From the Hill The Publication for Alumni of Albertus Magnus College S P R I N G
Welcome
Dr. Marc M. Camille Our 14th President
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WELCOME TO
DR. CAMILLE S P R I N G
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PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Photo: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
A Message From the Interim President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A NEW LEADER Meet Dr. Marc M. Camille, our 14th President. . . . . . 2 BUILDING CAREERS IN SCIENCE
Students Michele Guerrera ’18, left, and Wendy Paul ’17 take a selfie with Presidentelect Marc M. Camille at his welcome-to-Albertus reception, March 20. See page 2.
Albertus Receives National Science Foundation Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ART AT ALBERTUS
MacDonough Gallery, The Creative Journey, Works by Tony Falcone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CAMPUS HAPPENINGS
Service Club on the Road, Study Abroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
Student Justice League, International Women’s Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Women’s Soccer Enjoys Record-Breaking Year . . . . . 10 Around Campus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Advocacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Class Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Jennifer Widness, president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, (CCIC), Steven Gstalder, vice president for Information Technology Services at Albertus, and student Meaghan Heeks ’17 attended the College’s annual breakfast for local legislators. See page 13.
Service Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Reunion and Alumni of the Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Thank you to the ad hoc content advisory committee, which participated and contributed to this issue of From the Hill: Jason Dunn ’18, arts management; Dr. Ross Edwards, associate dean for academic affairs; Steven Rignoli ’16, alumni assistant; Victoria Verderame ’12, marketing assistant for social media;
Cover: Dr. Marc M. Camille, president-elect of Albertus Magnus College, on March 20, 2017, met the entire College community for the first time. Photo: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
Submitted Photo
and Victoria Walter ’17, photography.
On January 21, Taylor Boynton ’17, Stacie Hurley ’17, Melanie Amento ’16, and Samantha Milano ’16 took the train to New York City to join the Women’s March in support of equality and to promote civil rights for every person. For more about the activities of the new Student Justice League, see page 9.
A ME S S A GE F RO M THE INTE RIM PRESIDENT
“ This is an exciting time for the College. A new era begins, with new expectations and, eventually, new goals, but all will build on the legacy of nearly a century of progress based on the principles of the intrepid Dominican Sisters who founded the College.”
Gratefully,
Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P., Interim President
Photo: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
It is a great honor to welcome Dr. Marc M. Camille, our 14th president, to the Albertus family. Jeanne Dennison ’78, chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee, announced his unanimous election at a welcome reception March 20; his appointment is effective June 30, 2017. Dr. Camille comes to Albertus with a nearly 28-year career in higher education, most recently as vice president for enrollment management and communications at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. His experience and leadership at private and Catholic institutions, his strong commitment to the liberal arts tradition, and his recognition of the importance of mission and the Dominican tradition of Albertus made him a prime candidate. He is a dedicated educator, and we look forward to working with him as a new period of the history of the College begins. I encourage you to go to albertus.edu/president to have the opportunity to leave a message of welcome for Dr. Camille. For additional information, please turn to pages 2 and 3 of this issue of From the Hill. This is an exciting time for the College. A new era begins, with new expectations and, eventually, new goals, but all will build on the legacy of nearly a century of progress based on the principles of the intrepid Dominican Sisters who founded the College. The values of study, prayer,
community, and service continue to support and enhance our mission: providing women and men with an education that promotes the search for truth in all its dimensions and is practical in its application. The College’s motto— contemplata aliis tradere, to give to others the fruits of one’s contemplation— describes the exuberant spirit of Albertus Magnus College. I hope you will enjoy reading the articles in this issue. All reflect the vitality and variety of life at Albertus, including an update on our National Science Foundation grant, students learning the importance of advocacy and social justice, winning seasons for student-athletes, and The Creative Journey, a new lecture series. I do want to express my gratitude to the entire Albertus community for its support during my year as interim president: Jeanne Dennison and the Board of Trustees; Dr. Julia M. McNamara, president emerita; Sr. Patricia Twohill, O.P., prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Peace; the Administrative Council; members of the faculty and staff for their assistance; our loyal alumni for their support; and especially to our students, the reason we all strive to further the mission of the College.
Photo: Victoria Verderame ’12
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Left: Dalton Sargent ’18 is one of three Albertus biology majors learning to culture human breast cancer cells used in research by Arvinas, a New Haven bio-pharmaceutical firm. Center: In February, the Albertus men’s basketball team won its seventh Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship. Right: Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P., interim president of the College; Dr. Marc M. Camille, president-elect; and Dr. Julia M. McNamara, president emerita, shared a moment at his welcome reception on March 20.
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r. Marc M. Camille will become the 14th president of Albertus Magnus College on June 30, and he’s glad to be coming back to his beloved New England. Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, he moved with his family at the age of two to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he grew up and went to the local high school. He lived in several states while a college student and a young man moving up the career ladder. He knows all about tradition and having roots in a community, and that’s important to him. “I lived in the same house until I graduated from college,” he says, and coming back to New England seems natural, and inevitable, to him. “My roots are here, and being closer to family and friends really appealed to me.” New Haven, according to Camille, has it all. “It’s an attractive and compelling location for higher education, truly a college town. All of this creates a vibrant educational community. Vibrant educationally, but also socially, culturally and recreationally. I’m hard pressed to come up with a better location,” he said. Currently serving as vice president for enrollment management and communications at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, this English major began his career in higher education as an admission counselor right out of college. He soon realized that higher education management was a perfect fit for him. “For nearly 28 years I’ve worked in higher education, the last 18 for Catholic, Jesuit institutions,” he said. At Loyola he oversees the offices of undergraduate and graduate admission, financial aid, institutional research, and university marketing and communications (creative services, media relations, and web communications). 2 Spring 2017
“ We all are here for the students and the College.” — Dr. Marc M. Camille
For more about President-elect Camille, go to albertus.edu/president
Moments before President-elect Marc Camille walked in to DeDominicis Dining Hall to be introduced to the Albertus community, he and Jeanne Dennison ’78, chair of the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee, waited for their cue to enter.
Dr. Camille, who played varsity baseball, ice hockey, and soccer in college, met members of the Albertus baseball team at the welcome reception.
