford Business Park. Edward J. McGlynn ’85, COE, of Mattapoisett, was appointed to the position of Vice President of Large C&I Strategy for Franklin Energy, a leading national energy efficiency program implementation firm. In this role, he will guide the program design, strategy and development of new products for all large C&I customer programs. John F. Quinn ’85, CAS, of Dartmouth, was elected chairperson of the New England Fishery Management Council, a quasi-government group that develops rules for fisheries operating in federal waters. Quinn practices law in Bristol County, and served in the Massachusetts State Legislature for 18 years representing Dartmouth and parts of the greater New Bedford region. James T. Gibbons ’89, COE, of Hampton, NJ, was named a Gannett Fleming stockholder in recognition of his role in the success of the engineering and infrastructure firm, where he serves as manager of construction services. He earned a master of science in civil engineering from Columbia University and
is a U.S. Army Engineer Officer, attaining the rank of Colonel. He served in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Denise Lynch ’89, CCB, of Pittsboro, NC, has qualified for the 2017 National Senior Games in the Long Jump, and the 4 x 100-meter relay. The nationals are in Birmingham, AL in June.
THE 1990s James K. Tripp ’91, COE, of Portland, CT, is the newest member of his town’s Board of Selectmen. He is a data network specialist for AT&T and has serves as the president of the Brownstone Quorum, which oversees the two National Historic Landmark brownstone quarries and the land that surrounds them. He received a master’s degree in science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Luis “Peter” Pereira ’92, COE, of New Bedford, Pereira will exhibit his images and speak about his work on August 10, at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford. Pereira started his own computer company before changing course in 1998 to focus on photography. His images have appeared in many national and international publications, including Time, Newsweek, US News and World Report, Vogue (Australia), New York Times, and The Washington Post. His many awards include the New England Newspaper & Press Association– Photographer of the Year award eight times.
Robert H. Balkind ’93, COE, of Pleasant Valley, NY, was named commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Public Works. He joined the Dutchess County government in 2004 as the assistant director for the DPW’s Engineering Division, following more than a decade of work at New York State Department of Transportation and the private sector, including Dewkett Engineering. Lauren Leduc Lemieux ’94, CAS, of Acushnet, participated in the 2017 SouthCoast Women’s Forum held at the Rosebrook Event Center. A certified life coach with her own business, Coaching To Fulfill Dreams, she also works part time at Catholic Social Services coaching clients who are or were recently homeless. Her many community involvements include serving as a mentor for Entrepreneurship for All and the LifeWork Project. Susan Deborah HabigShnek, ESQ. ’95, LAW, of Southbury, CT, focuses her law practice on asserting due process rights for children, including bullying and harassment issues and securing services for autism. She also works in the mental health field as Rogers Counsel for children and adults where anti-psychotic medications are prescribed, and she represents parents where allegations of neglect or abuse are filed. Jason Dana Costa ’97, CCB, of New Bedford, was promoted to chief operating officer at T1D Exchange, after serving as chief financial officer for three
years. In his new role, he will oversee the operations of the entire organization, ensuring that it’s positioned to meet its strategic objectives. T1D Exchange is dedicated to accelerating therapies and improving care in Type 1 diabetes. Robert Mauro ’98, CAS, of Weston, serves as the executive director of the Global Leadership Institute at Boston College, as well as director of the Irish Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in political science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the State University of New York in Albany. He also earned a post-doctoral research fellowship in the Institute for BritishIrish Studies at University College Dublin. Trish Hurley ’99, SWAIN, MFA ’02, of Wakefield, RI, displays her works in galleries in New York, New Jersey, Chicago and D.C. Elisa Lorello ‘99, MA ’03, CAS, of Billings, MT, is the author of seven novels, including the bestselling Faking It, and one memoir. She was featured in Last Best News and was a guest speaker at the Triangle Association of Freelancers 2012 and 2014 Write Now! In May 2016 she presented a lesson for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association spring workshop, and was a guest speaker at MSU Billings during the fall 2016 semester.
