Vistas 2019 by Villa Maria College

WINTER 2019

The Magazine of Villa Maria College President Matthew Giordano, Ph.D.

WINTER 2019

Vice President for Academic Affairs Ryan Hartnett, Ph.D. Vice President for Development Mary Robinson Vice President for Enrollment Management and Operations Brian J. Emerson Vice President for Finance Richard Pinkowski Vice President for Mission Donald Monnin, D. Min. Board of Trustees 2019-2020 Catherine Grantier Cooley (Chairperson) David M. Gelia (Vice Chairperson) Sister Paul Marie Baczkowski, CSSF Thomas J. Bienias Sister Mary Francesca Buczkowski, CSSF ’68 Sister Mary Therese Chmura, CSSF Erik P. DeGlopper Sister Suzanne Marie Kush, CSSF ‘70 Eileen Martin Honorable Ann T. Mikoll James G. Pappas Joan M. Priebe Timothy M. Rider Carole T. Sedita Dominca Zwirecki Sortisio Sister Mary Aquinas Szott, CSSF Editor Brian J. Emerson Designer Meghan Wienke

sections A Message from our President

Campus News

4-7

New Programs and People

8-9

Innovative Leader

10-13

From the Alumni Office

14-15

Photography Tom Wolf Printer Zenger Group Writers Kristin Etu Mary Robinson Kristen Schober Rachel Tabak

my inauguration was the last thing on our minds. We realized that we’d need to have one, sometime in the fall, but we were more concerned with implementing a new strategic plan, launching our Game Design and Computer Software Development programs, starting Esports, and continuing to recruit our fall 2019 class, which ended up being 12% larger than the previous year’s. Eventually, however, we began to plan for the inauguration. From the beginning, I had two goals for the event: first, I wanted it to be a true showcase for Villa, not just me; secondly, I wanted it to be fun, a joyous celebration of all the great people who work at Villa and all the good that we do for our students and the community. Now, looking in the rearview mirror, I can confidently say that we met both of these goals, and then some. As with everything else that we do at Villa, the key to our success was that we focused on who we serve, our students. In the week leading up to the inauguration, we put on a series of events to get our students in the celebratory spirit. I had so much fun wearing my Villa gear and favorite band t-shirts with them, playing non-contact basketball against them (I lost badly!), and enjoying the incredible musicianship of several of our alum with them. On the day of the inauguration, our students attended Mass, played music during a slideshow about the College’s history, displayed their art and animation in our galleries, sang on stage, spoke as part of the ceremony, and joined us in a lively reception. Our students shared the spotlight, as they should at the premier student-centered college in Western New York. Villa Maria College exists to change and improve the lives of its students. Under my presidency, we will be even more intentional about devoting our time, resources, talents, and personnel to achieve this goal, guided by our Catholic faith and Felician Franciscan tradition. To do all of this, we need your continued support. Thank you for all that you have done to make sure our students have the best experiences and opportunities possible. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

a message from OUR PRESIDENT

When the Board of Trustees appointed me in March 2019 as Villa Maria College’s fourth president,

Matthew Giordano, Ph.D. President, Villa Maria College

FALL 2019 | 3

CAMPUS news

Immediate Past President Sister Marcella Marie Garus Returns to Campus for the Dedication of the New Meditation Garden Installed in Her Honor On Wednesday, October 9, the College community welcomed former president Sister Marcella Marie Garus back to campus for the presentation and dedication of a meditation garden that was installed on campus in her honor. Garus, who began working at Villa in 1968, served as a business administrator for 10 years before being appointed the College’s third president, a role she held for 40 years. She officially retired in June 2018 after serving Villa Maria College faithfully for 50 years. While many people contributed to the garden’s design, it was finalized by Professor of Interior Design Jesse Walp, who worked with John Czyz to install it.