Photos: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
What drew Camille to Albertus? The intense focus here on mission, vision, and the continuing cultivation of the College’s liberal arts foundation. “The liberal arts base here is a powerful attraction for me,” he said. “Despite what the media tends to report, there is no stronger education today than a liberal artsbased education.” If Camille thinks New Haven has it all, the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee know that Camille has everything the College was seeking. Jeanne Dennison ’78, Board chair and Committee chair, said “The breadth of Dr. Camille’s administrative expertise in enrollment management and strategic planning, coupled with his collaborative leadership style and perceptive observations of the higher education landscape, equip him for the presidency of Albertus Magnus College at this time in our history.” Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., president of Loyola, views Camille as an inspiring leader who knows how higher education works in today’s world. “He is a careful and critical thinker, a highly articulate and persuasive communicator, and a man with a strong moral compass. He is committed to and passionate about the importance of communicating the unique benefits of a Catholic education,” he said. “We are confident Dr. Camille will excel in his leadership,” said Sister Patricia Twohill, O.P., prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, the order that sponsors Albertus Magnus College. “We believe his proven track record in Catholic higher education over many years, coupled with his deep commitment to the College’s mission, position him to take Albertus to new heights in response to the unique needs of today’s students.” Dr. Susan M. Donovan, executive vice president at Loyola and president-elect of Bellarmine University in Kentucky, has worked with Camille since he arrived at Loyola. “Student success is very important to Marc, and he will make every effort to be sure that those things necessary to support success are in place,” she said. “Yes, he is goal-driven, has high expectations, and is, in the best way, competitive. He brings out the best in everyone, and he has all the tools to be successful.” For his first few months, Camille says he will be doing “a lot of listening and getting a sense of priorities.” He will meet with people within the Albertus community, as well as the external community. Camille sees himself as a team player. “The team concept was instilled in me early on. I’ve played team sports my entire life, from the age of four into college and beyond. I believe those experiences have helped make me a better leader,” he said. “We should try to lead by example, hear the voices of others, and attempt to build consensus and understanding about decisions that need to be made. We all are here for the students and the College.” For Camille, higher education is his passion and his vocation. “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead Albertus. I will serve as your leader, alongside you and on your behalf. This is where I am meant to be.”
At the reception, Dr. Camille greets Bruce Weckworth, his first mentor, who became a lifelong friend. Weckworth hired the president-elect as a freshman work study student in admissions at Curry College, which Camille attended for two years before transferring to Rollins College in Florida.
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Building Careers in Science Liam Oliver ’18, front, and Dalton Sargent ’18 aspire to careers in medicine. Activities planned to complement a major National Science Foundation grant Albertus has received have led to their internships with Arvinas, a bio-pharmaceutical firm in New Haven’s Science Park. (See page 5 for more about the NSF S-STEM [Scholarships in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics] grant and the work the Albertus interns are doing).
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Albertus Receives
National Science Foundation
T
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
he National Science Foundation has awarded a fiveyear S-STEM (Scholarships in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) grant of $649,383 to Albertus Magnus College. The award will fund scholar- ships and capacity-building activities intended to increase the number of graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce or to pursue graduate studies in one of the STEM fields. “The commitment and dedication of all involved led to the funding of a project that will benefit our students, Albertus and the larger community,” says Dr. Sean P. O’Connell, vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Patricia Compagnone-Post, professor of biology, is the principal investigator for the grant. “We are so enthused that the National Science Foundation has supported Albertus Magnus College’s strategic plan to develop a science program centered on high-impact teaching practices and challenging educational opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. The tradition of science here goes back to the College’s founding; Albert the Great, its namesake, studied and wrote prolifically on subjects related to the natural and physical sciences,” she says. Co-principal investigators on the grant are Dr. Loel Tronsky, professor of psychology and education, and Dr. Mark Case, professor and mathematics program director. The faculty on the S-STEM team collaborated with several administrative departments, including admissions, financial aid, and career counseling, to create the proposal. In the fall of 2017, five academically talented students who have demonstrated financial need and commit to majoring in biology, chemistry or mathematics, will receive scholarships from the S-STEM grant. Scholarships will average $9,750 per year and be awarded for all four years, as long as students participate in planned grant activities, maintain an overall G.P.A. of 3.2, and a STEM G.P.A. of 3.0. Additional scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2018 and 2020 to two cohorts of both incoming freshmen and transfer students. As part of the planned activities, the College is partnering with Arvinas, a bio-pharmaceutical firm in New Haven’s Science Park, to offer experiential learning opportunities for students. Three biology majors currently are interns on the Arvinas project investigating the efficacy of a novel drug to treat breast cancer.
GRANT Devon DeLallo ’17 plans a career as a mixed practice veterinarian, or an exotic/wildlife veterinarian. “I was drawn to science because I love solving mysteries, and to me that is what science does. Science can solve any mystery when given enough time… I am so grateful to be working on this project. I never thought I would be able to do research in an area that is so important to human health,” she says. “Here at Albertus, working with Arvinas, we could save lives and change the way we fight cancer.” Liam Oliver ’18 plans on becoming a physician. “This project is important to me because it is a way to contribute to the scientific community. I’ve been learning about science for years now, and it feels really good to be able to apply this knowledge in a meaningful way,” he says. “It is exciting to think that the work we do in the lab now may affect the treatment of cancer going forward.” Dalton Sargent ’18 also aspires to a career as a medical doctor. “This project means a lot to me because years ago my grandmother died of cancer. If I can help in any way to save or to improve someone’s life through science, it makes my day. All I want to do is help those in need,” he says. Dr. Compagnone-Post thanks her colleagues at Arvinas, Dr. Kevin Coleman and Ann Marie Rossi, for the training they provided in culturing the human breast cancer cell lines used in this research. “This is a most exciting opportunity for the students, and for me.” Albertus is also partnering with the Yale West Campus to introduce students to state of the art research technologies. Other activities include a seminar series with invited speakers from STEM-related businesses and academic institutions, field trips to local STEM industries, monthly lunches with STEM faculty, and service learning opportunities through tutoring local K–12 students. Find more information at albertus.edu/S-STEM.
“ I was drawn to science because I love solving mysteries, and to me that is what science does.” — Devon DeLallo ’17 From the Hill
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Have You Visited the MacDonough Gallery? Each spring, the Margaret L. MacDonough Art Gallery features student work from undergraduate and graduate art programs at Albertus Magnus College. The gallery also hosts exhibitions of national and regional artists. Located next to the House of Bollstadt Pub in the Hubert Campus Center, the gallery showcases painting, sculpture, and photography of student artists.
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The Creative Journey: Lecture Series
Four Falcone Artworks Now Grace the Campus
Albertus Magnus College launched its new lecture series, The Creative Journey, with two special events in March. The series highlights the arts at Albertus, showcases the work of senior art majors, faculty and special guests, discusses the business and creative sides of art, and exposes students and members of the greater New Haven community to art-related programming at the College. The series began on March 24 with a two-day exhibition in the Margaret L. MacDonough Art Gallery featuring images of Art Therapy in Prison. The exhibition was part of a presentation Dr. David Gussak, professor of art therapy and chair of the Department of Art Education at Florida State University, gave for the College’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy program. Tony Falcone, internationally-recognized Connecticut artist, muralist and sculptor, presented The Creative Journey: The Process behind the Portrait on March 30 in the Library at Rosary Hall. The Albertus Board of Trustees commissioned Falcone to create a portrait honoring Dr. Julia M. McNamara, president emerita, and her years of service to the College. The portrait is on permanent display in Rosary Hall. Charles Rafferty, director of the M.F.A. in Writing program here at Albertus, and published poet, will read from his work and share his thoughts about The Creative Journey: Inspiration and Revision on May 3. He has published 12 collections of poetry. His poems, stories, and essays have appeared in hundreds of journals, including The New Yorker, The Oprah Magazine, The Southern Review, Massachusetts Review, and The Cortland Review. The Smoke of Horses, a collection of prose poems, will be published this year. The Creative Journey lectures will be presented quarterly on the Albertus campus. For information on MacDonough Gallery shows, go to albertus.edu/ macdonough-gallery.
