A MAGAZINE OF UTICA COLLEGE SPRING 2019
A Pioneer at Heart One of the country’s top heart surgeons, Dr. Nikhil Panda ’02 shares how his career path began at Utica College
An Alum’s Unbelievable Cancer Battle | 50 Years of the BSU | OT Students in the Dominican Republic
FIRST WORDS Letter from the Editor The Pressure Paradox As a writer and editor, I’ve always found it a strange paradox: The best stories are often the hardest to tell. That’s how I felt about this issue’s feature on Assistant Sports Information Director Laurel Simer ’11. I heard about Laurel’s story in the fall of 2018—how, as a kid, she was diagnosed with an almost-always fatal brain cancer and had beaten the odds by surviving, and thriving, for more than 20 years. But after interviewing Laurel, I was struck not only by how truly unbelievable her story is, but also how much pressure there was to tell her story right. And like all good writers, I handled this pressure by procrastinating. I put off tackling this story as long as our publication schedule—and our ever-punctual graphic designer, Kevin Waldron—would allow (sorry for making you sweat, Kevin). But in the end, I hope The Survivor (page 24) conveys just how special Laurel is. As her former coach Dave Clausen aptly put it in our interview, “Laurel just brings a good vibe wherever she goes.” I did my best to communicate that “vibe” in the story. She deserves that. The issue has some other highlights, too: a piece from Mona Kazour G’19, an occupational therapist who shared her firsthand experience working with children in the Dominican Republic (page 21); a Q&A with Dr. Nikhil Panda ’02 (page 16), who credits his time at UC for setting him on the path to become one of the country’s best cardiac electrophysiologists; and a wrap-up of UC’s first annual Giving Day (page 32), which celebrated superheroes in
CHEERS, INDEED: One of my favorite details from Laurel Simer’s incredible story: After getting the “all-clear” at her annual MRI appointments, Simer always celebrates with a cold Labatt Blue Light. Here she toasts to good health with her mom, Cyndy.
the UC community and helped raise more than $70,000 to support student learning. As always, please let us know what you think of the stories in this issue, or share your own story ideas, at uticamag@utica.edu Mary Donofrio Editor
Online Master of Science in Nursing 2
utica.edu/msn
FROM PRESIDENT LAURA CASAMENTO
Telling the Utica College Story It’s been a truly remarkable year at Utica College. I am proud to say that we have a great story to tell—one of a vibrant, innovative institution that is meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing marketplace while remaining true to its founding mission of providing the communities it serves with broader access to the benefits of a quality, private education. As you will see in this issue of Utica, our success is rooted in the high caliber of academic work being pursued by our faculty and the intensive, highly personal learning experiences we provide for our students. This past year has seen significant milestones in academic achievement, financial performance, and philanthropic support, thanks to the deep commitment of all those who serve and support the College’s mission. The continuing success of our tuition reset initiative has greatly benefited the families we serve, reducing student debt and increasing our graduation rate 12 percentage points over the past four years. This has led to significant increases in applications and enrollment while enabling us to attract students of higher academic standing. Through innovative and prudent management of its resources, the College’s financial profile is stronger than it has been since its establishment as an independent institution. As president, I have had the great privilege of sharing our experience with colleagues at a number of institutions, including a recent meeting with higher education thought leader and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Robert Zemsky to discuss using our success as a case study in his forthcoming book. In November, I will share my own experience confronting the challenges facing higher education with fellow women leaders as a featured speaker at the Women in Leadership Conference at Harvard University. I speak for everyone at Utica College when I say that I am very proud of what we have accomplished over the past year, and I greatly look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
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CONTENTS 5
Everyday Pioneers
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Around Campus
14 Athletics FEATURES 16
The Heart of the Matter How Dr. Nikhil Panda ’02 is pioneering the field of cardiac electrophysiology
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Notes from the Field Mona Kazour G’19 on her experience as a pediatric occupational therapist in the Dominican Republic
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The Survivor Diagnosed with a potentially-fatal brain tumor as a child, Assistant Sports Information Director Laurel Simer ’11 is beating the odds—and making a difference
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Alumni News
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Advancement Updates
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Class Notes
Editor Mary Donofrio Creative Director Kevin Waldron Senior Writers Joe Perry Kelly Adams Christine Leogrande David Dellecese Photography Jamie Callari Kevin Waldron Class Notes Editors Mark C. Kovacs Mona Kazour
Stay in Touch! Send correspondence regarding Utica, address changes, and Class Notes to: Office of Alumni and Parent Relations Utica College 1600 Burrstone Road Utica, NY 13502-4892 Or call (800) 456-8278, (315) 792-3025 Or e-mail: uticamag@utica.edu
Utica is published twice a year, Fall and Spring, by the Office of Marketing and Communications: Kelly Adams, Assistant Vice President.
LEADERSHIP LESSONS Entrepreneur and author David Casullo visited UC in April as part of the F. Eugene Romano Executive Lecture Series and shared life lessons from his 30 years in the business world.
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Everyday Pioneers:
Alfonzo Whitehurst ’17, G’19 Future teacher Alfonzo Whitehurst overcame a difficult childhood to succeed on the football field and in the classroom. During his freshman orientation at Utica College in 2013, Alfonzo Whitehurst got the attention of counselor Kari Bean—and not exactly for the right reasons. “I can be a jokester,” he says, sheepishly. “And I was probably joking around too much during one of the orientation events.” Bean took notice, and handed Whitehurst, an HEOP student from Syracuse, a worksheet on respect. From that moment, he says, Whitehurst knew that his
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experience at UC would be hard work, but also that he’d have the guidance and support to help him along the way. For Whitehurst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in 2017, UC provided the stability his upbringing often lacked. His mother was killed when he was a toddler; his older sister helped raise him and his two younger siblings, and his living arrangements often involved the couches of friends from school or church.
Through it all, Whitehurst remained positive. At a towering six foot four, he excelled on the football field. He spent summers at Utica College in football camps. During his senior year, coaches and teachers helped connect him with the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), and he was soon recruited to play defensive line for the Pioneers. At UC, Whitehurst decided he would follow the footsteps of the adults who inspired him as a child. He declared an education major with the ultimate goal of becoming a physical education teacher. And while balancing academics and football was a challenge, Whitehurst credits myriad professors,
coaches, HEOP support staff, and academic counselors for keeping him on track. “Everyone here believes in me,” he says. “When a professor tells you, one-on-one, that you can do it, it’s meaningful. They saw more in me than I saw in myself. They knew I could reach a higher level.” For Whitehurst, that “higher level” includes pursuing a master’s in education at UC; he’s student teaching at a nearby high school, and plans to stay in the area after graduation. “I won’t be afraid to push my students the way I was pushed,” he says. “Because I needed that push to succeed.”
SEEING IN COLOR Members of the campus community celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, hosted by the Asian Student Union on April 23—and got some bright new shirts in the process.
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INNOVATION ON DISPLAY After a semester of hard work, students shared their research during poster presentations at UC’s annual Student Conference for Research, Professional Activities, and Creative Arts in April.
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AROUND CAMPUS
Family Business For Kim, Lauren, and Hunter Osborne, earning master’s degrees from Utica College was a family affair. THE OSBORNE FAMILY HAS A LOT TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR. Lauren and Hunter, who married last fall, are expecting their first child this July, making Hunter’s mom, Kim, a first-time grandma. But first, in May, all three Osbornes walked across the stage at UC’s graduate Commencement ceremony. The trio earned master’s degrees in Utica College’s online programs: Lauren a master’s in health care administration; Kim an MBA with a specialization in health care administration; and Hunter an MBA with a specialization in risk management and insurance. It’s Lauren who “started the UC trend,” she explains, when she began researching master’s programs in 2017 and discov-
ered UC’s online MHA degree. Lauren, who earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland in 2015, appreciated the flexibility the program offered, as she planned to study while maintaining her full-time job as a patient care coordinator for Family Health Network in Cortland.
Hunter, a full-time sales manager for Cortland-based McNeil and Co., jumped onboard a few months later, when he learned about UC’s MBA program in risk management and insurance. He saw it as a perfect opportunity to advance his career in the insurance business.
She shared her research with Kim, who is also her colleague— Kim has been Family Health Network’s Chief Operating Officer since 1990. Like Lauren, Kim was interested in the program’s flexibility.
