UNIVERSIT Y M AGAZINE
S u m m er 2 0 18
Table of Contents
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President’s Message
4 Spotlight: Marianne Harrington
Marianne Clisham Harrington ’60 generously donated one of the largest gifts in Holy Family’s history.
5 News
Short stories featuring people, events, and happenings from all facets of campus.
10 HFU Roundtable
If you could participate in one cultural activity anywhere in the world, what would it be and why?
12 Shedding the Addiction Stigma
Dr. Patrick McElwaine teaches students the throes of substance abuse counseling through his personal experience as a former addict.
18 Spotlight: Piotr Kopinski
Piotr Kopiński ’11 is studying the signaling functions between mitochondria and the nucleus—research that has the potential to help understand diabetes, autism, Parkinson’s, and cancer.
20 An Officer and a Clergyman
After 26 years of decorated military service, Father James MacNew has traded in his camo to be with the students of Holy Family University.
25 Spotlight: Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor ’75 created the Ray and Mildred Taylor Award in 1991 in memory of her parents —a grant program that has had a lasting effect on the HFU faculty.
26 Athletics
The Tigers celebrate their stand-out moments from the soccer field to the basketball court and everywhere in between.
28 Vision & Values
Relive some of the best events throughout the year and find out what your classmates are up to.
36 Pen to Paper
Faculty share their areas of expertise in this first-person column.
Photo: Julia Lehman-McTigue
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Photo credit here
Holy Family University proudly conferred 774 degrees during its 2018 Commencement ceremonies on May 15 at the Kimmel Center. In her address to the students, Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD, President of Holy Family University, urged the graduates to cherish the moment, but also prepare for the hard work that is yet to come in today’s challenging society. “You stand at the cross roads of your future,” she said. “Your unique gifts have the potential to inspire, to challenge, and inform. We hope that you will accept and recognize your responsibility and that you will strive to make a difference.”
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Show your pride in Holy Family University with a gift to the Blue & White Fund! Donors to the Blue & White Fund, Holy Family University’s Annual Fund, help to foster the growth of well-rounded world citizens and make it possible for our students to realize their dream of being a teacher, scientist, entrepreneur, nurse, artist, or attorney. The Blue & White Fund is the primary source of individual support for Holy Family University with unrestricted gifts providing immediate impact on student success. Alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students demonstrate their belief in The Value of Family every year through their participation in the Blue & White Fund.
For more information or to make your gift to the Blue & White Fund, please visit holyfamily.edu/give or call 267-341-5005. Did you know the impact of your generosity may be doubled or possibly tripled by your employer? Some companies even match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. Please visit holyfamily.edu/match or check with your HR department to find out if your gift to Holy Family can be matched!
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Editor David Pavlak
President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, '70, PhD
Art Director Jay Soda
Vice President of University Advancement James Garvey, EdD
Contributing Writers Heather G. Dotchel David Pavlak Greg Pellegrino @HolyFamilyU
Holy Family University
Contributing Feature Photographers Candace diCarlo Georgetown University Dan Z. Johnson David Pavlak Jay Soda All photos credited on page.
HolyFamilyU
HFU_Official
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Illustrator Cayla Belser
Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Heather G. Dotchel Holy Family University Magazine is published semiannually. Please address correspondence to: Editor, Holy Family University Magazine Marketing & Communications Department 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114 magazine@holyfamily.edu Letters to the Editor become property of the magazine. The opinions and views expressed in Holy Family University Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official policies of Holy Family University. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published information. Holy Family University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, gender, age (as defined in the relevant statutes), veteran status, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other classification protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy extends to all educational, employment, and service programs at the University and complies with applicable federal laws. Holy Family University is committed to providing all qualified applicants and employees equal employment opportunities, not only because it is the law, but also because of our belief that adherence is morally correct. Holy Family University complies with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in an institution's education programs and activities. For information regarding the University’s ADA/Section 504 for students and for Title IX information, contact Marianne Price at 267-341-3204, Campus Center Room 202. For inquiries regarding equal employment opportunity/non-discrimination, contact Human Resources at 267-341-3479.
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President's Message
Dear Holy Family University Community:
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Photo: Bob Scott
ow that the tumult and excitement of Commencement has faded, I have had a chance to reflect on this past academic year—not just for Holy Family University, but also for our country at large. One of the most gratifying things to see as a life-long member of higher education is the continued awakening of our young adults as citizens and as agents of change. This process is an integral part of the college experience, as important as discipline expertise or career preparation. Regardless of political leanings, we want our youth to seek knowledge, find support, and to speak out. In theory, the continual exchange of ideas, the yin and yang of purposeful, ethical discourse, allows our country to come to greater understanding of each other and propels us to govern more effectively for all. Realistically, we know that this process is somewhat less rosy and optimistic than this theoretical description. But the less-than-perfect truth does not diminish the fact that our ferociously engaged young adults are a force to be reckoned with and should provide hope for our future. When students combine their passion with service, responsibility, and commitment to the dignity and oneness of our human family, they represent the best in all of us. Our University mission calls for us to be responsible to God, society, and self. I am proud that our youth are learning to serve our society—with conviction, with meaning, with purpose, with peace. I will continue to be proud of any Holy Family University students who embrace their duties as citizens so ardently that they are willing to productively and constructively raise their voices and demand to be heard. Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD President
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Spotlight
A Groundbreaking Gift By Heather G. Dotchel
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Photo: Candace diCarlo
n December 8, 2018, Holy Family University received one of the largest individual gifts given in its 63-year history. As a tribute to her husband, alumna Marianne Clisham Harrington '60 donated her Long Beach, NY property to benefit the School of Education. The property, estimated at $350,000, was transferred on the anniversary of her late husband’s burial. Additionally, the Student Resource Center within the School of Education was named in honor of Harrington's parents, William Francis Clisham and Margaret Hall Clisham. Mrs. Harrington is a long-time supporter of Holy Family students. She previously established the Sue McLaughlin Parkes Memorial Scholarship, created in memory of her classmate. It is awarded to an outstanding education student with demonstrated financial need. Mrs. Harrington’s educational path wasn’t linear nor easy: “After climbing many academic mountains and forging a stream of teaching, my so-called ‘Impossible Dream’ came to fruition when I finally received my Bachelor’s degree. It was the happiest day of my life! Both Holy Family and I had grown together.” After earning her Bachelor of Arts in English, Mrs. Harrington taught at Camden Catholic High School in New Jersey. She attended New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education for a Master’s degree in Education and Graduate Studies in Educational Administration, and she retired as a Dean of Students on Long Island, NY. “Marianne’s consistent support of the University clearly embodies our mission and her wish to afford many generations of students the opportunity to benefit from the Value of Family. We are most grateful for her generosity and are committed to wisely steward the precious resources she has provided for our students,” said University President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, PhD. “Marianne is a remarkable alumna,” stated James Garvey, EdD, Vice President of University Advancement. “Her affection and loyalty to her alma mater are obvious and appreciated.”
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News
Five Thousand Cans of Food Donated for Puerto Rico Relief Members from Holy Family University and the local community contributed to a food drive to support the people of Puerto Rico who were impacted by Hurricane Maria. Coordinated by Sister Mary Ellen Gemmell, CSFN, former Principal of Academia del Carmen in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Academia del Perpetuo Socorro in Miramar, Puerto Rico, and Holy Family Spanish instructor, the donations were delivered to Caritas de Puerto Rico, a humanitarian group serving the needy in the area. A total of six pallets of food were delivered, weighing nearly 11,000 pounds, and totaling about 5,000 cans. A wide breadth of organizations came together to collect food for the drive, including Alpha House Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten, Nazareth Academy Grade School, Nazareth Academy High School, St. Katherine of Siena School, Christ the King School, Our Lady of Calvary School, Cheltenham Elementary School, Acme Corrugated Box Co. Inc., Mount Nazareth, Walmart, and ShopRite. Marano Truck Lines provided assistance with packing the items and donated several pallets that were used during the shipping process.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate Hits 92% Holy Family's pass rate for first time nursing students taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) was 92.86%, according to the NCLEX Program Report from the PA State Board of Nursing. The national pass rate in 2017 was 86.94% while the PA pass rate was 91.10%.
Stokes-DuPass Joins Penn Inaugural Cohort
On January 10, during Holy Family University’s Spring Business Meeting, Dr. Michael Markowitz, Vice President for Academic Affairs, announced this year’s recipients of the Taylor Awards, an award program established through an endowment created by Carol Taylor,
Family Center Awarded $3,000 Grant
Photos: David Pavlak (top and bottom)
Taylor Awards Fund Scholarly Research Projects
Dr. Nicole Stokes-DuPass, Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness & Diversity, was named a member of The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions inaugural cohort. The goal of the program is to help mentor and mold future university presidents at minority-serving institutions.
