spring 2009
University Magazine
Circle of
Life
A nurse who saves preemies now has one of them working beside her.
Diploma Frame Diploma frame with school colors mat $150.00 Short-Sleeve Junior’s Shirt Blue junior fit tee-shirt with screen printed logo, 100% cotton jersey $19.98 Long-Sleeve Shirt Black tee-shirt with two location screen printed logo, 100% cotton jersey $21.98
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In this issue
contents
FEATURES
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Puppy Love Since he was a young boy, Greg Jordan ’03 possessed an extraordinary love for animals. Today, he’s making a profound difference in their lives as a Humane Law Officer for the PSPCA. By Barbara Link
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Circle of Life
In 1982, Melissa Wilson ’07 was born premature and fighting for her life. Twenty-six years later, she’s working side-by-side with the nurse who saved her. By Dan Geringer
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Lucky 13
Guts and gusto drive Coach Meagan DiCave as she builds the women’s lacrosse team from the ground up. By Paul Gornowski
DEPARTMENTS 2 FirstWord
32 TigerTales
4 BrieflyNoted Out and about on campus
34 FamilyReunion
A message from the President
26 1000Words A visual slice of life at Holy Family
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Reports from the court, track, and field
News for the alumni community
7 MemoryLane 3 A nostalgic trip back in time
8 GivingBack 3 Making a difference on campus 40 LastWord
Q&A with Dean Jan Duggar
Cover
April Torres, daughter of Marilyn Torres, is just one of the many premature infants at St. Christopher’s Hospital for children who is blessed to have Melissa Wilson ’07 as her nurse. Story on page 20.
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firstword
A message from the President
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ncreasingly, I see Holy Family as a place that uncovers the innate potential within all of us to lead lives of consequence. We uncover more and more evidence of this among our students and alumni every day. This issue of Holy Family University Magazine features two stories that illustrate this point. The first is about Melissa Wilson ’07, who began her life as a premature baby in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She survived her grave medical condition and grew up to pursue a nursing degree at Holy Family. Today she is employed as a Neonatal Nurse at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and works with the woman who saved her life 26 years ago. The second is about Greg Jordan ’03, a Humane Law Officer with the Philadelphia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. His work has been regularly chronicled on the television series Animal Cops: Philadelphia. While working to save the lives of infants and to ensure the humane treatment of animals, the two alumni featured in this issue are employing their education to make a difference in our world—touching one life at a time. Within these two stories—and many other stories reflecting your lives as well—lie the answers to our internal questions about the Holy Family brand. As I mentioned in the Report of the President, we are engaged in a major branding research initiative to gather data, interpret it, and develop recommendations, including a vision statement, brand promise, and various sub-brands and messaging that would be appropriate in refining our marketing. We have sought the opinions of many of our stakeholders to help us identify what makes us distinct, for what we want to be known, and how we should portray ourselves.
University Magazine
Editor Jennifer Zamora Art Director Jay Soda Contributing Writers Pamela Coumbe Dan Geringer Paul Gornowski Naomi Hall Suzanne Libenson Barbara Link Robert Macartney Kathy Warchol Marie Zecca Contributing Photographers Susan Beard Design Michael Branscom John McKeith Kathleen Migliarese Susan Pardys President S. Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD ’59 Vice President for Institutional Advancement Margaret Kelly Director of Marketing and Communications Allen Arndt
I am grateful to each of you who participated in interviews or focus groups in the fall or the alumni, faculty/staff, and trustee surveys conducted early this year. Your opinions are important and help us position our University strategically. If you have not sent us your e-mail address, please do so that you can participate in future communications and research projects.
Holy Family University Magazine is published biannually by the Division of Institutional Advancement. Please address all correspondence to:
I look forward to sharing more with you about this initiative and its results. Meanwhile, enjoy the stories about our graduates and how they are leading lives of consequence.
Editor Holy Family University Magazine 9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114 magazine@holyfamily.edu
Sincerely,
Sister Franceca Onley, CSFN, PhD ’59
Changes of address should be sent at least 30 days prior to the publication of the issue for which it is to take effect. 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. © 2009 Holy Family University
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PLEASE NOTE: alumni association
awards and reunion RESCHEDULED friday, october 23 belle voir manor bensalem, pa
a celebration of alumni excellence and achievement, with a special tribute to 40 years of student services. stay tuned for more details!
brieflynoted
Out and about on campus
Energy Event Draws Big Names to Campus
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ormer White House officials, local radio talk-show hosts, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. were on campus at Holy Family University during the Philadelphia Energy Summit sponsored by CBS Radio. This was a free event that provided eye-opening discussions on a number of topics related to the nation’s energy consumption. People from across the region came out to hear the speeches and panel discussions that took place inside the John Perzel Education and Technology Center throughout the morning on November 1. It was also a chance for fans of Big Talker Radio 1210 to make live comments on the issue. The radio show and KYW News Radio 1060 AM broadcast live reports from the event and conducted live interviews with officials.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. delivered the keynote speech, “Energy Policy: The Next President’s First Task,” which outlined the need for America to make alternative energy sources a reality. Kennedy is an attorney, entrepreneur, and environmental activist and was recently named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet.” Kathleen McGinty, former Chair of the White House Counsel on Environmental Quality, also spoke. Panel discussions featured government industry experts as well as experts from Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania. Several co-sponsoring vendors set up exhibitor booths outside where visitors could learn about their eco-friendly products. People also were invited to test drive electric and hybrid vehicles. – Naomi Hall
Environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Kathleen McGinty, headlined the Philadelphia Energy Summit at Holy Family.
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Look Who Ran for Office
University Welcomes Record-Setting Class of 2012
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n August 23, 2008, more than 400 incoming freshmen poured through the gates at Grant and Frankford Avenues for new student orientation. It was the first experience they shared as the largest class in University history. In total, the University welcomed more than 550 new full-time undergraduates, setting records in number of students in the incoming class, number of resident students in the incoming class, and number of overall resident students. Due to recent Undergraduate Admissions Office initiatives to expand the recruitment territory, 14 states are represented in the resident student number. “It has been a very exciting year,” Director of Undergraduate Admissions Lauren Campbell said. “The physical growth of the campus, combined with exciting academic initiatives over the past few years, has really helped us attract quality students from our region and beyond.” – Robert Macartney
In the Company of Leaders
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ister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, was in good company when she received one of the 2008 Awards for Outstanding Catholic Leadership. The Catholic Leadership Institute of Drexel Hill handed down the annual honors before an audience of 600 at a banquet November 7. S. Francesca called it an astounding experience.
Democrat Steve Santarsiero ’06, won a two-year term as state representative for the 31st district, Bucks County. Santarsiero graduated from Holy Family University with a MEd and holds a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Democrat Jewell Williams, incumbent state representative for the 197th district in Philadelphia won another twoyear term. Williams attended the urban policy program at Holy Family University in 1987. – Naomi Hall
The Award for Outstanding Catholic Leadership recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding lay, clergy, and religious men and women. Based in Exton, the Catholic Leadership Institute is a national organization dedicated to developing, supporting, and training Catholic leaders. – Naomi Hall
Other honorees were Reverend Albert Cutie, Director of PAX Catholic Communications; Immaculee Ilibagiza, an author and survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide; and Robert J. Sims, a financial planning executive and former advisor to three cardinals. Rev. Albert Cutie, Immaculee Ilibagiza, S. Francesca Onley, and Robert J. Sims receive the Award for Outstanding Catholic Leadership.
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Out and about on campus
In Memoriam Reverend C. Thomas Fahy, OSB, MA Assistant Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences Reverend C. Thomas Fahy, OSB, MA, passed away in a tragic accident Monday, October 6. Father Fahy joined the full-time faculty at Holy Family in 1990 as a member of the English Department. During his tenure at the University his influence extended from the classroom to all aspects of campus life—liturgy, governance, and student activities. To each of these efforts he brought keen intellectual ability tempered by the kind and gentle concern for which he is best remembered. Father Fahy was a member of the order of St. Benedict associated with St. Anselm’s Abbey in Washington, DC. He earned his baccalaureate degree from the University of Notre Dame and a licentiate in sacred theology (STL) from the Colegio Sant’ Anselmo in Rome. After completing graduate degrees in English literature at Catholic University of America, and American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, he became a doctoral candidate in American Studies at Penn. Teaching was the passion and mainstay of Father Fahy’s life and work, having served as instructor at St. Anselm’s Abbey School and Trinity College in Washington, DC, and Drexel University in Philadelphia before being appointed to the faculty at Holy Family. One of his greatest reminiscences was about his work as tutor to two of the oldest children of the late Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States.