Students, Faculty and Staff Complete 600 Hours of Community Service Work During Villa Maria’s First Day of Service A group of 100 people from Villa Maria dedicated October 5th to living out one of the College’s core values: solidarity with the poor. Students from all academic years and majors, faculty, and staff gathered at various locations around Buffalo to perform a full day of volunteer work. The service day was held as part of the College’s Heritage Days, which is an annual series of events that commemorate those who founded the College, the Felician Sisters. Heritage Days also serves as an opportunity for the Villa community to reflect on the core values that drive everything done at the College. In total, the group completed 600 hours of volunteer work in just one day.

Dr. Ryan Hartnett Named Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor Jesse Walp speaking at the dedication of the meditation garden. He says,"We wanted to create a place of reflection; a place of contemplation, and meditation. You’ll notice these five stones have the core values of the College on them. These are the values that lead you and inspired you through your 50 years at the institution and 40 years as president. We hope this garden will inspire others to follow your same path."

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At the end of March, Dr. Ryan Hartnett was appointed Villa Maria College’s vice president for academic affairs. He has served as VPAA in an interim

CAMPUS news capacity since July 2018. Dr. Hartnett has led the development of several new programs, including digital filmmaking, digital media and communication, game design and computer software development. He developed the College’s online curriculum, has been responsible for the review and re-evaluation of all academic policies and procedures, and restructured advisement and student services at Villa, which resulted in an increase in retention. Dr. Hartnett helped to create Villa's unique Achieve Program for students with learning differences. Dr. Hartnett served as both co-chair of the College’s ten-year self-study for reaccreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is the accreditation liaison officer to Middle States.

Dr. Donald Monnin Named Vice President for Mission Dr. Donald Monnin was named the College’s new Vice President for Mission in January. Dr. Monnin takes on the role after the retirement of longtime employee Sister Louis Rustowicz, CSSF. As Vice President for Mission, Dr. Monnin serves as a member of the College’s collaborative leadership team and plays a key role in overseeing

operational aspects of mission integration at the College including campus ministry and the Sr. Mary Josette Food Pantry.

Dr. Ann Rivera Named Villa Maria’s First Dean of Faculty Long-standing professor Dr. Ann Rivera was named Dean of Faculty in August 2019. A new position for the College, the Dean of Faculty fulfills an important function at the institution by providing leadership to the faculty and managing academic policy and procedure. This includes overseeing the overall effectiveness and quality of instruction at the College, overseeing program accreditation and reviews, and assisting with grants and curriculum design. Furthermore, Dr. Rivera will supervise and guide department chairs, and supervise and evaluate all full-time faculty, providing mentoring when necessary. By expanding the academic administration with this role, the College continues to build support for the outstanding teaching and learning environment for students. Dr. Rivera is also an at-large member of the Buffalo Board of Education. She was appointed its vice president for student achievement on July 1, 2019.

President Giordano’s Letter to the Editor Published in the New York Times Magazine After reading a recent article published in the New York Times Magazine, Villa Maria

College President Matthew Giordano, Ph.D. felt compelled to reply to the editor. Dr. Giordano’s reply was published on in Sunday, September 29th edition of the New York Times Magazine. In his reply, Dr. Giordano pointed out that the original article is creating a distorted view of reality. He says,

The vast majority of college students are not attending the Trinities and Amhersts of the country, but rather are going to community colleges, nonelite public universities and small, mission-driven private colleges. These colleges are not compromising their values to find people who can pay, nor are they ignoring realworld challenges faced by lowincome students such as food and housing insecurity. 12% Increase in New Student Enrollment at Villa Maria College Villa Maria College exceeded its Fall 2019 enrollment goal by 9%. The small, private college welcomed an incoming class consisting of 229 students, a 12% increase over last year’s incoming class, and the largest in three years. Villa Maria College continues to be a tight-knit, inclusive community that is growing despite all the challenges small, private colleges are facing today. College leadership continues to invest in students and infrastructure, drawing in more people than ever before.