The portrait of Dr. Julia M. McNamara is the fourth work by Tony Falcone on the Albertus Magnus College campus in New Haven. In 1998, through the generosity of the Marie Louise Bianchi ’31 Fund, the College commemorated the life of the great 13th-century Dominican theologian and scholar Saint Thomas Aquinas, a student of Saint Albert the Great. The title of Falcone’s mural “Those Who Hear the Word of God by Truth are Fed” comes from the meditative hymn “Adoro Te,” written by Saint Thomas. The 10 x 16 foot mural is in the DeDominicis Dining Hall in the Hubert Campus Center and honors Marie Louise Bianchi for her bequest to the College to further the teachings of St. Thomas. Two other large murals, both titled “Vintage New Haven: The Green circa 1895,” were originally commissioned by Da Silva Associates in 1983, then generously donated to the College in 2002 by Alvaro Da Silva and his family. Falcone’s interpre tations of The Green are on display in the New Haven Room of the College’s Dining Hall and the lobby of the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center. In 2004 Albertus awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Falcone for “having
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
enlivened public spaces, added color and dimension to massive structures, heightened our awareness of the beauty around us, and masterfully brought to life the words of St. Thomas Aquinas, right here on this campus.”
In March, Dr. David Gussak, professor at Florida State University, spoke about the use of art therapy in prison as part of the Master of Arts in Art Therapy program’s Community Lecture Series. Following his talk, the Creative Journey Lecture Series sponsored a reception; the event also included a book signing and exhibit of inmates’ art.
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
Photo: Debra Gottschalk, M.A.A.T. ’18
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
A February visitor to the Margaret L. MacDonough Art Gallery views “Gone But Not Forgotten” — the senior show of Patrick Croteau ’17, an art major with an art therapy concentration.
The Albertus community on November 17 honored Dr. Julia M. McNamara, president emerita, at the unveiling of her portrait, commissioned by the Board of Trustees and created by Connecticut artist Tony Falcone.
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Service Club on the Road
Submitted Photo
On March 12, 2017 members of the Service Club along with their advisor, Internship and Career Counselor, Wiley Dawson, departed for Logan, Ohio to participate in an alternative spring break and assist in the building of a 600 sq. ft. tiny home with Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio. Located at the western edge of the Appalachian Mountain range Hocking County is part of the unique culture of Appalachia. The people of Appalachia are often referred to as “the forgotten poor.” The Service Club is a new club on campus and was formed earlier this year. Nicole Brown ’17, president of the Service Club, says “I am so grateful for the support we have received from the very beginning. I can’t thank everyone enough, from every campus department, for all they have done to make our trip possible.” Overall, the major objective of the group was to learn, not just about construction but about themselves. “Once we can learn to serve in the most extraordinary circumstances, then serving in the ordinary everyday becomes so much more natural,” Jake Curello ’17 says. “We hope that what we experience in Ohio will translate back to campus and positively affect the community through all of our actions.”
Participants on the Habitat for Humanity trip, from left: Nadja Malvares ’17, Theresa Towne ’19, Laurel Flanagan ’18, Sasha Byrd ’19, Jake Curello ’17, club advisor Wiley Dawson, Nicole Brown ’17, and Taylor Chamberlain ’17.
good academic standing, and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Last fall Alexis Williams ’19 studied abroad through AIFS at the American College of Greece, and this spring Alexis Mack ’17 is studying in Barcelona, Spain, at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Catalunya. “Looking back on the process to study abroad, I realize that I would not have been able to grasp this opportunity without the help, love, and support of several of my professors, Albertus staff and, of course, my friends and family. I will be sure to keep them in mind as I roam the streets of Barcelona for personal souvenirs,” said Mack.
Alexis Mack ’17
Submitted Photo
Albertus Magnus College offers a variety of Study Abroad programs designed to fit the needs of its students. A partnership with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) provides our students opportunities to study abroad in locations such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Greece, and Spain. The College also has a partnership with Assumption College so that students can participate in their Rome, Italy program. This spring Albertus reached a similar agreement with Sacred Heart University and students can now participate in its Dingle, Ireland, program. To participate in a study abroad program, students must be in sophomore standing at the College, be in
Submitted Photo
A Gateway to the World: Study Abroad
Albertus offers a study abroad experience in Dingle, Ireland, through a partnership with Sacred Heart University. The National Geographic describes the Dingle area as one of the most beautiful places on earth.
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Student Justice League This past fall semester saw the addition of a new student organization to the Albertus Magnus community. Known as the Student Justice League (SJL), the mission of the group is to raise awareness of issues of social injustice throughout the student body and the campus more generally. This energetic group of students has taken this mission to heart and have been quite busy in the short time that they have been active.
Shamain McAllister ’18
Photos: Victoria Verderame ’12
The SJL has collaborated with several faculty members and staff to host two public panel discussions around the topic of racial exclusion and racial privilege in the United States. Each panel— attended by nearly 100 people—brought a diversity of viewpoints to bear on this difficult and complex problem, and the response to the panels was overwhelmingly positive. This spring, the SJL is continuing this conversation by again co-hosting two panels that will discuss how race and class produce differential outcomes in the recognition and treatment of mental illness. In addition to these talks, the SJL hosted a presidential debate viewing that was attended by 20 students, and a screening of Ava DuVernay’s powerful new documentary, 13th. This documentary, an in-depth look at the United States prison system and its connection to the larger history of racial inequality in the United States, led to a powerful discussion among all those who attended the screening. Taking their activities beyond the campus, several members of the SJL attended the 2017 Women’s March in New York City, where they stood in solidarity with the millions of people who marched worldwide. Closer to home, members attended a candlelight vigil at Yale University in support of refugees. Ultimately, the SJL hopes to energize the campus community to embrace an active awareness of contemporary issues of injustice. By engaging in the study of issues of injustice, the group hopes to enlarge its critical consciousness of these issues, in the hope that it will stimulate a desire to respond to, and look for solutions. By connecting the campus community to other local organizations, the SJL looks to strengthen our commitment to striving toward justice.
