1961
2021
Affirming the Past, Building the Future.
WINTER 2021
WINTER 2021 The Magazine of Villa Maria College President Matthew Giordano, Ph.D. 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 2020-2021 Timothy M. Rider (Chairperson) Thomas J. Bienias (Vice Chairperson) Sister Mary Francesca Buczkowski, CSSF, ’68 Ryan E. Caster Sister Mary Therese Chmura, CSSF Zeneta B. Everhart David M. Gelia
Eileen Martin Natalie Neumann James G. Pappas Joan M. Priebe
A Message From Our President
3
Carole T. Sedita
Campus News
4-7
Dominca Sortisio
Sister Mary DeAngelis Nowak, CSSF
7
Lisa Summerour, Ed.D.
Celebrating 60 Years
8-11
Art That Serves Everyone
12-13
Free Textbooks and Supplies
14
New Programs
15
New Hires & Promotions
15
From the Alumni Office
16-17
Honor Roll of Donors
18-19
Daphne Ross
Sister Mary Aquinas Szott, CSSF
Sister Suzanne Marie Kush, CSSF, ‘70
Editor Brian J. Emerson Designer Meghan Wienke Photography Tom Wolf Printer Zenger Group
SECTIONS
Writers Karen Marley Dr. Donald Monnin Kristen Schober Rachel Tabak 60th Anniversary Logo Design Jordan Santalucia, '21
PUBLISHER Villa Maria College | 240 Pine Ridge Road | Buffalo, NY 14225 716.961.1805 | villa.edu Contents © 2021 Villa Maria College A FELICIAN SPONSORED MINISTRY
a message from OUR PRESIDENT
T
o my children, sixty years seems beyond comprehension. They often refer to anything before 2000 as “the old times,” which makes me laugh outwardly while I cringe inside. For them, 1961, the year of Villa Maria College’s founding, is antiquity, an era of funny hairdos, silly songs, and boring television shows. Within the frequently glacial temporal landscape of academia, however, 1961 was not so long ago. In fact, sixty years makes Villa one of the youngest colleges around, still in its adolescence. For the last several decades, Villa, like most adolescents, has been in the process of reimagining itself, of maturing and embracing its identity. This process of evolution generally has served as a strength, allowing Villa to remain nimble, to innovate, and, most importantly, to be responsive to the changing needs of our students.
For example, this year we took the bold step of including books and supplies with the cost of tuition. Students did not have to buy books and supplies on top of their tuition costs. Instead, they showed up the first day of classes and were handed what they needed. Villa is the first and only college in Western New York to eliminate the exorbitant, unexpected out-of-pocket costs, as well as the logistical headaches, that books and supplies have presented for so many students for so many years, proving once again our commitment to making a private, Catholic education affordable and accessible. The reason we were able to take this unprecedented step is because of the culture that has developed over the last sixty years, a culture of innovation, student-centeredness, and flexibility. It is a culture that the Felician Sisters created and nurtured, one in which faculty and staff members come together and do whatever it takes to serve our students and our community. It is a culture where everyone is inspired by, and accountable for, our core values. Simply put, it is the Villa Way. The Felician Sisters serve wherever there is a need. That means their ministries keep changing along with our world. Villa is no different. We are constantly in the process of becoming, of evolving, of transforming. That is who we are and, if we remain true to our mission, that is who we will always be, for the next sixty years and well beyond.
Matthew Giordano, Ph.D. President, Villa Maria College
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DJ Schier Won Distinguished Service to the Profession Award DJ Schier, dean of students, was honored with the CSPA-NYS 2020 Distinguished Service to the Profession Award. The award is presented to a professional with 10+ years of experience who has contributed considerably to the higher education profession. “DJ Schier is truly deserving of this distinction,” said Dr. Ryan Hartnett, vice president for academic affairs. "He is a leader among staff and is highly regarded by our students. His willingness to go the extra mile to create fun and enriching experiences for our students is impactful, and the way he approaches each and every student truly exemplifies his commitment to the College’s core values of compassion, and respect for human dignity.”
California Closets Awarded Scholarships to Interior Design Students Alexis Carrington, '22, and Lindsay Klaffka, '21, were awarded scholarships from California Closets. Carrington and Klaffka earned their scholarships by creating exceptional designs in fulfillment of their Studio II interior design class.
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Students were given the opportunity to explain their creative choices and the design elements incorporated into their renderings during virtual presentations.
New Scholarship Opportunity for Students The Campus Ministry Mission & Service Scholarship provides unique, rigorous, and rewarding educational experiences for students with a demonstrated commitment to community service and spiritual development through both curricular and co-curricular offerings, and to enhance the mission and core values of the College.
Villamation 2021 Twenty-two animation students pulled an all-nighter for Villamation, an annual 24-hour animation competition. Students were divided into teams, and randomly chose two images to use as inspiration. Each team brainstormed story ideas, sketched characters and environment design, fleshed out story boards and compiled an animatic - all before lunchtime. Best in Show was awarded to Timothy Clavier, '22, Molly Lonigan, '22, Mel Leonard, '21, Rebecca Albright, '22, Joseph Covich, '22, and Michael Scrivens, '21, for Larkspur, an open-ended tale featuring a young woman on the run from a lion.
Music Graduate Tashieka Thompson Won Grammy Tashieka Thompson, '20, won a GRAMMY Award with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. The group recorded Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua, along with the BPO and UCLA Chamber Choir. “The education I received at Villa Maria contributed to this win,” said Thompson. “It was the awesome professors there who helped me with stage presence, increasing my site reading ability, helping with intonation and breath control and pushing me to go further than what I believed I could.”