“I knew what a good experience Lauren and my mom were having, and that convinced me to enroll,” says Hunter—though he admits that wasn’t the only reason. “Seeing them work so hard made me feel really lazy,” he says, laughing.
“Earning my master’s was something I always wanted to do, but I didn’t think I had the time,” Kim says. “The online option seemed doable, and it was more affordable than I expected.”
Despite being new to online learning, all three Osbornes admit that their courses were more engaging and more similar to the traditional classroom experience than they had anticipated.
“I was intimidated by the technology at first, “ says Kim. “I remember saying to Lauren, ‘What’s a Google hangout?’” But she caught on quickly, and began to build relationships with her professors and classmates. “I didn’t expect to make those kind connections in an online class,” says Kim. “It’s motivating because everyone is there to take their career to the next level.” Now, after nearly two years of hard work— and countless group “study sessions” around the family dining table—the Osbornes are excited to celebrate their accomplishments. “Our schedules have been so crazy with school and work that I think we’re all excited to have a break,” says Lauren, stopping short to correct herself. “At least until the baby comes!”
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Top Team
Honorable Mentions
Lending a Hand
In March, a team of four Utica College MBA students was selected to compete in the live round of the Graduate Student Organization Case Competition at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management. The team was one of only six to qualify for the final round with the submission of a paper outlining a solution to a business case study. All four students are business leaders outside the classroom, as well: (pictured, from left) Paige Reina is a senior credit analyst at NBT Bank; Izabela Carr is a project leader for pharmaceutical company ICON plc; Merima Veiz is a project analyst and senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton; and Dana Crisino is director of the Herkimer-Oneida Counties Transportation Study. (Photo 1)
Utica College ranks high for value and quality according to two lists published recently by College Factual and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In its 2019 report on the “Best Schools for the Money,” College Factual placed Utica College among the top 10 percent nationally for value, determined by average total annual cost, the average time students take to graduate, and overall quality. The Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Utica College among the “top 15 colleges with the highest student-mobility rates.” The study measured the percentage of all students in a birth cohort at a particular college whose parents were in the bottom 20 percent for household income, and who reached the top 20 percent for individual earnings.
Rest and relaxation could wait for these students, who spent a portion of their spring break in March helping those in need. As part of “Alternative Break Days,” a group of UC students and staff worked with the Red Cross to promote fire safety and provide free smoke alarms to Utica residents. Others worked with the Refugee Center’s Resettlement Team to organize supplies and furniture for new refugee families. (Photo 2) Presidential Purpose Megan Sliski ’20 joined the student branch of the New York Physical Therapy Association (NYPTA) two years ago with the modest goal of meeting and networking with physical therapists from across the state. This year, the organization elected
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Megan its new president. Sliski, a student in UC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, now represents fellow PT students from hundreds of member colleges and universities in New York State. “It’s so exciting to work with students to help better the profession of physical therapy and to advocate for our patients and their futures,” says Sliski, who is currently completing her fieldwork in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan—an experience in line with Sliski’s ultimate career goal of working with newborns in a hospital setting. “Helping sick and premature infants meet milestones is incredibly rewarding,” she says. (Photo 3)
AROUND CAMPUS
Student Group Spotlight: Active Minds Senior Lukus Becker wants to get people talking about mental health. “College is a huge transition,” says Becker, a psychobiology major. “A lot of my friends were struggling and felt they had to hide it.” In early 2018, Becker founded UC’s chapter of Active Minds, a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the stigma
around mental health issues among college students. At the group’s first meeting, more than 40 students got involved, and over the past three semesters, Active Minds has hosted events designed to get the UC community talking about suicide prevention, gender and sexuality issues, stress-management techniques, and more. One of their most popular projects put positive thinking on full display. In February 2018, members wrote inspiring mes-
sages on hundreds of Post-It notes, filling the Community Board in White Hall and placing the notes in unexpected places around campus, like restroom stalls and library study carrels. While the messages are simple (sentiments like “you are enough” and “you matter”), Becker says he’s heard from dozens of students who were personally—and positively— impacted by the notes.
“A lot of my friends were struggling and felt they had to hide it.”
“Sometimes knowing someone cares makes all the difference.”
HEARD ON CAMPUS “I want for us to have fun, educate those around us, and stand up for what we believe in. I want others to gain knowledge and perspective through our presence on campus. On a more personal level, I want BSU to remain a safe place for students of color. We need to have a space where we can talk about racial tension and injustices that happen on our campus and in the real world. Most of all, I want BSU to be a family for those who decide to be a part of it.” Alexia Colacicco ’19, president, UC Black Student Union, on her goals for the future of BSU, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. For more on the milestone, see page 31.
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AROUND CAMPUS
Faculty Achievement In February, Chester Maciag, adjunct professor of economic crime management and cybersecurity, was awarded the 2018 SANS Difference Maker Award at the SANS Cyber Defense Initiative in Washington, D.C. He was nominated by master’s student Margaret Murphy, who wrote in her nomination,“He is an excellent teacher and truly cares about students.” (Photo 1)
A study co-authored by Leslie Corbo, assistant professor of cybersecurity, has been published in the JAMA Network Open journal. The study examines U.S health care institutions’ susceptibility to phishing attacks.
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Suzanne Lynch, professor of practice in economic crime, was one of three professors acclaimed by Forensic Colleges as an anti-money laundering and payment fraud expert. Formerly vice president for security and risk management at MasterCard Worldwide, Lynch has held fraud management positions at Goldman Sachs and Comerica Bank.
A study by Assistant Professor of Nursing Jennifer Klimek-Yingling, titled “Negotiating Emotional Order: A Grounded Theory of Breast Cancer Survivors,” was published in the December 2018 issue of Grounded Theory Review. The article examines the emotional
impact of breast cancer treatment.
Professor of Chemistry Michelle Boucher was named scientific consultant for the web video series Reactions, produced by the American Chemical Society and PBS Digital Studios. The videos, available on YouTube, examine the use of chemistry in everyday life.
Professor of Education and Dean of the School of Health Professions and Education Patrice Hallock was honored by the Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Council for Exceptional Children with the Nasim Dil Service Award. Awarded
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at the annual TED Conference each fall, the honor is given to an educator who demonstrates “exemplary service to the development and advancement of quality teacher education in special education.”
Luke Perry, professor of government and politics and director of UC’s Center for Public Affairs, was the 2018 recipient of the Harold T. Clark Jr. Award. Perry, who has published three books and is working on a fourth, was lauded by one nominee as “one of the most prolific researchers, publishers, and scholars UC has ever seen.” The honor was presented by Provost Todd Pfannestiel at UC’s Faculty Research Day in November. (Photo 2)
ATHLETICS
Kyle Swiecki ’19 Hometown: Boonville, NY Major: Wellness and Adventure Education Kyle Swiecki is UC’s first-ever NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships qualifier in the heptathlon. He totaled 4,712 points, placing 14th nationally.
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ATHLETICS
Tim Quinlan ’19 became UC’s career baseball hits leader, surpassing the 140 mark previously held by Kevin Giorioso ’00. Quinlan is also the College’s record holder with 43 career doubles. (1) The men’s hockey team, which once again led the nation in attendance, continued its decisive home-ice advantage. The Pioneers are 27-4-1 at the Adirondack Bank Center over the past two seasons, including a 13-3-1 overall home record this season. Gregg Burmaster ’19, who captained the men’s hockey team to a second consecutive United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) regular season title, signed a professional contract with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets. He joins former teammates Roman Ammirato ’18, Connor Schmidt ’18, and Anthony McVeigh ’18 in the ECHL, the third highest level of professional hockey in North America. Ten percent of players on 2018-19 National Hockey League opening-day rosters began their professional careers in the ECHL. Gianluca Baggetta ’19 was named the UCHC Goalie of the Year. He finished the season ranked fourth nationally in save percentage (94.1) and ninth in goals-against average (1.76 ). (2) The women’s hockey team set a new program record with a nine-game winning streak to open the season. The team surpassed the 15-win mark for the ninth consecutive season. (3)
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The women’s lacrosse earned its first-ever postseason tournament berth, earning the No. 2 seed in the Empire 8 Championships. The Pioneers won eight of the first nine games en route to a team record 13 regular season victories. Head coach Kristin St. Hillaire collected her 100th career victory in a March 27 22-0 victory over Sage College of Albany. Kaitlyn Scarpinella ’19 and Kaitlynn Palmer ’20 reached the 100-career point milestone. (4) Nicole Rice ’19 is only the third UC softball player to conclude her career with 200 hits and a .400 batting average. (5) Ka’Sean Watlington ’20 and Keanu Heedram ’20 placed third nationally—in the triple jump and shot put competitions, respectively—at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, earning All-American recognition. They were two of four UC student-athletes who competed for individual national championships. Kyle Swiecki ’19 placed 14th in the heptathlon; Marquis Simpson ’20 placed 15th in the long jump. Watlington’s and Heedram’s performances represent the closest UC has come to an individual or team national championship. DeAndre Fyffe ’22 was sixth on the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships qualifying list in the men’s discus. Michalyn Winkler ’19 set a new UC water polo career saves record, earning CWPA All-Region honors.