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was an Academic Dean from 1997-98. He then served as Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs until 2002 and as Provost until 2003. Most recently, Dr. Rice served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Other previous positions include: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of History at Felician College in Lodi and Rutherford, New Jersey; Director of Corporate Relations for Northeastern University in Boston; Chief Academic Officer at both Siena College in Loudonville, New York, and Penn State University’s Wilkes-Barre campus; and Director of Grants, Foundation, Corporate and Legislative Relations at College Misericordia in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Dr. Rice’s degrees included a bachelor of arts in Classics and History from Boston College, along with a master’s degree in Classics, and a PhD in Classics/Ancient History from Yale University. A memorial service for Dr. Rice was held on February 23 in the Campus Center.
Sister M. Celeste Huszcza, CSFN Former Professor of Theology Sister M. Celeste Huszcza, CSFN, PhD, passed away on June 18, 2008. Born Emilia Huszcza in Brooklyn, New York, in 1918, S. Celeste joined the Congregation in 1936 in Philadelphia and made her final profession of vows in 1945. S. Celeste was a lover of music, language, and learning. She learned to play the organ, trombone, trumpet and saxophone, and she helped to organize the Sisters’ Orchestra while at Nazareth Academy. In 1954, S. Celeste traveled to Rome to study theology at Regina Mundi Institute. She continued her language studies at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she received her PhD in modern languages.
More than 200 people attended the memorial service for Father Fahy on November 12. His family joined the University community for the service.
Her teaching career took her from Holy Family and St. Hubert High School in Philadelphia to Colegio Espiritu Santo in Puerto Rico.
David Rice, PhD Dr. David Rice, who served Holy Family University in a number of positions, passed away in January. Rice
S. Celeste returned to Mount Nazareth when her health began failing in 1998. She is remembered as a scholar, an excellent pianist, and a sister who loved languages. – Robert Macartney
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Officials Mark Dedication of Renovated Nursing Lab
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oly Family University recently marked the opening of its newly renovated Nursing Simulation and Practice Laboratory. The estimated $1 million renovation on the third floor of the Nurse Education Building is a sleek and high-tech expansion of the facility which faculty and students have been using. The lab features three nursing simulation rooms, practice rooms for fundamental skills and health assessment, and a conference room. The simulation rooms resemble hospital care units and include life-sized training mannequins that mimic various medical conditions. One of the simulation rooms bears the nameplate “Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center Maternity Simulation Lab.” It is so named for that institution’s long-standing clinical partnership with nursing faculty and students at Holy Family University as well as Holy Redeemer’s kind support of the renovation project. The renovation was made possible with support from the US Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center, and generous gifts from Holy Family’s Board of Trustees members, alumni, and faculty. During a private dedication ceremony held September 15, officials who helped make the renovation possible
spoke about the importance of supporting institutions like Holy Family University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. Speakers included Shelly Urofsky, Vice President of Holy Redeemer Health System and Chief Operating Officer of Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center; US Representative Allyson Schwartz (13th District); David R. Ranck, Interim Executive Director of Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers; Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; Christine Rosner, PhD, Dean of Holy Family’s School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions; and Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, President of Holy Family University. After the ceremony, Holy Family nursing faculty and students led tours of the laboratory and demonstrated its modern technology. Teachers and students began using the new laboratory shortly after the August 27 start of the fall semester. – Robert Macartney Above: University officials and other dignitaries cut the ribbon officially opening the Nursing Simulation and Practice Lab. Left: Nursing Simulation Coordinator Kathleen Kelly-West demonstrates the features of the infant simulator.
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brieflynoted
Out and about on campus
New Dean Takes Reins at School of Business Administration
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an Warren Duggar, PhD, began his term as School of Business Administration Dean on July 1, bringing nearly two decades of experience in academic leadership to Holy Family. Dr. Duggar succeeds James Higgins, who was serving as Interim Dean. “I am delighted to be here,” Dr. Duggar said on his first day in Aquinas Hall. “I see a great opportunity to further develop the business program, and I am looking forward to serving our students and the business community in the Philadelphia area.” Dr. Duggar came to Holy Family from Jacksonville University, where he served as Dean of the Davis College of Business from 2005-2007, and Executive Director for AACSB Accreditation since 2007, as well as Professor of Economics. Among the highlights of his tenure at Jacksonville was the opening of the high-tech Davis College of Business building. Dr. Duggar holds a PhD in Economics from Florida State University and has 17 years of executive business experience managing a consulting firm engaged in economic, financial, and strategic planning activities. His professional career has taken him to Louisiana, Washington, Arkansas, and Florida, and he has been published in the Journal of Finance, Southern Economic Journal, The Economic Journal, and The Journal of Economic History. – Robert Macartney Editor’s Note: See the Last Word section on page 40 to learn more about Dr. Duggar, his thoughts on the economic crisis, and the future of business education.
Visiting Professor Honored for Cultural Contributions
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resident Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, presented a certificate of appreciation to Professor Pan Yin of Guizhou University on December 26. Pan received the honor in a brief ceremony thanking
her for the six months she spent as a visiting professor at Holy Family. In her time at Holy Family, Pan presented four seminars to Holy Family students: “Introduction to China: Geography and Recent History;” “Education in China;” “Names and Interpersonal Relations;” and “Chinese Food, Chopsticks, and Tea Drinking.”
Left: Professor Pan Yin receives gifts of appreciation from S. Francesca Onley, and Associate Professor of Education Dr. Roger Gee.
At Guizhou University, Pan teaches and administers the English translation program. Holy Family hopes to build on Pan’s visit and launch a distance-learning program between the two universities. Holy Family forged a partnership with Guizhou, located in the Southwest region of China, in May 2007. – Robert Macartney
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Stevenson Lane Residence “Topped Off”
N
early eight months to the day after Holy Family’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Stevenson Lane Residence, University constituents gathered to celebrate a topping off ceremony. Construction workers placed the tallest beam atop the building on Friday, January 9.
with ample meeting space. The building also will feature a health suite. Students will use security swipe cards to access the building and gain entrance to their rooms. The building will have a 24-hour security attendant and security cameras.
Following a short ceremony featuring speeches from University President Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, and representatives from T.N. Ward Company, Metro Architects, and Tantala Associates, LLC—all of whom are involved in the construction—a crane placed the beam atop the residence.
The first phase of construction is scheduled for completion and occupancy by fall 2009. When this $20 million project is complete, the Stevenson Lane Residence will accommodate 148 students within 67,430 square feet of space. It also will offer four resident advisor suites, a suite for a residence life professional, and 128 parking spaces.
Holy Family faculty, staff, and students had the opportunity to sign the beam throughout the week leading up to the ceremony. Vice President for Finance and Administration John Jaszczak called the topping off ceremony the “capstone of our residence project.”
Future plans could include two additional phases that would provide up to 112,580 square feet and house up to 358 students. – Robert Macartney
The residence will offer suite-style living with design and amenities in line with what students expect in contemporary campus housing. Each unit will have two bedrooms, a bathroom with separate shower and sink facilities, and a small living room. Kitchenette and laundry rooms are provided on each floor. A quiet study room will sit on one wing of each floor. On the opposite wing, a student lounge will offer a panoramic view of the campus and beyond. The building’s first floor will feature a fitness room, game room, vending room, and a multipurpose room
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Out and about on campus
New Transfer Agreements a Cost-Saving Option
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oly Family University recently signed transfer agreements with Burlington County College, Bucks County Community College, and Community College of Philadelphia to make it easier for their students to transfer into the University at junior status. Separate signing ceremonies were held in August, February, and April in which officials from Holy Family University and the partnering institutions signed Transfer Articulation Agreements. These new agreements will help to make college a more cost-effective choice for students in these tough economic times. Under agreements, when students enroll in these community colleges, they must fill out a special transfer application form declaring intent to transfer to Holy Family University. When those students successfully complete their studies at these two-year institutions and meet Holy Family’s admissions criteria, they may transfer into Holy Family at junior status.