Laura Snyder Awarded Juror’s Pick Award Villa Maria’s longest-standing photography professor won the Juror’s Pick Award after displaying work in the 2021 CEPA Gallery Member’s Show. Snyder’s work was recognized out of dozens of other local artists. Laura Snyder's winning photo, Fleeting Light #4623. 2019 Inkjet print, 20"x24"
CAMPUS news Graphic Design Students Won 12 Awards, Swept Student Best in Show Category at 2021 ADDYs Villa Maria’s graphic design students won a total of 12 advertising awards, including a clean sweep of the Student Best of Show category. Gold Winners: Henny Zack, '21 – Branded Paper Toy: Cross Platform – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign
Silver Winners: Lindsay Neilson – #WeAreHere Campaign: Cross Platform Integrated Advertising Campaign – Consumer Campaign Henny Zack – Social Awareness Poster: Out-of-Home and Ambient Media – Out-of-Home Poster Henny Zack – Origami Diagram Book: Sales and Marketing – Publication Design Lindsay Neilson – Lindsay Neilson Branding Collateral: Sales and Marketing – Collateral Material – Stationary Package – Single or Multiple Pieces Student Best of Show Winners: Zach Huber’s Save The Trees Brand Campaign – Student Best of Show
Campaigns – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Local or Regional/National Gold: Brand Identity Campaign for Shuck Shack: Cross Platform – Integrated Advertising Campaigns – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Local or Regional/National Gold: Brand Campaign for Magnusmode: Cross Platform – Integrated Advertising Campaigns – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Local or Regional/National Silver: Identity Design for Shuck Shack: – Elements of Advertising – Visual – Logo Design Zach Huber – graphic designer with Mirror Matter Silver: Aviate Audio Airpatch Package: Sales and Marketing – Packaging Silver: Even Keel Logo Design: Elements of Advertising – Visual – Logo Design
Photography Seniors Kelly Thomas and Madison Martin Exhibited Work at BCAT Henny Zack's Branded Paper Toy, Outer Orbot
Zach Huber, '21 – Blend Juicery Packaging: Sales and Marketing Sales Promotion (Product or Service Sales Promotion) – Packaging Lindsay Neilson, '21 – Blackpink North American World Tour: Cross Platform – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign Katelynn Steckstor, '21 – Milk Makeup Brochure: Sales and Marketing – Collateral Material Zach Huber – Save The Trees Brand Campaign: Cross Platform – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign
Zach Huber's Save The Trees Brand Campaign
Henny Zack’s Branded Paper Toy – First Runner-Up Lindsay Neilson’s Blackpink North American World Tour – Second Runner-Up Two students earned recognition for their contributions to some of the awardwinning entries in the professional category: Lindsay Neilson, junior designer with Mr. Smith Agency: Gold: Flint Brand Rollout Campaign: Cross Platform – Integrated Advertising
Kelly Thomas, '21, and Madison Martin, '21, showed their work in an exhibition at the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology last April. Martin’s exhibit was entitled Personality Hues and Thomas’ was named Hidden Identity.
Introducing the High School Plus Program Villa Maria launched the High School Plus Program, which allows students who excel academically to earn college credit while they are still in high school. High school juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher can take a course for college credit for a reduced tuition rate of $100 per class.
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CAMPUS news 14 Students Recognized at Honors Convocation; 20 Inducted into Two Honors Societies This year’s Honors Convocation and Honors Society induction ceremonies recognized some of the College’s best and brightest students for their academic achievements. The ceremonies recognized 14 students as outstanding in their fields of study and welcomed 20 students into an honors society.
Fine Arts Senior Sonia Campanella Presented Thesis Exhibition Sonia Campanella, a 2021 fine arts graduate, unveiled her thesis work in an exhibition at The Argus Gallery. “Amorphous” featured her recent abstract work that was influenced by a mix of formal exploration and micro-organism imaging. The work traces a line between hard-edged abstraction and gestural improvisation, aligned by a particular focus on surface texture, color cultivation, and interplay of organic shapes.
Hadyn Otwell, '23, won 3rd for his suicide prevention iPhone messages. This is the seventh consecutive year in which a graphic design student from Villa Maria has won first place in this competition.
Graphic Design Students Earned First and Second Place Portfolio Review Henny Zack, '21, and Kelsey Sikora, '23, won first and second place, respectively, in AAF’s Student Portfolio Review. Students met with creative professionals from WNY and received feedback to help strengthen their portfolios. A Villa Maria student has placed in the competition every year since at least 2014.
Grads from 2020 and 2021 Celebrated in an Outdoor Ceremony Villa Maria celebrated its 56th Commencement ceremony on May 22. The College’s first outdoor ceremony since 1986 recognized 119 graduates from the class of 2021 and 84 graduates from the class of 2020.
Zach Huber, '21, won second place for his quarantine activity guide.
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Interior Design Students Won Bid For Space In 2021 Decorators’ Show House Bailey Boyer, '21, Alexis Carrington, '22, Taylor Grodesky, '22, and Emmalee Lowe, '22, designed a reading room in this year’s Junior League Show House. The décor and creative accents in the space were inspired by the properties of a book.
Left: Alexis Carrington. Middle: Sandra Reicis. Right: Emmalee Lowe.
Professor Sandra Reicis worked alongside Barbara Reformat, '05, and Karen Mattoon, '96, president and treasurer of the WNY Interior Design Association, on the conservatory. This is the 20th year in which the College has been involved with the Show House.