THE 2000s Lisa A. Lassiter ’00, CCB, of Wareham, was promoted to vice president/controller for the Bristol County
Savings Bank and is responsible for planning, coordinating and managing the Accounting Department. Prior to this position, she served as the assistant vice president/controller, accounting manager and staff accountant at the bank. Lassiter also currently serves as treasurer for the Downtown Taunton Foundation. Jason M. Karaffa ’01, CAS, of Seattle, WA, has joined Amazon.com in Seattle as corporate counsel. He received his juris doctor from University of Virginia School of Law in 2006. Prior to joining Amazon, he worked as the legal counsel for Volvo Financial Services in Greensboro, NC. Eric Clay ’02, CCB, of South Weymouth, was recognized as a South Shores Rising Star. He is a senior loan officer at Embrace Home Loans, and previously worked at Citizens Bank, Chase, Citibank and other financial institutions. Josh Lucier ’04, COE, of Brockton, works as a financial analyst at Seventh Generation, one of the nation’s leading brands of household and personal care products based in based in Burlington, VT. The company’s mission is to inspire a consumer revolution that nurtures the health of the next seven generations. Kimberly A. Gatesman ’05, CVPA, of New Bedford, participated in the The Marion Art Center recent exhibition, Black and White, featuring charcoal, pen and ink, and prints. Gatesman earned her master’s in arts administration from Boston University. She works as a
Monage from photo by George Austin, The Spectator/SCMG
class notes | alumni
Daniele Tinkham, BS/MS ’09
Physics Teacher, Somerset Berkley Regional High School Daniele Tinkham ’09 is one of 10 recipients of the 2017 Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) Teachers of the Year Award for outstanding physics teachers from across the country. Tinkham, who teaches at Somerset Berkley Regional High School, is the only recipient from the New England region to be recognized. "I want my students to gain a basic understanding of the things around them and how things work,” Tinkham said. In order to do that, she has them focus on solving problems, not just memorizing facts. Tinkham is the latest of many successful UMassD physics alumni to be recognized. Her superintendent is Jeffrey Schoonover ’99, a physics alumnus who won the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. PhysTEC is a 300-institution coalition dedicated to improving and promoting the education of future physics teachers. Each year, only 35 percent of newly hired physics teachers have a physics or physics education background. UMassD Professors Jay Wang, Stephen Witzig, Grant O'Rielly and Alan Hirshfeld, received a three-year, $30,000 grant from the American Physical Society and the National Science Foundation to start the UMassD PhysTEC program.
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alumni | class notes In Memoriam October 2016 – May 2017 Kimball A. Baker ’49 Albin F. Turbak ’51 David A. Craveiro ’68 Richard N. Levrault ’70 William A. Sylvia ’71 Lawrence J. Cameron ’75 Lucille FJ Bernat ’79 Joel D. Suderland ’80 Joy L. Field ’84 Ronald R. Rudnicki ’85
printmaker for both Riverside Art in Somerset and in her private studio, Third Switch Press, in New Bedford. Erin Twomey-Wilson MS ’05, COE, of Taunton, received an MA in applied statistics from Penn State University. Stephanie Laura Barnes ’08, MBA ’09, CCB, of Rumford, RI, brings nearly 10 years of hospitality industry experience to her new role as director of sales for The Marriott Port-au-Prince. She previously served as the hotel’s marketing manager, playing a key role in launching the property in 2015. Before
Hilary D. Hunt ’86 Bruce A. McCaughey ’86 Alfred J. Foley ’99 Norma J. Lord ’08 Brian G. Dufrane ’09 Lucas C. Patti ’12 Armindo Jorge Camara ’13 Mikala T. McCane ’15 Sean Peters ’17
relocating to Haiti in 2015, she held the position of group sales manager at the Boston Marriott Newton Hotel. Carole Billington ‘08, CON, of Somerset, works as the chief nursing officer at Saint Anne’s Hospital, and was named chief operating officer of the hospital. She first joined Saint Anne’s in 1984 as a staff nurse. Her involvements include the American College of Healthcare Executives, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing/Theta Kappa Chapter, and the
UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing Advisory Board. Jennifer Ling Datchuk ’08, CVPA, of San Antonio, TX, was honored with a 2017 American Craft Council Emerging Voices Award. She is a ceramic artist &sculptor and artist.
THE 2010s Eric Manger JC ’11, LAW, of Newfolden, NM, was appointed Minnesota State Veterans Coalitions Director for the Convention of States organization. Selected primarily based on his performance as the campaign manager for the Dave Hughes for Congress campaign during the 2016 election cycle, he continues to consult on political campaigns across the country as he prepares to sit for the bar exam and transition from campaign management to political campaign compliance and election law. Charles H. Balyozian ’12,
CCB, of Arlington, joined the tax practice of one of the nation’s top 100 accounting and consulting firms, Baker Newman Noyes. He is working toward his master’s degree in taxation from Northeastern University. Balyozian focuses primarily on serving C-corporations. John J. Monahan III, JD ’13, LAW, of Souderton, PA, was recently admitted to the bar to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He has accepted a position as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Patricia E. Coonahan in the Court of Common Pleas Family Court Division in Montgomery County, PA. Catherine F. Duncan ’15, COE, of Fairhaven, was named Tutor of the Year by the School on Wheels of Massachusetts during a ceremony last week in Brockton. School on Wheels provides tutoring to students experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. Duncan
was also awarded an Official Citation from the Massachusetts State Senate recognizing her creative approach as a volunteer for the SOWMA program, which enables young girls to pursue their dreams. Scott T. Goodwin ’15, CCB, of Plymouth, has joined Salem Five as a vice president and commercial banking officer, based in the Plymouth office, where he will work directly with small- to medium-sized commercial clients. Jillian Marie Zucco ’16, CON, of Mattapoisett, was crowned Miss Massachusetts in May and will be representing the state at the Miss America Contest. Recently she hosted the second annual Miss Inspirational Program fundraiser. She said her goal is to give girls and young women with special needs a pageant-like program where they have a chance to demonstrate their unique gifts and abilities.