There are as many as 21 academic programs at Holy Family available to community college transfer students through these agreements. – Naomi Hall
Holy Family, Thomas Jefferson, LaSalle Form Nursing Partnership
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oly Family University Professor Gloria Kersey-Matusiak, RN, PhD, Coordinator for Diversity, is collaborating with nursing faculty from Thomas Jefferson and LaSalle universities on a program designed to help
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nursing students who speak English as a Second Language succeed. Called Consortium to Offer Nursing Students Useful Language and Learning Techniques (CONSULT) the three-
year program is funded through a $653,797 grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Forty undergraduate nursing students across the three universities are served through the program. Dr. Kersey-Matusiak helps 12 of those students, who were referred to her by fellow faculty members. She provides oneon-one tutoring that often focuses on mastering the medical terminology. “They feel they have a good grasp of the lan-
guage but when it comes to test-taking, that’s a different story. Medical language is a language in-and-of itself,” Dr. Kersey-Matusiak said. Students who faithfully attend the program receive a $200 a-month stipend which serves as an incentive. Mary Powell, RN, CRNP, PhD, Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing and the Lead Coordinator of CONSULT plans to reapply for the grant so that the program may continue beyond 2011. – Naomi Hall
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Graduate Programs in TESOL, Pastoral Counseling Added
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oly Family began offering a new graduate degree in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and Literacy this past fall. Approved by the State of Pennsylvania, it is the University’s 10th graduate education program. Students who enroll in the TESOL and Literacy Program will gain a strong foundation in theories of reading and writing in a first and second language, as well as practical knowledge about how to help ESL students succeed in school. According to Leonard Soroka, EdD, Dean of the School of Education, today’s teachers are challenged to instruct students who have not mastered the English language.
Weekend Intensive Courses Tackle Global Issues
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he University’s Bensalem location hosted two Weekend Intensives in recent months on a pair of hot-button issues.
In mid-August, 22 students participated in the Division of Extended Learning’s Weekend Intensive Program on Global Warring. Designed to explore the relationship between contemporary American business and the rest of the world, the program gave students the opportunity to research, reflect, and react to how local businesses have adapted to volatile world developments since 9/11, the creation of new governments, and their subsequent relationships since the end of the Cold War.
The University also added a Pastoral Counseling concentration to the graduate Counseling Psychology program last fall. The master of science degree program is designed for individuals called to work in a pastoral ministry. Offered at Holy Family University-Newtown, the program trains students to meet the mental and spiritual needs of individuals and families. Graduates are prepared for a number of settings, including churches, synagogues, hospitals, jails, schools, and community settings. The program offers two tracks of study: an LPC track (which fulfills all the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania, a professional counselor of mental health and/or associate counselor of mental health in Delaware, and a professional counselor and/or associate counselor in New Jersey), and a non-LPC track. – Jennifer Zamora
Five months later, on the cusp of President-elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration, dozens of business students, faculty and healthcare experts debated and discussed the nation’s current healthcare crisis. The group did more than outline the problem, however. It also drafted actionable solutions and sent those recommendations to Obama’s transition team, which has encouraged grass-roots forums to propose solutions. Sheri Putnam, MBA, FAHM, was the facilitator and coordinator of the seminar. Putnam is also Executive Director of the Bucks County Physician Hospital Alliance in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The Weekend Intensive Program is an alternative learning format that allows students to earn three credits in one weekend. Offered several times per year through the Accelerated Degree Program, it requires students to prepare in advance of class time and to complete subsequent coursework in an allotted timeframe. – Robert Macartney
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Puppy
Love
Since he was a young boy,
Greg Jordan ’03 possessed an extraordinary love for animals. Today, he’s making a profound difference in their lives as a Humane Law Officer for the PSPCA. By Barbara Link Photography by Michael Branscom
When Greg Jordan ’03 arrives at work each morning, he’s greeted not by the sounds of office banter, but a cacophony of barks, meows, chirps, and other assorted animal noises. It’s almost as if the hundreds of animals sheltered on any given day at the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) are saying “thank you.” After all, Jordan and his colleagues rescued many of them. Jordan is a member of an elite team of agents responsible for upholding animal cruelty laws in the state of Pennsylvania. They are PSPCA Humane Law Officers, tasked with investigating claims of cruelty, abuse, and neglect. According to George Bengal, Director of Law Enforcement at the PSPCA, Jordan’s duties include everything from enforcing animal cruelty laws and educating people on these laws, to busting up illegal dog and cock fighting rings.
————————————————————— On His Oddest Case: “Here was this man running down the street with a calf, using an electrical extension cord tied around the calf’s neck as a leash.”
————————————————————— “Every day, Greg demonstrates his compassion for animals and his respect for life through his job,” says Bengal. “He, and all of my officers, are the voice for those who cannot speak—the animals.”
A Special Breed Jordan is one of ten Humane Law Officers based at PSPCA headquarters in Philadelphia. The PSPCA operates another four major shelters across the state, and officers are sworn in and registered in 55 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. These remarkably dedicated individuals
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come from varied backgrounds. Jordan graduated cum laude with a BA in Humanities, and served as an Urban Park Ranger with Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park Commission before joining the PSPCA in January 2008. Some of Jordan’s colleagues received their degrees in Criminal Justice, others have been with the PSPCA for as many as 25 years, starting as drivers or working in the kennels. Bengal is a retired Philadelphia Police Officer with the K9 Bomb Squad. The workload is mind-boggling. In 2008, the PSPCA received more than 6,000 calls on its 24-hour Animal Cruelty Hotline, where any citizen can report potential abuse or neglect. In addition to hotline calls, reports are received through e-mail and in-person visits to shelters. Every single report is thoroughly investigated by PSPCA Humane Law Officers. “Some of the reports we receive are unfounded,” explains Jordan. “Others require us to educate the animal owner. On many occasions, the owner doesn’t realize that they’re breaking the law. They’re leaving their pets outside for too long without shelter, their yards are unclean, or maybe the animal has not received the required shots or proper grooming. We spend a lot of our time educating animal owners, and then following up to make sure the owners have carried through.” When animal owners do not abide by the law, they are cited. Citations can range from $50 to $750 for a first offense, and every citation leads to an appearance in court. Jordan and his fellow agents are required to testify in every court case. Second convictions involving animal cruelty rise to a misdemeanor. “We don’t want to take animals away, we want to educate,” explains Jordan. “But in cruelty cases, we will take the animals. Not a week goes by that I don’t bring in at least one animal. It’s very difficult seeing what we see—the injured animals, the neglected animals. Some animals come in so severely emaciated, they’re just hours away from dying.”
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Animal Planet
Best in Show The courageous acts of Humane Law Officers have garnered great interest from the general public. Animal Cops, the television series that documents the activity of Humane Law Officers across the US, is now the highest rated show on Animal Planet. The network recently shot 15 episodes in Philadelphia. Jordan says the filming process was a unique experience. “Performing our jobs while being followed by a producer, a camera person and a sound person was interesting. The team from Animal Planet was great to work with, and the show has made a lot of people more aware about what’s happening in their backyards, and how they should treat their animals. The response has been great.”
Animal House
Each time Animal Planet airs an episode of Animal Cops: Philadelphia, the PSPCA receives e-mails from across the country with inquiries about the status of a particular animal featured on the show, and questions about how to help the cause. Several episodes of Animal Cops are still scheduled to air—visit animal.discovery.com for more information.
When animals are brought to the PSPCA as a result of animal cruelty charges, they remain at the facility through all pending court cases, including appeals. This can mean a minimum of a few months, and sometimes more than a year. The animals are considered “evidence,” as are any offspring they deliver during their stay. From the moment the animals arrive, they are looked after in every way. From surgeries to vaccinations, they receive emergency and ongoing care. The PSPCA has a Forensic Veterinarian, an Attorney, and Behavioral Specialists on staff. PSPCA headquarters in Philadelphia can house about 500 animals, and the facility is almost always at full capacity. For animals involved in pending court cases, there is a significant need for foster homes. Each year, the PSPCA addresses the needs of thousands of animals. While the organization has become synonymous with pet adoption, most people are not aware of the breadth and depth of services offered. The PSPCA provides
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The television series Animal Cops: Philadelphia chronicles the work of PSPCA Humane Law Officers.
affordable training and obedience classes at “Good Dog-U”; a veterinary hospital that offers both routine and emergency care, including low-cost spay and neuter services; a lost and found for pets; and of course, cruelty investigations.