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CAMPUS news Villa Maria College Adds Five to its Athletics Staff In preparation for the upcoming 20192020 season, Villa Maria College added five members to its athletic department’s administrative and coaching staff: Desmond Randall, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Michael McCarthy, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Robert Cathcart, Head Cross Country Coach Jhon Guarin, Sports Information Director Emmilly Hammann, Athletic Trainer

Amanda Janosky Takes on Expanded Role as the Villa Vikings Director of Athletics In addition to serving as the longstanding head women’s soccer coach, Amanda Janosky will now serve as the Director of Athletics for Villa Maria’s growing athletics program. She will also manage all aspects of planning, supervision, staffing, delivery, and evaluation of the entire intercollegiate athletics program. This includes developing a comprehensive recruitment strategy for student-athletes, interacting with faculty, managing the budget for the athletic department, managing personnel, ensuring compliance with

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conference and league rules, providing leadership in developing plans for facility improvements, engaging the campus and local community in the athletics program and events, and more.

Interior Design Students Win Both Awards at 2019 IIDA NY Gala Angela Cerroni, ’22, and Briana Chriss, ’19, were awarded first and second place, respectively, in the Student Work category at the 2019 International Interior Design Association NY Gala. Laura Wax, ’08 and Kristin Ertel, ’99, of L2K Design won the Healthcare Design category for their design of Transit Meadow Pediatrics. Todd Piotrowski, ’10, of Carmina Wood Morris won the Corporate Design Category for the team’s design of Campus Labs.

Graphic Design Students Sweep AAF’s Annual Don Nichols Scholarship Competition Three of Villa’s graphic design students were awarded first, second and third place and three more received honorable mentions in AAF's Annual Don Nichols Scholarship Competition. This marks the fifth consecutive year in which Villa students have claimed the top spot in the competition, and the sixth consecutive year in which at least two students have placed. The 2019 winners are: Emily Kaczynski, ’20 (first place), Michael Csizmadia, ’19 (second place), and Ana Echeverria, ’19 (third place). Nicole Plucinski, ’22, Tim Winterhalter, ’20, and Lindsay Neilson, ’21, received honorable mentions.

Villa Maria College Graduates its Largest Class in Over a Decade On Sunday, May 19, 2019 Villa Maria College graduated 115 students, its largest class in recent history. A total of 115 students received degrees in animation, business, graphic design, interior design, music and more. Two student awards were presented and the winners individually addressed the Board of Trustees, President Giordano and his cabinet, faculty and staff, the graduating class, alumni, parents and other members of the Villa community. Molly Sheehan, who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, was named the winner of the Blessed Mary Angela Mission Award for Students. Alexandra Snow, who received a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media and Communication, was named the winner of the Martin Wanamaker Spirit Award. Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, accepted the Founder’s Award. The Founder’s Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to society and to Villa Maria College; Sister Marcella served the College for 50 years before retiring in 2018.

2019 Distinguished Interior Design Students of the Year Named Villa’s interior design students spent the last weeks of January 2019 putting the final touches on their Annual Student Exhibit presentations, featuring studio projects from Fall semester. The exhibit displayed a mix of work created by

CAMPUS news sophomore, junior and senior students, including final renderings, floor plans and material selections highlighting their work on restaurants, homes, offices and more. Twenty-one external judges reviewed the students’ work and selected the 2019 Distinguished Students of the Year. Angela Cerroni, ’20, won first place, Briana Chriss, ’19, won second place and Sarah Filkhorn, ’20, won third place.

SKALD 2018 Scores Nationally The Columbia Scholastic Press awarded SKALD 2018, Villa’s art and literary magazine, a Silver Crown Award. The magazine is one out of just 10 college publications to receive the Silver designation. Publications are judged on their excellence in design, photography, concept, coverage and writing. A total of 1,172 publications were eligible for judging. SKALD 2018 was designed by a team of student designers consisting of Travis

Springer, ’18, Shelby Braidich, ’19 and Emily Kaczynski, ’20. They were advised by Assistant Professors of Graphic Design Julie Zack and Bob Grizanti and Associate Professor of English Joyce Kessel.