Emmalee Lowe, ‘22, Won Award from the ASID New York Upstate-Canada East Chapter
Graphic Design Students Swept Don Nichols Scholarship Competition; Won First Place for 7th Consecutive Year Henny Zack, '21, earned the competition’s top honor for her paper toy.
Gerard Place. Zapfel, president and CEO of Gerard Place, addressed the classes of 2021 and 2020 after accepting the award.
The Martin Wanamaker Spirit Award was given to José Colón, '21, and the Blessed Mary Angela award was given to Madelyn Jensen, '21. David Zapfel accepted the Founder’s Award on behalf of
The New York Upstate/Canada East Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers announced Emmalee Lowe, the winner of its 2021 Design Excellence Awards. Lowe was named Villa Maria’s outstanding student in interior design this year.
CAMPUS news Professor Kyle Butler Displayed Sculpture Work at PLAY/GROUND Kyle Butler, assistant professor of fine arts, displayed sculptural work in PLAY/ GROUND. Butler’s installment, Municipal Sentiment: Sod Forms, was a series of sculptural arrangements utilizing the various end spaces of the Buffalo Central Terminal.
year. The College’s first Fall Convocation took place on September 13. More than 100 students, faculty, and staff members attended.
Spirit Shop Opened in Felician Hall The Spirit Shop is a one-stop-shop for students, faculty, and staff looking to purchase College-branded apparel and giftware. Shop online at shop.villa.edu!
130 Members of the Villa Community Completed 330 Hours of Volunteer Work Kyle Butler's Sod Forms
Communications Team Won 7 Awards The College’s Communications Office submitted some of its best work to the Annual Educational Advertising Awards and Education Digital Marketing Awards. Brian Emerson, Kristen Schober, and Meghan Wienke won 7 awards between the two organizations.
Students, faculty, and staff spent October 2 living out the College’s core value of the year: respect for human dignity. The service day was part of Heritage Days, which serves as an opportunity for the College community to reflect on its core values that drive everything done at Villa Maria. 130 students, faculty, and staff participated for a combined 330 hours of service.
Villa Maria Ranked #8 Best Colleges in the North for Social Mobility U.S. News & World Report ranked Villa Maria College #8 out of 52 for Social Mobility. This is a significant jump in rank for the College, which ranked #16 last year.
First-Ever Fall Convocation Held for Students Villa Maria began a new tradition that will serve as an annual kickoff to each academic
Alum and Faculty Screened Work at the 2021 Buffalo International Film Festival Two members of the Villa Maria Community had work accepted into this year’s Buffalo International Film Festival. Nick Green, '21, and adjunct professor J. Garrett Vorreuter screened films at the Festival, which took place in October.
SISTER MARY
D e ANGELIS NOWAK, CSSF July 28, 1934 - December 14, 2020
Sister Mary DeAngelis Nowak, CSSF, of Buffalo, New York entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 16, 1953 and professed perpetual vows on August 3, 1961. Sister DeAngelis held a Bachelor of Science in Education from Medaille (Mt. St. Joseph) College in Buffalo, New York and a Master of Science in Business Administration from Marywood College, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Sister was an educator, serving in Ontario, Canada, Buffalo, and Syracuse from 1956 through 1975. During her time in Syracuse, she taught English and business at the secondary level and went on to serve as principal at Sacred Heart High School. Upon her return to Buffalo, she joined the faculty at Villa Maria College as the instructor of business studies. In 1998, she accepted the position of vice president of business affairs which she held for 32 years.
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CELEBRATING 60 YEARS WRITTEN BY DR. DONALD MONNIN
2021
1961
Affirming the Past, Building the Future.
2021
marks the 60th Anniversary of Villa Maria College. This momentous occasion in the life of the College testifies to the significance of Villa’s mission, programs,
and people who have impacted Western New York for many years. Today, Villa Maria College offers its students 18 different majors, 26 minors, and 2 certificate programs in a wide range of academic programs. The College’s academic offering ranges from health sciences to digital media arts, to fine arts and design, to humanities and social sciences and more. Over the last 60 years, thousands of students throughout the Western New York area and beyond have come to call
Villa Maria College home. Its origins, however, are quite humble. The College was founded in 1961 by the Felician Sisters. It was originally opened to provide the first two years of college for their Sisters who were preparing to become schoolteachers. Classes were taught in various rooms in the Convent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is located on Doat Street. In 1964, Villa Maria opened the doors to its present-day campus on Pine Ridge Road. Four years after the College was
History OF VILLA MARIA COLLEGE The 60s:
I always think about those days. Villa was the right place for me at that time in my life. I liked its small size. It gave me enormous flexibility to organize things. We really impacted change around the community. That was fairly unique. I don’t know if I would have received that at a big school.
1960: Mother Mary Annette
Guzowski, CSSF, the first College president, and the Felician Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province open a teacher-training center for sisters in the education apostolate.
- Michael O’Mara | ’68 - ‘70
1964: Dedication and
official opening of Villa Maria College campus Main Building complex.
1961: The Center secures a
provisional charter from the Board of Regents of the State of New York to grant associate degrees in arts and applied science to women religious and begins operating as Villa Maria College of Buffalo.
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1965:
The charter is extended to include laywomen as students.
1968: The College is granted
an absolute charter and is recognized as a co-ed institution.
1967: Sister Mary
Pachomia Lenda, CSSF, is appointed as the second president of the College.
1971: Mr. James H.
Righter becomes the first laymen to chair the Board of Trustees.