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RN, PhD, a former University faculty member who served from 1979 to 1987 and 1995 to 1997 in the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. (Top row) Dr. Jennifer DeCicco, Dr. Jenai Grigg, Dr. Diana Cardenas-Elliot, Dr. Kimberly Dasch-Yee, Dr. Stacy McDonald, (bottom row) Dr. Dian He, Dr. Elizabeth Rielly-Carroll, Dr. Dianna Sand, and Dr. Elizabeth Jones were named the recipients of this prestigious grant award. To read more about Dr. Carol Taylor and the Taylor Award endowment, visit page 25.
The Holy Family University Family Center was awarded a $3,000 grant from the City of Philadelphia through its 2017 Philadelphia Activities Grant. The money will be used to offset costs associated with serving members of the community.
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News
Ficociello Publishes Two Books these events, social media, cable news, and politicians produce fear of disasters and reap profits in our disaster economy. Eco Culture is a progressive continuation from America’s Disaster Culture, which opens a conversation about the mediated relationship between culture and ecology. The dynamic between these two great forces comes into stark relief when a disaster— in its myriad forms and narratives—reveals the fragility of our ecological and cultural landscapes. Disasters are the clashing of culture and ecology in violent and tragic ways, and the results of each clash create profound effects to both. So much so, in fact, that the terms ecology and culture are unified.
Business Faculty Submit Papers to Prestigious Journals Karl Malaszczyk, Esq. and Dr. Bernice Purcell recently had their article “Big Data in Fraud Detection” accepted for publication in the Journal of Finance and Accountancy. The paper explains the concept of big data and details how tax authorities utilize big data-related analysis techniques to determine potential tax fraud in large corporation. These techniques involve use of computers and statistical analysis to determine irregular patterns in financial and tax-related matters. The paper proposes what knowledge, skills, and technology are needed to use big data in this type of endeavor. Dr. Jan Buzydlowski and Dr. Don Goeltz also recently published a study titled “Calculating The Euclidean Technology Distance of Dyads Using Patent Citations” in the Journal of International and Interdisciplinary Research. The paper introduces a new method of calculating a measure of a technology base of a firm using the patent citations made in patent applications. The technology base is a key step in studies of technology strategies of a single entity and in making comparisons between the technology strategies of firms.
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Visiting Holocaust Lecture Dr. Hilary Earl, a History Professor from Nipissing University in Ontario, Canada, visited Holy Family University on April 18 to speak about the Holocaust. Her lecture was entitled “The Biggest Murder Trial in History: The Nuremberg SS-Einsatzgruppen Trial and the Banality of Evil.” The presentation focused on the postwar trials of the members of the Nazi death squads that were tasked with murdering the Jewish population of Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and other non-Jewish civilians, and the ways in which seemingly normal people can come to participate in truly evil acts.
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Photos: David Pavlak (Ficociello); Bob Scott (Purcell)
Dr. Robert Ficociello, Assistant Professor of Writing for the School of Arts and Sciences, has co-authored and co-edited a pair of published works: America’s Disaster Culture: The Production of Natural Disasters in Literature and Pop Culture and Eco Culture: Disaster, Narrative, Discourse. America’s Disaster Culture is built on the premise that a natural disaster is a commodity produced for public consumption, and in turn, can be used for profit. Ficociello cites examples such as the Cold War, which threatened the “natural” way of life and instated a cultural fear to destroy landscapes, ideals, and symbols. Consequently, he adds, terrorism and immigration are the new Cold War—an external and internal threat that focuses on our “natural” dayto-day lives, which now revolves around consuming goods. Ficociello notes that in addition to Hollywood profiting from
Education Alumna Honored with Prestigious Accolades Jayda Pugliese, a Holy Family University alumna (BA ’09, MEd ’14) and current student in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program, has been named the 2018 recipient of the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary Teachers. She was also named a finalist for the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award, presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pugliese teaches fifth-grade math and science at Andrew Jackson Elementary School in Philadelphia. Her fundraising work has resulted in donations to purchase a $5,000 3D printer and printing supplies. She also assisted with obtaining a grant that provided over $100,000 of technology to support the school’s blended-learning initiative.
Photos: Dan Z. Johnson (Pugliese); Julia Lehman-McTigue (Rielly-Carroll)
Rielly-Carroll Studies Seagrass in Barnegat Bay Dr. Elizabeth Rielly-Carroll, Assistant Professor of Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences, received a $3,180 grant from the PADI Foundation to study seagrass fragmentation in Barnegat Bay, NJ. The funded project will use artificial seagrass to examine how seagrass loss
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in Barnegat Bay influences the biodiversity of organisms that live in these habitats. Rielly-Carroll and her team will be making different spatial arrangements of artificial seagrass and then seeing what animals and algae colonize on them. “I am very excited to have received funding for this important work,” RiellyCarroll said. “In the past several decades, seagrass has declined substantially, not only in Barnegat Bay, but across the globe. Determining how the amount and arrangement of seagrass supports other species will help us make the best conservation and restoration decisions moving forward, ensuring the ecosystem health of our bays and estuaries.”
Rafter Named to North Catholic Schools HOF Dr. Donna Rafter was honored at the second annual Philadelphia North Catholic Schools Hall of Fame Gala on October 26 at the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5. Dr. Rafter, who announced her retirement at the end of the 2016-17 academic year but continues to teach on a part-time basis, has taught for 17 years in Holy Family University’s School of Education.
Inaugural “Education and the Family” Series The School of Education's first annual Education and the Family Series on March 19 focused on bullying and cyber bullying, with a keynote address from Special Agents Emily Evans and Kathryn Murray of Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia, PA.
McGarrity Joins St. Patrick's Day Ring of Honor President Sister Maureen McGarrity was selected to the St. Patrick’s Day Ring of Honor and joined the other nominees during the parade on March 11.
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News
Rosen Publishes Multiple Works about International Violence Dr. Jonathan Rosen, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice in the School of Arts and Sciences, recently completed three books that are focused on international violence and criminality. Rosen’s first, a co-published volume at ICESI University titled Economía y política de Colombia a principios de siglo 21: De Uribe a Santos y el postconflicto, focuses on the peace process, history of internal armed conflict, political economy, drug trafficking, and organized crime in Colombia during the 21st century.
Patrick Murray, a junior English major, secured an internship to write and produce a play for No Longer Bound, a community-based prevention services organization located in Bristol, PA that works with children to promote unity and healthy living in their neighborhood and beyond. Murray’s play, Finding My Way Back, tells the story of two main characters facing difficult situations children could relate to. “I had never done writing like this prior to the internship,” Murray said. “It was a very challenging experience at first; I had to extensively research children’s literature and how to structure a play, but it was well worth it in the end. As a child, I was involved in many different situations that tested my personal character in similar ways to the ones in the play. In writing this play I was able to explain how that feels and how to try to cope with it for children who may be dealing with it.”
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Four Honored During 2018 Commencement Holy Family University presented four honorary degrees during its 2018 Commencement ceremonies, held on May 15 at the Kimmel Center. Albert Tantala Sr., President, Tantala Associates, LLC, Engineers and Architects; Pamela Rainey Lawler, Founder, Philabundance; Dennis Colgan Jr., Chairman Emeritus, Barthco International, Inc.; and Audrey Evans, MD, pediatric oncologist and co-founder of the original Ronald McDonald House were selected as this year’s recipients. Tantala and Lawler received their honorary degrees during the graduate ceremony while Colgan and Evans received their honorary degrees during the undergraduate ceremony. Holy Family University proudly bestows the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, to all of its recipients. It is the highest honor that the University grants and is presented to individuals whose contributions to the public good warrant exceptional recognition.
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Photos: David Pavlak (Rosen); Julia Lehman-McTigue (commencement)
English Major Writes Children's Play
His second published piece is a book he co-edited, Violence in the Americas, where he and his co-editor analyze the general trends and nature of violence in various countries throughout the Americas. Finally, Rosen has co-authored Illicit Markets, Organized Crime and Global Security, which focuses on various arms of illicit markets, including drug and human trafficking.