Graphic Design Students, Alumni Win 14 Awards at 2019 ADDYs Villa students and alumni won seven awards at AAF Buffalo‘s annual ADDYs — more than a third of the awards handed out in the student category. Ana Echeverria, ’19, Chelsea Herriven, ’20, Emily Kaczynski, ’20, Michael Morganti, ’20, Maria Schiltz, ’21, Travis Springer, ’18 and Tim Winterhalter, ’20, all won silver ADDYs. Shelby Braidich, ’19, Emily Kaczynski, ’20, and Travis Springer, ’18, won gold ADDYs. Seven graphic design alumni won professional awards. Brittney Sikora, ’14, a designer at White Bicycle won

two gold ADDYs and a silver ADDY, Emily Zajac, ’15, a designer at In-Room Plus won one silver ADDY, Samantha Lonczak, ’17, Designer at Fifteen won two silver ADDYs, and Dylan Nowak independently won a silver ADDY.

Villa Animation Students and Instructors Collaborate on Shrek Retold The movie Shrek was re-made through a crowdsourced project that has been viewed over 3 million times on YouTube. The 90-minute remake called for 200 animators to collaborate and match the original film shot-for-shot. Among those animators were Valery Amborski, instructor of animation and Sarah Hanson, associate professor of animation, Owen Doud,’19, Emily Lawton, ’19, Kali Croisdale, ’19, Andrew Sendker, ’19, Eli Kelley, ’21, Ashley YonHudson, ’18, James Adams, ’19, Amanda Dala, ’21, Evaline Kroh, ’21, Olivia Venezia, ’19, Cameron Morelli-Knisley, ’20, Colin Clayton, ’20 and Crystal Watts, ’21.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JESSE WALP NAMED BN360 SPOTLIGHT PROFESSIONAL presented by

BN360 has unveiled its 2019 Spotlight Professionals and Jesse Walp, assistant professor of interior design and the College’s art shop supervisor, is one of the 12 individuals being highlighted in 2019. According to BN360, the young professionals selected for the spotlight strive for professional growth and development, care for their community, and are passionate about the future of the Buffalo Niagara region. FALL 2019 | 7

new PROGRAMS

Throughout the 20182019 academic year, Villa launched three new academic programs. Each of these programs was developed in response to the demand for high-paying jobs in industries that are growing in Western New York and beyond.

successful animation and graphic design programs, Game Design requires ability in both artistic and computer arenas. The program introduces students to programming, but places an emphasis on the design aspect, including the development of environment, character and different game levels.

Each of these new programs offers students the College’s ultra-small class sizes, which guarantee individualized attention in hands-on, studio-based environments where students will learn cutting-edge technologies and approaches.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

GAME DESIGN The first full program of its kind in the Buffalo area, Villa Maria’s fouryear BFA Game Design program launched in February 2019, and enrolled students who began classes at the start of the Fall 2019 semester. A niche program that was built on the foundation of the College’s

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In Villa’s four-year BS Computer Software Development program, students focus on application software, which includes programs like word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and games. Students are trained in the use of multiple program languages and have the opportunity to focus in Game Development. The projects students complete during the program build off of common principles and are realistic in that students work individually, both in a team setting and in internships.

FLEXIBLE BUSINESS

Villa Maria’s new Flexible Business program offers students the ability to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration by attending classes at night and online. Students enrolled in the program can complete the coursework in three years, potentially earning a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in less time than if they had followed the traditional track. With transfer credits, the program can potentially be completed in as few as 18 months. Based off the College’s existing Business Administration program, which was structured for traditional students, the Flexible Business program offers a comprehensive selection of courses, resulting in students who graduate with a strong understanding of the most imperative aspects of business, including accounting, business law, management, marketing and more.