Dog-Day Afternoons As a PSCPA Humane Law Enforcement Officer, Jordan says there is no such thing as a typical day. “The only typical part of any day is coming in,” he explains. “I check my e-mails, get my cases together, and head out. Once you leave through the door, you don’t know what you’re going to find. We find everything under the sun.” With the exception of emergencies, when the entire team of PSPCA Humane Law Officers may potentially be involved, Jordan is responsible for a specific geographic region of the city. On any given day, he goes on about ten calls. On numerous occasions, he inadvertently comes across
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unreported situations that require intervention. “One day, I was driving down the street in a residential area, and saw two goats in a yard,” says Jordan. “It’s illegal to keep livestock in the city. I went back to the residence with a representative from Animal Con-
trol. The goat owner didn’t know he was doing anything illegal. We worked with him to make arrangements for the goats—and the ducks he was also keeping—to move to a farm outside of the city. We did let him keep his two Boston Terriers.” The PSPCA sees dogs, cats, hawks, turtles, roosters, pigs, sheep, frogs, cockatoos, parrots,
Ending the Puppy Mill Epidemic The term “puppy mill” describes industrialized kennels where dogs are bred in unsafe, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions. The state of Pennsylvania, long-considered “the puppy mill capital of the East,” has one of the highest concentrations of puppy mills in the country. In October 2008, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, the proud owner of two rescued Golden Retrievers, signed into legislation sweeping measures for reform. House Bill 2525, now Act 119, eliminates the deplorable conditions in puppy breeding operations and significantly improves the treatment dogs receive in com-
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mercial kennels. Under the previous law, dogs could spend their entire lives in cramped, stacked cages without the opportunity to exercise and without proper care. Among numerous other protections for dogs, the new legislation doubles the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, requires access to an outdoor exercise area, and mandates veterinary exams at least once per year. As Pennsylvania’s foremost humane law enforcement unit, the PSPCA has taken the lead in preventing atrocities at commercial breeding kennels by promoting public awareness, responding to
complaints, and conducting undercover investigations. In 2008, undercover investigations by PSPCA Humane Law Officers led to the closing of some of the most notorious puppy mills in the state. For anyone thinking about purchasing a new puppy, there are important steps that should be taken to ensure that you are not unknowingly supporting puppy mills. Practice extreme vigilance if you are considering purchasing a puppy from a commercial pet store. Many pet stores receive their animals from puppy mills. Ask the pet store where they get their puppies, and thoroughly research that facility. Do not take anyone’s word for it—get proof. The same careful diligence applies if you are considering purchasing a puppy through a newspaper ad or the Internet. If you choose to purchase a dog from a breeder, visit the breeding facility and inspect where the dogs are bred and housed. Ask veterinarians, professional dog trainers, and local breed clubs to recommend reputable breeders. Do not buy from a facility that breeds numerous types of dogs. Ask to meet the dog’s parents; their health is indicative of the circumstances under which puppies are being bred. Find out how many dogs the facility has, and how many litters those dogs produce each year. Any breeder producing more than two litters a year may not be taking the time to appropriately care for the puppies. Never hesitate to ask the breeder to provide references from other buyers.
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————————————————————————————————————————————— cockatiels, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, ferrets, and more. “Name it,” says Jordan, “and we’ve probably had it.” Jordan reports that the economy has clearly impacted the animal cruelty epidemic. “When times get tough, sometimes people can’t afford food, shots, and shelter for their dogs and cats. If they can’t care for them, these owners should be surrendering their animals to someone who can. Often, these animals are simply abandoned.” In many cases, the PSPCA Officers are dealing with animal hoarders. “We’ve gone in and removed as many as 40 cats from one house,” says Jordan. One of the oddest things Jordan has seen in the city was a young bull. The offender tried to get away. “Here was this man,” he recalls, “running down the street with a calf, using an electrical extension cord tied around the calf’s neck as a leash.”
Leaders of the Pack
At all times, Jordan carries with him an extendable baton, a flashlight, handcuffs, rubber gloves and leashes. His vehicle is fully equipped with strobes, a spotlight, crates, and a barricade. If there is a search warrant involved, he wears a bulletproof vest.
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“Many of the situations we go into are very intense,” says Jordan. Among the dangerous situations faced by PSPCA agents are dog-fighting rings. More often than not in these cases, there are other illegal activities occurring in the residence, namely drugs and weapons. “The PSPCA has trained us well, and provided us with the tools we need to keep ourselves safe,” says Jordan. “When we approach a potentially dangerous situation, we’re never alone. We have the support of our fellow Humane Law Officers, and the backing of the Philadelphia Police.”
Home on the Range When Jordan is not tending to his PSPCA cases, he’s tending to his own animals—a 15-year-old turtle named Ted, and Duke, a three-year-old English bulldog. “Duke’s the best,” says Jordan. “When he was younger, he rode a skateboard. He’s too big and lazy to do that now.” Jordan spends much of his free time hiking and camping in state parks across Pennsylvania. He lives in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood where he grew up, and his younger brother and sister currently attend Holy Family University. Chris will graduate in December with a degree in Special Education. Megan is majoring in Management-
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—————————————————————————— ————————————————————— On Job Challenges: “It’s very difficult seeing what we see —the injured animals, the neglected animals.”
————————————————————— Marketing and will graduate in 2011. Jordan says his degree in Humanities opened up a world of possibilities, and presents unlimited choices regarding his career path. He thinks that perhaps one day, he’ll become a teacher in the area of criminal justice. But for the foreseeable future, his position as a PSPCA Humane Law Officer is his “dream job.” “It’s challenging in that it’s a very emotional job, but it is so rewarding,” states Jordan. “When you go on a call—once you look into an animal’s eyes, and the process starts, you say to yourself, I’m coming back to get this dog. The amount of neglect I see is unbelievable. Months down the road, when the dog goes up for adoption, I’m very much attached. If I’m lucky, I’m notified when the animal is being adopted and I get to go out and meet the family. Meeting the family—that’s the best. Seeing an animal you brought in so shy and skittish to heal and come out of its shell—knowing that dog will never go back to those
—————————————————————————— conditions—makes me very happy. It’s rewarding to know that justice was given to that animal. I can go home every night satisfied knowing what I did today.”
Preventing Animal Cruelty Animal cruelty occurs when someone intentionally injures or harms an animal, or willfully deprives an animal of food, water, shelter or necessary medical care. If you suspect that an animal is suffering from abuse or neglect, please don’t hesitate to call the 24-hour, toll-free PSPCA animal cruelty hotline at 1-866-601-SPCA, or send an e-mail to cruelty@pspca.org. Most rescue success stories begin with tips from people just like you. Following are just a few of the many ways you can help. • Become a PSPCA member
• Volunteer your time
• Make a donation to
• Donate an item on the PSPCA Wish List such as clean blankets, humidifiers, surgical instruments, or horse trailers
- the Etana Fund to Stop Cruelty Against Animals - the Puppy Mill Fund - the Tiger Ranch Emergency Fund
• Provide a foster home
- the Kofte Fund for Clinical Care
• Support the new PSPCA Dog Park
- the Spay-and-Neuter Fund
• Adopt a pet
- the Safe Haven Fund for Temporary Shelter • Sponsor an animal
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• Visit pspca.org or call 215-426-6300 to learn more
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Proceeds benefit the Holy Family University Alumni Association. For an application, visit holyfamily.edu/alumni/hf-license-plate.pdf For more information, call 267-341-3339 or e-mail alumni@holyfamily.edu
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C ircle of
Life
In 1982, Melissa Wilson ’07 was born premature and fighting for her life. Twenty-six years later, she’s working side-by-side with the nurse who saved her. By Dan Geringer Photography by Michael Branscom SPRING 2009
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hen baby Melissa was born 11 weeks premature, she weighed 2 pounds, 6 ounces. She had severe intestinal problems. She wasn’t eating. When she fell asleep, she sometimes forgot to breathe. She came into this world on April 26, 1982, long before the dawn of today’s high-tech neonatal care. Her chances for survival were poor. Baby Melissa was rushed by ambulance from the hospital in Willingboro, New Jersey, where she was born to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. Her parents prayed for a miracle. They got an earth angel named Huffy. In July 2007, 25 years after she arrived at St. Christopher’s as a preemie in critical condition, Melissa Wilson ’07 walked into the hospital as a healthy young woman. She reported to Huffy, the nurse who helped save her life—and began her career as a Neonatal Intensive-Care Nurse under Huffy’s supervision. Side by side, Wilson and the nurse who saved her will work to rescue the 300 premature babies who arrive at St. Christopher’s every year—tiny, underdeveloped, weak, helpless, endangered. “I always knew I wanted to do pediatric nursing because it’s kind of giving back to what was given to me,” Wilson said. “Back then, 26 years ago, that was a lot for me to overcome, being premature and being as sick as I was. My family said I was a miracle child.” Huffy agreed. This is their story.