Coughlin Interns with WFMZ-TV 69News Caitlin Coughlin ’18 was able to experience the fast-paced lifestyle of a television reporter during her time as a summer intern with WFMZ-TV 69News—pivoting between planned local features to assisting with breaking news. The experience left Coughlin with a greater appreciation for television production, production value, and running a news corporation—as well as the life and work of a reporter. Coughlin’s internship duties included writing scripts and teasers for the anchors to read on the 5:30 pm and 10:30 pm newscasts, traveling with photojournalists and reporters on assignment, and taking pictures on site and at events to be used on the 69News website. Coughlin’s script and teaser writing abilities are new skills she can now add to her repertoire. “My favorite part of the internship was the first time I went with a reporter who went live from the scene we were at,” Coughlin said. “Originally, we were going to an ice cream social but there was no real news to cover there. As we got back in the car, we received a call from our station about a car crash on a major route. We got as close as the police would let us, and we were standing in the middle of a usually busy road. The reporter and photojournalist taught me how they go live and what equipment they needed. I learned so much that night. It was also the first night one of my photos was published on the website.”
Photo courtesy of Caitlin Coughlin
Sustainability Grows with New Campus Initiatives Holy Family University’s Facilities Management announced two new initiatives for the upcoming year, upgrading the University’s energy and waste management contracts. The University is now using 100% green energy throughout its three locations from Evolution Energy Partners. The new initiative will save Holy
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Family University 1.5 cents/kWh, resulting in a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The total estimated savings over the life of the contract is $110,637. Additionally, Holy Family University is now partnering with J.P. Mascaro & Sons for its waste management removal.
HFU Awarded an “It’s On Us” Grant for Sexual Assault Awareness Holy Family University was awarded an “It’s On Us” Pennsylvania grant, as announced by Governor Tom Wolf and the Department of Education, during a ceremony at Temple University on March 13. The award will be used to assist the University in its efforts to prevent, address, and respond effectively to sexual violence. The grant totals $29,896.
Students Present at 2018 SEPCHE Honors Conference Twelve students from Holy Family University were selected to showcase their scholarly work at the 19th annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) Honors Conference on March 24 at Arcadia University. Working under the direction and guidance of Holy Family’s Honor Council and a mentoring professor, topics ranged from sabermetrics to the influenza virus, as well as various art pieces.
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Roundtable
Each issue, the HFU Roundtable will pose a question for faculty and staff to reflect upon. Our favorites are printed below. Want to contribute to the Roundtable? Send in your response to the question below to magazine@holyfamily.edu. Illustrations by Cayla Belser.
If you could participate in one cultural activity anywhere in the world, what would it be and why? James R. Huber, PhD, LMFT Associate Professor (retired) School of Arts and Sciences I love running, history, and legends, so my dream cultural activity would be to run the Athens Marathon on the original historical course tracing the footsteps of Pheidippides, ancient heroes, philosophers, and Olympians. According to legend, when the overwhelmingly outnumbered Greek citizen-soldiers defeated the invading Persian Army in the village of Marathon in 490 BC, the Athenian messenger Pheidippides ran 24 miles to Athens carrying the news of that stunning victory, which helped to preserve the early ideals of democracy. Now, every November, aspiring runners from around the world can race on the same route used after the epic battle; the same route used in the very first Olympiad marathon. I have run the Boston Marathon and felt the thrill of the finishing under the iconic blue and yellow banner as thousands cheered on Patriots Day. I
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have run the New York City Marathon and marveled at the wonderful diversity of spectators as the course winds through all five boroughs in the Big Apple. But to run Athens where it all started, in the footsteps of Pheidippides and in the birthplace of democracy, would be a dream come true. Of course, it should be noted that when Pheidippides finished his famous trek, he declared “We were victorious!” and collapsed and died from exhaustion. So, for the record, at age 65, my dream is to run the historic Greek course, but not recreate the messenger’s entire experience!
Nicole Stokes-DuPass, PhD Associate Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness & Diversity I would love to attend a convening of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was established in 1946 to connect the international legal fabric that protects our fundamental human rights and freedoms. The main themes addressed by the Commission are the right to self-determination; the elimination of racism; the right to development; the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world; economic, social and cultural rights; and civil and political rights. Given the world’s current political, economic, and social unrest, the work of the Commission is most timely and highly relevant. It is imperative for our society to see more of our commonalities as part of the oneness of the human family than focusing on our respective differences. This shift in view is essential to addressing many of the social, political, and economic crises we face nationally and globally.
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Louis Garcia AV/IT User Support Technician Information Technology If I could participate in one cultural activity anywhere in the world, it would probably be the Tsunan Snow Festival, held in the New Greenpia Tsunan Ski area in Japan. The reason I would like to participate in this particular festival is because I have always had an interest in Eastern Cultures, and the one activity that always seemed to be both interest-
Mary Suter, DNP Director of the Doctor of Nursing Program and Assistant Professor School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions If I could participate in one cultural activity anywhere in the world, it would be the Hatsuhi Sunrise in Japan. Hatsuhi, literally “first sun,” is the Japanese tradition of waking up to see the first sunrise of the year on New Year’s Day. Japanese New Year's is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan. The idea behind many Japanese New Year's observances is to start the new year on the right foot! During these holidays, people travel back home to visit with family and friends—a time to be with loved ones. I cannot imagine a more perfect way to begin each new day!
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ing and symbolic have been those revolving around paper lanterns. I, for one, love winter and the snow, which I think adds an additional environmental piece to this festival where at its peak, paper lanterns are released into the sky, often holding messages and prayers. In addition, I would like to be able to participate when there is a gentle snowfall as I’ve heard that it adds another level to the night that is difficult to express in words.
Diana Elliot, PhD, JD Assistant Professor School of Education As an avid traveler, I am someone who loves experiencing new cultures, seeing new sights, talking to locals, and yes, engaging in cultural activities. It is the very sentiment that prompted me to participate in Oktoberfest in Munich and Saint Patrick’s Day in Dublin. So, selecting a single cultural activity in which I would like to participate is hard. In my younger days I considered running with the bulls, until a friend mentioned the crowd roots for the bull. That tidbit, along with weak knees, means it would be a spectator sport for me. Nonetheless, hearing thundering hoofs run by and the thrill of watching those brave folks skirt getting gored would be a thrill!
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Shedding the Addiction Stigma By David Pavlak Photography by Dan Z. Johnson
Sitting in the conference room of Holy Family University’s
Newtown location, Dr. Patrick McElwaine is a one of the six faculty members in the Graduate Counseling Psychology program who are rethinking the ways to teach what was once so rudimentary. With concentrations in Art Therapy, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Correctional Counseling, and School Counseling, students in the program are exposed to a variety of real-world processes to aid today’s patient—none more so evident than in the substance abuse counseling classes. “One of the things that the professors in our department pride ourselves on is teaching the knowledge,
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skills, and the attitude—giving the students a taste of what real-life therapy looks like,” McElwaine said. “They’re going to learn. There are going to be situations that you just can’t prepare yourself for. But I want them
to have a lot of confidence in their ability, in the skills that they have, and the knowledge they attained at this University to feel comfortable and step in to any situation and execute as best they can. The education is lifelong. Being that multicultural, ethical, competent psychologist or therapist is a gold standard for what we do here.” McElwaine is the resident substance abuse expert at Holy Family University. His expertise comes from a very real place. After battling an addiction to drugs
I was a functional alcoholic and then I started to dabble in pills.
and alcohol for years, McElwaine, who admits that an addict’s recovery is never over, spends his days teaching students the throes of substance abuse counseling through the eyes of a former addict. It would take years of hard work and recovery, therapy sessions and Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meetings, and ultimately, relapses and learning opportunities, for McElwaine to be where he is today. Not once did he admit it was easy. Recovery is never easy, but as McElwaine puts it, one day, it just clicks.
Tragedy The oldest child of Josephine and Patrick Sr.,
McElwaine’s trauma began at an early age and in the unlikeliest of situations. A trip to the Poconos on a family vacation would alter his thoughts and actions for years to come, even if he didn’t know it at the time. His father, who McElwaine admits struggled with alcoholism, had too much to drink that day. The life of the party (just like his son), McElwaine Sr. wanted to go down the water slide. The police allege that he might have hit his head. An apparent witness said she heard coughing and choking but didn’t look for help. His father had drowned. “Now that I look back, that’s a trauma moment,” McElwaine said. “I went to counseling and I went to therapy, but it didn’t do much. My mom did all the right things.