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Even as a child growing up in San Diego, California, Nikhil Panda ’02 had lofty goals. His parents, who emigrated from India, often returned to their home country with their young son. There, Panda saw suffering so great, he was inspired to make a difference. He set his sights on becoming a physician. Today he’s made his dream come true in a big way. As a cardiac electrophysiologist—one of the country’s best, in fact—at Brown Alpert Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island, it’s not hyperbole to say he’s saving lives every day. We talked to Dr. Panda, who is also a researcher and professor, to learn more about his experience at UC, his career path, and what keeps him calm in the high-stakes world of complex heart surgery. You grew up on the West Coast. What brought you to Utica College? I wanted to experience a different part of the country for college. I really liked the small class sizes at Utica College and the idea that each student was not a number. I received a scholarship to UC, and had the opportunity to participate in the Honors Program. I knew I wanted to pursue medicine even as a high school student, because I always thought becoming a doctor would be the ultimate way to help people and make a difference. At the time, UC offered a combined medical degree program and opportunities for early entrance to the SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, which seemed to be a great fit for me. But it was quite the transition in climate from living in San Diego to Upstate New York!
Tell me about your experience at UC. Did it shape your eventual career path?
was admitted early, after my sophomore year.
Absolutely. I was able to do my senior thesis as a sophomore at the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory in Utica. I didn’t know it at the time, but the laboratory is perhaps the most famous basic science laboratory in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, where much of the knowledge of the field
It sounds like you were a busy student. Did you have time to enjoy the traditional college experience?
“I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and I like the intellectual challenge of finding an arrhythmia and eliminating it before my eyes.” was discovered. I was able to work with one of the founders in the field, Dr. Charles Antzelevitch. That experience was instrumental in helping shape my future career as a physician and scientist. Through Utica College, I was also able to do clinical rotations abroad and study health policy in Europe. I became an EMT and phlebotomy-certified and participated in medical trips abroad. I also did chemistry research with Dr. Curtis Pulliam. When it was time to apply to medical school, I received tremendous support from the faculty and
Yes, it was an unforgettable time that I will always look back on with the fondest of memories. I developed lifelong friendships at UC, including my former roommate and best friend, Dr. Terry Li ’02. We met at UC and then were roommates in medical school. We were in each other’s weddings. Were there other people at Utica College who left an impact on you? Specific professors or advisers? All the professors I had at UC impacted my life in such a positive one way or another, but a few stand out. Dr. Judy McIntryre was my pre-medical adviser, and her encouragement throughout my college career was instrumental. She was more like a family member and would often invite me for dinner with her family. We keep in touch to this day. Dr. Ronald Lucchino worked extra hard as my faculty adviser to provide me with the mentorship and opportunities to be successful. Also, Mark Kovacs. He was the director of residence life during my time at UC, and he went above and beyond to make sure I was adjusting to life away from home. He even attended my medical school graduation.
Your field, cardiac electrophysiology, is relatively new, having been developed in the mid-1970s. Can you describe it? Cardiac electrophysiology is a very subspecialized field that deals with the medical and surgical treatment of electrical disorders of the heart. We are considered the “electrical engineers of the heart” or the “heart electricians.” It employs the latest technologies in medicine, including robotic and computer-assisted procedures. We implant pacemakers and defibrillators, as well as perform cardiac ablations, in which we find and burn specific areas of the heart that are causing the rhythm disturbance. What drew you to this field? As a doctor, I wanted the opportunity to have a direct and immediate impact on patient’s lives, and I’m fascinated by the novel technologies in this field that are constantly evolving and improving. I enjoy the variety in the procedures, as almost no two procedures are the same. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and I like the intellectual challenge of finding an arrhythmia and eliminating it before my eyes. We deal with principles of anatomy, physiology, electrical engineering, and physics on a daily basis, and we operate on some of the sickest hearts, so the difference we have on patients’ lives is particularly rewarding.
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“I work well under pressure and trust my experience and training. Everyone in the room feeds off my attitude. I’m manning the ship.”
Cardiac electrophysiology requires the most training of any medical field, so it’s been a long journey for you since graduating from UC. That’s right. In 2002, I started medical school at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, then I entered the physician scientist training program at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where I completed my residency, a fellowship in cardiology, and three years of a postdoctoral research fellowship in biomedical engineering, focusing on cell and tissue engineering for cardiac arrhythmias. I completed my clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. I was one of the few electrophysiologists that completed an additional fellowship in advanced and complex cardiac ablation back in Cleveland.
What brought you to your current hospital in Rhode Island? After fellowship, I wanted to pursue practice at an academic medical center where I would have the opportunity to practice with the latest technologies, teach the future generation of electrophysiologists, and perform research. That brought me to Brown University, where I’m able to do all those things. In addition to operating four days a week, I am the founder of several clinical studies and have developed new ablation techniques for the treatment of atrial fibrillation or AFib, a common electrical disorder where the top of the heart beats irregularly. I research cell therapy and tissue regeneration and try to engineer cells and tissue to restore electrical activity in the heart that has been damaged. I also have the opportunity to teach and mentor electrophysiology and cardiology fellows, residents, medical
students, undergrads and postdoctoral research fellows. I’m extremely busy, but I look forward to coming to work every day. What’s the most challenging part of your work? The field of cardiac electrophysiology requires perseverance. Some procedures can last 6-8 hours, and a surgeon’s persistence ensures the best results for patients. One of the most challenging aspects is dealing with the limitations and bureaucracy of the current healthcare system that I feel can be a hindrance to patient care and research at times. Do you still feel anxiety or pressure during surgeries? How do you cope in such a high-stakes environment? I always have a very healthy respect for the heart, because of the importance and possible consequences of things that can happen. However, I like to think I
work well under pressure, and I trust my experience and training, as everyone in the room feeds off my attitude. I’m manning the ship. It is important to remain calm so everyone, including nurses, trainees, and staff, can work toward providing the best possible outcomes for patients. Tell me about your family. I met my wife, Megha, in residency. She’s an internist and pediatrician in the same hospital system at Brown. We’ve have two sons, Dhilan, who’s 3, and Shaan, who’s 1. We’ve only been in Rhode Island for a few years now, but we love the area. The beach is close by, and we go to Boston frequently. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I hope just to continue to do what I do. Continue to do research, participate in clinical trials, and teach. And continue to watch my children grow.
Notes from the Field Utica College Occupational Therapy graduate student Mona Kazour G’19 shares her experience from a trip to the Dominican Republic in late 2018, when she and 30 fellow OT students completed a two-week pediatric fieldwork project in the Caribbean country.