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hen Baby Melissa, newborn at 29 weeks, arrived at St. Christopher’s, Mary Anne “Huffy” Hufnagle, a Licensed Practical Nurse, had been at the hospital’s neonatal intensive-care unit for seven years, saving preemies with aluminum foil, plastic sandwich wrap, safflower oil, whatever would keep them warm and safe while they fought for their lives. Huffy has always been part mama lion, fiercely protecting the fragile
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Wilson works with a premature baby in the St. Christopher's NICU.
lives in her care with everything in her, and part pioneer woman, fighting for those lives since the frontier days of neonatal medicine. “When I first came here, we had no technology but a big, old ventilator and adult-size blood-pressure equipment that made the kids scream because it was painful,” said Huffy, who has risen from Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse to Clinical Coordinator in her 33 years at St. Christopher’s. “The Isolettes [incubators] weren’t insulated with double walls like they are today, so we wrapped aluminum foil around them to keep the heat in and the babies warm. It was prehistoric. But we saved newborns,” Huffy recalled. Huffy said she and her fellow nurses had to be creative with babies like Melissa, who sometimes stopped breathing in their sleep. “Every time you opened a porthole in the Isolette to wake the baby and remind her to breathe, you’d lose too much heat and the kid would get cold,” Huffy said. “So you would tie a string to one of their booties and tug on it gently to wake them up when they stopped
breathing so they’d remember to start again. “We had nothing back then to monitor oxygen levels, so we did it by the way the kid looked,” Huffy said. “If the kid was staying pink, we’d turn the oxygen down a little. If the kid was turning blue, we’d turn it up.” She remembered when “warming beds,” where the babies lay while nurses worked on them, were not draft-free, so “we’d take a diaper box, cut out squares so we could reach the baby inside, and cover the whole thing with Saran Wrap like a tent, because a lot of little preemies can’t take any air blowing on them at all.” She remembered when intravenous tubes were too thin to handle lipids— fats for energy and neurological development that preemies needed but didn’t have—”so we’d rub safflower oil on the kids’ bodies. That’s how they got their fats in those days. Some of those kids got so slippery, they slid out of your hands.” She remembered the days when “we’d stick a [rubber] bladder under the kid’s mattress and attach the bladder to a ventilator. When you pushed the ventilator button, the bladder
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would fill with air and pop up, giving the kid a little stimulation. It was like a bouncy seat.” Huffy brought all this nontextbook, make-do knowledge to the bedside of tiny, troubled Baby Melissa in 12-hour shifts. “She didn’t tolerate eating because her bowel had ruptured—just blew up,” Huffy recalled. “In the old days, if they had bad bellies, bad bowels, you couldn’t do much with them. Now, we pretty much save every child. We can give the bowels a rest, take parts out, reconnect parts— they’ll be fine.” When doctors performed intestinal surgery on Baby Melissa, Huffy said, it was risky. “Today, we save over 90 percent of the babies,” Huffy said. “We have 26-weekers who make it. We have 23-weekers who make it.” A pregnancy of 38 to 42 weeks is considered normal. “You know they’ve got to be resilient to come through those canals and be flipped out there and smacked on their butt,” she said. “But we have so many babies who weren’t supposed to survive returning here as healthy adults. At our reunions, you stand there shocked that
they’ve all gone home. It’s amazing.” Huffy has always had a special place in her heart for the babies who don’t go home. “Those that die were so overwhelmingly sick when they came in, they have used up every system in their
those kids need to be held,” she said. But during the normal course of a premature baby’s day, Huffy said, too much holding is too much of a good thing. “The kids don’t like over-touching because it overstimulates them,” she
“…we have so many babies who weren’t supposed to survive returning here as healthy adults. At our reunions, you stand there shocked that they’ve all gone home. It’s amazing.” – Mary Ann Hufnagle
body and they just can’t fight anymore,” she said. Huffy said that from her earliest days at St. Christopher’s, she and her nursing colleagues felt that holding those babies in their final moments was as important as holding the babies who survived. “I don’t care if the kid is off the respirator and on his way to heaven, all
said. “I remember a kid being so agitated, we had to hold him in a sheepskin. They’re like little flowers. Cover them up and leave them in the dark for a while and then let them get some light. “You can disturb them every three or four hours, which is naturally when they wake up during their sleep cycle. People that are constantly touching babies wouldn’t bother their husband or their wife that way, or they’d be hit in the head.” She’s got the down-to-earth warmth of a South Philly waitress asking, “More coffee, hon?” She is openly compassionate toward her tiny charges, whom she always calls “kids,” not “babies,” as if they’re already walking, running, taking risks, driving their parents crazy with fear for their safety—not their survival. Stephanie Denofa relied on Huffy’s homespun honesty after her daughter, Kiera Mary Denofa, was born three months early on Oct. 14, 2005, with the umbil-
Wilson, left, and Hufnagle save more than 90 percent of premature babies born at St. Christopher's.
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ical cord wrapped around her throat, choking her. The 2-pound baby was rushed to St. Christopher’s, where “every day, I sat there and held her, surrounded by all of these other tiny babies hooked up to machines with all of these people working on them whose hands were bigger than the kids,” Denofa said, suddenly bursting into tears. “Every day, the choice seemed to be, ‘Do you want to keep your child on these medications or do you want to watch your child die?’ And if you decide to keep your child alive, is she
“Look at her,” Denofa said as the bright-eyed, curly-haired little girl gave her mother a huge smile. “She’s so fine.” The tears came again.
going to suffer later on? “When you are on that roller coaster,” Denofa said, “you don’t want sugar-coating or false hope. You just want straight answers. You need someone to keep it real. Huffy always kept it real.” Kiera will celebrate her fourth birthday in October - “skinny as a stick,” her mom said, full of energy and fascinated by watching the Phillies.
with a veterinarian. “I figured if I could watch dogs get operated on and stand the sight of blood, I could watch people get operated on, too,” Huffy said. “I helped the vet do C-sections. The blood didn’t bother me. I figured if I could work with puppies, I could work with kids.” After nursing school at the former Sacred Heart Hospital in Norristown,
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uffy said she learned compassion from the nuns who raised her at a Scranton orphanage after her mom died when she was 9. She said she briefly considered becoming a nun “but I wasn’t holy enough.” At 17, she got her first nursing job—
Huffy came to St. Christopher’s in the years when most preemies did not survive. “I give credit to those nurses because they had their hands on the baby,” said Dr. Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos— called Dr. Delivoria by the staff—who has been saving the lives of preemies since the 1960s and has been St. Christopher’s Chief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine since 1996. “To be in a neonatal intensive-care unit, you have to be special—and those nurses were,” she said. Delivoria said that at the beginning of her career in 1962, “most babies born prematurely died because they did not have full development of the organs they needed to cope with life. “If their lungs were underdeveloped, they could not breathe. So most babies born before 36 weeks died within three days.” On January 9, 1963, when she was working in a Toronto hospital, Delivoria remembers “running up 10 stories” to connect a ventilator to the trachea of a premature baby who was struggling to breathe. “For the first time in this world,” Delivoria said proudly, “a premature baby [who couldn’t breathe on its own] survived” through inflating the lungs and keeping them oxygenated. By 1980, Delivoria said, neonatal doctors could save most preemies weighing 2.2 pounds. Delivoria’s respirator skills were honed during a polio epidemic in her native Greece, where “we had to switch from dumb to smart fast because children were dying. We saved some by learning that children had to be made to breathe in order to survive.” Today, she said, most babies born at 28 weeks’ gestation develop normally. “I feel I am the same age I was when I started in 1962 because I still help babies to breathe,” Delivoria said. Melissa Wilson survived because of Delivoria’s pioneering techniques and Huffy’s triage-driven nursing wisdom. “I was on a ventilator at St. Christopher’s,” Wilson said. “My lungs weren’t strong enough without it. I spent two and a half months in the hospital. When I went home, Mom had me on a
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monitor for five or six months. When I stopped breathing, the alarm went off and Mom would wake me up and re-
mind me to breathe. “Sometimes, it’s hard to believe—me being born and having so many complications as a newborn and surviving. It makes me realize you can overcome anything.” Wilson has dedicated her life to helping premature babies overcome the odds. “It is touch and go, day by day, even minute by minute here,” she said. “One minute things can be going fine and the next minute they can be
going downhill. I never realized it would be as challenging as it is. I try to stay positive, especially being so new working here, and I hope for the best for every kid.” Wilson says “kid” instead of “baby,” just as Huffy, the nurse who helped save her life, has been saying for 33 years—both of them hoping that every preemie they hold and feed and remind to breathe lives to be a kid.
Used with permission of Philadelphia Daily News. Copyright ©2007. All rights reserved.