Janet Rios ’19
Submitted Photo
International Women’s Day Reception
A group representing Albertus attended a reception in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month at New Haven’s City Hall on March 8. The event was sponsored by the New Haven Chapter of Links, Inc., and the Office of New Haven Mayor Toni Harp. From left are: Associate Dean of Campus Activities and Orientation Erin Morrell, Torrie Cook ’17, Shamain McAllister ’18, Dr. Annette Gatison from The Links, Kiana White ’17, Amber Cohen ’17, and Aaliyah Bohannon ’17. From the Hill
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Photo: Ron Waite
Through Bonds of Friendship,
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Enjoys Record-Breaking Year For the 2016 Albertus Magnus women’s soccer team, the pursuit and achievement of excellence on the field was only one part of an equation that brought a storied season to the Lady Falcons. It was a record-breaking year both on and off the field in 2016 for the Albertus Magnus College women’s soccer team, as new program-bests were set and the team earned its first-ever appearance in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship. The Falcons ended the fall with an 11-8-1 overall record and were the No. 3 seed in the GNAC Tournament thanks to posting a 7-3-1 record in league play. Their impressive record on the field was only matched by their achievements off the field. For the fourth consecutive season under Head Coach Nick Wajnowski ’06, the Falcons earned the National 10 Spring 2017
Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic Award for the 2015–16 academic year. To qualify, a team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). During the year, the Falcons achieved a cumulative 3.14 team G.P.A. and placed a school-best 11 student-athletes on the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Academic Team thanks to their outstanding work in the classroom. Ten student-athletes from the team also received Dean’s List recognition throughout the academic year. Elizabeth Nagy ’17 feels that the academic success of the team is reflective
of the environment that is built for them from day one: “During preseason, Coach always tells the freshmen that being on the team is like starting school with 25 built-in best friends. That is the best description, and most of the time we are all in the same classes because we need to schedule around practice and games. It allows us to achieve more because our support system is built from within.” In addition to their accomplishments in the classroom, the Falcons also gave back to the community. They worked at the Southern Connecticut Conference Unified Games for Soccer held at Amity
All-New England Team. She received third-team distinction alongside four other midfielders. She was the fifth player in program history to earn NSCAA All-New England distinction and the first since Danielle Polvan ’17 picked up third-team honors in 2014. When asked to reflect on the team and its season, Taylor Rotella ’17 replied: “My experience on the women’s soccer team this year was indescribable. Our record breaking success this year did not solely lay in the hands of our talents but rather in the fact that we are family. Every day we stepped on the field, we played for each other. Many years ago Coach told me a ‘team beats with one heart’ and that’s the best way to describe the team this year. On and off the field, we were a support system, and the memories we shared will stay with me forever and will always be a huge part of who I am.” To see the unique friendship that the team shared, check out the music video the team put together for the song “Closer” by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey: bit.ly/soccercloser.
Photo: Ron Waite
High School in nearby Woodbridge, where they were referees, scorekeepers, and also helped the kids on the field; they volunteered with Hamden Youth Services to conduct a clinic at their Food Truck Festival with a station to teach soccer to young kids; and participated in the campus-wide clean up event in the fall. Collectively, the team clocked 65 community service hours. The team saw its season come to an end with a 2-1 setback against topseeded Lasell in the GNAC conference championship. Although it ended their season, it did not stop them from receiving further recognition. At year’s end, four Falcons received All-GNAC honors. Midfielder Angelina Piccirillo ’18 had a breakout season and landed on the first team, while Danielle Polvan ’17, Alexis Mack ’17 and Taylor Rotella ’17 all received second-team distinction. Midfielder Erin Daly ’20 represented Albertus Magnus on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. The accolades didn’t stop there. Angelina Piccirillo ’18 also earned a spot on the 2016 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)
Head Coach Nick Wajnowski Earns 100th Career Win Albertus Magnus College women’s soccer Head Coach Nick Wajnowski ’06 picked up his 100th career victory on October 19 as the Falcons defeated visiting Suffolk, 7-0, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at Celentano Field. He is the winningest coach in program history. “This season was one of the most rewarding seasons I have had as a coach. This team showed up every day to play and work towards a goal, a goal we were 20 minutes from in that Championship game. They gave each other every ounce of energy they had and that is all I can ask for. I thank them for this season. For the
Photos: Ron Waite
returners we will go at it again starting in August, for the seniors I hope to see you all under the tent at Fall Fest.”
The Mary Benevento Endowed Fund for Athletics, established in 2012, honors the College’s director of athletics from 1952 to 1980. Interest from this endowed fund is used to support special projects in the athletics program. Since the fund was established, the College has been able to create a student-athlete weight room, assist in remodeling the athletic training room, and brand a scoreboard for a new baseball and softball field. Show that you, too, are invested in the future of our student-athletes by making a gift at albertus.edu/support-amc. From the Hill
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Around Campus
Julia Coash, professor of studio art and art history, co-chair of the department of visual and performing arts, and director of the M.A. in Liberal Studies program, had a solo exhibition in the Pegasus Gallery at Middlesex Community College January 17– February 23 of this year. The show, titled “Material/Immaterial,” displayed her abstract paintings and drawings, which suggest vines playing against time-worn walls or tendrils of smoke enveloped by shadows. She recently completed sabbatical research in Southeast Asia, studying calligraphy, Asian brush painting, and textile art. William Guerrero, vice president for finance and treasurer, was a judge for the Connecticut Business Plan Competition, which invites teams of studententrepreneurs from Connecticut universities to submit a business plan or business model for an entrepreneurial venture and compete for prize money by defending their plans before a panel of judges. Thirty student-entrepreneurs from Yale, Quinnipiac, and other Connecticut universities submitted their business proposals, competing for a $1,000 prize. Guerrero was the winner of the first state competition in 1997. Samantha Masayda joined the College in January as sports information director. Previously she served for three years as an athletic communications assistant at Southern Connecticut State University and as assistant director of athletic communications at Merrimack College. She earned a bachelor’s degree from SCSU and a master’s degree in management of sport industries from the University of New Haven. Charles Rafferty, director of the M.F.A. in Writing program, had three poems—“Unnoticed,” “The Problem with Wanting Something” and “The Problem with Mercy”—published in the Winter 2016–2017 issue of Ploughshares, a quarterly based at Emerson College. His poem “The Problem with Sappho” appeared in the February 27, 2017, issue of The New Yorker. (Rafferty will present some of his poetry at the May 3 Creative Journey Lecture. See page 7.)
12 Spring 2017
Photo: Steven Rignoli ’16
Julia M. McNamara, Ph.D., president emerita of Albertus Magnus College, received the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa at the 106th commencement of Ohio Dominican University on December 17, 2016. The degree, presented by President Peter Cimbolic, Ph.D., is in recognition of her “outstanding example of ethical leadership, her devotion to the ministry of St. Dominic, and her ongoing support of the mission of Dominican higher education. Dr. McNamara, who earned the B.A. degree in history and French from the College of Saint Mary of the Springs (now Ohio Dominican University), delivered the commencement address. Dr. McNamara on April 7 received the 2017 Award of Recognition from Dominican Academy in New York City, her alma mater. Sr. Margaret Ormond, O.P., president of Dominican Academy, presented the award at the Harvard Club.