1972: The College becomes fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The 70s:
founded, in 1965, it would welcome laywomen and laymen shortly thereafter in 1968. For the next 44 years, Villa Maria remained a junior college offering a variety of associates degrees. In 2005, the absolute charter was amended, and the College began offering its baccalaureate degree in interior design. Four more baccalaureate programs were approved in the next three years: animation, fashion design and merchandising, music and music industry, followed by psychology, digital filmmaking, digital media and communications, game design, computer software development, and most recently, community health and motion design.
The 80s:
I didn’t want a ‘big school’ college environment, so Villa was the place for me. I would strongly recommend Villa Maria College. I still apply a lot of the knowledge I gained there today. I found that Villa had a ‘small-town’ feel but with a sophistication because of its emphasis in the Arts. - Mike Piscitello | ’80 - ‘82
1974: Debut of first College
yearbook, ASTRON, named after the first college newspaper, would eventually come to be known as VIKON.
1978: Sister Marcella Marie
Garus, CSSF, is appointed as the third president of the College.
1976: In-house radio station WVMC begins broadcasting.
My instructors instilled in me a desire to look beyond the conventional... I credit the College with reinforcing the religious and spiritual aspects of life… Villa Maria College is included on the list of credentials I give to every client. I’m proud of it!
1982: First Founder’s
Medal awarded to R. John Oshei at Commencement.
1986: The College celebrates 25 years.
1989: SKALD literary
magazine receives first national recognition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
1987: The College establishes the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry, the first food pantry to be located at a college in WNY.
- John Bernhard Thuersam | ’74 - ‘76 WINTER 2021 | 9
Over the last six decades, the campus has grown beyond the prominent Main Building, and now includes Felician Hall, the Athletic Center, and Art Shop. In 2020, the College expanded into the former St. Francis Residence of the Felician Sisters for the Fine Arts department.
Athletics were reintroduced to the campus in 2015 and the College proudly competes in the USCAA in basketball, bowling, cross country and soccer. 2015 also marked the introduction of two of the College’s cornerstone success initiatives: the Student Success Center
and the Achieve Program for Students with Learning Differences. Led by a dedicated team of academic experts, the Student Success Center aids all students in meeting their academic goals. The Achieve Program was designed to provide specialized services to students with
History CONTINUED The 90s:
I entered Villa with a lack of self-confidence but with a burning desire to make a difference. Villa Maria College awakened that determination in me! - Dawn Quinn | ’91 - ‘93
2008: Four new 1992: Higher
Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) begins at the College.
1997: Dedication of The Saint Joseph Commemorative Walkway.
1996: College newspaper News and Views becomes The Viking.
2005: The absolute 2000: The college celebrates 40 years.
1998: First College
president, Sister Mary Annette Guzowski, CSSF, dies at the age of 104.
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charter is amended to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in interior design.
2003: Mission Integration Committee formed to promote College Franciscan Felician heritage.
The 2000s:
bachelor’s degree programs are added in animation; fashion design and merchandising; and music & music industry.
Villa Maria College has contributed to my life in so many ways. Upon my first being accepted into the music program, I was very unsure if I would even make it through the whole two-year program. The faculty, staff and students instilled a sense of confidence in me. I came out of Villa a very different man than the one who walked in. I’m now knowledgeable, confident, and connected. Through Villa I’m free to reach my true potential and ultimate destiny. - Herb Venticinque | ’99 - ‘01
We are constantly in the process of becoming, of evolving, of transforming. That is who we are and, if we remain true to our mission, that is who we will always be, for the next sixty years and well beyond. DR. MATTHEW GIORDANO
learning differences, and currently boasts some of the highest retention rates in Western New York. After 50 years of dedicated service to the College, Villa Maria’s third president, Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, announced
her retirement in 2018. She passed the torch to Matthew Giordano, Ph.D., who was inaugurated in November 2019. In addition to being the College’s first male president, Dr. Giordano is also the first layperson to lead the way at Villa Maria. Under Dr. Giordano, Villa Maria introduced esports and several new academic programs. Most notably, he has expertly led the College through an unprecedented time period: the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic has brought widespread hardship, it also gave Villa Maria the chance to show the world it puts students first. The College’s technology lending program was developed during the 2020
The 2010s: 2018: Accreditation is 2010: Villa
Maria College celebrates 50 years.
2014: The
College adds a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
2015: The Vikings return,
reaffirmed by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, retires in June after 40 years of service as president.
relaunching intercollegiate athletics after a nearly 30-year hiatus. Bachelor’s degrees added in digital filmmaking and digital media & communications. A new associate degree added for occupational therapy assistant. The Achieve Program for Students with Learning Differences launches. Villa goes digital and offers its first online class.
shutdown. It put desktops, laptops, and other forms of necessary technology into the homes of students who would not have been able to participate remotely otherwise. Shortly after students returned to campus in August 2021, the College rolled out its next success initiative: Free Books and Supplies. Guided by its dynamic Franciscan spirit and welcoming Catholic tradition, Villa Maria College continues to grow in new directions to serve its community and enrich the lives of its graduates. Because of the College’s strong foundation, unwavering commitment to student success, and innovative leadership, the future of Villa Maria College remains bright.
During my first tour of the College, I fell in love with Villa Maria's Computer Software Development program. Villa has specialized equipment for every major and teaches practical skills, like programming, that help me develop my skills for my future career. I chose Villa because it is a small school that focuses on developing its students both academically and as human beings. Villa feels like a family. You can talk to anyone and feel sure they know who you are. You are in an environment where people care about you. - Gianluca Ndukanma | ’19 - ‘23
2021: Added degrees in community health and motion design.