John McKeith
Hand-On Learning: Lowering the Risks One should always practice before the stakes are high and the dangers are real. Practice is exactly what the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions is providing for its students with the new Infant Patient Simulator. They will learn what to look for and what to do when things go wrong, before they face real-life situations with actual infant patients. Run on compressed air and electricity, the simulator looks like a real baby and can replicate lung, cardiac and abdominal sounds—the echoes that reveal the health of the patient. It also can cry, cough, and sneeze. Part of the renovated Nursing Simulation Laboratory, the infant patient simulators offer students a chance to experience the complexities and nuances of treating a critically ill child. It incorporates features like an accurate airway, which is a crucial area to watch in premature infants, like those under Melissa Wilson’s care. Students will learn that a pediatric patient isn’t just a small adult. The patient differs on every level— anatomy, reaction to drugs, and the types of injury the patient can suffer. According to Kathleen Kelly-West, Coordinator of the Nursing Simulation and Practice Laboratory, instructors can program the simulator for six different infant scenarios. “One example is the case of a healthy abandoned baby,” Kelly-West said. “After examining the baby for its vital signs, students must consider if the child was exposed to
magazine @ holyfamily.edu
Instructors and nursing students work with the new infant patient simulator.
the elements. If so, what effect did the temperature have on the baby? What kind of nourishment did it get or how long was it without nourishment? By answering these questions, students discover the many facets of caring for their patients.” During the scenarios, video is shot. It is then used in a debriefing session so students can see if they actually performed the procedures that they were taught in the classroom. “We used the simulator for the first time during the fall 2008 semester,” said Kelly-West. “Nursing students will be introduced to it at the end of their sophomore year, when they will be required to make four assessments—cardiac, respiratory, abdominal, and head-totoe—on the simulator. During their junior year, they will go into the simulator lab for every clinical course they have, which is two per semester.” Practice makes perfect. – Pamela Coumbe
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1000words
A visual slice of life at Holy Family
Winter Wonderland
kathleen migliarese
Two students take a break in the gazebo after a mid-day snowfall on February 3. Constructed outside the Nurse Education Building in 1992, the gazebo was a long-time dream of Professor Dora Pruna, PhD, who raised the funds for its construction.
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You’re already on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
But have you joined the Online Alumni Community? Search for jobs, post resumĂŠs, find alumni in your field, or just reconnect with old friends Visit hfalumni.com to get started. Having trouble? Contact us at 267-341-3339 or alumni@holyfamily.edu. Build your personal and professional network at
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Luc ky Guts and gusto drive Coach
Meagan DiCave as she builds the women’s lacrosse team from the ground up. By Paul Gornowski Photography by Michael Branscom
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hen the Holy Family Athletic Department added women’s lacrosse as its 13th sport last spring, Meagan DiCave was thrilled to be named the team’s firstever head coach. But she had another, albeit unusual, reaction—terror. “After accepting [the position] is when all of the shock and nerves really hit me,” recalls DiCave. “I was pretty much scared to death for the first two days. I was extremely excited and eager to start but really not too sure where to begin.” DiCave can be forgiven for her trepidation. Holy Family’s newest women’s sports have quickly established themselves as powerhouses. Since its inception in 2004, the women’s tennis team has claimed two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championships and made two appearances in the NCAA Championship Tournament. The women’s volleyball team participated in two CACC Championship Tournaments since becoming a sport at Holy Family in 2003. But DiCave is no stranger to start up programs. With past experience firmly
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in hand, she set out for Holy Family to begin building a successful team.
Starting from scratch
D
iCave played collegiate lacrosse at Division III Virginia Wesleyan College from 1999 until 2002. The Marlins began their women’s lacrosse program in 1998, just one year before DiCave’s arrival. “I learned [from my experience at Virginia Wesleyan] that starting a program takes time, it doesn’t just happen overnight,” says DiCave. “It was baby steps for us in the beginning, and by my senior year, I felt that we had really accomplished a lot.” In the four years DiCave was a player at Virginia Wesleyan the program turned those baby steps into big strides forward. During her first year, the team finished the season at 5-7. Four years later, DiCave and the Marlins went 10-8—their first ever-winning season. The team also reached the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) semi-finals in its first
ever post-season appearance. In addition to the team’s success, DiCave racked up significant personal accomplishments in her four seasons as a Marlin. She was a two-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American (2000 and 2002) and a three-time ODAC first team selection (2000-02). As a senior, she led Division III in scoring with 7.17 points per game and was third in assists with 3.28 per game, she also was selected to the play in the IWLCA North-South All-Star game. “My lacrosse coach Michelle Burt was a great inspiration and major motivator for me throughout my four years. I also had some really great teammates that became my second family,” remarks DiCave. “I would not have received any accolades or awards had it not been for my teammates. They were always there to push me to my limits and I, in turn, was always doing the same for them.”
a time of
Transition
D
iCave made the switch from college player to coach in 2005 when she took the head coaching position at Division III Wesley College. While at Wesley, she went 12-17 in her two seasons and led the Wolverines to their first Pennsylvania Athletic Conference regular season title during her rookie campaign. In those two years, DiCave learned many things that will help her in her first season at Holy Family. “I spent a lot of time figuring out what works and what does not work, both on and off the field,” says DiCave. “It allowed me to make mistakes and then figure out a way to correct them and move on. I had to learn about the recruiting process, planning practices in the fall and spring, how to keep track of a budget, scheduling, and most importantly time management.” After completing her second season at Wesley in 2006, DiCave spent the next two years away from coaching. Holy Family alumna and first-year women’s basketball Assistant Coach Jamie Battinieri told DiCave that the
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school was looking for a women’s lacrosse Head Coach. The prospect of becoming Head Coach left her with mixed emotions. “When Jamie first told me I was excited because it had been two years since I left Wesley and I was chomping at the bit to get back into coaching,” says DiCave. “I was very excited and extremely nervous. Coaching at Division II as opposed to Division III is a big jump, but it was also something that I wanted for myself. I wanted to move up in the lacrosse world and I also want to be a part of starting the program here.”
born to
Coach
F
ortunately for DiCave, coaching is a big part of her family. Her mother is currently a women’s basketball Assistant Coach at Haverford College and her sister is a girl’s basketball Assistant Coach at Archbishop Prendergast High School. She also has numerous friends in the coaching world, so she knew exactly whom to ask for advice. “From day one I have been told pretty much the same thing—take it day-by-day, don’t get too frustrated or get too emotional, teach these females everything you know about the game
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and hope to instill that same love that you have for lacrosse in them,” recalls DiCave. However, the hardest part for her would be fielding a team to begin competition in the spring of 2009. Many lacrosse players were at the end of their seasons and a majority of high school seniors had committed to a school by the time DiCave was hired. Luckily, she didn’t have to look far to start building a team. Students already at Holy Family were interested in playing. “When you are starting a program you have to start from the ground up and it is very tough,” says DiCave. “There were times when I was really nervous about who we would have come out for the team and how many of them would have played before and also how many would be interested in playing at the collegiate level. Playing college lacrosse is a big time commitment especially at the D-II level when you are not on scholarship.” This year’s lacrosse team will feature 16 players on the 2009 roster. DiCave and Assistant Coach Brittany Friedrich already have a taste of what to expect in the spring with the fall
DiCave earned her lacrosse stripes at Virginia Wesleyn College.
practices out of the way. “Brittany and I just couldn’t wait to get out there and have the team fall in love with the game of lacrosse like we are,” says DiCave. “There are so many little things that we did not even get the opportunity to touch on in the fall. So we do have a lot of teaching to do in the beginning but all of the fun parts of lacrosse are just around the corner and I can not wait.” DiCave has high expectations, but she’s not looking to win the conference in the team’s first year. “What I want for us is to be competitive, for the new players to learn the game and for those players that already know the game to improve on their skills. The season is not going to be measured by wins and losses in my eyes. It is going to be about the little things. I am very excited.” The Tigers began their season at Seton Hill University on March 1 and finish on the road at St. Thomas Aquinas College on April 22.
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tigertales
Reports from the court, track, and field
Women’s Soccer
The women’s soccer team reached the CACC Championship Tournament semi-final round. Forward Jamie-Lynn Wallace, midfielder Kaitlin Gavaghan, and back Calli Nagle were all named to the All-CACC first team. Back Ashley Smith garnered All-CACC second team honors. Wallace also earned regional and national recognition by being selected to the Daktronics All-East Region first team and Daktronics Division II All-America second team.
Women’s Tennis
The women’s tennis team wrapped up its fall schedule with a 10-4 overall record and reached the final of the CACC Team Championship Tournament. In the CACC Individual Championship Tournament, the team of Shakir Willett and Quena Borres won the CACC doubles championship. They became the second duo to win the title since Lauren Neill and Rupali Parekh accomplished the feat in 2006. Willett and Borres were All-CACC team selections. Willett also got to the final match of the CACC singles championship. She earned All-CACC honors in singles by reaching the final.