Career Conversations
Each semester, the Alumni Office, in partnership with the Office of Career Services, hosts Career Conversations, inviting alumni back to campus to share their career experiences with current students. Each event highlights different majors; a February event featured psychology, sociology and human services. Panelists were, left to right, Nicole Kras ’01, ’07 M.A.A.T., academic program director for psychology, sociology and human services at Lincoln College of New England, a lecturer in psychology at Albertus, and a member of the Alumni Board of Governors; Diane Millan ’07, vice president of risk management at Marrakech, Inc., a social services organization; Andrea DeCusati Pisani ’14, correctional counselor, State of Connecticut Department of Corrections; and Caitlin Dell Iannucci ’06, ’10 M.A.A.T., art therapist and counselor in private practice.
Fanjeaux Dr. Christine Atkins, associate professor, director of the Honors Program, and coordinator of foreign languages, and Christine Puglisi, a sophomore biology and chemistry major, have been selected to represent the College at the Summer Study Program in Fanjeaux, France, from May 30 to June 15, this year. St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, lived in Fanjeaux centuries ago. Each year, groups of faculty, administrators, and students from U.S. Dominican colleges and universities gather in Fanjeaux to learn and apply the Dominican charism to their work and studies back home.
Save the Date: Founders’ Day Friday, September 22, 2017 albertus.edu/founders-day
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
A Statement from Leaders in Catholic Higher Education Interim President Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P., in 2016 was one of 119 presidents of Catholic colleges and universities in the United States who signed a statement expressing hope that the students in our communities who have qualified for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, issued in 2012, will be able to continue their studies without interruption. The statement noted that “Catholic education has been part of the fabric of American life for more than two centuries. Our colleges and universities share a long history of educating students from a diverse array of socioeconomic, geographical, and ethnic backgrounds, often welcoming those on society’s margins, especially immigrants and underprivileged populations. Today, Catholic institutions of higher education continue this mission and legacy. …” Many students today are undocumented, having fled violence and instability with their families years ago. “We pledge to support these students— through our campus counseling and ministry support, through legal resources from those campuses with law schools and legal clinics, and through whatever other services we may have at our disposal,” the statement said.
Advocacy
Photo: Victoria Walter ’17
A liberal arts education fosters critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, flexibility, and creativity. With these tools, students are prepared for a lifetime of learning and careers as responsible and productive citizens who contribute to their communities. Albertus students, faculty, and staff were advocates for the College at the State Legislature. On February 15, Sheridan McNamara ’17, an English major at Albertus Magnus College, testified before the Appropriations Committee of the Connecticut Legislature, advocating for the continuation of need-based financial aid programs for Connecticut students. “…As a quadruplet who was raised by a single mother, college would not have been an option for me without the scholarships, grant, loans, and work study position that Albertus was able to award me. My dream of becoming a high school teacher would have been unattainable without my financial aid package,” she said. “Financial aid is a deciding factor for many students looking to attend college, especially many of the students who attend Albertus Magnus College, and if the College’s ability to meet student need is diminished, so will students’ opportunities for education be diminished.” Michelle Cochran, director of financial aid at Albertus, also testified at the February 15 hearing in opposition to the budget proposal which seeks to cut $2.2 million (6 percent) in Fiscal Year 2018 and $4.4 million (12 percent) in Fiscal Year 2019 from the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program, which supports the private non-profit sector of higher education. … Albertus Magnus College has experienced a 68 percent reduction in funding between the first year of the Scholarship Program in 2013–2014 and now, totaling just under $1 million cut. Albertus Magnus College is a strong supporter of Connecticut students, investing an average of $16,000 institutional grant dollars per traditional day students, with close to 92 percent of day students receiving financial aid. … “It is our mission as a college to provide students with access and opportunities to education in the classroom and beyond. Limiting funding to the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program hinders our ability to assist low-income students in achieving their dreams. …” Abbe Miller, director of the Albertus Master of Arts in Art Therapy program, associate professor at the College, and a licensed clinical art psychotherapist, on February 20 gave supportive testimony
In February the College hosted its annual breakfast for local legislators, sharing its concerns about bills involving higher education, particularly ones focusing on financial aid. Among those attending were, front row, left to right, Meaghan Heeks ’17, Kelly McCorry ’18, and Zoe Dudek ’18; second row, Jason Dunn ’18, State Representative Michael DiMassa ’13, and Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P., interim president; back row, William Thomas Guthrie II ’18, Sheridan McNamara ’17, and Stacie Hurley ’17.
Photo: Joan Venditto ’63
on proposed House Bill 6252, an act requiring licensure of art therapists. A practicing art therapist in the state of Connecticut for the past 35 years, she represented the field of art therapy as well as the graduate students who are training to be licensed professional and ethical art therapists. She noted: “To practice as an art therapist legally, you must obtain a master’s degree. The profession is a clinical one and vulnerable human beings are the central focus of our work. There are only 39 accredited master’s degree programs for art therapy in the United States. I know firsthand the rigorous and conscious training that goes into developing our new clinicians, preparing them for the awesome task of communicating via the visual arts. … “Appropriate, ethical training is needed, and the best way to protect consumers (who are increasing in numbers) is to identify specific licensure for the profession.”
On March 29, State Representative Juan Candelaria ’10 met current Albertus students Kelly McCorry ’18 and Sheridan McNamara ’17, both teacher candidates, during a day of activities for legislators to become better informed about how institutions of higher education are preparing teachers for pre-k to 12. The American Association of Colleges with Teacher Education, Connecticut Chapter, sponsored the event.
“ Financial aid is a deciding factor for many students looking to attend college, especially many of the students who attend Albertus Magnus College, and if the College’s ability to meet student need is diminished, so will students’ opportunities for education be diminished.”
— Sheridan McNamara ’17 From the Hill
13
CLASS NOTES Alumni photos appearing in Class Notes are submitted unless otherwise noted.
1961 Jane Meyer Gill, Brooklyn, NY, is happily busy, especially with two of her four grandchildren living close by.
1962 Patricia Wells Doyle, Northborough, MA, and her husband, Skip, are serving as Co-District Governors for Rotary International District 7910 Central Massachusetts. Rotary is an organization where people from all continents and cultures come together to exchange ideas, and form friendships and professional connections, while making a difference in their backyards and around the world.
Longtime Educator Honored by Sacred Heart University Sr. Mary Grace Walsh ’80, provost for education of the Archdiocese of Hartford, received the Educator of the Year Award from Sacred Heart University in March. She recently became president of St. Thomas Seminary.
Knoxville. Last September they went on an 11-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land and are looking forward to visiting Fatima and Lourdes this year. Their three children are healthy and successful adults living in Oregon, Florida, and Georgia.
1979
Katherine Wood Green, Middlefield, CT, sends word that her husband has a new great-grandson. “We are enjoying this status,” she says.
Catherine Gell Scherer, Beverly, MA, has been appointed vice president and commercial real estate relationship manager at Eastern Bank, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Boston. She and Joe have two children.