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What made me feel the most alive and gave me the most liquid courage, my self-esteem would build, was whenever I was drinking.” McElwaine’s father died when he was nine years old. His first drink was at 15. “Early on, I knew I just loved drinking. I loved being drunk. It was a social thing. I think I had low selfesteem; there was bullying that went on early in my life. Losing my father and not knowing how to process that grief and work through it, wanting to fit in, caring what other people think, a lot of those aspects came in to it and my drinking started to get excessive throughout the years. From 18-22 in my undergrad years, I was really focused on my alcohol use.” McElwaine enrolled in Holy Family University’s Psychology program and graduated in 2000 before continuing on in the MS of Counseling Psychology. He graduated again in 2004. “I was a functional alcoholic and then I started to dabble in pills.” McElwaine met his girlfriend turned future wife after graduation, but his condition continued to deteriorate. On top of his drinking, he was now abusing prescription drugs, including Oxycodone, Percocet, and Xanax. “Honestly, toward the end of my use, I was taking anything I could get my hands on.” His first attempt at recovery took place in June 2005. His reasons for seeking help were pure. McElwaine knew if he didn’t stop abusing drugs and alcohol, he wouldn’t have his beautiful wife. His daughters, who bring a smile to his face when talking about them, wouldn’t be here. The future family man would be left to live a life of remorse. He admits his wife would be smart enough to leave him if he didn’t stop using, even if she still loved him. But for an addict, recovery isn’t about what others want. Recovery only works when the individual wants it for themself. For four years, McElwaine struggled to fight his addiction. Taking each day in stride, he would celebrate the small victories throughout his recovery. But addiction can play with the mind, altering his thoughts and feelings as his body began the with-
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drawal symptoms. Soon after, McElwaine started lying and sneaking around to find his next score. “It’s the slippery slope of addiction. The little lies turn into bigger lies. Then it gets to the point where you don’t care anymore. People know you’re lying. It gets to the point where you accept you’re an alcoholic or a drug addict, or you have a mental illness or mental health issue, and that’s it. That’s life. I’m going to be miserable. Life’s going to be horrible, and this is all I’m going to have. I was using more pills thinking that if they didn’t smell alcohol on me they wouldn’t notice I was high. I was smoking weed a lot more. I was having one-night binges. I was in a bad spot.” Attempting again to get clean, McElwaine visited a therapist who gave him a harsh dose of reality, the kick-start to his recovery. “My first session with him, I didn’t think I would really like him that much. He wasn’t into sports at all, we didn’t have anything in common, he was an older guy. I’m sitting in the waiting room and he calls me in. He asks what brings me here. I tell him my life story because it was easy for me to tell people. I said, ‘why does this keep happening to me?’ He points a finger in my face and says, ‘Because you’re an alcoholic. You’re a drug addict.’ The only thing I remember from that session was that he called me a drug addict and alcoholic about eight different times. I walked out of there and I wanted to hit him.” McElwaine called his wife on the way
home from his appointment to seethe about his session. A doctor that didn't know anything about him other than what was on his chart, on his first day, called him an alcoholic and a drug addict. “I’m a therapist. You’re not supposed to talk to somebody like that. You’re supposed to build that trust and rapport, that therapeutic relationship, that alliance. He wants me to come back and points a finger in my face and calls me a drug addict and an alcoholic like eight different times. My wife said, ‘Pat, you really might want to take a closer look about why you’re so angry about what he said.’ I started driving and it hit me. I hate that label.” “The truth is, if I walk into a room, and people know me as Pat, they like me. In my head, I’m a good guy, I’m funny, I’m nice. Once they find out I’m a drug addict or alcoholic, in my head, I’m a loser, a failure. I’m weak, I’m someone you can’t trust, I’m a burden to other people. All these feelings came into play. That is the thing that I had to work on early in treatment—that acceptance piece.”
National Crisis A sweeping epidemic is haunting lives and
forcing states to recalculate their thoughts about the substance abuse crisis. The opioid epidemic is alive and well in Pennsylvania, with everyone from activists to policy mak-
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volved a prescription or illicit opioid. Overdose deaths increased in all categories of drugs examined for men and women, people ages 15 and older, all races and ethnicities, and across all levels of urbanization.” The Pennsylvania State Coroners Association 2016 Drug Report found that 2,489 in-
dividuals died in 2014 from drug-related issues. 3,505 died in 2015. 4,884 more in 2016. “It’s an epidemic,” McElwaine said. “There are alarming numbers, but people are fighting this. It’s becoming spoken about more often—people talking about stigma. They’re incorporating it into educational programs.
Photo credit here
ers trying to find the magic answer to make this disease go away. Philadelphia is not immune. The Center for Disease Control issued a report in March 2018 that stated “Drug overdoses killed 63,632 Americans in 2016. Nearly two-thirds of these deaths (66%) in-
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SUMMER / 2018
The more we speak about it, the better things can happen.” Police officers and pharmacists now readily carry Narcan, a resuscitative drug used to bring those overdosing back from the brink of death. McElwaine brings Narcan into the classroom so his students can see and touch it—just one more way that he is able to give a brief glimpse into an addict’s life. “I’ve heard different news articles and people’s opinions on Narcan. I’m glad people use it. I’m glad it is out there. It’s saving lives. If they’re injecting heroin or meth, they’re at a place where they’re really struggling or hopeless. They don’t see recovery as an option, but they don’t want to die. That’s a good sign. If there is one person that can be saved at these injection sites and turn around after that, that’s a plus. That’s a reason for having it. I always say to think about the person who is closest in your life and if they had a drug addiction. You might want them Narcaned. You might want them shooting up at an injection site. But you’re also praying at the same time that it’s a wakeup call for them and that they can enter treatment or recovery and get it.” In the classroom, McElwaine and his peers have had to come up with more creative ways of teaching the material. Substance abuse counseling isn’t what it used to be 20 years ago. “One of the things I pride myself on and the professors in the department do also is that we’re not doing just book knowledge. We’re not teaching from a book. I want us to have the knowledge of what’s out there
feel toward working with someone struggling with addiction, mental health concerns, suicidal ideation, homicidal thoughts, and feelings of hopelessness. Students use motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and crisis management to help support the patient when they are faced with these challenges. “We engage in role plays regarding clients and patients with various mental health and addiction concerns. The students are very interactive and attentive to the entire process, asking questions, giving feedback, explore various strategies, and utilizing their case conceptualization to understand the client better.” On top of being active with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), providing presentations regarding stigma, addiction, and mental health challenges, McElwaine has also invited dignified guests to speak to the students, including Pennsylvania State Representative Thomas Murt and Abby Grasso, Executive Director, NAMI PA, Montgomery County. These guests speak about advocacy and how to have a voice regarding the political climate of their future profession. McElwaine also requires his students to attend AA or Narcotic Anonymous meetings, as well as encourages them to see a therapist so that they understand what it’s like for their future patients to go through the process. “I tell all the students, if you’re going to be a therapist, you should be seeing a therapist. You should have that experience of waiting in a waiting room, talking to a psychologist, and working through your defenses. If you’re really hesitant about going, why? What’s stopping you? Because it’ll be the same things you hear from patients who don’t want to go.” One of McElwaine’s main goals is to teach his students the importance of eliminating stigma—a feat he struggled with during his
Recovery from a perceived failure or a perceived weakness means that I can turn it into a strength. in the literature and the textbooks, but also how to put it into play, put it into practice where we can make some life-changing experiences for the people that we see.” McElwaine uses role plays and case conceptualizations to give students a hands-on
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recovery. He explained that when you think of someone who is a drug addict, an alcoholic, or struggles with mental illness, you don’t think of someone that is strong, resilient, or empowered. You don’t think of a psychologist, a nurse, or a medical professional. You don’t think of your professor standing at the front of the room. “That’s the one thing throughout my career I’m really trying to work with people in understanding that there are two ways of looking at it. You can look at your diagnosis of being a drug addict and an alcoholic, or your diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, anxiety, or whatever it is, and you can say that it’s a death sentence. People are going to judge me by that. I’m weak. I’m a failure. I’m a loser. But the truth is, you can look at that potentially perceived weakness and turn it into one of your biggest strengths.” Clean and sober since February 12, 2009, more than nine years, more than 3,300 days, McElwaine shines when speaking about his life, his job, his family. He’ll tell you it’s been a long road to get to this point, but one he would travel again to get today’s results. “Recovery is something to be proud of. Recovery from a perceived failure or a perceived weakness means that I can turn it into a strength. I want people to know my story. I want people to know you can be very successful in recovery. I wouldn’t change my life with anybody, and I don’t know if I would have said that 10 years ago.”