2019: In February, degrees are
added in game design and computer software development. In March, Dr. Matthew Giordano is appointed as the College’s fourth president. On November 15, 2019, Dr. Giordano is Inaugurated as Villa Maria College's first lay, male president.
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Emerald Grove at Art Park by Jesse Walp
ART THAT SERVES EVERYONE BY KAREN MARLEY
V
iewing artwork can arouse any number of thoughts and emotions — joy, tranquility, empathy, love, annoyance, nostalgia, anger — any of the vast array of feelings that comprise the human experience. Fortunately, accessing art’s emotional shapeshifting superpower is not limited to select audiences in meticulous, curated galleries. Community art or art found in the public domain such as urban centers, lush parks, empty side streets, and everywhere in between, is readily available to anyone and everyone. Its cost of admission? Only the time it takes to look at it. Its value? Priceless. “Art can do a lot for a community,” says Villa Maria College Associate Professor of Interior Design, Jesse Walp. “It can help viewers understand different places in different ways. It can be transformative.” Western New York (WNY) knows the value of that transformative power. Buffalo has long been considered an art city, but community art, especially murals, is growing in numbers and fueling the region’s overall sentiment of optimism and characteristic can-do attitude. From gracing the sides of buildings to enriching neglected crannies to turning plain spaces into destinations, Villa Maria faculty and students are playing a definitive role in this wonderful trend. ART OUT AND ABOUT Anyone who has visited Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls or wandered the grounds at the Chautauqua Institute or Artpark has likely experienced Walp’s handiwork. His metallic sculpture, Arch on Old Falls Street, was strategically placed two blocks up the street to draw visitors deeper into the city of Niagara Falls. At Artpark, Emerald Grove, a whimsical, interactive exhibit, has evolved to become a community icon and destination. “Art in public can reach everybody,” Walp says. “All those people think and feel different things. Art engages them and helps create interesting spaces in Buffalo.” Walp explains that public art is not always about the art, but rather helping people look at the whole area in a different way. That does not diminish the sense of pride and excitement he feels as he watches the community interact with his work. It’s an important element of being an artist and he makes sure his students get to experience it as well.
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Each year Walp teaches a 3D design class where his students make figurative pieces out of metal for display on the campus from spring to autumn. The location differs each year and is decided by Walp and the students. He reports that students express pride in bringing one of their pieces to a completed state. In another class he breaks students into two groups that scour the campus to install temporary art installations, transforming hallways and other ordinary places.
Arch on Old Falls Street by Jesse Walp
“The knowledge of their achievement is something they can bring with them to every project they face afterwards,” Walp explains. “You need people to see your art to have it be fully realized.” REAL WORLD ART At Villa Maria College, the student journey is filled with rich experiences and support to ensure student success. Villa Maria College Professors of Fine Arts, Adam Weekley and Kyle Butler, are also involved in WNY’s community art scene and, like Walp, take care to involve their students. Their projects reflect a form of public art that tasks an artist to create a piece that involves community input. “With community involvement an individual artist doesn’t have as much freedom to express their style, but it can mean a lot more to the people who are living around it and experiencing it,” Butler explains. “Pursuing something populous by nature with a chorus of input has its difficulties. It can be a complex process.” In 2013-2014, Butler gained mural experience working for Augustina Droze, helping bring her murals to fruition across WNY. That experience helped when he and Weekley began teaching a bi-annual summer class on public art in 2018 to produce a large-scale mural for Villa Maria’s Art Chapel. When Gerard Place, an organization that provides housing and supportive programs for homeless and single-parent families, approached Villa Maria’s Fine Arts Department for a mission-based marketing mural, Butler and Weekley recognized a
unique opportunity for student involvement. “Many fine arts classes can be isolating,” Weekley says. “This is an opportunity for collaboration and working together. It’s exciting and provides a completely different experience.” Gerard Place wanted to take advantage of a large, nondescript wall on its building that faced Bailey Avenue. Its requirements were short, but specific. Include its logo and use the phrase “all are welcome” along with the core mission words: compassion, reverence, integrity, and collaboration. The pandemic delayed the project, but it was completed in 2021 with the assistance of three students: juniors, Nick Ellis, '21, and Kelsey Sikora, '23, and a recent Villa Maria graduate with a BFA in integrated arts and a minor in business, Shanel Kerekes, '19, who was a senior when the project began two years prior. Gerard Place was so pleased with the final mural, the organization hired Kerekes to helm a second mural.
Many fine arts classes can be isolating This is an opportunity for collaboration and working together. It's exciting and provides a completely different experience. ADAM WEEKLEY
“Villa Maria really exposes students to nonprofits and businesses and opened so many doors for me,” Kerekes says. “It’s scary when you graduate, wondering if you’re going to be successful and it’s so reassuring when an opportunity like this comes along. I’m thrilled, anxious and cannot wait to get started!” SKILL SET While community art is turning previously bland and blighted spaces into assets, it’s also a mechanism for teaching practical skills to students. Walp uses formerly displayed sculptures to demonstrate structural specifics. Butler and Weekley’s students learn how to use the equipment and techniques necessary for the technical challenges that murals pose. Finally, all get to experience the challenges of collaboration and its demands for dedication and professionalism, both among themselves and with the larger society. “Public art is regarded as a beautification initiative,” Butler observes. “But when you’re modifying and personalizing the built environment it becomes a tool of critical thinking, activism, and advocating for social change.” Improving the world through art and design is a hefty challenge, indeed. Villa Maria students are ready.