1968
1980
Maryann Cronin Horgan, Southport, NC, received the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year after serving two years as president of the Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association. She also won third place in the International Award of Excellence for her curriculum project for sixth graders called “Hands on Horticulture.” She has been invited to attend the International Master Gardener Conference in Portland, Oregon, this summer.
Alberta Falcioni Davis, East Haven, CT, has a daughter, Carla Davis Marsico, who graduated from Albertus in 1990; her grandson Raymond A. Marsico III graduated in 2015; and her grandson Stephen Marsico is a member of the class of 2019.
1966
1970 Jane Nowakowski Gold, Camden, ME, retired in June after 20 years as professor of Latin American Literature at the University of New Hampshire.
1976 Robin Cueroni Hanson, Loudon, TN, sends word that she and her husband are retired and have just settled into a house they designed and built alongside the Tennessee River. They are active members of St. John Neumann parish in
1984 Petisia Adger, New Haven, CT, is the public relations chair for the Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade stepping off on May 21. She is a retired New Haven assistant police chief.
1987 Mayu Kusumi, Niiza City, Japan, is co-author with Marcela Lamadrid Cruz, of ¡ Ándale!, a Japanese book for teaching Spanish.
1988 Theresa LaBarre Porter, New Britain, CT, author of “Female Aggression,” earned a doctoral degree in forensic psychology. After working for
the Department of Justice for many years, she is now with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
1989 Patricia Scussel, East Haven, CT, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the New Haven Museum. She recently joined the Community Health Network Foundation as its executive director. Previously she was vice president of community and business development for Start Community Bank in New Haven. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of New Haven.
1991 Ellin Regis-Cowie, Garden City, NY, is practicing immigration law on Long Island.
1993 Jennifer Case, Milford, CT, who majored in psychology with a minor in art at Albertus, has opened a private practice in counseling and art therapy.
1995 Matthew Quinn Martin, Shelter Island, NY, was the subject of a profile in a November issue of the Shelter Island Reporter. Actor, co-founder of the New Haven Theater Company and screenwriter, he teaches writing at Western Connecticut State University. The article notes that he commutes across the Sound by ferry and is a member of the Ferry Writers, “a group of Islanders who meet every few weeks to share their writing, suggest rewrites, and offer encouragement.” He is married to Jennifer Frank Martin, ’93.
1997
Alumna Finds Island Life Inspiring Phyllis Comber Biddle ’76, an artist, art teacher, and resident of St. Croix since 2000, finds inspiration in the beauty of the island, its people, and the “amazing” colors of the landscape. In November, the Source, a local online newspaper, published a profile on her, describing her passion for creating her own art and for teaching art to 9th through 12th grade students. Artist in residence at Good Hope Country Day School, Biddle teaches studio art, advanced placement art, and art history. She also holds art classes for adults. After graduating from Albertus, Biddle went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. She taught at Hopkins School in New Haven and at St. Catherine’s/St. Christopher’s Schools in Richmond, Virginia, where she was program director at The Richmond Children’s Museum.
14 Spring 2017
Donna Del Buco, High Springs, FL, is director of finance in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Florida.
2000 Howard Bradshaw, ’03 M.S. Management, Derby, CT, retired from Sikorsky Aircraft in 2006. Erik Larsen, Milford, CT, has joined Foundation Source, a company that establishes and provides comprehensive management and advisory services for private foundations, as a business development associate on the company’s inside sales team.
2003
Dubar ministering with Dominican Volunteers U.S.A.
DonnaMaria Cortezzo, M.D., West Chester, OH, is an attending neonatologist and attending in palliative care at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She also is an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati department of pediatrics.
Emili Dubar ’16, a psychology major, is spending her first year
David Kimball, Oxford, CT, has been appointed principal of Avon Middle School. Previously he served as assistant principal at Lyman Hall and Sheehan high schools in Wallingford. He earned an M.A. in English and secondary education, along with a sixth-year diploma in educational leadership, from Southern Connecticut State University.
Submitted Photo
as a college graduate back in the classroom. She is ministering at Visitation Catholic School in Chicago this year with Dominican Volunteers U.S.A. So far, her experience has been “really eye-opening,” she said. “I am working with young kids who have to face problems I never even dreamed of at their ages—from poverty to racism to abuse. It’s been difficult to witness what they go through, but it has been inspiring watching them grow, and being able to help in whatever small way I can. “It has been a joy to work with these kids. I’m able to share the things I feel passionate about. One boy told me he wants to be a scientist and study the planets after what I had taught the class in science.” Dubar shared her thoughts about serving others on the Dominican Volunteers’ website: “I applied to DVUSA because I am looking for something more in life. When I was finishing my sophomore year of high school, my favorite teacher gave my class a piece of advice I will never forget. She told us that every morning when we wake up, we should ask ourselves, ‘How can I be better today that I was yesterday?’ At the end of the year, she was let go because of a lack of funding, but she gave us all cards to remember her by. The card simply said ‘Be better.’ I think about this advice daily. “I have always struggled with how I can be more useful to other people. I have decided to become an art therapist. I want to help people live the best life they possibly can while expressing my own creativity. However, on this path, I haven’t had many opportunities to do community service—to help people who can’t readily see a therapist or don’t have access to mental health therapists. I am taking a year before I start my master’s degree and have to jump into the ‘real world’ to think about my decisions and be productive serving others while I do.”
Tracy Schietinger, Trumbull, CT, has been appointed executive director of the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, Inc. (GEMS). She has more than 17 years of EMS experience.
2004 C. Leon Pierce, M.S. Management, is the new deputy director of public safety and deputy chief of police at UMass Medical School. Prior to his current appointment, he served with the Connecticut State Police for 21 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Connecticut.
2011 Ruth Schultz, West Haven, CT, is the director of operations for Presco, Inc.’s engineering team and is involved in marketing and sales.
Service Awards
2013 Michael DiMassa, West Haven, CT, was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives for the 116th District, which covers parts of West Haven and New Haven.
2014 Mark Ferraro, Hamden, CT, is a producer at Quinnipiac University’s WQUN Radio.
Photo: Victoria Verderame ’12
2015
On March 21 the College held its first Employees Recognition Celebration, honoring 39 members of the Albertus community who attained milestone anniversaries this year. Awards began with 5 years of service and ranged to 35 years; and 5 lecturers were honored for 20 or more years of service. Special recognition went to our longest-serving members of the faculty— Dr. Susan Cole, Dr. Robert Imholt, Dr. Ragaa Mazen, and Professor Ronald Waite. •R ow one, left to right: Geri Mauhs (Follett), Lisa Bilodeau, Dr. Fahima Ragaa Mazen, Carolyn Behan Kraus, Ronald Waite, Renee Sullivan, Deborah Massaro, Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P. •R ow two: Arthur Bellucci, Stefanie Seslar, Christina Caputo, Jasmin Burgos, Zuehailie Gardner, Natalie DeVaull-Robichaud, Kristen DeCarli •R ow three: Dominic Corraro, William Earls, Deborah Frattini, Elizabeth Magenheimer, Melanie Hellwig, Michelle Cochran, Kelly Matera, John McCann, Dr. Sam Brown
Stephanie Fidis, West Hempstead, NY, after just six months as a personal stylist for Dia & Co., a plus-size styling subscription service, has been promoted to customer experience associate.