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country The men’s cross country team tied their best ever finish at the CACC Championships with a fifth place. The women’s cross country team came in seventh overall. Fred Tuwei crossed the finish line in seventh place to become the third Tiger to earn All-CACC
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team had its first-ever winning record, finishing the season with an overall record of 23-14. The 23 wins are a program record. In addition, the Tigers qualified for the CACC Championship Tournament for the second straight season. Outside hitter Katie Hornback was tabbed as an All-CACC first team selection and the conference’s rookie of the year. Hornback is the first player from Holy Family to earn the rookie of the year award since its inception in 2004. She is also the fifth Tiger volleyball player to be named to the first team in its six year history. Hornback was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II All-East team as an honorable mention pick. Setter Aimee Drabyn and middle hitter Mallory Lennon both were named All-CACC honorable mentions.
honors, and the first since 2005. The men’s and women’s cross country teams both won their first-ever meet by both claiming the top spot at the Larry Simmons Invitational, hosted by Cheyney University.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team qualified for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament for the third time in a row. The Tigers reached the conference final for the second consecutive year, falling to Post University, 6-2. Midfielder Matt Kocher was tabbed as an All-CACC first team selection, while forward Tim Weglicki was named the CACC Rookie of the Year and to the All-CACC second team. Weglicki is the first Tiger to win the award since the CACC started it in 2004. Kocher went on to be a Daktronics All-East Region first team and Daktronics Division II Second Team All-American pick.
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e h t D e ate! v a S
st 21
Annual Golf Classic
Wednesday, October 7, 200 9 Torresdale-Frankford Country Club For more information, please contact Lorraine Borisuk at 267.341.3377 or lborisuk@holyfamily.edu Proceeds Benefit Student Financial Aid
familyreunion
News for the alumni community
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, married, had or adopted a baby, reunited with a group of classmates, received an award, promotion, changed jobs, or 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 may wish to fax information to 215-637-2110, e-mail a message to alumni@holyfamily.edu, or post the note through our online Alumni Community at hfalumni.com (you must be registered to access the site).
60s
Mary Ann Amenhauser McBride ’62 is retired from the School District of Philadelphia after 40 years as a Program Support Teacher. She has four children and four grandchildren. Diane Fischer Mesure ’68 made a career change in October 2002. After 30 years in the medical technology field she switched to working with families experiencing autism spectrum disorders and as a substitute teacher in the Souderton School District. Diane is the proud grandmother of five. Anne Marie McLaughlin Pettit ’69 reports that the class of ’69 held a mini reunion at Pat Hansbury’s shore home in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Shown from left to right are Lisa Guiniven Kibelstis, Joan Wojkiewicz Shaw, Mary Hunter Knapp, Anne Marie McLaughlin Pettit, Maddy Nocella Dranchak, Elena Rago Sheehan, Dianne Franiak Reilly, and Pat Hansbury. Lisa Guiniven Kibelstis ’69 and her husband Jim are retired and enjoy spending time with their three grandchildren. Last year, Lisa and Jim cruised to Europe on the Queen Mary 2.
Gary Daugherty Sr. ’93 was
appointed Fire Chief for the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, in December 2008. He was selected for the post from a field of five candidates. Daugherty previously served as Fire Chief for the Town of Hopkinton for 11 years, and spent several years as a District Fire Captain and Fire Lieutenant in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.
Pat Hansbury ’69 has been teaching World History to ninth graders and a seminar on International Conflicts to seniors at Central High School in Philadelphia for the past 13 years. She also teaches in the Gifted Program at Central and was recently recognized by the Lindback Foundation for excellence in teaching. Pat recently joined her sisters, Dottie Cassidy ’63 and Lisa Kelly ’63, for a trip to Paris. Maddy Nocella Dranchak ’69 is teaching at Pope John Paul II Regional School in Willingboro, New Jersey. In April, Maddy and her husband Dennis welcomed the arrival of their second grandchild, Ian Matthew.
70s
Kathleen Kane Duncan ’76 and her husband are retired teachers. They have three sons, one of whom is a teacher at a charter school in New Orleans.
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Art Illman photo/Courtesy MetroWest Daily News
Class Notes
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Patricia Chapla Walsh’s ’86 daughter, Julia, was the Valedictorian at Cardinal Dougherty High School’s 2008 graduation.
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Dawn Wighton MS’00 has been appoint-
ed Market Development Coach at A Place for Mom, a nationwide referral service for senior housing options such as assisted living and nursing homes. Wighton brings 15 years of direct sales and executive management experience to the company. She will be responsible for managing and growing the northeast region team of Eldercare Advisors.
Donna Piscopio Adamo ’91 has two children, Prior to joining A Place for Mom, Wighton was the Eastern Michael, 9, and Marissa, 7. She has been married Division Sales Manager at Brookdale Senior Living where to Anthony for 14 years. she managed the sales efforts of over 160 assisted living and Kathleen Clifford Becker ’92 has two sons, retirement communities across 12 states. Before her eight Aidan, born in September 2001, and Colin, born years at Brookdale, Wighton spent six years in various sales in January 2005. and marketing positions within the senior housing industry. Ron Vitale ’92 recently published a fantasy novel titled Dorothea’s Song. Christine Ernst Cunningham ’93 has three children: Award from the Milken Family Foundation. She was one Daniel born on August 21, 2007; Thomas born on March of only two teachers in the State of Pennsylvania to re20, 2006; and Patrick born on January 12, 2002. ceive this honor. Maryann teaches at Goodnoe ElemenBrian Spector ’93 successfully completed his first tary in Newtown, Pennsylvania. marathon - the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Tracey Weeks Miller ’04 received her MS in Forensic October 12, 2008. He finished the 26.2 miles in 4 hours Medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medi44 minutes. cine on July 25, 2008. Theresa Lubiski Beyerl ’94 has been a first-grade Lauren Flood Smith ’04 had a baby girl, Kayla Nicole, teacher for 15 years. She has a son, Alexander Owen born on January 22, 2008. Lauren and her husband Beyerl, who is five years old. Kevin were married in July 2008 and are in the process Kyle Martin ’95 was named one of the Pennsylvania of moving into their first new home together. Lauren Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (PICPA) 40 recently accepted a position as a nurse at Penn CarUnder 40 to Watch. The award was presented to Kyle diac Care at Mercer Bucks and also works in the ER at on September 22, 2008. Abington Memorial Hospital. Lourdes “Cindy” Reddy M’96 is affiliated with KirkKalyca Andrews ’06 has her CCRN certification and is bride Center in Philadelphia in a position with Corea board-certified advanced holistic nurse (AHN-BC). Care Systems Inc. She is a consultant for the North John Kirby M’06 was named CEO of Pottstown Philadelphia Health Systems: St. Joseph’s Hospital and Memorial Medical Center in July 2008. He has more Girard Medical Center, both in Philadelphia. Cindy is also than 16 years of clinical and administrative healthcare precepting Nurse Practitioner students from Gwynedd leadership experience and worked previously as Vice Mercy’s School of Nurse Programs Graduate Division. President of Clinical Operations at Nazareth Hospital in Kate Logan Slotter ’97 has a two-year-old son, Ryan. Philadelphia. Brian Minster ’99/M’07 and wife Courtney Fenimore ’07 is teaching a developmentally Andrea are the proud parents of delayed preschool class. She is engaged to be married a son, Brian, pictured here at six in 2010, and recently purchased a home with her fiancé. months old. Brian is an Academic Sandra Stack Gordon ’07 is a teacher for a charter Advisor at Holy Family. school in Palm Coast, Florida. Shana Krupczak Tate M’07 was married on March 2, 2008, and is working as an elementary teacher for the School District of Philadelphia. Susan Welsh M’07 moved to Arizona. Sarah Lange Lanzetta ’08 was hired as a sixth grade teacher for the 2008-2009 school years. Maryann Molishus ’00 was honored in Council Rock School District for receiving the National Educator
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magazine @ holyfamily.edu
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familyreunion
News for the alumni community
2009 Alumni Directory Call for Updates
In Memoriam
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Ann Covello ’65 Charlotte Ann Parini ’88 Marlene Pranis Langhuber ’97 Valerie Hausner M’00
MBA Networking Event at the Union League
T
he Annual Cocktail Reception for Accelerated MBA Alumni is being held at the Union League on Friday, May 8, at 6:30 pm. Former Eagles Wide Receiver Fred Barnett will be the guest speaker. Don’t miss this oncea-year opportunity to network with your fellow MBA graduates! All MBA alumni and students are invited to attend. For more information, please call 267-341-5005.