In the past year, we have welcomed the following new employees: Rick Pinkowski

Vice President for Finance Pinkowski is a seasoned professional, who brings nearly 40 years of experience in both higher education and finance to the College. As the vice president for finance, Pinkowski is a key member of the executive management team. He is responsible for finances, with duties including management of business office operations, ownership of accounting and accounting systems, budgeting, tuition and fee collection, payroll, accounts payable, treasury functions, risk management, compliance management, purchasing, investment management and more. Pinkowski is also a member of the president’s cabinet, working with the College president and other vice presidents on strategic planning and College-wide decision-making. Valery Amborski Instructor of Animation Michael Banko Admissions Counselor Jessica Bracco Financial Aid Counselor Kyle Butler Assistant Professor of Fine Arts

Alissa Kowalski Student Success Coordinator and Academic Coach

PROMOTIONS Todd Baker Chair of Natural Sciences and Professional Studies Dr. Ryan Hartnett Vice President for Academic Affairs Amanda Janosky Director of Athletics Dr. Kim Kotz Chair of Health Sciences Dr. William Meyer Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professional Development Coordinator Dr. Donald Monnin Vice President for Mission Darby Ratliff Registrar

Mike McCarthy Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Dr. Ann Rivera Dean of Faculty

Laura Pietak Assistant Director of the Achieve Program

DJ Schier Director of Student Affairs

Robert Cathcart Head Cross Country Coach

Maria Povlock Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs

Mark Evertt Head Men’s Soccer Coach

Jasmine Price Say Yes Counselor

Jhon Guarin Sports Information Director

Desmond Randall Head Men’s Basketball Coach

Emmilly Hammann Athletic Trainer

Nathan Straus Admissions Counselor

Amy Jamieson Instructor of English

Meghan Wienke Graphic Designer

new PEOPLE

VILLA MARIA IS ALWAYS GROWING!

Kristen Schober Director of Communications and Marketing Jessica Siegel Director of the Care Center

FALL 2019 | 9

INNOVATIVE LEADER Dr. Matthew Giordano is inaugurated as Villa Maria College’s Fourth President - By Kristin Etu -

hen Dr. Matthew Giordano first drove down Pine Ridge Road onto the Villa Maria campus 14 years ago, he thought it would be a brief pit stop in his life. He would teach at the college for a year and move on. And it was never his career ambition to become a president. “What changed for me was simple,” says Dr. Giordano. “The sense of community I found here, and the conviction that we are truly making 10 | VISTAS THE MAGAZINE OF VILLA MARIA COLLEGE

a critical difference in the lives of our students.” He went on to serve as a member of the English Department from 2005 to 2012 and chairperson of the liberal arts department between 2009 and 2012. As vice president for academic affairs from 2012 to 2018, Dr. Giordano played a pivotal role in planning and implementing the college’s visionary plan, resulting in major enrollment growth and increased retention. During

his tenure as interim president from July 2018 - March 2019, the college launched two new academic programs: game design and computer software development. Dr. Giordano now makes Villa history as he becomes its fourth president and first lay president. His inauguration, held on November 15th, ushered in an exciting new chapter for the Catholic college founded by the Felician Sisters in 1960.

The Villa family, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, and community members filled the Villa Maria College Auditorium to commemorate this joyous occasion. “It was a unique ceremony because it brought people to campus who might not otherwise be here,” says Dr. Giordano. “It is exciting to celebrate the College and talk about all of the great things that we do here. Personally it was exciting for me because my

“What changed for me was simple. The sense of community I found here, and the conviction that we are truly making a critical difference in the lives of our students.” family, including my wife and kids, and friends from many different parts of my life were able to share it with me.” Dr. Giordano succeeds Sister Marcella Marie Garus, C.S.S.F, who retired from the College in June 2018 after serving for 40 years as president. He says his first priority moving forward is to keep

the tradition of the Felician Sisters alive at the College. “The Felician Sisters have been very progressive about preparing lay leaders to take over their ministries,” says Dr. Giordano, who successfully completed the Executive Leadership Academy of the Council of Independent Colleges FALL 2019 | 11

and the Felician Leadership Institute two tears ago. “Our strategic plan really focuses on what kind of institution we are and our student-centered approach to education, which stems directly from the core mission and values of the sisters and the culture that Sister Marcella built on campus.” During his inauguration speech, Dr. Giordano said that while he might be expected to make headlines by talking about his plans for campus expansion, new athletic teams, or lofty fundraising goals, he would rather focus on what really matters.