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W When those of us working in the field of occupational therapy tell someone our title, we are often met with confusion and a myriad of guesses: Do we we help people find jobs? Or “therapize” people at work? In reality, our field encompasses many facets of life, so there is little we do not touch upon. Occupational therapists work with people across the lifespan by using daily activities (occupations) in a therapeutic way to prevent or recover from injury, increase mobility, and improve quality of life. With those goals in mind, approximately 30 students and I traveled to the Dominican Republic in November 2018 to complete a two-week pediatric fieldwork. We spent one week each at the Asociación Dominicana de Rehabilitación (ADR), a rehabilitation facility in Santo Domingo, and Nuestra Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), a children’s home in San Pedro. With guidance and assistance from practitioners, professors, and supervisors, we worked with children of varying abilities and ages, from several months up to 18 years old. We worked in numerous settings and received first-hand experience in navigating an unfamiliar country and a vastly different health care system. In both ADR and NPH, we used play as therapy, addressed and explained different positioning needs, such as
for feeding and muscle relaxation, and promoted proper lifting and body mechanics for therapists and caregivers. We also had the opportunity to present at a conference to approximately 200 health care professionals and discuss best practices with doctors and physiatrists. At the children’s home, we had the pleasure of working in early intervention (EI) in a school setting and in outpatient services. The center had amazing resources like a vocational center focused on carpentry, upholstery, and recycling, in addition to workshops for creating orthotics, prosthetics, and shoes. Unsurprisingly, practice in the Dominican is different than what is taught in the United States. With different cultural influences—and the fact that we worked alongside therapists who have been practicing for as long as we students have been alive—being culturally competent and respectful in our approach were priorities. Suggesting slight changes that could improve services seemed to be most successful. For instance, early intervention (EI) in the U.S. is done in the child’s home and natural environment, with family members present. In the Dominican Republic, EI is done in the clinic, while parents are in the waiting room. Using the Spanish we knew and with the help of our translators, we asked if parents could come in for the last few minutes of sessions to
see what was being done with their child. We explained how to implement some of the exercises at home. The therapists were receptive to new ideas and placed trust in our abilities and knowledge. We were often handed a child we knew nothing about, and worked with them for 30-minute sessions. Talk about a nerve-wracking way to apply all the information we learned, muy rápido! While this trip was a valuable learning experience for us as students, I hope the current research and knowledge we were able to share with the therapists positively influences their practice far into the future. Throughout the entirety of the trip, everyone was so kind and hospitable; when they said that “their home was our home,” they truly meant it. Someone in our group yawned and made a joking comment that she needed coffee, and immediately, a staff member hurried to make coffee for the group. Small gestures like that were touching. NPH is a both a school and a residence that provides education for students until high school, and housing for those who have challenging home situations that may not be conducive to optimal growth and development. We worked with students who had developmental higher needs and required assistance for most daily activities. They lived in different homes within NPH, and we
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Photo 1: The group presenting on the CO-OP approach at the conference: (L to R) Mona Kazour, Angela Wehle, Marianne Durkin, Rachel Baker, translator Franziska Schwebel, and UC Occupational Therapy Professor Victoria Nackley Photo 2: Nuestra Pequeños Hermanos students with their “tías and tíos” Photo 3: Monica Swift working with a student at NPH on oral motor skills. (Photo credit: Barbara Carlson) Photo 4: Lillian Zambri face painting at a Family Day Event at the ADR, where family and friends were invited to celebrate with food, music, dance, and games Photo 5: Mona Kazour and two students from the Asociación Dominicana de Rehabilitación (ADR) in San Marcos after an activity-filled afternoon
integrated OT practices into their daily routine. The children’s caregivers are called “tías” and “tíos,” meaning aunts and uncles in Spanish. They work four days in a row, followed by three days off. The love and care they pour into their work can be felt instantly. Regardless of how challenging the work is, there is never a shortage of laughter, dancing, and music. A highlight of our time together was playtime with the students. We would have two lines of people, creating a “London Bridge” with our arms for the students to pass through, as we sang and danced. They would finish the line, smiling from ear to ear. I am grateful to the wonderful people we met in the Dominican Republic who made our trip so special. To be welcomed into a new country and given the opportunity to exchange culture and life stories is a privilege that I hold dear. I learned many lessons on this trip; we should not take for granted the ability to so easily communicate our ideas with one another; that people often have the best intentions but may not be equipped with the adequate resources or education; and most of all, that kindness is universal. I carry with me the reminder to always be flexible, take every opportunity, and embrace the beauty that stems from simplicity.
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THE SURVIVOR
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As a child, Laurel Simer ’11 was diagnosed with a potentially-fatal brain tumor and given just a few months to live. Today, UC’s assistant sports information director is happy, healthy, and determined to make the most of her second chance. It’s hard to tell Laurel Simer’s story without reverting to cliché. She’s beating the odds. She’s a medical miracle. She has defied all expectations. Cliché, but also true. At age 10, Simer was diagnosed with DIPG, a rare and fatal type of brain tumor. Doctors estimated she wouldn’t live another year, even with treatment. Today, almost 20 years later, Simer, a UC alumna, former ice hockey player, and now the College’s assistant sports information director, is most certainly alive—and acutely aware of just how unlikely her path has been. The Devastating Diagnosis It started with a bump on the head. It was the summer of 1999, and Simer and her older brother were goofing around in the bouncy house at their school’s carnival. She fell, smacking her head on her brother’s knee. Once the swelling went down, Simer and her parents thought nothing of it. But severe headaches soon followed, and lasted for days. Her school nurse noticed that the pupil in one eye was dilated—a telltale sign of a concussion—and suggested she see a doctor. That day, Simer, her mom, and a family friend visited St. Paul Children’s Hospital, an hour’s drive away from their home in Fairbault, Minnesota. She got an MRI (her first ever) and was examined by a neurologist. After reviewing the results, the doctor took Laurel’s mom, Cyndy, into a private office, while Laurel returned to the waiting room with her friend. As they waited, she remembers feeling confused and a little scared, but mostly anxious to get back home for soccer practice.
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In the doctor’s office, Simer’s mom was living every parent’s worst nightmare. Laurel had a brain tumor the size of a lemon, the doctor said; a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), among the most aggressive and rarest forms of brain cancer. There’s no treatment that has proven effective, and the statistics were mind-numbingly grim: Only 10 percent of children diagnosed with DIPG survive more than two years. The median survival time from diagnosis is less than nine months. Without treatment, the doctor said, Laurel wouldn’t live six months. The rest, says Simer, was a blur. Her mom emerged from the office in tears, and her dad, Peter, rushed home from work to be by his daughter’s side. Within days, her parents, shell-shocked but determined, began to explore treatment options. Doctors had recommended the standard cancer arsenal of radiation and chemotherapy. But as Simer’s parents learned about the dismal outcomes and side effects, they reconsidered. One doctor warned that a single round of radiation would drop Laurel’s IQ 50 points. Another dismissed their concerns about the long-term side effects alto-
gether, explaining that “with DIPG, there is no ‘longterm.’” Cyndy and Peter were desperate to find another way. “My dad took a month off work just to research different treatment options,” Simer says. “He talked to over 100 doctors to learn as much as he could.” What he found was a unique clinical trial that involved the anti-acne drug Accutane. In the early 1990s, scientists at UCLA discovered that Accutane, which works as a skin medication by altering chemical signals, also targets the specific chemical signals that go awry in glioma cancer cells, limiting tumor growth and prolonging patient survival. Her parents discussed the experimental treatment with Simer’s new doctor who, unlike other oncologists she’d seen, “was open-minded to trying new things.” They decided to move forward. The treatment required Simer to take 50 times the normal dosage of Accutane prescribed to an adult—27 pills per day—and wasn’t without its own side effects. Simer remembers painful bleeding from her ears and nose. She continued the Accutane for 21 months.
“My doctors and my parents always said, ‘if you feel OK, you can play hockey.’ They did everything to help me have a normal childhood.” By her 12th birthday, Simer’s MRIs revealed no tumor growth; more than two years later, her scans were “carbon copies” of the images taken at her initial diagnosis. It was an astonishing result for DIPG, a notoriously fast-growing cancer. Even more astonishing: The tumor hasn’t grown since. Simer visits the National Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C. once a year and, so far, hasn’t needed any additional treatment. She has remained stable—and by all accounts, healthy— since 2001.
A Future on Ice
normal childhood.”
Ice hockey was always part of Laurel Simer’s life as a kid growing up in Minnesota. She first remembers being on skates at four years old, when her older brothers relegated her to the position of goalie in their backyard rink. She loved the game, and went on to play both forward and goalie in the local youth league.
Simer went on to play goalie at Shattuck-Saint Mary’s, a boarding school in Minnesota known for its ice hockey program. In fact, the school’s Wikipedia page denotes its reputation as “the Hogwarts of Hockey,” with dozens of alumni going on to play for the NHL.