2016 Tyler Robertson, Cheshire, CT, has joined Filomeno & Company as a staff associate for the West Hartford-based advisory firm. Caitlin Thompson, Old Saybrook, CT, is now service manager for the user experience and digital strategy team at Yale University. Prior to joining Yale, she was a marketing communications manager and had spent six years working as a nurse. She received the Business Management Award for Academic Achievement at the 2016 Albertus Laurel awards night.
•R ow four: Lynne Hennessy, Dr. James Brine, Annette Bosley-Boyce, Victoria Munoz, Donald Hardy, Robert Imholt, Evell Concepcion, David Garaventa •N ot pictured: Cat Heidel (Chartwells), Wendilea Brown, Dr. Mark Case, Dr. Siobhan Evarts, Robert Migliorini, Larisa Alikhanova, Dr. Susan Cole, Dr. James Patsalides From the Hill
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IN MEMORIAM ALU M N I Elizabeth (Beth) Mason Becker ’42 received an M.A. from Yale University; she had a long career in market research, working for Young & Rubicam and Cunningham & Walsh in New York City; predeceased by her husband, Loftus E. Becker, and her sister, Rosemarie Mason Smith ’47; she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law February 1, 2017 San Francisco, CA Norma Goldys Mohr ’42 was the wife of the late Sigo Mohr; she is survived by her two children and their families November 19, 2016 New York, NY Marilyn Connolly Cole ’49 is survived by her sister, Carol Connolly Sacco ’55, four children and their families; she received an M.A. from the University of Rhode Island, pursued a career in bacteriology, then turned to the field of education with a remedial reading specialty; in retirement she began a career in painting, especially enjoying creating religious art November 9, 2016 Bonita Springs, FL Mary Ellen Murphy Mininberg ’49 received an M.A. in English from Fordham University and had a teaching career at Albertus and at Wilbur Cross High School spanning 50 years; she received the Albertus Alumna of the Year
ME M B E RS
O F
T H E
Award for Loyalty and Service in 1975 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Albertus in 1982 for her service to the field of education; New Haven named her City Teacher of the Year for 1985; she served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1974–1980; wife of 53 years to the late Ian Mininberg, she is survived by her son, Mark, and his family, and her sister, Catherine Murphy Spodnick ’52 December 7, 2016 Guilford, CT Mary Barone Phillips ’49 was a Eucharistic Minister at her parish; a former teacher, she served on the boards of Holyoke Community College and Elms College; she was predeceased by her husband of 45 years who died in 1997; she is survived by her seven children and their families October 17, 2016 Springfield, MA Marie Costanzo Pepe ’50 obtained her master’s degree in nursing from the Yale School of Nursing and worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital; she was the wife of Louis Pepe for more than 60 years, and mother of three and grandmother to four February 19, 2017 Northford, CT Anne McCabe Twele ’51, sister of the late Sr. Patricia McCabe, O.P., ’52, worked for the Institute for Advanced Study and the
AL B ER T U S
Firestone Library at Princeton University; she also was an editor of Hesperia: the Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and was as a research assistant for her late husband, Professor Jochen Twele October 15, 2016 Princeton, NJ Mary Drumm Fennessey ’56 earned a master’s degree in English from Fordham University, and a second master’s in library science from Western Reserve University; after receiving her Ph.D., also from Western Reserve, she returned to Albertus to work in the library and became head librarian and an assistant professor of English; she was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement; she spent 21 years as head librarian at Northland College; her husband, James Fennessey, survives her, along with her sister Carole Drumm Rubley ’60; and three other siblings and their families January 5, 2017 Herbster, WI Elizabeth Bogucki Rayball ’56 was born and raised in Meriden, Connecticut as part of a large Polish family that defined the American dream; among her passions were her Catholic faith, listening to music with a special fondness for Brahms and Broadway show tunes, singing with a local choir group and volunteering with the Summit
Sr. Juliana D’Amato, O.P., born in Matrice, province of Campobasso, Italy, died February 20 at Mohun Health Care Center in Columbus, Ohio. She taught Italian at Albertus Magnus College from 1959–1996. Her classes on Dante’s “Divine Comedy” and Renaissance Art were popular and well remembered. As a member of the faculty, Sr. Juliana served as chair of the Italian department and later as chair of the Foreign Language department. She also taught at The Catholic University of America and for Providence College in Italy. A dedicated scholar, she authored many publications and was a translator of the Letters of St. Catherine of Siena. Sr. Juliana received a Ph.D. from Yale University, an M.A. from Middlebury College-Universita di Firenze, Italy, and a B.A. from St. Mary of the Springs College (now Ohio Dominican University). Joseph Adley, brother of Lillian Adley Germain ’57 and brotherin-law of Joseph P. Germain Jr., secretary of the Albertus Board of Trustees; he resided in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for 81 years and was employed by the U.S. Post Office for 30 years February 17, 2017
Dorothy M. Holycross Clauss, mother-in-law of Gary Chase, facilities services November 5, 2016
Mary Cherniak Altobello, mother of Marilyn Altobello ’70 December 9, 2015
Elizabeth S. Day, mother-in-law of Joanne Day, associate director and archivist of the Library January 4, 2017
Sr. Mary Ellen Boyle, O.P., was a tutor at the Springs Learning Center in New Haven from 2001 to 2014 November 1, 2016
16 Spring 2017
Rosemary Clancy Edwards ’58 earned a master’s degree in special education from Lesley College and taught special education classes for many years in the Hingham Public School System; Don, her husband of 53 years, died three years ago; she is survived by three children and their families November 24, 2016 Hingham, MA Brenda O’Connor Murphy ’63 died while traveling in Budapest, Hungary; she is survived by her husband of 52 years, Dr. C. Daniel Murphy, three adult children and their families; she loved spending time with her family and friends, bridge, golf, travel, and walking her bulldog October 28, 2016 Scottsdale, AZ Barbara Hartley Seltzer ’71 was the wife of Richard Seltzer Jr. for 39 years; she is survived by their four children and their families December 4, 2016 West Roxbury, MA Linda Della-Grotte ’73 loved traveling to Bermuda and spent much of her time there May 17, 2016 Medford, MA
Evelyn Valentin ’86 was a bankruptcy analyst at the US Trustees Office for more than 20 years; she was active in her church, and enjoyed gardening, traveling, tennis and volunteering at the Red Cross; she is survived by two sons December 13, 2016 North Haven, CT Stephanie Zaczkowski ’86 had a great passion for music and was active in various choirs; she worked in the accounting field October 30, 2016 East Haven, CT Alfred Brooke Blackburn ’94 was the first graduate of the M.A. in Liberal Studies program; he did his undergraduate work at Yale College, and later obtained master’s degrees in classics and library science December 31, 2016 Cheshire, CT Mattie Belle Harris ’03 loved her many nieces and nephews, and baking; she is survived by two brothers and eight sisters February 27, 2017 Hartford, CT Jonathan Heller ’10, ’16 M.S.Ed, taught business classes at Hill Regional Career High School in New Haven November 15, 2016 Hamden, CT