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Spotlight
The Perennial Powerhouse
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His path to this success? Holy Family University
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iotr Kopiński ’11 spends his time in a University of Pennsylvania laboratory studying the signaling functions between mitochondria and the nucleus. This cutting-edge research has the potential to offer understanding of diseases like diabetes, autism, Parkinson’s, and cancer. Kopiński explains, “If you compare the cell to a city, then the mitochondria become the power plant and the nucleus becomes City Hall. During a power outage, the Mayor gets a call from the power plant stating that because of an emergency, only 50 percent of regular power output can be supplied. The Mayor then has to make decisions about who gets power—like police, fire department, and hospitals—and which districts to cut off—like schools, which would equate to them getting a day off. In the case of a cell, the nucleus reacts to energy shortage similarly. It adapts to the energy deficit by shutting off certain functions and upregulating others to compensate. I study who makes the ‘phone call’ from mitochondria to the nucleus to let it know that it needs to adapt to the new situation.” This research is part of Kopiński’s doctoral studies. After graduating from Holy Family University with his BA in Biochemistry, Kopiński was accepted to the MDPhD program at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. He anticipates earning his PhD in 2019, followed by his MD in 2021. “The MD-PhD Program is designed for people who want to pursue medical research as a career and translate discoveries in the laboratory to the clinic, and vice versa,” Kopiński said. “My laboratory studies mitochondrial genetics. It was founded by Dr. Douglas Wallace, who discovered that mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother and that mutations in the mitochondrial DNA can cause disease in humans. His vision of energy importance in human disease resonated with my interest in physical sciences where energy is a key entity.” In September 2015, Kopiński was awarded a prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowship, a three-year designation worth $129,000 that covers his PhD training, tuition, stipend, and an educational allowance for travel to
attend research conferences. He was also awarded a Foerderer Grant from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and, a $100,000 grant from the Institute for Translational Medicine and Advanced Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania to be used as research seed money. His path to this success? Holy Family University. “As an undergraduate student, biochemistry seemed natural given my interest in science and medicine,” he continued. “My favorite courses were molecular biology and genetics. It was the foundation of my future experiences with lab benchwork. Genetics was a theoretical course that made a big impact because it applied mathematics and logical thinking to biology. I was so fascinated by the subject that I solved every single problem in the book and I was craving more. Physical chemistry combined two of my favorite subjects, physics and chemistry, into a science that could be applied to living organisms such as cells and explains important physiological processes on a molecular level. Understanding the ‘how’ of life was so exciting, and certainly as puzzling as understanding the ‘why’ of life. ” This intellectual exploration propelled Kopiński, and he remarks that the internship program at Holy Family proved to be transformative. After a chance meeting with Dr. Margaret Nieborowska-Skorska and her husband, Dr. Tomasz Skorski, Kopiński was able to secure an internship in the cancer research laboratory in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Temple University School of Medicine, a crucial opportunity that opened the doors wide for his career. He was able to take a summer position in their lab, which turned into a three-year internship that Holy Family University enabled as part of his curriculum. Piotr would spend three days of the week in classes and three days in the laboratory, moving to full-time lab work during the summer months. “Holy Family University opened perhaps the most important door for me—its own. It was my gateway to the United States where in a supportive and stimulating environment I was able to dream big and was helped in achieving these dreams. Without Holy Family, I would not be where I am today.”
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Photo: David Pavlak
By Heather G. Dotchel
Photo credit here
AN OFFICER AND A CLERGYMAN BY DAVID PAVLAK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID PAVLAK & JAY SODA
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ather Jim MacNew, OSFS is always rushing; it’s been ingrained in him as a life-long military man. But at any moment, the retired Navy chaplain can drop his plans and devote his attention to those in need. It’s been ingrained in him as a man of God. Faculty and staff stop him to say hello, administration seek his opinion on various topics, and students ask if he could hear their confession—even if it’s on the go. Though his steps are softer than when he used to serve, the 66-year-old’s demeanor remains the same. After more than two-and-ahalf decades of decorated military service, “Cold Steel MacNew” is happy to be among the brimming hustle and bustle of Holy Family University. The son of a career Air Force officer, MacNew was facing two possible career paths after graduating from Father Judge High School. One, predictably enough, would be to follow his father’s military footsteps and enter the United States Military Academy at West Point. The other option was to pursue religious life. As MacNew describes, it was the height of the Cold War in the mid to late 1960s. The Catholic Church was concerned about the spread of Communism. Church homilies focused on personal salvation. “I wrestled between two career paths. If I could graduate from West Point and become a Special Forces Officer, I could change the world for God,” MacNew remembers. “If we could liberate North Vietnam from Communist control, the sacraments could be available in the north once again, as they had been under the French. On the other hand, if I became an Oblate Priest, I could change Heaven. So, as I saw it at 17, I could either change the world for God or spend my life trying to change eternity every day. The decision became an easy choice.” MacNew entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
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formation program nine days after graduating high school. It would take 11 years to becoming fully ordained, but MacNew’s desire to see military action never quite went away. “During my seminary years, I repeatedly but humbly submitted my interest in the military chaplaincy. My superiors were reluctant to encourage these hopes because the Oblates allowed very few priests to become military chaplains. I would say, ‘Father, I will obey. I’ll teach Spanish for 40 years if God wants that, but I think God wants me to run through the barbed wire with the Marines.’ By God’s grace, I was given permission for the Navy Reserve program for seminarians while in my final years of study, and three years after ordination to priesthood, I was given permission for active duty as a Navy chaplain.” MacNew was stationed with the Third Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. He also saw time aboard many naval ships, including the U.S.S. Lexington, the U.S.S. Thomaston, U.S.S. John F. Kennedy, U.S.S. Coral Sea, U.S.S. Dale, and the U.S.S. America. On land, MacNew was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, among many other notable stops along the way. “I loved proving myself to the Marines in their professional categories. If you could hike 15 miles in three hours, the Marines wanted to be at your Mass. I served aboard U.S.S. America for two-and-a-half years and loved every day of it. Working on the flight deck at night was a thrill, and it did bring people to mass in the morning. I loved going to sea and riding the ships of the Logistics Fleet was an upbeat challenge. These were fast moving supply ships carrying food and fuel to destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. These sailors would boast: ‘Beans, bullets, and black oil! That’s what we do!’ They
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Photo credit here
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were devoted, hard-working men and women going to sea in defense of human freedom and it was an honor to serve as their chaplain.” His experience with soldiers at home, at sea, and abroad has filled his life with unique memories and stories that will last a lifetime. Whether it was offering mass on the hood of a camouflaged Humvee or in the 2,000 seat Cathedral at the Naval Academy, his love for his country, his soldiers, and his faith have left him a humble servant of God. “Catholic Mass offered in a frozen rice paddy in Korea for a hand-
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ful of Marines was different from Catholic mass in the Cathedral at the Naval Academy, but when celebrated properly, it calls for the same focus, intensity, and reverence, even when the danger of frostbite demands alacrity or when the Colonel whispers, ‘Father, helicopters inbound, 11 minutes!’” Military life boasts about “the bond”—a connection from solider to soldier, no matter the decade, no matter the distance. It is an earned right, through hard work and sacrifice, courage and bravery. The same goes for the chaplain. MacNew would work tirelessly to
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impress his fellow comrades, whether that meant learning the intricacies of their When Duty Calls: John F. Kennedy Jr. weaponry, completing their daily workout On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and his sister-in-law, regimen, or sharing a meal together. Lauren Bessette, took off from Essex County Airport in a flight chartered by Kennedy. “With sailors and with Marines, as a The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, with all three aboard perishing. form of pre-evangelization, I consistently As the Command Chaplain of Combat Logistics Squadron Two, MacNew was flown exceeded normal role expectations for to Massachusetts to minister to the Navy Divers and crew of the U.S.S. Grasp as they chaplains. I found again and again that this engaged in the search and recovery operations for the missing aircraft. full participation in military training and “I ministered to the Kennedy and Bessette families at sea and the shore in the wake of the excessive knowledge of military subjects JFK Jr. airplane crash. The Navy was dispatched by the President to try to find that aircraft. was the first key in the process of evangeliIt took them about 4-5 days to find it. When they did, there were only two ships capable of recovering the aircraft on the East Coast and both ships belonged to my squadron. zation with the men and women of the sea That meant the bodies would be within the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for the Military services. Once you had won their respect, Services, and that, of course, the appropriate Catholic chaplain should be on scene.” you were accepted as part of the family. If Senator Edward Kennedy and his two sons were transported to the U.S.S. Grasp by the they came to respect and love you, almost U.S. Coast Guard. Father MacNew’s ministry to the Kennedy and Bessette families began imperceptibly, you were taken into anothin private consultations with the Senator and his sons upon arrival. When the bodies er level of intimacy among them.” of John Jr., Carolyn, and Lauren had been recovered, Senator Kennedy asked MacNew With military service, though, comes to accompany them ashore to minister in prayer, counseling, and facilitation of particularly difficult times. Every day, administrative procedures. regular people sign up to enter military Father MacNew recounts: “A burial at sea aboard the US Navy Destroyer U.S.S. Briscoe service, knowing there is a possibility that was scheduled for the morning following the recovery. A Navy admiral, who is now the chapthey give the ultimate sacrifice. After that lain to the United States Senate, Reverend Barry Black, flew in with an accompanying Navy Catholic priest on the evening of the recovery. I was in place early in the morning to receive bond is formed, it can be difficult to say the cremated remains and to brief Admiral Black on the pastoral situation as it had develgoodbye. While on a large joint military oped. I said, ‘Sir, you and Father Iasiello will obviously guide the funeral service this morning. exercise with Marines in South Korea, With your permission, I’ll now return to the U.S.S. Grasp.’ Admiral Black replied, ‘Jim, you’ve MacNew was called to respond to a tragic made us all very proud. The families have made it clear that they want you to lead them night helicopter crash in which 18 Ameriin prayer this morning. We have vestments to cover your working uniform and we will can Marines and 11 Republic of Korea Maaccompany you in this morning’s service for the families.’ It was a pretty dramatic 40 hours.” rines lost their lives. “I worked in concert with the recovery and medical teams from early morning hours into the night, prayerfully receiving the body Father MacNew's military service had him stationed throughout the of each Marine, as well as counseling and praying United States and abroad, providing religious services to thousands. with Marines who had participated in the overnight mission.” I love to laugh with our students and they keep me humble. A New Family I’m 66 now, but I still climb Bear Mountain with the same At the conclusion of his military career, MacNew fervor each October, and I share the cold at the March for was ready to embark on a new mission. He was Life with our students in the same way I endured the cold of asked by his religious superior to come to Holy South Korea with my Marines. No matter where I serve, Family University because the Sisters of the Holy it is all for the greater glory of God, and God has always Family of Nazareth wanted an Oblate priest to kept me among young adults!” lead the Campus Ministry program. He was asked When asked about his legacy, and what is next for a to attend for one year. MacNew will celebrate his man who always looking like he is rushing toward his 13th anniversary this August. Throughout his next adventure, he is sure in his response. time, MacNew has provided prayer and spiritual “Whatever God wants. I would like to die as a holy man, renewal to students from all walks of life. if God gives me the grace and I am able to respond.” “I fell in love with our students.” Students from last year’s Bear Mountain hike asked While MacNew would certainly point to the MacNew what he’d like his legacy to be—how he would students as the leaders of Campus Ministry, it is like people to remember him years from now—his tombhis iconic humor and bodacious homilies that keep the students stone message. He is qualified for burial at Arlington coming. The group celebrates with a yearly trek to the top of Bear National Cemetery because of his years of service, but would need Mountain and marches through the streets of Washington DC during permission from his superiors. the March for Life rally. He responded instantly and from the heart, “CDR James MacNew, “My true joy is to be among our students and to contribute to their OSFS, Oblate Priest, Navy Padre, Chaplain of Marines, Holy Family personal, professional, and spiritual growth in any and every way. Buddy.”