“That was the thing that worried me most when I was diagnosed,” she says. “I didn’t want to stop playing hockey.” And despite a brief hiatus during her treatment, she hasn’t. “My doctors and my parents always said, ‘if you feel OK, you can play,’” says Simer. Hockey, her parents knew, was an important part of maintaining normalcy in their daughter’s life, which could have easily been derailed and defined by her cancer. “My parents did everything to help me have a
Collegiate hockey, says Simer, was her next big goal. In the spring of her senior year of high school, her coach at Shattuck-St. Mary’s introduced her to Dave Clausen, the head women’s ice hockey coach at Utica College. Thanks to her brothers, who had both attended college in central New York, Simer was familiar with the area, and liked the idea of heading northeast to play for UC’s Division III team. Clausen remembers meeting Simer for the first time. “Laurel just brings a good vibe when she enters a room,” he says. “She was pleasant, intelligent,
and I knew she’d be a good fit at UC.” Clausen offered her a spot on his team, and Simer played goaltender as a Pioneer from 2007-2011. But more than her skills on the ice, Clausen recalls Simer’s ability to bring the team together—especially after tough losses. “As a coach, you want someone like Laurel on your team. She has this positive attitude that makes everyone else want to be there,” he says. “She was the concrete that held the bricks together.” Initially unaware of Simer’s diagnosis, Clausen said he learned her story “piece by piece. Laurel is not the type of person to want a dramatic, sit-down conversation about her health,” he says. “But when I learned she had this cancer and her life expectancy was so short, things clicked. You realize why she’s so positive, how she’s overcome these obstacles, and you appreciate her that much more.”
Still, Simer’s doctors are careful not to attribute her tumor’s stability to the Accutane regimen, which hasn’t produced reliable results in clinical trials and is still being researched. “What works for one kid might not work for another,” Simer says. “That’s what makes DIPG so challenging.”
Left: At home between the posts, a young Simer (far left) strikes a pose with her brothers in Minnesota. Right: Celebrating a UC victory with teammates in 2010.
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“As a coach, you want someone like Laurel on your team. She was the concrete that held the bricks together.”
The Dream Job Off the ice, Simer was finding her niche in the classroom. She hadn’t declared a major when she enrolled at UC, but classes with public relations professor Paul MacArthur helped her discover a passion for sports journalism—a natural fit for the lifelong athlete and talented writer. “When I started studying sports communication, it was the first time in my life that I looked forward to going to class,” she says, laughing. She declared a public relations major with a sports communication concentration, and in her senior year, scored an internship in UC’s sports information department, working closely with Sports Information Director Gil Burgmaster. She kept stats, wrote about teams, organized media interviews, and helped manage the department’s website and social media. “I loved it right away,” she says. “I didn’t realize until then that sports information could be a career option for me.” As her supervisor, Burgmaster was impressed.
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“We had a lot of interns in my office at the time, but Laurel stood out as someone who was really driven,” he says. “She worked hard and caught on quickly. I knew I could send her off to games and she could cover them by herself.” By December 2011, Simer completed her internship and graduated from UC. And though she was sad to leave Utica, she headed back to Minneapolis to start job-hunting. Within a week, she got a phone call from Burgmaster, who had exciting news: He had been approved to hire a full-time assistant to help in his department. Burgmaster thought she’d be a perfect fit for the job. Simer was thrilled, and packed up her bags once again for a trip back to Utica, where’s she lived and worked since 2012. “Laurel has the perfect demeanor for this job,” says Burgmaster, now her supervisor and friend. “We deal with intense atmospheres, and she’s calm under pressure. Her life experiences have given her a better perspective than most people.”
Since 2012, Simer has managed the UC Pioneers’ web presence from her office in the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center.
Sharing Her Story Despite her outgoing personality, Simer wasn’t always eager to talk about her cancer. In college, some of her closest friends and roommates knew her for years before they learned she had a brain tumor. When Simer found ways to slowly open up, she discovered a community of support among her teammates, coaches, and friends. One friend, Marissa Vomer ’14, was so inspired by Simer’s story that she started a social media campaign to get her friend featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2013. The hashtag “#GetLaurelonEllen” generated hundreds of Tweets from Simer’s friends in the UC community and beyond. Though DeGeneres never extended an invite (not yet, at least), Simer said she was touched by how her UC family rallied around her, and the experience has encouraged her to speak out more.
“Everyone at UC was incredibly supportive. It was a good feeling to have so many people behind me,” she says, even though she’s still not sure many of her UC friends grasp just how serious her diagnosis is—or how improbable it is that she’s still alive. For Simer though, the fact of her unlikely survival is never far from her mind— especially during those yearly trips to the National Cancer Institute. Because DIPG is mainly a pediatric cancer, Simer, now 30, is monitored by an oncologist in the pediatric unit, where seeing parents and sick children brings her own survival into sharp focus. In hours spent in waiting rooms and labs, Simer finds herself making connections with these families and, sometimes, sharing her story. “I try to tread carefully,” she says. And for good reason: To others diagnosed with DIPG, Simer’s story is a Rorschach test. She’s
either a beacon of hope in a world of devastating statistics, or a reminder of just how unlikely it is that a DIPG child reaches adulthood at all. “It weighs on me, because I wish there was some magic answer I could give them,” she says, knowing full well how hopeless the diagnosis can feel, and how her story doesn’t offer the cure DIPG parents so desperately want. Instead, she’s committed to raising both awareness
and funds for her type of cancer, which receives a relatively small percentage of the government funding allotted for pediatric cancer research. For years, she has quietly contributed to DIPG charities online and participated in Facebook groups advocating for increased awareness. In 2011, encouraged by her teammates and Coach Clausen, Simer helped organize the first Utica College Gold Ribbon Game, an annual fundraiser hosted by the UC women’s
ice hockey team at one home game each season. Donations and proceeds from auctions and raffles benefit local children with cancer and help ease the financial burden for their families. Now in its 8th year, the event has raised nearly 30,000 dollars. These efforts, Simer explains, help combat the dark and fearful places her mind can go when she prepares for her annual MRI, or feels the visceral gut punch of learning that
another DIPG child and friend has passed away. But, true to form, Laurel Simer does her best to remain positive. In September 2018, in a Facebook post commemorating the 19th anniversary of her diagnosis, she shared something her family, friends, coworkers, and teammates already know: “I was given a second chance at life,” she wrote. “And I intend to use it to help others.”
Save the Date
HOMECOMING Alumni and Family W eekend
October 18-20, 2019
28 Facebook.com/uticacollege or /UticaCollegeHomecoming
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A GIFT FOR THE FUTURE. When Joan Brannick ’54 was a student at Utica College, many of her professors weren’t much older than she was. “We were all youngsters!” she recalls with a laugh. But those young professors left an indelible mark. Public Relations professor Ray Simon taught her to “assimilate information, develop a plan, and work well with all people,” says Joan. For her husband, the late Leo Brannick ’54, it was biology professor (and later, UC president) Dr. J. Kenneth Donahue who provided the solid background in the sciences that helped him secure admission to Princeton University, where Leo went on to earn his biology Ph.D. “Leo and I flourished in our careers because of those professors and their dedication to students,” says Joan. And that’s why Joan and her husband became members of Utica College’s Heritage Society. Their membership ensures that future generations of UC students have access to the same opportunities that proved life-changing for the Brannicks—and many alumni like them. “We were very blessed to have a great education at UC,” she says. “Future students deserve the same.” Learn more about Planned Giving opportunities at Utica College. Call 1-800-456-8278 today.
HERITAGE SOCIETY
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ALUMNI NEWS
Lisa Balschunat (left) and her “forever friend,” Jacqueline LaChance McKeon, in April 2015.
About An Editor On November 21, 2018, former Tangerine editor Jacqueline LaChance McKeon ’84 passed away at her home in Chatham, New York, after a brief illness, with her children, Maura and Jack, by her side. She was 56. Her friend and fellow Tangerine staffer, Lisa Penzotti Balschunat ’85, wrote this piece in her honor: I met Jackie at a Tangerine kick-off meeting in 1983. Little did I know our simple “hello” would blossom into a 35-year friendship. The summer prior to her freshman year, Jackie wanted to delay attending UC because her father unexpectedly died in her arms in her backyard. Jackie was an only child and did not want to leave her mother alone, but her mom insisted that her daughter “get packing” for the fall semester. Jackie arrived at UC a bit fragile, but ready to delve into the rigors of journalism under the tutelage of Professors Jack Behrens, Ray Simon, Kim Landon, and Bob Baber. She drafted and edited news articles with fellow students, clicking away on manual typewriters—stories about everything from Professor Scott MacDonald’s provocative Film Series to the value of NCAA Division I Athletics on campus. Jackie accepted the position of editor for her senior year. She led the newspaper staff with a strong sense of responsibility and a great sense of humor, never missing Thursday’s publication deadline or pub night.