FA M I LY
Sr. Juliana D’Amato, O.P., beloved professor
Joseph Beckford, husband of 50 years to Maryanne Convey Beckford ’61 April 5, 2016
Playhouse; she is survived by three children and their families, and five siblings February 9, 2017 Cranford, NJ
Cecile O. Cote, grandmother of Danielle Schlough, admissions counselor in the traditional undergraduate program January 2, 2017
Rosemary Hampp DeFilippo, daughter of the late Justine Horrigan Hampp ’29, a member of the second graduating class at Albertus, and niece of the late Barbara Horrigan Lee ’32 February 5, 2017
Philip E. Everone, father of Christopher Everone ’01 and father-in-law of Jodi Lombardozzi Everone ’02 October 4, 2016 Richard F. Fadus, husband of 61 years to Marie Idarola Fadus ’52 November 26, 2016 Ethel Hardy, mother of Don Hardy, facilities services February 4, 2017 Pauline Dellomo Hayes, grandmother of student Megan Thornton ’17 October 19, 2016 Veda Fallik Klotzer, former employee in the mail room at the College November 28, 2016
Audrey Cavanaugh Levi, grandmother of Victoria Verderame ’12, lecturer at the College November 9, 2016 Robert E. McCarthy, husband of 60 years to Faith Augur McCarthy ’49 November 11, 2016 Royce Mulholland, son of Dorothy Cerulli Mulholland ’52; he was a passionate advocate for affordable housing, and his company, The Mulholland Group, developed and managed modern, multi-family housing in upstate New York, Texas and Virginia; he is also survived by his wife, four daughters and a son March 3, 2017 Sr. M. Stanislaus (Joan) Nicholas, O.P., a member of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport, taught at Albertus from 1969–1983 December 25, 2016 Michael Nowill, brother of Donald Nowill, a lecturer in the accelerated degree program January 3, 2017
Hortense Mae Parks, great-grandmother of Melonie Smith Bland ’05, member of the board of the Albertus Magnus College Alumni Association September 26, 2016 Karoline Fuchs Pollak, mother of Karoline Pollak ’74 and Anne Marie Pollak ’74 December 11, 2016 Sr. Helena (Peggy) Sause, O.P., taught in schools in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Puerto Rico; she also was a missionary in Chimbote, Peru, co-director of Centro Catalina in Juarez, Mexico, and tutor at the Siena Learning Center in New Britain, Connecticut October 26, 2016 Jay Alden Stephenson Sr., husband of Regina Couture Stephenson ’04, site coordinator of the College’s East Hartford Campus, and father of Wendy Stephenson DiAngelis ’01 November 12, 2016 Eleanor Bellobuono Tomaszewski, mother of Lea Tomaszewski ’89 June 27, 2016
Reunion:
We are excited to announce that this year Reunion has a new form. While we will still celebrate milestone class years ending in 2 and 7, Reunions have been split into three events, taking the place of the traditional June gathering. GOLDEN SOCIETY BRUNCH On Saturday, April 29, all members of the Golden Society are invited as we induct the class of 1967, celebrate milestone classes, and present the Alumni of the Year Awards at the Golden Society Brunch. Other activities will include a memorial liturgy for deceased classmates, brunch featuring live jazz, campus tours led by members of the Student Alumni Association, and tea at Rosary Hall. Members of the 50th Reunion class (1967) are invited as guests of the College, along with a friend or family member. CELEBRATION OF THE 70’S On Saturday, September 16, the 45th Reunion class will host a special celebration of the 70’s. All members from the classes of 1970–1979 are invited as we celebrate the milestone classes of 1972 and 1977. Highlights will include a special brunch with student leaders, memorial liturgy for deceased classmates, and a cocktail reception.
REUNION AT FALL FEST Classes celebrating 5 to 35 years are welcomed to campus for their Reunion as a part of Fall Fest weekend on October 14. Reconnect with classmates in the alumni tent and enjoy our variety of food trucks, activities, and soccer games. Reunion is a wonderful time to recall and renew your Albertus bonds. We look forward to welcoming you to campus, where you once greeted your friends, to see the many improvements we have made as we work toward implementing Albertus 2020, the College’s strategic plan. If you have any questions about Reunion, please contact the Alumni Office at 203-773-8502 or alumni@albertus.edu. Check albertus.edu/reunion for updates.
Alumni of the Year
Photo: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
Diana Velez ’12 is the recipient of this year’s Premier Achievement Award. For two years following graduation, she joined the Peace Corps serving as a science and mathematics teacher in Uganda. Diana also managed a library construction project for her school in Pallisa, writing a grant for construction and raising money for the donation of books.
Barbara Popp Murphy ’58
is the recipient of this year’s Alumni of the Year Award. She has been an active volunteer in religious activities for over 50 years. Barbara worked at Notre Dame Institute and Catholic Distance University. Since the 1980’s she has been a Dame in the Order of Malta working as a palliative care volunteer.
Albertus Magnus College 700 Prospect Street New Haven, CT 06511-1189
Keeping in touch with alumni of Albertus Magnus College who remember their days on Prospect Hill.
Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P. Interim President Andrea E. Kovacs ’12 M.A. Vice President for Communications and Marketing Rosanne Zudekoff ’60 Director of Communications and Community Relations Editor rzudekoff@albertus.edu Carin Giordano ’06 M.S. Marketing Manager Carolyn Behan Kraus ’89 M.A. Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Stefanie Stevens Seslar ’15 M.A. Director of Alumni Relations Karin Krochmal Designer From the Hill is published by Albertus Magnus College for alumni. Send address changes to the Office of Alumni Relations, Albertus Magnus College, 700 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 or alumni@albertus.edu. Editorial offices are located at Mohun Hall, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, Connecticut 06511. Albertus Magnus College admits students of any race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, and disability status to all the rights, privileges, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, nor does it discriminate in these areas in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
A Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition
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Save the Date:
Founders’ Day, Friday, September 22, 2017 Dominicans: Writing and the Power of Words •
uest Speaker: G Sr. Diana Culbertson, O.P.
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Candlelight Ceremony
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All Campus Picnic
Words Inspire: How Words Change My Life •
Creativity Panel
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Presentation of Veritas Award
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elections by the S Albertus Magnus College Chorus
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Closing Reception
Photo: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
From the Hill
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