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Free Textbooks and Supplies Initiative Makes an Immediate Impact on Students by Kristen Schober
W
ith the start of the fall semester, Villa Maria College delivered books and supplies to students at no additional cost outside of tuition. CollegeBoard estimates that this change saves students and their families an average of $1240 in out-of-pocket costs per year. The College launched this effort to help make college more affordable and easier to navigate for all students. To ensure all students received the art and design supplies they need, the College partnered with Hyatt’s - All Things Creative, one of the top providers of art supplies in the nation that is located right here in Buffalo. “Villa Maria is really ahead of the game when it comes to student success,” said JaVonntae Hill, '23, a second-year student dual majoring in game design and animation. “This isn't my first college experience and, compared to other colleges, Villa Maria really goes above and beyond to ensure their students’ success. Eliminating the cost of textbooks and supplies is just another testament to Villa putting education and success first. You truly can depend on everyone at Villa to put your education first.” The College’s newest student success initiative made a difference right away. “Students are typically floored when they learn that this significant, out-of-pocket cost is not being passed on to them,” said Elizabeth Kerr, assistant vice president for academic success. In the past, students would resort to sharing textbooks or purchasing minimal supplies. Now, they have immediate access to the textbooks and supplies they need to get to work right away. Students and faculty alike are
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JaVonntae Hill, '23, and President Giordano at the Books and Supplies Distribution Window. excited to start learning on day one, knowing everyone has equitable access to the materials.” Lucy Waite, director of library services and instructional resources, was at the forefront of the College’s book distribution efforts. She agrees that the elimination of out-of-pocket costs helped all students start to the semester off strongly. "Students are so excited that they don't have to pay out-of-pocket for books and supplies,” said Waite. “Some of them can't even believe it — they ask if we're sure that they don't have to pay and are thrilled when we tell them it's true. They're able to jump in and get started on their coursework immediately, not wasting any time that they used to spend waiting for their financial aid or paycheck to clear. And everyone can participate in class activities right away too; no one is left behind because of an inability to get course materials." Despite the high cost of textbooks and supplies nation-wide, Villa Maria College is the only college in the Western New York area and beyond that has directly addressed this major challenge. “The increasing cost of textbooks, art supplies, medical supplies, and more has proven to be a major barrier to the success of our students," said Dr. Giordano. “Students come to Villa Maria to prepare for successful futures and to fine-tune their innate talents, not to worry about the everincreasing cost of books and supplies. Building these costs directly into tuition allows our students to focus on meeting their goals and discovering their paths instead of worrying about paying for textbooks or shopping around for the best deal.” “Supporting our students in all facets, personal and academic, has always been Villa Maria’s top priority,” said Dr. Ryan Hartnett, Villa Maria’s vice president for academic affairs. “Many books will be offered electronically and will be seamlessly delivered to students through D2L, Villa Maria’s learning management system,” continued Dr. Hartnett. “We will make arrangements to meet the needs of any student who needs a specialty textbook or a specific accommodation.”
New Hires
In the past year, we have welcomed the following new employees:
NEW PROGRAMS COMMUNITY HEALTH As the world continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic, the role played by community health workers and health educators has become more imperative than ever. In response to this fact, Villa Maria College has created a new bachelor’s degree program in community health. “Community health is a growing focus within the broader interdisciplinary field of public health. Students who enroll in the community health program can expect a rigorous and enriching educational experience that is transformative and empowering,” said Dr. Ryan Hartnett, vice president for academic affairs. “The program prepares students through a strong, interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum designed with a high degree of flexibility, allowing them to pursue their personal and professional interests within the field.” The community health program builds upon a strong foundation of social justice advocacy based in the Felician tradition of fostering compassion, justice, peace, respect for human dignity and a commitment to service. It includes classes like Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Communication and Education, and more. MOTION DESIGN The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in motion design offers students a versatile education that was designed to integrate a background in liberal arts and sciences with
intensive study of motion design. The program consists of a 27-credit base in the elements of motion design: animation and graphic design, including pre-production, advanced animation, three-dimensional computer design, motion graphics and editing, special effects, and typography. It also includes 24 credits specifically focused on motion design, providing further specialization in the discipline. The curriculum is rounded out by fine arts, film, and history courses. As students work their way through the program, they will become proficient in the same technology that is utilized by professionals: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Media Encoder, Adobe Premiere, the Adobe Creative Suite, and most other industry standard software. During their senior year, students will have two capstone experiences: an internship and a thesis project. “The internship requirement will allow motion design students to strengthen their classroom education by applying what they’ve learned in a professional setting,” said. Dr. Hartnett. “Internships will be completed alongside experienced professionals who are well-versed in the industry’s expectations. This enables students to expand their education by putting into practice all they’ve already mastered while they learn the important nuances that can only come with practical experience.” The senior project will give students an opportunity to focus on an intensive piece of independent work.