Throughout her professional career, Jackie was a consummate wordsmith. She could extract facts for a front-page news story quickly and succinctly. She wrote feature articles that intricately described an experience that kept readers engaged. Her articles were often juxtaposed with photographs she shot to further capture a story. A voracious reader and collector of novels, Jackie was the only person I’ve ever known who packed two suitcases for a vacation—one for clothes, the other for books. Jackie had a zest for life and a curiosity that led to self-discovery and new adventures. We’d be chatting over coffee, and I’d learn that she’d taken up knitting, loom weaving, then rug hooking. She’d be off to a spin class, yoga session, or planning the next family vacation. She always found something new and interesting to do in between the daily routine. It is an understatement to say Jackie loved hosting parties. She would often fill her home with good food and drink, flowers, candles and music to celebrate a special occasion— or just because it was Friday. When faced with life’s challenges, Jackie found ways to work through the struggles and remain grateful for her family, friends, and faith. She never lost sight of simple joys. Planting tulip bulbs. Picking apples. Stacking a woodpile. Cutting a Christmas tree. Embracing an ocean sunset. Breathing in the fragrance of spring lilacs. Jackie was a strong woman who loved deeply and lived passionately. She was my beautiful friend who had a beautiful heart. Cheers to a life well-lived.
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Cracking Down on College Admissions Cheating When the college admissions scandal broke in mid-March, celebrities like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman weren’t the only names making headlines. Laura Smith ’03 was the FBI agent leading the investigation. On March 12, Special Agent Smith filed the affidavit charging more than 50 people in connection with the years-long scam. Smith, a graduate of UC’s Economic Crime Investigation program, interviewed witnesses, investigated bank records, e-mails, cell site data, and other materials to uncover the scheme, according to the Washington Post.
Woman’s Best Friend
Smith joined the FBI in 2010 as a forensic accountant conducting complex financial investigations. She is currently a special agent on a squad that investigates economic crimes, including various forms of corporate fraud, securities fraud and bribery.
When Alexandra Carletta ’13 visited campus in February, she had her partner, Arko, in tow. Carletta is an officer for the City of Rome, New York, Police Department, and her K9 companion helps with scent tracking, crowd control, and narcotic searches.
A Meaningful Milestone Black Students Union Celebrates 50 Years One of Utica College’s oldest and most enduring student organizations celebrated a milestone this spring. The Black Students Union celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 1. The BSU was founded on May 1, 1969, three years after a group of 20 students came together in the height of the Civil Rights Movement to form its ancestor organization, United Students. By the spring of 1970, BSU was recognized as an official campus organization, warranting its first-ever picture in the UC Yearbook, Annales. On April 24, former BSU members Ronald Spratling ’71, Janice Miles ’74, Oliver Perry ’74, and Ci Ci Holloway ’79 returned to campus to discuss the black student experience at UC – and how the determination of the BSU’s founders paved the way for future generations. “Change began very, very slowly. But it did begin,” says Spratling, pictured here (row 3, second from left). Utica College will commemorate the anniversary of the BSU this fall.
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ADVANCEMENT UPDATES
Give Day 2019: A ‘Super’ Success Superheroes were everywhere on campus and on social media April 10, when the UC community came together to celebrate inspiring people and raise funds to support the College. A total of 336 donors contributed more than $72,000 during the 24-hour event, and social media was buzzing with touching tales from alumni, students, faculty, and staff about the people who made a difference in their lives at UC. Among the superheroes: Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Mark Kovacs and Geology Professor Sharon Kanfoush (pictured).
“Mark believed in me and encouraged me through some really difficult times. I am grateful every day for the efforts he put in, and I know I was one of thousands of students who benefitted from his guidance.” —Natalie Haig ’02 “I have used what Dr. Kanfoush taught me each and every day in the classes I have taught over the past 13 years ... even her rock jokes.” —Kevin Ford G’07
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Thurston Hall Receives Two Grants Utica College has been awarded a combined $325,000 in grants for the new construction management building, Thurston Hall. The Fred L. Emerson Foundation awarded UC with $200,000 in December 2018. Located in Auburn, New York, the Emerson Foundation is family-owned and provides support to core community organizations in Central New York. A $125,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust will help fund technology upgrades in Thurston Hall, including new computers for 3-D rendering, flat-screen televisions, technology-enabled equipment for labs, and buildinginfrastructure technology. The Trust has a long-standing relationship with the College. Since 1998, the Trust has awarded grants to UC for upgrades to its science facilities, including the Gordon Science Center microbiology laboratory and, most recently, a grant for nursing-simulation equipment in 2015.
Notable Alumni Deliver Commencement Addresses Linda Bramblett ’89 and Joseph Martino ’08, G’10 served as the commencement speakers for Utica College’s undergraduate and graduate ceremonies, respectively, on Saturday, May 11. Bramblett is the director of North American transportation for International Paper, one of the world’s leading producers of fiberbased products. She graduated from Utica College in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts/pre-engineering and went on to earn a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Virginia Tech. Over 25 years, she has served in numerous roles with International Paper. She has been in her current position since June 2018. Martino is a supervising gaming operations inspector for the New York State Gaming Commission. He received his bachelor’s degree in economic crime investigation with a minor in economics, and a master’s of business administration in economic crime and fraud management from Utica College. Martino was previously a criminal investigator for Washington State Office of Fraud and Accountability assigned to detect social media trafficking of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Martino was also a state-licensed private investigator from 2010 to 2014. John Costello ’66 Awarded Honorary Degree John Costello was the 2019 recipient of Utica College’s Honorary Degree, awarded at commencement on May 11.
Thanks, ALOT Utica College’s second cohort of Alumni Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) celebrated graduation with a ceremony on April 23. Over the course of the spring semester, the members attended various networking events and workshops designed to educate the group about staying connected to Utica College as alumni.
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Costello ’66 began his career in marketing and management with the Eastman Kodak Corporation. He continued in the field of international development in a number of senior project management and executive positions. In 1985, he co-founded the international non-profit organization Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) and served as its president for 29 years before retiring in 2014. Costello has also served as a consultant to government and international organizations, including as Chairman of the United States Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) from 1988-1991, where he played a critical role in the development of U.S. international public policy. In the early 1990s, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy for the U.S. Department of State.
Class Notes Frank A. Tomaino ’61, Clinton, NY, historian and Observer-Dispatch contributor, was presented with a New York State Commendation Award by State Senator Joseph Griffo. (Photo 1, second from far right )
George T. Boris ’66, Culver City, CA, is a world-renowned leader in the field of plastic surgery and owns plastic surgery centers in Los Angeles, Paris, and Dubai. (Photo 2) Steven E. Callahan ’68, Utica, NY, retired from Lockheed Martin, after 18 years. Thomas G. MacMillan ’69, Toronto, ON, CA, was the 2018 honoree at the annual Albany Club Honours for significant achievements and contributions to Club, Party, and Community. He is widely acknowledged to have changed politics in Canada.
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(Photo 3)
Nancy Willard Mandry ’70, Whitesboro, NY, gathered her UC alumnae friends to toast to their 70th birthdays. The weekend included a tour of Utica College along with lunch in the newly remodeled dining commons. (Photo 4, L to R, Nancy Willard Mandry ’70, Geraldine Rudd Beck ’70, Kathleen Keating DiStefano ’70, Christine Owens, and JoAnn SantarcangeloCapraro ’72)
Sharon A. Lewis ’71, Rochester, NY, is currently affiliated part-time with the University of Chicago and supports her
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husband’s business. Howard D. Mettelman ’73, New Hartford, NY, has been recognized as an honoree for the Education Hall of Distinction at Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education.
recognized by The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, The University of Alabama, during their Milestones in Mentoring Gala with the 2018 Legacy Award. He was recognized for his mentoring and leadership.