Dr. Giordano proposed the idea of evaluating colleges and universities on the basis of one simple criterion: how well do colleges and universities change and improve lives? He adds: “We might ask not just what amenities are available to students, but how well and how quickly the college mobilizes when a student is in crisis. We might ask not only how well the college admits, but also recruits, engages, integrates, supports, and champions students with learning differences, students with autism, dyslexia and ADHD.”

“I am honored to be the present caretaker of this home. I will work hard with my colleagues, every day, to nurture it, to sustain it, and to buttress it. I will give everything I have to make sure that the Villa Way is the right way.” He praised the Villa faculty and staff for always being willing to go the extra mile or put in extra hours for the students. And while Dr. Giordano is very proud of the accolades received for Villa programs and students, he says his number one goal is for the college to continue to be the premier student-centered institution in Western New York. Over the last few years, “we have taken bold steps to improve student success, launching our mentorship program and the Achieve Program, which is a voluntary program for students with a variety of learning differences,” says Dr. Giordano. “We have already seen great outcomes and long term I want us to be a leader in these highly intensive, supportive interventions that are going to improve students’ chances for success.” 12 | VISTAS THE MAGAZINE OF VILLA MARIA COLLEGE

Dr. Giordano has been collaborating with several colleagues to develop what is referred to as the Villa Way, the guidelines or principles that should dictate how to behave and communicate as part of the Villa community. He says, “But it only recently dawned on me that there is another way to understand that term. Villa, of course, means ‘home,’ or ‘house.’ ‘Way’ is an old word for “road” or “path.” While the Villa Maria campus is home to those who work, attend, or who graduated from the college, the Villa Way is not something that is confined to campus borders. “I really want us to focus more on building partnerships with the community, particularly on the East Side of Buffalo, says Dr. Giordano.

“We might ask not just what amenities are available to students, but how well and how quickly the college mobilizes when a student is in crisis? We might ask not only how well the college admits, but also recruits, engages, integrates, supports, and champions students with learning differences, students with autism, dyslexia and ADHD.”

“Those relationships are good for the College and are another way we can serve our students and be a part of the continued transformation of Buffalo.” Even though he never intended to stay at Villa long, and certainly never intended to become president, Dr. Giordano is confident in knowing he is

right where he is supposed to be. “I am honored to be the present caretaker of this home,” he says. “I will work hard with my colleagues, every day, to nurture it, to sustain it, and to buttress it. I will give everything I have to make sure that the Villa Way is the right way.” FALL 2019 | 13

from the ALUMNI OFFICE

After graduating our largest class in 2019 we have a lot of alumni to highlight! Heather Bellini White ’00 Married Brian White on November 11, 2017 in Punta Cana. She recently opened a new photography studio in Williamsville, Heather Bellini Photography, LLC. Paige Berkheiser ’19 E-commerce Assistant at Park Avenue Wholesale. Francesca Bubb ’19 Production Artist at Delaware North Briana Chriss ’19 Commercial Interior Designer at Trautman Associates. Kali Croisdale ’19 Design Visualization Specialist at Fisher-Price. Kali Croisdale ’19 & Olivia Venezia ’19 Had their senior film accepted into Buffalo’s International Film Festival where they won the award for best animated film. Bianca Gullotti ’19 Engaged on July 15, 2018 to Erik Hoovler and had her son, Arkin Carmelo on June 7, 2019. Kameron Kotecki ’19 Senior Service Associate at M&T Bank. Mat Missert ’18 Tutor in the Student Success Center at Villa Maria College.

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Tien Nguyen ’19 Had his senior film accepted into Buffalo’s International Film Festival. Dylan Nowak ’18 Graphic Art Designer at Pegula Sports & Entertainment. Breanna Pangel ’17 Graphic Designer at The Chapel. Madeline Radwan ’19 Music Activity Assistant at Trevecca Center for Rehabilitation and Healing in Nashville, TN. Adam Schuh ’18 Graphic Designer at Pasteurized Tees. Engaged to Rachel Tabak on May 19, 2019. Megan Snell ’17 Marketing Communications at Sefar Inc. Rachel Tabak ’18 Annual Giving, Alumni Relations & Database Coordinator at Villa Maria College. Engaged to Adam Schuh on May 19, 2019. Morgan (McCutcheon) Wathan ’18 Married to Kyle Wathan on February 8, 2019. Ryan Weatherbee ’19 ALL Leader Teaching & Tutoring in English Composition at Villa Maria College.