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Save the Date
Homecoming 2018 Saturday, September 29! Homecoming 2018 is back and better than ever! Mark your calendar for this exciting day, which will once again be filled with things to do for the entire family. • P ick your favorite treat from one of the vendors at the food truck festival. • G rab a beer with your fellow classmates and professors at the Alumni Beer Garden. • S upport student activities and organizations at the student-run carnival and faire. • C heer on the Holy Family Tigers as the men’s and women’s soccer teams and the women’s volleyball team takes on CACC conference rival, Dominican College. • A nd, most importantly, don’t forget to join us for a joyful celebration of mass. Be sure to visit holyfamily.edu/homecoming for complete information as it becomes available in the next few months. With the exception of the Alumni Beer Garden, registration for all events is free and open to everyone. Registration opens in August and is important to help us and our vendors plan for the day.
Spotlight
In Their Memory By David Pavlak
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Photo courtesy of Georgetown University
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y parents were educators. Both were generous, easily approachable, eager to share what they knew, and absolutely committed to future generations—whether grandchildren or younger colleagues. I know they would delight in the opportunity to promote anyone’s learning and scholarship.” Senior Clinical Scholar and Professor of Medicine and Nursing at Georgetown University, Carol Taylor ’75, RN, PhD created the Ray and Mildred Taylor Award in 1991 in memory of her parents. It has been used to fund research projects focusing on pregnancy loss, stress reduction programs, and local ecology, as well as purchase state-of-theart equipment and cover professional travel expenses. The annual endowment has been presented to 75 members of Holy Family University since its inception. “One of the greatest joys in life is that we are all different and value different things. I think it’s the same in academics; scholarship assumes different foci for different folks. While it’s been good to fund attendance at a conference for faculty to network about their dissertation interests, it’s been equally good to purchase a special freezer for the biology lab for President Sister Maureen McGarrity in her teaching days or fund the publication of Dr. Lombardi’s poetry.” At Georgetown, Taylor teaches ethics in the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, directs a practicum in clinical ethics for graduate students in the philosophy program, and develops seminars in health care ethics for health care professionals and the public. Before that, she taught at Holy Family. She also lectures and writes internationally. “I loved my years of practicing nursing at Nazareth Hospital and teaching BSN students at Holy Family. I learned early that a willingness to set aside personal desires to serve others and to serve greater needs, with a great trust in our loving God, would stand me well. As I look back, it is with profound gratitude because I could never have imagined the life that is now mine.”
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Athletics
By Greg Pellegrino, Sports Information Director
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Rock Repeats as CACC Player of the Year Junior Brianna Rock was named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women’s Soccer Player of the Year for the second straight season after capping off a stellar junior campaign. Rock also received All-CACC first team honors for the second consecutive season and went on to earn All-East Region first team honors as well as All-America first team recognition by the Conference Commissioner’s Association (CCA). Rock became just the second Holy Family student-athlete to earn CACC Player of the Year honors multiple times, yet alone in consecutive years. Former women’s basketball star Kelly Killion earned CACC Player of the Year status in backto-back years in 2007 and 2008. Rock also became just the second women’s soccer player to earn All-America recognition
since former standout Jamie-Lynn Wallace was selected as a second team honoree in 2008. Rock finished the 2017 season with a career-high 41 points after recording 16 goals and nine assists. Her 41 points set a new single-season NCAA-era program record for most points in a season and was tops among the CACC leaders.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOFTBALL
The Holy Family University women’s soccer team is no stranger to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament as the Tigers qualified for the postseason for the 19th straight season since joining the conference in 1999. Holy Family earned the third seed this past fall and advanced to the CACC semifinals for the second straight season. During the 19-year stretch, the Tigers are 28-8-3 in the conference tournament and have won eight CACC Championships.
It was a record-breaking season for senior Taylor Favinger as she rewrote the Holy Family University softball record book. In a two-week span, she became the program’s all-time leader in runs (138), home runs (26), and RBIs (120). Furthermore, she finished her career with 198 hits, third most in HFU history. Favinger broke Melissa Miller’s runs record (1996-1999) of 128; HFU Hall of Famer Sharon Brown’s RBI record (1996-1999) of 115; and Deanna Myers (2010-13) home run record of 24.
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Favinger Becomes All-Time Home Run, RBI, and Runs Leader
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Photos: CACC (Rock); Stephen Pellegrino Photography (soccer, Favinger)
19 Consecutive CACC Tournament Berths
TRACK AND FIELD
Augustin and Burke Provisionally Qualify for Nationals Senior Taurai Augustin and sophomore Nicole Burke both provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championship after hitting qualifying marks in their respective events at the Fastrack National Invite on February 9. Augustin finished second overall in the 800-meters in a time of 1:52.39—breaking his own school record. At the time, his finish ranked 23rd best among Division II athletes. Burke finished sixth overall in the 400-meters and crossed the finish line in 56.18 seconds. Her qualifying time also broke the school record in the event. Burke’s time ranked 13th in Division II at the time of the meet. Augustin and Burke joined former sprinter Zafirah Green as the only studentathletes to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championship in school history. Green provisionally qualified for the 60-meter dash in 2012. That same year the women’s 4x400-meter relay team also provisionally qualified for the indoor championship.
SAAC Community Engagement The Holy Family University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) took part in a number of community service events during the course of the 2017-18 academic year. In the fall, SAAC helped the Department of Athletics collect and donate 1,000 new children’s books to Benjamin Rush Elementary School as part of the 12th annual Build-A-Library event. Since 2006, nearly 15,000 new books have been donated to 14 Philadelphia area schools. In February, SAAC visited Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia and helped out with the school’s annual ‘Hoopla 4 Hears’ event. Holy Family SAAC has been volunteering at the event for the past five years. SAAC also hosted its annual Bowling Fundraiser in the spring where it raised money for a local family and volunteered at the BennettStrong Foundation’s Inaugural gala.