Robert C. Feldman ’78, Beverly Hills, CA, Vice Chair at ICF Next, was
Eve C. Calli ’80, New Hartford, NY, has been recognized as an Outstanding Educator K-12 at Genesis Group’s 13th annual
Celebration of Education. Theresa A. Mazzara ’82, Utica, NY, has been recognized as an Outstanding Educator K-12 at Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education. Dawn C. Chmielewski ’83, Irvine, CA, veteran of Recode, Deadline Hollywood, and The Los Angeles Times, has been
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appointed to Senior Editor of Technology, Media, & Entertainment for Forbes. Robert E. MacLaren ’83, Bainbridge, NY, is a criminal defense attorney with The National Freedom Project. Thomas A. Gates ’85, Ava, NY, has been recognized as an Outstanding Educator K-12 at Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education. Dr. Brian J. Jackson ’85, Utica, NY, was elected as treasurer of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Jackson is an honored fellow of the academy. Dr. James C. Brown ’88, Clinton, NY, and Professor Kyung-Seok Choo presented their research, Body-Worn Camera Implementation at a Midsize Upstate New York Law Enforcement Agency: An Erosion of Trust on Trial, at 2018 Data-Driven Decision Making Symposium in Albany, NY. (Photo 5, L to R, Professor Kyung-Seok Choo, Professor James C. Brown ’88, and Dr. Leigh Bates, Chief of Research & Evaluation for DCJS Office of Justice Research & Performance)
Samuel M. Sardina Jr. ’88, Absecon, NJ, has written a comedy, Make Room for Vicky, which was nominated for a Broadway World Regional Theater
award for Best World Premiere Play. Kenneth A. Long ’89, Ilion, NY, was recognized as an Outstanding Educator K-12 at Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education. Shelley L. Bartolotti ’93, New Hartford, NY, has been recognized as an Outstanding Educator K-12 at the Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education. Lewis J. Kahler ’96, Oneida, NY, is Vice President for Learning and Academic Affairs at Mohawk Valley Community College. Jaime P. Spencer ’99, Long Island, NY, occupational therapist, Levittown School District, and owner at MissJaimeOT. com, presented at the November NYSOTA conference with others from her “NY School OTs Looking for Change” Facebook group. She is an advocate for New York State school-based occupational therapy practitioners to be permitted to become administrators in the school setting. (Photo 6)
Dr. Brian D. Agnew ’03, Piscataway, NJ, is executive vice president at Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ. Adam M. Samrov ’04, Hoosick Falls, NY, took second place in the 2018 Vermont Press Association awards for Best Sportswriter.
Send us your news! uticamag@utica.edu
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Allison Della Penna ’18: From Internship to Dream Job When we interviewed Allison Della Penna in the fall of 2018 about her internship as a child life specialist at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse, she told us how she loved working with children and using games and toys to make the hospital a more comfortable—and even fun—place to be. “This experience is helping me transition from a student to a professional,” she said. Her supervisors agreed. In early 2019, just weeks after her earning her bachelor’s degree from UC, Della Penna was offered a position as a full-time child-life specialist at Upstate. Della Penna started her new job on January 24, 2019.
Dana M. Silano ’04, Schenectady, NY, started a new position as assistant store manager at Athleta. Thomas J. Taffe G’04, Mount Vernon, NY, has been promoted to Deputy Police Chief with the NYPD after serving as the New York City Police Inspector. Akira I. Armstrong ’05, Bronx, NY, received an honoree award from The Courageously Curvy Girls Foundation Inc. at the second annual Courageous, Curvy and Paving the Way Awards Luncheon. Jason L. Groah G’06, New Hartford, NY, has been selected as a finalist for this year’s Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce Business
of the Year Award for the Jay Groah Group, a real estate agency. Evon M. Ervin ’07, Utica, NY, received the Education Distinguished Service Award at Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education. Joseph E. Stabb ’07, Fredonia, NY, has been named the executive director for the Oswego County Humane Society. Keshia L. Clukey ’08, Farmingdale, NY, sat as a media panelist for the USC National Safe Schools Digital Summit in October 2018 as a reporter who chronicles school violence and how to address it. She was education reporter for Newsday in Long Island. Clukey is now Albany correspondent for Bloomberg BNA.
Adam J. Lawless ’08, Waltham, MA, has been appointed to senior public relations specialist at Vistaprint, leading all PR initiatives in North America. Justin F. Maxwell ’09, Schenectady, NY, head men’s basketball coach at SUNY Ulster, was named Conference and District Coach of the Year in 2018 after making the National Junior College Sweet 16. Gino C. Geruntino ’11, Mohawk, NY, is marketing specialist at ParTech, Inc. Stephon J. Hamell ’11, Fairfax, VA, earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration at the Warner School of Education, Univer-
sity of Rochester, and is now Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies. Elyssa A. Arnone-Earl G’12, Utica, NY, has been appointed interim executive director of the Center for Leadership Excellence at Mohawk Valley Community College. Stephen R. DeVito ’12, Alexandria, VA, recently joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a research staff member in the operational evaluation division. Mark R. Williamson G’12, Utica, NY, has been recognized as an Outstanding Educator K-12 at the Genesis Group’s 13th annual Celebration of Education. Alissa M. Scott ’13, Troy, NY, joined Capital Region BOCES
Matt Wadas ’11: Eyes on Success Matt Wadas’ parents never pushed their kids to join the family optometry business. Instead, says Wadas, they “led by example.” “We saw that our parents were happy to go to work every day, and we saw the close relationships they developed with their patients,” he says of his parents, Theodore Wadas and Nancy Bullas, who founded the Wadas Eye Group in New York Mills nearly 30 years ago. “I think we all realized from a young age that it’s a good way to make a living.” Like his parents, Wadas is an optometrist—along with his two younger siblings, Kimberly ’12 and Benjamin Wadas ’15. They also all happen to be Utica College alumni, this time following in older brother Matt’s example.
A Family Affair: (left to right) Benjamin Wadas ‘15, Kimberly Wadas ‘12, Amanda Scalise ‘11, and Matt Wadas ‘11
“I had planned to go on to optometry school after undergrad, so I knew UC would be a smart, affordable choice for my bachelor’s,” he says. He earned a psychology degree from UC in 2011 and went on to on to Salus University in Philadelphia, where he earned a doctorate in optometry. He returned home to the Mohawk Valley join the family business, which recently expanded to a third location in Herkimer, N.Y. There, along with his family (including his wife, optometrist Amanda Scalise), Wadas is doing what he loves in the place where he grew up. “I’m taking care of some of my friends, neighbors, former teachers, and their kids,” he says. “It makes what I do so much more meaningful.”
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9 in 2017 as a public information specialist. Jillian A. Doherty ’15, Hermitage, TN, received sales awards for her 2018 performance as District Manager at MarketSource Inc. (Photo 7) Tyler J. Kallasy ’15 , DPT ’18, Yorkville, NY, is a traveling physical therapist with Advanced Travel Therapy. He travels throughout the United States working one-on-one with patients in a variety of settings. (Photo 8)
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10 Brian D. Mazurowski ’15, Utica, NY graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Francesca M. Orsomarso ’15, Utica, NY, founder of FMN Creative, has received the New York State Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification, which promotes equal economic opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses. (Photo 9)
Jairo Emanuel Sabillon ’16,
Utica, NY, is CSTEP program specialist at Mohawk Valley Community College. Megan Whitton McCabe ’16, Chittenango, NY, earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at UC while working full-time for Crouse Hospital. She is currently a member of the Crouse cardiology team. (Photo 10)
Marissa J. Filletti ’17, Marcy, NY is now a marketing specialist at Northland Communications in Utica, NY.
Kaleigh Congdon ’18, Niskayuna, NY, started a new job as a registered nurse on the cardiac floor at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY. Margaret L. Tabone ’18, Rochester, NY started a new position as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Daemen College in Amherst, NY.