You may be able to reduce or eliminate federal and state estate taxes by including a gift to Villa Maria College in your estate plan.

Gifts may be made through: • Tax-deferred retirement accounts: These gifts are easy to set up, and are often the most effective way for you and your heirs to make an estate plan gift. • A bequest in your will or trust: This allows you to leave a fixed dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, your entire estate or the residuary of your estate to Villa Maria College. • Life insurance policy: Making Villa Maria College the beneficiary of your life insurance policy is simple and easy. • Beneficiary designations on your donor advised fund or bank accounts. The Development Department at Villa Maria College can also provide specific language for your will or trust to create a named scholarship endowment fund. We encourage you to contact Mary Robinson, Vice President for Development at 716-961-1823 to discuss specific language that will fulfill your charitable giving objectives. If your estate plans include a bequest to Villa Maria College or other planned gift, please share this information with us. We would welcome the opportunity to thank you for your generosity to the College.

Share your news or submit your work to Vistas! There's always space for news and work from students, faculty, staff and alumni to highlight and share with the Villa Maria community. Starting a new job? Have you received a promotion? Getting married? Having a baby? Then share the good news and your successes with us! Send an email to alumnirelations@villa.edu, or visit:

VILLA.EDU/VISTAS to share your news. Please send us updates when you move or if any of your information changes so we can keep you in the loop!

ALUMNI BOARD Members The Villa Alumni Association is pleased to announce that the following alumni serve as Alumni Board members: Heather Bellini ‘00 Photography LaShawn Chinn ‘03 Business Administration Diego Diaz ‘16 Animation Mary Lucy Drabczyk ‘00 Music Nicole Germain ‘08 Early Childhood Education Marc Muroff ‘14 Physical Therapist Assistant Lucy Norton ‘16 Graphic Design Sabrina Pisano ‘08 Physical Therapist Assistant Adam Schuh ‘18 Graphic Design Keith Sieman ‘15 Music Industry Joseph Tronolone ‘15 Music Industry Brian Walsh ‘18 Music Industry Morgan Wathan ‘18 Integrated Arts John Willis ‘18 Graphic Design FALL 2019 | 15

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Upcoming Events December 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January 1 Christmas Break | College Closed January 9 New Student Orientation Villa Maria College | 8 AM January 13 Spring Classes Start January 20 Martin Luther King Day | College Closed January 28 M&T Concert: Alex Overton Band Recital Hall | 11 AM February 17 President's Day | College Closed March 10 M&T Concert: Janice String Quartet Recital Hall: 11 AM March 11 UNYTS Blood Drive Dining Hall | 10 AM March 15 - March 22 Spring Break | College Closed

March 31 M&T Concert: Janice and Jim with John Bacon and Jerry Livingston Recital Hall | 11 AM April 2 - April 4 Drama Club Spring Performance Auditorium | 7PM April 9 - April 13 Easter Break | Campus Closed April 21 Hip Hop Ensemble Recital Hall | 11 AM April 23 Percussion Ensemble Recital Hall | 11 AM April 28 Jazz Ensemble Recital Hall | 11 AM April 29 Rock Ensemble Recital Hall | 7 PM

April 30 Gospel Choir Recital Hall | 11 AM April 30 Honors Recital Recital Hall | 7 PM May 4 Final Day of Classes May 5 - May 8 Exam Week May 7 Digital Filmmaking Red Carpet Night Social Hall | 6 PM May 14 Commencement Rehearsal Dining Hall | 2:30 PM May 17 56th Commencement Villa Maria College

For more information on upcoming events at Villa Maria, visit VILLA.EDU/CALENDAR