Homecoming & Reunions Thursday, Sept. 28
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Frederick Douglass Unity House Annual Dinner, all welcome
Friday, Sept. 29
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Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and dinner Alumni bonfire and pep rally
Saturday, Sept. 29
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SAVE
the Dates
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Morning Yoga and Trail Run Campus Tour KidsZone–Expanded activities Athletic Reunion Celebrations: 50th Track & Field, 50th Cross Country, 25th Women’s 1992 Soccer Team Corsairs Football vs. Western Connecticut
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Jazz Brunch under the Tent Alumni Tent with DJ & BBQ Class Reunions– 60th, 50th, 25th, 5th Law Alumni Homecoming Events Turf Terrace Class Reunions
Events/programs subject to change. For latest listing of events, dates and times and to register go to www.alumni2.umassd.edu/homecoming2017.
Paying it forward Bruce Pawelczyk ’86, and Lisa St. Laurent ’87, met at Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth in 1980. They never dreamed that they would spend their college years—and, actually, the rest of their lives—together. Now, they have chosen to make a planned gift to UMass Dartmouth so that future students have the chance to live out their dreams. “We both believe in the power of education, and since we both worked our way through high school and college, we know how difficult it can be to pay for education and achieve academic success. Now that we have the capacity to give back, we are happy to do it.” —Lisa St. Laurent ’87 “Our pledge to support the University’s Internet of Things (IoT) Lab is important to me as an engineer — and the company I work for, which matches our donations dollarfor-dollar. Raytheon, and many other companies, need to recruit top talent—students like those at UMass Dartmouth, who are prepared to address society’s needs.” —Bruce Pawelczyk ’86
Planned giving options Appreciated Stock and Real Estate
For property held over one year, qualify for tax deduction and avoid capital gains.
Life Insurance Name us as a beneficiary or make a tax deductible gift.
Retirement Plan Assets
Name us as a beneficiary.
If any of these options interest you, please contact Carolyn Flynn at 617.287.4092 or cflynn@umassp.edu for more information.
Non-profit Org. US Postage PAID New Bedford, MA Permit Number 149
285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Upcoming 2017 Events SEPTEMBER Homecoming & Reunions
Sep. 28 Frederick Douglass Unity House Annual Dinner Sep. 29 Corsairs Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet Alumni Bonfire / Pep Rally Sep. 30 Alumni Jazz Brunch College of Engineering Retired Staff Reunion 50th Reunion of Track & Field & Cross Country 25th Reunion Women’s Soccer Team Alumni Tent with DJ & BBQ with expanded KidsZone Class 60th for class of 1957, 50th for class of 1967, Reunions 25th for class of 1992, and 5th for class of 2012 TBD Law Alumni Homecoming
OCTOBER
Oct. 2 Oct. 4 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 12 Oct. 21 Oct. 25
Kittansett UMass Golf Tournament (UMass-system event) UMass Alumni Reception, FL (UMass-system event) Patriots vs. Buccaneers, Tampa, FL (UMass-system event) Society of Women Engineers Alumni Panel UMass Dartmouth Alumni celebrate Oktoberfest at Student Prince in Springfield UMass Dartmouth Family Weekend UMass Foundation Annual Meeting
NOVEMBER TBD Nov. 16
State Street Connect UMass Networking Reception UMass Dartmouth Alumni Networking Night at Stoneforge Grill, South Easton
DECEMBER Dec. 11 Dec. 12
Patriots vs. Dolphins, Miami, FL (UMass-system event) UMass Alumni Reception, Miami, FL (UMass-system event)
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Foundation, Inc. Notice of Annual Meeting of Members To Be Held on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 9 am at SMAST, 706 S. Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA. The Annual Meeting of Members of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Foundation, Inc. will be held on Wednesday, October 25 at 9am, Eastern Daylight Time, at SMAST, 706 S. Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA, for the following purposes:
1. To consider the election of the director nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee to the Board of Directors;
2. To consider approving certain amendments to the UMass Dartmouth Foundation By-Laws proposed by the Executive Committee; and 3. To consider and act upon any other matter which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or post- ponement thereof. The Executive Committee recommends that qualifying members vote “FOR” the election of the director nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee (Proposal 1) and “FOR” the amendments to the UMass Dartmouth Foundation By-Laws proposed by the Executive Committee (Proposal 2). The director nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee and the amendments to the By-Laws currently proposed by the Executive Committee will be made available upon written request by a qualifying member to the Clerk at tbullard@umassd.edu. If any qualifying member does not attend the Annual Meeting in person, the Clerk will be appointed as proxy, with the power of substitution, and will be authorized to represent and vote on the qualifying member’s behalf. A qualifying member may direct the Clerk to cast his or her vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” either Proposal 1 or Proposal 2 by sending such direction by email to tbullard@umassd.edu no later than two business days prior to the annual meeting. If no direction is made, all proxies will be cast “FOR” both Proposal 1 and Proposal 2.
Events are subject to change. To register and for updates visit umassd.edu/alumni or call 508.999.8031.