Photos: Stephen Pellegrino Photography (Augustin); Holy Family Athletics (SAAC, Hall of Fame)
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
2007-08 Women’s Basketball Inducted into CACC Hall of Fame The 2007-08 Holy Family University women’s basketball team was officially inducted into the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Hall of Fame on December 2 prior to the Tigers’ conference game against city rival University of the Sciences. Members of the 2007-08 team returned to where it all started as CACC Commissioner Dan Mara was on hand in the Campus Center Gymnasium to formally induct the team into the conference’s Hall of Fame as part of the 2017-18 Class. One of the most decorative team in the program’s history, the 2007-08 team finished the
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regular season 28-0 overall and 18-0 in conference play as the only team in the Northeast Region (now known as the East Region) to finish undefeated prior to the start of the postseason.
The Tigers went on to win their sixth CACC Tournament title and as a result became the first team in the CACC to earn the number one seed and host the NCAA Northeast Regional.
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Vision & Values
Golf Classic Holy Family University’s 29th Annual Golf Classic was held on October 4 at The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. The sun was shining and golf balls were flying as our foursomes helped support financial aid for HFU students. The 30th Annual Golf Classic will be on June 5, 2019.
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1 / B ruce Miller, Eric Miller, Anthony Miller, and Nick Ludwig took home the President’s Cup for best score of the day. 2 / J oan Fiorentino, ’83, Treasurer, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and her husband Bob enjoyed the nice weather throughout the day. 3 / J im White, Don Bove, Steve Wright, and Tom Augustine represented the grand sponsor, PepsiCo.
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4 / C harles Kueny from Beneficial Bank posed with Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN and his new Philadelphia Eagles jersey after winning one of the raffle baskets. 5 / D ylan Connelly, Brian Connelly, Joseph Connelly Sr., and Gary Nicito were ready to tee off. 3
6 / S ister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN and Patrick Trunfio from I.B.E.W. Local Union 98.
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Photos: Anastasia Altomari
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Homecoming Holy Family University re-introduced Homecoming in 2017. Current students, alumni, and the local community came to HFU on September 30 for a food truck festival, student-run carnival games, music, and exciting men’s and women’s soccer matches. Homecoming 2018 will be held on September 29. 1 / B rittany Caplan ’17 and Tatiana Malone ’13 got a quick picture with the Tiger.
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2 / E mma DiMarcantonio ’13, Ryan O’Driscoll ’13, Mike McNulty-Bobholz, and Sam Kiger ’14 sported their HFU gear at Homecoming. 3 / A shley Beam ’18 and the HFU Tiger showed their fierce claws. 4 / K athleen Salinel ’18, Sister Maria Annette Mallen, CSFN, ’88, and Michelle Connerton ’17 showed their HFU spirit. 5 / S am Kiger ’14 and Roshan Pulimkalayil ’16, M’18 enjoyed the Alumni Beer Garden. 3
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6 / T he Holy Family University cheerleading team put on a great halftime show during the men’s and women’s soccer games. 7 / D oug Ulrich ’12 and Mike Ulrich ’11, M’16 made good use of the University’s selfie board.
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Photos: Anastasia Altomari and Life Touch
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Vision & Values
President’s Club Holiday Party On December 6, Holy Family held its President’s Club Holiday Party at The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. The President’s Club honors those alumni and friends who demonstrate leadership through philanthropy at Holy Family. We are grateful for their leadership giving in support of student success! 1 / B oard of Trustees members Matthew Topley ’94 and Anthony Szuszczewicz stopped for a quick chat.
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2 / M atthew McFillin, CPA, CFF, welcomed everyone to the President’s Club Holiday Party. 3 / D aniel P. Kilcoyne ’04 and Michelle Kilcoyne took in the ambiance of the night. 4 / D avid and Joanne Tarditi enjoyed a drink. 5 / M arianne (Clisham) Harrington ’60 and Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN caught up by the fireplace.
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6 / S ister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN welcomed Rodney Sandymeyer and his wife to the party.
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Photos: David Pavlak
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SUMMER / 2018
Scholarship Ball At the 25th Annual Scholarship Ball, Holy Family University honored Gail Kass, President and CEO of NewCourtland Senior Services. The evening’s proceeds benefited student financial aid. 1 / T he night wouldn’t be possible without the help of Anthony Szuszczewicz, Chair of Holy Family University’s Board of Trustees; Dawn Timmeney, Anchor and Reporter for Fox 29 and the event’s host; Gail Kass, President and CEO of NewCourtland Senior Services; Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, President of Holy Family University; Bill Strecker, Chair of the Scholarship Ball Committee; and Dennis Colgan, former Chair of Holy Family University’s Board of Trustees.
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2 / G ail Kass accepted her award from Sister Maureen.
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3 / S ister Francesca Onley, CSFN, Bill Strecker, Chair of the Scholarship Ball Committee, and Kim Panichi spent a few minutes in the lobby talking prior to the event. 4 / T he Love Jones Band had everyone on the dance floor all night.
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5 / D r. Jenai Grigg, Dr. Megan Meyer, Dr. Jim Garvey, and Dr. Shelley Robbins smiled for the camera. 6 / S ister Loretta Theresa Felici, CSFN, Charles Kueny, and Sister Celine Warnilo, CSFN 7 / O ur student ambassadors shared their success stories throughout the night.
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Photos: Candace diCarlo
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Vision & Values
Alumni Reunion Dîner en Bleu
Modeled after the popular dîner en Blanc event, members from the Classes of 1959-2017 enjoyed the Alumni Reunion Dîner en Bleu on May 12 at The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. Alumni Reunion 2019 will be held on April 27. 1 / T om McMahon, husband of Mary Ann (Zalewski) McMahon ’68, cut up the dance floor. 2 / D on Coverdale ’93, Julie Bamberger-Herrmann ’83, Bob Herrmann, and Joan Coverdale enjoyed the night’s festivities. 3 / P atricia (Skonieczki) Reider ’68 and Don Reider shared a slow dance.
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4 / A lumni Reunion was the perfect time to reminisce with a yearbook. 5 / S andy (Spirito) Bonazza ’91 and Kettie Eugene ’08 shared stories over the delicious hors d’oeuvres. 3
6 / Y oung alumni Sam Kiger ’14 and Ryan O’Driscoll ’13 perfectly fit the theme of the night.
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Photos: Ricky Haldis, Wise Owl Multimedia
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SUMMER / 2018
Class Notes
What you do is news to your fellow alumni and your alma mater! Tell us if you have moved, changed your phone number, updated your e-mail address, become engaged, gotten married, had or adopted a baby, reunited with a group of classmates, received an award or promotion, or changed jobs—or if you just want to say “hello!” Please forward details to the Office of Alumni & Parents, Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114-2009. You can e-mail us at alumni@holyfamily.edu.
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70s
Mildred Copeland ’59 celebrated her 80th birthday in October 2017. She currently resides in Coral Gables, FL.
Linda Kachmar ’71 has retired after 42 years of teaching for the Abington School District. Linda now volunteers and works as a story teller and Kindercare substitute at Leola Library Branch. Her family went to Germany for the holidays to visit with their daughter in the Air Force.
60s Agnes Rash ’63 retired from St. Joseph’s University in 2016 as Professor Emeritis after teaching there since 1969. St. Joseph’s University named an endowment fund on her behalf: The Agnes M. Rash Fund for Excellence in Mathematics and Mathematics Education. Rita (McManemin) Spishock ’69 recently retired after working for over 40 years as a human resources manager. She is very grateful to Holy Family for her education.
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Denise (Shire) Costello ’72 recently retired and is enjoying spending time with her first granddaughter, who will be two years old in August. Agnes (Busanovich) Dunn ’74 and her husband, Joe, recently celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary in Venice, Italy. After eight years of serving as a chaplain in hospitals and for a hospice, Sister Cara Lucille Garofalo, OSF, ’76, has transitioned into an administrative role at the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters’ Mother Veronica Resource Center in Reading, PA.
80s Kathe (Fosbenner) Friel ’81 lives in Orinda, CA with her husband Dan. She works as an OB/GYN RN at a Private Practice in Berkeley, CA. Anthony Baker ’82 currently works as an EHS Specialist for PeroxyChem. He recently became a grandfather. Elaine Sestito ’83 married Joe Rogosky on June 17, 2017. She works as a health coach for Independence Blue Cross. Janet (Karolkiewicz) Smith ’83 is a Pre-K3 Teacher at St. Anthony of Padua Regional School in Philadelphia. She and her family live in Philadelphia. Liz (Houseman) Sullivan ’83 and her husband, Tim, live in Fairless Hills, PA. Donna (Nieckoski) Pancoast ’87 and her husband William R. Pancoast II live in Bensalem, PA. They have two children, a daughter, who is a chef and private caterer, and a son, who is currently studying in Saint Charles Seminary to be ordained a priest in 2019. Valerie Batezel ’89 obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Wilkes University in 2015. Valerie works as a Nurse Practitioner & Surgery Coordinator at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, PA.