11 Pioneers partying with the newylweds: (left to right) Olivia Cunningham ’15 , Amanda Muldoon ’15, Jordan Hobaica ’14, Angela Charles ’15, Andrew and Adriana Benkwitt, Christy Traglia DPT ’17, Nikki Kieffer ’15, and Savannah Bernardin DPT ’17
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WEDDINGS, ENGAGEMENTS and ANNIVERSARIES Leonard Teasdale ’70 and Greta Teasdale, Greensboro NC, celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on November 24, 2018. Keith W. McCormick ’06 and Meredith McCormick, Boca Raton, FL, were married on August 18, 2018. Stephen M. Schoen ’07, G’10 and Kelsey G. Peek Schoen G’16, Whitesboro, NY were married on October 7, 2017. Erin M. Murphy Krueger ’11, and Ted W. Krueger ’12, Franklinville, NY, were married on June 10, 2017. Irakadeem Griffith ’12 and wife Sharae Lewis, Bronx, NY, were married on July 3, 2018. (Photo 11)
Ted W. Krueger ’12 and Erin M. Murphy Krueger ’11, Franklinville, NY, were married on June 10, 2017. Andrew J. Benkwitt ’13 and Adriana M. Benkwitt G’17, Mamaroneck, NY, were married on July 21, 2018. (Photos 12 and 13)
Kelsey G. Peek Schoen G’16, and Stephen M. Schoen ’07,
G’10, Whitesboro, NY were married on October 7, 2017. Adriana M. Benkwitt G’17, and Andrew J. Benkwitt ’13, Mamaroneck, NY, were married on July 21, 2018. (Photos 12 and 13)
BIRTHS & ADDITIONS Michael J. Miller ’00, and his wife, Kate Miller, Maplewood, NJ, had a daughter, Mabel Anne, on December 30, 2018. (Photo 14)
Keith W. McCormick ’06, and his wife, Meredith McCormick, Boca Raton, FL, had a daughter, Emily May McCormick, on January 3, 2019. (Photo 15) Megan M. Diem ’10, and Tanner C. Stewart ’10, Toms River, NJ, had a son, Miles J. Stewart on December 3, 2018. (Photo 16)
Jason D. VanBenschoten ’17, and wife, Bethany A. VanBenschoten, Utica, NY had a son, Theodore Dean VanBenschoten on August 14, 2018. (Photo 17)
IN MEMORIAM Evelyn S. Dixon ’49, Vacaville, CA, September 19, 2016.
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Alan R. Carey ’50, Newark, NY, January 23, 2018. Leo T. Carrig ’50, Little Falls, NY, October 27, 2018. Dr. Peter N. Herrington ’50, Tucson, AZ, January 26, 2018. Francis M. Shields ’50, Rio Rancho, NM, December 5, 2015. Dr. Louis M. Haddad ’51, New Hartford, NY, January 23, 2019. Edward J. Peters ’51, Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 2, 2016. William J. Thresher Jr. ’51, Shelton, CT, October 2, 2018. Louis V. Jeff ’52, Victor, NY, July 8, 2013. George J. Pursiano ’52, Fayetteville, NY, December 11, 2018. Dr. Donald M. Sherline ’53, Scottsdale, AZ, November 25, 2018. William N. Van Cott ’53, Osprey, Fl, January 25, 2019. Josephine S. Carchedi ’54, Utica, NY, October 30, 2018. Robert S. Waterbury ’55, New Hartford, NY, November 14, 2018. William A. Mulroy Jr. ’56, Bra-
denton, FL, March 30, 2018. Robert C. Betler ’57, Johnstown, NY, October 30, 2018. John B. Loperfido ’57, Utica, NY, October 3, 2018. Francis P. Cahalan ’58, Syracuse, NY, January 3, 2019. Peter J. Bridge ’60, Belleville, NJ, August 27, 2018. Anthony C. Diana ’60, New Hartford, NY, October 12, 2018. John H. Speckman ’61, Garden Grove, CA, June 9, 2015. Linda A. Conover ’62, Schenectady, NY, November 8, 2018. Barbara E. Watson ’62, Utica, NY, January 8, 2019. Elaine D. Crescenzi ’63, Pittsboro, NC, November 7, 2018. Theresa C. Yates ’63, College Station, TX, May 30, 2017. Ida M. Brooks ’64, Hubbardsville, NY, October 23, 2018. Alexander W. Joseph ’64, Utica, NY, September 25, 2018. John F. D’Onofrio ’65, Geneseo, NY, November 16, 2018. Dr. Giorgio S. Perissinotto ’65, Santa Barbara, CA, September 22, 2018.
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Andrea Maynard ’66, Broadalbin, NY, February 17, 2019. Bonnie M. Hubbell ’67, New Hartford, NY, November 29, 2018. Charles W. McElhinney ’67, Pittsford, NY, January 6, 2019. Grant E. Curtis ’68, Lowville, NY, January 4, 2019. Marguerite H. Edmonds ’68, Remsen, NY, November 28, 2018. Susan L. Howell ’68, Morrison, CO, November 27, 2015. James B. Baldwin Jr. ’69, Charlotte, NC, September 26, 2015. Susan C. Fagans ’69, Myrtle Beach, SC, November 3, 2018. Keith Haller ’69, Rockville, MD, December 11, 2018. Linda C. Knuutila ’69, Lockport, NY, December 20, 2018. Olga M. Mazzei ’69, Utica, NY, December 29, 2018. Sheila B. Hickey ’71, Durham, NC, August 15, 2018. Francis A. Scalzo ’71, Clearwater, FL, November 18, 2018. Dagnachew Yilma ’71, Shawnee, KS, March 4, 2016. Luca J. Esposito ’72, Utica, NY, October 10, 2018. Edward J. Lasher ’72, New Hartford, NY, November 24, 2018. Edgar J. Hallak ’73, New Hartford, NY, October 2, 2018. Burt M. Keene Jr ’73, Middle Granville, NY, September 24, 2018. Suzanne J. Finegan ’74, New Hartford, NY, September 12, 2018. Sue R. Lerner ’74, Chesapeake, VA, January 2, 2018. Gayle C. Ottemiller ’74, Geneva, NY, March 1, 2018. Elaine A. Gaffney ’75, Waterville, NY, February 4, 2019. Bradley I. Cohen ’77, Macungie, NY, November 2, 2018. David J. Stillwell ’77, Utica,
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NY, October 11, 2018. Sister Thomas M. Corcoran ’78, Syracuse, NY, December 26, 2018. Douglas P. Jaquays ’78, Canastota, NY, November 26, 2018. James P. Beck ’79, Malone, NY, January 11, 2019. Kevin J. Ernst ’79, West Leyden, NY, February 2, 2019. Valorie A. Hochberg ’80, New Hartford, NY, January 10, 2019. Jacqueline L. McKeon ’84, Chatham, NY, November 21, 2018. Donald V. McLellan, Sr. ’84, Rome, NY, November 21, 2018. Ivett L. Salcedo ’86, Horseheads, NY, September 15, 2018. Vincent Esposito ’87, Santa Barbara CA, January 3, 2019. Joann F. Hodkinson ’89, Utica, NY, October 16, 2018. Deborah R. Murphy ’93, Newport, NY, September 29, 2018. Ian Mead ’01, Utica, NY, January 14, 2019. Philip M. Salerno ’07, Burke, VA, January 26, 2018. Melissa A. Lopez ’08, Utica, NY, January 23, 2019. Amy L. Steenburg G’19, Amsterdam, NY, October 6, 2018.
FACULTY & STAFF WHO HAVE PASSED Dr. James J. Carrig, Utica, NY, former English instructor, faculty member of the Evening Division, assistant director, director, and associate dean of continuing education, Rome, NY, October 5, 2018. Sandy B. Welch, North Brookfield, NY, former assistant professor, associate professor, and director of nursing emeritus, October 16, 2018. Barbara E. Watson ’62, Utica, NY, former adjunct professor of English, on January 8, 2019.
Matt Van Waes ’03, ’13G: Making Connections Out West Since graduating from UC, Matt Van Waes ’03, ‘13G has always enjoyed connecting with fellow Pioneers. In New York City, where Van Waes worked as a Global Security Investigations Manager for ride-hailing app Uber, he had no trouble meeting up with old college friends regularly. But when Van Waes, a former marine, relocated to Denver in 2018, he missed the network of UC alumni he’d created back in New York. And because his job with Uber allowed Van Waes to work from home, he couldn’t rely on colleagues to help him build a social circle. So he took to LinkedIn and began searching for fellow Pioneers in the area. He also connected with former UC president Mike Simpson and his wife Carol, who now live in Denver, and helped connect him to other alums they knew in the city. Many emails and friend requests later, Van Waes was happy to gather nearly a dozen alumni—and one current online student—at a Denver brewpub in February 2019. “The conversation was just flowing,” says Van Waes, who adds that, like him, many of the attendees were cyber grads who work in the tech industry. “It was a great to reminisce about UC, but also helpful for people to make those professional connections.” The group plans to make these outings a monthly or quarterly event, he says. And though most of the alumni were meeting for the first time, Van Waes says they already share a powerful bond: “How many people in Denver can say they’ve survived a Utica winter?” If you’re in the Denver area and are interested in connecting with fellow alumni, contact Matt Van Waes at mtvanwaes@gmail.com
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SOMETHING IN THE AIR Students released a cloud of color on campus during the annual Holi Festival in April.
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