Deborah Brownell, Fieldwork Coordinator and Instructor of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Tony Gasak, Maintenance Sarah Mann, Assistant Professor of Digital Filmmaking Jill Manka, Career Readiness Specialist for the Achieve Program Joseph Milazzo, Career Readiness Specialist
Erin Pawlak, Registrar DeMario Rhodes, Say Yes Counselor Stephen Rieks, Assistant Professor of Computer Software Development David Shelton, Accounts Payable Coordinator Samantha Tagliarino, ‘09, Admissions Counselor Karen Zgoda, Director of the Care Center
Promotions
Congratulations to the following employees who have been promoted:
Robert Grizanti, Associate Professor of Graphic Design
Adam Weekley, Associate Professor of Fine Arts
Elizabeth Kerr, Assistant Vice President for Academic Success
Jeffrey Werner, Assistant Professor of Animation
Desmond Randall, Director of Athletics
Julie Zack, Associate Professor of Graphic Design
DJ Schier, Dean of Students Lucy Waite, Director of Library Services and Instructional Resources
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from the ALUMNI OFFICE Here are the highlights of our alumni from this past year! Ashton Barrie, ‘20 Began a new position as a Data Annotation Specialist at Tesla. Monica Bates, ‘20 Started new job as a photographer for Lorich Photography. Anastasia Braun, ’20 Married Alexander Braun on May 7, 2021. Zachary Bremer, ‘17 Engaged to Samira Razick on August 21, 2021. Stephanie Kaempf, ’19 Opened her first studio, SK Photography in June 2021. Kimberly Korhummel, ‘21 Promoted to Assistant Graphic Designer at In-Room Plus. Gabriele Marron, ‘19 Started a new job as an Assistant Athletic Director for Events & Marketing at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute. Nyles Moore, ‘20 Started a new job as a Program Manager for LE3.
Lindsey Neilson, ‘21 Started a new job as a Junior Graphic Designer at Mr. Smith Agency and joined AAF Buffalo as a board member. Dylan Nowak, ‘18 and Wendie Scherer, ‘19 Became engaged on May 22, 2021. Sarah (Bond) Pastura, ’15 And husband Jon Pastura welcomed twin boys, Benjamin and Matthew on September 2, 2021. In memory of Matthew, who entered into eternal rest on October 14, 2021. Siera Rogers, ‘19 Started a new job as a Kitchen & Bath Designer at New York Kitchen & Bath and got engaged to Aaron Chaney on April 2, 2021. Shelby (Braidich) Russell, ‘19 Started a new job as a Social Media & Design Coordinator at Hilbert College. Joe Tronolone, ‘15 Promoted to Assistant Account Manager at Trans American CHB. Claire Witt, ‘18 Promoted to Architectural Designer at DesignworX.
Starting a new job? Have you received a promotion? Getting married? Having a baby? Then share the good news with us! Please 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! 16 | VISTAS THE MAGAZINE OF VILLA MARIA COLLEGE
ALUMNI board members
WEDDINGS
Heather Bellini, ‘00 Photography Mary Lucy Drabczyk, ‘00 Music Jocelyn Strohm, ’20 - Married Derik Craft on September 4, 2021.
Nicole Germain, ‘08 Early Childhood Education Marc Muroff, ‘14 Physical Therapist Assistant Sabrina Pisano, ‘08 Physical Therapist Assistant Keith Sieman, ‘15 Music Industry
Adam Schuh, ’18 and Rachel Tabak, ’18 - Married on October 2, 2021. Photos were taken by alum Stephanie Wardrop, ’16 (SMW Photography).
Paige Berkheiser, ‘18 - Married Benjamin Vogt on June 25, 2021. Photos were taken by alum Stephanie Wardrop, ’16 (SMW Photography).
Shelby Braidich, ‘19 - Married Shon Russell on August 15, 2021. Photos were taken by alum Molly Sheehan, ’19 (Molly Margaret Studio).
Brian Walsh, ‘18 Music Industry Morgan Wathan, ‘18 Integrated Arts John Willis, ‘18 Graphic Design
If you are interested in being a part of the Alumni Board and are able to make a commitment to attend four quarterly meetings, as well as support a variety of alumni activities, please contact alumnirelations@villa.edu or call Mary Robinson, Vice President for Development, at 716-961-1824.
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HONOR ROLL of donors The Honor Roll of Donors is one of our ways of saying “thank you” to the generous alumni, parents, and friends who partner with us to make Villa Maria College education available to today’s and tomorrow’s students.
Who the Honor Roll Includes: This Honor roll lists gifts made in Villa Maria College’s fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2021. It includes contributions to the Villa Maria College Annual Fund and other fund-raising campaigns, as well as gifts for special purposes, such as scholarships, the endowment, and special projects.
Your Feedback: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the names on this Honor Roll. If you notice an error or omission, please accept our sincere apologies and report the correction to Rachel Tabak, ’18, at rtabak@villa.edu or 716-961-1882.