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Class Notes
90s Raymond Zin ’90 and his wife, Donna, currently live in Torresdale. Raymond works as an Integrated Logistics Analyst for Life Cycle Engineering (Department of Defense). Kristina (Georeno) Lebo ’91 is working as an English teacher for Bristol Township School District. She and her husband Robert reside in Bristol, PA. Bill Brander ’92 currently works as a PGA Golf Professional at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York, PA where he also lives with his wife, Tracey Kondrasuk-Brander. Carol (Trench) Casciato ’92 is currently employed as Principal of the Penrose School within the School District of Philadelphia. She and her husband Joseph also reside in Philadelphia. Lorraine (Lisicki) Gaffney ’92 and John Gaffney ’92 are excited that their son Sean has started at Holy Family University in Fall 2017 as an Accounting major. Sean is the proud recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. Carl Seeger ’94 works as a RN at Holy Redeemer Hospital. He and his wife Dawn reside in Jamison, PA.
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Brian Spector ’94 completed the New York City Marathon in November 2017. It was his 11th marathon to date.
Bob Thompson ’05 and his wife Rosalie are expecting their 10th grandchild in May. Her name will be Serena.
Jeanne (Rayca) McGerry ’99 and her husband Michael, celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in July 2017. They have four children and reside in Torresdale, PA. Jeanne is a teacher at Our Lady of Calvary School in Philadelphia, PA.
Marie (Burkitt) Dennis ’08 lives in Feasterville, PA and currently works as a librarian at the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library in Bristol, PA.
Andrew Murray ’99 is working as a Senior Director, Business Analytics at Hampton Products. He and his wife, Shannon (Walsh) Murray ’99, reside in Bella Vista, AR.
00s Nick Krayger ’00 earned his Master of Education degree from Holy Family and went on to get post-Master’s certificates from Towson University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University. He also studied at the Principal Institute at Harvard University. He currently holds positions as a public school educator and adjunct faculty member in Maryland.
Chris Ehly ’09 married Ann Marie (Lynn) Ehly ’13 in June 2016. The couple live in Northeast Philadelphia.
10s Ashley (Coleman) Wakelee ’10 works as an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Education, working with Dr. Helen Hoffner.
Kadedra Haynes ’07 gave birth to a daughter, Kaylyn, in 2013 and works as school counselor for the School District of Philadelphia.
Carl Coleman ’01 works as a Registered Nurse at New Vitae Wellness and Recovery in Quakertown, PA. John Brian Rendfrey ’03 currently resides in Lumberton, NJ and works as a teacher at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, NJ.
SUMMER / 2018
Patricia DiNoia-Chamberlin ’12 recently graduated from Drew University with a Masters of Letters in Irish/ Irish-American Studies. She and her husband Christopher reside in Philadelphia, PA.
Liz (Lipinski) Speers ’11 got married in May 2017 in Cherry Hill, NJ. She and her husband have since relocated to Tampa, FL.
Regina Lordan ’12 currently works as a freelance writer and editor for Catholic News Service. Sister Marcelina Mikulska, CSFN ’12 is a teacher at St. Katherine of Siena Catholic Grade School in Philadelphia, PA. She is also a graduate student at Holy Family University studying Counseling Psychology. Dr. Timothy Sullivan ’12 graduated from Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. He is practicing small and exotic animal medicine at Goose Creek Vet Clinic, Charlestown, SC. Kelly Diaz ’13 works as a state trooper for Delaware State Police. He currently resides in Bear, DE. Brittany Luroe ’13 works for the School District of Philadelphia as a Special Education Teacher and is near completion of her master’s degree from Holy Family University in the Special Education Advanced Practices and Autism Endorsement program. Michael Prendergast ’13 is currently working in sales at Lloyd Sixsmith Sporting Goods.
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Kelly (Shepperd) Keenan ’15 got married in March 2017 and the newlyweds purchased their first home together. In December 2017, Kelly also received her master’s degree from Holy Family University in Counseling. Paul Larrea ’16 recently received recognition as a 2018 Pennsylvania Council on American Private Education Middle School Teacher of the Year. He was also selected as a 2018
Phillies All-Star Teacher and was honored at Phillies Game on May 11, 2018. Paul teaches at Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School in Willow Grove, PA. Elaine Nguyen ’16 lives in Palmyra, NJ and works as a Registered Nurse within Cooper University Health Care. Jennifer Ott ’16 is working as an Associate Client Account Manager for Ashfield Healthcare, LLC in Fort Washington, PA. She is living in Hatboro, PA. Salma Begum ’17 is currently working as a Lead Technician for the American Red Cross in Philadelphia, PA. Ryan Keller ’17 works as Outreach Coordinator for Councilman Bobby Henon’s Office.
In Memoriam Sister M. Clarissa Mroz, CSFN, ’59 Sister Antonia Marie Cholodowski, CSFN, ’63 Carol (Donato) Harvey ’64 Kathleen McAndrew ’65 Patricia (McMahon) Hochkins ’68 Sister M. Eileen Drummy, CSFN, ’70 Roberta (Schwartz) Rosenblum-Glatzer ’77 Jeanne (Moleski) Benkert ’81 Bonnie (Thomas) Angelastro ’92 Michele Chabrol ’93 Shawn McAllister, Esq. ’94 Leonard Roberts ’95 William Hughes ’96 Yola (Moresi) Salandrea ’98 Alexandra Blitman ’06 Daniel Laverty ’06 Kim Engelsman ’08
12/15/2017 3/21/2017 11/1/2017 5/18/2017 10/9/2015 8/11/2017 2/28/2018 8/6/2017 8/18/2017 11/7/2017 8/14/2017 2/20/2017 2/1/2017 10/3/2017 3/7/2017 4/1/2017 7/26/2017
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Pen to Paper
The Invisible Scar
By Pat Griffin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the Graduate Criminal Justice program
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Photo: David Pavlak
T
he story is heartbreaking. Men and women serving our country return home alive but bear invisible scars of post-traumatic stress disorder. Some, estimated at 140,000, wind up in jail. Others, unable to cope, take their own life at a rate of 22 per day. Police officers are trained to deal with individuals in crisis to deter them from the criminal justice system into treatment and to de-escalate the situation to avoid suicide. But encountering a veteran in crisis is different. Professionals will be the first to tell you interacting with a veteran can be one of the most dangerous situations officers are placed in because of their advanced and diverse skill sets. Instead of being seen as service providers trying to make a difference in their lives, police officers are often seen as threats by these men and women who have pledged their service to protect their country. This is not how it should be. This is what I, along with a team of crisis intervention, law enforcement professionals, 911 dispatch operators, and veteran community experts seek to fix through research that’ll deliver and analyze scenario-based training for law enforcement and 911 dispatchers in the Greater Philadelphia five county region. This isn’t just a project. It’s a calling. Although no two situations can be solved the same way, by offering more real-life situations to law enforcement and 911 dispatchers, they can gain invaluable experience in how to approach a variety of issues they may face in the field. It’s true, there may never be a way to heal every invisible scar; however, with nearly 9,500 police officers, 911 call takers and dispatchers located in our area, we are in a position to make a difference. By implementing this increased scenario-based training, along with rigorous evaluation research into the currently practiced methods, we will be taking major strides toward helping our veterans come home the way they deserve.
Then & Now
Photos: HFU Archives (top); David Pavlak (bottom)
While the college room dÊcor has certainly evolved over the years, Move-in Day is still a morning filled with excitement for our new and returning Tigers. Student volunteers help unload cars and transport boxes all in the name of unity. What hasn’t changed is St. Joseph Hall, the all-freshmen dormitory, still located centrally in the middle of campus since its ground breaking in 1958.
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Mark Your
CALENDAR August 2018 Fall Semester Classes Begin (8/27/18)
September 2018 Homecoming (9/29/18)
October 2018 Family & Friends Annual Bingo (10/21/18)
November 2018 Quizzo (11/2/18) Giving Tuesday (11/27/18) Third Annual Nativity & Christmas Tree Lighting
December 2018 Christmas Rose (12/7/18) President’s Club Holiday Party
February 2019 Charter Celebration
March 2019 Northeast Philadelphia Happy Hour
April 2019 Alumni Reunion (4/27/19) Class of 2019 Senior Class Legacy Campaign Pinning Ceremony and Reception
May 2019 Commencement (5/14/19) NYC Happy Hour Center City Philadelphia Happy Hour
June 2019 30th Annual Golf Classic (6/5/19)
January 2019 Spring Semester Classes Begin (1/7/19) Alumni Board Open Meeting (1/10/19)
* Dates subject to change.