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Questionnaires will be distributed by e-mail
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and regular mail to all alumni requesting current contact information. The expected date for distribution of the 2009 Alumni Directory is September. The directory will be available through Harris Connect in hard copy and CD-ROM format. If you haven’t been contacted by Harris Connect, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parents at alumni@holyfamily.edu or 267-341-3339.
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arris Connect, Inc. is in the process of collecting Holy Family alumni information for the upcoming 2009 Alumni Directory. This directory, published every five years, will contain updated biographical data on all of our alumni. In addition, there will be a special listing of alumni by individual class years, geographical locations, and industry.
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Alumni From Sea to Shining Sea
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n the 51 years since Holy Family graduated its first class, alumni have fanned out across the US. In fact, graduates call every state in the Union home with one exception—Wyoming. Anyone willing to move?
holyfamily.edu/ia/magazine
A nostalgic trip back in time
memorylane
Look Ma, No Hands! Figuratively speaking, college is the time to spread your wings and fly. But what is this student up to—testing the laws of gravity or escaping from an irate professor? (Clue: The photo was snapped in the late 1970s outside Holy Family Hall.)
magazine @ holyfamily.edu
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givingback
Making a difference on campus
A Christmas Gift to Remember
W
hen Dennis Colgan asked his wife, Gerardine, what she would like for Christmas in 2007, he never expected to hear “the gift of education.” But that was exactly what she requested. Gerardine asked her husband to establish a scholarship to benefit Holy Family students for generations to come. Dennis, who is Chairman of the Holy Family Board of Trustees, honored his wife’s Christmas wish by making the largest single commitment to endow a scholarship in university history. The Gerardine Colgan Endowed Scholarship is important to both Dennis and Gerardine because it represents their desire to help students succeed free from the financial pressures associated with attending college. Originally from the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Dennis faced many struggles during his college years. He credits much of his success in life to the people that saw his potential and believed in him. Dennis viewed Gerardine’s Christmas wish as the perfect way to honor those who supported his academic endeavors. The Colgans decided that the best way to honor those who aided them was to help students who might not qualify for any other scholarship. They elected to support
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students who have not fully developed a vision of excellence and achievement in their own lives but whom others recognize as having the academic potential for success. Their goal is to encourage, challenge, and assist the student selected. Their scholarship also favors graduates of Little Flower, Nazareth Academy, and North Catholic high schools.
Because the Colgans established an endowed scholarship, the amount of the award will vary with interest earned but will provide several thousand dollars annually to assist an eligible and deserving student in perpetuity. By establishing this scholarship, Dennis not only made his wife’s Christmas wish come true but also the Christmas
wish of countless future Holy Family students. - Suzanne Libenson
holyfamily.edu/ia/magazine
On the Scene: An Evening of Donor Appreciation
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onoring all donors who collectively helped Holy Family University raise more than $2 million during 2006-07, the University warmly thanked guests who attended the annual Evening of Donor Appreciation on November 14, presented the first Visionary Awards recognizing donors of $1 million or more to two foundations, and welcomed into the Founders' Society a trustee-alumna and her husband for lifetime gifts exceeding $100,000. 1) Tiger pride and gratitude were evident in the evening’s special touches. 2) Thomas Falvey, President of T.N. Ward Company, enjoys a chat with Sister Loretta 2 Wesolowski, CSFN, and Sister Patrice Feher, CSFN, Vice President of Student Services. 3) Sister Carol Mockus, CSFN, shares a laugh with benefactors Marie and Ed Tokarski. 4) Business is never far from 3 the minds of Board of Trustees Chairman Dennis Colgan and Assistant Professor James 4 Higgins. 5) Three benefactors were honored for their pace-setting generosity. From left to 5 right are Founders' Award recipients Jim and Anne Marie (McLaughlin) '69 Pettit; Louise Havens and Michelle Montgomery, from The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust, Visionary Award Recipient; Daniele Connelly, wife of Thomas Connelly ( far right), Sister Francesca; Victoria Kim Flaville, and Thomas Connelly. Flaville and the Connellys represented the Connelly Foundation, the first donor qualifying to receive a Visionary Award.
On the Scene: 2008 Golf Classic
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enefactors hit the links on October 1 for Holy Family’s 2008 Golf Classic. More than $65,000 was raised for student financial aid, a $13,000 increase over the previous year.
1) It’s all business for this Phillies fan. 2) Richard Stever, Harry Carr, and Robert Teti of Chapel Insurance Associates take a break from the action. 3) Even a rain delay can’t dampen his spirits! 4) The winning foursome from Polonia Bank proudly displays the day’s trophy. From left to right are Anthony Szuszczewicz, Carmen Dee, Paul Rutkowski, and Hank Van Blunk. 5) Back at the clubhouse and out of the downpour, the fighting Phils’ World Series run captured everyone’s attention.
magazine @ holyfamily.edu
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lastword
Questions and answers with…
New Dean Jan Duggar, PhD Amid the financial meltdown of 2008, Dr. Jan Warren Duggar assumed the position of Dean in the School of Business Administration. Holy Family’s Robert Macartney sat down with the new Dean to discuss the future of business education, the current economic crisis, and how to weather turbulent financial times. You had a very successful career in private enterprise. What led you to higher education?
I started in higher education and then went to a research firm to serve as a division head in social sciences. The nature of the organization was such that I decided to set up my own company. Eventually I got to the point where I did not have enough flexible time, so I went back to teaching in 1989. I’ve been working as a dean since 1990. I like dealing with different departments, faculty and student issues, and working with alumni. You have seen much of what the Philadelphia area has to offer in a short time. What are your general impressions of the city?
I love Philadelphia. I have lived in other large communities, but Philadelphia has such a rich American history, and it has tremendous cultural resources. The number of museums, sites and activities is much higher than in Seattle and Jacksonville.
Do you think the recent bailout of the auto industry and other struggling industries is moving our economy in the right direction?
We have an understanding of the problem, but I am not sure we are focused on the right solutions. There are very specific industry problems that simply indicate a slow down in expenditures and demand, and little is being done to increase aggregate demand. I would rather see the government give a tax credit for consumer durables—a 10 percent tax credit for buying a car, for example—to provide revenue for the city, state, auto dealers, and parts people, as opposed to just putting money in the hands of automakers. We need to get people comfortable spending again.
In these trying economic times, what advice would you give to people who have seen their retirement nest egg shrink or disappear?
Is there one lesson you feel every business student should learn?
You have a personal interest in business ethics. Can you draw correlations between a lack of business ethics, the recent mortgage crisis, and the country’s recession?
What is your vision for the School of Business Administration?
Stay the course. If you did not get out in the first few days the market went down, the only course is to stay and recover on the upside.
Absolutely. There has been a lot of emphasis on ethics in the business world in the past 10 years, but we have not mastered risk issues. So while Board of Directors and CEOs may think they are doing what is best for their shareholders, so much of their analysis is focused on short-term as opposed to long-term risk. A lot of what has happened was triggered by excessive use of credit—
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individually through financial institutions, mortgage companies, government deficits and so on—but it was further aggravated by not having good stopgaps in place for the risks we assumed.
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How to adapt to change—and in the process—to know how to manage risk, in terms of what they are willing to do in their own lives, as well as what their business environment risks should be.
We want to develop quality programs and bring in more students and revenue. We would like to have some strong niches in our program that serve the needs of our students and their employers, so we are looking at entrepreneurship, treasury management, and computer forensics as areas where we could have distinctive programs. We want to strengthen our relations both with the business community and our alumni, as well as strengthen our graduate programs.
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Your Life is Full of
Challenges
Rising insurance costs needn’t be one of them! As a Holy Family graduate, you have access to: Discounted auto and homeowners insurance from Liberty Mutual -•-
Advice and professional guidance from the Career Center -•-
Personal and career networking with the online alumni community -•-
Discounted life and medical insurance for recent graduates -•-
Discounted annual member fees at the Holy Family Fitness Center -•-
Complimentary e-newsletter just for alumni -•-
Complimentary use of the Holy Family Library
For more information on how we can help make your life easier, visit our Web site at holyfamily.edu/alumni/services.shtml.
The Holy Family Alumni Association - membership has its benefits!
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Each year , we plant seeds of knowledge. Help nurture their growth with a gift to the Annual Fund. Regardless of the amount, your gift directly supports students as they develop academically, personally, and spiritually.
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WAYS TO GIVE
1. Use the envelope in this issue 2. Make your gift online at holyfamily.edu/ia 3. Mail a check to:
Holy Family University Development Office 9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114