Legacy Society ($5,000 and up) Lorraine Blaszyk, '67 Judith Brummer: The Thomas Brummer Memorial Scholarship Fund Catherine Grantier Cooley The Children’s Guild of Buffalo Foundation Diocese of Buffalo: The John P. O’Rourke Endowment Fund Felician Services, Inc. Felician Sisters of North America The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation David Gelia Mr. & Mrs. Edward Gelia Jeanne Grantier The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation 18 | VISTAS THE MAGAZINE OF VILLA MARIA COLLEGE
The John R. Oishei Foundation The Verizon Foundation The Vincent and Harriet Palisano Foundation Dr. Vilasini Shanbhag
Pine Ridge Club ($1,000 - $4,999) Amherst Security Professionals, Inc. Thomas Bienias Rev. Angelo Caligiuri Ryan Caster California Closets Charles and Mary Crossed Foundation Del Denby, Inc. Wendie and Paul Emerson Felician Services, Inc. Ferguson Electric Foundation Fire Safety Systems, Inc. The Josephine Goodyear Foundation M&T Bank Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Gallick Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF Dr. Matthew Giordano & Dr. Jennifer Desiderio Patricia Jackson Rev. Thomas Kobuszewski Kopczynski Family Foundation Eileen Martin Honorable Ann Mikoll Kenneth Myszka New York Central Mutual James Pappas Karen & Richard Penfold Pepsi Bottling Group LLC Mr. & Mrs. Richard Pinkowski
Joane Priebe Timothy Rider Mary and Tom Robinson Carole Sedita Dominica Sortisio John Schiavone Lynda Stephens Sylvia F. Lissa Legacy Foundation
Viking Club ($250 - $999) Eleanor Ash, '70 Rev. James Augustyn Catherine Beltz Copier Fax Business Technologies, Inc. Loretta & Victor Carbone Gloria Durka Brian Emerson Carmen Gullo The Hanover Insurance Group Dr. & Mrs. Ryan Hartnett Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Kathleen Ives, '73 Lorraine Jarczyk Robert Klump Lehigh Construction Group, Inc. Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP Mollenberg-Betz, Inc. Murray Roofing Co., Inc. Mustachio’s Pizza Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Pyrak Maria Runfola James Tokarski, '76
Friend of Villa ($100 - $249) Frank Antonucci, '74 Kenneth Balamut Jessica Bracco Christine Buczkowski Carolyn Calderon Alison Caputy, '76 Kevin Carter Robert Ciesielski CJ Irwin Company Cheryl Clifford, '83 Cornelius Cosgrove Suzanne Daddis, '10 Mary Lucy Drabczyk, '00 Nancy Giordano David Granville Thomas Greenwald Joseph & Shirley Halizak Amy Jamieson Michael Klimeczko, '75 Dr. Kim Kotz Cynthia Lamothe Gail Martinez, '98 Walter Matuszak Dawn Mencer, '77 Leah Merritt-Mervine David Miller, '72 Minute Print, Inc. Dr. Donald Monnin Christine Palczewski, '67 Ann Peruzzini, '83 Picone Construction Corp. Jasmine Price Charles Pyrak Queen of Martyrs Roseann Roberts Tracy Rozler SM Louis Rustowicz, CSSF Rose Schaefer Angela Scherer, '93 DJ Schier Patricia Schreiner, '68 Robert Shaw Short Street Photographers (Gary Nizinski, '81) Becky Strathearn Joan Sulewski Mary Ann Sullivan, '68 Mary Jean Syrek
Edwin Tomaka Lucy Waite Eileen Watson Theresa Wendzikowski, '70 Edmund Wick Vivian Wick
Patron of Villa ($1 - $99) Anne Marie Agostinelli, '67 Valery Amborski, '14 Michele Angelli, '90 Pamela Arent, '91 Fred Batchelor, '81 Marie Bates Lucie Anne Bellittiere, '88 Dorothy Bembenista Gloria Besch, '78 Sydney Bucholtz Marie Caputi, '97 Samuel Chellino, '01 Jeanne Childs, '68 Bonnie Clark Therese Clarke Collegiate Village Jennifer Cornacchio Patricia & John Countway Dorothea Crombie, '78 Patricia & John Dann Rebecca Detlef Mary Dettelis Josephine Feary, '82 Jacqueline Fluent Michele Gephart, '89 Arlene Giolando, '69 Joan Heffron, '69 Sharyl Hendel, '81 Janet Hender, '86 Robert Johnson Catherine Kaiser, '86 James Kelley Lynanne Kent, '87 Elizabeth Kerr Lisa Kloberdanz, '87 Peggy Koch, '79 Kathleen Kotowski, '00 Constance Kowalczyk, '69 Alissa Kowalski Frances Kozminski, '77
Michael Lasek, Jr., '94 Helen Leistner Linda Lempko, '70 Vanessa Lillard Stephen Mandy Lorraine Marciniak, '74 Margaret McCabe, '69 Meghan McMahon, '04 Dr. William Meyer Donna Minotti, '79 Rebecca Mitchell, '83 Kathryn Nardini, '90 Elizabeth Opoka Our Lady of Pompeii Convent Dolores Palczewski, '73 Michele Parker, '88 Clara Pautler, '71 Laura Pietak Joan Pillittere Irene Pleban, '83 Queen of Martyrs Convent Edward Reska Paula Richards, '72 Faustino Rosario, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Frank Sakowski Lucille Saladyga, '72 Linda San George, '86 Linda Schaefer, '71 Kristen Schober Mary Scioli, '72 Carole Smerka Linda Sroka, '71 Donna Stengel, '78 Chesterine Stevenson, '70 Rachel Tabak, '18 Lynn Tomczak, '03 Theresa Tucholski Raymond & Cheryl Vargo, '72 Jesse Walp Mary Weisenburger, '86 Jeffery Werner Meghan Wienke Joanne Willis, '83 Joe Ann Willson, '80 Michele Winkelsas, '84 Delphine, '71 & Gary Wnek Joyce Wozniak, '84 Julie Zack Mary Jane Zak James Ziemer, '78 WINTER 2021 | 19
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Buffalo, NY Permit No. 16
Development Office
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Felician Hall | 240 Pine Ridge Road | Buffalo, NY 14225 VILLA.EDU
Upcoming Events December 1 Student-Led Bible Study
January 18 Spring 2022 Semester Begins
March 12 - March 20 Spring Break | No Classes for Students
December 2 Club Day
January 20 Student Life Club Fair
March 22 Club Day
December 3 & 10 Focus Friday
January 25 Club Day
April 14 - April 17 Easter Break | College Closed
December 13 Last Day of Classes
February 9 Blood Drive with Connect Life Villa Maria College | 9AM - 3PM
April 19 Club Day
December 15-17 Exam Week December 23 - January 3 Christmas Break | College Closed January 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | College Closed
February 21-22 President's Day Holiday | College Closed February 24 Club Day
May 11-13 Exam Week May 22 Commencement
For more information on upcoming events at Villa Maria, visit VILLA.EDU/CALENDAR
